Carton with handle

• US 10,421,578 B2
• Filed: 11/18/2016
• Issued: 09/24/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Graphic Packaging International LLC (Graphic Packaging International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Graphic Packaging International LLC (Graphic Packaging International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Holley, Jr., John Murdick
• Primary Examiner(s): Stashick, Anthony D
• Assistant Examiner(s): Collins, Raven
• Application Number:
  US15/355,274
• Publication Number:
  US 20170137165A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,040 Days
• Field of Search: 206427
• CPC Class Codes: B31B 50/86 Forming integral handles; Attaching separate handles
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2571/00141 glued
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2571/00462 Straps made by two slits in a wall
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2571/00469 Straps made between two handholes
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2571/00518 with reinforcements
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2571/00543 consisting of cut-outs, slits, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2571/0066 formed from one single sheet
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2571/00728 the end walls being closed by gluing
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/10 with end closures formed by inward-folding of self-locking flaps hinged to tubular body
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/4266 Folding lines, score lines, crease lines
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/46192 formed by incisions in the container or blank forming straps used as handles
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/56 Linings or internal coatings , e.g. pre-formed trays provided with a blow- or thermoformed layer to protect the articles from mechanical damage B65D81/127
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/62 External coverings or coatings B65D5/4245, B65D5/4262 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 71/36 having a tubular shape, e.g. tubular wrappers, with end walls

Abstract

A carton for containing a plurality of articles is disclosed. The carton includes a plurality of panels that extends at least partially around an interior of the carton. The plurality of panels comprises a first top panel, a second top panel, a bottom panel, a first side panel, and a second side panel. The first top panel and the second top panel are at least partially overlapped to form a top wall of the carton. A plurality of end flaps comprises a first top end flap foldably connected to the first top panel and a second top end flap foldably connected to the second top panel. A handle extends in at least the top wall of the carton and comprises a first handle portion in the first top panel, a second handle portion in the second top panel, and a third handle portion in the closed end.

Claims

1. A carton for containing a plurality of articles, the carton comprising:

a plurality of panels that extends at least partially around an interior of the carton, the plurality of panels comprising a first top panel, a second top panel, a bottom panel, a first side panel, and a second side panel, the first top panel and the second top panel are at least partially overlapped to form a top wall of the carton;

a plurality of end flaps foldably connected to a respective panel of the plurality of panels for at least partially closing an end of the carton, the plurality of end flaps comprises a first top end flap foldably connected to the first top panel, a second top end flap foldably connected to the second top panel, and at least one side end flap foldably connected to a respective one of the first side panel and the second side panel; and

a handle extending in at least the top wall of the carton and comprising a first handle portion in the first top panel, a second handle portion in the second top panel, and a third handle portion in the closed end, the third handle portion being at least partially formed by a first line of weakening in the second top end flap and a second line of weakening in the at least one side end flap, the first handle portion extending into the first top end flap, the second handle portion being spaced apart from the first line of weakening, the first handle portion being connected to the second handle portion and the third handle portion.

2. The carton of claim 1, wherein the first line of weakening and the second line of weakening are at least partially overlapped.

3. The carton of claim 2, wherein the at least one side end flap is a first side end flap foldably connected to the first side panel, the second line of weakening is in the first side end flap, and the plurality of end flaps comprises a second side end flap foldably connected to the second side panel, the third handle portion comprises a third line of weakening in the second side end flap.

4. The carton of claim 3, wherein the first line of weakening and the third line of weakening are at least partially overlapped.

5. The carton of claim 2, wherein the first line of weakening is generally U-shaped and the second line of weakening is generally J-shaped.

6. The carton of claim 1, wherein activation of the handle causes the first handle portion and the second handle portion to move in an outward direction away from the interior of the carton and the third handle portion moves in an inward direction towards the interior of the carton.

7. The carton of claim 1, further comprising a handle reinforcement flap foldably connected to the first top panel.

8. The carton of claim 7, wherein the handle reinforcement flap is at least partially separable from the first top panel along a tear line, the tear line defines at least a portion of the first handle portion.

9. The carton of claim 7, wherein the handle reinforcement flap is in face-to-face contact with the first handle portion.

10. The carton of claim 9, wherein a portion of at least one of the first handle portion and the handle reinforcement flap is in face-to-face contact with the third handle portion.

11. The carton of claim 10, wherein a portion of the at least one of the first handle portion and the handle reinforcement flap is in face-to-face contact with the second handle portion.

12. The carton of claim 1, wherein the first handle portion is at least partially separable from the first top panel, the second handle portion is at least partially separable from the second top panel, and the third handle portion is at least partially separable from the second top end flap.

37. The carton of claim 1, wherein the second top end flap is foldably connected to the second top panel at a fold line, the third handle portion is spaced apart from the fold line.

13. A carton for containing a plurality of articles, the carton comprising:

a plurality of panels that extends at least partially around an interior of the carton, the plurality of panels comprising a first top panel, a second top panel, a bottom panel, a first side panel, and a second side panel, the first top panel and the second top panel are at least partially overlapped to form a top wall of the carton;

a first plurality of end flaps foldably connected to a respective panel of the plurality of panels for at least partially closing a first end of the carton, the first plurality of end flaps comprises a first top end flap foldably connected to the first top panel and a second top end flap foldably connected to the second top panel;

a second plurality of end flaps foldably connected to a respective panel of the plurality of panels for at least partially closing a second end of the carton, the second plurality of end flaps comprises a third top end flap foldably connected to the first top panel and a fourth top end flap foldably connected to the second top panel; and

a handle extending in at least the top wall of the carton and comprising a first handle portion in the first top panel, a second handle portion in the second top panel, a third handle portion in the first closed end, and a fourth handle portion in the second closed end, the third handle portion being at least partially formed by a first line of weakening in the second top end flap and the fourth handle portion is at least partially formed by a second line of weakening in the fourth top end flap, the first handle portion extending into the first top end flap, the second handle portion being spaced apart from the first line of weakening, and the first handle portion being connected to the second handle portion and the third handle portion.

14. The carton of claim 13, wherein the first handle portion extends into the third top end flap, the second handle portion is spaced apart from the second line of weakening at least partially forming the fourth handle portion, and the first handle portion is connected to the fourth handle portion.

15. The carton of claim 13, wherein the second plurality of end flaps comprises at least one side end flap foldably connected to a respective one of the first side panel and the second side panel, the fourth handle portion comprises a third line of weakening in the at least one side end flap.

38. The carton of claim 14, wherein the fourth top end flap is foldably connected to the second top panel at a fold line, the fourth handle portion is spaced apart from the fold line.

16. A blank for forming a carton for containing a plurality of articles, the blank comprising:

a plurality of panels comprising a first top panel, a second top panel, a bottom panel, a first side panel, and a second side panel, the first top panel and the second top panel are for being at least partially overlapped to form a top wall of the carton formed from the blank;

a plurality of end flaps foldably connected to a respective panel of the plurality of panels for at least partially closing an end of the carton formed from the blank, the plurality of end flaps comprises a first top end flap foldably connected to the first top panel, a second top end flap foldably connected to the second top panel, and at least one side end flap foldably connected to a respective one of the first side panel and the second side panel; and

handle features for forming a handle extending in at least the top wall of the carton, the handle comprising a first handle portion in the first top panel, a second handle portion in the second top panel, and a third handle portion at least partially formed by a first line of weakening in the second top end flap and a second line of weakening in the at least one side end flap, the first handle portion extending into the first top end flap, the second handle portion being spaced apart from the first line of weakening, the first handle portion is for being connected to the second handle portion and the third handle portion in the carton formed from the blank, and the first line of weakening and the second line of weakening are for being at least partially overlapped in the carton formed from the blank.

17. The blank of claim 16, wherein the at least one side end flap is a first side end flap foldably connected to the first side panel, the second line of weakening is in the first side end flap, and the plurality of end flaps comprises a second side end flap foldably connected to the second side panel, the third handle portion comprises a third line of weakening in the second side end flap, the first line of weakening and the third line of weakening are for being at least partially overlapped in the carton formed from the blank.

18. The blank of claim 16, wherein the first line of weakening is generally U-shaped and the second line of weakening is generally J-shaped.

19. The blank of claim 16, wherein the handle features further comprise a handle reinforcement flap foldably connected to the first top panel, the handle reinforcement flap is at least partially separable from the first top panel at a tear line, the tear line defines at least a portion of the first handle portion.

20. The blank of claim 19, wherein the handle reinforcement flap is in face-to-face contact with the first handle portion.

21. The blank of claim 20, wherein a portion of at least one of the first handle portion and the handle reinforcement flap is in face-to-face contact with the third handle portion.

22. The blank of claim 20, wherein a portion of the at least one of the first handle portion and the handle reinforcement flap is in face-to-face contact with the second handle portion.

23. The blank of claim 16, wherein the first handle portion is at least partially separable from the first top panel, the second handle portion is at least partially separable from the second top panel, and the third handle portion is at least partially separable from the second top end flap.

39. The blank of claim 16, wherein the second top end flap is foldably connected to the second top panel at a fold line, the third handle portion is spaced apart from the fold line.

24. A blank for forming a carton for containing a plurality of articles, the blank comprising:

a plurality of panels comprising a first top panel, a second top panel, a bottom panel, a first side panel, and a second side panel, the first top panel and the second top panel are for being at least partially overlapped to form a top wall of the carton formed from the blank;

a plurality of first end flaps foldably connected to a respective panel of the plurality of panels for at least partially closing a first end of the carton formed from the blank, the first plurality of end flaps comprises a first top end flap foldably connected to the first top panel and a second top end flap foldably connected to the second top panel;

a second plurality of end flaps foldably connected to a respective panel of the plurality of panels for at least partially closing a second end of the carton formed from the blank, the second plurality of end flaps comprises a third top end flap foldably connected to the first top panel and a fourth top end flap foldably connected to the second top panel; and

handle features for forming a handle extending in at least the top wall of the carton, the handle comprising a first handle portion in the first top panel, a second handle portion in the second top panel, a third handle portion at least partially formed by a first line of weakening in the second top end flap, and a fourth handle portion at least partially formed by a second line of weakening in the fourth top end flap, the first handle portion extending into the first top end flap, the second handle portion being spaced apart from the first line of weakening, the first handle portion is for being connected to the second handle portion and the third handle portion in the carton formed from the blank.

25. The blank of claim 24, wherein the first handle portion extends into the third top end flap, the second handle portion is spaced apart from the second line of weakening at least partially forming the fourth handle portion, and the first handle portion is connected to the fourth handle portion in the carton formed from the blank.

26. The blank of claim 24, wherein the second plurality of end flaps comprises at least one side end flap foldably connected to a respective one of the first side panel and the second side panel, the fourth handle portion comprises a third line of weakening in the at least one side end flap.

40. The blank of claim 25, wherein the fourth top end flap is foldably connected to the second top panel at a fold line, the fourth handle portion is spaced apart from the fold line.

27. A method of forming a carton for containing a plurality of articles, the method comprising:

obtaining a blank having a plurality of panels comprising a first top panel, a second top panel, a bottom panel, a first side panel, and a second side panel, a plurality of end flaps foldably connected to a respective panel of the plurality of panels, the plurality of end flaps comprise a first top end flap foldably connected to the first top panel, a second top end flap foldably connected to the second top panel, and at least one side end flap foldably connected to a respective one of the first side panel and the second side panel, and handle features for Ruining a handle, the handle comprising a first handle portion in the first top panel, a second handle portion in the second top panel, and a third handle portion at least partially forming by a first line of weakening in the second top end flap and a second line of weakening in the at least one side end flap;

folding the plurality of panels to at least partially form an interior of the carton, the folding the plurality of panels comprising at least partially overlapping the first top panel and the second top panel to form a top wall; and

forming the handle from the first handle portion, the second handle portion, and the third handle portion, the first handle portion extending into the first top end flap, the second handle portion being spaced apart from the first line of weakening at least partially forming the third handle portion, and the first handle portion is connected to the second handle portion and the third handle portion.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the forming the handle comprises at least partially overlapping the second top end flap and the at least one side end flap so that the first line of weakening and the second line of weakening are at least partially overlapped.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the at least one side end flap is a first side end flap foldably connected to the first side panel, the second line of weakening is in the first side end flap, and the plurality of end flaps comprises a second side end flap foldably connected to the second side panel, the third handle portion comprises a third line of weakening in the second side end flap, the fainting the handle comprises at least partially overlapping the second top end flap and the second side end flap so that the first line of weakening and the third line of weakening are at least partially overlapped.

30. The method of claim 27, further comprising activating the handle to cause the first handle portion and the second handle portion to move in an outward direction away from the interior of the carton and the third handle portion to move in an inward direction towards the interior of the carton.

31. The method of claim 27, wherein the blank further comprises a handle reinforcement flap foldably connected to the first top panel and is at least partially separable from the first top panel along a tear line, the tear line defines at least a portion of the first handle portion, the forming the handle comprises positioning the handle reinforcement flap in face-to-face contact with the first handle portion.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein a portion of at least one of the first handle portion and the handle reinforcement flap is in face-to-face contact with the third handle portion.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein a portion of the at least one of the first handle portion and the handle reinforcement flap is in face-to-face contact with the second handle portion.

41. The method of claim 27, wherein the second top end flap is foldably connected to the second top panel at a fold line, the third handle portion is spaced apart from the fold line.

34. A method of forming a carton for containing a plurality of articles, the method comprising:

obtaining a blank having a plurality of panels comprising a first top panel, a second top panel, a bottom panel, a first side panel, and a second side panel, a first plurality of end flaps foldably connected to a respective panel of the plurality of panels for at least partially closing a first end of the carton, the first plurality of end flaps comprise a first top end flap foldably connected to the first top panel and a second top end flap foldably connected to the second top panel, a second plurality of end flaps foldably connected to a respective panel of the plurality of panels for at least partially closing a second end of the carton, the second plurality of end flaps comprises a third top end flap foldably connected to the first top panel and a fourth top end flap foldably connected to the second top panel, and handle features for forming a handle, the handle comprising a first handle portion in the first top panel, a second handle portion in the second top panel, a third handle portion at least partially formed by a first line of weakening in the second top end flap, and a fourth handle portion at least partially formed by a second line of weakening in the fourth top end flap;

folding the plurality of panels to at least partially form an interior of the carton, the folding the plurality of panels comprising at least partially overlapping the first top panel and the second top panel to form a top wall; and

forming the handle from the first handle portion, the second handle portion, and the third handle portion, the first handle portion extending into the first top end flap, the second handle portion being spaced apart from the first line of weakening, and the first handle portion is connected to the second handle portion and the third handle portion.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the first handle portion extends into the third top end flap, the second handle portion is spaced apart from the second line of weakening at least partially forming the fourth handle portion, and the first handle portion is connected to the fourth handle portion.

36. The method of claim 34, wherein the second plurality of end flaps comprises at least one side end flap foldably connected to a respective one of the first side panel and the second side panel, the fourth handle portion comprises a third line of weakening in the at least one side end flap.

42. The method of claim 35, wherein the fourth top end flap is foldably connected to the second top panel at a fold line, the fourth handle portion is spaced apart from the fold line.