Improvements in Folding Boxes.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Feb., 1895-Accepted, 13th Apr., 1895
Toronto, Province of Ontario, Dominion of Canada.]
Improvements in Folding Boxes.
1, WILLIAM HUMPHREY WHEATLEY of the Firm of Wheatley & Mackenzie
Engineers and Patent Agents, of 40 Chancery Lane, in the County of London,
do hereby declare the nature of this. invention and in what inanner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
This invention has particular relation to folding boxes of the class known to the
trade as "containers or "telescoping" boxes the same being used commonly for
marketing hardware, confectionery and numerous other like articles.
The blanks from which such boxes are formed are usually packed, and shipped
to the user, flat; that is to say in the exact form in which said blanks are delivered
by the cutting and scoring dies, thus reducing freight charges to a minimum and
making it possible to pack a great number of such blanks in the same space
required for a few folded or "set up" boxes of the same class.
It is particularly desirable in such boxes that economy of cardboard stock shall
be considered, also that the box, when folded or "set up," shall combine great
strength with a pleasing outward appearance and these desiderata have been
specially in mind when producing the present invention.
To aid in explaining this invention the annexed sheet of drawings has been
provided in which
Figure 1 is a plan view of the blank from which the box may be formed by
suitably folding said blank.
Figure 2 is a plan view of one end of said blank as it appears when partially
folded and Figure 3 is a cross sectional view of the same when the box proper has
been fully folded but before the locking flap has been tucked under the end
folds.
Figure 4 illustrates said flap as properly tucked under said end folds to prevent
the accidental opening or collapsing of the finished box.
Figure 5 is a perspective view of one section of a telescoping box of this class
and Figure 6 is a similar view of a complete box.
Figure 7 shows in plan view a blank substantially like that of Figure 1 but
having added thereto a side flap or extension which when properly folded provides
a simple form of cover.
Figures 8 and 9 are cross sectional views of a box embodying said flap or
extension the former figure (8) showing the cover as open while the latter
named figure (9) shows said cover as folded down upon the box proper.
In Figure 10 the complete box is illustrated in perspective.
In the blank shown at Figure 1 the several dotted lines indicate lines of scoring,
or indentation, where the said blank is to be bent during the operation of setting
up or shaping the box.
Said blank consists in part of a bottom portion a, sides bb, and opposing
ends c-c, said blank (excepting certain locking flaps hereinafter described) being
substantially rectangular in outline.
The lines of scoring which outline the bottom, sides and ends of the box form,

page_text: at each corner of the blauk, an approximately square section which is divided into
two triangular portions d-d' by a diagonal line of scoring d which latter extends
from the extreme corner of the blank to the point of intersection of the scorings
which outline the sides and ends of the blank.
C
Projecting from each of the end sections is what is termed a locking flap, the
same being cut away at each side and thus formed substantially as a T head e.
When it is desired to fold, or "set up," a box of this improved form the
sides bare bent upward and at the same time the corner sections - (at one
end of the box) are hent inward on line , thus drawing inward the end section c.
When about one half folded the several sections assuine the positions of Figure 2,
the sides b-b being brought up to an angle of say forty-five degrees, the edge
of corner section d' being in vertical alignment with the cross scoring, and the
corner sections d being brought almost together. The sides - and end c are
then brought up to right angles with the bottom a, and, as a result, the corner
sections d-d' are folded flatly against each other with the apexes of the two-ply
triangles thus formed overlapping, as seen in Figure 3 of the drawings.
To hold the folded sections in the described positions the flap e is now folded
inward, over the said overlapping ends of the corner sections, and the oppositely
extending ends of the T head of said flap are then tucked under or behind the
said triangular end sections, as clearly illustrated in Figures 4 and 5. This
results in forming a toggle, or lock, which effectually prevents the sides from
being pulled apart, no matter how great the strain may be, as the stiff two-ply
triangular sections are securely bound in place by the flap section e, which
latter is folded tightly over thein, and said 'flap section is also secured against
displacement by its head which is locked under the said triangular portions, as
described.
In boxes of this class it has always been more or less difficult to provide a simple
'form of lock that would combine strength with cheapness and ease of operation.
It has been quite a common practice to cut slits in the blank, but in such devices
it is usually difficult to enter the "tongues" in the slits and the latter, being formed
in a single thickness of cardboard, are easily torn, or cut out by the tongue, if any
appreciable strain is brought to bear upon them, whereas, in the present invention
the T head, which may be of unusual size and strength, interlocks with the stiff, two-
ply, triangular ends of the box and the greater the pressure brought to bear upon
said interlocking parts, so much the more will the T head bc drawn into closc
engagement with the ends.
The infolded sections d-d' also serve to stiffen the complete box and make it
possible to use somewhat thinner stock than is ordinarily practicable.
Usually two boxes are formed in the manner described one of which is useil
as the box proper and the other as the cover, as seen in Figure 6 of the
drawings.
In the modified form of box blank illustrated in Figures 7, 8, 9 and 10 a laterally
extending flap g provided which when suitably folded serves as a cover for the
box proper. This flap or cover g is scored transversely to its length to provide au
each end flaps hand and is also scored parallel to its length, near its outer or free
edge, to provide a flap k.
After the box proper has been folded or "sot up" as above described in
detail the flaps and are bent at the several score lines until they are at
right angles to the cover flap g. As the said cover is folded down upon the box
proper the flaps h h enter between the ends of the box while the flap remains
outside as best seen in Figures 9 and 10 and at the same time the Aaps are
tucked 'between the end folds of the box proper. A narrow flap in may also be
provided to etiffen the box but is not absolutely necessary.
of combined box and cover there is a marked saving of cardboard and for runny
purposes the box thus formed is equally as practicable as the telescoping box first
above described.
lu this modified form
The described box is very easily "set up" and is both strong and serviceable.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :
1. The herein described improvement in folding boxes consisting of a single
blank formed with bottom sides and ends as set forth, corner sections that are
infolded and overlapped and locking flaps formed as extensions of the end sections
of the box; said flaps having T heads adapted to interlock with said overlapping
cornor sections all substantially as specified.
2. The herein described box, formed of a single piece, consisting of the bottom a,
sides b-b, ends c-c, triangular corner sectious d-d adapted to fold in upon and
overlap each other as set forth, and end flaps e, the latter being tucked under the
said triangular infolded sections, all substantially as specified.
Dated this 28th day of February 1895.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.