US2891710A

US2891710A - Convertible shipping container and method of producing same

Info

Publication number: US2891710A
Application number: US583068A
Authority: US
Inventors: Edward F Repking
Original assignee: Crown Zellerbach Corp
Current assignee: James River Corp of Nevada
Priority date: 1956-05-07
Filing date: 1956-05-07
Publication date: 1959-06-23
Anticipated expiration: 1976-06-23

Description

June 23, 1959 Eg F. REPKING 2,891,710

CONVERTIBLE SHIPPING CQNTAINEIR` AND METHODOF PRODUCING SAME FICA-5J. 'If/9 z/ United States n Patent Ctice v2,891,710 Patented June 23, 1959 CONVERTIBLE SHIPPING CONTAINER AND IVIETHOD F PRODUCING SAlVlE Edward F. Repking, Glasgow, Mo., assignor to Crown Zellerbach Corporation, San Francisco, Calif., a corporation of Nevada Application May 7, 1956, serial No. 583,068

s claims. (Cl. 229-16) This invention appertains to a shipping container made of solid tibreboard, corrugated tibreboard and other similar bendable materials and, in particular, a shipping container that may be converted into a display container at destination.

It is often desirable to provide shipping containers for bottled goods and other consumer items which may be converted at destination to provide a display means for exhibition of the contents, for example, in retail stores and the like. It is therefore a primary object of this invention to provide, in a shipping container, means for readily and easily converting the container into a stepped display stand for the contents.

Another object of the invention is to provide a container of more or less standard configuration which is scored to provide a stepped, shelf-like display stand when the walls of the container are slit along pre-determined lines.

A further object is to provide a convertible displayshipping container which may be made into a display device without requiring special tools, adhesives or other fastening means.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon a clear and complete understanding of the construction of the invention.

The invention also consists in the parts and in the arrangements and combination of parts hereinafter described and claimed. The accompanying drawings form part of this specication 'and like numerals and symbols therein refer to like parts wherever they occur.

Figure 1 is a plan view of a blank embodying a preferred form of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a completely erected container embodying the invention, ready for shipment;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a container embodying the invention being slit to provide for conversion into a display stand;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the container shown in Fig. 3 wherein at portions of the end walls are folded inwardly preparatory to converting the container into a display stand;

Fig.y 5 is a perspective view of the container shown in Fig. 4 in a further stage of the conversion of the container into a display stand; Y

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a still further stage of the conversion of the container into a display stand;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of still another stage of the conversion of the shipping container into a display stand;

Fig., 8 is a perspective view of a completed display stand formed from the container illustrated in Fig. 2; and

Fig. 9 is a vertical, sectional view taken along line 9-9 of Fig. 8.

The blank illustrated in Fig. 1, which embodies a preferred form of the invention, is provided with a front wall 10 and back wall 11 defined in particular by a top score 12, a bottom score 13 and corner scores 14. A pair of end walls 15 are also deiined by a top score 12, a bottom score 13 and corner scores 14. In the particular embodiment of the container blank A illustrated, a relatively narrow sealing ap 16 is foldably connected to one of the comer scores 14. Also provided are top end ilaps 17 foldably connected to the end walls 15 along the top score 12. Bottom end flaps 18 are similarly foldably connected to the end walls 15 along the bottom score line 13.

Top half cover aps 19 are foldably connected to the front wall 10 and back wall 11 along the top score 12, while bottom half cover aps are foldably connected to the front and back walls along the bottom score 13.

In the particular embodiment of the container blank described, a relatively narrow Hap slot 21 is provided intermediate adjacent ap members.

A primary score or fold line 22 is provided to extend the entire length of the front wall 10, as shown in Fig. 1. The primary score 22 is disposed intermediate and parallel to the top score 12 and the bottom score 13 which deiine the front wall 10. The primary score line 22 extends across and beyond the corner scores 14 which define the front wall 10 and terminates substantially half way between the corner scores 14 defining the adjacent end walls. An auxiliary score line 23 is disposed in spaced relation below and parallel to the primary score 22. The auxiliary score line 23 extends the entire length of the front wall 10 and terminates at the corner scores 14 which define the front wall 10. In the particular embodiment illustrated, the space between the primary scores 22 and the score 23 is preferably substantially equal to 1/6 the height of the front wall.

The containers blank A may be erected and filled in any suitable manner, however, a preferred method is tofold the back wall 11 inwardly and upwardly about its adjacent corner score 14 into atwise contacting relation with the adjacent end wall 15 and front wall 10. The

endmost end wall 15 isthen foldedinwardly and upwardly I 16 may be omitted and the blank may be secured by tape ,or the like. The container is now erected by folding the front and back walls 11 and the end walls 15 about their corner scores 14 to form a tubular, rectangular body 'section.

Next, the bottom end aps 18 are folded right angularly inwardly about their adjacent bottom scores 13. The bottom half cover flaps 20 are then folded inwardlyabout their adjacent body score 13 and secured in atwise relation against the previouslypositioned bottom end flaps 18. The container is now ready for loading.

After the container is loaded, the top` is sealed by folding the top end aps 17 right angularly inwardly about the adjacent top scores 12. The top half cover flaps 19 are then folded inwardly about their adjacent top scores 12' and securedY in flatwise contacting relation to the previportion 24, shown in the blank A of Fig. 1. The vertical.

slit lines 24 extend substantially vertically downwardly from the top score 12 defining the end walls 15, and terminate at the end point 25 of the primary score 4line 22.

The container is also manually slit or severed along a corner slit line 26. The corner slit line 26 is indicated by the dotted line portion shown in Fig. l and extends coextensively with the corner score lines 14 which define the side edges of the front wall 16. The corner slit lines 26 extend from the top score line 12 downwardly to the end points 27 of the auxiliary score line 23.

In addition, the end walls 15 are slit along top slit lines 23 which are conterminous with the top score line and extend `from the vertical slit lines 24 to the corner slit line 26. The top slit lines 28 are indicated by the dotted line portion of score 12 shown in Fig. l.

The manual slitting or severing of

lines

24, 26 and 28 defines a bracing or reinforcing tab 29 which is folded right angularly inwardly about the end portions of the primary score line as shown in Fig. 4. With the bracing tabs 29 folded inwardly as described, the frontmost top half cover ap is manually forced inwardly and downwardly, as shown in Fig. 5, about a flap score 3i), positioned in substantially conterminous relation with the adjacent vertical slit line 24 and extends from the top score 12 to the free outer edge of the top end iap 17. As the ifrontmost top half cover flap is folded inwardly, the upper half 31 of the front wall l() will bend angularly outwardly as shown in the drawings. Also, an auxiliary panel 32, which is defined by the primary score 22, the auxiliary score 23 and portions of the corner slit line 26, will be disposed angularly upwardly and outwardly about the auxiliary score 23.

As shown in Fig. 6, as the frontmost top half cover flap is folded further inwardly, the auxiliary panel 32 is approximately horizontally outward in position permitting sufficient clearance to permit the top half of the front wall l() to move inwardly in horizontal relation against the previously positioned bracing tabs 29. The completely erected display container is shown in Fig. 8. ln this position, the frontmost top half cover flap is positioned vertically downwardly with respect to its adjacent back top cover flap and the flap scores 3i), and the top half of the front wall l is in atwise contacting relation with the bracing tabs 29. The auxiliary panel 32 will be in vertical conterminous relation with the lower portion of the front wall panel 10 to provide a smooth, unobstructed exterior for the display stand. The previously, inwardly disposed bracing tab 29 acts to engage and support the underface of the top half of the front wall l0. The contents which have been removed from the container may be placed on the back top half cover 19 and on the inwardly folded upper half of the front wall l0. The completely erected display container has end walls of substantially L-shaped configuration, the end walls having a recess formed therein. As seen in Fig. 8, the L-shaped end wall visible in this ligure has a recess formed in the upper left-hand corner thereof, the recess having horizontal and vertical margins.

It is intended that the invention will be susceptible of embodiments in containers of various dimensions and proportions. However, for purposes of illustration, one embodiment of the invention is in a container having a depth of ll inches, a height of 12 inches and a length of l inches. The particular dimensioned embodiment described is `designed to contain 12% quart bottles of beverage. The horizontal display panel which is formed from the upper portion of the front wall l) is approximately 51/2 inches in depth, or, in other words, substantially 1/2 the entire depth of the container. Downwardly disposed top half cover flap member 19 is also approximately 51/2 inches in width. The auxiliary panel 32 is approximately 2 inches in width or, in other words, approximately 1/6 the height of the container.

Of course, the dimensional relationship of the walls and top closure panels may be varied to accommodate different size articles, In the particular embodiment described, the horizontal inwardly disposed display panel will readily lcontain two parallel rows of the bottled goods.

lt is also possible to employ the space within the container, particularly within the back half of the container to store the contents if desired.

It is to be understood that the embodiments herein described are illustrative and not restrictive, and it is also to be understood that the invention may be susceptible of embodiments in other modified forms, and that all such modifications which are similar or equivalent hereto come equally within the scope of the claims next appearing.

What l claim is:

l. ln a stepped display `device `convertible from a rectangular parallelepiped shipping container; the device comprising opposed upstanding L-shaped end walls each having a recess with horizontal and vertical margins, a relatively tall upstanding back wall, a relatively short upstanding front wall, and a display area having a horizontal shelf foldably connected at its front edge to a relatively narrow, vertically disposed auxiliary panel foldably connected to said upstanding front wall and having free marginal end edges, and an upstanding panel substantially equal in width to said horizontal shelf foldably connected along the back edge of the horizontal shelf and foldably connected along its upper edge to a top wall.

2. A parallelepiped container convertible to a merchandise display device, the container comprising opposed pairs of upstanding front and back and end walls connected together along corner defining scores, each end wall having inwardly disposed top and bottom end closure aps connected respectively to their upper and lower margins along top and bottom fold lines, and the front and back walls each having inwardly disposed cover aps respectively connected thereto along top and bottom score lines and fixedly secured to adjacent portions of the top and bottom end aps respectively, a primary fold line extending entirely across the front wall substantially midway the height thereof and extending conterminously onto the end walls a distance substantially equal to one half the height of the front wall, an auxiliary fold line disposed adjacent to and in spaced parallel relation to the primary fold line, the upper portion of the front wall panel defined by the primary score and the front wall top thereof fold line being disposed horizontally inwardly, and the front wall top flap and the end wall closure flap portions secured thereto being disposed vertically downwardly, foldable end wall portions connected to the end walls along end portions of said primary score and defined by one cut extending vertically upwardly from the end extremities of the primary score, a second cut extending from the auxiliary score to the top fold of the front wall along the corner defining score intermediate the front wall and the end wall, and a third cut extending along `the top fold line of the end wall between the upper ends of the first and second cuts.

3. The `invention set forth and claimed in claim 2 wherein a relief panel is provided foldably connected to the front wall panel along an auxiliary score line positioned in spaced parallel relation to the primary score line and terminating at the corner scores intermediate the front wall and the end wall.

4. The `invention set forth and claimed in claim 3 wherein the end wall top flaps are provided with crease lines extending from their free outer margins to the top fold defining their connection to the end walls in alignment with said rst cuts.

5. A container blank for a shipping container which may be converted into a display device, the blank having alternating pairs of end wall panels and alternating pairs of side wall panels connected together along upstanding corner defining fold lines, each end wall panel and side wall panel having a foldably connected top marginal closure flap, one of the side wall panels defining a front wall of the container and being provided with a substantially horizontal primary score line intermediate its height extending along lits entire length and extending to approximately midway the height of the adjacent end wall panels, the front dening side wall panel also having an auxiliary score line disposed below the primary score line in spaced parallel relation thereto and 'terminating at the vertical side margins of the front side Wall panel, and a rst pair of lines of future severance disposed along the said vertical side margins of the front side wall panel and extending from the top of the said front Wall panel downwardly and terminating adjacent lthe auxiliary score line, a second pair of lines of future severance disposed vertically upwardly from the ends of the primary score line and terminating adjacent `the top margin of the container end wall panel, score lines extending vertically from the end wall panel top score line in alignment with said second pair of lines of future severance and terminating at the outer free edges of the end wall top aps, and a third pair of lines of future severance extending in conterminous relation along the top score dening the upper margin of the container end Wall panel in between the corner defining score intermediate `the end Wall panel and the front Wall panel and the upper end of the second line of severance.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS