Self-erecting box

Abstract

A self-erecting box is constructed from a cardboard blank and includes two side walls and two end walls hingedly connected along their vertical edges, side bottom members and side top members hingedly connected to the side walls, and end bottom members and end top members hingedly connected to the end walls. One end bottom member is adhesively secured to the underside of one of the side bottom members to form a first right angle bottom unit and the other side bottom member is adhesively secured to the underside of the other end bottom member to form a second right angle bottom unit. The first and second right angle bottom units are movable between a collapsed configuration and an erected configuration to form the bottom panel of the box. Each of the end top members includes a central top panel-forming member and side flaps which are hingedly connected thereto so that the central top panel-forming members may be folded into overlapping engagement with each other to form the top panel of the box and the side flaps are simultaneously folded into engagement with the respective side top members to maintain the box in its erected configuration.

Description

The present invention relates generally to self-erecting boxes and, in particular, to a self-erecting box which may be automatically erected from a flat configuration by simply applying a slight lateral force to the sides of the box and which may be easily closed by applying a slight inward force to the top panel-forming members.

Today, in many commercial establishments, when an item is purchased it must be quickly packaged in a suitable box so that the purchaser may easily and conveniently carry and transport the purchased item. Accordingly, such commercial establishments are in need of boxes which may be stored in a collapsed configuration to minimize storage space requirements but which may be easily and quickly erected from such a collapsed configuration into an erected configuration in which the box is usable to transport and carry the purchased item. Although collapsible boxes have been generally known and used in the past, they have not been completely satisfactory. More particularly, when it is desired to erect the box from its collapsed configuration, various time-consuming operational steps must be performed by the packager to form the side walls and top and bottom panels of the box. Typically, the bottom panel-forming members are provided with interlocking tabs or flaps which must be manually connected by the packager to form the bottom panel. In addition, the bottom panels of such prior art boxes are not arranged to maintain the box in an erect configuration while the top of the box is open and is being loaded with the purchased item. Further, such prior art boxes are not constructed to provide a secure top panel which may be easily formed and closed to securely maintain the purchased item within the box. For example, it is desirable to use such collapsible boxes in commercial establishments which sell small pet animals. However, such prior art boxes do not have secure bottom panels which maintain the box in an open and erect configuration while it is being loaded and they also do not have secure top panels which may be quickly closed to maintain the pet animal within the box without the possibility of the animal opening the top panel.

Accordingly, it is an overall object of the present invention to provide a self-erecting box which realizes one or more of the aforesaid objectives. In its collapsed configuration, the box may be economically transported and stored in a minimum of space yet may be automatically erected when ready for use. In its commercial form, the box is of relatively simple construction, is readily manufactured by mass production techniques at relatively low cost and includes a number of simple and relatively indestructible components.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide such a self-erecting box which may be formed from a single cardboard blank and which is automatically erected from its collapsed configuration by applying a slight lateral force to the side walls of the box so that the bottom panel-forming members are automatically pivoted relative to each other into overlapping engagement to form a secure bottom panel.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a self-erecting box in which the bottom panel maintains the box in its erected configuration while the box is being loaded through the top thereof and wherein the top panel of the box may be easily and quickly closed by simply applying a slight inward force to the top panel-forming members.

In accordance with an illustrative embodiment demonstrating objects and features of the present invention, there is provided a self-erecting box which is constructed to be automatically erected from a collapsed configuration in which it is transported and stored to an erected configuration in which it is usable to transport various items, such as small pet animals. The pet box is constructed from a cardboard blank and includes two side walls and two end walls hingedly connected along their vertical edges by vertical score lines with one of the side walls being provided with a glue flap for adhesively connecting the side wall to an end wall to form a box-like configuration. The side walls are also hingedly connected along their bottom edges by horizontal score lines to respective side bottom members and the end walls are hingedly connected along their bottom edges by horizontal score lines to respective end bottom members. To assemble the cardboard blank so that it is self-erecting, one end bottom member is adhesively secured to the underside of one of the side bottom members to form a first right angle bottom unit and the other side bottom member is adhesively secured to the underside of the other end bottom member to form a second right angle bottom unit. Advantageously, the first and second right angle bottom units are each provided with suitable fold lines so that when the box is collapsed into a flat configuration, the first and second right angle bottom units are automatically folded inwardly into coplanar engagement with the interior of the respective side walls and end walls of the box.

The side walls are also hingedly connected along their top edges by horizontal score lines to side top members which each include a base portion and a handle-forming member and, similarly, the end walls are also hingedly connected along their top edges by horizontal score lines to end top members which each include a central top panel-forming member and side flaps hingedly connected thereto. In addition, each side flap is hingedly connected to a side top member along a diagonal fold line. Accordingly, after the box has been automatically erected and the article to be transported has been placed therein, a slight inward force is applied to the central top panel-forming members so that they are folded downwardly into overlapping engagement with each other to form a secure top panel. Simultaneously, the side flaps are folded about their respective score lines into coplanar engagement with the respective base portions of the side top members. Advantageously, with the side flaps in coplanar engagement with the base portions of the side top members, the box is maintained in its erected configuration and it cannot be accidentally collapsed without lifting the top panel-forming members. In order to prevent the top panel-forming members from pivoting upwardly and in order to provide a convenient carrying handle, the handle-forming members are brought into coplanar engagement with each other. In this manner, the top panel-forming members are locked in place and cannot be accidentally pivoted upwardly, such as by the movement of the pet animal within the box .

The above description as well as further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more fully understood by reference to the following detailed description of the presently preferred, but nonetheless illustrative embodiment in accordance with the present invention, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the cardboard blank of the present invention in its completely extended configuration before assembly;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the formation of the two right angle bottom units of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the manner in which the right angle bottom units are folded inwardly into coplanar engagement with the respective side walls and end walls so that the box of the present invention may be collapsed into a flat configuration;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the self-erecting box of the present invention in its collapsed configuration;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating the right angle bottom units in an intermediate folding configuration;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the self-erecting box of the present invention with the side walls, end walls and bottom panel thereto completely formed and erected;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the box of the present invention in its erected configuration prior to closing the top thereof;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the box of the present invention in its erected configuration illustrating the first step in closing the top thereof;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view, with parts broken away to show the interior of the box, illustrating the two top panel-forming members in overlapping engagement with each other to form the top panel of the box; and

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the box of the present invention in its erected configuration with the top panel thereof closed and illustrating the formation of the carrying handle.

Referring now specifically to the drawings and in particular to FIG. 1, there is shown a cardboard blank 10 embodying features of the present invention which may be formed in any suitable manner, such as by die stamping. Cardboard blank 10 includes side walls 12, 14 and end walls 16, 18 which are hingedly connected along their vertical edges by vertical score lines 20, 22 and 24. In addition, side wall 12 is provided with a glue flap 28 along a vertical score line 26 for adhesively connecting side wall 12 to end wall 18 to form a box-like configuration, as will be explained. As may be seen in FIG. 1, glue flap 28 is provided with dash lines to indicate that the adhesive is placed on the other side of glue flap 28.

Side walls 12, 14 are hingedly connected along their bottom edges by horizontal score lines 30, 32 to respective side bottom members 34, 36. Side bottom member 34 includes a scored fold line 34a and a flap 34b for a purpose to be explained and, as may be seen in FIG. 1, side bottom member 34 is of a length slightly less than that of side wall 12. In addition, side bottom member 34 is of a width corresponding to the widths of end walls 16, 18 and thereby covers the entire bottom of the box in its erected configuration, as will be explained. Side bottom member 36 includes an attaching glue flap 36a and the dotted representation in FIG. 1 indicates that the glue or adhesive is on the side of bottom member 36 which is shown. End walls 16, 18 are hingedly connected along their bottom edges by horizontal score lines 38, 40 to respective end bottom members 42, 44. End bottom member 42 includes an attaching glue flap 42a and end bottom member 44 is provided with a scored fold line 44a and a flap 44b for a purpose to be explained.

Side walls 12, 14 are hingedly connected along their top edges by horizontal score lines 46, 48 to respective side top members 50, 52 which include respective base portions 50a, 52a and handle forming members 50b, 52b. End walls 16, 18 are hingedly connected along their top edges by horizontal score lines 54, 56 to respective end top members 58, 60. End top member 58 includes a central top panel-forming member 58a and side flaps 58b, 58c hingedly connected to central top panel-forming member 58a along respective score lines 58d, 58e. In addition, side flap 58b is hingedly connected to the base portion 50a of side top member 50 along a diagonal score line 62 and, correspondingly, side flap 58c is hingedly connected to the base portion 52a of side top member 52 along a diagonal score line 64. Similarly, end top member 60 includes a central top panel-forming member 60a and side flaps 60b, 60c. Side flap 60b is also provided with a glue flap 66 along a score line 60d so that side flap 60b may be adhesively connected to central top panel-forming member 60a to complete the formation of end top member 60. Correspondingly, side flap 60c is hingedly connected to central top panel-forming member 60a along a score line 60e. In addition, side flap 60b is hingedly connected to the base portion 50a of side top member 50 along a diagonal score line 68 and, correspondingly, side flap 60c is hingedly connected to the base portion 52a of side top member 52 along a diagonal score line 70.

Turning now to FIGS. 2 and 6, the constructional details of forming the bottom panel of the box of the present invention are clearly illustrated. More particularly, as shown in FIG. 2, end bottom member 42 is connected to side bottom member 34 to form a right-angle shaped bottom unit 72 therewith by adhesively securing attaching glue flap 42a to the underside of one end of side bottom member 34. Similarly, side bottom member 36 is connected to end bottom member 44 by adhesively securing attaching glue flap 36a to the underside of end bottom member 44 to form a right-angle shaped bottom unit 74 therewith.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 6, to assemble the box of the present invention so that it is self-erecting, end wall 18 and central top panel-forming member 60a are folded and brought into engagement with respective glue flaps 28, 66 so that end wall 18 and central top panel-forming member 60a may be adhesively secured to respective side wall 12 and side flap 60b to form a box-like configuration. Simultaneously, right angle bottom unit 74 is brought into coplanar engagement with the underside of right angle bottom unit 72 to complete the formation of the bottom panel of the box. Accordingly, it should be clear that when side walls 12, 14 are at right angles to respective end walls 16, 18, right angle bottom units 72, 74 are forced into a flat and overlapping configuration at right angles to side walls 12, 14 and end walls 16, 18 to complete the formation of a flat bottom panel of the box of the present invention.

Turning now to FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, the manner in which the assembled box is collapsed into the flat configuration shown in FIG. 4 in which it is transported and stored until it is ready for use is most clearly shown. As shown in FIG. 5, when a slight lateral force is applied to side walls 12, 14 and end walls 18, 16 to bring them into the coplanar relationship shown in FIG. 4, right angle bottom units 72, 74 are automatically drawn inwardly utilizing fold lines 34a and 44a. More particularly, as shown most clearly in FIG. 3, flap 34b is folded into coplanar engagement with side bottom member 34 along fold line 34a. Similarly, flap 44b is folded into coplanar engagement with end bottom member 44 along fold line 44a. This allows right angle bottom unit 72 to be drawn inwardly into coplanar engagement with side wall 12 and end wall 16 and also allows right angle bottom unit 74 to be drawn inwardly into coplanar engagement with side wall 14 and end wall 18. In this manner, as shown in FIG. 4, side wall 12 and end wall 16 are brought into coplanar engagement with side wall 14 and end wall 18 so that the box is collapsed into its flattened configuration so that it may be easily transported and stored until it is ready for use.

Typically, the box of the present invention is stored at its point of use in the flattened configuration shown in FIG. 4 so that it will occupy a minimum of space. Advantageously, when the box is ready for use, it may be easily and quickly erected from its collapsed configuration shown in FIG. 4 to its erected configuration shown in FIG. 10 in which it is usable to transport various items, such as small pet animals. More particularly, to erect the box from the collapsed configuration shown in FIG. 4, a slight lateral force is applied to each end of the collapsed box along opposed vertical hinge lines 22, 26. This will cause the box to automatically assume the erected configuration shown in FIG. 7 in which side walls 12, 14 and end walls 16, 18 are at right angles with each other, and right angle bottom units 72, 74 will overlap and form a secure flat bottom panel with side bottom member 34 extending the complete length and width of the bottom of the box at its interior (see FIG. 9). As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, to form the top panel and close the top of the box after it has been loaded with the item to be transported, it is only necessary to apply a slight inward force to central top panel-forming members 58a, 60a. When this occurs, central top panel-forming member 60a will be moved inwardly and downwardly into a parallel relationship with the bottom panel of the box, while side flaps 60b, 60c will fold along respective score lines 60d, 60e and diagonal score lines 68, 70 into coplanar engagement with the respective base portions 50a, 52a of respective upstanding side top members 50, 52, as shown in FIG. 9. Similarly, when a slight inward force is applied to central top panel-forming member 58a, it will move inwardly and downwardly into overlapping engagement with central top panel-forming member 60a to form a secure top panel while side flaps 58b, 58 c will fold about respective score lines 58d, 58e and diagonal score lines 62, 64 so that side flaps 58b, 58c are brought into coplanar engagement with the respective base portions 50a, 52a of respective upstanding side top members 50, 52. Advantageously, as shown in FIG. 9, with side flaps 58b, 60b in engagement with the base portion 50a of side top member 50 and with side flaps 58c, 60c in engagement with the base portion 52a of side top member 52, the box is maintained in its erected configuration and cannot be collapsed accidentally unless end top members 58, 60 are lifted upwardly.

To insure that the top panel of the box, formed by central top panel-forming members 58a, 60a, is secure and cannot be accidentally lifted upwardly to open the top of the box and to form a carrying handle, handle-forming members 50b, 52b are brought into engagement with each other and flap 52c is extended through hole 50c to form a carrying handle 76, as shown in FIG. 10. Accordingly, the self-erecting box of the present invention is now ready to be conveniently carried by the user to transport any article or pet animal contained therein.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that there has been provided in accordance with the present invention a self-erecting box formed from a single cardboard blank which may be automatically erected from its collapsed configuration. Advantageously, when the side and end walls of the box are erected, the right angle bottom units are automatically pivoted or swung into overlapping engagement to form a secure bottom panel. Further, the inner side bottom member is formed to extend the complete width and length of the bottom of the box so as to provide a solid, flat, one-piece floor on the interior of the box. In addition, once the box is erected and the bottom panel is formed, the top of the box is maintained in an open configuration so that the object to be carried may be easily and conveniently loaded within the box. Further, when the side flaps of the top members are closed they function to maintain the box in its erected configuration and to insure that the box cannot be accidentally collapsed. Finally, the engagement of the handle-forming members, in addition to forming a handle, act as a lock to insure that the top panel cannot be accidentally lifted upwardly.

A latitude of modification, change and substitution is intended in the foregoing disclosure, and in certain instances, some features of the invention will be used without a corresponding use of other features. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A box adapted to be erected from a collapsed configuration to an erected configuration comprising hingedly connected side and end walls, side bottom members hingedly connected to respective side walls, said side bottom members dimensioned to overlap each other, and end bottom members hingedly connected to said respective end walls, means for connecting said side bottom members and said end bottom members to form overlapping bottom panel-forming units which are movable relative to each other between a collapsed configuration in which said bottom panel-forming units are in substantially coplanar engagement with said side walls and said end walls and an erected configuration in which said overlapping bottom panel-forming units are substantially perpendicular to said side walls and said end walls and form a bottom panel, having one side bottom member overlapping the other, side top members hingedly connected to said respective end walls, each of said end top members including a central top panel-forming member and side flaps hingedly connected thereto, said central top panel-forming members adapted to be folded into coacting relation to form a top panel and said side flaps adapted to maintain said top panel in position to securely close the top of said box.

2. A box according to claim 1 wherein said side top members each include a base portion and a handle-forming member so that in the erected configuration of said box, said side flaps are adapted to engage said base portions and said handle-forming members are adapted to engage each other to form a carrying handle.

3. A box according to claim 1 wherein each of said bottom panel-forming units are provided with a fold line so that said bottom panel-forming units are movable into substantially coplanar engagement with said side walls and said end walls when said box is in its collapsed configuration.

4. A box according to claim 1 wherein one of said overlapping side bottom members extends substantially the full length and width of the bottom of the box in its erected configuration.

5. A box according to claim 1 wherein said central top panel-forming members are of substantially the same width as said end walls and wherein said side flaps are hingedly connected to said side top members along diagonal fold lines.

6. A self-erecting box comprising hingedly connected side and end walls, opposed overlapping side bottom members hingedly connected to said respective side walls, opposed end bottom members hingedly connected to said respective end walls, means for connecting one side bottom member to one end bottom member to form a first right-angle bottom unit and means for connecting the other side bottom member to the other end bottom member to form a second right-angle bottom unit, said first and second right-angle bottom units being movable into overlapping engagement to form a secure bottom panel for the erected box, opposed side top members hingedly connected to said respective side walls, opposed end top members hingedly connected to said respective end walls, each of said end top members including a central top panel-forming member and side flaps, said side flaps being hingedly connected to said central top panel-forming member and to said side top members along diagonal score lines, said central top panel-forming members being adapted to be folded to overlap each other to form a secure top panel when said box is in its erected configuration and said side flaps being adapted to engage said side top members to maintain said box in its erected configuration.