US3253765A

US3253765A - Separable plural container

Info

Publication number: US3253765A
Application number: US387438A
Authority: US
Inventors: David B Train
Original assignee: Owens Illinois Glass Co
Current assignee: OI Glass Inc
Priority date: 1964-08-04
Filing date: 1964-08-04
Publication date: 1966-05-31
Anticipated expiration: 1983-05-31

Description

y 1, 1966 D. B. T RAlN I v 3,253,765

SEPARABLE PLURAL CONTAINER Filed Aug. 4, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. DAVID B. TRAIN HQ 3 H2 ASJMJJA AHORN EVs y 1966 D. B. TRAIN 3,253,765

SEPARABLE PLURAL CONTAINER Filed Aug. 4, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTDR. DAV D B, TRAIN was FIG 5 LWO-M SLQM H2 w. ASLLQ'MA May 31, 1966 D. a. TA|N 3,253,765

SEPARABLE PLURAL CONTAINER Filed Aug. 4, 6 r 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. 229 DAVID B.TRAIN 2|4 A 'T'ORN EVS United States Patent Filed Aug. 4, 1964, Ser. No. 387,438 4 Claims. (Cl. 22923) This invention relates to container apparatus for articles which are shipped and/or handled as a group but which must be individually packaged due, for exam le, to the fact that they are subject to be individually dispensed, as in the case of bakery products.

In the perior art the foregoing requirements were met by individually packaging the articles in separate containers and by subsequently packaging the individual containers in an outer container or box. These requirements were also met by individually packaging the articles in containers which were then subsequently glued or otherwise caused to adhere to one another. The former technique was quite wasteful of the material from which the containers were formed, e.g., paperboard, because of the redundency of the outer container from the standpoint of packaging. The latter technique while more conservative of material has never been altogether satisfactory because of the tendency of the glue or other afiixing means to damage the outer surface of one or another of the adjacent containers and the printing or advertising matter usually disposed thereon when the containers were separated.

Accordingly, it is the object of the present invention to provide improved container apparatus for packaging a plurality of articles that are readily separable from one another for individual dispensing. For further understanding of the invention attention is directed to the following portion of the specification, the drawing and the appended claims.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of container apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the container apparatus of FIG. 1 showing the component parts thereof in a disassembled state;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary elevational sectional view of the container apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a cardboard blank from which one of the elements of the container of FIGS. 1 and 2 may be formed;

. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another embodiment of container apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the container apparatus of FIG. 5 showing the component parts thereof in a disassembled state;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary elevational sectional view of the container apparatus of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of container apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing the container apparatus of FIG. 8 with the component parts thereof in a disassembled state; and

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary elevational sectional view of the container apparatus of FIG. 8.

In the embodiment of the invention shown at FIGS. 1 through 4 there is provided first wall means 11 forming a first open-ended tubular body 12, second wall means 13 forming a second open-ended tubular body 14, and third wall means 15 forming a third open-ended tubular body 16.

Tubular bodies

12, 14 and 16 are disposed tion, successive tubular bodies are spaced apart from one another but are closely adjacent to each other, and adjacent sides of adjacent tubular bodies are parallel to one another. Overlying an end of each of

tubular bodies

12, 14 and 16, shown as the upper end of each, is first end .closure means 17 and overlying the other end of each of

tubular bodies

12, 14 and 16 is second end closure means 18. Each of end closure means 17 and 18 comprises a first panel 21 disposed within tubular body 12 transversely thereof and adjacent the respective open end, a second panel 22 disposed within tubular body 14 transversely thereof and adjacent the respective open end, and a third panel disposed within tubular body 16 transversely thereof and adjacent the respective open end. 'Panel 21 is provided with a flap 24 extending outwardly from tubular body 11 past the end of wall means 12 from that edge of panel 21 which is most closely adjacent panel 22; panel 22 is provided with a flap 25 extending outwardly from tubular body 13 past the end of wall means 14 from that edge of panel 22 which is most closely adjacent panel 21; panel 22 is also provided with a flap 26 extending outwardly from tubular body 13 past wall means 14 from that edge of panel 22 which is most closely adjacent panel 23; and panel 23 is provided with a flap extending outwardly from tubular body 16 past the end of Wall means 15 from that edge of panel 23 which is most closely adjacent panel 22.

Flaps

24 and 25 are separatably connected to one another, as by means of a tear strip 28;

flaps

26 and 27 are also separatably connected to one another, again as by means of a tear strip 29. Each of the other edges of

panels

21, 22, and 23 may be provided with a flap extending outwardly to the ends of the respective wall means, as shown.

End closure members 17 and 18 are secured to each of

tubular bodies

12, 14 and 16 by means of tabs 31 protruding outwardly from the edges of

panels

21, 22 and 23 and by means of slots 32 in each of wall means 11, 13 and 15 for receiving the tabs 31 of the panel which is inserted in the respective tubular body thereby defined. All of the constituent elements of each of end closure means 17' and 18 may be formed from a single blank of material B of a size and shape indicated in outline by the discontinuous lines.

Tear strips

28 and 29 are formed by perforating blank B along lines 33 in known manner.

The embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 5 through 7 and the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 8 through 10 differ from the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 through 4 and from one another principally in the configuration of the end closing means and its mode of attachment to the tubular bodies. Thus in the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 5 through 7 there is provided first wall means 111 defining a first openended tubular body 112, second wall means 113 defining a second open-ended tubular body 114 and third wall means 115 defining a third open-ended tubular body 116.

Tubular bodies

112, 114 and 116 are similarly disposed with respect to one another as are

tubular bodies

12, 14 and 16 of the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 1 through 4. Overlying the upper open end of each of

tubularbodies

112, 114 and 116 is first end closure means 117 and overlying the lower end of

tubular bodies

112, 114 and 116 is second end closure means 118. Each of end closure means 117 and 118 comprises a flat sheet of material such as cardboard having a first portion 121 overlying the adjacent open end of tubular body 112, a second portion 122 overlying the adjacent open end of tubular body 114 and a third portion 123 overlying the adjacent open end of tubular body 116. In each of end closure means 117 and 118 portion 121 is separatably connected to portion 122 thereof by means of a tear strip 129 and portion 122 is connected to portion 123 also by means applied either to that side of flap 141 adapted to contact the respectiveend closure means or to the end closure mean-s itself. In the arrangement shown, flaps 141 are folded inwardly over the exterior of the respective end closure means and coating 142 is applied to the interior of flaps 141'.

The noteworthy aspect of the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. through 7 is that containers constructed in accordance therewith can be readily assembled by relatively conventional case sealing machinery.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 8 through 10, is, like that illustrated in FIGS. 5 through 7, somewhat more conservative of material than the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 4. The embodiment of FIGS. 8 through 10 is a particular utility in instances where automatic case sealing machinery is not available for the assembly of the containers.

Thus, in the embodiment of FIGS. 8 through 10, there is provided first wall means 211 forming a first openended tubular body 212; second wall means 213 forming a second open-ended tubular body 214; third wall means 115 forming a third open-ended tubular body 116; first end closure means 217 overlying the upper open ends of

tubular bodies

212, 214 and 216; and second end closure means 218 overlying the lower open ends of

tubular bodies

212, 214 and 216. Each of end closure means 217 and 218 comprises a flat sheet having a first portion 221 overlying the adjacent end of tubular body 212; and second portion overlying the adjacent open end of tubular body 214; and a third portion 223 overlying the adjacent open end of tubular body 216. Portion 221 is separatably connected to portion 222 by means of a tear strip 228 and portion 22 is separatably connected to portion 223 by means of a tear strip 229. Each end of each of

tubular bodies

212, 214, and 216 is provided with a pair of flaps 251 extending from opposed edges of the respective wall means and locking tab means 252 extending from flaps 251. Each of

panels

221, 222 and 223 and each of end closure means 217 and 218 is provided with a pair of slots 253 to receive the respective locking tab means 252 of the adjacent flap 251 to permit the assemblage of

tubular bodies

212, 214 and 216 and end closure means 217 and 218 into a single composite container.

In each of the foregoing described embodiments of the invention, then, there is described a single container comprising a plurality of individual tubular containers for in dividual articles. The individual tubular containers are fashioned into the single container by means of common end closure means and are readily separatable from one another, as for individual dispensing, by means of tear strips carried by the end closure means at loci intermediate the tubular bodies. It will of course be apparent that other means may be provided for securing the end closure means to the individual tubular bodies and that various changes for securing the end closure means to the tubular bodies of the illustrated embodiments may be made. It would, of course, also be obvious to utilize out means for securing the end closure means at the bottom end of the tubular bodies that is of a different nature from the means for securing the end closure means to the-tubular bodies at the upper end of the bodies, as for reasons of strength.

Consequently, it is contemplated, within the spirit and scope of the following claims, that the invention includes various modifications and combinations of the features of a 4 cent said first open-ended tubular body and being disposed with its longitudinal axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the first open-ended tubular body, said first and second tubular bodies being rectangularly shaped in transverse section, and being disposed with a side of the first tubular body parallel to a side of the second tubular body; first end closure means overlying an open end of the first tubular body and an open end of the second tubular body, said first end closure means comprising a flat sheet; second end closure means overlying the other open end of the first tubular body and the other open end of the second tubular body; means for securing the second end closure means to each of the first and second tubular bodies; and means for securing the first end closure means to each of the first and second tubular ibodies comprising, first slot means in the portion of the flat sheet overlying the first tubular body, second slot means in the portion of the flat sheet overlying the second tubular body, a'first set of flaps connected to opposite sides of the first tubular body at said end thereof, a second set of flaps connected to opposite sides of said second tubular body at said end thereof, locking tab means connected to said first set of flaps for insertion in said first slot means and second locking tab means connected to said second set of flaps for insertion in said second slot means. 2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the portion of the fiat sheet overlying the first tubular body and the portion of the sheet overlying the second tubular body are separatably connected by a tear strip.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 and further comprising:

third wall means defining a third open-ended tubular body spaced from the second tubular body and disposed With its longitudinal axis parallel to the axes of the first and second open-ended tubular bodies and coplanar therewith, said third tubular body being rectangularly shaped in transverse section and being disposed with a side parallel to a side of the second tubular body; wherein the first enclosure means overlies an open of the third tubular body; wherein the second end closure means overlies the other open end of the third tubular body, wherein'the means for securing the second end closure means to the third tubular body comprises third slot means in the portion of the fiat sheet overlying the third tubular body,

and third flap means connected to the third tubular body at said end thereof, said third flap means comprising third locking tab means for insertion in the third slot means; and means for securing the first end closure means to the third tubular body.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the portion of the flat sheet overlying the first tubular body and the portion of the sheet overlying the second tubular body are separatably connected by a tear strip, and wherein the portion of the sheet overlying the second tubular body and the portion overlying the third tubular body are separatably connected by a tear strip.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,567,165 12/1925 Noland.

1,767,629 6/ 1930 Walter 229-23 X 1,929,811 10/ 1933 Engelsecht 229-23 X 1,965,199 7/ 1934 McAleer 229-23 2,205,437 6/1940 Ringler.

2,610,784 9/1952 Henry 229-69 2,757,849 8/1956 Duif 229-1'5 2,884,155 4/1959 Hanson 229-51 X 2,973,130 2/ 1961 Cottrill 229-51 JOSEPH R. LECLAIR, Primary Examiner. FRANKLIN T. GARRETT, Examiner. D. T. MOORHEAD, Assistant Examiner.

Claims

1. CONTAINER APPARATUS COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION: FIRST WALL MEANS DEFINING A FIRST OPEN-ENDED TUBULAR ADJACENT TO THE FILM GATE AND BETWEEN WHICH THE ENDED TUBULAR BODY SPACED FROM BUT CLOSELY ADJACENT SAID FIRST OPEN-ENDED TUBULAR BODY AND BEING DISPOSED WITH ITS LONGITUDINAL AXIS PARALLEL TO THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF THE FIRST OPEN-ENDED TUBULAR BODY, SAID FIRST AND SECOND TUBULAR BODIES BEING RECTANGULARLY SHAPED IN TRANSVERSE SECTION, AND BEING DISPOSED WITH A SIDE OF THE FIRST TUBULAR BODY PARALLEL TO A SIDE OF THE SECOND TUBULAR BODY; FIRST END CLOSURE MEANS OVERLYING AN OPEN END OF THE FIRST TUBULAR BODY AND AN OPEN END OF THE SECOND TUBULAR BODY, SAID FIRST END CLOSURE MEANS COMPRISING A FLAT SHEET; SECOND END CLOSURE MEANS OVERLYING THE OTHER OPEN END OF THE FIRST BODY AND THE OTHER OEPN END OF THE SECOND TUBULAR BODY; MEANS FOR SECURING THE SECOND END CLOSURE MEANS TO EACH OF THE FIRST AND SECOND TUBULAR BODIES; AND MEANS FOR SECURING THE FIRST END CLOSURE MEANS TO EACH OF THE FIRST AND SECOND TUBULAR BODIES COMPRISING, FIRST SLOT MEANS IN THE PORTION OF THE FLAT SHEET OVERLYING THE FIRST TUBULAR BODY, SECOND SLOT MEANS IN THE PORTION OF THE FLAT SHEET OVERLYING THE SECOND TUBULAR BODY, A FIRST SET OF FLAT SHEET OVERLYING TO OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE FIRST TUBULAR BODY AT SAID END THEREOF, A SECOND SET OF FLAPS CONNECTED TO OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID SECOND TUBULAR BODY AT SAID END THEREOF, LOCKING TAB MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID FIRST SET OF FLAPS FOR INSERTION IN SAID FIRST MEANS AND SECOND LOCKING TAB MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID SECOND SET OF FLAPS FOR INSERTION IN SAID SECOND SLOT MEANS.