Plural container package

Claim 1

A plural container package for securing together a plurality of identical containers, each said container having an open neck finish, an outstanding bead portion disposed below said finish portion, an angled shoulder portion disposed below said bead portions and an elongate, hollow, enlarged diameter closed bottom, main body portion in communication with said finish opening, said package comprising: a plurality of said containers in a regular geometric array, a cover shroud overlying each said container of said array including a container shoulder engaging portion having a plurality of container receiving apertures in registry with said array of containers, with said container bead portions of said containers protruding through said container shoulder engaging portion and at least one panel portion integral with said container engaging portion and depending therefrom said panel portion terminating below said container shoulder portion, a carrier of elastic, thermoplastic material initially formed in a single sheet and comprising a first inner portion engaging each of the containers and disposed above the cover shroud and under said container bead portions of said containers and a second outer band portion surrounding said first portion and initially connected thereto along weakened lines, said cover shroud being formed from paperboard as a die cut blank and being initially positioned above the containers in proper registry therewith such that the cover shroud is lowered onto the container array and forced downwardly by installation of the carrier and such that as the second band portion of the carrier is severed from the first portion along the weakened lines, the band portion forces said panel portions along the main body portions of the containers and is stretched about the panel portions.