Container carrier

Abstract

A container carrier and an associated package of unitized bottle within a container carrier includes a plurality of rings, each ring engaged with a respective bottle. A plurality of retention tabs extend inwardly from each ring of the plurality of rings toward a center of the ring, wherein the plurality of retention tabs are engaged with a neck of the respective bottle. A plurality of flaps extend outwardly from each ring, such that a flap of each ring connects a corresponding adjacent flap of an adjacent ring, wherein the respective ring remains with the respective bottle from the package following removal from the package.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A container carrier for unitizing a plurality of containers, the container carrier comprising:
 a plurality of rings;   a plurality of retention tabs extending inwardly from each ring of the plurality of rings toward a center of the ring, the plurality of retention tabs configured to engage a neck of a bottle;   a plurality of flaps extending outwardly from each ring, a flap of each ring connecting a corresponding adjacent flap of an adjacent ring, wherein a removal force required to pull a respective bottle from a respective ring is greater than a separation force required to separate adjoining flaps, thereby removing the respective ring and an associated respective bottle from the container carrier.   
     
     
         2 . The container carrier of  claim 1  wherein the retention tabs each taper from the ring toward the center of the ring. 
     
     
         3 . The container carrier of  claim 2  wherein four retention tabs together form a square in the center of the ring. 
     
     
         4 . The container carrier of  claim 3  wherein the four retention tabs do not contact each other. 
     
     
         5 . The container carrier of  claim 1  comprising four retention tabs arranged circumferentially around the ring at 90 degree intervals. 
     
     
         6 . The container carrier of  claim 1  further comprising a frangible connection between each adjacent flap. 
     
     
         7 . The container carrier of  claim 6  wherein the frangible connection comprises a reduced thickness. 
     
     
         8 . The container carrier of  claim 1  wherein each flap tapers outwardly from the ring to a connection with an adjacent flap. 
     
     
         9 . The container carrier of  claim 1  wherein each ring includes at least one flap unconnected to an adjacent flap and extending outwardly from the ring. 
     
     
         10 . The container carrier of  claim 9  wherein the at least one flap is shorter than remaining flaps on the ring. 
     
     
         11 . The container carrier of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of retention tabs together extend substantially across the ring such that the retention tabs follow a contour of the neck of the bottle when engaged. 
     
     
         12 . The container carrier of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of retention tabs are circumferentially offset from the plurality of flaps. 
     
     
         13 . The container carrier of  claim 1  wherein the ring and four flaps are retained on the bottle following removal from the container carrier. 
     
     
         14 . A package of unitized bottle within a container carrier, the package comprising:
 a plurality of rings, each ring engaged with a respective bottle;   a plurality of retention tabs extending inwardly from each ring of the plurality of rings toward a center of the ring, the plurality of retention tabs engaged with a neck of the respective bottle;   a plurality of flaps extending outwardly from each ring, a flap of each ring connecting a corresponding adjacent flap of an adjacent ring, wherein the respective ring remains with the respective bottle from the package following removal from the package.