Carrier For Containers

Abstract

A carrier for holding a plurality of containers includes a central panel having a plurality of container retention openings for at least partially receiving a respective container of the plurality of containers, and a plurality of container retention tabs positioned extending into respective container retention openings of the plurality of container retention openings, the plurality of container retention tabs positioned for engaging a respective container of the plurality of containers, respective adjacent container retention tabs of the plurality of container retention tabs at least partially separable from one another at a cut including an oblique segment intersecting a curved segment.

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; and   a plurality of container retention tabs positioned extending into respective container retention openings of the plurality of container retention openings, the plurality of container retention tabs positioned for engaging a respective container of the plurality of containers, respective adjacent container retention tabs of the plurality of container retention tabs at least partially separable from one another at a cut including an oblique segment intersecting a curved segment.   
     
     
         2 . The carrier of  claim 1 , wherein the cut at least partially defines a deflection region of a respective container retention tab at least partially between the oblique segment and the curved segment of the cut. 
     
     
         3 . The carrier of  claim 2 , wherein the deflection region is at least partially separable from the central panel for being positioned in nonplanar relation with the central panel. 
     
     
         4 . The carrier of  claim 3 , wherein the respective container retention tab is foldably connected to the central panel at a fold line. 
     
     
         5 . The carrier of  claim 4 , wherein the cut is spaced apart from the fold line. 
     
     
         6 . The carrier of  claim 5 , wherein the cut is a first cut, and the respective container retention tab is at least partially separable from another adjacent container retention tab at a second cut including an oblique segment intersecting a curved segment. 
     
     
         7 . The carrier of  claim 6 , wherein the deflection region is a first deflection region and the second cut at least partially defines a second deflection region of the respective container retention tab at least partially between the oblique segment and the curved segment of the second cut, the second deflection region at least partially separable from the central panel for being positioned in nonplanar relation with the central panel. 
     
     
         8 . The carrier of  claim 7 , wherein the respective container retention tab is at least partially bisected by a line of weakening so as to form a first portion and a second portion of the respective container retention tab. 
     
     
         9 . The carrier of  claim 8 , wherein the respective container retention tab further at least partially defines a third deflection region along the first portion adjacent the line of weakening, and a fourth deflection region along the second portion adjacent the line of weakening. 
     
     
         10 . The carrier of  claim 9 , wherein each of the first deflection region, the second deflection region, the third deflection region, and the fourth deflection region are at least partially separable from the central panel for being positioned in nonplanar relation with the central panel. 
     
     
         11 . The carrier of  claim 5 , further comprising handle features for facilitating grasping of the carrier, the handle features comprising at least one handle opening at least partially defined in the central panel and at least one handle flap foldably connected to the central panel and positioned extending into the at least one handle opening. 
     
     
         12 . A blank for forming a carrier for holding a plurality of containers, the blank comprising:
 a central panel comprising a plurality of container retention openings for at least partially receiving a respective container of the plurality of containers; and   a plurality of container retention tabs positioned extending into respective container retention openings of the plurality of container retention openings, the plurality of container retention tabs positioned for engaging a respective container of the plurality of containers, respective adjacent container retention tabs of the plurality of container retention tabs at least partially separable from one another at a cut including an oblique segment intersecting a curved segment.   
     
     
         13 . The blank of  claim 12 , wherein the cut at least partially defines a deflection region of a respective container retention tab at least partially between the oblique segment and the curved segment of the cut. 
     
     
         14 . The blank of  claim 13 , wherein the deflection region is at least partially separable from the central panel for being positioned in nonplanar relation with the central panel. 
     
     
         15 . The blank of  claim 14 , wherein the respective container retention tab is foldably connected to the central panel at a fold line. 
     
     
         16 . The blank of  claim 15 , wherein the cut is spaced apart from the fold line. 
     
     
         17 . The blank of  claim 16 , wherein the cut is a first cut, and the respective container retention tab is at least partially separable from another adjacent container retention tab at a second cut including an oblique segment intersecting a curved segment. 
     
     
         18 . The blank of  claim 17 , wherein the deflection region is a first deflection region and the second cut at least partially defines a second deflection region of the respective container retention tab at least partially between the oblique segment and the curved segment of the second cut, the second deflection region at least partially separable from the central panel for being positioned in nonplanar relation with the central panel. 
     
     
         19 . The blank of  claim 18 , wherein the respective container retention tab is at least partially bisected by a line of weakening so as to form a first portion and a second portion of the respective container retention tab. 
     
     
         20 . The blank of  claim 19 , wherein the respective container retention tab further at least partially defines a third deflection region along the first portion adjacent the line of weakening, and a fourth deflection region along the second portion adjacent the line of weakening. 
     
     
         21 . The blank of  claim 20 , wherein each of the first deflection region, the second deflection region, the third deflection region, and the fourth deflection region are at least partially separable from the central panel for being positioned in nonplanar relation with the central panel. 
     
     
         22 . The blank of  claim 16 , further comprising handle features for facilitating grasping of the carrier formed from the blank, the handle features comprising at least one handle opening at least partially defined in the central panel and at least one handle flap foldably connected to the central panel and positioned extending into the at least one handle opening. 
     
     
         23 . A method of forming a carrier for holding a plurality of containers, the method comprising:
 obtaining a blank comprising central panel comprising a plurality of container retention openings, the blank further comprising a plurality of container retention tabs positioned extending into respective container retention openings of the plurality of container retention openings, respective adjacent container retention tabs of the plurality of container retention tabs at least partially separable from one another at a cut including an oblique segment intersecting a curved segment; and   positioning the central panel with the plurality of container retention openings arranged for at least partially receiving a respective container of the plurality of containers and such that the plurality of container retention tabs are positioned for engaging a respective container of the plurality of containers.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the cut at least partially defines a deflection region of a respective container retention tab at least partially between the oblique segment and the curved segment of the cut. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the deflection region is at least partially separable from the central panel for being positioned in nonplanar relation with the central panel. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the respective container retention tab is foldably connected to the central panel at a fold line. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the cut is spaced apart from the fold line. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the cut is a first cut, and the respective container retention tab is at least partially separable from another adjacent container retention tab at a second cut including an oblique segment intersecting a curved segment. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the deflection region is a first deflection region and the second cut at least partially defines a second deflection region of the respective container retention tab at least partially between the oblique segment and the curved segment of the second cut, the second deflection region at least partially separable from the central panel for being positioned in nonplanar relation with the central panel. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the respective container retention tab is at least partially bisected by a line of weakening so as to form a first portion and a second portion of the respective container retention tab. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the respective container retention tab further at least partially defines a third deflection region along the first portion adjacent the line of weakening, and a fourth deflection region along the second portion adjacent the line of weakening. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein each of the first deflection region, the second deflection region, the third deflection region, and the fourth deflection region are at least partially separable from the central panel for being positioned in nonplanar relation with the central panel. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the blank further comprises handle features for facilitating grasping of the carrier, the handle features comprising at least one handle opening at least partially defined in the central panel and at least one handle flap foldably connected to the central panel and positioned extending into the at least one handle opening. 
     
     
         34 . 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; and 
 a plurality of container retention tabs positioned extending into respective container retention openings of the plurality of container retention openings, the plurality of container retention tabs positioned engaging a respective container of the plurality of containers, respective adjacent container retention tabs of the plurality of container retention tabs at least partially separable from one another at a cut including an oblique segment intersecting a curved segment. 
   
     
     
         35 . The package of  claim 31 , wherein the cut at least partially defines a deflection region of a respective container retention tab at least partially between the oblique segment and the curved segment of the cut. 
     
     
         36 . The package of  claim 35 , wherein the deflection region is at least partially separated from the central panel and positioned in nonplanar relation with the central panel. 
     
     
         37 . The package of  claim 36 , wherein the respective container retention tab is foldably connected to the central panel at a fold line. 
     
     
         38 . The package of  claim 37 , wherein the cut is spaced apart from the fold line. 
     
     
         39 . The package of  claim 38 , wherein the cut is a first cut, and the respective container retention tab is at least partially separated from another adjacent container retention tab at a second cut including an oblique segment intersecting a curved segment. 
     
     
         40 . The package of  claim 39 , wherein the deflection region is a first deflection region and the second cut at least partially defines a second deflection region of the respective container retention tab at least partially between the oblique segment and the curved segment of the second cut, the second deflection region at least partially separated from the central panel and positioned in nonplanar relation with the central panel. 
     
     
         41 . The package of  claim 40 , wherein the respective container retention tab is at least partially bisected by a line of weakening so as to form a first portion and a second portion of the respective container retention tab. 
     
     
         42 . The package of  claim 41 , wherein the respective container retention tab further at least partially defines a third deflection region along the first portion adjacent the line of weakening, and a fourth deflection region along the second portion adjacent the line of weakening. 
     
     
         43 . The package of  claim 42 , wherein each of the first deflection region, the second deflection region, the third deflection region, and the fourth deflection region are at least partially separated from the central panel and positioned in nonplanar relation with the central panel. 
     
     
         44 . The package of  claim 38 , further comprising handle features for facilitating grasping of the carrier, the handle features comprising at least one handle opening at least partially defined in the central panel and at least one handle flap foldably connected to the central panel and positioned extending into the at least one handle opening.