Carton with deflectable carry top

Abstract

A top panel ( 110 ), a pair of side panels ( 112, 114 ) attached to the top panel ( 110 ) and base panels ( 120, 122 ) form a tubular open-ended carton ( 700 ). End flaps ( 128, 130 ) extend from the top panel ( 110 ) at the open ends of the carton ( 700 ) and are provided with finger receiving areas ( 108 ) for grasping by a user. The end flaps ( 128, 130 ) are attached to the top panel ( 110 ) and are deflectable from an extended position to an interior position when grasped by a user. Relief slits ( 144 ), fold lines, and score lines may be provided at predetermined locations to allow the end panels ( 128, 130 ) to deflect inward and the top panel ( 110 ) to deflect upward when the carton ( 700 ) is grasped by a user, thereby providing a convenient means to carry the carton ( 700 ) which also provides means for a tightening the carton ( 700 ) about the articles ( 810 ).

1 . A carton, comprising: 
 a top panel;    a first side panel hingedly connected to said top panel;    a second side panel opposed to said first side panel and hingedly connected to said top panel;    a base panel hingedly connected to said first and second side panels;    wherein said top panel, said first and second side panels, and said base panel define a tubular structure having an open end; and    an end flap hingedly connected to said top panel by a connecting arrangement and extending downwardly from said top panel to at least partially close said open end, said connecting arrangement comprising: 
 first and second horizontally spaced fold lines disposed at a first distance from a lower edge of said end flap; and  
 a third fold line disposed between said first and second fold lines, at a second distance from said lower edge of said end flap, the second distance being greater than the first distance.  
   
   
   
       2 . The carton of  claim 1 , wherein said first and second fold lines extend respectively from said first and second side panels toward each other.  
   
   
       3 . The carton of  claim 1 , wherein said first and second fold lines are horizontally aligned with each other, and said third line is disposed parallel to said first and second fold lines.  
   
   
       4 . The carton of  claim 1 , wherein said third fold line is disposed at a horizontal distance from each of said first and second fold lines.  
   
   
       5 . The carton of  claim 4 , wherein said connecting arrangement further comprising a plurality of relief slits, at least two of said relief slits extend respectively from said first and second fold lines and terminate at the third fold line.  
   
   
       6 . A carton, comprising: 
 a top panel;    a first side panel hingedly connected to said top panel;    a second side panel opposed to said first side panel and hingedly connected to said top panel;    a base closure structure hingedly connected to said first and second side panels;    wherein said top panel, said first and second side panels, and said base panel define a tubular structure having at least one open end; and    an end flap extending partially over each said at least one open end, said end flap being defined at least in part by: 
 first and second fold lines hingedly connecting said end flap to said top panel, each fold line being disposed at a first distance from the outermost edge of the end flap;  
 a plurality of relief slits, at least two of which extend from respective first and second fold lines; and  
   at least one third fold line hingedly connecting said end flap to said top panel and extending between the relief slits, the third fold line being disposed at a second distance from the outermost edge of the end flap, the second distance being greater than the first distance; and 
 at least one finger receiving area for receiving a finger of a user, said finger receiving area being disposed between the relief slits.  
   
   
   
       7 . The carton of  claim 6 , wherein the end flap further comprises at least one score line provided on a surface of said end flap such that said end flap deflects inward when the carton is grasped by a user at said finger receiving area.  
   
   
       8 . The carton of  claim 6 , wherein said end flap is inwardly displaceable to provide a handle by which the carton is carried.  
   
   
       9 . The carton of  claim 6 , further comprising: 
 a first side end panel hingedly connected to said first side panel, and hingedly interconnected with said end flap via first top web; and    a second side end panel hingedly connected to said second side panel, and hingedly interconnected with said end flap via a second top web;    wherein each of said at least one first top gusset panel and said at least one second top gusset panel extends at least partially over said at least one open end.    
   
   
       10 . The carton of  claim 9 , further comprising a first bottom web and a second bottom web extending at least partially over said at least one open end and hingedly interconnecting said base panel structure with said first side end panel and second side end panel, respectively.  
   
   
       11 . The carton of  claim 10 , wherein any of said first and second top webs and said first and second bottom webs comprises at least one gusset panel.  
   
   
       12 . The carton of  claim 9 , wherein said first side end panel and said second side end panel are folded inwardly so as to be substantially in face contacting arrangement with said first side panel and second side panel, respectively.  
   
   
       13 . A package, comprising: 
 a group of articles; and    a tubular carton having at least one open end enclosing the group of articles, the tubular carton comprising: 
 a top wall, side walls, a bottom wall; and  
 an end flap being hingedly connected to a top wall of said tubular carton and extending at least partially over said at least one open end;  
   wherein said end flap is displaceable into a receiving space between the upper portion of articles in said group of articles, thereby forming a handle.    
   
   
       14 . The package of  claim 13 , wherein said end flap is displaceable into said receiving space so as to tighten said carton about said articles.  
   
   
       15 . The package of  claim 13 , wherein said end flap is hingedly connected along at least one fold line segment.  
   
   
       16 . The package of  claim 13 , wherein said end flap is hingedly connected along a plurality of fold line segments, and at least two of said fold line segments are offset from one another.  
   
   
       17 . The package of  claim 15 , wherein said end flap is hingedly connected along a plurality of fold line segments, and said fold line segments are separated by slits.  
   
   
       18 . The package of  claim 17 , wherein each of said slits receives the upper portion of one of said group of articles.  
   
   
       19 . The package of  claim 13 , said tubular carton further comprising at least one web which extends over said at least one open end, said web for supporting the bottom portion of said articles.  
   
   
       20 . The package of  claim 19 , further comprising a side end panel hingedly connected to one of said side walls, wherein said web interconnects said side end panel and said end flap.