Carton with retention features

A blank for forming a carton for carrying a plurality of articles, the blank comprising:

• a top panel;
• and
• at least one side panel foldably connected to the top panel,
• the least one side panel having a first retention feature for retaining a first portion of at least one of the plurality of articles in the carton formed from the blank, and a second retention feature for retaining a second portion of the at least one of the plurality of articles in the carton formed from the blank,
• the first retention feature comprising at least two first openings and the second retention feature being spaced apart from the first retention feature,
• the second retention feature comprising
• at least two second openings respectively aligned with a respective one of the at least two first openings, and
• at least two retention flaps foldably connected at a respective fold line, the at least two retention flaps being positioned between the at least two second openings,
• the retention flaps are inner retention flaps and the second retention feature comprises at least one outer retention flap, the at least one outer retention flap being foldably connected to the at least one side panel and being adjacent one of the at least two second openings,
• the at least one outer retention flap is foldably connected to a tuck-in flap, the tuck in flap being foldably connected to the at least one side panel and for being positioned in face-to-face contact with the at least one side panel in the carton formed from the blank.

A method of forming a carton for carrying a plurality of articles, the method comprising:

• obtaining a blank comprising a top panel and at least one side panel foldably connected to the top panel, the least one side panel having a first retention feature for retaining a first portion of a respective article of the plurality of articles, and a second retention feature for retaining a second portion of a respective article of the plurality of articles, the first retention feature comprising at least two first openings and the second retention feature being spaced apart from the first retention feature, the second retention feature comprising at least two second openings respectively aligned with a respective one of the at least two first openings, and at least two retention flaps foldably connected at a respective fold line, the at least two retention flaps being positioned between the at least two second openings;
• forming the blank into the carton by positioning the side panel relative to the top panel;
• the forming the carton comprising placing a respective article in a respective one of the at least two first openings and the aligned at least two second openings such that each respective article is retained by the first retention feature and the second retention feature,
• the at least two retention flaps being positioned between the at least two articles,
• the at least two retention flaps are inner retention flaps and the second retention feature comprises at least one outer retention flap, the at least one outer retention flap being foldably connected to the at least one side panel and being adjacent one of the at least two second openings, the at least one outer retention flap is foldably connected to a tuck-in flap, the tuck-in flap being foldably connected to the at least one side panel, the forming the carton comprising positioning the tuck-in flap in face-to-face contact with the at least one side panel.