US2789748A - Display lug box - Google Patents

Description

April 23, 1957 Filed Deb. l, 1955 R. P. HARBOUR DISPLAY LUG BOX 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR Roswell RBarbouz' BY April 23, 1957 R. .P. BARBOUR DISPLAY LUG BOX Filed L 90. 1, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Roswell PBarboar HTTYS United States Patent DISPLAY LUG BOX Roswell P. Barbour, Lodi, Calif. Application December 1, 1953, Serial No. 395,423

2 Claims. (Cl. 229-23) This invention relates to shipping boxes in which fresh grapes, and the like, are packed for shipment; and while using a lid generally the same as that shown in my oopending application Serial No. 376,090, filed August 24, 1953, now Patent No. 2,759,619, employs a specially-designed box to cooperate with this lid-the improved box land lid combination forming the major object of the present invention.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a box and lid combination which, while employing the usual relatively heavy wooden ends for the box, is, as a whole, lighter and at the same time stronger than an all wood box, while being capable of mass production as easily as, and at a cost less than that of, the conventional wooden box.

Further objects of the invention are to provide a box and lid combination which conceals all the fruit while providing ample ventilation therefor; one which allows of easy exposing of the fruit when desired, either for inspection or display, without mutilation of the lid being necessary; one in which the sides form a support for the lid so as to prevent crushing of the fruit without having to make the lid excessively heavy; and one in whichthe sides of the box are arranged to form a guide for full packing of the box.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a display lug box which is practical, reliable, and durable, and one which is exceedingly effective for the purpose for which it is designed.

These objects are accomplished by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claims.

In the dnawings:

Fig 1 is a side elevation of the box with the lid in position thereon, and with the outer side panel partly broken away. I

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of the box and lid; the latter being shown as only partially engaged with the box.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary cross section on line 3-3 of Pi 1.

ig. 4 is a fragmentary cross section on line 4-4 of Pi 1.

' Fig. 5 is a plan view of the blank from which the bottom and sides of the box are formed.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the lid blank.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawings, the box comprises the usual type of rigid wooden ends 1, surmounted by the inwardly overhanging cleats 2.

The sides and bottom of the box are formed from a single blank 3 (see Fig. 5) of waterproofied fiber board or paper board of a standard form of construction which, while relatively thin and light, is strong and substantially rigid. This blank is cut to a predetermined length and which is sufficient to provide a bottom panel 4 for the box and side portions 5 of sufiicien-t extent to provide double thickness sides for the box; each of which includes an outer panel 6 and an inner panel 7.

2,789,748 Patented Apr. 23, 1957 ice The blank is scored at the junction of panel 4 and side panel 6, as shown at 8, and the blankalong the line of scoring -is provided with ventilation openings 9.

At the junction of panels 6 and 7, the blank is scored for a short distance only from the sides of the blank, as shown at 10, and between the scoring the blank is cut through to form a curved large-radius slit 11, which is convex in the direction of the bottom panel 4, as shown in Fig. 5.

Between the scoring 10 and the slit 11, the blank is cut with notches 12 which are relatively wide compared to the slit and are formed with their ends nearest the scoring substantially parallel to the sides of the blank, as clearly shown.

The panels 6 and 7 are each substantially of equal height, which height is slightly less than the height of ends 1, and when said panels are bent or folded about the scoring 10 (so as to be parallel to and against each other and with the panel 7 on the inside, as shown in Fig. 3), the convexly cut edge 13 of panel 7 projects above the line of bend or fold while the corresponding edge of panel 6 projects below said line, as shown in Fig. 1.

The curvature of the slit is such that at the center of length of edge 13, said edge is just below the level of the top of the end cleats 2.

The ventilated lid 14, which is also cut from the same weight and type of material as blank 3, is specially designed to cooperate with the specific box, as above described.

To this end, the length of the lid is sufiiciently greater than the straight-line distance between the ends 1 as to cause said lid to assume a curvature substantially the same as that of panel edge 7 when the ends of the lid are engaged under cleats 2 and 'abutted against the ends 1, as shown in Fig. 1.

The width of the lid is such that it will overlap the edge 13 of the inner side panel 7, as shown in Fig. 3.

The lid, centrally of its ends, is formed with bentdown tabs 15 adapted to project between side panels 6 and 7 through the opening provided by the slit 11. This helps to stabilize the lid against lateral shifting, and also forms a tie between the side panels and the lid, reinforcing said panels against possible lateral deflection due to the load inside the box, or by reason of pressure exerted against the box from the outside.

In order that the tabs 15 may resist upward displacement after once having been lowered to position, each tab is formed with a tongue 16 cut into the tab so as to face upwardly.

This tongue is adapted to be deflected outwardly by hand before the lid is. placed on the box so that when the tabs 15 are lowered between the panels 6 and 7 they will snap out when they reach and enter slots 17 cut in the outer panels 6 in proper position to allow the upper free edge of the deflected tongues to substantially engage the upper edge of the slots, as shown in Fig. 3. This feature, by preventing upward displacement of the tabs, also, of course, prevents displacement of the lid away from the panel edges 13. It has been found (by test) that the loaded box may be inverted without the lid being displaced by the weight from within the box.

The lid is additionally located and retained by means of other bent-down tabs 18 on the sides of the lid at the ends thereof. These tabs, at their outer ends and adja cent the lid, are notched, as at 19, so that, when the tabs are projected between panels 6 and 7 just beyond the connected or scored and unslit portions 20 of the panels, such portions will enter the notches, as shown in Fig. 1.

Said notched flaps thus form hooks on the lid, pre venting undesired upward displacement of the lid ends eater 3 from under the overhanging cleats 2, and securing the lid in place without the use of nails or the like.

The notches 12 in the panels 6 and 7 prevent possible tearing of the panel material at the junction of the slits 12 with the connection portions 20; the scoring along the latter being arranged so that portions 20,'instead of being flatly bent when the panels are folded over, may each assume a relatively rounded form in section, as shown generally at 21 in Fig. 4.

This provides a mouth for the initial entry of the corresponding hook tab 13 into its engaging position between the side panels. The length of portions 20 is greater than the thickness of ends 1 since the hook tabs 18 cannot be projected further out than the inner faces'of said ends to which the panels 6 and 7 are secured ii'ails Z I yhich draw them closely together along the nailing'zo nes.

T o apply the lid, it is only necessary to initially dispose the same at a longitudinal angle to the box so as to engage one end of the lid under one cleat' 2 with the adjacent tabs 18 initially inserted between the panels 6 and 7 in a hooking position and with the central tabs 15 initially inserted between said panels, all as shpwn in Fig. 2. i The lid-which is inherently somewhat flexible and springy 'is then bent down at the other end so as to similarly engage the corresponding end of the'lid under the adjacent cleat 2 and to dispose the adjacent tabs 18 into engaging relation with the adjacent portion 20 ,and between the panels 6 and 7. The lid then assumes its secured or locked position of itself when the manipulating pressure thereon is released The central portion of the lid, being then supported at a level no higher than that of cleats 2, olfers no inter.- ference with the stacking of boxes one on the other, as indicated in Fig. 1; and to retain such stacked boxes in located relation, transverse cleats 23 (of the same material as that of the box blanks) is secured on the bottom of the box transversely thereof and just clear of the cleats 2, as indicated.

End guards or liners 24 are provided with each box, as usual, to prevent contact of the fruit with the wooden ends 1;and such guards, before the box is packed, may be conveniently carried between the side panels 6 and 7 the length of theslits 11 being sulficient to allow the guards to be projected therethrough without folding. With the above described box and lid arrangement, the fruit in the box is perfectly protected against damage or pilferage from between the lid and sides since no vertical openings are left as is ordinarily the case.

Removal of the lid, for inspection or display of the fruit, is, of course, a simple procedure without any damage to the lid or box being had; it being only necessary to press in the tongues 16 by the fingers and lift'up 9!; he gentral portion of the lid (which will first dislodge one end or the other from under-the corresponding end cleat 2) while at the same time disenaging the adjacent linoks 1 8 from their hold on the adjacent portions '20.

If it is then desired to display the fruit in the box (and which fruit settles somewhat during transit), it is only necessary to cut the inner panel 7, with a pocket knife, along the guide formed by the concave slit edge 25 in the outer panel 6.

While the fiber board, of which the box is mainly constructed, is relatively light and thin, the fact that the bottom and sides'are integral, and that the sides are of double thickness, serves to make the box very strong and rigid and able to withstand end pressure without damage to the box; and such pressure, if excessive, will merely cause the box to possibly be distorted temporarily Without any breakage occurring.

have provided a box and lid combination which is light and neat; substantial so that collapse and breakage is not likely; one which provides for ready inspection of the contents of the box without mutilation of the lid; one which conceals the fruit when the lid is in place so that no pilferage of any fruit is possible without the need of any separate side guards; one which prevents sagging of the lid when the boxes are stacked; and one which will materially reduce shipping costs and give a resultant saving to the shipper due to the light nature of the unit.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that there has been produced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention, as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations from such detailmay be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, the following is claimed as new and useful, and upon which Letters Patent are desired:

1. A lug box including end members, sides secured thereto, and a lid extending between the end members with an upward bow; each side comprising a member of relatively thin cuttable material bent to form a pair of integral inner and outer panels abutting against each Other, and connecting together along the line of bend for short portions adjacent their ends only and at a level adjacent the top of the end members, the panel-forming member being cut through between the connected portions on a curved line such that when the member is bent to form the panels, the inner panel will extend above the outer panel for the distance between the connected portions and above the same to conform to and substantially engage the bowed underside of the lid.

2. A lug box including end members and sides secured thereto, each side comprising a pair of separate inner and outer panels of relatively thin material, said panels having integral relatively short connected portions along their top edges at the ends thereof and being separated from each other beyond said portions, a flexible lid extending between the end members, and hook-forming tabs depending from the sides of the lid adjacent the ends thereofand releasably engaging under said panelconnecting portions when the tabs are projected between the separate panels; the panels being notched vertically and lengthwise at the'inner end of the connecting portions and said portions being deformed laterally to the bottom of the notches to provide an open space between said portions for the easy entry of the outer end portion of; the tabs.

References Cited in the file ofthis patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 719,553 Baldwin Feb. 3, 1903 1,963,378 Petter June 19, 1934 1,986,145 Goodyear Jan. 1, 1935 2,044,301 Hill June 16, 1936 2,358,943 Smith Sept. 26, 1944 2,404,067v Hill July 16, 1946 2,414,703 Snyder Jan. 21', 1947 2,460,870 Bruckhauser Feb. 8, 1949 2,514,295 Scurich July 4, 1950 2,566,500 Rose et a1 Sept. 4, 1951- 2-,618,429 Donnell Nov. 18, 1952 2,621,847 Stefanich Dec. '16,

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