Package for beverage containers

A package comprising a carrier at least partially holding at least one container, each container of the at least one container comprising a top portion and a body portion, the carrier comprising:

• a top panel, a first outer side panel foldably connected to the top panel, a first inner side panel foldably connected to the first outer side panel, a second outer side panel foldably connected to the top panel, a second inner side panel foldably connected to the second outer side panel, a first bottom panel foldably connected to the first inner side panel, and a second bottom panel foldably connected to the second inner side panel;
• at least one container receiver comprising a first retaining feature extending in at least one of the first inner side panel and the first outer side panel and an opposing second retaining feature extending in at least one of the second inner side panel and the second outer side panel, the top portion of the at least one container being at least partially retained by at least one of the first retaining feature and the second retaining feature;
• and
• each of the first bottom panel and the second bottom panel is at least partially disposed between the top panel and the top portion of the at least one container;
• wherein the first retaining feature of the at least one container receiver comprises a first outer opening in the first outer side panel and a first outer retention tab adjacent the first outer opening, and the second retaining feature of the at least one container receiver comprises a second outer opening in the second outer side panel and a second outer retention tab adjacent the second outer opening;
• wherein the first retaining feature of the at least one container receiver comprises at least one first outer retention flap foldably connected to the first outer side panel adjacent the first outer opening and separable from the first outer retention tab by a first cut, and the second retaining feature of the at least one container receiver comprises at least one second outer retention flap foldably connected to the second outer side panel adjacent the second outer opening and separable from the second outer retention tab by a second cut.

A package comprising a carrier at least partially holding at least one container, each container of the at least one container comprising a top portion and a body portion, the carrier comprising:

• a top panel, a first outer side panel foldable connected to the top panel, a first inner side panel foldably connected to the first outer side panel, a second outer side panel foldably connected to the top panel, a second inner side panel foldably connected to the second outer side panel, a first bottom panel foldably connected to the first inner side panel, and a second bottom panel foldable connected to the second inner side panel;
• at least one container receiver comprising a first retaining feature extending in at least one of the first inner side panel and the first outer side panel and an opposing second retaining feature extending in at least one of the second inner side panel and the second outer side panel, the top portion of the at least one container being at least partially retained by at least one of the first retaining feature and the second retaining feature;
• and
• each of the first bottom panel and the second bottom panel is at least partially disposed between the top panel and the top portion of the at least one container;
• wherein the first retaining feature of the at least one container receiver comprises a first inner opening in the first inner side panel and at least one first inner retention flap adjacent the first inner opening, and the second retaining feature of the at least one container receiver comprises a second inner opening in the second inner side panel and at least one second inner retention flap adjacent the second inner opening;
• wherein the first retaining feature of the at least one container receiver further comprises a first outer opening in the first outer side panel and a first outer retention tab adjacent the first outer opening, and the second retaining feature of the at least one container receiver further comprises a second outer opening in the second outer side panel and a second outer retention tab adjacent the second outer opening, the first outer opening and the second outer opening being generally aligned with the first inner opening and the second inner opening.

A blank for forming a carrier for at least partially holding at least a first container and a second container, each of the first container and the second container comprising a top portion and a body portion, the blank comprising:

• a top panel, a first outer side panel foldably connected to the top panel along a first fold line, a first inner side panel foldably connected to the first outer side panel along a second fold line, a second outer side panel foldably connected to the top panel along a third fold line, a second inner side panel foldably connected to the second outer side panel along a fourth fold line, a first bottom panel foldably connected to the first inner side panel, and a second bottom panel foldably connected to the second inner side panel;
• and
• container receiver features for forming at least a first container receiver and a second container receiver in the carrier formed from the blank, the container receiver features comprising a first retaining feature extending in at least one of the first inner side panel and the first outer side panel and an opposing second retaining feature extending in at least one of the second inner side panel and the second outer side panel for forming the first container receiver in the carrier formed from the blank and a third retaining feature and a fourth retaining feature for forming the second container receiver in the carrier formed from the blank, the first retaining feature and the second retaining feature being for at least partially retaining the top portion of the first container in the carrier formed from the blank;
• wherein at least a portion of each of the first bottom panel and the second bottom panel is for being at least partially disposed between the top panel and the top portion of the at least one container when the carrier is formed from the blank;
• wherein at least one of the first fold line and the third fold line comprises a first arcuate center portion, and at least one of the second fold line and the fourth fold line comprises a second arcuate center portion, the first arcuate center portion and the second arcuate center portion being for forming a curved portion of at least one of the first outer side panel and the second outer side panel adjacent at least one of the first container receiver and the second container receiver in the carrier formed from the blank;
• wherein the first arcuate center portion and the second arcuate center portion extend at least partially between at least one of the first retaining feature and the second retaining feature and a respective one of the third retaining feature and the fourth retaining feature.

A blank for forming a carrier for at least partially holding at least one container, each container of the at least one container comprising a top portion and a body portion, the blank comprising:

• a top panel, a first outer side panel foldably connected to the top panel, a first inner side panel foldably connected to the first outer side panel, a second outer side panel foldably connected to the top panel, a second inner side panel foldably connected to the second outer side panel, a first bottom panel foldably connected to the first inner side panel, and a second bottom panel foldably connected to the second inner side panel;
• and
• container receiver features for forming at least one container receiver in the carrier formed from the blank, the container receiver features comprising a first retaining feature extending in at least one of the first inner side panel and the first outer side panel and an opposing second retaining feature extending in at least one of the second inner side panel and the second outer side panel, at least one of the first retaining feature and the second retaining feature being for at least partially retaining the top portion of the at least one container in the carrier formed from the blank;
• wherein at least a portion of each of the first bottom panel and the second bottom panel is for being at least partially disposed between the top panel and the top portion of the at least one container when the carrier is formed from the blank;
• wherein the first retaining feature comprises a first outer opening in the first outer side panel and a first outer retention tab adjacent the first outer opening, and the second retaining feature comprises a second outer opening in the second outer side panel and a second outer retention tab adjacent the second outer opening;
• wherein the first retaining feature comprises at least one first outer retention flap foldably connected to the first outer side panel adjacent the first outer opening and separable from the first outer retention tab by a first cut, and the second retaining feature comprises at least one second outer retention flap foldably connected to the second outer side panel adjacent the second outer opening and separable from the second outer retention tab by a second cut.

A blank for forming a carrier for at least partially holding at least one container, each container of the at least one container comprising a top portion and a body portion, the blank comprising:

• a top panel, a first outer side panel foldably connected to the top panel, a first inner side panel foldably connected to the first outer side panel, a second outer side panel foldably connected to the top panel, a second inner side panel foldably connected to the second outer side panel, a first bottom panel foldably connected to the first inner side panel, and a second bottom panel foldably connected to the second inner side panel;
• and
• container receiver features for forming at least one container receiver in the carrier formed from the blank, the container receiver features comprising a first retaining feature extending in at least one of the first inner side panel and the first outer side panel and an opposing second retaining feature extending in at least one of the second inner side panel and the second outer side panel, at least one of the first retaining feature and the second retaining feature being for at least partially retaining the top portion of the at least one container in the carrier formed from the blank;
• wherein at least a portion of each of the first bottom panel and the second bottom panel is for being at least partially disposed between the top panel and the top portion of the at least one container when the carrier is formed from the blank;
• wherein the first retaining feature comprises a first inner opening in the first inner side panel and at least one first inner retention flap adjacent the first inner opening, and the second retaining feature comprises a second inner opening in the second inner side panel and at least one second inner retention flap adjacent the second inner opening;
• wherein the first retaining feature further comprises a first outer opening in the first outer side panel and a first outer retention tab adjacent the first outer opening, and the second retaining feature further comprises a second outer opening in the second outer side panel and a second outer retention tab adjacent the second outer opening, the first outer opening and the second outer opening being generally aligned with the first inner opening and the second inner opening.

A method of forming a package, comprising:

• obtaining a blank comprising a top panel, a first outer side panel foldably connected to the top panel along a first fold line, a first inner side panel foldably connected to the first outer side panel along a second fold line, a second outer side panel foldably connected to the top panel along a third fold line, a second inner side panel foldably connected to the second outer side panel along a fourth fold line, a first bottom panel foldably connected to the first inner side panel, a second bottom panel foldably connected to the second inner side panel, and container receiver features comprising a first retaining feature extending in at least one of the first inner side panel and the first outer side panel and an opposing second retaining feature extending in at least one of the second inner side panel and the second outer side panel, wherein at least one of the first fold line and the third fold line comprises a first arcuate center portion, and at least one of the second fold line and the fourth fold line comprises a second arcuate center portion;
• and
• forming a carrier having an interior and at least one container receiver by folding the blank so that the first bottom panel and the second bottom panel are at least partially overlapped opposite to the top panel and folding the first outer side panel and the second outer side panel to extend generally downwardly with respect to the top panel, the at least one container receiver comprising the first retaining feature and the second retaining feature, wherein the folding the first outer side panel and the second outer side panel comprises forming a curved portion in at least one of the first outer side panel and the second outer side panel adjacent the at least one container receiver, the curved portion extending between the first arcuate center portion and the second arcuate center portion;
• positioning at least one container to be respectfully received in the at least one container receiver with at least a portion of the first bottom panel and the second bottom panel being disposed between the top panel and a top portion of the at least one container, the positioning the at least one container comprises folding the first inner side panel and the second inner side panel so that the first bottom panel and the second bottom panel are at least partially in face-to-face contact with the top panel and the first inner side panel and the second inner side panel extend generally upwardly from the respective first outer sidepanel and second outer side panel to the respective first bottom panel and second bottom panel.