US3107039A

US3107039A - One piece collapsible and glueless egg carton

Info

Publication number: US3107039A
Application number: US96761A
Authority: US
Inventors: Claude D Painter
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1961-03-20
Filing date: 1961-03-20
Publication date: 1963-10-15
Anticipated expiration: 1980-10-15

Description

Oct. 15,1963 c. D. PAINTER v 3,107,039

ONE PIECE COLLAPSIBLE AND GLUELESS EGG CARTON Filed March 20. 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 61 Mi ll 4 l L A 2:21 I J ;5 /7 I; I 1 .Z l 76 26 I i 30 .i l2}! INVENTOR. Z9 CLAwEflPA/mEE.

Fghz. BY

w ifl Oct. 15, 1963 c. D. PAINTER 3,107,039

. ONE PIECE COLLAPSIBLE AND GLUELESS-EGG CARTON Filed March 20, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. CLAIMED. PAJYVTEE.

United States Patent Ofiice mamas Patented Oct. 15, 1963 3,107,039 ONE PIECE COLLAPSIBLE AND GLUELESS EGG CARTON Claude D. Painter, 1249 Pine St., San Francisco, Calif. Filed Mar. 20, 1961, Ser. No. 96,761 4 Claims. (Cl. 229-28) My present invention relates to a collapsible multicelled carton primarily intended for packaging eggs, but may also be found suitable for holding any articles having a comparable shape and size.

A carton for packaging eggs or similarly fragile articles must meet two general requirements. It should be such that it can be folded fiat for handling and shipment when empty and secondly, it must be easily erected. When erected, it should also have sufiicient rigidity to protect the articles contained therein against damage by crushing and joggling. Inasmuch as such cartons are usually intended to be discarded after a single use, they are preferably constructed of inexpensive paper board which of itself has little rigidity. I therefore rely on the arrangement of the various panels and partitions of the erected carton to support and stiffen each other. In practice, such support and stiffening is usually obtained by dovetailing the transverse and longitudinal panels or partitions of the carton in such a manner that no partition has a very extensive unsupported section. This method does not, however, provide more than the inherent stiffness of the paper board material itself, and results in a carton that has relatively small resistance to crushing by transverse forces unless the structure of the carton is made very complex. However, as the carton structure becomes more complex, its production, assembly and erection becomes correspondingly more costly and time consuming. Where dovetailing is not used resort is had to gluing between the various portions of the carton blank when finally or partially erected. By my invention I have now provided a novel egg carton structure, the blank for which may be cut from a single sheet of paper board and which when erected provides increased resistance to transverse crushing of the carton as well as greater overall rigidity.

For an understanding of my invention, reference is now made to theaccompanying drawings, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a developed view of the blank from which my improved carton is constructed,

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary view showing lower portion of the blank of FIGURE 1 as folded in to form the egg or article accommodating cells,

FIGURE 3 is a front view of the carton when completely assembled,

FIGURE 4 is an end view of the carton as shown in FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a top view of the carton with the cover portion in its open position,

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing details of the end fiaps'assembly, and

FIGURE 7 is an end view showing the locking means for retaining the closed carton when in use.

Upon referring to FIGURE 1 of the drawing, it will be noted that the box portion of my improved carton comprises a bottom portion 10, two

vertical side portions

11 and 12 and a cover 13 with a flap 14. Attached to the normally upper edge of the side portion 12 there is a foldable flap 15 to which five cell forming portions 16 are hingedly attached. At the other side of these cell forming partitions 16 there is an additional flap 17 to which there is foldably attached a slotted cell forming partition 18. This partition forming member 18 is here shown as having slots 19 that normally extend vertically when the blank is folded to complete the carton. Cooperating with the slots 19 of the member 18 the cell partition forming members 16 carry mating slots 20 that serve to form a series of substantially rigid cells within the carton. The box forming portions of the blank, namely the bottom 1!),

sides

11 and 12 and the cover portions are connected together by

fold lines

21, 22, 23 and 24 which extend parallel with each other so that when folded in the manner intended these portions will provide the outline for a substantially rectangular box into-which the remaining portions of the blank may be folded and positioned therein as indicated in FIGURE 2 of the drawings. The bottom portion 10 also carries a vertically foldable end closure flap 25 at each end with a cut out portion 26, the function of which will be pointed out hereinafter. The side portion 11 has a horizontally foldable flap 27 at each end, each of which carry mutilated slot 28 and cooperating with the flap 27 and its mutilated slot 28 the side portion 12 of the carton carries horizontally foldable end flaps 29, each of which have a deformable locking tongue 30 which when projected through the mutilated slots 28 at the ends of the flaps 27 will serve as a means for securing the box forming portion of the blank in an assembled egg cell accommodating condition. To complete the box when folded as here indicated the cover 13 will form a closure therefor. Hinged to the outer edge of the top portion 13 there is a downwardly foldable flap 14 that carries oppositely extending tongues 31 at its sides which when inserted into slots 32 carried by the side portions 12 will serve to completely secure the cover in its closed position at the vertical corners of the box. At this point it should be noted that the cover portion 13 is also made of a slightly longer length than the box portion by providing outwardly extending portions 33 at each end thereof which, as will be hereinafter explained, serve to center any number of the filled cartons in a standard shipping carton of fiberboard such as are now employed in the wholesale distribution of eggs when boxed as here proposed.

At this point it will be noted that the fold lines 21 and 22 which serve to hingedly attach the

side wall portions

11 and 12 to the bottom portion 10 are foreshortened by irregular cuts between the

end flaps

25, 27 and 29 so that when these end flaps are folded along the fold lines 34 a right angled leg or foot 35 will be provided at each lower corner of the box. For a further detail it will be noted that the fold line 36 between the side portion 12 and the foldable flap 15 is likewise foreshortened and disposed inwardly from the normally outer edge of the side portion 12. As a result, the cell forming portions 16 with the partition 18 interlocked therewith will rest firmly upon the bottom portion 10 of the box when folded in as will be hereinafter described. As shown, the cell forming portions 16 are attached at one side of the foldable flap 15 by right

angled fold lines

37 and 38 so that when first folded up along the fold lines 38 the members 16 will assume vertical position and when again folded as a unit along the fold line 37 they will extend at a right angle to the foldable flap to which they are attached. When the cell forming partitions 16 are thus folded up parallel with each other the portion 17 may be folded thereunder along an interrupted fold line 39 and then the slotted cell forming partition 18 will be folded along a fold line 40 so as to bring the slots 19 carried thereby into mating relation with the slots 20 carried by the cell forming portions 16. In this manner the cell forming portions 16 and the slotted cell forming partition 13 will be positioned in interlocking vertical relation with each other as shown in FIGURE 2 of the drawing. To complete the box it is then only necessary to fold up the side Walls and interlock the

end flaps

25, 28 and 29 at each end thereof.

As will be seen from an examination of FIGURES 3, 4 and 5 of the drawings, the carton or box as formed from the blank cut as shown in FIGURE 1, is of a length that is approximately three times its width, and as for height this will be determined by the nature of the article to be shipped therein. When the top of the box is closed, as shown in FIGURE 3, and the tongues 31 carried thereby are inserted through the slots 32 of the side wall 12 the cover will be firmly locked in its closed condition, and when as indicated in FIGURE 4, the deformable locking tongues 36 carried by the end flaps 29 are projected through the mutilated slots 28 the

end flaps

27 and 29 will be likewise firmly secured in overlapping relation. When the box is formed the bottom 10 thereof will be supported by the feet 35 in spaced relation with other boxes when two or more are stacked one above the other. This will provide a space for the circulation of air between the superimposed cartons.

After the carton is formed and opened as shown in FIGURE 5, it will be noted that the egg accommodating cells as defined by the members 16 and the partition 18 will be open and fully exposed so that the eggs or other articles may be easily placed therein.

As indicated in FIGURE 6, when the end flaps are folded to form the carton the flaps will be innermost and the

end flaps

27 and 29 will be disposed outermost in overlapping relation when the deformable locking tongues 39 are projected through the mutilated slots 28, as is more clearly illustrated in FIGURE 7 of the drawings. With reference to this latter figure of the drawings, it will be noted that the deformable locking tongues are provided with two oppositely disposed angularly extending fold lines 41 which permit the ends of this tongue to be flexed inwardly when being projected through the mutilated slots 28 of the end flaps 25. During this operation the enclosed rectangular portion defined by the mutilated slot 28 will flex inwardly slightly into the opening 26 carried by the end flaps 25 and thus this flexing portion will serve to complete the closure at the end of the carbon when finally formed.

While I have, for the sake of clearness and in order to disclose my invention so that the same can be readily understood, described and illustrated a specific form and arrangement, I desire to have it understood that this invention is not limited to the specific form disclosed, but may be embodied in other ways that will suggest themselves to persons skilledin the art. It is believed that this invention is new and all such changes as come within the scope of the appended claims are to be considered as part of this invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A one piece foldable egg carton, comprising a one piece foldable blank having a bottom, two side walls and a'cover portion all foldable about parallel fold lines to complete an elongated, container, the bottom and side walls of said carton having hinged end closure flaps at the ends thereof, said end closure flaps being separated 'by irregular cuts extending across the fold lines of said 7 i end closure flaps and forming right angled feet at the lower corners of the carton when erected, an end closure flap carried by the bottom of the carton defining the width and height of the carton and being foldable innermost with respect to the end closure flaps carried by the side walls of the carton, the end closure flaps upon one of said side walls having a mutilated slot and the end closure flaps upon the other of said side walls having a tongue with deformable laterally extending tabs'which interlock with the mutilated slot carried by the end closure flap of said first side wall to complete the box forming portion of the carton without a gluing therebetween, the end closure flap carried by the bottom of the carton having a cut out portion to accommodate the interlocking tongue of said end enclosure flaps, and an egg cell defining structure formed as an integral part of said blank having transverse and longitudinally extending cell wall defining portions foldable and interlocked as a unit independently of the container forming portion of the blank and hinged toone of the side walls of said blank, whereby when set up said egg cell defining structure of the blank may be folded into an egg accommodating position within the box forming portions of the container for use without glue or other securing means.

2. An egg cell forming blank for an egg carton having a bottom, side walls and a cover adapted and arranged to be secured in rectangularly box-like form by glueless interlocking end flaps, comprising an extension of said blank attached by a fold line to the front wall of said box-like form having a plurality of lateral egg cell wall forming portions each having a vertical slot in its lower edge and foldable into a vertical position, and a longitudinally extending central cell wall forming partition having slots engageable with the slots of said lateral cell wall forming portions when said longitudinally extending cell forming partition is reversely folded under and interlocked with the slots of said lateral cell wall forming portions, whereby the egg cell defining portions of the blank may be set up as a cell defining unit and folded over the box forming portion of the blank.

3. In amultiple egg cell container, the combination of a box forming portion having a bottom and side walls secured in erected positions by overlapping end flaps and a cover with closure flap hinged to one of said wall portions, said box forming portion and cover with flap being all foldable in one clockwise direction when viewed at the end of the carton, and a multiple cell forming portion attached by a fold line to the other wall of said box forming portion of the blank, said multiple' cell forming portion of the blank having inner wall forming portions with a plurality of lateral cell wall members hinged between said inner wall forming portions, and a foldable extension with vertical slots for retaining said lateral cell wall members in spaced vertical positions, and characterized by the fact that the said multiple cell forming portion of the blank is folded along its fold lines in a reverse clockwise direction, whereby upon completion of said box forming portion or said multiple cell forming portion the latter portion of the container can be folded into cooperating relation with the box forming portion of the container for use without gluing or other securing means. a 4. In a multiple egg'cell container, thecombination of a box forming portion having a bottom and side walls secured in erected positions by overlapping end flaps and a cover with closure flap hinged to one of said Wall portions, said box forming portion and cover with flap being all foldable in one clockwise direction when viewedat the end of the carton, and a multiple cell forming portion attached by a fold line to the other wall portion cell forming portion of the blank having inner wall forming portions with a plurality of lateral cell wall members hinged about right angle fold lines between said inner wall forming portions and a bottom portion having a foldable extension of equal length With spaced vertical slots in which said lateral cell Wall members are held in spaced vertical positions, and characterized by the fact that the said multiple cell forming portion of the blank is folded along its fold lines in a reverse clockwise direction, whereby upon a folding of said box forming portion or the multiple cell forming portion of the blank of said box forming portion of the blank, said multiple the two parts of the container can be folded into cooperating relation for use Without gluing or other securing means.

References (Iited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Bergstein Apr. 13, Graffenberger Oct. 8, Burger Nov. 21, Newhouse J an. 22, Benoit Nov. 12, Shoemaker et al Aug. 1, Ferguson May 25, Goodyear Oct. 10,

Haas Apr. 13,

Claims

1. A ONE PIECE FOLDABLE EGG CARTON, COMPRISING A ONE PIECE FOLDABLE BLANK HAVING A BOTTOM, TWO SIDE WALLS AND A COVER PORTION ALL FOLDABLE ABOUT PARALLEL FOLD LINES TO COMPLETE AN ELONGATED CONTAINER, THE BOTTOM AND SIDE WALLS OF SAID CARTON HAVING HINGED END CLOSURE, FLAPS AT THE ENDS THEREOF, SAID END CLOSURE FLAPS BEING SEPARATED BY IRREGULAR CUTS EXTENDING ACROSS THE FOLD LINES OF SAID END CLOSURE FLAPS AND FORMING RIGHT ANGLED FEET AT THE LOWER CORNERS OF THE CARTON WHEN ERECTED, AN END CLOSURE FLAP CARRIED BY THE BOTTOM OF THE CARTON DEFINING THE WIDTH AND HEIGHT OF THE CARTON AND BEING FOLDABLE INNER MOST WITH RESPECT TO THE END CLOSURE FLAPS CARRIED BY THE SIDE WALLS OF THE CARTON, THE END CLOSURE FLAPS UPON ONE OF SAID SIDE WALLS HAVING A MUTILATED SLOT AND THE END CLOSURE FLAPS UPON THE OTHER OF SAID SIDE WALLS HAVING A TONGUE WITH DEFORMABLE LATERALLY EXTENDING TABS WHICH INTERLOCK WITH THE MULTILATED SLOT CARRIED BY THE END CLOSURE FLAP OF SAID FIRST SIDE WALL TO COMPLETE THE BOX FORMING PORTION OF THE CARTON WITHOUT A GLUING THEREBETWEEN, THE END CLOSURE FLAP CARRIED BY THE BOTTOM OF THE CARTON HAVING A CUT OUT PORTION TO ACCOMMODATE THE INTERLOCKING TONGUE OF SAID END ENCLOSURE FLAPS, AND AN EGG CELL DEFINING STRUCTURE FORMED AS AN INTEGRAL PART OF SAID BLANK HAVING TRANSVERSE AND LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING CELL WALL DEFINING PORTIONS FOLDABLE AND INTERLOCKED AS A UNIT INDEPENDENTLY OF THE CONTAINER FORMING PORTION OF THE BLANK AND HINGED TO ONE OF THE SIDE WALLS OF SAID BLANK, WHEREBY WHEN SET UP SAID EGG CELL DEFINING STRUCTURE OF THE BLANK MAY BE FOLDED INTO AN EGG ACCOMMODATING POSITION WITHIN THE BOX FORMING PORTIONS OF THE CONTAINER FOR USE WITHOUT GLUE OR OTHER SECURING MEANS.