Patent ID: 8783550

Claim:
A combination for forming a carton for carrying a plurality of containers, the combination comprising: (a) a carton blank comprising (1) a top panel having a first side edge, a second side edge, and end edges, a first side panel and a second side panel each having a first side edge, a second side edge, and end edges, the first side edge of the first side panel being connected at the first side edge of the top panel, the first side edge of the second side panel being connected at the second side edge of the top panel, and a bottom panel connected to the second side edge of the second side panel; (2) top end flaps including a first top end flap and a second top end flap, the first top end flap being connected to one of the end edges of the top panel along a first top end fold line; (3) a handle aperture through at least one of said top end flaps; and (4) side panel end flaps, including a first side panel end flap connected to one of the end edges of the first side panel and a second side panel end flap connected to one of the end edges of the second side panel, the first side panel end flap and the second side panel end flap each having a side panel end flap aperture that corresponds to said handle aperture and positioned to be in substantial alignment with said handle aperture when the carton is formed from the blank; (5) a finger flap located in the top panel; and (b) an insert, separate from said blank, which has at least one insert aperture and is securable to the first top end flap, the second top end flap, and the top panel in such a position that, when the carton is formed from said blank, (1) the insert aperture will be in sufficient alignment with the handle aperture and the side panel end flap apertures (i) to reinforce the handle aperture, and (ii) to allow a person's hand to be extended through the handle aperture, the side panel end flap aperture, and the insert aperture, (2) the insert does not cover any part of at least one of the first side panel or the second side panel, and, (3) the insert is positioned between the first top end flap and the first side panel end flap such that the insert, the first top end flap, and the first side panel end flap forms three layers between the first top end fold line and the handle aperture; wherein the insert includes a finger aperture located to be sufficiently aligned with the finger flap in the top panel to permit the finger flap to be pushed into the finger aperture.