US2327710A

US2327710A - Bottom structure for folding paper boxes

Info

Publication number: US2327710A
Application number: US385669A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ross A Himes
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1941-03-28
Filing date: 1941-03-28
Publication date: 1943-08-24
Anticipated expiration: 1960-08-24

Description

Aug. 24, 1943. R A HIMES A 2,327,7m

BOTTOM STRUCTURE FOR FOLDING PAPER BOXES Filed March 28, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Ease A. H/MES ATTORNEY Aug. 24, 1943. R. A; HIMES BOTTOM STRUCTURE FOR FOLDING PAPER BOXES Filed March 28, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. fess A. fi /M55 BY 44&

ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 24, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE/1' Ross A. Himes, Oakland, Calif.

Application March 28, 1941, Serial No. 385,669

4 Claims.

This invention relates to a bottom structure for folding paper boxes, and particularly to-that form shown in my co-pending application entitled Bottle carrier," filed March 28, 1941, Serial No. 385,668, now Patent No. 2,273,266.

The object of the present invention is generally to improve and simplify the construction and operation of bottom structures of the character described; to'provide a multiple section bottom for folding boxes which will automatically unfold and become extended in unison with the unfolding or opening of the side and end'walls of the box; to provide a bottom structure embodying two side and two end bottom sections, and particularly to provide an interlock between the adjacent free sides of the side bottom sections which will support them with relation to each other and also secure them against lateral and longitudinal separation; to provide means for guiding the several bottom sections into predetermined positions when unfolding or opening the box; and further, to provide a pair of side bottom sections which are tied together in such a manner as to support each other and at the.

same time will form a support for the end bottom sections.

The invention is shown by way of illustration in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a plan view of the box blank;

Fig, 2 is a similar view showing the bottom sections of the box blank folded over the side and end wall sections;

Fig, 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the

sections

2 and 2a folded over the sections 3 and 3a. and partially over the

sections

4 and 4a;

Fig. 4 shows the last folding operation and the completed folded box in flat form;

Fig. 5 is a perspective View of the bottom of the box, showing the positions assumedby the respective sections before they reach a flat plane; the side and end walls of the box have been removed to show the bottom sect ons more clearly;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the box, partially broken away, showing it in fully extended or open position; and

Fig. '7 is a bottom view of Fig. 6.

Referring to the drawings in detail, and particularly to Fig. 1, a blank is-shown which is formed from a die-out cardboard or similar material. This blank is out and creased to form a pair of side wall sections'2 and 4 and a pair of

end wall sections

3 and 5. Thesesections are 'foldably connected by crease lines formed at the points 6, 'l' and 8, and the side wall section 2 is provided with a creased glue flap 9 which serves to connect the free corners of the box when assembling the same.

The bottom of the box is formed from four separate sections, to wit, a pair of

side bottom sections

2a and 4a, which foldably join the respective

side Wall sections

2 and 4 along the crease lines it) and ii, and a pair of end bottom sections 3a. and 5a., which are foldably joined to the respective

end wall sections

3 and 5 by crease lines i2 and iii.

The side bottom section 2a is cut away as at l4 to form a lug l5, and a slit is cut at the point iii to form a reinforcing flap I! which forms an extension of .a glue flap I8, said flap. being bendable with relation to the bottom section 2a by forming a diagonal crease line IS. The side bottom section 3a is left intact,,as it is going to overlie the other bottom sections when the box is assembled. The side bottom section 4a has a crease line 20 to form a glue flap 2 i A slit is cut as at 22 to form a. lug 23, and it is cut away as at 24 and 25 to form a lug 26 and a guiding or de fleeting corner 21. The end bottom section 5a is cut away at one side, at an angle of substantially as shown at 28,"to provide clearance and to prevent interference when the bottom sections are being folded into place.

A box plank out and creased in the manner shown in Fig. 1 may be folded and assembled by machine operation or by hand, but as no machine is illustrated, let it be assumed that the box is to be folded, glued and assembled by hand. If that is the. case, the first operation in assembling the box will be that of folding the side 0 and end bottom sections along the crease lines .Ill, II, l2; and I3, to overlie the wall sections of the box, indicated at 2, 3, 4 and 5,- as shown in Fig. 2.

When this'has been accomplished, glue is applied to the areas indicated at I811, 2m and 9a. Thereafter the

sections

2 and 2a in their folded condition are folded on the crease line 6 to overlie the sections'ii and 3a, and partially to overlie the

sections

4 and 4a. When this fold has been completed, the partially folded blank will have the appearance shown in Fig. 3, and in this position the gluefiap l8 and its extension ll will .contact the glue area "la and will permanently adhere thereto. The next and'final operation is that of folding the sections 5 and. 5a on the line 8 to overlie the

sections

4 and 4a and the flap 9. The glue area 2H1. will thus overlieand engage the flap 2| and will adhere thereto, while the glue area 9a will overlie the flap 9 and will adhere as the bottom section thereto, In this position the box blank is completely {folded and assembled, and may then be delivered to the trade, and it may be retained in the flat condition until ready for use, the final flat condition assumed by the box being shown-in Fig. 4.

When the box is to be used, or in other words opened or extended, it is only necessary for the person handling the folded box to grasp it in two hands and to push inwardly on the

corners

30 and 3| of the box (see Fig. In doing so the side and end wall sections of the box will finally reach a position at right angles to each other, as shown in Fig. 6, and the glue flaps i8 and 2| will simultaneously direct the bottom sections into their proper positions; and when they reach their fully extended or proper positions the side bottom sections 4a will be lowermost and will be connected to the end bottom section Ed by the glue flap 2|, which will rest on top thereof. On top of this will rest the side bottom section 2a, which is connected to the end bottom section 3a. by the glue flap i8, this latter named bottom section therefore assuming the top or uppermost position.

The extended portion 26a of the side bottom section 4a will extend over and rest on top of the side bottom section 2a and will interlock therewith, as the lug 26 will extend under the glue flap I8, and the lug 23 will engage the lug l5 of the section 2a. Thus the side bottom section 4a, which is lowermost of the several bottom sections, will be supported by the side bottom section 2a, and as this overlies the end bottom section 5a it will be supported thereby, and 3a overlies them all, all sections will be supported.

The overlying sections 26a and i5a are important, first of all because the overlying sections form extensions of the free adjoining side edges of the two side bottom sections. One of the extensions has two lugs 23 and 26.formed thereon,

and' the other extension has the lug I 5 formed thereon. The lugs 23 and I5 interlock and the lug 26 interlocks with the glue flap l8. Hence the adjoining free side edges of the side bottom sections are tied together and interlocked both against lateral and longitudinal separation, and as such support each other and the two end bottom sections as the end bottom section 5a is disposed between them and the other end 3a lies on top of both of the side bottom sections. Thus the bottom sections are supported mainly by the interlock of the side bottom sections and only partially by the overlying of one section with relation to the other. The interlock is of further importance as the glue flaps 9, l8 and 2| may let go if subjected to water or certain moisture conditions. Such release of the glue flaps is of no importance, as the two

side bottom sections

2a and 4a are positively interlocked, both against lateral and longitudinal movement; thus the corner of the box may open if the glue flap 9 lets go, but the bottom sections will not separate nor will they separate if the glue flaps I8 and 2i let go due to the interlock specified.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, it will be noted that the member l5a of the side bottom section 21]., upon which the lug i5 is formed, projects a considerable distance beyond the line indicated at i6a; that line, by the way, represents half the width of the box. The extended portion i5a extends substantially a quarter of the width of the box beyond the line "in, and this provides ample material for the formation of the lug I5.

The extension 26a on the side bottom section la also extends beyond the line l6a, which represents half the width of the box, but not as great a distance as the extension i 5a, and while it provides suillcient material for the formation of the

lugs

23 and 26, it is desirable that it should not extend as far as the section i5a, as the extension lia then functions as a guide to guide the section 4a in under the section 2a during the extension of the bottom sections. That is, if the extensions I5a and 26a were of equal length, they would meet during the unfolding of the box, and one or another might tend to take the lowermost position, but by making the extension lSa longer, when they do meet they will meet in about the position shown in Fig, 5; thus positively causing the section 26;: and its connected part 4a to be directed in under the section I51; and the side bottom section 2a.

The corner 21 formed'on the side bottom section 4a functions in a similar manner. That is, it engages the under surface of the end bottom section 3a, and thereby guides the lug 26 into proper position in under the glue flap i 8.

The cut away end 28 of the end bottom section 5a also serves a purpose. That is, when the box is being opened, if the end of the section 5a were not cut away as shown, it might tend to override the adjacent end 2b of the side bottom section 2a (see Fig. 5), but by being cut away it clears it and positively insures that the end 2b of the side bottom section 2a. will overlie the end bottom section 5a. Also the cut away portion provides clearance for lug 23 which would otherwise be covered by the bottom section 5a and thereby prevent interlocking of the lugs l5 and 23, but as it is cut away, interlocking of said lugs becomes possible.

The extension I! on the glue tab i8-could be eliminated, but as long as there is no necessity for cutting out more cardboard than that indicated at H (see Fig. 1), the portion I! may Just as well be employed. It increases the glue area of the flap l8, and furthermore, it increases the contact area between the glue flap l8 and the end section 3a, thereby strengthening it, and it also stiifens and reinforces the end bottom section 3a, thereby in general increasing the strength and rigidity of the box.

The blank shown in Fig. 1 is so shaped, cut and creased that it forms a complete box; that is, the

sections

2, 3, 4 and 5 will form the side and end walls of the box, and the

sections

2a, 3a, 4a and 5a will form the side and end bottom sections of the box. The blank is furthermore shaped and creased so that the several sections may be folded, glued and assembled to form a box in flat form, and it futhermore provides a box which may be extended from its folded position to a full open position by merely exerting inward pressure on the

corners

30 and 3| (see Fig. 5), said pressure causing theside and end walls of the box to assume a position vertical and at right angles to each other, and simultaneously causing the several bottom sections to become extended and to become a flat interlocked reinforced bottom when the box is fully opened. All the bottom sections when extended are connected both by the glue flaps and by interlocks. They rest on top of each other and are furthermore so positioned and overlapped that even though the glue flaps should give way, due to moisture conditions, they will still support and retain each other in position. In addition to that, the several bottom sections are so cut and shaped that during the extending process, from folded to open position, each will guide the other into position, thereby eliminating any chance of one section catching or interfering with the other, so as to impede the opening operation. Otherwise the box is exceedingly cheap and simple to manufacture; it is erected in a minimum of time, and it provides a bottom structure which is exceedingly strong, durable and rigid, and which does not depend upon the glue flaps to retain it in position once the box is unfolded and open.

While certain features of my invention have been more or less specifically described for purposes of illustration, I wish it understood that various changes may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described and illustrated my in vention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters'Patent is:

l. A box blank cut and creased to form a pair of side walls and a pair of end walls, said side and end walls being alternately foldably connected in end-to-end series, a side bottom section foldably connected to each side wall, an end bottom section foldably connected to each end wall, a glue flap connected by a diagonal crease line to each side bottom section, an extension on the outer free side of each side bottom section, each extension having an outer edge parallel to the fold lines connecting the side bottom sections with the side wall sections and one extension extending farther than the other, a pair of opposed lugs formed one in each end of the lesser extension, and a single lug formed on theinner end of the greater extension.

2. A box blank cut and creased to form a pair of side walls and a pair of end walls, said side and end walls being alternately foldably connected in end-to-end series, a side bottom section foldably connected to each side wall, an end bottom section foldably connected to each end wall, a glue flap connected by a diagonal crease line to each side bottom section, an extension on the outer free side of each side bottom section, each extension having an outer edge parallel to the fold lines connecting the side bottom sections with the side wall sections and one extension extending further than the other, a

pair of lugs'formed one on each end of the lesser extension, one pointing to the right and the other to the left, and a lug formed on the greater extension and pointing to the right.

3. A box blank cut and creased to form a pair of side walls and a pair of end walls, said side and end walls being alternately foldably connected in end-to-end series, a side bottom section foldably connected to each side-wall, an end bottom section foldably connected to each end wall, a glue flap connected by a diagonal crease line to each side bottom section, an extension on the outer free s de of each side bottom section, each extension having an outer edge parallel to the fold lines connecting the side bottom sections to the side wall sections and one extension extending further than the other, a pair of lugs formed one on each end of the lesser extension, one pointing'to the right and the other tothe left, 9. lug formed on the greater extension and pointing to the right, and an extension on the glue flap which is carried by the side bottom section having the single right-handed lug, said glue flap extension pointing towardsaid right-handed lug.

4. A folding paper box having foldably connected side and end walls, side bottom sections and end bottom sections foldably connected to the lower edges of the respective side and end walls and adapted to lie between the side and end walls when they are folded fiat, a pair of glue flaps foldably connected one to each side bottom section, said flaps being disposed in diagonally opposite corners of the box and glued to the respective end bottom sections, said glue flaps directing the bottom sections when the box is unfolded to lie fiat and at right angles to the side and end walls, an extension on the free side of one side bottom section overlying a portion of the other side bottom section, an extension'on said other side bottom section overlying a portion of the first named side bottom section, a lug formed on the first extension interlocking with a lugon the second extension, and a second lug formed on the first extension said lug extending under interlocking with the glue flap carried by said other side bottom section.

- ROSS A. HIMES.