대표
청구항
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1. A carrier for holding a plurality of containers, the carrier comprising: a plurality of panels that extends at least partially around an interior of the carrier, the panels comprising at least one bottom panel, a front panel, a back panel, and at least two side panels;a first central panel;a second central panel, the first and second central panels dividing the interior of the carrier into a front portion and a back portion;a first divider flap foldably attached to the first central panel and extending to the front panel to divide the front portion in...
1. A carrier for holding a plurality of containers, the carrier comprising: a plurality of panels that extends at least partially around an interior of the carrier, the panels comprising at least one bottom panel, a front panel, a back panel, and at least two side panels;a first central panel;a second central panel, the first and second central panels dividing the interior of the carrier into a front portion and a back portion;a first divider flap foldably attached to the first central panel and extending to the front panel to divide the front portion into at least two front container-receiving spaces, wherein the first central panel comprises a first serpentine edge formed from a first top cut between the first central panel and the first divider flap prior to forming the carrier; anda second divider flap foldably attached to the second central panel and extending to the back panel to divide the back portion into at least two back container-receiving spaces, wherein the second central panel comprises a second serpentine edge formed from a second top cut between the second central panel and the second divider flap prior to forming the carrier;wherein the first central panel has features for facilitating positioning of the second divider flap relative to the second central panel, and the second central panel has features for facilitating positioning of the first divider flap relative to the first central panel; andwherein the first and second serpentine edges comprise complementary serpentine shapes, at least a portion of the first and second serpentine edges overlap, and a portion of the second central panel protrudes from the first serpentine edge. 2. The carrier of claim 1, wherein a portion of the first central panel protrudes from the second serpentine edge. 3. The carrier of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second serpentine edges comprises a plurality of generally straight portions, a plurality of concave portions, and a plurality of convex portions. 4. The carrier of claim 1, wherein the first serpentine edge extends between a first lateral fold line connecting the first divider flap to the first central panel and a first lateral edge of the first central panel formed from a first lateral cut between the first divider flap and the first central panel prior to forming the carrier, and wherein the first serpentine edge comprises a first generally straight portion extending from the first lateral fold line, a first concave portion extending from the first straight portion, a first convex portion extending from the first concave portion, a second generally straight portion extending from the first convex portion, a second concave portion extending from the second straight portion, a second convex portion extending from the second concave portion, a third concave portion extending from the second convex portion, a third convex portion extending from the third concave portion, and a third generally straight portion extending from the third convex portion. 5. The carrier of claim 4, wherein the second serpentine edge extends between a second lateral fold line connecting the second divider flap to the second central panel and a second lateral edge of the second central panel formed from a second lateral cut between the second divider flap and the second central panel prior to forming the carrier, and wherein the second serpentine edge comprises a first generally straight portion extending from the second lateral fold line, a first convex portion extending from the first straight portion, a first concave portion extending from the first convex portion, a second generally straight portion extending from the first concave portion, a second concave portion extending from the second straight portion, a second convex portion extending from the second concave portion, a third concave portion extending from the second convex portion, a third convex portion extending from the third concave portion, a fourth concave portion extending from the third convex portion, and a third generally straight portion extending from the fourth concave portion. 6. The carrier of claim 5, wherein a first portion of the second central panel protrudes from the first serpentine edge between at least a portion of the first straight portion and first concave portion of the first serpentine edge and at least a portion of the first straight portion and first convex portion of the second serpentine edge, a second portion of the central panel protrudes from the first serpentine edge between at least a portion of the second concave portion of the first serpentine edge and at least a portion of the second convex portion of the second serpentine edge, and a third portion of the central panel protrudes from the first serpentine edge between at least a portion of the third concave portion of the first serpentine edge and at least a portion of the third convex portion of the second serpentine edge. 7. The carrier of claim 1, further comprising a front handle panel foldably attached to and at least partially in face-to-face contact with the first central panel and a back handle panel foldably attached to at least partially in face-to-face contact with the second central panel, wherein the front and back handle panels and the first and second central panels comprise features for forming a handle opening in the carrier. 8. A carrier for holding a plurality of containers, the carrier comprising: a plurality of panels that extends at least partially around an interior of the carrier, the panels comprising at least one bottom panel, a front panel, a back panel, and at least two side panels;a first central panel;a second central panel, the first and second central panels dividing the interior of the carrier into a front portion and a back portion;a first divider flap foldably attached to the first central panel and extending to the front panel to divide the front portion into at least two front container-receiving spaces, wherein the first central panel comprises a first serpentine edge formed from a first top cut between the first central panel and the first divider flap prior to forming the carrier; anda second divider flap foldably attached to the second central panel and extending to the back panel to divide the back portion into at least two back container-receiving spaces, wherein the second central panel comprises a second serpentine edge formed from a second top cut between the second central panel and the second divider flap prior to forming the carrier;wherein the first central panel has features for facilitating positioning of the second divider flap relative to the second central panel, and the second central panel has features for facilitating positioning of the first divider flap relative to the first central panel;wherein each of the first and second serpentine edges comprises a plurality of generally straight portions, a plurality of concave portions, and a plurality of convex portions; andwherein portions of the first serpentine edge overlap with portions of the second serpentine edge, and portions of the second central panel protrude from the first serpentine edge between at least a portion of each concave portion of the first serpentine edge and at least a portion of a respectively adjacent convex portion of the second serpentine edge. 9. The carrier of claim 8, wherein the first central panel further comprises a first lower serpentine edge formed from a first bottom cut between the first central panel and the first divider flap prior to forming the carrier, and wherein the second central panel further comprises a second lower serpentine edge formed from a second bottom cut between the second central panel and the second divider flap prior to forming the carrier. 10. The carrier of claim 9, wherein each of the first and second lower serpentine edges comprises at least one concave portion and at least one convex portion, and wherein at least a portion of the first lower serpentine edge overlaps with at least a portion of the second lower serpentine edge, and a portion of the second central panel protrudes from the first lower serpentine edge between at least a portion of the at least one concave portion of the first lower serpentine edge and at least a portion of the at least one convex portion of the second lower serpentine edge. 11. The carrier of claim 8, further comprising a third divider flap foldably attached to the first central panel and extending to the front panel, and a fourth divider flap foldably attached to the second central panel and extending to the back panel, wherein the first central panel comprises a third serpentine edge formed from a third top cut between the first central panel and the third divider flap prior to forming the carrier and the second central panel comprises a fourth serpentine edge formed from a fourth top cut between the second central panel and the fourth divider flap prior to forming the carrier. 12. The carrier of claim 11, wherein the third and fourth serpentine edges comprise complementary serpentine edges that each comprises at least one generally straight portion, at least one concave portion, and at least one convex portion, and wherein at least a portion of the third serpentine edge overlaps with at least a portion of the fourth serpentine edge, and at least one portion of the second central panel protrudes from the third serpentine edge. 13. A blank for forming a carrier, the blank comprising: a plurality of panels comprising at least one bottom panel, a front panel, a back panel, and at least two side panels;a first central panel;a second central panel, the first and second central panels being for dividing an interior of the carrier formed from the blank into a front portion and a back portion;a first divider flap foldably attached to the first central panel, wherein the first central panel comprises a first serpentine edge formed from a first top cut between the first central panel and the first divider flap; anda second divider flap foldably attached to the second central panel, wherein the second central panel comprises a second serpentine edge formed from a second top cut between the second central panel and the second divider flap;wherein the first central panel has features for facilitating positioning of the second divider flap relative to the second central panel, and the second central panel has features for facilitating positioning of the first divider flap relative to the first central panel; andwherein the first and second serpentine edges comprise complementary serpentine shapes, at least a portion of the first and second serpentine edges overlap, and a portion of the second central panel protrudes from the first serpentine edge when the carrier is formed from the blank with the first central panel at least partially in face-to-face contact with the second central panel. 14. The blank of claim 13, wherein a portion of the first central panel protrudes from the second serpentine edge when the carrier is formed from the blank with the first central panel at least partially in face-to-face contact with the second central panel. 15. The blank of claim 13, wherein each of the first and second serpentine edges comprises a plurality of generally straight portions, a plurality of concave portions, and a plurality of convex portions. 16. The blank of claim 13, further comprising a front handle panel foldably attached to the first central panel and a back handle panel foldably attached to the second central panel, wherein the front and back handle panels and the first and second central panels comprise features for forming a handle opening in the carrier formed from the blank. 17. A blank for forming a carrier, the blank comprising: a plurality of panels comprising at least one bottom panel, a front panel, a back panel, and at least two side panels;a first central panel;a second central panel, the first and second central panels being for dividing an interior of the carrier formed from the blank into a front portion and a back portion;a first divider flap foldably attached to the first central panel, wherein the first central panel comprises a first serpentine edge formed from a first top cut between the first central panel and the first divider flap; anda second divider flap foldably attached to the second central panel, wherein the second central panel comprises a second serpentine edge formed from a second top cut between the second central panel and the second divider flap;wherein the first central panel has features for facilitating positioning of the second divider flap relative to the second central panel, and the second central panel has features for facilitating positioning of the first divider flap relative to the first central panel;wherein each of the first and second serpentine edges comprises a plurality of generally straight portions, a plurality of concave portions, and a plurality of convex portions; andwherein when the carrier is formed from the blank with the first central panel at least partially in face-to-face contact with the second central panel, portions of the first serpentine edge overlap with portions of the second serpentine edge, and portions of the second central panel protrude from the first serpentine edge between at least a portion of each concave portion of the first serpentine edge and at least a portion of a respectively adjacent convex portion of the second serpentine edge. 18. The blank of claim 17, wherein the first central panel further comprises a first lower serpentine edge formed from a first bottom cut between the first central panel and the first divider flap, and wherein the second central panel further comprises a second lower serpentine edge formed from a second bottom cut between the second central panel and the second divider flap. 19. The blank of claim 18, wherein each of the first and second lower serpentine edges comprises at least one concave portion and at least one convex portion, and wherein at least a portion of the first lower serpentine edge overlaps with at least a portion of the second lower serpentine edge, and a portion of the second central panel protrudes from the first lower serpentine edge between at least a portion of the at least one concave portion of the first lower serpentine edge and at least a portion of the at least one convex portion of the second lower serpentine edge when the carrier is formed from the blank with the first central panel at least partially in face-to-face contact with the second central panel. 20. The blank of claim 17, further comprising a third divider flap foldably attached to the first central panel, and a fourth divider flap foldably attached to the second central panel, wherein the first central panel comprises a third serpentine edge formed from a third top cut between the first central panel and the third divider flap and the second central panel comprises a fourth serpentine edge formed from a fourth top cut between the second central panel and the fourth divider flap. 21. The blank of claim 20, wherein the third and fourth serpentine edges comprise complementary serpentine edges that each comprises at least one generally straight portion, at least one concave portion, and at least one convex portion, and wherein at least a portion of the third serpentine edge overlaps with at least a portion of the fourth serpentine edge, and at least one portion of the second central panel protrudes from the third serpentine edge when the carrier is formed from the blank with the first central panel at least partially in face-to-face contact with the second central panel. 22. A method of forming a carrier from a blank, the method comprising: obtaining a blank comprising a plurality of panels comprising at least one bottom panel, a front panel, a back panel, and at least two side panels, a first central panel, a second central panel, a first divider flap foldably attached to the first central panel, a second divider flap foldably attached to the second central panel, wherein the first central panel comprises a first top cut between the first central panel and the first divider flap, and the second central panel comprises a second top cut between the second central panel and the second divider flap, and wherein the first central panel has features for facilitating positioning of the second divider flap relative to the second central panel, and the second central panel has features for facilitating positioning of the first divider flap relative to the first central panel;folding the first and second central panels to be at least partially in face-to-face contact with at least a portion of the respective front and back panels;folding the blank along a longitudinal centerline so that the first central panel is at least partially in face-to-face contact with the second central panel;forming an interior of the carrier by extending the at least two side panels away from the respective first and second central panels so that the interior of the carrier is divided into a front portion and a back portion by the first and second central panels; andpivoting each of the first and second divider flaps away from the respective first and second central panels so that each of the first and second divider flaps extends to a respective one of the front and back panels, the pivoting the first divider flap forming a first serpentine edge at the first top cut, and the pivoting the second divider flap forming a second serpentine edge at the second top cut;wherein the first and second serpentine edges comprise complementary serpentine shapes, at least a portion of the first and second serpentine edges overlap after the folding the blank along the longitudinal centerline, and a portion of the second central panel protrudes from the first serpentine edge after the pivoting each of the first and second divider flaps. 23. The method of claim 22, wherein a portion of the first central panel protrudes from the second serpentine edge after the pivoting each of the first and second divider flaps. 24. The method of claim 22, wherein each of the first and second serpentine edges comprises a plurality of generally straight portions, a plurality of concave portions, and a plurality of convex portions. 25. The method of claim 22, wherein the blank further comprises a front handle panel foldably attached to the first central panel and a back handle panel foldably attached to the second central panel, and the method further comprises forming a handle opening in the front and back handle panels and the first and second central panels. 26. The method of claim 22, further comprising attaching the first divider flap and the second divider flap to the respective front panel and back panel with an adhesive. 27. A method of forming a carrier from a blank, the method comprising: obtaining a blank comprising a plurality of panels comprising at least one bottom panel, a front panel, a back panel, and at least two side panels, a first central panel, a second central panel, a first divider flap foldably attached to the first central panel, a second divider flap foldably attached to the second central panel, wherein the first central panel comprises a first top cut between the first central panel and the first divider flap, and the second central panel comprises a second top cut between the second central panel and the second divider flap, and wherein the first central panel has features for facilitating positioning of the second divider flap relative to the second central panel, and the second central panel has features for facilitating positioning of the first divider flap relative to the first central panel;folding the first and second central panels to be at least partially in face-to-face contact with at least a portion of the respective front and back panels;folding the blank along a longitudinal centerline so that the first central panel is at least partially in face-to-face contact with the second central panel;forming an interior of the carrier by extending the at least two side panels away from the respective first and second central panels so that the interior of the carrier is divided into a front portion and a back portion by the first and second central panels; andpivoting each of the first and second divider flaps away from the respective first and second central panels so that each of the first and second divider flaps extends to a respective one of the front and back panels, the pivoting the first divider flap forming a first serpentine edge at the first top cut, and the pivoting the second divider flap forming a second serpentine edge at the second top cut;wherein each of the first and second serpentine edges comprises a plurality of generally straight portions, a plurality of concave portions, and a plurality of convex portions; andwherein portions of the first serpentine edge overlap with portions of the second serpentine edge after the folding the blank along the longitudinal centerline, and portions of the second central panel protrude from the first serpentine edge between at least a portion of each concave portion of the first serpentine edge and at least a portion of a respectively adjacent convex portion of the second serpentine edge after the pivoting each of the first and second divider flaps. 28. The method of claim 27, wherein the first central panel further comprises a first lower serpentine edge formed from a first bottom cut between the first central panel and the first divider flap prior to the pivoting each of the first and second divider flaps, and wherein the second central panel further comprises a second lower serpentine edge formed from a second bottom cut between the second central panel and the second divider flap prior to the pivoting each of the first and second divider flaps. 29. The method of claim 28, wherein each of the first and second lower serpentine edges comprises at least one concave portion and at least one convex portion, and wherein at least a portion of the first lower serpentine edge overlaps with at least a portion of the second lower serpentine edge after the folding the blank along the longitudinal centerline, and a portion of the second central panel protrudes from the first lower serpentine edge between at least a portion of the at least one concave portion of the first lower serpentine edge and at least a portion of the at least one convex portion of the second lower serpentine edge after the pivoting each of the first and second divider flaps. 30. The method of claim 27, wherein the blank further comprises a third divider flap foldably attached to the first central panel and a fourth divider flap foldably attached to the second central panel, wherein the first central panel comprises a third serpentine edge formed from a third top cut between the first central panel and the third divider flap prior to the pivoting each of the first and second divider flaps and the second central panel comprises a fourth serpentine edge formed from a fourth top cut between the second central panel and the fourth divider flap prior to the pivoting each of the first and second divider flaps. 31. The method of claim 30, further comprising pivoting each of the third and fourth divider flaps away from the respective first and second central panels so that each of the third and fourth divider flaps extends to a respective one of the front and back panels. 32. The method of claim 30, wherein the third and fourth serpentine edges comprise complementary serpentine edges that each comprises at least one generally straight portion, at least one concave portion, and at least one convex portion, and wherein at least a portion of the third serpentine edge overlaps with at least a portion of the fourth serpentine edge after the folding the blank along the longitudinal centerline, and at least one portion of the second central panel protrudes from the third serpentine edge after the pivoting each of the first and second divider flaps.