MAILING TUBE

• US 3,756,497 A
• Filed: 12/13/1971
• Issued: 09/04/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: James Edward Stewart
• Original Assignee: James Edward Stewart
• Inventors: Stewart, James Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): Lowrance, George E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Marcus, Stephen
• Application Number:
  US05/207,041
• Time in Patent Office: 631 Days
• Field of Search: 229/22,45,93,5.7
• US Class Current: 229/115
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/0227 with end closures formed by inward folding of flaps and securing them by heat-sealing, by applying adhesive to the flaps or by staples
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/0254 with end closures formed by inward folding of flaps and securing them by means of a tongue integral with one of the flaps
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 59/04 Sleeves, e.g. postal tubes

Abstract

A foldable shipping container or mailing tube has a substantially triangular cross-section. At least one of the end panels of the container is hingeably connected to one of the side panels thereof, and is insertable into the open end of the assembled container with a pair of side flaps having indents formed therein which cooperate with an over-center acting locking tab formed in the other two side panels of the container and which locks the end panel into place by cooperative interference with the edges of the indents formed in the side flaps of the end panel.

Claims

1. In a foldable shipping container, which, when assembled, has a substantially triangular cross-section, with three substantially rectangular side panels, a first substantially triangular end panel and a second substantially triangular end panel;

at least a first and a second of said side panels being substantially equal in size to each other;

the improvement comprising;

a. at least one of said end panels being hingeably attached at one edge to an end of the third of said side panels, and having side flaps extending from its other two edges;

b. Said side flaps each having an inner end nearest said third side panel, and an outer end;

c. each said outer end of said side flaps having a recess cut at the inner portion of its edge;

d. a notch in the apex of said at least one end panel remote from the hingeable attachment of said end panel to said third side panel; and

e. a slit across the apex of said container formed between said first and second side panels, at the end of said container contiguous said at least one hingeably attached end panel, and at a distance from said end not greater than the depth of the recesses formed in the outer ends of said side flaps;

the length along each edge of said notch being at least equal to the length of the part of said slit cut into either of said first and second side panels, respectively;

said slit thereby defining the inner edge of an over-centre acting locking tab.

2. The foldable shipping container of claim 1 where the outer corner of each of said side flaps is rounded.

3. The foldable shipping container of claim 2 where an extension of said first and second side panels beyond the end panel, when folded, is formed beyond said slit.

4. The foldable shipping container of claim 3 where both end panels are hingeably attached to the ends of said third side panel, and each has side flaps and a notch.

5. The shipping container of claim 4 where a fourth panel is secured to the edge of said third panel remote from said first and second panels, and underlies said second panel where the container is assembled.

6. The shipping container of claim 5 where at least one tab is formed in the outer edge of said second side panel, and where at least one slit is formed to accommodate said tab when said container is assembled.

7. The shipping container of claim 1 where said third side panel is substantially equal in size to said first and second side panels.