Carton with reinforced corner

A blank for forming a carton for containing a plurality of articles, the blank comprises:

• a plurality of panels that are for forming an interior of the carton formed from the blank, the plurality of panels comprises a bottom panel, a first side panel foldably connected to the bottom panel, and a second side panel foldably connected to the bottom panel;
• and
• at least one end flap foldably connected to one of the first side panel and the second side panel, the at least one end flap comprises a first portion with a first edge and a second edge extending across substantially the entire width of the at least one end flap, a second portion with a first edge and a second edge extending across substantially the entire width of the at least one end flap, and a third portion with a first edge and a second edge extending across substantially the entire width of the at least one end flap, the first portion is foldably connected to the one of the first side panel and the second side panel along substantially the entire length of the first edge of the first portion, the second portion is foldably connected to the first portion along substantially the entire length of the second edge of the first portion and the first edge of the second portion, and the third portion is foldably connected to the second portion along substantially the entire length of the second edge of the second portion and the first edge of the third portion, the first edge and the second edge of the first portion, second portion, and third portion are substantially straight,
• a removable panel at least partially defined by a tear strip in the at least one end flap and the one of the first side panel and the second side panel, the tear strip comprises an access opening in the at least one end flap adjacent the tear strip for accessing the tear strip to initiate separation of the removable panel from the blank,
• the at least one end flap being for forming at least one reinforced corner of the carton formed from the blank that comprises a reinforced end panel and a reinforced portion of one of the first side panel and the second side panel,
• the reinforced end panel comprises the first portion and the second portion of the at least one end flap that are in face-to-face contact in the carton formed from the blank, and
• the reinforced portion of the one of the first side panel and the second side panel comprises the third portion of the at least one end flap that is in face-to-face contact with a portion of the one of the first side panel and the second side panel in the carton formed from the blank,
• the access opening is in the second portion of the at least one side end flap, the tear strip having a first portion extending from the access opening across the first portion of the at least one side end flap, a second portion extending from the first portion of the tear strip into the one of the first side panel and the second side panel, and a third portion extending from the second portion of the tear strip to a free edge of the one of the first side panel and the second side panel.

A method of forming a carton for containing a plurality of articles, the method comprises:

• obtaining a blank, the blank comprises a bottom panel, a first side panel foldably connected to the bottom panel, a second side panel foldably connected to the bottom panel, at least one end flap foldably connected to one of the first side panel and the second side panel, the at least one end flap comprises a first portion with a first edge and a second edge extending across substantially the entire width of the at least one end flap, a second portion with a first edge and a second edge extending across substantially the entire width of the at least one end flap, and a third portion with a first edge and a second edge extending across substantially the entire width of the at least one end flap, the first portion is foldably connected to the one of the first side panel and the second side panel along substantially the entire length of the first edge of the first portion, the second portion is foldably connected to the first portion along substantially the entire length of the second edge of the first portion and the first edge of the second portion, and the third portion is foldably connected to the second portion along substantially the entire length of the second edge of the second portion and the first edge of the third portion, the first edge and the second edge of the first portion, second portion, and third portion are substantially straight, the blank further comprises a removable panel at least partially defined by a tear strip in the at least one end flap and the one of the first side panel and the second side panel, the tear strip comprises an access opening in the at least one end flap adjacent the tear strip for accessing the tear strip to initiate separation of the removable panel from the blank, the access opening is in the second portion of the at least one side end flap, the tear strip having a first portion extending from the access opening across the first portion of the at least one side end flap, a second portion extending from the first portion of the tear strip into the one of the first side panel and the second side panel, and a third portion extending from the second portion of the tear strip to a free edge of the one of the first side panel and the second side panel;
• positioning the blank to form the carton, the positioning comprises forming at least one reinforced corner comprising a reinforced end panel and a reinforced portion of one of the first side panel and the second side panel;
• forming the reinforced end panel comprises placing the first portion and the second portion in face-to-face contact;
• and
• forming the reinforced portion of the one of the first side panel and the second side panel comprises placing the third portion of the at least one end flap in face-to-face contact with a portion of the one of the first side panel and the second side panel.