Carrier and method

An elongate carrier comprising a plurality of longitudinally separated transversely extending metal strip members and means extending lengthwise of the carrier to control the spacing of said members characterized in that, in selected regions of the carrier, said means is not present, thus varying the characteristics of the carrier along its length, depending upon the required characteristics of the carrier.

An elongate carrier comprising a serpentine wire having a plurality of longitudinally separated transversely extending wire members and means extending lengthwise of the carrier to control the spacing of the wire members wherein the transverse location in the carrier of said means is varied along the length said carrier, the variation of the transverse location and the actual transverse location of said means at any longitudinal position in the carrier being selected to provide at least one region of increased longitudinal flexibility.

A wire carrier comprising at least one length of wire deformed into a zig-zag configuration thereby providing a plurality of spaced transverse lengths of wire extending across a central region of the carrier and joined by loops of wire along each edge region of the carrier, and at least one strand of material which maintains the length of wire in its zig-zag configuration, wherein the transverse location of said at least one strand of material is varied along the length of the carrier to change the longitudinal flexibility characteristics of the carrier in at least one region.

A carrier formed of stamped sheet material selected from the group consisting of plastic and metal comprising a plurality of longitudinally spaced transversely extending strips of material;

• and further portions of the sheet material connecting said transversely extending strips wherein the transverse location of the further portions of the carrier varies along the length of the carrier, the variation of the transverse location and the actual transverse location at any longitudinal position in the carrier of said further portions being selected to provide at least one region of increased longitudinal flexibility.

A carrier in the form of a longitudinally extending strip formed of sheet material, selected from the group consisting of plastic and metal:

• wherein a plurality of transverse, longitudinally spaced slits are provided in the strip, characterised in that the length of the slits varies along the length of said strip to change the characteristics of the carrier along its length to provide at least one region of increased longitudinal flexibility.

A method of manufacturing a wire carrier having a plurality of longitudinally spaced transversely extending wire members, the longitudinal spacing of which is controlled by means extending at least generally longitudinally between, and connected to, adjacent transversely extending members, the transverse location of which means varies along the length of the carrier, characterized in that the transverse location of said means, and the variation of said transverse location throughout the length of the carrier, are selected to control the characteristics of the carrier, and hence of any product within which it is incorporated, at selected longitudinal locations therein.

A method of manufacturing a sheet of a material selected from the group consisting of plastic and metal carrier having a plurality of longitudinally spaced transversely extending members, the longitudinal spacing of which is controlled by means extending at least generally longitudinally between, and connected to, adjacent transversely extending members, the transverse location of which means varies along the length of the carrier, characterized in that the transverse location of said means, and the variation of said transverse location throughout the length of the carrier, are selected to control the characteristics of the carrier, and hence of any product within which it is incorporated, at selected longitudinal locations therein.