Improvements in Folding Boxes.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Feb., 1895-Accepted, 20th Apr., 1895 *
Improvements in Folding Boxes.
I 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 manner 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 commonly
used for marketing tack-nails, screws, rivets and the 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
Epecially in mind when producing the present invention.
"
In this invention a box blank is provided which, without the aid of glue, wire
stays, eyelets or other forms of fastoning devices, makes, when folded, or "set up,'
a box that is quite as strong and serviceable as boxes embodying such fastenings.
To aid in explaining this invention the annexed sheet of drawings is provided
in which
Figure 1 is a plan view of the blank from which the box may be formed by
suitably folding said blank.
Figures 2 and 3 illustrate, in plan, positions which the several sides or flaps of
said blank assume during the folding or "setting up" operations.
Figure 4 is a cross sectional view of a finished box, on line x-x of Figure 7.
Figure 5 is a perspective view of a box as it appears when ready to be filled
with tacks or other articles of merchandise.
Figure 6 is a similar view of the top portion of such a box, showing particularly
certain slots in the side flaps by means of which said flaps may be locked
together.
Figure 8 is a top view of a box showing the side flaps thus locked together and
Figure 7 is a perspective view of a finished box.
In these drawings the letter a indicates that portion of the blank which, when
the latter is folded, forms the bottom of the box and indicate those portions
of said blank that are to form, respectively, the front and rear sides of the box.
Section & bas lateral extensions c-c adapted to be folded at right angles to b, to
aid in forming opposite sides of the box, and section 6' has similar extensions d-d
which are overlapped by the sections c-c¹ when the box is set up.
Sections d-dare formed with narrow wings or extensions - that are fully
described hereinafter.
Sectious b, c and e' have respectively a flap or extension c³, b and c³ that may he
turned inward, to aid in locking or closing the box and section 6' has a similar

page_text: extension that forms the cover of the box and this cover has a narrow flap f
that may be "tucked" to retain said cover in its closed position, as shall be more
fully explained. The various sections are separated from each other by lines of
scoring that permit the cardboard to be easily bent on said score lines. Sections a,
,, and care of about the same size as the cross sections of the finished box
and sections b-1, c-c' and d-d are of about the same width as the last described
sections, but are equal in length to the height of the finished box.
Between the side sections -d is a strengthening portion of board formed, by
diagonal lines of scoring, into three triangular pieces -- the effect being much
the same as if a square of board should be divided by lines of cross scoring, reaching
from corner to corner of said square, and then one of the triangles removed entirely
by cutting away a part of the board, leaving the three triangular portions, as
described.
+
Between the ends of the side sectious c-d are three similar triangular
strengthening pieces h―h'―h*.
During the operation of folding the blank these triangular pieces break inward,
on the lines of scoring, overlapping each other, and finally fold down upon the
bottom a, serving a very important purpose in stiffening the box and also in making
a tight bottom.
When it is desired to fold the blank, to make a box, the side wings e-eare
bent upward at right angles to the side sectious d-d' to which they are connected.
Said sides d-d' are then folded toward each other while at the same time the
blank is bent on the line of scoring that separates from the bottom a.
This
results in breaking inward the lines of scoring that separate the described
triangular strengthening pieces, as sean in Figure 2.
The sides c-c' are then bent upward (toward each other) and is simultaneously
bent on the line of scoring that divides it from the bottom a. As the breaking up
continues the sides d and d enter between the sides c-c' (see Figure 3) the
triangular strengthening pieces meanwhile overlapping each other and folding
down upon the bottom a as best understood by reference to Figures 3 and 4 of the
drawings. This brings the wings e-e in contact with the inner face of the side
section 6 (see Figure 4 and also dotted lines in Figures 5 and 6). Flap is then
folded down within the box, and over the wings e-e', as in dotted lines Figure 6,
thus holding said wings in contact with the side section b and preventing the several
folded portions from separating. After the box thus set up has been filled the side
flaps are folded down upon each other, the top section f is, in turn, folded
down upon said side flaps and the flap is tucked between the edges of the side
flaps and the inner face of the locking flap c, providing a strong and serviceable
box as seen in Figure 7 and without the aid of glue or other like fastening.
When such boxes are to be used for marketing hardware, and the like heavy
goods, the side flaps - may each be slitted from opposites sides as at o- and
said slits may be interlocked as in Figure 8, to prevent all possibility of accidental
spreading of the box, but such provision is not necessary in boxes used for
marketing light articles.
The blank from which the described box is formed is of such shape that very
little stuck is wasted is producing it and the box, when set up, is of great strength.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what 1
claimed is :-
1. A folding box blank, made of a single piece having a bottom portion with
extensions and sides c-c-d-d', as set forth, wings e-e extending outward
from sections and adapted to fold inward against section b and a flap
adapted to fold inward over said wings to lock the latter to the section b.
2. A folding box blank made of a single piece, having a bottom portion with
extensions - and sides --d-d, as set forth, wings e-e extending outward
from sections d'and adapted to fold inward against section b, a flap adapted

page_text: to fold inward over said wings to lock the latter to the section 6, and flaps
provided with interlocking slits, all substantially as and for the purposes specified.
3. A folding box blank consisting of the bottom a, sides b-c-c with end
extensions - respectively; sides 6'-d-d' with lateral wings
and
flaps as described and triangular strengthening portions h—'—h³, g· g'—g³,
all substantially as specified.
Dated this 28th day of February 1895.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.