US1293801A - Folding box. - Google Patents

Description

Patented Feb. 11, 1919.

- 3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Witnesses:

W. C. KITT.

FOLDING BOX. APPLICATION FILED JAN-28.1918.

Patented Feb. 11, 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

06722102 a-MQ w. c. KITT. FOLDING BOX. APPLICATION HLEP JAN-28.19l8- Patented Feb. 11, 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- itnessw':

WILLIAM C. KITT, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, ASSIGNOB TO THE KIT PAPER BOX COMPANY, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

FOLDING BOX.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. at. 1919.

Application filed January 28, 1918. Serial No. 214,126.

To all whom. it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM C. Kri'r, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding a simple and inexpensively constructed box of this character provided with means whereby the box may be easily handled, and means whereby the box may be readily brought into condition for remaining in an upright position for reception of its contents, and whereby it may .be readily opened and closed in packing and unpacking. My improved folding box is especially suitable for the shipment of eggs, but it will be understood that I contemplate using it whereever applicable. 7

My invention consists in the combination of parts and in the details of construction and arrangement of parts as willhereinafter be more fully described and claimed.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a folding box constructed according to my invention, the box being shown closed ready for handling and shipping;

Fig. 2 is a similar view of the box opened for packing and unpacking; I

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the box entirely unfolded;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the box in partly folded condition to better illustrate the process of folding the box into upright position;

Fig. 5 is a perspectiveview of a 'box in closed condition illustrating a modification of my invention; f I I Fig; 6 is 'a' partial view cimilar to Fig.

but 'illustr'ating"th'e construction of the box shown in Fig. 5;"

Fig 7 is a verticallongitudinal section on a plane'c'orresponding' to the line 7-7 of Fig.'6; andl i i Fig. 8 is ajdetail perspective view of part of the clasp used in themodified construction shown in Figs! wand 7; As I. prefer to constructmy improved folding box, and as-shown in Figsa l to 4,

inclusive, the entire box except the means for fastening its ends together and the means for fastening its top closure is made of a single piece of flat material. It will be understood that this material may be any that is suitable for the purpose. For instance, .it might be sheet metal or fiber or veneer; or it may be comparatively thin paste-board or card-board or other thin material of comparatively little strength. But my invention is especially adapted for being constructed of materials of considerable thickness which are not susceptible to much complicated folding, as, for instance, heavy fiber or paper-board; and more especially the kind of paper-board that is made up of outerflat layers with a corrugated layer interposed. Such material is well known to-be of great strength in proportion to its weight; has admirable cushioning properties, and is capable of being scored -by pressure as distinguished from partial cutting, and may thereby receive simple straight bends without materially lessening its strength It will, therefore, be understood that the single sheet is of practically any suitable material, although the last named is adapted to be used according to my'invention with greater facility than known.

The single sheet 1 which would originally.

be plainly rectangular, has parts cut away near its four corners withslits 2 extending a short distance inward longitudinally thereof short distances inward from the sides, leaving awider and longer middle part 3 at each end flanked by narrower and shorter parts 4. Also, short distances from the transverse median line of the sheet at each side are pairs of slits 5 extending transversely of the sheet very slightly farther than longitudinal lines passing through the slits 2 at the respective'sides. Thus,

longer and wider middle parts 6 are left at I each side of the sheet flanked by parts 7 continuous with the parts l. I I

a The longer and wider parts 3at the ends preferably have their corners cut away so that the outer ends 8 roughly. conform to a' curve of comparatively large radius.

Slightly inward from each of these ends 8, 1 in the middle of eachpart 3 are cut :el0n- -gated openings 9. Farther inward, and

each a short=distance inward from the respective slit 2 at that side,are slots 10,

7 short but wide tongues 13 adjacent to the outer corners of the respective parts 4.

The middle lateral parts 6 have punched in each one of them four holes 14 lying in pairs on opposite sides of the median transverse line of the sheet, the holes of each pairbeing in alinement longitudinally of the sheet; one pair being located a short distance transversely away from the outer edge of the respective part 6 .and the other pair being located about the same distance transversely away from a line drawn longitudinally of the sheet through the inner ends of the slits 5. Each one of the parts 7 has two holes 15 punched in it a short distance inward from the outer edge of the respective part 7 and in alinement longitudinally of the sheet;

the one hole '15 being spaced a short distance longitudinally of the sheet away from the adjacent slit 5, and the other hole being spaced about the same distance away from the line drawn transversely of the sheet through the inner ends of the slits 2.

The exact location of these holes 14 and 15, as indicated by the relation the holes 15 are to have tothe holes 14, will be later de- I scribed; as will also the relation of the slots 10 to the tongues 13. i a

With the sheet thus cut and provided with the openings, slots and holes, properly located as just described, and as will be further described, the sheet is folded upwardly (that is in the direction downward through the drawing as shown in Fig. 3) on allof the broken lines except the lines 16 that run transversely of the parts '3 just inward from the inner edges of the slots 10 therein. Thus, the downward folding on the transverse lines 17 coincident with the slits 5, and onthe longitudinal lines 18 coincident with the inner ends of these slits 5 define the rectangular bottom 19 of the box. The parts 6 outside these lines 18 and" between the slits 5 become the inner thicknesses of the ends of the box. .The downward folding on the transverse lines 20 coincident with the inner ends of the slits 2 and the downward folding on the longitudinal lines 21 coincident with these slits 2 define the rectangular sides 22; leaving parts 23 between the lines 20 and the lines 16 on which the folding is upward, these arts 23 together making up the top of the box;

, while the extreme outward parts past the these various parts come together in the folding operation is clearly shown in Fig. 4.

The holes 14 and 15 in the parts 6 and 7, respectively, as before alluded to, are so located that when the parts are thus properly-folded together, the'holes 14 of upper pairs will register with upper holes 15, and

the holes 14 of lower pairs will register with lower holes 15 in the respective parts 7-, which, as'will be seen, come outside the parts 6 with the edges of these parts 7 abutting or at least coming close together. With the holes thus registering in the part 6 and the two parts 7 at each end of the box, suitable fastening means may be readily passed through the registering holes to secure the parts 6 and 7 together. As shown in Fig. 2, this fastening means is in the form of a string 25 suitably laced through the holes and tied preferably on the outside. of the box as at 26. The string 25 is especially adapted for this purpose when the box is made of paper, paste-board or any kind of corrugated paper-board; and in practice an ordinary shoe string serves this purpose "very well and is readily inserted through the openings; the end parts of the string preferably being cut ofl when the tying at 26 is completed. However, it will be understood that either with these materials or other kinds'of materials where a string might not be suitable, any other suitable fastening means may be used to fasten the end parts 6 and 7 together. Also the numher and location of the openings 14 and 15 may be varied; or, under certain circumstances, openings need not be provided but the fastening means of suitable character may be inserted through the parts, thus making the openings as the fastening means are inserted. 1

As before stated, the parts 4 lap over the adjacent end portions of the top-forming parts 3; and it is the purpose of these parts v4 to complete the fastenlng at the top of the box.

They perform this function by having their tongues 13 inserted into the slots 10; and it will be understood that the tongues 13 and slots 10 are so relatively proportioned and located that this insertion may be readily accomplished, as shown in Fig. 1.

With certain rigid materials, or where great security of fastening is not required, the insertion of these tongues 13 into these ner ends of the slits 2' are in the sheet 1, as

slots 10 may bedepended upon-as the sole fastening means at the top. .However, for most pur oses and especially vwhere paper or paper-' oard is the material ofthe sheet 1, it is preferable to have additional and auxiliary fastening means. As here shown, these consist of oblong pieces 27 which may be of any suitable material, such as metal, wood, 'fiber, paper-board or the like, each with a longitudinal slot 28 through which passes a suitable fastener or rivet 29 into the respective part 4; thus slidably mounting the fastening piece or bolt 27 on the upper side of the part 4. This bolt 27 is so mounted in this way that it is substantially alined with the respective tongue 13 transversely of the sheet, so that when the folding of the box is completed, it may slide transversely of the box through the respective slot 10 above where the tongues 13 project into the slot and, passing out on the other side, extend over the opposite tongue 13' at that end of the box. In accordance with this purpose, the part 4 at one side is provided with this bolt 27 at one end of the him, while the opposite part 4 at that end is not so provided; and at the other end the bolt 27 is preferably provided on the part 4 at the opposite side while its opposing part 4 is not so provided. It will be understood, however, that the relative location of these bolts at the opposite ends of the box is of minor importance; as is also the exact form of these fastening means; the essential requirement so far as the necessity of provid-.

ing auxiliary fastening means extends, being that some means be passed transversely through the slots 10 and engage the upper sides of both parts 4 at a respective end of the box when'these parts 4 are folded down on the top-forming parts 3.

In Figs. 5' to 8, inclusive, I show a modification of my invention which is chiefly con-. cerned with this auxiliary fastening means; and also concerns the fastening together of the lapped end parts of the box. I

In making this modified box, thesheet 1 wlould be cut and foldedas the sheet 1 in the first example," except that tions of its corner parts would e cut away so as to leave no part 4; the transverse cutting lines at the corners being where the in-.

shown in Fig. 3. Also, instead of the holes 14 and 15 in the parts 6 and 7, the modified corresponding parts7 have short slots 15' of such number and so located as to cooperate with a clasp 3O fastened on the lower or outer side of theinner end part 6' (Fig. 6). 60

As here shown, this clasp 30 comprises an elongated flat body 31 havin at each-side a plurality of integral latera ly projecting lugs 32,. and having at suitable intervals in its interior suitably shaped prongs 33- pressed out from its material; these prongs reater porbeing adapted to pass upwardly or inwardly I through the material of the part 6 and be clenched on the upper or inner side thereof,

. as seen in Fig. 7. Thus, the body part 31 is fixed to this inner end part 6 in'a median position on the outer surface thereof to extend up and down thereon with its lateral lugs 32 adapted to be bent substantially at right angles to the body 31. The seriesv of lugs 32 at one side of the body 31 are, with the slots 15' in the outer end 7 of the box properly located therein, adapted to extend through these slots 15 in the respective parts 7 while the series of lugs 32' at the other side of the body 31 in'like manner extend through such properly located slots 15 in the other part 7 Thus extended through, they are bent inwardly across the outer sides of the parts 7 and firmly clasp the parts 7 to the part 6.

Each of these lugs 32 preferably compart 32 serves to cause the lug 32 to bend abruptly at sald junction when the clasping operatlon isto be completed; while by having the concave side against the clamped surface, the periphery of the part 32" is caused .to embed slightly in the clamped material all around and thus afford a better clamping effect, as well as present a neater appearance, and be less liable to act as' an obstruction on the exterior of the end of the finished box.

The clasp body 30 serving with its lugs 32 to clasp'the end parts of the box firmly together, also serves for" supporting the means that fastens down the top-forming parts 23 of the box As-here shown, this latter fastening means comprises a plate 34 hinged to the upper end-of the clasp body 30 and having a middle slot 34 extending from its free end toward the hinge. The plate 33 is thus adapted to swing down over the top-forming parts 23 after. they are folded downtogether across thetopof the box; the upstanding handle-formingparts being received in theslot-34. Near. the free end of this plate'33 at onexside ofthe slot 34, a-flat U-shaped element35 ispivoted to swing transversely' through. the adjacent slots 10 of the handle-forming parts when the'plate 33 has thusbeen swung down; and

the part of the plate '33at' the opposite side "of the slot-34 preferably has a small-tongue 36 pressed up out of its material under which the free end of the element may engage, as shown at the right ,inFig. 5. The plate 34 and the upper part of the clasp body 30 to which it is hinged are preferably made amply Wide to afford a sufliciently strong hinge joint. It ,will be understood that these parts 30,34 and 35 may beconveniently made out of any suitable sheet metal.

It will likewise be understood that either the clasp part may be used without the hinged fastening plate for the top; or, such a fastening means for the top may be provided without the specific clasp for the end parts;

in either case any other suitable top-fastening or end-fastening means being used, such for instance, as the other examples given herein.

The sectional view in Fig. 7 shows smaller containers 37 inclosed in the box with a horizontal partition 38 between them; and in Fig. 2, the box is shown as having a longitudinal vertical partition 38 along its midresult of the construction including the. end

thicknesses 6 or 6' inside the thicknesses 7 or 7 is the support afiorded for the ends of the top-forming parts 23, since these may rest directly on the upper edges 39 of these inner end thicknesses 6 or 6 when closed, as is clearly shown in Fig. 7, and as is also seen in Fig. 2. It will be noted that these upper 'edges 39 lie somewhat below the folds 24 of the parts 4, so that the thickness of the topforming parts 23 is received between these upper edges 39 and the folded-over parts 4; and it is forthe same purpose that the folds 20 are placed slightly farther from the ends of the sheet 1 than are the folds 24, as seen in Fig. 3 and as hereinbefore described.

The openings 9' in the handle-forming parts are preferably made With rounded ends and narrower in their middles, as shown, and when these register upon the arts being folded together, a very convenlent handle is formed; it being of ample thickness to afford the required strength and to give the proper surface for a comfortable hand-hold due to the aggregation of the two thicknesses of material thus brought together. While the box is thus provided with double thickness in the handle-part, and in the ends and near the ends of the top where the parts are secured together and where the greatest strength is required, there are no superfluous thicknesses of material not needed for these purposes; and at no place in the structure is there any necessity for any tightly compressed folded part such as is necessitated by a construction involving superfluous materlal that must be folded under other parts. At the same time, there is no joint or fastening at any corner of the box where it is especially exposed to injury or disruption in the handling of the container. The bottom edges of the outer end parts 7 or 7 are exposed, but these are immediately adjacent to the closed fold of the inner end part '6 or 6' and the fastening of the end parts is not confined to this region, but is distributed throughout-the upright middle of the box end where the exposure to damage is at a minimum. Likewise, with the parts or flaps 4 on the top. Their fastening is not dependent uponany outwardly exposed edges, but is provided at the middle under the protection of the double thickness of the upstandinghandle-forming parts. It will be-seen, therefore, that while my improved box orcontainer is of very simple construction, a number of disadvantages of such simply constructed containers are eliminated. While I have shown and described certain examples of my invention in considerable detail, it will "be understood that I am not limited to such specific showing and description, but what I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent is: 1. In a folding box, a bottom, sides, topforming parts hinged to said sides to meet along the middle of the box, upward extensions on the respective parts where they meet, said upward extensions having openings, ends, parts hingedto said ends and adapted to fold down on said top-forming parts at opposite sides of said upward extensions, and means on some of said parts 4 that are hinged to said ends, to engage in said openings in said upward extensions for holding down said top-forming parts and said parts hinged to said-ends.

2. In a folding box, a forming parts hinged to said sides to meet along the middle ofthe box, upward exten sions on the respective parts where they meet, having registering openings near re; spective ends of the box, ends, parts hinged to said ends and adapted to .fold down on said top-forming parts at opposite sides of said upward extensions, and'means on some of said parts that are hinged to said ends, to project into said openings in said upward extensions, for holding down said top-forming parts and said parts hinged to said ends.

3. In a folding box, a bottom, sides, top? forming parts hinged to said sides to meet along the middle of the box, upward exten- 810118 on the respective parts where they meet, having registering'openings near ,respective ends of the box, ends, parts hinged to said ends'and adapted to fold down on bottom, sides, top-' l to sald ends and adapted to fold down on said top-forming parts at opposite sides'of said upward extensions, and means movably mounted on some of said parts that are hinged to said ends, to be projected into said openings in said upward extensions, for holding down saidtop-forming parts and said parts hinged to said ends.

4. In a folding box, a bottom, sides, topforming parts hinged to said sides to meet along the middle of the box, upward extensions on the respective parts where they meet, having registering openings near respective ends of the box, ends, parts hinged said top-forming parts at opposite sides of said upward extensions, and means pivotally mounted on some of said parts that are hinged to said ends, to be swung into said openings in said upward extensions, for holding down said top-forming parts.

5. In a folding box, a bottom, sides hinged to opposite edges of said bottom, outer end parts hinged to opposite ends of the respec tive sides, inner end parts hinged to opposite ends of said bottom, said inner end parts folding upwardly, and said outer end parts folding transversely inward and meeting substantially along upright median portions of said inner end parts, means to secure said inner and outer end-parts together when thus folded, top-forming parts hinged to the tops of said sides to meet along the middle of the box, upward extensions on the respective parts where they meet, parts hinged to the tops of said outer end parts and adapted to fold down on said top-forming parts at opposite sides of said upward extensions, and means on some of said parts thus folded down, to enga e with said upward extensions for holding down said top-forming parts.

6. In a' folding box, a bottom, sides hinged to opposite edges of said bottom, outer end parts hinged to opposite ends of the respective sides, inner end parts hinged to opposite ends of said bottom, said inner end parts folding upwardly, and said outer end'parts folding transversely inward and meeting substantially along upright median portions of said inner end parts, means to secure said inner and outer end parts together when thus folded, top-forming parts hinged to the tops of said sides to meet along the middle of the box, upward extensions on the respective parts where they meet, having registering openings near respective ends of the box, parts hinged to the tops of said outer end parts and adapted to fold down on said topforming parts at opposite sides of said upward'extensions, and means on some of said parts thus folded down, to project into said openings in said upward extensions, for holding down said to -forming parts.

In a folding ox, a bottom, sides hinged to opposite edges of said bottom, outer end parts hinged to opposite endSj-Of the respective sides, inner end parts hinged to 'opposite ends of said bottom, said inner end parts folding upwardly, and said outer end parts folding transversely inward and meeting substantially along upright median portions of said inner end parts, means to secure said inner and outer end parts together when thus folded, top-forming parts hinged to the tops of said sides to meet along the middle of the box, upward extensions on the respective parts where they meet, having registering openings near respective ends of the box, parts hinged to the tops of said outer end parts and adapted to fold down on said top-forming parts at opposite sides of said upward extensions, and means movably mounted on some of said parts thus folded down, to be projected into'said openings in said upward extensions, for holding down said top-forming parts.

8. In a folding box, a bottom, sides hinged to opposite edges of said bottom, outer end parts hinged .to opposite ends of the respective sides, inner end parts hinged to opposite ends of said bottom, said inner end parts folding upwardly, and said outer end parts folding transversely inward and meeting substantially along upright median portions of saidinner end parts, means to secure said inner and outer end parts together when thus folded, top-forming parts hinged to the tops of said sides to meet along the middle of the box, upward extensions on the respective parts where they meet, having registering openings near respective ends of the box, parts hinged to the tops of said outer end parts and adapted to fold down on said topformi ng parts at opposite sides of said upward extensions, and means pivotally mounted on some of said parts thus folded down, to be swung into said openings in said upward extensions, for holding down said top-forming parts.

9. In a folding box, a single sheet of material of generally rectangular shape with slits extending in from its ends and slits extending in from its sides, substantially equidistant from and on opposite sides, respectively, of longitudinal and transverse median lines, leaving middle parts and flanking parts at the ends and sides of the sheet, with the adjacent side and end flanking parts integral, the side flanking parts projecting laterally less than the width of the respective middle parts at the sides, and all of said parts being folded up on lilies extending transversely or longitudinally, as the case may be,'from their adjacent slits across the respective parts, with the flanking parts outside the middle parts, and means to fasten the respective adjacent middle and flanking parts together when the folding is completed.

10. In a folding box, a single sheet of material ofgenerally rectangular shape, with slits extending in from its ends and slits extending in from its sides, substantially equidistant from and on opposite sides, respectively, of longitudinal and transverse median lines, leaving middle parts and flanking parts at the ends and sides of the sheet, with the adjacent side and end flanking parts integral, the side flanking parts projecting laterally less than the width of the respective middle parts at the sides, and all of said parts being folded up on lines extending transversely or longitudinally, as the case maybe, from their adjacent slits across the respective parts, with the flanking parts Outside the middle parts, said end middle parts also having transverse downward folds whereby upward extensions are formed, to meet when theother folds are completed, and said end flanking parts being cut away on their outer 20 WILLIAM G. KITT.

Witnesses CLARENCE PERDEW, JAMES N. RAMSEY.

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