초록 ▼

A container having a plurality of selectable volumes which selectable volumes are made by inwardly folding sides and ends of the container along selectable foldable creases. The invention may also be a container in unassembled form. Preferably the container, when assembled, is rectangular in cross s

A container having a plurality of selectable volumes which selectable volumes are made by inwardly folding sides and ends of the container along selectable foldable creases. The invention may also be a container in unassembled form. Preferably the container, when assembled, is rectangular in cross sectional shape, and preferably formed from layered cardboard material. The assembled container has two side panels attached to two end panels and to the bottom portion along the panel edges thereby forming the container. There may be tearable perforations provided at the corners where the side panels join to the end panels or pairs of tearable perforations at a distance from each corner one perforation of the pair being on a side panel and the other on an end panel each substantially parallel to the corner such that the corners may be torn downward at each of the perforations or pairs of perforations to a selected set of fold facilitating creases which when folded on a selected fold facilitating crease results in the desired volume container. There is provided a plurality of sets of cooperating fold facilitating creases or scorings or other markings which make the material foldable at such markings. Each of the sets of scorings are provided on all of the side and end panels and are cooperatingly positioned so as to permit inwardly folding of the container walls and consequently enclosing a selected volume. Each of the cooperating sets of scorings may have identification markings such as colors, indicating that particular scorings belong to a particular cooperating set of scorings. The required volume is determined and the appropriate set of cooperating scorings is selected. The side walls and the end walls are appropriately inwardly folded creating thereby the enclosed volume. The number of sets of scorings depends upon material characteristics, container size and the like.

대표청구항 ▼

[ I claim:] [1.] A container having a plurality of selectable volumes, said plurality of selectable volumes each having a volume value of V.sub.k, wherein k is an integer chosen from the group of integers 0,1,2,3, . . . n-1, and wherein n is an integer defining a predetermined number of n selectable

[ I claim:] [1.] A container having a plurality of selectable volumes, said plurality of selectable volumes each having a volume value of V.sub.k, wherein k is an integer chosen from the group of integers 0,1,2,3, . . . n-1, and wherein n is an integer defining a predetermined number of n selectable volumes for said container, whereby choosing k equal to n-1, V.sub.k is a maximum volume value V.sub.n-1 and whereby choosing k equal to 0, V.sub.k is a minimum volume value V.sub.0, each of said n selectable volumes being obtainable by folding of wall means defining said container, said container comprising:a bottom portion having two substantially parallel and opposing side edges each with a length dimension L and two substantially parallel and opposing end edges each with a width dimension W;two side panels each having a height dimension H defined at side panel top edges, one of said two side panels attached along a side panel bottom edge to one of said bottom portion side edges, the other of said two side panels attached along a side panel bottom edge to the other of said bottom portion side edges, each of said side panels having n selectable side panel fold facilitating creases, a kth side panel fold facilitating crease being selected based upon said V.sub.k, each of said n selectable side panel creases having a length substantially equal to said length L and substantially parallel to said side panel bottom edge;two end panels each having said height dimension H defined at end panel top edges, one of said two end panels attached along an end panel bottom edge to one of said bottom portion end edges, the other of said two end panels attached along an end panel bottom edge to the other of said bottom portion end edges, each of said end panels having n selectable end panel fold facilitating creases, a kth end panel fold facilitating crease being selected based upon said V.sub.k, each of said n selectable end panel creases having a length substantially equal to said width W and substantially parallel to said end panel bottom edge;said two side panels, said two end panels and said bottom portion connected thereby forming said container;lower-most side panel fold facilitating creases defined for k equal to 0 positioned on each of said side panels a lower-most crease distance of H.sub.0 from each of said side panel bottom edges;lower-most end panel fold facilitating creases defined for k equal to 0 positioned on each of said end panels a lower-most crease distance of H.sub.0 from each of said end panel bottom edges;top-most side panel fold facilitating creases defined for k equal to n-1 positioned on each of said side panels at top-most crease distance of H.sub.0 plus n-1 times an incremental H, delta H, from each of said side panel bottom edges;top-most end panel fold facilitating creases defined for k equal to n-1 positioned on each of said end panels a top-most crease distance of H.sub.0 plus n-1 times said incremental H, said delta H, from each of said end panel bottom edges; andmeans for unconnecting said two side panels from said two end panels between at least said lowermost side panel fold facilitating creases and said lowermost end panel fold facilitating creases to about said side panel top edges and said end panel top edges;wherein said means for unconnecting comprises a pair of perforations;wherein said pair of perforations comprises a first set of perforations and a second set of perforations, said first set spaced between about 1/8 inch to about 3/8 inch from corners and substantially parallel with said corners on said end panel and said second set of perforations between about 1/8 inch to about 3/8 inch from said corners and substantially parallel with said corners on said side panel, said corners formed where said side panels meet said end panels.