Carton With Reinforced Handle

Abstract

A carton for containing a plurality of articles. The carton has panels that extend at least partially around an interior of the carton. The panels comprise a top panel, a bottom panel, a first side panel, and a second side panel. At least two end flaps are respectively foldably attached to respective panels of the plurality of panels, wherein the end flaps are overlapped with respect to one another and thereby at least partially form a closed end of the carton. The carton includes a handle in the closed end of the carton for grasping and carrying the carton. At least one end flap of the at least two end flaps comprises a main panel for closing the closed end of the carton and an extension panel foldably attached to the main panel. The extension panel is positioned above the handle to reinforce the carton.

1 . A carton for containing a plurality of articles, the carton comprising:
 a plurality of panels that extends at least partially around an interior of the carton, the plurality of panels comprises a top panel, a bottom panel, a first side panel, and a second side panel;   at least three first end flaps respectively foldably attached to respective panels of the plurality of panels, the at least three first end flaps cooperate to close a first end of the carton, the at least three first end flaps comprising a first side end flap foldably connected to the first side panel, a second side end flap foldably connected to the second side panel, and a top end flap foldably connected to the top panel;   at least two second end flaps respectively foldably attached to respective panels of the plurality of panels, wherein the at least two second end flaps cooperate to close second end of the carton; and   a handle in the first end of the carton for grasping and carrying the carton,   each of the first side end flap and the second side end flap respectively comprises a main panel closing the interior of the carton at the first end of the carton and an extension panel foldably attached to the main panel, the extension panel being positioned above the handle and being downwardly folded upon contact with the top end flap upon closing the first end, the extension panel being in face-to-face contact with the top end flap and the main panel to reinforce the handle, and   a portion of the main panel, the extension panel, and a portion of the top end flap forming three plies of material located above the handle to reinforce the handle.   
     
     
         2 . The carton of  claim 1  wherein for each of the first side end flap and the second side end flap, a respective extension panel is in face-to-face contact with an exterior surface of the main panel and is in face-to-face contact with an interior surface of the top end flap. 
     
     
         3 . The carton of  claim 1 , wherein the top end flap at least partially overlaps the main panel of each of the at least two side end flaps. 
     
     
         4 . The carton of  claim 1  wherein the handle comprises a handle cutout in each of the first side end flap and the second side end flap. 
     
     
         5 . The carton of  claim 4  wherein the handle comprises a handle flap foldably attached to the top end flap for forming a handle opening aligned with the handle cutouts. 
     
     
         6 . The carton of  claim 5  wherein the handle flap is upwardly folded and in face-to-face contact with an interior surface of each respective main panel to form a fourth ply of material located above the handle to reinforce the handle. 
     
     
         7 . The carton of  claim 4  wherein the extension panel of each of the first side end flap and the second side end flap extends from an upper portion of a respective handle cutout to a respective fold line connecting the extension panel to the main panel. 
     
     
         8 . The carton of  claim 4  wherein the extension panel of each of the first side end flap and the second side end flap is in face-to-face contact with an exterior surface of a respective main panel above a respective handle cutout of the first side end flap and the second side end flap. 
     
     
         9 . The carton of  claim 1  wherein for each of the at least two side end flaps the extension panel is secured to the main panel. 
     
     
         10 . The carton of  claim 1  further comprising a dispenser having a dispenser panel that is at least partially defined by a tear line extending in at least a portion of at least the top panel, the first side panel, the second side panel, and the at least two second end flaps. 
     
     
         11 . The carton of  claim 1  in combination with a plurality of articles, the plurality of articles comprising bottles that are arranged in an upright position in the carton. 
     
     
         12 . A blank for forming a carton for containing a plurality of articles, the blank comprising:
 a plurality of panels comprising a top panel, a bottom panel, a first side panel, and a second side panel;   at least three first end flaps respectively foldably attached to respective panels of the plurality of panels, the at least three first end flaps comprising a first side end flap foldably connected to the first side panel, a second side end flap foldably connected to the second side panel, and a top end flap foldably connected to the top panel, the at least three first end flaps are located at a first end of the blank and are for being overlapped with respect to one another to close a first end of the carton formed from the blank;   at least two second end flaps respectively foldably attached to respective panels of the plurality of panels, the at least two second end flaps are located at a second end of the blank and are for being overlapped with respect to one another to close a second end of the carton formed from the blank;   handle features in the at least three first end flaps, wherein the handle features are for cooperating to form a handle in the first end of the carton formed from the blank,   each of the first side end flap and the second side end flap respectively comprises a main panel for closing the first end of the carton erected from the blank and an extension panel foldably attached to the main panel, the extension panel for being positioned above the handle and being downwardly folded upon contact with the top end flap upon closing the first end of the carton formed from the blank, in the carton formed from the blank, the extension panel is in face-to-face contact with the top end flap and the main panel to reinforce the handle, with a portion of the main panel, the extension panel, and a portion of the top end flap forming three plies of material located above the handle to reinforce the handle.   
     
     
         13 . The blank of  claim 12  wherein for each of the at least two side end flaps the extension panel is discontiguous with a respective handle feature in the main panel that is for at least partially defining the handle. 
     
     
         14 . The blank of  claim 12  wherein the handle features comprise a handle cutout in each of the first side end flap and the second side end flap. 
     
     
         15 . The blank of  claim 14  wherein the handle features comprise a handle flap foldably attached to the top end flap for forming a handle opening aligned with the handle cutouts. 
     
     
         16 . The blank of  claim 15  wherein the handle flap is for being upwardly folded and in face-to-face contact with an interior surface of each respective main panel to form a fourth ply of material located above the handle to reinforce the handle in the carton formed from the blank. 
     
     
         17 . The blank of  claim 12  wherein the extension panel of each of the first side end flap and the second side end flap comprises a free edge and the extension panel having a width defined by a first distance between the free edge to a fold line connecting the extension panel to the corresponding main panel, a portion of the main panel above a respective handle cutout having a width defined by a second distance between a respective handle cutout and a respective fold line, the second distance being approximately equal to the first distance. 
     
     
         18 . The blank of  claim 12  further comprising dispenser features comprising a dispenser panel that is at least partially defined by a tear line extending in at least a portion of at least the top panel, the first side panel, the second side panel, and the at least two second end flaps.