Container carrier

Claim 2

A package of containers such as bottles arranged in a predetermined pattern includiNg side-by-side parallel rows of bottles each including a lower body portion and a reduced diameter upper end portion, and a one-piece sheet material carrier receiving and retaining the containers, said carrier being struck from plastic sheet material and comprising first body means, rows of socket means in said body means and having predetermined transverse dimensions similar to and less than corresponding transverse dimensions of the container body portions receiving and gripping sides of said body portions without bottom support thereof, said carrier including second body means also having socket means of predetermined transverse dimension similar to and less than corresponding transverse dimensions of the reduced diameter upper end portions of said containers engaging and retaining said upper end portions of the containers, a plurality of connecting elements arranged in pairs with one pair at each side of the carrier and integrally connecting said first and second body means with the connections of each pair of connecting elements being at opposite sides of the central portion of the second body means and diverging therefrom to the connections of said connecting elements with the first body means exteriorly of at least a central pair of containers in the package, and a pair of handle means integral with the plastic sheet material of the carrier and located toward opposite ends of the carrier and on opposite sides of intermediate containers in the package.

Claim 3

A one-piece sheet material carrier for a plurality of containers such as bottles having a body portion and a reduced diameter upper end portion with the containers arranged in a predetermined pattern including parallel adjacent rows, said carrier being struck from plastic sheet material and comprising first body means, row of socket means in said body means and having predetermined transverse dimensions similar to and less than corresponding transverse dimensions of the container body portions for receiving and gripping sides of said body portions without bottom support thereof, said carrier including second body means also having socket means of predetermined transverse dimension similar to and less than corresponding transverse dimensions of the reduced diameter upper end portions of said container for engaging and retaining said upper end portions of the containers, a plurality of connecting elements arranged in pairs with one pair at each side of the carrier and integrally connecting said first and second body means with the connections of each pair of connecting elements being at opposite sides of the central portion of the second body means and diverging therefrom to the connections of said connecting elements with the first body means at spaced exterior locations such that the connecting elements will be disposed exteriorly of at least a central pair of containers when assembled to the package, and a pair of handle means integral with the plastic sheet material of the carrier and located toward opposite ends of the carrier and on opposite sides of intermediate containers when packaged.

Claim 4

A one-piece sheet material carrier for a plurality of containers such as bottles having a body portion and a reduced diameter upper end portion with the containers arranged in a predetermined pattern including parallel adjacent rows, said carrier being struck from plastic sheet material and comprising first body means, row of socket means in said body means and having predetermined transverse dimensions similar to and less than corresponding transverse dimensions of the container body portions for receiving and gripping sides of said body portions without bottom support thereof, said carrier including second body means also having socket means of predetermined transverse dimension similar to and less than corresponding transverse dimensions of the reduced diameter upper end portions of said container for engaging and retaining said upper end portions of the containers, a plurality of connecting elements arranged in pairs with one pair at each side of the carrier and integrally connecting said first and second body means with the connections of each pair of connecting elements being at opposite sides of the central portion of the second body means and diverging therefrom to the connections of said connecting elements with the first body means at spaced exterior locations such that the connecting elements will be disposed exteriorly of at least a central pair of containers when assembled to the package, and a pair of handle means integral with the plastic sheet material of the carrier and located toward opposite ends of the carrier and on opposite sides of intermediate containers when packaged.

Claim 5

A carrier, as defined in claim 2, wherein said handle means comprises finger accommodating aperture means in said second body means.

Claim 6

A carrier, as defined in claim 2, wherein said handle means comprises loop elements.

Claim 7

A carrier, as defined in claim 2, wherein said connecting elements extend from said second body means intermediate the handle means to the ends of said first body means for disposition exteriorly of multiple pairs of containers when assembled to the package.