US3322321A

US3322321A - Container

Info

Publication number: US3322321A
Application number: US447350A
Authority: US
Inventors: Thomas C Nurre; William W Mcfarland; Dale L Ritter
Original assignee: International Paper Co
Current assignee: International Paper Co
Priority date: 1965-04-12
Filing date: 1965-04-12
Publication date: 1967-05-30
Anticipated expiration: 1984-05-30

Description

May 30, 1967 c. NURRE ET AL CONTAINER 4 Sheets-Sheet Filed April 12, 1965 MAS C.NURRE DALE L.RITTER WILLIAM W.Mc FARLAND s R O N E V N THO FiG.3

B 6 SW4 14 TTORN EY CONTAINER 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 MRR J TUTR NNWA W mm Mmw W O HM T m I Y W B T. C. NURRE ET AL May 30, 1967 Filed April 12, 1965 A rTo vEY United States Patent Ofifice 3,322,321 Patented May 30, 1967 3,322,321 CONTAINER Thomas C. Nurre, Downers Grove, 111., William W. Mc- Farland, Wooster, Ohio, and Dale L. Ritter, St. Louis, Mo., assignors to International Paper Company, New

York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Apr. 12, 1965, Ser. No. 447,350 14 Claims. (Cl. 229-43) This invention relates to containers and, more particularly, to a container formed of corrugated paperboard and of the type adapted to carry a relatively large and heavy article and to inserts for such container.

It is a principal object of this invention to provide a container which is formed from a flat one-piece blank which is simple in construction and economical to manufacture.

Another object is to provide a container which is readily adapted to be secured to an article carrying skid.

Another object is to provide an article carrying skid for a container having means to enable the container to be lifted from the bottom.

A further object is to provide an insert for a container Which is formed from a flat one-piece blank which is simple in construction and economical to manufacture.

Another object is to provide an insert for a container having means to reinforce and cushion the side walls and corners of the container.

Another object is to provide a lifting frame for a container having means to enable the container to be lifted from the top.

Other objects and advantages will appear from the following description and drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a blank from which a container of this invention is made;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a container formed from the blank of FIG. 1 and showing its rela tionships with an article carrying skid, inserts and a lifting frame;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 3--3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a blank from which an insert of this invention is made;

FIG. 7 is a perspective View showing the first stage of folding the blank of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the blank of FIG. 6 in its final folded position;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view showing a modified version of an insert in its final folded position;

FIG. 10 is a plan view of a blank from which a further modified insert of the present invention is made; and,

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary perspective view (with parts broken away) showing the relationships of the corrugated paperboard and the securing strap in greater detail.

The container C, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, is formed from a flat one-piece blank 1 (FIG. 1) of suitable sheet material, preferably corrugated paperboard.

Such paperboard, as shown most clearly in FIG. 3, consists of a corrugated medium 2 (shown along the flutes) sandwiched between an inner liner 3 and an outer liner 4. A flexible reinforcing and securing strap 5, preferably of metal, is positioned within the paperboard and between the corrugated medium and the outer liner and is secured to such liner and medium by a suitable means, such as glue. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 11, the strap tends to crush the corrugated medium somewhat in the area of application. In practice, the crushing is almost imperceptible.

The blank 1 has a horizontal fold line 10, vertical fold lines 11, and slots 12 which generally define parts including side walls 13, an attaching flap 14, and top flaps 15. The blank is provided with means, in the form of square-shaped cutouts 16, which define o enings 17 which are adapted to accommodate the fingers of a lift truck. The blank is further provided with means, in the form of substantially parallel marking lines 18, which define therebetween a single printed zone or band to mark the location of the strap 5, and with means, in the form of a tear tab 8 1 and tear tape 81, which enable the container to be opened with great ease, as will later be explained in greater detail.

The article carrying skid 20, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, consists of a plurality of wooden rails 21 and a plurality of wooden cleats 22 secured together at right angles to each other, by a suitable means, such as nails N. The rails are disposed in spaced parallel relation with each other and are of sufficient thickness to define o enings 23 which are adapted to accommodate the forks or fingers of a lift truck. It should also be observed that the rails and cleats are dimensioned and secured together in such a manner to provide a container receiving and positioning ledge 24, as shown most clearly in FIG. 3.

The insert 30, as shown in FIGS. 2, 5 and 8, is formed from a flat one-piece blank (FIG. 6) of suitable sheet corrugated paperboard of the same forming the container blank 1. vertical fold lines 41 which generally define means, in the form of a first panel 42, to reinforce and cushion a side wall of the container; means in the form of a pair of second panels 43 and a pair of third panels 44 to reinforce and cushion the portions of such side wall adjacent the corners of the container and means, in the form of a pair of fourth panels 45, to cushion and reinforce the portions of the side walls connected to such side wall and adjacent the corners of the container. The blank is further provided with means, in the form of square-shaped cutouts 45, which define openings 47 which are adapted to mate with the openings 17 in the container C and to accommodate the fingers of a lift truck.

The dimensions of the insert 30 with respect to the container C are such that it may be slidably received within the container and the height of the insert is less than the height of the side walls 13 of the container by a distance sufficient to enable a lifting frame 60, the detailed structure of which is further to be described, to be slidably positioned within the container, with portions of its lower surface resting on the top ledge 48 of the insert 30, as shown in FIG. 2, and still enable the top flaps 15 of the container to be folded into their closed position.

A modified version 50 of the insert 30 is shown in FIG. 9. Such insert is identical to insert 39 but is provided with additional means, in the form a pair of fifth panels 56 and a pair of sixth panels 57, to further cushion and reinforce the portions of the side walls, which are also adapted to be cushioned and reinforced by the fourth panels 45, of the container, adjacent the corners.

The lifting frame 60, as shown in FIG. 2, consists of a plurality of first wooden members 61 and a plurality of second wooden members 62 secured together at right angles to each other, by nails (not shown) or other suitable means. It should be observed that the

members

61 and 62 are dimensioned in such a manner to enable the The blank 40 has lifting frame so to be slidably positioned within the con-' tainer C with its upper surface substantially flush with the upper edges of the side walls 13 of the container C and still enable the top folded into their closed position.

The container C may be formed from the blank of FIG. 1 by folding the side walls 13 and the attaching flaps 15 of the container to be' flange 14 along the vertical fold lines 11 and into the relationships shown in FIGS. 2 and and by stitching the attaching flange 14 to the appropriate side wall 13 to form a manufacturers joint. The container may then be collapsed into a substantially flat condition and shipped in such a manner to the user.

The insert 30 may be partly formed from the blank of FIG. 6 by

first folding panels

43, 44 and 45 along the fold lines 41 joining the panel 42 to the panels 43 and onto panel 42, as shown in FIG. 7, and by gluing the panels 43 to the panel 42 by zones of glue G. The partly formed insert 30 may be shipped to the user in this condition and later completely formed by folding the

panels

44 and 45 along the appropriate fold lines 41 and into the relationships shown in FIG. 8, with the panels 44 in abutting contact with the panels 43 and the panels 45 at right angles to the panels 44. It should be noted that fold lines 41 may be in the form of scores, slit-scores or reverse slit-scores, as may be required to fold the panels into their final positions.

The insert 50 may be formed in a manner similar to the forming of the insert 30 but requires the additional folding steps necessary to fold the

panels

56 and 57 along the appropriate fold lines 41 and into their final positions, as shown in FIG. 9, with the panels 56 in abutting contact with the panels 45 and the panels 57 in abutting contact with the panels 56.

The container C in its squared and fully assembled condition is slidably positioned on and secured to the article carrying skid 20, preferably after an article, such as a washing machine is placed on and appropriately secured to such skid. Thus positioned, the lower edges of the side walls 13 of the container rest upon the container receiving and positioning ledge 24 of the skid, as shown in FIG. 3.

The container C is secured to the skid It by a suitable means, preferably stapes S, which pass through the outer liner 4, the reinforcing and securing strap 5, the corrugated medium 2, the inner liner 3 and into the wooden cleats 22 of the skid, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

'In securing the container to the skid, it is important that the staples S pass through the strap 5 and it is for this reason that the exact location of the strap within the paperboard is clearly marked by parallel marking lines 18. Thus marked, it is a simple matter to insure that the staples pass through the strap when securing the container to the skid.

Experience has shown that when nails or staples are driven through ordinary corrugated paperboard, they are very apt to puncture or fracture the outer liner under the relatively small area of the head or crown. This is especially true when they are driven home with a sharp hammer blow as would normally be the case in production work.

It has been found that if the outer liner is reinforced with a thin metal strap or band which is securely glued to it, this tendency to puncture and tear is eliminated. This is partly due to the spreading of the load over a larger area but, more importantly, to the much greater resistance of the strap to tear.

The container C is adapted to be used in the handling of large, heavy appliances and the like and to be lifted from the top or bottom. In lifting the container from the top, the entire weight of the article is transmitted in shear through the wood skid 20; through the staples S and into the bottom edge of the side walls 13 of the container. Similar high shearing forces are experienced as the result of rough handling or edge and corner drops, producing twist or racking stresses.

Such shearing forces will readily produce tearing by nails or staples in ordinary corrugated paperboard and this is especially true where the outer liner has already been punctured or fractured by a hammer blow. Since paper has little resistance to tear, it has been found that a thin metal strap laminated to it will enable it to withstand these high shearing forces.

It is particularly important that the strap be securely adhered to the paperboard. This is most important in those designs where the staples are positioned close to the edge of the corrugated sheet, as it is in container C since the strap can easily slide out of the corrugated paperboard. It has also been found that adequate holding power is obtained by adhering the strap 5 to the inside face of the outer liner 4 and to the corrugated medium 2. In this way, the metal strap is buried for better appearance and an extra glue bond is gained on both sides of the strap.

In considering various materials to use as the reinforcing strap it has been found that metal, especially light gauge steel, has the properties best suited to this use. Other materials such as filament tapes, woven fabrics or plastic tapes will either separate into strands or tear readily when once pierced by the nail or staple and subjected to shearing forces. Other advantages to a metal strap are found in its abrasion resistance and its electrical and magnetic properties. The electrical property can complete a simple electrical circuit between it and the adjacent or opposite metal staple or nail heads. Such a system can automatically detect missing staples or those misplaced and not driven through the metal strap. The magnetic attraction also permits the detection and measuring of the location of the concealed reinforcing strap during manufacture.

The inserts 3% are slidably positioned between the side wall 13 of the container and the article (not shown). In this position, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, the first panel 42 of each of the inserts cushions and reinforces a side wall 13 of the container; the second and

third panels

43 and 44 cushion and reinforce the, portions of each such side wall adjacent the corners of the container and the fourth panels cushion and reinforce the portions of the side walls connected to each such side wall and adjacent the corners of the container.

After the inserts 30 are in place in the container, the lifting frame 60 is slidably positioned within the container with parts of its lower surface resting on ledge 48 of each of the inserts 30, as shown in FIG. 2. Thus positioned, the upper surface of the lifting frame is substantially flush with the upper edges of the side wall 13 of the container.

The top flaps 15 of the container are then folded perpendicular to the side walls 13 and into their closed position, where they are secured in place by appropriate means, such as glue. It should be observed that the flaps 15 retain the lifting frame 69 in position and enable the fingers of a lift truck to pass through the appropriate openings 17 in the container and the appropriate openings 47 in the inserts and under the lower surface of the lifting frame to lift the container from the top.

The container may also be lifted from the bottom by inserting the forks of a lift truck in the openings 23 of the skid 29, in a manner well known in the art.

It should also be observed that, if desired, a single insert of substantially tubular configuration may be used in place of the two inserts 30 and still serve essentially the same functions. A blank for forming the single insert is shown in FIG. 10. The blank has vertical fold lines 71 which define four side wall panels 72 and hingedly connect them to each other and is provided with a plurality of cut-outs which define, opening 47' which serve the same function as the openings 47 of insert 30. The single insert is formed from the blank by folding the side wall panels 72, along the vertical fold lines 71, and into a tubular configuration.

To open the container, the tear tab may be grasped between the thumb and forefinger and pulled outwardly thereby tearing the side walls 13 of the container along a tear line defined by tear tape 81. It is, then, a simple matter to slide that portion of the container above the tear line up and over the article and to lift the container from such article still resting on the carrying skid.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, a container, an article carrying skid, and a lifting frame, said container having side walls and top flaps, means to secure said container to said skid, said lifting frame being positioned within said container, said top flaps being folded perpendicularly to said side walls to retain said lifting frame within said container, and said container having means under said lifting frame defining openings adapted to accommodate the fingers of a lift truck.

2. In combination, a container, an article carrying skid and a lifting frame, said container having side walls and top flaps and being formed of corrugated paperboard, said paperboard consisting of a corrugated medium sandwiched between an inner liner and outer liner and having flexible strap positioned therein, means to secure said container to said skid through said strap, said lifting frame being positioned within said container, said top flaps being folded perpendicularly to said side walls to retain said lifting frame Within said container, and said container having means under said lifting frame defining openings adapted to accommodate the fingers of a lift truck.

3. In combination, a container and a lifting frame, said container having side walls and top flaps, said lifting frame being positioned within said container, said top flaps being folded perpendicularly to said side walls to retain said lifting frame within said container, and said container having means under said lifting frame defining openings adapted to accommodate the fingers of a lift truck.

4. In combination, a container and wooden cleats, said container having side walls and being formed of corrugated paperboard, said paperboard consisting of a corrugated medium sandwiched between an inner liner and outer and having metal strap, said wooden cleats being positioned within said container adjacent said side Walls, means securing said container to said wooden cleats through said strap, and means for opening the container and separating a portion thereof from said wooden cleats, said means disposed in said side walls adjacent said securing means.

5. In combination, a container, an article carrying skid, two inserts and a lifting frame, said container having side walls and top flaps, means to secure said container to said skid, said inserts being slidably positioned within said container with their lower edges resting upon the upper surface of said skid, said lifting frame being slidably positioncd within said container with its lower surface resting upon the ledges defined by the upper edges of said inserts, said top flaps being folded perpendicularly to said side walls to retain said frame within said container, and said container and said inserts each having means under the lifting frame defining openings adapted to accommodate the fingers of a lift truck.

6. In the combination as set forth in claim 5, said skid having means defining openings adapted to accommodate the fingers of a lift truck.

7. In the combination as set forth in claim 5, each of said inserts having means including a first panel to reinforce and cushion a side wall of the container, means including a pair of second panels and a pair of third panels to reinforce and cushion the portions of said side wall adjacent the corners of the container, and means including a pair of fourth panels to cushion and reinforce the portions of the side walls connected to said side wall and adjacent the corners of the container.

8. In the combination as set forth in claim 7, said second panels being in abutting contact with said first panel, said third panels being in abutting contact with said second panels and said fourth panels being at right angles to said third panels.

9. In the combination as set forth in claim 5, said container being formed of corrugated paperboard and said paperboard consisting of a corrugated medium sandwiched between an inner liner and outer liner and having fiexible strap positioned therein, said skid consisting of wooden rails and wooden cleats secured together at right angles to each other, parts of said cleats and said rails defining a container receiving and positioning ledge, said container being positioned with its lower edges resting on said ledge and means to secure said container to said skid through said strap.

10. In the combination as set forth in claim 5, each of said inserts having means including a first panel to reinforce and cushion a side Wall of the container, means including a pair of second panels and a pair of third panels to reinforce and cushion the portions of said side wall adjacent the corners of the container, means including a pair of fourth panels to cushion and reinforce the portions of the side wall connected to said side wall and adjacent the corners of the container and means including fifth and sixth panels to further cushion reinforce the portions of said side walls being cushioned and reinforced by said fourth panels.

11. In the combination as set forth in claim 10, said second panels being in abutting contact with said first panel, said third panels being in abutting contact with said second panels, said fourth panels being at right angles to said third panels, said fifth panels being in abutting contact with said fourth panels and said sixth panels being in abutting contact with said fifth panels.

12. In the combination as set forth in claim 5, said container being formed of corrugated paperboard and said paperboard consisting of a corrugated medium sandwiched between an inner liner and outer liner and having flexible strap positioned therein, said container having means includig parallel marking lines to mark. the location of said strap within said paperboard, said skid consisting of woden rails and wooden cleats secured together at right angles to each other, parts of said cleats and said rails defining a container receiving and positioning ledge, said container being positioned with its lower edges resting on said ledge, and means to secure said container to said skid through said strap.

13. In combination, a container, an article carrying skid, an insert and a lifting frame, said container having side walls and top flaps, means to secured said container to said skid, said insert being slidably positioned within said container with its lower edges resting upon the upper surface of said skid, said lifting frame being slidably positioned within said container with its lower surface resting upon the ledges defined by the upper edges of said insert, said top flaps being folded perpendicularly to said side walls to retain said frame within said container, and said container and said insert each having means under the lifting frame defining openings adapted to accommodate the fingers of a lift truck.

14. In the combination as set forth in claim 13, said skid having means defining openings adapted to accommodate the fingers of a lift truck.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,527,021 2/1925 Wandel 229-49 1,852,832 4/1932 Beam-an 229-14 2,920,809 1/1960 Bray 229-49 3,073,500 1/1963 Goodrich etal.. 229-14 3,145,906 8/1964 Corrinet 229-51 JOSEPH R. LECLAIR, Primary Examiner. R. PESHOCK, Assistant Examiner,

Claims

1. IN COMBINATION, A CONTAINER, AN ARTICLE CARRYING SKID, AND A LIFTING FRAME, SAID CONTAINER HAVING SIDE WALLS AND TOP FLAPS, MEANS TO SECURE SAID CONTAINER TO SAID SKID, SAID LIFTING FRAME BEING POSITIONED WITHIN SAID CONTAINER, SAID TOP FLAPS BEING FOLDED PERPENDICULARLY TO SAID SIDE WALLS TO RETAIN SAID LIFTING FRAME WITHIN SAID CONTAINER, AND SAID CONTAINER HAVING MEANS UNDER SAID LIFTING FRAME DEFINING OPENINGS ADAPTED TO ACCOMODATE THE FINGERS OF A LIFT TRUCK.