US3473722A - File carton - Google Patents

Description

J. J. ROHDE Oct. 21, 1969 FILE CARTON 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 16. 1967 FIG.

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FIG. 2.

Oct. 21, 1969 .1. J. ROHDE 3,473,722

FILE CARTON Filed Oct. 16. 19s? 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oc 1969 J. J. ROHDE 3,473,722

FILE CARTON Filed Oct. 16. 19s? 4 Sheets- Sheet 5 Oct. 21, 1969 J. J. ROHDE 3,473,722

FILE CARTON Filed Oct. 16, 1967 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 United States Patent US. Cl. 22937 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A carton, and blank therefor, which has a triple layered bottom of which the first and third layers form two integral mirror image sections individually comprising two connected trapezoidal sections which interlock with centrally located slots in the second layer section. A carton top, and blank therefor, is also provided which features interlocking triple layered ends.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Sheet metal file cabinets have been effectively used for the storage of letter files and other papers which must be saved for long periods of time. However, such cabinets ar expensive and relatively heavy. In overcoming the 0bvious disadvantages of metal file cabinets, the art has been supplied with various types of cartons made of paperboard. Such paperboard cartons have generally had the advantages of being inexpensive and light in weight. To date, however, a paperboard carton has not been made commercially available which possesses the many advantages of the paperboard carton of the present invention. Thus, the cartons of the present invention are not only inexpensive and light in weight, being preferably made of paperboard, but are also easily assembled without staples or extraneous securing means and easily shipped in a partially assembled form, being of a unitary construction. And, not only is this true of the carton of the present invention, but also of the carton top which is likewise of a unitary construction which requires no extraneous securing means for assembly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a unitary blank for a carton comprising two rectangular side walls, two rectangular end walls hingedly connected to opposite ends of one of the side walls with one of the end walls being hingedly connected by it opposite ends to both of said side walls, primary bottom walls hingedly connected to corresponding ends of the side walls and individually comprising two hingedly connected trapezoidal sections, and secondary bottom walls hingedly connected to corresponding ends of the end walls and individually comprising a rectangular section intersected at a central location by a slot.

From the cardboard blank of the present invention a carton may be produced comprising upstanding side walls and connected end walls forming the peripheral sides of a rectangular prism, and a triple layered bottom wall of which the first and third layers form two integral mirror image sections individually connected to corresponding side walls and interlocking with the slots in the second layer sections individually connected to corresponding end walls.

A carton top is also provided for the carton of the present invention, which top comprises a top wall, upstanding side walls attached to opposite ends of and substantantially perpendicular to said top wall, intermediate reinforcing flaps attached to opposite ends of and substantially perpendicular to each side wall and abutting said top wall, upstanding end wall attached to opposite ends of and substantially perpendicular to said top wall and abutting the outer side of each intermediate reinforcing flap, double-hinge sections comprising narrow intervening panels attached to said upstanding end Walls and abutting the top edge of said intermediate reinforcing flaps, interior reinforcing panels attached to said double-hinge sections and abutting the inner side of each intermediate reinforcing fiap and said top wall, and at least one locking tongue on the outer edge of each reinforcing panel engaging at least one slot in said top wall.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view of the blank from which the filing carton is formed.

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic view of the blank from which the carton top is formed.

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of the file carton in partially folded form, with the bottom flaps and top flaps unfolded.

FIG. 4 is a top perspective view of the filing carton showing the bottom thereof partially folded.

FIG. 5 is a top perspective view of the carton showing the further folding of the bottom.

FIG. 6 is a top perspective view of the carton showing the final folding of the bottom and the start of folding of the top.

FIG. 7 is a top perspective view of the filing carton as completely folded.

FIG. 8 is a front perspective view of the carton top partially folded.

FIG. 9 is a front perspective view of the carton top completely folded.

FIG, 10 is a front perspective view of the fully assembled carton and carton top.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS As shown in the drawings, both the carton and carton top of the present invention are individually made from single integral blanks of rigid paperboard, i.e., corrugated board or heavy cardboard. The blank are then pressed and printed to show fold lines and the users name printed thereon.

FIG. 1 discloses a diagrammatic view of the blank from which the filing carton of the present invention is formed. The centrally located sections of the blank, shown separated by dotted lines which here and hereinafter represent folds or creases, are side Walls 1 and connecting end walls 2. End walls 2 0f the carton are optionally provided with hand slots 3. As evident, double walls 4 and 5 are provied where a carton with double wall or two-ply construction is desired. Primary bottom walls 6, hingedly connected to side walls 1, are preferably divided into a trapezoidal section 7, a double hinge section and narrow intervening panel 8, a second trapezoidal section 9 and a rectangular extension section 10 integral with the second trapezoidal section 9. Tongues 11 are provided at the outer edge of the rectangular section 10, and matching slots 12 are provided in the side wall 1 adjacent the first trapezoidal section 7. Slots 12 interlock with tongues 11 during assembly of the carton.

In the preferred embodiment shown in the drawings, the primary bottom walls 6 principally comprise two trapezoidal sections having longer and shorter base edges of respectively equal length, with the shorter bases being hingedly connected. In the most preferred embodiment, one of the longer bases is hingedly connected to side wall 1 while the other base, which may be viewed as an imaginary line, is the upper edge of the integral rectangular extension 10. Rectangular extension 10 is not critical to the present invention. However, it does provide added rigidity to the bottom of the carton. Thus, if desired, the sides of the second trapezoid might be extended down to the outer corners of the rectangular extension 10, thus eliminating the rectangular shape, and leaving the primary bottom wall 6 with just two sections, both being of trapezoidal configuration.

Hingedly connected to end walls 2 are secondary bottom walls 13. Intersecting each bottom wall 13 at a central location substantially perpendicular to the edge of wall 13 which is opposite to the corresponding end wall 2 is slot 14. Slot 14 is approximately one-half the difference between the length of the longer and shorter bases of the trapezoids of the primary bottom sections. Where the trapezoids of the primary bottom wall sections are not isometric, this relationship between the length of the slots and the bases of the trapezoids does not remain true.

A diagrammatic view of the blank from which the carton top is formed is shown in FIG. 2. This blank is also shown divided into sections by dotted lines which represent folds or creases. Thus, central rectangular top wall 100 has end walls 101 hingedly connected to opposite ends of the top wall. Double hinge sections 102 comprising narrow intervening panels lie adjacent the outer edge of each end wall 101. Interior reinforcing panels 103 lie adjacent the outer hinge of each double hinge section 102. There is additionally provided at least one locking tongue 104 on the outer edge of each reinforcing panel 103. And accordingly, at least one corresponding slot 105 is provided in the top wall adjacent each end wall 101. Side walls 106 are also hingedly connected to opposite ends of the top wall 100. And, intermediate reinforcing flaps 107 are hingedly attached to opposite ends 'of each side wall 106. These flaps abut opposite ends of each end wall 101 and are slightly spaced from the inset ends of reinforcing panels 103. While the carton top as thus described is preferably used with the carton of the present invention, it is evident that other carton tops of other construction may likewise be successfully used. And, on the other hand, the carton top of the present invention may be used with cartons not of this invention.

A front perspective view of the file carton partially assembled is shown in FIG. 3. It is in this state of assembly, only in flattened form, that the file carton may be shipped to a customer, ready for completion of assembly. The only assembly step shown in FIG. 3 which is performed on the blank of FIG. 1 is in the sealing of tab 15 which joins end wall 2 with side wall 1 (the sealing tab may be omitted and the carton joined with tape if desired). Otherwise, the top assembly 16 comprising double walls 4 and 5 preferably remains unassembled for shipping purposes as does the bottom assembly 17 comprising primary bottom wall 6 and secondary bottom wall 13.

FIG. 4 discloses a top perspective view of the carton which reveals an intermediate state of assembly of the bottom section 17 of the carton. Thus, as a first step, secondary bottom wall 13 is completely folded into the carton to lie adjacent end wall 2. Primary bottom walls 6 are likewise folded into the carton. Trapezoidal sections 7, which are hingedly connected to side walls 1, are in a perpendicular position to the side walls. Trapezoidal sections 9 facingly abut each other and are parallel to side walls 1 and perpendicular to trapezoidal section 7. The second step is the engagement of slot 14 with trapezoidal sections 9 and rectangular extension sections 10.

As shown in FIG. 5, a top perspective view of the carton, in a further intermediate step of assembly the secondary bottom walls 13 are completely folded to lie adjacent trapezoidal sections 7. This is accomplished by sliding the slot 14 all the way down the faces of rectangular extensions and trapezoidal sections 9 until the slot 14 covers the hinge between the trapezoidal sections 9 and 7. FIG. 5 additionally shows the beginning of the final step in assembling the bottom portion of the carton.

A top perspective view of the file carton with a completely assembled bottom section is shown in FIG. 6. Accordingly, trapezoidal sections 9 are completely folded to lie flat in the bottom of the carton and are thus perpendicular to side walls 1 as are trapezoidal sections 7. The carton is thus provided with a triple layered bottom wall of which the first and third layers form two integral mirror image sections individually connected to corresponding side walls and interlocking with the slots in the second layer sections which are individually connected to the corresponding end walls. In the completely assembled state, the slots of both rectangular sections substantially completely enclose the hinges connecting the shorter base ends of both integral mirror image sections.

In the assembly of the bottom section of the carton it is desirable to provide tongues 11 integral with the rectangular extensions 10, or as the case may be, trapezoidal sections 9. Thus, tongues 11 can engage with slots 12. in the side walls 1. This securely locks the bottom section in place. However, this is not critical to the assembly of the carton inasmuch as a friction fit may be substituted in order to fully secure the bottom section of the carton.

FIGS. 6 and 7 present top perspective views of the carton which reveal the method of completing the assembly thereof to form a double wall periphery. Thus, walls 4 and 5 are folded over and into the carton to form the completed double wall carton shown in FIG. 7. Hand holes 3 in the double wall sections and in the end sections are aligned when the assembly is completed.

Front perspective views of the carton top revealing the assembly thereof are shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. Accordingly, side walls 106 are folded into an upstanding position which is perpendicular to top wall 100. Reinforcing flaps 107, attached to opposite ends of side walls 106 are folded into a position perpendicular to each side wall and abutting the top wall. End wall 101 and interior reinforcing panels 103 are folded over and about intermediate reinforcing fiaps 107. Accordingly, the upstanding end walls are now substantially perpendicular to the top wall and facingly abut the outer side of each intermediate reinforcing flap. Double hinge sections 102 comprising narrow intervening panels then abut the top edge of the intermediate reinforcing flaps 107. Finally, the intermediate reinforcing panels 103 attached to the double hinge sections now abut the inner side of each intermediate reinforcing flap and the top wall. As shown in FIG. 9, locking tongues 104 on the outer edge of each reinforcing panel engage at least one slot 105 in the completely assembled carton top.

The completely assembled carton and top are shown in the front perspective view of FIG. 10. As evident, both carton and top may be assembled from only two pieces of paperboard by relatively simple steps not requiring the use of extraneous securing means such as staples. Where desirable, the carton may be provided with flap 18 which facilitates lifting loaded cartons by hand holes 3.

I claim:

1. A carton comprising:

upstanding rectangularly arranged side walls and connecting end walls connected in tubular relation, first trapezoidal closure flaps having longer and shorter base ends and each having the longer end connected to a corresponding one of said side walls, the short ends of the two flaps being in end abutting relation,

second trapezoidal closure flaps having longer and shorter ends, and having the shorter ends hingedly connected to the shorter ends of said first closure flaps,

substantially rectangular end wall closure flaps hinged to the lower ends of said end walls and folded to overlie said first trapezoidal closure flaps and to underlie said second trapezoidal closure flaps,

said end wall closure flaps extending substantially into end abutting relation, and

the ends of said end Wall closure flaps having aligned slots therein, the combined lengths of said slots being substantially equal to the length of said shorter ends of said trapezoidal flaps and through which the portion of the folded connection between the shorter ends of said first and second trapezoidal flaps extend.

2. The structure of claim 1 and in which the longer ends of said first and second trapezoidal closure flaps are substantially equal in length to the length of said side walls.

3. The structure of claim 2 and in which said second trapezoidal closure fiaps each include a rectangular extension, the second trapezoidal closure flaps and said extensions thereon being of a combined length substantially equal to one half the width of said end walls' 4. The structure of claim 1 and in which said second trapezoidal closure flaps are extended to be of a length substantially equal to one half the width of said end walls, and including interlocking means on each said trapezoidal closure flap and on one of said walls to hold said second closure flaps parallel to said first closure flaps.

5. The structure of claim 1 and in which said second trapezoidal closure fiaps are extended to be of a length substantially equal to one half the width of said end walls, and including interlocking means on the end of each second closure fiap and on the side wall to which it is connected.

6. A carton comprising:

upstanding rectangularly arranged side walls and connecting end walls connected in tubular relation, first trapezoidal closure fiaps having longer and shorter base ends and each having the longer end connected to a corresponding one of said side walls, the short ends of the two flaps being in end abutting relation,

second trapezoidal closure flaps having longer and shorter ends, and having the shorter ends hingedly connected to the shorter ends of said first closure flaps,

substantially rectangular end wall closure laps hinged to the lower ends of said end walls and folded to overlie said first trapezoidal closure flaps and to underlie said second trapezoidal closure flaps,

said end Wall closure flaps being provided with slots extending into the ends thereof at a central location between the side edges and perpendicular to the lines of fold connecting said end wall closure flaps to said end walls to the slots of said two end wall closure flaps being aligned,

said slots terminating in slot ends spaced from said lines of fold connecting said end Wall closure flaps to said end walls, said slot base ends being spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the shorter connected ends of said trapezoidal closure flaps, and

the angularly related sides of said second trapezoidal closure flaps being spaced from the lines of fold connecting said end wall closure flaps to said end Walls a distance substantially no greater than the distance between said base ends of said slots and the corresponding lines of fold connecting said end Wall closure flaps to said end walls when said second trapezoidal closure flaps are folded into face contact at right angles to said just trapezoidal closure flaps.

7. The structure of claim 6 and in which the longer ends of said first and second trapezoidal closure flaps are subfitantially equal in length to the length of said side wa s.

8. The structure of claim 7 and in which said second trapezoidal closure flaps each include a rectangular extension each ot the second trapezoidal closure flaps and said extension thereon, being of a combined length substantially equal to one half the width of said end walls.

9. The structure of claim 6 and in which said second trapezoidal closure flaps are extended to be of a length substantially equal to one half the width of said end walls, and including interlocking means on each said trapezoidal closure flap and on one of said walls to hold second closure flaps parallel to said first closure flaps.

10. The structure of claim 6 and in which said second trapezoidal closure flaps are extended to be of a length substantially equal to one half the width of said end walls, and including interlocking means on the end of each second closure fiap and on the side Wall to which it is connected.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,965,215 7/1934 Boeye 229-43 2,565,188 8/1951 Welshenbach 229-39 2,809,775 10/1957 White 22934 3,266,707 8/1966 Aust et a1 229-44 DAVID M. BOCKENEK, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

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