US2605922A - Box and material for use therein - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 5, 1952 c. D. MATTINGLY 2,605,922

Box ANDv MATERIAL FOR USE THEREIN y Filed May 25,1949' 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 ATTORNEYS.

Aug 5, 1952 c. D. MATTINGLY 2,605,922

BOX AND MATERIAL FOR USE THEREIN Filed May 25, 1949 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 INVENTOR.'

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Aug. 5, 1952 Y BX AND MATERIAL Fon USE THEnEmn l f charles D. Mattingly, Wichita, Kans.,assigmrfof one-half to J. Carrol Cuiman, Malvern,Ark.V

Application May 25, 1949, serial'No.' 95,337

My invention relates to an improved4 box and a material for use therein. i

In accordance with the present invention an improved inexpensive box construction is achieved without sacrificing strength or requir ing additional storage space. Moreover, the box may be constructed of low cost readily available materials and is simply and rapidly assembled. Further in accordance with the present invention an improved box-forming material capable of being easily handled and stored is provided. More particularly, the box of the present invention uses a corrugated cardboard side-definmaterial is unrolled and Wrapped between a pair of spaced cooperating polygonal top and bottom defining members. The criss-cross reinforcing wires are then wrapped about themselves to iit snugly against the corners of the top and bottom members and hold the same in position.

It is therefore a general object ofthe present invention to provide an improved box construction.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved side-defining material for use in constructing boxes.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved side-defining material for use in constructing boxes and capablel of being rolled up or folded for storage and adapted to be cut to form boxes of any desired number of sides.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a light-Weight, inexpensive box construction having a high degree of resistance to stacking and other stresses encountered in use.

rStill another object of the present invention is to provide a box defining a good advertising space.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an improved box having imperforate side walls. v

The novel features which I believe to be characteristic of my invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. My inc claims, (01.217-16) vention itself, both as 'to its organization'and mode of operation; together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best'be understood by reference to. 'the-following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which: z

Figure 1 is a planyiew of the side-forming material of the present invention as cut to Aform a four-sided box; i

Figure 2 `is a perspective view of a box constructed in accordance with thepresent invention; A

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the boxof Figure 2 taken immediately below the top member as indicated by the lines 3-,3, Figure 2; j

Figures 4 and 5 are views-.respectivelyof a-top member for use in the box of the present invention and a sidefdening member formed a tube to receive theV toprmember, and;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary cross-sectional through axis-G+S, Figure 2.

Iview Y As shown in Figure 1, the, side-definingjmaterial ofthe present invention is formed vof a strip of corrugated cardboard l0. Thisstrip lvis wrapped to` form a tube as shown` in Figure when it is desired to formabox. The corrugations Illa, Figure 5, ofthe cardboard sheet `Il) .are oriented transversely of the length of the strip and face inwardly on thetube,` thus providing a smooth exterior surface capable of receiving printing. f

The strip l0 is amxed to a series of pairspf transverse Support membersvor bars l2.` Each pair of these members is locatedv at the corner of the resultant box .as shown in Figure 5. vThe portion of the cardboard i0 extending between each pair of support members denes a panel forming a sideof the resultant box. The portions of the cardboardbetween the support members of each pair are folded in the final box construction to dene edges. f, f n,

The transverse support members I2 arcattached to thecardboard I0 by ,UA-shaped fasteners I2a, each fastener being driven through the cardboard into the corresponding support member. l

The cardboard strip I0 also receives a plurality of longitudinally extending reinforcing wires,l4. These are affixed to the cardboard by U-shaped staples [4a bentover as required to achieve I` a snug attachment.

Longitudinal wires I4 are-additionallyl kattached Vto the, cardboard l0 by the s taplesl. al4c which extend through bars l2.

In addition to the longitudinal' reinforcing this purpose.

wires Il, a pair of criss-crossed wires I6 and I8 extend along the cardboard sheet I0. Each of these wires extends diagonally across each panel defined by sheet I0, and in opposite directions across the successive panels. The wires I6 and I8 are oriented in criss-cross relation so that they extend between the opposed pairs of corners of each panel. i

Each of "the criss-crossed Wires' I6. and' I8v ex.- tends beyond the width of the sheet I in the region between adjacent panels. These regions are indicated at ISa and Illa, Figure 1, and form triangularly shaped sections.. As will be described in further detail hereafter, these sections overlie the corners of the top and bottom members of the box to retain these members in place.

Criss-crossed wires I6 and IB are.y attached to the sheet I0 by the staples ISb and I8b, respectively.

When the box is assembled, the ends of Wires Marev wrappedtogethen as at Mb, Figure '5, to

`form abox-defining'tube. Topmember-ZII and bottom member '22 are zthen 'tted in place.

Each of. these membersl has-.four outside slats 24, Figure 4, adapted to't snugly 'against the cardboard ID as indicated at Figure 6. 1 The slats oriented in one directionextend beyond .the other slats at 24a to be receivedv on the upper edge of the cardboard I0 as shown ini Figure 6. A

4cross slat 26 is provided to maintain the square vshape of the top and bottom members.

As seen best in Figure 6, the lower slatsl 24 'also rest on the ends of the corner-deningitransverse membersIZ aixed `to the 'cardboard sheet. These transverse members takeup 'load when the top and bottom members are urgedltowards each "other, Y' 5 In assembling the boxfthe ends or criss-cross wires I6 and I8 aretwisted together as-shown at `I`$c and I8c,'Figure*5.1 This dennes a' loop at each corner of the box. v:Afterthe top and bottom members areplaced in position, the loops over each corner aretwiste'd 'together as shown which the wires I 4, I6 and I8 are aixed and the members I2 are attached. The length necessary for the desired box c'anthen be cut off `and formed into a tube as shown in Figure 5. i The top and bottom members 20 and 22 are then placed in position and the sections ISa and I8a twisted tight to form a snug tit against the corners of the top and bottom members. If the object to be carried is heavy', it may be mounted 'on bottom member 22 and the tube of Figure 5 slipped over the object to formla' box. Manuv:facture of the side-forming material shown in Figure -1 can be accomplished simplyand economically by automatic machinery adapted for Since the material is readily shipped and stored in the coiled or rolled -condition, a single installation for this purpose may serve many box users. Y

The twisting operation required toforce the extending loops IGa and I8aagainst the corners of the box can be facilitated by providing a suitable tool for-the purpose.

While I have showncriss-'crossed reinforcing members I6 and I8V as round wires, other suitable material, such as steel strap may be used. These i the cardboard sheet I0 forms a useful surf-ace for advertising. The advertising may, for example, be printed on the roll of corrugated cardboard before the side-forming material of Figure 1 is made..

The transverse support members I2 are readily made because they are of identical dimensions. A convenient material for this purpose is 1A" rotary'cut veneer. Y

The box of the present invention has proven highly successful. The cost is about 50 percent less than conventional crates. It is simple and easy' to manufacture and assemble and light in weight. Yet it has ample strength to resist all the forces applied during. handling and storage.

The box shown in the figures is of cubical configuration. It will, of course, be evident that other shapes may be formed and that the bottom and top members may be of any cooperating polyagonal shapes.

While I have shown. and described a particular embodiment of my invention, it will of course be understood that I do not wish to be limited thereto since I intend by the appended claims to cover all modifications and alternative constructions as fall within the true spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure rby Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A coilable assembly for use in forming the side Walls of shipping containers characterized by being fastenable to preformed top and bottom members to provide at least one complete ship-ping lcontainer with the aid of only a pair of pliers, comprising an elongated sheet of ilexible cardboard having spaced transverse support bars aiiixed to one side thereof to provide an array of adjacent panels, and a pair of reinforcing wires extending diagonally in opposite directions across successive panels, the wires being in criss-crossed relation on the successive panels and on the side opposite the support bars, each Wire overhanging the sheet in 'the region adjacent each pair of support bars, whereby when said sheet or a portion thereof is folded to form a polygonal tube having said panels as side walls and with said support bars on the interior surface, said overhanging wire portions can be twisted together to secure said pre-formed top and bottom members to said tube across the corners thereof.

2. A coilable assembly for use in forming the side walls of shipping containers characterized by being fastenable to preformed top and bottom members to provide at least one complete shipping container with the aid of only a pair of pliers, comprising an elongated sheet of corrugated cardboard having parallel sides and evenly spaced pairs of support bars aixed to one side of said sheet so as to extend thereacross at right angles to said parallel sides and thereby providing an array of adjacent panels, and a pair of pliable reinforcing Wires extending diagonally in opposite directions across successive panels, the wires being in criss-crossed relation on the successive panels and on the side opposite the suppori, bars, said Wire forming loops overhanging the sheet where they cross the ends of said support bars, whereby when said sheet is folded to form a polygonal tube with said panels as side walls and with said support bars on the interior surface, said wire loops are caused to overhang the corners of said tube so that they can be twisted together to secure said pre-formed top and bottom members to said tube.

3. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said sheet has secured thereto a plurality of longitudinal reinforcing members on the same side as said diagonal reinforcing wires, said longitudinal reinforcing members being formed of iiexible Inaterial so that said sheet can be coiled.

4. The assembly of claim 2 wherein said sheet has secured thereto a plurality of longitudinal reinforcing members on the same side as said diagonal reinforcing wires, said longitudinal reinforcing members being formed of iieXible material so that said sheet can be coiled.

5. A shipping container, comprising a polyg onal tube having open ends and a plurality of fiat side panels, said tube being composed of a flexible cardboard, transverse support bars affixed to the interior surface of said panels at the corners thereof, closure members of the same dimensions as the open ends of said tube seated on the ends of said tube, and a pair of reinforcing wires extending diagonally in opposite directions across successive panels, the wires being in criss-crossed relation on the outside surface of the successive panels, said wires having portions lying across the corners of said tube and the corners of said closure members, said portions being twisted together to clamp said closure" members to said tube, whereby said closure members can be removed to open said shipping container by merely untwisting the wire portions extending over the cornersA of said tube and closure members.

6. A shipping container, comprising a polygonal tube having open ends and a plurality of flat side panels, said tube being composed of a sheet of corrugated cardboard,-pairs of transverse support bars aiiiXed to the interior surfaces of said panels at the corners thereof, closure members on the ends of said tube, and a pair of reinforcing wires extending diagonally in opposite directions across successive panels, the wires being in criss-crossed relation on the outside surface of the successive panels, said wires having portions lying across the corners of said tube and the corners of said closure members, said portions being twisted together to clamp said closure members to said tube, whereby said closure members can be removed to open said shipping container by merely untwisting the wire portions extending over the corners of said tube and closure members.

CHARLES D. MATTINGLY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in theY le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

Images