US3556385A

US3556385A - Single-piece self-opening container construction

Info

Publication number: US3556385A
Application number: US769977A
Authority: US
Inventors: Kenzo Kato
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1968-10-23
Filing date: 1968-10-23
Publication date: 1971-01-19
Anticipated expiration: 1988-01-19

Abstract

A self-opening container constructed from a single-piece flat blank. A flower-petallike, self-opening end is produced by folding along cutouts and scoring lines on a flat blank. The self-opening end opens upon sliding an inner section longitudinally within an outer section, both produced by folding a unitary flat blank along score lines.

Description

Uni td Stat e s Patent [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,5 40,066 l/ 1951 Williamson 2,843,308 7/ 1958 Paige 3,329,346 7/1967 Keith 3,371,844 3/1968 Perrella 3,416,718 I 2/1-968 Nakayama FOREIGN PATENTS 962,448 7/1964 Great Britain Primary Examiner-Joseph R. Leclair Assistant Examiner-Steven E.' Lipman Attorney-Julian Caplan folding a unitary flat blank along score lines.

[72] Inventor Kenzo Kato Kamakura-shi, Japan 21 1 Appl. No 769,977 [22] Filed Oct. 23, 1968 [45] Patented Jan. 19, 1971 [73] Assignee Philip J. Hewitt Atherton, Calif.

In part interest [54] SINGLE-PIECE SELF-OPENING CONTAINER CONSTRUCTION 2 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs,

[52] US. Cl 229/37, 229/8, 229/43 [51] Int. CL. 865d 5/02, 865d 43/ l 4 [50] Field of Search 229/37, 37R, 43, 44, 8

PATENIEDJANIEIQYI g 35561385 sum 1 0F 2 INVENTOR; I KENZO K470 ATTORNE Y oppositely'slidl over; i

3 FIG. 4is a pers in'a half-open position.

SINGLE-PIECE ELF-OPENING CONTAINER I consrrwc'rron This 'invention relates to anew andimproved single-piece container construction. 1 I

Aprimaryobjectand advantage of theiinventionis the constru'ction froma unitary flat blank of a'self-opening container with a slidable inner section contained wh within an outer section. v f v A further object'of the presentinv'ention is the provision of a self-opening petallike container end which'automati'cally expands to expose the contents when'aslidable inner'section is other advantagesof he e-am invention will becomeapparent upon reading the following specification-and referring tothe accompanying drawings in which similar' characters' of reference represent corresponding parts in each of the several 1 views.

ln'the' drawings;

-

touts

79, 81 and 83, each of which form a quadrilateral shape 2 manner, flap 63 is divided from'section 27 by fold line 65, which'extends across the width of blank as best shownQin FIG. 1. Fold line 67 separates end-flap 57from tuck-in flap -59; End-flap'sections-57 and o-l arc'defined by slit 69, which extends from the end of flap 61 to score line '65 as an exten- 'sio'noffoldline39. Y

v That part of blank ll which form's-the selflopening end of the container when fully assembled. comprises four sections generally designated 71, 73, 75 and 77. Separating end section 71 from 73,73 from 75, and 75 from 77- areQrespectively. cu-

as shown;

Quadrilateral cutouts

79, 81 and 83 are each symmetrical about ajlineforming'acontinuation of respectively, score lines-31-39; and 33'41;'and '35-43. The outwardly facing edge ofsection 71 designated pan'el 85,15 indented in a like manner aslone side of the quadrilaterals'79, 81 and 83.

The outwardly facing edge 87 of section 77 is a straight line and a-continuation of the outer edges of

panels

19, 27 and 63.

Extending laterally across blank 11 and connecting the common obtuse angles of

quadrilateral cutouts

79, 81 and 83, is fold line 89.-Extending laterally across blank ll is'foldline 91 which 'delirl'eates'the demarcation between. panels 13. and 71;

F1611 is a plan view ofaflat for construction of a self opening container according to thepresent-invention. .FlG. is'a" perspective view of thelbl'ank partially fold'ed FlG. 3 is a perspectiv e view of aicor n'pletely constructed containerinafully closed position.-

' ctive'view of a'fully constructed container FIG. 5 is a perspective view and expanded'position;

' The container whichis thesubject of the present'invention is constructed from a unitary flat blank ll'which isfolded upon of a'container in its fully opened 15 and 73;'1'7and 75; and '19zand77. Similarly, extending laterally across blank-ll is fold line 93, which delineates the de- .marcation between panels'2l and7l; 23 and 73; 25 andy75;

and 27 and 77; Extending laterally across blank 11 is foldline 95 which is parallel to and immediate between. fold lines 89 and '93. as shown; Extending diagonally across each of

panels

71, 73, 75 'andi77 are

fold lines

97 and 99. To simplify descrip- 1 tion, the position of fold lines 97. and 99 will be described only I with reference to panel71, it being understood that they are identically placed in

panels

73, 75 and 77. Fold line 99 extends diagonally across panel 71' from the intersection of the itself to form a fully constructed and selfopening container as shown'in FIGS." Blank ll is"'preferably constructed of relatively thin cardboard ior some other similar inexpensive material. ltis understood that as this. container may'function as both a container 'and as a. merchandising medium' to promote the sale offgoods, suitable advertising rnaterial and informative mattermay printed or otherwise presented on the exposedsurfaces of the container. Coloring various sections .in different shades enhancesthe expanding flower petal concept which isone'of the attractive features'of the invention.

Constituting the largest flat portions of blank ll are

longitudinal panels

13, 15, 17 and 19, which are adjacent one another, and longitudinal

outer panels

21, 23, 25 and 27,

which are adjacent one another at the opposite end of blank ll,

as shown in FIG. 1 Defining panels 13 to 1.9 are longitudinally extending fold-

lines

29, 31, 33 and 35; which are formed in "blank 11 to facilitate folding along saidfold-lines. Said fold lines extend longitudinally the full length of blank ll and also delineate inner panels 21 to 27, in which portion saidfold lines "are identified as37, 39, 4 1 and 43; Panels13, '15, 17 and 19,

upon complete construction, will form the sides of. an outer I section, generally designated 45. Correspondingly, panels 21.

,23, 25 and 27, uponcompletion ofconstruction, will form the sides of an innerseetion, generally designated as 47. The interrelationship of outer section 45 and inner section 47 will become apparent in referring to the following specification.

' Adjacent panel 13 and separated therefrom by fold line 29, I is glue flap 49. Similarly, adjacent a panel 21 and separated therefrom by foldli'ne 37 is glue flap 51.- Cut intothe end of panel 13 is arc-shaped cutout 53, likewisearc-shaped cutout 55 is cut into the lower end of panel 17.

Forming the-bottom end. of inner section 47 are end-

flaps

57, 59, 61 and63. End flap 57 and end flap 61 are separated from

sections

21 and 23, respectively, by 'foldline 65. In alike edge of flap 49', fold line 29 andfold line'91 thence to the opposite edge of panel 71 at cutout 79 to intersect with fold line 95. Similarly, fold line 97 extends diagonally from theintersection offold line at edge 71 to the ap'exof cutout 79iat the intersection of fold line 31, and fold line91', Fold lines 99, 97- and 89 meet at a common intersection points 101' on the surface of end area 71. For purposes of identification, the various areas'of end panel 71 are identified as follows: Between

fold line

95 and 93, area 103 the triangle formed by

fold lines

95,97 and 99' is area 91', the corresponding triangle 107 is formed'by

fold lines

91,99 and 97;-the smaller triangles 109 and lll are formed respectively by edge 85 and fold lines'99 and 89, and by

fold lines

89,97 and edge 85; corresponding small triangles; 1'13 and are formed, respectively, by

fold lines

97 ,89 arid cutout 79, and fold lines 89, 99'and cutout 79.

For purposes of simplicity in description, it is understood that only end opening surface 71 is completely identified as to the various surfaces formed by fold lines and cutouts. it being understood that identical surface areas are formed respectively in

panels

73,75 and 77, in which cases, triangular panes panels 103,105,107,109,111,113 and 115 are designated by the addition of the letters a, b and 0, respectively. This is with the exception of area 77, in which straight line edge87 forms the' outer edge thereof.

Proceeding now to a description of the method of folding and constructing a completed container: Preliminarily, an,

1 75 in FIG. 1, each fold line 89 is folded'103, 105, 107', 109,

111, 113 upwardly and each

fold line

97 and 99 is folded downwardly, points 101 becoming apices and the backs of trioverlap section 47; ln the intermediate construction stage angles 109, 11 1, 1 13 and 115 are in contact. Referring to FIG. 2, it is seen that portions designated generally as outersection 45 are folded upwards away from the flat surface of blankll to shown'in FIG. 2, outer panels45 are approximately parallel to and a slight distance above, inner panels 47. At this stage of construction it is seen that panel'13-is immediately above face of panel 27 with a suitable adhesive material, the method of which is well known in the art, to form inner section 47, In a similar manner, flap 49 is attached to the inner surface of panel l9 with adhesive material to form outer box section 45. The bottom of inner box structure 47 is 'closed by folding flaps (SI and 63 upon each other and by closing flap 57 thereupon, inserting flap 59 immediately adjacent panel 25. as is well known in the art to form a box closure without the need for adhesives.

With inner section 47 pulled downwards to its full extent within outer section 45, a closed box structure is presented as shown in FIG. 3. The upper end of outer section 45 is closed by the four triangle-shaped panels l07a-c closing upon and adjacent to one another. The method in which outer section 45 automatically opens and closes upon itself in a flower petallike manner is now described. It is apparent that the folding process has produced two box sections slidable about one another. That is, outer section 45 is slidable longitudinally about inner section 47 as shown, with

fold lines

91, 95 and 93 functioning as hinges. As inner section is manually pushed partially upwardly within outer section 45, the petallike

shaped end panels

71, 73, 75 and 77 expand upwardly and outwardly until an intermediate position shown in FIG. 4 is produced. At this stage, triangular-shaped panels l05a-c, become parallel to bottom 51 of inner section 47 and are at right angles to inner box wall surfaces 21, 23, and 27. As inner section 47 is further manually pushed upward (sliding within outer section 45) the

opening assembly

71, 73, 75 and 77 open fully outwards as shown in FIG. 5. In the fully open position of FIG. 5. surfaces l03a-c are fully exposed and are parallel to bottom 51 and therefore at right angles to side surfaces I3, l5, l7 and 19 of outer box section 45. In this position inner section 47 is substantially entirely contained within outer section 45. Thumb and finger cutouts 53 and 55 are used to retract section 47.

At this point, with the container fully open, the interior of inner section 47 is fully exposed and the contents thereof are available for easy access. At this point the user may put in or take out whatever goods are contained within inner section 47, as delineated by

inner panels

21, 23, 25 and 27. Thereafter, the process may be reversed by inserting a thumb and forefinger in cutouts 53 and 55 on

inner panels

21 and 25 and pulling downwardly, which reverses the process, closing the box until the fully closed position shown in FIG. 3 is obtained.

The result is a unitary container construction which is easily and inexpensively manufactured and when folded in upon itself produces a sliding self-opening container which quickly and easily exposes the contents and upon closing produces a fully closed protective container for any manner of goods. By printing the exposed panels in different colors, the folding and unfolding steps exposes different colors at different times and produces a very pleasing effect. A container constructed according to the present invention may be made not only in the square cross-sectional area herein described, but may be made with a cross-sectional area octagonal, hexagonal, etc. with only slight modifications of the example herein described, as will readily occur to one skilled in this art.

It is understood that this invention has been described with reference to the example for purposes of clarity of understanding and that certain changes may be practiced within the scope of this invention and of the appended claims.

Iclaim:

l. A flat blank for a self-opening container comprising:

a plurality of first panels foldable about each other to form an outer section;

a plurality of second panels foldable about each other to form an inner section contained within and slidable within said outer section:

a plurality of closure panels intermediate said first panels and said second panels, said closure panels forming a closed end for the common opening of said inner and outer sections;

a said plurality of first panels-comprising a first set of four rectangular outer wall panels;

said plurality of second panels comprising a second set of four rectangular inner wall panels at the opposite end of said blank from said first set;

said plurality of closure panels comprising a set of four foldable panels, each of said last-named panels having each end common to one end of a wall panel of said first and second set of wall panels, said foldable panels separated from each other by a quadrilateral opening in said blank;

each of said four foldable closure panels comprising a first closure panel with a first end common to one end of said first panels;

a second closure panel formed of a plurality of triangularshaped panels delineated by fold lines, said first closure panel and said second closure panel having a common edge delineated by a fold line; and

in which said plurality of triangular-shaped panels further comprises:

a first triangular section with its base common to said common edge between said first and second closure panels;

a second triangular panel with its apex common to the apex of said first triangular panel and having its base parallel to the base ofsaid first triangular panel;

third and fourth triangular panels adjacent first edges of said first and second triangular panels; and

fifth and sixth triangular panels adjacent second edges of said first and second triangular sections, opposite said first edges.

2. A self-opening container comprising:

an inner section;

an outer section, said inner section longitudinally slidable within said outer section,

end closure means common to said inner and outer sections, said end closure means opening upon the full insertion of said inner section within said outer section and closing upon the partial removal of said inner section from said outer section;

a plurality of foldable portions adjacent the walls of said inner and outer sections, said foldable portions folding in to cover the opening of said sections when said inner section is partially removed from said outer section;

a first panel adjacent a wall of said inner section, said first panel being at substantially a right angle to said wall when said closure means are fully open, and parallel to said wall when said means are fully closed;

a second panel adjacent a wall of said outer section, said second panel being at substantially a right angle to said outer wall when said closure means are fully closed and forming a portion of the closure of said opening; and

closure connection means connecting said first panel with said second panel whereby said closure means opens upon full insertion of said inner section within said outer section.

Claims

1. A flat blank for a self-opening container comprising: a plurality of first panels foldable about each other to form an outer section; a plurality of second panels foldable about each other to form an inner section contained within and slidable within said outer section; a plurality of closure panels intermediate said first panels and said second panels, said closure panels forming a closed end for the common opening of said inner and outer sections; a said plurality of first panels comprising a first set of four rectangular outer wall panels; said plurality of second panels comprising a second set of four rectangular inner wall panels at the opposite end of said blank from said first set; said plurality of closure panels comprising a set of four foldable panels, each of said last-named panels having each end common to one end of a wall panel of said first and second set of wall panels, said foldable panels separated from each other by a quadrilateral opening in said blank; each of said four foldable closure panels comprising a first closure panel with a first end common to one end of said first panels; a second closure panel formed of a plurality of triangular-shaped panels delineated by fold lines, said first closure panel and said second closure panel having a common edge delineated by a fold line; and in which said plurality of triangular-shaped panels further comprises: a first triangular section with its base common to said common edge between said first and second closure panels; a second triangular panel with its apex common to the apex of said first triangular panel and having its base parallel to the base of said first triangular panel; third and fourth triangular panels adjacent first edges of said first and second triangular panels; and fifth and sixth triangular panels adjacent second edges of said first and second triangular sections, opposite said first edges.

2. A self-opening container comprising: an inner section; an outer section, said inner section longitudinally slidable within said outer section, end closure means common to said inner and outer sections, said end closure means opening upon the full insertion of said inner section within said outer section and closing upon the partial removal of said inner section from said outer section; a plurality of foldable portions adjacent the walls of said inner and outer sections, said foldable portions folding in to cover the opening of said sections when said inner section is partially removed from said outer section; a first panel adjacent a wall of said inner section, said first panel being at substantially a right angle to said wall when said closure means are fully open, and parallel to said wall when said means are fully closed; a second panel adjacent a wall of said outer section, said second panel being at substantially a right angle to said outer wall when said closure means are fully closed and forming a portion of the closure of said opening; and closure connection means connecting said first panel with said second panel whereby said closure means opens upon full insertion of said inner section within said outer section.