Beverage Container Carrier

Abstract

A beverage container carrier comprises a handle and a plurality of compartments, each compartment adapted to contain at least one beverage container. The handle has a longitudinal axis and defines a central plane which when carried is orientated substantially vertically. Each compartment is disposed relative to the central plane such that a longitudinal axis of the beverage container located in a respective compartment is disposed at an angle to the central plane.

1 - 16 . (canceled) 
   
   
       17 . A beverage container carrier having a central plane which, when carried, is orientated substantially vertically, the container comprising:
 a handle arranged along a longitudinal axis extending in the central plane;   a plurality of compartments, each including a base, an opening opposite said base and a compartment wall extending between said base and said opening, each compartment being adapted to support at least a lower portion of at least one beverage container;   at least one of said compartments disposed on each side of the handle, wherein the openings are disposed above their respective bases and are disposed outwardly from said bases relative to said central plane so that the opening of the at least one compartment on one side of the handle is spaced from the opening of the at least one compartment on the other side of the handle, and, in use, beverage containers disposed in the compartments have longitudinal axes disposed at an angle to the central plane;   wherein the handle is located proximate the compartments and remains accessible when the carrier is supporting beverage containers that have upper portions that project from the compartments as a result of the orientation of the compartments and the spacing between the compartment openings.   
   
   
       18 . The beverage container carrier according to  claim 17 , wherein the compartments are orientated such that, when disposed in the compartments, the beverage containers are at an angle from 15°-45° from the central plane. 
   
   
       19 . The beverage container carrier according to  claim 17 , wherein the compartments are orientated such that, when disposed in the compartments, the beverage containers are at an angle from 20°-40° from the central plane. 
   
   
       20 . The beverage container carrier according to  claim 17 , wherein each compartment is constructed to entirely surround the sides of a beverage container. 
   
   
       21 . The beverage container carrier according to  claim 17 , wherein the compartments are arranged symmetrically with respect to the central plane. 
   
   
       22 . The beverage container carrier according to  claim 17 , wherein the compartments are arranged in two rows, one disposed on each side of the central plane. 
   
   
       23 . The beverage container carrier according to  claim 22 , wherein the compartments in each row are aligned. 
   
   
       24 . The beverage container carrier according to  claim 17 , further comprising two sections, each comprising one row of compartments. 
   
   
       25 . The beverage container carrier according to  claim 24 , wherein the two sections are identical. 
   
   
       26 . The beverage container carrier according to  claim 24 , wherein each section comprises a part of the handle. 
   
   
       27 . The beverage container carrier according to  claim 24 , wherein the sections are, when separate, stackable. 
   
   
       28 . The beverage container carrier according to  claim 17 , wherein each compartment is dimensioned to hold a beverage container of a first size, and comprises a support portion proximate a base of the compartment, the support portion being in the form of a collar dimensioned to extend about a beverage container of a second, smaller, size. 
   
   
       29 . The beverage container carrier according to  claim 17 , wherein the carrier is formed from a plastic material. 
   
   
       30 . The beverage container carrier according to  claim 29 , wherein the plastic material contains a UV-resistant additive. 
   
   
       31 . The beverage container carrier according to  claim 29 , wherein the plastic material contains an anti-static additive. 
   
   
       32 . The beverage container carrier according to  claim 17 , wherein at least a portion of each compartment is formed as an open-webbed structure. 
   
   
       33 . The beverage container carrier according to  claim 29 , wherein the carrier is formed in an injection molding process.