US2558715A - Multicompartment folding carton - Google Patents

Description

M. I. WILLIAMSON UULTICOIIPARTIIENT FOLDING CARTON Filed April 21, 195o 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. MARS/:Ml L WILL/A M50/V La'. ATTGRA/[YS June 26, 1951 M. WILLIAMSON 2,553,715

l, MULTICOMPARTMENT FOLDING CARTON Filed April 21, 1950 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 -Fg- 3 I l INVENTOR.

MARSH/1u W/u/AMso/v AL. ATTORNEYS June26, 1951 IM. |..w||.l.|AMsoN l 2,558,715

ULTIconPAR'mENT FOLDING cAR'roN med April 21, 195o v sheets-sheet s June 26, 1951 M. l, WILLIAMSON 2,553,715

MULTICQMPARTMENT FOLDING CARTON Filed April 21, 195o Y v sheets-sheet s INVEN TOR. MARSHALL WILLIAMSON M. l. WILLIAMSON 2,558,715

MULTICOMPARTMENT FOLDING CARTON 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 June 26, 1951 Filed April' 21, 195o INVENTOR. MARSHALL W/LL/AMsO/v vt...) .wrok/Veys S .MSR

m S. M. m oa m w m mi .l 5 U A June 26,1951 M. l. wlLLlAMsoN 2,558,715

uULTIcoMPAR'mENT FOLDING CARTON v Filed April 2,1, 1950 7 Sheets-Sheet 7v INVENTOR. MARSHALL WILLIAMSON LA'. Arron/frs n chandise.

Potential June 'M'UL'ricoMPAR'rM'ENTl EoLDmG cAR'roNv Marshall I. Williamson', New Haven, Conn., as`- signor .to National Folding Box Company,` Inc., New Haven,- Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application April 2l",f 1950,.SerialNo. 157,195

This' invention relates to improvements in v boxes or ,cartons made from foldable sheet'material, such as paperboard, for packaging in com-V partments or cellsa plurality of bottles, cans,

jars, or other articles as a unit which mayeasily be stacked bythe dealer, carriedhome by the consumer, fand which, in addition, vprovides a protection for` the individual articles packaged therein. f

Boxes or cartons of the aforementioned multi- 7 claims. (01.224448) 2 tle carriers which areto be loaded on automatic machinery. y

The various features, objects and advantages of the invention will appear more fully from the detailed descriptionv which follows accompanied by drawings showing,'for the purpose of illustracompartment type have a wide variety of uses,

one of themost common applications being thebottle carrier. The present invention will be explained'hereinafter in its specic application lto bottle carriers, although it is .plain that the invention is equally applicable to the packaging,

in multiple, of other products or articles of mer- The invention provides a multi-cellular boxv or carton which 'may be produced from a minimum tion, an application of vthe invention to bottle carriers. The invention also consists in certain new and original features of construction here inafter set forth and claimed. Although the characteristic features of the invention which are believed to be novel will be particularly `pointed out in the claims appended hereto, the invention itself, itsV objects and advantages and the manner in which it may be carried out may be better understood from the detailed description in which:

Figure 1 is a plan View ofa flat blank of a carrier body incorporating the present invention;

of board, which may be glued on conventional folding and gluing machines, and be set up by a few simple folding operations.

'I'he invention relates more particularly to multicellular boxes of the type in which individual cells or pockets are formed by webs extending from one side wall to an opposite side wall or from one side wall to a central partition and thence to an opposite side wall, the webs extending substantially at right angles to the side walls and substantially normal with respect to the bottom of th'e box.

The invention provides a web structure resulting in the formation of substantially circular or polygonal cells, adapted to hold round articles With a snug grip without, however, making difiicult the loading of the box with merchandise.

vThewebs are of a particularly strong truss construction which makes vthem vparticularly `suited for attachment thereto of handles made sheet material, for example, strap handles of 'paperboard by which the loaded box maybe lifted up.

- The cellular web structure is furthermore sor` designed that it may easily be set up from a fiat,l

collapsed tubular blank structure and thereafter securely remains in set up condition. It resists accidental recollapsing .or even distortionA by reason of an unusual degree of stiffness. feature makes the invention particularly valuable for bottle carriers which are to be loadedl o n automatic loading machines of the type in which a great number ofl bottles is simultaneously dropped into a plurality of pockets or cells. vResistanceto deformation and the prevention of accidental collapsing ismost important vinbot- Figur'e 2 is a planview of the blank of Figure `1 after an initial gluing and Afolding operation resultingin a fiat tubular structure;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the glued blank of Figure 2 after expansion into hollow form;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the expanded blank of Figure 3 in the process of formation of its cellular top web structure;

Figure 54 is a perspective view of the completed carrier body after formation of its top web struc- :m

ture;

Figure 6 isa plan view of the completed carrier l body shown in Figure 5;

Figure 7 is an elevational side view of the carrier body shown in Figure 5;

Figure 8 is a plan view of a iiat blank for a *suitable strap handlev for the carrier body;

Figure 9'-is a plan view of the blank shown in Figure 8 after reinforcement by staples;

Figure 10 is a side view, on an enlarged scale, of one ofthe ends ofthe strap 'shown in Figure 9 bentfor attachment' to a carrier body;

Figure 11`is a perspective view ofa carrier as- This l for convenience'.A tended to be as generic in their application as the art will permit. Corresponding reference characsembled from the blanks shown in Figures 1 and 9;

Y Figurel2 is a plan view of a at blank for asix cell carrier having a center partition; and

Figure 13 is a perspective view of the six cell carrier with an attached strap handle.

In the following description and in the claims various details will be identified by specific names The names, however, are inters refer to corresponding parts in the several -gures of the drawings.

3 In the drawings accompanying and forming part of this specification, certain specific disclosure of the invention is made for the purpose of explanation of broader aspects of the invention. but it is understood that the details may be modied in various respects without departure from the broad principles of the invention and that the invention may be applied to other structures than the ones shown.

The blank A as shown in Figure 1 may be cut and scored, in multiple, from large rolls or sheets of foldable sheet material such as paperboard, on automatic cutting and scoring machines. The several constituents parts of the blank are set apart by fold or crease lines. The blank comprises a side wall panel II, a top wall pane I2, a further side wall panel I3. a bottom wall panel I4 and a glue lap I5 hingedly interconnected along fold lines I5, I1, I3, and I3, respectively. Elongated apertures 23 and 2l are cut in the top panel II for attachment of the handle, as will later appear.

The top panel I2 and adjoining portions of-the side wall panels II and I3 are cut and scored to provide a cellular web structure forming individual compartments for bottles or other forms of merchandise. Cuts 22, 23 and 24 extend at right angles to the fold lines I5 and I1. 'I'hese cuts separate the stock into webs 25, 25, 21 and 23 which after appropriate folding form article receiving cells, as will later appear.

'Ihe webs are foldable at a plurality of fold lines. These fold lines include diagonal or oblique fold lines 23, 33. 3l, 32, 33 and 34 extending from short terminal cuts 35, 35 and 31 to the transverse fold line I1 at an angie. Similar diagonal fold lines 33, 33, 43, 4I, 42 and 43 extend from vsimilar short terminalcuts 44, 45 and 45- to the transverse fold line I5 and preferably include between themselves the same angles as the fold lines 23, 33, 3|, 32, 33 and 34. The webs 25 and 23 constitute terminal webs since they lie at the outer edges of the blank. The webs 25 and 21 constitute intermediate webs. Theseintermediate webs comprise ridge fold ` lines 41 and 43 to provide for double ply thickness of the intermediate webs, as will later appear.`

Folding of the web structure is facilitated by a plurality of crease lines 43, 53, 5I, 52, 53, 54 and 43', 53', 5I', 52', 53', 54'. These crease lines criscross the top panel I2 and subdivide the several webs lntoindividual web portions. It is evident that the angles at which these crease lines intersect, as well as their outline, depends on the width of the panel I2 measured between the fold lines I5 and I1 as well as the depth or height of the respective webs in the finished carrier body. Further transverse fold lines 55 and 55 extend across the blank to facilitate folding of the webs as will later become apparent.

Triangular panels 51, 58. 53. 53 and 5I, 52, 53 and 54 extend with their apexes from either end of the ridges of the webs. These ridges, as will later appear, are formed by the ridge fold lines 41 and 43 and by the outer edge portions of the outer edges 55 and 55 of the blank A. The tri- 4 I3 to bring the panel I4 face-to-face with the panel I3. Thereafter the blank is folded about the fold line I3 and the terminal portion of the panel II is pressed into adhesivey engagement lwith the glue lap I5. The resulting tubular structure A' is shown in Figure 2 and is ready for expension into hollow form. Flat tubular blanks may be stored and shipped to the user in flat collapsed condition, requiring a minimum of space and may be set up into final form by a few relatively simple assembly operationsv which may be performed at the bottling plant. These operaand 23. This force causes the web panels to move towards a vertical position with respect to the bottom panel I4. Simultaneously the ridges 55, 41, 43 and 55 are raised and the triangular panels 51, 53, 53, 53 and 5I, 52, 53 and 54 assume a slantlng position as shown in Figure 4. Further pressure against the web panels and supplementary pressure against the tilting edges I5` and I1 causes the web panels to assume their ilnal vertical position which they then automatically maintain due to a peculiar behavior inherent in the illustrated structure which may be compared to the action of the commonly known over-center spring which snaps into one or the other of two extreme positions after being forced past its center position. A center position is encountered in the present assembly between the positions of the edges I5 and I1 in Figures 4 and angular panels are bounded by the transverse fold lines I1 and I5, respectively, forming the bases and resistant to deformation due to the trusslike construction of the webs dividing thecells 13, 83 and 3I from one another.

Figures 6 and 'I show the completed carrier body in'plan view and in end view, respectively. It is apparent from both gures that the upper portions of the side walls II and I3 slope inwardly adjacent the webs, and this inward slope then continues, in the manner of a mansard roof, in the triangular panels from whose apexes the horizontal ridges 55, 41, 43 and 55 extend.

The sloping of the side walls is produced by the folding of the webs into a position substantially normal with respect to the bottom panel I4. As the ridges 55, 41, 43 and 55 are being raised above the fold lines I3 and I1, whereby also the triangular panels 51, 53, 53, 53 and 5I, 52, 53 and 54 assume an upward slant, the side walls II and I3 are drawn together at the fold lines i5 and I'I. It will be noted that the space between the side walls II and I3 becomes increasingly narrower as the V-shaped gaps 23 and 33, l3| and 32, 33 and 34 in the wall'l3, and the corresponding gaps in the opposite wall II are becoming increasingly wider. The peculiar web construction thus provides a secure and snug seat for articles in the cells not only at the bottom of the V-shape gaps, butialso at points above, where round articles would tend to encounter a loose t, if the side walls were straight.

It is apparent that each of the webs comprises a central portion 31 and end portions 33. An intermediate portion lies between the central porterminal webs. since they lie at the outer edges of the blank. The webs |26 and |21 constitute kintermediate webs. These intermediate webs comprise ridge fold lines |41 and |48 for double ply thickness of the intermediate webs.

Folding of the web structure is facilitated by a plurality of crease lines |48, |58, |l, |52, |53, |54, and |18, |88, |8|, |82, |83, and |84. These crease lines criss-cross the top panel |05 and subdivide the several webs into individual web portions. It is evident that the angles at which these crease lines intersect, as well as their outline, depends on the width of the panel |85 measured between the fold lines and ||2 as well as the depth or height of the respective webs in the finished carrier body. Further transverse fold lines ||5 and |56 extend across the blank to facilitate foldingvof the web'structure..

Triangular panels |51,|58, |58, |68 and |6I, |62., |63 and |64 extend with their apexes from either end of the ridges of the webs. The ridges are formed by the ridge fold lines |41 and |48 and by the outer edge portions of the outer edges |65 and |66 of tlie blank A. The-triangular panels are bounded by the transverse fold lines and ||2, respectively, forming the bases of the triangles,'and by further fold lines |61, |68, |68, |18, ill, |12 and |13, |14, |15, |16, |11 and |18, forming the sides of the triangles.

Lock naps'l85 and |86 are cut from the stock of the center partition ||i2r and are hingedly connected thereto along fold lines |81 and |88, respectively. The fold lines |81 and |88 are preferably interrupted by cuts |82 and |83 forming extension tabs |84 and |85 integral with the flaps |85 and |86.

The lock flaps |85 and |86 flt into apertures |86 and |81 between the two plies of the intermediate webs |26 and |21. The apertures |88` and |81 are preferably so shaped as to form tabs |88 and |88 which nt into the apertures open at the fold lines |81 and |88, when the flaps |85 and |86 are folded into a position at right angles with respect to the plane of the center partition panel |82.

Apertures H5, ||6, ||1 and ||8 are provided in the intermediate webs for `engagement with the handle barbs, as hereinbefore described.

In the set up carrier the lock naps |85 and |86 rest between the two plies of the intermediate webs and maintain the partition panel |02 centeredfwith respect to the webs |26 and |21. In

great which makes the box suited for repeated reuse.

What is claimed is: y l. In a folding carton fora plurality of botmade from a blank of foldable sheet material, spaced portions of the blank being secured together to form a tubular structure including a plurality of creases between the several constituent parts of the unit, such parts comprising a bottom, side walls articulated to, and upwardly extending from, said bottom, and a top structure consisting of webs integral withsaid side walls tles, cans, and other articles, the structural unit and extending from one side wall to the other to form cells between them for the reception of articles,each web having two end portions folded ,back upon the respective side walls about diagonal fold lines and overlying the side walls on the inside of the cell, said webs further including a central portion extending substantially at right angles to said side walls and substantially normal to said bottom, and an intermediate portion between the central portion and each end portion, said intermediate portion comprising a top panel articulated to the respective side wall and extending at an upward slant therefrom, and a substantially vertical skirt panel articulated to the respective end portion, the central portion and said top panel, respectively.

2. In a folding carton for a plurality of bottles, cans, and other articles, the structural unit made yfrom a blank of foldable sheet material, spaced portions of the blank being secured together to form a tubular structure including a plurality of creases between the several constituent parts of the unit, such parts comprising a bottom, side walls articulated to, and upwardly extending from, said bottom, and a top structure consisting of webs integral with said side walls and extending from one side wall to the other to form cells between them for the reception of articles, each web having two end portions folded back upon the respective side walls about diagonal fold lines and overlying the side walls on the inside of the cell, said webs further including a, central portion extending substantially at right angles to said side walls and substantially normal to said bottom, an intermediate skirt portion articulated to the central portion and the respective end portion, said skirt portion extending substantially normal to the bottom and at an angle with respect to the central portion and to the end portion to which it is articulated, and a substantially triangular top portion articulated to said skirt portion and to the adjacent side wall and extending at an upward slope therefrom, said central portion adjoining the apex of the triangular portion.

3. A folding carton for a plurality of bottles, cans, and other articles, the carton being made from a blank of foldable sheet material, spaced portions of the blank being secured together to form a tubular structure including a plurality of creases between the several constituent portions of the carton, such portions comprising a bottom, side walls articulated to, and upwardly extending from, said bottom and a top structure consisting of webs integral withsaid side walls and extending from one side wall to the other to form cells between them for the reception of articles, each web having two end portions folded back upon the respective side walls about diagonal fold lines and overlying the side walls on the inside of the cell, said webs further including a central portion etxending' substantially at right angles to said side walls and substantially normal to said bottom, and an intermediate portion between the central portion and each end portion, said intermediate portion comprising a top surface articulated to the respective side wall and extending at an upward slant therefrom, and a substantially vertical skirt surface articulated to the respective lend portion, the central portion and said top surface, respectively, the outermost webs of the skirt portion 99. The skirt portion is articulated to the triangular panel and is integral with the central portion 81. The skirt portion 99 may be considered a connecting portion between the respective end portion 98 and the central portion 91 and extends at an angle to both. 'g

'I'he webs possess a surprising amount of strength and rigidity to a lifting force applied at their lower edges, particularly the webs 26 and 21 which are of double ply thickness. This feature makes the carrier body admirably suited for use with handles, a preferred form of which will now be described. The handle forms the subject matter of a copending application for letters patent Serial No. 134,889 filed Dec. 24, 1949 of Marshall I. Williamson.

Referring to Figure 8, the flat strap handle 'blank B consists of a central hand grip portion 82 and end portions 83 and 94 foldably connected to the central portion 82 along fold lines 85 and 86. Thecentral portion 82 of the blank B may include a plurality of scores 81 to facilitate subsequent fiexing of the handle into U-shape. However, the scores 81 are not indispensable and may Ibe omitted. y l

The blank B is made from paperboard, preferably board having substantial tear strength. Kraft is suitable stock for the handle. Ordinarily it can be used in single ply strength without any reinforcement. However, if the handle is to be used under particularly unfavorable conditions, if the load is exceptionally great, or if it is desired to use 4stock of lower grade for the handle,

'the blank B may be made of laminated stock,

particularly stock including a fabric ply.

The shape of the blank B is optional. It may be made of equal width throughout, or, as shown in Figure 8, the portion 82 may be made progressively narrower towards the center for more con-,- venient gripping of the strap by hand. It is preferable, although not necessary, to make the ends equal to the width of the panels v26- and 21, as measured between the fold lines 55 and 66.

The ends of the handle blank B are first reinforced by one or a plurality of metal staples at each end. The number of staples depends on the load to be carried, the width of the handle, and the gauge of the staple employed. In the illustrated form of handle two staples are used at each end. The staples 88, 89, 90 and 9| extend across the fold lines 85 and 86 respectively, and are preferably struck so that the ends of the staples within the end panels 83 and 84 are fully bent back .or into the board. while the other ends of the staples are bent to remain at an angle with respect to the board to form a barb 92 as shown in Figure illustrating one end of the handle B after bending into hoop shape at the fold line 86. The portion of the staples within the end panel 94 is preferably shorter than the portion Within the panel 82 to produce a tighter grip onthe transverse web of the carrier body.

The assembly of the strap handle B' with the carrier body A" is simple and may be performed as follows:

The blank of the handle B is first exed into substantially inverted U-shape, ancl isv then hooked onto the webs 26 and 21 of the carrier body as shown in Figure 11. The barbs engage the apertures and 2| in the webs and prevent subsequent disengagement of the handle from the carrier body. The load is sustained by the handle at the fold lines 86 and 86 which is in a surportions.

'by the staples, but also 6 face-to-edge engagement with the lower edges of the transverse webs 28 and 21. The load tends to unbend the handle at the fold lines and 86 which is effectively opposed by the stiffness of the staples 88, 89, 98 and 9| which thusserve the dual purpose of reinforcing the handles at critical points with regard to tear strength, and of adding to the stiffness of the handle at the same The assembled carrier body and handleshown in perspective in Figure 11. For'convenience of stacking loaded carriers the handle maybe depressed into a position below the tops of bottles in the carrier. Pressure against the top` of the handle causes the handle to flatten out slightly at the top. This deformation, however, does not cause the handle to become disengaged from the transverse webs 26 and 21 nor the barbs to be withdrawn from the apertures 28 and 2|. The end portions 83 and 84 of the handle aregmaintained in their handle securing position 4not only by the pressure bf bottles or other articleswithin the pockets 19, 80

'and 8| kbearing against the handle end portions 82, 83 and 84. respectively. The pressure of the bottles makes it obviously impossible for the handle to become disengaged from the carrier body under load. This is a safety feature of the construction.

A carrier for six bottles, cans, or other articles' is shown in Figures 12 and 13. The construction of the carrier body B" is very similar to. that 'of the carrier body A" except for the presence of a center partition |02 which divides the space between the Webs |25, |26, |21 and |28 into six pockets. The webs |26 and |21 are of double ply thickness and include apertures I5, ||6, ||1 and ||8 (Figure 12) similar to the apertures "26 and 2| in the carrier body A" for engagement by the barbs of the handle 93. The barbs are formed by reinforcing staples in' the same manner as shown in Figures 9, 10 and 11, the staplesl being visible atl89 and |9|.

The handle 98 is of substantially the same out- I line as the handle B except for slits and 96. The slits 95 and 96 facilitate the assembly of the handle 93 with the carrier body, in that the handle fits easily over the central partition |02. h

The blank B of the carrier B is shown in Figure 12. It comprises a center partition |02, a bottom panel |03, side wall panel |04, a top panel |05, a further side wall panel |06, a further bottom panel |01 and a glue lap |08. These panels are hingedly interconnected along fold lines |09, ||0,|||,||2,||3and||4.

The top panel |05 and adjoining portions of the side wall panels |04 and |06 are cut and scored to provide a cellular web structure forming individual compartments for bottles or `other forms of merchandise. Cuts |22, |23 and |24 extend at right angles to the fold lines and l l2. These cuts separate the stock into webs |25, |26, I|21 and |28 which, after appropriate folding, form the article receiving cells.

The webs are foldable at a plurality of fold lines. These fold lines include diagonal or oblique fold lines |29, |30, |3l, |32, |33 and |34 extending from short terminal cuts |35, |35 and |31 to the transverse fold line at an angle. Similar diagonal fold lines |38, |39, |49, |4|, |42 and |43 extend from similar short terminal cuts |44, |45 and |46 to the transverse-fold line H2 and preferably include between themselves the same angles as the fold lines |29, |30, |3l, |32, |33 and |84. The webs |25 and |28 constitute 9 tion being folded back-to-back about a fold line forming the ridge of the web.

4. A folding carton for a plurality of bottles, cans, and other. articles, the carton being made from a blank of foldable sheet material, spaced portions of the blank being secured together to form a tubular structure including a plurality of creases between the several constituent portions of the carton such portions comprising, a pair of outer side walls, a center partition, a bottom connected to said side walls and said partition and a cellular top structure dividing the spaces between the side walls and the center partition into individual article receiving cells, said top structure comprising webs integral with said side walls and extending at substantially right angles to the side walls from one side wall to the other and transverse to said partition, each web having two end portions folded back upon the respective side walls about diagonal fold lines and overlying the side walls on the inside of the cell, said webs further including a central portion extending subtantially at right angles to said side walls and substantially normal to said bottom, an intermediate skirt portion articulated to the central portion and the respective end portion, said skirt portion extending substantially normal to the bottom and at an angle with respect to the central portion and to the end portion to which it is articulated, and a substantially triangular top portion articulated to said skirt portion and to the adjacent side wall and extending at an upward slope therefrom, said central portion adjoining the apex of the triangular portion` 5. A folding carton set forth in the preceding claim 4 in which the top structure includes terminal webs lying at the ends of the carton and intermediate` webs lying between the terminal webs, the intermediate webs having central portions of double thickness, the two thicknesses being folded back-to-back about a fold line forming the ridge of the web.

6. A folding carton for a plurality of bottles', cans, and other articles, the carton being made from a blank of foldable sheet material, spaced l0 portions of the blank being secured together to form a tubular structure including a plurality of creases between the several constituent portions of the carton such portions comprising, a pair of outer side walls, a center partition having recesses cut into it from its top edge, a bottom connected to said side walls and said partition and a-cellular top structure dividing the spaces between the side walls and the center partition into individual articles receiving cells, said top structure lcomprising Webs articulated to said side walls and eX- tending at substantially right angles to the side walls from one side wall to the other and transverse to said partition, each web including a central vportion extending substantially at right angles with respect to said side walls and through said recesses in said center partition and substantially upright with respect to said bottom, each web further including a substantially triangular portion articulated to each of said side walls and bordering said central portion with its apex, and downwardly depending skirt portions articulated to saidl triangular portions and to integral with said central portion.

7. A folding carton asset forth in the preceding claim 6 in which the.top structure includes terminal webs lying at the ends of the carton and intermediate webs lying between the terminal webs, the intermediate webs having central portions of double thickness, the two thicknesses being folded back-to-back about a fold line forming the ridge of the web.

MARSHALL I. WILLIAMSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED ySTATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,397,549 Koolnis Apr. 2, 1946 2,432,481 Lyons, Jr. Dec. 9, 1947 2,523,985 Foster Sept. 26, 1950 2,537,614 Arneson Jan. 9, 1951

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