Abstract: A leak resistant expandable carton is end-loadable and expandable to retain ice or other matter above a compartment loaded with articles such as cans or bottles. The carton is expanded by separating its top wall with a tear strip and then by raising composite top end flaps, which are hingedly connected to the top wall and to the end walls of the carton. As the composite top end flaps are raised, the top wall sections are raised to be side extensions that are coplanar with and to extend above a pair of side walls. At the same time, the composite top end flaps unfold and are raised to be end extensions that are coplanar with and to extend above the pair of end walls. The side and end extensions are substantially continuously interconnected so that the expanded portion of the carton is relatively rigid and contiguous.

Abstract: A carton is provided with side walls and chamfered corners shaped to securely or tightly enclose a group of cylindrical articles, such as beverage bottles. The curvature of the edges of each side wall is selected to cause the end wall or end closure structure to conform to the cylindrical and tapered shape of articles in the endmost row. More specifically, the end edges of each side wall are substantially concave and their curvature is determined such that the minimum width of each side wall is less than or equal to the width of the top wall. To encourage side end flaps, which partially form the end closure structure, to crease so as to define the chamfered corners, a fold line is formed in the side end flaps.

Abstract: A carton for dispensing articles such as cups while retaining the remaining cups in the open carton. A plurality of panels are connected together to define a carton. A bottom panel includes a plurality of article-receiving openings therethrough. The openings are configured to receive articles and to retain the articles by their top flanges. Each of the openings is disposed adjacent to a fold line connecting the bottom panel with a side panel. The fold line includes a frangible portion that is positioned in proximity of at least one of the openings. Moving each article within the respective opening permits a flange of that article to initiate breakage of the frangible portion to release that article from the respective opening so that that article may be dispensed from the carton.

Abstract: A carton includes a top panel, a pair of opposed end panels, and an integral strap handle that has a medial grip portion, a pair of wider portions and opposed end portions. The opposed end portions are formed from the end panels while the medial and wider portions are formed from the top panel. The strap handle is movable from a stowed position where the medial and wider portions lie in the plane of the top panel to a use position where the medial portion is arched upwardly from the plane of the top panel. The strap handle defines in the top panel an opening extending across the top panel. A relief notch is formed in the top panel at a location directly adjoining each wider portion along a complementary side edge of the opening.

Abstract: A basket-style carrier is formed from a single blank and includes parallel first and second side walls, parallel first and second end walls, and a composite handle structure arranged between the first and second side walls. The handle structure has first and second handle panels secured together in a juxtaposed relationship. A first securing member is hingedly connected to the first handle panel and glued to the inside surface of the first end wall to create a joint between the handle structure and the first end wall. A first joint-reinforcing member is hingedly connected to the second handle panel and glued to the inside surface of said first end wall.

Abstract: A carton includes a top panel, a pair of opposed end panels, and an integral strap handle that has a medial grip portion, a pair of wider portions and opposed end portions. The opposed end portions are formed from the end panels while the medial and wider portions are formed from the top panel. The strap handle is movable from a stowed position where the medial and wider portions lie in the plane of the top panel to a use position where the medial portion is arched upwardly from the plane of the top panel. The strap handle defines in the top panel an opening extending across the top panel. A relief notch is formed in the top panel at a location directly adjoining each wider portion along a complementary side edge of the opening.

Abstract: A carton includes a first wall, a second wall connected to the first wall along a corner fold line and disposed at an angle with respect to the first wall to define a corner of the carton along the corner fold line, and a tear line formed in the first wall and extending into the second wall to define a tear panel disposed astride the corner fold line. The tear panel includes a push tab connected thereto along a transverse fold line extending transversely of the corner fold line.

Abstract: A basket-style carrier is formed from a single blank and includes parallel first and second side walls, parallel first and second end walls, and a composite handle structure arranged between the first and second side walls. The handle structure has first and second handle panels secured together in a juxtaposed relationship. A first securing member is hingedly connected to the first handle panel and glued to the inside surface of the first end wall to create a joint between the handle structure and the first end wall. A first joint-reinforcing member is hingedly connected to the second handle panel and glued to the inside surface of said first end wall.

Abstract: A beverage carton has a center panel, a left panel foldably connected to the center panel along a left fold line, a right panel foldably connected to the center panel along a right fold line, and a strap handle formed from the center, left and right panels. The strap handle extends transversely, instead of longitudinally, across the center panel between the left and right panels to absorb lifting forces in the side panels rather than end panels of the carton.

Abstract: A handle structure for a carton is formed within a panel having a opposing side edges and opposing end edges that intersect to form corners of the handle panel, the handle structure. A strap member is integrally conjoined with the handle panel and extends between the end edges. Opposing strap edges are substantially disjoined from the handle panel. The strap member includes a substantially centrally disposed region wherein opposing central strap edge segments of the opposing strap edges are substantially parallel to and mediate the opposing side edges.

Abstract: A carrier for a plurality of articles arranged in at least two rows, includes substantially parallel first and second side walls, substantially parallel first and second end walls interconnecting the side walls, and a medial partitioning structure extending between and connected to the first and second end walls. The medial partitioning structure is disposed between and substantially parallel to the first and second side walls and includes first and second longitudinal partition panels disposed at least in part in face-to-face contacting relationship. The carrier further includes first and second transverse partition panels formed from the first and second longitudinal partition panels respectively. The first transverse partition panel is foldably connected to the first longitudinal partition panel and extends to the first side wall. The second transverse partition panel is foldably connected to the second longitudinal partition panel and extends to the second side wall.

Abstract: A carton has top and bottom walls that are interconnected by a pair of opposed side walls to form a tubular structure. An end closure structure is provided at each end of the tubular structure to at least partially close that end. One or each of the end closure structures includes a bottom end flap, a pair of side end flaps and a pair of web panels. The bottom end flap is foldably joined to the bottom wall and extends upwardly. The side end flaps are foldably joined respectively to the side walls and extend to each other to traverse the respective end of the tubular structure and to cover at least part of the bottom end flap. Each web panel foldably interconnects the bottom end flap and the respective side end flap and is disposed in a face-contacting relationship with the inside surface of the respective side end flap. A pair of first tear lines are formed respectively in the side end flaps. Each first tear line extends between the adjacent side wall and the adjacent web panel.

Abstract: A handle structure for a carton 12 is formed within a panel 20, 28 having a strap member 14, 44, 46 extending between end edges of the panel. An elongated web 54 extends diagonally from an intersection of side and end edges of the panel. The elongated web 54 includes a perforated line 57 and a score line 56 intermediate the perforated line and the end edge of the panel. A connecting tab 70 lies intermediate the end region of the strap member and foldably interconnects the strap member with a region of the panel that lies between the strap member and one of the side edges of the panel. The perforated line and score line of the elongated web intersect at a point distal the vertex of side and end edges.

Abstract: A handle structure for a carton 12 is formed within a panel 20, 28 having a strap member 14, 44, 46 extending between end edges of the panel. An elongated web 54 extends diagonally from an intersection of side and end edges of the panel. The elongated web 54 includes a perforated line 57 and a score line 56 intermediate the perforated line and the end edge of the panel. A connecting tab 70 lies intermediate the end region of the strap member and foldably interconnects the strap member with a region of the panel that lies between the strap member and one of the side edges of the panel. The perforated line and score line of the elongated web intersect at a point distal the vertex of side and end edges.

Abstract: A basket-style article carrier (10) with straight, non-stepped side walls (26, 72) and end walls (52/86, 112/122) wherein partition portions containing cell-forming partition straps (34a, 34b, 64a, 64b) are struck from a multiple-ply handle structure and are adhered to a central support member (104) which is also struck from the multiple-ply handle structure. The multiple-ply handle structure which includes handle panels (44, 46, 94, 96) lie within the perimeter of the side wall and end structure panels of the blank (16) for forming the carrier.

Abstract: A carrier for a plurality of objects arranged in four rows includes substantially parallel first and second side walls, substantially parallel first and second end walls interconnecting the side walls, a medial panel extending between the first and second end walls, the medial panel being disposed between and substantially parallel to the first and second side walls, first primary partition structure extending between the first and second end walls, the first primary partition structure being disposed between and substantially parallel to the first side wall and the medial panel, second primary partition structure extending between the first and second end walls, the second primary partition structure being disposed between and substantially parallel to said second side wall and the medial panel, a primary bottom wall connected between lower portions of the first and second side walls, and a secondary bottom wall connected between lower portions of the first and second primary partition structure.

Abstract: An elongated tubular carton (10) formed from a blank (12) is collapsible about a pair of diametrically opposed fold lines. The carton (10) has a segmented tear strip (60, 62, 64, 66) and display apertures (70).