Container carrier

Claim 2

A container carrier formed from a unitary sheet having an apertured top cover portion forming a web to protect individual containers, skirt portions attached to the top cover portion, side cover portions attached to the skirt portions and having pockets formed therein to protectively surround containers, strengthener portions attached to the side cover portions, and apertured carry-handle tab end extensions of the strengtheners, said carrier cross-sectionally generally defining a centrally reinforced inverted channel member and inverted short-trunk Y member joinably fitted within the channel member, with the strengthener portions forming the short-trunk of the Y member and providing the central reinforcement.

Claim 3

A container carrier according to claim 1 wherein said side cover portions are formed to provide depending pockets.

Claim 4

A reusable container carrier constructed from plastic sheet stock having an upstanding handle with a carry opening, top cover portions on opposite sides of the handle having apertures for receiving containers, inclined portions formed with pockets below the top cover apertures for supporting the containers and central strengthener portions providing central reinforcement between the pockets and extending upwardly to the handle.

Claim 5

A reusable container carrier constructed from plastic sheet stock having an upstanding handle with a carry opening, top cover portions on opposite sides of the handle having apertures for receiving containers, inclined portions formed with pockets below the top cover apertures for supporting the containers and central strengthener portions providing central reinforcement between the pockets and extending upwardly to the handle.

Claim 6

A container carrier as set forth in claim 3 wherein the inclined portions extend generally downwardly and inwardly to the central strengthener portions.

Claim 7

A container carrier as set forth in claim 4 further comprising skirt portions between the top cover portions and the inclined portions.

Claim 8

A container carrier as set forth in claim 4 wherein the inclined portions are formed with depending molded pockets below the top cover apertures.

Claim 9

A container carrier as set forth in claim 3 further comprising skirt portions between the top cover portions and the inclined portions and wherein the inclined portions extend generally upwardly and inwardly from the skirt portions to the central strengthener portions.

Claim 10

A container carrier as set forth in claim 7 wherein the inclined portions are formed with depending molded pockets below the top cover apertures.

Claim 11

A container carrier as set forth in claim 3 further comprising base portions between the inclined portions and the strengthener portions, wherein the inclined portions extend generally downwardly and inwardly to the base portions and wherein the inclined portions have openings extending from the base portions to form pockets below the top cover apertures for supporting the containers with the base portions.

Claim 12

A container carrier as set forth in claim 3 wherein the top cover portions are attached and comprise a slot at their juncture and wherein the central strengthener portions extend through the slot and the handle comprises folded end portions of the central strengthener portions.

Claim 13

A container carrier as set forth in claim 3 wherein the handle comprises a first two-ply folded handle portion between said top cover portions and a second handle portion within the first folded handle portion formed by end portions of the central strengthener portions.

Claim 14

A carrier for a plurality of containers constructed from plastic sheet material having a central upstanding handle with a carry opening, top cover portions on opposite sides of the handle having apertures for receiving and securing containers in the carrier in two rows on opposite sides of the handle, strengthener portions to protectively isolate the container rows within the carrier and extending upwardly to the handle, outer skirt portions attached to the top cover portions, and side cover portions attached between the skirt portions and strengthener portions and having pockets therein to protectively receive the containers, the container carrier cross-sectionally generally defining a centrally reinforced inverted channel member and inverted short-trunk Y member joinably fitted within the channel member with the strengthener portions forming the short-trunk of the Y member and providing the central reinforcement.

Claim 15

A carrier for a plurality of containers constructed from plastic sheet material having a central upstanding handle with a carry opening, top cover portions on opposite sides of the handle having apertures for receiving and securing containers in the carrier in two rows on opposite sides of the handle, strengthener portions to protectively isolate the container rows within the carrier and extending upwardly to the handle, outer skirt portions attached to the top cover portions, and side cover portions attached between the skirt portions and strengthener portions and having pockets therein to protectively receive the containers, the container carrier cross-sectionally generally defining a centrally reinforced inverted channel member and inverted short-trunk Y member joinably fitted within the channel member with the strengthener portions forming the short-trunk of the Y member and providing the central reinforcement.