Panel folder

Aug. 8, 1961

E. G. SWANSON ET AL

PANEL· FOLDER.

Filed May 28, 1957

2,995,290

<img file="US2995290A_D0001.tif" />

2,995,290

Patented Aug. 8, 1961

United States Patent Office

2,995,290 PANEL FOLDER

Elmer G. Swanson and Robert L. Reid, Salinas, Calif., assignors to St Regis Paper Company, a corporation of New York

Filed May 28,1957, Ser. No. 662,069 1 Claim. (Cl. 229—33)

This invention relates to folders and blanks therefor, and more particularly to a paperboard or fiberboard container known in the art of box making as a panel folder.

Panel folders may be used for a great many purposes. Fo'r example, paperboard panel folders may be used to package box lunches or for heavier duties. At any rate, several uses for panel folders require that they be set up from blanks within a minimum amount of time.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a panel folder which may be set up from a blank in a very short time.

In accordance with the invention, a pressure-sensitive adhesive coating is applied to several different areas on a panel folder of a particular construction. The advantages of the use of such an adhesive will thus conveniently be combined for use with a panel folder. Moreover, a specific coating arrangement is provided in accoYdance with the invention to prevent a panel folder from sticking to itself or from sticking to identical folders when stacked together.

The novel features which are believed to be quickest of the invention both as to its work and method of operation together with further objects and advantages thereof, will be better understood from the following description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, made a part of this specification.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a panel folder blank coated in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the panel folder of the invention partially assembled; and

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the panel folder completely assembled.

In the drawing in FIG. 1 the panel folder of the invention is shown including a bottom panel 10, first and second end panels 12 and 14, respectively, hingedly connected to opposite ends of the bottom panel on a first set of score lines 16. First and second side panels 18, 20 are hingedly connected to opposite sides of the bottom panel on a second set of score lines 22. A first end flap 24 is provided at one end of each of the side panels, the first end flaps 24 being hingedly connected to corresponding side panels at a third set of score lines 26. A second end flap 28 is provided at the opposite ends of each of the side panels 18, 20, the second end flaps 26 being hingedly connected to the side panels 18, 20 at a fourth set of score lines 30. First and second top panels 32, 34 are hingedly connected to the end panels on a fifth set of score lines 36 parallel td the first set of score lines 16. A first pair of side flaps 38 are hingedly connected to opposite sides of the first top panel 32 at a sixth set of score lines 40. A second pair of side flaps 42 then are hingedly connected to opposite sides of the second top panel 34 at a seventh set of score lines 44.

A first end flap strip 46 of pressure-sensitive adhesive material is provided on the ends of each of the first end flaps 24 and a first end panel strip 48 of a pressuresensitive adhesive coating is provided between a corresponding cine of the first set of score lines 16 and a corresponding one of the fifth set of score lines 36 to underlie only the coated portions of the first end flaps 24. The first end panel strip 48 has a width equal to twice the width of one of the first end flap strips 46.

The first end panel strip 48 is spaced frdm the ends of the first end panel 12 to prevent the first end flap strips 46 •from sticking thereto. The first end panel strip 48 is positioned at the symmetrical center of the first end panel 12, the first end flap strips 46 being spaced from corresponding ones of the third set of score lines 26 a distance equal to the distance from one end of the first end panel 12 to· the first end panel strip 48 to overlie exactly one half of the first end panel strip 48 and thereby effect an economical distribution of the pressure-sensitive adhesive over the first end flaps 46.

A first side flap strip 54 is provided only in one corner of each of the first side flaps 38 spaced from the first end flap strips 46 to prevent inadvertent sticking thereto. A first area 57 is provided on each of the side panels identical to those of the first side flap strips 54 to underlie them, the first areas 57 also being coated with a pressuresensitive adhesive material.

The panel folder blank is completely symmetrical in that a second end flap strip 50 of a pressure-sensitive adhesive material is provided on each end of each Of the second end flaps 28 and a second end panel strip 52 of a pressure-sensitive adhesive is coated from a corresponding one of the first set of score lines 16 to a corersponding one of the fifth set of score lines 36 to underlie only the coated portions of the second end flaps 28. The second end panel strip 52 has a width twice the width of one of the second end flap strips 50. The second end panel strip 52 is then spaced from the ends of the second end panel 14 to prevent the second end flap strips 50 from sticking thereto. The second end panel strip 52 is positioned at the symmetrical center of the second end panel 14. The second end flap strips 50 are spaced from corresponding ones of the fourth set of score lines 30 a distance equal to the distance from one end of the second end panel 14 to the second end panel strip 52 to overlie exactly one half of the second end panel strip 52 and thereby effect an economical distribution of the pressuresensitive adhesive over the second end flaps 28.

A second side flap strip 58 is provided only in one corner of each of the second side flaps 42 spaced from the second end flap strips 59 to prevent inadvertent sticking thereto. A second area 56 on each of the side panels 18, 20 identical to those of the second side flap strips 58 are provided to underlie them, the second areas 56 being coated with a pressure-sensitive adhesive material.

The panel folder of the invention is shown partially assembled in FIG. 2 with end panels 12 and 14 folded vertically upwardly. Similarly side panels 18 and 20 are folded vertically upwardly, whereby first end flaps 24 may be folded over end panel 12 with first end flap strips 48 overlying first end panel strip 48. Similarly, second end flaps 26 are folded over second end panel 14, whereby second end flap strips 50 overlie second end panel strip 52.

As shown in FIG. 3, top panels 32 and 34 are then folded over the top of the panel folder, whereby side panels 38 may be positioned outside of, but immediately adjacent side panels 18 and 20. Similarly, side flaps 42 are positioned adjacent a second half of the external portions of side panels 18 and 20, respectively.

In each of these cases, corresponding adhesive coated areas on the side flaps 38 and 42 will overlie corresponding areas on each of the side panels 18 and 20. Specifically, side flap strips 54 will overlie side panel strips 57 and side flap strips 58 will overlie side panel strips 56 to provide a completed panel folder of a sturdy construction as indicated in FIG. 3. The panel folder thus may be set up completely from the blank shown in FIG. 1 in a relatively short time.

Furthermore, the fact that end panel strips 48 and 52 are spaced from the ends of corresponding first and second end panels 12 and 14 make it impossible for any

2,995,290 coated areas on first and second end flaps 24 and 26 from sticking to the end panel strips 48 and 52.

Similarly, the fact that side flap strips 54 and 58 are spaced from end flap strips 46 and 50 respectively, prevent side flaps 38 and 42 from sticking to end flaps 24 and 26 respectively.

Still further, it is to be noted that as dotted hachures are employed to indicate coatings on the opposite side of the blank shown in FIG. 1 and not visible in this view and that therefore no coatings occupy same corresponding areas on opposite sides of the blank. This means that a stack of blanks identical to the ones shown in FIG. 1 will not stick to one another when they are stacked together.

It is to be understood that although one embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, that this has been done merely for purposes of illustration and that the true scope of the invention is defined only in the appended claim.