EP0887275B1 - Packaging for a rectangular flat object such as a vehicle bonnet - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a packaging made of semi-rigid, such as corrugated cardboard, for packaging, the transport and storage of a part substantially rectangular and flat, for example a vehicle hood.

Passenger vehicle hoods are noticeably rectangular and relatively flat but they can have dimensions which vary in large proportions from one vehicle to another. Likewise, the shape of their front edge may also vary. It can be straight, but in some models it ends with a protruding nose, more or less prominent, intended to adapt, when the hood is closed, between the front headlights of the vehicle. This nose can be either in the extension of the hood, or curved towards the low. Finally, the rear edge which is adjacent to the windshield is usually straight, but it can sometimes have a shape concave curved ending at its ends in two tips.

In order to be able to transport and store easily covers in the form of spare parts, it is known to pack in cardboard packaging consisting of single box of shape and dimensions adapted to those of cover. But, we understand that we must then have a large range of packaging for all existing models, which leads to complex problems for their storage and their mounting.

In addition, in known packaging, it is customary to place shims to prevent the hood from move in the package and protect it from impact mechanical. These wedges are made up of parts independent, of appropriate size and shape, and made of a flexible material in order to absorb deformations due to impact. They are sometimes carried out at from a cardboard blank which must first be put shaped by a number of folding operations where this results in a complication of the method of mounting packaging, as well as the use of labor specialized and therefore an increase in cost and duration of packaging manufacturing.

A packaging made of a rectangular box in which elements are directly cut in and hinged on one of the large walls of the body is known from document EP-A-0 737 623.

The present invention aims to remedy these disadvantages of offering corrugated cardboard packaging having a variable shape which can be adapted to different hood sizes and which has a system of integrated shims. The invention also relates to packaging whose manufacture causes the least possible loss.

• une caisse parallélépipédique plate réalisée à partir d'un unique flan en carton, ladite caisse étant ouverte à une extrémité et présentant sur une de ses grandes parois des découpes qui permettent de réaliser, uniquement par pliage, au moins un élément de calage avant articulé sur ladite grande paroi par une ligne de pliage et qui vient se placer à l'intérieur de la caisse, par pivotement autour de ladite ligne de pliage, ledit élément de calage servant à l'appui du bord avant du capot,
• et un élément de calage arrière réalisé à partir d'un unique flan de carton, ledit élément de calage arrière ayant la même section que la section intérieure de la caisse et étant monté coulissant à travers ladite extrémité ouverte de la caisse, dans laquelle il peut être plus ou moins enfoncé jusqu'à ce qu'il vienne en butée contre le bord arrière du capot.

The invention relates to a packaging for a substantially rectangular and flat part, such as a vehicle hood comprising a front edge and a rear edge, said packaging comprising:

• a flat rectangular box made from a single cardboard blank, said box being open at one end and having on one of its large walls cutouts which make it possible to produce, only by folding, at least one front wedging element articulated on said large wall by a fold line and which is placed inside the box, by pivoting around said fold line, said wedging element serving to support the front edge of the cover,
• and a rear wedging element produced from a single blank of cardboard, said rear wedging element having the same section as the interior section of the box and being slidably mounted through said open end of the box, in which it can be more or less depressed until it comes into abutment against the rear edge of the hood.

In the case of a hood provided with a nose on its edge front, the body includes two front wedging elements spaced by an interval in which the nose is housed.

In one embodiment of the invention, the box includes a bottom wall, an upper wall parallel to the bottom wall, two parallel side walls and one end side wall and is open to its fourth face, said upper wall having a U-shaped notch from its edge located at the open end of the body, on the central edge of which are articulated two foldable, grooved portions, capable of being placed under the shape of parallelepipedal wedging elements likewise height as the crate and being introduced, by folding around their articulation on the central edge, in the space defined between the back wall and the wall upper, at the rear of the notch, said elements of wedging with two spans for the support of the front edge of the hood and being spaced by an interval in which comes insert the hood nose.

The rear wedging element has two walls parallel sides intended to slide on the walls parallel sides of the body, a stop wall central located between said side walls and on which rests on the rear edge of the hood, and recesses formed on either side of the abutment wall central for the passage of the points located at the ends from the rear edge of the hood.

According to a particular embodiment, the element of rear wedging consists of a second box of the same that the first box and which also has a U-shaped notch on its upper wall, on the central edge of which is articulated a foldable portion capable to be put in the form of a wedging element parallelepiped of the same height as the second box and to be introduced, by folding around the joint on the central edge of the notch, in the space defined between the bottom wall of the second box, and its wall upper, recesses being formed between said element wedging and parallel side walls of the second body to accommodate the tips of the hood.

According to another, more economical embodiment, the rear wedging element is reduced to a cardboard blank rectangular divided lengthwise into at least two bands of equal width by at least one line of longitudinal backflow which extends over a portion of the length of the strip and stops at a certain distance from transverse edges of the blank, said blank also having two longitudinal incisions located on either side of the discharge line, in line with it and which extend to said transverse edges, said blank being first folded in on itself by folding one over the other the two strips, then being folded along two lines transverse folding passing through the ends of the discharge line, two longitudinal slits being openings on the two interior side flaps as well formed, while the two outer side flaps are folded at their ends to form two legs sliding intended to slide on the inside of parallel side walls of the body.

The rear edge of the hood bears on the portion of the wedging element which is between the two transverse fold lines, while the points of said rear edge penetrate through said slots.

la figure 1 est une vue en perspective d'un modèle courant de capot de voiture automobile ;

la figure 2 est une vue en perspective d'un premier mode de réalisation d'emballage de capot formé de deux caisses ;

la figure 3 est une vue en coupe suivant la ligne III-III de la figure 2 ;

la figure 4 montre le flan servant à réaliser la première caisse ;

la figure 5 montre le flan servant à réaliser la seconde caisse ;

la figure 6 est une vue en perspective montrant la première caisse montée et les éléments de calage avant en cours de mise en forme ;

la figure 7 est une vue en perspective de la première caisse complètement montée ;

la figure 8 est une vue en perspective montrant la seconde caisse montée et les éléments de calage arrière en cours de mise en forme ;

la figure 9 est une vue en perspective de la seconde caisse complètement montée ;

la figure 10 est une vue en perspective d'un second mode de réalisation d'emballage de capot formé d'une caisse et d'un élément de calage arrière ;

la figure 11 montre le flan qui sert à réaliser l'élément de calage arrière ; et

la figure 12 est une vue en coupe suivant la ligne XII-XII de la figure 10.

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a current model of a motor vehicle hood;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of hood packaging formed by two boxes;

Figure 3 is a sectional view along line III-III of Figure 2;

Figure 4 shows the blank used to make the first box;

Figure 5 shows the blank used to make the second box;

Figure 6 is a perspective view showing the first box mounted and the front wedging elements being shaped;

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the first box completely assembled;

Figure 8 is a perspective view showing the second box mounted and the rear wedging elements being shaped;

Figure 9 is a perspective view of the second fully assembled box;

Figure 10 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of hood packaging formed of a box and a rear wedging element;

Figure 11 shows the blank used to make the rear wedging element; and

FIG. 12 is a sectional view along line XII-XII of FIG. 10.

The invention will be explained in connection with a cover vehicle, but as already specified, it applies also to any substantially rectangular and flat piece.

We will first refer to Figure 1 which represents a known model of a motor vehicle hood 10. The hood has a generally rectangular shape and includes on its edge before two notches 12, 14 intended to fit around vehicle headlights and a nose 16 which may be in the hood blank or curved down, as in the figure 1. In the embodiment shown, the edges rectilinear notches form an angle α between them very open. The cover also has two edges longitudinal 17, 19 and a rear edge 18 whose shape fits the base of the windshield and has two points 20, 22 projecting rearward.

Figures 2 to 9 show a package 24 according to a first embodiment, for packaging the cover 10. The packaging 24 includes a first box relatively flat parallelepiped 26 and a second parallelepiped body 126 slidably mounted in the first box.

Box 26 is made of corrugated cardboard from a blank 30 shown in Figure 4. The blank includes a bottom wall 32 of surface greater than the projected surface of the cover on a plane, two parallel side walls 34, 36 of height slightly greater than that of the cover, a upper wall 38 parallel to the bottom wall and likewise surface it, and ends at one end with a strip 40 which allows the blank to be closed on itself by bonding this strip on the end of the bottom wall 32.

Box 26 is closed at one end by flaps 42, 44, 46, 48 and 50, respectively articulated on the walls 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, and its other end is opened. It comprises two integrated wedging elements 52, 54 made of the same material as the cardboard blank 30.

The wedging elements are formed by cutting on the upper wall 38 a U-shaped notch 56, three recesses 68, 70, 72 and an incision 74. The notch 56 has two parallel edges extending from the free edge of the wall upper and extending parallel to the side walls 34, 36 and a very open V-shaped central edge 57, with an opening angle equal to the angle α formed by the notches 12, 14 of the cover.

The wedging elements each comprising a flap rectangular 58 which is articulated on the central edge 57 of the notch, along a line of articulation 60. On the edge 61 of this flap which is parallel to the line articulation 60 is articulated a wall substantially rectangular 62 provided on its two parallel edges with two foldable flaps 64, 66.

The phases of the shaping of the first box are illustrated in FIGS. 4, 6 and 7: the blank 30 is rolled up to form a parallelepiped volume and the strip 40 is glued to the bottom wall 32. The box is then closed at one end by folding and gluing the flaps 42, 44, 46, 48 and 50. Next, the wedging elements 52, 54 are shaped by folding the flaps 64, 66 perpendicular to the wall 62, then by pivoting the 'together around the fold line 61 in the direction of the arrow f ₁ to make it fit under the flap 58, as shown in FIG. 6.

It will be noted that the flaps 64, 66 have on their edge which is adjacent to the flap 58 a notch 74 in a V ending in a hook 76 and that said flap 58 is divided into two portions by a median fold line 78 parallel to the lines of folding 60 and 61. During the abovementioned pivoting in the direction of the arrow f ₁ , the flap 58 is pressed in so that its two portions penetrate into the notches 74, as shown in FIG. 7. The hooks 76 are introduced in slots 80 formed on the flap 58 near the fold line 60.

The assemblies shown in FIG. 6 are then pivoted in the direction of the arrow f ₂ to come to retract under the upper wall 38. The wedging elements are then in their final position, which is shown in FIG. wall 62 rests on the bottom wall 32 and the flaps 64, 66 are placed vertically between the bottom wall 32 and the upper wall 38. Said flaps have a height equal to the interior height of the body and therefore support the upper wall. The recessed flap 58 has a dihedral concave surface whose central fold line 78 is parallel to the bottom wall 32.

The two wedging elements 52, 54 thus formed are arranged symmetrically with respect to the median axis of the body and are spaced by a free interval 82. These elements can be glued to the bottom wall 32 in order to stiffen the whole.

The body which has just been described receives the part front of the cover 10. The portions 12, 14 of the front edge of the hood are supported in the concave housings formed by the sunken flaps 58, while the nose 16 is inserted in the interval 82 between the wedging elements.

The side walls 34, 36 have two holes 83 for the passage of the fingers in order to be able to transport the checkout.

The second parallelepipedic box 126 is intended for receive the rear part of the cover. This case which is shown in Figure 9 is identical to the first box 26 except that it has a section slightly less than this so that it can be slidably mounted there, as will be explained below.

Box 126 is made of corrugated cardboard from of a blank 130 shown in FIG. 5. To avoid describe in detail this box, or will subsequently designate elements homologous to those of the first box by the same reference numbers increased by 100.

Box 126 has a single wedging element integrated, made in the cardboard blank 130. To this end, on the upper wall 138 is cut a notch 156 U-shaped whose parallel edges start from the free edge of the upper wall and extend parallel to the walls side 134, 136 of the body and the central edge of which is parallel to flap 148.

The portion of blank inside the notch is articulated to the upper wall 138 along a line of folding 160 located in the center of said central edge of the notch.

On this portion of blank are marked two lines of folding 161, 163 perpendicular to the folding line 160 and passing through the ends of it, and a line of longitudinal fold 165 parallel to fold line 160. Incisions 167, 169 are made on both portions of the fold line 165 which are outside the lines of folding 161, 163. A first central flap is thus defined 159 which is articulated around the fold line 160, two side flaps 171, 173 foldable along the fold lines 161, 163, a second central flap 175 foldable along the line folding 165 and two flaps adjoining the second flap central 175. These adjoining flaps are provided with lines of discharge 177, 179 and studs 181, 183 at their end free.

The shaping of the second box 126 is illustrated by FIGS. 8 and 9: after having formed the box exactly as explained with regard to the first box 26, the side flaps 171, 173 are folded to place them perpendicularly to the first central flap 159, then fold said adjoining flaps around the fold lines 161, 163 and fold them in the direction of arrow f ₃ around the discharge lines 177, 179, so that the side flaps 171, 173 are sandwiched between the double thicknesses of the adjoining flaps. The pins 181, 183 are locked inside the slots 185, 187 drilled on the fold lines 161, 163.

We thus formed a parallelepiped volume which is attached to the top wall 138 along the line of folding 160. We then rotate this volume 90 ° towards inside the box to bring it into position shown in Figure 9. The wall 175 then comes to rest on the bottom wall 132 and the reinforced triple walls thickness previously formed are placed vertically between the bottom wall and the top wall 138.

On the bottom wall 132 is cut an incision 189 U-shaped (Figure 5) defining inside a flap 191 which can be folded along a line 193 connecting the ends of the incision. This flap is positioned so that when is erected perpendicular to the bottom wall, it places exactly in front of said parallelepiped volume, as illustrated in Figure 9. The flap 191 can be pasted on said volume.

The parallelepiped volume and the front flap 191 constitute a rear wedging element for the hood.

The assembly of the cover in the packaging is done as follows: the cover 10 is placed in the first box 26 by bringing its two notches 12, 14 to bear against the re-entrant flaps 58 of the front wedging elements 52, 54 and engaging the nose 16 in the interval 82 between the two wedging elements.

The second box 126 is then assembled at the first box 26 by introducing its open end to across the open end of the first crate then she is pushed in until the front flap 191 comes in press against the rear edge of the hood. Points 20, 22 of hood then enter the intervals 193, 195 located on either side of the front flap. Longitudinal edges 17, 19 of the cover pass under the longitudinal edges of the notches 56, 156.

A hood packaging was thus produced, the length can be adapted to the length of the hood and which has front wedging elements 52, 54 and rear 189 integrated. These wedging elements are suitably arranged so as to prevent the cover from moving in packaging and protect parts from impact fragile of the cover that are the nose 16 and the tips 20, 22.

In addition, the hood is almost entirely visible at through the large, substantially circular opening formed by the notches, which allows the buyer to see it without having to dismantle the packaging. However, the hood does not no risk of going out through this opening since it is retained at the front by the dihedral walls 58, and on the sides by the longitudinal edges of the notches.

It goes without saying that many modifications can be made to the packaging just described for that it can adapt to different hood models existing. Thus, for covers that do not have nose, we can provide a single wedging element on the first box, this element may be in the middle of the central edge 57 of the notch 56.

Similarly, in the case of a cover in which the edges rectilinear notches are aligned, the box 26 will have an edge 57 of rectilinear notch and not in V.

We will now refer to the packaging illustrated by the Figures 10 and 11. This package includes a box 26 identical to that of the previous embodiment, but at instead of a second box, here we use an element of sliding setting 200 of very simplified design.

The sliding element 200 is produced from a blank in cardboard 202 of rectangular shape. On the median axis longitudinal of the blank is marked with a delivery line 204 which extends over about a third of the length of the blank and in the middle of the median axis. On the remaining portions of the median axis located on either side of the line of repression are made two incisions 206, 208 going to the transverse edges of the blank.

The two parts of the blank located on either side of the double delivery line are themselves divided into two equal parts 210, 212 and 214, 216 respectively, by longitudinal fold lines 218, 220. At the ends blank portions 210, 212 are pierced with four slots longitudinal 222 of equal length.

The blank thus creased is folded as shown in the Figures 10 and 12, so as to form a band of four overlapping cardboard thicknesses, slots 222 are overlapping two by two. We then fold the four strip thicknesses in two fold lines transverse 224, 226 which pass through the ends of the discharge line 204. In addition, the ends are bent of the two rear flaps of this strip in order to form two sliding tabs 228, 230.

There is thus obtained a wedging element provided with a central portion 231 to which two flaps are attached front side 232, 234 drilled with slots 222 and two rear flaps 236, 238 provided with sliding tabs. To prevent the wedging element from unfolding, you can keep folded by any suitable means, for example using one or more elastic bracelets surrounding the central part 231, or by means of glue dots deposited between the contacting surfaces of parts 210, 216 on Figure 12.

The wedging element is ready to be inserted at inside the body 26. After having installed the cover in the box 26, as described in connection with the previous embodiment, we introduce the four side flaps 232, 234, 236, 238 in the body as shown in Figure 10. The timing element is pushed in until the rear edge of the hood comes to rest against the central portion 231 of the element and that the hood tips penetrate the slots 222. The tips 20, 22 of the cover are protected by the flaps 236 and 238. The tabs 228, 230 can be glued to the walls 34, 36.

The wedging element 200 is prevented from leaving the box 26 either by sticking it on it or by means of straps.

The rear wedging element 200 may include only two thicknesses of cardboard, because strips 210 and 216 can be eliminated.

Claims (12)

1. Packaging for a flat, rectangular component, such as a vehicle bonnet (10) comprising a front edge (12, 14) and a rear edge (18),
      said packaging comprising a flat parallelepipedic box (26) formed from a single cardboard blank (30), said box having on one of its large walls (38) cut-outs which allow the formation, solely by folding, of at least one front wedging element (52, 54) hinged to said large wall by a fold line (60) and which positions itself inside the box, by pivoting about said fold line, said wedging element serving to support the front edge of the bonnet,
      said packaging being characterised in that said box is open at one and in that it further comprises a rear wedging element (126; 200) formed from a single cardboard blank (130; 202), said rear wedging element having the same section as the box (26) and being mounted so as to be able to slide through said open end of the box, into which it may be pushed to a greater or lesser extent until it abuts against the rear edge (18) of the bonnet.
2. Packaging according to claim 1, for a bonnet provided with a nose (16) at its front edge, characterised in that the box comprises two front wedging elements (52, 54) spaced by a gap (82) which accommodates the nose (16).
3. Packaging according to claim 2, characterised in that the box (26) comprises a bottom wall (32), an upper wall (38) parallel with the bottom wall, two parallel lateral walls (34, 36) and an end lateral wall (48) and is open at its fourth lateral face, said upper wall having a U-shaped notch (56) starting from its edge situated at the open end of the box, to the central edge (57) of which are hinged two foldable grooved portions (52, 54) capable of being formed into parallelepipedic wedging elements of the same height as the box and being introduced, by folding about their hinge points (60) on the central edge, into the space defined between the bottom wall and the upper wall, behind the notch, said wedging elements having two bearing surfaces (58) for supporting the front edge (12, 14) of the bonnet and being spaced by a gap (82) in which the nose (16) of the bonnet is inserted.
4. Packaging according to claim 3, characterised in that each of the parallelepipedic wedging elements (52, 54) comprises a base wall (62) which rests on and may be adhered to the bottom wall (32) of the box, two parallel lateral wall (64, 66) hinged to said base wall and being positioned vertically between the bottom wall (32) and the upper wall (38) of the box in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the box and a third transverse lateral wall (58) facing the inside of the box.
5. Packaging according to claim 4, characterised in that the parallel lateral walls (64, 66) of the wedging elements have a recess (74) on their vertical edge adjacent the third lateral wall (58), said third lateral wall being capable of pushed inside the recesses (74) in such a way as to form a concave dihedral surface intended to receive the front edge of the bonnet.
6. Packaging according to claim 5, characterised in that said parallel lateral walls (64, 66) of the wedging elements have at the end of their recessed edge a hook (76) designed to enter into a slot (80) formed in the third lateral wall (58) in order to lock the wedging elements (52, 54) in the closed position.
7. Packaging according to claim 1, for a bonnet provided at the ends of its rear edge (18) with two points (20, 22), characterised in that the rear wedging element comprises two parallel lateral walls (134, 136; 228, 230) designed to slide over the parallel lateral walls (34, 36) of the box (26), a central wall (191; 210 to 216) situated between said lateral walls and against which rests the rear edge (18) of the bonnet, and indentations (193, 195; 222) formed on either side of said central wall for passage of the points (20, 22) situated at the ends of the rear edge of the bonnet.
8. Packaging according to claim 7, characterised in that the rear wedging element consists of a second box (126) of the same shape as the first box (26) and which also exhibits a U-shaped notch (156) in its upper wall (138), to the central edge (160) of which is hinged a foldable portion capable of being formed into a parallelepipedic wedging element of the same height as the second box and being introduced, by folding about the hinge point (160) on the central edge of the notch, into the space defined between the bottom wall (132) of the second box and its upper wall (131), recesses (193, 195) being formed between said wedging element and the parallel lateral walls (134, 136) of the second box for accommodating the points (20, 22) of the bonnet.
9. Packaging according to claim 7, characterised in . that the rear wedging element consists merely of a rectangular cardboard blank (202) divided in the lengthwise direction into at least two strips (210, 212, 214, 216) of equal width by at least one longitudinal fold-back line (204) which extends over a portion of the length of the strip and stops at a certain distance from the transverse edges of the blank, said blank also comprising two longitudinal incisions (206, 208) situated either side of the fold-back line as extensions thereof and which extend as far as said transverse edges, said blank firstly being folded back on itself by turning the two strips back one against the other, then being folded along two transverse fold lines (224, 226) passing through the ends of the fold-back line (204), two longitudinal slots (222) being formed in the two inner lateral flaps (232, 234) thus formed, while the two outer lateral flaps (236, 238) are folded at their ends in order to form two sliding tabs (238, 230) designed to slide over and to be stuck to the inner face of the parallel lateral walls (34, 36) of the box (26).
10. Packaging according to claim 9, characterised in that the two cardboard strips situated either side of the fold-back line are themselves folded so as each to form a double thickness of cardboard, in such a way that the rear wedging element (200) comprises a quadruple thickness of cardboard.
11. Packaging according to claim 8, characterised in that a front flap (191) cut out of the bottom wall (132) of the second box (126) stands vertically on said bottom wall and is positioned against said parallelepipedic wedging element, and may be stuck thereto.
12. Packaging according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the box (26) and the rear wedging element (126; 200) are connected firmly together by gluing or by means of straps.

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