Carrier For Containers

Abstract

A carrier for holding a plurality of containers, the carrier including a central panel including a plurality of container retention openings for at least partially receiving a respective container of the plurality of containers, at least one reinforcement flap foldably connected to the central panel at a fold line, the at least one reinforcement flap including a base portion and a plurality of spaced extents extending from the base portion for being positioned between respective containers of the plurality of containers, and at least one reinforcement feature interrupting the fold line and positioned between the central panel and the at least one reinforcement flap.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A carrier for holding a plurality of containers, the carrier comprising:
 a central panel comprising a plurality of container retention openings for at least partially receiving a respective container of the plurality of containers;   at least one reinforcement flap foldably connected to the central panel at a fold line, the at least one reinforcement flap comprising a base portion and a plurality of spaced extents extending from the base portion for being positioned between respective containers of the plurality of containers; and   at least one reinforcement feature interrupting the fold line and positioned between the central panel and the at least one reinforcement flap.   
     
     
         2 . The carrier of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one reinforcement feature is generally upright relative to the central panel. 
     
     
         3 . The carrier of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one reinforcement feature is formed by a line of weakening. 
     
     
         4 . The carrier of  claim 3 , wherein the line of weakening includes a plurality of oblique line segments, each oblique line segment of the plurality of oblique line segments intersecting at least one other oblique line segment of the plurality of oblique line segments. 
     
     
         5 . The carrier of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one reinforcement feature is a generally diamond-shaped panel. 
     
     
         6 . The carrier of  claim 2 , wherein at least one container retention tab is foldably connected to the central panel at a respective fold line, the at least one container retention tab positioned extending into a respective container retention opening of the plurality of container retention openings. 
     
     
         7 . The carrier of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one reinforcement flap is a first reinforcement flap, the fold line is a first fold line, the at least one reinforcement feature is a first reinforcement feature interrupting the first fold line, and the carrier further comprises a second reinforcement flap foldably connected to the central panel at a second fold line, the carrier further comprising a second reinforcement feature interrupting the second fold line. 
     
     
         8 . The carrier of  claim 7 , wherein the first reinforcement feature is a first reinforcement feature of a first plurality of spaced apart reinforcement features interrupting the first fold line, and the second reinforcement feature is a second reinforcement feature of a second plurality of spaced apart reinforcement features interrupting the second fold line. 
     
     
         9 . The carrier of  claim 2 , wherein the base portion of the at least one reinforcement flap has a first width, and each extent of the plurality of extents has a second width, the first width is greater than the second width. 
     
     
         10 . The carrier of  claim 9 , wherein at least one extent of the plurality of extents has a tapered configuration. 
     
     
         11 . The carrier of  claim 9 , further comprising at least one reinforcement tab foldably connected to a respective extent of the plurality of extents. 
     
     
         12 . The carrier of  claim 11 , further comprising a plurality of handle openings, wherein each extent of the plurality of extents defines a curved free edge aligned with a respective handle opening of the plurality of handle openings. 
     
     
         13 . A blank for forming a carrier for holding a plurality of containers, the blank comprising:
 a top panel comprising a plurality of container retention openings for at least partially receiving a respective container of the plurality of containers when the carrier is formed from the blank;   a central panel comprising a plurality of container retention openings for at least partially receiving a respective container of the plurality of containers;   at least one reinforcement flap foldably connected to the top panel at a fold line, the at least one reinforcement flap comprising a base portion and a plurality of spaced extents extending from the base portion for being positioned between respective containers of the plurality of containers when the carrier is formed from the blank; and   at least one reinforcement feature interrupting the fold line and positioned between the central panel and the at least one reinforcement flap.   
     
     
         14 . The blank of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one reinforcement feature is for being positioned generally upright relative to the central panel when the carrier is formed from the blank. 
     
     
         15 . The blank of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one reinforcement feature is formed by a line of weakening. 
     
     
         16 . The blank of  claim 15 , wherein the line of weakening includes a plurality of oblique line segments, each oblique line segment of the plurality of oblique line segments intersecting at least one other oblique line segment of the plurality of oblique line segments. 
     
     
         17 . The blank of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one reinforcement feature is a generally diamond-shaped panel. 
     
     
         18 . The blank of  claim 14 , wherein at least one container retention tab is foldably connected to the central panel at a respective fold line, the at least one container retention tab positioned extending into a respective container retention opening of the plurality of container retention openings. 
     
     
         19 . The blank of  claim 18 , wherein the at least one reinforcement flap is a first reinforcement flap, the fold line is a first fold line, the at least one reinforcement feature is a first reinforcement feature interrupting the first fold line, and the blank further comprises a second reinforcement flap foldably connected to the central panel at a second fold line, the blank further comprising a second reinforcement feature interrupting the second fold line. 
     
     
         20 . The blank of  claim 19 , wherein the first reinforcement feature is a first reinforcement feature of a first plurality of spaced apart reinforcement features interrupting the first fold line, and the second reinforcement feature is a second reinforcement feature of a second plurality of spaced apart reinforcement features interrupting the second fold line. 
     
     
         21 . The blank of  claim 14 , wherein the base portion of the at least one reinforcement flap has a first width, and each extent of the plurality of extents has a second width, the first width is greater than the second width. 
     
     
         22 . The blank of  claim 21 , wherein at least one extent of the plurality of extents has a tapered configuration. 
     
     
         23 . The blank of  claim 21 , further comprising at least one reinforcement tab foldably connected to a respective extent of the plurality of extents. 
     
     
         24 . The blank of  claim 23 , further comprising a plurality of handle openings, wherein each extent of the plurality of extents defines a curved free edge for being aligned with a respective handle opening of the plurality of handle openings when the carrier is formed from the blank. 
     
     
         25 . A method of forming a carrier for holding a plurality of containers, the method comprising:
 obtaining a blank comprising a central panel comprising a plurality of container retention openings, at least one reinforcement flap foldably connected to the central panel at a fold line, the at least one reinforcement flap comprising a base portion and a plurality of spaced extents extending from the base portion, and at least one reinforcement feature interrupting the fold line and positioned between the central panel and the at least one reinforcement flap; and   folding the at least one reinforcement flap such that the plurality of container retention openings are positioned for at least partially receiving a respective container of the plurality of containers and such that the plurality of spaced extents are for being positioned between respective containers of the plurality of containers.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the at least one reinforcement flap is folded such that the at least one reinforcement feature is generally upright relative to the central panel. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the at least one reinforcement feature is formed by a line of weakening. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the line of weakening includes a plurality of oblique line segments, each oblique line segment of the plurality of oblique line segments intersecting at least one other oblique line segment of the plurality of oblique line segments. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the at least one reinforcement feature is a generally diamond-shaped panel. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein at least one container retention tab is foldably connected to the central panel at a respective fold line, the at least one container retention tab positioned extending into a respective container retention opening of the plurality of container retention openings. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the at least one reinforcement flap is a first reinforcement flap, the fold line is a first fold line, the at least one reinforcement feature is a first reinforcement feature interrupting the first fold line, and the blank further comprises a second reinforcement flap foldably connected to the central panel at a second fold line, the blank further comprising a second reinforcement feature interrupting the second fold line. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the first reinforcement feature is a first reinforcement feature of a first plurality of spaced apart reinforcement features interrupting the first fold line, and the second reinforcement feature is a second reinforcement feature of a second plurality of spaced apart reinforcement features interrupting the second fold line. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the base portion of the at least one reinforcement flap has a first width, and each extent of the plurality of extents has a second width, the first width is greater than the second width. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein at least one extent of the plurality of extents has a tapered configuration. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the blank further comprises at least one reinforcement tab foldably connected to a respective extent of the plurality of extents. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the blank further comprises a plurality of handle openings and each extent of the plurality of extents defines a curved free edge, and wherein the at least one reinforcement flap is folded such that the curved free edge of a respective extent of the plurality of extents is aligned with a respective handle opening of the plurality of handle openings. 
     
     
         37 . A package, the package comprising:
 a plurality of containers; and   a carrier holding the plurality of containers, the carrier comprising:
 a central panel comprising a plurality of container retention openings at least partially receiving a respective container of the plurality of containers; 
 at least one reinforcement flap foldably connected to the central panel at a fold line, the at least one reinforcement flap comprising a base portion and a plurality of spaced extents extending from the base portion and positioned between respective containers of the plurality of containers; and 
   at least one reinforcement feature interrupting the fold line and positioned between the central panel and the at least one reinforcement flap.   
     
     
         38 . The package of  claim 37 , wherein the at least one reinforcement feature is generally upright relative to the central panel. 
     
     
         39 . The package of  claim 38 , wherein the at least one reinforcement feature is formed by a line of weakening. 
     
     
         40 . The package of  claim 39 , wherein the line of weakening includes a plurality of oblique line segments, each oblique line segment of the plurality of oblique line segments intersecting at least one other oblique line segment of the plurality of oblique line segments. 
     
     
         41 . The package of  claim 40 , wherein the at least one reinforcement feature is a generally diamond-shaped panel. 
     
     
         42 . The package of  claim 38 , wherein at least one container retention tab is foldably connected to the central panel at a respective fold line, the at least one container retention tab positioned extending into a respective container retention opening of the plurality of container retention openings. 
     
     
         43 . The package of  claim 42 , wherein the at least one reinforcement flap is a first reinforcement flap, the fold line is a first fold line, the at least one reinforcement feature is a first reinforcement feature interrupting the first fold line, and the carrier further comprises a second reinforcement flap foldably connected to the central panel at a second fold line, the carrier further comprising a second reinforcement feature interrupting the second fold line. 
     
     
         44 . The package of  claim 43 , wherein the first reinforcement feature is a first reinforcement feature of a first plurality of spaced apart reinforcement features interrupting the first fold line, and the second reinforcement feature is a second reinforcement feature of a second plurality of spaced apart reinforcement features interrupting the second fold line. 
     
     
         45 . The package of  claim 38 , wherein the base portion of the at least one reinforcement flap has a first width, and each extent of the plurality of extents has a second width, the first width is greater than the second width. 
     
     
         46 . The package of  claim 45 , wherein at least one extent of the plurality of extents has a tapered configuration. 
     
     
         47 . The package of  claim 45 , further comprising at least one reinforcement tab foldably connected to a respective extent of the plurality of extents. 
     
     
         48 . The package of  claim 47 , further comprising a plurality of handle openings, wherein each extent of the plurality of extents defines a curved free edge aligned with a respective handle opening of the plurality of handle openings.