US3515332A - Containers with decorative top closures - Google Patents

Description

June 2, 1970 l. SMITH 3,515,332 CONTAINERS WITH DECORATIVE TOP CLOSURES Filed May 2, 1968 r 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

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CONTAINERS WITH DECORATIVE TOP CLOSURES Filed May 2, 1968 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. F/Q [O IRVING SMlTH ATTOR Y5 I. SMITH 3,515,332

CONTAINERS WITH DECORATIVE TOP CLOSURES I 1| II. ll Eqw @i mm W .t 3 TM NS c mm V w mw a m m Q s a 4 IF m 5 M Jane 2, 1970 Filed May 2, 1968 ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,515,332 CONTAINERS WITH DECORATIVE TOP CLOSURES Irving Smith, Flushing, N.Y. Arrow Art Finishers, Inc., 1201 Evergreen Ave., Bronx, N.Y. 10472) Filed May 2, 1968, Ser. No. 726,093 Int. Cl. B65d /00, 5/10 US. Cl. 22938 14 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to containers.

In particular, the present invention relates to containers made of a relatively rigid sheet material, such as paperboard, and adapted to contain articles such as figurines, general merchandise, bottles for dispensing perfume or syrup, breakfast foods, and the like.

Although containers of this general type are well known and the art of their general construction is highly developed, they usually have a plain, unappealing exterior, and the closures thereof are sometimes difficult to manipulate. Thus, conventional containers of this general type are not, except for two dimensional printed designs, particularly attractive to prospective purchasers, particularly women and children.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is accordingly a primary object of the present invention to provide a container of the above general type which will have a special appeal for prospective purchasers, particularly women and children.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a container which not only will be attractive from an aesthetic standpoint but which will in addition have a certain entertainment value, for entertaining a prospective purchaser, in much the same way that a toy is entertaining.

Furthermore, it is an object of the invention to provide a container which has a closure which can be manipulated more conveniently than conventional closures.

It is especially an object of the present invention to provide a container with a top closure which gives at least a pseudo three-dimensional representation of a given subject.

In accordance with the invention, the container has an endless sidewall composed of a ring of an even number of four or more paperboard rectangular panels interconnected by fold lines and having top and bottom ends. Top and bottom closures respectively close the top and bottom ends of the endless sidewall. The top closure includes at least a pair of overlapping paperboard flaps which respectively have a pair of means coacting with each other for providing at least a pseudo three-dimensional representation of a given subject. For this purpose the pair of flaps of the top closure are each provided with a pair of opposed free side portions constituting the means thereof, the opposed free side portions of each of these flaps being deflected away from the top end of the side- 3,515,332 Patented June 2, 1970 wall and extending angularly from a central region of the flap. To facilitate the angular positioning of the free side portions of each flap with respect to a central portion thereof, each flap is provided with score lines at the junction between the central and the free side portions thereof which fold lines have an angular upward set so that they will spring up to the desired position even after having been held flat, i.e., coplanar with the central region during packaging and shipping of numbers of such filled containers in a single carton.

Other objects of my invention in part will be obvious and in part will be pointed out hereinafter.

My invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements and arrangements of parts which will be exemplified in the containers hereinafter described, and of which the scope of application will be indicated in the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings which form part of this applica tion and in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates the configuration of a blank from which one embodiment of a container of the invention can be made;

FIG. 2 is a top side perspective illustration of a closed container formed from the blank of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional elevation taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2 in the direction of the arrows and showing the structure at a scale which is enlarged as compared to FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a transverse sectional elevation taken along line 44 of FIG. 2 in the direction of the arrows and also showing the structure at a scale which is enlarged as compared to FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is an illustration of another blank which may be used to form another embodiment of a container according to the invention;

FIG. 6 is a top side perspective illustration of the closed container which is formed from the blank of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a top side perspective illustration, on an enlarged scale as compared to FIG. 6, showing how the top closure of the embodiment of FIG. '6 appears at an intermediate stage during the closing thereof;

FIG. 8 is a top side perspective illustration of a further stage in the closing of the top closure of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a transverse sectional elevation of the container of FIG. 6 taken along line 9-9 of FIG. 6 in the direction of the arrows and fragmentarily showing only the upper part of the container in a closed position at a scale which is enlarged as compared to FIG. 6;

FIG. 10 is a transverse sectional elevation taken along line 1010 of FIG. 6 in the direction of the arrows and also fragmentarily illustrating only the upper part of the container in a closed position and also at a scale which is enlarged as compared to FIG. 6;

FIG. 11 is a top side perspective illustration of yet another embodiment of a container according to the invention;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary illustration of that part of a blank which includes the top closure of FIG. 11 and the upper part of the side wall thereof;

FIG. 13 is a top side perspective illustration of a fur ther embodiment of a container according to the invention; and

FIG. 14 fragmentarily illustrates that portion of a blank which forms the upper sidewall region and top closure of the container of FIG. 13.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawings, and first to FIGS. 1-4, the container 20, which is illustrated in FIG. 2, is made from the blank 22, which is illustrated in FIG. 1. The entire container 20, and thus the entire blank 22, are made of a relatively rigid material, which preferably is paperboard. The container has an endless sidewall 24 which, in the illustrated example, is made up of four rectangular body panels 24a-24d. These panels are flat and by interconnected laterally located fold lines 28b26d, in the manner shown in FIG. 1. The panel 24a has an additional outer lateral fold line 2611 by which it is connected with an integral tab 28. This tab 28 overlaps and is adhesively secured to the inner surface of the panel 24d with the fold line 26a coinciding with the right free edge of the panel 24d, as viewed in FIG. 1. In this way the container 20 is provided with the endless sidewall 24. An empty container may be shipped in a flat, folded condition, 'with a stack of other empty containers, and in this folded condition the panels 24a and 24b can be located coplanarly beside each other respectively overlying the panels 240 and 24d.

The endless sidewall 24, because it has four fiat rectangular panels 24a-24d, and because opposite panels are of equal size and shape will provide the container 20 with a horizontal cross-section which is square or oblong.

Also, the endless sidewall 24 has top and bottom ends. The bottom end of the sidewall 24 is closed by a conventional bottom closure 30, while the top end of the endless sidewall 24 is capable of being closed by a top closure 32 constructed according to the present invention, as described below.

The illustrated exemplificative conventional bottom closure is made up of flaps 30a30d respectively connected to the bottom edges of the panels 24a-24d by colinear fold lines 34a-34a'. Thus, when the endless sidewall 24 is opened (set-up to assume a tubular configuration, with the panels 24a and 240 opposed and parallel to each other and extending perpendicularly with respect to panels 24b and 24d, the flaps 30b and 30d of the bottom closure 30 can be folded inwardly toward each other into overlying relationship closing the bottom end of the sidewall 24. Then the flaps 30a and 300 can be folded into overlying relationship with the tongue 36 of flap 30c extending through a slit 38 formed in the flap 30a, so that in this way the bottom closure can be releasably maintained in its closed position shown at the lower portions of FIGS. 3 and 4.

The top closure 32 of the invention includes, in the example of FIGS. 1-4, four flaps 40a-46d respectively connected by colinear fold lines 42a-42d to the top edges of the panels 24a-24d. The flaps 40b and 40d are respectively of the same size and shape as the flaps 30b and 30d and overlie each other for completely covering the opening at the top end of the sidewall 24. Actually one of these flaps, such as the flap 40b, for example, could be omitted. With the illustrated structure the flap 40d will be located over the flap 4% so that the latter will be hidden under the flap 40d. The flap 400 will then be situated over the flap 40d, and finally the flap 40a will be located over the flap 400. Thus, the flaps 40a and 400 may be considered respectively as outer and inner flaps of the outermost pair of flaps. The flap 40a terminates in an outer elongated free end portion 44 which extends through a slit 46 formed in the panel 240 near its upper end, so that in this way the flap 40a also serves to retain the top closure 32 in its closed position.

In accordance with the invention, the pair of overlapping flaps 40a and 400 respectively have a pair of means for providing at least a pseudo three-dimensional representation of a given subject. This means of the flap 40a is constituted by a pair of opposed free side portions 48a and 4812, while the means of the flap 400 is constituted by a pair of opposed free side portions 500 and 50b. The side portions 48a and 48b are separated from a central portion of the flap 40a by a pair of parallel score lines 52a and 52b, while the side portions 500 and 501) are separated from a central portion of the flap 400 by a pair of parallel score lines 5411 and 54b, respectively.

As is shown most clearly in FIGS. 2 and 4, the side portions 50a and 50b project angularly from the central portion of flap 40c outwardly away from the top end of the sidewall 24, and the side portions 48a and 48b of the flap 40a project angularly from the central portion thereof and extend away from the top end of the endless sidewall 24. Also, it will be noted that the flap 400 is wider than the fiap 40a so that the side portions 50a and 50b will respectively extend outwardly beyond the side portions 48a and 48b and these further outwardly extending segments will be clearly visible.

By reason of the fact that these free side portions of the pair of overlapping outermost flaps extend upwardly away from the top end of the endless sidewall 24, it is possible to achieve at least a pseudo three-dimensional representation of a given subject, which in the illustrated example is a flower having petals and leaves depicted on the free side portions of the pair of flaps 40a and 400. In order to enhance the three-dimensional effect and the entire appearance of the selected subject, the exterior surface of the third panel 40d, which is situated directly under the panel 400, has printed or otherwise provided thereon markings 56 which in the illustrated example rep resent leaves harmonizing with the representation of a flower derived from the flaps 40a and 400. The threedimensional effect is enhanced when the score lines 52a, 54a, and the score lines 52b and 54b are respectively substantially in register when the top closure is assembled.

The top closure 32 of the invention thus has not only a pleasant aesthetic appeal, but in addition it has a certain entertainment value because of the capability of the free side portions to move with respect to each other while returning to a position such as that indicated in FIG. 4 due to the inherent resiliency of the sheet material. In fact, when the containers of the invention are shipped with articles therein, which may be perfume bottles in the case of FIGS. 14, even if several containers are located one upon the other, when the containers are unloaded the free side portions of the flaps 40a and 400 will reliably spring to the position indicated in FIG. 4 due to the inherent resiliency of the sheet material. In addition. because of the manner in which these free side portions project from the top end of the sidewall, it is an exceedingly simple matter to grasp the outermost flap 40a securely for the purpose of opening the container. It should be mentioned that the so-called free side portions are those portions whose bases only are connected to the central portions of the flaps 40a and 400, the remainder of the peripheries thereof being free.

That the invention is not limited to containers of square or oblong cross section is apparent from FIGS. 510 which illustrate an embodiment of the invention where the container is of hexagonal cross section. As may be seen from FIGS. 5 and 6, the container 60 of this embodiment, shown in FIG. 6, can be made from the blank illustrated in FIG. 5, and in this case also the entire container and blank from which it is formed are made of paperboard.

The blank 62, from which the container 60 is made, has a series of fiat rectangular body panels 64a64f respectively interconnected by laterally located fold lines 66a- 66e to form the tubular sidewall 64 of the container 60. This tubular sidewall 64 is endless. For this purpose an outer lateral fold line 66 connects a tab 68 to the panel 64 and this tab 68 is adhesively secured to the inner surface of the panel 64a with the fold line 66 coinciding with the left free edge of the panel 64a, as viewed in FIG. 5. When the blank is to be shipped in fiat condition, it may be folded into a flat condition after the tab 68- has been secured to the panel 64a. Thus, in its fiat folded condition for bulk shipment the blank will have the panels 64a64c respectively overlying the panels 64], Me, and 64d.

The bottom end of the sidewall 64 is closed by a bottom closure 70 while the top end is closed by a top closure 72 which has a structure according to the invention, as described in greater detail below.

The bottom closure 70, which is conventional, exemplificatively includes the flaps 7011-70 respectively connected to the panels Ma-64f by the colinear fold lines 74a-74f. The panels 70a and 700 are respectively formed at their edges which are directed toward each other with V- notches, and the panels 70d and 70 are also formed with V-notches at their edges which are directed toward each other. In this way the flaps 70b, We will have the illustrated hexagonal configuration for extending completely across the bottom end of the associated panels 64b, 64e respectively of the endless sidewall 64. The flap 70b has a tongue 76 to be received in a slit 7-8 in the flap 70e when the container is erected.

Thus, after the endless sidewall 64 is placed in its open (set up or erected) condition illustrated in FIG. 6, the closure flaps 70a and 70d can be placed in mutually overlying relation and interlocked at their V-notches, and then the closure flaps 70c and 70 can be placed in mutually overlying relation, and overlying the interlocked flaps 7 a, 70d, and interlocked at their V-notches. Then the flap 70s is placed in a position extending across and covering the bottom of the endless sidewall 64. Finally, the flap 70b is placed in a position overlapping the exterior of the flap 70e with the tongue 76 extending through the slit 78 so as to retain the bottom closure 70in its closed position.

The top closure 72 of the invention includes the six flaps 80a-80f respectively connected to the panels 64a-64f by the colinear fold lines 82a-82f. In this case, it is the flaps 80b and 80a which form the pair of outermost flaps of the assembled top closure 72 which are provided with a pair of means, respectively, for giving at least a pseudo three-dimensional representation of a given subject, which in this case also is a flower. The flap 80b constitutes the outer one of the pair of flaps 80b and 80e, while the flap 80a is the inner one of this pair of flaps. This outermost flap 80b terminates in a free end portion 84 which in the fully assembled container extends through a slit 86 formed in the body panel 64c in order to retain the top closure 72 in its closed position.

The means of the flap 80b is constituted by a pair of opposed free side portions 881: and 88b, while the means of the flap 80e is constituted by a pair of free side portions 90a and 80b. The free side portions 88a and 8811 are connected to a central portion of the flap 80d by a pair of parallel score lines 9211 and 92b perpendicular to the fold line 82b, while the free side portions 90a and 90b of the flap 802 are connected to a central portion thereof by the parallel score lines 94a and 94b perpendicular to the fold line 82a. It is to be noted that in both of the embodiments thus far described when the top closure is in its closed position the score lines of the outer flap are respectively aligned with the score lines of the inner flap.

The flaps 80a and 800 are formed at their edges which are directed toward each other in the blank of FIG. 5 with V-notches 96a and 960, and the crests of the notches 96a and 960 are situated at the outer ends of short interlocking slits 98a and 980 formed in the flaps 80a and 800, respectively. [In the same way, the flaps 80d and 801 respectively are formed with V-notches 96d and 96 directed toward each other in the blank of FIG. 5, and the crests of these notches are situated at the outer ends of relatively short interlocking slits 98d and 98 respectively formed in the flaps 80d and 80 Similar interlocking slits are provided on the flaps 70a, 70c, 70d and 70 The top closure 72 may be closed in the manner indicated in FIGS. 7 and 8. Thus, the flaps 80c and 80f are first infolded and interlocked with each other in the manner shown in FIG. 7, and then the flaps 80d and 80a are infolded and interlocked with each other, extending across the flaps 80c and 801 in the manner shown in FIG. 8. Then the flap 80a is folded across the top end of to the fold lines '82e the free side portions 90a and b of the flap 80'e project angularly upwardly from the elongated central portion of this flap 80e which is situated between the score lines thereof, and these free side portions a and 90b will thus extend upwardly away from the top end of the sidewall 64 in the manner shown most clearly in FIG. 10. In the same way, the free side portions 88a and 88b of the outermost flap 80b project upwardly at the score lines 92a and 9211 which are perpendicular to the fold line 82b, away from the central portion of flap 80b which is situated between the score lines thereof. These free side portions 88a and 88b will also extend upwardly away from the top end of the endless sidewall 64 and will respectively overlie the free side portions 90a and 90b of the immediately underlying flap 802. However, it will be noted that the side portions 88a and 88b are respectively upwardly spaced from the side portions 90a and 90b, so that the exterior surfaces of the latter side portions 90a, 9012 will be visible :behind the side portions 88a and 88b.

Thus, it is possible in this case also to achieve an entertaining and aesthetically appealing three-dimensional representation of a fiower despite the fact that the shapes and sizes of the free inclined side portions 88a and 8812 are the same as the shapes and sizes of the free inclined side portions 90a and 90b respectively. The score lines 92a and 92b are in substantial registry with the score lines 94a and 94b when the container 60 is erected. In addition, it will be noted that the outwardly extending free side portions of the flap 80b facilitates grasping of this flap in order to make the opening of the container very convenient. The pseudo three-dimensional eflect which is achieved with the structure of the invention is particularly apparent from FIG. 6, while FIG. 10' illustrates how the free side portion 88a of the outermost flap 8% extends away from the top end of the endless sidewall 64. FIG. 9 shows clearly how the free end portion 84 of the outerrnost flap coacts with the slit '86 of panel 64 to retain the top closure 72 in its closed position.

The portions of the sundry top flaps visible when the container 60 is assembled are ornamented, as by printing, to resemble a three-dimensional object, e.g., a flower.

In the embodiment of the invention which is illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 12, the container is made from a blank 102 and also may consist in its entirety of a relatively rigid sheet material, such as paperboard. The container 100 has an endless sidewall 104 composed of the flat panels 104a-10'4d which give the container 100 the rectangular or square transverse cross section apparent from FIG. 11. The panels 104a104d are separated by laterally disposed fold lines 106a-106c. A tab 108 is connected by a fold line 106d to the panel 104d and is adhesively secured to the inner surface of the panel 104a with the fold line 106d coinciding with the free left edge of the panel 104a, as viewed in FIG. 12. Thus, in this case also the container can be shipped in flat condition with the panels 104a and 10% respectively overlying the panels 104d and 104e, after the tab 108 has been secured to the panel 104a. Except for the top closure 130 which closes the top end of the endless sidewall 104, the structure of FIGS. 11 and 12 may be identical with that of FIGS. 14, so that the lower portion of the blank of FIG. 12 and the bottom closure are not illustrated.

In this embodiment the top closure 130 is made of the flaps 110a, 110b, and 11011 respectively connected by colinear fold lines 112a, 112b, and 112d to the panels 104a, 10 4b and 104d, as illustrated in FIG. 12. No flap is needed for the panel 104s. The liap 110a has a con- 7 figuration corresponding substantially to the configuration of the top end of the endless sidewall .104, so that when this flap 11011 is folded to its closed position it will in itself substantially close the top end of the endless sidewall 104. This flap is lowermost in an assembled container 100.

The flap 1101) forms the outermost one of the pair of outer flaps 11011 and 110d, and it has a free end portion 114 adapted to extend through a slit 116 formed in the panel 104d for releasably retaining the top closure 130 in its closed position, as shown most clearly in FIG. 11.

The flap 11Gb has a pair of free side portions 118a and 118b, while the flap 110d has a pair of free side portions 120a and 12011. The free side portions 118a and 118b are connected to a central portion of the flap 11% by parallel score lines 122a and 122k perpendicular to the fold line 112b, while the free side portions 120a and 12% of the flap 110d are connected to a central portion of the latter flap by parallel score lines 124a and 124b perpendicular to the fold line 112d. The score lines 122a and 12222 are substantially in register with the score lines 124a and 12417 when the container 100 is assembled.

Thus, after the flap 110a has been placed in its closed position, the flap 110d is folded downwardly at the fold line 112d so as to overlie the flap 110a, and then the outer flap 11% is folded down at the fold line 112]) as as to overlap and extend across the intermediate flap 110d. The free side portions 120a and 12% of the flap 110d and the free side portions 118a and 118b of the flap 110b form for these flaps, respectively, a pair of means that provides at least a pseudo three-dimensional representation of a given subject, which in the illustrated example is a group of Christmas figures. Thus, the flap 110b carries, as by printing, a representation of the figure of a snowman, While the flap 110d has at its free side portions 120a and 12% representations, as by printing, of figures depicting carollers.

In this case also it is to be noted that the flap 110d is Wider than the flap 110b, so that the free side portions thereof will extend outwardly beyond the free side portions of the flap 11012. Note also that the representation on the flap 11015 is inverted with respect to the representations on the flap 110d since on the assembled container these flaps extend from opposite sides. In the closed position shown in FIG. 11 the free side portions 118a and 118b project angularly upwardly from the central portion of flap 11% and extend away from the top end of the endless sidewall 104. These angularly extending free side portions 118a and 118b will respectively overlie the angularly upwardly extending free side portions 120a and 12% which respectively extend from the central portion of the flap 110d. These side portions 120a and 12% also extend upwardly away from the top end of the sidewall 104. Thus, in this case the pair of means of the pair of flaps 110b and 110d provides at least a pseudo three-dimensional representation of a group of figures.

In order to enhance the representation, the exterior surface of the third flap 110a is provided with markings 126 representing, as by printing, trees, so as to form a suitable background for the figures.

It will be seen that the representation on the flap 110a is 90 angularly displaced from that on the flap 1101; because the latter flap is 90 from the flap 11Gb in an assembled carton. In this case also an entertaining and aesthetically appealing top closure is provided, and the outwardly extending free side portions of the pair of outer flaps will facilitate manipulation of the top closure 130.

A further possible variation according to the invention is illustrted in FIGS. 13 and 14. In this case also the container 140 is made from a blank 142 of a relatively rigid material such as paperboard, and the container 140 has a rectangular or square transverse cross section as indicated in FIG. 13. The container has an endless sidewall 144 made up of the panels 144a-144d which are separated from each other by laterally located fold lines 146a-146c, and a tab 148 is connected to the outer lateral edge of the panel 1440! by the fold line 146d. This tab 148 is adhesively secured to the inner surface of the panel 144a with the fold line 146d coinciding with the left edge of the panel 144a, as viewed in FIG. 14. In this case also the structure of the blank below the part thereof illustrated in FIG. 14 is identical with that of FIG. 1 and therefore is not further illustrated.

The top closure 180 of this embodiment is made up of only three immediately adjacent flaps 1500, 150b, 150e, which are respectively connected by colinear fold lines 152a, 152b, 1520 to the top ends of the adjacent panels 144a, 144b, 1440. The panel 144d has no top cover flap, the same not being needed.

The flap 150a has a configuration corresponding substantially to the top end of the sidewall 144 and will in itself substantially close this top end. The flap 1501) terminates in a wide freely extending tab 154 which is adapted to be slipped just inside of the upper portion of the panel 144d so as to frictionally retain the top closure 180 in its closed position as illustrated in FIG. 13.

The pair of outer flaps 15% and 150c are respectively provided with a pair of means for giving at least a pseudo three-dimensional representation of a given subject. In this case the subject is a caricature of a human head. Thus, the flap .150b has a pair of free side portions 158a and 158b, while the flap 1500 has a pair of free side portions 160a and 16011. The free side portion 160b is formed by an elongated curved slit 166 which passes through the flap 150C. The free side portions 158a and 158b are interconnected with a central portion of the flap 15% by a pair of score lines 162a and 162b, respectively, that are perpendicular to the fold line 152b, while the free side portions 160a and 1601) of the flap 150c are interconnected with a central portion thereof by the pair of score lines 164a and 1641; that are parallel to the fold line .152c; however these latter lines 164a, 164b will, when the container 140 is assembled, be parallel to and substantially underlie the score lines 162a, 1621) since at this time the body panels 144b, 144c are perpendicular to one another. The manner in which the free side portion 1611b extends from an edge 168 of the slit 166 is particularly apparent from FIG. 13.

In order to provide the three-dimensional representation, in the example of FIGS. 13 and 14, the upper flap 15% is formed with a pair of eye openings 170a and 17Gb and with a mouth opening 172, while the immediately underlying flap 1506 is provided with markings 174a, 1741) depicting eyes, and with markings 176 depicting teeth.

After the flap 150a is turned down to its closed position, the flap 1500 is folded at the fold line 1520 to the closed position shown in FIG. 13. Then the outermost fiap 15% is folded at the fold line 15% down to its closed position, and the tab 154 is inserted just inside of the panel 144d, frictionally engaging the inner surface thereof. With the flaps of the top closure 180 in this position the eye-representing configurations 174a and 174b will respectively be visible through the openings 170a and 17% and in alignment therewith, while the teeth-representing markings 176 will be aligned with and visible through the mouth opening 172. The free side portions 160a and 160!) are printed to represent hair which forms an extension of hair 161 represented at the central region of the tab 150b, between the eye openings thereof and the panel 144b.

At the score lines 162a and 16217 the free side portions 158a and 158b of the panel 15Gb project angularly upwardly from the central portion thereof and extend away from the top end of the endless sidewall 144. In the same way, the free side portions 160a and 16% of the panel 1500 project at the score lines 164a and 164b upwardly from the central region of the tab 150s and extend away from the top end of the endless sidewall 144. With this construction, an exceedingly life-like, threedimensional representation of a human head is achieved. The structure is entertaining as well as aesthetically appealing. Manipulation of the top closure is facilitated by the outwardly extending positions occupied by the free side portions of the pair of outer flaps.

It has been found that with all of the embodiments of the invention, the springy nature of the paperboard sheet material will result in automatic springing of the free side portions of the pair of outermost flaps of the top closure outwardly away from the top end of the sidewall whenever filled erected containers are unloaded from a package in which a relatively large number of these containers may be situated with the lowermost containers bearing considerable weight on their top closures.

Also, it is to be noted that while the structure of the invention is exceedingly inexpensive to manufacture, it nevertheless is capable of achieving a wide variety of diiferent effects. The various embodiments of the invention described above and shown in the drawings are illustrative of some of the different ways in which it is possible for the flaps of the top closure to coact with each other for achieving the effects of the invention.

It thus will be seen that I have provided containers which achieve the various objects of my invention and which are well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiments above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter herein described or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

1. A container comprising, an endless sidewall of flat body panels having top and bottom ends, a bottom closure for closing said bottom end, and a top closure for closing said top end, said top closure including at least a pair of overlapping flaps respectively each having a pair of means coacting with each other for providing a three-dimensional representation of a given subject.

2. The combination of claim 1 and wherein said sidewall and closures are all made of a relatively rigid sheet material.

3. The combination of claim 2 and wherein said sheet material is paperboard.

4. The combination of claim 1 and wherein said top closure includes a third flap situated beneath said overlapping flaps when the container is erected and by itself substantially closing said top end of said sidewall, and said third flap extending beyond said overlapping flaps and having an exterior appearance which contributes to the three-dimensional representation of said given subject.

5. The combination of claim 1 and wherein said means of each flap includes a pair of opposed free side portions of each flap projecting upwardly from a central portion of each flap and extending away from said top end of said sidewall.

6. The combination of claim 5 and wherein said flaps are made of a bendable sheet material and have score lines separating the opposed side portions of each flap from said central portion thereof and effecting deflection of said side portions of each flap away from said top end of said sidewall.

7. The combination of claim 6 and wherein said flaps constitute an outer flap and an inner flap situated in back of said outer flap.

8. The combination of claim 6 and wherein the score lines of said outer flap respectively are substantially in alignment with the score lines of said inner flap.

9. The combination of claim 7 and wherein said inner fiap is wider than said outer flap and has said side portions thereof extending outwardly beyond said side portions of said outer flap.

10. The combination of claim 9 and wherein said outer flap carries a representation of a given figure, and said side portions of said inner flap, where they extend beyond said outer flap, carrying representations of additional figures, so that said pair of means coact to provide a three-dimensional representation of a group.

11. The combination of claim 7 and wherein said outer flap carries a representation of part of a human head and is formed with eye openings, and said inner flap having representations of eyes situated behind and visible through said eye openings of said outer flap.

12. The combination of claim 7 and wherein said outer flap is formed with a mouth opening and the inner flap has a representation of a mouth part situated behind and visible through said mouth opening.

13. The combination of claim 7 and wherein said inner and outer flaps carry representations of flower petals.

14. The combination of claim 7 and wherein said outer flap terminates in a free end portion overlapping said endless sidewall and releasably connected thereto for releasably holding said top closure in a closed position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,899,241 2/1933 Marr 4611 1,941,538 1/1934 Costello 4611 1,982,780 12/ 1934 Behrens 229-8 XR 2,396,010 3/1946 Isenberg 2298 2,467,702 4/1949 Smart 22938 XR 2,636,313 4/1953 Shank 229-8 XR 2,823,844 2/ 1958 Frankenstein 229-8 3,153,503 10/1964 Goldstein 2298 FOREIGN PATENTS 505,599 12/1954 Italy.

DAVIS T. MOORI-IEAD, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

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