Basket

Abstract

A basket of the decorative type is shown having a base with an open upward portion and parallel side walls, the outer side walls of which may optionally be perforated to simulate a woven material. The inner side walls flush mounted to the bottom, and the bottom is of an automatic construction which permits folding from a knock-down configuration to upright by biasing across the corners of the basket. A second biasing after the inner side walls and locking feet are in place causes the locking feet to interlock with the automatic bottom to secure and lock the shape of the basket. Provision is made between the side walls at opposed upper edges for the insertion of a handle, the latter also being so constructed with glue flaps that it may be shipped flat or knocked down. In addition, a nesting support may optionally be provided to set within the simulated basket after the handle is positioned in place. The support is also of knocked-down construction, and has a false bottom surrounded by double side walls, and means are provided at the bottom for interlocking with the decorative basket.

Description

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The subject knock-down basket relates primarily to decorative-type baskets such as those seen displayed at the Easter season. A double wall construction is provided to simulate the perforations of a woven basket such as rattan, woven wood strips, and the like. The construction is so fabricated that of the three elements, a basket, a handle, and a liner, all three can be shipped in the knocked-down or flattened form and simply erected and assembled.

2. Description of the Prior Art

As indicated above, the prior art may relate to the folding carton field in general, but as such, the invention is directed to a knocked-down basket rather than a folding carton, more particularly is this so because of the three elements which coact to form the final product, particularly if the liner is employed.

The principal prior art is a product which is simulated, namely, a wooden or woven type basket. Such wooden or woven baskets, in order to be colorfully decorated, must be painted. Some of the paints which are employed have various trace elements or even prime elements which may be toxic. Since the baskets are quite often intended for carrying children's items, it may be anticipated that the children will, upon occasion, place the basket in the mouth. Not only is there a risk of the trace elements, such as lead in the paint, being ingested into the system of the child; but in addition, slivers on the fingers or even portions of the face may be encountered with a wooden-type basket.

A basic solution of these problems is provided by a basket construction which is formed of food grade paperboard, and printed with food grade inks. This reduces to a minimum the exposure to the toxicity of paints, and the risk of slivers and the like.

In addition, because the unit is of knock-down construction at the outset, it is similarly easily the subject of disposal. No metal parts are involved, and therefore the entire basket, handle, and liner may be burned along with ordinary paper.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a knock-down basket construction in which there are four side walls, and a bottom. The bottom is of an automatic-type erecting construction, with the inner side walls being imperforate, and the outer side walls optionally perforated to simulate various designs. A relatively horizontal top edge is provided between the inner and the outer side walls which, at two opposed faces, is notched to provide a mounting means for the handle, and also to lock the handle in place after inserted. The inner side walls terminate in locking feet against the automatic bottom with their beveled edge abutting. Thereafter, biasing across a corner and reopening causes the feet to interlock with the automatic bottom thereby securing and locking the shape of the basket.

A handle construction of knock-down configuration is provided which has ends which insert in opposed side walls of the basket, also provided to wedgingly engage the same for secure locking. The upper portion of the handle may be provided with a flat member to facilitate carrying. The handle is of a knock-down construction which can be readily set up.

Finally, for certain products, a liner having a false bottom is desirable, particularly where the product being contained may have certain packaging or carrying characteristics which would soil or otherwise be inappropriate for the basket construction. The liner is constructed of a single piece of folded board, glued in part, and susceptible of being erected and having a pair of opposed ends which are tucked together like a box, and providing a side wall extending thereabove around four sides, and having means at the bottom for interlocking with the basket to secure the same in place once erected and inserted within the interior portion of the basket.

One of the principal objects of the present invention is to provide a knock-down basket, with optional handle and liner, which can be shipped in a relatively flat space saving configuration, and be easily and inexpensively erected for the insertion of products to be merchandised in the basket. A closely related object is to provide such a basket with an automatic bottom and inner side wall locking feet which interlock upon biasing to secure the basket shape.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a basket which is knocked down which can be easily printed in decorative colors throughout its entire observable exterior portion, including a handle for insertion into the basket. The inks employed in the printing may be selected from a wide variety available which are found generally acceptable for handling food products.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a liner for the basket which may be of a different material than the basket itself, and designed for durability and product retention as distinguished from decorative susceptability.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a basket with a handle and a liner which are inexpensive to fabricate, handle, and use.

Still another important object of the present invention is to provide a basket, handle, and liner, all of which are made of readily disposable and combustible paperboard thereby minimizing a disposal problem after the basket, handle, and liner have found their ultimate usage and are to be discarded.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a handle for a double-walled basket which, even though knocked-down and formed of paperboard, is quite sturdy and locked in place by a two-fold engagement of a wedge-type bottom construction and an interlock at the exterior.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent as the following description of an illustrated embodiment takes place in which the same is shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a typical basket illustrative of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a support for use interiorly with the basket shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows the basket blank formed from a single piece of material from which the basket is formed;

FIG. 4 is a blank showing the single piece of material in panel form for forming the handle;

FIG. 5 is a blank of a single piece of material showing the layout for the support;

FIG. 6 is a view of the basket after being glued and in condition for being shipped on a knocked-down, flattened basis;

FIG. 7 is a perspective partially diagramatic view indicating how the basket blank of FIG. 6 is erected into the basket form;

FIG. 8 is a top view of the basket after first being assembled in accordance with the configuration shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a view sequentially subsequent to that of FIG. 8, indicating how the basket is biased into the flat across the corners to bring about an interlock of the feet of the inner panels;

FIG. 10 is a top view subsequent to FIGS. 8 and 9 indicating how the basket bottom and inner wall feet interlock after biasing;

FIG. 11 is a longitudinal transverse view in enlarged scale of the basket shown in FIG. 1 illustrating the relationship between the basket, support and handle;

FIG. 12 is an alternative view showing a different style handle on the illustrative basket; and

FIG. 13 is still a further alternative view illustrating another type handle for use with the subject basket.

DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENT

The illustrative basket 10 shown in FIG. 1 is used for displaying candy 13 nested in attractive packing 14 on top of a support 12 (or false bottom) and conditioned for being carried by means of a handle 11. The basket has outer and inner side walls which, in the embodiment shown, are separated at the top edges whereby a plurality of perforations 15 simulate a wooden or woven type basket.

The advantageous features of the subject basket 10 will be more fully appreciated when reference is made to the single blank of material or board 20 shown in FIG. 3 from which the entire basket 10 is formed. There it will be seen that the basket blank 20 includes a first outer side wall 21 and a second outer side wall 22, which form the larger outer perforated walls as shown in FIG. 1. A first inner side wall 24 and second inner side wall 25 form the inner larger portions of the basket. It will be noted that all of the side walls terminate in base forming flaps, and that a first side wall base forming flap 28 and second side wall base forming flap 29 are each provided at the ends of their respective side wall 24, 25 and are provided with lines of weakness so that they can be folded flat against the bottom.

A glue flap 30 is provided as an extension from the first outer side wall 21, and is secured to the inside of the second outer end wall 22, thereby erecting a basket with the second outer end wall 32 opposed to the first outer end wall 31. All of the side walls 21, 22, 31, 32 are joined by lines of weakness. The face of the blank 20 shown in FIG. 3 is the outer portion which may be printed with various colored designs.

The outer end walls 31, 32 terminate in a first inner end wall 34 and a second inner end wall 35, each of which in turn terminates with a first inner end wall locking flap 48 and the second inner end wall locking flap 49, beveled at their edges and secured to their respective inner walls by lines of weakness.

The base is formed of a plurality of flaps, two opposing ones of which include interlocks 36, 37. The first side wall base forming flap 28 and second side wall base forming flap 29 contain the interlocks 36, 37 and extend from their respective first and second outer side walls 21, 22. In addition, first end wall base forming flap 38 and second end wall base forming flap 39 extend from their respective end walls 31, 32. A first bottom tug tab is provided on the first side wall base forming flap 28, a second bottom tug tab 41 is provided on the second side wall base forming flap 29. The respective tug tabs 40, 41 are each secured to a first tab glue patch 42 (on the first end wall base forming flap 38) and a second tab glue patch 43, formed on the second end wall base forming flap 39. The only glue spots are the joining of the glue flap 30, and the two tug tabs 40, 41 to their respective adjacent members. In this configuration, the basket 10 can be shipped in a knocked-down, flattened form as illustrated in FIG. 6. When the basket 10 is to be erected, the sequence as shown in FIG. 7 is employed. First, the outer corners are biased to cause the automatic bottom to fold flattened, with the interlocks 36, 37 joining each other, and the tug tabs 40, 41, pulling the adjacent flaps into flattened configuration. Thereafter, in optional sequence, the opposed inner walls 24, 25 and 34, 35 are pushed into position as shown in FIG. 8. Then the locking feet 45, 46, 48 49 are atop the bottom forming flaps 28, 29, 38, 39. Also, it will be observed that a first side wall upper edge 50 and second side wall upper edge 51 separate the outer and inner walls as well as first end wall upper edge 54 and second end wall upper edge 55. As shown, they are generally tapered upper edges thus permitting a gap to appear between the outer walls 21, 22, 31, 32 and the inner walls 24, 25, 34, 35. This, as indicated above, permits the perforations 15 to simulate a woven basket style when printed appropriately. As will be set forth hereinafter, the first and second end wall upper edges 54, 55 are provided with cut out locking tabs 56, 57, which secure the handle 11 as will be hereinafter pointed out.

In erecting the basket, after the configuration shown in FIG. 8 is achieved, the same is then diagonally biased across the corners in order to fold it into a modified flat configuration as shown in FIG. 9. Upon this folding, one end of each of the locking feet 45, 46, 48, 49 tucks itself in beneath the adjacent bottom forming panel 28, 29, 38, 39, so that when snapped back into the erected configuration, an interlock is provided between each space forming panel 28, 29, 38, 39, and its adjacent locking foot 45, 46, 48, 49. This locking action secures the integrity of the configuration of the basket 10 in a much more rigid form than that shown in FIG. 8, and no additional gluing is required. Finally, it will be observed that first support lock slot 58 and second support lock slot 59 are provided at the intersection between the opposed inner end walls 34, 35 and their respective base forming flaps 38, 39, but being formed in the inner section between the locking feet and inner walls.

The configuration of the support 12 will be best understood by first reviewing the construction of the support blank 60 shown in FIG. 5. There it will be seen that a support top 61 and support bottom 62 are defined along with a first support side wall 64 and a second support side wall 65, all in linear extension each of the other. A first support end wall 68 and second support end wall 69 extend laterally from the support top 61 and the support glue flap 70 extends laterally from the support top 61.

To secure the ends, provision is made for a first side wall tuck tab 71 and a second side wall tuck tab 72. To secure the unit for knocked-down shipment, provision is made for a glue strip 74 on the first support side wall 64 to which the glue flap 70 is secured, the marginal edge 73 extending beyond the glue strip 74 of the first support side wall 64 serving as one of the four elements rimming the support top 61 (see FIG. 2). A further glue strip 75 is secured to extension 77 of the second support side wall 65 to define more of the perimeter of the support top 61. Corresponding extensions 76, 78 of the respective end walls 68, 69 complete the perimeter of the wall about the support top 61. End tabs 79, 80 are provided respectively at the ends of the first and second support end walls 68, 69, for securing the entire unit together. Finally, it will be noted that lock tabs 81, 82 are provided at the intersection of the end tabs 79, 80 and end walls 68, 69 for locking engagement with the first support lock slot 58 and second support lock slot 59 of the basket 10 (see FIGS. 8 and 10). As will be seen in FIG. 11, the support lock tabs 81, 82 form a precision lock at the lower portion of the basket 10 in the lock slots 58, 59 as described.

The preferred handle is shown in blank form in FIG. 4. There it will be seen that the preferred handle 11 is formed of a single strip or blank having an outer band 90 and inner band 91 which form the hand grip 92 of the handle 11. Depending from the hand grip portion 92 are the supports 94, which are defined as extensions of the hand grip 92, but spaced apart due to the precision of edges 95. Locks 96 are provided in the lower portion of the support 94 by means of a cut out and are engaged by first handle tab 56 and second handle tab 57 in the side wall upper edges 50, 51 of the basket 10. To assist in forming a tapered bottom portion of the supports 94, it will be observed that end taper folds 97 are provided in order to prevent a wedge shaped end portion of the lower part of the support 94 as shown in FIG. 11. This permits a wedging action and a support to be provided between the outer end walls 31, 32 and inner end walls 34, 35. In addition, it prevents a bulging from taking place where the handle supports 94 penetrate the basket.

While the subject handle 11 is a preferred embodiment, it will be observed in FIG. 12 that a modified barb end handle 85 and, in FIG. 13, a braided handle 86 may be also utilized with the preferred basket 10. Only a single glue flap 98 is required to secure the handle, which may also be provided with display mounts 99 for securing a paper display interiorly of the handle 11.

In review it will be seen that a basket 10 has been described which can be formed from a single blank 20, with automatic bottom, and means whereby the bottom can be interlocked with the inner side walls to define a rigid structural integrity. The perforations 15 and the outer walls permit the simulation of a woven basket. In addition, a support 12 which serves as a false bottom for decorative matter and the display of candy 13 also is formed from a single blank and interlocks with the basket 10 to form an integral unit. Finally, a handle 11, also formed from a single blank of material, interlocks with the basket 10. Each of the three elements, basket 10, handle 11 and support 12, are so constructed that they can be shipped knocked-down flat and yet quickly erected by hand or machine operation into their final form.

Although particular embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in full here, there is no intention to thereby limit the invention to the details of such embodiments. On the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, alternatives, embodiments, usages and equivalents of a basket and method for making same as fall within the spirit and scope of the invention, specification and the appended claims.

Claims

I claim:

1. A knocked down basket comprising, cut from a single sheet of material, a plurality of outer wall portions formed by three fold lines to form thereby three mutual intersecting edges,

a plurality of inner wall portions extending from the upper portion of the outer walls and of generally isosceles trapezoidal configuration,

a top edge portion defined by the fold at the intersection of the inner wall and outer wall portions,

mounting feet at the portion of the inner walls opposed to the top edge portion, each of said mounting feet having beveled side edges and defined by lines of weakness which permit folding of the same against the bottom of the basket upon erection,

base forming flaps extending from the lower edge of each of the outer walls proportioned and oriented, upon securing by fastening means, to form a bottom for the basket whereby the same may be shipped in knocked-down fashion,

said bottom including four opposed flaps with two of said flaps being spaced with respect to each other by a shorter flap, and each including a tug tab,

said mounting feet and tug tab portions of said base forming flaps interacting upon biasing to flat and reopening after positioning said inner walls and mounting feet in position to interlock by positioning one end of each of said mounting feet beneath a corresponding base forming flap at one end, thereby to automatically form an interlocked bottom,

and flap means for securing the fourth edge of the outer walls together in an enclosed perimeter completing a basket construction having an automatically interlocked bottom, outer walls, inner walls, a top edge portion, and means for footing the inner walls in interlocked relationship to the base forming flaps when biased to the flat and reopened.

2. In the basket of claim 1, said top portion being defined by a tapered panel thereby providing a space between the outer walls and inner walls.