The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 07, 1997
Filed:
Oct. 06, 1995
Richard T Galbierz, St. Louis, MO (US);
Michael A Galbierz, St. Louis, MO (US);
Other;
Abstract
A carrier is provided for carrying a plurality of bottles such as, but not limited to, long-necked glass bottles or PET bottles. The carrier includes a top panel and at least one side panel. The top panel has a first ply defining an array of surrounding apertures and a second ply below the first ply defining an array of container receiving apertures which are concentric with the surrounding apertures of the first ply. A plurality of slits extending radially from each container receiving aperture of the second ply to define tabs which engage a bottle's chime and hold the bottle in the carrier. The fold point for the tabs is defined by the surrounding apertures. The carrier can be formed as a box-top or sleeve carrier having a bottom panel defining openings which are concentric with the apertures in the top panel. The box-top carrier holds the bottles in tight formation and in contact with each other to prevent the bottles from impacting each other to prevent damage to the bottles. The carrier may also be provided with a release mechanism to facilitate removal of the bottles from the carrier. In one form, the release mechanism includes a release tab extending between columns of the surrounding apertures of the top panel's first ply and release openings formed between the container receiving apertures in the top panel's second ply. The release openings in the bottom panel are connected to the container receiving apertures by at least a slit. The release may alternatively include an individual pull tab for each bottle in the carrier, or a pair of tear lines which allow a corner of the carrier to be removed.