GB2076782A

GB2076782A - Packaging Container

Info

Publication number: GB2076782A
Application number: GB8017901A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: LEAMINGTON BOX CO Ltd
Current assignee: LEAMINGTON BOX CO Ltd
Priority date: 1980-05-31
Filing date: 1980-05-31
Publication date: 1981-12-09
Also published as: GB2076782B

Abstract

A package container includes a bottom panel 11, a pair of opposed side panels 12, 13, a pair of opposed end panels 14, 15, and top wall forming panels 16, 17 hingedly attached to the side panels 12, 13, which top wall forming panels overlap one another when hinged to close the container, the end panels 14, 15 and the top wall forming panel 16 which overlies the other being provided with latching means 50, 16c which are co- operable to retain the top wall forming panels 16, 17 in the closed position. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Packaging Container The present invention relates to a packaging container such as a box for packaging articles such as meat products.

In the packaging art it is common to provide boxes to customers in a collapsed state for the customer to erect immediately prior to filling. The filled box is normally then closed by either folding over flaps which are then secured together by tape or by attaching a separate lid which again is secured by tape.

This type of package, although commonly used, presents the customer with undesirable impositions, for example in erecting the box he may have to perform constructional tasks in order to complete the construction of the box, for example gluing sides of the box together.

Additionally once the box is filled operatives are required to seal the boxes with tape. These types of operation are time consuming and involve the customer in undesirable operational tasks.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a package container including a bottom panel, a pair of opposed side panels, a pair of opposed end panels, a first top wall forming panel hingedly attached to one side panel, and a second top wall forming panel hingedly attached to the other side panel, the first and second top wall forming panels overlapping one another when hinged to close the container, the end panels and the top wall forming panel which overlies the other being provided with cooperating latching means which are co-operable to retain the top wall forming panels in the closed position. The end walls are preferably provided with fold lines to enable the container to be collapsed into a flat state.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a blank formed from a sheet material such as cardboard for forming a container defined above.

Other aspects of the present invention are now described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of blank according to the present invention.

Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view of an assembled container according to the present invention ready for use.

Figure 3 is a schematic perspective view of the container of Figure 2 shown in a collapsed state.

Figure 4 is a schematic perspective view of the container of Figure 2 wherein the top wall forming panels have been folded over to close the container.

Referring initially to Figure 1, a blank 10 includes a bottom wall forming panel 11; a pair of side walls forming panels 12, 13; a pair of end wall forming panels 14, 15; and a pair of top wall forming panels 16, 17.

Panels 12, 13, 14 and 15 are connected to the bottom panel 11 by respective fold lines 18, 19, 20 and 21.The top wall forming panel 16, 17 are connected to respective side panels 12, 13 by respective fold lines 23, 24. The width of panels 1 6, 1 7 when secured together is chosen to be greater than the width of the bottom panel 11 so that when the top panels 1 6, 1 7 overlie the bottom panel (as seen in Figure 4) they overlap one another.Both top panels 1 6, 1 7 are provided with end flaps 16a, 17a respectively which are connected thereto by respective fold lines 1 6b, 1 7b. The end flaps 1 6a are cut away to define a tongue 1 6c which as will be hereinafter described are used for securing the top panels 16, 1 7 in a closed position.

The end panels 14, 1 5 are provided with end flaps 14a, 15a respectively which are connected thereto by fold lines 14b,15b respectively.

In order to erect the container 40 shown in Figure 2, panels 12, 13, 14 and 15 are folded upwardly relative to the bottom panel 11 and the end flaps 1 4a, 1 5a are secured to the inside face of the adjacent side panel 12, 13 by means of adhesive. If desired other ways of securing the end flaps 14-a, 15a may be adapted, e.g. by the use of staples or alternatively the end flaps 14a, 15a may be provided with a latching formation for co-operation with a latching formation formed in the side panels 12,13.

The end panels 1 4, 1 5 are provided with fold lines 32, 33 which enable the end panels to be folded outwardly and the side panels to be folded inwardly to achieve a collapsed condition as illustrated in Figure 3.

Once the container has been filled, it may be easily and simply closed by folding over the top panels 1 6, 1 7 to overlie the bottom panel. The end flaps of panel 1 7 are folded inwardly so that, in the closed position of panel 17, they reside adjacent to the inside face of the end panels 14, 15. The end flaps 16a of top panel 16 are also folded inwardly so that, in the closed position of panel 16, they reside adjacent to the outside face of panels 14, 15. End panels 14, 1 5 are each provided with a latch formation 50 which is arranged to receive the latching tongue 16c. Once the formation 50 and tongue 1 6c are engaged separation thereof is restrained by virtue of their inter-relationship.

As shown in Figure 4, formation 50 includes a slit 51 from which extends a pair of spaced slits 52. The slits 51, 52 define a pair of latching elements 56 and additionally together with a fold line 53 define a flap 54 which facilitates entry of the tongue into the formation 50. The tongue 1 6c has a pair of detents 1 6d defined by recesses 16e.The spacing between slits 52 is arranged to be slightly greater than the distance between recesses 1 6e so that when the tongue 1 6c is received within the formation 50 as seen in Figure 4 the latching elements 56 engage the detents 1 6d Additionally, due to the design of the formation 50 and tongue 1 6e the latching engagement between detents 1 6d and elements 56 is effective even when the container is distorted by the side panels 1 2, 1 3 being deflected relative to the bottom panel 11.

The end flaps 1 7a are preferably of a width which is substantially equal to the depth of the end panels 14, 15 so that when panels 1 6, 17 are in the closed position, the end flaps 16a, 17a reinforce the end and side panels against inward or outward deflection. The above described container is particularly advantageous in that it provides a package container having an integral closable lid which is secured in position without the need of external attachment means and provides a container which is foldable into a collapsed state for storage prior to use and which on unfolding from its collapsed state is immediately ready for use.

Claims

1. A package container including a bottom panel, a pair of opposed side panels, a pair of opposed end panels, a first top wall forming panel hingedly attached to one side panel, and a second top wall forming panel hingedly attached to the other side panel, the first and second top wall forming panels overlapping one another when hinged to close the container, the end panels and the top wall forming panel which overlies the other being provided with co-operating latching means which are co-operable to retain the top wall forming panels in the closed position.

2. A package container according to Claim 1, wherein the latch means on said top wall forming panel are located on flaps located at opposite ends of said top wall forming panel, said flaps overlying the outside face of the end panels when said top wall forming panel is in the closed position.

3. A package container according to Claim 2, wherein the latch means on each flap comprises a tongue having a pair of detents.

4. A package container according to Claim 3, wherein the latch means on each end panel comprise an elongate slit for permitting the cooperating tongue to penetrate from one side of the end panel to the other, and a pair of latch elements for co-operating with the detents on the tongue to restrain removal of the tongue from said slit.

5. A package container according to any preceding claim wherein said other top wall forming panel has flaps located at opposite ends, said flaps overlying the inside face of the end panels when said other top wall forming panel is in the closed position.

6. A package container according to Claim 5, wherein the width of the flaps on said other top wall forming panel is approximately the same as the width of the end panels.

7. A package container according to any preceding claim wherein the end panels are provided with fold lines to enable the container to be collapsed into a flat state.

8. A package container substantially as described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 2 to 4 of the accompanying drawings.

9. A blank for forming a package container according to any preceding claim.

10. A blank substantially as described and as illustrated in Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings.