Patent US4256236A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4256236A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Collapsible container for milk cartons
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1979-10-29
•
Granted: 1981-03-17
•
Expires: 1999-10-29
Abstract
Abstract A collapsible container for milk cartons has a plate-like base member with first and second spaced parallel edges and third and fourth spaced parallel edges perpendicular to the first and second edges. First and second upper ledges extends upward perpendicularly from the base member along the first and second edges thereof. Third and fourth upper ledges extend upward perpendicularly from the base member along the third and fourth edges thereof. The third and fourth upper ledges are perpendicular to the first and second upper ledges. A first side panel is pivotally mounted in the third and fourth upper ledges next-adjacent the first upper ledge in a manner whereby the first upper ledge prevents the first side panel from falling outward. A second side panel is pivotally mounted in the third and fourth upper ledges next-adjacent the second upper ledge in a manner whereby the second upper ledge prevents the second side panel from falling outward. A third side panel is pivotally mounted in the first and second upper ledges next-adjacent the third upper ledge in a manner whereby the third upper ledge prevents the second side panel from falling outward. A fourth side panel is pivotally mounted in the first and second upper ledges next-adjacent the fourth upper ledge in a manner whereby the fourth upper ledge prevents the fourth side panel from falling outward. The side panels are maintained upright by milk cartons supported on the base member and collapse inward toward the base member in the absence of milk cartons on the base member.
Inventors
- 👤 Samuel Haase
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 13:56
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D7/00; B65D7/12; B65D7/24; B65D7/26; B65D11/00; B65D11/18; B65D11/1833
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
359 words
A collapsible container, said container comprising a plate-like base member having first and second spaced parallel edges and third and fourth spaced parallel edges perpendicular to the first and second edges, first and second upper ledges extending upward substantially perpendicularly from said base member along the first and second edges thereof and third and fourth upper ledges extending upward substantially perpendicularly from said base member along the third and fourth edges thereof, said third and fourth upper ledges being substantially perpendicular to said first and second upper ledges, each of said first, second, third and fourth upper ledges having spaced opposite first and second ends with a first hole formed therethrough at the first end and a second hole formed therethrough at the second end; a first side panel pivotally mounted in said third and fourth upper ledges next-adjacent said first upper ledge in a manner whereby said first upper ledge prevents the first side panel from falling outward; a second side panel pivotally mounted in said third and fourth upper ledges next-adjacent said second upper ledge in a manner whereby said second upper ledge prevents the second side panel from falling outward; a third side panel pivotally mounted in said first and second upper ledges next-adjacent said third upper ledge in a manner whereby said third upper ledge prevents the third side panel from falling outward; and a fourth side panel pivotally mounted in said first and second upper ledges next-adjacent said fourth upper ledge in a manner whereby said fourth upper ledge prevents the fourth side panel from falling outward, said side panels being maintained upright by cartons supported on said base member and collapsing inward toward said base member in the absence of cartons on said base member, each of said first, second, third and fourth side panels having a pair of spaced opposite side edges, a first pin extending from one of said side edges and accommodated in a corresponding hole through a corresponding one of said upper ledges and a second pin extending from the other of said side edges and accommodated in a corresponding hole through a corresponding other of said upper ledges.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
359 words
A collapsible container, said container comprising a plate-like base member having first and second spaced parallel edges and third and fourth spaced parallel edges perpendicular to the first and second edges, first and second upper ledges extending upward substantially perpendicularly from said base member along the first and second edges thereof and third and fourth upper ledges extending upward substantially perpendicularly from said base member along the third and fourth edges thereof, said third and fourth upper ledges being substantially perpendicular to said first and second upper ledges, each of said first, second, third and fourth upper ledges having spaced opposite first and second ends with a first hole formed therethrough at the first end and a second hole formed therethrough at the second end; a first side panel pivotally mounted in said third and fourth upper ledges next-adjacent said first upper ledge in a manner whereby said first upper ledge prevents the first side panel from falling outward; a second side panel pivotally mounted in said third and fourth upper ledges next-adjacent said second upper ledge in a manner whereby said second upper ledge prevents the second side panel from falling outward; a third side panel pivotally mounted in said first and second upper ledges next-adjacent said third upper ledge in a manner whereby said third upper ledge prevents the third side panel from falling outward; and a fourth side panel pivotally mounted in said first and second upper ledges next-adjacent said fourth upper ledge in a manner whereby said fourth upper ledge prevents the fourth side panel from falling outward, said side panels being maintained upright by cartons supported on said base member and collapsing inward toward said base member in the absence of cartons on said base member, each of said first, second, third and fourth side panels having a pair of spaced opposite side edges, a first pin extending from one of said side edges and accommodated in a corresponding hole through a corresponding one of said upper ledges and a second pin extending from the other of said side edges and accommodated in a corresponding hole through a corresponding other of said upper ledges.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
58 words
A collapsible container as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said side panels has a bottom edge of predetermined length adjacent said base member, a top edge shorter than the predetermined length spaced from and substantially parallel to the bottom edge and a pair of side edges tapering down from the bottom edge to the top edge.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
177 words
A collapsible container as claimed in claim 2, wherein each of said first and second upper ledges is of elongated rectangular configuration having a bottom edge coincident with the first and second edges, respectively, of said base member, a top edge in spaced substantially parallel relation with the bottom edge and spaced from said base member, a first hole formed therethrough adjacent the top edge thereof and the third upper ledge and a second hole formed therethrough adjacent the top edge thereof and the fourth upper ledge and colinear with said first hole, each of said third and fourth upper ledges is of elongated rectangular configuration having a bottom edge coincident with the third and fourth edges, respectively, of said base member, a top edge in spaced substantially parallel relation with the bottom edge and spaced from said base member, a first hole formed therethrough adjacent the bottom edge thereof and the first upper ledge and a second hole formed therethrough adjacent the bottom edge thereof and the second upper ledge and colinear with said first hole.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
A collapsible container as claimed in claim 2, wherein each of said first and second side panels has a hand slot formed therethrough in spaced substantially parallel relation with the top edge thereof for accommodating a hand of a holder of said container.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
232 words
A collapsible container as claimed in claim 3, wherein each of said first and second side panels has a first pin extending from one side edge thereof in substantially parallel relation with the bottom edge thereof spaced a predetermined distance from said bottom edge and a second pin extending from the other side edge thereof in substantially parallel relation with the bottom edge thereof spaced the predetermined distance from said bottom edge and colinear with said first pin, said first and second pins being accommodated in the first and second holes, respectively, of said third and fourth upper ledges whereby said first and second side panels are pivotally mounted on said base member, and each of said third and fourth side panels has a pin extending from one side edge thereof in substantially parallel relation with the bottom edge thereof spaced a distance greater than said predetermined distance from said bottom edge and a second pin extending from the other side edge thereof in substantially parallel relation with the bottom edge thereof spaced the same distance as the first pin from said bottom edge and colinear with said first pin, said first and second pins of said third and fourth side panels being accommodated in the first and second holes, respectively, of said first and second upper ledges whereby said third and fourth side panels are pivotally mounted on said base member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
104 words
A collapsible container as claimed in claim 1, further comprising first and second lower ledges extending downward substantially perpendicularly from said base member in spaced parallel relation with said first and second edges thereof and third and fourth lower ledges extending downward substantially perpendicularly from said base member in spaced parallel relation with said third and fourth edges thereof, said third and fourth lower ledges being substantially perpendicular to said first and second lower ledges, said lower ledges permitting said collapsible container to be stacked, one on another, by maintaining upright side panels of a next-lower one of said collapsible container from collapsing inwardly.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2221504A
Cited
US2914210A
Cited
US3266656A
Cited
US3371816A
Cited
US3376994A
Cited
US3611994A
Cited
US3974934A
Cited
US4014292A
Cited
US4165024A
Cited
US4171058A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1984-03-16 | 1984-09-15 | 1985-03-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-03-16 | 1988-09-15 | 1989-03-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-03-16 | 1992-09-15 | 1993-03-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |