Carton with Article Protection Feature

A blank for forming a carton for containing at least one article, the blank comprising:

• at least one panel for at least partially forming an interior of the carton formed from the blank;
• and
• at least one article protection flap for protecting the at least one article, the at least one article protection flap comprising a central portion, a first outer portion foldably connected to the central portion, and a second outer portion foldably connected to the central portion, the at least one article protection flap being foldably connected to the at least one panel and moveable between a first position that is substantially parallel to the at least one panel and a second position wherein the at least one article protection flap is folded relative to the at least one panel and the first outer portion and the second outer portion are folded with respect to the central portion,
• the at least one article protection flap comprises features for preventing folding of the at least one article protection flap from the second position to the first positon, the at least one article protection flap comprises a first cut in the central portion and extending along the first outer portion of the at least one article protection flap and a second cut in the central portion and extending along the second outer portion of the at least one article protection flap, the first cut at least partially defines a first tab that is for extending outwardly from the central portion of the at least one article protection flap when the at least one article protection flap is in the second position in the carton formed from the blank, and the second cut at least partially defines a second tab extending outwardly from the central portion of the at least one article protection flap when the at least one article protection flap is in the second position in the carton formed from the blank.

A method of forming a carton, the method comprising:

• obtaining a blank comprising at least one panel and at least one article protection flap foldably connected to the at least one panel, the at least one article protection flap comprising a central portion, a first outer portion foldably connected to the central portion, and a second outer portion foldably connected to the central portion;
• positioning the at least one panel to at least partially form an interior space of the carton;
• and
• folding the at least one article protection flap relative to the at least one panel, the folding comprises moving the at least one article protection flap from a first position that is substantially parallel to the at least one panel to a second position wherein the at least one article protection flap is folded relative to the at least one panel and the first outer portion and the second outer portion are folded with respect to the central portion, the at least one article protection flap comprises features for preventing folding of the at least one article protection flap from the second position to the first positon, the at least one article protection flap comprises a first cut in the central portion and extending along the first outer portion of the at least one article protection flap and a second cut in the central portion and extending along the second outer portion of the at least one article protection flap, the folding comprises forming a first tab and a second tab at least partially defined by the respective first cut and second cut so that each of the first tab and the second tab extends outwardly from the central portion of the at least one article protection flap when the at least one article protection flap is in the second position.