Envelopes – wrappers – and paperboard boxes – Paperboard box – Lifting or suspending element
Patent
1991-07-18
1993-12-21
Shoap, Allan N.
Envelopes, wrappers, and paperboard boxes
Paperboard box
Lifting or suspending element
229157, 229185, B65D 546
Patent
active
052715515
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to a box capable of transporting relatively heavy objects, and more particularly to a sturdy and durable box with reinforcement features made of corrugated cardboard or similar material.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Conventional cardboard boxes used to transport objects are frequently subjected to considerable stress, depending on what is transported in the box. If books or phonograph records are transported, for example, weights on the order of 400 to 500 pounds must be carried in a box with a volume of about 40 liters. These stresses do not affect the material of the box uniformly, rather, certain areas of the box experience substantial peak loads.
A prior art box is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,178,093 to Wasyluka, but it is not suitable for transporting relatively heavy objects. In another prior art box disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,037,777 to Maughan, end walls of the box are each joined to an extension attached by a folding line. An inner, partially stamped portion of the extension, which in turn includes a partially stamped tab, reinforces the gripping hole of the box, but provides only a slight improvement in the properties of the box.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One object of the present invention is to achieve a better transmission of force from the gripping hole to the end wall and at the same time to reduce the strain on the hand. This object is achieved by means of the unique features of the present invention as disclosed herein and defined in the appended claims.
An important feature of the present invention is that it provides a gap on the order of several centimeters between the gripping hole and adjacent reinforcement members in the body of the box, allowing the gripping area to absorb and transmit greater forces. An important aspect of the invention is based on the recognition that the gripping area is a weak point of prior art boxes. By the improvements provided by the present invention, it is possible to increase the strength of a box by several times. Tests have shown that a box in accordance with the present invention can have a tear strength of about 400 to 500 pounds.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention the gripping holes are formed with a centrally located bridge at a certain distance from reinforcement members, and the flaps of the box include cutouts centrally located in relation to their lateral boundaries.
In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the ends of the box are provided with an additional reinforcing element in the area between the base of a blank and an adjacent folding edge. By including such an additional reinforcing element it is possible to achieve even greater strength in the box.
When closing the lid of a conventional box it is often quite difficult to join the flaps correctly, because the prior art flaps may only be closed if they are deformed. As a result, permanent deformation ("dog-ears") frequently occurred. The present invention, however, corrects this defect of the prior art by providing flaps which may easily be closed by means of interleaved engagement of a curved portion of the flaps.
In another embodiment of the present invention, an end wall extension is twice folded over, thereby providing a broader bearing surface in the region of the gripping hole, which bearing surface has roughly the width of a suitcase handle. As a result, the gripping hole does not dig into the ball of the hand or the base of the fingers when the box is carried. This feature of the invention also provides a better transmission of force from the hand to the gripping hole, end wall and surface area of the box.
The box of the present invention may be constructed from a variety of materials, such as corrugated cardboard and solid board, appropriate plastics or combinations of materials.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention is described in greater detail below by way of example with the aid of the drawings of which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a box in accordance with the present
REFERENCES:
patent: 2865553 (1958-12-01), Wasyluka
patent: 2954914 (1960-10-01), Herlihy
patent: 3270875 (1966-09-01), Burt
patent: 4037777 (1977-07-01), Maughan
patent: 4392607 (1983-07-01), Perkins, Jr.
patent: 4953782 (1990-09-01), Noland
patent: 5046662 (1991-09-01), Cowles
McDonald Christopher J.
Shoap Allan N.
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