(57) Carrier stock (10) is formed from a single sheet of resilient polymeric material,
such as low density polyethylene, for machine application to side walls of substantially
identical containers (12). Integrally joined band segments (22,24,26,28,32,34,36,40)
defining separate apertures (14) to receive the individual containers (12) include
longitudinal (22,24), cross (32,34,36,40), and diagonal (26,28) segments. The diagonal
segments (26,28) are joined together at generally X-shaped junctions (42). From each
junction (42), the generally oblique segments of a first pair (26a,28a) are continuously curved toward the nearer edge of such stock (10) and the diagonal
segments of a second pair (26b,28b) are substantially straight and tend toward the other edge of such stock. Each diagonal
segment (26a, 28a) of the first pair at each junction has a progressively changing width, being wider
at its end (48) joined at such junction (42) than at its other end (46). Each diagonal
segment (26b,28b) of the second pair at each junction has a substantially uniform width.
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