FR2796366A1 - CASE IN RIGID STOCKABLE FLAT MATERIAL - Google Patents

Abstract

Box of rigid material which can be stored flat and shaped without tools, said box comprising a bottom (3), two side panels (4, 5), two end panels (6, 7) and a cover (8), the bottom (3) being connected by each of its two longitudinal edges (3a, 3b) to one of the longitudinal edges of a side panel, in which the bottom (3) and the two side panels (4, 5) form an assembly (2) which can be stored flat in which each longitudinal edge (3a, 3b) of the bottom (3) is connected to one of the longitudinal edges (4b, 5a) of a side panel (4, 5) by a foldable film hinge (9a, 9b), the longitudinal edges thus connected each comprising a chamfer (10) to 450, the two chamfers (10) connecting at the level of the film hinge to form, when the assembly ( 2) is flat, a V-shaped groove (11a, 11b) so that each side panel (4, 5) can be brought into a perpendicular position with respect to the bottom (3) by simply folding around of the film hinge (9a, 9b).

Description

BODY IN RIGID STOCKABLE FLAT MATERIAL.

  The present invention relates to boxes made of material

  rigid, especially in wood, which can be stored flat.

  It is known to package one or more bottles of wine or alcohol in a wooden case, which ensures a prestigious presentation. Of course, it would be possible to use boxes, but

  the presentation is then much less rewarding.

  The boxes intended to contain wine bottles are assembled in the factory and conventionally include a bottom, two side panels and two end panels, these end panels being mounted perpendicular to the bottom and forming a

  right angle to the side panels, and a cover.

  Wine retailers must therefore, when they want to package their wines or certain bottles of wine, such as magnums, in a wooden case, store the necessary cases under

  assembled form, which requires a large volume of storage.

  The object of the present invention is to provide boxes made of rigid material, in particular wooden, which can be stored flat and which can be easily and quickly mounted during use, without

need a tool.

  According to the present invention, this object is achieved by connecting the longitudinal edges of the bottom with a longitudinal edge of a side panel using a foldable film hinge so as to form an assembly comprising the bottom and the two side panels. , the end panels and the cover remaining independent during storage. The box is therefore mounted by folding the side panels along the film hinge, on either side of the bottom, then putting in

  places end panels and cover.

  The present invention therefore relates to a box made of rigid material which can be stored flat and shaped without tools, said box comprising a bottom, two side panels, two end panels and a cover, the bottom being connected by each of its two longitudinal edges to one of the longitudinal edges of a side panel, characterized in that the bottom and the two side panels form a flat storable assembly in which each longitudinal edge of the bottom is connected to one of the longitudinal edges of a side panel by a foldable film hinge, the longitudinal edges thus connected each comprising a chamfer at 45, the two chamfers connecting at the level of the film hinge to form, when the assembly is flat, a V-shaped groove so that each side panel can be brought into position perpendicular to the bottom by simple folding around the film hinge. The rigid, non-foldable material is preferably wood for commercial reasons. However, other rigid non-foldable materials could be used, such as reconstituted wood panels, wood panels coated with a layer of colored or not colored plastic material, for example melamine, or sheets of plastic material, transparent or opaque, colored or not, reinforced or not with glass fibers, or metallic panels, for example aluminum. The different elements forming the body

  can be made of the same material, preferably wood.

  However, the different elements of the box can also be made of at least two different materials. For example, it could be advantageous to use a transparent plastic cover, for example in "PLEXIGLAS" (polymethyl methacrylate), the rest of the box being made of wood. The rest of the box could also consist of a bottom and panels of nature and

of different colors.

  The film hinge according to the invention can be made of any flexible material capable of bending without breaking. This material can

  be paper, fabric, nonwoven or plastic film.

  This material can be reinforced with fibers, for example glass fibers,

to increase its resistance.

  According to a first embodiment, the bottom and the two side panels are obtained by molding in a single piece of plastic, the film hinge being formed by a thinning at the bottom of the V-shaped grooves. According to a second embodiment, the film hinge is formed by an adhesive strip, which is put in place on both sides and

  on the other side of the bottom connecting edge with a side panel.

  In this case, it may be advantageous to provide a counterbore on the side panel and / or the bottom which avoids excess thickness at the level

of the film hinge.

  According to another embodiment, the material of the film hinge covers the entire outer surface of the bottom and of the side panels. According to yet another embodiment, in particular when the bottom and the side panels are made of reconstituted wood or not covered with a layer of plastic material, the film hinge is obtained by digging a V-shaped groove while

  retaining the plastic layer.

  Preferably, according to the invention, at least one of the chamfers delimiting the V-groove between a side panel and the bottom carries a self-adhesive element so that, when the side panels are arranged perpendicular to the bottom, the panels and the bottom are kept in this position, even if the film hinge is damaged. A peelable strip, for example made of silicone paper, is advantageously placed on said self-adhesive element.

  to protect it during storage.

  During assembly, the side panels are folded at right angles to the bottom, along the two film hinges. The end panels are then put in place. It is possible to put them in place by gluing. However, the fixing is preferably done by a system of grooves, a groove being formed in each of the side panels to receive the side edges of the end panels. These grooves are advantageously dovetailed to allow the perpendicularity of the large lateral faces to be maintained relative to the bottom. Grooves are also provided

  in the bottom to receive the bottom edge of the end panels.

  The cover could be fixed by fitting or by gluing.

  It is preferably fixed by sliding in grooves made in the vicinity of the upper edge of the side panels and is inserted into a groove made in the rear end panel. In this embodiment, the front end panel has a lower height than the rear end panel, so as to allow the passage of the cover. Preferably, the cover has at one of

  its ends an excess thickness border which allows it to be manipulated.

  In this embodiment, this excess thickness edge bears against two spoilers formed by the intersection of the grooves intended for sliding the cover and the grooves arranged in the vicinity of the lateral edges of the end panel of lower height. In this case, provision may be made for the excess thickness edge and the spoilers to be provided with an adhesive layer or with an attached double face so that, when the cover is in place, it is kept in its closed position. But one can also provide for the placement of a label or other sticky tape to

  horse on the cover and the front end panel.

  In the description above, it was basically done

  reference to the packaging of bottles, but it is understood that the boxes according to the invention can be used for the storage of other

  objects, their transport or their presentation.

  The size of the boxes according to the invention can be arbitrary. The weight of the wrapped objects, in particular the number of bottles that can be wrapped, is limited only by the strength of the connection between the bottom and the side panels, i.e. by the strength of the hinge- film and, possibly, bonding between the chamfers delimiting the V-groove. The boxes according to the invention have the advantage of being able to be stored flat, the assembly formed by the bottom and the side panels connected by the film hinges being laid flat and the cover and end panels being placed on this assembly. Depending on the dimensions of the box, it is possible to stack several boxes in the same package as explained below. The box (es) is (are) then wrapped in shrink plastic. The present invention therefore also relates to a package containing the elements of one or more crate (s) as defined above, stacked flat

  in a heat shrinkable package.

  The boxes according to the invention have the advantage of being able to be stored flat, which allows a wine merchant, for example, not to be encumbered by mounted boxes. In addition, mounting on

  place is easy and fast and does not require any special tool.

  The machining of crates stored flat can be fully automatic in the factory and the cost price of a crate can therefore be lower than

  price of a nailed or stapled case.

  To better understand the object of the invention, we will describe below, by way of purely illustrative and non-limiting example,

  an embodiment shown in the accompanying drawing.

  In this drawing: - Figure 1 shows, in perspective, the elements of a box according to the invention; - Figures 2 to 4 show in detail three alternative embodiments of the hinge-film connection between the bottom and a side panel; - Figure 5 shows, in perspective, the body being assembled; FIG. 6 represents the mounted box; - Figure 7 shows, in exploded perspective, a package consisting of the elements of three boxes according to the invention, during its constitution; and - Figure 8 shows, in perspective, the package of Figure

7 as stored.

  The body shown in the drawing by way of example has been designated by 1 as a whole; it is intended for the packaging of a single bottle, for example a magnum of champagne. The assembled box 1 therefore has, in cross section, the shape of a square in which the circle of the section of larger diameter of the bottle can be inscribed and it has, in length, a dimension slightly greater than

that of said bottle.

  As can be seen in FIG. 1, the different elements of the body include, on the one hand, an assembly 2 constituted by a bottom 3 and two side panels 4 and 5, the bottom and the side panels being rectangles having the same width and the same length, on the other hand, two end panels of different heights 6 and 7 and finally, a rectangular cover 8 having approximately the same

dimensions than the bottom 3.

  In assembly 2, the bottom 3 and the panels 4 and 5 are connected by a film hinge. According to a first variant shown in FIG. 2, the film hinge consists of a strip 50 of flexible material, such as a film of self-adhesive plastic material on one side; this strip 50 is disposed astride the edge defined between the longitudinal edge 3a of the bottom 3 and the longitudinal edge 4b of the side panel 4 to form a first film hinge 9a; another strip identical to the previous one is disposed on the edge between the longitudinal edge 3b of the bottom 3, opposite the edge 3a, and the longitudinal edge 5a of the panel 5, so as to form a second hinge-

film 9b.

  As shown in Figures 2 to 4, each longitudinal edge of the bottom 3 and the longitudinal edge of a side panel 4 or 5 on either side of the film hinge 9a or 9b carry a longitudinal chamfer 10 to 45 relative in the middle planes of the bottom 3 and of the side panels 4 and 5. These chamfers thus together form 2 a V-shaped groove 1 1a, 11 l between the side panels 4 and 5 on the one hand and

the bottom 3 on the other hand.

  In FIG. 2, it can be seen that the strip 50 forming the hinge-

  film 9a is fixed to the juxtaposed lower surfaces of the bottom 3 and of the side panel 4 and constitutes a slight excess thickness on these lower surfaces. In FIG. 3, it can be seen that a counterbore 12 has been provided in the lower surfaces of the side panel 4 and of the bottom 3 juxtaposed, so as to avoid this excess thickness. In Figure 4, we see that the film hinge 9a is obtained by molding with the bottom 3 and the panel 4; a layer of glue 25 protected by a peelable paper is deposited

  on one of the longitudinal chamfers 10.

  The bottom 3 is provided on its front and rear edges 3c and 3d with grooves 13c and 13d of rectangular cross section. The side panels 4 and 5 are provided on their transverse edges of the front and rear ends with dovetail grooves 14c, 14d, 15c, 15d, and on their longitudinal edges 4a and 5b (opposite the edges 4b and 5a carrying the film hinges 9a and 9b), with grooves of rectangular cross section 16a and 17b. The midlines of the grooves 13c, 14c,

  15c on the one hand, and 13d, 14d, 15d on the other hand, are collinear.

  The rear end panel 6 has a height equal to the sum of the depth of the groove 13c and the width of the side panels 4 and 5; the width of the panel 6 is equal to the width of the bottom 3

  increased by the depth of the dovetail grooves 14c and 15c.

  The panel 6 is provided, on its opposite lateral edges 18a, 18k, with a dovetail tenon and, at its upper edge, with a groove of rectangular section 18c having, with the necessary clearance close, a thickness

  equal to the thickness of the cover 8.

  The front end panel 7 carries on its side edges 19a and 19b dovetail tenons capable of cooperating with the grooves 14d and 15d of the side panels 4 and 5. Its height is such that the cover 8 can penetrate into the grooves 16a of

  panel 4 and 17k of panel 5 and slide there.

  The cover consists of a plate of rigid material, of a thickness such that its lateral edges 20a and 20b can slide 1o respectively in the grooves 16a and 17b and that its rear edge 21

  can penetrate the groove 18c of the rear end panel 6.

  According to the embodiment shown, it has on its front edge 22 an extra thickness 23, which, when the box is closed, bears on two spoilers 24a and 24b formed by the intersection of the grooves 16a and 14d of the panel 4 and grooves 17k and 15d of the panel 5. The spoilers 24a and 24b and the edge of the extra thickness 22 can be provided with a self-adhesive whitewash so that the cover is held in position

when put in place.

  To mount the box according to the invention, we start by folding the side panels 4 and 5 perpendicular to the bottom 3, the film hinges 9a and 9b folding and the walls 10 of each groove in

  V 11a and 11b applying one against the other (see Figure 5).

  Optionally, for the variant of FIG. 4, the peelable paper protecting the glue 25 deposited on one of the chamfers 10 is removed beforehand so that the walls of each of the grooves stick to one another. The end panel 6 is then slid by its tenons 18a and 18b in the grooves 14c and 15c of the side panels 4 and 5 and the end panel 7 by its tenons 19a and 19b in the grooves 14d and 15d of the side panels 4 and 5. The lower edge of the panel 6 is housed in the groove 13c of the bottom 3 and that of the

  panel 7 in the bottom groove 13d 3.

  The edges 20a and 20k of the cover 8 can then be slid into the grooves 16a and 17b of the side panels 4 and 5 until its rear edge 21 enters the groove 18c of the panel 6. The edge of the extra thickness 23, which was used to handle the cover,

  then comes into contact with the spoilers 24a and 24b.

  For storage, the assembly 2 is laid flat consisting of the side panels 4 and 5 and the bottom 3 and the cover 8 is placed on it and

the end panels 4 and 5.

  According to the embodiment shown, o the box has a square shape in cross section, it is possible to constitute for storage a parallelepipedic package consisting of the elements of three boxes. To this end, the assembly 2 of a first box is laid flat, then the three covers and the six end panels are distributed over this assembly, over two layers. For example, in a first layer, the end panels 6 and 7 of the three boxes are deposited on each of the side panels and on the bottom; on a second layer, the three covers 8 of the three boxes are placed, the additional thickness 23 being turned towards the first layer. On the stack as well

  formed, the sets 2 of the second and third boxes are deposited.

  The whole forms a flat parallelepiped, which can be wrapped in a

  heat shrinkable plastic film (see figure 8).

  Other distributions of the end panels would be possible. For example, one can put a cover and four end panels in the first layer, the cover being preferably arranged above the bottom of the assembly 2 of the first box and two

  covers and two end panels in the second layer.

  The box of the invention can also be used as a coffin.

Claims (9)

  1 - Box (1) made of rigid material which can be stored flat and shaped without tools, said box comprising a bottom (3), two side panels (4, 5), two end panels (6 , 7) and a cover (8), the bottom (3) being connected by each of its two longitudinal edges (3a, 3b) to one of the longitudinal edges of a side panel, characterized in that the bottom (3) and the two side panels (4, 5) form a flat storable assembly (2) in which each longitudinal edge (3a, 3b) of the bottom (3) is connected to one of the edges   1o longitudinal (4b, 5a) of a side panel (4, 5) by a hinge-   film (9a, 9b) foldable, the longitudinal edges thus connected each comprising a chamfer (10) at 45, the two chamfers (10) connecting at the level of the film hinge to form, when the assembly (2) is at flat, a V-shaped groove (1 1a, 11b) so that each side panel (4, 5) can be brought into position perpendicular to the bottom (3) by simple folding around the film hinge (9a, 9b). 2 Box according to claim 1, characterized in that the rigid material is wood, reconstituted wood, wooden panels coated with a layer of plastic material, colored or not, or plastic plates, opaque or transparent , colored or not, reinforced or not reinforced with glass fibers or metallic panels.   3 - Box according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized   by the fact that the bottom (3) and the two side panels (4, 5) are obtained by molding in one piece of plastic material, the film hinge being formed by a thinning at the bottom of the grooves (1 la, 1 lb1) V-shaped   4- Box according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized   by the fact that the film hinge (9a, 9b) is made of paper, fabric, nonwoven or plastic film, possibly reinforced by fibers.   - Box according to claim 4, characterized in that the film hinge (9a, 9b) is constituted by an adhesive strip (50) disposed on either side of the connecting edge between the   edge of the bottom (3) and the edge of a side panel (4, 5).   6 - Box according to claim 5, characterized in that a counterbore (12) is provided on the edge of the side panel (4, 5) and / or on the bottom (3), so as to avoid an excess thickness at the level of the film hinge (9a, 9b).   7 - Box according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized   by the fact that at least one of the chamfers (10) of the V-groove (11)   carries a self-adhesive element (25).   8 - Box according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized   by the fact that the transverse end edges of the side panels o10 (4, 5) are provided with grooves (14c, 140, 15c, 15d) intended to cooperate with the pins (18a, 18b, 19a, 19b) carried by the lateral edges of each end panel (6, 7) and that the bottom (3) is also provided with grooves (13_, 13d) intended to cooperate with the lower edge   of each end panel (6, 7).   9 - Box according to claim 8, characterized in that the grooves (14c, 144, 15c, 15d) of the side panels (4, 5) form with the pins (18a, 18b, 19a, 19b) of the end panels   (6, 7) a dovetail fixing system.   - Box according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized   by the fact that the longitudinal edges of the side panels (4, 5) are   provided with grooves (16a, 170) for sliding the cover (8).   11 -Cash according to one of claims 1 to 10,   characterized in that one of the end panels (6) is provided with a groove (18c) to accommodate the rear edge (21) of the cover 2 5 (8).   12 - Package containing the elements likely to   constitute one or more crate (s) according to one of claims 1 to   1 1, stacked flat, packed in a heat shrinkable plastic.