U.S. patent application number 11/097025 was filed with the patent office on 2006-10-05 for stackable containers having deployable surfaces.
This patent application is currently assigned to Innovative Packaging Designs L.P.. Invention is credited to Bradley Snyder.
Application Number | 20060219765 11/097025 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37069109 |
Filed Date | 2006-10-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060219765 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Snyder; Bradley |
October 5, 2006 |
Stackable containers having deployable surfaces
Abstract
A container having deployable support surfaces for reinforcing
the container to permit stacking is disclosed. The container
includes a plurality of sidewalls pivotably attached to one another
end to end. A bottom flap is attached to the bottom edge of each
sidewall, and a pivotable support surface is attached to the top
edges of two oppositely disposed sidewalls. For each support
surface, a support panel extends from the support surface to the
bottom flap directly beneath it. The support panels are pivotably
attached to the support surfaces and bottom flaps, and, with the
oppositely disposed side walls, act as a four bar mechanism to
position the support surfaces substantially perpendicular to the
side walls when the bottom flaps are pivoted to form the bottom of
the container.
Inventors: |
Snyder; Bradley; (Allentown,
PA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SYNNESTVEDT & LECHNER, LLP
2600 ARAMARK TOWER
1101 MARKET STREET
PHILADELPHIA
PA
191072950
US
|
Assignee: |
Innovative Packaging Designs
L.P.
Montgomeryville
PA
|
Family ID: |
37069109 |
Appl. No.: |
11/097025 |
Filed: |
April 1, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
229/117 ;
229/167 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 5/10 20130101; B65D
5/3621 20130101; B65D 5/542 20130101; B65D 5/0281 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
229/117 ;
229/167 |
International
Class: |
B65D 5/10 20060101
B65D005/10 |
Claims
1. A container, comprising: a plurality of sidewalls attached to
one another end to end, said sidewalls being pivotable angularly
with respect to one another to surround a central space, each of
said sidewalls having a bottom edge and a top edge, said sidewalls
including a first sidewall; a plurality of bottom flaps, each
bottom flap being pivotably attached to one of said sidewalls along
its bottom edge, said bottom flaps being pivotable about said
bottom edges from a position within said central space to a
position substantially perpendicular to said sidewalls thereby
forming a bottom, said bottom flaps including a first bottom flap
attached to said first sidewall; a first support surface pivotably
attached to the top edge of said first sidewall, said first support
surface being pivotable from a position substantially co-planar
with said first sidewall to a position substantially perpendicular
thereto; and a first support panel positioned in facing relation
with said first sidewall and having a first edge pivotably attached
to said first support surface and a second edge pivotably attached
to said first bottom flap, said first support panel pivoting said
first support surface into said position substantially
perpendicular to said first sidewall when said first bottom flap is
pivoted into said position substantially perpendicular to said
first sidewall.
2. A container according to claim 1, further comprising: a second
of said sidewalls positioned in facing relation opposite to said
first sidewall; a second of said bottom flaps pivotably attached
along the bottom edge of said second sidewall; a second support
surface pivotably attached along the top edge of said second
sidewall, said second support surface being pivotable from a
position substantially co-planar with said second sidewall to a
position substantially perpendicular thereto; and a second support
panel positioned in facing relation with said second sidewall and
having a first edge pivotably attached to said second support
surface and a second edge pivotably attached to said second bottom
flap, said second support panel pivoting said second support
surface into said position substantially perpendicular to said
first sidewall when said second bottom flap is pivoted into said
position substantially perpendicular to said second sidewall.
3. A container according to claim 1, wherein said sidewalls further
include an adjacent sidewall and said bottom flaps include an
adjacent bottom flap attached to said adjacent sidewall, said
adjacent sidewall being pivotably attached to said first sidewall,
said adjacent bottom flap being pivotably attached to said first
bottom flap, said adjacent bottom flap and said first bottom flap
both pivoting into said position substantially perpendicular to
said first sidewall when said adjacent sidewall is pivoted with
respect to said first sidewall.
4. A container according to claim 1, further comprising a knockdown
state including first and second knockdown walls positionable in
overlying relation with one another and pivotably attached to one
another at first and second knockdown corners, said first knockdown
wall comprising at least two of said sidewalls positioned
substantially in a first plane, said second knockdown wall
comprising at least another two of said sidewalls positioned
substantially in a second plane in facing relation substantially
parallel with said first plane.
5. A container according to claim 1, wherein one of said sidewalls
includes a removable portion, said removable portion having a
perimeter defined by a plurality of perforations in said one
sidewall, said removable portion being separable from said one
sidewall thereby providing access to said central space.
6. A container according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality
of top flaps, each of said top flaps being pivotably attached to
one of said sidewalls along its top edge, said top flaps being
pivotable about said top edges to a position substantially
perpendicular to said sidewalls and enclosing said central
space.
7. A container according to claim 1, wherein said sidewalls,
support surface and support panel are formed from paperboard.
8. A container according to claim 1, comprising four said bottom
flaps, said bottom flaps being arranged in overlapping relation so
as to form a crash type bottom when said bottom flaps are in said
position substantially perpendicular to said sidewalls.
9. A container comprising: a plurality of sidewalls pivotably
attached to one another end to end, said sidewalls surrounding a
central space, said sidewalls including a first and a second
sidewall positioned in facing relation opposite one another; a
plurality of bottom flaps, each being pivotably attached to a
bottom edge of one of said sidewalls and pivotable from a position
within said central space to a position substantially perpendicular
to said sidewalls thereby forming a bottom, said bottom flaps
including a first bottom flap attached to said first sidewall and a
second bottom flap attached to said second sidewall; first and
second support surfaces pivotably attached to top edges of said
first and second sidewalls respectively, said first and second
support surfaces each being pivotable from a position substantially
co-planar with said first and second sidewalls respectively, to a
position substantially perpendicular to said first and second
sidewalls respectively; a first support panel in facing relation
with said first sidewall and having a first edge pivotably
connected to said first support surface and a second edge pivotably
connected to said first bottom flap; and a second support panel in
facing relation with said second sidewall and having a first edge
pivotably connected to said second support surface and a second
edge pivotably connected to said second bottom flap, pivoting
motion of said first and second bottom flaps into said position
substantially perpendicular to said sidewalls pivoting said support
surfaces into said position substantially perpendicular to said
sidewalls.
10. A container according to claim 9, wherein said sidewalls
further include first and second adjacent sidewalls positioned in
facing relation opposite one another, and said bottom flaps further
include first and second adjacent bottom flaps attached to said
first and second adjacent sidewalls respectively, said first and
second adjacent sidewalls being pivotably attached to said first
and second sidewalls, said first adjacent bottom flap being
pivotably attached to said first bottom flap, said second adjacent
bottom flap being pivotably attached to said second bottom flap,
said first and second adjacent bottom flaps and said first and
second bottom flaps pivoting into said position substantially
perpendicular to said sidewalls when said first and second adjacent
sidewalls are pivoted to a substantially perpendicular position
with respect to said first and second sidewalls respectively.
11. A container according to claim 10, further comprising a
knockdown state including first and second knockdown walls
positionable in overlying relation with one another and pivotably
attached to one another at first and second knockdown corners, said
first knockdown wall comprising said first adjacent sidewall and
said second sidewall positioned substantially in a first plane,
said second knockdown wall comprising said first sidewall and said
second adjacent sidewall positioned substantially in a second plane
in facing relation substantially parallel with said first plane,
said sidewalls being pivotable about said knockdown corners to
separate said knockdown walls and form said container
therefrom.
12. A container according to claim 11, wherein one of said adjacent
sidewalls includes a removable portion, said removable portion
having a perimeter defined by a plurality of perforations in said
adjacent sidewall, said removable portion being separable from said
adjacent sidewall thereby providing access to said central
space.
13. A container according to claim 11, further comprising first and
second top flaps, each top flap being pivotably attached to one of
said adjacent sidewalls along its top edge, said top flaps being
pivotable about said top edges to a position substantially
perpendicular to said adjacent sidewalls and enclosing said central
space.
14. A container according to claim 10, wherein said bottom flaps
and said adjacent bottom flaps are arranged in overlapping relation
so as to form a crash type bottom when said bottom flaps are in
said position substantially perpendicular to said sidewalls.
15. A container, comprising: four sidewalls attached to one another
end to end, said sidewalls being pivotable relatively to one
another so as to be movable between a knockdown state, wherein two
of said sidewalls are in a first plane and two of said sidewalls
are in a second plane overlying said first plane, and an assembled
state, wherein said sidewalls are in spaced apart relation to one
another surrounding a central space; four bottom flaps, each said
bottom flap being attached to one of said sidewalls along a bottom
edge thereof, said bottom flaps being pivotable from a position
sandwiched between said sidewalls in said knockdown state, and a
position substantially perpendicular to said sidewalls thereby
forming a bottom in said assembled state; first and second support
surfaces pivotably attached along top edges of first and second of
said sidewalls respectively, said support surfaces being pivotable
into a position substantially perpendicular to said sidewalls, said
first and second sidewalls being positioned in facing relation
opposite to one another; and first and second support panels
positioned in spaced apart facing relation with said first and
second sidewalls, said support panels extending, respectively,
between said first and second support surfaces and said bottom
flaps attached to said first and second sidewalls, pivoting motion
of said bottom panels into said position substantially
perpendicular to said first and second sidewalls pivoting said
first and second support surfaces into said position substantially
perpendicular to said first and second sidewalls.
16. A container according to claim 15, wherein said bottom flap
attached to said first sidewall is pivotably attached to one of
said bottom flaps, and said bottom flap attached to said second
sidewall is pivotably attached to another one of said bottom flaps,
said bottom flaps pivoting into said position substantially
perpendicular to said sidewalls when said sidewalls are pivoted
into spaced apart relation to one another.
17. A container according to claim 15, wherein one of said
sidewalls attached to said first and second sidewalls includes a
removable portion, said removable portion having a perimeter
defined by a plurality of perforations in said one sidewall, said
removable portion being separable from said one sidewall thereby
providing access to said central space.
18. A container according to claim 15, further comprising first and
second top flaps, each top flap being pivotably attached to one of
said sidewalls attached to said first and second sidewalls, said
top flaps being attached to and pivotable about respective top
edges of said sidewalls to a position substantially perpendicular
to said sidewalls and enclosing said central space.
19. A container according to claim 15, wherein said bottom flaps
are arranged in overlapping relation so as to form a crash type
bottom when said bottom flaps are in said position substantially
perpendicular to said sidewalls.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The invention concerns containers, and especially corrugated
cardboard containers assemblable, either automatically or manually
from a knockdown state, and having support surfaces permitting
stacking of the containers one atop another.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Containers find broad use in the shipment of many types of
goods, especially bulk goods. Examples of bulk goods include many
food items such as candy and snack foods, small hardware items,
small toys and other consumer products. Increasingly, such
containers have been found useful for the display and dispensing of
the goods at the point of purchase in addition to their traditional
function as a shipping container.
[0003] Containers formed of corrugated cardboard provide an
economical and robust means for fulfilling the goals of shipment to
and display of items at the point of purchase. It has been found
advantageous to provide the containers in what is known as a
knockdown state, wherein the containers are folded into a flat
configuration so that they occupy only a fraction of the volume
which they can hold once assembled. This allows large numbers of
containers to be shipped efficiently to the container user, who
assembles the containers from the knockdown state, fills them with
the bulk goods, and ships the goods to his customers. The design of
the containers is such that assembly from the knockdown state may
be easily accomplished by automated machinery.
[0004] It has also been found useful to provide internal
reinforcing structures to the containers to permit them to be
stacked one above another without fear of crushing the lowermost
containers. Like the rest of the container to which it is attached,
the reinforcing structures must lie substantially flat in the
knockdown state, and then be deployed when the container is
assembled. This has been accomplished by linking the reinforcing
structures to the bottom flaps of the container, as disclosed in
U.S. Pat. No. 6,189,778. The reinforcing structures deploy
automatically when the bottom flaps are pivoted into positioned to
form the bottom of the container. The design of such containers,
however, has a disadvantage in that the bottom flaps extend
outwardly from the container when in the knockdown state. While the
volume of the container in the knockdown state is greatly reduced,
the extension of the bottom flaps outwardly increases the width of
the containers. It would be advantageous to further reduce the size
of the container when in the knockdown state by reducing the width
of the container.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The invention concerns a container, preferably formed from
corrugated cardboard, and comprising a plurality of sidewalls
attached to one another end to end. The sidewalls are pivotable
angularly with respect to one another to surround a central space.
Each of the sidewalls has a bottom edge and a top edge. The
sidewalls include a first sidewall. The container has a plurality
of bottom flaps. Each bottom flap is pivotably attached to one of
the sidewalls along its bottom edge. The bottom flaps are pivotable
about the bottom edges from a position within the central space to
a position substantially perpendicular to the sidewalls thereby
forming a bottom. The bottom flaps include a first bottom flap
attached to the first sidewall.
[0006] A first support surface is pivotably attached to the top
edge of the first sidewall. The first support surface is pivotable
from a position substantially co-planar with the first sidewall to
a position substantially perpendicular thereto. A first support
panel is positioned in facing relation with the first sidewall. The
first support panel has a first edge pivotably attached to the
first support surface and a second edge pivotably attached to the
first bottom flap. The first support panel causes the first support
surface to pivot into the position substantially perpendicular to
the first sidewall when the first bottom flap is pivoted into the
position substantially perpendicular to the first sidewall.
[0007] The container preferably includes a second one of the
sidewalls positioned in facing relation opposite to the first
sidewall. A second one of the bottom flaps is pivotably attached
along the bottom edge of the second sidewall. A second support
surface is pivotably attached along the top edge of the second
sidewall. The second support surface is pivotable from a position
substantially co-planar with the second sidewall to a position
substantially perpendicular thereto. A second support panel is
positioned in facing relation with the second sidewall. The second
support panel has a first edge pivotably attached to the second
support surface and a second edge pivotably attached to the second
bottom flap. The second support panel causes the second support
surface to pivot into the position substantially perpendicular to
the first sidewall when the second bottom flap is pivoted into the
position substantially perpendicular to the second sidewall.
[0008] The container according to the invention may also have an
adjacent sidewall pivotably attached to the first sidewall, and an
adjacent bottom flap pivotably attached to the adjacent sidewall
and to the first bottom flap. Connecting the adjacent bottom flap
to the first bottom causes both the adjacent and the first bottom
flaps to pivot into the position substantially perpendicular to the
first sidewall when the adjacent sidewall is pivoted with respect
to the first sidewall.
[0009] The container may be assembled, either manually or
automatically, from a knockdown state. The knockdown state includes
first and second knockdown walls positionable in overlying relation
with one another and pivotably attached to one another at first and
second knockdown corners. The first knockdown wall comprises at
least two of the sidewalls positioned substantially in a first
plane, the second knockdown wall comprises at least another two of
the sidewalls positioned substantially in a second plane in facing
relation substantially parallel with the first plane.
[0010] Preferably, one of the sidewalls includes a removable
portion. The removable portion has a perimeter defined by a
plurality of perforations in the one sidewall. The removable
portion is separable from the one sidewall thereby providing access
to the central space.
[0011] The container also comprises a plurality of top flaps. Each
of the top flaps is pivotably attached to one of the sidewalls
along its top edge. The top flaps are pivotable about the top edges
to a position substantially perpendicular to the sidewalls to
enclose the central space.
[0012] In a preferred embodiment, the container comprises four
bottom flaps, the bottom flaps being arranged in overlapping
relation so as to form a crash type bottom when the bottom flaps
are in the position substantially perpendicular to the
sidewalls.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a container according to the
invention;
[0014] FIG. 2 is a plan view of a blank used to form the container
shown in FIG. 1;
[0015] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a partially formed container
using the blank shown in FIG. 2;
[0016] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the container shown in a
knockdown state;
[0017] FIGS. 5 and 6 are plan views of the container being
assembled from the knockdown state; and
[0018] FIGS. 7 and 7A are sectional views taken at line 7-7 of FIG.
6.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0019] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a container 10 according to
the invention. Corrugated cardboard is the preferred material for
containers such as 10, but other paper or polymer materials are
also feasible.
[0020] Container 10 includes a plurality of sidewalls 12, 14, 16
and 18 attached to one another end to end. The sidewalls are
preferably pivotably attached to one another to allow them to be
folded flat into a knockdown state (shown in FIG. 4 and described
below) and unfolded into spaced apart relation surrounding a
central space 20 as shown in FIG. 1.
[0021] Sidewalls 14 and 18 have respective top edges 14a and 18a to
which top flaps 22 and 24 are attached. The top flaps 22 and 24 are
pivotable about the respective top edges 14a and 18a to allow the
container to be opened to receive goods into central space 20, and
closed to seal the goods within the container. Preferably, sidewall
14 has a removable portion 26 defined by a plurality of
perforations 28 forming a perimeter 30 of the portion 26. The
removable portion 26 is separable from sidewall 14 manually by
tearing it away from the sidewall to provide access to the central
space 20. This feature is particularly advantageous for displaying
the goods within the container, thereby using the container as a
display device to promote retail sales.
[0022] All of the sidewalls 12, 14, 16 and 18 have respective
bottom edges 12b, 14b, 16b and 18b to which bottom flaps 32, 34, 36
and 38 are attached. The bottom flaps are pivotable about the
bottom edges of the sidewalls to allow the container to assume the
knockdown state shown in FIG. 4. The bottom flaps 32-38 pivot
between the knockdown position, wherein they are folded within the
central space 20 substantially parallel to the sidewalls 12-18 (as
shown in FIG. 5) into the assembled position, shown in FIG. 6,
wherein the bottom flaps are substantially perpendicular to the
sidewalls. By positioning the bottom flaps within the central space
20 in the knockdown state, the width of the container in the
knockdown state is substantially reduced. Preferably, as clearly
illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, bottom flaps 32-38 are arranged in
overlapping relation in the manner of a 1-2-3-4 or "crash" bottom
as is known in the container art.
[0023] Container 10 is preferably constructed from a blank 40,
shown in FIG. 2. Blank 40 is cut from a continuous web of material,
preferably using die cutting techniques. The sidewalls 12-14 are
defined by fold lines 42, 44, 46 and 48 marking the ends of the
sidewalls, the fold lines being regions of reduced bending
flexibility created by scoring or perforating regions of the blank
to permit it to fold or pivot easily about the fold line.
Similarly, top flaps 22 and 24 are defined by respective fold lines
50 and 52 positioned between them and the respective sidewalls 14
and 18 to which they are attached. Each bottom flap 32, 34, 36 and
38 has its respective fold line 54, 56, 58 and 60 positioned
between it and the respective sidewall to which it is attached.
[0024] FIG. 3 illustrates how the container is constructed from the
blank 40. Bottom flaps 32-38 are pivoted into position
substantially perpendicular to sidewalls 12-18 and then the
sidewalls are pivoted relatively to one another to bring the bottom
flaps into overlapping configuration to form the type of bottom
desired, in this example, a crash type bottom. Sidewall 18 is
attached to sidewall 16 using a tab 62 to which adhesive 64 is
applied, the tab being defined by the fold line 46 which allows the
sidewalls 16 and 18 joined by the tab to pivot relatively to one
another.
[0025] Preferably, the bottom flaps are attached to one another in
a manner that will allow them to pivot from their folded position
within central space 20 into the position perpendicular to the
sidewalls to form the container bottom in response to the sidewalls
pivoting relatively to one another into spaced relation when the
container is assembled. To this end, as shown in FIG. 3, bottom
flap 32 is attached in overlapping relation to a foldable portion
38a of bottom flap 38. The foldable portion 34a is demarcated by a
fold line 66 extending substantially diagonally across the bottom
flap 38. Adhesive 64, for example, a hot-melt type, is preferably
used to attach the flaps together. Similarly, bottom flap 36 is
attached in overlapping relation to a foldable portion 34a of
bottom flap 34, the foldable portion being again defined by a fold
line 68. By attaching bottom flaps 32 and 36 to respective foldable
portions 38a and 34a of adjacent bottom flaps 38 and 34, the bottom
flaps are pivotably attached to one another. Thus, as shown in FIG.
5, when, for example, opposite sidewalls 14 and 18 are moved into
spaced apart relation to one another by pivoting the sidewalls
12-18 about their respective fold lines 42-48 in the manner of a
four-bar linkage, the bottom flap 34 pulls on the bottom flap 36,
and the bottom flap 38 pulls on the bottom flap 32, resulting in
the pivoting of the bottom flaps from a folded position within
central space 20 to the position substantially perpendicular to the
sidewalls 12-18 as shown in FIG. 6.
[0026] With reference again to FIG. 1, the container 10 includes a
pair of support surfaces 70 and 72. Support surface 70 is attached
along top edge 16a of sidewall 16 and is pivotable about this edge
from a position substantially co-planar with sidewall 16, as shown
in FIG. 4, into a position substantially perpendicular to the
sidewall, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 6. Similarly, support surface 72
is attached along top edge 12a of sidewall 12 and can be pivoted
between positions similarly to support surface 70.
[0027] As best shown in FIG. 3, a support panel 74 is attached
between support surface 70 and bottom flap 36. Attachment is
preferably effected using an adhesive coated tab 76 attached to the
support panel. A similar construction is used for support surface
72, wherein a support panel 78 having adhesive coated tab 80 is
shown being folded into engagement with bottom flap 32.
[0028] The support surfaces 70 and 72, in conjunction with their
support panels 74 and 78, provide a reinforced structure at
opposite ends of the container 10 that provides added strength to
support similar containers stacked on top of the container 10. This
is advantageous for both shipping and display, because it allows
multiple containers to be stacked without fear of crushing the
lowermost containers.
[0029] The support panels 74 and 78 are pivotably attached to their
respective support surfaces 70 and 72 as well as to their
respective bottom flaps 36 and 32, and in conjunction with
sidewalls 12 and 16, they form a four-bar linkage as illustrated
for one of the assemblies in FIGS. 7 and 7A. The pivotable nature
of the four-bar linkage is such that it allows the support surface
70 to pivot between a position substantially co-planar with the
sidewall 16 and a position substantially perpendicular to the
sidewall (see FIG. 7) in response to pivoting motion of the bottom
flap 36 to which the support panel 74 is attached. FIG. 7A
illustrates an intermediate position assumed by the various
components during transition between positions and describes the
operation of both support surfaces 70 and 72 in relation to
pivoting of their respective bottom flaps 36 and 32 occasioned by
the pivoting of sidewalls 12-18 relatively to one another to
assemble the container from the knockdown state shown in FIG.
4.
[0030] The knockdown configuration is advantageous because it
allows the container 10 to be shipped to a user in a collapsed
configuration wherein each container occupies only a fraction of
the volume that it can hold when assembled from the knockdown. As
illustrated in FIG. 4, the knockdown state 82 comprises a first
knockdown wall 84 formed by sidewalls 16 and 18 in a substantially
co-planar relation with one another. A second knockdown wall 86,
partially shown, is formed from sidewalls 12 and 14 positioned
co-planar with respect to one another. The knockdown walls are
joined at knockdown corners 88 and 90, which also coincide with
fold lines 48 and 44 respectively. As may be inferred from FIG. 5,
when container 10 is in the knockdown state, the bottom flaps 32-38
and the support panels 74 and 78 are positioned within the central
space 20 between the sidewalls 12-18.
[0031] After containers 10 are shipped to the user, they are
assembled by the user from the knockdown state either manually or
by machine. Assembly is described with reference to FIGS. 4 through
7. In FIG. 4, the container 10 is in the knockdown state with
knockdown walls 84 and 86 in overlying relation with one another.
The knockdown walls are separated from one another by pivoting the
sidewalls 12-18 about fold lines 42-48 to bring the sidewalls into
spaced apart relation as shown in FIG. 5. The sidewalls pivot in
the manner of a four-bar linkage. Pivoting of the sidewalls in turn
causes the bottom flaps 34 and 38 to draw the respective flaps 36
and 32 to which they are attached from a position between the
sidewalls into the position shown in FIG. 6, wherein the bottom
flaps are substantially perpendicular to the sidewalls and form the
bottom of the container. As the bottom flaps 32 and 36 pivot they
draw the support panels 78 and 74 toward the bottom of the
container, causing the support surfaces 72 and 70 to pivot from
their position substantially co-planar with sidewalls 16 and 12 to
an orientation substantially perpendicular to theses sidewalls. The
now opened central space 20 of the container is next filled with
goods, and the top flaps 22 and 24 are folded over and sealed to
close container 10 as shown in FIG. 1.
[0032] Containers according to the invention, wherein the bottom
flaps are positioned within a central space between the sidewalls
when the container is in the knockdown state, offer a significant
reduction in width over prior art containers, wherein the bottom
flaps extend outwardly when in the knockdown state. The reduction
in size lends even greater efficiency and economy to the shipment
of the containers to their users in the knockdown state.
* * * * *