Self-erecting container apparatus

• US 6,253,993 B1
• Filed: 05/06/1999
• Issued: 07/03/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: WestRock Shared Services, LLC (WestRock Company)
• Original Assignee: Stone Container Corporation (WestRock Company)
• Inventors: James, Jeffrey S., Lloyd, Michael M., Wellner, Kerry Donavon, Zion, Kenneth J., Chiera, Karen M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Elkins, Gary E.
• Application Number:
  US09/306,282
• Time in Patent Office: 789 Days
• Field of Search: 229/112, 229/117.13, 229/117.14, 229/117.15, 229/117.3, 229/117.32, 229/117.35, 229/125.14, 229/125.15, 229/186
• US Class Current: 229/117.3
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/2047 trapezoidal, e.g. to form a body with diverging side walls B65D5/2033 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/248 and at least one side being extended and doubled-over to enclose the adjacent gusset flaps
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/3664 and at least one side being extended and doubled-over to enclose the adjacent gusset flaps
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/46144 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 5/6626 formed by folding extensions of a side panel of a container body formed by erecting a "cross-like" blank

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a self-erecting container formed from the rapid deployment of flattened, partially articulated and/or pre-glued blanks into an articulated orientation, for the facilitated containment and dispensing of fluid articles. The self-erecting container comprises a bottom panel, two end panels, two side panels, and a pair of corner panels joining each end panel to each side panel. One of each pair of corner panels is affixed to one of opposed side or end panels, forming a container pocket having a substantially collapsed orientation. Upon raising of the end or side panels, respectively, the corner panels cause the respective side or end panels to be automatically be raised relative to the bottom panel, and the container pocket prompted to a substantially upright and expanded orientation. The container further comprises a fluid article holding bag attached to a nozzle, which is inserted into at least one aperture in one of the bottom, end and side panels. The bag may be positioned in the container pocket in either the collapsed or expanded orientations. The container may further include one or more top panels and handle panels, with one or more handle securing elements for stabilizing the handle panels and/or strengthening the container. The container may also include a nozzle guard for securing the nozzle in the aperture, and preventing collapse of the nozzle into the container during filling with fluid articles.

Claims

1. A self-erecting container apparatus for rapid deployment into articulation, and for the facilitated containment and dispensing of fluid articles, said self-erecting beverage container apparatus comprising:

a bottom panel having two opposed end edges and two opposed side edges;

two end panels, each of which end panels emanate from a respective end edge of the bottom panel, each of said end panels having two opposed side edge regions and a top edge region;

two side panels, each of which side panels emanate from a respective side edge of the bottom panel, each of said side panels having two opposed side edge regions and a top edge region;

at least one of said bottom panel, said two end panels, and two side panels having at least one aperture oriented therethrough;

a plurality of lines of weakness disposed between the bottom panel and the end panels and between the bottom panel and the side panels, respectively;

at least one paired corner panel, one panel of each corner panel pair emanating from the side edge region of at least one of said end panels, and the other panel of each corner panel pair emanating from the side edge region of at least one of said side panels substantially adjacent to said at least one end panel;

a line of weakness disposed between the panels of said at least one pair of corner panels;

said at least one paired corner panel being folded into a position overlaying and substantially juxtaposed and affixed to at least one of said side panels and said end panels, to create, at least in part, at least one container pocket having a substantially collapsed orientation, such that raising at least one of the end and side panels toward positions substantially perpendicular to the bottom panel causes one of said adjacent side and end panels to be drawn by the affixed corner panel pairs to prompt said container pocket toward a substantially upright orientation, thus operably expanding the size of said container pocket;

a bag operably positioned in said container pocket in at least one of said substantially collapsed and said substantially upright orientations, said bag being capable of containing fluid articles;

a nozzle, having at least two ends, operably associated with said bag so as to facilitate at least one of filling and dispensing fluid articles into and from said bag, and, in turn, into and from said container,

said nozzle being positionable within and through said aperture.

2. The self-erecting container apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said nozzle includes at least one detent element for operably stabilizing and releasably retaining said nozzle within said at least one aperture.

3. The self-erecting container apparatus according to claim 2 further comprising a nozzle guard capable of insertion between said at least one detent element and the corresponding container apparatus panel, for stabilization of said nozzle within said at least one aperture.

4. The self-erecting container apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising at least one handle operably associated with said container apparatus to facilitate transportation and use thereof.

5. The self-erecting container apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising

at least one top panel operably emanating from the top edge region of at least one of the side panels and end panels, said at least one top panel having a top edge region,

said top panel operably configured for overlaying at least a portion of the container pocket when in said substantially expanded orientation, toward a substantially container closing position.

6. The self-erecting container apparatus according to claim 5 further comprising:

at least one handle panel operably emanating from the top edge region of said at least one top panel for facilitating positioning of the at least one top panel in a container closing position,

said at least one handle panel having opposing side regions, a top edge region, at least one handle opening, and an inner edge region surrounding at least a portion of the at least one handle opening;

a handle panel securing element associated with at least one of said handle panels for operably securing said handle panels in a juxtaposed position, and, in turn, securing said top panels in a container closing orientation.

7. The self-erecting container apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said handle panel securing element comprises a locking tab operably emanating from said inner edge region of said at least one handle panel.

8. The self-erecting container apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said handle panel securing element comprises at least one projecting locking member associated with at least one of said opposing side regions of said at least one handle panel.

9. The self-erecting container apparatus according to claim 8 further comprising:

said at least one top panel operably emanating from the top edge region of at least one of said side panels; and

at least one handle support panel emanating from the top edge region of at least one end panel, said handle support panel having a slot configured to accept and releasably retain said at least one projecting locking member, to, in turn, releasably retain and lock said handle panels in a juxtaposed and container closing orientation.

10. The self-erecting container apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said handle panel securing element comprises:

an inverted handle stabilizing panel emanating from the top edge region of at least one of said handle panels,

at least a portion of said inverted handle stabilizing panel having a configuration substantially matching the configuration of at least one of said handle panels, so as to facilitate folding of said inverted handle panel over one of said handle panels to releasably retain and lock the handle panels in a juxtaposed and container closing orientation.

11. The self-erecting container apparatus according to claim 6 further comprising:

said at least one top panel operably emanating from the top edge region of at least one of said side panels; and

a handle locking panel emanating from the top edge region of at least one of said end panels,

said handle locking panel having at least one slot for operably receiving and securing said handle panels when the handle panels are in a substantially juxtaposed orientation.

12. The self-erecting container apparatus according to claim 11 further comprising:

a nozzle guard panel emanating from one of said handle locking panels,

at least a portion of said nozzle guard panel having a configuration substantially corresponding to the configuration of said nozzle,

said nozzle guard panel configuration facilitating insertion of at least a portion of said nozzle guard panel between said nozzle and said end panel upon articulation of the container apparatus for preventing escape of said nozzle through said opening and into the container apparatus during filling of said bag with fluid articles.

13. The self-erecting container apparatus according to claim 6 further comprising a secondary handle operably associated with said container apparatus to facilitate handling, use and transportation thereof.

14. The self-erecting container apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said bag is positioned in said container pocket when said container pocket is in a substantially collapsed orientation such that upon articulation of said container apparatus, both said container pocket and said bag are simultaneously articulated to an expanded, fluid article receiving orientation.

15. The self-erecting container apparatus according to claim 1 wherein at least two of said bottom panel, said two end panels, and said two side panels have apertures, said apertures in combination facilitating the filling and dispensing of fluid articles into and from said bag.

16. The self-erecting container apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said nozzle is positionable in at least one of said apertures for dispensing fluid articles from said bag, and a fluid conduit is positionable in another of said apertures to facilitate filling of said bag with said fluid articles.

17. The self-erecting container apparatus according to claim 1 further including a weakened region proximate at least a portion of said aperture for allowing insertion and removal of said nozzle.

18. The self-erecting container apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said end panels are of differing dimensions so as to give the container apparatus a substantially trapezoidal shape upon articulation.

19. The self-erecting container apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said aperture is operably positioned in one of said end panels.

20. The self-erecting container apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said aperture is operably positioned in said bottom panel.

21. The self-erecting container apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a releasable cap for operably covering at least one end of said nozzle during transportation and storage of said container apparatus.

22. The self-erecting container apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said at least one paired corner panel creates a containment ring in said substantially expanded container pocket to restrict expansion of the bag, when at least partially filled with fluid articles, beyond a container pocket boundary defined by said bottom panel, end panels, side panels and at least one paired corner panel, and the attachment points thereof.

23. The self-erecting container apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said at least one paired corner panel secures said bag, when at least partially filled with fluid articles, inside said substantially expanded container pocket during storage, transportation and dispensing of said fluid articles.

24. The self-erecting container apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said container apparatus is fabricated from a material selected from the group consisting of paper, paperboard, cardboard and corrugated paperboard.

25. The self-erecting container apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said container apparatus is coated with one of a waterproof substance, a leakproof substance and a plastic sheet to resist liquids.