EP2956371A1

EP2956371A1 - Wedge for immobilizing objects in a box having a square or rectangular cross-section

Info

Publication number: EP2956371A1
Application number: EP14709724.0A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Christian Esnault; Claude Durand
Original assignee: B+ Equipment (SAS)
Current assignee: B+ Equipment (SAS)
Priority date: 2013-02-12
Filing date: 2014-02-06
Publication date: 2015-12-23
Anticipated expiration: 2034-02-06
Also published as: AU2014217712B2; JP2016509980A; FR3001955B1; AU2014217712A1; US20150353257A1; ES2609254T3; US10005606B2; FR3001955A1; BR112015019267A2; CN105073588A; CA2898983C; MX366747B; US20170158405A1; WO2014125193A1; CN105073588B; CA2898983A1; MX2015010200A; JP6275167B2; US9555945B2; EP2956371B1

Abstract

The invention relates to a wedge (2) used to wedge objects in a box (1), comprising a bottom (1e) and at least four side surfaces, said wedge (2) consisting of a sheet made of a rigid, resistant and foldable material, comprising a central portion (2k) having a polygonal shape and size substantially equivalent to those of the bottom (le) of said box, said sheet comprising, on at least two of the sides thereof, at least one or multiple foldable flaps (2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e, 2h, 2i and 2j), attached to said central portion (2k) via folding lines or hinges (3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e, 3f, 3g, 3h, 3i, 3j), characterized in that the central portion (2k) of the wedging sheet (2) is provided with multiple grooves (6a, 6b, 6c and 6d) consisting of segments of a curve or of a straight line, along which the material is crushed and the thickness thereof is reduced, said grooves (6a, 6b, 6c, 6d) constituting folding lines inside said central portion (2k), which facilitate the deformation of said wedge (2), said grooves leading to the periphery or the proximity of the periphery of said central portion (2k) of the wedging sheet (2) and they are not parallel to one another or to the sides of said central portion (2k).

Description

Hold to hold objects in a square or rectangular box

The present invention relates to a wedging element for immobilizing objects in a cardboard box, corrugated cardboard or similar sheet material, whose section is square or rectangular, especially for the purpose of shipping and transporting said objects, such boxes having a piat bottom of polygonal shape (generally rectangular or square) and four sides or side walls.

The technical field of the invention is that of machines, manufacture, packaging or closure of packaging and that of the manufacture and implementation of cushioning materials for such packaging.

The present invention more particularly relates to a wedging element intended to be set up inside boxes used for the preparation and shipping of single or multi-item orders and more generally boxes whose content occupies a volume. variable from one box to another and, most of the time, substantially less than the total volume of the box, in which case said cushioning material serves to immobilize the articles within the useful volume of the box.

It is known that boxes of this type are formed by machines from one or more flanks of foldable rigid sheet material and whose upper part comprises different shutters and closure flaps assembled by gluing or by adhesive tape or a styling lid. said upper part. These boxes have the characteristic of offering a constant volume after manufacture and closure.

Several means are used by the users or integrated in the forming machines or closing the boxes, to wedge objects whose number and unit volume vary from one box to another.

There are known, for example, wedging means constituted by heat-shrinkable plastic films, one or more sheets of which are secured to the bottom or the side walls of the box during its forming. After filling the box, these films are folded on the stack of objects and then retracted by passing through a heating tunnel.

Such a method has several disadvantages. Indeed : this heat-shrinkable plastic film must necessarily be separated from the cardboard packaging before collection and possible recycling of the corresponding waste; this collection is therefore a complex and very expensive operation;

this cushioning material is itself expensive;

- its implementation is difficult and requires either complex automated machines or a large number of manpower hours; the cost of these operations is therefore high.

Also known is the use of polystyrene particles or other lightweight material, which are spread inside the box after introduction of objects, to fill the unused volume.

Another method of wedging is to use inflatable plastic bags that are arranged inside the boxes to fill this unused volume.

It is also known to use chips, particles, agglomerated balls, paper, cardboard or wood which are, in various forms, arranged inside the boxes to fill the volume not occupied by the objects.

Such manufacturing processes also have several disadvantages.

Indeed :

the dosage of the distribution of these setting materials, so as to occupy exactly the unused volume, is an operation that is difficult to automate and which requires either complex automated machines or a large number of hours of labor; the cost of these operations is therefore high;

- The collection of these materials after opening the package, requires to gather a multitude of scattered elements and is therefore an operation difficult to achieve for the end user.

Also known are wedging elements which are in the form of a sheet of cardboard, corrugated cardboard or equivalent sheet material, having a central portion which is brought into contact with the upper surface of the stack of objects arranged in the box, and foldable shutters, on at least two sides of the central portion of the sheet, which are folded and fixed, for example by gluing, against the inner face of the side walls of said box.

Such locking elements are, for example, described in document EP-1 197 436. The documents FR-2 828 169, DE-2 02 04 975, EP-1 452 453, EP-0 251 945, US-6 216 871, FR-1 575 635, FR-919 469, US-3 108 731, US-2 883 046 and FR-2 770 447 illustrate other embodiments of setting elements of this type or the technological background.

The implementation of the wedging element described in document EP-1 197 436 has many advantages: this wedging element does not have the purpose of occupying the whole of the unused volume inside the box ; the quantity of material used is always the same and remains moderate, even when the previously packaged objects occupy only a very small part of the volume of the box; this sheet may be made of a material similar to that used to manufacture the box itself, which greatly simplifies the recycling operations of the waste from the elements constituting such a package; the removal and fixing of this sheet inside the box are operations whose mechanization can be automated.

But the implementation of such a wedging element also has various disadvantages.

Indeed: the flat central portion of the cushioning sheet must be sufficiently strong and rigid to withstand the constraints of transporting the box and stably maintain the products housed therein; under these conditions, it is therefore often necessary to exert great efforts to deform it, so that the greater part of its surface is in contact with the upper surface of the stack of objects; these efforts are inevitably transmitted to some of these objects and can damage them if some of them are fragile; when the cover of the box is removed, this blocking sheet constitutes an obstacle which prevents direct access to the packaged objects; he is for that it is necessary to tear off this leaf, but this operation is made difficult by the absence of a gripping zone; to make this operation easier, it is known that manufacturers usually deposit a plastic tape, called tear tape, on the underside of the can covers, to facilitate the opening of the lid by tearing the lid along the line materialized by this ribbon; the problem is that this tear strip can be easily deposited by manufacturers on the face of the cover on which are made creases (also called grooves) which mark the location of the folds of the shutters; on a lid, this face corresponds to the lower face; in the case of a wedging sheet as described, the face on which the creases are made corresponds to the upper face of the wedge; it is therefore not possible to easily drop a tear strip on the underside of the hold; the material used for making a sheet chock sheet is most often corrugated cardboard; this material, constituted in its so-called "simple fluting" version of 3 sheets of paper superimposed (two flat sheets trapping a corrugated sheet) poses a particular problem related to its anisotropic nature: indeed, the folding of the various flaps along the creases which are arranged perpendicular to the grooves of the material does not pose any particular problem, while the folding of the flaps along the grooves arranged parallel to the grooves of the material tends to deviate from the theoretical fold line materialized by the creasing in favor of a line most often polygonal folding, corresponding to the least effort required to fold the flap given the position of the undulations of the groove in the fold zone; it results from this deviation incorrect wedge geometry with dimensions between folded flaps which can vary in significant proportions (of the order of the thickness of the wedging sheet, that is to say several millimeters); the fold zone that connects the flaps to the central part of the sheet is an area of weakness; if special precautions are not taken during the manufacture of this setting sheet, there is a significant risk of tearing the material along this fold.

The problem thus posed is to provide a wedging means in the form of a sheet of cardboard, corrugated cardboard or equivalent sheet material, having a central portion which is brought into contact with the upper surface of the stack of objects disposed in box and foldable shutters, on at least two sides of the sheet, which are intended to be folded and fixed, for example by gluing, against the internal face of the side walls of said box, this sheet: having to have a central portion sufficiently strong and rigid to withstand the constraints of transporting the box and properly maintain your products under these conditions but also be sufficiently deformable so that most of its surface can be brought into contact with the upper surface of the stack of objects without exerting significant effort on these objects; to allow a precise folding of the flaps along the theoretical fold line at their articulation with the central portion of the sheet, without unduly weakening said joint.

The device described in FR-2,828,169 does not effectively solve the problem described above. This device is constituted by a plate made of a semi-rigid material, such as cardboard or corrugated cardboard, comprising a polygonal central part of which at least two parallel edges are articulated, by fold lines, strips or shutters, whose faces disposed opposite the side walls of the box or box containing the objects to be shipped are provided with an adhesive to make them integral with said walls. It is indicated incidentally that the central portion has fold lines parallel to two of its parallel edges which allow to deform said plate to apply it to parts of different heights of hybrid batches of articles to maintain in position in the boxes. According to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3 of document FR-2 828 169, the polygonal central portion of the wedging plate comprises only two folding lines or grooves parallel to its short sides. Said central part also has two attenuation lines that are close parallel to its long sides, but it is not a question of folding lines, but of pre-cutting lines associated with a tear strip provided with a tongue or "head of viper" traction.

Such an arrangement of the wedging sheet does not solve the problem of effective wedging of heterogeneous objects.

Indeed,

- the cushioning sheet is made of a material that is too rigid and, in this case: - it can not marry more closely the upper surface unequal height of the stack of objects;

- It can exert significant pressure on said upper surface, so that some fragile objects can be crushed and deteriorated by this pressure;

or the wedging sheet is made of a material that is too soft and it may open if the precut lines give way under pressure, causing the tearing of said blocking sheet during its insertion into the box.

The solution to the problem is to make a wedge for wedging objects, particularly heterogeneous objects, in a box having a bottom and at least four faces or side walls attached to said bottom by fold lines or joints, this wedge being constituted by a sheet of cardboard, corrugated cardboard or other equivalent rigid and foldable material, comprising a central portion of polygonal shape, for example square or rectangular or approximately square or rectangular, of dimensions substantially equivalent to those of the bottom of said box, said portion central being attached, on at least two of its parallel sides, to at least one and preferably to several foldable flaps, by means of fold lines or joints, said wedge being particularly remarkable in that its central portion comprises a plurality of creases ( also called grooves and consist of curve segments or right along which the material is crushed and its reduced thickness) whose two ends terminate at the periphery of said central portion and, preferably, at the ends of the joints between the different flaps and said central portion or outside of said joints, these creases are not parallel to each other, neither with the long sides of the central part of the hold, nor with the short sides of said central part.

According to an advantageous arrangement, the ends of the creases terminate on two adjacent sides of the central portion of the wedging sheet.

Advantageously, when the material used is corrugated cardboard or any other material incorporating a corrugated sheet, the joints which are parallel to the groove, between the different parts and the central part, are not contiguous but are preceded and replaced by segments of straight or curve belonging to the periphery of the central portion of said wedge and substantially tangent with said joints. Advantageously, when the material used is corrugated cardboard or any other material incorporating a corrugated sheet, the joints which are not parallel to the groove (or, if the material is homogeneous, all the joints), between the different parts and the part central, are not contiguous but are preceded and followed by segments of line or curve whose ends are substantially tangent with the periphery of said flaps at the points of intersection with said joints.

From these provisions, it follows that the wedge can be made of a strong and strong rigid material but that it can still be deformed, without exerting very great effort, by folding the material around the creases that have been made on the central part of said wedge.

In an advantageous embodiment, said central portion also comprises a pre-cut tear initiation (consisting of a succession of curve or straight segments along which the material is cut over all or part of its thickness) which delimits a closed outline of small area.

Advantageously, said central portion also comprises other pre-cuts distributed over the surface of said central portion from the small closed contour of the tear pre-cut precut.

These other precuts delimit tear tongues to obtain, by pulling, a wide opening of the central part of the hold, thus giving access to the items housed in the box.

Advantageously, when the material used is corrugated cardboard or any other material incorporating a corrugated sheet, the joints which are parallel to the groove, between the different flaps and the central part, are characterized by the superposition of a creasing and, on at least part of the joint, of a pre-cut, without these pre-cuts reaching the end of said joints.

It also follows that it is possible to open the shim by removing the material located within the closed contour of small area, which removal can be obtained by depressing or tearing said material. It is then possible to remove a large part of the central part of said wedge by tearing the material along the pre-cut lines which are distributed over the surface of said central portion and that it is thus possible easy access to objects that have been previously arranged in the box.

It follows, on the other hand, that the flaps which are connected to said central portion by hinges parallel to the possible groove can be easily and accurately folded along pre-cuts that have been made at said joints, in alignment from the periphery of said central portion, but that these joints are not excessively weakened insofar as the end of said precuts is removed from the end of said joints.

It finally follows that the joints that are not perpendicular to the groove (or, if the material is homogeneous, all the joints) between the flaps and said central portion are not embrittled to the extent that the end of said joints n ' is not tangent to the periphery of matter.

Thus, thanks to the invention, there is a locking means to perfectly immobilize, stably, the objects inside the box, without exerting high stress on said objects and producing an ecological packaging that can be easily recycled after use.

The advantages provided by the invention will be better understood through the following description which refers to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, without any limiting character, a particular embodiment of a shim according to the invention.

Figure I is a perspective view of an empty box used to wedge objects with a wedge according to the invention, shown without its lid.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a wedging element according to the invention, before use.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a shim according to the invention, the flaps have been folded before its introduction into the box for wedging objects.

Figure 4 is a plan view, partially broken away, of a shim according to the invention. Figures 5, 6, 7 and 8 are detail and plan views of four different zones of a shim according to the invention.

Referring to said drawings to describe an advantageous example, although not limiting, of making a wedge of objects housed in a box, according to the invention.

Figure 1 shows a type of box 1 which is composed of a bottom 1 e and four side walls la, lb, and ld, this type of box being commonly used for shipping packages containing various items of different forms that, when housed in the box, may have a very uneven top surface.

According to the illustrated example, the bottom l e has a rectangular shape, so that the box provided with this bottom has the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped. It can be seen that, according to this example, the side walls 1a and 1e are parallel to the width of the box 1 and that the side walls 1b and 1d are parallel to the length of the box 1.

It is emphasized that the bottom and the side walls could have a different shape, for example a square shape or a general square or rectangular shape with cut corners.

This box 1 can be made of cardboard, corrugated cardboard, or any other equivalent sheet material having the required qualities of rigidity and possibility of folding.

Figure 2 shows a shim made according to the invention. Said shim 2 comprises a central portion 2k of shape and dimensions substantially equivalent to those of the bottom 1 e of the box 1, so as to slide without significant play between the side walls of said box during its insertion into the latter. Said shim 2 also comprises foldable shutters 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e, 2f, 2g, 2h, 2i and 2j.

Said shim 2 may be constituted by a rigid sheet made of rigid and deformable cardboard, corrugated cardboard, or any other equivalent sheet material identical or not to that in which are made boxes likely to receive such a wedging element.

We see the joints of the flaps constituted by creases or grooves 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e, 3f, 3g, 3h, 3i and 3j which connect said flaps to said central portion. We also see creases 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e, 4f, 4g, 4h, 4i and 4j which are provided with said flaps, parallel to said joints. It is known that said creases 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e, 4f, 4g, 4h, 4i and 4j constitute folding lines which make it possible to reduce the area of said flaps applied against the internal face of said four lateral walls in favor of the surface brought into contact with said stack of objects when it is not flat and therefore has a surface area greater than that of said central portion 2k.

Figure 3 shows said wedge 2 made according to the invention, consisting of the central portion 2k and foldable flaps 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e, 2f, 2g, 2h, 2i and 2j. In this figure, said flaps have been folded upwardly around said joints 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e, 3f, 3g, 3h, 3i and 3j.

Adhesive lines 5c, 5d, 5e, 5f and 5g, respectively deposited on the outer face of said shutters 2c, 2d, 2e, 2f and 2g, intended to be applied against the side walls of the box, are seen when the wedging element 2 has been inserted into the latter.

It is understood that lines or dots of glue (not shown) have also been deposited on said flaps 2a, 2b, 2h, 2i and 2j.

It is known that after introduction of said wedge 2 into the box 1, bringing said wedge 2 into contact with said stack of objects housed in said box, and deformation of said wedge 2 to best fit the shape of the upper face of said stack of objects, said flaps are folded and pressed against the inner face of the side walls la, lb, and ld of said box 1.

It is also known that there are other means than gluing for securing said shutters with said side walls, such as stapling, interlocking parts of material into each other or any other means to obtain a equivalent result.

Figure 4 also shows said wedge 2 made according to the invention, and shown flat, before folding and raising the peripheral flaps.

We see the central portion 2k and the foldable shutters 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e, 2f, 2g, 2li, 2i and 2j connected to said central portion 2k by the joints 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e, 3f, 3g, 3h, 3i and 3j.

According to a first characteristic arrangement of the invention, the central portion 2k of the sheet comprises a plurality of creases 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d consisting of curve segments or the line along which the material in which said sheet is made, is crushed and its thickness reduced. The two ends or each creasing 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, lead to the periphery or near the periphery of said central portion 2k of said sheet; on the other hand, the two ends of this creasing or of each creasing end preferably at the ends of the joints 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e, 3f, 3g, 3h, 3i and 3j between said foldable flaps and said portion 2k, or outside said joints.

According to the invention, the creases 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d are not parallel to one another, nor to the sides of the central portion 2k of the sheet 2 (in the case of a square-shaped central portion), or neither with the long sides of the central part 2k of the plate 2, nor with the short sides of said central part (in the case of a central part of rectangular shape).

According to an advantageous arrangement, the two ends of each groove 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, end on two adjacent sides, respectively 3j-3i-3h 3g-3f; 3g-3f 3e-3d-3c; 3e-3d- 3c 3b-3a; 3b-3a 3j-3i-3h, of the central portion 2k of the hold 2.

The two ends of each groove 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, end at the ends of the joints 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e, 3f, 3g, 3h, 3i, 3j, between the foldable flaps and the central part, or to outside said joints.

Said creasing 6a has an end substantially coincides with one of the ends of said joints 3d and 3e of said shutters 2d and 2e and its other end terminates between the ends of said joints 3f and 3g of said shutters 2f and 2g and at a distance from the ends of two successive joints. Similarly, said creasing 6b has an end which terminates between the ends of said joints 3f and 3g of said flaps 2f and 2g and at a distance from the ends of said successive joints and its other end is substantially coincidental with one of the ends of said joints 3h and 3i of said flaps 2h and 2i, said creasing 6c has an end substantially coinciding with one of the ends of said hinges 3i and 3j of said flaps 2i and 2j and at a distance from the ends of said successive hinges and its other end terminates between the ends of said hinges 3a and 3b of said flaps 2a and 2b, and said creasing 6d has an end which terminates between the ends of said hinges 3a and 3b of said flaps 2a and 2b and at a distance from the ends of said successive hinges and its other end substantially coincides with one of the ends said joints 3c and 3d of said flaps 2c and 2d.

It is understood that said creases 6a, 6b, 6c and 6d constitute folding lines for said central portion 2k, which facilitate the deformation of said wedge 2 which can take a a wide variety of conformations, to best fit the shape of the upper face of said stack of objects, especially when said wedge is made of a strong and rigid material.

As indicated above, the central portion 2k of the sheet could comprise grooves of various shapes adapted to specific articles to be shipped and transported in the boxes.

FIG. 4 also shows the pre-cut 7, in the form of a non-circular ring. This pre-cut 7 consists of a succession of straight or curved segments along which the material is cut over all or part of its thickness. Said precut 7 defines a closed contour of small area. It is understood that the portion of material included in this closed contour is attached to said central portion 2k but can be easily detached from said central portion 2k by depressing or tearing said material.

FIG. 4 also shows the pre-cut assemblies 8a, 8b, 8c and 8d. It will be understood that when the portion of material included in the closed contour delimited by said precut 7 has been detached, it is possible to open said central portion 2k, by exerting a pull from the opening resulting from the tearing out. the portion of material defined by the precut 7, so as to detach and lift the material languages 14a, 14b, between the cutting torques 8a, 8b and 8c, 8d, and thereby open a large part of the part central 2k, then we have easy access to items previously housed in the box.

FIG. 4 also shows zones A, B, C and D. These zones of said wedge 2 are shown in greater detail respectively in FIGS. 5, 6, 7 and 8.

Finally, FIG. 4 shows zone E. In the particular embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the material used for producing said wedge 2 is corrugated cardboard or other material incorporating a corrugated sheet. Said zone E illustrates a "cutaway" view of said wedge 2 which shows the groove of said material.

It can be seen that, in the particular embodiment of FIG. 4, the articulations 3a, 3b, 3f and 3g are parallel to the corrugations 15 of the corrugated sheet, while the articulations 3c, 3d, 3e, 3h, 3i and 3j are perpendicular to said flutes 15. Figure 5 shows in detail the zone A of said wedge 2 made according to the invention. This figure shows the central portion 2k and the foldable flap 2f. FIG. 5 also shows the articulation 3f connecting said flap 2f to said central portion 2k.

It is known that said articulation 3f is parallel to the groove of the material used for producing said wedge 2, when it is corrugated cardboard, and it is also seen in FIG. 5 that said articulation 3f consists of the superposition of a creasing 9f and a precut 10f, itself consisting of a succession of straight segments along which the material is cut over all or part of its thickness.

It will be understood that the joints 3a, 3b and 3g, parallel to the groove of the material used for producing said wedge 2, are likewise constituted by the superposition of a crease and a precut.

Figure 6 shows in detail the zone B of said shim 2 made according to the invention. We see in Figure 6 the central portion 2k and the foldable flap 2j. We also see in Figure 6, the hinge 3j which connects said flap 2j to said central portion 2k. We also see, in Figure 6, the foldable flap 2a and the hinge 3a which connects said flap 2a to said central portion 2k.

FIG. 6 also shows the point 1ja which corresponds to one of the angles of the rectangle formed by said central portion 2k in the particular embodiment shown. We see that said point 1 lja is located at the intersection of the lines aligned on said joints 3j and 3a.

The same applies to the angles of the rectangle located respectively at the intersection of the lines aligned on said joints 3b and 3c, 3e and 3f, and 3g and 3h.

FIG. 6 shows again the point 3ja which corresponds to one of the two ends of the articulation 3j. It is known on the other hand that said hinge 3j is perpendicular to the groove of the material used for producing said shim 2.

FIG. 6 also shows the curve segment 13ja which belongs to the periphery of said central portion 2k. Said segment 13ja has the characteristic of being tangent to the periphery of said folding flap 2j at point 3ja. We understand that this characteristic makes it possible to avoid weakening said articulation 3j by creating a rupture primer at the point 3ja.

It is understood that other curve segments similar to the segment 13ja are likewise tangent to the periphery of said foldable flaps 2c, 2e and 2h.

It can also be seen in FIG. 6 that said hinge 3a consists of the superposition of a crease 9a and a precut 1a.

FIG. 6 shows again the point 3aj which corresponds to one of the two ends of the articulation 3a.

It is recalled, on the other hand, that, according to one embodiment, said hinge 3a is parallel to the groove of the material used for producing said shim 2.

FIG. 6 also shows the line segment 12aj which belongs to the periphery of said central portion 2k. Said segment 12aj has the characteristic of being tangent to said articulation 3a at point 3aj. It is understood that this characteristic makes it possible to favor the folding of said shutter 2a along said creasing 9a and said precut 10a, starting from point 3aj.

It is understood that other line segments similar to segment 12aj are likewise tangent to said joints 3b, 3f and 3g.

FIG. 7 shows, in detail, the zone C of said shim 2 made according to another embodiment of the invention. This figure shows the central portion 2k and the foldable flap 2a. Also shown in Figure 7, the joint 3a, consisting of the superposition of the creasing 9a and the precut 10a, which connects said flap 2a to said central portion 2k. We also see, in Figure 7, the foldable flap 2b and the articulation 3b consists of the superposition of the creasing 9b and the precut 10b, which connects said flap 2b to said central portion 2k.

It is recalled, on the other hand, that said joints 3a and 3b are parallel to the groove of the material used for producing said shim 2.

FIG. 7 also shows the creases 6c and 6d made on said central portion 2k and it can be seen that the ends of said creases 6c and 6d are located in the same zone as the end 3ab of the hinge 3a and that the 3b end of the joint 3b but outside said joints. FIG. 7 also shows the line segment 12ab that belongs to the periphery of said central portion 2k. Said segment 12ab has the characteristic of being tangent to said articulation 3a, at point 3ab, and of being also tangent to said articulation 3b, at point 3ba. It is understood that this characteristic makes it possible to favor the folding of said shutter 2a along said creasing 9a and of said precut 10a, starting from the point 3ab as well as the folding of said shutter 2b along said creasing 9b and said precut 10b, starting from point 3ba.

It will be understood that another line segment similar to segment 12ab is likewise tangent to joints 3f and 3g.

FIG. 8 shows, in detail, the zone D of said shim 2 made according to another exemplary embodiment of the invention. This figure shows the central portion 2k and the foldable flap 2h. We also see, in Figure 8, the hinge 3h, which connects said flap 2h to said central portion 2k. FIG. 8 also shows the foldable flap 2i and the hinge 3i, which connects said flap 2i to said central portion 2k.

It is recalled, on the other hand, that said joints 3h and 3i are perpendicular to the groove of the material used for producing said wedge 2.

FIG. 8 also shows the creasing 6b made on said central portion 2k and it can be seen that the end of said creasing 6b is situated in the same zone as the end 3hi of the hinge 3h and that the end 3h of the articulation 3i, but outside said joints.

FIG. 8 also shows the curve segment 13hi which belongs to the periphery of said central portion 2k. Said segment 13hi has the characteristic of being tangent to the periphery of said folding flap 2h at point 3hi and also tangent to the periphery of said foldable flap 2i at point 3ih. It is understood that this characteristic makes it possible to avoid weakening said joints 3h and 3i by creating a breaking primer respectively at the points 3hi and 3ih.

It will be understood that other curve segments similar to the segment 13hi are likewise tangent to the periphery of said foldable flaps 2i and 2j, 2c and 2d and 2d and 2e.

Claims

1. Wedge (2) for wedging objects in a box (1), having a bottom (the) and at least four side faces, said wedge (2) being constituted by a sheet of a rigid material, resistant and foldable , for example made of cardboard, corrugated cardboard or equivalent sheet material, and having a central portion (2k) of polygonal, square or rectangular shape, or approximately square or rectangular, of dimensions substantially equivalent to those of the bottom (1c) of said box, this sheet having on at least two of its sides, at least one or more folding flaps (2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e, 2h, 2i and 2j), attached to said central portion (2k) via folding lines or joints (3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e, 3f, 3g, 3h, 3i, 3j), characterized in that the central portion (2k) of the setting sheet (2) is provided with a plurality of creases (6a, 6b, 6c and 6d), consisting of curve or straight segments along which els the material is crushed and its reduced thickness, these creases (6a, 6b, 6c, 6d) constituting fold lines inside said central portion (2k) which facilitate the deformation of said wedge (2) to better marry the shape of the upper surface of the stack of objects housed in the box (1), these creases end at the periphery or near the periphery of said central portion (2k) of the setting sheet (2) and are not not parallel to each other or to the sides of said central portion (2k).

2. Wedge according to claim 1, characterized in that the ends of the creases (6a, 6b, 6c, 6d) end on two adjacent sides of the central portion (2k) of said wedge (2) provided with flaps (2a-2b). and 2j-2i-2h; 2j-2i-2h and 2g-2f; 2g-2f and 2e-2d-2c; 2e-2d-2c and 2b-2a).

3. Shim according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the two ends of each groove (6a, 6b, 6c, 6d), end at the ends of the joints (3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e, 3f , 3g, 3h, 3i, 3j) between said foldable flaps and said central portion, or outside said joints.

4. Shim according to one of claims 2 or 3, characterized in that one of the ends of the grooves (6a, 6b, 6c, 6d) is merged or substantially coincidental with one of the ends of said joints (3a, 3e 3 f, 3g; 3i, 3j; 3c, 3d) flaps (2d, 2e; 2h, 2i; 2i, 2j; 2c, 2d) while their other end terminates between the ends of the joints (3f, 3g; 3g, 3f; 3a, 3b; 3a, 3b) of the flaps (2f, 2g; 2f, 2g; 2a, 2b; 2a, 2b; ) and away from the ends of said joints.

5. Wedge according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the wedging sheet (2) is made of corrugated cardboard or any other material having parallel grooves (15), characterized in that the joints (3a, 3b, 3f, 3g) which are parallel to said splines, between the different flaps (2a, 2b, 2f, 2g) and the central portion (2k), are constituted by the superposition of a creasing (9a, 9b, 9f,. ..) and, on at least a portion of the joint, a pre-cut (10a, 10b, 10f, ...), without these precuts do not reach the end of said joints.

6. Shim according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the sheet (2) is made of corrugated cardboard or any other material having parallel grooves (15), characterized in that the joints (3a, 3b, 3f, 3g), which are parallel to said grooves between the different flaps (2a, 2b, 2f, 2g) and the central portion (2k), are not contiguous, but are preceded and succeeded by straight line or curve segments ( 12aj, 12ab) belonging to the periphery of said central portion and substantially tangent with said joints.

7. shim according to any one of claims] or 6, wherein the sheet (2) is made of corrugated cardboard or any other material having parallel grooves (15), or in a homogeneous material, characterized in that the joints (3c, 3d, 3e, 3h, 3i, 3j) which are not parallel to said flutes (15), or if the material is homogeneous, all the joints between the different flaps (2c, 2d, 2e, 2h, 2i, 2j) and the central portion (2k), are not contiguous but are preceded and followed by curve segments (13ja, 13hi) whose ends are substantially tangent with the periphery of said flaps at the point of intersection with said joints.

8. shim according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the central portion (2k) comprises a precut (7) consisting of a succession of curve or straight segments along which the material is cut on all or part of its thickness, this precut (7) delimiting a closed contour of small area.

9. Shim according to claim 8, characterized in that the central portion (2k) also comprises precuts (8a, 8b, 8c, 8d), distributed over the surface of the latter, to from the closed contour of small area, these pre-cuts (8a, 8b, 8c, 8d) delimiting tear tongues (14a, 14b) of said central portion.