US3272423A

US3272423A - Container structures

Info

Publication number: US3272423A
Application number: US478196A
Authority: US
Inventors: Bjarno Knud Maro Henrik
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1961-12-05
Filing date: 1965-08-09
Publication date: 1966-09-13
Anticipated expiration: 1983-09-13
Also published as: DK108480C; GB1024241A; CH429568A

Description

p 1966 K. M. H. BJARNO 3,272,423

CONTAINER STRUCTURES Filed Aug. 9. 1965 s Sheets-Sheet 1 R INVENTOR Knud ma HenriKB 3a.r-n

ATTORNEE Sept. 13, 1966 K. M. H. BJARNO CONTAINER STRUCTURES 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 9, 1965 INVENTOR Knud mam enHK Gjdrn ATTORNEE p 1966 K. M. H. BJARNQ 3,272,423

CONTAINER STRUCTURES Filed Aug. 9, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR 62 Knud "Bro Qnfi BY BJORN ATTORNEYS Sept. 13, 1966 K. M. H. BJARNO CONTAINER STRUCTURES 5 Sheets-Sheet &

Filed Aug. 9, 1965 INVENTOR Knud mam enriK Bia ncl:

ATTORNEYS Sept 13, 1966 K. M. H. BJARNO 3,272,423

CONTAINER STRUCTURES Filed Aug. 9, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,272,423 CONTAINER STRUCTURES Knud Maro Henrik Bjarno, Stenlose, Denmark Filed Aug. 9, 1965, Ser. No. 478,196 Claims priority, application Denmark, Dec. 5, 19161, 4,840/61; Great Britain, Aug. 10, 1964, 32,492/64 13 Glaims. (Cl. 22955) This application is a oontinuation-in-part of my copending application Ser. No. 401,285, filed Sept. 22, 1964, now abandoned, as a continuation of copending application Ser. No. 239,540 filed Nov. 23, 1962, now abandoned.

The present invention relates to a container to be used as a package.

It is a purpose of the invention to provide a container for foodstuffs or other products which may be economically produced.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an economic package which is suitable for display and sale of such goods that are frequently sold in drugstores and supermarkets.

Still a further purpose of the invention is to provide a package which is characterized by the flexibility of a flexible bag and rigidness of a carton.

Still a further purpose of the invention is to provide a novel and improved container which can be delivered, shipped and stored in a similar manner as a flat bag which can be opened for the purpose of filling like a bag and in which the contents are adequately protected when the package is filled.

Still a further purpose of the invention is to provide a unitary container which combines the merits of a bag and the merits of a carton.

Still a further purpose of the invention is to provide a unitary container structure which comprises a flexible bag which eflectively provides the container portion and an outer protcetive portion which notwithstanding simplicity and economy provides for satisfactory protection of the flexible bag with its contents.

Still a further purpose of the invention is to provide a composite container structure of an interior collapsible bag of relatively non self-sustaining material having opposite flat side walls on which reinforcement strip portions are secured of a strip of substantially self-sustaining material which are connected by means of bottom portions or flaps adapted to be bent inwardly into substantial alignment and in which additional means is provided to ensure that the bottom is flattened sufiiciently to enable the container to stand upright.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following specification with reference to the accompanying drawing in which FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the outer portion of a container according to one embodiment of the invention,

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the lower portion of a unitary container according to one embodiment of the invention,

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the lower part of a unitary container according to another embodiment of the invention,

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of a closed container having the outer portion of FIGURE 1 and embodying the lower portion of FIGURE 2,

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of the bottom part of a unitary container according to the invent-ion illustrating the container of FIGURE 3, partly collapsed for shipping or storing purposes and with the top flaps removed,

3,272,423 Patented Sept. 13, 1966 FIGURE 6 is a perspective view illustrating the lower portion of a container according to the invention in a modified embodiment with the top flaps removed,

FIGURE 7 is an exploded perspective view of a partly collapsed container structure according to a further embodiment of the invention,

FIGURE 8 is a partial perspective view of the con tai-ner of FIGURE 7 open to a stage before insertion of supplementary bottom flattening means, and

FIGURE 9 is a perspective view of the completely opened container showing the bottom flattening means partly inserted and also illustrating one manner of closing of the top end.

With reference to the drawing, the invention provides in broad terms a merchantable collapsible container which is shown closed and supposed to be filled in FIG- URE 4, and which comprises a unitary structure including a collapsible bag 36 of a relatively non self-sustaining material, such as paper. The bag has a normally closed bottom and a normally ope-n top end which can be closed or sealed after filling of the bag. The unitary structure further includes secured to the broad sides of the bag 36 an exterior structure of .a substantially selfsustaining material which extends beyond the interior confines of the bag and is operable to enclose the bag only at the broad side walls, the bottom and the top upon closing of the open end of the bag.

Seen from another aspect, the unitary container structure is composed of an exterior elongate web of a material of relatively large rigidness provided with transverse folding lines disposed to effectively provide

flaps

20 and 22 at each end of the web and at least one folding line substantially at the middle of the web, so as to render the web operable upon assembly of the end flaps overlying each other to form a tubular, relatively rigid structure inside which a collapsible bag 36 of a material having a relatively small rigidness is protectively positioned completely within the confines of the exterior tubular structure.

As apparent from the foregoing, the container structure combines the merits of a cardboard box with a flexible bag disposed inside the cardboard box.

Many goods, such as sold in drugstores and supermarkets are delivered in predetermined. quantities or portions in bags which are enclosed in interior cardboard boxes with the double purpose of protecting the bag and presenting the goods neatly to the customers.

Obviously, the novel container according to my invention provides a saving in material because the exterior structure is in the form of a web, whereby the waste from stamping out blanks of traditional carboard is avoided.

In addition, the novel container according to my invention has as being a unitary structure composed of the interior bag and the exterior protective material the character of a bag which is closed at the bottom and, therefore, can be opened up and filled as a bag and only requires closing at the top and whereby the filling machinery can be constructed simpler.

More specifically, with reference to FIGURE 1 of the drawing, this illustrates the outer part of the container according to the invention and represents an article of manufacture for use with a collapsible bag having oppositely disposed side walls and a closed bottom of a predetermined cross section when the bag is opened up.

The structure illustrated in FIGURE 1 is in the form of an elongated web of a substantially self-sustaining material, such as cardboard, or if desired plastic-coated cardboard which on the exterior surface may be provided with attractive illustrations of the contents of the container including indication of the nature, weight, etc. of the contents.

The web of FIGURE 1 is provided with

transverse folding lines

16, 18, 24, 26 and 32. The

folding lines

24 and 26 are effectively subdividing the web into a middle portion 28, 3t} and adjoining side portions 1t 12 which are operable to extend along a substantial part of the broad side walls of the interior bag. The

folding lines

16 and 18 are further subdividing the web into flaps 2t] and 22 operable to overlie each other so as to construct from the web a tubular protective structure of substantially rectangular configuration operable to provide itself as an exterior protection outside the bag when it is opened up and filled with a predetermined amount of goods.

As obvious from FIGURE 1, the middle folding line 32 of the

bottom portions

28 and 30 provides for shipping and storing the structure as a flat item.

The structure of FIGURE 1 in addition shows a flap 34 adapted to be inserted into a slot 35, for the purpose of closing the exterior structure in the manner clearly illustrated in FIGURE 4.

More specifically, the composite container structure according to the invention combines the exterior structure of FIG. 1 with a collapsible bag 36 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 2, thereby that the broad walls of the collapsible bag 36 are connected with the interior surface of the exterior structure along bonding zones 38,

4f

42 and 44 in such a mutual position of the interior collapsible bag and the exterior structure that the bottom of the collapsible bag, when the bag is flattened out, is received between the

bottom portions

28 and 30 of the exterior structure as illustrated in FIGURE 5. Obviously, thereby, the bottom of the interior collapsible bag, when the structure is opened up, is supported on the

bottom portions

28 and 30 when they are flattened out.

As also clearly illustrated in FIGURE 2, the edges of the exterior web extend beyond the interior confines of the bag 36, whereby the corners of the collapsible bag which are the most sensible parts of a collapsible bag are well protected.

As shown in FIGURE 1, the bonding zone extends only along that portion of the exterior strip which defines the side wall and in a similar manner the opposite portion of the exterior strip is only bonded to the interior bag along the side wall portion 12, leaving the bottom portions 28 and as well as the

top flaps

20 and 22 without bonding.

The interior bag is of the same height or higher than the exterior strip whereby the top end of the interior bag extends above the

folding lines

16 and 18 which connect the

side portions

10 and 12 with the

top flaps

20 and 22. Since these top flaps are not bonded to the interior bag this enables after filling of the container the top of the interior bag to be closed independently of the exterior structure, for example by welding transversely to the bag and thereafter bending the welded end down before the

top flaps

20 and 22 are closed on each other.

The bonding of the two parts of the unitary container structure together along zones avoids stresses of the material, especially of the bag. In addition, when a closing flap as the flap 34 is used, the bonding zones which are located adjacent the corners of the collapsible bag 36 provide for inserting the flap 34 into the slot between two Zones.

The interior bag 36 may be constructed as any traditional bag, for example a paper bag or a bag of plasticcoated paper, but preferably a type of bag is used which can be folded completely flat and opened up. As indicated in FIGURE 2, the bag is of the type in which the narrow side walls can be folded inwardly when the bag is flat.

If desired, also the bottom of the bag can be wholly or partly secured to the bottom portions 28 and 36) by means of adhesive material.

As already mentioned hereinbefore, the container structure according to the invention provides a saving in material.

Notwithstanding the fact that in the container according to the invention the narrow sides of the interior bag are freely exposed, I have found that my novel container has a suflicient mechanical rigidness for most purposes and due to its economical production advantageously can be used for example as container for frozen food in which the frozen contents contribute to the rigidness. Obviously, however, the container according to my invention can also be used for other goods.

Preferably, the exterior web is constructed from a continuous web with its longitudinal direction coinciding with the machine direction of the continuous web, whereby the fibres in the case of a cardboard web extend in the longitudinal direction of the web, i.e. transversely to the folding lines, which contributes to increasing the rigidness.

The folding lines 16, 18, 24 and 26 may be in the form of duplex folding lines with two impressions located closely together in order to facilitate the folding.

The middle folding line 32 at the bottom may be in the form of a triplex folding line with three impressions close together so as to facilitate the flattening of the container for shipping and transportation as a flat item.

In order to fill the container which has the overall character of a bag with a stiff exterior bottom and opposite walls, the container is opened up in the form of a bag, and after the filling, the top end of the interior flexible bag is first closed or sealed, whereafter the

top portions

20 and 22 are bent downwards and connected either by means of the flap or by means of a suitable bonding material.

Obviously, the flap 34 is only necessary when the container is intended to be closed by the customer after a part of the contents has been removed. Other containers may be designed to be opened at the top end and left open.

In the modification of FIGURE 3, the interior bag is constructed in such a manner that its

broad sides

48 and 50 are connected with its

narrow sides

52 and 54 in such a manner that flange-

like zones

56, 58, and 62 are provided outside the interior confines of the bag, i.e. outside the

corners

64, 66, 68 and 70.

The bag of FIGURE 3 may be constructed from four separate continuous webs, for example plastic-coated paper, which are sealed together along the

zones

56, 58, 60 and 62. The bottom may be provided by sealing the plastic-coating together transversely to the direction of the webs and thereafter folding the seal portions as indicated at 72.

A bag of this type can be constructed substantially impervious to air and moisture.

When using the bag of FIGURE 3, the width of the exterior web can be made substantially equal to the width of the

broad bag sides

48 and 50. This provides for the possibility of cutting the webs for the broad bag sides as well as the exterior web on the same machine without adjustment.

In the embodiment of FIGURE 3, the bonding zones between the exterior web and the interior bag may be provided between the flange zones and the exterior web, whereby the bonding material will contribute to further stiffening of the edges outside the interior confines of the collapsible bag.

FIGURE 5 illustrates the lower part of the container of FIGURE 3 partly folded as a flat item and with the top flaps removed to show the disposition of the bag with respect to the side portions 10 and 127 As obvious from FIGURE 5, the container structure as illustrated can be flattened out with the bottom of the interior bag in engagement with the

bottom portions

28 and 30 of the exterior structure portion. and with the

narrow side walls

52 and 54 folded inwardly.

It will be possible within the scope of the invention instead of providing the exterior container portion in the form of a continuous web (FIGURE 5) to use two separate exterior container structure portions, as illustrated in FIGURE 6, which indicates the lower portion of a pack age with this modification also with the top flaps removed for clarity of illustration.

As illustrated in FIGURE 6, the exterior side walls and 12 are at their lower ends provided with flaps 74 and 76, respectively, which can be folded inwardly to overlie each other and be connected by bonding or in any other suitable manner.

In the embodiment of FIGURES l5 in which exterior reinforcement is in the form of a continuous strip with the bottom of the side strips connected by means of the foldable bottom, which is adapted to be bent outwardly, I have found that when the container is opened up by pulling the fiat sides away from each other, the rigidness of the material of the exterior reinforcement is likely to counteract the flattening of the bottom with the result that with the container opened sufficiently to be filled, the bottom will still retain a shape somewhat like the one illustrated in FIGURE 5.

In order to avoid this inconvenience which prevents the container from standing upright, a strip of a relatively stiff material may be introduced between the bottom of the interior bag and the exterior strip and having a Width which substantially corresponds to the width of the flattened bottom of the container, such as will be explained in the following in connection with the embodiments of FIGURES 7, 8 and 9.

In these embodiments the interior bag is of the same kind as illustrated in FIGURES 3, 4 and 5 and therefore the same parts of the container of the embodiment of FIGURES 7-9 are referred to by the same reference numerals as in FIGURES 3-5.

The top flap 22 is provided with a closure flap 34 as in the case of FIGURE 1. Instead of providing the slot for receiving the flap 34 in the bending line between the top flap and the side wall as in the case of FIGURE 1, a cut 37 is made in the flap itself slightly above the bending line 16 with the ends of the out being curved and with the bending line itself restricted to zones 16a and 16b at each end of the cut.

This facilitates the closing of the top end of the container and introduction of the closing flap 34 in the slot, because as shown in FIGURE 9 when after sealing and folding of the top end of the interior bag the flap 20 is bent down a relatively wide slot is obtained of a configuration similar to the configuration of the cut 37 and with the part of the flap 20 which remains between the arcuate ends of the cut 37 upstanding in the form of an auxiliary flap 21 against which the closing flap 34 is guided down into the slot 35.

As shown in FIGURE 7 the

bottom portions

28 and 30 are provided at one end of the bottom with a recess 80 which when the bottom is flattened out is of arcuate configuration.

When the container structure which is assembled from the parts shown in exploded view in FIGURE 7 is opened by spreading the opposite flat side walls away from each other, the stiffness of the exterior strip will cause the bottom to remain with the

bottom portions

28 and 30 forming an obtuse angle substantially as shown in FIGURE 8.

In order to flatten the bottom out sufficient to enable the container to stand upright during its transport to a filling station, a strip 82 of relatively stiff material, such as cardboard, and of a width which substantially corresponds to the width of the flattened bottom is intro duced in the space between the bottom of the interior bag and the bottom of the exterior structure, as shown in FIGURE 9.

Obviously, the introduction of such a strip requires the space between the bottom of the interior bag and the bottom of the exterior structure to be opened up at least at the end into which the strip 82 is inserted. Obviously, the arcuate recess 80 provides for such opening up facilities inasfar as the bottom of the interior bag is exposed through the recess 80.

It will be appreciated, however, that instead of a recess in the end of the bottom, an aperture at the bottom itself will be the equivalent of the recess 80.

Obviously, further modifications will be possible within the scope of the invention.

It will also be understood that depending on the use of the container any suitable material can be selected for the exterior portion of the package structure as well as the interior portion.

I claim:

1. As an article of manufacture for use with a col-lapsible bag having only a first pair of opposite, substantially plane side walls, a second pair of opposite foldable side walls and a closed bottom of a predetermined transverse extension between said side walls in the opened condition of said bag, an elongated web of substantially self-sustaining material having transverse folding lines effectively subdividing said web into a substantially flat middle por tion substantially corresponding to the width of said bottom of said bag and a transverse folding line substantially in the middle of said middle portion, adjoining side portions operable to extend along a substantial part of said first side walls of said bag, and end flaps operable to overlie each other to construct from said web a tubular protective structure of substantially rectangular configuration operable to provide itself as an exterior protection outside said bag in the open condition thereof when said bag is filled with a predetermined amount.

2. A composite container structure comprising: a collapsible bag of a relatively flexible material having a first pair of oppositely disposed substantially fiat side walls with substantially parallel edges, a second pair of oppositely disposed side walls which are foldable inwardly between said first said walls in the collapsed condition of said bag, means adjacent one end of said bag closing said end providing substantially flat closed bottom of rectangular shape in the opened condition of said bag, external support means including an elongated strip of a substantially self-sustaining material having folding lines defining side portions which are secured on said first pair of substantially flat side walls of said collapsible bag and extend in the longitudinal direction of said bag within the confines of said side walls and said flat bottom, said side portions terminating at a point remote from the top of said collapsible bag, and having a width in excess of the width of said flat side Walls of said bag, a foldable bottom portion interconnecting the ends of said side portions adjacent the bottom of said bag operable to fold inwardly against said closed bottom of said bag to effectively provide a substantially fiat protection of said flat bottom in the open condition of said bag, and top flap portions operable after filling and closing of said bag at the top end to fold inwardly against said top end to provide protection at the :top end.

3. A composite container structure as defined in claim 2, wherein said elongated strip is in the form of a continuous single strip which extends around the bottom of the interior bag with the bottom portion having a bending line therein adjacent the middle of the bottom of the interior bag.

4. A composite container structure as defined in claim 2, wherein said folding lines between the side portions, the bottom portion and the flaps of the exterior strip means are in the form of duplex lines with two impressions located close together.

5. A composite container structure as defined in claim 2 wherein the fiat and foldable walls of the interior bag are sealed together at zones which extend along the side edges of the flap walls of the bag.

6. A composite container structure comprising: a collapsible bag of a relatively flexible material having a first pair of oppositely disposed substantially fiat side walls with substantially parallel edges, a second pair of oppositely disposed side walls which are foldable inwardly between said first side walls in the collapsed condition of said bag, means adjacent one end of said bag effectively closing said end to effectively provide a closed bottom portion of said bag operable to provide a substantially flat bottom of rectangular shape in the open condition of said bag, external support means including strip portions of a substantially self-sustaining material which exclusive ly are secured on said flat side walls of said collapsible bag and extend in the longitudinal direction of said bag within the confines between said side walls and said flat bottom, said strip portions terminating at a point remote from the top of said collapsible bag, and having a width in excess of the width of said flat side walls of said bag to effectively provide edge zones of said strips which extend beyond the exterior confines of said bag to effectively protect said collapsible side walls of said bag when said bag is opened up, and filled, and flap means connccted with said side strips adjacent the top and bottom thereof operable to fold inwardly against said closed bottom of said bag to effectively provide a substantially flat protection of said flat bottom in the open condition of said bag, and after filling and closing of said bag at the top end to fold inwardly against said top end to provide a similar protection at the top end.

7. A composite container structure, comprising a collapsible bag of a relatively flexible material with a pair of oppositely disposed, substantially flat side walls, between the edges of which oppositely disposed inwardly foldable side walls are provided, said bag having a closed end operable to provide a substantially flat bottom of rectangular configuration in the open condition of said bag, and an exterior protective structure of a substantially self-sustaining material in the form of an exterior strip means comprising side portions which are secured only to the flat side walls of the bag and having edges projecting beyond the interior confines of the bag in the opened condition thereof and having extending at each end top and dition thereof to provide a substantially flat support for the bottom of the bag and with the top flaps operable after filling of the bag and closing of the top end to fold inwardly over the top end of the bag, said strip means being secured on the flat side wall of the bag by means of bonding strips which are provided adjacent the edges of the structure.

8. A composite container structure, comprising a collapsible bag of a relatively flexible material with a pair of oppositely disposed, substantially fiat side walls, between the edges of which oppositely disposed inwardly foldable side walls are provided, said bag having a closed end operable to provide a substantially flat bottom of rectangular configuration in the open condition of said bag and an exterior protective structure of a substantially self-sustaining material in the form of an exterior strip means comprising side portions which are secured only to the flat side walls of the bag and having edges projecting beyond the interior confines of the bag in the open condition thereof and having extending at each end top and bottom flaps which in the folded container structure lie flat against the top and bottom portions of the collapsible bag and of which the bottom flaps are operable to fold inwardly against the bottom of the bag in the opened condition thereof to provide a substantially flat support for the bottom of the bag and with the top flaps operable after filling of the bag and closing of the top end to fold inwardly over the top end of the bag, the flat and foldable wall of the interior bag being sealed together at zones which extend along the side edges of the flat wall of the bag, said bag being constructed from four separated webs which are sealed together at said edge zones.

9. A composite container structure, comprising a collapsible bag of relatively flexible material with a pair of oppositely disposed substantially fiat side walls, between the edges of which oppositely disposed inwardly .foldable side walls are provided, said bag having a closed end operable to provide a substantially flat bottom of rectangular configuration in the open condition of said bag and an exterior protective structure of a substantially self-sustaining material in the form of an exterior strip means comprising side portions which are secured only to the flat side walls of the bag and having edges projecting beyond the interior confines of the bag in the open condition thereof and having extending at each end top and bottom flaps which in the folded container structure lie flat against the top and bottom portions of the collapsible bag and of which the bottom flaps are operable to fold inwardly against the bottom of the bag in the opened condition thereof to provide a substantially fiat support for the bottom of the bag and with the top flaps operable after filling of the bag and closing of the top end to fold inwardly over the top end of the bag, the fiat and folda-ble wall of the interior bag being sealed together at zones which extend along the side edges of the flat wall of the bag, said bag being constructed from four separated webs which are sealed together at said edge zones, the width of the exterior strip means substantially corresponding to the width of the flat walls of the interior bag including the sealed edge zones thereof.

it A composite container structure, comprising a collapsible bag of a relatively flexible material with a pair of oppositely disposed substantially flat side walls, between the edges of which oppositely disposed inwardly foldable side walls are provided, said bag having a closed end operable to provide a substantially flat bottom of rectangular configuration in the open condition of said bag and an exterior protective structure of a substantially self-sustaining material in the form of an exterior strip means comprising side portions which are secured only to the flat side walls of the bag and having edges projecting beyond the interior confines of the bag in the open condition thereof and having extending at each end top and bottom flaps which in the folded container structure lie flat against the top and bottom portions of the collapsible bag and of which the bottom flaps are operable to fold inwardly against the bottom of the bag in the opened conditions thereof to provide a substantially flat support for the bottom of the bag and with the top flaps operable after filling of the bag and closing of the top end to fold inwardly over the top end of the bag, the fiat and foldable wall of the interior bag being sealed together at zones which extend along the side edges of the flat wall of the bag, said bag being constructed from four separated webs which are sealed together at said edge zones, the width of the exterior strip means substantially corresponding to the width of the flat walls of the interior bag including the sealed edge zones thereof, the bonding zones between the exterior structure and the interior bag being provided adjacent the edges of the extending edge zones of the interior bag.

11. A composite container structure, comprising a collapsible bag of a relatively flexible material with a pair of oppositely disposed, substantially flat side walls, between the edges of which oppositely disposed inwardly foldable side walls are provided, said bag having a closed end operable to provide a substantially flat bottom of rectangular configuration in the open condition of said bag, and an exterior protective structure of a substantially selfsustaining material in the form of an exterior strip means comprising side portions which are secured only to the flat side walls of the bag and having edges projecting beyond the interior confines of the bag in the open condition thereof and having extending at each end top and bottom flaps which in the folded container structure lie flat against the top and bottom portion of the collapsible bag and of which the bottom flaps are operable to fold inwardly against the bottom of the bag in the opened condition thereof to provide a substantially flat support for the bottom of the bag and with the top flaps operable after filling of the bag and closing of the top end to fold inwardly over the top end of the bag, said exterior strip means being in the form of separate strips bonded on both said first side walls of said bag and each having flaps extending beyond the confines of said first side Walls on either end of the bag, said flaps on said separate strips being adapted to be joined to form substantially flat rectangular top and bottom support portions for said bag.

12. A composite container structure as defined in claim 2 further including in the open condition of said container structure a strip of a substantially self-sustaining material having a width substantially corresponding to the Width of said flat bottom of said bag inserted between the closed bottom of said bag and the inwardly folded bottom portions of said exterior strip for maintaining said bottom substantially flat.

13. A composite container structure as defined in claim 2 further including means provided in said foldable bottom portion to expose therethrough a surface portion of the bottom of said bag.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS JOSEPH R. LECLAIR, Primary Examiner.

DAVID M. BOCKENEK, Examiner.

Claims

1. AS AN ARTICLE OF MANUFACTURE FOR USE WITH A COLLAPSIBLE BAG HAVING ONLY A FIRST PAIR OF OPPOSITE, SUBSTANTIALLY PLANE SIDE WALLS, A SECOND PAIR OF OPPOSITE FOLDABLE SIDE WALLS AND A CLOSED BOTTOM OF A PREDETERMINED TRANSVERSE EXTENSION BETWEEN SAID SIDE WALLS IN THE OPENED CONDITION OF SAID BAG, AN ELONGATED WEB OF SUBSTANTIALLY SELF-SUSTAINING MATERIAL HAVING TRANSVERSE FOLDING LINES EFFECTIVELY SUBDIVIDING SAID WEB INTO A SUBSTANTIALLY FLAT MIDDLE PORTION SUBSTANTIALLY CORRESPONDING TO THE WIDTH OF SAID BOTTOM OF SAID BAG AND A TRANSVERSE FOLDING LINE SUBSTANTIALLY IN THE MIDDLE OF SAID MIDDLE PORTION, ADJOINING SIDE PORIONS OPERABLE TO EXTEND ALONG A SUBSTANTIAL PART OF SAID FIRST SIDE WALLS OF SAID BAG, AND END FLAPS OPERABLE TO OVERLIE EACH OTHER TO CONSTRUCT FROM SAID WEB A TUBULAR PROTECTIVE STRUCTURE OF SUBSTANTIALLY RECTANGULAR CONFIGURATION OPERABLE TO PROVIDE ITSELF AS AN EXTERIOR PROTECTION OUTSIDE SAID BAG IN THE OPEN CONDITION THEREOF WHEN SAID BAG IS FILLED WITH A PREDETERMINED AMOUNT.