Carton

May 7, 1935. j. l. bayless 2,000,210

CARTON

Filed Dec. 8, 1933

<img file="US2000210A_D0001.tif" />

attowvoys

Patented May 7, 1935

2,000,210

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE

2,000,210

CARTON

John L. Bayless, Anchorage, Ky., assignor to Jefferson Island Salt Company, Louisville, Ky., a corporation of Kentucky

Application December 8, 1933, Serial No. 701,528

Claims.

This invention relates to cartons or boxes, and more particularly to containers of polygonal cross section that are made from unitary blanks of foldable material.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a carton of novel construction and improved characteristics which may be formed from a unitary piece of foldable material, the carton blank being readily susceptible of die production 10 and its elements being easily foldable into proper relation to form the complete carton.

Another object is to provide a carton of hexagonal cross-section which may be easily and economically formed from a novelly shaped, uni15 tary blank of foldable material.

It is contemplated that one of the uses to which the present invention is applicable is as a container for finely divided materials such as salt, sugar, cereals, and the like. However, difficulty 20 has been experienced in the past in packaging materials of this character because of their tendency to sift or leak out of their containers, particularly at the edges thereof adjacent the top and bottom end closures. It is therefore a fur25 ther object of the invention to provide a carton of improved construction for containing finely divided material wherein a continuous covering is provided for every external edge of the carton and the latter is rendered substantially leak30 proof.

Still another object is to provide a carton of this character which also includes novel means for dispensing or emptying the contents thereof without the necessity for tampering with the ad35 hesive engagement of the closure flaps.

In my Patent No. 1,909,649, issued May 16, 1933, there is disclosed a carton capable of fulfilling the foregoing objects in a generally satisfactory manner. However, it has been found t.haf. 40 the form of carton blank therein disclosed is not readily handled in a completely efficient manner by the package machinery now available, particularly with respect to the closing and sealing of the carton top after filling. Accordingly, it is 45 one of the principal objects of the present invention to provide a carton of polygonal, and preferably hexagonal, shape which is made from a single blank of foldable material of novel construction and wherein the end closures are formed by 50 a plurality of flaps of such shape, and foldable in such a manner, that the closing and sealing operations are readily and efficiently performable by automatic machinery.

Still another object is to provide a polygonal 55 carton of improved construction wherein the end (Cl. 229—17) closures are formed by a plurality of inner, outer, and intermediate flaps, the inner flaps being novelly arranged so as to brace the carton and maintain its shape while the intermediate and outer flaps are being folded and adhesively se- π cured to one another to complete a substantially leak-proof container.

A still further object is to provide an integral carton blank of novel shape, the elements of which may be quickly and easily folded and sealed ₁₀to one another to form a polygonal carton of the character described.

These and other objects will appear more fully from a consideration of the detailed description of the invention which follows. Although only ₁₅one embodiment of the invention has been described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, it is to be expressly understood that this drawing is for the purpose of illustration only and is not to be construed as a limitation 20 of the scope of the invention, reference being had for this purpose to the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of one form of blank from which a carton may be constructed in accord- 25 ance with the present invention; and

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a carton made from the blank of Fig. 1 with the top end closure only partially completed.

Referring now to the drawing, wherein like 30 reference characters indicate like parts throughout both the views, there is disclosed therein a · unitary carton blank of novel shape, the various elements of the blank being readily foldable by automatic machinery to form the complete carton 35 and constituting when sealed a substantially leakproof container. As shown, the carton is preferably formed from a unitary blank, indicated generally at 3, of any suitable foldable material such as cardboard, having a substantially rec- 40 tangular body portion suitably scored transversely along the lines 4, 5. 6, 7, 8 and 9 in order to form a plurality of panels 10, If, 12, 13, 14 and 15 which form the sides of the carton when it is assembled, and a securing or pasting strip or flap 16, adjacent end panel 15, which is adapted to be coated with suitable adhesive and secured thereby to the inner surface of the opposite end flap 10 when the carton is formed. In the em- ₅₀bodiment illustrated, the body portion of the blank includes six rectangular panels of equal size for forming a carton having a hexagonal cross-section, but it will be understood that the invention is not limited to hexagonal cartons, nor 55 ,210

Tn forming a carton from the blank thus described, the blank having previously been cut or die-stamped from a single piece of material and suitably scored as indicated in the drawing, folds are first made along score lines 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, J and pasting flap 16 is coated with a suitable adhesive and secured thereby to the inner surface of panel 10, thereby forming the body portion of the carton. __

Folds are then made along lines 21 and 22, and 10 the inner hexagonal flaps 23 and 24 are folded in to the position indicated in Fig. 2. As will be seen from this figure, which shows in detail only the top end closure, the bottom closure being formed in exactly the same manner, the inner 15 hexagonal flaps 23 and 24 fit snugly inside of the body portion of the carton with their free edges and corners engaging the inner surfaces and corners of side panels 11, (2, 13, 14 and 15, thereby bracing the carton body from within and main- 20 taining its shape while the intermediate triangular flaps 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39 and 40, and the outer hexagonal flaps 19 and 20, are folded down and adhesively secured to one another. Folds are then made along score lines 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 25 31 and 32 and the intermediate triangular flaps are folded (town in non-overlapping relationship on top of inner hexagonal flaps 23 and 24. The outer surfaces of the intermediate flaps may then be coated with a suitable adhesive and/or, if de- 30 sired, the inner surface of outer hexagonal flaps i 9 and 20 may be similarly coated. Finally, outer hexagonal flaps 19 and 20 are folded down along lines 17 and 18 on top of and into adhesive engagement with the underlying flaps. When the 3.> carton is thus completely sealed, there are no uncovered external edges or cracks through which the contents of the carton may escape. The completely assembled carton may then, if desired, be enclosed in a suitable wrapper, as of waxed paper. 40

Novel means are also provided for dispensing or removing the contents of the carton without disturbing the adhesive engagement between the closure flaps. In the form shown, inner hexagonal flap 23 is provided with a cutaway portion 45 or opening 43 located in such a position that it is not covered by intermediate flaps 33, 35, 37 and 39 when the latter are folded in their assembled position. In the embodiment illustrated, opening 43 is formed in the edge of inner hexagonal co flap 23 opposite to that which is secured to panel 10 and lies in uncovered portion 41 of said flap, as shown in Fig. 2. The corresponding outer hexagonal flap 19 is provided with a suitable readily removable portion 44 so located as to overlay 55 opening 43 in registry therewith when the flaps are . in folded position. As shown, removable portion 44 is triangular in shape with its apex directed towards and slightly spaced from the top edge of the carton formed by score line 17, the 60 base of said portion being a continuous score line and the two sides being intermittently scored. With this form of scoring, the sides of portion 44 may be cut by a suitable instrument and the triangular piece then turned to and from closed G5 position about the continuously scored base line as a hinge.

The construction thus described provides a convenient dispensing outlet through which the contents of the carton may be easily emptied, par- «0 ticularly when the carton is used for pourable materials such as salt. It will also be noted that . by locating opening 43 in the position shown in the drawing, it is bounded by intermediate flaps 35 and 31 and overlaid by outer hexagonal flap 75

2,000 to cartons having rectangular sides, nor even to sides all of the same size.

In addition to the body portion comprising the panels forming the sides of the carton, blank 3 5 is also provided with suitable appendages in the form of flaps which are adapted to form the end closures of the carton and when folded and sealed render the latter substantially leak-proof. In the form shown, one of the panels interme10 diate end panels 10 and 15, such as panel 13, is scored at its extremities as indicated at Π and 18, beyond which score lines said panel is provided with a pair of end flaps 19 and 20. In the embodiment illustrated, end flaps 19 and 20 15 are hexagonal in shape and substantially equal in area to the cross-section of the assembled carton, and are adapted to form the outer portions of the end closures. One of the other panels, preferably panel 10 which is opposite to panel 20 13 when the carton is assembled, is similarly scored at 21 and 22 and provided with a pair of end flaps 23 and 24. As shown, end flaps 23 and 24 are also hexagonal in shape but are made slightly smaller in area than the inner dimen25 sions of the assembled carton, and are adapted to form the inner portions of the end closures. By making inner closure flaps 23 and 24 slightly smaller than the inside dimensions of the carton, the free edges and comers of these flaps, when :·,() in folded position, engage the inner surfaces and corners of the side panels of the carton adjacent the end edges thereof so as to brace the carton from within and maintain its shape during the time that the remainder of the flaps are being 35 folded and adhesively secured to one another.

In addition to the inner and outer end closure flaps just described, suitable means have also been provided for furnishing the carton with intermediate flaps, one of the important functions 40 of which is to insure a thoroughly tight, leakproof container especially well adapted for containing finely divided materials. In the embodiment shown, all of the panels of the body portion of blank 3, other than the two panels to 45 which the inner and outer hexagonal flaps are secured, are provided at each end with polygonal flaps of relatively smaller size which, when folded into proper relation when the carton is assembled, provide continuous coverings for every end 50 edge of said panels. As shown, panels II, 12, 14 and 15 are suitably scored at their extremities as indicated at 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31 and 32, and are extended to provide intermediate flaps 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39 and 40. These flaps are 55 preferably triangular in shape, of equal area and each substantially equal to one-sixth of the area of hexagonal flaps 23 and 24. Consequently, when the intermediate triangular flaps are folded on top of inner hexagonal flaps 23 and 24 they do 60 not overlap and cover only approximately twothirds of the area of said inner flaps, leaving uncovered substantially triangular portions indicated at 41 and 42 in Fig. 2.

It will be noted that with the construction thus 65 described, every side panel is provided with a pair of closure flaps extending from the opposite extremities thereof so that when all of the flaps are folded and sealed there is provided a carton in which every external edge is provided with a 70 complete continuous covering, leaving no cracks through which the material with which the carton is filled may escape. Also, by so constructing the intermediate flaps that they do not overlap when folded, the folding operation is simplified and a neat, compact end closure provided.

2,00

19, the latter in turn being adhesively secured to said intermediate flaps, so that any material which might escape through opening 43 during handling is confined to the space immediately ⁵ overlying uncovered portion 41 of inner hexagonal flap 23 and is prevented from leaking out by virtue of the fact that flaps 19, 35 and 37 form continuous coverings for the external edges of the carton adjacent to said opening.

While in the embodiment illustrated only one dispensing outlet has been provided, it will be understood that both ends of the carton may be so equipped, if desired.

There is thus provided by the present invention 15' a novel form of box or carton made from a unitary blank of foldable material which is provided with end closures formed by a plurality of inner, outer and intermediate flaps folded and sealed in such a manner as to result in a tight, leak-proof con20 tainer especially well adapted for containing finely divided materials such as salt and the like. The blank from which the carton is formed comprises a single piece of foldable material of novel shape suitably scored for quick and easy folding 25 into the desired form. Each of the side panels of the carton is provided with closure flaps at either end so that when the latter are folded every external edge of the carton is provided with a complete, continuous covering so as to effectively 30 close all cracks through which the material within the carton might escape. Moreover, the shape of the various flaps and the manner in which they are folded are such as to provide a bracing for the 'carton and maintenance of its shape dur35 ing the folding operation, thereby rendering it susceptible of handling by automatic machinery. The canton also embodies novel dispensing means which are so formed as to in no way decrease the leak-proof qualities of the novel arrangement 40 of closure flaps disclosed. The carton thus formed is simple in structure, and inexpensive of manufacture, particularly due to the fact that the novel arrangement of the flaps makes possible efficient closing thereof by automatic ma45 chinery.

It will be obvious that the invention is not limited to the specific form described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, but is capable of a variety of mechanical embodiments. For 50 example, the panels forming the sides of the carton may be of any desired shape and size instead of rectangular and equal as shown, and the flaps may be secured to the panels in any desired arrangement other than that illustrated. Further, 55 the intermediate closure flaps are hot restricted’ to triangular shapes, but may be given any desired configuration that will permit them to overlay the inner hexagonal flap in non-overlapping relationship and still provide an uncovered por60 tion wherein the dispensing or pouring opening may be located. Also, it will be understood that a carton may be constructed in accordance with the present invention with a different number of sides than six, and that the inner and outer clo65 sure flaps may accordingly vary in cross-section from the hexagonal form shown. Various other changes, which will now appear to those skilled in the art, may be made in the form, details of construction and arrangement of the parts with70 out departing from the spirit of the invention, and reference is therefore to be had to the appended claims for a definition of the limits of the invention.