Claims
- 1. A device for unitizing a plurality of containers within a sleeve comprising:at least three rows of container receiving openings formed in a retainer portion integrated with the sleeve; two handles integrally formed with the retainer portion, each handle extending from between two rows of container receiving openings so that the two handles are spaced one container receiving opening apart with respect to each other, each handle extending longitudinally across the retainer portion and perpendicularly from between each two longitudinal rows of containers and in a different plane from the retainer portion, each handle formed by two layers of material connected across at least one seam.
- 2. The device of claim 1 wherein each handle extends longitudinally at least as long as a length of two container receiving openings.
- 3. The device of claim 1 wherein each handle further comprises a central supporting rib.
- 4. The device of claim 1 wherein each handle is spaced one container receiving opening from a longitudinal edge of the sleeve.
- 5. The device of claim 1 wherein each handle extends completely across a longitudinal length of the device.
- 6. The device of claim 1 wherein the sleeve is closed along two oppositely positioned seams.
- 7. The device of claim 1 wherein the handle is folded in half along two corresponding symmetrical portions to form the two layers of material.
- 8. A package of a plurality of containers, the package comprising:a retainer portion having a plurality of container receiving openings arranged in three longitudinal rows; a plurality of containers arranged in an upper level and a lower level, each container receiving opening of the plurality of container receiving openings engaged with a container in the upper level of the plurality of containers; a handle for supporting the package integrated with the retainer portion and positioned between each two longitudinal rows of containers, the handle integrated with the retainer portion and extending perpendicularly from between each two longitudinal rows of containers and in a different plane from the retainer portion, the handle formed by two layers of material connected across at least one seam; and a sleeve portion stretchingly engaged around the plurality of containers, the sleeve portion integrated with the retainer portion to form a single-piece carrier.
- 9. The package of claim 8 comprising two handles extending longitudinally across the package and parallel with respect to each other.
- 10. The package of claim 9 wherein the two handles are spaced one container receiving opening apart with respect to each other.
- 11. The package of claim 9 wherein the two handles are each spaced one container receiving opening from a respective longitudinal edge of the sleeve.
- 12. The package of claim 8 further comprising a tear strip positioned in the carrier sleeve for disassociating one or more containers in the upper level of the plurality of containers from the package.
- 13. A package of a plurality of containers, the package comprising:a retainer portion having a plurality of container receiving openings arranged in longitudinal rows; a plurality of containers arranged in an upper level and a lower level, each container receiving opening of the plurality of container receiving openings engaged with a container in the upper level of the plurality of containers; a sleeve portion positioned around the plurality of containers, the sleeve portion integrated with the retainer portion to form a single-piece carrier; a carrier tear line dividing the package into a separable upper level of the plurality of containers; and a handle integrated with the retainer portion and extending perpendicularly from between each two longitudinal rows of containers and in a different plane from the retainer portion, the handle formed by two layers of material connected across at least one seam and for supporting the package and the separable upper level of the plurality of containers.
- 14. A device for unitizing a plurality of containers comprising:a retainer portion having at least three rows of container receiving openings; and two handles integrally formed with the retainer portion, each handle extending from between two rows of container receiving openings so that the two handles are spaced one container receiving opening apart with respect to each other, each handle extending across a longitudinal length of the device and perpendicularly from between the rows of container receiving openings and in a different plane from the retainer portion, each handle formed by two layers of material connected across at least one seam.
- 15. The device of claim 14 wherein each handle extends longitudinally at least as long as a length of two container receiving openings.
- 16. The device of claim 14 wherein each handle further comprises a plurality of supporting ribs connecting the handle with respect to the retainer portion.
- 17. The device of claim 14 wherein each handle comprises two layers of material connected across at least one seam.
- 18. The device of claim 17 wherein the two layers of material are connected along two seams to form each handle.
- 19. The device of claim 14 wherein each handle extends completely across a longitudinal length of the device.
- 20. The device of claim 14 wherein the container receiving openings are stretchable.
- 21. The device of claim 14 wherein the handle is folded in half along two corresponding symmetrical portions to form the two layers of material.
Parent Case Info
This application is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/220,428, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,213,293, filed Dec. 24, 1998 and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/373,936, filed Aug. 17, 1999 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,145,656.
US Referenced Citations (49)
Foreign Referenced Citations (6)
Number |
Date |
Country |
242 108 |
Oct 1987 |
EP |
1 013 564 |
Jun 2000 |
EP |
2 015 754 |
Apr 1970 |
FR |
2169442 |
Sep 1973 |
FR |
2 242 675 |
Oct 1991 |
GB |
9314992 |
Aug 1993 |
WO |
Continuation in Parts (2)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09/220428 |
Dec 1998 |
US |
Child |
09/616294 |
|
US |
Parent |
09/373936 |
Aug 1999 |
US |
Child |
09/220428 |
|
US |