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:
Aug. 04, 1998
Filed:
Nov. 13, 1996
Edward J Slomski, Crystal Lake, IL (US);
Illinois Tool Works Inc., Glenview, IL (US);
Abstract
A novel plastic carrier for carrying a plurality of containers and a method of forming same is provided by the present invention. The carrier includes a handle portion being of a single ply of plastic material and a pair of container engaging portions freely depending from the handle portion at a joint. Each engaging portion has a plurality of apertures therethrough for carrying an associated container. One of the engaging portions is integrally formed with the handle portion and the other engaging portion is joined thereto at the joint. The carriers are preferably formed continuously. To form the carrier, first and second container engaging portions and the handle portion are stamped out of a single sheet of plastic material, and zipper strips, if provided, are formed thereon. The engaging portions are connected together and the second engaging portion and the handle portion are connected together. Thereafter, the first engaging portion is folded over onto the second engaging portion along a fold line. The first and second engaging portions are welded together along an edge thereof opposite to the fold line. Next, the fold line is severed. Finally, the completed carriers are collected onto a roll. A plurality of apertures may be formed during the stamping step or may be stamped after the container engaging portions are folded over onto each other.