US3145903A - Partitioned container - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 25, 1964 M. G. FRANKLIN, JR

PARTITIONED CONTAINER 5 Sheets-Sheec L Filed March 12 1963 //VV/V TOR 4402/05 6. FRANKLIN, .72.

ATTORNEYS g- 25, 1964 M. G. FRANKLIN, JR 3,145,903

PARTITIONED CONTAINER Filed March 12, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 1N VEN TOR.

MAI/R105 6. FRANKLIALJB.

flaw 1773423 A TTORNEYS Aug. 25, 1964 M. G. FRANKLIN, JR

PARTITIONED CONTAINER 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 //vv/v TOR lY/IURICE G. FRANKL/M JB.

B) 5 ATTORNEYS Filed March 12, 1963 United States Patent 3,145,903 PARTITIONED CONTAINER Maurice G. Franklin, Jr., Mnncie, Ind, assignor to St. Joe Paper Company, Jacksonville, Fla., a corporation of Florida Filed Mar. 12, 1963, Ser. No. 264,510 11 Claims. (Cl. '22927) This invention relates to improvements in containers, and more particularly concerns a container typically formed of corrugated fibreboard or the like and constructed to provide a plurality of cells or compartments.

A general object of this invention is to provide an improved partitioned container.

A further general object of the invention is the provision of an improved collapsible partitioned container.

Another general object is the provision of an integral blank foldable into a collapsible partitioned container.

Particular objects of the invention are to provide an integral prescored and precut blank for folding into a collapsed container for shipment thereof, and in use such container is readily erected into a container having multiple compartments.

A specific object is the provision of a collapsed container which is easily erected into a usable container with an automatically self-locked bottom and an automatically self-erected liner dividing the container into four compartments.

Another specific object of the invention is to provide an improved container quickly erectable from a collapsed position into its operative set-up position having multiple compartments with only a very few simple hand manipulations.

An additional specific object is the provision of a method of setting up a collapsed container into an integral container in which the bottom portion is automatically locked and the liner portion automatically divides the container into four compartments.

The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of this invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of an integral prescored and precut blank in accord with the invention which may be folded and erected into the partitioned container;

FIGURE 2 is a side perspective view of the container in its uncollapsed position and prior to the manipulation of the liner and bottom portions into their final set-up positions;

FIGURE 3 is a partial view similar to FIGURE 2 and broken away to more clearly show the liner and bottom portions prior to set-up;

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 3 showing the liner and bottom portions in an intermediate stage of container set-up;

FIGURE 5 is a partial side perspective view of the top portion of the container showing the liner portion in its final operative position dividing the set-up container into four compartments; and

FIGURE 6 is a view similar to FIGURE 5 showing the self-locked bottom and liner portions in their final set-up positions in the container.

Referring now more particularly to FIGURE 1 there is provided an integral prescored and precut blank 10 cut from a substantially rectangular sheet of single wall corrugated fibreboard with a minimum of waste thereof. The light broken lines 11 generally indicate fold lines, hinge lines or crease lines scored on blank 10; heavy broken lines 12 generally indicate fold lines, hinge lines or crease lines rouletted on blank 10; and full lines 13 generally indicate cuts extending through the fibreboard blank 10. In accordance with this invention, the integral blank 10 comprises a top portion 15, a body portion 16, a bottom portion 17 and a liner portion 18, more particularly described hereinbelow.

Body portion 16 includes four side wall panels 20, 21, 22 and 23, adjacent wall panels being connected by parallel wall angle fold lines 24. Each of the wall panels 20 to 23 has a pair of side edges, collectively designated at 38 and 39, substantially parallel to fold lines 24. A top common fold line 25 extends substantially perpendicularly to fold lines 24 and to wall panel side edges 38 and 39, and forms the upper edges 26 of wall panels 20 to 23 to which respective lower edges, collectively designated at 27, of top panels 30, 31, 32 and 33 are connected.

A bottom common fold line 35, shown herein as a double fold line, is spaced from and is oriented substantially parallel to top common fold line 25 and perpendicularly to fold lines 24, and forms the lower edges, collectively designated at 28, of wall panels 20 to 23 to which respective upper edges, collectively designated at 29, of bottom panels 40, 41, 42 and 43 are connected. Ventilating apertures 34 may be severed through blank 10 in the usual manner, if desired.

Top portion 15 comprises a pair of side panels 30 and 32, and a pair of end panels 31 and 33, side panels 30 and 32 being connected to side wall panels 20 and 22 by top common fold line 25, and end panels 31 and 33 being similarly connected to end wall panels 21 and 23. As illustrated, the top end panels 31 and 33 respectively include protruding locking flanges 45 and 46 foldable into locking position on respective fold lines 47 and 48 upon closure of top portion 15. Each of the top side panels 30 and 32 has respective flange receiving slots 49 and 50 for receiving therein the locking flanges 45 and 46 upon proper folding of the top portion 15. Side panel 30 includes a pair of protruding tabs 51 and 52 foldable on score lines 51 and 52', and slot 49 is located between tabs 51 and 52. Side panel 32 is also provided with protruding tabs 53 and 54, identical to tabs 51 and 52 with slot 50 located between tabs 53 and 54.

Each of the upper edges 29 of bottom panels 40 to 43 is approximately equal to and coextensive with each of the corresponding lower edges 28 of the wall panels 20 to 23. Each of the lower edges 55, 56, 57 and 58 of the respective bottom panels 40 to 43 is approximately one half the length of each of the upper edges 29 thereof. As depicted, the bottom portion 17 includes a plurality of cut-outs '60 substantially in the shape of a right triangle whereby bottom panels 40 to 43 are substantially in the shape of a trapezoid, as will appear more fully hereinafter.

Side edges 61, 62, 63 and 64 of respective bottom panels 40 to 43 are oriented substantially parallel to and spaced slightly inwardly from respective side edges 39 of wall panels 20 to 23, edges 61 to 64 spanning between respective bottom panel upper edges 29 and the corresponding lower edges 55 to 58 of bottom panels 40 to 43. The inclined side edges 66, 67, 68 and 69 of respective bottom panels 40 to 43 extend from approximately the respective side edges 38 of wall panels 20 to 23 inwardly and inclinedly toward bottom panel side edges 61 to 64 to and intersecting respective bottom panel lower edges 55 to 58 at respective junctures 70, 7'1, 72 and 73. The bottom panel upper edges 29 are substantially coextensive with lower edges 28 of wall panels 29 to 23, whereas each of the bottom panel lower edges 55 to 58 have a length approximating one-half the length of each of the bottom panel upper edges 29.

Liner portion 18 comprises four liner panels 80, 81, 82 and 83, and adjacent panels are connected by parallel (3 hinge lines, collectively designated at 84 and specifically shown herein as being rouletted lines, hinge lines 84 extending substantially parallel to wall panel side edges 38 and 39 and to bottom panel side edges 61 to 64. Hinge lines 84 are located insubstantial alignment with and parallel to fold lines 24 of body portion 16, and when the blank 10 is folded on double fold 35, fold lines 24 and hinge lines 84 become juxtaposed. Each of the panels 80 to 83 is approximately bisected by respective median crease lines 86 to 89 which are oriented parallel to hinge lines 84 and terminate at respective junctures 70 to 73 as illustrated. Each of the liner panels 80 to 83 has a pair of side edges, collectively designated at 90 and 91, which are parallel to hinge lines 84 and to crease lines 86 to 89. The panel sections 93, 94, 95 and 96, which respectively extend between side edges 91 and its corresponding crease lines 86 to 89, have respective upper edges 97, 98, 99 and 100 connected to respective bottom panel lower edges 55 to 58. The upper edges 101, 102, 103 and 104 of respective panel sections 105, 106, 107 and 108, respectively span between side edges 90 and its corresponding crease lines 86 to 89. Each of the panel section upper edges 101 to 104 are offset a minimum distance downwardly from and parallel to each of the panel section upper edges 97 to 100 to provide proper tolerances and to permit the liner portion 18 to properly fit onto the foundation bottom portion 17 after blank 10 is folded and set-up, as hereinafter more fully described.

The lower edge 110 of blank 10 is interrupted by slots or cut- outs 111, 112, 113 and 114 in respective panel sections 105, 94, 107 and 96. Cut-outs 111 and 114 are provided with slot defining vertically extending edges 155 and160, and cut-out 112 includes a pair of edges 156 and 157, and cut-out 113 also includes a pair of edges 158 and 159. After the blank 10 is properly folded and liner portion 18 is manipulated to set-up the container in its position shown in FIGURES and 6, slot 111 will register with slot 114 and slot 112 will register with slot 113 thereby permitting the reception thereinto of locking tabs 45 and 46 of top portion 15.

While cut-outs 60 have been described hereinabove as being completely removed from blank 10, it is to be understood that under appropriate circumstances it is possible for the triangular portions which were cut-out (not shown) to remain attached to bottom panel inclined side edges 66 to 69 as surplusage, for example. However, triangular cut-outs 60 could, in any event, only be hinged on one of its triangular edges in order that the blank be operative to form a container in the manner hereinafter set forth, and since such cut-outs do not enhance the usefulness or operability of the present container, they have been omitted.

In accordance with this invention the blank 10 of FIG- URE 1 is erected into the partially set-up container 125, shown in FIGURES 2 and 3, by first folding the blank 10, as shown, on the double fold lines 35, thereby positioning hinge lines 84 to a location approximately beneath and juxtaposed with wall angle fold lines 24; simultaneously folding wall panel 20 downwardly on its wall angle fold line 24 and liner panel 80 on its hinge line 84 thereby positioning liner panel 80 beneath liner panel 81 with the liner panels 80 and 81 being nested between wall panels 20 and 21; simultaneously folding wall 23 downwardly on its wall angle fold line 24 and liner panel 83 on its hinge line 84 thereby positioning liner panel 83 beneath liner panel 82 with the liner panels 82 and 83 being nested between wall panels 22 and 23; and joining adjacent respective edge 38 of wall panel 20 and edge 39 of wall panel 23 by tape 126, as shown in FIGURES 2 and 3. The container 125 is then in its collapsed or flattened condition ready for packing with similar collapsed containers for ultimate shipment thereof.

The collapsed container 125 assumes the rectangular shape, depicted in FIGURE 2, by merely exerting inward- 1y directed forces on outer diagonally disposed wall angles, including wall angle 127 which is coextensive with the side edge 39 of panel 20 in FIGURE 1, the container 125 in FIGURE 2 being shown with the top panels 30, 31, 32 and 33 folded downwardly at right angles on the top common fold line 25. In the collapsed position of the container 125, the top panels 30 to 33 are understood to be coplanar with the respective wall panels 20 to 23 which are in juxtaposition with respective liner panels to 83.

Container 125 is fully set-up by performing the manipulations of the method set forth below, such manipulations being most clearly shown with particular reference to FIGURES 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6. Inwardly directed forces are exerted on each of the median crease lines 86 to 89, as shown by respective arrows 130 to 133, which may, for example, be applied by gripping or grasping one pair of liner panel sections 97 and 102 in one hand and exerting a compressive force tending to press same together, and similarly grasping the diagonally opposite pair of liner panel sections 99 and 104 in the other hand and exerting a similar compressive force. Simultaneously, the liner portion 18 is twisted or forcibly rotated clockwise in the direction of arrow 135, and a pressure, directed downwardly toward the bottom portion 17, is exerted on liner portion 18 thereby causing the liner portion 18 and bottom portion 17 to be twisted and transposed from the position shown in FIGURES 2 and 3 to an intermediate position shown in FIGURE 4. Upon further twisting or rotating of liner portion 18 in the direction of 'arrow 135, bottom portion 17 automatically forms a selflocked bottom 140 of the container 125, as illustrated in FIGURE 6, and liner portion 17 automatically forms a self-erected liner 141 dividing container 125 into four cells or compartments 142, 143, 144 and 145, as depicted in FIGURES 5 and 6.

The fully set-up container 125, as is clearly depicted in FIGURE 6, includes the unitary set-up liner portion 18 assuming its cross-sectional shape of a double walled cross or star divider 141. The liner or divider 141 includes elongated upright elements 165, 166, 167 and 168 which are the outer extremities of the double walled cross divider 141, elements 165, 166 and 167 being co-extensive with rouletted hinge lines 84, and element 168 being co-extensive with edges and 91 of respective liner panel sections and 96. Elements 165, 166, 167 and 168 are located intermediate of and adjacent respective wall panels 21, 22, 23, and 20. The elongated rectangular compartment 143, for example, is bounded on its sides by liner panel sections 105 and 93 and approximately onehalf of the elongated wall panels 20 and 21 of body portion 16, and is bounded on its ends by bottom panel 40 and one-half of top panel 30 to which tab 22 is connected. It is to be noted that the panel 30 to which tab 22 is connected. It is to be noted that the panel section 105 is slotted by cut-out 111, but approximately one-half of locking flange 45 substantially fills such cut-out 111, flange 45 and liner panel section 105 being substantially coplanar after top portion 18 closingly completes the full set-up and filled container 125. The other compartments 142, 144 and 146 are bounded by the corresponding components of container which may be ascertained by study of the drawings herein in the light of the above specifically described compartment 143.

Bottom panel 40 is seen to overlie and overlap bottom panel 41 inwardly of inclined edge 67, and it is obvious that bottom panel 41 adjacent edge 62 overlies bottom panel 42 in substantially the same manner as described in connection with bottom panels 40 and 41. Similarly, bottom panel 42 overlies a portion of bottom panel 43, and bottom panel 43 overlaps a portion of bottom panel 40. The free edge 101 of liner panel section 105 is located adjacent and rests on bottom panel 40, edge 102 of liner panel section 106 rests on bottom panel 41, edge 103 of liner panel section 107 rests on bottom panel 42,

and edge 104 of liner panel section 108 rests on bottom panel 43.

After container 125 is in its completely set-up condition shown in FIGURE and the contents, if any, are packed within respective cells or compartments 142 to 145, the top portion 15 is closed by the folding procedure hereinafter set forth. Tabs 53 and 54 are folded downwardly on each of their respective crease lines 53' and 54', thereafter top side panel 32 is folded on the top common fold line 25. The folded tab 54 is inserted into the upper end of V-shaped channel 150 between liner panel sections 95 and 108 and folded tab 53 is inserted into a similar and oppositely facing V- shaped channel 151 between panel sections 93 and 106. Tabs 51 and 52 on top side panel 30 are folded on their respective fold lines 51 and 52', and panel 30 is folded on the top common fold line 25, thereafter the folded tabs 51 and 52 are inserted into the upper ends of respective V- shapped channels 150 and 151 in the same manner as previously described in connection with tabs 53 and 54 of top side panel section 32, whereby tabs 51 and 54 are nested within channel 150 and tabs 52 and 53 are nested within channel 151. Top side panels 30 and 32 rest on and are supported by the liner lower edge 111) of blank 10, however, it is obvious that such edge constitutes the upper extremity of liner portion 18 when blank is folded into container 125 with liner portion 18 assuming the cross-sectional shape of a double walled cross or star divider 141.

The slots 112 and 113 in respective liner panel sections 94 and 107 register, as shown in FIGURE 5, and the slots 111 and 114 of respective panels 105 and 96 register in the set-up position of container 125. Slots 111 and 112 are substantially coplaner and the oppositely facing slots 113 and 114 are substantially coplanar, all of these slots defining an elgonated flange receiving edge recess, indicated at 161, the elongated recess 161 being bounded by vertically extending edges 155, 156, 159 and 160. After top side panels 32 and 30 are folded into their closed positions with tabs 51 and 54 within V- shaped channel 150 and tabs 52 and 53 within V-shaped channel 151, flange receiving slots 49 and 50 of respective top side panels 30 and 32 are aligned and register with recess 161 and form therewith a continuous elongated socket (not shown) for the reception of the locking flanges 45 and 4-6 of respective top end panels 31 and 33. After locking flanes 45 and 46 are folded on their respective fold lines 47 and 48, top end panels 31 and 30 are then folded on the common fold line 25 and the locking flanges 45 and 46 are inserted within the elongated socket (not shown) in locking engagement therewithin.

It has been demonstrated that the container 125 may be fabricated for shipment in its collapsed position, thereafter such collapsed container may be set-up by following the aforementioned manipulations in an easy and rapid manner without the necessity of any glue or stapling by the user of such container. The bottom 140 of the container 125 is automatically formed as the liner portion 18 is being twisted into its self-erected dividing position shown in FIGURES 5 and 6.

Once the container 125 is erected and filled with the desired merchandise, the weight of such merchandise bears upon the bottom 140 which will enhance the maintenance of the liner portion 141 in its dividing position shown in FIGURES 5 and 6. Additionally, the weight of the merchandise within the compartments 143 to 145 assist in maintaining the bottom 140 in its automatically locked position.

After the container is filled and the top portion is closed in the manner hereinabove set forth the upper end of the divider 141 (the lower edge 110 of liner portion 18 as described in FIGURE 1) provides an effective internal structural support for the top portion upon its closure of container 125. Also, when the tabs 51 to 54 6 are inserted into the upper ends of the V-channels and 15, such insertion assists in maintaining the upper portion of divider 141 in its preselected divider position shown in FIGURE 5.

While only a certain preferred embodiment of this invention has been shown and described by way of illustration, many modifications will occur to those skilled in the art and it is, therefore, desired that it be understood that it is intended in the appended claims to cover all such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

What is claimed as new and what it is desired to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. An integral substantially rectangular blank for folding into a four cell rectangular container comprising a top portion, a body portion, a bottom portion and a liner portion, said body portion including four side wall panels and a wall angle fold line between adjacent wall panels, each of said wall panels having an upper edge and a lower edge, said top portion including four top panels having lower edges connected by fold lines to respective said wall panel upper edges, said bottom portion including four bottom trapezoidal panels having upper edges and lower edges, said upper edges of said bottom panels being approximately twice as long as said lower edges of said bottom panels, said bottom panel upper edges being connected by a fold line to and substantially coextensive with respective said wall panel lower edges, said liner portion including four liner panels each having side edges and an upper edge with said upper edge being approximately equal to said bottom panel upper edge, said liner portion having panel hinge lines respectively between adjacent said liner panels and substantially parallel to said liner panel side edges, said liner portion further having crease lines substantially parallel to said panel hinge lines and respectively spaced substantially midway between each said liner panel side edges, each said liner panel upper edge between one of its said side edge and its said crease line being connected to respective said bottom panel lower edge.

2. The blank as defined in claim 1 wherein said four top panels consists of two side panels and two end panels, a respective locking flange hingedly attached to each said side panel along a fold line spaced upwardly from and parallel to said top panel lower edges, a pair of spaced tabs hingedly attached to each said end panel along respective fold lines spaced upwardly from and parallel to said top panel lower edges, each said end panel having a locking flange receiving slot between its respective said tabs, each said slot extending substantially perpendicularly to said top panel lower edges and terminating thereabove in a respective said end panel.

3. An integral substantially rectangular blank for folding into a four cell rectangular container comprising a body portion, a bottom portion and a liner portion, said body portion including four side wall panels and a wall angle fold line between adjacent wall panels, said wall panels having upper edges and lower edges, said bottom portion including four bottom trapezoidal panels having upper edges and lower edges, said upper edges of said bottom panels being approximately twice as long as said lower edges of said bottom panels, said bottom panel upper edges being connected by fold lines to and coextensive with respective said wall panel lower edges, said liner portion including four liner panels having side edges and upper edges with said upper edges being approximately equal to said bottom panel upper edges, said liner portion having panel hinge lines respectively between ad jacent said liner panels, said hinge lines extending substantially parallel to said panel side edges, said liner portion further having crease lines substantially parallel to said panel hinge lines and respectively spaced intermediate of each of said liner panel side edges, each said liner panel upper edge between one of its said side edge and its said crease line being connected to respective said bottom panel lower edge.

7 4. An integral substantially rectangular blank forfolding into a four cell rectangular container comprising a top portion, a body portion, a bottom portion and a liner portion, said body portion having three parallel and spaced apart elongated fold lines forming four side wall panels, said wall panels having upper edges and lower edges, said top portion including four top panels having lower edges connected by fold lines to respective said wall panel upper edges, said bottom portion including four bottom panels having upper edges and lower edges, said bottom panel upper edges being connected by fold lines to respective said wall panel lower edges, said liner portion including four liner panel sections having side edges substantially parallel to said fold lines between said adjacent wall panels and upper edges, said section upper edges being connected by fold lines to respective said bottom panel lower edges, said liner portion further including four intermediate liner panel sections having side edges parallel to said section side edges, said intermediate sections being intercalated with and connected by fold lines between a side edge of said section and its adjacent side edge of said intermediate section whereby said panel sections and said intermediate panel sections are interconnected.

5. An integral blank for folding into a compartmented container comprising a body portion, a bottom portion and a liner portion, said body portion including a plurality of side wall panels and a wall angle fold line between adjacent wall panels, said wall panels having upper edges and lower edges, said bottom portion including a plurality of bottom panels having upper edges and lower edges, said bottom panel upper edges being approximately twice as long as said bottom panel lower edges, said bottom panel upper edges being connected by fold lines to and coextensive with respective said wall panel lower edges, said liner portion including a plurality of liner panels having side edges and upper edges with said upper edges being approximately equal to said bottom panel upper edges, said liner portion having panel hinge lines respectively between adjacent said liner panels, said hinge lines extending substantially parallel to said panel side edges, said liner portion further having crease lines substantially parallel to said panel hinge lines and respectively spaced intermediate of each said liner panel side edges, each said liner panel upper edge between one of its said side edge and its said crease line being connected to respective said bottom panel lower edge.

6. The method of setting up a collapsible compartmented unitary rectangular container wherein said container includes a body portion having four side wall panels interconnected by wall angles, a bottom portion having four bottom panels connected to the wall panels, and a liner portion having four liner panels connected to the bottom panels and interconnected by three spaced fold lines which extend substantially parallel to the wall angles of the body portion comprising applying inwardy directed lateral forces to diagonally opposite compressed wall angles of the collapsed container thereby to orient the body portion in its erected rectangular position with the wall angles substantially equal, applying inwardly directed lateral forces to each of the liner panels substantially intermediate thereof, simultaneously applying a twisting force to said liner portion and applying a downwardly directed force thereto for erecting the liner into its dividing position within the container and for forming a self-locked bottom of the container whereby the container is partitioned into four compartments.

7. A unitary collapsible rectangular container comprising a body portion having four vertical wall panels connected to the next along and forming respective wall angles, a bottom portion having four bottom panels respectively connected to said wall panels at the lower ends thereof, a unitary liner portion having four liner panels each hingedly attached to respective said bottom panels, said liner portion having three fold lines extending parallel to said wall angles and equally spaced on said liner portion forming said liner panels, each said liner panel having a median crease line extending substantially parallel to said fold lines of said liner panel portion, a respective said bottom panel and its attached said liner panel lying adjacent respective said wall panel when the container is in its collapsed position, said bottom panels forming an automatically locked bottom closure for the container upon manipulation of said liner portion from its collapsed position to its erected position, said liner portion dividing the container into four compartments in its erected position, each said liner panel including side edges approximately parallel to said median crease lines, each said side edge of each said liner panel being disposed approximately adjacent to and intermediate of respective adjacent said wall panels whereby each said panel crease line is disposed diagonally opposite and parallel to one of said wall angles to form a respective compartment between each said liner panel and adjacent said wall panels.

8. An integral collapsible rectangular container comprising a body portion, a bottom portion and a liner portion, said body portion including four vertical side wall panels connected to the next along and forming respective wall angles, a bottom portion having four bottom panels hinged to respective said wall panels at the lower ends thereof, a unitary liner portion having four liner panels wherein each liner panel has a median crease line extending substantially parallel to said wall angles, each said liner panel being attached to respective said bottom panels between one of its said edges and its said median crease line by a fold line extending substantially perpendicular to said crease line and which extends substantially parallel to the hinged connection between respective said wall panels and said bottom panels, said bottom panels forming an automatically locked bottom closure for the container when the liner portion is manipulated from its collapsed position to its erected position, said liner portion dividing the container into four compartments in its erected position, each said compartment being rectangular and bounded by a respective said liner panel and adjacent said wall panels wherein each said wall angle between adjacent wall panels and respective said median crease line of respective said liner panels are oriented diagonally opposite and parallel to each other whereby said liner portion divides the container into four compartments.

9. A unitary collapsible rectangular container comprising a body portion having four elongated vertical wall panels connected to the next along and forming respective elongated wall angles, a bottom portion having four bottom panels respectively connected to said wall panels at the lower ends thereof, an elongated double-walled cross shaped unitary liner extending between opposite said wall panels, said liner having outer protruding elongated edges substantially parallel to and positioned adjacent respective wall panels intermediate thereof, said liner having edges perpendicular to said elongated edges, a portion of each said edge being connected to a respective bottom panel by a crease line extending substantially perpendicular to said liner elongated edges, said bottom panels forming an automatically locked bottom closure for the container upon manipulation of said liner portion into its erected position, said liner portion dividing the container into four compartments.

10. The integral container as defined in claim 8 further comprising a top portion having two side and two end top panels hinged to respective said wall panels at the upper ends thereof, a pair of tabs protruding from said oppositely facing top side panels and engageable with said liner portion for maintaining said liner portion in its erected position dividing the container into said four compartments.

11. The container as defined in claim 9 further comprising a top portion having two oppositely facing side panels and two oppositely facing end panels, each said end panels and side panels of said top portion being hingedly attached to the upper edges of respective said wall panels, a pair of tabs protruding from said top side panels and engageable with said unitary liner to assist in maintaining said liner in its preselected position dividing said container into said four compartments, each said side panel including a locking flange receivable slot between its said tabs, each said end panels including a locking flange hinged thereto, each said slot being in registering alignment upon engagement by said tabs with said liner, each said locking flange being insertable into said registered slots for locking said top portion of the container.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Paige Aug. 16, 1955 Woelky May 10, 1960 McCormick Oct. 17, 1961 Younger May 1, 1962 Keith Oct. 15, 1963 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No 3, 145 5903 August .25 1964 Maurice Go Franklin Jr.

It is hereby certifiedv that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 4, lines 54 and 55, strike out "It is to be noted that the panel 30 to which tab 22 is connectedfl; column 5,, line 46 for "flanes" read flanges column 5 line 56 after "aforementioned" insert procedural Signed and sealed this 26th day of January 1965.

(SEAL) Atte'st:

ERNEST W. SWIDER' 1 EDWARD J. BRENNER Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents

Claims (1)

1. AN INTEGRAL SUBSTANTIALLY RECTANGULAR BLANK FOR FOLDING INTO A FOUR CELL RECTANGULAR CONTAINER COMPRISING A TOP PORTION, A BODY PORTION, A BOTTOM PORTION AND A LINER PORTION, SAID BODY PORTION INCLUDING FOUR SIDE WAL PANELS AND A WALL ANGLE FOLD LINE BETWEEN ADJACENT WALL PANELS, EACH OF SAID WALL PANELS HAVING AN UPPER EDGE AND A LOWER EDGE, SAID TOP PORTIN INCLUDING FOUR TOP PANELS HAVING LOWER EDGES CONNECTED BY FOLD LINES TO RESPECTIVE SAID WALL PANEL UPPER EDGES, SAID BOTTOM PORTION INCLUDING FOUR BOTTOM TRAPEZOIDAL PANELS HAVING UPPER EDGES AND LOWER EDGES, SAID UPPER EDGES OF SAID BOTTOM PANELS BEING APPROXIMATELY TWICE AS LONG AS SAID LOWER EDGES BEING CONNECTED BY A FOLD LINE TO AND SUBSTANTIALLY COEXTENSIVE WITH RESPECTIVE SAID WALL PANEL LOWER EDGES, SAID LINER PORTION INCLUDING FOUR LINER PANELS EACH HAVING SIDE EDGES AND AN UPPER EDGE WITH SAID UPPER EDGE BEING APPROXIMATELY EQUAL TO SAID BOTTOM PANEL UPPER EDGE, SAID LINER PORTION HAVING PANEL HINGE LINES RESPECTIVELY BETWEEN ADJACENT SAID LINER PANELS AND SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO SAID LINER PANEL SIDE EDGES, SAID LINER PORTION FURTHER HAVING CREASE LINES SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO SAID PANEL HINGE LINES AND RESPECTIVELY SPACED SUBSTANTIALLY MIDWAY BETWEEN EACH SAID LINER PANEL SAID EDGES, EACH SAID LINER PANEL UPPER EDGE BETWEEN ONE OF ITS SAID SIDE EDGE AND ITS SAID CREASE LINE BEING CONNECTED TO RESPECTIVE SAID BOTTOM PANEL LOWER EDGE.

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