GB2300621A - Storage container - Google Patents

Abstract

A storage container is formed from a single, shaped piece of corrugated fibreboard or similar material. The sheet includes a central body portion 79, 85 and two sets of flaps 69, 73, 75, 81 which form the ends of the container. Each set of flaps includes side flaps 69, 77 which partially overlap, and central flap 73 which extends around the overlapping side flaps and which has means 81 for holding the central flap in engagement with the central body portion. The side flaps have means 67, 75 for engagement therebetween.

Description

STORAGE CONTAINERS This invention relates to storage containers or bins and in particular those of a relatively small size, made out of corrugated fibreboard, cardboard or a similar material based on paper or a synthetic material such as plastics.

Storage containers are known which are made from a single sheet of shaped corrugated fibreboard (usually referred to as a diecut) which may be folded along fold lines located in the sheet to form the storage container. Such known storage containers will be described in greater detail below but, briefly, in their unfolded condition they have a main, substantially rectangular. body portion with, extending therefrom, integral flaps which together enable the folded container to be secured in its folded condition.

Typically, two sets of flaps extend from opposite ends of the rectangular portion. Each set of flaps includes side flaps which, in assembling the container, are made to overlap, and a central flap which extends around the overlapping side flaps and which is provided with an integral tab which locates into a hole in the main body portion thereby to lock the arrangement together in the assembled condition. It is important to fold the cardboard sheet correctly and in particular to make sure that the overlapping flaps are superimposed correctly relative to each other. If this is not done, then the result will be a container which is distorted from its proper rectangular configuration. One consequence of such a distorted arrangement is that it would not be possible to arrange the containers in a side by side array in the most compact, space saving arrangement.

In addition to the above mentioned problem, it is also the case that the above-described known containers are quite difficult to assemble since it is necessary to hold several parts of the sheet in their folded condition in order that the central flap may be properly located into its locked position.

Furthermore, it is also the case that the joints formed at the ends of the container as a result of the locking into position of the central flaps are somewhat unstable and the central flaps will relatively easily spring out of position thereby allowing the container at least partially to collapse.

According to the present invention there is provided a storage container formed from a single, shaped piece of corrugated fibreboard or similar material, the sheet including a central body portion and, extending from its ends, two sets of flaps which, in the assembled condition, will form the ends of the container, each set of flaps including side flaps which, in the assembled container will at least partially overlap, and a central flap which, in the assembled container, will extend around the overlapping side flaps and which has means for holding said central flap in engagement with the central body portion, the side flaps having means for holding said side flaps together in overlapping relationship prior to said location of said central flap into said body portion.

Preferably one of said side flaps is provided with a laterally extending tab portion and the other said flap is provided with a slit for accommodating said tab portion.

The storage container according to the present invention has several advantages over the above described known container.

Because of the positive engagement together of the two side flaps, stronger joints are formed at the end of the container.

Furthermore, the container is easier to assemble because a two step procedure is involved at each joint. First, the two side flaps are overlapped and located together and then the central flap is located in position. There is no need to hold various elements into position relative to each other whilst the central flap is located in its correct position.

In addition, the provision of a locking system between the two overlapping flaps ensures that they are overlapped correctly relative to each other. In this way, a storage container of the invention is always assembled in its correct rectangular shape rather than in a distorted configuration. Accordingly the storage containers of the invention may be positioned together in an array occupying the least possible space and in the most attractive, compact arrangement.

The present invention will now be described, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a storage container in an assembled condition; Figure 2 is a plan view of a corrugated fibreboard blank of known design for assembling into a storage container as shown in Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a corrugated fibreboard blank for use in making a storage container, in accordance with the present invention, the storage container being again as shown in Figure 1 in the assembled condition.

Referring to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings, storage container 1 is made from a sheet of corrugated fibreboard.

As assembled, container 1 includes shallow front wall 3, rear wall 5, and side walls 7 and 9. The container is also provided with a base 11. The container, as assembled, may be used for storage of various different sorts of objects, for instance, nuts or screws or small electrical or electronic articles. Typical containers may be of a height of about lOOmm and of a length varying from, for instance, 150mm to 600mm. Similarly, widths may vary from, for instance 50mm to 25Omm. However, such containers may be provided in other shapes and sizes.

Referring to Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings, a corrugated fibreboard blank 21 is of known design and is for assembly into a container such as is shown in Figure 1. As shown in Figure 2, the corrugated fibreboard blank is a single piece of corrugated fibreboard material formed with oblong cut-outs 23 and provided with various fold lines such as 25.

Blank 21 includes a main body portion formed from panels 27, 29 and 31 which, when the container is its assembled condition, will form side walls 9 and 7 and base 11 respectively. Extending from opposite ends of this main body portion are two sets of flaps 33 and 35. Each set includes side flaps 37 and, separated therefrom by slits 39, a central flap 41. In the assembled container, central flaps 33 will form front wall 3 (referring to Figure 1) and set of flaps 35 will form rear wall 5.

Referring to the fold lines between the body portion and a set of flaps, central fold line 43 is positioned slightly outwardly of fold line 45 between one of the of the flaps and panel 31 of body portion. Fold line 45 is in turn positioned slightly outwardly of fold line 47 between the other flaps and panel 27 of the body portion. The situation is the same for the other set of flaps 35.

Flap 41 has two centrally placed fold lines 47 and 49 and an integral tab or lug 51 extending outwardly from the central free edge of this flap. The corresponding flap on the other side is similar.

To assemble the container, panels 27 and 31 are folded upwardly about fold lines between these panels and panel 29 to form the side walls 7 and 9 (referred to in Figure 1). The front and rear walls are then formed in a similar manner.

Referring to the front wall, flaps 37 are folded about fold lines 45 with flap 37a located outwardly of flap 37b in accordance with the relative positions of their fold lines 45.

Holding the container in the resultant position after this manoeuvre, the central flap 41 is then folded over the overlapping flaps 37 and tab 51 is tucked into the hole formed by cut-out 23. This then locks the front wall into the position shown in Figure 1 (reference 3). The rear wall is formed similarly.

As will be appreciated, it is quite easy to locate the flaps 37 in the wrong positions relative to each other with the flap that should be the outward flap being in fact the inward flap.

This tends to distort the resultant structure out of its normal rectangular configuration.

Referring now to Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings, corrugated fibreboard blank 61 is generally of the same shape and dimensions as that of Figure 2, as described above. This corrugated fibreboard blank differs from that shown in Figure 2 by the provision of certain additional features associated with each set of flaps 63 and 65, these features being similar for each set of flaps. Referring to the left hand set of flaps (as seen in Figure 3) there are three "new" features (as compared with the corresponding set of flaps in the Figure 2 blank) which cooperate together in the assembled container.

These three features are tab 67 extending from left hand edge of side flap 69, cut-out 71 located in a side edge of central flap 73 near the left had free edge thereof and slit 75 located in the other side flap 77 close to main body panel 79.

In effect, this slit 75 replaces the central portion of the fold line 45 which is present at the corresponding position in the Figure 2 embodiment. The fold line extends only above and below the slit, the latter extending along three sides of an oblong as shown in Figure 3.

In assembling the blank of Figure 3 into a container such as is shown in Figure 1, the procedure is initially similar to that described with reference to the Figure 2 blank. However, having folded the main body portions, the side flaps are then folded to overlap each other with tab 67 extending into the space partly defined by slit 75 once side flap 77 has been folded into its front wall position. This results in the side flaps being "locked" together due to the friction between tab 67 and the cardboard around slit 75. With the front wall flaps held in this position, the central flap may then be easily folded about the flaps with recess 71 being located around that portion of tab 67 which extends inwardly beyond flap 77. Tab 81 of central flap 73 is, as with the Figure 2 embodiment, located into cut-out 83 of the central body panel 85.

As will be appreciated, the provision of these additional features, as described above, ensures that the container is correctly assembled. In order to fit tab 67 within the space partly defined by slit 75, and with tab 67 extending inwardly into the box, the side flaps 69 and 77 must be correctly positioned relative to one another, that is to say, with side flap 77 located inwardly of side flap 69. As a result, the container is always constructed in its proper rectangular shape.

Because of the double locking arrangement, the container invention is quickly and easily assembled. It is no longer necessary to hold various parts in alignment as is the case with the Figure 2 embodiment where a single final locking step is all that is possible to hold the joint parts together.

Because of the provision of two bonds for each joint of the container, the resultant joint is much more stable than that of the Figure 2 embodiment. Accordingly, the container is much less likely to spring apart in use.

Claims (5)

1. A storage container formed from a single, shaped piece of corrugated fibreboard or similar material, the sheet including a central body portion and, extending from its ends, two sets of flaps which, in the assembled condition, will form the ends of the container, each set of flaps including side flaps which, in the assembled container will at least partially overlap, and a central flap which, in the assembled container, will extend around the overlapping side flaps and which has means for holding said central flap in engagement with the central body portion, the side flaps having means for holding said side flaps together in overlapping relationship prior to said location of said central flap into said body portion.

2. A storage container according to Claim 1 wherein when one of said side flaps is provided with a laterally extending tab portion and the other said flap is provided with a slit for accommodating said tab portion.

3. A storage container according to Claim 1 and substantially as described herein.

4. A storage container substantially as described with reference to Figures 1 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.

5. A shaped piece of corrugated fibre board or similar material for use in forming a storage container as claimed in any of the preceding claims.