Envelopes – wrappers – and paperboard boxes – Paperboard box – Automatic bottom
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-26
2001-02-20
Elkins, Gary E. (Department: 3727)
Envelopes, wrappers, and paperboard boxes
Paperboard box
Automatic bottom
C206S425000, C229S185100, C312S184000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06189776
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a nested container which is set up from and returns to a flat condition quickly and easily. More specifically, the present invention relates to a container which is easily set up and collapsed, and which may be provided with an integral lid or may be used to store hanging files.
Nested containers which are set up from and returned to a flat condition quickly and easily, for example by telescoping an inner portion into an outer portion, are known. An example of such a container is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 2,577,588, which is expressly incorporated by reference herein. During set up, panels which connect the inner and outer portions collapse and fold to form the bottom of the container.
While such prior art containers are convenient, a separate lid must be stored and assembled to complete the container. Furthermore, existing lids often do not provide enough cushioning or strength, and may enter the cubic volume of the container and thus reduce available storage space. In addition, while such containers gain strength from having a double walled construction, improvements to their strength can be made.
In the prior art, when it has been desired to allow hanging files or folders to be stored in a container, parallel support structures or support areas have been provided along the top edges of two parallel side panels of the container. (When used herein, “hanging file” and “hanging folder”are used interchangeably.) Each hanging file may have suspension hooks (or “rails”) at its top which fit over the support structures; the file hangs down from these hooks. The suspension hooks rest on and are supported by the support structures. Current containers for storing hanging files require one or more separate pieces to support the files. Such prior art hanging file containers require a certain amount of setup time since the separate pieces must be separately manufactured and later combined.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore desirable to have an easily set up and collapsible container which has a lid which is integral to the container so that users do not have to maintain a separate stock of lids or assemble a separate piece to complete the container. It is desirable to provide such a container with an easily closed lid which provides an improved amount of cushioning and strength, and which will not enter the cubic volume of the container and thus reduce available storage space. It is further desirable to have a container with more strength than existing telescoping double walled containers.
It is desirable to have an easily set up and collapsible container which may store hanging files. There is a need for a container with integral support structures for hanging files, wherein the support structures provide a support area (the portion of the support structure in contact with hanging file rails) with a smooth surface, having sufficient width, and having sufficient reinforcement and structural support, and where the support structures do not require a separate piece or separate assembly. There is a need for support structures which have a simple, strong construction, and which prevent shifting of folders held within the container and prevent the contents of the folders from slipping out of the folders.
The present invention provides for an improved telescoping container, which sets up and collapses quickly and easily, and is provided to the user in one integral piece, eliminating the necessity of a lid being assembled or maintained separately. The container is set up by having an inner portion telescope into an outer portion, and may be collapsed by pulling the inner portion back out of the outer portion. When closed, the lid keeps the inner portion in place and thus adds to the strength of the container. In some embodiments of the invention, the ease of set up may be further improved by forming the lid from a continuous sheet of material, so that the lid may be closed in one motion, rather than the sequence of steps required with other lids. The lid may be composed of multiple layers connected by folds which act as springs, thus providing a springed, cushioned barrier to protect the contents of the container. In some embodiments of the invention, the lid may utilize flaps which add to the strength of the container. Furthermore, in some embodiments of the invention, no portion of the lid enters the cubic volume of the container, which would reduce the storage space available.
The present invention may additionally or alternatively provide for an improved telescoping container that includes a structure enabling storage of hanging files. The container sets up and collapses quickly and easily, is provided to the user in one integral piece, and, if desired, eliminates the necessity of a separate lid being assembled or maintained. The portion which provides support for hanging files is integral to the container, and does not need to be stored separately or assembled, or to be combined with the container. The entire container, including the portion supporting the hanging files, assembles by the user pressing down in essentially one movement. The container may have various forms of a lid as provided with other embodiments of the present invention; the lid may be integral to the container, may assemble quickly and easily in the same motion that assembles the container, may add to the strength of the container, and may provide a cushioned barrier to protect the contents of the container.
An embodiment of the present invention provides for a container with support structures capable of supporting hanging files, where the support area of the support structures provides a smooth, reinforced surface of sufficient width on which the hooks of hanging files may rest. These benefits are achieved without the need for separate pieces. The support structures may be formed from material integral with the container itself. The support structure is formed from upwardly extending support panels, which extend from the floor of the container. The support areas, the areas in contact with the hanging file hooks, may be located at the tops of such support panels. The upwardly extending support panels may lack score lines. In such an embodiment the upwardly extending support panels have more strength than support panels having score lines. The support structures hug the sides of the container, preventing shifting of the folders and preventing the contents of the folders from slipping out of the folders. The container may be manufactured with a double glued seam by having opposing edges sealed to one another with two tabs, each sealed to an edge. This provides the container with greater strength, in addition to that provided by the double walled construction and lid. In some embodiments two such tabs are provided but only one is glued. In either case—i.e., when both tabs are glued or when only one tab is glued—the overlapping corner provides extra strength and durability, particularly in the corners of the box, where boxes are susceptible to bursting. The tabs forming the overlapping corner also may assist in the manufacture of the piece, in that the tabs may allow for the piece to be easily gripped and manipulated during manufacturing. Other structures may be so used to provide better gripping or handling during manufacturing.
The container is intended to be cut from stock material and glued at a manufacturer's facility and shipped flat to the user, who erects the container.
REFERENCES:
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patent: 3278108 (1966-10-01), Paige
patent: 3361326 (1968-01-01), Croley
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patent: 3645437 (1972-02-01), Giebel et al.
patent: 3724920 (1973-04-01), Beck
patent: 3748008 (1973-07-01), Pryor
patent: 3780932 (1973-12-01), McLaren et al.
patent: 3
Beneroff Richard N.
Kim Eric
Smith Jeffrey A.
Elkins Gary E.
Kenyon & Kenyon
Motion Design, Inc.
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