US2895662A - Carton - Google Patents

Description

O. L. VINES July 21, 1959 CARTON Filed Oct. 25, 1954 s Re %s mw wm m. m vL umm mr. T o A C. s GYM, B

CARTON Oscar L. Vines, New York, N.Y., assignor to Continental Paper Company, Ridgefield Park, NJ., a corporation of New Jersey Application October 25, '1954, Serial No. 464,385

4 claims. (cl. 229-28) This invention relates to partitioned cartons useful as carriers for perishable articles.

In my Patent No. 2,775,390, issued December 25, 1956, there is described and claimed a partitioned carton particularly adapted to the packaging of fruitsv such as apples' and peaches. This carton is so constructed as to individually support and cradle a number of apples or peaches or the like arranged in two parallel rows. Actual field tests have demonstrated that the carton is wholly satisfactory under normal conditions, and test shipments of several truck loads of these cartons loaded with treeripened peaches arrived at their marketing destination without any damage whatsoever.

In the packaging of peaches, however, it is becoming common practice to treat the peaches with an aqueous treating solution to inhibit mold growth on the surface of the fruit. In the aforementioned field tests, the peaches were loaded in the cartons each of which held two rows of four peaches each. The lfilled cartons were then stood on end and were drenched with the fruit-treating solution in suflicient amount to insure thorough treatment of each peach. After the thus-treated lled cartons had drained, they were transferred to a truck where they were again stacked on end and shipped to market. This drastic treatment of the wet and loaded carton tended to cause warping of the carton, and there was a pronounced tendency toward sagging of the lower fold section of each carton compartment which bore the weight of the peach in each compartment.

In order to provide a partitioned carton capable of supporting articles such as peaches and apples in spite of complete immersion in a treating liquid, or exposure to rain, I have devised a partitioned carton structure which will fully support the articles and resist warping even when the carton is thoroughly wet. The carton of my present invention comprises a bottom panel, a pair of side panels extending upwardly from the side extremities of the bottom panel, a main interior partition panel parallel to the side panels and extending upwardly from the central portion of the bottom panel, and a pair of top panels overlying the bottom panel and extendingl inwardly from the upper extremities of the side panels. One of the top panels is connected to the upper extremity of the main partition panel, and the other top panel is connected to a reinforcing partition panelwhich is joined along its distal longitudinal edge to the mainpartition panel. Each of the top panels is provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced pairs of fold sections each pair of which is defined (a) by a transverse cut line extending across the top panel and into the upper portion of the adjoining respective side wall and partitioned panels and (b) by a pair of oppositely bowed transverse fold lines similarly extending across the top panel and communicating at their ends with the lateral extremities of the transverse cut line.

These and other novel features of the partitioned 'carton of my invention will be more fully understood by reference to the accompanying drawings in which l ice Fig. lis a plan view of the blank from which my new carton is formed;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the carton formed from the blank of Fig'. 1;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the carton' shown in Fig. 2 in its fully opened condition; and

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a jig for openingv the carton of Fig. 2 into the form shown in Fig. 3.

The partitioned carton of my present invention is formed from the blank shown in Fig. 1. Proceeding serially from` left to right in Fig. 1, the blank comprises a glue panel 5, a main interior partition panel 6, a first top panel 7, a first side wall panel 8, a bottom panel 9, a second side wall panel 10, a second top panel 11, and a reinforcing partition panel 12. Each of the top panels is provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced pairs 0f fold sections 13 and 14. Each pair of fold sections 13 and 14 is defined (a) by a transverse cut line 15 extending across the top panel and into the adjacent portions of the adjoining respective side wall and partitioned panels and (b) yby a pairof oppositely bowed transverse fold lines 16 and 17 similarly extending across the top panel and communicating at their ends with the lateral extremities of the transverse cut line 15. 'For example, each transverse cut line 15 extending across the top panel 7 further extends a substantial distance into the adjoining portions of the main partition panel 6 and of the first side wall panel 8, and the bowed transverse fold lines 16 and 17 are positioned on opposite sides of the cut line 15 and communicate at their ends with the extremities of the cut line 15. In the presently preferred embodiment of the invention, each bowed line extending across a top panel consists of two straight score lines obliquely intersecting at the center of the top panel. Regardless of whether the fold lines 16 and 17 are straight or curved, the terminal portions of these lines advantageously consist of a cut line 18 arranged normal tor the cut line 15 at the extremities thereof. The fold sections 13 and 14 are similarly dened in the top panel 11 by the transverse cut line 15 and the bowed transverse cut lines 16 and 17 communicating at their ends with the extremities of the cut line 15 which extends a substantial distance into the adjoining portions of the second side wall panel 10 and of the reinforcing partition panel 12. It should be noted that the transverse cut line 15 does not extend more than about halfway across the reinforcing partition panel 12 so that the distal longitudinal edge portion 19 of this panel may serve as a glue panel.

The carton blank is advantageously further provided with the other features described in my aforementioned application and including a centrally divided handle ap 2i) and knock-out openings 21 positioned in the bottom panel, and substantially yoke- shaped cut lines 22 and 23 positioned in the fold sections 13 and 14 adjacent the apexes of the bowed transverse fold lines 16 and 17, respectively. The yoke-shaped cut lines are so positioned on Ieach fold section that the arch of the yoke lies opposite and extends in a direction opposite to the arch formed by the oblique intersection of the straight fold lines comprising the transverse fold lines 16 and 17. Thus, the arch of each yoke-shaped cut defines a tab extending over each cell of 'the carton when the carton is opened by folding the fold sections 13 and 14 downwardly into the carton.

In assembling the partitioned carton of my invention from the blank shown in Fig. 1, a waterproof adhesive is applied directly under the shaded area 24 on the bottom panel 9 and along the shaded area 25 on the top surface of the distal edge portion of the reinforcing partition panel 12. The blank is then folded tudin'al fold lines 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31 and 32 so that the glue panel 5 is brought in juxtaposition to the adabout its longil' hesive-covered area 24 on the bottom panel and so that the adhesive-covered area `25 of the reinforcing partition panel 12 is brought into contact With the central longitudinal portionV of thel main partition panel 6 Vas shown in Fig. 2. Although the carton haslbeenshown in Fig. 2 in its erected form, it will normally be'assembled in its liat folded condition andthenerected ubythe.

user into the form shown in Fig. 2.

The cellular partitions in the'erectedcarton are formedV carton can be opened readily by hand. Using'either procedure, the fold sections 13 and 14- of each pair thereof are folded downwardly and divergently inwardly into the interior of the carton. As the fold sections are forced downwardly, the portion of each fold sectionV along the longitudinal fold lines 27 and 28 (or 31 and 32, as the case may be) snaps downwardly into a folded position which is the reverse of its starting position. This snap-folding action is facilitated by the provision of oblique score lines 33 and 34 extending from the intersection of the longitudinal fold lines 27 and 28 (for example) with the transverse fold lines'16 and 17, respectively, to the inboard portion of the transverse cut line 15.

When the jig of my invention, which is shown in Fig. 4, is used in opening the set-upcarton, the carton in the form shown in Fig. 2 is placed in contact with guide members 35 of the jig. The openings 21 in the bottom panel of the carton will then be aligned with pins 36 struck up from a jig base 37. The pins 36, though not as high as the guide members 35, are of suficient height so that they extend upwardly the full height of the interior of the carton so as to support the portions 38 of the top panel adjacent the fold sections 13 and 14. Thus, these portions 38 of the top panel are supported while the fold sections 134 and 14 are being forced downwardly into the interior of the carton.

When the fold sections 13 and 14 assume their final positions as shown in Fig. 3, the oblique fold lines 33 and 34 contribute to the rounded contour of each fold section so as to`provide substantially full-surface contact and support for an article positioned within each cell. It will also be observed that the movement of the fold sections 13 and 14 about the bowed transverse fold lines 16 and 17 causes the residual portions of the top panels to assume an arched contour. In spite of the tension which this imparts to the carton structure, the freedom of the reinforcing partition panel 12 to draw away from the top portion of the adjoining main partitionI panel 6 permits fold sections 13 and 14 to assume the aforementioned rounded contour. Moreover, -if the `article in-any cell is slightly larger than the size for which .thecarton was designed, the fold sections of each cell are capable of being displaced further apartV longitudinally of the carton by virtue of the spring-like resilience of the adjacent but unconnected upper portions of thereinforcing partition panel 12 and the main partition panel 6. Nevertheless, theportion of the reinforcing partition panel 12 adhesively secured to the main partition panel 6 serves to strengthen the latter and further serves to anchor the inboard end of each of the fold sections 13 and 14 to the main partition panel. Thus, the entire central portionvof the carton is reinforced vand :thezinboard ends of the fold sections are fullysupportedwhen the filled carton is upended.

It will also beobserved that the bowed transverse fold lines 16 and 17 extend completelyacrossl 'the-'central portion of each top panelandconverge orwsubstantially touch `one another. centrally ofl :the top panel- -knobs fde'ff lined by the yoke- shaped cut lines 22 and 23. I have found that the provision of the bowed fold lines 16 and 17 across these knobs renders them more resilient to inward deflection for admission of an article into each compartment while nevertheless firmly resisting outward deflection which would otherwise permit the article to fall out of its compartment lwhen the carton is upended or overturned.

The resulting carton structure of my invention is thereforeA particularly adapted to withstand the strains imposed upon itv when the loaded carton is completely wetted by a treating solution or by rain and thus resists any tendency .for the carton to warp and for the wet fold sections to fail to cradle and support the article positioned in each cell.l

I claim:

l. A partitioned carton comprising a bottom panel, a'pair of side panels'extending ,upwardly from the side extremities of the bottom panel, .a main interior partition. panel parallelito the side panels and extending upwardly from thev central portion of the bottom panel, and a pair of toppanels overlying the bottom panel and extending inwardly. from the upper extremities of the side panels, one `of the top panels being connected to the upper extremity of the mainpartition panel and the other top ypanel beingconnected to a reinforcing partitionpanel which is joined only along its distal longitudinal edge to a portion of the main partition panel below the line 'along which the proximate top panel is connected, each of the top panels being provided with a plurality of '-longitudinallyspaced pairs of fold sections each pair of which is -delined (a) by a transverse cut line extending across the top panel and into the upper portion of the adjoiningrespective side wall and partition panels and `(b) by a pair of oppositely bowed transverse fold lines similarly extendingV across the top panel and communicatingat their ends with the lateral extremities of the transverse cut line.

2. A partitioned carton comprising a bottom panel, a pair of side panels extending vupwardly from the side extremities of the bottom panel, a main Ainterior partition panel parallel to the side panels and extending upwardlyfrom thecentral portion ofthe bottom panel, and a pair of top panels overlying the bottom panel and extending inwardly from the upper extremities of the side panels with which they are integrally connected, one of the top panelsbeing integrally connected to the upper extremity of the main partition panel and the other top panel beingintegrally connected to a reinforcing partition panel `which is joined only along its distal longitudinal edge to` a substantially central longitudinal portion of themain partition panel, each of the top panels being .provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced pairs of fold sections each pair of which is defined '(a) .by a transverse cut line extending across the top panel and into the upper portion of the adjoining respective side wall and partition panels and (b) by va pair of oppositely bowed transverse fold lines similarly extending across the top panel and communicating at their ends withI the lateral extremities of the transverse cut line.

3. A partitioned' carton Vcomprising a bottom panel, a pair of side panels extending upwardly from the side extremities of the bottom panel, a main interior partition panel parallel to the side panels and extending upwardly from the central portion of the bottom panel, and a pair of top panels overlying the bottom panel and extending inwardly from.. the upper extremities of the side panels, oneof the top panels being connected to the upper extremity' ofthe main partition panel and theother 'top panel.` being connected to a reinforcing partition panel which is joined only along its distal longitudinal edge vto -a-portion ofthe main partition panel below-'theline-along which lthe proximate top panel is connected,i eacliof 'fthe topgpanels being provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced pairs of fold sections each pair of which is defined (a) by a transverse out line extending across the top panel and into the upper portion of the adjoining respective side wall and partition panels and (b) by a pair of oppositely bowed transverse fold lines each composed of two straight but obliquely intersecting score lines collectively extending across the top panel and communicating at their ends with the lateral extremities of the transverse cut line.

4. A partitioned carton comprising a bottom panel, a pair of side panels extending upwardly from the side extremities of the bottom panel, a main interior partition panel parallel to the side panels and extending upwardly from the central portion of the bottom panel, and a pair of top panels overlying the bottom panel and extending inwardly from the upper extremities of the side panels, one of the top panels being connected to the upper extremity of the main partition panel and the other top panel being connected to a reinforcing partition panel which is joined along its distal longitudinal edge to the main partition panel, each of the top panels4 being provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced pairs of fold sections each pair of which is defined (a) by a transverse cut line extending across the top panel and into the upper portion of the adjoining respective side wall and partition panels and (b) by a pair of opi positely bowed transverse fold lines each composed of two straight but obliquely intersecting score lines collectively extending across the top panel and communicating at their ends with the lateral extremities of the transverse cut line, each fold section being provided with a yoke-shaped cut line so positioned that the arch of the yoke lies opposite and extends in a direction opposite to the arch formed by the intersection of the aforementioned two straight score lines.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,010,683 Williams Aug. 6, 1935 2,015,278 Meyer Sept. 24, 1935 2,385,401 Buttery Sept. 25, 1945 2,525,125 Goodyear Oct. 10, 1950 2,527,702 Buttery Oct. 31, 1950 2,540,065 Williamson Ian. 30, 1951 2,586,551 Mobley Feb. 19, 1952 2,690,866 Kirby Oct. 5, 1954 2,717,115 Vines Sept. 6, 1955 2,717,116 Vines Sept. 6, 1955 2,775,391 Vines Dec. 25, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 373,393 Great Britain May 26, 1932

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