Abstract:
Handle design for a beverage carton allows the handle feature to lie directly next to the underlying reinforced handle feature and provides tear resistance in that there is no single layer of board being carried by either the person stocking the product, or the consumer as they handle the package. This avoids any such tearing due to the placement of the reinforcing strip relative to the handle openings.

Description:
[0001]    This claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/498,093, filed Jun. 17, 2011 and hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates to cartons. More particularly, this invention relates to a carrying handle for a carton. 
         [0003]    In the marketing of soft drinks, beer, water and other beverages, it is well known to sell those retail consumer products in cans or containers which are grouped together in six packs, twelve packs, twenty-four packs or other arrangements. Particularly in the case of twelve and twenty-four can packs it is common to package the cans in cartons so as to make it easier to handle the product for the wholesaler and the retailer, as well as the retail consumer. 
         [0004]    There are any number of different types of can cartons known in the prior art. But one particular type that has found significant commercial success over the years is a so-called wraparound or sleeve style carton. In such a carton a number of cans, e.g., twelve or twenty-four, are wrapped in a paperboard box or carton comprised of top and bottom wall panels, side wall panels, and end flaps on each end. The end flaps at each end are sealed one to the other, thereby providing a closed or sealed package or carton for the cans. Now with the wraparound carton package so formed, it is desirable to provide a carrying handle so the retail consumer can carry the carton. There is any number of different carrying handles known in the wraparound carton art. One example is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,784,316, assigned to the assignee of this invention and hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. The overall purpose of such carton handles is to provide an easy to use handle that is structurally sound so the consumer can pick up and carry the carton simply through use of the handle structure. 
         [0005]    With the use of thinner, more lightweight paperboard to construct the carton and the packaging of a greater number of containers in the carton, the tendency for the handle or carton structure surrounding the handle to tear has increased. Even if the carton and handle remain functional and do not fail or rupture, the torn carton or handle is unsightly and a distraction for the consumer when considering to purchase the packaged containers. As such, various cartons utilize reinforced handle constructions to minimize the likelihood of such tears. Nevertheless, in some prior art designs, the carton or handle material may tear of fail in those areas that have not been reinforced while the reinforced structure maintains the functionality of the carton as a whole. As such the torn carton or handle remains unsightly and a deterrent for the consumer when considering a purchase of the packaged containers. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    Accordingly, a primary objective of this invention has been to provide a novel carrying handle for a carton and, particularly, for a wraparound type carton, where the handle&#39;s structural components are formed directly from the top panel of the carton. And with this type handle, it is one particular objective of this invention to provide an improved, reinforced carrying handle structure which maintains the structural integrity of the wraparound carton through the distribution chain until it is chosen by a retail consumer, which is very easy to render usable, and to use, by the retail consumer once the carton has been so chosen, and which does not adversely impact on the either the appearance or the structural integrity of the carton when the handle is used by the packager, retailer, or user. 
         [0007]    In accord with these objectives, the carrying handle for a carton of this invention is particularly adapted for use with a wraparound type carton in which cans, e.g., soft drink, water, beverage or beer cans, are sold. The handle in one embodiment is a racetrack handle configuration and includes a handle reinforcing strip defined in the carton&#39;s top panel which is in close proximity to and in some embodiments, immediately adjacent to, the handle openings such that use of the handle, even with larger packages with thinner paperboard construction, will not result in any tearing of the carton structure proximate to the handle or the reinforcing strip. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention itself will be better understood by reference to the following description of embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  is a plan view of a blank used to make a carton according to one embodiment of this invention; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a top perspective view of the top panel of a carton formed from the blank of  FIG. 1  showing the handle design; and 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the underside of the view in  FIG. 2  showing a reinforcing strip in proximity to the handle openings according to one aspect of this invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0012]    The carrying handle  10  of this invention is adapted for use with a wraparound carton  12  formed from a carton blank  14  ( FIGS. 1-3 ). The wraparound carton  12  may be filled with, for example, cans of soft drink, beer, water or another beverage or a non-beverage contents in the carton  12 . 
         [0013]    The wraparound carton blank  14  basically includes opposed side panels  16 ,  18 , a top composite panel  20  formed from two top panel flaps  20   a ,  20   b  and a bottom panel  22 , these panels all being foldably connected alongside fold lines  24 - 30 . Also, the carton  12  includes, on each end  32 ,  34 , overlapping end flaps  16   a ,  16   b ,  18   a ,  18   b  that hinge to end fold lines  36 ,  38  of the respective side panels  16 ,  18 . Each end flap cooperates with top and bottom dust panels  22   a ,  22   b ,  20 C,  20   d ,  20   e ,  20   f  that are hingedly connected to fold lines  36 ,  38 . The end flaps at each end  32 ,  34  of the wraparound carton  12  are glued or otherwise fastened together so that, in effect, the wraparound carton  12  provides a single closed package for the cans there within. 
         [0014]    The carrying handle  10  of this invention, with the carton in blank or non-erected configuration, is illustrated in  FIG. 1 . As there shown, the blank includes a U-shaped handle hole  40   a ,  40   b  defined in each top panel flap  20   a ,  20   b , respectively. Thus the handle holes  40   a ,  40   b  in combination have a size sufficient to permit a user&#39;s fingers to be received therein when a carton of containers, e.g., cans is being carried by the user. 
         [0015]    A racetrack handle  42  such as this handle extends longitudinally towards each end  32 ,  34  of the carton  12 . A dispenser  44  of this carton can be used for both cans and other types of cylindrical containers, including PET bottles having a stubby configuration. One of the unique features of the dispenser of this invention is that it provides easy access to the cans or bottles in the carton but yet does not greatly diminish the structural integrity of the carton. Any type of known dispenser can be employed with this invention. 
         [0016]    Carton  12  is designed to carry 24-12 ounce cans when packed. The carton is constructed in accordance with the teachings of  FIG. 1  with the racetrack handle. Handle  42  has been modified to include a reinforced handle feature including a handle reinforcing flap  46 , which is joined to top flap  20   b  via fold line  48 . The handle  42  affords tear resistance in that there is no single layer of board being carried by either the person stocking the product, or the consumer as they handle the package. Also, the handle  42  allows for an average person to insert 4 fingers versus 3 fingers into handle openings  40   a ,  40   b , helping to displace and spread the forces that may ultimately begin to rip the top  20  of the package. 
         [0017]    As shown in  FIGS. 2-3 , when the carton  12  is formed from the blank  14 , the top flaps  20   a ,  20   b  are glued together and the handle flap  46  is folded into position between the handle holes  40   a ,  40   b  on the underside of the top panel  20  ( FIG. 3 ). In one aspect of this invention, the outer longitudinal edges of each handle hole  40   a ,  40   b  are juxtaposed immediately adjacent to the handle reinforcing flap  46  as shown by arrows A in  FIG. 3 . In this manner, when the filled carton  12  is lifted by the handle  42 , the top panel  20  does not tear from the handle holes  40   a ,  40   b  due to the proximity of the handle reinforcing flap  46  at the locations of arrows A. Handle flaps  50   a ,  50   b  formed within each U-shaped handle hole  40   a ,  40   b , respectively, may be folded onto the handle reinforcing flap  46  when a user inserts his/her hand into the opening  40   a  or  40   b  to lift the carton  12 . 
         [0018]    The handle  42  is referred to as a “racetrack” design as it is oval in its die cut. The tear resistant handle  42  changes the area between the handle corner at arrows A and the underlying reinforcing flap  46 . On the known designs, there is about ¼″ area between the handle opening  40   a ,  40   b  and the reinforced flap  46  that allows the single layer of fibers in this area to begin to tear. The conventional handle may not completely fail yet the top of the carton looks less appealing to a consumer than a package with no rips. Trade audits show that tears appear on about 50% of conventional 24 can cartons in the trade. Also, it is notable that many cartons recently utilize downgraded board caliper on this package from 0.021″ to 0.020″. This may lead to tears with the conventional handle and the handle  42  of this invention is a solution to the tears. 
         [0019]    From the above disclosure of the general principles of this invention and the preceding detailed description of at least one embodiment, those skilled in the art will readily comprehend the various modifications to which this invention is susceptible. Therefore, I desire to be limited only by the scope of the following claims and equivalents thereof.