US3368733A - Containers - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 13, 1968 D. WMNBERG 3,368,733

v CONTAINERS v Filed May 5, 1966 351168128-511696 1 INVENTOR Feb. 13, 1968 v D. WAINBERG 3,363,733

' CONTAINERS Filed May 5, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 13, 1968 D. WAINBERG 3,368,

CONTAINERS Filed May 5,- 1966 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTUR United States Patent 3,368,733 CONTAINERS Daniel Wainberg, 4755 Blvd. des Grandes Prairies, St. Leonard, Montreal 38, Quebec, Canada Filed May 5, 1966, Ser. No. 547,903 3 Claims. (Cl. 229-36) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The herein described container briefly consists of a container made from a one-piece pre-cut blank and formed of a bottom wall having end panels articulating therefrom, and front and rear upright walls integral with the bottom wall and provided with articulating locking flaps at their ends. The locking flaps of one upright wall have inverted L-shaped slits in which the lower ends thereof are cut to form hooks, while the locking flaps of the other upright wall are provided with integral bendable locking lips. The end panels of the bottom wall are each formed with a horizontal top edge having one end joining with a vertical edge which terminates at a crease line be tween the end panel and the bottom wall and forms one side of the panel. The other side of the end panel is provided with an inwardly sloping edge emanating from the other end of the crease line and terminating in a shoul der which has an inner locking corner from which an inner vertical edge extends to join the other end of the horizontal top edge. In this way the slitted locking flaps are situated on the inside surfaces of the end panels and the slitted hook portions of the flaps will engage with the inner locking comers of the shoulders and also permit the inner vertical edges thereof to project through the vertical portions of the slits and form reception openings for the insertion of the inner vertical edges and the accompanying locking lips of the adjacent locking flaps, which are in face-to-face contact with the outer surfaces of the end panels, thus allowing the locking lips to individually and collectively lock themselves with the slitted locking flaps and the end panels.

The invention relates to improvements in containers as described in the present specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings that form a part of the same.

The invention consists essentially in the novel features 1 However, where thickness of the material used becomes of construction as pointed out broadly and specifically in Y the claims for novelty following a description containing an explanation in detail of acceptable forms of the invention.

In the past, certain types of containers that are made from one-piece pre-cut blanks and used for packaging comestibles such as pastries, sweetmeats, cake rolls, doughnuts and biscuits, as well as many other articles, generally have their end walls integral with their bottom wall and are interlocked with the upright side walls by interlocking end flaps extending laterally from the side walls, and which engage with slits formed in the end walls and are interlocked therewith. In other types of containers or cartons, the end walls have interlocking lateral flaps which engage with slits formed in the side walls for interlocking the adjacent upright walls to one another. In other types of carton construction, it is customary for the end walls to form inner end walls while the lateral locking flaps, integral with and extending laterally from the ends of the side walls, engage and interlock with one another to form outer side walls.

The utilization of the locking flaps or locking panels, articulating from one or more upright walls, that interlock with one another or are individually locked to an adjacent upright wall to fasten the adjacent walls to one another,

a factor in the make-up of the container, it is essential that the end walls should contribute with the locking flaps as a unity and binder with the adjacent upright walls to strengthen the entire structure of the container, other wise, due to the material thickness, such as thinness, the weakened corners and walls of the container will be more pliant to force and pressure and the container would be subjected to torsional twisting and infirmness of the wall structure.

It is therefore the purpose of this invention to utilize such interlocking means as previously mentioned, or other locking structures for containers, in such a way that the end walls will become the main factor in the interlocking combination and thereby materially increase the strength of the wall structure and positive locking of their adjacent walls, as well as other features that will be discernible in the description together with the accompanying drawings.

Among the objects of the invention is to devise a container that will have the proper rigidity in both the longitudinal and lateral directions and thus minimize any torsional twisting of the container.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a container of the type described, in which the construction is such that it will more effectively protect fragile contents, such as cake rolls, doughnuts, biscuits, pastries and other comestibles and products, when packed, from shock or pressure on all of its sides and particularly along their weakest or most vulnerable sections.

A further object of the invention is to construct a container that is made from paperboard, cardboard, pasteboard or other equivalent bendable material that will lend itself to be made in the shape of pre-cut blanks, which may be readily set up to an assembled form for the insertion therein of comestibles or other items.

A further object of the invention is to devise a container in which the end panels, integral with the bottom wall, will form a lock combination with the locking flaps, in turn integral with the adjacent upright walls, so as to complete an interlocking solidity with the adjacent upright walls.

A still further object of the invention is to devise a container, made from a pre-cut blank, that will be easy to manufacture and to assemble, sturdy in its setup or erected position and efficient for its purpose.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the description of the disclosure of the invention and the illustrations thereof.

In the drawings: FIGURE 1 is a plan view of the pre-cut blank from Which the container is formed.

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the formed container.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective eX- tenor view of one end of the container, illustrating the location of the intermediate end wall or panel with'relation to the locking flaps in their disengaged position with one another.

FIGURE 4 is a similar view from the inside of the container.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective inside view of one end of the container, illustrating the formation of the end wall and the interlocking thereof with an adjacent upright wall.

FIGURE 6 is a similar type of view as shown in FIG- URE 7 but with the end panel and locking flaps interlocked with one another to form an end wall and interlocking with an adjacent upright wall.

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of one end of a modified form of the invention, showing to FIGURE 3 but taken the end panel and locking flaps in their disengaged position.

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the modified form as illustrated in FIGURES 6 and 7, showing the inside of one end of the container.

Like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the various figures.

The present invention pertains to the formation of the end walls and their interlocking with adjacent upright walls to complete an erected container, and this is accomplished by introducing the end panels of the bottom wall between the locking flaps which extend laterally from the adjacent opposing side walls, and then are interlocked with one another to complete end Walls and which automatically form the corners of the container and the upright erection of the walls thereof.

Referring to the drawings, the container, as indicated by the numeral 15, is made from a predetermined precut blank consisting of a bottom Wall 16 provided with integral end panels 17 and 18, front and rear upright walls 19 and 20 integral with the bottom wall, and the cover wall 21 integral with the rear wall 20. The bottom wall is separated from the front and rear upright walls by the crease or fold lines 22 and 23 and the cover wall is separated from the rear Wall by the crease or fold line 24. A closure flap 25 is integral with the rear wall and separated therefrom by the crease or fold line 26.

The front upright wall 19 is provided with the integral locking flaps 27 and 28 projecting upwardly from the ends thereof, and the rear upright wall is provided with the integral end locking flaps 29 and 3t} projecting upwardly therefrom. The general structure of the locking flaps or locking panels 27, 28, 29 and 30 is somewhat similar in construction to the disclosures described and illustrated in the United States Patent Number 3,191,845 and issued to Daniel Wainberg.

The locking flaps or locking panels 27 and 28 are each formed with an offset or protruding portion 31 in their upper and lateral portion and from which projects downwardly the bendable locking lip or tongue 32, terminating short of the lower transverse edge of the locking flap. This locking lip is creased at 33, where it projects from the offset or protruding portion, so that it is capable of being folded inwardly, if desirable, to abut the inner face of the offset or protruding portion.

The locking flaps or locking panels 29 and 30 of the rear upright wall are each provided with an inverted L- shaped slit 34 formed in the proximity of their upper and outer edge portions and adapted to receive the locking lip 32 formed in one of the adjacent locking flaps of the front wall.

Each of the end panels has a top horizontal edge 35 and a vertical edge 36 extending from one end of the horizontal edge 35 and terminating at one end of the crease line 37 which forms the folding line between the bottom wall and the end panel. The other side of the end panel is provided with an inwardly sloping edge 38 emanating from the other end of the crease line and terminating in a locking shoulder or notch 39 and from the inner corner of which an inner vertical edge 40 extends to join the other edge of the top horizontal edge 35 and which completes the contour of the end panel.

In the erection of the container from a precut blank, by automation or other means, the end? panels in their upright position are situated between the locking flaps of the adjacent front and rear walls, or what may be termed the upright walls, as for instance, the locking flaps 27 and 28 of the front wall 19, in their upright position, engage with the outer face of the end panels 17 and 18, and the locking flaps or panels 29 and 30 of the rear wall 20 engage with the inner face of the end panels 17 and 18, while the vertical edges 36 of the end panels abut the adjacent upright Walls to complete the rigidity of the container structure.

The lower ends of the vertical portions of the inverted L-shaped slits 34, formed in the locking flaps 29 and 3d, are cut inwardly to form the hooks 41 so that they will engage with the inner corners 42 of the locking shoulders 39 of the end panels and minimize further lateral movement of the locking flaps 29 and 30, and, at the same time, the inner vertical edges 40 of the end panels will project slightly through the vertical portions of the inverted L-shaped slits 34 so as to form reception openings for the insertion of the offset portions and their accompanying locking lips 32 of the locking fiaps 27 and 28.

The upright end panels of the bottom wall are situated between the upright locking flaps, that form a part of the upright adjacent side walls and extend in a lateral inward direction therefrom, and are so arranged that one locking flap 28 will engage with the outer face of an end panel 18 for approximately half the width thereof, while the other locking flap 30 will engage with the inner face of the end panel 18 for approximately the other half width thereof. The locking flaps with the end panel sandwiched therebetween are interlocked therewith and with one another, in sequence, with the locking means of the end panel forming a locking joint with the locking means of the adjacent locking flaps, and thereby not only completing a composite end wall but forming positive locking of the end wall with the adjacent upright side walls to one another and completing the corner of the container and adding rigidity to the wall structure.

Although one means for forming the composite end walls and their interlocking with the adjacent upright side walls has been described and illustrated, it is obvious that various other locking arrangements may be made without departing from the essential features respecting the structures of the composite end walls.

A simple modification of the interlocking means for securing the composite upright end walls to the upright adjacent side walls is illustrated in FIGURES 6, 7 and 8. In this modified form, the upright end panels 43 (only one panel being shown) of the container 44 are similar in construction to the upright end panels 17 and 18 of the container 15, as each end panel is provided with a top horizontal edge 45 and a vertical edge 46 which extends from one end of the horizontal edge 45 and terminates at one end of the crease or fold line 47 that separates the end panel from the bottom wall 48. The vertical edge 46 of the end panel 43 is adapted to abut the inner face of one of the adjacent upright walls 49 at the juncture of the upright wall and its integral upright locking flap 50 and adjacent to the crease or fold line 51 that separates the locking flap from its side wall. The other side of the end panel 43 has an inwardly sloping edge 52 commencing rom the other end of the crease or fold line 47 and terminating in a locking shoulder 53 and from the inner corner 54 of which a vertical edge 55 projects to join the other end of the top horizontal edge 45, and this completes the contour of the end panel.

The locking flaps 50 and 56 are integral with and extend in an inward lateral direct-ion from the adjacent side walls 49. The locking flaps 50 are formed with offset or protruding portions 57 in their upper outer lateral portions and from which project downwardly, for a predetermined distance, the integral hook members 58 that are separated from the main body of the locking flaps 50 by the slits 59.

The locking flaps 56 (only one shown) are formed with offset or protruding portions 60 in their lower outer lateral portions and from which project upwardly, for a predetermined distance, the integral hook members 61 that are separated from the main body of the locking flaps 56 by the slits 62.

The hook members 58 and 61 are so arranged as to be adapted to engage with the inner corners of the end panels 43 and with one another. As the locking flaps 50 will abut one side of the end panels 43 while the locking flaps 56 will abut the other side of the end panels, the in terlocking of the end panels with their accompanying locking flaps will complete composite end walls of the container, in a similar manner as already previously described and illustrated in FIGURES 1 to 5.

Since certain changes may be made in the above structure and different embodiments of the invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is in tended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What I claim is:

1. A container made from a one-piece .pre-cut blank comprising a bottom wall, front and rear upright walls integral with said bottom wall, end panels articulating from said bottom wall, each of said end panels formed of a horizontal top edge having one end joining with a vertical edge which terminates at a crease line separating the end panel and the bottom Wall and completing one side of the end panel, the other side of said end panel having an inwardly sloping edge emanating from the other end of the crease line and terminating in a shoulder having an inner locking corner from which extends an inner vertical edge that joins the other edge of the horizontal top edge, slitted locking flaps integral with the ends of one of the upright walls and having inverted L- shaped slits cut at their lower portions to form hooks, said slitted locking flaps being in face-to-face contact with the inner surfaces of said end panels and permitting the introduction of the inner vertical edges of the end panels to enter through the slits of the locking flaps and the engagement of the inner locking corners of the shoul ders of said end panels with the slitted hook portions of said locking flaps, and locking flaps integral with the ends of the other of said upright walls and having inner vertical edges and integral bendable locking lips, said latter locking flaps being in face-to-face contact with the outer surfaces of said end panels and having their inner vertical edges and accompanying locking lips introduced between the end panels and the slitted locking flaps, that are in contact with the inner surfaces of the end panels, and through the slits of the slitted locking flaps for individually and collectively locking themselves with the end panels and the slitted locking flaps.

2. A container as claimed in claim 1, in which the slitted locking flaps and the adjacent locking flaps with the bend-able locking lips engage with the inner locking corners of the shoulders of the end panels, that are located between the locking flaps, and with one another and thereby completing the end walls.

3. A container as claimed in claim 1, in which certain of the locking flaps are each provided with an integral bendable locking lip and the adjacent locking flaps are each provided with an L-shaped slit cut at its bottom portion to form a hook for the introduction therethrough of the bendable locking lip, both the locking lip and the predetermined portions of the edges forming the slit adapted for engagement with the inner locking corner of the shoulder of the end panel.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 825,539 7/1906 Howe et al 22936 1,090,457 3/1914 Davidson et a1 22936 1,918,887 7/1933 Ancira 22936 2,458,578 1/1949 Evans 22944 3,105,626 10/1963 McCormick et al 22933 3,191,845 6/1965 Wainberg 22932 3,206,098 9/1965 Stenger et a1 22936 FOREIGN PATENTS 73,973 10/ 1960 France.

DAVIS T. MOORHEAD, Primary Examiner.

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