US3069059A

US3069059A - Container and support therefor

Info

Publication number: US3069059A
Application number: US87675A
Authority: US
Inventors: Theodore J Desbois
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1961-02-07
Filing date: 1961-02-07
Publication date: 1962-12-18
Anticipated expiration: 1979-12-18

Description

Dec. 18, 1962 T. J. DEsBoxs 3,069,059

CONTAINER AND SUPPORT THEREFOR Filed Feb. 7, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet l IN VENTOR THEODORE J. DESBOS Dec. 18, 1962 1210555015 3,069,059

CONTAINER AND SUPPORT THEREFOR THEODOE J. DESOIS BY M4 ATTORNEY United States Patent Oiiiice 3,069,059 vPatented Dec. 18, 1962 This invention relates to containers and is particularly concerned with containers having pallets or pallet-like supporting portions associated therewith.

Because of the high cost of the labor involved, manual handling of shipping containers is now minimized as much as possible. When feasible, products are shipped in bulk. However, smaller packages must often be used, and if possible in such cases the containers such as bags, cartons, and the like are placed at the time of shipping or before on a pallet. Ideally, the containers are not thereafter handled individually again until removed from the pallet by the consignee. The pallets used are usually designed to be picked up, transported, and in some cases stacked by fork-lift trucks. Y

It is an object of the present invention to provide a shipping container having a pallet or pallet-like supporting portion.

Another object of the invention is to provide a shipping container of the character described which may be conveniently used for carrying large objects, a plurality of small objects or bulk material.

Another object of the invention is to provide a packaging assembly which is easily constructed and assembled and requires comparatively little space in storage.

A further object of the invention is to provide a container of the character described which may be discarded and easily disposed of after use but which may, if desired, be collapsed for storage and reuse.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a shippingl container of the character described which is inexpensive to manufacture and use. l

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE l is a plan View of a blank of corrugated board, fiber board or similar material adapted to be assembled into a container according to the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view on an enlarged scale of a shipping container formed from the blank illustrated in FIGURE l;

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view, with parts broken away, of a modified form of container according to the invention;

FIGURE 4 is a front elevation, with a corner broken away, of the container illustrated in FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 5 is a longitudinal sectional View of a con tainer having a separable pallet portion.

Referring to FIGURE 1 in which the dashed lines represent folding scores it will be seen that in the generally preferred form the blank of corrugated board, paperboard, cardboard, or the like (which hereinafter will be generically referred to as fiberboard) is rectangular. The blank is essentially divided by the pairs of

score lines

11, 11 and 12, 12 into 7 panels. The central panel 14Aforms the bottom of the container and the

panels

15, 16 and 17 formrthe ends and sides. Since the score lines 11 are parallel and each is normal to both of the score lines 12,

following description it will be understood that each of the

panels

15, 16 and 17 is a mirror image of the other panel bearing the same reference character and that in describing the location, positioning, movement or the like of one, the other is included.

Between the

panels

16 and 17 at each side of the blank l a flap 19 is formed by spaced slits 2t) and 21 that extend inwardly from the side edges of the blank. At their outer ends the

slits

20 and 21 are closer together than at their inner ends, forming jogs 22 in the edges of the flap and constituting the outer portion of the ap a tongue 23. Between the jogs 22 and the side edges of the blank the

panels

16 and 17 project inwardly to form

tabs

25 and 26, respectively.

Score lines

30, 31 and 32, parallel to the lines 12, are formed in each of the ilaps 19. A pair of longitudinally spaced slots 34 is provided in the panel 14 to receive the tongues 23 of the aps 19.

In FIGURES 2 and 4 there is shown a shipping container according to the invention and formed from a blank such as that of FIGURE 1. The several panels and the like are identified by the same reference characters as in FIGURE 1. It will be seen that the panel 14 constitutes the bottom of the container and the panels 15 the ends thereof, the latter being bent upwardly on the score lines 11. The sides of the container are formed by the

panels

16 and 17 which are bent on the score lines 12 into overlapping position. 'Ihey may be secured together by stapling or by a suitable adhesive. The

tabs

25 and 26 are also bent up on the outer portions of the score lines 11 and rest on the panel 14 to which they may be stapled or otherwise fastened.

As best shown in FIGURE 4 the container is supported along each side by loop portions 36 formed by bending the aps 19 o n the

score lines

30, 31 and 32 and passing the end tongues 23 through the slots 34 in the base panel 14. The tongues 23 extend outwardly on the base panel over the

tabs

25 and 26 substantially to the respective side edges of panel 14 and may be held in place by a load in the container. Within each of the loop portions 36 there are provided a pair of laterally spaced longitudinal supporting blocks 3S. rl`he blocks 38 preferably extend to full length of the loop portions and are the same height as the inside height of the loop portion below the base panel 14, thereby supporting the load and maintaining the loops open. The tongue portions 23 of each of the aps 19 form bridges across the supporting blocks within the respective loops. It is preferred to form the blocks 38 of adhesively joined strips of iberboard. However, any other suitable material, for example, wood, may be employed. The spaced loops are, of course, suitable and intended for receiving the fork of a fork-lift truck.

It will be evident from the foregoing description that containers according to the invention may be easily assembled by merely folding along the score lines, fastening together the

panels

16 and 17 at the sides, securing the

tabs

25 and 26 to the bottom, folding back the aps 1'9 along the

score lines

30, 31 and 32 and inserting supporting blocks in the loops formed when the tongues 23 are passed through the slots 34.

The container thus formed is suitable for carrying large objects. Where, however, small objects or bulk materials are to be carried the container may be provided with a liner of suitable character to prevent leakage. Alternatively, the small objects or bulk material may be packaged in one or a plurality of boxes or bags which may be loaded into the container. The container may be reinforced by one or more bands 40 of steel, reinforced plastic tape, or the like extending around its perimeter.

If desiredLa lid (not shown) may be provided for a container according to the invention. Such a lid may be secured by strapping or in other suitable fashion. In the modified form of the invention shown in FIGURE 3 the es container is provided with top flaps forming a cover. In producing this modification a blank is provided in which the

panels

15, 16 and 17 forming the ends and sides of the load receiving portion are larger, extending outwardly from the score lines 1l, 11 a greater distance, the exact distance being determined by the size of the top flaps desired. Score lines (not shown) are provided to facilitate bending over the extra Width of the panels and four slits (not shown) are provided to separate the panels 1S from

panels

16 and 17, respectively, at their outer portions to permit independent folding of the flaps at the ends and sides. The overlapping portions of

panels

16 and 17 which form the flaps 42 are preferably secured together with a suitable adhesive. After the container is formed as described above, the tops of the

joined panels

16 and 17 on each side of the container are bent inwardly to form side flaps 42 and the tops of the panels fd are bent inwardly to form end flaps 43 the ends of which may be abutting as shown. The

top aps

42 and 43 may be stapled together or adhesively joined as desired. i

Containers constructed in accordance with the present invention are convenient and economical. As pointed out above, they are quickly and easily assembled and before assembly they occupy a minimum of space. They may be easily picked up and carried by fork-lift trucks. Since they are light in weight, particularly if made of corrugated paperboard, shipping charges are reduced. Further, of course, no separate pallet is necessary. Although containers according to the invention are quite durable and in many cases are reusable, their inexpensive construction permits them to be discarded after a single use where the expense of return shipping is not warranted.

Another modified form of the invention is illustrated in FIGURE 5. Here the load-receiving portion of the container device is separable from the supporting portion. The load-receiving portion may, as shown, be an ordinary box or carton 50 formed of corrugated board but modified to provide spaced slots 51 through the bottom thereof through which the tongues 52 of a pallet like that disclosed in applicants copending application Serial No. 796,360, tiled March 2, 1959, now Patent No. 2,970,797, may pass. As illustrated, the box 5t) comprises sides 53,

top flaps

54 and 55, and

bottom flaps

56 and 57. The pallet comprises a platform 60 and a pair of laterally spaced folded loops 61, each enclosing spaced supporting blocks 62 and having its end tongue 52 extending through a slot 63 in the platform and through registering slots 51 in the carton bottom. The ends of the tongues are bent outwardly within the box or carton and extexrl substantially to the respective adjacent side edges of the pallet u whereby to bridge the supporting blocks 62 within the respective loops. Although in FIGURE 5, as in the other figures also, the thickness of the panels and the like is exaggerated, it will be necessary for the inner vertical panels 65 of the loops to be wider than the outer panels thereof because of the additional layers of material through which they must pass.

It will be understood that in the modified form of the invention illustrated in FIGURE 5 the pallet portion may be of any desired size. The dimensions of the carton or box 50 may also be varied, it being possible for the box to overhang the edges of the pallet if desired. Similarly, the unitary containers illustrated in FIGURES 1-4 may also be made in various sizes as required for specific uses.

As mentioned above, shipping containers according to the invention as shown in FIGURES 1-4 may be constructed of corrugated board or other fiberboard. Corrugated board is usually preferred because of its combination of strength and lightness. In the embodiment shown in FGURE 5 the pallet portion is preferably formed from corrugated board while the load-receiving box portion may be of any desired and suitable material. In some cases, for example, boxes of wood or metal will be most useful while in other cases fiberboard will be satisfactory. Where desired or necessary suitable reinforcing means may be employed with containers according to the invention either for the load-receiving portion or the supporting portion. Thus, for example, the corners may be braced, additional support may be provided under the base of the load-receiving portion, or one or more panels or the like may be strengthened or stitfened by facings. Where iberboard is used it may, if desired, be coated or impregnated for imparting resistance to wear or water and/ or for strengthening.

Since various other modifications and changes may be u made without departing from the spirit of the invention,

it is intended that the invention shall not be construed narrowly. Rather it is desired that it shall be interpreted as broadly as permitted by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A container of tiberboard adapted for use with fork lift trucks which comprises: a rectangular load-receiving portion comprising a base and sides integral therewith and extending upwardly therefrom, and a pair of laterally spaced supporting and lifting loops beneath said loadrcceiving portion and extending along opposite sides thereof, a pair of supporting blocks extending longitudinally Within each of said loops, said blocks being laterally spaced wi.hin each of said loops whereby to maintain said loops open and to provide centrally within said loops longitudinal passages for reception of the fork of a fork lift truck, each of said loops being formed of a flap folded rectangularly beneath said base and having a tongue portion extending upwardly through said base to the upper face thereof and extending outwardly on said base substantially to the respective adjacent side edge thereof, thereby to form a bridge across said supporting blocks within said loop.

2. A container as set forth in claim l in which said loops are integral with said base.

3. A container as set forth in claim 2 in which at least one of said sides is provided with a tab bent inwardly and secured to said base.

4. A container as set forth in claim 2 in which said sides comprise portions adapted to be folded over to form a cover for said load-receiving portion.

5. A container as set forth in claim 2 in which said sides comprise panels integral with said base and bent upwardly therefrom and two of said sides are formed by overlapping of a pair of said panels.

6. A container as set forth in claim 5 in which each of said overlapping panels is provided with a tab bent inwardly at the bottom thereof and secured to said base.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,142,142 Newsom Jan. 3, 1939 2,494,730 Thursby Jan. 17, 1950 2,692,747 Strauss Oct. 26, 1954 2,798,685 Mooney July 9, 1957 2,902,199 Breton Sept. l, 1959