US Patent 7074476 Flexible carrier having regions of higher and lower energy treatment

A flexible carrier for carrying a plurality of beverage containers includes a plurality of container holders, each having a portion with higher energy treatment and a portion with lower energy treatment. The energy treatment is corona or plasma treatment. The portions with higher energy treatment provide better carrier-to-container friction. By varying the level of energy treatment and the relative size of the portions being treated, the amount of overall friction between the flexible carrier and the containers can be controlled.