Carrier for consumable products

Abstract

Various packages for consumable products are disclosed. The package may include a supporting member made from a rigid material. The supporting member includes a first panel adjacent to a second panel. The panels are directly attached or indirectly attached at one end and have an opposite open end. A first group of consumable products is supported by the first panel, while a second group of consumable products is supported by the second panel. Of particular advantage, the panels include an open end that may be draped over an adjacent structure, such as the railing on a shopping cart. In this manner, the package can accommodate rather large quantities of a consumable product, such as paper towels or bath tissue, while minimizing the amount of space the package occupies in the shopping cart.

1 . A packaged consumable product comprising: 
 a supporting member comprising a first panel connected at one end to a second panel, the first and second panels being made from a rigid material, the first and second panels defining an open end therebetween opposite the ends of the panels that are connected together, the open end permitting an adjacent object to be placed in between the panels, each panel defining an interior surface facing the opposing panel and an exterior surface;    a first group of consumable products adjacent the exterior surface of the first panel and a second group of consumable products adjacent the exterior surface of the second panel, the first and second groups being supported by the supporting member; and    a handle for carrying the packaged consumable product.    
   
   
       2 . A packaged consumable product as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the first group of consumable products are adhered to the exterior surface of the first panel and the second group of consumable products are adhered to the exterior surface of the second panel.  
   
   
       3 . A packaged consumable product as defined in  claim 2 , wherein the first group of consumable products and the second group of consumable products are wrapped in a polymer film, the first group of consumable products being adhered to the exterior surface of the first panel by an adhesive material placed between the polymer film and the exterior surface, the second group of consumable products being adhered to the exterior surface of the second panel by an adhesive material placed in between the polymer film and the exterior surface.  
   
   
       4 . A packaged consumable product as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the first group of consumable products and the second group of consumable products comprise spirally wound tissue products.  
   
   
       5 . A packaged consumable product as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the first group of consumable products and the second group of consumable products comprise diapers, tissue products, adult incontinence products, training pants, disposable swimming pants, or feminine hygiene products.  
   
   
       6 . A packaged consumable product as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the handle is integral with the supporting member.  
   
   
       7 . A packaged consumable product as defined in  claim 6 , wherein the first panel defines a first opening and the second panel defines a second opening spaced from the first opening, the first and second openings forming the handle.  
   
   
       8 . A packaged consumable product as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the first panel and the second panel comprise paperboard or a plastic material.  
   
   
       9 . A packaged consumable product as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the supporting member is made from a single piece blank.  
   
   
       10 . A packaged consumable product as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the first panel and the second panel are separated by a perforation line.  
   
   
       11 . A packaged consumable product as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the first panel is connected to a first channel that includes a bottom wall for supporting the first group of consumable products and a side wall and wherein the second panel is connected to a second channel that includes a bottom wall for supporting the second group of consumable products and a side wall.  
   
   
       12 . A packaged consumable product as defined in  claim 11 , wherein the first channel is integral with the first panel and the second channel is integral with the second panel.  
   
   
       13 . A packaged consumable product as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the supporting member, the first group of consumable products and the second group of consumable products are all enclosed in a polymer film.  
   
   
       14 . A packaged consumable product as defined in  claim 11 , wherein the first channel forms a first sleeve that encircles the first group of consumable products and the second channel forms a second sleeve that encircles the second group of consumable products.  
   
   
       15 . A packaged consumable product as defined in  claim 11 , wherein the side wall of the first channel has a height that is less than the height of the first group of consumable products and wherein the side wall of the second channel has a height that is less than the height of the second group of consumable products.  
   
   
       16 . A packaged consumable product as defined in  claim 11 , wherein the side wall of the first channel has a height that is substantially the same as the height of the first group of consumable products and wherein the side wall of the second channel has a height that is substantially the same as the height of the second group of consumable products.  
   
   
       17 . A packaged consumable product as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the handle comprises a band that is attached to the supporting member.  
   
   
       18 . A packaged consumable product comprising: 
 a supporting member comprising a first panel connected at one end to a second panel, the first and second panels being made from a rigid material, the first panel being integral with a first channel, the first channel comprising a bottom wall and a side wall that generally form a U-shape with the first panel, the second panel being integral with a second channel that also includes a bottom wall and a side wall that generally form a U-shape with the second panel;    a first group of products contained in the first channel and a second group of products contained in the second channel; and    a handle for carrying the packaged product.    
   
   
       19 . A packaged consumable product as defined in  claim 18 , wherein the first panel and the second panel of the supporting member define an open end therebetween opposite the ends of the panels that are connected together, the open end permitting an adjacent object to be placed in between the panels.  
   
   
       20 . A packaged consumable product as defined in  claim 18 , wherein the handle is integral with the supporting member.  
   
   
       21 . A packaged consumable product as defined in  claim 20 , wherein the first panel defines a first opening and the second panel defines a second opening spaced from the first opening, the first and second openings forming the handle.  
   
   
       22 . A packaged consumable product as defined in  claim 18 , wherein the supporting member is made from a single piece blank.  
   
   
       23 . A packaged consumable product as defined in  claim 18 , wherein the first panel and the second panel are separated by a perforation line.  
   
   
       24 . A packaged consumable product as defined in  claim 18 , wherein the supporting member, the first group of consumable products and the second group of consumable products are all enclosed in a polymer film.  
   
   
       25 . A packaged consumable product as defined in  claim 18 , wherein the first group of products comprise spirally wound tissue products and the second group of products comprise spirally wound tissue products.