Sleeve with pre-applied handle for setup box or folding carton

Claim 1

A sleeve and handle for a rectilinear package; said sleeve being adapted to maintain the package in closed position when placed on said package; said handle being connected to and a part of said sleeve; said sleeve comprising a tubular member having a pair of side walls each connected by hinge lines to a top and bottom wall; said tubular member being erectable and collapsible around said fold lines; said sleeve when erected comprising a pair of opposed parallel side walls and opposed parallel top and bottom walls; the cross-sectional area of said erected tubular sleeve being of a dimension to match corresponding dimensions of said package; said sleeve being capable of being slipped on and off said package and being dimensioned to have a substantial frictional fit on said package; the top wall of said sleeve having a handle formed therein and comprising at least a pair of superimposed upper and lower panels; one of said panels being hingedly connected to one side wall; the other of said panels being hingedly connected to the other side wall; the upper panel of said superimposed panels having a slot therein; a flexible handle member secured between said superimposed panels and extending in said slot; said handle member being depressible into said slot to be wholly within the boundary of said upper panel; said handle being capable of being raised out of said slot for grasping by the hand and comprising a ribbon; the ends of said ribbon being secured to the lower of the two superimposed panels forming the top wall and at least one section of the ribbon adjacent one end of the slot being prefolded to ensure a controlled collapse of said handle within said slot, said top wall further including a reinforcing member for further securing said handle member to said lower panel and to reinforce said slot in said upper panel, said reinforcing member including a single sheet with openings therein, said sheet being adhesively secured to the upper surface of said lower panel with the ends of said ribbon handle being captured through said openings, between said sheet and said lower panel.