Container Construction

Abstract

A container is provided for use in the bulk handling of a comminuted product. The container includes a receptacle formed from a single blank of foldable sheet material. The receptacle comprises a bottom panel and upright wall panels delimiting said bottom panel and connected thereto by a continuous foldline. Adjacent edges of successive wall panels are interconnected by corner members. Each corner member terminates at the continuous foldline and is provided with foldable sections which are adapted to be folded upon one another and overlie the exterior surface of one of the successive wall panels. The one successive wall panel is provided with a foldable extension which interlockingly engages the foldable corner member sections and retains same in overlying relation with respect to the wall panel exterior surface.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Various containers have heretofore been provided for the bulk handling of a comminuted product. Said prior containers because of certain design characteristics have been beset with one or more of the following shortcomings: a. the container required numerous components which increased substantially the cost of the container and complicated the setting up of the container; b. the container was not readily capable of being knocked down, when not in use, for compact storage; c. the container was not capable of being reused; d. the container required tape, staples or the like in order to set up; and e. the container was ineffective in preventing leakage or infestation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Thus, it is an object of this invention to provide a container of the type described which avoids all of the aforenoted shortcomings.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a container of the type described which is readily capable of being manually set up, closed and opening without the need for special tools and the like.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a container which is strong and capable of withstanding abusive handling.

Further and additional objects will appear from the description, accompanying drawings and appended claims.

In accordance with one embodiment of this invention a container for the bulk handling of a comminuted product is provided which includes a receptacle formed from a blank of foldable sheet material. The receptacle comprises a multisided bottom panel, and a plurality of upright wall panels delimiting said bottom panel and being connected thereto by a continuous foldline. The adjacent sides of successive wall panels are interconnected to one another by foldable corner members. The lower end of each corner member terminates at the continuous foldline. Each corner member is provided with sections which are foldable upon one another and when so folded are folded as a unit so as to overlie the exterior surface of one of the successive wall panels. The said one successive wall panel is provided with a foldable extension which interlocks with the folded corner member sections and retains same in said overlying position.

DESCRIPTION

For a more complete understanding of the invention, reference should be made to the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of one form of blank for the receptacle;

FIg. 2 is a top plan view of one form of blank for the cover;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are perspective views of the receptacle blank in successive steps of setup;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of the receptacle in a final step of setup;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary perspective composite view of the receptacle and the cover about to be assembled thereon; and

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of the assembled container with the cover thereof partially open.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to FIG. 7, an improved container 10 is shown which is particularly suitable for use in the bulk handling of comminuted products. The container 10 in the form illustrated includes a receptacle 11 and a telescoping cover 12 therefor.

Both the receptacle and cover are formed from blanks 13 and 14, respectively, of foldable sheet material, see FIGS. 1 and 2. Blank 13 in the illustrated embodiment includes a centrally disposed bottom panel 15 which is delimited by four side or wall panels 16, 17, 18 and 20. The side panels are connected to the periphery of panel 15 by a continuous foldline formed of four angularly disposed segments 21a, b, c and d.

Successive side panels are interconnected to one another by corner members 22, 23, 24 and 25. Each corner member is provided with a diagonal foldline 22a, 23a, 24a and 25a, one end of which terminates at a junction of the continuous foldline segments. Each diagonal foldline forms the corner member into triangular sections 22b--c, 23b--c, 24b--c and 25b--c.

The corner members diagonally disposed relative to bottom panel 15 are of like construction. Corner member sections 22b and 24b are each provided with an elongated open-sided slot 26 formed in the exposed edge thereof. Likewise the other corner member sections 22c and 24c are each provided with elongated opening 27 which is disposed adjacent to but spaced from the exposed edge of the section.

One side of each corner member section is connected to the adjoining edge of an adjacent side panel by an elongated foldline 28. Each foldline 28 extends from a segment 21a, b, c or d of the continuous foldline and is disposed substantially perpendicular to the foldline segment which connects the side panel in question to the periphery of the bottom panel 15.

Connected by double foldlines 30a and b to the outer edges of side panels 16 and 18 are extension flaps 31. The spacing between the foldlines comprising the double foldlines is to accommodate multiple thicknesses of the sheet material when the blank 13 is set up in a manner to be hereinafter described.

Each flap 31 is provided with a tonguelike element 32 which is connected by an interrupted foldline 33 to the outer edge of the flap. Interrupting foldline 33 is an inverted U-shaped cut 34 which defines an inwardly extending tab 35.

In setting up blank 13 to form the receptacle 11, the side panels 16, 17, 18 and 20 are folded so as to assume upright vertical positions with respect to bottom panel 15. As this occurs, each corner member 22--25 will be folded so that the sections thereof will fold about the diagonal foldlines into face-to-face relation. Subsequent to the side panels assuming their upright positions, corner members 23 and 25 will be further folded so as to overlie the exterior surfaces of side panels 18 and 16, respectively, see FIG. 3. Corner members 22 and 24 are then further folded so as to overlie the previously folded corner members 25 and 23, respectively, see FIG. 4. When corner members 22 and 24 are folded into overlying relation with respect to members 25 and 23, respectively, the elongated openings 27 formed in corner member sections 22c and 24c are exposed.

In order to retain the corner members in their relatively folded positions, as seen in FIG. 4, the extension flaps 31 are folded outwardly and downwardly so as to overlie the upper edges of the folded corner members. The element 32 of each extension flap 31 is folded relative to the remainder of the flap so that the tab 35 can be inserted into the adjacent exposed opening 27, see FIG. 4. Subsequent to the element tab 35 being inserted through opening 27, the element 32 is folded downwardly about the interrupted foldline 33 until it assumes the position shown in FIG. 5, whereupon blank 13 is fully set up.

Cover blank 14, as seen in FIG. 2, includes a top panel 36, which in the illustrated embodiment is separated into like sections 36a and 36b by a centrally disposed foldline 37. If desired, the foldline 37 may be omitted. Delimiting top panel 36 and foldably connected thereto are side panels 38, 40, 41 and 42. Side panels 40 and 42 are separated into like sections 40a--b and 42a--b by foldline 37.

Extending laterally from opposite ends of side panels 40 and 42 are foldable end flaps 43. Each end flap 43 is of like configuration and includes a hooklike projection 44 which is connected by a foldline 45 to one side thereof. One end of foldline 45 terminates in an open end slot 46. The width of slot 46 is approximately the thickness of the blank sheet material. It will be noted in FIG. 2 that projection 44 is formed by a cut 47 which extends endwise into side panels 38 and 41.

Connected by double foldlines 48 to the outer elongated side edges of side panels 38 and 41 are extension flaps 50, see FIG. 2. The outer distal edge of each flap 50 is provided with a projecting central portion 50a.

In setting up the cover blank 14, the side panels 38, 40, 41 and 42 are folded relative to top panel 36 so as to depend therefrom. Simultaneously with the folding of panels 40 and 42, flaps 43 are folded inwardly so as to assume substantially right angle positions with respect to the side panels to which they are connected. The hooklike projection 44 of each flap 43 is also folded at a right angle thereto so that the projection 44 will subtend the top panel 36 and engage the underside thereof, see FIG. 6.

In order to retain the side panels in their proper depending relation with respect to the top panel 36, each extension flap 50 is folded inwardly and upwardly relative to the respective side panel 38 or 41 and the central projection 50a of the extension flap 50 snaps into locking engagement with the slots 46 formed by the hooklike projections 44 of end flaps 43, see FIG. 6. Once the snap-in action occurs, the blank 14 is fully set up.

The peripheral dimension of top panel 36 is such that the cover will snugly fit over the open top end of the receptacle when desired. When it is desired to open the container 10, the cover 12 may be removed entirely, as seen in FIG. 6 or else only a section of the cover may be folded upwardly about foldline 37, see FIG. 7. When only a part of the cover is to be opened, a corresponding one section of each side panel 40 or 42 is separated from the remaining adjacent side panel section along the portion of the foldline 37 disposed in the side panel.

The partially opened cover may be reclosed when desired, by folding downwardly the raised cover half to a substantially flat position. The folded cover half will remain in a reclosed position due to the friction which exists between the cover side panels and the downwardly folded extension flap 31 formed on the receptacle.

Because of the continuous, though segmented, foldline delimiting bottom panel 15 and the fact that each corner member terminates at the continuous foldline, the receptacle is rendered leakproof with respect to the comminuted product accommodated in the receptacle. Furthermore, the receptacle and cover are readily set up or collapsed without the need for special tools or materials such as adhesive, tapes, staples or the like.

While various embodiments of the invention have heretofore been described, it is to be understood of course that the invention is not limited thereto, but further modifications are contemplated and it is intended by the appended claims to cover such modifications.

Claims

I claim:

1. A container for use in the bulk handling of a comminuted product, comprising a receptacle including an imperforate bottom panel, a plurality of upright imperforate wall panels delimiting said bottom panel, all of said wall panels being connected to said bottom panel by a continuous foldline, and corner members connected by foldlines to upright peripheral portions of successive wall panels, the portions of each corner member foldably connected to said successive wall panels being substantially coextensive with the height of said wall panels, said corner member foldlines terminating at said continuous foldline, each corner member having sections thereof folded upon one another and disposed in overlying relation with respect to the exterior surface of one successive wall panel; each corner member section having an upper edge portion which is substantially coextensive with the upper edge of the wall panel overlaid thereby, at least one selected corner member having an exposed section thereof provided with an aperture, the successive wall panel overlaid by said selected corner member, being provided with an extension foldably connected to the upper peripheral portion thereof and overlapping the exposed surface of the apertured section of said selected corner member, the outer edge of said extension having a tongue foldably connected thereto, said tongue having an inwardly extending tab portion struckout from said extension, and an outwardly extending portion, said inwardly extending tab portion extending through the aperture in said exposed section and positioned in interlocking engagement intermediate the pair of folded overlying sections of said selected corner member, and said tongue outwardly extending portion overlying a segment of said exposed section subtending said aperture.

2. The container of claim 1 wherein predetermined wall panels each have pairs of said corner members arranged in overlapping relation with respect to the exposed surface thereof, one of each pair of corner members being the selected corner member and overlying the other corner member of said pair whereby the aperture of said selected corner member section is exposed, and each predetermined wall panel being provided with said extension disposed in overlapping relation with respect to the upper edges of said pair of corner members and in overlying relation with respect to the exposed surface of the apertured section, each extension having a tongue provided with said inwardly extending tab portion struckout from said extension and said outwardly extending portion.

3. The container of claim 1 including an imperforate cover unit removably mounted on the upper end of said receptacle delimited by said upright wall panels, said cover unit being provided with depending wall panels, at least one of said depending wall panels being adapted to overlie and frictionally engage the exposed surface of said extension of said selected successive wall panel when said cover unit is positioned in closed relation with respect to said receptacle.

4. The container of claim 3 wherein said extension of said receptacle cooperates with portions of said cover unit to effect interlocking of said cover unit in a closed position.

5. The container of claim 3 wherein said cover unit includes a top panel, depending sidewall panels delimiting said top panel and foldably connected to the periphery thereof, end flaps foldably connected to the opposite ends of alternate sidewall panels, said end flaps being disposed in face-to-face contact with the interior surfaces of adjacent intermediate sidewall panels, each end flap carrying a slotted tab which is angularly disposed with respect to said end flap and engages the interior surface of said top panel, each intermediate sidewall panel being provided with a foldable interior wall section which sandwiches adjacent end flaps between said intermediate sidewall panel and said interior wall section, a distal edge portion of said interior wall section lockingly engaging said slotted tabs.

6. The container of claim 5 wherein each cover unit interior wall section has end portions spaced from the interior surface of said cover unit top panel.

7. The container of claim 5 wherein said cover unit top panel is provided with an elongated foldline extending thereacross and terminating at alternate depending sidewall panels, said alternate sidewall panels each provided with a depending weakened line which is aligned with said top panel foldline whereby a selected segment of the cover unit may be moved to an open position while the remainder of said cover unit is retained in a closed position with respect to said receptacle.

8. A pair of blanks of foldable sheet material for forming a receptacle including a container and a removable cover therefor used in the bulk handling of a comminuted product, a first blank of said pair of blanks comprising a multisided bottom-forming panel; wall forming panels delimiting said bottom-forming panel and foldably connected to the multisides of said bottom-forming panel and adapted, when said first blank is set up, to delimit an open top for said container; corner members foldably connected to marginal portions of adjacent wall-forming panels, each corner member having a diagonally disposed foldline terminating at one end at the periphery of said bottom-forming panel and cooperating with the marginal portions of said adjacent wall-forming panels to form complemental sections, one section of each alternate corner members being provided with an aperture; and extension panels foldably connected to alternate wall-forming panels, each extension panel being connected to the edge of said alternate wall-forming panels opposite said bottom-forming panel and being provided with a tongue which interlockingly engages a corner member section aperture when said blank is set up to form said container; and a second blank of said pair of blanks comprising a multisided top-forming member; sidewall forming members delimiting said top-forming member, first alternate sidewall forming members having first portions foldably connected along one side thereof to certain alternate sides of said top-forming member and second portions foldably connected to said first portions opposite said one side thereof; end flaps foldably connected to opposite ends of second alternate sidewall forming members, each end flap having a slotted tab foldably connected to an edge thereof adjacent a first alternate sidewall forming member; and extension units foldably connected to said second portions of said first alternate sidewall forming members, peripheral portions of said extension units interlockingly engaging said slotted tabs when said blank is set up to form said cover, whereby said extension units frictionally engage a portion of said extension panels when the cover is placed upon the container to form said receptacle.