EP0550730B1 - Collapsible folding box - Google Patents

Abstract

Described is a collapsible folding box made from a one-piece corrugated-carboard blank and with two side walls (1), from each of which a flat part (5) has been partly punched out and folded, inwards and upwards at an angle, along one edge (7). The ends of these flat parts (5) are bent over for use as top flaps (8) and joined together to form the top (6) of the box.

Description

The invention relates to a folding box consisting of a one-piece blank made of cardboard, cardboard, corrugated cardboard or the like, with a box body made of two side walls and two end walls and with a box lid, according to the preamble of claim 1.

In these known folding boxes, the flaps forming the box lid are articulated on the upper edges of the side walls. In the blank for the folding box, the material for the flaps must be provided in sufficient width following these edges.

To reduce the material requirement for the cutting, it is known to shorten the lid flaps. The material saving achieved with this is only relatively small.

In addition, it is known to cut out the packaging weight and the effort for the disposal of the used folding box in the side walls of windows that remain with the manufacturer of the folding box, so that the effort for the disposal of the folding box is reduced for the consumer; however, this does not reduce the cost of materials for the production of the folding box.

In known folding boxes (DE-U-85 22 799 and DE-U-86 04 054), the lid flaps forming the box lid are punched out of two opposite side walls and placed one on top of the other, whereby they remain connected to the side walls by a respective area piece. In the first-mentioned publication, the two end walls have a vertical division joint, along which the folding box can be opened. The overlap of the two lid flaps must be large enough to give the box lid sufficient strength. As a result, the possibilities of saving material are limited.

The object of the invention is therefore to provide a folding box of the type mentioned in such a way that a substantial saving of material is already achieved in the manufacture of the folding box, and that a box interior which is particularly suitable for accommodating two rows of standing bottles is created, in which the Bottles tapering upwards are also held in this upper area laterally.

This object is achieved by the features of the characterizing part of claim 1. At the limit given by the box height The length of the punched-out area piece results in a greater overlap of the two cover flaps lying one on top of the other.

These interconnected lid flaps can lie in the plane of the top edges of the box body. In this embodiment, considerable material savings are achieved compared to a folding box with a conventional flap closure.

An even greater saving of material can be achieved in a further embodiment of the inventive concept in that the interconnected lid flaps are spaced above the level of the top edges of the box body. The total height of the folding box is greater than the height of the box body. However, this height of the box body is decisive for the material consumption.

An additional reinforcement of the box lid can be achieved in that from two opposite end walls two cuts running downward from the top edge thereof are cut out in each case a side flap which runs obliquely upwards and inwards to the lid flaps and is connected to them by an external adhesive strip. This adhesive strip, which runs from one end wall over the side flap, the horizontal lid flaps and the other side flap to the other end wall, largely relieves the forces on the box cover from which the flat pieces are punched out. In addition, the diagonally upward and inward side flaps are just like those of the Side walls obliquely upward patches adapted to the upward tapering shape of bottles, which are received in two rows in the folding box.

If the lid flaps forming the box lid overlap one another only partially, the adhesive tape can also be used to establish the connection between these two lid flaps. By tearing open the adhesive tape, preferably after each cut along the side edges of the lid flaps, the folding box is opened completely without damaging cardboard parts. The opened folding box is therefore available for picking up and returning empties and can even be used several times. In a particularly material-saving version, it is also possible to let the lid flaps butt against one another and to connect them only by means of the adhesive tape stuck over them.

The lid flaps and associated surface pieces can either be punched out of only two opposite side walls or also from the end walls.

The inwardly and upwardly folded surface piece is preferably glued to the side wall up to a crease edge lying between the upper folding edge of the window and the top edge of the side wall and extends obliquely upwards and inwards from this crease edge.

It is thereby achieved that the side wall in the area of the upper edge of the opening is of double-walled design, with the adhesive bonding achieving a particular increase in rigidity.

Since the sloping inward and upward surface piece starts not only from a folded edge but from the crease edge lying at the edge of the bond, the tensile forces introduced into the side wall via the surface piece are effectively absorbed without causing undesired deformation or damage to the side wall comes, even if relatively thin material is used.

In a further embodiment of the concept of the invention can be provided in a folding box for standing uptake of two rows of containers, each having an upper container head, that the upwardly and inwardly folded sheet has at its edge adjacent to the folded edge of the lid flap, several edge recesses each protruding part of a container head.

These edge recesses make it possible to move the two folding edges delimiting the lid flaps even closer together than is specified by the outer edges of the two rows of container heads. This reduces the material required for the lid flaps, so that the flat pieces forming the lid flaps can be punched out of the side walls by relatively low, wide folding boxes.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is provided that a cover flap punched out of each edge recess is connected to the cover flap in an unfolded manner. The cover flap that is created when the edge recess is punched out is used to protect that part of the container head that protrudes through the edge recess.

A further reduction in the material required for the lid flaps can be achieved in a further embodiment of the inventive concept in that the two lid flaps each have projecting adhesive tabs on their free edge opposite the folding edge. These adhesive tabs, which preferably overlap with the adhesive tabs of the other lid flap, are sufficient to connect the two lid flaps.

• Fig. 1 eine Faltschachtel in räumlicher Darstellungsweise, bei der die den Schachteldeckel bildenden Flächenstücke aus zwei gegenüberliegenden Seitenwänden ausgestanzt sind,
• Fig. 2 eine demgegenüber abgewandelte Ausführungsform einer Faltschachtel mit zusätzlichen Seitenlaschen,
• Fig. 3 eine abgewandelte Ausführungsform der Faltschachtel nach Fig. 2,
• Fig. 4 eine Faltschachtel, bei der vier Deckelklappen aus den Seitenwänden und Stirnwänden ausgestanzt sind,
• Fig. 5 eine Faltschachtel, bei der aus den Seitenwänden die Deckelklappen und aus den Stirnwänden die Teile zur Bildung des Schachteldeckels und des Schachtelbodens ausgestanzt sind,
• Fig. 6 eine andere Ausführung einer Faltschachtel,
• Fig. 7 eine weitere Ausführung einer Faltschachtel
• Fig. 8 einen Schnitt längs der Linie VIII-VIII in Fig.7,
• Fig. 9 einen Schnitt ähnlich der Fig. 8 bei einer abgewandelten Ausführung,
• Fig. 10 einen Teilschnitt längs der Linie X-X in Fig. 9,
• Fig. 11 eine andere Faltschachtel in einer Seitenansicht,
• Fig. 12 eine vergrößerte Draufsicht auf die Faltschachtel nach Fig. 11 und
• Fig. 13 einen Schnitt längs der Linie XIII-XIII in Fig. 12.

Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the drawing. It shows:

• 1 shows a folding box in a spatial representation, in which the surface pieces forming the box lid are punched out from two opposite side walls,
• 2 shows a modified embodiment of a folding box with additional side flaps,
• 3 shows a modified embodiment of the folding box according to FIG. 2,
• 4 is a folding box in which four lid flaps are punched out of the side walls and end walls,
• 5 is a folding box in which the lid flaps are punched out of the side walls and the parts for forming the box lid and the box bottom are punched out of the end walls,
• 6 shows another embodiment of a folding box,
• Fig. 7 shows another embodiment of a folding box
• 8 shows a section along the line VIII-VIII in FIG. 7,
• 9 shows a section similar to FIG. 8 in a modified embodiment,
• 10 is a partial section along the line XX in Fig. 9,
• 11 shows another folding box in a side view,
• Fig. 12 is an enlarged plan view of the folding box of Fig. 11 and
• 13 shows a section along the line XIII-XIII in FIG. 12.

All folding boxes shown as exemplary embodiments each consist of a one-piece blank, for example of corrugated cardboard. Two side walls 1 and two end walls 2 form an essentially rectangular box body, which in the exemplary embodiments according to FIGS. 1-5 has a conventional box bottom, which consists of closure flaps 3.

1-3 and 6, only the two opposite side walls 1 each have a window 4. The embodiments according to FIGS. 1-3 have in common that a surface piece 5 which arises when the window 4 is punched out is folded obliquely upwards and inwards along a folding edge 7 which runs parallel and at a distance from the box lid 6.

A lid flap 8 connects to each of the two surface pieces 5. Each lid flap 8 is connected to the associated surface piece 5 via a folded edge 8a, this folded edge 8a running parallel to the upper edge 1a of the side wall 1.

In the example according to FIG. 1, the lid flaps 8 lie in the plane of the upper end edges 9 of the box body, the folded edges 8a running at a distance from these end edges 9.

Based on the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, it is additionally provided in the example according to FIG. 2 that a side flap 11 is cut out of each of the two opposite end walls 2 by two cuts 10 running downwards from the top edge, which slant upwards and inwards runs to the lid flaps 8. The side flaps 11 and the lid flaps 8 forming the box lid 6 are connected by an outer adhesive strip 12. This adhesive strip 12 can also serve to connect the two cover flaps 8 to one another if these two cover flaps 8 only partially overlap or butt each other.

The embodiment of a folding box shown in FIG. 3 differs from the example according to FIG. 2 in that the interconnected lid flaps 8 are spaced above the level of the upper edges 9 of the box body. As a result, a relatively high folding box is achieved with a very low material requirement, which is determined by the height of the box body.

In addition, in the example according to FIG. 3 it is provided that at least one of the cover flaps 8 is angled from the lateral edges 8b in each case one connecting flap 13 in the direction of the respectively adjacent side flap 11 and is connected to the latter by the outer adhesive strip 12. The connecting straps 13 bridge the distance between the upper edges 11a of the side straps 11 and the side edges 8b of the cover flaps 8 which are spaced above them.

The folding box shown in FIG. 4 differs from the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 1 only in that a window 4 is punched out both in the two side walls 1 and in the two end walls 2. The surface pieces 5 punched out of the windows 4 and bent upwards and obliquely inwards, with the lid flaps 8 articulated thereon, together form the box lid 6, all four lid flaps 8 being connected to one another.

In the example according to FIG. 5, the lid flaps 8 punched out of the side walls 1 form the box lid 6. The surface pieces 5 'punched out of the end walls 2 are folded outwards and downwards and are connected to bottom flaps 8' which are glued to one another and form the box bottom .

In the case of the folding box shown in FIG. 6, which is intended to hold bottles 25 (only shown schematically), the two upper edge sections 1 'of the side walls 1 arranged opposite one another on the folding box are drawn inwards towards the heads of the bottles 25. For this purpose, that is Surface piece 5 punched out of side wall 1 is only glued in a central region 1a of upper edge section 1 'and drawn inwards, while the two sections 1b lying to the side of it are designed without gluing, so that there is a distance to the adjacent sections of surface piece 5 .

The retraction described makes it possible to glue the two cover flaps 8 overlapping to one another even when these two cover flaps 8 are relatively short.

The box bottom can also be designed in a conventional manner with bottom flaps. Instead of the illustrated overlap of the two lid flaps 8, these can also abut one another and be connected by an adhesive strip.

As in the other illustrated embodiments, perforations can be provided in the area of the folded edge 8a, which connects the lid flaps 8 to the surface piece 5. This perforation on the folding edge 8a or in the vicinity thereof makes it possible to tear off the lid of the folding box formed from the lid flaps 8 in order to open the folding box.

The folding box shown in FIG. 7 is similar to the folding box according to FIG. 1; However, as can be seen particularly clearly from the section according to FIG. 8, the surface pieces 5 punched out of the side walls 1 to form a window 4 each, starting from a folding edge 107 forming the upper edge of the window 4 as far as between this folding edge 107 and the top edge 1a of the side wall 1 lying folding edge 108 the side wall 1 glued. Starting from the folded edge 108, the surface piece 5 extends obliquely inwards and upwards to the end flaps 8 forming the box lid.

In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the folded edge 108 runs parallel to the upper folded edge 107 and to the upper edge 1a. The surface piece 5 is bent obliquely upwards and inwards over its entire width at the folding edge 108.

The embodiment according to FIGS. 9 and 10 differs from this in that the bent edge 108 'is interrupted in its central region. In this central area, a tab 109 is punched out of the surface piece 5 which is bent obliquely upwards and inwards. The tab 109 extends upwards and is glued to the inside of the side wall 1. In the illustrated embodiment, the tab 109 extends approximately to the upper edge 1a of the side wall 1. In the illustrated embodiment, the tab 109 is delimited at the top by an approximately semicircular edge 110.

By interrupting the crease edge 108 'in the central region and gluing the tab 109 to the inside of the side wall 1, on the one hand it is achieved that on the inside of the tab 109 there is more space available for one-handed engagement to lift the folding box. On the other hand, it is achieved that the greatest stiffening effect is achieved in this central region, which is most heavily loaded under a bending load, because the largest bonding area is provided there.

The folding box shown in FIGS. 11-13, which preferably consists of corrugated cardboard, is used to hold two rows of containers, in the exemplary embodiment shown bottles 25 which taper to an upper container head 25a, which is closed, for example, with a screw cap.

The folding box has lid flaps 8, as in the previously described designs. The two lid flaps 8 lie on the container heads 25a at the top of the folding box and are glued together.

At the edge adjoining the folded edge 8a of the lid flap 8, three edge recesses 113 are punched out in an approximately circular arc shape from each surface piece 5. These edge recesses 113 each receive a container head 25a.

The cover flap 114 which arises when each edge recess 113 is punched out remains unfolded connected to the associated cover flap 8 and lies on the top of the container head 25a.

As can be seen particularly clearly in FIG. 12, the two lid flaps 8 each have two protruding adhesive tabs 115 on their free edge, which is opposite the folded edge 8a. Each adhesive flap 115 of one cover flap 8 overlaps an adhesive flap 115 of the other cover flap 8; these overlapping adhesive tabs 115 are glued together and represent the connection of the two lid flaps 8.

From Fig. 11 it can be seen that only relatively little material is required for the formation of the surface pieces 5 and the lid flaps 8, so that a folding box can also be carried out in the manner described if it is relatively wide and of low height due to the given dimensions of the bottles 25.

Claims (16)

1. Folding box consisting of a single-piece cut-out made of card, cardboard, corrugated cardboard or the like, with a body made from two side walls (1) and two face walls (2), and with a box lid (6) which is formed from at least two lid flaps (8), each foldably joined to one side wall (1), with, in each case, a flat piece (5) being punched out of at least two side walls (1) opposite each other and being folded along a folding edge (7) of the side wall (1) running parallel and at a distance from the plane of tie box lid to form the lid flaps (8), and with an end tongue of the flat piece (5) being 90° offset as a lid flap (8) and with at least one of the other lid flaps (8) being joined to form the box lid (6), characterised in that the flat piece (5) is in each case swung inwards over the folding edge (7) so that the lid flaps (8) lie in the plane of the lid.
2. Folding box according to Claim 1, characterised in that the lid flaps (8) joined to each other lie in the plane of the top edges (9) of the body of the box.
3. Folding box according to Claim 1, characterised in that the lid flaps (8) joined to each other lie at a distance above the plane of the top edges (9) of the body of the box.
4. Folding box according to Claim 1, characterised in that in each case a side tongue (11) is cut out of two opposite face walls (2) by two cuts (10) running from their top edges (2a) downwards, said side tongue running obliquely upwards and inwards to the lid flaps (8) and is joined to the latter by an external adhesive strip (12).
5. Folding box according to Claims 3 and 4, characterised in that, from the lateral edges (8b) of at least one of the lid flaps (8) in each case a connecting tongue (13) is offset at 90° in the direction of the side tongue (11) and is joined to the latter by the external adhesive strip (12).
6. Folding box according to Claim 1, characterised in that, from the two side walls (1) and the two face walls (2) of the body of the box, a flat piece (5) provided in each case with a lid flap (8) is punched out and tilted round inwards and upwards, and that the lid flaps (8) are joined to each other to form a box lid (6).
7. Folding box according to Claim 1, characterised in that the flat pieces (5) punched out of the side walls (1) and tilted round obliquely inwards and upwards are glued and drawn inwards only in the central zone (1a) of a top edge section (1') of the side wall (1).
8. Folding box according to Claim 1, characterised in that the flat piece (5) folded inwards and upwards is glued to the side wall (1) as far as a creased edge situated between the top folding edge (107) of the window (4) and the top edge (1a) of the side wall (1) and extends obliquely upwards and inwards from this creased edge (108).
9. Folding box according to Claim 8, characterised in that the creased edge (108) runs parallel to the top folding edge (107) and that the flat piece (5) is creased obliquely upwards and inwards for its entire width at the creased edge (108).
10. Folding box according to Claim 8, characterised in that the creased edge (108') is interrupted in its central zone and that in this central zone a tongue (109) extending upwards is punched out from the flat piece (5) extending upwards, which is bent obliquely upwards and inwards and is glued on at the side wall (1).
11. Folding box according to Claim 10, characterised in that the tongue (109) extends approximately as far as the top edge (1a) of the side wall (1).
12. Folding box according to Claim 10 or 11, characterised in that the tongue (109) is limited upwards by an approximately semicircular edge (110).
13. Folding box according to Claim 1 for holding upright two rows of containers (25), each of which has an upper container head (25a), characterised in that the flat piece (5) folded upwards and inwards has, on its edge adjacent to the folding edge (8a), several edge cut-outs (113), through each of which a part of a container head (25a) projects.
14. Folding box according to Claim 13, characterised in that in each case a cover tongue (114) punched from each edge cut-out (113) is joined unfolded to the lid flap (8).
15. Folding box according to Claim 13, characterised in that the two lid flaps (8) have in each case projecting glued tongues (115) on their free edge opposite the folding edge (8a).
16. Folding box according to Claim 15, characterised in that the glued tongues (115) of the two lid flaps (8) overlap each other.

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