US2938623A - Container - Google Patents

Description

May 31, 1960 R. N. ElcHoRN 2,938,623

CONTAINER Filed April 30. 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 A TTORNEV May 31, 1960 Filed April 30, 1957 R. N. EICHORN CONTAINER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 31, 1960 R. N. ElcHoRN 2,938,623

CONTAINER Y Filed April so, 1957 s sheets-sheet s 4mined number of cards.

nited States Patent CONTAINER Robert N. Eichorn, Endicott, N.Y., assignor to International Business Machines Corporation, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Apr. 30, 1957, Ser. No. 656,022

6 Ciaims. (Cl. 20,6-60) requirements and therefore it is very desirable to have adequate containers for these cards during shipment and storage to prevent damage to the cards. Briey, an adequate container would be one which 'contains a predetermined number of cards in `a manner that the edges l of the cards would not be damaged, that the cards would not warp or curl, that the cards would be easily accessible and that the cards would not be exposed unnecessarily to the atmosphere.

Attempts to provide a single adequate container heretofore have been rather unsuccessful and at best unf satisfactory to the trade. The paper stock used for the manufacture of the tabulating cards generally is allowed to vary in caliper within tolerable limits and it is necessary to accommodate this variation in card caliper Where a predetermined number of cards are to be within a container. For example, if an `acceptable. tolerance is plus or minus .0004 inch and it is desired to have all cartons contain 2000 cards, it would be necessary to .provide a container which could accommodate the variance in capacity which could occur under the tolerances indicated in order to compactly contain the predeter- Since if the cards are not compactly contained, damage will occur during shipment.'

An obvious solution to the problem would be to provide a container having a capacity to contain a given number of cards having a maximum tolerable caliper. Any variance from the maximum tolerable caliper could be accommodated by either putting in more cards than the order requires or filling up the void space created by smaller caliper cards with shim stock. In either event, whether the carton would be lled with extra cards or with shim stock the operation would become quite costly.

Hence it is a principal object of this invention to provide a variable capacity container for retaining varying caliper articles in a manner that the articles will not be damaged by handling of the container or by exposure to the elements. 1 A further object of this invention is to provide an inexpensive variable capacity container.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a variable-capacity container which is easily and quickly assembled for filling and closure.

Another further object of this invention is to provide an improved variable capacity container that does not require separate means for securing the container against collapsing. 1

Still another object of this invention is to provide an l.improved variable capacity container that can be maintained in a closed condition without separate closing means.

The requirements of a container for articles such as tabulating cards diier as to whether the cards are be'- ing shipped or whether the cards are being retained in the container for le purposes. While the container is in transit, accessibility to the cards is of little importance, however, protection of the cards from damage is of major importance. When the container is being used as a file, accessibility to the cards is of considerable importance as well as protection of the cards from damage. Of course, it is highly Vdesirable to have a single container which will satisfy these conditions.

Accordingly, it is still another object of this invention to provide a variable capacity container which provides maximum protection to the articles contained therein during shipment of the containers and to provide greater accessibility to the articles4 during storage.

Damage to the articles such as tabulating cards will be reduced according to the tightness or density of packing the articles.

Therefore, it is still a further object of this invention to provide a variable capacity container which will compactly or densely contain a predetermined num-ber of articles which are allowed to vary in caliper.l

f The articles such as tabulating cards are produced at a very rapid rate and since it is desirable to package these articles as they are being produced it would. be -advantageous to have a container which could be ',quickly assembled and readied for shipment; whereas after shipment it may be additionally desirable to modify the assembly of the container in a manner which could have been done in the original assembly but whichinvolves moretime. Hence to increase the over-al1 desirable characteristics of the container, the assembly can be further modified after shipment to enhance the storage facilities of the container.

Therefore a still further object of this invention is to provide a variable capacity container which can be assembled for lling and be readied for shipment very rapidly and subsequently can additionally be modified to become more suitable for storage or file purposes.

Other objects of the invention will be pointed out in the following description and claims and illustratedin the accompanying drawings, which disclose, by way tof examples, the principle of the invention and the'best mode, which has been contemplated, of applying that principle.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a plan view of the blank used in forming section A of the container.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the blank used in forming sec'- tion B of the container.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the container as it would 'appear in its assembled form for shipping; however with the cards removed and with the cover open.

Fig 4 is a left side elevation of the container asit would appear in its assembled form for shipping.

, Fig. 5 is a perspective View of the sections A andB withthe folds having been made for assembling the container in a form for shipping.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the assembled container having been filled with cards and showing one of the end iiaps being folded inward, the other end flap having been folded.

F ig. 7 is a fragmentary View in full line of the insertable end panel as it would appear if removed from the carton shown in Fig. 5. l

lFig. 8 is a perspective view of the container assembled in an alternate form, that is, withV the locking ears folded inward and the end portion being folded downward 180 and with the wing elements locked with sides of slideable bottom portion.

Fig. 9 is a perspective View of the container assembled in an alternate form, that is, with the locking ears folded inward 90 and the end portion folded downward 90 and with the other wing elements locking with the locking ears.

VThecontaner or carton comprises two sections A and `B which are made from blanks illustrated in Figs. Vl and 2, respectively. The section A, Fig 1comprises a body 10 formed fromsuitable material Vsuch as paper board or thelike. The body 10 is normally scored longitudinally along the dotted lines 11 and 12 and cut longitudinally along the lines 13, 14, 15 and 16 and transversely along the lines 17, 18 and 10ar so that respective portions 19 and 20 may be folded upwardly to provide lside walls.

VThe longitudinal cut lines 13 and 14 and the transverse cut line 10a are notcomplete cut lines but are interrupted to provide small ties or lands 13a, 14a and 10b, respectively, thereby retaining a panel 10c integral with the body 10 until the carton is to be assembled. At the time for assembly of the carton, the assembler merely ruptures the holding ties 13a, 14a and 10b to remove the panel 10c. The function of the longitudinal score lines on the panel 10c will be described hereinafter. The cuts made along the lines 17 and 18 are made in the manner shown for purposes also to be described hereinafter.

The respective portions 19 and 20 are normally scored transversely along the lines 2,1, 22, 23 and 24 so that Arespeetive portions 25, 26, 27 and 28 may fold inwardly after removing panel 10c to provide end aps.

The body 10 is crushed transversely between the dotted lines 29 and 30 but line 30 is heavily scored to insure that a portion 31 to be folded upwardly will be folded therealong and thereby forming an end portion. The end `portion 31 is heavily scored transversely along the dotted line 32 and lightly scored transversely along the dotted line 33 and normally scored longitudinally along the dotted lines 34 and 35 to provide an end portion 36 and ear portions 38 and 37, respectively. The ear portions 37 and 38 may be folded inwardly 90 to form locking ears which lock over the inwardly folded end aps 27 and 28 as the end portion 36 as shown in Figs. 3, 5, and 6 is folded downward 90. In order to provide maximum support for the articles and also provided a good edge for locking the ear portions 37 and 38 over the inwardly folded end flaps 27 and 28, the 'cuts along the lines 17 and 18 are made so that edges 27a and 28a of the end flaps 27 and 28 will just abut each other to provide a strong support for the articles when held in contact with the end portion 31 by the ear portions 37 and 38, see Figs. 3 and 5. The edges 37a and 38a on the ear portions 37 and 38 and formed by the cuts 17 and 18 lock the end aps 27 and'28 with the end portion 31 as the end portion 36 is folded downward 90, also see Figs. 3 and 5` The end aps Iand 26 when folded inwardly, Figs. 3 vand v6, do not abut each other to provide a strong support for the articles as furnished by the abutting end flaps 27 and 28. However, when filling the container, the panel 10c is detached from the body portion 10 and is inserted after the last article is placed in the container to provide added supportfor the articles as shown in Fig. 6. The panel 10c is crushed in the areas 10d and 10e and is 'longitudinally perforated along the lines 10f, 10g, 10h and 10i; the purpose of the crushed areas and perforated lines will be described hereinafter.

The ear portions 37 and 38 may be folded inwardly 180 along the score lines 35 and 34, respectively, as the end portion 36 is folded downward 180, see Fig. 8. The edge 36a of the end portion 36 is adapted to lock in the crushed area between the lines 29 and 30.

The ear portions 37 and 38 are perforated along lines '39 and 40, respectively, to permit deforming of the areas between the cut line 17 and the line 39 and between the cut line 18 and the line 40 by the area between the dotted 4 lines 32 and 33 as the ear portions 37 and 38 are folded inwardly 180 and the end portion 36 is folded downward 180.

-Tire section B, Fig. 2, comprises a body 50 also formed from suitable material such as paper board or the like. The body 50 is normally scored longitudinally along the dotted lines 51 and 52 so that respective portions 53 and 54 may be folded upwardly to provide side walls. Further the body 50 is scored transversely along the dotted'lines 59 and 60 to form portions 61 and 62, respectively, and to facilitate folding of the body 50 in a manner to be described hereinafter and the so-fonned portion 61 is normally scored longitudinally along the dotted lines 55 and 56 to permitv respective portions 57 and 58 to be folded upwardly.

When preparing a container for lling, Figs. 5 and 6, side yWalls 19 and 20 of section A are folded upwardly with respect to the body portion 10 and the end aps 27 and 28 are folded inwardly 90, respectively. The end portion 31 is folded upwardly 90 so as to l-ie in contact with the inwardly folded end aps 27 and 28. The locking ears 37 and 38 are then Vfolded inwardly 90, respectively, and the end flap 36 is folded downwardly 90 thereby carrying the locking ears 37 and 38 over the inwardly folded end aps 27 and 28 to lock the end portion 31 and the side walls 19 and 20 in -their upwardly folded positions. The portions 57 and 58 of section B are folded upwardly 90 from the portion 61 and section B in this condition is thenv placed so that portion l61 lies above and in contact with the body portion v10 of section A and that the upwardly folded portions 57 and 58 lie in contact with the side walls 19 and 20, respectively. The container isflled from the end portion 31 toward the end portion 62. As mentioned above, the container is to hold a predetermined number of articles such as tabulating cards which are allowed to vary in caliper within specified limits. Hence the score lines` 21 and 22 are made so that if all the articles were of a caliper of the specified lower limit, the articles would ill the container up to the score lines 21 and 22. However, if all of the articles are of a caliper of the specified upper limit, the articles would fill the container to marks 47 and 48 mad-e on the end flaps 25 and '26, respectively. The edges 63 vand 64 of the upwardly folded portions 57 and 58 are brought to bear against the inwardly folded end v aps 25 and 26 at the score lines '21 and 22 or along thelength of the end flaps 25 and 26, respectively, in accordance with the position the articles have lled the `container by sliding the portion `61 along the body portion 10. It is seen in Fig. 4 that when articles fill the container beyond the edge 10a of the body portion 10, the portion 61 extends beyond the.

edge 10a to perform the same vfunctionlas the body portion 10. Upon filling the container the panel 10c is positioned in contact with the last article placed in the container, thereby protecting the articles and providing a good edge for facilitating the folding of the end flaps 25 and 26 when the articles ll the container beyond the score lines 21 and 22.

As the panel 10c is positioned in contact with the last article placed in the container, the crushed areas' 10d and 10e between the score line 10g and the cut line 13 and between the score line 10i and the cut line 14 arefcaused to fold upward along the score lines 10j land 10h, and as the end flaps 25 and 26 are folded inward the crushed areas aforementioned are folded along the scorelines 10g and 10i over the crushed areas between the score line 10;c and a line `10j formed by the crush operation, and between the score line 10h and the line 10k formed by the crush operation, see Fig. 7. By crushing the areas indicated the thickness of the panel 10c is not increased as one crushed area is folded over the other. However, by folding one crushed area over the other, the articles are underhigh compression near their ends to be densely or tightly held in the container.

With the end aps 25 and 26 folded inwardly over the panel c as shown in Fig'. 3, the articles will be compactly held inthe container as the portion 62 is folded up wardly 90 om the portion 61 to bear against the end flaps 25 and 26. The side portions 53 and 54 are then folded inwardly 90 to the body portion 50 which is subsequently folded downward 90 along the score line 60 so that the edges 65 and 66 of the side portions 53 and 54, respectively, lock over the inwardly folded end aps 25 and 26 to hold the portion 62 tightly against the end flaps 25 and 26, and consequently hold thearticles tightly n the container. It will be remembered that the end portion 36 is folded downward 90 to lie over the articles, hence when the articles are of maximum tolerable caliper, the body portion 50 folded downward 90 along the score line 60 will always overlap the end portion 36 as in Fig. 4 thereby insuring that the articles will be covered. This arrangement affords very goodv protection to the articles in that the articles are tightly contained and are completely covered. Of course, the fact that the container is self-sustaining Without the aid of -additional binding means allows for quickassembly of the container.-

As mentioned hereinabove, the characteristics of the container may be enhanced for storage or le purposes. In Figs. 8 and 9 it is seen that wing elements 41 and.42 formed in the side walls 19 and 20 by longitudinal cuts along the lines 41a and 42a and longitudinal scores along the dotted lines 41b and 42b and transverse cuts along the lines 41e and 42e can be pushed inwardly so that they lock with the portions 57 and 58, respectively. The wing elements 41 and 42 in effect join the sections A and B to make a one piece container, thereby facilitating greater ease in handling the container when it is empty or partially filled. Further if it is desired to store the container with the end portion 36 lying over the cards, Fig. 9, wing elements v43 and 44 formed in the side walls 19 and 20 by longitudinal cuts along the lines 43a and 44a and longitudinal scores along the dotted lines 43b and -44b and transverse cuts along the lines 43e` and 44e can be positioned inwardly to lock with the locking ears to facilitate ease in handling of the container when removing articles, since, -in the absence of articles in the container the locking ears 37 and 38 could move inward toward each other thereby reducing the effectiveness of their ability to lock the end flaps 27 and 28 with end portion 31. However, it may be more desirable to store the container so that the articles in the container may be inspected by merely pulling the container partially from storage by the facility of a pull tab 45 formed in the end portion 31 by the perforation along the arcuate lines `45a and 45b. In this instance, see Fig. 3, the locking ears 37 and 38 would be folded inward 90 and the end portion 36 would be folded downward 90. To provide easy identification of the contents of a container, see Fig. l, a removable tab 46 is formed in the end portion 31 by cuts along the lines 46a and 4617. A tabulating card having identification of the contents of the container would be placed between the end portion 31 and the end aps 27 and 28 in a manner that the identification marks would appear when removing the tab 46.

Fill marks 47 and 48 are located on the ap members 25 and 26 so that if the predetermined number of cards extends beyond the marks, there is an indication that the caliper of the cards is exceeding the upper limit of the specified tolerance and if the predetermined number of cards and the panel 10c do not extend to the score lines 21 and 22, this is an indication that the caliper of the cards is below the lower limit of the specified tolerances.

While there have been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the device illustrated and in its operation may be made by those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of the invention. 1t is the asesores D intention, therefore, to be limited only the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is: v

l. An expansible container comprising a first rectangular panel, side walls hinged to the sides of said first panel, end aps extending from the ends of said side walls, a front wall hinged to one end of said first panel, means for retaining said front and side walls in an up right position with respect to said first panel by locking said front wall with saidend aps extending from said side walls adjacent said front wall, a second panel hav.- ing two sides and two ends, side walls hinged to the sides of said second panel, a rear wall hinged to one endof said second panel, a rectangular bottom panel hinged to said-rear wall to slidably engage said first panel, and side panels extending upwardly fromthe sides of said rectangular bottom panel, one of the ends of said side panels disposed to abut said end aps extending from the other end of said side panels along a line po. sitioned in the area defined between the end of the'side panels and another line spaced inwardly from thefree edge opposite the edge connecting with the side panels, said rectangular bottom panel beingwider than said defined area.

2. An expansible container comprising two sections, one section having a bottom panel with two ends and two sides, an end panel upstanding from said bottom panel at one end, the other end being a free edge, two side panels upstanding from said bottom panel and coextensive therewith, and members extending from said side panels beyond said bottom panel which are folded inward'along a line positioned in the area defined between the end of the side panels and another line spaced inwardly from the free edge opposite the edge connecting with the side panels, the other section having a top panel with two ends and two sides disposed to lie from and parallel to said bottom panel, an end panel depending from one end of said top panel, a slideable rectangular bottom panel extending from said depending end panel and disposed to overlie said bottom panel, said slideable bottom panel being wider than said defined area, side panels upstanding from said slideable bottom panel, and side panels depending from the sides of said top panel adapted to lock said depending end panel and said side panels upstanding from said slideable bottom panel in contact with the inwardly folded portion of said members extending from said side panels.

3. A 2piece carton of the type described comprising a first element having a bottom panel with a free end, an end wall upstanding from the other end, opposing side walls upstanding from the sides of the bottom panel, and foldable end flaps extending from the opposing side walls; and a second element having a top panel spaced from and parallel to said bottom panel, an end panel dependingly attached to said top panel, a slideable panel attached to extend from said end panel and disposed to overlie said bottom panel, and side panels upstandingly attached to said slideable panel, said side panels disposed to abut the foldable end flaps along a line positioned in the area defined between the end of the side panels and another line spaced inwardly from the free edge opposite the edge connecting with the side panels, said slideable panel being wider than said defined area.

4. An expansible container for packaging a predetermined number of articles varying in caliper within given minimum and maximum tolerances comprising a first element including a rst bottom panel, a first end panel and first side panels forming a receptacle open at one end, said side panels having foldable end flaps extending therefrom, said end aps being folded along a line positioned in the area lying between the juncture of the end flaps with the first side panels and another line spaced inwardly from the end opposite the juncture to accommodate the maximum variance in caliper ofthe articles; and a second element including a top panel, a second as indicated by assenza endfpanelanda secondbottomtpanel disposed to' overlie said rst bottom panelratzfthe op'en end ofzslaid irst ele.- ment and slideable relative thereto. t'ovfextendtthee'ectixiefl'ength of the rst'bottomi-panel, said secondbottom panelubeing' wider' than said ,areay and having'second: side panels, one. of 'the endsof said second sidepanels :being in: engagement with saidren'd iiaps.'` n

. 5 An expansiblelcontainer according to elai1n4further comprising rectangular elements having oneside hinge'dlyl attached to theinner ,surfacesY ofi' said rst side panels at a. position whereby thel other side of said rectangular elements frictionally engages the upper edge of said second side panels; v

6. An expansibl'e container for packaging aV predetermined number of articles varying in'caliperwithirilgiyen minimum' and maximum tolerancesA comprising a rst elementincluding av rst bottompanel, a firstl end panel and 'rstfsidefpanels forming a receptacle open at one end,-said rst Aside panels having foldable end apsrex.-

tending, therefrom; a predetermined number of articles having aivariance in caliperwithin the rminimum `and maixmum tolerances' disposed withinsaid first element andl extendingbeyond said open end, said end flaps 13eing folded at the outer edge of the terminalnarticlefex.- tending beyond the open end whereby one portion of vReferences Cited inthe tile of thisv patent l UNITED STATES PATENTS Y Goettsoh Dec. 4, 1894 695,204 Goodnow Mandi, 1902 1,421,526 Miller July 4, 1922 1,755,693 Keppler e Apr. 22, 1930 1,915,673 Iones June, 27, 1933v 1,992,087 Miller etal. Feb. 19, 1935 2,308,384 OBrieny Ian. 12, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Great-Britain Pee. 9,1933V

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