US2746668A

US2746668A - Merchandise case having a detachable moisture proof bottom tray

Info

Publication number: US2746668A
Application number: US292921A
Authority: US
Inventors: Harold A Ringel; Frank E Meyer
Original assignee: CAESAR H D ANTONIO; ELMER D FLANDERS
Current assignee: CAESAR H D ANTONIO; CAESAR H D'ANTONIO; ELMER D FLANDERS
Priority date: 1952-06-06
Filing date: 1952-06-06
Publication date: 1956-05-22
Anticipated expiration: 1973-05-22

Description

May 22, 1956 H. A. RINGEL ET AL MERCHANDISE CASE HAVING A DETACHABLE MOISTURE PROOF BOTTOM TRAY 6 Sheets-Sheet l Filed June 6, 1952 m Wm Q E O ww N@ Mmm m QQ M l.- NQ A a m D W LK d. 0N RA www smv RN um Y r W Y B lwlu N\ ww l. R NQ www Nm. l NIR, I. 9m,

May 22, 1956 H. A. RINGEL ETAL 2,746,668

MERCHANDISE CASE HAVING A DETACHABLE MOISTURE PROOF BOTTOM TRAY Filed June 6, 1952 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.4.

INVENTORS HAROLD A. RINGEL FRANK E. MEYER WWA/M www' ATTORN YS May 22, 1956 H. A. RINGEL ETAL 2,746,668

MERCHANDISE CASE HAVING A DETACHABLE MOISTURE PROOF BOTTOM TRAY Filed June 6, 1952 y 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 geg lm/Exmxs HAROLD A. RINGEL FRANK E. MEYER o m wAmM/Mcmq ATTORNEYS May 22, 1956 H. A. RINGEL. ET AL 2,746,668

MERCHANDISE CASE HAVING A DETACHABLE MOISTURE PROOF BOTTOM TRAY Filed June 6. 1952 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 HAROLD A. RINGEL FRANK EJMEYER B" Mmmm 4 WMM I H. A. RINGEL. ET AL 2,746,668 MERCHANDISE CASE HAVING A DETACHABLE May 22, 1956 MOISTURE PROOF BOTTOM TRAY 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 6. 1952 FIG.I6A.

FIG. IG.

2,6 Aw FIG. ITA.

FIG. I7.

FIG. 24.

May 22, 1955 H. A. RINGEL ETAL 2,746,668

MERCHANDISE CASE HAVING A DETACHABLE MOISTURE RRooF BoTToM TRAY Filed June 6. 1952 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 FIG. I8.

i r f 2.a@ 232 sa 21:#

FIG. I8A.

INVENTORS HAROLD A. RINGEL FRANK E. MEYER BY u.) www# m ATTORNEY l I l l l l l l l which may be of metal, preferably aluminum,

United States Patent v(i) MERCHANDISE CASE HAVING A DETACHABLE MOISTURE PRF BTTOM TRAY Harold A. Ringel and Frank E. Meyer, assignors of one-fourth to Caesar one-fourth to Elmer D. Flanders,

New rleans, La., H. DAntonio and New Orleans, La.

` This invention appertains to improvements in merchandise cases or cartons of the type primarily used for containing and transporting beer bottles or other merchandise and this application is a Vcontinuation in part of our pending application, Serial No. 210,059, filed February 8, 1951.

The majority of beer cases or similar merchandise cases are now being constructed entirely of iberboard or cardboard, and the cases have to be assembled by the user by stitching the various parts, usually three pieces, together to form a complete set up case.

The necessity of installing special machinery and using valuable oor space to perform the operation of setting up for use such cases, is undesirable on the part of the user.

Additionally, all the berboard or cardboard cases absorb moisture particularly on their bottoms, and as a consequence lose their structural strength and have to be discarded at considerable expense. The bottoms of such cases collect a certain percentage of moisture, so that they do not support the walls of the case and consequently, the cases tend to be lopsided and when the cases are stacked up in tiers they have a tendency to lean over and fall. The defects of the cardboard bottom construction of present day cases also affect the conveyor systems in breweries, since the bottoms, after they have become wet from beer and from dampness, pick up grit and other particles from floors and in going over the conveyor belts the particles fall into the conveyor system and necessitate constant cleanage. Furthermore, the bottoms have a tendency to tear off and jam the conveyor belt and the corners get out of shape and have rough edges which also jam the conveyor system.

The primary object of this invention is to fortify the berboard or cardboard case construction by providing a detachable moistureproof and non-absorbent bottom tray plastic or the like.

Another object of this invention is to provide in combination with a cardboard case body and a separate, detachable water repellant bottom tray, a locking arrangement between the body and the bottom tray, which arrangement is so constructed that no tools or equipment are needed to securely attach the body to the bottom tray and one man can easily set up the case at the time when it is to be loaded with bottles.

A further object of this invention is to provide locking means for securely locking a case body of absorbent material possessing some resiliency to a non-absorbent metal bottom tray, the locking means comprising an external protrusion on the case body and a hook element on the tray with the protrusion responding to horizontal and vertical stresses in automatically engaging the hook element.

Another object of this invention is to provide a locking device between the body and an upstauding flange on the tray, the arrangement being such that the device becomes locked when the tray with the body frictionally 2,746,668 Patented May' 22, 1956 seated within the flange is impacted, beaten or struck on a hard surface, such as a concrete floor.

A further object of this invention is to provide a detachable bottom insert of cardboard, I'iberboard or other material which is inserted in the body to perform the operation of locking the body of the case to the separate bottom in addition to restrain the locking means against accidental dislodgment and opening.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a top plan view of one of the types of blank outs of which the case body can be formed;

Figure 1' is a cross-section taken on line 18-11 of Figure 1;

Figure 2 is a perspective View of the body of the case, with the cover sections open and certain parts broken away and shown in section;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the case body and bottom tray, illustrating the manner of initially inserting the body in the bottom tray;

Figure 4 is a perspective View of the erected and completed cas with the bottom tray attached;

Figure 5 is a plan view of one type of insert that can be used for the purpose of locking and restraining the body into the separate tray bottom;

Figures 6 through 9 are vertical sectional views taken through the lower portion of the body and one side of the tray illustrating the interlocked construction in various stages of erection of the case when the type of insert shown in Figure 5 is used;

Figure 10 is a transverse sectional view of the assembled case body and tray;

Figure 1l is a section taken on line 11-11 ure 2;

Figure 12 is a modified form of the struction;

Figures 13 and 14 are diagrammatic views of the body entering the bottom tray and locked within the tray;

Figure 15 is a vertical sectional view of a modified locking arrangement;

Figure 16 is a plan view of another form of insert;

Figure 16a is an end elevational View thereof;

Figure 17 is a plan View of a further form of bottom insert;

Figure 17a is an end elevational view thereof;

Figure 18 is a plan View of one side wall of a body blank showing an alternative method of forming the locking strips and illustrating another form of locking strip;

Figure 18a is a fragmentary plan View of the blank out of which the locking strip is formed;

Figure 19 is a cross-sectional View taken on line 19-19 of Figure 18;

Figures 20 through 24 are vertical sectional views taken through the lower portion of the body at one side of the tray illustrating the interlocked construction in various stages of erection of the case, when the type of insert shown in Figure 16 or 17 is used in connection with the type of body construction and locking strip shown in Figures 18-19; and,

Figure 25 is a fragmentary perspective View of the locking strip of Figure 6, illustrating double score lines in the heel.

Referring more particularly to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 shows a form of blank stamped or pressed from appropriate stock material, for instance fiberboard or cardboard. Such material will be sturdy and of appropriate stiffness but will preferably possess some resiliency.

The blank includes a pair of side walls 10 and 12, outer end walls 14 and 16 respectively adjoining the side walls 1t) and 12 and separated therefrom by appropriate fold or score lines on which the walls may be bent in erecting the blank into the rectangular carton or case body 18.

of Figinterlocking con- The outer end wall 14 is associated with an inner end wall or flap 20 and the opposite outer end wall 16 is also associated with an inner end wall or llap 22, the inner walls or flaps 20 and 22 being shown in Figure l as extending in the blank above their respective outer end walls 14 and 16.

Top r cover sections 24 and 26 of identical configurar tion extend respectively above the side walls and 12 and are separated therefrom by horizontal fold or score lines 28, on which the top or cover sections 24 and 26 hinge and are folded. The top or cover sections 24 and 26 are severed from the inner end walls or aps and 22 which are of substantially the same dimensions as the outer walls 14 and 16.

lFlanges 28 and 30 are formed on the upper edges of the respective cover sections 24 and 26 as extensions or prolongations thereof and are adapted to be folded over upon the crease or score lines 32. The side wall 12 is formed on its outer edge with a lateral extension or lap 34 which in the assembled carton is underlapped with the free edge of the outer end wall 14 and stitched thereto by the stitching 36, as seen in Figure 2.

The flanges 28 and 30, which constitute locking means for the cover sections 24 and 26 and are turned downwardly into the interior of the box about the fold lines 32 when the cover sections are closed, are formed with tongues 38, 40, 42 and 44 at opposite ends. The tongues are set inwardly from the lateral edges of the cover sections 24 and 2,6 and are disposed inwardly from the free outer edges of the flanges 28 and 30. The tongues are separated from the adjacent inner edges of the flanges 28 and by slots 46, 48, 50 and 52.

Narrow top walls 54 and 56 are produced between the inner and outer end walls by separated, parallel crease or score lines S8 and 60 between the outer and inner end walls 14, 20 and 16, 22 respectively,

Slots 62 and 64, which are designed to receive the tongues on the locking flanges 28 and 30 are made through these narrow top walls 54 and 56 substantially centrally thereof. The inner end walls or llaps 20 and 22 are formed with axial slots 66 and 68, which communicate with the slots 62 and 64 at their enlarged ends. The slots 62 and 64 are preferably longer than the combined thickness of the two tongues 38, 44 and 40, 42 which enter the same, but the slots 66 and 68 are preferably of substantially the thickness of the two flanges 28 and 30, which are received into such slots 66 and 68. The top slots 62 and 64 are preferably longer than the lengths of the tongues to give sulcient clearance so that the tongues may enter the slots on the descending movement of the cover sections 24 and 26 irrespective of whether the tongues are presented llatwise or edgewise to such top slots 62 and 64. Beveled edges 70 and 72 are provided between the top slots 62, 64 and the communicating sidc slots 66, 68 in order to better guide the material of the anges 28 and 29 into these narrower side slots 66 and 68. The slots 46, 48 and 50, 52 of the ilanges 2,8 and 30 cooperate with the side slots 66 and 68 to intert together with the tongues 38, 40, 42 and 44 lying in the space between the end walls 14, 20, 16, 22 with the side edges of such tongues engaging the end walls so as to stabilize the anges 28 and 30 and the cover sections 24 and 26 against movement longitudinally of the case, as will be apparent from a consideration of Figure 2.

In the end walls 14, 20, 16 and 22 are provided elongated hand holes 74, 76, 78 and 80, all of which are the same size or area. However, the holes may be of diifer ent Sizes or areas. The holes 76 and 78 in the inner end walls 20 and 22 register or align with the hand holes 74 and 78 in the outer end walls, when the inner end walls are brought about the fold lines S8 and 60 into superimposed relation with the outer end walls 14 and 16. The hand holes are formed by punching out elongated sections 82 from the inner end walls and similar sections 84 from the outer end walls. The sections are not completely severed from the inner and outer end walls but the section 82 is joined to the end wall by a fold line 86 and is bent down and stitched as at 88 to the end wall. The section Si) is similarly severed from the outer end wall 16 and from the end wall 14 and is bent up about the fold line 90 and stitched as at 92. Thus, when the inner walls are folded into the interior of the erected box and the hand holes are in registry, the sections 78 and 80 will be in engagement and serve to reinforce the hand holes, since the sections will be above the hand holes.

The blank of Figure l is also preferably provided with cut-outs 94, 96, 98, and 102, the cut-outs 94 and 102 mating together when the extension 34 is underlapped and stitched to the end wall 14. The cut-outs are formed in the upper corners of the box and facilitate bending of the various walls in order to make square corners.

At the score or crease lines separating the walls of the case and located at the lower edges of the walls, cut-outs 104, 106, 108, and 112 are formed. The cut-outs 104 and 112 mate when the extension 34 is stitched to the end wall 14. The cut-outs are provided to facilitate bending of the various walls in order to make square corners, similar to the function of the cut-outs 94, 96, 98, 100, 102. Additionally, the cut-outs define flexing or folding edges on the walls. The folding or flexing edge 114 is formed on the end wall 14, the side wall 10 being formed with a similar edge 116 and the end wall 16 being provided with a similar edge 118, while the side wall 12 has a similar edge 120.

The edges 114, 116, 118 and 120 have locking strips 122, 124, 126 and 128 stitched thereto, as seen in Figures l and 2.

In Figure l, the locking strips 126 and 128 are shown in initial stamped out condition before assembling the strips to the body blank and before folding or forming the strips while the strips 122 and 124 are shown in assembled and attached condition. With reference to the locking strip 128, it will be noted that the same consists of an elongated section of liberboard or other material, similar to the material of the case body 18, and includes three hingedly connected sections 130, 132 and 134 respectively. The sections 130 and 132 are identically shaped and coextensive in width and length and are disposed in side-by-side relation and joined by a double crease or fold line 136. The ends 138 of the sections are beveled, so that the joined ends of the sections form a point. The section 134 is rectangular and joined to the section 132 along a crease or fold line 140. In assembling the locking strip, the section 134 is folded on the crease line 140 over onto the section 132 and stitched to the end of the side wall 12.

As seen more particularly in Figure ls, for example, the section 134 is folded inwardly onto the inner face of the section 132 and secured thereto by stitching 142, which stitching also joins the folded sections to the lower edge 116 of the side wall 10. The section 132 forms the leg of the locking strip and serves as an extension of the side wall 10. The section 130, which forms the foot of the locking strip, is folded about the connecting crease or hinge line 136 and brought into right angular relation with the section 132 and with the side wall 10. It will be noted that the double sections lie upon the exteriors of the carton walls and that the sections together constitute a locking strip, protuberance or shelf: all around the outside of the carton body 18 at the lower edges of each wall.

As disclosed more in detail in our copending application and illustrated in Figures 3 and l0 and the series of Figures 6 through 9, the rigid bottom tray 144 comprises a bottom wall 146, having a depressed gutter 148 extending about the margin thereof with a shoulder 15,0 formed between the bottom wall and the gutter. Arcuate depressions 152 are formed in the bottom wall to support the bottom wall inwardly of its marginal edges. the depressions lying in the same plane as the gutter 148. An upstanding flange 154 rises from the outer side of the gutter and is integral with the bottom wall 146. The flange terminates at its upper edge in an inwardly and downwardly turned hook 156. The flange 154 is substantially equal in height to the width of the section or leg 132 of each of the locking strips and the gutter 148 is substantially the width of the foot or section 130 of each of the locking strips, so that the double fold line 136 is disposed at the juncture point between the ange and the gutter 148. The crease or hinge 140 is rounded exteriorly to form a locking edge or head 158 complemental to the curvature of the hook 156, the head 158 snugly engaging the locking recess 160 of the hook. The outer edge 162 of the hook is somewhat flattened and forms a cam surface upwardly from the bill 164 for a purpose to be described in connection with the detailed description of the mode of assembling the bottom tray to the carton body.

At the corners of the ange 154 on the bottom tray, it will be noted that cut-outs 166 are formed in the hook, the cut-outs 166 enabling the corners of the carton to be properly fitted on the tray and aligning with the cut-out corners on the lower edges of the case or carton body 18. In this respect, it will be noted that the section or leg 132 of the double wall or section 168, which forms the locking shelf or strip, has its ends 128 sloping inwardly away from the corners 166. The locking strips 122, 124 and 126 are identically attached to the carton body, so that the ends of their sections 132 slope inwardly and upwardly from the corners 166 of the case body.

The method of assembling the bottom tray to the carton body is best illustrated in Figures 3, 6-10. Figure 3 illustrates the initial step in inserting the erected case body 18 within the confines of the rectangular flange 154. One of the end walls, such as the end wall 14 in Figure 3 is positioned forwardly of an assembler, with the tray 154 lying flat on a hard surface, such as a work table or a concrete oor in a brewery and with the case body 18 tilted. The locking strip 122 on the lower edge of the end wall constitutes a leading edge, which is positioned on the bottom of the tray and slid forwardly toward the end portion 170 of the flange 154 with the case body tilted, as shown in Figure 3. This is merely one manner of easily and conveniently lining up the lower portion of the case body with the bottom tray, so that the case body can be moved downwardly sliding past the contines of the end 162 of the hook 156. Alternatively, the case body 18 could be placed on the bottom tray, with the rounded underside of the hinge line 136 resting on the outer surface 172 of the hook. In the latter instance, the case is then pushed downwardly, until the locking strips reach the position, with respect to the hook, as illustrated in Figure 6.

Reverting to the first described initial step, the case body 18 is leveled, after the strip 122 contacts the hook on the end portion 170 of the flange, so that the case body is pushed downwardly until it reaches, with respect to the flange, the position illustrated in Figure 6.

At such point, the case body is frictionally held within the confines of the ange 154 by the bill 164 and end 162 of the hook 156. As seen in Figure 13, the side walls 10 and 12 and the end walls 14 and 16 are flexed inwardly, due to the inherent exibility and resiliency of the fiberboard and cardboard from which the walls are made and due to the substantial rigidity of the flange 154 and hook 156, at least with respect to the greater resiliency of the walls of the case body.

At this point in the operation (Figure 6) the case body 18 has the bottom tray 144 attached to the locking strips on the lower edges of the Walls thereof, so that the case Vbody can be lifted by using the hand holes in the end walls 14 and 16 and the bottom tray 144 will adhere to the case body.

The assembler then strikes or beats, that is impacts, the

bottom tray upon the hard surface, such as a concrete floor, to force the case body further into the area dened by the flange 154 and the locking strips and associated lower flexing edges of the walls of the case body assume the position illustrated in Figure 6a either after one or more blows depending upon the force of the impact.

Considering Figure 6a, it will be noted that the ilexing edge of the side wall is extended slightly outwardly from the side wall 12. In this position, the leg 132 of the locking strip is bowed outwardly with respect to the flange 154 and is no longer parallel therewith, as was the case in the initial position (Figure 6). The rounded Outer portion of the fold or crease line 136 which forms a heel 157 bears directly on the gutter 148, while the free side edge of the section 13) is inclined upwardly and the free end portion thereof overlies the shoulder 150. The head 158 bears directly on the cam end 162. Considering this position of the locking strip, it will be apparent that the impact or blow has driven the bottom tray further up with respect to the case body and, otherwise stated, the case body has been forced further down within the area defined by the upstanding flange 154 and the lower end of the body has traveled further through the restricted passage defined by the area within or internal diameter of the hook 156.

The heel 157 has moved inwardly relative to the shoulder the heel 157 sliding on the gutter 148 and the rounded head 158 of the crease hinge 140 has moved down and substantially around the cam edge 162 on the hook 156. Thus, under the force of the impact or impacts, the locking strip, receiving the force of the impact at the heel 157 has, due to the inherent resiliency of the material of the case body and locking strips, caused the lower edge 12@ to flex slightly outwardly and the strip to bow outwardly, due to the camming action or mutual sliding action of the head 1:8 of the double wall of the locking strip and the cam end 162. The engagement of the head 158 of the locking strip with the cam end 162 also produces a tendency of the locking strip to pull away from the flexing edge 120 of the side wall 112 at the stitch lines, the head 158 seeking entrance beneath the cam end 162 into the recess 16) of the hook 156.

The walls of the box, as seen in Figure 13, are placed by movement through the restricted passage and engagement with the hook under horizontal strain, the walls ilexing or buckling inwardly. The leg 132, which is an eXtension of the wall 12 or more particularly the lower edge 120, when engaging the gutter at its heel 157 and the cam end 162 at the head 157 is placed under vertical strain and bows outwardly.

Thus, in Figures 6a and 13, it is shown that the side walls 1t) and 12 and the end walls 14 and 16 will be exed inwardly, due to the fact that the area defined by the hook is less than the dimension of the case body and, as illustrated in Figure 6a, the impacting or striking of the tray on the hard surface, will cause the head 158 of the locking strip 128 to cam around the cam end 162 of the hook 156, resulting in positioning the locking strip, as illustrated in Figure 6a, and also placing the locking strip under tension.

As soon as the center of the head 158 is disposed outwardly of the cam end 162 and bill 157, the horizontal stress will move the lower edge 120 and locking strip 128 laterally, and the vertical stress will move the leg 132 and head 158 upwardly toward nested engagement with the recess 160 of the hook. This action will be produced due to the resiliency of the side wall and locking strip, both of which will seek their normal position and plane. Therefore, the locking strip will move to the position illustrated in Figure 7 where the head 158 is located in the recess 160 of the hook and the leg 132 of the locking strip and side wall 12 have substantially returned to the normal vertical positions parallel with the flange 154. The locking strip will, due to its own stressing action return back to its normal position (Figure 8), where the head 158 is 7 in the recess and `almost in engagement with the undersurface of the hook 156 and the leg 132 of the locking strip is in engagement with the inner surface of the flange 154.

This is the final position of the locking strip with respect to the complementary hook 156 in so far as the automatic locking of the case body 18 to the bottom tray 144 is concerned. At this point in the operation, the case body is securely locked to the tray, so that the case or carton is ready for use and articles of merchandise can be placed within the case body and disposed on the bottoni of the bottom tray. Obviously, the weight of the articles of merchandise on the tray will cause the lange 154 to pull down until the movement is arrested by the snug engagement of the hook with the head 158, at which point, the entire portion of the foot 130 will be disposed within the gutter 148 with the free side edge thereof abutting the shoulder 150.

However, to obviate accidental dislodgement of the locking strip from the hook 156, a bottom insert 17e (Figures and l0) is provided and is formed from cardboard, iiberboard, or other material. The bottom insert 17() is a thin rectangular sheet, which has its corners beveled as at 172. r`he opposing sides of the bottom insert have flaps or extensions 174 formed thereon and dened by axial crease lines 176. Similarly, the ends of the insert are formed with extensions or flaps 178 and 180, which are hingedly connected to the bottom insert along the fold or score lines 182. As seen particularly in Figure 9, the side extension or ilap 174 on the bottom insert is folded upwardly from the insert and disposed at right angles thereto, so that it can be positioned beneath the free edge of the section 134. The extension 174 is in vertical alignment with the section 134 and forms an extension thereof so as to assist in retaining the locking strip or the edge 158 thereof in snug contact with the underside 160 of the hook 156. Additionally, however, the bottom insert 170 holds the section 132 of the locking strip in snug engagement with the inside of the flange 154, so that the sections 132 and 134 are retained in a vertical plane directly underlying the hook. The bottom insert, thus, prevents the section 132 from being accidentally moved laterally away from the ange 154.

In addition, the insert 170 also forces the section 136 of the locking strip into the gutter 14h of the bottom tray and holds it securely therein at the edge 15).

It will be noted, as seen in Figure 2, that the inner walls or flaps and 22 are disposed interiorly of the case body 18 and that the covers or tops 24 and Z6 are in closed positions, when the case body is being attached to the bottom tray 144. However, before the bottom insert 17) is positioned in the case body, the covers 24 and 26 are opened and the inner walls 2G and 22 are swung outwardly. After the bottom insert is in place, the inner walls Ztl and 22 are swung inwardly and, as seen in Figure ll, the free edge 184 of the inner wall 2t) bears directly on the upper surface of the bottom insert 170, so that the inner walls or flaps form a locking means to retain the bottom insert 176 in place on top of the bottom in the separate tray bottom 144, additionally holding down flap 130 of the locking strip in the gutter of the separate tray bottom. Thus, the inner walls 20 and 22 not only serve to rigidity the ends of the case body and aid in the rigidification or strengthening of the hand holes but also the inner walls form a locking means for securing the bottom insert 17) in place on top of the bottom of the separate bottom tray 144.

The side and end walls of the case body return to their normal position, after the locking strip is in the position of Figure 8, as illustrated in Figure lll. In a comparison of Figures 13 and 14, the inward buckling or flexing of the wals of the case body, during the passage of the locking strips and lower edges of the walls past the restricted area defined by the hooks can be appreciated.

In this regard, the cut-outs 104, 106, 163, and 112, which deiine the lower flexing edges of the walls of the case body vpermit the edges, as illustrated in Figure 6a, to bend or iiex slightly outwardly, enabling the locking strips to bow outwardly and move around the cam end 162 of the Vhook and outwardly into engagement with the ange and into the recess 160 ofthe hook.

In Figure l2, another form of locking strip is illustrated, wherein the section 134a is folded outwardly from the section 1322, so that the section 134a engages the flange 154, with the section 132a being spaced therefrom. In this arrangement, the extension or ap 174EL on the bottom insert 176a is disposed beneath the lower edge of the side wall 12.

In Figure l5 another form of locking arrangement between the bottom tray 144 and the case body 18 is illustrated. ln this arrangement, the side wall 12 is provided at its lower end portion with a locking protuberance or projection 29). The protuberance may be in strip form and extend substantially the length of each of the walls or may be in the form of a plurality of spaced bosses. lt may be formed of the saine material as the body and is stitched thereto. Of course, the locking protuberance 230 can ybe of rigid material or resilient material, not necessarily cardboard or berboard and suitably fastened to the side walls of the case body.

The locking protuberance includes au inner tlat wall 202 engaging the outer surface of the side wall 12 and a rounded head 204, formed complemental to the recess 206. An inclined or sloping bottom camming wall 20S is formed on the .protuberance The bottom tray 144 is similar, with respect to the flange 154 and hook 156 but the bottom 208 is flat and does not have a gutter depressed from its marginal .portions.

In attaching the case body 18 to the ytray 144', the lower edges of the wall of the .body are inserted within the hook 156', causing the walls to buckle slightly inwardly. Further pressure on the body or impacting the tray, in the manner aforedescribed, will cause the cam wall 208 to slide .inwardly and produce a greater buckling of the walls in the manner illustrated in Figure 13. The walls will be under a strain and as soon as the projection 209 passes the bill of the hook, the horizontal stress will act to move the walls outwardly so that the head 204 will be under the hook. The bottom insert 176 is formed with wider extensions or flaps 210, which will extend up to the head 204. The inner wall or flap will bear at its lower edge on the bottom insert to retain it in place and will bear on the extensions to keep them erect.

The head will be brought up into contact with the hook and finally seated in the recess 296, when the case is loaded or may be seated by pulling straight up on the body, while holding the tray.

In addition, the projection 200 may be secured to the wall at a point above the lower edge 212 so that the lower edge 212 of the side wall may engage the bottom of the tray. ln such instance, the lower end portion of the wall will function in an identical manner to the leg 132 of the locking strips.

While the tray and its upstanding ange and hook have been illustrated and disclosed as being rigid, in the sense that the side walls and locking strips of the case body will possess great resiliency and, therefore, produce the necessary flexing and bending action, the tray flange may possess resiliency. In such instance, the mutual sliding action of the locking strip on the hook will cause the carton to llex inwardly and the ilange to flex outwardly in order to admit the carton to the tray.

Also, the side walls and locking strip may be substantially rigid, with the llange 154 possessing a considerable amount of resiliency and the flange executing all of the exing.

In the use of the carton assembled upon the tray in a completed case, as illustrated in Figure 4, the cover sections (see Figure 2) may be raised and folded out to the open position. A separator is preferably placed in the carton to rest upon the bottom insert 170 and to provide separate cells into which the beer bottles or other merchandise may be placed. The cover sections 24 and 26 are then returned to a closed position with the two flaps 28 and 30 being guided together into the slots 62 and 64 so as to form a reinforcing girder-like construction longitudinally of the center line of the case. The reinforced hand holes may then be gripped to lift the case with the contents supported on the strong, nonabsorbent, bottom tray which is locked to the carton body by the cooperating locking strips and hook 156 on the ange 154. The weight of the merchandise, such as the beer bottles, on the bottom tray will tend to preserve the locked condition of the strips in the bottom tray hook and gutter.

It will be appreciated that the use of a metallic, plastic or other waterproof and non-absorbent detachable tray bottom will reinforce and strengthen the iiberboard or cardboard case against knocks, jars and scuing, will protect the case against deterioration through moisture and wetting. The tray bottom being easily and conveniently removable and replaceable upon a number of subsequent carton bodies will promote economy in the construction, erection and maintenance of such merchandise cases. In this respect, the case body will be delivered to the brewery or other establishment in a collapsed flattened condition, with the extension 34 stitched to the end wall 14. The carton is so constructed that may be easily set up at the brewery at the time it is to be loaded with the bottle goods and attached to the bottom tray.

In removing the case body from the bottom tray, the

covers 24 and 26 are raised and swung to an out posi* tion and the inner walls or flaps 20 and 22 are swung about the fold lines to an out position. Thereupon, the bottom insert 170 is removed by inserting fingers into the finger holes 180 formed at the corners 172 of the bottom insert. One corner of the bottom insert is pulled inwardly away from the corner of the case body and the ngers are run around the outside of the adjacent extension or flap 174, for example, until all of the extensions or aps are pulled inwardly, with the bottom insert being flexed upwardly. The bottom insert is then withdrawn. The carton is then placed on one side or end and the uppermost side or end wall is struck with the ilat of the hand, close to the hook 156. Repeated blows will cause the locking strip to slide laterally away from the flange 154, the leg and edge of the wall flexing and the locking strip sliding about the cam end 162 of the hook 156. The locking strip of the struck wall is then entirely removed and an adjacent wall is similarly treated to remove the locking strip, whereupon the case body may be tilted to withdraw the locking strips on the other walls.

Referring to Figures 16 and 16a, a modified form of a bottom insert 170 is illustrated. The insert 170 is formed from cardboard, berboard, or other material and is a thin rectangular sheet which has its corners beveled as at 172'. The opposing sides and ends of the bottom insert, as illustrated in Figure 16a, are perpendicular to the body portion of the ilat bottom insert 170. Thus, the bottom insert 170 differs from the insert 170 (Figure in that the opposing sides and ends are not provided with flaps or extensions, such as the extensions 174 on the bottom insert 170. The opposing sides and ends of the insert 170 abut directly against the legs 132 to hold the legs in engagement with the inner surface of the flange 154. Finger holes 180 are formed in one corner of the insert 170', so that the insert can be removed from the tray.

In Figures 17 and 17E, a form of bottom insert 214, designed for use with the locking strip and wall construction of Figures 18-24, is illustrated. The bottom lil insert 214 is in the form of a rectangular, at sheet, and is formed from cardboard, liberboard, or other materials. It is similar in shape to but slightly larger in size than the bottom inserts and 170 and has its opposing sides and ends formed with spaced locking tongues or lugs 216. The locking tongues 216 are formed on the opposing sides and on the opposing ends of the bottom insert 214- between the beveled corners 218 and are provided to interlock with the modified form of locking means illustrated in Figures 18-24.

ln Figure 18, a fragmentary portion of the blank, from which the modified case body 220 is formed, is illustrated. The illustrated side wall 222 and other walls of the modified case body 226 are formed similar to the side walls 1) and l2 and end walls 14 and 16 of the case body 1S.

The side wall 222 has its lower end 224, which forms the foot or horizontal legof the lower locking section 226 separated from the lower ends 228 and 230 of the adjoining end walls by means of cut-outs 232. The cutouts 232 separate the lower ends of the walls and also define the width of the foot or horizontal leg 224, the width thereof being equal to the depth of the cut-outs. The vertical leg 234 of the lower locking means 226 is an integral part of the wall 222 immediately above the fold line 236. Slots 238 are formed in longitudinally spaced fashion above the fold line 236 and are provided to receive the tongues 216 on the bottom insert 214.

A locking projection 240 is provided and consists of an elongated strip of fiberboard, cardboard or similar material, which is divided along its longitudinal center line by the score or fold line 236 about which the sections 244 and 246 are adapted to fold. As seen in Figure 19, the sections 244 and 246 are folded about the fold line 242 and stitched as at 248 to the leg 234 of the wall 222. The outer rounded side of the fold line faces upwardly and defines a locking head 250, which is complemental to the locking recess 252 formed outwardly of the bill 254 of the hook 256 (Figures 20-24). The hook 256 is formed on the upper end of the flange 258 on the bottom tray 260, which has a depressed gutter 262 extending about the margin thereof. An upstanding shoulder 264 is formed between the gutter 262 and the bottom wall of the tray.

The method of assembling the bottom tray 260 to the carton or case body is illustrated in Figures 20-24. Figure 20 shows the erected case body and bottom tray 260 with the case body frictionally held within the confines of the flange 258 by the bill 254 which forms a reduced area through which the lower portion of the walls of the case body and the locking projections on each wall are forced to pass. The case body has the bottom tray 260 frictionally held on the locking projections 240, so that the case body can be lifted by using the hand holes in the end walls (not shown) and the bottom tray 260 will adhere to the case body.

The assembler then strikes or beats, that is impacts, the bottom tray upon a hard surface to force the case body further into the area defined by the flange 258 and the leg 234 and foot 224 and attached locking projections 240 assume the position illustrated in Figure 2l, after either one or more blows, depending upon the force of the impact.

As seen in Figure 20, the lower rounded face of the fold line 236 defines a heel 268 which initially rests on the gutter 262 about midway between the shoulder 264 and the flange 258. The free end 266 of the foot 224 overlies the shoulder 264. Under the force of the blow or blows, the heel 268 slides inwardly towards the shoulder 264 and the adjoining portions of the foot 224 and leg 234 are buckled downwardly and outwardly, the lower portion of the leg 234 spreading away from the locking projection 240. The heel 268 not only slides inwardly but the leg 234 rolls around to elongate the foot 224.

Obviously, when the lower ends of the walls of the case body are placed within the contines of the hook 256, the walls are placed under a horizontal strain and also, when the adjoining portions of the foot 224 and leg 234 are rolled or llexed downwardly, the walls of the case body are placed under vertical strain. Thus, when the locking head 250 is forced below the bill 254 of the hook and clears the bill, the horizontal stress forces the locking projection out against the flange 258, as illustrated in Figure 22, and the vertical stress effects a lifting action to raise the walls of the case body and the locking projections, as illustrated in Figure 23.

It will be noted, in Figure 23, that the end 266 of the foot 224- rests just above the shoulder 264, with the head 250 slightly spaced from the recess 252 but in vertical alignment therewith. When the bottom insert 214 is forced down on the bottom wall of the bottom tray 260, the foot 224 is seated entirely in the gutter 262 with the free end abutting the shoulder 264 and the locking projection 240 is raised, so that the head 253 snugly engages the recess 252. The tongues or lugs 216 are disposed through the openings 238 and underlie the inner fold section 244 of the locking projection. The bottom insert 214, thus, locks the projections in place, as seen in Figure 23.

Referring more particularly to Figure 25, 272 and 274 represent crease lines, one or more of which may be made on the inner radius of the heel 157, 268, to increase flexibility if desired in bending the material into the foot 136, 224, and in better enabling the heel to either slide inwardly on the tray bottom gutter or to roll around on the bottom gutter in response to the impacting action in driving the body and the bottom together.

The following are some of the advantages of the detachable non-absorbent, waterproof bottom tray in the disclosed combination with the berboard case body:

l. The case with the metal tray bottom is more easily handled and can be loaded into the trucks by means of conveyors and it can be stacked more uniformly and particularly in stacking it in carload lots. In the old cases with the cardboard bottoms, they become wet and uneven and have a tendency to be lopsided and after they get up four or live tiers they have a tendency to lean over and sometimes fall.

2. Practically all of the breweries have conveyor systems whereby the cartons are opened and started over the conveyor system. On the old cardboard bottom cases after they have been used several times the bottoms become wet from beer or from dampness, having been placed on the floor and quite often they pick up grit and going over the conveyor belts the lint, dirt and particles picked up fall into the conveyor system and necessitate considerable maintenance. The cardboard bottom after it has been wet or damp has a tendency to peel ofi while being conveyed on the conveyor system and particularly when there is a jam or a clogging of the cases as sometimes a case will be jammed and it necessarily means that all of the following cases will be stopped and the conveyor belt will continue to operate and this has a tendency to tear ofi the bottom of the cases. This of course would not happen on the metal bottom case.

3. On the cl-:l type of cardboard bottom cases the cases after being used have a tendency to become out of shape the corners open 'up and they get rough edges and this in itself has a tendency to jam the conveyor system and quite often stop it. This of course could not happen with the metal tray.

4. One of the main objections in the conveyor system is Where the case is narrowed down and must pass through a very narrow channel so that the case is set in an exact position to enable a machine which must be accurate to remove all of the bottles from the case. This is very di'icult with the old case because the bottoms are not uniform and vary sometimes as much as 3i inch.

5. The present case used by the breweries cornes in three pieces and has to be assembled at the breweries which means .hat they must have stitching machines and the cases are stitched after they are bent or folded and this necessitates a great deal of storage space to say nothing of the labor required for the stitching. The new type of case with the metal bottom, comes ltnocned down, and can be assembled readily without any stitching and can be assembled quickly enough so that they may be put right on the production line thus eliminating any storage space that was heretofore required.

Although we have disclosed herein the best forms of the invention i-:nown tous at this time, we reserve the right to all such modifications and changes as may come within the scope of the following claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

l. A merchandise case comprising a bottom tray having an upstanding marginal flange with an inturned downwardly extending hook forming a bili and defining a confined locking recess outwardly of the bill, a carton body possessing some resiliency, a locking projection carried exterierly by the lower portion of thc walls of the body, a leg carried by the lower portion of the walls of the body below the locking projection and possessing somc resiliency, a laterally extending foot hingedly connected to the leg and extending inwardly therefrom for contacting the bottom of the tray, the external dimension of the locking projection on the carton body being greater than the area defined by the bill of the hook so that when thc carton body is seated within the flange and the body tray are forcibly moved together, the leg and locking projection will ride inwardly on the bill of the hooi; ilexing the walls of the carton body inwardly and placing the same under resilient horizontal stress, said hinge connection between the leg and foot being adapted to bear against the bottom tray and fold inwardly thereon to enable the locking projection to pass about the bill and to place the walls of the carton body under resilient vertical stress, whereupon the stresses in the walls will cause the locking projection of the leg to be moved outwardly and the locking projection to be moved upwardly into the recess.

2. A merchandise case according to claim l, wherein said leg is provided adjacent the hinge connection with slots and a bottom insert is provided and formed with projecting marginal tongues to fit in said slots.

3. A merchandise case according to claim l, wherein said bottom tray is formed with a marginal depressed gutter and a. shoulder bordering the gutter, said. foot bcing adapted to scat in the gutter and abut the shoulder.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS