US4600142A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Reverse elbow lock flap produce box
Assignee: International Paper Co
•
Filing: 1984-11-15
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Granted: 1986-07-15
•
Expires: 2004-11-15
Abstract
Abstract A box or container for yams or other bulk products wherein there are closure panels having lock panels at each end thereof, and which lock panels interlock in lock notches formed in end panels carried by a bottom panel of the box. The relationship between the lock panels, which includes bent elbow hooks, and the lock notches is one wherein the required locking action is easily effected and wherein the locks may be readily released for inspection. The box preferably has a three layer end wall construction including end panels carried by the bottom panel and other end panels carried by side panels of the box. The box is readily stackable and has tapered sides and vent openings so as to permit circulation between and within stacked boxes. In one modification the box is formed from a tube, the tube being formed by joining together the ends of a unitary blank to thereby form a manufacturer's joint, the blank defined by a plurality of hinged, articulated panels. All embodiments exhibit top closure panels which do not require stapling after container loading and which exhibit resistance to unintentional opening.
Inventors
- 👤 Benjamin W. Quaintance
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 05:27
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D5/00; B65D5/001; B65D5/0015; B65D5/003; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S229/00; Y10S229/915; Y10S229/918; Y10S229/939
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
170 words
A box, said box comprising a bottom panel having connected to opposite sides thereof side panels hinged thereto, an end panel hingedly connected to each end of said bottom panel, a top closure panel hingedly carried by a hinge line by each of said side panels remote from said bottom panel, and a lock panel hingedly carried by each end of said closure panels along a transverse hinge line for folding into overlapping relation with a respective one of said end panels, each lock panel being formed in two sections connected along a diagonal hinge line, each lock panel terminating in a hook and each of said end panels having a lock notch receiving a respective one of said hooks, said diagonal hinge line forming means for permitting transverse swinging movement of said hook into its respective lock notch after the corresponding closure panel has been moved to a top forming position and after said respective lock panel has been pivoted about the respective one of said transverse hinge lines.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
170 words
A box, said box comprising a bottom panel having connected to opposite sides thereof side panels hinged thereto, an end panel hingedly connected to each end of said bottom panel, a top closure panel hingedly carried by a hinge line by each of said side panels remote from said bottom panel, and a lock panel hingedly carried by each end of said closure panels along a transverse hinge line for folding into overlapping relation with a respective one of said end panels, each lock panel being formed in two sections connected along a diagonal hinge line, each lock panel terminating in a hook and each of said end panels having a lock notch receiving a respective one of said hooks, said diagonal hinge line forming means for permitting transverse swinging movement of said hook into its respective lock notch after the corresponding closure panel has been moved to a top forming position and after said respective lock panel has been pivoted about the respective one of said transverse hinge lines.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
A box according to claim 1 wherein said lock panel construction together with said diagonal hinge line of each permits tilting of said closure panels while maintaining said hooks in said lock notch.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
A box according to claim 2 wherein said lock panels taper away from the longitudinal axes of respective side panels.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
49 words
A box according to claim 1 wherein each of said side panels has hingedly connected to each end thereof an end panel, said end panels carried by said side panels at each end of said box being in overlapping relation to said end panel carried by said bottom panel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
A box according to claim 1 wherein each of said side panels has hingedly connected to each end thereof an end panel, all of said end panels at each end of said box being in overlapping relation.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
70 words
A box according to claim 1 wherein each of said side panels has hingedly connected to each end thereof an end panel, all of said end panels at each end of said box being in overlapping relation, said end panels having aligned stepped upper edges, said end panels carried by said bottom panel having a locking flap interlocked with the stepped upper edges of the others of said end panels.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
43 words
A box according to claim 4 wherein hinges lines connecting said end panels to said bottom panel and hinge lines connecting said side panels to the latter's end panels are differently spaced along said box to position said end panels for said overlapping.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
A box according to claim 1 wherein said side panels converge from said bottom panel to automatically provide air space between adjacent boxes when stacked.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
43 words
A box according to claim 1 wherein said side panels converge from said bottom panel to automatically provide air space between adjacent boxes when stacked, and there are vent openings formed across the hinge lines between said side panels and said closure panels.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
A box according to claim 1 wherein each of said hook defines a reverse elbow lock.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
A box according to claim 1 wherein each of said lock notches includes a lower detent retaining an associated hook engaged therein.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
A box according to claim 1 wherein there is a corner panel between each side panel and a respective end panel.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
67 words
A box according to claim 1 wherein each of said side panels has hingedly connected to each end thereof an end panel, said end panels carried by said side panels at each end of said box being in overlapping relation to said end panel carried by said bottom panel, said end panel carried by said bottom panel having means for securing all of said end panels together.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
116 words
A box according to claim 1 in which each end panel has remote side edges and wherein said lock notch of each said end panel comprises an opening through a respective side edge of each said end panel connected to each end of said bottom panel, each end panel having remote side edges, a top closure panel hingedly carried by a hinge line by each of said side panels remote from said bottom panel, and a lock panel hingedly carried by each of said closure panels, each lock panel terminating in a hook and each of said end panels having a lock notch opening through a respective side edge receiving a respective one of said hooks.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
113 words
A box, said box formed or stiff, resilient and bendable sheet material, such as corrugated board, comprising a bottom wall and having end panels, side panels and top closure panels with each top closure panel hingedly carried by a respective side panel along a hinge line remote from said bottom wall, and a locking panel hingedly carried at each end of said top closure panels, each locking panel carrying a locking ear hinged along a diagonal hinge line, each locking panel overlying a respective end panel exteriorly of the latter, each locking ear being received in a corresponding locking aperture in its respective end panel to hold the top closure panels in position.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
113 words
A box, said box formed or stiff, resilient and bendable sheet material, such as corrugated board, comprising a bottom wall and having end panels, side panels and top closure panels with each top closure panel hingedly carried by a respective side panel along a hinge line remote from said bottom wall, and a locking panel hingedly carried at each end of said top closure panels, each locking panel carrying a locking ear hinged along a diagonal hinge line, each locking panel overlying a respective end panel exteriorly of the latter, each locking ear being received in a corresponding locking aperture in its respective end panel to hold the top closure panels in position.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
14 words
The box of claim 15 wherein the box is erected from a flattened tube.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
The box of claim 15 wherein the width of each top closure panel is less than half of the width of the box.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
81 words
The box of claim 15 wherein the box is formed from a single blank of generally rectangular form, the blank defined by a plurality of panels hingedly articulated together, the ends of the blank being joined together to thereby form a tube, one end of the tube being closed at one end by interlocking panels to form the bottom wall of the box, and the other end of the tube being closed at its other end by the top closure panels.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
16 words
The box of claim 18 wherein the ends of the blank are overlapped and secured together.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
23 words
The box of claim 15 wherein the width of each top closure panel is no greater than one-half the width of the box.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
19 words
The box of claim 15 wherein there is one of said locking apertures for each of said locking ears.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
32 words
The box of claim 15 wherein there is one of said locking apertures for each of said locking ears, each of said locking apertures having a corner facing the respective locking ear.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
49 words
The box of claim 15 wherein there is one of said locking apertures for each of said locking ears, each of said locking apertures being generally in the shape of a right angle triangle and having the right angle acting as a locking corner facing the respective locking ear.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
26 words
A box according to claim 15 wherein there are vent openings formed across the hinge line between each of said side panels and said closure panels.
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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) | 1989-07-14 | 1990-01-13 | 1990-07-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-07-14 | 1994-01-13 | 1994-07-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-07-14 | 1998-01-13 | 1998-07-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |