GB2138401A - Boxes erectable from a flattened state - Google Patents

Abstract

A box which may be erected from a flattened state is formed from a blank comprising a pair of opposed side walls (1, 3) and a pair of opposed end walls (2) and including a base forming panel (5) hingedly connected to one of said side walls (1, 3) and connected at each end by a gusset (6) to the adjacent end wall (2), each end wall (2) being provided with a vertical-in-use fold line (13) whereby the box may be collapsed flat. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Erectable boxes, cartons and trays This invention relates to boxes, cartons and trays of the kind which may be shipped flat in a partly made-up state and then readily erected into contents-carrying form by the user. Such products, hereinafter termed "boxes of the kind described" are of particular benefit to the produce growing industry where a ready supply of rapidly erectable boxes are required into which pickers conveyors or sorters may pack produce for shipment.

Such boxes are often required to have wet strength to cope with damp produce, and a good stacking strength for tier loading on lorries, trucks or trailers.

It is an object of the invention to provide a box of the kind described which is nevertheless simpler in construction and therefore more economical than heretofore known boxes of a like kind.

According to the invention there is provided a box of the kind described comprising a pair of opposed side walls and a pair of opposed end walls and including a base forming panel hingedly connected to one of said side walls and connected at each end by a gusset to the adjacent end walls, each end wall being provided with a vertical-in-use fold line whereby the box may be collapsed flat.

Thus in the collapsed flat condition the base forming panel will by reason of its gusset connection to the end wall lie generally parallel to and sandwiched between the side walls.

This is an economical condition in which to ship the box empty since it occupies a very small volume as compared to the erected box.

However, on separating the side walls the end walls will tend to regain their unfolded state and by virtue at least of its gusset connection the base panel can be folded down to assume its position at the base of the box.

In one preferred embodiment the base panel includes gusset portions at each end providing the connections to said gussets and which cooperate therewith to permit the base panel to be folded through to the base of the box. In this case a base liner panel, preferably of substantially the same dimensions as the base panel, may be hingedly connected to the other of said walls so as to be foldable down from inside the box to reinforcingly overlie the base panel. Engagement of the end facing edges of the base liner panel with the said gussets which are thereby sandwiched between said edges and the end walls may provide further reinforcement of the base structure.

In a further preferred embodiment there is hingedly connected to the other of said side walls a base flap whose width is substantially half that of the box, said flap having hingedly connected thereto a flange connected by adhesive or mechanical fixing means to the underside of said base panel. In this way the base panel is fixed to the flap so that the two act in composite manner to reinforce the base of the box and to bring about its erection in response to lowering of the base panel to its final position. Preferably said flange is substantially half the width of the box and coextensive with half of the base panel, although a smaller flange and even a plurality of them could be provided if desired.

Viewed from a further aspect the invention provides an integral blank of cardboard, corrugated board, fibreboard or similar lightweight semi-rigid foldable sheet material for making up into a box of the kind described said blank comprising a first side wall forming panel hingedly connected at each end to respective end wall forming panels, a further side wall forming panel being hingedly connected to one of said end wall forming panels at its edge remote from said first side wall forming panel, and a base forming panel hingedly connected to said first side wall forming panel and connected at each end thereof by gussets to respective end wall forming panels, each of said end wall forming panels provided with a vertical in use fold line whereby with said further side wall forming panel connected to the remote end wall forming panel the partly erected box may be collapsedly folded flat.

The blank may also comprise any of the preferred features of the box set forth above.

In order that the invention may be readily understood two preferred embodiments thereof will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a blank for making up into a first embodiment of box, Figure 2 shows the blank assembled and partly erected, Figure 3 show the substantially completely erected box, Figure 4 is a plan view of a blank for making up into a second embodiment of box, Figure 5, shows the second blank assembled and partly erected, and Figure 6 shows the partly erected blank of Fig. 5 from underneath.

Referring firstly to Figs 1, 2 and 3 the blank comprises a first side wall forming panel 1 hingedly connected at each end to respective end wail forming panels 2, to one of which is hingedly connected a further side wall forming panel 3. A tab 4 connected to the opposite end wall forming panel 2 is adhesively securable to panel 3 to make up the main body of the box.

Hingedly connected to panel 1 is a base forming panel 5 which is connected at each end by gussets 6 to respective panels 2.

Further gusset panels 7 are hingedly connected between gussets 6 and panels for extra strength.

A base lining panel 8 is hingedly connected to the further side wall forming panel 3 Along the tops of the side wall forming panels 1, 3 are hingedly connected retaining flanges 9, and connected thereto are cuff flanges 10 provided with shaped tabs 11 adapted to fixingly engage through hand holes 1 2 in a manner to be described.

Formed in the end wall forming panels 2 are substantially central, vertical in use fold lines 1 3 enabling the assembled container to be collapsedly folded flat as suggested by Fig.

2 with base forming panel 5 flat against its side wall forming panel 1 and base lining panel 8 flat agains its side wall forming panel 3.

To erect the box, the two side wall forming panels 1, 3 are separated as shown in Fig. 2 and the base forming panel is pushed down through the body of the box moving past the gussets 6 with the aid of gusset portions 14 formed in the panel. On attaining its bottom most position it flattens out and the gussets 6 lie against the end walls 2. The base lining flap is now folded down to reinforcingly overlie panel 5 and maintain the gussets 6 against the end walls 2.

The box is now ready for packing, and on completion the retaining flanges 9 are bent down to hold in the contents, being secured in this position tensionably by cuff flanges 10 secured to the end walls 2 by locking tabs 11 through hand holes 1 2. In addition to its retaining function this arrangement also increases the box's general and stacking strength.

Turning now to Figs. 3, 4 and 5 the box illustrated is very similar tothe first embodiment, and like numerals correspond. The gusset portions 14 however are not provided, and what was the base lining panel is divided by fold line 1 5 into a base erection flap 1 6 and a gluing flange 1 7 which is adhesively secured to the underside of the panel 5 as shown in Fig. 6.

Thus the assembled box may be collapsed flat with panel 5 and flange/flap 16, 1 7 flat against respective side wall panels. On separating the side walls and pushing down the panel 5 the box is controllably erected to a form ready for packing.

In both embodiments the box may be shipped in its flattened condition but erected ready for packing within a second or two.

Claims (11)

1. A box of the kind described comprising a pair of opposed side walls and a pair of opposed end walls and including a base forming panel hingedly connected to one of said side walls and connected at each end by a gusset to the adjacent end wall, each end wall being provided with a vertical-in-use fold line whereby the box may be collapsed flat.

2. A box as claimed in claim 1, wherein said base forming panel includes gusset portiins at each end providing the connections to said gussets and which co-operate therewith to facilitate movement of the base panel to and from its base forming position.

3. A box as claimed in claim 1 or 2, further comprising a base liner panel hingedy connected to the other of said side walls to as to be foldable down from inside the box to reinforcingly overlie the base panel.

4. A box as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein there is hingedly connected to the other of said side walls a base flap whose width is substantially half that of the box, said flap having hingedly connected thereto a flange connected to the underside of said base panel.

5. A box as claimed in claim 4 wherein said flange is substantially half the width of the box and is coextensive with half of the base panel

6. An integral blank of cardboard, corrugated board, fibreboard or similar lightweight semi-rigid foldable sheet material for making up into a box of the kind described, said blank comprising a first side wall forming panel hingedly connected at each end to respective end wall forming panels, a further side wall forming panel being hingedly connected to one of said end wall forming panels at its edge remote from said first side wall forming panel, and a base forming panel hingedly connected to said first side wall forming panel and connected at each end thereof by gussets to respective end wall forming panels, each of said end wall forming panels being provided with a vertical-in-use fold line whereby with said further side wall forming panel connected to the remote end wall forming panel the partly erected box may be collapsedly folded flat.

7. A blank as claimed in claim 6, wherein said base forming panel includes gusset portions at each end providing the connections to said gussets.

8. A blank as claimed in claim 6 or 7, further comprising a base liner panel hingedly connected to the other of said side walls.

9. A blank as claimed in claim 6 or 7, wherein there is hingedly connected to the other of said side wall a base flap whose width is substantially half that of the box, said flap having hingedly connected thereto a flange connectible to the underside of said base panel.

10 A blank as claimed in claim 9, wherein said flange is substantially half the width of the box so as to be coextensive with half of the base panel when connected thereto.

11. A box of the kind described, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 1 to 3 or Figs. 4 to 6 of the accompanying drawings.

1 2. An integral blank for making up into a box of the kind described, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Fig 1 or Fig. 4 of the accompanying drawings.