US2085238A

US2085238A - Folding display container

Info

Publication number: US2085238A
Application number: US751802A
Authority: US
Inventors: Oscar J Towell
Original assignee: BUNTE BROTHERS
Current assignee: BUNTE BROTHERS
Priority date: 1934-11-07
Filing date: 1934-11-07
Publication date: 1937-06-29
Anticipated expiration: 1954-06-29

Description

June 29, 1937. O TOWELL 2,085,238

FOLDING DISPLAY CONTAINER Filed NOV. '7, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet l June 29, 1937. TOWELL 2,085,238

FOLDING v DI SPLAY CONTAINER Filed Nov. 7, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 69 06002 Jfjfiwell/ 66 51 S.

Patented June 2%, 1937 ETEQ STATES PATENT QEZ EQE FOLDING DISPLAY CONTAINER nois Application November '7, 1934, Serial No. 751,802

17 Claims.

This invention relates to folding display containers, and its primary object is to provide a new and novel folding display container which is made from several pieces cut from a blank, and which is provided with a hinged bottom so that the bottom can be easily and readily folded between the hinged sides of the container when it is desirable to collapse the container.

Another object of this invention is to provide 30 a new and improved paper or cardboard basketshaped container capable of being collapsed into a flat unit for shipment or storage.

Another object of this invention is to provide a folding display container having a bottom made up of interlocking and hinged pieces which fold down to form the bottom and interlock in a simple and almost automatic manner.

Another object of this invention is to provide a folding display container with a hinged folding bottom connected to the sides so that the bottom may be folded between the sides when it is desirable to collapse the container for shipment or storage, said bottom and sides being adapted and also to so' fit as to substantially prevent openings between the bottom and the sides whereby material in the container may slip therethrough.

Other objects of the invention consist in the provision of features pertaining to the manner of fastening the hingedly connecting sides, the interlocking feature of the bottom, the reinforcing means for supporting the bottom to carry heavy articles as well as to prevent separation of the bottom from the side at the point of juncture thereof, the manner of scoring the sides topermit the container to be folded into a relatively small package, the fastening of the bottom and sides, and the general form, arrangement, and construction of the container itself, and the parts which form the container.

Numerous other objects and advantages will be apparent throughout the progress of the specification.

The accompanying drawings illustrate selected embodiments of the invention and the views therein are as follows:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of one form of the container.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the blanks which make up the separate parts of the preferred embodiment shown in Figure 1.

Figure 8 is a bottom plan view of the preferred embodiment shown in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view along 55 line 4-dof the selected embodiment shown in Figure 1 but with the container in partly collapsed position.

Figure 5 is a plan View of the selected embodiment shown in Figure 1 when said embodiment is folded to fiat position.

Figure 6 is another selected embodiment of this invention.

Figure 7 is a plan view showing the parts constituting the embodiment shown in Figure 6 as out from a blank.

Figure 8 is a bottom plan view of the embodiment shown in Figure 6.

Figure 9 is a transverse sectional view along the line 99 of the embodiment shown in Figure 6.

Figure 10 shows in plan View one corner of the blank in Figure 7 with the addition of a locking tab and locking slot.

Figure 11 is a broken-out view of the inside of a corner with the locking tab device in place.

The preferred embodiment of this invention 0 shown in Figure 1 comprises four parts out from a blank as shown in Figure 2, the back piece II], the front piece I I, the bottom 52 and the bottom flap I3. The back piece I!) is divided into three panels I I, I 5 and I6, respectively, by the score lines I1 and I8, respectively. These score lines I7 and I8 serve as sort of hinges about which the back piece may bend to form the back three sides I4, I5 and IS, when the container is arranged in display position as shown in Figure 1. The front piece I I is divided into three panels, I9, and ZI, by the

score lines

22 and 23, respectively. The

score lines

22 and 23, respectively, serve as sort of hinged lines about which the front piece II may bend to form the front three sides I9, 20 and 2 I, respectively. The front piece II is furthermore provided with two construction flaps 24 and 25-, respectively. The bottom I2 is divided into two

panels

25 and 21, respectively, by the bottom hinge line 28. The bottom I2 is also provided with two attachment flaps 29 and 3D. The bottom interlocking flap I3 is divided into two panels SI and 32 by the flap hinge line 33. The interlocking flap I3 is further provided with two

attachment flaps

34 and 35, respectively.

The container is made from the blanks shown in Figure 2 in the following manner:

The construction flaps 2 and 25 of the front piece II are bent backwardly so that they tend to lie flatwise upon the panels !9 and 2|, respectively. Thus, when the back piece I8 is placed on top of the front piece II so that the panel I4 overlays the panel I9, the panel I5 overlays the panel 20, and the panel I5 overlays the panel 2!, the construction flaps will fold downwardly over the outer edges 36 and 3'5 of the panels l4 and I6, respectively. The construction flaps may then be attached to the back of the panels M and i6, respectively, at the outer edges thereof, by gluing or stitching, as is shown at 38 and 39, respectively, of Figure 1. The

bottom attachment flaps

29 and 39 are bent upwardly, the flap 29 being attached to the panel It along the edge 40 thereof, and the attachment flap 3% being similarly attached to the panel l9 along the edge 4! thereof. As mentioned above, this attachment may be accomplished either by gluing or by stitching. The attachment flaps 34 and 35 of the bottom interlocking flap l3 are then folded upwardly, the attachment flap 34 being afiixed to the panel it along the edge 52 thereof, the attachment flap 35 being affixed to the panel 2! along the edge 5-3 thereof. As the container is collapsed, the panel 55 moves forwardly toward the imaginary center line 5-4 of Figure 1 thereof, panel 29 moving backwardly in similar fashion to the imaginary center line i4. Meanwhile, the side panels Hi and I5 rotate about the hinge lines I? and i3, respectively, and at the same time the panels l9 and 2! rotate about the

hinge lines

22 and 23. As this occurs, the bottom i2 moves upwardly automatically breaking itself into two hingedly connected sections by bending along the bottom hinge line 28, the upward motion taking place around the edges 48 and ii. At the same time, the bottom interlocking flap begins to move upwardly, automatically breaking itself into two hingedly connected sections 3i and 32 about the hinge line 33, said upward motion taking place by rotation about the

lines

42 and 43, respectively, of the container shown in Figure 1. Thus, as the collapsing action takes place, the panel [5 and the panel 2!] move toward the center line 4-4, respectively, meeting each other at that point, the panel M meet-' ing the panel E9, the panel l6 meeting the panel 2!, the bottom l2 having now folded upwardly so that the bottom section 21 has met the bottom section 26, and the two are flatly extended upwardly between the panels 59 and It, the bottom interlocking flap i3 having folded upwardly so that its section 3! lies flatly against section 32, the two sections extending flatly upwards substantially between the panels l6 and 2! as shown in Figure 5. The bottom I2 is provided with an open slot 44 which is adapted to receive the point 45 of the bottom section It. When the collapsed container is being opened for display purposes, the panels l5 and 20, respectively, are pulled away from each other, the panels i i and i9, and It and 2!, respectively, also moving away from each other. The bottom interlocking flap flattens itself out as it moves downwardly until the 'point 45 thereof has traversed about half of its downward arc. Meanwhile, the bottom l2 has also begun to flatten itself out moving downwardly in such a manner that the point 45 of the interlocking flap it may be inserted into the slotted opening at in the bottom 52. As the opening motion continues, the bottom interlocking flap further penetrates the opening in the bottom as shown in cross-section in Figure 4. To finally snap the container in fully open position, pressure may be applied centrally of the bottom above the slotted opening therein downwardly in the direction as shown by the arrow in Figure 4.

This pressure forces the bottom downwardly into a flat plane and completes the interlocking between the bottom slotted opening 44 and the interlocking flap l3. Since the area and perimeter of the bottom I2 have been planned so as to just about equal the area and perimeter of the opening formed by the bottom edges of the front and back pieces i9 and II, respectively, when the same are connected and opened out, the bottom will therefore fit snugly within the sides, and maintain a sort of frictional contact therewith, giving added strength and rigidity to the container in its display position. The container may again be collapsed by applying upward pressure centrally of the bottom, which snaps apart the frictional contact of the bottoms with the sides, and tends to move the various parts together substanially as described above.

Another selected embodiment of this invention as shown in Figure 6 may be made from two pieces cut from blanks as shown in Figure 7. This embodiment comprises a back piece 50 and a front piece 5!. The back piece 50 is divided into

panels

52, 53 and 54 by the

score lines

55 and 56. The back piece is further divided into a bottom section piece 51 by the hinge line 58, a bottom reinforcing tab 59 by the hinge line 6%), and a bottom supporting flap section 6| by the hinge line 62. The three bottom-forming pieces 5?, 59 and BI separated from each other by being cut apart along

lines

63 and 54, respectively. Thus, it will be seen that these

bottom forming pieces

51, 59 and 5! are not joined to each other, but are joined only to the back piece along the hinge The three bottom-forming pieces 10', I2 and Hi above described are separated from each other by being out apart along lines I6 and i7, respectively. Thus, it will be seen that these bottom-forming

pieces

79, 72 and M are not joined to each other, but are joined only to the front piece along the hinge H, 13 and E5, respectively.

' This front piece 5! is further provided with four construction flaps i8, 19, and 81. The construction flap #8 is adjoined to the panel 65 and separated therefrom by a score line 82.' The construction flap i9 is similarly adjoined to the bottom section piece it! by the score line 83. The construction flap 89 is adjoined to the bottom supporting flap section 74 by the score line 84, and the construction flap 8! is adjoined to the panel Ei'i, being separated therefrom by the score line 85.

Each of the bottom reinforcing tabs 59 and i2 (of Figs. 6 to 8) has the shape of an isosceles triangle, the edges of ach pair of sides 6ii64 and'iZ-i'l being equal in length and intersecting at an angle equal to the angle between two in,,

tersecting edges of the bottom.

Inconstructing the container, the various parts and paneis thereof are folded about the score lines and hinge lines provided for that purpose. Thus, the construction flap i8 is folded upwardly around the score line 82 and either glued or stitched to the face of the panel 52 in the neighborhood of the edge 85 of the panel 52, so that the score line 82 falls upon and overlays theline above described, are

85. The construction flap may be glued or stitched either to the front face of panel 52 or the back face of panel 52, as may seem desirable. Similarly, the construction flap 8| is folded upwardly around the score line and affixed to the panel 54 in the neighborhood of the edge 8'! of the panel 5 3 in such a manner that the score line 85 falls upon and directly overlies the edge 8?. The sides may then be spread apart in the hexagonal shape shown in Figure 6. The bottom pieces are bent upwardly into the plane of the bottom, whereupon the construction flap '19 will be afiixed to the bottom section piece 51 in the neighborhood of the edge 88 of the bottom section piece 5'? in such a manner that the score line 8 will overlie and correspond to the edge 88. This construction flap may be either glued, stitched, or otherwise attached. Thus, it will be seen that the two bottom section pieces 57 and. iii when so attached by means of the construction flap iii, form a complete hexagonal box section with a hinge line 83 down the center thereof as shown in the bottom plan view of Figure 8. Sim ilarly, the bottom supporting flap may be completed by joining the two bottom supporting flap sections ti and "M through the construction flap 8%. This is accomplished by either gluing or stitching the construction flap 89 to the bottom supporting flap section 51 in the neighborhood of the edge 85 in such a manner that the score line 5% overlays the edge 89. The reinforcing tabs are loosely arranged upwardly so that when the bottom rests down upon the supporting flap, the reinforcing tabs will lay somewhat in between the supporting flap and the bottom.

This construction will become more evident as the operation of collapsing and opening the finished container is explained.

The container may now be collapsed by upward pressure on the bottom of the container. Since the bottom is attached to the side walls about the lines 58 and "H, respectively, and has a hinge line 83, this upward motion causes the bottom to break into two hingedly connected sections 5i and it, these sections being planes intersecting at the line 83 at a downwardly extending oblique angle. As the collapsing action continues, the panel 52 draws toward the panel the panel 53 draws toward the panel 66, the panel draws toward the panel 67, and the bottom sections fold upwardly, the angle between them growing smaller until, as the box is finally collapsed, the bottom section 57 overlays and is fiat against the bottom section H1, these two being flatly folded upwards to be disposed somewhat between the panels. 52 and 65, which are now practically fiat upon each other. Meanwhile, the bottom reinforcing tabs fold loosely upwards to lie fiat substantially between the panels 86 and which panels now lie substantially flat upon each other. The bottom supporting flap, although of somewhat different shape than the bottom, undergoes a series of operations similar to those just described in connection. with the folding up of the bottom, this supporting flap being attached to the side walls along the hinge lines 82 and '15, respectively, and furthermore having a centrally located hinge line 8d running across it. This upward folding motion will cause it to break into two hingedly connected sections 6! and M, which fold upwardly to form intersecting planes with a continuously decreasing oblique angle between them until the container is finally folded flat, at which time the section i l will overlay the section 5i and the two will extend flatly upwards between the panels 54 and 67, which now lie substantially flatly upon each other. The container may be opened for display use by simply pulling apart the side walls or pressure at the outer edges of the side walls along lines 86 and 8'! where the construction flaps of the front piece are afiixed to the sides of the back piece. This inward pressure or pulling-apart motion will cause the panels of the front and back side walls to fold apart, and assume the hexagonal shape of the container. The bottom supporting flap will automatically fold downwardly into the normal bottom plane of the open container. Meanwhile, the reinforcing flaps will fall downwardly into a position over the bottom supporting flap. At the same time, the bottom of the container will automatically move downwardly, extending itself finally into a flat bottom piece lying within the plane of the bottom of the container resting upon the bottom supporting flap and the bottom reinforcing flaps, respectively. Figure 9 shows the relative parts at one instant in the opening or collapsing stage of the box, the partially folded bottom section indicated at 57 of Figure 9, the reinforcing tab being indicated at 59, and the supporting flap at 6!, the parts moving along the arcs indicated by the dotted lines and the arrows. Thus, it will be seen that as the bottom flap at El in Figure 9 moves downwardly, extending itself into the position of the normal bottom plane of the open container, the reinforcing tabs at 59 will move downwardly, their forward pointed portions overlaying the bottom reinforcing fiap as shown at 93 and 95 respectively of Figure 8. Meanwhile, the bottom section of the container moves downwardly into the bottom plane of the normally opened container, resting in part directly upon the bottom supporting flap and in part upon the reinforcing flaps as will be seen from the bottom plan view in Figure 8.

Many combinations and variations of the above embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of this invention.

It is possible to provide a very simple locking arrangement by providing a small tab 96 as shown in Figure 10 on the peak or point of the bottom section 57, and also providing a cut 9'! along the bottom hinge line 62 of the panel 54. As shown in the corner segment view, Figure 11, when the container is put together and opened up in display position, the small slot 91 will form a recess in the side corner of the container capable of receiving the tab 95 and preventing unauthorized upward motion of the bottom.

Changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts, and the method may be varied within certain degrees without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof, and the right is hereby reserved to make all such changes as fairly fall within the scope of the following claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A container comprising a plurality of hinged,- ly connected sides, a bottom hingedly connected to two adjacent sides thereof, said bottom being provided with a hinge joint extending centrally across said bottom, bisecting the angle formed by the bottom edges of the two adjacent sides to which the bottom is hingedly connected, a flap hingedly connected to two adjacent sides of the container for supporting the bottom, said lastnamed two adjacent sides being symmetrically opposite to the first-named two adjacent sides to which the bottom is hingedly connected, said flap being provided with a hinge joint extending centrally across said flap, bisecting the angle formed by the bottom edges of the two adjacent sides to which the flap is hingedly connected.

2. A hexagonal container comprising a plurality of hingedly connected sides, a bottom hingedly connected to two adjacent sides thereof, said bottom being provided with a hinge joint extending centrally across said bottom, bisecting the angle formedby the bottom edges of the two adjacent sides to which the bottom is hingedly connected, a flap hingedly connected to two adjacent sides of the hexagonal container for supporting the bottom, said last-named two adjacent sides being symmetrically opposite to the firstnamed two adjacent sides to which the bottom is hingedly connected, said flap being provided with a hinge joint extending centrally across said fiap, bisecting the angle formed by the bottom edges of the two adjacent sides to which the flap is hingedly connected.

3. A hexagonal container having six hingedly connected sides adapted to be collapsed about the horizontal line of symmetry thereof, a bottom attached to two adjacent sides, the bottom horizontal edges of which intersect on the horizontal line of symmetry, said bottom being provided with a hinge joint extending centrally thereacross, which hinge joint in opened up position is parallel to the horizontal line of symmetry, said bottom being capable of being folded upwardly about the hinge joint thereof so as to lie flat be tween the front and back portions of the container when the container is collapsed, a flap attached to two adjacent sides for supporting the bottom, said last-named adjacent sides being opposite to the first-named adjacent sides, the bottom horizontal edges of which intersect on the horizontal line of symmetry, said flap being provided with a hinge joint extending centrally thereacross, which hinge joint in opened-up position is parallel to the horizontal line of symmetry, the said bottom being capable of being folded upwardly about the hinge joint thereof so as to lie flat between the front and back portions of the container when the container is collapsed.

A container having a plurality of hingedly connected sides, a bottom hingedly connected to at least one of the sides, said bottom being provided with a hinge joint to permit the bottom to be folded between a front and rear side of the container, a plurality of reinforcing tabs hingedly connected to a plurality of additional sides of the container, and a supporting flap hingedly connected to at least one further side of the container and positioned to underlie a portion of said bottom and the reinforcing tabs in supporting relationship when the container is expanded, said flap being provided with a centrally disposed hinge joint to permit the flap to be folded between a front and rear side of the container.

5. A container comprising a plurality of hingedly connected sides, a bottom hingedly connected to two adjacent sides of the container and being provided with a hinge joint which extends centrally across the diameter from the point of intersection of the two adjacent sides, two triangular reinforcing tabs hingedly connected to opposite parallel sides of the container, said reinforcing tabs having the shape of an isosceles triangle, the two equal sides of which have a length equal to the length of one edge of the bottom, the angle between them being equal to the angle between two intersecting edges of the bottom,-and a bottom supporting flap hingedly connected to two adjacent sides of the container, said adjacent sides being opposite to those adjacent sides to which the bottom is hingedly connected, said flap being provided with a hinge joint centrally disposed thereacross to permit the flap to be folded up between a front and rear side of the container, said reinforcing tabs and bottom being adapted to rest upon said supporting flap when the container is in opened-up position.

6. A container having a plurality of hingedly connected sides, a bottom hingedly connected to at least one of the sides, saidbottom being provided with a hinge joint to permit the bottom to be folded between a front and rear side of the container, a, plurality of reinforcing tabs hingedly connected to a plurality of additional sides of the container, a supporting flap hingedly connected to at least one furtherside of the container, and positioned to underlie a portion of said bottom and the reinforcing tabs in supporting relationship when the container is expanded, said flap being provided with a centrally disposed'hinge joint to permit the flap to be folded between a front and rear side of the container, a locking ear disposed along one of the edges of the bottom, and a complementary slot along the bottom edge of one of the sides of the container adapted to complementarily receive the locking ear.

'7. A container comprising a pluralityof hingedly connected sides, a bottom hingedly connected to two adjacent sides of the container and being provided with a hinge joint which extends centrally across the diameter from the point of intersection of the two adjacent sides, two triangular reinforcing tabs hingedly connected to opposite parallel sides of the container, said reinforcing tabs having the shape of an isosceles triangle, the two equal sides of which have a length equal to the length of one edge of the bottom, the angle between them being equal to the angle between two intersecting edges of the bottom, a bottom supporting flap hingedly connected to two adjacent sides of the container, said adjacent sides being opposite to those adjacent sides to which the bottom is hingedly connected, said flap being provided with a hinge joint centrally disposed thereacross to permit the flap to be folded up between a front and rear side of the container, said reinforcing tabs and bottom being adapted to rest upon said supporting flap when the container is in opened-up position, a locking ear disposed along one of the edges of the bottom, and a complementary slot along the bottom edge of one of the sides of the container adapted to complementarily receive the locking ear.

8. A container comprising a plurality of hingedly connected sides, a bottom hingedly connected to two adjacent sides of the container, said bottom being provided with a hinge joint to permit the bottom to be folded between a front and rear side of the container, and a bottom supporting flap hingedly connected to two other adjacent sides of the container, said flap being provided with a hinge joint to permit the flap to be folded between a front and rear side of the container, said hinge joints of both the bottom and the flap being so arranged as to cause an automatic extension and downward motion of the bottom and flap respectively when the container is bein opened from flat to upright position.

9. A container comprising a plurality of hingedIy connected sides, a bottom hingedly connected to two adjacent sides thereof, said bottom being provided with a hinge joint extending centrally across said bottom, bisecting the angle formed by the bottom edges of the two adjacent sides to which the bottom is hingedly connected, a flap hingedly connected to two adjacent sides of the container for supporting the bottom, said lastnamed two adjacent sides being symmetrically opposite to the first-named two adjacent sides to which the bottom is hingedly connected, said flap being provided with a hinge joint extending centrally across said flap, bisecting the angle formed by the bottom edges of the two adjacent sides to which the flap is hingedly connected, said hinge joints of both the bottom and the flap being so arranged as to cause an automatic extension and downward motion of the bottom and flap respectively when the container is being opened from fiat to upright position.

10. A hexagonal container having six hingedly connected sides adapted to be collapsed about the horizontal line of symmetry thereof, a bottom attached to two adjacent sides, the bottom horizontal edges of which intersect on the horizontal line of symmetry, said bottom being provided with a hinge joint extending centrally thereacross, which hinge joint in opened-up position is parallel to the horizontal line of symmetry, said bottom being capable of being folded upwardly about the hinge joint thereof so as to lie flat between the front and back poitions of the container when the container is collapsed, a bottom-supporting flap attached to two adjacent sides, said last-named adjacent sides being opposite to the first-named adjacent sides, the bottom horizontal edges of which intersect on the horizontal line of symmetry, said flap being provided with a hinge joint extending centrally thereacross, which hinge joint in opened-up position is parallel to the horizontal line of sym metry, the said bottom being capable of being folded upwardly about the hinge joint thereof so as to lie flat between the front and back portions of the container when the container is collapsed, said hinge joints of both the bottom and the flap being so arranged as to cause an automatic extension and downward motion of the bottom and flap respectively when the container is being opened from flap to upright position.

11. A container comprising a plurality of hingedly connected sides, a bottom hingedly connected to two adjacent sides of the container and being provided with a hinge joint which extends centrally across the diameter from the point of intersection of the two adjacent sides, two triangular reinforcing tabs hingedly connected to opposite parallel sides of the container, said reinforcing tabs having the'shape of an isosceles triangle, the two equal sides of which have a length equal to the length of one edge of the bottom, the angle between them being equal to the angle between two intersecting edges of the bottom, and a bottom supporting flap hingedly connected to two adjacent sides of the container, said adjacent sides being opposite to those adjacent sides to which the bottom is hingedly connected, said flap being provided with a hinge joint centrally disposed thereacross to permit the flap to be folded up between a front and rear side of the container, said reinforcing tabs and bottom being adapted to rest upon said supporting flap when the container is in openedup position, said hinge joints of both the bottom and the supporting flap being so arranged as to cause an automatic extension and downward motion of the bottom and flap respectively when the container is being opened from flat to upright position.

12. A hexagonal container comprising a pair of substantially equal length multiple section sheets secured together at their ends to form a continuous series of hinged hexagonally arranged downwardly and inwardly tapering side wall sections, and a multiple-part bottom comprising a hexagonally shaped bottom member hingedly secured to the pair of adjacent wall sections at one end of the sheets, said member being of substantially the same size as the opening formed between the lower edges of the side wall sections, and a smaller bottom member hingedly secured to the pair of adjacent wall sections at the other end of said sheets, said smaller member being arranged to underlie the unsecured end of the hexagonal member in supporting relation when the container is expanded, and both of said members being scored along their common center line whereby the sides may be collapsed and the bottom members folded upwardly therebetween.

13. A polygonal container comprising a continuous series of hinged polygonally arranged side wall sections, and a multiple-part bottom comprising a polygonally shaped bottom member hingedly secured to a pair of adjacent wall sections, said member being of substantially the same size as the opening formed between the lower edges of the side wall sections, and a smaller bottom member hingedly secured to another pair of adjacent wall sections, said smaller member being arranged to underlie the unsupported end of the polygonal member in 1' supporting relation when the container is expanded, and both of said members being scored along a common center line whereby the side wall sections may be collapsed and the bottom members folded upwardly therebetween.

14. A multi-sided container comprising a plurality of hingedly connected sides, a bottom hingedly connected to at least one of the sides thereof, said bottom being provided with a hinge joint to permit the bottom to be folded between a front and rear side of the container, a flap element hingedly connected to at least one other side of the container and positioned to underlie a portion of said bottom in supporting relationship when the container is expanded, said flap being provided with a hinge joint to permit the flap to be folded between a front and rear side of the container, means on a side adapted to engage the bottom, and means on the bottom member adapted to co-act with the means on the side whereby to maintain the bottom in openeddown position.

15. A container comprising a plurality of hingedly connected sides, a bottom hingedly connected to at least one of the sides thereof, said bottom being provided with a hinged joint to permit the bottom to be folded between a front and a rear side of the container, a flap element hingedly connected to a substantially opposed side of the container, said flap being provided with a hinged joint to permit the flap to be folded between a front and a rear side of the container, said flap having converging sides extending away from its side connection to form a peak at its free end, said bottom having a slot therein generally transversely to said peak for insertion thereof when the container is in expanded position.

16. A hexagonal container comprising a plurality of hingedly connected sides, a bottom hingedly connected to at least one of the sides thereof, said bottom being provided with a hinged joint to permit the bottom to be folded between a front and a rear side of the container, a flap element hingediy connected to a substantially opposed side of the container, said flap being provided with a hinged joint to permit the flap to be folded between a front and a rear side of the container, said flap having converging sides extending awayfrom its side connection to form a peak at its free end, said bottom having a slot therein generally transversely to said peak for insertion thereof when the container is in expanded position.

17. A container having an even number of container, said flap having converging sides eX-= tending away from its side connection to form a peak at its free end, said bottom having a slot therein generally transversely to said peak for insertion thereof when the container is in expanded position.

OSCAR J. TOWELLL