Package for containers

Abstract

A package for holding a plurality of containers. The package has a top panel, end panels and side panels. The package has retention features for retaining the containers. The package has gussets for positioning the end panels and side panels around the containers.

1 . A package for containing a plurality of articles, the package comprising:
 panels that extend at least partially around an interior of the package, the panels comprise a top panel, a side panel foldably connected to the top panel, and an end panel foldably connected to the top panel;   at least one opening in the top panel for at least partially receiving at least a portion of one of the articles;   a first gusset panel foldably connected to the side panel; and   a second gusset panel foldably connected to the first gusset panel and the end panel.   
   
   
       2 . The package of  claim 1  wherein the first and second gusset panels are in face-to-face contact. 
   
   
       3 . The package of  claim 2  wherein the first gusset panel overlays the second gusset panel. 
   
   
       4 . The package of  claim 3  wherein at least a portion of the side panel overlays the first gusset panel and is in face-to-face contact with at least a portion of the first gusset panel. 
   
   
       5 . The package of  claim 4  wherein at least a portion of the side panel is in face-to-face contact with at least a portion of the second gusset panel. 
   
   
       6 . The package of  claim 2  wherein the second gusset panel overlays the first gusset panel. 
   
   
       7 . The package of  claim 6  wherein at least a portion of the end panel is in face-to-face contact with the second gusset panel. 
   
   
       8 . The package of  claim 1  wherein the second gusset panel comprises a base portion foldably connected to the first gusset panel and an extension comprising a distal end of the second gusset panel. 
   
   
       9 . The package of  claim 8  wherein the extension extends laterally beyond an edge of the first gusset panel and is free from connection to the first gusset panel, the extension being in face-to-face contact with the side panel. 
   
   
       10 . The package of  claim 9  wherein the base portion is in face-to-face contact with the first gusset panel. 
   
   
       11 . The package of  claim 9  wherein the first gusset panel is adhesively attached to both the first gusset panel and the side panel. 
   
   
       12 . The package of  claim 1  in combination with the articles, the articles comprising beverage containers having an upper portion and a flange, wherein the at least one opening comprises a plurality of openings, each of the openings comprises a periphery and the top panel comprises a plurality of tabs foldably attached to the top panel at the periphery of each of the openings. 
   
   
       13 . The package of  claim 5  wherein the plurality of tabs at each opening comprise two shorter tabs that contact the upper portion of one of the containers and two longer tabs that contact an underside of the flange of the one of the containers to retain the containers in the package. 
   
   
       14 . A blank for forming a package for containing a plurality of articles, the blank comprising:
 panels that comprise a top panel, a side panel foldably connected to the top panel, and an end panel foldably connected to the top panel;   at least one receptacle in the top panel;   a first gusset panel foldably connected to the side panel; and   a second gusset panel foldably connected to the first gusset panel and the end panel.   
   
   
       15 . The blank of  claim 14  wherein the first and second gusset panels are for being in face-to-face contact when the package is formed from the blank. 
   
   
       16 . The package of  claim 15  wherein in the package formed from the blank, the first gusset panel overlays the second gusset panel, at least a portion of the side panel overlays the first gusset panel and is in face-to-face contact with at least a portion of the first gusset panel, and at least a portion of the side panel is in face-to-face contact with at least a portion of the second gusset panel. 
   
   
       17 . The blank of  claim 15  wherein in the package formed from the blank the second gusset panel overlays the first gusset panel and at least a portion of the end panel is in face-to-face contact with the second gusset panel. 
   
   
       18 . The blank of  claim 14  wherein the second gusset panel comprises a base portion foldably connected to the first gusset panel and an extension comprising a distal end of the second gusset panel. 
   
   
       19 . The blank of  claim 18  wherein the extension extends laterally beyond an edge of the first gusset panel and is free from connection to the first gusset panel. 
   
   
       20 . The blank of  claim 19  wherein in the package formed from the blank the extension is in face-to-face contact with the side panel and the base portion is in face-to-face contact with the first gusset panel. 
   
   
       21 . A method of forming a package, the method comprising:
 providing a blank comprising a top panel, a side panel foldably connected to the top panel, an end panel foldably connected to the top panel, a plurality of receptacles in the top panel, a first gusset panel foldably connected to the side panel, and a second gusset panel foldably connected to the first gusset panel and the end panel;   positioning a plurality of articles relative to the blank;   positioning the blank relative to the articles so that the plurality of articles are at least partially received in respective receptacles of the plurality of receptacles;   downwardly folding the end panel relative to the top panel to at least partially enclose the articles in an interior space of the package; and   downwardly folding the side panel relative to the top panel to at least partially enclose the articles in the interior space of the package.   
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the downwardly folding the side panel comprises inwardly folding the second gusset panel to position the first gusset panel in face-to-face relationship with the second gusset panel. 
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22  wherein the downwardly folding the side panel comprises positioning at least a portion of the side panel in face-to-face relationship with the first gusset panel. 
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 22  wherein the second gusset panel comprises a base portion foldably connected to the first gusset panel and an extension extending beyond an edge of the first gusset panel, the downwardly folding the side panel comprises positioning at least a portion of the side panel in face-to-face relationship with the extension. 
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 21  wherein downwardly folding the end panel comprises inwardly folding the first gusset panel to position the second gusset panel in face-to-face relationship with the first gusset panel. 
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 25  wherein the downwardly folding the end panel comprises position at least a portion of the end panel in face-to-face relationship with the second gusset panel. 
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising applying adhesive to at least one of the first gusset panel, the second gusset panel, the end panel, and the side panel to secure the end panel and the side panel in the downwardly folded position.