Improvements in Folding Boxes.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Dec., 1899-Accepted, 20th Jan., 1900
Communicated from abroad by JOHN S. W. THOMPSON, of 810, Broad Street,
Newark, Essex County, Keceiver, and HENRY S. WASHINGTON, of Locust,
Monmouth County, Gentleman, both in the State of New Jersey, United
States of America.
Improvements in Folding Boxes.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
45, Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement: —
My invention relates to improvements in folding boxes and the object of my
invention is to produce a simple construction of folding box having all the usual
advantages of such boxes as to shipment, &c., and also to make the box in such
a way that it can be made of comparatively light material and yet be very tight
and strong; to produce a box which is more attractive in appearance than fold-
ing boxes usually are; to cut the box blank in such a way as not to waste stock,
and, in general, to produce a cheap, attractive and strong box of this character
which can be conveniently set up or knocked down.
To these ends my invention consists of a folding box, the construction and
arrangement of which will be hereinafter described and claimed.
In the drawings, wherein similar figures of reference designate similar parts,
Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved box.
Figure 2 is a perspective view of the open box.
Figure 3 is a perspective detail view showing the box partially put together
and illustrating especially the manner in which it is folded.
Figure 4 is a vertical cross-section of the box.
Figure 5 is a vertical cross-section taken at right angles to Figure IV; and
Figure 6 is a detail of the box blank.
The box is rectangular in shape and to this end it has a bottom 10 which is
scored around the edge in the usual way to permit the sides and ends to be folded
up, and leading from the score line of the bottom at opposite ends is a cut ex-
tending from 11 to 12, this cut beting, as shown in Figure 6, produced in the
blank outward from the four corners, and thus two sides and flaps 13 and 15
are produced, the parts being scored longitudinally as at 14, so that the parts 13
when bent to an upright position assists in forming two of the box sides, while
the parts 15 form flaps adapted to lie over the upper part of the box, as shown
best in Figures 2 and 3 and so protect any material within the box. The cuts
11 and 12, besides producing the parts 13 and 15 as above described, assist in
forming the side strips 19 and 19 which are produced at opposite ends of the
sides and flaps 13 and 15, and these strips are scored at 17 at points coincident
with the corners of the box when the latter is formed, and the score line thus
produces on the strips 16 the end piece 18 and the two side strips 19, while on
the strip 16 it produces corresponding parts 18 and 19, but the strip 16ª is
longer than the strip 16 and is scored near the ends as shown at 20 so as to pro-

page_text: duce the short flaps 21 adapted to fold around the front of the box as shown best
in Figures 1 to 2, the side flaps being; undercut as at 22 so as to produce the
tongues 21" which are adapted to enter the horizontal slot 23 in the part 18 of
the strip 16 when the box is set up, and by reference to Figure 2 it will be seen
that when the tongues 21" are inserted, as described, and pushed downward, the
side strips are locked firmly in position and the open box held together.
The box top 25 is integral with the end piece 18", as best shown in Figure 6,
being separated therefrom by the score line 24, which, when the cover is closed,
is coincident with one of the top edges of the box, and this top is scored near the
front as shown at 26, the score line coming opposite the box end, and a tongue 27
is thus produced, which tongue is reduced near its free end and is adapted to
enter the slot 23. It will be seen that when the tongue is entered in the slot,
as, shown best in Figure 1, the top or cover is very securely locked and the whole
box is greatly strengthened, as the cover and tongue serves to bind the other
parts in place.
AL!
In Figure 6 I have shown in dotted lines the flaps 15 formed on the outer
sides of the side strips 19, and it will be seen that such flaps might also be formed
on the parts 19" instead of on the parts 13 if desired, as it is obvious that the
flaps may be produced on any of the parts which form the box
sides and thus be adapted to fold inward into the box. In said Figure 6
I have also shown tongues 27 in dotted lines on the sides of the box top or
cover 25, as they might be made in this. way and. inserted in the box sides so as
to assist in making a tight seal for the cover. When the box is to be folded
the end piece 18 is turned up into a vertical position and the side strips 19 also
turn in the same position and bend inward at right angles to the part 18 so as
to extend along the side score lines of the bottom 10. The side strips 13 are
also turned into a vertical position, thus lying against and parallel with the
strips 19 and bringing the flaps 15 into a position to be folded in over the upper
part of the box, the score lines 14 coming opposite the top edges of the strips 19.
The end piece 18" is folded to a vertical position, the side strips 19" folded around
against and parallel with the strips 13, the flaps 21 folded around the front end
of the box, and the tongues 21" inserted in the slot 23 and pushed downward
so that the said flaps 21 lie against and parallel with the strip 18. It will be
noticed that the cuts 22 are of such a depth as to permit the tongues 21 to be
pushed downward with their lower edges parallel with the box bottom and that
the flaps are of such a length that their ends meet as shown in Figure 2.
box is now ready for filling and if it is to be closed the top or cover 25 is folded
inward over the flaps 15, and the tongue 27 pushed downward into the slot 23,
thus firmly sealing the box and binding all the parts together, the tongues 21*
and 27 making the box especially stiff and strong. This stiffness is also effected
by the manner in which the overlapping side strips 19, 13 and 19" are arranged.
It will be seen from the drawings, however, that the box need not be folded
up exactly as indicated-that is to say, if desired the strips 19 may come outside
the strips 13 with the same effect as already described; also that the tongue 27
can be inserted in the slot 23 as specified or can be pushed downward inside
the flaps 21, or even inside the end strip or piece 18 if desired. .
The
From the foregoing description it will be observed that the box described is
simple in construction; that for a folding box it is especially tight and strong
and that it can be very readily folded to position for use or opened out flat for
shipment. It will also be noticed that the top flaps 15 may be dispensed with
if desired without departing from the principle of the invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondents, I declare that what I claim is:-
1. A folding box comprising a bottom having at opposite edges side pieces
adapted to turn upward perpendicular to the bottom, and oppositely arranged

page_text: end nieces connected to the bottom and adapted to fold perpendicular thereto,
one end piece having side strips projecting from the ends and adapted to fold
inward against the first mentioned side pieces and the second end piece having
sidd strips to fold in against the first and second side pieces and strips and ter-
minating in flaps carrying tongues to engage the slot of the end piece, the second
end piece having also connected thereto a top or cover adapted to fold inward
over the box top and provided with a tongue to engage the aforesaid slot, sub-
stantially as described.
2. In a folding box, the combination with the bottom having folding side pieces
on opposite edges, of the folding end pieces connected to the two remaining
sides of the bottom, one end piece carrying side strips adapted to turn inward
against the side pieces, the other end piece carrying side strips to fold inward
against the first mentioned side strips, and means as the tongue flaps on the second
side strips and the slot in the end piece to lock the above mentioned parts together.
3. A folding box comprising a bottom having folding side pieces at two oppo-
site edges, folding end pieces at the two opposite edges of the bottom, one of
said end pieces being slotted horizontally, side strips connected to the slotted end
pieces and adapted to fold inward against the side pieces, a second pair of side
strips connected to the whole end piece and adapted to fold inward against the
first side strips, flaps at the ends of the second side strips adapted to fold around
against the box front, said flaps carrying tongues to engage the slot of the end
piece, and a top for the box, substantially as described.
4. A folding box comprising a bottom having folding side pieces at two opposite
edges, folding end pieces at the two remaining edges of the bottom, one of said
end pieces being slotted, side strips connected to the slotted end piece and adapted
to fold inward against the side pieces, a second pair of side strips connected
to the second end piece and adapted to fold inward against the first side strips,
flaps at the ends of the second side strips to fold against the box front, said flaps
having tongues thereon to enter the slot of the end piece, a top or cover connected
to the whole end piece and adapted to fold inward over the box top, and a tongue
at the front edge of the cover, substantially as described.
5. The combination with the folding box having a slotted end piece, of the over-
lapping side strips extending from the opposite end of the box around to the
slotted end thereof and provided with tongues to enter the aforesaid slot, sub-
stantially as described.
6. The combination with a folding box having a slotted end, of the side strips
connected to the opposite end and adapted to fold around to the slotted end thereof
said side strips being cut under near the ends and on the under side to produce
tongues adapted to enter the aforesaid slot, substantially as described.
7. A folding box constructed substantially as shown in the accompanying
drawings and described in the foregoing specification.
Dated this 8th day of December 1899.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.