EP0723513B1 - Box or box cover of rigid sheet material with handle, blank and method for the manufacture of such a box or cover - Google Patents

Abstract

PCT No. PCT/FR94/01208 Sec. 371 Date Jul. 18, 1996 Sec. 102(e) Date Jul. 18, 1996 PCT Filed Oct. 18, 1994 PCT Pub. No. WO95/11165 PCT Pub. Date Apr. 27, 1995A carton has a bottom, side walls and top. A strap handle is attached to both sidewalls and extends over the top. The handle fits into slots that extend from the side wall into the top. The handles are attached to the side wall below these slots. The ends of the slots have enlarged areas that retain the handle as it extends through the slot. The enlarged areas can be any number of different shapes.

Description

The present invention relates to a crate or a crate lid of sheet material such as flat cardboard, corrugated cardboard or an equivalent material, relatively rigid, comprising lateral faces and an upper face, as defined in the preamble of claim 1 .

It also relates to a blank for the constitution of such a case or such a cover, according to the preamble of claims 26 and 30, and to a method of manufacturing such a case or of such a cover with handle, according to the preamble to claim 45.

It finds a particularly important, although not exclusive, application in the field of rectangular boxes or more generally of polygonal horizontal section, in double-sided corrugated cardboard, intended to contain fairly heavy products which can weigh several kilograms, such as water bottles for example. , and having an upper face perpendicular to the lateral faces of the body, thus forming a cover at right angles to the latter.

Handle systems are already known for transporting rectangular boxes. These are generally lateral openings cut for example two-thirds of the height of the body in two opposite lateral faces. The user then grabs the case with full hand through said orifices to carry it.

Such a system has drawbacks. It in fact requires an internal reinforcing strip glued above the orifices to avoid tearing of the material, which is expensive and complicated to implement.

In addition, the user must carry the box with two hands, which is impractical.

Known systems of handles are also known, for example made of plastic or metallic material which is hung on a cable, a string or a band which then completely surrounds the body, or which is glued on each side on two opposite lateral faces. (FR-A-1512737).

These systems are however complicated to implement and hamper the palletization of the boxes. These are no longer superimposable given the projections presented by the handles and / or strings surrounding the boxes.

The present invention aims to provide a crate or a crate lid, blanks and a method for manufacturing a crate or a crate lid with a handle which better meets those previously known than the requirements of practice, in particular that it offers a simple handle, resistant, inexpensive, favoring the palletization of the boxes and allowing the transport by a user of a box which can contain a relatively heavy and bulky product, with one hand.

For this purpose, the invention essentially provides a box or a box cover, of sheet material comprising lateral faces, an upper face and an elongated handle, attached, fixed on each side on two opposite lateral faces, characterized in that said body or said cover comprises at least two frangible or hollowed-out zones, situated respectively on either side of the body or of the cover straddling the junction lines between the upper face and two opposite lateral faces, said zones each extending on either side of said junction lines on the one hand in the upper face and on the other hand in said corresponding opposite lateral face, over determined distances, and
in that the handle is fixed below the zones with respect to the upper face, and extends opposite the zones and the upper face portion situated between said zones, so that, when the handle is pulled substantially perpendicular to the upper face, the handle is embedded in said areas.

Advantageously, the upper face forms an angle with the lateral faces at the level of the junction lines between said upper face and said lateral faces, for example a right angle.

• la poignée allongée est une bande souple ;
• la fixation de la poignée sur les faces latérales est effectuée par collage ;
• la longueur de la poignée allongée entre ses points de fixation sur les faces latérales, est égale ou sensiblement égale à la somme des distances entre d'une part lesdits points de fixation et les lignes de jonction des faces latérales correspondantes et d'autre part la largeur de la caisse entre lesdites lignes de jonction, de sorte que la poignée allongée est mobile entre une première position, à plat, où elle épouse le pourtour de la caisse et une seconde position, de préhension, en partie écartée du couvercle, où elle est encastrée dans lesdites zones ;
• la face supérieure est perpendiculaire aux faces latérales ;
• les zones sont des évidements formant échancrures ;
• les zones sont identiques ;
• la forme développée, c'est-à-dire à plat, de la zone dans le sens perpendiculaire à la ligne de jonction, est rectangulaire ;
• la forme développée de la zone dans le sens perpendiculaire à la ligne de jonction, comporte une partie centrale propre à former une fente centrale à cheval sur, et perpendiculairement à, la ligne de jonction, ladite partie centrale étant terminée de part et d'autre par des parties élargies symétriques par rapport à ladite ligne de jonction ;
• la fente centrale est triangulaire, de sommet dirigé vers la face supérieure ;
• la fente centrale présente deux cotés concaves de rayon de courbure dirigés vers l'extérieur de la fente ;
• la fente centrale est rectangulaire ;
• les parties élargies sont des fentes transversales perpendiculaires à la fente centrale ;
• les parties élargies sont sensiblement en forme de trapèze isocèle dont la grande base est dirigée vers l'extérieur de la zone ;
• la forme développée de la zone dans le sens perpendiculaire à la ligne de jonction, comprend une partie centrale élargie séparée par des zones étroites avec les deux parties d'extrémité également élargies ;
• le bord d'extrémité des zones du coté de la face supérieure est arrondi avec une convexité dirigée vers l'extérieur, c'est-à-dire présentant un rayon de courbure dirigé vers l'intérieur de la zone concernée ;
• la distance déterminée b entre le bord d'extrémité inférieur de la zone et la ligne de jonction entre face supérieure et face latérale correspondante, et la distance a entre le bord d'extrémité supérieur de la zone et ladite ligne de jonction, sont liés par la relation suivante : $$\frac{\text{b}}{\text{4}}\text{≤ a ≤ 4b}$$
  
• la caisse est de section horizontale polygonale ;
• est caractérisée en ce que :
  • . les faces latérales sont reliées entre elles par l'intermédiaire de premières lignes de pliage parallèles entre elles, et
  • . la face supérieure est constituée de rabats intérieurs et de rabats extérieurs, lesdits rabats étant reliés respectivement auxdites faces latérales par des deuxièmes lignes de pliage orthogonales auxdites premières lignes de pliage, chaque rabat intérieur étant solidaire d'une face latérale qui se trouve entre deux faces latérales respectivement munies de rabats extérieurs ;
• les zones frangibles ou évidées sont situées dans le prolongement de la ligne ou espace de jonction entre rabats opposés dont les bords en vis à vis sont les bords opposés les plus rapprochés de la face supérieure ;
• les zones frangibles ou évidées s'étendent parallèlement aux bords en vis à vis des rabats les moins rapprochés de la face supérieure ;
• la caisse présente une fente centrale élargie entre bords périphériques en vis à vis des rabats, au droit et parallèles à la poignée permettant la préhension plus aisée de ladite poignée par un utilisateur ;
• les zones sont agencées pour permettre à la poignée allongée de prendre appui sur les produits disposés à l'intérieur de la caisse.

In advantageous embodiments, use is made of one and / or the other of the following arrangements:

• the elongated handle is a flexible strip;
• the handle is fixed to the lateral faces by gluing;
• the length of the elongated handle between its fixing points on the lateral faces, is equal to or substantially equal to the sum of the distances between on the one hand said fixing points and the junction lines of the corresponding lateral faces and on the other hand the width of the body between said junction lines, so that the elongated handle is movable between a first position, flat, where it marries the periphery of the body and a second, gripping position, partly separated from the cover, where it is embedded in said areas;
• the upper face is perpendicular to the lateral faces;
• the zones are recesses forming notches;
• the zones are identical;
• the developed shape, that is to say flat, of the area in the direction perpendicular to the junction line, is rectangular;
• the developed shape of the zone in the direction perpendicular to the junction line, comprises a central part capable of forming a central slot straddling, and perpendicular to, the junction line, said central part being terminated on either side by enlarged parts symmetrical with respect to said junction line;
• the central slit is triangular, from apex directed towards the upper face;
• the central slot has two concave sides of radius of curvature directed towards the outside of the slot;
• the central slot is rectangular;
• the enlarged parts are transverse slots perpendicular to the central slot;
• the enlarged parts are substantially in the form of an isosceles trapezium, the large base of which is directed towards the outside of the zone;
• the developed shape of the zone in the direction perpendicular to the junction line, comprises an enlarged central part separated by narrow zones with the two end parts also enlarged;
• the end edge of the zones on the side of the upper face is rounded with a convexity directed towards the outside, that is to say having a radius of curvature directed towards the inside of the zone concerned;
• the determined distance b between the lower end edge of the zone and the junction line between upper face and corresponding side face, and the distance a between the upper end edge of the area and said junction line, are linked by the following relation: $$\frac{\text{<figure-callout id="4" label="b" filenames="imgf0001.png" state="{{state}}">b</figure-callout>}}{\text{4}}\text{≤ a ≤ 4b}$$
  
• the body is of polygonal horizontal section;
• is characterized in that:
  • . the lateral faces are interconnected by means of first fold lines which are parallel to each other, and
  • . the upper face consists of inner flaps and outer flaps, said flaps being connected respectively to said side faces by second fold lines orthogonal to said first fold lines, each inner flap being integral with a side face which is located between two faces lateral respectively provided with external flaps;
• the frangible or hollowed-out areas are situated in the extension of the line or junction space between opposite flaps whose opposite edges are the opposite edges closest to the upper face;
• the frangible or hollowed out areas extend parallel to the edges facing the flaps which are the least close to the upper face;
• the body has an enlarged central slot between peripheral edges facing the flaps, at right and parallel to the handle allowing easier grip of said handle by a user;
• the zones are arranged to allow the elongated handle to bear on the products arranged inside the box.

• une suite de volets rectangulaires reliés les uns aux autres par des premières lignes de pliage parallèles ; et
• un premier ensemble de rabats latéraux disposés d'un côté de ladite suite de volets, reliés à celle-ci par des deuxièmes lignes de pliage perpendiculaires auxdites premières lignes de pliage et destinés à former la face supérieure de ladite caisse ou dudit couvercle, ledit premier ensemble de rabats latéraux comportant des rabats intérieurs pour former la partie intérieure de ladite face supérieure et des rabats extérieurs pour former la partie extérieure de ladite face supérieure ;
  caractérisé en ce que
  il comporte aux moins deux zones frangibles ou évidées, respectivement à cheval et centrées latéralement sur les deuxièmes lignes de pliage de deux rabats non adjacents dits premiers rabats, destinés à former deux rabats opposés de la face supérieure de la caisse ou du couvercle, lesdites zones s'étendant chacune de part et d'autre de ladite deuxième ligne de pliage correspondante sur des distances déterminées.

The invention also provides a blank of material made from a sheet of corrugated cardboard or the like, for producing a cover or a case, said blank comprising:

• a series of rectangular shutters connected to each other by first parallel fold lines; and
• a first set of lateral flaps arranged on one side of said series of flaps, connected thereto by second fold lines perpendicular to said first fold lines and intended to form the upper face of said box or said cover, said first set of side flaps comprising inner flaps to form the inner part of said upper face and outer flaps to form the outer part of said upper face;
  characterized in that
  it comprises at least two frangible or hollowed out areas, respectively astride and centered laterally on the second fold lines of two nonadjacent flaps called first flaps, intended to form two opposite flaps of the upper face of the box or of the cover, said areas each extending on either side of said second corresponding fold line over determined distances.

• les premiers rabats sont les rabats intérieurs ;
• le premier ensemble de rabats comprenant quatre rabats, les deux autres rabats dudit premier ensemble, dits seconds rabats, comportent des bords périphériques en vis à vis présentant à leur extrémité des évidements ou des parties frangibles propres à se superposer avec lesdites zones des deux premiers rabats.

In advantageous embodiments, use is made of one and / or the other of the following arrangements:

• the first flaps are the interior flaps;
• the first set of flaps comprising four flaps, the other two flaps of said first set, called second flaps, have peripheral edges facing each other having at their ends recesses or frangible parts able to overlap with said areas of the first two flaps.

The invention also provides a blank comprising a series of flaps separated two by two by first fold lines and capable of at least partially enveloping the product to be packaged to form the upper face and two lateral faces of a box or a cover, said flaps being provided on either side with lateral flaps intended to form two other lateral faces of the box or of the cover, characterized in that it comprises at least two frangible or hollow zones in the extension one on the other, respectively straddling the first two fold lines located between three consecutive flaps.

In an advantageous embodiment, one of the end flaps of the series is a bonding tongue, one of the frangible or hollowed-out zones straddles the first fold line situated between said tongue and the adjacent flap, and the other end flap comprises a complementary frangible or hollowed out area, arranged to be opposite with said zone of the tongue once the body is formed.

Advantageously, the zones have shapes and dimensions of the type of those described with reference to the boxes above.

Also advantageously, the invention provides an assembly comprising a blank of the above type provided with an attached flat strip fixed at its ends respectively on two of the flaps, on either side of the two zones, and extending opposite zones and the flap located between said zones in parallel and substantially in contact with, that is to say by marrying the surface of said flap.

The invention also provides a method of manufacturing cases or covers as described above.

• on colle une première extrémité de la poignée en dessous d'une première zone,
• on déroule la poignée en l'appliquant sur les faces latérales, et la face supérieure, en regard desdites zones, et
• on colle l'autre extrémité de la poignée en dessous de l'autre zone en vis à vis, de sorte que la poignée allongée est mobile entre une première position à plat où elle épouse le pourtour de la caisse, et une seconde position, de préhension, en partie écartée du couvercle, où elle est encastrée dans lesdites zones.

Advantageously, the invention provides a method of manufacturing a crate or a crate lid with a handle of the type described above, in which the crate in which the product to be packaged is placed, said method being characterized in that

• we stick a first end of the handle below a first area,
• the handle is unrolled by applying it to the lateral faces, and the upper face, facing said zones, and
• the other end of the handle is glued below the other opposite area, so that the elongated handle is movable between a first flat position where it marries the periphery of the body, and a second position, grip, partly spaced from the cover, where it is embedded in said zones.

• on forme les parois et le fond de la caisse qu'on remplit ensuite des produits à emballer, et
• on replie sur les produits les rabats préalablement encollés pour former le couvercle ;
• la caisse étant prévue pour présenter une fente centrale élargie entre bords périphériques en vis à vis des rabats extérieurs du couvercle, parallèles à la poignée,
  on replie tout d'abord les rabats intérieurs (7) de couvercle correspondant aux zones, puis on colle et on applique la poignée sur lesdits rabats, et on replie ensuite les rabats extérieurs (9') ;
• la poignée est préalablement mise en place et collée sur le flan à plat, avant formation de ladite caisse à partir dudit flan.

In advantageous embodiments, the invention also proposes a method in which:

• the walls and the bottom of the box are formed, which are then filled with products to be packaged, and
• the previously glued flaps are folded over the products to form the cover;
• the body being designed to present a widened central slot between peripheral edges facing the outer flaps of the cover, parallel to the handle,
  first of all the inner flaps (7) of the cover corresponding to the zones are folded back, then the handle is glued and applied to said flaps, and then the outer flaps (9 ') are folded;
• the handle is previously put in place and glued to the flat blank, before said box is formed from said blank.

The invention will be better understood on reading the following description of particular embodiments given by way of non-limiting example.

• La figure 1 est une vue en perspective montrant un premier mode de réalisation d'une caisse selon l'invention avant pose d'une poignée.
• La figure 2 est une vue de la même caisse après pose d'une poignée souple en forme de bande collée sur les faces latérales opposées, et avant qu'une traction ne soit effectuée sur ladite poignée.
• La figure 3 montre la caisse de la figure 2 après traction sur la poignée.
• La figure 4 est une vue en perspective montrant un autre mode de réalisation de la zone selon l'invention, ici en forme d'échancrure rectangulaire.
• Les figures 5 et 6 sont des vues en perspective montrant un autre mode de réalisation d'une caisse selon l'invention, dans la cas où la poignée est posée sur les faces latérales correspondant aux grands rabats, avant pose de la poignée (figure 5) et après pose de la poignée et traction sur celle-ci (figure 6).
• Les figures 7 à 10 montrent des vues en perspective d'un autre mode de réalisation selon l'invention, dans le cas où la poignée est posée sur les petits rabats et sous les grands rabats (figures 7 et 8), avant fermeture de ceux-ci (figure 9) et traction sur la poignée (figure 10).
• La figure 11 donne divers modes de réalisation de zones selon l'invention.
• Les figures 12 et 13 sont des schémas montrant la forme d'une poignée en coupe, après traction, selon le mode de réalisation de l'invention plus particulièrement décrit ici, ainsi que la répartition des efforts.
• Les figures 14 et 15 montrent en perspective un autre mode de réalisation d'une caisse selon l'invention, avant et après pose d'une poignée en forme de bande.
• Les figures 16 à 23 montrent différents modes de réalisation de flans selon l'invention.
• les figures 24 et 25 montrent, en perspective, une caisse selon un autre mode de réalisation de l'invention, avant et après pose de la poignée.
• La figure 26 montre un autre mode de réalisation de flan selon l'invention.
• Les figures 27 et 28 montrent des ensembles "flan plus poignée", directement constitués à plat, selon un mode de réalisation de l'invention particulièrement avantageux.
• La figure 29 montre un flan pré-plié pour formation d'une caisse américaine, tel que livré de façon classique, muni d'une poignée selon l'invention.
• La figure 30 montre la caisse américaine, formée à partir du flan de la figure 29.

The description refers to the accompanying drawings in which:

• Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a first embodiment of a box according to the invention before fitting a handle.
• Figure 2 is a view of the same box after installation of a flexible handle in the form of a strip bonded to the opposite side faces, and before a pull is made on said handle.
• Figure 3 shows the body of Figure 2 after pulling on the handle.
• Figure 4 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the area according to the invention, here in the form of a rectangular notch.
• Figures 5 and 6 are perspective views showing another embodiment of a box according to the invention, in the case where the handle is placed on the side faces corresponding to the large flaps, before fitting the handle (Figure 5 ) and after fitting the handle and pulling on it (Figure 6).
• Figures 7 to 10 show perspective views of another embodiment according to the invention, in the case where the handle is placed on the small flaps and under the large flaps (Figures 7 and 8), before closing those -ci (figure 9) and traction on the handle (figure 10).
• FIG. 11 gives various embodiments of zones according to the invention.
• Figures 12 and 13 are diagrams showing the shape of a handle in section, after traction, according to the embodiment of the invention more particularly described here, as well as the distribution of forces.
• Figures 14 and 15 show in perspective another embodiment of a box according to the invention, before and after installation of a strip-shaped handle.
• Figures 16 to 23 show different embodiments of blanks according to the invention.
• Figures 24 and 25 show, in perspective, a box according to another embodiment of the invention, before and after fitting the handle.
• Figure 26 shows another embodiment of blank according to the invention.
• Figures 27 and 28 show "blank plus handle" assemblies, directly formed flat, according to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention.
• FIG. 29 shows a pre-folded blank for forming an American box, as delivered in a conventional manner, provided with a handle according to the invention.
• Figure 30 shows the American box, formed from the blank of Figure 29.

FIG. 1 shows a rectangular box 1, made of double-sided corrugated cardboard, for example 5 mm thick for water bottles, comprising a bottom 2, four side faces, namely two small faces 3 and two large faces 4, separated from each other by first fold lines 5, and an upper face 6, composed of two small inner flaps 7 (in broken lines in FIG. 1) respectively connected to the small lateral faces 3 by second fold lines 8, and two large outer flaps 9 respectively connected to the large lateral faces 4 by second fold lines 10.

The box has two zones 11 in the form of recesses, identical, for reasons of symmetry, and corresponding to the second fold lines 8, straddling said lines and extending on either side in the lateral face and the lid.

In the embodiment of Figure 1, the two large flaps are substantially contiguous with each other at their outer peripheral edge 13, in the closed position, the recesses therefore being formed on the one hand by a cutout 12 in the lateral faces 3 and the inner flaps 7, and on the other hand by symmetrical notches 13a made on either side on the ends of the peripheral edges 13 of the large flaps 9, said notches being suitable for overlapping on each side to the contour of the cutting portion 12 made in the inner flaps 7.

The recesses 11 are thus formed, directly open on the inside of the body 1.

More specifically, the recesses 11 here comprise a central slot 14, rectangular, for example 5 mm thick and 5 cm long, straddling the lines 8 and two end portions 15 substantially in the form of isosceles trapezoids, the large base is on the side of the exterior of the recess, said end portions being for example arranged symmetrically with respect to the fold line 8.

The box 1 (see FIG. 2) comprises a flexible handle 16, elongated, in the form of a non-extensible flexible strip, made of resistant paper, for example manufactured by the American company 3M.

This strip advantageously comprises a preferential central folding zone, for example formed by a longitudinal central pre-fold, facilitating the embedding in the recesses. It is for example of a width equal to or slightly less than the width of the large base of the end portions 15, and greater or slightly greater than the width of the slot 14, which facilitates its application around the periphery of the body before traction.

The handle 16 is fixed at 17, below the zones 11 relative to the upper face by gluing, over a determined distance c which will be adjusted as a function of the quality of the adhesive and of the weight of the box, for example on 2 cm to 8 cm.

It is arranged opposite the recesses 11 in a first position, flat, where it follows the periphery of the upper part 8 of the body, above the fixing points or zones 17.

The small width of the central slot 14 therefore allows an arrangement in support of the strip on the periphery of the body in this embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 shows the same box, after traction at 19, vertical or substantially vertical, on the handle 16.

This is fitted at 20 at the fold lines 8, in the recesses 11, which frees a space 21 which will allow the grip by a user of the handle which has thus partly moved away from the cover.

Gluing the handle at its ends to the cardboard box is sufficient to support the weight of the box.

On the other hand when the user wishes to open the cash register, it will suffice to tear off the points bonding surfaces) 17 by pulling perpendicularly to the side walls 3.

In the following, the same reference numbers will be used to designate the same elements.

FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of a box 22 comprising a recess 23 in the extension of the junction line 13 between large opposite flaps 9. The recess is here of rectangular shape of width identical or slightly greater than that of band 16.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show another embodiment of a box 24 according to the invention where the two recesses 25 are located on the fold lines 10 of the large flaps 9.

In this case, it is not necessary to modify the other two flaps, in this case the small flaps 7.

The handle 16 is then arranged as shown in FIG. 6, the ends of the strip being fixed at 26 on the face 4, below the recesses 25.

Figures 7 to 10 show another embodiment of the box 27 according to the invention.

The box comprises two recesses 11 of the type described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3 comprising two cutouts 12, on the fold lines 8 corresponding to the small lateral faces 3 and to the small flaps 7.

The two large flaps 9 'include an external peripheral edge 13' provided with symmetrical notches 13'a made on either side on the ends of the edge 13 'and adapted to be superimposed on the contour of the cutting portion 12 in the inner flaps 7, on each side.

The edges 13 ′ further comprise a central part 13 ′ b, notched, of contours symmetrical with respect to the center line perpendicular to the lines of folding 10 of the box, having a first level parallel to the line 13 'at a first distance from the latter and a second level parallel to the line 13' at a second distance from the latter, said distance being greater than the half width of the strip 16.

The latter (see FIG. 8) is glued at 17, as indicated with reference to FIG. 2 and stretched directly on the internal flaps 7.

The flaps 9 ′ are then folded over the strip 16 (see FIG. 9) leaving a central space 28 of greater width than the strip 16 and allowing a user to thus easily grasp the handle, as shown in FIG. 10.

FIG. 11 shows, without limitation, six different embodiments of the zones according to the invention, which can be recesses, or frangible zones, or a superposition of recesses in the flaps for example and of frangible zones in the walls or vice versa.

In FIG. 11, the fold lines 8 or 10 are shown by a dashed line.

The shape of the area 30 is of the type described with reference to the previous figures.

It has a rectangular central slot 31 extending on either side of the fold line and provided with two end parts 32 symmetrical with respect to the line 8 or 10. The two parts have a trapezoidal or triangular shape whose the large bases 33 and 34 are located towards the outside of the area.

Advantageously, the base 34, on the side of the cover, is of rounded shape, in order to improve the range of the strip on said base 34, of width substantially equal, a little greater or a little less than that of the strip 16.

The area 35 is in turn rectangular, for example of a width slightly greater than that of the strip 16 intended to be embedded therein.

Zone 36 is similar to zone 30. It has a central part 37 in the form of a slit, and two end parts 38 perpendicular and symmetrical with respect to the fold line, for example of width equal to or less than the central slit. .

The area 39 has a lock shape, with a central slot 40 substantially triangular or frustoconical, with the apex directed towards the cover.

It has two enlarged end parts, one trapezoidal or inverted triangular (41) directed towards the cover, and the other (42) in the form of a rectangular slot parallel to the fold line.

The area shown at 43 has two end portions 44 similar to the portions 32 of the area 30 and a central portion 46 enlarged, for example oval.

The area 47 has a slot, the walls 48 of which are curved with a radius of curvature directed outward and ending on either side by two substantially identical enlarged end portions 49, of width greater than or equal to that of the handle strip 16.

FIG. 12 schematically gives the distances existing between different support points of a box according to the invention, making it possible in particular to adapt the dimensions of the zones according to the products contained in the box, in particular when it is desired to coincide the ends of the zones, for example 33 and 34, if reference is made to the slot 30 in FIG. 11, with the locations of the products on which we want to rely.

avec

L = largeur ou longueur de la caisse

et

M = largeur de la main de l'utilisateur

The distance a being fixed (for example because of the location of the stopper of a bottle with which it is desired to make line 34 of the zone coincide) and b being or not conditioned by pressing on the wall of said bottle, we have the relationships: $$\begin{array}{c}\begin{array}{c}{\text{b = <figure-callout id="1" label="atgα" filenames="imgf0009.png,imgf0011.png" state="{{state}}">atgα</figure-callout>}}_{\text{1}}\\ {\text{with <figure-callout id="1" label="α" filenames="imgf0009.png,imgf0011.png" state="{{state}}">α</figure-callout>}}_{\text{1}}\text{= <figure-callout id="2" label="Arcos 2K K" filenames="imgf0001.png" state="{{state}}">Arcos </figure-callout>}\left(\frac{\text{2K}}{{\text{K}}^{}}\right)\left(\frac{{}^{\text{2}}\text{+1}}{}\right)\\ \text{for K =}\frac{\frac{\text{L}}{\text{2}}\text{-}\frac{\text{H}}{{\text{sinα}}_{\text{2}}}\text{-}\frac{\text{<figure-callout id="2" label="M" filenames="imgf0001.png" state="{{state}}">M</figure-callout>}}{\text{2}}}{\text{at}}\\ {\text{and <figure-callout id="2" label="α" filenames="imgf0001.png" state="{{state}}">α</figure-callout>}}_{\text{2}}\text{= Artg}\left(\frac{\text{H}}{\frac{\text{LM}}{\text{2}}\text{- at}}\right)\end{array}\end{array}$$

with

L = width or length of the box

and

M = width of the user's hand

FIG. 13 makes it possible to establish a simplified model of the constraints on the cardboard, which allow the person skilled in the art as a function of the weight of the products in the box, the sheet material used and the usual parameters to be taken into account to ensure sufficient strength of the handle, size a and b.

The friction of the strip at A and A 'will be neglected, the weight of the box being assumed to be distributed at B and B'. The traction P is considered to be applied to the center of the handle, and the deformation of the cardboard or the sheet at A and at B is neglected.

He comes $$\begin{array}{c}\begin{array}{c}{\text{<figure-callout id="1" label="R" filenames="imgf0009.png,imgf0011.png" state="{{state}}">R</figure-callout>}}_{\text{1}}\text{=}\frac{\text{- P}}{{\text{2sinα}}_{\text{1}}}\text{x}\frac{{\text{cosα}}_{\text{2}}{\text{- <figure-callout id="1" label="cosα" filenames="imgf0009.png,imgf0011.png" state="{{state}}">cosα</figure-callout>}}_{\text{1}}}{\text{<figure-callout id="1" label="sin α" filenames="imgf0009.png,imgf0011.png" state="{{state}}">sin </figure-callout>}\frac{{\text{α}}_{}}{}\frac{{}_{\text{1}}{\text{+ <figure-callout id="2" label="α" filenames="imgf0001.png" state="{{state}}">α</figure-callout>}}_{\text{2}}}{\text{2}}}\text{β =}\frac{\text{-<figure-callout id="2" label="π" filenames="imgf0001.png" state="{{state}}">π</figure-callout>}}{\text{2}}\text{+}\left(\frac{{\text{<figure-callout id="1" label="α" filenames="imgf0009.png,imgf0011.png" state="{{state}}">α</figure-callout>}}_{\text{1}}{\text{+ <figure-callout id="2" label="α" filenames="imgf0001.png" state="{{state}}">α</figure-callout>}}_{\text{2}}}{\text{2}}\right)\\ {\text{<figure-callout id="2" label="R" filenames="imgf0001.png" state="{{state}}">R</figure-callout>}}_{\text{2}}\text{=}\frac{\text{+ P}}{\text{2}}\text{x}\frac{{\text{<figure-callout id="2" label="cosα" filenames="imgf0001.png" state="{{state}}">cosα</figure-callout>}}_{\text{2}}}{{\text{cosα}}_{\text{1}}}\text{x}\frac{\text{1}}{\text{cosδ}}\text{with tgδ =}\frac{{\text{sinα}}_{\text{2 -}}{\text{<figure-callout id="1" label="sin α" filenames="imgf0009.png,imgf0011.png" state="{{state}}">sin α</figure-callout>}}_{\text{1}}}{{\text{cos α}}_{\text{2}}}\end{array}\end{array}$$

Figures 14 and 15 show another advantageous embodiment of a box 50, with recess 51 by rectangular cutting in the small side faces 3 and in the small inner flaps 7. The edges 13 '' of the large outer flaps 9 '' here are spaced from each other by a distance greater than the width of the strip 16, for example equal to the width of the cutout 51.

In this case, a central notch 13 '' b in the peripheral edge 13 '' is advantageously provided to facilitate the grabbing of the handle by a user.

FIGS. 16 to 23 show embodiments of blanks according to the invention.

Figures 16 to 19 (see more particularly Figure 17) show blanks 60, 61, 62, 63 comprising four rectangular flaps 64, namely two large flaps 65 and two small flaps 66 interconnected by first parallel fold lines 67 and comprising a bonding tab 68 at the end of one of the four flaps.

A set 69 (called second set) of side flaps connected following flaps by third fold lines 70 perpendicular to the first fold lines, is provided to form the bottom of the box.

A set 71 (said first set) of lateral flaps arranged on the other side of the flaps, namely two large flaps 72 associated with the two large flaps and two small flaps 73 associated with the small flaps, connected to said flaps by second fold lines , respectively 74 and 75, is provided to form the upper face of the body.

The recesses 30 are in turn and for example located on the lines 75 between small flaps and small flaps.

The small flaps are here substantially rectangular. The large flaps are also substantially rectangular and separated from the small flaps by spacings 76, in a manner known in itself to allow the formation of the box.

The large flaps include a peripheral lateral edge 13 (Figure 17) or 13 '(Figure 16) as described above with reference to the boxes.

Figure 18 shows in turn an edge 13 '' similar to edge 13 but where, instead of being hollowed out, the end portions 13 '' a are simply cut in dotted lines to constitute frangible zones which can be torn off when the handle fits into the formed box.

Figure 19 shows another embodiment where the recessed areas, here rectangular are located on the fold lines 74 of the long sides.

The outer peripheral edge of the other two flaps are here simply parallel to the third fold lines.

Figures 20 to 23 show for their blanks 80 with eight flaps, namely two large flaps 81 and two small flaps 82 and four cut sides 83, interconnected by parallel fold lines and a bonding tab 84, to form boxes with cut corners.

The flaps to form the side faces are provided with lower flaps 85, connected to the flap by fold lines to form the bottom of the body, and upper flaps 86, to form the cover, also connected by perpendicular fold lines 87 to the fold lines between shutter.

Two upper flaps, for example those corresponding to the large flaps, are provided with an end edge biased outwards from the fold lines, to form the octagonal cover.

The other two small flaps are in turn provided with zones according to the invention.

The peripheral edge 13 of the large flaps is adapted accordingly, as described above, for example with reference to FIG. 17.

FIG. 21 shows a blank 88 comprising zones according to the invention on the junction lines between large flaps and large lid flaps, FIGS. 22 and 23 showing blanks 89 and 90 corresponding to FIGS. 16 and 18 for blanks with four shutters.

We will now describe the manufacture of a box according to an embodiment of the invention with particular reference to FIGS. 7 to 10.

The box 27 is formed in a manner known per se, for example around a fixed mandrel as described in document EP 334,707, from the blank of FIG. 16.

Once the box is formed, it is ejected and then filled with the products provided. The shutters 7 are then closed (see FIG. 7), the shutters 9 'being separated.

We then place the strip 16, by gluing a first end 17 to the corresponding flap 3, then stretching said strip to make it match the shape of the box to the other end where it is also glued in the same way, in slight traction.

The strip 16 is thus perfectly applied to the outside of the recesses and follows the upper periphery of the box as shown in FIG. 8.

Then fold the flaps 9 'previously glued, which is put under pressure on the internal flaps 7, to achieve bonding.

The strip 16 is therefore located under the external flaps 9 ', which allows perfect palletization, no annoying projection appearing (see FIG. 9).

When it is desired to take hold of the box, the strip 16 is pulled through the middle, which entails the embedding of the strip in the recesses 11, or transverse cuts, formed in the edges of the box, and thus allows the transport with one hand as described above.

FIGS. 24 and 25 show another embodiment of a box 100 according to the invention, from a blank 101 of the type described with reference to FIG. 26.

The blank comprises 4 flaps 102 linked together by parallel fold lines 103. These are for example two rectangular flaps 104 suitable for forming the two side walls of the box and two octagonal flaps 105 suitable for forming the top and the underside of the body.

The flaps 105 comprise on either side rectangular flaps 107 to form the external part of the lateral faces 106.

The flaps 104, for their part, comprise two successive parallel flaps joined together 108 and 109, suitable for forming the cut corners 110 of the body and the external parts of the lateral end faces 106.

The blank also comprises zones of the type described above, namely, for example a hollowed-out zone 111, astride and centered on the fold line 103 between the flap 104 and the flap 105 suitable for forming the upper face. of the body, a zone 112 on the fold line between said flap 105 and a tongue 113, of bonding and end, and a complementary recess 114 on the outer edge 115 parallel to the lines 103 of the opposite end flap.

The superimposition of the recesses 112 and 114 coincides with the recess 111 when the blank is folded back to form the box around the product.

Of course, the zones according to the invention can also be arranged on the fold lines 116 between octagonal flap 105 and flaps.

The process for forming the box shown in FIGS. 27 and 28 is carried out according to the technique known in English terminology under the name WRAP, which consists in forming the box around the product as for example described in the document EP-A- 557-172.

• on colle une première extrémité de la poignée en dessous d'une première zone 111,
• on déroule la poignée en l'appliquant sur les faces, et la face supérieure, en regard desdites zones, et
• on colle l'autre extrémité de la poignée en dessous de l'autre zone en vis à vis, de sorte que la poignée allongée est mobile entre une première position à plat où elle épouse le pourtour de la caisse, et une seconde position, de préhension, en partie écartée du couvercle, où elle est encastrée dans lesdites zones.

The formation of the body is then completed by gluing the handle, proceeding as follows:

• a first end of the handle is glued below a first zone 111,
• the handle is unrolled by applying it to the faces, and the upper face, facing said zones, and
• the other end of the handle is glued below the other opposite area, so that the elongated handle is movable between a first flat position where it marries the periphery of the body, and a second gripping position, partly spaced from the cover, where it is embedded in said zones.

FIG. 27 shows a blank 117 in the developed position (flat) of the type described with reference to FIG. 19. The frangible or hollowed out areas 118, for example of the recess type 30 (see FIG. 11), are here located astride the , and in the middle of the first fold lines 119 of separation between three consecutive flaps 120, 121 and 122, namely two large flaps 120 and 122 and a small flap 121 interposed between the two.

A strip 123 of resistant material, of small thickness is fixed by its ends to the flat blank, respectively on the flaps 120 and 122, on either side of the zones 118, so as to extend in contact and in screw with respect to the zones and to the central part 124 of the flap 121, situated between said zones 118.

The fixing of the strip is easy to implement automatically at high speed, by cutting and applying the strip to the blanks. This is one of the advantages of the invention.

FIG. 28 shows a blank 125 for a cover comprising three flaps, namely a central flap 126 forming the upper face of the cover, and two side flaps 127, to form two opposite lateral edges of the cover, said flaps being connected between them two by two by first fold lines, parallel 128. The blank further comprises two series of rectangular or substantially rectangular flaps, namely a first series 129 connected to one side of the flaps by second fold lines 130 perpendicular to the first and a second series 131 connected to the other side of the flaps by third fold lines 132, said series of flaps being intended to constitute the other two opposite lateral edges of the cover after folding and gluing.

Frangible or hollowed out areas 133 of the type of the invention are provided on horseback and in the middle of lines 128.

A strip 134 is glued on either side of the recesses on the flaps 127 and extends freely in contact and opposite the zones and the central part of the flap 126 located between the recesses.

In one embodiment of the invention, whether for a box or a cover, the length of the handle or of the strip constituting it may be greater than the distance existing between the points or areas of attachment on the part and d '' other of the recesses, the strip then being folded back on itself, in accordion and held flat for example by light bonding of two faces of the accordion strip opposite, and this in particular to increase the space between the face top of the box or lid, and the handle extended. This can also facilitate the detachment of the handle by the user when it is gripped by the latter.

Figures 29 and 30 show the use of the handle system 135 according to the invention applied to a conventional American body 136, delivered pre-glued, flat (Figure 29), and which is sufficient to fold up by folding the flaps 137 and 138 by nesting them one under the other in a manner known per se, to form the bottom and / or the cover 139.

Such a box is for example formed from the blank with prepared handle of the type described with reference to FIG. 27.

Claims (49)

1. Box (1, 24, 27, 50) or box lid, made from sheet material and having side faces (3, 4), an upper face (6) and a detachable elongated handle (16), fixed at each end on two opposite side-faces, characterised in that the said box or said lid has at least two push-out or cut-away areas (11, 25), respectively located on either side of the box or lid, straddling the junction lines between the upper face and two opposite side-faces, the areas each extending over specified distances either side of the said junction lines, on the one hand in the upper face and on the other in the said corresponding opposite side-face, and in that the handle is fixed underneath the areas in relation to the upper face and extends facing the areas and the portion of the upper face located between the said areas, so that, when one pulls on the handle which is roughly perpendicular to the upper face, the handle engages in the said areas.
2. Box or box lid, according to Claim 1, characterised in that the elongated handle (16) is a flexible strip.
3. Box or box lid, according to any one of the preceding Claims, characterised in that the fixing of the handle to the side faces is effected using adhesive.
4. Box or box lid, according to any one of the preceding Claims, characterised in that the length of the elongated handle between the points (17) of fixing to the side faces is equal or roughly equal to the sum of the distances between, on the one hand, the said fixing points and the junction lines of the corresponding side-faces and, on the other, the width of the box between the said junction lines, so that the elongated handle is capable of moving between a first, flat, position, in which it follows the contours of the box, and a second, gripping, position, in part at some distance from the lid, in which it engages in the said areas.
5. Box or box lid, according to any one of the preceding Claims, characterised in that the upper face is perpendicular to the side faces.
6. Box or box lid, according to any one of the preceding Claims, characterised in that the areas are cut-outs forming notches.
7. Box or box lid, according to any one of the preceding Claims, characterised in that the areas are identical.
8. Box or box lid, according to any one of the preceding Claims, characterised in that the developed shape of the area (25, 35) in the direction perpendicular to the junction line (8, 10) is rectangular.
9. Box or box lid, according to any one of the preceding Claims, characterised in that the developed shape of the area in the direction perpendicular to the junction line has a central part (14, 31, 37, 40, 48) suitable for forming a central slit and ending in either direction in widened-out parts (33, 34, 38, 41, 42, 49), symmetrical in relation to the said junction line.
10. Box or box lid, according to Claim 9, characterised in that the central slit (40) is triangular, with its apex pointing towards the upper face.
11. Box or box lid, according to Claim 9, characterised in that the central slit (48) has two concave sides with their radius of curvature pointing towards the outside of the slit.
12. Box or box lid, according to Claim 9, characterised in that the central slit (31, 37) is rectangular.
13. Box or box lid, according to any one of Claims 9 to 12, characterised in that the widened-out parts (38) are transverse slits perpendicular to the central slit.
14. Box or box lid, according to any one of Claims 9 to 12, characterised in that the widened-out parts (32, 34, 41) are roughly in the shape of an isosceles trapezium whose major base is directed towards the outside of the area.
15. Box or box lid, according to any one of the preceding Claims, characterised in that the developed shape of the area in the direction perpendicular to the junction line has a widened-out central part (46) separated by narrow areas with the two end parts (44) also widened-out.
16. Box or box lid, according to any one of the preceding Claims, characterised in that the extreme edge (34, 41, 49) of the areas of the side of the upper face is rounded off, with a convexity directed outwards.
17. Box or box lid, according to any one of the preceding Claims, characterised in that the specified distance b between the lower extreme edge of the area and the junction line between the upper face and the corresponding side-face, and the distance a between the upper extreme edge of the area and the said junction line, are connected by the following relationship: $$\frac{\text{b}}{\text{4}}\text{≤ a ≤ 4b}$$

    
18. Box or box lid, according to any one of the preceding Claims, characterised in that it has a polygonal horizontal section.
19. Box or box lid, according to Claim 18, characterised in that:

    - the side faces (3, 4) are interconnected by first folding lines (5) which are parallel to each other, and

    - the upper face is formed by inner flaps (7) and outer flaps (9, 9', 9''), the said flaps being connected to the said side faces by second folding lines (8, 10) orthogonal to the said first folding lines, each inner flap being an integral part of a side face located between two side faces provided with outer flaps.
20. Box or box lid, according to Claim 19, characterised in that the push-out or cut-away areas (11, 51, 30) are located in the extension of the junction line or the space between opposite flaps, whose facing edges are the edges of the opposite flaps nearest to the upper face.
21. Box or box lid, according to Claim 19, characterised in that the push-out or cut-away areas (25, 35) run parallel to the facing edges of the flaps furthest away from the upper face.
22. Box or box lid, according to Claim 20, characterised in that it has a widened-out central slit between peripheral edges facing the flaps, perpendicular and parallel to the handle, permitting easier gripping of the said handle by the user.
23. Box or box lid, according to any one of the preceding Claims, characterised in that the areas are arranged so as to allow the elongated handle to rest on the products arranged inside the box.
24. Box or box lid, according to any one of the preceding Claims, characterised in that the sheet material is corrugated cardboard.
25. Box or box lid, according to Claim 24, characterised in that the corrugations of the corrugated cardboard are perpendicular to the junction lines.
26. Blank (60, 61, 62, 63, 80, 88, 89, 90) of sheet material of corrugated cardboard or the like, for the production of the box or box lid, the said blank comprising:

    - a series (64) of rectangular areas (65, 66) interconnected by first, parallel, folding lines (67); and

    - a first set (71) of side flaps arranged on one side of the said series of rectangular areas, connected to the latter by second folding lines perpendicular to the said first folding lines and intended to form the upper face of the said box or said lid, the said first set of side flaps having inner flaps to form the internal part of the said upper face and outer flaps to form the external part of the said upper face, characterised in that it has at least two push-out or cut-away areas (30, 35), respectively straddling and laterally centred on the second bending lines (74, 75) of two non-adjacent flaps, i.e. first flaps, intended to form two opposite flaps of the upper face of the lid or box, the said areas each extending specified distances either side of the corresponding second bending line.
27. Blank according to Claim 26, characterised in that the first flaps are inner flaps.
28. Blank according to Claim 26 or 27, characterised in that, with the first set of flaps comprising four flaps, the other two flaps of the said first set, i.e. second flaps, have facing peripheral edges (13, 13', 13'') having at their ends cut-outs or push-out parts suitable for superimposing on the said areas of the first two flaps.
29. Blank according to Claim 28, characterised in that the said peripheral edges have a cut-away central part (13'b) of a width greater than the width of the said areas.
30. Blank comprising a series of flaps separated two-by-two by first folding lines and suitable for at least partly enveloping the product being packaged, to form the upper face and two side-faces of a box or lid, the said flaps being provided on either side with side flaps intended to form two other side faces of the box or lid, characterised in that it has two push-out or cut-away areas in the extension one of the other, respectively straddling the two first folding lines located between the consecutive flaps.
31. Blank according to Claim 30, characterised in that it also has a detachable flat strip fixed to two flaps either side of the two areas and extending facing the areas and the flap located between the said areas, parallel and more or less in contact with the said flap.
32. Blank according to Claim 30, characterised in that one of the end flaps being an adhesive tab, one of the push-out or cut-away areas straddles the first folding line located between the said tab and the adjacent flap, and the other end flap has a complementary push-out or cut-away area, and, once the box is formed, facing the said area of the tab.
33. Blank according to any one of Claims 26 to 32, characterised in that the areas are cut-outs.
34. Blank according to any one of Claims 26 to 33, characterised in that the areas are identical.
35. Blank according to any one of Claims 26 to 34, characterised in that the developed shape of the area in the direction perpendicular to the second bending line is rectangular.
36. Blank according to any one of Claims 26 to 34, characterised in that the developed shape of the area in the direction perpendicular to the second folding line has a part suitable for forming a central slit ending at either end in a widened-out part symmetrical in relation to the said second folding line.
37. Blank according to Claim 36, characterised in that the central slit is triangular, with its apex pointing towards the lid.
38. Blank according to Claim 36, characterised in that the central slit has two concave sides with the radius of curvature directed towards the outside of the slit.
39. Blank according to Claim 36, characterised in that the central slit is rectangular.
40. Blank according to any one of Claims 36 to 39, characterised in that the widened-out parts are transverse slits perpendicular to the central slit.
41. Blank according to any one of Claims 36 to 39, characterised in that the widened-out parts are roughly in the shape of an isosceles trapezium with its major base directed towards the outside of the cut-out.
42. Blank according to any one of Claims 26 to 34, characterised in that the developed shape of the area in the direction perpendicular to the second folding line has a central widened-out part separated by narrow areas, with the two end parts also widened-out.
43. Blank according to any one of Claims 26 to 42, characterised in that the extreme edge of the side areas of the lid is rounded off, with a convexity directed outwards.
44. Blank according to any one of Claims 26 to 43, characterised in that the specified distance b between the lower extreme edge of the area and the second folding line between the lid flaps and the corresponding side face, and the distance a between the upper extreme edge of the area and the said junction line, are connected by the following relationship: $$\frac{\text{b}}{\text{4}}\text{≤ a ≤ 4b}$$

    
45. Method for manufacturing a box or a box lid with a handle according to any one of Claims 1 to 25, wherein the box or box lid is formed, the said method being characterised in that

    - a first end of the handle is glued on below a first area,

    - the handle is fitted by applying it to the side faces and the upper face, facing the said areas, and

    - the other end of the handle is glued on below the other facing area, so that the elongated handle can be moved between a first, flat, position, in which it follows the contours of the box or lid, and a second, gripping, position, in part at some distance from the upper face, in which it engages with the said areas.
46. Method for manufacturing a box according to Claim 45, characterised in that, in order to form the box:

    - the walls and bottom of the box are formed, which is then filled with the products being packaged, and

    - the previously glued-on flaps are bent over the products to form the upper face.
47. Method for manufacturing a box according to Claim 45, characterised in that the box is formed round the product.
48. Method according to Claim 46, characterised in that, with the box designed to present a widened central slit between peripheral edges facing the outer flaps of the upper face, parallel to the handle, first of all the inner lid-flaps (7) corresponding to the areas are bent, then the handle is glued and applied to the said flaps, and the outer flaps (9') are then bent.
49. Method for manufacturing a box or a box lid according to any one of Claims 1 to 25, characterised in that the handle is previously positioned and glued to the blank, before the said box or said lid is formed from the said blank.

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