69 . MULTIPACKA(;E AND CARRIER DEVICE Back~round of the Invention This invention IS concerned with packages o~ bottles and like containers and carriers thereforO Such bottl~s or like containers are S conventionally o~ the type including a generally cyllndrical reduced neck portion diverging to a larger body portion~ The ne~k openings may be closed in various ways, as by screw caps or pressed-on caps, - and in these forms, the lower edge of the cap presents an annular shoulder which may be engaged by the edges of apertures in certain 10 forms o~ carriers. With pressed-on caps, the neck finish includes an outward end bead or shoulder for engagement there~vith. ln other for~ns ; of bottles and like contalners, there is oftFn provided all outward annular bead or shoulder below the neck finish and this bead or shoulder ma~- be engaged by the aperture edges for support in certain types of carriers. 15 These types o~ bottles or like containers may be assemb~ed in packages by various for3lls of carriers, such as those made from sheet plastic materialJ cardboard and the likej which may be in flat sheet form or folded to tubular and other shapes with upper necl;-receiYin~ apertures in supporting engagement with the neck shoulder means as provided by 20 the depending skirt edges of caps or by one of the neck be~ds as the case 3~ay be. ~The contamers may be variously arranged in package form with tlle carrier as in the parallel rows of a six pac]c or the like,, or in linear array, or e~en circ~lar. In most o~ these pack~ges, . ~11 ` . . 6~Ei9 the bottles or other containers are o~ th2 no-deposit~ non-r2turn type so that they are discarded after use ~long ~lith the carriers. ~.!~ile certaln carriers of' th~ ~olded or generally tubular sh,pe may be used -to return empty containers to source ~or ~e~ g~ the ~lat plastic sheet carriers ha~e not generally been desi~ned for ~eturn o~ deposit bottles intended ~or re~use. ~T~th disposal ~f non~return containe~s and carriers becomlng an increasing environmental concern~ the tendency tolY~rd uslng return bot~les is increas~ng~ particularly in the be~era~e Yield. Where such flat plastic she~t carriers have been used ~or return of so-called deposit bot~::les~ ; the initi~l stretching o~ the m3.teri~1 around the apertures often results in th~t mat~rlal ta~lng a suff~cient set such ~at therc is insufficient resilie~cy rem2inlng when re- - associated ~ith empt~ bo~tles t~ provide a suf~iciently fi~m and st2ble pac~age ~or sd~e returrl o~ . the emp~y bottles to source for sterilizing, re-filling and re~closing : ~ for other trips in th~ consumer direction~ ~nis se~ting, ;. o~ parti~l se~ting, may resul~ from extended ~rans~or~, storage and shel~ l~fe of th2 packags of fl.lled bottle3 as well as th~ ~urther stretching and often tearing caused ~y the release of the filled bottles *rom ~he carrier for dispenslng the contQnts. .. . . ~ . ' , ......... . , : . - . . --Z-- : . ~ - ' . .~ , . , . . . ~ - ~ - . ~694~;~ SummaT~ o~ the Xnvention -i ~ccordin~ ~o the presen~ invention, ~h~ carr~er ~s particularly designed ~or pac~a~ing the bo~t~es or like con~ainers in parallel rows such as a six pack but the numb2r of includ~d con~ainers may vary. The car.r.le.r is a one~piece sheet o~ r~silient, de~or~abl~ p~as~i.c material such as polyethylene or simil~r material o~ sel~cted density ~or ~he intended use9 ~1hich is stamped from a flat sheet bla,nk to provide spaced ap~rtures along the sides to ~eceive the cont~iner n0ck portions in suppor~ed package position; to provid~ tabs project1ng laterally ou~wardly from the sides of the c~rrier sheet in transverse ali~nmen~ with the neck receivin~ a~ertures; . and a central h~ndle memher for convenient carrying of the p~ckage~ The cut out s~rap material may be recycled. ;: An objec~ of the invQn~ion i~ to provide a carrier ~ of the above ty~e which is ad~pted fo~ packagi~ ilIed : . bot~les or li~e co~tainer~ for retail ronsumer outl~ts and f'or pack~ging the sæme or similar.empty bottlRs or like containers ~or returh to sourcc ~'o~ & r~ l process. .~ Ano~h~r.object o~ the invention is to prov.id~ carrler Ol the ~bove type with neck-receiving apertures ~a.rlously shaped to w~hst~nd assocla~ion and r~mo~al o~ . ~illed containers relative theretv and sub~equent assocl~t:Lon ~ : of emp-~y conta~ne~s there~lith in stable packa~e form ~or return to source fOI' re-filling. -3- . ~69~L69 A further object of the invention is to provide a carrier and package of the above type wherein the carrier sheet is pro- vided with tabs extending laterally outwardly of the sides of the sheet from an adjacent edge of a neck-receiving aperture with the tabs assisting in removal of filled containers from the package and subsequently assisting in re-associa.ting empty containers with the carrier in stable package form for return to source for re-filling, with the tabs deflected downwardly into substantial surface contact with adjacent neck portions. 1~ These objects are attained by the invention which contem- plates a package o closely spaced containers each of the type having a reduced generally cylindrical neck portion with outward : . shoulder means below the dispensing opening, and a carrier sheet :~: of resilient deformable plastic material with apertures spaced in accordance with the number and spacing o the packaged containers ~. and providing encircling bands receiving the neck portions of ~ : corresponding containers with edge portions of the apertures de- :. flected upwardly and engaged beneath the shoulder means of included -~ containers. Each aperture has at least one portion of the peri- phery thereof of substantial length generally approaching a straight line and at least approximating the maximum length of an incIuded aperture with the material of the carrier sheet adjacent the one portion of the periphexy of each aperture extending trans~ versely outwardly into a finger gripping tab including a base por- ~5 tion as part of .he enclrcling band. Each tab has a width alongthe base portion thereof substantially coextensively spanning the one portion of the periphery of an adjacent aperture and an out- . wardly extending length dimension from the base portion relative to.other portions of the carrier sheet material making up the en- circling bands surrounding each aperture such as to provide in- creased trans~erse extent ~f material outwardly from the base portion for maximum resistance to stretching of each one portion _ ~ . ~,"~ .. . ... ,...... ........... ..... ,. .-. ''.' ~)69~69 o~ the periphery of e~ch aperture with a sharp downward deflection of each tab in external contiguous surface continuation of the upwardly deflected base portion against the neck portion of an adjacent container in the package of containers. In a further embodimen-t r the invention contemplates a carrier for rows of containers each of the type having a reduced neck portion presenting outward shoulder means adjacent the dis- pensing end thereof. The carrier comprises a carrier sheet of resilient, deformable plastic material wi~h apertures spaced in accordance with the number and spacing of the containers and pro- viding encircling bands to receive the neck portions of the con- tainers to be packaged with each aperture having at least one portion of the periphery thereof of substantial length generally approaching a straight line and at least approximating the maximum length of an included aperture. The material of the carrier sheet adjacent the one portion of the periphery of each aperture extends transversely outwardly into a finger gripping tab including a base portion as part oE the encircling band and each tab has a width along the base portion thereof substantially coextensively span- ning the one portion of the periphery of an adjacent aperture and an outwardly extending length dimension from the base portion relative to other portions of the carrier sheet material making up the encircling bands surrounding each aperture such as to provide increased transverse extent of material outwardly from the base portion for maximum resistance to stretching of each one portion of the periphery of each aperture with a sharp down- ward deflection of each tab in external contiguous surface con- tinuation of the upwardly deflected base portion against the neck portion of an adjacent container when the containers are assembled with the carrier in package form. ~,~, . . ' . . The above and other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will be hereinafter more fully pointed out in the detail description of the accompany~ng drawings in which, FIG~ 1 is a plan view of the carrier blank; FIG. 2 is an end view of the carrier associated with bottles in parallel rows; FIGo 3 is an enlarged fragmentary end view of ~he end left hand bottle in the package of FIG~ FIG~ 4 is a top plan view of FIG~ 5; FIGq S is an enlarged fragmentary side view of the end right hand bottle in the package of FIG. 2; FIG. 6 is a fragmentary plan view showing a neck receiving aperture with the tab ad~acent edge of slight currature; Fig. 7 is a plan view of a carrier blank for a four or six pack with ~odified shape of neck receivi~g openings; Fig. 8 is an end view of the carrier associated - with bottles in parallel rows; Fig. 9 is a top plan view of Fig~ 8; ; 20 Fig. 10 is a side elevation of Fig. 93 Fig~ 11 is a plan ~iew of a carrier blank with further modified shape of neck receiving openings; Fig. 12 is a top plan view of the carrier of ~ig. 11 in associa~ion wi~h bottles in parallel rows; Fig~ 13 is a plan view of a carrier blank with further modified shape of neck receiving openings; Fig. 14 is a top plan view of a single strip carrier for a single rov of bottles; and Figs 15 and 16 are side and end elevations, respectively, showing screw-capped bot~les, as a six pack, in association with one of the carrier blanks. " ', . - 6 - ~ ~6g~6~ DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERR~D EMBODIMENTS Referring to the accompanying drawings, and particula~ly Fi8. 1 at this time, one for~ of carrier blank is shown before packaging. The blank incllldes side strap portions 10, 12 ~oined adjacent the l~nds thereof by ~ransverse webs 14, 16. At the ~unction areas betweçn the web 14 and the side strap elements 10, 12, there are provided apertures lô, 18a in mirror image and similar apertures 20, 20a are provided at the junction areas between the transverse web 16 and the strap elements 1OJ 12. Intermediate the ends of the carrier sheet, there are provided similar apertures 22, 22a in mirror image. Fr~m the ou~er edges of each of the apertures 18, 18a, 20, 20a, 22~ 22a, tabs 19, l9a, 21, 21a, 235 23a respectively pro~ect lateral outwardly of the side of these carrier sheçts and these tabs ars of generally triangular shape but with curvilinear outline. In the central area of the carrier sheet, cer~ain por~ions are cut away to provide inner transverse webs 24, 24a with endwi~e outwartly conve~ edges and joined centrally by a handle strap 26 which will operate to project above the tops of the containers5 when packaged~ in ~he manner of . U. S. Patent No. 3,269953Q, Wanderer. ~ - The apertures for receiving the neck portlons of the containers are identical but in mirror ~mage along the sides of the carrier sheet so that the descrip~ion : - - .:: . , .:: -7- - : '" 3L~6~i9 of the shape of onP will suffice. The opening or aperture 18 is generally elliptical throughout the ma~or p~rtion of the perlpheral extent thereof to present a major axis X extending lengthwise of the carrier sheet with the curvature of edge 28 being continuous inwardly of the axis and toward the web 14. This curvature continues outwardly of the axis but then terminates in an oute~ edge Y from which the tab l9 pro~ects outwardly. This outer edge Y is shorter than the major axis X of the aperture and is illustrated as being in straight line parrellelism with the major axis though it may be slightly curved in either direction relative thereto as shown in Fig. 6. Thus, each of the tabs projects outwardly from the edge Y of a corresponding aperture and away from correspond- ing sides of the carrier sheet~ The bottles in the parallel rows are of the type having a body portion 32, 32a gradually reduced toward a reduced neck portion 33~ 33a with an outward bead or shoulder formation 34, 34a below the skirts of the cap~ 36, 36a. As previously indicated, such caps will interengage with an upper bead (not shown) around the neck finish at the top of the neck portion of such bottleO The groups of filled bottles are associated with a carrier in automatic assembling machines causing the capped bottle neck portions and the neck-receiving aper~ures in each carrier sheet to b¢ relatively telescoped. Also, an apertured plastic sheet 40 may be associated with lower . :,: ,' :~':' '"' '~ --8 D ~6~ portions of the bottle body portions for adding stability to each package and spacing the bottle body portions from one another. Such an apertured shee~ may be of the general type shown in U.S~ Patent No. 2,874~835, Poupitch, Association of the neck portions of the containers with the carrier shee~ apertures will result in a re-shaping of these apertures by shortening the extent of the major axis X. The curved edge 28 of each aperture will be stretched to extend slightly upwardly to engage beneath a cap skirt3 or as illustrated, beneath the bead formation 34. In turn, the edge Y of each aperture will assume a more pronounced vertical position, as at 30, beneath a cap skirt, or as illustrated, beneath a bead formation 34. In assuming this position, the portion 30 of the carrier sheet material will be contoured to complement the curvature of the adjacent underlying surface of a container neck portion and the associated ~ab will be deflected sharply downwardl~ to snug the underlying surface areas of the associated neck portions as shown particularly in : . Figs. 2 and 3~ This curving of the material along the aperture edge Y, as indicated at 309 will be with minimum stretching of :~ the material so as to guard against lts taking a permanent set ~ : during storage and shelf life of the package of filled containers, thus preserving residual resiliency of the ~aterial at least in this area for subsequent use of the carrier sheet in . . returning empty containers for re-filIing~ ., : . '''' . ' '' '' ~' _9_ - ..;';~ ~9~ Upon retail sale of the packages of filled containers, an individual containe~ may be removed from the package by lifting a tab to stretch the por~ion 30 out of engagement with ~he cap skirt or bead formation, as the case may be, and to free the same from the carrier shee~3 and thereafter pulling the bottle from the lower retainer 40. As previously indicated, it is contemplated from the carrier sheet be used for returning the deposit and return of now empty bottles to the retail outlet from which packaged empty bottles may be returned to source for sterili3ing, re-filling and re-capping for another trip in the consumer direction. For this purpose~ the empty bottles may be conveniently re-associated with a carrier sheet by pulling eaeh tab downwardly to stretch each encircling band port~on do~nwardly over the neck of an associated bottle to a position enga~ed beneath the bead at the finish oE the neck or the bead formation 34 as illustrated. Even if a partial set has been taken by the encircling band portions, sufficient resiliency remalns at least in the portion 30 to provide a stable package of empty bottles for return. In such re~assembly, the tabs will again be deflected downwardly into surface engagement with the neck portions of the empty bottle~ with sufficiently snug resilient engagement ~o tend to hold the body portiDns of the bottles together in stable relationship in the absence of lo~er carrier 40 : ~ : :: : : . -10_ ~6~4~ It will be seen that the tabs extend longitudinally along the e~tire extent and beyond the ends of the outer edges Y and transversely outwardly a distance substantially greater than the width of the ban~ portions of carrier material surrounding and defining the apertures, thus adding substantlal earrier blank material to minimize stretching and resultant tearing in this area and confine maximum str~tching to the remainlng inner portions of the bands. This same control of the differential stretching of the band portions will be true of the modified fonms or shapes vf apertures in the modifications to be described hereinafter where the tabs extend longi~udinally along a ma~or portion of the longitudinal extent of the adjacent ; apertures or outer edges Y, if not beyond the ends thereof~ : The band portions present uninterrupted inner edges with the outer edges interrupted by oonnections with the webs .: 14~ 16 and straps 10, 12 and the tabs~ Since the webs and straps are relatively taut in ~he package, maximum stretching of the band edges occurs therealong and along portions of the bands between adjace.nt straps and webs~ In the drawing modifications to be described below, : llke or substantially si~ilar parts of ~he carrier sheet wlll be reerred to by similar suffixed numerals; and the apertures and tab configurations will be separately numeraled. Thus~ in Fig. 7, the apertu~es 42 with the band portions of . - '' . ,,: :- : :~0~i9~69 the carrier material are somewhat fr~sto-conical in plan appear~nce with the center portion of the elongate outer edge Ya somewhat rounded inwardly as a convex edge and the opposite shorter edge Wa somewhat concaved. rhe tabs 44 extend along the major portion of the length of the edge Ya~ thus providing substantial carrier blank material in this area. W~en such a carrier is associated with bottles 45 of the type having a screw ~op closure 46 and a lower outward bead 48 (see Figs. 7~10)7 the tabs 44 will anug the surface of the bottles below the beads 48 in general surface confonmity therewith and the band portion material along the edge Ya stand up, so to speak, without substantial stretching; with the edge Ya abutting the under surface of an adjacent bead and conforming to the bottle surface, and with the remaini~g portions of the ba~ds being stretched to underlie adjacent surfaces of the beads for suppo~ting the array o bottles in package ~o~m. .'~ ' . :. In Fig. 11, the apertures 42a within the carrier band portions have a substantially straight oueer edge Yb and an opposite concave edge Wb joined by parallel side edges. Here, the tabs 44a extend substantially along the entire length of the edges Yb. ~his carrier is associated with the packaged bottles in the same fashion shown in Figs~ 8 and lO with the edges Yb engaged beneath the beads 48 and conforming -12- 699~6i9 ~o the adjacent bottle surface configura~ion, as do the tabs 44a. The remaining portions of the aperture ed~es are stretched to also engage beneath the beads in bottle supporting positions. In Fig. 13, the apertures 42b are substantially rectangular or square with rounded corners to resist tearing. Here~ too~ the width of the tabs 4~ is substantially coextensive with the length of the outer edges Yc of the band portions and these outer edges will extend and underlie the beads 48 on the bottles as indicated in connec~ion with Figs. 8, 10 and 12~ that is~ with minimum stretching in this area. Fig. 14 illustrates a single strip carrier iD association wlth bottles of the type show~ in Figs. 8~ 10 and 12. FigsO 15 and 16 illustrate a package of more slender bottles 50 with neck portions tapering upwardly and inwardly to the finish which may have sorew caps 52 applied thereto. ~ ~ -13- ~-