Carton with handle

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

a plurality of panels that extends at least partially around an interior of the carton, the plurality of panels comprising a first top panel, a second top panel, a bottom panel, a first side panel, and a second side panel, the first top panel and the second top panel being at least partially overlapped to form a top wall of the carton; and

a handle extending in at least the top wall, the handle comprising at least a first handle portion of the first top panel and a second handle portion of the second top panel, the first handle portion at least partially overlapping the second handle portion, the second handle portion comprising a notch that is at least partially overlapped by an overlay portion of the first handle portion, wherein the notch is at least partially defined by a notch edge of the second top panel, and the overlay portion of the first handle portion of the first top panel extends over the notch beyond the notch edge of the second top panel.

2. The carton of claim 1 , further comprising a projection extending from the second handle portion, wherein the notch is at least partially defined by a curved edge of the projection.

3. The carton of claim 2 , wherein a hook-shaped cut extends in the second handle portion from the notch.

4. The carton of claim 2 , wherein:

the notch of the second handle portion is a first notch, the projection of the second handle portion is a first projection, the curved edge of the projection is a first curved edge of the first projection, and the overlay portion of the first handle portion is a first overlay portion;

the second handle portion comprises a second notch spaced apart from the first notch and at least partially overlapped by a second overlay portion of the first handle portion; and

the second notch is at least partially defined by a second curved edge of a second projection extending from the second handle portion.

5. The carton of claim 4 , further comprising a handle reinforcement flap foldably connected to the second handle portion of the second top panel, wherein at least the second handle portion at least partially overlaps the handle reinforcement flap.

6. The carton of claim 5 , wherein the handle reinforcement flap is foldably connected to the second handle portion along at least a fold line extending from the first notch to the second notch, the fold line defining at least a portion of each of the first notch and the second notch.

7. The carton of claim 5 , wherein:

the handle reinforcement flap comprises a cutout;

the handle reinforcement flap comprises a third notch disposed at a first corner of the cutout and a fourth notch disposed at a second corner of the cutout, the third notch being spaced apart from the first notch and generally aligned with the first notch, and the fourth notch being spaced apart from the second notch and generally aligned with the second notch; and

the second handle portion of the second top panel comprises a third overlay portion and a fourth overlay portion, the third overlay portion at least partially overlapping the third notch in the handle reinforcement flap and the fourth overlay portion at least partially overlapping the fourth notch in the handle reinforcement flap.

8. The carton of claim 7 , wherein a hook-shaped cut extends in the second handle portion from each of the first notch and the second notch, and a hook-shaped cut extends in the handle reinforcement flap from each of the third notch and the fourth notch.

9. The carton of claim 7 , wherein the second handle portion comprises a recess extending between the first curved edge of the first projection and the second curved edge of the second projection, the first notch and the second notch being generally disposed in respective corners of the recess.

10. The carton of claim 9 , wherein:

the first handle portion comprises a first handle opening extending in the first top panel and generally aligned with the recess of the second handle portion;

the first overlay portion and the second overlay portion of the first handle portion are disposed generally adjacent to respective corners of the first handle opening;

the second handle portion comprises a second handle opening extending in the second top panel and generally aligned with the cutout of the handle reinforcement flap; and

the third overlay portion and the fourth overlay portion of the second handle portion are disposed generally adjacent to respective corners of the second handle opening.

11. The carton of claim 10 , wherein a free edge of the first handle portion overlays at least a portion of the second handle portion, and at least a portion of the free edge of the first handle portion extends adjacent the second handle opening in the second handle portion.

12. The carton of claim 7 , further comprising a reinforcement tape applied to at least one of the first handle portion and the second handle portion, at least a portion of the reinforcement tape extending between the first handle opening and the second handle opening.

13. The carton of claim 1 , wherein:

the notch of the second handle portion is a first notch and the overlay portion of the first handle portion is a first overlay portion;

the second handle portion comprises a second notch spaced apart from the first notch and at least partially overlapped by a second overlay portion of the first handle portion;

the second handle portion comprises a recess adjacent a free edge of the second top panel, the first notch being generally disposed in a corner of the recess; and

the second handle portion comprises a handle opening spaced apart from the recess, the second notch being generally disposed in a corner of the handle opening.

14. The carton of claim 13 , wherein:

the handle opening of the second handle portion is a first handle opening, and the first top panel comprises a second handle opening and a third handle opening, the second handle opening being generally aligned with the recess of the second handle portion, and the third handle opening being generally aligned with the first handle opening;

the first overlay portion of the first handle portion is disposed generally adjacent to a corner of the second handle opening in the first handle portion; and

the second overlay portion of the first handle portion is disposed generally adjacent to a corner of the third handle opening in the first handle portion.

15. The carton of claim 14 , wherein:

the second handle portion comprises a third notch and a fourth notch, the third notch being spaced apart from the first notch and generally disposed in an opposing corner of the recess of the second handle portion, and the fourth notch being spaced apart from the second notch and generally disposed in an opposing corner of the first handle opening of the second handle portion; and

the first handle portion comprises a third overlay portion and a fourth overlay portion, the third overlay portion at least partially overlapping the third notch in the second handle portion, and the fourth overlay portion at least partially overlapping the fourth notch in the second handle portion.

16. The carton of claim 15 , wherein a hook-shaped cut extends in the second handle portion from each of the first notch, the second notch, the third notch, and the fourth notch, and the carton further comprises a reinforcement tape applied to at least one of the first handle portion or the second handle portion, at least a portion of the reinforcement tape extending between the recess and the first handle opening of the second handle portion.

17. The carton of claim 1 , further comprising a handle reinforcement flap foldably connected to the second handle portion of the second top panel along at least a fold line extending from the notch, the fold line defining at least a portion of the notch.

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

a plurality of panels comprising a first top panel, a second top panel, a bottom panel, a first side panel, and a second side panel, the first top panel and the second top panel for being at least partially overlapped to form a top wall in the carton formed by the blank; and

handle features for forming a handle in at least the top wall in the carton formed by the blank, the handle features comprising at least a first handle portion of the first top panel and a second handle portion of the second top panel, the first handle portion for being positioned to at least partially overlap the second handle portion when the carton is formed from the blank, the second handle portion comprising a notch that is for being at least partially overlapped by an overlay portion of the first handle portion when the carton is formed from the blank, wherein the second top panel comprises a notch line that at least partially forms a notch edge of the second top panel when the carton is formed from the blank, the notch is at least partially defined by the notch edge, and the overlay portion of the first handle portion of the first top panel is for extending over the notch beyond the notch edge of the second top panel when the overlay portion overlaps the notch in the carton formed from the blank.

19. The blank of claim 18 , wherein the second top panel comprises a projection that is at Least partially defined by a cut line, and the notch is at least partially defined by a curved portion of the cut line.

20. The blank of claim 19 , wherein a hook-shaped cut extends in the second handle portion from the notch.

21. The blank of claim 19 , wherein:

the notch of the second handle portion is a first notch, the projection of the second handle portion is a first projection, and the overlay portion of the first handle portion is a first overlay portion;

the second handle portion comprises a second notch spaced apart from the first notch, the second notch is for being at least partially overlapped by a second overlay portion of the first handle portion in the carton formed from the blank;

the second top panel comprises a second projection that is at least partially defined by a second cut line; and

the second notch is at least partially defined by a curved portion of the second cut line.

22. The blank of claim 21 , further comprising a handle reinforcement flap foldably connected to the second handle portion of the second top panel, wherein the handle reinforcement flap is for being at least partially overlapped by at least the second handle portion in the carton formed from the blank.

23. The blank of claim 22 , wherein the handle reinforcement flap is foldably connected to the second handle portion along at least a fold line extending from the first notch to the second notch, the fold line defining at least a portion of each of the first notch and the second notch.

24. The blank of claim 22 , wherein:

the handle reinforcement flap comprises a cutout;

the handle reinforcement flap comprises a third notch disposed at a first corner of the cutout and a fourth notch disposed at a second corner of the cutout, the third notch being spaced apart from the first notch and generally aligned with the first notch, and the fourth notch being spaced apart from the second notch and generally aligned with the second notch; and

the second handle portion of the second top panel comprises a third overlay portion and a fourth overlay portion, the third overlay portion being for at least partially overlapping the third notch in the handle reinforcement flap and the fourth overlay portion at least partially overlapping the fourth notch in the handle reinforcement flap in the carton formed from the blank.

25. The blank of claim 24 , wherein a hook-shaped cut extends in the second handle portion from each of the first notch and the second notch, and a hook-shaped cut extends in the handle reinforcement flap from each of the third notch and the fourth notch.

26. The blank of claim 24 , wherein:

the first handle portion comprises a first handle opening extending in the first top panel;

the first overlay portion and the second overlay portion of the first handle portion are disposed generally adjacent to respective corners of the first handle opening;

the second handle portion comprises a second handle opening extending in the second top panel; and

the third overlay portion and the fourth overlay portion of the second handle portion are disposed generally adjacent to respective corners of the second handle opening.

27. The blank of claim 24 , further comprising a reinforcement tape applied to at least one of the first handle portion and the second handle portion.

28. The blank of claim 18 , wherein:

the notch of the second handle portion is a first notch and the overlay portion of the first handle portion is a first overlay portion;

the second handle portion comprises a second notch spaced apart from the first notch, the second notch is for being at least partially overlapped by a second overlay portion of the first handle portion in the carton formed from the blank;

the second handle portion comprises a recess adjacent a free edge of the second top panel, the first notch being generally disposed in a corner of the recess; and

the second handle portion comprises a handle opening spaced apart from the recess, the second notch being generally disposed in a corner of the handle opening.

29. The blank of claim 28 , wherein:

the handle opening of the second handle portion is a first handle opening, and the first top panel comprises a second handle opening and a third handle opening;

the first overlay portion of the first handle portion is disposed generally adjacent to a corner of the second handle opening in the first handle portion; and

the second overlay portion of the first handle portion is disposed generally adjacent to a corner of the third handle opening in the first handle portion.

30. The blank of claim 29 , wherein:

the second handle portion comprises a third notch and a fourth notch, the third notch being spaced apart from the first notch and generally disposed in an opposing corner of the recess of the second handle portion, and the fourth notch being spaced apart from the second notch and generally disposed in an opposing corner of the first handle opening of the second handle portion; and

the first handle portion comprises a third overlay portion and a fourth overlay portion, the third overlay portion being for at least partially overlapping the third notch in the second handle portion, and the fourth overlay portion being for at least partially overlapping the fourth notch in the second handle portion.

31. The blank of claim 30 , wherein a hook-shaped cut extends in the second handle portion from each of the first notch, the second notch, the third notch, and the fourth notch, and the blank further comprises a reinforcement tape applied to at least the second handle portion, at least a portion of the reinforcement tape extending between the recess and the first handle opening of the second handle portion.

32. The blank of claim 18 , further comprising a handle reinforcement flap foldably connected to the second handle portion of the second top panel along at least a fold line extending from the notch, the fold line defining at least a portion of the notch when the carton is formed from the blank.

33. A method of forming a carton, the method comprising:

obtaining a blank comprising a plurality of panels comprising a first top panel, a second top panel, a bottom panel, a first side panel, and a second side panel, and handle features comprising at least a first handle portion of the first top panel and a second handle portion of the second top panel, the second handle portion comprising a notch and the first handle portion comprising an overlay portion, wherein the notch is at least partially defined by a notch edge of the second top panel;

forming an interior of the carton at least partially defined by the plurality of panels;

forming a top wall comprising at least the first top panel and the second top panel by overlapping at least a portion of the second top panel with at least a portion of the first top panel;

wherein the overlapping at least a portion of the second top panel with at least a portion of the first top panel comprises at least partially overlapping the second handle portion of the second top panel with the first handle portion of the first top panel to form a handle extending in at least the top wall, the at least partially overlapping at least the second handle portion with the first handle portion comprising at least partially overlapping the notch of the second handle portion with the overlay portion of the first handle portion so that the overlay portion of the first handle portion of the first top panel extends over the notch beyond the notch edge of the second top panel.

34. The method of claim 33 , wherein:

the notch of the second handle portion is a first notch and the overlay portion of the first handle portion is a first overlay portion;

the second handle portion comprises a second notch spaced apart from the first notch, and the first handle portion comprises a second overlay portion; and

the at least partially overlapping at least the second handle portion with the first handle portion further comprises at least partially overlapping the second notch with the second overlay portion.

35. The method of claim 34 , wherein the blank further comprises a handle reinforcement flap foldably connected to the second handle portion of the second top panel, and the method further comprises at least partially overlapping the handle reinforcement flap with at least the second handle portion.

36. The method of claim 35 , wherein:

the handle reinforcement flap comprises a cutout;

the handle reinforcement flap comprises a third notch disposed at a first corner of the cutout and a fourth notch disposed at a second corner of the cutout, the third notch being spaced apart from the first notch and generally aligned with the first notch, and the fourth notch being spaced apart from the second notch and generally aligned with the second notch;

the second handle portion of the second top panel comprises a third overlay portion and a fourth overlay portion; and

the at least partially overlapping the handle reinforcement flap with at least the second handle portion comprises at least partially overlapping the third notch in the handle reinforcement flap with the third overlay portion and at least partially overlapping the fourth notch in the handle reinforcement flap with the fourth overlay portion.

37. The method of claim 35 , wherein:

the handle reinforcement flap is foldably connected to at least the second handle portion of the second top panel at a fold line;

the at least partially overlapping the handle reinforcement flap with at least the second handle portion comprises folding the handle reinforcement flap along the fold line;

the folding the handle reinforcement flap along the fold line forms a recess in the second top panel; and

the first notch and the second notch are generally disposed in respective corners of the recess.

38. The method of claim 33 , wherein:

the notch of the second handle portion is a first notch and the overlay portion of the first handle portion is a first overlay portion;

the second handle portion comprises a second notch spaced apart from the first notch, and the first handle portion comprises a second overlay portion;

the at least partially overlapping at least the second handle portion with the first handle portion further comprises at least partially overlapping the second notch with the second overlay portion;

the second handle portion comprises a recess adjacent a free edge of the second top panel, the first notch being generally disposed in a corner of the recess; and

the second handle portion comprises a handle opening spaced apart from the recess, the second notch being generally disposed in a corner of the handle opening.

39. The method of claim 38 , wherein:

the second handle portion comprises a third notch and a fourth notch, the third notch being spaced apart from the first notch and generally disposed in an opposing corner of the recess of the second handle portion, and the fourth notch being spaced apart from the second notch and generally disposed in an opposing corner of the first handle opening of the second handle portion;

the first handle portion comprises a third overlay portion and a fourth overlay portion; and

the at least partially overlapping at least the second handle portion with the first handle portion further comprises at least partially overlapping the third notch in the second handle portion with the third overlay portion and at least partially overlapping the fourth notch in the second handle portion with the fourth overlay portion.

40. The method of claim 33 , further comprising a handle reinforcement flap foldably connected to the second handle portion of the second top panel along at least a fold line extending from the notch, the fold line defining at least a portion of the notch.