Carton and blank for making same

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.

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.