US3487991A - Box construction - Google Patents

Description

United States Patent US. Cl. 229--23 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Composite boxboard plastic receptacles employing a boxboard body with relatively rigid transparent or translucent synthetic plastic ends, adhesively secured to the body, with the ends shaped to facilitate assembly, a hinged lid, and locking means for the'lid.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a continuation in part my prior application for Box Construction, filed May 18, 1967, Ser. No. 639,325, now Patent No. 3,417,909.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention This invention relates to composite boxboard-plastic receptacles and more particularly to improved transparent end constructions adherently secured to the receptacle body and which contribute to a lock for the hinged lid.

Description of the prior art It has heretofore been proposed to provide receptacles having a body with end caps adhesively or otherwise secured to the body. Usually such caps were of the same material as the body so that it was not possible to provide a transparent end panel. Metal ends, as in the US. Patent to Snyder, No. 1,510,508, do not permit of viewing the contents nor is there any locking of the lid. The prior receptacles of this type also, lacked adequate strength, such as has been available with receptacles having metal edges or stays.

It has also been proposed to provide a receptacle having transparent end caps as in the US. Patent to Lindberg, No. 2,872,031, but the view of the interior is obscured by the exterior raised display lettering and the interior raised lettering. No hinged and locked lid is disclosed.

The receptacles with end caps applied on a body heretofore available, had numerous other disadvantages among which was the difiiculty of assembly in quantities and by automatic machinery.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention a receptacle is provided having a central body of boxboard, one portion of which is hinged for interior access, and having adherently secured end caps of synthetic plastic material, the end caps permitting viewing of the interior, if desired, and the lid having portions, cooperating with the end caps for locking.

It is the principal object of the present invention to provide a receptacle of the character aforesaid which is simple in construction, attractive in appearance, and of adequate strength.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide, a receptacle of the character aforesaid, improved access along the edges of the end caps for sealing.

ICC

It is a further object of the present invention to provide, in a receptacle of the character aforesaid, end caps with inturned portions forming slots to receive the marginal edges of the receptacle body.

Other objects and advantageous features of the invention will be apparent from the description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The nature and characteristic features of the invention will be more readily understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part thereof, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a view in perspective of a receptacle in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view, taken approximately on the line 2--2 of FIGURE 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken approximately on the line 33 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a view in perspective of one of the end caps as seen from the interior thereof.

It should, of course, be understood that the description and drawings herein are illustrative merely, and that various modifications and changes can be made in the structure disclosed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the receptacle there shown includes a body 15, preferably of boxboard, finished on one face and cut and creased to the desired size and shape, and with portions glued to provide the front edge of a closure.

The body 15, as herein shown, has a rectangular front wall panel 16. The front wall panel 16 has connected thereto along a crease line 19, a rectangular bottom wall panel 20. The bottom wall panel 20 has, connected thereto along a crease line 21, a rectangular rear wall panel 22 and the rear wall panel 22 has, connected thereto along a crease line 23 which serves as a hinge, a rectangular top wall panel 24. The crease line 23, at the ends thereof, is provided with slots 25.

The top wall panel 24 has connected thereto, along a crease line 26, a front wall 27. The front wall 27 is adapted to be disposed exteriorly along the front wall panel 16 in the closed condition of the receptacle.

The top wall panel 24 has connected thereto, along the side marginal crease line 28, side walls 29. The side walls 29 have connected thereto, along corner crease lines 30, tabs 31 which have triangular portions thereof glued to the front wall 27 between diagonal weakened lines 32 and the crease lines 31. This construction permits of collapse of the front wall 27 and of the side walls 29 to flattened condition with respect to the interior of the top Wall panel 24 for shipping.

The side walls 29, spaced rearwardly from the corner crease lines 30, have openings 33 formed therein, shown as rectangular in shape. At the rear ends of the side walls 29 cut outs 34 are provided bounded by edges 35.

End closure elements 40 are provided which may be of dished shape, and preferably are of synthetic plastic material premolded before assembly to the body 15. The end elements 40 can be of any desired color or colors, and embossed or debossed for descriptive purposes and for display of trademarks and other indicia, if desired. Any desired synthetic plastic material may be used provided it is capable of being adhered to the material of the body 15 as hereinafter referred to. One suitable material is a vinyl plastic.

The end elements 40 may be of transparent or opaque material, dependent upon the field of use, but for certain purposes at least one end element 40 is transparent.

The end elements 40 have outer rims 41 with an inwardly disposed ridge 42 along the sides and bottom which define slots 43 into which the margins of the front wall panel 16, the bottom wall panel 20 and rear wall panel 22 fit, preferably snugly.

At the top of each end element 40 and spaced inwardly from the sides thereof locking protrusions 45 are provided these being located for engagement in the openings 33 and cut outs 34. The protrusions 45 preferably have upper inclined camming surfaces 46 to aid the downward movement thereover of the side walls 29 and lower substantially horizontal surfaces 47 to engages respectively with the lower edge of each opening 33 and with the edges 35. The use of two protrusions eliminates the necessity for different shapes for each of the end elements for one receptacle i.e. a right and a left shape. In some instances however, only one protrusion 45, and preferably that at the front will be employed.

The end element 40, between the protrusions 45, preferably has a stiffening and strengthening ridge 49 and may have additional vertical ridges 50, providing panels 51 below the protrusions 45.

It will be noted that the crease line 23 has slots 25 at its ends and upon assembly the rim 41 is received in these slots.

The body 15, preferably with the top closure in completed and glued condition, has the end closure elements 40 assembled thereto with the side margins of the front wall panel 16, bottom wall panel 20 and rear wall 'panel in the slots 43.

The end closure elements 40 are preferably secured to the body 15 by heat sealing of the rim 41 thereto and for this purpose the entire outer face of the body 15 can have a heat activated adhesive coating applied thereto which is adherent to the body 15 and to the end closure element 40, or such a coating may be applied at the cations at which the rim 41 is to be adhered.

The provision of the slots 43 permits of squeeze engagement therein of the opposite ends of the front wall panel 16, the bottom wall panel 20 and rear wall panel 22 for external application of heat and pressure by heat sealers to obtain the desired adherence.

It will be noted that a box construction is provided having a simple but effective lid and lock therefor and which permits of repeated access to and closure of the interior. A view of the contents is available from both ends, this being advantageous in merchandising and in subsequent use by a purchaser.

I claim:

1. A receptacle comprising a body of boxboard having a plurality of panels, providing enclosing walls on four sides,

end elements of synthetic plastic at the ends of said body having rims respectively adhesively engaged with a plurality of said wall panels,

one of said panels being hinged with respect to said body and being movable into receptacle closing relation with respect to said other walls,

said hinged panel having a side wall, and

interengaging portions on one of said elements and said side wall retaining said hinged panel in closed position.

2. A receptacle as defined in claim 1 in which said interengaging portions are provided at both said end elements.

3. A receptacle as defined in claim 1 in which said interengaging portions include a protrusion on said end element and a marginal edge of a cut out in said wall.

4. A receptacle as defined in claim 1 in which said interengaging portions include front and rear protrusions on said end element at the upper part thereof.

5. A receptacle as defined in claim 1 in which said interengaging portions include a protrusion with an upper inclined camming surface and a lower locking edge face.

6. A receptacle as defined in claim 1 in which said panels include a rear wall panel and said hinged panel in hinged relation thereto,

said panels at their junction having a slot into which the rims of said end elements are received.

7. A receptacle as defined in claim 1 in which said end elements have a plurality of panels with stiffening portions therebetween.

'8. A receptacle as defined in claim 1 in which the panels of said body include front, bottom and rear panels with end margins, and

' said end elements have marginal portions providing slots in which the margins of said panels are adhesively secured.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,510,508 10/1924 Snyder 217--2 2,872,031 2/1959 Lindberg 206-4534 3,015,430 1/ 1962 Bauer 229 DAVID M. BOCKENEK, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

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