Special receptacle or package – Structural features for vertical stacking – i.e. – similar... – Having vertical projecting element or recess for interlock
Reexamination Certificate
2000-11-16
2001-06-19
Elkins, Gary E. (Department: 3727)
Special receptacle or package
Structural features for vertical stacking, i.e., similar...
Having vertical projecting element or recess for interlock
C229S915000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06247593
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Technical Field
This invention relates generally to stackable containers made from blanks of paper board, cardboard, corrugated cardboard, fibreboard and/or plastics material and more particularly to a container (and blank to form the same) having tabs, on a pair of opposite sidewalls, projecting a selected distance upwardly from the top end of the container and tab receiving notches in the outer layer of a double layer bottom end face. The tabs on one container project into the notches of another like container stacked thereon.
Description of the Prior Art
Stackable containers are known that have tabs projecting upwardly from the top of one container into openings in the bottom and side walls of a like container stacked thereon. The cooperating aligned tabs and holes assist in preventing the upper containers from sliding of f the container it is resting on and also provides means to ensure alignment of the stacked containers and thus an even weight distribution. The normally smooth container surfaces provides low frictional engagement and thus sliding is a problem particularly during transport.
While it is acceptable to have holes in the containers and even in some instances it is desirable, for example containers for fresh fruit and/or vegetables, there are many instances when holes through the container walls are detrimental. Holes can be the cause of losing small articles and they can provide an entry way into the container for mice.
There is an abundance of related prior art disclosing containers having panels interconnected by fold lines and with tabs projecting from the top that fit into holes in the bottom and side walls of a like container resting thereon. Conventional cartons are known to have tabs; however, these tabs are interlocking to prevent any movement of one carton from moving from the adjacent carton.
The following are believed to be the most pertinent references with respect to the present invention: U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,662,508 issued to M. A. Smith; 4,709,852 issued to M. S. Stoll; 4,373,659 issued to W. F. Cornell et al; and 3,287,075 issued to L. A Batke et al.
The above '508 Patent discloses a pair of tabs projecting upwardly from each of a pair of opposite side walls of the container and aligned therewith are holes in each of the corresponding side walls and which extend into the bottom panel of the container. The tabs projecting upwardly from one container fit into the holes of a like container resting thereon. The blank for the container has a series of panels separated one from the next by fold lines and extending from opposite edges of the center one of this series of panels is a further series of panels separated one from the next by further fold lines. Holes in the walls are often undesirable and the blank is not a simple rectangular blank resulting in considerable wastage of material when cutting out the blank from a piece of stock.
The '853 patent is perhaps the most pertinent with respect to the present invention in that it discloses notches in a pair of bottom flaps but as is the case with the above patent there are holes in the sidewalls that also extend into the bottom panel for receiving a tab therein. In this instance, the holes are desirable as the container in intended for transporting produce. The panels have equal width flaps extending from the top edge of the panels defining the side walls of the container and the flaps extending from the opposite edge differ in width. Two of the bottom wall flaps have, as previously mentioned, notches for the upwardly projecting tabs. The length of the tabs i.e. the amount they project upwardly from the wall associated therewith is limited only by the depth of the cut out in the side wall that defines the hole to receive the tab. The '659 patent discloses stacking alignment tabs that project into holes in the container removable top and into a hole in the bottom and side wall of a like container resting thereon.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
The present invention is for a carton or box for holding containers such as oil bottles wherein the box is formed from a single sheet of precut corrugated material so that the upper edges have short tabs which cooperatively engage slots formed in the bottom of said boxes. The tabs are long enough to provide resistance to stacked boxes from sliding over one another but sized and shaped so as to not interfere with intentional stacking and moving of the boxes using manual labor or equipment. The tabs engage the slots in order to biase the boxes but not prevent all lateral movement. There is, therefore, a need for, and it is an object of this invention to provide, an automatic, noncylindrical container orienting apparatus existing in modular form for quick installation and ease of maintenance.
More particularly, the present invention defines a container forming a unitary blank and a container formed therefrom and in which the container has a first pair and a second pair of vertically disposed sidewalls with an end flap on each at each of the top and bottom ends thereof. The end flaps fold inwardly and provide a double layer at each of the top and bottom ends of the container. The end flaps providing the inner layer at top end have a generally rectangular ‘U’-shape cutline commencing at the fold line associated therewith and extending a selected distance away therefrom into the flap and thereby provide tabs of sufficient length to project upwardly above the outer layer at the top end of the container. A pair of the flaps at the bottom end providing the outer layer have notches in each of opposite side edges thereof and these notches are aligned with the tabs to inter-fit therewith when like containers are stacked one on top of another. The tabs project above the top of the container an amount no greater than the thickness of the end flaps having the tab receiving notches therein.
The present invention allows for limited movement; however, the tabs cooperatively engage but do not interlock to prevent all movement. The tab and slot arrangement only serves to prevent cartons from sliding across one another and off of the stack during stacking and packing operations.
An object of the present invention is to provide a one piece rectangular blank, foldable along predetermined fold lines into a container, that minimizes wastage.
A principal object of the present invention is to provide a one piece blank that is foldable to form a container having two layer top and bottom end walls and a container with stacking alignment tabs that project from the top wall into only the single outer layer of the bottom wall two layers of a like container resting thereon.
A further principal object of the present invention is to provide a container as described in the forgoing objects and wherein there are no holes that extend through the walls of the container.
In keeping with the forgoing there is provided a rectangular one piece container blank foldable along predetermined fold lines to form a container having a first pair and a second pair of vertically disposed sidewalls, each of said side walls having a top end flap and a bottom end flap, said end flaps being connected to the side wall associated therewith by a fold line, said end flaps of said first pair of side walls being folded inwardly in a direction toward one another providing an inner wall at each of said top and bottom ends of the container and said end flaps of said second pair of side walls being folded inwardly along their respective fold lines in a direction toward one another to overlie the end flaps on said first pair of side walls and thereby provide an outer layer on each of the respective top and bottom ends of the container, said flaps connected to said first pair of side walls and located at the top end of the container having a generally rectangular ‘U’-shape cutline commencing at the fold line associated therewith and extending a selected distance away therefrom into the flap to provide a tab that projects upwardly above the outer layer at the top end of the container and a notch in
Ashland Inc.
Carrithers David W.
Carrithers Law Offices
Elkins Gary E.
LandOfFree
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