Container carrier
A container carrier forming a package of unitized containers includes a network of molded ribs forming a plurality of container receiving openings formed in a plane. An arrangement of inwardly extending tabs are formed in each container receiving opening toward a center of each container receiving opening. A handle is formed along one edge of the container carrier. The container carrier is engageable with a circumferential groove around a perimeter of a sidewall of each container so that each tab of the arrangement of tabs engages with the circumferential groove of a corresponding container of the plurality of containers.
1 . A container carrier for unitizing a plurality of containers, the container carrier comprising:
a network of molded ribs forming a plurality of container receiving openings;
an arrangement of inwardly extending tabs formed in each container receiving opening toward a center of each container receiving opening, each tab of the arrangement of tabs engageable with a circumferential groove in a corresponding container of the plurality of containers, wherein each tab of the arrangement of tabs comprises a central depression and the arrangement of tabs are positioned equidistantly around an inner edge of the plurality of container receiving openings and wherein each tab comprises a thickness less than a thickness of the network of molded ribs forming the plurality of container receiving openings;
a handle formed along one edge of the container carrier; and
wherein two to four container carriers are connected in a unitized stick and a pitch between adjacent container receiving openings is constant throughout the stick.
2 . The container carrier of claim 1 further comprising a hinge formed along one edge of the handle.
3 . The container carrier of claim 2 wherein the hinge is formed with a reduced thickness of material.
4 . The container carrier of claim 3 wherein the hinge comprises a fillet extending across the one edge of the container carrier.
5 . The container carrier of claim 4 wherein the fillet is positioned along an underside of the container carrier.
6 . The container carrier of claim 1 wherein the handle further comprises a panel.
7 . The container carrier of claim 6 wherein the panel comprises a reduced thickness of material from the network of molded ribs.
8 . The container carrier of claim 1 further comprising a notch in an edge of the container carrier formed on each side of the handle.
9 . A container carrier for unitizing a plurality of containers, the container carrier comprising:
a network of molded ribs forming a plurality of container receiving openings;
an arrangement of inwardly extending tabs formed in each container receiving opening toward a center of each container receiving opening, each tab of the arrangement of tabs engageable with a circumferential groove in a corresponding container of the plurality of containers;
a handle formed along one edge of the container carrier;
a hinge formed between the handle and the one edge of the container carrier, wherein the hinge is formed with a reduced thickness of material between the one edge of the container carrier and the handle and includes a fillet extending across the one edge of the container carrier along an underside of the container carrier; and
wherein two to four container carriers are connected in a unitized stick and a pitch between adjacent container receiving openings is constant throughout the stick.
10 . The container carrier of claim 9 wherein the arrangement of tabs are positioned equidistantly around an inner edge of the plurality of container receiving openings.
11 . The container carrier of claim 10 wherein each tab comprises a thickness less than a thickness of the network of molded ribs forming the plurality of container receiving openings.
12 . A container carrier for unitizing a plurality of containers, the container carrier comprising:
a network of molded ribs forming a plurality of container receiving openings;
an arrangement of inwardly extending tabs formed in each container receiving opening toward a center of each container receiving opening, each tab of the arrangement of tabs engageable with a circumferential groove in a corresponding container of the plurality of containers; and
a handle formed along one edge of the container carrier that further comprises a panel extending toward the one edge of the container carrier, wherein the panel comprises a reduced thickness of material from the network of molded ribs; and
wherein two to four container carriers are connected in a unitized stick and a pitch between adjacent container receiving openings is constant throughout the stick.