Finger Tab Container Carrier for Easier Multipackage Grasping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional container carriers often have finger holes that are too small, making it difficult for consumers to easily carry unitized packages of containers.
Innovation Solution
The finger tab container carrier features modified finger tab holes with a generally rectangular shape and convex segments, providing a substantial increase in surface area for easier grasping, and includes a combination of webs and container receiving apertures for even stretching and application to containers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional small finger holes are used in container carriers, then the carrier structure remains simple and material usage is minimized, but consumer ease of carrying the package deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by modifying only the specific region where fingers interact with the carrier (the aperture area) while keeping the rest of the carrier structure simple. The apertures are shaped with convex segments that create larger, more comfortable finger tabs, while the overall carrier geometry and container engagement features remain conventional and simple.
2Ease of operation
If finger tab holes are enlarged to increase surface area for easier grasping, then ease of carrying improves, but the structural integrity and container engagement capability may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses curvature by incorporating convex segments in the aperture design. These rounded, curved features naturally distribute stress more evenly across the material compared to sharp corners, allowing larger aperture openings while maintaining structural strength. The curved geometry of the convex segments creates smoother stress flow paths in the carrier material.
Solution Approach 2:
The apertures are segmented into multiple regions including convex segments and connecting webs. This segmentation allows the structure to flex and deform in controlled ways during container engagement, distributing mechanical loads across multiple discrete elements rather than concentrating stress in single locations.
3Ease of operation
If traditional oval or rectangular apertures are used, then manufacturing is simple and consistent, but consumer comfort and ease of carrying deteriorates due to insufficient surface area
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the geometric parameters of the apertures - specifically changing from simple oval or rectangular shapes to more complex shapes with convex segments. This geometric parameter modification increases the surface area and creates more comfortable finger engagement zones without fundamentally changing the manufacturing process or requiring additional production steps.
Data Source
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AI summary
A container carrier for unitizing a plurality of containers that includes a plurality of flexible bands forming an array of container receiving apertures, the array arranged in longitudinal rows and transverse ranks. A generally rectangular shaped intermediate aperture is formed between each pair of container receiving apertures, wherein at least two sides of the intermediate aperture are concave, forming convex tabs protruding inward to the intermediate apertures. The resulting carrier is capable of unitizing a variety of containers in a tight multipackage with finger tabs to make carrying the multipackage much easier.