Carton and associated carton blank and manufacturing method

Abstract

A carton for packaging product includes a bottom wall having a plurality of bottom wall panels. The carton further includes a plurality of side walls connected to the bottom wall, a first handle formed by at least a portion of the plurality of side walls, and a second handle formed by at least a portion of the plurality of side walls. The carton further includes a first support structure formed by at least a portion of the plurality of side walls and a second support structure formed by a least a portion of the plurality of side walls. A method includes providing a carton blank comprising a plurality of panels and manipulating the carton blank such that the plurality of panels define a bottom wall, a plurality of side walls, a first support structure, a second support structure, a first handle of the carton, and a second handle of the carton.

1 . A carton for packaging product, the carton comprising:
 a bottom wall;   a plurality of side walls connected to the bottom wall;   a first handle formed by at least a portion of the plurality of side walls;   a second handle formed by at least a portion of the plurality of side walls;   a first support structure formed by at least a portion of the plurality of side walls; and   a second support structure formed by a least a portion of the plurality of side walls.   
     
     
         2 . The carton of  claim 1  wherein the first support structure defines a portion of the first handle and a portion of the second handle. 
     
     
         3 . The carton of  claim 1  wherein the second support structure defines a portion of the first handle and a portion of the second handle. 
     
     
         4 . The carton of  claim 1  wherein the first handle comprises a planar surface, a first handle first lower support panel, a first handle first upper support panel, a first handle second lower support panel, and a first handle second upper support panel. 
     
     
         5 . The carton of  claim 1  wherein the second handle comprises a planar surface, a second handle first lower support panel, a second handle first upper support panel, a second handle second lower support panel, and a second handle second upper support panel. 
     
     
         6 . The carton of  claim 1  wherein the bottom wall comprises a plurality of bottom wall panels. 
     
     
         7 . A carton blank assemblable into the carton of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         8 . The carton blank of  claim 7  comprising a sealing tab. 
     
     
         9 . A carton for packaging product, the carton comprising:
 a plurality of sidewall panels that define an internal volume, a first handle, a second handle, the plurality of panels comprising:
 a first side panel; 
 a second side panel foldably connected to the first side panel; 
 a third side panel foldably connected to the second side panel; 
 a fourth side panel foldably connected to the third side panel; 
 a first handle panel foldably connected to the first side panel; 
 a second handle panel foldably connected to the third side panel; 
 a first support structure foldably connected to the second side panel; and 
 a second support structure foldably connected to the fourth side panel. 
   
     
     
         10 . The carton of  claim 9  wherein the first handle and the second handle overlap at least a portion of the first support structure and at least a portion of the second support structure. 
     
     
         11 . The carton of  claim 9  wherein the carton is erected from a carton blank of stock material. 
     
     
         12 . The carton of  claim 11  wherein the stock material comprises paperboard. 
     
     
         13 . The carton of  claim 12  wherein the stock material comprises cardboard. 
     
     
         14 . The carton of  claim 9  further comprising an interior surface, wherein the interior surface comprises a surface coating. 
     
     
         15 . The carton of  claim 9  further comprising an exterior surface, wherein the exterior surface comprises a surface coating. 
     
     
         16 . A carton blank assemblable into the carton of  claim 9 . 
     
     
         17 . A carton blank assemblable into a carton, the carton blank comprising:
 a first side panel;   a second side panel foldably connected to the first side panel;   a third side panel foldably connected to the second side panel;   a fourth side panel foldably connected to the third side panel;   a first handle panel foldably connected to the first side panel;   a second handle panel foldably connected to the third side panel;   a first support structure; and   a second support structure.   
     
     
         18 . The carton blank of  claim 17  wherein, when the carton is formed from the carton blank:
 the first handle and the second handle overlap at least a portion of the first support structure; 
 and the first handle and the second handle overlap at least a portion of the second support structure. 
 
     
     
         19 . The carton blank of  claim 17  comprising paperboard. 
     
     
         20 . The carton blank of  claim 17  comprising cardboard. 
     
     
         21 . (canceled)