Carton with handle

A carton for containing a plurality of articles, the carton comprising:

• a plurality of panels that extends at least partially around an interior of the carton, the plurality of panels comprising at least one top panel and at least one side panel foldably connected to the at least one top panel;
• at least one end flap respectively foldably connected to a respective panel of the plurality of panels, the at least one end flap at least partially forming a closed end of the carton, wherein the at least one end flap comprises a top end flap foldably connected to the at least one top panel, and the top end flap is foldably connected to the at least one top panel at a fold line;
• and
• a handle comprising at least one handle panel in the at least one top panel and at least one handle relief flap in the closed end of the carton, wherein the at least one handle relief flap is defined by at least one line of weakening in the top end flap, the at least one line of weakening comprises a first cut, a second cut, and a third cut, the first cut and the second cut extending from the fold line and the third cut is generally collinear with the fold line, the handle is for being activated by lifting at least the at least one handle panel, and the at least one handle relief flap is for being located between respective adjacent containers of the plurality of containers upon activation of the handle.

A carton for containing a plurality of articles, the carton comprising:

• a plurality of panels that extends at least partially around an interior of the carton, the plurality of panels comprising at least one top panel and at least one side panel foldably connected to the at least one top panel;
• at least one end flap respectively foldably connected to a respective panel of the plurality of panels, the at least one end flap at least partially forming a closed end of the carton, wherein the at least one end flap comprises a top end flap foldably connected to the at least one top panel;
• and
• a handle comprising at least one handle panel in the at least one top panel, a central handle flap in the top end flap, and at least one handle relief flap in the closed end of the carton, wherein the central handle flap is adjacent the at least one handle relief flap in the closed end, the at least one handle relief flap is defined by at least one line of weakening in the top end flap, the handle is for being activated by lifting at least the at least one handle panel, and the at least one handle relief flap is for being located between respective adjacent containers of the plurality of containers upon activation of the handle;
• wherein the at least one handle relief flap comprises a first handle relief flap and a second handle relief flap in the top end flap, the first handle relief flap and the second handle relief flap are located in the closed end and aligned with gaps between respective adjacent articles of the plurality of articles to allow the first handle relief flap and the second handle relief flap to flex inwardly toward the interior of the carton upon activation of the handle.

A blank for forming a carton for containing a plurality of containers, the blank comprising:

• a plurality of panels comprising at least one top panel and at least one side panel foldably connected to the at least one top panel;
• at least one end flap respectively foldably connected to a respective panel of the plurality of panels, the at least one end flap at least partially forming a closed end of a carton formed from the blank, wherein the at least one end flap comprises a top end flap foldably connected to the at least one top panel;
• and
• handle features for forming a handle in the carton formed from the blank, the handle features comprising at least one handle panel in the at least one top panel, a central handle flap in the top end flap, and at least one handle relief flap in the closed end of the carton formed from the blank, wherein the central handle flap is adjacent the at least one handle relief flap, the at least one handle relief flap is defined by at least one line of weakening in the top end flap, the handle is for being activated by lifting at least the at least one handle panel when the carton is formed from the blank, and the at least one handle relief flap is for being located between respective adjacent containers of the plurality of containers upon activation of the handle;
• wherein the at least one handle panel comprises a first handle panel in the first top panel for grasping and carrying the carton formed from the blank, the first handle panel is generally aligned with the central handle flap, and the central handle flap is generally aligned with a container adjacent the closed end of the carton formed from the blank so that the central handle flap remains continuous with the closed end of the carton formed from the blank upon activation of the handle.

A blank for forming a carton for containing a plurality of containers, the blank comprising:

• a plurality of panels comprising at least one top panel and at least one side panel foldably connected to the at least one top panel;
• at least one end flap respectively foldably connected to a respective panel of the plurality of panels, the at least one end flap at least partially forming a closed end of a carton formed from the blank, wherein the at least one end flap comprises a top end flap foldably connected to the at least one top panel and the top end flap is foldably connected to the at least one top panel at a fold line;
• and
• handle features for forming a handle in the carton formed from the blank, the handle features comprising at least one handle panel in the at least one top panel and at least one handle relief flap in the closed end of the carton formed from the blank, the at least one handle relief flap is defined by at least one line of weakening in the top end flap, the at least one line of weakening comprises a first cut, a second cut, and a third cut, the first cut and the second cut extending from the fold line and the third cut is generally collinear with the fold line, the handle is for being activated by lifting at least the at least one handle panel when the carton is formed from the blank, and the at least one handle relief flap is for being located between respective adjacent containers of the plurality of containers upon activation of the handle.

A blank for forming a carton for containing a plurality of containers, the blank comprising:

• a plurality of panels comprising at least one top panel and at least one side panel foldably connected to the at least one top panel;
• at least one end flap respectively foldably connected to a respective panel of the plurality of panels, the at least one end flap at least partially forming a closed end of a carton formed from the blank, wherein the at least one end flap comprises a top end flap foldably connected to the at least one top panel;
• and
• handle features for forming a handle in the carton formed from the blank, the handle features comprising at least one handle panel in the at least one top panel, a central handle flap in the top end flap, and at least one handle relief flap in the closed end of the carton formed from the blank, wherein the central handle flap is adjacent the at least one handle relief flap, the at least one handle relief flap is defined by at least one line of weakening in the top end flap, the handle is for being activated by lifting at least the at least one handle panel when the carton is formed from the blank, and the at least one handle relief flap is for being located between respective adjacent containers of the plurality of containers upon activation of the handle;
• wherein the at least one handle relief flap comprises a first handle relief flap and a second handle relief flap in the top end flap, the first handle relief flap and the second handle relief flap are located in the closed end and aligned with gaps between respective adjacent articles of the plurality of articles to allow the first handle relief flap and the second handle relief flap to flex inwardly toward the interior of the carton formed from the blank upon activation of the handle.

A method of forming a carton for containing a plurality of containers, the method comprising:

• obtaining a blank, the blank comprising a plurality of panels comprising at least one top panel, at least one side panel foldably connected to the at least one top panel, at least one end flap respectively foldably connected to a respective panel of the plurality of panels, and handle features comprising at least one handle panel in the at least one top panel, a central handle flap in the top end flap, and at least one handle relief flap in the at least one end flap, wherein the at least one end flap comprises a top end flap foldably connected to the at least one top panel, the central handle flap is adjacent the at least one handle relief flap in the closed end, the at least one handle relief flap is defined by at least one line of weakening in the top end flap, the at least one handle panel comprises a first handle panel in the first top panel for grasping and carrying the carton, the first handle panel is generally aligned with the central handle flap;
• forming an interior of the carton by positioning the plurality of panels;
• forming an at least partially closed end of the carton by positioning the at least one end flap;
• and
• forming a handle of the carton by positioning the handle features, wherein the handle is for being activated by lifting at least the at least one handle panel, the at least one handle relief flap is positioned to be located between respective adjacent containers of the plurality of containers upon activation of the handle, and the central handle flap is generally aligned with a container adjacent the closed end of the carton so that the central handle flap remains continuous with the closed end of the carton upon activation of the handle.

A method of forming a carton for containing a plurality of containers, the method comprising:

• obtaining a blank, the blank comprising a plurality of panels comprising at least one top panel, at least one side panel foldably connected to the at least one top panel, at least one end flap respectively foldably connected to a respective panel of the plurality of panels, and handle features comprising at least one handle panel in the at least one top panel and at least one handle relief flap in the at least one end flap, wherein the at least one end flap comprises a top end flap foldably connected to the at least one top panel at a fold line, the at least one handle relief flap is defined by at least one line of weakening in the top end flap, and the at least one line of weakening comprises a first cut, a second cut, and a third cut, the first cut and the second cut extending from the fold line and the third cut is generally collinear with the fold line;
• forming an interior of the carton by positioning the plurality of panels;
• forming an at least partially closed end of the carton by positioning the at least one end flap;
• and
• forming a handle of the carton by positioning the handle features, wherein the handle is for being activated by lifting at least the at least one handle panel, and the at least one handle relief flap is positioned to be located between respective adjacent containers of the plurality of containers upon activation of the handle.

A method of forming a carton for containing a plurality of containers, the method comprising:

• obtaining a blank, the blank comprising a plurality of panels comprising at least one top panel, at least one side panel foldably connected to the at least one top panel, at least one end flap respectively foldably connected to a respective panel of the plurality of panels, and handle features comprising at least one handle panel in the at least one top panel, a central handle flap in the top end flap, and at least one handle relief flap in the at least one end flap, wherein the at least one end flap comprises a top end flap foldably connected to the at least one top panel, the central handle flap is adjacent the at least one handle relief flap in the closed end, the at least one handle relief flap is defined by at least one line of weakening in the top end flap, and the at least one handle relief flap comprises a first handle relief flap and a second handle relief flap in the top end flap;
• forming an interior of the carton by positioning the plurality of panels;
• forming an at least partially closed end of the carton by positioning the at least one end flap;
• and
• forming a handle of the carton by positioning the handle features, wherein the handle is for being activated by lifting at least the at least one handle panel, and the at least one handle relief flap is positioned to be located between respective adjacent containers of the plurality of containers upon activation of the handle, and the forming the handle comprises aligning the first handle relief flap and the second handle relief flap with gaps between respective adjacent articles of the plurality of articles to allow the first handle relief flap and the second handle relief flap to flex inwardly toward the interior of the carton upon activation of the handle.