Stable stacked multipack assembly including stackable packing units and method for providing same

Abstract

A stackable packaging unit includes a pack having a length and a width. The pack also includes a plurality of individual use containers positioned in the pack. The individual use containers include a base having a base center axis, a body and an offset top load support surface having an offset center axis. The base center axis and the offset center axis are spaced apart and extend substantially parallel to each other. The offset top load support surfaces of the containers adjacent to an outside periphery of the pack along the length and width of the pack are positioned in the pack such that the offset center axis is closer in proximity to the outside periphery of the pack than the base center axis. The configuration of containers in the packs provides an increased stability of the pack when placed in a stacked configuration.

1 . A stackable packaging unit for providing increased stability when placed in a stacked configuration comprising:
 a pack having a length and a width, the pack comprising a plurality of individual use containers positioned in the pack, each container comprising a base having a base center axis extending therethrough, a body and an offset top load support surface having an offset center axis extending therethrough, wherein the base center axis and the offset center axis are spaced apart and extend substantially parallel to each other; and   wherein the containers adjacent to an outside periphery of the pack along one of the length and width are positioned in the pack such that the offset top load support surfaces of these containers are adjacent to the outside periphery of the pack thereby positioning the offset center axis in closer proximity to the outside periphery of the pack than the base center axis for providing increased stability of the stackable packing unit when placed in a stacked configuration.   
     
     
         2 . The stackable packaging unit of  claim 1 , wherein each individual use container further comprises a gripping feature, the gripping feature of the containers adjacent to the outside periphery of the pack along the respective one of the length and width is positioned away from the outside periphery of the pack when the container is placed in the pack. 
     
     
         3 . The stackable packaging unit of  claim 1 , wherein each container includes a neck that includes the offset top load support surface. 
     
     
         4 . The stackable packaging unit of  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of packaging units are stacked with respect to one another. 
     
     
         5 . The stackable packaging unit of  claim 1 , wherein the pack comprises a shrink film for holding the containers together. 
     
     
         6 . The stackable packaging unit of  claim 1 , wherein the pack comprises a bottom wall and side walls, the side walls formed at and extending from a perimeter of the bottom wall; and
 wherein the individual use containers are positioned on the bottom wall and the containers adjacent to the outside periphery of the pack along the respective one of the length and width are configured such that the offset top load support surfaces are adjacent to at least one side wall of the pack thereby positioning the offset center axis in closer proximity to the side wall than the base center axis.   
     
     
         7 . The stackable packaging unit of  claim 6 , wherein at least one side wall further comprises an opening therethrough. 
     
     
         8 . A multipack assembly comprising:
 a first pack having a length and a width, the first pack comprising a plurality of individual use containers positioned in the first pack, each container comprising a base having a base center axis extending therethrough, a body and an offset top load support surface having an offset center axis extending therethrough, wherein the base center axis and the offset center axis are spaced apart and extend substantially parallel to each other;   a second pack having a length and a width, the second pack stacked on top of the first pack and comprising a plurality of the individual use containers positioned in the second pack; and   wherein the containers adjacent to an outside periphery of a respective pack along one of the length and width are positioned in each respective pack such that the offset top load support surfaces of these containers are adjacent to the outside periphery of each respective pack thereby positioning the offset center axis in closer proximity to the periphery of each respective pack than the base center axis for providing increased stability when the second pack is stacked on top of the first pack.   
     
     
         9 . The multipack assembly of  claim 8 , wherein each individual use container further comprises a gripping feature, the gripping feature of the containers adjacent to the outside periphery of each respective pack along the respective one of the length and width positioned away from the outside periphery of the respective pack when the container is placed in the respective pack. 
     
     
         10 . The multipack assembly of  claim 8 , wherein each container includes a neck that includes the offset top load support surface. 
     
     
         11 . The multipack assembly of  claim 8 , wherein at least one of the first pack and second pack comprises a bottom wall and side walls, the side walls formed at and extending from a perimeter of the bottom wall; and
 wherein the individual use containers are positioned on the bottom wall of at least one of the first pack and second pack and configured such that the offset top load support surfaces of the containers adjacent to the outside periphery of each respective pack along the respective one of the length and width are adjacent to at least one side wall of the at least one the first pack and second pack thereby positioning the offset center axis in closer proximity to the side wall than the base center axis.   
     
     
         12 . The stackable packaging unit of  claim 11 , wherein at least one side wall of the first pack and the second pack, respectively, further comprises an opening therethrough. 
     
     
         13 . The multipack assembly of  claim 8 , wherein at least one of the first pack and second pack comprises a shrink film for holding the containers together. 
     
     
         14 . A method of providing a stable stacked multipack assembly comprising the steps of:
 providing a first pack having a length and a width, the first pack comprising a plurality of individual use containers positioned in the first pack, each container comprising a base having a base center axis extending therethrough, a body and an offset top load support surface having an offset center axis extending therethrough, wherein the base center axis and the offset center axis are spaced apart and extend substantially parallel to each other;   providing a second pack having a length and a width, the second pack comprising a plurality of the individual use containers positioned in the second pack;   orienting the containers in the first pack and second pack such that the offset top load surfaces of the containers adjacent to an outside periphery of each respective pack along one of the length and width are adjacent to the outside periphery of each respective pack thereby positioning the offset center axis in closer proximity to the outside periphery of the respective pack than the base center axis for providing increased stability of the first pack and second pack when placed in a stacked configuration; and   stacking the second pack in relation with the first pack.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein each individual use container further comprises a gripping feature, and further comprises the step of:
 positioning the gripping feature of the containers adjacent to the outside periphery of each respective pack along the respective one of the length and width away from the outside periphery of a respective pack when placing the container in the respective pack.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein each container includes a neck that includes the offset top load support surface. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein at least one of the first pack and second comprises a bottom wall and side walls, the side walls formed at and extending from a perimeter of the bottom wall; and
 wherein the step of orienting the individual use containers comprises positioning each individual use container on the bottom wall of at least one of the first pack and second pack such that the offset top load support surfaces of the containers adjacent to the outside periphery of each respective pack along the respective one of the length and width are adjacent to at least one side wall of the respective packs thereby positioning the offset center axis in closer proximity to the side wall than the base center axis.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein at least one side wall of the first pack and the second pack, respectively, further comprises an opening therethrough. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein at least one of the first pack and second pack comprises a shrink film holding the containers together.