Pakaging multi-pack of containers having common geometric shape with sheet or band packaging device

Abstract

A multi-pack packaging device as a multi-pack carrying device for multiple containers. The multi-pack packaging device comprises a carrier that includes a plurality of apertures for receiving the multiple containers. Each of the plurality of apertures being surrounded in two dimensions by a sheet or a band. The multi-pack packaging device further comprises a plurality of bonds formed by bonding a neck surface of a container of the multiple containers to the sheet or the band. Each of the plurality of bonds associated with a different one of the plurality of apertures and configured to hold one container of the multiple containers. The multi-pack packaging device further comprises a plurality of perforations-based structures including perforations arranged to create a tear line that passes through a particular aperture of the plurality of apertures at a location where the neck surface is bonded to the sheet or the band. The perforations are configured to enable the plurality of perforations-based structures to be torn from the multi-pack packaging device to cause the particular aperture to no longer be a loop, and to enable a container of the multiple containers to be removed from the multi-pack packaging device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A multi-pack packaging device for carrying multiple cans or bottles each having a common geometric shape and adapted to permit release of each of the multiple cans or bottles individually, comprising:
 a carrier, formed from a sheet of a paper-based material or a band of a resilient material, that includes a plurality of apertures for receiving the multiple cans or bottles, each of the plurality of apertures being surrounded in two dimensions by the paper-based material or the resilient material as the sheet of the paper-based material or the band of resilient material extends about at least a portion of a periphery of each of the multiple cans or bottles while forming a closed loop about the multiple cans or bottles;   a plurality of bonds formed by bonding a neck surface of a can or a bottle of the multiple cans or bottles to the sheet of the paper-based material or the band of resilient material, each of the plurality of bonds associated with a different one of the plurality of apertures and configured to hold one can or bottle of the multiple cans or bottles; and   a plurality of perforations-based structures including perforations arranged to create a tear line that passes through a particular aperture of the plurality of apertures at a location where the neck surface is bonded to the sheet of the paper-based material or the band of resilient material, the perforations are configured to enable the plurality of perforations-based structures to be torn from the multi-pack packaging device to cause the particular aperture to no longer be surrounded in two dimensions by the paper-based material or the resilient material, and to enable a can or a bottle of the multiple cans or bottles to be removed from the multi-pack packaging device.   
     
     
         2 . The multi-pack packaging device of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of bonds and each of the plurality of perforations-based structures form a breakable portion of the paper-based material or the resilient material about a neck of each of the multiple cans or bottles in response to an application of a pulling force on the multiple cans or bottles which both release a given can or a given bottle and sever a loop-shaped structure of a given aperture of the plurality of apertures which acts to retain the given can or the given bottle in the aperture thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The multi-pack packaging device of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of perforations-based structures including a pair of tear lines that pass through the particular aperture of the plurality of apertures, the perforations enabling the given can or the given bottle to be torn off at the pair of tear lines to cause the particular aperture to no longer be surrounded in two dimensions by the paper-based material or the resilient material, and to enable the given can or the given bottle to be removed from the multi-pack packaging device. 
     
     
         4 . The multi-pack packaging device of  claim 3 , wherein the pair of tear lines are parallel to each other and laid out perpendicular to a length of the loop-shaped structure of the given aperture of the plurality of apertures. 
     
     
         5 . The multi-pack packaging device of  claim 4 , wherein a location of the pair of tear lines within the loop-shaped structure of the given aperture of the plurality of apertures is aligned with a location of a given bond of the plurality of bonds such that the given bond is surrounded by the pair of tear lines. 
     
     
         6 . The multi-pack packaging device of  claim 5 , wherein the given bond of the plurality of bonds is a dab of a synthetic glue commonly used in a packaging industry. 
     
     
         7 . The multi-pack packaging device of  claim 1 , wherein a strength of each bond of the plurality of bonds is set to be more than a strength or a pulling force it takes to tear up the plurality of perforations-based structures. 
     
     
         8 . The multi-pack packaging device of  claim 7 , wherein the each bond of the plurality of bonds is a dab of a synthetic glue commonly used in a packaging industry. 
     
     
         9 . The multi-pack packaging device of  claim 1 , wherein the band of the resilient material comprises low-density polyethylene (LDPE) that is a thermoplastic made from monomer ethylene. 
     
     
         10 . The multi-pack packaging device of  claim 1 , wherein the sheet of the paper-based material is edible, biodegradable and is made of beer byproducts that can be eaten by sea life. 
     
     
         11 . A multi-pack packaging device, comprising:
 multiple containers;
 a carrier that includes a plurality of apertures for receiving the multiple containers, each of the plurality of apertures being surrounded in two dimensions by a sheet or a band; 
 a plurality of bonds formed by bonding a neck surface of a container of the multiple containers to the sheet or the band, each of the plurality of bonds associated with a different one of the plurality of apertures and configured to hold one container of the multiple containers; and 
 a plurality of perforations-based structures including perforations arranged to create a tear line that passes through a particular aperture of the plurality of apertures at a location where the neck surface is bonded to the sheet or the band, the perforations are configured to enable the plurality of perforations-based structures to be torn from the multi-pack packaging device to cause the particular aperture to no longer be a loop, and to enable a container of the multiple containers to be removed from the multi-pack packaging device. 
   
     
     
         12 . The multi-pack package of  claim 11 , wherein each of the plurality of bonds and each of the plurality of perforations-based structures form a breakable portion of the sheet or the band about a neck of each of the multiple containers in response to an application of a pulling force on the multiple containers which both release a given container and sever a loop-shaped structure of a given aperture of the plurality of apertures which acts to retain the given container in the aperture thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The multi-pack package of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of perforations-based structures including a pair of tear lines that pass through the particular aperture of the plurality of apertures, the perforations enabling the given container to be torn off at the pair of tear lines to cause the particular aperture to no longer be surrounded in two dimensions by the sheet or the band, and to enable the given container to be removed from the multi-pack packaging device. 
     
     
         14 . The multi-pack package of  claim 13 , wherein the pair of tear lines are parallel to each other and laid out perpendicular to a length of the loop-shaped structure of the given aperture of the plurality of apertures. 
     
     
         15 . The multi-pack package of  claim 14 , wherein a location of the pair of tear lines within the loop-shaped structure of the given aperture of the plurality of apertures is aligned with a location of a given bond of the plurality of bonds such that the given bond is surrounded by the pair of tear lines. 
     
     
         16 . A method of packaging a multi-pack of containers, the method comprising:
 providing multiple containers;
 providing a carrier that includes a plurality of apertures for receiving the multiple containers, each of the plurality of apertures being surrounded in two dimensions by a sheet or a band; 
 providing a plurality of bonds formed by bonding a neck surface of a container of the multiple containers to the sheet or the band, each of the plurality of bonds associated with a different one of the plurality of apertures and configured to hold one container of the multiple containers; and 
 providing a plurality of perforations-based structures including perforations arranged to create a tear line that passes through a particular aperture of the plurality of apertures at a location where the neck surface is bonded to the sheet or the band, the perforations are configured to enable the plurality of perforations-based structures to be torn from the multi-pack packaging device to cause the particular aperture to no longer be a loop, and to enable a container of the multiple containers to be removed from the multi-pack packaging device. 
   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein each of the plurality of bonds and each of the plurality of perforations-based structures form a breakable portion of the sheet or the band about a neck of each of the multiple containers in response to an application of a pulling force on the multiple containers which both release a given container and sever a loop-shaped structure of a given aperture of the plurality of apertures which acts to retain the given container in the aperture thereof. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the plurality of perforations-based structures including a pair of tear lines that pass through the particular aperture of the plurality of apertures, the perforations enabling the given container to be torn off at the pair of tear lines to cause the particular aperture to no longer be surrounded in two dimensions by the sheet or the band, and to enable the given container to be removed from the multi-pack packaging device. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the pair of tear lines are parallel to each other and laid out perpendicular to a length of the loop-shaped structure of the given aperture of the plurality of apertures. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein a location of the pair of tear lines within the loop-shaped structure of the given aperture of the plurality of apertures is aligned with a location of a given bond of the plurality of bonds such that the given bond is surrounded by the pair of tear lines.