Container structure

• US 5,074,460 A
• Filed: 10/24/1990
• Issued: 12/24/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Matthew R. Hanekamp
• Original Assignee: Matthew R. Hanekamp
• Inventors: Hanekamp, Matthew R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Marcus, Stephen
• Assistant Examiner(s): McDonald, Christopher
• Application Number:
  US07/602,623
• Time in Patent Office: 426 Days
• Field of Search: 229/117, 229/117.01, 229/117.05, 229/117.15, 229/117.16, 206/434, 220/462, 220/463, 220/416
• US Class Current: 229/117
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/3628 collapsed along median lines of two opposite sides of the rectangular tubular body
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/46112 either the handle elements being formed with lugs which engage with the other side walls or closure flaps, or the other closure flaps folding over a part of the handle to maintain the handle in position
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/606 Bags or bag-like tubes loosely glued to the wall of a "tubular" container

Abstract

A generally rectangular container fabricated of, for example, a heavy paper material such as pressed paperboard or corrugated cardboard, includes an inner, flexible moisture impermeable bag. The container is constructed so that the side walls, end walls, bottom wall and top wall are foldable to form a thin, flat stack having a rectangular perimeter when not in use for easy storage, and which can be formed into a strong container without the use of fasteners or adhesives.

Claims

1. A collapsible container comprising:

first and second side walls;

first and second end walls joined at their opposite end edges to the end edges of the side walls, the junctures of the end walls and the side walls defining first fold lines about which the end walls are foldable relative to the end walls into an overlaying relationship to the inside surface of the side walls;

a second fold lilne formed in the first end wall midway between and parallel to the first fold lines and extending from the top edge to the bottom edge of the first end wall about which the sections of the first end wall divided by the second fold line are foldable back over each other as the first end wall folds about the first fold lines such that one section of the first end wall overlays the interior surface of the first side wall and the other section of the first end wall overlays the interior surface of the second side wall;

a second fold line formed in the second end wall midway between and parallel to the first fold lines and extending from the top edge to the bottom edge of the second wall about which the sections of the second end wall divided by the second fold line are foldable back over each other, as the second end wall folds about the first fold lines such that one section of the second end wall overlays the interior surface of the first side wall and the other section of the second end wall overlays the interior surface of the second side wall;

a bottom wall including first and second bottom flaps which are physically congruous and cooperate to form the bottom wall, the first bottom flap having a first portion joined to the bottom edge of the first side wall and a second portion joined to the bottom edge of the first end wall wherein the juncture of the first portion and first side wall defines a third fold line about which the first portion is foldable relative to the first side wall into an overlaying relationship to the inside surface of the first side wall and the juncture of the second portion and first end wall defines a fourth fold line about which the second portion is foldable relative to the first end wall into overlaying relationship to the inside surface of the first end wall, and the second bottom flap having a first portion joined to the bottom edge of the second side wall and a second portion joined to the bottom edge of the second end wall wherein the juncture of the first portion and second side wall define a third fold line about which the first portion is foldable relative to the second side wall into an overlaying relationship to the inside surface of the second side wall and the juncture of the second portion and second end wall defines a fourth fold line about which the second portion is foldable relative to the second end wall into overlaying relationship to the inside surface of the second end wall;

a fifth fold line formed in the second portion of the first bottom flap in alignment with the second fold line of the first end wall about which the sections of the second portion of the first bottom flap divided by the fifth fold line are foldable back over each other as the second portion of the first bottom flap folds about the fourth fold line such that one section of the second portion overlays one section of the first end wall and the other section of the second portion overlays the other section of the first end wall;

a fifth fold line formed in the second portion of the second bottom flap in alignment with the second fold line of the second end wall about which the sections of the second portion of the second bottom flap divided by the fifth fold line are foldable back over each other as the second portion of the second bottom flap folds about the fourth fold line such that one section of the second portion overlays one section of the second end wall and the other section of the second portion overlays the other section of the second end wall;

a sixth fold line formed in the first bottom flap dividing the first portion from the second portion extending from the juncture of the first side wall and first end wall to the distal end of the fifth fold line formed in the second portion about which the first and second portions of the first bottom flap are foldable back over each other as the first portion is folded about the third fold line and the second portion is folded about the fourth fold line;

a sixth fold line formed in the second bottom flap dividing the first portion from the second portion extending from the juncture of the second side wall and second end wall to the distal end of the fifth fold line formed in the second portion about which the first and second portions of the second bottom flap are foldable back over each other as the first portion is folded about the third fold line and the second portion is folded about the fourth fold line;

interlocking means associated with the first and second bottom flaps which releasably interlock the first and second bottom flaps extend across the bottom of the container forming the bottom wall;

a top wall including first and second top flaps which cooperate to form the top wall, the first top flap being joined to the top edge of the first side wall wherein the juncture defines a seventh fold line about which the first top flap is foldable relative to the first side wall into an overlaying relationship to the exterior surface of the first side wall, and the second top flap being joined to the top edge of the second side wall wherein the juncture defines a seventh fold line about which the second top flap is foldable relative to the second side wall into an overlaying relationship to the exterior surface of the second side wall;

a handle associated with the top wall including a first handle flap joined to the distal edge of the first top flap and a second handle flap joined to the distal edge of the second top flap and which cooperate in registered overlaying relationship to form the handle;

a first lock flap joined to the top edge of the first end wall and a second lock flap joined to the top edge of the second side wall and which first and second lock flaps overlay portions of the first and second top flaps and cooperate with the first and second handle flap to lock the first and second top flaps in position forming the top wall closing the open top of the container;

a tenth fold line formed in the first locking flap in alignment with the second fold line formed in the first end wall about which the sections of the first lock flap divided by the tenth fold line are foldable back over each other as the sections of the first end wall fold over each other about the second fold line such that one of the sections of the first lock flap overlays one of the sections of the first end wall and the other section of the first lock flap overlays the other section of the first end wall; and

a tenth fold line formed in the second locking flap in alignment with the second fold line formed in the second end wall about which the sections of the second lock flap divided by the tenth fold line are foldable back over each other as the sections of the second end wall fold over each other about the second fold line such that one of the sections of the second lock flap overlays one of the sections of the second end wall and the other section of the second lock flap overlays the other section of the second end wall.

2. The collapsible container of claim 1, wherein the interlocking means comprises a notch formed in the distal edge of the first portion of the first bottom flap, and a notch formed in the distal edge of the first portion of the second bottom flap, the notches interengage to releasable interlock the distal ends of the first portions of the first and second bottom flaps together.

3. The collapsible container of claim 1, wherein:

the juncture of the first handle flap to the distal edge of the first top flap defines an eighth fold line parallel to the top edge of the first side wall about which the first handle flap is foldable relative to the first top flap into an overlaying relationship to the interior surface of the first top flap; and

,

the juncture of the second handle flap to the distal edge of the second top flap defines an eighth fold line parallel to the top edge of the second side wall about which the second handle flap is foldable relative to the second top flap into an overlaying relationship to the interior surface of the second top flap.

4. The collapsible container of claim 1, further comprising interlocking means associated with the first and second lock flaps and the first and second handle flaps which releasably interlock the first and second lock flaps to the first and second handle flaps thereby holding the first and second top flaps in a closed position forming the top wall.

5. The collapsible container of claim 1, wherein:

the juncture of the first lock flap to the top edge of the first end wall defines a ninth fold line about which the first lock flap is foldable relative to the first end wall to overlay the exterior surface of the first end wall; and

,

the juncture of the second lock flap to the top edge of the second end wall defines a ninth fold line about which the second lock flap is foldable relative to the second end wall to overlay the exterior surface of the second end wall.

6. The collapsible container of claim 1, further comprising a flexible, moisture impermeable enclosed by the side walls, end walls, bottom wall, and top wall with the opening of the bag coinciding with the open top defined by the top edges of the side walls and end walls.

7. The collapsible container of claim 6, wherein the bag is secured to at least two of the container walls.

8. The collapsible container of claim 6, wherein the bag is secured to the side walls by an adhesive.

9. The collapsible container of claim 6, wherein the bag is secured to the end walls.

10. The collapsible container of claim 9, wherein the bag is secured to the end walls at the location of the second fold lines.