Package for containers

A carrier at least partially holding a plurality of containers, each container of the plurality of containers comprising a flange, the carrier comprising:

• a plurality of panels extending at least partially around an interior of the carrier, the panels comprising a bottom panel, a first side panel foldably connected to the bottom panel, a second side panel foldably connected to the bottom panel, a first top panel foldably connected to the first side panel, and a second top panel foldably connected to the second side panel;
• at least one container-receiving feature extending in at least the bottom panel, the at least one container-receiving feature at least partially receiving at least two containers of the plurality of containers, wherein the at least one container-receiving feature comprises at least a first brace flap and a second brace flap, each of the first brace flap and the second brace flap extending in a generally longitudinal direction and comprising a respective first upper edge and second upper edge that is spaced apart from the bottom panel, and wherein the first upper edge of the first brace flap at least partially engages both of the respective flanges of the at least two containers at least partially received in the at least one container-receiving feature, and the second upper edge of the second brace flap at least partially engages both of the respective flanges of the at least two containers at least partially received in the at least one container-receiving feature.

A blank for forming a carrier for at least partially holding a plurality of containers, each container of the plurality of containers comprising a flange, the blank comprising:

• a plurality of panels comprising a bottom panel, a first side panel foldably connected to the bottom panel, a second side panel foldably connected to the bottom panel, a first top panel foldably connected to the first side panel, and a second top panel foldably connected to the second side panel;
• at least one container-receiving feature extending in at least the bottom panel for at least partially receiving at least one container of the plurality of containers when the carrier is formed from the blank, wherein each container of the plurality of containers is for being positioned in one of at least a first column extending generally adjacent the first side panel and a second column extending generally adjacent the second side panel when the carrier is formed from the blank;
• and
• a first retention flap foldably connected to the first top panel and a second retention flap foldably connected to the second top panel, wherein the first retention flap comprises a first proximal portion for at least partially receiving the flange of at least one container in the first column and a first distal portion for at least partially engaging the flange of at least one container in the second column when the carrier is formed from the blank, and the second retention flap comprises a second proximal portion for at least partially receiving the flange of the at least one container in the second column and a second distal portion for at least partially engaging the at least one container in the first column proximate the flange when the carrier is formed from the blank, the second distal portion of the second retention flap for being positioned at least partially in face-to-face contact with the first distal portion of the first retention flap when the carrier is formed from the blank.

A blank for forming a carrier for at least partially holding a plurality of containers, each container of the plurality of containers comprising a flange, the blank comprising:

• a plurality of panels comprising a bottom panel, a first side panel foldably connected to the bottom panel, and a second side panel foldably connected to the bottom panel, a first top panel foldably connected to the first side panel, and a second top panel foldably connected to the second side panel;
• at least one container-receiving feature extending in at least the bottom panel, the at least one container-receiving feature being for at least partially receiving at least two containers of the plurality of containers when the carrier is formed from the blank, wherein the at least one container-receiving feature comprises at least a first brace flap and a second brace flap, each of the first brace flap and the second brace flap extending in a generally longitudinal direction and comprising a respective first upper edge and second upper edge that are for being spaced apart from the bottom panel when the carrier is formed from the blank, and wherein the first upper edge of the first brace flap is for at least partially engaging both of the respective flanges of the at least two containers for being at least partially received in the at least one container-receiving feature when the carrier is formed from the blank, and the second upper edge of the second brace flap is for at least partially engaging both of the respective flanges of the at least two containers for being at least partially received in the at least one container-receiving feature when the carrier is formed from the blank.

A method of forming a carrier at least partially holding a plurality of containers, each container of the plurality of containers comprising a flange, the method comprising:

• obtaining a blank comprising a plurality of panels comprising a bottom panel, a first side panel foldably connected to the bottom panel, a second side panel foldably connected to the bottom panel, a first top panel foldably connected to the first side panel, a second top panel foldably connected to the second side panel, a first retention flap foldably connected to the first top panel, and a second retention flap foldably connected to the second top panel, wherein at least one first container-receiving feature and at least one second container-receiving feature extend in at least the bottom panel;
• inserting at least a portion of at least one container of the plurality of containers in a first column through one of the at least one first container-receiving feature and the second container-receiving feature, and inserting at least one container in a second column into one of the at least one first container-receiving feature and the at least one second container-receiving feature, the at least one container in the first column extending generally adjacent the first side panel, and the at least one container in the second column extending generally adjacent the second side panel;
• forming an interior of the carrier at least partially defined by the plurality of panels, the flanges of each container of the plurality of containers being at least partially enclosed in the interior of the carrier;
• positioning the second retention flap to engage at least a portion of the flange of at least one container of the plurality of containers, the positioning at least the second retention flap comprising positioning a second proximal portion of the second retention flap to at least partially receive the at least one container in the second column and a second distal portion of the second retention flap to at least partially engage the at least one container in the first column proximate the flange;
• and
• positioning the first retention flap to engage at least a portion of the flange of at least one container of the plurality of containers, the positioning at least the first retention flap comprising positioning a first proximal portion of the first retention flap to at least partially receive the at least one container in the first column and a first distal portion of the first retention flap to at least partially engage the flange of the at least one container in the second column, wherein the positioning the first distal portion of the first retention flap comprises disposing the first distal portion at least partially in face-to-face contact with the second distal portion.

A method of forming a carrier at least partially holding a plurality of containers, each container of the plurality of containers comprising a flange, the method comprising:

• obtaining a blank comprising a plurality of panels comprising a bottom panel, a first side panel foldably connected to the bottom panel, and a second side panel foldably connected to the bottom panel, a first top panel foldably connected to the first side panel, and a second top panel foldably connected to the second side panel, wherein at least one container-receiving feature extends in at least the bottom panel and comprises at least a first brace flap and a second brace flap, each of the first brace flap and the second brace flap extending in a generally longitudinal direction and comprising a respective first upper edge and second upper edge;
• inserting at least a portion of a first container of the plurality of containers and at least a portion of a second container of the plurality of containers through the at least one container-receiving feature so that the first upper edge of the first brace flap is spaced apart from the bottom panel and at least partially engages both of the respective flanges of the first container and the second container and the second upper edge of the second brace flap is spaced apart from the bottom panel and at least partially engages both of the respective flanges of the first container and the second container;
• and
• forming an interior of the carrier at least partially defined by the plurality of panels, the flanges of each container of the plurality of containers being at least partially enclosed in the interior of the carrier.