US3009625A

US3009625A - Collapsible container

Info

Publication number: US3009625A
Application number: US785850A
Authority: US
Inventors: Edward M Ackley; Edward J Pfeiffer
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1959-01-09
Filing date: 1959-01-09
Publication date: 1961-11-21
Anticipated expiration: 1978-11-21

Description

NOV. 21, 1961 ACKLEY ETAL 3,009,625

COLLAPSIBLE CONTAINER Filed Jan. 9, 1959 INVENTORS. EDWARD M. ACKLEY 8| EDWARD J'. PFEIFFER BY @411; FA

ATTORNEYS 3,009,625 Patented Nov. 21, 1961 3,009,625 COLLAPSIBLE CONTAINER Edward M. Ackley, North Wales, Pa, and Edward J. Pfeifier, Cherry Hill Apts, East, Merchantville, NJ. Filed Jan. 9, 195), Ser. No. 785,850 6 Claims.- (Cl. 22941) This invention relates to containers. 'More particularly, this invention relates to containers of various kinds which after use in shipment may efiiciently be collapsed, stored and transported for subsequent re-use.

Customarily, many different kinds of containers are used for the shipment of numerous articles in commerce after which they are ordinarily discarded. Such uneconomical practice has been followed primarily because of the lack of an economically feasible method of collapsing, storing and transporting said containers for re-use. Ac cordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a container of sturdy construction, capable of use for shipment in commerce of a large variety of articles, yet one which may be easily collapsed into a flat and compact state for efficient storage, reshipment and re-use.

It is another object of this invention to provide a container that may be conveniently stored or reshipped with a minimum of inconvenience and utilization of space.

It is another object of this invention to provide a container adapted to minimal operations in its handling, reshipment and storage for re-use.

It is another object of this invention to provide a container which when erected has a completely imperforate top, bottom and sides, yet when collapsed has convenient perforations for the alignment of said containers and the securing of them in a stacked condition.

It is another object of this invention to provide a closure device for a container whereby the man-ing, tearing, defacing, or otherwise damaging of said container upon opening after shipment may be entirely eliminated.

Other objects and attendant advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed descrip tion of the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a view in perspective of a fiberboard container constructed in accordance with this invention in a collapsed and stacked condition.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a fiberboard container constructed in accordance with this invention in the collapsed state.

FIG. 3 is a view in perspective of a fiberboard container constructed in accordance with this invention in an erect state showing the top and bottom flaps open.

FIG. 4 is a View in perspective of a fiberboard container constructed in accordance with this invention showing bottom flaps closed and with two of the top flaps turned down partially to expose the interior.

FIG. 5 is a view in perspective of a fiberboard container constructed in accordance with this invention with the bottom flaps closed and all of the top fiaps closed except one longitudinal side flap having a perforate opening.

FIG. 6 is a view in perspective of a fiberboard container showing the appearance of the container when erect with the top and bottom flaps closed to form imperforate surfaces and banded by a closure device constructed according to this invention.

The following description is directed to the specific form of the invention as shown in. the drawings and is not intended to be addressed to the scope of the invention itself, which is capable of being practiced in a wide variety of forms and arrangements.

Adverting herewith to the specific form of the invention illustrated in the drawings, the container C is formed of body portions consisting of two opposing end portions 10 and 11, and two

opposing side portions

12 and 13. Each of the

body portions

10, 11, 12 and 13 are contiguous and hinged at each interface between the respective side and end portions. When the container is erect and unfolded, as shown in FIG. 3, the perforate top flap 14 extends upward from and forms a continuous extension of the body portion 10, and likewise extending upward from and forming a continuous extension of the body portion 11 is the imperforate top flap 16. 'Extending upward from and forming a continuous extension of body portion 12 is the imperforate flap 15 and extending upward from and forming a continuous exten- "sion of body portion 13-is the perforate top flap 17. Similarly the bottom flaps 1 8, 19, 20 and 21 extend downward from the respective body portions of which they form continuous extensions. a

A circular hole 24 is provided in one corner of the .top end flap 14 and a similar circular hole 25 is provided in an adjacent corner of the top side flap 17. Likewise, a circular hole 26is positioned in one corner of the bottom side flap 19 and a similar hole 27 is provided in adjacent corner of bottom end flap 20.

Located at the interface between

body portions

10 and 12 is a hinge 28 formed on the creasable edge of the container. Similarly hinge 29 is formed of the creasable edge between the interface of body portions 11 and 12; hinge 30 is formed of the creasable edge of the container between the interfaces of body portions 11 and 13; and hinge 31 is formed of the creasable edge at the interfaces of

body portions

10 and 13. The top flap portions of the container are also in hinged relationship to the body portions of the container, a hinge 32 being provided between the end top flap 14 and end body portion 10, a hinge 33 between side top flap 15 and side body portion 12, a hinge 34 between end top flap 16 and end body portion 11, and hinge 35 between side top flap '17 and side body portion '13. 'The bottom flaps of the container are similarly hinged, a hinge 36 being located between end body portion 10 and end bottom flap 18, hinge 37 between side body portion 12 and side bottom flap 19, hinge 38 between end body portion 11 and end bottom flap 20, hinge 39 between side body portion 13 and side bottom flap 21.

Located within the interior portion of the container C I is a generally Z-shaped reinforcing and separating wall 49 which is capable of being folded along the edges 41, l

42, 43, 44, 45, and 46 when thecontainer is reduced to its collapsed state. The wall 40 is secured to the interior of

side body portions

12 and 13 by means of

staples

47 and 47a respectively. a In practice, in order to insure the re-usability of the container C by eliminating the damage to its exterior surface usually caused by conventional methods of seeming the flap portions in place after the container has been provided with its contents, a band 51 of kraft paper, or the like, is provided to encircle the container lengthwise after thefiaps haveibeen folded inwardly of the body portion of the container to form the top and bottom thereof, as shown inFIG. 6. As illustrated, the band 51 is wrapped around the closed container in a direction parallel to the line of coincidence between the edges of flap portions and 17 of the top of the container and between the edges of

flap portions

19 and 21 of the bottom of the container. The strip of paper which is to form band 51 is applied to the container, preferably by machine, in such manner that when it has been drawn taut, the ends of the strip will overlap by some small amount. As may be seen in FIG. 6, one edge 52 of the band 51 is overlapped by the opposite end of the strip forming the band, leaving only edge 53 of the strip exposed. A portion of gummed tape 54 is then placed along the edge 53 to secure the topmost part of the strip to the undermost part, and thereby maintaining the band 51 in its taut condition, whereby the flaps of the top and bottom are kept in a closed position suitable for shipment.

Preparatory to reducing the container C to its collapsed state the hinge flap portions of top and bottom are respectively positioned in the plane of the body portion to which they are hinged, as shown in FIG. 3. The container is then folded along the

hinge edges

29 and 31 so that

body portions

19 and 12 are brought into the same plane and become parallel to the plane of body portions 11 and 13 as shown in FIG. 2. The circular opening 24 then registers with the circular opening 25 and the circular opening 27 registers with the circular opening 26. In its collapsedstate the container may then be conveniently stacked by inserting the

vertical support posts

48 and 49 respectively through the registered

openlngs

24 and 25 and the registered

openings

26 and 27.

After stacking the containers in the aforesaid manner,

the containers may be stored or transported on the platform 50 until it is desired to re-use them.

Although not illustrated in the specific embodiment of the invention as exemplified by the drawings, it will be appreciated that in some cases, where such construction affords greater convenience and economy of manufacture, the reinforcing wall 40 may be terminated at the edges 28 and and secured to the

side body portions

12 and 13 by staples, adhesives, or otherwise.

It will further be appreciated that containers of appropriate size may be stacked upon the platform 50 in side by side relationship. When containers are stacked in such manner, the vertical support post 48 is inserted through one of the aligned openings of a collapsed container while vertical support post 49 is inserted through an aligned opening of another container. The edges of the two containers meet centrally of the platform 50 and the containers are thereby held mutually in place upon the platform. By this means, of course, twice as many containers may be held securely stacked .upon the platform without sacrifice of stability, neatness and orderliness.

It will be apparent that an important advantage of the invention is realized by the positioning of the openings in the top and bottom flaps of the container, as constructed according to this invention, so that when said container has been collapsed, the aforesaid openings are brought respectively into alignment, whereby the support posts of a platform, dolly, or the like, may be inserted through the openings to support and retain the containers securely in place, yet when the aforesaid top and bottom flaps are folded to form respectively the top and bottom of the erect container, the openings are not brought into alignment, as a consequence of which, there is provided a wholly imperforate top and bottom for the container.

Another important advantage of this invention lies in the novel closure device provided to cooperate in combination with the various other features therein to avoid the destructive effect of conventional methods of closure and provide a practical container capable of repeated re-use.

Although this inventionhas been disclosed with reference to specific forms and embodiments thereof, it will be evident that a great number of variations may be made wihtout departing from the spirit and the scope of this invention. For example, parts may be reversed,

equivalent elements may be substituted for those specifically disclosed, and certain features of the invention may be used independently of other features, all without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

1. A stackable re-usable collapsible container comprising a body portion consisting of a pair of opposing rectilinear side portions and a pair of opposing rectilinear end portions, said body portion being formed of alternating side and end portions in hinged relationship to each other, said side and end portions each having a pair of flaps formed co-extensively therewith and in hinged relationship thereto, whereby the elements of said container are brought into substantially the same plane upon collapsing said container, and whereby a top por tion and a bottom portion of said container are formed upon folding said flaps inwardly of said body portion of said container in its erected state, said container having an opening formed in the plane surfaces of at least two adjacent flaps forming said top portion and in at least two adjacent flaps forming said bottom portion, said openings in the surfaces of said adjacent flaps being positioned equidistantly from the corresponding edges thereof and being arranged to come into alignment with each other upon collapsing said container, and a generally Z-shaped reinforcing partition having the ends theroef secured at opposing diagonal corners interior of said container, said partition being adapted to fold flat within said container in the collapsed state thereof and to divide the interior of said container into at least two parts in the erected state thereof.

2. The container defined in claim 1 wherein said opposing side portions and said opposing end portions are wholly imperforate.

3. The container defined in claim 1 wherein said flaps form an imperforate top portion of said container and an imperforate bottom portion of said container when folded inwardly of said body portion of said container in its erected state.

4. A stackable re-usable collapsible container comprising a body portion consisting of a pair of opposing rectilinear side portions and a pair of opposing rectilinear end portions, said body portion being formed of alternating side and end portions in hinged relationship to each other, said side and end portions each having a pair of flaps formed co-extensively therewith and in hinged relationship thereto, whereby the elements of said container are brought into substantially the same plane upon collapsing said container, and whereby a top portion and a bottom portion of said container are formed upon folding said flaps inwardly of said body portion of said container in its erected state, said container having an opening formed in the plane surfaces of at least two adjacent flaps forming said top portion and in at least two adjacent fiaps forming said bottom portion, said openings in the surfaces of said adjacent flaps being positioned equidistantly from the corresponding edges thereof and being arranged to come into alignment with each other upon collapsing said container, a generally Z-shaped partition having the ends thereof secured at opposing diagonal corners interior of said container, said partition being adapted to fold flat within said container in the collapsed state thereof and to divide the interior of said container into at least two parts in the erected state there of, and closure means arranged to band said container whereby said flaps forming said top portion and said fiaps forming said bottom portion are maintained in their position inwardly folded of said body portion when said container is in its erected state.

5. The container defined in claim 4 wherein said closure means comprises a strip of flexible material banding said container parallel to the line of coincidence of the edges of the outermost flaps of said top portion of said container and of said bottom portion of said container.

6. The container defined in claim 5 wherein the ends of said strip overlap and are secured to each other by a transverse tape to maintain said strip in taut condition.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,695,935 Vesley Dec. 18, 1928 6 Priester Sept. 25, 1951 Crary July 6, 1954 Ratlifi June 26, 1956 Siebel et a1. Sept. 2, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 7 Great Britain July 9, 1941