Carrier for containers

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

• a bottom panel for at least partially receiving a respective container of the plurality of containers in the carrier formed from the blank, the bottom panel having a plurality of container retention features for at least partially engaging a respective container of the plurality of containers, the plurality of container retention features comprising a respective bottom container retention opening and a respective plurality of bottom container retention flaps foldably connected to the bottom panel and cooperating with the bottom container retention opening to engage a respective container of the plurality of containers in the carrier formed from the blank;
• a front portion for forming a front portion of the carrier formed from the blank, the front portion of the blank comprising a first portion of the bottom panel including front bottom container retention features of the plurality of bottom container retention features, at least one front side panel foldably connected to the bottom panel, and a front reinforcement panel;
• a back portion for forming a back portion of the carrier formed from the blank, the back portion of the blank comprising a second portion of the bottom panel including back bottom container retention features of the plurality of bottom container retention features, at least one back side panel, and a back reinforcement panel;
• the front reinforcement panel and the back reinforcement panel are for being in at least partial face-to-face contact in the carrier formed from the blank and for forming a reinforcement portion extending from the front portion to the back portion of the carrier and for reinforcing the carrier formed from the blank;
• and
• gripping features for enhancing the grip of the carrier formed from the blank, the gripping features comprising at least one gripping panel extending between the bottom panel and one of the front side panel and the back side panel.

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

• obtaining a blank, the blank comprising a bottom panel having a plurality of container retention features comprising a respective bottom container retention opening and a respective plurality of bottom container retention flaps foldably connected to the bottom panel;
• the blank comprising a front portion and a back portion, the front portion of the blank comprising a first portion of the bottom panel including front bottom container retention features of the plurality of bottom container retention features, at least one front side panel foldably connected to the bottom panel, and a front reinforcement panel, the back portion of the blank comprising a second portion of the bottom panel including back bottom container retention features of the plurality of bottom container retention features, at least one back side panel, and a back reinforcement panel, the blank comprises gripping features comprising at least one gripping panel extending between the bottom panel and one of the front side panel and the back side panel;
• positioning the bottom panel to engage a respective container of the plurality of containers and the bottom container retention flaps cooperate with bottom container retention openings to engage a respective container of the plurality of containers;
• forming a front portion of the carrier from the front portion of the blank and forming a back portion of the carrier from the back portion of the blank;
• forming a reinforcement portion of the carrier extending between the front portion of the carrier and the back portion of the carrier by positioning the front reinforcement panel and the back reinforcement panel in at least partially face-to-face contact to reinforce the carrier;
• and
• forming gripping features in the carrier from the gripping features of the blank to enhance the grip of the carrier.