GB2086847A

GB2086847A - Folded boxes

Info

Publication number: GB2086847A
Application number: GB8024717A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: GROSS L BOXES Ltd
Current assignee: GROSS L BOXES Ltd
Priority date: 1980-02-07
Filing date: 1980-07-29
Publication date: 1982-05-19
Also published as: ES256035U; ES256035Y; EP0034043A1

Description

SPECIFICATION Boxes

This invention relates to open-topped boxes formed from sheet material such as cardboard.

5 Open-topped cardboard boxes are used for the packaging of tomatoes, such boxes affording protection for the goods during transport and storage thereof and also providing containers from which the tomatoes can be displayed and 10 dispensed for sale to customers.

Known such tomatoe boxes are formed from appropriately cut and folded cardboard sheets and have rectangular bases bounded by side walls, inwardly turned rims being provided at the top 15 edges of the longer side walls and flaps being folded back against the inner surfaces of the side walls. With these known boxes, the rims and flaps provide a reinforcing function but it has been found that, despite this, the overall strength is not 20 always adequate, particularly having regard to the fact that, in use, many heavily laden boxes may be stacked one on top of another; and it is not uncommon for partial collapse of boxes and consequent damage to the contents thereof to 25 occur.

An object of the present invention it to provide an open-topped box which has improved structural strength.

According to the invention therefore there is 30 provided an open-topped box formed from sheet material and having a base bounded by upstanding side walls, at least some of the side walls having inturned rims at the upper edges thereof, characterised in that, at least one said 35 side wall having a rim thereto has an upright reinforcing strut, formed from folded said sheet material extending on the inner side of the side wall between the base and the rim.

With this arrangement it will be appreciated 40 that considerable vertical strength can be derived from the strut whereby the tendency for boxes to collapse when heavily laden and stacked one upon another can be obviated or at least much reduced.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the box 45 of the invention has a rectangular base bounded by side walls on all four sides, and the two opposed longer side walls have rims thereto and are provided with respective said struts in the central region thereof.

50 The or each strut may be defined by sheet material which is folded to form, in itself or together with the associated side wall, a hollow structure, particularly a hollow square-section tube.

55 If desired, all side walls may have inwardly turned rims thereto and these may be formed integrally with each other.

Most preferably, the box of the invention is formed from a single sheet of material and, in this 60 case, the or each strut may be formed from a flap which is cut from the region of the sheet which forms the open top of the box thereby to achieve economic usage of material.

Whilst the sheet material used in forming the

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65 box of the invention will most preferably comprise cardboard by itself or appropriately coated, it is of course to be understood that the invention is not restricted to this and any other suitable material or combination of material may be used. Also, whilst 70 the box of the invention is particularly suitable for use in the packing of tomatoes, it can of course be used with any other suitable goods.

The invention will now be described further by way of example only and with reference to the 75 accompanying drawings in which:—

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of one form of a box according to the invention; and

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a cut single sheet of cardboard used in the manufacture of the box. 80 With reference to Fig. 1, the box, which is intended for use in the packaging of easily damaged goods such as tomatoes or other fruit or the like, has a rectangular base 1 bounded by four upstanding side walls 2, 3. The box also has a top 85 wall 4 with a central rectangular portion 5 cut out therefrom to define integral inwardly turned rims 6, 7 at the upper edges of the sides walls 2, 3.

The opposite shorter side walls 3 have elongate slots 8 therein to define handgrips. The opposite 90 longer side walls 2 are provided with ventilation holes 9.

Within the box on the inner sides of the two longer side walls 2 there are reinforcing struts 10 defined by folded sheets. Each such folded sheet 95 has a central vertical channel section 11 with flaps 12 on opposite sides. The flaps 12 lie against the inner side of the pertaining side wall 2 and the channel section 11 defines with such side wall 2 a vertical square-section tube terminating at its 100 upper end against the underside of the pertaining rim 6 and terminating at its lower end against the base 1. The flaps 12 have holes 13 therein which coincide with the ventilation holes 9 in the side walls 2. Secure location of the flaps 12 is achieved 105 by engagement of projecting tabs 25 on the flaps with slots 26 in the side walls 2.

The box is manufactured from a box blank as shown in Fig. 2, which is appropriately cut and provided with fold lines. The box base 1 is defined 110 by the region 14, the shorter side walls 3 are defined by strips 15 which fit over strips 16, and the longer side walls 2 are defined by strips 17, 18 together with edge piece 19 which tucks on the inner side of the strip 17. Each strip 15 has end 115 flaps 20 which tuck in against the inner sides of the strips 17, 18 to reinforce the corners and longer side walls 2 and to assist in holding the assembled box structure together. A region 21 of the blank has a cut 24 in the centre thereof which 120 is almost wholly rectangular and defines the rimmed open top of the box, such cut leaving two structures 22, held at positions 23. These structures 22 are provided with fold lines 27 and slits 28 and can be folded to define the struts 10. 125 In the assembled box, the ends of the flaps 12 of the struts 10 abut the ends of the adjacent folded corner flaps 20.

The assembled box may be held together by stapling and/or glueing as appropriate.

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The box can be assembled in a simple manner from the single box blank and it will be noted that little wastage of material is involved, particularly because the struts 10 are formed by the structures 5 22 which are cut from the part of the region 21 of the blank which provides the open top of the box.

When assembled the box has great vertical strength as a consequence of the struts 10 which extend between the rims 6 and the base 1.

10 Strength is of course also derived from other features of the box structure particularly the integral rim arrangement and the corner flaps 20. Many heavily laden boxes can therefore be stacked one on top of another with little tendency

15 for damage to be caused to the contents thereof due to partial collapse of the boxes.

It is of course to be understood that the invention is not intended to be restricted to the details of the above embodiment which are

20 described by way of example only.

Claims

1. An open-topped box formed from sheet material and having a base bounded by upstanding side walls, at least some of the side

25 walls having inturned rims at the upper edges thereof, characterised in that, at least one said side wall having a rim thereto has an upright reinforcing strut, formed from folded said sheet material extending on the inner side of the side

30 wall between the base and the rim.

2. A box according to claim 1, having a rectangular base bounded by side walls on all four sides.

3. A box according to claim 2, wherein two

35 opposed longer said side walls have rims thereto and are provided with respective said struts in the central region thereof.

4. A box according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the or each said strut is defined by sheet

40 material which is folded to form, in itself or together with the associated side wall, a hollow structure.

5. A box according to claim 4, wherein the hollow structure is a square-section tube.

45

6. A box according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein all side walls have inwardly turned rims thereto.

7. A box according to claim 6, wherein the rims are formed integrally with each other.

50

8. A box according to any one of claims 1 to 7, which is formed from a single sheet of material.

9. A box according to claim 8, wherein the or each said strut is formed from a flap'which is cut from the region of the sheet which forms the open

55 top of the box.

10. A box according to any one of claims 1 to 9, formed from carboard sheet material.

11. A box substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in

60 the accompanying drawings.

12. An open topped box substantially as

13. A blank of sheet material substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as 5 hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings. illustrated in Fig. 2 of the accompanying drawings.

Printed for Her Majesty's Stationery Office by the Courier Press, Leamington Spa, 1982. Published by the Patent Office, 25 Southampton Buildings. London, WC2A 1AY, from which copies may be obtained.

12. A box according to any one of claims 1 to 11, packed with tomatoes or other fruit.

New claims or amendments to claims filed on 17/2/81.

65 Superseded claims 1—12.

New or amended claims:—

1. An open-topped box formed from sheet material and having a base of rectangular planform bounded by upstanding first and second

70 pairs of opposed side walls at least one side wall of said first pair having an inturned rim at the upper edge thereof, characterised in that said at least one side wall has an upright reinforcing strut formed from folded said sheet material, extending

75 on the inner side of said side wall between the base and the rim which rim is attached to the opposed side walls of the said second pair.

2. A box according to claim 1, characterised in that two opposed longer said side walls have rims

80 thereto and are provided with respective said struts in the central region thereof.

3. A box according to claim 1 or 2,

characterised in that the or each said strut is defined by sheet material which is folded to form,

85 in itself or together with the associated side wall,^ hollow structure.

4. A box according to claim 3, characterised in that the hollow structure is a square-section tube.

5. A box according to any one of claims 1 to 3,

90 characterised in that each side wall has an inwardly turned rim thereto.

6. A box according to claim 5, characterised in that the rims are formed integrally with each other.

95 7. A box according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that it is formed from a single sheet of material.

8. A box according to claim 7, characterised in that the or each said strut is formed from a flap

100 which is cut open from the region of the sheet which forms the open top of the box.

9. A box according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that it is formed from cardboard sheet material.

105 10. A box according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterised by being packed with tomatoes or other fruit.

11. A blank of sheet material adapted to form a box according to any one of the preceding claims, 110 characterised in that said blank comprises a base portion of rectangular planform, portions forming first and second pairs of opposed side walls, a top portion providing at least one rim portion attached to a side wall portion of said first pair and to the 115 opposed side wall portions of said second pair, and a strut portion attached to the or each rim portion.

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