US2564252A - Box cap - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 14, 1951 A. L. DICKSON, JR

BOX CAP Filed June 14, 1949 FIG.

INVENTOR. ARCH/E L. DIG/(SON, Jfi

A THE/V575 Patented Aug. 14, 1951 UNITED STATES" PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to a box cap and more particularly to a replaceable and removable cap or closure member for cardboard boxes and the like.

It is an object of this invention to provide a box top for cardboard boxes or the like for closing the box when the covers or top walls have been torn or severed therefrom. At the present time certain advertising media is printed on the top walls of cardboard containers of household material as breakfast cereal, baking powder, soap and other materials with the intent being that the purchaser shall remove the cover and return it to the manufacturer as a premium or the like. By severing the top from the containers the material within is subject to be spilled or dried and therefore it is a principal object of this invention to provide a box cap for closing such boxes after the tops have been removed and may be used on other boxes when the contents of the first box have been exhausted.

Another object of this invention is to provide a box cap of the kind to be more particularly described hereinafter which may be made of metal, plastic or other suitable material to fit on cardboard boxes with the top removed to preserve the freshness of the contents, protect the contents from dirt, bugs and the like and provide a handy method of dispensing the contents when and as desired.

With the above and other objects in view, my invention consists in the arrangement, combination and details of construction disclosed in the drawings and specification and then more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

7 Figure l is a top plan view of a box cap, constructed according to an embodiment of this invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the box cap secured on a cardboard box, the cardboard box being shown partly broken away and artly in section.

Figure 3 is a transverse section, taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a transverse section, taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a transverse section, taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a transverse section, taken on the line 66 of Figure 2.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral HI designates generally a removable box cap or cover,

severed from the box and returned to the manufacturer as a premium or the like, the box cap I0 is formed for engagement over the upper open end of the box II after the top wall has been removed therefrom.

The box cap I6 is formed with a horizontal top Wall 12 having a material discharge opening M at one end thereof. By forming the opening M adjacent one end of the top wall l2, a substantial rim or peripheral edge is provided about the aperture or opening M for engagement over the extreme upper edges of the side and end walls of the container or box II. The rim or edge 15 is disposed in the same horizontal plane as the major portion of the top wall l2 and a U-shaped guide channel or guide member I 6 is fixed on the edge l5 about the opening I 4. The channel [6 is substantially L -shaped in configuration, having a vertically extending arm I! and a horizontally extending arm l8, spaced upwardly over the plane of the upper surface it, for receiving thereunder the slidable closure member or door IS. The guide channel It is secured to the rim or edge l5, transversely thereof at one end of the top wall I0 and extends partway along the length of the side edges of the top wall l2, as clearly shown in Figures l and 2 of the drawings. The transverse portion of the guide channel l6 including the vertical arm I! and the horizontal arm !8 are continued about the side edges of the opening l4 and the guide channel is open on the opposite end, from the transverse portion at one end of the wall l2 for slidably receiving thereunder the cover or door IS.

The door I9 is slidably engaged under the side channel member l6 and slidable over the major portion of the top wall !2 adjacent the guide channel terminal ends. An upwardly extending lug 20 is fixed to or formed integral with one end of the door [9 forming a handle or finger grip to effect the sliding movement of the door and an upwardly extending stop means or element 2| is fixed on the top wall l2, adjacent the end opposite from the opening 14 for limiting the sliding movement of the door 29 to the open position. The upwardly extending arm ll of the transverse guide member H5, at the other end of the top wall l2 constitutes another stop element for limiting the sliding movement of the door I9 to the closed position, the horizontal bar I8.of the transverse guide channel It overlying the extreme end of the door IS in its aperture closing position, as clearly shown in Figures 1 and 3 of the drawings.

A depending outer Wall 24 is fixedto or formed integral with one end of the top wall l2 and a similar depending end wall 25 is fixed to the other end of the top wall. The outer walls 24 and 25 are connected together by longitudinally extending outer side walls 26 and 2 The top Wall l2, end walls 25 and 25, and side walls 26 and 2'! form a first casing having one end closed and the other end open. The outer end and side walls are adapted to be engaged in sliding engagement with the .outer surface of the side and end walls of the cardboard icontainer II, as clearly shown in Figure 3 of the drawings.

An inner end wall 28 is fixed to or formed integral with the top wall I2, adjacent one end thereof, spaced inwardly from the outer end wall 24 and a similar end wall 29 is fixed to the opposite end of the top wall I2 inwardly of the-outer end wall 25. The inner end walls =28-and;29--are connected together by longitudinally extending side walls 30 and 3| which depend fromt'he-top wall I2 and are spaced inwardly from the respective outer side wallsi 2.6iand 2 I. The end walls 28 'andlz'e and side walls -3Dand 3| form asecon'd casing having both ends'o'pen. .The sidetand= end walls of the box or container II are adaptedto be telescopically received in the space between the inner and outer walls of the cap'IIl,'as clearly shown in Figure 3 of the drawings.

For securely clamping'the cardboard-walls f the box l'I 'within'the cap IB, inwardly extending, resilient, tangs or clamping elements '32 are struck inwardly from "the outer side "walls '26 and 21, spaced apart along the length thereof. In the ncrmalposition of .the clamping elements or tangsfSZ, the upper'edges ofthe tangs are biased into clamping engagement with the inner side walls 30 andSI, 'as clearly shown in Fig ure S4 of the-drawings. When the-side walls of the cardboard 'box II are received between the inner and outer walls of the cap it, the inwardly biased tangs 32 will bear against the outer surface of the cardboard walls of the box II for pressing the walls of the box into clamping engagement with the inner walls of the cap H].

For reinforcing the inner side walls dilandii! against the tension ofthe spring pressed clamping elementsl32, a triangular bracing web 34 is fixed'between the lower surface of the top wall I2 and the inside surface of the inner wall '30, intermediate the length thereof. Asimilar triangular reinforcing web I'35'iS 'fixed on the other side of thetop wall I2, depending therefrom and in engagement with the inside surface of the other innerside wallBLas clearly shown in Figure 5 of the drawings. The reinforcing webs 34 'and 35 stabilize the inner side walls 30 and SI when the side walls of the container II are pressed inwardly against the outer surface of the inner side walls Siland 3i by the spring pressed clamping elements 32.

In the use and operation of the removable box cap Ill, when the top wall has been removed from the cardboard box'll, the box cap I0 is slidably engaged on the box II by the telescopic'engagement of the side and end walls of the box I! between the inner and outer side and-end walls of the cap I6. The clamping elements 32, of the outer side walls 25 and 21 clampingly engage the side walls of the cardboard box against the inner walls 30 and '3I of the cap I'D. The closure member 20 will normally be in its closed position, as clearly shown in'Figure 3 of the drawings, and for dispensing the material from the container or box II the closure member 20 may be slidably moved out of engagement with the transverse guide channel I6 and outwardly through the longitudinally extending side guide channels I6 for engaging the other end of the door I9 with the stop element 2|, whereupon the opening I4 is opened for dispensing the material from the container II. With-the closure mem- 4 her 20 in its closed position, the material within the box I I is tightly or sealingly contained within the box II so that the material is held free from the deteriorating effectscf moisture, dirt, insectsor other material which-is-normally excluded from the contents of such containers.

I do not mean to confine myself to the exact details of construction herein disclosed, but claim all variations falling within the purview of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

.1. :A removable box cap for an open topped box comprising a first casing closed at one end and open at the other end, the casing being adapted to be arranged so that its open end embraces the open toppedboxand is supported *on'the :open topped box by'its closed 'end thereofga second casing open at both=endsipositioned-within-said first casing and having one of its open ends dependingly secured to the under surface of *the closed end of saidfirst casing/said second casing'being spaced from said first casing to thereby form a space therebetween for receiving theportionof the'wall of-said box adjacent its opentop, the closed end in said firstcasingbeing-provided with a longitudinally extending opening adjacent one end thereof, a closure member arranged over said opening in said closed end and mountedron said closed end for sliding movementtowar'dan'd away from said opening, and a plurality ofresilient tongs projecting inwardly from "said first casing intermediate its closed andopen ends and engageable with the portion-of the wallzofsaid box when the latter is positionedwithinthespace intermediate said first and I second casings.

2. A removable box cap for an open topped box comprising a first casing closed-atoneendand open at the other end, the casing'being adapted to be arranged so that its-open-end embrace the open topped box-and is supported on the-open topped box by its 'closed end thereof, a second casingopen at both ends positioned within said first casing and having one of its open:ends.de pendingly secured to the under surface of the closed end of said first casing, said secondcasing being spaced from said first casing to thereby form a space therebetween for receivingtheportion of the wall of saidbox adjacentits open top, the closed end-insaidfirstcasing beingprovided witha longitudinally extending opening adjacent one end thereof, a closure member arranged over said opening in said closed .end .and mounted on said closed .end for. slidingmovementtoward and away from said opening, stop means projecting from the. upper .face ofrthe closed end of said first casing. adj acent .to and spaced from the other end thereof for limiting the sliding movement of said closure member away from said opening, and a plurality of resilient tongs projecting inwardly from said first casing intermediate its closed and open .endsand engageable with'the portion o'flthe wall of said box when the latter is positioned within theIspace intermediate said first and second casings.

.ARCI-IIE L. .DICKSON, JR.

REFERENCES 'CITED The following references are of record inthe file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 'Burgener Eeb. -11, '1936

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