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.

Aspects of the disclosure relate to a carrier (90) for packaging a plurality of flanged articles, a blank (10) for forming the carrier. The carrier comprises a composite wall formed from two at least partially overlapping layers (12,20), including an inner layer (20) and an outer layer (12). The carrier further comprises a keel structure (70) folded into an interior of the carrier. The keel structure has an inner member (60) formed from the inner layer and an outer member (50) formed from the outer layer. The inner and outer members are hingedly connected to a respective one of the inner and outer layers along inner (61) and outer (51) fold lines respectively. The inner and outer fold lines are generally aligned in the direction of the thickness of the inner and outer layers.

Aspects of the disclosure relate to a package, an article carrier for packaging a plurality of articles and to a blank for forming the article carrier. The article carrier may package at least one article having a recess. The article carrier comprises a plurality of panels for forming a tubular structure for surrounding at least one article. The article carrier comprises an article retention device for engaging a recess of one of said at least one article. The article retention device may inhibit dislodgement of the article from at least one of opposite open ends of the tubular structure in a setup carrier. The tubular structure defines a tubular axis. The article retention device comprises a flap hingedly connected to a first one of the plurality of panels along a first fold line. The first fold line extends at an acute angle with respect to the tubular axis. The acute angle may be no more than 50 degrees.

A carrier for holding a plurality of containers, the carrier includes a front portion, the front portion including a portion of at least one attachment panel for at least partially receiving a respective container of the plurality of containers, a back portion, the back portion including a portion of the at least one attachment panel for at least partially receiving a respective container of the plurality of containers, and a reinforcement portion extending from the front portion to the back portion for reinforcing the carrier.

Aspects of the disclosure relate to a package, a carrier for packaging two or more articles and a blank for forming the carrier. The carrier comprises a main panel having at least one top-engaging article device for receiving and securing the main panel to a respective article. The carrier further comprises a keel structure. The keel structure comprises at least two keel panels arranged to be disposed between a first one of the at least two articles and a second one of the at least two articles. The keel structure comprises at least one keel tab struck from at least one of at least two keel panels. The at least one keel tab is arranged to be disposed between the first one of the at least two articles and the second one of the at least two articles.

A blank (100) is disclosed that includes a first wall (112) and a second wall (114) at least connected to said first wall via a first panel folding line, wherein said first panel has an article holding means (200) for holding an article, wherein said article holding means (200) comprises an article receiving opening (202) for receiving a portion of said article and a recess supporting tab (204) provided to protrude toward said article receiving opening (202), wherein a base end portion of said recess supporting tab (204) is connected to said first wall via a tab folding line (206); and wherein a width (W2) of said base end portion of said recess supporting tab (204) is equal to or less than a maximum width (W1) of said recess supporting tab.

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.

A carton for containing at least one article. The carton comprises at least one panel that can form an interior of the carton. The carton comprises at least one protection feature for protecting the articles from breakage. The article protection feature can comprise at least one feature in end flaps of the carton. The article protection feature can comprise an article protection flap foldably connected to the at least one panel. The article protection flap can be moveable between a first position and a second position wherein the article protection flap is folded relative to the at least one panel.

A carton for packaging articles includes top (14A, 14B) and bottom (18, 20) connected together by spaced side walls (12A, 12B, 12C; 16A, 16B, 16C) to form a tubular structure, and an end closure structure (22) at one end of the tubular structure. Each end closure structure includes first and second top flaps (32a, 32b) connected to the top (14A, 14B) and interconnected to anchoring panels (24a, 24b). The top flaps are not directly connected together but through the top of the carton.

A package comprises a wraparound carrier (90) enclosing a plurality of articles (C) arranged in a two-row group. Each of the plurality of articles has a tapered body and a peripheral chime (70) defining a recessed bottom. The wraparound carrier includes a plurality of chime locks (58) that each engage the peripheral chime of a respective one of the plurality of articles.