Carrier stock with band segments extending between opposite edges

Abstract

Carrier stock formed from a single sheet of resilient polymeric material, such as low density polyethylene, for machine application to substantially identical containers. The stock is severable, along transverse lines that are perforated, to form individual carriers with container-receiving apertures and additional apertures, as defined by band segments, and with integral handles. The additional apertures facilitate reconfiguration of the stock from an as-formed configuration to an application configuration. Band segments defining the container-receiving apertures at each end rank at each end rank at each edge row includes an outer cross segment, an outer edge segment, an inner cross segment, and an inner oblique segment. The inner cross segment extends from the outer edge segment to the margin of one of the additional apertures. The inner oblique segment, which is slit to define a folding line, extends from the outer cross segment to the margin of the same one of the additional apertures in a generally oblique direction tending away from the outer edge segment when such stock is unstressed. The handle has bifurcated ends with one foot joined to an outer edge segment and another foot joined to an adjoining segment.