GB2135972A

GB2135972A - Palletized packing cases

Info

Publication number: GB2135972A
Application number: GB08328635A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Clifford White Kelso
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1983-02-28
Filing date: 1983-10-26
Publication date: 1984-09-12
Also published as: GB2135972B; GB8328635D0

Abstract

A fibre-board packing case, which is made from a blank of fibre-board and has sides 1 and 2 and the usual four bottom closure flaps hinged to and extending from each of the sides, is provided with two additional bottom flaps 11 and 12. Each of these flaps has two portions 13, 14 and 19, 20, the portions 13 and 19 being fixed to the conventional bottom flaps of the packing case. Portions 14 and 20 are each provided with three rectangular fibre-board tubes 16, 22, which are axially aligned with each other when the flaps are closed to allow elongated blocks of rigid foamed polystyrene to be inserted through the tubes 16 and 22. This holds the bottom flaps closed and the tubes form a pallet which is an integral part of the packing case. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in fibre-board packing cases A common form of fibre-board packing case is formed from a blank of fibre-board and has four rectangular sides hinged together along fold lines, and a top and bottom, each of which is formed by four closure flaps. The four closure flaps consist of two inner flaps, which are hinged along fold lines to the edges of two opposite sides and two outer rectangular flaps, which are hinged along fold lines to the other two opposite sides. When the packing case is erected, the two inner flaps are first folded towards each other and then the two outer flaps are folded towards each other so that their edges, which are remote from the sides, lie adjacent each other. Such packing cases are subsequently referred to as being "of the kind described".

Large-sized packing cases of the kind described are commonly handled by fork-lift trucks, but two avoid the necessity for the use of separate pallets, such packing cases have been provided with supports which form part of the cases and support the bottom flaps of the cases above the ground in the same way as a pallet.

In one example of a packing case which is provided with supports in this way, the supports consist of fibre-board tubes which are fixed directly to the two outer flaps of the bottom. To enable the packing case to be collapsed flat, as is necessary for storage, the tubes are of rectangular section with fold lines at their corners. The tubes can therefore be squashed flat, but to prevent the tubes from collapsing and to enable them to carry the weight of the packing case when the packing case has been erected and filled, elongated blocks of rigid material, such as foamed polystyrene, are inserted into the tubes.

Fibre-board packing cases of the kind described fitted with their own supports in this way have generally proyed satisfactory and have been used quite extensively, but if they are handled inexpertly with a fork-lift truck, the bottoms of the packing cases are rather easily damaged.

The aim of the present invention is to provide a packing case of the kind described with its own supports to enable it to be handled by a fork-lift truck without the use of a pallet and to make the bottom and the supports of the packing case more able to stand up to rough usage.

To this end, according to this invention, a packing case of the kind described is provided with two additional bottom flaps, which when the packing case is erected, underlie the two outer bottom flaps, each of the additional flaps having two portions hinged together along a fold line, a smaller one of the two portions being fixed to the outer bottom flap with the fold line below the fold line of the outer bottom flap and the other portion extending substantially co-extensively below the outer bottom flap, and each of the other portions of the two additional flaps being provided with at least two parallel spacedapart support tubes of rectangular cross-section with fold lines at their corners, the tubes being arranged so that when the case is erected, each tube on one additional flap is axially aligned with a tube on the other additional flap to enable an elongated member of rigid material to be inserted into the pair of aligned tubes to prevent them from collapsing.

It has been found that by providing the support tubes on additional bottom flaps in this way, instead of fixing them directly to the outer bottom flaps of the packing case, the strength of the packing case and its resistance to rough handling by fork-lift trucks is increased in a very marked manner.

In particular, the formation of each of the additional flaps in two portions, which, when the packing case is erected, are folded over so that they are in contact with each other, produces very great strength. The increase of strength is provided not only by the additional thicknesses of fibre-board, but also to a large extent by the provision of the additional fold line. It has been found that this additional fold line not only provides increased rigidity along two opposite sides of the bottom of the packing case, but also, and this is of the greatest importance, allows the support tubes to be distorted and forced out of their parallel alignment with each other if they are mishandled by a fork-lift truck without causing permanent damage to the packing case.

If only two-way entry for the forks of a forklift truck is required, that is if it is only required that the forks shall be able to be inserted under the packing case from each of two opposite sides of the case, each tube may extend substantially fully across the portion of the additional flap to which it is fixed from the fold line to the opposite edge of the portion.

The two tubes, which are axially aligned with each other when the additional flaps are closed, then extend substantially fully across the underside of the case and each rigid member may then consist of a block which may be of rigid foamed polystryrene and is, of course, of rectangular cross-section to fit the tubes through which it is inserted.

If, however, four-way entry of the forks is required, so that the forks can be inserted from any one of the sides of the case, each tube is then preferably shorter and extends only from the fold line over a part of the width of the portion of the additional flap to which the tube is fixed. There is then a gap between the adjacent ends of the aligned tubes and each rigid member then consists of two parallel strips, which may be of timber, held spaced apart by three blocks, one at each end and one in the middle of the two strips.

When this member is inserted into the aligned tubes, the end blocks lie in the tubes and the centre block lies at the adjacent edges of the other portions of the additional flaps.

The forks of a fork-lift truck can then be inserted in a direction transverse to the elongated members through the spaces between the strips and between the blocks.

There may be just two parallel tubes on each of the additional flaps, one at each of two opposite side edges, but preferably there are three parallel tubes. In this case, there is one tube at each of two opposite side edges and one tube in the middle of each of the other portions of the additional flaps. In use, the forks of a fork-lift truck, when inserted in the direction parallel to the tubes, are inserted into the spaces on each side of the centre tube.

Preferably each tube is formed from a sheet of fibre-board which is folded along four fold lines so that three sides of the tube are each formed by a single thickness of fibre-board and the fourth side is formed by two portions of the folded sheet overlapping each other.

This side of the tube is thus formed of two thicknesses of fibre-board and it is this side that is fixed to the additional flap. Accordingly, at the end of the tube adjacent the fold line of the additional flap, there are no less than six layers of fibre-board at the bottom of the packing case when the packing case has been erected. These layers consist of one layer formed by an inner flap, a second iayer formed by an outer flap, two further layers formed by the two portions of the additional flap and two more layers formed by the double wall of the tube.

Two examples of packing cases in accordance with the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first example; Figure 2 is a central vertical section to a larger scale through the bottom part of the first example as seen in the direction of the arrows of the line ll-ll; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the bottom of the first example showing the various bottom flaps open or partly open; Figure 4 is a perspective view similar to Fig.

3, but showing the flaps closed and showing elongated members of rigid material in the course of insertion into the support tubes; and, Figures 5 to 8 are views similar to Figs. 1 to 4 respectively, but of a second example.

The first example of the fibre-board packing case in accordance with the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 4 comprises four side walls 1, 2, 3 and 4 as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The top is closed by two inner flaps, which are not shown, but which are hinged to the top edges of the sides 1 and 3, and two outer flaps 5 and 6 which are hinged to the tops of the sides 2 and 4.

As shown most clearly in Fig. 3, the bottom is closed by four bottom flaps 7, 8, 9 and 10 hinged to the bottom edges of the sides 1, 3, 2 and 4 respectively.

The bottom is also provided with two additional flaps 11 and 1 2 fixed to the outer bottom flaps 9 and 10 respectively. The additional flap 11 has a smaller portion 13, which is fixed an adhesive, or by stitching, or by both to the bottom flap 9 and a second portion 14, which when closed is co-extensive with the bottom flap 9. The portions 1 3 and 14 are hinged together along a fold line 15, which, when the flaps are closed, lies directly below the fold line by which the bottom flap 9 is connected to the side 2. The portion 14 of the additional flap 11 has three support tubes 1 6 fixed to it.The support tubes 1 6 are all the same as each other and each is of rectangular cross- section and is formed from a strip of fibre-board folded so that there are fold lines at each corner of the section of the tube and the wall of the tube adjacent the portion 14 is formed by two thicknesses of fibre-board 1 7 and 1 8. The thicknesses of fibre-board 1 7 and 18 are fixed to each other and to the portion 14 of the additional flap by means of an adhesive, by stitching, or by both.

The other additional flap 1 2 is similar to the flap 11 and has two portions 1 9 and 20 joined to each other along a fold line 21. The portion 20 carries three support tubes 22 which are similar to the tubes 16 and are fixed to the portion 20 in the same way.

The support tubes 1 6 and 22 are fixed one at each of two opposite side edges of the additional flaps and one in the centre of each of the additional flaps. When all four bottom flaps and the additional flaps are closed as shown in Fig. 4, each of the tubes 1 6 is aligned axially with a corresponding one of the tubes 22 and this allows elongate blocks of rigid material 23, which, in this example, are of foamed polystyrene to be inserted one into each pair of aligned tubes 1 6 and 22.

The insertion of the rigid members 23 into the tubes 1 6 and 22 prevents the tubes from collapsing and it also holds the portions 14 and 20 of the additional flaps 11 and 1 2 in their closed positions as shown in Fig. 4. The holding of the portions 14 and 20 in their closed positions also holds the flaps 7 to 10 closed.

In this example the support tubes 1 6 and 22 with their rigid members 23 form a pallet which provides only a two-way entry for the forks of a fork-lift truck. Thus it will be seen most clearly from Fig. 1 that the forks of a fork-lift truck can be inserted under the packing case in between the support tubes 1 6 from the side 2 of the packing case and also from the opposite side 4. Owing to the continuity of the tubes 1 6 and 22 which abut each other, however, the forks of a fork-lift truck cannot be inserted from the sides 1 and 3 of the packing case.

The second example of the packing case in accordance with the invention as shown in Figs. 5 to 8 of the drawings, provides for entry for the forks of a fork-lift truck from any one of the four sides of the packing case.

The second example is the same as the first example except for the support tubes and the rigid members which are inserted through the support tubes when the bottom flaps of the packing case are closed. The parts of the second example which correspond to parts of the first example are therefore given the same reference numerals and will not be described.

In the second example, however, in place of the support tubes 1 6 and 22 which extend right across the portions 14 and 20 of the additional flaps 11 and 1 2 from the fold lines 1 5 and 21 to the opposite free edges of the portions 14 and 20, in the second example much shorter support tubes 11 6 and 1 22 are provided. The support tubes 11 6 and 1 22 are constructed out of folded fibre-board in the same way as the tubes 1 6 and 22, but they extend only from the fold lines 15 and 21 for a short distance towards the opposite free edges of the portions 14 and 20 of the additional flaps 11 and 1 2.

Thus, when the bottom flaps and additional flaps are closed as shown in Fig. 8, each of the support tubes 11 6 is aligned with a corresponding one of the support tubes 122, but there is a substantial gap between the adjacent ends of the aligned tubes.

After the portions 14 and 20 of the additional flaps have been closed as shown in Fig.

8, a rigid members 1 23 are inserted into each pair of aligned tubes 11 6 and 1 22. Unlike the members 23, which are solid, each of the members 1 23 comprises two timber strips 1 24 and 1 25 which are held apart from each other by three timber blocks 126, 127 and 1 28. The strips 1 24 and 1 25 are fixed to the blocks 126-128 by glueing, stapling or both glueing and stapling. The blocks 1 26 and 1 28 are at the ends of the strips 1 24 and 1 25 and the block 1 27 is in the centre of the strips.Thus, as shown at the bottom of Fig.

8, when the member 1 23 has been inserted fully into the tubes 11 6 and 122, the blocks 128 and 126 lie in the tubes 116 and 122 respectively and the block 1 27 lies below the centre line of the packing case where the three edges of the portions 1 4 and 20 of the additional bottom flaps abut each other.

It can be seen that with this arrangement the forks of a fork-lift truck can be inserted under the packing case from any one of its four sides. When inserted from the sides 2 or 4, the forks extend between adjacent pairs of tubes 11 6 and 1 22 and when inserted from either of the sides 1 and 3, the forks extend through the spaces between the strips 1 24 and 125 on the two sides of the blocks 1 27.

Claims

1. A fibre-board packing case of the kind described, which is provided with two additional bottom flaps, which, when the packing case is erected, underlie the two outer bottom flaps, each of the additional flaps having two portions hinged together along a fold line, a smaller one of the two portions being fixed to the outer bottom flap with the fold line below the fold line of the outer bottom flap and the other portion extending substantially co-extensively below the outer bottom flap, and each of the other portions of the two additional flaps being provided with at least two parallel spaced-apart support tubes of rectangular section with fold lines at their corners, the tubes being arranged so that when the case is erected, each tube on one additional flap is axially aligned with a tube on the other additional flap to enable an elongated member of rigid material to be inserted into the pair of aligned tubes to prevent them from collapsing.

2. A packing case according to Claim 1, in which each tube extends substantially fully across the portion of the additional flap to which it is fixed from the fold line to the opposite edge of the portion.

3. A packing case according to Claim 2, in combination with a number of elongated members equal to the number of tubes on each additional flap, each elongated member being a block which is of rigid foamed polystyrene and of rectangular cross-section.

4. A packing case according to Claim 1, in which each tube extends only from the fold line over a part of the width of the portion of the additional flap to which the tube is fixed.

5. A packing case according to Claim 4, in combination with a number of elongated members equal to the number of tubes on each additional flap, each elongated member consisting of two parallel strips held spaced apart by three blocks, one at each end and one in the middle of the two strips so that when the member is inserted into the aligned tubes, the end blocks lie in the tubes and the centre block lies at the adjacent edges of the other portions of the additional flaps, whereby the forks of a fork-lift truck can be inserted under the packing case in a direction transverse to the elongated members through the spaces between the strips and between the blocks.

6. A packing case according to any one of the preceding Claims, in which there are three parallel tubes on each of the additional flaps, one at each of two opposite side edges and one in the middle of each of the other portions of the additional flaps.

7. A packing case according to any one of the preceding Claims, in which each tube is formed from a sheet of fibre-board which is folded along four fold lines so that three sides of the tube are each formed by a single thickness of fibre-board and the fourth side is formed by two portions of the folded sheet overlapping each other, the fourth side being fixed to the additional flap.

8. A packing case according to any one of the preceding Claims, in which the smaller one of the two portions of each additional flap is fixed to the outer bottom flap by stitching or stapling, by an adhesive, or by both stitching or stapling and an adhesive.

9. A packing case according to any one of the preceding Claims, in which each tube is fixed to its additional flap by stitching or stapling, by an adhesive, or by both stitching or stapling and an adhesive.

10. A packing case according to Claim 1, substantially as described with reference to Figs. 1 to 4, or 5 to 8, of the accompanying drawings.