Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to multiwall
container particularly for bulk material formed by a
multiwalled open ended sleeve provided with a discrete
closure member that resists bulging of the sleeve wall Vid
tension in the closure member.
3ackground of the Present Invention
The bulk containers made of multiwalled corru-
gated material laminated together are well known.Similarly closure members for such containers are also
well known. ~ormally such closure members comprise flaps
internally foldably connected to the ends of the sleeve.
The flaps are intended to be folded inwardly to close the
open ends of the container (sleeve). Such flaps are
normally made of the same material, i.e. the multilayered
material of the side walls of the sleeve and are simply
extensions of the walls separated from the walls by a fold
line. Thus these closures while providing a structure
that may be knocked down for shipment to the customer do
require a significant amount of material particularly
assuming they are to close completely the open end of the
sleeve. When these flaps are folded into position per-
pendicular to their respective side walls they inhibit
deflection of the side walls by an internal load and thus
have the added function of strengthening the'container to
resist bulging of the side walls.
It is also known to manufacture a multiwall
container in the form of an open ended sleeve and to slit
the sleeve adjacent its opposite ends along the fold lines
connecting the adjacent wall panels to provide reinforcing
rim flaps that are then folded over into face to face
relationship with the outside wall panels of the container
to provide a reinforcing rim encircling the periphery of
the open end of the sleeve. This rim may be further
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reinforced by a banding member extending there around to
further aid in reduction of bulging. Obviously the
structure per se does not provide for very significant
resistance to bulging of the side walls.
It is also known to put a capping panel over the
top of the open ended sleeve having reinforcing rims as
above described and to interlock flaps on the capping
panel with the flaps extending from the side wall and
forming the reinforcing rim so that each cap is connected
by flaps to the reinforcing rim at least on one pair of
opposite sides of the sleeve. Normally this structure is
then held together by a suitable band extending around the
rim and holding the flaps on the top panel or cap to the
container or sleeve, see Canadian Patent 576,276 issued
May 19, 1959 to Welshenbach or 690695 issued July 14, 1964
to Gile.
It will be apparent that the latter structure
requires the provision of many discrete parts, i.e. a
sleeve, caps,and bands to the party filling the container
and party filling the container must assemble the various
flaps, caps and banding material to close the container.
Wormal1y customers buying such containers do not want to
be involved in maintaining an inventory of and assembling
parts anymore than is absolutely essential.
Recently, multiwalled wound containers made
primarily by winding multiple layers of corrugated
material have been taught in U.S. Patent 4,441,948 issued
April 10, 1984 to Gillard et al. and further refined as
described in U.S. Patent 4,601,407 issued July 22, 1986 to
Gillard to permit folding into a substantially flattened
knocked down sleeve for easy shipment.
This container has been further modified as
taught in U.S. Patent 4,623,072 issued November 18, 1986
to Lorenz to be provided with flaps for reinforcing the
end of the container when closing same. These flaps,
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using the particular fold line disclosed, fold into
nestled relationship on the inside of the sleeve and pro-
vide anangle structure extending around the circumference
of the sleeve reinforcing the walls of the sleeve to
inhibit bowing under internal load.
Canadian Patent 550,162 issued December 17, 1957
to Dedmon (U.S. Patent 2,778,523) discloses a wooden crate
(wire bound) having closed flaps secured thereto adjacent
the top and bottom so that the flaps may be folded over to
close the end of the crate to replace the wooden panel
~hat was normally nailed in place.
Brief Description of the Present Inventi_n
It is an object of the present invention to
provide an end closure adapted to reinforce an open ended
sleeve formed of multilayered corrugated board to inhibit
bulging of the side walls of the sleeve by filling.
Bodily the present invention comprises a multi-
walled knocked down container of corrugated paperboard
comprising an open ended sleeve of multilayered corrugated
paperboard and having at least four side walls integral
foldably interconnected, a discrete end closure mean for
closing at least one open end of said sleeve, said closure
means including an end closure panel and flap foldably
connected to one side of said closure panel, said panel
and flap being significantly weaker than 'said sleeve,
means connecting said flap to an outside surface of one of
said walls of said sleeve adjacent said one open end, said
closure extending substantially from one side of said
sleeve to an opposite side of said sleeve, means connect-
ing said panel to the outside of another wall of said
sleeve adjacent said one open end, said panel providing at
least a portion of a bridge extending across said one open
end of said sleeve between said one and said another walls
so that forces tending to deflect said one and said
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another walls of said sleeve outward are resisted by
tension in said panel.
In one embodiment of the invention a second flap
is foldably connected to another side edge of said panel.
In the preferred embodiment of said invention said panel
is triangular and said first and second flap are foldably
connected to adjacent side edges of said panel and said
one and another walls of said sleeve will be adjacent
foldably interconnected walls of said sleeve.
In yet another embodiment of the present inven-
tion said panel will be rectangular and will have flaps
foldably connected to at least one pair of opposite side
edges of said panel.
Preferably said triangular panel will be fold-
lS ably connected to said flaps by an intermediate connecting
panels connected to said closure panel by a first fold
line and to said flap by a second fold line parallel to
and spaced from said first fold line by a distance
substantially equal to the thickness of said walls of said
sleeve.
Brief Description of the_Drawings
Further features, objects and advantages will be
evident from the following detailed description of the
preferred embodiments of the present invention taken in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which.
Figure 1 is a plan view of a simplified cap
closure for closing an open end of a sleeve type
container.
Figure 2 is an isometric schematic illustration
of the bulk container ready to be filled and with the top
cap in position to close the top end of the sleeve.
Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing a
modified form of cap structure.
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Figure 4 is a plan view of a preferred
embodiment of the invention showing a blank for forming
top cap structure that may be preapplied to the sleeve for
shipment to a customer and that automatically moves to
5closed position when the sleeve is erected or squared.
Figure 5 is a view of a sleeve closed by the top
closure cap illustrated in Figure 4.
Figure 6 shows an end view (top or bottom) of a
knocked down container having an end closure of the type
10illustrated in Figure 4 attached thereto.
Figure 7 is a view along the line 7-7 of Figure
6.
Figure 8 is a plan view of a top closure similar
to that shown in Figure 4 but further incorporating an
lSextension flap.
Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 5 showing
the erected container having the end closure illustrated
in Figure 8.
Figure 10 is a plan view of a further blank
20suitable of preapplication to a sleeve and adap,ted to form
a conventional flap end closure for the sleeve.
Figure 11 is a view similar to ,igure 7
illustrating the closure of Figure 10 attached to a
knocked down sleeve.
25Figure 12 is a view similar to Figures 5 and 9
but illustrating the end closure structure of,Figure 10.
Description of the Preferred Emodiments
A relatively simple end closure or cap 10 is
30illustrated in Figure 1. This cap 10 is adapted to be
applied to a sleeve of substantially rectangular con-
struction as illustrated at 12 (Figure 2). The top
closure member or cap 10 is formed by a main rectangular
panel 14 having connecting flaps 24, 26, 28 and 30 fold-
35ably connected thereto by fold lines 16, 18, 20 and 22,
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respectively. The fold lines 16 and 20 are at one pair
opposite ends of the panel 14 are substantially parallel
while the fold lines 18 and 22 are on the other pair of
opposite ends of the panel 14 and are substantially
S parallel and substantially perpendicular to lines 16 and
20 and define the rectangular periphery of the panel 14.
It will be apparent that if the sleeve 12 is not rec-
tangular in section the shape of the panel 14 will be
modified accordingly to substantially match the cross
section of the sleeve 12.
The sleeve 12 is formed from a plurality of
layers of corrugated material and has an outer periphery
dimensioned substantially the same as the panel 14. The
periphery of the sleeve is defined by the ends of the
sleeve walls 32, 34 and 36 and 38 which are foldably
interconnected along their adjacent edges to combine and
define rectangular sleeve 12. While the sleeve is shown
as rectangular in cross section in all the drawings, it
will be clear that sleeve may have other suitable cross
sectional shapes if desired.
Preferably the sleeve 12 will be formed by
winding on a mandrel taught in said U.S. Patent 4,441,948
and 4,601,407.
In cap 10 is folded along the fold lines 16, 18,
20 and 22 to position the flaps 24, 26, 28 and 30 sub-
stantially perpendicular to the panel 14~as shown in
Figure 2. A bottom cap 10 is so folded and preapplied to
the bottom of sleeve 12 and then the sleeve 12 with a
bottom formed by a bottom cap 10 (as shown in Figure 2)
may be filled with the desired amount of material. After
filling the top cap 10 is positioned above the sleeve 12
as shown in Figure 2 and is moved down so that the flap 24
may be secured to the wall 32, flap 26 to wall 34, flap 28
to wall 36 and flap 30 to wall 38. These flaps are all
3S connected to the outer surfaces of their respective sleeve
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walls for example by adhesive between the flaps and their
respective wall. It is important that the dimension of the
panel 14 be coordinated with those of the sleeve 12 in
unloaded condition so that any tendency for buldging of
the walls of the sleeve 12 is transmitted to and resisted
by tensing in panel 14.
It will be apparent that any tendency for the
walls 32 and 36 to move apart is resisted by tension
across the panel 14 between the two flaps 24 and 28 and
similarly any tendency for the walls 34 and 38 to move
apart is resisted by tension in the panel 14 between the
flaps 26 and 30. These two tension forces being mutually
perpendicular for the rectangular cross section sleeve 12
illustrated.
In Figure 2 a suitable jig composed of wooden or
the like slats 40 wrapped by a releasable band 42 is
applied around the periphery of the sleeve 12 to prevent
deformation of the walls of the sleeve 12 during filling
and until the cap 10 is secured to the sleeve 12 and
bridges the open end 44 of the sleeve.
In the Figure 2 arrangement the same type of end
closure is applied to both top and bottom of the sleeve
12, difluent closures may be used at each end, however it
is important that the closure form a structural part of
` 25 the closed container to resist bowing of the sleeve walls.
In Figure 3 a pair of mutually transverse
members 46 and 48 combine to form a cap 50. Member 46 is
formed by a central panel 52 having pair flaps 54 and 56
connected one to each of a pair of opposite sides of the
panel 52 by fold lines 58 and 60 respectively.
The member 48 is similar to the member 46 and is
formed by a central panel 62 having a pair of flaps 64 and
66 connected one to each of a pair of opposite ends of the
panel 62 by fold lines 68 and 70 respectively.
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In the system illustrated in Figure 3 the member
48 is first applied to the sleeve 12 by securing the flaps
64 and 66 to the outside of a pair of opposed end walls 38
and 34 respectively. The length of the panel 62 between
i the fold lines 68 and 70 is equal to the distance between
the outside of the side walls 34 and 38 of the sleeve 12
so that when the flaps 64 and 66 are secured to the out-
side of the walls 38 and 34 the panel 62 extends tightly
across the open end 44 of the sleeve 12 and resists
through tension any tendency for bulging of the walls 34
and 38 away from each other.
Member 46 is then moved into overlying relation-
ship with the member 48 and the flap 56 and 54 are secured
to the outer faces of the walls 32 and 36. The distance
between the fold lines 58 and 60 is substantially equal to
the distance between the outer surfaces of the walls 32
and 36 so that when the member 46 is secured to the walls
32 and 36 any tendency for these walls 32 and 36 to move
apart is resisted by tension in the panel 52.
It will be apparent that the embodiment shown in
Figures 1, 2, and 3 inclusive only one flap of the cap 14
and one flap of each of the members 46 and 48 may be
preapplied to the sleeve 12 by the box manufacturer, if
sleeve 12 is to be shipped in knocked down condition, with
the end closures attached i.e. with the walls 32 and 38 in
face to face relationship and the walls 34 and 36 in face
to face relationship for example.
It will be noted that the cap or end closure 10
is separate and discrete from the sleeve 12 and therefore
may be made, for example from a single layer of corrugated
board, i.e. a pair of liners with a corrugated medium
there between or even by a single sheet of heavy paper
since the forces involved are tensile forces and paper is
relatively strong in tension. This results in a signifi-
cant saving in material.
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It is also apparent that the paper is stronger
in the machine direction than the cross machine direc-
tion. Hence, if paper per se is to be used as the top
closure in arrangement such as that shown in Figure 3 the
machine direction of the paper preferably extends between
the fold lines 58 and 60 for the element 46 and between
the fold lines 68 and 70 and the elements 48 to apply the
tension in these members in the machine direction (in many
cases this will not be essential).
10In the emodiment shown in Figure 3 the panels 52
and 62 may be secured together for example by a layer of
adhesive therebetween to further reinforce the top
closure.
If desired adhesive such as a layer of pressure
15sensitive adhesive may be preapplied to the f3aps 24, 26,
54, 56, 64 and 66 to facilitate closure, or contact adhe-
sive may be preapplied to the flaps and the cooperating
portions of the outside surfaces of the sleeve. ~hen
adhesive is preapplied it must be protected until used to
prevent premature sticking of the adhesive, for example by
release strips overlying the adhesive.
Figure 4 is a plan view a blank for an end
closure 80 for a sleeve 12. In this case the end closure
is formed in two parts and may be preapplied to the sleeve
to form a container that may be shipped to the customer in
knocked down conditions and that is automitically closed
when the sleeve with the closure attached is erected or
squared.
As shown the blank for the end closure 80 is
divided into two parts 80A and 80B by a line of severance
82. Each part is composed of a main triangular panel 84
defined on one side by a free edge formed by the line of
severance 82 and on the other sides by fold lines 86 and
88 which for closure for a rectangular sleeve meet at a
right angleat a corner 90. Connected to the main triangu-
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lar panel 84 via the fold line 86 and 88 are connecting
flaps 92 and 94 each of which is divided by a second fold
line 96 substantially parallel to its connecting fold line
86 or 88, into a glue flap 98 and a connecting panel 100.
The spacing between fold lines 96 and 86 or 96 and 88
(width of panels 100) corresponds with the thickness of
the sleeve walls.
A fold line 102 extends from the intersection 90
of the two fold lines 86 and 88 in a direction bisecting
the angle between the fold lines 86 and 88 and divides the
panel 84 into a pair of smaller triangular panels 104 and
106.
The two parts 80A and 80B combine to form the
closure 80 each may be preconnected to the sleeve 12 by a
erecting the sleeve 12 as shown in Figure 5 and securing
each of the flaps 98 to the outside of its adjacent of the
walls 32, 34, 36 and 38 of the sleeve 12 adjacent the open
ends thereof.
The fold line 96 on each of the flaps 92 and 94
overlies the outer edge of the walls 32, 34, 36 and 38 to
which the flap is connected (see Figure 7), while the
connecting panels 100 each overlie the top edge 108 of the
respective walls 32, 34, 36 and 38 to which its adjacent
flap 98 is secured (Figure 7). Thus the spacing between
the fold lines 86 and 96 (width of connecting panels 100)
is correlated with the thickness of the side walls of
sleeve 12 so that when the container is in knocked down
condition the flaps 98 are in face to face relationship
with and secured to the outsides of the walls of the
sleeve 12 and the panels 84 are in face to face relation-
ship with the inside of the walls of the sleeve 12 and the
panels lO0 extend across the thickness of the sleeve
walls.
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After the top cap and/or bottom cap have been
secured to the side wall of the sleeve 12, for example by
a band of adhesive 101 (see Figure 7), the sleeve may then
be knocked down by collapsing the corners of the sleeve
coinciding with the corners 90, i.e. in the illustrated
arrangement the corner between the walls 38 and 32 is
collapsed as is the corner between the walls 34 and 36 so
that the main triangular panels 84 of each of the closures
is folded along the fold line 102 to move the triangular
panel 104 and 106 into face to face relationship with
inside faces of their respective adjacent side walls of
- t'ne sleeve 12 and form a knocked down container with the
end closures preattached thereto.
In the arrangement illustrated in Figure 4 to 7
inclusive the end closures 80 is provided with an aperture
formed by cuts extending from the free edge 82 cut into
tne panels 84 as indicated at 110 to permit access into
the interior of the carton formed from the sleeve 12 and
end closures 80. It will be apparent that when the sleeve
is erected the end closures 80 will tend to close off both
ends of the formed container if the same end closure
structure is applied to both ends of the sleeve.
~ he apertures 110 provide an opening into which
a filler spout for example may be inserted to communicate
with a bag (not shown) positioned within anq adapted to
~orm a liner for the container.
The embodiment shown in Figure 9 is very similar
to that shown in Figures 4 to 7 inclusive the only differ-
ence being that one of the main triangular panels 84 has
been extended via a trapazoidal extension 120 that is
adapted to overlap the adjacent area of the triangular
panel 84 of the cooperating end closure member either
above or below same as illustrated in Figure 9. It will
be noted that the fold line 102 across the panel 84 with
extension 120 extends right across the extens;on 120. The
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remainder of the closure illustrated in Figure 8 is essen-
tially the same as that shown in Figure 4 and like parts
have been indicated by like references numerals.
Strongly securing the extension 120 to the
underlying (or overlying) panel of the cooperating end
closure significantly strengthens the erected container.
This may be accomplished for example by suitable adhesive
or mechanical connections (not shown).
It will be apparent that if desired a similar
extension 120 could be formed on both the cooperating
panels 84 and that the extensions on the different panels
need not be the same.
Figures 10, 11 and 12 illustrate a further
embodiment of the present invention wherein discrete
1~ closure flaps 200 substantially equivalent to conventional
closure flaps as used on corrugated boxes are connected to
connecting panels 202 via a fold line 204. In the arrange-
ment illustrated the four flaps 200 are formed by a pair
blanks 206 and 208 each containing a pair of flaps 200
with their respective fold lines 204 and connecting panels
202. The two connecting panels 202 for a single blank 206
or 208 are connected via a fold line 210 substantially
perpendicular to the fold lines 204. Each pair of fold
lines 204 in their respective blanks 206 or 208 may be
offset from one another to accommodate the thickness of
the material from which the blank 206 or 208 is made so
that one of the flaps 200 from each of the blanks 206 and
208 can be folded underneath the other as shown in Figure
12.
The blanks 206 and 208 may be applied to a
knockdown container by securing the panels 202 to the out-
side of the walls of the container such as the walls 32
and 38 illustrated in Figure 11 by a strip of adhesive
212.
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,
.
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A sleeve 12 with flaps such as those shown in
Figure 10 adhere to the outer ends thereof can be closed
in any conventional manner as used with conventional
corrugated boxes having integral flaps foldably connected
to the side walls but obviously must be securely inter-
connected to obtain the bridging effect to reinforce the
sleeve.
It will be noted that the flaps such as the
flaps 200 are of significantly less thickness tweaker)
than the side walls 32 or 38 as were the top closures 80,
10 and 50 thereby permitting signficant saving of material
while retaining adequate strength.
The use of discrete end closure separate from
the sleeve and secured to the sleeve is particularly
important if a wound container ~sleeve) is to be used such
as taught in U.S. Patent 4,441,948 and the present inven-
tion is particularly related to such a container as the
mandrel then need only used only from the sleeve and not
the closure.
Having described the invention modifications
will be evident to those skilled in the art without
departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in
the attendant claims.
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