EP1174352A1 - Box having a hinged lid and a blank therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a blank cut to form, by folding without gluing, a box with hinged lid on the body, comprising on the one hand first and second main panels (11, 12) arranged on either side of a central panel, and on the other hand the third and fourth main panels (13, 14) directly extending the second main panel. According to the invention, secondary panels (22) of the second main panel (12) each have an oblique fold line (31) defining a triangular flap (32) intended to cover a portion (34) of the associated secondary panel (21 ), and the fourth main panel (14) is extended laterally by flaps (24) each having an oblique fold line (41) defining a triangular end flap (42) intended to cover the associated flap (23), then ensuring the holding of the mounted cover. <IMAGE>

Description

The present invention relates to a cut blank can be stored and delivered flat, allowing constitute, by folding without gluing, a body box of box and cover hinged on said body. He will be able to be filing or archiving boxes, or any other similar storage or storage box in a any area.

In the field of filing or archiving, we known for several decades various types of boxes with a hinged cover on the body of box.

Document US-A-2,396,310 thus describes a blank cut to form a box with hinged lid. The holding the box body is ensured by gluing a flap lateral, which complicates the realization of the box. The cover is obtained by cutting flap and a complex fold along several lines of folding. Such a structure consumes a lot of cardboard for the volume of box obtained.

Document FR-A-2 294 920 also describes a box with hinged lid which is held by collage of flaps.

GB-A-1 438 500 also describes a hinged lid box whose body has an outfit secured by gluing a side flap. The holding of cover is provided by folded triangular flaps.

Document US-A-4 252 267 finally describes a box for hinged cover which is held, both for body only for the cover, by the passage of legs folded back at the crossing notches. Such a structure is complex to build and assemble.

We also know some achievements in which the blank cut to form the box, by folding without gluing, conventionally comprises on the one hand first and second main panels arranged on one side and on the other side of a narrower central panel intended for become respectively the front and rear walls of the box body, each of these main panels being laterally extended by secondary panels substantially the same length as the central panel, and on the other hand the third and fourth main panels directly extending the second main panel and intended to become the upper walls and front cover. Various means were then proposed to ensure the holding of the box body mounted. It is conventionally planned to extend the two panels secondary associated with the second main panel in the direction of the fold line of said secondary panel, so as to form an articulated rectangular flap which, after folding, folds down, covering internally at least part of the secondary panels associated with the first main panel. Mechanical strength the body of the box is then acceptable, and we also have proposed to strengthen it by additionally providing for a system latching, whereby the secondary panels associated with the first main panel are inserted in a large associated slot of the second panel main, the curved cutting of the first panels secondary being such that the final position corresponds to a click.

In all cases, the presence of shutters rectangular extending the secondary panels of the second main panel prohibits any extension side of third and fourth main panels forming the hinged cover of the box. The consequence of this is that the hinged covers are always constituted by two planar elements articulated together without defined shape, and of course without mechanical strength. The fourth main panel of the hinged cover does not thus constitutes in practice that a simple lip terminal slipping at least partly behind the free edge of the front wall of the box body, optionally with recessed central tab provided for this purpose.

Another drawback is the relatively large dimensioning of the cut blank for obtain, after folding without gluing, a box parallelepiped in closed position, of dimensions determined.

The object of the present invention is to design a cut blank to form, by folding without collage, a box with box body and hinged lid on said body whose mechanical strength, and in particular that of the hinged lid is excellent, thanks to a cut optimizing the amount of material used.

This problem is solved in accordance with the invention thanks to a blank cut to form, by folding without collage, a box with box body and hinged lid on said body, comprising on the one hand first and second main panels arranged on either side of a narrower central panel and intended to become respectively the front and rear walls of the body of box, each of these main panels being extended laterally by secondary panels of substantially same width as the central panel, and on the other hand third and fourth main panels extending directly the second main panel and intended for become respectively the upper and front walls of the cover, characterized in that the secondary panels of the second main panel each have a line oblique folding defining an end flap triangular intended to cover a portion of the panel associated secondary of the first main panel, in then ensuring the holding of the mounted box body, in that the third and fourth main panels are laterally extended by flaps intended to form the side facets of the cover, and in that the flaps of the fourth main panel each have a row oblique folding defining an end flap triangular intended to cover at least partially the associated shutter of the third main panel, ensuring while holding the mounted cover.

Thus, the hinged cover, once mounted, has a very satisfactory own rigidity preserving the perpendicularity of its two constituent faces (corresponding to the third and fourth panels of the cut blank). In addition, the flaps triangular end panels of the secondary panels second main panel form, after assembly, an edge tilted downward from the rear wall to the front wall of the box body, which facilitates access to the containing box, especially documents or sheets in the case of an archive box or ranking.

Preferably, the fold lines of the panels secondary of the second main panel and the lines of folding the flaps of the fourth main panel are double lines consisting of two parallel lines distant from each other by an interval at least equal to the thickness of said blank. Such double lines allow a plane-on-plane folding enveloping a determined part blank without risk of tearing of the outer face of the blank.

Preferably, the flaps of the fourth panel main have a contour of substantially square shape, with for each a fold line forming a diagonal of the corresponding square, and the flaps of the third panel main have an outline in the shape of a right triangle the hypotenuse of which forms a right angle with the said line of folding. We then obtain lateral facets of the triangular shaped cover with 45 ° angle, angle which is also found for the free edges of side walls of the box body, which gives a very satisfactory aesthetics.

Advantageously also, the end flaps triangular associated with the second and fourth panels main cooperate, in the folded position, with the wall of the corresponding main panel, to form means of locking strengthening the holding of the box body and cover mounted.

We can foresee that this cooperation takes place by forced contact, according to which the rigidity of the panel stuck against a wall perpendicular to its product plane stable locking. It is however interesting to provide that the triangular end flaps have each one tab projecting from their right edge, said legs coming, in the folded position of the flaps, snap into an associated light provided in the wall of the corresponding main panel. We then obtain, thanks to these snaps, mechanical strength at a time stable and reliable.

It is also interesting to predict that the first main panel has a free edge for two V-shaped notches at the fold lines connecting said main panel to the associated secondary panels. These two V-shaped notches not only facilitate the formation of the end portions which are covered by the triangular flaps of the associated secondary panels to the second main panel, but also form a free edge of the front wall of the mounted box body which is slightly raised, so that the front wall of the cover, in closed position, can slide easily behind this free edge for the stability of closed position of the box.

Advantageously also, the outline of the blank cut out generally fits into a rectangle.

Finally, although it is not limiting, it will be advantageous to provide that the constituent material of said blank is the cardboard, and preferably a corrugated cardboard smooth outer walls, in order to constitute a box of filing or archiving. In the case of corrugated cardboard, we can predict that the corrugations of the constituent cardboard of said blank extend in the direction of the length of the rectangle.

• la figure 1 est une vue de dessus d'un flan conforme à l'invention, tel qu'il se présente à plat avant tout pliage;
• les figures 2 et 3 illustrent en perspective le montage de la boíte à partir du flan découpé précité, respectivement juste avant la fin du montage du corps de boíte et du montage du couvercle articulé;
• les figures 4 et 5 illustrent la boíte entièrement montée, respectivement en position d'ouverture et de fermeture de son couvercle articulé.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly in the light of the description which follows and of the appended drawings, relating to a particular embodiment, with reference to the figures in which:

• Figure 1 is a top view of a blank according to the invention, as it is flat before any folding;
• Figures 2 and 3 illustrate in perspective the mounting of the box from the aforementioned cut blank, respectively just before the end of mounting of the box body and mounting of the hinged cover;
• Figures 4 and 5 illustrate the box fully mounted, respectively in the open and closed position of its hinged cover.

We will first describe the different components of the cut blank marked 10 represented flat on the figure 1.

The cut blank 10 comprises first of all different main panels which are interconnected by associated fold lines. We thus distinguish successively, a first main panel 11, a panel central 15 connected to the previous panel by a line of folding 16, a second main panel 12 connected to the previous panel by a fold line 17, a third main panel 13 connected to the previous panel by a fold line 18, and finally a fourth main panel 14 connected to the previous panel by a fold line 19. The central panel 15 is intended to become the bottom of the box body, while the first and second panels main 11; 12 are intended to become respectively the front and rear walls of the box body. The third and fourth main panels 13; 14 are intended to become the upper walls and front cover. The central panel 15 and the third main panel 13 have the same width (according to a direction perpendicular to the fold lines respective) which corresponds to the depth of the box climb.

In accordance with traditional techniques, first and second main panels 11; 12 are laterally extended by secondary panels respectively 21; 22 which have substantially the same width that the central panel 15, said secondary panels being intended to form the side walls of the body of box.

We will see however that these secondary panels have peculiarities that were not found in traditional blanks.

The first main panel 11 is extended laterally by secondary panels 21 connected to said panel by fold lines 25. Note that the width of secondary panels 21, in one direction perpendicular to the fold lines 25, is substantially the same as that of the central panel 15, because this dimension corresponds to the depth of the box body mounted. Note also that the first main panel 11 has a free edge with two V-shaped notches 33 at the level fold lines 25 connecting said main panel associated secondary panels 21. These V-shaped notches 33 delimit in particular two end portions 34 on which he will have returned later.

The second main panel 12 is laterally extended by secondary panels 22 connected to said panel by fold lines 26. These secondary panels 22 have a fold line 27 arranged at the level of the central fold line 17, for be extended by square or rectangular shutters 28 which, after folding, come into contact face to face with the central panel 15. Note that there is no of interruption between the free edge of the flaps 28 and the edge free adjacent side panels 21. This fits as part of a material optimization research used to obtain a box of dimensions predetermined.

In accordance with a first characteristic of the invention, the secondary panels 22 of the second main panel 12 each have an oblique line of folding 31 defining a triangular end flap 32 which is intended to cover the aforementioned portion 34 of the associated secondary panel 21 of the first main panel 11, while ensuring the holding of the box body mounted.

In this case, the two fold lines 31, which are substantially at 45 °, are double lines made up of two parallel lines spaced apart by one interval at least equal to the thickness of the cut blank. The presence of double fold lines eliminates any risk of tearing of the external wall of the secondary panels 22 concerned during the folding for the assembly of the box body.

When the triangular end flaps 32 are folded 180 °, wrapping the portions 34 of secondary panels 21, their free upper edge, which was initially aligned with the fold line 18 comes substantially in contact with the associated fold line 26. This edge-to-face contact can be a means of locking of the fitted box body. However, we have planned here, to have a more stable and reliable hold in the time, that the triangular end flaps 32 each have a tab 35 projecting from their edge upper right (i.e., their edge initially arranged in alignment with the fold line 18), said legs coming, in the folded position of the flaps, snap into an associated light 36 formed in the wall of the second main panel 12, along the lines folding 26.

If we refer to Figure 2, which illustrates a position during assembly of the box body, we distinguishes on one side of the box body the flap triangular 32 which has been folded 180 ° around its double fold line 31 to cover the panel portion associated secondary 21 of the first main panel 11, with a snap of the tab 35 in the light 36 associated. On the other side, we distinguish the part upper side panel 21 including the flap triangular 32 has not yet been folded down, to cover the portion 34 of the associated secondary panel 21. After folding of the latter triangular flap 32, and snap-fastening leg 35 in light 36, the box body is then fully assembled.

In Figure 2, we noted A box in formation and B the box body. Figure 3 shows the body of box B fully assembled, and the associated hinged cover noted C during training.

In accordance with a second characteristic of the invention, the third and fourth main panels 13; 14 are extended laterally by flaps 23; 24 intended to form the lateral facets of the cover. Of more, the flaps 24 of the fourth main panel 14 each have an oblique fold line 41 defining a triangular end flap 42 which is intended to cover at least in part the associated flap 23 of the third main panel 13, while ensuring the holding the mounted cover.

The flaps 24 of the fourth main panel 14 have a contour of substantially square or rectangular shape, each with a fold line 41 forming a corresponding diagonal. Flaps 23 of the third main panel 13 have a contour shape triangular. In this case, although it is not limiting, the flaps 24 have here a shape contour square, and the flaps 23 have a contour in the form of right triangle, the hypotenuse of which forms a right angle with the fold line 41 which is oriented at 45 °, that is to say parallel to the fold lines 31 of the panels secondary 22 mentioned above.

For the mechanical strength of the cover, we used here the same basic principle of triangular flap folded.

Indeed, after folding the fourth panel principal 14 at 90 ° around the fold line 19, and folding flaps 23 and 24 around their fold line associated marked 29; 30, also folding at 90 °, we proceed while folding the triangular end flaps 42, over 180 °, each triangular end flap 42 covering at least in part, here almost completely, the associated triangular flap 23.

As before, the end flaps triangular 42 associated with the fourth main panel 14 cooperate, in the folded position, with the wall of said panel main to form locking means reinforcing holding the mounted cover. Here again, we have planned that these triangular end flaps 42 each have a tab 45 projecting from their free upper edge, said legs coming, in the folded position of the flaps, snap into an associated light 46 formed in the wall of the fourth main panel 14 along the lines folding 30.

As before, the fold lines 41 of the flaps 24 of the fourth main panel 14 are lines doubles consisting of two distant parallel lines between them by an interval at least equal to the thickness of the cut blank.

In Figure 2, the box body B is in progress but the panels and shutters intended for constitute the cover are still in a position to dish.

In Figure 3, the body of box B is fully assembled, and cover C is being training. In this figure, we proceeded on one side to folding the triangular end flap 42 around its double fold line 41 until the tab clicks into place 45 corresponding in light 46 of the fourth panel main 14. On the other side, the flap 24 is still in a flat position, because the triangular flap 42 associated has not been folded yet.

In FIG. 4, the cover C is finished, that is to say that the second triangular end flap 42 has in turn folded over by covering the triangular flap 23 associated, until tab 45 clicks into place corresponding light 46. The box A is thus finished, and it is shown in the open position of its cover in figure 4.

In Figure 5, we illustrated the same box A in closing position of its cover.

We see in this last figure that we have a support contact between the two edges at 45 ° associated with double fold lines 31 for the box body and 41 for the cover. This provides a stable position for the cover in closed position. In this position, the lower free edge of the front wall 14 of the cover C fits behind the free central edge of the wall front of the box body.

We see that the notches in V 33 allow both delimit the upper edge of the front wall of the box body, and also to release the portions 34 which are covered by the triangular flaps 32 after folding said flaps over 180 °.

If we now return to Figure 1, we notes that the outline of the blank 140 fits overall in a rectangle. It is easy to see on this figure that there is very little empty space inside this rectangular outline, which means that we have reached to optimize the amount of material used. In the practical, we found that we used 15 to 20% of less material compared to traditional boxes, this which constitutes a considerable economic advantage.

The material of the cut blank is preferably cardboard, especially corrugated cardboard smooth outer walls, for example to constitute a filing or filing box. In the case of a corrugated board, the corrugations of the board extend from preferably in the direction of the length of the rectangle, so as to give satisfactory rigidity to the different shutters and panels, especially for holding mechanics of the box body and the cover over time. Indeed, for the locking parts by snap-on, repeated dismantling operations risk to weaken the functional parts concerned. If the direction of the corrugations is correctly oriented, snap tabs have their own rigidity significantly superior, and consequently preserve the reliability of the mechanical strength of the assembly.

We thus managed to make a cut blank to obtain a box with a hinged lid has a clean mechanical strength that is both stable and reliable, using a minimum of material.

The invention is not limited to the mode of realization which has just been described, but includes at on the contrary any variant taking over, with means equivalent, the essential characteristics stated upper.

Claims (9)

Blank cut to form, by folding without gluing, a box with box body and hinged cover on said body, comprising on the one hand first and second main panels (11, 12) arranged on either side of a central panel (15) narrower and intended to become respectively the front and rear walls of the box body, each of these main panels (11; 12) being extended laterally by secondary panels (21; 22) substantially the same width as the central panel (15), and on the other hand third and fourth main panels (13, 14) directly extending the second main panel (12) and intended to become respectively the upper and front walls of the cover, characterized in that the panels side panels (22) of the second main panel (12) each have an oblique fold line (31) defining a triangular end flap (32) intended to cover a portion (34) of the pannea u associated secondary (21) of the first main panel (11), while ensuring the holding of the mounted box body, in that the third and fourth main panels (13; 14) are extended laterally by flaps (23; 24) intended to form the lateral facets of the cover, and in that the flaps (24) of the fourth main panel (14) each have an oblique fold line (41) defining a triangular end flap (42) intended to cover at least partly the associated flap (23) of the third main panel (13), while ensuring the holding of the mounted cover. Blank according to claim 1, characterized in that the fold lines (31) of the secondary panels (22) of the second main panel (12) and the fold lines (41) of the flaps (24) of the fourth main panel (14) are double lines made up of two parallel lines distant from each other by an interval at least equal to the thickness of said blank. Blank according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the flaps (24) of the fourth main panel (14) have a contour of substantially square shape, each with a fold line (41) forming a diagonal of the corresponding square , and the flaps (23) of the third main panel (13) have a contour in the shape of a right triangle whose hypotenuse forms a right angle with said fold line (41). Blank according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the triangular end flaps (32; 42) associated with the second and fourth main panels (12; 14) cooperate, in the folded position, with the wall of the main panel corresponding, to form locking means strengthening the holding of the box body and the mounted cover. Blank according to claim 4, characterized in that the triangular end flaps (32; 42) each have a lug (35; 45) projecting from their straight edge, said lugs coming, in the folded position of the flaps, to snap in an associated lumen (36; 46) formed in the wall of the corresponding main panel (12; 14). Blank according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the first main panel (11) has a free edge with two V-shaped notches (33) at the fold lines (25) connecting said main panel to the secondary panels associated (21). Blank according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the outline of said blank is generally inscribed in a rectangle. Blank according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the constituent material of said blank is cardboard, and preferably corrugated cardboard with smooth external walls, with a view to constituting a filing or filing box. Blank according to claims 7 and 8, characterized in that the corrugations of the cardboard constituting said blank extend in the direction of the length of the rectangle.

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