Container carrier

Abstract

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 in each row of container-receiving apertures being tapered toward the other row of container-receiving apertures and each container-receiving aperture elongated so that a length that extends longitudinally along flexible carrier is between 2 and 4 times greater than a corresponding width; 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 the width of each container-receiving aperture is approximately equal to a spacing between adjacent transverse pairs of container-receiving apertures.  
   
   
       4 . The flexible carrier of  claim 1  wherein outer pairs of container-receiving apertures are longer than inner pairs of container-receiving apertures.  
   
   
       5 . The flexible carrier of  claim 1  further comprising a tear strip formed between the handle and the plurality of container-receiving apertures.  
   
   
       6 . The flexible carrier of  claim 1  wherein a center distance is defined by a distance from a 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.  
   
   
       7 . 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 a 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, each row of container-receiving apertures engaging a respective row of containers; and    a handle from along one row of container-receiving apertures.    
   
   
       8 . The package of  claim 7  further comprising a row of index apertures positioned between the two rows of container-receiving apertures, each index aperture having a generally hexagonal shape.  
   
   
       9 . The package of  claim 7  wherein the width of each container-receiving aperture is approximately equal to a spacing between adjacent transverse pairs of container-receiving apertures.  
   
   
       10 . The package of  claim 7  wherein a center distance is defied by a distance from a 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.  
   
   
       11 . 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 tapered toward the other row of 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 the width of each container-receiving aperture is approximately equal to a spacing between the rows of container-receiving apertures; and    a handle formed along one row of container-receiving apertures.    
   
   
       12 . The carrier of  claim 11  further comprising a row of index apertures positioned between the two rows of container-receiving apertures, each index aperture having a generally hexagonal shape.  
   
   
       13 . The carrier of  claim 11  wherein outer pairs of container-receiving apertures are longer than inner pairs of container-receiving apertures.  
   
   
       14 . The carrier of  claim 1  further comprising a tear strip formed between the handle and the plurality of container-receiving apertures.  
   
   
       15 . 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 elongated so that a length that extends longitudinally across flexible carrier is between 2 and 4 times greater than a corresponding width; and    a handle formed along at least one row of container-receiving apertures.    
   
   
       16 . A carrier formed from a flexible sheet for carrying a plurality of containers, the carrier comprising: 
 at least one row of container-receiving apertures formed in the flexible sheet, each container-receiving aperture in the at least one row of container-receiving apertures tapered toward a centerline of the carrier 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 the width of each container-receiving aperture is approximately equal to a spacing between the rows of container-receiving apertures; and    a handle formed along the at least one row of container-receiving apertures.