Stackable container

• US 6,443,358 B1
• Filed: 08/14/2001
• Issued: 09/03/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fruit Growers Supply Company
• Original Assignee: Fruit Growers Supply Company
• Inventors: Schilling, Johan H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Elkins, Gary E.
• Application Number:
  US09/931,219
• Time in Patent Office: 385 Days
• Field of Search: 229/174, 229/915, 229/918, 229/919, 206/509, 206/511, 206/512
• US Class Current: 229/174
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/002 having integral corner posts B65D5/0045 and B65D5/0065 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/443 Integral reinforcements, e.g. folds, flaps double walls B65D5/02
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 229/915 Stacking feature

Abstract

A stackable container formed from a single-piece blank pre-cut and pre-scored with an improved design directed at providing material cost savings while achieving stacking stability and related benefits. The container includes a base with two sets of opposing walls. Each wall of the first set incorporates a first panel and a second panel. The first panel is foldably attached at a lower edge to the base and is hinged at an upper edge to the second panel, wherein the upper edge also defines a shoulder. Each wall of the first set further incorporates at least one stacking tab that extends beyond the shoulder. The stacking tabs are two-ply and have a tab base and a sequencing panel. The tab base extend from the first panel and is foldably attached to the sequencing panel, wherein the tab base and the sequencing panel are formed from material cut from the second panel, thereby providing the benefits of two-ply stacking tabs and two-ply walls without expanding size requirements of the blank.

Claims

1. A container formed from a single blank, the container comprising:

a base with a set of opposing edges;

a first set of opposing walls, each opposing wall of the first set having,

a first panel with a lower edge and an upper edge, foldably attached at the lower edge to the base,

a second panel, having an upper edge, hinged to the first panel at their respective upper edges, the two upper edges defining a shoulder, and

a plurality of shoulder hinges for hinging the first panel and the second panel at the shoulder, each shoulder hinge formed by two spaced-apart cut lines oriented generally perpendicular to the shoulder, wherein at least one of the spaced-apart cut lines has a shoulder cut line extending from its mid-point and positioned along the shoulder, and

at least one stacking tab, extending above the shoulder, having a tab base and a sequencing panel, wherein the tab base extends from the first panel and is foldably attached to the sequencing panel, and wherein the tab base and the sequencing panel are formed from material cut from the second panel; and

a second set of opposing walls attached to the base substantially perpendicular to the first set of opposing walls.

2. A container as defined in claim 1, wherein the base has two opposing side edges and two opposing end edges, wherein the first panels are foldably attached to the side edges.

3. A container as defined in claim 1, wherein the base has two opposing side edges and two opposing end edges, wherein the first panels are foldably attached to the end edges.

4. A container as defined in claim 1, wherein each of the spaced-apart cut lines forming the plurality of shoulder hinges has a shoulder cut line extending from its mid-point and positioned along the shoulder.

5. A container as defined in claim 4, wherein each first panel is foldably attached to the base by a single fold line.

6. A container as defined in claim 4, wherein each wall of the first set of opposing walls has a two-ply thickness.

7. A container as defined in claim 6 wherein:

the container is formed from corrugated paperboard; and

the corrugation lines within the first set of opposing walls are substantially perpendicular to the base.

8. A container as defined in claim 1, wherein each wall of the second set of opposing walls has a three-ply thickness.

9. A container as defined in claim 8, wherein each wall of the first set of opposing walls has a two-ply thickness.

10. A container formed from a single blank, the container comprising:

a base having opposing side edges and opposing end edges;

two side walls, each side wall having

a first panel with a lower edge, an upper edge, and two opposing side edges, attached at the lower edge to one of the opposing side edges of the base by a fold line,

a second panel with two opposing side edges, hinged to the upper edge of the first side panel, the upper edge defining a shoulder,

a plurality of shoulder hinges for hinging the first panel and the second panel at the shoulder, each shoulder hinge formed by two spaced-apart cut lines oriented generally perpendicular to the shoulder, wherein at least one of the spaced-apart cut lines has a shoulder cut line extending from its mid-point and positioned along the shoulder, and

at least one stacking tab, extending beyond the shoulder, having a tab base and a sequencing panel, wherein the tab base extends from the first panel and is foldably attached to the sequencing panel, and wherein the tab base and sequencing panel are formed from material cut from the second panel; and

two end walls, each end wall having

an outer end panel with a lower edge, attached to one of the opposing end edges of the base by a fold line,

two center flaps each attached to one of the opposing side edges of the first panel by a fold line, and

two inner flaps each attached to one of the opposing side edges of the second panel by a fold line.

11. A container as defined in claim 10, wherein the side walls have a three-ply thickness.

12. A container as defined in claim 10, wherein the end walls have a two-ply thickness.

13. A container as defined in claim 10, wherein the container is formed from corrugated paperboard, wherein the corrugation lines within the side walls are substantially perpendicular to the base.

14. A container as defined in claim 10, wherein each of the spaced-apart cut lines forming the plurality of shoulder hinges has a shoulder cut line extending from its mid-point and positioned along the shoulder.

15. A container formed from a single blank, the container comprising:

a rectangular base;

a first wall having,

a first panel with a lower edge and an upper edge, foldably attached at the lower edge to the base,

a second panel, having an upper edge, hinged to the first panel at their respective upper edges, the two upper edges defining a shoulder,

a shoulder hinge for hinging the first panel and the second panel at the shoulder, formed by two spaced-apart cut lines oriented generally perpendicular to the shoulder, wherein at least one of the spaced-apart cut lines has a shoulder cut line extending from its mid-point and positioned along the shoulder, and

at least one stacking tab, extending above the shoulder, having a tab base and a sequencing panel, wherein the tab base extends from the first panel and is foldably attached to the sequencing panel, and wherein the tab base and the sequencing panel are formed from material cut from the second panel;

a second wall foldably attached to the base and opposing the first wall;

a third wall foldably attached to the base substantially perpendicular to both the first wall and the second wall; and

a fourth wall foldably attached to the base opposing the third wall and substantially perpendicular to both the first wall and the second wall.

16. A container as defined in claim 15, wherein the first wall has a two-ply thickness.

17. A container as defined in claim 16, further comprising a plurality of shoulder hinges.

18. A container as defined in claim 17, wherein each of the spaced-apart cut lines forming the plurality of shoulder hinges has a shoulder cut line extending from its mid-point and positioned along the shoulder.