Patent Publication Number: US-2020283210-A1

Title: Beverage Container Interlocking Carrier

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The invention generally pertains to carrying apparatuses, and more particularly to a beverage container interlocking carrier that is folded and secured around a group of beverage containers, and includes advertising or other indicia on the carrier. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     One of the most ubiquitous consumer items available today is a beverage, particularly beverage water. There are billions of beverages manufactured, purchased and consumed throughout the world each year. 
     Typically, beverage containers, are packaged and sold either in a plastic wrapping that envelopes a group of beverage containers, or a plastic holder that is located at the top of a group of beverage containers. The particularly packaging depends on the number of beverage containers grouped together. The plastic wrapping typical used for groups of twelve, twenty-four, or thirty-five, and the holder for groups of six or less. 
     While these packaging methods have been in use for a long time and are effective, there are problems associated with their use. One problem is that the packaging is not typically conducive to recycling, which produces additional material that eventually ends up in landfills. When in these packages, it can be difficult to extricate beverages, and especially for the wrapping. Once the wrapping is cut or otherwise torn open, the wrapping loses its structural integrity and the beverages within are not maintained in a tight group. 
     Additionally, there is the well-known problem that the six or less beverage holders often end up in oceans or other bodies of water, where fish/mammals accidentally get caught within the holder and/or ingest these foreign objects and succumb to injury and/or death. 
     What is needed is a new, improved method of packaging, storing and transporting beverage beverages, both for manufacturers and consumers. Optimally, an improved beverage carrier would allow any number of beverages to be easily secured together in a group, packaged for sale and transportation, and for end-use by a consumer. A beverage carrier that is easy to use by anyone and facilitates the recycling of empty beverages, and could even be recycled along with the beverages would provide a solution to the disposal problem. 
     Also, a means by which advertising could be visible on the packaging/carrier would provide beverage manufacturers or other an incentive as a result of new/increased service(s) of revenue. Consumers could also benefit from advertising by the inclusion of coups or other money-saving or information advertising. 
     A search of the prior art did not disclose any literature or patents that read directly on the claims of the instant invention. However, the following U.S. patents are considered related: 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
             
               
                   
               
               
                 PATENT NO. 
                 INVENTOR 
                 ISSUED 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                 application Ser. No. 15/788,180 
                 Patton 
                 Filing Date: 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Oct. 19, 2017 
               
               
                 4,022,363 
                 Eliassen 
                 May 10, 1977 
               
               
                 4,651,873 
                 Stolcenberg, et al 
                 Jan. 17, 1989 
               
               
                 5,267,427 
                 Peterson, et al 
                 Dec. 7,1993 
               
               
                 5,501,322 
                 Drebushenko 
                 Mar. 26, 1996 
               
               
                 2010/0163445 
                 Egber 
                 Jul. 1, 2010 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     The application Ser. No. 15/788,180 for Tommy Patton discloses a plastic bottle retaining apparatus and advertisings platform that is used to captively hold at least one, and preferably multiple, plastic beverage bottles and includes advertising or promotional indicia printed thereon. The PBRAAP has a structure which is a strip or a panel which can be resilient and disposable, and have at least one and typically multiple, openings that are each dimensioned to allow a plastic bottle to be inserted and maintained within, or removed from, the opening. When a bottle is inserted into an opening, the PBRAAP with the retained bottle can be packaged, stored, transported or displayed. 
     The U.S. Pat. No. 4,022,363 patent discloses a device for carrying and storing beverages. The device has a older frame utilizing a series of parallel rails inside the frame. The rails form between them uniform gaps and the edges of the rails have edge portions which yield upon introduction of a beverage neck and then squeeze the neck into a locking arrangement when the beverage is moved in a direction perpendicular to the plane defined by the holder. 
     The U.S. Pat. No. 4,651,873 patent discloses a beverage container holder having a unitary body with apertures therein adapted to receive containers. A handle is also included for easy hand carrying. 
     The U.S. Pat. No. 5,267,427 patent discloses a recycling container member for holding, storing, toting and returning recyclable beverage containers. The container member has a plurality of collar holes distributed uniformly and unilinearly along the container member. The collar holes have a diameter slightly larger than the outside diameter of a common beverage container neck and have radial slits forming collars which enable a beverage neck flange to be engaged in the container member. The container member is used for transporting engaged beverage containers and can be recycled with the beverages. The container member is loaded into a dispenser which provides means of storing the container member. The dispenser also holds the container member securely so that a beverage may be engaged in the container member. The dispenser also provides an engagement mechanism, which aligns a collar holed in the container member with the collar opening of the dispenser and prevents the container member from uncontrolled travel out of the dispenser and a disengagement mechanism which meters the travel of the container member. 
     The U.S. Pat. No. 5,501,322 patent discloses a carrier and storage unity for beverage beverages. A planar member has a plurality of cup-shaped recesses located in a predetermined array across its surface. Each of the recesses has a bottom wall which is sealed about its periphery to the circular wall of the recess. The recesses have a size and configurations adapted to receive and grip the neck of the beverage beverages, capturing the beverage insecure retention in the carrier and closing the neck of the beverage. 
     The 2010/0163445 publication discloses a beverage holder having a first beverage-holding surface adapted to hold a plurality of beverages at a first orientation, and a second beverage-holding surface adapted to hold a second plurality of beverages at a second orientation. Each beverage-holding surface includes an aperture adapted to receive a cap end of each beverage, and a slot in communication with the aperture and adapted to support a beverage neck of each of the beverages. 
     For background purposes and indicative of the art to which the invention relates, reference may be made to the following remaining patents found in the patent search. 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
               
             
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 PATENT NO. 
                 INVENTOR 
                 ISSUED 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
                 2,419,040 
                 Stephanian 
                 Apr. 15, 1947 
               
               
                   
                 3,003,805 
                 Glazer 
                 Oct. 10, 1961 
               
               
                   
                 3,633,962 
                 Erickson 
                 Jan. 11, 1972 
               
               
                   
                 4,232,807 
                 Beier, et al 
                 Nov. 11, 1980 
               
               
                   
                 4,735,313 
                 Schoenberg 
                 Apr. 5, 1988 
               
               
                   
                 4,798,286 
                 Muscanelli 
                 Jan. 17, 1989 
               
               
                   
                 5,306,060 
                 Borg 
                 Apr. 26, 1994 
               
               
                   
                 5,735,562 
                 Borg 
                 Apr. 7, 1998 
               
               
                   
                 6,129,397 
                 Borg 
                 Oct. 10, 2000 
               
               
                   
                 7,823,943 
                 Borg 
                 Nov. 2, 2010 
               
               
                   
                 2002/0175103 
                 Kraxner 
                 Nov. 28, 2002 
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION 
     A beverage container interlocking carrier (BCIC) that allows a group of beverage containers, to be easily carried by hand and transported to a desired location. The BCIC is a substantially flat container member, preferably plastic, on which a group of beverage containers is placed on an inner surface. The container member is then folded upwards, following the contours of the group of beverage containers. A grasping member with an open section is located at a first section and second side of the container member. Once the container member is folded around the group of beverage containers the two sides of the grasping member interface either on the top of the group of beverage containers or on a side of this group of beverage containers. To secure the two sides of the grasping members together attachment means can be utilized. 
     Located on the container member is at least one container orifice each of which is dimensioned to allow a beverage container, with or without a cap, to be inserted into the container orifice, thereby maintaining each beverage container within the folded container member. After the BCIC is used to transport a group of beverage containers, especially beverage containers containing a beverage, and the beverage containers have been removed for consumption, the container member can be replaced in the original flat orientation and the empty beverage containers inserted into the container orifices. The container member with empty beverage containers can then be stored and/or transported, such as to a recycling facility. It should be noted that the BCIC is particularly designed to allow the container member with empty beverage containers to be placed within a proprietary machine that facilitates the removal and crushing of the empty beverage containers for further recycling. 
     To increase the functionality of the BCIC, advertising or other indicia can be placed on the outer surface of the container member, thereby allowing the indicia to be visible when the container member is folded around a group of beverage containers. The indicia is also visible on the container member when the container member is flat and used to store or transport empty beverage containers. The indicia can be applied onto the container member by various means including printing, etching, painting, adhesive or other methods. 
     Also, the BCIC can utilize various types of container member configurations to secure the open side edges of the BCIC when the BCIC is configured as a carrier. Typically, at least one container member extending from a side edge of the BCIC is inserted into a corresponding slot on an opposing side edge, thereby securing the opposite edges together. 
     In view of the above disclosure, the primary object of the invention is to provide a beverage container interlocking carrier that allows full or empty beverage containers to be easily stored or transported, and also includes advertising or other indicia. 
     In addition to the primary object, it is also an object of the invention to provide a beverage container interlocking carrier that:
         is easy to use by adults and children,   can be used with various types, sizes and shapes of beverage containers,   is durable and long-lasting,   is easy and economical to manufacture,   can be made of a variety of materials,   when made of plastic can be recycled along with empty beverage containers,   can be used with standard water beverages and larger sport drink beverage containers, and   is cost effective from both a manufacturer&#39;s and consumer&#39;s point of view.       

     These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description of the preferred embodiment and the appended claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an orthographic view showing a beverage container interlocking carrier (BCIC) enclosing a group of six-beverage containers with a first end and a second end of a container member interlocked with at least one beverage container via a container orifice on the top surface of the BCIC, and the side edges secured together by two horizontal strap and one vertical strap that are configured as a grasping member. 
         FIG. 2  is an orthographic view showing the BCIC having a container member folded around a group of beverage containers with two ends of the container member terminating on the sides of the BCIC and beverage containers inserted into containers orifices, and a single strap on the open sides of the BCIC, the strap functioning as a grasping member to life or carry the BCIC. 
         FIG. 3  is an orthographic view showing the BCIC having the container member folded around a group of beverage containers with two ends of the containers member terminating on the sides of the BCIC, and beverage containers inserted into container orifices, and two horizontal straps and one vertical strap on the open sides of the BCIC the straps functioning as a grasping member to lift or carry the BCIC. 
         FIG. 4  is an orthographic view showing the BCIC with fifty containers orifices, and a first end of the container member on a side of the BCIC and the other second end extending down pat the opposing side, prior to being folded up around the bottom of the group of beverage containers and over the first end. 
         FIG. 5  is an orthography view showing the BCIC with fifty containers orifices advertising indicia and a first end of the container member on a side of the BCIC and the other second end having been folded down and then up and around the bottom of a group of beverage containers, prior to being folded on top of the first end. 
         FIG. 6  is an orthographic view showing the BCIC having the container member folded around a group of beverage containers with the two ends of the container member terminating on top of the group of beverage containers, and the two horizontal and one vertical strap that function as a grasping member. 
         FIG. 7  is an orthographic view showing the BCIC enclosing a group of six-beverage containers with side edges secured together by a strap and a grasping member extending upward. 
         FIG. 8  is an elevational view showing the BCIC enclosing a group of six-beverage containers and having a first design of multiple openings and areas for advertising for other indicia. 
         FIG. 9  is an elevational front view showing the BCIC enclosing a group of six-beverage containers and having a first design of multiple openings and areas for advertising or other indicia. 
         FIG. 10  is an elevational side view showing the BCIC enclosing a group of six-beverage containers. 
         FIG. 11  is an orthographic view showing the BCIC enclosing a group of six-beverage containers, with a first end of a container member interlocked with at least one beverage container via a container orifice on the upper surface of the BCIC, and the side edges secured together by a trap that is configured as a grasping member. 
         FIG. 12  is an orthographic view showing the BCIC enclosing a group of twelve-beverage containers and having the first design of the container orifice and an area for advertising or other indicia. 
         FIG. 13  is an elevational view showing the BCIC enclosing a group of twelve-beverage containers and having the first design of the container orifice with a grasping member and an area for advertising or other indicia. 
         FIG. 14  is an orthographic view showing the BCIC for six-beverage containers, having a second design of the container orifice. 
         FIG. 15  is an orthographic view showing the BCIC enclosing a group of six-beverage containers with the two straps secured together, one strap on each side, and having multiple modified cross container orifices and four-sided container orifices. 
         FIG. 16  is an orthographic view showing the BCIC enclosing a group of six-beverage containers with the side straps on each side, multiple T-shaped container orifices, multiple four-sided container orifices, advertising indicia, and a strap surrounding the beverage containers within the BCIC. 
         FIG. 17  is an orthographic view showing the BCIC in an upright position without beverage containers, and a strap securing the two sides. 
         FIG. 18  is an orthographic view showing the BCIC in an upright position without beverage containers, and a strap securing the two sides, and a liner placed within the BCIC. 
         FIG. 19  is an orthographic view showing two BCICs each enclosing six beverage containers, having the first design of the container orifices and secured together by straps inserted into slots on the side edges, and two carrier straps inserted through side edge slots, thereby securing the two BCICs together. 
         FIG. 20  is an orthographic view showing two BCIC each enclosing six beverage containers, each having the second design of the container orifices and secured together by straps inserted into slots on the side edges, and two carrier straps inserted through side edge slots, thereby securing the two BCICs together. 
         FIG. 21  is an orthographic view showing the BCIC with attachment tubes that are dimensioned to side into each other at each corner for securing multiple BCICs together. 
         FIG. 22  is an orthographic view showing the BCIC with adhesive beads that secure enclosed beverage containers within the BCIC. 
         FIG. 23  is an orthographic view showing the BCIC with strap tubes at each corner that are dimensioned to accept a strap which secures showing multiple BCICs together. 
         FIG. 24  is an orthographic view showing the BCIC secured together by an adhesive between the two sides of the grasping member, and the beverage containers secured by adhesive on each container&#39;s lower surface. 
         FIG. 25  is a detail view showing the container orifices elongated as the container member is folded around the beverage container and the orifice segment forceably interlocked with the beverage container neck and neck ring. 
         FIG. 26  is a detail view showing a lower surface of a beverage container located within a cavity formed on the container member. 
         FIG. 27  is an orthographic view showing the BCIC enclosing a group of twelve-beverage containers with a first end and a second end of a container member interlocked with at least one beverage container via a container orifice on the upper surface of the BCIC, and the side edges secured together by two straps that are configured with an upper strap as a grasping member and a lower strap to securely maintain the bottles within the BCIC. 
         FIG. 28  is an elevational side view showing a scanning device reading a bar code on beverage containers inserted into the BVIC, or counting beverage containers inserted into the BCIC. 
     
    
    
     BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
     The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms that disclose a preferred embodiment of a beverage container interlocking carrier (BCIC)  10 . There are various conventional methods of packaging and/or carrying beverage containers. Two of the most common methods are a plastic holder that is placed on a group of beverage containers and holds the beverage containers by the necks, or a plastic wrapping that encloses a group of beverage containers. The holder on the necks is typically used to hold groups of six beverage containers or less, and the plastic wrapping is used for groups of twelve, twenty-four or thirty-five beverage containers. 
     While these two methods do function as intended, there are problems associated with their use. The beverage container are removed from the holder or wrapping, which is then usually discarded to end up in a landfill. Also, the holder can often end up in oceans which presents serious danger to fish and other aquatic life. 
     The BCIC  10 , as shown in  FIGS. 1-28 , provides an alternate method of packaging and carrying beverage containers and provides a solution to the problems associated with the other conventional methods. It must be noted that the BCIC  10  can hold or enclose any number of full or empty beverage containers, either in a flat, open orientation (which is particularly effective for recycling) or in an upward-folded, carrier orientation. The number of beverage containers that are held or enclosed can vary. 
     The BCIC&#39;s  10  first orifice design configuration, as shown in  FIGS. 2, 7-9, 14-16, 22 and 23 , includes a substantially flat container member  12  with an outer surface  14 , an inner surface  16 , a first end  18 , a second end  20 , a first edge  22  and a second edge  24 . The container member  12  can be made of various materials such a plastic, rubber, cardboard, or a composite material, with plastic preferred. As shown in  FIGS. 2, 7-9, 14-16, 22 and 23 , extending through the container member  12  and linearly positioned equidistant from each other, are the container orifices  26 . Each container orifice  26  has at least one segment  30  that extends into the center orifice  26 , and a slice  32  that extends from the container orifice  26 . Additionally, each slice  32  can also have a cutline  34  located perpendicular to and adjacent an outer end of each slice  32 , as shown in  FIGS. 1-4, 6-21 . This proprietary container orifice  26  design facilitates the insertion of a beverage container neck, with or without a cap  126 , into a container orifice, thereby securing the beverage container  64  onto the container member  12 . 
     There are multiple shapes and designs of the container orifice  26  that can be used with efficacy. Each orifice has preferably triangular shaped segments  30  that extend inward towards the center of the container orifice and slices  32  that extend outward from the edges of the container orifice. The cutlines  34  are perpendicularly located adjacent a distal end of each slice, or each container orifice can be configured similar to the first design but does not have the cutouts. There are also other orifices designs which will be disclosed supra. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 7-10 and 12-24 , extending from the container member&#39;s  12  first end  18  is a grasping member with a side having an open section. Extending from the container member&#39;s  12  second end  20  is a grasping member with a side having an open section. The two sides are equally shaped and sized. This allows the grasping handle sides to interface with each other, effectively creating a single grasping member. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 7, 8, 10-12 and 14-16 , when the container member  12  is folded upward around contours of a group of beverage containers  124  that are placed on the container member, folded sections  52  are created with the beverage containers  124  inserted into the container orifices and the two sides of the grasping member interfacing. It should be noted that the most important proprietary characteristic of the BCIC  10  is the interlocking function, as best shown in  FIG. 20 . When a beverage container is placed on the container member, the lower surface  128  of the beverage container  124  rests within a cavity  136 , as shown in  FIG. 21 . When the two ends of the container member  12  are folded upward around the beverage containers, the neck  130  of each beverage container is inserted into the container orifice  26 . As the container member  12  continues folding, the container orifice  26  is elongated into an elliptical shape  140  with the at least one segment  30  interfacing with a neck ring  132  below the cap  126 , as best shown in  FIG. 25 . The elongation creates pressure that causes the segment  30  to interlock with the neck and ring. A result, the beverage container  124  is maintained within the BCIC with maximum securement. 
     Also when the container member  12  is folded around a group of beverage containers  124 , the grasping member can be located at the substantial center above the group of beverage containers, as shown in  FIGS. 2, 8, 10, 12, 14-16 and 19-24 , or alternately the grasping member can be located on a side of a group of beverage containers (not shown). If desired, attachment means  50  can be utilized to secure the two edges of the gasping member together. The attachment means are preferably non-permanent such as an adhesive  66  double-sided tape, male and female detents, or at least one clip. As shown in  FIG. 24 , the adhesive  66  can also be used to secure the folded container member together, and the adhesive  66  can be placed on the lower surface  128  of each beverage container  124  to secure the beverage container within the BCIC  10 . 
     Forty container orifices  26  allows the insertion and securement of six beverage containers to create a six-beverage container interlocking carrier  52  when the container member is folded around the group of six-beverage containers, or forty beverage containers when the container member  12  is in an open, flat orientation. 
     To increase the functionality of the BCIC  10 , the container member can also be used. Indicia  60  is placed on the outer surface  14  of the container member  12 , as shown in  FIGS. 2, 5, 11-14 and 16 , such that when the container member is folded around a group of beverage containers  64 , the indicia  60  is clearly visible. The indicia  60  can be any words and/or images and can be applied onto the container member  12  by various means including printing, etching, or a sticker held by adhesive. When the container member is made of a transparent material, the indicia can be placed on the inner surface viewable through the material. The amount of space allocated for indicia  60  is determined by the number of container orifices. As shown in  FIG. 27 , an entire side section of the BCIC can be used for indicia when the container orifices are not present. 
     The second design configuration of the BCIC  10 , as shown in  FIGS. 11-13 , is essentially the same as the first design configuration, except the second configuration has additional container orifices  26  which facilitate the insertion and securement of twelve beverage containers  124  which creates a twelve beverage container interlocking carrier  54  or the additional orifices can maintain the beverage containers when the container member is in the open, flat orientation. 
     In addition to the basic designs of the BCIC  10  as disclosed above, other modifications can be made or features added to increase the functionality of the BCIC  10 . Other shapes and styles of container orifices can be utilized, including a four-sided container orifice  58  with indented side edges to varying degrees and rounded corners, as shown in  FIGS. 15-18 ; modified cross container orifice  104 , as shown in  FIGS. 2, 6-11-15, 17 and 18 , with indented side and top edges to varying degrees and rounded corners; and a modified T-opening  106 , as shown in  FIGS. 16-20 , that appears as a standard T-shape with indented edges and rounded corners or a block T-shape with indented edges and rounded corners. 
     In order to secure the open sides when the BCIC  10  is configured as a carrier, various designs and uses of straps can be utilized. As shown in  FIG. 10 , two opposing strap  70  pieces that extend from opposing side edges of the BCIC are used. One piece has an end with truncated triangular tab  68  and the other piece has an end with a slot  72  that is dimensioned to accept and maintain the triangle tab. When the BCIC  10  is enclosing beverage containers, the ends of the two strap pieces are brought together and the tab is inserted into the slot, thereby securing the side edges of the BCIC  10  and the beverage containers within. 
     An additional design includes at least one non-attached/separate strap  76  with one end having a truncated triangle tab  78  and extending from the opposite distal end  80 , a row of triangular/downward pointing tabs  82 . Located adjacent the side edges of the BCIC are slots  84  that are dimensioned to accept and maintain the ends of the strap  76 , which are inserted into one of the slots  84 . 
     A further design, as shown in  FIGS. 19 and 20 , includes at least one integrally attached strap  86  that extends from a side edge of the BCIC  10 . At a distal end  88  of the strap  86  is a row of triangular/downward pointing tabs  90 . Located adjacent a side edge of the BCIC  10  is at least one slot  92  that is dimensioned to accept and maintain the end of the strap when the strap is inserted into the slot. As specifically shown in  FIGS. 19 and 20 , the strap design can be effectively utilized to secure multiple container members  12  together in a daisy-chain type arrangement. 
     An alternate depiction of a single strap  94  is shown in  FIGS. 2, 16-18 . A single, narrow strap  94  extending from a side edge of the BCIC is inserted into a slot  94  located near the bottom of the BCIC when enclosing beverage containers  124 . When using any of the strap designs, either one or two of the straps can be utilized as a grasping member that allows the BCIC to be lifted and/or carried by the strap  70 ,  76 ,  86 ,  94 . This capability is especially effective when the BCIC is maintaining larger numbers of beverage containers particularly when the beverage containers have a beverage within. 
     In another alternate design, as shown in  FIGS. 2, 11 and 27 , beverage containers  124  are placed on the container member  12 , preferably with the lower surface  128  of each beverage container resting within a cavity  136  on the container member  12 . The two ends of the container member are then folded upward around the beverage containers  124 , with each beverage container&#39;s neck entering the container orifice  26 . The container member  12  is folded further, elongating the container orifice  26  into an elliptical shape with the orifice&#39;s at least one segment  30  circumventing the beverage container&#39;s neck  130  or a bottle cap  126 . The elongation of the orifice creates pressure that causes the segment  30  to interlock with the beverage container neck and neck ring or bottle cap. The fully folded container member  12  lies substantially flat on the upper surface of the beverage container(s), with the container member  12  secured in the flat configuration by the beverage container(s) interlocked within the container orifice(s), as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 27 . Removal of the beverage container(s) from the BCIC  10  is accomplished by pulling upward on a corner edge  28  of the container member. The upward pulling actin releases the beverage container(s) from the container orifice(s), and allows the container member  12  to be pulled off and away from the beverage container(s). This alternate design is equally effective for use as a six-pack BCIC, as shown in  FIG. 7 , or as a twelve-pack BCIC, a shown in  FIGS. 11 and 27 . For lifting or carrying this design of the BCIC  10 , the strap is optimally used as a grasping member, as previously disclosed. If two straps are utilized, as shown in  FIG. 27 , the upper strap is utilized as a grasping member and the lower strap securely maintains the beverage containers within the BCIC  10 . 
     In a further alternate design the BCIC  10  is configured with twenty-five or fifty container orifices  26  on the container member  12 , as shown in  FIGS. 3-6 . To accommodate the fifty orifices, the fifty orifice carrier  158 , typically has an extended length compared to the previous designs. As a result of the extended length, the fifty orifice carrier  158  can enclose a group of beverage containers in two unique configurations. Other than the number of container orifices and the enclosing configurations, the twenty-five or fifty orifice carrier  158  have a substantially same structure as the previous designs and each includes most of the same structural and functional elements including a substantially flat container member having an outer surface, an inner surface, a first end, a second end, a first edge and a second edge. All configurations of the twenty-five or fifty orifice carrier  158  have a first horizontal strap  160  extending from the first edge to the second edge across the open side of the carrier, a second horizontal strap  162  extending from the first edge to the second edge and located below the first horizontal strap  160 , and a vertical strap  164  extending from the substantial center of the first horizontal strap  160  to the substantial center of the second strap horizontal strap  162 . The horizontal straps  160 ,  162  are secured to opposed side edges and all of the strap can function as a grasping member(s)  166 , as shown in  FIGS. 3-6 , to allow a person to grasp and then lift and carry the BCIC  10 . Also, the straps  160 ,  162 ,  164  provide securement of the beverage containers within the BCIC  10 . 
     The first unique configuration of the twenty-five or fifty orifice carrier  158  has the neck of each beverage container extending upward through one of the container orifices, wherein the container member is placed on top of a group of beverage containers with the first end of the container member folded downward onto a first side of the group of beverage containers. The second end of the container member extends downward past an opposite second side of the group of beverage containers The second end is folded across a lower surface of the group of beverage containers and then upward onto the first side such that the second end is configured on top of the first end, as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , and the attachment means secure the second end. 
     In a second design configuration of the twenty-five or fifty orifice carrier the neck of each beverage container extends upward through one of the container orifices. The container member is placed on top of a group of beverage containers with the first end of the container member folded downward onto a first side of the group of beverage containers. The second end of the container member extends downward past an opposite second side of the group of beverage containers. The second end is folded across a lower surface of the group of beverage containers and then upward across the first side, and then folded downward onto an upper surface such that the second end is configured on top of the first end, as shown in  FIG. 26 , and attachment means secure the second end. 
     A third unique configuration of the twenty-five or fifty orifice carrier has the first end of the container member folded upward and over onto the beverage container necks with each container neck inserted into a container orifice, and then downward onto a second side of the carrier. The second end extends upward and is then folded downward across the previously folded first end and terminates at a first side of the carrier, opposite the second side, and the attachment means secure the second end. 
     As with the previous designs of the BCIC  10 , the twenty-five or fifty orifice carriers  158  are configured to provide space  62  for advertising indicia  60  or other indicia  60 . The attachment means  174  for securing the second ends of the container member  12 , as shown in  FIGS. 3-6 , an adhesive, at least one snap closer, at least one male and female detent, a tab and slot, a hook and loop fastener, at least one clip, at least one hook, and at least one plastic interlocking latch. To increase the functionality of the twenty-five or fifty orifice carriers  158 , a grasping opening  176  can be located adjacent the first end and second end, as shown in  FIG. 3 . The grasping opening  176  is typically utilized in lieu of the grasping member(s)  166  created by the strap  160 ,  162 ,  164  and particularly when the BCIC  10  is not used as an enclosing carrier but rather in a flat configuration to carry beverage container for recycling or other purposes. 
     It should be noted that the use of fifty container orifices allows the total number of beverage containers on the flat configuration container member to be quickly and easily determined. This ability significantly increases the BCIC  10  functionality when utilized for recycling and can be considered a de facto requirement as a mandatory count of beverage containers rather than by weighing the beverage containers. 
     In yet another alternate design, the BCIC  10  is configured to enclose eight beverage containers  170 , as shown in  FIG. 1 . Other than the enclosing of eight beverage containers the structure and functionality, including all of the various configurations, is the same as the BCIC  10  for six or twelve beverage containers. It is anticipated that the eight beverage container carrier  170  could become widely used to package, transport and sell beverages. 
     Other additions and modifications include a liner  108 , as shown in  FIG. 18 . The liner  108  (which is preferably a bag made of plastic or another material) allows a person to carry a variety of items in the BCIC  10 . In order to secure the beverage containers  124  themselves within the BCIC  10 , a beverage container strap  98 , as shown in  FIG. 16 , can be utilized. The beverage container strap  98  is wrapped around the beverage containers themselves. When used in combination with one of the side edge securement straps, the beverage container strap  98  provides a significant increase in the maintaining the beverage containers within the BCIC  10 . Also, an adhesive bead  112 , as shown in  FIGS. 21-23 , can be placed beneath or on the side of each beverage container  124  to secure the beverage containers within the BCIC  10 . 
     It could be advantageous to secure multiple BCICs  10  together for storage or transportation. To facilitate the securement of multiple BCICs  10  there are different means that can be used. First, as shown in  FIG. 21 , an attachment tube  110  can be placed at each corner of the BCIC  10 . The tubes  110  are designed such that a lower portion of the tube can slide down into the upper portion, thereby allowing the corner of one BCIC to be secured to the corner of another BCIC  10 . Second, as shown in  FIG. 20 , a carrier strap  118  is inserted through multiple slots  120  located around the BCIC. When two or more BCICs are placed next to each other, a single carrier strap  118  can be inserted through sequential slots on each of the BCICs, thereby securing the BCICs together. 
     In conclusion it must be noted that when the container member  12  is used in an open, flat orientation to carry empty or full beverage containers, the beverage containers can be inserted from the top or inner surface  16  or the bottom or other surface  14 . Also, the BCIC container orifice  26  can accept almost any size beverage container  124 , with or without a cap  126 . This includes all types and sizes of water beverage containers as well as larger beverage containers such as Gatorade™. 
     Also, the BCIC  10  can be utilized to quickly and accurately count the number of beverage containers within the BCIC or when the BCIC is in the unfolded, flat configuration, empty or full. Beverage container can be counted visually by a person, with or without the assistant of numerical indicators adjacent each container orifice, or a scanning device  174 , as shown in  FIG. 28 , can be used to automate the scanning process This ability to count the beverage containers is a significant improvement over weighting the beverage containers. 
     While the invention has been described in detail and pictorially shown in the accompanying drawings it is not to be limited to such details, since many changes and modification may be made to the invention without departing from the spirit and the scope thereof. Hence, it is described to cover any and all modifications and forms which may come within the language and scope of the claims.