Plastic bottle carrier

• US 6,334,531 B1
• Filed: 06/09/2000
• Issued: 01/01/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Maria Agneza Valkovich
• Original Assignee: Maria Agneza Valkovich
• Inventors: Valkovich, Maria Agneza
• Primary Examiner(s): Sewell, Paul T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LUONG, SHIAN TINH NHAN
• Application Number:
  US09/589,759
• Time in Patent Office: 571 Days
• Field of Search: 206/147, 206/149, 206/151, 206/158, 206/162, 206/199, 206/161, 206/163, 206/427, 294/87.2
• US Class Current: 206/163
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 5/102 with means, e.g. a hook, receiving a carrying element of the hand article to be carried
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 71/50 comprising a plurality of articles held together only partially by packaging elements formed otherwise than by folding a blank

Abstract

A plastic bottle carrier includes a support member formed with bottle neck retainers for suspending engagement with necks of plastic bottles and a slot extending through the support member along an imaginary centerline. A handle extends upwardly through the slot, and has a lower portion projecting beyond the slot beneath the support member to support the support member on the lower portion of the handle. The handle also has an upper portion projecting above the support member from the lower portion, and an opening formed in the upper portion, with a handgrip extending above the opening and defining an upper limit of the opening. The upper portion is dimensioned so as to be slidable through the slot for insertion of the upper portion through the slot and removal of the upper portion from the slot.

Claims

1. A plastic bottle carrier, comprising:

first and second components of molded plastic material;

said first component comprising a support member formed with a pair of bottleneck retainers shaped for suspending engagement with the necks of plastic bottles and a

slot extending along an imaginary centerline of the said support member and having a length and a width;

said pair of bottleneck retainers being provided at opposite ends of said support member and each being symmetrical about the said imaginary centerline; and

said second component comprising a rigid handle extending upwardly through said slot;

said handle having an upper portion and a lower portion formed in one piece with said upper portion;

said upper portion having a length and a width which are each slightly less than the length and the width, respectively, of said slot; and

said lower portion comprising a peripheral, laterally extending flange;

said upper portion extending at right angles to said flange; and

said flange extending beneath said support member beyond opposite sides and opposite ends of said slot in surface-to-surface contact with said support member;

an opening formed in said upper portion; and

a handgrip extending above said slot and defining an upper limit of said opening;

said upper portion being dimensioned so as to be slidable through said slot for insertion of said upper portion through said slot and removal of said upper portion from said slot.

2. A plastic bottle carrier as claimed in claim 1, wherein said handle includes an intermediate portion extending between the opposite ends of said slot.

3. A plastic bottle carrier as claimed in claim 2, wherein said intermediate portion projects upwardly from said slot and is provided with lettering.