Carton with reinforced handle openings

Abstract

A carton, having reinforced handle openings which define handles, includes a tubular structure that is formed from multiple walls. An edge flap connects two of the walls. The carton also includes end closures at each open end of the tubular structure. The end closures each include end flaps that have features that define the handles. The end closures also include edge flap reinforcing panels that are hingedly connected to the edge flap and further define the handle. Specifically, a reinforcing edge of the edge flap reinforcing panel is disposed in reinforcing proximity to a handle opening so as to reinforce at least a weight bearing edge of the handle opening to define a handle with a multi-ply thick weight bearing edge.

1 . A carton, comprising:
 a tubular structure comprising multiple walls;   an edge flap connecting two of said walls; and   at least one end closure that comprises:
 a handle opening; and 
 an edge flap reinforcing panel being hingedly connected to said edge flap; 
   wherein a reinforcing edge of said edge flap reinforcing panel is disposed in reinforcing proximity to said handle opening so as to reinforce at least a weight bearing edge of said handle opening.   
   
   
       2 . The carton of  claim 1 , wherein said edge flap reinforcing panel includes a cutout with a reinforcing edge that is disposed in reinforcing proximity to said handle opening so as to reinforce at least the weight bearing edge of said handle opening. 
   
   
       3 . The carton of  claim 1 , wherein said edge flap reinforcing panel includes an aperture with an edge that is disposed in reinforcing proximity to said handle opening so as to reinforce at least the weight bearing edge of said handle opening. 
   
   
       4 . The carton of  claim 1 , said multiple walls of said tubular structure comprising:
 a top wall;   a bottom wall; and   first and second side walls.   
   
   
       5 . The carton of  claim 4 , said at least one end closure further comprising:
 a top end flap hingedly connected to said top wall, said top end flap including said handle opening.   
   
   
       6 . The carton of  claim 4 , said at least one end closure further comprising:
 a side end flap hingedly connected to each of the first and second side walls, each side end flap comprising a cutout;   wherein end edges of said side end flaps are adjacent to one another such that said cutouts are aligned to define the handle opening of said at least one end closure structure.   
   
   
       7 . The carton of  claim 5 , said at least one end closure further comprising a side end flap hingedly connected to each of the first and second side walls, each side end flap comprising a cutout having dimensions complementary to the dimensions of at least part of said handle opening; and
 wherein said top end flap is foldable to at least partially overlie said side end flaps so that said handle opening in said top end flap is in registry with said cutouts in said first and second side end flaps.   
   
   
       8 . The carton of  claim 5 , wherein at least one of said side end flaps comprises a side flap reinforcing panel having a reinforcing edge, said side flap reinforcing panel being foldable to place said reinforcing edge in reinforcing proximity to said cutout of said at least one said side end flap. 
   
   
       9 . The carton of  claim 8 , wherein said edge flap reinforcing panel and said side flap reinforcing panel each provide a portion of a single layer of reinforcement to at least said weight bearing edge of said handle opening. 
   
   
       10 . The carton of  claim 7 , wherein said at least one end closure further comprises a bottom end flap that is hingedly connected to said bottom wall, said bottom end flap at least partially overlying said first and second side end flaps. 
   
   
       11 . The carton of  claim 7 , wherein end edges of said side end flaps are adjacent to one another such that said cutouts are aligned to approximate an aperture that is disposed in registry with said handle opening of said top end flap. 
   
   
       12 . The carton of  claim 1 , wherein said handle opening is defined by an endless edge. 
   
   
       13 . The carton of  claim 8 , wherein each said side flap reinforcing panel is hingedly connected to an end edge of one of said side end flaps. 
   
   
       14 . The carton of  claim 7 , wherein said end edges of said side end flaps are free end edges along which no carton parts are hingedly connected. 
   
   
       15 . The carton of  claim 8 , wherein said side flap reinforcing panels are hingedly connected to said side end flaps along upper edges of said side end flaps. 
   
   
       16 . A blank for forming a carton, comprising:
 a plurality of hingedly connected primary panels for forming the walls of a tubular structure;   an edge flap hingedly connected to an endmost one of said primary panels, said edge flap for connecting the endmost primary panels to form said tubular structure;   at least one edge flap reinforcing panel hingedly connected to an end edge of said edge flap; and   a plurality of end flaps for forming an end closure at one end of said carton, each of said plurality of end flaps being hingedly connected to the corresponding end edge of one of said primary panels, said end flaps for forming an end closure, wherein at least one of said plurality of end flaps includes a feature for defining a handle opening disposed through said end closure;   wherein a reinforcing edge of said edge flap reinforcing panel is positioned and dimensioned for being disposed in reinforcing proximity to said handle opening so as to reinforce at least a weight bearing edge of said handle opening when said end closure is formed.   
   
   
       17 . The blank of  claim 16 , wherein one of said end flaps includes an endless edged aperture for defining said handle opening. 
   
   
       18 . The blank of  claim 16 , wherein at least two of said plurality of end flaps includes a complementary cutout for defining said handle opening. 
   
   
       19 . The blank of  claim 16 , wherein said edge flap reinforcing panel includes a cutout for reinforcing at least a weight bearing edge of said handle opening. 
   
   
       20 . The blank of  claim 16 , wherein said edge flap reinforcing panel includes an endless edged aperture for reinforcing at least a weight bearing edge of said handle opening.