IP Library › Granted Patent US 12668408
Granted Patent B2
US 12668408 · App. 18/386,277 · Granted Jun 30, 2026

Carton for containers

Inventor: John Murdick Holley, Jr. (Lawrenceville, GA)
Assignee: Graphic Packaging International, LLC
B65D71/36B65D2571/0045B65D2571/00524B65D2571/00537B65D2571/0066
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12668408
App. No.
18/386,277
Granted
Jun 30, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A carton for holding a plurality of containers includes a plurality of panels extending at least partially around an interior of the carton, the plurality of panels including a top panel, a bottom panel, and at least one side panel, a plurality of end flaps foldably connected to a respective panel of the plurality of panels and overlapped to form at least one closed end of the carton, and handle features for facilitating lifting and/or carrying of the carton, the handle features including at least one handle opening in the top panel, a first line of weakening in the top panel extending from the at least one handle opening, and a second line of weakening in the top panel, the first line of weakening and the second line of weakening offset from one another.

Claims (57)

1 . A carton for holding a plurality of containers, the carton comprising:

a plurality of panels extending at least partially around an interior of the carton, the plurality of panels comprising a top panel, a bottom panel, and at least one side panel foldably connected to the top panel at a fold line;

a plurality of end flaps foldably connected to a respective panel of the plurality of panels and overlapped to form at least one closed end of the carton; and

handle features for facilitating lifting of the carton, the handle features comprising a first handle opening in the top panel, a second handle opening spaced apart from the first handle opening in the top panel, and a handle strap in the top panel between the first handle opening and the second handle opening, a first line of weakening in the top panel extending from the first handle opening to a first endpoint, and a second line of weakening in the top panel extending from a second endpoint to the fold line, the first line of weakening and the second line of weakening offset from one another,

the first end endpoint of the first line of weakening being spaced apart from the second endpoint of the second line of weakening to at least partially define a bridging portion between the first endpoint and second endpoint,

the first line of weakening extending from the first handle opening to the first endpoint in a direction generally oblique to the fold line, the second line of weakening extending obliquely from the second endpoint to the fold line, the first line of weakening and the second line of weakening being generally parallel.

2 . The carton of claim 1 , wherein the bridging portion is configured to facilitate symmetrical activation of the handle features when the carton is lifted and/or carried by a user.

3 . The carton of claim 2 , wherein the endpoint of the first line of weakening and the endpoint of the second line of weakening can be between about 0.04 inches and about 0.06 inches from one another.

4 . The carton of claim 3 , wherein the endpoint of the first line of weakening and the endpoint of the second line of weakening can be between about 0.052 inches and about 0.054 inches from one another.

5 . The carton of claim 3 , wherein the bridging portion comprises a portion of the top panel positioned between the first line of weakening and the second line of weakening.

6 . The carton of claim 2 , wherein the at least one side panel is a first side panel, the fold line is a first fold line, the plurality of panels comprise a second side panel foldably connected to the top panel at a second fold line, the handle features further comprise a third line of weakening in the top panel extending from the first handle opening to a third endpoint and a fourth line of weakening in the top panel extending from a fourth end point to the second fold line, the third line of weakening and the fourth line of weakening offset from one another.

7 . The carton of claim 6 , wherein the bridging portion is a first bridging portion, and the third endpoint of the third line of weakening is spaced apart from the fourth endpoint of the fourth line of weakening to at least partially define a second bridging portion therebetween,

the third line of weakening extending from the first handle opening to the third endpoint in a direction generally oblique to the second fold line, the fourth line of weakening extending obliquely from the fourth endpoint to the second fold line, the third line of weakening and the fourth line of weakening being generally parallel in the top panel.

8 . The carton of claim 7 , wherein the handle features further comprise a fifth line of weakening in the top panel extending from the second handle opening to a fifth endpoint and a sixth line of weakening in the top panel extending from a sixth endpoint to the first fold line, the fifth line of weakening and the sixth line of weakening offset from one another to at least partially define a third bridging portion therebetween,

the fifth line of weakening extending from the second handle opening to the fifth endpoint in a direction generally oblique to the first fold line, the sixth line of weakening extending obliquely from the sixth endpoint to the first fold line, the fifth line of weakening and the sixth line of weakening being generally parallel in the top panel.

9 . The carton of claim 8 , wherein the handle features further comprise a seventh line of weakening in the top panel extending from the second handle opening to a seventh endpoint and an eighth line of weakening in the top panel extending from an eighth endpoint to the second fold line, the seventh line of weakening and the eighth line of weakening offset from one another to at least partially define a fourth bridging portion therebetween,

the seventh line of weakening extending from the second handle opening to the seventh endpoint in a direction generally oblique to the second fold line, the eight line of weakening extending obliquely from the eight endpoint to the second fold line, the seventh line of weakening and the eight line of weakening being generally parallel in the top panel.

10 . The carton of claim 7 , wherein at least one handle reinforcement flap is foldably connected to the handle strap and positioned adjacent a respective handle opening.

11 . The carton of claim 5 , wherein the portion of the top panel is an uninterrupted portion of the top panel free from boundary by a line of weakening extending between the first line of weakening and the second line of weakening.

12 . A blank for forming a carton for holding a plurality of containers, the blank comprising:

a plurality of panels for extending at least partially around an interior of the carton formed from the blank, the plurality of panels comprising a top panel, a bottom panel, and at least one side panel foldably connected to the top panel at a fold line;

a plurality of end flaps foldably connected to a respective panel of the plurality of panels and for being overlapped to form at least one closed end of the carton formed from the blank; and

handle features for facilitating lifting the carton formed from the blank, the handle features comprising a first handle opening in the top panel, a second handle opening spaced apart from the first handle opening in the top panel, and a handle strap in the top panel between the first handle opening and the second handle opening, a first line of weakening in the top panel extending from the first handle opening to a first endpoint, and a second line of weakening in the top panel extending from a second endpoint to the fold line, the first line of weakening and the second line of weakening offset from one another,

the first end endpoint of the first line of weakening being spaced apart from the second endpoint of the second line of weakening to at least partially define a bridging portion between the first endpoint and second endpoint,

the first line of weakening extending from the first handle opening to the first endpoint in a direction generally oblique to the fold line, the second line of weakening extending obliquely from the second endpoint to the fold line, the first line of weakening and the second line of weakening being generally parallel.

13 . The blank of claim 12 , wherein the bridging portion is configured to facilitate symmetrical activation of the handle features when the carton formed from the blank is lifted and/or carried by a user.

14 . The blank of claim 13 , wherein the endpoint of the first line of weakening and the endpoint of the second line of weakening can be between about 0.04 inches and about 0.06 inches from one another.

15 . The blank of claim 14 , wherein the endpoint of the first line of weakening and the endpoint of the second line of weakening can be between about 0.052 inches and about 0.054 inches from one another.

16 . The blank of claim 13 , wherein the bridging portion comprises a portion of the top panel positioned between the first line of weakening and the second line of weakening.

17 . The blank of claim 16 , wherein the portion of the top panel is an uninterrupted portion of the top panel free from boundary by a line of weakening extending between the first line of weakening and the second line of weakening.

18 . The blank of claim 13 , wherein the at least one side panel is a first side panel, the fold line is a first fold line, the plurality of panels comprise a second side panel foldably connected to the top panel at a second fold line, the handle features further comprise a third line of weakening in the top panel extending from the first handle opening to a third endpoint and a fourth line of weakening in the top panel extending from a fourth end point to the second fold line, the third line of weakening and the fourth line of weakening offset from one another.

19 . The blank of claim 18 , wherein the bridging portion is a first bridging portion, and the third endpoint of the third line of weakening is spaced apart from the fourth endpoint of the fourth line of weakening to at least partially define a second bridging portion therebetween,

the third line of weakening extending from the first handle opening to the third endpoint in a direction generally oblique to the second fold line, the fourth line of weakening extending obliquely from the fourth endpoint to the second fold line, the third line of weakening and the fourth line of weakening being generally parallel in the top panel.

20 . The blank of claim 2 , wherein the handle features further comprise a fifth line of weakening in the top panel extending from the second handle opening to a fifth endpoint and a sixth line of weakening in the top panel extending from a sixth endpoint to the first fold line, the fifth line of weakening and the sixth line of weakening offset from one another to at least partially define a third bridging portion therebetween,

the fifth line of weakening extending from the second handle opening to the fifth endpoint in a direction generally oblique to the first fold line, the sixth line of weakening extending obliquely from the sixth endpoint to the first fold line, the fifth line of weakening and the sixth line of weakening being generally parallel in the top panel.

21 . The blank of claim 20 , wherein the handle features further comprise a seventh line of weakening in the top panel extending from the second handle opening to a seventh endpoint and an eighth line of weakening in the top panel extending from an eighth endpoint to the second fold line, the seventh line of weakening and the eighth line of weakening offset from one another to at least partially define a fourth bridging portion therebetween,

the seventh line of weakening extending from the second handle opening to the seventh endpoint in a direction generally oblique to the second fold line, the eight line of weakening extending obliquely from the eight endpoint to the second fold line, the seventh line of weakening and the eight line of weakening being generally parallel in the top panel.

22 . The blank of claim 19 , wherein at least one handle reinforcement flap is foldably connected to the handle strap and positioned adjacent a respective handle opening.

23 . A method of forming a carton for holding a plurality of containers, the method comprising:

obtaining a blank comprising a plurality of panels comprising a top panel, a bottom panel, and at least one side panel foldably connected to the top panel at a fold line, a plurality of end flaps foldably connected to a respective panel of the plurality of panels, and handle features comprising a first handle opening in the top panel, a second handle opening spaced apart from the first handle opening in the top panel, and a handle strap in the top panel between the first handle opening and the second handle opening, a first line of weakening in the top panel extending from the first handle opening to a first end point, and a second line of weakening in the top panel extending from a second endpoint to the fold line, the first line of weakening and the second line of weakening offset from one another,

the first end endpoint of the first line of weakening being spaced apart from the second endpoint of the second line of weakening to at least partially define a bridging portion between the first endpoint and second endpoint,

the first line of weakening extending from the first handle opening to the first endpoint in a direction generally oblique to the fold line, the second line of weakening extending obliquely from the second endpoint to the fold line, the first line of weakening and the second line of weakening being generally parallel;

positioning the plurality of panels extending at least partially around an interior of the carton;

overlapping the plurality of end flaps to form at least one closed end of the carton; and

positioning the handle features for facilitating lifting of the carton.

24 . The method of claim 23 , wherein the bridging portion is configured to facilitate symmetrical activation of the handle features when the carton is lifted and/or carried by a user.

25 . The method of claim 24 , wherein the endpoint of the first line of weakening and the endpoint of the second line of weakening can be between about 0.04 inches and about 0.06 inches from one another.

26 . The method of claim 25 , wherein the endpoint of the first line of weakening and the endpoint of the second line of weakening can be between about 0.052 inches and about 0.054 inches from one another.

27 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the bridging portion comprises a portion of the top panel positioned between the first line of weakening and the second line of weakening.

28 . The method of claim 24 , wherein the at least one side panel is a first side panel, the fold line is a first fold line, the plurality of panels comprise a second side panel foldably connected to the top panel at a second fold line, the handle features further comprise a third line of weakening in the top panel extending from the first handle opening to a third endpoint and a fourth line of weakening in the top panel extending from a fourth end point to the second fold line, the third line of weakening and the fourth line of weakening offset from one another.

29 . The method of claim 28 , wherein the bridging portion is a first bridging portion, and the third endpoint of the third line of weakening is spaced apart from the fourth endpoint of the fourth line of weakening to at least partially define a second bridging portion therebetween,

the third line of weakening extending from the first handle opening to the third endpoint in a direction generally oblique to the second fold line, the fourth line of weakening extending obliquely from the fourth endpoint to the second fold line, the third line of weakening and the fourth line of weakening being generally parallel in the top panel.

30 . The method of claim 29 , wherein the handle features further comprise a fifth line of weakening in the top panel extending from the second handle opening to a fifth endpoint and a sixth line of weakening in the top panel extending from a sixth endpoint to the first fold line, the fifth line of weakening and the sixth line of weakening offset from one another to at least partially define a third bridging portion therebetween,

the fifth line of weakening extending from the second handle opening to the fifth endpoint in a direction generally oblique to the first fold line, the sixth line of weakening extending obliquely from the sixth endpoint to the first fold line, the fifth line of weakening and the sixth line of weakening being generally parallel in the top panel.

31 . The method of claim 30 , wherein the handle features further comprise a seventh line of weakening in the top panel extending from the second handle opening to a seventh endpoint and an eighth line of weakening in the top panel extending from an eighth endpoint to the second fold line, the seventh line of weakening and the eighth line of weakening offset from one another to at least partially define a fourth bridging portion therebetween,

the seventh line of weakening extending from the second handle opening to the seventh endpoint in a direction generally oblique to the second fold line, the eight line of weakening extending obliquely from the eight endpoint to the second fold line, the seventh line of weakening and the eight line of weakening being generally parallel in the top panel.

32 . The method of claim 29 , wherein at least one handle reinforcement flap is foldably connected to the handle strap and positioned adjacent a respective handle opening.