A carrier for holding a plurality of containers includes a top retainer comprising a top attachment panel for at least partially receiving the plurality of containers, and a bottom retainer comprising a bottom attachment panel for being attached to the plurality of containers.

A shipping assembly is described. The assembly includes a shipping container, a bottom structure, and a top structure. The bottom and top structures retain objects in a spaced-apart arrangement within the shipping container. A paperboard sheet is folded into three horizontal layers to form the bottom structure. A first layer has apertures to retain the objects. A second layer is below and spaced apart from the first layer with a substantially flat surface below the first apertures. A third layer is below and spaced apart from the second layer. Another paperboard sheet is folded into two horizontal layers to form the top structure. A fourth layer has another set of apertures to retain the objects. A fifth layer is above and spaced apart from the fourth layer. The apertures are align to position the objects in the shipping container.

Aspects of the disclosure relate to a package (90, 390, 490), carriers (92, 94, 392, 492, 494) for forming the package and blanks (10, 110, 310, 410) for forming the carriers (92, 94, 392, 492, 494). The package (90, 390, 490) comprises a plurality of articles (B) arranged in a group and a top-engaging carrier (92, 392, 492) in engagement with tops of the articles (B) such that the tops of the articles (B) are connected and held together by the top-engaging carrier (92, 392, 492). The package (90, 390, 490) comprises a bundling carrier (94, 494) spaced apart from the top-engaging carrier (92, 392, 492) and being in engagement with portions of the articles (B) below the tops thereof such that the portions of the articles (B) are held together by the bundling carrier (94, 494).

A carton for containing a plurality of articles. The carton includes a plurality of panels that extends at least partially around an interior of the carton. The plurality of panels comprising a top panel, a bottom panel, a first side panel, and a second side panel. An article protection insert comprises a plurality of features for engaging a respective article of the plurality of articles. At least one access feature is in the top panel for positioning the article protection insert to a position wherein the features engage at least one article of the plurality of articles.

A clip type carrier for packaging articles of the type having a rim, bead, chime, undercut, waist or the like. The carrier comprises a first layer having a plurality of generally circular apertures and a second layer having a plurality of respective locking apertures. The locking apertures are provided with a plurality of locking tabs for engaging under an article rim in use. An aggregate effective aperture diameter, being approximately the generally circular aperture minus twice the thickness of the locking tabs, is greater than the diameter of the container rim, causing formation of a reinforcing rim at the periphery of the generally circular aperture once applied.

A package, a carrier for packaging one or more articles and a blank for forming the carrier are disclosed. The carrier comprises an engaging panel with at least one article-receiving aperture disposed in engagement with a part of an article. The engaging panel has a first side edge, a first end edge, a corner defined by the first side and end edges, and a corner area. The article-receiving aperture comprises a first engaging edge across the corner area from the corner. The corner area is defined at least partially by the first engaging edge, and end portions of each of the first side and end edges extending from the corner, respectively. The corner area is folded with respect to the remainder of the engaging panel such that the end portion of the first side edge is angled with respect to an adjoining portion of the first side edge. Also disclosed is a package comprising an article carrier and at least one article, the at least one article having an upwardly tapered upper portion, the carrier comprising an engaging panel comprising a first, upper, ply and a second, lower, ply, the lower ply including at least one lower aperture having an annular series of lower ply tabs formed around the at least one lower aperture, wherein the lower ply tabs are angled upwardly with respect to the engaging panel such that the lower ply tabs are in face-contacting engagement with the upper portion of the at least one article, the upper ply includes at least one upper aperture arranged substantially coaxially with the at least one lower aperture and has an annular series of upper ply tabs formed around the at least one upper aperture, the upper ply tabs are angled upwardly with respect to the engaging panel such that at least some of each of the upper ply tabs is in face-contacting engagement with a respective adjacent pair of the lower ply tabs.

A shipping assembly is described. The assembly includes a shipping container, a bottom structure, and a top structure. The bottom and top structures retain objects in a spaced-apart arrangement within the shipping container. A paperboard sheet is folded into three horizontal layers to form the bottom structure. A first layer has apertures to retain the objects. A second layer is below and spaced apart from the first layer with a substantially flat surface below the first apertures. A third layer is below and spaced apart from the second layer. Another paperboard sheet is folded into two horizontal layers to form the top structure. A fourth layer has another set of apertures to retain the objects. A fifth layer is above and spaced apart from the fourth layer. The apertures are align to position the objects in the shipping container.

Packaging systems for shipping bottles of varying sizes are disclosed. In embodiments, the packaging system includes a top packaging piece and bottom packaging piece, each formed as a molded piece. The top packaging piece includes a plurality of tapered cavities, each sized to receive the neck of one of the bottles. The bottom packaging piece includes a corresponding plurality of tapered cavities, each sized to receive the bottom of one of the bottles. The center packaging piece is formed from a single sheet of flat material such as cardboard, and is folded in upon itself to form a spacer between the top and bottom packaging pieces. The center packaging piece includes a plurality of apertures corresponding to the cavities in the top and bottom packaging pieces to pass through each bottle from the top to bottom packaging pieces.

A carton for containing a plurality of articles. The carton includes a plurality of panels that extends at least partially around an interior of the carton. The plurality of panels comprising a top panel, a bottom panel, a first side panel, and a second side panel. An article protection insert comprises a plurality of features for engaging a respective article of the plurality of articles. At least one access feature is in the top panel for positioning the article protection insert to a position wherein the features engage at least one article of the plurality of articles.

A carton for containing at least one article. The carton includes a plurality of panels at least partially forming an interior of the carton. The plurality of panels includes a top panel. The carton includes an article protection flap foldably connected to at least one panel of the plurality of panels. The article protection flap is moveable between a first position that is substantially parallel to the top panel and a second position wherein the article protection flap is folded relative to the top panel. The at least one access feature in the top panel is for positioning the article protection flap from the first position to the second position.