Sleeve for containers

A method of forming a multi-panel sleeve configured to store and permit selective removal of containers having an outwardly extending upper flange, the method comprising:

• providing a bottom panel, a pair of side panels each connected to a longitudinal side edge of the bottom panel, and a top panel extending between the pair of side panels;
• forming a single row of at least two openings of a first size smaller than an upper flange of a container in the bottom panel spaced from the longitudinal side edges, so that a received container is permitted to extend partially through the opening while an upper flange thereof is supported by the bottom panel;
• forming at least two slits starting adjacent each of the openings, a first of an adjacent pair of the openings having more slits on a first side of a longitudinal center axis of the bottom panel than an opposite second side and a second of the adjacent pair of the openings having more slits on the second side of the longitudinal center axis than the first side, the slits extending generally outward from each opening to a position spaced from the longitudinal side edges, wherein the slits are configured to allow each of the openings to increase to a second size to permit the upper flange of the received container to pass therethrough for removal of the received container from the sleeve and to at least partially return to the first size whereby an upper flange of a subsequent received container is supported by the bottom panel.

A multi-panel sleeve for storing and dispensing a plurality of containers having an outwardly extending upper flange, the multi-panel sleeve comprising:

• a bottom panel, a pair of side panels each connected to a longitudinal side edge of the bottom panel, and a top panel extending between the pair of side panels, the bottom panel having a longitudinal center axis;
• at least two openings defined by the bottom panel and spaced from the longitudinal side edges of the bottom panel, wherein each of the openings is in a single row and the openings each have a first size smaller than an upper flange of a container to permit a received container to extend partially through one of the openings so that the upper flange thereof is supported by the bottom panel;
• and
• at least two slits positioned adjacent to each of the openings, an adjacent pair of the openings having a region extending between adjacent imaginary lines each tangent to an outer periphery of each of the openings and perpendicular to the longitudinal center axis that is free from slits, wherein the slits are configured to allow the openings to increase to a second size to permit the upper flange of the received container to pass through a respective opening for removal thereof from the sleeve and to at least partially return to the first size whereby an upper flange of a subsequent received container is supported by the bottom panel.