Carrier for containers

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

• an upper blank for forming an upper web of the carrier, the upper blank comprising:
• a central panel at least partially defining a plurality of container retention openings for at least partially receiving a respective container of the plurality of containers;
• a lower blank for forming a lower web of the carrier, the lower blank comprising:
• a central panel at least partially defining a plurality of container retention openings for at least partially receiving a respective container of the plurality of containers, the plurality of container retention openings of the upper web aligned with the plurality of container retention openings of the lower web;
• and
• reinforcement features comprising at least one reinforcement panel foldably connected to one of the central panel of the upper web or the central panel of the lower web, the at least one reinforcement panel for being positioned between the central panel of the upper blank and the central panel of the lower blank when the carrier is formed from the combination of blanks.

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

• obtaining an upper blank, the upper blank comprising a central panel at least partially defining a plurality of container retention openings for at least partially receiving a respective container of the plurality of containers;
• obtaining a lower blank, the lower blank comprising a central panel at least partially defining a plurality of container retention openings for at least partially receiving a respective container of the plurality of containers, at least one reinforcement panel foldably connected to one of the central panel of the upper blank or the central panel of the lower blank;
• forming an upper web from the upper blank;
• forming a lower web from the lower blank;
• aligning the plurality of container retention openings of the upper web with the plurality of container retention openings of the lower web;
• and
• positioning the at least one reinforcement panel between the central panel of the upper blank and the central panel of the lower blank.

A package, the package comprising:

• a plurality of containers;
• a carrier holding the plurality of containers, the carrier comprising:
• an upper web, the upper web comprising:
• a central panel at least partially defining a plurality of container retention openings at least partially receiving a respective container of the plurality of containers;
• a lower web, the lower web comprising:
• a central panel at least partially defining a plurality of container retention openings at least partially receiving a respective container of the plurality of containers, the plurality of container retention openings of the upper web aligned with the plurality of container retention openings of the lower web;
• and
• reinforcement features comprising at least one reinforcement panel foldably connected to one of the central panel of the upper web or the central panel of the lower web, the at least one reinforcement panel positioned between the central panel of the upper web and the central panel of the lower web.

A pre-breaking assembly for a carrier for containers, the pre-breaking assembly comprising:

• an upper apparatus, the upper apparatus comprising:
• a body at least partially defining a plurality of apertures for at least partially receiving a portion of the carrier;
• and
• a lower apparatus, the lower apparatus comprising:
• a body and a plurality of forming members extending upwardly from the body of the lower apparatus,
• the upper apparatus and the lower apparatus movable relative to one another to position the plurality of forming members of the lower apparatus for engaging a respective portion of the carrier and for being at least partially received in a respective aperture of the plurality of apertures of the upper apparatus.

A method of pre-breaking a carrier for containers, the method comprising:

• obtaining an upper apparatus, the upper apparatus comprising a body at least partially defining a plurality of apertures;
• obtaining a lower apparatus, the lower apparatus comprising a body and a plurality of forming members extending upwardly from the body of the lower apparatus;
• and
• arranging the upper apparatus and the lower apparatus in movable relation to position the plurality of forming members of the lower apparatus for engaging a respective portion of the carrier and for being at least partially received in a respective aperture of the plurality of apertures of the upper apparatus.