Importance

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Abstract

A multi-pack carrier for holding a plurality of bottles includes a top panel, side panels depending from the top panel, and a bottom panel. The top panel has at least a top ply, a middle ply, and a bottom ply. The top ply includes a plurality of apertures with a plurality slits radiating outwardly from an edge of the each of the apertures to define a plurality of top ply tabs around the top ply apertures. The top ply apertures having a diameter less than a diameter of the bottle where the carrier intersects the bottle when a bottle is placed in the carrier so that the top ply tabs will be angled upwardly to engage the take-out bead of the bottle. The second ply has a plurality of apertures substantially coaxial with the top-ply apertures and a plurality of slits radiating outwardly from the second ply apertures defining a plurality of second ply tabs. The second ply tabs (which are shorter than the top ply tabs) are sized to engage the bottle at a point spaced from the top ply tabs, in a near-planar orientation. The third ply includes apertures substantially coaxial with the top and middle ply apertures and has a diameter slightly greater than the diameter of the take-out bead. The bottom panel has a plurality of apertures which are substantially coaxial with the apertures in the top panel. When bottles are received in the carrier, the top ply tabs engage the chime and bear the weight of the bottle. The middle ply tabs engage the bottle to maintain the bottle substantially centered with respect to the apertures in the top and bottom panels to prevent uneven loading of the top ply tabs. In another embodiment, the bottom ply engages the underside of the bottle closure and bears the weight of the cap. The top ply tabs engage the sides of the bottle cap to help maintain the bottle's concentricity in the carrier.

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First Claim