Carton divider

Abstract

A bottle-carton divider is formed by interlocking cross-partitions each having a laterally projecting tab located along the length of, and extending into the half-height vertical slot of the partition by which the interlock with a cross-partition is effected. A tab-receiving opening is formed in each partition having an edge at a location spaced below but in alignment with the referred to vertical slot. The shapes, comparative sizes, and other relationships between the vertical slot, the tab, and the tab-receiving opening formed in any partition are such that, when the divider is assembled, the locking tab on any partition engages and overlaps the referred to edge of the tab-receiving opening of the adjacent, interlocked partition, producing a pair of oppositely-directed abutment interfaces which restrain the locking tabs against disengagement in both directions along the line of intersection between the two, both in the opened condition and in the collapsed condition of the divider.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A collapsible carton divider having at least one substantially planar partition and one substantially planar cross-partition interlocked therewith along an imaginary line of intersection between their respective planes, each said partition and cross-partition having parallel and opposite first and second edges and partition interlock means for interlocking with each partition which interlocks therewith, each said partition interlock means comprising means defining an open-ended slot having opposite side edges extending inwardly from said first edge thereof and being spaced apart a distance which is substantially greater than the thickness of the partition and a closed-end thereof located intermediate said first and second edges of the partition, a surface portion aligned with said slot and which determines, and extends beyond, said closed end of the latter towards said second edge of the partition, means defining a locking tab projecting from one of said side edges of said slot and .[.providing.]. .Iadd.having length extending along an intermediate portion of said slot length to provide .Iaddend.a first abutment edge facing away from the open end of said slot .Iadd.and extending adjacent, and laterally with respect to said imaginary line of intersection between the planes of the interlocked partitions.Iaddend., and means defining a tab-receiving opening within said surface portion and providing a second abutment edge .[.aligned with said first abutment edge and also.]. facing away from the open end of said slot, said surface portion on each of .[.said.]. .Iadd.the .Iaddend.interlocked partitions being received in said slot of its interlocked partition and said locking tab on each of said interlocked partitions being received in said tab-receiving opening of its interlocked partition, said interlocked partitions being pivotable in either direction along all of said lines of intersection whereby said divider may be pivoted from an open condition thereof defined by a substantially angular disposition of each said partition with .[.resepct.]. .Iadd.respect .Iaddend.to each said interlocked cross-partition to either of two collapsed conditions thereof depending upon the direction of said pivoting from said open condition, either of said collapsed conditions being defined by a substantially adjacent and parallel disposition of each said partition with respect to each said interlocked cross-partition, .[.said  .Iadd.the .Iaddend.first abutment edges on the respective of said partitions respectively abutting .[.said.]. .Iadd.the .Iaddend.second abutment edges on the respective of said interlocked partitions when said divider is in .[.either.]. .Iadd.a first .Iaddend.of its said collapsed conditions and in its said open condition, said tab-receiving opening of each said partition further providing a tab-retainer edge aligned with said one side edge of said slot from which said locking tab projects.Iadd., each said tab-receiving opening having a configuration including respective opposite side edge portions each extending away from said tab-retainer edge to receive said locking tab of its said interlocking partition and guide the same into abutment with said tab-retainer edge as said partition and cross-partition are being interlocked, the direction of each of said opposite side edge portions being both away from said imaginary line of intersection in the direction of lateral projection of said locking tab and towards said first edge of said partition, said second abutment edge being adjacent to said tab-retainer edge.Iaddend., the distance of projection of said locking tab on each of said partitions being substantially greater than the thickness of the partition whereby said locking tabs overlap the respective of said tab-retainer edges of said tab-receiving openings with which said locking tabs are respectively associated when said divider is collapsed in one direction to .[.a.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.first of said two collapsed conditions thereof, all of said locking tabs in their said overlapping positions then being on the same side of said divider, and whereby disengagement of said interlocked partitions by movement of one with respect to another in either direction along any of said lines of intersection is substantially prevented when said divider is in both its said first collapsed condition and its said open condition. 
     
     
       2. A collapsible carton divider according to claim 1 wherein each of said one partition and cross-partition has .[.notch.]. means .[.at a location along one of its peripheral edges.]. which identifies .[.only.]. said one direction of collapsing of said divider and which directionally corresponds with similar .[.notch.]. means on the other partition when said divider is in its said first collapsed condition. 
     
     
       3. A collapsible carton divider according to claim 1 wherein said locking tab on each said partition and cross-partition has substantially saw-toothed configuration providing a bite-edge portion including said first abutment edge facing away from said open end of said partition slot .[.and.]..Iadd., .Iaddend.a sloping edge portion facing towards said open end of said partition slot, .Iadd.and a peak edge portion of said tab conjoining .Iaddend.said bite-edge and sloping edge portions .[.conjoining to define a peak edge portion of said tab.]., the other side edge of said partition slot having a first length portion which extends substantially parallel to said sloping edge portion of said tab on the partition to a location therealong which is substantially adjacent to said peak edge portion of the tab and a second length portion parallel to said one .Iadd.of said .Iaddend.side .[.edge.]. .Iadd.edges .Iaddend.of said partition slot and conjoining with its said first length portion, said first length portion being spaced from said sloping edge portion, and said second length portion being spaced from said one side edge respective distances each of which is substantially greater than the thickness of the partition, said tab-receiving opening of each said partition having .Iadd.a .Iaddend.configuration providing an open portion thereof substantially in alignment with said tab peak edge portion of the partition and the location of said conjoining of said first and second length portions of said other side edge of said partition slot, said open portion of the tab-receiving opening on each said partition being disposed to receive said tab peak edge portion of the other of said partitions during assembly of said carton divider. 
     
     
       4. A collapsible carton divider according to claim 3 wherein said other side edge of said partition slot of each said partition and cross-partition further includes a .[.substantially arcuate.]. length portion extending from said location of said conjoining of said first and second length portions thereof to the closed end of said partition slot .Iadd.for engaging and urging said interlocked partition against said one side edge of said partition slot.Iaddend., the .[.arc.]. .Iadd.shape .Iaddend.of said .[.arcuate.]. length portion substantially coinciding with the locus of imaginary points generated by said closed end of said slot of the partition which interlocks therewith during assembly of said carton divider. 
     
     
       5. A collapsible carton divider according to claim 3 wherein each of said partitions and cross-partitions further has a partition support tab projecting from said other side edge of said slot of the partition substantially adjacent to said open end of the slot, said partition support tab projecting into said slot a distance which is less than said spacing distance between said opposite side edges thereof by an amount which is substantially equal to the thickness of that one of said partitions which is interlocked therewith whereby said interlocking therebetween is substantially rigid. 
     
     
       6. A collapsible carton divider according to claim 3 wherein said spacing distances are each equal to substantially twice the thickness of the partition. 
     
     
       7. A collapsible carton divider according to claim 3 wherein said closed end of each partition slot is disposed at a location which is midway between said first and second abutment edges of the partition, said closed ends of the respective slots of said interlocked partitions being in abutting engagement with each other thereby together defining a third abutment edge interface between each said partition and interlocked partition along said line of intersection therebetween. 
     
     
       8. A collapsible carton divider according to claim 1 wherein said opposite side edges of each said slot are spaced apart a distance equal to substantially twice the thickness of the partition. 
     
     
       9. A planar partition for assembling with at least one similar partition to make a carton divider, said partition having parallel and opposite first and second edges and a pair of opposite end edges which together define the planar area of said partition, means defining an open-ended slot having opposite side edges extending inwardly from said first edge of the partition and being spaced apart a distance which is substantially greater than the thickness of said partition for receiving the thickness of a similar partition, said slot having length extending from an open end of the slot at said first edge to a closed end thereof located intermediate said first and second edges of the partition, means defining a locking tab projecting from one of said side edges of said slot a distance substantially greater than the thickness of the partition and having length extending along an intermediate portion of said slot length to provide a first partition abutment edge facing towards said second partition edge and being spaced a distance away from said closed end of the slot.Iadd., said tab-receiving opening having a configuration including respective opposite side edge portions each extending away from said tab-retaining edge to receive said locking tab of said similar partition and guide the same into abutment with said tab-retaining edge as said partition and said similar partition are being assembled, the direction of each of said opposite side edge portions being both away from said tab-retaining edge in the direction of lateral projection of said locking tab and towards said first edge of said partition, said second abutment edge being adjacent to said tab-retaining edge.Iaddend., said locking tab having substantially saw-toothed configuration providing a bite-edge portion including said first abutment edge facing towards said second edge of the partition .[.and.]..Iadd., .Iaddend.a sloping edge portion facing towards said first edge of the partition, .Iadd.and a peak edge portion of said tab conjoining .Iaddend.said bite-edge and sloping edge portions .[.conjoining to define a peak edge portion of said tab.]., the other of said side edges of the slot extending continuously between said open and closed ends of said slot and having a length portion which extends substantially parallel to said sloping edge portion of the tab to a location therealong which is substantially adjacent to said peak edge portion of the tab .[.and a substantially arcuate length portion extending from said location therealong to said closed end of the slot, the arc of said arcuate length portion substantially coinciding with the locus of imaginary points generated by said closed end of said slot of said similar partition when assembling the two partitions,.]..Iadd., .Iaddend.said other side edge length portion being spaced from said sloping edge portion of said tab a distance which is substantially greater than the thickness of said partition, and means defining a tab-receiving opening providing a second partition abutment edge .[.aligned with, but.]. spaced away from said closed end of said slot towards said second edge of the partition and further providing a tab-retaining edge aligned with said one side edge of said slot, .Iadd.and having configuration, and extending outwardly from its said tab-retaining edge to receive said locking tab of said similar partition and guide the same into abutment with said tab-retaining edge as said partition and said similar partition are being assembled, said second abutment edge being adjacent to said tab-retaining edge.Iaddend., the distance between the first said partition abutment edge and said closed end of said slot being at least equal to the distance between said closed end of said slot and said second partition abutment edge. 
     
     
       10. A planar partition according to claim 9, wherein said distance between the first said partition abutment edge and said closed end of said slot is substantially equal to said distance between said closed end of said slot and said second partition abutment edge, whereby said closed end of said slot provides a third partition abutment edge facing towards said first partition edge. 
     
     
       11. A planar partition according to claim 9 wherein said other side edge of said slot includes a second length portion parallel to said one side edge of said slot and conjoining with its first said length portion, said tab-receiving opening having .Iadd.a .Iaddend.configuration providing an open portion thereof substantially in alignment with said tab edge portion and the location of said conjoining of said first and second length portions of said other side edge of said slot and disposed to receive the peak edge portion of a similar locking tab on a similar partition during said making of a carton divider. 
     
     
       12. A planar partition according to claim 11 wherein the periphery of said tab-receiving opening includes a first length portion defining said open portion thereof, a straight-length portion opposite to said first length portion and defining said tab-retaining edge, and respective and opposite length portions .Iadd.defining said opposite side edge portions and .Iaddend.extending between and joining the respective ends of said first length portion and said straight-length portion, that one of the last said length portions which is nearest said closed end of said partition slot, providing said second abutment edge of the partition. 
     
     
       13. A planar partition according to claim 12 wherein at least said one of the last said length portions which provides said second partition abutment edge has .[.substantially arcuate.]. shape .[.generally paralleling said arcuate length portion of said other side edge of said partition slot.]. .Iadd.substantially coinciding with the locus of imaginary points generated by said bite edge portion of said locking tab of said similar partition when assembling the two partitions.Iaddend.. 
     
     
       14. A planar partition according to claim 11 which further comprises a chamfered portion of said one of said side edges of said slot adjacent to said first edge of the partition, and a cross-partition support tab projecting from said other side edge of said slot at a location along the length thereof which is substantially opposite to said chamfered portion of said one side edge of the slot, said cross-partition support tab projecting into said slot a distance which is less than the distance between said opposite side edges of the slot by an amount which is substantially equal to the thickness of said partition. 
     
     
       15. A planar partition according to claim 9 wherein said spacing distances are each equal to substantially twice the thickness of the partition. .Iadd. 16. A planar partition according to claim 9 wherein said other side edge of said slot further has a substantially arcuate length portion extending from said location therealong which is substantially adjacent to said peak edge portion of said tab, to said closed end of the slot, the arc of said arcuate length portion substantially coinciding with the locus of imaginary points generated by said closed end of said slot of said similar partition when assembling the two partitions. .Iaddend..Iadd. 17. A planar partition according to claim 13 wherein the other of said opposite length portions of said tab-receiving opening has shape substantially coinciding with the locus of imaginary points generated by said sloping edge portion of said locking tab of said similar partition when assembling the two partitions. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 18. A carton divider according to claim 1 wherein said tab-receiving opening of each said partition has size and configuration permitting said locking tab on the respective of said interlocked partitions to pass therethrough to disengage said interlocked partitions when said divider is collapsed to said second of said two collapsed conditions thereof. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 19. A carton divider according to any of claims 1-8 or 18 wherein the length of said of said tab-retainer edge on each of said partitions is substantially equal to said length of the locking tab on its interlocked partition. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 20. A planar partition according to claim 9 wherein said tab-receiving opening extends away from its said tab-retaining edge a distance greater than said distance of projection of said locking tab and is configured to permit a similar locking tab, on a similar partition which is interlocked therewith, to pass therethrough as the interlocked partitions are pivoted in one direction into adjacent, parallel relation with respect to each other. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 21. A planar partition according to any of claims 9-17 or 20 wherein the length of said tab-retainer edge is substantially equal to said length of the locking tab. .Iaddend.