US3895712A

US3895712A - Protective container

Info

Publication number: US3895712A
Application number: US502046A
Authority: US
Inventors: William G Sieffert
Original assignee: Hoerner Waldorf Corp
Current assignee: Stone Container Corp; Hoerner Waldorf Corp
Priority date: 1974-08-30
Filing date: 1974-08-30
Publication date: 1975-07-22
Anticipated expiration: 1992-07-22

Abstract

A protective cell configuration, container incorporating same, and blank for making same formed from foldable sheetlike material such as corrugated paperboard or the like wherein a conventional wrap-around carton has a bottom panel with sections and flaps at each end which are rolled inward before folding to form a generally tubular protective cell at each end of the carton. The sections include a geometric pattern of folds and cuts which cause the parts thereof to fold into an arrangement of angled planes thereby increasing the end crush characteristics of the carton.

Description

United. States" Patent r 191 Sieffert PROTECTIVE CONTAINER [75] lnventorz" William G. Sieffert, Joliet, Ill.

[73] Assignees Hoerner Waldorf Corporation, St.

Paul, Minn.

[22} Filed: Aug. 30, 1974 [2]] Appl. No.: 502,046

[52] U.S. Cl 206/424; 229/40; 229/34 HW;

[51] Int. Cl. B65D 5/02; B65D 85/30 [58] Field of Search 229/34 HW, 4O, 14 C;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,664,573 5/1972 Partain et al. 206/424 3,666,168 5/1972 Partain 6i. al. 206/424 3,820,708 6/1974 Sieffert 206/424 [4 1 July 22, 1975 3.820.709 6/l974 Sieffert 206/424 Primary ExaminerWilliam I. Price Assistant ExaminerDouglas B. Farrow Attorney, Agent, or FirmJerry F, Best; Robert M.

Dunning [57] ABSTRACT A protective cell configuration, container incorporating same, and blank for making same formed from foldable sheetlike material such as corrugated paperboard or the like wherein a conventional wrap-around carton has a bottom panel with sections and flaps at eacli end which are rolled inward before folding to form a generally tubular protective cell at each end of the'carton. The sections include a geometric pattern of folds and cuts which cause the parts thereof to fold into' an arrangement of angled planes thereby increasing the end crush characteristics of the carton.

18 Claims, 13 Drawing Figures 1 PROTECTIVE CONTAINER.

I BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION l. Field of the Invention This invention relates generally to folding boxes of the wraparound style which have incorporated in the ends thereof folding protective cells.

2. Description of the Prior Art Past designs in this area have been directed primarily at book cartons, since the edges of books require protection during shipment. For simplicity and economy it is desired that a design incorporate a one-piece blank, yet a design of superior strength is also needed, particularily for larger, more costly books. In the past, there have been designs such as shown in US. Pat. Nos. 3,399,821 and 3,668,168, in which some solid geometric formation was incorporated in a wraparound end closure system, the angled portions thereof contacting the end of the book or other article. Some designs, such as thos in US. Pat. No. 3,666,168 also have an overwrap utilizing end closure flaps from other panels.

I SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A simple one piece die-cut blank configuration for making a protective cell from foldable sheetlike material which features a section of cuts and score lines in a pattern which, when folded into a generally tube-like configuration assume an ordered, non-parallel angular planar relationship by virtue of the non-parallel hinge lines in the direction of the folding movement. Also a protective cell wall flap provides a solid surface against the article to be protected. This entire cell structure may be incorporated in one panel of a carton having overlapping end closure structures to enclose the cell structure and hold the article tightly in position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a plan view of a blank adapted to be erected into a carton embodying the invention disclosed herein;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a portion of the blank shown in FIG. 1 with the protective cell structure folded into position;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the cell structure shown in FIG. 2',

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of section of the structure shown in FIG. 2 taken along section line 4-4;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a blank adapted to be erected into a carton embodying an alternative form of the invention disclosed herein;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a portion of the blank shown in FIG. 5 with the protective cell structure folded into position;

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the cell structure shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a side elevation view of a section of the structure shown in FIG. 6 taken along section line 88;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a completely folded carton made from either the blank shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 5 or FIG. 10.

FIG. 10 is a plan view of a blank adapted to be erected into a carton embodying yet another alternative'form of the invention disclosed herein;

FIG. 1 I is a perspective view ofa portion of the blank shown in FIG. 10 with the protective cell structure folded intoposition;

FIG. 12 is a plan view of the cell structure shown in FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a side elevation view of a section of the structure shown in FIG. 11 taken along section line 13l3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The blanks and cartons shown in the drawings have particular application to shipping books or the like, but it should be understood that the protective cell structure may be used in other circumstances as well because of its superior strength.

As seen in FIG. 1, a carton blank typically includes a generally rectangular sheet of foldable corrugated pa perboard or other similar sheet-like material having opposed top. bottom, and lateral edges. A bottom panel 10, a top panel 12, a side panel 11 therebetween, and a second side panel 13 are defined by parallel fold lines arranged parallel to the lateral edges of the sheet and designated 15, 16 and 17. A fourth fold line 18 is used to attach a glue flap 19, which may be located at either lateral edge.

The bottom or base panel 10 has attached at each end thereof rectangular flaps which'serve as protective cell wall flaps shown as 20 and 21. These flaps are used to forLrn a flush inner protective wall against the ends of the article to be placed in the carton. The flaps 20 and 21 are connected to the base or bottom panel 10 along hinge lines 22 and 23 by die

cut sections

30 and 40 having apattern of cuts and score lines formed therein in a gedmetric array.

In the confuguration of section 30 in FIG. 1 it can be seen there are multiples of basic three-piece elements. Isosceles triangles 35 are arranged with their bases perpendicular to the hinge line 23. In FIG. 1 there are two pairs of triangles 35 with their bases in abutting relationship along what becomes a hinge line 34. It should be understood and will be shown that these three-piece units can be combined in other patterns and achieve similar results. Each threepiece element includes an isosceles triangle 35 and a pair of support sections 36 hingeldly attached along fold lines 37 along the equal sidesof the isosceles triangle 35.

The relative dimensions of thepolygons making up the three-piece units are variable depending on the size of the book or other article to be contained therein, however it can be seen that the support sections 36 must also be connected to the protective cell wall flap 21 and the bottom panel 10. If it is desired to use the cell design separate from a book carton as shown then some amount of material must be used as a base panel and be considered much the same way as that area directly adjacent to the patterned

sections

30 and 40.

The way in which this second connection is accomplished is along another hinge line 38. Since the threepiece units are in abutting alignment in FIG. 1 these hinge lines must be angled to provide yet another pair of triangular hinged connecting segments 39, for without these there would be no place to attach the patterned section 30 to the base or bottom panel 10.

It is important to note that the support sections 36 are pulled upward by the isosceles triangles 35 upon folding and a rectangular cross section is created along the hinge line 34, the two triangular hinged connecting segments 39, and the protective cell wall flap. The free edges of the support sections 36 therefore be nearly juxtaposed with the inside surface of the protective cell FIGS. 5 through 8 show an alternative arrangement of the basic three-piece elements. A similar carton is.

shown with bottom panel 110, top panel 112,

sidepanels

111 and 113 all connected by the

hinge lines

115, 1 I6, I17 and 118 as well asthe glue flap 119. The bottom or'base' panel 110 has similar protective cell wall flaps 1-20' and 121 connected along hinge lines 122 and 123, rs envely. a

For bre'vity' both

sections

130 and 140 will be de scribed with the" same numbers, and include isosceles triangles' l35 z'trrariged with their bases perpendicular to the hirige line 123 connecting thecell wall flap 121, arid in apex-abutting relationship to each other. Support sections 136 are connected along the equal sides of the isosceles triangle 135 by hinge lines 137.

The innermost suppo'rt section 136 is also connected along a'hingeline 138A to the base panel 110 and a corresponding hinge line 1388 connects the outermost support section 136 tothe hinged connecting segment 139. The hinge lines 138A and 138B extend from the base of the isosceles triangle 135 and may be angled to-' ward the 'apexas shown-The angle may be varied and even eliminate making the lines 138A'and 138B perpendicular to the hinge line 123 by changing the shape of the support sections 136 as will be shown in FIG. 10.

A second intermediate hinged connecting segment 141 is arranged at the base of the isosceles triangle 135. The base 110,

sections

141 and 139, and cell'wall flap 1'21'are rolled to form the cell in a substantially rectan-- gular cross section, the remainder of the protective cell having a quadrilateral cross section butv the parts thereof moving out of the planes of the rectangular sides just mentioned since the hinge lines are non- Parallel. 1 Because two sets of three-piece sections areiinvolved and the isosceles triangles 135 are forced up and apart during folding as seen in FIGS. 6 and 7 they-cannot be joined in the middle and therefore the center adjoining line -160 is cut through so that the two symmetrical halves of the'die-cut section 130 act independently of each other.

Wraparound closure flaps 150, 151, 152 and 153 are provided at the opposite ends of the top panel 112 and, serve to close off the protective end cell as'can be 'seen in FIG. 8. V FIGS. through 13 show yet another embodiment of the basic invention. In the blank of FIG. 10 the same basic carton style is used with back, side,'and:-

top panels

210', 211, 212, and 213 connected along

parallel hinge lines

215, 216, 217 and 218 connecting a glue flap 219. The top panel 212 has end closure flaps 250, 251, 252 and 253. v

The bottom panel 210 has die-cut patterned

sections

230 and 240 at either end thereof and section 230 includes a protective cell wall flap 22l'connected along ashortened hinge'line 223'. The isosceles-triangles 235 are disposed each at one lateral aedg'eof' -the bottom panel 210 with their bases onthe inside,- or spaced inwardly from thetedge; 'lt"would::b ,e possible, to arrange the bases of theisosceles triangles 235m abutting relationship if the panel "210 were sufficiently narrow to allow for it. I l g In the blank 215 shown tthe thre e piece segments are spaced apart lay-connecting panels 24 1{and 23 9 defined.

by connecting panel hinge. lines 26llvvhiche ttend be-.

tween the bases of the two isosceles trianglesVSupport panels 236 are connected along the equal sides of the isosceles'triangles 236 andthoseclosest to the cell wall flap 221 are-also hingedlygconnected to the connecting segment 239 which is in turn connected to the cell wall flap 221 by the hinge line 223.

It should be understood that the ,basic three-piece structure element maybe modified in proportion or ar-.

rangement but that it results in a quadralateral'crosssection -when rolled inwardlyvwith an ordered, none I parallel'planar relationship, with the, cell wall flap presentinga full contact surface to the edge of thebook contained therein. The edge strength of the cell structure is utilized to prevent crushing. v

In accordance with the Patent Statutes, I have described the principles of construction aridoperation of my improvement in PROTECTIVE CONTAINER; and while I have endeavored to set forth the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it-understood that obviv ous changes may be made within the scope of the following claims without invention. 1

Iclaim:;;- I 1. ha die-cut blank made from corrugated paperboard'or similar sheet-like material and adpated to be folded into a carton for an article such as books or the like, said blank including: I v,

a substantially rectangular sheet of said material having parallel top and bottom edges, and parallel lateral edges; I 1

1 three vertical, parallel, spacedaapart fold ,lines arrangedintermediate said lateral edges defining four rectangular panels;

'- said four panelsaincluding a top panel, a bottom panel, a first side panel positioned between said top I base perpendicular to said cell wall-flap hinge line and also defining a .pair of support sections hingedly connected along the equal sides of,said 1 isosceles triangle; V v I a'first-of said support sections also connected along a first hinge line extending from the base of said isosceles triangle to saidrbottom panel; and,

, ,"the second of saidsuPPOfl Sections; alsoconnect e d along a second hinge line extending from the, base of said isosceles triangle, to a hinged .connecting' segmentwhich is alsohingedly connected. to" said protectivecell wall flap, said supportsections hav-,

.ing. at Ieasttfour sides and f IdabIe. outwardly along with said isosceles triangle t -forrn a cell structurehaving at least one edge of each of said support secdeparting from the spirit of my tions in edge abutting relationship with the surface of said cell wall flap. .1 2. The blank of claim 1, wherein said first and second hinge lines connecting said first and second support sections" are at equalangles-and are angled from the base of said isosceles triangle in the direction of the apex of said isosceles triangle. 3.Thle blank of claim 1 and including a second isos celes triangle and second pair of support sections arranged in opposing, abutting relationship to said isosceles triangle, said triangles having their bases along a common hinge line perpendicular to said cell wall flap:

sponding hinge lines connecting said first and second support sections as well as corresponding hinge lines connecting said second pair of support sections angled to form triangular hinged connecting segments having bases parallel to said cell wall flap hinge line with apexes at the opposite ends of said common perpendicular hinge line.

4. The blank of claim 1, wherein said isosceles trian gle and said pair of support sections are arranged adjacent to a first lateral edge of said end of said bottom panel with said base of said isosceles triangle spaced inwardly from said first lateral edge, anda second isosceles triangle and second pair of support sections arranged in opposite alignment at the second lateral edge of said bottom panel.

5. The blank of claim 4, wherein said isosceles triangles are spaced apart and two connecting panels are formed therebetween by two connecting panel hinge lines extending between corresponding ends of the bases of said isosceles triangles.

6. The blank of claim 1, wherein said isosceles triangle and said pair of support sections are in apex abutting relationship with the apex of a second isosceles triangle and second pair of support sections.

7. A protective cushion structure formed from corrugated paperboard or similar sheet-like material and adapted to be folded into a tubelike configuration of substantially quadrilateral cross section, said structure comprising:

a base panel;

a substantially rectangular protective cell wall flap spaced from said base panel by a section of said material having a pattern of cuts and score lines formed therein, said cell wall flap foldable into edge abutting relationship with the surface of said base panel to form said tube-like configuration;

said pattern of cuts and score lines defining at least one isosceles triangle having its base perpendicular to a cell wall flap hinge line connecting said cell wall flap to said section of said material;

said pattern of cuts and score lines also defining a pair of support sections hingedly connected along the equal sides of said isosceles triangle;

a first of said support sections also connected along a first hinge line extending from the base of said isosceles triangle to said base panel; and

the second of said support sections also connected along a second hinge line extending from the base of said isosceles triangle to a hinged connecting segment which is also hingedly connected to said protective cell wall flap, said support sections having at least four sides and foldable outwardly along with said isosceles triangle to form a cell structure having at-l-east one edge of each of said support sectionsin .edge abutting relationship with the surface of said cell 'wall flap.

8. The structure of claim '7 wherein said first and sec ond hinge lines connecting said firstand second support sections are at equal. "angles. and are angled from the base of said isosceles triangle in the direction of the apex of said isosceles triangle.

9. The structure of claim 7, including a second isosceles triangle and second pair of supportsections arranged in opposingabutting relationship to said isosceles'triangle, said triangles having their bases along a common hinge line perpendicular to said cell wall flap hinge line, said'first and second 'hingelines connecting said first and second support sections as well as corresponding' hinge lines-connecting said second pair of support sections angled to form'tria'ngular hinged connec'ting segments having bases parallel to said cell wall flap hinge line with apexes at the opposite ends of said common perpendicular hinge line.

10. The structure of claim 7, wherein said isosceles triangle and said pair of support sections are arranged adjacent to a first lateral edge of said end of said base panel with said base of said isosceles triangle spaced inwardly from said first lateral edge, and a second isosceles triangle and second pair of support sections arranged in opposite alignment at the second lateral edge of said base panel.

11. The structure of claim 10, wherein said isosceles triangles are spaced apart and two connecting panels are formed therebetween by two connecting panel hinge lines extending between corresponding ends of the bases of said isosceles triangles.

12. The structure of claim 7, wherein said isosceles triangle and said pair of support sections are in apex abutting relationship with the apex of a second isosceles triangle and second pair of support sections.

13. In a book carton adapted to be folded from corrugated paperboard or similar sheet-like material having a top panel, a plurality of end panels hingedly connected to said top panel and adapted to enclose the ends of said carton, and side panels connecting a bottom panel, the improvement comprising:

a protective cell wall flap connected to said bottom panel at one end thereof by a cell wall flap hinge line;

said cell wall flap hinge line spaced from said end of said bottom panel by a section of said material having a pattern of cuts and score lines formed therein defining at least one isosceles triangle having its base perpendicular to said cell wall flap hinge line and also defining a pair of support sections hingedly connected along the equal sides of said isosceles triangle;

a first of said support sections also connected along a first hinge line extending from the base of said isosceles triangle to said bottom panel; and

the second of said support sections also connected along a second hinge line extending from the base of said isosceles triangle to a hinged connecting segment which is also hingedly connected to said protective cell wall flap, said support sections having at least four sides and folded outwardly along with said isosceles triangle to form a cell structure having at least one edge of each of said support sections in edge abutting relationship with the surface of said cell wall flap.

14. The carton of claim 13 whereinsaidrfirstand second hinge lines connecting said first' and second support sections are at equal angles and are. angled from the base of said isosceles triangle in the direction of the apex of said isosceles triangle.

15. The carton of claim 13. including asecond isosceles triangle and second pair of support sections arranged in opposing, abutting relationship to said isosceles triangle, said triangles having their bases along a common hinge line perpendicular to said cell wall flap hinge line, said first, and second hinge lines connecting said first and second support sections as well as corre sponding hinge lines connecting said second pair of support sections angled to form third and fourth isosceles triangles having bases parallel to said cell wall flap hinge line with apexes at the opposite ends of said common perpendicular hinge line.

16. The carton of claim 13, wherein said isosceles triangle and said pair of support sections are arranged at a first lateral edge of said end of said bottom panel with said base of said isosceles triangle spaced inwardly from said first lateral edge, and a second isosceles triangle and second pair of support sections arranged in opposite alignment at the second lateral edge of said bottom panel.

17. The carton of claim 16 wherein, said isosceles triangles are spaced apart and two connecting panels are formed therebetween by two connecting panel hinge lines extending between corresponding ends of the bases of said isosceles triangles.

18. The carton of claim 13 wherein said isosceles triangle and said pair of support section are in apex abutting relationship with the apex of a second isosceles triangle and second pair of support sections.

Claims

1. In a die-cut blank made from corrugated paperboard or similar sheet-like material and adpated to be folded into a carton for an article such as books or the like, said blank including: a substantially rectangular sheet of said material having parallel top and bottom edges, and parallel lateral edges; three vertical, parallel, spaced-apart fold lines arranged intermediate said lateral edges defining four rectangular panels; said four panels including a top panel, a bottom panel, a first side panel positioned between said top and bottom panels, and a second side panel; the improvement comprising: a protective cell wall flap connected to said bottom panel at one end thereof by a cell wall flap hinge line; said cell wall flap hinge line spaced from said end of said bottom panel by a section of said material having a pattern of cuts and score lines formed therein defining at least one isosceles triangle having its base perpendicular to said cell wall flap hinge line and also defining a pair of support sections hingedly connected along the equal sides of said isosceles triangle; a first of said support sections also connected along a first hinge line extending from the base of said isosceles triangle to said bottom panel; and the second of said support sections also connected along a second hinge line extending from the base of said isosceles triangle to a hinged connecting segment which is also hingedly connected to said protective cell wall flap, said support sections having at least four sides and foldable outwardly along with said isosceles triangle to form a cell structure having at least one edge of each of said support sections in edge abutting relationship with the surface of said cell wall flap.

2. The blank of claim 1, wherein said first and second hinge lines connecting said first and second support sections are at equal angles and are angled from the base of said isosceles triangle in the direction of the apex of said isosceles triangle.

3. The blank of claim 1 and including a second isosceles triangle and second pair of support sections arranged in opposing, abutting relationship to said isosceles triangle, said triangles having their bases along a common hinge line perpendicular to said cell wall flap hinge line, said first and second hinge lines connecting said first and second support sections as well as corresponding hinge lines connecting said first and second support sections as well as corresponding hinge lines connecting said second pair of support sections angled to form triangular hinged connecting segments having bases parallel to said cell wall flap hinge line with apexes at the opposite ends of said common perpendicular hinge line.

4. The blank of claim 1, wherein said isosceles triangle and said pair of support sections are arranged adjacent to a first lateral edge of said end of said bottom panel with said base of said isosceles triangle spaced inwardly from said first lateral edge, and a second isosceles triangle and second pair of support sections arranged in opposite alignment at the second lateral edge of said bottom panel.

7. A protective cushion structure formed fRom corrugated paperboard or similar sheet-like material and adapted to be folded into a tubelike configuration of substantially quadrilateral cross section, said structure comprising: a base panel; a substantially rectangular protective cell wall flap spaced from said base panel by a section of said material having a pattern of cuts and score lines formed therein, said cell wall flap foldable into edge abutting relationship with the surface of said base panel to form said tube-like configuration; said pattern of cuts and score lines defining at least one isosceles triangle having its base perpendicular to a cell wall flap hinge line connecting said cell wall flap to said section of said material; said pattern of cuts and score lines also defining a pair of support sections hingedly connected along the equal sides of said isosceles triangle; a first of said support sections also connected along a first hinge line extending from the base of said isosceles triangle to said base panel; and the second of said support sections also connected along a second hinge line extending from the base of said isosceles triangle to a hinged connecting segment which is also hingedly connected to said protective cell wall flap, said support sections having at least four sides and foldable outwardly along with said isosceles triangle to form a cell structure having at least one edge of each of said support sections in edge abutting relationship with the surface of said cell wall flap.

8. The structure of claim 7 wherein said first and second hinge lines connecting said first and second support sections are at equal angles and are angled from the base of said isosceles triangle in the direction of the apex of said isosceles triangle.

9. The structure of claim 7, including a second isosceles triangle and second pair of support sections arranged in opposing, abutting relationship to said isosceles triangle, said triangles having their bases along a common hinge line perpendicular to said cell wall flap hinge line, said first and second hinge lines connecting said first and second support sections as well as corresponding hinge lines connecting said second pair of support sections angled to form triangular hinged connecting segments having bases parallel to said cell wall flap hinge line with apexes at the opposite ends of said common perpendicular hinge line.

13. In a book carton adapted to be folded from corrugated paperboard or similar sheet-like material having a top panel, a plurality of end panels hingedly connected to said top panel and adapted to enclose the ends of said carton, and side panels connecting a bottom panel, the improvement comprising: a protective cell wall flap connected to said bottom panel at one end thereof by a cell wall flap hinge line; said cell wall flap hinge line spaced from said end of said bottom panel by a section of said material having a pattern of cuts and score lines formed therein defining at least one isosceles triangle having its base perpendicular to said cell wall flap hinge line and also defining a pair of support sections hingedly connected along the equaL sides of said isosceles triangle; a first of said support sections also connected along a first hinge line extending from the base of said isosceles triangle to said bottom panel; and the second of said support sections also connected along a second hinge line extending from the base of said isosceles triangle to a hinged connecting segment which is also hingedly connected to said protective cell wall flap, said support sections having at least four sides and folded outwardly along with said isosceles triangle to form a cell structure having at least one edge of each of said support sections in edge abutting relationship with the surface of said cell wall flap.

14. The carton of claim 13 wherein said first and second hinge lines connecting said first and second support sections are at equal angles and are angled from the base of said isosceles triangle in the direction of the apex of said isosceles triangle.

15. The carton of claim 13, including a second isosceles triangle and second pair of support sections arranged in opposing, abutting relationship to said isosceles triangle, said triangles having their bases along a common hinge line perpendicular to said cell wall flap hinge line, said first and second hinge lines connecting said first and second support sections as well as corresponding hinge lines connecting said second pair of support sections angled to form third and fourth isosceles triangles having bases parallel to said cell wall flap hinge line with apexes at the opposite ends of said common perpendicular hinge line.