Abstract:
An article-transport container comprises a floor having a respective left-side and right-side closures that are foldably joined thereto. A front end wall is foldably joined to the floor and to the respective left-side and right-side closures. A rear end wall is foldably joined to the floor and to the respective left-side and right-side closures and at least one tri-layers corner cooperate with the respective left-side and right-side closures to define an interior region adapted to receive articles therein. The least one tri-layer corner includes respective outer and inner layers and a medical layer which is sandwiched between the respective outer and inner layers and a medical layer which is sandwiched between the respective outer and inner layers to enhance stacking strength of the container while minimizing scarps produced during construction of the container.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/590,227, filed on 24 Jan. 2012, which is hereby incorporated hereinto by reference as if fully restated herein. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates containers and/or trays and, and particularly to containers and/or trays and made of paperboard. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a sturdy container or tray made of corrugated material and configured to contain food or other items. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Containers made of paperboard, i.e., corrugated cardboard, are commonly used in the produce industry to pack, store and ship fresh produce. These containers typically have a bottom, opposite side walls, opposite end walls, and an open or partially open top, and when filled with fresh produce are placed on a pallet for shipping and handling. These containers have an inside minor flap which is divided, and shared with an outside full depth flap, to provide four additional corners in the same amount of material as other shipping containers. To enable the containers to be stacked on one another in stable relationship, they must have sufficient structural strength and rigidity to withstand the stacking forces. Thus, the side and/or end walls of the containers are usually constructed with multiple thicknesses, and/or additional reinforcing structure also may be provided, and the flutes of the corrugated material are typically arranged to extend vertically. 
     There is need for a paperboard container that is stackable, structurally rigid, and easy to set-up, reliably remains in set-up condition, and requires a minimum amount of material in its construction. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present octagonal flush end container/tray is developed to address shallow tray design and yet could still benefit from eight corners cross laminated design. The container/tray has an inner minor flap feature that incorporates a mitered-bridging portion to have enough material to affect a seal and result in a strong container/tray. In the present invention, the top flap and outer flaps move inward so that the exterior wrap around corner mated with the mitered portion, rather than the flat end of the container/tray. This results in an oversized slot in the shape of a rhombus rather than rectangular. The present octagonal flush end container/tray did not have the overlapping corner flaps on the end, so that some of the material lying in the area in between (shaped slot) might be used in the construction of the container/tray rather than being discarded as scrap. Utilization of this material reduces its waste at the box plant and provides the customer with more of the material they are purchasing in the area of the blank. In addition to the improved blank utilization, it was found that adding some of the material back to the large slotted area improves stacking strength since this material is sandwiched between the inner anchor flap bridging section and the canopy auxiliary flap. Compression test comparing two octagonal containers/trays found that the octagonal container/tray with the sandwiching flap bridging section and outer auxiliary flap has at least between 8 to 12 percent higher stacking strength than the octagonal container/tray without the aforementioned configuration. 
     An article-transport container or tray is adapted to transport food or other articles from one site to another. The container includes a floor, a left-side closure, a right-side closure, a front end wall coupled to the floor and to the two closures, and a rear end wall coupled to the floor and to the two closures. These walls and closures cooperate to form an interior article-receiving region. 
     In illustrative embodiments, the container further includes a first tri-layer corner formed between the front end wall and the right-side closure. The first tri-layer corner includes an inner layer coupled to the front end wall, a medial layer formed from a first portion of the right-side closure, and an outer layer formed from a second portion of the right-side closure. The medial layer is positioned to lie between the inner and outer layers and is configured to provide means for interconnecting the outer layer and the inner layer to cause stacking strength of the container to be improved while minimizing scrap produced during blank forming so that costs associated with producing the container are minimized. 
     In illustrative embodiments, the medial layer includes corrugation. The corrugation is arranged to extend horizontally parallel to the floor of the container. 
     Additional features of the present disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of illustrative embodiments exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the disclosure as presently perceived. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The detailed description particularly refers to the accompanying figures in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an erected article-transport container with four tri-layer corners in accordance with a first embodiment of the present disclosure showing that the article-transport container includes (on the lower left) a front end wall coupled to a left side closure (on the left side) including a horizontal left canopy and a right side closure (on the right side) including a horizontal right canopy and a rear end wall coupled to the left and right side closures; 
         FIG. 2  is a sectional view taken along line  2 - 2  of  FIGS. 1 and 9  showing that a first tri-layer corner included in the article-transport container includes an outer layer in which the corrugation is oriented vertically, a spaced-apart inner layer in which the corrugation is oriented vertically, and a medial layer positioned to lie between the inner and outer layers and having corrugation that is oriented horizontally; 
         FIG. 3  is a plan view of a blank of corrugated material used to form the container of  FIG. 1  and showing that the blank includes an octagon-shaped floor, a left side closure coupled to the floor (at the left of the page), a rear end strip (at the top of the page), a right side closure (at the right of the page) comprising, from left to right, a right inner strip including, from top to bottom, a second wall anchor flap, a right side wall coupled to the floor, and a first wall anchor flap that forms the medial layer of the first tri-layer corner and a right outer strip including, from top to bottom, a second auxiliary canopy anchor flap, a second primary canopy anchor flap, a right canopy coupled to the right side wall, a first primary canopy anchor flap, and a first auxiliary canopy anchor flap forming the outer layer of the first tri-layer corner, and a front end strip (at the bottom of the page) including, from left to right, a second front anchor flap, a front end wall coupled to the floor, and a first front anchor flap including a right corner bridge that forms the inner layer of the first tri-layer corner and a right corner tab; 
         FIGS. 4-9  are a series of views showing a method of forming the article transport container of  FIG. 1  using the blank of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the blank of  FIG. 3  being folded to form the container showing that the rear end strip is folded about a rear-end fold line and at the same time folding both first and second rear anchor flaps included in the rear end strip about associated anchor-flap fold lines toward the octagon-shaped floor so that the left and right side closures can be folded upwardly as suggested in  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a view similar to  FIG. 4  showing continued forming of the container by folding the left side closure about the left-side fold line so that a portion of the second rear anchor flap is between a left side wall included in the left side panel and an interior region of the container and by folding the right side closure about a right-side fold line so that a portion of the first rear anchor flap is between the right side wall and the interior region of the container; 
         FIG. 6  is an enlarged partial view of the first tri-layer corner of the container of  FIG. 5  showing continued forming of the container by folding the right side wall about the right side fold line so that the right side wall mates with the right corner tab of the front end strip and suggesting that the first wall anchor flap included in the inner strip mates with the right corner bridge of the front end strip as suggested in  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a view similar to  FIG. 6  showing continued forming of the container by folding the first primary and auxiliary canopy anchor flaps about a first primary flap fold line toward the floor to cause the first primary canopy anchor flap to mate with the front end wall as suggested in  FIG. 8 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a view similar to  FIG. 7  showing continued forming of the container by folding the first auxiliary canopy anchor flap about a first auxiliary flap fold line toward the right wall anchor flap to mate with the right wall anchor flap as suggested in  FIG. 9 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a view similar to  FIG. 8  showing completed forming of the container and formation of the first tri-layer corner as a result; 
         FIGS. 10-12  show how the blank of  FIG. 3  can be varied to produce a container characterized by each tri-layer corner having a medial layer that extends fully between the right side wall and the front end wall when the container is formed; 
         FIG. 10  shows a portion of a blank in accordance with a second embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 11  is a view similar to  FIG. 9  following folding of a first auxiliary canopy anchor flap towards a first right wall anchor flap trapping the first right wall anchor flap between the first auxiliary canopy anchor flap and a right corner bridge causing a first tri-layer corner to be established; and 
         FIG. 12  is a section view taken along line  12 - 12  of  FIG. 11  showing that the front-right tri-layer corner included in the article-transport container includes an outer layer formed by the first auxiliary canopy anchor flap, a spaced-apart inner layer formed by the right corner bridge, and a medial layer formed by the first right wall anchor flap and showing that the first right wall anchor flap is arranged to lie between the inner and outer layers and to extend fully between the right side wall and the front end wall. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     An erected article-transport container  10  in accordance with the present disclosure is shown in  FIG. 1 . Article-transport container  10  includes four tri-layer corners  21 ,  22 ,  23 ,  24  in accordance with a first embodiment of the present disclosure and first tri-layered corner  21  is shown in  FIG. 2 . Article-transport container  10  includes, in series starting in the front left, a front end wall  12  coupled to a floor  14  included in container  10 , a left side closure  16  coupled to floor  14  and including a left canopy  70 L overlying floor  14 , a rear end wall  18  coupled to floor  14 , and a right side closure  20  coupled to floor  14  and including a right canopy  70  overlying floor  14 . Front end wall  12 , left side closure  16 , rear end wall  18 , right side closure  20 , floor  14 , and tri-layer corners  21 ,  22 ,  23 ,  24  cooperate to define an interior region  26  therebetween that is adapted to receive articles (not shown) therein. Another embodiment of a tri-layer corner  221 A is shown in  FIGS. 10-12 . 
     Tri-layer corners  21 ,  22 ,  23 ,  24  cooperate to provide means for increasing stack strength of container  10  while simplifying blank forming and minimizing scrap produced during blank forming. As an example, first tri-layer corner  21  includes an outer layer  211 , a medial layer  212 , and an inner layer  213  as shown in  FIG. 2 . Medial layer  212  is positioned to lie between outer layer  211  and inner layer  213  and is configured to provide means for interconnecting outer layer  211  and inner layer  213  to cause stack strength of container  10  to be improved while minimizing scrap produced during blank forming so that costs associated with producing container  10  are minimized. 
     Container  10  is made from a blank  28  after blank  28  is formed in a blank-forming process. As shown in  FIG. 3 , blank  28  includes floor  14 , left side closure  16  appended to floor  14  along a left-side fold line  30 , right side closure  20  appended to floor  14  along a right-side fold line  32 , rear end wall  18  appended to floor  14  along a rear-end fold line  34 , and front end wall  12  appended to floor  14  along a front-end fold line  36 . Right side closure  20 , left side closure  16 , rear end wall  18 , front end wall  12 , and tri-layer corners  21 ,  22 ,  23 ,  24  cooperate to form a border coupled to floor  14  and arranged to cooperate with floor  14  to define interior region  26  of container  10 . 
     Rear end wall  18  cooperates with left side closure  16  and right side closure  20  to establish a rear end  38  of container  10  as shown in  FIG. 1 . Front end wall  12  cooperates with left side closure  16  and right side closure  20  to establish a front end  40  of container  10  as shown in  FIG. 1 . It is within the scope of the present disclosure to make blank  28  from a variety of materials including corrugated paperboard, folding carton, and solid fiber and other materials such as plastic sheeting and corrugated plastic. 
     Article-transport container  10  is established as result of passing blank  28  through a container-forming process shown, for example, in  FIGS. 4-9 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , blank  28  includes floor  14 , a front end strip  42  coupled to floor  14  along front-end fold line  36 , left side closure  16  coupled to floor  14  along left-side fold line  30 , a rear end strip  44  coupled to floor  14  along rear-end fold line  34 , and right side closure  20  coupled to floor  14  along right-side fold line  32  as shown in  FIG. 4 . 
     Front end strip  42  illustratively includes front end wall  12 , a first front anchor flap  46  coupled to front end wall  12  about a first front anchor-flap fold line  48 , and a second front anchor flap  50  coupled to front end wall  12  about a second front anchor-flap fold line  52  as shown in  FIG. 3 . First front anchor flap  46  is positioned to lie in spaced-apart relation to second front anchor flap  50  to locate front end wall  12  therebetween. As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 6 , a portion of first front anchor flap  46  is used to establish inner layer  213  of first tri-layer corner  21 . Similarly, a portion of second front anchor flap  50  is used to establish inner layer  223  of second tri-layer corner  22 . 
     First front anchor flap  46  includes a front right corner bridge  90  that is coupled to front end wall  12  about a first front anchor-flap fold line  48  and a front right anchor tab  94  that is coupled to front right corner bridge  90  about a first front anchor-tab fold line  96  as shown in  FIG. 3 . Inner layer  213  of first tri-layer corner  21  is established during an initial stage of container forming as suggested in  FIGS. 4-9 . 
     During the initial stage of container formation, front end strip  42  is folded about front-end fold line  36  toward floor  14 . At the same time, front right corner bridge  90  is folded inwardly toward floor  14  about first front anchor-flap fold line  48  and front right anchor tab  94  is folded inwardly toward floor  14  about first front anchor-tab fold line  96 . As a result, front end strip  42  is arranged to extend upwardly away from floor  14  and front right anchor tab  94  is arranged to extend along right-side fold line  32 . Front right corner bridge  90  is arranged to extend between and interconnect front right anchor tab  94  and front end wall  12 . 
     Right side closure  20  illustratively includes a right inner strip  54  coupled to floor  14  about right-side fold line  32  and a right outer anchor strip  56  coupled to right inner strip  54  about a right anchor-strip fold line  58  as shown in  FIG. 3 . Right inner strip  54  includes, for example, a right side wall  60 , a first right wall anchor flap  62  coupled to right side wall  60  about a first right wall flap fold line  64 , and a second right wall anchor flap  66  coupled to right side wall  60  about a second right wall flap fold line  68  as shown in  FIG. 3 . First right wall anchor flap  62  is used to establish medial layer  212  of first tri-layer corner  21 . Medial layer  212  of first tri-layer corner  21  is established during a subsequent stage of container forming as suggested in  FIGS. 4-9 . 
     During the subsequent stage of container forming, right side closure  20  is folded about right-side fold line  32  toward floor  14  so that right side wall  60  and first and second right wall anchor flap  62 ,  66  extend upwardly away from floor  14  as shown in  FIG. 5 . At the same time, first and second right wall anchor flaps  62 ,  66  are folded inwardly toward floor  14  about associated right wall flap fold lines  64 ,  68 . As an example, first right wall anchor flap  62  is arranged to extend away from right side wall  60  toward front end wall  12  and is coupled to front right corner bridge  90  and form medial layer  212  as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 7 . 
     Right outer anchor strip  56  includes a right canopy  70 , a first right primary canopy anchor flap  72 , a first right auxiliary canopy anchor flap  74 , a second right primary canopy anchor flap  76 , and a second right auxiliary canopy anchor flap  78  as shown in  FIG. 3 . Right canopy  70  is coupled to right side wall  60  about right anchor-strip fold line  58 . First right primary canopy anchor flap  72  is coupled to right canopy  70  by a first right primary flap fold line  80 . First right auxiliary canopy anchor flap  74  is coupled to first right primary canopy anchor flap  72  by a first right auxiliary flap fold line  84  as shown in  FIG. 3 . Second right primary canopy anchor flap  76  is coupled to right canopy  70  by a second right primary flap fold line  86 . Second right auxiliary canopy anchor flap  78  is coupled to second right primary canopy anchor flap  76  by a first right auxiliary flap fold line  88  as shown in  FIG. 3 . Outer layer  211  of first tri-layer corner  21  is established during a last stage of container forming as suggested in  FIGS. 8 and 9 . 
     During the last stage of container forming, right outer anchor strip  56  is folded about right anchor-strip fold line toward floor  14  so that right canopy  70  is arranged to lie in spaced-apart parallel relation above floor  14  as shown in  FIG. 2 . At the same time, first right primary and auxiliary canopy anchor flaps  72 ,  74  are folded downwardly about first right primary flap fold line  80  so that first right primary canopy anchor flap  72  extends downwardly and mates with front end wall  12  as suggested in  FIG. 7  and shown in  FIG. 8 . Finally, first tri-layer corner  21  is established as a result of folding first right auxiliary canopy anchor flap  74  about first right auxiliary flap fold line  84  toward first right wall anchor flap  62  as suggested in  FIG. 8  and shown in  FIG. 9 . 
     First tri-layer corner  21  is established as a result of coupling first right wall anchor flap  62  to front right corner bridge  90  and by coupling first right auxiliary canopy anchor flap  74  to first right wall anchor flap  62  as shown in  FIGS. 6-9 . As an example, first right wall anchor flap  62  is coupled to front right corner bridge  90  by adhesive  98  as shown in  FIG. 6 . First right auxiliary canopy anchor flap  74  is coupled to first right wall anchor flap  62  by adhesive  100  as shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 . While adhesive  98 ,  100  is shown as an example, any other suitable alternative may be used. 
     In an illustrative embodiment, the corrugation of blank  28  is positioned to run in a transverse direction TD as shown in insert A in  FIGS. 1 ,  3 , and  4 . As a result, inner and outer layers  211 ,  213  of tri-layer corners  21 ,  22 ,  23 ,  24  have corrugation which runs vertically as shown in  FIG. 6  after container  10  has been formed. Medial layer  212  has corrugation which runs horizontally as shown in  FIG. 6  after container  10  has been formed. In one illustrative example, it was found surprisingly that the medial layers of tri-layer corners  21 ,  22 ,  23 ,  24  increases stacking strength of container  10  as compared to those containers lacking medial layer  212 . Stacking strength may be measured using standard industry test methods. As an example, stacking strength was evaluated using the TSL-8.2-WI-005 test method and procedure reference T804 of the Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry (TAPPI). 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , floor  14  has an octagon shape that includes in series, a first mitered edge  102 , a front end edge  104 , a second mitered edge  106 , a left edge  108 , a third mitered edge  110 , a rear end edge  112 , a fourth mitered edge  114 , and a right edge  116 . As an illustrative example, left and right edges  108 ,  116  have lengths greater than lengths of front and rear end edges  104 ,  112 . Front and rear end edges  104 ,  112  have lengths greater than first, second, third, and fourth mitered edges  102 ,  106 ,  110 ,  114 . Edges  102 ,  104 ,  106 ,  108 ,  110 ,  112 ,  114  cooperate to define a floor perimeter  92  as shown in  FIG. 3 . 
     First tri-layer corner  21  is arranged to extend between front end wall  12  and right side wall  60  and lie at an angle  118  relative to front end wall  12  as shown in  FIG. 2 . Angle  118  is defined to be between first mitered edge  102  of floor  14  and front end edge  104  of floor  14 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , angle  118  is illustratively an acute angle. Inner layer  213  of tri-layer corner  21  is positioned to lie inside floor perimeter  92  and is arranged to extend between front end edge  104  and right edge  116  and between floor  14  and right canopy  70 . Medial layer  212  is positioned to lie outside floor perimeter  92  is and is arranged to extend along first mitered edge  102  so that medial layer  212  lies at angle  118 . Outer layer  211  is positioned to lie outside floor perimeter  92  and is arranged to lie in spaced-apart relation to first mitered edge  102  to cause medial layer  212  to lie there between. 
     Blank  28  is formed during an illustrative blank forming process, for example in a manufacturing facility. During the blank forming process, a corrugated sheet is processed to establish blank  28  and scrap which separated from blank  28 . During blank forming, first right wall anchor flap  62  is formed to have a proximal end  62 P and a distal end  62 D which is spaced-apart from proximal end  62 P. First right wall anchor flap  62  is appended to right side wall  60  along first right wall flap fold line  64  by proximal end  62 P. As shown in  FIG. 3 , first right wall anchor flap  62  extends away from first right wall flap fold line  64  toward first front anchor flap  46  and first right auxiliary canopy anchor flap  74  such that distal end  62 D is spaced apart from first front anchor flap  46  and first right auxiliary canopy anchor flap  74 . 
     During the blank forming process which may be performed in a manufacturing facility, scrap is separated from blank  28  which causes two triangle-shaped apertures  120 A,  120 B and an interconnecting rectangle-shaped aperture  120 C to be formed therein. As a result of the scrap piece being monolithic, it simplifies removal and separation from blank  28 . Another result of distal end  62 D being spaced apart from first front anchor flap  46  and first right auxiliary canopy anchor flap  74  is that rectangle-shaped aperture  120 C is formed by removing scrap. Container forming is simplified as a result of distal end  62 D of first right wall anchor flap  62  being spaced-apart from first front anchor flap  46  and first right auxiliary canopy anchor flap  74  is that friction between distal end  62 D of and first front anchor flap  46  and first right auxiliary canopy anchor flap  74  is eliminated. Because friction has been eliminated, the likelihood of forming improperly formed containers is minimized. 
     Also during blank forming, a first crush area  121  is formed in blank  28 . First crush area  121  is configured to provide means for minimizing friction developed between front right anchor tab  94  and first right auxiliary canopy anchor flap  74  during container forming as front right anchor tab  94  of front end strip  42  is folded upwardly about front-end fold line  36 . Second, third, and fourth crush areas  122 ,  123 ,  124  are also formed. 
     First, second, third, and fourth crush areas  122 ,  123 ,  124  are substantially similar to first crush area  121 , and thus, only first crush area  121  will be discussed in detail. First crush area  121  is established along a cut line  125  formed between front right anchor tab  94  and first right auxiliary canopy anchor flap  74  as shown in  FIG. 3 . A rate of container forming may be increased as a result of minimizing friction which decreases the likelihood of improperly forming containers. These improperly formed containers are also called as cripples. Blank  28  and resulting container  10  minimize waste because the number of improperly formed containers is minimized. 
     Second tri-layer corner  22  is formed during container forming by folding front end strip  42  and left side closure  16  so that second tri-layer corner  22  is established as a result as suggested in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . A portion of second front anchor flap  50  establishes an inner layer  223  of second tri-layer corner  22 . 
     Second front anchor flap  50  includes a front left corner bridge  90 L that is coupled to front end wall  12  about a second front anchor-flap fold line  52  and a front left anchor tab  94 L that is coupled to front left corner bridge  90 L about a second front anchor-tab fold line  96 L as shown in  FIG. 3  Inner layer  223  of second tri-layer corner  22  is established during an initial stage of container forming as suggested in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . 
     During the initial stage of container formation, front end strip  42  is folded about front-end fold line  36  toward floor  14 . At the same time, front left corner bridge  90 L is folded inwardly toward floor  14  about second front anchor-flap fold line  52  and front right anchor tab  94 L is folded inwardly toward floor  14  about second front anchor-tab fold line  96 L. As a result, front end strip  42  is arranged to extend upwardly away from floor  14  and front left anchor tab  94 L is arranged to extend along left-side fold line  30 . Front left corner bridge  90 L is arranged to extend between and interconnect front left anchor tab  94 L and front end wall  12 . 
     Left side closure  16  illustratively includes a left inner strip  54 L coupled to floor  14  about left-side fold line  30  and a left outer anchor strip  56 L coupled to left inner strip  54 L about a left anchor-strip fold line  58 L as shown in  FIG. 3 . Left inner strip  54 L includes, for example, a left side wall  60 L, a first left wall anchor flap  62 L coupled to left side wall  60 L about a first left wall flap fold line  64 L, and a second left wall anchor flap  66 L coupled to left side wall  60 L about a second left wall flap fold line  68 L as shown in  FIG. 3 . First left wall anchor flap  62 L establishes medial layer  222  of second tri-layer corner  22 . Medial layer  222  of second tri-layer corner  22  is established during the subsequent stage of container forming. 
     During the subsequent stage of container forming, left side closure  16  is folded about left-side fold line  30  toward floor  14  so that left side wall  60 L and first and second left wall anchor flaps  62 L,  66 L extend upwardly away from floor  14  as shown in  FIG. 5 . At the same time, first and second left wall anchor flaps  62 L,  66 L are folded inwardly toward floor  14  about associated left wall flap fold lines  64 L,  68 L. As an example, first left wall anchor flap  62 L is arranged to extend away from left side wall  60 L toward front end wall  12  and is coupled to front left corner bridge  90 L and form medial layer  222 . 
     Left outer anchor strip  56 L includes a left canopy  70 L, a first left primary canopy anchor flap  72 L, a first left auxiliary canopy anchor flap  74 L, a second left primary canopy anchor flap  76 L, and a second left auxiliary canopy anchor flap  78 L as shown in  FIG. 3 . Left canopy  70 L is coupled to left side wall  60 L about left anchor-strip fold line  58 L. First left primary canopy anchor flap  72 L is coupled to left canopy  70 L by a first left primary flap fold line  80 L. First left auxiliary canopy anchor flap  74 L is coupled to first left primary canopy anchor flap  72 L by a first left auxiliary flap fold line  84 L as shown in  FIG. 3 . Second left primary canopy anchor flap  76 L is coupled to left canopy  70 L by a second left primary flap fold line  86 L. Second left auxiliary canopy anchor flap  78 L is coupled to second left primary canopy anchor flap  76 L by a first left auxiliary flap fold line  88 L as shown in  FIG. 3 . Outer layer  221  of second tri-layer corner  22  is established during the last stage of container forming. 
     During the last stage of container forming, left outer anchor strip  56 L is folded about left anchor-strip fold line  58 L toward floor  14  so that left canopy  70 L is arranged to lie in spaced-apart parallel relation to floor  14 . At the same time, first left primary and auxiliary canopy anchor flaps  72 L,  74 L are folded downwardly about first left primary flap fold line  80 L so that first left primary canopy anchor flap  72 L extends downwardly and mates with front end wall  12 . Finally, second tri-layer corner  22  is established as a result of folding first left auxiliary canopy anchor flap  74 L about first left auxiliary flap fold line  84 L toward first left wall anchor flap  62 L. 
     Second tri-layer corner  22  is established as a result of coupling first left wall anchor flap  62 L to front left corner bridge  90 L and by coupling first left auxiliary canopy anchor flap  74 L to first left wall anchor flap  62 L. As an example, first left wall anchor flap  62 L is coupled to front left corner bridge  90 L by adhesive and first left auxiliary canopy anchor flap  74 L is coupled to front left corner bridge  90 L by adhesive. 
     Third tri-layer corner  23  is formed during container forming by folding front end strip  42  and left side closure  16  so that third tri-layer corner  23  is established as a result as suggested in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . A portion of rear end strip  44  establishes an inner layer  233  of third tri-layer corner  23 . 
     Rear end strip  44  illustratively includes rear end wall  18 , a first rear anchor flap  46 R coupled to rear end wall  18  about a first rear anchor-flap fold line  48 R, and a second rear anchor flap  50 R coupled to rear end wall  18  about a second rear anchor-flap fold line  52 R as shown in  FIG. 3 . First rear anchor flap  46 R is positioned to lie in spaced-apart relation to second rear anchor flap  50 R to locate rear end wall  18  therebetween. A portion of first rear anchor flap  46 R is used to establish inner layer  233  of third tri-layer corner  23 . Similarly, a portion of second rear anchor flap  50 R is used to establish inner layer  243  of fourth tri-layer corner  24 . 
     First rear anchor flap  46 R includes a rear left corner bridge  126  that is coupled to rear end wall  18  about a first rear anchor-flap fold line  48 R and a rear left anchor tab  130  that is coupled to rear left corner bridge  126  about a first rear anchor-tab fold line  132  as shown in  FIG. 3 . Inner layer  233  of third tri-layer corner  23  is established during the initial stage of container forming as suggested in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . 
     During the initial stage of container formation, rear end strip  44  is folded about rear-end fold line  34  toward floor  14 . At the same time, rear left corner bridge  126  is folded inwardly toward floor  14  about first rear anchor-flap fold line  48 R and rear left anchor tab  130  is folded inwardly toward floor  14  about first rear anchor-tab fold line  132 . As a result, rear end strip  44  is arranged to extend upwardly away from floor  14  and rear left anchor tab  130  is arranged to extend along left-side fold line  30 . Rear left corner bridge  126  is arranged to extend between and interconnect rear left anchor tab  130  and rear end wall  18 . 
     During the subsequent stage of container forming, left side closure  16  is folded about left-side fold line  30  toward floor  14  so that left side wall  60 L and first and second left wall anchor flap  62 L,  66 L extend upwardly away from floor  14  as shown in  FIG. 5 . At the same time, first and second left wall anchor flaps  62 L,  66 L are folded inwardly toward floor  14  about associated left wall flap fold lines  64 L,  68 L. As an example, second left wall anchor flap  66 L is arranged to extend away from left side wall  60 L toward rear end wall  18  and is coupled to rear left corner bridge  126  to form medial layer  232 . 
     During the last stage of container forming, left outer anchor strip  56 L is folded about left anchor-strip fold line  58 L toward floor  14  so that left canopy  70 L is arranged to lie in spaced-apart parallel relation to floor  14  as shown in  FIG. 2 . At the same time, second left primary and auxiliary canopy anchor flaps  76 L,  78 L are folded downwardly about second left primary flap fold line  86 L so that second left primary canopy anchor flap  76 L extends downwardly and mates with rear end wall  18 . Finally, third tri-layer corner  23  is established as a result of folding second left auxiliary canopy anchor flap  78 L about second left auxiliary flap fold line  88 L toward second left wall anchor flap  62 L. 
     Third tri-layer corner  23  is established as a result of coupling second left wall anchor flap  66 L to rear left corner bridge  126  and by coupling second left auxiliary canopy anchor flap  78 L to rear left corner bridge  126 . As an example, second left wall anchor flap  66 L is coupled to rear left corner bridge  126  by adhesive and second left auxiliary canopy anchor flap  78 L is coupled to rear left corner bridge  126  by adhesive. 
     Fourth tri-layer corner  24  is formed during container forming by folding rear end strip  44  and right side closure  20  so that fourth tri-layer corner  24  is established as a result as suggested in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . A portion of second rear anchor flap  50 R establishes inner layer  243  of fourth tri-layer corner  24 . 
     Second rear anchor flap  50 R includes a rear right corner bridge  134  that is coupled to rear end wall  18  about a second rear anchor-flap fold line  52 R and a rear right anchor tab  138  that is coupled to rear right corner bridge  134  about a second rear anchor-tab fold line  140  as shown in  FIG. 3 . Inner layer  243  of fourth tri-layer corner  24  is established during the initial stage of container forming as suggested in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . 
     During the initial stage of container forming, rear end strip  44  is folded about rear-end fold line  34  toward floor  14 . At the same time, rear right corner bridge  134  is folded inwardly toward floor  14  about second rear anchor-flap fold line  52 R and rear right anchor tab  138  is folded inwardly toward floor  14  about second rear anchor-tab fold line  140 . As a result, rear end strip  44  is arranged to extend upwardly away from floor  14  and rear right anchor tab  138  is arranged to extend along right-side fold line  32 . Rear right corner bridge  134  is arranged to extend between and interconnect rear right anchor tab  138  and rear end wall  18 . 
     During the subsequent stage of container forming, right side closure  20  is folded about right-side fold line  32  toward floor  14  so that right side wall  60  and first and second right wall anchor flap  62 ,  66  extend upwardly away from floor  14  as shown in  FIG. 5 . At the same time, first and second right wall anchor flaps  62 ,  66  are folded inwardly toward floor  14  about associated right wall flap fold lines  64 ,  68 . As an example, second right wall anchor flap  68  is arranged to extend away from right side wall  60  toward rear end wall  18  and is coupled to rear right corner bridge  134  and form medial layer  242 . 
     During the last stage of container forming, right outer anchor strip  56  is folded about right anchor-strip fold line  58  toward floor  14  so that right canopy  70  is arranged to lie in spaced-apart parallel relation to floor  14  as shown in  FIG. 2 . At the same time, second right primary and auxiliary canopy anchor flaps  76 ,  78  are folded downwardly about second right primary flap fold line  86  so that second right primary canopy anchor flap  76  extends downwardly and mates with rear end wall  18 . Finally, fourth tri-layer corner  24  is established as a result of folding second right auxiliary canopy anchor flap  78  about second right auxiliary flap fold line  88  toward second right wall anchor flap  66 . 
     Fourth tri-layer corner  24  is established as a result of coupling second right wall anchor flap  66  to rear right corner bridge  134  and by coupling second right auxiliary canopy anchor flap  78  to rear right corner bridge  134 . As an example, second right wall anchor flap  66  is coupled to rear right corner bridge  134  by adhesive and second right auxiliary canopy anchor flap  78  is coupled to rear right corner bridge  134  by adhesive. 
     A portion of a blank  218  of corrugated material in accordance with a second embodiment of the present disclosure is shown in  FIG. 10  and can be assembled as suggested in  FIG. 10  to produce a first tri-layer corner  221 A of a container  210  as shown in  FIG. 12 . In most respects, blank  218  is similar to blank  28  of  FIG. 3 . 
     Blank  218  includes floor  14 , a right side closure  220  appended to floor  14  along right-side fold line  32 , and a front end strip  42  appended to floor  14  along front-end fold line  36  as shown in  FIG. 10 . Right side closure  220  and front end strip  42  are configured to be folded in a manner similar to that shown in  FIGS. 4-9  to produce first tri-layer corner  221 A. 
     As discussed previously, first tri-layer corner  221 A includes outer layer  211 , a medial layer  2212 , and inner layer  213  as shown in  FIGS. 11 and 12 . Inner layer  213  is provided by front right corner bridge  90  of front end strip  42  and is established during initial folding of blank  218 . Medial layer  2212  is provided by a first right wall anchor flap  262  included in right side closure  220  and is established during the subsequent folding of blank  218 . Outer layer  211  is provided by first right auxiliary canopy anchor flap  74  and is established during the final folding of blank  218 . 
     Right side closure  220  illustratively includes a right inner strip  254  coupled to floor  14  about right-side fold line  32  and right outer anchor strip  56  coupled to right inner strip  254  about right anchor-strip fold line  58  as shown in  FIG. 10 . Right inner strip  254  includes, for example, right side wall  60 , a first right wall anchor flap  262  coupled to right side wall  60  about first right wall flap fold line  64 , and a second right wall anchor flap (not shown) coupled to right side wall  60  about second right wall flap fold line (not shown). First right wall anchor flap  262  establishes medial layer  2212  of first tri-layer corner  221 A. Medial layer  2212  of first tri-layer corner  221 A is established during the subsequent stage of container  210  in a manner similar to that of container  10  suggested in  FIGS. 4-9 . 
     Blank  218  is formed during an illustrative blank forming process in which a corrugated sheet is processed to establish blank  218  and scrap which is separated from blank  218 . During blank forming, first right wall anchor flap  262  is formed to have a proximal end  262 P and a distal end  262 D which is spaced-apart from proximal end  262 P. First right wall anchor flap  262  is appended to right side wall  60  along first right wall flap fold line  64  by proximal end  262 P. As shown in  FIG. 10 , first right wall anchor flap  262  extends away from first right wall flap fold line  64  toward first front anchor flap  46  and first right auxiliary canopy anchor flap  74  such that distal end  262 D abuts first front anchor flap  46  and first right auxiliary canopy anchor flap  74 . Distal end  262 D is separated from first front anchor flap  46  and first right auxiliary canopy anchor flap  74  by a cut line  142  as shown in  FIG. 10 . 
     During blank forming, scrap is separated from blank  218  which causes two triangle-shaped apertures  120 A,  120 B to be formed therein. In comparison to blank  28 , blank  218  lacks rectangle-shaped aperture  120 C thus causing triangle-shaped apertures  120 A,  120 B to be separate from one another. As a result of distal end  262 D of first right wall anchor flap  262  abutting first front anchor flap  46  and first right auxiliary canopy anchor flap  74 , friction is developed during container forming as front end strip  42  is folded upwardly about front-end fold line  36 . A first right-wall anchor-flap crush area  144  which is established during blank forming to provide means for minimizing friction developed between first right wall anchor flap  262  and first front anchor flap  46  and first right auxiliary canopy anchor flap  74  during container forming so that the likelihood of creating improperly formed containers is minimized. 
     In an illustrative embodiment, the corrugation of blank  218  is positioned to run in a transverse direction TD as shown in insert  2 A in  FIG. 10 . As a result, inner and outer layers  211 ,  213  of tri-layer corner  221 A has corrugation which runs vertically as shown in  FIG. 12  after container  210  has been formed. Medial layer  2212  has corrugation which runs horizontally as shown in  FIG. 10  after container  10  has been formed. In one illustrative example, it was found surprisingly that the medial layer  2212  of tri-layer corner  221 A increases stacking strength of container  210  about 7%. Stacking strength may be measured using standard industry test methods. As an example, stacking strength was evaluated using the TSL-8.2-WI-005 test method and procedure reference T804 of the Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry (TAPPI). 
     In another embodiment, the right canopy and the left canopy may be configured so as to establish a lid after the container has been formed. In an example, the right canopy has a width about equal to one half a width of the floor and the left canopy has a width about equal to one half the width of the floor. After the container has been erected, the right canopy is folded inwardly toward the floor about the right anchor-strip fold line so that the right canopy lies above the floor and extends away from the right side wall toward the left sidewall. The left canopy is also folded inwardly toward the floor about the left anchor-strip fold line so that the left canopy lies above the floor and extends away from the left side wall toward the right side wall. As a result, the interior region is defined by the floor, the right side closure, the left side closure, the front end wall, the rear end wall, the four tri-layer corners, and the lid established upon completion of forming the container. 
     In another embodiment, a container further includes a front canopy and a rear canopy. The front canopy is coupled to the front end wall about a front-canopy fold line. The rear canopy is coupled to the rear end wall about a rear-canopy fold line. After forming of the container, the front canopy lies in a plane positioned to lie between the right canopy and the floor. The rear canopy lies in a plane that is positioned to lie between the left canopy and the floor. The rear canopy, front canopy, left canopy, and right canopy cooperate to establish a framed top of the container.