Multifunctional container with reinforcing structural columns
A multifunctional container for storing, transporting, displaying and selling a wide range of goods has a bottom wall, a pair of opposing end walls and a pair of opposing side walls that can be formed into a variety of different container configurations. The container of the present invention has integrally formed structural columns for superior stacking strength and resistance to distortion. The columns are formed by providing column fold lines in extension members that are integrally formed with the panels that define the end walls and then pressing the fold lines between a folding arm having a protrusion and a cooperatively configured mandrel. The container can have integral cover flaps, corner panels, dividers and/or partitions. The container utilizes areas of a blank that would normally be discarded as waste. By slitting, scoring and folding these areas, various features can be formed to enhance flexibility and functionality of the container.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/925,909 filed Apr. 24, 2007.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCHNot Applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONA. Field of the Invention
The field of the present invention relates generally to packaging. More specifically, the present invention relates to multifunctional containers having multiple sides and structural supports and/or partitions to resist crushing from stacking, distortion from lateral forces against the side or end walls and bottom bulging from product placed in the container. Even more specifically, the present invention relates to such containers that are relatively quickly and easily manufactured from a single sheet of material, such as corrugated paperboard or the like.
B. Background
As well known to those in the packaging industry, there is an ever increasing need for improved containers to hold commodities, including items such as fresh fruits, vegetables, poultry, meat products and other products, which are known to have a wide variety of sizes, shapes and dimensions. In the packaging industry, as well as the present disclosure, the terms “case,” “box,” “tray,” “package” and “container” are often used interchangeably to refer to the same item. Containers are commonly formed in a generally rectangular or square shape and made out of corrugated paperboard to hold a given number or mass of smaller units such as cartons, bottles, cans, chickens, meat, fruit, vegetables or produce pieces. Although many different styles of containers are known in the art, most conventional containers have four sides, with the opposing side and end walls being generally parallel (i.e., providing a square or rectangular plan view), or they have eight sides, having pairs of opposing side and end walls with diagonal corner panels that are typically oriented at approximately 45 degrees to the longitudinal axis of the container to connect the adjacent side and end walls. An example of such an eight-sided container is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,749,107 to Quaintance.
The packaging industry has developed many different types and styles of fiberboard containers over the years, each being optimally suited for one or more particular products or industries. Such containers are typically constructed of a corrugated paperboard material. The material may be single face corrugated, single wall (double-faced) corrugated, double wall corrugated, triple wall corrugated or the like. Containers are also known to be made of other paperboard products including, without limitation, containerboard, boxboard, linerboard and cardboard. To increase top-to-bottom compression strength of the containers, various types of reinforcing pillars, columns or other structural members have been utilized. Typically, the structural members are formed by folding the container blank material to define corner panels at the all or some of the corners or to define columns at various points along the side and/or end walls of the container.
In general, eight-sided containers have greater compressive strength, which is particularly useful in order to stack containers on top of each other, than four-sided trays and exhibit less bulging of the side walls from the lateral force of the contents stored in the container. Columns formed in the side walls of the container further increases the compression strength of the container. A well known problem with the eight-sided containers is that the container tends to flex, distort or concertina, especially at the open top edge, due to the diagonally oriented angular faces of the corner panels. These problems tend to occur when lateral force is applied to one or more of the end walls of the open container, also referred to as a tray, such as occurs when two eight-sided trays are pushed together end-to-end during motorized conveying, when the trays are stretch-wrapped and/or strapped to form a unit load or when an individual tray that is carrying a load is lifted by its ends. The distortion of the tray can cause the cover to dislodge, which is usually applied to the tray, or make it difficult to apply a cover to the tray. Additionally, the resulting changes in dimension of the tray may cause other difficulties during use, such as when the trays are palletized during shipment and/or storage.
Containers are typically formed from blanks that are scored, cut, folded and glued to define a particular shaped container. Due to the use of separate side wall blanks, the popular Bliss-style container generally lends itself to variations in design, including the formation of columns in its side walls, prior to final assembly. A well known disadvantage of the Bliss-style container is that the multiple component design of the container results in higher cost for the manufacture, inventory and assembly of the container components. The Bliss-style container described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,948,033 to Halsell, II, et al., which is for a moisture resistant container, is provided with a column in each of the opposing side walls. The container of Halsell is constructed by assembling three separate blanks into an eight-sided container comprising two side walls that each have one or more generally triangular-shaped columns, two opposing end walls and four diagonally disposed corner panels. The diagonal corner panels subtend an angle of 45 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis of the container. The side and end walls are typically configured such that the flute direction thereon will run generally perpendicular to the base of the container. The container of Quaintance, U.S. Pat. No. 6,749,107, is made from a single blank that is appropriately slit, scored, folded and then glued into an eight-sided container. The use of structural columns with this container is not disclosed.
Accordingly, there is a need for a container that is formed from a singe corrugated blank that has the direction of the fluting material running perpendicular to the base of the container on both the end and side walls of the container in conjunction with structural columns and dividers and/or partitions that have been formed as an integral part of the side and/or end walls. Such a container would provide superior compression strength for stacking and provide enhanced resistance to distortion when transverse forces are applied to the ends or sides of the container. In addition, such a container would prevent bottom bulge where the contents of the container are susceptible to damage caused by vertical force on such contents.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe multifunctional container with reinforcing structural columns of the present invention provides the benefits and solves the problems identified above. That is to say, the present invention discloses a container which is formed from a single blank of suitable material, such as corrugated paperboard or the like, and which has one or more integrally formed structural columns or partitions on the side and/or end walls thereof. The container of the present invention has angular corner panels formed at the junction of the end and side walls of the container, has the direction of the fluting material running generally perpendicular to the base of the container and/or has dividers that are formed as integral components of the unitary sheet of corrugated paperboard. As such, the improved container of the present invention is constructed to resist crushing when containers are stacked on top of one another, to resist distortion when force is applied to the ends of the container and to prevent bottom bulge when the product placed in the container is sensitive to vertical force. The single sheet of corrugated paperboard, or like material, is slit, scored, folded and then glued to form the various structural components that provide the above-described strength enhancing features of the container of the present invention. As such, the present container is particularly useful for containing products that require somewhat enhanced protection, such as produce, meat products, detergents, fragile items, pharmaceuticals and such. In addition, the container of the present invention results in faster assembly and lower cost for a container having one or more structural support columns by eliminating the need to manufacture, inventory and then assemble a plurality of separate container components.
In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the container comprises a bottom wall, a first end wall and an opposing second end wall and a first side wall and an opposing second side wall, all formed from a single integral blank. The end walls define opposing ends of the container and the side walls define opposing sides of the container. Each of the first end wall, second end wall, first side wall and second side wall has a first end and a second end. In a preferred embodiment, the container has extension members formed at each end of each end wall that are disposed at a right angles to the respective end walls. One or more structural columns are integrally formed in each of the extension members. The structural columns are defined by one or more column fold lines positioned at the desired location for the structural columns in each of extension member, typically one on each of the opposing side walls. The container can also include a plurality of corner panels, which are also formed integrally with the container, with one corner panel being angularly disposed, typically at approximately 45 degrees to the longitudinal axis of the container, between each of the adjacent end and side walls. The container can comprise one or more cover flaps that are integrally formed with one or more of the end and side walls. In one embodiment, the cover flaps has divider flaps that are integrally formed therewith and configured to define one or more dividers in the container. A securing mechanism can be utilized to hold the divider panels in place. In a preferred embodiment, the securing mechanism comprises a tab member on each divider flap and divider slits in the bottom wall of the container such that each tab members is received in a corresponding divider slit. In another preferred embodiment, each of the side walls has an integral cover flap and each of the end walls has an integral column flap with an integral structural column that is defined by one or more column fold lines in the end column flap. In yet another embodiment, the container has one or more integrally formed partitions that are each formed from a partition flap which is integrally formed with one of or more of the extension members and defined by a partition fold line. The container of the present invention, having integrally formed structural columns, can comprise various combinations of corner panels, cover flaps, end columns, dividers and partitions and be made in various sizes and shapes and configured to hold a wide variety of different items.
One of the primary advantages of the present container is its multifunctional capabilities. The user can change the size of the structural columns by changing the spacing between the column fold lines in a particular set of column fold lines, change the column location by changing the location of the sets of column fold lines, change the shape of the columns by changing the scoring pattern for a particular set of column fold lines and change the number of columns by increasing or decreasing the number of sets of column fold lines. Additionally, the user can form a container having four, six, eight or other number of sides having integral walls, an integral lid, integral dividers and/or integral partitions. As a result of the various features, the container of the present invention has superior stacking strength relative to existing multi-sided containers that are made from a unitary corrugated paperboard blank and has resistance to distortion unlike that of a three piece Bliss style box that has structural columns formed in the side walls. In addition to the structural benefits, this invention makes use of areas of the unitary corrugated blank that would normally be discarded as waste. By slitting, scoring and folding these areas, structural columns, lids, corner panels, dividers and/or partitions can be formed to enhance the flexibility and functionality of the container.
The above and other aspects and objectives of the present invention are explained in greater detail by reference to the attached figures and the description of the preferred embodiments which follows. As set forth herein, the present invention resides in the novel features of form, construction, mode of operation and combination of processes presently described and understood by the claims.
In the drawings which illustrate the preferred embodiments and the best modes presently contemplated for carrying out the present invention:
With reference to the figures where like elements have been given like numerical designations to facilitate the reader's understanding of the present invention, the preferred embodiments of the present invention are set forth below. The enclosed figures and drawings are merely illustrative of one or more of the preferred embodiments and, as such, represent one or more ways of configuring the present invention. Although specific components, materials, configurations and uses are illustrated, it should be understood that a number of variations to the components and to the configuration of those components described herein and in the accompanying figures can be made without changing the scope and function of the invention set forth herein. For instance, although the figures and description provided herein are primarily directed to a container manufactured out of corrugated paperboard or the like in a rectangular or square shape with generally triangular-shaped structural support members, those skilled in the art will readily understand that this is merely for purposes of simplifying the present disclosure and that the present invention is not so limited.
A multifunctional container that is manufactured out of the components and configured pursuant to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown generally as 10 in
A first embodiment of the present invention, which is a four-sided container 10, is shown in
For purposes of the present disclosure, the end walls 16 and 18 define the first end 24 and second end 26, respectively, of container 10 and the side walls 20 and 22 define the first side 28 and second side 30, respectively, of container 10. For increased resistance vertical crush forces, such as may result from stacking, the container 10 of
To form the structural columns 32 that are the structural support features of the container 10 of the present invention, one or more of the end wall extension members 34, 38, 42 and 46 are provided with column fold lines 60, which are scored therein. Typically, at least two of the end wall extension members 34, 38, 42 and 46 will be provided with column fold lines 60 so that each of the opposing sides 28 and 30 will each have a structural column 32. In the embodiment shown in
The embodiment of
The embodiment of
A fourth embodiment of the present invention, which is an eight-sided container 10, is shown in
A seventh embodiment of the container 10 of the present invention is shown in
As shown in
A ninth embodiment of the container 10 of the present invention is shown in
As will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art, one of the advantages of the container 10 of the present invention is its multifunctional capabilities. As set forth above with regard to the structural columns, the user can change their size by changing the spacing between column fold lines 60 in a particular set of column fold lines 60, change their location by changing the location of the sets of column fold lines 60, change their shape by changing the scoring pattern for a particular set of column fold lines 60 and change the number of columns 32 by increasing or decreasing the number of sets of column fold lines 60. In addition, the user can form containers 10 with four, eight or other number of sides using integral walls, an integral lid and/or integral dividers 92. The container 10 of the present invention has superior stacking strength to that of existing multi-sided containers made from a unitary corrugated paperboard blank and has resistance to distortion unlike that of a three piece Bliss style box that has formed structural columns in the side walls. In addition to the structural benefits, this invention makes use of areas of the unitary corrugated blank that are created as a function of the basic design of the container which would normally be discarded as waste. By slitting, scoring and folding these areas, structural columns 32, dividers 92 and/or partitions 110 can be integrally formed in the container 10 to enhance the flexibility and functionality of container 10.
While there are shown and described herein a specific form of the invention, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention is not so limited, but is susceptible to various modifications and rearrangements in design and materials without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. In particular, it should be noted that the present invention is subject to modification with regard to any dimensional relationships set forth herein and modifications in assembly, materials, size, shape, and use. For instance, there are numerous components described herein that can be replaced with equivalent functioning components to accomplish the objectives of the present invention.
Claims
1. A multifunctional container formed from a single integral blank, said container comprising:
- a bottom wall and a plurality of walls in upstanding relation to said bottom wall, each of said walls having a first end and a second end;
- an extension member integral with one or more of said first end or said second end of at least one of said walls and disposed in substantially right angle relation thereto, said extension member having a proximal end at said at least one of said walls and a distal end distally disposed therefrom; and
- a structural column integrally formed in said extension member, said structural column defined by one or more column fold lines in said extension member.
2. The container according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of walls comprises a pair of opposing end walls and a pair of opposing side walls, said end walls defining opposing ends of said container, said side walls defining opposing sides of said container, each of said end walls having said extension members formed integrally therewith, each of said extension members having said structural column formed integrally therein.
3. The container according to claim 2 further comprising a plurality of corner panels formed integrally with said container, one of said corner panels angularly disposed between each of said end walls and said side walls disposed in adjacent relation.
4. The container according to claim 3 further comprising one or more cover flaps integrally formed with at least one of said end walls and said side walls.
5. The container according to claim 4, wherein each of said end walls has an end cover flap integrally formed therewith and each of said side walls has a side cover flap integrally formed therewith.
6. The container according to claim 4, wherein at least one of said side walls has a side cover flap integrally formed therewith and each of said end walls has an end column flap formed integrally therewith, said end column flap having a structural column integrally formed therein and defined by one or more column fold lines in said end column flap.
7. The container according to claim 4, wherein each of said one or more cover flaps has one or more divider flaps integrally formed therewith, said divider flaps defining one or more dividers in said container.
8. The container according to claim 7 further comprising an integrally formed securing mechanism to secure said divider flaps to said bottom wall.
9. The container according to claim 4 further comprising one or more integrally formed partitions in at least one of said end walls and side walls, each of said partitions formed from a partition flap integral with one of said extension members and defined by a partition fold line.
10. The container according to claim 2 further comprising one or more cover flaps integrally formed with at least one of said walls.
11. The container according to claim 2, wherein at least one of said side walls has a side cover flap integrally formed therewith and each of said end walls have an end column flap formed integrally therewith, said end column flap having a structural column integrally formed therein and defined by one or more column fold lines in said end column flap.
12. The container according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said walls has a side cover flap integrally formed therewith, each of said cover flaps has one or more divider flaps integrally formed therewith, said divider flaps attached to said bottom wall so as to define one or more dividers in said container.
13. The container according to claim 1 further comprising one or more integrally formed partitions in at least one of said walls, each of said partitions formed from a partition flap integral with one of said extension members and defined by a partition fold line.
14. A multifunctional container formed from a single integral blank, said container comprising:
- a bottom wall, a first end wall and an opposing second end wall and a first side wall and an opposing second side wall, said end walls defining opposing ends of said container, said side walls defining opposing sides of said container, each of said first end wall, second end wall, first side wall and second side wall having a first end and a second end;
- an extension member integrally formed at each end of said first end wall and said second end wall, each of said extension members being disposed at right angles to said end wall so as to align two of said extension members on each of said opposing sides of said container; and
- one or more structural columns integrally formed in at least one of said extension members on each of said opposing sides of said container, each of said structural columns defined by one or more column fold lines.
15. The container according to claim 14 further comprising a plurality of corner panels formed integrally with said container, one of said corner panels angularly disposed between each of said end walls and said side walls disposed in adjacent relation.
16. The container according to claim 14 further comprising one or more cover flaps integrally formed with at least one of said end walls and said side walls.
17. The container according to claim 16, wherein each of said one or more cover flaps has one or more divider flaps integrally formed therewith, said divider flaps defining one or more dividers in said container.
18. The container according to claim 14, wherein at least one of said side walls has a side cover flap integrally formed therewith and each of said end walls has an end column flap formed integrally therewith, said end column flap having a structural column integrally formed therein and defined by one or more column fold lines in said end column flap.
19. The container according to claim 14 further comprising one or more integrally formed partitions, each of said partitions formed from a partition flap integral with one of said first extension member and said second extension member and defined by a partition fold line.
20. A method of forming a multifunctional container from a single integral blank, said method comprising the steps of:
- a) providing said blank with a bottom wall, a first end wall, a second end wall, a first side wall and a second side wall, each of said first end wall and said second end wall defined by an end wall fold line and each of said first side wall and said second side wall defined by a side wall fold line, each of said first end wall and second end wall, first side wall and second side wall having a first end and a second end, said first end wall and said second end wall defining opposing ends of said container, said first side wall and said second side wall defining opposing sides of said container;
- b) defining an extension member integral with each of said first end wall and said second end wall by forming an extension fold line at said ends of said first end wall and said second end wall;
- c) forming one or more column fold lines in each of said extension members, said column fold lines configured to define a structural column that is integral with said extension members;
- d) folding each of said first end wall and said second end wall at said respective end wall fold lines in right angle relation to said bottom wall;
- e) folding each of said extension members in right angle relation to each of said respective first end wall and said second end wall to substantially align said extension members along each of said sides of said container;
- f) forming said structural column in each of said extension members; and
- g) folding said first side wall at said side wall fold line to abut said extension members on one of said sides of said container and folding said second side wall at said side wall fold line to abut said extension members on the opposite side of said container.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 23, 2008
Publication Date: Oct 30, 2008
Inventor: Raymond George Montague Kisch (Paso Robles, CA)
Application Number: 12/148,997
International Classification: B65D 3/22 (20060101);