Patent Publication Number: US-2017369200-A1

Title: High strength partition box assembly

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/817,121, filed Aug. 3, 2015, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/093,763, filed, Dec. 2, 2013, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Nos. 61/790,931 filed on Mar. 15, 2013, 61/810,057 filed on Apr. 9, 2013 and 61/810,036, filed on Apr. 9, 2013. All of the above applications are incorporated by reference in their entirety as if fully recited herein. 
    
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH 
     Not applicable. 
     BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present disclosure relates generally to paperboard containers, and more particularly to divider box and assembly. 
     Existing divider systems are primarily for providing internal dividers within the box container perimeter. The dividers may be formed of interlocking sheets. The interlocking sheets commonly comprise interior divided cells, and perimeter cells that are open around the perimeter of the divider. Alternatively, interlocking divider partitions do not delineate a complete perimeter cell, but provide for an abbreviated perimeter cell that functions as an air cell around the perimeter of the divider. 
     These perimeter air cells result in a waste of a significant portion of the box container volume, and add weight to the divider system that does not provide for additional item cells. Heavy items carried in the interior cells in such designs may shift and collapse the perimeter air cells, allowing additional shifting of the contents of the box container. Shifting can cause impact damage or lead to the collapse of a stack of box containers. 
     In view of the foregoing, an improved divider box assembly is needed, particularly in improvement in the strength of the box containers to allow for stacking with less risk of collapse. 
     In an embodiment of the invention, a divider box may contain a plurality of individual compartments. Such an embodiment may comprise a series of substantially parallel transverse panels. Each transverse panel having a top edge, a bottom edge, and a pair of side edges. The transverse panels have a series of slots extending from the bottom edge of each transverse panel upwardly. Each transverse panel may have a folded tab at each side edge thereof. The divider box may also include a series of substantially parallel longitudinal panels. Each longitudinal panel has a top edge, a bottom edge, and a pair of side edges. The transverse panels may have one or more slots extending from the top edge of each transverse panel downwardly. The transverse panels and the longitudinal panels may be perpendicularly disposed with the transverse panel slots being placed within the longitudinal panel slots to create a crate of individual compartments. The divider box also has at least a pair of exterior panels. Each exterior panel has a top edge, a bottom edge, and a pair of side edges. The exterior panels may be formed from a material similar to that of the transverse and longitudinal panels or may be formed from a material having a higher resistance to deformation. These exterior panels may surmount the transverse and longitudinal panels, forming an outside surface of the divider box. Each folded transverse panel tab may be joined to the exterior panels. The divider box may also comprise a lid and a bottom tray. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a fuller understanding of the nature and advantages of the present method and process, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a known embodiment of divider box insert; 
         FIG. 2  is an isometric view of an embodiment of the disclosed divider box formed without exterior panels; 
         FIG. 3  is a plan view of a longitudinal panel according to an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a plan view of a transverse panel according to an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 5  is an isometric view of an embodiment of a transverse panel according to an embodiment of the invention showing tabs formed at the ends of said panel; 
         FIG. 6  is an isometric view of an embodiment of the invention without external panels formed from a plurality of longitudinal and transverse panels; 
         FIGS. 7A and 7B  illustrate an embodiment of the invention comprising a divider box and exterior panels; 
         FIG. 8  is an embodiment of the invention shown with a top and bottom cover; and 
         FIG. 9  is an embodiment of the invention illustrating a plurality of divider boxes assembled together with a bottom cover. 
     
    
    
     The drawings will be described in further detail below. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a known embodiment of a divider box. As was described above, such designs require partition sections  10  that extend past the walls of the outer partitions formed by those partition sections. These extensions  12  result in an unused portion of the enclosure. Not only does this reduce the usable space within the divider box, it doesn&#39;t provide any support or strength to the divider box walls. 
     The disclosed divider box assembly may be useful in shipping individual component parts in individual compartments so as to prevent damage by the parts, for example, by bumping against each other during shipment. The disclosed divider box assembly can be shipped in a relatively flat, folded down configuration and then unfolded at the plant for stuffing with parts. The entire volume of the divider box may be used for storing component parts inasmuch as compartments fill the entire interior volume of the divider box. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , a divider box assembly according to an embodiment of the invention  20  may be comprised of a plurality of longitudinal panels  22  and transverse panels  24 .  FIG. 3  illustrates an embodiment of a longitudinal panel  24 . As illustrated, the longitudinal panel comprises a series of slots  30  extending from the bottom of the panel, upward to about half the distance of the panel.  FIG. 4  illustrates an embodiment of a transverse panel  22 . The transverse panel has series of slots extending downward from the top edge of the panel. Referring again to  FIG. 2 , these panels may be placed at right angles to one another and the slots inserted into each other so as to form the divider assembly of  FIG. 2 . As is illustrated in  FIG. 3 , each longitudinal panel may also comprise tabs  32 , formed along bend lines  34  located at the ends of the panel. Similarly, a transverse panel may also comprise tabs  42  located similarly along bend lines  44  at the ends of the panel. Referring to  FIG. 5  which illustrates a transverse panel  22 , the tabs  42  may be bent at an approximately 90 degree angle from the panel. The number of slots ( 30  and  40 ) and the number of longitudinal panels  24  and transverse panels  22  show in the figures references herein is by way of illustration and not intended to be a limitation of the invention. 
     As is illustrated in  FIG. 6 , a divider assembly  50  may be formed from a plurality of longitudinal and transverse panels. As also illustrated an outer partition may be formed by abutting the transverse panel tabs  42  against an adjacent transverse panel bend ling  44 . Tape  52  or a similar material may be used to secure these tabs  42  to the adjacent panel  22 . 
     While the assembly of  FIG. 6  may provide sufficient strength for many applications, additional panels may provide increased strength to resist downward forces that result from stacking or rough handling. Such an embodiment is illustrated in  FIGS. 7A and 7B . As is shown, one or more divider assemblies  600  may be combined with external panels  602 ,  604 ,  606 , and  608  to form a divider box  610 . As is illustrated in  FIG. 7B , such panels ( 602 - 608 ) may be affixed to the outer surfaces of the divider assembly using glue, tape, staples, or similar methods of affixing the external panels to the divider assembly. In certain embodiments of the invention, the external panels may be comprised of high strength materials, including, but not limited to corrugated fiberboard, plastic sheet, corrugated plastic sheet, and wood. 
     Referring to  FIG. 8 , the divider box  610  described above may be combined with a bottom cover  630  and a top cover  640  to produce a complete enclosure. In certain embodiments, the top or bottom cover may be affixed to the divider box to provide additional strength and resistance to deformation of the divider box. 
     In circumstances in which additional structural strength is required, an embodiment of the invention may comprise a plurality of divider boxes  610  formed from divider assemblies  600  and exterior panels ( 602 - 608 ). Such an embodiment is illustrated in  FIG. 9 , where a first divider box  910  and second divider box  920  may be placed on a bottom cover  930  to form a divider box assembly  940 . Such an assembly may be comprised of a number of divider boxes where additional strength may be obtained as the result of the additional strength provided by external panels of each divider box forming internal partitions of the divider box assembly. An example of such an internal partition is shown at  950 . As an example, four divider boxes may combined to produce an additional strength partition between each box. The result may be a divider box assembly that has increased resistance to forces exerted by the stacking of multiple boxes. In such embodiments, the number of longitudinal panels  24  and transverse panels  22  may be reduced to produce fewer compartments  960 . As a result, more divider boxes  902  may be required to produce the same number of compartments. The result would be a greater number of higher strength internal partitions  950  resulting in a divider box assembly  940  that has a much greater resistance to forces exerted by the stacking of divider boxes with a relatively small increase in weight and size of the divider box assembly  940 . 
     Materials of construction for forming the divider boxes can be a paperboard or corrugated paperboard material, such as, for example, cardboard, pasteboard, fiberboard, corrugated plastic sheets, or the like. However, any material having the necessary strength and rigidity for the particular application envisioned is suitable. As to the preferred paperboard materials, it will be appreciated that the wall construction thereof, i.e., single-ply, double-ply, or higher, may be varied depending upon the application. The divider boxes and divider box assemblies will be described in particular reference to the use of corrugated paperboard; however, such description is illustrative and not a limitation on the present disclosure. 
     While the divider boxes have been described with reference to various embodiments, those skilled in the art will understand that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope and essence of the disclosure. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the disclosure without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the divider box not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed. Also, all citations referred herein are expressly incorporated herein by reference.