US2722364A - Utility container - Google Patents

Description

G. A. MOORE UTILITY CONTAINER Nov. 1, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 26, 1952 INVENTOR GEOR E fiflL/lvqrom MOORE Nov. 1, 1955 G. A. MOORE 2,722,364

UTILITY CONTAINER Filed July 26, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 1, 1955 MOORE 2,722,364

UTILITY CONTAINER Filed July 26, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 l NVENTO R GEOR E fiRu/vam/v Moo/a5 Patented Nov. 1, 1955 UTILITY (IGNTAINER George Arlington Moore, New York, N. Y.

Application July 26, 1952, Serial No. 301,029

6 Claims. (Cl. 229-23) This invention relates to utility containers made of sheet materials such as paper, paper-board or laminates thereof, the containers having end-closures adapted to be sealed liquid-tight and providing facilities for easy access to the contents of the container.

A principal object of the instant invention is to provide economical containers having an integral and permanent liquid-tight closure at one end of the container and a liquid-tight closure at the opposite end thereof adapted to be easily opened and reclosed.

Another object of the invention is to provide containers that have an integral and hermetically sealed end-closure that is adapted to be opened with the fingers and expose the entire area at the mouth of the container.

A further object of this invention is to provide reinforced containers having extensions of the side walls thereof adapted to form a closure that will exert substantial resistance to sealing pressure thereby increasing the sealing efficiency of the said closure.

A still further object of this invention is to provide reinforced containers assembled with blanks of sheet materials of varying guages in thickness and character employed for fabrication of the container whereby strength can be provided with economy.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent upon reading the following descriptive disclosure read in conjunction with the illustrative accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a first blank used in fabricating the container,

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a second blank used as a cornpanion for the first blank,

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the first blank folded for assembly,

Fig. 4 is a view in perspective of the second blank folded and assembled with the first blank,

Fig. 5 is a perspective View of the completed assembly of the container,

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view in cross-section taken on line 66 in Fig. 5,

Fig. 7 is a view in perspective of the assembled container with its open mouth in a stage ofbeing closed,

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the completed container,

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view in cross-section of a stage in forming the closure taken on line 1010 in Fig. 8 prior to being completed,

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary view in cross-section of the completed closure taken on line 1010 in Fig. 8,

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary view in cross-section of the closure taken on line 1111 in Fig. 8,

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary view in perspective of the container in a stage of being re-closed after breaking the seal and having been initially opened,

Fig. 13 is a perspective view of a blank used in a modified closure of the container,

Fig. 14 is a view in perspective of the container with the closure in a stage of being formed,

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary view in cross-section of the closure formation taken on line 15-15 in Fig. 14,

Fig. 16 is a perspective view of the container with its modified closure completed, and

Fig. 17 is a fragmentary view in perspective of the container with its end closure fully opened.

The containers of this invention provide for utility efiiciency in the distribution of commodities, the structure of the containers having means to provide tightly sealed closures, the said means comprising container side wall strength to withstand adequate closure sealing pressure, and segments of the closure being adapted to resist with suflicient force the said pressure, to insure a tight union of the said segments which constitute a hermetically sealed closure of the container.

A generally elongated first blank 4 (Fig. 1) is provided with a central area 5 having oppositely disposed laterally extending panel areas 6. The central area having parallel side edges 7 and transversely disposed folding lines 8. The panel areas 6 have tapering side edges 9 beginning at the transversely disposed lines 8 and flaring outwardly from each other and terminating at folding lines 10 disposed inwardly of opposite ends 11 of the blank and parallel with the lines 8 of the central area 5. Marginally disposed areas 12, 13 and 14 extend outwardly of each folding line 10, each of the said marginal areas being defined with folding lines 15 and 16 disposed in parallel relationship. The areas 12 and 13 have parallel side edges 17. The areas 14 have bevelled side edges 18 tapering inwardly and in opposed relationship.

The blank 4 may be made of any suitable sheet material. The surfaces of the blank may be provided with a printed pattern of suitable thermoplastic lacquer or hot-melt adhesive. The exterior surface of the central area or inwardly disposed bordering areas thereof may have the application of thermoplastic material, together with the border areas 19 and transversely disposed end areas 14. The marginal areas 13 adjacent each end of the blank may receive application of the thermoplastic material 20 (Figs. 3 and 5) on the opposite side of the blank.

Alternatively, one whole surface side of the blank 4, the side being opposite to the first mentioned side, may be coated with thermoplastic composition such as, polyethylene or suitable vinyls, the said coating providing container wall protection together with the sealing medium required to form the seams of the container and closures thereof.

A second blank 21 (Fig. 2) constitutes a companion blank to the first blank 4 in assembling the container, the second blank may not require application to its surfaces of thermoplastic material except, when the said first blank employs the alternative coating of thermoplastic material heretofore described. In the latter case, the blank 21 may be coated over one entire surface thereof with the same material or with a material compatible therewith. The said second blank may consist of heavier sheet material than the sheet material of the first blank 4 to provide added strength to the assembled container and be commensurate with economy in the fabrication thereof.

The blank 21 is provided with a central area 22 having oppositely disposed lateral panel areas 23. The central area is defined with parallel folding lines 24 and transversely disposed parallel folding lines 25. Centrally and oppositely disposed flanges 26 project outwardly of the parallel folding lines 24. The said flanges have straight side edges 27 disposed in parallel relationship and end edges 28 which slope outwardly of each other and inwardly to straight edges 29 which are disposed outwardly of the parallel folding lines 24 and parallel thereto.

The said folding lines 24 form medial lines transversely disposed to the said edges 29.

The laterally disposed panel areas 23 are defined with longitudinal folding lines 30, tapering outwardly of each other and extending from each of the transverse lines 25, and outwardly to the end 31 and folding line 32, disposed inwardly of the opposite end of the blank. Marginal areas 33 extend outwardly of the tapering folding lines which constitute flanges adapted for being folded. The said flanges have outer edges 34 disposed in parallel relationship, each pair of opposing flanges 33 having inner opposing ends 35 sloping inwardly and joining the edges 29. The opposite ends 36 of one pair of the flanges slope outwardly, joining the end 31 of the blank. The other pair of flanges have ends 37 sloping outwardly joining the transversely disposed folding line 32. A panel area 38 extends outwardly of the line 32 having straight parallel sides 39 extending outwardly from the termus of the tapering lines 30 and terminating at a transversely disposed folding line 40. A flap area 41 extends outwardly of the folding line 40, ending with the edge 42, the said edge having circular shaped corners blending with straight sides 43 disposed in line with the side edges 39.

The first blank 4 (Fig. 3) is folded over a suitable form (not shown) to shape the blank, having an end wall area 5 and two opposed side wall areas 6, the thermoplastic material 19 being disposed on the exterior surfaces of the blank including the end wall.

The second blank 21 (Fig. 4) is folded to superimpose the end wall 5 of the first folded blank 4 and portions of the marginal areas 19 thereof. The second blank provides a double wall end area 22 and two opposed adjacent side walls 23 of the container. The flanges 26 and 33 on opposed sides of the folded blank 21, overlap marginal areas of the opposed panels 6 of the folded blank 4. The end wall 22 and the V- shaped edges 28 and 35 with blunt apices 29 in the blank 21, form mitred abutted joints 44 on opposed sides of the assembled blanks, the blunt apices 29 forming reinforcing material 45 adjacent each corner of the end wall 22. The inner end walls 5 and outer wall 22 are compressed with heat together with the overlapping flanges 26 and 33 on opposed sides 6 of the assembled blank 4. The pressure and heat activates the thermoplastic adhesive on the exterior surfaces of the folded blank 4 being activated, sealing the said end walls and overlapping flanges together in seam forming relationship. The reinforcing material 45 adjacent the corners of the end wall is compressed with heat, sealing the corners of the end wall of the assembled container.

The extended marginal areas 12, 13 and 14 on opposed sides 6 of the assembled blank 4 (Fig. 4) constitute segments of an opposite end closure of the container with respect to the sealed end walls 5 and 22 thereof. The areas 13 (Fig. 5) is folded outwardly and downwardly on the folding lines 10 superimposing the areas 12. The outer marginal areas 14 overlap marginal areas of the panel areas 6, the sloping ends 18 of the said overlapping areas abutting the sloping edges 36 and 37 of the overlapping flanges 33. The marginal areas 14 are sealed by pressure and heat in the same manner as described for the sealing of the flanges 26 and 33.

The looped extensions 12 and 13 (Fig. 6) form turned over corners 46, the said extensions constituting an opposing air of resilient cushioning wall areas 13 adapted to be folded inwardly of the mouth of the container to provide sealing ledges when forming the end closure of the container.

The assembled container 47 (Fig. 7) is illustrated with the top end partially closed, the resilient cushioning wall areas 13 constituting reinforced and anchored sealing ledges having been turned downwardly and inwardly in opposing relationship.

The straight parallel sides 27 and 34 of the assembled second blank 21 of the container 47 provides a gradation of flanged material that adds trussing strength to two opposed side walls 6 of the first assembled blank thus, building structural reinforcements to the container with which to carry stacking loads, provide strength to resist substantial downward pressure applied to the top of the container such as closure sealing pressure, and materially reducing the making and handling of waste material in making the second blanks with which the containers are fabricated.

The side edges 17 of the folded ledges 13 abut in the recess 32 which forms a hinge for the closure panel 38 the said panel being folded downwardly to engage the thermoplastically covered upturned faces of the folded ledges 13. A stripe of suitable adhesive may be applied to a marginal area 48 disposed upwardly of the line 49 adjacent the top edge 31 of the side wall panel 23 of the container 47. The flap 41 extending outwardly of the folding line 40 of the panel 38 is folded on the said line to overlap the area 48 having adhesive, the flap extending a spaced distance downwardly from the adhesive border line 49. Heat and pressure is applied to the exterior wall of the folded panel 38, activating the thermoplastic adhesive 20 on the folded ledges 13, effecting a thermally bonded union of the said contacting surfaces. The thermoplastic adhesive 19 on the side borders of the intermediate layers 12 and 13 of the folded ledges unite the said layers at and adjacent to the abutted edges. The overlapping flap 41 (Fig. 8) is adhesively afiixed to the upper portion of the side wall 23 of the container.

The etficiency of the closure heretofore described is illustrated in the structures shown in Figs. 9, 10 and 11. The looped margins 12 and 13 (Fig. 9) provides a turned edge 46 within the interior of the container. The marginal area 13 is confined between the turned corner 46 and the anchored marginal area 14. The exterior surface of the area 13 therefore assumes a convex contour adapted to effect a resilient cushion-like effect resisting the inner wall of the contacting panel 38. Anchoring the marginal areas 14 to the side walls of the container provides the sealing ledges with added power to remain firm when sealing the closure. Heat and pressure applied to the exterior wall of the panel 38 overpowers the cushion-like action of the folded ledges 12 and 13, flattening out the walls (Fig. 10) upon activation of the thermoplastic adhesive, thus sealing marginal areas of the panel 38 to the exterior walls of the said ledges.

The sides 17 of the ledges (Fig. 11) are tightly abutted to the interior wall 23, pressure being applied to the exterior of the overlapping flap 41 over the marginal area 48 of the wall 23 of the container. The opposite side wall of the container is opposed with pressure to insure the eflicient abutments of the edges 17 with the recess 32 and inner wall 23 of the container. Thus, a closure is formed and hermetically sealed that avoids raw exposed edges of material from being disposed within the interior of the container.

The container may be easily opened by grasping the lower unattached portion of the flap 41 with the fingers, lifting the flap outwardly to release it from the area adhesively aflixed, then lifting the flap further upwardly to shear the panel 38 from the ledges 13. The container may be conveniently re-closed by pushing the released panel 38 downwardly, entering the edge 42 of the flap 41 inside the edge 31 of the wall 23 and outside the edges 17 of the ledges 13 of the container (Fig. 12). The sides 43 of the inserted flap 41 and the said edges 17 sufficiently wedge the flap when pushed home, to retain in a substantially efficient manner, the re-closure of the container.

The container hereinbefore described is illustrated as having tapering side walls to facilitate the nesting of empty containers and afford economy in storing and the shipping of empty containers. The assembled containers may be treated in any suitable manner, such as being sprayed with vinyl compositions or dipped in wax or solutions. When the containers are fabricated of sheet materials having coverage of suitable thermoplastic resins, the protective coating of such materials provide the treatment required for the utility requirements of the container'.

The containers of the instant invention may be made with straight side walls and have capacities ranging in sizes up to one gallon. When the larger capacity containers are made, advantages may be obtained my modifying the end closure. The thickness of sheet material required for making economical blanks for the container may be to thin to provide the end closure with sufficient rigidity and strength therefore, the invention provides a modified container 50 (Fig. 14) illustrated with straight side walls, the container being assembled in the same manner hereinbefore described except with respect to certain modified features of the top end closure of the container.

A rectangular shaped blank 51 (Fig. 13) provides a rigid bridging closure over the mouth of the container. The blank is provided with a panel area 52 having two parallel sides 53 and two transversely disposed parallel sides 54. The blank may be provided with border areas of thermoplastic adhesive 55 on marginal areas adjacent the parallel sides 53 on the exterior face of the blank, and on marginal areas 56 on the interior face of the blank, adjacent the parallel sides 54 thereof.

The blank 51 is positioned centrally over the mouth of the container 50 (Fig. 14). The opposing side walls 6a of the container have ends provided with folded sealing ledges 1311, the marginal areas 14a being unattached to the opposing side walls 6a. The freedom of the said marginal areas at this stage of fabrication, facilitates normal adjustments of the folded ledges to take place when employing relatively heavy material with which to fabricate the container. The front side wall 23a is provided with an end flange 57 projecting upwardly a spaced distance from the exterior wall 52 of the positioned blank 51. The back side wall 23a of the container is provided with an end flange 58 projecting upwardly a greater distance from the exterior wall of the positioned blank 51 than the opposed flange 57.

The blank 51 is pressed downwardly (Fig. 15) to flatten out the reversely folded marginal areas 12a and 1311, the extended marginal areas 14a being folded downwardly to engage marginal areas of the opposing side walls 6a. The end flanges 57 and 58 are folded in overlapping relationship with marginal areas of the exterior wall 52 of the positioned blank 51 (Fig. 16). Heat and pressure is applied to the exterior surfaces 57 and 58 of the overlapping flanges and to the area extending therebetween. The heat activates the thermoplastic adhesive on the exterior and interior surfaces of the blank uniting the blank 51 to the folded ledges 13a and the overlapping flanges 57 and 58. The flange 58 is sealed over a marginal area extending inwardly to the line 5511 which constitutes the border edge of the adhesive. The folded extending marginal areas 14a are adhesively affixed to marginal areas of the opposing side walls 6a of the container 50. The edges 17a of the sealing ledges 13a are abutted tightly to each of the opposing interior Walls 23a as heretofore described in sealing the container 47 in Fig. 8.

The capping blank 51 (Fig. 13) may be of any suitable board-like material. The interior surface of the blank may be coated with any suitable protective material or, the blank may be treated over all surfaces, as being sprayed or impregnated with suitable composition. If desired, the adhesive used to unite the closure seams, may be applied to appropriate areas of the container blanks.

The sealed container may be conveniently opened by lifting the free portion of the flange 58 (Fig. 16) upwardly to release the said flange from its bond. The capping blank 51 may be pried upwardly to gain release from its bond to the sealing ledges 13a. The blank 51 is permanently united with the flange 57, the said flange serving to hinge the said capping blank during the dispensing use period of the-container (Fig. 17).

The capping blank may be adapted to provide the end closure of the container with any desired strength independently of the material comprising the side walls of the container. The resilient cushioning effects of the sealing ledges insure a firm union of the capping blank thereto. The flanges 57 and 58 overlap the parallel edges disclosed herein has manyattendant advantages that will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the form hereinbefore described representing a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

1. A rectangular container of sheet material having four side walls arranged in opposing pairs with a closed bottom end and an open top end comprising each of said opposing pair of side Walls each having an upwardly disposed foldable closure forming marginal wall portion, one pair of said marginal wall portions being folded upwardly, outwardly and downwardly in self-superimposing relationship with a terminal end marginal portion thereof being adhesively united upon an upper exterior margin of its dependent side wall and thereby provide a pair of two-ply looped wall margins extending outwardly of said united marginal portions thereof, said pair of opposed looped marginal portions being folded inwardly and downwardly of their respective marginally united portions to form a pair of cushion-like closure sealing ledges, said ledges resiliently opposing contact with a flat rigid closure forming disc to enclose said open end, opposite surfaces of said disc being provided with coated portions of suit able activator dry adhesive, two opposed bottom marginal surface sides of said disc being disposed upon exterior surface sides of said folded looped ledges, opposed side corner edges of the ledges being disposed in edge to face abutment with an upper interior surface portion of a pair of adjacent side walls of the container, said disc being retained downwardly in position upon said ledges by the other pair of said opposing closure forming marginal wall portions of said pair of adjacent side Walls, said pair of marginal wall portions being folded inwardly and downwardly upon two opposed top marginal surface sides of said disc and upon application of heat and pressure upon the exterior surfaces of said last folded marginal wall portions and upon marginal portions of the disc disposed over said ledges, said adhesive upon the disc being activated and thereby effect a positive seal of the top end closure of the container.

2. A rectangular container as set forth in claim 1 wherein one of said exterior folded marginal wall portions that retains said disc under compression upon said looped ledges being provided with an inwardly extended marginal portion free of adhesive attachment to provide means with which said margin may be raised and used to sever three adhesively attached marginal surface sides of said disc and open said container, the opposed exterior folded marginal wall portion remaining in bonded relationship upon a marginal side of said disc to form a hinge for raising the disc in form of a reclosable flap.

3. A container having four side Walls arranged in opposing pairs to provide a body portion of rectangular cross section and a closed bottom end, each pair of opposing side walls being provided with projected foldable marginal wall portions upon which to construct a top end closure after filling the container with intended product,comprising each of one opposing pairbeing marginally folded outwardly and downwardly 180 degrees upon a transversely disposed score line in said wall portions spaced outwardly of the body top edge of the container, a marginal terminal portion of the fold being adhesively secured upon an exterior marginal portion of its dependent side wall downwardly of said body top edge, the projected looped portions of said folded margins being folded inwardly at right angles to its secured terminal margin to provide a pair of cushion seating ledges being disposed in the mouth of the container, a rigid end closing disc provided with surface activator adhesive being positioned upon said pair of cushion ledges, the disc being compressed thereupon to flatten the looped folds of said ledges, a transverse opposing pair of projecting marginal wall portions of a pair of adjacent side walls being folded in overlapping relationship with exterior surface margins of said disc transverse of said contacting ledges, said adhesive upon said disc being activated with heat and pressure being applied downwardly upon said contacting wall surfaces, which pressure is firmly opposed by the resilient co-acting effects of the looped margins of the cushion seating ledges thereby to effect a positive seal of the closed top end of said container in seam forming relationship.

4. A container of sheet material having four side walls arranged in opposing pairs to provide a body portion of rectangular cross section and a closed bottom end, comprising each wall of one pair of said side walls being provided with a top end projected marginal wall portion having an upwardly spaced score line parallel with a lower score line, the lower line defining a top corner forming edge of said body portion, said pair of projected wall portions each being folded outwardly and downwardly 180 degrees from said upwardly spaced score line, a terminal marginal end portion of said folded portion being adhesively secured upon an exterior surface portion of its dependent side wall downwardly of said score line that defines a top corner edge of said body portion of the container, the upwardly disposed 180 degrees folded marginal portions being turned inwardly along said lower score lines at two opposed top corner edges of the container body portion to be horizontally opposed in the open mouth thereof and thereby provide one pair of cushion effective closure seating ledges, the exterior upper marginal surface portion of each ledge being provided with seam securing adhesive,

one wall of a pair of adjacent side walls being provided with a projected end closing full panel having a foldable end marginal wall portion defined with an inwardly spaced score line in parallel with a score line defining a hinge line of said panel along a top corner defining edge of said body portion, said end closing full panel being folded inwardly and downwardly upon said pair of cushion ledges, the opposed side corner edges of the ledges being registered in abutment upon upper interior surface margins of the pair of said adjacent side walls, said register being effected by the downward {it pressure upon the ledges imposed by said folded panel, said end marginal portion thereof while its panel portion is pressed downwardly upon the ledges and adhesively secured thereupon, being folded downwardly and inwardly over the upper corner edge of the opposing adjacent side wall and upon an upper exterior surface margin thereof downwardly of said corner edge in overlapping relationship, an upper marginal portion thereof being adhesively secured to the overlapped margin in seam forming relationship.

5. A container according to claim 4 wherein said sealed closure is opened by pulling said overlapped secured margin of the end closure panel outwardly and upwardly to sever said adhesively bonded margin thereof including the bonded ledge portions of the closure, said severed end margin of the released closure panel serving means to reclose the container by inserting said margin downwardly between a pair of horizontally opposed abutted corner edges of said cushion ledges and the interior of the adjacent side wall, said engagement being effective to clamp and retain said panel in closed position upon said cushion ledges by their respective double corner edges being in inflexible contact with surface portions of said inserted margin outwardly opposed by a marginal portion of said side wall including adjacent converging end corners thereof.

6. In a closure for a rectangular shaped container made of sheet material which comprises a pair of opposing side walls that forms the body portion of said container, each side wall of said pair being provided with an upwardly extended foldable marginal wall portion having a pair of openly spaced parallel score lines extending across said portion, the lower score line defining a top corner forming edge of the body portion of the container, each wall marginal portion of said pair that is disposed outwardly of the other of said score lines being folded upon said line outwardly, downwardly and inwardly so that a terminal end marginal portion of said fold is superimposed upon an exterior surface margin of its corresponding side wall downwardly of and adjacent said body edge defining score line, said terminal margin of the fold being adhesively bonded upon said exterior surface margin, the self-superimposed folded wall portions extending upwardly of said body corner forming edge being folded inwardly of their respective corresponding side walls to provide a pair of horizontally opposed cushion active ledges having their respective opposing corner edges disposed in abutment with interior surface marginal portions of one pair of adjacent opposing side walls of the container, and upon which ledges to construct an end closure for said container, said cushion ledges providing means to resiliently but firmly oppose downward pressure upon a bridging closure panel or panels when adhesively sealing said closure upon being constructed.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 16,347 Bliss May 11, 1926 1,440,568 Tomlinson Jan. 2, 1923 1,607,050 Boeye Nov. 16, 1926 1,906,964 Hill May 2, 1933 2,034,469 Howard Mar. 17, 1936 2,085,458 Walker June 29, 1937 2,146,318 Viscount Feb. 7, 1939 2,186,973 Hothersall Jan. 16, 1940 2,234,167 Hothersall Mar. 11, 1941 2,398,404 Brooks Apr. 16, 1946 2,407,111 Thompson Sept. 3, 1946 2,524,441 Guyer Oct. 3, 1950 2,577,305 Brooks Dec. 4, 1951 2,596,224 Eaton et al. May 13, 1952 2,649,239 Ellsworth Aug. 18, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 804,751 Germany Apr. 30, 1951

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