US3082929A - Multiple compartment box and blank - Google Patents

Description

March 1963 s. A. AQUINO ETAL 3, 82,

MULTIPLE COMPARTMENT BOX AND BLANK 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 17, 1961 March 26, 1963 s.. A. AQUINO ETAL 3,082,929

MULTIPLE COMPARTMENT BOX AND BLANK Filed April 17, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INMENAORS da/rafara A. 920020 (far/g? J 02301252202" March 26, 1963 s, A. AQUlNO ETAL 3,082,929

MULTIPLE COMPARTMENT BOX AND BLANK Filed April 17, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 t United States Patent O cc meme, jfifiiiifi 1 percent. One of the changes accomplished by the 3,082,929 MULTIPLE COMPARTMENT BOX AND BLANK Salvatore A. Aquino, 337 Trevor Lane, Bala-Cynwyd, Ifa

and James J. OConnor, 5432 Woodbine Ave, Phi adelphia, Pa.

Filed Apr. 17, 1961, Ser. No. 103,433 1 Claim. (Cl. 229-27) The present invention relates to a multiple compartment box of foldable sheet material and to a blank for constructing the same.

A purpose of the invention is to produce a multiple compartment box which will provide better protection against pilferage, particularly during self-service sales.

A further purpose is to produce a multiple compartment box which can be separated into units at the point of sale without danger of pilferage.

A further purpose is to provide a multiple compartment box which can readily be opened for tax stamping or marking or otherwise and reclosed without damage.

A further purpose is to provide a multiple compartment box which more readily lends itself to display advertising.

A further purpose is to reduce the cost of packaging articles in separable multiple compartment boxes.

Further purposes appear in the specification and in the claim.

In the drawings we have chosen to illustrate one only of the numerous embodiments in which our invention may appear, selecting the form shown from the standpoints of convenience in illustration, satisfactory operation and clear demonstration of the principles involved.

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a one-piece blank from which the box of the invention may be produced.

FIGURE 2 is a perspective showing the completion of the bands which form the compartments of the box and the bending up of one of the bands into place against the bottom panel.

FIGURE 3 shows the completion of assembly of the bands in side by side relation, the completion of bending up of one end panel, and also of the end top flap, and the partial folding of the other end panel.

FIGURE 4 is a perspective showing the complete assembly of the box.

FIGURE 5 is a section of FIGURE 4 on the line 55.

FIGURE 6 is a section of FIGURE 4 on the line 6-6.

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary perspective showing the separation of the box on the weakened tear line.

Describing in illustration but not in limitation and referring to the drawings:

The box of the present invention is applicable to the sale of cartons of cigarettes and to a wide variety of other products such as foods, electric light bulbs and the like. It lends itself to the production of a multiple compartment box or container which is capable of being separated without exposing the contents, to render a smaller unit available for separate sale. In describing the device, reference will be had to its use for the sale of a carton of cigarettes and it will be understood that it can similarly be employed for other purposes as indicated.

Cigarettes have been extensively merchandised by point-of-purchase or impulse sales on a self-service basis in supermarkets, grocery stores and the like.

One of the difiiculties involved is that the familiar elongated ten-pack cigarette carton has been subject to heavy pilferage in such self-service sales. Existing data indicate that the pilferage has in many cases run as high as 5 or 6 percent.

The present invention is designed to reduce this dif ficulty, cutting the pilferage to a low figure, which under favorable conditions can, it is believed, he as low as invention is to change the overall contour of the box so that it is no longer long and thin but is short and wide, making it more difficult to grasp, and more difiicult to conceal in a handbag or brief case, or in a pocket or under a coat.

One of the problems which has existed in the prior art has been that there is a legitimate desire to break down a carton of cigarettes into half carton units and efforts of this character have been made both by supermarket personnel and by customers. Unfortunately even when an honest attempt was made to separate the carton into a half carton unit, it has left a residual half carton which is even more easily pilfered. The present invention is designed to permit separation into half carton units, but only under conditions of effort and activity which will attract attention to the operation, so that store personnel can be alerted to the danger of pilferage of the remaining sub-unit. Furthermore, when the carton is broken down into a half carton unit, both of the resulting units are protected so that access to the individual cigarette package or other contents cannot be had merely by separating the carton into sub-units.

The invention also makes it possible for the Storekeeper or someone under his authority to separate the carton into sub-units.

A further feature of the invention is that the sides and ends of the completed box are of a more favorable shape for display advertising and display advertising can properly be of a twin character which will remain eflective on the sub-units after the main carton is separated.

A special problem arises in respect to products such as cigarettes and in some cases foods. It may be necessary to open the carton so as to apply a revenue stamp or marking on the contents to show that it complies in some way with the state law, as, for example, through payment of a state tax. The carton of the invention lends itself readily to opening for this purpose and permits ready rescaling after the stamp or marking or the like has been applied to the packs of cigarettes or other contents.

Efforts have been made in the prior art to provide multiple compartment boxes, as shown for example in Morand US. Patent No. 2,697,544, granted December 21, 1954, for Plural Compartment Box Formed From a Single Blank of Sheet Material. These efforts, however, have resulted in the production of relatively expensive cartons which add considerably to the cost. One of the great advantages of the invention is that as compared with a previous carton which might have been used, the

cost is rather slightly increased because of the very elfective utilization of material, and the small amount of labor or machine time required for assembly.

Accordingly, the carton of the invention can be oifered to the supermarket operator or grocery as a goodwill piece, to help to solve the problem of pilferage without adding greatly to the cost. From an aesthetic standpoint, it lends itself to effective decoration and very efficient use in advertising.

Considering first FIGURE 1, we there illustrate a one piece integral blank 20 of foldable sheet material. We prefer to use folding box board; but the material used may be such materials as cardboard, chipboard, strawboard or the like, or a plastic such as polyethylene or a metal foil such as aluminum foil or tin foil or any other foldable sheet material suitable for use in making a box-like container.

The blank is cut out and scored to form a wrapper portion 21 and band portions 22. The wrapper portion has successively in straight line relation an end top flap 23 which is conveniently tapered at the sides at 24; then a fold line 25 running across the wrapper and desirably scored for folding; next a bottom panel 28 which will form the bottom of the box; then a score line 3%, desirably scored for folding; then an opposite end panel 31 which will form the opposite end of the box; then a fold 32 desirably scored for folding and finally a top panel 33' adapted to form the top of the box.

All of the fold lines 25, 27, 3t and 32 are parallel to one another, as shown in FIGURE 1. All of the sides of panels 26, 23 and 31 are in line with one another.

The top panel is connected at the sides by fold lines 34, desirably scored for folding with two side top fiaps 35, desirably tapered at the ends at 36.

The ends of the wrapper are separated from the band portions 22 by cut lines 37 along the end panel 26, by cut lines 38 along the end panel 31, and by irregular cut lines 40 along the side top flaps 35. There is a cutout 40' in side flap 42, later described, to match cut line 40.

Each of the bands 22 is connected integral with the wrapper 21 by fold lines 41 which are transverse to the fold lines 25, 27, 39 and 32 and extend along the sides of the bottom panel 28.

Each of the bands 22 comprises a side flap 42 which is connected with the rest of the band by a fold line 43 suitably weakened for bending. Then there is an end panel 44 which is interconnected by fold lines 45, suitably weakened for bending, with side panel 46 which makes one side of the final box. Side panel 46. at the opposite end of the box is connected by fold line 47, suitably weakened for bending, with end panel as which is connected by fold line 50, suitably weakened for bending, with opposite side panel 51 of the band. The side panels 51 of the two bands are together at the center, as best seen in FIGURES 3 and 6.

The fold lines 43, 45, 47 and 59 of the band are parallel to one another and are parallel to the fold lines 25, 27, 30 and 32 of the wrapper. Furthermore, a desirable feature of the invention is that the fold lines 45 and 47 are simply in prolongation of the fold lines 27 and 30, making it very easy to set up the blanking and folding die.

Adhesive is desirably placed near the remote extremity of bands 22 at 52 and adhesive is conveniently placed at the remote extremity of top panel 33 at 53.

The box is now ready for assembly. The first operation is to fold the. bands 22 into a rectangular formation as shown in FIGURE 2, bringing the adhesive area 52 at one extremity of each hand against the outside of side flap 42 f the same band so as to hold the band together. Then each band is erected by bending on fold line or hinge 41 until the bands have their inner side panels 51 in contact as shown in FIGURE 3. The contents may then be inserted by hand or by machine and the box is closed by folding wrapper end panel 26 against the outside end walls 44 of the bands as shown in FIGURE 3, leaving end top flap 23 extending over the top of the box.

Then end panel 31 of the wrapper is folded up against end panel 48 of the bands as shown in FIGURE 3 and then the top panel 33 is bent down and side top flaps 35 tucked inside side panels 46 of the band 22 and adhesive area 53 is brought in contact with end top flap 23. The box is then completely sealed as shown in FIGURE 4. If desired, adhesive can be applied to the surface of side top flaps 35 which engage side panels 45.

The above description of how the blank can be made up into a box relates especially to the situation where the entire process from beginning to end is done as one more or less. continuous operation in the one establishment. However, as a practical matter it will probably be more common for the blank to be made in one place and sold in one form or another to another company which will at least put the contents into the box and complete closure of the box at another place. The form in which the blank would be sold might be, for example, as a flat piece more or less in the condition of FIGURE 1, or as another example, in a form with the bands 22 each joined together to form a compartment as shown in FIGURE 2, but with the compartment in each case lying on its side as on the left hand side of that figure but flattened down for more economical transportation by bending it double at either fold lines and 50 or 47 and 43. Where the original blank is made at a different place from that where the box is filled and closed, the adhesive, such as 52 and 53, will normally be applied at the particular place where the particular closing step involving that particular bit of adhesive is to take place, unless the adhesive in question is pressure sensitive adhesive. For example, if by chance a first company were to make the blank, a second company were to form the compartments and thus bring it to the stage shown in FIGURE 2, and a third company were to insert the. contents and close the whole thing up, then normally it would be the second company that would apply the adhesive at 52, and the third company that would apply the adhesive at 53.

In the preferred embodiment, a weakened tear line 54, best seen in FIGURES 1, 2, 3 and 4, runs from one side to the other of the wrapper 21 at the middle so that it is placedin line with the interface between hand side panels 51. This weakened line may be, for example, a series of perforations in the sheet material.

In order to separate the carton into two halves, it is merely necessary to apply leverage as by the hands on opposite sides of the weakening line 54 as shown in FIGURE 7 so as to separate the wrapper 21 into two parts. The resulting carton halves still are completely protective of the contents since the inner side wall 51 of the band remains in place.

If desired, the weakened line across one particular face, as for example across face 28, may be weakened less than the line is weakened along the rest of its length. Indeed, across that one particular face it may merely be scored, which in itself would have some weakening effect. Thus,

if and when the box should be torn along the weakened line, this particular stronger part of the weakened line could'be left intact, permitting the box to be opened up and placed in upright position with the two compartments spread somewhat apart in more or less wing formation and the intact part of the line being upright and acting as a fold line between the two compartments. Thus, for example, if the stronger part of the weakened line were that across face 23, the box could he stood up on the two halves of face 31. i

If desired, the two compartments could be made of different width, as where it was desired to include merchandise of dissimilar size in the different compartments, and in such case any weakened line like 54 would not be in the middle but toward one side of the middle at the place Where the division line between the compartments would be located.

A desirable feature of the device of the invention is that the band has a cutout or window 55 provided by the removal of side top flaps 35 from the band, and this will permit the purchaser to inspect the edges of the cartons of cigarettes or other contents in the compartment 56 without his being able to remove the contents (such as a package of cigarettes) unless he opens the carton half.

It is believed that even in the case where the purchaser purchases a full carton, normal practice in opening may be to separate the carton into halves and then to remove the side wall 51 from one of the halves while leaving the other half intact for the purpose of protection.

In order to gain access legitimately to the contents for the purpose of applying marks or revenue stamps or otherwise, the storekeeper or manufacturer can separate the glue at 53 from the end top flap Q3 and remove the contents and then after completing the marking, reinsert the contents and reglue. If desired, pressure sensitive adhesive may be employed.

In the preferred form, the bands are narrower than the wrapper and the end panels 48 are in length about onehalf the width of the wrapper.

While face 28 is called the bottom in this application, because usually in the box making operation it would be positioned at the bottom, this does not mean that either in making or in packing or use it would necessarily assume a bottorrnnost position. As a matter of fact, in use with cigarettes, the cigarettes will normally be packed with their tops toward the bottom, and the bottom will usually be the uppermost face in actual box display of such cigarettes. However, for convenience of description, instead of using such more confusing and complicated terminology as first face, second face, etc., we have used the term bottom in both the specification and claim to mean one of the faces on which the open parts of the compartments abut in the finished box and more specifically that one of the two such faces which assumes its relative position first in the overall box making and closing operation, rather than the one which comes over into its relative position in the latter stages of such operation.

The top face, as used in the specification and claim, is the face opposite the bottom as thus defined.

Also, in describing the other faces aside from top and bottom, for purposes of clarity and simplicity the terms side and end have been used in such a way that the term side was applied to what were in the particular drawings which exemplified them the longer of these faces and the term end was applied to what were in the particular drawings which exemplified them the shorter of these faces, rather than using the more confusing terminology of third face, fourth face, etc. How ever, it will be understood that in the specification and claim the terms side and end are not intended to mean that the sides are in fact necessarily longer than the ends, but the sides could be shorter than the ends, as the terms are used in this application. The term side as used in this specification and claim means a face which in the finished box run in more or less the same direction as the division line between compartments and the term end as used in this specification and claim means a face which in the finished box, will run transversely to the side as thus defined. k

In view of our invention and disclosure, variations and modifications to meet individual whim or particular need will doubtless become evident to others skilled in the art,

to obtain all or part of the benefits of our invention without copying the structure shown, and we, therefore, claim all such insofar as they fall within the reasonable spirit and scope of our claim.

Having thus described our invention What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

A multiple compartment box essentially consisting of an integrally connected wall of foldable material, said wall having two generally rectangular band portions each provided with integrally connected side wall panels, opposed integrally connected end wall panels and a side flap integrally connected with the rest of the band portions and joined to an opposed side wall of the band, and a wrapper consisting of a bottom panel integrally hingedly connected to said band portions at the corners of the outer side walls of said wrapper, end panels on said wrapper integrally connected to said bottom panel, a top panel on said wrapper integrally connected to one of said end panels of the wrapper and extending over and closing the otherwise open tops of said band portions, said wrapper extending around the bottom, the ends and the top of said band portions, there being a weakened tear line circumferentially around an intermediate point of said wrapper in line with the line of the junction of said band portions, said two band portions having side panels adjoining one another in face-to-face relation, there being a window cutout at one edge of each of said adjoining side panels of said band portions, the material from said window forming integral side flaps on said top panel interconnected with the outer side panels of said band portions, said window providing access to the interior of said band portions, and said box having an end top flap from the other end panel of said wrapper interconnected with the top panel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,530,643 Blandford Mar. 24, 1925 2,648,481 Belsinger Aug. 11, 1953 2,648,483 Belsinger Aug. 11, 1953 2,684,178 Keller July 20, 1954 2,697,544 Morand Dec. 21, 1954 2,758,777 Dixon Aug. 14, 1956

Images