US3680688A

US3680688A - Bathtub wrapper structure

Info

Publication number: US3680688A
Application number: US101474A
Authority: US
Inventors: Richard K Smith
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1970-12-28
Filing date: 1970-12-28
Publication date: 1972-08-01
Anticipated expiration: 1989-08-01
Also published as: CA957335A

Abstract

A bathtub wrapper structure and end panel therefor in which the end panel consists of two or more layers of paperboard or the like in side-by-side relation. The sections are joined to one another by a hinge means which permits the sections to be folded in such a manner as to adapt the end panel for use at either end of the bathtub wrapper. One section may be shorter than the other and form a recessed upper edge for engaging the upper flange of the tub and supporting the tub in the wrapper structure. Tabs may be provided on the front edge of one or more of the panel sections and on the upper edge of one of the sections for forming cushions along the front and the top of the tub.

Description

United States Patent Smith [451 Aug. 1,1972

[54] BATHTUB WRAPPER STRUCTURE [72] Inventor: Richard K. Smith, 4150-35 Ridge Rd., Benton Harbor, Mich. 49127 22 Filed: Dec. 28, 1970 21 Appl.No.:101,474

52 us. Cl. ...206/46 H [51] Int. Cl. ..B65d 85/00 [58] Field of Search ..206/46 H, 46 FN; 229/23 R, 229/37 E [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,932,438 4/ 1960 Smith ..206/46 FN X 3,099,351 7/ 1 963 Coffey, Jr. ..206/46 H 3,289,825 12/1966 Smith ..206/46 H 3,386,567 6/1968 Smith ..206/46 H 3,486,612 12/ l 969 Kivell ..206/46 H Smith ..206/46 H Primary Examiner--M. Henson Wood, Jr.

Assistant Examiner-Thomas C. Culp, Jr. Attorney-Hobbs & Green and Kemon, Palmer & Estabrook [5 7] ABSTRACT A bathtub wrapper structure and end panel therefor in which the end panel consists of two or more layers of paperboard or the like in side-by-side relation. The sections are joined to one another by a hinge means which permits the sections to be folded in such a manner as to adapt the end panel for use at either end of the bathtub wrapper. One section may be shorter than the other and form a recessed upper edge for engaging the upper flange of the tub and supporting the tub in the wrapper structure. Tabs may be provided on the front edge of one or more of the panel sections and on the upper edge of one of the sections for forming cushions along the front and the top of the tub.

14 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures PAIENTEDAuc" 1 m2 3.680.688

sum 1 or 4 [.NVENTOR. RICH/7RD K. SMITH I: llitlllIl Iil l ATTORNEYS PAIENTEDwc 1 m2 sum 2 or 4 Hill? INVENTOR. RICHARD K. SM/T I j I ATTORNEYS- BATHTUB WRAPPER STRUCTURE Paperboard wrappers have been extensively used for packaging and shipping of bathtubs and have generally been satisfactory in withstanding normal handling; however, the early shipping wrappers sometimes lacked adequate strength for heavy tubs, such as those made of cast iron, to permit stacking of the wrapped tubs, particularly when they were stacked several high and/or stood on end. In order to overcome the deficiencies of the simple wrappers, various structures have been used to reinforce the wrappers, such as several layers or folds of the same material as the wrappers. A more recent development has involved the use of wood reinforcing members forming generally a configuration corresponding to the transverse cross-section of the tub. These wooden reinforcing structures, such as those disclosed and claimed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,521,744, have given satisfactory performance; however, they have been rather expensive and inconvenient to use, store and handle, and have required a separate panel or insert for closing the end within the reinforcing structure. Further, separate pads or cushions of paperboard have often been required in order to protect the ends, edges and comers of the packaged tub. It is therefore one of the principal objects of the present invention to provide a bathtub wrapper structure having essentially solid paperboard end members which are so constructed and designed that they can be used equally as well at either end of the tub, and which include a single structure the features which give support and protection to the tub and rigidity and strength to the final wrapper structure.

Another object of the invention is to provide an end panel for bathtub wrappers which is constructed of multiple layers of paperboard, one of which is designed and constructed to support the adjacent end of the tub and the other of which forms the outside wall of the panel, regardless of on which end the panel is used in the wrapper package.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a bathtub wrapper end panel having integral tabs forming padding for the one or more edges on the end of the tub which can be folded in either one of two directions to adapt the padding to either end of the tub wrapper, and which can be varied during fabrication to adapt the ends to different tub construction and design and to different types of wrappers.

A further object is to provide a bathtub wrapper and end panel therefor which fully encloses and protects the end of the tub and provides an effective hand slot for assisting in lifting and moving the packaged tub, and the end panel of which is easily fabricated, stored and used, and gives maximum protection with a minimum of weight.

Additional objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. I is a perspective view of a wrapper and tub, showing the tub in a partially wrapped condition;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, vertical cross sectional view taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of one end of the tub wrapper, in which the panel is shown in the position in which it is cut from paperboard material;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of another embodiment of the end panel, showing it in the same position as the one shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a vertical cross sectional view through a portion of a tub and the end panel of FIG. 4 in its folded position;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of an end panel showing a further modified form embodying the present concept;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a modified end panel similar to that shown in FIG. 6, illustrating a further modification;

FIG. 8 is another view of a tub and wrapper, illustrating the manner in which the end panel of FIG. 6 is utilized in the package structure;

FIG. 9 is a transverse vertical cross sectional view of the wrapper and tub illustrated in FIG. 8, the section being taken on line 9-9 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary vertical cross sectional view of the tub and wrapper structure shown in FIG. 9, the section being taken on line 10-10 of the latter figure; and

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary elevational view showing an end panel support structure.

Referring more specifically to the drawings and to FIG. 1 in particular, numeral 10 designates generally a conventional bathtub, 12 a wrapper body portion having top and

bottom panels

14 and 16, and

side panels

18 and 20, the four sides being connected to form a single sheet which reaches fully around the tub. The tub l0, ready for inclosure by the wrapper, as illustrated in the drawings, consists of a body portion 22, front apron 24, and

ends

26 and 27, the tub being considered conventional in construction and normally formed of sheet metal or cast iron and covered with porcelain, enamel or other protective and decorative finish on the front of apron 24, on the inside surface of the body, and along the upper peripheral surfaces thereof. The tub shown in the drawings is of the type normally used for homes, motels, hotels, and mobile homes. The wrapper body is placed around the tub and secured by securing tab 28 on panel 18 to the margin of panel 14.

The end edges of the panels forming the wrapper are provided with tabs 29 which fold inwardly when the wrapper is secured in place, as will be more fully described hereinafter. A score line is preferably provided throughout substantially the full length of the line of juncture between panels and between the tabs on the respective panels, in order to facilitate folding on the desired line.

The end panels, such as those illustrated at

numerals

30 and 32 in FIG. 1, are shown in their cut and unfolded positions in FIGS. 3, 4, 6 and 7. In the use of the end panel of FIG. 3,

sections

34 and 36 are folded along score line or cut 38, placing the backs of the two panels in contact with one another. In this embodiment panel section 34 is somewhat narrower than panel 36, thereby providing a recessed upper edge as illustrated in FIG. 2. The panel is assembled in the manner illustrated in FIG. 1, with the folded portion at the bottom and the upper edge of panel 34 on the inside so that the upper edge 40 thereof will engage the underside of flange 42 and support the respective end of the tub. The type of cut 38 shown provides

integral hinges

43 and 44 so that the two panels may be folded easily in either direction toward one another to adapt the panel to either end as illustrated in FIG. 2. After the panel has been assembled at the end of the tub, tab 46 is folded inwardly over the tub apron to protect the front face of the apron and respective edges thereof, the tab 46 being connected tosection 36 by

hinges

48 and 50 to permit the tab to be easily folded inwardly regardless of the end on which the panel is used. In order to facilitate handling of the tub, hand slots 52 formed by openings 54 and

56in sections

34 and 36 are preferably provided.

The panel illustrated in FIG. 4 is similar to that shown in FIG. 3, and hence like numerals will be used for like parts; however, in FIG. 4 the panel is provided with a third section 60 which forms a double end wall panel for giving additional strength to the wrapper to permit stacking of the wrapped tub without any likelihood of the packages collapsing and perhaps the tub being damaged. Section 60 is connected to the long edge 62 of section 36 by

hinges

64 and 66, the two integral hinges permitting section 60 to fold in either direction to adapt the panel to either end of the tub in themanner previously described herein.

The panel shown in FIG. 6, while similar to those shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, contains in addition a plurality of

tabs

71, 72, 73 and74 connected at score lines 75 to one another and to section 76 at score line or cut 78. Section 76 is likewise connected to section 80 at a score line 82 which may be in the form illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, consisting of a plurality of hinges with intervening cut portions. Section 76 is provided with a tab 84 which can be folded in either direction over the apron depending upon which" end of the tub the wrapper is used on. The embodiment illustrated in FIG. 7 is similar to that shown in FIG. 6 with the exception that a second tab 86 is provided for folding over tab 84, thus giving a double thickness cushion for protection the tub apron and adjacent corners. The manner in which the

tabs

71, 72,- 73 and 74 are used is illustrated in FIGS. 8, 9 and in which the tabs are shown folded one upon the other to form a cushion structure 90. This cushion protects'the upper edge of the tub and gives additional strength to the edges of the wrapper at the opposite ends of the tub and at the respective corners. The number of tabs'which form cushion 90 may be varied. to satisfy requirements.

Sections

76 and 80 of the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7 contain

openings

92 and 94 for forming a hand slot 96 in each of the end panels, and along with the tabs, can be folded in either direction toadapt the end panels to either end of the tub wrapper. In the use of the present wrapper and the new end panel construction, the body portion of the wrapper is laid flat on a supporting surface and the tub is placed thereon in the manner illustrated in' FIGS. 1 and 8, and the end panels of any one of the embodiments illustrated herein are then inserted "side surface of

end panels

30 and 32 and are secured thereto by staples or other suitable securing means.

'When the tabs are secured in place in the manner just described, a firm package is provided for the tub, which tub in the package to prevent it from being damaged by the weight of other tub packages thereon.

In order to give the lower comer of the end support to prevent it from being pushed inwardly, an abutment formed by a tab 100 is formed by

cuts

102 and 104, shown best in FIG. 11. The intervening piece is pushed inwardly to form the tab abutment. Thus the end panel has solid support at all four corners, i.e. three supported by the end of the tub flanges and the fourth supported by tab 100.

The body portion and end panels are preferably constructed of paperboard of the corrugated type, although other materials may be used. The package with end panels constructed of the double or triple paperboard sections is: adequately strong to permit stacking of several tubs or placing the tubs on end for storage and shipping. The hinges between the panel sections may be omitted and the sections joined by any other suitable means to provide either the two or three layer end panels.

While a number of embodiments of end panels for tub wrappers have been described in I detail herein, other modifications and variations may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

I claim: 1

1. In a bathtub wrapperstructure having a body portion with panels for the top, bottom and two sides: an end panel comprising two sections of substantially the size of the openings at the ends of the body portion,

hinge means along one edge of said sections connecting the sections together for folding to a side-by-side relation in either direction to adapt said end panel to either end ofthe body portion.

2. An end panel for a bathtub wrapper as defined in claim 1 in which said hinge means is disposed along the bottom edge of the two panels, and one of said panels is shorter than the other in the vertical direction to provide an upper edge for engaging a flange on the bathtub to give support to the tub in the complete wrapper structure. 1 p

3. A panel for a bathtub wrapper as defined in claim 1 in which a tab is provided along the front edge of one of said sections, and hinge means connects said tab to said one section to permit the tab to fold inwardly over the front of the bathtub.

4. An end panel as defined in claim 2-in which a tab is connected to the front edge of the taller of the two sections, and hinge means connects said tab to said taller section for folding the tab inwardly along the front of the tub to form a pad therefor.

5. An end panel as defined in claim 1 in which a third section is joined to one of said first two sections, and hinge means connects said first section to said one section for folding along the side thereof to form an end panel of triple thickness.

6. An end panel as defined in claim 2 in which a third panel section is connected to the taller of said first two sections and is foldable along the side of said taller section to form a panel having a triple wall thickness.

7. An end panel for a bathtub wrapper as defined in claim 1 in which a plurality of tabs are connected to the edge of one of said panels opposite the said hinge means, and are foldable to form a cushion along the upper edge of said end wall for protecting the upper marginal surface of the tub in the final wrapper structure.

8. An end panel for a bathtub wrapper as defined in claim 3 in which a tab is provided on the other of said sections along the corresponding edge thereof for forming a double thickness cushion along the front of the tub.

9. An end panel for a bathtub wrapper as defined in claim 4 in which a tab is provided on the shorter of said sections along the edge corresponding to the edge of the taller section on which the tab is located for forming a double thickness cushion along the front of the tub.

10. An end panel for a bathtub wrapper as defined in claim 1 in which said sections are constructed of paperboard.

1 1. An end panel for a bathtub wrapper as defined in claim 1 in which openings are provided in said panels for forming a hand slot in said end panel when it is in its folded position.

12. In a bathtub wrapper structure: a body portion with top, bottom and two side panels, an end panel in each end of said body portion comprising two sections of substantially the size of the openings at the end of the body portion, said sections being joined together in side-by-side relation and tabs on the ends of said top, bottom and side panels of the body portion extending over the edge of the end panels and being secured thereto.

13. A bathtub wrapper as defined in claim 12 in which a reinforcing tab partially severed from the bottom and one side panel and extending inwardly therefrom forms an abutment for one corner at each of said end panels to prevent said comer from being pressed inwardly.

14. A bathtub wrapper as defined in claim 12 in which the inner section of each of said two end panels is shorter than the outer section and is adapted to engage a flange on the bathtub and give support to the tub in the wrapper.

Claims

1. In a bathtub wrapper structure having a body portion with panels for the top, bottom and two sides: an end panel comprising two sections of substantially the size of the openings at the ends of the body portion, hinge means along one edge of said sections connecting the sections together for folding to a sideby-side relation in either direction to adapt said end panel to either end of the body portion.

2. An end panel for a bathtub wrapper as defined in claim 1 in which said hinge means is disposed along the bottom edge of the two panels, and one of said panels is shorter than the other in the vertical direction to provide an upper edge for engaging a flange on the bathtub to give support to the tub in the complete wrapper structure.

4. An end panel as defined in claim 2 in which a tab is connected to the front edge of the taller of the two sections, and hinge means connects said tab to said taller section for folding the tab inwardly along the front of the tub to form a pad therefor.

11. An end panel for a bathtub wrapper as defined in claim 1 in which openings are provided in said panels for forming a hand slot in said end panel when it is in its folded position.

13. A bathtub wrapper as defined in claim 12 in which a reinforcing tab partially severed from the bottom and one side panel and extending inwardly therefrom forms an abutment for one corner at each of said end panels to prevent said corner from being pressed inwardly.