Label panel container carrier with integral handle

• US 20030080004A1
• Filed: 10/31/2001
• Published: 05/01/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Original Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Inventors: Olsen, Robert, Thoennissen, Scott George
• Granted Patent: US 6,779,655 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 206/150
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2203/00 Decoration means, markings, information elements, contents indicators see also B65D5/4212, B65D33/004
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 71/504 the element being formed from a flexible sheet provided with slits or apertures intended to be stretched over the articles and adapt to the shape of the article

Abstract

This invention relates to a package of a plurality of containers unitized with a flexible carrier. The carrier is constructed from a plastic planar sheet having a plurality of container receiving and a panel having an integral handle that extends from a longitudinal edge of the planar sheet.

Claims

1. A carrier constructed of a planar sheet of a flexible plastic material for carrying a plurality of containers, the carrier comprising;

a plurality of container receiving openings arranged in a longitudinal row;

a panel extending transversely from the longitudinal row; and

a handle positioned along an outer periphery of the panel.

2. The carrier of claim 1 wherein the handle comprises an elongated aperture positioned along the outer periphery of the panel.

3. The carrier of claim 1 wherein the panel includes one or more cutouts.

4. The carrier of claim 1 wherein the panel further includes an adhesive label positioned on the panel.

5. The carrier of claim 1 wherein the handle is positioned in the panel so that when the handle is lifted, the panel is inverted.

6. The carrier of claim 1 further comprising a line of weakness positioned between the panel and the longitudinal row of container receiving openings.

7. The carrier of claim 1 including at least two attachment points at each edge, the at least two attachment points for connection with adjacent carriers on a spool.

8. A package of a plurality of containers comprising:

a planar sheet of a flexible plastic material having a plurality of container receiving openings arranged in a longitudinal row, each container receiving opening engaging a container;

a panel extending transversely and downwardly from the longitudinal row of container receiving openings; and

a handle positioned along an outer periphery of the panel so that when the package is lifted, the panel inverts upwardly and at least partially against the containers.

9. The package of claim 8 wherein the handle comprises an elongated aperture positioned along the outer periphery of the panel.

10. The package of claim 8 wherein the plurality of containers are bottles and the container receiving openings are positioned on the bottles so that the bottles are carried at an angle between approximately 45°

and 60°

with respect to horizontal.

11. The package of claim 8 further comprising a line of weakness positioned between the panel and the containers.

12. The package of claim 11 further comprising a pull tab extending from the line of weakness.

13. The package of claim 11 wherein the panel is flush and flat with respect to the containers to display product information when the package is in a static condition and the panel is inverted with respect to the containers when the package is carried.

14. A package of a plurality of bottles comprising:

a planar sheet of a flexible plastic material having a plurality of container receiving openings arranged in a longitudinal row, each container receiving opening engaging a bottle;

a panel extending transversely and downwardly from the longitudinal row of container receiving openings; and

a handle formed of an elongated aperture positioned along an outer periphery of the panel so that when the package is lifted, the panel inverts upwardly so that the bottles are carried at an angle between approximately 30° and

75°

with respect to horizontal.

15. The package of claim 14 further comprising an adhesive label applied to the panel.

16. The package of claim 14 further comprising a line of weakness extending between the panel and the bottles, the line of weakness tearable to permit removable of each bottle from within the respective container receiving openings.

17. The package of claim 14 comprising two or more bottles, each between 1 and 2 liters.

18. The package of claim 14 further comprising:

a weakened area positioned between the panel and the longitudinal row of container receiving openings, the weakened area for generating a sharp crease when the panel is inverted.