Container

Abstract

A container having a hollow tubular section of polygonol cross section with two end closure members each having a flat center section of the same shape and approximate size as the cross section of the tube and a plurality of tabs projecting from the periphery of the central section and interlocking with the end portions of the tube. In a method of assembling the container, some of the flaps of one end closure are inserted between portions of the contents prior to enclosure of the contents by the tube.

Description

The present invention relates generally to containers and a method of assembling the same and enclosing contents therein. More particularly, the invention relates to containers having a main body in the form of a hollow tube and end closure members having flaps lying along the side walls of the tube when in the assembled condition.

A general object of the invention is to construct the tube and end members of a container of the above character in a novel manner to achieve rigidity and durability for protection of the contents while simplifying the assembly.

A further object is to form the tube and end closures of a novel polygonol shape with the flaps alternating on the inside and outside of the tube and interlocking therewith for rigidity and strength.

These and other objects of the present invention will become evident in connection with the following detailed description together with the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an assembled container embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a container ready for assembly in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 3 is a plan view of an end closure member of the container of the present invention prior to assembly.

Referring specifically to FIG. 2, the container 10 shown to illustrate the present invention comprises a body member in the form of a hollow tube 12 and two end closure members 14 and 16 formed of a flat sheet material such as corrugated paper board. Each of the end closures has a flat center section 18 of the same shape and approximate size as the cross section of the tube 12 and a series of flaps which lie along the tube wall when the container is assembled as shown in FIG. 1.

To achieve rigidity and strength for protection of the container contents, the invention contemplates a polygonol shape for the tube cross section and the center sections of the end closure members with an even number of sides. Also, the flaps of the end closures are generally coextensive circumferentially with the corresponding sides of the tube 12 and are arranged so that alternating flaps of each end closure lie along the inner surfaces of alternating sides of the tube, while the intervening flaps lie along the outer surfaces of the intervening sides of the tube. With this arrangement, there is an interlock between the flaps and the tube at both ends of the tube and at adjacent edges of each flap to assist in maintaining the desired rigidity and strength of the container.

By way of example, the container 10 is illustrated as having eight sides of equal lateral dimension. It should be understood, however, that any even number of sides may be employed and that the various sides need not be of equal lateral dimension. As, illustrated the tube includes four sides designated herein as alternate sides 15 and four intervening sides 17. The tube may be of any desired height depending on its intended use and may be made of corrugated cardboard, plastic or other relatively stiff material.

The blanks for the end closures 14 and 16 are of the same size and shape and, as can best be seen in FIG. 3, the top end closure member 14 comprises an octagonal center section 18 of relatively stiff material having eight flaps extending from the respective side edges thereof. Four of the flaps are the alternate flaps 20 mentioned above and these extend from four alternate sides of the center section 18 corresponding to the alternate sides 15 of the tube. Each alternate flap 20 is connected to the center section along a fold line 21 and terminates in a point 22 for reasons which will become evident in connection with the assembly of the container. Four intervening flaps 24, rectangular in profile and shorter than the alternate flaps 20, extend from the four intervening edges of the center section 18 at an angle of 45.degree. to the alternate flaps 20. Each of the flaps 20 and 24 is adapted to be folded at its junction with the edge of the flat central section 18 along a fold line 25 perpendicular to the side edges of the flap.

It is noted that the lengths of the flaps 20 and 24 along their lines of juncture with the center section 18 are slightly less than the lengths of the edges of the center section. As a result, the adjacent edges of adjacent alternate and intervening flaps at their lines of juncture with the center section are spaced apart a short distance as indicated at 26 to provide clearance to receive the adjacent edge of the tube 12 when the alternate flaps 20 are inserted inside the tube with the intervening flaps outside, the edges of the tube being received with a snug fit within the clearance spaces 26 while avoiding tearing of the flaps.

The blank of each end closure member as shown in FIG. 3 is formed from a square piece of material with the portions between the respective adjacent flaps 20 and 24 cut out. Thus, the construction, especially for an equilateral eight sided container, results in relatively little waste material providing an economy factor in addition to the strength of the container. While the points 22 on the alternate flaps 20 may be omitted, they are preferred to facilitate insertion of these flaps within the tube 12 during assembly of the container.

In assembling the container of the present invention, the center section of the bottom closure member 16 is first placed on a horizontal supporting surface and typical articles to be packaged, for example, a stack of tape reels 27 shown in phantom in FIG. 2 are placed on top of the flat central portion 18. In the preferred mode of assembly, this stack of contents only partially fills the container and is not as high as the total length of the alternate flaps 20 or the walls 15 and 17 of the polygonol tube 12. The alternate flaps 20 preferably are prebent upwardly from the flat central portion 18 before any contents are placed on the central portion. After some of the articles 27 are in place, the alternate flaps 20 are bent a second time along lines 29 and inwardly over the stack of articles so that their outer end portions including the points 22 lie horizontally on the top of the stack. Then, the remainder of the articles are placed on the folded over flap end portions and are aligned vertically with the articles on the closure member. To facilitate folding of the upper end portions inwardly along the lines 29, the flaps preferably are scored along such lines.

With all of the articles supported on the bottom closure member 16, the tube 12 is telescoped downwardly over the stack and the upwardly extending alternate flaps 20 so that the outer sides of the vertical portions of the alternate flaps lie against the inner sides of the alternate walls 15 of the tube. The tube is lowered until the lower edges of its intervening sides 17 engage the upper sides of the intervening flaps 24 adjacent their junction with the center section 18. Next, the top closure member 14 is assembled by inserting its downwardly bent alternate flaps 20 along the inner sides of the alternate walls 15 of the tube toward the alternate flaps 20 of the bottom member 16. Insertion of the alternate flaps 20 of the top member is facilitated by the pointed shape of the end portions of these flaps.

The remaining step in the assembly of the container involves securing of the intervening flaps 24 of both end closures 14 and 16 against the outer sides of the intervening tube walls 17. This is accomplished in the present instance by means of a pair of straps 32 extending around the container longitudinally in planes perpendicular to each other. Since the top member 14 and the bottom member 16 are oriented so that the alternate flaps 20 of each member engage the inner sides of the same alternate walls 15, each strap 32 engages the intervening flaps 24 on opposite sides of the closure members 14 and 16 to secure all of these flaps against the outer sides of the tube.

An optional feature of the present invention as shown in FIG. 1 contemplates bending two of the intervening flaps 24 on opposite sides of the top closure reversely as illustrated at 34 prior to securing them against the outer side of the container. The folding of these flaps in this manner provides convenient handles for carrying the container in an upright position without danger of tearing of the top closure member. For maximum toughness it is preferable that the fold 34 be made on flaps perpendicular to the corrugations of the cardboard if that material is employed.

It can be seen from FIG. 2 that, if the length of the tube 12 is less than twice the length of the alternate flaps 20 to their tips 22 and if the container is assembled without folding down the flaps 20 on the bottom member 16, it is possible that the flaps would interfere with each other in assembling the container. For this reason, the length of the flaps 20 preferably is restricted to no more than half of the height of the entire container, or, alternatively, the flaps 20 in the bottom closure member should be bent over the top of a portion of the contents as in FIG. 2 so that there is no interference of the points 22 of the flaps of the top and bottom members.

It will be apparent that, in the finished container with alternating flaps 20 on the end closures on the inner sides of the tube walls 15 and the intervening flaps 24 on the outer sides of the walls, there is an interlocking action of the flaps with the walls resulting in an extremely rigid and strong container which is capable of withstanding weight when turned on its side as well as when it is in the vertical position shown in FIG. 1. Thus, there is provided a durable, easily assembled container which can be made reuseable and which protects its contents from breakage under the rough handling.

While the foregoing description of the present invention has been made in conjunction with a specific embodiment, the invention is not intended to be so limited, but rather is only limited to the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A container having, in combination, a hollow tube of polygonal cross section with an even number of sides, top and bottom end members each having a flat center portion of the same shape and approximate size as said cross section of said tube and flaps secured to and extending outwardly from the side edges of each of said top and bottom members, alternate ones of said flaps of each of said end members being folded laterally of said center section and lying along the inner surfaces of corresponding sides of said tube and the intervening flaps being folded laterally of the center portion and lying along the outer surfaces of said tube sides when the ends are assembled with said tube, at least two of said intervening flaps on opposite sides of said top member being folded reversely upon themselves prior to being placed against said tube sides to provide handholds for said container, and means to secure said intervening flaps against said outer surfaces of said tube sides.

2. A container having, in combination, a hollow tube of polygonal cross section with an even number of sides, said hollow tube being made from a generally flat sheet having parallel top and bottom straight edge surfaces, top and bottom end members each having a flat center portion of the same shape and approximate size as said cross section of said tube and having flaps secured to and extending outwardly from the side surfaces of each of said top and bottom members, alternate ones of said flaps of each of said end members being folded laterally of said center portion and lying along the inner surfaces of corresponding sides of said tube and the intervening flaps being folded laterally of the center portion and lying along and against the outer surfaces of said tube sides when the ends are assembled with said tube, said alternate ones of said flaps being longer than said intervening flaps to assist in assembly of said container, and means releasably securing said intervening flaps against said outer surfaces of said tube sides to permit disassembly of said top and bottom end members and collapse of said hollow tube and end members to flat conditions.

3. A container having, in combination, a hollow tube of polygonal cross section with an even number of sides, said hollow tube being made from a generally flat sheet having parallel top and bottom straight edge surfaces, top and bottom end members each having a flat center portion of the same shape and approximate size as said cross section of said tube and having flaps secured to and extending outwardly from the side surfaces of each of said top and bottom members, alternate ones of said flaps of each of said end members being folded laterally of said center portion and lying along the inner surfaces of corresponding sides of said tube and the intervening flaps being folded laterally of the center portion and lying along and against the outer surfaces of said tube sides when the ends are assembled with said tube, said alternate ones of said flaps being pointed to facilitate assembly of said container, and means releasably securing said intervening flaps against said outer surfaces of said tube sides to permit disassembly of said top and bottom end members and collapse of said hollow tube and end members to flat conditions.

4. A container as set forth in claim 1 wherein said polygonol cross section is octagonal.

5. A container as set forth in claim 1 wherein a portion of said alternate ones of said flaps on said bottom member are further folded inwardly parallel to said flat center portion over a portion of the contents of said container to facilitate the assembly of said container.

6. A container as set forth in claim 1 further comprising at least one strap extending around said top and bottom members and along two sides of said tube, said strap overlying at said intervening flaps on each of said top and bottom members to cause said flaps to lie along the outer surfaces of said tube sides.