US3116008A

US3116008A - Self-sealing container

Info

Publication number: US3116008A
Application number: US271303A
Authority: US
Inventors: Greene Abbot; Densen Paul
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1963-04-08
Filing date: 1963-04-08
Publication date: 1963-12-31
Anticipated expiration: 1980-12-31

Description

Dec. 31, 1963 A. GREENE ETAL 3,116,008

SELF-SEALING CONTAINER Filed April 8, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 F|G.l 122A 123A 124A 124A 123A FIG. 2 23A 24A 122A /24A/124A' I 23B 1245 1228 24 124B FIG.3

122A" f 125A INVENTORS Abbof Greene Paul Densen ATTORNEY 1366- 1963 A. GREENE ETAL SELF-SEALING CONTAINER Filed April 8, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 3A

INVENTORS Abbot G reene Paul Densen ATTORNEY United States Patent Office Patented Dec. 31, 1%63 3,116,008 SELF-SEALING QQNTAEPER A'ohot Greene, 24 Carter Road, and llanl Benson, 27 Qolony Drive E, both of West Grange, NJ. Filed Apr. a, rats, Ser. No. arises lairns. ((Cl. 229-45 T his invention relates in general to a self-sealing container, and more specifically to a quadrilateral collapsible type, self-sealing container which is constructed and arranged so as to prevent portions of the same container or a stack of similary constructed collapsible containers from sticking together.

(Ionsiderable efforts have been expended in the past in an attempt to make a container, preferably of corrugated or solid fiber type carboard, paperboard or the like, which can be secured or rendered self-sealing with a pressure sensitive adhesive, and which when in the collapsed state will not adhere to itself or to other similarly constructed containers when stacked. l-leretofore, most eiforts have been directed to modifying or altering the general shape of the known container blanks to solve the dilemma in the art. However, this type of solution detracted from the use of the standard blank construction which is the most economical to manufacture and use, and for these reasons the most widely favored by the various users thereof. Such containers are generally referred to in the art as a regular slotted container.

The regular slotted container is generally formed from a single blank of sheet material die cut and scored so as to define opposed side and end panels which when folded define a closed quadrilateral figure that may be either square or rectangular in cross section. Foldably connected to the upper and lower edges of the respective side and end panels is a flap. The respective flaps may be constructed so that when folded one or both pairs of opposed flaps may have their free ends disposed in substantially abutting relationship. Thus, the respective flaps generally do not exceed more than one half the length of the side or end panel disposed adjacent the wall to which the respective flap is hinged.

Such containers are generally shipped to the user in their collapsed state with several similar constructed containers stacked one on the other. In rectangularly shaped containers, is. one in which the sides are longer than the ends thereof, the end portions of the opposed side panel flaps overlap in the collapsed position of the carton. For this reason self-sealing containers tended to stick together when collapsed, or when stacked on one another, as in the shipment of the same when in collapsed position. US. Patent No. 2,874,891 discloses an effort to overcome this sticking problem with self-sealing con ainers. However, the patented disclosure had had the disadvantage that substantial portions of the marginal edges of the respective flaps were not securely fastened. This was necessitated by the specific manner in which the flaps had to be coated in order to avoid the flaps from sticking in the collapsed state. For this reason the flaps could be easily or accidentally pried loose, and thereby adversely affected the use and strength of such containers. In accordance with this invention it has been discovered that the flaps can be more firmly secured if more of the distance along the outer marginal edge portions of the flaps can be secured or held fast to the underlying end flaps. Since the area of the coated and uncoated portions of the overlapped portions of the opposed side panel flaps, when in a collapsed position of a container, is fixed for a given size container the problem to be solved was how to increase the linear marginal portions of such overlapped flap areas which could be bonded so as to enhance the adesive holding quality of the flaps, while at the same time prohibiting the opposed coated portions of the overlapped end portions of the flaps from interfering or sticking to one another.

Therefore, an object of this invention is to provide an improved regular slotted container in which its strength and versatility is enhanced by increasing the linear marginal portions of the overlapping flap areas that can be made fast to the underlying end panels in the erected position of the container.

Another object is to provide for maximum linear adesion along the marginal edge portions of the respective flaps without increasing the total coated area of the overcpping portions, or causing portions of the container to sticl; to itself in either its collapsed or stacked condition.

Another object is to provide an improved self-sealing slotted container that is relatively simple in construction, positive in operation and relatively inexpensive to fabricate.

A feature of this invention resides in the provision wherein the overlapped end portions of the fiaps when in the collapsed state have opposed coated and uncoated portions which are delineated by a diagonal line so that a maximum amount of outer linear marginal edge portions of th respective overlapping flap portions can be made fast.

ther features and advantages will become more readily apparent when considered in view of the drawings and description in which:

l is an expanded inside view of the blank from wh h a slotted container is formed.

2 illustrates the container in its collapsed positic-n.

Pl. 3 position.

PEG. 3A is another view of the erected container to better illustrate the coated p rtion of the flaps in accordance with this invention.

4 is a top view of the container illustrating the flaps in the closed position.

HG. 5 illustrates two similarly constructed collapsed containers arranged to show how they stack.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown in FIG. 1 the blank 29 from which a container 21 is formed in accordance with this invention. The blank Ed is die cast and scored to define front panel 22, a left end panel 23 hingedly connected thereto along fold line F a back or rear panel 24* connected along fold line F to the left end panel 25, and a right end panel 25 connected to the back wall 24 along fold line F The upper and lower edge portion of the respective front, end and rear panels 22 to 25 respectively, have hingedly connected thereto a fiap which in the erected position of the container is folded to define the top 26 and bottom 27 of the container. As shown,

flaps

22A and 22B are connected to the opposed edges of front panel 221, flaps L SA, are hingediy connected to the end panel 23, flaps Z lB are connected to the back panel 24 and

flaps

25A and 25B are connected to the other end panel Z5. in the illustrated embodiment the Width of each flap is made substantially the same. Generically, however, the width of the respec tive flaps do not exceed more than one half the length of the side or end panels adjacent the panel to which the hop is connected. For example, as shown in Fl-G. 4, the

flaps

22A, 22B and 24A, connected to the respective front and back panels 22 and 2- do not exceed more than half the width of the end walls 23, Thus in the folded and erected position of the container 2d the flaps 22A, 241 and 223, 24-3 defining the top 26 and bottom 27 have their free edges disposed in substantially abutting or contiguous relationship, as best seen in H6. 4, and overlying the adjacent end flaps.

illustrates the container in its partially erected In the collapsed position the blank is folded so that the front and right end panel 22, respectively overlie the left end and back panels 23, as do the respective flaps connected thereto. A strip of tape or other suitable fastening means secures the free edge of the front panel 22 to the free edge of th right end panel 25 to define the closed quadrilateral figure of the container when it is erected as seen in FIG. 3.

Referring in particular to PEG. 2 it will be noted that diagonally disposed end portions of the

flaps

22A, 22B and 24A, 24B overlap in the collapsed pos .on. For this reason, the instant invention contemplates a unique disposition of a pressure sensitive adhesive coating to the overlying portions of the respective side flaps so as to enhance the strength of the container, as will be hereinafter described.

in order to render the container 21 of this invention self-sealing, each or" the respective flaps 22B; 25A, 233; 2 1A, 243; and 25A, and have portions thereof coated with a layer of pressure se sitive adhesive of any Well-known brand. As shown in EMS. l, 3, 3A, the outside surtaces of the

end flaps

23A, 23B; 25A, are preferably coated over the entire area thereof with a coating of pressure sensitive adhesive 123A, B; 125A,

1253, while the opposed end portions of the front and

rear panel flaps

22A, 22B; 24A, are coated with a layer of pressure sensitive adhesive 122A, 122A; 122B, FEB; 124A, 124A; 1248, 1243'. It will be understood that the adhesive applied to each of the side and end flaps is of the same type so that the respective panels will adhere to one another when the coated areas are placed in face to face contact. it is to be noted that the respective pressure

sensitive coatings

122A, 122A; 1251B, 1223' and 124A, 124A; 124-2, 1243 applied to the end portions of the respective

side panel flaps

22A, 22B, 24A, 24B, are disposed on one side of the blank whereas the coating 123A, 1233; 125A, 1253 applied to the end flaps 23A, 233; 25A, 25B are disposed on the opposite side of. the blank 29.

In slotted type rectangular containers it has been observed that as the rectangular shape of the container approaches that of a square, the amount of overlap in the side panels is progressively decreased. For this reason the adhesive coating which can be applied on the end or near the end portions of the side panel flaps winch overlap, is seriously restricted. This is readily apparent in FIG. 2 where it will be noted that as the end panels are increased in Width, the amount of the overlapping portion of the side panel flaps is diminished. As a result the amount of area that can be coated with the adhesive is limited, and consequently the bonding force made possible by the overlapped end portions so limited, when the container is erected, is seriously affected. "is us the strength of the container is progressively reduced as the size of a rectangular container approaches that of a square, but not a square.

In accordance with this invention a novel arrangernent is provided coating the overlapped end portions of the opposed side panel flaps so that self-sealing containers, not a square but approaching a square, can be substantially strengthened, rather than weakened.

This is attained by applying the respective overlapped portions of the side panel iiaps 22A, 223; 24A, 24 3 with an adhesive coating which covers substantially one half the overlapped area and which half area is defined by a diagonal line 1);, D extending between diametrically disposed corner portions of the overlapping end portions. Accordingl, the overlapped portion of the respective side panel ilaps each have one diametric half of the overlapped area coated whereas the other diametric half is unccated, the arrangement being such that the coated substantially diametric half portion of one ilap faces the uncoated diametric half portion of the opposite fiap. With the arrangement described, the facin. overlapped portions of the respective flaps are prevented from sticking in the collapsed position of the container.

In accordance with this invention, by coating the res; ective overlappin" portions of the respective p s of side -cl flaps, eg. 22A, and 22B, into opposed metrical coated and uncoated areas, it will be noted that the adhesive coating of the respective overlapped areas will traverse a greater linear distance along the circumference or the free outer edges of the respective flaps than if adhesive were applied in strips or hands wherein the edge of the coated strip or band were parallel with the free edge of the respective side panel For example it will be noted in FIG. 3, 3A and 4 that the coated portions 122A, 322A, iii 4A of the llaps 22, and defining the top panel in the erected position of the container, are securely fastened or bonded to the end flaps 2.3, along their entire outer marginal edges which overi end panels. in other Words the outer marginal f the side panel flaps at the coated corner portZZA, 122A, 124A that overlie the end panels -e securely adhered thereto. Thus, the end corner ily or accidentally pried loose. have at least one full outer marginal portion thereof secured to its ad acent end flap. The same conditions above described apply to the

flaps

22B, 23B, 2MB and 253 which define the bottom 27 of the container 21 in its folded and erected position.

While

corner portions

122A, 1223, and 124A, 1243' are shown coated over a diametrical area, it will be appreciated that these specific corners are not the critical corner areas, and therefore the specific pattern in Whici "these corners are coated can be varied. That is, these corners may be coated with a band in which the edge of the band is parallel to the free or outer edge of the re spective flaps. However, the same cannot apply to the ends or

corners

122A, 124A or 1228, 124B in the overlapped portion of the side flaps 22A, 24A or 22B, 243 as these overlapped areas are deemed the critical area.

FIG. 5 illustrates how two collapsed containers 21A, 213 may be stacked and not stick to one another. it will be noted that the containers 21A, 26.3 are stacked front to back. Thus the uncoatcd outer surface of the side panel flaps 2 2A, 24 8 of container 21A will engage the outer

coated surfaces

125A, 125B of the preceding container 213 in the stacked position.

Therefore so long as the exposed coated portions of container 21A do not make contact with the coded portions of container 218, the respective containers can be readily stacked.

From the foregoing it will be readily apparent that the instant construction has particular application in those standard sized slotted type containers which approach a square but not a square, i.e. one in which the side ands are proportioned so that overlap wed portions or" the respective side panel liaps define a substantially square area. This relatively shaped container is one of the most popular in use today, and therefore it is highly desirable that such self-sealing container be made as strong as its physical limitations will permit. With the instant invention, the vers lity and strength of such containers is enhanced and increased over that of any known construction for the given size containers with which this invention niost applicable.

While the instant invention has been disclosed with reference to a particular embodiment thereof, it is to be appreciated that the invention is not to be taken limited to all of the details thereof a modifications and variations thereof may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A self-sealing container which is both collapsible .nd stackable comprising opposed side and end panels iingedly connected together to define a quadrilateral closed figmre, said side panels being longer than said end panels, closure flaps entending from and hingedly connected to the edge of each of said side and end panels, said flaps being substantially coextensive in length with respect to their connected panel, the flaps hingedly connected to said end panels having a width no greater than one-half the length of said side panels, and the flaps hingedly connected to said side panels having a width no greater than one-half the length of said end panels, said flaps in the collapsed position of the container being disposed in face to face contacting relationship whereby the diagonally opposed end portions of the res ective side panel flaps are disposed in overlapping relationship with one another in the collapsed position of said container, and a coating of pressure sensitive adhesive applied to a surface portion of all of said flaps, said end panel flaps having an outer surface portion coated with said adhesive, and said overlapping diagonally opposed end portions each having an adhesive coated portion and an uncoated portion whereby the coated and uncoated portion of one of said overlapping end portions contact in face to face relationship the uncoated and coated portions respectively of said other of said overlapping end portions in the collapsed position of said container, and said coated and uncoated portion of the respective overlapped end portions being defined by a diagonal line extending from a corner defined by the longitudinal hinged edge and the adjacent end edge of the respective overlapped end portions of said side flaps to a point located on the other longitudinal edge portion of the respective overlapping portion whereby said second mentioned point is spaced from the respective end edge of the flap a distance not greater than the width of the adjacent end panel flap.

2. A se1f-sealing container which is both collapsible and stackable comprising opposed side and end panels hingedly connected together to define a quadrilateral closed figure, said side panels being longer than said end panels, closure flaps extending from and hingedly connected to both the upper and lower opposed edges of each of said side and end panels, said flaps being substantially co-extensive in length with respect to their connected panel, the flaps hingedly connected to the opposed edges of said end panels having a width no greater than onehalf the length of said side panels, and the flaps hingedly connected to the opposed edges of said side panels having a width no greater than one-half the length of said end panels, said flaps in the collapsed position of the container being disposed in face to face contacting relationship whereby the diagonally disposed end portions of the respective side panel flaps are disposed in overlapping relationship with one another in the collapsed position of said container, and a coating of pressure sensitive adhesive applied to a surface portion of all of said flaps, said end panel flaps having an outer surface portion coated with said adhesive, and said overlapping diagonally opposed end portions each having an adhesive coated portion and an uncoated portion whereby the coated and uncoated portion of one of said overlapping end portions contact face to face the uncoated and coated portions respectively of said other of said overlapping end portions in the collapsed position of the container and said coated and uncoated portion of the respective overlapped end portions being defined by a diagonal line extending from a corner defined by the longitudinal hinged edges and adjacent end edges of the respective overlapped end portions to a point located on the other longitudinal edges of the respective overlapping portions whereby said second mentioned point is spaced from the respective end edges of the flaps a distance not more than the width of the respective adjacent end panel flaps.

3. The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein the respective corresponding diagonals of the overlapped portions of the respective upper and lower side flaps extend parallel to one another in the squared position of said container.

4. A self-sealing container which is both collapsible and stackable comprising opposed side and end panels hingedly connected together to define a quadrilateral closed figure, said side panels being longer than said end panels, closure flaps extending from and hingedly connected to the edge of each of said side and end panels, said flaps being substantially co-extensive in length with respect to their connected panels, the flaps hingedly con nected to said end panels having a width no greater than one-half the length of said side panels, and the flaps hingedly connected to said side panels having a width no greater than one-half the length of said end panels, said flaps in the collapsed position of the container being disposed in face to face contacting relationship whereby diagonally disposed end portions of the opposed side panel flaps are disposed in overlapping contacting relationship, said respective overlapping end portions of the respective flaps defining substantially a square area, and a coating of pressure sensitive adhesive covering a surface portion of each of said flaps, said end panel flaps having their outer surface portion coated with said adhesive, and said overlapping portions of the respective side panel flaps having an adhesive coated portion and an uncoated portion whereby the coated and uncoated portions of one of said overlapping end portions contact in face to face relationship the uncoated and coated portions respectively of the other of said overlapping end portions, and the coated and uncoated portions of the respective overlapping end portions being defined by a diagonal line extending substantially between opposed corner portions of the squared area of the respective overlapping end portions.

5. The invention as defined in claim 4 wherein the other end portion of the respective side flaps has a diagonal corner portion coated with a layer of pressure sensitive adhesive.

No references cited.

Claims

1. A SELF-SEALING CONTAINER WHICH IS BOTH COLLAPSIBLE AND STACKABLE COMPRISING OPPOSED SIDE AND END PANELS HINGEDLY CONNECTED TOGETHER TO DEFINE A QUADRILATERAL CLOSED FIGURE, SAID SIDE PANELS BEING LONGER THAN SAID END PANELS, CLOSURE FLAPS EXTENDING FROM AND HINGEDLY CONNECTED TO THE EDGE OF EACH OF SAID SIDE AND END PANELS, SAID FLAPS BEING SUBSTANTIALLY COEXTENSIVE IN LENGTH WITH RESPECT TO THEIR CONNECTED PANEL, THE FLAPS HINGEDLY CONNECTED TO SAID END PANELS HAVING A WIDTH NO GREATER THAN ONE-HALF THE LENGTH OF SAID SIDE PANELS, AND THE FLAPS HINGEDLY CONNECTED TO SAID SIDE PANELS HAVING A WIDTH NO GREATER THAN ONE-HALF THE LENGTH OF SAID END PANELS, SAID FLAPS IN THE COLLAPSED POSITION OF THE CONTAINER BEING DISPOSED IN FACE TO FACE CONTACTING RELATIONSHIP WHEREBY THE DIAGONALLY OPPOSED END PORTIONS OF THE RESPECTIVE SIDE PANEL FLAPS ARE DISPOSED IN OVERLAPPING RELATIONSHIP WITH ONE ANOTHER IN THE COLLAPSED POSITION OF SAID CONTAINER, AND A COATING OF PRESSURE SENSITIVE ADHESIVE APPLIED TO A SURFACE PORTION OF ALL OF SAID FLAPS, SAID END PANEL FLAPS HAVING AN OUTER SURFACE PORTION COATED WITH SAID ADHESIVE, AND SAID OVERLAPPING DIAGONALLY OPPOSED END PORTIONS EACH HAVING AN ADHESIVE COATED PORTION AND AN UNCOATED PORTION WHEREBY THE COATED AND UNCOATED PORTION OF ONE OF SAID OVERLAPPING END PORTIONS CONTACT IN FACE TO FACE RELATIONSHIP THE UNCOATED AND COATED PORTIONS RESPECTIVELY OF SAID OTHER OF SAID OVERLAPPING END PORTIONS IN THE COLLAPSED POSITION OF SAID CONTAINER, AND SAID COATED AND UNCOATED PORTION OF THE RESPECTIVE OVERLAPPED END PORTION BEING DEFINED BY A DIAGONAL LINE EXTENDING FORM A CORNER DEFINED BY THE LONGITUDINAL HINGED EDGE AND THE ADJACENT END EDGE OF THE RESPECTIVE OVERLAPPED END PORTIONS OF SAID SIDE FLAPS TO A POINT LOCATED ON THE OTHER LONGITUDINAL EDGE PORTION OF THE RESPECTIVE OVERLAPPING PORTION WHEREBY SAID SECOND MENTIONED POINT IS SPACED FROM THE RESPECTIVE END EDGE OF THE FLAP A DISTANCE NOT GREATER THAN THE WIDTH OF THE ADJACENT END PANEL FLAP.