Claims
- 1. A container for containing a stack of paper, comprising a bottom wall defining first and second pivotal shell portions, the first and second shell portions being pivotable between a closed position for containing the stack of paper for shipping or storing and open position, in which at least two opposing sides of the stack are exposed to facilitate removal of paper from the container.
- 2. The container of claim 1, wherein the shell portions are configured to completely enclose the stack of paper when the shell portions are in the closed position.
- 3. The container of claim 1, further comprising opposed first and second side panels, each extending upwardly from a respective edge of the bottom wall in a substantially perpendicular relationship relative to the bottom wall when the container is closed.
- 4. The container of claim 3, wherein the first and second side panels are pivotal relative to the bottom wall so that the side panels can be pivoted downwardly and away from each other to facilitate removal of paper from the container.
- 5. The container of claim 3, wherein the first and second side panels have a height that is substantially equal to the height of the container.
- 6. The container of claim 1, wherein the first and second shell portions form the sides and top of the container when the shell portions are in the closed position.
- 7. The container of claim 1, wherein:
the first shell portion comprises a main panel pivotally connected at a bottom edge thereof to a first edge of the bottom wall, a top panel extending from a top edge of the main panel, and first and second, spaced apart side panels, each extending from a respective side edge of the main panel; and the second shell portion comprises a main panel pivotally connected at a bottom edge thereof to a second edge of the bottom wall, a top panel extending from a top edge of the main panel, and first and second, spaced apart side panels, each extending from a respective side edge of the main panel; whereby when the shell portions are in the closed position, the side panels of the first shell portion extend in an overlapping relationship with adjacent side panels of the second shell portion.
- 8. The container of claim 7, wherein the shell portions are retained in the closed position by an adhesive applied between each side panel of the first shell portion and an adjacent, overlapping side panel of the second shell portion.
- 9. The container of claim 1, further comprising a handle coupled to one of the first and second shell portions to facilitate lifting and/or carrying of the container when the shell portions are in the closed position.
- 10. The container of claim 9, wherein the handle is located at the geometric center of the top of the container when the shell portions are in the closed position.
- 11. The container of claim 9, wherein the handle is coupled to the top panel of one of shell portions and is positioned to extend through a corresponding opening in the top panel of the other shell portion when the shell portions are in the closed position.
- 12. The container of claim 9, wherein the handle comprises a flexible strap.
- 13. The container of claim 1, wherein:
the first shell portion comprises a main panel pivotally connected at a bottom edge thereof to a first edge of the bottom wall, a top panel extending from a top edge of the main panel; and the second shell portion comprises a main panel pivotally connected at a bottom edge thereof to a second edge of the bottom wall, a top panel extending from a top edge of the main panel; wherein the top panel of the first shell portion and the top panel of the second shell portion extend in an overlapping relationship with each other to form the top of the container when the shell portions are in the closed position.
- 14. The container of claim 1, wherein the bottom wall, the first shell portion and the second shell portion are formed from a unitary blank of material.
- 15. The container of claim 1, wherein the container is made of corrugated fiberboard.
- 16. The container of claim 15, wherein the container comprises at least a 36# outer liner, a 26# fluting, and a 35# inner liner.
- 17. The container of claim 15, wherein the fiberboard has a moisture uptake of less than 15 g/day at about 38° C. and about 75% relative humidity.
- 18. A container for containing one or more articles, comprising:
a bottom wall; first and second shell portions connected in a pivotal manner to opposing edges of the bottom wall, the shell portions being pivotal between a closed position and an open position, wherein when the shell portions are in the closed position, the shell portions substantially enclose the articles, and wherein when the shell portions are in the open position, the articles are exposed at least at two opposing sides of the container to facilitate removal of articles from the container; and a handle coupled to the container.
- 19. The container of claim 18, wherein the handle is coupled to the first shell portion and the second shell portion is formed with an opening through which the handle can extend when the shell portions are in the closed position.
- 20. The container of claim 18, wherein each shell portion has a respective top panel configured such that, when the shell portions are in the closed position, the top panels extend in an overlapping relationship relative to each other and cover the top of the articles.
- 21. The container of claim 18, wherein each shell portion has respective first and second side panels configured such that, when the shell portions are pivoted to the closed position, each side panel of the first shell portion extends in an overlapping relationship with an adjacent side panel of the second shell portion.
- 22. The container of claim 18, further comprising first and second side walls extending from respective edges of the bottom wall, the side walls being positionable within the shell portions when the shell portions are in the closed position.
- 23. The container of claim 22, wherein the first and second side walls are hingedly connected to respective edges of the bottom walls so that the side walls can be pivoted away from each other when the shell portions are in the open position to expose the articles at all sides of the container.
- 24. The container of claim 18, wherein each shell portion has respective first and second side panels and a respective top panel, the shell portions being configured such that, when the shell portions are pivoted to the closed position, each side panel of the first shell portion extends in an overlapping relationship with an adjacent side panel of the second shell portion and the top panels extend in an overlapping relationship relative to each other.
- 25. The container of claim 18 configured to hold at least one stack of paper.
- 26. A container for containing one or more articles, comprising:
a bottom; first and second side walls extending upwardly from respective edges of the bottom, the first side wall being opposite the second side wall; and first and second shell portions, each connected in a pivotal manner to a respective edge of the bottom, the shell portions being pivotable toward each other to a closed position for containing the articles therebetween for shipping or storing the articles, the shell portions also being pivotable away from each other to cause the container to be open at two opposing sides of the container to facilitate removal of articles from the container.
- 27. The container of claim 26, wherein the shell portions are configured to substantially enclose the side walls when the shell portions are pivoted to the closed position.
- 28. The container of claim 26, wherein each shell portion has a respective top panel being configured such that, when the shell portions are pivoted to the closed position, the top panels extend in an overlapping relationship relative to each other to form the top of the container.
- 29. The container of claim 28, wherein a handle for carrying the container is coupled to one of the top panels and is positioned to extend through a corresponding opening in the other top panel when the shell portions are in the closed position.
- 30. The container of claim 26, wherein each shell portion has a respective main panel and respective first and second side panels extending therefrom such that, when the shell portions are pivoted to the closed position, each side panel of the first shell portion extends in an overlapping relationship with an adjacent side panel of the second shell portion and an adjacent side wall.
- 31. The container of claim 30, wherein the side panels of the first and second shell portions extend over essentially the entire extent of the side walls when the shell portions are pivoted to the closed position.
- 32. The container of claim 26, wherein the shell portions form two opposing walls and a top wall of the container when the shell portions are pivoted to the closed position.
- 33. The container of claim 26, wherein the bottom is dimensioned to support at least one stack of paper.
- 34. The container of claim 26, wherein the container is made of corrugated fiberboard having at least a 36# outer liner, a 26# fluting, and a 35# inner liner.
- 35. The container of claim 34, wherein the corrugated fiberboard absorbs less than 15 g of moisture per day at about 38° C. and about 75% relative humidity.
- 36. A container for containing one or more articles, comprising:
a bottom for supporting the articles; first and second upright, opposing side walls extend from respective edges of the bottom; a first shell portion having a main panel connected in pivotal manner to a respective edge of the bottom, a top panel extending from the main panel, and first and second side panels extending substantially perpendicularly from the main panel; and a second shell portion having a main panel connected in pivotal manner to a respective edge of the bottom, a top panel extending from the main panel, and first and second side panels extending substantially perpendicularly from the main panel; the shell portions being pivotable toward each other to a closed position with the articles contained between the main panels, the top panels extending in an overlapping relationship relative to each other to cover the top of the articles, and each side panel of the first shell portion at least partially overlapping an adjacent side panel of the second shell portion and an adjacent upright side wall, the shell portions also being pivotable away from each other to cause the container to be open at the top and two opposing sides of the container to facilitate removal of articles from the container.
- 37. The container of claim 36, further comprising a handle coupled to one of the top panels and being disposed approximately at the geometric center of the top of the container when the shell portions are in the closed position.
- 38. A blank for forming a container for containing paper, comprising:
a bottom panel dimensioned to support a stack of paper; a first shell portion extending from an edge of the bottom panel; and a second shell portion extending from an edge of the bottom panel, opposite the first shell portion; the shell portions being configured such that, when the container is formed from the blank, the shell portions are pivotable relative to the bottom panel between a closed position for containing the stack of paper for shipping or storing and open position, in which at least two opposing sides of the stack are exposed to facilitate removal of paper from the container.
- 39. The blank of claim 38 comprising a unitary piece of material.
- 40. The blank of claim 38 wherein:
the first shell portion defines a main panel extending from the bottom panel for forming a first side wall of the container and a top panel extending from the main panel for forming at least a portion of the top of the container; and the second shell portion defines a main panel extending from the bottom panel for forming a second side wall of the container, and a top panel extending from the main panel for forming at least a portion of the top of the container; the shell portions being configured such that, when the container is formed from the blank and the shell portions are in the closed position, the top panels extend in an overlapping relationship relative to each other to form the top of the container.
- 41. The blank of claim 40 wherein:
the first shell portion defines first and second spaced apart side panels, each extending from a respective side edge of the associated main panel; and the second shell portion defines first and second spaced apart side panels, each extending from a respective side edge of the associated main panel; the shell portions being configured such that, when the container is formed from the blank and the shell portions are in the closed position, the side panels of the first shell portion extend in an overlapping relationship relative to an adjacent side panel of the second shell portion to form opposing sides of the container.
- 42. The blank of claim 40 wherein a handle is coupled to one of the top panels.
- 43. The blank of claim 40 wherein a handle is coupled to the top panel of one of the shell portions and is positioned to extend through a corresponding opening in the top panel of the other shell portion when the shell portions are in the closed position.
- 44. The blank of claim 38 further comprising first and second side panels, each extending from a respective edge of the bottom panel, wherein when the container is formed from the blank, each side panel serves as a side wall of the container extending between the shell portions.
- 45. A blank for forming a container for containing one or more articles, comprising:
a bottom panel; first and second side walls extending from respective edges of the bottom panel, the first side wall being opposite the second side wall, the side walls being foldable relative to the bottom panel; and first and second shell portions extending from respective edges of the bottom panel, the first shell portion being opposite the second shell portion; wherein when the container is formed from the blank, the shell portions are pivotable relative to the bottom panel toward each other to a closed position for containing the articles therebetween for shipping or storing the articles, the shell portions also being pivotable away from each other to cause the container to be open at two opposing sides of the container to facilitate removal of articles from the container.
- 46. The container of claim 45 wherein the side walls have a height substantially equal to the height of the container.
- 47. A method for forming a container, the method comprising:
forming a bottom panel; forming first and second side walls extending from respective edges of the bottom panel, the first side wall being opposite the second side wall; and forming first and second shell portions extending from respective edges of the bottom panel, the first shell portion being opposite the second shell portion; the shell portions being configured such that, when the container is formed from the blank, the shell portions are pivotable relative to the bottom panel between a closed position for containing articles therein and open position to permit access to the articles at opposing sides, in which at least two opposing sides of the stack are exposed to facilitate removal of paper from the container.
- 48. The method of claim 47 wherein:
the first shell portion defines a main panel extending from the bottom panel for forming a first side wall of the container, a top panel extending from the main panel for forming at least a portion of the top of the container, and first and second spaced apart side panels, each extending from a respective side edge of the main panel; and the second shell portion defines a main panel extending from the bottom panel for forming a second side wall of the container, a top panel extending from the main panel for forming at least a portion of the top of the container, and first and second spaced apart side panels, each extending from a respective side edge of the main panel.
- 49. The method of claim 48 further comprising assembling the first and second shell portions so that the top panel and side panels of each shell portion extends substantially perpendicularly from the associated main panel.
- 50. A container for containing a stack of paper, comprising:
a base; a first shell portion having a first main panel extending away from the base, a first top panel extending from a top edge of the first main panel and having a handle, and first and second side flaps, each extending from a respective side edge of the first main panel and rigidly connected to the first main panel and the first top panel, the first shell portion being connected at a bottom edge thereof to the base and pivotable between a closed position and an open position such that, when the first shell portion is in the closed position, the first main panel is adjacent to and covers one side of the stack, the first top panel is adjacent to and covers at least a portion of the top of the stack and each of the first and second side flaps are adjacent to and cover at least a portion of opposite ends of the stack; a second shell portion being opposite the first shell portion, the second shell portion having a second main panel extending away from the base, a second top panel extending from a top edge of the second main panel and defining an opening, and third and fourth side flaps, each extending from a respective side edge of the second main panel and rigidly connected to the second main panel and the second top panel, the second shell portion being connected at a bottom edge thereof to the base and pivotable between a closed position and an open position, such that when the second shell portion is in the closed position, the second main panel is adjacent to and covers one side of the stack, the second top panel overlaps the first top panel and the handle extends through the opening, the third side flap extends in an overlapping relationship with the first side flap and the fourth side flap extends in an overlapping relationship with the second side flap; and first and second side walls extending upwardly from the base, the first side wall being opposite the second side wall, wherein when the shell portions are in the closed position, the first and second side walls are disposed within the first and second shell portions, with the first side wall being interposed between the stack and the first and third side flaps and the second side wall being interposed between the stack and the second and fourth side flaps, the first and second side walls being pivotably connected to the base so that the side walls can be pivoted downwardly away from the stack when the shell portions are in the open position; whereby when the shell portions are in the open position and the first and second side panels are folded downwardly away from the stack, all four sides of the stack are accessible to facilitate removal of paper from the container.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/417,109, filed on Oct. 8, 2002, which is incorporated herein by reference.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60417109 |
Oct 2002 |
US |