Patent ID: 7743970

Claim:
A carton, comprising: a tubular structure comprising a top wall, a bottom wall, a first side wall, and a second side wall; and an end closure structure, comprising: a top end flap hingedly connected to the top wall, the top end flap comprising a handle opening; a first side end flap and a second side end flap hingedly connected to the first side wall and the second side wall, respectively, each side end flap comprising a cutout having dimensions complementary to the dimensions of at least part of the handle opening, wherein the top end flap is folded to at least partially overlie the first and second side end flaps so that the handle opening is in registry with the cutouts, the each side end flap having an upper edge disposed substantially parallel to the top wall; and a first reinforcing panel and a second reinforcing panel hingedly connected to and along the upper edge of the first side end flap and to and along the upper edge of the second side end flap, respectively, each reinforcing panel is folded and disposed in face contacting arrangement with a respective said side end flap to place a reinforcing edge in reinforcing proximity to a respective said cutout.