US2998181A - Expandable container - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 29, 1961 E. T. CHASOLEN EXPANDABLE CONTAINER 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 31, 1959 FIG. I

INVENTOR. Edward 7. Chasofen romvsv Aug. 29, 1961 E. T. CHASOLEN EXPANDABLE CONTAINER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 31, 1959 INVENTOR. Edward 7. Chase/en ATTORNEY Aug. 29, 1961 E. T. CHASOLEN BLE CONTAINER 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug. 31, 1959 IN VEN TOR.

M ro/ un United States Fatent O i 2,998,181 EXPANDAB'IJE CONTAINER Edward T. Chasolen, 29 Washington Place, Ridgewood, NJ.

Filed Aug. 31, 1959, Ser. No. 837,122 6 Claims. (Cl. 229-52) My invention relates to containers and is directed particularly to an improved household container for shopping and the like purposes which can readily be expanded for carrying additional articles, as may be required, for example, as shopping progresses.

The principal object of my invention is to provide an expandable container of the above nature comprising a plurality of container body members, each having a pair of side handles, the side handles of each body member being so formed and placed that when the body members are arranged in vertically-stacked relation, the side handles can be interlocked by interlooping to secure the body members in their stacked or unitized relation, thus providing a unitary expanded container.

Another object of my invention is to provide an expandable container of the character described which comprises a plurality of body members in the form of an open box, each of which is an individual container, and a plurality of body members in the form of a sleeve, open at the bottom for increasing the depth of a box member, whereby a composite container having individual partitioned portions combined with expanded box portions as may be required can be assembled by selectively stacking or unitizing the box and sleeve members.

Another object of my invention is to provide an expandable container of the character described, the basic capacity of which will be multiplied by the number of unitized box or sleeve members.

Still another object of my invention is to provide an expandable container of the above nature, the elements of which can either be folded flat or compactly nested for convenient storage when not in use or for transportation.

Yet another object of my invention is to provide an expandable container of the above nature which can be inexpensively made of cardboard, synthetic plastic, metal, paper, fiberboard, reinforced netting or even wood, or any other adaptable material, depending upon the intended purpose.

Other objects, features and advantages of my invention will be apparent from the following description when read with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote corresponding parts throughout the several views:

FIG. 1 illustrates a blank for forming a basic container unit according to the invention,

FIG. 2 illustrates in perspective the blank of FIG. 1 set up to form a basic container, and the handles applied thereto,

FIG. 3 illustrates, in perspective, how the basic container of FIG. 2 can be compactly folded for storage or transportation,

FIG. 4 illustrates a blank for forming a basic sleeve insert according to the invention,

FIG. 5 illustrates in perspective the blank of FIG. 4 set up to form the basic sleeve insert, and the handles applied thereto,

FIG. 6 illustrates, in perspective, how the basic container of FIG. 5 can be compactly folded for storage or transportation,

FIG. 7 illustrates, in perspective, how a basic container unit and a sleeve insert interfit and interlock in stacked or unitized relation to provide an expanded container of double capacity,

FIG. 8 illustrates, in side elevation, how a sleeve insert can be interlocked between two basic container Patented Aug. 29, 1961 2. units to provide a partitioned or compartmented expanded container of triple capacity, the top of one of said basic container units having a cover,

FIG. 9 is a vertical cross-sectional view, taken along the line 9-9 of FIG. 8 in the direction of the arrows, on an enlarged scale, illustrating the interlocking of the handles,

FIG. 10 illustrates, in perspective, a second form of the invention wherein the basic container unit is integrally moulded of synthetic plastic material,

FIG. 11 illustrates, in perspective, the second form of the invention wherein the sleeve insert is integrally moulded of synthetic plastic material,

FIG. 12 illustrates how the tapering sides of the second form of basic container unit shown in FIG. 10 allow compact nesting for storage or transportation purposes, and

FIG. 13 illustrates how the tapering sides of the sec ond form of sleeve insert shown in FIG. 11 allow compact nesting for storage or transportation purposes.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote corresponding parts throughout the several views, 10 in FIG. 1 designates, generally, a blank, which may be of cardboard, for example, from which a container unit is formed. The blank 10 is rectangular in shape and scored along a horizontal dotted line 11 and vertical dotted lines 12, and cut along vertical lines 13 continuous with the score lines 12 to provide side panels 14, end panels 15 and bottom panels 16 and 17 when the blank 10 is folded and set up to provide a container unit 18 as illustrated in FIG. 2. The folded-in bottom panels 16 and 17 can be stapled or glued or otherwise secured together to provide a firm bottom wall. The abutting vertical ends of the terminal side panel 14 and end panel 15 can be secured together by a glued strip 9 (illustrated) or any other convenient flexible connecting means.

The container unit 18 is provided with a pair of upwardly-extending side handles 19 which may, as illustrated in FIG. 2, take the form of a semi-rigid loop which extends down along one side of panel 14, under the bottom of the container unit, and up along the opposite side panel 14 for maximum supporting strength. The handles 19 preferably are formed with horizontal outer end portions 20 and slightly inwardly converging side portions 21. For the purpose hereinafter more fully apparent, the distance between the upper edge of a side panel 14 and the inner edge of horizontal outer end portion 20 of its handle 19 is greater than the height of said side panel. As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the end panels 15 are obliquely outwardly scored from the center point of their top edges, as indicated by dotted lines 22, to allow in ward folding of said end panels for compactly folding a set-up container unit 18, as illustrated in FIG. 3, for storage or transportation.

Reference numeral 23 in FIG. 4 designates, generally, a blank, also preferably of cardboard or a similar foldable material, from which a sleeve insert 24 (FIG. 5) can be formed, the same being generally rectangular in shape and provided with vertical score lines 24a defining side wall panels 25 and end wall panels 26. Marginal portions of the lower ends of the end wall panels 26 are cut out, as indicated at 27, to provide marginal tab portions 28 at the lower ends of the side wall panels 25, for thedescribed above. The height ofthe side wall panels 25.

of the sleeve insert unit 24 is preferably slightly less than twice the height ofits companion container unit 18, while the height of the handles 19 will be the same as those of said container unit.

As illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5 the end wall panels 26 of the blank 23 or sleeve insert 24 are centrally vertically scored, as indicated at 29, to allow outward folding of said end wall panels for compactly folding a set-up sleeve insert unit 24, as illustrated in FIG. 6, for storage or transportation. 7

FIG. 7 illustrates, by way of example, how a sleeve insert unit 24 can be combined or unitized with a basic container unit 18 to provide a single expanded container of twice the carrying capacity of the container unit 18. This is accomplished merely by inserting the sleeve insert 24 within the container unit 18 and interlinking the adjacent handles 19 by slipping the upper handles through the lower handles. The tab portions 28 of the side wall panels 25, which are beveled at their ends as indicated at 28a, facilitate insertion of the sleeve insert 24 within the container unit 18. Since, as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 6, respectively, the score lines 22 of the container unit 18 bend inwardly and the score lines 29 of the sleeve insert member 24 bend outwardly, the end walls of said sleeve insert member will fit tightly against the end walls of said container unit.

FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate how two or more container units 18 having top portions 14a can be combined or unitized with an intermediate sleeve insert member 24 to provide an expanded container of triple the capacity of a single container unit 18. Since a container unit 18 is used as the top expansion member, its bottom wall formed by its bottom panels 16, 17 provides a partition separating the upper and lower holding space of the unitized container, which is an advantage when it is desired to separate some articles, which may be more fragile, for example, from the weight of the articles above. It will be understood, of course, that merely a succession of sleeve insert members 24 could be used above a single con tainer unit 18 to provide a unitized expanded container having a single deep holding compartment.

FIG. illustrates a modificationof the invention wherein a container unit 30, instead of being fabricated of bent cardboard or the like as hereinabove described, is integrally moulded with handles 31 of a synthetic plastic material, such as polyethelene. In this form of the invention, the side walls 32 and the ends walls 33 are slightly inwardly sloped from top to bottom to allow nesting as illustrated in FIG. 12 for convenient storage and shipping.

FIG. 11 similarly illustrates in the second form of my invention -how the sleeve insert members 34 can be integrally moulded with handles 31 and with tapering side walls 35 and end Walls 36 to allow nesting as illustrated in FIG. 13 for convenient storage and shipping.

One important feature of my improved expandable container resides in its time and money saving features when used in supermarket shopping. For example, under the present check out system the procedure is as follows:

lstShopper places her selected purchases in a shopping cart. (First handling of each item.)

2nd-Shopper, after completion of her shopping, unloads her purchases onto the check-out counter. (Second handling of each item.)

3rdThe Checker Then RingsU'p each item on the cash register. (Third handling of each item.)

4thThe Packer then packs. the order for take-out. (Fourth handling of each item.)

Summary: During the present cheek-out system, each item is handled no less than four difierent times by at least two different persons in a slow, time-consuming procedure that often becomes bottle-necked during rush periods. Considerable damage is often done to fragile merchandise by over-handling.

With the use of my improved expandable container, hereinbelow referred to as a Boxket, the procedure is asafollowsz lst.. Shopper places her selected: purchases in aBoxket 4 in a shopping cart, with the price facing up and exposed for easy reading at check-out. (First handling of each item.)

2nd-Shopper, after completion of her shopping, unloads her purchases onto the check-out counter by Lifting Each Loaded Boxket by its Handles. This simplifies and speeds up the unloading of the cart and eliminates the Second item by item handling by the shopper required in the 2nd step in the present system.

3rd-The Checker then rings up each item by simply reading the exposed prices on the merchandise packed in the Boxket. This is done with a minimum of handling and eliminates the Third handling as required in the present system (step 3).

4th-The Packer will no longer be needed. The purchases were packed in the Boxket by the Shopper at the time of selection and are ready to be carried out as soon as the last item has been checked, totaled and paid for. Little further packing will be necessary.

Advantages of improved check-out system over present system (1) 75% less item by item handling (2nd, 3rd and 4th steps above).

(2) Simplified unloading of cart (2nd step above), a great labor saver for the shopper.

4thThe Packer will no longer be needed. The purchases will be well grouped by the shopper at time of selection, and will remain that way with price exposed for rapid check-out.

(4) Elimination of Packer and Packing will reduce check-out time by 50% or more.

(5) Ease of Carry-Out. Boxkets are readily expandable and easily unitized. Carry-out will be by the handles, like a shopping bag, and carrying of paper bags in ones arms against neat clothes will no longer be necessary.

(6) Stability of the Boxket eliminates the possibilityof its becoming upset in the car while in transit, or at home after unloading from the car.

(7) Reduced handling and more efficient packing will result in improved quality of merchandise for the shopper.

(8) By eliminating about 75% of the handling and packing as outlined above, the efiiciency of the Boxket Check-Out Line Will Be 75 to greater than the. present check-out line.

(9) This Is Possible With a Minimum of Expense or Alteration of the Present Check-Out Set-Up and Will Re-' suit in Greater Volume Capacity With the Same or Smaller Personnel Complement.

While I have shown and described particular embodiments of my invention, it will occur to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention. I therefore aim in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim is:

1. An expandable container assembly comprising a plurality of box-like members each having a bottom, end walls and side walls, and an inverted U-shaped handle of semi-rigid material extending upwardly from each of a pair of opposed walls, the handles of any one of said boxlike members being sufliciently flexible to be passed in interlinking relation through the corresponding handles of any other one of said box-like members when said other box-like member is positioned above said one box-like member, the height of said handles being approximately equal to the height of said end and side walls, whereby the bottoms of superposed box-like members serve as closures for their immediately underlying box-like members in said container assembly.

2. An assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein apair of downwardly converging side portions,

3. An assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein the side and end walls are downwardly convergent.

4. An expandable container assembly comprising a plurality of units, certain units comprising box-like members each having a bottom, end walls and side walls, and an inverted U-shaped handle of semi-rigid material extending upwardly from each of a pair of opposed walls, and certain units being sleeves having side walls and end Walls, and an inverted U-shaped handle of semi-rigid material extending upwardly from each of a pair of opposed walls, the handles of any one of said units being sufiiciently flexible to be passed in interlocking relation through the corresponding handles of any other unit, the height of said handles being approximately equal to the height of said side and end walls, whereby said handles when interlocked will limit relative telescopic movements of the nested units upwardly beyond the rim of the immediately underlying units.

5. An assembly in accordance with claim 4 wherein the walls of all of said units converge downwardly.

6. An assembly in accordance with claim 4 wherein each of said handles comprises a horizontal portion and a pair of downwardly converging side portions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,942,771 Phillips Jan. 9, 1934 1,957,099 Deubener May 1, 1934 2,307,659 Avery Ian. 5, 1943 2,866,575 Lattuca Dec. 30, 1958

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