US3337115A - Container - Google Patents

Description

JONES CONTAINER Aug. 22, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct 20, 1965 INVENTOR. Jae Manes ATTOR/ VZ'Y Aug. 22, 1967 J. JONE S 3,337,115

CONTAINER Filed Oct. 20, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 74 v I i i I ,4 TTOR/VE United States Patent 3,337,115 CONTAINER Joe Jones, Memphis, Tenn., assignor to St. Joe Paper Company, Jacksonville, Fla., a corporation of Florida Filed Oct. 20, 1965, Ser. No. 498,674 8 Claims. (Cl. 22939) This invention relates to improvements in containers, and more particularly concerns a container typically formed of corrugated fiberboard or the like specifically adapted to be used for packing, transporting and storing shirts or other garments of wear and specifically constructed to provide a self-locking bottom and top.

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

Another general object of the subject invention is the provision of an improved collapsible container having a self-locking bottom and top.

A particular object of the subject invention is to provide an improved container for packaging garments which are to be transported and/or stored.

Another particular object of this invention is to provide an integral, prescored and precut blank for folding into a collapsible container for shipment thereof; and in use, being readily erectable into a container for garments.

A specific object of the invention is to provide an integral pre-scored and pre-cut blank for folding into a garment container having a self-locking bottom and top, which may be shipped fiat and readily erected, assembled, and knocked-down for storage and later reuse thereof.

A further specific object of the subject invention is to provide an improved container, a number of which may be readily stacked one on the next in a square, even and level manner.

Yet another specific object of this invention is to provide an improved container having flaps forming a selflocking bottom and self-locking top, the bottom and top of which are essentially planar and flat after folding of such flaps.

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:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the integral pre-scored and pre-cut blank in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial top perspective exterior view of the container, folded and erected from the blank of FIG. 1, with one of the top flaps shown in closed position;

FIG. 3 is a top perspective view similar to FIG. 2 with three of the top flaps in closed positions;

FIG. 4 is a top view of the container showing the top flaps, as the fourth top flap is being manipulated into closed position;

FIG. 5 is a partial top perspective exterior view of the assembled container with all of the top flaps in their closed and locked positions;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the locked top of the assembled container taken along line 66 of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a plurality of the containers of this invention stacked one upon another.

Referring now more particularly to FIG. 1, there is provided an integral pre-scored and pre-cut blank 10, cut from a substantially rectangular sheet of single walled corrugated fiberboard with a minimum of waste thereof. The broken lines 12 generally indicate crease lines scored on the blank 10, while the full lines 14 generally indicate fold lines or hinge lines scored on the blank 10. In accordance with this invention, integral blank 10 comprises a top portion 16, a body portion 18, and bottom portion 20, similar to the top portion 16; all portions being more particularly described hereinbelow.

Body portion 18 includes four wall panels 22, 24, 26, and 28; side wall panel 24 being connected to end wall panel 22 by wall angle fold line 30, and end wall panel 26 being connected to side wall panel 24 by wall angle fold line 32, and side wall panel 28 being connected to end wall panel 26 by wall angle fold line 34. Additionally connected to end wall panel 22 by wall angle fold line 36 is a flap or panel 38 adapted to be glued or otherwise connected to side wall panel 28 to form and maintain blank 10 in a collapsed container condition. Wall angle fold lines 30, 32, 34 and 36 are substantially parallel one to another. Wall panel 22 has a pair of side edges 40 and 42; wall panel 24 has a pair of side edges 44 and 46; wall panel 26 has a pair of side edges 48 and 50; and side wall panel 28 has a pair of side edges 52 and 54; all of the panel side edges 40 through 54 being substantially parallel to wall angle fold lines 30 through 36.

Attached to end Wall panel 22 by fold line 56 along its upper edge 58 is an end top panel 62; the top panel 62 being connected along its lower edge 60 to wall panel 22 by fold line 56. Connected to side wall panel 24 by fold line 64 along its upper edge 66 is a side top panel 68, which panel 68 is joined to wall panel 24 along this top panels lower edge 70. Another end top panel 72, which is similar to panel 62, is connected to wall panel 26 along fold line 74, fold line 74 being creased in the blank along the upper edge 76 of wall panel 26 and the lower edge 78 of top panel 72. Attached to side wall panel 28 by fold line 80 along the upper edge 82 of panel 28 is an additional side top panel 84, which is connected along its lower edge 86 to panel 28. Fold lines 64 and 80 which extend respectively between side Wall panel 24 and side top panel 60 and side wall panel 28 and side top panel 84 are substantially perpendicular to fold lines 30 through 36. Top panels 62, 68, 72 and 84 comprise the top portion 16 of the container blank 10.

The bottom portion 20 of container blank 10 comprises bottom panels 88, 90, 92 and 94, which bottom panels are respectively similar to top panel 62, 68, 72 and 84. End bottom panel 88 is connected to the lower edge 96 0f wall panel 22 by fold line 98, which fold line is adjacent the upper edge 100 of bottom panel 88. Attached to the lower edge 102 of wall panel 24 and by fold line 104 is a side bottom panel 90; the fold line 104 being adjacent the upper edge 106 of bottom panel 90. The fold line 104 is substantially perpendicular to wall angle fold lines 30 through 36. Connected to side wall panel 26 along fold line 108 and adjacent the lower edge 110 of this wall panel 26 is end bottom panel 92, which adjoins fold line 108 along its upper edge 112. An additional side bottom panel 94 is connected to side wall panel 28 along fold line 114. This fold line 114 is substantially perpendicular to wall angle fold lines 30 through 36 and is adjacent to the lower edge 116 of wall panel 28 and the upper edge 118 of bottom panel 94.

In accordance with this invention fold lines 56 and 98 are scored in the blank in positions which are not perpendicular to wall angle fold lines 30 and 36, and are not parallel one to another. These fold lines 56 and 98 are at a slight angle to each other and to fold lines 64 and 104 respectively, such that they converge toward each other from fold line 30 to fold line 36. In other words, fold line 30 is of greater length or dimension than fold line 36; the dimension of fold line 36 being such that its length when added to approximately twice the thickness of the corrugated fiberboard from which blank 10 is cut, equals the dimensional length of fold line 30. Side wall panel 26 is identical in dimension to side wall panel 22. That is, the dimension of fold line 32 is greater than the dimension of fold line 34 by twice the thickness of the corrugated fiberboard. Therefore, of body portion 18, side wall panels 24 and 26 are rectangular in shape, while end wall panels 22 and 26 are trapezoidal in shape, as will be explained more fully hereinafter.

Side edges 120 and 122 of top panel 68 and side edges 124 and 126 of bottom panel 98 are tapered slightly inwardly from the lower attached edge 70 to upper free edge 128 of top panel 68 and from the upper attached edge 160 to lower free edge 130 of bottom panel 90. The length or dimension of upper free edge 128 and lower free edge 13% is slightly less than the dimension of lower attached edge 70 and upper attached edge 186. Tapering of these top and bottom panels 68 and 90 assures that panel 38, and particularly upper edge 128 thereof and panel 90, particularly lower edge 130 thereof, may be easily folded inward into the containing space proper within the box perimeter once the blank has been erected into the shape of a rectangular box having 90 wall angles between its upstanding walls.

Top panel 84 is provided with, adjacent its upper edge 132, two tabs or flaps 134 and 135, which when the top of the formed container is closed will engage together with upper edge 132 under top panel 68 adjacent its upper edge 128 such as to lock the top of the container in a closed position. Similar tabs or flaps 138 and 140 are provided adjacent the lower edge 142 of bottom panel 94, which will together with lower edge 142, when the bottom of the former container is closed, engage under bottom panel 90 adjacent its lower edge 130 such as to lock the bottom of the container in a closed position.

Top portion 16 of the blank 10 is provided with dust tongues or tabs 150 and 152 on top side panel 84, 154 Within top end panel 72, and 156 on top end panel 62. The dust tabs 158, 152, 154 and 156, when the top of the container is closed, will effectively prevent dirt from entering the interior of the contained and soiling the garments such as shirts, blouses, or the like which have been packaged, shipped, and/ or stored therein. These dust tabs also aid in forming and maintaining proper and more rigid corners, and enable the container to maintain a substantially fiat planer surface when the same has been set up and the top thereof manipulated into its closed position. Similar dust tabs are provided in the bottom portion 20 of the blank 10 at 158, 160, 162 and 164.

Crease lines 166 and 168 are provided within top side panel 68 and similar crease lines 170 and 172 are respectively provided in top end panels 62 and 72. These crease lines 166, 168, 178 and 172 are provided in the top panels to square up the box by making the top, when closed, more planar, i.e., the folded top panels tend to be in a less thick plane than if no such crease lines are provided. By providing these crease lines the top of the container, when it is in the closed position, is able romaintain a flat surface onto which another container may be effectively stacked, as hereinafter more fully described in connection with FIG. 7. Additionally, the crease lines provide for the easier opening and closing of the container top; and as the container is intended to be reused a number of times, prevent damage to the corrugated fiberboard material, such as by ripping or tearing at the various bending areas and other areas of contact of the top panels, when the same are opened and closed repeatedly during the continued use of the container. Similar crease lines 174, 176, 178 and 180 are provided in the bottom panels of the container blank 18 for the same reasons as set forth with respect to crease lines 166, 168, 170 and 172 in the top panels.

The dimensional lengths of upper edge 132 of top panel 84 and the lower edge 142 of bottom panel 94 are greater, respectively, than the dimensional length of upper edge 128 of top panel 68 between where the crease lines 166 and 168 intersect this edge 128, and lower edge 136 of bottom panel where crease lines 17 1 and 176 intersect this edge 138, such that when the top and bottom of the container are properly folded and closed these edges 132 and 142 are maintained in an engaged and locked position underneath top panel 68 and bottom panel 98 respectively.

To form the container blank 10 into a collapsed container, blank 10 is first folded upwardly along fold line 32 and along fold line 36. Flap 38 is then positioned adjacent the inside of wall panel 28 such that fold line 36 and sideedge 54 of wall panel 28 are closely parallel. The flap 38 is secured to the inside of Wall panel 28 by any of a number of suitable means, such as by stapling or gluing and a collapsed container is formed as known in the art. The container is normally fabricated to this collapsed condition and then shipped to the location where it is to be used and/ or stored until it is desired to put the container into use, at which time the collapsed container is erected into its usable form.

To set up or erect the collapsed container into a usable container the procedure shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 5 is followed for securing either the top or bottom of the container in a closed position, and for the purpose of clarity only, the manipulation of the top panels will be described. As depicted in FIG. 2 the blank 10, having previously been folded inward along fold lines 32 and 36 to form a collapsed container, is now squared up by directing forces inwardly adjacent fold lines 32 and 36 such that the container has the side and end wall panels upstanding with 90 wall angles between adjacent wall panels to form a container having a rectangular crosssection. The next step is the securing of the self-locking bottom, although securing of the top of the container will be described by folding inwardly of the box perimeter along fold line 64, side top panel 68 to a position as shown in FIG. 2. As the side edges and 122 are inwardly tapered, side top panel 68 will easily and readily fold inward between end top panels 62 and 72, and between wall panels 22 and 26. End top panels 62 and 72 are then folded inward of the box perimeter along respective fold lines 56 and 74, until they engage portions of and overlie the previously in-folded top panel 62, as depicted in FIG. 3. The other side top panel 84- is folded inward of the box perimeter along fold line 80 until it rests on and over portions of previously in-folded end top panels 62 and 72 and side top panel 68. Then to lock and secure this self-locking top of the container in a closed position, side top panel 84 is further depressed downwardly and inwardly of the container from the horizontal such that edge 132 is positioned out of contact with the portion of side top panel 68 adjacent its edge 128, and edge 132 and tabs 134 and 136 become positioned beneath the upper edge 128 of top panel 68 as shown in FIG. 4. During the further depressing or inward folding of top panel 84, crease lines 178 on top panel 62, 172 on top panel 72, and 166 and 168 on top panel 68 bend downwardly slightly to permit the depressing of top panel 84 beyond the upper edge 128 of top panel 68 to be accomplished without damaging the corrugated fiberboard material. To complete the securing or the locking of the top closure of the container, the downward pressure which has been applied to top panel 84 is released and panel 84 resiliently moves back toward the horizontal position such that its locking edge 132 together with tabs 134 and 136 are secured and retained underneath top panel 68, as depicted in FIG. 5. There is thus formed a container with a top closure secured in the closed position which has a relatively level and horizontal flat surface.

Once one end of the box has been secured or locked in a closed position, such as the top as seen in FIG. 5, the box may be packed with clothing such as shirts, blouses or the like, or any other articles desired to be packaged therein. When the packing of the container is completed the other end thereof, be it top or bottom, is secured and locked in the closed position in a manner identical to that shown and described in connection with FIGS. 2-5.

To open the top of the container, once the same has been secured in a closed position, a slight downward pressure is exerted on inward folded side top panel 68 along its upper edge 128. This slight depressing of side top panel 68 releases the upper edge 132 and tabs 134 and 136 as top panel 84 from their engaged position underneath this panel '68, such that top panel 84 pops-up above panel 68 and the remainder of the container top is easily opened by unfolding top panels 62, 72 and 69. The container bottom is readily opened in a like manner.

A cross-section through the box top is shown in FIG. 6 which depicts the upper edge 132 of side top panel 84 and tab 136 retained under side top panel 68 adjacent its upper edge-128. A portion of end top panel 62 is positioned above top panel 68 while the other portion of the end top panel 62 is positioned below top panel 84, which panel is provided with the locking edge and tabs. Additionally, as can be seen in FIGS. 5 and 6, the corners 182, 184, 186 and 190 of the box top are all in the same horizontal plane and are all at the same level. The corners of the container bottom are also all in the same horizontal plane and at the same level. This feature of the container, i.e., all four corners of the top and bottom when closed being planar, makes it possible for these containers to be stacked and stored in a square and even order, such as depicted in FIG. 7. The stacking capabilities of the containers is attained by fabricating the container blanks such that the end wall panels 22 and 26 are trapezoidal in form as explained hereinabove. That is, the fold lines 30 and 32 of respective wall panels 22 and 26 are of a dimensional length which is greater than fold lines 36 and 34 of wall panels 22 and 26 by an amount equal to twice the thickness of the corrugated fiberboard material from which the container is fabricated. If the end wall panels 22 and 26 of the container of this invention were not trapezoidal in shape, neither the four corners of the top nor the bottom of the container would lie in a horizontal plane, nor would the four corners of the top or bottom all be at the same height; therefore, it would be impossible to stack these containers one on top of another in a square and even order. When the container is folded and erected for use and after packing thereof, all-four corners of the box bottom or top will be level and at the same height, and the dimensional length of fold lines 34 and 36 plus the additional dimensional thickness of infolded side top panel 84 and the additionaldimensional thickness of infolded side botom panel 94 will equal the dimensional length of fold lines 30 and 32, such that all four corners of the container top or bottom lie in the same horizontal plane and at the same height or level to permit the containers to be stacked in a square and even order as depicted in FIG. 7.

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 rectangular blank of corrugated fiberboard for folding into a container having a self-locking top and bottom comprising in combination a top portion, a body portion, and a bottom portion, said body portion including two end wall panels and two side wall panels, adjacent wall panels being joined by wall angle fold lines, each of said wall panels having an upper edge, a lower edge, and side edges adjacent respective said wall angle fold lines, 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 connected by fold lines to respective said wall panel lower edges, said top panels and bottom panels being adapted to be folded to form a self-locking top and bottom respectively, said two end wall panels of said body portion being trapezoidal in shape with said side edges of each said end wall panel being parallel, one said side edge of each said end wall panel being of a dimensional length equal to the dimensional length of the other said side edge of said end wall panel and twice the thickness dimension of said corrugated fiberboard, said two side wall'panels of said body portion being rectangular in shape with each of said side edges thereof being of a dimensional length intermediate the dimensional lengths of the side edges of said end wall panels such that when said top and bottom portions of said container are locked in closed position the upper exposed surfaces of said top panels closely adjacent the corners of the closed top are in the same horizontal plane and the lower exposed surfaces of said bottom panels closely adjacent the corners of the closed bottom are in the same horizontal plane.

2; An integral blank formed of corrugated fiberboard for folding into a rectangular container having a selflocking top and bottom comprising in combination a top portion, a body portion, and a bottom portion, said body portion including two end wall panels, two side wall panels and wall angle fold lines between adjacent wall panels, each of said wall panels having an upper edge and lower edge, said top portion including two end top panels and two side top panels each of said top panels having lower edges connected by fold lines to respective said wall panel upper edges, said bottom portion including two end bottom panels and two side bottom panels, each of said bottom panels having upper edges connected by fold lines to respective said wall panel lower edges, one side panel of each said top and bottom panels having an edge portion for engagement beneath an edge portion of an oppositely disposed top and bottom side panel whereby said top and bottom portions may be locked in closed position, said end panels of said top portion having an outer free edge, said outer free edge extending from one side edge of each said end panel horizontally and substantially parallel to said lower edge of each said top end panels to a first point adjacent the mid-point of said outer free edge, said outer free edge extending from said first point generally vertically downwardly and inwardly of said each end panel and generally parallel to said side edge to a second point spaced a first distance from said lower edge, said outer free edge extending from said second point angularly downwardly and outwardly to a third point spaced a second distance from said lower edge, said third point being more closely adjacent said lower edge than said second point, said outer free edge extending from said third point downwardly and outwardly to a fourth point closely adjacent said lower edge and the other side edge of said end panel, said outer free edge between said third and fourth points defining the outer edge of a dust tab for inhibiting the ingress of dust into the container, said edge portion of said one side panel of said top portion having an outer free edge, said outer free edge being formed of a central portion substantially horizontal and parallel to said lower edge of said one top side panel, said outer free edge extending angularly inwardly and downwardly from said central portion to a first pair of points spaced a first distance from said lower edge, said outer free edge extending from said first points angularly outwardly and downwardly to a second pair of points spaced a second distance from said lower edge with said second distance being less than said first distance, said outer free edge extending from said second points outwardly and downwardly to a third pair of points closely adjacent respective ends of said lower edge of said one top side panel, said outer free edge between said respective second and third points defining the outer edge of a pair of dust tabs closely adjacent said ends of said lower edge of said one top side panel for inhibiting the ingress of dust into said container, said end panels of said top portion being provided with a crease line on their 1nward surfaces thereof extending from said lower dg of each said top end panel closely adjacent said one i edge to said second point of each said top end panel, said oppositely disposed top side panel being provided with a pair of crease lines on its inward surface respectively extending from each side edge of said top side panel closely adjacent said lower edge and converging upwardly and inwardly toward the mid-section of and intersecting with the upper free edge of said top side panel whereby when said top panels are folded into closed interleaved positions said top panels lie in a relatively thin plane,

3. A rectangular container formed from corrugated fiberboard having a predetermined thickness dimension comprising a self-locking top portion, a body portion, and a self-locking bottom portion, said body portion including two vertical upstanding side wall panels and two vertical upstanding end wall panels, adjacent wall panels being joined by wall angle fold lines, each of said wall panels having an upper edge, a lower edge, and side edges adjacent respective said wall angle fold lines, said top portion including two side top panels having lower edges connected by fold lines to respective said two side Wall panel upper edges, said top portion further including two end top panels having lower edges connected by fold lines to respective said two end wall panel upper edges, said bottom portion including two side bottom panels having upper edges connected by fold lines to respective said two side wall panel lower edges said bottom portion further including two end bottom panels having upper edges connected by fold lines to respective said two end wall panel lower edges, said top panels and bottom panels being adapted to be folded and interleaved to form a self-locking top and bottom respectively, said two end wall panels of said body portion being trapezoidal in shape with said side edges of each said end wall panel being parallel, one said side edge of each said end wall panel being of a dimensional length equal to the dimensional length of the other said side edge of said end wall panel and twice the thickness dimension of said corrugated fiberboard, said two side wall panels of said body portion being rectangular in shape with each of said id edges thereof being of a dimensional length intermediate the dimensional lengths of the side edges of said end W ll panels such that when said top and bottom portions of said container are locked in closed position the upper eX- posed surfaces of said top panels closely adjacent the corners of the closed top are in the same horizontal plane and the lower exposed surfaces of said bottom panels closely adjacent the corners of the closed bottom are in the same horizontal plane whereby the containers may be stacked in a square and even order.

4. A rectangular container formed from corrugated fiberboard comprising a body portion having two vertical upstanding side wall panels and two vertical upstanding end wall panels, connected one to the next by wall angle fold lines, each of said wall panels having an upper edge and a lower edge, a bottom portion including a plurality of panels respectively connected to said wall panel lower edges, a self-locking top portion having two end top panels and two side top panels, each of said top panels having lower edges connected by fold lines to respective said wall panel upper edges, one side panel of said top panels having an edge portion for engagement benath an edge portion of the other and oppositely disposed top side panel with said end panels of said top portion partially underlying said one side panel of said top portion whereby said top portion may be locked in closed position, each said end panel of said top portion having an outer free edge, said outer free edge extending from one side edge of each said end panel, adjacent said one side panel, horizontally and substantially parallel to said lower edge of each said top end panel to a first point adjacent 8 the mid-point of said outer free edge, said outer free edge extending from said first point inwardly of said each end panel and generally parallel to said one side edge to a second point spaced a first distance from said lower edge, said outer free edge extending from said second point angularly and outwardly to a third point spaced a second distance from said lower edge, said third point being more closely adjacent said lower edge than said second point, said outer free edge extending from said third point outwardly to a fourth point closely adjacent said lower edge and the other side edge of each said end panel, said outer free edge between said third and fourth points defining the extremity of a dust tab for inhibiting the ingress of dust into said container, said edge portion of said one side panel of said top portion having an outer free edge, said outer free edge being formed of a central portion substantially horizontal and parallel to said lower edge of said one top side panel, said outer free edge extending angularly inwardly from said central portion to a first pair of points spaced a first distance from said lower edge, said outer free edge extending from said first points angularly outwardly to a second pair of points spaced a second distance from said lower edge with said second distance being less than said first distance, said outer free edge extending from said second points outwardly to a third pair of points closely adjacent respective ends of said lower edge of said one top side panel, said outer free edge begtween said respective second and third points defining the extremity of a pair of dust tabs closely adjacent said ends of said lower edge of said one top side panel for inhibiting the ingress of dust into said container, said top portion end panels each being provided with a crease line on the inward surface thereof extending from said lower edge of each said top end panel closely adjacent said one,

side edge to said second point of each said top end panel, said other oppositely disposed top side panel being provided with a pair of crease lines on its inward surface respectively extending from each side edge of said top side panel closely adjacent said lower edge and converging inwardly toward the mid-section of and intersecting with the upper free edge of said top side panel whereby when said top panels are folded into closed interleaved positions said top panels lie in a relatively thin plane.

5. An integral rectangular blank of corrugated fiberboard for folding into a container having a top portion, a body portion and a bottom portion, said body portion including two end walls and two rectangular side walls, adjacent walls being joined by wall angle fold lines, each of said walls having an upper edge, a lower edge and side edges adjacent respective said wall angle fold lines, one said top and bottom portion including four panels having edges connected by fold lines to respective side walls, said panels being adapted to be folded to form a self-locking portion, said two end walls of said body portion being trapezoidal in shape with said side edges of each said end walls being parallel, one said side edge of each said end wall extending outwardly and terminating beyond the connection with respective said side wall a distance equal substantially to the thickness dimension of said corrugated fiberboard adjacent said self-locking portion, the other said side edge of each said end wall terminating inwardly of the connection with respective said side wall a distance equal substantially to the thickness dimension of said corrugated fiberboard adjacent said self-locking portion, said one edge of each said end wall being connected to one said side wall, said self-locking portion of the container when locked in closed position having the exposed surfaces thereof closely adjacent the corners of the closed self-locking portion in the same horizontal plane.

6. A rectangular container formed from corrugated fiberboard having a predetermined thickness dimension comprising a top portion, a body portion, and a bottom portion, said body portion including two vertical upstanding and rectangular side walls and two vertical upstanding end walls, adjacent walls being joined by wall angle fold lines, each of said walls having an upper edge, a lower edge, and side edges adjacent respective said wall angle fold lines, one of said top and bottom portions including two side panels having lower edges connected by fold lines to respective said two side Wall upper edges, said one portion further including two end panels having lower edges connected by fold lines to respective said two end wall upper edges, said panels being adapted to be folded and interleaved to form a self-locking portion, said two end walls of said body portion being trapezoidal in shape with said side edges of each said end wall being parallel, one said side edge of each said end wall extending outwardly and terminating beyond the connection with respective said side Wall a distance equal substantially to the thickness dimension of said fiberboard adjacent said self-locking portion, the other said side edges of each said end wall terminating inwardly of the connection with respective said side wall a distance equal substantially to the thickness dimension of said corrugated fiberboard adjacent said self-locking portion, said one edge of each said end wall being connected to one said side wall, said selflocking portion of the container when locked in closed position having the exposed surfaces thereof closely adjacent the corners of the closed self-locking portion in the same horizontal plane.

7. The integral blank as defined in claim wherein said four panels of said self-locking portion include two end panels and two side panels, said end panels and side panels of said self-locking portion having a pair of side edges and a free edge spaced from the edge connected to said respective walls, said end panels being provided with a crease line from their inner surfaces thereof eX- tending from said connecting edge and spaced closely adjacent one side edge to a point on said free edge generally midway between said side edges of each said end panel, one said side panel of said self-locking portion being provided with a pair of crease lines on its inner surface respectively extending from each side edge of said one panel closely adjacent its connecting edge and converging upwardly and inwardly toward the midsection of and intersecting with the upper free edge thereof whereby when said panels are folded into closed interleaved positions said panels lie in a relatively thin plane.

8. The rectangular container as defined in claim 6 wherein each of said side and end panels of said selflocking portion has a pair of side edges and a free edge spaced from the edge connected to said respective walls, said end panels being provided with a crease line on their inward surfaces thereof extending from said connecting edge and spaced closely adjacent one side edge to a point on said free edge generally midway between said side edges of each said end panel, one said side panel of said self-locking portion being provided with a pair of crease lines on its inward surface respectively extending from each side edge of said one panel closely adjacent its connecting edge and converging upwardly and inwardly toward the mid-section of and intersecting with the upper free edge thereof whereby when said panels are folded into closed interleaved positions said panels lie in a relatively thin plane.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 917,347 4/ 1909 Neumann 22922 2,306,328 12/ 1942 Biberthaler 22939 2,337,039 12/ 1943 Gardner 22929 2,670,128 2/1954 StoWitts 229-38 2,675,166 4/1954 Main 22938 2,757,853 8/1956 Main 22939 JOSEPH R. LECLAIR, Primary Examiner.

GEORGE O. RALSTON, Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,337,115 August 22, 1967 Joe Jones It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 2 line 53, for "adjoins" read ajoins column 3, line 31 for "former" read formed line 39 for "contained" read container column 5 line 11 for the numeral "69" read 68 column 7 line 65 for "benath" read beneath column 8 line 28 for "begtween" read between Signed and sealed this 2nd day of July 1968 (SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD J. BRENNER Commissioner of Patents Edward M. Fletcher, Jr.

Attesting Officer

Claims (1)

1. AN INTEGRAL RECTANGULAR BLANK OF CORRUGATED FIBERBOARD FOR FOLDING INTO A CONTAINER HAVING A SELF-LOCKING TOP AND BOTTOM COMPRISING IN COMBINATION A TOP PORTION, A BODY PORTION, AND A BOTTOM PORTION, SAID BODY PORTION INCLUDING TWO END WALL PANELS AND TWO SIDE WALL PANELS, ADJACENT WALL PANELS BEING JOINED BY WALL ANGLE FOLD LINES, EACH OF SAID WALL PANELS HAVING AN UPPER EDGE, A LOWER EDGE, AND SIDE EDGES ADJACENT RESPECTIVE SAID WALL ANGLE FOLD LINES, 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 CONNECTED BY FOLD LINES TO RESPECTIVE SAID WALL PANEL LOWER EDGES, SAID TOP PANELS AND BOTTOM PANELS BEING ADAPTED TO BE FOLDED TO FORM A SELF-LOCKING TOP AND BOTTOM RESPECTIVELY, SAID TWO END WALL PANELS OF SAID BODY PORTION BEING TRAPEZOIDAL IN SHAPE WITH SAID SIDE EDGES OF EACH SAID END WALL PANEL BEING PARALLEL, ONE SAID SIDE EDGE OF EACH SAID END WALL PANEL BEING OF A DIMENSIONAL LENGTH EQUAL TO THE DIMENSIONAL LENGTH OF THE OTHER SAID SIDE EDGE OF SAID END WALL PANEL AND TWICE THE THICKNESS DIMENSION OF SAID CORRUGATED FIBERBOARD, SAID TWO SIDE WALL PANELS OF SAID BODY PORTION BEING RECTANGULAR IN SHAPE WITH EACH OF SAID SIDE EDGES THEREOF BEING OF A DIMENSIONAL LENGTH INTERMEDIATE THE DIMENSIONAL LENGTHS OF THE SIDE EDGES OF SAID END WALL PANELS SUCH THAT WHEN SAID TOP AND BOTTOM PORTIONS OF SAID CONTAINER ARE LOCKED IN CLOSED POSITION THE UPPER EXPOSED SURFACES OF SAID TOP PANELS CLOSELY ADJACENT THE CORNERS OF THE CLOSED TOP ARE IN THE SAME HORIZONTAL PLANE AND THE LOWER EXPOSED SURFACES OF SAID BOTTOM PANELS CLOSELY ADJACENT THE CORNERS OF THE CLOSED BOTTOM ARE IN THE SAME HORIZONTAL PLANE.

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