Automatic count and identification carrier for refundable cans

Claim 1

A reuseable carrier for transporting empty metal beverage containers of a uniform size and shape, said carrier having a generally flat base of a size and shape such that its length is slightly greater than a multiple of the diameter of one of the containers to be transported; a front panel, a rear panel and a pair of end panels, said front and rear panels being spaced apart just sufficiently to permit one of the beverage containers to be positioned lengthwise between them, said base, front panel, rear panel and end panels being formed of a liquid impervious and washable material; said end panels being spaced apart sufficiently to permit a plurality of the containers to be placed in side-by-side relationship lengthwise of the carrier; handle means for supporting said carrier; one of said front and rear panels being transparent; a plurality of vertically spaced lines on said one panel, said lines being spaced apart a distance equal to the vertical center to center spacing of the ends of the containers when they are arranged on their sides in tiers with one tier resting on the tier beneath; indicia displayed at each line indicating the cumulative number of containers in the carrier when the tier of containers corresponding to the line is full to provide an automatic count of the container content of the carrier; and a rigid stiffener panel removably disposed on said base, said rigid stiffener panel being formed from a liquid impervious washable material, said end panels defining fold-lines positioned so that the front, rear and end panels may be folded around said stiffener panel.