US3514031A - Quick-setup collapsible box - Google Patents

Description

May 26, 1970 F. H. BURGESS QUICK-SETUP COIILAPSIBLI'J BOX 3 Sheets-Sheet l M rnvrae 6 F/WM/A 50/? GISS Wk" mt;

Filed April 26, 1968 F. H. BURGESS QUICK-SETUP COLLAPSIBLE BOX May 26, 1970 v 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 26, 1968 BY lg ATTORNE'X y 1970 F. H. BURGESS QUICK-SETUP COLLAPSIBLE BOX 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 26. 1968 United States Patent 3,514,031 QUICK-SETUP COLLAPSIBLE BOX Frank H. Burgess, Landis Mill Road, RD. 1, Telford, Pa. '18969 Filed Apr. 26, 1968, Ser. No. 724,485 Int. Cl. B65d /48 U.S. Cl. 229-28 11 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention is particularly concerned with collapsible boxes of the gang-lift partion type having quicksetup features.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to boxes of the general type disclosed in my prior Pats. Nos. 2,759,652 and 3,175,751. In prior gang-lift-type collapsible boxes, it was considered advantageous to perform at least minimal gluing operations preparatory to use of the box. That is, setup procedures of prior gang-lift box constructions without glued seams or joints were considered relatively difficult, so that at least a single glued seam was desirable. Of course, gluing procedures are relatively slow and expensive, adding substantially to the cost of prior box constructions.

SUMMARY Accordingly, it is an important object of the present invention to provide a unique gang-lift box construction which does not require any gluing, and which incorporates unique structure retaining the box in its setup condition, and which may be quickly and easily set up either by hand or suitable automatic equipment.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a collapsible gang-lift-type box having the advantageous characteristics mentioned in the preceding paragraph, wherein one or more gluing operations may be employed, if desired, so as to be usable under many varied circumstances.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a collapsible gang-lift-type box structure of the type described which is extremely sturdy in its setup condition for a long and durable life, affording the desirable copy or printing space as required by the user, and wherein substantial savings in materials may be effected, to achieve reduction in cost.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification and referring to the accompanying drawing, which form a material part of this disclosure.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts, which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope will be indicated by the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a plan view of a blank for a box in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a carton formed from the blank of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of the carton of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a partial end view taken generally along the line 4-4'of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken generally along the line 5--5 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view taken generally along the line 66 of FIG. 2.

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FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view taken generally along the line 77 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 8 is a partial transverse sectional view taken generally along the line 88 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 9 is a plan view showing a slightly modified blank for formation into a box in accordance with the instant invention.

FIG. 10 is a top plan view showing a box set up from the blank of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a bottom plan view of the box of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a longitudinal sectional view taken generally along the line 1212 of FIG. 10.

FIG. 13 is a transverse sectional view taken generally along the line 13--13 of FIG. 10.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now more particularly to the drawings, and specifically to FIG. 1 thereof, a blank is there generally designated 20 and may advantageously be formed of an integral sheet of paperboard, or other suitable sheet material. The blank 20 includes a generally rectangular top wall panel 21 bounded between a pair of parallel side folds or creases 22, and a pair of parallel end folds or creases 23. Hingedly connected to opposite sides of the top wall panel 21 by the side folds 22, and coextensive therewith, are a pair of generally rectangular side wall panels 24. A pair of generally rectangular end wall panels 25 are hingedly connected by respective end creases 23, being coextensive therewith, to the ends of top wall 21. Interposed between and hingedly connected to the adjacent ends of each adjacent pair of side wall panels 24 and end wall panels 25 is a generally rectangular gusset 26 having a diagonal fold or crease 27.

Extending laterally outwardly from and hingedly connected by a fold line or crease 30' to each side wall panel 24, being coextensive therewith, is a generally rectangular back wall panel 31. An additional panel 32 extends laterally outwardly from each back wall panel 31, being hingedly connected thereto by an inter-mediate fold line or crease 33; and, a generally rectangular flap 34 extends laterally outwardly from the outer edge of each panel 32, being hingedly connected thereto by a crease or fold line 35. The panels 32 and 31 may each be substantially coextensive with the adjacent side wall panel 24, while the laterally outermost panels or flaps 34 extend longitudinally outwardly slightly beyond the panels 31 and 32, as by extensions or catches 36.

At laterally spaced locations, extending longitudinally outwardly from the outer edge of each end wall panel 25, are a pair of extensions 40. The extensions 40 are each provided on its outer end with an enlarged, undercut head or catch 41. That is, each catch 41 is connected to the adjacent outer end of the associated extension as by a reduced portion 42. The extensions 40 are thereby arranged in aligned, longitudinally oppositely outwardly extending pairs, one pair of extensions being adjacent to one side edge or fold 22 of the top wall panel 21, and the other pair of aligned extensions being adjacent to the other topwall side edge 22. Further, the longitudinally aligned pairs of extensions 40 are laterally spaced from each other.

The top wall panel 21 may be considered as composed of a pair of laterally spaced regions 45, each region lying between and in alignment with a longitudinally aligned pair of extensions 40, thereby leaving a longitudinally extending intermediate top wall-panel region 46 interposed between the spaced regions 45.

Each top wall region 45 is cut and scored to define a plurality of laterally extending supports 48 and 49. The supports 48 are of generally triangular configuration arranged in a pair of laterally spaced, longitudinally extending rows, and each bounded on one side by a laterally extending crease or fold 50. Thus, the supports 48 of the longitudinal rows of supports are spaced laterally to define laterally spaced aligned pairs. The support 49 is located beyond the ends of the rows of supports 48, extending laterally thereacross, and being formed with a laterally extending fold or crease 51. By suitable scores and cuts a generally rectangular partition 52 is hingedly connected to each support 48 by its fold line 50, and a laterally extending end partition 53 is hingedly connected to the end support 49 by the fold line 51. The remaining material 54 of each top wall-panel region 45 defines an elongate stay being hingedly connected to each partition 52 by a fold line 55 parallel to and spaced from the adjacent fold line 50. The stay 54 is connected at one end by a fold line 56 to the end partition 53, the fold line 56 being parallel to and spaced from the fold line 51.

Medially along each fold line 56 joining an adjacent end panel 53 and stay 54, there is formed -a laterally extending cut or slot 57. An additional cut or slot 58 is formed medially along each end crease 23 of the top wall panel 21, at opposite ends of the intermediate top wall-panel region 46.

As described hereinabove, the blank 20 is composed of various parts defined by cuts and scores and there called, for the most part, panels or wall panels. The corresponding parts in the erected condition of the blank, as when the blank forms a box, are termed walls.

The blank 20 forms, in its erected or setup condition, a box generally designated 120, as shown in FIGS. 2-8. The top wall-panel 21 defines the box top wall 121, with the side wall-panels 24 being swung downwardly about fold lines 22 to define side walls 122. The end walls 25 are also swung downwardly about their fold lines 23 to form end walls 125. Simultaneously with the foregoing, the several gussets 26 are folded about their hinged connections, and along their diagonal folds 27 and swung inwardly beneath the top wall 121. The inherent resilience of the gussets exerts a resiliently yieldable force tending to spread the side walls open, for a purpose appearing presently.

Each stay 54 is shifted in parallel movement downwardly spaced beneath the plane of the top wall 121. That is, the several partitions 52 and 53 are each swung downwardly about their hinged connections 50 and 51 to supports 48 and 49, to thereby shift the stay in parallelism beneath the plane of the top wall 121, the supports remaining in the plane of the top wall, and the partitions depending from the top wall to the level of the stay.

The extensions 40 may then be swung inwardly into spaced parallelism below the top wall 21. In this condition, the catches 41 interengage with the partitions 52 and 53. More specifically, the upper pair of catches 41, as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, are snap-engaged through respective slots 57 of the partitions 53; and, the lower catches 41 are snap-engaged between a laterally opposed pair of partitions 52. By this snap engagement, the end walls 25 are retained in their upright condition, being yieldably urged outwardly by the folded gussets 26, and the partitions 52 and 53 are maintained in their upright condition by the holding action of the catches 41.

In addition, the bottom wall panels 31 are each swung laterally inwardly to underlie their respective adjacent top wall regions 45, the panels 32 being folded upwardly along their respective creases 33, and the flaps 34 swung into facing engagement with each other immediately beneath the medial top wall region 46. This condition is best shown in FIGS. 4, 5, 6 and 8. In FIGS. 4 and 6, it will appear that the extensions or catches 36 of the flaps 34 are engaged through the adjacent slots 58, so that the flaps 34 are maintained in their facing engagement, and the panels 31 are maintained in spaced relation beneath respective top wall regions 45. In this manner, the panels 31 and 32, and flaps 34 combine to define a bottom wall 4 for the box 120. The swingable panels 32, flaps 34, extensions 36 and slots 58 combine to define means detachably connecting the bottom wall panels together as a bottom wall.

A slightly modified embodiment is shown in FIGS. 9- 13, wherein a blank is generally designated 20a in FIG. 9, including a generally rectangular top wall panel 21a bounded between parallel side folds or creases 22a and parallel end folds or creases 23a. A pair of generally rec tangular side wall panels 24a are coextensive with and hingedly connected by the folds 22a to the top wall panel 21a. A generally rectangular pair of end wall panels 25a are coextensive with and hingedly connected by the end folds or creases 23a to the top wall panel. Interposed between the adjacent ends of said wall panels 24a and end wall panels 25a, and hingedly connected thereto, are a plurality of gussets 26a, each having a diagonal fold 27a. A pair of bottom wall panels 31a of generally rectangular configuration extend laterally outwardly from respective side wall panels 24a, being longitudinally coextensive therewith and hingedly connected thereto, as by fold lines or creases 30a. One of the bottom wall panels 31a is provided on its laterally outer, longitudinal edge, with spaced undercut projections or catches 36a, and the other bottom wall panel 31a is formed with spaced thru slots 58a. The latter bottom wall panel 31a may be provided with an additional laterally outwardly extending panel 32a hingedly connected to the laterally outer edge of the adjacent bottom wall panel 31a, as by a fold line 33a. An additional laterally outwardly extending panel or flap 34a is hingedly connected to the laterally outer side of panel 32a, as by a fold line 35a, parallel to the fold line 33a and fold line 30a.

Extending longitudinally outward from the outer edges of respective end wall panels 25a, are a pair of extensions a, each being formed at its outer end with a longitudinally outwardly projecting undercut catch or headed member 41a.

As is apparent in FIG. 9, the extensions 40a and projecting members or catches 41a are in longitudinal alignment with each other, and laterally offset with respect to the top wall panel 21a. That is, a top wall region 45a is interposed between the end extensions 40a, being located adjacent to one top wall crease 22a and spaced from the other top wall crease 22a, so as to leave an additional top wall region 46a adjacent to the latter crease 22a.

The top wall region 45a is cut and scored to define a plurality of longitudinally aligned, spaced supports 48aand 49a, the supports 48a being arranged in a pair of laterally spaced rows, and the supports 49a being arranged at the end of the rows of supports 48a and extending therebetween. Each of the supports 48a is bounded by a laterally extending fold line 50a, and the support 49a is bounded by a laterally extending fold line 51a. Hingedly connected to each support 48a by its respective fold line 50a is a partition 52a, while a partition 53a is hingedly connected by the fold line 51a to the laterally extending end support 49a. The remainder of the top wall region 45a constitutes a stay 54a which is hingedly connected to each partition 52a by a fold line 55a parallel to and spaced from the respective fold line 50a, and also connected to the laterally extending partition 53a by a fold line 56a parallel to and spaced from its fold line 5111. A slot 57a is formed along the fold line 56a, medially thereof, for a purpose appearing presently.

In the setup condition, see FIGS. 11-13, a box a is formed from the blank 20a, the top wall panel 21a defining a top Wall 121a, and the side and end wall panels 24a and 25a being folded downwardly to define side and end walls 124a and 125a. The gussets 26a are folded along their hinged connections and diagonal folds 27a inwardly beneath the top wall 12511 to resiliently urge the side and end walls outwardly.

The stay 54a is depressed downwardly, moving in parallelism to a position spaced below the level of the top wall 121a, with the supports 48a and 49a remaining in the plane of the top wall, and the partitions 52a and 53a depending from the top wall to the stay. The extensions 40a are then swung inwardly the lowermost projection or catch 41a being snap-engaged between a laterally spaced, aligned pair of partitions 520, as best seen in FIGS. and 13. The upper projection or catch 41a is inserted inwardly through the slot 57a and snapengaged therein, so that the opposed catches efiectively retain the stay 54a and partitions 52a and 53a in the setup condition.

The bottom wall panel 31a may be swung inwardly into position spaced below the top wall 121a, and the panel 32a swung about its fold line 33a to extend upwardly to the top wall, the flap 45a being disposed in facing engagement with the underside of the top wall region 46a. The other bottom wall panel 31a, the rightward panel as seen in FIG. 9, is then swung inward to underlie the previously swung, leftward bottom wall panel, and the enlarged projections or undercut catches 36a are snap-engaged through respective slots 58a, to maintain the panels 31a in position defining a bottom wall spaced beneath the top wall 121a. This condition is shown in FIG. 11.

From the foregoing, it is seen that the quick-setup collapsible-box construction of the present inventionfully accomplishes its intended objects and is well adapted to meet practical conditions of manufacture, setup operations, filling and use.

Although the present invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, it is understood that certain changes and modifications may be made within the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A quick-setup collapsible box comprising a back wall; side walls upstanding at opposite sides of said back wall; end walls upstanding at opposite ends of said back wall; a top wall extending between said side and end walls spaced forwardly of said back wall, said top Wall having a region cut and scored to define a plurality of laterally extending longitudinally spaced supports in the plane of said top wall, a plurality of partitions each hingedly connected to a respective support for swinging movement between a collapsed position coplanar with said top wall and a setup condition extending toward said back wall, and a stay hingedly connected to said partitions for generally parallel movement therewith between a collapsed position coplanar with the top wall and a setup condition adjacent to the back wall; and a catch extending inwardly from one of said end walls for releasable holding engagement with one of said partitions to maintain the stay and partitions in setup condition.

2. A quick-setup collapsible box according to claim 1, in combination with an additional catch extending inwardly from the other of said end walls for releasable holding engagement with another of said partitions.

3. A quick-setup collapsible box according to claim 1, said one end well being hingedly connected to said top wall, and said catch extending from the lower region of said end wall for maintaining the latter in setup condition.

4. A quick-setup collapsible box according to claim 1,

said one partition being formed with a slot detachably 5 receiving said catch.

5. A quick-setup collapsible box according to claim 1, in combination with an additional plurality of laterally extending longitudinally spaced supports in the plane of said top wall and spaced laterally from said first-mentioned supports, and an additional plurality of partitions each hingedly connected between a respective additional support and said stay, said catch being configured for retaining engagement between a laterally spaced pair of said partitions.

6. A quick-setup collapsible box according to claim 5, said one end wall being hingedly connected to said top wall, and said catch extending from the lower region of said one end wall for maintaining the latter in setup condition.

7. A quick-setup collapsible box according to claim 1, said back wall comprising a pair of panels hingedly connected to and extending inwardly from respective side walls, and detachable connection means connecting said panels together for retaining said side walls in setup condition.

8. A quick-setup collapsible box according to claim 1, said top wall having a second region spaced from said first-mentioned region and cut and scored to define an additional plurality of laterally extending longitudinally spaced supports in the plane of said top wall, an additional plurality of partitions each hingedly connected to a respective additional support for swinging movement between a collapsed position coplanar with said top wall and a setup condition extending toward said back wall, and an additional stay hingedly connected to said additional partitions for generally parallel movement therewith between a collapsed position coplanar with said top wall and a setup condition adjacent to said back wall; and an additional catch extending inwardly from one end wall for releasable holding engagement with one of said additional partitions to maintain the additional stay and additional partitions in setup condition.

9. A quick-setup collapsible box according to claim 8, said back wall comprising a pair of panels hingedly connected to and extending inwardly from respective side walls, and detachable connection means connecting said panels together for retaining said side walls in setup condition.

10. A quick-setup collapsible box according to claim 9, said detachable connection means comprising a pair of flaps hingedly connected to respective panels and swingable into facing engagement underlying said top wall in the space between said regions, and tabs extending from said flaps for holding interengagement with said end walls.

11. A quick-setup collapsible box according to claim 1, in combination with resiliently folded gusset means interposed between adjacent ends of said side and end walls.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,366,557 1/1945 Rau 22928 2,514,651 7/1950 Kornfeld et al. 229--28 XR 2,759,652 8/1956 Burgess 229--28 3,175,751 3/1965 Burgess 22928 FOREIGN PATENTS 801,577 12/1968 Canada.

DAVIS T. MOORHEAD, Primary Examiner

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