Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
This invention relates to cardboard containers and more particularly to a
Ballot box
Traditional ballot boxes for government elections were constructed o-f
metal and were stored for reuse. Although the ballot boxes were adapted
to nest for storage and shipping, storage and shipping costs were
considerable. It was therefore proposed to provide a disposable
corrugated cardboard ballot box to be shipped flat and assembled at the
polls. The existing disposable ballot boxes are unnecessarily
complicated and require detailed instructions. Deficiencies included
lack of structural integrity necessary to ensure that ballots were not
removed or inserted in an unauthorized manner. Other complaints included
the lack of a convenient comfortable carrying handle dud the tendency of
at least one wall to collapse.
The present invention is directed to a ballot box which is constructed of
corrugated paper boded. This box can be stored and shipped flat dud is
readily erected prior to use.
A feature of the present invention is that fold lines hove been mininli~ed
so that production of the blank is less expensive and assembly of tune
ballot box is facilitated.
Another feature of the invention is the provision of a container which
cannot by accessed without leaving traces a the interrelation thereby,
ensuring the integrity of the ballot count.
~;~
Yet another fed turn is the provision a a convenient conifortable carrying
handle `
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The cost benefits o-f this container over rigid reusable containers will
be apparent since the folded blank can be stored and shipped in a compact
Form and readily assembled for use. Since the ballot box is inexpensive
it can be cut open to remove ballots and discarded thereby eliminating
return shipping and storage costs.
Statement of Invention
.
In accordance with the present invention there is provided a container
for use in containing ballots comprising a front wall, a partial top wall
closure integrally joined to said Front wall at an upper edge, an
upstanding aperture handle on said partial top wall closure, a full top
wall closure portion urlderlying and adhesively secured to said partial
top wall, a rear wall integrally jointly to said top closure member and to
a bottom wall, said bottom wall being in turn integrally joined along a
remaining longitudinal edge to said front wall, said top-wall, said front
bottom and rear walls having side panels hingedly joined thereto whereby
first, second, third and fourth panels provided on snide edges of said
front wall, said bottom wall, said rear wall and said top wall close a
side wall of said container. and similar panels on opposed side edges,
fold inwardly to close a remaining side wall of said container, one or
more tabs on a side edge of a selected one of said front wall or said
back wall to co-operate with slots at a side edge of a selected associated
one of So id front or said rear panels.
The present invention also provides a novel blank for a ballot box
said blank comprising a partial closure panel purloin, aperture to
provide a handle, integrally joined along a fold line to a first panel, a
side edge of said first panel having first and second side panels
integrally joined thereto along fold lines, a ballot slot in one said
side panel, a remaining edge of said first panel having a second panel
integrally joined along fold line said second panel having side panels
integrally joined along side edges thereof, a third panel joined to a
remaining edge of said second panel along a fold line, side edges of said
third panel each having side panels integrally joined along fold lines at
the side edges thereof, outer side edges of one said side panel having
one or more tabs integrally joined thereto to cooperate with slots
provided adjacent the fold lines at one of the side edges of said first
panel and slots suitable for passage of ballots into sand ballot box in d
selected side panel of said first panel to positioned over a slot in one
the side panels of a side panel of said third panel when the ballot box
is assembled and a fourth panel integrally joined to a remaining edge of
said third panel along a fold line and having side panels integrally
joined to side edges thereof along fold lines.
Description of the Dry
Fig. t is a plan view of a blank for a ballot box constructed in
accordance with an enlbodiment of this invention;
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Fig. 2 is a plan view of the blank of Fig. 1 folded to form a collapsed
ballot box suitable for storage or shipping; and
Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the ballot box of Fig. 2, illustrating
the folding operations involved in assembly thereof
Referring now in detail to the drawings, an integral blank lo shown in
Fig. l, is die cut or otherwise formed of suitable stiff corrugatetl paper
or other light weight inexpensive material.
The blank 10 comprises a plurality of panels to be described below with
reference to Fig. l A partial panel 20 provided at one end of the blank
10 us aperture at 22 to provide a handle and the partially cut out
portion 24 is bent back along fold line 25 to reinforce the material at
the opening.
The underside of the panel 20 is provided with a strip of adhesive 21 the
purpose of which will be described below with reference to Figures 2 and
3. The partial panel 20 is integrally joined along a fold line 26 to a
first panel 28.
Side edges of the first panel I have first and second side panels 30 and
32 integrally island long fold lone one ox the panels 30 or 32 has d
ballot slot in a selected panel, shown in this case do 34 in panel 32.
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A second panel 36 is integrally joined to the first panel 28 along a fold
line 38 and side-panels 40 and 42 are provided along -fold lines 44 and 46
at side edges of the second panel 36. It will be noted that a-t least one
of the panels 40 and 42 is of reduced width so as not to obscure the
ballot slot 34 when the ballot box 12 is asserr~bled as shown in Fig. 3.
An integral third panel 45 is joined to the second panel along a fold
fine 47 and has integral side panels 48 and So joined along fold lines 52
and 54. The side edges of one of the panels, 48 and 50, having at least
one tab 56 to co-operate with slots 58 provided along the fold lines at
the side edges of the first panel 28.
An integral fourth panel 64 is joined to the third panel 45 long a Fold
fine 66 and has integral side panels 68 and 70 Joined along fold lines 72
and 74.
As shown in Fig. 2 the blank 10 us folded so that the glued area 21 on
the underside of panel 20 overlies the fourth panel 64 and the panel 20
is adhesively secured to the top closure panel 64.
Alternatively the adhesive may be applied near the free edge of the
top-closure panel 64 to secure panel 20 to panel 64 in a conventional
wanner.
The blank is then conveniently skipped or stored in the folded but flat
condition.
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When the ballot box 10 is to be used for election purposes it -is shipped
to its destination in the flat condition as shown in Fig. 2 with simple
instructions for assembly including special sealing tape if required.
Assembly of the box 10 is accomplished by separating the walls 28 and 44
and folding partial side panels 40, 42, 6B and 70 inwardly. Side closure
panels 30 and 32 are then folded inwardly and the side panel 48 is folded
so that it overlies the panel 30 and the tabs 56 on the leading edge are
inserted in associated slots 58 on the fold line of the panel I
Similarly the panel 50 is folded to overt to the panel 32 and the tabs 56
are inserted in the slots 58 provided along the fold line of the panel
28. It should be noted thought the tabs 56 have d neck portion 78 to
co-operate with associated slots so that once inserted removal is
do ff1cult and it would be possible to detect tamperirlg.
The handle may then be placed in the operative upright position or the
ballot slot 34 may be positioned for use with the slot fdclng upwardly.
