Breakable two pack carrier and related apparatus and method

Abstract

A readily dividable container carrier includes a first container engaging opening, a second container engaging opening, and a handle structure located between the first container engaging opening and the second container engaging opening. The handle structure includes a first portion located toward the first container engaging opening and a second portion located toward the second container engaging opening, and a separation line between the first portion and the second portion, the separation line formed by a line of weakness along the handle structure. A method and apparatus for applying the carrier are provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 - 8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . A method of applying carriers to containers utilizing a carrier applicator device, the method comprising:
 positioning a container carrier at a location above first and second adjacent containers, the container carrier including a platform having a top surface, a bottom surface, an outer perimeter, a first container engaging opening positioned above a neck of the first container and having an inner perimeter, a second container engaging opening having an inner perimeter and positioned above a neck of the second container, a handle structure located between the first container engaging opening and the second container engaging opening, the handle structure including a first portion located toward the first container engaging opening and a second portion located toward the second container engaging opening and separation line between the first portion and the second portion, the separation line comprising a line of weakness along the handle structure;   engaging the container carrier onto the containers with the first container engaging opening on the neck of the first container and the second container engaging opening on the neck of the second container; and   separating the handle structure along the separation line utilizing a separating mechanism of the carrier applicator device such that the first container has a first single container carrier thereon and the second container has a second single container carrier thereon, the first single container carrier formed by the first container engaging opening and the first portion of the handle structure and the second single container carrier formed by the second container engaging opening and the second portion of the handle structure.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the separating step occurs after the engaging step. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the method includes moving the containers to a carrier application location of the carrier applicator device at which the engaging step occurs and the separating step occurs prior to moving the containers away from the carrier application location. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the method includes moving the containers to a carrier application location of the carrier applicator device at which the engaging step occurs and the separating step occurs during movement of the containers away from the carrier application location. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the separating step involves moving the separating mechanism downward between the containers and into contact with the handle structure. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the engaging step involves use of an applicator head that holds the container carrier and that is moved downward toward the containers, the separating mechanism mounted on the applicator head, the applicator head including an opening through which the separating mechanism is moved during the separating step. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the separating mechanism comprises a wedge tool that is movable relative to the applicator head via a linear actuator. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the linear actuator comprises an air cylinder mechanism. 
     
     
         17 - 23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . A method of applying a carrier to containers, the method comprising:
 utilizing a carrier in the form of a substantially planar flexible platform having a top surface, a bottom surface, an outer perimeter and an inner region, the inner region including:
 a first container engaging opening having an inner perimeter configured for interacting with a first container neck rim; 
 a second container engaging opening having an inner perimeter configured for interacting with a second container neck rim, the second container engaging opening spaced from the first container engaging opening; 
 a longitudinal axis of the carrier extending through a center of the first container engaging opening and through a center of the second container engaging opening; 
 a handle structure located between the first container engaging opening and the second container engaging opening, the handle structure including a central portion, a first outer side portion and a second outer side portion, the first outer side portion extending from the central portion toward the first container engaging opening, the second outer side portion extending from the central portion toward the second container engaging opening, the central portion including a separation line formed therein, the separation line extending substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and between a first inner portion and second inner portion that together make up the central portion, the separation line formed by a region of connectivity between the first inner portion and the second inner portion and a region of disconnectivity between the first inner portion and the second inner portion, 
   engaging the carrier onto first and second containers with the first container engaging opening on a neck of the first container and the second container engaging opening on a neck of the second container;   wherein the separation line is weak enough such that the carrier cannot be used to lift and carry the first and second containers without causing the carrier to divide along the separation line;   separating the handle structure along the separation line such that when the central portion is separated along the separation line a first single container carrier and second single container carrier are produced, the first single container carrier includes the first container engaging opening engaged on the first container, the second single container carrier includes the second container engaging opening engaged on the second container.   
     
     
         25 . A method of applying carriers to containers utilizing a carrier applicator device, the method comprising:
 positioning a container carrier at a location above first and second adjacent containers, the container carrier including a platform having a top surface, a bottom surface, an outer perimeter, a first container engaging opening positioned above a neck of the first container and having an inner perimeter, a second container engaging opening having an inner perimeter and positioned above a neck of the second container, a handle structure located between the first container engaging opening and the second container engaging opening, the handle structure including a first portion located toward the first container engaging opening and a second portion located toward the second container engaging opening and separation line between the first portion and the second portion, the separation line comprising a line of weakness along the handle structure;   engaging the container carrier onto the containers with the first container engaging opening on the neck of the first container and the second container engaging opening on the neck of the second container;   wherein the separation line is weak enough such that the carrier cannot be used to lift and carry the first and second containers without causing the carrier to divide along the separation line; and   separating the handle structure along the separation line utilizing a separating mechanism of the carrier applicator device such that the first container has a first single container carrier thereon and the second container has a second single container carrier thereon, the first single container carrier formed by the first container engaging opening and the first portion of the handle structure and the second single container carrier formed by the second container engaging opening and the second portion of the handle structure.   
     
     
         26 . A method of applying carriers to containers utilizing a carrier applicator device, the method comprising:
 positioning a container carrier at a location above first and second adjacent containers, the container carrier including a platform having a top surface, a bottom surface, an outer perimeter, a first container engaging opening positioned above a neck of the first container and having an inner perimeter, a second container engaging opening having an inner perimeter and positioned above a neck of the second container, a handle structure located between the first container engaging opening and the second container engaging opening, the handle structure including a first portion located toward the first container engaging opening and a second portion located toward the second container engaging opening and separation line between the first portion and the second portion, the separation line comprising a line of weakness along the handle structure;   engaging the container carrier onto the containers with the first container engaging opening on the neck of the first container and the second container engaging opening on the neck of the second container;   wherein the separation line is weak enough such that the carrier cannot be used to lift and carry the first and second containers without causing the carrier to divide along the separation line; and   separating the handle structure along the separation line such that the first container has a first single container carrier thereon and the second container has a second single container carrier thereon, the first single container carrier formed by the first container engaging opening and the first portion of the handle structure and the second single container carrier formed by the second container engaging opening and the second portion of the handle structure.