US3741462A

US3741462A - Container for hermetic compressor

Info

Publication number: US3741462A
Application number: US00156871A
Authority: US
Inventors: M Flint; P Contegni
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Stone Container Corp
Priority date: 1971-06-25
Filing date: 1971-06-25
Publication date: 1973-06-26
Anticipated expiration: 1990-06-26

Abstract

This disclosure relates to a novel container blank adapted to be set up into a container in which is to be packaged a hermetic compressor, the blank including bottom, side, end and cover panels, fold line means for effecting relative movement of the panels to a set-up position defining the closed container, and at least two other panels outboard of the first-mentioned panels which are readily removable therefrom, one of these panels having an opening adapted to receive a portion of a packaged article, such as the compressor heretofore noted, and the other being twice folded to form a cushioning component. The container blank additionally preferably includes a pair of reinforcing panels joined one each to opposite sides of the bottom panel and defining three reinforcing panel portions with two of the terminal panel portions meeting in line contact at approximately the midpoint of the bottom panel with the two remaining reinforcing panel portions being in upright relationship at opposite corners of the container whereby these corners and the bottom of the container are adequately reinforced to prevent inadvertent and/or accidental damage during storage or shipment.

Description

United States Patent [191 Flint et al.

[ CONTAINER FOR HERMETIC COMPRESSOR [75] Inventors: Milford G. Flint, Kirkville; Paul C.

Contegni, Solvay, both of NY.

[73] Assignee: Continental Can Company, Inc.,

New York, NY.

[22] Filed: June 25, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 156,871

[52] us. c|..'... 229/16 R, 206/46 M [51] int. Cl 865d 5/18 [58] Field of Search 229/16 R, 30, 33, 229/34 R, 34 B Re iere'ncesCited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,388,006 ,8/1921 Srofe 229/34 R 685,977 ll/l90l Dicker- 229/34 R X Primary Examiner-Donald Norton A ttorney Charles J. Diller, Vincent L. Ramik et al.

571 ABSTRACT This disclosure relates to a novel container blank sun-r.

[ June 26, 1973 adapted to be set up into a container in which is to be packaged a hermetic compressor, the blank including bottom, side, end and cover panels, fold line means for effecting relative movement of the panels to a set-up position defining the closed container, and at least two other panels outboard of the first-mentioned panels which are readily removable therefrom, one of these panels having an opening adapted to receive a portion of a packaged article, such as the compressor heretofore noted, and the other being twice folded to form a cushioning component. The container blank'additionally preferably includes a pair of reinforcing panels joined one each to opposite sides of the bottom panel and defining three reinforcing panel portions with two 1 of the terminal panel portions meeting in line contact at approximately the midpoint of the bottom panel with the two remaining reinforcing panel portions being in upright relationship at opposite corners of the container whereby these corners and the bottom of the container are adequately reinforced to prevent inadvertent and/or accidental damage during storage or shipment.

19 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures WWW PATENTEDJIJIIZB I975 INVENWRS MWFDRD G. FUNT Er PM". CCHNTEGNI M'TBENEYS CONTAINER FOR HERMETIC COMPRESSOR A primary object of this invention is to provide a novel container blank preferably, though not necessarily, constructed from corrugated board which is of a relatively simple construction, is formed with a minimum-of waste, and is readily set-up incident to packaging an article therein, the blank including a bottom panel, pairs of side, end and reinforcing panels, and a cover panel to which is joined two other panels, one of which has an opening adapted to receive a portion of the package article, and the other having at least a single fold line defining a pair of panel portions which are adapted to be overfolded upon each other to form a cushioning insert which is normally housed between the packaged article and the container cover panel.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel container blank of the type aforesaid wherein each of the reinforcing panels is divided by a pair of fold lines into three reinforcing panel portions, and the reinforcing panel portions are folded in such a manner as termina] reinforcing panel portions thereof overlie the bottom panel whereas remaining two panel portions of each reinforcing panel are in vertical upstanding relationship to the bottom panel thereby reinforcing corners of the container.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a novel container blank, as well as a container formed therefrom, constructed in accordance with the objects heretofore set forth including the provision of two pairs of end panels,- and means'for interlockingly securing I each pair of end panels to eachother to maintain the container body configuration in the set*up condition thereof.

With the above andother objects in view that will hereinafter appear, the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by reference to the following detailed description, the appended claims and the several views illustrated in the accompanying drawings:

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a container blank constructed in accordance with this invention, and illustrates bottom, side, end and cover panels, with two additional panels being carried by but separable from the cover panel and with the reinforcing panels being each divided by a pair of fold lines into three reinforcing panel portions.

- FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of a container constructed from the blank of FIG. 1, with parts broken away and removed for clarity, and illustrates the manner in which the two outboard panels secured to the cover panel have been removed and positioned within the container, as well as the manner of folding the reinforcing panels.

FIG. 3 is a slightly enlarged sectional view taken generally along line 33 of FIG. 2, and illustratesthe manner in which the container is reinforced at one of its corners by one of the reinforcing panels. FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken generally along line 4-4 of FIG. 3, and more clearly illustrates the reinforced corner of FIG. 3 and the manner in which two end panels are held together by the construction of hand holes thereof to maintain the desired container configuration.

' FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken generally along line 5-5 of FIG. 4, and illustrates the manner in which'one of the apertured panels is positioned atop terminal ones of the reinforcing panel portions with the aperture thereof serving to receive a portion of the package article.

Reference is first made to FIG. 1 of the drawings which illustrates a container blank, generally designated by the reference numeral 10, constructed in accordance with this invention which is preferably, though not necessarily constructed from corrugated board or similar material which may be readily folded to form a container (FIG. 2) therefrom.

The container blank 10 is of a generally rectangular though somewhat irregular outline set-off by irregular longitudinal edges 11,12, irregular transverse edge 13, and an opposite transverse edge 14.

A generally polygonally shaped bottom panel 16 is set-off between a first pair of

fold lines

17,18 and a second pair of

fold lines

20,21. The

fold lines

17,18 and 20,21 are, of course, in generally spaced parallel relationship with respect to each other.

A first side panel 22 is joined to the bottom panel 16 along the fold line 18 and is set-off by the fold line 18,

a portion of the transverse edge 14, and a pair of spaced generally

parallel fold lines

23,24.

A second side panel 25 is joined to the bottom panel 16 by the fold line 17, and is set-off by the fold line 17, an opposite parallel fold line 26, and a pair of spaced parallel longitudinally extending fold lines 27,28.

To one side of the bottom panel 16 and joined to the

side panels

22,25 by the respective fold lines 24,28 are

respective end panels

30,31. Likewise, at an opposite side of the bottom panel 16 and joined to the

side panels

22,25 along the respective fold lines 23,27 oranother pair of

end panels

32,33, respectively.

The end panel is defined by the fold line 24, a portion of the transverse edge 14, a'portion of the transverse edge 12, and an edge 34. A generally oval-shaped hand-receiving opening is formed in the end panel 30 approximately midway between the edge 12 and the fold line 24.

In much the same manner, the end panel 32 is set-off bya portion of the longitudinal edge 11, a portion of the transverse edge 14, the fold line 23, and an edge 36. The end panel 32 is also provided with a generally ovalshape hand-receiving opening 38 located midway between the edge 11 and the fold line 23, and in transverse alignment with the hand-receiving opening 35 of the end panel 30.

The end panel 31 is set-off by the fold line 20, and edge 40, a portion of the longitudinal edge 12, acut-out area or slot 41 and a weakened line 42 defined by a plurality of cuts through thematerial of the'blank 10 which are generally designated by the reference numeral 43 and short bridging or connecting portions of unsevered material 44 therebetween. A generally oval shaped flap 45 is joined to the end panel 31 along a fold line 46 with the flap being deflectable along the fold line 46 to form a hand-receiving opening 47 which aligns and interlocks with the hand-receiving opening 35 of the end panel 30 in a manner which will be de scribed more fully hereafter.

The end panel 33 is likewise set-off by the fold line 27, an edge 48, a portion of the longitudinal edge 11, and an elongated transverse slot 50. Likewise, a flap $1 of a generally oval-shaped configuration is joined to the end panel 33 along a fold line 52, and when deflected forms a hand-receiving opening 53 alignable and interlockable with the hand-receiving opening 38 of the end panel 32.

A reinforcing panel generally designated by the reference numeral 54 is disposed between the

end panels

30,31 and is joined to the bottom panel along the fold line 21. Likewise, another reinforcing panel 55 is disposed between the

end panels

32,33, and is joined to the bottom panel 16 along the fold line 20.

The reinforcing panel 54 is set-off by the

edges

34, 40, a portion of the longitudinal edge 12, and the fold line 21. The reinforcing panel 54 also includes a pair of spaced weakening

lines

56,57 in the form of alternating slits 58, and bridging portions 60 thereby setting off three generally rectangular reinforcing

panel portions

61,62 and 63.

The reinforcing panel 55 is set-off between the edges 36,48, a portion of the edge 11, and the fold line 20. A pair of weakening

lines

64,65 in the form of alternating slits 66 and bridging portions 67 set-off three reinforcing

panel portions

71, 72 and 73.

A cover panel 74 is joined to the side panel 25 along the fold line 26 and is set-off by the fold line 26, a portion of the slot 50, a weakening line 75 identical to the weakening line 42, a slot 76, a portion of the edge 11, a portion of the transverse edge 13, an edge 77, a weakening line 78 identical in construction to the weakening lines 42, 75, and a portion of the slot 41. The cover panel 74 includes a generally rectangular central or top panel portion 80 set-off by the fold line 26, a fold line 81 in spaced parallel relationship thereto, and a pair of spaced parallel longitudinal fold lines 82,83. Three peripheral cover flaps 84,85 and 86 are joined to the top panel 80 along the

respective fold lines

81,82 and 83. The cover flap 84 is set-off by the fold line 81, a portion of the transverse edge 13, and a pair of short

longitudinal fold lines

87,88.

Cover tabs

90,91 are joined to the peripheral cover flap 84 by the

respective fold lines

87,88. The peripheral cover flap 85 is set-off by portions of the

slots

50,76, the fold line 82 and the weakening line 75. The peripheral cover flap 86 is set off by the fold line 83, and slot 41, the weakening line 78 and a slot 92.

Two

other panels

93,94 complete the construction of the container blank and each is adapted to be removed from the remaining panels of the blank 10 heretofore described incident to the setting-up thereof to form the container 15, as will be more apparent hereinafter.

The panel 93 is of a generally rectangular configuration and is set-off by the weakening line 75, a portion of the slot 50, a portion of the longitudinal edge 11, and a portion of the transverse edge 13 which is interrupted to form an outwardly opening generally C-shaped slot 95. A generally circular opening or aperture 96 is formed in the panel 93 with its axis located midway between the weakening line 75 and the edge 11.

The other panel 94 is set-off by the cut line 77, the weakening line 78, the weakening line 42, and portions of the edges 12,13. The panel 94 is further divided into three panel portions 97 through 99 by a pair of spaced parallel fold lines 100,104 which are interrupted intermediately thereof by relatively long cuts or

slits

102, 103.

While the blank 10 can be manipulated in different ways to form the container 15, is preferable prior to the setting-up thereof to first remove the panel 93 by severing the same along the weakening line 75 which is ac- 4 complished simply by grasping and pulling the panel 93 to rupture the minor bridging portions (unnumbered) between the panel 93 and the peripheral cover flap 85. Likewise, it is also preferable to remove the panel 94 by severing the same along the weakening line 42 and the like constructed weakening line 78.

After the

panels

93,94 have been removed the reinforcing panel portions 71 through 73 and 61 through 63 are folded about the

respective fold lines

65,64,20 and 57,56,21 to the configuration best over-all illustrated in FIG. 2, it being noted that the panel portions 72,73 are in vertical relationship, as are the

panels

62,63, with the

panel portions

61,71 being in parallel overlying relationship to the bottom panel 16 and in edge-to-edge opposing relationship along a center line of the bottom panel 16, as best shown in FIG. 5.

Thereafter, the

side panels

22,25 are folded upwardly about the

fold lines

18,17 after which the

end panels

30,32 are folded inwardly about the

fold lines

24,23. Thereafter, the

end panels

31,33 are folded about the fold lines 28,27 bringing the

end panels

31,33 into exterior overlapping relationship to the

respective end panels

30,32. By pushing the

flaps

45,51 inwardly into the respective hand-receiving

openings

35,38 of the

end panels

30,32, as is best illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the

end panels

30,31 and 32,33 are interlocked to prevent the container from collapsing and to thus maintain its generally cubic configuration.

The earlier removed panel 93 is then inserted into the container 15 atop the reinforcing

panel portions

61,71, as is best illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 5. Thus, upon the insertion of the panel 93, it is to be noted that two sides of the container 15 are reinforced adjacent the bottom corners (unnumbered) thereof by four plies of material, namely, the

end panels

30,31 and the reinforcing

panel portions

62,63 at one side of the container 15 and the

end panels

32,33 and the reinforcing panel portions 72, 73 at the opposite side of the container. Moreover, the over-all bottom construction of the container 15 is of a three ply reinforced construction defined by the bottom panel 16, the reinforcing

panel portion

61,71, and the panel 93.

At this time an article A, which in the present case is a hermetic compressor, is inserted into the container in the manner partially illustrated in FIG. 2. The compressor A includes a bottom portion (not shown) which is of a circular configuration and thus is snugly received in the opening 96.

The earlier removed panel 94 is folded upon itself, as best shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, and is placed atop the article or compressor A. Thereafter, the peripheral cover flaps 84,85 and 86 are folded about the fold lines 81,82,83, respectively, until they are generally normal to the top panel 80, after which the

flaps

90,91 are folded about the fold lines 87,88 and are stapled or otherwise secured to the respective flaps 85,86, as is best shown in FIG. 2. The container C is then closed by simply pivoting the cover panel.74 about the fold line 27 to the position shown in FIG. 2 after which a fastening band B is applied to the container 15 as best shown in FIG. 2. As is best illustrated in the latter-mentioned Figure, the folded panel 94 serves as a cushion or filler member to assure that the compressor A is snugly held between the top panel and the bottom of the container and will thereby resist shifting, etc. during transport.

While the container and the blank 10 have been described in a preferred embodiment thereof, it is to be the manufacture of the blank 10.

Likewise, the

end panels

30,32 or 31,33 need not be of the full width of the container as defined by the length of the fold lines 20,21. For example, the

end panels

30,32 could project respectfully below and above the fold lines 24,23, as viewed in FIG. 1, an appreciably short distance to form short tabs which could be stapled to the

respective end panels

31,33, thereby reducing the material involved in the construction of the blank 10 although at the same time decreasing the strength thereof and eliminating the locking achieved by the reception of the

flaps

45,51 into the respective hand-receiving

openings

35,38.

While the preferred forms and arrangements of parts have been shown in illustrating the invention, it is to be clearly understood that various changes in details and arrangements of parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure.

We claim: g

1. A container blank comprising means for defining bottom, side, end and cover panels, fold line means for effecting relative movement of said panels to a set-up position defining a closed container, two other panels outboard of said first-mentioned panels, and means for facilitating the severable removal of said other panels from the remainder of said blank whereby said other panels maybe employed as inserts for said container.

2. The container blank as defined in claim 1 wherein one of said other panels has an opening adapted to' receive a portion of an article housed within the con-- tainer.-

3. The container blank as defined in claim 2 wherein said one panel is joined to said cover panel.

4. The container blank as defined in claim 1 wherein one of said other panels has at least a single fold line defining'at' least a pair of panel portions adapted to be overfolded upon each other when housed within the container. 1

5. The container blank as defined in claim 4 wherein said one panel is joined to said cover panel.

6. The container blank as defined in claim 1 wherein one of said other. panels has an opening adapted to receive a portion of an article housed within the container, and a second of said, other panels has at least a single fold line defining at least a pair of panel portions adapted to be overloaded upon each other when housed within the container.

7. The container blank as defined in claim 6 wherein said one and second panels are joined to said cover lines in each pair of reinforcing panels in part defining in each reinforcing panel three relatively foldable rein forcing panel portions.

9. The container blank as defined in claim 8 wherein one of said other panels has an opening adapted to receive a portion of an article housed within the container.

10. The container blank as defined in claim 9 wherein said one panel is joined to said cover panel.

11. The container blank as defined in claim 8 wherein one of said other panels has at least a single fold line defining at least a pair of panel portions adapted to be overloaded upon each other when housed within the container.

12. The container blank as defined in claim 11 wherein said one panel is joined to said cover panel.

13. The container blank as defined in claim 1 wherein one of said other panels has an opening adapted to receive a portion of an article housed within the container, and a second of said other panels has at least a single fold line defining at least a pair of panel portions adapted to be overfolded upon each other when housed within the container.

14. A container comprising a container body defined 1 by a bottom panel, a pair of upstanding side panels and a pair of upstanding end panels, at least a single reinforcing panel joined by a first fold line'to said bottom panel, said single reinforcing panel including at least a second fold line dividing said reinforcing panel into first and second reinforcing panel portions, said first and second reinforcing panel portions being folded about said second fold line into side-by-side relationship to each other and in upstanding relationship to said bottom panel, and a separate apertured insert panel in superimposed relationship to said bottom panel.

15. The container as defined in claim14 including a pair of reinforcing panels joined one each to opposite sides of said bottom panel, and a separate twice folded insert panel in superimposed relationship to said bottom panel.

16. The container as defined in claim 15 including a third fold line in part defining a third reinforcing panel portion with a terminal edge of said reinforcing panel, said third reinforcing panel being folded about said third fold line into overlying relationship to said bottom I panel, and said twice folded insert panel is in spaced relationship to said bottom panel and adjacent a cover panel of said container body.

17. The container as defined in claim 14 including a third fold line in part defining a third reinforcing panel portion with a terminal edge of said reinforcing panel, said third reinforcing panel being folded about said third fold line into overlying relationship to said bottom panel, and said separate apertured insert panel is also in superimposed relationship to said third reinforcing panel.

18. The container as defined in claim 14 including an article housed within said container body and having a portion received'in said apertured insert panel.

19. The container as defined in claim 14 including a separate twice folded insert panel in superimposed re-

Claims

1. A container blank comprising means for defining bottom, side, end and cover panels, fold line means for effecting relative movement of said panels to a set-up position defining a closed container, two other panels outboard of said first-mentioned panels, and means for facilitating the severable removal of said other panels from the remainder of said blank whereby said other panels may be employed as inserts for said container.

2. The container blank as defined in claim 1 wherein one of said other panels has an opening adapted to receive a portion of an article housed within the container.

4. The container blank as defined in claim 1 wherein one of said other panels has at least a single fold line defining at least a pair of panel portions adapted to be overfolded upon each other when housed within the container.

6. The container blank as defined in claim 1 wherein one of said other panels has an opening adapted to receive a portion of an article housed within the container, and a second of said other panels has at least a single fold line defining at least a pair of panel portions adapted to be overloaded upon each other when housed within the container.

7. The container blank as defined in claim 6 wherein said one and second panels are joined to said cover panel.

8. The container blank as defined in claim 1 including a pair of reinforcing panels joined one each to opposite sides of said bottom panel, and a pair of fold lines in each pair of reinforcing panels in part defining in each reinforcing panel three relatively foldable reinforcing panel portions.

13. The container blank as defined in claim 8 wherein one of said other panels has an opening adapted to receive a portion of an article housed within the container, and a second of said other panels has at least a single fold line defining at least a pair of panel portions adapted to be overfolded upon each other when housed within the container.

14. A container comprising a container body defined by a bottom panel, a pair of upstanding side panels and a pair of upstanding end panels, at least a single reinforcing panel joined by a first fold line to said bottom panel, said single reinforcing panel including at least a second fold line dividing said reinforcing panel into first and second reinforcing panel portions, said first and second reinforcing panel portions being folded about said second fold line into side-by-side relationship to each other and in upstanding relaTionship to said bottom panel, and a separate apertured insert panel in superimposed relationship to said bottom panel.

15. The container as defined in claim 14 including a pair of reinforcing panels joined one each to opposite sides of said bottom panel, and a separate twice folded insert panel in superimposed relationship to said bottom panel.

16. The container as defined in claim 15 including a third fold line in part defining a third reinforcing panel portion with a terminal edge of said reinforcing panel, said third reinforcing panel being folded about said third fold line into overlying relationship to said bottom panel, and said twice folded insert panel is in spaced relationship to said bottom panel and adjacent a cover panel of said container body.

18. The container as defined in claim 14 including an article housed within said container body and having a portion received in said apertured insert panel.

19. The container as defined in claim 14 including a separate twice folded insert panel in superimposed relationship to said bottom panel, an article in said container body, said article being sandwiched between said insert panels with a portion thereof being received in said apertured insert panel.