US2878986A - Collapsible carton - Google Patents

Description

W. H. INMAN COLLAPSIBLE CARTON March 24, v1959 Filed June 1, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR` WILLIAM H. INMAN HIS ATTO RNEY March 24, 1959 w. LH. INMAN "2,878,986

` COLLAPSIBLE CARTON Filed June 1, 1956 v SShQetS-Sheet 2 loo 22 84 E I E- En INVENToR,

WILLIAM H. INMAN HIS ATTORNEY.'

March 24, 1959 W. H. INMAN 2,878,986

' yCOLLAPSIBLE CARTON Filed June 1, 1956 V .3 Sheets-Sheet 5 TTB-II INVENTOR,

WILLIAMr H. INMAN H16 ATTORNEY United States Patent COLLAPSIELE CARTON William H. Inman, Newark, N.Y., assignor to Bloomer Bros. Company, Newark, N.Y., a corporation of New York Application June 1, 1956, Serial No. 588,730

2 Claims. (Cl. 229-41) This invention relates to collapsible cartons made of brous material, such as cardboard, for packaging ice cream and other frozen comestibles, and the like. As the result of a recent invention, such cartons have been provided with bottom aps so constructed as to be automatically unfolded and extended by manipulation of the side walls. This automatic bottom construction has been combined with a side opening` pull ap and has resulted in a practical and useful carton, which has been widely used in this field. However, these cartons were constructed that when the side opening flap was pulled and the closure wall 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 to provide an improved cart-on of the general character described, but so constructed as to remain substantially intact when opened for partial removal of the contents, and thus, kept in condition for being reclosed for further preservation of the remaining contents.

Another object is to provide a carton of the above nature which is provided `with positive means for holding the opposite ends of the carton erect, particularly the bottom end, when the closure wall is opened.

Another object is to provide a carton having the above advantages in which the means 4for holding the bottom of the carton erect is integral with the remaining' portions of the carton and does not require any additional stock.

Another object is to provide a carton of the above nature which is so constructed as to be readily manufactured, conveniently erected for filling and conveniently opened by the consumer, as described below.

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 kends the invention resides in certain improvements and combinations of parts, all as will be hereinafter more fully described, the novel features being pointedout in the claims at the end of the specication.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a one-piece blank cut and scored ready for folding to form a carton embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a similar view` with the `bottom liap portions folded over and glue applied;

Fig. 3 lis anedge view `of the blank as seen from the bottom in Fig. 2, `but withl the outer wall portions partially folded over toward glued position;

. Fig. 4 is similar to Fig. 3, but with the parts glued together and the carton in collapsed condition;

Fig. 5 is a top plan view from theinside'of the-carton in partially erected position;

Fig. 6 is a top plan view from the inside of the carton Showing the .carton in 4fully erected position, with part of ice the inner bottom flaps broken away for purposes of illustration;

Figs. 7 and 8 are bottom plan views from the outside of the carton in progressive positions of erection for fill'- ing substantially corresponding to' Figs. 5 and 6, respectively; "Fig 9 is a perspective view of the carton in erected position with the top flaps open for filling;

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of th carton showingA the same erected, filled and closed, and Fig. l1 is a perspective view of the carton as viewed from the opposite end in Fig. 10, showing the carton after being opened for removal of a portion of the contents.

The preferred embodiment of the present invention, herein disclosed by way of illustration, is preferably made of a one-piece blank such as shown in Fig. l ofthe drawings, cut and scored to form front, intermediate, rear and closure walls, 20, 22, 24 and 26, respectively, separated by parallel scored fold lines 28, 3,0 and 32, as shown. A securing strip 34 is foldably connected with closure wall 26 along a fold line 36 which is par', allel to fold lines 2.8, Sti and 32, as shown in Fig. 1. Securing strip 34 is 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. Closure wall 26 is preferably provided adjacent the bottorn of the carton with a line of weakening which comprises, singly or in combination, Ya line of perforations 38, a 4single slit et? extending partially through the material forming the closure wall, or any known means whereby thel material forming the closure wall is weakened for controlling the direction and extent of the tearingaction or" the closure wall. Line of perforations 38 preferably comprises a series of spaced short slits whichmay extend partially or completely through the material forming the closure wall, as shown in Fig. 1, and this line of perforations extends substantially transversely across the closure wall coincident with the fold line between `the closure wall and its attached bottom ap. Slit 40 which is partially cut through the closure wall on the under surface thereof (upper surface as viewed in Fig. 1,) extends substantially transversely across the closure wall from the front to the rear edge thereof, `and is spaced slightly upwardly from the line of perforations, as shown in Fig. l, for a purpose hereafter described.

Front Wall 2i) preferably has an undulating slit 42 extending thereacross adjacent the upper free edge thereof, as shown in Figs. l and 1 1. Slit 42. extends only partially through the structure forming the front wall and provides a weakened outer surface area 44 to aid in the opening of the carton and to prevent peeling of front wall 2@ when the carton is opened. Securing strip 3f4 is preferably provided with a slit 46 adjacent its line of fold with ciosure wall 26 to prevent an extension of surface peeling of securing strip 34 into the closure wall when the carton is opened. A

Side walls 2i), 22, 24 and 26 are provided with top closure flaps 4?), 5d, 52 and 54, respectively, which are foldably connected therewith along a score line `56. Flap 5:-3 is formed with a slit SS to receive a tongue or hook 6d on flap 52 for securing these top aps in position `for closing the top of the carton.v The carton is erected and filled through the top, after which the top flaps are folded over and locked in position for closing the carton. When the carton is opened, as hereafter described, the top*` er and then shipped in collapsed, at condition to the user who may erect it by nerely applying pressure to the opposite corners of theicollapsed carton, as hereafter described. The bottom flaps are so constructed that they will fold inwardly inside the carton when the carton side walls are collapsed, and will automatically move outwardly to their erected positions normal to the side walls of the carton, when the carton is erected. A carton of the above general nature was disclosed in my prior joint patent with Raynor M. Holmes, No. 2,655,304. However, in the above patented construction the bottom of the carton separated when the closure wall was opened and made the carton unfit for further use. However, I have devised a construction, as shown in the present application, whereby a carton may be constructed, having an automatic bottom with the above advantages, but which is also provided with positive means for holding the bottom of the carton in erected position, when the closure wall is opened.

More specifically, in the present construction I provide lcertain of the bottom aps with positive interengaging means which, when the carton is moved to erected posi- ,tiodn by the user, interengage and securely lock the flaps in erected position thereby holding the bottom of the carton erect as the closure wall is subsequently opened. To this end, I preferably provide four bottom closure `members or flaps which are foldably connected with ,the carton side walls along a score line 62. A pair of inwardly folding outer bottom aps 64 and 66 are located opposite one another and preferably are foldably connected to front and rear walls 20 and 24, respectively. Flaps 64 and 66 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 (Fig. [1)l solthat each may be folded over itself and over the yside wall to which it is connected, as hereafter described. .The outer free edges of aps 64 and 66 have the irregular shape shown in the drawings, including notches l`76 and 78, respectively. Flap 64 has an elongated slit A,80 formed therein which forms a locking aperture shown generally at 81 in Fig. 1. Slit 80 starts at the inner end of notch 76 and extends part way across the inner portion ,J2-of the flap at a considerable angle to fold line 68, A"as shown in Fig. 1. Flap 66 has a locking tab or hook V82 which is adapted to engage the margins of slit 80 in flap 64, for locking flaps 64 and 66 together, as hereafter more fully described.

4 ,Intermediate wall 22 has a substantially rectangular lbottom flap 84 foldably connected therewith along line 62, as shown in Fig. 1. Closure wall 26 has a substanftially'trapezoidal ap 86 foldably connected therewith, as shown in Fig. 1.

' In lthe folding and gluing of the blank, as shown in Fig. 2, bottom flap 64 is folded on itself and folded inwardly over front wall 20, as shown. Flap 84 is folded over intermediate wall 22. Flap 66 is folded on itself and folded inwardly over rear Wall 24 and flap 86 is `folded over closure wall 26. In this position of the parts,

glue or other suitable adhesive is applied to a restricted area 88 on flap 64, and to a similar restricted area 90 von ap 66. Glue is likewise applied in a narrow band 92 on securing strip 34 adjacent its line of fold, leaving van unglued outer portion 94 to provide a free pull tab which is preferably extended and formed with an extension 96 which is foldably connected With securing strip 34 along a diagonally extending score line 98, as shown in Fig. l and 2.

In the further folding and gluing of the blank, front wall 20 and Hap 64 are folded over intermediate wall 22 and its attached bottom Hap 84. This brings glue portion 88 of flap 64 into contact with the outer surface of flap 84. Closure wall 26 and attached flap 86 are folded over rear wall 24 and ap 66, thereby bringing flap 86 into engagement with glue area 90 of flap 66 and bringing glue portion 92 of securing strip 34 into engagement with weakened area 44 of front wall 20. This completes the folding and gluing of the carton in compact, collapsed condition showny'in Fig. 4, ready for storage and shipment to ice cream dispensers and the like.

Flaps 64 and 84, and flaps 66 and 86, when secured together as above, form two interengaging bottom closure sections, each comprising an inner and outer bottom ap. When it is desired to erect the carton for filling, the bottom closure sections are quickly snapped to their erected positions by inward pressure against opposite edges 100 and 102 (Fig. 4) which serves to shape 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 Figs. 7 and 8, as viewed from the bottom of the container. The separation of closure wall 26 from rear wall 24 tends to pull inwardly folded flap 66 and inner bottom ap 86 to erected positions, while the separation of front wall 20 from intermediate wall 22 pulls inwardly folded flap 64 and inner bottom ap 84 to erected positions. Flap 84 is provided with a slit 103 (Fig. 2) along which the ap may partially bend as it moves to erected position. Flap 64 is provided with a small projecting part or tab 104 which engages the outer surface of inner bottom flap 86 to initiate proper erection of the bottom aps in the desired sequential order. Flap 64 is provided with a second and larger projecting part or tab 106 which is located along the free edge of the inner portion 72 of flap 64 adjacent score line 68, as shown in Fig. l. Part 106 rides along the outer surface of inner bottom ap 86 of the opposite bottom section while outer bottom ap 66 rides along the outer surface of inner bottom flap 84. The inner portion of flap 64, including part 106 rides along flap 86 beneath the outer portion of opposite bottom flap 66, more specifically beneath locking tongue 82, while the inner portion of ap 66 rides beneath the outer portion of flap 64. As this erecting movement continues, locking tongue 82 strikes against the edge of outer bottom ap 64 adjacent the outer end of score line 68 and notch 76 and passes through locking aperture 81 formed by slit 80 as the erecting action continues further. The erecting action continues until the flaps are in positions substantially normal to the side walls of the carton as shown in Figs. 6 and 8. The erecting movement is limited by the interengagement of the flaps and by the engagement of inner bottom flap 84 with the inside of flaps 64 and 66 along the bottom corners of the carton.

Locking tongue 82 is formed with a head portion 108 and an inwardly extending slot 110 which is spaced from the outer end of the tongue leaving an unsevered neck portion 112 and a locking shoulder portion 114. Once head 108 and neck 112 have passed through locking aperture 81, tongue 82 cannot be withdrawn from the locking aperture without tearing and mutilating the tongue or flap 64. As a result, once the bottom of the carton has been erected, there is then a positive connection between the front and rear walls of the carton through aps 64 and 66, and the bottom of the carton will remain erected when the closure wall is subsequently opened, as hereafter described. It should be noted that ilap 84 is substantially the same size as the bottom end of the carton and overlies slit for the full length thereof as well as diagonal score lines 68 and 70, thereby providing a substantially leakproof bottom closure and also providing a smooth interior for the bottom end of the carton.

The carton is quickly snapped to its above erected position by merely pressing on opposite corners and 102, as stated, leaving the top closure aps in open position, as shown in Fig. 9, to receive the contents. The carton resting on its bottom, is then lled and the top closed by folding flaps 50 and 54 down across the filling opening, in order, after which flap 48 is folded down followed by ap 52. Tongue 60 of flap 52 is engaged in slit 58 of ap 48 to secure the closure of the top or filling" opening; It will be noteditliat tongue 60'- isf on tlie'ftia'p of the rear wall to which the' closure wall is also attached andA is pointed in the direction of the closure wall so that an opening pull onthe latter serves tkeep the tongue in engagement with the slit to maintain the top end of the carton closed. The carton is now in the condition shown in Fig. l and is ready to be delivered to the consumer.

To open the carton, it is only necessary to grasp the unglued edge of securing strip 34. For this purpose, tab orf extension 96 may be readily bent relative to securing strip Seabout fold line 98. The opening of closure wall 26 is made easier by the provision of weakened area 44 on the upper free edge of front wall 20. This weakened area not only makes it easier to break the detachable connection between securing strip 34 and front wall 20, but it also prevents undesired surface peeling of either the front wall or securing strip. Slit y46 also prevents undesiredV surface peeling of closure wall 26 by preventing any peeling of securing strip 34 from extending into closure wall 26.

After securing strip 34 is detached from front wall 20, it is necessary to separate closure wall 26 from bottom flap 86 which is foldably connected therewith. I have found it is desirable to separate the above Wall and flap along a line extending transversely across the closure wall adjacent the lower or bottom end of the carton. I have found that if the carton is made of cylinder board or paper and the blank is positioned so 'that thejtbers extend substantially transversely across the closure wall, closure wall 26 may be moved to open position, as shown in Fig. 1l, and separated from bott'm flap 86 by exerting sui'lcient force in the opening direction, as by means of an upward pull on securing strip 34. However, I have found that closure wall 26 'mayl be more readily separated from bottom flap 86 if the closure'wall is provided with a suitable line of weakening along which the tearing action may readily take place in a predetermined manner and direction.

To this end, closure wall 26 is preferably provided with a line of perforations 38 or slit 46, or both, extending substantially transversely thereacross adjacent the lower end of the carton. I have found that while the" tearing action may be controlled by means of either line of perforations 33 or by slit 40', the tearing action is easier and more readily controlled if the closure wall `is provided with both perforations 38 and slit 40. Starting at the lower front corner of closure wall 26, line of perforations 38 preferably extends rearwardly across the closure wall substantially coincident with the fold line between hap' S6. Slit 40" alsoextends substantially transversely across the closure wall, but is spaced upwardly` from the bottom of the carton and upwardly from perforations 38, as shown in Fig. 1. Slit 46 at its forward end preferably intersects slit 46. Slit 46 not only limits any upward tearing of the closure wall at an angle to the line of perforations, but slit 40 also prevents any undesired surface peeling of the closure wall which might result from the opening action. ln addition, slit 40 may serve as either a supplementary line of separation of the closure wall or as a substitute line of separation. That is, the closure wall may separate along slit 4i) instead of perforations 3S or it may separate partially along the line of perforations or partially along slit 4t);

Regardless of the exact line of separation of closure wall 26 from the inner bottom ap 86, both ends of the carton remain erect when the carton is in open position, as shown in Fig. ll. The upper end of the carton remains erect because flap 54 which is foldably connected with closure wall 26 may move independently of top locking flaps 48 and 5'2, and therefore, the opening of the closure wall does not disturb the locking action of aps 48 and 52. That is, although top ap 54 is held in closed position by flaps 4S and 52 when the carton is in' closed position, a's'shown in Fig. l0, apf54` at' the same time is held. out of contact with the contents of the carton by ap 5d. Therefore, when closure wall 26 is raised, nap 54` readily moves upwardly with the closure wall to its position shown in Fig. 11, while the remaining top flaps are maintained in closed position, thereby holding the upper end of the carton in shape, as shown in Fig. l1.

The lower end of the carton remains erect becauselof the' unique construction and' arrangement of the bottom flaps. Specilically, there is a positive connection between the front and rear walls of the carton, independent of closure wall 26, adjacentthe lower end of the carton; This connection comprises inwardly folding ap 64 which is attached to the front wall of theV carton and inwardly folding flap 66 which is attached to rear wall 24. This connection includes' locking tongue 82 which, as-described above, and as can be seen in Fig. 6, has passed through locking aperture Si formed by slit Sil. Tongue 82`is adapted to cooperate with and lock in the margins of aperture tti. Specifically, when closure wall 26 is opened it tends to swing Hap 86 and outer flap 66 upwardly in a counterclockwise direction, as Viewed in Fig. 6. This upward movement continues for only a short distance when shoulder TM of head portion 3.08 strikes against the vbase of part 166 on hap 64. As all of iiap 64 except part 196 lies outside of flap 66 in the erected position of the carton, it will be understood that part 106 is bent inwardly and overiies the path of return movement of locking tongue 2. Thus, when the closure wall is opened, as above, or the bottom flaps are pressed inwardly, shoulderildl of tongue d2 engages the base of part 166' and prevents further relative movement between flaps 66 and 64, thereby locking together the bottom flaps of the carton.

That is, since flap 84 is glued to flap 64, and ap 86 is glued to flap 66, the above locking engagement between flaps 64 and 66 not only holds iiaps 64 and 66 in position, but it also holds ilaps 84 and 86 in erected position, and at the same time holds the front, intermediate and rear Walls of the carton in erected position when closure wall 26 is opened as above.

Thus, it will be seen from the above relationship of the parts that both the topv and bottom ends of the carton remain erect when closure wall 26 is detached from front Wall 20 and separated from associated bottom flap 86. With the cartonin its position shown in Fig. 1l, the contents may be removed to the desired extent and the carton reclosed for replacing under refrigeration to preserve the residue of the contents for further consumption. This may be readily accomplished by merely inserting top flap 54 outside of top flap 50, but inside of locking flaps 48 and 52, and then swinging closure wall 26 downwardly to its closed position. lf desired, the carton may be more tightly reclosed by inserting securing strip 34 inside of front wall 20.

The invention as herein disclosed comprises related embodiments of the inventions disclosed in my copending patent application, Serial No. 588,731, led June l, 1956, and the co-pending patent application of William H. De Blaere, Serial No. 588,679, tiled June l, 1956, and certain features disclosed but not claimed herein are claimed in said copending applications.

Thus, it will be seen from the above description that my invention provi-des 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 the automatic bottom construction. Thereafter, the carton may be easily lled at the top and closed in the usual manner until ready for delivery to the consumer. The consumer can readily open the carton to remove a portion of the contents by pulling on tab 96 so as to swing the closure wall into open position in which the contents are exposed for dipping out to the extent desired. When the carton is opened, as above, both the top and bottom ends and the side walls remain erect due to the above positive interlocking connections between the front and rear walls. As a result the carton may be readily reclosed to preserve the remaining contents.

In addition, it will be seen that cartons having the above advantages may be readily and economically manufactured with a minimum of cost. That is, the blanks, as shown in Figs. l and 2, are so designed that there is a minimum of wastage of cardboard stock material and these cartons require no more material than do known cartons having automatic bottom constructions of the type which separate when the closure wall is opened.

Thus my invention provides an improved carton requiring no more material than cartons heretofore made, but having the additional advantage of a positive connection between the front and rear walls for holding the carton erect when the closure wall is opened.

It will thus be seen that the invention accomplishes 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 con` templated 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 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 aps foldably connected thereto at the opposite ends thereof, said bottom aps being arranged in pairs of opposed inner and outer flaps, each of said outer aps being fixedly secured to the adjacent inner ilap for forming the bottom of the carton in sections, the outer ap of each section having a folding score line extending thereacross diagonally inwardly from the corner of the carton included by said section, said outer aps being foldable inwardly about said score lines together with said inner aps upon relative lateral shifting of said walls to co1- lapsed position, said bottom sections being moved to erected closed position normal to said walls by erecting movement of said walls, a locking tongue on one of said outer bottom aps, a locking slit formed in the other of said outer bottom fiaps intersecting the folding score line of that ilap at substantially the outer free end of the score line, said tongue having an indentation opening outwardly along one side in a direction away from the folding score line of said one of said outer bottom aps for forming ya locking shoulder, said tongue being moved into said slit by the erecting movement of said bottom closure sections for bringing said shoulder into locking engagement with the margin of said slit, and locking means on two of said top closure aps for releas-l ably locking said top closure aps in closed position in the erected position of the carton, said closure wall being de tachable 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.

2. 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 aps, each of said outer aps being fixedly secured to the adjacent inner ap for forming the bottom of the carton in sections, the outer ap of each section having a folding score line extending thereacross diagonally inwardly from the corner of the carton included by said section, said outer aps being foldable inwardly about said score lines together with said inner flaps upon relative lateral shifting of said walls to collapsed position, said bottom sections being moved to erected closed position normal to said walls by erecting movement of said walls, a locking tongue on one of said outer bottom flaps, a locking slit formed in the other of said outer bottom flaps intersecting the folding score line of that flap at substantially the outer free end of the score line, said tongue having an indentation opening outwardly along one side in a direction away from the folding score line of said one of said outer bottom flaps for forming a locking shoulder, said tongue being moved into said slit by the erecting movement of said bottom closure sections for bringing said shoulder into locking engagement with the margins of said slit, and locking means on two of said top closure flaps for re` leasably locking said top closure aps in closed position in the erected position of the carton, said closure wall being formed with 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 ap connected with said closure wall for movement t0 open position to expose the carton contents with the carton in erected position.

References Cited in the lile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,388,190 Smart Oct. 30, 1945 2,655,304 Inman et al. Oct. 13, 1953 2,686,629 Inman Aug. 17, 1954

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