US2688431A - Container - Google Patents

Description

Patented Sept. 7, 1954 OFFICE CONTAINER Joseph K. Loeb and Leon N. Loeb, East McKeesport, Pa.

Application July 29, 1950, Serial No. 176,602

1 Claim. 1

Our invention relates to a container, and particularly to a multi-purpose container for shipping, displaying and carrying flower bulbs.

In the construction of containers for shipping or storing .or otherwise caring for bulbs it has heretofore been necessary to use .a plurality of containers for successfully shipping, displaying or handling the bulbs.

According to our invention. we have provided a container which is suitable for each or all of these operations. The container according to our invention is constructed from a unitary blank of suitable sheet material such as corrugated board and is cut and folded along predetermined. lines to provide a container having a plurality of uses.

The folded carton has a double end portion and a reinforced bottom portion connected to the end portions so that they can interlock to not only reinforce the bottom of the container but to lock the end portions in fixed position, so that the front side of the container may be closed or open at will. For this purpose we have provided interlock and tabson the front side wall of the container which interfit within a double end wall of the container to lock the wide wall either in open or closed position.

Likewise we have provided a top member comprised of a plurality of top portions which fit together to form a closure for the top of the container and having tabs or flaps which interfit in the container to lock the top in closed position and also impinge on the plant bands in which the bulbs are planted to hold the bands firmly in fixed position or which may be extended to form a handle for carrying the closed container.

In order to prevent damage to growing bulbs within the container, we have provided an integral guide member on the ends of the container so that the in-turned flaps while sealing the container are positioned in such a manner that there is no danger of contact with the growing bulbs in the container.

It is accordingly an object of our invention to provide a container having a plurality of uses.

It is a further object of our invention to provide a container in which a side wall as well as the top may be opened at will.

It is a further object of our invention to provide a container in which the locking flaps are positioned out of proximity to the plants in the container.

Other objects and advantages of our invention will be apparent from the following detailed Fig. 4 is a perspective view of our container in closed or shipping condition,

Fig. 5 is a perspective View of our container with the flaps utilized in carrying position, and Fig. 6 is a section showing the use of a guide to prevent interference of the inturned flaps with the contents of the container.

In the exemplary embodiment of our invention, the container is constructed from a onepiece sheet cut and scored along predetermined lines, so that it may be readily folded and assembled into an operating container without the use of-any tools of the necessity of any accurate predetermined operation in the field. The blank comprises a bottom forming portion II! having front I I and back I2 side wall portions separated from the bottom portion In by scored lines I3 and I4 about which the front and back sides II and I2 may b folded with respect to the bottom portion I0.

Attached to the back wall portion I2 are oppositely disposed end portions I5 and It separated from the side portion I2 by suitable score lines l1 and I8, so that the end portions I5 and I6 may be bent into cooperative relation with the sides I I and I2 and bottom portion III of the container.

Attachedto the end forming part of the end portions I5 and I6 are inner end portions or double end portions I9 and 20 which are folded along double score lines 2I and 22 to provide a double walled end portion with an enclosed or vacant space between the inner and outer end portions. Also connected to the end portions are interfitting or interlocking tabs 23 and 24 which have cut out portions 25 and 26 complementary to each other, so that when the end portions I5 and I6 are in assembled position, the tabs 23 and 24 are interfitted with each other and thereby lock the ends I5 and I6 in assembled position and also provide a reinforcement to the bottom ID of the container.

The front wall portion II is provided with end engaging tabs 27 and 28 having arcuate end portions 29 which when the front side wall II is folded into closed position, may be interfitted in the space 3|, 32 between the inside and outside end portions so that the end engaging tabs 21 3 and 28 by friction holds the front side wall II in normal closed position but the arcuate corner portions 29 and 36 of the end engaging tabs 21 and 28 permit the front side wall H to be opened by disengaging the tabs from between the inner and outer end portions.

The bulbs 34 to be shipped in this container are provided with the usual plant bands 35 and preferably are bound by tape or so-called paper trays into sections which neatly interfit inside of the partially closed container. In this position, the plant bands 35 push the inside ends l9 and 20 of the container into proximity with the outside ends l and [6 so as to provide a good friction fit with the end engaging tabs 21 and 28 of the front side wall I I. In normal operation of bulbs, it has heretofore been considered necessary to plant such bulbs as tulips and narcissus in the fall so that they may be conditioned over the winter and will bloom early the next spring.

However, with our arrangement the bulbs may be conditioned in the nursery or greenhouse and planted in the plant bands 35 and the entire growing assembly placed in our container, after which the side wall II will be closed and preferably the space 36 above the bulbs 34 will be filled with suitable inert material, such as sawdust, vermiculite, peat moss or even plain dirt. The top is then sealed by a two-part top having top forming portions 46--4| secured respectively to the front and back sides II and I2. Integral with the top portions 46 and 4| are sealing flaps 42-43 which are turned in to seal the container for storage or shipping.

In those containers having an odd number of rows of bulbs 34, the central row would be immediately under the closing tabs 42 and 43 and the growing bulbs 34 would very likely contact with these tabs 42 and 43 and be injured during shipment or handling. Therefore, we have provided suitable guides 4546 which for convenience are preferably stamped out of the inside end portion and if necessary stapled in position.

When closing the container, the closing tabs 42 and 43 engage these guides 45 and 46 and are displaced to one side of the growing plant, so that if the plants 34 are not removed from the container for a material length of time, the

plant itself might grow upwardly without encountering the damaging portion of the flaps.

The closing tabs 42 and 43 are preferably of such length that when turned in along the guides 45 and 46, the tabs make contact with the junction of the rows of plant bands 35 to firmly hold them in fixed position. When larger bands 35 are used so that only two rows of bands 35 will be received in the carton, the guides 45 and 46 are folded back into the plane of the blank so that tabs 42 and 43 may lie together and engage the single junction.

When the container reaches the display stage, the top may be opened and the front side i I also opened, after which the unnecessary filling material may be poured off from the top of the plant bands 35 leaving the growing bulbs 34 on display in a suitable protective device.

In order to further utilize the container, the sealing flaps 42 and 43 are provided with matching longitudinal hand holds 41 and 48 so that the customer then may close up the front wall of the container, leave the flaps 42 and 43 turned out and have a convenient handle for carrying his purchases home.

While we have shown an exemplary embodiment of our invention and described the same according to our best understanding thereof, we desire it to be understood that changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the true spirit of our invention.

We claim as our invention:

A container for plant bulbs comprising a bottom member, integral front and rear wall members on opposite sides of said bottom member, a half cover section extending from the top edges of said front and said rear wall members, extending flaps integral with the free edges of half cover sections, outer end wall sections integral with opposite ends of said back wall member, an inner end wall section integral with the top of each outer end wall section, said inner end wall section being spaced from the respective outer end wall sections, a bottom reenforcing tab integral with the bottom of each of said outer end wall sections, said bottom reenforcing tabs having complementary cut out portions, said bottom reenforcing tabs being interfltted in overlapping relation whereby said end walls are locked in position, end wall tabs on the opposite ends of said front wall member, said end wall tabs having arcuate top edges whereby said end wall tabs are adapted for insertion and removal from the space between the respective outer and inner end wall sections, an integral substantially triangular guide member struck out adjacent the lower portion of each of said inner end wall sections and positioned adjacent the upper portions of said inner end wall sections.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,535,436 Nordstrom Apr. 28, 1925 1,705,607 Engel Mar. 19, 1929v 2,006,725 Usinger July 2, 1935 2,124,335 Klein July 19, 1938 2,171,309 Luce et al Aug. 29, 1939 2,551,679 Johnson May 8, 1951 2,596,261 Liskin May 13, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 21,779 Great Britain Nov. 16, 1895 474,540 Germany Apr. 5, 1929

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