US2290971A

US2290971A - Article container

Info

Publication number: US2290971A
Application number: US342373A
Authority: US
Inventors: Herman C King
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1940-06-25
Filing date: 1940-06-25
Publication date: 1942-07-28
Anticipated expiration: 1959-07-28

Description

July 28, 1942.

H. C. KING ARTICLE CONTAINE Filed June 25, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet l July 28, 1942. H. c. KING 2,290,971

ARTICLE CONTAINER Filed June 25, 1940 3 SheetsSheet 2 July 28, 1942. H. c. KING ARTICLE CONTAINER Fi led June 25, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 grvuv/wto't fill/1012 611W l T \wY w. KY :1 W

1H HII11IIIILFIIIIIIFI||||||| Patented July 28, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ARTICLE CONTAINER 4 Claims.

This invention relates generally to article containers and to carrying handles th refor. More specifically, the invention relates to containers for carrying a plurality of cans or other rigid articles, which can be used as shipping containers holding a large number of cans and which can be separated or divided into two separate containers or cartons holding a lesser number of cans or other articles and to handle arrangements for such containers.

It has long been customary to pack commodities in tin cans and to pack a number of such cans into cases made of paper or fiber board. The number of cans which are customarily placed in such a case depends upon the size of the cans; two dozen ordinary size cans generally has been considered a case lot and the size of the cases or containers has been appropriate for such a number of cans. However, there has been a recent tendency on the part of distributors of certain commodities to reduce the number of cans in each case with the hope that such a reduction will result in increased sales of case lots to individual purchasers. This trend has been particularly noticeable among the distributors of beer and other malt beverages, which are customarily packed in twelve-ounce cans. Many leading brewers now distribute malt beverages in cases containing twelve such cans and there is an increasing tendency on the part of purchasers of malt beverages to purchase complete cases of twelve cans. In some instances, these cases have had their walls weakened along a line extending transversely about the midpoint of the container in order to facilitate separation of the container into two cartons, each containing six cans. In this manner it has been relatively simple to provide a carton of six cans for such individual purchasers as were reluctant to buy a complete case of twelve cans. However, no satisfactory handle arrangement has ever been developed which could be used as a handle for either the complete twelve-can case or for the two six-can cartons.

It is, therefore, a primary object of this invention to provide a highly satisfactory handle arrangement which can be used for either a complete case or a half-case carton.

Another important object of this invention is to provide such a handle arrangement without a substantial increase in the cost of the containers and without making it necessary to materially alter the containers or the equipment used in the manufacture of thecontainers.

Other objectsof my invention will be in part apparent and, in part pointed out in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment of my invention. In this description, reference -is had to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a complete container showing a handle member being used as a handle for the complete container;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectionalview of the container shown in Figure 1 with the handle member shown partly in section;

,Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view looking in the direction of the arrows along the line 33 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a half-case carton showing a handle member as used for carrying such a half-case carton and showing one form of top closure;

Figure 5 is a perspective view showing a halfcase carton with portions of the walls broken away to show a modified form of top closure;

Figure 6 is a plan view of a box blank from which the complete container may be formed;

Figure 7 is a plan view of a suitable handle member;

Figure 8 is a plan view of the top closure shown in Figure 4; and

Figure 9 is a plan view of the type of top closure shown in Figure 5.

Like reference numerals are used in each of the views to designate the same or similar parts.

Referring particularly to Figures 1 and 2, the

reference numeral l0 designates generally a complete container, in this instance a container holding twelve cans. The container I0 is provided with a bottom ll, side walls l2, l3, l1 and I8,

and a top I4. In the past, it has been customary to provide the top and bottom of such containers with perforations such as those indicated at [6, for the purpose of enabling the container to be carried by the purchaser by inserting his thumb and one finger through the perforations. Since perforations l6 form no part of the present invention, they will not be further described.

A line I9 is shown extending transversely around the container at its approximate longitudinal midsection. This line I! may be either a printed line, or it may be a line of scoring whereby the container may easily be severed or separated into two similar cartons, which I have designated in Figure 1 as A and B. This separation can be done with a knife or any other suitable edged tool. If the line I! is merely printed, it will serve as a guide for accurately severing the container and if it is a line of perforations it will facilitate the cutting as well as act as a guide.

The walls I2 and H of the container are each shown as being provided with a pair of apertures which are designated by the reference numerals 20, 2|, 22, and 23. The

apertures

20 and 22 are located midway between the side walls I! and I8 and approximately midway between the top l4 and the line IS. The apertures 2i and 23 are, also located midway between the side walls l1 and i8 and are positioned approximately midway between the bottom Ii and the line is. In a modification of my invention, I contemplate that the apertures need not be punched out at the time that the container is made, but may merely have their out-line scored in order that they may be easily formed in the walls of the container. The apertures 20, 2|, 22, and 23 are preferably polygonal in outline and I have shown them in the drawings as octagonal.

In Figure '7, I have shown a handle member 24 having enlargements 25 at each end thereof. These enlargements provide inwardly facing

shoulders

26 and 21 on opposite sides of the handle member and at each end thereof. The enlargements 25 are ofsuch width that they will pass through anyone nfthe apertures designated by the reference numerals 20 to 23 in thezone of the greatest horizontal width of the apertures. After an entire enlargement 25 has been inserted through one of the apertures, the handle member is turned upwardly in parallel relationship to the side walls in such manner that the

shoulders

26 and 21 engage the walls of the aperture in a region of lesser horizontal length of the aperture, whereby the enlargement 25 will be retained within the aperture in a manner which it is believed will be clearly understood by reference to the drawings and particularly to Figures 2 and 4 thereof.

Before the container is separated or severed, the handle member 24 may have its end enlargements 25 inserted in

opposed apertures

20 and 22 in the manner just described and a handle will thus be provided for the entire container. After separation of the container into two cartons A and B, one of the cartons, for example, carton A, which must be inverted, is available as a carton for a half case of cans. The handle member 24 is then inserted through

apertures

20 and 22 in much the same manner as previously described except that the handle member 24 is so inserted that it extends over and around the open end of the carton A. If two of the handle members 24 are provided for each complete container, it will thereby be possible to provide a handle arrangement for each carton after separation of the container.

In Figures 2 and 3, I have shown a convenient manner for transporting the handle member 24 without their interfering in any way with the shipment of the complete containers orincreasing the overall dimensions of such containers during shipment. The handle member 24 is merely folded upon itself at its midsection, indicated by the reference numeral 28 in Figure 7, and is then inserted through one of the apertures and between adjacent cans within the container.

In Figure 6, I have shown a suitable blank for making the complete container shown in Figure 1. In this figure, I have designated by the same reference numerals as previously used, the side walls i2, l3, l1, and Hi, the bottom Ii and the top 14. The

flaps

29, 30, 3|, and 32 may be folded under the side walls II and It in the manner well understood in this art. The fiap 33 is adapted to be secured to the side wall l2 in the manner shown in Figure 2 by any suitable means, as, for example. staples 34.

Although they are not entirely necessary, I prefer to provide closures for the open upper ends of the individual cartons after severance of the complete container. In Figure 4, I have shown one type of suitable closure in position on a carton. A detailed plan view of this closure is also shown in Figure 8 and is designated by the reference numeral 35. As is best shown in Figure 8. opposite ends of the closure member 35 are provided with recesses 25 adapted to receive the body portion of the handle member 24. If the closure member 35 is merely placed in position over the top of the open end of the carton, it will be held in such position by engagement of the handle member 24 with the recesses 36.

In Figure 5, I have shown a modified form of the closure member in position on a carton and this closure member is shown in detail on Figure 9 and is designated by the reference numera1 31. The closure member 31 is of the proper dimensions to fit inside the open end of the carton and to rest upon the contained cans. To permit ready withdrawal of the closure member 31, I preferably provide it with a finger hole 38 in order to enable it to be gr p d and withdrawn.

The foregoing description is believed to be sufficient to enable those skilled in this art to practice my invention and to derive the benefits therefrom. It will be apparent that cans may be packed in the containers which I have described and the pair of handle members may be inserted through the apertures in the described manner. In this way, the container occupies no more space during shipping than does a conventional container. In the event that a purchaser desires to buy a complete container or case, the retailer may merely withdraw one of the handle members 24 and insert its large ends 25 in any two of the oppositely disposed apertures 28 to 23. A convenient and inexpensive handle member will thus be provided for the complete carton. In the event that a purchaser desires to buy only a half case, or even a lesser number of cans, the retailer may easily sever the complete container into two similar cartons and insert one of the handle members 24 in the proper apertures in such a manner that the body portion of the handle extends over the open end of the carton. In this way, a convenient handle is provided for either or both of the individual cartons.

If desired, the closure members of the type indicated by the reference numeral 31 in Figure 5 may be included in the complete container when it is packed to thus obviate the necessity of separate shipment of closure members. However, as above indicated, the use of closure members may be entirely dispensed with without departing from the teachings of my invention.

The apertures 20 to 23 inclusive do not detract from the appearance or strength of the container and facilitate the circulation of air through the container when it is placed in a cooling zone such as a refrigerator.

While I have illustrated what I believe to be the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be distinctly understood that various modifications may be resorted to without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A composite closed container adapted to contain a plurality of cans or similar articles and having its walls weakened along a line extending transversely around the approximate middle of said container to facilitate severing said container into two similar cartons, each of which embraces a bottom and side and end walls, two opposed walls of each of said cartons being perforated at their approximate midpoints to thereby provide opposed complementary apertures substantially equidistant from the top and bottom of each of said cartons, a handle member composed of an elongated web of flexible material of suincient length to extend from one of said apertures over either the top or bottom of either of said cartons to the opposed aperture and having shoulders near the ends thereof, said handle member being adapted, prior to severance of said container, to have its ends secured by means of said shoulders in said opposed complementary apertures of one of said cartons with the body portion of the handie member extending around the bottom of the carton to which it is secured to thereby provide a bail-like handle for said'composite container, and said handle member being adapted, after severance of said container, to have its ends secured by means of said shoulders in opposed complementary apertures in one of said cartons, with the body portion of said handle member extending over the top of the said carton to thereby provide a bail-like handle for said carton.

2. A composite closed container adapted to contain a plurality of articles and having its walls marked along a line extending transversely around the approximate middle of said container to facilitate separation of said container into a pair of similar cartons each of which embraces a bottom and side and end walls, means on opposed walls of each of said cartons for securing a handle thereto, a handle member composed of an elongated web of flexible material of suflicient length to extend from the securing means on one wall of either of said cartons over either the bottom or top of said carton to the securing means on the opposed wall and adapted, prior to separation of said container, to have its ends secured to said securing means on opposed walls of either of said cartons with the handle extending around the bottom of the carton to which it is attached to thereby provide a bail-like handle for said composite container, and said handle member being adapted, after separation of said container, to have its ends secured to the approximate midpoints of,opposite walls of either 7 3. A composite closed container adapted to contain a plurality of cans or similar articles and having its walls weakened along a line extending transversely around the approximate middle of said container to facilitate severing said container into two similar cartons, each of which embraces a bottom and side and end walls, two opposed walls of each of said cartons being perforated at their approximate midpoints to thereby provide opposed complementary apertures substantially equidistant from the top and bottom of each of said cartons, a handle member composed of an elongated web of flexible material of suflicient length to extend from one of said apertures over either the top or bottom of either of said cartons to the opposed aperture and having shoulders near the ends thereof, said handle member being folded and inserted through one of the apertures in a wall of one of said cartons, saidhandle member being adapted to be withdrawn from said container and, prior to severance of said container, to have it sends secured by means of said shoulders in said opposed complementary apertures of one of said cartons with the body portion of the handle member extending around the bottom of the carton to which, it is secured to thereby provide a bail-like handle for said composite container, and said handle member being adapted, after severance of said container, to have its ends secured by means of said shoulders in opposed complementary apertures in one of said cartons, with the body portion of said handle member extending over the top of the said carton to thereby provide a baillike handle for said carton.

4. A composite closed container as described in claim 2, in which a pair of closure members extend transversely across the interior of the composite closed container at its approximate middle, to provide a closure for the upper end of each of said cartons after separation of said composite container.

HERMAN 0. ENG.