US3580470A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Container for packing bags
Assignee: Eskimo Pie Corp
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Filing: 1968-05-23
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Granted: 1971-05-25
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Expires: 1988-05-23
Abstract
Abstract The present invention involves a method of packaging flat bags for shipment and a shipping container for the bags. The bags have a folded bottom end which is substantially thicker than the open top end. In the disclosed method a number of bags are arranged flatwise into an elongated bundle with the thicker bottom ends of the bags at the top so that the longitudinal cross section of the bundle is a wedge shape that is narrower at the bottom, the bundles are arranged side-by-side in rows and inwardly directed forces are maintained on the supporting end surfaces of each row as well as against the sides of each row. The shipping container comprises an outer casing having end, side and bottom walls in which is inserted a packing insert having a pair of inclined wedging panels that extend between the casing end walls and are inclined outwardly and upwardly from a location on the casing bottom wall spaced inwardly from the bottom of the casing sidewalls. The upper portion of the wedging panels contact the upper portion of the casing sidewalls to form a wedgelike compartment for containing rows of bags stacked in fanlike bundles and locking tabs extend between the lower portion of the inclined wedging panels and the casing sidewalls.
Inventors
- 👤 Edwin Clifton Leonard
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 09:53
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D5/00; B65D5/42; B65D5/44; B65D5/48; B65D5/48024; B65D5/48046
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
185 words
A shipping container for empty bags wherein the folded bottom end of each bag is substantially thicker than the open top end, said container comprising: an outer casing having facing end walls and facing sidewalls extending vertically from the outer edges of a bottom wall; a pair of flat wedging panels each extending between said casing end walls in a facing, spaced apart relationship with their lower longitudinal edges spaced inwardly from said casing sidewall to extend upwardly and outwardly from said casing bottom wall to define a wedge-shaped compartment for containing at least one evenly compressed row of flatwise stacked bags with the bag on each end of the row flatly resting on said wedging panels and the thick top ends of the bags uppermost; the top portion of each said wedging panel contacting the upper portion of a casing sidewall along its length with the bottom edge spaced inwardly from and parallel to the bottom edge of the sidewall; and means in contact with the lower portion of each said wedging panel for locking each said panel against movement relative to said casing.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
185 words
A shipping container for empty bags wherein the folded bottom end of each bag is substantially thicker than the open top end, said container comprising: an outer casing having facing end walls and facing sidewalls extending vertically from the outer edges of a bottom wall; a pair of flat wedging panels each extending between said casing end walls in a facing, spaced apart relationship with their lower longitudinal edges spaced inwardly from said casing sidewall to extend upwardly and outwardly from said casing bottom wall to define a wedge-shaped compartment for containing at least one evenly compressed row of flatwise stacked bags with the bag on each end of the row flatly resting on said wedging panels and the thick top ends of the bags uppermost; the top portion of each said wedging panel contacting the upper portion of a casing sidewall along its length with the bottom edge spaced inwardly from and parallel to the bottom edge of the sidewall; and means in contact with the lower portion of each said wedging panel for locking each said panel against movement relative to said casing.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
The shipping container defined in claim 1 wherein said locking means includes at least one locking member extending between the lower portion of each said wedging panel and the adjacent casing sidewall.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
74 words
The container described in claim 1 wherein said wedging panels each have a plurality of narrow slots extending adjacent its top longitudinal edge to the bottom longitudinal edge spaced along the length of said wedging panels; and flat separator panels extending across the space between opposite wedging panels with opposite edges contained in said slots, thereby dividing the space between said casing end panels into multiple wedge-shaped compartments for containing compressed bundles of bags.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
205 words
A shipping container for empty bags wherein the folded bottom end of each bag is substantially thicker than the open top end, said container comprising: an outer casing having facing end walls and facing sidewalls extending vertically from the edges of a bottom wall; and a packing insert contained within said outer casing, said insert comprising: a rectangular floor panel extending lengthwise between said casing end walls in an overlying relationship to the central portion of said casing bottom wall, a pair of wedging panels integrally hinged to opposite longitudinal edges of said floor panel along common hinge lines parallel to and spaced from the bottom edge of said casing sidewalls, each wedging panel extending upwardly and outwardly from said common hinge line with tHe upper portion of said wedging panel resting against the upper portion of a casing sidewall such that said panels define a wedge-shaped compartment with inclined ends for containing at least one evenly compressed row of flatwise stacked bags with the bags at each end of the row flatly resting on said wedging panels and the thick top ends of said bags uppermost; and locking tabs extending between said wedging panels and the adjacent casing sidewalls to prevent relative motion therebetween.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
205 words
A shipping container for empty bags wherein the folded bottom end of each bag is substantially thicker than the open top end, said container comprising: an outer casing having facing end walls and facing sidewalls extending vertically from the edges of a bottom wall; and a packing insert contained within said outer casing, said insert comprising: a rectangular floor panel extending lengthwise between said casing end walls in an overlying relationship to the central portion of said casing bottom wall, a pair of wedging panels integrally hinged to opposite longitudinal edges of said floor panel along common hinge lines parallel to and spaced from the bottom edge of said casing sidewalls, each wedging panel extending upwardly and outwardly from said common hinge line with tHe upper portion of said wedging panel resting against the upper portion of a casing sidewall such that said panels define a wedge-shaped compartment with inclined ends for containing at least one evenly compressed row of flatwise stacked bags with the bags at each end of the row flatly resting on said wedging panels and the thick top ends of said bags uppermost; and locking tabs extending between said wedging panels and the adjacent casing sidewalls to prevent relative motion therebetween.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
84 words
The shipping container described in claim 4 wherein said wedged panels each have a series of narrow slots extending from the top to the bottom of the inclined portion and spaced oppositely along the length of said wedging panels between said casing end walls; and separator panels extend upwardly from said bottom panel between said wedging panels with the separator panel ends contained within opposing slots in said wedging panels to define a plurality of juxtaposed wedge-shaped compartments extending between said casing end walls.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
66 words
A shipping container described in claim 5 wherein each said locking tab comprises material separated from a wedging panel and having one end integral with said floor panel with the tab being an extension of said floor panel protruding beyond a said common hinge line to have the other end adjacent said casing sidewall, said tab being in an overlying relationship to said casing bottom wall.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
42 words
The shipping container described in claim 6 wherein a locking tab is positioned below each said slot and each said tab is formed from a portion of said wedging panel separated therefrom by parallel slits extending upwardly from said common hinge line.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
56 words
The shipping container described in claim 7 wherein the width of at least the top portion of said slots is sufficiently greater than the thickness of said separator panels that each separator panel can be placed in tight contact with the sides of the row of bags contained in the compartment defined by said separator panel.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
46 words
The shipping container described in claim 5 wherein said insert additionally comprises stabilizer panels integrally hinged along the length of the upper end of each of said wedging panels between said casing end walls to extend vertically upwardly in an overlying relation against said casing sidewall.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
179 words
A one piece blank for a packing insert positionable within a shipping container to support bundles of flatwise stacked, empty bags having substantially thicker bottom ends than open top ends, said blank comprising: a rectangular floor panel; a pair of rectangular wedging panels each integrally hinged by a common hinge line to said floor panel along opposite longitudinal edges thereof; at least two locking tabs integral with and extending outwardly from said floor panel beyond said common hinge lines; each said tab being formed from a portion of said wedging panel and separated therefrom along cleavage lines which terminate at spaced intervals on said common hinge line; the top portion of each said wedging panel opposite said common hinge line having a stabilizing panel integrally hinged thereto along its length by a second hinge line parallel to said common hinge line; and each said wedging panel having a narrow slot extending perpendicularly from said second hinge line to the top portion of a cleavage line that forms the top edge of each said tab opposite said common hinge line.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
179 words
A one piece blank for a packing insert positionable within a shipping container to support bundles of flatwise stacked, empty bags having substantially thicker bottom ends than open top ends, said blank comprising: a rectangular floor panel; a pair of rectangular wedging panels each integrally hinged by a common hinge line to said floor panel along opposite longitudinal edges thereof; at least two locking tabs integral with and extending outwardly from said floor panel beyond said common hinge lines; each said tab being formed from a portion of said wedging panel and separated therefrom along cleavage lines which terminate at spaced intervals on said common hinge line; the top portion of each said wedging panel opposite said common hinge line having a stabilizing panel integrally hinged thereto along its length by a second hinge line parallel to said common hinge line; and each said wedging panel having a narrow slot extending perpendicularly from said second hinge line to the top portion of a cleavage line that forms the top edge of each said tab opposite said common hinge line.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
69 words
The blank described in claim 10 wherein each said tab is rectangular with three outer edges defined by lines of cleavage through said wedging panel of which two lines defining the sides of said tab are parallel and extend outwardly from said floor panel perpendicularly of said common hinge line and the top of said tab is defined by a cleavage line substantially parallel to said common hinge line.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-05-24 | 1974-11-23 | 1975-05-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-05-24 | 1978-11-23 | 1979-05-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-05-24 | 1982-11-23 | 1983-05-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |