US3262631A - Container provided with an access door - Google Patents

Description

y 1966 s. P. BELSINGER 3,262,631

CONTAINER PROVIDED WITH AN ACCESS DOOR Filed Oct. 23, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. Samuel P Belsinger ATTORIVEY July 26, 1966 s. P. BELSINGER 3,262,631

CONTAINER PROVIDED WITH AN ACCESS DOOR iled Oct. 23, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 Fig. 5

165 I INVENTOR.

Samuel P. Belsinger 112 BY /w dkk ATTORNEY y 6, 1966 s. P. BELSINGER 3,262,631

CONTAINER PROVIDED WITH AN ACCESS DOOR Filed Oct. 25, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR, Samuel P. Belsinger BY L- ATTORN Y July 26, 1966 s. P. BELSINGER 3,262,631

CONTAINER PROVIDED WITH AN ACCESS DOOR Filed Oct. 23, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. Samuel P! Belsmger ATTORNEY July 26, 1966 s. P. BELSINGER 3,262,631

CONTAINER PROVIDED WITH AN ACCESS DOOR 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Oct. 23, 1962 INVENTOR. Samuel P. Belsinger AT TORNEY United States Patent 3,262,631 CONTAINER PROVIDED WITH AN ACCESS DOOR Samuel P. Belsinger, 2637 Peachtree Road NE., Apt. 101-,

Atlanta, Ga. I Filed Oct. 23, 1962, Ser. No. 232,463 9 Claims. (Cl. 22937) This invention relates to a container and is more particularly concerned with a container provided with an access door and formed preferably of fibre board.

In the past I have devised a number of shipping containers having access doors wherebythe containers may be readily and easily packed and unpacked. The trade generally has accepted these and other access door containers; however, there still remains the problem of providing added strength to the container and reducing the cost and ease of packing and unpacking the containers. Any reduction in the floor space required for the packing and unpacking of such container is also a welcome advantage which reduces the cost of utilizing the containers.

With these problems in mind, I have devised a simple yet effective container which includes the usual rectangular cubed or squared fibre board box formed from a one piece rectangular blank, the box having side panels joined to form a tubular member which is closed or closeable by the end flaps which form the top and bottom of the box or container. The end of the panel of the container of the present invention includes an access door hingedly secured to the remaining portion of the panel. According to the present invention, the sides of the access door are spaced inwardly from their respective adjacent edges of the panel so that the common edges of all side panels which form right angles remain uncut. The container is, however, cut and scored in such a manner that the top flap remains connected to the access door to form a cooperating element which, when folded in its usual fashion to form a portion of the top of the container, retains the access door in a closed condition. The construction of the container of the present invention permits the manufacturers joint, i.e., the overlapping junction between the extreme panels, to be stitched or otherwise joined throughout its entire height.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the common score line or hinge line between the access door and its panel is approximately midway of the height of the container to permit the flap, carried by the access door, to perform the additional function of retaining the access door in an opened condition when the flap is inserted beneath the bottom of the container and maintained in that position by the weight of the container.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a container which is inexpensive to manufacture, durable in structure and efiicient in operation.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a container which is readily and easily packed and occupies only a relatively small amount of floor in its opened or closed condition.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a container having an access door therein and yet a container the strength of which is not materially impaired by the provision of such a door.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a container having an access door therein, the door being so arranged that when the container is to be taped for shipping, the tape may be readily, easily and quickly applied thereto, and will effectively. seal the container.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a container, the blank of Whichis more readily cut and scored in a sheet plant than prior art containers having access doors.

"ice

Another object of the present invention is to provide a container with an access door, the container requiring no appreciable adjusting or righting in order to be taped shut.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a container with an access door in which the weight of the container will retain the door in an opened condition for the packer, the container being capable of being moved from place to place with its access door held open and the access door being readily and easily released by a simple tilting operation.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a container with an access door, the inward movement of which is substantially arrested when the door has been closed to its properly closed condition.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a container which may be utilized for various purposes, such as a van line clothing shipper having a hanger bar installed therein for receiving articles of clothing or as a box for receiving cones of yarn.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a container with an access door wherein the danger of damage and deformation of the container due to shearing forceson the container is minimized commensurate with the necessity of providing the access door.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a container having an access door which when appropriately taped will provide a container which is substantially sealed from the ingress or dirt and other debris while, at the same time, providing a container in which, once the top has been opened, the door may be jerked open without the necessity of using a knife or other sharp instrument to sever the tape.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a container provided with an access door and constructed in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 1a is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of the container shown in FIG. 1, the access door assembly being provided with an additional score line.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the container shown in FIG. 1, the container being rotated slightly to show the access door in its held open position with the weight of the container resting on the top flap connected to the access door.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the upper portion of the container shown in FIG. 1, the access door therein being in its normally opened position and the top of the container being open.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a blank for producing the container shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of a second embodiment of the present invention, the container being depicted with its access door and its top partially open.

FIG. 6 is similar to FIG. 5 and shows a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIGS. 5- and 6 and shows a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 and shows a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary perspective view of a detail showing a corner of the container of FIG. 1 in which a portion of the cut forming the access door is left uncut.

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention having a double access door arrangement, one access door being constructed as the access door of FIG. 1 is constructed, and the other access door being constructed as the access door of FIG. 8 is constructed.

Referring now in detail to the embodiments chosen for the purpose of illustrating the present invention, it being understood that in its broader aspects the present invention is not limited to the exact details disclosed in the drawings, numerals 1t 11, 12 and 13 denote generally the four side panels of the fibre board blank of FIG. 4

and the assembled container of FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. More specifically, the numerals 10 and 11 denote the opposed side panels of the container while numeral 12 denotes the front panel and numeral 13 denotes the rear panel.

The panels are in side by side relationship, the panels 10 and 12 being joined by a common edge or score line 14, the panels 12 and 11 being joined by a common score line 15 and the panels 11 and 13 being joined by a common score line 16.

One of the outer panels 16 or 13, such as panel 13, is provided with the usual flange 17 along its outer edge, the flange 17 and panel 13 being joined along a common score line 18.

The panels 10, 11, 12 and 13 are each rectangular members provided with top and bottom flaps. Thus, panel 10 is provided with a top flap 19 and a bottom flap 26; panel 11 is provided with a top flap 21 and a bottom flap 22; panel 12 is provided with a top flap 23 and a bottom flap 24; and panel 13 is provided with a top flap 25 and a bottom flap 26.

The score lines or fold lines 14, 15, 16 and 18 are essentially parallel to each other and extend vertically or longitudinally of the blank and the container. The top flaps 19,21, 23 and 25 are separated from their respective panels 10, 11, 12 and 13 by horizontal or transverse score lines or fold lines 30, 31, 32, 33 and 34. In like manner, the bottom flaps 2t 22, 24 and 26 are separated from their respective panels by score lines or fold lines 35, 36, 37 and 38.

The flaps 19 and 23 are separated by a cut 49, the flaps 23 and 21 by a cut 41, the flaps 21 and 25 by a cut 42, the flaps and 24 by a cut 43, the flaps 24 and 22 by a cut 44, and the flaps 22 and 26 by a cut 45. The cuts 4% and 43 extend from opposite ends of score line 14; the cuts 41 and 44 extend from opposite ends of score lines 15 and'the cuts 42 and 45 extend from opposite ends of score line 16.

The one-piece rectangular blank of FIG. 4 thus far described is an essentially conventional structure which when formed for shipping from a sheet plant is folded along score line 15, the flange 17 being folded inwardly along score line 18 and being stitched or otherwise secured to the outer edge portion of panel 10. The box thus may be righted by being squared so that the outer panel 10 and the inner panel 11 are parallel and opposed and comprise the side panels of the tubular member while the inner panel 12 and outer panel 13 are likewise parallel and opposed and form the front and back panels of the tubular member. The tubular member thus formed is closed at its top by the folding of the opposed flaps 19 and 21 inwardly and then the folding of flaps 23 and inwardly thereover. It is closed at its bottom by the folding of flaps 20 and 22 inwardly and the folding of flaps 24 and 26 inwardly thereover. Tape (not shown) is usually employed for sealing the container in a closed condition.

According to the present invention an access door 50 is formed in the front panel 12. This access door is defined by a pair of straight parallel, vertical or longitudinal cuts 51 and 52. The cut 51 is spaced inwardly from and parallel to score line 14 and the cut 52 is spaced inwardly from and parallel to score line 15. The upper ends of cuts 51 and 52 terminate on score line 33 while the lower ends of cuts 51 and 52 terminate in the central portion of panel 12. A straight, horizontal or transverse score line or fold line 53 joins the lower ends of cuts 51 and 52.

If the functional advantage of providing a container with an access door which may be held open is desired, the score line 53 preferably should be essentially midway between score lines 33 and 37. In those instances where this functional advantage is not desired, the score line 53 may be appreciably above or below the medial plane of the container. In other Words, while it is highly desirable to provide the score line 53 at or near the medial plane of the container, i.e., substantially midway between score lines 33 and 37, the invention in its broader aspects is not limited to such a location for score line 53. However, by the use of the term along the medial plane or like terminology as appears hereinafter, I intend that the score line be so placed at or near the medial plane that the functional advantage mentioned in this paragraph be capable of being achieved.

It will be understood further that, by providing an additional score line or fold line 54 on the access door assembly parallel to score line 33 either on the flap 23 as shown in FIG. 1a or on the access door 50 thereof, the position of the score line 53 may be varied without losing the functional advantage. The determining factor, of course, is that the distance from score line 53 to score line 33 (or score line 54 if one is provided) be approximately equal to the height of the remaining sub-panel formed by that portion of panel 12 between the score line 53.

Along the score line 33, there are opposed cuts 55 and 56 which extend outwardly in alignment with each other, the cut 55 connecting the lower or inner end of cut 40 with the upper or outer end of cut 51 and the cut 56 connecting the lower or inner end of cut 41 with cut 52. Thus, the access-door assembly, i.e, the access door 50 and its flap 23, is free to pivot about score line 53.

With the access door 50 being formed in panel 12, the remaining portion of panel 12 includes a pair of spaced, parallel rectangular side flanges 63 and 64 connected by their outer sides to panels 10 and 11, respectively, along the score lines 14 and 15. These flanges 63 and 64 are connected at their lower ends to the subpanel 65 thereby formed by panel 12 below the access door 50. The flap 23 of panel 12 of course is now entirely connected to the access door 56.

When access door 51) is opened, the edges 58 and 59 as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 of the door 50 which were produced by these cuts 51 and 52 are seen. Likewise, the inner edges 61 and 62 of the flanges 63 and 64 are seen. and hence identified in FIGS. 2 and '3.

In like manner, cuts 55 and 56 of FIGS. 1 and 4 produce the top edges 66 and 67 of flanges 63 and 64 and also the shoulders 68 and 69 of flap 23, as seen in FIGS. 2 and 3.

From an examination of FIG. 9, it will be seen that, if desired, cuts for forming the access panel may be terminated a short distance from the cuts which separate the side panels and access door flat. In FIG. 9 is illustrated a container identical in every respect to the container of FIG. 1 except that the cut 51' in side panel, i.e., front panel 12, terminates slightly below the score line 33' to provide an uncut portion or junction member between the side panel 63' and the access door 50'. The cut 51 is nevertheless parallel to the common score line 14 between side panel 11 and the front panel 12'. The horizontal cut 55' terminates above the terminus of cut 51'.

While the structure of FIG. 9 is assembled and operated in a manner substantially identical with .the structure of FIG. 1, it will be understood that the uncut portion or junction member 90' serves to hold the access door 50' closed initially. When it is desired to open the door 50, the junction member is severed by a light pull outwardly on the access door 50'.

While I have not illustrated the other parallel cut (not shown) corresponding to cut 52 in FIG. 1, it will be understood that this cut, too, may be provided with an uncut portion or junction member similar to the member 90'.

. The second embodiment of the present invention, as illustrated in FIG. 5, includes substantially the identical structure as the device of the first embodiment. Therefore, the same elements appearing in the second embodiment will have the same number except that the numeral one will be placed in front of the numeral. The third embodiment will be characterized by the same numerals except that the numeral two will appear before the number, etc.

Second embodiment The second embodiment is formed from the same rectangular box including the same arrangements of side panels and bottom flaps (not shown) as in the first embodiment. As seen in FIG. 5, there are side panels 110, 111, 112 and 113, the side panels being connected to each other along score lines 114, 115 and 116 and their top flaps 119, 121, 123 and 125 along score lines 131, 132, 133 and 134. The access door 150 is cut in panel 112 and is hingedly secured along a transverse score line 153 to the remaining portion of the panel 112 while cuts identical to cuts 51 and 52 separate the access door 150 and the remaining portions of the panel 112, thereby providing opposed parallel edges 158 and 159 for the access door 150 and opposed edges 161 and 162 for the upright side flanges 163and 164 of the panel 112. Like the preceding embodiment, the side flanges 163 and 164 are provided with top edges 166 and 167 parallel to the score lines 131, 132 (and 133 when the container is closed), the side flanges 163 and 164 being connected at their lower ends to the subpanel 165 formed by panel 112.

The essential difference between the second embodiment and the first embodiment is that in place of the cuts 40 and 41 the score lines 14 and are continued to provide flaps 119 and 121 with score lines 140 and 141, while the cuts which form the door assembly are continued upwardly in a straight line to thereby produce'a pair of abutment flanges 170 and 171 on the edges of flaps 119 and 121, these flanges being separated from flaps 119 and 121 by the score lines 140 and 141. The lower edges 168 and 169 of flanges 170, 171 are produced by the horizontal cuts which produce upper edges 166 and 167 of the flanges 163 and 164.

It is therefore seen that the upper or top flap 1-23 is i now carried entirely by the access door 150 and that its outer edges 172 and 173 are parallel to and aligned respectively with edges 161 and 162 of access door 150.

When the container of FIG. 5 is closed, the flaps 119 and 121 are folded inwardly whereby the flanges 170 and 171 pass inwardly of the flanges 163 and 164, as illustrated in FIG. 5, so as to become essentially aligned with each other in a horizontal position as the flaps 119 and 121 become aligned in a common plane for closing the top of the box. Thereafter, the flaps 125 and 123 are folded over the flaps 119 and 121.

Third embodiment In FIG. 6 it will be seen that the third embodiment includes the side panels 210, 211, 212 and 213 and their flaps 219, 221, 223 and 225 connected to each other along score lines 231, 232, 233 and 234. The panels have the usual score lines 214, 215 and 216.

When cut to form the access door assembly, the panel 212 includes the two side flanges 263, 264 and the subpanel 265, asin the previous embodiment. Therefore, the inner parallel opposed edges 261 and 262 of the side flanges 263 and 264 abut the side edges 261 and 262 of the access door 250 when it is folded to its closed position along its score line or fold line 253.

According to the present embodiment, the cuts in the panel 212 (such as cuts 51 and 52 of the first embodiment) are continued into a portion of flap 223 to form side edges 272 and 273 which define a waist portion 274 in that portion of flap 223 adjacent score line 233. To complete the waist portion, the horizontal cuts (such as cuts 55 and 56 in the first embodiment) are made parallel to but above the score line 233 in the flap 223. Thus, shoulder edges 268 and 269 are formed in flap 223 and extend from the terminus of edges 272, 273 outwardly to the side edges of flap 223.

By so cutting the container of the third embodiment, the flanges 263 and 264 are respectively provided with short, essentially square or rectangular abutment tabs 270 and 271 which are joined along score lines 233', 233" which were originally the outer portions of score line 233.

When the container of the present embodiment is closed, the tabs 270 and 271 are folded inwardly so as to lie on top of the top flaps 219 and 221. Otherwise, the container is closed in the same manner as the preceding embodiments.

Fourth embodiment- In FIG. 7 is the fourth embodiment which, like the preceding embodiments, includes side panels 310, 311, 312 and 313; however, in the present embodiment, the blank is folded so as to form the tubular member with the panel 310 overlapping the flange 317 and access door 350 formed in the front panel 310. The flange 317 is secured to the outer edge portion of only the lower portion of subpanel 356 of'panel 310 by stitches 309. Hence, in this embodiment the upper portion of the flange 317 serves a double function of being an abutment flange (such as flange 171) and a strengthening flange (such as flange 62).

The access door 350 of the present embodiment is defined by a horizontal or transverse score line 353, the score line extending from the outer edgeof panel 310 across panel 310 to terminate in spaced relationship to score line 314. From this terminus, the cut forming the access door assembly extends upwardly throughout panel 310 and its flap 319. Thus, a straight contiguous cut forms the edges 358 and 372 of the access door 350 and the flap 319. The usual score line 331 forms a common edge for access door 350 and its flap 319.

Additional score lines 332, 333 and 334 form common edges between panels 311, 312, 313 and their respective flaps 321, 323 and 325.

In the present embodiment, the flange 317 continues beyond the upper edge of panel 313 and forms an abutment flange 371, the flanges 317 and 371 being separated by a transverse cut aligned with the score lines 331, 332, 333 and 334. Thus, a transverse upper edge 367 is provided on flange 317. The flange 371 is secured to flap 325 along a score line 341 and is adapted, when flap 325 is folded inwardly, to pass beneath flange 317.

It will be observed that the flange 363 formed in panel 310 is essentially the same width as flange 317 while its extension forms an abutment flange 37 i) which is secured to flap 323 by a score line 340. The two flanges 363 and 370 are separated by a transverse cut aligned with the score lines 331, 332, 333 and 334. The cut thus produces an upper edge 366 for the flange 363. The flange 370 is adapted to be folded inside flange 363.

Fifth embodiment and 461, while being similar to the cut for the access door 350, extends only to the score line 431 where a transverse cut outwardly forms the shoulder edge 469 of flap 419 and the upper edge 466 of the side flange 463. It will be understood that the flange 417, as in the previous embodiment, extends along flap 425 to provide an abutment flange 471 separated from flange 417 by a horizontal out which forms the upper edge 467 of flange 417.

Therefore, when flaps 423 and 425 are folded inwardly along their fold lines or score lines 433 and 434, only the flange 471 slides beneath its flange 417 since no corresponding flange is provided on the flap 423. To complete the folding closed, the flap 421 is folded inwardly along its fold line 432 and the access door assembly is closed against flange 417 and flap 419 is folded toward flap 421.

Double door embodiment Referring to FIG. 10, it will be seen that the container of FIG. 1 may be provided with an additional door diametrically opposed to the original access door. In FIG. 10, the container includes a hollow tubular member formed from a blank (not shown) in which there are inner panels 11a and 12a and outer panels a and 13a, corresponding respectively to panels 11, 12, 10 and 13 of the container of FIG. 1 except that there is a stitch tab or flange 17a connected along score line 18a to the outer edge of panel 10:: rather than to the panel 13a. Otherwise side panels 10a, 11a, 12a, 13a, the score lines 35a, 37a, 14a, 15a, 16a, 31a, 32a, 33a, 34a and 53a, the edges 61a, 62a, 58a and 59a, flaps 19a, 21a and 23a, and access door 50a are identical'with the corresponding parts of the container in FIG. 1.

To provide the second access door 5%, the panel 13a is cut' by a single vertical cut to provide a side flange 631) which corresponds to side flange 363, and an access door 50b which corresponds to the access door 350, the access door 5% being separated by a transverse score line or fold line 53b from the subpanel 65b in the same manner that access door 350 is separated from its subpanel 365' Stitches 9a correspond to stitches 309 while the flap a corresponds to flap 319, being joined along score line 34a to the access door 5012.

It will be observed that even with the two doors 50a and 50b, the four right angular vertical corners defined by the abutting panels 10a, 11a, 12a and 13a are preserved so that the container is not materially weakened.

By such a double door arrangement, two packers may have access simultaneously to the interior of the container, from opposite sides.

The container is closed by folding the access doors 50a and 50b to a position in a common plane with their respective subpanels so as to close both access openings. The flaps 19a and 21a constitute the lower flaps of the top while the flaps 23a and 25a when folded toward each other thereover form the upper flaps of the top. Suitable taping (not shown) seals the openings and cuts of the container when it is to be shipped.

Assembly The assembly of the present boxes or containers should now be obvious to those skilled in the art. When shipped from the factory in flat form, the panels are respectively folded along score lines 15, 115, 215, 315 and 415, and are stitched closed by stitches 9, 109, 209, 309 and 409 which respectively pass through the edge portions of panels 10, 110, 210, 310, 410 and through the stitch tabs or flanges, such as flanges 17, 317, 417. In the last two embodiments, it will be remembered that only the sub-panels 365 and 465 are secured to only the lower portion of the flanges 317 and 417 respectively.

To right, the panels of the containers are squared and the bottom flaps, such as flaps 20, 22, 24 and 26, folded inwardly and taped closed in the usual Way. This provides containers open at their tops and closed at their bottoms.

The access doors 50, 150, 250, 350 and 450 are then pulled outwardly whereby they pivot respectively outwardly and downwardly about their score lines or hinge lines 53, 153, 253, 353, 453 and are now open along their .upper portions fo It ady access by the packer.

To maintain the doors 50, 150, 250, 350, 450 open, the flaps 23, 123, 223, 319 and 419 are folded along their fold lines 33, 133, 233, 331, 431, so that flaps 23, 123, 223, 319, 419 may be respectively placed beneath the bottoms of their respective containers, such as shown for flap 23 in FIG. 2. In such a condition the containers are completely opened and occupy no additional packing space than normal would be occupied when in a closed condition.

After being packed, the containers are respectively closed by first being tilted rearwardly whereby the doors 50, 150, 250, 350, 450 respectively urge their flaps outwardly due to the resiliency of the fibre board along the score lines 53, 153, 253, 353, 453. Next the doors 50, 150, 251i, 350 and 450 are pivoted upwardly and urged into the same plane with their sub panels 65, 165, 265, 365, 465 and with their side flanges 63, 64, 163, 164, 263, 264, 363 and 463. In the last two embodiments it will be observed that the doors 350 and 450 respectively overlie the upper portions of flanges 317 and 417. The top is then closed by folding the flaps 19, 21, 119, 121, 219, 221, 323, 325 and 423, 425 inwardly toward each other until each opposed pair of flaps is-in a common transverse plane with their outer edges adjacent each other or abutting each other.

When folding flaps 119 and 121 toward each other, it is desirable that the abutment flanges and 171 be inside the side flanges 163, 164. Likewise, it is desirable that flanges 370 and 371 be within, i.e., beneath, flanges 363 and 317. Also it is desirable for the flange 471 to be within flange 417. This is not an absolute requirement, however, but is necessary in the event it is desired to have the doors 250, 350 and 450 close completely, i.e., flush with their respective panels.

Furthermore, when the top of the container illustrated in FIG. 6 is to be closed, the tab 270 and 271 should be folded above flaps 219 and 221 to form an abutment against the inadvertent inward movement of side flanges 263 and 264.

After folding of the inner or lower pairs of opposed flaps 19, 21, 119, 121, 219, 221, 323, 325, 423, 425, the outer or upper pairs of opposed flaps are folded toward each other, i.e., flaps 23, 25, 123, 125, 223, 225, 319, 321, 419, 421 are folded toward each other into respective common transverse planes across the lower or inner flaps.

Thereafter, tape is applied along the open seams to seal the containers. In other words, to seal the container of the first embodiment, tape is applied along cuts 51 and 52, across the seam between flaps 23 and 25, across the right angular abutment between the upper edges of panels 10 and 11 and the side edges of flaps 23 and 25 and across the cut 55 and 56 so as to extend between flap 23 and the upper end portions of side flanges 63 and 64.

The other embodiments are tapedin substantially the same manner, as will be obvious to those skilled in the art, and hence the taping of each embodiment is not described herein.

Since, in taping the doors 50, 150, 250 closed, tape is required only on a flat surface on either side of the cuts, such as cuts 51 and 52, it is an extremely simple matter to apply the tape and be assured of a tight seal along the doors. Nevertheless, such doors are readily opened without the manual removal of the tape or the cutting thereof by simply grasping the flaps 23, 123, 223 and pulling them outwardly, once the top has been opened. This saves an appreciable amount of time which-previously was required for cutting the tape of the prior art doors.

Furthermore, the containers of the present invention do not require the shifting of one surface with respect to another in order to bring them into proper alignment before the tape is applied. The right angular construction of each corner, i.e., the corners formed by score lines 14, 15, 16 and 17 (and the corresponding score extend transversely or horizontally with respect to the vertical or longitudinal corners adjacent the access door 250. In the second and fourth embodiments, the flanges 170, 171 and 370, as well as the flanges 317 and 417,

form abutments to limit the inward folding or movement of their respective doors.

By providing horizontally hinged doors which pivot along score lines 50, 150, 250, 350, 450, the panel having the access door is not materially weakened, nor do the doors tend to deform other portions of the containers when opened.

The containers of the present invention, because of their right angular corners which are not sacrificed by the provision of the doors, while providing the additional packing space needed within the reach of the average packer, essentially retain the strength characteristics of containers without such access doors. Thus, the containers of the present invention, when packed, may be stacked one on the other without appreciable danger of collapseof the container.

Furthermore the containers here disclosed are produced from single sheets of essentially rectangular fibre board and require no separate liner or top or other appendage which would add expense.

The blanks for the various embodiments may be manufactured on present day machinery of commerce and require only two special knives for the slotters to produce the offset cut of certain of the embodiments.

The containers may also be modified by the addition of a hanger bar, as taught in my previous patents, to serve the function of a wardrobe container or van line container.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that many variations may be made in the embodiments chosen for the purpose of illustrating the present invention without departing from the scope thereof as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A substantially rigid, generally rectangular, fiber board shipping container provided with a substantially rigid, generally rectangular, pivotally movable access door including, pairs of opposed side panels at least one of said side panels including spaced longitudinally extending cuts, inwardly spaced from the sides of said panel, extending from parallel points intermediate the top and bottom of said panel to the top of said panel and a transverse score line joining the lower endsof said cuts, said cuts and score line defining an integral access door pivotally movable, on said score line Within the confines of said panel to and from the plane of said panel.

2. The shipping container as defined by claim 1 in which the access door includes an integral extension beyond the top edge of the panel from which it is formed said extension constituting a foldable flap.

3. The shipping container as defined in claim 2 in which the foldable flap extends laterally beyond the sides of the access door to constitute a flap width equal to the full width of the side panel.

4. A substantially rigid, generally rectangular shipping container formed from a single blank of cut and scored fiber board and provided with a substantially rigid, generally rectangular pivotally movable access door including integral front, back and side panels defined by inter-' mediate foldable score lines, at least one of said panels including parallel spaced longitudinally extending cuts, inwardly spaced from the sides of said panel to define equal rectangular side flanges and, extending from parallel points intermediate the top and bottom of said panel to the top of said panel and a transverse score line joining the lower ends of said cuts, said cuts and score line defining an integral access door between said side flanges pivotally movable on said score line to and from the plane of said panel.

5. The shipping container'as defined in claim 4 in which two panels are provided with access doors in the manner set forth.

6. The shipping container as defined in claim 5 in which the two panels are on opposite sides of the container and each of said access doors includes an integral foldable flap extending beyond the top edge of its panel, each flap extending laterally beyond the sides of its access door to constitute a width equal to the full width of its panel.

7. The shipping container as defined in claim 4 in which the score lines define four consecutive parallel panels, two of which are end panels and two of which are intermediate panels and in which an access door, as described, is formed in one of the end panels.

8. The shipping container as defined in claim 4 in which the score lines define four consecutive parallel panels, two of which are end panels and two of which are intermediate panels and in which the access door is formed in one of the intermediate panels and in which an access door, as described, is formed in one of the end panels.

9. The shipping container as defined in claim 4 in which the score lines define four consecutive parallel panels, two of which are end panels and two of which are intermediate panels and in which the access door is formed in one of the intermediate panels and in which each panel includes an inwardly foldable lower flap interengageable to form the bottom closure for the container and in which each panel, not including an access door, is provided with an inwardly foldable upper flap and in which each access door is formed with an inwardly foldable extension equal in width to the total width of its panel, and in which an access door, as described, is formed in one of the end panels.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,139,026 9/1912 Carter 229-39 1,223,232 4/1917 Ash 229-37 1,626,381 4/1927 Batts 206-7 1,926,299 11/1932 Monk 206-45 2,131,391 9/ 193 8 Schralfenberger 22951 2,648,486 8/1953 Belsinger 229--23 2,758,775 4/ 1956 Moore 229-51 2,974,779 3/ 1961 Belsinger 2067 3,026,996 3/ 1962 Belsinger 206-7 3,035,688 5/1962 Field et al. 206--7 3,099,3 81 7/1963 Meyers 22937 FOREIGN PATENTS 351,496 8/1937 Italy. 105,469 9/ 1942 Sweden.

JOSEPH R. LECLAIR, Primary Examiner.

FRANKLIN T. GARRETT, Examiner.

I. L. KRUTER, D. T. MOORHEAD,

Assistant Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. A SUBSTANTIALLY RIGID, GENERALLY RECTANGULAR, FIBER BOARD SHIPPING CONTAINER PROVIDED WITH A SUBSTANTIALLY RIGID, GENERALLY RECTANGULAR, PIVOTALLY MOVABLE ACCESS DOOR INCLUDING, PAIRS OF OPPOSED SIDE PANELS AT LEAST ONE OF SAID SIDE PANELS INCLUDING SPACED LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING CUTS, INWARDLY SPACED FROM THE SIDES OF SAID PANEL, EXTENDING FROM PARALLEL POINTS INTERMEDIATE THE TOP AND BOTTOM OF SAID PANEL TO THE TOP OF SAID PANEL AND A TRANSVERSE SCORE LINE JOINING THE LOWER ENDS OF SAID CUTS, SAID CUTS AND SCORE LINE DEFINING AN INTEGRAL ACCESS DOOR PIVOTALLY MOVABLE, ON SAID SCORE LINE WITHIN THE CONFINES OF SAID PANEL TO AND FROM THE PLANE OF SAID PANEL.

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