Patent Publication Number: US-2003222129-A1

Title: Container adhered partition and method of assembly

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] This invention relates to a partition adhered within a container, and which can be fabricated and assembled when the container is initially constructed in the blank form, have the partition applied to it, and having relative dimensions that allows for the partition to either expand into an erected bottle or can holding position, within the container, when readied for usage, or the container and its adhered partition can be collapsed, into the flattened configuration, to facilitate its shipment and storage, in preparation for usage.  
       [0002] Numerous containers have been fabricated in the prior art. Many containers containing partitions, have likewise been assembled in the prior art. The current invention is designed to provide for the adherence of a partition, within a container, as soon as the container has been fabricated in the blank form, or shortly thereafter, the container then being folded into the tubular form, having its manufacturer&#39;s joint adhered to the opposite wall, so that the container can remain in the flattened form, incorporating its collapsed partition, to facilitate its shipment or storage, and then set up upon the assembly line and erected for reception of any bottles, cans, or other receptacles, during usage of the container, in preparing the beverage, or other product, for shipment.  
       [0003] Examples of various styles of partitioned containers, can be readily seen in the prior art, such as in the U.S. Pat. No. 930,835, to Brown, wherein the container and its unique partition can be folded, upon itself, during collapsing.  
       [0004] The U.S. Pat. No. 2,549,800, to George, shows a collapsible container with cellular partition unit. As noted, it provides a collapsible container and partition unit, for shipment or storage. The small tabs provided upon the partition provide for adherence of the partition to the walls of the container, to allow for the preparation of the collapsible container with its cellular partition unit.  
       [0005] Another U.S. Pat. No. 2,549,801, to George, shows a collapsible container partition and liner unit, having a unique style of partition formed of various segments and interadhering tabs, that appear to be interdigitated, to afford collapsing of its partition.  
       [0006] The U.S. Pat. No. 2,617,576, to Bergstein, shows a prelined container having multiple cells. The fabrication of this particular container is such that when it is formed, it integrally has a series of interior cells, as can be noted, which apparently can collapse with the container during usage.  
       [0007] The U.S. Pat. No. 2,706,935, to Pasjack, shows another carton and method of making and assembling the same. The carton likewise has a series of filler strips, contained therein, and which apparently are adhered by means of adhesive areas, to the carton walls, so that the entire carton can be collapsed, as when not in use.  
       [0008] The U.S. Pat. No. 3,580,471, to Burke, shows a collapsible cellular box with partitions. The entire unit, when assembled and erected, can be collapsed.  
       [0009] The U.S. Pat. No. 3,843,039, to Brown, et al, shows another type of container partition, where the entire partition and container can be collapsed. One may note that the tabs are adhered to the interior walls of the container.  
       [0010] The U.S. Pat. No. 4,756,469, to Hansen, shows another multi-compartment container. This particular container, is of a very specific configuration, and while its partitions may be collapsed, the exact configuration for the collapsible multi-cell carton, is what is covered by this patent.  
       [0011] The U.S. Pat. No. 4,951,867, to McManus, shows another folding separator. While this separator is formed of a series of flaps, for forming a collapsed container structure, and having interior tabs as noted, which may be glued along their strips to the interior walls of the flaps, the subject matter of this patent relates really to the cut-out portions for its walls, which is unrelated to the subject matter of this current invention.  
       [0012] The U.S. Pat. No. 5,167,363, to Adkinson, et al, shows a collapsible storage pen. The collapsible container of this pen, primarily relates to an interior divider wall which has particular dimensions such that when the pen is collapsed, it has a length no longer than its longest wall segment.  
       [0013] Finally, the U.S. Pat. No. 5,670,220, to Skoien, is upon an insulating batt. While this batt may be collapsed, it is generally unrelated to a partitioned carton.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0014] This invention contemplates the formation of a container, of the usual style, having four wall, bottom flaps, top closure flaps, and includes a partition provided therein, which is adhered by adhesive tabs to opposite interior walls of the container, such that when the container is collapsed, the partition will have dimensions that accommodate its simultaneous collapse, so that both may be arranged in the flattened configuration, to facilitate the storage and shipment of the partitioned containers, in preparation for usage. But, when the containers are erected, the partition self erects with it, on the processing line, so that other cans, bottles, or other cartons may be located within the partitioned container, for shipment. In addition, the method of this invention is to provide a container, which in the blank form, has a partition positioned precisely upon its intended interior walls, so that in the method of fabricating the container, and folding its walls into the tubular form, the partition becomes adhered by means of its adhesive tabs to opposite interior walls of the container, to form a folded container blank having a self-erecting partition therein, such that when the container is processed into an opened and product receiving condition, the partition is readily aligned and maintained within the container for reception of other product.  
       [0015] It is, therefore, the principal object of this invention is to provide a container adhered partition and method of its assembly.  
       [0016] Still another object of this invention is to provide a partition wherein its gluing areas are readily positionable relative to the interior walls of a container blank, so that when the container is folded into the tubular format, the partition becomes immediately adhered therein, and can be maintained with the container in the collapsed form, or folded into its erected and usable condition.  
       [0017] These and other objects may become more apparent to those skilled in the art upon review of the invention as summarized herein, and upon undertaking a study of the description of its preferred embodiment, in view of the drawings. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0018] In referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows an isometric of the container adhered to the partition of this invention;  
     [0019]FIG. 2 is a top plan view thereof;  
     [0020]FIG. 3 shows the container in the blank form, and having the partition arranged therein and ready for its adherence to the interior walls of the container blank in preparation for its folding into the tubular configuration; and  
     [0021]FIG. 4 shows the container blank and its partition during their assembly into the tubular form. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
     [0022] As can be seen in FIG. 1 of the drawings, the container  1  of this invention includes the usual side walls  2  and  3 , end walls  4  and  5 , and each wall having a pivotally connecting flange, as can be seen at  6  and  7 , which form bottom closure for the container. Upper flaps  8 ,  9 ,  10  and  11  form closure to the top of the container, after it has been filled and ladened with product. These types of products may be bottles, cans, or other prepackaged goods, that will fit within the various cells  12  of the partition  13 , as noted.  
     [0023] The partition includes longitudinal partitions  14  and  15 , in addition to interconnecting transverse partitions  16 ,  17 , and  18 . The longitudinal partitions include glue tabs, as at  19 , which adhere the partition to the opposite end walls  4  and  5  of the container, when it is erected. It is just as likely that such type adhesive tabs may also connect, in lieu of what is shown and described herein, to the opposite ends of the transverse partitions  16  through  18 , and adhere to their respective, contiguous side walls  2  and  3 , as can be understood. The adhesive tabs  19 , provided at the ends of the longitudinal panels of the partition, can be seen in FIG. 2. In addition, the manufacturer&#39;s joint  20  that connects the panels of the container into closure, providing the tubular form, can also be seen in FIG. 2.  
     [0024] It is essential that the dimensions of the partition  13 , and specifically its various longitudinal panels  14  and  15 , in addition to the transverse partition panels  16  through  18 , have relative dimensions that allow for them to be adhered to select walls of the container, as explained and noted, but at the same time, have adequate arrangement relative to the size of the partition panels, and their interconnection, so as to allow the container, and its partition in the nonusable form, to be arranged in a flattened configuration, so that the entire container, once assembled, can be maintained in the flattened form, to facilitate its storage, and shipment, in preparation for usage, or to allow it to be knocked down, after usage, for return for reusage, or to the recycler.  
     [0025] Thus, the method of assembly of this container adhered partition, is also of concern, since the partition may be assembled into the carton after it is formed into the blank configuration, the partition precisely located in place, as the container is then folded into its tubular configuration, but yet remaining collapsed, in preparation for its subsequent usage. This type of processing can be performed either at the box board plant, when the container is initially cut into the blank form, its partition brought into position for adherence, while the container is being formed into its flattened or collapsed tubular condition.  
     [0026] Or, it may be likely that the box board manufacturer may ship the carton blanks, and the collapsed partitions, to the packager, and in the assembly line where packaging takes place, may initially provide means for locating, and conveyance, of the container blank, in the blank form, and have machinery process and locate the collapsed partition into a precise location upon the container blank, fold the various walls of the container into the tubular form, while simultaneously adhering the partition adhesive tabs in place at precise locations upon the interior walls of the container, fold the container walls into the tubular form, fold the bottom flaps into closure, and then further shift the erecting container into position for reception of other packaged goods, for preparation for shipment of product to the warehouse, or other market place.  
     [0027] Obviously, to allow for this type packaging assembly and forming procedures to occur, as previously explained, the partition must be fabricated in the manner that allows for its folding, or collapsing, into the flattened configuration, or locating and adherence to select points of the interior walls of the container blank, and which will also accommodate the erecting of the container and its partition into its usable position and configuration, ready for receiving other packaged goods, being erected into the position as can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2 of this disclosure.  
     [0028] As can be seen in FIG. 3, the container blank  21  will be rested upon packaging processing machinery (not shown), in its blank configuration. Its manufacturer&#39;s joint or glue flap  20  will be arranged at one end, connecting with one of the container walls, such as the container wall  3 , while the opposite container end wall  5  may have an adhesive applied thereto, or such adhesive may be applied to the manufacturer&#39;s joint  20 , in a manner customarily known and applied in the art. Then, the collapsed partition  13  will be brought into precise registration and location upon the container blank  21 , and more specifically the adhesive tab  19 , with its adhesive applied thereto, will be brought to contact with the interior surface of the end wall  4 , to provide for a precise locating of the partition in place initially upon the interior surface of the container blank, during its assembly with the container.  
     [0029] At this time, the opposite end wall  5  will be folded over into proximity upon the opposite end of the partition  13 , to provide for an adherence of the opposite adhesive tabs  19  of the partition precisely to the interior surface of the end wall  5 , and provide for a fully adhered connection of the partition within the forming container, during its assembly. Finally, the opposite wall  3  will be folded over to provide for adherence of its manufacturer&#39;s joint  20 , upon the opposite approximate end edge  22 , or its applied adhesive, to furnish a closure connection to the container, in its flattened configuration, with its internal partition, into the tubular form. Thus, when fabricated in this manner, the partitioned container will be in the flattened or collapsed configuration, ready for shipment or storage as desired.  
     [0030] Or, the various carton blanks, as shown in FIG. 3, as at  21 , along with collapsed but separate partitions  13 , can be shipped to the user, and assembled directly upon the processing machinery that eventually adds the packaged goods into the formed container adhered partition, having the partition positioned upon the blank during its folding, and then erected for the insertion of bottles or cans therein, once again, for shipment or warehousing. These are examples of the versatility of the usage of the container adhered partition, of this invention, and how it can be formed, and readied for assembly, and immediate usage for packaging.  
     [0031] Variations or modifications to the subject matter of this invention may occur to those skilled in the art upon reviewing the concept of the invention as provided herein. Such variations or modifications, if obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, are intended to be encompassed within the scope of the invention as described herein. The description of the preferred embodiment as provided is done so for illustrative purposes only.