US2558940A - Container - Google Patents

Description

R. M. DUNNING 2,558,940

CONTAINER 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 July 3, 1951 Filed May 16, 1946 July 3, 1951 R, D Q 2,558,940

7 CONTAINER Filed May 16, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 I 44 40 1 1 I I o 1 10 15 O r 30 19-- f 41 I I g Patented July 3, 1 951 CONTAINER Robert M. Dunning, St. Paul, Minn assignor to Waldorf Paper Products Company, St. Paul, Minn., a corporation of Minnesota Application May 16, 1948, No. 670,227

My invention relates to an improvement in container and deals more particularly with that type of container used for the handling of bottled goods and the like.

In recent years various types of containers have been produced for use in packaging bottled oods such as beer, carbonated water and the like. Certain of these containers have been produced with double top closure panels arranged to meet in abutting relation between two opposed edges of the container top. The top closure panels are usually provided with marginal depending edges along three sides thereof and are connected to a container wall along the fourth edge. In many instances the end walls of the containers are slotted in their upper edges to receive certain flanges of the top panels. While such structure has certain advantages there are also accompanying disadvantages. For example the slotted upper edge of the end wall considerably weakens the end wall. Secondly the flanges overlying the exterior of the end walls of the container have a tendency to catch on other containers thereby ripping the flanges at their connecting corners.

It is an object of the present invention to avoid difllculties previously encountered in containers of the general type described. This I accomplish by arranging the flanges of the cover panel to fold inwardly of the side and end walls of the container and by providing a means of attaching the cover panel flanges to the end walls to provide a means of connecting the end walls of the container intermediate the side walls thereof.

A feature of the present invention lies in providing clip means on the opposed end walls of the container which are engageable with the cover panel flanges in such a way that a strain on one end wall is transmitted to the opposite end wall.

A feature of the present invention lies in the provision of a clip secured to each end wall above the hand hold to provide a wide surface which may be engaged by the hands in carrying the case.

A feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a clip into which the closure panel flanges engage in closed position of the container so as to hold these flanges in definite relation to certain of the walls of the container in closed position thereof.

An added feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a clip supported within each end wall of a container which acts to 1 Claims. (01. 229-52) tively, along a common fold line 21.

These and other objects and novel features of my invention will be more clearly and fully set forth in the following specification and claims.

In the drawings forming a part of my specification: v

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my container showing the general construction thereof.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section through the container, the section being taken through one of the top closure panels and adjacent the end of the clips.

Figure 3 is a transverse section through the container.

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view through the end walls and top panel of the container, the section being taken closely adjacent the ends of the clips.

Figure 5 is an enlarged section through a portion of the top of the container adjacent one end thereof.

Figure 6 is an elevational view of my container end wall.

Figure 7 illustrates diagrammatically the blank from which the container body is formed.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of a clip removed from the end walls.

Figure 9 illustrates diagrammatically the manher in which a strip of material is cut in the formation of rmr clip.

The container A includes a bottom wall It having side walls II and I2 connected to opposite edges thereof along fold lines l3 and H. A top closure panel I5 is connected to the panel ll along a fold line It. A top panel ll is foldably connected to the side wall panel I: along a fold line l9. An edge flange 2a is connected to the top panel I! along a fold line 2|. An edge flange 22 is connected to the top panel I! along a fold line 23. In usual construction the fold lines l3, ll, I6, l9, 2|, and 23 are parallel or approximately so.

Attaching flanges 24, 25, and 21 are connected to the ends of the panels l0, II and I2, respec- Attaching flanges 29, ill. and 3| are likewise connected to the other ends of the panels lo, II and I2, re-

spectively, along a common fold line 32. End flanges 33 and 34 are connected to opposite ends of the top panel l5 along fold lines 35 and 36. The fold lines 35 and 36 are preferably parallel to and spaced inwardly of the fold lines 21 and 32. End flanges 35 and 36 are connected to the top panel along fold lines 31 and 39. These fold lines 31 and 39 are preferably parallel the fold lines 21 and 32 and spaced inwardly therefrom.

Tongues 49 and 4| are foldably connected to the end flanges 33 and 34 along aligned fold lines 42 and 43. Tongue 44 and 45 are connected to the end flanges 35 and 36 along aligned fold lines 46 and 41.

The end walls are constructed as best illustrated in Figure 6 of the drawings. Each end wall includes a substantially rectangular body portion 49 which is foldably connected along a fold line 50 to a reinforcing flap or flange 5|. The flange 5| is foldable through 180 degrees to lie in surface contact with the body 49. A notch 52 isprovided in the free edge of the flange 6| intermediate the ends thereof. This notch is wider at its base line 53 than immediately adjacent the base line, small tabs or fingers 54 projecting into the notch in opposed relation. These flngers 54 are provided to hold the clip B in position during the assembly operation.

Each clip B is formed as best illustrated in Figures 8 and 9 of the drawings. The clip B includes an anchoring wall 55 having a central upward projection 56 and substantially aligned upper end edges 51. An aperture 59 is provided in the projection 56 for accommodation of an anchoring staple or the like. The lower edge of the rear wall 55 is connected along a fold line 66 to the bottom wall 6|. The bottom wall 6| is connected along a fold line 62 to a front wall illustrated in general by the numeral 63. The front wall 63 includes a pair of spaced upward projections 64 and 65 terminating at their upper extremity by an outwardly flared edge 66. One or more reinforcing beads 61 may be provided in the clip, these reinforcing beads extending through the rear wall 55, the bottom wall 6| and the front wall 63 so as to hold the clip in channel formation. The outer edges 69 connecting the upwardly flared edges 66 to the side edges of the clip are preferably rounded as illustrated. In the formation of the clip in the manner illustrated the rounding of the comers 69 usually provides pointed ends Ill on the rear wall 55.

The clips B may be formed with a short wall portion 1| between the upwardly projecting portions 64 and 65. This short wall bites into the lower edge of the cover panel flanges in assembled form of the container and may assist in holding the ends of the case from bowing outwardly when the cover is closed.

The clips B are preferably formed from strip stock as indicated in Figure 9 and the only material wasted is that punched from the aperture 59. This permits considerable economy in manufacture which is an important item in the production of containers and the like.

In the assembly of the case A the ends may first be assembled with the clips B. This is accomplished by folding the flap or flange 5| from the dotted position in Figure 6 to the full line position therein so as to provide a double thickness upper end edge. The clip B is inserted in place as illustrated in Figure 6 the rear wall 55 being sandwiched between the flange 5| and the body 49, and the bottom wall 6| of the clip engaged against the base 53 of the notch 52. When in this position the clip B is held in place by the fingers 52. The folded edge is then inserted in a stapling machine, the mandrel of the stapling machine extending in the notch between the projections 64 and 65 of the front wall 63. The clip is designed so that when the mandrel of the stapling machine isengaged against the upper edge of the short wall portion H the staple will pass through the aperture 59 adjacent the upper edge thereof. Thus a staple may beinserted through the clip aperture and through Y the flange 5| and body 49 to hold the clip firm- 1y attached to the end wall. This clip is indicated by the numeral 12 in Figure 6 of the drawings. Additional clips 13 may be inserted through theflange 5| and the end wall 49 adjacent the ends of the clip to further anchor the clip in place.

The end walls 49 are attached to the side walls as best illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawings. The flanges 24, 25, and 26 on one end of the bottom wall Ill and side walls II and I2 are folded to lie exteriorly of one end wall 49 and these flaps are stitched to the end wall by suitable means as by the staples 14. The other end wall is similarly attached to the bottom and side walls IO, N and I2 by attachment to the flanges 29, 36, and 3|.

The flanges 33, 34, and 20 on the top closure panel l5 are folded down in right angular relation to the panel |5 with the tongues 40 and 4| lying inwardly of the flange 20. Staples such as 75 are inserted through the tongues 46 and 4| and the flange 26 to hold the flanges 26, 33, and 34 .at right angles to the closure panel l5. In a similar manner the flanges 22, 35, and 36 are folded down at .right angles to the cover panel I! with the tongues 44 and lying inwardly of the flange 22 and these tongues are attached to the flange 22 by staples such as 15.

It will be noted that the clips B are secured to the end walls 49 at a point substantially flush with the upper edge of the hand holds I6. As a result the container may be readily lifted and carried by inserting the hands through the hand holds 16. The lower edges 6| of the clips form a wide surface which may be comfortably engaged by the fingers and the fingers may fold upwardly over the front walls 63 of the clips to form an easy manner of grasping or carrying the container.

When the container is closed the end flanges 33 and 35 engage within the front wall 63 of one of the clips B on one end wall 49 while the flanges 34 and 36 engage inwardly of the front wall 63 of the clip B on the opposing end wall. Thus the clips B serve the purpose of limiting the downward closing of thecover panels l5 and II. The flanges 20 and 22 extend through the notch in the front wall of each clip between the projecting portions 64 and 65, thus forming a rigid center support in the top of the container. Furthermore as the end flanges on the cover panels at one end of the container are engaged in one clip 5 B and as the flanges on the other end of the cover panels are engaged in the clip on the opposite end wall, the strain on one end wall tending to pull the end wall outwardly is transmitted through the cover panels and the flanges 26 and 22 to the other end wall. This arrangement is extremely desirable as containers of the type described may be used for carrying bottlev goods such as beer or other goods which possesses considerable weight. As the container is grasped by one hand hold 1, the end wall grasped would tend to bow outwardly. This strain is transmitted in the manner described to the opposite end wall and thus the strain equalized to prevent injury to the case.

In accordance with the patent statutes, I have described the principles of construction and operation of my container, and while I have endeavored to set forth the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that obvious changes may be made within the scope of the following claims without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. A container including a bottom wall, side walls and end walls connected thereto, top closure panels foldably connected to said side walls, and connected marginal edge flanges extending along the remaining edges of said top closure panels, and channel shaped clip means projecting inwardly from said end walls and having spaced projections positioned to receive portions of said edge flanges of both closure panels in closed position of said top panels.

2. A container including a bottom wall, side walls and end walls connected thereto,- top closure panels foldably connected to said side walls, and connected marginal edge flanges extending along the remaining edges of said top closure panels, and channel shaped clip means secured to the inner surface of said end walls and having a pair 01' spaced projections on one side thereof each engageable inwardly of portions of said edge flanges of difierent closure panels.

3. A fiber container including a bottom wall, side walls and end walls connected thereto, top closure panels foldably connected to said side walls, and connected marginal edge flanges extending along the remaining edges of said top closure panels, and relatively rigid bifurcated clip means on the end walls of said container including spaced upward projections each engageable with portions of one of the edge flanges of a different one of said top panels.

4. A container including a bottomwall, side walls and end walls connected thereto, top closure panels foldably connected to said side walls, and connected marginal edge flanges extending along the remaining edges of said top closure panels, and clip means secured to the end walls to extend inwardly therefrom, said clip means including spaced projecting portions extending substantially parallel to said end walls and spaced inwardly therefrom, the edge flanges of both of said top panels being engageable between said projecting portions and the adjacent end wall.

5. A container including a bottom wall, side walls and end walls connected thereto, top closure panels foldably connected to said side walls, and connectedmarginal edge flanges extending along the remaining edges of said top closure panels, and a clip secured to each end wall, said clip being ofcfi'annel formation, one side of said clip being secured adjacent the inner surface of an end wall and the other side of the clip being positioned in spaced relation thereto, said other side of said clip including a pair of spaced upwardly extending projections, one of which is positioned to engage a portion of the edge flange of one of said top panels, and the other projection being positioned to engage the portion of the edge flange of the other of said top panels.

6. A container end wall comprising an end wall panel, a flap foldably connected to the upper edge of said panel and folded to overlie a portion of the inner surface of said end wall panel, and a clip anchored to said end wall panel, said clip having one side thereof interposed between said flap and said side wall, a bottom portion extending beneath the free edge of said flap, and a second side extending substantially parallel to and spaced from said flap a distance at least equal to the thickness of the flap, said other side including a pair of upwardly extending spaced projections.

7. A container end wall including a generally rectangular panel, a reinforcing flap overlying a portion of the same and terminating inwardly of a panel edge, a notch in the inward edge of said flap, a clip having a pair of substantially parallel sides and a connecting bottom portion, one of said sides being interposed between said flap and saidpanel, and the bottom portion of said clip being frictionally engaged in said notch, the other side of said clip being-spaced from said flap a distance greater than the thickness of said flap, and means for holding said clip, flap, and panel in assembled relation.

ROBERT M. DUNNING.

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

UNITED STATES PATENTS Glascofl, Jr. et al. Oct. 22, 1946

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