US3140813A

US3140813A - Carton with concealable handle

Info

Publication number: US3140813A
Application number: US219243A
Authority: US
Inventors: Harrison R Hall; Lewis F Reas
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1962-08-24
Filing date: 1962-08-24
Publication date: 1964-07-14
Anticipated expiration: 1981-07-14

Description

July 14, 1964 Filed Aug. 24, 1962 H. R. HALL ETAL 3,140,813

CARTON WITH CONCEALABLE HANDLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR) A ARRLso/v 1?. Mn; nrvo ZEN/S FRL'AS A ITO/ENE) July 14, 1964 HALL ETAL 3,140,813

CARTON WITH CONCEALABLE HANDLE Filed Aug. 24, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORI)- f/A RR/So/v A? #041.

AND [sh/1s lF/EEAS lrroe/vsy United States Patent Ofifice 3,143,8l3 Patented July 14, 1964 3,140,813 CARTUN WTlTl-l CUNCEALABLE HANDLE Harrison R. Hall, 21 Morningside Drive, Painted Post, N.Y., and Lewis F Reas, Canal t., Big Flats, N.Y. Filed Ang. 24, 1962, Ser. No. 219,243 Claims. C1. 22939) This invention relates to improved carton or container structure and the blank for forming same, and more particularly to a self-contained mailable container provided with a concealable or foldable carrying handle and positive locking closure flaps.

In the past, it has been necessary to either bind containers to be mailed with metallic straps, cords, and the like, or to seal such containers with adhesives or tape in order to insure that the container remained closed during transit. This not only materially increases the cost of shipping and necessitates time-consuming preparation, but also is extremely cumbersome and burdensome especially when the ultimate consumer is the individual who has to prepare the containers for mailing.

In addition to the convenience offered by packaging consumer items in a readily mailable container it is also desirable for consumer appeal, particularly when packaging frangible, bulky, or heavy consumer items, to offer a container which may be easily carried by the consumer from the retail shelves. To fulfill the latter requirement it is of course necessary to provide the container with means such as a carrying handle. However, in order to achieve the former requisite of mailability, it is not only necessary that the handle be foldable or concealable Within the package for mailing, but also the end closures must be positively locked so as to prevent accidental opening of the container when in the mail or while being carried.

Ease of assembly from the blank, such as when packaging the consumer item, must also be taken into consideration in producing such a container, and accordingly, the use of costly and time consuming adhesives or tapes for sealing the bottom end closure is undesirable. Further, since the consumer may desire to either personally carry the container or inspect the contents thereof before depositing it in the mail, it is apparent that a destructible or one-use sealing means such as adhesive or tape could not feasibly be utilized to secure the top closure members in a positive locked position.

Basically our invention relates to an easily assembled mailable container which may be conveniently hand carried, wherein the container is provided with a self-locking bottom end portion and a positive locking top end portion, both of which may be secured in a closed position without the aid of binders, adhesives, or tape. In addition, the top end portion is provided with a carrying handle which is normally folded or concealed within the carton for facilitating the stacking or mailing thereof.

It thus has been an object of our invention to provide an improved readily mailable container having a concealable handle means for facilitating the hand carrying thereof.

A further object of our invention is to provide an easily assembled container having a bottom end portion provided with self-locking closure flaps.

An additional object of our invention has been to provide a positive locking but readily openable container which is suitable for mailing, as is, without requiring the utilization of adhesives, tapes, or binding means.

A still further object of our invention has been to provide an improved blank for forming an easily assembled mailable container provided with concealable carrying means.

An additional object of our invention has been to provide a container having improved top closure flaps which may be positively locked or secured in a closed position with a carrying handle in either an extended carrying position or a folded or concealed mailable or stacking pos1t1on.

These and other objects of our invention will be more apparent to those skilled in the art from the following disclosure and accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a blank for forming a container embodying our invention;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of a container embodying our invention and formed from the blank shown in FIGURE 1, illustrating the top end portion in a closed position with the handle in its extended or carrying position.

FIGURE 2a is a fragmental perspective view of a container embodying our invention showing the closure flaps of the top end portion in a partially closed position with the handle in its extended carrying position;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of a container embodying our invention showing the bottom end portion in a closed locked position; and,

FIGURE 3a is a fragmental perspective view showing the closure flap of the bottom end portion in a partially closed position preparatory to securing them in their locked position.

Referring now to the drawings and particularly FIG URE 1, a blank Ill is shown for forming our improved container. The blank 10 includes a rear panel 21,

side panels

31, 51, and a front panel 41, and a glue flap ll. The-

panels

21, 31, 411, 51 and flap it are separated by crease or

score lines

22, 32, 4,2, and 5.2, respectively. An outer closure flap or lid 23 is formed integrally with rear panel 21, and separated therefrom by a crease or score line 24. Inner

end closure flaps

33, 53 are formed integrally with

side panel

31, 51 respectively, and separated from such panels by creases or

score lines

34, 54. An intermediate end flap 4-3 is formed integrally with front panel 41 and separated therefrom by a crease or score line 44.

The outer end closure flap 23 is provided with a tongue or lip 12 projecting outwardly from one end thereof and connected to the flap 23 by means of an intermittent crease or fold line 13. A C-shaped cut 14, such as a knife cut, is formed along a portion of the crease 13. The longitudinal portion of cut 14 is slightly offset with respect to the crease 13 so as to form an opening M when the tongue 12 is folded downwardly along fold or crease line 13 (see FIGURE 2a). A perforated strip 15, which may be punched out to form a longitudinal slot 15 (see FIGURE 2) is formed in the outer end closure flap 23. A small perforated tab 16 may also be formed along one edge of the lid or flap 23, and have the price of the item packaged within the container printed thereon. Accordingly, if the customer desires to purchase the item as a present, he may easily remove the price thereof from the package by merely tearing out the perforated tab 16.

A locking tab 17 is formed partially out of front panel 41 and intermediate end fiap 43 by means of a U-shaped cut 18. The locking tab 17 is provided with deep scores 19 which facilitate the easy manipulation thereof. A cut 20, slightly offset from the crease 44, extends outwardly from opposite sides of the tab 17, intermediate front panel 41 and end flap 43. The cut 29 forms a continuous opening 21? when the flap 43 is folded along score line 44 and tab 17 is in its open position as shown in FIGURE 2a. A pair of C-shaped cuts 60, 61, provided in flap 43 form a handle portion 52. The handle portion 62 may be folded at an angle of approximately to the plane of the end flap 43 along score or crease lines 63.

Inner closure flaps

33 and 53 are each provided with a recessed portion 64 for facilitating the insertion so? of locking tab 17 within slot 14 such as shown in FIG- URE 2.

A slotted lower end closure flap 25 is formed integral with rear panel 21 and separated therefrom by means of a crease or score line 26.

End closure flaps

35 and 55 are formed integral with

side panels

31 and 51, respectively, and separated from such panels by crease or

score lines

36 and 56. A tongued end closure flap 45 is formed integral with front panel 41 and separated therefrom by means of a score or crease 45.

The end closure flap 25 is provided with a squashed T- shaped slot 27 having a short stem portion 23, forming edge or corner portions 29 where it intersects the longitudinally extending portion. The

closure flaps

35, 55 are provided with a

diagonal edge

37, 57, respectively. The

diagonal edges

37, 57, are so formed that when the end closure flaps 35, 55 are in their closed position, a portion of each of the diagonal edges will overlie one of the corner portions 29. The end closure flap 45 has a locking tongue portion 4-7 at its outer end, connected to a diverging inner end portion 43 by means of recessed catch portions which cooperate with the stem portion 28 of slot 27 to lock the lower end portion in its closed position,

In assemblying a container from the blank 10, the

various panels

231, 31, 41, 51, and glue flap 11 are folded into a tubular configuration along

creases

22, 32, 42, and 52. A suitable adhesive or glue is applied along the glue flap 11 which is then secured to an inner surface edge portion of the rear panel 21. The bottom closure flaps, forming the bottom end portion of the container, are then assembled into a closed and locked position as shown in FIGURES 3 and 3a.

Slotted end closure flap 25 is first folded inwardly along score line as to an angle of about 90 with the rear panel 21.

End closure flaps

35 and 55 are then folded inwardly along

score lines

36 and 56, respectively, so as to lie adjacent flap 25, wherein diagonal edges 3? and 57 each extend across one of the corner portions 29. Tongued flap 45 is then folded inwardly along crease or score 46, depressing flap 25 inwardly until the locking tongue portion 47 enters the longitudinal section of T- slot 27, at which time the resiliency of the score line 26 snaps the flap 25 outwardly until it abuts

end flaps

35, 55.

Since the diverging inner portion 48 of flap 45 overlies the outer end of

flaps

35 and 55, these flaps limit and restrain the outward movement of flap 25. Further, the recessed catch portions 49 of flap 45 ccoperably engage the side edge portions of the stem portion 28 of slot 27 and lock the bottom end portion in a closed position. Since the tongue portion 47 is extended outwardly beyond the recessed portions 49, the bottom closure portion of the container is, in effect, selfloclring, and the flap 4-5 cannot slip out of the slot 27 in flap 25. Accordingly, any outward force exerted on the bottom or closure end portion of the container, such as by the merchandise packaged therewitiin, actually increases the degree of locking effected by the lower end closure flaps.

After the lower end portion of the container has been assembled, as previously described, and the merchandise positioned therewithin, the upper closure flaps are then folded into a positive locked position which is suitable for mailing without requiring additional adhesive, binding, or tape. Inner closure flaps 33 and 53 are first folded downwardly along score or

crease lines

34 and 54, re spectively, so as to lie substantially in the same plane and form an angle of approximately 90 with their re spective side panels. The locking tab 1'7 is folded baclo wardly from intermediate end flap 453, in a manner shown in FIGURE 2a, and flap 43 is folded downwardly along crease or score line 44 to the plane of the top of the container, thus forming slot 29' along slot 20.

Tongue 12 of outer end flap 23 is then folded along score line 13 so as to form an angle of approximately 90 with the plane of flap 23, and the flap is folded along score line 24 to form an angle of approximately 90 with the rear panel 21. During the downward movement of outer end closure flap or lid 23, the tongue 12 is directed through slot 20 and positioned within the container adjacent the upper portion of the inner surface of front panel 41. When tongue 12 is folded along crease line 13, the backward C-shaped cut 14 produces an open portion 14' which, when the outer flap or lid 23 as in its closed position, extends forwardly of the container.

The locking tab 17 is then folded along its score lines 19 and positioned through the open portion 14' to positively lock the outer end closure flap or lid 23 in a closed position. The recesses 64', formed in the inner closure flaps 33 and 53, permit the insertion of the locking tab 17 through the open portion 14' without interfering with the

flaps

33 and 53. When the container is assembled in such a closed and locked position as heretofore described, it may be easily stacked upon another such container or sent through the mail without requiring additional locking or securing media.

If a purchaser should desire to carry the package, he would merely open the upper closure portion 23 by removing the locking tab 17 from open portion 14 and extend the concealed or folded handle portion 62 as shown in FIGURES 2 and 2a. The perforated strip 15 is punched out to form elongated slot 15, and handle portion 62 is folded upwardly along crease line 63. The outer closure flap or lid 23 is then folded downwardly and the handle portion 62 directed through the open portion 15'. The tongue 12 is directed through slot 24) and positioned within the container adjacent the inner surface of front panel 41. Locking tab 17 is then positioned Within the open portion 14 to securely lock the lid. Due to the binding or locking action of the overlying end closure flap 23, locked in position over the intermediate handle flap 43 by means of locking tab 17, the handle portion 62 is securely locked in such a manner so as to adequately support the container and the contents packaged therewithin. Further, due to the self-locking effect of the bottom closure portion, the weight of the contents within the container increases the locking effect produced by the bottom end closure flaps.

Although we have disclosed our now preferred embodiment of our invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art, that various changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, as defined in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A container having a plurality of bounding wall panels closed at one end, an improved closure portion for the other end having concealable carrying handle means which comprises, an outer closure flap foldable along a crease line at a junction with one of said wall panels, a tongue formed along a portion of the outer edge of said closure flap and foldable along a score line at its junction with said flap, an open portion formed along said score line when said tongue is folded therealong, a removable perforated strip formed in said outer closure flap, an intermediate closure flap of substantially the same width and length as said outer closure flap formed integrally with a second of said wall panels and separated therefrom by a crease line, an elongated slot formed along said crease line when said intermediate flap is folded therealong, a locking tab formed integrally with said second wall panel and partially out of said intermediate closure flap, end closure flaps secured to wall panels intermediate said one and said second wall panel, each of said end closure flaps foldable along a crease line at a junction with its wall panel into a substantially common plane, a handle portion forming a part of said intermediate closure flap and foldable along a crease line extending centrally of the width of such flap between a concealed position within the plane of such flap and an operative position substantially normal to such plane; said end closure flaps and said intermediate closure flap including said handle portion underlying said outer closure flap when said improved closure portion is closed with the handle portion in its concealed position, said tongue positionable through said elongated slot and adjacent an inner surface of said second wall panel with said locking tab positionable within said open portion to lock the upper closure flaps in a positively-locked position; and said end closure flaps and said intermediate closure flap underlying said outer closure flap with said handle portion extending through a slot formed by the removal of said perforated strip when said improved closure portion is closed with said handle portion in an extended position, thereby producing a projecting carrying handle means for facilitating the carrying of such container.

2. In a container as defined in claim 1, a recessed portion formed in each of said end closure flaps in alignment with said locking tab when said end closure flaps are in folded position to cooperably receive and facilitate the positioning of such locking tab through said open portion.

3. An improved mailable container Whose end portions may be assembled into a closed and locked position solely by manipulating the blank forming such container which comprises, a rear panel, a front panel, and a pair of side panels, a slotted flap secured to the lower end of said rear panel, a closed-sided T-shaped slot formed through and bounded by said slotted flap, a diagonallycut end flap secured to each of said side panels foldable as to overlie portions of said slotted flap, a locking flap secured to the lower end of said front panel having an outwardly projecting locking portion extendable through said T-shaped slot with a diverging base portion overlying portions of said diagonally-cut flaps so as to lock the bottom flaps in a closed position; an outer flap formed integrally with an upper portion of said rear panel, said outer flap having a tongue portion secured thereto and foldable along a crease line, an open portion formed along said crease line, a pair of upper end side flaps one foldably secured to the upper end of each of said side panels, said upper end side flaps each having a forwardly opened tab-receiving recessed portion formed therein and foldable so as to lie substantially along the upper edge of said side panels, an intermediate flap having the same general configuration as said outer flap formed integrally with an upper portion of said front panel and foldable to overlie said folded upper end side flaps, said outer flap foldable over said intermediate flap with the tongue portion thereof extending through a slot formed in said intermediate flap and positioned within the carton adjacent the inner surface of said front panel, and a locking tab formed integrally with said front panel and positionable through said open portion and within said recessed portions to positively lock the upper flaps in a closed position, i

4. An improved mailable container as defined in claim 3 wherein said outer surface flap is provided with a removable perforated strip which may be removed to form a slotted portion, and said intermediate flap is provided with a handle portion foldable along a centrally extending crease line between a concealed position lying in the plane of such flap and an upright position perpendicular to such plane so as to extend through said slotted portion and provide a carrying handle for said container.

5. A blank for forming a container having a positivelocking upper end closure portion with concealable handle means, and a self-locking bottom end closure portion which comprises; a rear panel, a side panel, a front panel, a second side panel and a glue flap, all separated by a plurality of score lines extending across the blank; a first lower end closure flap formed integrally with said rear panel and separated therefrom by a score line, a closedsided T-shaped slotted portion formed through and bounded by said lower end closure flap, a second lower end closure flap formed integrally with said first panel and separated therefrom by a score line, said second lower end closure flap having an expanded outer end portion connected to a diverging base portion by means of recessed catch portions, a diagonally-cut lower end flap formed integrally with each of said side panels and separated therefrom by a score line; a first upper end closure flap formed integrally with said rear panel and separated therefrom by a score line, a tongue portion formed on the outer end of said first upper end closure flap, a second upper end closure flap of substantially the same length and width as said first upper end closure flap formed integrally with said front panel and separated therefrom by a score line, a locking tab foldably' secured to said front panel and formed partially out of said second upper end closure flap, an upper end side closure flap formed integrally! with each of said side panels and separated therefrom by a score line, each of said upper end side closure flaps having a recessed portion formed therein; and foldable handle means formed in said second upper end closure flap foldable along a longitudinally extending score line positioned substantially centrally of the width of such flap.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,331,754 Wohlers Oct. 12, 1943 2,675,168 Clark Apr. 13, 1954 2,713,965 Acker July 26, 1955 2,782,981 Mires Feb. 26, 1957 2,974,852 Hass et al. Mar. 14, 1961 2,987,235 McCallum June 6, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS 638,470 Great Britain June 7, 1950