Returnable can carrier

Abstract

A container carrier of flexible resilient material includes an array of loops for surrounding and holding full cans. Slots are provided in the carrier for receiving levers of pop top cans therein and for holding emptied containers by the pop top levers held in the slots.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A container carrier comprising: 
 an array of interconnected loops for holding unopened containers, said array including material forming a margin around the loops; and    slots in said margin configured for attachment to open containers.    
     
     
         2 . The carrier of  claim 1 , said margin including one said slot for reach said loop.  
     
     
         3 . The carrier of  claim 1 , said slots being adapted for encircling a lever of a pop-top can.  
     
     
         4 . The carrier of  claim 3 , said margin including one said slot for reach said loop.  
     
     
         5 . The carrier of  claim 4 , said array being made of stretchable resilient material.  
     
     
         6 . The carrier of  claim 5 , said material being low-density polyethylene.  
     
     
         7 . The carrier of  claim 1 , including flaps in said margin, and said slots being defined in said flaps.  
     
     
         8 . The carrier of  claim 1 , including a flap formed in a margin portion of each said loop, and said slots being defined in said flaps.  
     
     
         9 . A container carrier for pop top cans having a rupturable opening and a lever integral with the can for opening the can upon elevating the lever relative to the can, said carrier comprising: 
 an array of interconnected loops for encircling individual cans, said array including material forming a margin around each said loop; and    slots in said margin each configured to encircle a lever of an opened can.    
     
     
         10 . The carrier of  claim 9 , including one said slot for each said loop.  
     
     
         11 . The container carrier of  claim 10 , each said slot configured to receive a first end of a lever of a can, and to be pulled over a second, opposite end of the lever received therein.  
     
     
         12 . The container carrier of  claim 9 , said material being low-density polyethylene.  
     
     
         13 . The container carrier of  claim 9 , including flaps in said array and said loops formed in said flaps.  
     
     
         14 . The container carrier of  claim 9 , including a flap formed in said margin of each said loop, and one said slot defined in each said flap.  
     
     
         15 . A package of opened pop top containers having bendable levers associated therewith for opening the container, said package including: 
 a carrier of substantially sheet-like material forming an array of loops for surrounding containers, said loops having margin of said material;    a plurality of slots in said margin; and    at least one empty container having a lever inserted through one of said slots, said slot configured to grasp said lever and hold said empty container.    
     
     
         16 . The package of  claim 15 , said lever having first and second ends and said at least one container having a fulcrum connecting said lever and said at least container between said ends, said slot surrounding said fulcrum with said lever on an opposite side of said material from said container.  
     
     
         17 . The package of  claim 15 , said material being low-density polyethylene.  
     
     
         18 . The package of  claim 15 , including a flap of said material in each said loop, and a said slot defined in each said flap.  
     
     
         19 . The package of  claim 18 , including a plurality of said containers each secured in a different said slot.  
     
     
         20 . The package of  claim 15 , including a plurality of said containers each secured in a different said slot.