EP1067054B1 - Box with a reinforced closure - Google Patents

Abstract

The carton (1) has an opening (15) and a closure (20) with two side flaps (21,22) connected by folding to the sidewalls (5,6). Each side flap has a cut out (29) on its front edge (27) to facilitate the insertion of the tongue (40) on a rear flap (23) between the front panel (3) of the carton and the side flaps. Each cut out has a stop foot (35) to receive an abutment surface (50,60) on the tongue.

Description

The present invention relates to a box according to the preamble of claim 1, more particularly one of the type comprising a body of square or rectangular section comprising a front panel and a rear panel connected by two side panels, the front and rear panels and the side panels being made by folding a sheet material, the body of the box having at least one opening and an associated closure device.

We know by the patent European EP-B1-0 318 750 a box in which the closure device comprises on the one hand two lateral flaps made by folding in the extension each of a side panel, each lateral flap having a front edge located on the front longitudinal panel side, and on the other hand a flap comprising a cover portion intended to be folded over the side flaps and made by folding in the extension of the rear panel. This flap further comprises a tongue made by folding in the extension of the cover portion. The latter thus has one end connected to the rear panel and one end connected to the tongue. When closing, the tongue is intended to be inserted between the front panel and the front edge of the side flaps.

To ensure a reinforced closure, a slot is made at the distal end of the lid portion and the side flaps are arranged to be superimposed prior to the introduction of the flap and have teeth for engaging in the slot above when the closure device is in its closed configuration.

Such a reinforced closure device is not entirely aesthetically satisfactory because the slot made at the distal end of the lid portion remains apparent once the box is closed. Thus this device is not suitable for closing the upper opening of the box, because the slot would be easily visible by the consumer during the presentation on the shelf.

In addition, this slot is likely to create tear primers.

There is therefore a need for a reinforced closure device providing the box a satisfactory external appearance.

Such a reinforced closure device must make it more difficult to open the box and prevent for example a consumer can easily open the box, test its contents, then close it.

We know by the utility model DE 93 18 993 a box having side flaps having cutouts defining tabs engaging in a slot made on the front edge of the lid. The cover has a front tongue without a surface forming stop adapted to project under the side flaps.

The patent GB 289,127 discloses a box having side flaps having cutouts. The box further comprises a cover having a tab devoid of cutout in the middle of its side edge.

We also know by the utility model DE-U-29620217 a box having a body comprising a front panel and a rear panel connected by two side panels, the side panels and the front and rear panels being made by folding a sheet material, the body of the box having at least one opening and an associated closure device, this closure device comprising two lateral flaps each made by folding in the extension of a side panel, each side flap having a front edge located on the front panel side, the closure device also comprising a flap formed in the extension of the rear panel, this flap comprising a cover portion to be folded over the side flaps and a tongue intended to be inserted between the front panel and the front edge of the side flaps when the closure device is in its closed configuration, the tongue having an inner face facing the rear panel when the e closure device is in its closed configuration, the tongue having, on the side of its inner face, at least a specific stop surface to protrude under the side flaps when the closure device is in its closed configuration.

There is a need to improve a box of this type, in particular to facilitate its mounting.

The subject of the invention is a box as defined in claim 1.

Thanks to the cuts made on the side flaps, they can deform more easily, if necessary, which makes it easier to install the tongue.

According to the invention, each cutout defines in the region of the side flap adjacent to its distal edge and at its front edge a first tab under which the abutment surface is adapted to bear.

Each cutout also advantageously defines in the region of the side flap adjacent to its proximal edge and at its front edge a second tab under which the abutment surface is adapted to bear.

According to the invention, the tongue comprises in the middle of its distal edge a cutout defining on either side of it advances to engage in the gaps formed by the cutouts of the side flaps with the front panel.

Thus the tongue can be partially engaged between the side flaps and the front panel before meeting them, which facilitates its implementation.

Advantageously, the side flaps are independent of the flap, which facilitates the mounting of the box.

Advantageously, the lateral flaps are arranged to fall back into the opening of the body of the box without being superimposed.

Thus, the abutment surface of the tongue can bear substantially uniformly under the two lateral flaps, whereas in the case of superposition of the lateral flaps the abutment surface would be more in abutment on one of the lateral flaps, which is not desirable.

In addition, it is relatively unsightly to overlap the side flaps because it can break the harmony of the packaging.

Preferably, the distal edges of the side flaps are substantially contiguous when the closure device is in its closed configuration.

Preferably, the abutment surface of the tongue extends over substantially the entire width thereof.

More preferably, the abutment surface of the tab is located near the distal end of the lid portion.

The abutment surface thus bears under the side flaps at the end of the insertion of the tongue between the front panel and the front edge of the side flaps.

In a particular embodiment, the abutment surface of the tongue is constituted by an extra thickness of the flap.

The flap may have in this particular embodiment, at the tongue, a thickness twice that at the lid portion.

In another particular embodiment, the abutment surface is constituted by a folded portion on itself of the tongue.

Advantageously, the body of the box has a second opening, this second opening being provided with a closure device associated with the same or not to the first.

The box is made by cutting, folding and gluing a sheet of cardboard, possibly plasticized, preferably having less than 2 mm thick.

• la figure 1 est une vue schématique en perspective d'une boîte conforme à l'invention,
• la figure 2 représente la boîte avant pliage du matériau en feuille qui la constitue,
• la figure 3 est une coupe du rabat dans un plan parallèle aux panneaux latéraux, faisant apparaître une surépaisseur au niveau de la languette,
• la figure 4 est une vue analogue à la figure 3, représentant une variante de réalisation,
• la figure 5 représente le positionnement des volets latéraux avant la mise en place du rabat,
• la figure 6 est une section de la partie supérieure avant de la boîte dans un plan de coupe parallèle aux panneaux latéraux illustrant le positionnement relatif de la languette et des volets latéraux lorsque la boîte est fermée, et
• la figure 7 est une vue analogue à la figure 6 lorsque la surface formant butée est constituée par une partie repliée sur elle-même de la languette.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent on reading the following detailed description of examples of non-limiting implementation of the invention, and on examining the appended drawing in which:

• FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a box according to the invention,
• FIG. 2 represents the box before folding of the sheet material which constitutes it,
• Figure 3 is a section of the flap in a plane parallel to the side panels, showing an extra thickness at the tongue,
• FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3, showing an alternative embodiment,
• FIG. 5 represents the positioning of the lateral flaps before the flap is put in place,
• Figure 6 is a section of the upper front of the box in a sectional plane parallel to the side panels illustrating the relative positioning of the tongue and side flaps when the box is closed, and
• Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 6 when the abutment surface is constituted by a folded portion on itself of the tongue.

The box 1 shown in Figures 1 and 3 comprises a body 2 of vertically elongate shape, of substantially square cross section, comprising a front longitudinal panel 3 and a rear longitudinal panel 4 connected by two side panels 5 and 6.

The body 2 is made by folding and cutting, as illustrated in Figure 2, a sheet material, for example cardboard, possibly plasticized and coated with an external decoration.

An assembly strip 7 is made on the side of the front panel 3.

This joining strip 7 is bonded to the side panel 5 to form the body 2, after folding the sheet material around parallel fold lines 10, 11 and 12 respectively separating the rear panel 4 of the left side panel 5, the side panel right 6 of the rear panel 4 and the front panel 3 of the side panel 6.

The connecting strip 7 is connected to the front panel 3 by a fold line 13 parallel to the folding lines 10, 11 and 12 above.

In the example shown, the body 2 of the box has an upper opening 15 and a lower opening, not shown in Figure 1, a closure device 20 being associated with the upper opening 15 and a closure device 30 being associated at the bottom opening.

The closing device 20 comprises two lateral flaps 21 and 22 made respectively in the upper extension of the side panels 5 and 6 and a flap 23 made in the upper extension of the rear panel 4, between the lateral flaps 21 and 22.

The closure device 30 similarly comprises two lateral flaps 31 and 32 respectively formed in the lower extension of the side panels 5 and 6 and a flap 33 formed in the lower extension of the rear panel 4.

Each lateral flap 21 or 22 has a proximal end 25 through which it is connected to the associated lateral panel, this proximal end coinciding with a perpendicular fold line in FIG. 2 at fold lines 10 to 13.

Each lateral flap 21 or 22 also has a distal edge 26 opposite the proximal end 25, a leading edge 27 connecting the proximal end 25 and the distal edge 26 of the front panel side 3 when the body 2 of the box is assembled, and a rear edge 28 opposite the front edge 27.

Each leading edge 27 has in its central region a cut-out 29 defining in the region of each lateral flap adjacent to the front edge 27 and at the distal end 26 a first tab 35 and in the region adjacent to the proximal end 25 and at the edge. before 27 a second leg 36.

The flap 23 has a lid portion 37 having a proximal end 38 through which it is connected to the back panel 4 and a distal end 39 by which it is connected to a tab 40.

The proximal end 38 and distal end 39 coincide with fold lines parallel to each other and perpendicular in FIG. 2 to fold lines 10 to 13.

The flap 33 of the closing device 30 also has a lid portion 65 provided on the opposite side to the rear panel 4 of a tongue 46.

To bring the closing device 20 into its closed configuration, the lateral flaps 21 and 22 are placed in the opening 15, as illustrated in FIG. 5, and then the flap 23 is folded down on the lateral flaps 21 and 22.

The tongue 40 is inserted when the flap 23 is lowered between the front edge 27 of the side flaps 21 and 22 and the front panel 3.

The tongue 40 then has inside the box an inner face 45 facing the rear panel 4, and comprises, on the side of this inner face 45, a stop surface 50, able to bear under the lateral flaps 21 and 22 to oppose the opening of the flap 23.

More particularly, in the example described, the abutment surface 50 is formed by a recess formed by an extra thickness of the flap 23 at the tongue 40, which can be made by bonding a second sheet on a first sheet used to achieve the body of the box.

Alternatively, the extra thickness may be formed by folding and gluing on itself a portion of the sheet used to make the body of the box.

When the opening 15 is closed, the abutment surface 50 bears under the first tabs 35 and under the second tabs 36 of the lateral flaps, as shown in FIG.

The abutment surface 50 thus opposes the opening of the box and it is necessary to release the flap 23 to force on it to deform the first tabs 35 and the second tabs 36 to cross the tongue 40 the front edge 23 of the side flaps 21 and 22.

The distal edge 55 of the tongue 40 advantageously comprises, as shown in the figures, a cutout 56 in its central region, defining on either side thereof two projections 57 arranged to engage in the intervals 58 formed by the cutouts 29 of the side flaps 21 and 22 with the front panel 3, which facilitates the introduction of the tongue 40.

The rear edge 28 of the side flaps 21 and 22 is advantageously cut slightly recessed, as shown in the figures.

When the closing device 30 is in its closed configuration, the lateral flaps 31 and 32 have been folded into the lower opening and the flap 33 folded over them, the tongue 46 being engaged between the lateral flaps 31 and 32 and the front panel 3.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiment which has just been described.

In particular, the abutment surface may be made other than by joining two layers of sheet material.

By way of example, FIG. 4 shows a tab 40 'having, on the side of its inner face, a stop surface 60 formed by folding a portion 61 of the tongue 40' on itself, the surface forming stop 60 being thus constituted by the free edge of the folded end 61.

The abutment surface 60 abuts, as illustrated in FIG. 7, under the lateral flaps 21 and 22 when the box is closed.

Claims (12)

1. A box (1) comprising a body (2) having a front panel (3) and a rear panel (4) interconnected by two side panels (5, 6), the side panels and the front and rear panels being made by folding a sheet material, the body of the box having at least a first opening (15) with an associated closure device (20), said closure device (20) comprising two side flaps (21, 22) each extending a respective lateral panel (5, 6) via a respective fold, each side flap (21, 22) being connected by a proximal end to the associated side panel and having a distal edge on the opposite side of the proximal end, each side flap having a front edge (27) situated adjacent to the front panel (2), the closure device (20) also comprising a closure flap (23) formed to extend the rear panel (4), said closure flap (23) having a cover-forming portion (37) for folding down onto the side flaps (21, 22) and a tongue (40; 40') for inserting between the front panel (3) and the front edges (27) of the side flaps (21, 22) when the closure device is in its closed configuration, the tongue having a distal edge relating to the cover (37), the tongue (40; 40') having an inside face (45) situated facing the rear panel (4) when the closure device is in its closed configuration, the tongue (40; 40') including at least one abutment-forming surface (50; 50) beside its inside face and suitable for projecting beneath the side flaps (21, 22) when the closure device is in its closed configuration, the box being characterized by the fact that each side flap (21, 22) has a cutout (29) in its front edge (27) facilitating insertion of the tongue (40) between the front panel (3) and the side flaps (21, 22), each cutout (29) defining a first tab (35) in that region of each side flap which is adjacent to its distal edge (26) and to its front edge (27), beneath which tab the abutment-forming surface (50; 60) is suitable for coming into abutment, and the tongue (40, 40') including a cutout (56) in the middle of its distal edge (55) to define on either side thereof outwardly-extending portions (57) suitable for engaging in the gaps formed between the cutouts (29) in the side flaps and the front panel (3).
2. A box according to the preceding claim, characterized by the fact that each cutout (29) defines a second tab (36) in that region of each side flap which is adjacent to its proximal end (25) and to its front edge (27), beneath which tab the abutment-forming surface (50; 60) is suitable for coming into abutment.
3. A box according to any preceding claim, characterized by the fact that the side flaps are independent of the closure flap.
4. A box according to any preceding claim, characterized by the fact that the side flaps (21, 22) are arranged to fold down into the opening (15) of the body of the box without overlapping each other.
5. A box according to claim 4, in which each side flap (21, 22) is connected via a proximal end (25) to the associated side panel, and has a distal edge (26), and characterized by the fact that the distal edges (26) of the side flaps (21, 22) come substantially into contact when the closure device is in its closed configuration.
6. A box according to any preceding claim, characterized by the fact that the abutment-forming surface (50; 60) extends over the entire width of the tongue (40; 40').
7. A box according to any preceding claim, in which the cover-forming portion (37) is connected via a proximal end (38) to the rear panel (4) and via a distal end (39) to the tongue (40; 40'), and characterized by the fact that the abutment-forming surface (50; 60) is situated close to the distal end (39) of the cover-forming portion (37).
8. A box according to any preceding claim, characterized by the fact that the abutment-forming surface (50) is constituted by an extra thickness of the closure flap (23).
9. A box according to the preceding claim, characterized by the fact that the thickness of the closure flap (23) in its tongue portion (40) is twice its thickness in its cover-forming portion (37).
10. A box according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized by the fact that the abutment-forming surface (60) is constituted by a portion (61) of the tongue (40') that is folded down onto itself.
11. A box according to any preceding claim, characterized by the fact that the body (2) of the box has a second opening and an associated closure device (30) identical to the first.
12. A box according to any preceding claim, characterized by the fact that it is made by cutting, folding, and sticking a card sheet, preferably a plasticized card sheet, that is at least 2 mm thick.

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