Carrying assembly including resealable cover for containers

Abstract

A carrying assembly including a support member integrally molded with sealing covers that have a base connected via a bridge to a lid. The base is engaged with can top end and the lid is rotatable to seal the can. A four-pack of cans is secured together by a sealing member having an annular ring defining an aperture and four radial arms. Each base is engaged with two adjacent arms. A six-pack of can is secured together by a sealing member having a central strip with an annular ring at each end and a plurality of tabs extending between adjacent bases. Each annular ring defines an aperture therein. The annular rings are rotated relative to the strip to bring the apertures into alignment. A user will insert one or more fingers into the aperture in the four-pack or the aligned apertures in the six-pack to lift and carry the same.

1 . A carrying assembly for transporting a plurality of cans or containers; said carrying assembly comprising:
 a support member;   at least one sealing cover engaged with the support member; wherein each of the at least one sealing cover comprises:
 a base having an upper end and a lower end; wherein the lower end is complementary to a top end of one of the plurality of cans or containers; 
 an opening defined by an inner surface of the base, wherein the opening extends between the upper end and the lower end; 
 a lid that is complementary to the upper end of the base; and 
 a bridge connecting the base and lid together. 
   
     
     
         2 . The carrying assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the support member includes:
 an annular ring adapted to be secured to one of the base or the lid of the at least one sealing cover; wherein the annular ring has an upper surface and a lower surface; and   an aperture defined in the annular ring; said aperture extending between the upper surface and lower surface of the annular ring; wherein the aperture is sized to receive at least one finger of a user therein.   
     
     
         3 . The carrying assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein the support member further comprises:
 at least one arm extending radially outwardly from the annular ring; and wherein the one of the base or the lid of the at least one sealing cover is engaged with the at least one arm.   
     
     
         4 . The carrying assembly as defined in  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a line of weakness extending between the support member and each of the at least one sealing cover.   
     
     
         5 . The carrying assembly as defined in  claim 4 , wherein the line of weakness is located between the at least one arm and the one of the base or the lid. 
     
     
         6 . The carrying assembly according to  claim 3 , wherein the at least one arm comprises four arms that extend radially outwardly from the annular ring; and wherein the at least one sealing cover comprises four sealing covers; and each of the four sealing covers is secured to two adjacent arms of the four arms. 
     
     
         7 . The carrying assembly according to  claim 6 , wherein the four arms are arranged in an X-shape and adjacent arms in the X-shape are oriented at generally ninety degrees relative to each other. 
     
     
         8 . The carrying assembly according to  claim 7 , wherein a space is defined between adjacent arms extending radially from the annular ring and wherein a portion of the one of the base or lid of each sealing cover is received an the space between two adjacent arms. 
     
     
         9 . The carrying assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the support member is integrally molded with the at least one sealing cover. 
     
     
         10 . The carrying assembly according to  claim 1 , where the support member is fabricated from a sheet material. 
     
     
         11 . The carrying assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the support member further comprises:
 a strip having an upper surface and a lower surface; and   a second annular ring and a second aperture defined in the second annular ring and extending between an upper surface and a lower surface of the second annular ring.   
     
     
         12 . The carrying assembly according to  claim 11 , wherein the annular ring extends outwardly from a first end of the strip in a first direction and the second annular ring extends outwardly from a second end of the strip in a second direction. 
     
     
         13 . The carrying assembly according to  claim 12 , wherein the at least one sealing cover comprises six sealing covers. 
     
     
         14 . The carrying assembly according to  claim 13 , wherein the support member further comprises a plurality of tabs; and each tab is secured between two of the six sealing covers. 
     
     
         15 . The carrying assembly according to  claim 14 , wherein a line of weakness is defined between each tab and the two of the six sealing covers engaged therewith. 
     
     
         16 . The carrying assembly according to  claim 13 , wherein the six sealing covers are arranged in two parallel rows of three sealing covers; and wherein the strip is positioned between a central sealing cover of the three sealing covers in a first row of the two parallel rows; and a central sealing cover of the three sealing covers in a second row of the two parallel rows; and wherein the strip is integrally molded with the two central sealing covers. 
     
     
         17 . The carrying assembly according to  claim 16 , wherein a line of weakness is defined between each of the central sealing covers and the strip. 
     
     
         18 . The carrying assembly according to  claim 12 , wherein the annular ring and second annular ring are movable between a first position where the annular ring, the strip and second annular ring are aligned along a same plane; and a second position where the annular ring and the second annular ring are oriented at an angle relative to an upper surface of the strip. 
     
     
         19 . The carrying assembly according to  claim 18 , wherein an aperture in the annular ring and the second aperture in the second annular ring are alignable when the annular ring and second annular ring are in the second position; and when aligned, the aperture and second aperture are adapted to receive at least one finger of a user therethrough. 
     
     
         20 . A method of carrying a plurality of cans or containers comprising:
 providing a carrying assembly comprising a support member; a plurality of sealing covers engaged with the support member; each of the sealing covers including a base having an upper end and a lower end; wherein the lower end is complementary to a top end of one of the plurality of cans or containers; an opening defined by an inner surface of the base, wherein the opening extends between the upper end and the lower end; a lid that is complementary to the upper end of the base; and a bridge connecting the base and lid together; and wherein the support member includes an annular ring, an aperture defined in the annular ring and extending between the upper surface and lower surface of the annular ring; and a plurality of arms extending radially outwardly from the annular ring; wherein the base of each of the plurality of sealing covers is engaged with a pair of adjacent arms;   engaging the plurality of cans or containers with the carrying assembly by engaging the bases of each sealing cover with a top region of one of the cans or containers and thereby forming a multi-pack;   inserting a finger through the aperture in the support member; and   lifting and carrying the multi-pack using the finger engaged with the support member.   
     
     
         21 . A method of carrying a plurality of cans or containers comprising:
 providing a carrying assembly comprising a support member; a plurality of sealing covers engaged with the support member; each of the sealing covers including a base having an upper end and a lower end; wherein the lower end is complementary to a top end of one of the plurality of cans or containers; an opening defined by an inner surface of the base, wherein the opening extends between the upper end and the lower end; a lid that is complementary to the upper end of the base; and a bridge connecting the base and lid together; and wherein the support member includes a strip having an annular ring defining an aperture therein on a first end and a second annular ring defining a second aperture therein on a second end; and a plurality of tabs;   engaging a plurality of cans or containers with the carrying assembly by securing one of the plurality of tabs between each adjacent pair of bases and thereby forming a multi-pack;   rotating the annular ring and the second annular ring from a first position to a second position;   aligning the aperture in the annular ring with the second aperture in the second annular ring;   inserting one or more fingers through the aligned aperture and second aperture; and   lifting and carrying the multi-pack using the one or more fingers engaged with the support member.