US2153333A - Carton - Google Patents

Description

April 4, 1939. R E, LQWEY 2,153,333

CARTON Filed March 18, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet l 3 Sheets-Sheet April 4, 1939,'

R. LOWEY CARTON Filed March 18, 1957 April 4, 1939.

3 R. E. LOWEY CARTON Filed March 18, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Apr. 4, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CARTON Application March 18, 1937, Serial No. 131,593

8 Claims.

The presentinvention relates to cartons and more particularly to folding .cartons adapted to hold a plurality of separate articles such, for example, as fruits, vegetables, and other edible materials. I

One object of the invention is to provide a container adapted to be set up by interlocking parts without 'the use of separate securing devices or special machinery.

Another object of the invention is to provide a container whichmay be packed through the bottom so that when the container is inverted the uppermost layer of articles packed in the container will present a pleasing and attractive appearance through a window formed in the top panel by the use of a sheet of transparent material inserted in a cutout in the top panel.

Another objectof the invention is to provide a container of this type adapted to hold a definite count of edible articles in which such articles may be readily packed in graded sizes, the container being susceptible of being made up selectively into one of a plurality of sizes.

To these and other ends the invention resides in certain improvements and combinations of parts, all as will be hereinafter more fully described, the novel features being pointed out in the claims at the end of the specification. In the drawings: I Fig. l is a perspective view of a container made in accordance with the present invention, illustrating same as it appears after it has been packed and placed in a position to effectively display the contents;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the bottom or closure end of the'container, being the end through which the container is normally filled;

Fig. 3 is a. perspective view of the container in a partially set-up condition; 1

Fig. 4 is a view of the container blank;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of a modified form of container adapted to be selectivelyassembled to provide for varying capacities;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view, similar to Fig. 5, showing the container assembled to provide maxi-' mum capacity therein; and

Fig. 7 is a view of the blank of the modified form of container.

The container of the present invention is particularly advantageous for use in packaging of yieldable materials such as citrus 'fruits, apples, peaches, tomatoes, mushrooms, and similar fruits and vegetables. Due to the character of the closure of the present container it is particularly well adapted for the packaging of mushrooms which, after being packed will generally increase in volume somewhat due to the fact that the mushrooms continue to grow for a short 5 time.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 4, the carton, indicated as a whole at Ill, comprises a top panel II and side panels I2, I3, [4 and I5 integral with the top panel and defined therefrom byscore lines 10 as indicated. The top panel II preferably has an opening therein which is closed by a piece of transparent material I6 through which the contents of the carton may be viewed.

Means are provided for retaining walls I2 and 16 I3 in an upright position and for closing the spaces between them so that the container may be packed without raising the walls I4 and I5. For this purpose the walls I2 and I3 areformed with extension flaps thereon indicated at I! and -20 It on wall I2, and at I9 and 20 on wall I3. Each of these flaps is provided with a suitable portion adapted to interlock with a similar portion on the cooperating flap. These interlocking portions are indicated at Ila, I8a, Ho. and 25 20a. After these flaps have been engaged with each other the container will appear substantially as indicated in Fig. 3 and it is now ready to receive material. It is apparent that the interengaged pairs of fiaps constitute ineffect 30 primary side walls which are supplemented and strengthened by side wall panels I4 and I5.

In order to form a. bottom closure one of the side walls, in-the present instance wall I4, is provided with an extension defined therefrom by 35 a score line .and divided by means of another score line into two sections one of which, indicated at 22, constitutes the bottom and the other section, indicated at 23, provides an upturned edge portion adapted to cause thebottom panel 40 22 to be disposed in a plane offset inwardly from the lower edges of the side walls of the carton. Means are provided for retaining thebottom panel 22 in fixed position within the carton. For this purpose cut-out portions ornotches 24, 25, 45 and 26 are preferably formed at the edges of thebottom panel 22 on its three free sides. The side wall I 5 is provided with an extension 21 having a centrally disposedtongue 28 extending from its outer edge. An additional ex- 50tension 29 is provided which is separated from the main extension 21 by means of a score line allowing it to be bent along a line even with the base of thetongue 28. When thebottom panel 22 is in place, as indicated in Fig. 2, thetongue 55 edge of the bottom and the side wall in which position it will lie within thegroove 25 formed in thebottom 22, and theextension 29 is arranged to contact against the lower surface of thebottom 22. It is to be noted that thetongue 28, when in place between the edge of the bottom and its adjacent side wall, will prevent displacement of theextension 29 from its position in contact with the lower surface of the bottom. The walls l2 and I3 preferably each have an extension thereon similar to that just described for thewall l5. The locking means on the wall I3 is indicated as comprising parts 36, 3| and 32 and the locking ,means on the wall [2 is indicated as comprisingparts 33, 34 and 35, these parts being respectively equivalent to parts 21,

28 and 29 previously described. The parts 3| and 34, in the set-up condition of the carton, will be engaged in the cut-outportions 24 and 26 and theparts 32 and 35 will be engaged on the undersurface of thebottom 22. See Fig. 2. In assembling this form of the container it is not material which locking device is inserted first, thus theextension 29 may overlap one or both of theextensions 32 and 35, orextension 29 may be overlapped by.one or both of said extensions.

When the carton has been assembled as just described the material contained in the carton will prevent movement of the bottom upwardly in the carton and the locking devices will prevent movement downwardly so that, so long as the carton is filled with articles, there will be no likelihood of the bottom-becoming accidentally displaced.

In the modified form of the invention, illustrated in Figs. 5, 6 and 'I, the carton is preferably formed to permit its capacity to be varied. Thus if it is desired to pack articles by weight or count and the volume of such desired weight or count of articles should vary between different grades it will be possible to vary the volume of the carton so that the walls of the container will closely engage the contents and prevent same from shifting within the container thereby preventing injury to the contents.

As this form of the invention is also designed for upside down filling it is to be understood that reference to the top panel means the panel which is normally underneath'during the packing operation; and reference to the bottom panel means the panel which is above at the close of packing operation. When the packing operation is completed the containeLwill then be inverted and retained in this position during further handling and shipment.

The modified carton is indicated as a whole by the numeral 46 and comprises a top panel 4| to which walls, 43, and 45 are hingedly connected. A transparent window 46 is provided for top panel. 4|. As illustrated in Fig. 7, the carton is preferably formed from a single blank of paperboard, and, in the present instance, the walls are defined from the top panel by means of score lines, as indicated. In this embodiment of the invention thewalls 42 and 43 will for convenience be termed side walls, and thewalls 44 and 45 will be termed end walls. It is obvious, however, that the dimensions of the walls may be changed without altering the invention.

Means are provided for retaining theside walls 44 and 45 in one of a plurality of upright positions. For this purpose the side walls are provided at their ends with extension flaps n, 43, 49 and 50. These extension flaps are each provided with notches 41a, 41b; 4812,4812; 49a, 49b and 50a,

. 50b. The positions of the notches are such that tances of the notches 48b and 5012 from thehinge connections of the flaps to their side walls. By this construction it is apparent that the lower edges of the side walls (that is, the edges remote from the top panel) will be disposed closer or farther from each other dependent upon which set of notches is interengaged. When theflaps 4B, 50 and 41, 49 are interengaged as just described the carton will be ready to receive the contents which are to be enclosed therein.

In order to close the bottom of the carton abottom panel 52 is formed as an extension on one of the side walls, being, in the present instance, side wall 43. Between the bottom 52 and the side wall 43 is disposed aportion 53 which, upon being bent over against the wall 43, will cause the hinge line of the bottom to be disposed below the edge' of the wall 43 as the carton is viewed in an upside down position.

As in the form of the invention first described, one or more sets of locking means are provided on the edges of the remaining walls to retain the edges of the bottom panel in a fixed position offset inwardly from the lower free edges of the walls. Forthis purpose the wall is provided with an extension 54 defined from thewall 42 by a score line and carryingtongues 55 and 56 thereon adapted to lie between the edge of the bottom panel and the inner face ofside wall 42.Anadditional extension 54a is provided on the portion 54 and is defined therefrom by a score line impressed in line with the bases of thetongues 55 and 56 permitting theportion 54a to lie flat on the outer face of the bottom panel.

End walls 44 and 45 are provided with similar bottom locking portions which comprise extension 51,tongue 58 andextension 59 on wall 44; andextension 66, tongue GI andextension 62 onwall 45.

In order to facilitate the introduction of thetongues 55, 56, 58 and 6| between the edges of the bottom panel and the adjacent side walls there is preferably formed in the bottom panel a plurality of cut out portions or notches indicated respectively at 63, 64, 65 and 66. These notches are equivalent tonotches 24, 25 and 26 of the form first described.

Means are provided by which thebottom panel 52 can be formed narrower. For this purpose a score line 66a is impressed in thepanel 52 back a short distance from the free edge of the bottom to define aportion 61 which may be bent over to lie against theside wall 42 in the set-up condition of the box. The use of theportion 61 may best be understood by comparison of Figs. and 6. In Fig. 6 theportion 61 is disposed in the plane of thebottom panel 52, while in Fig. 5 theportion 61 is removed from the plane of the bottom and lies against theside wall 42 thus narrowing th panel-52 by the width of theportion 61.

In order to provide means by whichtongues 55 and 56 may be engaged with the bottom panel when formed in its narrow condition there are provided slits B8 and 69 preferably shaped in a similar manner to the cuts 54 and 65 and having their ends terminating along the hinge line between thepanel 52 and theportion 61. Thus when theportion 61 is bent substantially at right angles to thepanel 52 openings will be provided into which thetongues 55 and 56 may enter. If

' and 62 lying on the outer surface of the desired, theportion 61 may be completely severed from the bottom panel alongline 66 when it is desired to form a carton with the narrower width bottom.

In using the cartons illustrated in the Figs. 5,

6 and 7 the volume of the goods to be packed in the carton is determined, whereupon theside walls 42 and 43 will be bent upwardly and theflaps 48, 50 and 41, 49 are engaged by interconnecting the notches 48a and 50a and notches 41a and 49a, if the large size is required; or, if the smaller size is required, the notches 48b'and 50b, and 41b and 49b will be engaged.

If the container is made'up for the larger volume thebottom panel 52 will be left as indicated in Fig. 6, but if the carton is to be made up for the smaller volume theportion 61 will be removed or folded to lie against theside wall 42 as indicated in Fig. 5. In either event the locking devices on the remaining walls will be folded inwardly to engage thetongues 55, 56, 58 and BI in between such walls and the edges of the bottom panel, The members orportions 54a, 59 and 62 will be folded to lie on the outer surface of the bottom panel as partially indicated in Figs. 5 and 6, and in a manner similar to that indicated in Fig. 2. It is to be noted that the presence ofextended portion 54a beneath the bottom 52, when used in its larger size, will tend to prevent bending of the bottom alongscore line 66 when the bottom "is supporting the contents of the carton.

In preparing the blanks for any given type of commodity it is desirable to dimension the effective interior height of the carton so as to snugly retain the material to be packed therein. By so doing, the bottom panel, after the container is filled, will come to rest on the contents at approximately the proper level so that when the portions 5 3, 51 and 60 are folded inwardly against their attached walls of thetongues 55, 56, 58 and 6! will snap into place within the respectiveopen ing 54, 65, 66 and 63 with theportions 54a, 59bottom panel 62.

Due to the use of the interconnected flaps l1, I9 and I8, 20, together with p'anels id and i5, it is apparent that a very sturdy construction of container is provided so that, if desired, the filled containers may be stacked in piles of considerable height without likelihood of collapsing the container walls. The provision of the bottom locking means on the ends of certain side walls which lockingmeans include a portion engaging the bottom (these portions being' indicated at 29, 32 and 35, in Fig. 4) cause the bottom panel to be reinforced and strengthened to such an extent that it is possible to use lighter stock in making up the cartons than it otherwise would be if these extended flaps were not employed.

While the present description sets forth a preferred embodiment of the invention, numerous changes may be made in the construction without departing from the spirit of the invention, and it is therefore desired that the present embodiment be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, reference being had to the appended claims rather than to the foregoing de-' scription to indicate the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A carton adapted to be assembled selectively so as to have one of aplurality of different capacities and adapted to be filled in an upsidedown position, said carton comprising a rectangular top panel, side walls integrally hinged on opposite sides thereof, extension flaps on the edges of said side walls, said extension flaps having two sets of cooperating engaging portions of which one set only is adapted to cooperate at a given time, said sets of cooperating portions being so related to the flaps that one set will cause the lower edges of the side walls to be located closer together than will result when the other set of cooperating portions are engaged with each other, a bottom panel adapted to close the bottom of the box, and means for securing the bottom panel in place. I 2. A carton adapted to be assembled selectively so as to have one of a plurality of different vcapacities and adapted to be filled in an upsidedown position, said carton comprising a rectangular top panel, side walls integrally hinged on each side thereof, extension flaps on the edges of two oppositely disposed of said side walls, said extension flaps having two sets of cooperating engaging portions of which one set only is'adapted to cooperate at a given time, said sets of cooperating portions being so related to the flaps that one set will cause the lower edges of the side walls to be located closer togetherthan willresult when the other set of cooperating portions are engaged with each other, a bottom panel adapted to close the bottom of the box, and means for securing the remaining side walls and the bottom panel in place.

3. A carton adapted to be assembled selectively so as to have one of a plurality of different capacities and adapted to be filled in an upsidedown position, said carton comprising a rectangular top panel, side walls integrally hinged on each side thereof, extension flaps on the edges of two oppositely disposed of said side walls, said extension flaps having two sets of cooperating engaging portions of which one set only is adapted to cooperate at a given time, said sets of cooperating portions being sorelated to the flaps that one set will cause the lower edges of the side walls to be,loc'ated closer together than will result when the other set of cooperating portions are engaged'with each other, a bottom panel, means on the bottom panel for decreasing the effective area thereof to enable it to cooperate with the walls when same are located in positions adapted to decrease the volume of the carton, said means comprising a readily foldable edge portion which, upon being removed from the plane of the bottom panel will permit the bottom panel to be fitted with respect to the walls in their reduced capacity position, means on the side walls opposite the side wall supporting the bottom for retaining the free edge of the bottom in place, and means for securing the remaining side walls in place.

4. A carton adapted to be assembled selectively so as to have any of a pluralityof different capacities comprising, a generally rectangular top panel, side walls integrally hinged on opposite sides thereof, one pair of oppositely disposed side walls bearing interlocking flaps adapted to be interengaged to hold said side walls in upright positions, one of the remaining pair of oppositely disposed side walls at its outer edge having an A inextension hinged thereto by one edge and adapted to form a bottom, means on said extension for decreasing the effective area thereof, and means for decreasing the volume encompassed by the side walls in accordance with the decrease in e1- fective area of the extension.

5. A carton adapted to be assembled selectively so as to have any of a plurality of different capacities comprising, a generally rectangular top panel, side wall panels integrally hinged along each edge of said top panel, interlocking means carried by certain of said side wall panels for securing said walls in any of a plurality of predetermined angular relationships with respect to said top panels, a bottom panel carried by one of said side panels, and means for varying the efiective area of said bottom panel to accord with the predetermined angular positions of said side in upright position, said means comprising a down turned flap extension on at least one of the remaining side walls, a tongue part extended from its outer edge and inserted between the side wall and the adjacent edge of the bottom panel and an additional extension separated from the main extension by means of a score line and extending beyond and on each side of the tongue, said additional extension being folded to lie flat against the lower face of the bot-' tom panel, whereby, when the carton has been filled with yieldable contents, the bottom wall may be engaged in place between the contents and the flap extension by moving the flap extension across the surface of the bottom wall until the tongue part snaps into place between the bottom and the side wall.

'7. A carton for retaining yieldable materials and adapted to be filled in an upside-down position, said carton comprising a rectangular top wall, four side walls associated therewith, means for engaging the side walls in container-forming position, a bottom panel hingedly associated with one of the side walls along a line spaced inwardly from the lower edge of said side wall and being provided with a shallow notch in an edge thereof, and means for retaining and supporting the bottom panel in position above the lower edges of the side walls when the carton has been placed in upright position, said means comprising a flap extension on at least one of the remaining side walls, said flap extension comprising a tongue part inserted into the space provided between the notched edge of the bottom, wall and the adjacent side wall, said flap extension also including another part extending beyond the tongue and folded to lie flat against the lower face of the bottom panel, whereby, when the carton has been filled with yieldable contents, the bottom wall may. be engaged in place between the contents'and the flap extension by moving the flap extension across the surface of the bottom wall until the tongue part snaps into the space provided by, the above mentioned notch in the edge of the bottom wall.

8. A carton for retaining yieldable materials and adapted to be filled in an upside-down position, said carton comprising a rectangular top wall, four. side .walls associated therewith, means for engaging the side wall panels in containerforming position, a bottom panel hingedly associated with one of the side walls along a line spaced inwardly from the lower edge of said side wall and being provided with a shallow notch in an edge thereof, and means forretaining and supporting the bottom panel in position above the lower edges of the side walls when the carton has been placed in upright position, said means comprising a flap extension on at least one of the remaining side walls, said flap extension comprising a centrally disposed, rigid tongue part inserted into the space provided between the notched edge of the bottom wall and the adjacent side wall, said flap extension also including another part, extending beyond and on each side of the tongue part, and folded to lie flat against the lower face of the bottom panel, whereby, when the carton has been filled with yieldable contents, the bottom wall may be engaged in place between the contents and the flap extension by moving the flap extension across the surface of the bottom wall until they bottom wall.

ROY E. LOWEY.

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