EP0029142B1 - Nestable container folded up in one blank - Google Patents

Abstract

1. A stackable container (1) which has been erected from a blank and which has a quadrilateral container floor (2) which is surrounded on all sides by an upwardly conically opening container wall which, in its corner regions, has triangular fold portions (8-14) which extend from the corners (7) of the container floor (2) and which, partly over themselves and partly over quadrilateral wall regions (3, 4, 5, 6) disposed therebetween, form transitional portions between these wall regions which are folded so as to comprise three layers of material, characterized in that seven fold portions (8-14) are provided in each corner region, adjacent fold margins (17, 21 ; 20, 24 ; 23, 27) being contiguous, and in that the container (1) has a capacity of at least 56 litres.

Description

The invention relates to a stackable container which is unfolded from a blank and has a square container base which is surrounded on all sides by a container wall which opens conically upwards and which has triangular folding parts in its corner regions which extend from the corners of the container base and partially over themselves or square wall panels lying between them folded into three layers of material form transitions between these wall panels.

Containers of this type have at least three triangular folding parts on each corner. With the help of three such folding parts, however, apparently no great stability can be achieved. In any case, the previously known containers of this type generally have a folded edge or a similar edge reinforcement. For example, the description of a previously known container (DE-A-1 810 600, US-A-3 536 248) mentions the possibility of doing without such a folded edge; shown and explained in detail, however, only the embodiment with such a folded edge. Of course, the construction and the manufacture of the container is made complicated by this folded edge. This previously known container is also small in size (you should be able to eat directly from it); it is apparently not designed so that its dimensions can exceed a certain small size.

The object of the invention is to provide a container of the type mentioned, which has a simple structure and which, with larger dimensions, has sufficient stability for the storage of liquids and other flowable and pourable substances.

The solution according to the invention is that seven folding parts are provided in each corner area, with adjacent folding edges touching, and that the container has a capacity of at least 56 liters.

An essential merit of the invention is that it was recognized that the stability of the container can be increased to a decisive extent by seven folding parts. As with the previously known container, there are also only three layers of material one above the other at the corners. Nevertheless, the stability is much greater, which is primarily due to the larger number of fold edges. This greater corner stability is of course extremely important for filled containers. Due to the fold edges and the material edges placed three times one above the other, the pressure exerted on the corner by filled containers stacked on top is distributed to the adjacent side surfaces, insofar as it is not absorbed by the corner areas themselves. It has also been shown that the greater number of folds also increases the flexibility of the corner area. Of course, the corner area must be stable; however, it should also have a certain flexibility, so that it is not damaged immediately with a small impact. This flexibility is caused by the fact that the folds open a little at this point when the appropriate force is exerted.

A container is known, which also has seven folding parts in each corner area (DE-B-2 133 297). Of these seven folding parts, only six are triangular, three of which converge in one point. Between these three fold-over folded parts there is a substantially rectangular further folding part in the finished container. Thus, the container is essentially provided with a simple material layer and an edge in the corner area, so that it can be easily damaged here. This container is obviously only intended for small containers, since the storage and serving of food is mentioned as a purpose. Finally, for the necessary stability, this container obviously does not manage without a correspondingly folded edge. The object of the invention, in particular in relation to larger containers, is therefore not capable of being solved by the container in this document.

The edges of the folded parts of the container according to the invention are folded towards one another at two points on the inside and at one point on the outside. The folded edges of areas that are folded towards one another touch each other. It is therefore very difficult for material to penetrate behind the fold at this point, or not at all. This prevents the fold from being softened or damaged in any way. It has been shown that the container according to the invention can have quite large dimensions, even if it is made of paper or cardboard. Since paper or cardboard is approved as a container material for the storage of many chemicals for which plastic or metal are not permitted, the invention creates a simple container if it is preferably made of paper or cardboard which is also suitable for storing aggressive chemicals . Nevertheless, the container is very stable and reliable, which of course also has to be for the storage of such chemicals. The container still has the advantage that the folding can be carried out in a relatively simple manner along straight lines, so that the container can be unfolded by machine.

Although the container is preferably made of paper or cardboard, it can of course also be made of other materials such as e.g. Plastic or metal can be made.

If the container is made of cardboard, the stability can be greatly increased in a very advantageous manner if multilayer cardboard is used for the production. The container could indeed be unfolded after the glue of the multilayer cardboard has hardened. However, if it is unfolded before the glue of the multilayer cardboard has hardened, no additional gluing is necessary in order to keep the fold stable even after the folding pressure or the folding tools have been removed. It has proven particularly advantageous to have five containers to produce layered cardboard. A particularly inexpensive material is Scandinavian kraft liner or sodium paper. The material thickness for these materials should be around 300 g / sqm and 0.5 mm per layer in order to obtain a container that is particularly suitable for the desired purpose. The layers can be glued with polyvinyl alcohol glue, dispersion or hot melt adhesive; these materials have proven to be particularly suitable. Of course, other glues are also possible.

The advantages of the container according to the invention can be fully exploited if the capacity is at least 56 liters. A capacity of 56 liters on the one hand takes full advantage of the container according to the invention and on the other hand is compatible with the standards for packaging. The container can also be used very cheaply for larger capacities.

In order to further increase the stability of the container and to protect the upper edge, it can be provided with a flanged metal band, the material thickness of which is preferably approximately 0.8 mm. This metal band naturally also prevents the fold from opening again.

The container can be provided below the edge with an inwardly projecting bead parallel to the edge. This measure also further increases stability. At the same time, however, if the container is provided with a cover, the projection can form a support for the cover, which is then held securely on the container against displacement. A seal can be provided between the cover and the projection of the bead.

If the lid is fastened with a clamping ring, the contents can be locked against theft. In addition, this creates the possibility that the container can be sealed by the customs authorities.

In the case of lids, the primary consideration is flat lids made of wood, particle board, metal, plastic, paper or similar materials. However, the lid can also be a further, somewhat smaller container, which then fits into the larger container at the upper edge and rests on the projection of the bead. Of course, the capacity of the container is significantly increased in this way.

The container according to the invention has proven to be very stable. If it is made from five-layer Scandinavian kraftliner with the above-mentioned material thicknesses, it can bear three times its own weight and the filling.

• Fig. 1 in perspektivischer Ansicht eine erfindungsgemässe Ausführungsform des Behälters;
• Fig. 2 eine Draufsicht auf den Karton, aus dem der Behälter hergestellt wird, mit eingezeichneten Faltungslinien;
• Fig. 3 einen Querschnitt entlang der Ebene 111 von Fig. 1; und
• Fig. 4 einen Querschnitt entlang der Ebene IV von Fig. 1.

The invention is described below, for example, using advantageous embodiments with reference to the drawings. Show it:

• Figure 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the container according to the invention.
• Figure 2 is a plan view of the carton from which the container is made, with fold lines drawn in;
• 3 shows a cross section along the plane 111 of FIG. 1; and
• 4 shows a cross section along plane IV of FIG. 1.

The container 1 has a container base 2 and four wall panels 3-6. Folded parts 8-14 extend from the corners 7 of the container base 2 and have the shape of pointed triangles and widen upwards towards the edge.

The folding parts 8-14 are shown in Fig. 2, which shows a material cut with the folding lines. The fold lines are shown with solid lines, while the lines on which the fold lines come to lie after folding are dashed. In the unfolded state, the wall panel 3 is folded around the fold line 15 by not quite 90 ° out of the plane of the drawing towards the viewer around the fold line 15. The same applies to the wall panels 4, 5 and 6. The folding parts 8-14 are folded as follows.

The folding part 8 is folded around the fold line 17 so that its fold edge 18 comes to lie behind the line 16. Then the folding part 9 is folded forward again around the folding edge 18, so that its line 19 comes to lie under the folding edge 17. The folding part 10 is then folded forward around the folding edge 20 until its edge 21 comes to lie on the line 19 of the folding part 9. Now the folding part 11 is folded around the edge 21 in the other direction, so that its line 22 comes to lie over the folding line 20. Then the folding part 12 is folded backwards around the folding edge 23, so that its folding line 24 also comes to lie behind the line 22 of the folding part 11, directly next to the folding edge 20. Then the folding part 13 is again forward around the edge 24 folded so that its line 25 lies behind the fold line 23. Now the folding part 14 is folded forward about the folding line 26 so that its edge 27 comes to lie on the line 25. The wall element 6 is then folded around the line 27, so that the line 28 comes to lie over the fold line 26.

The result of the folding is drawn again in section in FIG. 3. A four-layer material is shown. As already mentioned, a five-layer material has proven to be particularly advantageous; however, a larger or smaller number of layers can also be used. In the area of the folding, three layers of the multilayer material lie one above the other. As shown at 29, 30 and 31, after folding, folding edges located on the same side of the same folding part abut each other. This prevents the stored material from penetrating into the folds.

In Fig. 4 it is shown that a metal band 32 is attached to the upper edge of the container, which is bent in a U-shape around the container edge. At 33, a bead is pressed into the metal band and the container wall, which runs parallel to the edge and runs around the entire edge. This bead creates a support surface for a cover 34, which is also provided on its edge with a seal 35 which is glued to cover 34 at 36. Around the entire rim of the container put around a clamping ring 37 which engages in the bead and overlaps the lid, so that the lid is securely held. This type of closure can prevent the content from leaking and being stolen. This type of closure can also be sealed for customs or other purposes.

Claims (16)

1. A stackable container (1) which has been erected from a blank and which has a quadrilateral container floor (2) which is surrounded on all sides by an upwardly conically opening container wall which, in its corner regions, has triangular fold portions (8-14) which extend from the corners (7) of the container floor (2) and which, partly over themselves and partly over quadrilateral wall regions (3, 4, 5, 6) disposed therebetween, form transitional portions between these wall regions which are folded so as to comprise three layers of material, characterised in that seven fold portions (8-14) are provided in each corner region, adjacent fold margins (17, 21; 20, 24; 23, 27) being contiguous, and in that the container (1) has a capacity of at least 56 litres.

2. A container according to claim 1, characterised in that it is made of cardboard.

3. A container according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that it is made of multi-layer cardboard.

4. A container according to claim 3, characterised in that it is erected before the adhesive of the multi-layer cardboard sets.

5. A container according to any one of claims 1 - 4, characterised in that it is made of five-layer cardboard.

6. A container according to any one of claims 1 - 5, characterised in that it is made of Scandinavian Kraft liner or soda paper.

7. A container according to claim 6, characterised in that the gauge of the material per layer is approximately 300 g/qm and 0.5 mm.

8. A container according to any one of claims 3 - 7, characterised in that the layers are stuck together by a polyvinyl alcohol adhesive, a dispersion or a heat-curable adhesive.

9. A container according to any one of claims 1 - 8, characterised in that the upper margin is provided with a bead comprising a metal strip (32).

10. A container according to claim 9, characterised in that the thickness of the metal strip (32) is approximately 0.8 mm.

11. A container according to claim 9 or 10, characterised in that it is provided with an inwardly protruding bead (33) disposed below and parallel to the margin.

12. A container according to any one of claims 1 - 11, characterised in that it is provided with a lid (34).

13. A container according to claim 11 or 12, characterised in that the lid (34) rests on the projection of the bead (33).

14. A container according to claim 13, characterised in that a seal (35) is provided between the lid (34) and the projection of the bead (33).

15. A container according to any one of claims 12 - 14, characterised in that the lid (34) is secured by means of a resilient ring (37).

16. A container according to any one of claims 13 - 15, characterised in that the lid (34) is in the form of a further, somewhat smaller container.

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