Carrier for containers

Abstract

A carrier for holding a plurality of containers includes an upper web, the upper web including a central panel at least partially defining a plurality of container retention openings for at least partially receiving a respective container of the plurality of containers, a lower web, the lower web including a central panel at least partially defining a plurality of container retention openings for at least partially receiving a respective container of the plurality of containers, the plurality of container retention openings of the upper web aligned with the plurality of container retention openings of the lower web, and reinforcement features including at least one reinforcement panel foldably connected to one of the central panel of the upper web or the central panel of the lower web, the at least one reinforcement panel positioned between the central panel of the upper web and the central panel of the lower web.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A carrier for holding a plurality of containers, the carrier comprising:
 an upper web, the upper web comprising:
 a central panel at least partially defining a plurality of container retention openings for at least partially receiving a respective container of the plurality of containers; 
   a lower web, the lower web comprising:
 a central panel at least partially defining a plurality of container retention openings for at least partially receiving a respective container of the plurality of containers, the plurality of container retention openings of the upper web aligned with the plurality of container retention openings of the lower web; and 
   reinforcement features comprising at least one reinforcement panel foldably connected to one of the central panel of the upper web or the central panel of the lower web, the at least one reinforcement panel positioned between the central panel of the upper web and the central panel of the lower web.   
     
     
         2 . The carrier of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one reinforcement panel is in at least partial face-to-face contact with the one of the central panel of the upper web or the central panel of the lower web. 
     
     
         3 . The carrier of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one reinforcement panel is in at least partial face-to-face contact with the other of the central panel of the upper web or the central panel of the lower web. 
     
     
         4 . The carrier of  claim 2 , wherein the upper web comprises a plurality of container retention tabs foldably connected to the central panel of the upper web and positioned extending into a respective container retention opening of the upper web. 
     
     
         5 . The carrier of  claim 4 , wherein the lower web comprises a plurality of container retention tabs foldably connected to the central panel of the lower web and positioned extending into a respective container retention opening of the lower web. 
     
     
         6 . The carrier of  claim 5 , wherein the plurality of container retention tabs of the upper web are aligned with the plurality of container retention tabs of the lower web. 
     
     
         7 . A combination of blanks for forming a carrier for holding a plurality of containers, the combination of blanks comprising:
 an upper blank for forming an upper web of the carrier, the upper blank comprising:
 a central panel at least partially defining a plurality of container retention openings for at least partially receiving a respective container of the plurality of containers; 
   a lower blank for forming a lower web of the carrier, the lower blank comprising:
 a central panel at least partially defining a plurality of container retention openings for at least partially receiving a respective container of the plurality of containers, the plurality of container retention openings of the upper web aligned with the plurality of container retention openings of the lower web; and 
   reinforcement features comprising at least one reinforcement panel foldably connected to one of the central panel of the upper web or the central panel of the lower web, the at least one reinforcement panel for being positioned between the central panel of the upper blank and the central panel of the lower blank when the carrier is formed from the combination of blanks.   
     
     
         8 . The combination of blanks of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one reinforcement panel is for being positioned in at least partial face-to-face contact with the one of the central panel of the upper web or the central panel of the lower web when the carrier is formed from the combination of blanks. 
     
     
         9 . The combination of blanks of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one reinforcement panel is for being positioned in at least partial face-to-face contact with the other of the central panel of the upper web or the central panel of the lower web when the carrier is formed from the combination of blanks. 
     
     
         10 . The combination of blanks of  claim 8 , wherein the upper blank comprises a plurality of container retention tabs foldably connected to the central panel of the upper blank and positioned extending into a respective container retention opening of the upper blank. 
     
     
         11 . The combination of blanks of  claim 10 , wherein the lower blank comprises a plurality of container retention tabs foldably connected to the central panel of the lower blank and positioned extending into a respective container retention opening of the lower blank. 
     
     
         12 . The combination of blanks of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of container retention tabs of the upper blank are for being aligned with the plurality of container retention tabs of the lower blank when the carrier is formed from the combination of blanks. 
     
     
         13 . A method of forming a carrier for holding a plurality of containers, the method comprising:
 obtaining an upper blank, the upper blank comprising a central panel at least partially defining a plurality of container retention openings for at least partially receiving a respective container of the plurality of containers;   obtaining a lower blank, the lower blank comprising a central panel at least partially defining a plurality of container retention openings for at least partially receiving a respective container of the plurality of containers, at least one reinforcement panel foldably connected to one of the central panel of the upper blank or the central panel of the lower blank;   forming an upper web from the upper blank;   forming a lower web from the lower blank;   aligning the plurality of container retention openings of the upper web with the plurality of container retention openings of the lower web; and   positioning the at least one reinforcement panel between the central panel of the upper blank and the central panel of the lower blank.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one reinforcement panel is in at least partial face-to-face contact with the one of the central panel of the upper web or the central panel of the lower web. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one reinforcement panel is in at least partial face-to-face contact with the other of the central panel of the upper web or the central panel of the lower web. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the upper blank comprises a plurality of container retention tabs foldably connected to the central panel of the upper blank and positioned extending into a respective container retention opening of the upper blank. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the lower blank comprises a plurality of container retention tabs foldably connected to the central panel of the lower blank and positioned extending into a respective container retention opening of the lower blank. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising positioning the plurality of container retention tabs of the upper web in alignment with the plurality of container retention tabs of the lower web. 
     
     
         19 . A package, the package comprising:
 a plurality of containers;   a carrier holding the plurality of containers, the carrier comprising:
 an upper web, the upper web comprising:
 a central panel at least partially defining a plurality of container retention openings at least partially receiving a respective container of the plurality of containers; 
 
 a lower web, the lower web comprising:
 a central panel at least partially defining a plurality of container retention openings at least partially receiving a respective container of the plurality of containers, the plurality of container retention openings of the upper web aligned with the plurality of container retention openings of the lower web; and 
 
 reinforcement features comprising at least one reinforcement panel foldably connected to one of the central panel of the upper web or the central panel of the lower web, the at least one reinforcement panel positioned between the central panel of the upper web and the central panel of the lower web. 
   
     
     
         20 . The package of  claim 19 , wherein the at least one reinforcement panel is in at least partial face-to-face contact with the one of the central panel of the upper web or the central panel of the lower web. 
     
     
         21 . The package of  claim 20 , wherein the at least one reinforcement panel is in at least partial face-to-face contact with the other of the central panel of the upper web or the central panel of the lower web. 
     
     
         22 . The package of  claim 20 , wherein the upper web comprises a plurality of container retention tabs foldably connected to the central panel of the upper web and positioned extending into a respective container retention opening of the upper web. 
     
     
         23 . The package of  claim 22 , wherein the lower web comprises a plurality of container retention tabs foldably connected to the central panel of the lower web and positioned extending into a respective container retention opening of the lower web. 
     
     
         24 . The package of  claim 23 , wherein the plurality of container retention tabs of the upper web are aligned with the plurality of container retention tabs of the lower web. 
     
     
         25 . A pre-breaking assembly for a carrier for containers, the pre-breaking assembly comprising:
 an upper apparatus, the upper apparatus comprising:
 a body at least partially defining a plurality of apertures for at least partially receiving a portion of the carrier; and 
   a lower apparatus, the lower apparatus comprising:
 a body and a plurality of forming members extending upwardly from the body of the lower apparatus, 
   the upper apparatus and the lower apparatus movable relative to one another to position the plurality of forming members of the lower apparatus for engaging a respective portion of the carrier and for being at least partially received in a respective aperture of the plurality of apertures of the upper apparatus.   
     
     
         26 . The pre-breaking assembly of  claim 25 , wherein the body of the upper apparatus comprises a plate at least partially defining the plurality of apertures. 
     
     
         27 . The pre-breaking assembly of  claim 26 , wherein the body of the lower apparatus comprises a sidewall and a bottom wall extending at least partially around an interior, the plurality of forming members extending upwardly from the bottom wall. 
     
     
         28 . The pre-breaking assembly of  claim 27 , wherein the at least one forming member of the plurality of forming members comprises a lower portion and a tapered upper portion. 
     
     
         29 . The pre-breaking assembly of  claim 28 , wherein the lower portion of the at least one forming member of the plurality of forming members has a generally circular profile. 
     
     
         30 . The pre-breaking assembly of  claim 28 , wherein the lower portion of the at least one forming member of the plurality of forming members has a generally polygonal profile. 
     
     
         31 . The pre-breaking assembly of  claim 25 , wherein the body of the upper apparatus at least partially forms a wheel rotatably supported on a machine frame and at least partially defining the plurality of apertures. 
     
     
         32 . The pre-breaking assembly of  claim 31 , wherein the plurality of apertures comprise a respective recess in the wheel. 
     
     
         33 . The pre-breaking assembly of  claim 32 , wherein the body of the lower apparatus at least partially forms a wheel rotatably supported on a machine frame, the plurality of forming members extending radially outwardly from the wheel of the lower apparatus. 
     
     
         34 . The pre-breaking assembly of  claim 33 , wherein at least one forming member of the plurality of forming members comprises a tapered sidewall. 
     
     
         35 . A method of pre-breaking a carrier for containers, the method comprising:
 obtaining an upper apparatus, the upper apparatus comprising a body at least partially defining a plurality of apertures;   obtaining a lower apparatus, the lower apparatus comprising a body and a plurality of forming members extending upwardly from the body of the lower apparatus; and   arranging the upper apparatus and the lower apparatus in movable relation to position the plurality of forming members of the lower apparatus for engaging a respective portion of the carrier and for being at least partially received in a respective aperture of the plurality of apertures of the upper apparatus.   
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the body of the upper apparatus comprises a plate at least partially defining the plurality of apertures. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the body of the lower apparatus comprises a sidewall and a bottom wall extending at least partially around an interior, the plurality of forming members extending upwardly from the bottom wall. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the at least one forming member of the plurality of forming members comprises a lower portion and a tapered upper portion. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the lower portion of the at least one forming member of the plurality of forming members has a generally circular profile. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the lower portion of the at least one forming member of the plurality of forming members has a generally polygonal profile. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the body of the upper apparatus at least partially forms a wheel rotatably supported on a machine frame and at least partially defining the plurality of apertures. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the plurality of apertures comprise a respective recess in the wheel. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein the body of the lower apparatus at least partially forms a wheel rotatably supported on a machine frame, the plurality of forming members extending radially outwardly from the wheel of the lower apparatus. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein at least one forming member of the plurality of forming members comprises a tapered sidewall.