US3889868A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Mail handling container
Assignee: Liberty Carton Co
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Filing: 1973-10-15
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Granted: 1975-06-17
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Expires: 1993-10-15
Abstract
Abstract A rectangular shaped container primarily adapted for handling and sorting mail is provided with a hinged top cover comprised of a plurality of foldable sections which may be folded together to collapse the cover for compact storage when it is not being used. Lock flaps on the opposite ends of the cover are inserted into the rear end of pockets formed in the container end walls to hold the cover in its collapsed, storage position; and these same lock flaps are inserted in the front end of the end wall pockets to secure the cover in place when it is swung forwardly over the top of the container to a closed position.
Inventors
- 👤 Arnold D Bruckner
- 👤 Marlyn D Johnson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 13:41
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D5/00; B65D5/42; B65D5/64; B65D5/66; B65D5/6626; B65D5/665; B65D5/6661; B65D5/20; B65D5/22
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
336 words
A mail handling container formed from cut and scored bendable material comprising: a bottom wall; a pair of opposed, upright, front and rear side walls extending upwardly from fold line connections with the opposite longitudinal edges of said bottom wall; a pair of opposed, upright end walls extending upwardly from said bottom wall at substantially right angles to said side walls and cooperating therewith to form a substantially rectangular container the top of which is defined by the upper edges of said side and end walls, each of said end walls being comprised of a single panel scored along a fold line to provide two end panel sections, one of which is an upright panel section hingedly attached to one end of said bottom wall and the other of which is folded downwardly and inwardly over said one end panel section along said end panel fold line to thereby form end walls of double wall thickness with said end panel sections defining an open ended pocket therebetween, and with said fold line defining the upper edge of said end walls; a cover panel hingedly attached along one longitudinal edge thereof to the top edge of said rear side wall and disposed in a downwardly and forwardly folded closed position over said container top, said cover panel comprising a plurality of foldable sections interconnected with each other along fold lines extending parallel to said longitudinal hinged edge of said cover panel, said cover panel sections being foldable into a collapsed, downwardly and rearwardly extending condition in overlying relation to said rear side wall, whereby said cover panel may be opened, folded to said collapsed condition and secured in said collapsed condition by inserting said lock flaps into the rear end of said end wall pockets; a pair of lock flaps hingedly attached to the opposite ends of said cover panel at the opposite, longitudinal free edge thereof and tucked into the front end of said end wall pockets to hold said cover panel in said closed position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
336 words
A mail handling container formed from cut and scored bendable material comprising: a bottom wall; a pair of opposed, upright, front and rear side walls extending upwardly from fold line connections with the opposite longitudinal edges of said bottom wall; a pair of opposed, upright end walls extending upwardly from said bottom wall at substantially right angles to said side walls and cooperating therewith to form a substantially rectangular container the top of which is defined by the upper edges of said side and end walls, each of said end walls being comprised of a single panel scored along a fold line to provide two end panel sections, one of which is an upright panel section hingedly attached to one end of said bottom wall and the other of which is folded downwardly and inwardly over said one end panel section along said end panel fold line to thereby form end walls of double wall thickness with said end panel sections defining an open ended pocket therebetween, and with said fold line defining the upper edge of said end walls; a cover panel hingedly attached along one longitudinal edge thereof to the top edge of said rear side wall and disposed in a downwardly and forwardly folded closed position over said container top, said cover panel comprising a plurality of foldable sections interconnected with each other along fold lines extending parallel to said longitudinal hinged edge of said cover panel, said cover panel sections being foldable into a collapsed, downwardly and rearwardly extending condition in overlying relation to said rear side wall, whereby said cover panel may be opened, folded to said collapsed condition and secured in said collapsed condition by inserting said lock flaps into the rear end of said end wall pockets; a pair of lock flaps hingedly attached to the opposite ends of said cover panel at the opposite, longitudinal free edge thereof and tucked into the front end of said end wall pockets to hold said cover panel in said closed position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
192 words
A mail handling container as defined in claim 1 wherein: said front side wall is cut away Over a substantial portion of the length thereof with said portion having a top edge below the adjacent top edges of said end walls to provide a front opening which facilitates placing pieces of mail in said container with said cover panel swung to an open position; and said cover panel includes an outermost panel section hingedly attached to said cover panel along a fold line extending parallel to said hinged longitudinal edge thereof and positioned even with the front edges of said end walls when said cover panel is closed, said outermost panel section being disposed in a downwardly folded position in overlying relation to the outside face of said front side panel and said front opening and serving to close the front side of said container with said cover panel in said closed position; and said lock flaps being hingedly attached to the ends of said outermost panel section of said cover panel along fold lines which are substantially coplaner with said end walls when said cover panel is in said closed position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
73 words
A mail handling container as defined in claim 1 wherein: each of said end walls includes a pair of flaps hingedly attached to one end of said front side wall and said rear side wall respectively along fold lines in alignment with said fold lines between said end panel upright sections and said bottom wall, said flaps being folded inwardly in upright positions and sandwiched between said panel sections of said end walls.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
47 words
A mail handling container as defined in claim 1 wherein: the innermost one of said cover panel sections hingedly attached along said longitudinal edge thereof to the top edge of said rear side wall has a height dimension no greater than that of said rear side wall.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
310 words
A material handling container formed from a single blank of fiberboard comprising: a bottom wall; a pair of opposed, front and rear side walls extending upwardly from fold line connections with the opposite longitudinal edges of said bottom wall; a pair of opposed, upright end walls extending upwardly from said bottom wall at substantially right angles to said side walls and cooperating therewith to form a substantially rectangular container, the top of which is defined by the upper edges of said side and end walls, each of said end walls being comprised of a single panel scored along a fold line to provide two end panel sections, one of which is an upright panel section hingedly attached to one end of said bottom wall and the other of which is folded downwardly and inwardly over said one end panel section along said fold line to thereby form end walls of double wall thickness with said end panel sections defining an open ended pocket therebetween and with said fold line defining the upper edge of said end walls; a cover panel hingedly attached along one longitudinal edge thereof to the top edge of said rear side wall, said cover panel being comprised of a plurality of foldable panel sections interconnected along fold lines extending parallel to said hinged longitudinal edge of said cover panel and folded together in a collapsed, storage position in overlying, face-to-face relation to each other rearwardly of said rear side panel; and a pair of lock flaps hingedly attached to the opposite ends of said cover panel along fold lines, said lock flaps being tucked into the rear end of said end wall pockets and serving to hold said cover panel in said storage position rearwardly of said rear side panel to provide free access to said container through the open top thereof for placing articles therein.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
310 words
A material handling container formed from a single blank of fiberboard comprising: a bottom wall; a pair of opposed, front and rear side walls extending upwardly from fold line connections with the opposite longitudinal edges of said bottom wall; a pair of opposed, upright end walls extending upwardly from said bottom wall at substantially right angles to said side walls and cooperating therewith to form a substantially rectangular container, the top of which is defined by the upper edges of said side and end walls, each of said end walls being comprised of a single panel scored along a fold line to provide two end panel sections, one of which is an upright panel section hingedly attached to one end of said bottom wall and the other of which is folded downwardly and inwardly over said one end panel section along said fold line to thereby form end walls of double wall thickness with said end panel sections defining an open ended pocket therebetween and with said fold line defining the upper edge of said end walls; a cover panel hingedly attached along one longitudinal edge thereof to the top edge of said rear side wall, said cover panel being comprised of a plurality of foldable panel sections interconnected along fold lines extending parallel to said hinged longitudinal edge of said cover panel and folded together in a collapsed, storage position in overlying, face-to-face relation to each other rearwardly of said rear side panel; and a pair of lock flaps hingedly attached to the opposite ends of said cover panel along fold lines, said lock flaps being tucked into the rear end of said end wall pockets and serving to hold said cover panel in said storage position rearwardly of said rear side panel to provide free access to said container through the open top thereof for placing articles therein.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
122 words
A material handling container as defined in claim 5 wherein: said lock flaps are attached to the ends of the outermost one of said cover panel sections along fold lines extending parallel to said end panel fold lines; and the innermost one of said cover panel sections hingedly attached to the top edge of said rear side wall has a height dimension no greater than that of said rear side wall and is in a downwardly folded posiTion in overlying relation to the outside face thereof in abutting engagement therewith, with the other cover panel sections folded tightly together with said innermost cover panel section, whereby said cover panel is compactly positioned against said rear side wall in said collapsed, storage position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
45 words
A material handling container as defined in claim 5 wherein: said cover panel sections are alternately folded together in opposite directions into abutting, face-to-face relation with each other along said fold lines in an accordian type fold with said cover panel in said collapsed position.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
91 words
A material handling container as defined in claim 5 wherein: said cover panel is swingable about said hinged longitudinal edge thereof to a forwardly disposed, closed position over the top of said container wherein it rests against the top edges of said end walls, said cover panel being of sufficient width to fully cover the top of said container when fully extended and swung forwardly, and said lock flaps being inserted in the front ends of said end wall pockets and serving to hold said cover panel in said closed position.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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US2793802A
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US2894618A
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-06-16 | 1978-12-16 | 1979-06-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-06-16 | 1982-12-16 | 1983-06-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-06-16 | 1986-12-16 | 1987-06-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |