Carton with reinforced end handles

A carton blank, comprising:

• a top panel, a bottom panel, a first side panel, and a second side panel configured to form the respective walls of a tubular structure, the top panel being hingedly connected to at least one of the first side panel and the second side panel;
• and
• a plurality of end flaps configured to form an end closure structure, comprising:
• a top end flap hingedly connected to the top panel, the top end flap comprising a handle opening:
• first and second side end flaps hingedly connected respectively to the first and second side panels, each side end flap comprising:
• a cutout having dimensions complementary to the dimensions of at least part of the handle opening;
• and
• a reinforcing panel hingedly connected to the each side end flap such that each reinforcing panel is foldable to be in face contacting arrangement with a respective said side end flap, the each reinforcing panel being separate from a respective said side wall,
• wherein the hinged connection connecting the top panel and the at least one of the first side panel and the second side panel is substantially parallel to the hinged connection connecting the each reinforcing panel and the respective said side end flap.

A carton blank, comprising:

• a top panel, a bottom panel, a first side panel, and a second side panel configured to form the respective walls of a tubular structure, the top panel being hingedly connected to at least one of the first side panel and the second side panel;
• and
• a plurality of end flaps configured to form an end closure structure, comprising:
• a top end flap hingedly connected to the top panel, the top end flap comprising a handle opening;
• first and second side end flaps hingedly connected respectively to the first and second side panels, each side end flap comprising:
• a cutout having dimensions complementary to the dimensions of at least part of the handle opening;
• and
• a reinforcing panel hingedly connected to the each side end flap such that each reinforcing panel is foldable to be in face contacting arrangement with a respective said side end flap, the each reinforcing panel being separate from a respective said side wall,
• wherein a part of the each side end flap separates a respective said reinforcing panel from a respective said side panel, wherein the each reinforcing panel is detached from the top end flap along a severance line, wherein the severance line defines an edge common to both the each reinforcing panel and the top end flap, and wherein the severance line and the hinged connection connecting the each reinforcing panel to the respective said side end flap are substantially parallel.

A carton blank, comprising:

• a top panel, a bottom panel, a first side panel, and a second side panel configured to form the respective walls of a tubular structure, the top panel being hingedly connected to at least one of the first side panel and the second side panel;
• and
• a plurality of end flaps configured to form an end closure structure, comprising:
• a top end flap hingedly connected to the top panel, the top end flap comprising a handle opening;
• first and second side end flaps hingedly connected respectively to the first and second side panels, each side end flap comprising:
• a cutout having dimensions complementary to the dimensions of at least part of the handle opening;
• and
• a reinforcing panel hingedly connected to the each side end flap such that each reinforcing panel is foldable to be in face contacting arrangement with a respective said side end flap, the each reinforcing panel being separate from a respective said side wall,
• wherein each of the top end flap, the side end flaps and the reinforcing panels include an outer edge, and the outer edges are substantially collinear.

A carton blank, comprising:

• a top panel, a bottom panel, a first side panel, and a second side panel configured to form the respective walls of a tubular structure, the top panel being hingedly connected to at least one of the first side panel and the second side panel;
• and
• a plurality of end flaps configured to form an end closure structure, comprising:
• a top end flap hingedly connected to the top panel, the top end flap comprising a handle opening;
• first and second side end flaps hingedly connected respectively to the first and second side panels, each side end flap comprising:
• a cutout having dimensions complementary to the dimensions of at least part of the handle opening;
• and
• at least one reinforcing panel hingedly connected to at least one of the first and second side end flaps such that the at least one reinforcing panel is foldable to be in face contacting arrangement with the at least one of the first and second side end flaps, the at least one reinforcing panel being separate from the side walls,
• wherein the hinged connection connecting the top panel and the at least one of the first side panel and the second side panel is substantially parallel to the hinged connection connecting the at least one reinforcing panel and the at least one of the first and second side end flaps.