US3591120A

US3591120A - Skeleton support frame for a carton

Info

Publication number: US3591120A
Application number: US863516A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ivan A Fietzer; Ronald Alois Hanseter
Original assignee: American Can Co
Current assignee: Georgia Pacific Consumer Products LP
Priority date: 1969-10-03
Filing date: 1969-10-03
Publication date: 1971-07-06
Anticipated expiration: 1988-07-06

Abstract

A skeleton supporting frame for a generally rectangular dispensing carton, containing a plurality of thin, interfolded plastic sheets and having a slot in a bottom wall thereof. The frame includes a rectangular base, with a lengthwise, elevated ledge, a pair of elevated side members, a top member, and a lengthwise support bar, between the base and the top member and connected to the side members. The support bar is spaced from the ledge so that, as a lengthwise corner portion of the bottom of the carton is biased against the ledge, the bottom wall of the carton is supported by the bar above the base.

Description

[54] SKELETON SUPPORT FRAME FOR A CARTON 7 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 248/311, 211/71, 211/106, 221/46, 248/153, 248/302 [51] lnt.Cl A47k 1/08 [50] Field 01' Search 248/309, 311,302,153;21l/l06,7l,85,18l;221/45,46; 248/DlG. 5

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,763,420 6/1930 Crossmore et al.

United States Patent w: 3,591,120

[72) inventors lvan A.Fietzer; 1,883,008 10/1932 Sherman 221/46 Ronald Alois Hanseter. both of Neenah. 2082.765 6/1937 Krueger 221/45 Wis. 3,223.374 12/1965 Butler et a] 248/15 [2] I P 863516 Primary Examiner--Roy D Frazier [22] Filed 0e03, 1969 A E J F F t (45] Patented y 6 197 ssistant xammer ran m oss An0rneys-Robert P. Auber. George P. Ztehmer and Frank S. [73] Assignee American Can Company Charlton ABSTRACT: A skeleton supporting frame for a generally rectangular dispensing carton, containing a plurality of thin, interfolcled plastic sheets and having a slot in a bottom wall thereof. The frame includes a rectangular base, with a lengthwise, elevated ledge, a pair of elevated side members, a top member, and a lengthwise support bar, between the base and the top member and connected to the side members. The support bar is spaced from the ledge so that, as a lengthwise corner portion of the bottom of the ,carton is biased against the ledge, the bottom wall of the carton is supported by the bar above the base.

PATENTED JUL 6mm 3.591.120

sum 1 nr 3 QM @QM/24 'PATENTED' JUL 6191: 3.591.120

SHEET 2 [1F 3 SKELETON SUPPORT FRAME FOR A CARTON BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Thin, nonclinging plastic films having gained great popularity for wrapping foodstufi's. Films such as polyethylene film have provided a greaseproof, taste-free wrapping material and have served as a barrier to the loss of moisture from the wrapped food. Furthermore, the substantial transparency of such films has contributed to the preparing of a food package with an appealing appearance. In addition, because of the manner in which the films themselves are packaged, these films have been relatively accessible and efficient to use in mass feeding situations for prewrapping food to be served at a latter time. 7

Films for wrapping food have been packaged in various forms including the forms of: continuous rolls of film; rolls of film that are connected along perforated lines between the individual sheets; and bundles of interfolded sheets. Lines of perforations have been used to divide films into appropriately sized, connected sheets, along which lines of perforations the user of the film can conveniently tear the film into disconnected sheets.

Because of the relatively low surface friction of such films, bundles of film have'typically been both interfolded and provided with perforations'in order to insure that the dispensing of a first sheet will cause the next individual sheets to become available, in, turn, to the users grasp. It has been found that serial dispensing of individual sheets of film is conveniently provided by a bundle of a film consisting of twointerfolded, perforated films. By providing for serial dispensing of individual sheets, the uneconomical loss of film through waste or uncontrolled tearing while dispensing has been reduced.

Cartons adapted to dispense the interfolded, perforated sheets of film material described above have been developed. The cartons feature a slot in the bottom wall thereof through which the film can be withdrawn as individual sheets. The problems of low coefficient of friction between the interfolded sheets and difficulty in tearing the film along the provided lines of perforations have tended to oppose efforts to provide a carton with serial dispensing of individual sheets and easy access to the next-to-be-dispensed sheet.

By dispensing from the bottom of the carton, however, the above problems have been solved. The cumulative weight of the stack of film upon the sheet being dispensed tends to set up frictional resistances to the withdrawing of each sheet from the slot in the bottom wall, a frictional resistance between an underlying and an overlying, connected sheet causing the overlying sheet to separate along the line of perforation from the underlying sheet being withdrawn; and a frictional resistance between an underlying and an overlying, unconnected sheet causing a portion of the overlying sheet to be pulled through the slot and to become accessible to the user's grasp as the underlying sheet is completely withdrawn from the slot. Thus, serial dispensing and good accessibility of a stack of sheets of thin plastic film have been accomplished in cartons from which the sheets are individually withdrawn from the bottom of the carton.

In view of the need to utilize the cumulative weight of the stack of film when dispensing, holders for cartons of interfolded film have been designed for wall mounting, or in other words, for holding the carton with the slot facing downward and with access to the slot being exclusively from beneath the carton. Heretofore, there has been no satisfactory holder designed to hold such a carton in a table or counter top position, or in other words, designed to permit access to the slot from the front of the carton. It has often been relatively inconvenient to use cartons mounted in conventional, wall-mounted holders, containing sheets of plastic wrapping materials, it being required to reach in either an upwardly or downwardly direction toward the carton, depending upon its position relative to the user, to grasp each sheet. For this reason, there has been a need for a holder for these cartons which would make each sheet available by reaching horizontally, a holder adapted to position the slot in these cartons in a tabletop position, close to the user and more effortlessly accessible to his grasp.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to provide a supporting frame as described in the Background of the Invention for a carton containing thin,

plastic, interfolded sheets, which frame is adapted to hold the carton in eithera wall-mounted or a tabletop position, this invention relates to a skeleton supporting frame comprising:

a planar, generally rectangular base which includes laterally extending means for restraining a corner portion of the bottom wall of the dispensing carton from sliding movement rearwardly of the restraining means;

a pair of parallel, elevated side members connected to the base;

a top member, connected .to the side members and positioned above and parallel to the base; and

a support member, connected to the side members, positioned between the base and the top member and parallel to the base, and spaced from the restraining means so that as the corner portion of the bottom wall of the dispensing carton is restrained from rearward movement by the restraining means, the bottom wall is supported by the support member above the base and the support member is located to the rear of a forward portion of the slot in the bottom wall.

Numerous other advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a perspective view of a dispensing carton for interfolded sheets of thin, plastic film. The carton is shown with its bottom wall facing upward, its dispensing slot open and with a sheet of the film extending from the slot.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the holder of the instant invention, showing the holder in its counter-top position.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the carton and holder combination in the counter-top position. The bottom wall of the carton is facing downward and the sheet of film is accessible by reaching under the carton.

FIG. 4 is a side-elevational view of the carton and holder combination shown in FIG. 3, a portion of the holder being broken away.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the carton and holder combination in the wall-mounted position.

FIG. 6 is a side-elevational view of the carton and holder combination shown in FIG. 5.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION As a preferred or exemplary embodiment of the invention, FIG. 1 shows a carton, generally 11, to be mounted in a skeleton supporting frame or holder, generally 21, shown in FIG. 2. The holder 2! is adapted to hold the carton 11 in a counter-top position, shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, and in a wallmounted position, shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.

Throughout this description, relative positional terms such as left," right, above," below, rearwardly and forwardly are used with reference to the orientation and location of the frame members 22-30 of the holder 21 illustrated in FIGS. 2 through 6.

The carton 11 is made of a relatively inexpensive, relatively rigid, lightweight material such as corrugated paperboard or plastic. The carton is adapted to hold a bundle of interfolded,

perforated sheets 12 of thin plastic film. The carton 11 is provided with a slot 14 in a bottom wall 13 thereof. The slot 14 has a width of about one-half inch and is adapted to allow the individual sheets to be serially dispensed therethrough.

As shown in MG. 1, the carton 11 is in an upside-down position, the bottom wall 13 facing upward and a leading edge portion of the plastic sheet 12, which is next to be dispensed, extending upwardly through the slot 14 in the bottom wall 13.

A flap B of the carton wall material is upstanding from the bottom wall 13. The area of the flap 15 corresponds to the area of the slot 1 1, the slot 141 having been formed by tearing the flap i5 from the bottom wall 13. The configuration of the slot 14 is rectangular and extends the length of the bottom wall 13. By raising the flap 15 from the bottom wall 13, a portion of a bottom edge of each sidewall 18 of the carton 11 is exposed. Thev purpose of these exposed edges will be hereinafter explained. Of course, as will become apparent from the discussion of the holder 21, the flap 15 could have been entirely removed from the carton 11 rather than having been left attached to the bottom wall 13 along a rearward edge 1.! of the slot 14.

it should be noted that, as shown in the upside-down position in FIG. 1, the rearward edge 17 of the slot 17 on the flap 15, attached thereto, is located forwardly of the slot 14, rather than located rearwardly of the slot as shown in FIGS. 3 through 6, when the carton 11 is inverted and placed in the holder 21.

The holder 21 consists of a plurality of bars or rods, which are the frame members 22-30. The frame members are about one-eighth inch in diameter and are made of metal such as iron, steel or aluminum. The frame members 22-30 are attached to each other in a configuration hereinafter described in connection with P16. 2. The resulting holder 21 is adapted to hold the carton 11 which contains approximately 500 I2 inch by i5-inch sheets of interfolded plastic film, such as 0.001 -inch thick polyethylene film.

The holder 21 shown in the counter-top position in FIG. 2 consists ofa base A, two side members B, a top member C and a support member D.

The base A consists of five frame members 22--26, although the base could have been constructed from a piece of rigid, board material. The base is substantially planar and rectangular and has two parallel, lengthwise, frame members 22 and 2.3, hereinafter referred to as the forward and

rearward members

22 and 23, respectively, each connected to two parallel widthwise, frame members 24- and 2S, hereinafter referred to as the left and

right base members

24 and 25, respectively.

By the terms "lengthwise and widthwise" is meant the relative directions, corresponding to the length and width of the carton 11, in which the frame members 22-26 of the base A are positioned. These terms are not meant to strictly imply, however, the relative lengths of the frame members 22-26, although the minimum length-width dimensions of the base A are the length-width dimensions of the rectangular carton to be held in the frame. Clearly, the frame components of the base A may be of any dimensions large enough to enable the rectangular carton 11 to be mounted in the holder 21 of the instant invention.

The fifth frame member 26 of the base A, hereinafter referred to as the restraining means 26, is a lengthwise or laterally extending member positioned upon the connected to the left and

right base members

24 and 25. The restraining means 26 is parallel to and located between the forward and

rearward base member

22 and 23. The restraining means 26 lies above the plane of the other base members 22-25. The purpose of the restraining means will be hereinafter described.

The two side members B are parallel to each other and perpendicular to the base A. Each side member B consists of a pair of elevated

side frame members

27 and 28, hereinafter referred to as the forward and

rearward side members

27 and 28, respectively. One end of each forward side member 27 is connected to one end of the forward base member 22. One end of each rearward side member 28 is connected to one end of the rearward base member 23. The other end of each forward side member 27 is attached to the other end of each rearward side member 38 at an angled joint 31.

The top member (I is a single frame member 29, connected to the two rearward side members 28, beneath the joint 31. The top frame member 29 is parallel to the base A. The purpose of the top member C will be hereinafter described with references to FIGS. 5 and 6.

The support member D is a single frame member 30 connected to the two forward side members 27 beneath the top frame member 29. The support frame member 30 is parallel to the base A.

The combination of the holder 21 and the carton 11 in the counter-top position is shown in FIG. 3. The planar base A of the frame support 21 is adapted to rest on a horizontal surface. The carton 11 is inserted in the support frame, the bottom wall 13 of the carton 11 forming an acute angle with the base A so that the sheet 12, extending from the slot 14, is horizontally accessible. The bottom wall 13 is supported above the base A by the sidewall 18 of the carton 11, the exposed portions of the edges of sidewall 18 previously mentioned resting upon the lateral portions of the support frame member 30.

As clearly shown in FIG. 4 in the counter-top position, a rearward corner portion 16 at the junction of the bottom wall 13 and a rear wall 19 of the carton l1 rests upon the left and

right base members

24 and 25 of the base A. The rearward corner portion 16 rests on the base A directly forward of the restraining means 26 and is biased against the restraining means 26. The restraining means 26 is adapted to prevent the rearward corner portion 16 from sliding rearwardly along the

widthwise base members

24 and 25, past the restraining means 26. As further shown in FlG. 4, the bottom wall 13 of the carton 11 is supported above the base A by the support frame member 30.

It should be noted in connection with the preceding references to the rearward corner portion 16 that the term corner portion is intended to include the following areas of the carton:

a. The actual corner, which is the intersection of the bottom rear walls 313 19 of the carton and which is actually contacting the base A; and

b. the portions of the rear wall 19 that are relatively close to the corner and which are biased against the restraining means 26.

It should be further noted that the term rearward as applied to the rearward corner portion 16 may be used to apply to either lengthwise corner portion of the carton. In view of the fact that the slot is typically centered in the bottom wall 13, the carton may be inserted with either lengthwise corner portion being the rearward corner portion and contacting the base A. In the carton 11, shown in connection with the preferred embodiment, however, the flap 15 has been left connected to the bottom wall 13, and the flap 15 must be located rearwardly of the support member D so that the flap 15 will not interfere with access to the sheet 12. Thus, because of the presence of the flap 15 on the carton 11, the rearward corner portion 16 is positively identified as the corner portion attached to the bottom wall 13, located on the same side of the slot as the flap is located.

The restraining means 26 is positioned at a predetennined distance from the support frame member 30 so that:

a. The comer portion 16 rests on the base A and is biased against the restraining means 26; and

b. The support frame member 30 is located to the rear of a forward edge of the slot 14--near the flap 15.

The purpose in positioning the support frame member 30 to the rear of the slot 14 is to assure that the sheet 12 of film is dispensed above the support frame member 30, where the support frame member 30 will not interfere with the grasping of a leading edge portion of the sheet 12.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that the holder 21 is constructed so as to be capable of maintaining the slot 14 in the carton 11 in an'easily accessible counter-top position, i.e., elevated above the base A substantially forward of the support member D and unobstructed by the flap 15.

The support member l) is also adapted to promote the grasping of a leading edge portion of the sheet ll2, being provided with a plurality of spaced frame projections 32. The projections 32 may assume many forms designed to support the leading edge of the sheet 12 forward of the slot 14, in a position of unobstructed access for grasping the sheet. The preferred design of the projections 32 shown in the drawing is provided with two frame members 32A and 328 which are integral with the support frame member 30 and which form the legs of an acute angle 32C. Each

projection frame member

32A and 32B is parallel to the base A and extends forwardly of the support frame member 30, Due to the spaced projections 32, the sheet 12 lies horizontally, extending forward, and can be easily grasped without reaching beneath the carton 11 and the holder 21.

The combination of the holder 21 and carton 11, in the wall-mounted position, is shown in FIG. 5. The base A rests against the wall surface, and the carton H, having been inserted in the opening between the top frame member 29 and the base A, is supported in the holder 21 by thesupport member D and the top frame member 29. As inserted, the rear wall 119 of the carton 11 is adjacent to the base A, and a front wall of the carton 11 is adjacent to the top frame member 2?). To accommodate the carton 11 in the frame 2], the top frame member 29 is spaced from the base A by the width of the carton ll therebetween. I

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, the base A is provided with a plurality of loops 33 integral therewith. In the preferred embodiment of the instant invention, the loops 33 are integral with the ends of the right and left

base members

24 and 25. A rubber grommet 34 has also been provided in each loop 33 to allow the holder 2! to be securely hung in the vertical, wallmountcd position with relatively small nails or other hanging means. in the counter-top position, the rubber grommets serve as supporting feet to anchor the dispenser and prevent damage to the counter surface.

As particularly shown in FIG. 6, the carton 11 is in a conventional wall-mounted position with the bottom wall 13 and slot 1d, therein, being accessible only by reaching underneath the carton. The sheet 12 of film hangs vertically from the slot M. The carton is restrained by the support frame member 30, rearwardly of the slot 14, from falling through the holder 2! and is restrained by the top frame member 29 from tumbling forward, out of the holder 21.

In connection with FIGS. 3 through 6, it should be noted that a portion of the second-to-be-dispensed sheet 12A of film protrudes outwardly of the slot 14, The second-to-bcdispensed sheet 12A will be located either forwardly, as in H65. 5 and 6, or rearwardly as in FIGS. 3 and d of the nextto-be-dispensed sheet 12.

it is thought that the invention and many ofits attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbcfore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

We claim:

1. A skeleton support frame for a generally rectangular dispensing carton, containing a plurality of interfolded, thin, plastic sheets and having a slot in a bottom wall thereof through which the sheets may be serially withdrawn, comprising:

a substantially planar, generally rectangular base, which includes laterally extending means connected to the base for restraining a corner portion of the bottom wall of the dispensing carton from sliding movement rearwardly of the restraining means;

a pair of substantially parallel, elevated, side members, connected to the base;

a top member, connected to the side members and positioned above and substantially parallel to the base; and

a support member, connected to the side members, positioned between the base and the top member and substantially parallel to the base, and spaced from the restraining means so that as the corner portion of the bottom wall of the dispensing carton is restrained from rearward movement by the restraining means, the bottom wall is supported by the support member above the base;

the restraining means being a frame member, a portion of which projects above the plane of the base;

the base including a pair of parallel, lengthwise members, one lengthwise member being forward of and the other being rearward of the restraining means, and a pair of parallel, widthwise members, one widthwise member being located on either lateral side of the restraining means; and

the support member being located between the forward lengthwise member ofthe base and the restraining means.

2. A skeleton support frame for a generally rectangular,

dispensing carton, containing a plurality of interfolded, thin, plastic sheets and having a slot in a bottom wall thereof through which the sheets may be serially withdrawn, comprismg:

the top member being located between the rearward lengthwise member of the base and the restraining means.

3. A skeleton support frame for a generally rectangular,

a substantially planar,-generally rectangular base, which includes laterally extending means connected to the base for restraining a corner portion of the bottom wall of the dispensing carton from sliding movement rearwardly to the restraining means;

a support member, connected to the side members, positioned between the base and the top member and substantially parallel to the base, and spaced from the restraining means so that as the corner portion of the bottom wall of the dispensing carton is restrained from rearward movement by the restraining means, the bottom wall is supported by the support member above the base and the support member is located rearwardly of a forward portion of the slot;

said support member including a forwardly projecting member, substantially parallel to the base.

4. A frame as claimed in claim 3 wherein the projecting member is integral with the supporting member.

5. A frame as claimed in claim 3 wherein the projecting member is an angled member, the legs of the angled member being connected to the supporting member.

6. A skeleton support frame for a generally rectangular, dispensing carton having a predetermined width, containing a plurality of interfolded, thin, plastic sheets, and having a slot in a predetermined location in the bottom wall thereof through which the sheets may be serially withdrawn, comprismg: a

a top member, connected to the side members, positioned above and substantially parallel to the base, and spaced from the base by the width of the carton; and

a support member, connected to the side members, positione'd between the base and the top member and substantially parallel to the base, and spaced from the restraining means so that as the corner portion of the bottom wall of the dispensing carton is restrained from rearward movement by the restraining means, the bottom wall is supported by the support member above the base and the supportmember is located rearwardly of a forward portion of the slot.

7. A frame, as claimed in claim 6, wherein the base is further provided with means for hanging the base in a vertical position, the base including a loop integral with the base, and a grommet provided in and about the loop.

Claims

1. A skeleton support frame for a generally rectangular dispensing carton, containing a plurality of interfolded, thin, plastic sheets and having a slot in a bottom wall thereof through which the sheets may be serially withdrawn, comprising: a substantially planar, generally rectangular base, which includes laterally extending means connected to the base for restraining a corner portion of the bottom wall of the dispensing carton from sliding movement rearwardly of the restraining means; a pair of substantially parallel, elevated, side members, connected to the base; a top member, connected to the side members and positioned above and substantially parallel to the base; and a support member, connected to the side members, positioned between the base and the top member and substantially parallel to the base, and spaced from the restraining means so that as the corner portion of the bottom wall of the dispensing carton is restrained from rearward movement by the restraining means, the bottom wall is supported by the support member above the base; the restraining means being a frame member, a portion of which projects above the plane of the base; the base including a pair of parallel, lengthwise members, one lengthwise member being forward of and the other being rearward of the restraining means, and a pair of parallel, widthwise members, one widthwise member being located on either lateral side of the restraining means; and the support member being located between the forward lengthwise member of the base and the restraining means.

2. A skeleton support frame for a generally rectangular, dispensing carton, containing a plurality of interfolded, thin, plastic sheets and having a slot in a bottom wall thereof through which the sheets may be serially withdrawn, comprising: a substantially planar, generally rectangular base, which includes laterally extending means connected to the base for restraining a corner portion of the bottom wall of the dispensing carton from sliding movement rearwardly of the restraining means; a pair of substantially parallel, elevated, side members, connected to the base; a top member, connected to the side members and positioned above and substantially parallel to the base; and a support member, connected to the side members, positioned between the base and the top member and substantially parallel to the base, and spaced from the restraining means so that as the corner portion of the bottom wall of the dispensing carton is restrained from rearward movement by the restraining means, the bottom wall is supported by the support member above the base; the base including a pair of parallel, lengthwise members, one lengthwise member being forward of and the other being rearward of the restraining means, and a pair of parallel, widthwise members, one widthwise member being located on either lateral side of the restraining means; and the top member being located between the rearward lengthwise member of the base and the restraining means.

3. A skeleton support frame for a generally rectangular, dispensing carton, containing a plurality of interfolded, thin, plastic sheets and having a slot in a bottom wall thereof through which the sheets may be serially withdrawn, comprising: a sUbstantially planar, generally rectangular base, which includes laterally extending means connected to the base for restraining a corner portion of the bottom wall of the dispensing carton from sliding movement rearwardly to the restraining means; a pair of substantially parallel, elevated, side members, connected to the base; a top member, connected to the side members and positioned above and substantially parallel to the base; and a support member, connected to the side members, positioned between the base and the top member and substantially parallel to the base, and spaced from the restraining means so that as the corner portion of the bottom wall of the dispensing carton is restrained from rearward movement by the restraining means, the bottom wall is supported by the support member above the base and the support member is located rearwardly of a forward portion of the slot; said support member including a forwardly projecting member, substantially parallel to the base.

6. A skeleton support frame for a generally rectangular, dispensing carton having a predetermined width, containing a plurality of interfolded, thin, plastic sheets, and having a slot in a predetermined location in the bottom wall thereof through which the sheets may be serially withdrawn, comprising: a substantially planar, generally rectangular base, which includes laterally extending means connected to the base for restraining a corner portion of the bottom wall of the dispensing carton from sliding movement rearwardly of the restraining means; a pair of substantially parallel, elevated, side members, connected to the base; a top member, connected to the side members, positioned above and substantially parallel to the base, and spaced from the base by the width of the carton; and a support member, connected to the side members, positioned between the base and the top member and substantially parallel to the base, and spaced from the restraining means so that as the corner portion of the bottom wall of the dispensing carton is restrained from rearward movement by the restraining means, the bottom wall is supported by the support member above the base and the support member is located rearwardly of a forward portion of the slot.