STACKABLE DISPENSER CONTAINER

• US 3,747,833 A
• Filed: 10/13/1971
• Issued: 07/24/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Specialty Fasteners Ltd. (Diploma PLC)
• Original Assignee: Henry G. Robinson
• Inventors: Robinson, Henry G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Moorhead, Davis T.
• Application Number:
  US05/188,978
• Time in Patent Office: 650 Days
• Field of Search: 229/9,10,19,51D,7,17B,17R 221/305
• US Class Current: 229/221
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/545 for opening containers formed by erecting a "cross-like" blank
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/721 consisting of mobile elements forming part of the containers or attached to the containers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 229/919 Reinforced wall

Abstract

An improved container for use in shipping articles is both stackable and capable of forming a hopper to facilitate dispensing of articles from the container. To enable the container to withstand relatively large loads when it is placed in a stack, the container is formed with double paneled front, rear, and side walls. The top and bottom walls are single paneled or layered to promote economical fabrication. A tear strip is formed in an outer panel of the front wall between the top and bottom walls. This tear strip can be removed or torn away to sever the outer panel and release the inner panel of the front wall for outward pivoting movement to form the hopper. The container can withstand a relatively heavy load even when the front wall is pivoted outwardly due to the strength which is provided by the double paneled rear and side walls.

Claims

1. A stackable dispenser container comprising spaced apart top and bottom walls, spaced apart front and rear walls extending between said top and bottom walls, a pair of spaced apart side walls extending between said front and rear walls and cooperating with said top and bottom walls to form an article receiving chamber, each of said front, rear and side walls including an inner panel and an outer panel to provide said front, rear and side walls with sufficient strength to withstand loads imposed on said container upon placement of said container in a stack of containers, opener means on said outer panel of said front wall for releasing said inner panel of said front wall for movement from a closed position to an open position in which said inner panel of said front wall extends upwardly from said bottom wall at an acute angle, first and second side flaps extending from opposite end portions of said inner panel of said front wall into abutting engagement with said side walls, each of said side flaps having an edge portion movable from a first position spaced from said top wall to a second position disposed in abutting engagement with said top wall upon movement of said inner panel of said front wall from said closed position to said open position to limit outward movement of said inner panel of said front wall and to retain said inner panel of said front wall in a predetermined position relative to said bottom wall, said inner panel of said rear wall being connected with said bottom wall along a first fold line and said outer panel of said rear wall being connected with said top wall along a second fold line which extends parallel to said first fold line.

2. A container as set forth in claim 1 wherein said opener means is disposed on said outer panel of said front wall intermediate said top and bottom walls to facilitate operation of said opener means when said container is disposed in a stack of containers.

3. A container as set forth in claim 2 wherein said opener means includes means for severing said outer panel of said front wall at a location intermediate said top and bottom wall to release said inner panel of said front wall for movement to the open position.

4. A container as set forth in claim 1 wherein said opener means includes a tear strip integrally formed with said outer panel of said front wall and defined by a plurality of perforations formed in said front panel of said front wall.

5. A container as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of said side flaps is disposed intermediate said inner and outer panels of an associated one of said side walls.

6. A stackable dispenser container comprising spaced apart top and bottom walls, spaced apart front and rear walls extending between said top and bottom walls, a pair of spaced apart side walls extending between said front and rear walls and cooperating with said top and bottom walls to form an article receiving chamber, each of said front, rear and side walls including an inner panel and an outer panel to provide said front, rear and side walls with sufficient strength to withstand loads imposed on said container upon placement of said container in a stack of containers, opener means on said outer panel of said front wall for releasing said inner panel of said front wall for movement from a closed position to an open position in which said inner panel of said front wall extends upwardly from said bottom wall at an acute angle, first and second side flaps extending from opposite end portions of said inner panel of said front wall into abutting engagement with said side walls, each of said side flaps having an edge portion movable from a first position spaced from said top wall to a second position disposed in abutting engagement with said top wall upon movement of said inner panel of siad front wall from said closed position to said open position to limit outward movement of saId inner panel of said front wall and to retain said inner panel of said front wall in a predetermined position relative to said bottom wall, said top and bottom walls each being formed by a single panel, said outer panels of said front and rear walls being connected with the panel of at least one of said top and bottom walls along first and second fold lines, said first and second fold lines being disposed on opposite sides of said container and extending parallel to each other.

7. A container as set forth in claim 6 wherein said opener means is disposed on said outer panel of said front wall intermediate said top and bottom walls to facilitate operation of said opener means when said container is disposed in a stack of containers.

8. A container as set forth in claim 7 wherein said opener means includes means for severing said outer panel of said front wall at a location intermediate said top and bottom wall to release said inner panel of said front wall for movement to the open position.

9. A container as set forth in claim 6 wherein said opener means includes a tear strip integrally formed with said outer panel of said front wall and defined by a plurality of perforations formed in said front panel of said front wall.

10. A container as set forth in claim 6 wherein each of said side flaps is disposed intermediate said inner and outer panels of an associated one of said side walls.