Reinforced handle structure and carton

Abstract

A carton ( 90 ) has a two part handle structure (H). The two part handle structure includes: a first integrally formed part including two arcuate slots ( 40, 42 ) spaced by a gripping portion ( 50 ); and a second reinforcing part including a reinforcing member ( 60 ) attached to at least the gripping portion of the first integrally formed part of the handle. The reinforcing member is pre-cut such that the profile of the reinforcing member includes at least one curved section that is not aligned with a perimeter of at least one of said two arcuate slots. The reinforcing member is formed from material that is separate from the material from which the first integrally formed part of the handle is formed.

1 . A carton comprising a two part handle structure, the two part handle structure comprising: a first integrally formed part comprising two arcuate slots spaced by a gripping portion; and a second reinforcing part comprising a reinforcing member attached to at least the gripping portion of the first integrally formed part of the handle, the reinforcing member has a profile that includes at least one curved section that is not aligned with a perimeter of at least one of said two arcuate slots and the reinforcing member is formed from material that is separate from the material from which the first integrally formed part of the handle is formed. 
     
     
         2 . A carton according to  claim 1 , wherein the reinforcing member is formed from material that is different to the material from which the first integrally formed part of the handle is formed. 
     
     
         3 . A carton according to  claim 2 , wherein the reinforcing member is formed from a material having a higher tensile strength compared to the material from which the first integrally formed part of the handle is formed. 
     
     
         4 . A carton according to  claim 2 , wherein the reinforcing member is formed from a material having a higher shear resistance compared to the material from which the first integrally formed part of the handle is formed. 
     
     
         5 . A carton according to  claim 2 , wherein the reinforcing member is formed from biaxially oriented polypropylene and the carton and first integrally formed part of the handle is formed from paperboard. 
     
     
         6 . A carton according to  claim 2 , wherein the reinforcing member is formed from polyethylene terephthalate and the carton and first integrally formed part of the handle is formed from paperboard. 
     
     
         7 . A carton according to any one of  claim 1 , wherein the perimeter of the at least one of said two arcuate slots comprises a curved edge and a stress point is associated with said curved edge, and wherein the at least one curved section of the reinforcing member is spaced laterally and/or longitudinally from said curved edge. 
     
     
         8 . A carton according to  claim 7 , wherein the at least one curved section of the reinforcing member is spaced longitudinally from said curved edge by a distance (X) of between about 1 cm and about 1.4 cm. 
     
     
         9 . A carton according to any one of  claim 1 , wherein the perimeter of the at least one of said two arcuate slots comprises a curved edge and a stress point is associated with said curved edge, and wherein the at least one curved section of the reinforcing member has a radius of curvature that is greater than the radius of curvature of said curved edge. 
     
     
         10 . A carton according to any one of  claim 1 , wherein the reinforcing part comprises a reinforcing member having a pressure sensitive adhesive applied thereto and a removable backing sheet covering said pressure sensitive adhesive. 
     
     
         11 . A blank for forming a carton comprising a two part handle structure, the blank comprising a top panel and a series of other panels for forming the walls of the carton, the top panel comprising a first integrally formed part of the handle structure comprising two arcuate slots spaced by a gripping portion and having affixed thereto a second reinforcing part comprising a reinforcing member attached to at least the gripping portion of the first integrally formed part of the handle, the reinforcing member being pre-cut such that a profile of the reinforcing member includes at least one curved section that is not aligned with a perimeter of at least one of the arcuate slots, the reinforcing member being formed from material that is separate from the material from which the first integrally formed part of the handle is formed. 
     
     
         12 . A blank according to  claim 11  wherein the perimeter of the at least one of said two arcuate slots comprises a curved edge and a stress point is associated with the curved edge, and wherein the at least one curved section of the reinforcing member is spaced laterally and/or longitudinally from the curved edge. 
     
     
         13 . A blank according to  claim 12  wherein the at least one curved section of the reinforcing member is spaced longitudinally from said curved edge by a distance (X) of between about 1 cm and about 1.4 cm. 
     
     
         14 . A blank according to  claim 11  wherein the perimeter of the at least one of said two arcuate slots comprises a curved edge and a stress point is associated with said curved edge, and wherein the at least one curved section of the reinforcing member has a radius of curvature that is greater than the radius of curvature of said curved edge. 
     
     
         15 . A blank according to  claim 11 , wherein the reinforcing part comprises a reinforcing member having a pressure sensitive adhesive applied thereto and a removable backing sheet covering said pressure sensitive adhesive. 
     
     
         16 . A blank according to  claim 11  wherein the reinforcing member is formed from material that is different to the material from which the first integrally formed part of the handle is formed. 
     
     
         17 . A blank according to  claim 16  wherein the reinforcing member is formed from a material having a higher tensile strength compared to the material from which the first integrally formed part of the handle is formed. 
     
     
         18 . A blank according to  claim 16 , wherein the reinforcing member is formed from a material having a higher shear resistance compared to the material from which the first integrally formed part of the handle is formed.