US 12,084,244 B2
Carrier for containers
Brian Smalley, Bristol (GB)
Assigned to Graphic Packaging International, LLC, Atlanta, GA (US)
Filed by Graphic Packaging International, LLC, Atlanta, GA (US)
Filed on Jan. 12, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/573,911.
Application 17/573,911 is a continuation of application No. 16/598,282, filed on Oct. 10, 2019, granted, now 11,261,013.
Application 16/598,282 is a continuation in part of application No. 16/426,066, filed on May 30, 2019, granted, now 11,180,301, issued on Nov. 23, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/841,449, filed on May 1, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/817,120, filed on Mar. 12, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/814,412, filed on Mar. 6, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/810,015, filed on Feb. 25, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/797,585, filed on Jan. 28, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/796,830, filed on Jan. 25, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/783,752, filed on Dec. 21, 2018.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/779,689, filed on Dec. 14, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2022/0135303 A1, May 5, 2022
Int. Cl. B65D 71/44 (2006.01); B65B 17/02 (2006.01)
CPC B65D 71/44 (2013.01) [B65B 17/025 (2013.01)] 47 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A carrier for holding a plurality of containers, the carrier comprising:
a plurality of panels comprising a top panel, a front attachment panel, a back attachment panel, a front central panel foldably connected to the front attachment panel, and a back central panel foldably connected to the back attachment panel, at least one of the front attachment panel and the back attachment panel comprises an exterior marginal portion, a container retention portion, and an interior marginal portion, at least one of the front central panel and the back central panel foldably connected to the respective interior marginal portion,
the front attachment panel and the back attachment panel are configured to receive a portion of one or more containers of the plurality of containers, the front central panel and the back central panel are in at least partial face-to-face contact and positioned between and attached to adjacent containers of the plurality of containers, each of the front central panel and the back central panel comprises a plurality of openings; and
at least one access feature that is positionable for allowing access to at least one container of the plurality of containers, the at least one access feature comprises a marginal portion of the top panel and the exterior marginal portion of the at least one of the front attachment panel and the back attachment panel,
the at least one access feature is reconfigurable between a first configuration in which the exterior marginal portion of the at least one of the front attachment panel and the back attachment panel is positioned for overlying at least one container of the plurality of containers, and a second configuration in which the exterior marginal portion of the at least one of the front attachment panel and the back attachment panel is positioned for being raised away from the at least one container of the plurality of containers.