Carton and blank for making same

Claim 2

A carton comprising, a bottom wall, a pair of side walls adjoining opposite side edges of said bottom wall with each of said side walls having an edge remote from said bottom wall, a pair of extension flaps each adjoining and extending from an associated remote edge, said extension flaps being fastened together to define a rectangular top wall for said carton, and cut and score means in each of said pair of extension flaps defining an associated handle portion with the handle portions from only said pair of extension flaps being disposed against each other to define a handle for said carton, said score means in each extension flap including a pair of spaced score lines disposed in spaced relation substantially along a diagonal in opposite corners of said rectangular top wall to thereby define an integral hinge for an associated handle portion, said diagonal score lines in said corners providing a comparatively rigid attachment for said handle portions with said rigid attachment assuring said handle has optimum strength due to less likelihood of upward bowing of said top wall.

Claim 3

A carton as set forth in claim 1 in which each of said extension flaps has a peripheral edge defining the major portion of the peripheral edge of an associated handle portion.

Claim 4

A carton as set forth in claim 2 in which said peripheral edge comprises a central rectilinear portion arranged in spaced relation from and parallel to said spaced score lines.

Claim 5

A carton as set forth in claim 1 in which said cut means in each extension flap comprises a roughly U-shaped cut, said cut being defined by an elongated rectilinear bight adjoined at opposite ends by a pair of arms, said bight being spaced from and parallel to said central rectilinear portion and each of said arms terminating at an inner end of an associated score line.

Claim 6

A carton as set forth in claim 4 in which said peripheral edge of each of said extension flaps includes a pair of inclined edge portions adjoining opposite ends of said central rectilinear portion with each inclined edge portion intersecting a remote end of one of said pair of score lines of an associated flap portion.

Claim 7

A carton as set forth in claim 5 in which a part of one of said inclined edge portions of each handle portion is defined by a cut into its associated extension flap.

Claim 8

A carton comprising, a bottom wall, a pair of side walls adjoining opposite side edges of said bottom wall with each of said side walls having an edge remote from said bottom wall, a pair of extension flaps adjoining and extending from an associated remote edge, said extension flaps being fastened together to define a rectangular top wall for said carton, and cut and score means in each of said extension flaps defining an associated handle portion with the handle portions being disposed against each other to define a handle for said carton, said score means in each extension flap including a pair of spaced score lines disposed in spaced relation substantially along a diagonal in opposite corners of said rectangular top wall to thereby define an integral hinge for an associated handle portion, said diagonal score lines in said corners providing a comparatively rigid attachment for said handle portions with said rigid attachment assuring said handle has optimum strength due to less likelihood of upward bowing of said top wall, said cut means in each extension flap comprising a roughly U-shaped cut, said cut being defined by an elongated rectilinear bight adjoined at opposite ends by a pair of arms, said bight being spaced from and parallel to said central rectilinear portion and each of said arms terminating at an inner end of an associated score line, one of said extension flaps having a hinge line therein disposed between the rectilinear bight of its U-shaped cut and its central rectilinear outer edge and a pair of slits each extending between associated ends of said hinge line and said rectilinear bight, said slits and hinge line defining a hinged tab in one of said handle portions, said tab being adapted to be folded about its hinge line and around an inner edge of the handle portion of the other of said extension flaps, said tab providing a substantial surface enabling said carton to be lifted free of sharp edges.

Claim 9

A carton comprising, a bottom wall, a pair of side walls adjoining opposite side edges of said bottom wall with each of said side walls having an edge remote from said bottom wall, a pair of extension flaps adjoining and extending from an associated remote edge, said extension flaps being fastened together to define a rectangular top wall for said carton, and cut and score means in each of said extension flaps defining an associated handle portion with the handle portions being disposed against each other to define a handle for said carton, said score means in each extension flap including a pair of spaced score lines disposed in spaced relation substantially along a diagonal in opposite corners of said rectangular top wall to thereby define an integral hinge for an associated handle portion, said diagonal score lines in said corners providing a comparatively rigid attachment for said handle portions with said rigid attachment assuring said handle has optimum strength due to less likelihood of upward bowing of said top wall, said cut means in each extension flap comprising a roughly U-shaped cut, said cut being defined by an elongated rectilinear bight adjoined at opposite ends by a pair of arms, said bight being spaced from and parallel to said central rectilinear portion and each of said arms terminating at an inner end of an associated score line, one of said extension flaps having a hinge line therein disposed between the rectilinear bight of its U-shaped cut and its central rectilinear outer edge and a pair of slits each extending between associated ends of said hinge line and said rectilinear bight, said slits and hinge line defining a hinged tab in one of said handle portions, said tab being adapted to be folded about its hinge line and around an inner edge of the handle portion of the other of said extension flaps, said tab providing a substantial surface enabling said carton to be lifted free of sharp edges.

Claim 10

A carton as set forth in claim 7 and further comprising adhesive means bonding said handle portions together.

Claim 11

A carton as set forth in claim 7 and further comprising a pair of end walls each adjoining associated ends of said bottom wall, side walls, and top wall, said walls cooperating to define a carton having the general shape of a parallelepiped.

Claim 12

A carton as set forth in claim 9 in which each of said bottom and side walls has a pair of end flaps extending from opposite ends thereof and each of said extension flaps has an end flap extending from at least one end thereof with the end flaps at one end of said carton cooperating to define one of said pair of end walls and the end flaps at the other end of said carton cooperating to define the other of said pair of end walls.

Claim 13

A blank being suitably cut and scored to define a resulting carton upon assembly thereof, said blank comprising, a rectangular central portion adapted to define a bottom wall in said resulting carton, a pair of rectangular side portions adjoining said opposite side edges of said central portion and adapted to define a pair of side walls of said resulting carton, a pair of extension flaps each adjoining and extending from an associated remote edge, said extension flaps being adapted to be fastened together to define a rectangular top wall for said resulting carton, and cut and score means in each of said pair of extension flaps defining an associated handle portion with the handle portions from only said pair of extension flaps being disposed against each other in said resulting carton to define a handle therefor, said score means in each extension flap including a pair of spaced score lines disposed in spaced relation substantially along a diagonal in opposite corners of said rectangular top wall of said resulting carton to thereby define an integral hinge for an associated handle portion, said diagonal score lines in said corners providing a comparatively rigid attachment for said handle portions with said rigid attachment assuring said handle of said resulting carton has optimum strength due to less likelihood of upward bowing of said top wall of said resulting carton.

Claim 14

A blank being suitably cut and scored to define a resulting carton upon assembly thereof, said blank comprising, a rectangular central portion adapted to define a bottom wall in said resulting carton, a pair of rectangular side portions adjoining said opposite side edges of said central portion and adapted to define a pair of side walls of said resulting carton, a pair of extension flaps each adjoining and extending from an associated remote edge, said extension flaps being adapted to be fastened together to define a rectangular top wall for said resulting carton, and cut and score means in each of said pair of extension flaps defining an associated handle portion with the handle portions from only said pair of extension flaps being disposed against each other in said resulting carton to define a handle therefor, said score means in each extension flap including a pair of spaced score lines disposed in spaced relation substantially along a diagonal in opposite corners of said rectangular top wall of said resulting carton to thereby define an integral hinge for an associated handle portion, said diagonal score lines in said corners providing a comparatively rigid attachment for said handle portions with said rigid attachment assuring said handle of said resulting carton has optimum strength due to less likelihood of upward bowing of said top wall of said resulting carton.

Claim 15

A blank as set forth in claim 11 in which each of said extension flaps has a peripheral edge defining the major portion of the peripheral edge of an associated handle portion.

Claim 16

A blank as set forth in claim 12 in which said peripheral edge comprises a central rectilinear portion arranged in spaced relation from and parallel to said spaced score lines.

Claim 17

A blank as set forth in claim 11 in which said cut means in each extension flap comprises a roughly U-shaped cut, said cut being defined by an elongated rectilinear bight adjoined at opposite ends by a pair of arms, said bight being spaced from a parallel to said central rectilinear portion and each of said arms terminating at an inner end of an associated score line.

Claim 18

A blank as set forth in claim 14 in which said peripheral edge of each of said extension flaps includes a pair of inclined edge portions adjoining opposite ends of said central rectilinear portion with each inclined edge portion intersecting a remote end of one of said pair of score lines of an associated flap portion.

Claim 19

A blank as set forth in claim 15 in which a part of one of said inclined edge portions of each handle portion is defined by a cut into its associated extension flap.

Claim 20

A blank being suitably cut and scored to define a resulting carton upon assembly thereof, said blank comprising, a rectangular central portion adapted to define a bottom wall in said resulting carton, a pair of rectangular side portions adjoining said opposite side edges of said central portion and adapted to define a pair of side walls of said resulting carton, a pair of extension flaps each adjoining and extending from an associated remote edge, said extension flaps being adapted to be fastened together to define a rectangular top wall for said resulting carton, and cut and score means in each of said extension flaps defining an associated handle portion with the handle portions being disposed against each other in said resulting carton to define a handle therefor, said score means in each extension flap including a pair of spaced score lines disposed in spaced relation substantially along a diagonal in opposite corners of said rectangular top wall of said resulting carton to thereby define an integral hinge for an associated handle portion, said diagonal score lines in said corners providing a comparatively rigid attachment for said handle portions with said rigid attachment assuring said handle of said resulting carton has optimum strength due to less likelihood of upward bowing of said top wall of said resulting carton, said cut means in each extension flap comprising a roughly U-shaped cut, said cut being defined by an elongated rectilinear bight adjoined at opposite ends by a pair of arms, said bight being spaced from and parallel to said central rectilinear portion and each of said arms terminating at an inner end of an associated score line, one of said extension flaps having a hinge line therein disposed between the rectilinear bight of its U-shaped cut and its central rectilinear outer edge and a pair of slits each extending between associated ends of said hinge line and said rectilinear bight, said slits and hinge line defining a hinged tab in one of said handle portions, said tab being adapted to be folded about its hinge line and around an inner edge of the handle portion of the other of said extension flaps, said tab providing a substantial surface enabling said resulting carton to be lifted free of sharp edges.

Claim 21

A blank being suitably cut and scored to define a resulting carton upon assembly thereof, said blank comprising, a rectangular central portion adapted to define a bottom wall in said resulting carton, a pair of rectangular side portions adjoining said opposite side edges of said central portion and adapted to define a pair of side walls of said resulting carton, a pair of extension flaps each adjoining and extending from an associated remote edge, said extension flaps being adapted to be fastened together to define a rectangular top wall for said resulting carton, and cut and score means in each of said extension flaps defining an associated handle portion with the handle portions being disposed against each other in said resulting carton to define a handle therefor, said score means in each extension flap including a pair of spaced score lines disposed in spaced relation substantially along a diagonal in opposite corners of said rectangular top wall of said resulting carton to thereby define an integral hinge for an associated handle portion, said diagonal score lines in said corners providing a comparatively rigid attachment for said handle portions with said rigid attachment assuring said handle of said resulting carton has optimum strength due to less likelihood of upward bowing of said top wall of said resulting carton, said cut means in each extension flap comprising a roughly U-shaped cut, said cut being defined by an elongated rectilinear bight adjoined at opposite ends by a pair of arms, said bight being spaced from and parallel to said central rectilinear portion and each of said arms terminating at an inner end of an associated score line, one of said extension flaps having a hinge line therein disposed between the rectilinear bight of its U-shaped cut and its central rectilinear outer edge and a pair of slits each extending between associated ends of said hinge line and said rectilinear bight, said slits and hinge line defining a hinged tab in one of said handle portions, said tab being adapted to be folded about its hinge line and around an inner edge of the handle portion of the other of said extension flaps, said tab providing a substantial surface enabling said resulting carton to be lifted free of sharp edges.

Claim 22

A blank as set forth in claim 17 and further comprising adhesive means on said handle portions adapted to fasten said handle portions together.

Claim 23

A blank as set forth in claim 17 in which each of said rectangular central portions and said rectangular side portions has a pair of end flaps extending from opposite ends thereof and each of said extension flaps has an end flap extending from at least one end thereof, with the end flaps at one end of said blank cooperating to define one of a pair of end walls in said resulting carton and the end flaps at the other end of said blank cooperating to define the other of said pair of end walls in said resulting carton.

Claim 24

A blank as set forth in claim 19 in which each of said end flaps in substantially rectangular and has a score line defining the base thereof.