Container package

Claim 2

A package of a relatively large number of containers comprising; a first sub-groups of containers joined together by first carrier means into a first unit having finger gripping handle means, a second sub-group of containers of like number to said first sub-group and joined together by second carrier means into a second unit having finger gripping handle means, said first and second carrier means each formed of a resilient deformable plastic material and comprising a plurality of integrally connected container encircling bands and having said finger gripping handle means between said bands, said second unit being disposed on said first unit in aligned relation in a vertical stack, a sleeve member formed of heat shrunken thermoplastic film and encircling the vertical surfaces and extending above and below the respective upper and lower sides of the vertical stack of said first and second units, and second auxiliary handle means interconnected with said carrier means and extending above the upper surface of said second unit.

Claim 3

A package of a relatively large number of containers comprising four sub-groups of containers, each of said sub-groups including a first carrier, each of said first carriers being formed of a resilient deformable plastic material and comprising a plurality of integrally interconnected container encircling bands arranged in two parallel rows, each of said first carriers disposed in cooperation with the containers of one of said sub-groups so that said bands grippingly engage the outer surface of said containers, said four sub-groups of containers being arranged in a vertical stack of two pairs of sub-groups, a second carrier, said second carrier including means cooperating with the first carriers of the upper pair of sub-groups of containers to interlock said first carriers and the containers carried thereby into a unitary package, a sleeve member for heat shrunken thermoplastic film disposed about the vertical surfaces and over the upper and lower sides of the vertical stack of said two pairs of sub-groups of containers, and said second carrier including handle means for carrying the unitary package of said two pairs of sub-groups of containers.

Claim 4

A package of a relatively large number of containers comprising four sub-groups of containers, each of said sub-groups including a first carrier, each of said first carriers being formed of a resilient deformable plastic material and comprising a plurality of integrally interconnected container encircling bands arranged in two parallel rows, each of said first carriers disposed in cooperation with the containers of one of said sub-groups so that said bands grippingly engage the outer surface of said containers, said four sub-groups of containers being arranged in a vertical stack of two pairs of sub-groups, a second carrier, said second carrier including means cooperating with the first carriers of the upper pair of sub-groups of containers to interlock said first carriers and the containers carried thereby into a unitary package, a sleeve member for heat shrunken thermoplastic film disposed about the vertical surfaces and over the upper and lower sides of the vertical stack of said two pairs of sub-groups of containers, and said second carrier including handle means for carrying the unitary package of said two pairs of sub-groups of containers.

Claim 5

A package as defined in claim 2, wherein each of said first carriers includes handle means for carrying said sub-groups of containers.

Claim 6

A package as defined in claim 3, wherein the integral interconnection of said bands of said first carriers comprises webs extending horizontally between adjacent bands.

Claim 7

A package as defined in claim 4, wherein each of said first carriers is disposed immediately below the upper edge of said containers.

Claim 8

A package as defined in claim 5, wherein said means of said second carrier cooperating with the first carriers of the upper pair of sub-groups of containers to interlock said first carriers and the containers carried thereby into a unitary package comprises tab means depending from said second carrier, and said tab means being in engagement with the handle means and the extending webs of the adjacent first carriers of said upper pair of sub-groups of containers to interlock said first carriers and the containers carried thereby into a unitary package.

Claim 9

A package as defined in claim 6 wherein said handle means of said second carrier comprises an upwardly projecting handle integrally formed on the upper surface of said second carrier, and said second carrier being formed on a material sufficiently resilient to provide for substantial flattening of said handle when another package of a relatively large number of containers is stacked thereon.

Claim 10

A package as defined in claim 2, and an additional second carrier cooperating with the first carriers of the lower pair of sub-groups of containers to interlock said first carriers and the containers carrier thereby into a unitary package.