AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION Innovation Patent Applicant (s): Barcky Pty Ltd Invention Title: CARRIER The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method for performing it known to me/us: - 2 Carrier Technical Field A carrier for vessels is disclosed. Whist the carrier finds particular application 5 with the carrying of cups, such as disposable beverage cups, it should be appreciated that the carrier is not limited to such an application. Background Art Cup trays for carrying beverage cups are known. A number of such trays are 10 quite bulky, difficult to store, and require both time and labour to assemble ready for use. This can cause problems and delays when used in a fast/busy take-away environment. It is to be understood that the reference to prior art herein does not constitute an admission that the prior art forms a part of the common general knowledge of a person is of ordinary skill in the art, in Australia or any other country. Summary According to a first aspect, there is provided a carrier for vessels wherein the carrier is formed from a single sheet of foldable material, the carrier comprising: 20 - two outer portions and a central portion located therebetween; and - at least one aperture, for receiving at least one vessel, located at the central portion, the aperture further comprising a plurality of projections 2413095_1 (GHMatters) 22/09110 -3 located around the circumference of the aperture; wherein the outer portions, when folded inwardly to converge at an apex, are adapted to facilitate carrying of the at least one vessel. Such a carrier can be rapidly assembled. Also, the projections can securely hold 5 the vessels therein. The projections located around the circumference of the, or each, aperture can provide a means for the aperture to receive vessels of different diameters more reliably. The projections can also allow the diameter of each aperture to be varied, to compensate for vessels of different sizes. When a vessel of larger diameter is placed 10 into the aperture, the projections can deform downwardly to provide a larger area for the vessel to be received in. The projections can also provide a cushioning effect to reduce movement when vessels are being carried, as the projections are somewhat flexible and absorb some of the kinetic energy, thus reducing the energy transferred to the vessel. 15 Suitable vessels to be carried by such a carrier include, but are not limited to, beverage containers, such as coffee, beer, wine and soft drink cups, food containers and the like, although the carrier is equally suitable for carrying other vessels which may otherwise be difficult to carry individually. The foldable material can comprise a high-density cardboard, optionally with a 20 water-protective coating. This provides sufficient rigidity and support for carrying the weight of at least one vessel, while the water protective coating provides protection from accidental spillage during filling of the vessel, or whilst it is being carried, thereby retaining integrity of the carrier even if exposed to moisture. Alternatively, other waterproof materials, such as an all-plastic carrier, may be used. This reduces problems 24130951 (GHMatters) 22/09/10 -4 associated with known trays, as often once the trays are exposed to liquids, they tend to fall apart. In one form, handle portions can be located at respective remote ends of the outer portions so that when the outer portions are folded inwardly, the handle portions 5 align to allow the carrier to be easily gripped and facilitate carrying. In one form, when the outer portions are folded inwardly, they are arranged to display advertising thereon. In this manner, if the vessel(s) are placed in the apertures when the carrier is lying flat, the advertising is facing downwards until the outer portions are folded up and inwardly. In this assembly of the in-use carrier, the 10 advertising is then located on the in-use externally facing outer portions. The advertising may be printed onto the foldable material prior to folding the outer portions, using conventional printing means. Alternately, it is also possible to have advertising adhered to the in-use externally facing outer portions (e.g. via sticker(s)). In one form, first score lines are included on the foldable material to facilitate 15 folding, each score line dividing a respective outer portion from the central portion. The score lines can provide both a guide as to where on the foldable material the greatest amount of strength will be achieved in the folded product, as well as provide a point at which folding will be relatively easily achieved. Other score lines may also be utilised, for example, at the handle portions or 20 projections. In one form, a plurality of apertures are located at the central portion. The apertures can be aligned along a central axis that extends through the central portion. 2413095_1 (GHMatters) 22109/10 - 5 Brief Description of Drawings Notwithstanding any other forms that may fall within the scope of the carrier as defined in the Summary, specific embodiments of the carrier will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 5 Figures 1 A to 1 E show a plan view of various embodiments of the carrier; Figure 2 shows a plan view of the carrier, showing that the carrier is not limited to having the number of apertures (and hence carrying the number of vessels) depicted in Figures IA to IE; Figure 3 shows a plan view of an embodiment of the carrier with apertures 10 offset from the central axis; Figures 4A and 4B show the assembled carrier, with the externally facing outer portions arranged to display advertising thereon; and Figure 5 shows an in-use assembled carrier holding vessels of different sizes. 15 Detailed Description of Specific Embodiments Referring to the drawings, where like reference numerals are used to denote similar or like parts, Figures IA to IE show various embodiments of a carrier 10, with each Figure showing the carrier 10 capable of carrying a different number of vessels, and Figures 3A and 3B show an assembled carrier. 20 Referring firstly to Figures IA to 1E, each carrier IOA - 1OE is shown with two outer portions 12 and 14, and central portion 16 located therebetween. Each carrier 1OA - IOE is shown having a different number of apertures 18 for receiving a vessel, 24130951 (GHMatters) 22/09/10 - 6 such as a cup, therein. For example, carrier 10 A is shown in Figure 1 A with two apertures 18 for receiving and holding up to two cups therein, while Figure 10B shows carrier 10B with three apertures 18 for receiving and holding up to three cups therein. It should be noted that even though a specific number of apertures 18 are shown in the 5 carriers 10A - 10E, the carriers 10A - 1GE need not necessarily hold that number of cups. For example, carrier 10 E shown in Figure 1 E has six apertures 18 in the central portion 16, however not all six apertures 18 need necessarily hold a cup for the carrier 1GE to be usable. As also shown in Figures lA-lE and Figure 2, the apertures 18 are shown aligned along a central axis A of the central portion 16. 10 The apertures 18 are also shown having projections in the form of adjacent tabs 20. The tabs 20 are located around the circumference of the apertures 18 to allow cups to be securely received therein, and to allow the diameter of each aperture 18 to be varied, to compensate for cups of different sizes. Adjacent tabs 20 may be separated by one or a number of cuts 17, or by a series of perforations, to allow the tabs 20 to is separate and be deformed in use. When a cup of a larger circumference than the inner circumference 19, defined by the tabs 20, is placed into the aperture 18, the tabs 20 deform downwardly to bias against the cup side wall and to provide a larger area for the cup to be received in (i.e. at a maximum cup circumference corresponding to outer circumference 21). This will be discussed in further detail below, with reference to 20 Figure 5. Outer portions 12 and 14 are provided with handle portions 22 and 24, respectively. The handle portions 22 and 24 align when the carrier I0A - I0E is folded into its in-use configuration, to allow the carrier 10A - IGE to be carried. Handle 24130951 (GHMatters) 22/09/10 -7 portion 22 is an aperture formed in outer portion 12. Handle portion 24 is an aperture corresponding to half the aperture of handle portion 22, with the other half formed by a flap 23, being from the same material as outer portion 14. In this regard, flap 23 can be folded along fold line 25 to engage with handle portion 22 when in the folded-up 5 configuration to provide a more positive and secure handle for carrying the carrier 1OA - IOE. The carriers IA - 1OE are also provided with score lines 26 between outer portions 12, 14 and central portion 16, with each line dividing a respective outer portion 12, 14 from central portion 16. The score lines 26 provide both a guide as to where on 10 the foldable material the greatest amount of strength will be achieved in the folded form, as well as provide a point at which folding will be relatively easily achieved. Apertures 18 are also shown with a score line 28 at the outer circumference 21 formed by tabs 20. This allows the tabs 20 to fold down more easily when a cup or the like with a larger circumference than inner circumference 19 is placed into the aperture 18. is Figure 2 shows a carrier IOF similar to carriers IOA - 1OE shown in Figures I A - I E. Carrier I OF is shown with similar parts denoted by the same reference numerals used in Figures 1A - IE, and the specific features as such will not be further discussed. Carrier I OF is shown with broken lines denoting that the carrier may be of indefinite length, with an indefinite number of apertures 18 located in the central portion 16. 20 Figure 3 shows an alternative embodiment of a carrier in the form of carrier lOG. Carrier 1OG differs from carriers 1OA - 1OF in that apertures 18 are offset from the central axis A. Whilst Figure 3 shows the apertures 18 as being offset from central axis A in a staggered alternating arrangement, it is also possible that two adjacent apertures are located on one side of the central axis, whilst the remaining adjacent 24130951 (GHMatters) 22/09110 - 8 apertures are located on the second side of the central axis. In all other respects, carrier lOG is similar to carrier 1OC, and thus like features will not be further discussed here. Referring now to Figures 4A and 4B, an assembled carrier 10 is shown, with outer portions 12 and 14 arranged to display advertising thereon. In this manner, if s cups are placed in the apertures 18 when the carrier 10 is lying flat (i.e. as shown in Figures IA - IE), the advertising is facing downwards until the outer portions 12 and 14 are folded inwardly. Once the carrier 10 has been assembled, the advertising is located on the in-use externally facing outer portions 12a and 14a. The advertising may be printed onto the foldable material prior to folding the outer portions 12 and 14, using 10 conventional printing means. Alternatively, it is also possible to have advertising adhered to the in-use externally facing outer portions 12a and 14a. Referring now to Figure 5, a side view of an in-use carrier 10 is shown. The carrier 10 is shown holding four vessels in the form of cups of two different sizes, 30 and 32, respectively. Tabs 20, are also shown as having been deformed to different is extents, depending on the size of the cups 30, 32. For example, tabs 20A are shown deformed to a greater extent than tabs 20B. Tabs 20A are more deformed than tabs 20B because the outer circumference of cup 32 is greater than the outer circumference of cup 30 at the point where the cup 32 is engaged by the tabs 20A. Tabs 20 bias downwardly when a cup 30, 32 is placed into the aperture, where 20 the cup 30, 32 has an outer circumference greater than the inner circumference 19, of the aperture 18, defined by the tabs 20. It can also be seen that tabs 20 substantially align with the side wall of the cups 30, 32 to provide additional support for the cup 30, 32. 24130951 (GHMatters) 22/09/10 - 9 Whilst specific embodiments of the carrier have been described, it should be appreciated that the carrier can be embodied in many other forms. In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of the carrier, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, 5 the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising" is used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the carrier. 24130951 (GHMatters) 22/09/10