Reinforced polygonal containers and blanks for making the same

A method for forming a polygonal container from a blank of sheet material, the polygonal container including at least five sides, the blank including a bottom panel, two opposing side panels each extending from a side edge of the bottom panel, two opposing end panels each extending from an end edge of the bottom panel, and a reinforcing panel assembly extending from a first side edge of a first end panel of the two end panels, wherein the reinforcing panel assembly includes a corner panel extending from the first side edge of the first end panel, a first reinforcing side panel extending from a side edge of the corner panel, a second reinforcing side panel extending from a side edge of the first reinforcing side panel, a reinforcing corner panel extending from a side edge of the second reinforcing side panel, and an inner end panel extending from a side edge of the reinforcing corner panel, said method comprising:

• rotating the second reinforcing side panel toward an interior surface of the first reinforcing side panel about a fold line connecting the second reinforcing side panel and the first reinforcing side panel, said rotating aligning the first and second reinforcing side panels in a substantially face-to-face relationship, the corner panel and the reinforcing corner panel in a substantially face-to-face relationship, and the inner end panel and the first end panel in a substantially face-to-face relationship;
• rotating the first side panel inwardly into a substantially perpendicular relationship with the bottom panel;
• rotating the first end panel inwardly into a substantially perpendicular relationship with the bottom panel, the first end panel and inner end panel forming a first end wall of the polygonal container;
• rotating the corner panel and the reinforcing corner panel toward the interior surface of the first end panel, the corner panel and the reinforcing corner panel forming a first corner wall of the polygonal container;
• rotating the first and second reinforcing side panels toward the interior surface of the first end panel about a fold line connecting the second reinforcing side panel and the reinforcing corner panel and about a fold line connecting the first reinforcing side panel and the corner panel;
• and
• attaching the first side panel to one of the first and second reinforcing side panels to form a first side wall of the container;
• wherein the corner panel and reinforcing corner panel are at an oblique angle with respect to the first end panel;
• wherein the corner panel has a first height, and the reinforcing corner panel has a second height that is less than the first height;
• wherein the reinforcing corner panel includes opposing top and bottom edges, and the difference between the first height and the second height is substantially equal to a thickness of the bottom panel, said method further comprising positioning the bottom edge of the reinforcing corner panel to rest against an interior surface of the bottom panel and positioning the corner panel to rest against an outer edge of the bottom panel.