Carrier for containers

Inventors: John Murdick Holley, Jr. (Lawrenceville, GA); Meng-Chuan Wu (Norcross, GA)

Assignee: Graphic Packaging International, LLC

B65D71/42 B65B17/025 B65D2571/00265 B65D2571/00444 B65D2571/00524 B65D2571/0066

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Quick Facts

Patent No.: US 12673809
App. No.: 17/875,755
Granted: Jul 7, 2026
Kind: B2

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Abstract

A carrier for holding a plurality of containers includes a central panel and container retention features for engaging the plurality of containers, the container retention features include a plurality of container retention openings for at least partially receiving a respective container of the plurality of containers, at least one container retention tab positioned extending into a respective container retention opening for engaging a respective container of the plurality of containers, and at least one edge retainer extending from a respective container retention tab of the plurality of container retention tabs and for facilitating engagement of the carrier with the plurality of containers.

Claims (35)

1 . A carrier for holding a plurality of containers, the carrier comprising:

a central panel; and

container retention features for engaging the plurality of containers, the container retention features include a plurality of container retention openings for at least partially receiving a respective container of the plurality of containers, a plurality of container retention tabs positioned extending into a respective container retention opening for engaging a respective container of the plurality of containers, and a plurality of edge retainers in the central panel comprising at least one corner edge retainer, at least one lateral edge retainer, and at least one longitudinal edge retainer, the corner edge retainer extending from a respective container retention tab of the plurality of container retention tabs and for facilitating engagement of the carrier with a container of the plurality of containers,

the at least one longitudinal edge retainer defining a container retention edge positioned to engage the container of the plurality of containers and the at least one lateral edge retainer defines a container retention edge positioned to engage the container of the plurality of containers,

the at least one longitudinal edge retainer and the at least one lateral edge retainer are foldably connected to the at least one corner edge retainer.

2 . The carrier of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of container retention tabs is foldably connected to the at least one corner edge retainer.

3 . The carrier of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of container retention tabs comprises a plurality of continuous segments, each segment of the plurality of continuous segments at least partially separable from a respective adjacent segment of the plurality of continuous segments at a respective cut.

4 . The carrier of claim 3 , wherein the plurality of container retention tabs comprises a first container retention tab and a second container retention tab positioned extending into the respective container retention opening for engaging a respective container of the plurality of containers.

5 . A blank for forming a carrier for holding a plurality of containers, the blank comprising:

a central panel; and

container retention features for engaging the plurality of containers when the carrier is formed from the blank, the container retention features include a plurality of container retention openings for at least partially receiving a respective container of the plurality of containers, a plurality of container retention tabs positioned extending into a respective container retention opening for engaging a respective container of the plurality of containers, and a plurality of edge retainers in the central panel comprising at least one corner edge retainer, at least one lateral edge retainer, and at least one longitudinal edge retainer, the corner edge retainer extending from a respective container retention tab of the plurality of container retention tabs and for facilitating engagement of the carrier with the plurality of containers when the carrier is formed from the blank,

the at least one longitudinal edge retainer and the at least one lateral edge retainer are foldably connected to the at least one corner edge retainer.

6 . The blank of claim 5 , wherein the plurality of container retention tabs is foldably connected to the at least one corner edge retainer.

7 . The blank of claim 5 , wherein the plurality of container retention tabs comprises a plurality of continuous segments, each segment of the plurality of continuous segments at least partially separable from a respective adjacent segment of the plurality of continuous segments at a respective cut.

8 . The blank of claim 7 , wherein the plurality of container retention tabs comprises a first container retention tab and a second container retention tab positioned extending into the respective container retention opening for engaging a respective container of the plurality of containers when the carrier is formed from the blank.

9 . A method of forming a carrier for holding a plurality of containers, the method comprising:

obtaining a blank comprising a central panel and container retention features, the container retention features include a plurality of container retention openings, a plurality of container retention tabs positioned extending into a respective container retention opening, and a plurality of edge retainers in the central panel comprising at least one corner edge retainer, at least one lateral edge retainer, and at least one longitudinal edge retainer, the corner edge retainer extending from a respective container retention tab of the plurality of container retention tabs;

positioning the blank such that the plurality of container retention openings is positioned for at least partially receiving a respective container of the plurality of containers, such that at least one of the plurality of container retention tabs is positioned for engaging a respective container of the plurality of containers, and such that the at least one edge retainer is positioned for facilitating engagement of the carrier with the plurality of containers,

the at least one longitudinal edge retainer and the at least one lateral edge retainer are foldably connected to the at least one corner edge retainer,

positioning the blank comprises positioning the container retention edge of the longitudinal edge retainer and the lateral edge retainer to engage the container of the plurality of containers.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein at least one of the plurality of container retention tabs is foldably connected to the at least one corner edge retainer.

11 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of container retention tabs comprises a plurality of continuous segments, each segment of the plurality of continuous segments at least partially separable from a respective adjacent segment of the plurality of continuous segments at a respective cut.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of container retention tabs comprises a first container retention tab and a second container retention tab positioned extending into the respective container retention opening, and positioning the blank comprises positioning the second container retention tab for engaging a respective container of the plurality of containers.

13 . A package, the package comprising:

a plurality of containers; and

a carrier holding the plurality of containers, the carrier comprising:

a central panel; and

container retention features engaging the plurality of containers, the container retention features include a plurality of container retention openings at least partially receiving a respective container of the plurality of containers, a plurality of container retention tabs positioned extending into a respective container retention opening engaging a respective container of the plurality of containers, and a plurality of edge retainers in the central panel comprising at least one corner edge retainer, at least one lateral edge retainer, and at least one longitudinal edge retainer, the corner edge retainer extending from a respective container retention tab of the plurality of container retention tabs and facilitating engagement of the carrier with a container of the plurality of containers,

the at least one longitudinal edge retainer and the at least one lateral edge retainer are foldably connected to the at least one corner edge retainer.

14 . The package of claim 13 , wherein at least one of the plurality of container retention tabs is foldably connected to the at least one corner edge retainer.

15 . The package of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of container retention tabs comprises a plurality of continuous segments, each segment of the plurality of continuous segments at least partially separable from a respective adjacent segment of the plurality of continuous segments at a respective cut.

16 . The package of claim 15 , wherein the plurality of container retention tabs is a first container retention tab and a second container retention tab positioned extending into the respective container retention opening and engaging a respective container of the plurality of containers.