US3829001A

US3829001A - Compartmented box

Info

Publication number: US3829001A
Application number: US00197029A
Authority: US
Inventors: L Wheeler
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1971-11-09
Filing date: 1971-11-09
Publication date: 1974-08-13
Anticipated expiration: 1991-08-13

Abstract

A compartmented box is folded from a one-piece blank to provide a pair of similar box sections, each box section comprising a rectangular base and four upstanding walls integral with the base, the four upstanding walls of each box section including a first end wall defining an end wall of the box, a second end wall hingedly connected along its upper edge to the corresponding wall of the other box section, and a pair of side walls extending between the end walls, said hingedly connected walls being secured in face to face relation and constituting a doublethickness partition defining a pair of adjacent box compartments.

Description

States Patent [191 Ullltfi Wheeler Aug. 13, 1974 1 COMPARTMENTED BOX [22] Filed: Nov. 9, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 197,029

[52] US. Cl. 229/15, 229/27 .[51] Int. Cl .t B6511 3/24, 365d 5/48 [58] Field of Search 229/27, 44 C, 44 B, 15, 229/37 E [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,559,834 ll/1925 Zalkind 229/37 E 1,812,126 6/1931 Walker 229/15 2,006,822 7/1935 Andrews 229/44 CB 3,058,643 10/1962 Wilson 229/15 3,215,332 11/1965 Bess ..229/37RX Primary Examiner-Davis T. Moorhead Attorney, Agent, or FirmRidout & Maybee [57] ABSTRACT A compartmented box is folded from a one-piece blank to provide a pair of similar box sections, each box section comprising a rectangular base and four upstanding walls integral with the base, the four upstanding walls of each box section including a first end wall defining an end wall of the box, a second end wall hingedly connected along its upper edge to the corresponding wall of the other box section, and a pair of side walls extending between the end walls, said hingedly connected walls being secured in face to face relation and constituting a double-thickness partition defining a pair of adjacent box compartments.

2,179,830 ll/l939 Pfundstein et a1. 229/37 E 2,927,721 3/1960 Thatcher 229/27 5 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures COMPARTMENTED BOX This invention relates to boxes, and particularly to a compartmented box capable of being folded from a onepiece blank.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a box of simple construction suitable for the packing of perishable fruits and like commodities which are especially vulnerable to damage during shipment or storage. Another object of the invention is provide a one-piece blan a one-piece blank from which such a box can be constructed using standard equipment.

According to the invention there is provided a compartmented box folded from a one-piece blank and comprising a pair of similar box sections, each box section comprising a rectangular base and four upstanding walls integral with the base, the four upstanding walls of each box section including a first end wall defining an end wall of the box, a second end wall hingedly connected along its upper edge to the corresponding wall of the other box section, and a pair of side walls extending between the end walls, said hingedly connected walls being secured in face to face relation and constituting a double-thickness partition defining a pair of adjacent box compartments.

In order that the invention may be readily understood one embodiment thereof will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a one-piece blank in accordance with the invention for forming a box suitable for packing bananas;

FIG. 2 shows the configuration of a box at one stage of its formation fromthe blank shown in FIG. 1, and

FIG. 3 is a partly broken away perspective view of the completed box with tray lid.

The completed box shown in FIG. 3 is constructed from corrugated cardboard or like material and comprises a pair of similar box sections 10, 11 separated by a partition 12 of double-thickness. Each box section comprises a rectangular, in this case square, base 13 (or 13') with four

upstanding walls

14, 15, 16, 17 (or 14, 15, 16', 17") integral with the base. The

walls

14, 14 from the end walls of the box and are formed with cut out openings 18, 18' which enable the box to be lifted easily and also serve as ventilation openings for the contents of the box. Additional ventilation openings may be provided if necessary. The

side walls

15, 15 and 16, 16' of the box sections provide the sides of the box. The walls 17, 17' are hingedly connected along their common edge 19 and are secured in face to face relation by

complementary locking tabs

20, 20 and slots 21, 21' formed in these walls. The bottom of the box is provided with a peripheral rim 22 surrounding the base of each box section.

It will be seen that the box section bases 13, 13' defining the bottom of the box lie in a common horizontal plane which is spaced from the floor by the depth of the rim 22. The upper edge of the box lies in a second horizontal plane, and each of the

side walls

15, 15', 16, 16'

ing peripheral flange 25 which fits onto the top of the box.

Further features of the box construction will be better appreciated from the following description of the method by which it is formed.

The box blank shown in FIG. 1 is of rectangular shape and is formed with a pair of

longitudinal fold lines

26, 27 defining a medial strip and a pair of edge strips of equal width. The medial strip is divided by three equally spaced

transverse fold lines

28, 29, 30 into four panels of equal width, namely a pair of

end panels

31, 32 and a pair of

intermediate panels

33, 34. A first longitudinal cut 35 bisects the end panel 31, and a second longitudinal cut 36 bisects the end panel 32 and the adjacent intermediate panel 34. The other intermediate panel 33 is bisected by a longitudinal fold line 37 which is aligned with the

longitudinal cuts

35 and 36. The medial strip is extended at one end to provide a glue flap 38, which is in fact bisected by the cut 36. The edge strips are each divided into four rectangular flap members by

transverse cuts

38, 40, 41, and 39', 40', 41, the flap members being hingedly connected to the

panels

31, 32, 33, 34 at the

fold lines

26, 27.

A second pair of

longitudinal fold lines

42, 43 extending along the edge strips providing in each of the flap members a narrow region, such as the region 44, adjacent to the medial strip, and a region, such as the region 45, of greater area. Each of the narrow regions 44 is adapted to provide in the completed box a flange contiguous with the lower edge of a respective upstanding wall and extending upwardly therefrom, the flanges forming the peripheral rim 22 to the base of each box section. The regions 45 are adapted to provide the main support area forming the box bottom as hereinafter described.

The end panel 32 is formed with a pair of openings as shown to provide the

ventilation openings

18, 18 in the completed box. The intermediate panel 33 is formed with a pair of slots 21, 21' and a pair of stamped out

tabs

20, 20 to provide the locking tabs and slots shown in FIG. 3. Each of the

panels

31 and 34 has a cut away area 31', 34 to provide the stepped upper edges of the side walls of the box.

is formed with a stepped upper edge providing a pair of edge portions and an intermediate portion 23. The four intermediate portions 23 lie in a common horizontal plane between said first and second planes, and define a level to which the box may be filled. The lid 24 is a conventional inverted tray shaped lid having a depend- To form the box the rectangular blank is first folded at right angles about the

transverse fold lines

28, 29, 30 and the glue flap 38 is glued or otherwise secured to the opposite end of the medial strip, i.e., to the edge of the panel 31. The resultant configuration is a partially split tube as shown in FIG. 2.

The ends of the tube are formed by the sets of flap members, which are first folded inwards about the

fold lines

26, 27, and then at right angles about the

fold lines

42, 43. Each end of the tube is then closed by superposing one pair of flap members on the other pair and securing the superposed flap members by staples. The

closed ends of the tube are thus adapted to constitute the bottoms of the box sections.

The tube is next folded about the fold line 37 to bring the two ends of the tube into alignment, the two halves of the panel 33 thus being brought into face to face relation and secured together by the locking tabs and

slots

20, 20, 21, 21', to form the partition 12.

The box is particularly well suited for the packing of bananas and other perishable fruits. The construction of the box, which is suitably of corrugated cardboard, is such that a plurality of such boxes can be stacked in a column without damaging the contents since the partitions 12 of the boxes support the greatest part of the load. In this connection it is important to note that the partition 12 is of double thickness, and being integral with the remainder of the box cannot be removed, displaced or readily crushed.

Other important advantages of the box construction may be noted as follows:

i. the steppedupper edges of the box sides define a level to which the box may be filled without the risk that pressure exerted on the lid will be transmitted to the contents of the box;

ii. the locking tabs and slots by which the box sec tions are secured avoid the need for staples or other metal fastenings which might be injurious to the fruit;

iii. the peripheral rim 22 at the bottom of the box enables the bases of the box sections to be inset so that they are cushioned.

iv. the construction is such that the box can be produced on standard cutting, slotting and creasing equipment and handled as any ordinary RSC box; erection and securing are simple and fast, and a box of considerable strength is very economical to produce.

To facilitate stacking and palletizing the box preferably consists of two identical square box sections. If necessary, liners of paper, polyethylene or other suitable materials may be added.

What I claim as my inventionis:

1. A compartmented box folded from a one-piece blank and comprising:

a pair of similar box sections, each box section comprising a rectangular base and four upstanding walls integral with the base,

the base of each box section being formed by four folding flaps constituting integral extensions of the respective upstanding walls, one pair of flaps being superposed on the other pair of flaps and secured thereto,

the four upstanding walls of each box section including a first end wall defining an end wall of the box, a second end wall hingedly connected along its upper edge to the corresponding wall of the other box section, and-a pair of side walls extending between the end walls, said hingedly connected walls being secured in face to face relation and constituting a double-thickness partition defining a pair of adjacent box compartments, and

said rectangular bases lying in a first horizontal plane and defining the box bottom, the upper edges of the end walls lying in a second horizontal plane spaced a predetermined distance from the first plane, each of said side walls having a stepped upper edge providing a pair of edge portions contiguous with the upper edges of the end walls and lying in the second plane, and an intermediate edge portion, the intermediate edge portions lying in a third horizontal plane between the first and second planes.

2. A compartmented box according to claim 1, wherein the bases of the box sections are square.

3. A compartmented box folded from a one-piece blank and comprising:

the four upstanding walls of each box section including a first end wall defining an end wall of the box, a second end wall hingedly connected along its upper edge to the corresponding wall of the other box section, and a pair of side walls extending between the end walls, said hingedly connected walls being secured in face to face relation and constituting a double-thickness partition defining a pair of adjacent box compartments,

each flap being formed with a crease defining a main support area and a narrow flange contiguous with the lower edge of the respective wall and extending upwardly therefrom to provide a peripheral rim to v the base of each box section, and

4. A compartmented box folded from a one-piece blank and comprising:

the four upstanding walls of each box section includ ing a first end wall defining an end wall of the box, a second end wall hingedly connected along its upperedge to the corresponding wall of the other box section, and a pair of side walls extending between the end walls, said hingedly connected walls being secured in face to face relation and constituting a double-thickness partition defining a pair of adjacent box compartments,

each flap being formed with a crease defining a main support area and a narrow flange contiguous with the lower edge of the respective wall and extending upwardly therefrom to provide a peripheral rim to the base of each box section,

each of said hingedly connected end walls being formed with a locking tab positioned to engage a slot in the other end wall for securing said end walls in face to face relation, and

said rectangular bases lying in a first horizontal plane and defining the box bottom, the upper edges of the end walls lying in a second horizontal plane spaced a predetermined distance from the first plane, each of said side walls having a stepped upper edge providing a pair of edge portions contiguous with the upper edges of the end walls and lying in the second plane, and an intermediate edge portion, the intermediate edge portions lyingin a third horizontal plane between the first and second planes.

5. A compartmented box according to claim 4, wherein at least said first end walls or said side walls are formed with ventilating openings.

Claims

1. A compartmented box folded from a one-piece blank and comprising: a pair of similar box sections, each box section comprising a rectangular base and four upstanding walls integral with the base, the base of each box section being formed by four folding flaps constituting integral extensions of the respective upstanding walls, one pair of flaps being superposed on the other pair of flaps and secured thereto, the four upstanding walls of each box section including a first end wall defining an end wall of the box, a second end wall hingedly connected along its upper edge to the corresponding wall of the other box section, and a pair of side walls extending between the end walls, said hingedly connected walls being secured in face to face relation and constituting a double-thickness partition defining a pair of adjacent box compartments, and said rectangular bases lying in a first horizontal plane and defining the box bottom, the upper edges of the end walls lying in a second horizontal plane spaced a predetermined distance from the first plane, each of said side walls having a stepped upper edge providing a pair of edge portions contiguous with the upper edges of the end walls and lying in the second plane, and an intermediate edge portion, the intermediate edge portions lying in a third horizontal plane between the first and second planes.

3. A compartmented box folded from a one-piece blank and comprising: a pair of similar box sections, each box section comprising a rectangular base and four upstanding walls integral with the base, the base of each box section being formed by four folding flaps constituting integral extensions of the respective upstanding walls, one pair of flaps being superposed on the other pair of flaps and secured thereto, the four upstanding walls of each box section including a first end wall defining an end wall of the box, a second end wall hingedly connected along its upper edge to the corresponding wall of the other box section, and a pair of side walls extending between the end walls, said hingedly connected walls being secured in face to face relation and constituting a double-thickness partition defining a pair of adjacent box compartments, each flap being formed with a crease defining a main support area and a narrow flange contiguous with the lower edge of the respective wall and extending upwardly therefrom to provide a peripheral rim to the base of each box section, and said rectangular bases lying in a first horizontal plane and defining the box bottom, the upper edges of the end walls lying in a second horizontal plane spaced a predetermined distance from the first plane, each of said side walls having a stepped upper edge providing a pair of edge portions contiguous with the upper edges of the end walls and lying in the second plane, and an intermediate edge portion, the intermediate edge portions lying in a third horizontal plane between the first and second planes.

4. A compartmented box folded from a one-piece blank and comprising: a pair of similar box sections, each box section comprising a rectangular base and four upstanding walls integral with the base, the base of each box section being formed by four folding flaps constituting integral extensions of the respective upstanding walls, one pair of flaps being superposed on the other pair of flaps and secured thereto, the four upstanding walls of each box section including a first end wall defining an end wall of the box, a second end wall hingedly connected along its upper edge to the corresponding wall of the other box section, and a pair of side walls extending between the end walls, said hingedly connected walls being secured in face to face relation and constituting a double-thickness partition defining a pair of adjacent box compartments, each flap being formed with a crease defining a main support area and a narrow flange contiguous with the lower edge of the respective wall and extending upwardly therefrom to provide a peripheral rim to the base of each box section, each of said hingedly connected end walls being formed with a locking tab positioned to engage a slot in the other end wall for securing said end walls in face to face relation, and said rectangular bases lying in a first horizontal plane and defining the box bottom, the upper edges of the end walls lying in a second horizontal plane spaced a predetermined distance from the first plane, each of said side walls having a stepped upper edge providing a pair of edge portions contiguous with the upper edges of the end walls and lying in the second plane, and an intermediate edge portion, the intermediate edge portions lying in a third horizontal plane between the first and second planes.