US2314951A - Carton - Google Patents

Description

W. A. RINGLER March 30, 1943. .Y

cmron original `Filed .June 24. 193i;

(ghi Maf/422 Patented Mar. 30, 1943 CARTON William A. Ringler, Wayne, Pa., assignor to National Folding Box Company, New Haven, Conn., a corporation of New Jersey Griginal application June 24, 1936, Serial No. 86,917. Divided and this application July 1, 1939, Serial No. 282,479

1l Claims.

This invention relates to cartons, and more particularly to a carton for the packaging of radio tubes, electric light bulbs and similar articles, which require testing to determine whether they are in good, serviceable conditio-n before delivery to the customer. This application is a division of my copending application Serial No. 86,917, filed June 24, 1936, which issued into Patent No. 2,164,346 on July 4, 1939.

' Customers generally require an actual test of such articles as radio tubes and electric light bulbs to determine Whether they are in serviceable condition before accepting delivery of same. Such test requires that the test end of the article be inserted in a suitable electric socket to determine whether the article properly responds to the current or energy waves to which it is subjected. Irresponsible dealers and bootleggers have heretofore taken advantage of this requirement by actually removing the article originally packed by the manufacturer in the carton, and inserting a used or inferior article in its place. Legitimate manufacturers naturally desire to safeguard their product and their vcustomers against such operations, and to this end this invention is directed.

'An object of this invention is to provide a carton especially adapted for the packaging of radio tubes, electric light bulbs, and similar articles, which permits full and complete test of the article before use, but which is so constructed as to prevent unauthorized removal of the original article from the carton.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved carton for articles to be tested prior to use, which permits a limited movement of the article Within the carton for purpose of test, but which Will effectively prevent unauthorized removal of the article therefrom, thus insuring delivery of the voriginal article to the customer.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an improved carton for articles to be tested prior to sale, which fully protects the article from injury resulting from external shock,- which permits quick manipulation of the article for purpose of test and yet positively prevents unauthorized removal of the article therefrom, which carton can be inexpensively and economically manufactured, assembled and packed substantially entirely byautomatic machinery, and which is susceptible of being-formed into a variety of attractivedesigns and patterns. y

Other objects of this invention will Vbecome apparent as the disclosure proceeds.

` 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 maybe carried out, may be better understood by referring to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing forming a part thereof, in which:

Fig. 1 shows an extendedblank from which the outer tubular member of the container may be made;

Fig. 2 shows a blank from which the inner sleeve may be made, which sleeve is adapted to be associated with the outer tubular member assembled from the blank shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the sleeve-forming blank shown in Fig. 2 in the process offassembly about a corrugated protective shell which surrounds the article; I Y i Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the tube-forming blank shown in Fig. 1 in the process of being assembled about the article-containing shell and sliding sleeve;

Fig. 5 is a perspective-view of the carton as it appears prior to sealing, -the vtube-protecting hell and sliding sleeve being shown in test posiion; Y

Fig. 6 is a perspective View of the carton in the process of being closed and sealed; and

Fig. 7 is a perspective view 0f the fully assembled carton. i

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawing and the specification. 'Y

The carton forming the subject matterof this invention is particularly designed for the packaging of radiotubes, electriclightbulbsand similarl articles requiring test before use, Which-article will be hereinafter designated T. vThe carton comprises generally an outer tubular member AV which containsan inner sliding member B. The inner sliding member supportsthe article T which may be encased in a protective shell C. Means are provided to Vpermit limitedsliding movement of the inner sliding member Within the outer tubular member so that vthe article can be tested when Vdesired.k The carton is so constructed, however, that the article cannot be removed `without 'mutilating 'or destroyingY thev cartonvor otherwise leaving visible evidence that;

the V'carton has been tampered'with and access tb the v"ar-ticle originally packed therein obtained. f

formed from the'blank-shown riii-Fig;- 1,Y corn-i Y prising side wall-forming sections I, 2, 3 and 4, dened by the longitudinally extending score line 6. A closure section 5 hinged to the side wall section Il along the score line 6 is arranged to overlap the side wall section I to form a closed tubular outer member. The manner in which the outer tubular member is closed and sealed will be discussed more in detail hereinafter.

Fig. 2 shows a blank from which the inner slidable member B may be formed, comprising a bottom wall section II and a top wall section I2 connected by a side wall section i0 along the score lines I3. The bottom section II is provided with an opening I9 through which the test end p of the article T may project. The top wall -section I2 is provided 4with a suitably shaped opening which serves to center the article within the inner member. Side wall portions I3 and I6, hinged respectively to the bottom wall section II and the'top wall section I2 along the score lines I8, are provided witlrhcok portions 2| which may be interlocked together when the article has been placed therein. i l In packaging the carton, the article T may be first telescoped into the corrugated'shell C comprising the surrounding side jwalls 30. The shell Crserves as a cushion to protect the Vfragile article against injury from shock. kThe inner member or sleeve B is then wrapped around the article T and the protective shell C by iirstplacing the test end oi the article in supporting position on the bottom section I I, with testaprongs p projecting through the opening I9. The top Wall section I2 is then placed over the top end of the article, the opening 2.0 serving to center the article in position. The side wall-forming portions i3 and I6 are then swung into position ,and connected by means of hook portions 2-I and 22 sothat theside wall portions I3 and I6 form a fullyY assembled side wall section positioned opposite to the side wall section I0.

The outer tubular member formed from the blank; shownY in Fig. 1 is provided with a cutout recess B inthe side wall section I', preferably extending to the free edge thereof. A tab portion 62 extending from the free` edge of the overlapping section 5 may also be provided. It will be noted that a plurality of blanks shown in Fig. 1r may be cut from a paperboard sheet y without waste of material, due to the fact that the material cut out from section Il to form the recess forms the tab portion 62 extending from section 5 ofthe adjacent blank.

. The outer tubular member, while in blank form, is yassembled arovundthe assembled inner sliding member in the manner shown in Fig. 4, AK projection associated with the vinner sliding member, such as, the hook portions 2I extending-from either the side wall portion I3 or I6 of the inner member, extends through the slot Si), so thatthis projection may be moved into abutment against the top edge 69h or bottom edgepla of the side wall section I, as shown in Fig. A5. The overlapping section 5 is then positioned over the side wall section I so as to cover and `conceal the projection, such as the hook portion 2l. Ihe'projecting tab 62 ymay be inserted through a` corresponding slit .63 extending along a portion of the score line 5 `which joinsl the sections I and 2. V.The outer, tubular member may bey sealed in, closed position by the application'l of adhesive o r eyelets 29 to the overlapped sections 5 and I at each end thereof, as more fully shown in Fig. 7. The tab portion 62 may be of such length as to prevent the insertion of a cutting tool between the overlapped sections 5 and I to effect mutilation of the hook portion 2| which locks the inner sliding member within the outer tubular member. The tab portion E2 thus acts as a shield to prevent unauthorized mutilation of the carton. In addition, the tab portion 62 serves to hold the outer tubular member in a relatively fixed tubular shape While the securing eyelets 29 are being applied.

It will be noted that when the inner sliding member is moved' into test position, the lower edge' portion 60a will abut against the inside face of the projection or neck portion which j oins the hook portion 2i to the side wall portion I6, as at 2I`a (see Fig. 5). The inner sliding member cannot be further ejected. When in the ejected position above described the leg portions I1 may be swung outwardly to permit free insertion of the test prongs p into a suitable socket. When the inner member is completely housed within the outer member 'during shipment and storage, the upper edge portion 60h of the recess 60 will abut against the outside face of the neck of the hook portion 2'I', as at 2lb. Thus the amount of sliding move'- ment of the inner member can be determined and fixed by the space between the opposite edge portions B'Ua and 60h of the recess 6U'. The hook portion 2l and associated recess 60 is concealed from view and inaccessible to unauthorized tampering by the side wall' section 5 which completely overlies the same. The recessportion 6E! may be of any desired shape but preierably the edge portions 60a' and 60B thereof extend substantially transversely across the side wall section I and at right angles to the free edge thereof so as to provide a positive nonslip stop for the sliding inner member. If desired, a.V projecting nose portion 6Iv extending inwardly toward the recess may be provided to. assist in preventing dislocation of the neck of the hook portion 2I from its seated position in said recess 60.

The carton herein described pro-vides a highly satisfactory and serviceable packing medium for radio tubes, electric light bulbs, and like articles which must be .protected against damage and injury during shipment andV storage and from unauthorized pilfering of the original contents. The inner member slides within the outer Vtubular member smoothly andv evenly with just sufficient friction to prevent the article from being ejected by jarsY into a test position, but requiring only al slight pressure on the article T or on the inner sliding member to effectejection of the test portion p of the article for unobstructed testing. The leg portions I'I serve to support the inner sliding member in housed position within the outer member when the carton is placed on a supporting surface, such as a shelf.- The leg portions I'I freely swing outwardly so as to be completely out'of the way when the test of the article is being made. The leg portions i5 at the other end of the sliding innerV member support the head end oi the article away from lthe surface on whichthel carton rests,rshould'` the cartonbe placed on the supportingV surface in an upside down position.l The cartons herein disclosed can be economically made with a minimum of paperboardv material and can be assembled and packed automatically and substantially entirely without hand operation. .Thecartons are so constructed thtthe' original articles packed therein cannot be removed therefrom Without first mutilating or destroying the material from Which the carton is made, so as to make visibly apparent that access to the contents has been made. The customer, whom a legitimate manufacturer desires to protect, can be warned not to accept lfrom any dealer a packaged article of which the carton bears evidence of mutilation. Thus, the manufacturer as Well as the user is assured of obtaining the article originally packed in the carton in lgood and serviceable condition.

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 carton for a radio tube and the likeincluding, a four-sided outer tubular member formed by at least ve hingedly connected side wall forming panel sections, an inner tube-supporting member telescoping Within said outer member, one of the panel sections of the outer member presenting a free vertical edge exteriorly overlapped and covered by an adjacent panel section, said inner panel section having spacer cuts extending transversely from the free edge thereof forming spaced abutments and providing space therebetween for the reception of a portion assoelated with said inner member thereby permitting limited telescoping movement only of said inner member within the outer member, the portion of said inner member movable between said abutment edges being covered by an overlying panel section of the outer member sealed to an adjacent panel section. A 2. A carton for radio tubes and the like including, a four-sided outer tubular member formed by at least ve hingedly connected side Wall forming panel sections, and an inner tube-supporting member adapted to telescope Within said outer member, said inner member having end Wall portions and a side wall portion comprising a pair of connecting flaps hinged to said end wall portions, spaced transversely extending cuts forming spaced abutment edges in one panel section adapted to be engaged by one of the flaps of said inner member permitting limited telescopic movement of said inner member Within the outer member, said outer memberhaving an overlying sidewall section xed to an adjacent section of said outer member covering said flap and abutment edges so that the same cannot be removed or detached to effectuate removal of the tube without leaving telltale evidence of tampering.

3. vA carton for radio tubes and the like including, a four-sided outer tubular` member having at leastVv ve hingedly connected side Wall panels forming a container of generally rectangular form, and an inner tube-supporting member adapted to telescope Within said outer member, said inner member having .end Wall sections and a side wall section comprising a pair of connecting flaps hinged to said end Wall sections, said outer member having an opening in a side Wall panel thereof dened by spaced transversely extending cuts defining spaced transversely extending edges, said edges providing abutments for one of the connecting flaps of said inner member projecting into said opening thereby limiting the telescoping movement of the inner member within the outer member, one of said side Wall panels overlying said opening and abutment edges, and

means for sealing said last named side Wall panel to an adjacent panel to retain the outer member porting member adapted to telescope Within said outer member, one of the panel sections of the outer member presenting a free vertical edge exteriorly overlapped and covered by an adjacent panel section, said inner panel section having a notch cut therein extending transversely inwardly from .the free edge thereof providing a guide opening adapted to receive an abutment portion associated with said inner member so as to limit the telescoping movement of said inner member Within the outer member,` and means for permanently sealing said overlying panel section in fixed position to said adjacent inner panel section.

5. A container for radio tubes and the like including, a four-sided tubular outer member comprising at least ve hingedly connected panel sections, an inner member adapted to contain a tube telescoping within said outer member, one of the panel sections of the outer member presenting a free vertical edge exteriorly overlapped and covered by an adjacent panel section, said inner member having a guide opening dened by spaced abutment edges extending transversely from the free edge thereof,Y said inner member havinga portion thereof pro-,

jecting into said opening thereby limitingthe telescoping movement of said inner memberI Within the outer member, said outer member having a panel section thereof overlying said guide opening and permanently fixed to an adjacent panel section so as to prevent unauthorized release of said'portion of the inner member from said guide opening without leaving visible evidence of tampering. Y

6. A container for radio tubes and the like including, an article-supporting member enclosing said tube, and a four-sided outer tubular member formed from at least five hingedly connected side wall forming panel sections enclosing said article-supporting member, said articlesupporting member including end Wall sectionsv and a side Wall section comprising a pair of connecting flaps hinged to said end Wall sections, said outer tubular member having a guide opening in one of its panel sections which receives one of the connecting flaps of said inner mem-V Aber cooperating to limit the sliding movement of `said inner member in said outer tubular member, said guide opening extending from a side edge of said panel section transversely inwardly thereof for a substantial distance.

7. A package for radio tubes and thelikeincluding, an inner protective shell enclosing the tube, an inner member surrounding said protective shell, said inner memberincluding spaced end Wall' sections and a side Wall section comprising a pair of connecting aps hinged to said end Wall sections and a four-sided outer member formed from at least rive hingedly connected side Wall forming panel sections enclosing said inner member, said outer member having a guide opening in a panel section thereof receiving one of the connecting flaps of said inner member to limit and dene the sliding movement thereof, said guide opening extending from a side edge of said panel section transversely inwardly thereof for a substantial distance.

8'. A. container for radio.. tubes. andi the.. like including; a; four-sided outen member;y including. at least ve hingedly connectedi'sidewall panels; an. inner member. adapted:v to contain` a.l tube telescopingwithin saidiiouter member, said inner member. including endv wall sections and: side wall; sections connecting. said.` end: Wall; sections, one. of.7 said end'lwall sections` having.r an opening"` throughwhi'chthe testend` of. the` tube: may:` beprojectedffor test purposes', onepofsaid sidewall: sections comprising a. pair of side walli flaps; hingedlyk connected to opposite end fsections,y saidy side;v Wall flaps having hook portions, for con.- necting said: flaps together', one of.l said hookv portionsonsaid inner member,` cooperating` with; spaced` abutments formed infra side wallpanelof the: outermemberl to define and limit the telescoping. movement'. of the test end'oi, the tube, one off said side ivallV panels overlying the. side wall. panel.` provided 1 with saidv spaced' abutments;A said overlying side Wall panelhaving a.. tab projecting from the free side edge. thereof: extending into'a receiving slit cutlin thevarljacentsiderwall panels.

9..A container for radio. tubes and. thelike', including. a four-sided outer member including at: least five hingedly connectedfside Wallpan'els, an inner member` adapted to contain a tubettel'escoping within said outer: member, said. inner member including. endl wallV sections and. side.. wall sections connecting saidend Wall: sections, one of saidI end Wall. sections having anop'ening. throughV whichthe test end..of the tubev mayf be: projected. for test purposes, one of said side w-allr sections comprising. a. pair of side Wall flaps hingedly` connected tocpposite endsections, said. side' wallflaps v havingv hook portions `ior connecting; said naps together, and an aperture'inaside; Wallpanel. of said outerL member adapted. toV co operate with one. of said hookV portions. on said inner member to deiine andflimitthe telescop-i ing movement of the testlend* o'fr the tube, said apertured side Wall panel being closed= by an overlying side Wall panel, ysaid.'overlying .side vwall panel having a tab.v projecting. from the free side edges thereof extending intoa` receiving slit-cut inthe adjacent side Wall panel.

10. A' container for radio tubes andi the like including, an: outer mem-berformed b'yenclosi'ngf Sidn-` Wall` panels, an inner member adaptedlto' contain a tube telescoping- Within saidouter member, said inner member including endwall" sections:V andl side Wall" sections' connecting said end; Wall sections, one of said-end'vvallsectionsV having an opening through'which thetest end' of`- the" tube maybe projected for test purposes, onetof vsaidr side wall sections comprising a pair of= side-V W allv flaps hinged'ly connected to opposite end sections, said' side wall" naps having hook portions for connecting. said'l'aps together, one of' said hook portions projecting outwardly into an' opening-cut in one of said. side Wall panels i. andv cooperating with spaced transversely. ex-

tending abutmenti edges of: substantial Ien'gthf dening'; said opening to. limit v the. telescopirlrgf: movement ofthe test Vendfofth'e tube.

11;V A@ container for radio tubes including, anv outer'tubular sleeve formed from( a single blank: of paperboardmaterial! comprisingl four enclos ing side walll panels hingedly! connected t'o gether along parallel extendingY cornerfold' lines presenting a sleeve of generallyl squarel cross-1 section, sai'd side wall panelshaving free ends and presenting squareinside corner faces, an'y inner tube-supporting and enclosing member formed'from a-singleblank ofpaperboard material shaped to snugly telescope Wit-hinv said` outer sleeve, said inner memberincludingtvvo spaced tube-supporting platforms having a genera-lly squarecontour, oneY of said platforms having a centrally disposed aperture therein through which the prong-portions of' the tube may extend and the other of said'- platforms having a centrally disposed aperture therein for centering the adjacent end of the tube Within said inner member, a rectangular side wall: sec# tion hingedly connected to said spaced plat-4 forms along oneside of said-inner member and presenting substantially parallel side edges arranged' toA snuglyY and frictionally seat' against theinside cornerfaces of'said sidewall panels', a sidewall Hap hingedly connected to each of said platforms opposite said' side Wall section' rst named, said side Wall flaps havingv hook portions Wherebysaid flaps may be separately connected to` form aside wall section presenting. substantially parallel extending'side edges corL responding in length andwidth to the side wall sectionrst named, said second side Wall sec'- tion formed by saidv connected flaps havingthe side edges thereof arrangedto snugly andfrictionally seat against the adjacent' inside c'o'rner. faces of said side wall panels, and' a pair of. out-Y turned guide flaps having square cut' vertical-1 edges hingedlyy connected to the other opposite side'edgesof each of said'platf'orms providing` end supports for saidinner sleeve,.the square cut edges of said guide iiaps formingsa substantially, straightline continuation ofthe adjacent side edges of said sidewall sections When said' inner. member is positioned within said outer.' member, the combined'. length of each side wallV section and the outt'urned guide; flaps at each end'thereofA being approximately the lengthof the adjacent free end' side Wall panel of. the. outer sleve,.said inner member being. so dimensioned that when. positioned within the outer` sleeve the outside facesof. said outturned-flaps.

Will' snugly seat against the inside faces .of the adjacent side Walll panel and-the ,sideI edges of said side Wall sections and guidefapswill fric tionally engageY the.. adjacent. corner faces formed by said side Wallpanelsso that thi-:inner member.. is. frictionally retained in. said outer sleeve. WILLIAM A. RINGLE-R.

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