U.S. patent number 3,868,054 [Application Number 05/343,605] was granted by the patent office on 1975-02-25 for container.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Dolco Packaging Corporation. Invention is credited to Wayne Congleton.
United States Patent |
3,868,054 |
Congleton |
February 25, 1975 |
Container
Abstract
An improved container, particularly useful for containing
plants, seeds, or seedlings in soil for shipment, is formed of a
member which when unassembled is in a generally planar
configuration. A plurality of hinge lines formed in the member
enable the member to be folded into a configuration having
generally a U-shaped cross-section and divide the member into a
plurality of predetermined compartments. The container, which can
be stacked when unassembled due to the planar configuration,
contains a plurality of tab members integrally formed with one of
the edges of the container. The free end of the tab is formed with
a protuberance for abutting the outer side of the other free edge
of the container for assembling the container in the generally
U-shaped cross-sectional configuration.
Inventors: |
Congleton; Wayne (Whittier,
CA) |
Assignee: |
Dolco Packaging Corporation
(Burbank, CA)
|
Family
ID: |
26956296 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/343,605 |
Filed: |
March 21, 1973 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
|
273558 |
Jul 20, 1972 |
3834609 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/521.1;
206/423 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D
85/52 (20130101); A01G 9/0295 (20180201); A01G
2009/003 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A01G
9/10 (20060101); B65D 85/52 (20060101); B65d
001/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;229/2.5,14C ;217/26.5
;206/423,521,523 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: McCarthy; Edward J.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Nilsson, Robbins, Bissell, Dalgarn
& Berliner
Parent Case Text
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a continuation in part of U.S. Pat.
application No. 273,558, filed July 20, 1972, now U.S. Pat. No.
3,834,609, having a common assignee as the present application.
Claims
I claim:
1. An improved container assembly, comprising:
a member which when unassembled is in a generally planar
configuration and has first and second side edges;
a plurality of hinge lines formed in said member each along the
axis of said container from said first side edge to said second
side edge for enabling said member to be folded into a
predetermined shape and for dividing the member into a first
section, a second section and a central section, said central
section interconnecting said first and second sections;
each of said section being formed with a plurality of hollow ribs
formed by indentations therein spaced inwardly from the side edges
and spaced one from another along the axis of said container, said
ribs interacting when said member is folded along said hinge lines
so as to form a structure of generally U-shaped cross-sectional
configuration having a pair of free edges spacced one from the
other which define the ends of said U-shaped configuration, and to
divide said container into a plurality of discrete compartments;
said
a tab member having a first end integrally formed with one of said
edges and a free end adapted to be positioned adjacent the other of
said edges for retaining said assembly in said U-shaped
cross-sectional configuration.
2. A container assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein said
center section has a plurality of openings extending
therethrough.
3. A container assembly in accordance with claim 2 wherein said
center section is plurally indented to provide a plurality of
externally depending spacer buttons, the exterior surfaces of said
center section spacer buttons providing a resting surface for
enabliing said center section to be spaced from a surface upon
which said center section rests.
4. A container assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein at least
one of said first and second sections is indented to provide spacer
buttons extending outwardly from its outer surface, said spacer
buttons being provided to abut an adjacent container of like
construction.
5. A container assembly in accordance with claim 4 wherein the
other of said first and second sections is indented to provide
spacer buttons extending outwardly from its outer surface and
wherein said free end of said tab member overhangs said other of
said edges and each of said spacer buttons extend outwardly at
least one half the outward extent of said overhang.
6. A container assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein the
interior surfaces of said side sections contain ridges for
retaining material placed in said container assembly.
7. A container assembly in accordance with claim 2 wherein said
side sections are positioned at an acute angle with respect to said
center section when said container is assembled.
8. A container assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein said
container assembly is made of an integrally formed member of
expanded polystyrene sheet material.
9. A container assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein the
length of said tab is greater than the distance between said free
edges of said container assembly when in assembled
configuration.
10. A container assembly in accordance with claim 8 wherein the
length of said tab is greater than the distance between said free
edges of said container assembly when in assembled
configuration.
11. An improved container assembly, comprising:
a member which when unassembled is in a generally planar
configuration and has first and second side edges;
a plurality of hinge lines formed in said member each along the
axis of said container from said first side edge to said second
side edge for enabling said member to be folded into a
predetermined shape and for dividing the member into a first
section, a second section and a central section, said central
section interconnecting said first and second sections; and
each of said sections being formed with a plurality of hollow ribs
formed by indentations therein spaced inwardly from said side edges
and spaced one from another along the axis of said container, said
ribs interacting when said member is folded along said hinge lines
so as to form a structure of generally U-shaped cross-sectional
configuration having a pair of free edges spaced one from the other
which define the ends of said U-shaped configuration, and to divide
said container into a plurality of discrete compartments;
said center section being plurally indented to provide a plurality
of externally depending spacer buttons and having a plurality of
openings extending therethrough, the exterior surfaces of said
center section spacer buttons providing a resting surface for
enabling said center section to be spaced from a surface upon which
said center section rests.
12. A container assembly formed of a member which when unassembled
is in a generally planar configuration and when assembled folds
into a packaging device, said container assembly including a
plurality of hinge lines formed in said member for enabling said
member to be folded into a predetermined shape and for dividing
said member into a first section, a second section and a central
section interconnecting said first and second sections, each of
said sections being formed with a plurality of indentations spaced
one from another along the axis of said container, said
indentations being formed in planes generally perpendicular to the
axis of said container, all of said plural indentations in said
first and second sections having top edge surfaces in a single
plane, when assembled, and beveled inner end surfaces, opposing
ones of said top edge surfaces abutting each other along their
entire lengths, and said inner end surfaces abutting said central
section indentations so as to form a generally U-shaped structure
and to divide said container into a plurality of discreet
completely enclosed compartments when said member is folded along
said hinge lines.
13. An improved container assembly, comprising:
a member which when unassembled is in a generally planar
configuration and has first and second side edges;
a plurality of hinge lines formed in said member each along the
axis of said container from said first side edge to said second
side edge for enabling said member to be folded into a
predetermined shape and for dividing the member into a first
section, a second section and a central section, said central
section interconnecting said first and second sections; and
each of said sections being formed with a plurality of hollow ribs
formed by indentations therein spaced inwardly from said side edges
and spaced one from another along the axis of said container, said
ribs interacting when said member is folded along said hinge lines
so as to form a structure of generally U-shaped cross-sectional
configuration having a pair of free edges spaced one from the other
which define the ends of said U-shaped configuration, and to divide
said container into a plurality of discrete compartments;
said center section being plurally indented to provide a plurality
of externally depending spacer buttons, the exterior surfaces of
said center section spacer buttons providing a resting surface for
enabling said center section to be spaced from a surface upon which
said center section rests.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The field of art to which the invention pertains includes container
assemblies.
In the shipping of small plants, seedlings and soil packed seeds,
it is common to use individuaal containers therefor with attendant
costs and handling disadvantages. In the aforementioned patent
application, a container assembly is disclosed, which, when
unassembled, is of a generally planar configuration, enabling a
plurality of the assemblies to be stacked when unassembled. When
the sections of the assembly are folded, the indentations in
adjacent sections are positioned so as to divide the container into
a plurality of discrete compartments. It has been found, however,
that the side walls of the container which are of generally
U-shaped crosssectional configuration tend to return to their
original planar configuration. Therefore, it has been necessary to
secure the side walls to the center section by use of adhesive
which is pre-coated onto the container assembly. Alternatively, a
string or other securing device must be utilized to secure the
sides together. In addition, when positioning a plurality of
assembled containers together, it may be necessary to provide some
mechanism for spacing the adjacent sides of the containers from
each other so as to provide gripping access to individual container
assemblies.
The present invention provides a container assembly which can be
stacked flat in a generally planar configuration and stored with a
minimum of space. In addition, when the container is assembled for
use, the receptacle can be locked so as to retain its assembled
structural form and provide a superior shipping container. The
container is particularly suitable for containing plants, seeds,
seedlings or the like, packed in soil for shipment.
Specifically, the container assembly is formed of a member, which,
when unassembled, has a generally planar configuration when stored,
and which assembles into a generally U-shaped cross-sectional
configuration. The container assembly is divided into a plurality
of predetermined compartments by internal hollow ribs formed by
indentations in the opposite surface of the walls thereof, which
ribs interact when the member is folded. Tab members are integrally
formed with, and extend from, at spaced locations along, one of the
free edges of the container. The free end of each tab is formed
with a protuberance for abutting the outer side of the other free
edge of the container, thereby retaining the assembly in a U-shaped
cross-sectional configuration. Recesses are provided in said other
free edge keyed to the tab protuberances.
Advantageously, the container is formed of sheets of substantially
uniform thickness expanded polystyrene. The springiness of the
polystyrene operates in cooperation with the tab retaining
mechanism to provide a simple but secure locking function.
Button spacers are provided on the side walls to space laterally
adjacent containers of like construction from each other a
sufficient distance to accommodate the tab protuberances. A
breather hole is provided in the bottom wall of each compartment
for drainage, and spacer buttons are disposed thereabout to space
the container from the floor of any support and prevent stagnation
of soil water.
The advantages of the invention, both as to its construction and
mode of operation, will be readily appreciated as the same becomes
better understood by reference to the following detailed
description when considered in connection with the accompanying
drawings, in which like reference numerals designate like parts
throughout the figures.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a top partial perspective view of a portion of one of the
containers in unassembled form;
FIG. 2 is a bottom partial perspective view of the container of
FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the container of FIG. 1 taken
along the line 3--3 of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the container of FIG. 1 shown
assembled;
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the assembled container of FIG.
4 taken along the line 5--5 thereof; and
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the container of
FIG. 4 illustrating a plurality of assembled adjacent containers of
like construction.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the drawings, only a portion of a complete container is
illustrated, for simplicity of drawing. Any desired number of
compartments can be provided in each container, a typical
configuration containing ten compartments.
Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a container 12 in
unassembled form made in accordance with the principles of the
invention. The container 12 is formed from sheets of substantially
uniform thickness expanded polystyrene and is formed with a
plurality of indentations (resulting in hollow protuberances on the
opposite side) which allow stacking of a plurality of the container
assemblies in unassembled form. The container comprises a central
section 14 which is interconnected by hinge lines 16 and 18 to a
first side section 22 and a second side section 24,
respectively.
The polystyrene sheet is indented to form a plurality of
protuberances 26 into the interior of the container spaced along
the longitudinal axis of the central section. The protuberances 26
are of generally H-shaped configuration when viewed from the top of
FIG. 1, due to recesses 28 and 32 formed therein. The recesses 28
and 32 are formed on opposite sides of a central peak 34 which is a
plane parallel to the axis of the central section. The recesses 28
and 32 are of generally trapezoidal shape with the wide base of the
trapezoid being adjacent the hinge lines 16 and 18, respectively.
Also spaced along the center line of the axis of the central
section 14 are openings 36 one each of which is spaced between
adjacent protuberances 26. The openings 36 are each positioned in
the center of a bottom section 38 defining the bottom surface of
each of the container compartments.
Referring now to FIG. 2, the bottom surface 42 of each of the
bottom sections 38 is formed with a plurality of spacer buttons 44
in quadrature array around the openings 36. The buttons 44 enable
the assembled container to be raised from a surface upon which it
is mounted or positioned, as will be explained hereinafter.
The first side section 22 and the second side section 24 which join
the central section 14 at the hinge lines 16 and 18, respectively,
are mirror images of each other on their interior surfaces 46 and
48, respectively. A free edge 52 of the first side section 22 is
integrally formed with a plurality of tab members 54 spaced
therealong. The exterior surfaces of the first and second side
sections 22 and 24 are identical, with keyways 58, for the tab
protuberances, additionally formed adjacent the free edge 62 of the
second side section 24.
A plurality of generally trapezoidally shaped hollow ribs 64,
defined by tapered surfaces 66, are formed adjacent the hinge line
16 or 18 and are transversely spaced along the interior surfaces of
the first and second side sections in planes parallel to central
protuberances 26. The tapered shape of each rib 64 is such that
when the container assembly is folded in the manner illustrated in
FIGS. 4 and 5, and a close fit with the recesses 28 or 32,
respectively, of the center section protuberances 26 is formed. The
tapered side surface 68 of each rib 64 adjacent the free edges 52
and 62 of the side sections 22 and 24, respectively, is formed with
a medially spaced, upwardly facing shoulder 72. The crest 74 of
each rib 64 tapers slightly from its proximal end 66 toward its
distal end 68 so that when the container assembly is folded as
illustrated in FIG. 5, opposed crests 74 of each of the ribs 64
will but each other and fold slightly inwardly at an acute angle
respective the bottom, base section 38.
Retaining ridges 92 and 94, respectively, are formed along the axis
of the first and second side sections on the interior surfaces
thereof and are illustrated as being positioned between adjacent
ribs 64. While only two ridges 92 and 94 are shown, it should be
understood that one only, or more, could be used or the ridges
could be eliminated completely, depending upon the type of material
to be packed into the compartments of the container assembly.
Indentations 96 forming side buttons on the exterior side sections
are positioned between the ridges 92 and 94. As illustrated in FIG.
6, the side buttons 96 on one assembly are juxtaposed with
corresponding buttons on an adjacent container assembly, thereby
separating the exterior side walls of adjacent containers of like
construction.
Referring again to FIGS. 1 and 2, the tab members 54 are spaced
along the edge 52 of the first side section 22 adjacent alternate
ribs 64 along the axis of the container. However, it should be
understood that a tab member could be positioned adjacent each rib
or, alternatively, fewer tab members could be utilized.
The tabl members 54 are of generally planar configuration and are
folded with respect to a free edge 52 of the first side section 22
along a hinge line 102. The opposite edges of each tab member is
formed concavely to provide a reduced width central portion 104
which is interconnected to an enlarged width portion 106, secured
at the hinge line 102, and an enlarged width portion 108 which
forms the distal end of the tab 54. The distal end of each tab 54
is formed with a rounded, elongated, hollow protuberance 112 which
faces toward the interior of the container when assembled and which
is adapted to be positioned in the keyway 58 formed on the exterior
free edge 62 of the second side section 24. Normally, the tab
protuberance 112 has a length slightly greater than the width of
the trapezoidal rib 64 and the keyway 58 and the tab protuberance
112 are formed with gradually curving surfaces to provide smooth
and easy mating thereof.
A depression 114 of generally trapezoidal configuration, is formed
on the interior surface of the proximal end of the tab member 54
adjacent the hinge line, so that when the tab member is secured, as
shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, sufficient room is provided for enabling
the portion of the tab 54 to form a close fit with the distal end
of the rib 64.
The length of each tab 54, from its joinder at its proximal end to
the inner surface of its protuberance 112, is somewhat less than
the width of the base 38 of the container. Such configuration
serves to lock the tabs in place against the springiness of the
abutting hollow ribs and the natural tendency of the expanded
polystyrene sheet material to spring apart along its fold lines.
The foregoing characteristics, along with the aforenoted acute
angle formed by the side walls and base, afford a locking function
which is simple yet highly effective.
The container assembly of FIGS. 1 through 6 can be used to ship
seedlings or other types of fragile goods. After the goods have
been packed in the container, and the tab members 54 are in an
upright position as shown in FIG. 4, a mechanical arm can be
utilized to automatically lower the tabs so that they secure the
assembly together. When the container is packed with soil, the
openings 36 allow air circulation facilitated by the bottom spacer
buttons, thereby preventing the accumulation of stagnant water
pools. In addition, when the soil in which the seedlings are packed
expands due to addition of water, the ridges 92 anad 94 serve to
retain the soil in the container, should the container be somehow
upset. It will be appreciated that a shipping container has been
provided which is much more economical than containers heretofore
used.
* * * * *