Carton divider

Claim 1

A collapsible carton divider having at least one substantially planar partition and one substantially planar cross-partition interlocked therewith along an imaginary line of intersection between their respective planes, each said partition and cross-partition having parallel and opposite first and second edges and partition interlock means for interlocking with each partition which interlocks therewith, each said partition interlock means comprising means defining an open-ended slot having opposite side edges extending inwardly from said first edge thereof and being spaced apart a distance which is substantially greater than the thickness of the partition and a closed-end thereof located intermediate said first and second edges of the partition, a surface portion aligned with said slot and which determines, and extends beyond, said closed end of the latter towards said second edge of the partition, means defining a locking tab projecting from one of said side edges of said slot and providing a first abutment edge facing away from the open end of said slot, and means defining a tab-receiving opening within said surface portion and providing a second abutment edge aligned with said first abutment edge and also facing away from the open end of said slot, said surface portion on each of said interlocked partitions being received in said slot of its interlocked partition and said locking tab on each of said interlocked partitions being received in said tab-receiving opening of its interlocked partition, said interlocked partitions being pivotable in either direction along all of said lines of intersection whereby said divider may be pivoted from an open condition thereof defined by a substantially angular disposition of each said partition with resepct to each said interlocked cross-partition to either of two collapsed conditions thereof depending upon the direction of said pivoting from said open condition, either of said collapsed conditions being defined by a substantially adjacent and parallel disposition of each said partition with respect to each said interlocked cross-partition, said first abutment edges on the respective of said partitions respectively abutting said second abutment edges on the respective of said interlocked partitions when said divider is in either of its said collapsed conditions and in its said open condition, said tab-receiving opening of each said partition further providing a tab-retainer edge aligned with said one side edge of said slot from which said locking tab projects, the distance of projection of said locking tab on each of said partitions being substantially greater than the thickness of the partition whereby said locking tabs overlap the respective of said tab-retainer edges of said tab-receiving openings with which said locking tabs are respectively associated when said divider is collapsed in one direction to a first of said two collapsed conditions thereof, all of said locking tabs in their said overlapping positions then being on the same side of said divider, and whereby disengagement of said interlocked partitions by movement of one with respect to another in either direction along any of said lines of intersection is substantially prevented when said divider is in both its said first collapsed condition and its said open condition.