US2053679A - Container - Google Patents

Description

J. E. PAGE Sept. 8, 1936.

CONTAINER Filed March 24, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I INVEPITQR "t ATTORNEY J. E. PAGE CONTAINER Sept. 8, 1936.

Filed March 24, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR I .lkfinl fge h A'ITORNEY Patented Sept. 8, 1936 CONTAINER John Ernest Page, Sydney, Australia, assignor,

by mesne assignments, to President and Directors of The Manhattan Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation, as trustee ApplicationMarch 24, 1932, Serial No. 600,844

27 Claims. (01. 229-53) v This invention relates to improvements in containers, and more particularly to a container adapted to contain ice cream and like products which maybe shipped in compact knockdow condition.

The well known metal can as a packaging medium for ice cream and like bulky heavy semiliquid products has serious drawbacks since this type of packaging medium is expensive 121 first cost, heavy and cumbersome to transport, it must be collected for reuse, is unsanitary, attracts flies,

dirt and vermin, and it requires expensive washing and cleansing equipment to put the same in condition for reuse. Canisters and containers of [paperboard material possess attractive qualities as regards sanitation,'but heretofore have presented certain objections which have prevented their adoption. To permit the container to be discarded after the first use, it must be economical to produce; it must also be strong and sturdy to withstand rough handling; convenient to grasp, and carry, substantially liquid-tight so as to hold the liquid cream prior to freezing; adapted to withstand moisture without weakening or col lapsing; free from any harmful or contaminating influences on the contents; offer full protection to the contents, and so made as to be economical to transport and store. Containers of flbreboard heretofore made to replace the well known metal can are very weak and possess a decided tendency .toward inward collapse. Furthermore, the bottoms often become so weakened by contact with moist floors and moist contents that they give way and break before the contents can be re- 'moved.

With the above requirements in view, it is an object of this invention to produce a container I especially adapted for the packaging of bulk ice cream and similar food products which is eminently economical, improved and advantageous over other packaging devices heretofore used.

Another object of this invention is to provide a container which may be collapsed for shipping and storage purposes but which is so reinforced as to positively prevent collapse when set up for or during use.

Another object of my invention is to provide a container heldtogether by the interlocking of the parts without the use of staples, glue or similar securing means.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved container of generally circular, ovate or polygonal shape, having separable bottom, cover and body parts which can be either nested together or collapsed for transport and storage in either assembled or partly assembled condition and thereby effect great economy of space and facility in handling.

Another object of my invention is to provide a low cost container, which is strong and sturdy in construction, which will not weaken or deteriorate through contact 'with moisture, which can be easily and quickly made by unskilled labor with inexpensive equipment and which can be assembled complete eitherby the maker or the user, which is leakproof for all practical purposes, which is sanitary and attractive in appearance and can be discarded after first use with economy.

. These and other desirable objects and advantages of the present invention'will become apparent as the disclosure proceeds.

Certain preferred embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the accompanying drawings for purposes of example only, for, since the underlying concepts may be embodied in otherspecific constructions, it is not intended to be limited to the ones here shown, except as such limitations are clearly imposed by the appended claims.

In the drawings, like numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views, of which-- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the complete set up container with the cover member in place;

Fig. 2 is a top view of the container looking down on the cover member;

Fig. 3 is a vertical cross sectional view of the container, taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Fig. 4 is a bottom end view of the container showing more particularly the bottom construction thereof;

Fig. 5 is aperspective view of the container with a portion of the cover member removed to permit access to the contents;

Fig. 6 is a vertical cross sectional view of the upper portion of the container ready for removal of the contents, this view being taken on line 6-8 of Fig. 5

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of the body portion of the container ready to receive the bottom end member and the cover member;

Fig. 8 is a vertical cross sectional perspective view through the bottom end member and cover member shown nested together for shipping and storage purposes;

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a plurality of container bodies in stacked assembly, this view illustrating the compactness with which the bodies can be stacked to facilitate shipping, handling and storage; and

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of another container presented to illustrate another of the various shapes which containers made in accordance with the present invention may take.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, the invention will be described in particular detail with respect to a frusto-conical container. The container may comprise generally a body or barrel member B. a bottom end member E with or without a cover member C. The body or barrel portion, as shown in Figure 7, may be formed from a suitably shaped blank l provided with an outturned, depending flange or shoulder ll formed at the top thereof The flange ll may be slit or cut at spaced intervals, as at II, to provide a series of downwardly depending tabs l3 which interlock with the cover member when it is forced thereover. The bottom edge of the blank is provided with a shoulder or flange or rim which may comprise upwardly extending tongues l5 defined by the cuts H. The bottom flange or rim interlooks with the bottom end member when forced into engagement therewith. The body may'be formed from a flat blank bent to the desired shape, as shown in Figure 7 and the vertical edges abutted or overlapped and then may be held together by staples l6, by thread stitching, or other. suitable means. The body member may be also provided with a plurality of vertical score lines 11, at least one pair of which are diagonally spaced permitting collapse thereof for transport and storage purposes, as shown in Figure 9.

The bottom end member, as shown in Figures 3, 4 and 8 comprises a continuous rim or hoop formed from relatively rigid material, such as metal, the rim having a side wall portion 2| and an inwardly extending seating flange 22. A bottom piece 23 of strong, relatively stifl material, such as paperboard, rests upon the seating flange 22 and forms the bottom portion of the container. The rim portion is provided with an inwardly extending lip 24 which serves an important purpose, as will hereafter be brought out.

In assembling the container the flanged bottom end of body portion B, as shown in Figure 7, is formed into the bottom and member E and engages or interlocks with the bottom reinforcing rim 20. When the flanges or flange forming tongues l5 are not secured to the body, they expand or spring outwardly, due to their natural resiliency, and remain pressed against the inside surface of the rim portion 2| and seated under the inturned lip 24, thus firmly and permanently securing the body member to the bottom end member of the container. When so arranged the lower end l8 of the body member abuts against the bottom piece 23 holding the same in place and forming a tight joint therewith so that no part of the contents may come into contact with the metal rim. Normally, the pressure of the contents will hold the bottom flange in firm gripping engagement with the rim 20, but if desired an insert piece of slightly oversize dimensions, as shown in my application, Serial No. 600,843 filed concurrently herewith, may be inserted into the tubular body member to seat upon the bottom disc 23 pressing the body outwardly against the bottom rim.

The cover member C as shown more particularly to Figures 3, 5, 6 and 8, comprises a rim piece which is preferably made of relatively strong rigid material such as non-corroding metallic material. The rim piece comprises a side wall portion 3|, an inturned lip portion 32 at its lower edge, and an inturnedbead portion 33 at the top edge thereof. A cover piece 34, which may be made from relatively stiff, strong fibreboard material, has the peripheral edge 35 thereof fitted within and gripped by the inturned bead portion 33 to form a complete assembled cover.

After the container has been packed with the contents M, the cover member C is then telescoped over the top of the body member until the lip portion 32 clears the end of the flange i I. If the flange l l which may be slit as at l2 to form tabs I3, is unsecured to the body, the flange or tabs will then spring outwardly, due to the natural resiliency of the material, so that the ends of the flange seats within or interlocks with the lip portion 32. The cover member C is now secured in place and the goods can be shipped and stored fully protected against outside influences or unauthorized tampering. The rigid top and bottom rim pieces 20 and 30 give the container an overabundance of strength at points where the strain from the weight of the contents and rough handling is greatest. Due to the position and shape of the rim pieces, no part of the fibreboard body or bottom piece will normally contact the wet floor of the creamery, truck or storage house, whether the container stands on its top or bottom end, or rests on its side.

A common complaint against flbreboard containers when used for silky materials, such as ice cream, has been that the container side walls collapse inwardly and do not maintain their intended shape during removal of the contents. This inward collapse of the side walls makesit very inconvenient to remove the contents and creates an unsanitary condition due to the fact that the dispenser constantly contacts the top edge of the container with the ice cream and with his clothing. Furthermore, it is diflicult to maintain a tight pack of ice around the container when the side walls progressively collapse inwardly as the contents are removed.

To overcome all these deficiencies, the head portion 33 of the cover member herein disclosed is so made that the cover piece 34 can be pulled out and removed, as shown in Figure 5, when access to the contents is desired. The rim piece 30 remains as a part of the container, stiffening and reinforcing the upper'edge thereof, and positively prevents inward collapse of the side walls. The cover piece 34 may be provided with a small arcuate score 36 which may be punctured and the cover'. piece removed from the container by grasping the finger tab 31 or by inserting the finger into the aperture made by bending back the tab 31. 1

There is shown in Figure 10 a container of cylindrical shape presented to indicate the multifarious shapes'a container constructed along the principles above disclosed may take. These containers may also be made ovate or polygonal in cross section and may be provided with vertical or inclined side walls.

For convenience and economy in shipping, handling and storage, the containers may be stacked, if conical in shape, in nested relationship. If desired, the containers may be shipped to the user unassembled by nesting the body members together and nesting the body end member within the cover member, as shown in Figure 8. If preferred, the body members may be provided with two or more vertically extending scores H which will permit the body member to be collapsed and stacked as shown in Figure 9. This feature is especially advantageous when the body members are in cylindrical or only slightly conical form so as not to permit satisfactory nesting of the body members. The vertical scores produce no harmful effects, since .the rigid metallic top and bottom rim pieces 30 and 20 are fully adequate to hold the body member in proper shape when set up as part of the completed container. Desirable economies in shipping, storage and handling charges are thus effected.

If the container is shipped in knockdown condition, the body member and bottom end member may be quickly assembled by the user to provide a complete set up container as heretofore stated without special machinery or skilled labor. The body member B is preferably made of relatively stiff, strong moisture-resisting fibreboard or paperboard material, while the bottom end member E and cover member C are preferably made partly of metal and partly of flbreboard, as shown in Figures 3 and 8. The bottom piece 23, which generally takes the greater strain, may be made of heavier fibreboard material than the cover piece 34. The side wall portions 2| of the bottom rim piece 20 may be inclined, as shown in Figures and 6, to more clearly conform to the conical body, and thus afford closer nesting of the set up container. The side wall portions 3| of the top 2 rim piece 30, on the other hand, may be made vertical, with respect to the bottom piece, so that the lip portion 32 may be made deeper, thus affording a better finger grip for lifting the container either before or after the'cover piece 34 has been removed.

It is now seen that there has been provided a knockdown container which is strongly reinforced against inward collapse. The container may be made any shape desired, andthe side walls may be made of relatively thin fibreboard material or the fibreboard may be scored vertically to permit storage in flat condition without.

danger of the container breaking or collapsing under load or while in use. All parts of the container which might contact wet surfaces or floors are made of non-corroding metal which is un:- affected by moisture and dampness. The bottom and cover members are very economical to manufacture, each comprising only a simple metallic rim piece or hoop and a fibreboard discor end piece. Notwithstanding the fact that the cover member can be so economically made and is so easy to apply it serves the following purposes: 1. Provides a cover for the container; 2. Provides a foolproof seal for the contents; 3. Provides a guard which protects the container against the deteriorating effects of moisture; 4. Provides a strengthening frame which protects the container at one ofits most vulnerable points and permits the use of a lighter fibreboard body than otherwise; 5. Provides a stiff reinforcing rim preventing inward collapse of the body portion as the contents are being removed; and, 6. Provides a hand grip by means of which the container may be lifted about, before, duringand after removal of the contents. The bottom end member, in addition to providing a bottom for thc container, alsoprovides the advantages listed under (2), (3) and (4) above.

It is also seen that no securing means, such as glue or staples, are needed to secure the bottom or cover parts together or to secure the bottom or cover to the body of the container, and for this reason, the container is very economical to manufacture and assemble. Furthermore, the container contains a very small amount of ma terial per unit of capacity.

The containers herein disclosed may be stacked together in either nested or knockdown collapsed form. In either case, the shipping and storage space required for a given quantity is very appreciably reduced. If the container is shipped knockdown "thebottom end member and cover member may also be nested, effecting further economies in shipping and storage. While paperboard or fibreboard has been specified as a desirable material, it will, of course, be appreciated that any suitable fibrous, metallic or fabricated material may be used where the condition of the material to be packaged permits of such use.

While certain novel features of the invention have been disclosed and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it'will be understood that various omissions, substitutions and changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A container of the character described including a collapsible body member of paperboard material having a rebent portion at each end thereof, a continuous unbroken rim piece of metallic material interlocked together with each of said rebent portions to maintain the shape and provide reinforcing and protection to the container, each of said rim pieces having a lip portion extending inwardly and seated against the ends of said rebent portions, and separate end pieces associated with said rim pieces closing the ends of the container.

2. A container of the character described including a collapsible body member having free locking tabs at both ends thereof, separate end pieces closing the ends of said body member, and a continuous unbroken rim pieceof metallic material at each end of said body member locked to said tabs to maintain the shape of and provide reinforcing and protection to the container.

3. A container of the character described including a body member of paperboard material 1 having a pair of diametrically opposed longitudinally extending fold lines permitting collapse of said body member into substantially flat condition, separate paperboard end pieces closing the ends thereof, a continuous metallic rim piece at each end of said body member gripping and interlocked with the respective end portions of said body member, said rim pieces maintaining the body member in tubular form and providing reinforcing and protection to the ends of the container and retaining said end pieces assembled on the body.

4. A container of the character described including a body member of paperboard material having a pair of diametrically opposed longitudinally extending fold lines permitting collapse of said body member into substantially fiat condition, a continuous rim piece of metallic material at each end of the container interlocked with the end portions of the body member maintaining the shape and providing reinforcing and protection to the container, and a separate end piece associated with one of said rim pieces providing a bottom for the container.

I 5. A container for ice cream and the like adapted to be shipped in knockdown condition and set up into rigid condition by the user, said container including a body member having a pair said body member and rim pieces closing the ends of said body member, said rim pieces enveloping the ends of the body member and'the margins of said end pieces to provide a shape-maintaining and wear-resisting shrouding for the container, said rim pieces holding said end pieces assembled to the body member.

6. A container for ice cream and the like adapted to be shipped in knockdown condition and set up into rigid condition by the user, including in combination, a body member of tubular form having a pair of vertically extending score lines along which the body member may be folded to permit the same to be substantially collapsed during shipment and storage, a bottom closure and a top closure therefor each comprising a paperboard end piece, and a reinforcing and shape maintaining rim of relatively rigid material interlocked by the user with the respective bottom and top ends of said body.

7. A knockdown ice cream container of the character described including in combination, a collapsible body member of tubular form, said body member having a pair of vertically extending score lines positioned diametrically opposite one another, said body member being foldable along said score lines in flat condition for shipping and storage purposes, a metallic shape maintaining and reinforcing rim at each end of said body member, each of said rims having means adapted to interlock with the end portion of said body member when expanded into tubular form, and an end piece supported by one of said rims and providing a bottom for the container.

8. A container of the character described including a collapsible body member of paperboard material, separate paperboard end pieces closing the ends thereof, said body member having an outwardly extending flange portion at each end thereof, and a metallic rim piece at each end of said body member each interlocked with a respec tive flange portion to maintain the shape and provide reinforcing and protection to the container and a support for said end pieces.

9. A container for ice cream orthe like adapted to be shipped and stored in knockdown condition and set up by the user including, a tubular body member having diametrically opposed longitudinally extending fold lines permitting collapse of said body member into substantially flat condition, paperboard end pieces closing the ends of said body member, and a continuous rim piece formed of a relatively stiff rigid material at each end of said body member gripping the respective end portions of said body member, said rim pieces mantaining the body member in rigid tubular form and providing reinforcing and protection to the ends of the container and retaining said end pieces assembled on the body.

10. A container for ice cream or the like adapted to be shipped and stored in knockdown condition and set up by the user including, a tubular body member of generally circular cross-section having a pair of diametrically opposed longitudinally extending fold lines permitting collapse of said body member into substantially flat condition during shipment and storage, a continuous rim piece formed of relatively rigid material adapted to be applied to end portions of the body member by the user, said rim pieces maintaining the body member in tubular form and providing reinforcing and protection to the ends of the container, and a separate end piece associated with one of said rim pieces providing a bottom for the container.

11. A container for ice cream or the like adapted to be shipped and stored in knockdown condition and set up by the user including, a paperboard body member of generally cylindrical form, said body member having a pair of diametrically opposed longitudinally extending fold lines permitting collapse of said body member into substantially flat condition during shipment and storage, a rim piece of metallic material at each end of the container adapted to be fixedly secured to the end portions of the body member by the user, said rim pieces maintaining the body member in tubular form and providing'reinforcing and protection to the ends of the container, and a separate end piece supported by one of said rim pieces providing a bottom for the container.

12. A set up container comprising in combination, a continuous rim member of metallic material having an inwardly extending flange portion at one end thereof and a relatively rigid preformed inwardly extending lip portion at the other end thereof, a body member having a shoulder portion positioned within said rim member and interengaged with said lip portion, and a separate 1 ed to be shipped and stored in knockdown-condi- I tion and set up by the user including, a tubular body member of generally circular cross section having a pair of diametrically opposed longitudinally extending fold lines permitting collapse of said body member into substantially fiat condition during shipment and storage, a continuous rim member formed from relatively rigid material adapted to be assembled to the body .member by the user, said rim member having an inwardly extending flange portion at one end thereof and a relatively rigid preformed inwardly ex tending projection adapted to firmly grip and engage the adjacent end portion of the body member to secure the same thereto, and a separate end piece of paperboard material within saidrim member seated upon and supported by said flange portion.

14. An end member for a container comprising, a continuous rim member of metallic material, an inwardly extending flange at one edge thereof, and a preformed inwardly extending lip portion at the other edge thereof, and an insert piece of flexible material adapted to be flexed over said lip to seat within said rim member and be supported by said flange. i

15. An end member for an ice cream container including, a shape-maintaining rim member formed from substantially rigid material, an inwardly extending flange at one edge thereof, a preformed inwardly extending lip at the other end thereof, and an insert piece of flexible paperboard material adapted to be flexed over said lip to seat against said flange.

16. An improved set up container of the character described comprising, an end closure member having an end wall portion, a rim portion surrounding the said end wall portion, a lip portion extending inwardly from said rim portion, a body member having a side wall with a smooth unbroken inner surface and. a continuous and unbroken edge seating against said end wall portion, free locking tongues extending from said unbroken edge, and a disk member within said rim portion forming a smooth bottom for the container.

17. A container for ice cream or the like adapted to be shipped and stored in knockdown condition and set up by the user including, a tubular body member of generally circular cross-section having a pair of diametrically opposed longitudinally extending fold lines permitting collapse of said body member into substantially flat condition during shipment and storage, an end closure member having an end wall portion, a rim portion surrounding said end wall portion, a lip portion extending inwardly from said rim portion, said body member having a smooth unbroken inner surface and a continuous and unbroken edge seating against said end wall por-' tion, a flange portion extending from saidunbroken edge, said end wall portion being sup-' ported by said flange and forming a smooth bottom for the container.

18. A set up container of the character described comprising in combination, a continuous rim member of metallic material, an inwardly extending flange at one end thereof, a preformed inwardly extending lip portion at the other end thereof, a, body member of paperboard material having locking tongues positioned within said grim and interengaging with said inturned lip portion, and a separate end piece of paperboard =material within said .rim adapted to be flexed over said lip and supported by said flange and forming the bottom of the container.

' 19. A container for ice, cream adapted to be shipped and stored in knockdown condition and set up by the user including, a tubular body member having a pair of diametrically opposed longitudinally extending fold lines permitting collapse of said body member in a substantially flat condition during shipment and storage, a rim member formed of relatively rigid material having an inwardly extending flange at one end thereof, a preformed inwardly extending lip portion at the other end thereof, a flange portion said lip to seat within said rim member and supported by said flange, said insert piece and body portion forming a smooth and regular interior surface for the container.

20. A knockdown container for ice. cream or the like including in combination, a continuous rim member of metallic material, an inwardly extending flange at one end thereof, a relative- 1y rigid preformed lip portion at the other end thereof extending inwardly at substantially right angles thereto, a body member having a shoulder portion positioned within said rim member and interengaged with said inturned lip portion, and an insert piece within said lip portion seated upon and supported by said flange.

21. A container for ice cream or the like adapted to be shipped and stored in knockdown condition and set up by the user including, a tubular body member of generally circular cross-section having a pair of diametrically opposed longitudinally extending fold lines permitting collapse of said body member into substantially flat condition for lateral stacking, a shape-maintaining rim member formed of relatively rigid material adapted to be applied by the user, said rim member having an inwardly extending flange portion at one end thereof and a relatively rigid preformed lip portion at the other end thereof, said body member having a shoulder portion positioned within said rim member and interengaged with said inturned lip portion, and an insert piece within said lip portion seated upon and supported by said flange.

22. A container for ice cream or the like adapted to be shipped and stored in knockdown condition and set up by the user including, a tubular body member of generally circular cross-section having a pair of diametrically opposed longitudinally extending fold lines permitting collapse of said body member into substantially flat condition during shipment and storage, an end closure member having an end wall portion, a com sembled set up relationship.

23. A container adapted to receive bulk ice cream including, a tubular body member with open ends, said body member having a pair of diametrically opposed longitudinally extending fold lines permitting collapse of said body mem ber into substantially flat condition during shipment and storage, an end closure member adapted to be applied by the user to said body member, said end closure member including an end wall portion, and a separate rim portion of metallic material surrounding said end wall portion, a relatively rigid lip portion extending from said rim portion inwardly substantially at right angles thereto, said body member having a smooth inner surface and a continuous unbroken edge seated against said end wallportion, and a plurality of free locking tongues extending outwardly from said unbroken edge, said locking tongues being free to resiliently press against said rim portion and maintain themselves seated under said lip portion to secure said members together to form a complete set up container.

24. An ice cream container including, a tubular body portion formed from strong tough imperforate paperboard having leakproof qualities, said body portion having a generally circular cross-section when expanded into container forming position, said body portion having a pair of diametrically opposed longitudinally extending fold lines permitting collapse of said body portion into substantially flat condition for lateral stacking, a relatively rigid annular shape-maintaining element to be interlocked by the user to one end of said body portion when said body portion is expanded into tubular form, and a sep arate end piece for closing the end of said body portion secured in position by said element.

25. An ice cream container including, a tubu lar body portion formed from strong tough imperforate paperboard having leakproof qualities, said body portion having a generally cylindrical form when expanded into container forming position, said body portion having a pair of diametrically opposed longitudinally extending fold lines permitting collapse of said body portion in a substantially flat condition for lateral stacking, a relatively rigid annular shape-maintaining element to be fixedly attached by the user to one end of said body portion when said body portion is expanded into tubular form, and a separate end closure for closing the end of said body portion secured in position by said element.

26. A container for ice cream or the like adapted to be shipped and stored in knockdown condition and set up by the user including, a tubular body member having a pair of diametrically tinuous rim portion of relatively rigid material opposed longitudinally extending fold lines permitting collapse of said body member into sub stantially flat condition during shipment and storage, top and bottom end closures for each end of said body member adapted to be applied by the user, said top and bottom end closures comprising a rim portion and an end wall portion being formed of different dlametrical size so as to permit nesting thereof during shipment and storage, said body member being of generally circular cross-section and of generally truncated conical form, and means at each end of said body member to interlock with said top and bottom closure members.

27. In a collapsible container of the class described, the combination of a tubular paper body having a shoulder adjacent its lower end, a bot tom closure including a metallic rim member having a side flange extending upwardly from the periphery thereof and fitting the lower marginal portion of said body, and a rim at the upper edge of said side flange overlying and seated on said shoulder, and a separate end piece supported by said rim member having the periphery thereof substantially flush with the outside face of said shoulder, said rim member serving to reinforce and stiffen the bottom end portion of the container.

JOHN ERNEST PAGE.

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