Reinforced package

• US 9,758,275 B2
• Filed: 09/25/2014
• Issued: 09/12/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Graphic Packaging International LLC (Graphic Packaging International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Graphic Packaging International Incorporated
• Inventors: Fitzwater, Kelly R., Strand, Scott Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): DEMEREE, CHRISTOPHER R
• Application Number:
  US14/496,252
• Publication Number:
  US 20150083789A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,083 Days
• Field of Search: 22911734, 22911732, 22911705, 2291173, 22911727, 229902, 229904, 493 99, 493100
• CPC Class Codes: B31B 2120/25 formed by partitions or like inserts not integral with walls
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/103 one of the self-locking flaps having a tongue engaging into an opening of an opposite flap
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/3628 collapsed along median lines of two opposite sides of the rectangular tubular body
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/606 Bags or bag-like tubes loosely glued to the wall of a "tubular" container

Abstract

A reinforced package for holding a product. The reinforced package comprises a carton comprising a plurality of panels that extend at least partially around an interior of the carton. The plurality of panels can comprise 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 can comprise an at least partially open end, an at least partially closed end, and an interior space for holding a product. The bag can be at least partially received in the interior of the carton. The carton is positionable in a non-erect position and in an erect position.

Claims

1. 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, 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 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 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.

2. The reinforced package of claim 1, wherein the at least partially closed end of the bag is at least partially received in the interior of the carton.

3. The reinforced package of claim 1, wherein the bag is at least partially glued to an interior surface of at least one of the front panel and the back panel.

4. The reinforced package of claim 3, wherein at least one of the first sidewall and the second sidewall of the bag is glued to the interior surface of the at least one of the front panel and the back panel.

5. The reinforced package of claim 1, wherein each of the first sidewall and the second sidewall of the bag extends generally upwardly from the at least partially closed end of the bag.

6. The reinforced package of claim 5, wherein the first sidewall and the second sidewall are attached to one another by at least one seam extending along a marginal area of the bag.

7. The reinforced package of claim 6, wherein the at least one seam comprises at least a first seam and a second seam, the first seam and the second seam extending along respective marginal areas of the bag.

8. The reinforced package of claim 6, wherein the at least one seam comprises at least one glue area extending along each of the first sidewall and the second sidewall, and respective portions of the at least one glue area in the first sidewall and the second sidewall are at least partially glued in face-to-face contact.

9. The reinforced package of claim 8, wherein the at least one glue area further extends along at least a portion of the at least partially closed end of the bag, at least a portion of the at least one glue area in the at least partially closed end being at least partially glued to another portion of the at least one glue area in the at least partially closed end to form at least one sealed corner of the bag.

10. The reinforced package of claim 9, wherein the at least one seam comprises at least a first seam and a second seam, the at least one glue area comprises at least a first glue area and a second glue area, and the at least one sealed corner comprises a first sealed corner and a second sealed corner.

11. The reinforced package of claim 5, wherein the first gusset panel and the second gusset panel are generally coplanar with each other when the carton is in the erect position and are at least partially folded with respect to one another along the first fold line when the carton is in the non-erect position.

12. The reinforced package of claim 11, wherein the first gusset panel and the second gusset panel are disposed generally between the first sidewall and the second sidewall when the carton is in the non-erect position.

13. The reinforced package of claim 1, wherein the first side panel comprises a first panel portion foldably connected to a second panel portion along a first lateral fold line, and the second side panel comprises a third panel portion foldably connected to a fourth panel portion along a second lateral fold line.

14. The reinforced package of claim 13, wherein the first panel portion and the third panel portion are generally coplanar with the respective second panel portion and fourth panel portion when the carton is in the erect position, and the first side panel and the second side panel are folded along the respective first lateral fold line and second lateral fold line so that the first panel portion generally opposes the second panel portion and the third panel portion generally opposes the fourth panel portion when the carton is in the non-erect position.

15. The reinforced package of claim 14, wherein the first side panel is foldably connected to the front panel along a first fold line and to the back panel along a second fold line, the second side panel is foldably connected to the front panel along a third fold line and to an attachment flap along a fourth fold line, 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.

16. The reinforced package of claim 1, wherein the first side panel comprises a first panel portion foldably connected to a second panel portion along a first fold line, the first panel portion is foldably connected to the front panel along a second fold line, and the second panel portion is foldably connected to the back panel along a third fold line.

17. The reinforced package of claim 16, wherein each of the second fold line and the third fold line comprises a first oblique portion extending from a second oblique portion at a vertex, each vertex being spaced apart from the first fold line so that each of the first panel portion and the second panel portion is widest adjacent the respective vertex.

18. The reinforced package of claim 1, wherein the first gusset panel and the second gusset panel are generally coplanar when the carton is in the erect position and are folded to be at least partially in face-to-face contact with one another when the carton is in the non-erect position.

19. The reinforced package of claim 1, wherein each of the first bottom panel and the second bottom panel is free from connection to each of the first side panel and the second side panel.

20. The reinforced package of claim 1, wherein the front panel, the back panel, the first bottom panel, and the second bottom panel at least partially overlap one another when the carton is in the non-erect position.

21. 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.

22. The reinforced package of claim 21, further comprising a bottom flap foldably connected to the second bottom panel along a fold line that is at least partially interrupted by the locking tab, and the locking tab is at least partially defined by a cut line in the bottom flap, wherein a distance between the locking tab and the fold line between the second bottom panel and the front panel is substantially equal to the distance between the locking notch and the fold line between the first bottom panel and the back panel, such that a line of engagement between the locking notch and the base of the locking tab is substantially centered between the front panel and the back panel.

23. 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.

24. The reinforcing carton of claim 23, wherein the first side panel comprises a first panel portion foldably connected to a second panel portion along a first lateral fold line, and the second side panel comprises a third panel portion foldably connected to a fourth panel portion along a second lateral fold line.

25. The reinforcing carton of claim 24, wherein the first panel portion and the third panel portion are generally coplanar with the respective second panel portion and fourth panel portion when the carton is in the erect position, and the first side panel and the second side panel are folded along the respective first lateral fold line and second lateral fold line so that the first panel portion generally opposes the second panel portion and the third panel portion generally opposes the fourth panel portion when the carton is in the non-erect position.

26. The reinforcing carton of claim 23, wherein the first side panel comprises a first panel portion foldably connected to a second panel portion along a lateral fold line, the first panel portion is foldably connected to the front panel along the first fold line, and the second panel portion is foldably connected to the back panel along the third fold line.

27. The reinforcing carton of claim 26, wherein the first oblique portion extends from the respective second oblique portion at a respective vertex in each of at least the first fold line and the third fold line, each vertex being spaced apart from the lateral fold line so that each of the first panel portion and the second panel portion is widest adjacent the respective vertex.

28. The reinforcing carton of claim 23, wherein each of the first bottom panel and the second bottom panel is free from connection to each of the first side panel and the second side panel.

29. The reinforcing carton of claim 23, wherein the front panel, the back panel, the first bottom panel, and the second bottom panel at least partially overlap one another when the carton is in the non-erect position.

30. 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.

31. The reinforcing carton of claim 30, further comprising a bottom flap foldably connected to the second bottom panel along a fold line that is at least partially interrupted by the locking tab, and the locking tab is at least partially defined by a cut line in the bottom flap, wherein a distance between the locking tab and the fold line between the second bottom panel and the front panel is substantially equal to the distance between the locking notch and the fold line between the first bottom panel and the back panel, such that a line of engagement between the locking notch and the base of the locking tab is substantially centered between the front panel and the back panel.

32. 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.

33. The combination of claim 32, wherein the at least partially closed end of the bag is disposed adjacent at least one of the front panel and the back panel of the carton blank for being at least partially received in the interior of the carton formed from the carton blank.

34. The combination of claim 32, wherein the bag is at least partially glued to an interior surface of at least one of the front panel and the back panel.

35. The combination of claim 34, wherein at least one of the first sidewall and the second sidewall of the bag is glued to the interior surface of the at least one of the front panel and the back panel.

36. The combination of claim 32, wherein each of the first sidewall and the second sidewall of the bag extends generally upwardly from the at least partially closed end of the bag.

37. The combination of claim 36, wherein the first sidewall and the second sidewall are attached to one another by at least one seam extending along a marginal area of the bag.

38. The combination of claim 37, wherein the at least one seam comprises at least a first seam and a second seam, the first seam and the second seam extending along respective marginal areas of the bag.

39. The combination of claim 37, wherein the at least one seam comprises at least one glue area extending along each of the first sidewall and the second sidewall, and respective portions of the at least one glue area in the first sidewall and the second sidewall are at least partially glued in face-to-face contact.

40. The combination of claim 39, wherein the at least one glue area further extends along at least a portion of the at least partially closed end of the bag, at least a portion of the at least one glue area in the at least partially closed end being at least partially glued to another portion of the at least one glue area in the at least partially closed end to form at least one sealed corner of the bag.

41. The combination of claim 40, wherein the at least one seam comprises at least a first seam and a second seam, the at least one glue area comprises at least a first glue area and a second glue area, and the at least one sealed corner comprises a first sealed corner and a second sealed corner.

42. The combination of claim 36, wherein the first gusset panel and the second gusset panel are for being generally coplanar with each other when the reinforced package formed from the carton blank and the bag is in the erect position and are for being at least partially folded with respect to one another along the first fold line when the reinforced package formed from the carton blank and the bag is in the non-erect position.

43. The combination of claim 42, wherein the first gusset panel and the second gusset panel are disposed generally between the first sidewall and the second sidewall.

44. The combination of claim 32, wherein the first side panel comprises a first panel portion foldably connected to a second panel portion along a first lateral fold line, and the second side panel comprises a third panel portion foldably connected to a fourth panel portion along a second lateral fold line.

45. The combination of claim 44, wherein the first side panel is foldably connected to the front panel along a first fold line and to the back panel along a second fold line, the second side panel is foldably connected to the front panel along a third fold line and to an attachment flap along a fourth fold line, the attachment flap is for being 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.

46. The combination of claim 32, wherein the first side panel comprises a first panel portion foldably connected to a second panel portion along a first fold line, the first panel portion is foldably connected to the front panel along a second fold line, and the second panel portion is foldably connected to the back panel along a third fold line.

47. The combination of claim 46, wherein each of the second fold line and the third fold line comprises a first oblique portion extending from a second oblique portion at a vertex, each vertex being spaced apart from the first fold line so that each of the first panel portion and the second panel portion is widest adjacent the respective vertex.

48. The combination of claim 32, wherein the first gusset panel and the second gusset panel are generally coplanar when the carton formed from the carton blank is in the erect position and are folded to be at least partially in face-to-face contact with one another when the carton formed from the carton blank is in the non-erect position.

49. The combination of claim 32, wherein each of the first bottom panel and the second bottom panel is free from connection to each of the first side panel and the second side panel.

50. 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.

51. The combination of claim 50, further comprising a bottom flap foldably connected to the second bottom panel along a fold line that is at least partially interrupted by the locking tab, and the locking tab is at least partially defined by a cut line in the bottom flap, wherein a distance between the locking tab and the fold line between the second bottom panel and the front panel is substantially equal to the distance between the locking notch and the fold line between the first bottom panel and the back panel, such that a line of engagement between the locking notch and the base of the locking tab is substantially centered between the front panel and the back panel.

52. 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.

53. The method of claim 52, wherein the forming the bag comprising attaching the first sidewall to the second sidewall at at least one seam along a marginal area of the bag so that each of the first sidewall and the second sidewall extends generally upwardly from the at least partially closed end of the bag.

54. The method of claim 53, wherein the at least one seam comprises at least one glue area extending along each of the first sidewall and the second sidewall, and the attaching the first sidewall to the second sidewall comprising gluing respective portions of the at least one glue area in the first sidewall and the second sidewall in face-to-face contact.

55. The method of claim 54, wherein the at least one glue area further extends along at least a portion of the at least partially closed end of the bag, the gluing the respective portions of the at least one glue area comprising gluing at least a portion of the at least one glue area in the at least partially closed end to another portion of the at least one glue area in the at least partially closed end to form at least one sealed corner of the bag.

56. The method of claim 52, wherein:

the first side panel comprises a first panel portion foldably connected to a second panel portion along a first lateral fold line, and the second side panel comprises a third panel portion foldably connected to a fourth panel portion along a second lateral fold line;

the first side panel is foldably connected to the front panel along a first fold line and to the back panel along a second fold line, the second side panel is foldably connected to the front panel along a third fold line and to an attachment flap along a fourth fold line; and

the forming the interior of the carton comprising folding the first side panel and the second side panel along the respective first lateral fold line and second lateral fold line and at least partially overlapping the back panel and the attachment flap.

57. The method of claim 56, wherein 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 at a vertex, each vertex being spaced apart from the respective first fold line and second fold line so that each of the first side panel and the second side panel is widest adjacent the respective vertices.

58. The method of claim 52, wherein the first gusset panel and the second gusset panel are generally coplanar when the carton is in the erect position and are folded to be at least partially in face-to-face contact with one another when the carton is in the non-erect position.

59. The method of claim 52, wherein each of the first bottom panel and the second bottom panel is free from connection to each of the first side panel and the second side panel.

60. The method of claim 52, wherein the front panel, the back panel, the first bottom panel, and the second bottom panel at least partially overlap one another when the carton is in the non-erect position.

61. 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.

62. The method of claim 61, wherein the carton blank further comprises a bottom flap foldably connected to the second bottom panel along a fold line that is at least partially interrupted by the locking tab, and the locking tab is at least partially defined by a cut line in the bottom flap, wherein a distance between the locking tab and the fold line between the second bottom panel and the front panel is substantially equal to the distance between the locking notch and the fold line between the first bottom panel and the back panel, such that a line of engagement between the locking notch and the base of the locking tab is substantially centered between the front panel and the back panel.