US3338504A - Box with fully telescoped hinged cover - Google Patents

Description

Aug 29, 1967 A. HY KOSSOFF ET AL 3,338,504

BOX WITH FULLY TELESCOPED HINGED COVER` Filed Oct. 22, 1965 United States Patent tilice 3,338,504 Patented Aug. 29, 1967 3,338,504 BOX WITH FULLY TELESCOPED HINGED COVER Arnold H. Kossoff and Irwin I. Kossod, both of 67 Metropolitan Ave., Brooklyn, N.Y. 11211 Filed Oct. 22, 1965, Ser. No. 500,683 1 Claim. (Cl. 229-33) This invention relates to boxes formed of corrugated paper or the like, and in particular, to a box structure wherein a fully telescoped hinged cover is provided thus combining advantages of a set-up type box with the unique advantages derived from the use of diecut unusual -geometric shapes found in folding box structures.

Set-up boxes are manufactured and supplied in finished form, ready for use, and are to be distinguished from other types of packaging containers, such, for example, as the knock-down or collapsible box commonly used by department stores for packaging small articles of clothing or by bakeries and similar establishments for packaging lightweight articles for delivery. The knock-down box is commonly supplied in collapsed form, and is erected to form a box structure by the vendor at the time of sale.

Set-up boxes are also to be distinguished from the type of container known in the trade as a wrapper, folder or folding box. A wrapper or the like is generally used for covering articles of rectangular or parallelopipedal configuration, and is assembled in situ around the article to be packaged, to form an outer covering of box-like appearance.

Set-up boxes, on the other hand, are used for storage, display, mailing and shipping, in applications where the container is required to be ready for use and must provide sufcient structural strength to withstand handling and stacking, while protecting the contents thereof.

In a set-up box, it is desirable that the tray, or receptacle portion, be adapted to nest within the cover, so that the cover portion can be removed by lifting it off, as is customary when using a conventional two-piece box such as a candy box or the like. It is also desirable, however, to provide a one-piece box, in which the cover is integrally connected to the tray or receptacle portion. Such a onepiece construction provides economies in manufacture and convenience in use, because the cover is permanently associated with the tray, and it is unnecessary to keep track of two separate items.

It is also desirable, in such a box, to provide a construction which can easily be closed and reopened, but which when closed will tend to remain closed without requiring the use of locking tabs or the like, or the application of external means such as locking tabs, rubber bands, adhesive tapes, or the like.

Another desirable feature in a box of the type described is that it be so constructed as to be capable of bearing loads and/ or impacts, as are experienced in normal stacking, mailing and shipping, without deformation. This requirement, in turn, generally requires the use of a fairly strong material of construction, such as heavy cardboard, boxboard, or corrugated paperboard. Such materials have appreciable thickness, and cannot be treated as essentially two-dimensional materials, as is the common practice when making boxes of thin cardboard or the like, such as is commonly used for folding boxes and the like.

In conventional set-up boxes, it is common practice to provide a tray or receptacle portion and a cover of construction similar to that of the tray, the tray and the cover having one wall in common, which serves as a hinge and as a connecting member to hold the cover portion in proper position with respect to the tray portion. In some of the conventional boxes, the cover portion is relatively shallow relative to the tray portion. In boxes of this type,

the strength of the box under vertical compressive stress is essentially the compressive strength of the three side- Walls of the tray portion and the fourth, or common, wall which serves as the hinge. When stacked too high or subjected to the Weight of heavy objects, such boxes tend to squash down in a random manner, depending on incidental minor variations in strength among the walls of the tray portion and the hinge member. In known types of set-up boxes, the hinged cover portion cannot completely telescope over the tray since there is no provision for the requisite swing of the cover at the rear base. Furthermore, in known boxes, vertical compressive stresses are borne, on the sides and front of the box, partly by the walls of the tray and partly by the walls of the cover. At the rear of the box, however, the stress is supported only by the single thickness of the common wall constituting the hinge portion. In such boxes, therefore, the rear or hinge portion of the box constitutes a relatively weak portion, and the box tends to collapse, when vertically compressed, preferentially at the rear thereof.

When a box of the latter type is made from material of substantial thickness, such as corrugated paperboard, for example, and the sidewalls and front wall of the cover are made the same height as the sidewalls and front wall of the tray, the upper edges of the tray walls bear against the inner surface of the top of the cover, and elevate the lower edges of the Walls of the cover slightly above the level of the supporting surface on which the tray rests. Under such conditions, under vertical compression, the box tends to collapse randomly at iirst, until the bottoms of the cover walls rest on the supporting surface, after which the box tends to collapse preferentially at the rear or hinge portion.

An object of this invention, therefore, is to provide an improved set-up box, wherein double Wall strength is provided along the four sides of the box.

Another object is to provide an improved blank for a set-up box, the type indicated based on diecutting of an unusual geometric shape.

Still another object is to provide a set-up box of the type indicated and a blank therefore, wherein an integral hinge portion connects a tray or receptacle portion thereof with a cover for said tray portion and a fully telescoped cover is provided.

A further object is to provide a set-up box and blank therefor, said set-up box being easily closed and reopened, but havin-gr the characteristic of tending when closed to remain in the closed condition without requiring external closure means or special features such as locking tabs or the like.

Yet another object is to provide a set-up box and blank therefor, said blank being made of a material having substantial thickness and of such configuration as to provide a set-up box characterized by a tray having vertical walls and a cover therefor also having vertical walls, said walls being substantially coextensive in a vertical direction when said box is in closed condition, such that both said walls of said tray and said walls of said cover participate in supporting a vertical compressive load applied to said box.

Another object is to provide a set-up box and blank therefor, said box having a tray and a cover therefor, said tray and said cover having a common vertical wall serving as a hinge member, provided with reinforcing means to strengthen said box in the region of said hinge member against vertical compressive stresses.

A feature of the invention is the provision of a box having a tray comprising a Hoor, a front wall and at least two side walls, said front wall and said side walls being of substantially equal height above said oor.

Another feature is the provision of a box having a tray and a cover there-for, said cover comprising a ceiling, a front wall and at least two side walls, said front wall and said side walls depending generally vertically from said ceiling and being of substantially equal Vertical height, measured from said ceiling.

Another feature is the provision of a box having a tray comprising a floor, a front wall and at least two side walls, a cover comprising a ceiling, a front wall and two side walls, and a hinge portion connecting a rear margin of said cover with a rear margin of said floor, said tray being of a size to nest closely within said cover.

According to another feature, the y,blank is cut and scored to provide extensions of the cover side Walls which extensions are adapted to be folded inwardly against the interior of the hinge portion forming reinforcing flaps therefor.

According to still another feature, the reinforcing flaps are provided with parallel marignal edges spaced apart -a distance substantially equal to the interior height of said hinge portion, and adapted, when said box is in closed condition, to bear simultaneously against the floor of the tray and the ceiling of the cover adjacent the interior face of the hinge.

According to another feature, the blank is scored to provide a cover having a dimension, measured from the inside front of said cover to the inside of said hinge, exceeding the corresponding dimension of said floor by an amount approximating the thickness of the material of the blank.

According to still another feature, the blank is scored to porvide a cover with a ceiling having a width, measured between the inner faces of the sidewalls, exceeding the corresponding width of the floor of the tray by an amount approximating twice the thickness of the material of the blank.

Another feature of the invention resides in the fact that the margins of the blank corresponding to the edges of the cover side walls are spaced from the cover side wall score lines by an amount exceeding the corresponding dimension of the tray side walls by approximately the thickness of the material of the blank.

According to still another feature, the edge of the blank corresponding to the front wall of the cover is spaced from the cover front wall score line by an amount exceeding the corresponding dimension of the tray by approximately the thickness of the material of the blank.

Another feature of the invention lies in the provision of a tray side flap having an upper marginal portion, in the assembled and closed condition of the box, having appreciable resilience under compression and having a length substantially equal to the front-to-rear interior dimension of the box, measured from the interior face of the tray fr ont wall to the interior face of the hinge reinforcing flap.

According to yet 4another feature of the invention, the tray side flaps, below said upper marginal portion, are provided on the ends thereof nearest the hinge with camming surfaces adapted to facilitate closure of the box by guiding the hinge reinforcing aps into position parallel with and contacting the interior of the hinge as the box is closed.

A further feature resides in the construction whereby the ends of the hinge members are defined by a pair of cuts constituting extensions of the cover side flap score lines, each tray side flap score line is offset inwardly from the corresponding cover side flap score line and hinge end cut by a distance approximating the thickness of the blank material, and the inner margins of the hinge reinforcing flaps are defined by cuts coinciding with the hinge end cuts and extending therebeyond obliquely inwardly for a short distance sufficient to intersect the tray side wall score marks.

Other objects, features and advantages will become apparent from the folowing more complete description and claim, and the accompanying drawings.

In one particularly desirable embodiment, this invention contemplates a HYBRID box comprising in combination a tray member, a cover member and a hinge member, said tray member comprising a iioor, a front Wall and two side walls, said hinge member being integrally connected to a rear marginal edge of said floor, said cover member comprising a ceiling, a front wall and two side walls, said hinge member being inetgrally connected to a rear marginal edge of said ceiling, said ceiling havng a width exceeding the width of said floor by approximately twice the thickness of the material of the box and a dimension measured from the inside face of said cover front wall to the inside face of said hinge exceeding the corresponding dimension of said iioor by approximately the thickness of the material of said box.

In another particularly desirable aspect, this invention contemplates a blank for a HYBRID box consisting of a sheet of material appropriately cut and scored to define the following elements: a hinge member defined by a pair of parallel end edges, a hinge-cover score line perpendicular to said end edges, and a hinge-tray score line parallel with said hinge-cover score line; a rectangular cover ceiling defined by said hinge-cover score line, a cover-front score line parallel thereto, and a pair of cover-side score line constituting extensions of said hinge-end edges; a rectangular cover front defined by said cover-front score line, an edge parallel thereto, and a pair of side edges constituting extensions of said cover-side score lines; a pair of rectangular cover sides, each of said sides being deiined by one of said cover-side score lines, an edge parallel thereto and spaced therefrom a distance substantially equal to the distance between said cover-front score line and said cover-front edge parallel thereto, an end edge constituting an extension of said cover-front score line, and a ap score line parallel with said end edge; a pair of flaps, each of said iiaps being joined to one of said cover sides along said flap score line, each of said flaps being defined by said flap score line, an inner edge perpendicular to said flap score line, an outer edge parallel with said inner edge, and a distal edge connecting said outer edge with said inner edge; a rectangular tray floor connected to said hinge member along said hinge-tray score line and dened by said hinge-tray score line, a tray-front score line parallel thereto, and a pair of tray-side score lines perpendicular to said hinge-tray score line; a rectangular tray front connected to said tray floor along said trayfront score line, said tray front being defined by said trayfront score linean edge parellel thereto, and a pair of end edges constituting extensions of said tray-side score lines; a pair of tray sides, each of said tray sides being connected to said tray iioor along one of said tray-side score lines and defined by said tray-side score line, an edge parallel with said tray-side score line and spaced therefrom by an amount equal to the spacing between said trayfront score line and said tray front edge parallel thereto, and a third edge connecting said tray-side score line with said tray side edge parallel thereto.

Referring now to the iigures:

FIGURE 1 is a plan View of a blank according to the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view showing the blank of FIGURE 1 partially set up to form a box according to the invention;

l FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary view on an enlarged scale taken on the line 3 3 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view similar to FIGURE 2, showing a further stage in the setting up of the blank to form a box;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view showing the box ready to be closed:

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale taken along line 6 6 of FIGURE 5; and

FIGURE 7 is a cross-section similar to FIGURE 6, showing the box in closed condition.

Referring now more particularly to FIGURE 1, the box blank of this invention comprises a hinge member 10 defined by a pair of parallel end edges 12, a hinge-cover score line 14 and a hinge-tray score line 16. Connected to hinge member along hinge-cover score line 14 is the ceiling portion 18 of the cover. Ceiling 18 is defined by a hinge-cover score line 14, cover-front score line 20, and cover-side score lines 22. It will be noted that cover-side score lines 22 constitute extensions of hinge end edges 12.

Connected to cover ceiling 18 along cover-front score line 20 is cover front 24. Cover front 24 is defined by cover-front score line 20, edge 26 parallel thereto (edge 26 preferably being interrupted by finger indentation 28), and side edges 30. It will be noted that side edges 30 constitute extensions of cover-side score lines 22.

Connected to the sides of cover ceiling 18 along coverside score 22 are a pair of cover sides 32. Each of cover sides 32 is defined by one of cover-side score lines 22, an edge 34 parallel to and spaced from score line 22, -an end edge 36, and a flap score line 38. It will be noted that ap score lines 38 are parallel with end edges 36 and are not extensions of hinge-cover score line 14, but rather are offset therefrom toward the cover front by a small increment, corresponding approximately to the thickness of the material from which the blank is made.

Connected to cover sides 32 along ap score lines 38 are a pair of flaps 40. Each of aps 40 is -deined by a flap score line 38, an inner flap edge 42 which is perpendicular to flap score line 38 and, in the embodiment illustrated, abuts hinge end edge 12, an outer edge 44 parallel with inner edge 42, and a distal edge 46 connecting inner edge 42 with outer edge 44. With respect to the flaps it should be noted that outer edge 44 is not an extension of cover side edge 34, but is offset inwardly therefrom by an amount approximating the thickness of the blank material. Also, that the flaps are not rectangular, by reason, by reason of the illustrated deviations from rectangularity at distal edge 46 and the lower end of inner edge 42. These deviations are not required for the functioning of the aps, which might equally well be rectangular, but rather are caused by requirements relating to the tray floor -and the tray sides, more fully discussed below.

Tray iioor 48 is connected to hinge 10 along hingetray score line 16, and is defined by score line 16, a pair of tray-side score lines 50, tray-front score line 52, and two short oblique edges 54 at the upper ends of trayside score lines 50. Tray-side score lines 50 are perpendicular to hinge-tray score line 54. They are not extensions of hing end edges 12, but are offset inwardly therefrom on each side by a distance approximating noted above, is smaller by approximately the thickness of the blank material, than the distance between edge 26 and score line 20, or between edge 34 and score line 22.

FIGURE 2 illustrates the blank after it has been partially set up to form a box. Cover front 24 `and cover sides 32 have been folded upwardly at substantially right angles to the plane of cover ceiling 18, and their ends have been united to form right-angled dihedral corners by the application of corner binders 70. In addition, flaps 40 have been folded inwardly to lie substantially along hingecover score line 14. Sides 32 and front 24, being of equal width as measured from their respective score lines, fold up to form a three-walled structure of uniform wall height. Flap 40, forming the fourth wall, rise to a slightly lesser elevation because of the inward offset of edges 44 with respect to edges 34 (see FIGURE 1). The reduced height of flaps 40 is shown more clearly in FIG- URE 3.

FIGURE 4 shows a later stage in the formation of the set-up box from the blank. In the condition shown in FIGURE 4, tray sides 56 and tray front 64 have been folded upwardly to planes substantially perpendicular to the plane of tray floor 48 and held in place with corner binders 70. Because edge 66 of the tray front and edges 58 of the tray sides lare substantially equidistant from their respective score lines, the resulting three-walled structure is of substantially uniform height throughout. It will be recalled that the spacing of these latter three edges from their respective score lines is less than that of edges 34 and 26 from their respective score lines, whence it follows that the three-sided tray structure just described is lower by one thickness of box-blank material than the cover structure comprising edges 34 and 26.

FIGURE 5 illustrates the condition of the box as it is starting to be closed. It will be noted that, because score lines 50 are inwardly offset from score lines 22, the rear edges 62 of tray sides 56 will normally tend to enter the interior of the cover, closely parallel with the interior faces of cover sides 32. In so doing, they confine flaps 40 between tray side rear edges 62 and hinge 10. As the box is closed, camming segments 62b bear against edges 42 of the flaps, forcing the flaps toward the inner face of hinge 10. Finally, as the box reaches the fully closed condition (FIGURE 7), `straight-line segment 62a of rear edge 62 of tray side 56 comes to bear against flap 40, pressing it into position flush against the inner face of hinge 10.

It will be noted that, because of the relative dimensions of the parts as above specified, the assembled box in closed condition (FIGURE 7) is characterized by a configuration in which the front wall 64 of the tray rests snugly ush with the inner face of cover front 24, and is held thereby by the compressive force of tray sides 56, which is connected at its forward edge to tray front 64 and bears rearwardly, via straight-line segment 62a against ap 40, which in turn rests against hinge 10. The box can be brought from an open to a closed condition, and reopened, Without deformation. In normal use of the box according to the invention, cam action allows for the swing of the cover and a pressure tit is obtained through close tolerance of the diecut offset portions. It is only necessary to apply a moderate force either to open the box or to close it, and the box of the invention opens and closes with a characteristic snap reminiscent of much more complicated and expensive boxes such as jewelry boxes equipped with spring-loaded catches and the like. For the same reasons, the box, when closed, tends to remain4 closed until intentionally opened, greatly reducing the Adanger of spillage of the contents, etc. While this invention has been described with reference to a certain preferred embodiment, and illustrated by way vof certain drawings, these are illustrative only, as many alternatives and equivalents will readily occur to those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit or proper scope of the invention. The invention is therefore not to be construed as limited, except as set forth in the appended claim.

We claim:

A set-up box comprising in combination a tray member, a cover member and a hinge member, said tray member comprising a floor, a front wall and two side walls said hinge member being connected to a rear marginal edge of said licor, said cover member comprising a ceiling, a front wall and two side walls, said hinge member being integrally connected to a. rear marginal edge of said ceiling, said sidewalls of said cover being provided with extensions which extensions are adapted to be folded inwardly against the interior of said hinge member forming reinforcing aps therefor, with the result that double wall strength is provided along the four sides of said box, said -ceiling having a width exceeding the width of said door by approximately twice the thickness of the material of said box and a dimension measured from the inside face of said cover front wall to the inside face of said hinge exceeding the corresponding dimension of said floor by approximately the thickness of the material of said box, and said tray side walls being provided at the ends thereof nearest said hinge with camming edges adapted to urge said aps into flush contact with said hinge.

(References on following page) References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Spare 229-33 Stopper 229-33 Goldstein 229-33 Boitel 229-33 XR Schabes 229-33 8 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,046,528 12/1958 Germany.

JOSEPH R. LECLAIR, Primary Examiner. 5 GEORGE o. RALSTON, Examiner.

D. F. NORTON, Assistant Examiner.

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