US2757853A

US2757853A - Stacking paperboard container

Info

Publication number: US2757853A
Application number: US337729A
Authority: US
Inventors: James W Main
Original assignee: Container Corp
Current assignee: Container Corp; Smurfit Kappa Packaging Corp
Priority date: 1953-02-19
Filing date: 1953-02-19
Publication date: 1956-08-07
Anticipated expiration: 1973-08-07

Description

Aug. 7, 1956 J. w. MAIN 2,757,853

- STACKING PAPERBYOARD CONTAINER Filed Feb. 19. 1953 x 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTQR.

7, 1956 J. w. MAIN 2,757,853

- STACKING PAPERBOARD CONTAINER Filed Feb. 19. 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN V EN TOR.

mwmwwga United States Patent STACKING PAPERBOARD CONTAINER James W. Main, Bellevue, Wash., assignor to Container Corporation of America, Chicago, 11]., a corporation of Delaware Application February 19, 1953, Serial No. 337,729

2 Claims. (Cl. 229-39) This invention relates to containers for use in handling and shipping fruits, vegetables and other agricultural products as well as, if desired, manufactured products.

The container of my invention, in its preferred form, is open topped and is particularly suitable for handling and shipping fruits and other agricultural products, such containers being frequently termed lugs. My invention is directed to a container of the character stated which is formed of paperboard or analogous material, is well adapted to stacking, possesses adequate mechanical strength, and has provision for ready circulation of air about and between the containers of a stack thereof. The container is formed from a one piece paperboard blank cut and scored to provide stacking panels at the tops of the ends of the container, and a bottom closure wall bulged down ward below the ends and sides of the container and disposed to contact the inner faces of the upper portions of the ends of a similar and subjacent container, for stacking. The bottom wall is of three thicknesses of paperboard, for the major portion of its extent, to provide adequate load supporting strength while also causing downward bulging thereof as and for the purpose above stated. The sides and the ends of the container are double walled, the inner panels of the sides restrain the inner closure flaps of the bottom wall against upward movement, the inner panels of the ends hold the inner panels of the sides in down folded effective position, and the ends have at the tops thereof stacking panels provided with end extensions seating on the sides and restraining the inner side panels against upward movement while cooperating therewith for reinforcing the ends. The bottom wall further comprises two outer closure flaps secured together by tongue and slot means and providing with the inner flaps a bottom wall of triple thickness, the outer flaps having at the ends of the outer sides thereof extensions disposed to seat on the end extensions of the end wall stacking panels for spacing apart the containers of a stack, for free circulation of air between the stacked containers. Further objects and advantages of my invention will appear from the detail description.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a container embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is an end view of the container of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a bottom view, partly broken away, of the container of Figures land 2; r A

Figure 4 is a side view of two containers like that of Figure 1, stacked one on the other, with the lower container partly broken away;

Figure 5 is an end View of the two stacked containers of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken substantially on line 66 of Figure 5; and

Figure 7 is a plan view of the blank from which the container is formed.

The container is formed from a rectangular blank, such as that shown in Figure 7, formed from paperboard or analogous suitable material. In describing the blank the ice various elements thereof will be referred to in relation to the positions which they occupy in the completed container. Referring further to Figure 7, the blank preferably is formed from a sheet of double faced corrugated paperboard and is cut and scored to provide outer

side wall panels

8 and 9, outer

end wall panels

10 and 11 attached to the

panels

8 and 9 along fold lines 12, and a securing flap 13 attached to the outer end of panel 8 along a fold line 14. Inner side wall panels 15 are attached to the upper edges of the

panels

8 and 9 by narrow strip or fold panels 16 defined by fold lines 17 at the upper edges of

panels

8 and 9 and fold lines 18 parallel with and spaced a short distance from the fold lines 17. Inner end wall panels 19 are attached to the upper edges of the outer

end wall panels

10 and 11 by relatively narrow seat panels 20 defined by fold lines 21 at the upper edges of

panels

10 and 11 and fold lines 22 parallel with and spaced from the fold lines 21. The seat panels 20 are of materially greater width than the fold panels 16, as shown, and the inner end wall panels 19 are of less width than the outer

end wall panels

10 and 11, each of the seat panels 20 being provided, at each end thereof, with an extension 23, preferably of rounded shape as shown, the outer edge of which is substantially coincident with the corresponding fold line 12, with the exception of the extension 23 at the outer end of the stacking panel 20 attached to the outer end panel 11, the outer end of the last mentioned extension 23 being substantially coincident with the outer edge of panel 11.

Inner

bottom closure flaps

24 and 25 are attached to the lower edges of the outer

end wall panels

10 and 11, re spectively, along

fold lines

26 and 27. The

flaps

24 and 25 correspond in width to the outer

end wall panels

10 and 11 and each is of a length equal to one half the length of each of the outer

side wall panels

8 and 9, the two latter panels being of the same length. The substantially rectangular first or upper outer bottom closure flap 29 is attached to the lower edge of the outer side wall panel 8 along a fold line 341 and a second or lower substantially rectangular outer bottom closure flap 31 is attached to the lower edge of the outer side wall panel 9 along a fold line 32, the

fold lines

30 and 32 constituting extensions of the

fold lines

26 and 27. The upper outer bottom closure flap 29 is of less length than the attached panel 8 for the major portion of its length, with its end spaced inward from the ends of panel 8 a distance approximating the width of the respective stacking panels 20. Flap 29 is provided at its outer side and at each end thereof with an extension 33, the outer edges of extension 33 being substantially coincident with the fold lines 12 and 14, respectively. The outer bottom closure flap 29 is further provided with two transversely extending inclined slots 35 of substantial length, the outer ends of which are spaced a short distance inwardly from the outer edge of the flap 29 defined by the fold line 30, The second or lower outer bottom closure flap 31 is also provided, at each end of its outer side, with an extension 36, the outer ends of extensions 36 being substantially coincident with the fold lines 12 at the ends of the outer side wall panel 9. The flap 31 is further provided, atabout the mid-width of each end thereof, with an outwardly flaring notch 37 and the inner corner portions of fiap 31 constitute locking tongues 38 which may be flexed or bent along lines indicated by the dotted lines 39, for. insertion through the slots 35 of the first outer bottom closure flap 29, as will appear more fully later.

In setting up the blank to provide the container, the securing flap 13 may be folded upwardly onto the outer side wall panel 8 and the

panels

9 and 11 may then be foldeddownwardly onto the

panels

10 and 8, with panel I 11' seating on the flap 13, and flap 13 is thensuitably secured to panel 11, conveniently by means of staples 40. Thereafter the partially folded and secured blank is expanded so as to dispose the outer

side wall panels

8 and 9 in parallel spaced relation with the outer

end wall panels

10 and 11 extending between and connecting the side wall panels and also disposed in parallel spaced relation. The inner bottom closure flaps25 and 24 are then folded upward into position between the

panels

8 and 9, after which the first or upper outer bottom closure flap 29 is folded upward in underlying relation to the inner

bottom closure flaps

24 and 25. The second or lower outer bottom closure flap 31 is then folded upwardly into underlying relation to the flap 29, the corner portions 38 of flap 31 being first flexed or bent along the dotted lines 39 and inserted through the slots 35 of flap 29. Thereafter, the flap 31 is moved into position seating on the outer face of flap 29, the locking tongue portions 38 of flap 31 being thereby fully inserted through the slots 35 with the portions of flap 29 at the inner ends of slots 35 entering the notches 37 and in cooperation therewith providing positive locking means effective for locking the

flaps

29 and 31 together and preventing casual withdrawal of the locking tongues 38 from the slots 35. The bottom of the partially assembled container then appears as in Figure 3. Thereafter the inner side wall panels 15 are folded downward and inward against the

panels

8 and 9 and the inner end wall panels 19 are then folded downward and inward between the panels 15 and about the

fold lines

21 and 22. The panels 19 have a friction fit between the panels 15 effective for holding the latter in folded down position and, also, for holding the panels 19 in folded down position. The particular order in which the panels and flaps of the blank are folded need not be that above stated, which is by way of description only. If desired, the inner side wall and end wall panels may be first folded into the body portion of the container, after which the bottom wall structure comprising the closure flaps 24, 25, 29 and 31 may be folded and secured together in the manner above described.

In the completed container, the end extensions 23 of the seating panels overlie and seat upon the end portions of the fold panels 16, as shown in Figure l, the lower edges of the panels 15 seat upon the upper faces of the

flaps

24 and 25 so as to restrain them against upward movement, and the inner end wall panels 19 extend at a downward and outward inclination from the inner edges of the seating panels 20 and seat at their lower edges on the

flaps

24 and 25 adjacent the

fold lines

26 and 27, respectively. The panels 19 thus provide inclined trusses extending from the inner edges of the seating panels 20 and capable of supporting substantial loads, and the end extensions 23 of the seating panels 20 are supported by the side Walls comprising the

panels

15 and 8 and 9, respectively, so as to impart additional load supporting strength to the seating panels 20. r

In the assembled container, the locking tongues 38 of the lower bottom closure flap 31 are disposed between the corresponding areas of flap 29 and the inner

bottom closure flaps

24 and 25, and the portions of flap 29 between and extending inwardly between the slots 35 thereof are disposed between the flap 31 and the inner

bottom closure flaps

25 and 24. The bottom wall of the container, at the end portions thereof is thus of three thicknesses of paperboard as shown in Figures 3 and 6. That causes a distinct downward bulge of the ends of the bottom wall to a material distance below the lower edges of the side and end walls of the container body. Further, due to the inherent resiliency of the corrugated paperboard, the locking tongues 38 also exert downward pressure which further contributes to the downward bulging of the ends of the bottom wall. The net result is that the ends of the bottom wall are bulged downward to a sufficient extent to assure contact thereof with the inner faces of the upper or top portions of the inner end wall panels 19 when the container is stacked upon another similar container.

As previously noted, the outer bottom closure flaps 29 and 31 have their ends spaced inward from the ends of the outer

side wall panels

8 and 9, respectively, a distance approximately equal to the width of the respective stacking panels 20. Accordingly, when the container is stacked upon another similar container, the extensions 33 of the bottom wall of the upper container seat upon the end extensions 23 of the stacking panels 20 of the lower container, with the end portions of the bottom wall of the upper container extending downward between the stacking panels 20 of the lower container and disposed to contact the inner faces of the inner end wall panels 19 adjacent the top thereof. That effectively restrains the upper container against endwise movement relative to the lower container, as will be clear from Figures 4 and 6. Further, the bottom wall extensions 33 and the end extensions 23 of the stacking panels 20 provide spacing elements which space the side and end walls of the upper container from the side and end walls of the lower container, providing openings or

spaces

42 and 43 therebetween at the sides and the ends thereof. Those spaces permit free circulation of air between the stacked containers and over and about the contents thereof, which is frequently desirable for maintaining the contents, such as fruit and vegetables, of the containers in fresh condition. In view of the fact that the upper container seats upon the end extensions 23 of the stacking panels 20 of the lower container, and the extensions 23 seat upon the ends of the fold flaps 16 of the side walls of the container, the weight of the loaded upper container is effective for resisting any tendency to upward movement of the inner side wall panels 15 of the lower container, thus assuring that the bottom wall of the lower container will be maintained in its downwardly bulged condition at the end portions thereof for contact with the inner faces of the end walls of the next lower container of a stack, as above described.

In Figure 7 the dotted lines 39 indicate the lines along which the locking tongues 38 are flexed or bent for insertion through slots 35 of flap 29. If desired, the flap 31 may be scored along lines 39, to facilitate insertion of tongues 38 through slots 35. Such scoring is not essential and may be omitted to advantage in certain cases, so as to obtain the full benefit of the inherent resiliency of the paperboard for bulging the end portions of the bottom downward. The

end wall panels

10 and 11 are cut to provide tabs 45 attached to the upper portions thereof and foldable inward and upward to provide openings 46 for hand holds.

It will be understood that changes in detail may be resorted to without departing from the field and scope of my invention, and I intend to include all such variations, as fall within the scope of the appended claims, in this application in which the preferred form only of my invention has been disclosed.

I claim:

1. In a paper board container adapted for stacking, an open top body substantially rectangular in plan comprising side walls, end walls provided at the tops thereof with inwardly extending horizontal seating panels of substantial width providing end seating surfaces for the end portions of a superjacent container, inner bottom closure flaps respectively hinged to the lower edges of said end walls, an upper outer bottom closure flap hinged to the lower edge of one of said side walls and underlying said inner flaps, and a lower outer bottom closure flap hinged to the lower edge of the other side wall and underlying said upper outer flap, said outer bottom closure ilaps respectively comprising a relatively narrow outer portion hinged at its outer side edge to the lower edge of the corresponding side wall and a relatively wide rectangular inner portion of substantially uniform width, the ends of said inner portions of said outer bottom closure flaps being spaced inwardly from said end walls a distance approximately equal to the width of the respective seating panels, said upper outer closure flap being provided adjacent each end of said inner portion thereof with an inclined slot and the inner corner portions of said inner portion of said lower outer bottom closure flap being inserted through said slots, said inner and outer bottom closure flaps together providing a bottom wall of triple thickness for the major portion of its extent with the ends of said inner portions of said outer bottom closure flaps bowed downward beyond said outer portions thereof and beyond said end walls and disposed for endwise contact with the inner faces of the end walls of a similar subjacent container adjacent the end seating surfaces thereof.

2. In a paper board container adapted for stacking, an open top body substantially rectangular in plan comprising side walls, end walls provided at the tops thereof with inwardly extending horizontal seating panels of substantial width overlying at their ends the end portions of said side walls and providing end seating surfaces for the end portions of a superjacent container, inner bottom closure flaps respectively hinged to the lower edges of said end walls, an upper outer bottom closure flap hinged to the lower edge of one of said side walls and underlying said inner flaps, and a lower outer bottom closure flap hinged to the lower edge of the other side wall and underlying said upper outer flap, said outer bottom closure flaps respectively comprising a relatively narrow outer portion hinged at its outer side edge to the lower edge of and of approximately the same length as the corresponding side wall and a relatively wide rectangular inner portion of substantially uniform width, the ends of said inner portions of said outer bottom closure flaps being spaced inwardly from said end walls a distance approximately equal to the width of the respective seating panels, said upper outer closure flap being provided adjacent each end of said inner portion thereof with an inclined slot and the inner corner portions of said inner portion of said lower outer bottom closure flap being inserted through said slots, said inner and outer bottom closure flaps together providing a bottom wall of triple thickness for the major portion of its extent with the ends of said inner portions of said outer bottom closure flaps bowed downward beyond said outer portions thereof and beyond said end walls and disposed for endwise contact with the inner faces of the end walls of a similar subjacent container adjacent the end seating surfaces thereof, the end portions of said relatively narrow outer portions of said outer bottom flaps being disposed to seat on said end portions of said seating panels of a similar subjacent container for spacing stacked containers apart and thereby providing a space for ventilation between adjacent stacked containers.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 288,254 Munson Nov. 13, 1883 1,234,483 Luke July 24, 1917 1,715,583 Warren June 4, 1929 1,735,682 Hess Nov. 12, 1929 1,797,594 Taube et al Mar. 24, 1931 1,968,082 Jensen July 31, 1934 1,997,909 Luce Apr. 16, 1935 2,031,834 Klefeker Feb. 25, 1936 2,326,926 Bureau et al Aug. 17, 1943 2,339,224 Shina Jan. 11, 1944 2,349,241 Arneson May 23, 1944 2,543,698 Lebold Feb. 27, 1951