Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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This invention relates to the manufacture of con-
tainers and box-like articles in a more efficient manner
and, more particularly, to a box-like container in the form
of a slipcase having a backing to be printed on and which
is of tight and strong construction.
The manufacture of boxes or box-like containers is an
old and prolific art. Despite the myriad of box designs and
the many manufacturing techniques developed for container
fabrication, improvements are continuously being made. The
present invention features an improved box blank for making
a box-like container or slipcase generally used for storing
and/or transporting books and other similar articles. The
slipcase is substantially rectangular with an opening on
one side thereof for the insertion and removal of books and
the like~ and is made of paperboard and has a finished
appearance due to a backing material that is glued to and
covers the paperboard frame. Typically, a printed logo or
other matter is printed on the side(s) of the slipcase.
A box having panels that fold to form a container
about V-shaped grooves is shown in U.SO Patent No.
1,818,102, issued on August 11, 1931 to G. C. Snyder. In
this patent, the V-shaped grooves are cut completely
through the la~inated blank to the backing material, and
they must be carefully cut to provide a tight corner fit
and to prevent piercing of the backing material.
A box blank that has folded panels is also illustrated
in U.S. Patent Nos. 1,442,902 and 3,391,856, respectively,
issued May 6, 1924 and July 9, 1968 to H. B. Smith and L.
D. Siegler, respectively. These two patents show fold lines
that are either creased or scored.
None of the above patents teach or suggest the use of
articulated grooves in making box-like containers, or the
use of lips for seating edges of paperboard panels, wherein
a stiff paperboard blank may be easily folded and assembled
to form a strong and rigid box-like structure.
In addition, one of the practices in the prior art has
been to print the logo or indicia on the backing material
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for the slipcase before the backing has been cut and
applied to the paperboard frame. This technique has caused
problems, wherein the printed material is often off-center,
or misaligned, or otherwise improperly oriented with
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respect to the box structure. This is caused if the backing
material is adhered to the paperboard in an off-center
relationship or at a slight angle.
It is an ob~ect of one aspect of this invention to provide
an improved box-like article and method for making the same.
It is an object of another aspect of this invention to
provide a strong, rigid, aesthetically-pleasing, finished
slipcase ~or supporting, storing, or transporting books and
similar articles, which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture.
lo It is an obJect of yet another aspect of this invention to
provide an improved composite box blank for facilitating and
simplifying the manufacture of slipcases.
By one broad aspect of this invention, a composite box blank
is provided for forming a box-like container having only one side
open for receiving books and similar articles, the composite box
blank comprising a paperboard blank including panels and adhered
to a backing material to form the composite box blank, the
backing material including side flaps and corner tabs pro~ecting
beyond the edges of the panels and adapted to be adhered to the
panels to assemble the composite box blank into the box-like
container, the box blank comprising: a first panel, a second
panel, and a third intermediate panel disposed therebetween, the
first panel being connected to the third intermediate panel by
means defining a first articulated groove, the second panel being
connected to the third intermediate panel by means defining a
second articulated groove; fourth and fifth side panels, each
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such panel having inner transverse edges which are connected
along respective opposite transverse edges of the first panel by
means defining third and fourth articulated grooves,
respectively, and having outer transverse edges and lateral
edges, respectively, the first articulated groove being for
receiving and seating a lateral edge of the first panel, the
second articulated groove being for receiving and seating a
lateral edz~ of the second panel, the third articulated groove
being for receiving and seating the inner transverse edge of the
lo fourth panel and the fourth articulated groove being for
receiving and seating the inner transverse edge of the fifth
panel; the transverse edges of the second and third panels each
having transversely-extending lips formed thereon for receiving
and seating the outer transverse edges and lateral edges of the
fourth and fifth panels, respectively; wherein one of the
transversely-extending lips receives and seats the outer
transverse edge and a lateral edge of the fourth panel, and
wherein the other of the transversely extending lips receives and
seats the outer transverse edge and a lateral edge of the fifth
panel; and the projecting side flaps and corner taps of the
backing material including adhering means for adhering ~he side
flaps and corner tabs to the fourth and fifth panels after they
are folded to hold such panels in a box-like configuration.
Each of the articulated grooves may comprise an elongated,
generally-square-shaped notch cut partially into the thickness of
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the paperboard blank and having a width at least equal to the
thickness of a respective adjacent panel to be seated therein.
In such embodiment, the third and fourth articulated grooves may
each further include a slit formed in the bottom of the notch,
the slit extending substantially the entire length of the groove,
the slit having a depth partially through the blank thickness,
whereby the edges of the fourth and fifth panels are easily
folded into the grooves.
The box blank may further include sixth and seventh panels,
the sixth panel being connected to the fourth panel by means
defining a first score line, and the seventh panel being
connected to the fifth panel by means defining a second score
line; and the third and fourth articulated grooves may each have
a width which exceeds the sum of the thicknesses of the fourth
and sixth panels, and the sum of the thicknesses of the fifth and
seventh panels, respectively, so as to receive and seat the edges
of the panels.
In the above embodiments, the transversely-extending lips
formed on the transverse edges of the second and third panels are
of a thickness less than that of the paperboard panels, and are
of a width less than the width of the articulated grooves. One
of these transversely-extending lips receives and seats a trans-
verse and a lateral edge of the fourth panel, and the other of
the transversely-extending lips receives and seats a transverse
and a lateral edge of the fifth panel. A lateral edge of the
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fourth and fi~th panels may each have a laterally extending lip
formed thereon for abutting and overlapping a portion of the
transversely-extending lips.
By another ~spect of this invention a box-like container is
provided having o~ly one side open for receiving books and
similar articles, the box-like container being folded and erected
from a paperboard blank including panels and adhered to a backing
material to form a composite box blank, the backing material
including side flaps and corner tabs projecting beyond the edges
of the panels and adapted to be adhered to the panels to assemble
the composite box blank into the box-like container, the box-like
container comprising: a first wall folded and erected from a
first panel along a first articulated groove; a second wall
folded and erected from a second panel along a second articulated
groove; a third wall folded and erected from a third panel along
the first articulated groove and the second articulated groove,
such wall thereby being disposed between the first wall and the
second wall; a fourth wall folded and erected from a fourth panel
along a fourth articulated groove; and a fifth wall folded and
erected from a fifth panel along a fifth articulated groove;
wherein: a lateral edge of the first panel is received and seated
in the first articulated groove; a lateral edge of the second
panel is received and seated in the second articulated groove; an
inner transverse edge of the fourth panel is received and seated
in the third articulated groove, an inner transverse edge of the
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fifth panel is recelved and seated in the fourth articulated
groove; outer transverse and lateral edges of the fourth panel
are received and seated in a transversely-extending lip extending
from a transverse edge of the second panel; outer transverse and
lateral edges of the fifth panel are received and seated in a
transversely extending lip extending from a transverse edge of
the third panel; an outer transverse edge and a lateral edge of
the fourth panel also being received and seated in one of the
transversely-extending lips; an outer transverse edge and a
lateral edge of the fifth panel also being received and seated in
the other of the transversely-extending lips; and the side flap
and the corner tabs being adhered to the fourth panel and the
fifth panel; thereby to hold the panels in the box-like
configuration.
The present invention in its broad aspect thus proposes to
adhere the backing material to the paperboard frame before the
printing operation. In this manner, the logo or other printed
indicia is printed on the backing material after it is adhered to
the paperboard frame and is thereby assured of having a proper
registration with the box structure; i.e., it is aligned and
oriented with the edges of the container.
Another improvement inherent in its broad aspects of this
invention includes the utilization of articulated grooves between
the various panels so that when the panels are folded, the edges
of the panels are received and seated within the grooves. Since
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the panel eclges flt snugly within these grooves, it results in a
tight and strong box structure.
In order further to impruve the tlght box constrllctionl
according to other aspects of this invention, lips are formed on
the edges o~ the paperboar-l panels. When the side pclnels are
folded, thelr edges are received and seated within the lips to
provide a more rigJd box construction.
Further, according to another aspect of this invention, the
backing material is provided with projecting side flaps and
corner tabs which are employed for easily gluing -together the box
panels after they are folded to form the box-like s-tructure.
Further, the backing material is precu-t to avoid various problems
relating to misaligning the backing material to the folded box.
In one embodiment, the box blank of an aspect of the present
invention is formed of paperboard panels having adhered thereto a
suitable backing material. The paperboard panel includes a first
panel, a second panel, and a third~ intermediate panel disposed
between them. Laterally-extending first and second grooves~
respectively, connect the first and second panels to the third,
intermediate panel. Fourth and fifth panels form side panels
which are connected to the first panel by means defining third
and fourth transversely-extending grooves. In addition, the
second and third panels include transversely-extendlng lips
projecting therefrom to receive and seat the edges of the fourth
and fifth side panels. Each of the four grooves and each of the
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lips collform to arl(l receive an edge portion of an ad,acent panel,
when the bl~lnk is ~nlded, to form a slipcase having a tight,
rigid, and strnrlg constYIlctl()n.
In an alternat-ive Pmbodimellt, the thickness of the sidewalls
of the slLpc-ase can be incr-eased by providing add)tional sixth
and seventh side panels; the sixth panel being connected to the
fourth panel, and the seventh panel be3ng connected to the fifth
panel. In such an embodiment, the third and fourth grooves have
increased widths which exceed the sum of the thicknesses of the
fourth and sixth, and fifth and seventh side panels, respec-
tively, for receiving them.
The box blank has a backing material adhered to one side
thereof. The backing material is larger than the paperboard
panels, such that side flaps and corner -tabs project beyond their
edges, and are employed after the panels are folded, to be glued
to the side panels to hold the box in its desired configuration.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 shows a sequential schematic view of a prior art
procedure featuring seven method steps 1 to 7 in the production
of a finished slipcase;
Figure 2 through 6 illustrate a sequential technique for the
assembly of the slipcase of an aspect of this invention;
Figure 2 is a perspective view of the paperboard blank for
the box-like container of an aspect of this invention;
Figure 3 is a perspective view of the paperboard blank of
Figure 2 being placed over the precut backing material;
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Figure 4 is a perspective view of the blank and
backing of Figure 2 affixed to each other to form a
composite box blank used to form the slipcase;
Figure 4a is an enlarged perspective view of the
grooves shown in Figure 4;
Figure 5 is a perspective view of the box blank of
Figure 4 par~ially assembled into the box-like container of
this invention;
Figure 6 is a perspective view of the box-like con-
tainer of this invèntion in the final stage of assembly; and
Figure 7 is a perspective view of an alternate embodi-
ment of the paperboard blank shown in Figure 2.
Generally speaking, the invention features a
`15 "slipcase" having an opening on only one side and formed
from folded paperboard panels covered by a smooth backing
material with printed matter thereon. l`he slipcase can be
used for storing, carrying, and/or transporting books and
other similar articles. The container is of a tight, rigid,
and strong construction providing an aesthetically pleasing
and professional appearance. The rigid construction results
from using articulated grooves, slits formed therein, and
lips that conform to the edges of the panels for receiving
and seating adjacent panels, while allowing for easy fold-
ing and assembly.
Referring to Figure 1, a sequential method of steps 1
to 7 for assembling a prior art slipcase is shown~ A
backing material 1 is first precut, as illustrated in
step 1. A paperboard blank 2 having four panels is laid
upon the backing 1, and the side panels are folded up as
shown in step 2. In step 3, the sides of the backing
material are folded in and affixed to the sidewalls of
blank 2. Edges 3 of backing 1 project above blank 2. A
second four-paneled blank 4 (step 4) with its open end
facing downwardly is placed inside the first blank 2. Edges
3 are then folded over blank 4, as shown in step 5. Then, a
cover backing 6 with an overhanging lip 5 is laid on top of
blank 4 and affixed thereto, as depicted in step 6. Lip 5
is then folded in and affixed, as shown in step 7, to form
the completed slipcase.
Now, referring to Figure 2, a paperboard blank 10 for
the box-like container of this invention is shown. The
blank 10 comprises five panels, herein designated as 11,
12, 13, 14, and 15, respectively. Panels 11 and 12 corre-
spond to and form the main sides or walls of the container
and are separated by the intermediate panel 13. Panels 13,
14, and 15 correspond to the smaller sides or sidewalls of
the slipcase.
In forming the blank 10, side pieces 17 and 18 are cut
away from the panels 12 and 13, leaving shortened side
panels 14 and 15, as shown. Panels 14 and 15 are of equal
width to panel 13 in order to form che sidewalls of the
completed rectangular box.
Lateral grooves 16 and transverse grooves 16' are
formed in the paperboard blank 10 by cutting away part of
the paperboard material (explained below) and thereby form
the panels 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15, and provide the means by
which the panels can be folded relative to each other to
assemble the slipcase of this invention. Lateral grooves 16
are equal in length to the panels 11, 12, and 13, and
transverse grooves 16' are equal in width to panel 11.
Panels 12 and 13 have formed on their two transverse
edges transverse lips 16a. Transverse lips 16a are also
formed by cutting away part of the paperboard material when
the transverse grooves 16' are cut in the blank to form the
panels, and they are about half of the width of grooves
16', for a purpose to be explained.
In addition, the lateral edges 14a and lSa of side
panels 14 and 15 are also provided with lateral ]ips which
are also formed by cutting away paperboard material.
Lateral lips 14a and 15a can be formed when lateral groove
16 (adjacent panel 11) is being formed. As will be noted,
lips 14a ancl ~5a are about half the width of grooves 16,
but of approximately the same depth.
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When the blank 10 is folded to form the slipcase, the
contiguous edges lS and 20 of panels 12 and 11,
respectively, are received and seated in the corresponding
grooves 16 of panel 13. Similarly, the contiguous e~ges 21
and 22 of respective panels 15 and 14 are received and
seated in the corresponding grooves 16' of panel 11.
In addition, when the blank is folded, the edges 14a
and 14b of panel 14, and the edges 15a and 15b of panel 15,
respectively, seat upon the corresponding lips 16a of
panels 12 and 13 when side panels 14 and 15 are folded into
grooves 16', and panel 11 is folded over (arrow 40, Figure
5) to be parallel to panel 12.
In addition, in the preferred embodiment, during fold-
ing, lips 14a and 15a abut and overlap the edges of
respective lips 16a, when the edges of panel 14 are seated
within lip 16a, and when the edges of panel 15 are seated
within opposite lip 16a. This results in a tight, rigid,
strong box construction.
The grooves 16 and 16' are shown in greater detail in
Figure 4a. The grooves are cut out of the paperboard
material and are squarely notched out to be of a depth only
partially through the thickness of the paperboard blank 10.
Preferably, material is removed so that the remaining thick-
ness of the paperboard is about twenty thousandths of an
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inch. This reduced thickness is found to greatly facilitate
the folding operations. In addition, lips 14a, l5a, and 16a
are preferably of this reduced thickness. Further, in order
to further facilitate the bending of the panels and the
seating of the panel edges into their respective grooves,
the width of grooves 16 and 16' is slighlty greater than
the thickness of the panels. This is necessary because part
of the groove accommodates the bending action, and the
remaining width of the groove receives and seats the panel
edge. Also, where the panel is bending against the grain of
the paperboard, to facilitate bending, a slit is cut into
the bottom of the groove adjacent a corner thereof. In the
present invention, grooves 16' are being bent against the
grain, so a slit 23 is cut only part way into the remaining
lS thickness "t" of the blank 10, as shown the best in detail
in Figure 4a. Preferably, slit 23 extends the entire length
of the groove 16'.
In an alternative embodiment, a stepped groove can be
employed instead of slitted or scored groove 16'. With a
stepped groove, a notched cutout is made in the bottom of
groove 16' and facilitates bending as does slit 23. In
addition, the stepped groove may be employed in both
grooves 16 and 16' where the paperboard thickness is 120
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thousandths of an inch and greater to facilitate the bend-
ing of such thick boards.
Referring now to Figure 3, the precut paperbo~rd blank
10 is laid (arrow 29) upon a precut backing material 24
(also referred to as a covering material) of cloth material
having glue or heat-sensitive adhesive coated thereon. Of
course, other suitable backing materials may be employed,
such as paper, non-woven cloth, and vinyl. When the backing
material 24 is heated, the adhesive melts and adheres the
backing 24 to the blank 10, or if wet adhesive is employed,
heat is unnecessary, and the backing is applied merely by
pressure.
Backing material 24 is provided with end tabs 25, end
flaps 26 and 26', side flaps 31 and 31', and corner tabs
28. As shown in Figures 3 and 4, end flaps 26 and 26' are
folded over (arrows 32) f~rom the dotted line position to
cover portions of panels 12 and 11, respectively. The edges
26a of flap 26 are cut at an angle to compensate for any
misalignment when the backing material 24 is applied to the
paperboard. Similarly, when end flap 26' is folded over
panels 11, 14, and 15, extended end tabs 25 also compensate
for any misalignment. In particular, end tabs 25 project
from the backing material so that if there is any misalign-
ment when it is applied to the paperboard, end tabs 25
insure that the outer ends of panel edges 14c and 15c are
comp]etely coverecl. In this manner, when the opening 30 of
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the completed slipcase is viewed (Figure 6), edges 30a will
be completely covered. After flap 26' is folded and
adhered, any excess of end tabs 25 are cut off so that flap
26' does not extend beyond the edges of the side panels 14
and 15.
As shown in Figure 5, panel 11 is then folded about
(arrow 40) groove 16, so that edge 20 of panel 11 seats
within groove 16. Then, side panels 14 and 15 are folded
about (arrow 39) grooves 16', so that edge 22 of panel 14
seats within groove 16', and so that edge 14a of side panel
14 seats on lip 16a adjacent panel 13. Also, edge 21 of
panel 15 seats within groove 16', and edge 15a of side
panel 15 seats on opposite lip 16a adjacent panel 13. Next,
as panel 11 is brought into parallel registration with
panel 12, as depicted in Figure 6, the edge portions 14b
and 15b, respectively, seat on the lip portions 16a of
panel 12.
As shown in Figure 6, next corner tabs 28 are folded
over and affixed to the backing material covering side
panels 14 and 15. This maintains panels 11, 13, 14, and 15
in a box-like configuration. Next, side flaps 31' are
folded over (arrow 42) and adhered to respective side
panels 14 and 15 and thereby cover the corner tabs 28 so
they are not visible in the completed slipcase.
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The articulated grooves 16 and 16' allow the box blank
to be easily folded so that the assembly of the slipcase 50
can proceed quiclc]y. In addition, grooves 16 and 16', and
lips 14a, 15a, and 16a all cooperate to provide a s~rong,
rigid, and tight box construction. Further, corner tabs 2~
and side flaps 31' provide simple and easy means for
maintaining the box panels in the box-like configuration.
Figure 7 depicts an alternate embodiment of paperboard
blank 10 shown in Figure 2. The blank lOa features two addi-
tional, adjacent side panels 44 and 45. Panel 44 is foldedabout score line 46 on top of panel 14 (arrow 51), and
panel 45 is folded about score line 47 on top of panel 15
(arrow 52) to form two double thickness sidewalls. In this
embodiment, grooves 16a have a thickness at least equal to
the thickness of panels 14 and 44 and panels 15 and 45,
respectively, to receive and seat them. This blank lOa
provides a slipcase having double thick side panels. Side
pieces 44a and 45a are removed during manufacture. The
other assembly steps for this embodiment are the same as
those depicted in Figures 2 through 6.
In order to provide proper orientation of the printed
matter on the slipcase, the printing is done after the
backing 24 is affixed to blank 10. Also, it is noted that
the blank 10 can be either precut or cut after the backing
24 is affixed thereto.
