A package of substantially identical containers, such as beverage cans, and a carrier and a method of making such packages are disclosed. The carrier has band segments defining container-receiving apertures and additional apertures. The carrier is applied so that the containers are received in the container-receiving apertures and so that the band segments engage cylindrical side walls of the containers. Among the band segments, terminal cross segments define opposite ends of the carrier and medial cross segments separate the container-receiving apertures in each longitudinal row. Each medial cross segment is severed partially, for a substantial distance along its transverse midline, from one of the opposite edges of the carrier, toward one of the additional apertures and has at least one secondary slit extending transversely between the transverse midline and one of the container-receiving apertures.

A carrier and carrier stock comprising a plurality of severable interconnected carriers formed from a single sheet of resilient polymeric material such as low density polyethylene for machine application to substantially identical containers. Each carrier has container receiving apertures which are defined by band segments that include outer segments formed with tear tabs. Each tab has a pair of diverging slits extending from the sides thereof toward the outer segments, each slot terminating short of the outer segment. In this manner, the tab can be grasped either with a right hand or left hand and pulled to sever the outer segment releasing a container in the associated aperture.

A container holder adapted to releaseably retain a plurality of similarly configured containers and adapted to permit release of each container individually. The holder is comprised of a central panel portion and a plurality of retaining portions. Each of the retaining portions has a pull tab that corresponds to it. The pull tab is joined to its respective retaining portion along the margin. The pull tab has a scoreline of a selected length proximate the pull tab so that the pull tab can be operated to release the loop-like structure thus preventing wildlife from becoming entangled in unruptured rings of plastic containers once the package is discarded.

A novel for carrying a plurality of containers, such as bottles, cans and the like, includes novel tear strips which can be separated from the carrier so that the containers held by the carrier can be easily removed from the carrier. The carrier includes container engaging portions, each of which includes bands which define apertures therein for engaging the side walls of the containers to hold the containers therein to form a package. Each band has an inner margin portion, an outer margin portion and side margin portions. Each tear strip is positioned on the outer margin portions of the bands. The strip is separated from the remainder of the carrier by a perforation line, which is formed from a series of spaced dots, along which the strip can be torn. In one embodiment, a handle is attached to the tear strip for carrying the carrier and associated containers on their sides. The dots in the perforation line which are adjacent to the juncture where the handle connects with the tear strip are spaced further apart than the dots in the remainder of the line. A pair of spaced slits or a single slit are provided at the end of the line to direct the tearing forces inwardly into the last aperture to free the container held therewithin.

This invention relates to a package of a plurality of containers unitized with a flexible carrier. The carrier is constructed from a plastic planar sheet having a plurality of container receiving openings arranged in longitudinal rows and transverse ranks. A panel extends from a longitudinal edge of the planar sheet that is arranged to either remain flat and tight with respect to the package or, alternatively, follow an external contour of the package.