U.S. patent number 3,625,410 [Application Number 04/834,271] was granted by the patent office on 1971-12-07 for collapsible containers and blank for making same.
Invention is credited to Urban C. Hirschey.
United States Patent |
3,625,410 |
Hirschey |
December 7, 1971 |
COLLAPSIBLE CONTAINERS AND BLANK FOR MAKING SAME
Abstract
This disclosure teaches a top-loading collapsible rectangular
container including a cover formed from an integral blank of sheet
material and the blank from which the container is formed. The
container includes a self-unfolding bottom and bottom corner
construction of increased strength and an end wall and cover corner
construction of increased strength.
Inventors: |
Hirschey; Urban C. (Carthage,
NY) |
Family
ID: |
25266536 |
Appl.
No.: |
04/834,271 |
Filed: |
June 18, 1969 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
229/117.01;
229/145; 229/190; 229/117.24; 229/154; 383/122 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D
5/46016 (20130101); B65D 5/18 (20130101); B65D
5/3685 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B65D
5/00 (20060101); B65D 5/36 (20060101); B65D
5/18 (20060101); B65D 5/46 (20060101); B65d
005/36 (); B65d 005/46 () |
Field of
Search: |
;229/16R,16A,31R,33,41B |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Summer; Leonard
Claims
What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent
of the United States is:
1. A flat, integral blank of sheet material for forming a
container, the blank comprising
a. a rectangular bottom wall panel,
b. a rectangular first sidewall panel joined along its bottom edge,
defined by a fold line, to one longitudinal edge of the bottom wall
panel,
c. a rectangular second sidewall panel joined along its bottom edge
defined by a fold line, to the other longitudinal edge of the
bottom wall panel, the second side wall panel having a fold line
parallel to and spaced from its bottom edge,
d. a first top wall panel joined along one longitudinal edge,
defined by a fold line, to the top edge of the first sidewall
panel,
e. a second top wall panel including a primary portion, a lid
portion, a first tab joined to each end of the primary portion
along a fold line, means for joining the first tab to the lid
portion, the primary portion being joined along one longitudinal
edge, defined by a fold line, to the top edge of the second
sidewall panel, the lid portion being joined to the other
longitudinal edge of the primary portion along a fold line,
f. a first end wall panel joined to each of the two opposite side
edges of the first sidewall panel and being coextensive in length
therewith, each of the first end wall panels being traversed by an
intermediate fold line dividing each first end wall panel into two
flaps, the flaps remote from the first sidewall panel having a
bottom edge spaced upwardly from the bottom edge of the first
sidewall panel,
g. a third tab joined to the upper edge of each first end wall
panel along a fold line, the third tabs being equal in width to the
width of the first end walls and including an intermediate fold
line colinear with the first end wall panel intermediate fold
line,
h. rectangular second end wall panels joined to each of the two
opposite side edges of the second side wall panel and being
coextensive in length therewith, and
i. a bottom tab joined to each of the two opposite side edges of
the bottom wall panel along a fold line, each of the bottom tabs
having a diagonal fold line extending outwardly from the point of
intersection of the bottom edge of the second end wall panels and
the side edge of the bottom wall panel.
2. A blank as defined in claim 1 wherein the first top wall panel
comprises a primary section joined to the first sidewall panel and
a reinforcing section extending outwardly from the primary section
and being joined thereto along a fold line.
3. A blank as defined in claim 2 including an elongated slot
through the second top wall panel adapted to receive a handle, a
second elongated slot through the primary section of the first top
wall panel and wherein the handle is affixed to the reinforcing
section at a position such that when the reinforcing section is
folded toward the primary section along its fold line, the handle
is aligned with the slots in the primary section and in the second
top wall panel.
4. A blank as defined in claim 1 including a first U-shaped slit
through the first sidewall panel and extending downwardly from the
fold line joining the first top wall panel and the first sidewall
panel and a second U-shaped slit through the lid portion and
extending from the fold line joining primary portion of the second
top wall panel and the lid portion, the first and second U-shaped
slits being aligned in a direction parallel to the side edge of the
sidewall panels.
5. A blank as defined in claim 1 wherein the means for joining the
primary portion to the lid portion comprises a second tab joined to
each end of the lid portion along a fold line.
6. A blank as defined in claim 1 wherein the means for joining the
first tab to the lid portion comprises an extension joined to each
of the remote ends of the first tabs along a fold line.
7. A blank as defined in claim 1 wherein the bottom tabs are joined
to the opposite side edges of the bottom wall panel and the bottom
edge of the second end wall panels.
8. An integral rectangular foldable container comprising:
a. a rectangular bottom wall having an uninterrupted surface
without a fold line intermediate the edges thereof,
b. a pair of parallel sidewalls joined along their bottom edge to
the opposite longitudinal edges of the bottom wall, one of the
sidewalls having a first intermediate fold line parallel to its
bottom edge and spaced from its bottom edge a distance equal to
one-half the width of the bottom wall,
c. a pair of first end walls hingedly joined along one longitudinal
edge to the opposite side edges of a first one of the sidewalls,
each of the first end walls being traversed longitudinally by a
second intermediate fold line dividing the first end walls into two
flaps,
d. a pair of second end walls hingedly joined along one
longitudinal edge to the opposite side edges of a second one of the
sidewalls, each second end wall extending from the side wall to
which it is attached beyond the intermediate fold line of the first
end wall, each first end wall overlying its corresponding second
end wall and the flap of each of the first end walls remote from
the first side wall being joined to the second end walls along the
surface adjacent to the second sidewall,
e. the pair of end walls hingedly joined to the sidewall having the
first intermediate fold line having a transverse fold line colinear
with the first intermediate fold line,
f. one bottom wall tab joined along a fold line to each end of the
bottom wall, a portion of the exterior surface of one of the end
walls adjacent to the bottom wall being secured to a portion of its
adjacent bottom wall tab, each bottom wall tab having a fold line
extending outwardly from the juncture point of the bottom wall and
the end wall to which the bottom wall tab is secured, and
g. a cover hingedly joined to the top edge of one of the
sidewalls.
9. A container as defined in claim 8, including
a. an end wall tab joined at the top edge of each first end wall
and having a fold line colinear with the intermediate fold line on
the first end walls, the end wall tabs having a width equal to the
width of the first end walls,
b. a projection extending outwardly from the line of juncture of
the flat top wall and said one of the sidewalls and
c. a slot through the cover aligned with the projection such that
upon closure of the cover, the projection projects through the slot
securing the cover in place.
10. A container as defined in claim 8 wherein said portion of each
of the bottom wall tabs lies between the outwardly extending fold
line and the end wall adjacent said juncture point.
11. A container as defined in claim 8, wherein the bottom edge of
the flap of each of the first end walls remote from the side wall
to which the first end walls are attached is spaced from the bottom
wall a distance at least equal to one-half the width of the bottom
wall.
12. A container as defined in claim 8 wherein said bottom wall tab
is substantially coextensive with the width of the bottom wall at
its fold line joining the bottom wall tab to the bottom wall.
13. A flat integral blank of sheet material for forming a
container, the blank comprising
a. a rectangular bottom wall panel having an uninterrupted surface
without a fold line intermediate the edges thereof,
b. a rectangular first sidewall panel joined along its bottom edge
defined by a fold line to one longitudinal edge of the bottom wall
panel,
c. a rectangular second sidewall panel joined along its bottom edge
defined by a fold line to the other longitudinal edge of the bottom
wall panel, the second sidewall panel having a fold line parallel
its bottom edge and spaced from its bottom edge a distance equal to
one-half the width of the bottom wall,
d. a first top wall panel joined along one longitudinal edge
defined by a fold line to the top edge of one of the sidewall
panels,
e. a pair of first end wall panels, a first end wall panel being
joined to each of the two opposite side edges of one of the side
wall panels and being substantially coextensive in length
therewith, each of the first end wall panels being traversed by an
intermediate fold line dividing each first end wall panel into two
flaps,
f. a pair of second end wall panels, a second end wall panel being
joined to each of the two opposite side edges of the other of said
sidewall panels,
g. one of said pairs of end wall panels being joined to the second
sidewall panel and having a transverse fold line colinear with the
second sidewall panel fold line spaced from its bottom edge,
and
h. a bottom tab joined to each of the opposite side edges of the
bottom wall panel along a fold line, each of the bottom tabs being
substantially coextensive with the width of the bottom wall at said
fold line joining the bottom tabs to the bottom wall and having an
oblique fold line extending outwardly from the point of
intersection of the bottom edge of one of the end wall panels and
the side edge of the bottom wall panel.
14. A blank as defined in claim 13 wherein each of said bottom tabs
is joined to the bottom edge of the end wall panels adjacent
thereto.
15. A blank as defined in claim 13 wherein each of said bottom tabs
has a notch cut in the corner thereof opposite the corner formed by
the intersection of the bottom edge of one of the end wall panels
and the side edge of the bottom wall panel.
16. A blank as defined in claim 13 wherein each of said bottom tabs
is joined to the bottom edge of the end wall panel which is joined
to the second sidewall panel.
17. A blank as defined in claim 13 wherein the bottom edge of the
flap of the first end wall panel remote from said one of the
sidewall panels is spaced from the bottom edge of said one of the
sidewall panels a distance equal to one-half the width of the
bottom wall panel.
18. A blank as defined in claim 17, wherein the bottom edge of the
flap of the first end wall panel contiguous to said one of the
sidewall panels forms an acute angle with respect to the side edge
of said one of the sidewall panels and intersects the bottom edge
of its adjacent flap at the intermediate fold line.
19. A blank as defined in claim 13, including a second top wall
panel having a primary portion and a lid portion joined to one
longitudinal edge of the primary portion along a fold line, the
primary portion being joined to the sidewall panel to which the
first top wall panel is not joined.
Description
BACKGROUND
This invention relates to collapsible containers and blanks for
forming same. More particularly, this invention relates to factory
folded containers formed from an integral blank of paperboard
material, and which are adapted for top loading.
Many types of containers are currently available for use by
department and clothing stores for packaging various relatively
light-weight articles, particularly wearing apparel, for hand
carrying. The most common of these containers are the top-loading
shopping bags and the side-loading clothing or suit boxes. Most
stores, in choosing their containers, have similar desires. The
containers should be able to be stored flat, they should be able to
be set up with a minimum of effort and skill, they must be easy to
load, they must be sufficiently strong for their purpose, and they
must be economical. In addition, it is desirable to have a
container which is asthetically attractive and neat, which is
pilfer proof while being carried and which will not open
accidentally. Furthermore, it is most desirable to have a container
which can be used as shipping containers as well as carry-out
containers. Shopping bags and "bag-boxes" currently in use serve
solely as carry-out containers making it necessary for the merchant
to store and use shipping boxes in addition to the carry-out
containers.
The container of this invention provides all of these desirable
features with the novel construction that is described below and
illustrated in the annexed drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a plan view of the interior surface of a flat blank from
which a complete top-loading container is formed,
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a container formed from the blank
of FIG. 1 illustrated in a partially closed position,
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a container formed from the blank
of FIG. 1 illustrated in the closed secured position,
FIG. 4 is an end view of the container of FIG. 3 in the collapsed
position,
FIG. 5 is a partial plan view of an end section of the bottom wall
of FIG. 1 illustrating the first step of folding,
FIG. 6 is a plan view of FIG. 5 illustrating a further step of
folding,
FIG. 7 is an end view of the bottom wall illustrating a still
further step of folding,
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a portion of the top of the
container of FIG. 2,
FIG. 9 is a perspective internal view of the container cover in a
partially collapsed position,
FIG. 10 is a plan view of the container sidewalls and end walls in
a partially collapsed position,
FIG. 11 is a partial plan view of an end section of the bottom wall
of a blank formed in accordance with a second embodiment of this
invention,
FIG. 12 is a plan view of the end section of FIG. 11 illustrating a
first step of folding,
FIG. 13 is a plan view of the end section of FIG. 12 illustrating a
further step of folding.
FIG. 14 is a partial plan view of the outer top wall panel of a
blank formed in accordance with a third embodiment of this
invention,
FIG. 15 is a plan view of the interior of a cover formed from the
blank of FIG. 14, and
FIGS. 16a and 16b are plan views of a cover folded for storage and
illustrating alternative folded forms.
The terms of orientation used throughout the specification, such as
top, bottom, side, outer, and inner are used merely for convenience
of description and have no limiting connotation. The terms are used
with reference to the container in the positions illustrated in
FIGS. 2 and 3.
PREFERRED EMBODIMENT (FIGS. 1-10)
Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly FIG. 1, there
is illustrated the interior of a flat blank 10 from which a
container 12 is formed, the container being illustrated in FIG. 2
in its setup and open position and in FIG. 3 in its setup and
closed position. The blank may be formed of any suitable stock
sheet material, such s cardboard, paperboard, and the like. The
single blank illustrated in FIG. 1, when folded along the various
fold lines indicated and described below, forms a complete
container 12 which includes a self-locking cover as is illustrated
in FIG. 3.
The blank 10 is formed with a pair of side wall panels 14, 16
separated by a bottom wall panel 18. The sidewall panels 14, 16 are
separated from the bottom wall panel 18 by parallel fold lines 20,
22, respectively. A third parallel fold line 24 is provided in one
of the sidewall panels 16 spaced a small distance from that panel's
bottom fold line 22. For example, the distance between fold line 24
and fold line 22 is about one-half the distance between fold lines
20 and 22. The bottom wall does not have a longitudinal
intermediate fold line as do most of the prior art containers,
thereby providing a stronger bottom wall when the container 12 is
set up.
An inner top wall panel 26 is joined to the outer end of the
sidewall panel 14 along a fold line 28 and an outer top wall panel
30 is joined to the outer end of the sidewall panel 16 along a fold
line 32. The inner top wall 26 includes a primary portion 34 having
a key hole slot 36 and a secondary portion or reenforcing section
38 joined to the primary portion along a fold line 40. A handle 42
is affixed on the inner surface of the reinforcing section 38 by
any conventional means, such as by an adhesive. The handle 42 is a
conventional handle of the type including a flexible ribbon member
44 and a paper or fabric backing for securing the ribbon 44 to the
reenforcing section 38. The ribbon extends a full length of the
backing 46, as is illustrated by the phantom lines; however, only a
portion of the ribbon is exposed through a slot 48 provided in the
backing. Of course, other conventional handles can be used such as
a plastic handle which is not adhered to the top wall panel but
instead projects through the slots 36, 48 and is held in place by
an extension which abuts against the underside of the top wall
panel 26.
Joined to the sides of the sidewall panel 14 are two end wall
panels 50, 52, each of which includes an end wall tab 54, 56 at
their outer end, respectively. The width of the end wall panels 50,
52 and the end wall tabs 54, 56 is equal to the width of the bottom
wall panel in order to form a rectangular container. The end wall
panel 50 is joined to sidewall pane 14 along a fold line 58 and is
provided with an intermediate fold line 60 extending throughout the
length of the end wall panel 50 and tab 54 dividing the end wall
panel 50 into an outer flap 62 and inner flap 64. The tab 54 is
joined to the end wall panel 50 by a fold line 66. Similarly, the
end wall panel 52 is joined to the sidewall panel 14 along a fold
line 68 and the end wall panel 52 and tab 56 are provided with an
intermediate fold line 70 which divides the end wall panel 52 into
an outer flap 72 and an inner flap 74. The tab 56 is joined to the
end wall panel 52 along a fold line 76; the fold lines 66 and 76
being extensions of the fold line 28 defining the upper edge of the
sidewall panel 14.
Attached to the sides of the sidewall panel 16 by fold lines 78, 80
are end wall panels 82, 84, respectively. The fold lines 78, 80 are
continuations of fold lines 58, 68 defining the sides of the
sidewall panel 14. It is important to observe that neither the
bottom wall panel 18 nor the end wall panels 82, 84 have
intermediate fold lines. This provides for a relatively strong
container for the reasons stated below.
The ends of the bottom wall panel 18 are provided with tabs 86, 87
having notches 88, 89 therein. The tabs 86, 87 are joined to the
bottom wall panel 18 along fold lines 90, 92, respectively, and are
joined to the end wall panels 82, 84 along fold lines 94, 96,
respectively. The tabs 86, 87 are provided with perforated diagonal
lines 98, 100, which serve as fold lines but which also allow the
adjoining surfaces to fold flatter. The notches 88, 89 in the tabs
86, 87 are provided to allow the container to be set up and
collapsed more easily than if the corners remained.
At the opposite ends of the outer top wall panel 30 are trapazoidal
tabs 102. 104 which are joined to the top wall panel 30 along fold
lines 106, 108 respectively. Perforated lines 110, 111 in the tabs
define triangular portions 112, 113 for permitting collapsing of
the container cover 114 as described below. The outer top wall
panel 30 is divided into two sections by a fold line 115, the
sections being a top section 116 and lid section 118, which
together form the cover 114. The lid section has tabs 120, 122 at
its opposite ends. The fold line 115 defining the lid section
includes at least one, and preferably a pair of U-shaped score
lines 124 extending through the lid section to provide access for a
locking tab. The outer top wall panel 30 includes a second score
line 126 for purposes to be described below.
In the formation of the container several surfaces need to be
joined together permanently. This may be accomplished by any
suitable fastening means; however, the preferred method of joining
is by the use of glue or other adhesive. Just prior to the folding
process to place the collapsed container in condition for
setting-up, as is illustrated in FIG. 4, glue is applied to the
outer flaps 62, 72, of the end wall panels 50, 52, the inner top
wall panel 26, the triangular portions 112, 113 of the trapezoidal
flaps 102, 104, and the exterior surface of the L-shaped bottom
tabs 86, 87, the glued portions being indicated by shaded areas in
FIGS. 1, 5 and 6. Except for the tabs 86, 87, all glue is applied
to interior surfaces of the blank 10. After the blank 10 has had
the glue applied on the surfaces described above, it is folded in
the following manner to form the collapsed carton 12 illustrated in
FIG. 4, the folding being done manually or, preferably, by machine.
The particular sequence of folding operations described herein is
illustrative only and does not represent any limiting sequence.
To begin with, the lid portion 118 of the outer top wall panel 30
is folded upwardly along fold line 115 and the end tabs 120, 122
are folded inwardly along their fold lines. The trapezoidal tabs
102, 104 are folded upwardly along their respective fold lines 105,
108 and the triangular portion defined by the perforated lines 112,
113, which have glue on their surfaces, are joined to the end tabs
120, 122 to form the cover 114 partially illustrated in FIGS. 8 and
9. The trapezoidal tabs 102, 104 then are caused to fold inwardly
along the perforated lines 112, 113, as may be seen in FIG. 9, so
that the cover 114 folds flat and is ready for simple setup. It
should be noted at this stage that glue is not applied along the
entire surface of the trapezoidal tabs 102, 104 but is applied
merely on the triangular sections 112, 113, defined by the
perforated fold lines 110, 111. Consequently, only a portion of the
end tabs are joined to the trapezoidal tabs permitting the cover
114 to be collapsed with the folding only of the trapezoidal tabs
102, 104 while the end tabs 120, 122, partially joined thereto,
remain unfolded even in the collapsed state of the cover. FIG. 8
illustrates the result of providing the U-shaped slit 124 in the
fold line 114. When the lid portion 118 is folded at right angles
to the top section 116 a space 128 is provided which serves as part
of a lock for the top as described below.
Turning now to the inner top wall panel 26, the reenforcing section
38 is folded inwardly along fold line 40 and is glued to the inner
surface of the primary section 34 by virtue of the glue applied
along the surface of the reenforcing section 38. A portion of the
ribbon 44 is aligned with the slot 36 but does not project
therethrough and the remainder of the ribbon, as well as the paper
or fabric back 46, are hidden from view since they now reside
between the joined reenforcing section 38 and the primary section
34.
After the top wall panels are folded and glued, the end wall panels
50, 52, 82 and 84 are folded inwardly along their fold lines 58,
68, 78 and 80, respectively. The first folding step is represented
in FIG. 5 which illustrates a small portion of the blank 10 about
one end of the bottom wall panel 18. The outer end wall panels 62,
72 are folded back upon the inner end wall panel 64, 74, (FIG. 6)
whereby the glued surface of the outer end wall panels are facing
upwardly. The sidewall panel 16 then is folded along fold line 22
toward the bottom wall panel 18 and along foldline 24 forming a
Z-shaped configuration as may be seen in FIG. 6. Since glue is
applied to the tabs 86, 87 at the position indicated in FIG. 5 with
reference to tab 87, the lower end wall panels 82, 84 will adhere
to the tabs 86, 87. In the next step, the sidewall panel 14 is
folded toward the side wall panel 16 and bottom wall panel 18 along
fold line 20 in order that the outer flaps 62, 72 of the end wall
panels 50, 52 adhere to their opposite end wall panels 82, 84. The
joined structure is clearly illustrated in FIG. 7.
All of the glueing now having been completed and the container
having been folded into its flat position as illustrated in FIG. 4,
the flattened container is ready for shipping and storage. When it
is desired to use the container 12 it is unfolded and set up as
follows. The user separates the sidewall panels 14, 16 by holding
one side wall and inserting the other hand inside the container to
spread the panels. The position of the sidewalls and end walls at
the commencement of the separation is illustrated in FIG. 10. As
the sidewall panels move further apart, the end wall panels 50, 52
unfold and move outwardly. At the same time, the bottom wall panel
18 unfolds from the position illustrated in FIG. 4 wherein it is
almost parallel with the sidewall panels into position illustrated
in FIG. 2 where it is perpendicular to the sidewall panels 14, 16
and the end wall panels 50, 52, 82, 84. Since the bottom wall 18
does not need an intermediate longitudinal fold line to enable the
containers to fold flat, the container bottom is quite strong. The
end wall panels 82, 84, not being folded along any intermediate
fold line as are the end wall panels 50, 52, eventually become
perpendicular to the sidewall panels 14, 16 and lock the container
12 in its set up position illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. The cover
114 is then set up by unfolding the lid portion 118 and the tabs
102, 104 joined thereto (FIG. 9). The container is now ready for
packing.
After the articles, such as wearing apparel, are placed in the
container 12, the tabs 54, 56 are folded downwardly as illustrated
in FIGS. 2 and 8. The tabs being a continuation of the end wall
panels 50, 52 are equal in width to the width of the container 12
and help to keep the container in its rectangular, box-like shape
and help to prevent the container 12 from being collapsed or
crushed. The container cover 114 then is closed to the position
shown in FIG. 3 wherein it is locked into position. The locking is
affected by a pair of projections 132 which are formed when the
inner top wall panel 26 is folded inwardly along its fold line 28.
As can be seen in FIG. 1, U-shaped slits 133 are cut through the
sidewall panel 14 and connect at their ends with the fold line 28
dividing the top wall panel 26 from the sidewall panel 14. As the
top wall panel 26 is folded inwardly, the projections 132 are
formed projecting outwardly from the sidewall panel 14 and as the
cover is closed upon the container the projections extend through
the spaces 128 formed in the cover by a similar procedure as
described above. The projections 132 and the spaces 128 serve as a
lock and render the container relatively pilfer proof.
In order to form the handle for carrying the container 12, the user
merely lifts up the flap 134 formed by the slit 126 in the outer
top wall panel 30 and pulls the handle ribbon 44 through the
opening formed by the flap 134 and then closes the flap underneath
the ribbon.
After using the container 12 it can be collapsed by lifting the
cover 114, and pressing inwardly along the fold line 24. The cover
is collapsed by pressing inwardly along the perforated lines 110,
111 and inwardly on lid 118. The perforated lines 98, 100 in the
bottom corner construction and 110, 111 in the cover 114 make
collapsing the container relatively easy and permit for a
flat-folded construction.
SECOND EMBODIMENT (FIGS. 11-13)
A modified blank construction is illustrated in FIGS. 11 through 13
wherein only a portion of a flat blank 200 is illustrated. Those
portions of the blank 200 which are identical to the blank 10
described above are identified by identical nomenclature.
The bottom wall panel 18 has a rectangular extension or end tab 202
extending therefrom, the tab 202 being separated from the bottom
wall panel 18 by a fold line 204. A perforated score line 206 forms
a triangular portion 208 in the tab 202. It can be seen that the
tab 202 is not connected to the end wall panel 84 or the end wall
panel 52.
The blank 200 is converted into a folded container in the following
manner, but not necessarily with the following sequence of steps.
The end wall panels 52 and 84 and the tab 202 are all folded
inwardly along their fold lines 68, 80 and 204 respectively. The
outer flap of the end wall panel 52 is then folded back upon itself
and the triangular section 208 of the tab 202 is similarly folded
back upon itself along the perforated score line 206, the steps
being illustrated in FIG. 12. As the shaded area indicates, glue is
applied along the exposed surface of the outer flap 202 on the
triangular section 208. The sidewall panel 16 is then folded toward
the bottom wall panel 18 along fold line 22 and is then folded back
upon itself along fold line 24 as may be seen in FIG. 13. In this
manner a portion of the end wall panel 84 is glued to the
triangular section 208. The sidewall panel 16 and bottom wall panel
18 then may be folded as a unit along fold line 20 toward side pane
14 whereby the outer flap 72 is glued to the portion of the end
wall panel 84 as is illustrated in FIG. 7. The container is set up
in the identical manner described above with reference to container
12, formed from blank 10.
Because the tab 202 forming the bottom corner is folded along the
perforated score line 206 during the manufacturing process, the
container including this construction sets up with greater ease
than does the container using the construction illustrated in FIG.
5. On the other hand, the construction illustrated in FIG. 5
enables faster production and results in a stronger container.
THIRD EMBODIMENT (FIGS. 14-16)
A third embodiment 220, illustrated in FIGS. 14 through 16,
includes a modified cover 222 formed from a modified outer top wall
panel 224. In this embodiment, end tabs 226, 228 having perforated
fold lines 230, 232 are joined to the opposite ends of the top wall
panel 224 along fold lines 234, 236, respectively. The end tabs
have extensions 238, 240 unjoined to the top wall panel 224 and
joined to the tabs along fold lines 242, 244. The top wall panel
224 is divided into two sections by a fold line 246, a top section
248 and a lid section 250.
To form the cover 222, the extensions 238, 240 are folded up on
their fold lines 242, 244 and the end tabs 226, 228 are folded upon
their fold lines 234, 236. The lid section 250, having adhesive
applied on the ends of the inner surface thereof as indicated by
the shaded area, then folded along its fold line 246 so that the
extensions 238, 240 are joined to the inner surface of the lid
section 250 as may be seen in FIG. 15.
FIG. 16 illustrates two alternative forms into which the cover 222
can be folded for shipping and storage. As the lid section 250 is
folded down toward the top portion 248 the end tops can be folded
either toward the middle of the cover as is shown in FIG. 16a or
outwardly away from the middle of the cover, as is shown in FIG.
16b. The form of FIG. 16b allows the cover to be folded
flatter.
The cover construction of the third embodiment provides an
increased area on which the adhesive can be applied, thus providing
a more positive bond. Furthermore, there is less chance of
interference when closing the cover 222 because the entire
extension is joined to the lid.
It can be seen that the container formed in accordance with this
invention is easy to set up and, once set up, forms a neat box-like
container being relatively crush proof while having the advantages
and desirable features of a bag including the ability to load it
from the top. Furthermore, the cover is secured in a closed
position to render the container relatively pilfer proof and to
avoid accidental opening of the container.
* * * * *