Carton with integrated handle assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11214423-B2
Application number	US-201815869778-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 12, 2018
Priority date	Jan 26, 2017
Publication date	Jan 4, 2022
Grant date	Jan 4, 2022

Abstract

A carton for storing a plurality of products includes a main body establishing an enclosure with an interior cavity for storing a plurality of products, with the enclosure being formed from a plurality of interconnected panels. A hingedly connected access flap, enabling access to the interior cavity, is formed from and extends across portions of at least two of the plurality of panels. The carton is provided with a handle assembly established, at least in part, by first and second openings, with the first opening being formed in the access flap and the second opening being formed adjacent the access flap in one of the plurality of panels. The handle assembly enables the carton to be readily grasped with one hand while simultaneously closing an access opening to the carton with the flap.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A carton for storing a plurality of products, the carton comprising:
a main body establishing an enclosure with an interior cavity for storing the plurality of products, with the enclosure being formed from a plurality of interconnected panels, the plurality of interconnected panels including a plurality of side panels and first and second end panels which collectively form the main body;
an access flap hingedly connected to the main body and enabling access to the interior cavity, with the access flap including a first portion formed from part of one of the plurality of interconnected panels and a second portion formed from part of a separate one of the plurality of interconnected panels, such that the access flap is formed from and extends across portions of at least two of the plurality of interconnected panels, wherein the second portion of the access flap is hingedly connected to another part of the separate one of the plurality of interconnected panels and the first portion has a free end portion that is remote from where the second portion of the access flap is hingedly connected;
perforations formed in the at least two of the plurality of interconnected panels and extending about all but one section of the access flap; and
a handle assembly enabling a user to retain the access flap in a closed position with one hand, the handle assembly being established, at least in part, by first and second openings, with the first opening being formed in the free end portion of the access flap and the second opening being formed in the main body adjacent the access flap, said first and second openings being spaced by a distance enabling the carton to be grasped through the handle assembly with one hand for carrying the carton while retaining the access flap in the closed position.

2. The carton of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of individually wrapped edible food products stored in the interior cavity, with the plurality of individually wrapped edible food products being accessible by a consumer due to the flap.

3. The carton of claim 2 , wherein the main body is formed of paperboard or corrugated material.

4. The carton of claim 1 , wherein the at least two of the plurality of interconnected panels from which the access flap is formed includes one of the plurality of side panels and one of the first and second end panels.

5. The carton of claim 4 , wherein the access flap is connected to the main body of the carton by a living hinge.

6. The carton of claim 1 , wherein the access flap is hingedly connected to the main body along the one section in one of the first and second end panels.

7. The carton of claim 1 , wherein the first opening is closer than the second opening to where the access flap is hingedly connected to the main body.

8. The carton of claim 1 , wherein the first opening is smaller than the second opening and the first opening is configured to receive a thumb of the one hand.

9. The carton of claim 8 , wherein the first opening is generally circular and the second opening is generally elliptical.

10. The carton of claim 8 , wherein the second opening is formed in the same panel as the first portion of the access flap.

11. The carton of claim 8 , wherein the second opening is also formed in a panel adjacent the one of the at least two of the plurality of interconnected panels.

12. A method of carrying a carton, the carton including a main body establishing an enclosure with an interior cavity for storing a plurality of products, with the enclosure being formed from a plurality of interconnected panels, the plurality of interconnected panels including a plurality of side panels and first and second end panels which collectively form the main body, and having an access flap hingedly connected to the main body and enabling access to the interior cavity, with the access flap including a first portion formed from part of one of the plurality of interconnected panels and a second portion formed from part of a separate one of the plurality of interconnected panels, such that the access flap is formed from and extends across portions of at least two of the plurality of interconnected panels, wherein the second portion of the access flap is hingedly connected to another part of the separate one of the plurality of interconnected panels and the first portion has a free end portion that is remote from where the second portion of the access flap is hingedly connected, with perforations formed in the at least two of the plurality of interconnected panels and extending about all but one section of the access flap and the access flap being selectively pivotable between an opened position wherein the access flap is positioned to expose an enlarged access opening through which the plurality of products stored in the carton can be accessed and a closed position wherein the access flap extends across the enlarged access opening, said carton further including a handle assembly enabling a user to retain the access flap in a closed position with one hand, the handle assembly being established, at least in part, by first and second openings, with the first opening being formed in the free end portion of the access flap and the second opening being formed in the main body adjacent the access flap, said first and second openings being spaced by a distance enabling the carton to be grasped through the handle assembly with one hand for carrying the carton while retaining the access flap in the closed position, said method comprising:
grasping the carton with the access flap in the closed position by inserting at least one finger of a hand of the user into the first opening formed in the free end portion of the access flap, remote from where the access flap is pivotable, and at least one other finger of the hand of the user in the second opening formed in the main body adjacent the access flap in order to carry the carton while retaining the access flap in the closed position with the hand of the user.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the first and second openings are formed in a common one of the plurality of interconnected panels.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the first and second openings are formed in different ones of the plurality of interconnected panels.

15. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
pivoting the access flap to the closed position by means of a hinge connecting the access flap to one of the plurality of interconnected panels.

16. The method of claim 12 , wherein the second opening is formed in the one of the plurality of interconnected panels which is spaced or offset from the access flap.

17. The method of claim 12 , wherein inserting the at least one finger of the hand of the user into the first opening formed in the access flap includes inserting a thumb of the user into the first opening.

18. The method of claim 12 , further comprising: grasping the carton with the hand of the user extending around a corner of the carton.

Assignees

• Gen Mills Inc

Inventors

• Gaylor Aaron
• Jensen Todd

Classifications

• B65D5/54 Primary

  Lines of weakness to facilitate opening of container or dividing it into separate parts by cutting or tearing ({B65D5/06, B65D5/5233, B65D5/5253 take precedence } ; break-in flaps, or members adapted to be torn-off, to provide pouring openings B65D5/70) · CPC title

• B65D5/549

  and defining after rupture a lid hinged about a line located in the top surface of the container · CPC title

• B65D5/544

  and defining after rupture a lid hinged about a line located in the top surface of the container · CPC title

• B65D5/4608

  Handgrip holes · CPC title

• B65D5/547

  and defining after rupture a lid hinged about a line located in the top surface of the container · CPC title