A carton for holding a plurality of containers. The carton can comprise a plurality of panels that extends at least partially around an interior of the carton. The plurality of panels comprises a top panel. An insert can comprise a central panel, an inner end flap foldably connected to the central panel, and at least one crown guard flap foldably connected to the inner end flap adjacent a crown guard opening in the insert. The central panel can comprise a stop edge adjacent the crown guard opening, and the crown guard flap can comprise a first portion foldably connected to the inner end flap and a second portion foldably connected to the first portion. The top panel can at least partially overlap the central panel, and the second portion of the crown guard flap can be disposed adjacent the stop edge of the central panel.

A carton for carrying a plurality of articles. The carton has a plurality of panels for at least partially forming an interior of the carton. The plurality of panels includes a top panel, a bottom panel, and at least one side panel. A handle is in at least the top panel. The handle includes a handle feature in the top panel and a flexible handle panel adjacent the handle feature.

A carton for carrying a plurality of articles includes a plurality of panels for at least partially forming an interior of the carton. The plurality of panels includes a top panel, a bottom panel, and at least one side panel, and the plurality of panels include a material having a grain direction. At least one handle is formed in the top panel and defines a major axis that is substantially parallel to the grain direction.

Aspects of the disclosure relate to a package, a carton (190), and a blank (110) for forming the carton. An aspect of the invention provides a carton comprising a plurality of primary panels (112, 114, 116, 118, 120) defining an interior of the carton. The carton comprises a first panel (118) and a second panel (120) hinged to the first panel along a first fold line (119). The first panel has a first corner edge (55a) extending obliquely with respect to the first fold line such that an obtuse angle is defined between the first corner edge and the first fold line. The carton further comprises an opening feature (D) which is at least partially removable from the carton. The opening feature comprises a removable panel (170a) defined at least in part by first (173a) and second tear lines (173b) which define opposing side edges of the removable panel respectively.

A thermoplastic flexible package includes a first non-shrinkable panel, an opposing second non-shrinkable panel, a first shrinkable panel and an opposing a second shrinkable panel. The panels are connected longitudinally with panel seals. The first non-shrinkable panel and the second non-shrinkable panel each forms a gusset. A first seal connects the first shrinkable panel and the second shrinkable panel in the transverse direction at or near the upper edges. A second seal that opposes the first seal connects the first and second non-shrinkable panels and the first and shrinkable panels in the transverse direction at or near the lower edges.

A construct for providing divider features in the interior of a carton includes a plurality of panels including at least one end panel and at least one side panel foldably connected to the at least one end panel, and divider features including a plurality of divider flaps foldably connected to a respective panel of the plurality of panels forming at least one divider wall of the construct for forming a plurality of container receiving spaces in the interior of the carton.

A flexible container carrier and related method for unitizing a plurality of containers that includes a plurality of flexible bands forming an array of container receiving apertures, the array arranged in longitudinal rows and transverse ranks. A series of frangible lines of separation are provided between each container receiving opening so that removing a container from the package results in the separation of the frangible lines of separation defining the respective container receiving opening and thus the container and a respective band of the plurality of bands are removed from the package together.

Aspects of the disclosure relate to an article carrier having a carrying handle formed within a medial partition structure. The carrying handle (H) has an engaging edge that is disposed at a non-zero angle relative to an upper edge of the medial partition structure, and the engaging edge is disposed in an off-centre position within the medial partition structure.

The disclosure includes a carton for containers, including a bottom panel with a hinge, a top panel, a front panel, a back panel, and first and second opposed end panels. The disclosure also includes a blank for the carton. The carton is configurable in different storage and dispensing configurations.

A system and method for activating a series of article protection features formed in product cartons in which a series of articles have been packaged includes an actuating assembly mounted along a path of travel for the cartons. The actuating assembly will include a series of actuating elements that are selectively moved into engagement with the article protection features of the cartons. The article protection features are urged into the cartons, between the articles therein and into positions engaging and supporting the articles.