Reinforced package

A reinforced package for holding a product, the reinforced package comprising:

• a carton comprising a plurality of panels that extend at least partially around an interior of the carton, the plurality of panels comprising a front panel, a first side panel foldably connected to the front panel, a second side panel foldably connected to the front panel, at least one back panel foldably connected to at least one of the first side panel and the second side panel, and at least one bottom panel foldably connected to at least one of the front panel and the back panel;
• a bag comprising an at least partially open end, an at least partially closed end, and an interior space for holding a product, the bag being at least partially received in the interior of the carton, wherein the bag comprises a first sidewall and a second sidewall, and the at least partially closed end of the bag comprises a first gusset panel foldably connected to a second gusset panel along a first fold line, the first sidewall is foldably connected to the first gusset panel along a second fold line, and the second sidewall is foldably connected to the second gusset panel along a third fold line;
• wherein the carton is positionable in a non-erect position wherein the interior space of the bag is at least partially collapsed and the first gusset panel and the second gusset panel are at least partially folded with respect to one another and in an erect position wherein the interior space of the bag is increased and the first gusset panel and the second gusset panel are expanded, and the carton is configured to support the bag in the erect position;
• wherein the at least one bottom panel comprises a first bottom panel foldably connected to the back panel and a second bottom panel foldably connected to the front panel, and a locking tab extending from the second bottom panel and engageable with a locking notch formed into an edge of the first bottom panel prior to expanding the carton from the non-erect position to the erect position.

A reinforcing carton for holding a product, the reinforcing carton comprising:

• a plurality of panels that extend at least partially around an interior of the carton, the plurality of panels comprising a front panel, a first side panel foldably connected to the front panel along a first fold line, a second side panel foldably connected to the front panel along a second fold line, a back panel foldably connected to the first side panel along a third fold line, an attachment flap foldably connected to the second side panel along a fourth fold line, a first bottom panel foldably connected to the back panel, and a second bottom panel foldably connected to the front panel, wherein the attachment flap is at least partially attached to the back panel, and each of the first fold line, the second fold line, the third fold line, and the fourth fold line comprises a first oblique portion extending from a second oblique portion so that each of the front panel and the back panel is widest at respective upper and lower edges, each of the first oblique portions and the second oblique portions being generally straight;
• and
• locking features in at least one panel of the plurality of panels, the locking features being operable to at least partially retain the reinforcing carton in an erect position and for allowing the plurality of panels to at least partially collapse into an non-erect position of the reinforcing carton, wherein the locking features comprise the first oblique portions and the second oblique portions of each of the first fold line, the second fold line, the third fold line, and the fourth fold line;
• wherein the first bottom panel and the second bottom panel at least partially overlap one another in the interior of the carton when the carton is in the non-erect position.

A reinforcing carton for holding a product, the reinforcing carton comprising:

• a plurality of panels that extend at least partially around an interior of the carton, the plurality of panels comprising a front panel, a first side panel foldably connected to the front panel along a first fold line, a second side panel foldably connected to the front panel along a second fold line, a back panel foldably connected to the first side panel along a third fold line, an attachment flap foldably connected to the second side panel along a fourth fold line, and at least one bottom panel foldably connected to at least one of the front panel and the back panel, wherein the attachment flap is at least partially attached to the back panel, and each of the first fold line, the second fold line, the third fold line, and the fourth fold line comprises a first oblique portion extending from a second oblique portion so that each of the front panel and the back panel is widest at respective upper and lower edges, each of the first oblique portions and the second oblique portions being generally straight;
• and
• locking features in at least one panel of the plurality of panels, the locking features being operable to at least partially retain the reinforcing carton in an erect position and for allowing the plurality of panels to at least partially collapse into an non-erect position of the reinforcing carton, wherein the locking features comprise the first oblique portions and the second oblique portions of each of the first fold line, the second fold line, the third fold line, and the fourth fold line;
• wherein the at least one bottom panel comprises a first bottom panel foldably connected to the back panel and a second bottom panel foldably connected to the front panel, and the locking features further comprise a locking tab extending from the second bottom panel and engageable with a locking notch formed into an edge of the first bottom panel prior to expanding the carton from the non-erect position to the erect position.

In combination, a carton blank and a bag for forming a reinforced package for holding a product:

• the carton blank being for forming a carton, the carton blank comprising a plurality of panels comprising a front panel, a first side panel foldably connected to the front panel, a second side panel foldably connected to the front panel, at least one back panel foldably connected to at least one of the first side panel and the second side panel, a first bottom panel foldably connected to the back panel, and a second bottom panel foldably connected to the front panel;
• a bag comprising an at least partially open end, an at least partially closed end, and an interior space for holding a product, the bag being at least partially attached to the carton blank, wherein the bag comprises a first sidewall and a second sidewall, and the at least partially closed end of the bag comprises a first gusset panel foldably connected to a second gusset panel along a first fold line, the first sidewall is foldably connected to the first gusset panel along a second fold line, and the second sidewall is foldably connected to the second gusset panel along a third fold line;
• wherein the reinforced package formed from the carton blank and the bag is positionable in a non-erect position wherein the interior space of the bag is at least partially collapsed and the first gusset panel and the second gusset panel are at least partially folded with respect to one another and in an erect position wherein the interior space of the bag is increased and the first gusset panel and the second gusset panel are expanded;
• wherein the first bottom panel and the second bottom panel are for being at least partially overlapped with respect to one another in an interior of the carton formed from the carton blank when the carton is in the non-erect position.

In combination, a carton blank and a bag for forming a reinforced package for holding a product:

• the carton blank being for forming a carton, the carton blank comprising a plurality of panels comprising a front panel, a first side panel foldably connected to the front panel, a second side panel foldably connected to the front panel, at least one back panel foldably connected to at least one of the first side panel and the second side panel, and at least one bottom panel foldably connected to at least one of the front panel and the back panel;
• a bag comprising an at least partially open end, an at least partially closed end, and an interior space for holding a product, the bag being at least partially attached to the carton blank, wherein the bag comprises a first sidewall and a second sidewall, and the at least partially closed end of the bag comprises a first gusset panel foldably connected to a second gusset panel along a first fold line, the first sidewall is foldably connected to the first gusset panel along a second fold line, and the second sidewall is foldably connected to the second gusset panel along a third fold line;
• wherein the reinforced package formed from the carton blank and the bag is positionable in a non-erect position wherein the interior space of the bag is at least partially collapsed and the first gusset panel and the second gusset panel are at least partially folded with respect to one another and in an erect position wherein the interior space of the bag is increased and the first gusset panel and the second gusset panel are expanded;
• wherein the at least one bottom panel comprises a first bottom panel foldably connected to the back panel and a second bottom panel foldably connected to the front panel, and a locking tab extending from the second bottom panel for at least partially engaging a locking notch formed into an edge of the first bottom panel when the reinforced package is formed from the carton blank and the bag and prior to expanding the carton from the non-erect position to the erect position.

A method for forming a reinforced package for holding a product, the method comprising:

• obtaining a carton blank comprising a plurality of panels comprising a front panel, a first side panel foldably connected to the front panel, a second side panel foldably connected to the front panel, at least one back panel foldably connected to at least one of the first side panel and the second side panel, a first bottom panel foldably connected to the back panel, and a second bottom panel foldably connected to the front panel;
• obtaining a liner blank;
• forming a bag from the liner blank so that the bag comprises an at least partially open end, an at least partially closed end, a first sidewall, a second sidewall, and an interior space for holding a product, wherein the at least partially closed end of the bag comprises a first gusset panel foldably connected to a second gusset panel along a first fold line, the first sidewall is foldably connected to the first gusset panel along a second fold line, and the second sidewall is foldably connected to the second gusset panel along a third fold line;
• attaching at least a portion of the bag to at least one of the front panel and the back panel of the carton blank;
• and
• forming an interior of a carton at least partially defined by the plurality of panels, the forming the interior of the carton comprising forming an open-ended sleeve;
• wherein the carton is positionable in a non-erect position wherein the interior space of the bag is at least partially collapsed and the first gusset panel and the second gusset panel are at least partially folded with respect to one another and in an erect position wherein the interior space of the bag is increased and the first gusset panel and the second gusset panel are expanded, and the carton is configured to support the bag in the erect position;
• wherein the first bottom panel and the second bottom panel at least partially overlap one another in the interior of the carton when the carton is in the non-erect position.

A method for forming a reinforced package for holding a product, the method comprising:

• obtaining a carton blank comprising a plurality of panels comprising a front panel, a first side panel foldably connected to the front panel, a second side panel foldably connected to the front panel, at least one back panel foldably connected to at least one of the first side panel and the second side panel, and at least one bottom panel foldably connected to at least one of the front panel and the back panel, wherein the at least one bottom panel comprises a first bottom panel foldably connected to the back panel and a second bottom panel foldably connected to the front panel, a locking tab extending from the second bottom panel and engageable with a locking notch formed into an edge of the first bottom panel;
• obtaining a liner blank;
• forming a bag from the liner blank so that the bag comprises an at least partially open end, an at least partially closed end, a first sidewall, a second sidewall, and an interior space for holding a product, wherein the at least partially closed end of the bag comprises a first gusset panel foldably connected to a second gusset panel along a first fold line, the first sidewall is foldably connected to the first gusset panel along a second fold line, and the second sidewall is foldably connected to the second gusset panel along a third fold line;
• attaching at least a portion of the bag to at least one of the front panel and the back panel of the carton blank;
• forming an interior of a carton at least partially defined by the plurality of panels, the forming the interior of the carton comprising forming an open-ended sleeve;
• wherein the carton is positionable in a non-erect position wherein the interior space of the bag is at least partially collapsed and the first gusset panel and the second gusset panel are at least partially folded with respect to one another and in an erect position wherein the interior space of the bag is increased and the first gusset panel and the second gusset panel are expanded, and the carton is configured to support the bag in the erect position;
• and
• forming an at least partially closed end of the carton by at least partially engaging the locking tab with the locking notch of the first bottom panel prior to expanding the carton from the non-erect position to the erect position.