A Flexible Beverage Support Sheet & Package

Abstract

A flexible beverage support sheet having an insulating, flexible, polymeric sheet adapted for supporting beverage containers, die sheet having a perimeter edge and lines of weakness defining a plurality of insulating beverage holder blanks each of which is configurable about a circumference of an individual beverage container and a beverage package containing the same.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to support sheets such as separator sheets for multi-unit beverage packages such as cases of beer, soft drinks and the like, and related beverage packages containing same.

[0002] Various support sheets, separator or divider sheets, or tier sheets are known in the art. These sheets are used to facilitate assembly of a plurality of containers into an array, to support and/or divide arrays of articles, canned food or beverage containers. Many are disclosed as being printed, or as having tabs, aprons, or folded portions. See e.g. U.S. Pat. No. 2,928,200, (Shiels); U.S. Pat. No. 5,826,783 (Stout): and U.S. Pat. No. 7,089,871 (Smith, Jr.). These support sheets may be made of various materials including paperboard or plastic. See e.g. U.S. Pat. No. 3,522,890 (Birchall): U.S. Pat. No. 5,692,361 (Ziegler et al.); and U.S. Pat. No. 5,401,563 (Kurata et al.).

[0003] Also known are plastic, heat shrinkable, or foamed overwraps for packaging a plurality of articles, some of which may include separator sheets or trays. See e.g.: U.S. Pat. No. 4,333,570 (Heider); and U.S. Pat. No. 6,105,776 (Meilhon).

[0004] It is also known to protect contents of the package, especially glass bottles, by providing insulating plastic foam sheets to separate adjacent containers from one another using paper/plastic foam laminates as labels which may also be used for insulating or protecting, such disparate items as ice cream, a box of taco shells, or a "styrofoam" cup, see U.S. Pat. No. 4,273,816 (Tollette).

[0005] In another art, there are numerous inventions related to insulating beverage holders or "cozies". These holders or cozies are designed to both insulate a person's hand from cold or hot temperatures and to help maintain the coldness or hotness of the beverage. Many insulating materials and designs are known. See e.g. U.S. Pat. No. 4,583,577 (Canfield); U.S. Pat. No. 4,648,525 (Henderson); U.S. Pat. No. 5,147,067 (Effertz); U.S. Pat. No. 6,620,281 (Sommers); and US Patent Publication Nos. 2002/0179617 (Barthlow is to) and 2002/0066739 (Howell et al).

[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 7,815,047 (Trimarco) discloses and attempts to provide a plurality of insulated paperboard beverage jackets which can be secured to a carton or formed as a portion thereof. The disclosed paperboard jackets are susceptible to failure from splitting apart upon insertion of the container into a jacket.

[0007] The art continues to lack an economical insulating holder for beverage cans or bottles which may be produced on high-speed equipment, and at low cost, and be effectively used, and preferably reused, without falling apart from stresses imparted by container insertion and both radial and lateral stresses placed upon the jacket during use.

[0008] It would be advantageous to provide a holder suitable for use with containers of varying diameter to accommodate products economically.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] A novel flexible beverage support sheet having an insulating, flexible, polymeric sheet adapted for supporting beverage containers is described with the sheet having a perimeter edge and lines of weakness defining a plurality of insulating beverage holder blanks each of which is configurable about a so circumference of an individual beverage container and a beverage package containing the same.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an inventive multi-unit beverage package according to the present invention.

[0011] FIG. 2 is a schematic view of another embodiment of a multi-unit beverage package according to the present invention.

[0012] FIG. 3 is a plan view of an inventive multifunctional beverage support sheet.

[0013] FIG. 4 is a sectional view of FIG. 3 taken along lines 4-4.

[0014] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a beverage holder in use.

[0015] FIG. 6 is a plan view of another embodiment of the support sheet according to the present invention.

[0016] FIG. 7 is a plan view of yet another embodiment of the support sheet according to the present invention.

[0017] FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the support sheet of FIG. 7 taken along lines 8-8.

[0018] FIG. 9 is a plan view of another embodiment of a beverage holder support sheet according to the present invention.

[0019] FIG. 10 is an elevational side view of the support of FIG. 9 with side flaps folded at 90 degrees.

[0020] FIG. 11 is a schematic view of a shrink film depicting an embodiment of a support sheet overwrap in accordance with the present invention.

[0021] FIG. 12 is a schematic view of a carton blank having a plurality of insulating beverage holder blanks in accordance with the present invention.

[0022] FIG. 13 is a schematic view of a beverage package having a carton overwrap in accordance with the present invention.

[0023] FIG. 14 is an elevated front schematic view of the carton of FIG. 11 with its end flaps open showing enclosed contents.

[0024] FIG. 15 is a plan view of an another embodiment of an inventive beverage support.

[0025] FIG. 16 is a plan view of yet another embodiment of an inventive beverage support.

[0026] FIG. 17 is a plan view of yet another embodiment of an inventive beverage support.

[0027] FIG. 18 is a sectional view of the support sheet of FIG. 17 taken along lines 18-18.

[0028] FIG. 19 is an enlarged view of a portion of the support sheet section of FIG. 17.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0029] In all embodiments of the invention it is necessary that the support sheet both define a plurality of insulating beverage holder blanks and be adapted to function as a support for a plurality of containers. Thus a multi-unit beverage case utilizes one of its supporting structures as a medium from which beverage holders may be easily formed for immediate use with the contents of the package. In this manner a dual use is provided with added value at little or no added cost. By using a flexible foamed multilayer polyolefin structure it may even be possible to reduce both cost and weight while providing added too functionality.

[0030] The blank and holder of the present invention may be made of any suitable polymeric material including monolayer or multilayer polymeric materials including e.g. cellulosic, rubber or thermoplastic material or combinations thereof. Specific material examples include non woven cellulosic, nonwoven plastic, nonwoven sheet, paperboard, polyolefin films or sheets etc. and may be embossed, textured, metallized, colored, dyed, printed or a combination thereof. The material may be in sheet, film, or tubular formats that are seamless or seamed.

[0031] The polymeric support sheet may also be water impermeable, water resistant or water proof to maintain integrity when in contact with water e.g. from outside environmental sources or from condensation especially when in use as a beverage holder wrapped around a cold beverage can.

[0032] The polymeric material may contain recycled polymer, scrim, fibers, inorganic filler, pigment, dye, colorants, scents, or other additives or agents to enhance or add functionality or improve sheet properties or processability.

[0033] Referring to the drawings, in general, layer thicknesses in the figures presented herein are not to scale, but are dimensioned for ease of illustration.

[0034] Referring now to FIG. 1, a perspective view of a beverage package 10 made in accordance with the present invention is depicted. A plurality of beverage containers 11, such as cans, are shown arranged into two tiers, a lower first tier 12 and an upper second tier 13, with insulated polymeric support sheets provided as top support sheet 14, intermediate separator support sheet 15, and bottom support sheet 16, all of which are disposed in parallel planes with the separator sheet 15 being spaced apart from the top and bottom sheets 14, and 16 by a space equal to the uniform height of the individual containers 11. The top and bottom support sheets function as base sheets 17 adapted to support at least one tier of a plurality of beverage containers 11. The intermediate separator support sheet 15 functions to divide the first tier containers from the second tier while supporting either tier depending upon whether beverage package 10 is placed with tier 11 above or turned so that it is below tier 12. The two tiers 12, 13 of containers 11, and the three support sheets 14, 15, and 16 are encased by an overwrap 18 which is depicted as a clear transparent plastic film 19.

[0035] The intermediate separator support sheet 15 is adapted to separate the first tier 12 from the second tier 13, and it is also adapted to provide stabilizing support for maintaining the positional relationship between the first tier and second tier containers 11 in cooperation with the overwrap 18. Without use of a suitable separator sheet individual cans or containers in the upper tier 13 may easily become displaced and fall under force of gravity and or other forces e.g. especially during handling and transport when additional jarring and/or handling forces may be encountered. Such displacement may cause the package to deform from its intended compact regularly dimensioned hexahedron shape to an irregular, noncompact and/or shifting configuration which may be a hard to stack, hard to handle shape thereby causing such undesirable effects as reduction of space utilization for stacking packages, loss of integrity of the package and its contents, breakage of the package causing spilling of its contents and disunity of the package from containing its pre-determined number of containers, denting and damage to individual containers, abnormal pressure on individual containers causing rupture and/or iso denting and the like. The separator sheet must thus have sufficient internal strength and integrity to hold together to resist such movement aided by the weight of adjacent containers which act to "pin" adjacent areas of the sheet 15 to the area whereupon rests an individual container bottom much like a blanket held around its perimeter by many hands may support thereon a person. In addition, the overwrap itself constrains the plurality of containers (hereinafter, by way of example only, referred to as "cans"), to remain in contact with one another and thereby circumscribing movement to any side being thereby bounded by either other cans or the overwrap itself against dislocating movement. Thus, any individual can will on its top or bottom have contact with a separator sheet, from 2-4 cans, and possibly the overwrap itself or a top or bottom base sheet so that movement is arrested in all directions. Preferably, the shape of the package complete with contents will generally form a hexahedron, but many shapes are contemplated including prismatic shapes such as cubes, cuboids, rectangular prisms, as well as cylinders and the like.

[0036] The beverage package 10, by way of example is depicted with a 3.times.4 can configuration for each tier thereby providing a package of 24 containers arranged in two twelve container tiers and having a rectangular circumference and approximate hexagonal shape. It will be appreciated that other arrangements may be easily constructed for example, of one or three tiers, or of 4.times.6, 3.times.5 or 4.times.4, etc., arrangements of cans, or using other style beverage containers of half height, thinner, thicker, taller, shorter, or varying container shapes to be e.g. more bottle-like with curved bodies, narrow necks, etc., or combinations of the foregoing construction elements.

[0037] Referring again to FIG. 1, the package 10 is configured in an overall exterior rectangular prism shape formed by six rectangular surfaces of which three are visible in FIG. 1 including rectangular top panel 20, front panel 21, and side panel 22. This rectangular top panel 20 is approximately coextensive with a rectangular top perimeter 23 of the top support sheet 24 having rear edge 25 and opposing front edge 26 connected by first side edge 27 and opposing second side edge 28 at respective opposing rear corners 29 and 30, and opposing respective front corners 31 and 32.

[0038] Top support sheet 14 is adapted for functioning not only for supporting beverage containers as a base sheet, but also comprises an insulating, flexible polymeric material and has a line of weakness depicted by perforations 33 by which the top sheet 14 may be manually separated into two separate insulating beverage holder blanks 34, 35 having respective adhesive fastener strips 36, 37.

[0039] Opposite top panel 20 is a bottom panel 38 of similar dimension to the top panel 20 and top sheet 14 with bottom panel 38 having a front perimeter edge 39 extending from corner 404 to opposite corner 41 and at right angles thereto, and side perimeter edge 42 extending from front corner 41 to opposing rear corner 43. Rectangular front panel 21 is defined by front edge 26 which extends from corner 31 to corner 32 and opposing front edge 39. These two parallel opposing front edges 26 and 39 are connected at right angles by parallel opposing edges 44, 45. Edge 44 extends from corner 31 to corner 40. Edge 45 extends from corner 32 to corner 41. Side panel 22 shares a top side edge 28 with top panel 20 and shares an opposing parallel bottom edge 42 with bottom panel 38. These two edges are connected by front edge 45 and rear edge 46, the rear edge 46 extends from corner 30 to corner 43 and runs parallel to the front edge 45. Parallel to the plane of side panel 22 is an opposing side panel (not shown) of similar dimensions to panel 22 and having its front edge coextensive with front edge 44 and its top side edge coextensive with edge 27. In this manner a box shaped rectangular prism beverage package is formed having six sides comprising three sets two opposing parallel rectangular surfaces i.e., (i) top and bottom panels, (ii) front and rear panels, and (iii) a pair of side panels. To construct the package, plastic overwrap 18 (typically a seamless tube, but may optionally be seamed to form a tube) is positioned so that two tiers of a plurality of containers and the support sheets are placed within the overwrap tube and heat applied to the front and rear ends of the tubes and along the tube body. The application of heat causes the plastic tube to contract about its contents and also causes both ends to severely contact thereby holding the contents together in close contact with one another. The front and rear ends of the plastic overwrap also shrink and melt to form compact hand grip areas. A front hand grip area 47 and its perimeter 48 is depicted and a similarly dimensioned rear panel (not shown) in a parallel plane to the front panel 21 is located at the rear of the package having coextensive top rear and side edges 25, 46 with a corresponding rear hand grip.

[0040] It will be appreciated that top support sheet 14 and/or overwrap 18 may be imprinted with indicia 49 e.g. symbols, words, logos, designs and the like to communicate information or provide a pleasing appearance or for other functional or ornamental reasons. In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 1, base sheets 17 are all located, encased or enclosed within the overwrap 18, but it will be apparent that one or more support sheets may also be affixed to the exterior of the overwrap e.g. overlaying and adhered to panel 22 or adhered or affixed exterior to panel 20 and/or 21 or one or more other sides. Also, a support sheet could even comprise the body of the overwrap itself as further described below.

[0041] Referring now to FIG. 2, a perspective view of another embodiment of a beverage package 110 according to the present invention is depicted. Inventive package 110 is similar to the embodiment of FIG. 1 in that a beverage package holds a plurality of beverage cans 111 arranged in two tiers 112, 113 separated by a separator support sheet 115 is shown. It differs in that package 110 has a different overwrap 118 which is formed from a multilayer polyolefin plastic film having a core layer of a foamed polyolefin. Overwrap 118 is adapted to function as base support sheets and also to provide a plurality of beverage holder blanks 134, 135 having indicia 149 printed thereon. The beverage holder blanks 134 are defined by lines of weakness such as longitudinal perforation lines 133a and transverse perforation lines 133b.

[0042] In use an individual holder 134 may be separated manually by pulling apart the flexible film portions on either side of a line of weakness defined here by the perforation lines 133a and 133b. This produces access to the contents of the package e.g. a can of beverage and also yields an individual beverage container holder which may then be wrapped around a beverage container 111. In this alternative embodiment, the holder may be held in place by an adhesive tape strip (not depicted). A plurality of such adhesive strips may be provided as fastening means to attach a first end 50 of a detached rectangular holder 134 to a portion of a second opposing end 51 with a third end 52 aligning with an upper can portion and an opposing fourth end 53 aligning with a bottom can portion. In this embodiment indicia 149 is printed as part of the overwrap and multiple holders may be provided around the package 110. In addition, a separator or divider sheet 115 may be provided as described above in FIG. 1 to provide both separator, divider, support functions as well as additional holder blanks though here the fastening means may employ the aforementioned adhesive tape strips. In this embodiment the longitudinal perforation lines extend or curve down to perimeter 148 of hand grip area 147. The melt contraction of the plastic film in the area of the hand grip reinforces this area to strengthen it against undesirable premature opening. Thus the original lines of weakness attendant to the line of perforations are transformed in this region by heat to provide the desired grip functionality.

[0043] Referring now to FIG. 3, a plan view is depicted showing an embodiment of flexible beverage support as described with respect to FIG. 1. This support sheet 60 may be used as any or all of the support sheets 14, 15, 16 shown in FIG. 1. Support sheet 60 has connected peripheral edges 61, 62, 63 and 64 forming a rectangle with opposing parallel long side edges 61 and 63 and opposing parallel short side edges 62 and 64. A first beverage holder blank 65 is separable from adjacent second beverage holder blank 66 along a line of weakness formed by perforations 67. A repeating pattern of indicia 68 has been printed such that each holder blank has at least a full portion of the desired indicia 68. Adhesive strips 69 are provided as fastening means for forming a beverage container holder e.g. by connecting an edge portion proximate edge 64 of an insulating holder blank 65 to an opposing portion of the blank 65 distally located therefrom.

[0044] Referring now to FIG. 4, a sectional view is shown of the support sheet 60 of FIG. 3 taken along lines 4-4. First beverage holder blank 65 and second beverage holder blank 66 have a point of separation depicted by perforation 67 therebetween. Atop each of the holder blanks 65 and 66 are adhesive strips 69 which comprise a pressure sensitive adhesive 70 adhered to the holder blank top surface 71. The holder blank also has an opposing bottom surface 72. On the opposing side of the adhesive 70 from the holder top surface 71 are silicone coated release liners 73. These release liners protect the adhesive from unwanted premature adherence to materials which might otherwise come into contact with the adhesive 70 prior to formation of a desired, typically cylindrical, holder in frictional contact with an exterior beverage container surface as best illustrated in FIG. 5. Each of holder blank 65, 66 are constructed of a material which is both flexible and insulating. In accordance with the present invention this material must be sufficiently flexible to generally conform about a beverage container exterior surface where the container is normally gripped or otherwise held by a hand or gripping aid. The holder material must also have sufficient insulating properties to protect a person's hand from low or high temperatures to which the beverage is brought prior to consumption. Typically beverages such as soft drinks, water, alcoholic beverages such as ale, beer, wine are cooled to low temperatures which are uncomfortable for prolonged contact with unprotected human skin. It is contemplated however that in certain modes of use, an elevated temperature resistant container might be employed whereby one could heat an open container e.g. by microwave or other means to a high temperature that is likewise uncomfortable for prolonged contact with an unprotected hand and the invention may also be suitably employed for these uses in certain embodiments. Referring again to FIG. 4, the holders 65, 66 to provide both flexibility and insulating properties may comprise e.g. a multilayer polymeric sheet or film 74 having respective top and bottom surfaces 71, 72. In a preferred embodiment, the holder film 74 has at least three layers, top layer 75, intermediate core layer 76, and bottom layer 77. Preferably each of the three layers will be a polyolefin polymer such as polyethylene or polypropylene and at least one layer will be foamed, preferably core layer 76. Foamed core layer 76 is made by conventional means utilizing a foaming agent during extrusion and film manufacture e.g. by using well known film extrusion and bubble blowing and stretching apparatus in a blown bubble film process. The foaming agent expands to cause a closed cellular structure that traps air or another gas within the cells to impart insulating properties which resists transfer of heat through or across the closed cell foamed structure. It may also be possible to incorporate hollow micro-spheres such as glass micro-sphere, or to incorporate insulating particles.

[0045] Examples of preferred polymers for use in flexible plastic film or sheet structures include ethylene homopolymers or copolymers such as low density polyethylene (LDPE), high density polyethylene (HDPE), very low density polyethylene (VLDPE), ultra low density polyethylene (ULDPE), linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE), ethylene alpha-olefin copolymers (EAO), propylene ethylene copolymers, polyesters, ethylene vinyl acetate copolymers, polyester terephthalate, and the like. Beneficially, the top layer 75 is formed of a material having good processiblity, good machinability, abrasion resistance, and/or good printability or combinations thereof. Beneficially, the bottom layer 77 may likewise have similar properties to those described for the top layer. The bottom layer should also preferably have a surface suitable for gripping a container surface to prevent unwanted sliding of the can, although the surface may be selected to provide reusability of a holder for subsequent cans e.g. by slidably removing the can from the tubular holder and slipping the holder over another can. It may also be beneficial for one or more of the surface or core layers to have good resistance to inadvertent puncture or tearing, and optionally, e.g. where the above described multilayer film is used as an overwrap, good shrink properties which allow for contraction upon application of heat to form a smooth tight appearance and provide package contents restraint from movement and displacement.

[0046] Referring now to FIG. 5, a perspective view is depicted of a beverage container can 11 of cylindrical shape and having an indented bottom portion 78 integral with a cylinder body portion 79 and opposing can shoulder portion 80. A generally circular lid 81 is affixed to the shoulder portion 80 forming a can top 82. Wrapped around the circumference of the can body 79 is a flexible polymeric insulating beverage holder 65 having a top edge 63 and bottom edge 83. The holder has indicia 68 printed on its top surface 71. The bottom surface (not shown) of the holder 65 is in general frictional contact with the surface of can body 79 except for a portion proximate holder end 62 which overlays or wraps around the holder top surface 71 thereby placing an adhesive strip adhesive portion (shown in dotted lines) 70 (from which the release liner has been removed) in contact with the holder top surface 71 at a location at the other end portion from edge 62 thereby adhering the holder ends together in an overlapping arrangement to form a tube which conforms to the can cylinder body 79. The tightness of this arrangement maintains the holder in position about the can body 79. In this manner a beverage can holder is provided which insulates a person's hand from the coldness (or other temperature variation) of the can 11.

[0047] Referring now to FIG. 6, a plan view is depicted of a rectangular support sheet 90 having top side edge 91, right side edge 92, bottom side edge 93, and left side edge 94, forming a continuous perimeter edge 95 circumscribing two flexible, insulating container holder blanks 96a and 96b separated by a line of weakness 97. The line of weakness may be a score line, perforations, holes, cuts or the like which form a line by which blank 96a may be manually separated from blank 96b. The top surface 98 of support sheet 90 may have indicia 99 embossed or printed thereon. In the embodiment of FIG. 6 additional lines of weakness such as perforations 100 are provided proximate bottom edge 93 to define a two sided hook 101 on each holder blank 96a, 96b. Still more lines of weakness 102 are provided proximate side 91 to define a slot 103. Upon manual separation of the two holder blanks 96a, 96b, each slot may be opened by manual pressure along line of weakness 102 to form slots 103 adapted to receive hooks 101 which are similarly formed by manual pressure along lines of weakness 100 to remove edge portions 104. The thus formed respective hook 101 and slot 102 may be interlocked around the circumference of a container body to attach the holder 96a thereto for use as an insulating beverage holder 105.

[0048] Referring now to FIG. 7, a plan view depicting another embodiment of a support sheet 200 is provided. This support sheet 200 shows three holder blanks 201, 202, and 203 which are formed by two transverse die cuts 204 connected by four longitudinal curved die cuts 205. These die cuts 204, 205 are through a top surface 206 of sheet 200, but do not extend all the way through the sheet thickness as best seen in FIG. 8.

[0049] Referring now to FIG. 8, a sectional view taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 7 is depicted of support sheet 200 having four longitudinal die cuts 205 which extend through a three layer polymeric film 207 which has a top layer 208, core layer 209 and bottom layer 210. Bottom layer 210 is coated with a pressure sensitive adhesive layer 211 which in turn is protected by a removable silicone coated release liner 212. Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, after use as a support sheet in a beverage package the support sheet 200 may be removed from the package and individual beverage holders 201, 202, 203 may be removed, as needed, and applied to a container wall by attachment through adhesive layer 211 to provide an insulated beverage holder.

[0050] Referring now to FIGS. 9 and 10, a plan view is depicted of yet another embodiment of an inventive multifunctional support sheet 213 having top, right, bottom, left side edges 214, 215, 216, 217 forming a generally rectangular perimeter 218 having rounded corners 219. On support sheet 213 longitudinal score lines 220 provide folding lines where one or more of flap 221 adjacent left edge 217 and flap 222 adjacent right edge 215 may be folded, preferably 90 degrees to form an inverted block shaped "U" as shown in FIG. 10, wherein use as a support sheet the flaps extend over side portions of containers. In this manner adhesive strips 223 may be located in an area which is typically subjected to less weight compression and forces caused by the weight of the container contents during normal storage and stacking of beverage packages utilizing the support sheets. This may be beneficial to prevent undesirable compression or deterioration of adhesive or caulking properties of some soft adhesive materials that may be used in strips 223. The adhesive strips 223, as depicted in FIG. 10, will typically comprise a pressure sensitive adhesive 224 protected by a covering release liner 225. Although no indicia are shown in FIG. 9, indicia may be present on either or both flat sides including top surface 226 or opposite bottom side 227. The support sheet 213 may be dimensioned for placement as a top, bottom, or side panel e.g. in conjunction with the embodiment of FIG. 1. In such use the flaps 221, 222 may be bent 90 degrees to extend over portions of the package sides. This has the advantage of sheltering the adhesive strips from bearing the weight of the package during normal storage and shipment thereby avoids adhesive compression.

[0051] Referring now to FIG. 11 a perspective view is depicted of a heat shrinkable tubular printed film 229. The film 229 may be a seamed or seamless tube 230 having an opening 231 and lines of weakness such as longitudinal and transverse slits or perforations 232. Preferably, a sheet of heat shrinkable film is wrapped around one or more tiers of beverage containers and heat sealed to itself. Alternatively, cut end 233 may be opened for placement of one or more tiers of beverage containers within a formed tube having an end distal from end 233. The tube may be shrink wrapped by application of heat to produce a package e.g. as that shown in FIG. 2.

[0052] Referring now to FIGS. 12-14, another embodiment of the invention is shown. A box blank 234 as best seen in FIG. 12 may be made of paperboard or flexible cellulosic material. This box blank 234 has a perimeter 235, hand hole die cut outs 236 and longitudinal and transverse fold scores as is conventional in the art configured to fold into a box as shown in FIG. 13.

[0053] The box blank 234 has a bottom section 238 with parallel opposing longitudinal fold scores 239, 240 and parallel opposing transverse fold scores 241, 242 which four fold scores define a rectangular shaped bottom 238. Depending from bottom front transverse fold score 241 is a front lower end tab 243. Depending from bottom rear transverse fold score 242 is a rear lower end tab 244.

[0054] Adjacent to the bottom section 238 with shared longitudinal fold score 239 is left side section 245 having a left side longitudinal fold score 246 which is parallel to fold score 239 and connected thereto by parallel opposing left side front and rear transverse fold scores 247, 248. Depending from left side transverse fold score 247 is a left front side end tab 249. Depending from left side rear transverse fold score 248 is a left rear side end tab 250.

[0055] Adjacent to the bottom section 238 with shared longitudinal fold score 240 is right side section 251 having a longitudinal fold score 252 which is parallel to fold score 240 and connected thereto by parallel opposing front and rear transverse fold scores 253, 254. Depending from right side transverse fold score 253 is a right front side end tab 255. Depending from right side rear transverse fold score 254 is a right rear side end tab 256.

[0056] Adjacent to the left side section 245 with shared longitudinal fold score 246 is left top section 257 having a left top longitudinal end 258 connected to fold score 246 by parallel opposing front and rear transverse fold scores 259. 260. Depending from transverse fold score 259 is a left front top end tab 261. Depending from rear transverse fold score 260 is a left rear top end tab 262.

[0057] Adjacent to the right side section 251 with shared longitudinal fold score 252 is right top section 263 having a longitudinal end 264 connected to fold score 252 by parallel opposing front and rear transverse top fold scores 265, 266. Depending from right top transverse fold score 265 is a right front top end tab 267. Depending from rear transverse fold score 266 is a right rear top end tab 268.

[0058] According to the invention, defined within the perimeter 235 of box blank 234 is a plurality of flexible beverage holder blanks. Bottom section 238 is divided by a line of perforations 269 into two paperboard hook and slot type beverage holder blanks 270, 271, each of which has an arrow shaped "hook" 272 formed by perforations extending from transverse fold score 241 into the front lower end tab 243. At opposing ends of holder blanks 270, 271 proximate the transverse fold score 242 and extending therefrom inward on the holder blanks 270, 271 are perforated curved slots 273. The flexible paperboard holder blanks 270, 271 may be separated from the box blank by tearing or cutting along scores 239, 242, 240, and 241 taking care to separate "hooks" 272 from the from lower end tab 243 along the hook perforations while only severing that portion of score 241 that will permit the hooks to remain integral with the holder blank while separating them from the end tabs. The pair of holder blanks 270, 271 thus removed from the box blank 234 may be separate from each other along perforated line 269 to form individual beverage holders, each of which may be wrapped around a container body such as a can with insertion of the arrow shaped hook into that holder's slot to snugly fit together and form a tubular holder. Left and right side sections 245, 251 contain longitudinal lines of perforations 274 which extend respectively from score 248 to score 247 and from score 254 to score 253. Six beverage holders may be separated from these left and right side sections 245, 251 by: (i) removing the end tabs 249, 250 (for the left section) and 255, 256 for the right section; (ii) removing the left and right top sections along scores 246, 252; (iii) removing the bottom section 238 along scores 239, 240; and (iv) separating six individual holders 275 from each other by severing along perforation lines 274. Each of these beverage holders is depicted with a release liner cover pressure sensitive adhesive strip 276. An individual beverage holder 275 may be wrapped around the tubular side wall of a can and connected to itself by removal of the release liner to expose the adhesive which permits the holder to be pressed against itself to form a snug tubular holder which insulates a drinker's hand from the temperature of the beverage, and insulates the beverage from the temperature of the hand, e.g. see FIG. 5.

[0059] Flexible beverage container support sheets may have any suitable thickness that achieves the aims of the invention to provide a support sheet in combination with a beverage holder blank that is flexible enough to conform its shape around the body of a beverage container by which it may be held insulating the person's hand from the coldness of the can. In preferred embodiments of the invention the support may have a thickness between 1 mil (0.254 millimeters) and inch (63.5 millimeters). Especially preferred embodiments may advantageously have a thickness between 5-15 man (1.27-3.81 mm).

[0060] Paperboard embodiments are contemplated and e.g. 35 mil kraft paper may be used as well as the previously described plastic and multilayer especially foamed polymer embodiments.

[0061] Referring to FIG. 13, in use the box blank 234 of FIG. 12 has been folded along fold scores and the tabs glued to form a carton or box 277 containing a plurality of beverage cans (See FIG. 14). The right side section 251 illustrates indicia printed e.g. in a repeat pattern for each holder 275. Cut out openings 236 in the top form hand holds for carrying the carton.

[0062] Referring now to FIG. 14, carton 277 of FIG. 13 is shown with an open end to display and provide access to a plurality of cans 278 arranged in an upper tier over a plurality of cans 279 arranged in a lower tier and separated by divider support sheet 280 having a longitudinal line of perforations 281 extending from divider edge 282 to an opposing divider rear edge (See FIG. 15.)

[0063] Referring now to FIG. 15, a plan view of the divider support sheet 280 of FIG. 14 is shown prior to insertion into the package carton. Sheet 280 has a perimeter formed by front edge 282, first side edge 283, rear edge 284 and second side edge 285. The sheet 280 is provided with a rear end tab 286 having a fold line 287 and a front tab 288 having a fold line 289. In use as a support sheet at least one, or both, of these tabs 286, 288 are folded 90 degrees along their respective fold lines 287, 289 to provide alignment support and stabilization for a tier of cans. The fold may be in either direction, or in opposite directions, to provide such support. Both folds may be in the same direction or may be in opposing directions. Divider support sheet 280 also has transverse lines of perforation 290,291 which extend from the longitudinal line 281 of perforations which divides the center of the sheet 280 to respective opposing sides 283, 285 which in conjunction therewith and with fold lines 289, 287 form removal sections 292, 293. Referring again to FIG. 15 a first beverage holder 294 having a release liner covered PSA strip 295 has a perimeter defined by the intersection of lines 281, 290, 283 and 287. A second beverage holder 296 having a release liner covered PSA strip 297 has a perimeter defined by the intersection of lines 281, 289, 285 and 291. Thus, each of the two beverage container holders 294 and 296 may be removed from the sheet 280 and formed into a can contour conforming tube via their respective PSA strips 295, 297. Therefore in one embodiment of the invention a standard beverage package containing two tiers of 12 cans with a divider sheet may be modified in accordance with the present invention to provide the added functionality of providing 10 insulating can holders which may be easily assembled by end users.

[0064] FIG. 16 shows a plan view of an alternative divider support sheet 300 having a perimeter 301 formed by front edge 302, first side edge 303, rear edge 304, and second side edge 305. Two beverage container holders 306, 307 may be formed therein by inscribing cut lines or perforations including respective transverse fold scores 308, 309, respective hook ends 311, 312 each defined by a line of perforations with an arrow shaped hook, opposing each hook end adjacent transverse score lines are offset slots adapted to receive the respective hooks such that the hook associated with end 311 fits into slot 313, and the hook associated with end 312 fits into slot 314 to form a tubular shape adapted to receive and hold a can to insulate a user's hand from undesirable body heat loss and temperature sensations. In the embodiment of FIG. 16 a bottom coaster portion is provided with coaster portion 316 being integral with holder 307 and having perforations forming a generally circular perimeter shape 316 with an arrow hook portion 317 and by which perforations, removable segments 318 may be severed and removed from holder 307. After wrapping the holder around a can to form a tubular shape (as described above) with the holder coaster portion placed on the can bottom, arrow shaped hook 317 of the coaster 315 may be inserted into a coaster arrow receiving slot 319 to affix the coaster to the holder tube at a point opposing the coaster portion's integral connection to a main body of the holder tube. In like manner the second holder 306 may be assembled for use as an insulating beverage can holder.

[0065] Referring now to FIG. 17, an alternative embodiment of a flexible beverage support sheet 330 is shown. Support sheet 330 has a top perimeter edge 331, a first side perimeter edge 332, a bottom side perimeter edge 333, and a second side perimeter edge 334 which all combine to form an outer perimeter of flexible beverage sheet 330. Sheet 330 is separated into an upper portion and lower portion by a longitudinal seal 335. Sheet 330 also has a first transverse edge seal 336 and opposing second transverse at seal 337. The first transverse edge seal 336 is proximate to second side perimeter edge 334 and the second opposing transverse edge seal 337 is proximate to first side perimeter edge 332. Between the first and second edge seals are a series of intermediate transverse seals 338, 339, and 340. Centered within each of these intermediate transverse seals 338, 339, 340 are a series of perforated transverse cut lines 341. Support sheet 330 also has a perforated longitudinal cut 342 centered along longitudinal seal 335. The support sheet 330 perimeter edges 331, 332, 333, 334 and longitudinal seal 335 and the transverse seals 336, 337, 338, 339, and 340 all cooperate to form a plurality of individual beverage holders 343. Each beverage holder 343 is defined by a top sheet 344 and a bottom sheet 345 (see FIG. 18) with seals on three sides, one of which is a segment of longitudinal seal 335 and parallel transverse seals.

[0066] Referring now to FIG. 18, the flexible beverage support sheet 330 of FIG. 17 is depicted as a sectional view taken along lines 18-18 of FIG. 17. The support sheet 330 has a top sheet 344 and opposing bottom sheet 345. Bottom perimeter edge 333 shows an end having a series of unsealed interfaces 346 separated by first and second transverse edge seals 336, 337, and intermediate transverse seals 338, 339, and 340 with each of the intermediate transverse seals having perforations 341 therethrough. An enlarged segment of FIG. 18 is depicted in FIG. 19.

[0067] FIG. 19 depicts a flexible beverage support sheet 330 and segment of an individual beverage holder 343 thereof. This view of the individual beverage holder 343 shows first side perimeter edge 332 having an adjacent second opposing transverse edge seal 337 which seals top sheet 344 to bottom sheet 345. An unsealed interface 346 separates top sheet 344 and bottom sheet 345 and provides an opening into which a beverage container or can may be placed after separation of the individual beverage holders 343 from the support sheet 330. Top sheet 344 is a top sheet having an outer layer 347 and opposing top sheet inner layer 348 with a top sheet core layer 349 disposed therebetween. In one suitable embodiment of the invention, the outer layer 347 and inner layer 348 are made of plastic polymeric materials for example polyolefins, and the core layer 349 may be made of a closed cell foamed polymer, for example, also a polyolefin. The bottom sheet 345 has a bottom sheet outer layer 350 and opposing bottom sheet inner layer 351 with a bottom sheet core layer 352 disposed therebetween. It also may be comprised of a closed celled, foamed polymer. Thus, the flexible beverage support sheet 330 may be made from two polymeric sheets, a top sheet 344 and a bottom sheet 345 which may each in turn comprise at least three layers having unfoamed surface layers with a core foamed layer sandwiched between to provide insulation against temperature differences and heat transfer. Alternatively, the sheets may be monolayer or may have two or more layers, preferably three or more. This embodiment may provide an economical way of providing a flexible beverage support sheet having a plurality of easily separated individual beverage holders which may be used by an end user or consumer after purchase of a multi-pack unit of beverages to provide convenient disposable can cozies.

EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0068] 1. A flexible beverage support sheet has an insulating, flexible, polymeric sheet adapted for supporting beverage containers, the sheet having a perimeter edge and lines of weakness defining a plurality of insulating beverage holder blanks each of which is configurable about a circumference of an individual beverage container.

[0069] 2. A flexible beverage support sheet, as described in embodiment 1, where the support sheet is a base sheet adapted to support at least one tier of a plurality of beverage containers.

[0070] 3. A flexible beverage support sheet, as described in embodiment for 2, where the support sheet is a carton blank adapted for encasing at least one tier of beverage containers: the carton blank perimeter circumscribing therein the plurality of beverage holder blanks.

[0071] 4. A flexible beverage support sheet, as described in embodiment 1, 2 or 3, where the support sheet is integral with or fixed to at least one surface of an overwrap encasing a plurality of beverage containers.

[0072] 5. A flexible beverage support sheet, as described in embodiments 1-4, where the support sheet is a separator sheet adapted for separating a first tier of a first plurality of beverage containers from a second tier of a second plurality of beverage containers and providing stabilizing support for maintaining positional relationship between the first and second tier containers in cooperation with an overwrap.

[0073] 6. A flexible beverage container support sheet, as described in embodiments 1-5, where the lines of weakness comprise slits, score lines, perforations or a combination thereof.

[0074] 7. A flexible beverage container support sheet, as described in embodiments 1-6, further comprising fastening means for forming a beverage container holder by connecting an edge portion of an insulating holder blank to an opposing edge portion of the holder blank.

[0075] 8. A flexible beverage container support sheet, as described in embodiments 1-7, further comprising an adhesive tape, an adhesive pattern applied to an edge portion of the holder blanks, or hook and loop fasteners or a combination thereof.

[0076] 9. A flexible beverage container support sheet, as described in embodiment 1-8, where the lines of weakness further define a hook portion and a slot portion whereby a holder blank separated from the sheet is adapted for connection to itself by insertion of the hook portion into the slot portion to form a cylindrical insulating beverage container holder.

[0077] 10. A flexible beverage container support sheet, as described in embodiments 1-9, wherein each of the plurality of holder blanks is manually removable from the sheet along the lines of weakness.

[0078] 11. A flexible beverage container support sheet, as described in embodiments 1-10, wherein each of the holder blanks has opposing edge portions and at least one of the edge portions has a pressure sensitive adhesive applied thereto by which the holder blank is connectable to itself by overlaying the opposing edge portions in adhesive contact thereby connecting them together to form a cylindrical insulating beverage container holder.

[0079] 12. A flexible beverage container support sheet, as described in embodiments 1-11, where the lines of weakness further define an integral coaster portion for insulating a container bottom surface.

[0080] 13. A flexible beverage container support sheet, as described in embodiments 1-12, 22, or 23 where the polymeric sheet comprises a cellulosic, rubber, thermoplastic material, nonwoven cellulosic, nonwoven plastic, foamed synthetic polymer, polyolefin, polyethylene or polypropylene polymer, foamed polyethylene, or combinations thereof.

[0081] 14. A flexible beverage container support sheet, as described in embodiments 1-13, where the polymeric material comprises a monolayer or multilayer structure having 1 or 2 or more layers and optionally at least 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 or more layers including optionally a first surface polymeric layer, a second surface polymeric layer, and an intermediate, preferably foamed, core polymeric layer between the first and second surface layers and optionally a pressure sensitive adhesive layer, a release liner, an abrasion resistant layer, a layer to increase or decrease one or more of the following attributes: rigidity, tensile strength, printability, coefficient of friction, slip properties, temperature insulating properties, moisture resistance, water permeability, flex-crack resistance, shrinkability, crock resistance, uv resistance heat sealability, compostability, peelability delamination resistance, oxygen permeability, or machinability or combinations thereof.

[0082] 15. A flexible beverage container support sheet, as described in embodiments 1-14, where the sheet is embossed, textured, metallized, or printed.

[0083] 16. A flexible beverage container support sheet, as described in embodiments 1-15, where the sheet is coated or treated with inks, dyes, pigments, surface property modifying agents coefficient of friction modifying agents, agents to improve at least one of abrasion resistance, colorfastness, temperature insulating or moisture resistant properties, corona or plasma treatment, irradiation, uv resistance holographic printing, or combinations thereof.

[0084] 17. A flexible beverage container support sheet, as described in embodiments 1-16, where the polymeric material is a multilayer structure of at least two layers where the lines of weakness, including optionally die cutting, extend through at least a first layer and the first layer is adapted for peelable separation from at least one other layer.

[0085] 18. A flexible beverage container support sheet as described in embodiments 1-17, where the polymeric material includes a pressure sensitive adhesive layer which has preferential substantivity to a peelably removable holder blank.

[0086] 19. A flexible beverage container support sheet comprising: an insulating, flexible, polymeric, multilayer, polyolefin foamed sheet of at least three layers including a first surface polymeric layer, a second surface polymeric layer and an intermediate foamed core polymeric layer between the first and second surface layers; and where the sheet is adapted for supporting beverage containers, the sheet having a perimeter edge and lines of weakness which defining a plurality of insulating beverage holder blanks each of which is configurable about a circumference of an individual beverage container and wherein each of the plurality of holder blanks is manually removable from the sheet along the lines of weakness which comprise slits, score lines, perforations or a combination thereof; the holder blank further comprising fastening means for forming a beverage container holder by connecting an edge portion of an insulating holder blank to an opposing edge portion of the holder blank and where the fastener means comprise an adhesive, hook and loop fasters, or a mechanical fastener where the lines of weakness further define a hook portion and a slot portion whereby a holder blank separated from the sheet is adapted for connection to itself by insertion of the hook portion into the slot portion to form a cylindrical insulating beverage container holder.

[0087] 20. A beverage package comprising:

(a) a plurality of beverage containers; and (b) an overwrap encasing the beverage containers; wherein the package comprises at least one flexible stabilizing support sheet (which is optionally removable) comprising an insulating, flexible, polymeric sheet having a perimeter edge and lines of weakness defining a plurality of insulating beverage holder blanks which are removable and formable into a plurality of individual insulating beverage container holders and where the support sheet is at least one of a base sheet, a separator sheet, an overwrap, a panel fixed to the overwrap, or a combination thereof; and optionally further comprising an adhesive tape, an adhesive applied to an edge portion of the holder blanks, hook and loop fasteners, or a mechanical or chemical fastener or combinations thereof.

[0088] 21. A beverage package, as described in embodiment 20, where the plurality of beverage containers is arranged in at least two tiers and the support sheet is a separator sheet separating the tiers; and whereby the overwrap, separator sheet, and containers cooperate to provide an integrally stable package which resists shifting of individual containers during handling and transport of the package and the separator sheet assists in providing stabilizing support for maintaining positional relationship between the first and second tier containers in cooperation with the overwrap.

[0089] 22. A flexible beverage container support sheet or beverage package as described in embodiment 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 20, 21 wherein the polymeric support sheet comprises at least two superimposed polymeric sheets having at least one longitudinal seal, at least one longitudinal line of weakness, at least three transverse seals, at least one transverse line of weakness, wherein the at least two sheets each comprises a first polymeric layer, a second polymeric layer, and a third intermediate polymeric foamed layer therebetween.

[0090] 23. A flexible beverage container support sheet or beverage package, as described in embodiment 22, wherein each insulating beverage container has at least two parallel seals connected by a transverse seal, the seals attaching the two polymeric sheets together thereby forming the container having an open end and three side seals.

[0091] The above example and embodiments illustrate the invention and its advantages and should not be interpreted as limiting since further modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art. All such modifications are deemed to be within the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.

Claims

1. A flexible beverage container support sheet comprising: an insulating, flexible, polymeric sheet adapted for supporting beverage containers, said support sheet having a perimeter edge and lines of weakness defining a plurality of insulating beverage container holder blanks each of which is configurable about a circumference of an individual beverage container to form an individual insulating beverage container holder.

2. A flexible beverage container support sheet, as defined in claim 1, wherein said support sheet comprises a base sheet adapted to support at least one tier of a plurality of beverage containers.

3. A flexible beverage container support sheet, as defined in claim 1, wherein said support sheet comprises a carton blank adapted for encasing at least one tier of a plurality of beverage containers; said carton blank perimeter circumscribing therein said plurality of holder blanks.

4. A flexible beverage container support sheet, as defined in claim 1, wherein said support sheet is integral with or fixed to at least one surface of an overwrap encasing a plurality of beverage containers.

5. A flexible beverage container support sheet, as defined in claim 1, wherein said support sheet comprises a separator sheet adapted for separating a first tier of a first plurality of beverage containers from a second tier of a second plurality of beverage containers and providing stabilizing support for maintaining positional relationship between said first and second tier beverage containers in cooperation with an overwrap.

6. A flexible beverage container support sheet, as defined in claim 1, wherein said lines of weakness comprise slits, score lines, perforations or a combination thereof.

7. A flexible beverage container support sheet, as defined in claim 1, further comprising fastening means for forming said beverage container holder by connecting an edge portion of an insulating beverage container holder blank to an opposing edge portion of said holder blank.

8. A flexible beverage container support sheet, as defined in claim 1, further comprising an adhesive tape, an adhesive pattern applied to an edge portion of said holder blanks, hook and loop fasteners, or lines of weakness defining a hook portion and a slot portion whereby a holder blank separated from said support sheet is adapted for connection to itself by insertion of said hook portion into said slot portion to form said beverage container holder.

9. A flexible beverage container support sheet, as defined in claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of holder blanks is manually removable from said support sheet along said lines of weakness.

10. A flexible beverage container support sheet, as defined in claim 1, wherein each of said holder blanks has opposing edge portions and at least one of said edge portions has a pressure sensitive adhesive applied thereto by which said holder blank is connectable to itself by overlaying said opposing edge portions in adhesive contact thereby connecting them together to form said beverage container holder.

11. A flexible beverage container support sheet, as defined in claim 1, wherein said lines of weakness further define an integral coaster portion for insulating a beverage container bottom surface.

12. A flexible beverage container support sheet, as defined in claim 1, wherein said polymeric sheet comprises a cellulosic, rubber, or thermoplastic material or combinations thereof.

13. A flexible beverage container support sheet, as defined in claim 1, wherein said polymeric sheet comprises a foamed polymer.

14. A flexible beverage container support sheet, as defined in claim 1, wherein said polymeric sheet comprises a nonwoven cellulosic, nonwoven plastic, a polyolefin, polyethylene or polypropylene or combination thereof.

15. A flexible beverage container support sheet, as defined in claim 1, wherein said polymeric sheet comprises foamed polyethylene.

16. A flexible beverage container support sheet, as defined in claim 1, wherein said polymeric sheet comprises a multilayer structure.

17. A flexible beverage container support sheet, as defined in claim 1, wherein said polymeric sheet comprises a multilayer structure of at least three layers including a first surface polymeric layer, a second surface polymeric layer, and an intermediate foamed core polymeric layer between said first and second surface layers.

18. A flexible beverage container support sheet, as defined in claim 1, wherein said support sheet is embossed, textured, metallized, or printed.

19. A flexible beverage container support sheet, as defined in claim 1, wherein said support sheet is coated with surface property modifying agents, coefficient of friction modifying agents, agents to improve at least one of abrasion resistance, colorfastness, temperature insulating or moisture resistant properties, or combinations thereof.

20. A flexible beverage container support sheet, as defined in claim 1, wherein said polymeric sheet is a multilayer structure of at least two layers wherein said lines of weakness extend through at least a first layer and said first layer is adapted for peelable separation from at least one other layer.

21. A flexible beverage container support sheet, as defined in claim 20, wherein said lines of weakness include a die cut through at least one layer.

22. A flexible beverage container support sheet, as defined in claim 1, wherein said polymeric sheet includes a pressure sensitive adhesive layer which has preferential substantivity to a peelably removable holder blank.

23. A flexible beverage container support sheet, as defined in claim 1, wherein said support sheet comprises at least two superimposed polymeric sheets having at least one longitudinal seal, at least one longitudinal line of weakness, at least three transverse seals, at least one transverse line of weakness, wherein said at least two polymeric sheets each comprises a first polymeric layer, a second polymeric layer, and a third intermediate polymeric foamed layer therebetween.

24. A flexible beverage container support sheet, as defined in claim 23, wherein each said beverage container holder has at least two parallel seals connected by a transverse seal, said seals attaching said two polymeric sheets together thereby forming said beverage container holder having an open end and three side seals.

25. A flexible beverage container support sheet comprising: an insulating, flexible, polymeric, multilayer, polyolefin foamed sheet of at least three layers including a first surface polymeric layer, a second surface polymeric layer, and an intermediate foamed core polymeric layer between said first and second surface layers; and wherein said sheet is adapted for supporting beverage containers, said support sheet having a perimeter edge and lines of weakness defining a plurality of insulating beverage container holder blanks each of which is configurable about a circumference of an individual beverage container to form an insulating beverage container holder and wherein each of said plurality of holder blanks is manually removable from said support sheet along said lines of weakness which comprise slits, score lines, perforations or a combination thereof; said holder blank further comprising fastening means for forming said beverage container holder by connecting an edge portion of an insulating holder blank to an opposing edge portion of said holder blank and wherein said fastener means comprise an adhesive, hook and loop fasteners, or a mechanical fastener comprising lines of weakness defining a hook portion and a slot portion whereby a holder blank separated from said support sheet is adapted for connection to itself by insertion of said hook portion into said slot portion to form said beverage container holder.

26. A beverage package comprising: (a) a plurality of beverage containers; (b) at least one flexible beverage container support sheet comprising an insulating, flexible, polymeric sheet having a perimeter edge and lines of weakness defining a plurality of insulating beverage container holder blanks; and (c) an overwrap encasing said beverage containers.

27. A beverage package, as defined in claim 26, wherein said plurality of beverage containers is arranged in at least two tiers and said support sheet is a separator sheet separating said tiers; and whereby said overwrap, separator sheet, and beverage containers cooperate to provide an integrally stable package which resists shifting of individual beverage containers during handling and transport of the package and said separator sheet assists in providing stabilizing support for maintaining positional relationship between said first and second tier beverage containers in cooperation with said overwrap.

28. A beverage package, as defined in claim 26, wherein said support sheet comprises at least one of a base sheet, a separator sheet, an overwrap, a panel fixed to said overwrap, or a combination thereof.

29. A beverage package, as defined in claim 26, wherein said support sheet is removable and formable into a plurality of individual insulating beverage container holders.

30. A beverage package, as defined in claim 26, wherein said support sheet further comprises an adhesive tape, an adhesive applied to an edge portion of said holder blanks, hook and loop fasteners, a mechanical fastener, a chemical fastener, or combinations thereof.