Sleeve for containers

Abstract

A sleeve for storing and permitting removal of containers having an outwardly extending upper flange includes a bottom panel with a pair of side edges, each connecting to a side panel, and a top panel that extends between the side panels. The bottom panel includes at least one opening spaced from the side edges. The opening is sized smaller than the flange, but large enough to permit the container to extend partially therethrough so that the bottom panel supports the flange. One or more slits can extend generally outward from the opening and are spaced from the side edges. The slits are configured to increase the size of the opening so that the flange can pass therethrough, allowing the container to be removed. The opening then at least partially returns to its initial size, so that a container subsequently received in the opening is supported by the bottom panel.

1 . A multi-panel sleeve for storing and dispensing a plurality of containers having an outwardly extending upper flange, the multi-panel sleeve comprising:
 a bottom panel, a pair of side panels each connected to a longitudinal side edge of the bottom panel, and a top panel extending between the pair of side panels, the bottom panel having a longitudinal center axis;   at least two openings defined by the bottom panel and spaced from the longitudinal side edges of the bottom panel, wherein each of the openings is in a single row and the openings each have a first size smaller than an upper flange of a container to permit a received container to extend partially through one of the openings so that the upper flange thereof is supported by the bottom panel; and   at least two slits positioned adjacent to each of the openings, wherein the slits are configured to allow the openings to increase to a second size to permit the upper flange of the received container to pass through a respective opening for removal thereof from the sleeve and to at least partially return to the first size whereby an upper flange of a subsequent received container is supported by the bottom panel;   a slit-free zone between an adjacent pair of the openings, the slit-free zone having side edges thereof defined by the longitudinal side edges of the bottom panel and top and bottom edges thereof defined by imaginary lines tangent to an outer periphery of each of the openings and perpendicular to the longitudinal center axis.   
     
     
         2 . The multi-panel sleeve of  claim 1  wherein the at least two slits are disposed generally symmetrically about the longitudinal center axis. 
     
     
         3 . The multi-panel sleeve of  claim 1  wherein the at least two slits are disposed generally asymmetrically about the longitudinal center axis. 
     
     
         4 . The multi-panel sleeve of  claim 1  wherein the at least two slits comprises three slits spaced generally equidistant around the pair of openings. 
     
     
         5 . The multi-panel sleeve of  claim 1  wherein the at least two slits comprise four slits spaced generally equidistant around each of the openings. 
     
     
         6 . The multi-panel sleeve of  claim 1  wherein a ratio of slit length to a diameter of the openings is between about 1 to 13 and about 1 to 6.5. 
     
     
         7 . The multi-panel sleeve of  claim 1  wherein the at least two slits each have lengths of about 0.375 inches. 
     
     
         8 . The multi-panel sleeve of  claim 1  further comprising bridges spacing each of the slits from the openings, the bridges configured to remain intact until subsequent removal of the received container through the respective opening. 
     
     
         9 . The multi-panel sleeve of  claim 1  wherein the sleeve is configured to contain two rows containers in a stacked orientation. 
     
     
         10 . The multi-panel sleeve of  claim 1  wherein the slits are spaced apart around each of the openings within a range of between about 35 degrees and about 145 degrees. 
     
     
         11 . The multi-panel sleeve of  claim 1  wherein the openings have centers that are offset from the longitudinal center axis. 
     
     
         12 . The multi-panel sleeve of  claim 9  wherein a midpoint between the slits on an edge of each of the openings is closest to an adjacent one of the longitudinal side edges of the bottom panel. 
     
     
         13 . A method of packaging containers in the sleeve of  claim 1 , the method comprising:
 positioning a bottom row of the plurality of containers within the openings so that upper flanges of the bottom row at least partially rest on the bottom panel and the slits, the bottom row including the received container received within the respective opening;   positioning a top row of the plurality of containers on top of the bottom row; and   enclosing the plurality of containers within the sleeve by manipulating the side panels to be positioned adjacent sides of the top and bottom rows and the top panel to be positioned adjacent upper flanges of the top row.   
     
     
         14 . A method of removing containers from the sleeve of  claim 1 , the sleeve containing a bottom row of containers positioned within the openings including the received container received within the respective opening and a top row positioned on top of the bottom row, the method comprising:
 gripping a lower body of the received container in the bottom row; and   pulling the received container generally downward so that the slits allow the respective opening to increase to the second size to permit the upper flange of the received container to pass through the respective opening for removal thereof from the sleeve.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the sleeve further comprises bridges spacing each of the slits from the openings, the bridges configured to remain intact until subsequent removal of the received container through the respective opening, and the step of pulling the received container further comprises breaking the bridges prior to the slits allowing the respective opening to increase to the second size. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the top row includes a second received container positioned above the received container, the method further comprising:
 shifting the second received container toward the respective opening; and 
 supporting the upper flange of the second received container at least partially on the bottom panel.