EP3892557A1 - Folding box - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a folding box (300), comprising a base part (305) and a lid (350) that can be connected to the base part (305) in a closed position, the lid (350) and the base part (305) having means for mutual locking in the Have closed position. To increase the locking security, it is provided according to the invention that the locking means have at least two different locking means (324, 365; 334, 384) that can be engaged independently of one another.

Description

The invention relates to a folding box, comprising a basket-shaped or bowl-shaped base part and a lid that can be connected to the base part in a closed position, the lid and the base part having means for mutual locking in the closed position, according to the preamble of claim 1.

A folding box of the generic type is from the U.S. 4,200,220 A known. In this case, the folding box has two slots on one edge, into which two projecting flaps can be pressed to close the folding box.

The object of the invention is to provide a folding box which has increased security against unintentional or unauthorized opening.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by a device having the features of claim 1. Advantageous refinements of the invention are specified in the subclaims.

A preferred field of application of the invention is in folding boxes for packaging fresh fruit and vegetables, in particular fresh strawberries. However, other applications, such as packaging for technical articles, for example for screws or dowels, are also conceivable.

With the present invention it is possible to equip a folding box with a double safeguard against unintentional opening. A variant of the invention even offers a so-called "tamper-evident" function, i. H. the end consumer, as the purchaser of the folding box, can be sure that the box has not been opened at the manufacturer's since the contents were filled.

The folding box according to the invention is characterized in that the means for locking have at least two different locking means which can be brought into engagement independently of one another. It therefore requires a certain amount of effort to disengage the two different locking systems again after they have clicked into place, so that unintentional opening of the folding box is ruled out. The goods received in the folding box are thus superbly protected against partial losses, which otherwise often occur in known folding boxes due to the unintentional opening of the lid.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the locking means each have at least one protruding part and at least one recess receiving the protruding part. The locking means can particularly preferably be actuated in different directions of a coordinate system.

According to a first advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the protruding part is designed as a card flap on the cover, which in the closed position penetrates a recess on the base part and a recess on the cover lying one above the other. A particularly high level of security against unintentional opening is achieved in that the card flap is bent over by 180 ° in order to push it through the cutouts. The card flap penetrates and thus wraps around the base part and the cover in an edge area, whereby these are reliably secured against unintentional opening.

A second advantageous embodiment of the invention provides that the locking means has at least one locking tab with barbs formed thereon, which prevent the folding box from being opened unnoticed after it has passed through a recess. In a further embodiment, it is particularly advantageous if the recess is connected to a tear-out tab by a perforation line, which enlarges the recess when the locking tab is pulled out by means of the barbs that drag along the tear-off tab. As a result, unauthorized opening of the folding box can be clearly seen, so that unintentional removal or replacement of the goods contained therein can be determined in any case.

One of the securing systems can be formed in that the locking means have projections on the inside of the cover which, in the closed position, overlap with outwardly projecting flaps on the base part. Such security systems are known by themselves in the professional world under the term "Z-click". It is particularly advantageous if the projections are formed by adhesive tabs on the cover. The adhesive flaps thus have a double use. On the one hand, they hold the side walls and end walls of the cover together and at the same time form a stop that interacts with an outwardly protruding flap on the base part.

According to an advantageous development of the invention, at least one of the locking means has a hanging loop. In particular, smaller folding boxes can thus be arranged in a simple manner directly on hook-shaped suspension systems in shops.

In particular in the case of folding boxes which are intended to hold fresh fruit, vegetables, mushrooms or herbs, it is advantageous if the base part and / or the lid have recesses for ventilating the contents of the folding box. On the other hand, the goods received in the folding box may require that their contents be seen but not through the openings can be touched or, in the case of very small parts, cannot fall out through the openings. In this case it makes sense if at least one recess or a viewing window can be closed by means of a film.

According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention it is provided that the base part and the cover are made in one piece and form a hinge on at least one edge or fold line. Thus, the base part and cover can be punched out of cardboard, for example, to form a common sheet-like blank. The base part and cover thus form a captive unit.

It is particularly advantageous if a recess forming a locking means has a rounded contour through which the protruding locking means corresponding to the recess is automatically guided into an engagement position when the folding box is closed. This makes handling easier when closing the folding box and significantly accelerates the filling of larger quantities of products.

Fig. 1

eine Abwicklung eines Basisteils einer erfindungsgemäßen großen Faltschachtel;

Fig. 2

die Faltschachtel gemäß Fig. 1 im zusammengebauten Zustand in einer perspektivischen Ansicht;

Fig. 3

die Faltschachtel gemäß Fig. 2 mit nach außen gebogener Stülplasche;

Fig. 4

eine Abwicklung eines zum Basisteil gemäß Fig. 1 passenden Deckels;

Fig. 5

den Deckel gemäß Fig. 4 im zusammengebauten Zustand;

Fig. 6

Basisteil und Deckel gemäß den vorstehenden Figuren kurz vorm Zusammenfügen;

Fig. 7

Basisteil und Deckel gemäß Fig. 6 im zusammengefügten Zustand (Schließposition);

Fig. 8

eine Variante zur Fig. 7 mit einem kleineren Basisteil;

Fig. 9

eine Abwicklung einer Variante einer Faltschachtel, bei der Basisteil und Deckel einstückig hergestellt sind;

Fig. 10

die Faltschachtel gemäß Fig. 9 mit zusammengebautem Basisteil und zusammengebautem Deckel im geöffneten Zustand; und

Fig. 11

die Faltschachtel gemäß Fig. 10 im geschlossenen Zustand (Schließposition).

An exemplary embodiment of the invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings. It shows:

Fig. 1

a development of a base part of a large folding box according to the invention;

Fig. 2

the carton according to Fig. 1 in the assembled state in a perspective view;

Fig. 3

the carton according to Fig. 2 with flap bent outwards;

Fig. 4

a processing of a to the base part according to Fig. 1 matching lid;

Fig. 5

the lid according to Fig. 4 in the assembled state;

Fig. 6

Base part and cover according to the preceding figures shortly before joining;

Fig. 7

Base part and cover according to Fig. 6 in the assembled state (closed position);

Fig. 8

a variant of the Fig. 7 with a smaller base part;

Fig. 9

a development of a variant of a folding box in which the base part and lid are made in one piece;

Fig. 10

the carton according to Fig. 9 with assembled base part and assembled cover in the open state; and

Fig. 11

the carton according to Fig. 10 in the closed state (closed position).

In the Figures 1 to 7 a first large folding box 100 is shown, which is suitable, for example, to hold 1 kg of strawberries. The folding box 100 is formed from a base part 105 and a lid 150. In the Figures 1 to 8 The two exemplary embodiments shown are the base part 105 or 205 and the cover 150 or 250 punched out as separate components from a flat template and joined together.

How out Fig. 1 As can be seen, the base part 105 is composed of a base 110, two side parts 120 and two end face parts 130. While the bottom 110 has a rectangular shape, the side parts 120 and the end face parts 130 in the exemplary embodiment shown have a trapezoidal shape, so that they are in the form of FIG Fig. 1 Widen the development shown to the outside. In the assembled form according to Fig. 2 thereby the base part 105 forms an inverted truncated pyramid-shaped receiving basket which widens slightly upwards and which can be stacked in a volume-saving manner for transport and also more easily filled and emptied.

A fold line between the bottom 110 and a side part 120 is denoted by 112. A fold line between the bottom 110 and an end face part 130 is denoted by 113. In the area of the fold lines 112 and 113, several recesses 114 are arranged, which are used to ventilate the folding box 100.

The end face parts 130 have wing-like adhesive flaps 132 on both sides. The adhesive tabs 132 are used directly in the manufacturing process of the base part 105 Before being joined to the side parts 120, they are preferably provided with an adhesive on their outside using a machine. A fold line between an end face part 130 and an adhesive flap 132 is denoted by 131.

At the outer end, the end face parts 130 are provided with a flap 134 which is beveled on both sides. A fold line between an end face part 130 and a pull-over flap 134 is denoted by 133. In the area of the fold lines 133, recesses 135 are arranged between the end face part 130 and the inverted flap 134. In the exemplary embodiment, these recesses 135 have a rectangular shape. The recesses 135 can, however, also have a contour that is rounded at least on one longitudinal side, as is the case in the third exemplary embodiment according to FIGS Figures 9 to 11 is shown at the recess 384 and its rounded contour 385.

As in the transition from Fig. 1 to Fig. 2 As can be seen, to assemble the base part 105, the side parts 120 and the end face parts 130 are bent upwards and then the adhesive tabs 132 are attached to the insides of the side parts 120 with the adhesive applied on the outside. The pull tab 134 is in Fig. 2 still diagonally upwards.

In Fig. 3 are the next step following the Fig. 2 the pull-up tabs 134 on both end face parts 130 are bent obliquely outwards and downwards. As described later, this prepares a first locking with the cover 150 by a so-called "Z-click locking".

In Fig. 4 the cover 150 is shown in its flat, stamped starting position. The cover 150 is composed of a base 160, two side parts 170 and two front side parts 180. A plurality of recesses 161 are provided on the bottom 160, which are used, on the one hand, to ventilate the contents of the folding box 100 and, on the other hand, to make it easier to identify the contents of the folding box 100. The recesses 161 can have a rectangular shape, but can also have any other geometric shape. One each Fold line 162 lies between the bottom 160 and a side part 170 and a respective fold line 163 lies between the bottom 160 and an end face part 180.

A wing-like adhesive flap 172 is provided at both ends of the two side parts 170 and is connected to the side part 170 via a fold line 171. The adhesive flaps 172, analogously to the adhesive flaps 132 of the base part 105, are provided with an adhesive on their outside, preferably by machine, immediately before the lid 150 is folded together.

The front side parts 180 are connected to the bottom 160 via the fold line 163. On the folding lines 163, recesses 164 are provided in the central region, which are rectangular in the exemplary embodiment shown, but which can also have a contour that is rounded at least on one longitudinal side. Near the outer edge, card flaps 184 are provided on the front side parts 180 in the central region, the lateral boundaries of which are pre-punched by a perforation. The card flaps 184 can thereby be bent out of the front side parts 180 around the fold line 183 by applying slight pressure. The card flaps 184 each have a locking tongue 185 at their outer end, which preferably form wing-like lateral barbs 186 opposite the card flaps 184 through small lateral notches arranged in the region of the fold line 183.

When transitioning from Fig. 4 to Fig. 5 Both side parts 170 and both front side parts 180 of the cover 150 are folded upwards from the bottom 160 and then joined together by gluing the adhesive tabs 172 to the insides of the front side parts 180. Since the side parts 170 and the end face parts 180 also have a slightly trapezoidal shape, the cover 150 adapts exactly to the shape of the base part 105 with a slight oversize.

In Fig. 6 the cover 150 and the base part 105 are shown shortly before they are joined together. In Fig. 7 the joining is already done. On the one hand, the upper edges of the adhesive tabs 172 engage with the snap-on tabs 134, which cling to them resiliently, and thus form a first locking system between base part 105 and cover 150. On the other hand, as a second locking system, the card flaps 184 are pushed inward out of the face parts 180, then passed through the congruently superimposed recesses 135 in the base part 105 and 164 on the cover 150 and bent upwards by 180 ° .

The card flaps 184 thus surround in the in Fig. 7 Shown closed position starting from the cover 150, more precisely the end face parts 180 of the cover 150, also the edge area of the base part 105, more precisely the end face parts 130 of the base part 105, beyond the recesses 135, before their locking tongue 185 arranged at the outer end then passes through the recess 164 again occurs on the cover 150 to the outside. Such a connection encompassing two adjacent components 105, 150 by means of a card flap 184 is completely new in the packaging sector and has a very high closing force.

In the following, the function of the card flaps 184 is described again in more detail in other words. The card flap 184 arranged on the cover 150 is designed to initially extend in the direction of the base part 105 in the closed position. On the base part 105, the card flap 184 is designed to reach through the recess 135. If the card flap 184 is then bent again in the direction of the cover 150, this has the result that the card flap 184 encompasses the edge region of the base part 105. The card flap 184 is thus designed to encompass the edge region of the base part 105. The card flap 184 and the recess 135 are also designed and arranged in such a way that the card flap 184 extends again in the direction of the lid 150 after reaching around.

The recess 164 is arranged on the cover 150 and is arranged and designed in such a way that the card flap 184 can be guided through the recess 164 after reaching around the base part 150 or the edge region thereof. After the card flap 184 has passed through the recess 164, the card flap 184 is designed to be locked to the cover 150. For this purpose, the card flap 184 has the bolt tongue 185, for example on. As an alternative to this, another type of locking would also be conceivable. For example, the card tongue 184 could have a recess which comes into engagement with a projection or a locking device of the cover 150.

The inverted flap 134 results in an ideal recess 135 in order to interact with the carding tongue 184.

In the Fig. 8 The second embodiment of the invention shown differs from that in FIGS Figures 1 to 7 shown first embodiment only by the height of the base part. Since all parts are otherwise the same, the reference numbers have only been increased by 100 throughout. The base part thus has the reference number 205 instead of 105, the cover the reference number 250 instead of 150, etc. A detailed description of the second exemplary embodiment is therefore unnecessary. The smaller variant according to Fig. 8 is suitable, for example, for packaging 500 g of strawberries.

In the Figures 9 to 11 a different third embodiment of the invention is shown. A folding box 300 is composed of a base part 305 and a lid 350, with the base part 305 and lid 350 being punched out coherently from a common material web or material surface. In the area of a fold line 363 between the base part 305 and the cover 350, a type of hinge is thus formed between the two components 305, 350.

The base part 305 has a bottom 310, two side parts 320 and two front side parts 330. The bottom 310 is connected to the side parts 320 via fold lines 312 and to the front side parts 330 via fold lines 313. Wing-like adhesive flaps 332 are provided on both sides of the end face parts 330 and are connected to the end face part 330 via a fold line 331. The adhesive flaps 332 are provided with an adhesive on their outer sides, preferably by machine, before they are joined.

On the in Fig. 9 On the right-hand side of the base part 305, a locking tab 334 is arranged on the outside of the face part 330, which is connected to the face part 330 via a fold line 333. The locking tab 334 has an approximately semicircular shape and is provided with a punched-out hanging loop 335 in its center. In the area of the fold line 333, small lateral notches are provided on the side of the locking tab 334, so that the outer lateral ends of the locking tab 334 can act as wing-like barbs 336.

At least one outwardly protruding tab 322 is provided on the side parts 320 in the area of the outer edges, in which a longitudinal slot 324 forms a recess 324. In the area of the side parts 320, one or more recesses 314 can be provided for ventilation if necessary.

The fold line 363, which separates the base part 305 from the cover 350, is followed by FIG Fig. 9 a bottom 360 of the cover 350 to the left. In this case, the bottom 360 has a single rectangular recess 361, which is preferably provided with an in Fig. 11 indicated film 390 is glued. As an alternative to this, a plurality of cutouts 361 can also be provided, as is also the case with the two first exemplary embodiments with the cutouts 161 and 261.

The bottom 360 is connected to approximately triangular side parts 370 via fold lines 362. In the area of the fold lines 362, semicircular recesses 364 are provided towards the side parts 370, in which a substantially rectangular protruding locking tongue 365 remains on the side of the base 360.

The floor 360 joins in Fig. 9 to the left, an end face part 380, which is connected to the bottom 360 via a fold line 381. In the area of the fold line 381, a recess 384 is provided which has a rounded contour towards the bottom 360. The rounded contour is followed by a perforation line 386 towards the bottom 360, which, together with the rounded contour of the recess 384, defines a sickle-shaped tear-off tab 385. In the middle area of the perforation line 386, a small opening 387 is also provided, which the Removing the tear-off tab 385 when the folding box 300 is intentionally opened is made easier.

The end face part 380 is provided with a wing-like adhesive flap 382 on both sides. The adhesive flaps 382 are preferably provided with an adhesive by machine on their outside before the lid 350 is joined together. The adhesive flaps 382 are connected to the end face part 380 via fold lines 383.

To assemble the folding box 300, the side parts 320 and the front side parts 330 are folded up from the bottom 310 and then the adhesive flaps 332 are connected to the inner sides of the side parts 320. Likewise, on the cover 350, the side parts 370 and the front side part 380 are folded upwards from the bottom 360 and then the adhesive flaps 382 are connected to the inner sides of the side parts 370. In this state, the opened carton is 300 in Fig. 10 shown. In this state, many such folding boxes 300 can also be transported "nested" in a stack in a volume-saving manner.

When closing the lid 350, that is, when moving from the Fig. 10 to the Fig. 11 two independent locking systems are activated. On the one hand, the locking tongues 365 come into engagement with the slot-shaped recesses 324 as the first locking system. The cover 350 lies from the outside over the base part 305, as do the covers 150 and 250 in the first two exemplary embodiments.

In the third embodiment according to the Figures 9 to 11 the two locking systems are active in different directions of a coordinate system. If the fold line 312 represents the X-axis of a coordinate system and the fold line 363 represents the Y-axis, then the Z-axis is represented by the height of the folding box in Fig. 11 Are defined. The XYZ coordinate system in question is in Fig. 11 shown. The first locking system for the engagement of the bolt tongues 365 with the slot-shaped recesses 324 is accordingly effective in the direction of the Y-axis, while the second locking system comprising locking tab 334 and recess 384 is effective in the Z-direction. As a result of this engagement in two different directions, it is hardly possible to open the folding box 300 without destroying it after it has been closed. As a rule, at least the tear-off tab 385 is torn out when an attempt is made to pull the locking tab 334 out of the recess 384 again. At least one would see the barb 336 that they were bent inward.

The locking means described in the first and second exemplary embodiment for the folding boxes 100 and 200, respectively, can also be used in the third exemplary embodiment for the folding box 300 and vice versa. It is essential for the present invention that two independent locking systems are always effective at the same time in the closed position of a folding box 100, 200 or 300.

The folding boxes 100, 200 or 300 described are preferably made of cardboard and, depending on the application, can also be printed, painted and / or coated with plastic.

List of reference symbols

100, 200, 300

Folding box

105, 205, 305

Base part

110, 310

Floor (from 105, 305)

112, 212, 312

Fold line (between 110, 310 and 120, 320)

113, 213, 313

Fold line (between 110, 310 and 130, 330)

114, 214, 314

Recess (on 112, 113; 212, 213)

120, 220, 320

Side panel (out of 100)

130, 230, 330

Front part (of 100)

131, 331

Fold line (between 130, 330 and 132, 332)

132, 332

Adhesive flap (an 130, 330)

133

Fold line (between 132 and 134)

134

Slip flap

135

Recess

150, 250, 350

lid

160, 260, 360

Floor (from 150, 250, 350)

161, 261, 361

Recess (in 160, 260, 360)

162, 262, 362

Fold line (between 160, 260, 360 and 170, 270, 370)

163, 263

Fold line (between 160, 260 and 180, 280)

164, 264

Recess (on 163, 263)

170, 270, 370

Side panel (from 150, 250, 350)

171

Fold line (between 170 and 172)

172

Glue flap (an 170)

180, 280, 380

Front part (from 150, 250, 350)

183

Fold line (between 180 and 184)

184, 284

Card flap

185, 285

Bolt tongue

186, 286

Barb

322

Tab

324

Recess (slot)

333

Fold line (between 330 and 334)

334

Locking tab

335

Hanging loop

336

Barb

363

Fold line (between 330 and 360)

364

Recess (on 362)

365

Bolt tongue

381

Fold line (between 360 and 380)

382

Glue flap (on 380)

383

Fold line (between 380 and 382)

384

Recess (on 381)

385

Pull tab

386

Perforation line

387

Opening (at 386)

390

foil

Claims (13)

Folding box (100, 200, 300), comprising a base part (105, 205, 305) and a lid (150, 250, 350) which can be connected to the base part (105, 205, 305) in a closed position, the lid (150, 250, 350) and the base part (105, 205, 305) have means for mutual locking in the closed position, characterized in that the means for locking have at least two different, independently engageable locking means (134, 172; 135, 164, 264, 184, 284; 324, 365, 334, 384). Folding box (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the locking means have at least one protruding part (134; 184, 284; 334, 365) and at least one recess (135) receiving the protruding part (134; 184, 284; 334, 365) ; 164, 264; 324; 384). Folding box (10) according to claim 2, characterized in that the protruding part is designed as a card flap (184, 284) on the lid (150, 250), which in the closed position has a recess (135) on the base part (105) and one on top of the other Recess (164, 264) on the cover (150, 250) penetrates. Folding box (10) according to Claim 3, characterized in that the card flap (184, 284) is bent over by 180 ° in order to push it through the recesses (135; 164, 264). Folding box (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the locking means has a locking tab (334) with barbs (336) formed thereon, which prevent the folding box (10) from being opened unnoticed after it has passed through a recess (384). Folding box (10) according to claim 5, characterized in that the recess (384) with a perforation line (386) forms a tear-out tab (385) which the recess (384) by means of the tear-out tab (385) when the locking tab (334) is pulled out. dragging barbs (336) enlarged. Folding box (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the locking means have projections on the inside of the lid (150, 250) which in the closed position overlap outwardly projecting flaps (134) on the base part (105). Folding box (10) according to Claim 7, characterized in that the projections are formed by adhesive flaps (172) on the lid (150). Folding box (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of the locking means (334) has a hanging loop (335). Folding box (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the base part (105, 205, 305) and / or the lid (150, 250, 350) have recesses (114, 214, 314; 161, 261, 361) . Folding box (10) according to Claim 10, characterized in that at least one recess (361) can be closed by means of a film (390). Folding box (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the base part (305) and the lid (350) are made in one piece and form a hinge on at least one edge or folding line (363). Folding box (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a recess (135, 164, 264, 384) forming a locking means has a rounded contour through which the locking means (184, 185: 284, 285; 334) corresponding to the recess is automatically guided into an engagement position when the folding box (10) is closed.

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