EP0665167B1 - Box comprising outer walls and internal supporting element - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a box for containing an object and comprising, formed continuously in the same folded sheet, a prismatic envelope comprising four sides and a first strip of attachment connected to the fourth side of the enclosure and intended to be attached on the internal face of the first side of said envelope.

The box further comprises a case disposed inside of the envelope and intended to wedge the object it contains.

The box can, of course, include means for closing the each of its two ends, for example constituted by flaps.

Such boxes are frequently used, for example in the perfume industry, to contain a relatively fragile object such as than a bottle. Similar boxes of any size can be used in other fields to contain and wedge any object during transport.

We know the possibility of making the case using a simple sheet of cardboard with micro-grooves or corrugations, and folded so that be inserted into the envelope with four walls located against the internal faces of each of the sides of the envelope.

A box provided with a case made in this way has various disadvantages mainly related to the fact that the envelope and the case are two separate elements, made of different materials.

This indeed increases the number of operations both during the manufacturing only during assembly. In addition, to limit the volume of empty boxes during transport, preferably delivered flat, folded in two diagonally opposite folds. The presence of a separate case in cardboard makes this folding difficult and increases the thickness of the folded boxes.

Furthermore, a case formed in this way gives the whole a not very luxurious, sometimes incompatible with the quality requirements of finishing linked to certain fields such as perfumery.

To overcome these drawbacks, a shaped case has already been used in the same sheet as the envelope and in its continuity, comprising three walls respectively spaced from the corresponding sides of the envelope, the first of these walls being connected to the first fixing strip.

A box with a case made in this way is illustrated by Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings. Figure 1 shows the model developed from the box, while Figure 2 shows schematically this box seen from the side.

In this figure 2, we see that the box 10 has an envelope primatique 11 which, seen from the side, has a rectangular shape, and a case internal timing 21. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the various elements of this box are formed in the same sheet 9 and separated from each other by folds such as 9 '. The envelope 11 has four sides respectively designated by the references 12, 14, 16 and 18.

The box also includes a first fastening strip 20 connected to the fourth side 18 of the envelope by a fold and intended to be fixed on the internal face of the first side 12 of this envelope. The first one wall 22 of the case 21 is connected to this first fastening strip 20 by a fold, and the other three walls of this case 24, 26, 28, as well as a strip 30 are produced in continuity with this first wall 22.

Three of the walls of the case 22, 24, 28 are separated from the sides corresponding to envelope 11. Being of dimensions smaller than those of the envelope, the case is adapted to the setting of the object that the box.

When the box is set in volume as in Figure 2, the case 21 is fixed by three bands: the first fixing band 20, all of its third wall 26, and the strip 30.

The third wall 26 of the case 21 being attached to the fourth side 18 envelope 11, we understand that it has no real utility point of view of timing. Because of this, and also because the width of the first fastening strip 20 is equal to that of the case 21, the quantity of materials used to make the box 10 is excessive. In addition, the implementation volume turns out to be delicate since it requires that the strip 30 against the internal face of the first wall 22 of the case in one place from the box which is difficult to access.

This excessive consumption of materials, as well as the difficulty of volume, increase production costs, which is a major drawback when you consider the quantity large number of copies produced.

The object of the present invention is to remedy these drawbacks and offers a box of the aforementioned type, the case of which is formed in the same sheet that the envelope, and which has a second fixing strip directly connected to the third side of the case and intended to be fixed to the inner face of the first side of the envelope. This box also includes at least one crutch for fixing the case, cut from the part of the sheet which constitutes said case, this stand having a fixing part intended to be fixed on the internal face of one side of the envelope located in manhole and a bracing part connecting said fixing part to the case and intended to maintain the latter at a determined distance from said side of the envelope.

Thanks to this conformation, the three walls of the case are perfectly kept apart from the corresponding sides of the envelope, saving substantial in material is produced since it is not necessary that this case has a fourth wall, and the volume is simplified since the fixing of the first and second fixing bands as well as that of the fixing part of the stand are particularly easy as we will see below.

The invention will be better understood on reading the description detailed which follows, of embodiments indicated by way of examples not limiting.

• les figures 1 et 2 illustrent, comme on l'a vu précédemment, une boíte connue,
• la figure 3 représente un modèle développé d'une boíte selon l'invention,
• la figure 4 est une vue en perspective de la même boíte mise en volume, avec des parties arrachées,
• la figure 5 est une vue schématique de côté de cette boíte,
• la figure 6 montre un modèle développé d'une boíte selon un autre mode de réalisation,
• la figure 7 montre un modèle développé d'une boíte selon encore un autre mode de réalisation,
• les figures 8a, 8b et 8c représentent trois étapes du pliage et de la mise en volume de la boíte.

The description refers to the accompanying drawings in which:

• Figures 1 and 2 illustrate, as we saw previously, a known box,
• FIG. 3 represents a developed model of a box according to the invention,
• FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the same box set in volume, with parts cut away,
• Figure 5 is a schematic side view of this box,
• FIG. 6 shows a developed model of a box according to another embodiment,
• FIG. 7 shows a developed model of a box according to yet another embodiment,
• Figures 8a, 8b and 8c show three stages of folding and setting the volume of the box.

Figure 4 shows a box intended to contain an object and which, as seen in Figures 3 and 5, is carried out in the same sheet 41 folded. Box 40 has a prismatic outer casing 42 comprising four sides 44, 46, 48 and 50. These sides are separated from each other others by folds such as fold 41 ′ of sheet 41. These folds are by example made by local crushing of the sheet.

The box also includes a first fixing strip 52 connected to the fourth side 50 of the casing 42 and, as seen on the Figure 5, intended to be fixed on the internal face of the first side 44 of this envelope.

The box further comprises a case 54 always formed in continuity in the same sheet 41. When the box is set in volume, the case 54 is located inside the envelope 42 and serves to wedge the object that can contain the box. This case includes three walls 56, 58 and 60 which, always when the box is set in volume, are separated from the sides envelope 42. In the example shown, the wall 56 is away from side 50, wall 58 is away from side 48, and wall 60 is separated from the side 46. The first wall of the case, designated by the reference 56, is connected to the first fixing strip 52.

The box has a second fixing strip 62 which is connected on the third side of the case 54 and which is intended to be fixed on the face internal of the first side 44 of the envelope 42. The spacing between the two fastening strips determines the length of the case.

In the example shown, this second strip 62 is folded towards the left of the third wall 60 to be glued to the side 44 of the envelope; if the distance between the wall 60 and the side 46 is sufficient, this second strip 62 can just as easily be folded to the right in position opposite to that shown in Figure 5 to be glued on the same side 44.

The box 40 comprises at least one crutch 64 for fixing the case 54, cut from the part of the sheet 41 which constitutes this case and indeed visible on the cut-away part of figure 4. The crutch has a part fixing 64a intended, as shown in Figure 5, to be fixed on the face internal side of the envelope located opposite, and part bracing 64b connecting this fixing part 64a to the case 54 and intended to maintain the latter at a determined distance from said side of the envelope.

In the example shown, it is the third side 48 of the envelope which is located opposite the fixing part 64a. As we will see in next, the opposite side can just as easily be the second or the fourth side of the envelope.

In the box of Figure 4, which is only an embodiment, the first and third sides 44 and 48 respectively constitute the faces main rear and front of a classic box and the second and fourth sides 46, 50 constitute the side faces thereof. If the first side is a face side, the distance between the two fixing bands will determine the width of case.

To simplify the description, the term "face" will be used in the following. to designate the internal face or the external face of an element, the internal face being that which is directed towards the center of the envelope while the face external is that which is directed towards the outside.

The box 40 may include means for closing its lower and upper openings and, when closed, present the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped. In known manner, these closing means may include a flap 66 having a first end connected to the end of one of the sides of the envelope by a fold 66 'and a second opposite end provided with a retractable tab 68. These closing means may also include side flap tabs 70a and 70b.

The fixing of the two fixing bands 52 and 62 and of the part of fixing 64a of the stand can be carried out using an adhesive, for example in the case where the sheet 41 is made of cardboard, or by fusing, by example in the case where this sheet is made of synthetic material.

If we compare Figure 3 to Figure 1, we notice that equivalent dimensions of the envelope and the case, the quantity of materials used to make the box according to the invention is significantly lower than that which is used for the box of Figure 1. This is due to the fact that the case according to the invention may have only three walls and the width of the first fixing strip 52 is equal to the distance from the wall 56 of the case relative to the side 50 of the envelope and not to the width of the case.

For better efficiency, the height h of the stand is advantageously significantly less than the height H of the case.

Although the figures show, for each box, only one crutch, it is possible to provide two or more crutches, which can be arranged symmetrically. The conformation of Figure 4 shows that the case is attached to two sides of the envelope, but, depending on the number of crutches you can also attach this case to three or even four sides. When, as in the figures, only one crutch is present, this one is advantageously located in height in the middle part of the case.

The width of the first fixing strip 52 being clearly lower than that of FIG. 1, and the height of the stand being clearly lower than the case, when using glue to ensure the fixing, the surface to be glued is significantly less in the box according to the invention as in that of FIG. 1.

The crutch (s) can be cut, "straddling" several the walls of the case. However, as in the examples shown, the crutch is advantageously cut from one of the walls of the case. In this case, as shown in figure 3, it is preferably cut in that of the walls of the case whose width is maximum. So in Figure 3, the crutch 64 is cut in the second wall 58 of the case, which is be the main wall of this case. On the other hand, FIG. 6 shows a case 74 having first, second and third walls respectively designated by the references 76, 78 and 80; the second wall 78 is located also be the main wall of the case. However, in this example, the stand 84 which includes the fixing part 84a and the part 84b bracing is cut in the third wall of the case 80.

It is advantageous that, as in FIGS. 3 and 6, the stand 64, 84, either entirely cut out in one of the three walls 58, 80 of the case 54, 74 and is connected to this case in the region of the edge 57, 79 between this wall 58, 80 and the neighboring wall 56, 78. The part of the plating 64b, 84b, is then located as an extension of this adjacent wall 56, 78, and the fixing part 64a, 84a is folded with respect to this bracing part to be fixed on the inner face of the side of the envelope located opposite the wall of the case in which the crutch is cut out. In the examples shown, the part of fixing 64a of the stand of Figure 3 is intended to be fixed on the face internal of the third side 48 of the casing, while the fixing part of the stand 84a of Figure 6 is intended to be fixed on the internal face on the second side 46 of the envelope. This somehow constitutes a natural conformation when, as previously indicated, the bracing part of the stand is located in extension of the wall neighbor. It is also possible to fold this bracing part in the continuity of the edge 57, 79 which separates the wall in which the crutch is cut from the neighboring wall, and glue the fixing part on another side of the envelope. However, this additional fold introduces sometimes an undesirable joint.

As previously indicated, the different walls of the case are delimited in width by folds. To facilitate folding of the case, at least some of these folds may have incisions. This is for example the case of folds 53, 59 and 61 of the case of Figure 3, which separate respectively the first fastening strip of the first wall of the case, the second and third walls of the case and this third wall and the second fastening strip. The incisions are shown schematically by lines interrupted. Still in FIG. 3, the fold 65 which separates the part of fixing 64a of the stand of its bracing part 64b present also such incisions.

In FIG. 6, it can be seen that the first and the third walls 76, 80 of the case 74 have, towards one of their ends, notches in V 86. When the box is set in volume, these notches 86 are located opposite one from the other. In this provision, they are able to retain possible protruding parts of the object contained in the box to prevent its movement in the case. We can also provide similar notches in the second wall of the case, of any shape and arranged or not towards one of the ends of this case.

Referring now to FIG. 7, we can see a case 94 identical to that of FIG. 3, but which also comprises closing means at least one of its lower and upper openings. The means of closure of one of the openings comprises a tongue 96 secured to one of the walls of the case, in this case the wall 58. This tongue 96 may include a flap tab 97.

Still in FIG. 7, it can be seen that at the other end of the case 94, a locking flap 98 is provided. This flap 98 is integral with the second wall 58 of the case and has a shape adapted to cooperate with one of the ends of the object that can contain the box to keep it blocked. In the example shown, the flap has a central opening 100, by example able to cooperate with the stopper of a bottle. The flap has also a flap tab 102 and a middle fold 99 which serves to deform it to bring it towards the inside of the case to better block the end of the object. It is also possible to provide two lateral flaps respectively integral with the first and third walls of the case, to grip one ends of the object to be blocked.

With reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, it has previously been indicated that the box could include means for closing one of its openings upper and lower. In the embodiment of these figures, towards one of the ends, these means consist of an external tongue folding 66 provided with a retractable tab 68 which, in the closed position of the tongue, is placed against the internal face of the first side 44 of the envelope. In this case, the ends of the first and third walls 56, 60 of the case 54 close to the opening considered have advantageously each a cut designated by the references 71a and 71b in FIG. 3. These cutouts 71a and 71b each determine a housing visible in FIG. 4 under the references 72a and 72b and which is suitable to receive the re-entrant tab 68 between the walls 56 and 60 of the case and the face internal of the first side 44 of the envelope.

With reference to FIGS. 8a to 8c, we now describe the method of folding and volume setting of the box.

FIG. 8a represents, seen on the edge, the sheet 41 of FIG. 3. To facilitate understanding, we have marked the different folds that separate the sides, the fixing bands and the walls of the various elements of the box by extra thicknesses. The crutch is shown in the same way. The fold 47 which separates the second and third sides 46, 48 of the envelope, the fold 51 which separates the fourth side 50 of the envelope and the first strip of attachment 52, and the fold 59 which separates the second and third walls 58, 60 from the case are referenced. These folds constitute main folds according to which the sheet will be folded before delivery, the other folds being fine sure preformed in this sheet but being used only when, from the configuration of Figure 8c, the box is set in volume as in Figure 5. Figure 8c shows the configuration of the box when it is delivered and Figure 8b is an intermediate step.

First, fold the case over the envelope according to the arrow F by pivoting around the fold 51 to arrive in the configuration of Figure 8b. In this configuration, the fixing part 64a of the stand is already located opposite the inner side of the envelope side to which it will be stuck.

To facilitate understanding, in Figure 8b as in the figure 8c, the view is slightly exploded, that is to say that some of the elements which are actually in contact are spaced from each other and that the folds correspondents are symbolized by dotted lines.

To go from the configuration of figure 8b to that of figure 8c, the third wall of the case is folded over its second wall according to arrow G around fold 59, and fold the first and second sides of the envelope over the assembly according to arrow H around the fold 47. The parts intended to be attached to each other can be pre-glued, as indicate the hatching in Figure 8c; when the sheet is folded like in this figure, the simple action of a press can stick the box. We obtain thus a very compact box which uses only a minimum volume to be delivered and which can be set in volume with a simple gesture to arrive at the configuration of figure 5.

Claims (8)

1. Box (40) intended to contain an article, including, formed continuously from one single folded sheet (41):

   a prismatic outer envelope (42) comprising four sides (44, 46, 48, 50),

   a first fixing band (52) connected to the fourth side (50) of the envelope (42) and intended to be fixed to the inner face of the first side (44) of the said envelope (42), and

   a case (54, 74, 94) disposed inside the envelope (42) and intended to wedge the said article, this case comprising three walls (56, 58, 60; 76, 78, 80) respectively disposed at a distance from the corresponding sides (50, 48, 46) of the envelope (42), the first of these walls (56, 76) being connected to the first fixing band (52),

   characterised in that it includes a second fixing band (62) connected to the third side (60, 80) of the case (54, 74, 94) and intended to be fixed to the inner face of the first side (44) of the envelope (42), and in that it includes at least one fixing support (64, 84) for the case (54, 74, 94) cut from the part of the sheet (41) forming the said case (54, 74, 94), this support (64, 84) having a fixing part (64a, 84a) intended to be fixed to the inner face of one side (48, 46) of the envelope (42) situated opposite and a bracing part (64b, 84b) connecting the said fixing part (64a, 84a) to the case (54, 74, 94) and intended to hold the latter at a predetermined distance from the said side (48, 86) of the envelope (42).
2. Box according to claim 1, characterised in that the support (64, 84) is cut from one of the three walls (58, 80) of the case (54, 74, 94) and is connected to the said case in the region of the edge (57, 79) between this wall (58, 80) and the adjacent wall (56, 78), the bracing part (64b, 84b) being disposed as a continuation of the said adjacent wall (56, 78) and the fixing part (64a, 84a) being folded relative to the said bracing part (64b, 84b) in order to be fixed to the inner face of the side (48, 46) of the envelope situated opposite the wall (58, 80) of the case (54, 74, 94) from which the support (64, 84) is cut.
3. Box according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterised in that the support (64) is cut from those walls (58) of the case (54, 94) with the maximum width.
4. Box according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the width of the walls of the case (54, 74, 94) is delimited by folds and at least some of these folds (53, 59, 61) have incisions.
5. Box according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that at least some walls (76, 80) of the case (74) have notches (86) adapted to hold projecting parts of the article in order to prevent displacement thereof in the case (74).
6. Box according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the case (94) includes means for closing at least one of its lower and upper openings, comprising at least one folding tongue (96, 97) integral with one of the walls (58) of the said case.
7. Box according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the case (94) includes at least one locking flap (98) integral with the upper end of one of its walls (58) and having a shape adapted to cooperate with the upper end of the article in order to keep it locked when this flap (98) is brought towards the interior of the case (94).
8. Box according to any one of claims 1 to 7, including, in order to close at least one of its upper and lower openings, a folding outer tongue (66) provided with a tuck-in tab (68) disposed against the inner face of the first side (44) of the envelope (42) in the closed position of the tongue (66), characterised in that the ends of the first (56, 76) and third (60, 80) walls of the case (54, 74, 94) close to the opening in question have a cutout (71a, 71b) defining a housing (72a, 72b) adapted to receive the said tuck-in tab (68) between the said walls (56, 60; 76, 80) and the said inner face of the first side (44) of the envelope.

Images