US2551089A - Packaging container convertible into a toy - Google Patents

Description

May 1, 1951 A. BEHRENS v PACKAGING CONTAINER CONVERTIBLE INTO A TOY 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 21, 1946 lNVENTOR Alberf Behrens ATTORNEY May 1, 1951 A. 'BEHRENS 2,551,089

PACKAGING CONTAINER CONVERTIBLE INTO A TOY Filed Dec. 21, 1946 a Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 4

KIM W a 48a- 50 50a 6 F l INVENTOR 4 Albert Behrens 6 Fig.8. 6

May 1, 1951 'A. BEHRENS PACKAGING CONTAINER CONVERTEEBLE INTO A TOY Filed Dec. 21, 1946 s Sheets$heet s HIHHIIHHIHIIIILI.

illlu III Fig. n.

INVENTOR Albe rt Behrens ATTORNEY Patented May 1, 1Q51 so: PATENT OFFICE PAGKAGING GONTAINER' CONVERTIBEE INTO A TOY Alberta BehtensNew York, N. Y.

Applibationflecemberfil, 1946;.SerialNTo. 717,733

irfllaimsz. (01;. 46-11) 1 T This invention relatesto a packaging con.- tainer or' folding carton convertible into a toya One of the objects is toprovidea container on folding carton which by simplemanipulation is convertible into atoy bed to receive a toy figure: although when unconverted the toy figure may beplaced inside the container" or carton.

- To this end the container or carton: eonsi'sts of a pair of open box-like members eachotwhieh has a bottom and sides or wall portions: provid ing a free edge. The one member fits over'the othenmemberin complementary" fashion as the free edgeportion of the one slips over the free edge portion of the other'-that is to say; one box member fits inverted into the other upright box: member. The inner or inverted box men ber has avertical downward" extensionv or: leg at each corner adaptedito extend through eorrespending bottom apertures in theopposite orhow far the inner member is: purposel'y tel'escoped into the:- other member:- When: telescoped into one another: to the limit: the two. box mem bersassume. a relationship in: whiizrhv they pre-= sent avv toy bed the legs. of which: extend: through and: from the:- bottomv apertures in the outer: member:

Various: features of the: invention relate; tothee. manner in. which; the: complementary:- box members or component members of the toy; bed? are folded intotheir operative shapes: from diecnhblanks... I The invention. possesses; other objects; and fear of: advantage; some: of which; with the fore.- going will be set forth in the; following: desonip tionz. the; following? description: and; in, the olaimsparts; wi-llbez: identified bn specific: names ion cpnveniencea but: theware: intended: toe be; as generie in; their: application. to; similar: parts; as therantz will. permit; Inthe; accompanying drawe ings. therehasbeen. illustrated the; best. embodts ment of the invention. known: to me; butv such embodiment is to be regarded as: typical only at. many possible: embodiments. and. the-.- invention; isv not to: be limited thereto.

The; novel features considered. characteristic: of; my; invention. are; set forth. witlr. particularity in; the appended. claims. The; invention itselfi. howeven. both as to. its) organization. and. method. of; operation together: with; additionali objects: and advantages; thereotihwilli best be un:.-- derstood from: the; following; descriptiomofl aispescific: embodiment. when; read connection. with the accompanying; drawings: in. whicltzr or: members:v

Fig. 2' shows a foldable blank for making the inner or inverted box member;

Fig. 3* shows theblank of Fig. 1 in an intermedi'ate stage of being folded;

Fig. 4 is atop-view of theouter or upright box. member folded from the Fig. 1 blank;

Fig. 5' is a bottom view of the outer" or upright box. member folded from the- Fig. 1 blank;

Fig; 6- is a bottom view of the inverted; or illn'er box member folded from the Fig. 2 blank;

Fig. 7 is a side view of the samebox' member;

Fig. -8'is an end vi'ew on the line 8-4! of Fig. 7; Fig; 9 is=a cross-sectional view on the line 9-9" ofF-ig; '7;

Fig. 10 is anenlarged longitudinalsectional broken-oi? view of the box members in. an i'n-; termediate telescoping position;

Fig. 11 is a View similar to Fig. 10- although with the box members in an' extreme positionof? being telesooped into each other whereby they assume the form of a toy bed-T Fig; 12 is a perspective view" of the box' members telescopically positioned to forma container carton;-'

Fig. '13 is a perspective view of the box ment-- bers telescopically positioned to form a toy bed.

The blank for making the outer box member; isshown in Fig; 1- to comprise a body'portion lll' divided by folding or score lines H, H, l3-,. I'd, into portions constituting" a pair of end walls. l5 and ['6 as well as a pair of side: walls IT and:. f8; and an end-connecting tab l9. From the bottom edge portion of the side wall l'8' extends; abottom portion 21' fold'able along; a score line. 22- and provided with substantially L-shapedl corner indentations 2'3 wherebyeach corner of the bottom portion 2.! is formed. with a, tongue portion 24; the base portion- B of:which:i's:na1"-- rowerthan the intermediate portion. PI Fitonr the bottom, portion: 21 in turn extends at duplicate side wall 25 fol'dableon a score line 21 and'beingsimilar and: symmetrical tothe side wall [8.

' From the bottom edge portion of the end wall IB- extends a: bottom tab 28 foldable'on score line 29 and having atapered side 30, and further having at its base' apair of indentations 3'1; and 32' similar tothose of the bottom 2| and constii tuting tongue portions 33 and 34-. The" end wall i5 has a similar-bottom tab 35 foldabl'e' on. some line" 36 and having a tapered side 36 and also having a pair of indentations 31 and 31 consti'tut'ingcorner tongue-portions 38- and 39. The side Walls l1 and l '8' as well as'the' duplicate sid'ea wall 25 are shown to have a recess Il 1'8 25* respectively. l vTheblank: fonmaking: the: inner boxzmembenas showni'm Fig; Zmompriseaaz reotangularrbodyipona is narrower than the width 1.02 at its end. The

primary tab 45 is thereby formed with a pair of projections 46 and 46 Similarly the side or primary tab 4'! has recesses 59 whereby there is formed a tongue portion 60 foldable on score line 6|, the tongue portion having a width 1.0; at its base which is narrower than the width 104 at its end.

.7 The secondary tabs 48, 49 and 5|], 5| have a wide base portion 48, 49 and 50 5 a respectively and a narrow tongue-like end portion 48 49 50 5| respectively, each of which has a V- shaped notch 48, 49, 50, 5| respectively.

In order to constitute the finished article as shown in Figs. 10, 11, 12 and 13, the blanks of Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 representing the outer and the inner box member respectively can be folded in the manner of Figs. 3 to 9 illustrating intermediate stages of folding or assembly.

The outer box member (see Figs. 3, 4 and 5) is formed from its Fig. 1 blank by folding inwardly on score lines l2, l3, l4 and gluing or otherwise interconnecting the tab IS with a corresponding end portion It of end wall Hi to establish the rectangular inter-relationship of the walls, then folding the bottom tabs 28 and 35 inwardly on score lines 29 and 36, and then folding the bottom portion 2| inwardly on score line 22 and over the folded bottom tabs 28 and 35, while folding the duplicate side wall 25 on score line 21 and inserting it into the interior of the thusformed box member in such a manner that it will come into face-to-face relationship and in substantial registry with the inner face of the side wall ll. An L-shaped bottom opening will thus be formed in each corner of the outer box member 0 thus produced.

The inner box member I (see Figs. 6, '7 and 8) is formed from its Fig. 2 blank by first folding the end tabs 44 and 45 on score lines 42 and 40*, then folding the side tabs 46 and 41 on score lines 43 and 4| respectively, and then folding the secondary tabs 48, 50 and 49, 5| on score lines 52, 54 and 53, 55 respectively, all folds being inwardly. Thus the tongue portions 48 and 50* will enclose and overlie the end tab 44 and may be interlocked by means of inter-engagement of their notches 48 and 50 (see Figs. 6 and 8). Similarly the tongue portions 49 and 5| will enclose and overlie the end tab 45 and may be interlocked by means of inter-engagement of their notches 49 and 5| In this way there are also formed vertical corner extensions or legs G upon the inner box member I. The legs G of the inner member have L-shaped cross-sections and fit into the corresponding L-shaped bottom openings L of the outer member 0 when both members are assembled by telescoping the one into the other in the manner and to the extent shown in Fig.-11

or perspectively shown in Fig. 13. Inthis relative position the two box members constitute a toy bed, since the legs G are held with sufficient friction in the openings L.

.- Fig. 13 moreover shows in dot-and-dash an initial position of the inner box member I while 4 being placed into the outer box member 0. Fig. 10 shows the'relative position of two box members O and I just prior to the entry of the legs G into the openings L.

Fig. 12 illustrates the use of the box members 0 and I when assembled to represent a container. Fig.f12 must be inverted and the inner box member must be telescoped further into the outer box member in order to push the legs G through the openings L so that the parts may assume the aspect of Fig. 13 representing the toy bed.

It' has been noted above that the width B at the base of the tongue portions 24 is smaller than the widthP of an intermediate portion thereof. This configuration or constriction at the base of these tongue portions facilitates or encourages a slight downward deflection of these tongue portions about the base as and when the legs G are pushed or forced into and through the L-shaped openings L (see Figs. 10 to 13). In this way the passageway for the legs assumes a one-way characteristic in that added friction between the tongue portions and the legs is set up and resists a withdrawal of the legs from these openings. This frictional locking effect is sufficient to hold the box members in placewith respect to each other once the conversion of the container into a toy bed has been effected.

I claim:

1. A container comprising an outer box member having a bottom provided with corner apertures, a pair of side walls, and a pair of end walls, an inner box member to fit into said outer member and having corner extensions coextensive with the respective corner edges at the free ends thereof, said extensions registering with said bottom apertures of the outer member, said container being convertible into a toy representing a toy bed when said inner box member is pushed sufficiently far into the outer box member to have said extensions pass through and extend outwardly from the bottom of said outer member to represent downwardly extending legs of said toy bed adapted to rest on a base in which the bottom of the inner member represents the horizontal plane of the bed spaced from a base by said legs and wall portions of the outer member extending upwardly beyond said horizontal plane to represent the confines of the bed.

2. A container according to claim 1, in which the corner extensions of said inner member are of L-shaped cross-section, and the bottom apertures of the outer member are of substantially corresponding shape.

3. A container according to claim 1, in which the corner extensions of said inner member are of L-shaped cross-section, and the bottom apertures of the outer member of substantially corresponding shape being defined by tongued portions constituting the corner portions of the bottom of said outer member.

4. A container according to claim 1, in which said outer member is folded from a blank comprising a body portion having four transverse folding lines defining a pair of side walls, a pair of end walls, and a connecting tab at one end of said body portion whereby when said body portion is folded said walls assume right-angle relationship with one another and whereby the ends of said body portion are interconnected through said connecting tab, a substantially rectangular bottom portion extending from one sidewall and foldable along the bottom edge of the side wall, and a duplicate side wall portion extending from the free end of said bottom'portion foldable with respect to said bottom portion in a manner to come face to face with the inner face of one side "wall when the bottom assumes right angle relationship with said walls, said bottom portion having corner indentations forming said bottom apertures.

5. A container according to claim 1, in which said outer member is folded from a blank comprising a body portion having four transverse folding lines defining said side walls and said end walls and a connecting tab at one end of the body portion and whereby said walls when the body portion is folded assume right-angle relationship with one another and whereby the ends of said body portion are interconnected through said connecting tab, a substantially rectangular bottom portion extending from one side wall and foldable along the bottom edge thereof, a duplicate side wall extending from the free end of said bottom apertures.

6. A container according to claim 1, in which said outer member is folded from a blank comprising a body portion having four transverse folding lines defining said side walls and said end walls and a connecting tab at one end of the body portion, and whereby said walls when the body portion is folded assume right-angle relationship with one another and whereby the ends of said body portion are interconnected .through said connecting tab, a substantially rectangular bottom portion extending from one side wall and foldable along the bottom edge thereof, a duplicate side wall extending from said bottom portion symmetrically to said one side wall and foldable with respect to said bottom portion to come face to face with the inner face of said one side wall when the bottom portion assumes rectangular relationship with said walls, said bottom portion having indentations forming tongue-like corner portions.

'7. A container according to claim 1, in which said outer member is folded from a blank comprising a body portion having four. transverse folding lines defining said side walls and said end walls and a connecting tab at one end of the body portion, whereby said walls when the body portion is folded assume right-angle relationship with one another and whereby the ends of said body portion are interconnected through said connecting tab, a substantially rectangular bottom portion extending from one side wall and foldable along the bottom edge thereof, a duplicate side wall extending from said bottom portion symmetrically to said one side wall and foldable with respect to said bottom portion to come face to face with the inner face of said one side wall when the bottom portion assumes rectangular relationship with said walls, said bottom portion having corner indentations forming tongue like corner portions having a base narrower than the intermediate portion of each tongue. H

8. A container according to claim 1, in which said inner member is folded from a blank comprising a rectangular body portion having an end tab foldable inwardly at each end of the body portion, a primary tab extending from each side of the body portion and foldable inwardly alon that side and having a pair of symmetrically disposed slots each of which extends from one side edge of the primary tab substantially obliquely to an end point spaced from the base of the tab which slots and their end points define and subdivide the primary tab into a pair of projections and an intermediate tongue portion flanked by said projections, which tongue portion has a base line extending between and defined by said end points and has a free end width substantially equal to and defined by the basic width of said primary tab and therefore wider than its base as defined by the length of said base line, which intermediate tongue por tion is foldable inwardly about its base line, a secondary tab extending from each side and from each of said projections of said primary tabs and also extending beyond the adjacent end of said body portion, a pair of said secondary tabs being foldable inwardly on a line at right angles to the folding line of their respective primary tabs whereby said projections with said secondary tabs constitute said legs, each secondary tab having means for interconnecting a pair of associated secondary tabs over an associated end tab of said body portion.

9. A container according to claim 1, in which said inner member is folded from a blank comprising a rectangular body portion having an end tab'foldable inwardly at each end of the body portion, a primary tab extending from each side of the body portion and foldable inwardly along that side and having a pair of symmetrically disposed slots each of which extends from one side edge of the primary tab substantially obliquely to an end point spaced from the base of the tab which slots and their end points define and subdividethe primary tab into a pair of projections and an intermediate tongue portion flanked by said projections, which tongue portion has a base line extending between and defined by said end points and has a free end width substantially equal to and defined by the basic width of said primary tab and therefore wider than its base as defined by the length of said base line, which intermediate tongue portion is foldable inwardly about its base line, a secondary tab extending from each side and from each of said projections of said primary tabs and also extending beyond the adjacent end of said body portion, said secondary tab being foldable inwardly on a line at right angles to the folding line of its respective primary tab whereby said projections with-said secondary tabs constitute said legs, each secondary tab having a tongue-like extension whereby a pairof associated secondary tabs are interlockable over an associated adjacent end tab. ALBERT BEI-IRENS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 935,865 Seward Oct. 5, 1909 1,580,147 McClean Apr. 13, 1926 1,669,279 Berthold May 8, 1928

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