United States Patent
`Owens
`
`1191
`
`3,973,723
`(11)
`[45] Aug. 10, 1976
`
`6/1972
`3,669,341
`[54] FOLDED BLANK CONTAINER INCLUDING
`Hughes «00.0... ceeceeseeeeeeeee, 229/33
`229/34 R
`
`6/1974—GIDSOM ... se sceeesecceteteeneeeees
`
`3,820,706
`TOP PANEL LOCK TAB FEATURE
`
`Inventor: William E. Owens, Nampa, Idaho
`[75]
`{73] Assignee: Boise Cascade Corporation, Boise,
`Idaho
`
`Primary Examiner—Davis T. Moorhead
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Lawrence E. Laubscher
`
`Jan. 19, 1976
`[22] Filed:
`[21] Appl. No.: 649,961
`
`ABSTRACT
`[57]
`A container blank is disclosed for forming a carton
`having bottom, side and end walls, and top flaps con-
`nected with the side walls, said top flaps having lock-
`ing tabs adapted for insertion within locking slots con-
`[52] US. Chiceccccccsesseccsssecessesseeee 229/33; 229/45 R;
`tained in fold line meansat the upper edges of the end
`929/36: 229/34 R
`walls. Each locking
`tab is folded to define innerfirst
`2
`r
`B
`oe)
`Is
`;
`!
`ESV] Unt, C12 eeccecccesneescessteesesenes B65D 5/22
`and outer second tab portions, said second tab portion
`399133 36. 45. 34
`[58] Field of Search...
`being adaptedtoresiliently expand outwardly to a po-
`Treen
`aoe
`sition in which the free extremity thereof extends into
`[56]
`References Cited
`a locking recess contained in the end wall. To release
`the second locking tab portion, an object such as the
`UNITED STATES PATENTS
`user’s finger is inserted into a releasing aperture con-
`2,412,402
`12/1946 HUY. ee eceeeseeesenenrenencane 229/45
`
`tained in the end wall to displace the second locking
`2,439,959
`4/1948 Anderson,Jr...
`229/34 RX
`tab inwardly, thereby to permit opening of the con-
`2,536,948
`~ 229/36 X
`Lehman......
`1/1951
`
`tainer top flaps.
`2,608,340
`eeecscccsceeseneneees 229/33
`8/1952 Donnell o.oo.
`P
`2,843,307
`.» 229/34 R
`7/1958 Goltz...
`
`
`2,858,058 10/1958|Kitchell..eee 229/33 10 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures
`
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`
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`

`

`U.S. Patent Aug. 10,1976
`
` Sheetiof3
`
`3,973,723
`
`20
`
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`Fig./
`
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`

`

`Aug. 10,1976
`
` Sheet2of3
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`3,973,723
`
`PGR2021-00085
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sheet 3 of 3
`
`Aug. 10, 1976
`eee1DT
`
`3,973,723
`
` VPTTIDEDL2|(eare]ELLELYERODE
`SELESLOTSEAN
`
`
`rpAS.PoopeDofaolearLLILIA,
`
`byLLLLDLLOKJLPOLEOLTILESA
`
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`

`

`3,973,723
`
`1
`
`FOLDED BLANK CONTAINER INCLUDING TOP
`PANEL LOCK TAB FEATURE
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
`
`The use of locking tab means for locking in place the
`flaps or walls of corrugated containers is well known in
`the patented prior art, as evidenced. by the patents to
`Kitchell, U.S. Pat. No. 2,858,058; Gottz, U.S. Pat. No.
`2,843,307; Lehman, U.S. Pat. No. 2,536,948; and
`Hughes U.S. Pat. No. 3,669,341.
`While the prior cartons normally operate quite satis-
`factorily, they do possess certain inherent drawbacks,
`such as destruction of the locking tab means upon
`opening of the carton, and complex construction and
`assembly. Furthermore, in the majority of the known
`cartons,friction is utilized for holding the carton com-
`ponents in their closed positions.
`The present invention was developed to provide an
`improved carton construction in which board tension
`and interlocking components are utilized to maintain
`the carton in a closed condition, including an inexpen-
`sive release feature, utilizing a pressure lifting opera-
`tion when the locking tabs are manually released from
`their locked conditions.
`
`SUMMARYOF THE INVENTION
`
`The primary object of the present invention is to
`provide a container blank including bottom, side and
`end walls, top flaps foldably connected with the side
`walls, and locking tab means arranged on the lateral
`edges of the top flaps for insertion within correspond-
`ing locking slot, contained in fold means at the upper
`endsof the end walls. The locking tabs include an inner
`first portion foldably connected with the top flap, and
`an outer second portion hingedly connected with the
`first portion, said second portion being resiliently ex-
`panded within a locking recess contained in the adja-
`cent end wall so that the free extremity of the locking
`tab engages the locking recess wall to prevent opening
`of the top flaps. To release the locking tab means, an
`object such as the user’s finger is inserted through a
`releasing aperture contained in the end wall, whereby
`the second locking tab portion is displaced to the re-
`leased position.
`According to a more specific object of the invention,
`end wall flaps are connected to the upper edges of the
`end walls by fold line means which contain the locking
`slots, end flap wing portions being foldably connected
`with the lateral edges of the end wall top flaps. The end
`wall flaps are foldable inwardly to overlapping condi-
`tions uponthe innersurface of the end wall flap, where-
`upon the end wall flap assembly is folded inwardly
`about interlocked side wall wing portions that are nor-
`mal to both the side and bottom walls. Locking projec-
`tions carried by the free longitudinal edges of the end
`wall flaps engage corresponding locking apertures con-
`tained in the bottom wall of the container blank,
`thereby to stabilize the end wall assembly. Locking
`recesses are provided in the end wall flap wing portions
`opposite the lockingslots for receiving the locking tabs,
`and locking apertures are provided in the side wall wing
`flap portions for receiving the free extremities of the
`second locking tab portions, thereby to effect locking
`of the top flaps in their closed positions.
`In accordance with a further object of the invention,
`stacking projections are provided on the end wallflap
`wing portion that extend through corresponding open-
`
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`ings contained in:the fold lines at the top of the end
`walls for insertion within corresponding stacking open-
`ings contained in the bottom walls of the container
`blanks, thereby to permit vertical stacking of succes-
`sive containers.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
`
`Other object and advantages of the invention will
`become apparentfrom a study of the following specifi-
`cation when viewed in the light of the accompanying
`drawing, in which:
`FIG. 1 is a plan view of the container blank;
`FIGS. 2-4 are perspective views illustrating the as-
`sembly steps for forming a carton from the blank of
`FIG. 1;
`FIG. § is a rear perspective view of the carton of FIG.
`5; and
`FIG. 6 is a detailed sectional view illustrating the
`mannerin which the locking tab effects locking of the
`corresponding top flap.
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
`
`Referring first more particularly to FIG. 1, the con-
`tainer blank 2 includes a bottom wall 4, a pair of end
`walls 6 hingedly connected to the bottom wall 4 byfirst
`fold lines 8, a pair of side walls 10 hingedly connected
`to the bottom wall by second fold lines 12, and end wall
`flaps 14 hingedly connected to the longitudinal edges
`of end wall 6 by third fold line means 16. The third fold
`line means 16 includes a pair of spaced fold lines 16a
`and 16b that are spaced a distance /, which is approxi-
`mately equal to twice the thickness of the container
`blank.
`,
`In accordance with the present invention, the-third
`fold means 16 contain a pair of locking slots 18 ar-
`ranged on opposite sides of the center of the fold line
`means 16. At the other longitudinal edge of the end
`wall flaps 14 are provided a pair offirst locking projec-
`tions 20, and to each of the lateral edges of the end wall
`flap 14 are hingedly connected a pair of end wallflap
`wing portions 22 by fourth fold lines 24. These end wall
`flap wing portions are adapted to be folded in overlap-
`ping relation about the fourth fold lines 24 against the
`inner surface of end wall flap portion 14, a pair of
`recesses 26 being formed in the end wall flap wing
`portions opposite the locking slots 18.
`Hingedly connected with the lateral edges of the side
`walls 10 are pairs of side wall wing portions 28 that are
`displaceable about fifth fold lines 30. Top flaps 34 are
`hingedly connected with the otherlongitudinal edges of
`the side walls 10 by sixth fold lines 36. Hingedly con-
`nected with the lateral edges of the top flaps 34 are
`pairs of locking tabs 38 having a first portion 38a that
`is connected with the top flap 34 by seventh fold lines
`40, and a second tab portion 385 that is hingedly con-
`nected with the first portion 38a by eighth fold line 42.
`Locking apertures 46 are provided in the side wall wing
`portions 28 as shownin FIG. 1.
`Referring now to FIG. 2, in assembling the container,
`the side wall wing portions 28 are initially folded
`through an angle of 90° aboutfold lines 30, whereupon
`the side walls 10 are folded upwardly to vertical posi-
`tions relative to the bottom wall 4, whereupontheside
`wall wing portions 28 are normal to both the bottom
`wall 4 and the side walls 10. In accordance with one
`feature of the invention, interlocking means 50 are
`provided for locking together the adjacent edge por-
`tions of the side wall wing portions 28. Asillustrated in
`
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`3,973,723
`
`FIGS. 1 and 2, these interlocking meansare of the type
`including a tongue 50a on one wing portion 28 thatis
`adapted for
`introduction within a_ corresponding
`groove 50b containedin the other wing portion 28. The
`end wall flap wing portions 22 are then folded in over-
`lapping relation about fold lines 24 upon the inner
`surface of the end flap 14, whereupon the end wall 6 is
`folded upwardly to a vertical position in contiguous
`engagement with the outer surfaces of the side wall
`wing portions 28. The end wall flap assembly 14 is then
`folded downwardly upon the inner surfaces of the side ©
`wall wing portions 28 as shown in FIG. 3. The locking
`tabs 20 on the longitudinal! edges of the end wall flaps
`14 are adapted to extend within corresponding locking
`apertures 60 contained in the bottom wall 4, thereby to
`stabilize the assembled end wall assembly as shown in
`FIG. 4. As shown in FIG. 4, stacking projections 64
`carried by the end wall flap wing portions 22 extend
`through and protrude slightly beyond the centrally
`arranged opening 66 containedin the third fold: means
`16. These stacking projections 64 are adapted to ex-
`tend within corresponding stacking apertures 70 con-
`tained in the bottom wall 4 to stabilize successively
`stacked containers, when in the closed condition.
`As shown in FIGS. 4-6, the locking tab portion 38a is
`folded downwardly about fold line 40 to a position
`normal to the top flap 34, and the second tab portion
`38b is folded outwardly about fold line 42 against the
`outer surface of the first tab portion 38a. The folded
`tab meansis then introduced into the locking slots 18
`as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, said locking tabs being
`received by the recesses 26 formed in the end wall flap
`wing portions 22. As shownin FIG. 6, the secend lock-
`ing tab portion 386is resiliently expanded so that the
`free extremity thereof is introduced within the locking
`apertures 46 contained in the side wall wing portions
`28. Consequently, the top flaps 34 are positively locked
`in the closed position by the locking tab means 38.
`As shownin FIGS. 1 and 6, release apertures 48 are
`provided in the end walls 6 opposite the locking aper-
`tures 46 contained in the side wall wing portions 28.
`Consequently, in order to release the locking tab means
`to permit opening of the top flaps 34, objects such as
`the user’s fingers are introduced through the releasing
`apertures 48 to displace the locking tab portion 38b
`inwardly against the first
`locking tab portions 38a,
`whereupon the top flaps 34 can be hingedly displaced
`toward their open positions.
`While in accordancewith the provisions of the Patent
`Statutes, the preferred form and embodiment of the
`invention has been illustrated and described, it will
`apparent to those skilled in the art that other changes
`and modifications may be made without deviating from
`the inventive concepts set forth above:
`Whatis claimedis:
`1. A unitary blank (2) for forming a container, com-
`prising
`a. a bottom wall (4) having opposite side and end
`edges;
`b. a pair of end walls (6) connected with the opposed
`end edgesof said bottom wall by first fold lines (8);
`c. a pair of side walls (10) connected with the side
`edges of said bottom wall by second fold lines (12);
`d. a pair of end wall flaps (14) connected with the
`other longitudinal edges of said end walls by third
`fold line means (16) parallel with said first fold
`lines, each of said third fold line means containing
`
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`rm
`
`a pair of spaced lockingslots (18) on opposite sides
`of the central portion thereof,
`e. a pair of end flap wing portions (22) connected
`with the lateral edges of each of said end wall flaps
`by fourth fold lines (24) normalto said third fold
`line, said end flap wing portions having a length
`greater than half the length of said end wall flaps
`and being foldable inwardly about said fourth fold
`lines to overlapping positions upon the inner sur-
`face of the associated end wall flap, the longitudi-
`nal edges of each of said wing portions adjacent
`said third fold line containing a pair of recesses
`(26) opposite said locking slots (18) when said
`wing portions are in their inwardly folded overlap-
`ping positions;
`a pair of side wall wing portions (28) connected
`with the lateral edges of each of said side walls by
`fifth fold lines (30) normal to said secondfold line,
`said side walls being foldable upwardly about said
`second fold lines to vertical positions normal to
`said bottom wall and said side wall wing portions
`being foldable inwardly about said fifth fold lines to
`positions normal
`to both said bottom and side
`walls, said end walls being foldable upwardly about
`said first fold lines to vertical positions in contigu-
`ous coplanar engagementwith the outer surfaces of
`said side wall wing portions, said end wall flap and
`end flap wing portions being foldable inwardly as a
`unit aboutsaid third fold lines to vertical positions
`in contiguous coplanar engagementwith the inner
`surface of said side wall wing portions;
`g. a pair of top flaps (34) connected with the longitu-
`dinal edgesofsaid side walls by sixth fold lines (36)
`parallel with said second fold lines; and
`h. a pairoffirst locking tabs (38) connected with the
`lateral edges of each of said top flaps by seventh
`fold lines (40) normal to said sixth fold lines, each
`of said locking tabs including a first portion (38a)
`adjacentsaid seventh fold line and a remote second
`portion (385) connected with said first portion by
`an eighth fold line (42) parallel with said seventh
`fold line, said first locking tab portion being fold-
`able inwardly aboutsaid seventh foldline to a posi-
`tion normal to said top flap and said second tab
`portion being foldable outwardly about said eighth
`fold line to a position in contiguous coplanar en-
`gagement with the outer surface of said first tab
`portion, said top flaps being foldable inwardly
`about said sixth fold lines to horizontal positions
`parallel with said bottom wall to cause the folded
`second locking tabs to be introducedinto the lock-
`ing slots (18) contained in said third fold lines and
`into the recesses contained in said end flap wing
`portions, respectively, said side wall wing portions
`containing locking apertures (46) opposite said
`second locking tab portionsfor receiving in locking
`engagementthe extremities of said second locking
`tab portion when the second locking tab portions
`resiliently expand upon the introduction thereof
`into said recesses, respectively, said end walls con-
`taining releasing apertures (48) opposite said lock-
`ing apertures, whereby upon the insertion of an
`object into each of said releasing apertures,
`the
`secondportionsof said second locking tab portions
`are released from engagement from said locking
`apertures to permit opening of the top flaps of the
`container.
`
`
`
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`3,973,723
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`2. A container blank as defined in claim 1, and fur-
`ther including interlocking means (50) for interlocking
`the side wall wing portions (28) at opposite ends ofthe
`container when said side walls are folded upwardly
`about said second fold lines and said side wall wing
`portions are folded inwardly about said fifth fold lines
`to positions normal to both said bottom andside walls.
`3. A container blank as defined in claim 2, wherein
`said side wall wing portions have lengths that are
`slightly greater than one-half the length of said end
`walls, and further wherein said interlocking means
`includes means for connecting together the adjacent
`edges of corresponding end wall wing portions.
`4, A container blank as defined in claim 3, wherein
`said interlocking connecting means includes tongue
`(50a) and groove (50b) means.
`5. A container blank as defined in claim 1, and fur-
`ther including locking projection means (20) carried
`by the free longitudinal edge of each of said end wall
`flaps, said locking projection means being arranged for
`insertion within corresponding first locking apertures
`(60) contained in the bottom wall when the end wall
`flap and end flap wing portions are foldable inwardly as
`a unit about said third fold line to a vertical position in
`contiguous coplanar engagement with the inner surface
`of said side wall wing portions, thereby to stabilize the
`
`end wall flaps when the containeris in the assembled
`condition.
`6. A container blank as defined in claim 1, wherein
`said third fold line means (16) comprises a pair of
`parallel spacedfold lines (16a, 160).
`7. A container blank as defined in claim 6, wherein
`said third fold lines are spaced a distance (/,) generally
`equal to twice the thickness of the container blank.
`8. A container blank as defined in claim 7, and fur-
`ther including second locking projection means (64)
`carried by the longitudinal edge of eachofsaid end wall
`flap portions between said recesses (26), said second
`locking projection means being adapted for insertion
`within corresponding second locking apertures (66)
`contained in said third fold line means.
`9. A container as defined in claim 8, wherein said
`second locking apertures (66) are centrally arranged in
`said third fold line means between said locking slots
`(18).
`10. A container blank as defined in claim 9, wherein
`the extremities of said second locking projection means
`(64) extend through and slightly beyond the second
`locking apertures in said third fold line means, and
`further wherein the bottom walls of said container
`contain stacking apertures (70) for receiving the ex-
`tremities of said second locking projection means,
`thereby to permit stacking of successive cartons.
`*
`OR
`* OK
`
`5
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`25
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`30
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`35
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`45
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`50
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