US3178093A - Reinforced container - Google Patents

Description

April 13, 1965 P. WASYLUKA R'INFORCED CONTAINER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filedec.

NVENOR; Y R41/L mm/KA April 13, i965. P vwAsYLuKA 3,178,093

REINFORCED CONTAINER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 5l, 1962 INVENTOR. ,DAU/ WASH. UKA

. arranged wall relation.

United States This invention appertains to reinforcing means for shipping containers or cartons made from bendable materials and particularly to shipping containers or cartons made from solid libreboard which employ a rigidificd corner structure.

Various types of shipping containers are employed for use in storing and transporting bottle goods such as soft drinks and the like. One particular typc of shipping container constructed of solid tibrcboard or paperboard i: `employed to store and transport 24 twelve ounce bottles of beverage. Quite often fibreboard shipping containers of this type arc of open top construction. that is no top closure member is provided. Such containers are most t ften provided with handhole openings in each end wall to facilitate manual handling. When such containers are lift'- ed manually, due to the inherent flexibility of the breboard material, reinforcing means must be provided along the upper edge of the container to prevent liexure and failure of the container end walls. Furthermore, it lias been found that such containers absent extrinsic reinforcing means, tend to flex or distend out of their nefmal and proper rectangular shape, which interferes with highly mechanized packaging lines and handling vprocedures Heretofore, it has been found necessary and desira. le to provide extrinsic reinforcing means such as rela ,ively heavy guage wire placed in and Secured to the upper margin of the container to reinforce and rigidify such shipping container. While such wire reinforcing means satisfactorily strengthens the container for the rough usage such a container is subjected to, the use of metallic reinforcing means is often objectionable for several reasons. It is diiiicult to fixedly secure a wire or similar metallic reinforcing means into a container. In addition metallic reinforcing means may be subject to rust or other deterioration during use. Also in order to salvagt4 the tibreboard container for scrap purposes, metallic reir; 'orcing means must be removed and this is accomplished'only with some difficulty.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a shipping container of the type described which, by reason of its novel construction, is reinforced and rigiditied against accidental liexing or distortion, without requiring` additional or expensive reinforcing means such as wire and the like. t

it is anotherobject of this invention to provide a shipping container, formed from a foldable blank, which is integrally reinforced and rigidied in open rectangular A further object of this invention is to provide integral reinforcing means for open top shipping containers in which the corner portions are reinforced by a novel conioination of inwardly bulging corner scores and reinforcing apsin xedly stressed and abutting engagement therewith to effec-t a corner structure in rigid right angular relation.

A desirable embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings which form a part of the description of the invention.

FIGURE l is a plan view of a container blank embodying the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary plan view of the blank partially erected;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional View through lines 3-3 of FIGURE 2 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Eltlt ice FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary' plan view of the blank showing a furtherstage of erection;

FIGURE 5 is a sectionall view taken along lines S-5 of FIGURE 4 in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary plan view of a blank embodying the invention shown in a still further stage of erection;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged sectional view taken along lines 7 7 in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged sectional view taken along lines 8 8 in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged detail partly in section and partly in perspective of a reinforced corner of the prepared blank shown in FIGURE 6.

FIGURE i() is a perspective view of an erected container embodying the invention, preparatory to sealing the bottom closure;

FIGURE ll is a perspective view of a fully erected container;

FIGURE l2 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of a corner of a container embodying the invention; and

FIGURE 13 is an enlarged sectional View of a corner of a container embodying the invention.

The invention is particularly adapted to embodiment in containers constructed of solid fibreboard or other suitable bendable sheet material having a caliper or thickness of 80 to 90 thousandths of an inch. Conventional fibreboards in this range are comprised of laminated plies of paperboard and combinations of plies of paperboard with other suitable flexible materials which are adhesively secured together. Fibreboards in the described range of thickness are quite rigid and must be suitably scored in order to fold at sheets of the material into container form.

Fibreboard scoring and resulting folds have distinctive characteristics which are utilized in a novel and advantageous manner in the present invention. The nature of the scores hcrcindescribed are characterized by a relatively narrow male score which is impressed in the outer surface of the libreboard sheet and a cooperative aligned female score on the opposite inner surface of the sheet which is of a substantially greater width. The female score results in a raised crown or bead which extends outwardly of the surface plane of the breboard. The regular folding of such a score results in a fold line wherein the male score is disposed interiorly of the fold and the female score exteriorly thereof. If the described lines of scoring are reversely folded, as generally utilized irr the present invention, the female score is disposed interiorly of the fold so that the protruding bead is amplitied to provide a pronounced inward protrusion whereas, the exterior or male side of the score is free of protrusion and gives a smooth substantially rounded or angulatcd exterior surface. This above described character of the scores will be more apparent in reference to the detailed description of the drawings following.

A blank 20 which embodies a desirable form of the invention is shown in FIGURE l. This blank is die cut from a suitable fibreboard sheet and is scored as described above to provide an arrangement of foldably connected panels, flaps and reinforcing members. In this view the scoring is indicated by a pair of closely spaced solid lines representing the male scores and dotted line on both sides of the male scores representing the boundaries of the female scores. Of course, the male and female scores are actually on opposite surfaces of the blank as aforementioned. More particularly the blank 20 ce` scribed in terms applicable to the container erected therefrom, comprises rectangular side wall panels 21-22 which are arranged in alternating relation with end wall panels 2344. The panels are foldably connected by vertic`a1 3 corner scores -27. vThe remote side edge 28 of side wall 21 also comprises one end edge of the blank 20. Corner connecting ap 29 is foldably connected to the side edge of end wall 24 by the corner connecting apscore 30. The bottom edge of the wall panels 21-24 is determined by bottom flap score 31 which further serves as the hinge connection of the side bottom flaps 32 associated with the side walls 21-22 and thehinge connection vof the endbottom flaps 33 which are associated with the end walls 23-24.

The top edge of the wall panels 21-24 is determined by top edge score 34 which serves as the hinge connection of the reinforcing assembly 35. The reinforcing assembly is comprised of a multiplicity of .plies forming a reinforcing rim which will reinforce the top marginal prised in the preferred embodiment of side wall inner reinforcing members 36 and end wall inner reinforcing members 37 which Vare foldably connected to the outer side wall reinforcing members 38 and end wall outer reinforcing members 39 by the bottom reinforcing assembly score 40. The outer reinforcing members 38-39 are in turn foldably connected to side wall intermediate reinforcing members 41 and end wall intermediate reinforcing members 42 by the subjacent top score 43.

Also shown in FIGURE l, the inner reinforcing members`36-37 each have end edges 44 which are in spaced relation to the line of the respective corner scores 25-27 and'30 by a determined distance which will be described hereinafter. The free edges 44 adjacent the line of the corner scores 25-27 in part determine slots 45 which are further determined by arcuate edges 46 which extend to the remote boundaries of the female scores 34 and 40.

The end edge 47 of inner reinforcing member 36 adjacent"r the edge 28 of the blank is recessed from said edge 28 an amount substantially equal to one-half the width of a slot 45 except for an arcuate edge portion 48 which is disposed substantially adjacent to the near edge'of female score 34. The end portion 49 of this inner reinforcingv member 36 is diminished in vertical height having a free bottom edge 50 disposed substantially adjacent the near edge of female score 40. At the remote edge of the blank, end wall inner reinforcing member 37 is provided with a free end edge 50 which is spaced from the line of the corner connecting tiap score in a manner similar to the disposition of edge 47. The ends of the free edge 50 are determined by arcuate portions 51 adjacent the remote edges of the female scores 34 and 40 and thence outwardly to the edge 52 of the blank thus determining a cutout 53.

Continuing in reference to FIGURE l, the outer reinforcing members 38-39 are hingedly connected at their adjacent end edges by corner webs 54. Said corner webs 54 are scored bythe buttress scores 55 in alignment with the respective corner scores 25-27 and 30. The end wall" outer reinforcing member 39 adjacent the end edge 52 of the blank is foldably connected by the buttress score 55 to a corner connecting tab 56. The side wall inner reinforcing member 38 adjacent the end edge 28 of the blank has a free end edge 57 which is spaced from the blank edge 28 an amount sucient to accommodate the corner connecting tab 56 in the erected condition of the container. This edge 57 is extended to determine the end edge of the adjacent side wall intermediate reinforcing member 41. The connected together intermediate reinforcing members 41-42 are separated by slots 58 determined by the free end edges 59 of the respective members and the top edge 60 of the corner webs 54. The free end edges 59 are substantially aligned with the respective free edges 44 of the inner reinforcing members 36-37. `15

margin of the container walls 21-24 inclusive.

The end edge of end wall intermediate reinforcing member 42 adjacent the edge 52 of the blank is determined by a free edge 61 in alignment with the end edge 50 of the inner reinforcing member 37. The wall panels are provided with handholes 62 as shown in the end walls 23-24.

The successive stages of preassembly of the blank preparatory to forming the same into rectangular container formation is shown in FIGURES 2 through 8 inclusive. In these views FIGURES 2, 4 and 6 show sections of the inner surface of the blank 20. Preferably the intermediate, outer and inner members of the reinforcing assembly 35 are successively reversely folded or rolled to form a reinforcing rim adjacent the inner surface of the top In the first assembly operation shown in FIGURES 2 and 3, the intermediate reinforcing members 41-42 are reverse folded about the subjacent top score 43 into atwise relation with the respective outer reinforcing members 38-39. This is followed by a second folding operation shown in FIGURES 4 and 5 wherein the reinforcing members are successively folded about the bottom reinforcing assembly score 40 to bring the members of the reinforcing assembly 35 into mutual atwise relation with each other. After a further successive fold about the top edge score 34 the reinforcing assembly 35 is brought into flatwise relation with the top margin of the inner surface of the wall members 21-24 thus completing the preassembled blank of the invention. It is to be noted in regard to FIGURE 6 that the handhole is adjacent the bottom edge of the reinforcing assembly 35 bottom score 40. Preferably the reinforcing assembly 35 extends very lslightly into the handhole to provide a smooth rounded gripping edge. FIGURE 7 is a cross sectional view through line 7-7 of FIGURE 6 and shows the multiplicity of plies of the reinforcing member 35 in fiatwise-relation to the wall member 24 whereby the top edge of the container is determined by the top edge score 34 and the bottom edge of the reinforcing assembly 35 is determined by its bottom score 40. It is well to note in regard to the cross sectional view in FIGURE 7 that variable folds may be obtained with reverse folded solid ber scoring. The view is somewhat stylized for purpose of clarity, whereby it is clearly shown that the scoring and folding may be adapted to encompass various thickness. For example, in a commercial embodiment of the invention involving a container constructed of solid breboard, the reinforcing assembly 35 bottom score 40 and subjacent top score 43 are formed by a one-eighths inch thick male scoring bar and threeeighths wide female die. The top edge score, encompassing the four plies of the reinforcing assembly. may be formed with a three-sixteenths inch male bar and one-half inch female. The cross sectional view FIGURE 8 drawn through line 8-8 of FIGURE 6/ shows the continuity of the wall panels 21-24 and corner webs 54 at the corners of the container. The intermediate and inner reinforcing members are interrupted as shown by the free edges 44 and 59.

The corner construction is shown more clearly in FIG- URE 9 wherein, for example, a corner score 25, a male score depression 63 and the female side of the score 64 which protrudes inwardly of the container are shown. The male depression 65 of the buttress score 55 is disposed inwardly thereof and the inwardly extending female side 66 of the buttress score 55 extends further inwardly of the container to. provide afprotrusion or buttress 66 intervening the free end edges 44 and 59. To further implement the amplification of the buttress score 5S resulting from the impression of the female bead 64, the buttress score is preferably formed with the wider scoring bars as previously described in conjunction with the top edge score 34, FIGURE 7. I

FIGURE l0 shows a partially assembled container formed from the preassembled blank of FIGURE 6 wherein the wall panels 21-24 are formed into tubular rectangular relation with the reinforcing assembly 35 arranged about thetop margins of the container. Completion of the assembly of the container is attained by infolding the end bottom flaps 33 and side bottom flaps 32 and securing the same together as shown in FIGURE 11. FIGURES l2 and 13 show details of the corner construction wherein the free end edges 44 and 59 are in substantially abutting relation with the buttress 66 land the male score side 63 of the corner score is under tension contributing to the rigid disposition of the adjacent Wall panels in right angular corner relation. In regard to the corner construction just described, the respective adjacent wall margins and inner reinforcing members are secured together resulting in the effect that the corner folds of the container walls and corner webs 54 include some 160 to 180 thousandths of an inch of solid fibreboard thickness being folded unitarily. Normally, it is not considered feasible to score and fold solid breboard in excess of 120 tbousandths of an inch yet this is accomplished in the present invention while attaining an advantageous balance between tensioning the outer surfaces of the fold and inward protrusion of the buttress formation.

The preassembled blank of FIGURE 6 cannot be formed into tubular relation by connecting the corner connecting ap and corner connecting tab S6 to the remote side edge 2S of the blank and then collapsed in a normal fashion because of the tensioned and buttrcssed corner construction of the container. Therefore, such preassembled blanks are stored and shipped in flattened condition prior to assembly into tubular container formation as shown in FIGURE l0, ln forming the preassembled blank into container formation the corner connecting ap 23 and corner connecting tab 62 are inserted between the end margin adjacent edge 2S of side wall 21 and the end portion 49 of the inner reinforcing me'mber 36 whereby the corner connecting tab 56 is disposed in the void determined by the recessed end edge 57 of the outer and intermediate reinforcing members 41-43. The corner connecting flap 23 and tab 56 are then secured to the said end margins of the wall panel 21 by stitches 67 or other suitable means.

As before mentioned the members or plies of the reinforcing assembly are secured together and to the inner surface of the top margin of the container walls 21-24 inclusive. Adhesive is the preferred securing means and may be applied conveniently to the inner surface, that is the female score side of the blank, of the intermediate reinforcing members 41 and d2 and the outer surface of the outer reinforcing members 38-39. ifhis adhesive pattern permits a roller application of the adhesive running continuously of the length ofthe blank with out encountering interference with protruding female scores. Other adhesive patterns are possible depending on the method of the folding operation of the reinforcing assembly 35 but, in any case, it is required that the outer reinforcing members 38-39 be secured to the adjacent surfaces of the container walls 21-24.

While the preferred commercial embodiment oir the invention has been described, it is apparent that vaiious modifications are possible. In particular, the succession and direction of the folding of the plies ofthe reinforcing assembly may be altered if the scoring is suitably altered to accommodate itself to the consequent thickness required of each fold and regular folds and cut scoresitmay be used alternatively or in combination with the descfibcd reverse folds. ln any event, the outermost ply or member of the reinforcing assembly preferably includes the corner webs 54 and the reversely folded buttress scores 55, while the intermediate and inner plies or members have free end edges adjacent the buttress when the container walls are folded into tubular relation.

It is to be understood that the embodiments herein described are illustrative and not restrictive, it is also to be understood that the invention may be susceptible to ernbodiment in other modified forms, and that all s/uch modifications which are similar to or equivalent hereto come equally within the scope-of the claims next'appearing.

In the claims:

l. A rigidied container having upright wallsl connected by corner scores and disposed in tubular relation and bottom closure means, the container formed from a foldable blank andV having a reinforcing assembly foldably connected and disposed in flatwise relation to the inner surface of the top margins of the container walls, the yreinforcing assembly including inner, outer and intermediate members in hingedly connected relation, the outer members being secured to the respective container walls, said outer members connected at their end edges by corner webs, the corner webs each having a score in alignment with the respective wall corner score and with an inwardly protruding bead, the intermediate and inner members having free end edges adjacent the respective corner web beads, said beads forming a buttress corner structure with the said free end edges, rigidfying the corners in determined angular relation.

2. A rigidied container as set forth in claim l wherein the corner scores of the upright walls have inwardly protruding bends, said corner score inwardly protruding beads being impressed against the aligned corner web scores amplifying the inward protrusion thereof.

3. A rigidifted container as set forth in claim 2 wherein the corner web scores are of greater width than the wall corner scores to increase the inward protrusion of the corner web score inner beads.

4. A rigidiied container as set forth in claim 3 wherein the foldable blank is comprised of multiple plies laminated together and having a combined thickness in the range of about SO to thousandths of an inchv 5.` A rigidied container formed from a foldable blank having side and end wall panels in alternating relation l and connected together by corner scores, a corner connecting flap foldably connected to one wall panel side edge by a corner score, the wall panels arranged in tubular relation; the container including a reinforcing assembly foldably connected and disposed in flatwise relation to the inner surface of the top margins of the container walls and including inner, outer, and intermediate mem- A bers in hingedly connected relation with the inner and intermediate members being provided with free end edges, the outer members being secured to the respective container walls, said outer members connected at their end edges by corner webs, the corner websieach having a score in alignment-with the respective wall corner score, one outer member having a connecting tab in juxtaposition to the corner connecting flap, the connecting flap and connesting tab overlapping and secured to the adjacent one of the tubularly arranged wall panels with the connecting ap and connecting tab between the margin of said adjacent one wall panel and the end portion of the respective inner reinforcing member, the respective'outer and intermediate reinforcing members having a recessed end edge to accommodate the connecting flap and tab.

6/A rigidified container as set forth in claim 5 wherein the corner web scores each have inwardly protruding beads and the intermediate and inner members free end edges at least in part disposed adjacent said inwardly protruding beads rigidifying the container corners in de termined angular relation.

7. A rigidied container as set forth in claim 6 wherein the corner scores of the upright walls have inwardly protruding beads, said corner score inwardly protruding bead being impressed against the aligned comer web scores amplifying the inward protrusion thereof.

8. A rigidified container as set forth in claim 7 wherein the foldable blank is comprised of multiple plies laminated together and having a combined thickness in the range of about 8O to 90 thousandths of an inch.

9. A rigidified container as set forth in claim 8 wherein the corner web scores are of greater width .than the wall scores to increase the inward protrusion of the corner `web score inner beads.

l0. A rigiditicd open top Container formed from a fold- :iblc blank of solid tiberboard, the container having upright walls disposed in rectangular tubular relation, tbe walls being foldably connected by cornerscores with inwardly protruding beads, the container including a multiple ply -vin'tegral reinforcing assembly comprising reinforcing members hingedly connected to the top margins of the respective walls and folded in mutual atwise relation and adhesively secured to the interior of the top mari ginsof each of the container walls, one ply of said reinforcing members including corner webs at cach corner of the container, thc corner webs scored to provide protrudiving beads in align-ment with the respective corner score protruding beads, the remaining reinforcing members having free end edges adjacent the said protruding beads, said beads forming a buttress corner structure with said free end edges, rigidifying the corners in determined angular relation.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,146,115 7/15 Weiss. 1,158,130 10/15 Hawkins. 1,198,298 9/ 16 Walter. 2,220,388 11/40 Bearnan. 2,474,523 6/ 49 Guyer. 2,752,032 6/ 56 Fish. 2,994,468 8/ 61 George et al.

GEORGE O. RALSTQN,` Primary Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. A RIGIDIFIED CONTAINER HAVING UPRIGHT WALLS CONNECTED BY CORNER SCORES AND DISPOSED IN TUBULAR RELATION AND BOTTOM CLOSURE MEANS, THE CONTAINER FORMED FROM A FOLDABLE BLANK AND HAVING A REINFORCING ASSEMBLY FOLDABLY CONNECTED AND DISPOSED IN FLATWISE RELATION TO THE INNER SURFACE OF THE TOP MARGINS OF THE CONTAINER WALLS, THE REINFORCING ASSEMBLY INCLUDING INNER, OUTER AND INTERMEDIATE MEMBERS IN HINGEDLY CONNECTED RELATION, THE OUTER MEMBERS BEING SECURED TO THE RESPECTIVE CONTAINER WALLS, SAID OUTER MEMBERS CONNECTED AT THEIR END EDGES BY CORNER WEBS, THE CORNER WEBS EACH HAVING A SCORE IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE RESPECTIVE WALL CENTER SCORE AND WITH AN INWARDLY PROTRUDING BEAD, THE INTERMEDIATE AND INNER MEMBERS HAVING FREE END EDGES ADJACENT THE RESPECTIVE CORNER WEB BEADS, SAID BEADS FORMING A BUTTRESS CORNER STRUCTURE WITH THE SAID FREE AND EDGES, RIGIDFYING THE CORNERS IN DETERMINED ANGULAR RELATION.

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