US2160164A - Container - Google Patents

Description

May 30, 1939. F. D. PALMER ZJS CONTAINER Filed Sept. 22, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Il, '111)1111111'1111111 vvzo Y 52 .20 jg a y ibaiented May 30, 1939 gisant CONTAINER Frank D. Palmer, Chicago, Ill., assignor of onethird to Cranston Spray, Chicago, Ill.

Application September 22,4937, Serial No. 164,999

, 2 Claims.

The invention relates to containers and more particularly to closure fasteners for cardboard boxes and folded cartons or the like.

Much difficulty has been experienced with lid fastencrsheretofore provided for cardboard containers since the fastening members were either hard to bring into engagement, or difficult to release without injuring the container and rendering it practically worthless for further use. In addition to this, those fasteners which were designed to be easily released, frequently would become unfastened when the container was handlcd or carried, with the result that the contents of the container would be spilled or become contaminated.

Hence. one of the objects of the invention is to provide an improved fastener for the lids or closures of folded cartons or other containers.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fastening means for securing two flat elements together wherein the engagement between the 'members is an edgewise abutment distributing the strains over a considerable area.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fastening relationship between two flat elements which may be easily established, either by hand or by machine, and released without distortion and without undesirably aecting the internal strength and rigidity of the elements.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fastening means for two fiat members which is engaged in a single operation or released and separated in a single operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved container, characterized by novel lid fastening means, which is simple in construction and operation, effective in use and inexpensive to manufacture and assemble.

These being among the objects of the invention, other and further objects will become apparent from the drawings, the description relating thereto, and the appended claims.

Referring now to the drawings:

Fig. l is a top plan view of a blank cut from a sheet of cardboard and illustrating a preferred form of the invention.

Fig. 2 isan enlarged perspective of the blank shown in Fig. l when folded into the form of a container with the closure or lid left open.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view similar to that of Fig. 2 with the closure fastened shut.

Fig. 4 is a magnified side elevation of the fastener for said container.

Fig. 5 is a section taken upon the line 5-5 in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a section taken upon the line 6-6 of Fig. 4.

Referring now to the drawings in greater detail, a better understanding of thev invention will be had when it is observed generally, that one of the members to be fastened is provided with a headed tongue portion adapted for insertion through a cut in a second member and provided with diverging straight sides that slip into releasable engagement with mating shoulders provided on the second member by branches of the above cut when the members are brought into a predetermined relationship.

More particularly the headed tongue portion mentioned is cut from the flap portion l0 of the lid l2 which forms the top side of the container made of the blank shown in Fig. 1 when folded. The tongue is indicated by the numeral I4, and the diverging edges thereof by the numeral i6 throughout the several views. The cut in the other member comprises a rectilinear slot i8 having two branch slots that correspond in dimension and juxtaposition with those portions of the diverging edges I6 of the tongue which do not enter the slot i8.

With this short description of certain characteristics of the fastening means a better understanding of the invention will be had by turning now to a brief description of the container illustrated, the general construction of which comprises a. blank 24 cut to the form shown in Fig. l from a flat layer` of fibrous material `and ,crimped for folding along two sets of parallel lines, namely 26 and 28, which intersect each other at right angles. The crimping lines 26 and 28 define portions of the blank 24 which provide the several sides of the container when folded, which are hereinafter referred to and identified by their descriptive names. Those rectangular` portions disposed between the two parallel crimpedlines `28 form the front side 30, the bottom side 32, the back side 34, and the top side, or lid l2. kThose portions 38 of the blank 2t outside of the crimp lines 23 form the ends 44 of the container when folded to a vertical plane, i. e., a plane perpendicular to the sides, where the end portions are locked together by means of the catch tabs 40 engaging in the slit s2.

The ap I0 is integrally secured to the free edge of the lid l2 along the crimp line 36, and folded flaps t6 carried by one of the end members along the top edge thereof are adapted to support the free marginal edges of the lid i2 when it is shut. In this way, it will be observed that a container is provided with all edges comalready been described, the contour of the line of cut is such that the tongue I4 is similar to an hour glass in shape. This provides several structural characteristics of particular advantage. Firstly, the tongue I4 is adequately supported at the fold 36 over a` substantial distance thereof to minimize a tearing loose or a weakening of the tongue. Secondly, the wide portion at the base 68 isA continued out upon the tongue I4 a short distance to provide tips 48 which, when the lid I2 is closed, extend to points proximate to and above the tabs 22 for a purpose to be further discussed later. Thirdly, the free. end aii'ords a head 48 adapted to be inserted into the slot I8 and furnishes adequate support for the edges I6. Fourthly, it having already been indicated that the edges I6 are straight, the contour of the edges I6 permits the fastener strain to be distributed along the length of the abutment established between the edges I6 and the tabs 22, and iifthly, the character of diverging sides i@ accomplishes a self centering of the fastening relation. Otherwise the head 48 has its corners 52 rounded and is provided with a leading edge 54 which is approximately straight.

The slots I8 and 20, already mentioned, are cut in the front side of the container, with the slot I8 parallelto the upper edge 66 thereof, and suiiiciently close thereto to receive a goodly portion of the head 48 therethrough when the top or lid I2 is closed. The branch slots 28 intersect the slots I8 at points intermediate its ends and provide tabs 22 between the branch slot and the outer ends of the slot I8, and the overall length of the slot I8 is substantially greater than the width of the head 48 so that the insertion of the head therethrough is easily accomplished, either manually or otherwise.

In addition to this, the portions of the slot I8 which extend beyond the slots 28 provide a resiliency for the tabs 22. This resiliency permits the tabs to give readily out of their normal plane when the head 48 is inserted into the slot I8 to permit the ready passage of the head 48 therethrough until such time as the edges I6 pass below the slots 28, whereupon the tabs 22 resume their normal plane and spring into edge to edge abutment with the edges I6. Not only this, but the resiliency provided permits the tabs 22 to be depressed easily out of their normal plane to permit a release of the edges I8. Withy drawal of the tongue I4 from the slot I8 maythen be readily accomplished and the lid. I2 raised.

However, it should be noted that the resiliency present in the tabs 22 in no way affects the strength of their securement relative to the head 48. Whatever strains and stresses are brought to bear upon the head 48 to open it without depressing the tabs 22, are borne approximately upwardly and distributed throughout the body portion of the front side 30 without any localization of stress at any given point which might distort the associated members and weaken them,` or otherwise render them ineffective.

Consequently, it will be seen that the slot I8 in no way bears or sustains any fastening strains. It merely serves to guide and to preserve the lnterengagement of those partswhich are specially designed to bear such strains. In this way, it

and the strains are carried by portions designedto bear them.

Another yfeature of the invention resides in the fact that the fastener automatically sustains and strengthens its holding relationship under heavier strains. This will be appreciated when it is observed that the tabs 22 at the upper ends oi.' the slots 28 are integral and coplanar with the front side 30 of the container, and their lower sides are free from the olfsetting pressure the head portion 48 imposes upon other portions of the front side 80, including that immediately below the slot I6. Once the head 48 has passed the tabs 22, the tabs resume their natural position as already mentioned. The internal rigidity of the portion of the front side 30 immediately below the slot I8 will draw the head 48 slightly inwardly so that the tabs 22 and those portions of the front face 30 immediately therebelow and beyond.

the slot I8 will tend to assume a coplanar relationship.

Now, with the neck portion 58 of the tongue I4 against the outer face of the front side 3B, the head 48 disposed in back of the front side 30 and the lower portion of the tabs 22 approaching coplanar relationship with the front side 30, the tabs 22 will begin to engage the edges I6 from behind at a point adjacent the top of the slots 2B and from there extend across the edges I6 to a point somewhat in front of the edge I6 proximate the slot i8, as best shown in Fig. 6.

Then when heavy strains are brought to bear upon the parts which are engaged as described, the tongue I4 will have the tendency to straighten itself. But when it does, the tabs 22 are drawn farther forward toward a coplanar relationship with the front side 30 immediately below the slot I8 in such a way as to place the line of stress in the plane of the front side 30 and to create a further block to the removal of the head 48 from the slot I8.

A further object of the invention is obtained through the fact, as more particularly shown in Fig, 5, that the tongue I4 is offset appreciably upwardly relative to the flap I0 out of which it is cut, due to the fact that at the fold 36 the base is foreshortened-as it is bent or passes over the top edges 56 of the front face 30. This permits the edges 66 upon the ap I0 which are created by the head 48 being out therefrom, to drop below the slots 20 to serve as a Spanner between the edges I6 and tabs 22 whereby rearward movement of the head 48 is inhibited so that the edge to edge abutting relationship existing between the edges I6 and the tabs 22 is maintained at a maximum degree.

It will be observed that much of the downward pressure normally supported on the top I2 when the container is in use. is borne by the flaps 46 upon the end 44, so that with the iiap III inserted downwardly on the inside of the front face 80 and with the tongue I4 the only portion extending over the top of the edge 56, much of the weight strains borne by the top I2 will be supported exclusive of the contact between the base 60 of the tongue I4, and the top edge 56 of the front face 30.

In order to accentuate this freedom from weight for the tongue I4, and also to provide room for other than a sharp bending of the tongue I4 at 75 the fold 36, a notch $2 may be provided in the top edge "t of the front face 30 coextensive with the width of thesbase D of the tongue id.

In operation, when the lid i2 of the container is being closed, the flap i@ is inserted behind the front side 3G, and in front of the forward edges of the aps d6. The tongue Ml is kept on the outside of the front face 3@ and is inserted through the slot i8 to pass behind that portion of the front face 3@ immediately below the slot id. This iiexes the tabs 22 to permit the easy admission of the head d8 through the slot id, and when the head 438 has reached its lowermost extremity, the tabs 22 rebound to bring about the edge to edge abutting relationship between the edges 'it and tabs 22 already described. Thereafter, release of the head dd is accomplished by pressing the tabs 22 inwardly a slight degree sucient to release the edges i5 from their abutmentwith 'the edges 2@ and preferably simultaneously thumbing the tips d@ to raise the head 38 an appreciable distance past the slots 26. However, release of the head d8 may be also accomplished without thumbing the tips d@ if the contents of the container happen to be soft or yielding. In this event, opening of the container may be accomplished by heavily pressing upon the tabs 22 to create a camming or squeezing effect upon the flap i El where it is positioned behind the tabs 22. This will cause the flap i@ to move outwardly as carried by the lid i2 when the lid pivots about its fold line along one of the creases 26. In either case the fastening means is released in a single operation and thereafter the top i2 may be moved upwardly and opened free of any restraint.

This enables the container to be used time and time again without the fastening device becoming disrupted, distorted, or destroyed. The life of the container is thereby lengthened and its usefulness subsequently extended to carry sundry contents other than those initially placed therein.

Consequently, although the invention has been described in connection with a specic embodiment, the principles involved are susceptible ci numerous and other applications, and it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various and further uses, modifications and changes may be made without departing imm the spirit and substance of the invention, the scope of which is commensurate with the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a container of the class described having a top and a side wall, a headed tongue ced by sald top and provided with terminally diverging rectilinear sides, a portion of said wall bearing a slot substantially longer than the width of said head for receiving said head quite easily therethrough, and means having slots divergingly intersecting said slot intermediate its ends and having a contour mating with said edges for engaging said edges in abutting relationship for retaining said head in sald first slot against re`= moval therefrom.

2. A container of the class described, compris ing a side and a lid having a dan thereon, a tongue cut from said iiap and having a head portion with outwardly diverging edges, and a slotted keeper on said side having a dimensional. contour and dii/erging edges corresponding to said head over a portion thereof which includes said diverging edges, the slot in said keeper being substantially longer than said head is wide for receiving said head therethrough, said edges engaging each other in an abutting relation.

FRANK D. PALM.

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