US2804256A

US2804256A - Collapsible carton

Info

Publication number: US2804256A
Application number: US514957A
Authority: US
Inventors: William H Inman
Original assignee: BLOOMER BROS CO
Current assignee: BLOOMER BROS Co
Priority date: 1955-06-13
Filing date: 1955-06-13
Publication date: 1957-08-27
Anticipated expiration: 1974-08-27

Description

1957 w. H. INMAN 2,804,256

COLLAPSIBLE CARTON Filed June 13, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IYIS ATTORNEY 27, 57 w. H. INMAN 2,804,256

COLLAPSIBLE CARTON Filed June 13, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 HIS ATTORNEY United States Patent 3O COLLAPSIBLE CARTON William H. lnman, Newark, N. Y., assignor to Bloomer Bros. Company, Newark, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application June 13, 1955, Serial No. 514,957 '8 Claims Cl. 229-51 resulted in a'practical and'useful carton, which has been widely used. in this field. However, these cartons were so constructed that-when. the side opening flap was pulled and the closurewall opened, the bottom flaps were moved out of engagement and the. carton, became. partially unfolded. and. unfit for further use.

. One object, of, the present invention is toprovide an mpr ved carton of the general character described, but so construeted asv to be kept substantially intact when opened for partial removal of the contents, and thus,

kept incondition for being reclosed for further preservation of the remaining contents.

Another object. is to provide a carton having the above "advantages, which is so constructed as to be readily manu factured, conveniently erected for filling and conveniently opened by the consumer, as' described above.

Another object is to supply a carton of the abovenaturewhich requires lessmaterial per carton than cartons heretofore constructed.

A further object is to afford a carton having the .above advantages in a form capable of being readily manufactured in quantity lots, by known machines and at relatively low cost. To these and other ends the invention resides in certain improvements andcombinations of parts, all as will be hereinafter more fully described, thelnovel' features being pointed out in the claims at the end of the specification. I

In the drawings:-

This automatic bottom construction has i Fig. 1 is a plan view of the cardboard blank forming the carton;

Fig. 2; is a similar view with bottom flap portions folded' over and glueapplied;

Fig-3 isan edge view; of the-blank'as seen from the right in Fig. 2, but with the outer wall portions partly folded jover toward glued position.

Fig 4 is a view similar to'Fig; 3, butwith the parts glued together'and' the carton in collapsed condition.

Figs. 5 and 6- are top plan views of the inside of" the carton: in progressive positions of erection for filling;

Figs. T and; 8 are bottom plan views of the outside of the carton in progressive-positions of erection for'filling substantiallycorresponding toFigs. 5 and 6, respectively;

Fig. 9- is a bottorn plan view of the carton in fully erected position; I

Fig. 101 issa perspective view of the carton showing the. same erected; filledand closed, and- Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the carton similar to Fig. 10, but showing the carton after being opened for removal" oli a portionof the contents.

2,804,256 Patented Aug. 27, 1957 The preferred embodiment of the present invention, herein disclosed by way of illustration, is preferably made of a one-piece cardboard blank such as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, cut and scored to form front, side, rear and

closure walls

20, 22, 24 and 26, respectively, separated by parallel scored

fold lines

28, 30 and 32, as shown. Closure wall 26 carries a securing strip 34 adapted to be .detachably glued to the free edge portion of the opposite or front wall 20 when the walls are folded over, as hereafter described. A line of weakening, such as perforations 38 extends from the lower front corner of closure wall 26 upwardly toward 'fold line 32 which'separates closure. waH 26 from rear wall- 24, for a purpose hereafter described.

Front wall 20 has a slit 40 extending inwardly from its free edge as shown in Fig. 1. A member or finger shown generally at 42 is foldably connected by fold line 44 to the upper or free edge of front wall 20 adjacent slit 40 for a purpose hereafter described. Front wall 20 has its outer surface cut or otherwise scored along a series of parallel lines of weakness 45 to produce a weakened surface area 46 for preventing peeling of front wall 20 when the carton is open as hereafter described.

.

Walls

20, 22, 24 and 26 are provided with

top closure flaps

48, 50, 52 and 54, respectively, which are foldably connected therewith along a score line 56. Flap 48 is formed with a slit 58 to receive. a tongue or hook 60- on flap 52 for securing these top flaps in position for closing the top of the carton. The carton is filled throughthe top after which the top. flaps are folded over closing the carton.

Front and

rear walls

20 and 24 carry

bottom closure flaps

62 and 64 foldably connected therewith along a score line 66. These flaps are provided with

score lines

68 and 70, respectively, extending diagonally across and separating each of them into two portions as at 72 and 74, so that each may be folded on itself and folded over the side wall to which it is connected, as further described hereafter.

The outer free edges of flaps 62 and. 64 have the irregular shape shown in the drawings, including

notches

76 and 78, respectively, for engagement with each other in the erected position of the carton. Bottom flap 62 has a small outwardly projecting part orportion 80,-having a.purpose to be-hereafter more fully described. Side wall22'has a substantially rectangular inner bottom flap 82 foldably connected therewith along line 66, between

flaps

62 and 64. Closure wall 26 has an inner'bottom flap 86 foldably connected therewith along line 66.

In the folding and gluing of the blank as shown in'Fig'. 2, bottom flap 62 is folded on itself and folded inwardly over: the front wall 20 as shown. Flap 82. is folded over side wall 22. Flap 64 is folded on itself and folded inwar'dly over rear wall 22 and flap 86 is folded over closure. wall 26, as shown. Finger 42 is folded-on itself about a fold line 88 which is essentiallyparallel with fold line 66 and at substantially right angles to fold line 44, and which divides finger 42 into an outer portiong90'and an inner portion 92, as shown in- Fig. 1. In this position of the parts, glue is applied to a restricted area 94 of flap 62, to a similar restricted area 96 of flap 64 and to a restricted area98 on outer portion 90 of finger 42. Glue is likewise applied in a narrow band. 100 on securing strip 3'4 adjacent its line of fold leaving. anunglued outer portion 102to provide a free pull tab which is preferably extended as at 104, Fig. 2.

In the further folding and gluing of the blank, the closure'wall 26 with its inwardly folded flap 86 is folded over 'rear wall 24 and its inwardly folded bottomflap 64-, as shown in Fig. 3. At the same time front wall 20 and itsinwardly folded'fl'ap 62 is folded down over side wal-l'22 and' its inwardly folded flap 82'. During this lat- "of the flaps towards erected position.

ter operation finger 42 which is folded upon itself as shown in Fig. 2, is directed and guided to enter between closure wall 26 and its bottom flap 86, with the result that the outer portion 90 of finger 42 is glued to the inside of bottom flap 86, as can be best seen in Fig. 5. Securing strip 34 is simultaneously pressed down over and glued to the weakened area 46 of front wall 20 thus completing the folding and gluing of the carton, in the compact, collapsed condition shown in Fig. 4, ready for storage and shipment to the ice cream dispensers.

When it is desired to erect the carton for filling, this is quickly accomplished by inward pressure against the opposite edges, which serves to separate and distend the side walls in the progressive manner shown in Figs. 5 and 6 as viewed through the open top of the container, and in views 7 and 8 as viewed from the bottom of the container. The separation of front wall 20 from side wall 22 tends to pull the inwardly folded flap 62 and the inner bottom flap 82 to erected position, while the separation of closure wall 26 and rear wall 24 pulls inwardly folded flap 64 and inner bottom flap 86 to erected position. Projection 80 on the inner portion of flap 62 guides flap 62 over the outer surface of flap 86, as best shown in Fig. 7, thereby initiating the proper movement As the carton continues towards erected position, the inner portion of flap 62 rides along the outer surface of flap 86 and passes beneath the outer portion of opposite flap 64, as can be seen in Fig. 8. Similarly the inner portion of flap 64 passes beneath the outer portion of flap 62, and along the outer surface of flap 82, also as shown in Fig. 8. As a result, the opposing edges of

flaps

62 and 64 slide along the outer surfaces of the opposite inner bottom flaps until

flaps

62 and 64 come into interengagement as shown in Fig. 9, with

notches

76 and 78 interengaging, as shown in Figs. 9 and 10. Such engagement of the notches tends to limit the erecting movement of

flaps

62 and 64 with these flaps in a position normal to the Walls of the carton. The erecting movement of the flaps is further limited by the engagement of inner bottom flap 82 with the inside of

flaps

62 and 64 along the bottom corners of the carton.

Flaps

62 and 82, and flaps 64 and 86, when secured together as above, form two interengaging bottom closure sections, each comprising an inner and outer bottom 'fiap. The bottom closure sections are quickly snapped to their erected positions by merely pressing on the opposite corners of the carton 106 and 108 (Fig. 4), leaving the top closure flaps in open position to receive the contents. The carton, resting on its bottom, is then filled and the top closed by folding

flaps

50 and 54 down across the filling opening, after which flap 48 is folded down followed by flap 52, the tongue of which is engaged in slit 58 of flap 48 to secure the closure of the top or filling opening. It will be noted that tongue 60 is on the flap of the rear wall to which the closure wall is attached, and is pointed in the direction of the closure ;wall so that an opening pull of the latter serves to keep the tongues engaged in slit 58 and to maintain that end of the carton closed. The carton is now in the condition shown in Fig. 10 and is ready for delivery to the consumer.

To open the carton, it is only necessary to grasp and pull the unglued free edge 102 or extension 104 of securing strip 3'4. For this purpose, tab or extension 104 may be readily bent relative to securing strip 34 along a diagonal fold line 110. The opening of closure wall 26 is made easier by the provision of weakened area 46 on the upper free edge of front wall 20. This weakened area which is defined by slits 45 and cut 40, not only makes it easier to break the detachable connection between securing flap 34 and front wall 20, but it also prevents undesired surface peeling of either the front wall or securing strip. After closure wall 26 is open, it is torn along the line of perforations 38 to its position shown in Fig. 11. This tearing action leaves a flange 112, Fig. 11, extending from the rear wall of the carton across the closure wall toward the lower front corner thereof. The line of perforations 38 preferably extends diagonally across the closure wall starting at the lower front corners of the closure wall and extending upwardly towards the rear edge of the closure wall. When the carton is in its open position as shown in Fig. 11, finger 42 which is connected to the front wall and glued to the bottom flap 86, connected to the closure wall, maintains a connection between the front and

rear walls

20 and 26, respectively, and holds them in erected position, as shown in Fig. 11, and at the same time holds the bottom flaps in engagement, thereby preventing the bottom closure from separating as the carton is opened.

At the top end of the carton, top flap 54, which does not come into contact with the contents of the carton, is readily raised along with the opening movement of closure wall 26. When closure wall 26 is opened, tongue 60 on flap 52 is drawn more tightly into engagement with slot 58 on the opposite top flap 48 so that the remaining top closure flaps are maintained in closed position and the carton is maintained in shape while as much of the contents as desired is dipped out.

The carton may be readily reclosed for replacing under refrigeration to preserve the residue of the contents for further consumption. This is done by merely guiding flap 54 into position outside of top flap 50 and swinging closure wall 26 downwardly while guiding its securing strip 34 inside the top edge of front wall 20. One end of the securing strip is inserted through slit 40 in the front wall so as to extend on the outside of the front wall and thus out of contact with the carton contents. This effectively closes the carton while preserving a clean portion of the cover which may be grasped to reopen the carton without soiling the fingers.

Thus it will be seen from the above description that my invention provides a carton which may be readily and economically manufactured with the usual materials and by known methods and standard machines, in compact collapsed condition for storage or shipment to food dispensers. The latter may erect the carton by merely pressing on its opposite corners to erect its automatic bottom. Thereafter, the carton may be easily filled at the top and closed in the usual manner until ready for delivery to the consumer. The consumer can easily open the carton to remove a portion of its contents by pulling on pull tab 34 so as to raise the closure Wall to open position in which the contents are exposed for dipping out to the extent desired. Thereafter, the carton may be readily closed to preserve the remaining contents by closing and securing the closure wall, as described, a portion of the pull tab being conveniently disposed on the outside of the front wall to provide means for further opening the cover without soiling the fingers.

In addition, it will be seen that the invention com- .bines a carton having the above advantages which may its objects and while it has been herein disclosed by reference to the details of a preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that such disclosure is intended in an illustrative, rather than a limiting sense, as it is contemplated that various modifications in the construction and arrangement of the parts will readily occur to those skilled in the art, within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

'I claim:

1. A collapsible carton having a self erecting bottom comprising a one-piece, blank cut, scored and folded to form foldably connected front, rear, side and closure walls, a detachable connection between said closure wall and free edge of said front wall, top and bottom closure flaps'foldably connected to said walls at the opposite ends thereof, said bottom flaps being arranged in pairs of opposed inner and outer flaps, each of said outer flaps being secured to the adjacent inner flap and forming the bottom of the carton in sections, said sections being located on opposite sides of a hinge connection between adjacent side walls and on opposite sides of said detachable connection, each of said outer flaps being formed with a fold line and being foldable inwardly about said fold line together with the respective one of said inner flaps upon relative lateral shifting of said side walls to collapsed position, said bottom closure flaps being moved to erected closed position normal to said walls by crecting movement of said walls, and a finger foldably connected with said front wall, said finger having a fold line extending thereacross at substantially right angles to the line of connection of said finger with said front wall for dividing said finger into inner and outer portions, said outer portion being secured to the inner surface of the bottom flap connected to said closure wall, said closure wall having a line of perforations extending thereacross adjacent the bottom of the carton, said closure wall being detachable from said front wall and separable along said line of perforations for movement to open position with said finger connecting said front and rear walls for maintaining the same in erected position.

2. A carton as specified in claim 1 in which said line of perforations extend from the bottom of said closure wall adjacent the front edge thereof upwardly across said closure wall to the line of connection between said closure wall and said rear wall.

3. A collapsible carton having a self-erecting bottom comprising a blank cut, scored and folded to form foldably connected side walls and a closure wall, a detachable connection between said closure wall and the opposite side wall for securing said closure wall in closed position, said walls having top and bottom closure flaps foldably connected thereto at the opposite ends thereof, said bottom flaps being arranged in pairs of opposed inner and outer flaps, each of said outer flaps being secured to the adjacent inner flap for forming the bottom of the carton in sections, each of said outer flaps being formed with a fold line and adapted to fold inwardly at said fold line between said walls together with the respective inner flap when said walls are collapsed, said bottom closure flaps being moved to erected closed position normal to said walls by erecting movement of said walls, and a member connected at one end to said opposite side wall and at the other end to the inner surface of the bottom flap connected to said closure wall for holding said side walls erect when said carton is opened, said closure wall being detachable from said opposite side wall and separable from the bottom flap connected with said closure wall for movement to open position to expose the carton contents with the carton in erected position.

4. A collapsible carton having a self-erecting bottom comprising a blank cut, scored and folded to form foldably connected side walls and a closure wall, a detachable connection between said closure wall and the opposite side wall for securing said closure wall in closed position, said walls having top and bottom closure flaps foldably connected thereto at the opposite ends thereof, said bottom flaps being arranged in pairs of opposed inner and outer flaps, each of said outer flaps being secured to the adjacent inner flap for forming the bottom of the carton in sections, each of said outer flaps being formed with a fold line and adapted'to fold inwardly at said fold line between said walls together with the respective inner flap when said walls are collapsed, said bottom closure flaps being moved to erected closed position normal to said 6 walls and into frictional interengagement by the erecting movement of said walls for holding the bottom of said carton in erected position, locking means on two of said top closure flaps for releasably locking said top closure flaps in closed position in the erected position of the carton, and a member connected at one end to said opposite side wall and at the other end to the inner surface of the bottom flap connected to said closure wall for holding said side walls erect when said carton is opened, said closure wall being detachable from said opposite side wall and separable from the bottom flap connected with said closure wall for movement to open position to expose the carton contents with the carton in erected position.

5. A collapsible carton having a self-erecting bottom comprising a blank cut, scored and folded to form foldably connected side walls and a closure wall, a detachable connection between said closure wall and the opposite side wall for securing said closure wall in closed position, said walls having top and bottom closure flaps foldably connected thereto at the opposite ends thereof, said bottom flaps being arranged in pairs of opposed inner and outer flaps, each of said outer flaps being secured to the adjacent inner 'flap for forming the bottom of the carton in sections, each of said outer flaps being formed with a fold line and adapted to fold inwardly at said fold line between said walls together with the respective inner flap when said walls are collapsed, said bottom closure flaps being moved to erected closed position normal to said walls and into frictional interengagement by the erecting movement of said walls for holding the bottom of said carton in erected position, locking means on two of said top closure flaps for releasably locking said top closure flaps in closed position in the erected position of the carton, and a member connected at one end to said opposite side wall and at the other end to the inner surface of the bottom flap connected to said closure Wall for holding said side walls erect when said carton is opened, said closure wall having a line of weakening extending thereacross adjacent the bottom of the carton, said closure wall being detachable from said opposite side wall and separable along said line of weakening from the bottom flap connected to said closure wall for movement to open position to expose the carton contents with the carton in erected position.

6. A collapsible carton having a self-erecting bottom comprising a blank cut, scored and folded to form foldably connected side walls and a closure wall, a detachable connection between said closure wall and the opposite side wall for securing said closure wall in closed position, said walls having top and bottom closure flaps foldably connected thereto at the opposite ends thereof, said bottom flaps being arranged in pairs of opposed inner and outer flaps, each of said outer flaps being secured to the adjacent inner flap for forming the bottom of the carton in sections, each of said outer flaps being formed with a fold line and adapted to fold inwardly at said fold line between said walls together with the respective inner flap when said walls are collapsed, said bottom closure flaps being moved to erected closed position normal to said walls by erecting movement of said walls, and a member connected at one end to said opposite side wall and the other end to the inner surface of the bottom flap connected to said closure wall for holding said side walls erect when said carton is opened, said closure wall having a line of weakening extending thereacross adjacent the bottom of the carton, said closure wall being detachable from said opposite side wall and separable along said line of weakening from the bottom flap connected with said closure wall for movement to open position to ex pose the carton contents with the carton in erected position.

7. A collapsible carton having a self-erecting bottom construction as specified in claim 6 in which said line of weakening comprises a line of perforations.

8. A collapsible carton having a self-erecting bottom construction as specified in claim 6 in which said line of weakening comprises a line of perforations extending from the bottom front corner of the closure wall along -the line of connection between said closure wall and the bottom flap connected therewith and thence upwardly across said closure wall to the rear edge thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Rafoth Aug. 30, 1955