Abstract:
Separator means for a shipping container formed from a single paperboard blank having a pattern of cut, fold and perforation lines such that the walls are reinforced to withstand side loads and the interior packing space is divided by dividers of different sizes and shapes which can be assembled in multi-configuration arrangements to provide separate packing cells of selected dimensions as needed for the particular articles to be shipped.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     It has been common to provide a shipping container with dividers for forming individual packaging cells but where reinforcement of the side walls was involved separate elements were needed and in some cases the arrangement was such that the parts could be assembled in only one configuration from a single blank. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention provides a packaging system including a separator which when set up provides reinforced side walls, does not require any form of fastener, has no waste, and which though formed from a single uniform shaped blank with divider means integral therewith, can be assembled by the packer in a number of configurations to provide individual article receiving cells for receiving fragile articles of widely different sizes and shapes. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Referring to the drawings, 
     FIG. 1 is an end view of the finished shipping container showing one configuration of the separators; 
     FIG. 2 is a view of the blank from which the separators and the dividers as well as the floor panels are formed; 
     FIG. 3 is a view showing the main body portion in flat form; 
     FIG. 4 is a view showing the main body portion folded upon itself; 
     FIG. 5 is a plan view of the main body portion in partially erected condition; 
     FIG. 6 is a view in perspective of the main body portion in fully erected condition; 
     FIG. 7 is a broken detail view showing the hinge and reinforcing arrangement of the main body portion; 
     FIG. 8 is a view of the separator with the dividers arranged in one configuration; 
     FIG. 9 is a view of the separator and dividers arranged in a different configuration; 
     FIG. 10 is a view in section on line 10--10 of FIG. 9; 
     FIG. 11 is a view showing that the separator and dividers can also be assembled and used in inverted position; 
     FIGS. 12A through D are plan views looking down upon the separator with a series of different divider configurations; 
     FIG. 13 is a view of the dividers and floor panel section as removed from the right-hand side of the blank; 
     FIG. 14 is a perspective view of one arrangement of dividers on a floor panel 38; 
     FIG. 15 is a view of a different divider arrangement. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     A conventional paperboard container 10 is rectangular in form having, for example, dimensions of 18 inches by 18 inches by 30 inches. In this view there is shown an arrangement of a tall separator 11 on top of which is a short divider 12 and on top of that is a second tall separator section 13. It will be quite evident that this provides for the short separator 12 to be in the middle as shown, above the lower tall separator 11, or below the upper tall separator 13, as may be found most suitable and convenient by the packer. It will be understood that two identical blanks as shown in FIG. 2 will provide all the necessary separators and dividers for making up the complete packaging system in any desired configuration as described. 
     Referring to FIG. 2 the shape of the blank 14 for forming the separator and all dividers both short and tall is illustrated together with typical dimensions of each section to provide for completing any of the three arrangements described immediately above. The main body portion of the separator is shown in FIG. 3 comprising a rectangular section 15 forming part of blank 14 and having a central cut line 16 extending toward but terminating short of the ends of the blank to leave outer hinge areas 17. To facilitate bending, a short cut line 18 between the two hinge areas 17 may be provided. The main body portion has fold lines 20 on opposite sides of and extending in opposite directions from the cut 16 which define narrow reinforcing panels 21 on opposite sides of and extending oppositely from the cut line 16. The main body portion has additional fold lines 22 on opposite sides of the cut line which define symmetrically arranged side wall panels 24 and end wall panels 25 on opposite sides of the cut line. 
     Referring again to FIG. 2, in addition to main body portion 15 there is a perforation line 30 along one side of the main body portion and a similar perforation line 31 along an end at right-angles to the first edge of the main body portion. A perforation line 32 defines two tall divider panels 33 while perforation lines 35, 36 define two short divider panels 37 at the corners of the blank with a floor panel 38 therebetween. It will be understood that these perforation lines provide for folding each section upon itself or separating one portion from the other to obtain the particular configuration desired. Each of the side wall panels 24 is provided with a pattern of slots 40, preferably three in number, while tall divider panels 33 have long slots 41, again preferably three in number, and short divider panels 37 have a pattern of a long slot 44 and two short slots 45. 
     The first step in assembling is to break off the divider panels from the main body portion along perforation lines 30 and 31. This leaves the main body portion in the form illustrated in FIG. 3. The next step then is to fold the main body portion upon itself along cut line 16 and fold lines 17 thus producing the folded main body in the shape shown in FIG. 4. When this shape is partially erected it appears as shown in FIG. 5, the erection then being completed to result in the shape shown in FIG. 6 where it is fully erected. At this point, and by reference to FIG. 7, it can be seen that the hinges 17 provide for each reinforcing panel 21 to be in face-to-face contact with its adjacent end wall panel 25, this position being self-locking without the need for fasteners by reason of the frictional engagement of the reinforcing panels 21 with the side wall panels 24. It has been found that this reinforcement, providing a double wall thickness at the opposite diagonal corners of the separator, provides substantial strength against loads applied to the side of the container such that the container lying on its side will easily support the weight of a person. 
     FIG. 8 shows a configuration of a tall divider panel 33 with its slot 41 interfitting with the slots 40 of the two side wall panels 24 and with another intermediate tall divider panel 33. This configuration provides four narrow cells 50 and four longer cells 51. 
     FIGS. 9 and 10 show another configuration using two short dividers 37 and two tall dividers 33 forming a useful pattern of large and small cells. 
     It will be apparent from FIG. 11 that the separator and dividers can be inverted to provide appropriate configurations as may be desired. 
     From the above it will be apparent that by using a single form of blank having the fold and perforation lines as described above, a packaging system is provided so that the packer can assemble the parts into many configurations to provide cells for protecting articles of widely differing sizes and shapes, and without the need for additional packing or dividers beyond those available from the two full blanks as shown in FIG. 2. The packer has complete flexibility while at the same time being assured that each package will be properly reinforced can be assembled without the need for tools or fasteners, entails essentially no waste, and requires no supply of auxiliary packing material beyond that available from the blanks themselves. 
     While the articles herein described constitute preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to these precise articles, and that changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention which is defined in the appended claims.