Carton having strap handle with improved product protection, and end hand holes

Abstract

A carton includes an outer top panel, a pair of side panels, a base panel, opposed end portions each formed from overlapping a plurality of flaps, each of the flaps being hingedly connected to a respective one of the panels. A strap handle is attached inside the carton to be disposed at least in part along the top panel, wherein at least one of the opposed end portions comprises an end hand hole aperture. The carton may further include an inner top panel, and the strap handle upon assembly of the carton may be situated between the outer top panel and the inner top panel, the outer top panel defining a handle access aperture.

1 . A carton comprising an outer top panel, a pair of side panels, a base panel, opposed end portions each formed from overlapping a plurality of flaps, each of said flaps being hingedly connected to a respective one of said panels, a strap handle attached inside the carton to be disposed at least in part along said top panel, wherein at least one of said opposed end portions comprises an end hand hole aperture.  
   
   
       2 . The carton of  claim 1 , further comprising an inner top panel, and wherein said strap handle upon assembly of the carton is situated between said outer top panel and said inner top panel, said outer top panel defining a handle access aperture.  
   
   
       3 . The carton of  claim 2 , wherein said strap handle comprises a middle gripping portion disposed at least partially adjacent said handle access aperture, and at each end, a strap handle end flap folded downward along an end portion of the assembled carton, wherein the downward fold is located proximate to a top end dihedral angle of the carton.  
   
   
       4 . The carton of  claim 3 , wherein said strap handle end flap is attached to at least one other end flap.  
   
   
       5 . The carton of  claim 4 , wherein the attachment of said strap handle end flap to said at least one other end flap leaves aid strap handle and its end flap able to move away from said top end dihedral angle of the carton.  
   
   
       6 . The carton of  claim 2  wherein said strap handle and said at least one inner top panel are formed by folding a single blank.  
   
   
       7 . The carton of  claim 6 , wherein said strap handle and said at least one inner top panel comprise at least one first alignment bevel for alignment during assembly to the remainder of the carton.  
   
   
       8 . The carton of  claim 7 , wherein said remainder of the carton comprises at least one second alignment bevel for alignment during assembly.  
   
   
       9 . The carton of  claim 2  wherein said strap handle comprises more than one ply of material.  
   
   
       10 . The carton of  claim 2  wherein said strap handle and said at least one inner top panel comprise at least one yielding tab for providing clearance for a bottle neck.  
   
   
       11 . The carton of  claim 2  wherein said strap handle and said at least one inner top panel comprise at least one aperture for providing clearance for a bottle neck.  
   
   
       12 . The carton of any of  claim 2  wherein said outer top panel comprises a handle access panel for access to said strap handle.  
   
   
       13 . The carton of any of  claim 2  where, upon detachment from said outer top panel, said handle access panel remains attached to said strap handle.  
   
   
       14 . The carton of  claim 2  wherein said inner top panel remains intact during use of said strap handle.  
   
   
       15 . The carton of  claim 2  wherein said inner top panel comprises score lines defining an aperture below said strap handle and useful as a means of opening said inner and outer top panels for access to the contents of the carton.  
   
   
       16 . The carton of  claim 2 , wherein the carton is constructed from paperboard.  
   
   
       17 . A method of assembling a carton comprising a first blank having at least one first alignment bevel, and a second blank having at least one second alignment bevel, wherein matching assembly of said blanks is facilitated by matching their respective alignment bevels, and wherein at least one of said blanks comprises an end hand hole aperture.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein at least one of said alignment bevels is provided in an unfolded blank.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein at least one of said alignment bevels is provided in a folded blank.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein matching assembly of said blanks is accomplished using at least one of visual recognition, video recognition, an alignment jig, an alignment fixture, or an alignment tool.  
   
   
       21 . A blank arrangement comprising a first and second separate blanks secured together in a single unit wherein the first blank comprises an outer primary panel, a pair of outer end flaps hingedly connected to opposite end edges of the outer primary panel and a first handle means, wherein the second blank comprises an inner primary panel, a pair of inner end flaps hingedly connected to opposite end edges of the inner primary panel and a second handle means, and wherein at least one of the first end flaps has a pair of divergently extending first beveled edges disposed in general alignment with a pair of divergently extending second beveled edges of one of the second end flaps, wherein at least one of said first and second blanks comprises an end hand hole aperture.  
   
   
       22 . A carton comprising an outer top panel, a pair of side panels, a base panel, opposed end portions each formed from overlapping a plurality of flaps, each of said flaps being hingedly connected to a respective one of said panels, a strap handle attached inside the carton, and at least one inner top panel, wherein at least one of said opposed end portions comprises an end hand hole aperture, wherein said strap handle upon assembly of the carton is situated between said outer top panel and said inner top panel, and wherein said strap handle comprises a middle gripping portion, and at each end, a strap handle end flap folded downward along an end portion of the assembled carton, wherein the downward fold is located proximate to a top end dihedral angle of the carton.