FR2781458A1 - Foldable fish storage box made from precut blank has base and top panels with foldable and rigid side panels - Google Patents

Abstract

The box comprises two separate parts (70) which are fitted into each other. One of these forms an open box and the other a cover. Each part comprises a main rectangular bottom panel (1) with four rectangular walls (2,3,16,17) connected by folding lines (4,5,19,21). Two opposite walls (2,3) can be folded and the other two are rigid. The foldable and rigid walls of each part during fitting come opposite the rigid and foldable walls of the other part.

Description

The present invention relates to a foldable box, as well as a blank

  pre-cut and its mounting method by

  folding and gluing for the production of such a box.

  Rigid boxes are known, comprising two separate parts of generally parallelepipedal shape, nestable one inside the other, one of these two parts forming an open box and the other part forming a cover for covering the whole box, each part having a main rectangular bottom panel bordered by four rectangular side walls

  connected to the main panel by fold lines.

  In food packaging boxes, such as boxes for frozen fish, meat or

  other fragile goods, the walls of the two parts (or at least the bottom part forming the body) are generally

  rigid, so as to give the box sufficient mechanical strength to allow stacking of several boxes on top of each other without crushing them. This rigidity, which is a necessary characteristic when the box is filled for the transport or the storage of foodstuffs, becomes a disadvantage when before entering into service the box must be stored empty, because it then occupies an unnecessarily bulky volume. This is why, in practice, the boxes are delivered in the form of precut blanks which are stored flat by the user who

  according to their needs, their volume is set.

  However, the fact that the mounting of the boxes is carried out by the user himself has several drawbacks. First of all, the assembly operation entails a cost and a waste of time for the user who on the one hand generally does not have an automatic machine for setting up blanks and who on the other hand often does not have depending on the context, neither hand

  of appropriate work, nor of the time required for this operation.

  tion. These constraints are all the more penalizing in the food sector where the packaging of fresh or

  frozen foods must be produced in an extremely short time.

  We will think, for example, of the factory fishing boats on the high seas which carry out the freezing and packaging of the fish themselves. A second drawback, which moreover results from the first, resides in the inability often observed, on the part of the users of these boxes, to produce a quality volume setting, with good support and good sealing. In particular, due to the absence of a machine and the lack of qualification and time, it is generally not possible for them to bond in good conditions. However, bonding is however the best way to rigidly maintain volume

  parts of the box and to seal it.

  This is why it appeared useful to design a box which retains, when it is assembled, satisfactory rigidity characteristics, allowing in particular a stacking, and which at the same time can, after assembly, be folded flat awaiting their instant deployment.

  According to the invention, a compact box is proposed.

  between two separate parts of generally parallel shape

  piped, nestable one inside the other, one of these two parts forming an open box and the other part forming a cover for the complete covering of the box, each part comprising a main rectangular bottom panel bordered by four walls rectangular sides connected to the main panel by fold lines, in which among the four walls of each part, there are two opposite foldable walls having temporary fold lines and two opposite rigid walls, the foldable walls and the rigid walls of each part coming respectively, when the two parts fit together, facing the rigid walls and

foldable walls of the other party.

  Each of the two parts of the box can thus be placed in a flat storage configuration by folding the side walls against the main panel, folding which is allowed thanks to the folding capacity of the two foldable side walls. Conversely, the deployment of each part is carried out instantly by straightening the side walls. When the lower part of the box forming the crate is filled, the upper part forming the cover is placed over the lower part as specified above. The overall rigidity of the box thus formed is ensured by the rigid walls of each of the two parts which complement each other by superimposing on the foldable walls to

  overcome the lack of rigidity of the latter.

  In an advantageous embodiment, the temporary fold lines of each of the foldable walls are two in number and extend obliquely converging towards each other from respective points of origin located at the ends of the line of folding connecting the foldable wall concerned to the panel

  main, to the free edge of said foldable wall.

  The subject of the invention is also a precut blank for making after shaping by

  folding of one of the two parts of a box. This blank

  takes: - a rectangular main panel intended to form the bottom panel of the relevant part of the box, - two simple flaps connected to two opposite sides of the main panel by fold lines and intended to form the foldable side walls of the part concerned of the box, each single flap having the aforementioned temporary fold lines, - two double flaps connected to the other two opposite sides of the main panel by fold lines and intended to form the rigid side walls of the concerned part of the box, each of these two double flaps having two successive parts, one proximal the other distal, separated by a fold line parallel to the corresponding side 5 of the main panel, - four corner flaps connecting two by two the single flaps and the double flaps, each corner flap being connected to the corresponding single flap and to the proximal part of the corresponding double flap dant by fold lines extending in the extension of the fold lines of these shutters with the main panel and each shutter

  corner having a middle fold line extending diagonally from the intersection of the fold lines connecting this corner flap to the single and double flaps concerned.

  According to an advantageous characteristic, the fold lines connecting each of the two double flaps to the main panel are double and consist of two parallel rectilinear folds, one temporary interior, the other permanent exterior, slightly spaced from each other, the temporary interior fold extending between the points of origin of the corresponding temporary fold lines of the single flaps. This makes it easier, during the flat folding of the assembled box, the folding of the rigid walls25 (constituted by the double flaps) against the main panel, double folding lines making it possible to take into account the thickness of the rigid walls formed

  by the superposition of the two parts of the double flap.

  Preferably then, the fold line separating the two parts of each of the two double flaps is double and consists of two parallel rectilinear folds spaced from each other by a spacing less than that separating the two folds from the line of double folding connecting the flight-and double to the main panel. This double folding line makes it possible, as before, to facilitate the folding of each of the mounted box parts, taking better account of the consequent thickness of the

rigid walls.

  More preferably, the fold line connects

  dant each corner flap to the corresponding single flap is double and consists of two rectilinear folds, a

  temporary interior, the other permanent exterior,

  in line with the two folds of the double fold line connecting the double flap corresponding to the

main panel.

  More specifically, provision may be made for the two folds of the double fold line connecting each corner flap to the corresponding single flap to slightly converge towards each other from the main panel.

  towards the free edge of the corresponding single flap.

  According to another advantageous characteristic of the invention, the median fold line of each corner flap dividing this corner flap into a first part adjacent to the corresponding single flap and a second part adjacent to the corresponding double flap, each flap of angle and its center fold line are arranged such that, after folding, the first part covers the second part and projects beyond it over a portion coming into direct contact with the proximal part of the flap

double correspondent.

  The invention finally relates to a method of mounting by folding and gluing a box part of the aforementioned type from a precut blank of the aforementioned type, comprising the steps of: - folding the single flaps and the double flaps according to the fold lines which connect them to the main panel so as to place them substantially at right angles to this main panel, and simultaneously fold the corner flaps inwards along their mid fold line, against the proximal parts of the double flaps, - glue the overflow portion of the first part of the corner flaps to the proximal parts of the double flaps, - fold the distal parts of the double flaps inwards by folding them along the fold lines separating them from the proximal parts , - glue the distal part of the double flaps to the

  first part of the corner shutters.

  A quick assembly is thus carried out with a

  reliable hold and good sealing characteristics

  each part of the box.

  Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the description which

  follows a particular embodiment given by way of nonlimiting example.

  Reference will be made to the accompanying drawings, in which: - Figure 1 is a plan view of a blank for making a box part according to the invention;

  - Figure 2 is a perspective view illus-

  trant the shaping by folding of a box part according to the invention from the blank of FIG. 1; - Figure 3 is a perspective view of the

  part of box of figure 2 after complete shaping

you;

  - Figure 4 is a perspective view illus-

  trant the flat folding of the box part mounted in Figure 3; - Figure 5 is a perspective view of a complete box with its two parts shaped and unfolded, the two parts forming the box and cover

  superimposed and ready to be nested one inside the other.

  With reference to FIG. 1, a precut blank is produced, for example from cardboard, from polystyrene covered with protective films, or from any other material usually used for making boxes. This blank, from which a part (in this case the lower part as will be explained later) of a box according to the invention is made up, comprises a rectangular main panel 1 intended to form the bottom panel of the part concerned of the box. Two simple flaps 2, 3 are connected to the two opposite long sides of the main panel 1 by permanent fold lines 4, 5. These two flaps are intended to form foldable side walls of the relevant part of the box, as will be better explained later, and each have two fold lines for this purpose

temporary 6, 7, 8, 9.

  The two temporary fold lines 6, 7, 8, 9 of each of the single flaps 2, 3 extend obliquely converging towards each other from respective points of origin 10, 11, 12, 13 located at two ends of the fold line 4, 5 connecting the flap 2, 3 to the main panel 1, to the free edge 14, 15 of the single flap concerned. Two double flaps 16, 17 are connected to the two short sides of the main panel 1 by fold lines 18, 19, 20, 21. These double flaps are intended to form rigid side walls of the part concerned

  from the box, as will be better explained later.

  The fold lines connecting each of the two double flaps 16, 17 to the main panel 1 are double and consist of two parallel rectilinear folds, one temporary interior 18, 20, the other permanent exterior 19, 21. These two folds are slightly spaced apart from each other, the temporary inner fold 18, 20 extending between the points of origin 10, 13, 11, 12 of the corresponding temporary fold lines 6, 7, 8, 9 of the flaps

simple 2, 3.

  Each of the two double flaps 16, 17 have two successive parts, one proximal 22, 23 the other distal 24, 25, separated by a fold line parallel to the corresponding side of the main panel. This fold line is double and consists of two parallel rectilinear folds 26, 27, 28, 29 spaced from each other by a spacing less than that separating the two folds 18, 19,

  , 21 double fold lines connecting the double flaps 16, 17 to the main panel 1.

  Four corner flaps 30 to 33 connect two by two

  single flaps 2, 3 and double flaps 16, 17.

  Each of these corner flaps is connected to the corresponding single flap and to the proximal part of the corresponding double flap by permanent fold lines extending in the extension of the permanent fold lines 4, 5,

  18, 19, 20, 21 of the shutters with the main panel 1.

  The fold line connecting each corner flap 30 to 33 to the corresponding simple flap 2, 3 is double and consists of two rectilinear pleats 34 to 41, one temporary interior 34, 36, 38, 40, the other permanent exterior 35, 37, 39, 41. These two folds extend in the extension of the two folds 18, 19, 20, 21 of the double fold line connecting the corresponding double flap 16, 17 to the main panel 1. They are slightly convergent to each other from main panel 1 to the

  free edge 14, 15 of the corresponding single flap 2, 3.

  The fold line connecting each corner flap 30 to 33 to the corresponding double flap 16, 17 is simple and constituted by a single rectilinear fold 42, 43, 44, 45 extending in the extension of the fold line permanent 4, 5 connecting the single flap

  corresponding 2, 3 to the main panel 1.

  Each corner flap has a central fold line 46, 47, 48, 49 extending diagonally from the intersection of the permanent outer plies 35, 37, 39, 41 of the double fold lines connecting this corner flap to the single flap concerned with the single fold 42 of the single fold line connecting the corner flap to the flap

double concerned.

  This center fold line 46 to 49 of each corner flap 30 to 33 divides this corner flap into two parts, including a first part 50, 52, 54, 56 adjacent to the corresponding simple flap 2, 3 and a second part 51, 53, 55, 57 adjacent to the corresponding double flap 16, 17. Each corner flap 30 to 33 and its central fold line 46 to 49 are arranged so that, after folding, the first part 50, 52, 54, 56 covers the second part 51, 53, 55, 57 and overflows from it on a portion 58, 59, 60, 61 coming into direct contact with the proximal part 22, 23 of the corresponding double flap 16, 17. The shaping each part of the box from a blank such as the one just described is

proceeds as follows.

  The single flaps 2, 3 and the double flaps 16, 17 are folded according to the permanent folds 4, 5, 19, 21 of the fold lines which connect them to the main panel 1, so as to place these flaps substantially at right angles to the to the main panel 1. Simultaneously, the corner flaps 30 to 33 are folded inwards along their center fold line 46 to 49, against the parts

  proximal 22, 23 of the double flaps 16, 17.

  The overflow portions 58 to 61 of the first parts 50, 52, 54, 56 of the corner flaps 30 to 33 are then glued to the proximal parts 22, 23 of the flaps

doubles 16, 17.

  Then, the distal parts 24, 25 of the double flaps 16, 17 are folded inwards, being folded along the double permanent fold lines 26,

  27, 28, 29 separating them from the proximal parts 22, 23.

  The distal part 24, 25 of the double flaps 16, 17 is finally glued to the first part 50, 52, 54, 56

corner flaps 16, 17.

  There is thus obtained, as illustrated in FIG. 3, a box part 70 (in this case the lower part in the form of an open box) comprising a bottom formed by the main panel 1 bordered by four rectangular side walls formed by the four flaps. 2, 3. More specifically, there are two opposite foldable walls 2, 3 formed by the single flaps and two opposite rigid walls 16, 17 constituted by the double flaps folded back on themselves. The box part thus mounted can be folded flat, as illustrated in FIG. 4: it suffices to fold the walls 2, 3, 16, 17 inwards, against the main panel 1, by folding into three parts (including a central trapezoidal part and two triangular lateral parts) the foldable walls 2, 3 along their temporary fold lines 6, 7, 8, 9 and the temporary interior folds 34, 36, 38, 40 and by tilting the two walls rigid 16, 17 according to the temporary interior folds 18, 20. This produces a part of the box which is folded flat so as to have the smallest possible footprint and which can be easily and instantly deployed by straightening in a simultaneous movement the foldable walls 2, 3 and rigid 16, 17.

  A complete box according to the invention is shown

  shown in Figure 5. This box has two separate parts of generally parallelepiped shape, nestable one inside the other and each obtained as previously described from a blank similar to that which has just been

  described with reference to Figure 1.

  In this case, the lower part 70, which forms an open box, is identical to that shown in Figure 3 and obtained from the blank of Figure 1. Therefore, in this lower part, the foldable walls 2, 3 border the long sides of the rectangular main panel 1, while the rigid walls 16, 17 border the short sides. Conversely, the upper part which forms the cover of the box, and which is designated by the general reference 71, has a rectangular main panel 72 which is slightly larger than the main panel 1 of the lower part 70 and which, unlike of this lower part 70, is bordered on its long sides by

  two rigid walls 73 and on its short sides by two foldable walls 74. The foldable walls 74 have, like the foldable walls 2, 3 of the lower part 70.15 two temporary oblique fold lines 75, 76 and two temporary interior folds 77 , 78.

  Apart from this reversal in the arrangement of the foldable and rigid walls, the upper part 71 is of similar constitution to that of the lower part 20 70 and is therefore obtained from a blank such as that described with reference to FIG. 1 of which the long and short sides of the main panel are reversed, and according to an assembly process by folding and gluing identical to that previously described.25 When the box is closed, that is to say when the two parts 70 and 71 are fitted one inside the other, the upper part or cover 71 completely covering the lower part or body 70, the foldable walls 74 and the rigid walls 73 of the upper part 71 come respectively opposite the rigid walls 16, 17 and foldable walls 2, 3 of the lower part 70. Thus, when stacking several boxes of this type, the descent of load is taken up, for each box, by the rigid walls 16, 17, 73 of the two parts and 71 which complement each other to ensure rigidity and

  stability on all four sides of the box.

Claims (9)

  1. Box comprising two separate parts (70, 71) of generally parallelepiped shape, nestable one inside the other, one (70) of these two parts forming an open box and the other part (71) forming a full cover cover of the body, each part comprising a main rectangular bottom panel (1, 72) bordered by four rectangular side walls (2, 3, 16, 17, 73, 74) connected to the main panel (1, 72) by fold lines (4, 5, 18, 19, 20, 21), characterized in that, among the four walls (2, 3, 16, 17, 73, 74) of each part, there are two opposite walls foldable (2, 3, 74) having temporary fold lines (6, 7, 8, 9, 75, 76) and two rigid opposite walls (16, 17, 73), the foldable walls (43, 74) and the rigid walls (16, 17, 73) of each part coming respectively, when the two parts fit together, facing the rigid walls (16, 17, 73) and the walls   foldable (2, 3, 74) from the other party.   2. Box according to claim 1, characterized in that the temporary fold lines (6, 7, 8, 9, 75, 76) of each of the foldable walls (2, 3, 74) are two in number and s' extend obliquely by converging towards each other from respective points of origin (10, 11, 12, 13) situated at the ends of the fold line (4, 5) connecting the foldable wall concerned (2, 3) at the main panel (1), up to the free edge (14, 15) of said foldable wall.   3. Pre-cut blank for making after shaping by folding one of the two parts of a box   according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that   that it comprises: - a rectangular main panel (1) intended to form the main bottom panel of the part concerned of the box, - two simple flaps (2, 3) connected to two opposite sides of the main panel (1) by fold lines (4, 5) and intended to form the foldable side walls of the relevant part of the box, each single flap (2, 3) having the aforementioned temporary fold lines (6, 7), - two double flaps (16, 17) connected to the two other opposite sides of the main panel (1) by fold lines (18, 19, 20, 21) and intended to form the rigid side walls of the relevant part of the box, each of these two double flaps having two successive parts, one proximal (22, 23) the other distal (24,), separated by a fold line (26, 27, 28, 29) parallel to the corresponding side of the main panel (1 ), - four corner flaps (30, 31, 32, 33) connecting two by two the single flaps (2, 3 ) and the double flaps (16, 17), each corner flap being connected to the corresponding single flap and to the proximal part (22, 23) of the corresponding double flap by folding lines (34 to 45) extending in the extension of the fold lines (4, 5, 18, 19, 20, 21) of these flaps with the main panel (1) and each corner flap (30, 31, 32, 33) having a fold line median (46 to 49) extending diagonally from the intersection of the fold lines connecting this   corner flap with single and double flaps concerned.   4. A blank according to claim 3, for making   sation of a box according to claim 2, characterized in that the fold lines connecting each of the two double flaps (16, 17) to the main panel (1) are double and consist of two parallel rectilinear folds, one temporary interior (18, 20), the other permanent exterior (19, 21), slightly spaced from each other, the temporary interior fold (18, 20) extending between the points of origin (10, 13, 11, 12) corresponding temporary fold lines (6, 7, 8, 9) of the single flaps (2, 3)   5. Blank according to claim 4, characterized in that the fold line separating the two parts (22, 23, 24, 25) of each of the two double flaps (16, 17) is double and consists of two parallel rectilinear folds ( 26, 27, 28, 29) spaced from each other by a spacing less than that separating the two plies (18, 19, 20, 21) from the double fold line connecting the double flap   corresponding (16, 17) to the main panel (1).   6. Blank according to one of claims 4 and 5,   characterized in that the fold line connecting each corner flap (30, 31, 32, 33) to the corresponding single flap (2, 3) is double and made up of two rectilinear folds, one of which is temporary inside (34, 36 , 38, 40), the other permanent exterior (35, 37, 39, 40), extending in the extension of the two folds (18, 19, 20, 21) of the   double folding line connecting the corresponding double flap   laying (16, 17) on the main panel (1).   7. Blank according to claim 6, characterized in that the two folds (34 to 40) of the double fold line connecting each corner flap (30 to 33) to the corresponding single flap (2, 3) are slightly convergent l '' towards each other from the main panel (1) towards the free edge   (14, 15) of the corresponding single flap (43).   8. A blank according to one of claims 3 to 7,   characterized in that the central fold line (46 to 49) of each corner flap (30 to 33) dividing this corner flap into a first part (50, 52, 54, 56) adjacent to the corresponding single flap (2, 3) and a second part (51, 53, 55, 57) adjacent to the corresponding double flap (16, 17), each corner flap and its center fold line are arranged so that, after folding, the first part (50, 52, 54, 56) covers the second part (51, 53,, 57) and overflowed therefrom on a portion (58 to 61) coming into direct contact with the proximal part (22, 23 ) of   corresponding double flap (16, 17).   9. Method of mounting by folding and gluing a part of a box according to one of claims 1 and 2 to   from a precut blank according to claim 8, 5 characterized in that it comprises the steps of: - folding the single flaps (2, 3) and the double flaps (16, 17) along the fold lines (4, 5, 19, 21) which connect them to the main panel (1) so as to place them substantially at right angles to this main panel, and simultaneously fold the corner flaps (30 to 33) inwards according to their center fold line (46 to 49), against the proximal parts (22, 23) of the double flaps (16, 17), - glue the overflow portion to the proximal parts (22, 23) of the double flaps (16, 17) (58 to 61) of the first part (50, 52, 54, 56) of the corner flaps (30 to 33), - fold the distal parts (24, 25) of the double flaps (16, 17) towards the inside by folding them along the fold lines (26 to 29) separating them from the proximal parts (22, 23),   - glue the distal part (24, 25) of the double flaps (16, 17) to the first part (50, 52, 54, 56) of the corner flaps (30 to 33)