Carrier with handle flaps for obstructing view

A carrier that is for carrying articles and at least partially blocking the articles from view, the carrier comprising:

• at least one panel that partially defines an interior of the carrier, wherein the interior is for receiving the articles;
• first and second handle flaps that are for being at least initially adjacent to one another for together at least partially obstructing a first handle opening in the panel, with there being first and second pivotable connections respectively between the first and second handle flaps and the panel, and the first and second pivotable connections being operative for respectively allowing the first and second handle flaps to be pivoted at least partially into the interior of the carrier to at least further expose the first handle opening in the panel;
• third and fourth handle flaps that are for being at least initially adjacent to one another for together at least partially obstructing a second handle opening in the panel, with there being third and fourth pivotable connections respectively between the third and fourth handle flaps and the panel, and the third and fourth pivotable connections being operative for respectively allowing the third and fourth handle flaps to be pivoted at least partially into the interior of the carrier to at least further expose the second handle opening in the panel;
• and
• a handle positioned between the first and second handle openings, wherein
• each of the first, second, third and fourth handle flaps is adjacent the handles,
• the first handle opening includes opposite first and second ends,
• the first handle opening includes opposite first and second sides,
• the first and second sides extend from the first end to the second end,
• the first handle opening has a length that extends from the first end to the second end,
• the first handle opening has a width that extends from the first side to the second side,
• the length is greater than the width,
• the first pivotable connection, which is between the first handle flap and the panel, comprises a first fold line that is located at, and extends along, the first end of the handle opening, and
• the second pivotable connection, which is between the second handle flap and the panel, comprises a second fold line that is located at, and extends along, the second end of the handle opening.

A carrier that is for carrying articles and at least partially blocking the articles from view, the carrier comprising:

• at least one panel that partially defines an interior of the carrier, wherein the interior is for receiving the articles;
• first and second handle flaps that are for being at least initially adjacent to one another for together at least partially obstructing a first handle opening in the panel, with there being first and second pivotable connections respectively between the first and second handle flaps and the panel, and the first and second pivotable connections being operative for respectively allowing the first and second handle flaps to be pivoted at least partially into the interior of the carrier to at least further expose the first handle opening in the panel;
• third and fourth handle flaps that are for being at least initially adjacent to one another for together at least partially obstructing a second handle opening in the panel, with there being third and fourth pivotable connections respectively between the third and fourth handle flaps and the panel, and the third and fourth pivotable connections being operative for respectively allowing the third and fourth handle flaps to be pivoted at least partially into the interior of the carrier to at least further expose the second handle opening in the panel;
• and
• a handle positioned between the first and second handle openings, wherein each of the first, second, third and fourth handle flaps is adjacent the handle,
• wherein for at least each handle flap of the first and second handle flaps, the handle flap includes at least one fold line positioned between an edge of the handle flap and the pivotable connection between the handle flap and the panel, with the fold line being operative for allowing a first portion of the handle flap to be pivoted relative to a second portion of the handle flap and farther into the interior of the carton than the second portion of the handle flap, so that the edges of the first and second handle flaps can be at least partially pivoted away from one another, and
• the edges of the first and second handle flaps are at least initially adjacent to one another.

A carrier that is for carrying containers and at least partially blocking the containers from view, with the containers having walls respectively extending around the container's axes, the carrier comprising:

• at least one panel that partially defines an interior of the carrier, wherein the interior is for receiving the containers so that the container's axes extend in a lateral direction;
• and
• at least a pair of handle flaps, with the pair of handle flaps including first and second handle flaps that each have an edge, wherein the edges of the first and second handle flaps are for being at least initially adjacent to one another for together at least partially obstructing a handle opening in the panel, and the first and second handle flaps are operative for allowing the first and second handle flaps to be pivoted at least partially into the interior of the carrier, so that the edges of the first and second handle flaps at least partially pivot away from one another to at least further expose the handle opening in the panel, wherein
• the pair of handle flaps extends in a longitudinal direction that is crosswise with respect to the lateral direction, the pair of handle flaps has a overall length that extends in the longitudinal direction, the edges of the first and second handle flaps extend at least generally in the lateral direction, the pair of handle flaps has a width that extends in the lateral direction, and the overall length is greater than the width,
• the panel comprises a handle, and each of the first and second handle flaps is adjacent the handle,
• the handle opening includes opposite first and second ends that each extend in the lateral direction,
• the handle opening includes opposite first and second sides that each extend in the longitudinal direction,
• the handle opening has a length that extends in the longitudinal direction, from the first end to the second end,
• the handle opening has a width that extends in the lateral direction, from the first side to the second side,
• the length of the handle opening is greater than the width of the handle opening,
• the first handle flap is connected to the panel by a first fold line that is located at, and extends along, the first end of the handle opening, and
• the second handle flap is connected to the panel by a second fold line that is located at, and extends along, the second end of the handle opening.

A carrier that is for carrying containers and at least partially blocking the containers from view, with the containers having walls respectively extending around the container's axes, the carrier comprising:

• at least one panel that partially defines an interior of the carrier, wherein the interior is for receiving the containers so that the container's axes extend in a lateral direction;
• and
• at least a pair of handle flaps, with the pair of handle flaps including first and second handle flaps that each have an edge, wherein the edges of the first and second handle flaps are for being at least initially adjacent to one another for together at least partially obstructing a handle opening in the panel, and the first and second handle flaps are operative for allowing the first and second handle flaps to be pivoted at least partially into the interior of the carrier, so that the edges of the first and second handle flaps at least partially pivot away from one another to at least further expose the handle opening in the panel, wherein
• the pair of handle flaps extends in a longitudinal direction that is crosswise with respect to the lateral direction, the pair of handle flaps has a overall length that extends in the longitudinal direction, the edges of the first and second handle flaps extend at least generally in the lateral direction, the pair of handle flaps has a width that extends in the lateral direction, and the overall length is greater than the width;
• the panel comprises a handle, and each of the first and second handle flaps is adjacent the handle;
• there are first and second pivotable connections respectively between the first and second handle flaps and the panel;
• and
• for each handle flap of the first and second handle flaps, the handle flap further includes at least one fold line positioned between the edge of the handle flap and the pivotable connection between the handle flap and the panel, with the fold line being operative for allowing a first portion of the handle flap to be pivoted relative to a second portion of the handle flap and farther into the interior of the carton than the second portion of the handle flap, so that the edges of the first and second handle flaps can be at least partially pivoted away from one another.

A blank for forming a carton, the blank comprising:

• a first panel having first and second longitudinal edges that are laterally spaced apart from one another, wherein
• the first panel includes at least first and second handle flaps that each have an edge,
• the edges of the first and second handle flaps are adjacent to one another,
• the first and second handle flaps together at least partially obstruct a handle opening in the first panel,
• the handle opening includes opposite first and second ends,
• the handle opening includes opposite first and second sides,
• the first and second sides extend from the first end to the second end,
• the handle opening has a length that extends from the first end to the second end,
• the handle opening has a width that extends from the first side to the second side,
• the length is greater than the width,
• the first handle flap is connected to the first panel by a first fold line that is located at, and extends along, the first end of the handle opening,
• the second handle flap is connected to the first panel by a second fold line that is located at, and extends along, the second end of the handle opening,
• the first panel further includes a handle, and
• each of the first and second handle flaps is adjacent the handle;
• a second panel having first and second longitudinal edges that are laterally spaced apart from one another, wherein the second longitudinal edge of the first panel is connected at a fold line to the first longitudinal edge of the second panel;
• a third panel having first and second longitudinal edges that are laterally spaced apart from one another, wherein the second longitudinal edge of the second panel is connected at a fold line to the first longitudinal edge of the third panel;
• and
• a fourth panel having first and second longitudinal edges that are laterally spaced apart from one another, wherein the second longitudinal edge of the third panel is connected at a fold line to the first longitudinal edge of the fourth panel.

A blank for forming a carton, the blank comprising:

• a first panel having first and second longitudinal edges that are laterally spaced apart from one another, wherein the first panel includes
• (a) at least first and second handle flaps that each have an edge, and the edges of the first and second handle flaps are adjacent to one another,
• (b) a handle, and each of the first and second handle flaps is adjacent the handle;
• a second panel having first and second longitudinal edges that are laterally spaced apart from one another, wherein the second longitudinal edge of the first panel is connected at a fold line to the first longitudinal edge of the second panel;
• a third panel having first and second longitudinal edges that are laterally spaced apart from one another, wherein the second longitudinal edge of the second panel is connected at a fold line to the first longitudinal edge of the third panel;
• a fourth panel having first and second longitudinal edges that are laterally spaced apart from one another, wherein the second longitudinal edge of the third panel is connected at a fold line to the first longitudinal edge of the fourth panel;
• a fifth panel having first and second longitudinal edges that are laterally spaced apart from one another, wherein the second longitudinal edge of the fourth panel is connected at a fold line to the first longitudinal edge of the fifth panel, the fifth panel includes at least third and fourth handle flaps that each have an edge, and the edges of the third and fourth handle flaps are adjacent to one another;
• a sixth panel having first and second longitudinal edges that are laterally spaced apart from one another, wherein the second longitudinal edge of the fifth panel is connected at a fold line to the first longitudinal edge of the sixth panel;
• and
• an opening in the blank, wherein
• the fold line which connects the fifth and sixth panels together is divided into two parts by the opening in the blank,
• the first panel includes first and second lateral edges that are longitudinally spaced apart from one another and respectively have end panels foldably connected thereto,
• the second panel includes first and second lateral edges that are longitudinally spaced apart from one another and respectively have end panels foldably connected thereto,
• the third panel includes first and second lateral edges that are longitudinally spaced apart from one another and respectively have end panels foldably connected thereto,
• the fourth panel includes first and second lateral edges that are longitudinally spaced apart from one another and respectively have end panels foldably connected thereto, and
• the fifth panel includes first and second lateral edges that are longitudinally spaced apart from one another and respectively have end panels foldably connected thereto.

A blank for forming a carton, the blank comprising:

• a plurality of panels that are respectively foldably connected to one another for being erected into the carton, wherein
• the plurality of panels includes at least a first panel;
• the first panel includes
• first and second peripheral edges that are opposite one another,
• third and fourth peripheral edges that are opposite one another, and
• at least first, second and third lines that together at least partially define at least first and second handle flaps that each have an edge;
• none of the first, second and third lines is contiguous with any of the first, second, third and fourth peripheral edges of the first panel;
• the edges of the first and second handle flaps are adjacent to one another;
• the first and second handle flaps are positioned between the second and third lines;
• each of the first, second and third lines is selected from the group consisting of a tear line, a slit, and a combination of a tear line and a slit, so that each of the first, second and third lines is adapted for there being a complete separation therealong;
• a first end of the first line is proximate an intermediate portion of the second line;
• a second end of the first line is proximate an intermediate portion of the third line;
• the first line extends between the second and third lines so that the first line defines the edges of the first and second handle flaps,
• the first and second handle flaps together have an overall length that extends in a longitudinal direction, with the second and third lines extending in the longitudinal direction,
• the first and second handle flaps each have a width that extends in a lateral direction that is crosswise with respect to the longitudinal direction, with the first line extending in the lateral direction, and
• the overall length is greater than the width, so that the first line is shorter than each of the second line and the third line.