Wrap-around container carrier

A blank for forming a carrier sized to contain a plurality of containers each having a generally arcuate sidewall, the blank comprising:

• serially connected bottom, first side, top and second side panels;
• wherein the bottom panel is generally rectangular and supports a bottom of each of the containers when the blank is formed into the carrier;
• a plurality of flaps extending from at least some of the panels to form a pair of opposed composite end panels of the formed carrier;
• a plurality of fold lines joining at least some of the flaps to an associated panel, wherein each of the fold lines is located at a juncture between the flap and the associated panel;
• wherein selected ones of the fold lines do not extend the entire length of the juncture between the at least some of the flaps and the panels associated therewith, wherein the selected ones of the fold lines extend generally parallel to each other;
• a plurality of arcuate corners on the top panel;
• a narrowed neck region extending from each of the first and second side panels to the respective juncture with the top panel;
• wherein the bottom panel is joined to one of the side panels by a side panel fold line which extends the entire length of a juncture between the bottom panel and the one of the side panels;
• wherein two of the plurality of flaps each extend from opposite ends of the bottom panel and are each joined to the bottom panel by one of two bottom panel fold lines which extend the entire length of a juncture between the bottom panel and the associated one of the two flaps;
• and
• a first portion of the at least some of the flaps spaced from the bottom panel is wrapped around and has the same shape as a portion of the generally arcuate sidewall of selected containers when the blank is formed into the carrier and a second portion of the at least some of the flaps adjacent to the bottom panel is formed into a non-arcuate corner about the selected ones of the fold lines.

A package comprising:

• a plurality of similarly oriented, sized and configured containers arranged in an array and each having a bottom, a top and a generally arcuate sidewall therebetween;
• a carrier formed around the array of containers with the bottom of each container supported on a bottom panel of the carrier;
• a plurality of carrier side panels extending upwardly from the bottom panel;
• at least one fold line extending upwardly from the bottom panel between an adjacent pair of the side panels forming a non-arcuate lower juncture portion between the adjacent pair of side panels adjacent to the bottom panel;
• an upper juncture portion between the adjacent pair of side panels of the carrier and spaced from the bottom panel, the upper juncture portion being wrapped around and having the same shape as a portion of the arcuate sidewall of one of the containers;
• and wherein the fold line extends only partially between the bottom panel and a top panel of the carrier.

A package comprising:

• a plurality of similarly oriented, sized and configured containers arranged in an array and each having a bottom, a top and a generally arcuate sidewall therebetween;
• a carrier formed around the array of containers with the bottom of each container supported on a generally rectangular bottom panel of the carrier and a top panel of the carrier positioned over the tops of the containers;
• first, second, third and fourth carrier side panels each extending upwardly from the bottom panel;
• wherein the first and third carrier side panels are opposed to one another and each are composite side panels formed from flaps extending from selected ones of the remaining side panels, the top panel and the bottom panel of the carrier;
• first, second, third and fourth fold lines each extending upwardly from the bottom panel between an adjacent pair of the side panels forming a non-arcuate lower juncture portion between the associated adjacent pair of side panels adjacent to the bottom panel, wherein each of the fold lines is located at a juncture between the flap and the associated panel;
• wherein the side panels of the adjacent pair of side panels are oriented generally perpendicular to each other at the lower juncture portion;
• wherein each fold line extends only partially between the bottom panel and top panel of the carrier;
• an upper juncture portion between the adjacent pair of side panels of the carrier and spaced from the bottom panel, the upper juncture portion being wrapped around and having the same shape as a portion of the arcuate sidewall of one of the containers;
• and
• first, second, third and fourth viewing ports each subjacent to the top panel and superjacent to one of the upper juncture portions;
• wherein a lower perimeter profile of the package adjacent to the bottom panel is generally rectangular and an upper perimeter profile of the package spaced from the bottom panel is generally non-rectangular.