GB2296364A

GB2296364A - Display box

Info

Publication number: GB2296364A
Application number: GB9601735A
Authority: GB
Inventors: James Henderson
Original assignee: J & K Henderson Enterprises Lt
Current assignee: J & K Henderson Enterprises Lt
Priority date: 1996-01-29
Filing date: 1996-01-29
Publication date: 1996-06-26
Anticipated expiration: 2016-01-29
Also published as: GB9601735D0; GB2296364B

Abstract

A box for holding and displaying an item includes a hexagonal base (10) from each edge (14) of which extends a side wall (12). Adjacent side walls (12) are coupled to one another by webs (24, 26) which, when the box is assembled, extend inwardly towards the centre of the box. A support wall (22) covers the free ends of the side walls (12) and provides a surface for holding an item to be displayed. A transparent lid (40, Figure 3) which in the preferred embodiment is moulded to its final shape, fits over the support wall (22). The construction has such strength that it can be handled by machinery, such as a gripper mechanism of a crane of an arcade machine. <IMAGE>

Description

DISPLAY BOX The present invention relates to a box for holding and displaying items held therewithin.

More specifically, the present invention seeks to provide a display box for holding and displaying an item which is of sufficient strength to be handled by machinery such as the claws of a crane of an arcade machine.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a box for holding and displaying an item comprising a plurality of outer walls adjacent one another and forming at least part of the box, and at least one web disposed between two adjacent outer walls and extending into the box.

Preferably, there are provided two webs, each connected to a respective adjacent wall and each extending into the box. The webs are preferably formed integrally with their respective walls and with one another.

The webs preferably extend towards a central axis of the box.

The adjacent walls preferably extend around an entire part of the box, at least one web being provided between each pair of said adjacent walls.

The adjacent walls are preferably in the form of a frusto-pyramid. Advantageously, the frusto-pyramid is substantially hexagonal.

The adjacent walls preferably extend from a base wall, the or each web being located on at least one of a pair of adjacent walls and being spaced from the base wall. Preferably, a pair of webs are provided between and integral with each pair of adjacent walls and integral with one another. The webs are preferably spaced from the base wall. This provides an aperture between the pair of adjacent walls, the webs and the base wall which is closed when the box is in an assembled state.

There is preferably provided a support wall located opposite the base wall and coupled to the adjacent walls.

A transparent, semi-transparent, translucent or semitranslucent cover is coupled to the adjacent walls. The cover preferably forms a symmetrical half of the box.

The cover is preferably formed of a plurality of walls which are integral with one another.

An embodiment of the present invention is described below, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a box blank of a base portion of a preferred embodiment of box; Figure 2 is a plan view of a blank of a lid portion of an embodiment of box for use with the base of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a perspective view of an assembled box formed from the blank of Figure 1 and another embodiment of lid.

Referring to Figure 1, the embodiment of box blank shown includes a hexagonal base wall 10 to which are integrally coupled six side walls 12, each extending from a respective side of the hexagonal base 10. Each side wall 12 tapers towards its respective side of the base wall 10 such that, in this embodiment, the side 14 of each side wall 12 adjacent the base wall is approximately two thirds of the length of the opposing side 16.

Five of the side walls 12 are provided with tapered flaps 18, each flap 18 providing a central slot 20 at its junction with its respective side wall 12. The sixth side wall 12 is coupled at its remote side 16 to a support wall 22, described in further detail below.

Between each pair of adjacent side walls 12 there are provided two webs 24, 26, which are integral with their respective side wall 12 and with one another. When the box portion shown in Figure 1 is assembled, the web portions 24, 26 extend inwardly of the box and provide strengthening supports against inward collapse of the box at the apex of adjacent side walls 12.

Since in the preferred embodiment the webs 24, 26 are substantially identical, they point towards the centre of the assembled box portion shown in Figure 1 so as to provide their greatest supporting action in a direction substantially parallel to the axis between their adjacent pair of side walls 12.

Each pair of webs 24, 26 does not extend to the apex between adjacent sides 14 of the base wall 14 to leave a triangular gap 28. The gaps 28 can considerably facilitate assembly of the box portion shown in Figure 1, particularly if the gap is of a particular size. It has been found that a gap 28 with a length of around 15 millimetres or, in some embodiments, a length around 25% of the length of the side walls 12, provides the easiest assembly while ensuring that each gap does not distort the assembled shape of the box portion or the function of the webs 24, 26.

The support wall 22 is hexagonal, in other words has the same shape as the base wall 10 and has a size such that its sides meet the remote sides 16 of their respective side walls 12 when the box portion is assembled.

Each side 30 of the support wall 22 is provided with a tab 32 which is of a size preferably slightly larger than the length of the slots 20. The portions of the tabs 32 adjacent the sides 30 taper inwardly to provide locking shoulders to secure the tabs 32 into their respective slots 20.

Not shown in Figure 1 are securing means provided on the support wall 22 for securing to the outside of this wall an item to be housed in the box. In the preferred embodiment, the securing means takes the form of two apertures in the support wall 22 through which an elastic band or similar securing filament can pass.

Referring to Figure 2, an embodiment of lid 40 is shown, which in this example has a similar configuration as the base wall 10 and side walls 12 of the first box portion shown in Figure 1.

Thus, the lid 40 includes a hexagonal top wall 42 and six top side walls 44 each tapering towards the top wall 42 and having the same angle of taper as the side walls 12. In place of the webs 24, 26 there is provided a tab 46 on one top side wall 44 which engages a slot 48 in a flap 50 on the opposing top side wall 44.

The top is assembled by fixing the tabs 46 into their respective slots 48 such that the top 40 takes a frustopyramidal form which is hexagonal in plan view. The tabs 46 may be adhered or otherwise secured to their respective opposing top side walls 44 if desired.

The remote end of each top side wall 44 is provided with a tab 52 of similar proportions to the tabs 32 of the support wall 22 and which are also designed to be received in the slots 20 in the side wall 12 of the lower box portion. Thus, when assembled, the lid 40 forms half of the box, as will be apparent from Figure 3.

The lid 40 is preferably entirely transparent or translucent so as to allow viewing of the article held in the box, generally irrespective of the angle at which the box rests. This is particularly important in the case where the box is used in an arcade machine of the type which includes a crane for picking a prize, held in the box. During operation of these types of machine, the prize often falls from the grippers of the crane, and may fall in an orientation other than upright, particularly if it falls on an uneven surface, such as on top of other boxes or other items.

Moreover, since the article is placed approximately in the middle of the box, the box is less likely to rotate when it falls.

In an alternative embodiment, the lid 40 of the box, instead of being formed from a flat blank as shown in the example of Figure 2, is moulded into the desired frusto-pyramidal shape, such that the top side walls 44 are integrally connected to one another. Tabs 52 are provided as in the example of Figure 2 to allow attachment of the lid 40 to the box base.

It has been found that this alternative design of lid is more aesthetically pleasing and is stronger by relying on the strength of the material of the lid rather than on any adhesive bond or the like between the top side walls 44.

The base portion of the box is preferably formed from cardboard, while the lid 40 is preferably formed from a plastics material.

The dimensions given in the drawings, which are merely exemplary, are given by way of example only for a particular application. Similarly, the box may not be hexagonal in cross-section as is the example described herein.

Claims

1. A box for holding and displaying an item comprising a plurality of outer walls adjacent one another and forming at least part of the box, and at least one web disposed between two adjacent outer walls and extending into the box.

2. A box according to claim 1, comprising two webs, each connected to a respective adjacent wall and each extending into the box.

3. A box according to claim 2, wherein the webs are formed integrally with their respective walls and with one another.

4. A box according to any preceding claim, wherein the web or webs extends towards a central axis of the box.

5. A box according to any preceding claim, wherein the adjacent walls extend around an entire part of the box, at least one web being provided between each pair of said adjacent walls.

6. A box according to any preceding claim, wherein the adjacent walls are in the form of a frusto-pyramid.

7. A box according to any preceding claim, wherein a pair of webs is provided between and integral with each pair of adjacent walls and integral with one another.

8. A box according to any preceding claim, wherein the adjacent walls extend from a base wall, the or each web being located on at least one of a pair of adjacent walls and being spaced from the base wall.

9. A box according to claim 8, wherein the webs are spaced from the base wall.

10. A box according to claim 8 or 9, including a support wall located opposite the base wall and coupled to the adjacent walls.

11. A box according to any preceding claim, including a transparent, semi-transparent, translucent or semi-translucent cover coupled to the adjacent walls.

12. A box according to claim 11, wherein the cover forms a symmetrical half of the box.

13. A box according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the cover is formed of a plurality of walls which are integral with one another.

14. A box substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.