US3300116A - Multiple compartment single piece blank carton and single piece blank therefor - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 24, 1967 A. A. GRASHEGE 3,300,116

MULTIPLE COMPARTMENT SINGLE PIECE BLANK CARTON AND SINGLE PIECE BLANK THEREFOR Filed May 21, 1964 3 Sheets$heet 2 HQ. 4 v Q30 ATTORNEY Jan. 24, 1967 GRASHEGE 3,300,1 16

MULTIPLE GOMPARTMENT SINGLE PIECE BLANK CARTON AND SINGLE PIECE BLANK THEREFOR Filed May 21, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR Albert A. Grashege ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,300,116 MULTIPLE COMPARTMENT SINGLE PIECE BLANK CARTON AND SINGLE PIECE BLANK THERE- FOR Albert A. Grashege, 1213 Vine St., West Des Moines, Iowa 50265 Filed May 21, 1964, Ser. No. 369,166 20 (Ilaims. (Cl. 22928) This invention relates to a multiple compartment single piece blank carton and single piece blank therefor and has for an object to provide a single piece blank and carton made therefrom wherein the carton is provided with a number of individual compartments, wherein preferably one item placed in each compartment will be completely protected from contact with the items in all the other compartments, thus eliminating the possibility that breakage of breakable items can be caused by the contact of items in different compartments.

A further object of this invention is to provide a one piece carton blank and carton therefrom wherein a multiplicity of compartments are provided wherein an item may be placed in each compartment and be completely enclosed by itself and thus be completely protected from possible contact or damage by the items in any of the other compartments.

A further object of this invention is to provide a one piece blank for making a carton, and a carton made from a one piece blank, wherein with but slight modification in the proportions, either a four or six compartment carton may be provided, and wherein, by providing two additional slits so as to divide two of the panels into three rather than two divider panels, a nine compartment carton is provided.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide a one piece blank for making a multiple compartment carton, and a multiple compartment made from the blank wherein basically the same blank, in suitable proportions, may be used for providing a variety of multiple compartment cartons, including a two, three, four, six, nine and twelve compartment carton, the blanks for the different cartons differing only in the provision of a certain additional fold line, or additional slits, or both.

A further object of this invention is to provide a carton made from a one piece blank, and the blank therefor, wherein, in the two, three, four, six, nine and twelve compartment carton, each compartment may be of the identical size, if desired, or some may be of different sizes, and wherein, by the omission of a fold line or of a particular panel, four, seven, eight, ten or eleven compartment cartons may be provided, wherein one or more compartments will be of a different size than the remaining compartments.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide a carton and one piece blank therefor wherein a multiple compartment carton may be provided with each compartment completely separated from each and every other compartment, so that there is no possibility of an item packed in any compartment contacting an item packed in any other compartment, thus permitting a number of items to be packaged in the same carton, yet be completely separated from contact with each other.

Yet a further object of this invention is to provide a carton and a one piece blank for making the carton which may be manufactured on existing machinery, which does not necessitate an extensive or expensive modification either in the machinery or the process for making this invention.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide a one piece carton blank and multiple compartment carton made therefrom wherein the two, four and six compartment sizes are each provided with at least a double thick- 3,300,116 Patented Jan. 24, 1967 ness of compartment floor and cover, thus providing a greater cushioning effect on the top and the bottom of the items packaged therein, and wherein, in the nine and twelve compartment size, a double thickness of compartment cover is provided on all nine or twelve compartments, and a double thickness of floor is provided on at least six of the nine or twelve compartments for substantial cushioning efiect.

A further object of this invention is to provide a multiple compartment blank which may be made by conventional existing machinery Without any extensive or expensive modifications of the machinery.

A further object of this invention is to provide a one piece carton blank and multiple compartment carton wherein the carton, after being completed, may be collapsed to a flat position for shipping and storing, and may be set up for use as needed.

With the above and related objects in view, this invention consists in the details of construction and combination of parts, as will be more fully understood from the following description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view, partly broken away, of a six compartment carton of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a section on line 33 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the blank for the carton of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a perspective, phantom view of a twelve compartment carton of this invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a four compartment carton of this invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective, phantom view of a nine compartment carton of this invention.

There is shown at 10 the basic one piece blank used in making up the carton of this invention, which carton may have two, three, four, six, nine or twelve compartments, with each compartment completely separate from each other compartment. In addition, cartons with any number of compartments from one to twelve may be provided with one or more unequal size compartments. As shown, the blank 10 is particularly intended for making the six compartment carton 12 of FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, but with only slight changes in proportions or in location of certain slits, it is used in making any of the other size cartons.

The blank 10 consists of four linearly extending alternate rectangular side panels 14 and 16 and end panels 18. Obviously either two alternate panels may be considered as side panels and the other two panels are then the end panels. In formingg a carton 12, these four panels are folded into rectangular relationship, and extend vertically, and a securing flap 19, extending from the end edge of one linear end panel is secured, as by glue or otherwise, to the other linear end panel, thus holding the panels 14, 16 and 18 in vertically extending rectangular relationship to each other..

Foldably extending from the bottom edges of each of the side panels 14 and 16 is a compartment floor and divider wall portion 20 and 22, the floor portion 20 being folded inwardly from the side panels into horizontal position, and the divider wall portions 22 being then folded vertically upwardly therefrom. In forming the two, four and six compartment cartons, these divider wall portions 22 are in abutting parallel relation, and in the three, nine and twelve compartment cartons, these divider wall portions are in parallel but spaced apart relationship.

In the two, four and six compartment carton, it is obvious that one divider wall portion 22, and possibly even its floor portion 20 could be omitted, but with a corresponding loss of its strengthening and cushioning effect.

An interlocking, cooperating carton bottom wall panel 24 extends foldably from the bottom edge of each .of the alternate side panels 18, and when their interlocking hooks 26 are hooked together beneath the floor portion or portions 20, a carton bottom is provided which supports the floor portions 20 and vertical divider walls 22 in position. From the upper edge of side panel 14 foldably extends the carton top cover 28 having an extending tongue 30. The tongue 30 is inserted through the slot 32 provided in the fold line at the top edge of the other side panel 16 from which extends a compartment top cover panel 34. The compartment top cover 34 extends the full width of the carton in the two, three, four, six and nine compartment cartons, thus providing, with the carton top cover 28 a complete double thickness cushion on the top of the carton. As thus far described, a complete two compartment carton is provided. When the upwardly extending divider walls 22 abut each other a three compartment carton is provided when the walls 22 are spaced apart, as in FIGS. and 7.

Foldably extending from the top edge of each of the side panels 18 is a compartment divider vertical wall portion providing a compartment top portion 36 and two downwardly foldable vertical compartment divider wall portions 38, divided by a single slit 40' in the case of the four and six compartment cartons. Three downwardly foldable divider wall portions divided by two slits are provided in the nine and twelve compartment cartons 52 and 54. In the nine compartment carton 52, when equal width compartments are desired, the middle divider wall portion 42 is the same width as and divided from the other two divider wall portions 44 by slits 45, but in the twelve compartment carton, for equal width compartments, the middle wall portion 46 is twice the width of the two end wall portions 48, and divided by slits 49.

The downwardly extending vertical divider wall portions 38 are spaced apart to provide the six compartment carton 12 of FIG. 1, but when such wall portions 38 abut each other, a four compartment carton is provided as in FIG. 4. As thus described, the same basic one piece blank is used to provide either the six compartment carton 12, shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, or the four compartment carton 50 shown in FIG. 6.

Just as a two compartment carton is provided by either omitting the compartment top 36 and downwardly extending divider walls 38, 'or by merely leaving the divider walls in the same horizontal plane with the top portions 36, a three compartment carton is provided in the nine compartment carton 52, either by omitting their top compartment portions 36 .and divider walls 42 and 44, or by maintaining the divider walls 42 and 44, in the same horizontal plane with their top compartment portions 36, and the same procedure applies in converting the twelve compartment carton 54 into a three compartment carton. In the nine compartment conversion, three equal size compartments will be provided, and in the twelve compartment conversion, the middle compartment thus provided will be twice the size of the other two compartments. Also, omission of one or more of the vertical divider walls will vary the number of compartments provided. Thus, the carton may be tailored to fit a particular use, such as when a set of articles may consist of one large item and a number of small items.

The nine compartment carton 52 is made in the same manner as the six compartment carton 12, except that the upwardly extending parallel wall portions 22 are spaced apart as at 56 to the same distance as the width of the center downwardly extending divider wall panel 42, with the divider panel 42 extending between the two parallel wall portions 56, and the other divider wall panels 44 extending between the wall portions 56 and the side panels 14 or 16.

The twelve compartment carton 54 is set up the same way as the nine compartment carton 52, with the following additional details to make it a twelve compartment carton. The upwardly extending parallel wall portions 4 58 are spaced further apart, to cooperate with the slits 49 between the downwardly extending divider wall portions 46 and 48, thus dividing this carton 54 into nine compartments, and then the compartment top cover is folded at its midline 60 to provide a half size compartment top cove-r portion 62, and the other half is divided by parallel slits 64 into three vertically depending divider wall portions 66 which will be parallel to divider compartment walls 58. Each compartment divider wall top portion 36 is provided with aligned slits 68, the slits 68 permitting the outer two depending divider wall portions 66 to extend therethrough so that the three depending wall portions 66 will then be aligned in the position shown at 70, thus providing twelve compartments. By omitting any selected one or more of the depending divider wall portions, or by placing them in horizontal position, any number of compartments may be provided, as obvious, although, of course, the compartments thus provided will not all be of the same size, although all will be rectangular.

Thus, the same one piece basic blank shown at 10, by merely changing the position of certain fold lines, and by adding the appropriate dividing slits as indicated, may be used for making up a multiple compartment carton of one, two, three, four, six, nine or twelve compartments, all of equal size, or with some of the compartments of a larger size than the others, if desired, by merely shifting the fold lines and sizes of the divider wall panels. Also, cartons with lesser numbers of compartments, at least one of which will be a different and larger size than the others, may be provided by omitting or ignoring one or more of the depending wall portions, as set forth. Thus the same 'basic one piece blank may be tailored to make up a carton with any number of compartments, as desired, between one and twelve.

Also, for convenience in shipping and in sorting the completed cartons, every one of them may be col-lapsed to a flat position by folding along two diagonally opposite vertical fold lines between the sides and ends. If desired, some or all of the top and bottom portions extending from the sides and ends may be further folded to make a still smaller, but thicker, collapsed unit.

Although this invention has been described in considerable detail, such description is intended as being illustrative rather than limiting, since the invention may be variously embodied, and the scope of the invention is to be determined as claimed.

Having thus set forth and disclosed the nature of this invention, what is claimed is:

1. A multiple compartment carton single piece blank, said blank comprising four rectangular carton side panels foldably connected together in linear end-to-end relation, means for securing the unconnected end of one end carton side panel to the unconnected end of the other end carton side panel, an interlocking carton bottom foldably connected to a corresponding bottom edge of each of two alternate panels of said carton side panels, a compartment bottom panel foldably connected along one edge to a corresponding edge of each of the other two alternate carton side panels, a compartment wall panel foldably connected to the opposite corresponding edge of at least one compartment bottom panel, a compartment top panel foldably connected along one edge to the opposite edge of one of said other two alternate carton side panels, and a carton top cover foldably connected along one edge to the corresponding opposite edge of the other of said other two alternate carton side panels.

2. A multiple compartment carton single piece blank, said blank comprising four rectangular carton side panels foldably connected together in linear end-to-end relation, a securing strip foldably connected to the unconnected end of one end carton side panel for securing it to the unconnected end of the other end carton side panel, an interlocking carton bottom foldably connected to a corresponding bottom edge of each of two alternatepanels of said carton side panels, a compartment bottom panel foldably connected along one edge to a corresponding edge of each of the other two alternate carton side panels, a compartment wall panel foldably conected to the opposite corresponding edge of at least one compartment bottom panel, a compartment top panel foldably connected along one edge to the opposite edge of one of said other two alternate carton side panels, the fold line between said compartment .top panel and its connecting carton side panel having a carton top cover tongue receiving slot therein, a carton top cover .foldably connected along one edge to the corresponding opposite edge of the other of said other two alternate carton side panels, and a carton top cover tongue foldably extending from the opposite edge of said carton top cover.

3. A multiple compartment carton single piece blank, said blank comprising four rectangular carton side panels foldably connected together in linear end-to-end relation, a securing strip foldably connected to the unconnected end of one end carton side panel for securing it to the unconnected end of the other end carton side panel, an interlocking carton bottom foldably connected to a corresponding bottom edge of each of two alternate panels of said carton side panels, a compartment top panel foldably connected along one edge to the opposite corresponding top edge of each said two alternate carton side panels, a plurality of adjacent vertical compartment divider panels foldably connected to the opposite edge of each said compartment top panels, a compartment bottom panel foldably connected along one edge to a corresponding edge of each of the other two alternate carton side panels, a compartment wall panel foldably connected to the opposite corresponding edge of each compartment bottom panel, a compartment top cover panel foldably connected along one edge to the opposite edge of one of said other two alternate carton side panels, the fold line between said compartment top cover panel and its connecting carton side panel having a carton top cover tongue receiving slot therein, a carton top cover foldably connected along one edge to the corresponding opposite edge of the other of said other two alternate carton side panels, and a carton top cover tongue foldably extending from the opposite edge of said carton top cover.

4. A multiple compartment carton comprising the carton blank of claim 1, said securing means connecting the end of one end carton side panel to the end of the other end carton side panel, said carton side panels being folded inwardly at right angles to each other, said two compartment bottom panels being folded inwardly at right angles to their connected side panels, said compartment wall panel being folded upwardly at right angles from said compartment bottom panel, each compartment top panel being folded over said compartment wall panel with their plurality of divider panels folded downwardly on opposite sides of said wall panel, said carton cover being foldable over the compartment top panels and wall, said interlocking carton bottom panels being folded toward each other and interlocked beneath said compartment bottom panels.

5. A six compartment carton one piece blank, said blank comprising two rectangular carton vertical side panels and two rectangular carton vertical end panels alternately foldably connected together in linear alignment, a securing strip foldably extending from the unconnected vertical end edge of one carton panel, an interlocking carton bottom panel foldably connected to a corresponding bottom edge of said two carton end panels, a compartment bottom panel foldably connected along one edge to a corresponding bottom ed e of each said two carton side panels, a compartment wall panel foldably connected to the opposite edge of each said compartment bottom panels, a top compartment panel foldably connected along one edge to each said carton end panels, a plurality of adjacent vertical compartment divider panels foldably corinected to the opposite edge of said top compartment panels, a compartment covering top panel foldably connected along one edge to the top edge of one carton side panel, the fold line therebetween having a carton top cover tongue receiving slot therein, a carton top cover foldably connected along one edge to the top edge of said other carton side panel and a tongue fold-ably extending from the opposite edge of said carton top cover.

6. A six compartment carton comprising the one piece blank of claim 5, said blank being folded with its carton end and side panels in vertically extending rectangular relationship, said securing strip being secured to the abutting end edge portions of the abutting end panels, said compartment bottom panels being folded inwardly at right angles to said side pane-ls with their compartment walls folded vertically upwardly therefrom in parallel abutting relationship, said interlocking carton bottom panels being folded toward each other and interlocked beneath said compartment bottom panels, said top compartment panels being folded inwardly horizontally from their carton end panels with their divided panels extending vertically downwardly on opposite sides of said abutting compartment walls, each pair of divider panels being spaced from the other pair, said compartment covering top panel on said carton side panel being folded horizontally, and said carton top cover being folded over said compartments and having its tongue inserted in the said tongue slot.

7. A multiple compartment carton comprising a one piece blank, said blank providing four linearly extending carton :side walls folded into rectangular relationship, said side walls being secured together in end-to-end relationship, interlocking bottom walls fo-ldably extending from two opposite side walls, a compartment bottom and intermediate divider wall foldably extending upwardly in parallel relationship from each of the alternate opposite side walls, a compartment top wall and a plurality of divider panels foldably extending downwardly from said first pair of opposite side walls, said divider panels extending on opposite side of said bottom intermediate divider walls and a cover member extending from the top edge of one of said alternate side walls.

8. The carton of claim 7, the divider panels of one top compartment wall being spaced from the divider panels of the other compartment wall, thereby providing six compartments in the carton.

9. The carton of claim 7, the upwardly extending divider walls abutting each other, and the downwardly extending divider panels ab tting each other, thereby providing four compartments in the carton.

10. The carton of claim 7, said bottom intermediate divider walls being spaced from each other, the divider panels of one top compartment wall being spaced from the divider panels of the other top compartment wall, there being two division slits providing three divider panles cooperating with said two bottom spaced apart divider walls thereby providing nine compartments.

11. The carton of claim 7, said bottom intermediate divider walls being spaced from each other, the divider panels of one top compartment wall being spaced from the divider panels of the other top compartment wall, there being two division slits providing three divider panels cooperating with said two bottom spaced apart divider walls, each said top compartment panel having an aligned slit extending between its opposite fold edges, and a panel member foldably extending along one edge from the top edge of the side wall opposite to said side wall from which the carton cover extends, and three foldably connected divider pane-ls extending from the opposite edge of said panel member to extend vertically down between said spaced apart bottom upwardlyextending compartment walls, each of the outer two of said three divider panels extending through one of said aligned slits, thereby providing t-WelVe compartments.

12. A multiple compartment carton one piece blank comprising four linearly extending carton panels foldably connected together, compartment bottom panels extending at one edge from a corresponding edge of alternate cart-on panels, compartment vertical wall panels extending from the other edge of said compartment -bottom panels, an interlocking carton bottom wall panel extending from one edge of each one of the other alternate carton panels, compartment cover panels extending at one edge from the other edge of said other alternate carton panels and having divider compartment wall panels extending from the opposite edge of said compartment and a carton top cover wall means extending at one edge from an opposite edge of at least one opposite edge of one of said alternate carton panels.

13. A multiple compartment carton comprising the one piece blank of claim 12, said linearly extending carton pane-ls being folded and secured in rectangular vertically extending relationship, said carton bottom panels being folded horizontally inwardly with their compartment walls extending upwardly, said carton bottom wall means being folded inwardly and secured horizontally beneath said compartment bottom pane-ls and supporting said compartment bottom panels, said compartment top panels being folded horizontally over said upwardly extending compartment walls with their divider compartment walls extending downwardly on opposite sides and at right angles to said upwardly extending compartment walls, said carton top cover wall means being securable in horizontal position over said compartment top panels.

14. The carton of claim 13, and a compartment top wall panel extending at one edge from the top edge of the carton panel opposite to that panel from which the carton top cover wall means extends.

15. A multiple compartment carton comprising a one piece blank, said one piece blank comprising four linearly extending carton panels foldably connected together, compartment bottom panels extending at one edge from a corresponding edge of alternate carton panels, compartment vertical wall panels extending from the other edge of said compartment bottom panels, carton bottom wall means extending from at least one edge of one of the other alternate carton panels, compartment cover panels extending at one edge from the other edge of said. other alternate carton panels and having divider compartment wall panels extending from the opposite edge of said compartment and a carton top cover wall means extending at one edge from an opposite edge of at least one opposite edge of one of Said alternate carton panels, said linearly extending carton panels being folded and secured in rectangular vertically extending relationship, said carton bottom panels being folded horizontally inwardly with their compartment walls extending upwardly, said carton bottom wall means being folded inwardly and secured horizontally beneath said compartment bottom panels and supporting said compartment bottom panels, said compartment top panels being folded horizontally over said upwardly extending compartment walls with their divider compartment walls extending downwardly on opposite sides and at right angles to said upwardly extending compartment walls, said carton top cover wall means being securable in horizontal position over said compartment top panels, a compartment top wall panel extending at one edge from the top edge of the carton panel opposite to that panel from which the carton top cover wall means extends and a carton cover wall means securing tongue extending from the opposite edge of said top cover wall means, said latter compartment top Wall panel having a top cover receiving slit in its panel connecting edge.

16. The carton of claim 15, said compartment top wall panel being folded horizontally inwardly, said carton cover wall means being folded horizontally over said compartment top panels and secured by said tongue receiving slot.

17. A multiple compartment carton comprising a one piece blank, said blank providing four linearly extending carton side walls folded into rectangular relationship, said side walls being secured together in end-to-end relationship, interlocking bottom walls foldably extending from two opposite side walls, a compartment bottom and intermediate divider wall foldab-ly extending upwardly in parallel relationship from each of the alternate side walls, and a cover member extending from the top edge of one of said opposite side walls, said upwardly extending parallel divider walls being spaced from each other, thereby providing three compartments.

18. The carton of claim 17, a compartment top wall and a plurality of divider panels foldably extending downwardly from said first pair of opposite side walls, said divider panels extending on opposite sides of said bottom intermediate divider walls, thereby providing a total of nine compartments.

19. The carton of claim 18, and a top compartment panel extending from the top edge of the other of said opposite side walls, and three separate divider walls foldably extending down between and parallel to said spaced apart upwardly extending parallel divider walls, the outer two of these three separate divider walls extending down through aligned slits in each said compartment top wall extending from said pair of opposite carton side walls, thereby providing a total of twelve compartments.

20. A multiple compartment carton comprising a one piece blank, said blank providing four linearly extending carton side walls folded into rectangular relationship, said side walls being secured together in end-to-end relationship, interlocking bottom walls foldably extending from two opposite side walls, a compartment bottom and intermediate divider wall foldably extending upwardly in parallel relationship from each of the alternate side walls, and a cover member extending from the top edge of one of said opposite side walls, said upwardly extending parallel divider walls abutting each other, thereby providing two compartments.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 8/1937 Myers 22927 4/1952 Kohl 22927

Claims (1)

17. A MULTIPLE COMPARTMENT CARTON COMPRISING A ONE PIECE BLANK, SAID BLANK PROVIDING FOUR LINEARLY EXTENDING CARTON SIDE WALLS FOLDED INTO RECTANGULAR RELATIONSHIP, SAID SIDE WALLS BEING SECURED TOGETHER IN END-TO-END RELATIONSHIP, INTERLOCKING BOTTOM WALLS FOLDABLY EXTENDING FROM TWO OPPOSITE SIDE WALLS, A COMPARTMENT BOTTOM AND INTERMEDIATE DIVIDER WALL FOLDABLY EXTENDING UPWARDLY IN PARALLEL RELATIONSHIP FROM EACH OF THE ALTERNATE SIDE WALLS, AND A COVER MEMBER EXTENDING FROM THE TOP EDGE OF ONE OF SAID OPPOSITE SIDE WALLS, SAID UPWARDLY EXTENDING PARALLEL DIVIDER WALLS BEING SPACED FROM EACH OTHER, THEREBY PROVIDING THREE COMPARTMENTS.

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