US2067749A - Container - Google Patents

Description

1937- L. R. ZIMMERMAN ET AL 2,067,749

CONTAINER Filed Aug. 18, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 1937- L. R. ZIMMERMAN ET AL 2,067,749

CONTAINER Filed Aug. 18, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 12, 1937.

L. R. ZIMMERMAN ET AL CONTAINER Filed Aug. 18, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Jan. 12, 1937 PATENT OFFICE CONTAINER I r Zimmerman and Jonas Schuchat,

Chicago, Ill,

Application August is, 1934, Serial No. 740,390

3 Claims.

The present inventionrelates'to a self-serving display device of cardboard material or the like and has to do particularly with member for supporting mechandise in the container and the structure about the discharge orifice therein.

The objects of the invention, among others, include the provision of the following:

An improved display and self-serving device having a plurality of magazines for holding articles of merchandise and discharging these articles at-a common opening;

unique counter dispensing device having a discharge opening above the bottom thereof and provided with a bottom member to support the *merchandise in a selected position adjacent such discharge opening and projecting partly therefrom; and

A novel display and dispensing carton of sheet material having a discharge opening with reinforcing parts extending through and about said opening.

A novel means for preventing jamming of two rows of merchandise that are adapted to be discharged from a single aperture. These objects,

and such other objects as may hereinafter appear, are obtained by the novel construction, unique arrangement, and improved combination of the several elements which constitute the present invention, two forms of which are illustrated in the accompanying four sheets of drawings, hereby made a part of this specilcation, and in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a device embodying one form of the present invention;

5 Figure 2 is a vertical section taken on theline 22 of Figure 1;,

Figure 3 is a plan view of a blank from which the main body of the device illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 is formed;

40 v Figure 4 is a plan view of a blank for forming a partitioning member used as shown in Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 5 is a plan view of a blank for forming an insert bottom member of the character shown 5 in Figures l and 2;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the insert member formed from the blank. shown in Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a transverse section of the inserted 50 bottom member shown in Figure 6 and is taken on the line 'i--1 of Figure 6; and

Figure 8 is a vertical section through a container comprising a second form of the invention and in which the .items of merchandise are 55 stacked in rows two deep from front to back;

Figure 9 is a front fragmentary view of the container illustrated in Figure 8; v

Figure 10 is a plan view of a blank from which thei insert member shown in Figure 8 is made; an

Figure 11 is a schematic representation of the cycle of movements of articles of merchandise as discharged from the container.

Like reference characters are used to designate similar parts in the drawings and throughout the 10 followingdescription of the illustrated embodiments of the invention.

The device illustrated in Figures 1 to '7 inclusive, comprises three blanks. 'One of these is for forming the main body including the front, 10 the back, the sides, the top, and the bottom. A second blank is employed for providing partitions between the frontrand back. A third blank is employed for forming an insert bottom member which rests upon the bottom of the container. 20 On the insert member, the mechandise stored within the container is seated for display and ready dispensing.

The container, partitioning member and insert are shown in Figures 1 and 2.Reference 25 should be had to Figure 3, a plan view of the blank for forming the main body in container partof the device. The blank comprises a plurality of sections. These sections form two spaced apart front sections, two side sections, a back, 30 extensions from the front sections and side sections which overlap or interlock to form the top and bottom of the device, and an extension from the bottom front section to provide a reinforcement about the lower edge of the dispensing or discharging aperture which is shown in Figures 1 and 2.

The blank shown in Figure 3 comprises a top front section III, an extension II at the top edge thereof, and tongues I2 depending from the top edge of extension II. A bottom front section is indicated I3 and it has a bottom section It extending therefrom, there being tabs I 5 at the side of section It, the side edges of section l4 being of irregular contour as shown.

A section l6 extends upwardly from the section I3 and appended to section It is a second section l1. Notches [8 are formed adjacent the bottom side edges of section l6,

Sides l9 and 20 are integral with sections I0 and i3. At the top edge of sections l9 and 20 are top-formingextensions 2| and 22, respectively.Sections 2| and 22 each have an oblique edge, the oblique edges of the two sections being reversed. Sections l9 and 20 also have bottom sections are opposed and complemental.

An inverted squat U-sha'ped aperture is formed across the sections l9, |8;.and 20. The U-shaped aperture has a curvedouter periphery 25 at one 3 end and a second complemental and reversecurved periphery 26 at its other end. The curved sections of the aperture are in the sections l9 and 28. Such curved.section's of the aperture are connected by a relatively long and narrow slot defined at its top by the lower edge of the settion l8 and its bottom by the upper edge of section |1.

The back of the container is indicatedby thenumeral 21. It hasatop extension 28 which terminates. in alip 29.Section 21 has at its bottom anextension 38 in which are disposed two L-shaped slots '31. At the outer edge of section I8 is a short lip orextension 32. Scores may be used to divide the various sections herein described. For example, there may be a score between thesection 32 and section l9, another between the section |9 andsection 2|, and a continuation of the last referred to score between the sections l and II, 22 and 20, and 21 and 28.

Slots 28a betweenparts 21 and 28 to receive tongues l2 are in alignment with the last mentioned score.

Another score may .be disposed intermediate thesections 28 and 29, and scores may be employed between the section ll and the tabs l2. Scores parallel with that between section l9 and 32 divide the section Ill and I9, the section I9 and 28, thesections 28 and 21.

A horizontal score separatessections 21 and 38, and also sections l3 and I4, sections l3 and I8, and sections i6 and I1. Oblique scores in alinement with the adjacent edge/of section |4 separates section l4 from the tabs l5, and oblique scores which are opposed and complemental separate sections l9 and 23, andsections 28 and 24.

'. The blank is assembled by folding the various sections in the manner usually employed in box making, the outer face ofsection 32 having ad-' hesive applied thereto to engage the interior face ofsection 21. A tube rectangular in cross sec- 1 tion is thus formed. The bottom of the device is formed by turning inwardly thesections 23 and 24, then turning inwardly the section 3|9 and securing at the outside thereof the section l4, and thereafter inserting the tongues l5 into the slots 3|.

Sections l6 and H are pushed inwardly of the device, sections I6 being made to lay flatly against sections l3 and section H to rest upon the bottom comprising theopposed wings 23 and '24, and themembers 30 and-- |4. Notches I8 facilitate this step by relieving the edge of the aperture of an excess of material.

The top generally is not closed until a partitioning member, nowto be described, is inserted and the container filled with merchandise. To close said top,sections 2| and 22 are bent inwardly,section 28 bent over the top, andsection 29 inserted downwardly in proximity to the rear face of section I 8. Thereafter section I l-is folded backwardly and the tabs l2 are inserted in slots 33 in allnement with the score separating thesection 21 from thesection 28.

Because of the obliquity of the separatingsection 23 from section I9 andsection 24, the device tilts backwardly. Upon the rear face of back 21 there may be adhesively secured an easel which comprises an uppermain body 34, a lowermain body 35,wings 36 and 31, and acentral section 38 which has awing extension 39. Two notches 4|] are cut insection 39, which is separated fromsection 38 by a horizontal score providing a hinge therefor.

Sections 38 and 39 are of greater width than the, upper and lowermain sections 34 and 35, thesection 38 being integral with thesection 35, andsections 35, 38, and 34 being adhesively secured to the back ofsection 21. Vertical scores separate thesections 36 fromsections 34 and 35 and a parallel score separatessection 31 fromsections 34 and 35.

The easel is made effective by turning thewings 36 and 31 normal tosection 21 and thereafter moving thesection 39 downwardly to a horizontal position.Sections 36 and 31 have notches 4| which are complemental tonotches 48, thenotches 49 and 4| providing an interlock between thesection 39 andsections 36 and 31 to maintain the easel with thewings 36 and 31 normal. tosection 21. This position of the easel is shownin Figure 2.

Figure 4 illustrates a blank which divides the box or container formed by the previously described blank into eight parallel vertical compartm'ents, each to hold a number of cans 42. Each of the compartments thus formed in the present device has a capacity of three cans. The entire device thus has a capacity of twenty-four cans.

The partitioning member comprises a.shor spacer 43 of the width of a can, atransverse part 44 of the deptl'f of a can, a long spacer of the width of a can indicated 45, amember 46 identical withmember 44 except reversed, a repetition of the series ofparts 43, 44, 45, and 46, a second repetition thereof, 43, 44, 45, and 46, anothermember 43, and amember 41, like amember 44, except that it is provided with anextension 48 to receive adhesive.

The blank comprising theseveral sections 43, 44, 45, 46, 41, and 48 is folded as indicated in Figures 1 and 2 with theshort spacers 43 at the front of the device, the lower edges of the tate the removal of the merchandise and to afford a larger area of display therefor. The bottom edges ofsections 44, 45, and 46 rest on an insert or bottom member now to be described.

Figures 5, 6, and '1 illustrate the blank from which the insert bottom member is formed, a perspective thereof, and a transverse section thereacross.

The blank comprisesa top 49, anextension 50 at one side thereof, and end tangs or extensions 5|, the latter being opposed and having opposed and complemental oblique top edges. The tangs 5| are wider adjacent their sharply oblique end edges. The narrow end is slightly oblique.

From the other side ofsection 49 depends anarrow section 52 from which extends abottom member 53 having in the body thereof two U- shaped opposed slits 54. From the edges ofsection 53 is anextension 55 of substantially the ianresiavidth assection 58 and wider than secion Fromsection 55 there is a relatively short ex- ,tension 56 which has at one edge anextension 51, and at its other two edges,extensions 58, each of which is provided with atab 59. The ends ofsections 58 are oblique, that in proximity tosection 55 being more sharply oblique than that in proximity tosection 51. Likewise,sections 58 are wider at their sharply oblique edge than at their less oblique ends.

Parallelscores separate thesections 50 and 49, 49 and 52, 52 and 53, 53 and 55, 55 and 56, and 56 and 51. Sections 5| are separated from section 09 by scores normal to those just mentioned andsection 56 is separated fromsections 58 by scores parallel to those separatingsections 49 and 5i. Slightlyoblique scores that are in alinement with theedges ofsection 58 separate thesection 58 from thetabs 59.

Adhesive may be used betweensections 50 and 55. The end sections 5| are next turned over the open ends of the tube thus formed.

The insert member, is then inserted into the bottom of the device, thesection 50 contacting sections I6 andsection 53 resting uponsection 25 IT. The ends 5I are held against opening by the material of sections I9 and-20. The merchandise rests upon the section was do also the edges of sections it, 05; and 56' of the partitioning member.

The cover of the device is brought into closing position, as previously described, after the merchandise,cans 412, has been loaded into the device. To load, a removable closure is applied over the front aperture. -This is removed at the time the device is put in use.

When the device is in use, that is resting uponits bottom and being supported by the easel at the back thereof, the merchandise 02 rests upon the insert member,and has a tendency to roll forwardly of the device, its forward progress being arrested by the section It which is parallel to section I3, the upper edge of which extends above the front edge of the insert member. Thus a barrier preventing accidental displacement of the merchandise is provided.

Each can may be readily removed by picking it up between the fingers, or fingers and thumb. When a can is removed, the next higher can drops into the place made vacant but does not roll out of the device because its progress is arrested by the barrier I3--I6.

An inexpensive, effective display and dispensing device for a single row of cans is thus pro-- vided. The dispenser has a distinct advantage in forcing the merchandise to project beyond the vertical edges of the front of the device through the discharge aperture thereof. Thus, a larger area of the opposed side surfaces of the can 42 are exposed to view and this display attracts attention because of the position of the merchandise. Removal of the merchandise is extremely simple because of the projection of the major portion of the lowermost can through the discharge apertures at all times,

The second form of the invention illustrated comprises a suitable display carton of any preferred construction. The carton illustrated in Figures 8 to 11, inclusive, comprises a body IOI which may be formed of any suitable material and any blank having ends I 02 and I03 that are closed by the over lapping of the material of the front and sides or otherwise.

Within the container there may be a plurality of partitions I dividing the container into vertical compartments so that a number of different items of merchandise of the same character may be stored and displayed in a single container. Adjacent to the bottom of the body IOI there is a discharge opening I which extends across the'front of the container.

The sides I06 and I0! and partition members I04 may be cut back between the top and the bottom of the opening I05 to facilitate grasping items of merchandise stacked in the container. The opening I05 is larger from top to bottom than the major transverse dimension of the articles to be dispensed from the display container.

The container preferably has an inwardly directed.lip I08 which extends from the lower edge of the discharge opening I04 and which provides an incline, the purpose of which will later be apparent. Lip I08 may be integral with the frame of the box (as in the earlier described form of the invention) or it may be attached by adhesive or otherwise.

Within the bottom of the container is an insert member of material which supports the merchandise. The insert member I09 comprises a central section IIO having spaced apart alined longitudinally disposed slots II I generally to one side of the center of said section as shown. Depending from opposed edges of and integral with the central section IIO are two similar or identical extensions H2 and H3.

The central section III is the top of the insert member in use and the extensions H2 and I I3 on each side thereof provide the vertical sides of the insert member.

The next contiguous sections upon the blank form are designated H4 and H5 and each forms a fractional part of the bottom of the insert member. Depending from the bottom forming members are extensions H5 and-I I1 which are of the same width as the side members H2 and H3. Members H6 and II! support the insert member atits center and each has a series of tongues II8 and H9 at the edge thereof. The tongues H8 and H9 register with and are inserted in the slots III in the top member IIO. There is a tongue upon each of the extension sections IIB and II! for each compartment in the container.

' of the edge of the discharge opening I05 prevents a can I20 presented at the discharge opening from being rolled therefrom.

The inclination of the lip I08 and the elevation of the lower edge of the discharge member I05 are sufiicient that the pressure of the stack of cans I20 there over will not cause the lowermost member to be accidentally discharged from the device.

When the can I20 on display is removed from the container, the entire front row of cans I20 drops down as shown in Figure 11. When the next can I20 is removed the front row again drops. When the first can was removed, the top member of the rear row of cans changed its position from over the second or back row to one substantially in the center of the merchandise compartment such can resting equally on the topmost can of both stacks of merchandise. When thesecond can I20 is removed through opening I05, the centrally disposed top can becomes the top member of the front row of cans. Removal of the next item of merchandise causes the front row to again drop and the top member of the back row to assume a position supported equally by the topmost back and topmost frontmembers. The removal of the next succeeding item of merchandise causes the front row to again drop and the topmost member falls into the front row. This cycle continues until there is but one item of merchandise left in the device, that being the lowermost back member, which is held in position'by the tongues H8 and H9.

Without the tongues I I8 and I I9 the merchandise quickly would become jumbled. There would be no orderly discharge of the items. In many instances there would be such confusion that the merchandise would clog. By holding the lowermost back can I20 at the rear of the device there is no tendency for this member to advance to the front of the display, device and produce: confusion. The height of the tongues is an important factor although not a critical one and should be adjusted according to the characterof the merchandise to be dispensed, i. e., the diameter of the can which is laid upon its side, and how much of the front can I20 is to be forced up lip I08. I

The height .of opening I is 'such that the rearmost lower can I20 may roll slightly forward to force the lowermost front can I20 slightly out of aperture I05. The opening, if no higher than the diameter of the can; would tend to unduly retard the movement of the front row of cans. By enlarging the aperture I05 slightly, this 'binding or retarding effect is overcome.

Where hereinabove cans have been mentioned any cylindrical or tubular object is meant. A tongue forholding the rear lowermost object has been described. Any other means such as depressed seat for such can may be substituted chandise supporting member comprising a tubu-- lar member trapezoidal in cross section and extending from side to side oi said container, the front of said container having adjacent the discharge aperture therein an extension of material that is folded inwardly to provide a support for said trapezoidal merchandise supporting member.

2. The dispensing device described in claim '1, and in which the upper surface of said merchandise supporting member is in a plane beneath the lower edge of the discharge aperture in the front of'said container.

3. The device described in claim 1, and in which said trapezoidal insert member has its edge of greatest height at the front of said device, and the top surface of the trapezoidal merchandise supporting member is'in'a plane parallel with a' supporting surface for saiddevice, the plane of the top surface of said trapezoidal member being belowthe plane of the edge of the discharge aperture in the front' of said device.

' LESTER R. ZIMMERMAN.

JONAS SCHUCHAT.

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