Carton with Handle

• US 20070164091A1
• Filed: 12/26/2006
• Published: 07/19/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Graphic Packaging International Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Graphic Packaging International Incorporated
• Inventors: Gomes, Jean-Manuel, Ford, Colin, Fogle, James
• Granted Patent: US 7,748,603 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 229/101
• 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 2571/00512 movable or foldable between an extended and a retracted position
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2571/00574 whereby contents can still be carried after the line has been torn
• 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 2571/00833 Other details of wrappers
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 71/36 having a tubular shape, e.g. tubular wrappers, with end walls

Abstract

A carton has a handle that allows a user to carry the carton when closed, and that extends to allow a user to carry the carton when the carton is in an open configuration. The carton includes gusseted end panels that create a partially closed bottom receptacle in the opened carton.

Claims

1. A carton, comprising:

a top panel comprising a first top panel and a second top panel;

a bottom panel;

a first side panel;

a second side panel;

a first end panel;

a second end panel; and

an extendable handle formed at least in the first and second top panels, wherein a first end of the handle is detachably connected to the first end panel and a second end of the handle is detachably connected to the second end panel.

2. The carton of claim 1, wherein the handle comprises a first handle section of the first top panel and a second handle section of the second top panel, wherein the first and second handle sections are overlapped and adhered together.

3. The carton of claim 2, wherein the first handle section is defined in part by tear lines in the first top panel and the second handle section is defined in part by tear lines in the second top panel.

4. The carton of claim 3, wherein the first top panel includes first upper gusset panels adjacent to the first handle section, and the second handle section includes a distal section, the distal section being adhered to at least one of the first upper gusset panels.

5. The carton of claim 3, wherein the first end of the handle is detachably connected to the first end panel at a first tear feature.

6. The carton of claim 5, wherein the first handle section includes a first distal section detachably connected to the tear feature, the first distal section being adhered to the first end panel.

7. The carton of claim 6, wherein the first end panel includes a pair of bottom gussets, each bottom gusset being foldably connected to the first end panel and one of the side panels.

8. The carton of claim 7, wherein the first top panel includes a plurality of upper gusset panels, at least one of the upper gusset panels being foldably connected to one of the bottom gussets.

9. The carton of claim 1, wherein the first end panel includes a pair of bottom gussets, each bottom gusset being foldably connected to the first end panel and one of the side panels.

10. The carton of claim 9, wherein the first top panel includes a plurality of upper gusset panels, at least one of the upper gusset panels being foldably connected to one of the bottom gussets.

11. The carton of claim 9, wherein a bottom receptacle of the carton is liquid-tight.

12. The carton of claim 9, wherein the first top panel overlaps the second top panel, the handle comprising at least two plies where the first top panel and the second top panel overlap.

13. A carton blank, comprising:

a first top panel, the first top panel including a first handle section defined therein, the first handle section including a first distal section detachably connected to a first end of the first handle section;

a second top panel, the second top panel including a second handle section defined therein;

a bottom panel;

a first side panel;

a second side panel;

at least one first bottom end flap; and

at least one second bottom end flap.

14. The carton blank of claim 13, further comprising a second distal section detachably connected to a second end of the first handle section.

15. The carton blank of claim 14, wherein the first distal section is detachably connected to the first end of the first handle section at a first tear feature.

16. The carton blank of claim 15, wherein the first handle section is defined in part by tear lines in the first top panel and the second handle section is defined in part by tear lines in the second top panel.

17. The carton blank of claim 16, further comprising a pair of bottom gussets at a first marginal area of the blank, each bottom gusset being foldably connected to the first end panel and one of the side panels.

18. The carton blank of claim 17, wherein the first top panel includes a plurality of upper gusset panels, at least one of the upper gusset panels being foldably connected to one of the bottom gussets.

19. The carton blank of claim 13, wherein first handle section is defined in part by tear lines in the first top panel and the second handle section is defined in part by tear lines in the second top panel.

20. The carton blank of claim 13, further comprising:

a pair of bottom gussets at a first marginal area of the blank, each bottom gusset being foldably connected to the first end panel and one of the side panels, wherein the first top panel includes a plurality of upper gusset panels, at least one of the upper gusset panels being foldably connected to one of the bottom gussets.

21. A method of utilizing a carton handle, comprising:

providing a carton, the carton comprising;

a top panel;

a bottom panel;

a first side panel;

a second side panel;

a first end panel;

a second end panel; and

an extendable handle formed at least in the top panel;

detaching a first end of the handle from the first end panel;

detaching a second end of the handle from the second end panel; and

pulling the handle upward so that the handle separates from a remainder of the top panel and moves upwardly with respect to the remainder of the top panel.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising carrying the carton by the handle.

23. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

before separating the handle from the remainder of the top panel, accessing at least one access line in the top panel to form an aperture in the top panel; and

carrying the carton using a hand extending through the aperture.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein the first end panel comprises a first bottom end flap and a pair of bottom gussets, and wherein pulling the handle upward causes the first bottom end flap to pivot outwardly and causes the bottom gussets to extend outwardly.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein pulling the handle upward further causes sections of the remainder of the top panel to extend generally upward.

26. A method of utilizing a carton handle, comprising:

providing a carton, the carton comprising;

a top panel;

a bottom panel;

a first side panel;

a second side panel;

a first end panel;

a second end panel; and

an extendable handle formed at least in the top panel; and

pulling the handle upward so that the handle separates from a remainder of the top panel and moves upwardly with respect to the remainder of the top panel, wherein

the first end panel comprises a first bottom end flap and a pair of bottom gussets, and wherein pulling the handle upward causes the first bottom end flap to pivot outwardly and causes the bottom gussets to extend outwardly.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein pulling the handle upward further causes sections of the remainder of the top panel to extend upward.