CA1096346A

CA1096346A - Envelope container

Info

Publication number: CA1096346A
Application number: CA341,308A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Gordon W. Holmes
Original assignee: Drg Inc
Current assignee: Drg Inc
Priority date: 1979-12-05
Filing date: 1979-12-05
Publication date: 1981-02-24

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
An envelope container is provided with an openable and reclosable front wall to enable access to envelopes packaged therein to be removed therefrom. Additionally, an openable and reclosable top panel integral with the front wall is provided to permit unimpeded end loading of envelopes directly from an envelope making machine, and bulk removal for printing and insertion of the printed envelopes into the container. The side walls of the container are provided of several thicknesses of material to provide a high compressive strength. The container is formed by folding a unitary blank constructed of stiff paperboard material.

Description

~09634t~ , ENVELOPE CONTAINER
The present invention relates to containers for envelopes.
Envelopes are conventionally packaged in a two-part 5 box or container comprising a lower tray enclosed at each side wall and having an open top, and an upper closure lid which fits over the open top, the component parts being assembled by gluing or taping. This structure lacks struc-tural strength, particularly compressive strength, and 10 envelopes often are damaged as a result during shipping and storage. Further, envelopes must be top loaded by hand from the envelope-making machine into the tray.
Printing of the envelopes necessitates removal of the envelopes in bulk from the tray, which often is not 15 simple to effect. Additionally, in office store rooms, the whole box or a stack of boxes often needs to be taken from a shelf for removal of the envelopes desired for use through the open top of the tray.
_ _ .
The present invention provides an envelope container 20 which overcomes these prior art defects. The container of this invention is structurally strong and resists deforma-tion, especially under compressive forces, and consequent damage to the envelopes far more effectively than the conventional structure. Further, the envelopes can be end loaded into the container directly from the envelope-making machine, thereby avoiding the necessity for manual ; operation.
A top opening provides quick and easy removal and replacement of the envelopes by ready access thereto, I
30 simplifying the printing operation. Additionally, a -reclosable end wall is provided to permit dispensing of the envelopes through the end wall, thereby eliminating the necessity to remove the box or a stack ~hereof from the shelf for access to be had to the envelopes therein.
Further, taping or gluing is not required in asse~bly of the container in view of an integral locking means.
The container of the invention is formed from a unit-ary blank which is folded to provide a bottom panel, an ~':

` ~

109634~

upstanding rearwall integral with the bottom panel, side walls also integral with the bottom wall and joined to the rearwall, a top panel integral with and hinged to the rear wall and hingedly movable into and out of top closing relationship with the rearwall and side walls, and a front wall integral with the top panel and hingedly movable into and out of end closing relationship with said side walls and bottom panel.
The side walls are preferably formed of overlying wall members which define a friction-fit sleeve member receiving forwardly projecting flaps from the rear wall to establish the join of the rear wall to the side walls and rearwardly projecting flaps from the front wall. Slot openings are also provided communicating with the interior of the sleeve to receive locking tabs formed on the side edges of the top panel for releasable locking of the top panel to the side walls.
~ he invention is described further, by way of illus-tration, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a plan view of a blank for an envelope container in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;
Figure 2 is a perspective view of an envelope container formed from the blank of Figure 1 in a top-open positioni Figure 3 is a perspective view of the envelope con-tainer of Figure 2 in a top-closed but front wall-open position;
Figure a is a perspective view of the envelope container of Figure 2 in a closed position with the front wall partially open; and Figure 5 is an end view of one side wall of the envelope container of Figure 2.
Referring first to Figure 1, a blank 10 for an envelope container typically constructed of corrugated paperboard or other stiff paperboard stock comprises a generally rectangular centre panel 12 dimensioned to establish the length and breadth of the container and a generally rec-tangular end panel 14 integrally joined to the centre panel by .' ~

1~9634~i hinge line 16 and of longitudinal dimension slightly less than the same dimension of the centre panel 12. The end panel 14 has a transverse dimension to establish the depth of the container. A notch 18 is formed in the longitudinal edge of the end panel 14 opposite to hinge line 16.
Side panels 20 and 22 of mirror-image construction are integrally joined to the centre panel 12 by hinge lines 24 and 26 respectively. An elongate slot 28 and 30 is formed through the centre panel 12 adjacent the respective hinge line 24 and 26 with one edge of the slot on the hinge line.
Each side panel 20 and 22 includes a first panel member 32 having an inwardly-curved side edge 34 at the end adjacent the end panel 14 and a second panel member 36 integrally joined to the first panel member by a strip 37 and a pair of closely-spaced hinge lines 38 and 40. The panel members 32 and 36 are rectangular and each has a transverse dimension equal to that of the panel 14. An elongate slot 42 is formed through the first panel member 32 with one edge on the hinge line 38.
The second panel member 36 has a longitudinal dimension slightly less than the first panel member 32 by approximately twice the thickness of the blank 10. A
notch 44 is cut from the side edge of the second panel member 36 closest to the end panel 14 while an outwardly extending-tab 46 is provided on the free longitudinal edge thereof. The tab 46 is aligned with and has substantially the same longitudinal dimension as the slot 28, 30 for interengagement therewith, as discussed below.
A second generally rectangular end panel 48 is integrally joined to the centre panel 12 by a hinge line 50.
The second end panel 48 has a longitudinal dimension slightly less than the same dimension of the centre panel 12 and slightly greater than the longitudinal dimension of the first end panel 14. The second end panel 48 has the same transverse dimension as the first end panel 14.
The second end panel 48 has a pair of mirror-image shaped wing elements 52 joined to the side edges thereof through hinge lines 54. The wing elements 42 are specifical-1~9~34~

ly contoured, as discussed in more detail below. Thelongitudinal edge of the second end panel 48 remote from the hinge line 50 is integrally joined to a generally rectangular panel 56 through hinge line 58. The panel 56 is dimensioned slightly larger than the rectangular centre panel 12 and is provided with an ear-like protrusion 60 from each side edge thereof. The ears 60 are joined to the panel 56 by hinge lines 62 formed inwardly of the respective side edge of the panel 56 but aligned with the hinge lines 24 and 26.
The panel 56 is integrally joined at its longitudinal edge remote from the hinge line 58 to a rectangular end panel 64 by hinge line 66. The end panel 64 is dimensioned substantially the same as the panel 48 and has wing members - 66 joined integrally thereto at each end by hinge lines 68, 15 the latter hinge lines 68 being in straight-line alignment with hinge lines 62. The wing members 66 are specifically contoured, as described in more detail below. The wing members 52 and 66 and the ears 60 are dimensioned to approximate the size of one panel member 32 or 36.
20 The free edge of the end panel 64 is provided with spaced notches 70.
The blank 10 is folded about the various hinge lines to form an envelope container 100, as illustrated in Figures

2 to 4. The centre panel 12 forms a bottom panel 102 while 25 the rectangular panel 56 forms a top closure panel 104. The side panels 20 and 22 are folded about the fold lines 38 and 40 to form side walls 105 and 106 and enclose the wing elements 52 in friction gripping relationship between the panel elements 34 and 36. The wing elements 52 project forwardly 30 from the panel 48 which forms the rear wall 108.
The tab 46 is received in the respective slot 28 or 30 to secure the side wall structure against the resilient action of the folded side wall members tending to unfold the same. In this way, the whole box structure is secured, 35 thereby obviating the necessity for taping or gluing parts of the assembled structure together, such as occurs in the prior art.
The slots 42 form openings in the strip 37 and extend a short way down the outer face of the side walls 104 and 106 ~96346 to receive the ears 60 in friction fit between the panel elements 32 and 36 when the top panel 104 is brought down to close the container 100 from the top, as may be seen in Figure 4, so that the ears 60 function as locking tabs. The extension of the slots 42 part way down the outer panel element 32 forming the wall 105 or 106 facilitates location of the ears 60 in the respective slots 42. The edge portions of the panel 56 overlie the strips 37 when the container 100 is closed.
The wings 66 on the end panel 64 are folded forward-ly to be received in friction fit between the panel elements 32 and 36 so that the end panel 64 encloses panel 14 and forms the front closure wall 110 of the container 100. The concave edges 34 of the panel element 32 forming the outer 15 face of the walls 105 and 106 facilitate location of the wing elements 66 between the panel elements 32 and 36. The wing elements 66 have a notch 72 in the periphery thereof which en-gages a protrusion 74 on the wing element 52 to provide a fric-tion openable and reclosable lock for the container 100.
As may be seen from the end view of Figure 5, the shape of the wings 52 and 66 combined with the shape of the ears 60 provides almost a complete thickness of material sandwiched between the faces of the side walls 105 and 106, so that three complete supporting walls are provided at each side of the container. This structure provides a considerable side wall strength to the container 100, and a considerable compression strength and corresponding resist-ance to deformation under pressure applied to the top or bottom of the container 100. Such strength characteristics are a considerable advance over the prior art tray and cover container. The compressive strength of the container of the invention considerably decreases the tendency for envelope damage during handling, warehousing and shipping.
The compressive strength of the container 100 permits a plurality of such containers to be stacked and enclosed in shrink-wrapped polymeric film to provide a self-contained shipping package requiring no further protection to enable shipping and warehousing to be effected. This property is of considerable benefit with respect to economy of shipping 16~9G3'~
and storage material, and contrasts markedly with prior art structures, which have insufficient compressive strength to permit such packaging and requir~sto be packed in reinforc-i~ containers for shipping and storage.
The container 100 may be opened not only at the top but also at the front, as illustrated in Figure 2, so that the envelopes 112 can be end-loaded, unimpeded into the container 100 directly from the envelope maker, in place of the conventional hand top loading. Further, this feature permits the printer to remove all the envelopes at one time for insertion into a printing machine and replacement in the container.
When it is desired to remove some envelopes from the container 100, the front panel 110 only is raised (see lS Figure 4), with the assistance of notches 70, if required, and the inner panel 14 is folded down, with the assistance of notch 18, if required. The front opening of the container 100 in this way (see Figure 3) enables envelopes to bé re-moved from the container 100 without the necessity of lifting the container 100 or a plurality of stacked containers down from a shelf, such as is the case in the conventional tray and cover container. The notch 44 facilitates removal of the envelopes 112 from the container by permitting finger pressure on the envelopes in a tightly-packed plurality.
The container 100 is formed from the blank 10 by simple folding operations, so that the blanks may be stored and transported in a flat condition until required and may be readily collapsed following use. This structure con-trasts to the conventional tray and cover type which is preconstructed and takes up considerable space when empty.
Since the containers of this invention are highly durable and have considerable strength and accessibility characteristics when the containers are empty, they may be reused as storage containers for other items or returned to the envelope maker or distributor for refilling, as desired In summary of this disclosure, the present invention provides a novel envelope container which has considerable advantages over the prior art. Modifications are possible within the scope of this invention.

Claims

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclu-sive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A box-like container constructed of generally inflexible material and comprising:
a bottom panel, an upstanding rear wall integral with the bottom panel, upstanding side walls integral with the bottom panel and joined to said rear wall, a top panel integral with and hinged to said rear wall, said top wall being hingedly movable into and out of top closing relationship with said rear wall and side walls, and a front wall integral with and hinged to said top panel, said front wall being hingedly movable into and out of front end closing relationship with said side walls and bottom panel.

2. The container of claim 1 wherein each of said side walls comprises two thicknesses of material defining a sleeve therebetween.

3. The container of claim 2 wherein said sleeve receives therein a forwardly extending projection from one end of said rear wall in friction fit relationship therewith, whereby said side walls are joined to said rear wall.

4. The container of claim 3 wherein said front wall has a rearwardly-extending projection from each end thereof which extends into said sleeve in friction fit relationship therewith when said front wall is in said front end closing relationship.

5. The container of claim 4 wherein one of said projections in each said sleeve has a notch formed therein and the other of said projections in said sleeve has a projection thereon extending into releasable locking relationship with said notch when said front wall is in said front end closing relationship.

6. The container of claim 4 wherein said sleeve of each said side wall has a slot formed in the upper end thereof communicating with said sleeve and said top panel has a depending projection extending from each side edge thereof into the respective slot and into friction fit relationship with said sleeve when said top panel is in said top closing relationship.

7. The container of claim 6 wherein said sleeve in-cludes an outer wall thickness integral with said bottom panel, and an inner wall thickness integrally joined to the outer wallthickness by a narrow strip extending horizontally at the top of each side wall, the slot being formed at least partially in said strip with one edge of the slot aligned with a join line of the strip to the inner wall thickness, said inner wall thickness including a depending tab extend-ing from the lower end thereof into an elongate slot formed in the bottom panel adjacent a join line of the bottom panel to the outer wall thickness.

8. The container of claim 7 wherein said slot extends downwardly from the upper end of the respective side wall along the outer wall thickness to facilitate location of said depending projections in said slot during said movement of said top panel into said top closing relationship.

9. The container of claim1, 4 or 7 including a flap hingedly joined to said bottom panel at the edge thereof opposite to said rear wall and extending upwardly and located inwardly of said front wall when the latter is in said front end closing relationship.

10. The container of claim 4 wherein the edge of the outer member of said sleeve adjacent the front wall is concave to facilitate insertion of said rearwardly extending projection into said sleeve during said movement into said front end closing relationship.

11. The container of claim 10 wherein the edge of the inner member of said sleeve adjacent the front wall is provided with a digit-receiving notch.

12. The container of claim 1, 8 or 10 formed by folding a unitary blank.

13 A blank for a container, comprising a first rectangular panel dimensioned to constitute the desired dimension of the bottom panel of the container, a second rectangular panel integrally joined to said first rectangular panel at one edge of said first panel through a first hinge line and having a transverse dimension from said first hinge line to the parallel edge substantially equal to the intended height of the container, said second rectangular panel having a longitudinal dimension slightly less than the corresponding dimension of the first rectangular panel, third and fourth generally rectangular panels integrally joined one at each opposite edge thereof perpendicular to said one edge thereof through second and third hinge lines, each said third and fourth generally rectangular panels comprising first and second portions separated from each other by a thin elongate strip to which the panel portions are joined by fourth and fifth hinge lines, a first elongate slot formed at least through a length of said strip, the longitudinal dimension of the panel portion connected to said second and third hinge lines being substantially the same as the corresponding dimension of said first panel and the longitudinal dimension of the other panel portion being less than the longitudinal dimension of the first-mentioned panel portion by approx-imately twice the thickness of the blank, the transverse dimension of both panel portions being substantially the same and substantially the same as that of said second panel, second elongate slots formed through the first panel adjacent to and one edge lying on said second and third hinge lines approximately medially thereof, and a tab formed at the free edge of each said other panel portions approximately medially thereof and dimensioned to be received in one of said second slots upon folding of said third and fourth panels about said second and third hinge lines and about said fourth and fifth hinge lines, a fifth rectangular panel integrally joined to said first panel at the edge of said first panel parallel to said first edge through a sixth hinge line and having a trans-verse dimension substantially the same as said second panels, said fifth panel having a longitudinal dimension slightly greater than that of the second panel and slightly less than the corresponding dimension of the first panel, said fifth panel having first and second wing members integrally joined thereto at the longitudinal extremities thereof through seventh and eighth hinge lines, a sixth rectangular panel integrally joined to said fifth panel at the longitudinal edge of said fifth panel parallel to said sixth hinge line through a ninth hinge line, said sixth rectangular panel being dimensioned to have slightly greater dimensions than said first panel and to constitute the desired dimensions of the top panel of the container, said sixth panel having an ear-like projection from each side thereof integrally joined thereto through tenth hinge lines extending substantially in alignment with said fourth and fifth hinge lines, said ear-like projections being dimensioned to be received through said second elongate slots when said container is assembled, and a seventh rectangular panel integrally joined to the edge of said sixth panel parallel to said ninth hinge line through an eleventh hinge line, said seventh panel having dimensions substantially the same as said fifth rectangular panel, said seventh rectangular panel having third and fourth wing members integrally joined thereto at the longitudinal extremities thereof through twelfth and thirteenth hinge lines located substantially in alignment with said ninth hinge lines, said first and second wing members, said third and fourth wing members and said ear-like protrusions having a combined surface area approximately that of one of said panel portions.

14. The blank of claim 13 wherein said second rectangular panel has a part-circular notch formed in the free longitudinal edge thereof.

15. The blank of claim 13 wherein said other panel portions have a notch formed in the free side edge thereof closest to said second panel.

16. The blank of claim 13, 14 or 15 wherein said first-mentioned panel portions have a concave free side edge closest to said second panel.

17. The blank of claim 13 wherein said seventh rectangu-lar panel has at least one part-circular notch formed in the free longitudinal edge thereof.

18. The blank of claim 14, 15 or 17 wherein said second slots extend in transverse dimension part-way into the first-mentioned panel portions.