U.S. patent number 3,666,164 [Application Number 05/055,043] was granted by the patent office on 1972-05-30 for container and cover therefor.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Packaging Corporation of America. Invention is credited to Terrill L. Nederveld.
United States Patent |
3,666,164 |
Nederveld |
May 30, 1972 |
CONTAINER AND COVER THEREFOR
Abstract
A container is provided having a tubular member with foldably
connected side walls and one end thereof being delimited by locking
flaps foldably connected to the side walls. Overlying the one end
and in interlocking engagement with the flaps is a cover which is
provided with peripheral panels foldable relative to the locking
flaps so that each flap is in sandwiched relation with a peripheral
panel, when the cover is assembled on the end of the tubular
member.
Inventors: |
Nederveld; Terrill L.
(Neffsville, PA) |
Assignee: |
Packaging Corporation of
America (Evanston, IL)
|
Family
ID: |
21995194 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/055,043 |
Filed: |
July 15, 1970 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
229/122.27;
229/163; 206/320 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D
5/12 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B65D
5/02 (20060101); B65D 5/12 (20060101); B65d
013/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;206/46M,46FN,6A,6R
;229/23A,23R,37E,37R,38,32,34R,34A |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Leclair; Joseph R.
Assistant Examiner: Lipman; Steven E.
Claims
I claim:
1. A container of foldable sheet material comprising a tubular
member having one end thereof defined by side walls to which first
and second locking flaps are foldably connected, a cover closing
the tubular member one end, and means securing said cover in place;
said cover including a central panel in substantially coincident
relation with the tubular member one end, first panels foldably
connected to first peripheral segments of said central panel, each
first panel being provided with elongated foldably connected inner
and outer sections, the folding connection between said first panel
sections being substantially parallel to the folding connection
between said first panel and said central panel, the outer section
being folded relative to said inner section to effect sandwiching
therebetween a tubular member first locking flap, said outer and
inner sections and the sandwiched first locking flap being folded
as a unit into overlying relation with respect to the exposed
surface of the tubular member side wall to which said sandwiched
locking flap is connected whereby said folded outer section is
disposed between said side wall and said sandwiched first locking
flap, and second panels foldably connected to second peripheral
segments of said central panel, each second panel being provided
with a middle section foldably connected to a second peripheral
segment, and laterally extending end sections foldably connected to
opposite ends of said middle section, said end sections being
folded relative to said middle section to effect sandwiching
therebetween a tubular member second locking flap, said end and
middle sections and the sandwiched second locking flap being folded
as a unit into overlying relation with respect to the exposed
surface of a tubular member second side wall to which said
sandwiched second locking flap is connected whereby said folded end
sections are disposed between the exposed surface of said second
side wall and said sandwiched second locking flap; said tubular
member side walls and locking flaps cooperating with the folded
cover first and second panels to provide at least four-ply
thickness adjacent each corner of said tubular member one end.
2. The container of claim 1 wherein said cover is formed from a
single blank of foldable sheet material having a substantially
rectangular configuration when in an unfolded state.
3. The container of claim 1 wherein said means securing said cover
in place includes an elongated band which snugly encompasses the
folded inner and middle sections of said cover.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In the packaging of large, bulky products, such as refrigerators
and the like, it is important when shipping same to the retailer or
customer, that the exterior of the product be protected against
surface abrasions and the like. To provide such protection, it is
customary that the product be encased in a tubular member formed of
corrugated fiberboard and with at least one end of the member
provided with a protective cover. In addition to providing
protection for the encased product, the cover also provides end
support for the tubular member.
In practice, when enclosing the product in a container, it is
customary for the blank of one cover to be placed horizontally on a
suitable support and then to position one end of the product on the
supported cover blank. The tubular member is then slipped endwise
over the product until the lower end of the member rests upon the
blank, whereupon the cover blank is set up about the tubular member
and secured thereto. To facilitate securing of the cover to the
tubular member, the latter is provided with locking flaps which
foldably interlock with side portions of the cover during set up of
the latter.
Various covers of this type have heretofore been provided; however,
because of certain design characteristics, they require an
inordinate amount of material and/or are incapable of providing the
necessary protection for the encased product when the latter is
subjected to normal handling. Furthermore, such prior covers were
awkward to handle when being secured to the end of the tubular
member. In forming the blanks for the prior covers, an excessive
amount of waste material normally resulted which substantially
increased the unit cost of each blank.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Thus, it is an object of this invention to provide a container
which is of simple, inexpensive construction and yet, provides
adequate protection for the accommodated product even though the
latter is subjected to abusive handling.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a cover which
is formed from a blank of sheet material wherein a minimum amount
of material waste results.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a cover wherein
the blank therefor may be formed on conventional printer slotter
equipment.
Further and additional objects will appear from the description,
accompanying drawing and appended claims.
In accordance with one embodiment of this invention, a cover is
provided which is adapted to be secured to one end of a tubular
member which is delimited by a plurality of locking flaps foldably
connected to the side walls forming the tubular member. The cover
is of unitary construction and includes a central panel which
overlies in substantially coincident relation the tubular member
one end. First panels are foldably connected to first peripheral
segments of the central panel. Each first panel is provided with a
pair of elongated foldably connected sections which cooperate with
a tubular member locking flap so as to effect sandwiching of the
flap between the folded first panel sections. The folded first
panel sections and the sandwiched locking flap are then folded as a
unit so as to overlie the exposed surface of the tubular member
side wall to which the locking flap is connected.
Second panels are foldably connected to second peripheral segments
of the central panel. Each second panel is provided with an
elongated middle portion, which is foldably connected to the
central panel, and a pair of end portions which are foldably
connected to opposite ends of the middle portion. The middle and
end portions of the second panel cooperate with a second locking
flap of the tubular member and cause the flap to be sandwiched
therebetween. The folded middle and end portions and the sandwiched
flap are folded as a unit so as to overlie the exposed surface of
the tubular member side wall to which the sandwiched flap is
connected.
DESCRIPTION
For a more complete understanding of the invention reference should
be made to the drawing wherein:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one form of the improved
container.
FIG. 2 is an enlarged plan view of a blank for one of the covers
shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the blank of FIG. 2 and
one end of the tubular member shown in exploded relation, and with
the accommodated product shown in dot-dash lines.
FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the cover and the
tubular member locking flaps in partial interlocking relation.
Referring now to the drawing and more particularly to FIG. 1, an
improved container 10 is shown which is particularly adapted to
accommodate a large product P such as a refrigerator, washer,
dryer, or the like, wherein a substantial portion of the exposed
surface thereof has a finish which is highly susceptible to
defacement or damage. Because of the size and weight of such a
product, it is normally required to be handled by fork trucks, or
other mechanical devices, and thus, oftentimes the product is
subjected to excessive shocks and knocks while being transported.
The improved container 10 is intended to provide protection for the
accommodated product under such circumstances.
The illustrated container comprises a tubular member 11 which is
normally formed of either single or double faced corrugated board.
The member is sized so as to slip endwise over one end of the
accommodated product P. At least one end (preferably the lower end)
of member 11 is closed by the improved cover 12. A similar cover
may be utilized at the upper end; however, in some instances
closure flaps, not shown, may be provided at the upper edges of the
side wall panels which are foldable into overlapping relation so as
to close off the end of the tubular member.
The tubular member 11 is normally formed of elongated side walls 13
and 14 which have corresponding edges thereof foldably
interconnected. In the illustrated embodiment, the member 11
includes two pairs of opposed side walls which are vertically
disposed. To the lower edge of each side wall 13 or 14 is foldably
connected a locking flap 15 or 16. The length of each locking flap
in the illustrated embodiment is substantially coincident to the
width of the side wall to which said flap is connected, see FIG.
3.
Cover 12 is formed from a blank 17 of corrugated fiberboard or the
like, see FIG. 2. The blank is provided with a central panel 18,
the size and shape of which corresponds substantially to the lower
end of the tubular member formed by the side walls 13 and 14.
Connected to opposite edges of the panel 18 by foldlines 20 are
first panels 21 and 22. Each panel 21 or 22 is of like construction
and includes an inner section 21a or 22a which is substantially the
same in size and shape as the adjacent locking flap 16 of the
tubular member 11.
Connected by double foldlines 23 to the outer elongated edge of
each inner section is an outer section 21b or 22b. Sections 21a-b
and 22a-b are of substantially like configuration.
Connected by foldlines 24 to the edge portions of the central panel
intermediate foldlines 20 are second panels 25 and 26. Each panel
25 or 26 is of like construction and comprises an elongated middle
portion 25a or 26a, the length of which is substantially
coextensive with the edge of the central panel to which it is
connected. Connected by foldlines 27 to opposite ends of the middle
portion are elongated end portions 25b or 26b. Foldlines 27 are
disposed in substantial axial alignment with foldlines 20 and are
substantially normal to foldlines 24. The length of each end
portion (that is the dimension measured normal to foldline 27) is
substantially the same as the width of the adjacent first panel 21
or 22. The latter width dimension in this instance being measured
normal to the foldline 20. Each end portion 25b or 26b is separated
from the adjacent edge of a first panel 21 or 22 by an elongated
slot S. Each slot is substantially coaxially aligned with the
foldline 24.
As seen in FIG. 3, the locking flaps 15 and 16 are disposed in
superposed coincident relation with respect to the middle portions
25a and 26a and inner sections 21a and 22a, respectively, when the
tubular member 11 is slipped endwise over the product P. Once the
locking flaps have assumed the superposed position, outer section
21b or 22b of each first panel 21 or 22 is folded over the adjacent
locking flap so that the latter is sandwiched between the sections
of the first panels, see FIG. 4. Simultaneously with, or before, or
after the folding of the first panel sections, the end portions 25b
or 26b of the second panels 25 or 26 are folded about foldlines 27
so as to partially overlie the adjacent locking flap 15.
Once the first and second panels have been folded relative to the
locking flaps, each folded panel and the sandwiched locking flap
are folded as a unit so as to overlie the exposed surface of the
tubular member side wall to which the locking flap is connected.
Upon the locking flaps and cover panels assuming such positions, a
band or strap B is brought into snug encompassing relation
therewith so that the cover is securely affixed to the end of the
tubular member, see FIG. 1. The folded locking flaps and the first
and second panels may be retained in their folded positions, as
seen in FIG. 1, by means of adhesive, tape, or the like.
A similar cover may be affixed to the upper end of the tubular
member, as seen in FIG. 1.
As is readily apparent from FIG. 2, the cover blank 17 has a
substantially rectangular profile with little or no wastage of the
blank material. Furthermore, the blank can be readily formed on
conventional printer-slotter equipment, the function and operation
of which are well understood in the container industry. Thus, the
unit cost of the improved cover is at a minimum.
The size and shape of the tubular member and the cover may be
varied from that shown without departing from the scope of the
disclosed invention.
* * * * *