Bottom structure for collapsible container

• US 6,371,363 B1
• Filed: 01/26/2000
• Issued: 04/16/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Inland Paperboard and Packaging, Inc. (International Paper Company)
• Original Assignee: Inland Paperboard and Packaging, Inc. (International Paper Company)
• Inventors: Franklin, Troy M., Newcomer, Donald E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Elkins, Gary E.
• Application Number:
  US09/491,829
• Time in Patent Office: 811 Days
• Field of Search: 229/109, 229/138, 229/184, 229/117
• US Class Current: 229/109
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/06 with end-closing or contents-supporting elements formed by folding inwardly a wall extending from, and continuously around, an end of the tubular body

Abstract

A collapsible container made of paperboard and particularly a bottom structure for a collapsible containers. More particularly, a relatively flat bottom structure for a rapid set-up, octagon-shaped bulk box. The container includes an eight-sided body and a floor positioned to lie in a bottom opening of the eight-sided body upon movement of the eight-sided body from a collapsed, flattened position to assume an expanded, opened position.

Claims

1. A container comprising

an eight-sided body formed to include a top opening and a bottom opening and configured to be folded from an expanded, opened position to a collapsed, flattened position, the eight-sided body including a set of eight walls arranged consecutively in a series to provide the eight-sided body with an octagon shape upon movement of the eight-sided body to assume the expanded, opened position, and

a floor positioned to lie in the bottom opening of the eight-sided body upon movement of the eight-sided body to assume the expanded, opened position, the floor including first, second, third, and fourth bottom flaps and first, second, third, and fourth flap connectors, each of the bottom flaps and flap connectors being coupled to one of the eight walls,

wherein the first bottom flap is coupled to a first wall in the set of eight walls at a first flap fold line, the first flap connector is coupled to a second wall in the set of eight walls at a first connector fold line, the second bottom flap is coupled to a third wall in the set of eight walls at a second flap fold line, the second flap connector is coupled to a fourth wall in the set of eight walls at a second connector fold line, the third bottom flap is coupled to a fifth wall in the set of eight walls at a third flap fold line, the third flap connector is coupled to a sixth wall in the set of eight walls at a third connector fold line, the fourth bottom flap is coupled to a seventh wall in the set of eight walls at a fourth flap fold line, and the fourth flap connector is coupled to an eighth wall in the set of eight walls at a fourth connector fold line,

the first flap connector includes a first center section coupled to the second wall at the first connector fold line, a first right side section coupled to the first center section at a fold line and to the second bottom flap at a fold line, and a first left side section coupled to the first center section at a fold line and to the first bottom flap at a fold line, the first left side section being larger than the first right side section,

the second flap connector includes a second center section coupled to the fourth wall at the second connector fold line, a second right side section coupled to the second center section at a fold line and to the third bottom flap at a fold line, and a second left side section coupled to the second center section at a fold line and to the second bottom flap at a fold line,

the third flap connector includes a third center section coupled to the sixth wall at the third connector fold line, a third right side section coupled to the third center section at a fold line and to the fourth bottom flap at a fold line, and a third left side section coupled to the third center section at a fold line and to the third bottom flap at a fold line, and

the fourth flap connector includes a fourth center section coupled to the eighth wall at the fourth connector fold line, a fourth right side section coupled to a flange connector at a fold line and to the first bottom flap at a fold line, and a fourth left side section coupled to the fourth center section at a fold line and to the fourth bottom flap at a fold line.

2. The container of claim 1, wherein each of the first and third bottom flaps has a first shape characterized by a long base edge appendant to one of the first and fifth walls, a short outer edge arranged to lie in parallel relation to the long base edge, long and short diagonal side edges defining fold lines, and an L-shaped curving side edge interconnecting the short outer edge and the short diagonal side edge.

3. The container of claim 2, wherein each of the second and fourth bottom flaps is characterized by a long base edge appendant to one of the third and seventh walls, a short bowed outer edge arranged to lie in spaced-apart relation to the long base edge, and a pair of diagonal side edges arranged to interconnect the long base edge and the short bowed outer edge and converge in a direction extending away from said one of the third and seventh walls.

4. The container of claim 1, wherein each of the second and fourth bottom flaps is characterized by a long base edge appendant to one of the third and seventh walls, a short bowed outer edge arranged to lie in spaced-apart relation to the long base edge, and a pair of diagonal side edges arranged to interconnect the long base edge and the short bowed outer edge and converge in a direction extending away from said one of the third and seventh walls.

5. The container of claim 1, wherein a flange connector is coupled to the fourth right side section, the fourth center section is coupled to the fourth left side section, and the flange connector is coupled to the fourth center section.

6. The container of claim 5, wherein the fourth flap connecter is formed to include an elongated slot positioned to lie along the fold line located between the flange connector and the fourth right side section.

7. The container of claim 1, wherein a face of the first left side section is adhered to a face of the first center section to fix the first left side and first center sections in side-by-side relation to one another.

8. The container of claim 7, wherein the first left side section is larger than the first right side section.

9. The container of claim 7, wherein the first right side section is triangle-shaped.

10. The container of claim 7, wherein a face of the third left side section is adhered to a face of the third center section to fix the third left side and third center sections in side-by-side relation to one another.

11. The container of claim 1, wherein the second right side section is smaller than the first left side section.

12. The container of claim 11, wherein the fourth right side section is larger than the fourth left side section.

13. The container of claim 1, wherein each of the second right and left side sections is triangle-shaped.

14. The container of claim 13, wherein each of the fourth right and left side sections is triangle-shaped.

15. The container of claim 1, wherein the second center section includes a first portion coupled to the fourth wall at the second connector fold line, a second portion coupled to the first portion along a fold line to position the first portion between the fourth wall and the second portion, the first portion has a triangular shape, and the second portion has a quadrilateral shape.

16. The container of claim 1, wherein the second left side section is smaller than the second right side section.

17. The container of claim 1, wherein the third left side section is larger than the third right side section.

18. The container of claim 1, wherein the fourth left side section is smaller than the fourth right side section.

19. A container comprising

an eight-sided body formed to include a top opening and a bottom opening and configured to be folded from an expanded, opened position to a collapsed, flattened position, the eight-sided body including a set of eight walls arranged consecutively in a series to provide the eight-sided body with an octagon shape upon movement of the eight-sided body to assume the expanded, opened position, and

a floor positioned to lie in the bottom opening of the eight-sided body upon movement of the eight-sided body to assume the expanded, opened position, the floor including first, second, third, and fourth bottom flaps and first, second, third, and fourth flap connectors, each of the bottom flaps and flap connectors being coupled to one of the eight walls, wherein the first, second, third, and fourth flap connectors overlie the bottom flaps and cooperate to form a plus-shaped pattern with an aperture at the center on an exterior surface of the floor upon movement of the eight-sided body to assume the expanded, opened position.

20. The container of claim 19, wherein each of the first, second, third, and fourth flap connectors includes a free end and the free ends cooperate to define a square-shaped aperture therebetween upon movement of the eight-sided body to assume the expanded, opened position.

21. The container of claim 20, wherein the first and third bottom flaps include free ends that cooperate to close the square-shaped aperture upon movement of the eight-sided body to assume the expanded, opened position.

22. The container of claim 19, wherein the first, second, third, and fourth flap connectors cover portions of the first, second, third, and fourth bottom flaps to leave four triangle-shaped portions of the bottom flaps visible on the exterior surface of the floor upon movement of the eight-sided body to assume the expanded, opened position.

23. A container comprising

an eight-sided body formed to include a top opening and a bottom opening and configured to be folded from an expanded, opened position to a collapsed, flattened position, the eight-sided body including a set of eight walls arranged consecutively in a series to provide the eight-sided body with an octagon shape upon movement of the eight-sided body to assume the expanded, opened position, and

a floor positioned to lie in the bottom opening of the eight-sided body upon movement of the eight-sided body to assume the expanded, opened position, the floor including first, second, third, and fourth bottom flaps and first, second, third, and fourth flap connectors, each of the bottom flaps and flap connectors being coupled to one of the eight walls,

wherein each of the second and fourth flap connectors includes a center section, a small side section positioned to lie between and pivot relative to the center section and one of the bottom flaps, and a large side section positioned to lie between and pivot relative to the center section and another of the bottom flaps, and each of the side sections is a right triangle.