US3317118A - Foldable container and blank therefor - Google Patents

Description

May 2, 1967 H. c. HARRISON ETAL 3,317,118

FOLDABLE CONTAINER AND BLANK THEREFOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 17, 1965 INVENTORS HENRY C. HARRISON HENRY HARRISON MJ W I ATTORNEYS y 1967 i H. c. HARRISON ETAL 3,317,118

FOLDABLE CONTAINER AND BLANK THEREFOR Filed May l 7, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS' \260 HENRY C.HARRISON United States Patent 3,317,118 FOLDABLE CONTAINER AND BLANK THEREFOR Henry C. Harrison, 94 Bayview Ave., Port Washington, N.Y. 11050, and Henry Harrison, 18 Frost Creek Drive, Locust Valley, N.Y. 11560 Filed May 17, 1965, Ser. No. 456,109 Claims. (Cl. 229-61) This application is a continuation-impart of application Ser. No. 174,360, filed Feb. 14, 1962, now Patent No. 3,216,644, which is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 32,022 filed May 26, 1960, now abandoned.

The present invention relates to collapsible receptacles fabricated from generally rectangular sheets of thin flexible material such as paper or foil. a

The receptacles of the invention are particularly well suited to be fabricated on known automatic bag or box making machinery from continuous strips of thin flexible material.

Although the receptacles of the type herein disclosed have been discussed in the above-mentioned parent applications as being particularly advantageously usable as single-use, disposable refuse-receiving receptacles, it must be appreciated that such a use is illustrative rather than limitative. 7

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide receptacles of the type described which are foldable from generally rectangular blanks to form selfsupporting structures.

Further objects of thepresent invention are: (a) to provide a receptacle which will stand up, hold itself open, and withstand reasonable abuse in order to serve as a convenient container for refuse and the like; (b) to provide a disposable receptacle with a sloping bottom wall; (c) to provide a disposable receptacle which'is easily closed for disposal after filling, without unnecessary contact with the material within the receptacle; ((1) to provide a disposable receptacle of the type described of material which is not so porous that it leaks (e) to provide a disposable receptacle which will fold flat and set up easily; (f) to provide a disposable receptacle which in fabrication requires a minimum amount of material of low unit cost, and which is suitable for machine fabrication; (g) to provide such a disposable receptacle which can be manufactured with existing techniques and machinery employed in the packaging industry; and. (h) to provide a novel receptacle construction having inclined bottom walls and/ or top walls and having sidewalls of differing geometrical transverse cross-section.

A more specific object of the present invention is to provide a receptacle incorporating reinforcing means provided on the sheet of material from which the receptacle is made prior to the time that such sheet of material is folded to form the final structure.

The invention also encompasses the provision of a foldable receptacle comprising a substantially rectangular blank folded back on itself along three transversely directed generally parallel lines into two substantially rectangular bottom panels and two substantially rectangular side panels, there being means forming a seal along two opposing sides of the blank perpendicular to said parallel lines and joining all of the mentioned panels together and additional means joining each of the bottom panels to its adjacent side panel along a curved or straight line or a plurality of interconnected straightand/ or curved lines to define the peripheral contour of the bottom of the receptacle as well as the transverse cross-sectional shape of the receptacle when the receptacle is in its free standing, expanded condition.

These and further objects of the present invention will become more clearly apparent during the following de- 3,317,118 Patented May 2, 1967 ICE.

tailed discussion relating to the four illustrative embodiments of the invention shown in the attached drawings.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of a first receptacle blank according to the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of a receptacle folded from the blank of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of a second receptacle blank according to the present invention;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of a receptacle folded from the blank of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a top plan view of a third receptacle blank according to the present invention;

FIGURE 6 is a perspective View of a receptacle folded from the blank of FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 7 is a top plan view of a blank foldable to form a completely closed receptacle; and

FIGURE 8 is a receptacle folded from the blank of FIGURE 7.

Referring now to FIGURES 1 and 2, a generally rectangular container blank 130 is shown divided by a cen tral longitudinally extending fold line 132 parallel to the edges of the blank. Fold lines 134 and 136 are transversely spaced from the fold line 132 on opposite sides thereof, being substantially parallel to the fold line 132. These latter lines 134 and 136 define the bottom side corners of the assembled container. Disposed inwardly of the ends of the blank 130 are parallel transversely extending fol- d lines 138 and 140 which divide the container blank 130 into squares at each sidein conjunction with the parallel fold lines 132, 134 and 136.

These squares are bisected by diagonal fold lines 142, 144 which intersect one another at one side of the blank and intersect the fold line 132 terminating at the opposite diagonal corners thereof.

Similarly, the opposite squares are bisected with fold lines 146 and 148 which likewise intersect one another at the opposite end of the fold line 132. A symmetrically opposed adhesive joint line 150 intersects the inner extremity of the diagonal fold line 142, while similar joint lines 152, 154 and 156 intersect the respective extreme ends of the fold lines 144, 146 and 148.

Flap edges 158, 160, 1-62 and 164 extend longitudinally alternatively from the ends of the portionsof the blank defined by the parallel score lines 134, 132 and 136 respectively, for reasons to become apparent.

In its assembled condition in FIGURE 2, the fold line 132 traverses the central bottom wall of the blank, the bottom wall terminating at its side extremities with fold lines 134 and 136. The side walls are maintained by folding the adjacent squares over one another and joining lines 150 and 142, 144 and 152, 146 and 154 and 148 and 156. The side walls are conveniently maintained in their upright position by gluing the extending flaps 158, 160, 162 and 164 to the respective end surfaces of the walls. Conveniently slits (not shown) may be formed through the blank adjacent the score lines 134 and 136 if the container is to be utilized for handling refuse and allowing liquid to drain therefrom. Suitable slits (not shown) may also be formed adjacent the fold lines 134 and 136; and wires (not shown) may be carried at the top of the walls to stiffen the container walls and hold the container in an expanded, free standing condition. The container shown in FIGURE 2 can be folded to a flattened condition for storage prior to use by pushing the bottom central fold line 132 thereof upwardly and the end walls thereof outwardly centrally so that the end walls bend along the lines 142, 144, 146 and 148 (FIGURE 1) and the bends along fol-d lines 138 and flatten until the top edges of the side walls lie adjacent one another. Alternately the container can be folded by pushing the end walls thereof inwardly centrally thereof so that the end 3 walls bend along the lines 142, 144, 146 and 148 tFIG- URE 1) until the top edges of the side walls lie ad acent one another. The container can be further collapsed by folding it over upon itself along the line 132. Expanding the container involves a reversal of the procedures ust described.

Reference is now made to FIGURES 3 and 4 whlch provide a one-piece generally rectangular blank for fabricating a generally cylindrical container having a bottom wall having halves of symmetrically opposed curvature. In FIGURE 3, the blank 170 is shown having a generally rectangular configuration. Its folds include a central transverse fold line 172 and parallel fold lines 174 and 176 extending on either side of line 172. A tab 178 extends from one end of the rectangular blank 178 and alternating flaps 188, 182, 184 and 186 extend from alternate sides of the container or between the score lines 174, 172 and 176 similar to the arrangement in FIGURE 1 for carrying adhesive to join the side walls together. Extending from the imaginary longitudinal center line of the blank 170 and the intersection of the fold line 174 are oppositely extending arcuate fold lines 188 and 190 which are concave toward the fold line 172 and terminate in the intersection with fold line 172 at the lateral sides of the blank 170. Similarly, arcuate fold lines 192 and 194 extend from the center of the fold line 176 to the sides of the blank 170, intersecting the fold line 172. From the points of tangency of the arcuate fold lines 188 and 192 with the straight fold lines 174 and 176, symmetrically opposed arcuate adhesive joint lines 196 and 280 extend to the edges of the blank 170. The fold lines 188 and 1'92 are not circular arcs but have the shape of sine curves over the interval of zero to 180 degrees. The length of the central fold line 172 between the ends of the receptacle is pi times the spacing of the line 172 from each of the fold lines 174 and 176, so that the bottom of the container folded from the blank 178 has a bottom which is generally concave upwardly.

In FIGURE 4, this container blank 178 is shown in the upright, assembled position wherein the lines 188 and 196, 190 and 198 and 192, 200 and 194, 202 are joined to one another. The two opposed side walls extending outwardly of the fold lines 174 and 176 are shown cylindrically curved so that the container rests on the fold lines 188, and 176. Other than sine curvature of the lines 188, 190, 192, 194 would result in a container of elliptical or similar cross-section. The flaps 1811, 182, 184 and 186 are joined to the adjacent side wall portions as shown. By virtue of this arrangement, the bottom wall of the container bounded by the arcuate fold lines 188, 190, 192, 194 is generally curved, sloping downwardly from opposed ends adjacent the ends of the line 172 to the lower-most central region which lies transversely of the midpoint of the line 172.

The container shown in FIGURE 3 can be completely collapsed for storage prior to use by flattening the two side wall portions extending respectively from the lines 174 and 176 whereupon the bottom of the container folds inwardly and upwardly about the line 172. Expanding the container involves a reversal of the procedure just described.

Reference is now made to FIGURES 5 and 6 which show a container blank 210 adapted to be folded so as to provide a completely closed container wherein both end walls have a generally gabled configuration as viewed in elevation. The blank 210 is of generally rectangular configuration, having opposed side edges 212 and 214 and opposed end edges 216 and 218. A longitudinal fold line 220 extends along the longitudinal center line of the blank 210 between the opposite ends 216, 218. The central portion of the blank is defined by two transversely extending parallel fold lines 222 and 224, the area of the blank between these lines defining two adjacent side walls of the completed container construction. Spaced parallel to and outwardly of these latter fold lines toward the ends of the blank are fold lines 226 and 228. The area 218 are joined of the blank between the fold line 226 and the end edge 216 and the area of the blank between the fold line 228 and the end edge 218 together form the remaining two adjacent side walls of the container with respect to the side wall area between the fold lines 222 and 224.

The area of the blank 210 between the fold lines 222 and 226 includes one end wall of the assembled container, while the area between the fold lines 224 and 228 defines the opposite end wall. Each of these end walls when the container is assembled has a gable-like configuration in elevation wherein the fold lines 220 in this region constitutes the extremity or apex of each end wall. Thus, diagonal fold lines 230 and 232 extend from the intersection of the fold lines 220 and 226 terminating at their opposite extremities with a fold line 234. In a like manner, diagonal fold lines 236 and 238 extend from the intersection of the fold lines 222 and 220, and intersect the first-mentioned diagonal fold lines at their opposite extremities. As with the other embodiments of this invention, the end wall portion adjacent fold line 226 has opposed diagonal adhesive joint lines 240 and 242 adapted to engage the fold lines 230 and 232, respectively when the container is assembled. The two side walls bounded by the fold lines 222 and 224 likewise carry similar glue lines 244 and 246 for engagement with the respective diagonal fold lines 236 and 238. The remainder of the container blank 210 is formed of identical fold lines and joint lines, similar to elements being referred to by like prime numerals.

Parallel hem lines 248 and 250 are positioned inwardly of the side edges 212 and 214, respectively for carrying adhesive, staples or the like to join the respective edges together. Adjacent the side edge 212 are V-slots 252 and 252', one between each panel of the end wall; and protruding piv-otable tongues 254 and 254' extending outwardly beyond the opposite side edge 214 but are folded in the intermediate seam area outwardly of the fold line 250. In assembly, as shown in FIGURE 18, the following lines are joined to one another; 230 and 240, 232 and 242, 236 and 244, 238 and 246. The joints form a generally V-shaped end wall of which the line 226 between the fold lines 222 and 226 forms the apex-end of the container. The opposite end of the container is formed in identical fashion, and the end edges 216 and to one another by adhesive so as to be positioned opposite to the two side walls bounded by the fold lines 222, 224 and 216.

The container shown in FIGURE 6 may be filled with material before the final joint is made between 216 and 217 or by other convenient means such as an incorporation of a filling nozzle or the like in the sheet material of the blank 210. The material can be removed from the container by convenient means such as tearing the container, cutting off a corner thereof or puncturing the container. The last-mentioned means is preferred where the material to be contained is relatively fluid such as a liquid or a granulated solid. So used, the container of FIGURE 6 may be advantageously employed as a disposable salt shaker, milk carton or the like. Alternatively the doublegable ended container of FIGURE 6 could be fabricated in an empty condition for use as a Christmas tree ornament with appropriate printing on the exterior thereof and for similar decorative and display purposes. It is worthy of notation that the container of FIGURE 6 can be folded completely flat by pushing in the gables centrally thereof so that the ends fold about the lines 234 thereof and the side walls on either side of the line 220 are coplanar.

The container blank of FIGURE 5 can be modified so as to produce a container havin a diamond shaped rather than square transverse cross-sectional shape by making the fold lines 222 and 226 and the fold lines 224 and 228 somewhat closer to the respective lines 234.

Reference is now made to FIGURES 7 and 8 which show a container blank foldable into a container of hexagonal transverse cross-sectional configuration and having rectangular side walls the blank being designated by the numeral 260. The blank 260 is of generally rectangular configuration being longitudinally divided into three equal areas by transversely extending longitudinally spaced parallel fold lines 262 and 264. The blank 260 is divided in half longitudinally by a transverse fold line 266 and fold lines 268 and 270 are disposed in equidistant, parallel and opposed relationship with respect to the fold line 266. The central portion of the blank 260 between the lanes 268 and 270 is thereby divided into a plurality of squares. Diagonal fold lines 272, 274, 276 and 278 bisect the four laterally outermost squares, the lines 272 and 276 intersecting one another along one end of the'line 266 while the opposite fold lines 274 and 278 intersect a fold line 266 at the other side of the blank.

The side walls outwardly of the fold lines 268 and 270 carry cooperatively disposed adhesive joint lines 280, 282, 284 and 286. These latter joint lines intersect and are adapted to engage the diagonal fold lines 272, 274, 276 and 278 respectively. As with other embodiments of the invention, transversely extending hems 288 and 290 extend beyond longitudinal seam lines 292 and 294 respectively for receiving stiffening wire prior to securement of the blank to the designated portions of itself to .form the container.

The blank in FIGURE 7 is shown in FIGURE 8 in its assembled position wherein the container bottom is fiat in the rectangular area defined by the fold lines 268, 270 and 262, 264. The opposed triangular portions bound by the lines 272, 276 and 274, 278 extend upwardly their respective opposed apices constituting the uppermost portions of the bottom wall. The respective joint lines are joined to the fold lines, as is apparent. The six identical wall portions outwardly of each fold line 268 and 270 complete the side walls of the containers so that the same is of a hexagonal configuration. It should be apparent that the number of container sides could be increased employing the principles just set forth to form eight sided containers and the like.

It should be reiterated in summary that each of the modifications shown are foldable from a generally rectangular blank so that wastage of material is minimized and the containers may be continuously made by severing blanks from continuous strips of thin flexible sheet material using conventional cutting, scoring, bending and gluing apparatus. 7 I

Accordingly the present invention should be understood to include all such modifications as can be employed without departing from the inventions principles as set forth herein and which are includable within the spirit and scope of the following claims.

We claim:

1. A generally rectangular blank of flexible sheet material foldable to form a container, said blank comprising: means defining a first fold line extending laterally of said blank substantially at the imaginary transverse center line thereof; means defining a pair of second fold lines in said blank extending generally parallel to, equidistant from and on either side of said first fold line; means defining four arcuate fold lines arranged in a substantially closed figure and each being concave toward the juncture of the imaginary longitudinal center line of the blank and the imaginary transverse center line of the blank, each arcuate fold line extending substantially between a juncture of said first fold line and a lateral edge of said blank, and a juncture of one of said second fold lines with the imaginary longitudinal center line of said blank, means for securing the portion of each lateral edge of the blank defined between one of said second fold lines and the adjacent end of the blank and the complementary edge portion defined between the other of said second fold lines and the end of the blank adjacent thereto; and means for securing each approximately triangular blank portion defined between a second fold line, an arcuate fold line and a blank edge to a congruent approximately triangular portion of said blank having symmetry with the first mentioned approximately triangular portion about the second fold line which defines an edge thereof.

2. A container folded from the blank of claim 1 wherein the second and arcuate fold lines are in a folded condition only when the container is in an expanded condition and wherein the first fold line is in a folded condition only when the container is in a collapsed condition. I

3. A container as set forth in claim 2 wherein said arcuate fold lines are portions of sine wires and the container is of constant generally circular transverse crosssection throughout its length when expanded.

4. A container as set forth in claim 2 wherein the container is of constant, generally closed curved cross-section throughout its length.

5. A generally rectangular blank of flexible sheet material foldable to form a container, said blank comprising means defining a first fold line extending along one imaginary center line of said blank; means defining a second fold line intermediate the ends of the blank, said second fold line extending generally perpendicularly to said first fold line and between two opposing edges of the blank; means defining a pair of third fold lines in said blank extending generally parallel to, equidistant from and on either side of said second fold line; means defining four diagonal fold lines arranged in a substantially closed figure, each diagonal fold line extending substantially between a juncture of one of said third fold lines and said first fold line and a juncture of said second fold line with one of said blank opposing edges; means for securing the portion of each lateral edge of the blank defining between one of said third fold lines and the adjacent end of the blank and the complementary edge portion of the blank defined extending from the other of said third fold lines toward the opposite end of said blank; and means for securing each substantially triangular blank portion defined between a third fold line, a diagonal fold line and a blank edge to a congruent substantially triangular portion of said blank having symmetry with said first mentioned substantially triangular portion about the third fold line which defines an edge thereof.

6. A container folded from the blank of claim 5 wherein the first, third and diagonal fold lines are in a folded condition when the container is in an expanded condition and the second fold line is folded only when the container is in a collapsed condition.

7. A generally rectangular blank of flexible sheet material foldable to form a closed container, said blank comprising: means defining a first fold line in the blank extending between the ends thereof substantially along the imaginary longitudinal center line of the blank, means defining a pair of second fold lines in the blank extending laterally thereof, generally perpendicularly of said first fold line and between the lateral edges of said blank, the two second fold lines being positioned nearer opposite ends of said blank each of said second fold lines being positioned substantially midway between an end of said blank and the imaginary transverse center line of the blank; means defining two pairs of third fold lines, each pair of third fold lines extending generally parallel to, equidistant from and on either side of a second fold line; means defining eight diagonal fold lines, arranged in groups of four in substantially closed figures about the two second fold lines, each diagonal fold line extending substantially between a juncture of said first fold line and one of said third fold lines and a juncture of one of said second fold lines and an edge of the blank; and.

means for securing the blank edge portions defined between the third fold line of each pair of third fold lines which is more nearly adjacent the blank ends and the adjacent blank end to the complementary blank edge portions defined between the third fold line of each pair of third fold lines which is more nearly adjacent the blank imaginary transverse center line and the imaginary transverse center line of the blank.

8. A closed container folded from the blank of claim 7 wherein the first, third and diagonal fold lines are in an expanded condition and the second fold lines are in a folded condition only when the container is in a collapsed condition.

9. A generally rectangular blank of flexible sheet material foldable to form a closed container as set forth in claim 7 further comprising means for securing each of the eight substantially triangular blank portions defined between a third fold line, a diagonal fold line and a blank edge to congruent substantially triangular portions of said blank each having symmetry with the blank portion of said eight portions to which it is adapted to be secured about the third fold line which defines an edge thereof.

10. A closed container folded from the blank of claim 9 wherein the first, third and diagonal fold lines are in a folded condition when the container is in an expanded condition and the second fold lines are in a folded condition only when the container is in a collapsed condition.

References Cited by the Examiner GEORGE O. RALSTON, Primary Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. A GENERALLY RECTANGULAR BLANK OF FLEXIBLE SHEET MATERIAL FOLDABLE TO FORM A CONTAINER, SAID BLANK COMPRISING: MEANS DEFINING A FIRST FOLD LINE EXTENDING LATERALLY OF SAID BLANK SUBSTANTIALLY AT THE IMAGINARY TRANSVERSE CENTER LINE THEREOF; MEANS DEFINING A PAIR OF SECOND FOLD LINES IN SAID BLANK EXTENDING GENERALLY PARALLEL TO, EQUIDISTANT FROM AND ON EITHER SIDE OF SAID FIRST FOLD LINE; MEANS DEFINING FOUR ARCUATE FOLD LINES ARRANGED IN A SUBSTANTIALLY CLOSED FIGURE AND EACH BEING CONCAVE TOWARD THE JUNCTURE OF THE IMAGINARY LONGITUDINAL CENTER LINE OF THE BLANK AND THE IMAGINARY TRANSVERSE CENTER LINE OF THE BLANK, EACH ARCUATE FOLD LINE EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY BETWEEN A JUNCTURE OF SAID FIRST FOLD LINE AND A LATERAL EDGE OF SAID BLANK, AND A JUNCTURE OF ONE OF SAID SECOND FOLD LINES WITH THE IMAGINARY LONGITUDINAL CENTER LINE OF SAID BLANK, MEANS FOR SECURING THE PORTION OF EACH LATERAL EDGE OF THE BLANK DEFINED BETWEEN ONE OF SAID SECOND FOLD LINES AND THE ADJACENT END OF THE BLANK AND THE COMPLEMENTARY EDGE PORTION DEFINED BETWEEN THE OTHER OF SAID SECOND FOLD LINES AND THE END OF THE BLANK ADJACENT THERETO; AND MEANS FOR SECURING EACH APPROXIMATELY TRIANGULAR BLANK PORTION DEFINED BETWEEN A SECOND FOLD LINE, AN ARCUATE FOLD LINE AND A BLANK EDGE TO A CONGRUENT APPROXIMATELY TRIANGULAR PORTION OF SAID BLANK HAVING SYMMETRY WITH THE FIRST MENTIONED APPROXIMATELY TRIANGULAR PORTION ABOUT THE SECOND FOLD LINE WHICH DEFINES AN EDGE THEREOF.

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