US2366419A

US2366419A - Box

Info

Publication number: US2366419A
Application number: US439895A
Authority: US
Inventors: Reginald B Meller
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1942-04-21
Filing date: 1942-04-21
Publication date: 1945-01-02
Anticipated expiration: 1962-01-02

Description

Jan. z, 1945. R B MELLER 2,366,419

BOX

Filed April 2l, 1942 A INVENTOR. v ,PEG/ALD NELLE@ Y 'd BWM@ ArToeA/Ex Patented Jan. 2, 1945 nox Reginald n. Mener, foaklana, cam. Application Apru 21, 1942, serial No. 439,895

Claims.

My invention relates to boxes. and more parl ticularly to boxes formed from creasable sheet material having a certain degree of stillness and resiliency, such as is found in some'types of cardboard, thin sheet metal, exible plastic sheet material, and the like.

Among the objects of my invention are: 1. To provide a novel and improved box blank capable of being readily assembled into a box without the use of adhesive to hold the corner components together;

2. To provide a novel and improved box blank capable of being readily assembled at point of use, into a non-collapsible box without use of adhesive;

3. To provide a novel and improved box of substantial rigidity throughout and devoid of looseness or play at the corners thereof;

4. To provide a novel and improved box which is readily assembled by hand or machine, from a at blank; l

45. To provide a novel and improved box of thin sheet material, capable of standing consid-y erable stress against the end walls; and

6. To provide a novel and improved box having its end walls of substantially greater height than the side walls.

Additional objects of myA invention will .be brought out in the following description of the same taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein- Figure 1 is a view of a blank from which m improved box is formed;

Figure 2 is an outside view in perspective, of a corner of my improved box;

Figure 3 is an inside view in perspective, of the same corner; and

Figure -4 is a. view in perspective, of the assembled box in use.

In its preferred form, my invention provides for a box blank 5 of substantially rectangular form and scored as at I0, 2li and 30 to define a bottom section I and side and end wall sections 9 and Il, respectively. Extending from each end of an end wall section II, and preferably integral therewith, is a wing I3 separated from the adjacent side wall section 9 by a cut 40, the free edge I5 of which terminates preferably in alignment with the free longitudinal edge I1 of the adjacent side wall section 9. This provides for the most economical type of blank, as it elimi-4 nates the necessity of trimmings and waste.

Each side wall section 9, in proximity to each end thereof, is provided with a cut I9 into its free longitudinal edge. This cut is in a direcof the box.

v1, and in its preferred embodiment, the cut I9 will be normal to such circle. Such cut creates a tab 25 at each corner of a side wall section 9.

Each end wall wing I3 is provided with a cut 21 transverse to the circle 2|, its direction being preferably normal to the cut I9 in the adiacent side wall section 9; that is, if both cuts were extended, they would intersect at right angles to one another.

Each end wall wing I3 has that corner adjacent the side wall section removed, and is further providedV with an additional cut 29, preferably arcuate in shape, starting at an extremity of the rst cut 21 and following along the arc of circle 2| through the inner extremity of the side wall cut I9, until such arcuate cut in'- tersects an edge of the end wall wing. The two

cuts

21 and 29 thus made in each end wall wing, define a locking tab 33 on such wing. The blank is now in condition to be assembled into a box. In forming the box, the side wall and end wall sections 9 and II of the blank are creased along the score lines of the blank toI form the side and end walls 9a and IIa, respectively, of the box; and either simultaneously with or following such creasing, the end wall wings I3 are folded inwardly toward the side walls. As the nal step in the assembling of the box, the locking tab -33 of each wing is guided through a side wall cut I9 and forced forward until the edge of the side wall tab 25 formed by such cut, snaps in behind the corresponding edge of the locking tab 33 in a self-locking action, thereby effectively holding the end wall Ila in proper position with respect to the side walls 9a Such self-locking action is attributable to the fact that the locking tab 25 of the side wall, during such assemblingof the box, is stressed out'of the plane of the side wall, and likewise the locking tab of the wing is stressed out of the plane of said wing, thereby establishing an existing tendency for these tabs to return to their original planes.

The relationship between the cuts I9 and 2'I associated at each corner forming section of the blank. brings the engaging edges of the By spacing the side wall cut I9 the same` dise,

tance from the end of the side wali section l. as the wing cut 23 is spaced from the edge of the end wail section Il, interlocking of the

tabs

25 and 33 will occur when an end wall section reaches its final position in abutment against the end of the side wall section to form a box corner, thereby preventing slack or looseness between the box components and creating a box corner of substantial rigidity, with the end wall locked against movement either forward or rearward of its final position. In and wings are swung only to their final position to obtain locking. and it is not necessary to swing them beyond such position as in the hook type lock of the prior art.

A score line 35 across a definite hinge line for the tab and thereby facilitate the operation oi.'` assembling the box from the blank, particularly for machine assembly, by providing a groove at the Junction with the wall cut I3 for the tab 33 to slide in, instead of the sharp narrow end of the cut. The score line further enhances the locking action in presenting an offset or ridge which effectively increases the abutting surface to the engaging tip of the tab. s

Proper and effective functioning of the corner lock of my invention is, in large measure, based upon the use of sheet material which has the characteristics of stiffness and resiliency, for

other words, the end walls the tab 25 will provide an efficient locking will not be realized when employing sheet material, such as heavy paper or cardboard formed of soft pulp'as is customarily employed in suit or hat boxes.

A sheet material which has proven very eflcient as well as economical, is one developed particularly for this purpose, and comprises an intermediate layer of pulp, an outer layer on one side, of material known to the trade as glassine, and an outer layer on the other side, of thin bond paper, both outer layers being adhesively secured to the intermediate layer by a suitable binder. 'I'he important feature in connection with this paper is the fact that anormal amount only of binder is preferably employed inadhesively securing the outer layer of bond paper to the intermediate layer, whereas the inner layer of glassine paper is adhesively secured by an amount of adhesive material sufllcient to impregnate theintermediate layer for a. substantial portion of its thickness. This adhesive, which may be that generally used in paper manufacture. has the property, upon drying, of rigidifying the impregnated portion of the intermediate layer, thereby increasing the stiffness and resiliency thereof on one side. These charmitting. the wrapping to snugly engage the contents of the box. Waxed wrapping paper may also be used. ,i

By reason of the lrigid support offered to the end walls by my lock construction. the box, when wrapped with Cellophane or waxed paper, lends itself to heat sealing by machine or hand, for the end walls and bottom can stand the sealing pressure without such flexing as would tend to weaken or break the seal upon the removal of such pressure. This characteristic obtains, notwithstanding inward pressure distortion of the side walls due to any clamping means for holding the box during the sealing process.

While I have disclosed the preferred embodiment of my invention in detail, I do not wish to be limited in my protection to such details, as the embodiment disclosed by me is susceptible to change and modification, without departing from the principles and spirit of my invention. For example, the box may be constructed with end walls of the same or lesser height than the side walls by removingthe corners of the side walls and placing the side wall cut in the hoizontal edge thus formed. Another change contemplated, is to form the side wall cut I3 by y providing a narrow notch in the edge of the wall. This would preferably be the practice, where the box is to be formed of extra heavy material. Other changes will, no doubt, suggest themselves to those skilled in the art.

I claim:

l. Al corner section of a blank, adapted to be folded into a self-locking box corner, comprising a bottom section. a side wall section and an end wall secton, a wing extending from said end wall section adjacent said side wall section, said side wall section having a cut in the longitudinal edge thereof in a direction transverse to a circle having 40 its center at the corner of said bottom section acteristics imparted to the material by the deep impregnation of one surface of the intermediate layer. further enable the formation of rather sharp corners between the components of vthe box when the blank is folded with'the impregnated side of the intermediate layer facing inwardly.

My improved locking means permits of the design and construction of boxes of the boat" type 35 wherein the end walls lla are of substantially greater height than the side walls 9a. Boxes of this type lend themselves very nicely to the packaging and merchandising of commodities such as pastry, doughnuts and the like. When so employed, the box and its contents may conveniently be wrapped with transparent material 31 such as- Cellophane, as the upper edges of the end wall wings I3 offer adequate support for the wrapping, without necessarily perto form a locking tab in the plane of said side Wall section, and said wing having a cut transverse to said circle and substantially normal to said side wall section cut. and another cut extending from an extremity of said wing cut to an edge of said wing substantially along an arc through approximately the inner extremity of said side wall cut. to deiine with said wing cut, a. locking tab in the plane of said wing adapted to b'e wedged through said side wall section cut during folding of said blank into box formation to automatically interlock with said side wall section tab in edge to edge engagement therewith.

2. A corner section of a blank, adapted to be folded into a self-locking 'box corner, comprising a bottom section, a side Wall'section and an end wall section, a wing extending from said end wall section adjacent said side wall section, said side wall section having a cut in the longitudinal edge thereof in a direction transverse to a. circle having its center at the corner of said bottom section to form a locking tab in the plane of said side wall section, and said wing having a cut transverse to said circle and substantially normal to said side wall section cut. and another cut extending from an extremity of said wing cut to `an edge of said wing substantially along an arc of said circle to that edge of said wing which is adjacent to said side wall section to define with said wing cut a locking tab in the plane of said wing adapted to -be wedged through said side wall section cut during folding of said blank into box formation to automatically interlock with said side wall section tab in edge to edge engagement therewith.

3. A corner section of a blank, adapted to 'be folded into a self-locking b'ox corner, comprising a bottom section, a side wall section and an end wall section, a wing extending from said end wall section adjacent said side wall section, said side wall section having a cut in the longitudinal edge thereof in a direction transverse to a circle havin`g its center at the corner of said bottom section to form a locking tab in the plane of said side wall section, and said wing having a cut transverse to said circle and substantiallyvnormal to said l side wallA section cut, said side wall cut being spaced from the end of said side wall a distance substantially equal tothe spacing of said wing cut from the end wall section, and another cut extending from an extremity of said wing cut to an edge of said wing substantially along an arc through approximately the inner extremity of said side wall cut to define with said wing cut, a locking tab in the plane of said wing adaptedv to be wedge through said side wall section cut during folding of said blank into lbox formation to automatically interlock with said side wall section tab in edge to edge engagement therewith.

4. A box comprising a sheet of material having a first fold line and a first cut in alignment with said first fold line; said first fold line and said first out separating a first box element from a second box element; a second fld line, substantially normal to said iirst fold line and extending along said first box element and said second box element substantially at the point of abutment of said first fold line and sai-d first cut, defining with said iirst cut a wing on said'second element and a side on said first element; said elements, wing and side being movable with respect to one another into a position in which they provide a box corner with said -first and said second elements at substantially 90 to each other and wherein said side is at substantially 90 to therst element and said wing and side are movable into a face-to-face abutment; a second cut in said side, said second cut starting substantially at and extending outwardly from the periphery of a circle which has itscenter substantially at the point of intersection of the second fold line, the first fold line and the first cut, substantially along an extended radius of said circle for a substantial distance to the edge of said side; a third cut in said wing of substantially the same length as said second cut, said third cut starting substantially at and extending outwardly from the periphery of said circle and substantially at 90 to said second-cut; and a. fourth cut -extending outwardly from that end of said third cut which is substantially at said circle to that edge of said wing which is adjacent said first cut to define withsaid third cut a wing tab exteriorly of said circle and adapted to be inserted'into said second cut and moved therethrough until said second out and said third cut are in an edge-to-edge engagement and said corner is locked with said first and second elements at substantially 90 to one another.

5. A box comprising a sheet of material having a first fold line therein; a first cut in alignment with and continuing said first fold` line; said first fold line and said first cut separating a first box element from a second box element; a second fold line substantially normal to said first fold line and extending along said first box element and said second lbox element substantially at the point of abutment of said first fold line and said first cut, and defining, with said first cut, a wing on said second element and a side on said first element; said first and said second elements, said wing and said side being mova'ble with respect to one another into a position in which they provide a box corner with said first and said second elements at substantially 90 to eachother and wherein said side is at substantially 90 to the first element and the said wing and side are movable into a face-to-face abutment; a second cut in said side, lsaid second cut extending inwardly from the edge of said side to and terminating substantially at a circle having its center substantially at the point of intersection of the second fold line, the first fold line and the first cut and in a direction which is at an acute angle to the line of the first fold and the first cut and transverse to said circle; a third cut insaid wing, said third vout starting substantially at and extending outwardly from the periphery of said circle and substantially at90 to said second cut; anda fourth cut extending outwardly from that end of said third cut which is substantially at said circle to that edge of said wing which is adjacent said first cut to define with said third cut a wing tab exteriorly of said circle and adaptedlto be inserted into said second out and moved therethrough until said second cut and said third cut are in an edge-to-edge engagement and said corner is locked with said first and second elements at substantially to one another.

REGINALD B. MELLER.

l CERTIFICATE oF CORRECTION. Patent No. 2,566,l|19. January 2, 19h15.

'RECINATD B. MELLER.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring Correction as folows: In the drawing, Figure 1 should appear v as shown below instead of as in the patent and that the saidLetters Patent Should be read with this correction therein that the same'mayconor'm to the record of the case inthe Patent Office.

Signed and sealed thisv 22nd day of May, A.. D. 1914.5.

Leslie Frazer (.Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents.