U.S. patent number 3,580,476 [Application Number 04/868,738] was granted by the patent office on 1971-05-25 for carton for use with packaging apparatus.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Folding Cartons, Inc.. Invention is credited to Lester E. Cannon, Howard N. Taylor, John M. Tindall.
United States Patent |
3,580,476 |
Cannon , et al. |
May 25, 1971 |
CARTON FOR USE WITH PACKAGING APPARATUS
Abstract
A carton for use with packaging apparatus for packaging food
products and the like. The carton is formed of flexible board
material and includes rectangular top, bottom, and sidewalls, the
end portions of which are provided with fold lines defining top,
bottom, and side flaps. The fold line between the bottom wall and
one of the sidewalls is provided with spaced-apart cut slots
therealong to facilitate the folding of the carton. Each of the
bottom flaps is provided with a rectangular notch extending
inwardly from the free edge of the flap at about the middle of the
length thereof for accommodating a mechanical lifting element on
the packaging apparatus. The side flaps are generally rectangular,
and the grain of the board material extends generally parallel with
the free edge of the bottom flap.
Inventors: |
Cannon; Lester E. (Chicago
Heights, IL), Tindall; John M. (Wilmette, IL), Taylor;
Howard N. (Chicago Heights, IL) |
Assignee: |
Folding Cartons, Inc. (Melrose
Park, IL)
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Family
ID: |
25352240 |
Appl.
No.: |
04/868,738 |
Filed: |
October 23, 1969 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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685140 |
Nov 22, 1967 |
3474594 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
229/162.1;
229/900; 229/122; 229/87.11; 229/902 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D
5/0227 (20130101); Y10S 229/90 (20130101); Y10S
229/902 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B65D
5/02 (20060101); B65d 005/02 () |
Field of
Search: |
;229/37,31,41 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Bockenek; David M.
Parent Case Text
Related Application
This application is a continuation-in-part of our prior application
entitled "Packaging Apparatus," Ser. No. 685,140, filed Nov. 22,
1967, now Pat. No. 3,474,594.
Claims
We claim:
1. A carton formed of flexible board material and having
rectangular top, bottom and sidewalls and being open at opposite
ends, the end portions of said top, bottom, and sidewalls being
provided with fold lines defining top, bottom, and side flaps, each
of said top and bottom flaps being generally rectangular and having
an outer free edge, each of the top and bottom flaps being
separated from the adjacent side flaps by a single knife cut to
provide the side flaps with a generally rectangular shape, each of
the side flaps including an outer free edge extending generally
parallel to the free edges of the top and bottom flaps when the
carton is in a lay-flat condition and a pair of parallel side edges
extending generally perpendicular to the outer free edge of the
side flap, each of said bottom flaps being provided with a
rectangular notch extending inwardly from the free edge of such
flap approximately midway along the length of the bottom flap, the
free edge of each of the top flaps extending outwardly beyond the
innermost portion of the notch of the bottom flap below the top
flap whereby a mechanical lifting element can pass upwardly through
each notch to engage and lift the top flap thereabove, the bottom
wall and one of the sidewalls being joined by a fold line provided
by a score line having spaced-apart slots cut therethrough, the
carton including an opener flap extending from one of the sidewalls
above the top wall and adhesively secured to the top wall, said
opener flap being joined to said one sidewall by a fold line
provided by a score line having spaced-apart slots cut
therethrough.
2. The carton of claim 1 in which said spaced-apart slots are about
five-eighths of an inch long and are spaced about three-eighths of
an inch apart.
3. The carton of claim 1 in which the outer ends of the side flaps
are provided with about a 45.degree. cut between the outer free
edge and each side edge.
4. The carton of claim 1 in which the grain of the board material
extends generally parallel with the free edges of the bottom
flaps.
5. A generally rectangular sheet of flexible paper board material
for forming a carton, said sheet having:
a. four spaced-apart parallel fold lines defining the longitudinal
dimensions of the carton to be formed, the second and fourth fold
lines being provided with spaced-apart slots cut therethrough;
b. a first edge spaced from the first fold line and extending
generally parallel therewith;
c. a second edge spaced from the fourth fold line;
d. third and fourth edges extending generally transversely to the
first edge;
e. a transverse fold line spaced inwardly from each of said third
and fourth edges and extending parallel therewith;
the portions of the longitudinal fold lines extending outwardly of
the transverse fold lines being single-knife cut provide flaps
between adjacent longitudinal fold lines having edges which extend
generally perpendicular to the transverse fold lines; and
f. a rectangular notch extending inwardly from each of the third
and fourth edges about midway between the second and third fold
lines.
6. The sheet of claim 5 in which the spaced-apart slots are about
five-eighths of an inch long and are spaced about three-eighths of
an inch apart.
Description
BACKGROUND
This invention relates to a carton for use with a packaging
apparatus for packaging food products such as bacon and the
like.
As disclosed in our aforementioned prior patent application, food
packaging machines are generally subject to very precise operating
requirements which has generally necessitated machine loading,
thereby foregoing the advantages of hand loading which enables
careful visual inspection of the product, easy loading of
irregularly sized products, and the like.
The problem of a satisfactory operation which permits hand loading
of the food products into the carton is a combination of providing
both the proper packaging apparatus and the proper carton. The
carton must be strong to provide protection for the food product
yet flexible enough to be manipulated by the packaging apparatus;
it must be provided with means for permitting the opening thereof
by the packaging apparatus prior to loading; and it must be able to
be securely and easily closed after loading.
SUMMARY
The inventive carton satisfies the foregoing requirements. The
carton is formed of flexible board material, but the grain of the
material runs transverse to the length of the carton to provide
strength during the mechanical operations performed thereon. A pair
of the fold lines of the carton are provided with spaced cut slots
to facilitate "setting up" of the carton, and a rectangular notch
provided in each of the bottom walls of the carton permits the
opening of the carton by the machinery without weakening the
carton. The dust flaps or side flaps of the carton are formed by a
single knife cut to provide generally rectangular flaps which
provide stability to the completed carton.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will be explained in conjunction with an illustrative
embodiment shown in the accompanying drawing, in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view taken from one side of the packaging
apparatus;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view taken from the other side of the
packaging apparatus;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a carton ready to be
loaded;
FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 but taken from another vantage
point;
FIG. 5 is a sectional view illustrating an unloaded carton in solid
and a loaded carton in phantom;
FIG. 6 illustrates a flattened carton being moved individually into
the loading position;
FIGS. 7, 8, and 9 illustrate the action of the carton cocker on a
carton that has been brought to rest in the loading position;
FIG. 10 illustrates a loaded carton being moved out of the loading
position;
FIG. 11 is a top plan view of a carton in a lay-flat condition
prior to assembly;
FIG. 12 is a view similar to FIG. 11 showing a carton in one state
of its assembly;
FIG. 13 is an end view of the carton in a subsequent assembly
stage;
FIG. 14 is a fragmentary view taken along the line 14-14 of FIG.
13;
FIGS. 15 and 16 are end views of the carton in subsequent stages of
assembly;
FIG. 17 is a fragmentary perspective view of one corner of a
completed carton.
DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENT
It is believed that the invention will be more readily understood
if a general description of the carton and a loading apparatus
suitable for use with the carton is first given.
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the loading apparatus includes a frame
10 on which is mounted a hopper assembly 11 in which the cartons to
be loaded are stacked in a flattened condition. As can be seen in
FIGS. 6--9, a carton 12 is delivered individually from the hopper
assembly 11 and moved until it reaches a stop assembly 13. A
cocking member 33 then forces the flattened carton to assume a
generally rectangular cross section. After the carton is stopped
and erected, opening assembly 14 (FIG. 4), which includes lifting
finger 15 and holddown fingers 16 and 17, forces the loading end
12a of the carton to assume a wide-open, bowed configuration.
Product stop 18 (FIGS. 3 and 5) slides into the other open end 12b
of the carton and forces a second lifting finger 19 to rotate
upwardly, causing the carton end 12b to assume a bowed
configuration, and dust flap closer assemblies 20 and 21 then fold
the trailing dust flaps of the carton inwardly. The carton is now
ready for loading, following retraction of dust flap closer 21 at
the loading side of the carton, and the product may readily be
inserted into the widely opened loading end 12a of the carton.
Thereafter, the opening assembly 14, product stop 18, dust flap
closer assembly 20, and carton cocking members 33, return to their
original positions as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The stop assembly 13
then permits the carton to be moved out of the loading position, as
illustrated in FIG. 10, after which the carton ends 12a and 12b are
closed and sealed in the conventional manner.
Referring now to FIGS. 11--17, the carton 12 is formed from a
generally rectangular sheet of flexible paper board material having
opposite side edges 100 and 101 and end edges 102 and 103. The
sheet is provided with spaced-apart longitudinal score lines or
lines of weakness 104, 105, 106, and 107 which extend generally
parallel with the side edges 100 and 101 and which divide the paper
board sheet into panels 108, 109, 110, 111 and 112. Transverse
score lines 113 and 114 extend adjacent the end edges 102 and 103,
respectively, generally parallel thereto, and, in cooperation with
the longitudinal score lines provide end flaps 115, 116, 117 and
118 along the end edge 102 and end flaps 119, 120, 121, and 122
along the end edge 103. The end flap 116 is severed from the
adjacent end flaps 115 and 117 by single knife cuts along the
extensions of the longitudinal score lines 104 and 105 beyond the
transverse score line 113. Similarly, the other relatively narrow
end flaps 118, 120 and 122 are severed from their adjacent wider
end flaps by single knife cuts along the extensions of the
longitudinal score lines beyond the transverse score lines to
provide generally rectangular individual flaps which will serve as
dust flaps in the completed carton. The outer ends of each of the
side edges of the flap 116 are provided with a 45.degree. cut as at
116a to facilitate tucking of the flap into the assembled carton,
and the other narrow flaps are similarly provided with the
45.degree. cuts.
Longitudinal score lines 105 and 107 are provided with spaced-apart
slots 105a and 107a, respectively, cut therethrough to increase the
ability of the paper board sheet to bend or fold along the score
lines. Preferably, the slots 105a and 107a are about five-eighths
inch long and are spaced about three-eighths inch apart. The slots
adjacent the transverse score lines 113 and 114 may be spaced about
eleven-sixteenths inch therefrom.
The end flap 102 is provided with a notch 123 which extends
inwardly from the free edge 102 of the flap, and the opposite end
flap 120 is similarly provided with a notch 124 extending inwardly
from the edge 103 thereof. Each of the notches 124 and 123 are
preferably generally rectangular and extend inwardly for
approximately one-half of the depth of the flap.
If desired, the panel 108, which will become the top panel or wall
of the completed carton may be cut out to provide a window 125
which may be covered with a transparent sheet 126 to permit visual
inspection of the contents of the package. Also, the flap 112,
which will serve as an opening flap for the carton, may be provided
with angled end edges 112a and 112b which extend inwardly from
score lines 113 and 114.
Prior to assembly of the carton, an adhesive layer or strip 127 is
applied to the flaps 116 and 117, and an adhesive strip 128 is
applied to the opposite flaps 120 and 121. Each of the adhesive
strips 127 and 128 extend from adjacent the respective transverse
score lines 113 and 114 outwardly for about half the width of the
end flaps. Another adhesive strip 129 is applied to the panel 108
adjacent the side edge 100 thereof. The adhesive strips may be
applied in the conventional manner, as by rollers or the like, and
any suitable adhesive may be used, although hot melt sealants are
preferred.
The carton 12 is preferably formed of paper board sheet having a
board weight of about 15 or 16 points, i.e., a thickness of about
0.015 or 0.016 inch, and the paper board is positioned so that the
grain thereof runs transversely of the carton, i.e., perpendicular
to the score lines 104--107.
The carton is assembled for stacking in the hopper assembly 11 of
the loading apparatus by folding the paper board sheet along the
score lines 104 and 106 and securing the panel 112 to the panel 108
by means of the adhesive strip 129 to form the flattened or
collapsed carton 12 illustrated in FIG. 12. The flattened cartons
12 are stacked in the hopper assembly 11 as illustrated in FIGS.
6--10 and are pulled therefrom by picker knife 26 which engages the
trailing edge 12 provided by the score line 106. The construction
and operation of the hopper assembly and picker knife 26, as well
as other portions of the apparatus, is described in detail in our
copending prior application Ser. No. 685,140, filed Nov. 22, 1967,
to which reference may be had for a more detailed description.
A doctor blade 29 is attached to hopper rail 24 and is spaced from
the carton-supporting frame 25 to provide clearance for only a
single carton 12. A pair of hold-back dogs 30 are slidably mounted
on the doctor knife 29 and are provided with inclined bottom edges
so that forward movement of the carton 12 forces the dogs upwardly,
permitting the carton 12 to pass beneath the doctor blade 29.
The carton 12 is pushed along the carton-supporting frame, which
defines the path of carton advance, by picker knife 26 until the
leading edge 12d provided by the score line 104 approaches the stop
assembly 13. At that time the piston associated with the picker
knife reaches the end of its stroke, and the picker knife 26
returns to the hopper assembly in position to engage another
carton. After forward movement of the picker knife 26 stops, the
hold-back dogs 30 drop down to prevent the carton from moving
rearwardly with the picker knife. The momentum of the carton 12
carries the carton into stop dogs 31 (FIG. 7) which stop the
carton. Each stop dog 31 is pivotally mounted as at 32 to one of
the beams 25b and 25c so that a major portion of the stop dog
extends downwardly from the pivot point to act as a counterweight.
The force imposed on the stop dogs 31 by the forwardly moving
carton 12 is not sufficient to rotate the counterweights upwardly
and the carton is therefore brought to rest.
Thereafter, carton cockers 33, which are also rotatably mounted on
beams 25b and 25c, are rotated upwardly in the direction of the
arrow in FIG. 7 to engage the leading edge 12d of the carton. Each
carton cocker is attached to a pinion gear 34 which engages a rack
35 slidably mounted on one of the beams 25b and 25c. A pneumatic
cylinder and piston 36 (FIG. 8) is also mounted on the frame to
move rack 35 forwardly and rotate the carton cocker to engage the
carton. As the carton cocker rotates, the trailing edge 12c of the
carton is pushed back against the hold-back dogs 30, which had
dropped downwardly after the carton passed. Further rotation of the
carton cocker causes the flattened carton to "set up" or assume a
generally rectangular longitudinal cross section as in FIG. 9. The
carton sets up by bending about the cut-score lines 105 and 107,
and the spaced-apart cuts provided along these score lines
facilitates the bending and setting up of the carton. However, the
transversely running grain of the carton provides strength as the
carton is engaged by the carton cocker and prevents the carton from
being crushed or damaged during this operation.
As soon as the carton is set up, the carton opening assembly 14,
product stop 18, and members 16, 17, 20 and 21 are activated to
prepare the carton for loading. Referring to FIGS. 3--5, lifting
finger 15 is attached to rod 37 which is journaled in posts 38 and
39 secured to frame 10. Air cylinder 40 is also mounted on the
frame and activates a piston 46 which is connected to rod 44 by
connector 47 and crank arm 48. Lifting finger 15 and holddown
fingers 16 and 17 are shown in the nonloading positions in FIGS. 1,
2, and in solid in FIG. 5, and the holddown fingers are seen to
extend upwardly through notches 49 and 50 (FIG. 4) provided in
loading platform 51 secured to the frame. The product that is to be
loaded is fed onto the platform 51 by means of a conveyor or the
like and the upwardly extending holddown fingers 16 and 17 and the
downwardly extending lifting finger 15 prevent the product from
moving toward the carton until the carton is ready for loading.
After the carton cockers 33 set up the carton, the air cylinder 40
is activated to rotate the lifting finger 15 into engagement with
the panel 108 which forms the top wall of the carton while the air
cylinder 45 is activated to rotate the holddown fingers 16 and 17
into engagement with the panel 110 which forms the carton bottom
wall. As can be seen in FIG. 5, the rectangular notch 124 provided
midway along the end flap 121 permits the lifting finger to engage
the carton top 108 even if the carton is not properly set up by the
carton cocker. The lifting finger 15 rotates upwardly through the
rectangular notch to engage the carton top and raise it to the
position shown in phantom and indicated at 108'. The carton cocker
and back stop 30 insure that the notch is closely positioned with
respect to the finger 15, and the rectangular configuration of the
notch, with a dimension extending in the direction of carton
travel, insures that the finger 15 may pass upwardly through the
notch even if a slight variation in position of the carton along
the subframe 25 exists. However, the rectangular nature of the
notch minimizes any structural weakness provided in the end
flaps.
The loading end 12 of the carton is shown in the fully opened
position in FIG. 4, and the carton top 108 is seen to be bowed
upwardly against arcuately shaped restraining rail 52, which
prevents excessive upward movement of the lifting finger.
At the same time as the opening assembly 14 is activated, product
stop 18 is pushed transversely by air cylinder and piston 53 into
the opened end 12 of the carton. A second lifting finger 19 is
rotatably mounted by arm 56 above product stop 18, and as the
product stop is urged toward its loading position indicated in
phantom at 18' in FIG. 5, the lifting finger 19 is forced to rotate
upwardly by the upper surface of the product stop. As the lifting
finger 19 rotates, it engages the carton top 108 and lifts it
toward the restraining rail 57 at 108". The rectangular notch 123
provided in the end flap 117 permits the lifting finger 19 to
engage the carton top even if the carton is not properly set up by
the carton cocker.
At the same time the loading end 12a of the carton is being opened
and the product stop is being positioned within the carton, the
dust flap closing assemblies 20 and 21 are activated to fold the
trailing end flaps or dust flaps 118 and 122 into the carton.
Referring to FIG. 2, dust flap closing assembly 20 includes an air
cylinder and piston assembly 58 mounted on the frame and a rack and
pinion gear 59 and 60, respectively. Similarly, closing assembly 21
includes air cylinder and piston assembly 61 mounted on doctor
blade 29 and rack and pinion gear 62 and 63, respectively.
Referring to FIG. 4, pinion gear 63 is attached to one end of shaft
64 which is rotatably received within a bushing 65 attached to
front rail 24 of the hopper assembly 11. Finger 66 is attached to
the other end of shaft 64 and is rotatable to force the dust flap
122 into the carton by linear movement of the rack 62. Dust flap
closing assembly 20 is similarly constructed to force dust flap 118
into the carton. While closing assembly 20 remains in its extended
position within the carton until after the carton is loaded,
retracting along with the product stop, the dust flap closing
assembly 21 returns immediately to its original retracted position
prior to loading of the carton.
The carton is now in the loading condition, and the product may be
slid along platform 51 into the loading end 12a of the carton and
pushed against product stop 18. When the holddown fingers are in
their loading positions, e.g., 17' in FIG. 5, they protrude only
slightly above platform 51, and the product easily slides over the
top of the curved fingers. The product may be loaded either
manually or automatically, and because the carton is loaded while
stationary, no complicated loading machinery is required. Further,
manual loading of the product permits visual inspection of the
product before it is loaded and enables irregularly sized products
to be loaded without difficulty.
No special placement of the product within the carton is necessary.
The product, indicated in phantom at 67 in FIG. 5, is merely pushed
into the carton until it contacts the product stop. There is
therefore no danger that the product may be inserted too far into
the carton and push the dust flap 118 out of the carton.
As can be seen in FIG. 5, the carton top 108 is lifted higher at
the loading end, as at 108', than at the opposite end, as at 108".
The widely opened loading end facilitates loading, while the other
end need be opened only so far as to ensure that the upper surface
of the product is not smudged or disarranged as the product is
positioned.
After the carton has been loaded, the operator depresses
hand-actuated lever 68 (FIG. 1), which is operatively associated
with air cylinders 36, 40, 45, and 53 and is programmed to cycle
the entire machine. When the actuator 68 is depressed, air pressure
is withdrawn from these cylinders to allow the spring-urged pistons
to return to their unactivated positions, thereby returning carton
cockers 37, lifting finger 15, holddown fingers 16 and 17, and
product stop 18, respectively, to their original, nonloading
positions. Thereafter, the picker knife 26 is again moved forwardly
to withdraw a second carton from the hopper assembly. Pusher dogs
75 which reciprocate with the picker knife and shift the series of
loaded cartons forwardly, such dogs being automatically cammed by
engagement with the carton into retracted positions as the dogs and
picker knife later shift rearwardly. As illustrated in FIG. 10, the
picker knife urges the second carton 12' against the first carton
12, although, if desired, a stop dog identical to dogs 75 may be
interposed between the carton cocker 33 and the stop 30 to advance
carton 12 without contact by carton 12'. The picker knife 26
provides a sufficient force to swing the counterweight portion of
stop dog 31 upwardly, thereby permitting the carton 12 to proceed
forwardly beyond the stop assembly. As the carton 12 proceeds
forwardly, plows 69 and 70 (FIG. 3) fold the leading dust flaps 117
and 120 into the carton. As the carton is moved forwardly by pusher
dogs 75, the end flaps 115, 117, 119 and 121 are closed in the
conventional manner and suitably sealed as by heat sealing.
FIG. 13 is an end view of a carton 12 after the carton has been
loaded and the trailing dust flaps 118 and 122 and the lead dust
flaps 116 and 120 have been folded inwardly. Thereafter, as the
carton moves along the frame of the loading apparatus, the end
flaps 117 and 121 are plowed upwardly as illustrated in FIG. 15,
and the end flaps 115 and 119 are plowed downwardly as illustrated
in FIG. 16. The score lines 113 and 114 facilitate the bending of
these flaps to close the carton ends. Thereafter, the ends of the
carton are heated to melt the adhesive strips and to seal the dust
flaps 116 and 120 to the end flaps 117 and 121, respectively, and
to seal the end flaps 117 and 121 to the end flaps 115 and 119,
respectively.
The product can be readily removed from the carton by means of the
panel 112. The panel 112 is wider than the adhesive strip 129, and
the free edge 101 of the panel is therefore not secured to the top
panel 108 and forms an opener flap. The fingers of one hand can be
inserted between the panels 112 and 108, and the panel 112 can be
pulled upwardly to destroy the adhesive bond to the top panel 108.
The panel 112 and the panel 111, which forms one of the sidewalls
of the carton, may then be bent outwardly about the score line 106
to permit the product to be removed from between the top and bottom
panels 108 and 110 from the left-hand side as viewed in FIG. 13.
The dust flaps 118 and 122 are not adhesively secured to the other
end flaps and may be readily withdrawn from between the top and
bottom panels as the sidewall panel 111 flexes about the score line
106.
It is frequently desired to replace the product in the carton after
a portion thereof is removed. For example, if the product is sliced
bacon, the bacon may be replaced in the carton after several slices
have been removed. Thereafter, the carton can be closed by folding
the sidewall panel 111 and panel 112 about the score line 106 and
tucking the panel 112 into the carton below the top panel 108.
Referring again to FIG. 13, the generally rectangular flaps 118 and
122 are provided with straight edges by virtue of the single knife
cut, and these straight edges bear against the top bottom panels to
inhibit bending of the sidewall panel 111 about the score line 106
and to maintain the carton in the closed condition. Further, the
generally rectangular dust flaps provide the carton with greater
stability and resistance against crushing.
In one specific embodiment of a carton designed for use in
packaging 1 pound of sliced bacon, the longitudinal dimension of
the assembled carton, i.e., the distance between the transverse
score lines 113 and 114 was 10 inches, and each of the top and
bottom panels 108 and 110 was 5-15/16 inches wide. The distance
between the longitudinal score lines 104 and 105 and the score
lines 106 and 107 which provide the sidewalls of the carton was
five-eighths inch. The distance between the transverse score line
113 and carton edge 102 and the distance between the transverse
score line 114 and carton edge 103 was also five-eighths inch. The
notches 123 and 124 were each one-half inch wide and extended
inwardly from the edges 102 and 103 five-sixteenth of an inch. The
center of each notch was 2-3/32 inches from the score lines 105 and
106. The panel 112 provided by the score line 107 was 1-3/16 inches
wide. The notched portions of the dust flaps, for example 16a on
flap 16, were cut along a 45.degree. angle to the edges 102 and
103, and the length of the notches along the edges was one-eighth
inch.
While in the foregoing specification, a detailed description of a
specific embodiment of our invention was set forth for the purpose
of illustration, it is to be understood that many of the details
herein given may be varied considerably by those skilled in the art
without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
* * * * *