EP0543660A2

EP0543660A2 - Separation element for packing bottles into boxes

Info

Publication number: EP0543660A2
Application number: EP92310619A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Philip De St' Jean Van Der Riet
Original assignee: ST JEAN VAN DER RIET PHILIP DE
Current assignee: ST JEAN VAN DER RIET PHILIP DE
Priority date: 1991-11-22
Filing date: 1992-11-20
Publication date: 1993-05-26
Also published as: ZA929012B; AU2856592A; EP0543660A3

Abstract

Dividers for enabling articles such as bottles and bunches of grapes to be shipped in a manner which utilizes space economically comprise blanks of cardboard or like material which have a series of crease lines across them. Some crease lines form valleys when the blanks are folded and others form ridges. In some forms the crease lines converge and diverge in such manner that generally triangular shipping spaces are provided between adjacent ridges. When bottles are to be shipped, the bottles can be arranged in two oppositely arranged series with the necks intermeshed along the centre zone of the box. In another form each of a number of parallel crease lines has a first part which forms a ridge and a second part which forms a valley. A zig-zag crease line (24) which forms a ridge extends transversely of the blank (10). The parallel crease lines change from ridge (16,22) to valley (18,20) at an apex of the zig-zag crease line, and, on each side of the zig-zag crease line, crease lines which form valleys alternate with crease lines that form ridges.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

THIS INVENTION relates to the packing goods such as bottles into boxes.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Products such as bottles are conventionally packed in corrugated board boxes usually with 12 but sometimes with 6 bottles in the box. Normally the bottles all stand the same way up on the base of the box. To prevent the bottles touching they are either placed in sleeves of papier mashe or the like or a grid-like divider bounding six or twelve vertically extending compartments is provided in the box. A grid of two spaced, parallel, transverse partitions and one longitudinal partition provides, with the walls of the box, six compartments and a grid which comprises two longitudinal and three transverse partitions provides, with the walls of the box, twelve compartments.
With the advent of containerization, shipping costs depend mainly on the volume occupied by the goods, provided the weight restrictions imposed on the shipping container are not exceeded. Thus the more boxes that can be placed in a shipping container the lower the transport costs per box, and hence per bottle.
The present invention seeks to provide a more economical packing arrangement than those described hereinbefore.
Whilst Applicant's original intention was to improve space utilization in so far as the packaging of bottles is concerned, subsequent experimental work has shown that the divider of the present invention can be used with other goods. For example, bunches of grapes, which have a generally triangular shape, can be packed using the divider of the present invention. The grapes are adequately protected against damage and utilization of space in the box is improved.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

The main object of the present invention is to provide a box divider which enables goods to be packed in a box in a way which improves space utilization in the box.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a combination comprising a box, one or more dividers in the box and bottles or other goods packed in the box in such a way that space utilization within the box is improved.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a box divider for preventing contact between articles packed in a single layer, the divider comprising a blank of foldable material which has a plurality of folds in it, the folds extending in the direction from one edge of the blank to an opposed edge of the blank, some of the folds forming the crests of ridges and there being dividing walls extending downwardly from the crests of the ridges, lower edges of the dividing walls being bounded by further folds, the folds being arranged so that shipping spaces are defined between adjacent ridges.
In one form the lower edges of the dividing walls of adjacent ridges of the divider are joined to one another along folds which form the bottoms of valleys between adjacent ridges. In another form there are horizontal panels between adjacent ridges, the dividing walls and horizontal panels being joined to one another along further folds. In this form the folds can be arranged divergently so that generally triangular shipping spaces are defined between adjacent ridges.
In a specific form the folds of a set of folds are arranged parallel to one another and a further fold of zig-zag form extends across a centre zone of the divider transversely to the said folds of said set of folds, the further fold being in the form of a ridge and each fold of said set being in the form of a ridge on one side of said further fold and a valley on the other side of said further fold, ridges and valleys alternating on each side of said further fold, each fold of said set changing from a ridge to a valley at an apex of said further fold.
According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a blank of foldable material from which a box divider can be erected and which prevents contact between bottles packed in a single layer, the divider comprising a first set of parallel crease lines extending from one edge of the divider towards the other, a second set of parallel crease lines alternating with the crease lines of the first set and also extending from said one edge towards the other edge, the crease lines of the second set being longer than the crease lines of the first set, a third set of crease lines extending from the other edge of the divider, the crease lines of the third set being aligned with the crease lines of the first set and merging with them, a fourth set of crease lines extending from said other edge of the divider, the crease lines of the fourth set being aligned with the crease lines of the second set and merging with them, and a zig-zag crease line joining the points where the crease lines of the first and second sets merge with the crease lines of the third and fourth sets, the crease lines of the first and fourth sets and the zig-zag crease line being such that they become the crests of ridges when the blank is folded along these crease lines and the second and third sets of crease lines being such that they become the bottoms of valleys when the blank is folded along these crease lines.
According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a blank of foldable material from which a box divider can be erected and which prevents contact between articles packed in a single layer, the blank comprising a plurality of groups of three parallel crease lines extending from one edge of the blank to the opposed edge, the centre crease line of each group being such that it forms the crest of a ridge when the blank is folded, each group of crease lines being skew with respect to said blank edges and alternate groups of crease lines being skew with respect to one another in such manner as to define triangular panels between the outer crease lines of each group, alternate panels having their narrower ends adjacent opposite ones of said edges, strip-like zones bounded between the outer crease lines of each group and the centre crease line of that group forming walls for separating the articles when the blank is folded.
According to a still further aspect of the present invention there is provided a blank of foldable material from which a divider can be erected and which prevents contact between bottles in a single layer, the divider comprising a pair of crease lines diverging from one edge of the blank to the other, the pair of crease lines, when the blank is folded, forming sloping ridges, a single crease line between said pair of crease lines and extending inwardly from said one edge towards the other, and two crease lines which extend inwardly from said other edge approximately parallel to said pair of crease lines, said two crease lines and said single crease line meeting at an apex, a base panel being bounded by said two crease lines, a first wall panel being bounded by one of the crease lines of said pair, said single crease line and the adjacent one of said two crease lines, and a second wall panel being bounded by the other of said crease lines of said pair, said single crease line and the other of said two crease lines.
According to yet another aspect of the present invention there is provided a box with a layer of bottles packed therein, each bottle being within a sleeve of cardboard, stiff paper or like material, alternate bottles in the layer being oppositely disposed so each bottle neck is adjacent to the body of another bottle of the layer or between the bodies of two bottles of the layer.
Said sleeve extends from the bottle base to the region where the body of the bottle and the neck of the bottle merge. Alternatively each sleeve can extend the full length of the bottle within it from the bottle base to the rim of its mouth.
The box can have two layers of bottles in it, the body of each bottle in the upper layer being above the neck of a bottle in the lower layer. If there is a third layer then the neck of each bottle in the centre layer is both above and below a bottle body.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the present invention, and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings in which:-

Figure 1 is a plan view of a blank from which a box divider can be erected;
Figure 2 is a side elevation showing the blank of Figure 1 folded for shipment;
Figures 3, 4 and 5 are diagrammatic sections on the lines III-III, IV-IV and V-V of Figure 1 and show the blank in use;
Figure 6 is a plan view of a further blank;
Figures 7 and 8 are sections on the lines VII-VII and VIII-VIII of Figure 6;
Figure 8a shows the edge of a modified form of the blank of Figure 6;
Figure 9 is a plan view of a still further blank;
Figure 10 is an edge view of the blank of Figure 9 and shows the blank folded;
Figure 11 is a plan view of another blank which is used in a box with the blank of Figures 9 and 10;
Figure 12 is an edge view of the blank of Figure 11 and shows the blank folded;
Figure 13 illustrates part of yet another blank;
Figures 14 and 15 illustrate the blank of Figure 13 in a folded form, the sections being taken on the lines XIV-XIV and XV-XV in Figure 13;
Figure 16 and 17 illustrate modifications of the blank of Figures 1 to 5;
Figure 18 is a plan view of a box with bottles in it; and
Figure 19 is an end view of the box of Figure 18.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The blank 10 illustrated in Figure 1 is rectangular in outline and has opposed end edges 12 and side edges 14. Three parallel crease lines 16 extend inwardly from one edge 12 and terminate about one third of the way across the blank. Three further parallel crease lines 18 extend inwardly from the same edge of the blank, the lines 16 and 18 alternating. The lines 18 terminate approximately two thirds of the way across the blank. The crease lines 16 are such that when the blank is folded they become ridges and the crease lines 18 are such that when the blank is folded they become valleys. Solid and dashed lines are used in Figure 1 (and in certain later Figures of the drawings) to distinguish between the two different types of crease line.
Crease lines 20, aligned with the crease lines 16, extend inwardly from other edge 12 of the blank 10 and merge with the crease lines 16. Similarly crease lines 22, aligned with the crease lines 18, extend inwardly from the other edge of the blank and merge with the crease lines 18.
A zig-zag crease line 24 joins the points where the crease lines 16, 20 and 18, 22 merge.
Hatched areas referenced 26 indicate areas where glue is applied to the underside of the blank 10. The blank is then folded concertina-fashion along all the crease lines so that the panels pairs 28,30, 32,34, 36,38, 40,42, 44,46 and 48,50 are temporarily glued together back-to-back. When viewed from the edge 14, the folded blank has the appearance shown in Figure 2 and can be shipped in this flat form.
Prior to use, the blank is opened out to the width shown by the chain dotted lines 52 in Figure 1, the glued connections being at least partially broken. The distance between lines 52 is approximately the width of the box in which the blank is placed. Once opened out to this extent, to form a box divider, the blank has the configuration shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5. The distance between the edges 12 equals the length of the box. Three bottles B (Figure 3) are placed in the channels designated 54 with their bases against one end wall of the box and their necks N (Figure 4) intermeshed in the region of the zig-zag crease line 24 with the necks N1 of three bottles B1 (Figure 5) placed the other way around in the channels 54 of the other half of the blank. The latter three bottles have their bases against the other end wall of the box. As the mass of bottles is imposed on the blank, the blank flattens and increases in width to the extent permitted by the side walls of the box.
Another blank of the same type, but rotated through 180 degrees, is placed on top of the layer of six bottles B, B1 and a further layer of six bottles then placed in the channels 54 of the upper blank.
The blank 56 of Figure 6 is not rectangular in shape but in the form of a trapezium with two parallel edges 58 and two edges 60 which are skew to the edges 58 but parallel to one another. Two crease lines 62 extend from edge 58 to edge 58 parallel to the edges 60, the crease lines 62 alternating with three further crease lines 64 which are of the opposite hand. The crease lines 62 and 64 all form ridges when the blank is folded. Crease lines 66 are provided on each side of each crease line 62, 64. Strips 67 are bounded by the crease lines 62, 66 and strips 69 by the crease lines 64, 66.
As the blank is folded and placed in a box, five ridges (see Figures 7 and 8) are formed which extend across the blank between the edges 58, the crease lines 62 and 64 forming the crests of the ridges. The walls constituted by the strips 67, 69 are shown as forming inverted V's (Figures 7 and 8). The strips 67 and the strips 69 can, however, be adhered together back-to-back to form vertical walls if desired. Four triangular panels 68 are formed between the crease lines 66 and two further triangular panels 70 are formed outwardly of the outermost crease lines 66. The approximate width of the box and folded blank is shown by chain dotted lines 71 in Figure 6. Six long necked wine bottles can be placed on the panels 68 and 70. The neck of each bottle is directed towards the apex of the triangular panel on which it has been placed. Thus adjacent bottles have their necks pointing in opposite directions.
A second blank of the same type, but turned through 180 degrees with respect to that illustrated, is placed on top, and then a further layer of bottles placed in the box on the panels 68, 70 of the upper blank.
If the blank 56 is made wider, that is, the distance between the edges 58 is increased, the crease lines 64, 62 eventually converge and each panel 68 is then triangular with an apex instead of being of the truncated form illustrated. The edge of a blank of this form is shown in Figure 8a. It will be noted that the width of alternate panels 68 has decreased to zero and that the other panels 68 are of full width.
The blank of Figure 9 comprises three groups of three parallel crease lines 72 and 74, the centre lines 72 forming ridges when the blank is folded. The crease lines 72, 74 extend from one longer edge of the blank to the other. Single crease lines 76 are provided close to the shorter edges of the blank. This arrangement provides triangular panels 78, three pairs of strips 80 and two end strips 82. One of the longer edges of the blank has V-shaped notches 77 in it and the other has V-shaped projections 79. The apex of each notch 77 and each projection 79 coincides with a crease line 72. At each end of the blank there are "half" notches and "half" projections.
The blank is folded so that the strips 80 take-up back-to-back positions (see Figure 10) and are directed upwardly. The shape of the blank is such that, once the blank is folded, it takes-up a rectangular configuration. The strips 80 can be arranged as inverted V's as shown or can be adhered back-to-back. In this latter form each panel 78 is bounded on each side by a vertical wall.
The blank of Figures 11 and 12 is similar to the blank of Figures 9 and 10 and provides panels 78 of the "other hand". The blank of Figure 12 is shown with the strips 80 closer together than those of Figure 10.
To prevent the triangular base panels 68 and 78 of the embodiments of Figure 6 to 12 forming upwardly curving arches instead of flattening when the bottles are placed on them, groups of crease lines such as are shown in chain dotted lines in Figure 11 can be provided to weaken these panels and promote their collapse to flat form.
Two blanks of one of these types and one blank of the other of these types are interleaved in a box to receive twelve wine bottles of a flattened type such as are used for "Graca", "Bellingham Johannisburger" and portuguese Rosé wines such as Matteus Rosé and Carcel Garcia.
The blank of Figure 13 includes three pairs of diverging crease lines 81 (only two of which pairs are shown) which extend from one edge 83 of the blank to the other edge 84. The outer pairs of crease lines 81 diverge from the edge 83 and the centre pair of crease lines 81 diverge from the edge 84. Between the crease lines of each pair of crease lines 81 are two crease lines 86 which run generally in the same direction as the lines 81 but meet at an apex 88. A single crease line 90 continues from the apex 88 to the adjacent edge 83, 84. Between the pairs of crease lines 81 there are single crease lines 92. Outwardly of the end crease line 81 there is a further crease line 92.1. The portion of the blank which is not shown is identical to the portion shown, the blank being symmetrical about the centre line CL.
The configuration of the edges 83, 84 is such that, when the blank is folded as described below, it takes-up, in plan view, a rectangular shape.
As the blank is folded the panels designated 94 and 96 are adhered to one another in back-to-back relationship, the crease line 81 between these panels forming a sloping ridge. Likewise the panels 98 and 104 are adhered back-to-back, the crease line 81 between them forming another sloping ridge. The panels 100 and 102 are also secured back-to-back with the intervening line 81 forming yet another ridge. The configuration of the blank, once folded, is shown in Figures 14 and 15. The blank provide space for three bottles the centre of which is the opposite way round to the others.
The blanks of Figures 16 and 17 differ from the blank of Figure 1 to 5 in that wings 120 are provided which protrude upwardly from the ridges defined by the crease lines 16, these wings providing additional material between the bottles B, B1. The wings 120 can be V-shaped pieces 122 (Figure 17) which are adhered to the blank. Alternatively, each piece can include a tab 124 (Figure 16) which passes through a slot in the ridge of the blank and is adhered to its underside.
It has been found that table grapes can be shipped in boxes with dividers of the forms shown particularly in Figures 6 to 12. The triangular spaces provided between ridges are suitably shaped for receiving the generally triangular bunches of grapes.
In Figures 18 and 19 there is shown a box which has three layers of bottles B in it, each layer comprising four bottles. The bottles are opposite ways around (as shown in Figure 18) and each is in a sleeve 106 of cardboard or stiff paper. Each sleeve can be of tapering form (as shown at 106.1 in Figure 18) and extend from the mouth of the bottle to a level between the base of the bottle and the zone at which the neck and body of the bottle converge. Alternatively, the sleeve can extend from the base of the bottle (as shown at 106.2 in Figure 18) to above the level where the neck and body converge. Thus there is a single layer of material between the main part of each bottle and the neck of the adjacent bottle and two layers at the convergence zone. In another form each cylindrical sleeve can extend the full length of the bottle. In this latter form, and in the form illustrated at 106.2, as the bottles are placed in the box, the parts of the sleeves in the region of the necks are deformed and crushed inwardly.

Claims

A box divider for preventing contact between articles packed in a single layer, the divider comprising a blank of foldable material which has a plurality of folds in it, the folds extending in the direction from one edge of the blank to an opposed edge of the blank, some of the folds forming the crests of ridges and there being dividing walls extending downwardly from the crests of the ridges, lower edges of the dividing walls being bounded by further folds, the folds being arranged so that shipping spaces are defined between adjacent ridges.
A box divider according to claim 1, in which the lower edges of the dividing walls of adjacent ridges of the divider are joined to one another along folds which form the bottoms of valleys between adjacent ridges.
A box divider according to claim 1, in which there are horizontal panels between adjacent ridges, the dividing walls and horizontal panels being joined to one another along further folds.
A box divider according to claim 1, in which the folds are arranged divergently so that generally triangular shipping spaces are defined between adjacent ridges.
A box divider according to claim 1, in which the folds of a set of folds are arranged parallel to one another and a further fold of zig-zag form extends across a centre zone of the divider transversely to said folds of said set of folds, the further fold being in the form of a ridge and each fold of said set being in the form of a ridge on one side of said further fold and a valley on the other side of said further fold, ridges and valleys alternating on each side of said further fold, each fold of said set changing from a ridge to a valley at an apex of said further fold.
A blank of foldable material from which a box divider can be erected and which prevents contact between articles packed in a single layer, the divider comprising a first set of parallel crease lines extending from one edge of the divider towards the other, a second set of parallel crease lines alternating with the crease lines of the first set and also extending from said one edge towards the other edge, the crease lines of the second set being longer than the crease lines of the first set, a third set of crease lines extending from the other edge of the divider, the crease lines of the third set being aligned with the crease lines of the first set and merging with them, a fourth set of crease lines extending from said other edge of the divider, the crease lines of the fourth set being aligned with the crease lines of the second set and merging with them, and a zig-zag crease line joining the points where the crease lines of the first and second sets merge with the crease lines of the third and fourth sets, the crease lines of the first and fourth sets and the zig-zag crease line being such that they become the crests of ridges when the blank is folded along these crease lines and the second and third sets of crease lines being such that they become the bottoms of valleys when the blank is folded along these crease lines.
A blank of foldable material from which a box divider can be erected and which prevents contact between articles packed in a single layer, the blank comprising a plurality of groups of three parallel crease lines extending from one edge of the blank to the opposed edge, the centre crease line of each group being such that it forms the crest of a ridge when the blank is folded, each group of crease lines being skew with respect to said blank edges and alternate groups of crease lines being skew with respect to one another in such manner as to define triangular panels between the outer crease lines of each group, alternate panels having their narrower ends adjacent opposite ones of said edges, strips bounded between the outer crease lines of each group and the centre crease line of that group forming walls for separating the articles when the blank is folded.
A blank of foldable material from which a divider can be erected and which prevents contact between articles in a single layer, the divider comprising a pair of crease lines diverging from one edge of the blank to the other, the pair of crease lines, when the blank is folded, forming sloping ridges, a single crease line between said pair of crease lines and extending inwardly from said one edge towards the other, and two crease lines which extend inwardly from said other edge approximately parallel to said pair of crease lines, said two crease lines and said single crease lines meeting at an apex, a base panel being bounded by said two crease lines, a first wall panel being bounded by one of the crease lines of said pair, said single crease line and the adjacent one of said two crease lines, and a second wall panel being bounded by the other of said crease lines of said pair, said single crease line and the other of said two crease lines.
A box with a layer of bottles packed therein, each bottle being within a sleeve of cardboard, stiff paper or like material, alternate bottles in the layer being oppositely disposed so that each bottle neck is adjacent to the body of another bottle of the layer or between the bodies of two bottles of the layer.
A box according to claim 9, in which each sleeve extend from the bottle base to the region where the body of the bottle and the neck of the bottle merge.
A box according to claim 9, in which each sleeve extends the full length of the bottle from the bottle base to the rim of its mouth.