US3093290A

US3093290A - Folding boxes of the tray type

Info

Publication number: US3093290A
Application number: US212605A
Authority: US
Inventors: William H Banks; Richard C Poole
Original assignee: Atlas General Industries Inc
Current assignee: Atlas General Industries Inc
Priority date: 1962-07-26
Filing date: 1962-07-26
Publication date: 1963-06-11
Anticipated expiration: 1980-06-11
Also published as: GB962384A

Description

June 11, 1963 w. H. BANKS ETAL 3,093,290

I FOLDING BOXES OF THE TRAY TYPE Filed July 26, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS. Wl/l/qm H. Ban/ 8 and Ric/lard C'. Poo/6 ATTORNEY June 11, 1963 Filed July 26, 1962 W. H. BANKS ETAL FOLDING BOXES OF THE TRAY TYPE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TORS.

Wf/fiam H. Banks and klchard C. Poo/e June 11, 1963 w. H. BANKS ETAL 3,093,290

FOLDING BOXES OF THE TRAY TYPE Filed July 26, 1962 s Sheets-Sheet 3 IN V EN TORS.

W/Y/fam H. Banks and BY R/chard C. POO/Q W %.W ATTORNEY United States Patent Ofifice 3,093,290 Patented June 11, 1963 3,093,290 FOLDING BOXES OF THE TRAY TYPE William H. Banks, Westport, Conn., and Richard C. Poole,

New Rochelle, N.Y., assignors to Atlas General Industries, Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporation of Massachusetts Filed July 26, 1962, Ser. No. 212,605 4 Claims. (Cl. 229-34) This invention relates to improvements in the construction of folding boxes of the tray type suited for glueless assembly on automatic high speed box forming machinery from a single blank and particularly designed for easy insention of merchandise to be supported and locked securely in cradled position on internal panels of the tray. The internal panels provide a centered eye catching display of the merchandise and thus serve an aesthetic function in addition to their mechanical supporting and locking function.

Where merchandise must be securely locked in a tray and must be protected against damage, particularly when trays are stacked, problems arise with articles of inferior strength, for example collapsible tubes, as such articles must not be distorted by the force required to lock them in the tray, yet the lock must be sufiiciently secure to retain the articles in the tray during the jarring incidental to transport, and even retain the articles when the package is dropped accidentally.

This invention provides a tray comprising an internal panel structure which is relatively easily deflectable for ready insertion of the article to be packaged, but offers far greater resistance to the removal of the article. The panel structure is so designed as to support the packaged article in a cushioned position, out of contact with the outside walls.

Trays incorporating the present invention may be assembled from single blanks finished on one side only, for

example by imprinting, as only one side is exposed in the assembled tray.

These and various other objects, features and advantages of the invention will appear more fully from the detailed description which follows, accompanied by drawings showing, for the purpose of illustration, a preferred embodiment of the invention. The invention also resides in certain new and Original features of construction and combination of elements hereinafter set forth and claimed.

Although the characteristic features of this invention which are believed to be novel will be particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto, the invention itself, its objects and advantages, and the manner in which it may be carried out may be better understood by referring to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part of it in which:

FIG. 1 shows, in plan view, a typical blank from which a tray embodying the invention may be formed;

FIGS. 2 and 3 are perspective views of successive stages of assembly of the blank of FIG. 1 into tray form;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the assembled tray with a tube packaged therein; and

FIG. 5 is -a vertical cross section of the structure of FIG. 4, the section being taken in plane 5-5 in FIG. 4.

In the following description and in the claims various details will be identified by specific names for convenience. The names, however, are intended to be generic in their application. Corresponding reference characters refer to corresponding parts in the several figures of the drawings.

The drawings accompanying, and forming part of, this specification disclose certain specific details of construction for the purpose of explanation of broader aspects of the invention, but it is understood that structural details may be modified in various respects without departure from the principles of the invention and that the invention may be incorporated in other structural forms than specifically shown.

The blank A shown in FIG. 1 may be cut and scored in multiple from sheets or rolls of foldable board on conventional cutting and creasing machines. The blank comprises a bottom panel 11 to the sides of which side wall panels 12 and 13 are articulated along side fold lines 14 and 15. End wall panels 16 and 17 are articulated to the ends of the bottom panel 11 along end fold lines 18 and 19.

Corner flaps 20, 21, 22 and 23 extend laterally from the side wall panels along corner fold lines 24, 2.5, 26 and 27.

Inner side panels 28 and 29 are articulated to the side wall panels 12 and 13 along top side fold lines 30 and 31. The inner side panels are of tapered shape, as their lateral edges 32, 33 and 34, 35 converge for reasons which will become more apparent as the description proceeds. Lateral lock tabs 36, '37, 38 and 39 are provided which project beyond the converging edges 32, 33, 34 and 35, respectively. The length L of the inner side panels exceeds the corresponding dimension H of the side wall panels, H being the height of the tray formed from the blank A.

End liner panels 40, 41 are articulated to the ends of the end wall panels 16 and 17 along top end fold lines 42, 43. The length L of the end liner panels 40 and 41 exceeds the height H of the end panels 16 and 17.

Base panels 44, 45 are articulated to the end liner panels along fold lines 46 and 47. Internal cuts 48 and 49 extending from fold lines 46 and 47 form tongues 50 and 51 on the respective base panels 44 and 45. The tongues extend beyond the fold lines 46, 47 and comprise terminal abutment edges 52, 53 for abutting the end wall panels 16, 17 in the assembled tray, as will later be seen.

The internal cut 48 has the shape of an inverted flat U in the assembled tray, and the bight portion, which also forms the abutment edge, is substantially straight for engaging a corresponding fiat portion of the article to be packaged, for example the flat seal seam of a collapsible tube.

The internal cut 49 comprises a central arcuate portion adapted, for example, to engage the screw cap end of a tube.

The assembly or folding of the blank A into the form of a tray A (FIG. 4) may be accomplished by an automatic plunger and die type box forming machine in which a plunger first drives the blank into a folding die to fold the blank into the shape shown in FIG. 2. Thereafter the plunger withdraws and folding elements fold the end panel assembly (FIG. 3 andthereafter the side panel assembly to the inside of the tray, thereby completing and locking the tray (FIG. 4). Merchandise may then be inserted into the tray to assume a locked position as represented in FIG. 5.

Considering the assembly operations in greater detail, the corner flaps 20, 21, 22 and 23 are first folded into angular position with respect to the wall panels 12 and 13, the wall panels 12 and 13 are then folded upright with respect to the bottom panel 11 and the end panels 16 and 17 are folded over the corner flaps (FIG. 2).

The end liner panels 40 and 41 are then folded into the tray interior, which operation causes the base panels 44 and 45 to assume a position flat upon the base panel 11 with edges 52, 53 in edge-to-panel abutment with the tray ends, more particularly the corner flaps, as shown in FIG. 3. The corner flaps thus are enclosed in hollow end spaces of the tray of substantially triangular cross section, as clearly seen in FIG. 3.

The inner side panels 28, 29 are then infolded until their tabs 36, 37, 38 and 39 snap into the apertures formed in the end liner panels 40, 41 by the internal cuts 48 and 49. In that position the lateral edges 32, 33, 34 and 35 of the inner side panels 28, 29 assume an edge-tosurface abutting position with respect to the slanted end liner panels 40 and 41 and stiffen them against upward flexing.

Merchandise, represented in the illustrated example by a collapsible tube 54 having a screw cap 55 and a seal seam end 56, is readily inserted into the tray by slight downward pressure. The slanted inner side and end wall structures center the article automatically and the end liner panels deflect readily to permit the screw cap 55 and the seal seam 56 to snap under the retaining edges 48 and 49.

The inner side panels 28 and 29 also flex readily, and thereafter provide a cushioning cradle-type support for the tube 54.

The panels 40 and 41 offer much higher resistance to a force tending to withdraw the tube from its locked position, as the panels 40 and 41 are stifiened by the abutting tapered side edges 32, 33, 34 and 35 of the inner side panels 28 and 29.

Obviously the configuration of the article supporting panels and internal cuts 48, 49 may be altered to fit merchandise of other shapes, the collapsible tube being shown here solely as a representation of an article of inherently low strength.

What is claimed is:

l. A tray of foldable sheet material comprising, in combination, a bottom panel; a pair of side panels articulated to opposite sides of the bottom panel; a pair of end panels articulated to opposite ends of the bottom panel; an end liner panel articulated to the top of each of the end panels and folded over the end panel on the inside of the tray; a base panel articulated to each of the end liner panels along a base fold line disposed to either side of the tongue hereafter recited, said end liner panel having a tongue cut therefrom by an internal cut extending from said base fold line, said tongue lying substantially in the plane of said base panel, pointing toward the respective end panel, and causing the said end liner panel to assume a slanted position, leaving a hollow space of substantially triangular cross section between end panel, end liner panel, and bottom panel, into which space merchandise to be packaged in the tray may be inserted, and an inner side panel articulated to the top of each of the side panels, the inner side panels being of a length greater than the height of the side panels and being disposed at a slant to the side panels and to the bottom panel, said inner side panel having lateral lock tabs thereon for engaging the apertures formed in the said end liner panels by said internal cuts.

2. A tray of foldable sheet material comprising, in combination, a bottom panel; a pair of side panels articulated to opposite sides of the bottom panel; a pair of end panels articulated to opposite ends of the bottom panel; an end liner panel articulated to the top of each of the end panels and folded over the end panel on the inside of the tray; a base panel articulated to each of the end liner panels along a base fold line disposed to either side of the tongue hereafter recited, said end liner panel having a tongue out therefrom by an internal cut extending from said base fold line, said tongue lying substantially in the plane of said base panel, pointing toward the respective end panel, and causing the said end liner panel to assume a slanted position, leaving a hollow space of substantially triangular cross section between end panel, end liner panel, and bottom panel, into which space merchandise to be packaged in the tray may be inserted, and an inner side panel articulated to the top of each of the side panels, the inner side panels being of a length greater than the height of the side panels and being disposed at a slant to the side panels and to the bottom panel, said inner side panels having lateral edges'converging towards the ends of the inner side panels, said converging lateral edges lying in edge-to-surface engagement with said slanted end liner panels, and having lateral lock tabs thereon in substantial register with the apertures formed in the end liner panels by said internal cuts.

3. A tray of foldable sheet material for packaging a collapsible tube of the type having a screw cap at one end and a flat seal seam at the other end, the tray comprising, in combination, a bottom panel; a pair of side panels articulated to opposite sides of the bottom panel; a pair of end panels articulated to opposite ends of the bottom panel; an end liner panel articulated to the top of each of the end panels and folded over the end panel on the inside of the tray; a base panel articulated to each of the end liner panels along a base fold line, one of said end liner panels having a tongue cut therefrom by an internal cut of inverted substantially flat bottomed U shape, considering the tray in setup condition, said tongue forming an extension of said base panel extending beyond said base fold line and causing, by abutment with the respective end panel, the end liner panel to assume a slanted position, leaving a hollow space of substantially triangular cross section into which the seal seam of a tube may be inserted, the other end liner panel having an internal cut therein of substantially semicircular shape to accommodate the screw end of a tube, said last named internal cut removing material from the body of said other end liner to form a tongue extension on the other base panel, said last named tongue extension causing, by abutment with the other end panel, the said other end liner panel also to assume a slanted position and form a hollow space of substantially triangular cross section into which the cap end of a tube may be inserted; and an inner side panel articulated to the top of each of the side panels, the inner side panels being of a length greater than the height of the side panels and being disposed at a slant to the side panels and to the bottom panel, said inner side panel having lateral lock tabs thereon for engaging the apertures formed in the said end liner panels by said internal cuts.

4. A tray of foldable sheet material comprising, in combination, a bottom panel; a pair of side wall panels articulated to opposite sides of the bottom panel, a pair of end wall panels articulated to opposite ends of the bottom panel; an end liner panel articulated to the top of each of the end panels and folded over the end panel on the inside of the tray; 21 base panel articulated to each of the end liner panels along a base fold line disposed to either side of the tongue hereafter recited, said end liner panel having a tongue out therefrom by an internal cut extending from said base fold line, said base panel and said tongue lying flat on the inside of the bottom panel with the tongue pointing towards the respective end panel and maintaining the end liner panel in a slanted position, leaving a hollow space of substantially triangular cross section between end wall panel, liner panel, and bottom panel; an inner side panel articulated to the top of each of the side panels, the inner side panels being of a length greater than the height of the side wall panels and being disposed at a slant to the side wall panels and to the bottom panel, said inner side panels having three bounding cut edges, including two converging lateral edges, for engaging the end liner panels in edge-to-surface position, certain of said cut edges comprising projecting edge portions for locking the inner side panels in the unfolded position in which they are in edge-to-surface engagement with said end liner panels; and corner flaps articulated to the ends of certain Wall panels and inserted into the triangular space of the adjacent walls at the respective tray corners.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Frankenstein 'Feb. 23, 1954 Nernoede Aug. 2, 1955 Nemoede Nov. 22, 1955 Stone Mar. 3, 1959 'Frisosky et a1 Apr. 11, 1961

Claims

1. A TRAY OF FOLDABLE SHEET MATERIAL COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A BOTTOM PANEL; A PAIR OF SIDE PANELS ARTICULATED TO OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE BOTTOM PANEL; A PAIR OF END PANELS ARTICULATED TO OPPOSITE ENDS OF THE BOTTOM PANEL; AN END LINER PANEL ARTICULATED TO THE TOP OF EACH OF THE END PANELS AND FOLDED OVER THE END PANEL ON THE INSIDE OF THE TRAY; A BASE PANEL ARTICULATED TO EACH OF THE END LINER PANELS ALONG A BASE FOLD LINE DISPOSED TO EITHER SIDE OF THE TONGUE HEREAFTER RECITED, SAID END LINER PANEL HAVING A TONGUE CUT THEREFROM BY AN INTERNAL CUT EXTENDING FROM SAID BASE FOLD LINE, SAID TONGUE LYING SUBSTANTIALLY IN THE PLANE OF SAID BASE PANEL, POINTING TOWARD THE RESPECTIVE END PANEL, AND CAUSING THE SAID END LINER PANEL TO ASSUME A SLANTED POSITION, LEAVING A HOLLOW SPACE OF SUBSTANTIALLY TRIANGULAR CROSS SECTION BETWEEN END PANEL, END LINER PANEL, AND BOTTOM PANEL, INTO WHICH SPACE MERCHANDISE TO BE PACKAGED IN THE TRAY MAY BE INSERTED, AND AN INNER SIDE PANEL ARTICULATED TO THE TOP OF EACH OF THE SIDE PANELS, THE INNER SIDE PANELS BEING OF A LENGTH GREATER THAN THE HEIGHT OF THE SIDE PANELS AND BEING DISPOSED AT A SLANT TO THE SIDE PANELS AND TO THE BOTTOM PANEL, SAID INNER SIDE PANEL HAVING LATERAL LOCK TABS THEREON FOR ENGAGING THE APERTURES FORMED IN THE SAID END LINER PANELS BY SAID INTERNAL CUTS.