Reinforced Carton Handle Structure

A reinforced carton handle structure comprising a carton wall panel hingedly connected along a first fold line to a linear series of at least two reinforcing panels hingedly connected one to the next, wherein each of the carton wall panel and reinforcing panels comprises a handle-forming region for forming a handle opening, the handle-forming regions of the carton wall panel and reinforcing panels being in registry with one another to provide said handle opening wherein one of the reinforcing panels in the linear series is hingedly connected along a second fold line to a next reinforcing panel of the linear series, the second fold line being closer to the first fold line than an edge of said one reinforcing panel, said edge being furthest from the first fold line.

A carton comprising a plurality of carton wall panels including a first wall panel, the first wall panel being hingedly connected along a first fold line to a first linear series of at least two reinforcing panels hingedly connected one to the next, wherein each of the first wall panel and reinforcing panels comprises a handle-forming region for forming a first handle opening, the handle-forming regions of the first wall panel and reinforcing panels being in registry with one another to provide said handle opening wherein one of the reinforcing panels in the linear series is hingedly connected along a second fold line to a next reinforcing panel of the linear series, the second fold line being closer to the first fold line than an edge of said one reinforcing panel, said edge being furthest from the first fold line.

A blank for forming a carton having a reinforced carton handle structure, said blank comprising a carton wall panel hingedly connected to a linear series of at least two reinforcing panels hingedly connected one to the next, wherein each of the carton wall panel and reinforcing panels comprises a handle-forming region for forming a handle opening, the handle-forming regions of the carton wall panel and reinforcing panels being in registry with one another to provide said handle opening when the blank is set up into a carton, wherein one of the reinforcing panels in the linear series is hingedly connected along a fold line to a next reinforcing panel of the linear series, the fold line being closer to the carton wall panel than an edge of said one reinforcing panel, said edge being furthest from the carton wall panel.