Carrier for containers

A carrier for holding a plurality of containers, the carrier comprising:

• a plurality of panels forming a front portion, a back portion, and a central portion extending from the front portion to the back portion,
• the front portion comprising a front attachment panel for at least partially receiving a respective container of the plurality of containers,
• the back portion comprising a back attachment panel for at least partially receiving a respective container of the plurality of containers,
• the central portion comprising a central panel foldably connected to each of the front attachment panel and the back attachment panel, the central panel comprises a connection portion foldably connected to each of a front reinforcement portion and a back reinforcement portion;
• and
• locking features for maintaining an erected configuration of the carrier, the locking features comprising at least one male locking feature extending from a respective panel of the plurality of panels and being at least partially received in a respective at least one female locking feature at least partially defined in a respective panel of the plurality of panels.

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

• a plurality of panels forming a front portion, a back portion, and a central portion extending from the front portion to the back portion,
• the front portion comprising a front attachment panel for at least partially receiving a respective container of the plurality of containers and a front top panel for being overlapped with the front attachment panel when the carrier is formed from the blank,
• the back portion comprising a back attachment panel for at least partially receiving a respective container of the plurality of containers and a back top panel for being overlapped with the back attachment panel when the carrier is formed from the blank,
• the central portion comprising a central panel;
• and
• locking features for maintaining an erected configuration of the carrier formed from the blank, the locking features comprising at least one male locking feature extending from a respective panel of the plurality of panels and for being at least partially received in a respective at least one female locking feature at least partially defined in a respective panel of the plurality of panels when the carrier is formed from the blank.

A method of forming a carrier for holding a plurality of containers, the method comprising:

• obtaining a blank comprising a plurality of panels comprising a front attachment panel, a central panel, a back attachment panel, a front top panel, and a back top panel, the blank comprising locking features comprising at least one male locking feature extending from a respective panel of the plurality of panels and at least one female locking feature at least partially defined in a respective panel of the plurality of panels;
• arranging the plurality of panels to form a front portion of the carrier comprising the front top panel overlapping the front attachment panel;
• arranging the plurality of panels to form a back portion of the carrier comprising the back top panel overlapping the back attachment panel;
• arranging the plurality of panels to form a central portion of the carrier comprising the central panel and extending from the front portion of the carrier to the back portion of the carrier;
• and
• at least partially inserting the at least one male locking feature through the at least one female locking feature to maintain an erected configuration of the carrier.

A method of forming a carrier for holding a plurality of containers, the method comprising:

• obtaining a blank comprising a plurality of panels comprising a front attachment panel, a central panel foldably connected to each of the front attachment panel and the back attachment panel, and a back attachment panel, the central panel comprises a connection portion foldably connected to each of a front reinforcement portion and a back reinforcement portion, the blank comprising locking features comprising at least one male locking feature extending from a respective panel of the plurality of panels and at least one female locking feature at least partially defined in a respective panel of the plurality of panels;
• arranging the plurality of panels to form a front portion of the carrier comprising the front attachment panel;
• arranging the plurality of panels to form a back portion of the carrier comprising the back attachment panel;
• arranging the plurality of panels to form a central portion of the carrier comprising the central panel and extending from the front portion of the carrier to the back portion of the carrier;
• and
• at least partially inserting the at least one male locking feature through the at least one female locking feature to maintain an erected configuration of the carrier.

A package, the package comprising:

• a plurality of containers;
• and
• a carrier holding the plurality of containers, the carrier comprising:
• a plurality of panels forming a front portion, a back portion, and a central portion extending from the front portion to the back portion,
• the front portion comprising a front attachment panel at least partially receiving a respective container of the plurality of containers and a front top panel overlapping the front attachment panel,
• the back portion comprising a back attachment panel at least partially receiving a respective container of the plurality of containers and a back top panel overlapping the back attachment panel,
• the central portion comprising a central panel;
• and
• locking features maintaining an erected configuration of the carrier, the locking features comprising at least one male locking feature extending from a respective panel of the plurality of panels and being at least partially received in a respective at least one female locking feature at least partially defined in a respective panel of the plurality of panels.

A package, the package comprising:

• a plurality of containers;
• and
• a carrier holding the plurality of containers, the carrier comprising:
• a plurality of panels forming a front portion, a back portion, and a central portion extending from the front portion to the back portion,
• the front portion comprising a front attachment panel at least partially receiving a respective container of the plurality of containers,
• the back portion comprising a back attachment panel at least partially receiving a respective container of the plurality of containers,
• the central portion comprising a central panel foldably connected to each of the front attachment panel and the back attachment panel, the central panel comprises a connection portion foldably connected to each of a front reinforcement portion and a back reinforcement portion;
• and
• locking features maintaining an erected configuration of the carrier, the locking features comprising at least one male locking feature extending from a respective panel of the plurality of panels and being at least partially received in a respective at least one female locking feature at least partially defined in a respective panel of the plurality of panels.