US3074538A - Shipping container - Google Patents

Description

S. P. BELSINGER SHIPPING CONTAINER Jan. 22, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 28. 1959 43 3 38 H 'ILEL fi? I l l FIG. 2

INVENTOR. SAMUEL R BELSINGER ATTORNEY Jan. 22, 1963 Filed Dec. 28, 1959 S. P. BELSINGER SHIPPING CONTAINER 5 she ts-sheet 2 F I G. 7 460 H1 H2 INVENTOR.

SAMUEL P. BELSI NGER ATTORNEY Jan. 22, 1963 s. P. BELSlNGER SHIPPING CONTAINER 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 28. 1959 10 INVENTOR:

SAMUEL P. BELSINGER BY: g

ATTORNEY 3,%?4,538 Patented Jan. 22, 1963 3,074,538 SHIPPING CUNTAINER Samuel P. Belsinger, Atlanta, Ga., assignor to Belsinger, Inc, Atlanta, (3a., a corporation of Georgia Filed Dec. 28, 1959, der. No. 862,133 11 Claims. (Cl. 206- 7) This invention relates to a ship-ping container and is more particularly concerned with a two piece, wardrobe type, shipping container of the type utilized in the clothing industry and for shipping wearing apparel disposed on hangers.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending applications, Serial No. 655,818, filed April 29, 1957, entitled Wardrobe, U.S. Patent No. 2,974,779 and Serial No. 750,236, filed July 22, 1958, entitled Heavy Duty Clothing Shipper," now US. Patent No. 2,980,239. The wardrobes disclosed in the above identified applications include containers in which the top flaps form integral parts of the containers themselves, the front flaps being foldable outwardly, together with the hinged door in order to provide access to the interior of the container.

In the present embodiment of the herein disclosed invention, the top flaps described above are elevated and a removable type of top is provided so that the clothing and the hanger bar may be installed within the container or removed, without interference from the flaps which I heretofore employed as the top.

Briefly described, the present invention includes a closure member having the usual front and back panels formed according to my previous inventions. Preferably, a hinged door is provided in one of the panels so that more ready access to the interior of the box may be had. According to the present invention, an entirely removable cap or top is provided which has inwardly and upwardly turned flaps so constructed and arranged that when the cap or top is inserted over the container, the edges of the inwardly, turned up flaps will snap into a locked position abutting and in alignment with the lower edge of the hanger bar hooks. Also included in the present invention is a tape receiving flange by means of which the top may be more securely retained in place.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a shipping container having a removable top which, when placed on the shipping container, will lock in an engaged position with the hanger bar of the container.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a container having a removable top which is adapted, when in place on the container, to be secured thereto in an easy and inexpensive manner.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a shipping container which is durable in structure, efficient in operation and inexpensive to manufacture.

Another object of the presentinvention is to provide a shipping container having a top requiring little head room for installation and which, while being locked in position when it is installed on the container, is easily and efficiently removed therefrom when desired.

Other and further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective, partially broken away, view of one form of a container constructed in accordance with the present invention, the top being locked in engagement with the hanger bar.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the blank from which the top of the container disclosed in FIG. 1 is constructed.

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional fragmentary view of a detail showing the inner engagement between the top and the hanger bar of the container shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of another form of container similar to the container disclosed in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the blank from which the body of the container of FIG. 4 is formed.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the blank from which the top of the container shown in FIG. 4 is formed.

FlG. 7 is a cross sectional view similar to FIG. 3 and illustrating the inner engagement of the hanger bar and the top of the container shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of the container shown in FIG. 1, showing a still further modification of the top of such container.

FIG. 9 is a plan view of the blank from which the top of the container shown in FIG. 8 is formed.

FIG. 10 is a cross sectional view similar to FIGS. 3 and 7 and showing the inner engagement of the hanger bar with the modified form of top disclosed in FIG. 8.

Referring now in detail to the embodiments chosen for the purpose of illustrating the present invention, and particularly to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 thereof, numeral 11 denotes the rear body panel of my fibre board container. Integrally connected respectively to the opposite sides of the rear body panel 11 are the spaced side body panels 12 and 13. The outer or front edge of side panel '13 is provided with an upper hinged panel 14 and a lower fixed panel 15, both forming the front body panel. Thus, it is seen that I have provided a container having opposed parallel side body panels 12 and 13, a back body panel 11 therebetween and the front body panel formed from panels 14 and 15. As seen in FIG. 1, the side body panel 12 is provided with a flap having a lower flap portion 16 and an upper flap portion 17', divided by a transverse cut 18.

My container is so constructed that the upper hinged panel 14 is separated from the fixed lower panel 15 by aligned transverse interrupted cuts or serrations 19 which, when the container is assembled, terminate in a position slightly below cut 18. Flap portion 16 is secured over the outer end of fixed panel 15 by means of staples 20, Or other suitable means generally employed for forming the manufacturer's joint. The flap portion 17, however, is beneath the hinged panel 14 to form an abutment against which the hinged panel 14 is adapted to be closed.

In the original condition of the container shown in FIG. 1, the interrupted cuts 19 are spaced apart by uncut portions 21 of the front body panel, such that as the hinged panel 14- is to be opened, the uncut portions 21 are ripped or severed during opening so that the panel 14 is separated from panel 15 and is free to swing about the common edge formed by hinge panel 14 and side panel 13. Of course, when the hinged panel 14 is closed against flap portion 17, it must be lifted slightly when it is about closed so the lower outer corner thereof may be inserted between the tab or securing means formed by the upper end of flap portion 16 and the lower end of flap portion 17 and be retained therebetween in coplanar relationship.

The containers of FIGS. 1, 4 and 8 have the usual and conventional bottom such as would be formed by the bottom flaps of the blank shown in FIG. 5.

Referring again to FIG. 1, the side body panels 12 and 13 are each provided, at their upper edges, with an inwardly and downwardly turned flange, such as flange 22, thereby providing a rounded, double thickness upper edge, such as edge 23. These upper edges, such as edge 23, receive securing means, such as the hooks 24 of a hanger bar 25, the hanger bar extending across the upper opening of the container and being spaced downwardly from the plane of the upper edges by the hooks 24. At intermediate portions along hanger bar 25, opposed brackets 26 which are secured to opposite sides of hanger bar 25 extend upwardly in spaced or parallel condition to terminate in flat outwardly extending bearing plates 27, which are about parallel to the upper bight of hooks 24 and receive the lower surface of the top or cap when the same is installed on the container.

From an examination of FIGS. 1 and 3, it will be seen that the hook 24 extends upwardly along flange 22 so that the bight of book 24 extends over the upper edge 23;

thence, the outer portion 29 of hook 24 extends downwardly along the outer surface of the upper portion of panel 12 to terminate in a straight, horizontal, flat, lower edge 28.

According to the present invention, the top or cap of the container illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 comprises a back cap panel 30, joined in side by side relationship by its edges to side cap panels 31 and 32, respectively. In turn, side cap panel 32 is connected along a common edge to front cap panel 33. Top flaps 34, 35, 36, and 37, respectively, extend upwardly from panels 30, 31, 32 and 33 and are separated therefrom by score lines 38, 39, 4t) and 41. In the blank shown in FIG. 2, the flaps 34, 35, 36 and 37 are separated from each other by cuts 42, 43 and 44. Panels 30, 31, 32 and 33 are slightly wider than the panels 11, 12, 13 and 14.

When the top is assembled, the ends of panels 31 and 33 are fitted together so that the panels 30, 31, 32 and 33 form a rectangle. The ends of panels 31 and 33, if desired, are joined by any usual manufacturers joint; for example, tape may be applied to these panels for joining. Flaps 35 and 36 are, then, folded inwardly and the flaps 34 and 37 folded thereover and joined with tape (not shown) or retained in a closed position in any other manner desired.

According to the present invention, depending flaps 45 and 46 extend from the lower extremity of panels 31 and 32 and are divided therefrom by horizontal fold lines 47 and 43, respectively. When the top is assembled, these flaps 45 and 46 are folded inwardly and upwardly, respectively, against the inner surfaces of side cap panels 31 and 32 so that their outer edges 49 and 50 form engaging means terminating about halfway up these panels. The double thickness formed by. flap 45 and panel 31, and flap 46 and panel 32 provides rigid yet resilient members which may be urged outwardly and when released will spring inwardly to assume their original shapes.

Referring again to FIG. 2, it will be seen that I have provided a pair of depending tape receiving flaps 51 and 52 which project in coplanar relationship from panels 30 and 33 below the plane of fold lines 47 and 48. Flaps 51 and 52 are slightly less wide than panels 30 and 33 and are also less wide than panels 11 and :14 for purposes to be described hereinafter.

When the top, above described, is placed on the container, this top is arranged so that :the top panels 31 31, 32 and 33, respectively, aligned outwardly adjacent the top portions of body panels 11, 12', 13 and 14. The top is then urged downwardly so that flaps 45 and 46 ride against the outer surfaces of the hooks, such as hook 24 and are deformed outwardly in passing thereover. According to the present invention, the vertical length of the outer portion 29 of hook 24 plus the vertical width of flap 45, fiom fold line 47 to edge 49, is about equal to the distance from fold line 47 to score line 39, or in other words, about equal to the vertical width of panel 31. As best seen in FIG. 3, when the top is pushed downwardly, about as far as it will go on the container, the top member formed by flaps 34, 35, 36 and 37 comes to rest upon and is carried by the upper edges of the body panels 11, 12, 13 and 14 as the flaps 45 and 46 snap in wardly, returning to their undeformed condition because the edges, such as edge 49 of flaps 45 become aligned with the edges, such as edge 28 of hooks 24. Thus, the cap or top is locked in position.

To further secure the cap in place, tapes, such as tapes 53, may be passed from :the edges of the body panels over the flaps 5-1 and 52, as shown in FIG. 1, one tape extending over a portion of the surface of flap 52 and a portion of the surface of panel 13, another tape extending over a portion of the surface of panel 13 and a portion of the surface of flap 51, etc. It is to be noted that when the cap or top is in place, the upper portion of hinged panel 14 is firmly held in a closed condition against flap portion 17.

Referring now to FIGS. 4-7, which show a different form of the invention, the container formed from the blank shown in FIG. 5 includes a rear panel 111, side panels 112 and 113, hinged panel 114, fixed panel 115, flap portions 116 and 117, separated by cut 118, and the serrations or interrupted cuts 119 separated by uncut portions 121, all identical to the respective parts of the container disclosed in FIG. 1.

In the blank shown in FIG. 5, I have provided top fiaps 160, 161, 162 and 163 which extend upwardly from the panels 111, 112, 113 and 114, respectively, and are divided therefrom by score lines 164, 165, 166 and 167. Separating these top flaps 168, 161, 162 and 163 are cuts 168, 169 and 1711 which are linear extensions of the dividing score lines between panels 111, 112, 113 and 114. The flaps 161 and 162 are provided with inverted U-shaped cuts extending upwardly from score lines 165 and 166, respectively, thereby providing bearing flaps 171 and 172. These bearing flaps are hinged along score lines 165 and 166 and are separated by the U-shaped cuts from the flaps 161 and 162.

The bottom of the container shown in FIG. 4 is formed by the bottom flaps 173, 174, 175 and 176 which project from the lower edge of panels 111, 112, 113 and 115, respectively, being separated therefrom by a common score line 177. The bottom flaps 173, 174, 175 and 176 are separated from each other by vertical cuts 178, 179 and 186 which are linear extensions from the lower portion of the score lines separating panels 111, 112, 113 and 115.

When the container 'of FIG. 5 is assembled, the flap portion 116 is secured to the outer edge of panel by means of the staples 120, such that the flap portion 117 lies beneath panel 114. The bottom flaps 174 and 175 are then folded inwardly toward each other and the bottom flaps 173 and 176 are folded inwardly toward each other and over the flaps 17 4 and 175. Any means may be employed to secure these flaps in a position closing the bottom of the container.

Thus, it is seen that I have formed a container having opposed side panels 112 and 113, a rear panel 111 which is parallel and spaced from the coplanar panels 114 and 115. After the container has been assembled, flaps 160 and 163 are folded inwardly along score lines 164 and 167 and downwardly so as to fit inwardly against the panels 111 and 114, respectively. Also, the flaps 171 and 172 are folded inwardly and downwardly along score lines 165 and 166 to lie adjacent the inner surface of panels 112 and 113, respectively. Thereafter, the hooks 24 of the hanger bar 25 (previously described) are installed over the edge formed by the flap 171 and panel 112 and the edge formed by the flap 172 and panel 113. The flaps 161 and 162 may then be folded inwardly to extend toward each other as shown in FIGS. 4 and 7.

Referring now particularly to FIG. 6, the top or cap of this embodiment includes a rectangular top member 134 about equal or slightly larger than the size of the upper opening of the container of FIG. 4 and formed with pairs of spaced apertures along each of two opposite sides thereof. Projecting outwardly from opposite edges of top member 134 and outwardly of openings 135 and opposed side cap panels 131 and 132, from which project the locking flaps and 146, respectively. Flaps 145 and 146 are integrally connected to the outer edges of panels 131 and 132 so that they may be folded along fold lines 147 and 148 inwardly and upwardly against the side panels 131 and 132 when the top is assembled as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 7. The central portion of outer edges of flaps 145 and 146 are recessed inwardly to provide securing means or hook engaging edges 149 and 150. Projecting outwardly from the outer edges of flaps 145 and 146 on both sides of the recesses are the locking tabs 140 and 141 which are aligned with apertures 135 so that when the flaps 145 and 146 are folded, as above described, tabs 140 and 141 are adapted to project through the complementary apertures 135.

Projecting from the other two sides of top member 134 are the back cap panel 130 and the front cap panel 133 which are adapted to be folded to a position normal to the top member 134 along appropriate score lines. These panels 130 and 133 are similar to panels 31 and 32 and have the depending coplanar flanges 151 and 152, as best seen in FIG. 6. Extending from the free opposite sides of panel 130 are the flap members 136 and 139 which are adapted, when the top is assembled, to project respectively, between panel 131 and flap 145, and between panel 132 and flap 146. Similarly, panel 133 is provided with flap members 137 and 138, also adapted to project respectively between panel 131 and flap 145, and between panel 132 and flap 146.

To assemble the top or cap from the blank shown in FIG. 6, the front and back panels 133 and 130 are folded to normal positions with respect to top panel 134. Next, the flap members 136, 137, 138 and 139 are folded inwardly to a normal position with respect to the panels 130, 133 and with respect to top member 134. Thereafter, the side panels 131 and 132 are folded to normal positions with respect to top panel 134 so as to be outwardly adjacent the flap members 136, 137, 138 and 139. The locking flaps 145 and 146 are then folded inwardly and upwardly so as to sandwich the flap members 136, 137, 138 and 139 between the locking flaps 145 and 146 and their side panels 131 and 132. As the locking flaps are urged against the flap portions, the tabs 140 and 141 become aligned with the apertures 135 and these tabs 140 and 141 thus project therethrough to secure the cap or top in its assembled condition.

When the assembled cap from the blank of FIG. 6 is to be installed on the container, as shown in FIG. 4, the cap is arranged above the container and the side panels 131 and 132 are-aligned respectively adjacent the side panels 112 and 113, thereby aligning front and back panels 133 and 130 with front and back hinged panel 114 and panel 111. Next the cap is urged downwardly on the container; the locking flaps 145 and 146 being biased inwardly because of their folded condition and because the dimensions of the container and top, thus ride against the side panels 112 and 113. As the cap is fully down upon the open top of the container, the locking edges 149 and 150 become aligned with the lower edges 28 of hooks 24 and snap inwardly therebeneath, thus locking the cap in place. The cap may be further secured in place by tapes 153 which are installed, as shown in FIG. 4.

Referring now to the next embodiment of my invention, as illustrated in FIGS. 8, 9 and 10, the modified cap here depicted is formed from the blank shown in FIG. 9. In FIG. 9, the rectangular top member 234 which is approximately the dimensions of or slightly larger than the upper opening of the container shown in FIG. 8, is provided with a pair of opposite side cap panels 231 and 2 32 arranged in side-by-side relationship with respect to top member 234. These side panels have locking flaps 245 and 246 similar to the locking flaps 45 and 46.

The back cap panel 230 and front cap panel 233 extend from the other opposite sides of top member 234 and are respectively provided with depending flanges 251 and 252 similar to depending flanges 51 and 52. Further, panels 239 and 233 are provided with flap members 236, 237, 238 and 239 similar to flap members 136, 137, 138 and 139, as shown in FIG. 6.

When the top or cap of FIGS. 8, 9 and 10 is to 'be assembled from the blank of FIG. 9, the panels 230 and 233 are folded normal to top panel 234 and the flap members 236, 237, 238 and 239 are folded inwardly normal to panels 230 and 233 and normal to top panel 234. Next, the side panels 231 and 232 are folded to a position adjacent flap members 236, 237, 238 and 239 and the locking flaps 245 and 246 are then folded inwardly and upwardly.

To retain the side panels 231 and 232, the flap members 236, 237, 238 and 239, and the locking flaps 245 and 246 in their juxtaposition with their adjacent surfaces being contiguous, suitable securing means, such as staples 254 are passed into and through the members. Normally only two staples 254 are employed per panel, one staple passing through panel 231, flap member 236 and locking flange 245, as shown in FIG. 10, and the other staple passing through panel 231, flap member 237 and locking flange 245. Similar staples (not shown) pass through panel 232, flap members 238 and 239 and locking flange 246.

The assembled top or cap is fitted on the upper end of: its container in a manner similar to the tops of the previous and when completely seated on the container, locking flanges 245 and 246 snaps in position so that edges 249 and 250 align with and abut the edges, such as edge 28, of hooks 24.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 4 and 8, the flap members 136 and 137 or 236 and 237, as well as the flap members 138 and 139 or 238 and 239, terminate in spaced relationship to each other in the assembled tops, the space being wider than the width of flange 29 of hook 24, such that their outer portion of hook 24 is received between the two fiap members.

When the two piece containers here illustrated are to e opened, one places his fingers between the side panel 12 and the locking flange 45 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, and urges the locking flange 45 outwardly and then urges the cap or top upwardly. This same procedure on the opposite side of the container will also open the container. Similarly, the containers of FIGS. 4 and 8 may be opened.

In summation, therefore, it is seen that the two piece containers of the present invention each have a lock for the hinge panel 14, 114 or 214 along the bottom because of the uncut portions 21, 121 or 221. At the outer lower corner, the panel 14, 114 or 214 is retained by the tab formed at the upper end of flap portion 16, 116 or 216. The hinged panel 14, 114 or 214 is also retained along its upper edge by the cap or top and cannot be opened until the top or cap is removed.

In the embodiments illustrated, the front panels 33, 133 and 233 are coplanar with the depending flanges 52, 152 and 252. Similarly, the back or rear panels 30, and 230 are coplanar with their depending flanges 51, 151 and 251. Thus, these plane surfaces lie fiat against the complementary panels of the container and are not readily ripped away.

Because the hinged door panel 14, 114 and 214 are retained at their bottom edges, it is not necessary that the side panels of the top extend more than a short distance down the body panels of the container. The short lengths of tape 53, 153 and 253 replace substantially longer pieces of top previously used and anyone desiring to assure that the containers not be opened and then resealed, need only sign his name on the tapes 53, 153 and 253 passing around from side 12 to the depending flange 52, 152 or 252, and perhaps the diametrically opposed tape.

The cap or top of FIGS. 4 and 8 have top members 134 and 234 of unitary construction which will prevent ,dust from entering the container. The tops are also very rugged and are not readily deformed.

Since it is not necessary for the tops or caps of the present invention to extend downwardly beyond the hinged door panel '14, little head room above the container is required when the caps or tops are installed and removed. Further, the tops or caps of the present invention may be installed or removed by a single person and the two-piece containers need no external metal straps or tapes passing around the containers.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that many variations may be made in the embodiments chosen for the purpose of illustrating the present invention and that parts and elements may be combined or made separate and full resort may be had to equivalents without departing from the scope of my invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a two-piece container assembly, a container having a pair of opposed spaced parallel panels, a hanger bar, substantially rigid hooks on the ends of said hanger bar engaging said panels for supporting said hanger bar between said pair of panels, said hooks having relatively rigid portions thereof extending outwardly of said panels and downwardly in engagement with the outer surfaces of said panels, a top projecting over said panels and resting on the upper edges of said panels, and yieldable hook engaging means extending from said top and removably engaging the bottom edges of said hooks.

2. In a two-piece container assembly, a container having a pair of opposed side body panels, a back body panel and a front body panel defining a clothing receiving space with an upper opening, said body panels having their upper edges terminating in a horizontal plane, a hanger bar extending across said space, hooks on the ends'of said hanger bar extending over the upper edges of said side body panels, said hooks having relatively rigid outer portions extending downwardly adjacent the outer surfaces of said side body panels, said outer portions terminating in flat edges, a top member carried on the upper edges of body panels, side cap panels projecting downwardly from said top member outwardly adjacent said side body panels, and inwardly biased flaps {projecting upwardly from said side cap panels for aligning with and for springing inwardly into engagement with said edges of said outer portions of said hooks when said top member is received on said upper edges of said body panels, said flaps being deformable outwardly for disengaging said edges when said top member is to be removed.

I 3. In a two-piece container assembly, a container having a pair of opposed side body panels, a back body panel and a front body panel defining a clothing receiving space with an upper opening, said body panels having I outer surfacesrof said side body panels, said outer por- 'tions terminating in flat edges, a top member carried on the upper'edges of body panels, side cap panels projecting downwardly from said top member outwardly adjacent said side body panels, flaps projecting upwardly from the bottom edges of said side cap panels, the upper ends of said flaps being aligned and engageable with said edges of said outer portions of said hooks when said top'member is seated on the upper edges of said body panel, said flaps being deformable outwardly for disengaging their upper ends from said edges of said outer portions of said hooks, and front and back cap panels projecting from said top member outwardly adjacent said front and back body panels, said front and back cap panels projecting below said side cap panels and being provided with flanges of less width than the width of said side body panels.

4. In a container and top assembly, a container having a pair of opposed side body panels, a back body panel and a front body panel defining a clothing receiving space with an upper opening, said body panels having their upper edges terminatingin a horizontal plane, a hanger bar extending across said space, hooks on the ends of said hanger bar extending over the upper edges of said side body panels, said hooks having relatively rigid outer portions extending downwardly adjacent the outer surfaces of said side body panels, said outer portions terminating in fiat edges, a top member carried on the upper edges of body panels, side cap panels projecting downwardly from said top member outwardly adjacent said side body panels, inwardly biased flaps projecting upwardly from the bottom edges of said side cap panels, the upper ends of said flaps being aligned and engageable with said edges of said outer portions of said books when said top member is seated on the upper edges of said body panel, said flaps being deformable outwardly for disengaging their upper ends from said edges of said outer portions of said hooks, and front and back cap panels projecting from said top member outwardly adjacent said front and back body panel's, said front and back cap panels projecting below said side cap panels and being provided with flanges of le'sswidth than the width of said side body panels.

5. In a two-piece container assembly, a container having a pair of opposed side body panels, a back body panel and a front body panel defining a clothing receiving space with an upper opening, said body panels having their upper edges terminating in a horizontal plane, a hanger bar extending across said space, hooks, on the ends of said hanger bar extending over the upper edges of said side body panels, said hooks having outer portions extending downwardly adjacent the outer surfaces of said side body panels, said outer portions terminating in fiat straight edges, a top member carried on the upper edges of body panels, side cap panels projecting downwardly from said top member outwardly adjacent said side body panels, flaps projecting upwardly from the bottom edges of said side cap panels and engaging said edges of said outer portions of said hooks, said front body panel being provided with a cut across said front body panel dividing said front body panel into a hinged upper panel and a fixed lower panel, means securing said fixed lower panel to both of said side panels, and a front cap panel extending downardly from said top member and over said hinged panel retaining said hinged lower panel in a closed position essentially coplanar with said lower fixed panel.

6. In a two-piece container assembly, a container having a pair of opposed side body panels, a back body panel and a front body panel defining a clothing receiving space with an upper opening, said body panels having their upper edges terminating in a horizontal plane, a hanger bar extending across said space, hooks on the ends of said hanger bar extending over the upper edges of said side body panels, said hooks having outer portions extending downwardly adjacent the outer surfaces of said side body panels, said outer portions terminating in flat straight edges, a top member carried on the upper edges of body panels, side cap panels projecting downwardly from said top member outwardly adjacent said side body panels, flaps projecting upwardly from the bottom edges of said side cap panels and engaging said edges of said outer portions of said hooks, said front body panel being provided with a cut across said front body panel driving said front body panel into a hinged upper panel and a fixed lower panel, means securing said fixed lower panel to both of said side panels, and a front cap panel extending downwardly from said top member and over said hinged panel retaining said hinged lower panel in a closed position essentially coplanar with said lower fixed panel, and means spaced from said cap panel and engaging an edge of said hinged'panel for also retaining said hinged panel in said closed position.

7. In a two-piece wardrobe type shipping container assembly, a container formed of fibre board and characterized by a bottom, a pair of side panels, a front panel and a back panel joined together to define a space for receiving articles of clothing and having an opening at the upper end, a hanger bar extending across said opening, rigid receiving means securing said hanger bar to said side panels, said means extending outwardly of said side panels, and a top closing said opening, said top being characterized by a top member formed of fibre board and resilient engaging means extending from the edges of said top member for being urged outwardly by said receiving means upon downward movement of said top and for removably engaging said securing means after said top has been urged downwardly a predetermined distance.

8. In a two-piece wardrobe type shipping container assembly comprising a container formed of fibre board and characterized by a bottom, a pair of side panels, a front panel and a back panel joined together to define a space for receiving articles of clothing and having an opening at the upper end, a hanger bar extending across said opening, relatively rigid securing means securing said hanger bar to said side panels, said means extending outwardly of said side panels, and a top closing said opening, said top being characterized by a top member formed of fibre board, resilient engaging means extending from the edges of said top member for locking engagement beneath and in contact with said securing means, said front flap being characterized by a lower fixed panel secured to said side panels and an upper hinged panel hingedly secured to the remainder of said container for opening and closing, said upper and lower panels being coplanar when said hinged panel is closed, means connected to said container for retaining said hinged panel closed and means connected to said cap for retaining said hinged panel closed.

9. In an article of the class described, a container having a bottom, a pair of side panels, a front panel and a back panel joined together to define a space for receiving articles having an opening at the upper end, a top for closing said opening, and pairs of cooperating opposed vertically aligned lock elements on said side panels and said top adapted to snap lock in place upon downward movement of said top when being installed on said container, each of said lock elements including a relatively rigid flange on said container and a yieldable fibre board flap on said top, and a rigid bar extending between the flanges of said container for preventing appreciable inward movement of said flanges.

10. In an article of the class described, a container having a bottom, a pair of side panels, a front panel and a back panel joined together to define a space for receiving articles and having an opening at the upper end, a top for closing said opening, cooperating opposed vertically alinged lock elements on one of said side panels and on said top respectively, the lock element on one of said side panels being a relatively rigid outwardly projecting member, the lock element on said top being resilient fibre board and deformable by said member laterally from its original position upon downward movement of said top, said deformable lock element being so constructed and arranged as to return to said original position upon further downward movement of said top and after said deformable lock element has passed downwardly a predetermined distance, and a rigid bar extending between said lock elements of said side panels.

11. In an article of the class described, a container having a bottom, a pair of side panels, a front panel and a back panel joined together to define a space for receiving articles and having an opening at the upper end, a top for closing said opening, cooperating opposed vertically aligned lock elements on said side panels and said top respectively, said lock elements on said container being relatively rigid and rigidly connected together, said lock elements on said top being resilient and deformable from their original positions upon downward movement of said top, said deformable lock elements being so constructed and arranged as to return to said original positions upon further downward movement of said top and after said deformable lock elements have passed downwardly beyond said lock elements with which it cooperates, and -a rigid bar extending between said lock elements on said container, said bar being spaced from said front panel and said back panel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 651,070 Enoch June 5, 1900 940,941 Putnam Nov. 23, 1909 1,918,987 Seabold July 18, 1933 2,001,140 Jordan May 14, 1935 2,538,204 Lemon Jan. 16, 1951 2,551,814 Rushing May 8, 1951 2,788,888 Fisk Apr. 16, 1957 2,815,893 Frank Dec. 10, 1957 2,822,093 Graci Feb. 4, 1958 2,893,545 Garfunkel July 7, 1959 2,902,202 Fallert Sept. 1, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 10,484 Great Britain 1906 585,606 Great Britain Feb. 13, 1947

Claims (1)

1. 9. IN AN ARTICLE OF THE CLASS DESCRIBED, A CONTAINER HAVING A BOTTOM, A PAIR OF SIDE PANELS, A FRONT PANEL AND A BACK PANEL JOINED TOGETHER TO DEFINE A SPACE FOR RECEIVING ARTICLES HAVING AN OPENING AT THE UPPER END, A TOP FOR CLOSING SAID OPENING, AND PAIRS OF COOPERATING OPPOSED VERTICALLY ALIGNED LOCK ELEMENTS ON SAID SIDE PANELS AND SAID TOP ADAPTED TO SNAP LOCK IN PLACE UPON DOWNWARD MOVEMENT OF SAID TOP WHEN BEING INSTALLED ON SAID CONTAINER, EACH OF SAID LOCK ELEMENTS INCLUDING A RELATIVELY RIGID FLANGE ON SAID CONTAINER AND A YIELDABLE FIBRE BOARD FLAP ON SAID TOP, AND A RIGID BAR EXTENDING BETWEEN THE FLANGES OF SAID CONTAINER FOR PREVENTING APPRECIABLE INWARD MOVEMENT OF SAID FLANGES.

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