GB2137171A

GB2137171A - Collapsible boxes or trays

Info

Publication number: GB2137171A
Application number: GB08407422A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter Graham Seary
Original assignee: GROWERS REQUISITES NORTHERN LI
Current assignee: GROWERS REQUISITES NORTHERN LI
Priority date: 1983-03-23
Filing date: 1984-03-22
Publication date: 1984-10-03
Also published as: GB8407422D0

Abstract

A blank (1) of a rigid creasable and foldable material which is cut and creased for erection to a box or tray by joining ends of the blank to form the box or tray sides (8, 9, 10, 11) has flaps (12, 13, 14, 15) foldable to form the base of the box or tray. A pair of opposite sides and base forming flaps (8 and 12, 10 and 14) are creased medially thereof (27, 28 respectively) and that pair of base flaps diagonally (29, 30 and 33, 34) from the corners of the box or tray to permit collapsing of the box or tray by folding inwards of the box along the medial creases. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Collapsible boxes or trays This invention relates to a collapsible box or tray and a blank for erection of the same.

According to a first aspect of this invention there is provided a blank of a rigid creasable and foldable material which is cut and creased for erection to a box or tray by joining of ends of the blank to form the box or tray sides, flaps on one edge of the blank corresponding to each said side being foldable to form the base of the box or tray, wherein a pair of opposite side and base forming flaps are creasing medially thereof and that pair of base flaps diagonally from the corners of the box or tray to permit collapsing of the box or tray by folding inwards of the box along said medial creases.

The blank preferably also has strengthening or supporting flaps on the opposite edge of the blank to the base forming flaps and corresponding therewith. The strengthening or supporting flaps may be separated or may be continuous, diagonal creases across the corners thereof permitting folding of the flaps to lie alongside sides of the box.

The opposite pairs of base forming flaps will preferably be sized so that overlapping thereof will not occur or will leave a gap in the base.

In the case of a rectangular section box it is preferably the shorter pair of opposite base flaps that are diagonally creased. The diagonal creases preferably meet the outer edge of the base flaps at a point spaced from the meeting of the medial crease with said outer edge but do not intersect said medial crease. Preferably the angle of meeting of the diagonal creases with the outer edge of the end flaps is 45 . Each diagonal crease forms one side of each of a pair of triangles on the flaps bounded on the other two sides by the outer edges of the flaps. It is these triangles which are fixed to the overlapping parts of the other pair of base flaps in forming a box. Fastening of the blank together to form a box or tray may be by any suitable means, such as by stitching, adhesive or staples.

The above described fixing arrangement permits flat folding of a formed box along the medial creasing thereof.

Flat fording of the formed box may be facilitated by having preferably circular holes formed in the blank at the intersection of the medial creases of the one pair of base flaps and the crease separating the base forming flaps from the box side forming parts of the blank (these holes may be from 1" to 1 41' in diameter). Additionally, further diagonal creasing of the one pair of base flaps from the corners of the box or tray may be provided, one or more lines of such diagonal creasing may be provided which meet the medial creases of the said base flaps. Alternatively, further creasing of the said one pair of base flaps may be provided, which creasing is one or more crease lines parallel to the crease separating the base flaps from the rest of the blank end between the said diagonal creasing of the said one pair of base flaps.

Each of the above features is intended to afford further flexibility of the said pair of base flaps-to facilitate flat folding of a formed box or tray.

To join the ends of the blank together a flap will usually be provided at one end of the blank to overlap with the other end of the blank.

According to a second aspect of this invention there is provided a collapsible box or tray erected from a blank of a rigid creasable and foldable material according to the first aspect of this invention.

This invention will now be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a blank; Figure 2 is a perspective view of a box erected from the blank of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a partial plan view of a first alternative blank; and Figure 4 is a partial plan view of a second alternative blank.

Referring to Figure 1, a blank 1 comprises a substantially rectangular piece of a stiff material such as faced corrugated fibreboard, which is creased and cut to enable it to be erected into a box as shown in Figure 2.

The blank is creased at 2, 3 and 4 and provided with slits 5, 6, 7 which are aligned respectively with the creases 2, 3 and 4 so as to divide the blank into sidewall sections 8, 9, 10 and 11 with corresponding base forming sections 1 2, 1 3, 14 and 1 5. A longitudinal crease 1 6 forms the division between the side wall sections and base forming sections.

A further longitudinal crease 1 7 from the division between the side wall sections 8 to 11 and flange sections 18, 19, 20, 21. Flanges 18 and 19 are separated by a slit 22 which is aligned with crease 2, flanges 1 9 and 20 are separated by a slit 23 aligned with crease 3 and flanges 20 and 21 are separated by a continuation 24 of crease 4.

At one end of the blank is a flap 25 extending beyond the generally rectangular confines of the blank for use in attaching the opposite ends of the blank together in the forming of a box, as is described below. The flap 25 is actually an extension of side wall 8 and is separated therefrom by a crease 26.

Side forming sections 8 and 10, their corresponding base forming sections 1 2 and 1 4 and flanges 18 and 20 are creased medially thereof transverse to the blank at 27 and 28. Base forming sections 1 2 and 1 4 are also creased diagonally from the inner corners thereof to meet the outer edge of the sections 12 and 14 at points spaced from the meeting of the medial creases 27 and 28 with said outer edge. Section 12 is creased at 29 and 30, and section 14 at 33 and 34.

Each diagonal crease 29 to 34 forms a side of a triangle also bounded by outer edges of flaps 12 and 14. These triangles are designated A, B, C and D.

The creases 27 to 35 are provided to permit collapsing of a formed box as will be described hereafter.

The flanges 18, 20 and 21 are creased diagonally across their corners. Flange 1 8 is creased at 35, flange 20 at 36 and flange 31 at 37 and 38. This is to permit folding of the flanges to lie alongside the box or tray sides for strengthening thereof.

To erect a box the blank 1 is folded at creases 2, 3, 4 and 26 and the flap 25 attached to the end of side section 11 by means of say stitching, adhesive or staples to form a box shape. The base sections 12 to 1 5 are then folded inwards along crease 1 6 so that sections 13 and 1 5 are on the outside of the box. Triangular sections A to D of base flaps 12 and 14 are then fastened to the overlying parts of sections 1 3 and 1 5 again by any suitable means but preferably by means of adhesive.

The flanges 1 8 to 21 are then folded along crease 1 7 and fastened in an overlapped state as at 40 and 41 or further folded along their diagonal creases 35 to 38 to lie alongside the box sides as at 42.

To collapse the box into a generally flat state, the sections 8 and 10 are pressed inwards at creases 27 and 28 causing the box to fold at the diagonal creases 29, 30, 33 and 34. This action brings the side sections 9 and 11 together to flatten the box.

To facilitate flat folding of a box of the invention the additional features shown in Figures 3 and 4 may be employed. In Figure 3 holes 52 are formed at the intersections of creases 27 and 1 6 and 28 and 1 6. These holes 52 may be circular and of about 1" to 1 4/t in diameter. Additionally in Figure 3, further diagonal creases 53 of the base flaps 12 and 14 are provided. These creases are from the same points as the diagonal creases 29, 30, 33 and 34 and meet their respective medial creases 27 and 28. As shown three such creases are provided on each side of creases 27 and 28 but it is possible to have any desired number as even one would increase the flexibility of the base flaps 12 and 14.

In Figure 4, again holes 52 are provided but in addition creases 54 are provided on base flaps 1 2 and 14, which creases 54 are parallel to crease 1 6 and extend between the diagonal creases 29 and 30 and between 33 and 34. Three creases 54 are shown on each of flaps 12 and 14 but again the number may be varied.

Although the blank and box shown in the drawings has deep sides it will be appreciated that the blank can be cut and creased for the formation of a tray or shallow box.

It will also be appreciated that although a rectangular box has been described in this example, the shape of the box can be varied to be any polygonal shape. Also, any number of supporting flanges can be provided as necessary.

These flanges may partially or wholly close the box or a separate lid for the box can be provided if desired.

Claims

1. A blank of a rigid creasabled and foldable material which is cut and creased for erection to a box or tray by joining of ends of the blank to form the box or tray sides, flaps on one edge of the blank corresponding to each said side being foldable to form the base of the box or tray, wherein a pair of opposite side and base forming flaps are creased medially thereof and that pair of base flaps diagonally from the corners of the box or tray to permit collapsing of the box or tray by folding inwards of the box along the medial creases.

2. A blank as claimed in claim 1 having strengthening or supporting flaps on the opposite edge of the blank to the base forming flaps and corresponding therewith.

3. A blank as claimed in claim 2, wherein the strengthenng or supporting flaps are separate.

4. A blank as claimed in claim 2, wherein the strengthening or supporting flaps are continuous, diagonal creases across the corners thereof permitting folding of the flaps to lie alongside sides of the box or tray.

5. A blank as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the opposite pairs of base forming flaps are sized so that overlapping thereof will not occur or will leave a gap in the base.

6. A blank as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 for a rectangular box or tray, wherein the shorter pair of opposite base flaps are medially and diagonally creased.

7. A blank as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the diagonal creases each meet the outer edge of the base flaps at a point spaced from the meeting of the medial crease with said outer edge.

8. A blank as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7 having holes formed therein at the intersection of the medial creases with the creases separating the base flaps from the side forming parts of the blank.

9. A blank as claimed in claim 8 wherein the diagonally creased base flaps are provided with additional diagonal creasing from the corners of the box or tray to meet the medial creasing.

10. A blank as claimed in claim 8 wherein the diagonally creased base flaps are provided between said creases with further creases parallel to the crease separating the base flaps from the side forming parts of the blank.

11. A box or tray erected from a blank as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10.

12. A blank for a box or tray substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 1, 3 or 4 of the accompanying drawings.

13. A box substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings.