Variable Size Container

Abstract

A variable size container includes side and end wall panels, and top and bottom closure flaps are hinged to the upper and lower edges thereof. A pair of additional score lines, parallel to those connecting the wall panels, divide the end wall panels into two side or end wall panels, either of these side-by-side side or end wall panels being foldable into the plane of the side wall panel to which it is connected when the ends of the blank are secured together and the container folded into rectangular form. Interrupted slots are provided between the adjoining flaps to permit easy severing of the flaps at the corners of the container while the other slots remain unsevered. Fold lines extending across the side and end walls adjoining at least one fold line connecting the side and end wall panels to the closure flaps and along which the blank may be folded to increase the length of the closure flaps and form a shallower container.

Description

This invention relates to an improvement in variable size containers and deals particularly with a container so constructed that it may be varied in horizontal section as well as in vertical section.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Variable size containers have been produced for some time. These containers usually include rectangularly arranged walls which are hingedly connected along top and bottom fold lines to closure flaps which may be secured in overlapping relation. Rather than to provide a single line of fold connecting the closure flaps to the walls, a series of spaced parallel fold lines have been provided. The height of the side walls may be varied by folding the closure flaps along one fold line or another so that the closure flaps overlap to a greater or lesser extent. Such variable size containers have sometimes been used for containing paper which may vary in thickness but which is usually of a conventional sheet size. Such a commodity should completely fill the container in order to hold the sheets flat during storage and shipment. Variable size containers described above may be effectively used in such cases.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A somewhat different problem has arisen in which a series of products are shipped which differ in cross sectional shapes as well as in vertical height. These products were previously shipped in containers of two or three different sizes, and interior packing was provided to compensate for variation in depth. Somewhat of a problem was involved in maintaining an inventory of the various containers of different sizes. Accordingly, the provision of a container capable of accommodating a plurality of various sizes of products was desirable.

I have found that by adding a pair of vertical score lines to the container blanks a container may be produced which is capable of accommodating a product of three different cross sectional shapes. By also providing additional score lines parallel to those connecting the top and bottom edges of the side wall to the end closure flap, the containers could also be readily varied in depth. Such containers are very practical, as they can be produced for no greater cost than those including only the conventional score lines. By merely adding additional creasing rollers to the corrugator, and adding additional scoring and slotting rollers to a conventional printer-slotter apparatus, blanks may be produced which are capable of forming containers of three different cross sectional shapes.

A further feature of the present invention resides in the provision of containers which include interrupted slots facilitating the separation between various flaps and flap sections and which are aligned with the five score lines. These slots are interrupted by narrow areas of connection between the closure flap sections on opposite sides of the slots. When the finished containers are folded to form containers of the proper cross sectional shape, the areas of connection at the corners of the container are severed while the slots in intermediate portions of the flaps remain unsevered. As a result, the slots do not interfere with the closing of the closure flaps in the usual manner.

A further feature of the present invention resides in the provision of folded container blanks, the ends of the blank being preferably taped together, the tape preferably extending across the closure flaps as well as the container walls. Where the tape joint forms a corner of the container, the tape connecting the adjoining closure flaps may be severed. Where the joint which has been taped forms an intermediate portion of the flaps, the tape may be left intact throughout its length.

These and other objects and novel features of the present invention will be more clearly and fully set forth in the following specification and claims .

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the container of one size, showing the general arrangement of parts.

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view through the container shown in FIG. 1, the position of the section being indicated by the line 2--2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic view of the folded flat blank after the tape has been applied.

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic view of the blank from which the containers are formed.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a container of different cross-sectional shape from that indicated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the container folded to change the depth thereof.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the blank before the closure flaps have been folded inwardly.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view, the position of the section being indicated by the line 8--8 of FIG. 6.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The container A is made from the blank illustrated in FIG. 4 of the drawings. The blank is divided into a series of walls by parallel score lines 10, 11 and 12. The area between the fold line 10 and the end edge 13 of the blank comprises a first side wall 14. The area between the fold lines 11 and 12 may comprise a second side wall 15. The sides 14 and 15 are substantially of similar area. The distance between the fold lines 10 and 11 is also substantially equal to the distance between the fold line 12 and the end edge 16 of the blank.

The area between the fold lines 10 and 11 is divided into a pair of side-by-side side or end wall panels 17 and 19 by an auxiliary fold line 20. The area between the fold line 12 and the blank edge 16 is also divided into a pair of side-by-side side or end wall panels 21 and 22 by an auxiliary fold line 23. The side or end wall panels 17 and 21 are of substantially equal width as are also the side or end wall panels 19 and 22. In order that three different container sizes may be formed from the blank, the side or end wall panels 17 and 21 are somewhat wider than the side or end wall panels 19 and 22. The term "side or end wall panels" has been used to describe the panels 17, 19, 21 and 22 because of the fact that these panels may all be parts of the end walls of containers of one size. Either the pair of side or end wall panels 17 and 21 or the pair of side wall panels 19 and 22 may form parts of the side walls of the container as will be later more fully described.

Top closure flaps 24 and 25 are hingedly connected to the upper edges of the side walls 14 and 15 along a fold line 26. Top closure flaps 27 and 29 are hingedly connected to the upper edges of the side or end wall panels 17 and 19 along this fold line 26, and top closure flaps 30 and 31 are hingedly connected to the upper edges of the side or end walls 21 and 22 respectively. The top closure flaps are separated by interrupted slots fomred by slot portions 32 and 33 which are spaced by a readily severable unslotted area 34. The slots 32 and 33 are aligned with each of the fold lines 10, 20, 11, 12 and 23. The readily severable areas 34 in each slot permit adjoining flaps to be readily disconnected so as to separate the side walls from the end walls of the container. This may be accomplished by slitting the unslotted areas 34 with a blade or a knife, or these areas may be torn apart if they are not too great in length.

Bottom closure flaps 35 and 36 are hingedly connected to the side walls 14 and 15 respectively along a fold line 37. A pair of bottom closure flaps 39 and 40 are hingedly connected to the lower edges of the panels 17 and 19 along the fold line 37 and similar closure flaps 41 and 42 are hingedly connected to the panels 21 and 22 along a continuation of the fold line 37. The various bottom closure flaps are partially separated by interrupted slots 43. Short unslotted areas 44 near their outer ends are provided between each pair of adjacent bottom closure flaps 35, 39, 40, 36, 41 and 42. These slots are generally similar to the interrupted slots 32 and 33, which were previously described. The short connecting areas 44 attempt to hold the adjoining flaps from independent folding along the fold line 37 until they are cut or otherwise severed.

A plurality of spaced parallel fold lines 45 extend parallel to the fold line 37 inwardly of the blank from the fold line 37. Similar parallel fold lines (not shown in the drawings) may be provided near the upper edges of the side and end walls parallel to the fold lines 26 if it is so desired. The spacing between the fold lines 45 may be varied to provide the desired variation in container depth, and the fold lines 45 may be relatively far apart or may be very closely spaced. However, in no instance is the innermost score line 45 spaced from the lower edge 46 of the blank a distance greater than the combined widths of the side or end wall panels 17, 19, 21 and 22, or the distance between the fold lines 10 and 11, or between the fold line 12 and the blank edge 16.

In forming the container, the blank may be folded along the fold lines 10 and 12 so that the side wall 14 is folded into face contact with the side or end wall panel 17 and 19, and the side or end wall of panels 21 and 22 overlie the side wall 15. A strip of tape 47 is applied to the abutting ends 13 and 16 of the blank. Preferably the tape strip 47 extends across the top and bottom closure flaps as well as the wall panels. The flat folded blank is shown in FIG. 3, the ends of the blank shown in FIG. 4 having been folded downwardly and inwardly, and the entire blank being shown in inverted position to show the tape strips.

A container of one size is shown in FIGS. 5 and 7 of the drawings, FIG. 5 showing the container in closed condition. When a container of the size shown in FIGS. 5 and 7 is to be formed, the panels 17 and 19 remain in coplanar relation to form one end wall of the container while the panels 21 and 22 remain in coplanar relation to form the other end wall of the container. As a result, the fold lines 20 and 23 are not employed. The top and bottom slots aligned with the fold lines 10, 11 and 12 which are at the corners of the container are slit to sever the unslotted areas 34 and 44 thereof. The tape strip 47 is also slit at the juncture between the closure flaps on the side wall 14 and the closure flaps on adjoining panel 22. Thus separated side and end wall flaps are provided, the closure flaps 27 and 29 remaining connected and the top closure flaps 31 and 32 remain connected. As indicated at the bottom of FIG. 7, the closure flaps 39 and 40 remain connected as do also the opposite closure flaps 41 and 42. With this arrangement, the end walls are of a combined width of the panels 17 and 19 and the panels 21 and 22, the end walls of the finished container being slightly narrower than the side walls 14 and 15 thereof.

If it is desired to produce a container of shallower depth, the lower ends of the fold lines 10, 11 and 12 are slit adjoining the closure flaps and in alignment therewith, the corners being slit to the proper fold line 45 to produce a container of the proper depth. This slitting is readily accomplished because of the fact that the crease lines already weakened the container at the corners. The area of the side and end walls between the fold line 37 and the selected fold line 45 to which the corners are slit remains in coplanar relation with the bottom closure flaps and the flaps are folded along the selected fold line 45, the length of the closure flaps being increased and the closure flaps overlapping to a greater extent. Obviously, the maximum length of the side wall closure flaps cannot exceed the width of the end walls. FIGS. 6 and 8 show the container at its minimum depth.

If a longer and narrower container is desired, the container A may be folded in the manner illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings. In this event, the blank is folded so that the corners of the container are formed by the fold lines 10, 20, 12 and 23. When this is done, the end walls are the width of the panels 17 and 21, while the side walls are the combined widths of the panels 15 and 19, and the panels 14 and 22. In this case, the tape extends along one side wall of the container as indicated in FIG. 1 rather than at the corner of the container as indicated in the previously described Figures. The top and bottom closure flaps are formed by slitting the readily detachable areas in the slots 32, 33 and 43, these short connecting portions being indicated by the numerals 34 and 44 respectively. The flaps 27 and 30 form the end wall closure flaps at the top of the container and the closure flaps 39 and 41 form the bottom closure flaps. The side wall closure flaps are formed at the top by the combined flaps 24 and 31 and the combined flaps 25 and 29. The corresponding flaps at the lower end of the container form the bottom closure.

It is also possible to form a still wider and narrower container by folding the container so that the panels 19 and 22 form the end walls of the container, and the combined panels 14 and 17, and the combined panels 15 and 21 form the opposite side walls of the container. The interrupted slots at the corners of the container are severed to provide independent side and end wall flaps.

In accordance with the Patent Statutes I have described the principals of construction and operation of my variable sized container, and while I have endeavored to set forth the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that obvious changes may be made within the scope of the following claims without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Claims

I claim:

1. A variable size container blank including:

side and end wall panels hingedly connected together and foldable along parallel fold lines to form a rectangular container body,

auxiliary fold lines parallel to said first named fold lines dividing each end wall panel into a pair of side-by-side side or end wall panels,

closure flaps hingedly connected to said side wall panel, and to said side or end wall panels,

the side or end wall panel connected to one side of one side wall being of equal size to the other side or end wall panel connected to the similar edge of the other side wall and forming a first pair of side or end wall panels which may form opposed container end wall members when said blank is folded; the other pair of side or end wall panels being also of the same size and being capable of forming container end walls when the first pair of side or end wall panels are in coplanar relation to the side wall to which they are hinged,

fold lines extending across the blank from end to end thereof in right angular relation to the previously described fold lines and hingedly securing said closure flaps to said side and end wall panels,

said blank including slots separating said closure flaps one from the other, the slots being aligned with said parallel fold lines connecting said side and end wall panels and with said auxiliary fold lines,

each of said slots being interrupted by a readily separable connecting portion connecting adjoining edges of adjacent closure flaps, and

at least one additional fold line extending across said side and end wall panels parallel to, and spaced from, said fold lines extending across the blank.