EP0247938A1 - Sidewall assembly for a collapsible crate, method for producing such an assembly and crate provided with such an assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

The sidewall comprises a flexible rectangular sheet (1) of a length which corresponds substantially to the sidewall of the crate, and rigid elements (2, 3) rendered integral with the sheet and defining rectangular frames forming, respectively, the lateral sides of the crate. Packaging. <IMAGE>

Description

The present invention relates to a body periphery, in particular a foldable pallet box, its manufacture and box comprising it.

The packaging of the pallet box type or the like currently existing on the market is made up of different materials, each one bringing its specific properties in these composite structures.

Thus, the reinforced box is usually formed by panels of veneer sheets or plywood, battens forming the side frames of the panels and reinforcing the structure, and stapled wires which maintain the structure and distribute the mechanical stresses.

The hinged raising boxes include walls made of wood or other rigid materials, assembled by metal hinges, and raising elements allowing the assembly to be placed on a pallet. In particular, such plywood boxes may have walls made of plywood panels and hinge angles allowing the assembly to fold.

Foldable pallet boxes have also been proposed comprising a wooden pallet surmounted by a set of panels in particular made of cardboard, folded for transport and capable of being erected for use, the structure thus formed being if necessary reinforced by battens (see for example published patent applications FR-A-2. 102 883 and 2 480 240).

All of these embodiments require relatively large handling during their assembly (stapling, riveting, bonding, etc.) and often an unnecessary consumption of materials unnecessarily weighing down the product.

We have now found a new structure for constituting boxes, in particular pallet boxes, actually integrating all the elements used in a saving of material and weight, and by reinforcing by a choice of suitable materials, the solidity of the whole. , in the form of a continuous sheet.

The present invention therefore relates to a body periphery, in particular a foldable pallet box, comprising a flexible rectangular sheet having substantially the length corresponding to the periphery of the box, and rigid elements made integral with the sheet and defining rectangular frames respectively forming the lateral sides of the body.

The flexible sheet is made of a single-component or reinforced synthetic material, in particular a sheet of plastic material which may be laminated to other materials such as paper, aluminum, etc. The plastic material may for example be a polyolefin (polyethylene, polypropylene, their copolymers, etc.), a polyamide, a polyurethane or other materials, and it may be plain or in the form of fibers, woven or nonwoven, depending on the resistance or impermeability that one wishes to obtain, provided that its solidity is sufficient for use.

The rigid elements, made integral with the sheet (by stapling, nailing, gluing, riveting, sewing or other means) delimit the lateral sides of the box and ensure its rigidity by taking up the mechanical forces which cannot be by flexible tablecloth.

The rigid elements include battens, crosspieces, uprights or panels and are in particular made of wood or derived from wood such as wood. reconstituted, plywood, particle board, fiberboard, but may be made of synthetic material (for example polystyrene).

The perimeter of the body according to the invention comprises the number of rectangular frames corresponding to the number of lateral sides of the body, generally 4, but may include 3 or more of 4 sides, for example 6 or 8.

• - les cadres rectangulaires sont tous à l'intérieur de la nappe et le bord adjacent des liteaux de deux cadres consécutifs est biseauté afin de faciliter le pliage du pourtour, sans étirer la nappe, lors du montage de la caisse;
• - les cadres rectangulaires sont à l'extérieur de la nappe;
• - les liteaux horizontaux (traverses) sont à l'intérieur de la nappe et sont biseautés, tandis que les liteaux verticaux (montants) sont à l'extérieur de la nappe;
• - les liteaux verticaux (montants) sont à l'interieur de la nappe et sont biseautés, tandis que les liteaux horizontaux (traverses) sont à l'extérieur de la nappe;
• - au moins deux des cadres délimités par des liteaux à l'intérieur de la nappe sont espacés de manière à laisser la place pour une chandelle pouvant être insérée au montage de la caisse;
• - au moins une de ces chandelles peut être fixée à la nappe.

According to one embodiment, each rectangular frame is made up of 4 battens (2 uprights and 2 crosspieces, which can be fixed outside or inside the flexible sheet). However, some rectangular frames (at most one in two) may include only two horizontal battens (crossbars), which saves material.

• - The rectangular frames are all inside the tablecloth and the adjacent edge of the battens of two consecutive frames is bevelled in order to facilitate the folding of the periphery, without stretching the tablecloth, during assembly of the box;
• - the rectangular frames are outside the tablecloth;
• - the horizontal battens (crosspieces) are inside the tablecloth and are bevelled, while the vertical battens (uprights) are outside the tablecloth;
• - the vertical battens (uprights) are inside the tablecloth and are bevelled, while the horizontal battens (crosspieces) are outside the tablecloth;
• - at least two of the frames delimited by battens inside the tablecloth are spaced apart from my to make room for a candle that can be inserted when mounting the box;
• - at least one of these candles can be attached to the tablecloth.

These candles fixed or inserted in the corners have a triple function: stiffening of the angles, reinforcement in stacking and securing against a positioning defect of the upper body.

According to a variant, the vertical battens (uprights) have a length greater than the width of the sheet (that is to say the width of the periphery), this configuration making it possible to obtain a raised pallet box.

An important function of the flexible sheet according to the invention is the possibility of folding the structure of the periphery. The size of the folded periphery may be substantially equal to the half-perimeter of the periphery or be reduced to the length of the largest side.

One of the main advantages of the invention lies in the simplicity of mass production of the edges.

According to a first preferred method, a flexible sheet is unwound on which the rigid elements are fixed before cutting the sheet to the length of the periphery (or to a slightly greater length) then, if necessary, the periphery thus obtained is closed. According to a second method, the sheet is cut along a half perimeter or a perimeter with possible surcotes before fixing the rigid elements and possibly closing the periphery (process essentially reserved for medium and small series). It is obviously possible to close the tablecloth first then fix the rigid elements.

• - les figures 1 à 6 sont des vues de dessus de diverses réalisations du pourtour de caisse selon l'invention;
• - les figures 1A à 3A sont respectivement des vues des pourtours des figures 1 à 3;
• - les figures 4A à 6A représentent respectivement les pourtours des figures 4 à 6 à l'état plié.

The following description with reference to the appended drawings gives examples of embodiment of the invention. In these drawings:

• - Figures 1 to 6 are top views of various embodiments of the body periphery according to the invention;
• - Figures 1A to 3A are respectively views of the edges of Figures 1 to 3;
• - Figures 4A to 6A respectively represent the edges of Figures 4 to 6 in the folded state.

The periphery of the body shown in FIGS. 1 and 1A comprises a flexible rectangular sheet 1 (for example a sheet of plastic material) and rigid elements 2, 3 made integral with the sheet (for example by stapling) and defining rectangular frames forming respectively the lateral sides of the body. Each frame, inside the tablecloth, consists of four rigid elements which are horizontal battens 2 (or crosspieces) and vertical battens 3 (or uprights), for example made of wood, the vertical battens 3 being bevelled in order to facilitate the folding of the perimeter and make the structure more solid. The horizontal battens can be made integral with the adjacent vertical battens by gluing or nailing.

On the periphery of the body shown in FIGS. 2 and 2A, the rectangular frames are outside of the flexible sheet 1 and also consist of two horizontal strips 2 and two vertical strips 3. These vertical strips 3 have a greater length to the width of the ply 1, the excess length forming the base of a raised pallet box.

The periphery of the body shown in FIGS. 3 and 3A comprises battens on either side of the ply 1, the horizontal battens 2 (crosspieces) inside the ply 1 being bevelled for the reasons indicated above (FIG. 1). while the vertical battens 3 (uprights) are on the outside of the ply 1.

According to a variant of this last embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the frames of the periphery formed by the horizontal 2 and vertical 3 battens are spaced two by two, so as to leave room for two mobile candles 4 which are inserted during assembly of the box. Fig. 4A represents this same periphery in the folded state, the candles 4 obviously not being placed. The perimeter of the folded periphery is approximately the same as in the assembled state.

The periphery shown in FIGS. 5 and 5A comprises, in addition to the horizontal 2 and vertical 3 battens on either side of the ply 1, two mobile candles 4 and two candles 5 fixed to the ply, for example in the same way as battens 2. 3 (stapling, nailing, gluing, etc.). As before, the movable candles 4 are not used during the folding of the periphery (FIG. 5A).

The periphery shown in FIGS. 6 and 6A comprises horizontal battens 2a and 2b inside the ply 1 and vertical battens 3 outside the ply 1, the relative position of two adjacent horizontal battens 2a and 2b being end against face and the battens 2b being fixed to the sheet only about half of their length. This arrangement allows the folding of the periphery with less bulk.

It is obvious that other variants of this type are possible, in combination with the embodiments described above and given by way of examples, without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (13)

1. Perimeter of the body, in particular of a foldable pallet box, comprising a flexible rectangular ply (1) having substantially the length corresponding to the perimeter of the body, and rigid elements (2, 3) made integral with the ply and defining frames rectangular respectively forming the lateral sides of the box. 2. Surround according to claim 1, characterized in that the flexible sheet consists of a plastic sheet. 3. Surround according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that each rectangular frame consists of four li_teaux. 4. Rim according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that at most one of two rectangular frames comprise only two horizontal battens. 5. Rim according to claim 3 or claim 4, characterized in that the rectangular frames are all inside the sheet and the adjacent edge of the battens of two consecutive frames is bevelled. 6. Perimeter according to claim 3 or claim 4, characterized in that the rectangular frames are outside the sheet. 7. Surround according to claim 3, characterized in that the horizontal battens are inside the sheet and are bevelled, while the vertical strips are outside the sheet. 8. Edge according to claim 3, characterized in that the vertical battens are inside the sheet and are bevelled, while the horizontal strips are outside the sheet. 9. Surround according to any one of claims 3, 5, 7 or 8, characterized in that at least two of the frames delimited by battens inside the sheet are spaced so as to leave room for a candle can be inserted during assembly of the body. 10. Surround according to claim 9, characterized in that at least one of the candles is fixed to the sheet. 11. Edge according to any one of claims 3 to 10 in particular for raised pallet box, characterized in that the vertical battens have a length greater than the width of the sheet. 12. A method of manufacturing the periphery according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that a flexible sheet is unwound on which the rigid elements are fixed, the sheet is cut to the length of the periphery and, if necessary if necessary, the perimeter thus obtained is closed. 13. Box comprising a foldable periphery according to any one of claims 1 to 11.

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