US3114493A

US3114493A - Stacking and interlocking carton

Info

Publication number: US3114493A
Application number: US149289A
Authority: US
Inventors: James M Dunkin
Original assignee: Industrial Containers Ltd
Current assignee: Industrial Containers Ltd
Priority date: 1961-09-14
Filing date: 1961-11-01
Publication date: 1963-12-17
Anticipated expiration: 1980-12-17

Description

Dec. 17, 1963 J. M. DUNKIN smcxmc AND INTERLOCKING CARTON Filed Nov. 1. 1961 10 Sheets-Sheet l Dec. 17, 1963 J. M. DUNKIN v STACKING AND INTERLOCKING CARTON 10 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed- Nov. 1. 1961 5y mwm ww Dec. 17, 1963 Filed NOV. 1, 1961 J. M. DUNKIN STACKING AND INTERLOCKING CARTON 10 Sheets-Shet s Dec. 17, 1963 Filed NOV. 1, 1961 J. M. DUNKIN STACKING AND INTERLOCKING CARTON 10 Sheets-Sheet 5 famed Dec. 17, 1963 J. M. DUNKIN STACKING AND INTERLOCKING CARTON l0 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed NOV. 1, 1961 Dec. 17, 1963 J. M. DUNKINI STACKING AND INTERLOCKING CARTON 10 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed Nov. 1, 1961 Dec. 17, 1963 J. M. DUNKIN STACKING AND INTERLOCKING CARTON 10 Sheets-Shet 8 Filed NOV. 1, 1961 1 1E \fwvm WkQMM/Zu 5 Wmy Dec. 17, 1963 J. M. DUNKIN STACKING AND INTERLOCKING CARTON 10 Sheets-Sheet 9 Filed Nov. 1, 1961 Dec. 17, 1963 J. M. DUNKIN STACKING AND INTERLOCKING CARTON l0 Sheets-Sheet 10 Filed Nov. 1, 1961 United States Patent Ofiice 3,114,493 Patented Dec. 17, 1963 3 114,493 STACKING AND IIETERIIGCKING CAR'IIGN James M. Dunlrin, Armdale, Halifax, Nova Scot1a, Ganada, assignor to Industrial Containers Limited, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, a corporation of Canada Filed Nov. 1, 1961, Ser. No. 149,289 Claims priority, application- Canada Sept. 14, 1961 6 Claims. (Cl. 229-34) This invention relates to cartons and more particularly to the type of stacking carton formed from a one-p1e ce blank and suitable for transporting soft, perishable fruits such as berries and the like.

Heretofore, many proposals have been made to form stacking cartons from one-piece blanks but these have not been too satisfactory. One of the requisites for such cartons is that they should be capable of being erected on the spot in the field without theme of glue, staples, and like fastening means employed in conjunction with, what is known in the art as, a manufacturers gap or closure. Another requisite is that such cartons should be strong enough to withstand normal outside pressures encountered during transportation and yet permit the passage of air over the contents so as to assist in the delay of the deterioration thereof. Moreover, another requisite is that such cantons should be capable of being stacked upon one another for shipment purposes, without shifting, either laterally or longitudinally, during transportation.

Thus, it is the object of the present invention to provide a carton, formed from a one-piece blank, which will include all of the above desirable features.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of the preferred type of onepiece blank adapted to form a stacking carton;

FIGURES 2 to 6 show the blank in various stages during the assembly of the carton;

FIGURE 7 is a transverse section taken on the line 7--7 of FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 8 is a longitudinal section taken on the line 88 of FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 9 is a perspective view of the car-ton;

FIGURE 10 is a view similar to FIGURE 9 but shows two cartons stacked together;

FIGURE 11 is a plan view of a modified form of onepiece blank adapted to form a'stacking carton.

FIGURE 12 is a plan view of the type of one-piece blank shown in FIGURE 1 but incorporating a modification thereto;

FIGURE 13 is a plan view of an erected carton formed from the blank shown in FIGURE 12;

FIGURE 14 is a perspective view of the carton shown in FIGURE 13; and

FIGURE 15 is a plan view of the type of one-piece blank shown in FIGURE 11 but incorporating the same modification as is contained in FIGURE 12.

Referring to the drawings, and in particular to FIGURE 1, the one-piece blank shown therein is scored and incised to provide a main panel indicated generally at 1, which subsequently forms the carton bottom. Each side of the main panel 1 is integrally connected, by means of a first common score line 2, to a primary panel 3, preferably provided with one or more apertures 4 therein, each of said primary panels ultimately forming an inner side wall panel of the canton.

Each end of each of the primary panels 3 is integrally connected, by means of a second common score line 5, normal to the adjacent first score line 2, to a first geminal panel 6 ultimately adapted to form one-half of a first intermediate end wall panel. Each first geminal panel 6 is provided with a rectangular cut-out portion 7 in one marginal side edge thereof and ultimately forming part of one of a pair of stacking recesses provided in the upper edge of each end wall of the canton. The remaining marginal side edge of each first geminal panel '6 is provided with a projecting rectangular tongue 8 which ultimately forms part of one of a pair of stacking legs projecting from the lower edge of each end wall. The free end edge of each first geminal panel 6 is provided with a cut-out portion 9 therein.

Each primary panel 3 is also integrally connected, by means of a third common score line 10 parallel with but spaced from said first common score line 2, to an auxiliary panel 11 provided with apertures 12 therein corresponding to the said apertures 4 in the adjacent primary panel 3, each of said auxiliary panels 11 ultimately forming an outer side wall panel of the carton.

Each end of each of the auxiliary panels 11 is integrally connected, by means of a fourth common score line 13, to a second geminal panel 14 ultimately adapted to form one-half of a second intermediate end Wall panel of the carton. Each second gerninal panel 14 is provided with a rectangular cut-out portion 15 in one marginal side edge thereof and ultimately forming part of one of said pair of stacking recesses provided in the said upper edge of each end wall of the carton. The other marginal side edge of each second geminal panel 14 is provided with a projecting rectangular tongue 16 which ultimately forms part of one of said pair of stacking legs projecting from the said lower edge of each end wall. The free end edge of each second geminal panel 14 is provided with a cut-out 17 therein.

As will be appreciated from reference to FIGURE 1, the dimensions of the

tongues

8 and 16 are preferably less than the dimensions of the rectangular cut-out

portions

7 and 15 whereas the dimensions of the cut-

outs

9 and 17 are preferably the same. It will also be noted that the width of each auxiliary panel 11 is preferably slightly greater than the width of the adjacent primary panel 3.

Each of the auxiliary panels 11 is integrally connected, by means of a fifth common score line 18 parallel with but spaced from said third comm-on score line 10, to an associated tertiary panel 19 which ultimately serves as an intermediate side wall panel of the carton.

Each end of the main panel 1 is integrally connected, by a sixth common score line 2-0, in alignment with score line 13, to a first ancillary panel 21 which ultimately serves as an outer end wall panel of the car-ton. Each of said first ancillary panels 2 1 is integrally connected, by means of a seventh common score line 23, to an intermediate panel 24 each of which ultimately serves as the upper edge of each end wall of the canton.

Each intermediate panel 24 is integrally connected, by means of an eighth common score line 25, to a second ancillary panel 26 which ultimately serves as an inner end wall panel of the carton. As will be seen from reference to FIGURE 1, the free marginal side edge of each second ancillary panel 26 is preferably provided with a pair of projecting locking tongues 27. Moreover, both adjacent first and second

ancillary panels

21 and 26 are each provided with corresponding apertures 28.

A pair of spaced rectangular slots 29 are provided in each adjacent pair of first ancillary and

intermediate panels

21 and 24, and a similar pair of spaced locking slots 30, but of lesser width than the width of the slots 29, are provided in each end of the main panel 1 adjacent the sixth score line 20.

In assembling a carton, which can be quickly done in the field without the need of adhesive or staples and a manufacturers gap or closure, each tertiary panel 19 is folded along its associated fifth score line 18 so as to lie parallel with the adjacent auxiliary panel 11 as is shown in FIGURE 2. Each auxiliary panel 11 is then folded aliases along its associated third common score line so that the former is parallel with its adjacent primary panel 3 with the associated tertiary panel 19 being located intermediate each said pair of primary and

auxiliary panels

3 and 11, so as to form sets thereof, such a position being shown in FIGURE 3. In the position shown in FIGURE 3, it will be obvious that each second geminal panel 14 will be located under its adjacent first geminal panel 6.

Each pair of first and second

geminal panels

6 and 14 is then bent along the associated second and fourth

common score lines

5 and 13 so as to project upwardly from their associated and respective primary and

auxiliary panels

3 and 11 as is shown in FIGURE 4.

Thereafter, each primary panel 3 is bent along its associated first comrnon score line 2 so as, together With the adjacent auxiliary and

tertiary panels

11 and 19, to project upwardly from the main panel 1. Concurrently, the

tongues

8 and 16 of each pair of first and second

geminal panels

6 and 14 will enter an adjacent one of the slots 3%. This stage in the assembly of a stacking carton is shown in FIGURE 5.

Thereafter, each first ancillary panel 21 is bent along its sixth common score line so as to lie parallel to and in face-to-face contact with each aligned pair of second geminal panels 14. Each intermediate panel 24 is then bent along its associated seventh common score line 23 so as to cover the upper edges of the aligned pairs of first and second

geminal panels

6 and 14. Finally, each of the second ancillary panels 26 is folded along its associated eighth common score line and tucked down inwardly into the carton so as it will be parallel to and in face-to-face contact with each aligned pair of first geminal panels 6, and so that each of the pair of locking tongues 27 will enter an adjacent one of the locking slots 30. An erected carton will then be formed as is shown in plan view in FIGURE 6.

As will be seen from FIGURE 7, each of the pair of mutually opposed side walls of the carton is formed from an outer side wall panel 11, an inner side wall panel 3 and an intermediate side wall panel 19. Moreover, as the lower edge of each outer side wall panel 11 and each intermediate side wall panel 19 projects beyond the bottom, formed by the main panel 1, of the carton, a projecting flange is formed. The pair of mutually opposed flanges each present a load-bearing edge which serves to prevent the bottom of the carton from contacting the supporting surface upon which the carton rests, said flanges each extending continuously throughout the length of the carton.

As will be seen from FIGURE 7, the upper edge of each intermediate side wall panel 19 contacts the associated inner side wall panel 3 whereby, due to the natural resiliency of the material forming the blank, and hence the side wall panels, each side flange is urged outwardly away from the adjacent inner side wall panel 3 and the bottom I of the carton to form a stacking recess 34 between the lower portion of the inner side wall panel 3 and its associated intermediate side wall panel 19, each said recess 34 being adapted to receive the upper edge of a side wall of a carton stacked thereunder.

As will be seen from FIGURE 8, each of the pair of mutually opposed end walls of the carton is formed from an outer end wall panel 26, a pair of intermediate end wall panels, the latter being constituted by two aligned pairs of first and second

geminal panels

6 and 14, and an inner end wall panel 21. Due to the fact that the

tongues

8 and 16 of each pair of intermediate end wall panels project through and beyond the locking slots 30, said tongues form spaced pairs of stacking legs projecting beyond the bottom of the carton which also assist in maintaining said bottom away from any surface supporting the carton.

As will be seen more clearly from FIGURE 9, due to the first and second

geminal panels

6 and 14 of each pair thereof being parallel with each other, each pair of rectangular cut-out

portions

7 and 15, together with the ad jacent rectangular slot 29 formed in the intermediate panel 24 and first ancillary panel 21, and those parts, defined by the edges of the cut-out portions in the adjacent first intermediate end wall 6, of the upper portion of each inner end wall 26, form a stacking recess indicated at 31. Thus, the upper edge of each end wall is provided with a pair of such stacking recesses 31 each of which is adapted to receive a stacking leg of a superposed carton, as is shown in FIGURE 10. That portion, indicated at 32 in FIG- URE 9, of each inner end wall panel 21 adjacent a stacking recess 31, serves to prevent movement of the stacking leg of a superposed carton in a longitudinal direction inwardly of the carton.

As will also be seen from FIGURE 9, the apertures 4 and 1'2 in the inner and outer

side wall panels

3 and 11 are in alignment with one another, as are the cut-out

portions

9, 17 of the pair of intermediate end wall panels and the apertures 28 of the inner and outer

end wall panels

21 and 26, thereby permitting the passage of air throughout the interior of the carton.

From the above description, it will be appreciated that any number of cartons can be stacked upon each other and, through the intermediary of the stacking recesses 31 and cooperating stacking legs, longitudinal shifting of the cartons in a stack will be prevented. Moreover, and as will be seen from FIGURE 10, when the cartons are stacked, the depending side flanges of an upper carton fit over and grip the upper portion of the side walls of a lower carton, each said upper portion being located in a stacking recess 34, and thus said flanges, together with the cooperation of the side edges of the stacking recesses 31 with the side edges of the stacking legs, will prevent shift of the cartons in the stack in a transverse direction. Thus, the prevention of both longitudinal and transverse movement gives an extremely rigid stack.

If desired, and as shown in FIGURE 10, the uppermost carton in the stack may be provided with a top closure 33.

In operation, and when considering the picking of soft fruit such as berries, the fruit picker can readily erect a carton from the one-piece blank and then place a number of individual fruit punnets therein. The berries are picked and immediately placed in the punnets and when all punnets have been filled, the picker erects another carton and repeats the picking procedure. The second filled carton is then stacked on the first and so on until the stack comprises the required number of cartons. Each stack is then loaded on to the transport and delivered to the market or retailer where the punnets are displayed in the cartons. Consequently, the fruit is never handled again from the time of picking until consumption by a customer.

Alternatively, a modified form of stacking carton can bg erected from the type of one-piece blank shown in FIGURE 11. From the modified type of blank shown in FIGURE 11, it will be seen that the

tongues

8 and 16 and the rectangular cut-

outs

7 and 15 have been omitted from the

geminal panels

6 and 14 as have the rectangular slots 29 in the intermediate and first

ancillary panels

24 and 21. In all other respects, the blank shown in FIG- URE 11 is identical with that shown in FIGURE 1 and the assembly of the carton follows along lines similar to those described over in connection with the preferred type of carton, thus it is felt unnecessary to illustrate the various steps in the assembly of the modified carton formed from the blank shown in FIGURE 11.

However, although the stacking legs and stacking recesses are omitted from the modified carton, formed from the blank shown in FIGURE 11, the retention of the side wall flanges maintain the bottom of the carton from contacting the surface supporting said carton.

Moreover, the modified carton, formed from the blank shown in FIGURE 11, is still capable of being stacked upon a similar type of carton due to the depending side flanges of an upper carton fitting over and gripping the upper portion of the side walls of a carton thereunder.

If desired, a pair of stacking gates may be incorporated in each of the above-mentioned forms of carton. For example, and referring to FIGURE 12, the type of onepiece blank shown in FIGURE 1 may incorporate a first incision 35 in each first score line 2 as well as a second corresponding incision 36 in each third score line It). Each of the primary panels 3 may incorporate a third incision 37 connecting-each pair of associated first and

second incisions

35, 36 together, as well as a score line 38 connecting the other ends of each pair of associated first and

second incisions

35, 36 together. Thus, the

incisions

35, 36 and 37, and the score line 33, define a stacking gate panel indicated generally at 39, a pair of such gate panels being provided.

, When the carton is erected, and if desired, each stacking gate 39 can be pulled inwardly into the carton and away from the inner side wall panel'so that said gates are co-extensive and extend along the central transverse axis of the carton as is shown in FIGURE 13. FIGURE 14 shows such a carton in perspective with the gates partially opened.

It will be appreciated that when the gates 39 are in their operative position, they will assist in supporting the bottom of a carton placed thereon.

FIGURE 15 shows the type of one-piece blank shown in FIGURE 11 but incorporating a similar pair of locking gates 39 which operate in a manner similar to the gates shown in FIGURES 12 to 14, it being felt unnecessary to discuss the blank in any greater detail.

I claim:

1. A stacking and interlocking cart-on formed of resilient material and having a wall structure comprising a pair of mutually opposed side walls, a pair of mutually opposed end walls, and a bottom; each of said side walls being constituted by an inner side wall panel having a pair of spaced vertical end edges and integrally connected, at its lower edge, to an adjacent side edge of said bottom; an outer side wall panel integrally connected to the upper edge of said inner side wall panel and having a greater depfla than the depth of said inner side wall panel, each of said outer side wall panels having a pair of spaced vertical end edges, and an intermediate side wall panel integrally connected to the lower edge of said outer side wall panel and located between the latter and said inner side wall panel with its upper portion contacting the latter, the lower portion of each said outer side wall panel and the lower portion of its associated intermediate side wall panel forming a flange extending continuously throughout the length of said carton and projecting beyond said bottom, the lower edge of each said flange presenting a load bearing edge, the natural resiliency of said intermediate side wall panel forcing its said lower portion andthe said lower portion of the associated outer side wall panel outwardly of the carton and away from the lower portion of the associated inner side wall panel and said bottom thereby to form a stacking recess between said lower portion of said inner side wall panel and said lower portion of said intermediate side wall panel, said recess being adapted to receive the upper edge of a side wall of a carton stacked thereunder; each of said end walls being constituted by an inner end wall panel, an outer end wall panel integrally connected, at its lower edge, to an adjacent end edge of said bottom, an intermediate panel integrally connecting the upper edge of said inner end wall panel with the upper edge of said outer end wall panel and forming the upper edge of said end wall, and two pairs of geminal end wall panels located between said outer and inner end wall panels; a first panel of one pair of said gemin-al panels being in alignment with a first panel of the remaining pair of said geminal panels; each of said first panels of said pairs of geminal panels being integrally connected to a said vertical end edge of an associated said inner side wall panel whereby both said first panels form a first intermediate end wall in face-to-face contact with said inner wall panel; a second panel of said one pair of geminal panels being in alignment with a second panel of said remaining pair of geminal panels, each of said second panels of said pairs of geminal panels being integrally connected to a said vertical end edge of an associated said outer side wall panel whereby both said second panels form a second intermediate end wall in faoe-to-face contact with said associated firs-t intermediate end wall and with said associated outer end wall panel; a pair of locking tongues projecting from the lower edge of each of said inner end wall panels; a pair of locking slots formed in each end of said bottom adapted to cooperate with an associated said [locking tongue whereby all of said panels are locked in mutually cooperating position with one another and all of said inner wall panels are substantially normal to said bottom; a pair of aligned rectangular cut-out port-ions formed in the upper edge of each of said intermediate end walls; a pair of rectangular slots in each of said intermediate panels and extending into each said associated outer end wall panel, each of said slots being in registry with a said cut-out portion in a said first intermediate end wall and a said second intermediate end wall; each of said inner end wall panels extending, throughout its length, to the height of said intermediate end walls; said pairs of aligned cut-out portions, each said rectangular slot in registry therewith, and those parts, defined by the edges of the cut-out portions in the adjacent first intermediate end wall, of the upper portion of the said associated inner end wall panel, forming a pair of transversely spaced stacking recesses in each of said pair of mutually opposed end walls; and a pair of rectangular tongues integral with and projecting from the lower edge of each of said intermediate end walls, through an adjacent said locking slot in said bottom and terminating in alignment with said flanges, said pairs of tongues thereby forming pairs of transversely spaced stacking legs each adapted to fit into and interlock with an associated said stacking recess in the end walls of a carton located immediately thereunder; each of said stacking recesses in the end walls of said carton being adapted to receive and interlock with a stacking leg of a carton located immediately above, said side edges of each of said cut-out portions preventing lateral movement of the stacking legs of cartons in a stack thereof, and said defined parts of each of said inner end wall panels preventing longitudinal movement of the stacking legs of the cartons in said stack thereof.

2. A carton according to claim 1 including a pair of stacking gate panels each integrally and hingedly connected to an associated said inner side wall panel and adapted, when inoperative position, to be coextensive with one another and to extend along the central transverse axis of the carton.

3. A one-piece blank of resilient material adapted to form a stacking and interlocking carton having a wall structure comprising a pair of mutually opposed end walls, a pair of mutually opposed side walls, and a bottom; said blank comprising a main panel ultimately adapted to form said bottom; a pair of primary panels each articulated, along one side edge thereof, to an adjacent side edge of said main panel and each ultimately adapted to form an inner side wall panel; a pair of auxiliary panels each articulated along one side edge to the remaining side edge of an associated said primary panel and each adapted, on folding along its line of articulation, to form an outer side wall panel, each of the latter being of a depth greater than the depth of the associated inner side wall panel; a pair of tertiary panels each articulated along one side edge to the remaining side edge of an associated said auxiliary panel and each adapted, on folding along its line of articulation, to form an intermediate side wall panel located between an associated pair of said inner and outer side wall panels and connected to its associated said outer side Wall panel along a common lower edge;

the lower portion of each adjacent pair of intermediate and outer side wall panels projecting beyond said bottom and terminating in said common lower edge whereby to form a depending side flange extending continuously throughout the length of said carton and presenting a load-bearing edge; the free upper edge of each said intermediate side wall panel, when the latter is in its said location, contacting its associated said inner side wall panel whereby, due to the natural resiliency of said side wall panels, each said side flange is urged outwardly away from the adjacent inner side wall panel and said bottom to form a stacking recess between the lower portion of said inner side wall panel and its said associated intermediate side wall panel, said recess being adapted to receive the upper edge of a side wall of a carton stacked thereunder; (two pairs of first geminal panels each of which is articulated to an adjacent end of each of said primary panels and adapted, on folding along its line of articulation, to form part of a first intermediate end wall; two pairs of second geminal panels each of which is articulated to an adjacent end of each of said auxiliary panels andadapted, on folding along its line of articulation, to form part of a second intermediate end wall in face-to-face contact with said first intermediate cnd Wall; a pair of first ancillary panels each articulated, along one side edge thereof, to an adjacent end edge of said bottom and each adapted, on folding along its line of articulation, to form an outer end wall panel in face-to-face contact with said first intermediate end wall; a pair of intermediate panels each articulated, along one side edge thereof, to the remaining side edge of an associated said first ancillary panel and adapted, on folding along its line of articulation, to form the upper edge of a said end wall; a pair of second ancillary panels each articulated, along one side edge thereof, to the remaining side edge of an associated said intermediate panel and adapted, on folding along its line of articulation, to form an inner end wall panel in face-to-face contact with said second intermediate end wall; at least a pair of locking tongues eachprojecting from the free edge of each of said second ancillary panels; and at least a pair of locking slots each formed in said main panel adjacent to an associated said sixth common score line and adapted, on said folding of said second ancillary panels, to receive and cooperate with an associated said one of said locking tongues whereby all of said panels are locked in mutually cooperating position with one another and all of said inner wall panels are substantially normal to said bottom.

4. A one-piece blank according to claim 3 including a first incision in each line of articulation between each primary panel and the main panel, a second corresponding incision in each line of articulation between each primary panel and the associated auxiliary panel, a third incision in each said primary panel normal to and connecting one end of said first and second incisions together, and a connecting score line, parallel to said third incision, in each of said primary panels for connecting the other end of said first and second incisions together, said first, second and third incisions, and said connecting score line, defining a stacking gate panel which, on folding of the blank and erection of the carton, forms a stacking gate extending along the central transverse axis of the carton.

S. A one-piece blank of resilient material adapted to form a stacking and interlocking carton having a wall structure comprising a pair of mutually opposed end walls, a pair of mutually opposed side walls, and a bottom; said blank comprising a main panel ultimately adapted to form said bottom; a pair of primary panels each articulated along one side edge thereof to an adjacent side edge of said main panel and each ultimately adapted to form an inner side wall panel; a pair of auxiliary panels each articulated along one side edge to the remaining side edge of an associated said primary panel and each adapted, on folding along its line of articulation, to form an outer side wall panel, each of the latter being of a depth greater than the depth of the associated inner side wall panel; a pair of tertiary panels each articulated, along one side edge, to the remaining side edge of an associated said auxiliary panel and each adapted, on folding along its line of articulation, to form an intermediate side wall panel located between an associated pair of said inner and outer side wall panels and connected to its associated said outer side wall panel along a common lower edge, the lower portion of each adjacent pair of intermediate and outer side wall panels projecting beyond said bottom and terminating in said common lower edge whereby to form a depending side flange extending continuously throughout the length of said carton and presenting a load-bearing edge; the free upper edge of each said intermediate side Wall panel, when the latter is in its said location, contacting its associated said inner side wall panel whereby, due to the natural resiliency of said side wall panels, each said side flange is urged outwardly away from the adjacent inner side wall panel and said bottom to form a stacking recess between the lower portion of said inner side wall panel and its said associated intermediate side wall panel, said recess being adapted to receive the upper edge of a side wall of a carton stacked thereunder; two pairs of first geminal panels each of which is articulatedto an adjacent end of each of said primary panels and adapted, on folding along its line of articulation, to form part of a first intermediate end wall; two pairs of second geminal panels each of which is articulated to an adjacent end of each of said auxiliary panels and adapted, on folding along its line of articulation, to form part of a second intermediate end wall in face-to-face contact with said first intermediate end wall; a rectangular cut-out portion formed in one marginal side edge of each of said geminal panels and a rectangular tongue projecting from the remaining marginal side edge of each of said geminal panels; a pair of first ancillary panels each articulated, along one side edge thereof, to an adjacent end edge of said bottom and each adapted, on folding along its line of articulation, to form an outer end wall panel in faceto-face contact with said first intermediate end wall, a pair of intermediate panels each articulated, along one side edge thereof, to the remaining side edge of an associated said first ancillary panel and adapted, on folding along its line of articulation, to form the upper edge of a said end wall; a pair of aligned rectangular slots formed in each intermediate panel and extending into each associated first ancillary panel; a pair of second ancillary panels each articulated, along one side edge thereof, to the remaining side edge of an associated said intermediate panel and adapted, on folding along its line of articulation to form an inner end wall panel in face-to-face contact with said second intermediate end Wall; each said slot of each said aligned pair thereof, on folding of the blank and erection of the carton, being in registry with a said outout portion formed in an associated and adjacent first geminal panel and an associated and adjacent second geminal panel, whereby, each said slot, the edges of the said associated and adjacent cut-outs and those parts, defined by said edges, of an adjacent inner end wall panel, form a pair of transversely spaced stacking recesses in each of said pair of mutually opposed end walls; a pair of locking tongues each projecting from the free edge of each of said second ancillary panels; and a pair of locking slots each formed in said main panel adjacent to an associated said sixth common score line and adapted, on said folding of said second ancillary panels, to receive and cooperate With an associated said one of said locking tongues whereby all of said panels are locked in mutually cooperating position with one another and all of said inner wall panels are substantially normal to said bottom; each said rectangular tongue projecting from each said gerninal panel being adapted, on folding of the blank and erection of the carton, to project through an adjacent and associated said locking slot in said bottom and terminating in alignment with said flanges, said tongues thereby forming aligned pairs of transversely spaced stacking legs each adapted to fit into and interlock with an associated said stacking recess in the end walls of a carton located immediately thereunder; each of said stacking recesses in the end walls of said carton being adapted to receive and interlock with a stacking leg of a carton located immediately above, said side edges of each of said cut-out portions preventing lateral movement of the stacking legs of cartons in a stack thereof, and said defined parts of each of said inner end wall panels preventing longitudinal movement of the stacking legs of the cartons in said stack thereof.

6. A one-piece blank according to claim 5 including a first incision in each line of articulation between each primary panel and the main panel, a second corresponding incision in each line of articulation between each primary panel and the associated auxiliary panel, a third incision in each said primary panel normal to and connect- References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,065,804 Guyer Dec. 29, 1936 2,326,926 Bureau Aug. 17, 1943 2,828,059 Ross Mar. 25, 1958 2,893,621 Hamish July 7, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,210,384 France Mar. 8, 1960 1,221,754 France June 3, 1960

Claims

1. A STACKING AND INTERLOCKING CARTON FORMED OF RESILIENT MATERIAL AND HAVING A WALL STRUCTURE COMPRISING A PAIR OF MUTUALLY OPPOSED SIDE WALLS, A PAIR OF MUTUALLY OPPOSED END WALLS, AND A BOTTOM; EACH OF SAID SIDE WALLS BEING CONSTITUTED BY AN INNER SIDE WALL PANEL HAVING A PAIR OF SPACED VERTICAL END EDGES AND INTEGRALLY CONNECTED, AT ITS LOWER EDGE, TO AN ADJACENT SIDE EDGE OF SAID BOTTOM; AN OUTER SIDE WALL PANEL INTEGRALLY CONNECTED TO THE UPPER EDGE OF SAID INNER SIDE WALL PANEL AND HAVING A GREATER DEPTH THAN THE DEPTH OF SAID INNER SIDE WALL PANEL, EACH OF SAID OUTER SIDE WALL PANELS HAVING A PAIR OF SPACED VERTICAL END EDGES, AND AN INTERMEDIATE SIDE WALL PANEL INTEGRALLY CONNECTED TO THE LOWER EDGE OF SAID OUTER SIDE WALL PANEL AND LOCATED BETWEEN THE LATTER AND SAID INNER SIDE WALL PANEL WITH ITS UPPER PORTION CONTACTING THE LATTER, THE LOWER PORTION OF EACH SAID OUTER SIDE WALL PANEL AND THE LOWER PORTION OF ITS ASSOCIATED INTERMEDIATE SIDE WALL PANEL FORMING A FLANGE EXTENDING CONTINUOUSLY THROUGHOUT THE LENGTH OF SAID CARTON AND PROJECTING BEYOND SAID BOTTOM, THE LOWER EDGE OF EACH SAID FLANGE PRESENTING A LOAD-BEARING EDGE, THE NATURAL RESILIENCY OF SAID INTERMEDIATE SIDE WALL PANEL FORCING ITS SAID LOWER PORTION AND THE SAID LOWER PORTION OF THE ASSOCIATED OUTER SIDE WALL PANEL OUTWARDLY OF THE CARTON AND AWAY FROM THE LOWER PORTION OF THE ASSOCIATED INNER SIDE WALL PANEL AND SAID BOTTOM THEREBY TO FORM A STACKING RECESS BETWEEN SAID LOWER PORTION OF SAID INNER SIDE WALL PANEL AND SAID LOWER PORTION OF SAID INTERMEDIATE SIDE WALL PANEL, SAID RECESS BEING ADAPTED TO RECEIVE THE UPPER EDGE OF A SIDE WALL OF A CARTON STACKED THEREUNDER; EACH OF SAID END WALLS BEING CONSTITUTED BY AN INNER END WALL PANEL, AN OUTER END WALL PANEL INTEGRALLY CONNECTED, AT ITS LOWER EDGE, TO AN ADJACENT END EDGE OF SAID BOTTOM, AN INTERMEDIATE PANEL INTEGRALLY CONNECTING THE UPPER EDGE OF SAID INNER END WALL PANEL WITH THE UPPER EDGE OF SAID OUTER END WALL PANEL AND FORMING THE UPPER EDGE OF SAID END WALL, AND TWO PAIRS OF GEMINAL END WALL PANELS LOCATED BETWEEN SAID OUTER AND INNER END WALL PANELS; A FIRST PANEL OF ONE PAIR OF SAID GEMINAL PANELS BEING IN ALIGNMENT WITH A FIRST PANEL OF THE REMAINING PAIR OF SAID GEMINAL PANELS; EACH OF SAID FIRST PANELS OF SAID PAIRS OF GEMINAL PANELS BEING INTEGRALLY CONNECTED TO A SAID VERTICAL END EDGE OF AN ASSOCIATED SAID INNER SIDE WALL PANEL WHEREBY BOTH SAID FIRST PANELS FORM A FIRST INTERMEDIATE END WALL IN FACE-TO-FACE CONTACT WITH SAID INNER WALL PANEL; A SECOND PANEL OF SAID ONE PAIR OF GEMINAL PANELS BEING IN ALIGNMENT WITH A SECOND PANEL OF SAID REMAINING PAIR OF GEMINAL PANELS, EACH OF SAID SECOND PANELS OF SAID PAIRS OF GEMINAL PANELS BEING INTEGRALLY CONNECTED TO A SAID VERTICAL END EDGE OF AN ASSOCIATED SAID OUTER SIDE WALL PANEL WHEREBY BOTH SAID SECOND PANELS FORM A SECOND INTERMEDIATE END WALL IN FACE-TO-FACE CONTACT WITH SAID ASSOCIATED FIRST INTERMEDIATE END WALL AND WITH SAID ASSOCIATED OUTER END WALL PANEL; A PAIR OF LOCKING TONGUES PROJECTING FROM THE LOWER EDGE OF EACH OF SAID INNER END WALL PANELS; A PAIR OF LOCKING SLOTS FORMED IN EACH END OF SAID BOTTOM ADAPTED TO COOPERATE WITH AN ASSOCIATED SAID LOCKING TONGUE WHEREBY ALL OF SAID PANELS ARE LOCKED IN MUTUALLY COOPERATING POSITION WITH ONE ANOTHER AND ALL OF SAID INNER WALL PANELS ARE SUBSTANTIALLY NORMAL TO SAID BOTTOM; A PAIR OF ALIGNED RECTANGULAR CUT-OUT PORTIONS FORMED IN THE UPPER EDGE OF EACH OF SAID INTERMEDIATE END WALLS; A PAIR OF RECTANGULAR SLOTS IN EACH OF SAID INTERMEDIATE PANELS AND EXTENDING INTO EACH SAID ASSOCIATED OUTER END WALL PANEL, EACH OF SAID SLOTS BEING IN REGISTRY WITH A SAID CUT-OUT PORTION IN A SAID FIRST INTERMEDIATE END WALL AND A SAID SECOND INTERMEDIATE END WALL; EACH OF SAID INNER END WALL PANELS EXTENDING, THROUGHOUT ITS LENGTH, TO THE HEIGHT OF SAID INTERMEDIATE END WALLS; SAID PAIRS OF ALIGNED CUT-OUT PORTIONS, EACH SAID RECTANGULAR SLOT IN REGISTRY THEREWITH, AND THOSE PARTS, DEFINED BY THE EDGES OF THE CUT-OUT PORTIONS IN THE ADJACENT FIRST INTERMEDIATE END WALL, OF THE UPPER PORTION OF THE SAID ASSOCIATED INNER END WALL PANEL, FORMING A PAIR OF TRANSVERSELY SPACED STACKING RECESSES IN EACH OF SAID PAIR OF MUTUALLY OPPOSED END WALLS; AND A PAIR OF RECTANGULAR TONGUES INTEGRAL WITH AND PROJECTING FROM THE LOWER EDGE OF EACH OF SAID INTERMEDIATE END WALLS, THROUGH AN ADJACENT SAID LOCKING SLOT IN SAID BOTTOM AND TERMINATING IN ALIGNMENT WITH SAID FLANGES, SAID PAIRS OF TONGUES THEREBY FORMING PAIRS OF TRANSVERSELY SPACED STACKING LEGS EACH ADAPTED TO FIT INTO AND INTERLOCK WITH AN ASSOCIATED SAID STACKING RECESS IN THE END WALLS OF A CARTON LOCATED IMMEDIATELY THEREUNDER; EACH OF SAID STACKING RECESSES IN THE END WALLS OF SAID CARTON BEING ADAPTED TO RECEIVE AND INTERLOCK WITH A STACKING LEG OF A CARTON LOCATED IMMEDIATELY ABOVE, SAID SIDE EDGES OF EACH OF SAID CUT-OUT PORTIONS PREVENTING LATERAL MOVEMENT OF THE STACKING LEGS OF CARTONS IN A STACK THEREOF, AND SAID DEFINED PARTS OF EACH OF SAID INNER END WALL PANELS PREVENTING LONGITUDINAL MOVEMENT OF THE STACKING LEGS OF THE CARTONS IN SAID STACK THEREOF.