EP3681811B1

EP3681811B1 - Collapsible cardboard box and method for erecting said box

Info

Publication number: EP3681811B1
Application number: EP18782516.1A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Tomasz Lubinski
Original assignee: Stora Enso Oyj
Current assignee: Stora Enso Oyj
Priority date: 2017-09-15
Filing date: 2018-09-13
Publication date: 2021-07-07
Anticipated expiration: 2038-09-13
Also published as: LT3681811T; SE1751128A1; PL3681811T3; SE542439C2; EP3681811A1; RU2020113455A; RU2020113455A3; WO2019053622A1; ES2894111T3

Description

Technical field

The invention relates to a collapsible cardboard box and a method for placing a collapsible cardboard box.

Background art

It is long known to use corrugated collapsible containers in the form of cardboard boxes formed from a blank. The box has in its erected state at least five sides and in its collapsed state the box can either be unfolded and then folded over itself, i.e. double folded, or may be unfolded to return to the blank state. When the box is in its collapsed state a double folded device is advantageous since it takes up less space than the blank state. Hence, the invention refers in general to boxes that are collapsed into a double folded device, i.e. into a double folded state.
There are known many different ways to knock-down a box from the erected state to the collapsed state. For example, GB 559084 teaches to knock-down the box into a double folded state by folding two opposing side walls over a centrally placed fold line and GB231697 teaches to knock-down a box by folding a rectangular cuboid shaped box over two diagonally opposed fold lines positioned in line with the corners of the box. The rectangular box then makes its transition to collapsed state over a parallelogram shape so that, in its collapsed state, the double folded box comprises a front wall and a first side wall opposite a back wall and a second side wall.
A problem with the currently available solutions is that the boxes consist of a plurality of elements and are therefore somewhat complicated to handle.
In US 2,515,151 there is disclosed a container cut, scored and secured together from a single blank of paper board material which can thereafter be folded from collapsible position to erect interlocked position to provide transverse and longitudinal partitions in the bottom thereof.
In US 2008/0135560 A1 there is disclosed a single blank of various materials, which blank can be folded into a container having an interior space being divided into a plurality of cells.
However, there is still room for improvements; especially when it comes to facilitating raising the container and the parts forming partitions or cells in the interior of the container.
It is an objective of the present invention to mitigate, alleviate or eliminate one or more of the above identified deficiencies in the art and disadvantages singly or in any combination and solve at least the above mentioned problems.
According to a first aspect of the invention, these and other objects, and/or advantages that will be apparent from the following description of embodiments, are achieved, in full or at least in part, by a collapsible cardboard box having a collapsed state and an erected state. The cardboard box is substantially flat in the collapsed state and exhibits an internal grate in the erected state. The grate forms a plurality of compartments and each compartment is adapted to hold an item. The cardboard box is formed from a unitary blank.
This is advantageous in that the grate is integrated into the cardboard box which accordingly is constituted by one single element. This makes the cardboard box very user-friendly as well as space and cost efficient.
The blank comprises a main body section for forming side walls of the box, a lid section for forming a lid, and a grate section for forming a bottom and the internal grate, wherein the lid section is connected to the main body section at a first side thereof and the grate section is connected to the main body section at an opposing second side thereof.
The main body section comprises at least five main panels, wherein the fifth main panel has a gluing point section for attachment to the first main panel in the erected state.
The grate section comprises a first and a second grate flap, wherein the first grate flap and the second grate flap has at least two slots, respectively, adapted to interlock with each other in the erected state.
The second grate flap comprises at least five sub panels connected to each other by four folding lines, wherein the first sub-panel is connected to the second main panel, the third sub-panel is connected to the third main panel, and the fifth sub-panel is connected to the fourth main panel, and the first grate flap is connected to the first main panel.
The internal grate in the erected state may exhibit dual compartment rows. It may also in the erected state exhibit a six-square grate.
The second grate flap may form four compartments of the grate.
The lid section may comprise at least four lid flaps, wherein first lid flap is connected to the first main panel, the second lid flap is connected to the second main panel, the third lid flap is connected to the third main panel, and the fourth lid flap is connected to the fourth main panel.
According to a second aspect of the invention, these and other objects are achieved, in full or at least in part, by a method for placing a collapsible cardboard box according to the features above in an erected state. The method comprises the steps of folding the grate section in relation to the main body section and the lid section, folding the fourth and the fifth main panels in relation to the remaining main panels, folding the first main panel in relation to the remaining main panels, gluing at least the first main panel and the fifth main panel together, and interlocking the first grate flap with the second grate flap.
The method may further comprise the step of folding the lid flaps in order to close the cardboard box.
Effects and features of the second aspect of the present invention is largely analogous to those described above in connection with the first aspect of the inventive concept. Embodiments mentioned in relation to the first aspect of the present invention are largely compatible with the further aspects of the invention.
Other objectives, features and advantages of the present invention will appear from the following detailed disclosure, from the attached claims, as well as from the drawings. It is noted that the invention relates to all possible combinations of features.
Generally, all terms used in the claims are to be interpreted according to their ordinary meaning in the technical field, unless explicitly defined otherwise herein. All references to "a/an/the [element, device, component, means, step, etc.]" are to be interpreted openly as referring to at least one instance of the element, device, component, means, step, etc., unless explicitly stated otherwise.
As used herein, the term "comprising" and variations of that term are not intended to exclude other additives, components, integers or steps.

Brief description of the drawings

The above, as well as additional objects, features and advantages of the present invention, will be better understood through the following illustrative and non-limiting detailed description of embodiments of the present invention, with reference to the appended drawings, where the same reference numerals may be used for similar elements, and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a collapsible cardboard box according a first aspect of the invention, when in a collapsed state.
Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the collapsible cardboard box in Fig.1, when in an erected state.
Fig. 3a-3k are perspective views of the collapsible cardboard box upon erection from the collapsed state to the erected state.

Detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention

Fig. 1 and 2 illustrate an exemplary embodiment of a cardboard box 1 formed from a unitary blank which can be provided in a collapsed state or an erected state. The cardboard box 1 is substantially flat in the collapsed state and exhibits an internal grate 2 in the erected state. The grate 2 forms a plurality of compartments 3 and each compartment 3 is adapted to hold an item, such as a bottle. In this specific embodiment, the internal grate 2 is a six-square grate and exhibits dual compartment rows in the erected state.
The blank comprises a main body section 5, a lid section 6 and a grate section 7. The lid section 6 is connected to the main body section 5 at a first side thereof and the grate section 7 is connected to the main body section 5 at an opposing second side thereof. The main body section 5 comprises five main panels 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, wherein the fifth main panel 12 has a gluing point section 13 for attachment to the first main panel 8 in the erected state.
The grate section 7 comprises a first and a second grate flap 14, 15. The first grate flap 14 and the second grate flap 15 has two slots 16, respectively, adapted to interlock with each other in the erected state. The second grate flap 15 comprises four folding lines such that, in the erected state, the second grate flap 15 forms four compartments of the grate 2. The second grate flap 15 further comprises five sub panels 4, 17, 18, 19, 20. The first sub-panel 4 is connected to the second main panel 9, the third sub-panel 18 is connected to the third main panel 10, and the fifth sub-panel 20 is connected to the fourth main panel 11.
The lid section 6 comprises four lid flaps 21, 22, 23, 24. The first lid flap 21 is connected to the first main panel 8, the second lid flap 22 is connected to the second main panel 9, the third lid flap 23 is connected to the third main 10 panel, and the fourth lid flap 24 is connected to the fourth main panel 11.
In Fig. 3a to 3k, the collapsible cardboard box 1 is illustrated when erected from the collapsed state to the erected state. One exemplary method for placing a collapsible cardboard box in an erected state will now be described in more detail.
Initially, the grate section 7 is folded in relation to the main body section 5 and the lid section 6 (Fig. 3b). Thereafter, the fourth and the fifth main panels 11, 12 are folded in relation to the remaining main panels 8, 9, 10 (Fig. 3c). Now, the fifth main panel 12 is provided with glue (Fig. 3d) and the first main panel 8 is folded in relation to the remaining main panels 9, 10, 11, 12 (Fig. 3e) so that the first main panel 8 and the fifth main panel 12 can be glued together. Finally, the first grate flap 14 and the second grate flap 15 are folded into place by means of folding lines so that the first grate flap 14 can be interlocked with the second grate flap 15 as a final step (Fig. 3f to 3i). The cardboard box 1 is now in the erected state and ready to be filled and thereafter closed by means of the lid section 6 (Fig. 3j and 3k).
It is understood that other variations in the present invention are contemplated and in some instances, some features of the invention can be employed without a corresponding use of other features. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly in a manner consistent with the scope of the invention.
For instance, the size and shape of the different sections and portions of the cardboard box 1 may be varied in a number of different ways.
The same applies for the method according to the second aspect of the invention.

Claims

A collapsible cardboard box (1) having a collapsed state and an erected state,
wherein the cardboard box (1) is substantially flat in the collapsed state and exhibits an internal grate (2) in the erected state, the grate (2) forming a plurality of compartments (3), each compartment (3) being adapted to hold an item,
wherein the cardboard box (1) is formed from a unitary blank,
wherein the blank comprises a main body section (5) for forming side walls of the box (1), a lid section (6) for forming a lid, and a grate section (7) for forming a bottom and the internal grate (2), the lid section (6) being connected to the main body section (5) at a first side thereof and the grate section (7) being connected to the main body section (5) at an opposing second side thereof, and
wherein the grate section (7) comprises a first and a second grate flap (14, 15), the first grate flap (14) and the second grate flap (15) having at least two slots (16), respectively, adapted to interlock with each other in the erected state so as to form the bottom and the internal grate (2),
wherein the main body section (5) comprises at least five main panels (8, 9, 10, 11, 12), the fifth main panel (12) having a gluing point section (13) for attachment to the first main panel (8) in the erected state,
characterised in
that the second grate flap (15) comprises at least five sub panels (4, 17, 18, 19, 20) connected to each other by four folding lines, the first sub-panel (4) being connected to the second main panel (9), the third sub-panel (18) being connected to the third main panel (10), and the fifth sub-panel (20) being connected to the fourth main panel (11), and the first grate flap (4) is connected to the first main panel (8).
The collapsible cardboard box (1) according to claim 1, wherein the internal grate (2) in the erected state exhibits dual compartment rows.
The collapsible cardboard box (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the internal grate (2) in the erected state exhibits a six-square grate.
The collapsible cardboard box (1) according to any one of claims 1-3, wherein the second grate flap (15) forms four compartments (3) of the grate (2).
The collapsible cardboard box (1) according to any one of claims 1-4, wherein the lid section (6) comprises at least four lid flaps (21, 22, 23, 24), the first lid flap (21) being connected to the first main panel (8), the second lid flap (22) being connected to the second main panel (9), the third lid flap (23) being connected to the third main panel (10), and the fourth lid flap (24) being connected to the fourth main panel (11).
A method for placing a collapsible cardboard box (1) according to any one of claims 1-5 in an erected state, comprising the steps of
folding the grate section (7) in relation to the main body section (5) and the lid section (6),
folding the fourth and the fifth main panels (11, 12) in relation to the remaining main panels (8, 9, 10),
folding the first main panel (8) in relation to the remaining main panels (9, 10, 11, 12),
gluing at least the first main panel (8) and the fifth main panel together (12), and
interlocking the first grate flap (14) with the second grate flap (15) by the two slots (16) of the first grate flap (14) and of the second grate flap (15) interlocking with each other in the erected state of the cardboard box (1).
The method according to claim 6, further comprising the step of folding the lid flaps (21, 22, 23, 24) in order to close the cardboard box (1).