US2508909A

US2508909A - Packaging receptacle with latching handle

Info

Publication number: US2508909A
Application number: US79266A
Authority: US
Inventors: Richard J Evans; James B Barrow
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1949-03-02
Filing date: 1949-03-02
Publication date: 1950-05-23
Anticipated expiration: 1967-05-23

Description

May 23, 1950 R. J. EVANS ET AL PACKAGING RECEPTACLE WITH LATCHING HANDLE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 2, 1949 5 NM I 2 z V U a c 2 cm Q E maa W e l 0 J m Q1 m m m Wm n 0 m1 7 c I. h 3 Q (9 m n 8 n M a m "26 u z. u H 6 Y 1 m E m M a B m m u m a M w W i m J m m m n f \A o c M .3 Q a Z 1G1 f 9 L f, 3 2 4 i w 6 T/ 3/ w Q THE/R ATTORA [Y R. J. EVANS ET AL PACKAGING RECEPTACLE WITH LATCHING HANDLE May 23, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 2, 1949 INVENTOR. RICH/1R0 J. EVA/V5 THE/R ATTORNEY May 23, 1950 R. J. EVANS ET AL PACKAGING RECEPTACLE WITH LATCHING HANDLE 4 Shets-Sheet 5 Filed March 2, 1949 3 4 iuvliill|a INVENTOR. RICHARD J EVA/V5 JAMES '5 5ARROW May 23, 1950 R. J. EVANS ET AL PACKAGING RECEPTACLE WITH LATCI-liNG HANDLE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed March 2, l 949 INVENTOR. R/cHA/eo J EVAN-S JA/VLJ a BARROW Patented May 23, 1950' PACKAGING RECEPTACLE WITH LATCHING HANDLE Richard J. Evans and James B. Barrow, Berkeley, Calii'.; said Barrow assignor to said Evans Application March 2, 1949, Serial No. 79,266

18 Claims.

This invention relates to packaging receptacles made of sheet material, such as paper board, having cover flaps which can be latched in their closed positions by means of a readily attachable handle, also formed of sheet material, by which the receptacle can be carried pendulously. Such receptacles are adapted to package bakery products, being easily set up and latched in closed position by a sales clerk, as well as to package rigid and non-rigid articles.

It is an object of the invention to provide a receptacle that can be produced economically by being blanked out by a press operation from paper board or similar sheet material in fiat form in which it can be stacked and shipped, and from which form it can easily and rapidly be set, filled with the article to be packaged, closed and latched in its closed position merely by inserting a latching handle of sheet material into an aperture provided in one or in two outer cover flaps.

A further object is to provide a packaging receptacle made of sheet material having a bottom and side and end panels, which may be retained in position by conventional interlocking devices, such as looking tongues or hooks, or by adhesive, or may be retained in operative posi tion without such locking devices and/or without adhesive, having an inner top closure, such as one or more inner cover flaps or panels, a pair of opposed, outer articulated cover flaps or panels disposed to retain the inner closure in its closed position when the flaps are latched by means of a latching handle, the said handle being rapidly and easily attachable and effective to latch the outer flaps in operative position, whereby the need for wrapping string about the box is obviated.

A further object is to provide a container of the type indicated above wherein the side walls and end walls, as well as the inner top closure, are retained in operative positions by means of a latching handle made of sheet material and easily attachable to the receptacle by insertion into apertures, thereby obviating the need for interlocking devices such as looking tongues, tabs. hooks, and the like, which are usually provided in paper board receptacles and which require time-consuming manipulations for assembling the receptacle from a flat blank. Adhesive may be optionally used, or the latching handle may constitute the sole retaining means. By eliminating such interlocking devices it becomes possible to set up the receptacle and to latch it in its closed position with fewer manipulations, and

the required manipulations are of extreme simplicity and adapted either to manual or machine packaging operations; it is, moreover, with this construction possible to knock down the receptacle after removal of its contents with less danger of tearing the sheet material because the tabs and interlocking hooks usual in similar receptacles are absent. Ancillary thereto, it is an object to provide a container wherein the contents cooperate with the receptacle to maintain it in a closed condition and in its intended conformation; and to provide such a container wherein the inner top closure is articulated and has conjoined thereto a separator strip which is insertable between contiguous rows of rigid objects placed within the receptacle for maintaining the top closure in its proper closed position. A specific object is to provide an improved construction for the separator strip on the inner top closure which facilitates the rapid insertion thereof between contiguous rows of solid objects having a series of void spaces, e. g., rows of cylindrical cans placed on end.

Still another object is to provide an improved package comprising, in combination, a closed receptacle of sheet material having a bottom, side walls and end walls, one or more inner top closure flaps and a pair of opposed outer closure flaps, with a plurality of rigid articles arranged within the receptacle, the inner top closure flap or flaps being articulated and providing a separator strip or separator strips respectively conjoined to the flap or flaps and inserted between contiguous rows of the rigid articles, the outer closure flaps being connected by a latching handle of sheet material which constitutes the sole interlocking means for retaining the receptacle in assembled position and by which the closed receptacle can be carried pendulously.

Briefly, the receptacle according to the invention comprises a bottom, side walls and end walls conjoined in any desired manner, e. g., folded from a single blank of sheet material or assembled from separate pieces, and having: (a) an inner top closure, e. g., one or more inner closure flaps, which may, if desired, be conjoined to one or to the two opposed side walls; (b) a pair of opposed, outer cover flaps conjoined to opposed end walls and disposed to overlie the inner top closure for retaining it in its closed position, at least one (and, preferably, both) being articulated to provide a conjoined extension tab which is folded back against the lower face of the flap to provide a folded outer marginal edge for the flap and having an aperture extending to said folded edge; and (c) a latching handle of ,7 sheet material interconnecting said outer cover flaps and having an intermediate bail portion and an enlarged, laterally projecting support portion at its free end or ends adapted to be inserted into the aperture or apertures. While it is possible toform the handle integrally with one of the outer cover flaps or to attach it per-' manently to one of such flaps by adhesive or staples, it is preferred to provide a separate latching handle which is inserted at both ends into apertures in the two outer cover flaps. The handle is made ,of sheet material, which may be the same as that of which the receptacle walls are made. although in many cases it is desirable to strengthen it by employing several layers of such material for the handle, or by using heavier sheet slightly longer than he essary to bridge the intervening space and is slidable' within the aper ture of the outer cover flap so as to form a bail when lifted at its intermediate portion; this feature may, however, be omitted in certain cases,

as when the handle is used mainly for latching and it is not intended that the receptable be carried pendulously. The latching handle forms a bar preventing the outer cover flaps from moving to outstanding positions away from the inner top closure, both when the receptacle carried pendulously and when it is resting on a. lower support.

The aperture preferably comprises two portions, via, a main cut-out portion and an aperture extension. The former portion is in the form of a rectangle having the larger side thereof along the folded edge of the outer cover flap and extending back from said edge along the main or outer panel thereof, the width of the main cutout portion (1. e., its dimension along said edge) being substantially the same as the width of the bail portion of the handle near the support portion. The aperture extension is in the form of a slit with juxtaposed edges (i. e., a slit formed without cutting away any part of the sheet material) extending diagonally away from the main aperture and from the said folded edge to permit the support portion of the handle to be inserted through the composite aperture after .the outer cover flaps have been closed. The shoulders of the support portions engage the interior of the folded edge when tension is placed on the handle. The extension tab on the outer cover flap is preferably of a length to extend back overat least the major portion of the main, outer panel of the flap, e. g., it may have a length substantially the same as the length of the main panel, so as to bear against the inner top closure at all times and to prevent the tab from being pulled out from under the main panel when tension is applied to the handle.

According to a specific embodiment of the invention the entire receptacle, except the latching handle, is formed of conjoined panels which are retained in operative relationship by the top closure and cover flaps and the latching handle, without the usual interlocking devices. This embodiment is particularly suited for packaging rigid objects in rows, and for this purpose the inner top closure has one or two closure flaps provided with depending separator strips which are insertable between contiguous rows of such objects, the separator strips on the two flaps being preferably in contact with one another. To facilitate insertion of the separator strips between the rows of objects in instances where such objects present a series of voids (as would be the case when such objects are cylindrical cans placed on end on the bottom of the receptacle) the separator strips are providedwith serrated outer edges providing apexes opposite the yoids.

The invention will be described more particularly with reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and illustrating two specific embodiments thereof, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a receptacle according to the invention in closed and latched position;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the blank illustrating the receptacle in its knocked-down form;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the latching handle;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the receptacle in its open position; I Fig. 5 is a plan view of the closed and latched receptacle;

Figs. 6 and 7 are fragmentary, enlarged plan views of the right end of the handle showing- Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the package ac-- cording to Fig. 8 in partly open position; and

Figs. 11 and 12 are medial longitudinal and transverse sectional views of the package in its closed and latched-position.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to Figs. 1-6, the receptacle shown is intended particularly as a cake box for use in bakery shops. It may be cut from suitable paper board in a single press operation to the outline shown in Fig. 2 and slit and creased to provide a bottom panel l2 to which are conjoined side panels i4 and I5, which may be folded upwardly along crease lines a to substantially perpendicular relationship to the bottom, and end panels l6 and [1, which may be folded upwardly along creaselines b to perpendicular relationship to the bottom. Each side panel has a pair of connecting flaps l8 and 19 or l8 and I9, which may be folded along crease lines 0 to perpendicular relationship to their respective conjoined side panels, and extend from the crease lines c for distances somewhat more than half of the width of the bottom l2 and less than the total width. The flaps l8 and [8' having locking hooks 20 and 20' shaped and located to fit into locking slits 2| and the crease line to perpendicular relationship to' the flap 22 for insertion into the receptacle in juxtaposition with the side wall l when the closure flap 22 is closed, the length of the flap 22 (between the crease lines d and e) being substantially equal to the-width of the bottom l2. The side margins of the flap 22 are defined by crease lines 1 beyond which the material is continued as

inner tabs

24 and 25 which are flexible along the crease lines to perpendicular relationship to the flap 22 for insertion into the container in juxtaposition with the connecting flaps i8 and H, or I8 and I9, respectively, when the closure flap is closed.

The outer or top margins of the end panels l3 and I1 are defined by crease lines g beyond which the material is continued to provide articulated outer cover flaps 26 and 21, each outer cover flap being articulated along a crease line h to provide a

main cover panel

28 or 29 and an

extension tab

30 or 3|, the extension tabs being foldable along the crease lines h back against the lower faces of the main cover panels to provide cover flaps of double thickness and to form folded outer marginal edges for said flaps at the crease lines h. It is preferred to form the

extension tabs

30 and 3| long enough to extend back under the major portions of the

main panels

28 and 29 and it is advantageous to make the tabs and panels of substantially the same lengths, so as to prevent the extension tabs from unfolding when the receptacle is in use. It is, of course, convenient to make the extension tabs shorter than the lengths of the main panels by about twice the thickness of the sheet material to facilitate folding. The combined lengths of the outer cover flaps (i. e., the sum of the distances between the crease lines 9 and h of the same flap) is less than the distance between the crease lines 9 when the receptacle is assembled, i. e., less than the length of the receptacle, whereby the outer cover flaps, when folded down against the inner top closure flap 22, are non-overlapping and a portion of the flap 22 is exposed between the outer folded edges of the cover flaps 26 and 21.

The outer cover flaps 26 and 21 are provided with apertures extending to the folded edges at h for receiving the latching handle. In the pre ferred embodiment shown, which greatly facilitates the rapid setting up of the receptacle and prevents accidental disengagement of the latching handle, the apertures have elongated main cut-out

portions

32 and 33 formed by cutting away some of the material from the

main panels

28 and 29 and having their longer sides coincident with the crease lines It; their lengths, measured away from the crease lines, are small in relation to their widths, and preferably less than the length of the end support portion of the latching handle, to be described; their widths are substantially equal to the width of the bail portion of the latching handle. The apertures further have extension slits 34 and 35 cut at the corners of the main cut-out portions to lie in prolongation of the diagonals of the main cutout portions, which are substantially rectangular. For convenience in latching the receptacle the

slits

34 and 35 are located on corresponding sides of their respective main cut-out portions, as shown.

The latching handle 36 is made of sheet material, such as paper board of the same or, preferably, of heavier substance than that used for the receptacle walls. The handle has an intermediate, narrow bail portion 31 and support

portions

38 and 39 at its ends. The support portions each comprise one or two laterally projecting tabs; two tabs, as shown, are preferred to prevent accidental disengagement of the handle. Further, the lengths of the projecting tabs (measured in a direction along the long axis of the handle) are preferably slightly longer than the length of the cut-out portion of the apertures in the outer cover flaps; The edges of the laterally projecting tabs toward the bail portion are substantially in alignment on opposite sides of the handle and perpendicular to the long axis of the handle for uniform engagement with the interior of the folded edges of the outer cover flaps. The extension slits 34 and 35 in these flaps are of such lengths that the total width of the composite aperture exceeds slightly the sum--01 the width of the bail portion and the width of one of the laterally extending tabs forming the support portion, whereby the handle may be inserted through the aperture by sliding the handle away from the folded edge after one tab has been inserted into the aperture in a direction laterally away from the extension slit. To permit such preliminary insertion of one tab into the aperture the outer end of the extension slit should be back from the folded edge a distance at least equal to the length of th. laterally projecting tabs on the handle.

To set up the receptacle from the flat form shown in Fig. 2, the blank is placed on a table with the face which will ultimately be the inside face up. The side panels l4 and I5 are folded to upstanding positions relative to the bottom l2 along crease lines a and the connecting flaps l8, I8, l9 and I9 are swung inwardly into lapping relationship with each other and locked together by inserting the locking hooks 20 and 20' into the locking slits 2| and 2|, respectively. The article to be packaged, e. g., a cake, may be placed on the bottom l2 either at this stage or before folding the side panels l4 and i5 to upstanding positions. The

tabs

23, 24 and 25 are then folded to upstanding positions along crease lines e and f and the inner closure flap 22 is closed by flexing along crease line d, the

tabs

24 and 25 being guided to lie inside of the connecting flaps and the tab 23 being guided to enter inside of the side panel l5. Fig. 4 shows the receptacle during the step of closing the flap 22. The

extensions

30 and 3| are then folded back against the inner faces of the

main panels

28 and 29, respectively, (these inner faces being still facing up on the table as shown in Fig. 4) along crease lines h. The end panels [6 and H are then folded along crease lines b to upstanding positions relative to the bottom l2 to overlap the connecting flaps and the outer cover flaps 26 and 21 are thereafter folded to horizontal positions along crease lines 9 to overlie the closure flap 22. The

extension tabs

30 and 3| are thereby made to lie substantially flat against the upper face of the flap 22. The outer cover flaps are finally latched together by inserting the latching handle into the apertures in the outer cover flaps.

Insertion of the latching handle is accomplished most conveniently by orienting the receptacle so that the

slits

34 and 35 extend from the main cut-out portions away from the person assembling the receptacle. A right-han 5d person then normally first inserts the left end of the handle by placing the handle across the cover flaps approximately in its final position, as shown in Fig. 5, but displaced away from himself so that the projecting tab on the support portion 38 nearer him is over the part of the cover flap auoaooo on the far side of the slit 34 (this part being indicated by the reference character 34a). He then places slight downward pn ssure on the tab and slides the handle toward himself; this depresses the portion 34a, leaving the part of the cover fiap on the other side of the slit 34 (designated 34b in the drawing) unaffected and causing the tab nearer him to slide beneath the latter part of the cover flap. He next slides the handle toward the left until the projecting tab on the handle away from him passes wholly beyond the slit 34; this permits the part 34a to snap back up. When the handle is then again moved toward the right the tabs of the support portion remain between the main panel 28 and extension tab 30 and engage the interior of the folded edge. Pivotal motion of the handle will not dislodge it thereafter. The operator next inserts the right end of the handle into the aperture 33--35 by similar operations: The support portion 39 is first placed just beyond the slit 35 and then slid downward toward the operator as shown in Fig. 6, whereby the laterally projecting tab nearer the operator slides beneath the part of the cover flap on the side of the slit 35 nearer him (designated 35b in the drawing) while the handle is pressed downward against the part 35a. When this sliding movement is completed the handle is in the position shown in Fig. 7, with the side of the bail portion in engagement with the side of the cut-out portion 34. The operator next slides the handle to the right for a distance sufficient to move the support portion 39 entirely beyond the slit 35; this permits the part 35a to snap up and the support portion of the handle will remain beneath it when tension is placed thereon, causing it to engage the interior of the folded edge.

It should be noted that the handle 35 is long enough to space the nearer edges of the

support portions

38 and 39 farther apart than the distance between the folded edges; this permits the necessary endwise motion described above for the handle-inserting operation and permits the handle to be raised to form a bail. When the receptacle is suspended by the handle the outer edges of the outer cover flaps are raised slightly from the inner cover flap but the

extension tabs

30 and 3| continue to exert downward pressure on the flap 22 to retain it in closed position. Contact of these tabs with the flap 22 further prevents the tabs from unfolding when tension is placed on the handle. The handle can be slid inwardly through the apertures to assume a position flat against the inner flap 22.

In the modified embodiment illustrated in Figs. 8-12 the receptacle is similarly cut from paper board and slit and creased to provide a bottom 40 to which are conjoined side panels 4| and 42 which may be folded upwardly along crease lines m to substantially perpendicular relationship to the bottom, and end

panels

43 and 44, which may be folded upwardly along crease lines 11 to similar relationship to the bottom. Each side panel has a pair of end flaps 45, which may be folded along crease lines o to perpendicular relationship to their respective conjoined side panels, and which extend from the crease lines o for distances somewhat more than half of the width of the bottom 40. The outer or top margins of the side panels 4| and 42 are defined by crease lines p beyond which the material is continued as inner top closure flaps 46 and 41, the outer margins of which are defined by crease lines q. The lflno'ths of the flaps 46 and 41 (i. e., the distances between the crease lines p and q) are such that the sum of their lengths equals the width of the bottom 40, so that the two margins defined by the lines q are in juxtaposition when the inner cover flaps are closed. These outer margins should meet above a boundary between-contiguous rows of solid articles packaged in the receptacle. In the specific embodiment illustrated, the package contains two rows of cylindrical cans 48 and the boundary between these rows is a medial, vertical, longitudinal plane. Beyond the fold linesq the material is continued to provide

separator strips

49 and 50 which may be folded along the said crease lines to depending perpendicular relationship to their T881380: tive closure flaps for insertion between the contiguous rows of cans. To facilitate such insertion the strips 49 and 5B are provided with serrated outer edges having apexes 5| and 52. These apexes are advantageously located in relation to the shape and number of solid articles to be packaged so as to be in alignment with void spaces between such articles. Thus, as shown in the drawing, each row may contain three cylindrical cans standing on end, thereby providing two vertical void spaces along the boundary between the rows, and the apexes 5| and 52 are positioned to enter these void spaces.

The outer or top margins of the

end panels

43 and 44 are defined by crease lines 1' beyond which the material is continued to provide articulated

outer cover fiaps

53 and 54, corresponding to the cover fiaps 26 and 21 of the previously de-v scribed embodiment and similarly articulated along crease lines s to provide

main cover panels

55 and 56 and extension tabs 51 and 58 which are folded under the main panels to provide outer cover flaps of double thickness and form outer marginal folded edges for the flaps. The dimensions of these extension tabs in relation to the main cover panels are as was described 'for the previous embodiment, and apertures of like eonstruction are provided, consisting of main cutout portions 59 and 60 of rectangular shapes and slits 6i and 62 forming diagonal aperture extensions for accommodating the laterally pro-. jecting support portions of a latching handle such as is shown in Fig. 3, but of a length to fit the blank according to Fig. 9.

To set up the receptacle and latch it in its closed position to form a package, the blank form shown in Fig. 9 is placed on a fiat table with the side which is to form the interior facing up. The rigid articles to be packaged, e. g., six cylindrical cans 48, are placed on the bottom 49 and the side panels 4| and 42 are folded to upstanding positions relative to the bottom; theinner top closure flaps 46 and 41 are then folded down onto the tops of the cans 48 and the conjoined separator strips 49 and 50 are inserted between the two rows of cans. Fig. 10 shows the receptacle with the inner top closure flap 41 folded down and the flap 46 still in raised position. The end flaps 45 are next swung inwardly against the end cans in the rows and into lapping relationship with each other. The extension tabs 51 and 58 are then folded along crease lines s back against the inner (and, at the moment, upwardly facing); faces of the

main panels

55 and 56. These po-i sitions of the flaps 45 and of the extension tabs 51 and 58 are also shown in Fig. 10. Thereafter the

end panels

43 and 44 are folded along crease lines 21 to upstanding positions relative to the bottom 40 to overlap the end flaps 45 and the outer cover flaps 53 and 54 are thereafter folded inwardly to horizontal positions along crease lines 1' to overlie the inner top closure flaps 46 and '41. The extension tabs 51 and 58 are thereby made to lie flat against the upper facesof the inner top closure flaps for retaining them in engagement with the tops of the cans 48 and thereby retaining the separator strips 49 and 50 in inserted position between the rows of cans. The handle 36 is then inserted into the

apertures

59, 60, 8! and 62 in the manner previously described to complete the package and bringit to the con ditions illustrated in Figs. 8, 11 and 12.

It should be noted that in the second embodiment the end flaps 45 do not have interlocking tongues or the like, and that the latching handle 36 constitutes the sole interlocking means for retaining the package in assembled condition.-

No other retaining means are required for structural reasons; however, since the

end panels

43 and 44 normally separate slightly from the flaps 45 when there is no tension on the handle it may be desirable, mainly for improving the appearance, to apply some adhesive, such as glue, at selected points, e. g., on the flaps 45 and

end panels

43 and 44. The package may be assembled with a minimum of operations regardless of whether an adhesive is applied, and the adhesive is not essential to the latching of the package.

We claim as our invention:

1. A packaging receptacle formed of sheet material comprising a bottom, side walls and end walls; an inner top closure; a' pair of outer cover flaps conjoined to the end walls and located to overlie said inner top closure, at least one outer flap having a main panel and a conjoined exten- 3'5 sion tab folded back against the lower face of the main panel to provide a folded outer marginal edge for the flap, the combined lengths of said outer flaps being less than the length of the receptacle between said end walls, whereby the outer margins of said flaps are non-overlapping and spaced apart when said flaps are folded against the inner top closure; an aperture in said one outer flap at said folded edge; and a latching handle of sheet material connecting said outer flaps and secured thereto. said handle having an intermediate bail portion and a laterally projecting support portion at least at the end toward said one outer flap and being retentively secured to said one outer flap by being inserted into said a erture for engagement of said support portion with the inner face of the flap.

2. The receptacle according to claim 1 where- 'in the width of the-aperture at said folded edge of the outer flap is substantially equal to the width of the bail portion of the handle near the support portion thereof, whereby said support portion engages the interior of the folded edge when tension is placed on the handle.

3. The receptacle according to claim 2 wherein the length of the extension tab on the outer flap is substantially equal to the length of the main panel of said flap.

4. The receptacle according to claim 1 wherein the aperture comprises a main cut-out portion and an aperture extension, the main cutout portion being adjacent to said folded edge of the outer flap and having a width substantially equal to the width of the bail portion of the handle near the support portion thereof, and the aperture extension being inclined away from said folded edge and extending laterally from the main cut-out portion and having a length sufficient to permit the support portion of the handle to be inserted through the composite aperture.

5. The receptacle according to claim 4 wherein the main cut-out portion of the aperture is substantially rectangular. with its longer dimension parallel to said folded edge and the aperture extension is a slit having juxtaposed edges and substantially aligned with a diagonal of said rectangle.

6. The receptacle according to claim 1 wherein the side and end walls are secured together by interlocking tongues conjoined to certain of said walls, and the inner top closure comprises a single flap conjoined'to said side wall at the top margin thereof and extending to the opposite side wall and having one or more extension tabs for insertion into the receptacle in juxtaposition with said walls.

'7. The receptacle according to claim 1 where'- in the inner top closure comprises a flap conjoined to said side walls at the top margin thereof having its outer margin intermediate the side walls when in its closed position and having a separator strip conjoined to the outer margin thereof and extending downwardly from said top closure into the receptacle for engagement between rows of rigid objects packaged in the receptacle.

8. The receptacle according to claim '1 wherein the separator strip has a serrated outer edge with apexes spaced apart in relation to the nature of said rigid objects to enter void spaces between said rows.

9. The receptacle according to claim 1 wherein the inner top closure comprises a pair of flaps conjoined to opposed side walls at the top margins thereof of lengths to have their outer margins in juxtaposition at a longitudinal line intermediate said side walls'when said flaps are in closed positions, and a separator strip conjoined to each of said flaps of the inner top closure at said outer margins thereof, said separator strips extending downwardly intothe receptacle and side by side for engagement between rows of rigid objects packaged in the receptacle. I

10. A packaging receptacle formed of sheet material comprising a bottom, side walls and end walls; an inner top closure conjoined to a side wall at the top margin thereof: a pair of outer cover flaps conjoined to the end walls at the top margins thereof and located to overlie the inner top closure, each of said outer flaps having a main panel and a conjoined extension tab folded back against the lower face of its respective main panel to form a folded outer marginal edge for the flap, the combined lengths of said main panels being less than the distance between the top margins of said end walls, whereby the said folded edges are non-overlapping and spaced apart when said flaps are folded against the inner top closure; an aperture in each outer flap at the folded edge thereof; and a latching handle of sheet material having an intermediate bail portion and a laterally projecting support portion at each end of said ball portion connecting said outer flaps and retentively secured thereto by insertion of said support portions into said apertures, the width of the aperture at said folded edge being substantially equal to the width of the bail portion of the handle near the support portions thereof, whereby said support portions engage the interiors of the folded edges when tension is placed on the handle.

11. The receptacle according to claim 10 wherein each of the apertures comprises a main asoaeoe ll cut-out portion and an aperture extension, both of sald'portions being in the main panels of the outer cover flaps, the main cut-out portions,

being adjacent their respective folded edges and being elongated along said folded edges, said main portions having their greatest dimensions less than the width of the support portion of the handle, and the aperture extensions being inclined away from said folded edges and having lengths suiiicient to permit the support portions of the handle to be inserted through the composite apertures.

12. The receptacle according to claim 11 wherein the aperture extensions on the two outer flaps are on the corresponding sides of the main cut-out portions.

13. The receptacle according to claim wherein the length of the handle between the support portions thereof is slightly greater than the distance between said folded edges when the outer flaps are folded against said inner top closure, whereby said support portions may, after insertion through the apertures, be slid inwardly and away from said folded edges to cause the handle to lie flat on the inner top closure in one position of the handle, and may be pulled outwardly through said apertures until the support portions engage the interiors of the folded edges to raise the bail portion of the handle from the inner top closure in a second position of the handle.

14. A packaging receptacle formed of sheet material comprising a bottom, side walls and end walls; an inner top closure conjoined to a side wall at the top margin thereof; a pair of outer cover flaps conjoined to the end walls at the top margins thereof and located to overlie the inner top closure, each of said outer flaps having a main panel and a conjoined extension tab of substantially the same length as the main panel and folded back against the lower face of its respective main panel to form a folded outer marginal edge for the flap, the combined lengths of said main panels being less than the distance between the top margins of said end walls, whereby the said folded edges are non-overlapping and spaced apart when said flaps are folded against the inner top closure; an aperture in the main panel of each outer flap extending to the folded edge thereof; and a latching handle of sheet material having an intermediate bail portion and a laterally projecting support portion at each end of said bail portion connecting said outer flaps and retentively secured thereto by insertion of said support portions into said apertures, the width of the aperture at said folded edge being substantially equal to the width of the bail portion of the handle near the support portion thereof and the length of said handle between said support portions being slightly greater than the distance between said folded edges when the outer flaps are folded against said inner top closure, whereby said handie may be slid inwardly through the apertures after insertion of the support portion therethrough to cause the handle to lie flat on the inner top closure in one position of the handle and may be pulled outwardly through said apertures until the support portions engage the interiors of said folded edges to raise the bail portion of the handle from the inner top closure in a second position of the handle, each of said apertures having a substantially rectangular main cut-out portion and an extension mension of said rectangle being along said folded edge and the extension slit being inclined away from the folded edge and laterally from said main cut-out portion and of length sufficient to permit the support portion of the handle to be inserted through the composite aperture.

15. A packaging receptacle comprising a blank sheet of material creased for folding to form a receptacle having a bottom panel with a side panel conjoined to each of its side margins and flexible to upstanding position therefrom and an end panel conjoined to each of its end margins and flexible to upstanding position therefrom; an inner top closure flap conjoined to the top margin of at least one side panel and flexible to horizontal position; an outer course flap conjoined to the top margin of each end panel and flexible to horizontal position overlying the inner top closure flap, each of said outer closure flaps having a main panel juxtaposed to a respective end panel and an extension tab conjoined to respective outer margins of the main panels remote from said end panels and flexible to folded positions back against the lower faces of the respective main panels to provide folded outer edges for said outer flaps at said outer margins thereof, the combined lengths of said main panels being less than the length of said receptacle at its top, whereby the said folded edges are non-overlapping and spaced apart when the outer flaps are folded down onto the inner top closure flap, and an aperture in each outer closure flap having a main aperture portion extending along said folded edge and retentively engageable with the support portions of a latching handle of sheet material having an intermediate bail portion of width substantially equal to the width of the main aperture portion and having laterally projecting support portions at the ends of said ball portion, said apertures having diagonal aperture extensions extending from said main aperture portions and spaced from said folded edge having lengths suflicient to permit the support portion of the handle to be inserted through the composite aperture.

16. A packaging receptacle comprising a blank of sheet material creased for folding to form a receptacle having a bottom panel with a side panel conjoined to each of its side margins-and flexible to upstanding positions therefrom and an end panel conjoined to each of its end margins and flexible to upstanding position therefrom; an inner top closure flap conjoined to the respective top margins of the side panels and flexible to horizontal positions and of lengths to bring their outer margins into juxtaposition along a line intermediate said side walls when folded to horizontal positions; a partition strip conjoined to each of said outer margins of the inner top closure flaps and flexible to depending positions therefrom; an outer closure flap conjoined to the top margin of each end panel and flexible to horizontal position overlying the said inner top closure flaps, each of said outer to a respective end panel and an extension tab conjoined to respective outer margins of the main panels remote from said end panels and flexible to folded positions back against the lower faces of the respective main panels to provide folded outer edges for said outer flaps at said outer margins thereof, the combined lengths of said main panels being less than the length of the receptacle at its top, whereby said slit with juxtaposed side walls, the longer (11- 76 folded edges are non-overlapp n and sp c d apart when the outer flaps are folded down onto the inner closure flaps, and an aperture in each outer closure flap extending to said folded edge for retentively engaging a latching handle of sheet material having an intermediate bail portion and a laterally projecting support portion at the ends of said bail portion and insertible into said apertures for engagement with the interiors of said folded edges.

17. The receptacle according to claim 16 wherein said separator strips have serrated outer edges with apexes spaced apart to enter separate void spaces along a boundary between contiguous rows of solid objects packaged in said receptacle.

18. A package comprising a receptacle made of a blank of sheet material and enclosing a plurality of rows of rigid objects presenting a longitudinal boundary between contiguous rows, said blank having a bottom panel with a side panel conjoined to each of its side margins and folded to upstanding positions therefrom and an end panel conjoined to each of its end mar gins and folded to upstanding positions therefrom; an end flap conjoined to each end margin of each side panel and folded in lapping positions across the ends of said rows of rigid objects and inside of said end panels, said rows extending parallel to said side panels; an inner top closure flap conjoined to the respective top margins of the side panels and folded to horizontal positions closely overlying said rigid objects, said flaps having lengths to bring their outer margins into juxtaposition above a boundary between contiguous rows of said objects; a partition strip conjoined to each of said outer margins of the inner top closure flaps and folded to depending position between said contiguous rows of objects; an outer closure flap conjoined to the top margin of each end panel 4 and folded to horizontal position overlying the said inner top closure flaps and having a main panel juxtaposed to a respective end panel and an extension tab conjoined to a respective outer margin of a main panel remote from its end panel and folded back against the lower face of its rwpective main panel, the lengths of the extension tabs being suflicient to extend back from the resulting folded outer edges of the flaps for the major portion of the lengths of said main panels, the combined lengths of said main panels being less than the length of said re ceptacle at its top, whereby the said folded edges are non-overlapping and spaced apart when the outer flaps are folded down against the inner closure flaps; an aperture in each main panel of the outer closure flaps having a main aperture portion extending to said folded edge and a diagonal aperture extension inclined away from the main aperture and laterally of said main aperture portion; and a latching handle of sheet material having an intermediate bail portion and laterally projecting support portions at each end of said bail portion connecting said outer flaps and retentively secured thereto by insertion of said support portions into said apertures. the width of the main aperture portion being substantially equal to the width of the bail portion of the handle near the support portion thereof and the length of the aperture extension being sufficient to permit the support portion to be inserted through the composite aperture, said outer flaps and latching handle being the sole interlocking means retainingthe package in assembled position.

RICHARD J. EVANS. JAMES B. BARROW.

No references cited.