Carrier with Gusset

Abstract

A carrier for carrying a plurality of containers includes a plurality of panels extending at least partially around an interior of the carrier, the plurality of panels including a top panel, a first side panel, a second side panel, and at least one bottom panel. At least one gusset is foldably connected to the at least one bottom panel and one of the first side panel and the second side panel, and the at least one gusset extends between the one of the first side panel and the second side panel and the at least one bottom panel. At least one top retainer is foldably connected to the top panel and extends across one end of the carrier. A handle extends across at least the top panel for grasping and carrying the carrier.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A carrier for carrying a plurality of containers, the carrier comprising:
 a plurality of panels extending at least partially around an interior of the carrier, the plurality of panels comprising a top panel, a first side panel, a second side panel, and at least one bottom panel;   at least one gusset foldably connected to the at least one bottom panel and one of the first side panel and the second side panel, the at least one gusset extending between the one of the first side panel and the second side panel and the at least one bottom panel;   at least one top retainer is foldably connected to the top panel and extends across one end of the carrier; and   a handle extending across at least the top panel, the handle for grasping and carrying the carrier.   
     
     
         2 . The carrier of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one gusset is foldably connected to the at least one top retainer. 
     
     
         3 . The carrier of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one top retainer comprises a top retention panel foldably connected to a tuck-in panel, the at least one gusset is foldably connected to the tuck-in panel. 
     
     
         4 . The carrier of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one gusset comprises a first gusset panel foldably connected to a second gusset panel. 
     
     
         5 . The carrier of  claim 4 , wherein the first gusset panel is foldably connected to the one of the first side panel and the second side panel, and the second gusset panel is foldably connected to the at least one top retainer. 
     
     
         6 . The carrier of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one top retainer comprises a central portion and at least one corner portion foldably connected to the central portion. 
     
     
         7 . The carrier of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one corner portion comprises a pair of first corner portions foldably connected to the central portion, a pair of second corner portions foldably connected to respective first corner portions, and a pair of third corner portions foldably connected to respective second corner portions. 
     
     
         8 . The carrier of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one top retainer comprises a pair of corner flaps that is foldably connected to a respective third corner portion. 
     
     
         9 . The carrier of  claim 8 , wherein the tuck-in panel is foldably connected to a corner flap of the pair of corner flaps. 
     
     
         10 . The carrier of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one gusset is a first gusset foldably connected to the first side panel, the carrier further comprises a second gusset foldably connected to the second side panel, the tuck-in panel is a first tuck-in panel foldably connected to the first gusset, and the at least one top retainer comprises a second tuck-in panel foldably connected to the second gusset. 
     
     
         11 . The carrier of  claim 10 , wherein the first gusset and the second gusset are foldably connected to the respective first side panel and the second side panel at a first end of the carrier, the carrier further comprises a third gusset and a fourth gusset foldably connected to the respective first side panel and the second side panel at a second end of the carrier, the at least one top retainer is a first top retainer foldably connected to the top panel at the first end of the carrier, and the carrier further comprises a second top retainer foldably connected to the top panel at the second end of the carrier. 
     
     
         12 . The carrier of  claim 1 , wherein the handle comprises at least one pair of access flaps foldably connected to the top panel, and a handle panel at least partially defined by a pair of cuts extending from the at least one pair of access flaps into the respective first side panel and the second side panel. 
     
     
         13 . The carrier of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one pair of access flaps is a first pair of access flaps and the handle further comprises a second pair of access flaps foldably connected to the top panel. 
     
     
         14 . The carrier of  claim 13 , wherein the pair of cuts are a first pair of cuts extending from the first pair of access flaps into the respective first side panel and the second side panel, and the handle further comprises a second pair of cuts extending from the second pair of access flaps into the respective first side panel and the second side panel. 
     
     
         15 . The carrier of  claim 12 , wherein the handle panel comprises at least one central edge adjacent an opening for receiving a portion of at least one container. 
     
     
         16 . The carrier of  claim 15 , wherein, when the handle is lifted, the at least one central edge is positioned to engage the portion of the at least one container. 
     
     
         17 . The carrier of  claim 16 , wherein, when the at least one central edge is positioned to engage the portion of the at least one container, the handle is locked in a lifted position. 
     
     
         18 . The carrier of  claim 15 , wherein a plurality of cuts in one of the first side panel and the second side panel are positioned adjacent the opening. 
     
     
         19 . A blank for forming a carrier for carrying a plurality of containers, the blank comprising:
 a plurality of panels for extending at least partially around an interior of the carrier formed from the blank, the plurality of panels comprising a top panel, a first side panel, a second side panel, and at least one bottom panel;   at least one gusset foldably connected to the at least one bottom panel and one of the first side panel and the second side panel, the at least one gusset extending between the one of the first side panel and the second side panel and the at least one bottom panel in the carrier formed from the blank;   at least one top retainer is foldably connected to the top panel for extending across one end of the carrier formed from the blank; and   a handle extending across at least the top panel.   
     
     
         20 . The blank of  claim 19 , wherein the at least one gusset is foldably connected to the at least one top retainer. 
     
     
         21 . The blank of  claim 20 , wherein the at least one top retainer comprises a top retention panel foldably connected to a tuck-in panel, the at least one gusset is foldably connected to the tuck-in panel. 
     
     
         22 . The blank of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one gusset comprises a first gusset panel foldably connected to a second gusset panel. 
     
     
         23 . The blank of  claim 22 , wherein the first gusset panel is foldably connected to the one of the first side panel and the second side panel, and the second gusset panel is foldably connected to the at least one top retainer. 
     
     
         24 . The blank of  claim 23 , wherein the at least one top retainer comprises a central portion and at least one corner portion foldably connected to the central portion. 
     
     
         25 . The blank of  claim 24 , wherein the at least one corner portion comprises a pair of first corner portions foldably connected to the central portion, a pair of second corner portions foldably connected to respective first corner portions, and a pair of third corner portions foldably connected to respective second corner portions. 
     
     
         26 . The blank of  claim 25 , wherein the at least one top retainer comprises a pair of corner flaps that is foldably connected to a respective third corner portion. 
     
     
         27 . The blank of  claim 26 , wherein the tuck-in panel is foldably connected to a corner flap of the pair of corner flaps. 
     
     
         28 . The blank of  claim 27 , wherein the at least one gusset is a first gusset foldably connected to the first side panel, the carrier further comprises a second gusset foldably connected to the second side panel, the tuck-in panel is a first tuck-in panel foldably connected to the first gusset, and the at least one top retainer comprises a second tuck-in panel foldably connected to the second gusset. 
     
     
         29 . The blank of  claim 28 , wherein the first gusset and the second gusset are foldably connected to the respective first side panel and the second side panel at a first end of the carrier formed from the blank, the blank further comprises a third gusset and a fourth gusset foldably connected to the respective first side panel and the second side panel at a second end of the carrier formed from the blank, the at least one top retainer is a first top retainer foldably connected to the top panel at the first end of the carrier formed from the blank, and the blank further comprises a second top retainer foldably connected to the top panel at the second end of the carrier formed from the blank. 
     
     
         30 . The blank of  claim 19 , wherein the handle comprises at least one pair of access flaps foldably connected to the top panel, and a handle panel at least partially defined by a pair of cuts extending from the at least one pair of access flaps into the respective first side panel and the second side panel. 
     
     
         31 . The blank of  claim 19 , wherein the at least one pair of access flaps is a first pair of access flaps and the handle further comprises a second pair of access flaps foldably connected to the top panel. 
     
     
         32 . The blank of  claim 31 , wherein the pair of cuts are a first pair of cuts extending from the first pair of access flaps into the respective first side panel and the second side panel, and the handle further comprises a second pair of cuts extending from the second pair of access flaps into the respective first side panel and the second side panel. 
     
     
         33 . The blank of  claim 30 , wherein the handle panel comprises at least one central edge adjacent an opening for receiving a portion of at least one container. 
     
     
         34 . The blank of  claim 33 , wherein a plurality of cuts in one of the first side panel and the second side panel are positioned adjacent the opening. 
     
     
         35 . A method of forming a carrier for carrying a plurality of containers, the method comprising:
 obtaining a blank comprising a plurality of panels comprising a top panel, a first side panel, a second side panel, and at least one bottom panel, at least one gusset foldably connected to the at least one bottom panel and one of the first side panel and the second side panel, at least one top retainer is foldably connected to the top panel, and a handle extending across at least the top panel; and   folding the plurality of panels at least partially around an interior of the carrier such that the at least one gusset extends between the one of the first side panel and the second side panel and the at least one bottom panel, and such that the at least one retainer extends across one end of the carrier.   
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the at least one gusset is foldably connected to the at least one top retainer. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the at least one top retainer comprises a top retention panel foldably connected to a tuck-in panel, the at least one gusset is foldably connected to the tuck-in panel. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the at least one gusset comprises a first gusset panel foldably connected to a second gusset panel. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the first gusset panel is foldably connected to the one of the first side panel and the second side panel, and the second gusset panel is foldably connected to the at least one top retainer. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the at least one top retainer comprises a central portion and at least one corner portion foldably connected to the central portion. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the at least one corner portion comprises a pair of first corner portions foldably connected to the central portion, a pair of second corner portions foldably connected to respective first corner portions, and a pair of third corner portions foldably connected to respective second corner portions. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the at least one top retainer comprises a pair of corner flaps that is foldably connected to a respective third corner portion. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein the tuck-in panel is foldably connected to a corner flap of the pair of corner flaps. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein the at least one gusset is a first gusset foldably connected to the first side panel, the carrier further comprises a second gusset foldably connected to the second side panel, the tuck-in panel is a first tuck-in panel foldably connected to the first gusset, and the at least one top retainer comprises a second tuck-in panel foldably connected to the second gusset. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the first gusset and the second gusset are foldably connected to the respective first side panel and the second side panel at a first end of the carrier, the carrier further comprises a third gusset and a fourth gusset foldably connected to the respective first side panel and the second side panel at a second end of the carrier, the at least one top retainer is a first top retainer foldably connected to the top panel at the first end of the carrier, and the carrier further comprises a second top retainer foldably connected to the top panel at the second end of the carrier. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the handle comprises at least one pair of access flaps foldably connected to the top panel, and a handle panel at least partially defined by a pair of cuts extending from the at least one pair of access flaps into the respective first side panel and the second side panel. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein the at least one pair of access flaps is a first pair of access flaps and the handle further comprises a second pair of access flaps foldably connected to the top panel. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein the pair of cuts are a first pair of cuts extending from the first pair of access flaps into the respective first side panel and the second side panel, and the handle further comprises a second pair of cuts extending from the second pair of access flaps into the respective first side panel and the second side panel. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein the handle panel comprises at least one central edge adjacent an opening for receiving a portion of at least one container. 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 49 , further comprising lifting the handle such that the at least one central edge is positioned to engage the portion of the at least one container. 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein, when the at least one central edge is positioned to engage the portion of the at least one container, the handle is locked in a lifted position. 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein a plurality of cuts in one of the first side panel and the second side panel are positioned adjacent the opening.