US3228582A - Shipping and storage carton - Google Patents

Description

Jan. El, 1966 s. c. OSBERG SHIPPING AND STORAGE CARTON med March 12. 196s W m Q @y C W 2 M y (v ffl/ z )W//T 0M 5 Ko/ w 7 6 5M: 7 t Z L b3 M /9W )www Mq ob m/ 1-/ /n M 7 7" United States Patent C 3,228,582 SHIPPING AND STORAGE CARTON Stanley C. Osberg, Rockford, Ill., assgnor to National Lock Co., Rockford, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Filed Mar. 12, 1963, Ser. No. 264,650 1 Claim. (Cl. 229-51) T-he present invention relates to a novel shipping `and storage carton and more particularly to a novel carton utilizing a tear strip adjacent one end to facilitate removal of approximately one-half of that end of the carton to provide a self-contained storage bin.

An important object of the present invention 1s the provision of a novel one-piece carton construction which is easily yassembled and includes weakened or scored areas to provide an easily removable portion of an end of the assembled box to convert the shipping container to a selfcontained storage bin.

Another important object of the present invention 1s the provision of an assembled carton of cardboard or corrugated board having a tear strip which encompasses one-half of the periphery of the carton adjacent one end to aid in the removal of one-'half of the carton end to provide the opening for the storage bin. As the tear strip along with connected perforated Iportions encompasses the area to be removed from the closed container, no tools are required or needed to open the container.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a carton or container which is quickly and easily assembled, filled and sealed at the plant of the manufacturer or supplier yand, when -received lby a second party, is easily opened utilizing the tear strip and stored as a storage bin for the goods as received or for the other goods which may be placed in the container. The tear strip has an enlarged wedge-shaped, die cut thumb grip at each end.

The present invention .also comprehends the provision of a container formed from a single piece or sheet of cardboard or corrugated board which has been printed and cut to provide end flaps at the opposite ends, two opposed inturned end flaps at one end of the container having substantially centrally located perforated lines joining a perforated line lying parallel to but spaced from the end of the assembled container and extending across a side panel and a portion of two adjoining panels. A strip of tear tape extends along the interior of the panels closely adjacent and parallel to the tear or perforated lines to facilitate or aid in removal of the end portion of the container.

Further objects are to provide a construction of maximum simplicity, efficiency, economy and ease of yassembly and operation and such further objects, advantages and capabilities as will later more fully appear and are inherently possessed thereby.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is an exploded perspective view of the assembled container with the removable portion of t-he end of lthe carton shown removed or displaced to provide the storage bin.

FIG. 2 is a vertical -cross-sectional view of the assembled container including the removable end piece in its normal assembled relation taken on the line 2 2 of FIG. l.

FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of FIG. 2 and showing the end of the box with the removable end portion in its normal assembled rel-ation.

FIG. 4 is an open plan interior view of a sheet of cardboard or corrugated board cut to the proper dimensions provided with fold and score or tear lines for forming the disclosed container by subsequent folding and assembly into a carton.

Referring more particularly to the dis-closure in the drawing and to the novel illustrative embodiment therein shown, FIG. 1 discloses an assembled carton or container 10 with a removable end portion 11 disconnected and withdrawn to prov-ide `an open storage Ibin with ready access to the contents. This carton, with the en-d portion 11 integral therewith, is formed of relatively heavy cardboard or corrugated board from the single sheet 12 shown in FIG. 4. This sheet is Iscored to provide -four side or wall panels 13, 13a, 13b and 13C, the panel 13 provided with lan end or overlapping ap 14. Alternate short .and long flaps 15 and 16 at one end of the carton are longitudinally slit apart and provided with fold lines 17 so they can be folded inwardly along the lines 17 and joined by any suitable securing means such as staples, tape or adhesive to securely close one end 'of the carton. The shorter flaps 15 are folded inward first with their edges in substantially abutting 4relation while the adjoining edges of the longer flaps 16 overlap when folded inwardly and are then joined to provide a sealed end 18,

At the opposite end of the carton the side panels 13, 13a, 13b and 13c have four flaps 19 which are longitudinally -slit apart Aand of substantially equal length such that opposite aps will substantially abut when folded inward about the fold lines 21. The flap 19 on the panel 13 adjacent the overlapping flap 14 and its opposite Hap 19 on panel 13b (alternate flaps in FIG, 4) have a substantially centrally located yand longitudinally extending perforated score line 22 extending from the end of each flap to the fold line 21. The side panels 13 and 13b contain a perforated score line 23 extending from the score lines 22 and merge with a continuous perforated score line 23a extending completely across the panel 13a, the score lines 23 .and 23a being spaced from but disposed parallel to the fold lines 21. The perforated score lines 23 terminate at one end in an enlarged die cut thumb grip or lift tab 24 which may be generally wedge-shaped, and the base 25 of each grip connects one of the perforated score lines 22 on the end aps 19 of the panels 13 and 13b.

Extending Iacross and joined to the interior of the four side panels 13, 13a, 13b and 13c and the overlapping Hap 14 is a tear tape 26 utilized to enhance the accuracy and facilitate tearing along the perforated score lines 23 and 23a. This tear tape is located closely adjacent to the perforated score lines 23 and 23a and between the latter and the fold lines 21 and parallel thereto. The die cut thumb grip 24 at each end of the score lines 23 Vsevers the tape 26 at the base 25.

To assemble the carton 10, the side panels 13 are folded along the longitudinally extending fold lines 27 with the overlapping flap 14 received and suitably secured or gummed to the interior of the side panel 13c at the opposite end of the corrugated sheet 12. The open-ended box thus formed next has one end closed so that the carton can be filled. In the present assembly, either end can be initially closed for filling of the carton. If the flaps 19 are initially closed, the flaps 19 on the panels 13 and 13b containing the perforated score lines 22 are rst folded inward and then the other two opposite flaps 19 are folded inward and the flaps secured by any suitable securing means such as the staples 28 shown in FIGS. l, 2 and 3. The line of abutment of the last folded end flaps 19 substantially coincides with the perforated score lines 22 on the rst folded flaps 19 to aid in ease of removal of the end portion 11 to convert the carton into a storage bin.

The carton can then be lled and the opposite end closed by rst folding the shorter flaps 15 inward followed by the longer flaps 16 which will overlap. This end is secured closed by the staple 28 shown in FIG. 2, or other equivalent means.

When the container has been shipped to a retailer or other user of the goods therein, the carton is easily opened without the use of any tools by gripping one of the thumb grips or lift tabs 24 and Zipping up the side across the top panel 13ab and down the other side along the perforated score lines 23 and 23a. The removable end portion 11 is then separated from the box along the perforated score lines 22 to completely separate and remove the end portion and leave the other half of the carton end intact after opening to present a storage bin.

As the perforated score lines 23 and 23a are spaced inwardly from the fold lines of the panels 13, 13a and 13b, when the end section 11 is removed, the access opening into the container, which then functions as a storage bin, is spaced inwardly or rearwardly of the remaining closed end portion. This facilitates access to the contents of the bin.

Having disclosed the invention, I claim:

A carton construction comprising four connected side panels forming a hollow tube with each of said side panels having a foldable flap at the opposite ends thereof with the aps at one end being folded inwardly in overlapping relation to form a closed end, one pair of opposed flaps at the opposite end of the carton each having a perforated score line positioned centrally on the ap and extending normally to the fold line of the flap between its outer edge and the juncture with its side panel, a perforated score line extending transversely of the last mentioned opposed side panels from adjacent the score lines of said flaps and across the panel intermediate said opposed panels, said perforated score line being spaced inwardly from the ends of said panels, a perforated enlarged thumb grip on each of two opposite sides of the hollow tube providing a lift tab at the junction of the perforated score lines on the end aps and the perforated score lines in the adjoining panels, and a tear tape extending across the interior surface of the adjoining panels with the tape positioned closely adjacent the perforated score lines in the adjoining panels and between the score lines and the end aps, said opposed perforated aps being folded inwardly first forming a perforated line across the end of the carton and said other pair of opposed flaps then folded inwardly with their line of abutment substantially coinciding with the perforated lines on the first pair of flaps and secured to form a closed end for shipping, said perforated score lines defining an end portion which is readily removed by pulling on said lift tabs at the opposite sides of the hollow tube and, when removed, transforming the carton into a storage bin with an access opening at the upper end portion spaced inwardly and rearwardly from the closed end portion.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 901,286 10/1908 Ferres et al. 229-51 2,789,752 4/1957 Will 229-51 2,967,010 1/1961 Cutfey et al. 229-51 3,002,651 10/ 1961 Gauld.

3,097,784 7/1963 Schaas 229-51 JOSEPH R. LECLAIR, Primary Examiner.

FRANKLIN T. GARRETT, Examiner.

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