US2283949A - Folder - Google Patents

Description

May 26, 1942. vw. A. RINGL'ER FOLDER Filed Aug. 25, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY latented May 26, 1942 UNITED STATES PATE c, FOLDER William A. Ringler, Wayne, Pa., assignor to National Folding Box Company, New Haven, Conn., a corporation of New Jersey 7 Application August25, 1939, Serial No. 291,799

7 Claims. (Cl. 229-34) of stacked or folded, articles, is providedrwhich 10 may be inexpensively formed from'a single blank of paperboard material. The blank is suitably cut and scored to provide a bottom merchandise supporting panel with inturnedside flapshingneeded to hold the folder in fixed, assembled position and yet the folder is sufiicientlystrong and rigid so as to fully contain, enclose and protect the merchandise packedtherein.

The consumer may conveniently obtainaccess I Y tothe merchandise in thefolderby removing the covering wrapper, withdrawing the corner portions of the end flaps from their housed-position between the side flaps and associated turnunder flaps, and then-swinging the end flaps and the side flaps outwardly. After the consumer edly connected thereto on opposite sides thereof,-

each side flap having a fold-under flaphinged thereto. Each foldunderfiap is providedwith a pair of inwardly projecting ears which are severed fromthe side flap, the ears being so arranged as to support inwardly extending endflaps. Each corner portion of eachend; flap is tucked between the adjacent, inturned sidefiap and the turn-under flap. The .inturned side and end flaps together form a substantially con- The rim portion of the folder may be spaced any desired distance from the bottom wall panel by providing side and end wall panels to which the side and end flaps are hingedly connected. Tha prepared blanks may be shipped to the user in fiat extended condition so as to occupy a very minimum of space during shipment and storage. In packaging, the user places a single or a tinuous rim extending inwardly around the.2 bottom panel and in spaced relationthereto.

plurality of relatively fiat articles of merchan- ..3

' dise, which may be folded, if desired, upon the bottom wall panel. The folder is closed by folding each turn-under flap over its associated side flap and then swinging each side flap inwardly so as to overlie the merchandise. Each end flap is then folded inwardly and each corner portion thereof is tucked between the adjacent end of the I turn-under. flap and the overlying side flap so as to provide a substantially continuous rigid rim overlying the, merchandise "and preventing...

withdrawal thereof. A cover, which may com-I prise a sheet of paperboard positioned to underlie the rim portion, may be provided to protect the merchandise in the folder from contamination or injury. If more complete protection to the merchandise within the folder is desired, the assembled folder with the merchandise packed therein may be wrapped or covered by suitable sheet material, such as paper or Cellophane. No glue,

, staples, stitches or other. securing means are has removed the desired number of articles of merchandise from the folden the folder may be easily and quickly closed as above indicated.

My improved folder is particularly adapted for the convenient and economical packaging of numerous, relatively fiat articles of merchandise, such as textile or paper handkerchiefsand napkins, facial tissue, carbon papers, stencil sheets, writing paper, bed sheets, pillow cases and numerous other. articles which may be either folded or extended when packaged.- Thus,. either a single article or aplurality of articles may be conveniently packaged in the folder as desired.

An object of this invention i to provide an improved folder formed from; a' single blank of paperboard material which can be economically manufactured, assembled and packaged. 1

Another object ofthis invention is to provide improved folders for the packaging of relatively flat articles of merchandise, which folders can be formed complete at high production speed and in one operation by means of an automatic cutting andscoring machine, yandwhich maybe shipped to theuser in 'flat'extended condition occupying a minimum of space during shipment and storage. v j

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved folder'whi'ch can be conveniently packaged and closed by theuser to fully protect and enclose the contents, which can be 'conveniently opened and reclosed by the consumer, and which can be madein numerous different shapes, sizes and forms to provide a highly serviceable'and attractive package. I

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent as the disclosure proceeds.

The invention also consists in certain new and original features of construction and combination of parts hereinafter set forth and claimed.

Although the novel features which are believed to be characteristic of this invention will be parhereto, the invention itself, as to its objects and I close the-contained merchandise; g V Fig, is a perspective view of the folder fully assembled to" enclose the merchandise all assembled package, this view being lines |I|'l0-of-Fig.:9.

advantages, and the manner in which it may be carried out, may be better understood by referring to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a partthereof, in which Fig. 1 is a plan view of aprepared blank from V which my improved folder is assembled;

Fig. 2 isa perspective view of the prepared blankS-withthe rim-forming flaps thereof in the process of being folded over the contained merchandise;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the folder showing one corner of an end flap in the process of being insertedlbetween the adjacent overlying inturned side flap-and the underlying outturned turn-under flapf Fig. l is a fragmentary perspective view of the. folder as it appearswhen fully assembled to en'- wrapped within-a transparent covering Wrapper,

' thecovering-wrapper being partially broken away to more clearly; illustrate the construction; Fig. 6is a planyview of a prepared blank'from which a folderof' somewhat modified form may beassembled;

Fig; 7' s a'perspectiveview'of the blank shown in-- Fig. 6 in the-process of-beingass'emble'd into a merchandisecontaining folder;

Fig. 8 is another'perspective view of thefolder as itappears at a further advancedstageinthe packaging operation Fig5-9 is a perspective view of the-fully assem bled folder as it appearswhen merchandise is I contained" therein; and

Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view through the taken along I Similar reference characters refer to sim ilar parts throughout, the several views of the drawings and the specification. 7

Referringmore particularly toFigstl to 5', inclusive, my improved folder may be made from a single blankofpaperboard material which is cut and scored by means of: an automatic cutting and scoring machine from-large sheets or rolls of paperboard material; Paperboard-material of the requisite weight, thickness, stiffness and toughness is selected'to support and contain fthe desired weight} size and quantity of merchandise in accordance with shipping and-merchandising requirements. If the contents are of great weight," the'fol'der may be-made'of several plies of tough paperboard material.

Referring 'to the folder-forming blankshown in Fig. 1, the blank comprises a bottom-forming panel I having diametrically opposed sidewall panels Zhihgdto the bottom panel lalong suitable hinge or fold lines 3. Diametrically opposed j end wall-panels} are suitably hingedlyconnected to the bottomwall panel Lasby-scorelines, II. I A flap'section 5 is hin'gedly connected; to each of the side wall panelsl as byscore line 6'. Each. flap section -5 is divided into two-portionscomprising an inturnedside flap 5a anda turn-under fla'p ib which are hingedly. connected along the hinge line 9. A diagonally extending cut Ill extends from each end of the hinge line 9-to the adjacent end of the hinge line 5, defining agen- -erallyftriangular shaped platformportion 5c formed as a part of the'turn under-flap-portion 5b. -Asupp'orting leg L'which may be approxiof the adjacent end wall panel 4, is hingedly connected to each end of flap portion 5b along a hinge line 8.

Anend flap I2 is hingedly connected to each 5 of the end wall panels 4 along the hinge line l3,

each end flap l2 having a rounded corner portion |2a fora purpose which-will presently appear.

The. blank as shown in Fig. lmay be produced at a very high production rate upon an auto- 10 matic cutting and scoring machine which cuts each blank in the proper shape and scores each I 1 blank in rapid succession as the paperboard in the form of large sheets or rolls is fed through themachine. The blanks formed as shown in 5-'Fig..1 canrbe stacked in superimposed relationcleonly such asa handkerchief, napkin, bed

sheet, towel, pillow case, blanket and'other textile materials. and garments, a single extended or--folded article or plurality of sucharticles beingstacked in the folder as'desired; Thefolder is also highly adapted. for. the packaging of numerous other materials which. are a stacked therein either in,folded-'or unfolded condition, such as facial tissues,- paper napkins, carbon paper, stencil sheets, writing-papers, envelopes, and numerous otherarticles of'merchandise as will be apparent to those skilled in the art. To facilitateidescription the article. or articlespacked inl'thefolder'will be generally referred-to as merchandise- M, which designation isintended tot mem'ae. allbfthe various articles, including -those;abovelenumerated, which can besatisfact'orily packed'and'merchandised in such folders. The merchandise M either folded, stacked or of; "singleeplythickness should: be so arranged wheniiprepared for. packaging as to substantial- 'ly occupy the. entire area. of the bottom wall paneli l. The side" wall panels: Land the end wall: panelsi4i'shouldcorrespond in height to the height: of: the merchandise to be packed therein. Eachfiapiportionjb isswung over the insidel face oftthelsideflap' portion 5a to which it':i's;hingedly connected; The side panels-2' are then; raised ':and eachiuof thei side flap portions Shareswun'ginwardly ras-shown'in Fig.2. The 'leg supports: 1' hingedly. connected to the side flap portions '5hziare;then.;swung downwardly so thatthe'. free .ed'gezthereofrwillfrest upon the 60 bottomzwalls panel with'the'xoutturned; turnunderilflapportionsjb andxthe triangular'shaped platfornifportibnsz 5c overlying-pr res'tingmp'on "the tomsurface ofithermerchandise M; When 'th'us: assembled; it". will; be: appreciated "that the outturnedssidexflaptportions 5b,: exeepticf'or the t triangularishape'd platform portions :50, are conc'eazledi between- .the merchandise and'rthe over- :plyingf in'turned'isidarflap portion'i 5a. The legs I: support thejtriangular shaped platform por- "tions-ietheoutturned flapportions 5b, and the inturned side-flap portions 5a in aplane a substantially-parallel-to, but'spaced from; the botmately the width'of theflapsectioni andhavtom wall panel 1-. inga depth approximately -equal-to the depth When the-flap sections 5' have been thus as-s .foldedorstacked so as to occupy substantially sembled, the end wall panels 4 are raised 'so as to overlie the legs 1. End flaps [2 are then turned inwardly. so .as to rest upon the platform portions 5c. To maintain the folder in merchandise containing position, each. corner portion l2a of the inturned end flaps I2 is inserted under the adjacent cut edge I so as to be frictionally gripped between the turned under'fiap portion b and the overlying side flap portion 5a. The corner portions l2a of the end- .fiapsare thus held pinched between adjacent the entire area of the bottom wall panel-2|, the edges of the mechandise extending substantially to the fold lines 23 and- 21.. To protect the merchandise and to completely enclose the same, a cover C may be. positioned upon the ;top

flap portions 5a and 5b, the friction between the parts being such as to require considerable force to withdraw the end flaps l2 from their gripped position.

No adhesive, staples, stitches, or other securing means are required to hold the folder 'fully assembled in package form enclosing the one upon the other without danger of collapse.

or damage to the contents. Y

If desired, an overlying cover C which may be made from a fiat blank of paperboard material is placed upon the merchandise M, prior to folding the blank, as shown more particularly in Figs. 2, 4 and 5. The cover C is retained in fixed position by the overlying continuous rim of the folder. The cover member C fully protects the merchandise'from dust and contamination. If desired, the packaged folder may be enclosed within a suitable wrapper W as shown in Fig. 5. The wrapper W may be made ,of some transparent material so that the merchandise contents are fully visible therethrough.

Where a single relatively thin article, or plurality of articles presenting a limited combined thickness, are to be packaged, the side wall panels 2 and the end wall panels 4 and the supporting leg 1, as shown in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, may be eliminated. There is shown for purposes of illustration in Figs. 6 to 10 inclusive, a folder highly adapted to the packaging of a relatively thin article or articles. This folder may be formed from a single blank of paperboard material, as shown in Fig. 6, comprising a bottom wall panel 2| of the required shape and dimensions .to properly contain the merchandise.

A pair of diametrically opposed side flap sections 22 are each hingedly connected to the bottom wall panel 2| as by score line 23. Each side flap section 22 is divided into an inturned side flap portion 22a and an outturned side fiap portion 221), these portions being defined and connected by a hinge or fold line 24. A cut 25 extends diagonally from each end of score line 24 to the adjacent end, of score line 23 defining a triangular shaped platform portion 220. A pair of diametrically opposed end flaps 26 are each hinged to the bottom wall panel 2| along a hinged or fold line 21. The end flaps 26 and side flap sections 22 may terminate short of the extreme corner 28 of the bottom panel 2| to facilitate packaging.

In packaging, the merchandise isv arranged,

merchandise, arranged stacked flat condition. The folders are most ecosurface of the merchandise, cover C comprising a flat sheet of paperboard material out to the desired size. The side flaps 22 and endfiaps 26 are then assembled to overlie the merchandise and provide a substantially continuous merchandise-retaining rim" or flange. v

The merchandise-retaining rim is formed .by

folding each of the outturned sidefiapportions22b over the inside face of the corresponding inturned side flap portion 22a to which it is hingedly connected. Each of the side flap portions 22a is then folded inwardly to overlie the merchandise or merchandise-protecting cover C. When thus arranged, the triangular-shaped platformportion 220 will extend inwardly with the outer edge 28 thereof substantially in alignment to the adjacent hinge line 21.

The merchandise-retaining rim is completed by folding the end flaps 26 inwardly, the end flaps 26 and the side flaps 22 being retained in fixed position by insertingeach' corner 26a of the end flaps between the adjacent overlying side flap portion 22a and the underlying side flap portion 22b, insertion'being effected at the outline 25. The end flaps 26 are tenaciously held in inturned position by the pinching and frictional forces exerted on the corner portions 260 thereof' by the underlying outturned side flap-portions 22b and the overlying inturned side flap portions 22a. The package can only be opened by exerting considerable outward pulling force on the end flaps 26 so as to withdraw the corner portions 26a thereof from their housed position.

The package as thus assembled will retain its proper container form under substantially all conditions of use and-abuse which merchandise containers receive in the channels of commerce. The triangular shaped platform portions 220 act to support the overlying end flaps 26 and further provide a tying gusset or strut whereby the end flaps 26 and the side flaps 22a are retained in spaced parallel relationship with respect to the bottom wall panel 2|. The assembled merchandise-containing foldermay be wrapped in a suitablewrapper to further protect themerchanwrinkled condition until ultimately consumed.

Folders made in accordance with this invention are highly attractive and serviceable, and may be used forthe packaging of numerous articles of in either .folde'd or nomical to manufacture, and may be completely formed by running large sheets or rollsof the selected paperboard material through a cutting and scoring machine which prepares the complete blank without hand operation. No gluing,

stitching or stapling operation is required to assemble the blank. The flat blanks are shipped to the user in flat expanded form substantially without lost dead air space and thus substantial economies can be effected in shipping and storage costs. When the merchandise is to be packaged,.the merchandise is placed on the bottom wall panel thereof and the merchandise is quick- "it and positively enclosed by a continuous-oyer 'few-' simple; quickly performed flap turning" op- 'erations. A-cover comprising a flat paperboard member may be" provided which is to: be posi-? paperboard material'either single orplural ply,

" parting from the spirit of'the invention.

'lycontinuous intur'n'ed rim overlying the merlyin'g enclo'sing rim; whi'ch is-quickl'y formed by-a 1 V tioned over the merchandise. to* lie directly be neath the retaining rim. v T

My improved folder is adapted to be formed in numerous attractive and convenient sizes," shapes and contours to containand package num'eroustiO- and various articles'of' merchandise. The proper of the requisite-stiffness and strength toproperly retain and support the merchandiselto b'e' packaged, is selected for the folder blank. The'folder: 16 may be so made as to contain a stack of merchandise' of almost-any desired thicknessby pro- What is claimedisz V o 1. A merchandise package including, a folder formed from a single blank of paperboard ma- 135 terial including a bottomwall panel upon which the merchandise is positioned, a substantially continuous inturned rim overlying the merchandise and retaining the merchandise within the folder, said rim including alternate flap sections: 40

each presenting. before folding" a generally rectangular-shaped section havingan outer flap portion-hinged to an 1 inner flap portion, each of said outer "flap portions being" folded to underlie its associated inner flap portion, eachof said un- 4;

derlying flap portions having. end extensionsprojecting beyond 'the' endedges of the associated overlying flap portion, and intermediate flap'sections having the end" portions thereof 7 supported by the adjacent'end extensions and inserted between the overlying and'underlying flap; portions of the'adjacentalternate sections. Y

2. A' merchandise package comprising, a foIder formed from a single blankof paperboard material including a'bottom'wall panel u'ponwhich the merchandise is positionedgan'd a substantialchandise and. retaining the merchandise within the folder, saidzrim comprising opposite side flap sections and opposite end flapsectionsg each of 66 said side flap sections presenting before folding an outerside flap portion hinged-'toaninner side flap portion, each of said outerside -flapportions being folded-to underlie'its associated inner side flap portionand having-end extensions project- 5 ing beyond-the end-edges of the" associated overlying side flap p0'rtion',- said end flap-sections having cornerportions thereof supported by said end extensionsand' inserted between said overdying-and underlying sideflapportion'sr 7 s 70 3. A merchandise package including, a folder formed froma single blank or paperboard material including-a b'ottom wall panel upon-which the merchandise is positioned, and a substantial- -ly continuous inturned rim: overlying thei merchandise and retaining'the' merchandise within the folder, said rimincluding alternateside flap sections and intermediate end flap sections, each of'said side -flap'-'sections presenting before folding'anouter' sidenflap portlonhinged to an inner sidefl ap portion; each of said outer side flap portionsbeing folded to underlie its associatedinner 'sidefiap portion, each of said underlying side flap portions having ear extensions coplanar therewith projecting beyond the adjacent end edges of a the associated overlying sideflap porl tion; saidea'r extensions providing means upon which said end flap sections are supported, said 'end flap;v sections? having the corner portions thereof inserted between said overlying and un- V derlyingside flap'portions.

4. A- merchandise package comprising, a folderformed from a single-blank of paperboardmaterial having a-bottomwahpanel uponwhich the merchandise is supported-side and end wall panels hingedly connected to said b'ottom wall panel,

and a substantially continuous inturned rim overlying the merchandise and retaining the merchandise within the folder, said rim comprising-side flap sections hingedly connected to said side wallpanels, each of said side'flap sections presenting before foldinga' generally" rectangular-shaped section havingan outer side flap portion hinged to-an inner side flap portion, each of said outer side flap-portions being folded to-underlie. its associated:-inner'side flap portionand having ear extensions projecting beyond the end edges of theassociated'overlying side flap por-v tion; and end flap 'sec'tions'connect'edto saidend wall panels having corner portions thereof inserted' between 'said' overlying and underlying sideflap portions. V s

5; A merchandise package comprising, a folder formed from a single blank of paperboard'materialihavi'ng a bottom'wall panel upon which the merchandise is'supported, side and end wall panels hingedlyconnectedto said bottomwall panel, and a substantially'continuousinturned rim overlyin the merchandise and retainingthe merchandise within the folder, said rim comprising side flap sections hinge'dly connected to'said side wall panels, each of said sidefiap sections pre- 'sen'ting' before folding an outer side flap portion .hinged'to an inner side flap portion, each of said outer'side flap portions being folded to underlie its associated inner side flap portion and having ear extensions projecting beyond the end edges ofl'the associated overlying side flap portion, a leg portionhinged to each'end' of each underlying. side flap portion having thelower edge thereofresting upon said bottom Wall panel, and end flaps hi'ngedly connected to said end wallpanels having-the corner portions thereof'inserted between said overlying and underlying side flap portions.

v 6. A'merchandi'se package-comprising, a folder formed from a single'blank of paperboard material having a-bottom wall panel upon which the mn chanizlise is supported, side and end wall'panels hingedly connected to saidbottom wall panel. and asubstantially continuousinturned rim overlying themerchandise and retaining the merchandise within thefolder, said rim comprising side flap sections'hingedly connected to said side wallpanels, each of said side flap sections presenting before folding an outer side flap portion hinged to anlinnerside flap portion, each of said outer side flap portions bein folded-to underlie its associated inner side flap portion, supporting ears extending inwardly from said underlying side flap portions and beyond the adjacent end edges of the associated overlying side flap portion, and end flaps hingedly connected to said end wall panels and supported by said ears, said end flaps having corner portions thereof inserted between said overlying and underlying side flap portions. 7

'7. A merchandise package comprising, a folder formed from a single blank of paperboard material having a bottom wall panel upon which the merchandise is supported, side and end wall panels hingedly connected to said bottom wall panel, and a substantially continuous inturned rim overlying the merchandise and retaining the merchandise within the folder, said rim portion comprising a side flap section hingedly connected to each of said side wall panels, each of said side flap sections presenting before folding an outer side flap portion hinged to an inner side flap portion, each of said outer side flap portions being folded to underlie its associated inner side flap portion, each of said underlying side flap portions having supporting ears coplanar therewith and

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