US2221368A - Shipping carton - Google Patents

Description

NOV-'12, 1940. J A, BUSER 2,221,368

SHIPPING CARTON 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 23, 1938 INVENTOR J95]! 190 01. Buser BY who Qwz;

4,; ATTORNEY Nov. 12, 1940. .1. A. BUSER SHIPPING CARTON Filed Nov. 25, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lNV ENTOR Jfl/m fllhr/ Buser M M M ATTORNEY Patented s... 12, 1940 UNITED I STATES.

PATENT OFFICE 1 SHIPPING CARTON John Albert Buser, Lebanon, Pa., assignor to Lebanon Paper Box Company, Lebanon, Pa, a corporation of Pennsylvania Application November 23, 1938, Serial No. 241,945

12 Claims.

one or more merchandise-supporting and retaining members which the user may insert into the box body for retaining the merchandise in proper fixed position within the container body.

In accordance with my invention, a box body is provided which may be formed iroma single blank of paperboard material which may be cut 15 substantially rectangular in shape with a minimum of waste of paperboard material, which body-forming blank may be cut and scored preparatory to assembly on an automatic cutting and scoring machine at a high production rate. The box body generally comprises a bottom wall panel and enclosing side and end wall panels hinged thereto, the enclosing panels being suitably connected at the corners by means of se curing flaps or edging strips. The opposite, end walls are each provided with a fold or score line extending diagonally from one lower corner of the box body upwardly in a straight line to the upper edge of the end wall panel. One of the side wall panels is provided with a pair of diagonally extending and converging score lines which extend from the'opposite lower corners of the box upwardly to the upper edge of the side wall panel. As thus formed, the scored side wall panel is divided into a central collapsing section adapted to be folded inwardly so as to overlie the bottom wall panel and end sections folded inwardly so as to overlie the central collapsing section of the side wall section. The diagonally extending fold line traversing each end wall panel divides each end wall panel into two collapsing sections, one of which sections may be collapsed inwardly to overlie the inside face of the adjacent end section forming a part of the scored side wall panel, and the other end 45 wall section being then folded so as to overlie its companion end wall section, thus permitting the opposite unscored side wall section to be folded downwardly so as to overlie the adjacent end wall sections to which it is connected, pro- 50 vlding a substantially flat collapsed box body. A plurality of such collapsed box bodies may be stacked together so as to occupy a minimum oi space during shipment and storage.

When the user desires to place merchandise 55 in the box, the same can be erected into contamer-forming position by merely erecting the side wall panels into a position substantially at right angles to the bottom wall panels. That side wall panel which is provided with the converging and diagonally extending fold lines, is 5 provided with a lip or flap portion hinged to the upper edge thereof which may be turned inwardly after the merchandise has been inserted into the box body, which lip portion serves thereafter as a bracing and reeniorcing strut which 10 preventsinward collapse of the side and end wall panels of the box. To further reenforce and strengthen the construction, a similar lip portion may be hingedly connected to the upper edge of the other side wall panel and also to 15 the upper edge of each of the scored end wall panels.

If the merchandise is of a fragile nature so as to be susceptible to damage in shipment, I provide one or more merchandise-containing and 20 supporting insert members which may be telescoped into the erected box body. Each insert is provided with a merchandise-supporting platform having an area substantially co-extensive with the interior cross-sectional area of the box 25 body. Each platform is provided with downwardly extending supporting flanges which may rest upon the bottom wall panel of the box so as to maintain the platform in the proper spaced relation to the bottom wall panel. Each plat- 30 form may have a merchandise-receiving opening cut therein, the peripheral edges of said opening being shaped to substantially conform to the contour of the merchandise, thus retaining the merchandise out of contact with the side and as end wall panels of the box body and also, if desired, out of contact with the bottom wall panel and the cover panel of the box. The cover panel may be hingedly connected to one of the platforms by means of a spacing section which lies adjacent the inside face of one of the enclosing walls of the box. When the cover panel is in closed position the facing section is maintained in close abutting relation with the adjacent enclosing panel, thus further reenforcing and 45 strengthening the box-enclosing walls against inward collapse. The cover panel may be provided with flanges which telescope over the exterior surface of one or more of the enclosing panels of the box body or it may be provided with one or more insertion flaps hinged thereto which may be inserted into the box interior.

An object of this invention is to provide a highly serviceable carton for the packaging of various articles of merchandise which can be l walls thereof.

Another object of thisinvention iato provide presents a box body which quickly erected into abox body which can be economically constructed and manufactured froma single blank of automatic machinery at low cost, which box body is provided with means to effect substantially flat collapse of the enclosing. side walls thereof L for shipment and storage purposes and which thereafter may be erected by the user as needed to receive the merchandise therein, means being provided to retain the enclosing sidewalls in rigid erect merchandise-enclosing and protecting to be inserted into a box body,

position. v

Another object of this invention is to provide a shipping carton comprising a box body having associated therewith a merchandise-retaining and supporting insert so constructed as to retain the merchandise in tive to the enclosing side walls of the box body, thus to protect the merchandise against damage during shipment.

Still, another object of this invention is to provide a merchandise-supporting member adapted comprises a merchandise-supporting platform having merchandise-engaging means to retain the merchandise in fixed position within the box body, said merchandise-supporting member having a box cover formed as an integral part thereofo I Other objects of this invention will becom apparent as the disclosure proceeds. Various other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following particular description and from an inspection of the accompanying drawings. Although the novel features which are believed to-be characteristic of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto, the invention itself, as to its objects and advantages, and the manner in which it may be carried out, may be better understood by referring tothe following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a partthereof, in which:

Fig. 1 is a face view of a which my improved collapsible box may be made; Fig. 2 is a face view of a prepared blank which when assembled is inserted into the set-up box from the blank bination merchandise-supporting platform and cover for the box; I

Fig. 3 is a face view of a prepared blank which when assembled and inserted into the set-up box provides a second merchandise-supporting platform; r Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a box as it apprepared blank from pears when partially assembled from the blank shown in Fig. 1;

Fig.5 is a perspective view of the fully assembled box as it appears when undergoing collapse preparatory to shipment and storage;

Fig. 6 is a perspective viewof a vertical stack paperboard material substantially entirely by fixed, spaced relation relapacked thereinshown in Fig. lto provide a comof collapsed boxes as they are arranged for ship-.

ment and storage purposes;

tending from the meeting Provided with a lip economically formed and constructed and which may be shipped to and stored by the user in collapsed substantially sembled erected box having one merchandise-,

' supporting insert formed from the blank shown ready to receive the merchandise-supporting insert shown in Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a perspective viewoi the assembled box with the merchandise-supporting inserts positioned therein, this view showing the cover' arr ed in partially closed position; and

Fig. 10 is a vertical or tageously formed from a single blank A of paperboard.material, as shown in Fig. 1. It will be noted that the blank A is substantially rectangular in outline To permit substantially flat collapse of the box when assembled, a score line 1 extends across each of the end wall panels 3, dividing each panel into two collapsing sections 30. and 3b. Each score line 1 extends from the meeting point of the score lines 6 and 5 to the top edge of the end wall panel 3, to form the generally triangular-shaped collapsing sections 3a and to. One of the side wall panels 4 is provided with a pair of diagonally extending score Points of the score lines 5 and 6 and extending across the side wall panel inan inwardly converging direction to the top edge of the side wall panell. 8 divide the side wall panel 4 into a central collapsing section 4:: and two end collapsing sections lb.

Side wall panel 2 is provided with a securing flap 9 hinged to each end thereof along the score line l0. Asecuring flap H is hinged to the side edge of each end collapsing section lb of the front The side wall panel 4 is also portion l5 which extends sub stan-tially the full length thereof and is hinged L thereto along the score line l6. It will be noted by referring more particularly to Fig. 1 that 1, by an automatic cutting and scoring machine without-hand labor.

In assembling the blank A into box form, a suitable glue or adhesive 9 is applied to the inside face of the end wall panels 3, which operation can be performed automatically by a spot gluing machine of well-known construction.- This same machine operates to raise the side wall panels 2 and 4 into a position substantially at right angles to the bottom wall panel I, then operates to fold the securing ilaps 9 and II inwardly, as shown in Fig. 3, then operates to raise the end wall panels 3 into a position substantially at right angles to the bottom wall panel I, and finally presses the securing flaps 9 and II into adhesive contact with the inside face of the adjacent end wall panels 3. The box as thus formed and ejected I from the machine isfully assembled with the side and end wall panels in. upstanding position.

It will be noted that the glued area 9 applied to the end wall panels 3 so as to secure the' securing flaps II to the adjacent end panel sections 3a only, and it will be particularly noted that the securing flaps II are not to be adhesively secured to the end panel sections 3b, Likewise the securingfiaps 9 hinged to the side wall panel 2 are adhesively secured to the end wall sections 31) only, and are not to be secured to the end wall sections 3a. To prevent the securing flaps 9 from being secured to the end wall sections 3a, the lower edge 9a thereof may be so cut as to coincide with the diagonal score lines I of the end wall panel, when the box body is erected, al-

, though it will be appreciated that the lower edge score line 1.

hinged to the side wall panel 4 may be of such mi'rably adapted for such collapse.

9b can extend beyond and overlap the end wall section 3 if care is taken in applying the adhesive to the securing flaps 9 or to the end wall sections 3b to which they will be secured, sothat the edge of this glues area terminates at the Likewise, the securing flaps II area as to overlap the end wall section 3b if the adhesive is so applied to the securing flaps II or the adjacent end wall sections 3a so that the adhesive intended to secure the securing flaps II to the end wall section 3 does not overlap or extend beyond the score line I. This caution must be observed if the box is to collapse in a satisfactory manner.

After the box or carton has been assembled by the box manufacturer, it is shipped to the user in the collapsed position shown in Fig. 6, and the user packs the merchandise therein as needed. Since the erected box would occupy substantial space in shipment and storage, it is highly desirable that it be so constructed that it may be shipped. and stored by the user in collapsed substantially fiat position so as to occupy a minimum of space. My improved box is ad- In collapsing the assembled box, the box manufacturer folds the central side wall section 4 into a position to substantially overlie the inside face of the bottom wall panel I, as shown in Fig. 5. The end sections 4b of the side wall panel 4 will then fold so as to overlie the central section 4a; each end wall section 3a will foid so as to overlie the adjacent end section 4b; the end wall sections 3!: will fold so as to overlie the end wall sections 30, and finally the side wall panel 2 will collapse so as to 'overlie the end wall sections 311, so that each box may be completely collapsed into substantially flat form, as shown in Fig. 6. In the collapsing operation it will be noted that the central lip section I50. will overlie the inside face of the bottom wall panel I, and that the end lip boxes may be stacked together and thereafter bundled, wrapped, or boxed for shipment. It will be appreciated that a large number of collapsed boxes may thus be packed for shipping and storage in a relatively limited space.

When the user desires to pack an article of merchandise M within the box, the box is quickly erected by lifting the side wall panel 2 into a position substantially at right angles to the bottom wall panel I and then lifting the central section 4a of the side wall panel 4 substantially at right angles to the bottom wall panel I. This last operation automatically brings the end sections 4b of the side wall panel 4 and the end wall sections 3a and 3b of the end wall panels 3 into a position substantially at right angles to the bottom wall panel I, providing an open, erected, four-side box which receives the merchandise. It will be noted by referring to Fig. 4 that a corner portion II' of each unscored securing flap I I extends over the fold line I and overlaps a portion of the adjacent end wall section 3b. This arrangement materially braces and strengthens the end wall panels against outward collapse when the box is erected.

After the merchandise M has been packaged therein, the box may be maintained in rigid erect position by folding the lip portion I5 inwardly substantially at right angles to theside wall panel 4. The lip portion I5 serves to brace and stiffen the side wall panel 4 so that the diagonally extending score lines 8 therein are ineffective to effect collapse of the box. A similar stifiening lip portion I3 provided on the side wall panel 2 is also turned inwardly substantially at right angles to the side wall panel 2 after the merchandise has been packed in the box. To further stiffen the construction, similar lip portions I'I may be hinged along the score-line I8 to the upper edge of each end wall panel 3, as shown in dotted lines in Fig.7. If lip portions H are provided on the end wall panels 3, the diagonally extending score line I continues through the lip portions Il dividing the same into lip sections Na and "D. As thus constructed the lip portions I1 do not interfere with the full and satisfactory collapse of the. box structure. It will be appreciated that normally the lip portion I5 when inturned serves to maintain both end wall panels 3 as well as the side wall panels 2 and 4 in erect container-forming position, and the lip portions II hinged to the end wall panels 3 need only be provided if additional stiffness and strength is desired.

In the packaging of certain forms ofmerchandise it is desirable that the merchandise be held in fixed position within the box body so that it will not be damaged during shipment. One or more merchandise-retaining inserts may be positioned within the box body to retain the merchandise therein in fixed position. A cover for the box may also be formed as a part of one of the merchandise retaining inserts, which merchandise-retaining insert and cover may all be chandise-supporting platform formed from a single blank B of paperboard material, as illustrated more particularly in Fig. 2. This merchandise-retaining insert and cover as sembly comprises a platform 2| having an area substantially equal to the interior cross sectional area of the box body. The platform 2| is provided with spacing flanges 26 hinged to the side edges thereof along the score lines 21. The spacing flanges 26 are of such height as to rest upon the bottom wall panel I of the box, as shown in Fig. 10, so as to flrmly support the platform 2| at the proper elevation within the box interior.

An end spacing flange 28 equal in depth to the side spacing flanges 26 and hinged to the platalong the score line 24 and the cover panel 23 is' hinged to the spacing section 22 along the score line 25. An insert flap 38 may be hinged to the other end of the cover panel 23 along the score line 3|.

A second merchandise-retaining and supporting insert 0 may be positioned within thebox if the merchandise so requires. This insert C may be formed from a single blank of paperboard material, as shown in Fig. 3, and comprises amer- 46 having side flanges 4| hinged thereto along the score lines 42 and end flanges 43 hinged thereto along the score Y lines 44. The side flanges 4| and the end flanges 43 are generally of less depth than the side flanges 26 and end flange 28 of the insert B, so that when positioned in the box, as shown in Fig. 10, platform 40 will be spaced from the platform 2| the desired distance to properly support the merchandise M. The platform 40 is provided with one or more openings 0' and 0" so shaped as to snugly receive that portion of the merchandise which projects therethrough. It is appreciated that one or more openings may be provided as the shape of the merchandise requires. As is shown in Figs. 3 and 10 for purpose of illustration only, the platform 48 is provided with an opening 0 having a peripheral edge portion 40' conforming to the contour of the adjacent section of the merchandise, and another opening 0" having a peripheral edge 46" so shaped as to conform to another. section of the merchandise. The flanges 4| and 43 of the platform C are designed to rest upon the bottom wall panel I of the box.

In assembling the merchandise-retaining insert formed from the blank B into the erected box, the side spacing flanges 26 and the end spacing flange 28 are bent into a position substantially at right angles to the platform 2| and when in this position the spacing flanges 26and 28 and the platform 2| are telescoped into the box, as indicated in Figs. 7 and 8 to surround the insert C, if one is used. It will be noted that the platform 2| presents an area substantially equal to the interior area of the erected box, so that the side spacing flanges 26 lie rather snugly against theinside face of the side wall panel 2 and 4 respectively, and the end spacing flange 28 lies rather snugly against the inside face of the adjacent securing flaps 9 and II. The cover panel spacing section 22 will then lie snugly against the inside face of the securing flaps 8 and II at the other end of the box, the spacing section 22 being of such type as to extend from the platform 2| substantially to the 'top edge of the adjacent end wall panel 3.

The merchandise M is then positioned within the box and drops into the opening 0 provided in the platform 2|. The peripheral edge 2|a of the opening 0 may be so shaped as to either snugly or substantially conform to the regular or irregular. contour of the merchandise M, and the opening 0 in the platform 2| may be such size to retain the merchandise M in suspended position and out of contact with not only the bottom 1 wall panel I butalso the side wall panels 2 and 4 and the end wall panels 3 of the box, as indicated in Fig. 10. It will be appreciated that the merchandise M may be held in suspended position by the platform 2| by so cutting the opening 0 so that the peripheral edges 2|a thereof engage the merchandise or the wrapping in which the merchandise is packed when partially inserted the required distance into the opening 0. By slightly enlarging the opening 0 the merchandise M may be permittedto lie against the bottom wall panel |,'theplatform 2| then serving to retain the merchandise M and its wrapping spaced from the side wall panels 2 and 4 and the end wall panels 3 only. Thus by making the opening 0 in the platform 2| of the proper size and shape,

the merchandise M may either be held completely suspended by the platform 2| away from all of the surrounding bottom, side and end walls of the box, or it may be held spaced from only the side and end wall panels of the box as the nature and shape of the merchandise requires.

The platform 48 is slightly smaller than the interior cross-sectional area of the box, so that the side flanges 26 and the end flange 28 of the insert B will seat over the adjacent side flanges 4| in the adjacent end flange 43 of the platform 0, as clearly shown in Fig. 10. The frictional contact between these parts retains the platform 26 and 40 of the inserts B and C respectively in the properposition- It is appreciated that one or more inserts similar to the insert C may be positioned within the box as packing conditions require, in which event the side flanges 26 and the end flange 28 of the insert B are made deeper so as to raise the platform 2| thereof closer to the cover panel 23. Under certain conditions the insert C may be entirely eliminated and only the insert B used.

When the merchandise M has been properly packed within the box,. the cover panel 23 is swung into position so as to cover the top of the box and the insert flap 30 attached thereto is inserted into the box so as to snugly lie against the inside face of theadjacent securing flaps 8 and I, as shown in 'Fig. 10. If desired, the securing flap 36 may be of such height as to rest against the platform 2|, so as to maintain the cover panel 23 in fixed spaced relation to the platform 2| and prevent the cover panel 23 at the free end thereof from being telescoped into the box. Thus both the spacing section 22 and the insert flap 30 may be used to retain the cover panel 23 in proper box-covering position. The cover panel 23 is further held in fixed spaced relation to the platform 2| by the inturned lip portions I3 and 5 which it overlies.

It will also be appreciated that the cover panel 23 may be provided with side flanges 32, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 7, and an end flange 33, as shown in Fig. 7, which may be suitably connected together as by a securing tab 34,,or an i by the cover panel 33 edging strip as shown in dotted line in Fig. 6, in which event the cover panel 23 may be made of such size as to overlie the top edges of one of the end wall panels 3 and the side wall panels 2 and 4 with the side flanges 32 snugly telescoping over the outside face of the adjacent side wall panels 2 and 4 and the end wall panel 3|. It will thus be appreciated that the box cover may either be made as shown in full line in Fig. '7 or it may be provided with side flanges 32 and an end flange 33 as shown in dotted lines in Fig. '1. q

It will be appreciated that the spacing section 22 when in position within the box braces and reenforces the adjacent end wall panel 3 as to prevent inward collapse thereof. By thus bracing one of the end wall panels 3 against inward collapse, it will be appreciated that inward collapse of the other end wall panel and the side wall panels 4 and 2 is also prevented. The spacing section 22 is prevented from inward collapse which acts as a strut extending between the end wall panels 3.

It will be further appreciated that the merchandise-supporting platform 2|, snugly fitting within the box interior, also braces the side and end wall panels so as to maintain them in erect container forming position and prevents inward collapse of the side and end wall panels, further augmenting the stiffening effect of the inturned lip portion l5 and the spacing section 22 braced and stiffened by the cover panel 23.

The shipping box herein disclosed may be used with or without the merchandise-containing insert. The box can be economically formed from a single blank of paperboard substantially without waste of paperboardmaterial and can be economically produced and assembled by automatic machinery at a rapid production rate. The box is possessed of the advantage of being collapsible into substantially flat position so as to effect substantial economies in shipping and storage prior to use thereof. The box may be quickly erected by the user by the simple manipulation of rais-- ing the side wall panels 2 and 4, which automatically brings the end wall panels 2 and 3 into erect container-forming position. The box is adequately braced and stiffened by bending the lip portions l3and l5 inwardly sothat the side and end wall panels are maintained in erect, rigid container-forming position. Further bracing of the end wall panels may be obtained by also providing each end wall panel 3 with an inturned lip portion H as illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 8. A suitable cover may be provided for the box, which cover may be constructed to telescope over the side and end wall paneis,-if desired.

Where the nature of the goods to be packed is such as to make it desirable toretain the same in fixed or suspended position therein, the merchandisc-containing insert having the cover panel associated therewith is employed. The merchandise M- may be so arranged as to be held in suspended position by the platforms 2| and 40, as shown in Fig. 10 and spaced from the bottom wall I and the top wall panel 23. Thus delicate merchandise is protected and cushioned against shock delivered to the bottom and cover wall panels as well as the side and end wall panels. My improved box and merchandise insert assembly may be made of any desired size for the packaging of numerous relatively fragile and delicate articles of merchandise, such as toys made from plastics, edible candy, or other material, as well as numerous other articles of merchandise which are relatively fragile and must be carefully packed and cushioned within the container. Actual test have demonstrated that fragile articles may be packed and shipped in my improved box assembly with little or no breakage resulting and with greatly less breakage than is occasioned when similar fragile merchandise is packed in containers as heretofore constructed. The flexible plat forms 2| and 40 are relatively resilient and gives when exterior strain is imposed upon the walls of the box, and, further, the merchandise-supporting platform will shift and adjust itself to external pressure applied to the box, so as to protect the delicate merchandise therein against damage. The box and its merchandise-retaining insert can be easily and quickly assembled and packed and since the cover panel is attached directly to the insert, time is saved in applying the cover to the box. It will be appreciated that the inserts B and C may be used for boxes which are not made collapsible, although the insert B is particularly adapted for use in boxes of the V collapsible type, since such boxes are rather bulky and a considerable saving in shipment and storage costs can be realized by making the box collapsible.

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 collapsible box formed from a single blank of paperboard material including a bottom wall panel, two side and two end wall panels hinged to said bottom wall panel securing flaps connecting adjacent side and end wall panels, a lip portion hinged to each of said side wall panels adapted to be turned inwardly at right angles to the side wall panel to which it is hinged, and means for effecting substantially flat collapse of said side and end wall panels to a position overlying said bottom wall panel, said means including a fold line extending diagonally across each of said end wall panels, and a pair of converging fold lines extending diagonally across one of said side wall panels and the lip portion hingedthereto, said lip portions when turned inwardly upon erection of the box side and end panels serving .to brace and stiffen the same against inward collapse.

2. A collapsible box formed from a single blank of paperboard material including a bottom wall panel, two side and two end wall panels hinged to said bottom wall panel, securing flaps connecting adjacent side and end wall panels, means for effecting substantially flat collapse of said side I and end wall panels to a position overlying said bottom wall panel, said means including a fold line extending diagonally across each of said end wall panels and a pair of converging fold lines extending diagonally across one of said side wall panels, and means for retaining said collapsible side and end wall panels in rigid erect containerforming position, said last named means including a lip portion hinged to the upper edge of the side wall panel traversed by said converging fold lines which when turned inwardly to lie'substantially at right angles to the side wall panel, provides a bracing strut therefor, said lip portion being traversed by converging fold lines constituting substantially straightline continuations of the converging fold lines extending across the side wall panel to which itis hinged.

3. A collapsible box formed from a single blank of paperboard material including a bottom wall panel, two side and two end wall panels hinged to said bottom wall panel, securing flaps connecting adjacent side and end wall panels, means for efl'ecting substantially flat collapse of said side and end wall panels to a position overlying said bottom wall panel, said means including a fold line extending diagonally across each of said end wall panels and a pair of converging fold lines extending diagonally across one of said side wall panels, and means for retaining said collapsible side and end wall panels in rigid erect container-forming position, saidlast named means including a lip portion hinged to each of said end wall panels which when turned inwardly to lie substantially at right angles to its respective'end wall panel provides abracing strut therefor, each lip portion being traversed by a substantially straightline continuation of the fold line extending across the side wall panel to which said lip portion is hinged.

'4. A collapsible box formed from a single blank of paperboard material including a bottom wall panel, two side and two end wall panels hinged to 'said bottom wall panel, securing flaps connecting adjacent side and end wall panels, means for eii'ecting substantially flat collapse of said side and end wall panels to a position overlying said bottom wall panel, said means including a fold line extending diagonally across each of said end wall panels and a pair of converging fold lines extending diagonally across One of said side wall panels, and means for retaining said collapsible side and end wall panels in rigid erect container-forming position, said last named means' including a lip portion hinged to the upper edge of each of said end wall panels which I tially the entire interior area of the supporting flanges hinged to vthe sides of when turned inwardly provide a stiil'ening strut for said panels, each of said lip portions being traversed by a diagonally extending fold line constituting a substantially straightline continuation of the diagonally extending fold line traversing the end wall panel to which it is hinged. I t l 5. A collapsible box formed from a single blank of paperboard material including a bottom wall panel, connected side and end wall panels hinged to said bottom "wall panel, a lip portion hinged to one of saidside wall panels adapted to be turned inwardly at right angles to the sidewall panel to which it is hinged, means whereby substantially flat collapse of said side and end wall panels to a position overlying said bottom wall panel can be eifected said means including a fold line extending, diagonally across each of said end wall panels, each of said fold lines extending from a lower corner of the box in a straight line to the upper edge of the end wall pair of substantially straight diagonally extending and converging fold lines traversing the side wall panel to'which said lip portion is hinged, said converging fold lines each extending from the lower corner of the box diagonally across said side wall panel and lip portion to the upper edge of said lip portion, said lip portion providing means when turned inwardly upon erection of the side and end wallpanelsfor bracing and stiffening the box.

6. A collapsible box formed from a single blank 01' paperboard material including, a bottom wall panel, two side wall panels and two end wall panels hingedly connected to said bottom wall panel, a score line extending diagonally across each of said end wall panels dividing each of said end wall panels into a pair of hinged inwardly positioned adjacent the ins aeaaaes collapsing sections, a pair of converging score lines extending diagonally across one of. said side wall panels I a central collapsing section and two end collapsing sections, an unscored securing flap ateach corner 01' the box hinged to each vertical edge of each side wall panel and secured to the adjacent sectionv only of the adjacent end wall panelI certain of said securing flaps having a portion extending across the score line of the adjacent end wall panel and overlapping the other section but unsecured thereto, said portion being operative to brace the erected adjacent end wall panel against outward collapse.

comprising, an elongated including a bottom wall panel and enclosing side and end wall panels hinged to said bottom wall panel, means for connecting the enclosing panels together, and a merchan'dise-supporting insert formed from paperboard material comprising a merchandise-supporting platform having a merchandise retaining opening extending transversely across substanbox body, said platform adapted to rest against the bottom wall panel of the box body, a cover panel extending across substantially the entire open end of the box body, a spacing section hingedly connected to one endof said platform and the adjacent end of said cover panel, said 'Fpacing section being de face of one of said enclosing panels when inoperative position within said box body, and an insert flap hinged to the other end of said cover panel and adapted to be inserted into the box body so as to lie adjacent the inside face of another of the enclosing panels of the box body.

8. A shipping carton comprising, a box body formed from a single blank of paperboard material includifig a bottom wall panel, enclosing panels hinged to said bottom wall panel, means connecting. adjacent enclosing panels together, and means for eflfecting substantially flat collapse of said enclosing panels to a position overlying said bottom wall panel, said means including fold lines extending diagonally across certain of said enclosing panels, and a merchandise-supporting insert formed from paperboard material comprising a merchandise-supporting platform extending transversely across substanq tiallygthe entire interior area of the box body bracing said enclosing panels against inward col- 7. A shipping carton rectangular box body 5 lapse, means for retaining said platform spaced Panel, and a from said bottom wall panel, and a cover for the box body hingedly connected to said platform.

9. A shipping carton comprising, a box body formed from a single blahk of paperboard material including a bottom wall panel, two side and two end wall panels hinged to said bottom wall panel, means connecting end wall panels togethenand means for effecting substantially flat collapse of" said side and end wall panels to a position overlying said bottom wall panel, said means including fold lines extending diagonally across said end wall panels and one of said side wall panels, and a merchandise-supporting insert formed from a single dividing said side wall panel into the adjacent side and blank of paperboard material comprising a mertaining said platform spaced from said bottomwail panel, a cover panel for the box body, and

a,2a1,see 7 a section hingedly connecting said cover panel to said platform.

10. A shipping carton comprising, a box body adapted to be shipped to the user in substantially collapsed position comprising a bottom wall panel, two side and two end wall panels hinged to said bottom wall panel, means connecting the adjacent side and end wall panels securely together, and means for .eifecting substantially flat 1o collapse of said side and end wall panels to a position overlying said bottom wall panel, said collapsing means including fold lines extending diagonally across said end wall panels and one ,of said side wall panels, and a merchandisesupporting member adapted to be inserted into the erected box body by the user, said member comprising a merchandise-retaining platform extending transversely across substantially the entire interior area of the box body, said platform having a merchandise-receiving opening therein, spacing flanges hinged to said platform adapted to rest upon the bottom wall panel, a cover panel for the box body, and a spacing section hingedly connecting said cover panei to 88 said platform.

11. A shipping carton comprising, a box body having a bottom wall panel, enclosing panels hinged to said bottom wall panel and means for connecting adjacent enclosing panels toso gether, a merchandise-supporting insert comprising a paltform having an opening therein to receive a portion of the merchandise, flanges extending from said platform resting upon the bottom wall panel of the box, and a second merchandise-retaining insert positioned above the insert first named, said second insert com- 5- prising a platform having an opening therein to receive a portion of the merchandise, flanges extending from said platform telescoped over the flanges of the platform first-named, and a cover for the box body hlngedly connected to one of said platforms.

12. A shipping carton comprising, a box body having a bottom wall panel, enclosing panels hinged to said bottom wall panel and means for connecting adjacent enclosing panels together,, a merchandise-supporting insert comprising a platform having an opening therein to receive a portion of the merchandise, flanges extending from said platform resting upon the bottom wall panel of the box, and a second merchandiseretaining insert positioned above the insert first named, said second insert comprising a platform having an opening therein to receive a portion of the merchandise, flanges extending from said platform telescoped over the flanges of the platform first-named, a cover panel for the box body, and a spacing section hingedly connecting said covertpanel to the platform of said second-named inser JOHN ALBERT BUSER.

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