IE54801B1 - Foldable box and blank therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

A foldable box with a bottom wall (1) and upright walls (2, 3, 6, 7), one pair of walls (6, 7) being provided with foldable widening strips (10, 11) and foldable lengthening flaps (14, 15; 16, 17), whereas in one pair of walls (6, 7) from each of the bottom corner points an oblique folding line (26, 27; 28, 29) is provided extending upwardly at an angle of about 45 DEG . According to the invention the foldable widening strips (10, 11) are folded in a position parallel to the bottom (1), the oblique folding lines (26, 27; 28, 29) in the one pair of walls (6, 7) are lengthened in the widening strips and in the widening strips (10, 11) from the ends points of the folding line (12, 13) between the widening strip and the wall each time a second oblique folding line (30, 31; 32, 33) is provided parallel to the first mentioned oblique folding line.

Description

The present invention relates to a foldable box with a bottom and a first and a second pair of opposed upright walls which are foldably connected with the bottom and at one head end are interconnected by means of overlapping upright wall sections, the first pair of walls being 5 provided with foldable widening strips and foldable lengthening flaps, and at least a part of the lengthening flaps being fastened to a corresponding part of the second pair of walls, whereas in the first pair of walls from each of the bottom corner points an oblique folding line is provided extending upwardly at an angle of 45°, in which the foldable widening 10 strips are folded in a position parallel to the bottom, in which the oblique folding lines in the first pair of walls are lengthened in the widening strips and in which in the widening strips from the end points of the folding line between the widening strip and the wall each time a second oblique folding line is provided parallel to the first-mentioned 15 oblique folding line.

A similar foldable box is described in British Patent Specification No. 744,151. With this known box the load-carrying capacity is very unequally distributed at each corner of the box.

At each corner of the box, the thickness of the end wall is equal to 20 six layers of material whereas the thickness of the side wall is equal to only one layer of material. These side walls, or end walls as the case may be, consisting of one material layer, form very weak links or points, if they are relatively heavy loaded. In practice this is the case, when the boxes are not carefully stacked, one exactly above the other along a 25 vertical line, thus when the boxes are stacked in a shifted position with respect to each other, when the trays shift with respect to each other during transport and when the corners of the boxes do not rest on the laths of the pallet, but lie outside the laths, which occur frequently. 2.

Because of the thickness of six material layers lying outside the real side wall or end wall, the boxes do not fit on standard pallets, thus the boxes have to be made smaller, which means a net contents loss of roughly 5 per cent. Furthermore, the four material layers at the outside of the walls form extensions, which become abutments for the trays to be stacked therebeneath. This is very troublesome.

The flaps at the upper edges of the side or end walls do not extend over the whole corner, so that the extensions are not covered by the flaps and exhibit open side edges of the cardboard material, which is wet very easily. This leads to a very considerable loss of load-carrying capacity.

The present invention aims at removing the objections of the known foldable box according to British Patent No. 744,151.

This objective is achieved according to the invention wherein the second pair of walls is provided with foldable lengthening flaps which with a part of their surface are fastened to a corresponding part of the first pair of walls and these lengthening flaps are provided with foldable second widening strips which are folded in a position parallel to the bottom and come to lie under the first-mentioned windening strips.

By application of these features the load-carrying capacity at each corner of the box is distributed substantially equally over both sides, because both sides of the corner have substantially the same number of material layers, preferably three on both sides of each corner, which are far better able to carry the load, when the boxes are not stacked along one vertical line one above the other, or do not rest on the laths of a pallet.

The boxes according to this invention fit ideally on standard Euro pallets, which are very frequently used nowadays, so there is no loss of net contents.

With the foldable box according to the invention only one layer of material lies outside the actual side wall or end wall, so that 3. substantially no abutments are formed, which interfere with the stacking of the boxes.

Finally, with the present foldable box the widening strips cover the whole corner from above, so that moisture cannot penetrate so easily into 5 the edges of the cardboard material.

In a preferred embodiment of the foldable box according to the invention the second pair of opposed walls is near both ends provided with foldable third widening strips, which are also folded in a position parallel to the bottom and which come to lie under the first-mentioned 10 widening strips.

Hereby the supporting or stacking wall is lengthened along the second pair of walls of the box, whereby the supporting capacity of the box is further increased.

The invention also relates to a blank for a foldable box, provided 15 with a bottom panel and first and a second pair of opposed wall panels which are foldably connected with the bottom panel, wherein the first pair of wall panels is provided with widening strips connected with the wall panels by folding lines and with lengthening flaps connected with the widening strips by folding lines and wherein in the first pair of wall 20 panels from each of the corner points of the bottom panel an oblique folding line is provided extending at an angle of 45° with respect to the folding line between wall panel and bottom panel, in which the wall panels, first widening strips and lengthening flaps thereof of the first pair of wall panels are cut out in T-shape, in which the said oblique 25 folding lines are provided in the first pair of wall panels and are lengthened in the widening strip and in which in the widening strip of that first pair of wall panels front the end point of the folding line between the widening strip and the wall panel each time a second oblique folding line is provided parallel to the first-mentioned oblique folding 30 line.

Such a blank is described in British Patent No. 744,151. The blank 4. a υ. according to the present invention differs from the known blank in that the second pair of wall panels is provided with lengthening flaps which are connected with the end edged of said wall panels by folding lines and that said lengthening flaps at the outer side are provided with second, 5 widening strips which are connected with said lengthening flaps by folding lines.

The invention will be further elucidated with an embodiment represented in the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is plan view of a blank for a foldable box according to the 10 invention, Figure 2 is a perspective view of the foldable box according to the invention, and Figure 3 is a plan view of a part of the foldable box according to the invention.

The blank according to the invention, illustrated in figure 1, consists of e.g. a cardboard sheet, which is cut out in the desired shape. The blank consists of a bottom panel 1, two side wall panels 2 and 3, which are connected with the bottom panel along folding lines 4 and 5, respectively, and of end walls panels 6 and 7 which are connected with the 20 bottom panel 1 along folding lines 8 and 9. The end wall panels 6 and 7 are provided with widening strips 10 and 11, respectively, which are connected with the end wall panels 6 and 7,respectively, along folding lines 12 and 13, respectively. The widening strips 10 and 11 are provided with recesses 10a and 11a to promote the accessibility of the folded box, 25 vide figure 2, both upon filling and upon removal of products or articles packed in the box.

At the end edges of the widening strips 10 and 11 lengthening flaps 14, 15 and 16, 17, respectively, are provided, which are connected with the widening strips by folding lines 18, 19 and 20, 21, respectively. The 30 end portions 6, 10, 14, 15 and 7, 11, 16, 17 of the blank are cut out in T-shape and separated from the remaining part of the blank by angle steel shaped grooves 22, 23 and 24, 25 respectively.

. In each assembly of end wall panel 6, 7 and widening strip 10,11 from the end points of the folding lines 8 and 9 two folding lines 26, 27 and 28, 29, respectively, are provided, which include an angle of about 45° with the folding lines 8 and 9, respectively. Furthermore, in the widening strips 10 and 11 from the end points of the folding lines 12 and 13 second folding lines 30, 31 and 32, 33, respectively, are provided parallel to the folding lines 26, 27 and 28, 29, respectively.

In the folding lines 8 and 9 a number, e.g. two, of semi-circular recesses 34, 35 and 36, 37, respectively, are cut out, which are partially situated in the bottom panel 1 and partially in the end wall panels 6 and 7, and in the folding lines 12 and 13 semi-circular cuts 38, 39 and 40, 41, respectively, are provided. The function of the recesses and cuts will be elucidated herebelow.

The side wall panels 2 and 3 at their end edges are provided with lengthening flaps 42, 43 and 44, 45, respectively, which are connected with the side wall panels 2 and 3 by folding lines 46, 47 and 48, 49 respectively. The lengthening flaps 42, 43 and 44, 45 at their outer side are provided with second widening strips 50, 51 and 52, 53, respectively, which are connected with the lengthening strips by folding lines 54, 56 and 55, 57, respectively. In the folding lines 54, 55 and 56, 57, respectively, semi-circular cuts 58, 59 and 60, 61, respectively, are provided, the function of which will be elucidated later on.

Furthermore, the side wall panels 2 and 3 near their end edges at their outer side are provided with third widening strips 62, 63 and 64, 65, which are connected with the side wall panels 2 and 3 by folding lines 66, 67 and 68, 69.

Finally, the side wall panels 2 and 3 in the middle are provided with folding strips 70 and 71, respectively, which are connected with the side wall panels 2 and 3 by folding lines 72 and 73, respectively.

Cut-out grooves 72' and 72" and 73' and 73", respectively, are connected to the folding lines 72 and 73. The function of the folding strips will be elucidated later on. 6. *i- ό Ο .

The mounting of the folded box, vide figure 3, from the blank according to figure 1 occurs as follows: The end wall 6, 10 is folded inwardly on the bottom 1 about the folding line 8 and at the same time the hatched parts 6' and 6" together with the parts 10', 14 and 10", 15, respectively, and the lengthening flaps 14 and 15, respectively, are folded back outwardly over about 180° on the end wall 6 about the folding lines 26 and 27, respectively.

Then the folding strips 70 and 71 are provided with glue and folded inwardly about the folding lines 72 and 73 and adhered to the side wall panels 2 and 3.

Thereafter the lengthening flaps 42 and 44 are folded on the hatched parts 2' and 3' about the folding lines 46 and 48.

At the end wall 7, 11 the same method is followed as described above for the end wall 6, 10.

Thereafter the hatched parts 6', 6" and 7', 7" are provided with glue and both side wall panels 2 and 3 are folded inwardly about the folding lines 4 and 5, whereby the hatched parts 42', 44' with their bottom side (figure 1) are adhered to the hatched parts 6', 6" provided with glue and the hatched parts 43', 45' to the parts 7‘, 7". Finally, the lengthening flaps 14, 15 and 16, 17 are provided with glue at the upper side (figure 1), folded about the folding lines 30, 31 and 32, 33 and adhered to the bottom side (figure 1) of the hatched parts 2, 31 and 2", 3". Then the folded box according to the invention, which is partially represented in figure 3, is finished and these boxes can be stored in large numbers in a relatively small space, e.g., in the stores of the box manufacturer.

The box according to the invention is folded in the above described way by the manufacturer and delivered to the user in folded state. The user can simply fold the box open or "put up" same, viz. by pulling the end walls 6 and 7 upwardly by hand and, if necessary, by folding the widening strips 10 and 11 squarely to the end walls 6 and 7. 7.

When stacking of the foldable boxes according to the invention the lips of a lower box, which are formed by the cuts 38-41 and 58-61, protrude in the recesses 34-37 of an upper box, so that the boxes cannot be shifted with respect to one another. By the folding of the folding strips 70 and 71 in the side wall panels 2 and 3 ventilation openings are formed when the boxes are stacked one above the other. These ventilation openings e.g. may be necessary when the stacked boxes are filled with moisture spreading products, like fruit and vegetables.

By applying different types of cardboard the foldable boxes according to the invention can be adapted to the load requirements with a certain use of the boxes, said requirements being dependent on the weight of the filled boxes, the stacking height, the way of transport, etc.

The box according to the invention is preferably made of solid cardboard, which can be applied in different weights. Of course also other materials, such as synthetic materials, can be used.

If it is desired to further reinforce the supporting or stacking wall e.g. when one wishes to use a box suited for rather light products, or rather heavy products, cardboard or wooden reinforcing plates 10b can be fastened e.g. adhered to the first widening strips 10,11 on at least a part 10', 10" and 11' and 11" at the inwardly directed side thereof.

The box according to the invention can be substantially reinforced as to supporting capacity by locally fastening a reinforcing plate of cardboard, synthetic or other rather rigid material, to the hatched parts 2'-2", 3'-3" and/or to the end wall panels 6 and 7 within the folding lines 26, 27 and 28, 29.

On the widening strips 10, 11 and the lengthening flaps 14, 15 and 16, 17 for additional reinforcement and increase of the supporting capacity another strip of synthetic or other rather rigid material can be adhered, said strip at the location of the folding lines 18, 30, 26, 27, 31, 19 and the folding lines 20, 32, 28, 29, 33, 21, respectively, in the widening strips 10 and 11 being provided with so-called "synthetic 8.

C'j J X hinges", where the material is made thinner and thereby foldable, said strip at the location of the cardboard lips formed by the cuts 38-41 being provided with lips formed thereon, having the same function as the cardboard lips.

Furthermore, the box can be carried out single or double-walled and although a rectangular embodiment is described and represented in the drawings also a square shape could be applied, whereby the boxes, moreover, can be made in various sizes.

Although in the described and represented embodiment the stacking or 10 supporting edge is formed on the short sides of the box, this supporting edge can also be formed on the long sides.

Furthermore, in order to prevent shifting with respect to one another, one upright lip at the end walls and one recess in the bottom and the end wall can be sufficient, which are provided in the middle then.

Also the box may somewhat taper in vertical direction, i.e. that the bottom has a smaller surface than the upper side, in which case the recesses can be omitted. 9.

Claims (5)

1. A foldable box with a bottom and a first and second pair of opposed, upright walls which are foldably connected with the bottom and at one head end are interconnected by means of overlapping upright wall sections, the first pair of walls being provided with foldable widening strips and foldable lengthening flaps, and at least a part of the lengthening flaps being fastened to a corresponding part of the second pair of walls whereas in the first pair of walls from each of the bottom corner points an oblique folding line is provided extending upwardly at an angle of 45°, in which the foldable widening strips are folded in a position parallel to the bottom, in which the oblique folding lines in the first pair of walls are lengthened in the widening strips and in which in the widening strips from the end points of the folding line between the widening strips and the wall each time a second oblique folding line is provided parallel to the first-mentioned oblique folding line, wherein the second pair of walls is provided with foldable lengthening flaps which with a part of their surface are fastened to a corresponding part of the first pair of walls and these lengthening flaps are provided with foldable second widening strips which are folded in a position parallel to the bottom and come to lie under the first-mentioned widening strip.

2. A foldable box according to claim 1, wherein the second pair of opposed walls near both ends is provided with foldable third widening strips which are also folded in a position parallel to the bottom and come to lie under the first-mentioned widening strips.

3. A foldable box according to claim 1 or 2, wherein in the folding line between the bottom and the first pair of walls one or more recesses are formed, which are partially situated in the bottom and partially in the walls, and in the folding line between said walls and the widening strips thereof at corresponding places one or more cuts are made.

4. A foldable box according to claim 3, wherein the folding lines between the lengthening flaps and the second widening strips at corresponding places each time one cut is made. 10. 5. A foldable box according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the shape of the cuts corresponds with that of the recesses. 6. A foldable box according to claim 5, wherein the shape of the cuts is semi-circular and the recesses are formed by cutting out semi-circular discs. 7. A foldable box according to one of the preceding claims, wherein to the first widening strips on at least a part of the surface at the inwardly directed side thereof reinforcing plates of relatively rigid material are fastened. 8. A foldable box according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a reinforcing plate of relatively rigid material is fastened to the hatched parts of the wall panels of the second pair of upright walls and/or to the wall panels of the first pair of walls within the folding lines. 9. A foldable box according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at the outer side of the widening strips and of the lengthening flaps thereof a reinforcing strip of relatively rigid material is fastened, said strip at the location of the folding lines and the folding lines in the widening strips being made pivotable by locally thinning the material. 10. A foldable box according to claim 7, 8 or 9, wherein the reinforcing plates and the reinforcing strip are made of synthetic material. 11. Blank for a foldable box, provided with a bottom panel and a first and a second pair of opposed walls panels which are foldably connected with the bottom panel, wherein the first pair of wall panels is provided with widening strips connected with the wall panels by folding lines and with lengthening flaps connected with the widening strips by folding lines and wherein in the first pair of wall panels from each of the corner points of the bottom panel an oblique folding line is provided extending at an angle of 45° with respect to the folding line between wall panel and bottom panel, in which the wall panels, first widening strips and 11. lengthening flaps thereof of the first pair of wall panels are cut out in T-shape, in which the said oblique folding lines are provided in that first pair of walls panels and are lengthened in the widening strips and in which in the widening strips of that first pair of wall panels from the end points of the folding line between the widening strip and the wall panel each time a second oblique folding line is provided parallel to the first-mentioned oblique folding line wherein the second pair of wall panels is provided with lengthening flaps which are connected with the end edges of said walls panels by folding lines and said lengthening flaps at the outer side are provided with second widening strips which are connected with said lengthening flaps by folding lines. 12. Blank according to claim 11, wherein the second pair of wall panels near both ends is provided with third widening strips at the outer side, which are connected with said wall panels, by folding lines. 13. Blank according to claim 11 or 12, wherein in the folding line between the bottom panel and the first pair of wall panels one or more recesses are formed, which are partially situated in the bottom panel and partially in the wall panels, and in the folding line between the wall panels and the first widening strip thereof at corresponding places one or more cuts are made. 14. Blank according to claim 13, wherein in the folding line between the lengthening flaps and the second widening strips at corresponding places each time one cut is made. 15. Blank according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the shape of the cuts correspond with that of the recesses. 15. Blank according to claim 15, wherein the recesses have the shape of semi-circular discs and the cuts are semi-circular. 17. A blank for a foldable box substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings. 18. A foldable box substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings. 12. Dated this 3rd day of November 1983, TOMKINS & CO., Applicants' Agents, (signed)

5. Dartmouth Road, DUBLIN 6 13.