US3187976A

US3187976A - Convertible container

Info

Publication number: US3187976A
Application number: US278662A
Authority: US
Inventors: Glenn E Struble
Original assignee: Diamond International Corp
Current assignee: Diamond International Corp
Priority date: 1963-05-07
Filing date: 1963-05-07
Publication date: 1965-06-08
Anticipated expiration: 1982-06-08

Description

' Filed May '7, 1963 June 8, 1965 G. E. sTRuBLE 3,187,976

CONVERTIBLE CONTAINER 2 Sheets-Sheet l l2 l o si; im Q nl" M ,//66 /o los /loe lo se`/ 7a 56 sg FIG! E umh.,

INVENT OR F/GIZ GLENN E. STRUBLE BY MRL @Hoc/ 5 /f-"wd' ATTORNEY June 8, 1965 G. E. srRuBLE 3,187,975-

` CONVERTIBLE CONTAINER Filed May 7, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet. 2

rNvgNroR GLENN E. STRUBLE BY /WQRL C4.) l/LoclfsY- United States Patent O 3,187,976 CONVERTIBLE CONTAINER Glenn E. Struble, Hamilton, hio, assignor to Diamond International Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Filed May 7, 1963, Ser. No. 278,662 8 Claims. (Cl. 229-16) This invention relates generally to containers formed from paperboard or the like, and more particularly to an improved shipping container.

Conventional sealed-end or tuck-end cartons generally serve the purpose of enclosing and protecting an article; however, the article per se generally cannot be readily examined by the purchaser. When the purchaser decides to examine the article, the conventional sealed-end carton is at times damaged and this is undesirable as far as saleability of the item is concerned.

Additionally, due to pilferage, for example, conventional tuck-end cartons may be opened during transit and the article removed, without any apparent damage to the tuck-end carton, and thus it cannot be readily determined when the article was removed.

A primary object of the present invention is to `provide a novel shipping container which may be readily loaded on automatic equipment, which comprises a pilfer-proof shipper to be ultimately opened by a retailer, which combines the advantages of a tube-type carton during shipping, which may be readily converted into a display tray for the purpose of exposing the article for purposes of examination by the ultimate consumer, and, which, if opened, such opening will be readily apparent.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel convertible container which includes a rectangular tray detachably connected to a tubular top section having exposed opened ends, or alternatively having sealed ends.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel blank for affording a convertible container.

Other objects and the nature and advantages of the instant invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the novel blank of the nvention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view inverted 180 with respect to FIG. 1,V showing a rst step of assembly of a container from another embodiment of a blank similar to FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is a plan View of FIG. 2, showing the next step of assembly of the convertible container;

FIG. 4 is a perspective View illustrating `a iinal manipulative step for completing assembly of the container;

FIG. 5 is a perspective View illustrating the manner in which a container is erected from the blank of FIG. l after it has been assembled; and showing the end closure liaps to form a sealed-end container; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view, with an intermediate portion of the bottom tray broken away, and showing the manner in which the container is converted.

Referring to the drawings in detail, and first considering FIG. I, a one-piece blank produced from paperboard or the like is indicated generally at 10 and comprises a tray-forming section indicated generally at 12 and a stopforming section indicated generally at 14.

The tray-forming section 12 comprises a rectangular bottom wall panel t6 hingedly connected by mutually 3,187,976 Patented June 8, 1965 ICC

parallel fold lines

18 and 20 to elongated,

side wall panels

22 and 24, respectively. The bottom wall panel 16 has hingedly connected to the upper and lower ends thereof at mutually

parallel fold lines

26 and 28, rectangular

end wall panels

30 and 32, respectively, which are of the same height as the

side wall panels

22 and 24.

Hingedly connected to opposite ends of the

side wall panels

22 and 24 on

fold lines

34, 36 and 38, 40, which are respectively colinear with the

fold lines

26 and 28, respectively, are glue ap or

closure tabs

42, 44 and 46, 48. These tabs (not shown) could, if desired, be connected to the end wall panels 3i) and 32.

Hingedly connected on a fold line 50, parallel to

fold lines

18 and 20, is a tirst auxiliary side wall panel 52 which is of substantially the same width as the side wall panel 22 and which terminates at opposite ends in upper and

lower margins

54, 56 substantially colinear with the fold or

hinge lines

26, 34, 36 and 28, 38, 40, respectively.

The blank shown in FIG. 1, has the outer surface thereof exposed, i.e., that surface upon which advertising indicia, for example, will be applied. Preferably, although `other adhesive means may be used, the outer surface of the auxiliary side wall panel 52 will be suitably varnished or inked and have formed thereon longitudinally spaced adhesive areas 58 preferably formed by a circular cut line 6l). The cut line 60 extends partially into the paperboard or the like of the blank, and permits subsequent ready separation of the circular portion of the topforming section 14 which will subsequently be adhered thereto.

` Hingedly connected to the side wall panel 24 on a fold line 62, parallel to the

fold lines

18, 20 and 50, is a second auxiliary side wall panel 64 which includes

opposite end margins

66 and 68, respectively, substantially colinear with

fold lines

26, 34, 36 and 38, 28, 40, and

end margins

54 and 56 of the first auxiliary panel 52.

The top-forming section 14 comprises a rectangular top w'all panel 70 having hingedly connected thereto on mutually 'parallel fold lines '72 and 74 side wall panels 76 and 7S, respectively. The side wall panel 76 is hingedly connected to the second auxiliary side wall panel of the tray-forming section 12 at severable segments 80 formed by an interrupted cut line 82 parallel to the

fold lines

18, 20, 5l) and 62. Although the top-forming section is indicated as being connected to the tray-forming section by means of the severable segments between the auxiliary side wall panel 64 and side wall panel 76 of the top-forming section, other comparable means such as a weakened4 score line, etc., may be used.

The

side wall panels

76 and 78 have conveniently formed therein

suitable cut portions

84 and 86 for forming apertures to receive ones lingers therein; see FIG. 6, whereby the top section may be readily removed from the tray section as will be subsequently described in detail.

In the .preferred embodiments, the top panel 70, and flanking

side wall panels

76 and 78 have at their lower ends colinear margins or

edges

88, and 92, respectively, which are colinear with the previously mentioned

margins

56 and 68, and fold or

hinge lines

28, 38 and 40. The tubular top may be formed, when the carton is assembled, with opened ends olsetinwardly at an angle from the end of the tray ultimately formed (not shown).

The upper ends of the

panels

70, 76 and 78 have an upper margin (see FIGS. l and 5) colinear with

fold lines

26, 34 and 36 and

end margins

54 and 66, and when ener/,ere

margin 106 coinciding with margin 100 of the side wally panel 76, and the panel 70 has formed at the upper end a margin 108 coinciding with the previously mentioned

margins

100 and 106. Further, a closure ap 110 is hingedly connected to the margin 108 at the upper end of the top wall panel 70. The fold or

hinge lines

72 and 74 extend up to the margins 100 and 1116.

The side wall panel 78 has longitudinal spaced therealong glue spots 116 preferably formed by cut lines 118 partially extending into the paperboard of the blank. As will subsequently become apparent, during the description of the assembly of the shipping container, the glue spots 116 will coincide or be in juxtaposed relation with respect to the glue spots 58 of the first auxiliary side wall panel 52, to permit ready separation of the container top-forming section 14 from the tray-forming section 12 of the shipping container that is ultimately assembled.

Assembly f shipping container Referring'frst to FIG. 2, a blank g-enerally similar to that of FIG. 1 1s inverted to expose the surface opposite that shown in FIG. 1, i.e., the inner surface of the shipping container is exposed. The first auxiliary side wall panel 52 is folded on fold line 50 into juxtaposed and preferably secured relation to the inner surface of the side wall panel 22. Further, the second auxiliary side wall panel 64 is folded over and preferably secured to the inner surface of the side wall panel 24; it being noted that the severable segments 36 will now be disposed adjacent the fold line 20.

The shipping container can be readily end loaded on conventional apparatus.

As seen in FIG. 3, the

panels

70 and 78 are maintained in substantially coplanar relationship, and folded together along the fold line 74 so that the side margin 120 of panel 78 is disposed substantially adjacent and parallel t-o the free edge 122 of the second `auxiliary side wall panel 52. It will'be observed that the glue spots 116 are not exposed or facing upwardly as clearly seen in FIG. 3.

Considering FIG. 4, the

panels

70 and 78 will be in coplanar relationship and juxtaposed on the bottom wall panel 16 of the tray-forming section, andthe side wall panel 76 of the top-forming section. The juxtaposed rst auxiliary side wall panel 52, which overlies the side wall panel 22, wi-ll now be folded at fold line 18 and the glue spots 58 will be juxtaposed on the glue spots 116. As previously mentioned, one manner of permitting separation of the top-forming section 14 from the tray-forming section 12 is to provide cut lines around the

glue spots

58 and 116; however, other comparable expedients having the same function may be utilized.

When the shipping container is erected in the manner just described, it is in a folded condition suitable for being packed 1'n suitable shipping cartons to be subsequently erected in the establishment manufacturing or packaging the articles to be contained in the convertible containers.

Referring to FIG. 5, the shipping container is erected by pivoting the side wall panels 76 and 'i8 from the position shown in FIG. 4 90 or at right angles with respect to the bottom wall panel 16, to dispose the top wall panel 70 of the top-forming section parallel to the bottom panel 1'6.

As will be evident to those skilled in the art, the panel 70 having

closure flaps

104 and 110, indicated in FIG. 5, formed thereon as previously described, and after the shipping container has been illed with a bottle of liquor,

hair tonic, etc., these end closure flaps are positioned in overlying relationship with respect to the tube which had been formed by the panels 76, 7@ and 78. The ilaps 194 and 116, however, as mentioned above, may be eliminated Iand the end margins at the end of the two formed by

panels

76, 70 and 73 may have indented margins (as shown in FIG. 2).

Thereafter, the closure flaps 36, 42 and 44 may be adhesively secured to each other, see FiG. 6, for example, and a package is then formed about the article in the shipping container.

As clearly Seen in FIG. 6, when the carton i's received at the retailer, the top `forming section 14 may be readily removed due to the severable segments 81D at the cut line 2 between the second auxiliary side wall panels 64, and the adhesive spots S-S and 116 which are formed by the cut lines 6ft and 118, respectively.

The tray-forming section ultimately formed into the tray shown in FIG. 6, will have double thickness si'de walls substantially reinforcing the same, and the

end flaps

42, 44 and 46, 4S will respectively reinforce the end walls 31) and 32. The top-forming section Vor tube-forming section 14 may be readily pulled off of the tray as indicated by inserting fingers in the openings formed by cuts 34 and 6 as shown in FIG. 6. Y

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention and therefore the invention is not limite to what is shown in the drawings and described in the specification but only as indicated in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A one-piece blank for forming a tubular container convertibile into a shallow tray comprising an integral, planar element including a tray-forming section, and a top-forming section hingedly and detachably connected to one -side of sal'd tray-forming section, said tray-forming section comprising a rectangular bottom wall panel bordered by hingedly connected, opposed pairs of side and end wall panels hingedly connected to attaching aps, auxiliary side wall panels hingedly connected to said pair of side wall panels on fold lines parallel to the hinged connections thereof with sai'd bottom panel, said topforming section being hingedly connected to one edge of one of said auxiliary panels on a fold line parallel to the hinge connection thereof with said bottom panel.

2. A blank as set forth in claim 1 in which said topforming section comprises a plurality of panels hingedly connected on mutually parallel fold lines.

3. A blank as set forth in claim 2 in which said topforming section includes end closure flaps hingedly connected to at least one of the panels thereof.

4. A blank as set forth in claim 2 1n which said trayforming section comprises a rectangular bottom wall panel bordered by hingedly connected, opposed pairs of side and end wall panels and attaching flaps, auxiliary side wall panels hingedly connected to saidpair of side wall panels on fold lines parallel to the hinged connections thereof with sai'd bottom wall panel, said top-forming section being hingedly connected to one edge of one of said auxiliary panels on a fold line parallel to the hinge connection thereof with said bottom panel.

5. A blank as set forth in claim 4 in which the other of said auxiliary side wall panels and one of said topforming section panels include adhesive receiving portions for adhering to each other when the container is assembled. Y

6. A convertible container for conversion into a low display tray comprising a low, shallow rectangular tray including vertical, opposed pairs of side and end walls connected to a bottom panel, and an open-ended top-forming section comprising at least a top wall panel and a pair of depending side wall panels detachably connected at lower opposite side margins only to the side walls of said low, shallow rectangular tray sidewalls and extending ver- 5 tically above the upper margins of said side and end walls, said tray including auxiliary panels juxtaposed on the inner surface of said side walls, said tray-forming section being detachably connected only to said auxiliary panels.'

7. A convertible container as set forth in claim 6 in which one of said depending side Walls is detachably connected to one of said auxiliary wall panels on a tear line adjacent said tray bottom panel, the other of said section panels being detachably connected to saidV other auxiliary panel.

8. A convertible container as set forth in claim 6 1n which said top-forming section includes closure aps at opposite ends thereof, removably disposed adjacent the end walls of said tray.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,154,085 4/ 39 Bergstein. 2,474,523 6/49 Guyer 229-43 2,521,184 9/50 Paige 206-45.34 2,681,141 6/54 Young 206--4534 3,027,998 4/ 62 Ridgway 20G-445.34

FRANKLIN T. GARRETT, Primary Examiner.

Claims

1. A ONE-PIECE BLANK FOR FORMING A TUBULAR CONTAINER CONVERTIBLE INTO A SHALLOW TRAY COMPRISING AN INTEGRAL, PLANAR ELEMENT INCLUDING A TRAY-FORMING SECTION, AND A TOP-FORMING SECTION HINGEDLY AND DETACHABLY CONNECTED TO ONE SIDE OF SAID TRAY-FORMING SECTION, SAID TRAY-FORMING SECTION COMPRISING A RECTANGULAR BOTTOM WALL PANEL BORDERED BY HINGEDLY CONNECTED, OPPOSED PAIRS OF SIDE AND END WALL PANELS HINGEDLY CONNECTED TO ATTACHING FLAPS, AUXILIARY SIDE WALL PANELS HINGEDLY CONNECTED TO SAID PAIR OF SIDE WALL PANELS ON FOLD LINES PARALLEL TO THE HINGED CONNECTIONS THEREOF WITH SAID BOTTOM PANEL, SAID TOP FORMING SECTION BEING HINGEDLY CONNECTED TO ONE EDGE OF ONE OF SAID AUXILIARY PANELS ON A FOLD LINE PARALLEL TO THE HINGE CONNECTION THEREOF WITH SAID BOTTOM PANEL.