Patent ID: 8191761

Claim:
A carton for holding containers, wherein the carton is convertible from a first configuration, in which the carton forms a substantially parallelepipedal structure, to a second configuration, in which the carton forms an open-top structure, and wherein: when the carton is in the first configuration, the carton comprises a first side panel, a second side panel opposite the first side panel, a bottom panel, a top panel comprising a first outer top panel section foldably connected to the first side panel, a second outer top panel section foldably connected to the second side panel, and at least one central top panel section extending between and detachably connected to the first outer top panel section and the second outer top panel section, a first top attachment panel foldably connected to the at least one central top panel section, a second top attachment panel foldably connected to the at least one central top panel section, a first end panel comprising: a first side end flap foldably connected to the first side panel, a second side end flap foldably connected to the second side panel, and a first upper end closure flap foldably connected to the top panel, the first upper end closure flap comprising: a first top attachment flap foldably connected to the first top attachment panel and attached to the first and second side end flaps, and a second top attachment flap foldably connected to the second top attachment panel and attached to the first and second side end flaps, wherein the first and second top attachment flaps are attached to opposing sides of the first and second side end flaps, so that the first and second side end flaps are positioned between the first and second top attachment flaps, and a second end panel opposite the first end panel; and when the carton is in the second configuration the at least one central top panel section is detached from the first outer top panel section and the second outer top panel section and forms a handle configured for carrying the carton, the first outer top panel section and the second outer top panel section are folded outwardly to extend upwardly from the first side panel and the second side panel, respectively, thereby forming an open top of the carton, and the handle extends across the open top.