US1971863A - Folding container for bottles - Google Patents

Description

Aug? 1934- E. H. LUPTON FOLDING CONTAINER FOR BOTTLES- 4 Sheets-sheaf 1 Filed May 29, 1933 IN V EN TOR.

A TTORNEY 28, 1934. LUPTON I 1,971,863

FOLDING CONTAINER FOR BOTTLES Filed May 29. 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 I fiqgINVEIT/TORT BY, a 2

ATTORNEY 1934- E. H. LUPTON FOLDING CONTAINER FOR BOTTLES Filed May 29, 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet 5N VEN T OR ATTORNEY Aug.'28, 1934. E. H. LUPTON FOLDING CONTAINER FOR BOTTLES Filed May 29 1953 I: ET-3 5 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 f d INVENTOR.

2 {JV M AITORNEY Patented Aug. 28, 1934 NT OFFICE Elmer H; Lupton, llchester, Md.

Application May 29, 1933, Serial No. 873,537

7 Claims. (Cl. 229-15) This invention relates to folding containers, made of paper board or the like, for containing bottles such as are used for holding beer and soft drinks. The purpose of the invention is to I i provide containers complete with individual cells for the bottles, the cells as well as the body of the container adapted to fold flat and to be easily set up.

In carrying out the invention, I provide a container having side walls and a collapsible bottom wall, connecting these side walls, and between the side walls are arranged closely adjacent rows of cells, each cell rectangular in cross-section, the cells in each row being fastened together as a unit and the end cells in two or more of the rows being secured to said sidew alls. The number) of cells in a row may be two, for a small container, or a multiple of two for a larger container. The cells are creased at their corners so that the successive cells in a row will fold alternately in opposite directions and lie flat between the sides when the container is folded. For containers adapted to hold a dozen bottles, three rows of cells, having foufcells to the row,

26 makes a package of convenient shape, and be-- cause of the weight of the bottles certain portions of the container are re-enforced by suitable light material, such as corrugated board. For containers of smaller size the re-enrorcing elements may be omitted. In some forms of container the cells are enclosed on four sides, but in the smaller and cheaper forms, the cells may be enclosed only by the sides of the container body to which they are attached, the cells in the end rows forming the other two sides of the container.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown the invention in several forms, each form embodying the ieature above mentioned, namely, the arrangement of Ioldable cells in rows of two or a multiple of two, the cells in each row being connected together and the end cells in at least two of the rows being connected to opposite sides of a collapsible container body.

In the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the inner side of the blank for a box containing cells connected in units of four;

Fig. 2 is.a similar view of the blank with its re-enforcements applied thereto;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the box, folded;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the box at the commencement of the unfolding operation;

Fig. 6 is a similar view of the box at a later stage in the unfolding operation;

Fig. 7 is a similar view 01. the box withthe bottom and sides completely unfolded;

Fig. 8 is a similar view of the box in upright position with the cover flaps turned outwardly,

showing the tops of the cells; 1 to Fig. 9 is a similar view, showing the box with the top flaps closed; 7 Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a cell unit consisting of four cells;

Fig. 11 is a section on the line 11-11 of Fig. 8; es 1 Fig. 12 is a section on the line 12-12 of Fig. 9: Fig. 13 is a section on the line 13-13 of Fig. 9; Fig. 14 is a perspective view of a box having cells in units of two, the box being unfolded, with the top flaps open; Fig. 15 is a plan view of the blank from whic the box shown in Fig. 14 is constructed;

Fig. 18-is a plan view of the box shown in Fig. 14, folded;

Fig. 17 is a horizontal section through the box on the line 17-17 of. Fig. 16, showing the box partly folded;

Fig. 18 is a perspective view 0! a modified form of box or container;

Fig. 19 view of the same; Fig. 20 is a perspective view of the same, partly folded, and, I

Fig. 21 is a plan view of the blank which forms the body of the container, illustrated in Figs. 1s-2o;

Referring first to Figs. 1-13, inclusive, of the drawings, which illustrate the construction of a box having twelve cells. Fig; 1 shows the in-' ner side 01' the box blank, which is divided into four panels a, b, cand d, by transverse slots 1, 9o 2 and 3 in one side margin of the blank, correspondingslots 4, 5, and 6 in the opposite margin of 'the blank and crease lines 'I, 8, and 9 extending transversely of the blank betweenthe slots 1-4, 2-5, and 3-8,-respectively. These panels have flaps at their ends formed by crease lines line 16. The panels a and 'c, which fonn opposite sides of the box; have upper. flaps 1'! and 18, respectively, which fold over;the top of the;

box, and lower flaps '19 and 20, respectively, which fold within the bottom of the box, and-the panel a has a tab 21 at its free edge which, in the panel d. A crease line 22 extends transversely of the blank through the center of the panel a and its flaps, and, similarly, a crease line 23 extends through the panel 0 and its flaps, whereby these panels and their flaps may fold at their centers along these lines. The flap 19 has a diagonal crease line 24 to permit the two parts of the flap to fold at a right angle, and the flap 20 has a similar diagonal crease line 25 to permit its parts to fold at a right angle.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the panels which form the sides of the box are re-enforced by suitable light-weight material,- such as corrugated paper board, and the end flaps of the panels b and d are similarly re-enforced. These re-enforcing elements, which are of rectangular shape, are cemented directly to the blank.

The, panel a, which is foldable along the crease line 22, has two re-enforcing elements 26 and 27 cemented to its inner face, these elements being arranged at opposite sides of said line and spaced apart so as not to interfere at their adjacent edges when the panel is folded, and reenforcing elements 28 and 29 are similarly ar ranged on the foldable side panel 0.

A reenforcing element 30 is applied to the panel 5, and re-enforcing elements 31 and 32 are applied to its top flap l2 and its bottom flap 14. Similarly, the panel d has a re-enforcing element 33 and its top and bottom flaps 13 and 15 are provided with re-enforcing elements 34 and 35, respectively. All of these elements lie within the boundaries of the parts to which they are applied, except the elements 32 and 35,'which extend beyond the sides of the bottom flaps l4 and 15, respectively, in order to overlap the adjacent edges of the flaps 19 and 20 in the completed box, for the purpose hereinafter described.

Within the walls of the box are arranged three rows of cells, indicated by the letters e, f and g, each row, as shown, consisting of four cells which are square in cross-section when the box is set up, as in Fig. 8, but which fold in zigzag fashion,

relatively to one another as indicated in Fig.

11, and lie fiat between the sides b and d when the box is collapsed. Each cell is complete in itself and the cells in each row are cemented together to form a unit, asillustrated in Fig. 10. The end cells of the outer rows e and g are cemented to the re-enforcements 30 and 33 on the sides b and d of the box, respectively, and the end cells of the center row f may also be cemented to these re-enforcements although the center row of cells will fold with the outer rows, without being attached to the re-enforcements. The cells are the full height of the reenforcements and are open at the topand bottom and each cell is adapted to receive a bottle h with a free fit. The cells are given a set at their corners so that each cell in each row tion, as illustrated in Fig. 11.

The manner of setting up the box, illustrated in Figs. 1-13, is as follows: When the box is folded it appears as in Figs. 4 and 5, the cells being folded flat within the box. To set up the box, the operator grasps it by the sides a and c and presses the foldededges 22 and 23 of these parts toward one another. The sides b andd are spaced apart a short distance by the intervening flattened cells, and as the sides a and c are pressed toward one another, as illustrated in Fig. 6, they act as toggle result.

1,971,883 finished box, is cemented to the free edge of the levers to causethe sides 5 and to be forced apart, and the bottom flaps 14 and 1 are drawn, by this movement of the sides b and d, toward a. position at right angles to the sides, and, eventually,-when the sides a and c are at right angles to the sides b and d, the bottom flaps 14 and 15 will be at right angles to the sides and will close the lower end of the box and the lower ends of the cells. The rows of cells will alsobe straightened out as the sides b and d, to which they are attached, move apart, and-the sides a and c will fit flat against the outer rows of cells a and e, as illustrated in Figs. 8 and 13.

It is to be noted that in setting up the box the ends of the re-enforcements 32 and 350a the bottom flaps 14 and 15 of the sides b and d, which overlap the ends of the flaps 19 and 20 on the sides a and 0, respectively, cause the latter flaps to be folded inwardly, as illustrated in Fig. 6, while the flaps 14 and 15 are being drawn into the position shown in Fig. '7. These flaps 19 and 20 then lie flat against the re-enforcements of the bottom parts 14 and 15. The purpose of extending the re-enforcement on the bottom flaps 14 and 15 over the ends of the flaps l9 and 20 is to cause this In order to permit the flaps l9 and 20 to be folded inwardly at right angles to the sides a and 0 while the latter are buckled and being pressed toward their flat set up positions, it is necessary to provide the 45 creases 24 and 25 in the parts 19 and 20. Generally, the operator will aid the inward folding of the flaps 19 and 20 by pressing them inwardly at the center with his thumbs while pressing the sides a and 0 into their flattened positions.

When the box is set up, if the flaps l7 and 18 are turned outwardly, as shown in Fig. 8, or inwardly over the cells, the sides a and c to which they are attached cannot buckle, and since these sides space the sides b and it apart, the rows of cells attached to the latter sides will. be held in straight lines, with the individual cells squared to receive the bottles. The bottles are adapted to fit closely within the squared cells, and, since a bottle cannot be inserted into a cell until the cells are squared, it follows that a single bottle inserted into any cell will prevent that ceIL-and all of the other cells, from folding, and the box will remain set up even through the flaps l7 and 18 be turned upwardly in the planes of the sides a and c. To start filling the box, the flaps will be turned outwardly as in Fig. 8, and when the box has been filled, the flaps 17' and 18 will be turned inwardly over the cells and the re-enforced flaps 12 and 13 will be turned inwardly over the flaps l7 and 18, as shown in Figs. 9 and 12. The cover flaps may then be secured in any suitable way as by a sealing tape, or by a cord passed around the package.

If it is desired to restore the box to its flattened shape, when empty, the cover flaps will be opened and when the flaps 17 and 18 are turned upwardly into the planes of the sides a. and 0, these sides may be pulled outward slightly, and then pressure applied to the sides b and 11 will cause the cells to collapse and the sides and bottom parts to flatten as shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

In Fig. 14 is shown a box containing three rows of cells, with two cells in a row, the cells in the each row havetheir adjacent sides cemented together and theopposite sides of the cells are cemented to the side walls I) and d of. the box, respectively. It is not essential that the cells f'-f', constituting the center row, be cemented to the sides of the box, as they will fold and unfold by the pressure of the cells in the end rows' with which they are in contact. In the form of box first described, with four cells in each row, the sides a and c necessarily fold outwardly; but in the box shown in Figs. 14 to 1'1, where there are only two cells in a row, the wall a. is creased to fold outwardly and enclose theprojecting sides of the cells 9, while the walls 0' is creased so as to fold inwardly between the cells'e', as will be clear from an inspection of Figs. 16 and 17, which show the box in folded and partly folded positions.

The box is set up by pressing the wall a inwardly, thereby causing the cells to straighten and force the other side walls outwardly until the walls and cells are squared, as shown in Fig. 14. As the walls b and d move away from one another, they straighten out the bottom portions 14" and 15 as in the previously described box. If the top flaps 17' and 18 are turned inwardly or outwardly the box will retain its shape when empty, and of coursewhen bottles are placed in the squared cells, the box will make a compact package which will retain its shape regardless of the positions of the top flaps. When the 'bottles are removed, the box can be collapsed by turning the flaps 1'7 and 18' on the sides a and c upwardly, and then pressing the sides b and d toward one another.

In Figs. 18 to 21, inclusive I have shown an inexpensive form of container with cells for holding six bottles. In this form the container for the cells consists of a single strip of. cardboard having parallel sides and transversely creased, as indicated at 36, 37, 38, 39, 40. The panels 1) and d of the strip form sides of thecontainer to which the cells are cemented; the panels 1 and k form the folding bottom of the container and the panel m forms the top of the container. The top panel has side flaps 41 formed by iongitudinal crease lines 42 and it has an end flap 43 formed by the transverse'crease line 40. The side flaps have extensions '44 formed by the crease line 40 and longitudinal slots 45 which are in line with the crease lines 42. In the completed container the side flaps are turned at a right angle to the top panel, the extensions 44 are ,turned inwardly toward one another, and the end flap 43 is cemented to these extensions, as shown in Figs. 18-20. The side flaps 41 gradually widen from the crease line 39 to the line 40, where they meet the end flap 43 which is made relatively wide so that when the cover is closed, as in Fig. 19, the side flaps will extend downwardly for a substantial distance over the ends of the cells and will prevent them .from collapsing when the container is empty. The side flaps have diagonal creases 46 but these are merely to permit the side flaps to fold inwardly over the body of the cover and the end fiap'to fold over the side flaps when the container is folded.

In this container the end rows of cells e and g are not enclosed at the ends of the container, the cells themselves forming the ends. As shown in Fig. 20 the cells and the bottom portions 1i and k fold by pressing the sides I) and d toward one another and they unfold by pressing the cells e inwardly to their squared positions. The flaps on the cover fold inwardly against the body of the cover and the latter folds backwardly against the side b of the container.-

What I claim is: I 1. A folding container for bottles comprising an outer casing having opposed non-folding sides, a downwardlyfolding bottom connecting said sides, and opposed sides, not connected at their lower edges to the bottom, adapted to fold along one another and creased to fold in zigzag manner, and some of the rows having their ends connected to said non-folding sides.

2. A folding container for bottles comprising an outer casing having opposed non-folding sides,

a downwardly folding bottom connecting said sides, and opposed sides, not connected at their lower edges to the bottom, adapted to fold along vertical central lines, and collapsible cells,-rectangular in cross-section when unfolded,connected together in rows between said non-folding sides, each row having an even number of cells, the rows being closely adjacent one another, and some of the rows having their ends connected to said non-folding sides. 3. In a folding container, a casing composed of a paper board blank having opposed non-folding side panels with bottom flaps connecting said panels and folding downwardly and opposed folding side panels having bottom flaps, said latter panels adapted to fold along central vertical lines and their bottom flaps adapted to fold inwardly, and re-eni'orcing elements covering the inner sides of the lower flaps of the non-folding panels and projecting laterally therefrom over the adjacent edges of the lower flaps of the folding panels when the container is folded.

4. In a folding container forbottles, a casing composed of a paper board blank having opposed non-folding side panels with bottom flaps connecting said panels and folding downwardly and' opposed folding side panels having bottom flaps, said latter panels adaptedto fold along central vertical lines and their bottom flaps adapted to fold inwardly, re-enforcing elements covering the inner sides of the lower flaps of the non-folding panels and projecting laterally therefrom over the adjacent'edges of the lower flaps of the folding panels when the container is folded,'and

collapsible cells connected together in rows, the

end cells in some of the rows being attached to said non-folding side panels.

5. In a folding container for bottles, a casing composed of a paper board blank having opposed non-folding side panels with bottom flaps connecting said panels and folding downwardly, opposed folding side panels having bottom flaps, said latter panels adapted to fold along central vertical lines and their bottom flaps adapted to fold inwardly, re-enforcing'layers of corrugated board applied to the inner sides of said panels and to the bottom flaps of the non-folding panels, the re-enforcing layers on the latter flaps projecting over the adjacent ends of the flaps on the folding panels when the container is folded, and collapsible cells connected together in rows, the end cells in some of the rows being attached to said non-folding side panels.

6. A folding container for bottles comprising an outer casing having opposed sides and a col-- unfolded, connected together in outer and intermediate rows between said sides, each cell being complete in itself and each row having an even number of cells, the rows being closely adjacent one another, the cells in the several rows adapted to fold in zigzag manner relatively to one another and the outer rows in the group of rows having their ends connected to said opposed sides of the casing.

'7. A folding container for bottles comprising an outer casing having opposed sides and a collapsible bottom connecting said sides, and cal-

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