Container carrier

Abstract

A flexible carrier for carrying a plurality of containers includes a flexible sheet having two rows of container receiving apertures formed therein. The flexible carrier further includes a handle extending from a periphery of the flexible sheet on an end of the package and beyond a longitudinal edge of the rows of the unitized containers. The handle is preferably capable of supporting the package when grasped by a consumer.

1 . A package including a plurality of containers unitized within a flexible carrier, the package comprising:
 one or more layers of flexible sheet;   two rows of container receiving apertures formed in the flexible sheet, each row of container receiving apertures engaging a respective row of containers;   a handle extending between the two rows of container receiving apertures from a periphery of the flexible sheet at only a single end of the package and beyond a longitudinal edge of the rows of containers, the handle capable of supporting the package when grasped by a consumer.   
     
     
         2 . The package of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a weld extending between the two rows of container receiving apertures. 
 
     
     
         3 . The package of  claim 1  wherein the flexible carrier is longitudinally asymmetric. 
     
     
         4 . The package of  claim 1  further comprising a pull tab formed in the flexible sheet and extending into each container receiving aperture. 
     
     
         5 . The package of  claim 4  further comprising a perforation extending through the flexible sheet at an angle relative to each container receiving aperture and adjacent each pull tab. 
     
     
         6 . The package of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a web attachment area formed at a periphery of the handle for attachment to an adjacent container carrier at a trailing edge opposite the handle. 
 
     
     
         7 . The package of  claim 1  further comprising
 a plurality of webs formed in the flexible sheet adjacent to the handle; and 
 a centerline dividing the rows of container receiving apertures from the plurality of webs. 
 
     
     
         8 . The package of  claim 7  wherein the plurality of webs form a plurality of web openings, each web opening having a distinct configuration from the other. 
     
     
         9 . A flexible carrier for carrying a plurality of containers formed of at least one layer of flexible sheet, the flexible carrier comprising:
 two layers of flexible sheet wherein a row of container receiving apertures is formed in each layer of the two layers of flexible sheet;   a centerline formed between the rows of container receiving apertures;   a plurality of webs formed opposite the centerline from the rows of container receiving apertures;   a handle formed at one end of the webs and a trailing edge is formed at an opposite end of the webs, wherein the handle extends longitudinally beyond the rows of container receiving apertures and the trailing edge extends longitudinally short of the rows of container receiving apertures.   
     
     
         10 . The flexible carrier of claim  15  wherein the centerline comprises a weld. 
     
     
         11 . A generally continuous string of flexible carriers, each flexible carrier for carrying a plurality of containers, said string of flexible carriers comprising:
 a flexible sheet having two rows of container receiving apertures formed therein;   a centerline formed between the rows of container receiving apertures;   a plurality of webs formed in the flexible sheet on an opposite side of the rows of container receiving apertures as the centerline;   a handle suitable for manual grasping extending from one side of the plurality of webs and a trailing edge formed in an opposite side of the plurality of webs, wherein the handle extends beyond a longitudinal edge of the rows and the trailing edge extends short of the longitudinal edge of the rows.   
     
     
         12 . The string of flexible carriers further comprising:
 a web attachment area formed between the handle of the flexible carrier and a trailing edge of an adjacent flexible carrier; and   a row attachment area formed between each row of container receiving apertures of adjacent flexible carriers, wherein the web attachment area and the row attachment area are not longitudinally aligned.