US1947190A - Collapsible container - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 13, 1934.

R. J. CODY COLLAPSIBLE CONTAINER Original Filed Dec. 31, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l frwenr 1 fizc/zam JCaaj/ Feb. 13, 1934. R. J. CODY 1,947,190

COLLAPSIBLE CONTAINER I v Original Filed Dec. 31. 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Z5 [6 2p g Z5 u L 2 I 23 12 1.42 12 qt 1 ffl L [nyezzfor Kath 1rd Cbqy Patented Feb. 13, 1934 COLLAPSIBLE CONTAINER Richard J. Cody, Evanston, Ill., assignor to Container Corporation of America, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware Application December 31, 1930, Serial No. 505,781

. Renewed September 5, 19 33 Claims.

, The invention relates to containers, and more particularly to containers formed preferably of paper or. other flexible material, and capable of being folded flat to reduce the cost of transportation of the empty container, and adapted to be opened up into cylindrical or barrel form to receive suitable filling material.

.According to the preferred embodiment of the invention, the assembled container includes an outer wall and an inner or liner member which fits within the outer wall or drum. When both the outer and inner members are formed of heavy paper or paper board, the combined container possesses properties giving substantially all of the advantages of metal cans and is especially adapted for the packing of ice cream or the like.

I am aware that cylindrical paper containers designed to be shipped flat are not broadly new,

but previous devices of this character wereeither go to complicated and expensive to manufacture on a commercial scale, or were not sufiiciently strong to withstand the hard usage required under actual practical conditions.

The object of the present invention is accordingly to produce at a minimum cost strong and durable cylindrical paper containers, which may be collapsed and shipped flat when empty, and which may. be expanded into cylindrical form to receive the desired filling material.

A further object is to produce a container which may be readily and quickly assembled into cylindrical form, and which issufficiently strong and rigid to be handled by, and cooperate with, the handling and filling equipment, now in common use, which has been designed primarily for heavy metal cans.

More specific objects of the invention are: To provide the outer wall with integral inturned flanges at the lower portion thereof for supporting a disc which serves as a, bottom for the container; to provide outturned flanges at the top of the outer wall constituting a rim which serves as a reinforcement for the container, and at the same time serves as a finger hold for carrying the container; and to provide an inner liner loosely inserted within the outer container without any fastening means, which liner fits snugly cut away for sake of clearness showing the outer wall or container expanded to cylindrical form with the .liner and bottom disc in place;

Fig. 2 is.a fragmentary view showing certain details of the construction;

Fig. 3 is a view somewhat similar to Fig. 2 showing certain other details of the construction;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary detail view showing the edge -portions illustrated in Fig. 2 as they appear before being joined together;

Fig. 5 is a reduced view of the blank from 'which the outer wall is formed;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing the cap or top, which is adapted to be applied to the container after the latter has been filled with suitable material; I

Fig. 7 is a view taken on line 7-7 of Fig. 8; and

Fig. 8 is a reduced view of-the blank from which the main portion of the cap or top is formed.

The device comprises generally an outer cylindrical wall or container A, which may be held in cylindrical form by means of a bottom disc or head B, spaced from the lower edge of the container and resting loosely upon and supported by a flange formed by folding inwardly the lower end of the outer wall. Within the outer container a lining C is loosely fitted, said lining resting upon the bottom disc B and serving as a reinforcement for the outer wall. When the container has been filled it may be covered by a suitable flanged top D, which is placed over the upper end of the container and assists in maintaining the cylindrical form. All parts are preferably made of box board which may be treated 'with an emulsion of parafiin and car- -nauba wax in a manner similar to that disclosed in the patent to Thomas Hans, No. 1,685,917, dated October 2, 1928. While this material is preferably for use in the manufacture of an ice cream container, obviously otherfiexible material may be employed Without depart ing from the spirit of the present invention.

The outer wall of the container is preferably formed from a blank such as is shown in Fig. 5. Thisblank includes a ' bodyportion 10, 10 centrally divided by means of a score line 11, which permits folding or collapsing of the container. The line 11 should preferably be of such character as not to weaken the box, but merely to render the'same flexible at this location. For the purpose of forming a flange upon which the disc B is adapted to rest, the lower portion of the blank is provided with a pair of parallel score lines 12 and 13 which include between them portions 14 and- 15. By folding inwardly along the lines 12 and 13, a suitable shoulder is provided for supporting the disc B, as indicated in Fig. 1. Preferably a slot 16 is provided as an extension of the score line 11, the purpose being to facilitate the folding of the container.

While the inturned flange at the bottom of the blank may be made any convenient width this flange is preferably made as narrow as possible, consistent with strength requirements, so the container will be substantially of the same height, and can be readily substituted for metal containers now in common use without necessitating any alteration in existing equipment, such as filling machinery, cabinets, etc.

The upper portion of the blank is scored similarly to the lower portion. The score lines are indicated at 17 and 18, thus providing portions 19 and 20, which are folded outwardly, as indicated in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive. When so folded, a shoulder is formed along the score line 18, which serves as a convenient hand hold. The, outwardly turned flanges also serve to reinforce the ends of the container. A slot 21, similar to the slot 16, is provided at the upper portion of the blank to facilitate folding of the flanges.

The body portion of the blank is preferably provided with a flange 22 to facilitate stapling or fastening the container in assembled form. The flange is preferably connected to the body portion by means of a flexible score line 23. Atab 24 is provided at the upper portion of the blank, preferably as an extension of the fold 20, and has a score line 25 impressed at its juncture with the fold 20. This tab is of particular importance, as it serves to reinforce the top of the container. A similar tab may be provided at the bottom, if desired, butis not generally found necessary, as the strain at the lower portion is not so greatas at the top.

To form the blank into the outer wall of th container, the lower and upper sets of flanges are folded and then lines of staples 26 and 27 are stitched through the flanges in order to hold them in position. In the upper row 27 the staples are preferably omitted adjacent the edge of the flange opposite the tongue 24, the purpose being'to permit the tongue to be inserted between the folds 19 and 20 of the top flange, as will be hereinafter described.

After the upper and lower flanges have been stapled, the blank is folded along line 11 in such a manner that the flange 22 overlaps the opposite edge 28 of the body of the blank. At the same time the tab 24 is inserted between folds 19 and 20 of the top flange. A vertical row of staples 29 is now passed through the edge 23 of the body of the box, and through the flange 22. At the base the staples pass along through the infolded flanges 14 and 15, and at the top at least one of the staples passes through five thicknesses, namely the folds 19, 20, the tongue 24, the edge 28 of the container and the flange 22. The particular manner of inserting and spacing the staples is, in general, immaterial.

The tongue 24 serves as a reinforcement to the.

flange 22 and the edge 28 at the upper portion of the container, where the strain is greatest. The container when full is normally subjected to considerable strain at the top, andwithout the use of the tongue 24, it is found that the top staple 29 is likely to be pulled loose, but where the reinforcing tongue is employed, this defect may be avoided,- as the tongue apparently distributes the strain over a greater area.

After stapling, the container may be collapsed and shipped flat as partially indicated in Figs. 2 and 3. When the container reaches its destination it is expanded and the disc B inserted, the disc resting upon the lower inturned flange.

If food products, such as ice cream or the like, are to be packed in the container, a liner C is preferably inserted within the container as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. In the present instance the liner C is formed from a rectangular sheet having a length somewhat greater than the inner circumference of the container. While the edges 30 and 31 of the liner may be secured together if desired, the liner is preferably inserted loosely within the container so that when'the container is filled with soft material such as ice cream .or the like, the liner will be forced into snug engagement with the inner wall surface of the container and thus, in addition to serving as a liner, it also reinforces the entire construction.

The cap D may be made in any convenient form so as to snugly flt around the top of the container. This cap, for the purpose of utility, strength, and economy of manufacture is preferably formed of parts capable of being secured together by wire stitches or staples. In the present instance the cap D comprises a circular top 32 which is provided with flanges 33, and these flanges are preferably separated from the top 32 by means of a circular weakened line 34. In the present in- 1 stance the line 34 is made in such a manner that it cuts through a portion of the material of the top 32. By forming the top 32 in this manner the bending of the flanges 33 is greatly facilitated and the cap is given a more rounded form when 1 itis finally assembled. Obviously, of course, the line 34 need not be out through a portion of the material, as desirable results may be obtained by merelyimpressing a circular score line in the top.

The flange of the cap, designated generally at 35, comprises the flanges 33 suitably secured between two separate strips 36 and 37. These strips 36 and 37 are preferably of a width equal to the length of the flange 33, and of somewhat greater length than the circumference of the top 1 member 32.

In forming the, cap member D the outer strip 37 is preferably first secured together at its ends by means of staples 38 so that it takes on' a circular form. The flanges 33 are then bent over at an 1 angle to the top 32. The top is then inserted within the band'formed by the strip-37 so that the outer faces of the flanges 33 abut the inner face of the band or strip '37, the plane of the top member being substantially flush with the 1 upper edge of said strip and the lower edge of 'said strip being flush with the outer ends of the flanges 33.

The strip 36 is then inserted within the cap D so that its outer face abuts the inner faces 'of the flanges 33 and its bottom edge is substantially .fllled, the cap D is placed about the upper end thereof, the flange 35 extending downwardly over the reinforcing flanges'of the container itself] F The cap in addition to-"effectively closing the container also assists in maintaining the circularity and rigidity of the package as a whole. The flange 35 of the cap is preferably made somewhat shorter than the reinforcing flange on the top of the container so that when the container is lifted by means of such flange the cap will not become displaced. Obviously, however, if it is so desired, the respective flanges can be a made of equal size.

no cream and similar food products.

From the foregoing it is apparent that there is provided a sturdy, inexpensive collapsible paper board container which is particularly advantageous for the packing and shipment of ice The container herein described has substantially all the advantages inherent in the ordinary metal container as regards rigidity and serviceability, and has substantially none of its disadvantages. The present container is adapted to be shipped and stored in collapsed condition and therefore affords considerable saving in transportation and storage costs. It is much lighter in weight than themetal container now in common use and accordingly effects considerable reduction in transportation costs. The present container may be readily disposed of when empty as it may be either burned or collapsed to a fiat condition and baled, thus entirely eliminating the sanitary problem confronting the retailer in handling and disposing of empty metal cans. The container herein described, due to its strength and rigidity when set up, may be readily utilized in all types of present ice cream can handling and filling equipment without in any way requiring replacing or readjustment of such equipment.

The present container also entirely eliminates the use of sterlizing equipment by the ice cream packer as the container is used but once, and the coating applied during the manufacture of the material of this container renders the interior thereof substantially germ proof and also efiectu-.

ally prevents the absorption of any odor or taste by the contents.

The invention has been described in detail for the purpose of illustration, but it will be obvious that many of the details may be modified without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim is:

l. A barrel-shaped collapsible container, composed of impregnated box board, comprising an outer wall suitably scored vertically to permit collapsing, an inturned flange formed integral with the outer wall to provide an inner shoulder, an

outwardly turned reinforcing flange at the opposite end forming a shoulder serving as a hand hold, a disc supported upon the inner shoulder to hold the outer wall in expanded condition, and an inner liner separate from. the outer wall, fitting within the same and resting fiush upon the outer edge of the disc, said liner having its edges loosely slidable with reference to each other without any fastening means whatever, whereby, when the container is filled, the contents thereof force the inner liner to conform to the outer wall, and the lower edge of the liner is maintained in fixed contact with the upper edge of the disc to maintain it from upward displacement.

2. A container including a cylindrical wall having a reinforcing collar formed integral therewith and extending around an end thereof, said wall and collar being formed from a single blank by overlapping and securing together opposite edges of said blank, said collar terminating short of one of the edges of said blank whereby when said edges are overlapped the opposite edges of said collar substantially abut each other, and a reinforcing tab formed integral with one edge of said collar and adapted, when the container is set up, to extend over said overlap and be secured in place to reinforce the container at the collar end thereof.

3. A container including a cylindrical wall having a reinforcing collar formed integral therewith and extending around an end thereof, said wall and collar being formed from a single blank by overlapping and securing together opposite edges of said blank, said collar terminating short of one of the edges of said blank whereby when said edges are overlapped the opposite edges of said collar substantially abut each other, said collar comprising a double thickness of the wall, and a reinforcing tab formed integral with one thickness of said collar and adapted, when the container is set up, to extend over said overlap and be inserted between the thicknesses of the adjacent edge of said collar and-be secured in place to reinforce the container at the collar end thereof.

4. A container including a cylindrical wall having a reinforcing collar formed integral therewith and extending around an end thereof, said wall and collar being formed from a single blank by overlapping and securing together opposite edges of said blank, said collar terminating short of one of the edges of said blank whereby when said edges are overlapped the opposite edges of said collar substantially abut each other, said collar comprising a double thickness of the wall, a reinforcing tab formed integral with one thickness of said collar and adapted, when the container is set up, to extend over said overlap and be inserted between the thicknesses of the adjacent edge of said collar, and fastening means extending through said collar, tab and container wall to secure said tab in place and reinforce the container at the collar end thereof.

5. A collapsible cylindrical walled container adapted to be formed from a blank of sheet material by overlapping and securing together opposite edges of said blank, an inner flange or collar formed integral with the lower end thereof to provide a shoulder to support a reinforcing disc, an outer reinforcing collar formed integral with the upper end thereof to provide a hand hold for the container, said collar terminating short of one of the edges of said blank whereby when said edges are overlapped the opposite edges of said collar substantially abut each other, a tab formed integral with said outer collar and adapted to extend over the overlapping edges of said cylindrical wall to reinforce the same, means for securing said inner and outer collars and said tab in position when the container is set up, and a reinforcing inner liner loosely disposed within said cylindrical wall, the vertical edges of said liner will HEB

being loosely slidable with reference to each other,

whereby when the container is filled the contents thereof will force said inner liner to conform to said cylindrical wall.

RICHARDJ. CODY.

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