EP0567412A1 - Box and carton or the like, in particular for jars of dairy products, as well as a blank for producing the same - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a box of generally parallelepipedic shape, made from sheet material, such as cardboard, corrugated cardboard or similar, for the packaging and transport of objects, particularly for jars of dairy products or similar, comprising a lateral surround, a bottom and a top. According to the invention, the top (5) of the said box (1) is constituted by two first opposite lateral flaps (5.1, 5.2), connected to the lateral surround (3) by fold lines, locking the said objects (2) in the closed position of the box (1) and each comprising a handle (6.1, 6.2) cut out in the respective flap (5.1, 5.2) and able to be folded back into a position substantially perpendicular to the surface of the flap (5.1, 5.2), for the grasping of the said box (1). <IMAGE>

Description

The present invention relates to a box of generally parallelepipedal shape, made of a sheet material, such as cardboard, corrugated cardboard or the like, for the packaging and transport of objects.

More particularly, although not exclusively, the box according to the invention is intended to receive pots which may contain in particular dairy products, such as yogurts, milk-based creams or the like. Until now, such pots generally joined together by their upper edges in groups of two or four, two such groups possibly being stacked one on the other, are presented for sale by being held together by a strip of material. in sheet surrounding the top, the bottom, and two side faces of all of said pots by forming a "pack" intended to be carried by the consumer.

However, such packaging is not easy to transport by the consumer who has no means at his disposal to easily grasp it. In addition, while said strip does not constitute an effective protection against the shocks that said pots can undergo, it nevertheless proves to be difficult to remove when the user wants to consume the contents of the pots, since it is stuck in the overlapping zone. of its extreme edges and that it surrounds in an adjusted manner said pots.

The present invention aims to avoid these drawbacks, and relates to a box, in particular intended to contain jars of dairy products, adapted to allow easy gripping of the packaging that it constitutes by the consumer, protecting said jars during their transport or storage, and allowing easy access to them at the time of consumption.

• le dessus de la boîte étant constitué par deux premiers rabats latéraux opposés identiques se chevauchant partiellement en position fermée de la boîte, reliés à deux volets de la ceinture latérale situés en vis à vis en position fermée de ladite boîte,
• caractérisée en ce que chacun desdits premiers rabats latéraux comporte une poignée découpée respectivement dans un desdits premiers rabats latéraux, lesdites poignées étant propres à être rabattues entre une position à plat par rapport à la surface dudit premier rabat correspondant, et une position orthogonale à la surface dudit premier rabat correspondant en vis à vis et à distance l'une de l'autre,
• en ce que chacun desdits premiers rabats présente sensiblement la forme d'un trapèze dont la grande base est adjacente au bord supérieur du volet correspondant, de la ceinture latérale auquel il est relié par une ligne de pliage, sur une partie seulement dudit bord supérieur (par exemple sur la moitié ou les deux tiers de sa longueur, de façon centrée par rapport audit volet),
• et en ce que le fond de la boîte est constitué par quatre seconds rabats opposés deux à deux, définissant des parties en relief et en creux complémentaires des parties en relief et en creux du dessus de ladite boîte, dues à la disposition des deux premiers rabats latéraux.

To this end, the present invention essentially provides a box of generally parallelepiped shape, made of a sheet material, such as cardboard, or, more specifically, corrugated cardboard or the like, for the packaging and transport of objects such as as pots intended to receive dairy products, said box comprising a lateral belt, consisting of several flaps, a bottom and a top,

• the top of the box being constituted by two first identical opposite lateral flaps partially overlapping in the closed position of the box, connected to two flaps of the lateral belt located opposite in the closed position of said box,
• characterized in that each of said first lateral flaps comprises a handle cut out respectively in one of said first lateral flaps, said handles being adapted to be folded between a position flat relative to the surface of said first corresponding flap, and a position orthogonal to the surface of said first corresponding flap opposite and at a distance from each other,
• in that each of said first flaps has substantially the shape of a trapezium whose large base is adjacent to the upper edge of the corresponding flap, of the lateral belt to which it is connected by a fold line, on only part of said upper edge ( for example over half or two thirds of its length, centered with respect to said flap),
• and in that the bottom of the box is constituted by four second flaps opposite two by two, defining raised and hollow parts complementary to the raised and hollow parts of the top of said box, due to the arrangement of the first two flaps lateral.

The first two flaps partly overlapping at the end, this can in fact lead to an extra thickness of 2 to 5 m in the case of a sheet of corrugated cardboard.

Furthermore, the attachment of said first flaps over only part of the width of the corresponding flap leaves openings and therefore recessed parts on the sides on either side of said first flaps.

The expression “substantially trapezoid-shaped” means in particular a polygon having two parallel bases and two lateral sides symmetrical with respect to a median of the bases, for example in the form of an S with one or more recesses.

Thanks to these provisions, the box according to the invention, at the same time as it provides effective protection of the products, in particular pots of dairy products, which it contains, as well as easy access to them, can be grasped and transported without difficulty by the consumer thanks to the handles with which the flaps forming the top of said box are provided.

It can also, and above all, be stored easily by stacking and placing in a transport pallet in a very stable and efficient manner, without risk of damage to the products contained in such boxes, while allowing the contents of said box to be viewed.

Advantageously, each handle has substantially the shape of a handle, the two ends of which are attached to the respective flap by fold lines.

In particular, the fold lines around which each of said handles can pivot are located in the vicinity of the free lateral edge of the respective flap. Thus, in the folded position perpendicular to the surface of the flaps, the two handles are close enough to each other to be able to be grasped by one hand of the user.

Furthermore, a notch can be provided in each of said first flaps, opening in the cutout defining said handle and making it possible to grasp the latter when the latter is folded down in the plane of the flap. Preferably, said indented re opens opposite the central part of the handle defining the handle.

Advantageously, among the four second flaps, two opposite flaps have at least partially, towards the outside of said second flaps, substantially a truncated triangular shape.

• en ce que chacun desdits premiers rabats comporte une découpe susceptible de former une poignée en étant rabattue entre une position à plat par rapport à la surface du premier rabat correspondant et une position orthogonale à la surface dudit premier rabat correspondant, et en ce que deux desdits seconds rabats, reliés à deux volets non adjacents par un côté présentent chacun leur deux autres côtés en forme sensiblement triangulaire tronquée pour s'adapter aux deux côtés correspondants des premiers rabats.

In addition, the present invention also relates to a blank of sheet material, such as cardboard, and preferably corrugated cardboard or the like, intended for producing, by folding, the box which has just been described, comprising four flaps arranged one after the other, linked together by first fold lines and intended to form the lateral belt of said box, first flaps connected to said flaps by second fold lines and intended to form the top of said box, and second flaps connected to said flaps by third fold lines and intended to form the bottom of said box, characterized in that it comprises only two first flaps connected to two opposite flaps, each of said first flaps having a general shape of a trapezium, the large base is connected to the corresponding flap,

• in that each of said first flaps has a cutout capable of forming a handle by being folded between a flat position relative to the surface of the first corresponding flap and a position orthogonal to the surface of said first corresponding flap, and in that two of said second flaps, connected to two nonadjacent flaps by one side each have their two other sides in substantially triangular truncated shape to adapt to the two corresponding sides of the first flaps.

Advantageously, a notch is provided in each of said flaps facing the central part of said cutout, having substantially the shape of a loop, said first flaps having a general shape of trapezium whose large base is connected to the corresponding flap and of which the two other sides are shaped to fit the truncated triangular part of said second flaps.

In particular, two parallel transverse cutting lines may be provided in the flaps connected to the first flaps, extending the transverse sides thereof, for example over a length between one third and two thirds of the height of said flaps, or more generally over a distance less than the height of the belt, and connected by a fold line.

Furthermore, to allow the nesting of two such blanks, and the cutting thereof, from a single sheet of sheet material, a recess in the upper part, for example trapezoidal, is provided in each of the flaps not provided with a first flap.

In addition, additional flaps can be provided between the flaps intended to form the lateral belt of the box and on the free edges of said outermost flaps, to form a box with cut corners.

The figures of the appended drawing will make it clear how the invention can be implemented.

Figure 1 is a perspective view from above of an embodiment of a box according to the invention, whose handles are folded in the transport position of the box.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view from below of the box according to FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the blank from which the box of FIGS. 1 and 2 can be produced.

Figure 4 illustrates the nesting of two blanks according to Figure 3 cut from the same cardboard plate.

Figure 5 illustrates the stacking of two boxes according to the invention.

The box 1 according to the invention has, as seen in Figures 1 and 2, a generally parallelepiped shape, and is made of a sheet material, such as cardboard, corrugated cardboard or the like. It is intended for the packaging and / or transport of objects, in particular jars 2 intended to receive dairy products or the like. In general, the box 1 has a lateral belt 3, a bottom 4 and a top 5.

The lateral belt 3 has four faces 3.1, 3.3 and 3.2, 3.4 opposite two by two, namely two large lateral faces 3.1 and 3.3, and two small lateral faces 3.2 and 3.4. As in the embodiment shown, two adjacent lateral faces can be connected by an intermediate face 3a.1-3a.5, each forming a cut corner of the box, the two intermediate faces 3a.1 and 3a.5 connected, respectively, with the large face 3.1 and the small face 3.4 overlapping to allow the securing of the lateral belt 3 in particular by gluing.

Furthermore, according to the invention, the top 5 of the box 1 is constituted by two first opposite side flaps 5.1, 5.2, connected to the side belt 3 by fold lines, blocking the pots 2 in the closed position of the box 1 , and each comprising a handle 6.1, 6.2 cut from the respective flap 5.1, 5.2 and which can be folded down in a composition substantially orthogonal to the surface of the flap (FIG. 1), when the box is gripped.

As can be seen in FIG. 1, each handle 6.1, 6.2 is substantially in the form of a handle, the two ends of which 6.11, 6.12 and 6.21, 6.22 are attached to the respective flap 5.1, 5.2 by fold lines around which can pivot the handles 6.1,6.2 and which are in the vicinity of the free lateral edge of the respective flap 5.1, 5.2, allowing, as already indicated, the two handles to be sufficiently close to each other, in the service position (figure 1), to be entered by one hand of the user.

In addition, a notch 7.1, 7.2 is provided in each of the flaps 5.1, 5.2, which opens in the cutout 8.1, 8.2 defining the handle, with respect to the central part 6.13,6.23 of the handle formed by the latter, and which makes it possible to grasp the handle, using a finger, when it is folded in the plane of the flap.

In addition, as will be seen in more detail below, each of the first flaps 5.1, 5.2 has a general shape of a trapezoid, providing recessed portions in the top 5 of the box 1.

As can be seen better in FIG. 2, the bottom 4 of the box 1 is constituted by four second flaps 4.1, 4.3 and 4.2, 4.4, opposite in pairs, including the two flaps 4.2, 4.4 connected to the small lateral faces 3.2, 3.4 have a substantially truncated triangular shape, said second flaps defining raised and hollow parts complementary to the raised and hollow parts of the box 1.

Figure 3 shows in plan the blank from which can be made, by folding, the box which has just been described, the corresponding parts of the blank and the box bearing the same reference numerals.

• - quatre volets 3.1-3.4 disposés les uns à la suite des autres longitudinalement, reliés entre eux par des volets supplémentaires 3a.1-3a.5 et par des premières lignes de pliage 10 (deux dits volets supplémentaires 3a.1 et 3a.5 étant prévus sur les bords libres des volets 3.1, 3.4 les plus externes), et destinés à former la ceinture latérale de la boîte dont les volets supplémentaires constitueront les coins coupés,
• - des premiers rabats 5.1, 5.2 reliés, chacun, à un volet 3.1, 3.3 respectif par des deuxièmes lignes de pliage 11 et séparés par un volet 3.2, de sorte que lesdits rabats opposés sont destinés à former le dessus 5 de la boîte 1, et
• - des seconds rabats 4.1-4.4 reliés auxdits volets 3.1-3.4 par des troisièmes lignes de pliage 12 et destinés à former le fond 4 de la boîte 1.

We see in Figure 3 that the blank 1 includes:

• - four flaps 3.1-3.4 arranged one after the other longitudinally, interconnected by additional flaps 3a.1-3a.5 and by first fold lines 10 (two said additional flaps 3a.1 and 3a.5 being provided on the free edges of the outermost flaps 3.1, 3.4), and intended to form the lateral belt of the box, the additional flaps of which will constitute the cut corners,
• - first flaps 5.1, 5.2 each connected to a flap 3.1, 3.3 respectively by second fold lines 11 and separated by a flap 3.2, so that said opposite flaps are intended to form the top 5 of the box 1, and
• - second flaps 4.1-4.4 connected to said flaps 3.1-3.4 by third fold lines 12 and intended to form the bottom 4 of the box 1.

In each of the flaps 5.1, 5.2, a cut 6.1, 6.2 is made, capable of forming a handle, and a corresponding notch 7.1, 7.2. Furthermore, in order to obtain the corresponding raised and recessed portions of the bottom and the top of two superimposed boxes, the flaps 5.1, 5.2 have a general shape of trapezium whose large base is connected to the flap 3.1, 3.3 corresponding by the fold line 12 and the other two sides 5.11 and 5.21 of which are shaped to fit the truncated triangular part 4.21,4.41 of the flaps 4.2, 4.4 intended to partially form the bottom 4 of the box 1. This correspondence in shape between the top and bottom of two superimposed boxes 1, allowing them to be held in a stacked position, is shown in FIG. 5. No particular anchoring means is therefore no longer necessary to ensure the stability of batteries formed at from boxes 1 according to the invention.

In addition, two parallel transverse cutting lines 3.11,3.31 are provided in the flaps 3.1, 3.3 connected to the flaps 5.1, 5.2, extending the transverse sides 5.11, 5.21 thereof and connected by a fold line 14, so as to be able to easily fold the corresponding flaps 5.1, 5.2 outward when opening the box 1 and thus have easy access to the products 2 contained therein.

Furthermore, recesses 3.21, 3.41 are provided in the flaps 3.2, 3.4 (not provided with flaps intended to form the top of the box), so as to allow the nesting of two blanks 1 (FIG. 4) cut from the same plate 100 of sheet material, such as cardboard, corrugated cardboard or the like. As can be seen in FIG. 4, the cardboard scraps during the cutting of the two blanks are thus reduced to a minimum.

Although the box according to the invention can possibly be produced manually by folding the blank which has just been described, after separation of the two blanks shown in FIG. 4, it is preferable to do this by using the machines described in the patents FR-2 629 012 and FR-2 665 137. It will also be noted that the particular shape of the blanks, due to their numerous recesses and projecting parts, would make it impossible to use conventional folding machines.

Claims (13)

1. Box of generally parallelepipedal shape, made of a sheet material, such as cardboard, corrugated cardboard or the like, for the packaging and transport of objects such as pots intended to receive dairy products, said box comprising a side belt (3), consisting of several flaps, a bottom (4) and a top (5), the top (5) of the box (1) consisting of two identical opposite first side flaps (5.1,5.2) partially overlapping in the closed position of the box, connected to two flaps of the side belt (3) located opposite screw in the closed position of said box (1), characterized in that each of said first lateral flaps comprises a handle (6.1,6.2) cut respectively in one of said first lateral flaps (5.1,5.2), said handles being adapted to be folded down between a flat position relative to the surface of said first corresponding flap, and a position orthogonal to the surface of said first corresponding flap opposite and at a distance from each other, in that each of said first flaps (5.1,5.2) has substantially the shape of a trapezoid whose large base is adjacent to the upper edge of the corresponding flap of the belt lateral (3) to which it is connected by a fold line, on only part of said upper edge, and in that the bottom (4) of the box (1) is constituted by four second flaps (4.1 to 4.4) opposite two by two, defining raised and hollow parts complementary to the raised and hollow parts of the top ( 5) of said box (1), due to the arrangement of the first two lateral flaps. 2. Box according to claim 1, characterized in that each handle (6.1,6.2) has substantially the shape of a handle whose two ends (6.11,6.12,6.21,6.22) are attached to the respective flap (5.1,5.2) by fold lines. 3. Box according to claim 2, characterized in that the fold lines around which can pivot each of said handles (6.1,6.2) are located in the vicinity and on the side of the free lateral edge of the respective flap (5.1,5.2) parallel to the edge upper belt. 4. Box according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that a notch (7.1,7.2) is provided in each of said first flaps (5.1,5.2), opening in the cutout defining said handle (6.1 , 6.2) and allowing the latter to be grasped when the latter is folded down in the plane of the flap (5.1.5.2). 5. Box according to claim 4, characterized in that said notch (7.1,7.2) opens vis-à-vis the central part (6.13,6.23) of the handle defining the handle (6.1,6.2). 6. Box according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the sheet is made of corrugated cardboard. 7. Box according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that among the four second flaps, two opposite flaps (4, 2, 4, 4) have, at least in part, towards the outside of said second flaps, substantially a truncated triangular shape. 8. Box according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that two parallel transverse cutting lines (3.11,3.31) are provided in the flaps (3.1,3.3) connected to the first flaps (5.1,5.2), extending the sides transverse (5.11,5.21) thereof and connected by a fold line (14). 9. Blank of sheet material, such as cardboard, corrugated cardboard or the like, intended for the production, by folding, of a box of generally parallelepipedal shape, comprising four flaps arranged one after the other, connected between them by first fold lines and intended to form the lateral belt of said box, first flaps connected to said flaps by second fold lines and intended to form the top of said box, and second flaps connected to said flaps by third fold lines and intended to form the bottom of said box, characterized in that it comprises only two first flaps (5.1,5.2) connected to two opposite flaps, each of said first flaps (5.1,5.2) having a general trapezoid shape, the large base is connected to the corresponding flap (3.1,3.3),
in that each of said first flaps (5.1,5.2) comprises a cutout (6.1,6.2) capable of forming a handle by being folded between a flat position relative to the surface of the first corresponding flap and a position orthogonal to the surface of said first corresponding flap, and in that two of said second flaps (4.2,4.4), connected to two nonadjacent flaps by one side each have their other two sides (4.21,4.41) in substantially triangular truncated shape to adapt to the two sides (5.11,5.21) corresponding to the first flaps. 10. Blank according to claim 9, characterized in that a notch (7.1,7.2) is provided in each of said flaps (5.1,5.2) opposite the central part of said cutout, which therefore has substantially a shape of 'handle. 11. Blank according to any one of claims 9 and 10, characterized in that two parallel transverse cutting lines (3.11,3.31) are provided in the flaps (3.1,3.3) connected to the first flaps (5.1,5.2), extending the transverse sides (5.11,5.21) of these over a distance less than the height of the belt and connected by a fold line. 12. Blank according to any one of claims 9 to 11, characterized in that a recess (3.21,3.41) is formed in each of the flaps (3.2,3.4) not provided with a first flap (5.1,5.2). 13. Blank according to any one of claims 9 to 12, characterized in that additional flaps (3a.1-3a.5) are provided between the flaps (3.1-3.4) intended to form the lateral belt (3) of the box (1) and on the free edges of said outermost flaps (3.1,3.4), to form a box (1) with cut corners.

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