Patent ID: 7611016

Claim:
A carrier tape comprising a strip like portion defining a top surface of the tape, and wall portions defining a plurality of substantially similarly shaped pockets spaced along the carrier tape and opening through the top surface, the wall portions of one or more of the substantially similarly shaped pockets comprising: a bottom wall portion; first wall portions extending from the bottom wall portion to the top surface of the carrier tape; a first cross-beam wall portion extending from the bottom wall portion and located between adjacent pockets on the carrier tape; and a second cross-beam wall portion opposite the first cross-beam wall portion extending from the bottom wall portion and located between selected adjacent pockets on the carrier tape, wherein the second cross-beam wall portion has a notched opening formed at a selected location along a length of the second cross-beam wall portion; wherein multiple pockets include the second cross-beam wall portions, each including a notched opening located at different locations along the length of the respective second cross-beam wall portions.