DE102012213004B4 - folding box - Google Patents

Abstract

Folding box with a base (B) and four side walls (S1 to S4) protruding from the base (B), the base (B) and the side walls (S1 to S4) being held movably relative to one another between a flat folded rest position and an erected functional position are, and where at least two side walls (S1 to S4) are provided with diagonally running fold lines, the bottom (B) is designed to be uniformly dimensionally stable over its entire base, and all side walls (S1 to S3) with the same direction of rotation diagonally from each a corner of the base (B) are provided with rising fold lines (5 to 8), characterized in that at least two opposite side walls (S1, S3) are provided with elastically flexible reinforcing strips at the upper edge areas of the side walls (S1, S3), and that the Reinforcing strips are designed as spring steel strips that are incorporated into the upper edge areas of the side walls (S1, S3).

Description

The invention relates to a folding box with a bottom and four projecting from the ground side walls, wherein the bottom and the side walls are movably held relative to each other between a flat folded rest position and an erected functional position, and wherein at least two side walls are provided with diagonal fold lines, wherein the floor is uniformly dimensionally stable over its entire base, and wherein all the side walls are provided with in the same direction of rotation diagonally rising from each corner of the bottom folding lines.

From the US 3,354,924 For example, a folding container is known which comprises a bottom and a top side and four foldable side walls. The top side is provided with a screw cap. The four side walls each have diagonally extending folding lines, which rise in the same direction of rotation from one corner of the bottom side and allow folding of the folding container.

The AT 223 529 discloses an upwardly open pleat box wherein the sidewalls are hinged relative to a floor. The Faltbox has reinforcing strips on the four side walls, which are provided on the outside on the side walls, in order to ensure a stable support of the side walls to vertical posts of Faltbox in the installed state. The folding box has a total of four vertical posts, which are arranged at the corners of the rectangular bottom and serve to support the side walls.

Another folding box is from the JP 11-059802 A known. The known Faltbox has a rectangular bottom and four adjacent to the ground, square side walls, each adjacent side walls are connected to each other. Both the bottom and two opposing side walls are each provided with a fold line running diagonally across a base of the bottom or each side wall, by means of which the two opposite side walls and the bottom can be folded into a triangular fold. The two remaining side walls have no fold line. The so-designed Faltbox is from an established functional position in which the side walls protrude vertically to the ground up, transferred to a folded rest position and in the reverse manner from this folded-rest position also set up again in the functional position. In the folded-in rest position, the two side walls, which have no fold line, form the opposite outer surfaces.

The object of the invention is to provide a folding box of the type mentioned, which has a simplified folding and erection function.

This object is achieved in that at least two opposite side walls are provided with elastically yielding reinforcing strips at upper edge regions of the side walls, and that the reinforcing strips are designed as spring steel strips which are incorporated into the upper edge regions of the side walls. According to the invention, the floor itself has no fold line. It has over its entire base the same dimensional stability, which is preferably achieved by a consistently equal wall thickness. He remains both in the upright position and in folded rest position in the same dimensions and geometry exist. The fact that all the side walls are provided with diagonal fold lines which - seen in the circumferential direction of the folding box - all rise in the same direction of rotation from a lower corner of each side wall to a diagonally opposite upper corner of each side wall, a simple rotational movement of the side walls to an imaginary, vertical to the bottom, central vertical axis to a flat collapse of the side walls on the floor, which remains in its original size. This results in a comparison with the prior art considerably simplified folding or Auffaltvorgang. The Faltbox is inevitably already in its upwardly open receiving position after a Auffaltvorgang from the folded-rest position in which the soil rests on a substrate. In the prior art, however, the folding box must first be rotated after unfolding, in order to set up the folding box in its receiving position with the ground on a substrate can. A renewed folding is inventively extremely easy to implement. From the established functional position in which the floor rests on a substrate, the side walls can be folded in the same direction in a simple manner, which inevitably results in the folded rest position for the Faltbox. The folding box according to the invention is preferably made of plastic and / or cardboard, wherein the side walls have sufficient flexibility to allow the desired folding and erection of the side walls. The folding box is preferably a one-piece component, in which the side walls are formed on each other and on the ground. Preferably, all the side walls are made with the same wall thickness and of the same material as the bottom, with the difference that the side walls each have a fold line and the bottom not.

According to the invention, at least two opposite side walls with elastically yielding reinforcing strips on the upper Provided edge areas of the side walls. According to the invention, the reinforcing strips are also designed as spring steel strips, which are incorporated in the upper edge regions of the side walls. The reinforcing strips on the upper edge regions of opposite side walls serve to keep the folding box spread open in the unfolded functional state in the opening region. In addition, their tension also ensures the fate box remains in the folded resting position, without the need for additional fixation means. The spring steel strips serving as reinforcing strips preferably have a circular-arc-shaped curved cross-section and extend at least substantially over the entire length of the upper edge regions of the opposite side walls. The spring steel strips are preferably inserted or inserted into corresponding pocket receptacles of the upper edge regions of the side walls. The pocket-shaped receptacles preferably also extend over at least substantially the entire length of the upper edge regions of the side walls and are advantageously open in the region of an end face in order to enable insertion and removal of the spring steel strips. Each spring steel strip is a one-piece component with a circular arc-shaped cross-section which extends over at least substantially the entire length of the corresponding edge region of the respective side wall.

In an embodiment of the invention, the bottom and two opposite, in particular provided with handle arrangements side walls are provided with plate-shaped stiffening inserts. The floor has a one-piece stiffening plate made of wood, made of a thermoplastic material or of a light metal alloy, which extends continuously over almost the entire surface of the floor. The reinforcing inserts in two opposite side walls are preferably divided into two in the region of the respective diagonally extending fold line of the respective side wall, so that two triangular, plate-shaped stiffening inserts result. The stiffening inserts are embedded between an outer skin and an inner skin of the respective side wall. In an outer skin and an inner skin of a plastic film material, the stiffening inserts are preferably welded or glued. In the case of an outer skin and an inner skin made of a woven or knitted textile fabric, it is also possible, as an alternative to welding or gluing, to sew the stiffening inserts.

In a further embodiment of the invention releasable fixing means are provided to secure the side walls in the folded-together rest position on the ground. Adhesive fasteners, push-button arrangements, elastic loops or bands or similar tool-free and manually fixable or releasable fixing means are preferably provided as releasable fixing means.

Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the invention is described and illustrated with reference to the drawings:
are embedded between an outer skin and an inner skin of the respective side wall. In the case of an outer skin and an inner skin of a plastic film material, the stiffening inserts are preferably welded or glued in place. In the case of an outer skin and an inner skin made of a woven or knitted textile fabric, an embroidering of the stiffening inserts can also be provided as an alternative to welding or gluing. In a further embodiment of the invention, releasable fixing means are provided to secure the side walls in the folded-together rest position on the floor. Adhesive fasteners, push-button arrangements, elastic loops or bands or similar tool-free and manually fixable or detachable fixing means are provided as releasable fixing means. Further advantages and features of the invention emerge from the claims and from the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, which is illustrated by the drawings.

1 shows an embodiment of a folding box according to the invention in folded-together rest position,

2 the folding box after 1 in partially established intermediate position and

3 the folding box after the 1 and 2 in an established functional position,

4 a further embodiment of a folding box according to the invention similar to the 1 to 3 in installed functional position and

5 and 6 the folding box after 4 in two alternative intermediate positions at the beginning of a folding operation from the established functional position.

A folding box after the 1 to 3 represents an upwardly open storage container, which has a square bottom B and four from the bottom B upwardly projecting side walls S ₁ to S ₄ . The bottom B and the four side walls S ₁ , S ₂ , S ₃ , S ₄ are connected together to form a one-piece component. Both the bottom B and the four side walls S ₁ to S ₄ are made of plastic in the illustrated embodiment. The bottom B may be provided with a thin reinforcing plate made of cardboard, plastic or a light metal alloy. The reinforcing plate is preferably enclosed on both sides by plastic film layers, which in go over the side walls S ₁ to S ₄ . The side walls S ₁ to S ₄ are preferably formed by single or multi-layer plastic film blanks. Also, the side walls S ₁ to S ₄ may be provided with stiffening portions, which are so in the side walls S ₁ to S ₄ , preferably the plastic film layers, integrated, that they do not obstruct a foldability of the side walls S ₁ to S ₄ described in more detail below. The side walls S ₁ to S ₄ are at their - seen in the erected functional position of Faltbox - vertical side edges with the respective adjacent side walls S ₁ to S ₄ via hinge axes 9 to 12 connected with each other. In the illustrated embodiment, each hinge axis is formed by a running over the entire height of the folding box film hinge.

All four side walls S ₁ to S ₄ are also each with a peripheral edge of the bottom B via a respective further hinge axis 1 to 4 connected. Also the hinge axes 1 to 4 be formed in the illustrated embodiment by film hinges extending over the entire length of the adjacent marginal edges of the bottom B and the corresponding side walls S ₁ to S ₄ . The hinge axes 1 to 4 and 9 to 12 forming film hinges can be made by appropriate welding of the plastic film edges of the adjacent marginal edges of the side walls S ₁ to S ₄ and the bottom B. The film hinges are designed in the illustrated embodiment such that for the Faltbox starting from the bottom B, at least up to half the height of the Faltbox results in a waterproof container interior.

Two opposite side walls S ₂ and S ₄ are provided in their upper region, each with a handle recess G, based on the 1 to 3 are recognizable. The handle recesses G serve to grasp and transport the folding box by hand or to transfer the folding box to its folded-down rest position or its erected functional position.

The side walls S ₁ to S ₄ each have the same base surface as the bottom B. This means that each side wall S ₁ to S _{4 is} designed square with side lengths that are identical to the side lengths of the bottom B. Each side wall S ₁ to S ₄ is also provided with a fold line extending diagonally across the respective side wall S ₁ to S ₄ 5 to 8th Mistake. All diagonal fold lines 5 to 8th are aligned in the same direction. This means that each folding line in the erected functional position of the folding box in the circumferential direction in each case from a right lower edge - seen in front view of the respective side wall S ₁ to S ₄ from the outside - diagonally to the upper left corner of the respective side wall S ₁ to S ₄ . The fold lines 5 to 8th divide each square sidewall S ₁ to S ₄ into two isosceles triangles. Every fold line 5 to 8th is designed in the illustrated embodiment such that a buckling or folding movement of the respective side wall S ₁ to S _{4 is supported} towards the center of the Faltbox inwardly.

In order to change the folding box from the established functional position according to 3 in the folded rest position according to 1 to transfer, an operator grasps with both hands, the two handle recesses G in the erected functional position in which the bottom B rests on a substrate and exercises on the handle recesses G and thus on the side walls S ₁ to S ₄ simultaneously a clockwise rotation - seen in plan view from above -, whereby the fold lines 5 to 8th inevitably to their bottom, at the respective corner of the bottom B subsequent corner points are turned inward towards the center of the container. At the same time, the hinge axes fold 9 to 12 between the side walls S ₁ to S ₄ in the direction of the clockwise adjacent lower hinge axes 1 to 4 between the side walls S ₁ to S ₄ and the associated marginal edges of the bottom B. By this rosette-like Einknick- and rotational movement, the side walls S ₁ to S ₄ fold together in a triangular shape and rotate into each other, thereby inevitably the folded rest position according to 1 established.

In a manner not shown, the Faltbox tool-free releasable fixing in the form of adhesive or Velcro, in the form of elastic loops or bands, in the form of snaps or the like, the folded side walls S ₁ to S ₄ remaining in its original position Secure floor B as long as the folding box should remain in its folded-down position.

After loosening the corresponding fixing means, the folding box is set up again from the folded resting position according to FIG 1 in a simple manner by raising the side walls S ₂ , S ₄ in the region of the handle recesses G in the direction of the arrow upwards and then turning and setting up in the counterclockwise direction according to the arrow directions in the 1 and 2 , which inevitably results in the established functional position 3 sets again. The side walls S ₁ to S ₄ have sufficient dimensional stability that the Faltbox remains in its unfolded and erected functional position, even if no transport items are introduced into the container interior. The Faltbox serves to take in a motor vehicle and is particularly suitable for receiving at least temporarily carried in the vehicle items. If not required, the Faltbox can be folded flat in a simple manner and stowed inside or outside the vehicle.

The folding box after the 4 to 6 is essentially the same as previously 1 to 3 described folding box. The folding box after the 4 to 6 is provided with the same reference numerals as the Faltbox after the 1 to 3 , To avoid repetition, the disclosure of the embodiment and the 1 to 3 directed. Significant difference in the folding box after the 4 to 6 it is that opposite side walls S ₁ and S _{3 are} additionally provided in its upper edge region, each with an elastically resilient reinforcing strip F. The reinforcing strips F are provided as spring steel strips with a circular arc-shaped curved cross section, so that the spring steel strips F in the extended position have sufficient inherent stability and stress. The spring steel strips F are over substantially the entire width of the respective side wall S ₁ , S ₃ extends and inserted in a provided at the upper edge region of the respective side wall S ₁ , S ₃ receiving pocket. The receiving pocket also extends over the entire width of the respective side wall S ₁ , S ₃ and thus over the entire length of the respective upper edge region. Preferably, each receiving pocket is open to at least one end face in order to achieve an axial insertion and withdrawal of the respective one-piece spring steel strip F. In the embodiment of the 4 to 6 the spring steel bands F are provided in the opposite side walls S ₁ , S ₃ , which are not provided with handle arrangements in the form of grip recesses G.

For a folding process from the established functional position according to 4 can not provided with the handle recesses G side walls S ₁ , S ₃ either according to 5 inside or according to 6 are pressed to the outside to then initiate the folding process by a rotary movement about a vertical center vertical axis of the folding box.

The same folding process is also in the folding box after the 1 to 3 possible. Also there, as an alternative to gripping the handle recesses G and thus the side walls S ₂ and S _{4, it is} also possible to grasp the side walls S ₁ , S ₃ and to draw inwardly or outwardly so as to achieve a desired folding operation in conjunction with the corresponding one Initiate rotational movement.

The folding box after the 4 to 6 also has in the bottom B to a plate-shaped reinforcing insert, which is designed in one piece square and made of plastic or wood. As a result, an increased dimensional stability is achieved for the bottom B. In addition, the two provided with the handle recesses G side walls S ₂ , S _{4 are provided} with plate-shaped reinforcing inserts, but in the region of the respective diagonal fold line 5 . 7 shared. For this purpose, the two side walls S ₂ , S ₄ each have two triangular, plate-shaped reinforcing inserts along the corresponding fold lines 5 . 7 are separated from each other. Both the reinforcing insert in the bottom B and the reinforcing inserts in the side walls S ₂ , S ₄ are inserted between an outer skin and an inner skin of the respective side wall S ₂ , S ₄ and the bottom B and by welding, gluing or sewing at the peripheral edge regions Reinforcing inserts in the bottom B and the side walls S ₂ , S ₄ fixed. The two remaining side walls S ₁ , S ₃ are not provided with integrated reinforcing inserts.

Claims (3)

Folding box with a bottom (B) and four from the bottom (B) projecting side walls (S ₁ to S ₄ ), wherein the bottom (B) and the side walls (S ₁ to S ₄ ) between a flat folded rest position and an established functional position are movably held relative to each other, and wherein at least two side walls (S ₁ to S ₄ ) are provided with diagonally extending fold lines, the bottom (B) over its entire base uniformly dimensionally stable, and wherein all the side walls (S ₁ to S ₃ ) with in the same direction of rotation diagonally from each one corner of the bottom (B) rising fold lines ( 5 to 8th ), characterized in that at least two opposite side walls (S ₁ , S ₃ ) are provided with elastically yielding reinforcing strips at upper edge regions of the side walls (S ₁ , S ₃ ), and in that the reinforcing strips are designed as spring steel strips inserted into the upper edge regions of the side walls (S ₁ , S ₃ ) are incorporated. Folding box according to claim 1, characterized in that the bottom ( 8th ) and two opposite, in particular provided with handle arrangements side walls (S ₂ , S ₄ ) are provided with plate-shaped stiffening inserts. Folding box according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that releasable fixing means are provided to secure the side walls in the folded resting position on the ground.

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