Abstract:
According to the present invention, there is provided a paperboard carton having end wall handles. In further detail, the paperboard carton has a base panel, a top panel, two oppositely disposed side panels and two oppositely disposed end walls, each end wall comprising a portion of multiple thickness in which portion there is a handle opening.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to paperboard cartons with end wall handles. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to the present invention, there is provided a paperboard carton having a base panel, a top panel, two oppositely disposed side panels and two oppositely disposed end walls, each end wall comprising a portion of multiple thickness in which portion there is a handle opening. 
     Preferably each end wall comprises an upper portion which is hingedly connected to the top panel and which comprises said multiple thickness portion, and a lower portion which is hingedly connected to the base panel, the upper portion being adhesively secured to the lower portion to fully enclose the ends of the carton. In a preferred arrangement the upper portion of each end wall comprises a first panel hingedly connected to the top panel, a second panel hingedly connected to the first panel and adhesively secured with respect to the first panel. Normally, the hinge connection between the first and second panels of each end wall is substantially parallel to the hinge connection between the first panel and the top panel. 
     In further embodiments each end wall further comprises a third panel. Conveniently said third panel is hingedly connected to said second panel, the hinge connection being substantially perpendicular to the hinge connection between the first and second panels. In one arrangement said third panel is hingedly secured between the first and second panels. 
     It is a preferred feature that a pair of side end panels is hingedly connected to respective side panels at each end of the carton, said side end panels being folded inwardly of the upper and lower end wall portions. 
     Preferably the top, one side panel, base and the other side panel are hingedly connected in series by means of substantially parallel fold lines and also an adhesive flap is hingedly connected to the top panel opposite said one side panel for attachment to the other side panel. 
     With preferred embodiments lines of weakening are provided in the top panel to facilitate access to the contents of the carton and conveniently said lines of weakening extend into the side panels. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     An embodiment of the present invention will now be described in more detail. The description makes reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1 shows a blank for producing a carton according to the present invention, 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the assembled carton, 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the figures there is shown a paperboard blank  10  for producing a carton  11  containing a number of articles such as bottles or cans which are not shown. In the arrangement shown there would be a rectangular 6×4 array of bottles but any array of products could be accommodated with simple alterations to the dimensions and proportions of the blank  10 . 
     The blank  10  has a rectangular base panel  12  having at each opposite lengthwise end a lower end wall  13  which is hingedly connected by a fold  14  to the base panel  12 . Opposite the fold  14 , each lower end wall  13  has an adhesive application area  15  and a parallel crease  16  slightly closer to the fold  14 . When the carton is assembled, the crease  16  allows the blank to follow more closely the shape of the necks of the bottles contained in the carton. 
     At opposite side edges  17  of the base  12 , first and second side panels  18 ,  19  are hingedly connected. Each side panel  18 ,  19  has a side end panel  20  hingedly connected at each end. The first side panel  18  terminates at its edge opposite the base  12  and has a small opening area  21  defined by lines of weakening  22 . 
     The second side panel  19  also has a small opening area  21  defined by lines of weakening  22  but also has a top panel  23  hingedly connected to it along fold  24  which is substantially parallel to the side edges  17 . Opposite the fold  24  is an adhesive panel  25  hingedly connected to the top panel. Substantially parallel lines of weakening  26  extend across the top panel  23  and the adhesive panel  25  from the ends of the lines of weakening  22  in the second side panel  19 , at locations situated towards the lengthwise end edges  27  of the top panel. 
     At the end edges  27 , first upper end wall panels  28  are hingedly connected to the top panel  23 . Second upper end wall panels  29  are then hingedly connected by folds  30  which are parallel to end edges  27  and then third upper end wall panels  31  are hingedly connected by folds  32  which are perpendicular to the folds  30 . Handle holes  33  are formed in each of the upper end wall panels  28 ,  29 ,  30 . 
     Assembly of the carton  11  is simple and can be done around the articles or can be preformed as a sleeve with open ends prior to the insertion of the articles and closure of the end walls. Only one way of assembly will be described below, other ways of assembly being readily apparent to the skilled person. 
     The articles are placed on the base panel and the side panels  18 ,  19  are folded up with the side end panels  20  being folded inwardly so as to lie against the articles. The top panel  23  is folded over the tops of the articles and the adhesive panel  25 , to which adhesive has already been applied is secured to the inside surface of the first side panel  18  between the articles and the first side panel  18 . 
     The third upper end panels  31  are folded about folds  32  and adhered to the respective second upper end panels  29 . These combinations of panels  29 / 31  are then folded about folds  30  and adhered to the respective first upper end panels  28 . The lower end walls  13  are folded upwardly about the folds  14 , adhesive is applied to areas  15  and the upper panel combinations  28 ,  29 ,  31  are folded down on to the respective adhesive areas  15  thereby securing and enclosing the ends of the carton  11 . 
     The positioning of the holes  33  is such that the holes in each wall are aligned so that the carton can be carried in a similar manner as a crate. Also the lines of weakening  22 ,  26  in the top and side panels enables much of the top of the carton  11  to be removed which again is a feature normally associated with a crate. The multi-ply handle area combines strength with comfort. 
     It will be appreciated that more upper end wall panels could be hingedly connected depending on the required strength of the carton, or indeed one could be omitted thereby making the handle area double ply for smaller cartons. Also the configuration, size and precise shape of the panels as illustrated could be varied. However, the illustrated arrangement utilises space well so as to reduce wastage during manufacture of the blank  10 . Also, although a generally rectangular type carton has been illustrated the invention could be applied to cartons of a variety of known shapes. 
     While preferred embodiments of the invention have been disclosed in the foregoing specification, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that variations and modifications can be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.