US3322383A

US3322383A - Packaging device

Info

Publication number: US3322383A
Application number: US499932A
Authority: US
Inventors: Kurt A Weinberg
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1965-10-21
Filing date: 1965-10-21
Publication date: 1967-05-30
Anticipated expiration: 1984-05-30

Description

May 30, 1967 Filed Oct. 21, 1965 K. A. WEINBERG PACKAGING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. KURT A. WEINBERG ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,322,383 PAQKAGENG DEVICE Kurt A. Weinberg, 2530 27th Ave, San Francisco, Calif. 94131 Filed Oct. 21, 1965, Ser. No. 499,932 12 Claims. (Cl. 2443-174) This invention relates to a packaging device and more specifically to an enclosure which provides a convenient means for wrapping or storing relatively heavy objects such as beverage bottles or the like, prior to transportation or use.

A frequent problem in the purchase, transportation, and storage of products marketed in various shape bottles and other types of similar containers is that such items cannot be wrapped or otherwise conveniently prepared inexpensively for storing or transportating prior to consumer usage. I am familiar, of course, with various prior art expedients such as hard boxes, Christmas wrap containers, and the like that may be used for such purpose; but these are generally relatively costly and normally unavailable all year around in a convenient form. Even if made available, and the additional expense of providing cardboard or other suitable enclosures were to be tolerated, the storage of such normally bulky devices would render them inconvenient to the ordinary sales counter such as in grocery stores, liquor stores, and the like.

In the absence of a suitable enclosure about which additional wrapping paper may be applied relatively quickly and easily, various types of beverage containers find their way int-o bags and boxes for cartage with little if any protection against breakage and without enhancement of appearance. In respect to gift wrapping, such containers may be packaged in relatively expensive boxes or merely wrapped with tissue and ribbon in a manner which is generally not entirely satisfactory.

Thus it is an object of this invention to provide a con tainer enclosure, for various sizes and shapes of containers, having a pair of vertical spaced apart sides with a platform panel extending between the lower edges of the vertical sides upon which a bottle or other type of container may be placed. The platform is flanked by a pair of U-shaped panels whose lower edges are secured to the bottom edge of the opposite facing vertical panels and whose legs are secured together at their tips to form a barrier to prevent slippage of the container from the enclosure platform upon which it rests.

A further and more specific object is to provide a container enclosure of the type described above having a pair of tabs extending downwardly from the platform panel to support the panel further in the event that the container to be enclosed is relatively heavy.

A feature and an advantage of this invention is that the container enclosure affords a certain degree of protection for the container and its contents during transportation and storage, prior to usage.

Another feature and advantage is that the container enclosure itself provides relatively flat uniform surfaces to which a wrapper may be applied relatively easily thus enhancing the appearance of the package as a whole for purposes such as gifts and the like.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method for making a container enclosure from a flat sheet product merely by scoring a section of the product to form fold lines and cutting out a particular configuration from the center panel to form an opening therein and a tab extending from one end of the opening. The tab is further defined by a fold line along one end adjacent to one of the panel crease lines so that, as the entire fiat section is folded in a predetermined manner along the score lines including a mid-crease line to form the sides of the con- 3,322,383- Patented May 3%, i967 ice tainer enclosure, the tab is foldable into position to form the platform upon which the container may be supported. A feature and an advantage of this method for producmg a foldable container enclosure is that it may be practrced with a minimum of equipment and incurs steps which only require cutting, discarding of a cut-out section, and simple scoring of folda'ole material.

Another feature and advantage of this invention is that the product which forms the container enclosure may be stored in flat sheets and quickly folded into its operating shape immediately prior to usage. In this manner the storage of boxes and other inconvenient shapes known in the prior art is avoided with attendant advantages for storage and convenience for those using the item, particularly in retail stores and the like.

Other numerous objects, features, and advantages will become apparent upon a reading of the specification which follows and by referring to the accompanying drawing wherein similar characters of reference refer to corresponding parts in the several views.

Turning now to the drawing,

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the foldable sheet material of my invention showing the various score lines and cutout of the center section;

FIG. 2 shows a side elevation of my invention with a beverage container indicated therein by interrupted lines;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of FIG. 2 with a top flap of the enclosure in its closed position;

FIGS. 4A and 4B show an alternative embodiment of my invention; and

FIGS. 5A and 5B show a second alternative embodiof my invention.

The invention here is best understood by referring first to FIG. 1 which shows a length of flat sheet material generally indicated at A as it would appear prepared in accordance with my invention prior to folding and usage as exemplified in FIGS. 2 and 3. The foldable material may be of any suitable paper, plastic, plastic impregnated fiber or the like which may be cut and scored to form a foldable sheet. The basic requirement for stock selection is that the type of material and thickness selected forms a stiff enough enclosure to support the container on platform 37, seen best in FIGS. 2 and 3, with

optional stiffener tabs

38 and 39. Such material selection may be determined by cut and try in a manner that will be apparent from a reading of the remainder of this specification. The sheet shown as A has a length dimension 1 and Width dimension w, forming

end edges

27 and 28, which may be varied to suit particular ranges of sizes of containers or the like which are to be enclosed by my novel packaging device.

After initial forming of the sheet indicated at A to dimensions l and w,

score lines

12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 13, 19 and 35 are impressed upon the sheet by the use of known techniques and equipment not shown nor further described herein. Interval 21 between

score lines

12 and 13, defining side panel 25 of the completed enclosure, and interval 22 between

score lines

17 and 18, defining side panel 20, are selected to be slightly greater than main body dimension 23 of a typical container to be packaged, as is best seen in FIG. 2.

Dimensions

21 and 22 are also formed to be just enough greater than dimension 23 of the container indicated at B so as to provide clearance between platform 37 and the bottom of the enclosure in its normal standing position as shown in FIG. 2 in order to accommodate

vertical tabs

38 and 39 which are formed from a portion of center section 34 described hereinafter.

Dimensions

24 and 26 indicating the interval between edge 27 of the foldable sheet and score line 12, and

score lines

18 and 13, respectively, are selected to be sufiicient to form

slant sides

29 and 31 which shield the upper portion 3 of the container indicated at B as seen in FIG. 2. An additional portion 32 between edge 28 and score line 19 and having a length 33 is provided to form a flap which may be secured over the top of the enclosure in its operable configuration as seen in FIGS. 2 and 3.

Central panel 34, best seen in FIG. 1, has a central portion that is cut out and discarded, the cutout being defined by line 36. After cutting and discarding the central portion of panel 34, there remains a continuous peripheral portion including the outer edges of panel 34 which form a pair of oppositely-facing U-shaped members or panels, cross member 301) with

legs

34a and 34b extending from opposite ends thereof forming one U-shaped member at one end of panel 34 and member 30a with legs 34c and 34d extending from opposite ends forming a U- shaped member at the other end of panel 34. In addition, there is formed platform tab 37 projecting inwardly of the cut from the peripheral portion at one end of panel 34. The inner edge, defined by score line 16, of cross member 30a of one of the aforementioned U-shaped panels also forms one end of platform tab 37; and, interior U-shaped cut line 40 is formed with the long edge of that cut piercing the center portion of score line 16. Short score line 15 connects the blind ends of the short portions of cut 40 so that, after folding along line 15, vertical tab 39 is formed and placed in operating position. A similar tab 38 is formed at the other end of the opening in panel 34 by means of score line 14 and short cuts 36b and 360 at right angles to edge 3611, which is also the inner edge of cross member 30b of the other of the aforementioned U-shaped panels. An additional score line 35 is impressed laterally along the center of the sheet in respect to edge 27 and score line 19 to make center panel 34 bendable along its transverse centerline marked (I; on the drawing.

Cut line 36 shown in FIG. 1 not only forms the more or less oval-sided irregular open space in the center of panel 34 but also forms platform tab 37 mentioned above. In addition, platform tab 37 is provided with a pair of

ears

37a and 37b which protrude outwardly and in a transverse direction from the main portion of the plat form panel tab at the free end thereof. The width of the cutout portion of section 34 between the oval-shaped longitudinal sides is selected large enough so that when tab 37 is folded down onto edge 36a, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, ears 37a and 3712 do not interfere with legs 34a through 34d, inclusive.

All of the aforementioned cuts and score lines may be made in stock sheets of suitable material either in one continuous stamping and cutting operation, or in a sequence of such operations, whichever may be the most suitable and economical in a particular operation. Such selection and sequence of operations is a matter of known design principles and is not further discussed herein.

A plurality of sheets such as that indicated at A in FIG. 1, with the score lines and cutouts of my invention as described above, may be stored or stacked in a fiat convenient manner preparatory to actual use. When a container, such as a glass beverage bottle indicated at B in FIG. 2, is desired to be packaged, stored, or transported prior to use, a single sheet or a fiat piece of such stock may be removed from its place of storage and in a few moments be prepared for use as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. To prepare the sheet for use, the user merely first folds the entire panel along score line 35, bringing one-half of panel 34 adjacent to its other half with section 25 adjacent to section 20 and section 29 adjacent to section 31. Such a fold is made in respect to the sheet shown at A in FIG. 1 so as to move the apex formed by fold line 35 upward away from the plane of the drawing of FIG. 1. The next step is to fold the sheet upwardly along

score lines

17 and 13 bringing

sections

20, 29, and 32 upward and adjacent to

sections

25 and 31; thereafter, folds are made along

score lines

18 and 12 in a manner which urges

panels

29 and 31 toward each other, while a fold is made along score line 19 to prepare flap 32 for later use. At this point the user depresses

vertical tabs

38 and 39 in a manner so as to fold the tabs away from panel 34 along

score lines

14 and 15, respectively. At the same time platform tab 37, which is still in alignment with one half of section 34, is bent in a downward direction along score line 16 while both vertical sections and 21B are separated from each other to permit the platform tab to come to rest on edge 36a of the cutout portion of section 34;

tab ears

37a and 37b form a lock to hold platform 37 in place by bearing inwardly against

legs

34a and 34b of the U-shaped panels formed by those portions of section 34- which remain as part of my device.

As can be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3,

sides

20 and 25 are separated as platform 37 is placed in position with the inner transverse edges of

ears

37a and 37b up against the fiat surfaces of

legs

34a and 34b. As a result of the gentle deformation that occurs to legs 34a through 34d, when

sides

20 and 25 are positioned with platform 37 resting on edge 36a legs 34a through (1 form arcuate barriers flanking each side of platform 37; and

vertical tabs

38 and 39 form reinforcements to assist in stiffening platform 37 and arcuate legs 34a through d to resist crushing when a beverage or other type container is placed within the enclosure and rests upon platform 37. If desirable, adhesive or other sutable adherent means may be applied to the inner surfaces of legs 34a through 34d along adjacent contacting portions directly beneath score line as seen in FIG. 2.

As shown in FIG. 2, the enclosure is in condition for use and may be opened at the top by swinging tab 32 in the direction of are 41 and spreading open

upper portions

29 and 31. The beverage container may then be placed down into the enclosure resting on platform panel 37,

sides

29 and 31 placed back in their closed position, and flap 332 closed down over side 31. Flap 32 is closed in the direction including the position indicated by phantom lines 32a until completely overlapping side 31 as shown in the perspective view of FIG. 3. Flap 32 may be provided with a pressure sensitive adhesive or other suitable means for adhering against side 31, or may simply depend upon its folded stiffness to maintain closure. In addition the entire parcel may be wrapped with an outer paper cover, not shown, to enhance the appearance of the entire parcel as for example when gift wrapping or the like. It is to be noted that the profile engendered by the use of my novel enclosure presents a more easily wrapped object than that of the bottle alone; and to some extent presents a more pleasing and fanciful appearance to the package as a whole than would be the case if the object being packaged were merely wrapped in paper only.

The particular shape of the enclosure as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 may be varied so as to present a blunt-ended top to the enclosure rather than the peak which is illustrated in the drawing for purposes of example only. However, the slant-sided configuration shown helps stabilize the container being packaged.

When the package is completed as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, except for an outer wrapping which may then be applied and is optional, the beverage container or bottle is completely supported within the enclosure and is less apt to be dropped or broken. Various thicknesses of materials may be selected, depending upon the weight of the object to be wrapped and the nature of the use of the enclosure, i.e. whether for storage, transportation before use, or a combination thereof. It is also evident that depending upon the weight of the container being enclosed,

vertical tabs

38 and 39 may be omitted altogether, although I have found it useful to include these in almost every instance. T

It is understood that arcuate side portions 34a through d, which form U-shaped panels having the tips of their extending members secured together, may follow a less arcuate path or be planar in nature altogether. In any event, such side portions form an integral portion of the bottom region of the enclosure of my invention which adds stiffening supports to the lower edges of sides and 25. In addition, besides forming a bearing for

ears

37a and 37b which assists to secure panel 37, arcuate side portions 34a through 3412 form side barriers to prevent the packaged container from slipping out of the enclosure.

A number of variations are possible utilizing my invention, two of which are shown in the drawings at FIGS. 4A and 4B, and FIGS. 5A and 5B, respectively.

Turning first to FIGS. 4A and 43, I show a fragment of a flat sheet at A2 similar to that indicated at A in FIG. 1 except for the central portion indicated generally at 134 between

score lines

113 and 117. Score line 113 and another adjacent to it to the left, but not included in the section fragment shown in FIG. 4A, are separated by the interval of dimension 131 and define side panel 125, which are substantially the same as dimension 21 and side panel 25,respectively, shown in FIG. 2 and explained earlier; score line 117 and another adjacent to it to the right, again not shown in the fragmentary view of FIG. 4A, define dimension 122 and side panel 120 which are similar, respectively, to dimension 22 and panel 20 expalined in respect to FIG. 2.

Cut lines 136 of the alternative structure shown in FIG. 4A comprises two longitudinal c-ut lines parallel to the length of sheet A2 and two cut lines at right angles thereto, one being on each side of the transverse centerline Q. Cut lines 136, and the major portion of score line 114, form tab panel 1370, while the cut lines symmetrically located on the other side of transverse centerline (I; with score line 116 form platform tab 13%. A portion of panel 134 at its center is thus cut away by cut lines 136 and discarded prior to further use of the finish-ed cut and scored section indicated at A2, Additional- 1y, score line 135 is imposed along transverse centerline (I; to guide the folding of the section into an operable enclosure in a manner described below.

After scoring and cutting, center section 134 forms a continuous peripheral section which, in addition to platform tabs 137a and 137b, includes a pair of oppositelyfacing U-shaped panels, one of which is made up of a cross member between

score lines

113 and 114 having extension legs 134w and 1340; while the other U-shaped panel comprises a cross member section between

score lines

116 and 117 having extension legs 13011 and 130d.

When the embodiment of my invention exemplified in FIG. 4A is placed into use to enclose a container as indicated at B1 in FIG. 4B, the first step is to bend the section along score line 135 to form a fold in an upward direction away from the plane of the figure as shown in FIG. 4A, whereby the two halves of panel 134 are brought into adjacent contact with each other. Next,

side panels

125 and 120 are formed by bending the outer portions of the section in an upward direction along

score lines

113 and 117; thereafter, tabs 137a and 13711 are folded downwardly along

score lines

14 and 116 to form the platform panel indicated in FIG. 4B. Contact adhesive or other suitable adhering means are provided as indicated at 140a on tab portion 137a, and at 14Gb on tab portion 137b, so that the two tab portions may be joined together to form a continuous platform panel.

Legs 134a through 13411, inclusive, remain oriented in a generally upward direction to form a bridge between the vertical side panels as seen in the side elevation in FIG. 4B, similar to the arcuate legs 34a through 34d explained earlier in respect to FIG. 2. Legs 134a through 134s are shown in a straight or planar configuration although it would be possible to form such legs to define an arcuate profile. Legs 134a through 134d, in final operating position, form a side barrier to prevent slippage of a bottle or other similar container housed by my novel package enclosure from slipping off the platform formed by tab halves 137w and 13%. In addition, if desirable, it is possible to provide pressure-sensitive adhesive or other suitable adhering means between the face of the cross member of the U-shaped panel between

score lines

113 and 114 and the bottom portion of the surface of panel with which the cross member is in contact; and similar adhesive may be applied between the surfaces of the cross member of the U-shaped panel between

score lines

116 and 117 and the bottom portion of side panel 129 with which the latter cross member is in contact. The aforementioned optional adhesive applications may be desirable in those instances where additional stiffening is desired in the lower portion of the container enclosure. In all other respects the container enclosure of the aforementioned alternative embodiment is similar to the first embodiment of my invention described herein; and dis cussion of the application and usage of the final product stated earlier is applicable generally herein and is not repeated.

Another alternative of my basic invention is illustrated in FIGS. 5A and 5B. In that instance the central portion of a sheet similar to that shown at A in FIG. 1 is indicated at A3 in FIG. 5A including

score lines

213, 214, 235 (along transverse centerline (E of the sheet), 216 and 217. Oppositely facing U-shape-d panels are formed in the panel indicated at 234, one having cross member 230 with extending legs 234a and 2340, and the other having cross member 240 with extending legs 234 h and 234d. In this embodiment of my invention out line 236 describes a pair of oppositely-facing, symmetrical rectangular cutouts, symmetrically spaced on either side of centerline, which are discarded leaving a continuous peripheral portion defined by

cross members

230 and 240 and legs 234a through 234d, respectively. When a flat sheet as shown ,at A3 is prepared for use, the initial bend along score line 235 is made to position both sides of the panel indicated at 234 upwardly away from the lane of FIG. 5A in the drawing, so that the apex formed along score line 235 becomes the lowermost point of the structure. Folds are then made along

score lines

213 and 214 on the one side of centerline (lg, and between

score lines

216 and 217 on the other side of the centerline, so

side panels

225 and 220 may be positioned upwardly adjacent to cross

members

230 and 240, respectively. If desirable, adhesive may be applied between the surface of cross member 230 in contact with the lower portion of side panel 225 and cross member 240 in contact with the lower portion of side panel 2211. Referring to FIG. 5B, edges 236a and 23Gb of the adjacent cutout portions of the center panel define at least a portion of a bottle supporting surface and lie in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the surface upon which the entire container inclosure may be placed to rest. When in final operating position, inverted V-shaped trough 238 may be shaped to an apex which coincides with score line 235' and may also rest upon the surface upon which the entire container is placed. V-shaped trough 238 forms a continuous web or member located entirely within the continuous peripheral portion of the panel at 234 and eX- tends transversely across the bottom of the container enclosure to form a relatively stiff and secure resting place for the bottom surface of a bottle such as that indicated at B2. The remainder of the container enclosure of FIGS. 5A and 5B is substantially the same as that of the first embodiment of my invention explained above, and the comments made in respect thereto are not repeated here although they are understood to be equally applicable.

Innumerable variations of my novel enclosure may be made by varying certain of the physical sizes, thicknesses, and other parameters of my device while still remaining within the spirit of the invention and scope of appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A container enclosure comprising in combination: first and second parallel, spaced apart, vertical sides having the lower edges thereof in alignment with each other; a first U-shaped panel having a pair of legs connected to a cross member with the lower edge of said cross member secured to the bottom edge of said first side, said legs of said panel inclined upwardly toward said second side; a second U-shaped panel having a pair of legs connected to a cross member with the lower edge of said last cross member secured to the bottom edge of said second side, said legs of said second panel inclined upwardly toward said first side; means securing the tips of the legs of said first U-shaped panel to the tips of the oppositelyfacing legs of said second U-shaped panel; a platform section having one end secured to the upper edge of the cross member of said first U-shaped panel and the other end edge free and spaced apart from the secured end edge a distance at least slightly greater than the interval between the upper edges of said cross members, a pair of opposite side edges of said platform adjacent to said end edges and spaced .apart near said free end a distance no greater than the least interval between the legs of said second U-shaped panel; and at least a portion of the platform near the free end thereof in contact with and overhanging the upper edge of the cross member of said second U-shaped panel, said platform adapted to support thereon a container placed within said enclosure and between said opposite sides.

2. A container enclosure comprising: a pair of parallel, spaced apart, vertical side panels facing each other with the bottom edges thereof in alignment with each other; a pair of U-shaped panels each defining a pair of stems connected to a bottom cross portion with straight, parallel, horizontal upper and lower edges, the lower edge of one of said bottom portions secured to the bottom edge of one of said side panels and the lower edge of the bottom cross portion of the other U-shaped panel secured to the bottom edge of the other side panel, the stems of said U- shaped panels inclined slightly arcuately, inwardly and upwardly between said side panels with the ends of the stems of one U-shaped panel adhered to the ends of the oppositely-facing stems of the other U-shaped panel; and a platform panel extending between the upper edges of said bottom portions of the U-shaped panels, said plat form panel having one end secured to the upper edge of one of said bottom portions and a segment of the lower surface near the other end in contact with and supported by the upper edge of the other bottom portion; and a pair of tabs extending transversely outwardly from said other end of the platform panel to contact each of the stems of said U-shaped panel in contact with said other end of the platform, said platform adapted to support thereon a container placed within said enclosure between said side panels and the stems of said U-shaped panels.

3. The container enclosure in accordance with claim 2 and wherein further the bottom edges of said side panels are co-planar and the centerlines of the side panels normal to the bottom edges define a plane normal to the side panels.

4. A container enclosure comprising in combination: first and second parallel, spaced apart, vertical sides having the lower edges thereof in alignment with each other; a first U-shaped panel having a pair of legs connected to a bottom portion with the lower edge of said bottom portion secured to the bottom edge of said first side, said legs of said U-shaped panel inclined upwardly toward said second side; a second U-shaped panel having a pair of legs connected to a bottom portion with the lower edge of said last bottom portion secured to the bottom edge of said second side, said legs of said second U-shaped panel inclined upwardly toward said first side; means securing the tips of the legs of said first U-shaped panel to the tips of the oppositely-facing legs of said second U-shaped panel; a platform section having first and second end edges opposite each other and a pair of opposite sides spaced apart near said second end edge a distance no greater than the least interval between the legs of said second U-shaped panel, and said end edges being spaced apart a distance at least slightly greater than the interval between the upper edges of said bottom portions of the oppositely-facing U-shaped panels; a pair oftabs each secured at each end edge of said platform section and extending downwardly therefrom in a direction normal to the plane of the platform for a distance equal to the interval between said plane and the plane defined by the lower edges of said vertical sides; and means securing the first end edge of said platform to the upper edge of the bottom portion of said first U-shaped panel with at least a portion of the platform near the other end edge being in contact with and overhanging the upper edge of the bottom portion of said second U-shaped panel, said platform adapted to support thereon a container placed within said enclosure and between said opposite sides.

5. A method for making a fiat sheet product, formable to provide a container enclosure, comprising the steps of: providing a section of foldable flat stock material having a predetermined length and width; scoring said section transversely in respect to the longitudinal centerline of the section, said scoring forming panel creases to divide said section into three panels in end-to-end relationship to each other and a mid-crease coincident to the transverse centerline of the middle panel of said three panels; and cutting and removing a portion of said middle panel to form an opening therein and a tab extending from one end of said opening inwardly toward the other end there of, the one end of said opening being defined by a fold line along the first end of said tab parallel to and near one of said creases defining said middle panel, and said other end of the opening being defined by an edge parallel to and near the other of the creases defining the middle panel, said tab having one free end parallel to said other end of the opening, said free end having a width dimension at least no greater than the length of said other end; whereby said section is foldable along said panel creases to form the sides of the container enclosure and along said mid-crease to form upwardly extending outside portions of said middle panel on opposite sides of the enclosure, the folding along said mid-crease also moving said tab into position for foldable movement about said first end into contact with the edge of said other end of the opening, said tab forming a platform to support a container thereon between said side panels and the outside portions of said middle panel.

6. A container enclosure comprising in combination: first and second parallel, spaced apart, vertical side panels having the lower edges thereof in alignment with each other; first and second U-shaped panel-s facing each other and each having a pair of legs connected to a cross memher with the cross member of said first U-shaped panel secured to the bottom of said first side panel, the cross member of said second U-shaped panel secured to the bottom of said second side panel, and the legs of each of said U-shaped panels inclined toward each other; means securing the tips of the legs of said first U-shaped panel to the tips of the legs of said second U-shaped panel, support means located between the legs of said first and second U-shaped panels to form at least a portion of a surface between said legs, said surface lying in a plane parallel to the lower edges of said vertical side panels; and means secured to the upper edge of said first and second side panels to form an arched closure therebetween adapted to cover a container placed between the side panels and supported on said support means.

7. A container enclosure comprising in combination: first and second parallel, spaced apart, vertical side panels having the lower edges thereof in alignment with each other; first and second U-shaped panels facing each other, each of said U-shaped panels having a pair of legs connected to a cross member with the cross member of said first U-shaped panel secured to the lower inside surface of said first side panel, and the cross member of said second U-shaped panel secured to the lower inside surface of said second side panel, the legs of each of said U-shaped panels inclined inwardly and upwardly toward the opposite facing U-shaped panel; means securing the tips of the legs of said first U-shaped panel to the tips of the legs of said second U-shaped panel; and a platform section having one end secured to the upper edge of the cross member of said first U-shaped panel and the other end secured to the upper edge of the cross member of said second U-shaped panel, said platform adapted to support a container placed in said container enclosure between said side panels.

8. A container enclosure comprising in combination: first and second parallel, spaced apart, vertical side panels having the lower edges thereof in alignment with each other; first and second U-shaped panels each having a pair of legs connected to a cross member, the cross member of said first U-shaped panel secured to the inside lower surface of said first side panel, and the cross member of said second U-shaped panel secured to the inside lower surface of said second side panel, the legs of each of said U-shaped panels inclined inwardly and downwardly away from said side panels and said cross members toward the opposite facing 'U-shaped panel; means securing the tips of the legs of said first U-shaped panel to the tips of the legs of said second U-shaped panel, said means including a V-shaped trough having the apex thereof lying in the plane defined by the lower edges of said first and second side panels, and the transverse edges of said trough between said legs lying in a plane above said vertex normal to said side panels, said transverse edges adapted to support a container placed within said enclosure between the side panels thereof.

9. A fiat sheet product formable to provide a container enclosure, comprising in combination: a section of foldable material having a predetermined length and width; a plurality of score lines formed in said section transverse to the longitudinal centerline of the section, said score lines including lines defining at least three panels in endto-end relationship to each other and one score line coincident with the transverse centerline of the center one of said three panels; a continuous peripheral portion defined by a cutout portion formed in said center panel having at least one inner edge adjacent and parallel to one of said score lines defining the center panel, and first and second inner longitudinal edges located on each side of the longitudinal centerline of said section of material, said first and second edges being adjacent to the outer longitudinal edges of said center panel; a member located entirely within said peripheral portion including at least a portion of said member having a dimension parallel to said one inner edge of the peripheral portion at least not greater than the interval between said first and second longitudinal edges; whereby said section is foldable along said score lines to form the sides of said container enclosure, and along said score line coincident with the transverse centerline of said panel to form upwardly extending outside portions of the center panel on opposite sides of the enclosure, and the folding along the transverse centerline also placing said member into position for foldable movement about the score line at one end of said peripheral portion causing said member to form at least a part of a surface to support a container thereon between said side panels and the outside portions of said center panel.

10. The fiat sheet product in accordance with claim 9 and wherein further said member comprises a tab having one end formed to a free edge parallel to said one edge of said peripheral portion and the other end secured to said center panel along a line coincident with another of said score lines, and said portion of said member having a dimension parallel to said one edge of the peripheral portion being the width of said tab near said free edge.

11. The flat sheet product in accordance with claim 9 and wherein further said member comprises two parts, the first of said parts having one end formed to a free edge parallel to said one inner edge of said peripheral portion and the other end secured to said center panel along a first line coincident with another of said score lines, and the second of said parts having one end formed to a free edge parallel to said one inner edge of said peripheral portion and the other end secured to said center panel along a second line coincident with another of said score lines, said first and second lines being at opposite ends of said peripheral portion, and said free edges being parallel and adapted for securement to each other when said fiat sheet product is formed to provide a container enclosure.

12. The flat sheet product in accordance with claim 9 and wherein further said member comprises a tab having opposite parallel sides forming edges exposed to the opening of said peripheral portion, each said exposed edge being equidistant from and parallel to said transverse centerline of said section, and the ends of said tab adjacent to said opposite parallel sides secured to said center panel along lines equidistant from the longitudinal centerline of said section and parallel thereto, each of said last lines being in alignment with said first and second longitudinal edges of the peripheral portion.

Claims

6. A CONTAINER ENCLOSURE COMPRISING IN COMBINATION: FIRST AND SECOND PARALLEL, SPACED APART, VERTICAL SIDE PANELS HAVING THE LOWER EDGES THEREOF IN ALIGNMENT WITH EACH OTHER; FIRST AND SECOND U-SHAPED PANELS FACING EACH OTHER AND EACH HAVING A PAIR OF LEGS CONNECTED TO A CROSS MEMBER WITH THE CROSS MEMBER OF SAID FIRST U-SHAPED PANEL SECURED TO THE BOTTOM OF SAID FIRST SIDE PANEL, THE CROSS MEMBER OF SAID SECOND U-SHAPED PANEL SECURED TO THE BOTTOM OF SAID SECOND SIDE PANEL, AND THE LEGS OF EACH OF SAID U-SHAPED PANELS INCLINED TOWARD EACH OTHER; MEANS SECURING THE TIPS OF THE LEGS OF SAID FIRST U-SHAPED PANEL