EP0133242B1

EP0133242B1 - Lamp package with internally projecting tab member

Info

Publication number: EP0133242B1
Application number: EP19840108521
Authority: EP
Inventors: David H. Caldwell; Robert M. Hurley; Dan E. Picini
Original assignee: GTE Products Corp
Current assignee: Osram Sylvania Inc
Priority date: 1983-07-22
Filing date: 1984-07-19
Publication date: 1989-10-18
Also published as: JPS6034369A; DE3480190D1; EP0133242A3; CA1247056A; EP0133242A2

Description

This invention relates (a) to a container for a pair of electric lamps each including a bulbous glass envelope and a base wherein said container includes a plurality of walls, a single tab member forming part of one of said walls and being cut from within same and bent inwardly along a substantially straight line of remaining connection between tab member and wall, said tab member projecting within said container for contacting each of said electric lamps positioned in a staggered side by side relationship therein and preventing physical contact therebetween, said container being a folded one-piece-construction, and (b) to a lamp package comprising a container including a plurality of walls, a pair of electric lamps positioned in a staggered side by side relationship within said container, each of said lamps including a bulbous glass envelope and a base, and a single tab member forming part of one of said walls and being cut from within same and bent inwardly along a substantially straight line of remaining connection between said tab member and wall, said tab member projecting within said container for contacting each of said lamps to separate same and prevent physical contact therebetween and to maintain said lamps against the internal surface of said container, and engaging the bulbous glass envelope portions of each lamp, said tab member and the remaining portions of said container being of a folded one-piece construction. (Such a container and a lamp package are already known from GB-A= 2 035 960).
Several types of packages for delicate, fragile articles such as electric lamps of the incandescent variety are known in the art. Examples are illustrated in U.S. Patents 2,892,581, 3,051,369 and 3,069,008. Such packages may consist of a separate, corrugated paperboard carton having opposed open ends through which a single bulbous-shaped lamp is inserted. Each carton is then usually encased in a separate paperboard sleeve or similar element which covers the carton's open ends. Typically, only two cartons (and therefore two incandescent lamps) are contained in a single package. In a different embodiment the dual lamp package may consist of a folded sheet which defines two lamp-receiving chambers (or compartments) therein separated by a partition or similar member which in turn prevents the delicate glass lamps from physically contacting each other while contained therein.
Several two-lamp packages are usually prepared for shipping by placing them within a larger cardboard box. To facilitate the handling of the sealed boxes in the warehouse and during loading and unloading, a number of these are usually placed on a pallet and the pallets then stacked one upon the other. As a result of such stacking, the individual lamp wrappers of the lamp packages within the shipping boxes are subjected to compressive stresses which frequently cause the wrapper walls to buckle and collapse, with the result often being that the glass bulbs are crushed and broken. Breakage is also possible during normal handling of the individual package (e.g. by dropping) by the package consumer.
Prevention of damage to the fragile glass lamps contained in the packages is typically achieved by providing full package length separation partitions to effectively separate the lamps as well for providing some form of cushioning means (e.g. by providing the partition with corrugations or with resilient, bendable tabs). In addition, various alternative cushioning and impact means are often similarly employed and deemed essential.
There are a container and a lamp package of the kind mentioned initially above known from GB-A-2 035 960 in which the tab member forms part of the bottom wall in a central region thereof and is not sufficiently pliable and so positioned as to substantially follow the external contour of each of the bulbous glass envelope portions of each lamp. This appears to be the reason why the embodiment shown in the said patent incorporates two flaps opposed to each other which fulfill a specific function in contact with each other as elucidated in column 1, lines 37 to 51 of the specification of the said patent. The known container further does not comprise a pair of opposed end portions each providing an opening through which one of the electric lamps is inserted during positioning of said lamps within said container. There is only one opening opposite to the bottom wall to be closed by a lid- forming panel. Through this opening both lamps, if lamps are the articles to be packed, will be inserted before closing of the lid. The other walls are fixed parts of the blank from which the known container is formed or walls with flaps having shoulders which engage into slits of the blank so that the last mentioned walls are prevented from being opened again for insertion purposes. Fixation between lamps and container is neither sought nor achieved. It is the lid which forms the means for keeping the contents within the known container.
It is an object of the invention to provide a container of simple construction for at least two bulbous-shaped lamp articles wherein the lamps are located therein in a separated relationship such that fixation between lamps and container is present and that breakage of the lamps is substantially prevented during the aforedescribed and similar conditions (e.g., wherein the package is exposed to shock, vibration, compression, rough handling, etc.), and also a lamp package which can be readily assembled on a high production basis, and is therefore inexpensive to produce.
This object is met for both the container and the lamp package in that two of the walls opposed to each other form a pair of end portions (A', B', C', D' and A", B", C", D") each providing an opening through which one of the electric lamps is inserted during positioning of said lamps within said container, the said straight line (FL-FL) forming an angle within the range of about 40° to about 50° with the direction of insertion of the electric tamps within the container. The container and the package in accordance with the invention are simpler in construction and serve for a good fixation of the lamps within the container by friction between the bulbous glass envelopes and not only the side walls of the container but also the single tab member being sufficiently pliable so as to substantially follow the external contour of each of the bulbous glass envelope portions of each lamp. There is no necessity to have a closure member or lid 20. This is achieved without any corrugations or the like by a single plied construction.
In a preferred embodiment the container is comprised of cardboard material selected from the group consisting of solid bleached sulfate, chip board, bleached manila, and clay-coated newsback. The container can be a parallelepiped. Advantageously, the tab member includes a pair of opposed recesses therein and an elongated end segment, said elongated end segment providing said engagement with each of said electric lamps.
The invention and advantageous developments thereof are shown in the drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a paperboard blank from which the subject invention is formed;
Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a container formed from the blank depicted in Fig. 1 and about to receive a pair of electric lamps therein; and
Fig. 3 is an elevation view, partly in section, illustrating the lamp package of the invention and the respective position of the invention's tab member therein.

For a better understanding of the present invention, together with other and further objects, advantages, and capabilities thereof, reference is made to the following disclosure and appended claims in connection with the above-described drawings.
With particular regard to Fig. 1, there is shown a blank 10 in the form of a single sheet of material which is to eventually form the finished container of the invention. Blank 10 has been printed (not shown) with identifying markings, logos, etc., and, as shown, has been cut in a desired pattern. Several fold lines have been provided in the planar blank to in turn define four side walls A, B, C and D. It is understood from Fig. 1 that these fold lines (those along which various parts of the blank will be folded or bent) are represented by dashed lines while those parts of the blank wherein cuts are made are represented by a single solid line.
As stated, blank 10 is cut to define the four side watis A, B, C and D. In addition, blank 10 is cut to define two end portions at opposite ends of the side walls when blank 10 is folded to the substantially closed configuration depicted in Fig. 2. It is thus seen that two opposing side walls (B, D) are somewhat larger than the two side walls (A, C) which interconnect these walls in the finished package. Comparing Figs. 1 and 2, each end portion includes a plurality of tab (or flap) members which in turn are folded together in a predetermined manner and sealed to define closure for the respective end in the finished package. In Fig. 2, one end portion (that nearest the viewer) is defined by the tab A' (an extension of side wall A), B' (an extension of larger side wall B), C' (an extension of side wall C) and D' (an extension of larger side wall D). The second opposing end is in turn defined by the tabs A", B", C" and D" (not shown) in a similar fashion.
Blank 10 is folded along the dotted lines immediately adjacent each of the respective side walls A-D to form the configuration depicted in Fig. 2. Thereafter, a pair of electric lamps 15 and 17 are each inserted within a respective one of the opposing ends of this container. Lamps 15 and 17 are each of the incandescent variety and typically consist of a metallic screw-on base 19 and a bulbous glass envelope 21 which extends from the base and contains the lamp's filament structure, gaseous atmosphere, etc. Lamps of this type are well known in the art and typically possess a wattage rating of 40, 60, 75, 100 or 150 watts. It is to be understood with regard to the present invention, however, that the teachings herein are readily applicable to containers for other types of lamps than those described above. Each lamp is inserted in the direction shown in Fig. 2 through one of the respective open ends prior to sealing thereof.
To provide effective separation of the two lamps within the paperboard container such that the lamps do not physically contact one another but yet are very closely positioned within the finished package, a tab member 23 is employed. Tab member 23 is cut from within side wall D and is folded along a relatively straight line FL-FL at one end thereof. The tab member 23 is then simply depressed inwardly in the manner depicted in Fig. 2 prior to insertion of the electric lamps 15, 17. Said lamps are then inserted until engagement with tab member 23 is achieved. The respective end tabs are then folded to seal each of the previously open end portions of the container. This final positioning of the lamps is illustrated in Fig. 3. As shown, tab 23 effectively prevents each lamp from physically contacting each other in the finished package. Specifically, tab 23 engages the glass envelope portions of each lamp and is sufficiently pliable to substantially follow a large part of the external contour of each envelope during said contact. This represents a significant feature of the invention in that it assists in minimizing the overall internal space to house the two lamps. For purposes of clarity, the side wall D from which tab member 23 is formed is not shown. However, the original configuration is represented by the phantom lines shown.
The finished lamp package as depicted in Fig. 3, including the described paperboard container and pair of electric lamps therein, is thus ready for shipment, storage, etc. prior to sale thereof. As is clearly understood, the aforedescribed relatively simple forming operation necessary to produce the container defined herein and the truly unique and simple tab member for providing effective separation of the container's relatively delicate contents assures a finished product which is both relatively easy and inexpensive to produce.
As described, the blank 10 from which the container of the invention is formed is in turn formed from a singular sheet of material. Suitable materials include solid bleached sulfate, chipboard, bleached manila and machine clay-coated newsback. This material is also preferably of single ply construction. The resulting container does not include corrugations or similar convoluted features as has been heretofore required in many electric lamp packages of the prior art. The thickness of the invention's paperboard material is preferably within the range of about 0.012 inch to about 0.18 inch (0.30 to 4.6 mm). In final shape, the container of the invention is a parallelepiped, thus having opposing ends in the form of parallelograms which in turn are parallel to each other.
With particular regard to Fig. 2, tab 23 is preferbaly folded along the line FL-FL so as to be originally positioned at an angle of from about 40 degrees to about 50 degrees relative to the direction of insertion of each of the electric lamps 15 and 17 (said directions in turn being directly opposite, or directly toward each other). This angle is depicted by the letter "X" in Fig. 2 and, in one specific example of the invention, was about 45 degrees.
With particular regard to Figs. 1 and 2, tab member 23 is preferably of an external configuration containing a pair of opposed recesses 31 and an elongated end segment 33 (opposite that portion of the tab member which remains secured to side wall D). As shown in Fig. 3, the elongated end segment 33 provides the common engagement with each of the glass envelopes in the finished package and is of sufficient length (and overall size) to not only maintain the bulbous glass envelope portions of the lamps apart but to also assure that the respective bases and remaining portions of the envelopes are maintained in the spaced-apart relationship shown. Each of the lamps is thus maintained against the internal surfaces of the various side walls and end portions of the container by virtue of the above-described positioning relationship.
To facilitate opening of the assembled package, the larger end tab B' (which provides final cover for one end portion of the invention) includes a centrally disposed segmented strip portion 35 therein. The customer purchasing the invention thus needs only to pull the tabular end 37 (Fig. 2) in a direction across the top of the package to effect opening thereof. Each of the remaining end tabs forming this portion of the finished package can then be easily folded back and the bulb having its glass envelope nearest said end can be easily removed. Thereafter, the remaining lamp can also be easily removed by the package consumer, this time by simply grasping the base end thereof. Both bulbs are thus removed through only one of the open ends of the finished package. The tabs forming the remaining (non-opened) end of the invention are preferably glued together using a glue or similar bonding material known in the art. This mode of sealing is desired because this end of the package is not to be subsequently opened by the package user, as stated above. The only remaining gluing operation necessary to form the package described herein involves the gluing of a projecting tab 39 (Fig. 1) which extends from the large side wall D to a portion (GL) of the corrsponding smaller side wall A in an abutting (internally) fashion. End segment 39 is also shown (hidden) in Fig. 2.
There has thus been shown and described an improved lamp package for containing a pair of electric lamps which in turn include relatively delicate glass envelopes as part thereof. The invention is extremely compact in comparison to many lamp packages of the prior art. In one example, a finished package containing two 60- watt incandescent lamps possessed an overall height of only about 11.11 mm (4.375 inches), a width of about 8.89 mm (3.50 inches) and a thickness (depth) of only about 9.93 mm (2.375 inches).

Claims

1. A container for a pair of electric lamps (15,17) each including a bulbous glass envelope (21) and a base (19) wherein said container includes a plurality of walls (A, B, C, D), a single tab member (23) forming part of one (D) of said walls and being cut from within same and bent inwardly along a substantially straight line (FL-FL) of remaining connection between tab member and wall, said tab member projecting within said container for contacting each of said electric lamps positioned in a staggered side by side relationship therein and preventing physical contact therebetween, said container being a folded one-piece-construction, characterized in that two of the walls opposed to each other form a pair of end portions (A', B', C', D' and A", B", C", D") each providing an opening through which one of the electric lamps (15, 17) is inserted during positioning of said lamps within said container, the said straight line (FL-FL) forming an angle within the range of about 40° to about 50° with the direction of insertion of the electric lamps within the container.

2. A lamp package comprising:

a container including a plurality of walls (A, B, C, D);

a pair of electric lamps (15, 17) positioned in a staggered side by side relationship with said container, each of said lamps including a bulbous glass envelope (21) and a base (19); and

a single tab member (23) forming part of one (D) of said walls and being cut from within same and bent inwardly along a substantially straight line (FL-FL) of remaining connection between said tab member and wall, said tab member projecting within said container for contacting each of said lamps to separate same and prevent physical contact therebetween and to maintain said lamps against the internal surfaces of said container, and engaging the bulbous glass envelope portions of each lamp, said tab member and the remaining portions of said container being of a folded one-piece construction, characterized in that two of the walls opposed to each other form a pair of opposed end portions (A', B', C', D' and A", B", C", D") -each providing an opening through which one of said electric lamps is inserted during positioning of said lamps within said container, the said straight line (FL-FL) forming an angle within the range of about 40° to about 50° with the direction of insertion of the electric lamps (15, 17) within said container.

3. The improvement according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the container is comprised of paperboard material.

4. The improvement according to Claim 1 or 2, characerized in that the paperboard material is selected from the group consisting of solid bleached sulfate, chip board, bleached manila, and clay-coated newsback.

5. The improvement according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the container is a parallelepiped.

6. The improvement according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the tab member (23) includes a pair of opposed recesses (31) therein and an elongated end segment (33), said elongated end segment providing said engagement with each of said electric lamps.