Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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MAILING AND SHIPPING CARTON
The present invention relates to a mailing and
shipping carton which is rugged in constructlon, simple
in design and, once closed, resists opening without
destroying the integrity of the structure.
A variety of items are shipped from one location
to another in a variety of packages. One of the major
problems which arises in such activity is the
inadequate packaging often used by the sender, leading
to lost, stolen and damaged goods. An added cost
burden is placed on the shipper for repackaging of
damaged packages resulting from the rigours of the
largely mechanized handling systems often employed by
many shippers, such as Canada Post.
The present invention provides an improved manner
of shipping items in a secur~e manner which resists
damage and pilferage. The present invention provides a
mailing or shipping carton which lies flat in
unassembled form and which is folded to ~orm a tubular
container with two open ends generally o~ rectangular
cross section and has two end closures which have
interlocking elements which close and secure the ends.
In accordance with the present invention, there is
provided a mailing and shipping container comprising a
tubular sleeve of generally rectangular cross-section
and two end closures for closing each of the ends of
the tubular sleeve and to prevent opening of the
container to gain `access to ~he interior thereof
without destroying the integrity of the container.
Each end closure comprises overlyiny panels each
of substantially the same dimension as the end closure
of the tubular sleeve, one of the overlying panels
being hingedly joined to one longitudinal edge of the
end opening of the sleeve and has tab means hingedly
joined to the other edge thereof, the other of the
overlying panels being hingedly joined to the other
longitudinal edge of the sleeve and has tab-receiving
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slot means formed therethrough adjacent its hinged join
for receiving the tab means therein.
The tab means comprise a first tab portion
hingedly joined to the one panel and second tab
portions hingedly joined to each longitudinal end of
the first tab portion, the slot means comprising a
first elongate portion parallel to the hinged join and
having a length substantially that of the first tab
portion and second portions extending one from each
longitudinal end of the first elongate portion at an
angle thereto for a distance slightly less than the
longitudinal dimension of the second tab portions.
Means is provided for deflecting the second tab
portions out of alignment with the second tab portions
after the second tab portions have passed through the
second slot portions upon fo~mation of the end closure.
By employing this cooperating tab and slot
arrangement and means for deflecting the tab, a secure,
pilfer-proof container can be provided
The product to be shipped is simply placed in the
container and the ends are securely closed. The
address and postage are applied and the resulting
package is readv for shipment by post office, courier
or other selected means. The container is able to
accept a variety of products of differing size and
internal packing may be used to minimize damage caused
by the item impacting against the internal wall of the
container. The container is particularly useful for
odd shaped items, which are usually difficult to wrap
adequately for trans shipment.
The invention is described further; by way of
illustration, with reference to the accompanying
drawings, iIl which:
Figure 1 is a plan view of a blank from which a
mailing and shipping container according to one
embodiment of the invention may be assembled;
Figures 2 to 5 are perspective views of a mailing
and shipping container construc~ed in accordance with
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one embodiment of the invention illustrating the steps
of assembly of one end closure;
Figures 6 to 8 are sectional views taken on line
A-A of Figure 5 illustrating the locking of the tabs of
the end closure of the shipping container of Figures 2
-to 5; and
Figures 9 and 10 are detail internal views also
illustrating the interaction of the locking tabs upon
closure of the ends of the container of Figures 2 to 5.
Referring to the drawings, a blank 10 for a
mailing and shipping container comprises four main
rectangular panels 12, 14, 16 and 18 which constitute
the side walls of the container, when assembled.
Panels 12 and 16 have substantially the same dimensions
as do panels 14 and 18.
Panel 12 is joined at one longitudinal side edge
to one longitudinal s~ide edge of panel 14 through fold
line 20 and has a free longitudinal side edge. The
other longitudinal side edge of panel 14 is joined to
one longitudinal side edge of panel 16 by fold line 22.
The other longitudinal side edge of panel 16 is joined
to one longitudinal side edge of panel 18 through fold
line 24. The other longitudinal side edge of panel 18
is joined to a gluing tab 26 through fold line 28.
The blank 10 usually is constructed of corrugated
board, preferably with the corrugations extending at
right angles to the fold lines 20, 22, 24 and 28. Any
other suitable foldable die-cuttable stiff damage
resistant material may be e~ployed. The blank 10 is
formed by die-cutting from sheets of construction
material.
When the panels 12~ 14, 16 and 18 are folded about
fold lines 20, 22 and 24, a tubular enclosure is formed
which is completed by adhesi~ely joining glue tab 16 to
the inside face of panel 12 with the fold line 28
coinciding with the free longitudinal edge of panel 12.
The panels 12, 14, 16 and 18 are joined to end
panels at each lateral side edge thereof. Panel 12 is
joined to panels 30 and 32 through fold lines 34 and 36
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respectively while panel 16 is joined to panels 38 and
40 through fold lines 42 and 44. The members of each
pair of panels 30, 32 and 38,40 have mirror-image
shapes while the panels 30 and 38 and panels 3~ and 40
5 have substantially the same outline, except as noted
below.
The panel 30 has a straight side edge 46 extending
for the length of the panel 30 and slightly tapering
towards the outboard end oE the panel which is defined
10 by a transverse straight edge 48 generally parallel to
the fold line 34. The panel 30 also has a straight
side edge 50 also sli~htly tapering and terminatin~ in
a transverse edge 52 which extends towards the side
edge 46 to terminate in a notch 5~. An inwardly
15 directed edge 56 extends from the outer edge 48 towards
the fold line 34 to terminate in the notch 54. A
diagonal cut 58 is formed in the panel 30 extending
from adjacent the join of the fold line 34 and the edge
50 away from the fold line 34 and towards the side edge
46. A diagonal fold line 60 extends from the inboard
extremity of the cut line 58 to the side edge 50 to
define a triangular tab 61 with the cut 58.
As noted earlier, flap 38 is similarly-shaped to
flap 30 and flap 40 is similarly-shaped to ~lap 32, the
exception being that, in respect of ~laps 38 and 40,
the diagonal cut 58 is formed extending from the side
edge 46 and the fold line 60 extends from the inward
extremity of the cut 58 to the side edge 46.
The overall longitudinal dimensions of the flaps
30, 32, 38 and 40 are such that, when the panels 12,
14, 16 and 18 are folded to form a tube, flaps 32 and
40 overlap and flaps 30 and 38 overlap with the notches
54 substantially in alignment to permit them to
interlock one with anotherO
The panel 14 is joined to end panels 62 and 64
through ~old lines 66 and 68 respectively. Each of end
panPls 62 and 64 has the same generally rectangular
shape and is provided with a transverse fold line 70
parallel to fold line 66 or 68. The :Eold lines 66, 70
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and 68, 70 define rectangular panels 71 dimensioned
substantially the cross sectional dimension of the end
opening of the tube formed upon folding the panels 12,
14, 16 and 18 and a tab 73 in the outer region of the
panel.
The panels 62 and 64 each has a slot 63 and 65
respectively formed therethrough which includes an
elongate portion 67 adjacent and parallel to the fold
lines 66, 68 and two diagonal portions 69 extending
diagonally from the ends of the elongate portion 67
across the respective panel 62 towards the adjacent
side wall.
The panel 18 is joined to end panels 72 and 74
through fold lines 76 and 77 respectively. Each of the
end panels 72 and 74 is of generally rectangular shape
and dimensioned substantially the cross sectional
dimension of the end opening of the tube formed upon
folding the panels 12, 14, 16 and 18. End panel 72 has
a tab 78 joined to its outboard edge through fold line
~0 80 while end panel 74 has a tab 82 joined to its
outboard edge through fold line 84. The fold lines 80
and 84 extend for approximately one-third of the
lateral dimension of the panels 72 and 74 respectively
and correspond in length substantially to the
longitudinal dimension of the elongate slots 67 formed
through panels 62 and 64.
Each of the tabs 78 and 82 has a pair of ear tabs
86, 88 joined to the tabs 78, 82 by fold lines 90 and
92 respectively. The ear tabs 86, 88 have a
longitudinal dimension measured from the fold lines 90,
92 slightly greater than the diagonal cuts 69 formed in
the panels 62 and 64.
As noted earlier, folding of the panels 12, 14, 16
and 18 about the fold lines 20, ~2 and 24 form an
elongate tube which is securea by gluing tab 26 to
panel 12. The resulting tube can be folded flat for
shipment and storage at the point of use.
When required to be used for mailing or shipping
~;` items~ the tube form is restored by folding about the
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fold lines 20, 22, 24 and 28 to provide a rectangular
opening at both ends with the panels 14 and 18 parallel
to one another and panels 12 and 16 parallel to one
another. The remaining panels then are folded to form
end closures, to provide a mailing and shipping
container 100 (Figures 2 and 3).
Figures 2 to 5 illustrate the assembly of the
structure of one end closure 110 formed from the panels
30, 38, 62 and 72 illustrated in Figure 1 but it will
be understood that the end closure formed at the other
end of the container 100 is identical to the
illustrated end closure 110 and is formed from panels
32, 40, 64 and 74. The end closu.re 110 is formed from
an open-ended container 100 (Figure 2) first by
interlocking the panels 30 and 38 by inserting the
notches 54 one with another so that the panels overlap
and overlie each other adjacent the notches (Figure 3).
The panal 62 then is folded about fold line 66 so
that panel portion 71 overlies the interlocked panels
2030 and 38 and the tab 73 is tuc~ed between the side
edges of the interlocked panels and the hinge line 76
(Figure 4). Next, the panel 72 is folded about hinge
line 76 to overlie the panel 62. To complete the
closure, the tab 78 is inserted through the elongate
25slot 67 while the ear tabs 86 and 88 are pushed through
the slots 69 (Figure 5). The ear tabs 86 and 88 are
slightly longer than the slots 69, so that positive
pressure must be applied to cause them to pass through
the slots.
30As the ear tabs 86 and 88 project through the
slots 69, they deflect the triangular tabs 61 about the
hinge lines 60 (Figures 6, 7 and 9). Once the ear tabs
86 and 88 pass through the slot 69 and out of
interference engagement therewith and the panel 72 is
in engagement with the panel 71, the tension created in
triangular tabs 61 by their deflection about hinge line
60 is released by the triangular tab 61 deflecting the
ear tabs 86, 88 about the hinge lines 90 and 92 and out
. of alignment with the slots 69. The deflection of the
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ear tabs 86 and 88 in this way ensures that they cannot
be withdrawn back through the slot 69, but rather are
in interference engagement with the underside of -the
panel 62 (Figures 8 and 10). The end closure 110 is
now locked and cannot be opened without destroying the
integrity of the overall structure.
The mailing and shipping container lO0 is of
rugged construction and is able to withstand the
rigours of the handling operations to which the
container will be subject prior to delivery. The use
of corrugated card imparts impact resistance to the
structure. Three layers of material are provided at
each of the ends and preferably the corrugations tra~el
at right angles to the tube fold lines 20, 22, 24 and
28, which adds considerably to the stacking strength of
the container. The interlocked panels 30 and 38
inhibit outward bul~ing of the side walls 12 and 16
under a heavy end load.
The deflection of the ear tabs 86 and 88 in the
slots 69 ensures that the container lO0 does not open
accidentally in transit and also prevents ready access
to the contents of the container. Undetected pilferage
is not possible, since the integrity of the structure
needs to be destroyed to gain access to the interior of
the container lO0.
The mailing and shipping container 100 is simple
to fill with the desired object or objects to be mailed
or shipped and is also simple to close~ Since the end
closures are locked by interaction of the tabs and the
slots, the final package needs no additional securement
means, such as glue, adhesive tape or strin~, to secure
the final package for shipment.
In summary o this disclosure, there is provided a
mailing and shipping container which is simple in
construction and use and yet has considerable
durability and resists pilferage. Modifications are
possible within the scope of this invention.
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