Container having an integral card holding structure

Oct. 20, 1959 p. c. hartman 2,908,985

CONTAINER HAVING AN INTEGRAL CARD HOLDING STRUCTURE Filed Nov. 14, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1

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Attorneys

Oct. 20, 1959

P. C. HARTMAN

2,908,985

CONTAINER HAVING AN INTEGRAL CARD HOLDING STRUCTURE

Sheets-Sheet 2

Filed Nov. 14, 1958

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United States Patent Office _o 2,908,985

Patented Oct. 20, 1959

2,908,985

CONTAINER HAVING AN INTEGRAL CARD HOLDING STRUCTURE

Paul C. Hartman, Washington, D.C., assignor to G. B. Lewis Company, Watertown, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin

Application November 14, 1958, Serial No. 773,936

Claims. (Cl. 40—2)

This invention relates to a container and more particularly to a container having an integral card holding structure.

Automatic conveyor systems are frequently employed to route containers or tote boxes containing component parts, parcels or the like. To route the container, a card is attached to the container and contains magnetic par^£- ticles, color indicators, punched holes or the like, which , will actuate an electronic mechanism. The electronic ' mechanism will automatically select and route the container to the location of use or discharge.

⁴ Containers having an attached routing card can also be employed in a manual system in which the cards are provided with printed instructions for dispatching or routing.

The present invention is directed to a molded container having an integral card holding structure. The container is generally rectangular in shape and the upper edge of the container is formed with an outwardly extending flange or rim. One of the walls of the container is provided with a pair of raised surfaces, and a recess or opening is formed in each of the raised surfaces.

The ends of the signal card to be attached to the container are provided with ears or projections having a shape to generally complement the openings formed in the raised surfaces of the container. The card is placed flat against the Wall of the container with the ears positioned within the openings. By dropping the card vertically, the ears catch within notches located below the openings to hold the card firmly against the wall of the container.

With this construction, a substantial depth of locking engagement is provided between the card and the container wall to firmly hold the card against the wall and prevent accidental displacement.

f Furthermore, the card can be readily attached to the p container even though the container has a peripheral i outwardly extending flange, because of the similar shape

[ of the openings in the container wall and the ears on the card.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the course of the following description.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the container of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the container showing the signal card attached;

Fig. 3 is a view taken along line 3—3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation showing the attachment of the signal card to the container;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary top plan view of a modified form Of the container;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary side elevation of the container shown in Fig. 4 and showing the signal card attached to the container; and

Fig. .7 is a sectional view taken along line 7—7 of Fig. 6 and with the card removed from the container.

The drawings illustrate a container or tote box which is particularly adaptable for use on an automatic conveyor system. The container comprises a pair of side walls 1 and a pair of end walls 2 which are connected by a bottom wall 3. The upper extremities of the side 5 walls 1 and end walls 2 are flared outwardly to provide a peripheral rim or flange 4 which extends around the entire container. The flange 4 is reinforced by a suitable wire 5 or other reinforcement to provide the upper edge with added stiffness.

One of the side walls 1 of the container is provided with a pair of offset surfaces 6 which are located in spaced relation to each other on the upper portion of the side wall beneath the flange 4. The surface 6 are offset outwardly from the side wall 1 and are connected to the 15 side wall 1 by sloping surfaces 7.

A pair of openings 8 are provided in surfaces 6 and 7 and have a generally rectangular shape. A notch 9 or slot is formed in sloping surface 7 and communicates with the lower end of each opening 8.

A signal card 10 to be attached to the container is . provided with a pair of outwardly extending ears 11 which are adapted to be received within the openings 8 in the side wall 1. The ears 11 have a generally rectangular shape and complement the openings 8 so that when ²⁵ the ears 11 are disposed within the corresponding openings, the body of the card 10 will be disposed flatwise against the side wall 1 of the container.

The card 10 is retained within the openings by engagement of the lower edge of the ears 11 with the re²⁰ spective notches 9. The card is placed flatwise against the side wall of the container with the ears 11 in alignment with the openings 8. By dropping the card vertically, the lower edge of the ears will engage the notches 9 to firmly attach the card to the container.

To remove the card, the card is merely raised vertically until the ears 11 are again in alignment with the openings 8 and the card may then be moved outwardly out of engagement with the container.

The containers are adapted to be nested with each ^4U other when not in use and the end walls 2 of the container are therefore provided with a pair of projections 12 which extend downwardly from the flange 4. In the nesting position, the lower edge of the projections 12 rests on the upper edge of the flange 4 of the next lower container 45 space the flanges 4 of the containers a distance equal to the depth of the projections 12. End holes 13 are also provided in the end walls 2 of the container to facilitate lifting the containers.

Figs. 5, 6, and 7 show a modified form of the invention 50 in which the openings 14, corresponding to openings 8 of the first embodiment, are generally triangular in shape.

In this embodiment, the ears 15 on the signal card 10 are provided with a triangular shape conforming to the shape of the openings 14.

, ^{In a man}ner similar to that described with regard to the first embodiment, the card 10 is disposed flatwise against the side wall 1 with the ears 15 in alignment with the openings 14. By dropping the card vertically, the lower edges of the. ears 15 engage the lower end of the 60 notches 9 formed in surfaces 7 to firmly hold the card against the container.

While the above description is directed to a signal card being attached to our side wall of the container, it is contemplated that signal cards can be attached to two _6g or more walls if desired. Similarly, a plurality of ears can be associated with each end of the signal card rather than a single ear. In this case, the side wall of the container would be formed, with a plurality of openings corresponding to the number of ears on the end of the ₇₀ card.

The present invention provides a structure for holding a signal card against a container or tote box. The struc2,908,085 ture provides a substantial depth of locking engagement between the signal card and the container wall and permits the card to be readily attached to a container having a peripheral flange or other projection extending outwardly along the top edge of the container.

Various modes of carrying out the invention are com templated as being within the scope of the following claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which is regarded as -the invention.