US2609715A

US2609715A - Device for opening paper cartons

Info

Publication number: US2609715A
Application number: US743329A
Authority: US
Inventors: James D Eades
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1947-04-23
Filing date: 1947-04-23
Publication date: 1952-09-09
Anticipated expiration: 1969-09-09

Description

P 1952 J. D. EADES 2,609,715

DEVICE FOR OPENING PAPER CARTONS Filed April 25, 1947 2 swam-swan: 1

- Q mm 24- FIG. I.

24 22 Z I I 3 36 3a 38 r 3q I FIG. 4. FIG. 5.

. 48 5o 4 5 44- r WJ/ ---46 FIG. 6. FIG. 7.

INVENTOR.

JAMES D. EADES ATTORNEY Sept. 9, 1952 J. D. EADES DEVIQE FOR OPENING PAPER CARTONS 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 Filed April 23, 1947 FIG 9.

FIG. 8.

FIG. IO.

FIG. I-l.

INKENTOR. JAMES D. EADES ATTORNY Patented Sept. 9, 1952 I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,609,715 DEVICE FOR OPENING PAPER cAR'roNs James 1). Eades, Wichita, Kans. Application April 23, 1947, Serial No. 743,329 3 Claims. (01. s -e) This invention relates to improvements in devices for opening paper cartons. More particularly this invention relates to an improved device that can be inserted beneath the opening tab of a paper carton and used to raise that tab and open the carton. I

Many marketable products must, because of their form and nature, be vended in containers that are liquid-tight and air-tight for all practical purposes. Such containers must prevent efflux of the contents and must also prevent influx of water, dirt and other materials; and where the containers are properly constructed and sealed they do actually perform the required functions. In some instances the containers are made of glass and are sealed with a closure that can be removed from the container without rendering the container unusable, and in such instances the used containers can be collected and re-used. In other instances, to avoid the cost of collecting and cleaning the used containers, the containers are made so the opening or removal of the closure will prevent re-use of the containers; and in those instances the containers are usually made of inexpensive material such as paper. Paper containers of this sort are quite practical and have been used effectively, but some difiiculty has been experienced by the ultimate consumer in opening those containers. The containers are customarily provided with tabs or flaps that are intended to be grasped by the ultimate consumer, who quite frequently is a housewife, and pulled to open the container. The tabs or flaps are Sometimes formed so they can be folded against the side of the container during storage and shipment but can be bent outwardly from the sides of the container to make it easy for the ultimate consumer to grasp them and open the container. In theory the folding of the tabs or flaps against the sides of the containers is highly desirable because it keeps the tabs and flaps from being torn off or being pulled open during storage and shipment of the containers. In actual practice, however, the need of holding the tabs or flaps out of the way during storage and shipment, and the need of making the paper of the container absolutely liquid-tight, often results in the formation of containers wherein the tabs and flaps are stuck so tightly against the sides of the containers that the ultimate consumers must insert a thin-edged object between the sides of the containers and the tabs or flaps to pry up the tabs or flaps. Ultimate consumers, and particularly those consumers who are housewives, have been known to use nail files, knives, can openers and even their finger nails to try and pry up the tabs or flaps. The use of the nail files, knives, can openers and similar sharpinstrumentsis objectionable because such instrumentscan inflict serious injuries on the user if they are handled in a careless manner; and in addition they can cut or otherwise weaken the tabsor flaps to such an extent that the tabs or flaps will be torn off before the container is opened. Theme of the housewifes finger nails is also objectionable because it cannot help but cause frequent breakin of those nails. The present invention obviates these objections by providing a thin-edged opening tool that is safe and easy to use and can be inserted between the sides of the containers and used to pry up the tabs or flaps, It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a thin-edged opening tool that is safe and easy to use and can be inserted between the sides of the containers and the tabs or flaps of those containers to pry up the tabs or flaps.

The tabs or flaps of paper containers are usually locatedadjacent perforations or cuts: in the containers; and once the tabs or flaps hav been pulled up, the perforations or cuts will yield and break away to form an opening in the container. This opening permits emptying of the contents of the container as desired. In many instances, however, one or the other of the perforations or cuts will not break cleanly and an imperfect opening of the container will ensue. This is undesirable because it prevents proper closing of the container and it may also result in such a tearing of the container that the container can leak. Such imperfect opening is avoided by the use of the opening tool of the present invention. That tool has a wide edge which is coextensive with the edge of the tab or flap; and th ed e of the tool can apply a uniformly distributed force to the tab or flap, thus preventing, uneven opening of the container. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an opening tool which has an edge that is coextensive with the edge of the tab or flap.

In those instances where the tab or flap of the container is normally folded against the side of ing tool by-passes the Weakspot of the tab or flap. It is therefore an object of the present invention .to provide an opening tool with anedge that can act upon the portion of the tab or flap of a paper container that is above the fold in that tab or flap. I

The taberaising edge of theopening tool of the present invention need not be very sharp but it 3 must be quite thin to enable it to pass between the tab or flap of the container and the sides of the container. Consequently, even though the edge of the opening tool is not sharp it could. like many another thin-edged article, break the skin of the ultimate consumer if it was caused to strike the consumers skin with sufi'iciently.

great force. Such action is not anticipated with the opening tool of the present invention since very little force is required in using that tool;

but in view of the many accidents that daily oc-- our in the home, and in view of the fact that persons have out themselves on the edges of The undercut portion 29 cooperates with the bulbous portion 39 of the opening tool 20 to hold seemingly harmless things, such as sheets of paper, it is desirable to prevent accidental and even deliberate injuries from the use of thisopening tool. The present invention makes this possible by positioning the edge of the tool immediately adjacent the handle of the tool, thus providing broad surfaces adjacent the edge that would fend off the person of the user. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an opening tool which has the edge thereof positioned immediately adjacent the handle of that tool.

Other and further objects and advantages of the present invention should become apparent from an examination of the drawing and accompanying description.

In the drawing and accompanying description a number of preferred embodiments of the invention are shown and described but it is to be understood that the drawing and accompanying description are for the purposes of illustration only and do not limit the invention and that the invention will be defined by the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of an opening tool made in accordance with the principles and teachings of the present invention,

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the opening tool shown in Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is an end elevational view of the opening tool shown in Figs. 1 and 2,

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of another form of opening tool made in accordance with the principles and teachings of the present invention,

Fig. 5 is an end elevational view of the opening tool shown in Fig. 4,

Fig. 6 is a side elevational view of still another 7 form of opening tool made in accordanoe with the principles and teachings of the present invention,

Fig. '7 is an end elevational view of the opening tool shown in Fig. 6, C Fig. 8 is aside elevational view of an adjustable opening tool made in accordance with the principles and teachings of the present invention, his 'a left-hand, end-eleva tional view of the openingtool shown in Fig. 8,

Fig; 10 is a perspective view of a paper container with which the opening-tool of FigsQ 1 -3 is being used, and

' 11 is 'a perspective vicwofthe container shown in Fig. 10 as thatcontainer has been opened by the opening tool ofFigs. l -3. 1

Referring to the drawing in detail the numeral 2 generally denotes an opening tool made in accordance with the principles and-teachings of the present invention. 7 'Theopening tool 23 has anelongated handle 22 which is provided with an opening 2% at one end thereof. The opening 24 facilitates hanging of the opening tool from a nail or by a string or any other suitable means.

the edge 22 at a definite inclination to the side of the container, and when the edge 28 is inserted between the side of a container and the tab or flap of that container, the inclination of the edge '28 and slot 25 will cause the tab or flap to move outwardly from the side of the container. The slot 26 is preferably dimensioned so it just receives the tab or flap ofthe paper container and so the opening edge 28 can fit up above the fold which is usually provided in the tab or flap. By doing so the'opening edge 28 presses against the portion of the tab or flap above the fold, thus reducing the likelihood of tearing off 'of the tab or flap along the fold before the container has been opened. The opening edge 28 is immediately adjacent the handle 22, thus enabling the handle 22 to provide wide surfaces that can fend oil any objects, as for example the person of the se'r. Moreover, by having the handle 22 immediately adjacent the edge 28 it is possible for the user to place his thumb against the tab or flap and press the tab or flap tightly against the edge 28; thus'enabling the user to get a firm grasp on the tab or flap while backing up the tab or iiap and thus preventing tearing or folding of the tab or flap.

While the edge 28 is thin, as it must be to pass between the tab or flap of the container and the side of that container, it is not a sharpened edge and it will not cut the person of the user. Moreover, by being positioned immediately adjacent the handle 22 of the opening tool 20, the edge 28 is protected and will be held away from the personof the user.

In Figs. 4 and -5 another embodiment of the present invention is shown and described, and the embodiment consists of an opening tool which is generally denoted by the numeral 32. That tool has a handle 3 3- which is provided with a slot 36 at one end thereof. The slot 35 is preferably dimens'i'oned so it will just receive the tab or flap of a paper container. The outer wall of the slot terminates in the opening edge 38, and immediatel below the opening e'dge 38 is an undercut portion 39. The undercut portion 39 is on the outer surface of the outer wall of slot and it permits theopenin'g edge 38 to be moved immediately adjacent the side of the container even though some variation-occurs in the inclination of the'openi'ng tool'32 relative to the side of the'container. Spaced below the undercut portion 39 is afbulb'ous section-of arouate-form 40 that-can cooperate with the'und'ercut portion 39 to :cause the opening edge 38 and slot 36 to be inclined to the side of the container. As a result, when the opening edge 38 is moved between the tab or flap'of the container and the side of that container, thated'ge will force the tab or flap to move away froh' i-the side of the container. The reentrant 'p-ortiorrat the right hand end of the opening tool 32 o'iFigs. 4 and 5 has inclined portions i'z that are angularly disposed to the stud which .extendsiupwardly from the portion 40 of arcuate form. The-inclined portions'42 carry out theform' and shape of the slot 36, thus confining the tab or flaplinla slot of the desired size and configuration. Here again the edge 38 is quite thin so it can be inserted easily between the tab or flap and the side of the paper container, and yet it is not a sharpened edge. Moreover, the edge 38 is immediately adjacent the handle 34, and the handle 34 tends to fend off the person of the user. Thus the present invention protects the person of the user from cutting by the edge 38 even though excessively large forces were to be used in bringing the opening tool 32 into contact with the person of the user.

In Figs. 6 and 7 still another embodiment of the present invention is shown and described, and that embodiment is denoted generally by the numeral 44. The opening tool 44 has a handle 46 and it has a slot 48 at one end thereof. The upper end of the slot terminates in the opening edge 50. The opening edge 50 has an undercut portion 5| immediately adjacent thereto and that undercut portion enables the edge 50 to be moved into close proximity with the sides of the container. The reentrant portion at the right hand end of Fig. 6 is formed to dimension the slot 48 so it will receive the tab or flap of the paper container, and that reentrant portion provides a tapered, ever-decreasing width for the slot 48. Such a configuration enables the slot 48 to grip the lower edge of the tab or flap, and such gripping facilitates quick and clean opening of the container. The reentrant portion of opening tool 44 has a stud 52 projecting therefrom and angularly disposed thereto. The lower end of the stud 52 will tend to hold the edge 50 and the slot 48 at an angle to the side of the container, so upward movement of tool 44 will move the tab or flap of the paper container away from the side of that container. Again the edge 50 of the opening tool is not a sharpened edge, and it is positioned immediately adjacent the handle 46 of the opening tool 44 so that there is no possibility of having the edge 58 cut the person of the user.

In Figs. 8 and 9 an adjustable opening tool is shown, and that tool is denoted generally by the numeral 54. The opening tool 54 has a handle 56 which is provided with a thin opening edge 58. The opening edge 58 is formed on an upstanding bend in the handle 56, and that upstanding bend has an undercut portion 59 immediately below the opening edge 58. A slide 6|], which is provided with folded edges that engage the sides of the handle 56 and prevent accidental disengagement of the slide 60 from the handle 56, is provided with an upwardly extending gooseneck 6 l. The gooseneck 6| has an edge which is inclined toward and can extend to and contact the rear of the upstanding bend of the handle 56. The slide 60 can be moved back and forth by the thumb of the user but it cannot be separated from the handle 56 because of the crimps 51 in the handle. When the slide 60 is moved to the right in Fig. 8, the edge on the gooseneck 6| will pinch the tab or flap of a paper container against the upstanding bend of the handle 56. In this way the opening tool 54 assures a firm and complete grip on the tab or flap, thus permitting the upward movement of the opening tool 54 to cause opening of the tab or flap. The slide 60 permits the opening tool 54 to accommodate tabs or flaps of varying thickness.

In the various opening tools shown in the drawing, the opening edges are quite wide and they are preferably made coextensive with the edge of the tab or flap, so that the tab or flap will receive full and complete support and so the forces applied to it will be distributed uniformly across its entire 6 width. This avoids tearing of the tab or flap and thus avoids partial and incomplete opening of the container.

In Figs. 10 and 11 the manner of using the opening tool of Figs. 1 to 3 in opening a paper container is shown. The paper container 62 has a tab or flap 64 that is adjacent perforations 66 in the wall of the container. In using the opening tool 28 the edge 28 is pressed against the sides of the paper container 62 and moved upwardly until it wedges itself between the flap 64 and the side of the container 62. The thumb of the user can then be pressed against the tab or flap 64 to hold that tab or flap against the edge 28, and thereupon an outward and upward movement or force is applied to the opening tool 20, causing outward and upward movement of the flap 64 and consequent opening of the side of the container as shown particularly in Fig. 11. The opening tool 20, as well as the other opening tools of the drawing can be used in this manner; and when so used they will apply firm but gentle forces to the tab or flap and will cause opening of the container without tearing of that tab or flap. The opening tool 20, as well as opening tool 32, could be provided with a tapered slot like the slot 48 of opening tool 44. Similarly, if desired, the opening tool 44 could be provided with a slot like

slots

26 and 36 of

tools

20 and 32.

Whereas the drawing and accompanying description have shown and described several pre ferred embodiments of the present invention it should be apparent tothose skilled in the art that various changes may be made in the form of the invention without affecting the scope thereof.

What I claim is:

l. A tool for lifting the tabs or flaps of paper cartons and the like comprising a. handle having a l y-e d substantially U-shaped offset at one end thereof with one leg of the U attached to the handle and the other le free, the space between the legs of the U being inclined rearwardly toward the handle and the forward face of the free leg of the U being undercut adjacent its free end with the upper end of the forward face of said free end merging into the rear face of said leg to form a penetrating point and a spaced fulcrum surface whereby the free end may be inserted under a flap and the tool rocked about said fulcrum point to lift the tab.

2. A tool as claimed in claim 1 in which the penetrating point and the fulcrum surface lie in a common plane.

3. A tool as claimed in claim 1 in which the free leg of the U is provided with a tongue struck therefrom and inclined downwardly and rearwardly toward the other leg of the U to define said inclined space between the legs of the U.

JAMESD. EADES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 264,696 Hillard Sept. 19, 1882 687,214 Entrekin Nov. 26, 1901 787,857 Pilger Apr. 18, 1905 927,653 Heckman July 13, 1909 1,305,899 Hazel June 3, 1919 1,885,260 Hoglind Nov. 1, 1932 1,898,853 Raaen Feb. 21, 1933 1,913,816 Osborne June 13, 1933 1,963,632 Smith June 19, 1934