US3445051A - Container - Google Patents

Description

May 20, 1969 J. GOLDMAN CONTAINER Sheet 0:2

Filed Jan. 4. 1968 INVENTOR.

GS'EP/l M441 v A T-RDPA/EV y 20, 1969 J. GOLDMAN 3,445,051

I CONTAINER Filed Jan. 4. 1968 7 Sheet 3 of 2 INVENTOR- cfoszm/ 66160414 United States Patent US. Cl. 229-14 Ciaims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to a container for fragile mate rials formed from two transversely disposed foldable panels. The two panels provide the container base, side walls and cover with a minimum of material waste. A layer of resilient material is secured to the inner side of the inner panel to serve as a protective cushion in contact with the fragile article contained therein.

Related application This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application entitled, Container, filed July 21, 1967, and assigned Ser. No. 655,051, now abandoned.

Background of the invention The invention pertains to the art of packaging fragile articles for shipment and storage.

In the prior art, container blanks have customarily been formed in one piece by stamping from sheet material. A carbon blank which is not substantially rectangular in its overall configuration, when stamped from sheet material, results in a significant quantity of wasted material. The concave perimeter portions of the container blank usually lead to waste material even though adjacent carton blanks can be offset or nested with respect to one another to minimize the waste. Thus, notches, indentations and recesses in the perimeter of carton blanks represent waste material since the carton blank cannot be stamped from sheet material in a manner which allows complete utilization of the sheet material.

While the container blank which comprises the present invention is not rectangular in its overall configuration (because it is formed with substantial concave or indented areas at the four corners thereof), it may be formed with a minimum of wasted material. More particularly, since the container blank which comprises the present invention consists of two generally-rectangular, transverselydisposed panels, no large concave or indented area must be stamped from sheet material. Each of the panels is individually stamped and, since the individual panels are substantially rectangular in configuration, very little waste material results.

Irregularly shaped container blanks of the prior art which are stamped from a single sheet of corrugated stock result in a carton blank which has all of its corrugations running in one direction when the blank lies in a single plane. Consequently, when the carton blank is folded to form a carton, corrugations in the vertical walls of the finished carton generally run vertically in one pair of opposite walls and horizontally in the other pair. The pair having horizontal corrugations is generally weaker Patented May 20, 1969 in compression than the pair having vertical corrugations. The present invention insures that all vertical side walls have vertically running corrugations and eliminate the weaker pair of side walls.

In the prior art, irregularly shaped carton blanks have generally lacked any features which eliminate or minimize the space required for shipping and storage. Thus, while irregularly shaped blanks may be stacked and nested to a degree, to thereby efliciently use available storage space, the irregular shape of the carton blank inevitably results in some wasted space in shipping and storing. The present invention includes a feature which provides for pivoting one panel with respect to the other immediately prior to forming the carton. Consequently, storage and shipment, can be accomplished with the carton blank in a compacted form, with one panel lying directly over the other panel, to thereby eliminate indented or concave portions at the four corners of the panel.

In addition, in the prior art various particulate, shredded or crumpled material has been provided to serve as a cushion or filler in the packaging of fragile articles. Typically the filler material has been placed into the container after the container has been formed and after the article has been placed therein. Examples of such packing material include excelsior, paper strips, beaded material, and crumpled paper. Padding in sheet form has also been proposed. In each case the packing material has not been secured to the container and consequently the packing material must be placed into the container after the container is formed and the article placed therein.

The prior art, accordingly, has required a distinct step, after the formation of the container from the container blank, devoted to the placement of the protective packing material. The present invention eliminates that step. Moreover, the present invention eliminates the tendency of the packaged article to shift within the packing material since the packing material of the present invention is secured to the walls of the carton.

Summary of the invention The invention pertains to a container blank formed from two transversely disposed panels with a layer of resilient material secured to the inner surface of the inner panel. More particularly, the invention relates to a container blank comprising a first panel having an upper and lower surface, a second panel having an upper and lower surface disposed transversely to the first panel with a portion of the lower surface of the second panel in engagement with a portion of the upper surface of the first panel to thereby define a base portion of each of the panels. The first panel extends transversely beyond the opposite longitudinal edges of the second panel and the second panel extends transversely beyond the opposite longitudinal edges of the first panel. Both the first and second panels are provided with a first and second fold line coinciding with the transverse edges of the base portion of each panel. The second panel is also provided with third and fourth fold lines spaced outwardly an equal distance from the first and second fold lines, respectively, of the second panel, to thereby define a first and second wall portion between the first and third and second and fourth fold lines, respectively, of the second panel. The third and fourth fold lines of the second panel also define a first and second cover portion disposed outwardly from the third and fourth lines respectively. The first and second wall portions of the second panel are formed with a width, in the transverse direction, greater than.the distance between the first and second fold lines of the first panel to thereby provide wing portions integrally with the first and second wall portions. A relatively thick layer of resilient material is secured to the entire upper surface of the second panel to serve as a cushion or protective means for the packaged article.

The side walls of the first panel, as noted above, are of such a width that the edges thereof extend outwardly beyond the plane defined by the side walls of the second panel so that each of the side walls of the second panel is positioned between the adjacent extended edges of the side walls of the first panel. This arrangement greatly increases the rigidity of the container and it prevents the container from being deformed by external forces from its regular shape as a right parallelepiped to an oblique parallelepiped. The contents of the container are thus protected against being squashed.

Both the first and second panels are stamped from corrugated material with the corrugations running longitudinally of the panels.

The invention also includes a feature which leads to etficient utilization of space in shipment and storage. The first panel may be pivotally mounted to the second panel so that in shipment and storage, before formation of the container, the container blank can be positioned with the first panel directly beneath the second panel so that it does not extend transversely to the second panel.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a container blank of the configuration shown wherein a minimum of material is wasted in the formation of the blank from sheet material.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a container blank having a layer of resilient material secured to the inner surface from one of two transversely disposed rectangular panels to thereby eliminate the need for placement of packing material after formation of the container from the container blank.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a container blank of the configuration shown wherein the side walls of one of the panels extend outwardly beyond the plane defined by the side walls of the other panel so that the side walls of the other panel are positioned between the adjacent extended edges of the side walls of the one panel, to thereby prevent collapsing of the container when subjected to external forces.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a container blank of the configuration shown wherein the side walls of one of the panels extend outwardly beyond the plane defined by the side walls of the other panel so that the side walls of the other panel are positioned between the adjacent extended edges of the side walls of the one panel and wherein each of said panels is formed of corrugated sheet material having corrugations running longitudinally, to thereby provide substantial strength and rigidity to prevent collapsing of the container when subjected to external forces.

And finally, it is an object of the present invention to provide a container blank of the configuration shown wherein one of the panels is pivotally mounted to the other panel to thereby allow positioning of the two panels with one directly above the other, for shipment and storage, and to allow pivoting of the one panel with respect to the other to position one panel transversely to the other, to thereby provide a container blank of the configuration shown.

Description of the drawings FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the container blank which comprises the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the closed container;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 33 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the container blank with a portion of the resilient cushioning material removed to show a second embodiment of the invention, wherein the first panel is pivotally mounted to the second panel; and

FIGURE 5 is a vertical sectional view of the embodiment shown in FIGURE 4 with the carton blank in its closed position to thereby form a carbon.

Description of the preferred embodiment The container which comprises the present invention may be best understood with reference first to FIG- URE 1. It includes a first panel 11, a second panel 12 and a layer of resilient material 36. Both panel 11 and panel 12 are formed of foldable rigid sheet material such as corrugated box board. Panels 11 and 12 are generally rectangular in configuration and are placed transversely with respect to each other with the upper surface of first panel 11 in engagement with the lower surface of second panel 12. It should be noted that first panel 11 extends beyond the side edges 13 of second panel 12 and that second panel 12 extends beyond the side edges 14 of first panel 11.

With reference to FIGURES l, 2 and 3, first panel 11 is provided with a first fold 15 and a second fold 16 which register respectively with opposite edges 13 of second panel 12. Thus, the base portion of first panel 11 is defined =by edges 14, first fold 15 and second fold 16.

Third fold 17 and fourth fold 18 are also provided in first panel 11. Third fold 17 and fourth fold 18 are spaced an equal distance outwardly from first and second fold lines 15 and 16, respectively, to thereby define Wall portions 19 and 20 of first panel 11. The remainder of first panel '11 consists of cover portions 21 and 22 disposed outwardly from fold lines 17 and 18 respectively.

Second panel 12 includes first fold line 25 and second fold line 26 which are respectively in registration with opposite edges 14 of first panel 1'1. Thus, first fold line 25 and second fold line 26, along with opposite edges 13, define the base portion of panel 12.

Second panel 12 is also provided with a third fold line 28 and a fourth fold line 29. Fold lines 28 and 29 are spaced an equal distance outwardly from first and second fold lines 25 and 26 of second panel 12, to thereby define wall portions 30 and 31. The remaining portion of second panel 12 consists of cover portions 32 and 33 disposed, respectively, outwardly from third fold line 28 and fourth fold line 29.

Wall portions 30 and 31 of second panel 12 have a width, in the transverse direction, that is greater than the distance between first fold line 15 and second fold 16 of first panel 11. Thus, with reference to FIGURES l and 2, wall portions 30 and 31 of second panel 12 include integrally formed wing portions 34 and 35, respectively, which lend rigidity to the container. As best seen in FIGURE 2, wing portions 34 and 35 engage the side edges 14 of first panel 11 and prevent wall portions 30 and 31 of second panel 12 from collapsing inwardly after the container is formed.

The upper surface of second panel 12 is uniformly covered with a convoluted or undulating layer of resilient material 36. In the preferred embodiment, resilient material 36 is formed of polyurethane foam and is molded with a series of projections which engage the packaged article after the container is formed to prevent shifting and damage. Resilient material 36 is secured to the upper surface of second panel 12 and extends over the entire surface thereof except for wing portions 34 and 35. Resilient material 36 may be formed of a wide variety of substances, the primary consideration being resiliency and weight. The configuration of the exposed surface of resilient material 36 which engages the packaged article may also vary considerably from the convoluted and undulating configuration shown.

In the form of the invention shown in FIGURES 1-3,

first panel 11 is secured to second panel 12 by means of a suitable adhesive placed at the interface thereof. The embodiment shown in FIGURES 4 and 5 differs, however, in that first panel 11 is pivotally mounted to second panel 12. With reference to FIGURES 4 and 5, a rivet or grommet 40 is provided to pivotally mount first panel 11 to second panel 12. Consequently, second panel 12 may be pivoted with respect to first panel 11 as shown at arrows B in FIGURE 4. In storage and shipment the container blank may be positioned with first panel lldirectly above first panel 12 as shown in solid lines in FIGURE 4. When ready for use, second panel 12 may be pivoted with respect to panel 11 as shown at arrows B, to thereby take the position shown in phantom in FIGURE 4. Thus, first panel 11 and second panel 12 may be positioned with respect to each other to eliminate the irregularity in the shape of the carton blank. Significant space can consequently be saved in shipment and storage.

It should be noted that third and fourth fold lines 17 and 18 of first panel 11 are spaced an equal distance from first and second fold lines and 16, respectively. Third and fourth fold lines 28 and 29 are also spaced'an equal distance from first and second fold lines 25 and 26, respectively, of second panel 12, and that distance is equal to the corresponding distance of first panel 11. Therefore, wall portions 19 and 20 of first panel 11 and wall portions 30 and 31 of second panel 12 are formed with an equal longitudinal dimension or height.

It should also be noted that the sum of the distances from third and fourth fold lines 2-8 and 29 to the respec tive opposite ends of second panel 12 is equal to the distance between first and second fold lines 15 and 16 of second panel 12. In other words, the sum of the longitudinal dimensions of the cover portions 32 and 33 of second panel 12 is equal to the longitudinal dimension of the base portion of second panel 12, which extends from first fold line 15 to second fold line 16.

While first panel 11 is shown with two cover portions 21 and 22, it should be recognized that first panel 11 could be formed with but one cover portion. That is, cover portion 21, for example, could be formed with a longitudinal dimension equal to the distance between first fold line 15 and second fold line 16 of first panel 11. If so formed, the first panel 11 would include but three fold lines and would not include a fourth fold line. i

The use of the present invention may be readily understood with reference first to FIGURE 1. The container blank is formed as shown in FIGURE 1 and first panel 11 and second panel 12 are folded upwardly on first and second fold lines 15 and 16 (panel 11) and on first and second fold lines 25 and 26 (panel 12). The packaged article, A, is placed into the partially formed container and cover portions 32 and 33 of second panel 12 are folded downwardly about third and fourth fold lines 28 and 29 to thereby complete the circumferential engagement of article, A, by resilient material 36. Cover portions 21 and 22 of first panel 11 are then folded downwardly about third and fourth fold lines 17 and 18, respectively. Retaining means 38, which in the preferred embodiment consists of an adhesive tape, is then placed over the joint between cover portions 21 and 22, adhered thereto, and adhered to wall portions 30 and 31 of second panel 12 (see FIGURE 3).

The use of the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGURES 4 and 5 may be readily understood with reference first to FIGURE 4. The container blank is formed as shown in FIGURE 4 with first panel 11 disposed directly above second panel 12 with grommet pivotally connecting one panel to the other. Second panel 12 is pivoted with respect to first panel 11 as shown at arrows, B, in FIGURE 4 and the two panels are then folded in the manner described above in connection with the embodiment shown in FIGURES 1-3. The final form of the carton is shown in FIGURE 5 and is identical with the form shown in FIGURE 3 except that first and second panels 11 and 12 are joined by grommet 40 instead of adhesive.

The container thus formed provides a protective package 'for article, A, with a minimum of packaging steps and with a minimum of material waste in the formation of the container blank. Moreover, wing portions 34 and 35 provide rigidity to prevent inward collapse of wall portions 30 and 31 of second panel 12. The generally rectangular configuration of first panel 11 and a second panel 12 eliminates waste in the formation thereof from sheet material and the transverse relationship between first panel 11 and second panel 12 provides a reinforced base portion for the container. The fact that first and second panels 11 and 12 are stamped from corrugated sheet material with the corrugations running longitudinally, provides a reinforced base and cover portion of the finished carton as well as side walls which have vertical corrugations. The side walls are consequently of substantial rigidity and strength. And finally the container shown in FIGURES 4 and 5 may be stored in one position and prepared for assembly in another position, to thereby insure efficient utilization of space in shipping and storage of the container blank.

Various changes may be made in the embodiment shown without departing from the scope of the present invention which is to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A container blank for use in packaging fragile articles, comprising:

a first panel formed from foldable rigid sheet material and having an upper and a lower surface;

a second panel formed from foldable rigid sheet material and having an upper and a lower surface disposed transversely to said first panel with a portion of the lower surface of said second panel in engagement with a portion of the upper surface of said first panel to thereby define a base portion of each of said panels, said first panel extending transversely beyond opposite edges of said base portion of said second panel and said second panel extending transversely beyond opposite edges of said base portion of said first panel;

first and second fold lines on said first panel in registration, respectively, with the longitudinal edges of said second panel;

first and second fold lines on said second panel in registration, respectively, -with the longitudinal edges of said first panel;

third and fourth fold lines on said second panel respectively spaced outwardly an equal distance from said first and second fold lines of said second panel, to thereby define a first and second wall portion between said first and third and said second and fourth fold lines, respectively, of said second panel and a first and second cover portion outwardly from said third and fourth fold lines, respectively;

said first and second wall portions having a width, in

the transverse direction, greater than the distance between said first and second fold lines of said first panel; and

a relatively thick layer of resilient material secured to the upper surface of said second panel.

2. The container blank of claim 1 wherein said first panel is pivotally secured to said second panel at a point centrally located on said base portion of each of said panels.

3. The container blank of claim 2 and a third and fourth fold line on said first panel respectively spaEd outwardly an equal distance from said first and second fold lines of said first panel, to thereby define a first and second wall portion between said first and third and said 7 second and fourth fold lines, respectively, of said first panel and a first and second cover portion outwardly from said third and fourth fold lines, respectively, of said first panel.

4. The container blank of claim 3 wherein the sum of 5 the distances from said third and said fourth fold lines, respectively, to the opposite ends of said first panel is equal to the distance between said first and said second fold lines of said first panel.

5. The container blank of claim 4 wherein the exposed surface of said resilient material defines a series of uniformly spaced projections.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,009,564 7/ 1935 Ridge. 3,266,705 8/ 1966 Wood.

FOREIGN PATENTS 131,928 9/ 1919 Great Britain. 1,152,051 7/ 1963 Germany.

10 JAMES B. MARBERT, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 21735; 229-23

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