Container With Partition Supporting Means

Abstract

A paperboard container includes inserts permitting compartmentizing of the container. The inserts may be glued or heat-sealed to the interior side walls and/or end walls of the container. The container may be composed of double-faced or solid fiber paperboard and the interior and exterior thereof may be curtain coated with a low viscosity plastic in order to provide a moisture and sulfur barrier. The curtain coating also provides a grease-resistant barrier. The inserts may be composed of plastic which may be vacuum formed, injection molded, or otherwise thermoformed into the desired shape or may be composed of compressed fiber. The inserts have slots or grooves formed therewith adapted to receive partitioning members therein. The inserts may be color coded to facilitate insertion of partitioning members into aligned slots.

Description

The present invention relates to a container and more particularly to a paperboard container having means for compartmentizing the container by use of inserts secured thereto.

There is a need for inexpensive, yet practical, rugged and durable containers for many purposes. For example, in recent years, a growing market has evolved for preassembled printed circuit boards. Such a board may consist, for example, of a fibrous board that has printed wiring on one or both surfaces thereof, and has circuit components such as resistors, transistors, condensers and the like, mounted on one or both surfaces of the board. It is desirable to provide containers for housing printed circuit boards after they have been fabricated, particularly, if the circuit boards are to be used as replacement parts or are to be stored prior to or during use. Since the circuit boards are susceptible to damage, are small, and are highly valuable, handling, storage and/or shipment or such boards is often troublesome.

Photographic transparencies provide another example of fragile materials which must be stored in a moisture-resistant container. It is also desirable to store photographic transparencies in chronological sequence.

Glass plates coated with photosensitive emulsions provide another example of articles that are relatively fragile, valuable, and are inconvenient and troublesome to handle, ship and store. Computer cards are further items which present storage problems.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an inexpensive, rugged, and durable container which may be utilized for many purposes.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a paperboard container having means facilitating compartmentizing the container by use of inserts secured to the interior side or end walls or both to thereby permit positioning, isolating and retaining materials to be handled by means of the container.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a paperboard container which may have inserts secured to opposed interior side walls thereof, wherein the inserts have grooves or slots for receiving circuit boards, glass plates coated the photosensitive emulsions, photographic transparencies, computer cards, cell dividers, partition members, and the like.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a paperboard container which is curtain coated with a plastic material to provide a moisture and sulfur barrier for the container and to increase the rigidity and durability of the container.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a paperboard container which may be easily compartmentalized and utilized as a general storage container for any number of items.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a paperboard container which has inserts heat-sealed or glued to the interior surfaces thereof which inserts may be color coded to insure the proper insertion of compartmentizing members into properly aligned slots or grooves.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The above and other objects are accomplished by means of the present invention. A paperboard container is provided having double-wall thickness along the sides thereof and quadruple wall thickness at the ends thereof. Cutouts are provided at the ends to facilitate easy handling of the container. The interior and exterior of the container is provided with a curtain coating of plastic. The thickness of the coating will depend upon the final use to which the container is to be put. Hence, in instances where a moisture barrier is of great importance, a thicker coating will be provided.

Inserts are secured to the interior end faces and/or side faces of the container. The inserts may be composed of plastic or compressed fiber. The plastic may be vacuum formed, injection molded, or otherwise thermoformed into its desired shape. The plastic or compressed fiber may be glued or heat-sealed to the interior faces of the container. The curtain coating of plastic may insure a superior bond between the inserts and the container when the inserts are heat-sealed to the container.

The inserts have grooves or slots therein. In one embodiment, the inserts are formed in a sinuous shape. When the inserts are thusly formed, the peaks on one side of the sinuous inserts may have glue applied thereto and may be glued to the interior surfaces of the container. Alternatively, the ends of the sinuous inserts may be heat-sealed to the container. The members to be inserted in the container have the outermost ends thereof received in the slots or grooves in the inserts. The members to be inserted may be printed circuit boards, computer cards, photographic transparencies, glass plates coated with photosensitive emulsions, cell dividers or partitioning members.

In another embodiment, the inserts are provided with grooves which extend only a portion of the height of the insert to receive compartmentizing members of special configuration. The inserts may have the grooves or slots thereof so spaced as to tightly frictionally engage the compartmentizing members.

When circuit boards are stored in the container, the curtain coating of plastic serves the further function of providing a barrier to sulfur which is a problem in the storage of printed circuit boards because of the platinum and silver normally present on such circuit boards. The curtain coating also provides for added rigidity of the container and prolongs the useful life of the container.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings forms which are presently preferred; it being understood, however, that this invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a container constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention which is suitable for the handling, storage, and/or shipment of printed circuit boards and the like;

FIG. 2 is a section view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a section view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a section view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a section view of the bottom wall of the container showing the curtain coating of plastic thereon;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 1 showing a container constructed in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a section view taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 6; and

FIG. 8 is a section view taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 7.

Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein like elements are indicated by like reference numerals throughout the several views, there is shown in FIGS. 1--5 a container of one embodiment of the present invention generally indicated by the reference numeral 10.

The container 10 includes a horizontal bottom 12 and vertical side walls 13 and l3'. The side walls 13 and 13' are identical and hence only side wall 13 will be discussed in detail. Identical structure on wall 13' will be indicated by a prime notation of the same reference numeral.

The wall 13 includes an outer side wall 14 and an inner side wall 16 joined by a fold line 18. The inner side wall 16 has projecting tabs 20 integral therewith. The tabs 20 are adapted to pass through slots 22 in the bottom 12 of the container 10. The tabs 20 are adapted to be tightly frictionally received in the slots 22.

The container 10 includes identical vertical end walls 24 and 24'. Since the end walls are identical, only end wall 24 will be discussed in detail. Identical structure on end wall 24' will be indicated by a prime notation of the same reference numeral.

End wall 24 includes an outer end wall 26 joined to the bottom 12 along a fold line 28. Outer end wall 26 is connected to a spacer wall 33 along a fold line 29. An inner end wall 30 is connected to the spacer wall 33 along a fold line 31. The horizontal spacer wall 33 is provided to accommodate a double thickness of board between the outer end wall 26 and the inner end wall 30 as will appear hereinafter. The quadruple thickness end walls 24 and 24' provide added strength and rigidity for the container 10.

The inner wall 30 has a projecting tab 32 secured thereto. The projecting tab 32 extends through a slot 36 in the bottom 12 of the container 10. The tab 32 is adapted to be tightly frictionally received within the slot 34.

Both ends of the outer and inner side walls 14 and 16 have projecting flaps 38 and 36, respectively. The flap 38 on one end of the outer side wall 14 is received between outer end wall 26 and inner end wall 30 and comprises a portion of the end wall 24. The flap 38 on the other end of wall 14 comprises a portion of end wall 24'. The flap 36 secured to one end of inner side wall 16 is received between wall 26 and wall 30 and comprises a portion of the end wall 24. The flap 36 on the other end of wall 16 comprises a portion of end wall 24'. The flaps 36 and 38 have a length equal to approximately one-half the length of the end walls 24 and 24'. Flaps 36' and 38' are secured to side wall 13' and are identical in configuration to flaps 36 and 38, respectively. The flaps 36 and 38 abut flaps 36' and 38', respectively.

Elliptical cutout 40 are provided in the outer end walls 26 and 26'. Semielliptical cutouts are provided in the flaps 36, 38, 36' and 38' are clearly shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The cutouts provide a readily accessible means for lifting and carrying the container 10.

As shown in FIG. 5, the bottom 12 of the container 10 is provided with a plastic coating 42 and 44 on opposite sides thereof. The entire container 10 is curtain coated with plastic before the container is assembled. If a moisture barrier is a primary consideration in the use of the container, the curtain coating will be applied after the container has been fabricated but prior to assembly in order to provide the most effective moisture barrier.

Sinuous inserts 46 and 48 are adapted to be secured to the side walls 13 and 13', respectively. The inserts 46 and 48 may be composed of plastic, compressed fiber, or any other suitable material. In the preferred embodiment of this invention, the sinuous inserts are composed of plastic and are heat-sealed at least at their ends to the interior faces of the inner side walls 16 and 16'. Intermediate portions of the inserts may be heat-sealed as desired. The sinuous inserts 46 and 48 are substantially identical. Hence, only insert 46 will be discussed in detail. Identical structure on insert 48 will be indicated by a prime notation of the same numeral.

The insert 46 defines a plurality of slots, channels, or grooves 50. The opposite faces of the grooves define a plurality of peaks 52. When the insert 46 is to be bonded to the interior face or inner side wall 16, the joint is between the wall 16 and the peaks 52 of the insert 46. While the inserts 46 and 48 are shown as secured to the side walls of the container 10, it is readily apparent that the inserts may be secured to the end walls 24 and 24' of the container 10. It is to be noted that inner end walls 30 and 30' are imperforate to provide maximum support for inserts. In some instances, it may be desirable to provide inserts on both the side walls 13 and 13' and the end walls 24 and 24' of the container 10. The inserts 46 and 48 may be provided with flat projecting flanges. However, when no flanges are necessary or desirable, the inserts 46 and 48 may be mass produced and merely cut to desired size.

The slots or grooves 50 and 50' on the inserts 46 and 48, respectively, may be color coded in order to facilitate proper orientation of compartmentizing members 54 inserted therein. The compartmentizing members 54 may be printed circuit boards, computer cards, photographic transparencies, glass emulsion plates, cell dividers, partition members, or the like. Further, they may be merely plain compartmentizing members which are adapted to separate the container 10 into separate chambers. The slots or grooves 50 are adapted to tightly receive the ends of the compartmentizing members 54 so that such compartmentizing members are rigidly locked and retained in place. A cover 56 of transparent or opaque material of varying construction may be provided for the container 10.

It is believed readily apparent that the container 10 with the inserts 46 and 48 therein provides a durable, rugged and yet inexpensive container which may be rapidly constructed and assembled and which may be utilized for a plurality of purposes. The container may be readily collapsed or disassembled for the convenience of space saving storage.

An alternative embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 6--8. Therein, a container 60 is provided which is identical in construction with container 10. Accordingly, only the differences between the embodiment disclosed in FIGS. 1--5 and the embodiment disclosed in FIGS. 6--8 will be discussed.

The container 60 includes sinuous inserts 62. The inserts 62 are provided with grooves or slots 64 of rectangular shape. The grooves 64 have a length which approximates one-half the overall length of the inserts 62. The inserts 62 have flanges 66 and 68 at opposite ends thereof. The flanges 66 and 68 may be heat-sealed at 70 to the container 60. The flanges 66 and 68 lie in a plane parallel to and spaced from the plane defined by the main body portion 63 of the insert 62. The container 60 is preferably coated with a curtain coating of plastic to facilitate heat-sealing the inserts thereto.

The grooves 64 terminate in abutment support surfaces 72. The abutment support surfaces 72 are adapted to provide support for compartmentizing members 74 which have projecting flanges 76 and 78. The flanges 76 and 78 are adapted to be received in the grooves 64 by tight frictional engagement. The compartmentizing members 76 may be provided to separate the container 60 into several compartments or may be members which are to be stored within the container.

The inserts 62 may be composed of plastic or compressed fiber. The inserts may be heat-sealed along the flanges 66 and 68 or may be adhesively secured to the interior surface of the container along the flanges 66 and and 68. Adhesive may also be supplied to the peaks 65 which are formed by the grooves 64. Numerous other shapes and types of inserts can be utilized in the present invention, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof and, accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims, rather than to the foregoing specification as indicating the scope of the invention.

Claims

I claim:

1. A paperboard container including a bottom, side walls and end walls, the interior of said container having a coating of plastic thereon, at least two inserts positioned adjacent opposite walls and bonded to said coating, said inserts comprising sinuous members having a plurality of channels therein, the opposite surfaces of said channels defining peaks, said peaks contracting said coating, said channels in said inserts extending approximately one-half the vertical height of said inserts and terminating in a support surface, said inserts having vertically projecting flanges for securing said inserts to said container, a partition, said partition being of sufficient length to extend across said container, and the ends of said partition being received in opposed channels in said inserts on said opposite walls.

2. A container as set forth in claim 1 wherein said inserts include a main body portion lying in a first plane, said flanges lying in a plane parallel to and spaced from said first plane.

3. A container as set forth in claim 1 wherein said peaks are adhesively secured to said walls.

4. A container as set forth in claim 2 wherein said inserts are heat-sealed to said coating along said flanges.

5. A container as set forth in claim 1 wherein said container has a plastic coating on the exterior thereof to provide a moisture and sulfur barrier and increase the rigidity of said container, said inserts being composed of compressed fiber which are glued to the walls of said container.

6. A container in accordance with claim 1 wherein side walls are comprised of inner and outer layers of paperboard joined together along a fold line at the upper edge of the side walls, the inner layers having a tab extending into a slot in the bottom wall, and the sinuous members being heat-sealed to the coating on said inner layers of the side walls.