US2791364A - Dispensing containers having strong end closures - Google Patents

Description

May 7, 1957 F. D. BERGSTEIN ET AL 2,791,

DISPENSING CONTAfINERS HAVING STRONG END CLOSURES Filed Dec. 20. 1954 s Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN T Fjw/vx 2. 3596's ril- 4:59;; .5. him/sans, r/a, 3Y finer lif/t-nwasea.

ATTORNEYS.

May 7, 1957 F. D. BERGSTEIN ET AL I 2,791,364

DISPENSING CONTAINERS HAVING STRONG END CLOSURES Filed Dec., 20, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TORS h'emvx .Z fisecsrslm 415360 3. dis/flaws, 2/6,

Q zww ATTORNEYS.

May 7, 1957 F. D. BERGSTEIN ET AL 2,791,364

DISPENSING CONTAINERS HAVING STRONG END CLOSURES Filed Dec. 20, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 15 s Y s E M% N Tw 5 R E: a o r? T V55 5 T 2 A d 0a 0 saw xhw a B DISPENSING CONTAINERS HAVING STRONG END CLOSURES Frank D. Bergstein, Hamilton, and Alfred B. Kleingers,

Jan, and Robert W. Nerenberg, Middlctown, Ohio, assiguors to Bergstein Packaging Trust, a trust composed of Robert M. Bcrgstein and FrankD. Bergstein, trustees Application December 20, 1954, Serial No. 476,484

9 Claims. (Cl. 229- -17) Our invention relates to paperboard containers, and more specifically to liquid tight containers having fiat en'd closures one of which is provided with a pouring opening covered by a liftable flap formed as an integral part of the end closure.

In the copending application of Frank D. Bergstein, Serial No. 414,558, filed March 8, 1954, and entitled Containers Having Strong End Closures and Methods of Making Them, there is taught a container construction characterized by strong end closures at both ends of the structure, the arrangement of parts being such that positive sealing pressure may be applied to the end closures to effect the positive sealing of the parts thereof.

The instant invention relates to improvements in containers of the general type taught .in the aforementioned copending application and relates specifically to improved top closure constructions designed to enhance the strength of the top closure and improve its iiquid tightness by effecting a more perfect seal between the various flaps making up the end closure.

It is a principal object of our invention to provide improved end closure constructions capable of being sealed by positive sealing pressure and improved procedures for the positive sealing of the parts.

Yet a further object of our invention contemplates the provision of a dispensing containerthavin g .a pouring opening formed in the top closure thereof and covered by a liftable flap formed as an integral part of the end closure, the arrangement of parts being such that the liftable flap may be readily raised to expose the pouring opening and just as readily .reclosed when it is desired to re seal the container to preserve the remaining portion of the contents .in uncontaminated condition.

Yet a further object of our invention is the provision of a dispensing container which may be readily proofed in accordance with the teachings of Bergstein Patents Nos. 2,543,757 and 2,549,048.

These and other objects of our invention which willappear hereinafter or which will be apparent to the skilled worker in the art upon reading these specifications, we accomplish by that construction and arrangement of parts and by those procedures of which we shall :now describe certain exemplaryembodiments. Reference is now made to the figures of the drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view of .a carton blank embodying a novel top closure in accordance with 'our invention.

Figure 2 is apartial plan view illustrating an alternative arrangement of closure flaps.

Figure 3 .is a plan view of the black of Figure l in tubed partition.

igure 4 is a perspective view illustrating exemplary means "for effecting the initial folding of the top closure flaps.

Figure 5 is a perspective view illustrating .a succeeding step in the folding .of the top closure (flaps.

Figure 6 is a partial vertical sectional view illustrating the application of pressure means to pre-form the upper end of the container b'od'y.

States Patent 0 Patented May 7, 1957 Figure 7 is a partial vertical sectional view similar to Figure6 illustrating the pressure applying means in closedposition.

Figure 8 is a partial perspective view illustrating the top of the container subsequent to the application of the pressure means.

Figure 9 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of a corner of the container illustrated in Figure 8.

Figure 10 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the upper end of the container in fully assembled condition.

Figure 11 is a partial vertical sectional view taken along the line 11-11 of Figure 10.

Figure 12 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view similar to Figure 11 taken along the line 12-12 of Figure 10 with pressure applying means illustrated diagrammatically in dotted lines.

Figure '13 is a fragmentary perspective view similar to Figure 10 but with the liftable flap in raised position.

Figure -14 is a partial plan view of an alternative form of end closure.

Figure 15 is a fragmentary side elevation of the end closure of Figure 14 in the erected and closed position.

Figure 16 is a partial plan view of yet another form of closure blank made in accordance with our invention.

Figure '17 illustrates yet another form of blank in accordance with 'our invention.

Figure 18 is a fragmentary perspective view of the blank of Figure .17 in erected condition prior to the infolding of the outermost closure flaps.

Figure 19 is a plan view of still another carton blank in accordance with our invention.

FigureZO is a perspective view with parts broken away of a procedure .for applying pressure to crimp the edges of the container body walls adjacent the top closure thereof.

Figure 21 is a fragmentary perspective view of the forming mandrel employed in Figure 20.

Figure '22 is a fragmentary side .elevational view of the forming mandrel illustrated in Figure 21.

Figure 23 is an elevational view illustrating diagrammatically the application of external pressure means to the end of the container and illustrating in dotted lines the manner in which the container is removed from the mandrel.

Figure 24 is a fragmentary perspective View illustrating the upper end of the container subsequent to its removal from the forming mandrel and prior to the infolding of the outermost closure flaps.

Figure 25 is a perspective view similar to Figure 24 but showing the forming members in contact with the upper end of the container.

Figure 26 is a "fragmentary side elevational view of the container illustrated in Figure :25 in the closed position, pressure applying means being diagrammatically illustr'at'ed.

Referring now to Figure -1 of the drawings we have therein illustrated a container blank comprising body walls'l, '2, 3 and 4 in articulation in the order named and a sglue flap 5 connected to the free side edge of the body wall i for tubing the structure. Bottom ,closure flaps 6, "7, 8 and 9 are provided on the bottom edges of the body walls. At its top the body wall v1 is provided with a full width outermost closure flap 10 having a liftable flap portion 11 formed therein, the littable flap portion having projecting edges 11a and 11b extending beyond the corresponding edges of the closure flap 1 9. The lift'able flap portion is articulated to the flap 10 along a line of score 12 diagonally disposed with respect to the side edges of the flap .10.

Narrow closure flaps or flanges 15, i4 and .155 are articulated, respectively, to the upper edges 'of the body 3 walls 2, 3 and 4, the narrow flanges being separated from each other by the triangular cutouts 16 and 17. A substantially full width intermediate closure flap 18 is hinged- 'ly articulated to the side edge of outermost closure flap and spaced therefrom by a distance suflicient to define v depressible or bendable wall po1tions 2a, 3a and 4a.

The blank will be tubed by infolding the body walls 1 and 4 along the lines of articulation 23 and 24, respectively, thereby bringing the structure to the condition illustrated in Figure 3, it being understood that adhesive 25 will have been applied to the glue flap 5 prior to the infolding of the parts. This folding operation may be carried out on a conventional container gluing machine, the blanks being moved in a direction paralleling the lines of articulation 23 and 24. The line for severance 28 which serves to join the intermediate closure flap'18 to the flange 13 will maintain the closure flap in alignment with the remainder of the blank, which might not be the case were the closure flap 18 free to fold along the score line 19. In this connection, it will be noted that the line of articulation 19 is a prolongation of the line of articulation 23 and consequently the folding instrumentality used to infold the body wall 1 will concurrently infold the closure flap and juxtapose it on the intermediate closure flap 18, in the manner illustrated in I Figure 3.

Subsequent to tubing, the blank will be erected and placed over a mandrel with the bottom flaps 6, 7, 8, and 9 uppermost, whereupon the bottom closure flaps will be infolded and sealed across the end of the mandrel with p the application of external pressure to the closure flaps. Sealing the bottom flaps in this fashion assures a positive and tight closure at the bottom of the container. The container, with its bottom end sealed, will then be removed from the mandrel and placed upright in a cage or upon other suitable conveying means for subsequent treatment of the top closure.

As the container is moved along in upright position, the outermost closure flap 10 and intermediate closure flap 18 will be jointly outfolded and supported from beneath on a plate, such as the plate 26 seen in Figure 4. The outfolding of the closure flap 10 will automatically disengage the closure flap 18 from the flange 13, the two members parting along the line for severance 20. Upon outfolding of the closure flaps, adhesive 27 will be applied to the exposed surface of closure flap 18 or to the mating surface of closure flap 10, whereupon the flaps will be elevated to the vertical position, as by means of a sweep 28. A folding bar 29 will engage closure flap 18 and fold it rearwardly onto closure flap 10 in the manner diagrammatically illustrated in Figure 4. Care must be taken in applying the adhesive 27 so that no portion thereof will contact the liftable flap portion 11 upon juxtaposition of the closure flaps. As illustrated in Figure 5 it is desirable to pass the juxtaposed closure flaps 10 and 18 between pressure rolls 30 and 31 to positively press the flaps together and assure a good bond between them.

Upon moving beyond the pressure rolls, the container will be contacted by an internal pressure member 32 (Figure 6) which travels with the container and is adapted to enter its upper end. External pressure members, such as the members 33 and 34, also travel with the container and coact with the recessed ledges, such as the ledges 35 and 36, of the internal pressure member to crimp or bend inwardly the upper end portions 2a and 4a of the body walls 2 and 4, the body walls bending inwardly along the scoreline 22. At the same time the narrow flanges, such as the flanges 13 and 15, will be bent outwardly by the coaction of the pressure members to the position illustrated in Figure 7. It will be understood that the internal pressure member 32 will be configured on three sides, with a corresponding number of external pressure members, so as to also crimp inwardly the upper wall portion 3a of body wall 3 and concurrently fold outwardly the flange 14.

As can be best seen in Figures 7 and 8, the inward displacement of the upper edges of the body wall portions 20, 3a and 4a is substantially equal to the width of the flanges 13, 14 and 15, thereby aligning the free edges of the flanges with the planes of the body walls. The free edges of the flanges are also aligned with the edges of the overlying full width closure flaps 10 and 18 so that subsequent infolding of these flaps will juxtapose their edge portions on the flanges. As seen in Figure 8, a peripheral stripe of adhesive 37 will be applied to the exposed undersurface of closure flap 18- whereupon the closure flaps will be infolded to bring theiredge portions into adhesive contact with the narrow flanges.

As best seen in Figure 9 the narrow flanges come together in mitered corners, the triangular cutouts 16 and 17 (Figure 1) acting to cut off the ends of the flanges to provide for the mitered fit.

It is desirable to seal the closure flaps 1.0 and 18 to the flanges under positive sealing pressure, and to this end supporting fingers, such as the fingers 38 and 39 (Figure 12) are provided to engage beneath the outturned flanges 13 and 15, whereupon an external pressure plate 40 may be brought to bear upon the upper surface of closure flap 10, thereby tightly sealing the parts together under positive pressure. While not shown, it will be understood that a similar finger will be provided to support the flange 14. When sealed in this fashion the resulting end closure is extremely sturdy and exceptionally tight. The outermost and intermediate flaps are positively sealed together and they in turn are positively sealed to the flanges which extend about the remaining sides of the container. The containers may be tightly packed in a shipping crate having no portion thereof extending beyond their body walls and at the same time, their recessed upper ends permit them to be readily gripped by the user.

Following the positive pressure sealing of the end flaps in the manner described above, the carton will be proofed internally by means of castings of sealing substance formed across the ends of the container in the manner taught in the aforementioned copending application Serial No. 414,558, thereby providing, as illustrated in Figures 12 and 13, an interior end casting 41 bonded to the body walls and end of the container and including the severable plug portion 42 bonded to the undersurface of the liftable flap portion 11 and adapted to break away from the body of the casting when the liftable flap portion 11 is raised. The subsequent closing of the liftable flap portion will cause the plug 42 to reenter the opening formed in the casting, thereby forming a tight reseal for the container. When initially sealed, it will be understood that the extending edge portions 11a and 11b of the liftable flap will be folded or crimped about the adjacent edges of the flanges 14 and 15 to lock the liftable flap in the closed position.

In Figure 2, we have illustrated a modification of the container blank wherein the flanges 13, 14 and 15 are separated from each other by lines of cut 43 and 44 rather than by the triangular cutouts 16 and 17, as in Figure 1. While this eliminates the mitered fit of the flanges at the corners, we have found this construction to be wholly adequate, particularly where the flanges are relatively narrow and not likely to bunch at the corners.

While in the embodiments thus far described the upper ends of the body walls are bent inwardly so as to align the outer edges of the narrow flanges with the side walls of the container, it is also within the spirit of our invention to utilize the same flap construction in an end closure in which the narrow flaps extend outwardly beyond the body walls, thereby eliminating the necessity for crimping inwardly the top portions of the body walls. To this end, the container blank -is constructed in the manner illustrated in Figure 14 wherein it will be seen that the full width closure flap so is provided with extending side edges 51 and 52 which eiiectively increase the width of the flap Sii beyond the cross sectional dimensions or the container body by adistanceequivalent 'to the widths of the opposed narrow flanges 53 and '54 which the said extensions are adapted to overlie in the sealed structure. An inter-mediate full width closure flap "SS is provided having -'a pouring opening '56 therein; but since the line of articulation 5'7 connecting intermediate closure flap 55 to outermost closure flap 5'0 is oliset laterally with respect to the line of articulation 23 connecting the body walls 1 and 2, the flap 55 is separated from the underlying flanges 53 and 58 by a line of-cut '59. If closure flapSS were detachably connected to the underlying flanges 53, the parts could not be folded on an ordinary folding and gluing machine sincec-losure flap 55 must be free to move laterally as the body wall 1 is intolded along the line of articulation 23.

When assembled the blank of Figure '1-4 will assume the condition illustrated in Figure 15 wherein it will be seen that the narrow flanges, such as the'fl'anges 53 and 54, extend outwardly from the planes of the body walls to which they are attached and are contacted "by edge portions of the intermediate closure fi'ap '55. Similarly, the extending edge portions '51 and '52 of the outermost closure flap 5d overlie the extending flanges. It will be understood that a peripheral stripe of adhesive 'will be applied to the undersur fac'e of closure flap 55 and the flanges will be supported from beneath by suitable fingers so that a pressure applying member similar to the member 40 (Figure 12) may be employed to press the parts together to eifect a positive seal.

The blank illustrated in Figure 16 also contemplates the use of narrow flanges extending outwardly beyond the planes of the body walls, but in this instance flanges are provided on allfour body walls, the body wall 1 being provided with a flange 61 and outermost closure flap 50 with an extension 62 to compensate for the width of the flange. Preferably the intermediate flap 55 will be articulated both to the flap 50 and to the extension 62 in the manner illustrated. It will be understood that this end closure will be folded and seated in substantially the same manner as the end closure of Figure 14 excepting supporting fingers will be provided for all four flanges.

Figure 17 illustrates a modification of the blank illustrated in Figure 1 wherein the body wall 1 is provided with a flange 53 and a continuation of the score line 22 defining body wall portion 1a, thereby providing a structure having flanges on all four sides in which the 'outermost edges of the flanges are in alignment with the body Walls. It will be understood that the width of the outer most flap will be increased by an amount equal to the width of the flange 63 to compensate for the width of the flange. Pressure exerting means will be provided, similar to those illustrated in Figure 12, for supporting the flanges during the application of sealing pressure to the outermost flap.

Figure 18 illustrates the top closure formed from the blank of Figure 17 just prior to the infolding of the full width flaps and their adhesively attachment to the outturned narrow flanges.

In Figures 19 through 26, we have illustrated yet another form of container blank and its fabrication into a completed container. The blank corresponds substantially to the blank illustrated in Figure 2 excepting in this instance the score line 22 is omitted, the inward deflection of the upper edge portions of the body walls being solely by means of the pressure members hereinafter described. As best seen in Figures 20 and 21, the blank, after it has been tubed, is fitted top downwardly over a mandrel 70 havin a flat upper end over which the bottom closure flaps maybe folded and sealed, as by means of a pressure plate 71. At its lower end the faces of the mandrel contacted by body walls 2, 3 and 4 are recessed, as at 72, 73 and 74, the recessed portions being arranged, as'best seen in Figure 22, to coincide with the upper ends of the body walls. Thus the upper ends of the "body walls may be cn'mped or deflected inwardly into the recesses by means of external pressure members 75, 76 and 77 seen in Figure 20. These external pressure members also act to fold the narrow flanges outwardly in the manner best seen in Figure 23.

Subsequent to the container being acted upon by the external pressure members 75, 7'6 and 77, it may be thereafter withdrawn from the mandrel, the resiliency of the box-board serving to permit readywithdrawal of the inwardly deflected end portions thereof. Upon being uprighted, the upper end of the container will then be acted upon by external forming members 78, 79 and 80 which will serve to press inwardly the initially deflected portions of the body walls to bring them into proper position to be contacted by the full width closure flaps. The initial deflecting of the body walls while on the mandrel enables us to employ the external forming members 7-8, '79 and 80 without using an internal pressure member, such as that employed in Figures 6 and 7. in addition, the external forming members 78, 79 and 80 may be used, when in the position illustrated in Figure 25, to support the narrow flanges during the pressure sealing of the outermost flaps thereto, as by means of the pressureplate 81 shown in Figure 26. We have also found it desirable to cutaway a small portion of the body wall 1 adjacent its upper end, as at '82 (Figure 1'9). This acts to compensate for the extra thickness of board at the corner resulting from the glue flap 5. This extra thick ness of board makes it more diflicult to crimp in the corner of the carton and the cut out portion 82 relieves this condition.

It will be understood that internal end castings of sealing substance maybe employed with any of the modifications described or may be omitted as the conditions of use may dictate. Similarly, while we have indicated a preference for securing the various flaps and flanges making up the end closures by means of adhesive, it will be understood that the boxboard from which the containers are formed may be provided with 'a vinyl or other similar coating which will render the parts heat scalable, in which event the pressure applying means may be provided with suitable heating means effective to heat seal the -flaps. Other modifications which will be apparent to the skilled worker in the art upon reading this specification, may be made without departing from the spirit of our invention.

Having, however, described our invention in certain exemplary embodiments, what we desire to secure and protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A blank for a one-piece tubular container of rectan gular cross section comprising a sheet of paperboard cut and scored to provide four body wall panels and a glue flap in side-by-side articulation, bottom closure flaps at one end of said body wall panels, and top closure members at the opposite ends of said body wall panels, said top closure members comprising integral narrow flange forming extensions projecting beyond the upper ends of at least three of said body wall panels, a substantially full width closure flap articulated to the upper end of the remaining body wall panel, and a second substantially full width closure flap articulated to a side edge of said first named closure flap, said second closure flap lying immediately beyond the flange forming extension of the container body wall panel next adjacent the body wall panel to which said first closure flap is articulated, said second closure flap having a pouring opening formed therein in the outer corner thereof remote from the line of articulation between said closure flaps, said first closure flap having a liftable flapportion formed therein in a position to overlie said pouring opening when said closure flaps are juxtaposed.

2. A dispensing container formed from a one-piece paperboard blank, said container having body walls forming a tubular body and end closures closing the ends of said body, one of said end closures being a dispensing closure composed of three relatively narrow flanges articulated to the upper edgs of three of said body walls, said narrow flanges extending outwardly relative to said body walls so as to lie in a common horizontal plane, a first full width closure flap hingedly articulated to the upper edge of the remaining container body wall and formed as an integral extension thereof, a second substantially full width closure flap integrally articulated to a side edge of said first closure flap, said closure flaps being juxtaposed and bonded together in face-to-face relation to form a double thickness closure element, said closure element being folded inwardly along the line of articulation between said first closure flap and said remaining body wall and juxtaposed and adhesively secured to said extending flanges to form a sealed end closure, a dispensing opening in the underlying one of said closure flaps, and a liftable flap portion in the uppermost of said closure flaps, said liftable flap portion overlying and closing said dispensing opening so as to provide a reclosable cover therefor.

3. A dispensing container formed from a one-piece and formed as an integral extension thereof, a second 1 substantially full width closure flap integrally articulated to a side edge of said first closure flap, said closure flaps being juxtaposed and secured together in face-to-face relation to form a double thickness closure element, said closure element being folded inwardly along the line of articulation between the fourth body wall and said first closure flap and juxtaposed and permanently secured along three marginal edge portions to said extending flanges to form a sealed end closure, a dispensing opening formed in the underlying one of said closure flaps in a corner thereof remote from the line of articulation of said first closure flap to said fourth body wall, and a liftable flap portion in the uppermost of said closure flaps, said liftable flap portion overlying and closing said dispensing opening and covering the corner of the end closure contiguons said dispensing opening.

4. A blank for a one-piece tubular container of rectangular cross section comprising a sheet of paperboardcut and scored to provide four body wall panels and aglue lap in side-by-side articulation, bottom closure flaps at one end of said body wall panels, and top closuremembers at the opposite ends of said body wall panels, said top closure members comprising integral narrow flange forming extensions projecting beyond the upper end of at least three of said body wall panels, a substantially full width closure flap articulated to the upper end of the remaining body wall panel, and a second substantially full width closure flap articulated to a side edge of said first named closure flap, said second closure flap lying immediately beyond the flange forming extension of the container body wall panel next adjacent the body wall panel to 'which said first closure flap is articulated, one of said closure flaps having a pouring opening formed therein in the outer corner thereof remote from the line of articulation between said closure flaps, the other of said closure flaps having a liftable flap portion formed therein in a position to overlie said pouring opening when said closure flaps are juxtaposed.

5. The container blank claimed in claim 4 wherein said first closure flap is of a width greater than the width of the body wall panel to which it is connected and projects outwardly beyond the side edges of the said body wall panel, wherein the line of articulation connecting said second closure flap to said first closure flap is offset laterally with respect to the line of articulation between said last named body wall panel and the said next adjacent body wall panel, and wherein said second closure flap has a width substantially equal to the width of said first closure flap.

6. The container blank claimed in claim 4 wherein the line of articulation connecting said first and second closure flaps is formed in prolongation of the line of articulation connecting the body wall panel to which said first closure flap is articulated to the said next adjacent body wall panel.

7. The container blank claimed in claim 6 wherein said second closure flap is connected to the flange forming extension beyond which it lies by means of a line for severance.

8. The container blank claimed in claim 7 wherein said flange forming extensions are defined by score lines separating them from the ends of said body wall panels to which they are attached.

9. The container blank claimed in claim 8 in which the body wall panels to which said flange forming extensions are attached are scored along a line paralleling the top edges of said body wall and spaced therefrom by a distance sufficient to define inwardly deflectable wall portions in the erected container.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,272,203 Hothersall Feb. 10, 1942 2,276,332 Nordquist Mar. 17, 1942 2,409,460 Waters Oct. 15, 1946 2,555,526 Zinn June 5, 1951 2,581,237 Casler Jan. 1, 1952 2,593,019 Glaser Apr. 15, 1952 2,671,596 Taylor Mar. 9, 1954

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