Carrier, blank and method for containers

A blank for forming a carrier for holding a plurality of containers, the blank comprises:

• a central panel and at least one attachment feature in the central panel that receives and holds a top portion of a respective container of the plurality of containers when the carrier is formed from the blank,
• the at least one attachment feature comprises an opening in the central panel, a first retention feature defining a first portion of the opening and a second retention feature defining a second portion of the opening,
• the first retention feature comprises a first retention edge of the central panel for engaging a first portion of the respective container of the plurality of containers to at least partially attach the respective container to the carrier formed from the blank and a first uninterrupted marginal portion of the central panel extending from the first retention edge,
• the second retention feature comprises a second retention edge of the central panel for engaging a second portion of the respective container of the plurality of containers to at least partially attach the respective container to the carrier formed from the blank and a second uninterrupted marginal portion of the central panel extending from the second retention edge,
• the first retention edge defines the first portion of the opening and the second retention edge defines the second portion of the opening,
• the at least one attachment feature further comprises at least one flexible feature between the first uninterrupted marginal portion and the second uninterrupted marginal portion, the at least one flexible feature allows the central panel to flex without weakening the central panel when the respective container is inserted into the opening, the at least one flexible feature comprises a cutout.

A method of forming a package, the method comprises:

• obtaining a carrier comprising a central panel and at least one attachment feature in the central panel, the at least one attachment feature comprises an opening in the central panel, a first retention feature defining a first portion of the opening and second retention feature defining a second portion of the opening, the first retention feature comprises a first retention edge of the central panel and a first uninterrupted marginal portion of the central panel extending from the first retention edge, and the second retention feature comprises a second retention edge of the central panel and a second uninterrupted marginal portion of the central panel extending from the second retention edge, the first retention edge defines the first portion of the opening and the second retention edge defines the second portion of the opening, the at least one attachment feature further comprises at least one flexible feature between the first uninterrupted marginal portion and the second uninterrupted marginal portion, the at least one flexible feature comprises a cutout;
• receiving a top portion of a respective container of the plurality of containers in the opening;
• and
• engaging the first retention edge with a first portion of the respective container and engaging the second edge with a second portion of the respective container to at least partially attach the respective container to the carrier such that the at least one flexible feature allows the central panel to flex without weakening the central panel when the respective container is inserted into the opening.