Patent 7775418 was granted and assigned to MeadWestvaco on August, 2010 by the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
A reinforced handle is provided in an end wall closure of a substantially tubular carton by forming a handle opening in a top end flap, and by aligning the handle opening with corresponding cutouts formed in respective side end flaps. Each cutout is provided with reinforcing flaps that align with at least the weight bearing edge of the handle opening. Each reinforcing flap is formed from the respective side end flap and folded out of the plane of the respective side end flap to be in face contacting relationship with that side end flap. Each reinforcing flap aligns its edge with the weight bearing edge of the handle opening. In this manner, the material at the weight bearing edge of the handle opening is at least three plies thick.