Abstract: In a package for substantially identical containers, such as substantially identical bottles, a wrapper is formed from a paperboard sheet, folded, and seamed so as to have a bottom wall and two lateral walls providing expansive surfaces for labelling. Each lateral wall has a longitudinal row of container-receiving apertures, each of which is surrounded completely by portions of such lateral wall. The lateral walls are joined to each other at longitudinally extending folding lines, between the longitudinal rows of container-receiving apertures, so as to define an upper edge of the wrapper. As formed from sheet-form, resilient, polymeric material, a carrier has band segments defining container-receiving apertures in a generally rectangular array, which comprises two longitudinal rows corresponding to the longitudinal rows of container-receiving apertures of the wrapper. The carrier is disposed above the bottom wall of the wrapper, below the upper edge of the wrapper.

Abstract: A substantially transparent carrier for carrying a group of items, such as bottles which hold beverages, is made of a plastic material which includes a chemical blocking agent. The carrier includes a machine readable bar code thereon. Each item includes an individual machine readable bar code thereon which is at least partially covered by the carrier. The chemical blocking agent is capable of blocking, by reflection or absorption, light having a narrow wavelength "tuned" or selected to prevent the individual bar codes on the items from being read by a typical bar code reader beam while allowing the bar code on the carrier to be read.

Abstract: A novel, unitized package has an upper tier and a lower tier of containers, wherein each tier comprises substantially identical containers, such as beverage cans of a type having a chime at an upper end, in arranged a substantially rectangular array, and a carrier made from a single sheet of resilient polymeric material, such as low density polyethylene. A unitizing sheet made from a paperboard material is folded so as to form a cover panel, which covers the upper ends of the containers of the upper tier, two lateral panels, which extend downwardly from the cover panel, along and below the containers of the upper tier, and along the containers of the lower tier, and a divider integral with one of the lateral panels. The cover panel of the covering sheet has slits receiving portions of the chimes of the containers of the upper tier.

Abstract: A can package is disclosed, including an array of cans disposed in longitudinal rows and transverse ranks. A first carrier member of resilient, flexible, plastic material includes a similar array of apertures respectively receiving can bodies. A second carrier member of self-supporting sheet material or paperboard includes a top panel overlying chimes of the cans and opposite side panels extending down along opposite sides of the cans and secured to the plastic carrier member. Slits are formed in the second member at junctions between the top panel and the side panels for presenting opposing edges respectively extending over and engaging beneath chimes of adjacent cans.

Abstract: Carrier stock formed from a single sheet of resilient polymeric material, such as low density polyethylene, for machine application to substantially identical containers. The stock is severable, along transverse lines that are perforated, to form individual carriers with container-receiving apertures and additional apertures, as defined by band segments, and with integral handles. The additional apertures facilitate reconfiguration of the stock from an as-formed configuration to an application configuration. Band segments defining the container-receiving apertures at each end rank at each end rank at each edge row includes an outer cross segment, an outer edge segment, an inner cross segment, and an inner oblique segment. The inner cross segment extends from the outer edge segment to the margin of one of the additional apertures.

Abstract: A unitary package for retaining and handling a plurality of generally elongate containers arranged in array includes an arranging structure in which an apertured sheet of resiliently deformable material has a plurality of apertures within which respective lower end portions of the containers are gripped in mutually spaced apart relationship. A film envelope is stretched over the container array and bonded to the sheet of the arranging structure to provide tensioned cohension between the sheet and the envelope which cooperate to produce structural integrity of the package and handling as a stabilized unit without relative skewing of the containers.

Abstract: A bottle carrier device utilizing a single sheet-like resilient carrier device with a plurality of outer rank and middle rank apertures adapted to be positioned midway of the body of the bottles for individually grasping the bottles. The outer rank apertures are elongated longitudinally while the middle rank apertures are elongated transversely. A pair of handles are created in diagonally opposed outer rank apertures.

Abstract: A container package comprises a sheet of plastic material having a plurality of apertures therein and a like plurality of containers respectively received in said apertures. Each container comprises a plastic bottle having a laminated plastic and foil cover heat sealed thereover. Each container has a rim with a maximum diameter and a subjacent portion tapering downwardly and inwardly from said maximum diameter. The cover has an edge on said subjacent portion. The apertures in the carrier are initially elongated longitudinally of the carrier and are provided with scalloped margins. The margins are of lesser diameter than the upper ends of the containers, whereby the margins are stretched and deflected upwardly along said subjacent portion with the margins lying above the respective cover edges.

Abstract: A multi-packaging device for bottles which utilizes a single sheet-like resilient carrier device positioned about the body of bottles and individually gripping each of the bottles. A pair of handles are created in diagonally opposite end rank apertures in the device and apertures laterally adjacent the handle apertures include web structures to compensate for the presence of the handles when lateral stretching forces are applied solely to the outer margins of the carrier device.

Abstract: A package for bottles utilizing a single sheet-like resilient carrier device positioned midway the body of the bottles and individually grouping the bottles. A pair of handles are created in diagonally opposite aperture designed to move upwardly between ranks upon association of bottles with the apertures.

Abstract: A strip of container carrier stock formed from a thin resilient plastic sheet material which is designed to be applied to containers by machines and which may particularly accommodate stretching forces applied nonsymmetrically relative to either the longitudinal axis of the stock or to the lateral axis extending across each laterally aligned series of bands. The stock of this invention is thus configured to be nonsymmetrical about the longitudinal axis of the stock or about a lateral axis extending through the midpoints of each row of container receiving aperture creating bands.

Abstract: A multipackaging device made from resilient plastic material and flat strip stock for producing a plurality of such devices. The strip comprises a pair of rows of bands of laterally aligned container encircling bands, each which define noncircular apertures. The plurality of bands are integrally connected by first web means joining laterally aligned pairs of bands and second web means joining longitudinally adjacent bands in a given row. The laterally innermost section of each band being generally V-shaped with an apex region and pair of legs extending from each apex with the first web means connecting laterally opposed legs of each pair of laterally aligned bands. This construction permits the strip to be stretched laterally by application of forces solely at the outer edge of the strip so each aperture is reconfigured from a noncircular aperture to a substantially circular aperture for application about a container.

Abstract: A plant container for growing plants to a stage suitable for transplanting. The plant container comprises a base having an imperforate upper surface with a rib upstanding from the upper center of the base and a removable sleeve arrangement that is disposed concentrically about the rib. The lower edge of the sleeve arrangement is disposed on or adjacent to the outer upper peripheral surface of the base to provide drainage openings therebetween. The sleeve arrangement is removable to permit the base and root mass and growing medium of the plant grown in the container and disposed about the rib to be transplanted as a unit. The rib functions to hold the root mass and growing medium of the plant on the base and to permit the container, absent the sleeve, to be handled with a minimum loss of growing medium in normal handling and transplanting operations.