US2990097A - Box assembly - Google Patents

Description

June 1961 G. v. THOMPSON 2,990,097

' BOX ASSEMBLY Filed Feb. 6, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 27, 1961 V G. v. THOMPSON 2,990,097

BOX ASSEMBLY Filed Feb. 6, 1958 3 Sheets-sheet 2 23/527 fur GfU/PGE 1/. THOMPiO/V June 27, 1961 G. v. THOMPSON BOX ASSEMBLY 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. 6, 1958 [HT/E17 [01" 6f0fi6f v THOMPSON 2,990,097 BOX ASSEMBLY George V. Thompson, Winfield, IlL, assignor, by mesne assignments, to Chicago Carton Company, a corporation of Delaware Filed Feb. 6, 1958, Ser. No. 713,582 Claims. (Cl. 229-20) The present invention relates generally to box assemblies and more particularly to a paperboard box assembly which includes an outer carton and an inner container.

In the retail soft goods merchandising field, as well as in other fields, it is often desirable and sometimes necessary because of variations in size, color, and/or design to maintain a relatively large inventory for sale of certain goods, such as for instance, gloves, shoes, girdles, stockings, etc. The stock is often carried in boxes which are placed one upon the other in a series of vertical stacks, in some predetermined order to assist in the rapid location of a desired item. In the past, when a sample article was desired for display or inspection by a customer in connection with a possible sale, the salesman would first locate the article desired and would then remove the box containing the article from the stack. The box and the article contained inside would then be brought to the customer for display and inspection. After the customer had inspected the article, and the article remained unsold, it would then be returned within the box to the stacks. A good deal of work was entailed in replacing these returned boxes in the proper sequence in order to assist in promptly relocating them at some future time.

If the article was sold, it might be presented to the customer to take with him in the box removed from the stack, thereby leaving a void in the stack, or it might be repackaged. In the case of repackaging, the original box might be discarded, which would also cause a void in the stack, or it might be returned empty to the stack to be replaced or refilled at a later date. In either case, the stock situation in the stacks becomes confusing. In one situation, if there is a void, the salesman must search to determine the nature of the missing item and whether that particular item is sold or misplaced. In the other situation, the presence of empty boxes in an inventory stack can be very misleading and tends to present a false picture of a full stock bank which may actually be missing many items.

The box assembly of the present invention has been developed with the above difficulties in mind and, consequently, has particular merchandising features which are directed to the reduction of the work involved in the returning of unsold goods to the proper storage location, to the packaging of goods sold, and at the same time to the reduction and elimination of confusion with respect to the status of the goods held in inventory.

Accordingly, the principal object of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved box assembly which includes an inner container adapted to be slidably received and enclosed within an outer container having novel means for gaining access to the inner container.

A further principal object of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved outer container construction which is adapted for use with a co-operating inner container and which includes a novel opening means for gaining access to the inner container.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of an outer carton of the type described, which may be erected from a single paperboard blank, which can be readily and economically manufactured from available materials on ordinary carton-making machinery, and which includes a lid of novel and special construcatent tion to provide for greater utility, increased strength and resulting long life.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a novel paperboard box assembly of the type described, which includes an inner open top tray which is adaptable, when removed from the outer carton, to form a separate enclosure or carton.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become known by reference to the following description and accompanying drawings of one embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view illustrating a box assembly, including an outer carton and an inner tray, which embodies various of the features of the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a reduced plan view of a paperboard blank from which the tray shown in FIGURE 1 is assembled.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the tray erected from the blank shown in FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view illustrating the manher is which the tray shown in FIGURE 3 may be employed to form a closed container.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of the illustrated outer carton shown in FIGURE 1, in inverted position, to particularly illustrate the structural formation of the lid of the carton.

FIGURE 6 is a reduced cross-sectional View taken along line 6-6 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 7 is a reduced plan View illustrating the paperboard blank from which the outer carton shown in FIGURE 1 may be erected.

FIGURE 8 is a plan view illustrating a subsequent formation of the carton blank shown in FIGURE 7.

FIGURE 9 is a partially broken away plan view illustrating a further step in the formation of the carton blank shown in FIGURE 7.

Illustrated generally in FIGURE 1 is one selected embodiment of a carton orbox assembly 21 which embodies various of the features of the present invention, and which is of elongated rectangular shape to make it especially adapted for use in the merchandising of girdles. Although it is anticipated that other materials might be used in the making of thebox assembly 21, the preferred embodiment comprises, and the following description is directed to, a paperboard box assembly. As will be seen, thebox assembly 21 comprises an outer container orcarton 25 and an inner container ortray 23. Theouter carton 25 includes asleeve section 27, adapted to slidably receive one end of theinner tray 23, and alid section 29 which is hingedly and integrally connected in extending relation to one end of thesleeve section 27 and which is adapted, when in the raised or open position, to allow theinner tray 23 to be freely inserted or removed from within thesleeve section 27. When in the closed position, thelid 23 is adapted to cover the extending end of thetray 23 and to substantially enclose thetray 23 within theouter carton 25. By means of this type of construction, theouter carton 25 is advantageously adapted to receive theinner tray 23, including the goods therein, as well as to permit easy removal of the inner tray from theouter carton 25, all without disturbing the prearranged order of a number of box assemblies making up a stack.

Another merchandising advantage is provided by the formation of theouter carton 25 and theinner tray 23, wherein the disposition and arrangement of thelid 29 allows inspection of the contents of thebox assembly 21, while in a stack, without disturbing the order of the stack or requiring the removal of theinner tray 23.

A further advantageous merchandising feature of the selected embodiment of thebox assembly 21 is achieved by adapting theinner tray 23, when removed from theouter carton 25, to form a complete, closed carrying container in which goods may be packaged and carried from the store.

Thebox assembly 21 and therefore the outer and inner containers may take various forms and sizes depending upon the shape and type of the article to be contained. In this embodiment, the selected inner container ortray 23, illustrated generally in FIGURE 3, is of generally rectangular cross section and is of open-top formation when enclosed in theouter carton 25 to allow the contents therein to be easily viewed, as will be explained. While other types of tray construction may also be advantageously employed in the box assembly, the selectedtray 23 is erected from a single paperboard blank and has abottom wall panel 31 and side andend walls 33 and 35, respectively, of double thickness to provide extra strength. In order to provide a package which may be readily employed to carry a purchased article from the store, theinner tray 23 is adapted, when removed from the outer carton, to be folded upon itself and telescoped, as shown in FIGURE 4, to form a closed carton. Although other means might have been employed, in this instance, in order to accommodate the folding of the tray into a closed carton, thebottom wall panel 31 of thetray 23 is. transversely scored at intermediate positions therealong to provide a pair of spaced, parallel fold orhinge lines 49, and theside walls 33 have also been suitably scored or creased to providegussets 45 intermediate extensions of thehinge lines 49. Theside wall gussets 45 also strengthen the construction of thetray 23, especially in the extended position, by providing for continuity of the sidewalls.

Theopen tray 23 is erected from a blank 37, shown in FIGURE 2. The blank 37 is generally of rectangular shape and includes thebottom wall panel 31, a pair ofend wall panels 39 which extend integrally through score lines 41 defining the ends of the bottom of the tray, fourside wall panels 43 which extend integrally throughscore lines 44 defining the sides of the tray bottom, theside gussets 45 located centrally of theside wall panels 43, and fourcorner gussets 47.

Thebottom wall panel 31 includes the pair of parallel spaced apartscore lines 49 which divide the bottom wall panel into twoend portions 51 of substantially the same size, and a central portion 53 included between thescore lines 49. As can be seen in FIGURE 4, when thetray 23 is telescoped, theend portions 51 form the top and bottom walls, and the central portion 53 forms one of the end walls.

Each of theend wall panels 69, from which the reinforcedend walls 35 are formed, includes an outerend wall panel 55 foldably connected through ascore line 59 to an innerend wall panel 57, and. a bottomwall reinforcing strip 61 foldably connected to thepanel 57 through asuitable fold line 63 having outer scoredportions 63a and an intermediate perforated portion 631).

One of theend wall panels 39 is formed with an opening or hole 64 which is adapted to form, when the tray is erected, anotch 66 by which theinner tray 23 may be readily grasped when removing thetray 23 from theouter carton 25. The opening 64 is preferably located in a symmetrical relation to thescore line 59, and in this selected embodiment, is of circular shape to provide a semi-circularend wall notch 66.

The reinforcedside walls 33 of thetray 23 are formed from theside wall panels 43 which extend from the sides of thebottom portions 51 and which, include an outerside Wall panel 67 foldably connected through a score line 71 to an innerside wall panel 69. Each of the innerside wall panels 69, shown in FIGURE 2, also has an integrally extendingtab 73, which interacts with theend walls 35 to strengthen thetray 23, and anindented portion 75 which co-operates with one of thelocking tabs 65 in maintaining theend walls 35 in proper erect condition.

Each of the centrally locatedside gussets 45 extends integrally and foldably from the bottom wall along an extension of thescore line 49 and is also integrally and foldably connected to each of the adjacent outerside wall panels 67 through extensions of thescore lines 49. Theouter edge 77 of each of the side gussets is generally in the shape of an inwardly directed V formation. Each of thegussets 45 also includes a pair offold lines 79, each of which extends generally from the apex of the V to one of the inward gusset corners. In thisembodiment, each of thefold lines 79 has a scored line portion 79:: which extends of the apex to the V and has a cut portion 7912 which extends, as shown, to the respective inward corners of the side gussets.

Each of thecorner gussets 47 extends integrally from one end of the adjacent outerside wall panel 67 through an extension of the score lines 41, and extends integrally from an adjacent outerend wall panel 55 through an extension of the score lines 441. Each of thecorner gussets 47 is further provided with a scored orperforated line 81 which extends diagonally of thegussets 47 in the customary fashion.

Erection of theopen tray 23 to the form shown in FIGURE 3 may be accomplished on ordinary carton forming equipment. In this connection, glue or other adhesive is first applied to the outer marginal areas, indicate-d by the numeral 83 in FIGURE 2, of each of the innerside wall panels 69. The innerside wall panels 69 are then inwardly folded along the line 71 and secured in overlying relation to the adjacent outerside wall panels 67. The double-ply side walls 33 thusly formed are then formed into upstanding relation to thebottom wall panel 31.

Each of theend walls 35 is then formed by inwardly folding each of the adjoiningcorner gussets 47 and by simultaneously folding theend panel 39 into upstanding relation to thebottom panel 31. The innerend wall panel 57 is then folded along theline 59 into overlying relation with each of the adjacent inwardly folded adjoininggussets 47, theextension tabs 73 of the adjacent innerside wall panels 69, and the associated outerend wall panel 55. At the same time, the bottomwall reinforcing strip 61 is folded into overlying relation with the marginal end regions of thebottom wall panel 31 to reinforce the end edge portions of thebottom wall panel 31. Each of the lockingtabs 65 of the innerend wall panels 57 is engaged with theindented portion 75 of the adjacent innerside wall panel 69, as has been cited, to maintain theend wall 35 in proper upstanding position and to thereby maintain the tray in erected condition.

One of the advantageous features provided by the described tray construction is that, when the open tray is removed from the outer carton, the tray is foldable upon itself and completely closable to form an article carrying container. In this connection, it will be noted, as seen in FIGURE 4, that thebottom wall panel 31 is folded along each of thetransverse scores 49, and that the centrally locatedside gussets 45 are simultaneously folded inwardly against the panel 53 when converting thetray 23 to a closed carton.

Anouter carton 25, which is adapted to receive the inner container ortray 23 and to provide therewith various of the features set forth in. this application, is designed and proportioned to slidably receive and to substantially enclose theinner tray 23, previously described, and is, therefore, of generally rectangular shape.

In the selected embodiment to be described, theouter carton 25 is fabricated from a unitary paperboard blank, although other materials and other methods of formation may be used to gain certain of the advantages of the invention described herein.

The selectedouter carton 25, as has been noted, includes asleeve section 27 and alid section 29 which is integrally connected to one end of thesleeve section 27.

As can be readily seen in FIGURE 1, the tubular sleeve section includes atop wall 85, abottom wall 87, and a pair of side walls '89 and 91, which, in this embodiment, are all of equal length. The end of thesleeve section 27 opposed to the extendinglid section 29 is closed by a reinforced end wall 93 which also serves to maintain the tubular sleeve in rectangular cross section.

Thelid section 29 is integrally and hingedly connected to thetop wall 85 of thesleeve section 27 and, in this embodiment, is of novel reinforced construction which is adapted to provide extra strength and resultant longer life. This special multi-ply construction includes atop wall 95, a pair of opposedtriangular side walls 97, and anend wall 99.

Theouter carton 25 is erected from a blank 101, shown in FIGURE 7, of generally rectangular form which is especially designed to afford economical fabrication of the outer carton. The blank 101 may be thought of as being divided :into two integrally connected parts, onepart 103 being adapted to form thesleeve section 27 and asecond part 105 being adapted to form thelid section 29.

The first orsleeve part 103 includes a series of generally rectangular panels from which the walls of thesleeve section 27 are formed. In this connection, thebottom wall panel 87 is connected through ascore line 107 to theside Wall panel 91, which in turn is connected through ascore line 109 to thetop wall panel 85. Integrally connected to thetop wall 85 through a score line 111 is theside wall 89, which in turn is connected through a score line 113 to anattachment flap 115.

Integrally connected to the outer end of thesleeve part 103 through afold line 117 is a series of panels adapted to form the end wall 93 of thesleeve section 27. These panels include anend wall panel 119, which extends from thetop wall 85, a tuck panel ortab 121 which extends from thebottom wall 87, and a pair ofgussets 123 one of which extends from each of theside wall panels 89 and 91. Each of thegussets 123 is also foldably and integrally connected through an extension of one of therespective score lines 111 and 109 to the adjacent side of theend wall panel 119. A scored orperforated line 125 extends diagonally across each of thegussets 123 from the respectively adjacent corners of thetop panel 85 and divides the gussets into twoparts 127 and 129.

The second orlid part 105 of the blank 101 is also comprised of a series of panels which are integrally formed with the panels of thesleeve part 103 and which include alid reinforcing panel 131 connected through ascore line 133 to a first lid side panel 135. Integrally connected to the side panel 135 through ascore line 137 is a lidtop panel 139, which in turn is connected through a score line 141 to a secondlid side panel 143, which is also connected in turn to anattachment flap 145 through a score line 147. The score lines 133, 137, 141 and 147 of thelid part 105 are substantially in alignment with the score lines 107, 109, 111 and 113 of thesleeve part 103.

Thelid part 105 and thesleeve part 103 of the blank 101 are joined through ascore line 149 which integrally and hingedly connects thesleeve top wall 85 and the lidtop panel 139, and are also joined, when in the blank form, through a pair ofout lines 151 and 153 which are in alignment with and extend from the ends of thescore line 149, and which have interruptedcut portions 151a and 153:: respectively. As shown, the interruptedcut portions 151a connect thesleeve bottom wall 87 to thelid panel 131, while the interrupted cut portion 153a connects thesleeve attachment flap 115 to thelid attachment flap 145.

Integrally connected through ascore line 155 to the outer end of thelid part 105 is a series of panels from which are formed thelid end wall 99 and which include anend wall panel 157 extending from the lidtop panel 139, and a pair ofgissets 159, one of which extends from each of thelid side panels 135 and 143. The lidend wall panel 157 and thegussets 159 are formed in a similar fashion to theend wall panels 39 andcorner gussets 47 of theinner tray 23. Consequently, theend wall panel 157 includes anouter wall 161, aninner wall 163 which is foldably and integrally connected to theouter wall 161 through ascore line 165, and a lid toppanel reinforcing strip 167 integrally connected to the innerend wall panel 163 through asuitable fold line 169. In this instance, thefold line 169 has outer scoredportions 169a and an intermediate perforated cut portion 16%. The inner end wall panel also includes a pair of lockingtabs 171. Each of thegussets 159 is provided with a suitablediagonal fold line 173. In this embodiment, thefold line 173 includes outerperforated cut portions 173a and anintermediate cut portion 173b.

The previously mentionedpanel 131 of the lid part is cut away at its outer end in an inwardly directed V formation, havingside edges 174 and 176. Thepanel 131 is also divided into two symmetrical but opposedsmaller panels 175 and 177 by asuitable cut line 179 which extends from the apex of the V parallel to thescore line 133 for the remaining length of thepanel 131, and which is adapted to be later severed as will be explained. In this embodiment, theout line 179 includes end perforatedportions 179a and an intermediate cut portion 17%. In order to provide greater strength in the erected lid, thepanels 175 and 177 are each provided with a suitably shaped extension tab and 172, respectively. Thetabs 170 and 172 are foldably connected to the respective panels and 177 throughfold lines 178 and 180, and extend outwardly, as illustrated, adjacent the outer ends of therespective sides 174 and 176 in a generally perpendicular relation thereto.

The angle included between thesides 174 and 176, and the depth of the V formation, are selected so that in the later partially erected form of the lid, as illustrated in FIGURE 9, thesides 174 and 176 are generally parallel to and spaced slightly inward of thefold line 155 in order to provide for engagement of the locking tabs 171' for suitable clearance from theend wall 99 should some misalignment occur during the manufacturing process.

A number of other score lines and perforated lines are included in the construction. Included among these lines are a pair ofscore lines 181 and 182 which run diagonally across the respectivelid side panels 135 and 143 from the respective side panel corner adjacent thesleeve top wall 85.

Perforated cut lines 183 and 185 also extend from the respective corners adjacent thesleeve top Wall 85 of each of thelid side panels 135 and 143. In order to properly form thelid section 29, the angle A included betweenscore lines 137 and 181 should be equal-to the angle B included between thescore line 181 and theperforated cut line 183. A similar relation exists between the angles formed bylines 141, 182 and 185. Thescore line 185 extends across theside panel 143 to the score line 147, where it joins anotch 187 in theattachment flap 145 provided to allow clearance when thelid section 29 is erected. In the case of thescore line 183, it extends across the side panel 135 and beyond thescore line 133 to the edge of thepanel 177, dividing thepanel 177 intoportions 189 and 191.

A perforated outline 193 extends across thepanel 175 in a symmetrical manner to that of the segment of the perforated outline 183 included in thepanel 177, and divides thepanel 175 intoportions 195 and 197.

Erection of the outer carton from the disclosed blank may also be readily accomplished on ordinary cartonforming machinery. In this connection, glue or other adhesive is applied along longitudinal sidemarginal areas 207 and 209 of thesleeve bottom wall 87 and thelid panel 175 respectively as shown in FIGURE 7. Theperforated cut portions 151a and 153a are then severed to disconnect thesleeve wall 87 from thelid panel 131 and to disconnect thesleeve flap 1 15 from thelid flap 145.

Thesleeve side wall 89 and the associatedattachment flap 115 andgusset 123 are then folded along the score line 111 into overlying relation to the adjacent areas ofthe'sl'eeve part 103 as shown in FIGURE 8. At the same time, thelid side panel 143 and the associatedattachment flap 145 andgusset 159 are folded along the score line 141 into overlying relation with adjacent regions of thelid part 105. Thesleeve bottom wall 87 is then folded along thescore line 107 and thelid panel 131 is similarly folded along thescore line 133 so that the outer gluedareas 207 and 209, respectively, come into contact with and are bonded to the attachment flaps 115 and 145, respectively.

In the next operation, thepanels 171 and 175 are separated from one another by severing the perforated outline 179. When this occurs, it will be noted that thelid part 105 is now generally symmetrical in shape about the lidtop panel 139. The lid side panel 135 andpanel 177 are then unfolded along thescore line 133 but are subsequently refolded along thescore line 181, so that theportion 191 of thepanel 177 is in general overlying relation within the lidtop panel 139, as shown in FIGURE 9'. Similar operations are performed on theside panel 143 and the attachedpanel 175 to place them in a similar formation to that just explained, and as illustrated in FIGURE 9. It should be noted that in this condition, theperforated cut line 183 overlies thescore line 137 of the panel 135, and theperforated cut lines 185 and 193 overlie the score line 141 of thepanel 143.

The sleeve andlid sections 27 and 29 of the outer carton may now be erected from therespective parts 103 and 105 of the blank 101.

Erection of the lid section will first be described, although the sleeve section may be first erected or the sections may be erected simultaneously. The multi-plylid side walls 97 are first formed into upstanding position with relation to the lidtop panel 139 by folding along thescore lines 137 and 141. Theend wall panel 157 is also folded into upstanding relation to thetop panel 139 by folding along thescore line 155, and at the same time, thegussets 159 are folded inwardly into adjacent relation to the upstanding outerend wall panel 161 and into adjacent relation with theextension tabs 170 and 172 which have been inwardly folded along thescore lines 178 and 180 in cooperation with the folding of thegussets 159. 'Finally, the inner reinforcingend wall panel 163 is folded along thescore line 165 to overlie theextension tabs 170 and 172, thegussets 159, and the outerend wall panel 161. The lockingtabs 171 are engaged with therespective edges 174 and 176 in order to maintain the lid section in the erected condition, and the topwall reinforcing strip 167 is overlayed upon the adjacent edge portion of the lidtop wall panel 139 and the extending portions of thepanels 191 and 197, as best seen in FIGURE 5. Thestrip 167 not only serves to reinforce the edge portion of thetop panel 139 but also serves to maintain the plies of theside walls 97 in intimate relation by abutting against the edge of theportions 189 and 195, as indicated by the numeral 213 in FIGURE 5. Furthermore, thestrip 167 serves to hold theportions 191 and 197 in proper adjacent position to thetop wall panel 139.

By reference to FIGURE 5, it will clearly be seen that the lid is of especially strong and sturdy construction. The end andside walls 99 and 97 are each of double ply construction, and a substantial portion of the top wall is also of multi-ply construction to withstand wear and tear during a long and useful life.

The sleeve section of the carton is set up in tubular form and the end wall 93 is constructed by lifting theside walls 89 and 91 upward and by simultaneously inwardly folding thegussets 123 and inserting thetuck 121 between theend wall panel 119 and theadjacent portions 127 of the inwardly foldinggussets 123. An end wall formed in this fashion is not only of double thickness and quite sturdy, but will maintain the tubular sleeve section in rectangular cross section.

Because this selected embodiment of anouter carton 25 was designed for use with the prior describedtray 23, the cross section across the tubular sleeve section as shown by the dottedline 211 in FIGURE 5, is slightly larger than the similar cross section of thetray 23. Similarly, the total length of the sleeve andlid sections 27 and 29 is slightly larger than the length of thetray 23. In this instance, the length of thesleeve section 27 is approximately twice the length of thelid section 29 and therefore serves to effectively support the tray section even when the tray is partially withdrawn. However, this proportion may be widely varied to suit the occasion.

When the disclosed box assembly is used for storage of goods within a vertical stack of boxes, it is readily apparent, that by pulling the box forward a suflicient distance to expose thefold line 149, thelid section 29 of theouter carton 25, may be upwardly lifted to clear the extending portion of thetray 23. In this position, the contents of the opentop tray 23, may be easily inspected or the tray may be grasped and pulled forwardly until the tray and goods contained therein are completely removed from the outer carton. It will be noted that theouter carton 25 is retained within the stack, and that the prearranged sequence within the stack has not been disturbed.

When thetray 23 is removed from thesleeve 25, it is sometimes desirable to return the carton to a position in upstanding alignment with the other boxes in the stack. This is especially true if the carton is of lightweight construction and the contents of each of the boxes is relatively heavy. When theouter carton 25 is returned in upstanding alignment with the other boxes, theend Wall 99 of thelid section 29 assists in supporting the weight of the boxes higher in the stack and helps prevent crushing of thetubular sleeve section 27.

However, it may also be found desirable in certain situations to employ the lid section of the outer carton as a flap or marker to focus attention to those boxes which are empty. In this connection, the emptied outer carton may be left outwardly extending from the stack of boxes, in which case, the lid section will hang downwardly and forwardly, plainly indicating the empty boxes.

If the goods are to be returned, the lid is first lifted to expose the open end of thetubular sleeve section 27 and thetray 23 inserted therein. When thetray 23 is fully telescoped within thesleeve 27, thelid section 29 may be downwardly positioned to cover the tray and to enclose it within the outer carton. Thebox assembly 21 may then be pushed back into upstanding alignment with the other boxes in the stack.

The disclosed re-inforced construction of the box assembly provides for an especially long and useful life. While the box assembly has been described in terms of usefulness with regard to certain merchandising features, it should be understood that the box is capable of use in many other ways other than that indicated above. Furthermore, the special construction of the outer carton and the particularly strong lid construction makes the outer carton adaptable for use with other inner containers and in other circumstances than that described herein. (For example, the outer carton may be used, in the inverted position shown in FIGURE 5 if desired, as a container or receptacle without an inner tray such as is described in the assembly.

Other additional changes and modifications might be made in the disclosed construction to gain certain of the advantages mentioned herein without departing from the principles of the present invention.

I claim:

1. A paperboard box assembly comprising an outer carton and an inner tray slidably positionable in said outer carton, said tray being formed from a single blank, being of generally rectangular cross section having an open top, and including a bottom wall and a pair of each of opposed multiply side and end walls, said bottom wall including a pair of spaced apart parallel transverse fold lines, and each of said side walls of said inner tray having a centrally located gusset whereby when said inner tray is removed from said outer carton one end of said tray may be folded and telescoped over the other end of said tray to form a closed container, said outer carton being formed from a single blank and comprising a sleeve section and a lid section, said sleeve section being of generally rectangular cross section, being closed by a multiply end wall at one end, and having top, bottom, and side walls of equal length proportioned to slidably receive a part of said inner tray with the remainder thereof extending outwardly from said sleeve section, said sleeve end wall being formed by an end wall panel which extends from one of said top or bottom walls, a tuck which extends from the other of said top or bottom walls and which is inserted between said end wall panel and a pair of inwardly folded gussets each of which extends from one of the ends of said end wall panel and from one of said side walls, said lid section being hingedly connected to the other end of said sleeve section in outwardly extending relation thereto and proportioned to cover the outwardly extending part of said inner tray to thereby at least substantially enclose the inner tray within said sleeve and lid sections, said lid section having a top wall, a pair of opposed generally triangular side walls, and an end wall of substantially the same size as said end wall of said sleeve section, each of said side and end walls having at least one second ply to provide greater strength therein, one of said plies of each of said lid side walls having an extension which overlies a portion of said lid top wall to provide greater strength therein, one of said plies of said lid end wall having a pair of outwardly extending locking tabs and an extending strip which overlies the end portion of said lid top wall to also provide greater strength therein, said strip having ends which abut against the adjacent lid side walls to assist in maintaining the plies of said lid side walls in adjacent position, and each of said locking tabs inter-engaging with a portion of one of the adjacent lid side walls to assist in maintaining said lid in erected condition.

2. A paperboard outer carton for use in cooperation with a generally rectangular inner container removably positionable within said outer carton, said outer carton being formed from a single blank and comprising a sleeve section being of generally rectangular cross section, being closed by a multiply end wall at one end, and having top, bottom, and side walls of equal length proportioned to slidably receive a portion of the inner container with the remainder thereof extending outwardly from said sleeve section, said lid section being hingedly connected to the other end of said sleeve section in outwardly extending relation thereto and proportioned to cover the outwardly extending portion of the inner container and to thereby at least substantially enclose the inner container within said sleeve and lid sections, said lid having a top Wall, a pair of opposed generally triangular side walls, and an end wall of substantially the same size as said end wall of said sleeve section, each of said lid side and end walls having at least one second ply to provide greater strength therein, one of said plies of each of said lid side walls having an extension which overlies a portion of said lid top wall to provide greater strength therein, one of said plies of said lid end wall having a pair of outward extending locking tabs, and each of said locking tabs interengaging with a portion of one of the adjacent lid side walls to assist in maintaining said lid in erected condition.

3. A paperboard carton for use in co-operation with a generally rectangular inner container removably positionable within said outer carton, said outer carton being formed from a single blank and comprising a sleeve section and a lid section, said sleeve section being of generally rectangular cross section, being closed by a multiply end wall at one end, and having top, bottom, and side walls of equal length proportioned to slidably receive a portion of the inner container with the remainder thereof outwardly extending from said sleeve section, said sleeve end wall being formed by an end wall panel which extends from one of said top or bottom walls, a tuck which extends from the other of said top or bottom walls and which is inserted between said end wall panel and a pair of inwardly folded gussets each of which extends from one of the ends of said end wall panel and from one of said side walls, said lid section being hingedly connected to the other end of said sleeve section in outwardly extending relation thereto and proportioned to cover the outwardly extending portion of the inner container and to thereby at least substantially enclose the inner container within said sleeve and lid sections, said lid having a top wall, a pair of opposed generally triangular side walls, and an end wall of substantially the same size as said end wall of said sleeve section, each of said lid side and end walls having at least one second ply to provide greater strength therein, one of said plies of each of said lid side walls having an extension which overlies a portion of said lid top wall to provide greater strength therein, one of said plies of said lid end wall having a pair of outward extending locking tabs and an extending strip which overlies the end portion of said lid top wall to provide greater strength therein, said strip having ends which abut against the adjacent lid side walls to assist in maintaining the plies of said lid side walls in adjacent position, and each of said locking tabs lnterengaging with a portion of one of the adjacent lid s de walls to assist in maintaining said lid in erected condition.

4. A paperboard box assembly comprising an outer carton and an inner tray slidably positionable in said outer carton, said tray being of generally rectangular cross section having an open top and including a bottom wall and a pair each of opposed side and end walls, said outer carton being formed from a single blank and comprising a sleeve section and a lid section, said sleeve section being of generally rectangular cross section and being proportioned to slidably receive a part of said inner tray with the remainder thereof extending outwardly from said sleeve section, said lid section being hingedly connected to the end of said sleeve section in outwardly extending relation thereto and proportioned to cover the outwardly extending part of said inner tray to thereby at least sub stantially enclose the inner tray within said sleeve and lid sections, said lid section having a top wall, an end wall, and a pair of opposed side walls, each of said lid side and end walls having at least one second ply to provide greater strength therein, and one of said plies of each of said lid side walls having an extension which overlies a portion of said lid top wall to provide greater strength therein.

5. A paperboard box assembly comprising an outer carton and an inner tray slidably positionable in said outer carton, said tray being of generally rectangular cross section having an open top and including a bottom wall and a pair each of opposed side and end walls, said outer carton being formed from a single blank and comprising a sleeve section and a lid section, said sleeve section being of generally rectangular cross section and being proportioned to slidably receive a part of said inner tray with the remainder thereof extending outwardly from said sleeve section, said lid section being hingedly connected to the end of said sleeve section in outwardly extending relation thereto and proportioned to cover the outwardly extending part of said inner tray to thereby at 1 1 least substantially enclose the inner tray within said sleeve and lid sections, said lid section having a top wall, an end wall, and a pair of opposed generally triangular side Walls, each of said lid side and end Walls having at least one second ply to provide greater strength therein, 5 one of said plies of each of said lid side walls having an extension which overlies a portion of said lid top wall to provide greater strength therein, and one of said plies of said lid end Wall having an extending strip which overlies the end portion of said lid top wall to also pro- 10 vide greater strength therein.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Cummings June 30, Batkin Sept. 18, Wolf May 28, Labombarde Feb. 19, countryman Aug. 18, Ethridge Apr. 20, McReary Oct. 6, Kindseth Nov. 1,

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