GB2562071A

GB2562071A - A box

Info

Publication number: GB2562071A
Application number: GB1707037.6A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Cass Tom
Original assignee: Flare Audio Technologies Ltd
Current assignee: Flare Audio Technologies Ltd
Priority date: 2017-05-03
Filing date: 2017-05-03
Publication date: 2018-11-07
Also published as: GB201707037D0

Abstract

The application discloses a rectangular box 10 comprising six faces T, F, R, B, L & K. Each face is provided with at least one protrusion element 20 defining a sets of parallel grooves and ridges 21. The sets are complementary such that the box can mate with the sets of grooves and ridges on an identical box if those faces were brought together. Preferably the ridges are triangular in cross-section with one of the ridges having one face being at a 45 degree angle to the face of the box. Ideally, the projections should be resilient or made from an elastomeric foam. Ideally, there should be three or four sets of grooves on each face. It is preferable that the box forms a cube. The walls of the box may be formed from a substrate 12 which may be cardboard. The box may also comprise an external frame 17 that covers and reinforces the box. The frame may also be made from cardboard.

Description

(54) Title of the Invention: A box Abstract Title: A Box (57) The application discloses a rectangular box 10 comprising six faces T, F, R, B, L & K. Each face is provided with at least one protrusion element 20 defining a sets of parallel grooves and ridges 21. The sets are complementary such that the box can mate with the sets of grooves and ridges on an identical box if those faces were brought together. Preferably the ridges are triangular in cross-section with one of the ridges having one face being at a 45 degree angle to the face of the box. Ideally, the projections should be resilient or made from an elastomeric foam. Ideally, there should be three or four sets of grooves on each face. It is preferable that the box forms a cube. The walls of the box may be formed from a substrate 12 which may be cardboard. The box may also comprise an external frame 17 that covers and reinforces the box. The frame may also be made from cardboard.

At least one drawing originally filed was informal and the print reproduced here is taken from a later filed formal copy.

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A Box

This invention relates to a box, in particular a box to contain a product, for example a set of earphones.

Rectangular cardboard boxes are well known for this purpose, and are comparatively cheap. They can be stacked (for example in a shop display), but do not interlock; and they are not usually hard wearing, attractive or useful in their own right. As a general rule customers will throw away the cardboard box after unpacking the product. There are some contexts in which a more attractive-looking cardboard box would be advantageous.

According to the present invention there is provided a rectangular box, the box having six faces, each face being provided with at least one projecting element to define a plurality of sets of parallel grooves and ridges, on any one face the sets of grooves and ridges differing from each in shape and/or alignment, and the sets of parallel grooves and ridges on opposite faces of the box having complementary shapes, so as to be able to mate together if those faces were to be brought together.

Considering a single box, the opposite faces of the box do not come into contact with each other. However, if there are multiple boxes, the boxes can be stacked and arranged such that mating faces of adjacent boxes are brought together. The mating sets of grooves and ridges therefore allow the boxes in the stack to interlock.

The ridges may be triangular in cross-section, with a first face of the ridge and a second face of the ridge that are oriented at different angles relative to the face of the box. For example the ridges may have a first face at 60° to the face of the box and a second face at 60° to the face of the box; or alternatively the ridges may have a first face orthogonal to the face of the box and a second face at 45° to the face of the box. In any event the ridges on any one face of the box must be shaped and located so as to be able to mate with those on the opposite face of the box.

The projecting elements that define the ridges may be of a flexible and resilient material, for example they may be of an elastomer. The projecting elements do not have to be stiff, so they may be of an elastomeric foam. For example they may be of ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) foam, also known as poly (ethylene-vinyl acetate) (pEVA) foam. They may be mounted on a substrate that defines the box.

There may for example be three or four different sets of grooves and ridges on any one face of the box. Each different set of grooves and ridges may be defined by a separate projecting element, or alternatively a single projecting element may define all the different sets of grooves and ridges on a face of the box.

The box may be in the shape of a cube.

The substrate may define all the walls of the box, for example comprising one or more sheets of cardboard or another thin sheet material such as a polymer. Alternatively the substrate may define only a framework of the walls of the box. In a preferred embodiment the substrate defines all the walls, and the box also comprises an external frame that covers and reinforces all the edges of the box. The external frame may also be of cardboard, or of another thin sheet material such as a polymer.

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

Figure 1 shows an isometric perspective view of a box of the invention;

Figure 2 shows a view in the direction of arrow 2 of figure 1;

Figure 3 shows a view in the direction of arrow 3 of figure 1; and Figure 4 shows a partial sectional view on the line 4-4 of figure 3.

Referring now to figure 1, a box 10 is in the shape of a cube. The face that is viewed in the direction of arrow 2 may be referred to as the top face T; the face that is viewed in the direction of arrow 3 may be referred to as the right-hand face R; and the other face shown in figure 1 may be referred to as the front face, F. The opposite faces, which are not shown in figure 1, are correspondingly referred to as the bottom face B, the left-hand face L and the back face K.

Referring also to figure 4, the box 10 includes a cardboard substrate 12 that defines all the walls. The cardboard substrate 12 consists of a bottom half 14 and a top half 15; and there is also a square cardboard sleeve 16 fixed to the bottom half 14 and projecting into the top half 15. The box 10 is shown in the closed position, but the top half 15 can be lifted off, sliding up along the square sleeve 16. In addition, cardboard frames 17 are fixed to all the edges of the box 10, one cardboard frame 17 therefore being provided on the bottom half 14 and another cardboard frame 17 being provided on the top half 15. (Only the cardboard frame 17 on the top half 15 is shown in figure 4.)

Referring also to figure 1, onto each of the six faces of the box 10 are fixed four projecting elements 20 that define parallel grooves and ridges 21, these elements 20 being fixed to the cardboard substrate 12 in the shallow recess defined by the cardboard frames

17. The elements 20 in this embodiment are of elastomeric foam, made of EVA; and each element 20 defines a set of parallel ridges 21 each having a first face orthogonal to the face of the box and a second face at 45° to the face of the box. The shape of the ridges 21 is shown most clearly in figure 4. The elements 20 could cover the entire region within the cardboard frames 17, but in this embodiment the elements 20 are cut away so as to define a rectangular recess 22 at the centre of each face of the box 10. This recess 22 provides a flat surface in which a brand name may be presented.

On any one face of the box 10, the elements 20 are arranged so that the sets of ridges 21 have four different arrangements.

So, referring to figure 2 which shows the top face T of the box 10: the top left-hand element 20 has ridges 21 aligned upward and sloping to the left; the top right-hand element 20 has ridges 21 aligned across and sloping downwards; the bottom right-hand element 20 has ridges 21 aligned upward and sloping to the right; and the bottom left-hand element 20 has ridges 21 aligned across and sloping upward.

This description uses the terms “upward”, “across”, “left” and “right” only in relation to the view shown in figure 2, in order to clarify the four different arrangements; the direction in which the ridges 21 slope is evident from figure 1.

The arrangement of the elements 20, as regards the shape of the sets of ridges 21, is the same on the top face, T, the front face F (as is evident from figure 1) and is also the same on the left-hand face L.

Referring now to figure 3, which shows the right-hand face R of the box 10: the top left-hand element 20 has ridges 21 aligned across, and sloping upward; the top right-hand element 20 has ridges 21 aligned upward and sloping to the left; the bottom right-hand element 20 has ridges 21 aligned across, and sloping downward; and the bottom left-hand element 20 has ridges 21 aligned upward and sloping to the right.

This description uses the terms “upward”, “across”, “left” and “right” only in relation to the view shown in figure 3, in order to clarify the four different arrangements; the direction in which the ridges 21 slope is evident from figure 1.

The arrangement of the elements 20, as regards the shape of the sets of ridges 21, is the same on the right-hand face R, on the bottom face, B, and the back face K.

It will be appreciated that if two boxes 10 are brought together, both boxes 10 having the same orientation, for example being stacked on top of each other, that would bring the top face T of one box 10 (as shown in figure 2) into contact with the bottom face B of the other box 10 (which has the arrangement shown in figure 3). The sets of ridges 21 on these opposed faces T and B are complementary, so the ridges 21 can mate with each other, i.e. fit into each other, as long as the boxes 10 are aligned. Similarly, if the right-hand face R (as shown in figure 3) of a box 10 is brought into contact with the left-hand face L (which has the arrangement shown in figure 2) of another box 10, the ridges 21 can mate with each other because the arrangements are complementary.

It will thus be appreciated that not only is the box 10 of the invention attractive in its own right, from the perspective of the purchaser, but it can be stacked with other such boxes 10 as part of a display in a shop, to the advantage of the retailer, and will form an attractive display.

It will be appreciated that the box 10 may be modified in various ways while remaining within the scope of the invention, as defined by the claims. For example the substrate 12 and the frames 17 might instead be of thin sheet plastic instead of cardboard. Furthermore the shape of the ridges 21 may be different from that shown and described above, and the size of the ridges 21 in proportion to the size of the box 10 may differ from that shown. On any one face of the box 10, the projecting elements 20 might instead be integral with each other, rather than being four separate elements. Furthermore, the substrate 12 may be integral with the projecting elements 20.

Other variations and modifications will be apparent to the skilled person. Such variations and modifications may involve equivalent and other features that are already known and which may be used instead of, or in addition to, features described herein.

It should also be noted that the Figures are not necessarily to scale; emphasis instead generally being placed upon illustrating the principles of the present invention.

Claims

1. A rectangular box, the box having six faces, each face being provided with at least one projecting element to define a plurality of sets of parallel grooves and ridges, on any one face the sets of grooves and ridges differing from each in shape and/or alignment, and the sets of parallel grooves and ridges on opposite faces of the box having complementary shapes, so as to be able to mate together if those faces were to be brought together.

2. A box as claimed in claim 1 wherein the ridges are triangular in cross-section, with a first face of the ridge and a second face of the ridge oriented at different angles relative to the face of the box.

3. A box as claimed in claim 2 wherein the ridges have a first face orthogonal to the face of the box and a second face at 45° to the face of the box.

4. A box as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the projecting elements that define the ridges are of a flexible and resilient material.

5. A box as claimed in claim 4 wherein the projecting elements are of an elastomeric foam.

6. A box as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein there are three or four different sets of grooves and ridges on any one face of the box.

7. A box as claimed in any one of the preceding claims which is in the shape of a cube.

8. A box as claimed in any one of the preceding claims also comprising a substrate that defines the box.

9. A box as claimed in claim 8 wherein the substrate defines all the walls of the box.

10. A box as claimed in any claim 8 or claim 9 wherein the substrate is of cardboard.

11. A box as claimed in any one of the preceding claims also comprising an external frame that covers and reinforces all the edges of the box.

12. A box as claimed in claim 11 wherein the external frame is of cardboard.

Intellectual

Property

Office

Application No: GB 1707037.6