Carton with handle

• US 9,010,620 B2
• Filed: 08/01/2013
• Issued: 04/21/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Graphic Packaging International Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Graphic Packaging International Incorporated
• Inventors: Sutherland, Robert L., Kastanek, Raymond S., Spivey, Raymond R. Sr., Lettre, Neil
• Primary Examiner(s): DEMEREE, CHRISTOPHER R
• Application Number:
  US13/956,531
• Publication Number:
  US 20140042215A1
• Time in Patent Office: 628 Days
• Field of Search: 229/117.15, 229/117.18, 229/920, 229/117.09, 206/141, 206/428, 493/88
• US Class Current: 229/117.15
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 43/00 Forming, feeding, opening or setting-up containers or receptacles in association with packaging forming pockets in sheets, blanks or webs, by pressing the material into forming dies or moving it through folding dies B65B47/00
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2571/00141 glued
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2571/0045 for hands
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2571/00524 integral
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2571/00543 consisting of cut-outs, slits, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2571/00549 consisting of fold lines
• 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 5/4608 Handgrip holes
• 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. The carton comprises a plurality of panels that extends at least partially around an interior of the carton. The plurality of panels comprises at least one top panel and a reinforcement panel. A single phase handle extends in the at least one top panel and the reinforcement panel. The single phase handle can comprise at least one grip portion extending adjacent a handle opening on one side of the at least one grip portion. The handle opening can comprise a first opening in the at least one top panel and a second opening in the reinforcement panel. The second opening can be generally aligned with the first opening.

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 at least one top panel and a reinforcement panel, the at least one top panel comprising at least a first top panel and a second top panel; and

a single phase handle extending in the at least one top panel and the reinforcement panel, the single phase handle comprising at least one grip portion extending adjacent a handle opening on one side of the at least one grip portion, the at least one grip portion comprising at least a first grip portion extending in the first top panel, the handle opening comprising a first opening extending in the first top panel and a second opening in the reinforcement panel, the second opening being generally aligned with the first opening;

wherein the second top panel is free of any handle openings.

2. The carton of claim 1, wherein the at least one grip portion further comprises a reinforcing grip portion extending in the reinforcement panel.

3. The carton of claim 2, wherein the first grip portion of the first top panel at least partially overlaps the reinforcing grip portion of the reinforcement panel.

4. The carton of claim 1, wherein the reinforcement panel is foldably connected to the first top panel along a fold line.

5. The carton of claim 1, wherein the at least one grip portion comprises at least a first grip portion in the at least one top panel and a reinforcing grip portion in the reinforcement panel.

6. The carton of claim 1, wherein the at least one top panel comprises a first lateral edge extending adjacent the first opening and a first oblique edge extending from each end of the first lateral edge adjacent the first opening, and a first hook-shaped cut extends from each of the first oblique edges.

8. The carton of claim 1, further comprising at least two end flaps respectively foldably attached to respective panels of the plurality of panels, wherein the end flaps are overlapped with respect to one another and thereby at least partially form a closed end of the carton, the at least two end flaps comprising at least one top end flap foldably connected to the at least one top panel and at least one reinforcing end flap foldably connected to the reinforcement panel.

9. The carton of claim 8, wherein the at least one reinforcing end flap is at least partially in face-to-face contact with the at least one top end flap.

10. The carton of claim 8, wherein the at least one reinforcing end flap is foldably connected to the at least one top end flap.

11. The carton of claim 10, wherein the at least one top end flap comprises at least 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, the second top end flap at least partially overlaps the first top end flap, and the first top end flap at least partially overlaps the at least one reinforcing end flap.

12. The carton of claim 1, wherein the reinforcement panel comprises a distal portion extending adjacent the second opening and an outer edge of the reinforcement panel, the distal portion being at least partially in face-to-face contact with the at least one top panel.

13. The carton of claim 1, wherein the single phase handle comprises a handle flap foldably connected to the at least one grip portion adjacent the handle opening.

7. The carton of 6, wherein the at least one top panel comprises a second lateral edge extending adjacent the first opening and a second oblique edge extending from each end of the second lateral edge to a respective one of the first oblique edges adjacent the first opening.

14. 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 at least one top panel and a reinforcement panel foldably attached to the at least one top panel; and

a single phase handle extending in the at least one top panel and the reinforcement panel, the single phase handle comprising at least one grip portion extending adjacent a handle opening on one side of the at least one grip portion, the handle opening comprising a first opening in the at least one top panel and a second opening in the reinforcement panel, the second opening being generally aligned with the first opening;

wherein the at least one grip portion comprises at least a first grip portion in the at least one top panel and a reinforcing grip portion in the reinforcement panel, and the first grip portion at least partially overlaps the reinforcing grip portion.

15. The carton of claim 14, wherein the at least one top panel comprises a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge, each extending adjacent the first opening, and the reinforcement panel comprises a third lateral edge and a fourth lateral edge, each extending adjacent the second opening.

16. The carton of claim 15, wherein the reinforcement panel comprises a distal portion at least partially defined by the fourth lateral edge and an outer edge of the reinforcement panel.

17. The carton of claim 15, wherein each of the first grip portion and the reinforcing grip portion is at least partially defined by the respective first lateral edge and third lateral edge.

18. 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 at least one top panel and a reinforcement panel foldably attached to the at least one top panel; and

a single phase handle extending in the at least one top panel and the reinforcement panel, the single phase handle comprising at least one grip portion extending adjacent a handle opening on one side of the at least one grip portion, the handle opening comprising a first opening in the at least one top panel and a second opening in the reinforcement panel, the second opening being generally aligned with the first opening;

wherein the at least one top panel comprises a first lateral edge extending adjacent the first opening and a first oblique edge extending from each end of the first lateral edge adjacent the first opening, and a first hook-shaped cut extends from each of the first oblique edges; and

wherein the reinforcement panel comprises a second lateral edge extending adjacent the second opening and a second oblique edge extending from each end of the second lateral edge adjacent the second opening, a second hook-shaped cut extends from each of the second oblique edges, and each of the second lateral edge, the second oblique edges, and the second hook-shaped cuts in the reinforcement panel is generally aligned with the respective first lateral edge, first oblique edges, and first hook-shaped cuts in the at least one top panel.

19. The carton of claim 18, wherein the at least one top panel comprises a third lateral edge extending adjacent the first opening and a third oblique edge extending from each end of the third lateral edge to a respective one of the first oblique edges adjacent the first opening, the reinforcement panel comprises a fourth lateral edge extending adjacent the second opening and a fourth oblique edge extending from each end of the fourth lateral edge to a respective one of the second oblique edges adjacent the second opening, and each of the fourth lateral edge and the fourth oblique edges of the reinforcement panel is generally aligned with the respective third lateral edge and third oblique edges of the at least one top panel.

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

a plurality of panels comprising at least one top panel and a reinforcement panel, the at least one top panel comprising at least a first top panel and a second top panel; and

handle features extending in the at least one top panel and the reinforcement panel for forming a single phase handle, the handle features comprising at least one grip portion extending adjacent a handle opening on one side of the at least one grip portion, the at least one grip portion comprises at least a first grip portion extending in the first top panel, the handle opening comprising a first opening extending in the first top panel and a second opening in the reinforcement panel, the second opening for being generally aligned with the first opening when the carton is formed from the blank;

wherein the second top panel is free of any handle openings.

21. The blank of claim 20, wherein the at least one grip portion further comprises a reinforcing grip portion extending in the reinforcement panel.

22. The blank of claim 21, wherein the first grip portion of the first top panel is for at least partially overlapping the reinforcing grip portion of the reinforcement panel when the carton is formed from the blank.

23. The blank of claim 20, wherein the reinforcement panel is foldably connected to the first top panel along a fold line.

24. The blank of claim 20, wherein the at least one top panel comprises a first lateral edge extending adjacent the first opening and a first oblique edge extending from each end of the first lateral edge adjacent the first opening, and a first hook-shaped cut extends from each of the first oblique edges.

26. The blank of claim 20, further comprising at least two end flaps respectively foldably attached to respective panels of the plurality of panels, wherein the end flaps are for being overlapped with respect to one another when the carton is formed from the blank and thereby at least partially form a closed end of the carton formed from the blank, the at least two end flaps comprising at least one top end flap foldably connected to the at least one top panel and at least one reinforcing end flap foldably connected to the reinforcement panel.

27. The blank of claim 26, wherein the at least one reinforcing end flap is foldably connected to the at least one top end flap.

28. The blank of claim 20, wherein the reinforcement panel comprises a distal portion extending adjacent the second opening and an outer edge of the reinforcement panel, and the distal portion is for being positioned at least partially in face-to-face contact with the at least one top panel when the carton is formed from the blank.

29. The blank of claim 20, wherein the handle features comprise a handle flap foldably connected to the at least one grip portion adjacent the handle opening.

25. The blank of 24, wherein the at least one top panel comprises a second lateral edge extending adjacent the first opening and a second oblique edge extending from each end of the second lateral edge to a respective one of the first oblique edges adjacent the first opening.

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

a plurality of panels comprising at least one top panel and a reinforcement panel foldably attached to the at least one top panel; and

handle features extending in the at least one top panel and the reinforcement panel for forming a single phase handle, the handle features comprising at least one grip portion extending adjacent a handle opening on one side of the at least one grip portion, the handle opening comprising a first opening in the at least one top panel and a second opening in the reinforcement panel, the second opening for being generally aligned with the first opening when the carton is formed from the blank;

wherein the at least one grip portion comprises at least a first grip portion in the at least one top panel and a reinforcing grip portion in the reinforcement panel, and the first grip portion is for at least partially overlapping the reinforcing grip portion when the carton is formed from the blank.

31. The blank of claim 30, wherein the at least one top panel comprises a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge, each extending adjacent the first opening, and the reinforcement panel comprises a third lateral edge and a fourth lateral edge, each extending adjacent the second opening.

32. The blank of claim 31, wherein the reinforcement panel comprises a distal portion at least partially defined by the fourth lateral edge and an outer edge of the reinforcement panel.

33. The blank of claim 31, wherein each of the first grip portion and the reinforcing grip portion is at least partially defined by the respective first lateral edge and third lateral edge.

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

a plurality of panels comprising at least one top panel and a reinforcement panel; and

handle features extending in the at least one top panel and the reinforcement panel for forming a single phase handle, the handle features comprising at least one grip portion extending adjacent a handle opening on one side of the at least one grip portion, the handle opening comprising a first opening in the at least one top panel and a second opening in the reinforcement panel, the second opening for being generally aligned with the first opening when the carton is formed from the blank;

wherein the at least one top panel comprises a first lateral edge extending adjacent the first opening and a first oblique edge extending from each end of the first lateral edge adjacent the first opening, and a first hook-shaped cut extends from each of the first oblique edges; and

wherein the reinforcement panel comprises a second lateral edge extending adjacent the second opening and a second oblique edge extending from each end of the second lateral edge adjacent the second opening, a second hook-shaped cut extends from each of the second oblique edges, and each of the second lateral edge, the second oblique edges, and the second hook-shaped cuts in the reinforcement panel is for being generally aligned with the respective first lateral edge, first oblique edges, and first hook-shaped cuts in the at least one top panel when the carton is formed from the blank.

35. The blank of claim 34, wherein the at least one top panel comprises a third lateral edge extending adjacent the first opening and a third oblique edge extending from each end of the third lateral edge to a respective one of the first oblique edges adjacent the first opening, the reinforcement panel comprises a fourth lateral edge extending adjacent the second opening and a fourth oblique edge extending from each end of the fourth lateral edge to a respective one of the second oblique edges adjacent the second opening, and each of the fourth lateral edge and the fourth oblique edges of the reinforcement panel is for being generally aligned with the respective third lateral edge and third oblique edges of the at least one top panel when the carton is formed from the blank.

36. A method of forming a carton, comprising:

obtaining a blank comprising a plurality of panels comprising at least one top panel and a reinforcement panel, and handle features extending in the at least one top panel and the reinforcement panel, the at least one top panel comprising at least a first top panel and a second top panel, the handle features comprising at least one grip portion, a first opening extending in the first top panel, and a second opening in the reinforcement panel, the at least one grip portion comprises at least a first grip portion extending in the first top panel, wherein the second top panel is free of any handle openings;

forming an interior of the carton at least partially defined by the plurality of panels, the forming the interior of the carton comprising forming an open-ended sleeve; and

forming a single phase handle comprising the handle features, the forming the single phase handle comprising at least generally aligning the second opening with the first opening to form a handle opening on one side of the at least one grip portion, the at least one grip portion extending adjacent the handle opening.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the at least one grip portion further comprises a reinforcing grip portion extending in the reinforcement panel, and the forming the single phase handle further comprises positioning the first grip portion of the first top panel to at least partially overlap the reinforcing grip portion in the reinforcement panel.

38. The carton of claim 36, wherein the reinforcement panel comprises a distal portion extending adjacent the second opening and an outer edge of the reinforcement panel, the forming the open-ended sleeve comprising folding the reinforcement panel relative to the at least one top panel so that at least the distal portion is at least partially in face-to-face contact with the at least one top panel.