US2377533A - Container - Google Patents

Description

- June 1945. WATERS I CONTAINER Filed July 16, 1943 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR [far/y Jill uteri? I I B I X Y v ATTORNE June 5, 1945.

H. F. WATERS CONTAINER Filed Jill 16, 1943 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 I293 48 45 I'Qni 44;

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48 Mam ATTORNEY.

H. F. WATERS June 5, 1945.

CONTAINER 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 16, 1943 v INVENTOR. Hanzyfl Wall erg,

ATTORNEY.

H. F. WATERS CONTAINER Filed July 16, 1943 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTDR. Hang l Waders, BY

ATTORNEY.

Patented June 5,1945

UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,377,533 GONTAINEB. Harry F. Waters, New York, N. Y. Application July 16, .1943, Serial No. 494,939 I 4 Claims. (01. ace-3.5) 9

This invention relate to improvements in con- Fig. 8 is a vertical section taken on line 8-4 of tainers and more particularly to containers prin- Fig. 6 and showing the bottom folds in flatcipally made of paper or cellulose products folded position 'of the container; which are liquid proofed, This application is a Fig. 9 is a bottom view. of the erected container continuation in part of my application Serial No. of Fig.6 and showing the bottom panels in snap- 232,292, originally filed Sept. 29, 1938, for CondoWn,'c0ntainer-forming and locking position;

tainer. 1 r Fig. 10 is a perspective of the bottom structure One of the principal objects of the invention is and'associated side wall) structure of the erected to provide an improved waxtreated paper concontainer;

tainer especially adapted for food products which 10 Fig. 11 is an elevation of the top of the conis provided with a liner that is not only moisture tainer showing the top-forming segments of the proof, but which is adapted to be sterilized withside walls in open position; out deterioration of its strength or moisture proof Fig. 12 is a view similar to Fig. 11 showing a qualities. special gluing pattern, and

Another object of the invention is to provide 16- Fig'. 13 is a view similar to Fig. 12 showing the an improved wax coated paper container which completed top structure with all panels secured is flexible, may be folded from a blank to a unit inplace. capacity container, which may be steam ster- It is well known that wax coated milk bottles ilized, and which is externally impervious to moisand similar food containers have not proved enture after heat treatment comparable to the pas- 20 tirely successful as they cannot be sterilized and telirization of milk. in many States where strict regulation is in force,

still further object of the invention is to they cannot be used. Not only is'it necessary to provide a pre-fabricated wax treated paper blank provide for sterilization and also to preve t moissuitable for forming into liquid tight packages for ture absorption, but it is also essential i order storing and transporting milk and other liquid 2 to meet competitive costs, that the container be food products, sucl; blank beingiflexible and havof flexible materiil SOyihgt they 081.? be shipped ing a resistance moisture a ter forming to a in an inexpensive noc own cond ion. unit container, and after a heat treatment with I have now found that I can make a container I steam for desired sterilization, so that the blank 3 which meets all the necessary commercial remay be sterilized and the products placed in the 0 quirements as well as being inexpensive and of 00131138112119! carbetpasteiuriged irti situ. f attractive appearance. In accordance with a 1' e1 0 J80 s an a an ages 0 my m enpreferred form of embodiment of my invention n wi ppear from the following discl s re f as shown in Fig. 1, this includes the use of a supa pre e red form of d e t o my invention porting structure for the container, generally tlaikeii i3 cofilnectign wth thisi alttached dr wm indicated at 10, which supporting structure may 1 us ra ve e o .an m w c be of a heavy Kraft'paper, a molded pulp mate- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the container rial, or other ujt b]e material but the one I 12? 1 2 broke? y; prefer is heavy ground wood board. This con- 2'. is a horizontal crosssection on the line 4 stitutes the mkrmediate layer 2 2 2 thereof; Within this container, I use a wax paper liner f 3 is a plan of p g q blank 14 which is preferably a bleached sulpl'ii'te paper or making the novetle con mers erem and approximately 30 pound weight and of good wet showing he glumg strength. This is treated with a coating matea plan shqwmg the mmal step rial of wax base which is firm, non-tacky, and of z g p g g the blank moisture proof at 2259 F. to provide an inner g: 52 5:2 22 the Man coating l4 thereon. Coating materials of such a blank Fi 4 com letel p y character are well known to those skilledin the p art and are disclosed, for example, in U. S. Patent Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 showing the I 5 No. 2,054,115 to Abrams et a1. Inner coating I4 edge gmmg tabs foldgd over and onto adjacent is also resistant to moisture at this temperature wall panels;

7 is a bottom plan View f structure and I can steam sterilize the package just priorof Fig. 6, showing the folded-over fin seams t to its use, which is especially desirable. The the edges of the flat-folded container and showcoating may be provided by means of an coning the bottom fold lines; ventional procedure and is preferably applied by a suitable coating machine to a thickness in the range of 0.001 of an inch or less.

The outer coating "5 is also preferably constituted of a wax material but ordinarily it does not require a coating material of such a high melting point or resistance to temperature as the inner coating. I also find that I can pasteurize milk directly in the container which is a very economical and desirable procedure. In such case, the outer coating must be a wax material which is still non-tacky at about 160 F. for considerable time to assure stability in the long period of pasteurization which is about 45 minutes at 143 F.

If desired, the outer coating it can also be coated on the supporting layer by a coating machine or otherwise, and it is preferably firmly adherent thereto. On the other hand, the inner liner it may or may not be integrated with the supporting layer it. If all of the layers are to be laminated, the process described in my issued United States Patent No. 2,125,758 issued on August 2, 938, is preferred.

The novel construction hereinabove may be prepared from special blanks, all as illustrated in Figs. 3, to 13, inclusive. In this construction, a special blank 20, of generally rectangular shape, is provided with a plurality of main wall panels 22, 23 and 24 defined by centra1 longitudinal line 25, side longitudinal fold lines 26 and 2?, end or top fold lines 28 and bottom or transverse fold line 29 parallel to fold lines 28. The bottom panel structure, designated herein by the numeral 30, includes the longitudinal fold lines recited above and a central transverse fold line 32 dividing the blank horizontally into two symmetrical portions. The bottom section 30 is provided further with diagonal fold lines 33, 3t,

and 36 severally extending from central longitudinal fold line substantially adjacent to transverse fold lines 29, and terminating at lateral longitudinal fold lines 27, likewise substantially adjacent to the transverse median fold line 32 of the blank. The bottom section will be seen to be divided into a central diamond or lozenge having generally triangular sections 37, and four triangular sections 38 around the periphery thereof, and bounded by cross fold lines 29, and side fold lines 26, 21, as well as the diagonal fold lines 33. 3t, 35 and 36, previously noted. At the extremities of the several panels 2!, 22, 23 and 24, are formed integral tabs or top sections 50 and 4 I, the sections as being integral with the diagonally opposite panels 2|, 2d while the end or tab sec- I tions il are severally integral with the diagonall apposite panels "22, 23. Tabs and 6! are both generally triangular and are formed with symmetrical told lines t2 forming isosceles triangles with the fold lines it. A pair of triangular tabs 53 having central longitudinal fold lines M are formed exterior-1y of the fold lines 32. .A V- shaped cut-=out d5 is formed in tabs dl, while an integral ii-shaped panel at, separated from an end tab at by fold line 59, is formed in a corresponding position of tabs 50.

The inner surface of the blank 20, as shown in Fig. 3, is provided with marginal edges 58 on which are disposed glue lines or strips 50, coextensive therewith. The triangular bottom panel sections 38 are severally provided with triangular glue lines 5! which are substantially c0- extensive with the marginal edges of the several triangular sections.

Referring now to Fig. 4 the blank 20 is shown in the position obtaining when the bottom section is folded along transverse fold line 32 and the glue lines or patterns 51 are contacted with and secured to the adjacent panels 2l, 22, 23 and 24 and the contacting sections of glue lines of the bottom panels are severally contacted with the glue lines of the fins 18. When this occurs the panel or triangular sections 38 are permanently secured together leaving the bottom sections 31 free but in folded-up condition, as shown more in detail in Fig. 8.

The next step in the formation of the novel container is the folding of panels 23, 24 along transverse fold line 29, over and on panels 2|, 22 with the glue lines it of side anels it being mutually contacted and securing the structures in interlocked condition. As shown in Fig. 5, the outer portions of side walls or segments it are severally provided with strands or glue lines 52, which secure the fins l8 to the adjacent wall panels when the fins are folded thereagainst on fold lines 26, 21, respectively. The fiat-folded container will assume the condition shown in Fig. 6, with the bottom panel 30 folded up internally thereof as shown in Figs. '7 and 8. Upon squaring up the container, as by applying compression along diagonally opposed fold lines 26, 21, the side walls will square up to assume the position shown in Figs. 9 to 13, with the bottom panel 30 being snapped downwardly along central fold line 25 and the transverse fold line 32, so that it assumes a generally dished shape with its segments locked to provide stiffening and supporting braces or sections for the side walls of the package.

Referring now to Figs. 11 to 13, inclusive, there is shown the method of sealing the top of the container. The tabs or triangular sections 40, M are secured in the following manner. The inner surfaces of tabs at are provided with adhesive 53, and the outer surfaces of sections 43 of closure panels 50 are provided with glue patterns 54. The opposed tabs or terminal sections 40 are moved inwardly of the mouth of the container and the glued tabs 48 are secured together, as shown in. Fig. 12. Thereafter, the side wall tabs 4| are moved inwardly so that their side sections 45 are engaged and contacted with the gluing patterm 54 on the similarly positioned sections of closure panels 40. This gives a completely liquidproof top seal, as shown in Fig. 13, with no leakage possible, due to the interrelation of the closure parts.

It will, of course, be understood that the sealing of the top of the container will be efiected only after the package has been filled with commodities. The package is adapted to handle liquid commodities of various sorts including milk and milk products as well as powdered or granulated food materials. In use, the terminal tab 33 may be torn off, exposing the contents to view and permitting the pouring out of the same.

The containers may be initially fabricated and shipped in the flat-folded form shown in Fig. 6 and thereafter erected at the place of filling and the filled container sealed in the manner described above.

The invention is particularly suitable for collapsible milk containers of the type described in my co-pending application Serial No. 255,030. filed February '7, 1939, but it will be apparent that it is suitable for any form of paper food container. By paper, I include pulp and related cellulose products, and containers made by moulding or in the folding of blanks. It is of especial advantage with prefabricated blanks which can i like sections of adjacent be completed as to body, liner and coating prior to shipment to the dairies or other place of use. In such case, the user need only spring open the blank to container size, sterilize the interior and fill with the desired product. No wax coating or other expensive step need be carried out by the consumer. The economy of initial material, and subsequent inexpensive sterilization are substantial advantages of this product.

While I have described a preferred form of embodiment of my invention, I am aware that other modifications may be made thereto, and I therefore desire a broad interpretation of my invention within the scope and spirit of the description herein and of the claims appended here inafter.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is:

1; In a container for foodstuffs including milk which comprises a cellulosic supporting body, and a fluid-tight coating at least on the inner surface of said supporting body, said coating being constituted of a material of wax base having a melting point sufficiently high to retain its fluid-tight character after exposure to the sterilizing action of steam for several minutes, the said container having a generally square cross section with rectangular wall panels and a snap-down bottom panel with diagonally opposed fin seams joining adjacent wall sections, said fin seams being folded over on a wall panel and secured thereto, the improvements comprising a top closure having generally triangular tabs formed at the tops of the wall panels and integral therewith, two of the said tabs having terminal lugs or cars secured together and the angular sides of the tabs having folded pleats interfolded and secured to tabs whereby to form a hermetic top closure.

2. In a fluid-tight container adapted to with stand sterilizing and pasteurizing temperatures and pressures which comprises a supporting body of fibrous cellulosic board, a flexible inner liner within said supporting coating on the inner on the outer surface of body, and a fluid-tight surface of said liner and said supporting body, said coating. consisting of a material of wax base having a melting and softening point sufliciently high to remain fluid-tight and substantially non-tacky after exposure to sterilizing and pasteurizing to one hour,

agents, the improvements comprising a container having a generally square cross section with rectangular wall panels and a snap-down bottom panel with diagonally opposed fin seams 'joining adjacent wall sections, said fin seams being folded over on a wall panel and secured thereto.

3. In a fluid-tight food container capable of withstanding sterilizing temperatures and pressures which comprises a main body of fibrous cellulosic board, an inner flexible liner in said main body, a fluid-tight coating on the inner surface of said liner and on the outer surface of said supporting body, both of said coatings being constituted of a material of wax base, said coating on the liner having a melting point sufficiently high to remain fluid-tight after exposure to sterilizing agents at a temperature of at least 212 F. for several minutes, and said outer coating having a melting point sufliciently high to remain fluid-tight and non-tacky after exposure to pasteurizing influences at a temperature of about F. for periods of about one-half hour the improvements comprising a container having a generally square cross section with rectangular wall panels and a snap-down bottom panel with diagonally opposed fin seams joining adjacent wall sections, said fin seams being folded over on a wall panel and secured thereto.

4. A fiat-folded paperboard container erectable into square cross-section, comprising a sheet of material folded on itself and having the opposite edges of its opposed faces secured together to provide an open mouth, the opposed faces having parallel longitudinal score lines defining front and back wall panels and side wall panels, an

iniolded bottom section having a top fold line perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the container, the marginal edges of the fiat-folded container and bottom being adhesively secured to form lateral fins, and the said fin in and secured to and on the side walls of the container, the bottom being provided further with angular fold lines extending from the fin fold line to the wall panel fold lines and to define comers which are severally adhered to adjacent wall panels, the diagonal fold lines of the bottom being adapted to arch downwardly upon squeezing sides of the fiat-folded container to form a bottom, and thereby erect and maintain the container in its open position.

HARRY F. WATERS.

being folded

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