US3837562A

US3837562A - Container for packaging papers

Info

Publication number: US3837562A
Application number: US00268621A
Authority: US
Inventors: A Cali
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1972-07-03
Filing date: 1972-07-03
Publication date: 1974-09-24
Anticipated expiration: 1991-09-24

Abstract

A generally rectangular container for packaging newspapers and other sheet-like material, in which there are provided a pair of top panels that retain the newspapers within the container and which are spaced-apart to provide an opening for inserting the newspapers into the container.

Description

1451 Sept. 24, 1974 United States Patent 11 1 ali m wm m mm .l f 6068 l e m wmnw l v lae0 SHEPRH 8 42 245557 999999 wumm m 1 1 [21] Appl. No.: 268,621

Primary ExaminerLeonard Summer 229/46 865d 5/20, B65d 85/00 [57] ABSTRACT Field of Search A generally rectangular container for packaging newspapers and other sheet-like material, in which there [51] Int.

are provided a pair of top panels that retain the newspapers within the container and which are spacedapart to provide an opening for inserting the newspapers into the container.

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1 Claim, 4 Drawing Figures 1,091,075 3/1914 229/46 1,174,745 7/1915 Neinken et a1. 229/46 CONTAINER FOR PACKAGING PAPERS BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates in general to containers and more particularly to a container useful in packaging newspapers for convenient disposal.

It has become more important to recycle as much material as possible in order to prevent needless depletion of natural resources and pollution of the environment by chemical by-productsof those processes that are used to convert raw natural materials into staple products such as newsprint. Accordingly, it is now of ecological value to recycle newspapers, and this is being done by large scale collection of newspapers discarded by householders.

However, the bundling of newspapers by cord tying involves considerable nuisance and leaves the papers exposed to rain and weather.

The invention provides a disposable packaging container that can be used for storing the papers as they accumulate daily, and which is relatively weatherproof.

According to the invention, there is provided a generally rectangular container having a bottom wall, side walls connected to the bottom wall, and a pair of top panels each connected to a correspondng side wall and supported thereby. The top panels are disposed in opposing relation with their edges spaced-apart to define an opening for insertion of the newspapers or other sheet-like material to be packaged. The bottom wall has length and width dimensions approximately equal to those of the paper material to be packaged, but the length dimension of the insertion opening is less than the bottom wall length due to the reduction afforded by the top panels. Thus, even though the insertion opening width is substantially the full width of the bottom wall, the packaged papers are retained between the bottom wall and top panels due to the overhang presented by the top panels. The papers are easily slipped into the container one or two at a time simply by bending them over enough to slip under the top panels and then flattening the papers within the container.

After the last paper has been slipped into the container, the total number of papers in the container being determined by the height of the side walls, a weatherproof plastic or cardboard sheet is then slipped under the top panels and secured by a tie member to hold all papers within the container and protect them against weather. The tie member passes through the container and is connected to the bottom wall, extending therefrom over a length sufficient to pass around the side walls and encompass the insertion opening, with sufficient excess to allow the ends of the tie member to be knotted together.

While the container of the instant invention can be fabricated in a variety of ways, in accordance with a preferred embodiment, the bottom wall, side walls and top panels are all parts of a common sheet of material folded and cut along predetermined lines.

The invention furthermore provides a pedestal that engages the bottom wall and a side wall of the container to support it in an upright inclined attitude with the insertion opening presented for easy access.

For a better understanding of the invention and its various advantages, reference should be had to the accompanying drawing and the following detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a container constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the container shown in FIG. 1 as seen set up in an associated holder stand.

FIG. 3 is a developed view of the container shown in FIG. 1 showing how the container can be made by cutting and folding a sheet of paperboard.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the container shown in FIG. 1 as taken along line 44 therein.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION FIGS. 1 and 4 exemplify a container 10 for packaging newspapers and other sheet-like material. Container 10 is generally a rectangular shaped box and has a bottom wall 11, a first pair of side walls 12 and second pair of side walls 13 shorter than walls 12. The

walls

12 and 13 are connected to bottom wall 11 and their height determines the capacity of container 10. Typically,

walls

12 and 13 are of equal height and sufficient to cover the stacked thickness of about 10 days ordinary newspaper editions, which is approximately 4 to 5 inches.

The invention further provides a holder stand 21, shown in FIG. 2, having pedestal pieces 22 disposed to engage the bottom wall 11 and a side wall 13 of container 10 to hold it in an upright inclined attitude for easier insertion of newspapers.

A pair of top panels 14 are connected each to a corresponding side wall 13 for support thereby and extension therefrom with their edges 15 spaced-apart to define an opening 20 for the insertion of the newspapers to be packaged.

Bottom wall 11 has length and width dimensions approximately equal to those of the newspapers packaged, the intention being that each successive newspaper to be collected in container 10 is bent about its mid-length by an amount sufficient to slip it under both top panels 14 and then is pressed flat against previously collected newspapers 16, as better seen in FIG. 4. After the last newspaper 16 is inserted into container 10, a waterproof piece 17 of cardboard or plastic can be slipped into container 10 in the same manner to cover the opening 20 and thereby protect papers 16 from the weather.

As seen better in FIG. 1, the container 10 is provided with a tie cord 18 that is connected to bottom wall 11, as by adhesive strips 19, and extends transversely across wall 11 passing out through openings 21 expediently located at the corner joint between each side wall 12 and bottom wall 11. The length of cord 18 extending beyond the width of wall 11 is sufficient to go across both walls 12, encompass the opening 20 and form a knot joining the ends of cord 18 so as to secure the newspapers 16 between bottom wall 11 and top panels 14.

The dimensions of top panels 14 are, as measured parallel to walls 13, substantially the full span of each wall 13, ie equal to the full width of bottom wall 11, and in the transverse direction, as measured parallel to walls 12, are expediently about 4 to 6 inches. This will give a top panel 14 overhand (4 to 6 inches) at each end of container 10 that is sufficient for most ordinary newspapers, and of course, these dimensions can be changed as becomes advantageous for the size of sheet material.

While the container 10 can be fabricated by joining together separate pieces of material such as weatherproofed cardboard, etc. the invention contemplates a container 10 construction in which the bottom wall 11,

side walls

12 and 13 and both top panels 14 are all parts of a common sheet 30 of material that has been cut and folded along predetermined lines as shown in FIG. 3.

Sheet 30 is folded along two parallel lines 31 extending along and defining its full length dimension, and along two parallel lines 32 at right angles to lines 31 and which define the full width dimension of sheet 30. The rectangular area enclosed by the

lines

31 and 32 is the bottom wall 11, and the respective rectangular areas between lines 32 and widthwise outward of each line 31 up to the longitudinal edges of sheet 30 are side walls 12. The edges of top panels 14 are the end edges of sheet 30, and the boundary between each side wall 13 and its adjoining top panel is defined by a respective fold line 33 which is parallel to lines 32.

Sheet 30 is cut at each of four corner areas along perpendicular lines 34 and 35 so as to define respective approximately square flap pieces 36 that fold about a portion of a corresponding line 32 extending beyond a line 31. Such cutting also produces four triangular flap pieces 37 that each fold about a portion of a corresponding line 31 extending beyond a line 33.

Accordingly, sheet 30 can be considered as having a central portion that defines bottom wall 11 to which

side walls

12 and 13 are hingedly connected along

fold lines

31, 32, and in which top panels 14 are hingedly connected to respective side walls 13 along fold lines 33:

To assemble a container 10 from a sheet 30,

flap pieces

36 and 37 are folded against their adjoining side walls 12 and top panels 14 temporarily to allow the pieces of sheet 30 which form

side walls

12 and 13 to be folded up at right angles to the bottom wall 11 piece. To secure each pair of

adjoining walls

12 and 13, the flaps 36 are laid flat against the inside face of respective walls 13 and fastened thereto as by gluing or stapling. With flaps 36 secured to walls 13, top panels 14 are folded down parallel to wall 11 about respective lines 33 and flaps 37 are tucked in and secured to the inside faces of walls 12.

To allow the container 10 to be shipped in a substantially pre-assembled, but flat-folded condition, sheet 30 is provided with a center fold line 40 and

diagonal fold lines

41 and 42. The diagonal fold lines 41 in walls 12 allow the

walls

12 and 13 to be folded inwardly flat against wall 11 even after the flaps 36 are secured to walls 13, and flaps 37 are secured to walls 12.

Diagonal lines 42 in panels 14 allow panels 37 to be folded back upon the folded down

walls

12 and 13.

What is claimed:

1. A container comprising a bottom wall, two pairs of opposed side walls connected to said bottom wall, a pair of top panels supported by the side walls in opposing relation, the edges of said top panels being disposed in spaced-apart relation to define an opening for the insertion of sheet-like material, and a tie member extending from said bottom wall over a length sufficient to encompass said opening to secure such sheet-like material between said bottom wall and top panels, said side walls being foldable against said bottom wall, and said top panels being foldable against a first pair of said side walls to accommodate setting the container into a flatfolded pre-assembled condition for compactness, said bottom wall being generally rectangular and having length and width dimensions approximately equal to those of said sheet-like material to be inserted, said bottom wall, side walls and top panels all being part of a single common sheet of material folded along predetermined lines, said sheet being cut at each of four corners along generally perpendicular lines to define side wall flap pieces connected along respective fold lines to said first pair of opposite side walls, and to define top panel flap pieces connected along respective fold lines to the top panels, said top panel flap pieces being fastened to said first pair of side walls, said side wall flap pieces being fastened to the other pair of side walls, said first pair of side walls having diagonal fold lines allowing them to be folded inwardly flat against the bottom wall, said top panels having diagonal fold lines allowing the panels to be folded down against the first pair of side walls.

Claims

1. A container comprising a bottom wall, two pairs of opposed side walls connected to said bottom wall, a pair of top panels supported by the side walls in opposing relation, the edges of said top panels being disposed in spaced-apart relation to define an opening for the insertion of sheet-like material, and a tie member extending from said bottom wall over a length sufficient to encompass said opening to secure such sheet-like material between said bottom wall and top panels, said side walls being foldable against said bottom wall, and said top panels being foldable against a first pair of said side walls to accommodate setting the container into a flat-folded pre-assembled condition for compactness, said bottom wall being generally rectangular and having length and width dimensions approximately equal to those of said sheet-like material to be inserted, said bottom wall, side walls and top panels all being part of a single common sheet of material folded along predetermined lines, said sheet being cut at each of four corners along generally perpendicular lines to define side wall flap pieces connected along respective fold lines to said first pair of opposite side walls, and to define top panel flap pieces connected along respective fold lines to the top panels, said top panel flap pieces being fastened to said first pair of side walls, said side wall flap pieces being fastened to the other pair of side walls, said first pair of side walls having diagonal fold lines allowing them to be folded inwardly flat against the bottom wall, said top panels having diagonal fold lines allowing the panels to be folded down against the first pair of side walls.