Carrier with container holding function

Abstract

The carrier for holding at least one container includes a plurality of panels extending at least partially around an interior of the carrier, the plurality of panels including a front panel, a back panel, at least one side panel, and at least one handle panel extending between the front and back panels. The carrier further includes a container retention feature for stabilizing the at least one container within the carrier, the container retention feature including at least one container retention cut formed in an upper portion of at least one of the front and back panels.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 031,764, filed May 29, 2020.

[0002] Incorporation by reference The disclosure of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 031,764, filed May 29, 2020, is incorporated herein by reference for all purposes as if set forth herein in its entirety.

[0003] The present disclosure relates generally to carriers for holding items therein, and more particularly to carriers having a central panel or partition with container-retaining features for stabilizing containers placed within the carrier. Summary of the Invention

[0004] According to one aspect, the present disclosure generally relates to a carrier for holding at least one container, the carrier including a plurality of panels extending at least partially around an interior of the carrier, the plurality of panels including a front panel, a back panel, at least one side panel, and at least one handle panel extending between the front and back panels. The carrier further includes a container-retaining feature for stabilizing the at least one container within the carrier, the container-retaining feature including at least one container-retaining cut (notch) formed in an upper portion of at least one of the front and back panels.

[0005] According to another aspect, the present disclosure generally relates to a blank for forming a carrier for holding at least one container, the blank including a plurality of panels extending at least partially around an interior of the carrier formed from the blank, the plurality of panels including a front panel, a back panel, at least one side panel, and at least one handle panel. The blank further includes a container-retaining feature for stabilizing the at least one container within the carrier formed from the blank, the container-retaining feature including at least one container-retaining cut formed in an upper portion of at least one of the front panel and the back panel.

[0006] According to another aspect, the present disclosure generally relates to a method of forming a carrier for holding at least one container, the method including obtaining a blank including a plurality of panels including a front panel, a back panel, at least one side panel, and at least one handle panel, and a container-retaining feature including at least one container-retaining cut formed in an upper portion of at least one of the front panel and the back panel, The method further includes folding the plurality of panels at least partially around an interior of the container such that the handle panel extends between the front panel and the back panel.

[0007] Those skilled in the art will appreciate these and other advantages and benefits of various additional embodiments upon reading the following detailed description of the embodiments with reference to the drawings listed below. It is within the scope of this disclosure that the above-discussed aspects be provided both individually and in various combinations. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a plan view of an exterior surface of a blank for forming a carrier according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a carrier formed from the blank of FIG. 1 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 3]3 is a perspective view of the carrier of FIG. 2 with the container retention feature activated. [Figure 4] 3 is another perspective view of the carrier of FIG. 2 with the container retention feature activated. [Figure 5] 3 is a perspective view of a package formed from a pair of carriers having the carrier configuration of FIG. 2 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] According to common practice, the various features of the drawings discussed below are not necessarily drawn to scale. Dimensions of various features and elements in the drawings may be expanded or reduced to more clearly illustrate embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0010] Corresponding parts may be designated by corresponding reference numerals throughout the drawings. The present disclosure generally relates to carriers, packages, structures, sleeves, cartons, and the like for holding and displaying containers such as jars, bottles, cans, and the like. The containers can be used, for example, to package food and beverage products. The containers can be made from materials suitable for the composition for packaging the particular food or beverage product, including, but not limited to, glass, plastics such as PET, LDPE, LLDPE, HDPE, PP, PS, PVC, EVOH, and nylon, aluminum and / or other metals, or any combination thereof.

[0011] Carriers according to the present disclosure can accommodate containers of many different shapes. For purposes of illustration and not to limit the scope of the disclosure, the following detailed description describes beverage containers (e.g., paperboard and / or polymer cups) at least partially disposed within embodiments of the carrier. As used herein, the terms "lower," "bottom," "upper," "top," "front," and "back" refer to orientations defined with respect to a fully upright carrier.

[0012] As described herein, the carrier may be formed by a plurality of overlapping portions, panels, and / or end flaps, which may be designated in relative terms with respect to one another, e.g., "first," "second," "third," etc., with consecutive or non-consecutive reference, without departing from this disclosure.

[0013] FIG. 1 is a plan view of an exterior surface 101 of a blank, generally designated 103, that may be obtained and used to form a carton or carrier 105 (FIG. 2) according to one exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0014] As described herein, the blank 103 / carrier 105 may include container retention features for engaging and stabilizing one or more containers supported within the carrier 105, for example, to inhibit, avoid, minimize, and / or prevent undesired tilting of the container and / or spillage of beverage contents therein.

[0015] 1, blank 103 has a longitudinal axis L1 and a transverse axis L2. Blank 103 includes a front panel 121 foldably connected to a first side panel 123 and a second side panel 125 at respective transverse fold lines 127, 129. A back panel 131 is foldably connected to first side panel 123 at a transverse fold line 133.

[0016] The front panel 121, as shown, can include a first or lower portion 135 and a second or upper portion 137 extending upwardly from the lower portion 135. Similarly, the back panel 131 can include a first or lower portion 139 and a second or upper portion 141 extending upwardly from the lower portion 139.

[0017] In the illustrated embodiment, the second side panel 125 can define a fastening tab 126 protruding therefrom, which can have a configuration corresponding to a cut or slot 134 that interrupts the transverse fold line 133, as further described herein.

[0018] The blank 103 may also include a first handle panel 143 that is foldably connected to the upper portion 137 of the front panel 121 at a transverse fold line 145 and separated from the lower portion 135 of the front panel 121 at a longitudinal cut 146. As shown, the cut 146 may have a curved portion or other transitional area that intersects the fold line 145. A handle reinforcement flap 147 may be defined at least in part by a curved cut 149 and may be foldably connected to the handle panel 143 at a longitudinal fold line 151.

[0019] Similarly, the second handle panel 153 may be foldably connected to the upper portion 141 of the back panel 131 at a transverse fold line 155 and may be separated from the lower portion 139 of the back panel 131 at a longitudinal cut 156, which may have a curved portion or other region of transition that intersects the fold line 155. A handle reinforcement flap 157 is defined by cut 159 and may be foldably connected to the handle panel 153 at a longitudinal fold line 161.

[0020] As described herein, the handle panels 143, 153 and the handle reinforcement flaps 147, 157 may be a handle mechanism for forming the handle 109 (FIG. 2) of the carrier 105.

[0021] 1 , the blank 103 can include a plurality of end flaps foldably connected to respective ones of the plurality of panels. As shown, the front bottom end flap 163 can be foldably connected to the front panel 121 at respective portions of the longitudinal fold line 165, the first side bottom end flap 167 can be foldably connected to the first side panel 123 at respective portions of the fold line 165, the second side bottom end flap 171 can be foldably connected to the second side panel 125 at respective portions of the fold line 165, and the back bottom end flap 173 can be foldably connected to the back panel 131 at respective portions of the fold line 165.

[0022] The front bottom end flap 163 may include a base portion 175 foldably connected to the front panel 121 at a respective portion of the fold line 165, and a distal portion 177 foldably connected to the base portion 175 at a diagonal fold line 179. The base portion 175 of the end flap 163 may define a shoulder / notch 181 or other recessed portion therealong.

[0023] Similarly, the back bottom end flap 173 can include a base portion 175 foldably connected to the back panel 131 at respective portions of the fold lines 165, a distal portion 177 foldably connected to the base portion 175 at a diagonal fold line 179, and a shoulder / notch 181 formed along the base portion 175.

[0024] Continuing to refer to FIG. 1, the attachment flap 183 can be foldably connected to the free edge of the back panel 131 at each portion of the horizontal fold line 185, and the attachment flap 186 can be foldably connected to the container holding flap 209 at each portion of the fold line 185.

[0025] As described herein, the blank 103 / carrier 105 may include a container-retaining feature for engaging / stabilizing one or more containers supported within the carrier 105. As shown, the container-retaining cut 187 may be formed in the upper portion 137 of the front panel 121 and may include a first longitudinal cut section 189 extending from a free edge of the upper portion 137 to an end of a vertical cut section 191, which extends to an end of a second longitudinal cut section 193 that intersects with a curved cut section 195. In this regard, the container-retaining cut 187 forms a shoulder or notch 196 adjacent a protruding portion 198 of the upper portion 137 of the front panel 121 when the upper portion 137 of the front panel 121 is at least partially separated from the remainder of the front panel 121, as described further herein. It will be understood that the container-retaining cut 187 may have different configurations without departing from this disclosure.

[0026] 1 , the container retention feature of blank 103 can include a container retention flap 197 foldably connected to front panel 121 at diagonal fold line 199. A container retention flap 201 can also be foldably connected to first side panel 123 at a diagonal fold line 203 that intersects diagonal fold line 199 and lateral fold line 127. As shown, container retention flap 197 can be foldably connected to container retention flap 201 at fold line 127.

[0027] Container holding flap 205 may also be foldably connected to second side panel 125 at diagonal fold line 207 , and container holding flap 209 may be foldably connected to back panel 131 at diagonal fold line 211 .

[0028] Any of the panels, flaps, fold lines, cuts, or other features may be differently shaped, positioned, and / or omitted from blank 103 without departing from this disclosure. Blank 103 may be differently sized and / or shaped to accommodate, for example, a different number or arrangement of containers, without departing from this disclosure.

[0029] 2, there is shown a carrier 105 formed from a blank 103, according to one exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. In one embodiment, the blank 103 may be placed with the outer surface 101 facing downward on a support surface and the inner surface of the blank 103 facing upward.

[0030] Bottom end flaps 163, 167, 171, 173 can be folded upward at respective portions of fold line 165 to make at least partial face-to-face contact with respective portions of panels 121, 123, 125, 131. Distal portion 177 of bottom end flap 163 can be folded at fold line 179 to make at least partial face-to-face contact with base portion 175 of bottom end flap 163. Similarly, distal portion 177 of bottom end flap 173 can be folded at fold line 179 to make at least partial face-to-face contact with base portion 175 of bottom end flap 173.

[0031] Thereafter, the back panel 131 can be folded at fold line 133 into at least partial face-to-face contact with portions of the first side panel 123 and the front panel 121, whereby the attachment flaps 183, 186 are positioned in at least partial face-to-face contact with the front panel 121. During such folding, the handle panel 153 can also be carried in partial face-to-face contact with portions of the handle panel 143, such that the handle reinforcement flaps 147, 157 are aligned. Additionally, the second side panel 125 can be folded at fold line 129 into at least partial face-to-face contact with the attachment flaps 183, 186.

[0032] The aforementioned arrangement of panels, flaps, and other features of the blank 103 may be maintained with an adhesive, such as glue. In this regard, a folded / folded configuration of the carrier 105 may be provided.

[0033] The carrier 105 can be further erected by disposing the front panel 121 and the back panel 131 in a parallel, spaced apart relationship such that the first side panel 123 and the second side panel 125 are disposed in a parallel, spaced apart relationship and the panels 121, 123, 125, 131 extend at least partially around the interior 107 of the carrier 105.

[0034] Such movement of the panels 121, 123, 125, 131 causes the overlapping handle panels 143, 153 to be separated from the respective front and back panels 121, 131 at the respective cuts 146, 156 and folded against the respective upper portions 137, 141 at the respective fold lines 145, 155. In this regard, the overlapping handle panels 143, 153 can extend between the front and back panels 121, 131, with the handle reinforcement flaps 147, 157 aligned, for example vertically, to provide the handle 109 of the carrier 105.

[0035] Additionally, the aforementioned movement of panels 121, 123, 125, 131 can fold bottom end flaps 163, 167, 171, 173 downwardly at respective portions of fold line 165 to form a closed bottom of carrier 105. End flaps 163, 167, 171, 173 can be positioned in an at least partially overlapping arrangement with distal portion 177 of end flap 163 in at least partial face-to-face contact with end flap 171 and distal portion 177 of end flap 173 in at least partial face-to-face contact with end flap 167, and notches 181 in each end flap 163, 173 in at least partial edge-to-edge or face-to-face engagement.

[0036] 3 and 4, the containers C can be at least partially inserted into the interior 107 of the carrier 105, the tops of which are maintained at least partially separated by handle panels 143, 153 that extend from the front panel 121 to the back panel 131. While the carrier 105 is shown as accommodating two side-by-side containers C, it should be understood that a different number and / or arrangement of containers can be provided.

[0037] Container C, as shown, can be a beverage container having a cup or body portion B and a lid portion or lid T that engages body portion B. In one embodiment, body portion B can be a paperboard construction having a bottom and at least one sidewall to define an interior for receiving one or more beverages, and lid T can be a polymeric member that mechanically engages a rolled edge or top edge of body portion B. Container C can be provided for holding hot or warm fluids (e.g., tea, coffee, hot chocolate, cider, etc.) or cold fluids (soft drinks, iced drinks, ice cream, confectionery drinks, etc.).

[0038] As shown, insertion of container C into interior 107 of carrier 105 can cause container retaining flaps 197, 201, 205, 209 to fold downward toward interior 107 of carrier 105 at respective fold lines 199, 203, 207, 211. In one embodiment, one or more of container retaining flaps 197, 201, 205, 209 can be folded manually or by mechanical components, for example, during assembly of carrier 105 and / or prior to insertion of container C into carrier 105.

[0039] As shown, the container retaining flaps 197, 201, 205, 209 can be positioned to extend away from the respective panels 121, 123, 125, 131 to engage the body portion B of each container C with its respective edge or surface portion. In this regard, the container retaining flaps 197, 201, 205, 209 can be provided to engage the container C in a manner that limits, minimizes, inhibits, or prevents movement of the container C within the interior 107 of the carrier 105, stabilizing the container C during movement / transport of the carrier 105 to avoid undesired tipping of the container C and / or spillage of the beverage contents held within the container C.

[0040] Furthermore, the container retaining flaps 197, 201, 205, 209 may be movable relative to their respective panels 121, 123, 125, 131 to provide a carrier 105 having an interior 107 of a predetermined size, and the container retaining flaps 197, 201, 205, 209 may be at least partially reconfigurable to move in the presence of different sized containers C to accommodate and stabilize a variety of different containers C.

[0041] In the above configuration, adjacent container holding flaps may be positioned to cross / abut / locate adjacent to one another, for example, with container holding flap 205 adjacent to container holding flap 209 and container holding flap 197 adjacent to container holding flap 201. In accordance with the above description, such adjacent container holding flaps are also movable relative to one another.

[0042] As shown, the upper portions 137, 141 of the respective front and back panels 121, 131 are separable / movable relative to the remainder of the respective front and back panels 121, 131 such that their edges, defined by their respective notches 187, are positioned to engage the lid T of the respective container C. For example, the upper portions 137, 141 of the respective front and back panels 121, 131 can flex, bend, twist, or curve such that the protruding portions 198 of the respective upper portions 137, 141 extend into recesses in the respective lid T, and such that the notches 196 of the respective upper portions 137, 141 can abut / engage with a raised rim or other protrusion of the respective lid T. In this regard, the lid T or other portions of the container C can cam over the edges of the respective panels 121, 131 defined by their respective notches 187.

[0043] The geometry of each cut 187, e.g., the intersection of each cut section 189, 191, 193, 195, can provide an edge of variable geometry along each notch 187 through which each upper portion 137, 141 of each front panel 121 and back panel 131 can engage with a configuration of a respective lid T. In one embodiment, one or both of each upper portion 137, 141 can engage with a protruding peripheral rim portion of a respective lid T. In another embodiment, the upper portions 137, 141 can be configured to directly engage a body portion of the container, e.g., a rim or top edge of the container, without the presence of a lid.

[0044] During use, a user or customer can grasp the carrier 105 at the handle 109 to lift and / or carry the carrier 105. In one embodiment, the user / customer can separate the handle reinforcement flaps 147, 157 from the respective handle panels 143, 153 at the respective cuts 149, 159 and fold the handle reinforcement flaps 147, 157 at the respective fold lines 151, 161 to provide, for example, a handle opening into which a user / operator can insert one or more fingers to grasp the handle 109. Additionally, the handle reinforcement flaps 147, 157 can provide an additional layer of material that can overlap the handle panels 143, 153 to provide additional strength and resistance to tearing of the handle 109 during lifting / carrying of the carrier 105.

[0045] In view of the foregoing, the blank 103 / carrier 105 may be provided with container retention features, such as one or more notches 187 / associated formations and / or container retention flaps 197, 201, 205, 209, to engage and stabilize one or more containers C supported within the carrier 105, i.e., to minimize, inhibit, and / or prevent undesirable tilting of the containers and / or spillage of beverage contents therein.

[0046] 5 , a plurality of carriers 105 may be provided and attached to one another to form package 213. In one embodiment, locking tabs 126 of a first carrier may be at least partially inserted into slots 134 of a second carrier 105 to attach and couple the carriers 105 and provide package 213. In this regard, locking tabs 126 may be provided with a geometry, such as a hook, barb, notch, protrusion, etc., that provides a secure coupling to avoid undesired disengagement of the carriers 105. Clearance for locking tabs 126 of the first carrier 105 to enter slots 134 of the second carrier 105 may be provided by spacing of container C from panels 123, 131 in the second carrier 105 due to engagement of container retention flaps 201, 209 with container C.

[0047] In this regard, multiple carriers 105 may be coupled together as package 213 and, in one embodiment, may be carried together by a user / operator by engagement of the respective handles 109 of one or both of the carriers 105. While package 213 is shown as including two carriers 105, it will be appreciated that more than two carriers 105 may be joined in the manner described above to provide packages of different configurations.

[0048] Any of the features of the various embodiments of the present disclosure may be combined with, substituted for, or otherwise configured with other features of other embodiments of the present disclosure without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Additionally, the panels, flaps, and / or other features shown and described in connection with the blanks may be shaped, arranged, and / or configured differently without departing from the present disclosure.

[0049] Carriers according to the present disclosure may be formed from blanks of, for example, coated paperboard and similar materials. For example, the inside and / or outside of the blank may be coated with a clay coating. The clay coating may then be printed with product, advertising, price coding, and other information or images. The blank may then be coated with a varnish to protect any information printed on the blank. The blank may also be coated on one or both sides of the blank with, for example, a moisture barrier. According to the above-described embodiment, the blank may be constructed of caliper paperboard, which is heavier and more rigid than regular paper. The blank may also be constructed from other materials, such as cardboard, stiff paper, or any other material having suitable properties to enable the carrier to function, at least generally, as described herein. The blank may also be laminated or coated with one or more sheet-like materials in selected panels or panel sections.

[0050] In accordance with the above-described embodiments of the present disclosure, the fold lines need not necessarily be straight, but may be any substantially straight form of weakness that facilitates folding therealong. More specifically, but without intent to narrow the scope of the present disclosure, fold lines include score lines, such as lines formed with a blunt scoring knife or the like, that create a crushed portion in the material along the desired line of weakness, cuts that extend partially into the material along the desired line of weakness, and / or a series of cuts that extend partially into and / or completely through the material along the desired line of weakness, and various combinations of these features.

[0051] By way of example, the tear line may include a slit extending partially into the material along the desired line of weakness, and / or a series of spaced slits extending partially into and / or completely through the material along the desired line of weakness, or various combinations of these features. As a more specific example, one type of tear line is in the form of a series of spaced slits extending completely through the material, with adjacent slits spaced slightly apart such that nicks (e.g., somewhat bridge-like pieces of material) are defined between adjacent slits to typically temporarily connect the material across the tear line. The nicks are broken during tearing along the tear line. Nicks are typically a relatively small percentage of the tear line; alternatively, nicks are omitted from the tear line so that the tear line is a continuous cut line. That is, it is within the scope of the present disclosure to replace each tear line with a continuous slit, etc. For example, the cut line may be a continuous slit or may be wider than the slit without departing from the present disclosure.

[0052] The above embodiments may be described as having one or more panels, flaps, or configurations that are adhered together by an adhesive during assembly of the carrier embodiment. The term "adhesive" is intended to encompass any manner of adhesive typically used to secure carrier panels in place.

[0053] The foregoing description of the present disclosure illustrates and describes various embodiments. Because various changes can be made in the above configurations without departing from the scope of the present disclosure, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawings be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. Moreover, the scope of the present disclosure encompasses various modifications, combinations, variations, etc. of the above-described embodiments that fall within the scope of the claims. In addition, while the present disclosure illustrates and describes only selected embodiments of the present disclosure, the present disclosure can be used in various other combinations, modifications, and environments, and changes or modifications can be made consistent with the above teachings and / or within the skill or knowledge of the relevant art, within the scope of the inventive concept expressed herein. Furthermore, certain features and characteristics of each embodiment may be selectively interchanged and applied to other illustrated and non-illustrated embodiments of the present disclosure.

Claims

1. 1. A carrier for holding at least one container, said carrier comprising: a plurality of panels extending at least partially around an interior of the carrier, the plurality of panels including a front panel, a back panel, at least one side panel, and at least one handle panel extending between the front and back panels; The carrier includes a container retention feature for stabilizing the at least one container within the carrier, the container retention feature including at least one container retention cut formed in an upper portion of at least one of the front panel and the back panel, the upper portion of the at least one of the front panel and the back panel being at least partially separable from a lower portion of the at least one of the front panel and the back panel, and the at least one container retention cut forming a protruding portion in the at least one of the front panel and the back panel, the protruding portion being positionable to engage with a lid of the at least one container.

2. 2. The carrier of claim 1, wherein the upper portion of the at least one of the front panel and the back panel is movable relative to the remaining portion of the at least one of the front panel and the back panel at the at least one container-retaining cut.

3. A carrier as described in claim 2, wherein the at least one container retaining cut forms a notch adjacent to the protruding portion of the upper portion of at least one of the front panel and the back panel.

4. A carrier as described in claim 3, wherein the notch and the protruding portion of the upper portion of at least one of the front panel and the back panel are configured to move the upper portion of at least one of the front panel and the back panel relative to the remaining portion of at least one of the front panel and the back panel in the at least one container retaining cut to engage with the at least one container within the carrier.

5. 5. The carrier of claim 4, wherein the at least one container retention cut is a container retention cut formed in an upper portion of the front panel, and the container retention feature further comprises a container retention cut formed in an upper portion of the back panel.

6. The carrier of claim 1 , wherein the container-retaining feature further comprises a plurality of container-retaining flaps foldably connected to respective panels of the plurality of panels and extending into the interior of the carrier.

7. 7. The carrier of claim 6, wherein the plurality of container holding flaps include a container holding flap foldably connected to the front panel, a container holding flap foldably connected to the back panel, and a container holding flap foldably connected to the at least one side panel.

8. 8. The carrier of claim 7, wherein the container holding flap foldably connected to the at least one side panel is positioned to intersect with one of the container holding flap foldably connected to the front panel and the container holding flap foldably connected to the back panel.

9. 9. The carrier of claim 8, wherein the at least one side panel is a first side panel, the plurality of panels further includes a second side panel, the container holding flap foldably connected to the at least one side panel is a container holding flap foldably connected to the first side panel, and the plurality of container holding flaps further includes a container holding flap foldably connected to the second side panel.

10. 10. The carrier of claim 9, wherein the container holding flap foldably connected to the front panel is foldably connected to the container holding flap foldably connected to the first side panel.

11. The carrier of claim 10 , wherein adjacent ones of the container holding flaps are movable relative to one another.

12. The carrier of claim 3 , wherein the at least one handle panel is foldably connected to one of the front panel and the back panel.

13. 13. The carrier of claim 12, wherein the at least one handle panel is a first handle panel foldably connected to the front panel, and the plurality of panels further includes a second handle panel foldably connected to the back panel, the first handle panel being in at least partial face-to-face contact with the second handle panel.

14. 4. The carrier of claim 3, wherein the at least one side panel is a first side panel, the plurality of panels further comprising a second side panel, one of the first side panel and the second side panel including a locking tab protruding therefrom, and the other of the first side panel and the second side panel adjacent a slot configured to at least partially receive a locking tab of another carrier.

15. A blank for forming a carrier for holding at least one container, comprising: a plurality of panels extending at least partially around an interior of the carrier formed from the blank, the plurality of panels including a front panel, a back panel, at least one side panel, and at least one handle panel; a container retention feature for stabilizing the at least one container within the carrier formed from the blank, the container retention feature including at least one container retention cut formed in an upper portion of at least one of the front panel and the back panel, wherein the upper portion of at least one of the front panel and the back panel is at least partially separable from a lower portion of at least one of the front panel and the back panel, and the at least one container retention cut forms a protruding portion in at least one of the front panel and the back panel, the protruding portion being positionable to engage with a lid of the at least one container.

16. 16. The blank of claim 15, wherein the upper portion of the at least one of the front panel and the back panel is movable relative to the remaining portion of the at least one of the front panel and the back panel at the at least one container-retaining cut.

17. A blank as described in claim 16, wherein the at least one container retaining cut forms a notch adjacent to the protruding portion of the upper portion of at least one of the front panel and the back panel.

18. A blank as described in claim 17, wherein the notch and protruding portion of the upper portion of at least one of the front panel and the back panel are configured to move the upper portion of at least one of the front panel and the back panel relative to the remaining portion of at least one of the front panel and the back panel at the at least one container retaining cut to engage the at least one container in the carrier formed from the blank.

19. 20. The blank of claim 18, wherein the at least one container retention cut is a container retention cut formed in an upper portion of the front panel, and the container retention feature further comprises a container retention cut formed in an upper portion of the back panel.

20. 16. The blank of claim 15, wherein the container retention feature further comprises a plurality of container retention flaps foldably connected to respective panels of the plurality of panels and adapted to extend into the interior of the carrier formed from the blank.

21. 21. The blank of claim 20, wherein the plurality of container holding flaps include a container holding flap foldably connected to the front panel, a container holding flap foldably connected to the back panel, and a container holding flap foldably connected to the at least one side panel.

22. 22. The blank of claim 21, wherein the at least one side panel is a first side panel, the plurality of panels further includes a second side panel, the container holding flap foldably connected to the at least one side panel is a container holding flap foldably connected to the first side panel, and the plurality of container holding flaps further includes a container holding flap foldably connected to the second side panel.

23. 23. The blank of claim 22, wherein the container holding flap foldably connected to the front panel is foldably connected to the container holding flap foldably connected to the first side panel.

24. 24. The blank of claim 23, wherein adjacent ones of the container holding flaps are movable relative to one another.

25. 18. The blank of claim 17, wherein the at least one handle panel is foldably connected to one of the front panel and the back panel.

26. 26. The blank of claim 25, wherein the at least one handle panel is a first handle panel foldably connected to the front panel, and the plurality of panels further comprises a second handle panel foldably connected to the back panel, the first handle panel positioned in at least partial face-to-face contact with the second handle panel when the carrier is formed from the blank.

27. 18. The blank of claim 17, wherein the at least one side panel is a first side panel and the plurality of panels further comprises a second side panel, one of the first side panel and the second side panel including a locking tab protruding therefrom, and the other of the first side panel and the second side panel adjacent a slot configured to at least partially receive a locking tab of another carrier.

28. 1. A method of forming a carrier for holding at least one container, comprising: obtaining a blank comprising a plurality of panels, the plurality of panels comprising a front panel, a back panel, at least one side panel, and at least one handle panel; and a container retention feature comprising at least one container retention cut formed in an upper portion of at least one of the front panel and the back panel, the upper portion of the at least one of the front panel and the back panel being at least partially separable from a lower portion of the at least one of the front panel and the back panel, the at least one container retention cut forming a protruding portion of the at least one of the front panel and the back panel; and folding the plurality of panels at least partially around an interior of the carrier so that the handle panel extends between the front panel and the back panel and so that the protruding portion is positionable to engage a lid of the at least one container.

29. 30. The method of claim 28, further comprising moving the upper portion of the at least one of the front panel and the back panel relative to a remaining portion of the at least one of the front panel and the back panel at the at least one container-retaining cut.

30. The method described in claim 29, wherein the at least one container retaining cut forms a notch adjacent to the protruding portion of the upper portion of at least one of the front panel and the back panel.

31. The method of claim 30, further comprising moving the upper portion of at least one of the front panel and the back panel relative to the remaining portion of the at least one of the front panel and the back panel at the at least one container retaining cut to engage the at least one container in the carrier with the protruding portion and the notch of the upper portion of the at least one of the front panel and the back panel.

32. 32. The method of claim 31 , wherein the at least one container-retaining cut is a container-retaining cut formed in an upper portion of the front panel, and the container-retaining feature further comprises a container-retaining cut formed in an upper portion of the back panel.

33. 29. The method of claim 28, wherein the container holding feature further comprises a plurality of container holding flaps foldably connected to respective panels of the plurality of panels, the method further comprising folding the plurality of container holding flaps so that the plurality of container holding flaps extend into the interior of the carrier.

34. 34. The method of claim 33, wherein the plurality of container holding flaps include a container holding flap foldably connected to the front panel, a container holding flap foldably connected to the back panel, and a container holding flap foldably connected to the at least one side panel.

35. 35. The method of claim 34, wherein the container holding flap foldably connected to the at least one side panel is positioned to intersect with one of the container holding flap foldably connected to the front panel and the container holding flap foldably connected to the back panel.

36. 36. The method of claim 35, wherein the at least one side panel is a first side panel, the plurality of panels further includes a second side panel, the container holding flap foldably connected to the at least one side panel is a container holding flap foldably connected to the first side panel, and the plurality of container holding flaps further includes a container holding flap foldably connected to the second side panel.

37. 37. The method of claim 36, wherein the container holding flap foldably connected to the front panel is foldably connected to the container holding flap foldably connected to the first side panel.

38. 38. The method of claim 37, wherein adjacent ones of the container holding flaps are movable relative to one another.

39. 31. The method of claim 30, wherein the at least one handle panel is foldably connected to one of the front panel and the back panel.

40. 40. The method of claim 39, wherein the at least one handle panel is a first handle panel foldably connected to the front panel, the plurality of panels further including a second handle panel foldably connected to the back panel, the method further comprising positioning the first handle panel in at least partial face-to-face contact with the second handle panel.

41. 31. The method of claim 30, wherein the at least one side panel is a first side panel, the plurality of panels further comprising a second side panel, one of the first side panel and the second side panel including a locking tab protruding therefrom, and the other of the first side panel and the second side panel adjacent a slot configured to at least partially receive a locking tab of another carrier.

42. 42. The method of claim 41, further comprising receiving the locking tab of another carrier within the slot.

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