Carton having multi-ply handle

A carton blank comprising:

• a plurality of adjoining panels including a first panel at a first end of the blank and a reinforcing panel at a second end of the blank, with additional panels therebetween, wherein
• each of the first panel and the reinforcing panel comprises a pair of openings,
• a handle is located between the pair of openings in the first panel and a reinforcing handle is located between the pair of openings in the reinforcing panel, such that when a carton is erected from the blank, the pair of openings in the first panel and the pair of openings in the reinforcing panel are in substantial alignment, a first opening of the pair of openings in the reinforcing panel comprises
• a length that extends between opposite first and second tapered ends of the first opening, so that the length extends from the first tapered end to the second tapered end, and
• a width positioned between and located distant from the tapered ends, wherein the width extends across, and is smaller than, the length;
• and
• an elongate extension cut out extends from the first tapered end of the first opening of the pair of openings in the reinforcing panel, wherein
• the elongate extension cut out is in the reinforcing panel,
• the elongate extension cut out is wider than a slit, and
• the elongate extension cut out has
• a length that extends from the first tapered end of the first opening in the reinforcing panel to an opposite end of the elongate extension cut out, and
• a width that is smaller than both
• the length of the elongate extension cut out, and
• the width of the first opening in the reinforcing panel.

A carton comprising:

• a plurality of adjoining panels extending around an interior of the carton and including at least a first panel comprising a pair of handle openings defining a handle therebetween;
• a reinforcing panel superposed with the first panel so that the reinforcing panel is positioned between the first panel and the interior of the carton, the reinforcing panel comprising a pair of reinforcing openings defining a reinforcing handle therebetween, the handle openings being respectively aligned with the reinforcing openings;
• a first reinforcing opening of the pair of reinforcing openings including
• a length that extends between opposite first and second tapered ends of the first reinforcing opening, so that the length extends from the first tapered end to the second tapered end, and
• a width positioned between and located distant from the tapered ends, wherein the width extends across, and is smaller than, the length;
• and
• a first elongate extension cut out positioned in the reinforcing panel and extending from the first tapered end of the first reinforcing opening of the pair of reinforcing openings, wherein
• the first elongate extension cut out is wider than a slit,
• the first elongate extension cut out has
• a length that extends from the first tapered end of the first reinforcing opening to an opposite end of the first elongate extension cut out, and
• a width that is smaller than both
• the length of the first elongate extension cut out, and
• the width of the first reinforcing opening;
• and
• the first panel being mounted to the reinforcing panel and covering the first elongate extension cut out so that the first elongate extension cut out is positioned between the first panel and the interior of the carton.

A carton blank, comprising:

• a plurality of panels respectively foldably connected to one another, the plurality of panels including opposite first and second ends;
• a first panel foldably connected to the first end of the plurality of panels, the first panel including a handle opening;
• a second panel foldably connected to the second end of the plurality of panels, the second panel including
• a reinforcing opening having
• a length that extends between opposite first and second tapered ends of the reinforcing opening, so that the length extends from the first tapered end to the second tapered end, and
• a width positioned between and located distant from the tapered ends, wherein the width extends across, and is smaller than, the length of the reinforcing opening, and
• an elongate extension cut out extending from the first tapered end of the reinforcing opening, wherein
• the elongate extension cut out is in the second panel,
• the elongate extension cut out is wider than a slit, and
• the elongate extension cut out has
• a length that extends from the first tapered end of the reinforcing opening to an opposite end of the elongate extension cut out, and
• a width that is smaller than both
• the length of the elongate extension cut out, and
• the width of the reinforcing opening;
• and
• the handle opening and the reinforcing opening being arranged for being substantially superposed with one another when the blank is erected into the carton.