US2820586A

US2820586A - Carton for fragile articles

Info

Publication number: US2820586A
Application number: US589517A
Authority: US
Inventors: Gerald Ray H Fitz
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1956-06-05
Filing date: 1956-06-05
Publication date: 1958-01-21
Anticipated expiration: 1975-01-21

Description

J 21, 1958 R. H. FITZ GERALD 2,820,586

CARTON FOR FRAGILE ARTICLES Filed June 5, 1956 INVENTOR RAY H. FITZGERALD ATTORNEY United States Patent CARTON FOR FRAGILE ARTICLES Ray H. Fitz Gerald, Nashville, Tenn.

Application June 5, 1956, Serial No. 589,517

3 Claims. (Cl. 229-28) This invention relates to a carton construction and more particularly to a carton for fragile articles which is constructed from a single blank.

In the storing and shipping of fragile articles, in particular eggs or the like, special precautions must be taken to ensure that the cartons or boxes which receive such articles olfer sufiicient protection to prevent breakage of or damage to their contents. For economic reasons, egg cartons must in addition be inexpensive and relatively simple in construction. Cartons employed heretofore, both the pressed pulp type and the type formed from fibrous sheet material, are deficient in one or more respects. A common failing of the prior art is the inability to proivde a practical, inexpensive carton which will offer sufficient protection to its fragile contents. In attempts to provide the necessary protection, cartons have been manufactured which are impractical because of their complex construction. The simpler cartons have failed to provide adequate protection.

Accordingly, it is a principal object of the present invention to provide a unique carton which overcomes the defects of the prior art.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel carton which may be formed from a single blank of sheet material.

A further object of the invention is to provide a unique carton blank.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a carton which may be erected from a blank positively and with great speed and simplicity.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a carton having a novel cushion construction.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a unique cellular carton.

The foregoing and other objects of the invention and the manner in which such objects are accomplished will become more apaprent in the following detailed description of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure l is a plan view of an unfolded blank of the invention in its preferred form;

Figure 2A and 2B are end elevation views of the carton of the invention in different stages of its erection;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the carton of the invention in its fully erected state and ready to receive eggs or the like; and

Figure 4 is an end elevation view of the carton of the invention shown with eggs inserted therein and the cover closed.

Briefly, the objects of the invention are accomplished by providing a single blank which is scored and folded to form a carton having front, rear, bottom and top panels, a cover, and an inverted V-shaped cushion supported within the foregoing panels. The cushion is arranged to cooperate with sections of the top panel which are constructed so as to form transverse partitions within the carton. The blank may be provided to the packer in a partially folded state, from which complete erection of the carton is extremely fast and simple.

Referring to Figure 1, the blank, generally designated 10, from which the carton is constructed, is constituted by a single elongated sheet of material, preferably a fibrous board. The blank is scored along a series of

parallel lines

12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, and 24 to define the following parts in succession: a false bottom or cushion 26, a false or inner rear panel 28, a top 30, a front panel 32, a bottom 34, a rear panel 36, a cover 38, and a frontal locking lip 40. The entire blank may be perforated along a median line 42 so that the carton may be divided into halves when finally constructed, if desired. Cushion 26 is scored along a center line 44 and is provided with a row of triangular slots 46 each having a vertex on line 44 and a side perpendicular to the line as shown. The cushion is slit as indicated at 48 in generally H-shaped configurations. The false rear panel 28 may be provided with a suitable adhesive 50 for a purpose to be described.

Top 30 is slit along the solid lines shown, such as lines 52 and is cut out as indicated at 56. In addition the top may be scored along the dotted lines such as 54. The bottom 34 is provided with at least one aperture, such as 58. The frontal lip 40 is formed with a conventional egg carton lock, such as a plurality of tongues 60 separated by a plurality of grooves 62.

The packer may be provided a blank in completely unfolded state, as shown in Figure l, or in a partially folded state. To place the blank in the latter state, the blank is folded back upon itself to form a first fold at line 20, a second told at line 16, and a third fold at line 12, as

' shown in Figure 2A. The false rear panel 28 may then be secured to the rear panel 36 by employing the adhesive 50, or any other suitable means. With the blank folded as just described, the false bottom or cushion 26 will lie sandwiched between the top 30 and the bottom 34- and will extend diagonally from the fold at line 12 toward the fold at line 16. It will be observed that the width of the cushion 26 between these folds is significantly greater than the width of the bottom 34 between

lines

18 and 20 and that the height of the rear panel 36 between

lines

20 and 22 is significantly greater than the height of the false rear panel 28 between

lines

12 and 14.

In the state just described, the blank is still substantially flat, since it has not been bent along any of the other score lines, and accordingly the blank consumes little storage or shipping space. When the carton is to be erected for filling, the cover is bent back along line 22. Then the blank is grasped in the left hand with the palm upward, the thumb engaging the corner of the carton at line 16, and the fingers (except the forefinger) engaging the corner at line 20. The forefinger is placed in one of the holes 58 in the bottom 34, as shown in Figure 2B, and pressure is exerted between the thumb and the fingers engaging the corner at 20. This causes the blank to bend along

lines

14 and 18 and erects the front panel 32 and the

rear panels

28 and 36. The free edge of the cushion 26 slides along the inner surface of the front panel 32 until it reaches the corner at line 16. At the same time the forefinger exerts an upward force on the under side of the cushion, causing it to bend along line 44 as shown in Figure 2B. The pressure between the thumb and the three fingers engaging the corner at line 20 is continued until the carton assumes an over-square configuration as indicated by the phantom lines in Figure 2B. When this occurs, the free edge of the cushion 26 slides downwardly along the inner surface of the front panel 32 into the corner at line 18. The cushion then assumes an inverted V-shape with a pair of surfaces 26a. 26b sloping downwardly toward the bottom 34 from. a ridge at line 44.

Referring to Figure 3, the end sections 64 of the top cushion which nowfh'ave become triangular notchesinv the ridge of the cushion. Thisebending: may beconvenientlydone simultaneously with the first and second finger of each hand. The center sections'66'of the top are then bentdownwardly ina similar manner. Intermediate sections 68'may be bent downwardly manually, ifv desired, but where speed is of the essence, these sections may be erectedv automatically by placing. eggs in the cells between each pair. of intermediatesections.

Sections

64, 66, and 68 when=folded downwardly become transversepartitionsof. the carton. The side edges. of the ,partitionsengage the front and rear panelsofthe cartonre'spectively, and maintain the carton in astable rectangular form. The lower: edges of at least some of thepartitionsare curvedasindicatedat 70in Figure 3 to impart a-corresponding. curvature to the surfaces of the cushion 26.

Each-"of the notches 46 at the ridge of the cushionhas a 7 vertical side formed by thelsideof. the corresponding triangular.- slot' of the blank-which isperpendicular to; the ridge line44, so thata surface of eachpartitionmay abut this side of the notchbelow it and be held substantially vertically. Each of the'notches slopes downwardly'firom the vertex of the triangular slot at the ridge line toward its vertical side, sothat the partitions slide easily intothe corresponding notches. Itis thus apparent-that-the .partie tions fit within the correspondingnotches. of the-cushion and that the cushion extends above .thelower extremities of the partitions so as to serve as a longitudinal divider for the carton. Two rowsof cells are thus formed by the cushion and the partitions.

When theeggs are inserted; asillustratediin Figure 4, they extendfabove the front; panel 32. The rear panel 36'is high enough to accommodate .the eggs, however, and when the cover 38 is' closed, with the tongues and grooves of the lip 40 interlocking with'the adjacent edges of the top 30 in a well known manner, the height of the lip when added to that of the front panel equals the height of the rear panel 36. The slits 48 of the cushion provide convenient score lines for the curvature of the cushion surfaces and for the reception of the adjacent surfaces of the eggs. The articles are supported on the cushion above the bottom of the carton and are thus isolated'frorn shocks applied to the bottom. Portions of at least some of the partitions, such as 68a in Figure 3, extend upwardly to engage the undersidepof the cover 38 and thus protect the articles from shocks applied to the cover. It will thus be apparent that a carton is provided, which oflfers adequate protection for fragile articles, which is strong yet simple to erect, and which may be formed economically from a single blank.

While a preferred embodiment'of the invention has been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications may be made in this embodiment without departing from the principles of the invention. Accordingly, this embodiment is exemplary, rather than restrictive of the invention, the scope of which is definedinthe appendedclaims, and those modifications which fall withinthe meaning and range .of equivalency of the claims are included therein.

What is .claimedis;

l. A collapsible egg carton formed from a single integral blank comprising adj'acentpanels delineated by parallel weakened lines and including successively a rear panel, a bottom panel, a front panel, a top panel and a lap panel secured to the inner face of the rear panel, said panels defining. a cartonhaving a:.rectangular cross section,.said:blank.having a terminal cushionpaneLofine verted V-shape provided with a, central hinge lineat the apex of the Vnandi provided with .a freeedgepositioned in; the front bottomtcorner oflhe carton, said top :panel having transverseandlongitudinalcut linestdefining turn: able partitionsucoacting. with. .said :V-shaped cushion to form cells, said; carton; being collapsible-along aplane diagonal relativevto said rectangular. cross section of the carton,:with said cushion panel lying flat insaid .plane.

.2; A carton asset 'forthjn claim 1, wherein said :bottom panel has afinger hole for facilitating the setting upxof the carton, said finger} hole being located soas tosallow a finger to ,push against thenndersideof the cushion member .to .form, said .inverted-V-shape as :the carton: is erected.

3, A; carton, as; setfortlr. in. claim 1, wherein: said rear panel extends above said front wall and base cover for said carton hinged thereon;

References Cited in the'file of this; patent UNITED STATES PATENTS,

Canada July-2 1, 1953