Carton and carton blank and a handle structure therefore

Abstract

A carton ( 90 ) comprises a substantially tubular structure including a top wall ( 16 ) and first and second side walls ( 14, 18 ) hingedly connected respectively to opposed edges of the top wall. The carton comprises a handle structure (H 1 ) formed in the top wall ( 16 ) and in at least one of the first and second side walls ( 14, 18 ). The handle structure (H 1 ) includes a first handle flap hinged to the top wall ( 16 ) and to the at least one of the first and second side walls ( 14, 18 ) by a hinged connection ( 31 A). The first handle flap comprises a first main portion ( 30 A) formed from part of the top wall ( 16 ); and a first end portion ( 32 A/ 46 A) formed at least in part by a part of the at least one of the first and second side walls ( 14, 18 ).

1 . A carton comprising: a top wall, a first side wall hingedly connected to the top wall, and a handle structure formed in the top wall and in the first side wall, the handle structure comprising:
 a first handle flap hinged to the top wall and to the first side wall by a first hinged connection, the first handle flap comprising:
 a first end portion formed at least in part in the first side wall; 
 a first intermediate portion; and 
 a first main portion formed from part of the top wall and being hingedly connected to the first end portion by the first intermediate portion; 
   and a first cutaway struck at least in part from the first handle flap and disposed adjacent to the first intermediate portion.   
     
     
         2 . A carton according to  claim 1  wherein the first end portion is formed in part in the top wall. 
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . A carton according to  claim 1  wherein the first cutaway is struck at least in part from the top wall. 
     
     
         6 . A carton according to  claim 5  wherein the first cutaway is struck at least in part from the first side wall. 
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . A carton according to  claim 1  wherein the carton further comprises a second side wall connected to an opposite edge of the top wall and wherein the first handle flap comprises:
 a second end portion formed at least in part in the second side wall; and 
 a second intermediate portion; 
 the first main portion being hingedly connected to the second end portion by the second intermediate portion; 
 the handle structure further comprising a second cutaway struck at least in part from the first handle flap and disposed adjacent to the second intermediate portion. 
 
     
     
         10 . A carton according to  claim 9  wherein the handle structure comprises a third cutaway that is struck, at least in part, from the first main portion and that couples the first cutaway to the second cutaway. 
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . A carton according to  claim 1  wherein the first cutaway extends from a free edge of the first handle flap toward the first hinged connection. 
     
     
         13 . A carton according to  claim 1  comprising at least one article disposed therein, and wherein the first end portion engages with a portion of a first end of the at least one article when the handle structure is deployed. 
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . A carton according to  claim 1  wherein the handle structure includes a second handle flap hinged by a second hinged connection to the top wall and to the first side wall in opposition to the first handle flap, the second handle flap comprising:
 a third end portion formed at least in part in the first side wall; 
 a third intermediate portion; 
 a second main portion formed from part of the top wall and being hingedly connected to the third end portion by the third intermediate portion; 
 a fourth end portion formed at least in part in the second side wall; and 
 a fourth intermediate portion; 
 the second main portion being hingedly connected to the fourth end portion by the fourth intermediate portion; 
 the handle structure further comprising:
 a third cutaway struck at least in part from the second handle flap and disposed adjacent to the third intermediate portion; and 
 a fourth cutaway struck at least in part from the second handle flap and disposed adjacent to the fourth intermediate portion. 
 
 
     
     
         16 . A carton according to  claim 15  wherein the first and third cutaway form a first aperture defined in the top wall; and wherein the second and fourth cutaway form a second aperture defined in the top wall. 
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . A carton according to  claim 16  wherein the top wall further comprises a feature selected from the group comprising: a slot, a weakened line of separation, a frangible line and a cut line, which feature couples the first aperture to the second aperture. 
     
     
         19 . A carton according to  claim 18  wherein the feature that couples the first aperture to the second aperture extends into the first and/or second side walls and alongside the first and/or second end portions. 
     
     
         20 . A carton according to  claim 1  wherein the first handle flap is hinged to the top wall by a first curved fold line. 
     
     
         21 . A carton according to  claim 20  wherein the first handle flap is hinged to the top wall by a second curved fold line wherein the second curved fold line is curved in opposition to the first curved fold line, the first and second curved folds lines being in touching contact at portions thereof and diverging from each other at first ends thereof. 
     
     
         22 . A carton according to  claim 21  wherein the first intermediate portion is defined, at least in part by a portion of the top wall disposed between the first and second curved fold lines. 
     
     
         23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . A carton according to  claim 1  wherein the first main portion comprises a fold line extending thereacross, from the first hinged connection to an opposing edge thereof, so as to define in part a web panel disposed adjacent to the first intermediate portion. 
     
     
         26 . A carton according to  claim 1  wherein the first intermediate portion is triangular, three-sided and/or trapezoidal in shape. 
     
     
         27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . A carton according to  claim 1  comprising a plurality of walls forming a tubular structure including a top wall, first side wall, second side wall and a base wall. 
     
     
         29 . A handle structure for a carton, the handle structure being formed in a first wall and in a second wall hingedly connected thereto, the handle structure including:
 a first handle flap hinged to the first wall and to the second wall by a hinged connection;   the handle flap comprising:
 a main portion formed from a part of the first wall; and 
 a first end portion formed at least in part from a part of the second wall; 
 the main portion being hingedly connected to the first end portion by an intermediate portion; 
   a recess struck at least in part from the first handle flap and disposed adjacent to the first intermediate portion.   
     
     
         30 . A blank comprising a plurality of panels for forming a carton, the plurality of panels comprising: a top panel and a first side panel;
 the blank comprising a handle structure formed in the top panel and in the first side panel,   the handle structure including a handle flap hinged to the top panel and the first side panel by a first hinged connection;   the handle flap comprising:
 a first end portion formed at least in part from the first side panel; 
 a first intermediate portion; and 
 a first main portion formed from a part of the top panel and being hingedly connected to the first end portion by the first intermediate portion; 
   the handle structure comprising a first cutaway struck at least in part from the handle flap and disposed adjacent to the first intermediate portion.   
     
     
         31 . (canceled) 
     
     
         32 . (canceled) 
     
     
         33 . (canceled)