FR2727939A1 - BOX, FOR EXAMPLE IN CARDBOARD OR IN ANY OTHER MATERIAL - Google Patents

Abstract

A box having the form of a carrying case when it is closed, and that of a tray when it is fully open, is disclosed. The box is made of a flat blank consisting of a sheet of cardboard, plastic or any other material and provided with folds and cut-outs. In one embodiment, the blank is made in a single piece and has two partial cut-outs (28) in the opposed longitudinal side walls (26) facing the bottom side wall (14). The blank has first (34) and second (36) inwardly re-entrant portions parallel to the two opposed apical side walls (16, 18). The first re-entrant portion (34) includes a substantially trapezoid open cut-out (38). At least one flap (42, 44) extends from the second re-entrant portion (36) through the second apical side wall (18) via a suitable cut-out (22) therein. The flap (42, 44) has a substantially trapezoid base matching the shape of the open cut-out (38) and projects outwards for engaging said open cut-out (38).

Description

 The present invention relates, in general, to boxes, for example, of cardboard and / or any other material and, in particular, a box which can serve as a litter box for cats or other animals, hamsters, mice, etc. .

 Many cardboard litter boxes have been proposed in the prior art. Some require the removal of a cover, making litter difficult to discard after use. Others, produced in a single cardboard blank, are provided with a bellows allowing the re-closing of the box after use. However, this bellows has a spring effect which results in poor closure of the box. All these boxes are, moreover, exclusively intended for a litter box purpose.

Examples include, but are not limited to, FR-A-2 608 012, FR-A-2 666 194, FR-A-2 650 729, FR-A-2 693 168, FR-A-2 687,638,
FR-A-2 686 316, FR-A-2 682 353, which may constitute a technological background for the present invention.

 None of these documents really relates to the actual closing of the box, whereas the essential problem posed resides in the locking of the cover of the box in the closed position, so as to prohibit, before use, an unexpected opening of the box, and, after use as litter, an unfortunate opening of the box, and to allow, in the open position in the form of a tray, the locking or stiffening of the tray.

 The present invention therefore aims to a box, in particular of cardboard, locked in the closed position and forming a locked or stiffened tray in the open position.

 In addition, this box should be made using a single blank provided with appropriate folds and cuts, so as to minimize the manufacturing cost. It may, however, include an internal partition separate or not from the box itself, and capable of cooperating technically with the box.

 Finally, this box must remain waterproof and / or impermeable to the liquids received for a determined time, if necessary.

 By “cardboard” is meant a sheet of packaging cardboard, for example obtained from recycled or non-recycled paper, of the single or double flute or micro-flute or wave or flat cardboard type, order, for example, about 0.2 to 2 millimeters thick. However, any other type of cardboard can be used here, even more or less thick. In particular, a cardboard having an internal face made waterproof by glazing, paraffinization, plasticization or by any other process known to those skilled in the art, may favorably be used.

 However, the box according to the invention can also be produced from a sheet of sufficiently rigid plastic material or any other material, for example rubber.

 The invention therefore relates to a parallelepiped box made from a flat blank having certain determined folds and certain cuts. In the closed position, the box assumes the shape of a suitcase, while in the open position, it assumes the shape of a container which is capable, but not exclusively, of constituting a container for cat litter.

 Two partial side cutouts and the corresponding pre-folding allow, on the one hand, a total closure of the box without spring effect tending to re-open it, by pivoting of the side wall forming the bottom of the case and, on the other hand, a blocking in the fully open position in the form of a container, while maintaining the required seal.

 According to a first embodiment of the box according to the invention, a transport handle can be formed on the side wall opposite the side wall forming the pivoting bottom of the bag, by re-entering folding of the sheet and crossing the said side wall by an appropriate cutout.

 This so-called first re-entering part of the sheet itself carries a large open cut of substantially trapezoidal shape.

 By the expression 'trapezoidal shape' or even 'trapezoid' is meant, throughout this description, any neighboring shape of a trapezoid, whether square, rectangular or other, with rounded angles or not.

 The side wall opposite to the handle when the box is in the shape of a container, also has a re-entering fold passing through a suitable cutout so as to project outwardly at least one gripping tab whose base substantially affects the trapezoidal shape of the wide open cut of the first re-entering part.

 In the closed position, the box is then effectively locked thanks to the plasticity of the sheet used, the edge of the sheet of the wide open cut of the first reentrant part cooperating with that of the sheet of the base of the gripping tab. .

 A closed cut in the vicinity of the handle allows the user to exert pressure on the base of the gripping tab to release the latter from the wide open cut and, thus, to unlock and open the box.

 However, the handle can also be added, instead of being pre-cut.

 In other words, the invention relates to a box having the shape of a suitcase when it is closed and affecting the shape of a tray when it is fully open, made from a flat blank of cardboard, of plastic or any other material, having folds and cutouts, this box having a bottom wall, a cover wall, two opposite side walls from the top, a side wall from the bottom and opposite longitudinal side walls.

 According to the invention, two partial cutouts are provided in the opposite longitudinal side walls so as to allow the bottom side wall to pivot when the box is opened and to allow blocking in the fully open position of the box.

 In addition, according to a first embodiment of the invention, the blank has first and second reentrant parts internally and parallel to the two opposite side walls at the apex; the first re-entering part has an open cut substantially in the shape of a trapezium, while the second re-entering part is extended by a tongue crossing the second side wall at the top in a suitable cut-out thereof, the tongue having a base affecting a substantially trapezoidal shape corresponding to that of the open cut, projecting externally and intended to cooperate with the open cut. Finally, the first side wall of the top has a closed cut facing the open cut of the first re-entering part corresponding to exert pressure on the base of the tongue, so as to allow the opening of the box.

 According to a second embodiment of the invention, one of the two opposite side walls from the top of the blank is extended by a tongue having a base which folds outwardly and parallel to the side wall; the base carries a gripping portion projecting externally; the other of the side walls of the top has a closed cut-out allowing to exert a pressure on the base provided with the grip part, and is extended laterally on both sides by a part coming to overlap on itself, the base coming to be housed partially between the top side wall and the parts coming to overlap when the box is closed.

 According to a third embodiment of the invention, the box includes an internal partition intended to cover the cover wall after folding of the longitudinal side walls; the internal partition is extended by a tongue, the base of which folds parallel to the opposite side walls from the top when the box is closed; the base carries a gripping portion projecting externally; one of the side walls of the top has a closed cut-out allowing to exert a pressure on the base provided with the grip part, and is extended laterally on both sides by a part coming to overlap on itself, the base partially accommodated between the top side wall and the parts overlapping when the box is closed.

The invention will be better understood, and other objects, advantages and characteristics thereof will appear more clearly on reading the following description of preferred embodiments of the invention given without limitation and in which five plates of attached drawings on which
Figure 1 shows in plan before folding a blank according to a first embodiment of the present invention
Figure 2 shows, seen in perspective, the partial side cutout and the corresponding pre-folding allowing, on the one hand, a total closure of the box without spring effect tending to reopen it by pivoting the side wall forming the bottom of the case and, on the other hand, a blocking in the fully open position in the form of a container, while maintaining the required seal
Figure 3 shows, in perspective views, the handle and the closed cutout of the box of Figure 1
Figure 4 shows, in perspective view, the tongue projecting from the wall and allowing the locking of the box
Figure 5 shows, in perspective view, the cutout provided in the first re-entering part and cooperating with the gripping tab to lock the box of Figure 1
Figure 6 illustrates a second embodiment of the invention; and
Figure 7 illustrates a third embodiment of the invention; and
FIG. 8 schematically represents an internal partition for the implementation of the third embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 7.

 Referring now to the drawings, there is shown in Figure 1 a flat development of the blank of the sheet constituting the box according to a first embodiment of the present invention. We will see that here, the box is made from a single blank. We can recognize the bottom wall 10 and the cover wall 12. These two walls are separated by a side bottom wall 14. Two opposite side walls at the top 16 and 18 each have an open cut 20, 22 respectively, of which will appreciate the role later. Opposite longitudinal side walls 24, 26 will close the box or block the tray.

 On these opposite longitudinal walls 24, 26, facing the bottom side wall 14, partial cutouts 28 have been made (better visible in FIG. 2), as well as folds 30, so that the part 32 of these walls can make protrudes inside the box when it is closed. Obviously, these cuts and folds are made on the two opposite longitudinal walls. These cuts will make it possible, when the box is fully opened, to provide stiffening and / or locking in the open position of the tray thus obtained, by direct cooperation of the edges of the sheet used, but they will also guide the sheet, and in particular the part 32 of the latter, by cooperating with the bottom side wall 14 to ensure proper closure of the box.

This avoids the aforementioned spring effect tending to re-open the box, while leaving a non-negligible space between the bottom of the tank - when it is open - and the cutout 28, to thereby avoid any possible leakage of the liquid contained in the bin.

 The blank has at its opposite ends two reentrant parts 34, 36 which will be positioned internally and parallel to the opposite lateral walls of apex 16, 18. The first re-entering part 34 has an open cut 38 substantially in the shape of a trapezoid, and is extends by a handle 40 passing through, after folding, the open cut 20 of the top side wall 16, and projecting outwardly.

 The opposite re-entering part 36 is extended by a tongue 42, 44 which passes through the cutout 22 of the other side wall at the top 18. This tongue has a base of substantially trapezoidal shape 42 corresponding to that of the cutout 38 with which she will cooperate. This base 42 is extended by a gripping part 44 projecting from the box when it is closed. In fact, when the box is closed, the corresponding sections of the sheet of the open cut 38 and of the trapezoidal base 42 will cooperate to lock the box in the closed position.

 For the opening of the box, a closed cut 46 is provided on the top side wall 16, opposite the open cut 38 of the re-entering part 34, and therefore in the immediate vicinity of the handle 40, to allow the user to exert pressure on the base 42 of the tongue to extract it from the cutout 38. The gripping portion 44 then makes it possible to simply pull on the tongue to ensure the opening of the box after unlocking .

 Referring now to Figures 6 and 7, two other embodiments of the box of the present invention will be briefly described. Indeed, a person skilled in the art will have understood that the production of a box having re-entering parts possibly crossing an open cut presents industrial difficulties and, consequently, a relatively high cost. The two embodiments which will now be described do not have this drawback, while providing the same technical advantages. The parts common to the various embodiments will therefore not be re-described now.

 In Figure 6 illustrating the second embodiment, the person skilled in the art will note that the open cutouts 20 and 22 of the first embodiment illustrated in the preceding Figures are absent. It is the same for the handle 40 which can always be produced, if necessary, by the addition of a glued cardboard strip or by the fitting of an appropriate cord, or be made up of any other known gripping means of the skilled person. The gripping part 44 here protrudes from a base 36 extending from the top side part 18. When the box is closed, this base 36 is housed between the two top side walls 16 and 18, at the exterior of the walls 18. To ensure the locking provided, the parts 52 extending laterally from the top side wall 16 are partially overlapped on the top side wall 16 on the inside. Thus, the base 36 is blocked between the ends of these parts 52 and the side wall of the top 16. The unlocking is obtained in the same manner as previously, namely by exerting a force on the closed cut 46, which releases the base 36 of the parts 52. It is then possible to pull on the grip part 44 to open the box.

 In Figures 7 and 8, a third embodiment has been shown. The base 36 and the gripping part 44 are not integral with the top side wall 18, but with an internal partition 62 covering the cover wall 12 after folding of the side walls 24, 26. The internal partition has edges 66 coming favorably to be glued to the side walls 24, 26, and an additional wall 64 coming parallel to the bottom side wall 14 when the box is closed. A tongue 70 is favorably provided on the box to determine a bonding area which can cooperate with the internal partition. The operation is, of course, quite identical to what has been described above, in particular in relation to the box of Figure 6. However, if desired, a raised edge 68 allows the user to '' easily remove this internal partition. The latter can be removed only partially so as to favor the resealing of the box after use.

 To this end, precut lines 74 and delivery lines 72 are provided, making it possible to easily fold the cardboard to retract the internal partition under the container, without peeling it off, then to simplify subsequent reclosing.

 A parallelepiped box is thus obtained which can be locked in the closed position, and which can be transformed, if necessary, into a container which does not close naturally, in the fully open position.

 Such a box finds a natural application as a cat litter box. Such a box contains, for example, granules, for example of natural volcanic rock, with alveolar structure enclosed, before use, in a plastic bag or other. An internal partition, for example made of cardboard or of the same material as the box itself, can be favorably provided for keeping these granules in place. This partition can also serve favorably as a means of communication or as a litter scoop.

 Favorably, provision can be made to overcome the tray, when the box is fully open, with a niche or the like, still tending to stiffen the tray and ensuring a certain intimacy for the animal using the object of the invention. This niche may, moreover, be personalized or not by the buyer or his relatives.

 As one skilled in the art will appreciate, the box according to the invention can be used as a packaging for a cat litter, but also as an ecological means of rejecting the corresponding waste.

 Obviously, the box according to the invention can also be used for any purpose other than that of forming a cat litter box. In particular, because of its effective locking in the closed position, this box can be used for postal parcels, picnic boxes, etc.

 Although we have represented and described what are currently considered to be the preferred embodiments of the present invention, it is obvious that those skilled in the art will be able to make various changes and modifications thereto without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined below.

Claims (8)

 1 - Box affecting the shape of a suitcase when it is closed and affecting the shape of a container when it is fully open, produced from a single flat blank having folds and cutouts, said box having a bottom wall (10), a cover wall (12), two opposite side walls at the top (16, 18), a side wall at the bottom (14) and opposite longitudinal side walls (26),  characterized in that two partial cutouts (28) are provided  in opposite longitudinal side walls (26) opposite  of said bottom side wall (14), so as to allow the  pivoting of said bottom side wall (14) during  the opening of said box and to authorize a blockage in  fully open position of said box  that the said blank has first (34) and second (36)  re-entering parts internally and parallel to said  two opposite side walls from the top (16, 18)  that the first re-entering part (34) has a cutout  open (38) substantially trapezoidal  that the second re-entering part (36) is extended by at least  a tongue (42, 44) passing through said second side wall  top (18) in a suitable cutout (22) thereof, the  said tongue (42, 44) having a base affecting a shape  substantially trapezoidal corresponding to that of said  open cutout (38), projecting outwardly and intended  to cooperate with said open cutout (38); and  that said first top side wall (16) has a  closed cutout (46) opposite said open cutout (38) of  the first corresponding re-incoming part allowing  exert pressure on the base (42) of said tongue.  2 - Box according to claim 1 characterized in that said first re-entering part (34) passes through said first top side wall (16) to form a handle (40) projecting externally.  3 - Box affecting the shape of a suitcase when it is closed and affecting the shape of a container when it is fully open, produced from a single flat blank having folds and cutouts, said box having a bottom wall (10), a cover wall (12), two opposite side walls at the top (16, 18), a side wall at the bottom (14) and opposite longitudinal side walls (26),  characterized in that two partial cutouts (28) are provided  in opposite longitudinal side walls (26) opposite  of said bottom side wall (14), so as to allow the  pivoting of said bottom side wall (14) during  the opening of said box and to authorize a blockage in  fully open position of said box;  that one (18) of said two opposite side walls of apex  of said blank is extended by a tongue (36, 44) having a  base (36) folding outwardly and parallel to said  side wall (18);  that said base (36) carries a gripping part (44) making  externally protruding  that the other (16) of said top side walls has  a closed cutout (46) for exerting pressure on the  said base (36) provided with said gripping part (44), and  extends laterally on both sides by a part (52)  coming to overlap on itself, said base (36) coming  partially accommodate between said top side wall (16)  and said parts (52) overlapping during the  closing of the said box.  4 - Box according to any one of the preceding claims characterized in that it includes an internal partition.  5 - Box affecting the shape of a suitcase when it is closed and affecting the shape of a tray when it is completely open, produced from a flat blank having folds and cutouts, said box having a bottom wall (10), a cover wall (12), two opposite top side walls (16, 18), a bottom side wall (14) and opposite longitudinal side walls (24, 26),  characterized in that two partial cutouts (28) are provided  in opposite longitudinal side walls (26) opposite  of said bottom side wall (14), so as to allow the  pivoting of said bottom side wall (14) during  the opening of said box and to authorize a blockage in  fully open position of said box  that it includes an internal partition (62, 64, 66) intended to  cover said cover wall (12) after folding the walls  longitudinal side (24)  that the said internal partition (62, 64, 66) is extended by a  tongue (36, 44) whose base (36) folds parallel to the  said opposite top side walls (16, 18) when  closing of said box;  that said base (36) carries a gripping part (44) making  externally protruding  that one (16) of said top side walls has a  closed cutout (46) for exerting pressure on said  base (36) provided with said gripping part (44), and  laterally extended on both sides by a part (52)  coming to overlap on itself, said base (36) coming  partially accommodate between said top side wall (16)  and said parts (52) overlapping during the  closing of the said box.  6 - Box according to any one of the preceding claims characterized in that it is made of a sheet of a material chosen from cardboard, plastic and rubber.  7 - Box according to any one of claims 4 to 6 characterized in that said internal partition consists of a sheet of a material chosen from cardboard, plastic and rubber.  8 - Box according to claim 6 or 7 characterized in that at least one of the faces of said sheet is made substantially sealed by glazing, paraffinization, plasticization or equivalent.