Container carrier
A flexible carrier for carrying a plurality of containers includes a flexible sheet having a row of container-receiving apertures formed therein. The flexible carrier further includes a handle integrated with respect to the flexible sheet. A package is formed by inserting a plurality of containers, each within a respective container-receiving aperture.
1. A flexible carrier for carrying a plurality of containers comprising:
a flexible sheet having two rows of container receiving apertures formed therein, each container-receiving aperture having a length that extends longitudinally along the flexible carrier and each container-receiving aperture in each row of container-receiving apertures including at least three generally straight segments forming a taper toward the other row of container-receiving apertures, each container receiving aperture tapering to a plateau and including one of the at least three generally straight segments, wherein the plateau is longer than two other straight segments of the at least three generally straight segments and longer than a longitudinal distance between adjacent container-receiving apertures and wherein the plateau is parallel to a center axis of the flexible sheet, and each container-receiving aperture elongated so that the length is between 2 and 4 times greater than a corresponding width, wherein a maximum width of each container-receiving aperture is approximately equal to a solid band of material longer than the plateau spaced between adjacent transverse pairs of container-receiving apertures; and
a handle formed along one row of container-receiving apertures.
2. The flexible carrier of claim 1 further comprising a row of index apertures positioned between the two rows of container-receiving apertures, each index aperture having a generally hexagonal shape.
3. The flexible carrier of claim 1 wherein outer pairs of container-receiving apertures are longer than inner pairs of container-receiving apertures.
4. The flexible carrier of claim 1 further comprising a tear strip formed between the handle and the plurality of container-receiving apertures.
5. The flexible carrier of claim 1 wherein a center distance is defined by a distance from the center axis between the two rows of container-receiving apertures and an inner, tapered edge of container-receiving aperture, wherein the center distance is more than half of the width of each container-receiving aperture.
6. A package including a plurality of containers unitized within a flexible carrier, the package comprising:
a flexible sheet;
two rows of container-receiving apertures formed in the flexible sheet, each container-receiving aperture in each row including at least three generally straight segments forming a concave taper towards the other row and each container-receiving aperture elongated so that a length that extends longitudinally along the flexible carrier is between 2 and 4 times greater than a corresponding width and a plateau of the at least three generally straight segments is parallel to a center axis of the flexible carrier, wherein the plateau is longer than a longitudinal distance between adjacent container-receiving apertures, each row of container-receiving apertures engaging a respective row of containers, wherein a maximum width of each container-receiving aperture is approximately equal to a solid band of material longer than the plateau spaced between adjacent transverse pairs of container-receiving apertures;
a row of index apertures positioned between the two rows of container-receiving apertures, each index aperture having a shape having at least four sides, wherein four sides of the shape each extend generally parallel to a respective straight segment in an adjacent container receiving aperture; and
a handle from along one row of container-receiving apertures.
7. The package of claim 6 wherein a center distance is defined by a distance from the center axis between the two rows of container-receiving apertures and an inner, tapered edge of container-receiving aperture, wherein the center distance is more than half of the width of each container-receiving aperture.
8. A carrier formed from a flexible sheet for carrying a plurality of containers, the carrier comprising:
two rows of container-receiving apertures formed in the flexible sheet, each container-receiving aperture in each row of container-receiving apertures including at least three generally straight segments forming a taper toward the other row of container-receiving apertures, wherein an apex of each container-receiving aperture includes one of the at least three generally straight segments, the apex is parallel to a center axis of the carrier and extends longer than a longitudinal distance between adjacent container-receiving apertures, and each container-receiving aperture elongated so that a length that extends longitudinally across flexible carrier is between 2 and 4 times greater than a corresponding width, wherein a maximum width of each container-receiving aperture is approximately equal to a spacing between the rows of container-receiving apertures, and wherein outer pairs of container-receiving apertures are longer than inner pairs of container-receiving apertures;
a row of index apertures positioned between the two rows of container-receiving apertures, each index aperture having a shape having at least four sides;
a handle formed along one row of container-receiving apertures; and
a tear strip formed between the handle and the plurality of container-receiving apertures.
9. The carrier of claim 8 wherein four sides of the shape each extend generally parallel to a respective straight segment in an adjacent container receiving aperture.
10. The carrier of claim 8 wherein an outer edge of each container-receiving aperture is generally arcuate.
11. The carrier of claim 8 wherein the apex of each container-receiving aperture comprises a plateau, wherein the plateau is longer than a two other straight segments of the at least three generally straight segments.
12. The carrier of claim 11 wherein the plateau extends at least a quarter of the length of the container receiving aperture.
13. The carrier of claim 1 wherein an outer edge of each container-receiving aperture is generally arcuate.
14. The carrier of claim 1 wherein the plateau extends at least a quarter of the length of the container receiving aperture.
15. The carrier of claim 1 wherein at least two obtuse angles are formed in each index aperture.
16. The carrier of claim 1 wherein the flexible sheet between the plateaus of adjacent transverse pairs of container-receiving apertures is generally solid and uninterrupted.
17. The carrier of claim 6 wherein the flexible sheet between adjacent transverse pairs of container-receiving apertures is generally solid and uninterrupted.
18. The carrier of claim 6 wherein an apex of each container-receiving aperture comprises a plateau, wherein the plateau is longer than a two other straight segments of the at least three generally straight segments.
19. The carrier of claim 18 wherein the plateau extends at least a quarter of the length of the container receiving aperture.
20. The carrier of claim 6 wherein an outer edge of each container-receiving aperture is generally arcuate.