US3625410A

US3625410A - Collapsible containers and blank for making same

Info

Publication number: US3625410A
Application number: US834271A
Authority: US
Inventors: Urban C Hirschey
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1969-06-18
Filing date: 1969-06-18
Publication date: 1971-12-07
Anticipated expiration: 1988-12-07
Also published as: GB1285865A; CA923862A

Abstract

This disclosure teaches a top-loading collapsible rectangular container including a cover formed from an integral blank of sheet material and the blank from which the container is formed. The container includes a self-unfolding bottom and bottom corner construction of increased strength and an end wall and cover corner construction of increased strength.

Description

United States Patent 72] lnventor Urban C. Hirschey 36 N. Main St., Carthage, N.Y. 13619 [21 Appl. No. 834,271 [22] Filed June 18, 1969 [45] Patented Dec. 7, 1971 [54] COLLAPSIBLE CONTAINERS AND BLANK FOR MAKING SAME 19 Claims, 16 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S.Cl 229/16 R, 229/33, 229/41 B, 229/52 A [51] Int. Cl 865d 5/36, 865d 5/46 [50] Field of Search 229/16 R, 16A, 31 R, 33,41 B

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,434,647 3/1969 Perkins 229/41 B X 8/1966 Whittaker 229/41 B X 3,199,760 8/1965 C0nescu. 229/16 A 3,195,798 7/1965 Wilson 229/45 X 1,985,990 1/1935 Hanson 229/41 B 1,743,681 1/1930 Neuman 229/41 B X FOREIGN PATENTS 453,887 12/1949 Italy 229/41 A Primary Examiner-Leonard Summer Attorney-Ryder, McAulay & Hefter ABSTRACT: This disclosure teaches a top-loading collapsible rectangular container including a cover formed from an integral blank of sheet material and the blank from which the container is formed. The container includes a self-unfolding bottom and bottom corner construction of increased strength and an end wall and cover corner construction of increased strength.

PATENTEDUEC 7mg SHEET 2 OF 4 Fl G2 INVENTOR. 0054 c. Meaty,

BY fizz, xa, P

PATENTEDDEC 7l97| 3Q625l4l0 saw u or 4 INVENTOR. URBAN C. HIRSCHEY gal-$5M COLLAPSIBLE CONTAINERS AND BLANK FOR MAKING SAME BACKGROUND This invention relates to collapsible containers and blanks for forming same. More particularly, this invention relates to factory folded containers formed from an integral blank of paperboard material, and which are adapted for top loading.

Many types of containers are currently available for use by department and clothing stores for packaging various relatively lightweight articles, particularly wearing apparel, for hand carrying. The most common of these containers are the top loading shopping bags and the side-loading clothing or suit boxes. Most stores, in choosing their containers, have similar desires. The containers should be able to be stored flat, they should be able to be set up with a minimum of effort and skill, they must be easy to load, they must be sufi'rciently strong for their purpose, and they must be economical. In addition, it is desirable to have a container which is asthetically attractive and neat, which is pilfer proof while being carried and which will not open accidentally. Furthermore, it is most desirable to have a container which can be used as shipping containers as well as carryout containers. Shopping bags and bag-boxes" currently in use serve solely as carryout containers making it necessary for the merchant to store and use shipping boxes in addition to the carryout containers.

The container of this invention provides all of these desirable features with the novel construction that is described below and illustrated in the annexed drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the interior surface of a flat blank from which a complete top-loading container is formed,

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a container formed from the blank of FIG. 1 illustrated in a partially closed position,

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a container formed from the blank of FIG. 1 illustrated in the closed secured position,

FIG. 4 is an end view of the container of FIG. 3 in the collapsed position,

FIG. 5 is a partial plan view of an end section of the bottom wall of FIG. 1 illustrating the first step of folding,

FIG. 6 is a plan view of FIG. 5 illustrating a further step of folding,

FIG. 7 is an end view of the bottom wall illustrating a still further step of folding,

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a portion of the top of the container of FIG. 2,

FIG. 9 is a perspective internal view of the container cover in a partially collapsed position,

FIG. 10 is a plan view of the container sidewalls and end walls in a partially collapsed position,

FIG. 11 is a partial plan view of an end section of the bottom wall of a blank formed in accordance with a second embodiment of this invention,

FIG. 12 is a plan view of the end section of FIG. 11 illustrating a first step of folding,

FIG. 13 is a plan view of the end section of FIG. 12 illustrating a further step of folding.

FIG. 14 is a partial plan view of the outer top wall panel of a blank formed in accordance with a third embodiment of this invention,

FIG. 15 is a plan view of the interior of a cover formed from the blank of FIG. 14, and

FIGS. 16a and 16b are plan views of a cover folded for storage and illustrating alternative folded forms.

The terms of orientation used throughout the specification, such as top, bottom, side, outer, and inner are used merely for convenience of description and have no limiting connotation. The terms are used with reference to the container in the positions illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT (FIGS. l-l0) Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly FIG. I, there is illustrated the interior of a flat blank 10 form which a container 12 is formed, the container being illustrated in FIG. 2 in its setup and open position and in FIG. 3 in its setup and closed position. The blank may be formed of any suitable stock sheet material, such s cardboard, paperboard, and the like. The single blank illustrated in FIG. I, when folded along the various fold lines indicated and described below, forms a complete container 12 which includes a self-locking cover as is illustrated in FIG. 3.

The blank 10 is formed with a pair of side wall panels I4, 16 separated by a bottom wall panel 18. The sidewall panels I4, 16 are separated form the bottom wall panel 18 by

parallel fold lines

20, 22, respectively. A third parallel fold line 24 is provided in one of the sidewall panels 16 spaced a small distance from that panel's bottom fold line 22. For example, the distance between fold line 24 and fold line 22 is about onehalf the distance between

fold lines

20 and 22. The bottom wall does not have a longitudinal intermediate fold line as do most of the prior art containers, thereby providing a stronger bottom wall when the container 12 is set up.

An inner top wall panel 26 is joined to the outer end of the sidewall panel 14 along a fold line 28 and an outer top wall panel 30 is joined to the outer end of the sidewall panel 16 along a fold line 32. The inner top wall 26 includes a primary portion 34 having a key hole slot 36 and a secondary portion or reenforcing section 38 joined to the primary portion along a fold line 40. A handle 42 is afi'rxed on the inner surface of the reinforcing section 38 by any conventional means, such as by an adhesive. The handle 42 is a conventional handle of the type including a flexible ribbon member 44 and a paper or fabric backing for securing the ribbon 44 to the reinforcing section 38. The ribbon extends a full length of the backing 46, as is illustrated by the phantom lines; however, only a portion of the ribbon is exposed through a slot 48 provided in the backing. Of course, other conventional handles can be used such as a plastic handle which is not adhered to the top wall panel but instead projects through the slots 36, 48 and is held in place by an extension which abuts against the underside of the top wall panel 26.

Joined to the sides of the sidewall panel 14 are two

end wall panels

50, 52, each of which includes an

en wall tab

54, 56 at their outer end, respectively. The width of the

end wall panels

50, 52 and the

end wall tabs

54, 56 is equal to the width of the bottom wall panel in order to form a rectangular container. The end wall panel 50 is joined to sidewall pane I4 along a fold line 58 and is provided with an intermediate fold line 60 extending throughout the length of the end wall panel 50 and tab 54 dividing the end wall panel 50 into an outer flap 62 and inner flap 64. The tab 54 is joined to the end wall panel 50 by a fold line 66. Similarly, the end wall panel 52 is joined to the sidewall panel 14 along a fold line 68 and the end wall panel 52 and tab 56 are provided with an intennediate fold line 70 which divides the end wall panel 52 into an outer flap 72 and an inner flap 74. The tab 56 is joined to the end wall panel 52 along a fold line 76; the fold lines 66 and 76 being extensions of the fold line 28 defining the upper edge of the sidewall panel 14.

Attached to the sides of the sidewall panel 16 by

fold lines

78, 80 are

end wall panels

82, 84, respectively. The

fold lines

78, 80 are continuations of

fold lines

58, 68 defining the sides of the sidewall panel 14. It is important to observe that neither the bottom wall panel 18 nor the

end wall panels

82, 84 have intermediate fold lines. This provides for a relatively strong container for the reasons stated below.

The ends of the bottom wall panel 18 are provided with

tabs

86, 87 having

notches

88, 89 therein. The

tabs

86, 87 are joined to the bottom wall panel 18 along fold lines 90, 92, respectively, and are joined to the

end wall panels

82, 84 along fold lines 94, 96, respectively. The

tabs

86, 87 are provided with perforated diagonal lines 98, I00, which serve as fold lines but which also allow the adjoining surfaces to fold flatter. The

notches

88, 89 in the

tabs

86, 87 are provided to allow the container to be set up and collapsed more easily than if the comers remained.

At the opposite ends of the outer top wall panel 30 are trapazoidal tabs 102. 104 which are joined to the top wall panel 30 along

fold lines

106, 108 respectively. Perforated lines 110, 14 in the tabs define

triangular portions

112, 113 for permitting collapsing of the container cover 114 as described below. The outer top wall panel 30 is divided into two sections by a fold line 115, the sections being a top section 116 and lid section 118, which together form cover 114. The lid section has

tabs

120, 122 at its opposite ends. The fold line 115 defining the lid section includes at least one, and preferably a pair of U-shaped score lines 124 extending through the lid section to provide access for a locking tab. The outer top wall panel 30 includes a second score line 126 for purposes to be described below.

In the formation of the container several surfaces need to be joined together permanently. This may be accomplished by any suitable fastening means; however, the preferred method of joining is by the use of glue or other adhesive. Just prior to the folding process to place the collapsed container in condition for setting-up, as is illustrated in FIG. 4, glue is applied to the

outer flaps

62, 72, of the

end wall panels

50, 52, the inner top wall panel 26, the

triangular portions

112, 113 of the trapezoidal flaps 102, 104, and the exterior surface of the L- shaped

bottom tabs

86, 87, the glued portions being indicated by shaded areas in FIGS. 1, 5 and 6. Except for the

tabs

86, 87, all glue is applied to interior surfaces of the blank 10. After the blank has had the glue applied on the surfaces described above, it is folded in the following manner to form the collapsed carton 12 illustrated in FIG. 4, the folding being done manually or, preferably, by machine. The particular sequence of folding operations described herein is illustrative only and does not represent any limiting sequence.

To begin with, the lid portion 118 of the outer top wall panel 30 is folded upwardly along fold line 115 and the

end tabs

120, 122 are folded inwardly along their fold lines. The

trapezoidal tabs

102, 104 are folded upwardly along their respective fold lines 105, 108 and the triangular portion defined by the

perforated lines

112, 113, which have glue on their surfaces, are joined to the

end tabs

120, 122 to form the cover 114 partially illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9. The

trapezoidal tabs

102, 104 then are caused to fold inwardly along the

perforated lines

112, 113, as may be seen in FIG. 9, so that the cover 114 folds flat and is ready for simple setup. It should be noted at this stage that glue is not applied along the entire surface of the

trapezoidal tabs

102, 104 but is applied merely on the

triangular sections

112, 113, defined by the perforated fold lines 110, 111. Consequently, only a portion of the end tabs are joined to the trapezoidal tabs permitting the cover 114 to be collapsed with the folding only of the

trapezoidal tabs

102, 104 while the

end tabs

120, 122, partially joined thereto, remain unfolded even in the collapsed state of the cover. FIG. 8 illustrates the result of providing the U-shaped slit 124 in the fold line 114. When the lid portion 118 is folded at right angles to the top section 116 a space 128 is provided which serves as part of a lock for the top as described below.

Turning now to the inner top wall panel 26, the reenforcing section 38 is folded inwardly along fold line 40 and is glued to the inner surface of the primary section 34 by virtue of the glue applied along the surface of the reenforcing section 38. A portion of the ribbon 44 is aligned with the slot 36 but does not project therethrough and the remainder of the ribbon, as well as the paper or fabric back 46, are hidden from view since they now reside between the joined reenforcing section 38 and the primary section 34.

After the top wall panels are folded and glued, the

end wall panels

50, 52, 82 and 84 are folded inwardly along their

fold lines

58, 68, 78 and 80, respectively. The first folding step is represented in FIG. 5 which illustrates a small portion of the blank 10 about one end of the bottom wall panel 18. The outer

end wall panels

62, 72 are folded back upon the inner

end wall panel

64, 74, (FIG. 6) whereby the glued surface of the outer end wall panels are facing upwardly. The sidewall panel 16 then is folded along fold line 22 toward the bottom wall panel 18 and along foldline 24 forming a Z-shaped configuration as may be seen in FIG. 6. Since glue is applied to the

tabs

86, 87 at the position indicated in FIG. 5 with reference to tab 87, the lower

end wall panels

82, 84 will adhere to the

tabs

86, 87. In the next step, the sidewall panel 14 is folded toward the side wall panel 16 and bottom wall panel 18 along fold line 20 in order that the

outer flaps

62, 72 of the

end wall panels

50, 52 adhere to their opposite

end wall panels

82, 84. The joined structure is clearly illustrated in FIG. 7

All of the gluing now having been completed and the container having been folded into its flat position as illustrated in FIG. 4, the flattened container is ready for shipping an storage. When it is desired to use the container 12 it is un folded and set up as follows. The user separates the

sidewall panels

14, 16 by holding one side wall and inserting the other hand inside the container to spread the panels. The position of the sidewalls and end walls at the commencement of the separation is illustrated in FIG. 10. As the sidewall panels move further apart, the

end wall panels

50, 52 unfold and move outwardly. At the same time, the bottom wall panel 18 unfolds from the position illustrated in FIG. 4 wherein it is almost parallel with the sidewall panels into position illustrated in FIG. 2 where it is perpendicular to the

sidewall panes

14, 16 and the

end wall panels

50, 52, 82, 84. Since the bottom wall 18 does not need an intermediate longitudinal fold line to enable the containers to fold flat, the container bottom is quite strong. The

end wall panels

82, 84, not being folded along any intermediate fold line as are the

end wall panels

50, 52, eventually become perpendicular to the

sidewall panels

14, 16 and lock the container 12 in its set up position illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. The cover 114 is then set up by unfolding the lid portion 118 and the

tabs

102, 104 joined thereto (FIG. 9). The container is now ready for packing.

After the articles, such as wearing apparel, are placed in the container 12, the

tabs

54, 56 are folded downwardly as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 8. The tabs being a continuation of the

end wall panels

50, 52 are equal in width to the width of the container 12 and help to keep the container in its rectangular, boxlike shape and help to prevent the container 12 from being collapsed or crushed. The container cover 114 then is closed to the position shown in FIG. 3 wherein it is locked into position. The locking is affected by a pair of projections 132 which are formed when the inner top wall panel 26 is folded inwardly along its fold line 28. As can be seen in FIG. 1, U-shaped slits 133 are cut through the sidewall panel 14 and connect at their ends with the fold line 28 dividing the top wall panel 26 from the sidewall panel 14. As the top wall panel 26 is folded inwardly, the projections 132 are formed projecting outwardly from the sidewall panel 14 and as the cover is closed upon the container the projections extend through the spaces 128 formed in the cover by a similar procedure as described above. The projections 132 and the spaces 128 serve as a lock and render the container relatively pilfer proof.

in order to fonn the handle for carrying the container 12, the user merely lifts up the flap 134 formed by the slit 126 in the outer top wall panel 30 and pulls the handle ribbon 44 through the opening formed by the flap 134 and then closes the flap underneath the ribbon.

After using the container 12 it can be collapsed by lifting the cover 114, and pressing inwardly along the fold line 24. The cover is collapsed by pressing inwardly along the perforated lines 1 10, 111 and inwardly on lid 118. The perforated lines 98, in the bottom comer construction and 110, 111 in the cover 114 make collapsing the container relatively easy and pennit for a flat-folded construction.

SECOND EMBODIMENT (FIGS. 11-13) A modified blank construction is illustrated in FIGS. 11 through 13 wherein only a portion of a fiat blank 200 is illustrated. Those portions of the blank 200 which are identical to the blank 10 described above are identified by identical nomenclature The bottom wall panel 18 has a rectangular extension or end tab 202 extending therefrom, the tab 202 being separated from the bottom wall panel 18 by a fold line 204. A perforated score line 206 forms a triangular portion 208 in the tab 202. It can be seen that the tab 202 is not connected to the end wall panel 84 or the end wall panel 52.

The blank 200 is converted into a folded container in the following manner, but not necessarily with the following sequence of steps. The

end wall panels

52 and 84 and the tab 202 are all folded inwardly along their

fold lines

68, 80 and 204 respectively. The outer flap of the end wall pane 52 is then folded back upon itself and the triangular section 208 of the tab 202 is similarly folded back upon itself along the perforated score line 206, the steps being illustrated in FIG. 12. As the shaded area indicates, glue is applied along the exposed surface of the outer flap 202 on the triangular section 208. The sidewall panel 16 is then folded toward the bottom wall panel 18 along fold line 22 and is then folded back upon itself along fold line 24 as may be seen in FIG. 13. In this manner a portion of the end wall panel 84 is glued to the triangular section 208. The sidewall panel 16 and bottom wall panel 18 then may be folded as a unit along fold line toward side pane 14 whereby the outer flap 72 is glued to the portion of the end wall panel 84 as is illustrated in FIG. 7. The container is set up in the identical manner described above with reference to container 12, formed from blank 10.

Because the tab 202 forming the bottom comer is folded along the perforated score line 206 during the manufacturing process, the container including this construction sets up with greater ease than does the container using the construction illustrated in FIG. 5. On the other hand, the construction illustrated in FIG. 5 enables faster production and results in a stronger container.

THIRD EMBODIMENT (FIGS. 14-16) A third embodiment 220, illustrated in FIGS. 14 through 16, includes a modified cover 222 formed from a modified outer top wall panel 224 In this embodiment, end

tabs

226, 228 having perforated

fold lines

230, 232 are joined to the opposite ends of the top wall panel 224 along

fold lines

234, 236, respectively. The end tabs have

extensions

238, 240 unjoined to the top wall panel 224 and joined to the tabs along

fold lines

242, 244. The top wall panel 224 is divided into two sections by a fold line 246, a top section 248 and a lid section 250.

To form the cover 222, the

extensions

238, 240 are folded up on their

fold lines

242, 244 and the

end tabs

226, 228 are folded upon their

fold lines

234, 236. The lid section 250, having adhesive applied on the ends of the inner surface thereof as indicated by the shaded area, then folded along its fold line 246 so that the

extension

238, 240 are joined to the inner surface of the lid section 250 as may be seen in FIG. 15.

FIG. l6 illustrates two alternative forms into which the cover 222 can be folded for shipping and storage. As the lid section 250 is folded down toward the top portion 248 the end tops can be folded either toward the middle of the cover as is shown in FIG. 16A or outwardly away from the middle of the cover, as is shown in FIG. 16b. The form of FIG. 16b allows the cover to be folded flatter.

The cover construction of the third embodiment provides an increased area on which the adhesive can be applied, thus providing a more positive bond. Furthermore, there is less chance of interference wen closing the cover 222 because the entire extension is joined to the lid.

It can be seen that the container formed in accordance with this invention is easy to set up and, once set up, forms a neat boxlike container being relatively crush proof while having the l. A flat, integral blank of sheet material for forming a container, the blank comprising a. a rectangular bottom wall panel,

b. a rectangular first sidewall panel joined along its bottom edge, defined by a fold line, to one longitudinal edge of the bottom wall panel,

c. a rectangular second sidewall panel joined along its bottom edge defined by a fold line, to the other longitudinal edge of the bottom wall panel, the second side wall panel having a fold line parallel to and spaced from its bottom edge,

. a first top wall panel joined along one longitudinal edge, defined by a fold line, to the top edge of the first sidewall panel,

. a second top wall panel including a primary portion, a lid portion, a first tab joined to each end of the primary portion along a fold line, means for joining the first tab to the lid portion, the primary portion being joined along one longitudinal edge, defined by a fold line, to the top edge of the second sidewall panel, the lid portion being joined to the other longitudinal edge of the primary portion along a fold line,

f. a first end wall panel joined to each of the two opposite side edges of the first sidewall panel and being coextensive in length therewith, each of the first end wall panels being traversed by an intennediate fold line dividing each first end wall panel into two flaps, the flaps remote from the first sidewall panel having a bottom edge spaced upwardly from the bottom edge of the first sidewall panel,

. a third tab joined to the upper edge of each first end wall panel along a fold line, the third tabs being equal in width to the width of the first end walls and including an intermediate fold line c'olinear with the firs end wall panel intermediate fold line,

h. rectangular second end wall panels joined to each of the two opposite side edges of the second side wall panel and being coextensive in length therewith, and

i. a bottom tab joined to each of the two opposite side edges of the bottom wall panel along a fold line, each of the bottom tabs having a diagonal fold line extending outwardly from the point of intersection of the bottom edge of the second end wall panels and the side edge of the bottom wall panel.

2. A blank as defined in claim 1 wherein the first top wall panel comprises a primary section joined to the first sidewall panel and a reinforcing section extending outwardly from the primary section and being joined thereto along a fold line.

3. A blank as defined in claim 2 including an elongated slot through the second top wall panel adapted to receive a handle, a second elongated slot through the primary section of the first top wall panel and wherein the handle is affixed to the reinforcing section at a position such that when the reinforcing section is folded toward the primary section along its fold line, the handle is aligned with the slots in the primary section and in the second top wall panel.

4. A blank as defined in claim 1 including a first U-shaped slit through the first sidewall panel and extending downwardly from the fold line joining the first top wall panel and the first sidewall panel and a second U-shaped slit through the lid portion and extending from the fold line joining primary portion of the second top wall panel and the lid portion, the first and second U-shaped slits being aligned in a direction parallel to the side edge of the sidewall panels.

5. A blank as defined in claim 1 wherein the means for join ing the primary portion to the lid portion comprises a second tab joined to each end of the lid portion along a fold line.

6. A blank as defined in claim 1 wherein the means for joining the first tab to the lid portion comprises an extension advantages and desirable features of a bag including the ability j i d t h f th r mote end of th fir t tab alon a fold to load it from the top. Furthermore, the cover is secured in a closed position to render the container relatively pilfer proof and to avoid accidental opening of the container.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

line.

7. A blank as defined in claim 1 wherein the bottom tabs are joined to the opposite side edges of the bottom wall panel and the bottom edge of the second end wall panels.

8. An integral rectangular foldable container comprising:

a. a rectangular bottom wall having an uninterrupted surface without a fold line intermediate the edges thereof,

b. a pair of parallel sidewalls joined along their bottom edge to the opposite longitudinal edges of the bottom wall, one of the sidewalls having a first intermediate fold line parallel to its bottom edge and spaced from its bottom edge a distance equal to one-half the width of the bottom wall,

c. a pair of first end walls hingedly joined along one longitudinal edge to the opposite side edges of a first one of the sidewalls, each of the first end walls being traversed longitudinally by a second intermediate fold line dividing the first end walls into two flaps,

d. a pair of second end walls hingedly joined along one longitudinal edge to the opposite side edges of a second one of the sidewalls, each second end wall extending from the sidewall to which it is attached beyond the intermediate fold line of the first end wall, each first end wall overlying its corresponding second end wall and the flap of each of the first end walls remote from the first side wall being joined to the second end walls along the surface adjacent to the second sidewall,

e. the pair of end walls hingedly joined to the sidewall having the first intermediate fold line having a transverse fold line colinear with the first intermediate fold line,

f. one bottom wall tab joined along a fold line to each end of the bottom wall, a portion of the exterior surface of one of the end walls adjacent to the bottom wall being secured to a portion of its adjacent bottom wall tab, each bottom wall tab having a fold line extending outwardly from the juncture point of the bottom wall and the end wall to which the bottom wall tab is secured, and

g. a cover hingedly joined to the top edge of one of the sidewalls.

9. A container as defined in claim 8, including a. an end wall tab joined at the top edge of each first end wall and having a fold line colinear with the intermediate fold line on the first end walls, the end wall tabs having a width equal to the width of the first end walls,

b. a projection extending outwardly from the line of juncture of the flat top wall and said one of the sidewalls and c. a slot through the cover aligned with the projection such that upon closure of the cover, the projection projects through the slot securing the cover in place.

10. A container as defined in claim 8 wherein said portion of each of the bottom wall tabs lies between the outwardly extending fold line and the end wall adjacent said juncture point.

11. A container as defined in claim 8, wherein the bottom edge of the flap of each of the first end walls remote from the side wall to which the first end walls are attached is spaced from the bottom wall a distance at least equal to one-half the width of the bottom wall.

12. A container as defined in claim 8 wherein said bottom wall tab is substantially coextensive with the width of the bottom wall at its fold line joining the bottom wall tab to the bottom wall.

13. A flat integral blank of sheet material for forming a container, the blank comprising a. a rectangular bottom wall panel having an uninterrupted surface without a fold line intermediate the edges thereof,

b. a rectangular first sidewall panel joined along its bottom edge defined by a fold line to one longitudinal edge of the bottom wall panel,

c. a rectangular second sidewall panel joined along its bottom edge defined by a fold line to the other longitudinal edge of the bottom wall panel, the second sidewall panel having a fold line parallel its bottom edge and spaced from its bottom edge a distance equal to one-half the width of the bottom wall,

d. a first top wall panel joined along one longitudinal edge defined by a fold line to the top edge of one of the sidewall panels,

e. a pair of first end wall panels, a first end wall panel being joined to each of the two opposite side edges of one of the sidewall panels and being substantially coextensivein length therewith, each of the first end wall panels being traversed by an intermediate fold line dividing each first end wall panel into two flaps,

f. a pair of second end wall panels, a second end wall panel being joined to each of the two opposite side edges of the other of said sidewall panels,

g. one of said pairs of end wall panels being joined to the second sidewall panel and having a transverse fold line colinear with the second sidewall panel fold line spaced from its bottom edge, and

h. a bottom tab joined to each of the opposite side edges of the bottom wall panel along a fold line, each of the bottom tabs being substantially coextensive with the width of the bottom wall at said fold line joining the bottom tabs to the bottom wall and having an oblique fold line extending outwardly from the point of intersection of the bottom edge of one of the end wall panels and the side edge of the bottom wall panel.

14. A blank as defined in claim 13 wherein each of said bottom tabs is joined to the bottom edge of the end wall panels adjacent thereto.

15. A blank as defined in claim 13 wherein each of said bottom tabs has a notch cut in the comer thereof opposite the co'mer formed by the intersection of the bottom edge of one of the end wall panels and the side edge of the bottom wall panel.

16. A blank as defined in claim 13 wherein each of said bottom tabs is joined to the bottom edge of the end wall panel which is joined to the second sidewall panel.

17. A blank as defined in claim 13 wherein the bottom edge of the flap of the first end wall panel remote from said one of the sidewall panels is spaced from the bottom edge of said one of the sidewall panels a distance equal to one-half the width of the bottom wall panel.

18. A blank as defined in claim 17, wherein the bottom edge of the flap of the first end wall panel contiguous to said one of the sidewall panels forms an acute angle with respect to the side edge of said one of the sidewall panels and intersects the bottom edge of its adjacent flap at the intermediate fold line.

19. A blank as defined in claim 13, including a second top wall panel having a primary portion and a lid portion joined to one longitudinal edge of the primary portion along a fold line, the primary portion being joined to the sidewall panel to which the first top wall panel is not joined.

Claims

1. A flat, integral blank of sheet material for forming a container, the blank comprising a. a rectangular bottom wall panel, b. a rectangular first sidewall panel joined along its bottom edge, defined by a fold line, to one longitudinal edge of the bottom wall panel, c. a rectangular second sidewall panel joined along its bottom edge defined by a fold line, to the other longitudinal edge of the bottom wall panel, the second side wall panel having a fold line parallel to and spaced from its bottom edge, d. a first top wall panel joined along one longitudinal edge, defined by a fold line, to the top edge of the first sidewall panel, e. a second top wall panel including a primary portion, a lid portion, a first tab joined to each end of the primary portion along a fold line, means for joining the first tab to the lid portion, the primary portion being joined along one longitudinal edge, defined by a fold line, to the top edge of the second sidewall panel, the lid portion being joined to the other longitudinal edge of the primary portion along a fold line, f. a first end wall panel joined to each of the two opposite side edges of the first sidewall panel and being coextensive in length therewith, each of the first end wall panels being traversed by an intermediate fold line dividing each first end wall panel into two flaps, the flaps remote from the first sidewall panel having a bottom edge spaced upwardly from the bottom edge of the first sidewall panel, g. a third tab joined to the upper edge of each first end wall panel along a fold line, the third tabs being equal in width to the width of the first end walls and including an intermediate fold line colinear with the first end wall panel intermediate fold line, h. rectangular second end wall panels joined to each of the two opposite side edges of the second side wall panel and being coextensive in length therewith, and i. a bottom tab joined to each oF the two opposite side edges of the bottom wall panel along a fold line, each of the bottom tabs having a diagonal fold line extending outwardly from the point of intersection of the bottom edge of the second end wall panels and the side edge of the bottom wall panel.

5. A blank as defined in claim 1 wherein the means for joining the primary portion to the lid portion comprises a second tab joined to each end of the lid portion along a fold line.

6. A blank as defined in claim 1 wherein the means for joining the first tab to the lid portion comprises an extension joined to each of the remote ends of the first tabs along a fold line.

8. An integral rectangular foldable container comprising: a. a rectangular bottom wall having an uninterrupted surface without a fold line intermediate the edges thereof, b. a pair of parallel sidewalls joined along their bottom edge to the opposite longitudinal edges of the bottom wall, one of the sidewalls having a first intermediate fold line parallel to its bottom edge and spaced from its bottom edge a distance equal to one-half the width of the bottom wall, c. a pair of first end walls hingedly joined along one longitudinal edge to the opposite side edges of a first one of the sidewalls, each of the first end walls being traversed longitudinally by a second intermediate fold line dividing the first end walls into two flaps, d. a pair of second end walls hingedly joined along one longitudinal edge to the opposite side edges of a second one of the sidewalls, each second end wall extending from the side wall to which it is attached beyond the intermediate fold line of the first end wall, each first end wall overlying its corresponding second end wall and the flap of each of the first end walls remote from the first side wall being joined to the second end walls along the surface adjacent to the second sidewall, e. the pair of end walls hingedly joined to the sidewall having the first intermediate fold line having a transverse fold line colinear with the first intermediate fold line, f. one bottom wall tab joined along a fold line to each end of the bottom wall, a portion of the exterior surface of one of the end walls adjacent to the bottom wall being secured to a portion of its adjacent bottom wall tab, each bottom wall tab having a fold line extending outwardly from the juncture point of the bottom wall and the end wall to which the bottom wall tab is secured, and g. a cover hingedly joined to the top edge of one of the sidewalls.

9. A container as defined in claim 8, including a. an end wall tab joined at the top edge of each first end Wall and having a fold line colinear with the intermediate fold line on the first end walls, the end wall tabs having a width equal to the width of the first end walls, b. a projection extending outwardly from the line of juncture of the flat top wall and said one of the sidewalls and c. a slot through the cover aligned with the projection such that upon closure of the cover, the projection projects through the slot securing the cover in place.

13. A flat integral blank of sheet material for forming a container, the blank comprising a. a rectangular bottom wall panel having an uninterrupted surface without a fold line intermediate the edges thereof, b. a rectangular first sidewall panel joined along its bottom edge defined by a fold line to one longitudinal edge of the bottom wall panel, c. a rectangular second sidewall panel joined along its bottom edge defined by a fold line to the other longitudinal edge of the bottom wall panel, the second sidewall panel having a fold line parallel its bottom edge and spaced from its bottom edge a distance equal to one-half the width of the bottom wall, d. a first top wall panel joined along one longitudinal edge defined by a fold line to the top edge of one of the sidewall panels, e. a pair of first end wall panels, a first end wall panel being joined to each of the two opposite side edges of one of the side wall panels and being substantially coextensive in length therewith, each of the first end wall panels being traversed by an intermediate fold line dividing each first end wall panel into two flaps, f. a pair of second end wall panels, a second end wall panel being joined to each of the two opposite side edges of the other of said sidewall panels, g. one of said pairs of end wall panels being joined to the second sidewall panel and having a transverse fold line colinear with the second sidewall panel fold line spaced from its bottom edge, and h. a bottom tab joined to each of the opposite side edges of the bottom wall panel along a fold line, each of the bottom tabs being substantially coextensive with the width of the bottom wall at said fold line joining the bottom tabs to the bottom wall and having an oblique fold line extending outwardly from the point of intersection of the bottom edge of one of the end wall panels and the side edge of the bottom wall panel.

15. A blank as defined in claim 13 wherein each of said bottom tabs has a notch cut in the corner thereof opposite the corner formed by the intersection of the bottom edge of one of the end wall panels and the side edge of the bottom wall panel.