Clip-in carrier package for beverage cans

Abstract

A carrier package for securing and carrying a plurality of beverage cans includes a base for supporting the cans, a pair of opposed side walls flanking the cans and extending above the cans and a handle extending upwardly from an upper part of the side walls. The carrier package includes a plurality of apertures arranged in spaced-apart relation along each of the side walls and positioned adjacent to respective top portions of the cans to enable part of each top of each can to protrude through a corresponding aperture and a plurality of flaps each having a lower end defined by an upper edge of a corresponding aperture, the flaps being shaped and positioned to fit obliquely within respective upper rims of the cans to secure the cans with respect to the side walls while the tops of the cans protrude from the respective apertures.

1 . A carrier package for securing and carrying a plurality of beverage cans each having an upper rim, the carrier package comprising:
 a base for supporting the plurality of beverage cans;   a pair of opposed side walls, each comprising:
 a lower portion extending upward from the base at respective sides thereof and flanking the cans; and 
 an upper portion extending from a top part of the lower portion and extending inwardly and above the cans to meet the opposed upper portion at a connection point; 
   a handle extending upwardly from the connection point;   a plurality of apertures arranged in spaced-apart relation along each of the side walls and positioned to be adjacent to respective top portions of the cans to enable part of each top of each beverage can to protrude through a corresponding aperture; and   a plurality of flaps each having a lower end that is defined by an upper edge of a corresponding aperture, the flaps being shaped and positioned to fit obliquely within respective upper rims of the beverage cans to secure the cans with respect to the side walls while the tops of the beverage cans protrude from the respective apertures.   
     
     
         2 . The carrier package of  claim 1 , wherein the flaps have respective arcuate edges that fit into the respective upper rims of the beverage cans. 
     
     
         3 . The carrier package of  claim 2 , wherein the pair of opposed side walls, the apertures and the flaps are sized, positioned and configured such that each flap is displaceable from a disengaged position along the side of or above the corresponding can to an engaged position where the flap fits within the upper rim of the corresponding can, in response to upward displacement of the handle. 
     
     
         4 . The carrier package of  claim 3 , wherein the pair of opposed side walls, the apertures and the flaps are sized, positioned and configured such that each flap snap-fits into the corresponding upper rim of the can as the flap is displaced from the disengaged position to the engaged position. 
     
     
         5 . The carrier package of  claim 3 , wherein the pair of opposed side walls, the apertures and the flaps are sized, positioned and configured such that each flap that is snap-fit into the upper rim of the corresponding can, stays in engaged position in response to downward displacement of the handle. 
     
     
         6 . The carrier package of  claim 3 , wherein the pair of opposed side walls, the apertures and the flaps are sized, positioned and configured such that each flap is displaceable from the engaged position to the disengaged position in response to downward displacement of the handle. 
     
     
         7 . The carrier package of  claim 3 , wherein the apertures are defined by an upper edge and a lower edge, the upper edge defining a concave aperture shape and the lower end of the flaps, the lower edge having a convex aperture shape, the upper and lower edges meeting at a highest point of the aperture, and when the flaps are in the engaged position the highest point of the aperture is above the rims of the cans. 
     
     
         8 . The carrier package of  claim 1 , wherein the apertures each comprise a main region and two arms extending upward from respective sides of the main region, defining the flap between the two arms. 
     
     
         9 . The carrier package of  claim 8 , wherein the main region is defined by curvilinear upper and lower edges and wherein a pre-fold line extends between a side of the upper edge of the aperture to an opposite side of the upper edge so as to delineate a pre-fold zone between the pre-fold line and the upper edge of the aperture for each of the flaps. 
     
     
         10 . The carrier package of  claim 1 , further comprising base openings arranged in spaced-apart relation along each of the side walls and positioned to be adjacent to respective bottom portions of the cans to enable a portion of each bottom of each can to protrude through a corresponding base opening. 
     
     
         11 . The carrier package of  claim 10 , wherein the base openings are defined by an upper score line and an arc-shaped lower edge, the upper score line defining tabs extending downwardly from the side walls. 
     
     
         12 . The carrier package of  claim 11 , wherein the base, the side walls, the flaps, the tabs and the handle are all formed from a single blank of material, the blank comprising an inner surface and an outer surface, the outer surface including indicia. 
     
     
         13 . The carrier package of  claim 12 , wherein the carrier package has a flat configuration and a folded configuration, the folded configuration including the engaged position and the disengaged position, and wherein the blank comprises, when in the flat configuration:
 a central portion corresponding to the base of the carrier package;   a pair of opposed middle portions on either side of the central portion and corresponding to the side walls of the carrier package; and   a pair of opposed end portions corresponding to the handle of the carrier package;   wherein the blank in the flat configuration has a longitudinal dimension extending along the central portion, the pair of opposed middle portions, and the pair of opposed end portions, and folds extending along a transverse dimension of the blank.   
     
     
         14 . The carrier package of  claim 13 , wherein the folds define the central portion, the pair of opposed middle portions, and the pair of opposed end portions with respect to each other, the folds comprising:
 two pairs of bottom folds provided on either side of the central portion of the blank, and defining a width of the base;   two pairs of top folds provided between respective middle and end portions, defining a height of the lower portions of the side walls;   two end folds on respective end portions, defining the widths of the upper portions of the side walls and a height of the handle;   wherein each pair of bottom folds and each pair of top folds consists of two folds.   
     
     
         15 . The carrier package of  claim 14 , wherein the pair of bottom folds forms a flexible bottom portion between the base and the lower portion of the side walls, the flexible bottom portion wrapping around a bottom part of the beverage cans when in the folded configuration and wherein the pair of top folds forms a flexible top portion between the lower portion of the side walls and the upper portion of the side walls, the flexible top portion wrapping around a top part of the beverage cans when in the folded configuration and wherein the pair of bottom folds and the pair of top folds are located and configured to enable:
 movement of the lower portion of the side walls toward the beverage cans in response to an upward displacement of the handle; and   movement of the lower portion of the side walls away from the beverage cans in response to a downward displacement of the handle.   
     
     
         16 . The carrier package of  claim 14 , wherein the apertures are located in an apertured region of the side walls, and at least one fold of the pair of top folds extends along the apertured region. 
     
     
         17 . The carrier package of  claim 16 , wherein the pair of top folds comprises an upper fold and a lower fold, the lower fold extending through the apertured region where the main regions of the apertures are located, and the upper fold extending through the apertured region where tips of the arms of the apertures are located. 
     
     
         18 . The carrier package of  claim 17 , wherein the upper fold is discontinuous and comprises a plurality of discrete fold lines located in between adjacent apertures and between end apertures and adjacent side edges of the side wall, thus providing foldless regions where the flaps are located and wherein the lower fold is continuous and extends through all material of the apertured region. 
     
     
         19 . The carrier package of  claim 14 , wherein each of the upper portions of the side walls comprises a proximal member connected to the lower portion and a distal member connected to the proximal member, wherein an end fold is located to define the proximal and distal members, wherein the distal members of the opposed upper portions each comprise an opening, the openings being aligned when the distal members are connected in co-planar fashion to form a single handle opening for receiving a hand of a user. 
     
     
         20 . A carrier package for securing and carrying a plurality of beverage cans each having an upper rim, the carrier package comprising:
 a base for supporting the plurality of beverage cans;   side structures extending upward from the base and flanking the beverage cans;   a handle extending upwardly from an upper part of the side structures and located above the beverage cans;   a plurality of flaps connected to the side structures, each flap being shaped and positioned to be displaceable from a disengaged position along a side of a corresponding beverage can to an engaged position where the flap fits within an upper rim of the corresponding beverage can, in response to upward displacement of the handle, the flaps thereby securing the beverage cans.