Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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LIDDED CONTAINER WITH TEAR-AWAY OPENING STRIP
AND LID DEFLECTION TAKE-UP MEANS
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a lidded container for shipping,
storing
and handling a plurality of items. More particularly, the present invention
relates to a
lidded container for shipping, storing and handling a plurality of items,
wherein the
container includes a tear-away strip for opening the container and a lid
deflection take-up
means for preventing damage to the container during shipping, storing and
handling.
2. Brief Description of the Related Art
In the shipping, storing and handling of prepackaged items, such as
individually-
wrapped reams of cut-size paper for use in photocopiers and desktop printers,
it is
customary for a plurality of such items to be shipped, stored and handled in a
corrugated
container. For example, an individual ream of cut-size paper may contain 500
sheets of
8-1/2" x 11" printer paper, which are stacked and then bundled together with a
paper (or
polymeric) wrapping material.
A plurality of reams are then stacked (for example, 2 columns of 5 reams
stacked
in a side-by-side arrangement) in a rectangular container constructed from
conventional
corrugated material. The corrugated container serves to protect the reams of
paper during
transit and to bundle a plurality of individual reams together to simplify
shipment. It is
typical for the corrugated containers to include a lid, which typically
telescopes over an
open upper end of the container, thereby containing the reams therein to
prevent spillage
or damage thereto. The dimensions of the lidded container typically are only
slightly
larger than the contents stacked therein, and accordingly, such containers are
considered
"dense" in that very little void space is present therein. It is desirable,
therefore, to
provide a lidded container for shipping, storing and handling a plurality of
items, such as,
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for example, prepackaged reams of paper.
It is typical for such corrugated containers to experience rough handling and
shipping practices. For example, because corrugated containers containing
reams of
paper are heavy, they are oftentimes dropped inadvertently. Also, because the
contents of
such containers typically are not considered "breakable", shippers and other
handlers do
not exert significant care in moving the containers about. Therefore, it is
desirable to
provide a container for shipping, storing and handling a plurality of items
therein, wherein
the container is constructed so as to inhibit the bursting thereof, and so as
to minimize the
extent to which the contents thereof are damaged during shipping, storing and
handling.
This is difficult to achieve because most containers are formed from a
foldable
blank (i.e., flat) sheet of corrugated material that includes a plurality of
flaps that are
folded relative to one another to form sidewalls, a bottom wall and (in the
case of the lid)
a top wall. Adhesives, such as glues and tapes, as well as mechanical
fasteners, such as
staples, are used to affix the flaps to one another for the purpose of defming
a rigid, box-
like structure for the purposes herein described. Similarly, adhesives and/or
mechanical
fasteners are used typically to secure the lid over the open upper end of the
container main
body. During rough handling of the containers, it is common for the adhesives
and
mechanlcal fasteners to fail and/or tear from the corrugated material, thereby
resulting in
failure of the container and in potential spillage of the items contained
therein. It is
therefore desirable to provide a container that is adapted to withstand rough
handling that
may be encountered during typical shipping operations.
During shipping and storing, containers such as those related to the present
invention, are stacked one atop another, sometimes forming a stack of 5 or
more in height.
The weight of the containers (and their contents) typically is large,
especially for those
containers on the very bottom of the stack. It is desirable, therefore, to
provide not only a
stackable container, but a stackable container that is resistant to failure
loading, such as
bursting. It has been observed that one cause leading to failure of the
adhesives and/or
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mechanical fasteners used to construct the container is the large weight
resting on those
containers having additional containers stacked thereon.
This is especially problematic with the adhesive used to secure the lid to the
container main body. As packed containers are stacked on one another, the
weight of the
stack creates significant shear stress in the adhesives securing the lids to
the main bodies
of the containers below the stack. It has been observed that under such
circumstances, the
adhesives fail under this shear stress, thereby detaching the lids from the
container main
bodies.
One solution to this problem is to use poly straps or films to encircle the
lidded
container for the purpose of holding the lid tight against the open upper end
of the
container main body. However, this solution also is problematic in that the
straps andlor
films needs to be disposed of once the containers are opened at their fmal
destination.
The straps and/or films also creates opportunities for the containers to be
snagged on
jutting objects encountered during shipping, storing and handling. It is
desirable,
therefore, to provide a lidded container wherein the lid is secured to the
open upper end of
the container main body without the use of straps, films or the like. It is
also desirable to
provide a lidded container having means for opening the container easily, when
desired.
In view of the desire to provide a lidded container having a lid adhesively
secured
to the open upper end of the container main body, it is furthermore desirable
to provide
take-up means to inhibit failure of the adhesive during shipping, storing and
handling.
Finally, it is desirable to provide a lid for use with a container main body,
wherein
the lid includes take-up means to inhibit failure of the container during
shipping, storing
and handling thereof.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a container for shipping, storing and hauding a
plurality of items, such as, for example, a plurality of reams of paper. The
container
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includes a box-shaped main body portion and a lid that is sized and configured
to fit over
an open upper end of the main body. Sidewalls of the lid telescope over mating
sidewalls
of the main body and are adhered thereto, such as by adhesive or tape. One
sidewall of
the lid includes a tear strip defmed by two parallel perforation lines running
along the
length of the middle of the sidewall. One end of the tear strip includes a tab
for gripping
by the user. Alternatively, a tear strip might be provided in additional
sidewalls of the lid.
An elongated take-up region is provided along the length of at least one of
the lid
sidewalls and is oriented generally to be in parallel with the tear strip. The
take-up region
is positioned between the tear strip and the top wall panel of the lid and is
in the form of a
collapsible accordion structure defmed by a plurality of fold lines.
Compression of the
container, such as by applying a downward force to the lid to urge the lid
towards the
main body, is absorbed by the take-up region, thereby minimizing shear stress
in the
adhesive used to adhere the lid sidewalls to the main body sidewalls.
According to one aspect of the present invention, a package according to a
preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a main body portion
defmed by
a bottom wall and one or more upstanding sidewalls. The sidewalls cooperate to
define
an open top of the main body portion of the package. A lid is provided and is
defmed by
a top wall and one or more downwardly-depending sidewalls. The lid is sized to
fit over
the open top of the main body portion of the package. At least one sidewall of
the lid is
secured to at least one sidewall of the main body portion. At least one
sidewall of the lid
includes a take-up strip positioned between the top wall and a distal edge of
the at least
one lid sidewall. The take-up strip permits movement of the lid relative to
the main body
portion without separating the at least one lid sidewall from the main body
portion
sidewall to which it is secured.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a lidded container for
shipping,
storing and handling a plurality of items, such as, for example, prepackaged
reams of
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paper.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a container for
shipping,
storing and handling a plurality of items therein, wherein the container is
constructed so
as to inhibit the bursting thereof, and so as to minimize the extent to which
the contents
thereof are damaged during shipping, storing and handling.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a container that
is
adapted to withstand rough handling that may be encountered during typical
shipping
operations.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide not only a
stackable
container, but a stackable container that is resistant to failure loading,
such as bursting
It is another object of the present invention to provide a lidded container
wherein
the lid is secured to the open upper end of the container main body without
the use of
straps, films or the like.
It is also an object of the present invention to provide a lidded container
having
means for opening the container easily, when desired.
It is fiu-thermore an object of the present invention to provide take-up means
to
inhibit failure of the adhesive during shipping, storing and handling.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a lid for use
with a
container main body, wherein the lid includes take-up means to inhibit failure
of the
container during shipping, storing and handling thereof.
These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will
become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art from the description
which follows,
and may be realized by means of the instrumentalities and combinations
particularly
pointed out therein, as well as by those instrumentalities, combinations and
improvements
thereof which are not described expressly therein, but which would be obvious
to those of
ordinary and reasonable skill in the art.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The foregoing, as well as other objects and advantages of the invention, will
become apparent from the following detailed description when taken in
conjunction
with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters designate
like
parts throughout the several views, and wherein:
Figure 1 is a plan view of a first blank used to form main body portion of a
container according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 2 is a plan view of a second blank used to form a lid of the container
according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 3 is a perspective view of the container according to a preferred
embodiment of the present invention, showing the lid adhered to the main body
portion,
and showing a tear strip partially removed from one sidewall of the lid;
Figure 4 is a perspective view of the container according to a preferred
embodiment of the present invention, showing the tear strip completely removed
from
one sidewall of the lid, and showing the lid pivoted to an open position;
Figure 5 is a perspective view of a take-up region provided on the lid of a
container
according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 6, is a cross-sectional view of the take-up region shown in Figure 5,
showing the take-up region in a relaxed state;
Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of the take-up region shown in Figure 5,
showing
the take-up region in a compressed state;
Figure 8 is a plan view of a first blank used to form a main body portion of a
container according to one alternative embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 9 is a plan view of a first blank used to form a main body portion of a
container according to another alternative embodiment of the present
invention; and,
Figure 10 is a plan view of a second blank used to form a lid of a container
according to still yet another alternative embodiment of the present
invention.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
With reference to Figure 1, a first blank 10 used to form a main body portion
B
(Figure 3) of the container C is shown and is constructed from a foldable
material such as,
for example, corrugated paperboard or the like. The blank 10 is generally
rectangular in
shape and is divided by first and second longitudinal foldlines 12, 14,
respectively, into a
center pane120 and outwardly extending side panels 40.
Center panel 20 is divided by left and right foldlines 21a, 21b into bottom
wall
pane122, and outwardly extending endwall panels 24. Endwall panels 24 are
foldable
relative to the bottom wall pane122 about foldlines 21a, 21b to defme a pair
of opposing,
upwardly-extending endwalls of the main body portion B of the container C.
Each side panel 40 is divided by left and right foldlines 23a, 23b into
sidewall
panels 42 and interior endwall wings 44. Sidewall panels 42 are foldable
relative to the
bottom wall panel 22 about foldlines 12, 14 to defme a pair of opposing,
upwardly-
extending sidewalls of the main body portion B of the container C.
Main body portion B is constructed by first folding the endwall wings 44
upwardly
relative to the sidewall panels 42 about foldlines 23a, 23b and then folding
sidewall
panels 42 upwardly relative to the bottom wall pane122 about foldlines 12, 14
so that
distal edges 44a, 44b of opposing endwall wings 44 meet near a midpoint of
foldlines
21a, 21b, respectively.
Endwall panels 24 are then folded upwardly relative to the bottom wall pane122
about foldlines 21a, 21b and adhesively secured to endwall wings 44, such as,
for
example, with one or more strips 46 of hotmelt adhesive applied to the endwall
panels 24
prior to folding. Alternatively, hotmelt adhesive may be applied to the mating
surface of
the endwall wings 44 prior to folding the endwall panels 24. Double-sided
adhesive tape
may be used instead of hotmelt adhesive.
Optionally, pop-out handles 47 may be provided in each of the endwall panels
24
by providing a generally curved first die-cut slit 47a, a second die-cut slit
47b and
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cooperating foldlines 47c. Mating handle segments 48 may be defmed in endwall
wings
44 to be superimposed over pop-out handles 47 provided in endwall panels 24
when the
main body portion is folded as described herein.
Referring now to Figure 2, a second blank 50 used to form a lid L (Figure 3)
of the
container C is shown and is constructed from a foldable material such as, for
example,
corrugated paperboard or the like. The blank 50 is generally rectangular in
shape and is
divided by first and second longitudinal foldlines 52, 54, respectively, into
a center panel
60 and outwardly extending side wall panels 80.
Center panel 60 is divided by left and right foldlines 61a, 61b into top wall
panel
62, and outwardly extending endwall panels 64. Endwall panels 64 are foldable
relative
to the top wall panel 62 about foldlines 61a, 61b to defme a pair of opposing,
upwardly-
extending endwalls of the lid L of the container C.
Each side panel 80 is divided by left and right foldlines 63a, 63b into
sidewall
panels 82 and interior endwall wings 84. Sidewall panels 82 are foldable
relative to the
top wall pane162 about foldlines 52, 54 to defme a pair of opposing, upwardly-
extending
sidewalls of the lid L of the container C.
One sidewall pane182 includes a pair of perforation lines runuing lengthwise
generally parallel to foldline 52. Perforations 85 are of any conventional
form and
preferably cut through the sidewall panel 82 completely, although one or more
of the
perforations 85 may not extend through the entire thickness of the sidewall
panel 82, but
may instead only cut partially therethrough. Optionally, both sidewall panels
82 may
include perforation lines 85.
Perforation lines 85 cooperate to define a tear strip 86 therebetween, one end
86a
of which may include a pull-tab for the purpose of gripping, as will be
described in
greater detail below. Tear strip 86 is positioned near a centerline of the
sidewall panel 82.
A first elongated take-up region 87a is provided in one of the sidewall panels
82
and runs generally parallel to the tear strip 86 provided therein. The take-up
region 87a is
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positioned on the sidewall panel 82 such that the tear strip 86 is positioned
between the
take-up region 87a and foldline 52. The structure of the first take-up region
87a will be
described in greater detail below.
A second elongated take-up region 87b is provided in other of the sidewall
panels
82 and runs generally parallel to foldline 54. The take-up region 87b is
positioned near a
centerline of the sidewall panel 82, if no tear strip 86 is provided in the
sidewall pane182.
The structure of the second take-up region 87b will be described in greater
detail below.
Lid L is constructed by first folding the endwall wings 84 upwardly relative
to the
sidewall panels 82 about foldlines 63a, 63b and then folding sidewall panels
82 upwardly
relative to the top wall pane162 about foldlines 52, 54 so that distal edges
84a, 84b of
opposing endwall wings 84 face one another.
Endwall panels 64 are then folded upwardly relative to the top wall panel 62
about
foldlines 51a, 5 lb and adhesively secured to endwall wings 84, such as, for
example, with
one or more strips (not shown) of hotmelt adhesive applied to the endwall
panels 64 prior
to folding. Alternatively, hotmelt adhesive may be applied to the mating
surface of the
endwall wings 84 prior to folding the endwall panels 64. Double-sided adhesive
tape may
be used instead of hotmelt adhesive.
With reference to Figure 3, the container C is formed by positioning the lid
L,
erected from the blank 50 as described above, over an open upper end of the
main body
portion B, which has been erected as described above. Lid L is secured to the
main body
B by one or more strips 88 of hotmelt adhesive applied between the sidewalls
82 of the lid
L and their respective sidewalls 42 of the main body portion B. Adhesive
strips 88
preferably are positioned between the take-up regions 87a, 87b and distal
edges 89 of the
lid sidewalls 82. Alternatively, other means may be used to secure the lid L
to the main
body B, such as double-sided tape (not shown). Thus configured, items I
(Figure 4) may
be shipped and stored in the container C.
With reference back to Figure 1, sidewall panels 42 of the main body portion B
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(i.e., first blank 10) may include perforated regions 45 near a centerline
region thereof.
Individual perforations of the perforated regions 45 preferably do not cut
through the
entire thick.ness of the sidewall panels 42. Perforated regions 45 are
provided for the
purpose of enhancing the grip of the adhesive strips 88 used to secure the lid
L on the
main body portion B, thereby permitting use of less adhesive. Perforations
may,
alternatively, cut through the entire thickness of the sidewall panels 42 of
the main body
portion B.
Referring now to Figure 4, items I may be removed from the container C by
first
tearing the tear strip 86 from the sidewall panel 82 of the lid L, thereby
detaching a leave-
on portion 82a of the sidewall panel 82 from the lid L. The leave-on portion
82a remains
adhered to the sidewall 42 of the main body portion B of the container C.
After the tear
strip 86 had been removed from the sidewall panel 82 and the leave-on portion
82a has
been detached from the lid L, lid L may be pivoted about the second take-up
region 87b
of the opposing sidewall panel 82 of the lid L, thereby exposing the open
upper end of the
main body portion B so that items I may be removed therefrom. Lid L may be
positioned
back over the open upper end of the main body portion B, thereby reclosing the
container
C for safekeeping of unused items I. Optionally, if a tear strip has been
provided in both
sidewall panels 82 of the lid L, the lid L may be removed entirely from the
main body
portion B, as will be obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art, upon
reading the within
disclosure.
With reference now to Figure 5, the first and second take-up regions 87a, 87b
are
formed by a plurality of parallel foldlines 90 which extend lengthwise along
the sidewall
panels 82 of the lid L. Foldlines 90 cooperate with one another to create a
generally zig-
zagged, accordion-style construction capable of absorbing compressive forces,
as well as
of providing an area of increased flexibility in the sidewalls 82. Referring
now also to
Figures 6 and 7, foldlines 90 are formed in the sidewalls 82 of the lid L by a
conventional
punch-and-die operation wherein the sidewall 82 is crimped between mating dies
95. It
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will be appreciated by those or ordinary skill in the art, upon reading the
within
description, that foldlines 90 will absorb compression of the sidewalls 82
from a change
in length from first length Ll to second length L2, wherein L1 > L2.
Referring back to Figure 3, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in
the art
that by providing take-up regions 87a, 87b in the lid sidewalls 82, when a
compressive
force is applied to the container C, as when several containers are stacked on
top of one
another, the take-up regions 87a, 87b will allow the lid L to be displaced
closer to the
main body portion B without imparting significant shear stress in the adhesive
strips 88,
thereby reducing or eliminating the possibility of the lid L becoming detached
from the
main body portion B inadvertently.
With reference to Figure 8, a blank used to form a main body portion of a
container according to one alternative embodiment of the present invention is
shown,
wherein the endwall wings overlap one another partially when the main body
portion is
erected.
With reference to Figure 9, a blank used to form a main body portion of a
container according to yet another alternative embodiment of the present
invention is
shown, wherein construction of the pop-out handles has been simplified.
With reference to Figure 10, a blank used to form a lid of a container
according to
yet another alternative embodiment of the present invention is shown, wherein
the widths
of the sidwall panels is less than those according to the preferred embodiment
hereof.
Also, the blank shown in Figure 10 represents an alternative embodiment
wherein the
take-up strip also functions as a tear strip. That is, perforation lines 85
permit flexing of
combo strip 87a, 86 so as to permit movement of the lid L relative to the main
body
portion B without shearing the adhesive used to secure the two.
It should be recognized by those of ordinary skill in the art that those
aspects of the
present invention that meet the objectives stated herein are provided
substantially by the
lid portion L of the container, and as such, it is within the spirit and the
scope of the
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present invention to provide only the lid L for use on main body portions not
otherwise
described expressly herein.
While the invention has been described with reference to preferred
embodiments,
those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain substitutions,
alterations and omissions
may be made without departing from the spirit thereof. Accordingly, the
foregoing
description is meant to be exemplary only and should not be deemed limitative
on the
scope of the invention set forth herein.
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