Patent ID: 7690507

Claim:
A package, comprising: a carton, comprising: a top panel; a bottom panel; a first side panel; a second side panel; a plurality of upper struts extending from the bottom panel along a first row, each upper strut comprising an upper strut first section and an upper strut second section, the upper strut second sections being foldably connected to the bottom panel and extending generally upward from the bottom panel, the upper strut first sections each being folded relative to a respective upper strut second section; a plurality of lower struts extending from the bottom panel along a second row adjacent to the first row of upper struts, wherein each lower strut comprises a lower strut first section and a lower strut second section foldably connected to the lower strut first section, the lower strut second sections being foldably connected to the bottom panel and extending generally upward from the bottom panel, the lower strut first sections each being folded relative to a respective lower strut second section; a first row of container apertures, each container aperture in the first row of container apertures being adjacent to one of the plurality of upper struts; and a second row of container apertures, each container aperture in the second row of container apertures being adjacent to one of the plurality of lower struts; and a plurality of containers, each container being accommodated in one of the container apertures and having a flange with an underside, wherein each upper strut first section contacts the underside of a flange of a container accommodated in the first row of container apertures and the underside of the flange of an adjacent container accommodated in the second row of container apertures, and each upper strut comprises a receiving aperture and each lower strut first section comprises a projection extending through one of the receiving apertures, wherein each of the receiving apertures is at least partially defined by one of the upper strut second sections.