US2218670A

US2218670A - Container

Info

Publication number: US2218670A
Application number: US196068A
Authority: US
Inventors: Racy D Bennett
Original assignee: AMERICAN PAPER BOTTLE CO
Current assignee: AMERICAN PAPER BOTTLE Co
Priority date: 1938-03-15
Filing date: 1938-03-15
Publication date: 1940-10-22
Anticipated expiration: 1957-10-22

Description

Oct. 22, 1940. R. D. BENNETT Y 2,218,570

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Filed March l5, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet l wwmWW/Wm M /9 WMJ 7% Oct. 22, 1940. R. n. BENNETT CONTAINER Filed Maron 15, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Oct. 22, 1940 PATENT oI-FICE CONTAINER Racy D. Bennett, Detroit, Mich., assignor to The American Paper Bottle Company, Toledo, Ohio,

a corporation of Ohio Application March l5, 1938, Serial No. 196,068

7 Claims.

'I'his invention relates to containers and primarily to paper containers of the self-supporting type such for instance as is disclosed in Patent No. 2,047,891, granted July 14, 1936, to Henry T. Scott.

The container which comprises the subject matter of the patent just above referred to is formed by cutting from a sheet of relatively stiff good quality paper a single blank, the blank being divided by scorings, preferably made at the time of cutting, into a plurality of panels of different shapes and sizes. In subsequent operations the several panels of the blank are folded relatively to each other about the intermediate scorings, which act as hinges, into the shape of a tubular container open at one end, a suitable adhesive substance beingapplied to certain of the panels to cause such panels to berigi/dly attached lto others which they in part overlap. The tubular container thus formed, with its bottom closed and to open, is then preferably coated, both inside and out, with a leakprooiing composition such as paraffin or a paraffin containing or analogous substance, this coating being-=in tended to prevent the penetration of moisture into the fibrous walls of the container, this coating being particularly important when the container is to be subsequently employed in the packaging, transportation, and dispensing of liquids.

After having been thus coated with the liquid proofing substance .the container may be charged With a commodity to be dispensed, such for instance as milk. Thereafter the container is closed.' sealed and preferably stapled, the walls at its open end comprising panels of such shape that they may be relatively folded to form an end closure, the outstanding features of which comprise a multi-ply rib extending transversely of the axis of the container body and downwardly and outwardly sloping panels which extend from this central rib to the upper margins of opposed sides of the body portion of -the container. As containers of this nature are frequently subjected to rough handling in transportation and delivery to consumers, it is preferred that accidental opening be safeguarded against by passing a staple through the multi-ply rib, or by stitching the several plies of this rib together. Opening of the -container is normally effected by the removal of the staple or stitches and unfolding of its foldable closure or end portion. After this has been done, its contents may be wholly discharged or, if desired, discharged in partonly. If the contents are discharged in part only the several panels comprising the foldable top or closure portion are manually restored to the positions previously occupied by them although the staple is not usually reinserted. Containers of the type just described 'have been made and used in llarge quantities with very satisfactory results.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a paper container of the self-supporting type having certain novel and improved lfeatures of construction whereby it is rendered possible that the contents thereof be discharged, either wholly or partially, without requiring unfolding of the end closure of the container. While it is contemplated that the end closure may be unfolded if desired, in the manner heretofore suggested, nevertheless an additional means for more readily eifecting discharge of the contents of the container may be provided so that the purchaser of a commodity packaged in such container may, if he so desires, remove the .commodity quickly and easily.

It is a particular object of the invention to provide a modified or improved container of thel type disclosed in Patent No. 2,047,891, previously 'referred to, but providing in one wall of such a container a discharge opening which may be opened and closed at will quickly and by a simple movement of the hands of the holder. It is a primary consideration of course that any container designed and intended for use in the packaging of liquids must be liquid-tight at all times prior to use, and the invention contemplates a closure for the discharge opening thus provided which is of such character, and is so positioned,

that there is no more tendency for liquid to escape prematurely from the pouringopening than at any other point in the container wall. It is likewise a. primary consideration in the dispensing ofliquid food products such for instance as milk, that the pouring lip of the container, over which the liquid passes when being discharged therefrom, shall at no time become contaminated. It is especially important to safeguard this pouring lip, or the edges of the pouring aperture, in any case where the contents of the container are only partially removed and the remainder is left therein for'future use. In a container constructed in accordance with the present invention these objections are realized and the cost of applying the improvements is practically negligible.

As will be apparent to one skilled in the art, the invention is applicable to paper containers of various types and susceptible of different uses. In the accompanying drawings two forms of the invention are disclosed, and which will be hereinafter described in detail, but it will be understood that these forms are set forth by way of example only.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a scored paper blank the various panels of which may in subsequent operations be relatively folded to form the container shown in certain of the remaining figures;

Figure 2 shows in plan a portion of the reverse side of the blank shown in Figure 1; i

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the completed container, the pouring openingbeing closed;

Figure 4 is a similar view but showing the discharge or pouring opening uncovered;

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic view showing portion of the means for cutting the pouring opening in the blank shown lin Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a similar view showing the parts in different positions; l

Figure 7 is a transverse section on line 1-1 of Figure 1 but on a larger scale;

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 1 but showing a somewhat modified type of blank;

Figure 9 is a view showing in plan portion of a blank from which certain container parts may be cut;

Figure 10 is a view, in plan, of portion of the blank shown in Figure 8, the reverse side of the blank being illustrated;

Figure 11 is a perspective view of thecompleted container; and

Figure 12 is a similar view but showing the pouring opening uncovered.

Referring first to the form of the invention shown in Figures 1 to 4 inclusive. The blank I0 is of relatively stiff paper and divided into panels by the scorings indicated in dotted lines. The blank shown is substantially the same as that i1- o lustre-.ted in Patent No. 2,047,891 and its details need not be herein described. By folding the panels of the blank relatively to each other, and applying an adhesive to certain of them, a tubular container with closed bottom and open'top will first be fabricated. It may be mentioned that the several bottom panels are indicated at II, I2, I3 and I4, the side wall panels at I5, I6, I'I and I8, those panels which when relatively folded and secured in nal position comprise the closure of the container lying above the side wall panels I5, I6, I'I and I8, it being unnecessary to refer to these end closure panels other than to point out that two of them, i. e., panels I9 and 20 form the inclined uppermost panels of the completed container, as shown in Figure 3, which join the rib 2| extending transversely of tlie container. It is oneV of these inclined panels, for instance the panel I9, in which the pouring opening is formed, this opening being preferably formed by cutting the panel at the time that the score lines are being formed, along the line 22, shown in Figure 1, this cut being substantially U-shaped and completely severing the portion 23 of the blank from the remainder thereof save along its upper edge, where it may be merely scored, the portion 23 after the cutting operation has been completed, therefore comprising what may be designated a closure tab for the pouring opening although it is not solely relied upon to seal this opening.

After the blank I0 has been thus scored and cut to provide the various panels and foldable tab 23,A there is afiixed to one face of panel I9 a rectangular paper sheet 25, this paper sheet extending downwardly over panel I5. It is secured in position by the application of a paste or mucilage, mainlyto the panel I9, the sheet 25 being disposed directly over the tab 23, the dimensions of the cover sheet being such that its margins overlap the margins of the pouring or discharge aperture 22, both horizontally and vertically. 'I'he paste or mucilage used to secure the cover 5 sheet 25 in the position shown in Figure 2 (and in chain lines in Figure 1) is not applied over the entire area of the sheet but only over certain portions, the` glue or paste covered areas being indicated by the shading in Figure 2 of the drawings. Thus the entire area of the surface of the tab 23 is secured to the sheet 25 by the adhesive used but sheet 25 is only attached to the body of panel I9 of the blank by means of the relatively narrow bands or strips of glue or paste indicated 15 at 26 and by the transversely extending band or strip of adhesive above the tab 23 and which is indicated at 21. A small spot of glue or paste 28 is preferably employed to attach the lower edge of the cover sheet 25 to the upper margin of the 20 side wall panel I6.

After the cover sheet 25 has been thus applied, the blank may be submitted to folding, glueing, coating, charging, sealing and stapling operations and in actual practice these operations are 25 carried out rapidly by means of automatically acting devices closely associated so that these devices, which together comprise a complete automatic container fabricating and filling machine, deliver as a finished product the container shown in Figure 3, which has been coated both inside and out with a suitable leakproofing composition, such as a paraiiin containing or like composition andis charged with the commodity to be dispensed, for instance milk. i

During the coating operation coated material is of course deposited over the entire outer surface of the cover sheet 25 and likewise deposited in the cut 22 defining the margins of the tab 23 so that the penetration of liquid through the cut into 40 contact with the cover sheet is prevetned by the coating composition, and likewise the edges of the cover sheet are additionally maintained in tight contact with the surface of panels I6 and I9 by of the'container to prevent escape of liquid is therefore in nowise lessened by reason of the presence of the cut 22, and the container may be transported long distances without danger of failure.

When it is passed into the hands of a consumer, the consumer may of course obtain access to its contents by unfolding the panels which together comprise the rib 2|. He may, however, obtain more ready access to the interior of the container by lifting the cover sheet, applying for instance a lifting force tor this sheet at its lower edge, or at one of its lower corners, and lifting or pulling the body of the cover sheet upwardly until it occupies the position in which it is shown inv Figure 4. In this operation the tab 23 is lifted with the cover sheet due to the fact that its entire surface is secured thereto by the adhesive, but the cover sheet can be readily torn loose from the top panel I9, the adhesive bands 26 being relatively narrow and offering but little resistance to the upward movement of the sheet. As `is clearly shown in Figure 4, the operation just described effects the uncovering of the discharge opening, indicated at D and by tilting the container the 70 contents thereof, or any portion of the contents, may be removed through this discharge opening. When the container is charged with the liquid, it will be found that the liquid will pour cleanly from the opening and the ow can be immediately terminated at any time by righting the container. If the contents are only partially discharged, the cover sheet, with its attached tab 23, may be folded downwardly into its original position as shown in Figure 3 J,and lthe container stored away for future use. It will be perceived that the edge of the discharge opening, over which the contents of the container pass, is effectively sealed against contamination at all times save when the cover sheet is lifted.

It is advantageous to undercut the edges of the tab` 23 in the original cutting of this tab, so that the edge surfaces of the tab taper outwardly ltoward the cover sheet 25, as indicated in Figure 7 to a rather exaggerated extent. When the cover sheet is lifted the tab 23 may be readily pulled through the aperture due to the flexibility of the tab and when the cover sheet and tab are returned to the position shown in Figure 3 pressure may be applied to force the tab back into the discharge'opening D, its edges snapping past the edges of the discharge opening and thereafter being locked in position as shown in Figure 'I against accidental displacement.

This desired result may be obtained by effecting the formation of the cut 22 by the means diagrammatically illustrated in Figures 5 and 6.

In this gurecutting blades for the substantially parallel portions of the cut 22 are indicated at 30 and 3l, these blades being bevelled and the bevelled faces being on the inner sides of the 'blades The blades are of course mounted in a suitable cutting blade holder, portion of which is indicated at 32 and operate toward a table or platen indicated at 33, upon which the paper blank I0 lies. When the blade holder 32 and the blades mounted thereon descend, the cutting edges of the blades will tend to creep outwardly or away from each other, due to the way in which the blades are bevelled, the edges of the tab thus formed being therefore inclined in the manner indicated in Figure 7 after the cutting operation has been completed. The cutting blades 30 and 3l are to a slight degree resilient and it is found that there is a sufficient movement of the cutting edges of these blades to effect the desired result, even when the blades are quite short.

In the form of the invention shown in Figures 8 to 11 inclusive a generally similar result is ob tained but in a slightly different manner. Here the closure sheet or cover sheet for the pouring opening or discharge aperture comprises a portion ofthe inclined panel 40 of the container, the closure sheet or tab being indicated at 4I. Instead of being completely severed from panel 40, save of course along its upper edge, about which it is hinged, it may be only partially severed as for instance by means of perforations, lines of such perforations being'indicated at 42 and 43. Lines of complete severance are indicated at 44 and 45. The incision 45 is curved and that portion of tab 4i adjacent this incision comprises a finger piece for the conclosed position solely by reason of its continued attachment to the remainder of panel 40. The attached sheet 41 is notched or apertured at 50 and the aperture 50 comprises the pouring or discharge opening for the container when tab 4| is lifted as shown in Figure 12. 'I'he sheets 41 are formed in the manner shown largely in order that there shall be no wastage when a series of these sheets are cut from a single strip, as indicated in Figure 9, that portion which is removed from one sheet to form the pouring notch 50 comprising the downward or terminal extension of the next adjacent sheet. These attachment sheets may, however, be otherwise formed. In this way, as in the case of the form of the invention first described, the closure cover 4l overlaps the margins of the pouring opening 50 to a substantial extent so that, so long as the covering tab 4I is lowered, the pouring lip or margin of sheet 41 cannot be contaminated. 'I'his is highly advantageous in cases where it is desired to remove the contents of the container in part only and to store the remainder for future use.

In this form of the invention, as well as in the first form of the invention, the container is coated interiorly as well as exteriorly with. the,

leakproong composition and by this composition the edges of the discharge aperture 50 of sheet 41 are sealed to the inner side of the covering tab 4|, likewise the composition penetrating the perforations 42 and 43 and incisions 44 and 45 so that no leakage of liquid can occur.

It will be perceived that in each form of the invention the container may be said to embody two plies or thicknesses of paper in the area adjacent the discharge aperture. The discharge aperture is actually formed in the inner ply of the two-ply container wall and the cover sheet or tab as the case may be is in each instance of such size as to substantially overlap the margins of the discharge opening thus concealing the edges of the discharge opening and preventing contamination thereof at all times save when the cover sheet or tab is lifted and maintained in lifted position, during which time contamination is unlikely to Occur.

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

1. A container for use in the storage, transportation and dispensing of liquids such' as milk, said container being fabricated of a plurality of fiat angularly disposed marginally interconnected paper panels and being stii and self-supporting, one'wall thereof being cut or scored to provide a displaceable tab connected to the wall by an uncut portion which constitutes a hinge about which the tab may be swung to uncover a pouring opening, a paper closure sheet firmly attached to the outer surface of the'container wall adjacent the hinge and also firmly attached to the outer surface of the tab, that portion of the closure sheet which overlies and is secured 'to the tab having marginal portions which project therefrom to overlap those areas of the container wall which border the pouring opening and such overlapping marginal portions being lightly and separably secured to the outer wall surface of the container by two bands of adhesive extending normally to the hinge and disposed on opposite sides of the tab and by a relatively small area of adhesive on. the side of the pouring opening remote from the hinge, so that the tab is normally maintained in closed position thereby and the tab and pouring opening shielded from contact with contaminating substances, this overlapping porimy tion of the closure sheet being readily detachable from the container wall without injury to itself or the container wall, for the purpose of displacing the tab and uncovering the discharge opening.

2. A container for use in the storage, transportation and dispensing of liquids such as milk, said container being fabricated of a plurality of flat angularly disposed marginally interconnected paper panels and being stiff and self-supporting, one panel at the upper end of the container being inclined to the vertical when the container is upright and the wall panel immediately below and adjoining the same being vertically disposed, the said inclined panel being cut or scored to provide a displaceable tab connected to this panel by an uncut portion which constitutes a horizontally extending hinge above the tab about which the tab may be swung to uncover a pouring opening, a paper closure sheet firmly attached to the inclined panel above the hinge and also firmly attached to the outer surface of the tab, that portion of the closure sheet which overlies and is secured to the tab having marginal portions which project therefrom to overlap those areas of the inclined panel which border the pouring opening and extending downwardly over the upper portion of said vertical panel and such overlapping marginal portions being lightly and separably secured to both inclined and vertical panels by an adhesive so that the tab is normally maintained in closed position thereby and the tab and pouring opening shielded from contact with contaminating substances, this overlapping portion of the closure sheet being readily detachable from the container wall without injury to itself or such wall, for the purpose of displacing the tab and uncovering the discharge opening.

3. The combination set forth in claim 2 in which the closure sheet is substantially rectangular and the loweer margin'is adhesively secured to the vertical panel at a central point, leaving the corners thereof free to be grasped for the purpose of lifting the closure sheet and tab.

4. A container for use in thel storage, transportation and dispensing of liquids such as milk, said container being fabricated of a plurality of flat angularly disposed marginally interconnected paper panels and being stiff and self-supporting, one wall thereof being cut or scored to provide a displaceable tab permanently connected to the wall along one edge by an uncut portion which constitutes a hinge about which the tab may be swung to uncover a pouring opening, another edge of the tab having means associated therewith which normally tends to maintain the tab in container sealing position and to resist outward displacement thereof, a sheet-like member firmly attached to the outer surface of the container wall adjacent the hinge and also firmly attached to the outer surface of the tab, that portion of said member which overlies and is secured to the tab having projecting margins which overlap and shield against contamination those areas of the container wall which border the pouring opening, such projecting margins being lightly and separably secured to the outer wall surface of the container by an adhesive, so as to be readily detachable therefrom without injury to itself orthe container wall and, .after such detachment, movable outwardly with respect to said wall for the purpose of overcoming the resistance of the aforementioned means associated with said tab, to eect displacement of the tab and uncovering of the discharge opening.

5. A container for use in the storage, transportation and dispensing of liquids such as milk, said container being fabricated of a plurality of flat angularly disposed marginally interconnected paper panels and being stiff and self-supporting,

one wall thereof being cut or scored to provide a displaceable tab permanently connected to the wall along one edge by an uncut portion which constitutes a hinge about which the tab may be swung to uncover a pouring opening, another edge of the tab being bevelled or undercut so that portion thereof underlies the adjacent edge of the pouring opening and causes the tab to resist outward displacement thereof, a sheet-like member firmly attached to the outer surface of the container wall adjacent the hinge and also firmly attached to the outer surface of the tab, that portion of said member which overlies and is secured to the tab having projecting margins which overlap and shield against contamination those areas of the container wall which border the pouring opening, such projecting margins being lightly and separably secured to the outer wall surface of the container by an adhesive, so as to be readily detachable therefrom without injury to itself or the container wall and, after such detachment, movable outwardly with respect to said wall to effect displacement of the tab and uncovering of the discharge opening.

6. A container for use vin the storage, transportation and dispensing of liquids such as milk, said container being fabricated of a plurality of flat angularly disposed marginally interconnected paper panels and being stii and self-supporting, one wall thereof being cut or scored to provide a displaceable tab permanently connected to the wall along one edge by an uncut portion which constitutes a hinge about which the tab may be swung to uncover a pouring opening, the said cut being sealed with a leak-proofing substance, such as paraffin, which prevents the passage of liquid and tends to maintain the tab in container closing position, a sheet-like member firmly attached to the container wall adjacent the hinge and also firmly attached to the outer surface of the tab, that portion of said member which overlies and is secured to the tab having projecting margins which overlap and shield against contamination those areas of the container wall which border the pouring opening, such projecting margins being lightly and separably secured to the outer wall surface of the container by an adhesive, so as to be readily detachable therefrom without injury to itself or the container wall and thereafter movable outwardly with respect to said wall to effect breakage of the seal around the tab and uncovering of the pouring openingA 7. A container for use in the storage, transportation and dispensing of liquids such as milk,

said container being fabricated of a plurality of fiat angularly disposed marginally interconnected paper panels and being stiff and self-supporting, at least one wall of the container comprising two superposed layers or plies of paper, the inner ply of said wall being cut or scored to provide a displaceabletab permanently connected to the remainder of said ply by an uncut portion which constitutes a hinge about which the tab may be swung to uncover a pouring opening, another edge of the tab having means associated therewith which normally tends to maintain the tab in container sealing position and to resist outward displacement thereof, the outer ply having a portion attached to the in ner ply adjacent the hinge and a portion rmly attached to the outer surface of the tab, said last mentioned portion of the the inner ply and, after such detachment, movable outwardly with respect to said inner ply for the purpose of overcoming the aforesaid means associated with said tab, to effect displacement of the tab and'uncovering ofr the discharge open- 5 ing.

. RACY D. BENNETT.