GB2181407A - Partitions for cartons - Google Patents

Abstract

A fold-flat assembly of packaging division 20 comprises rigid boards 21-25 sized to fit either longitudinally or transversely in a given carton or like package, the boards having slot at intervals partway down or up from the top or bottom board edges respectively with intersecting boards being slotted together to form a cellular array. Each closed cell K,L formed by intersecting boards has a wall 29 formed by overlapping but not interconnected board-portions which permit variation in width of that wall and thus modification of the cross- sectional shape of cells within the constraint of a given carton. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements relating to packings This invention relates to divisions for use in restraining fragile products in packing cases, cartons, cardboard boxes or the like.

Such divisions may be made from corrugated paper or fibre board and generally consist an assembly of rigid rectangular boards sized to fit either longitudinally or transversely in a given carton or like in-transit package; the boards having vertical slots at intervals partway down or up from the top or bottom board edges with intersecting boards being slotted together to form a rectangular cellular array of packing divisions. Most products to be packed, e.g. round or rectangular bottles or even-sized apples, can be contained by a regular array of square or rectangular crosssection cells. In such arrays, the slots are equally or evenly spaced along the edges of both boards. Usually, these packing divisions are arranged to be assembled and then folded flat for easy and reduced volume for transit to the point of use.

There are some products that have a crosssectional shape that will not fit into a regular rectangular array without either distorting the wails of the division cells or by not fitting the cell tightly enough to be protected against damage. For example the triangular section products 1 illustrated in Fig. 1, which is a perspective view of a rectangular carton 2 having packaging divisions in an array 3 of straight longitudinal boards 4 and "zig-zag" shaped transverse boards 5 forming trapezoid cross-section cells 6. If made of rigid board, such trapezoidal arrays will not fold flat.

Fold-flat packaging divisions having arrays of non-rectangular cross-section cells are known wherein one or more central division walls, e.g. wall 7 in Fig. 1, are vertically creased at 8 so that the wall will fold and thus permit the assembled array to fold flat. However, such folded wall divisions have proved unsatisfactory in that the extra crease or creases weaken the wall in the unfolded assembly.

Additionally, it may require the extra manufacturing step of forming a crease in an assembly that, otherwise, does not require its components to be creased.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a fold-flat assembly of packaging divisions having cells that can assume a non-rectangular cross-section and which overcomes the above-stated disadvantages.

According to the present invention, a foldflat assembly of packaging divisions comprise rigid boards sized to fit either longitudinally or transversely in a given carton or like package, the boards having slots at intervals part-way down or up from the top or bottom board edges respectively with intersecting boards being slotted together to form a cellular array in which each closed cell formed by intersecting boards has a wall formed by overlapping but not interconnected board-portions which permit variation in width of that wall and thus modification of the cross-sectional shape of cells within the constraint of a given carton.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the variable width closed cell wall is formed by the overlapped inner ends of two board pieces which together form one of said longitudinal or transverse boards.

By this means, the width of the cell wall formed by the two board pieces can vary, by one board piece sliding over the other, to accommodate products which do not form regular rectilinear arrays; the non-closed cells can adjust by relative angular movement of the free end of a board about an adjacent slot intersection.

The above and other features of the present invention are illustrated, by way of example, in the drawings, wherein: Figure 2 is a sketch plan of an unfolded package division array in accordance with the present invention; Figure 3 is a sketch plan of the array of Fig.

2 but with the cells expanded for "irregular" products; and Figure 4 is an isometric view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, having interlocked divisions.

As shown by Fig. 2, a fold-flat assembly 20 of packaging divisions consists of three longitudinal boards 21, 22, 23, preferably of rigid fibreboard, and each having two equi-spaced slots (not shown) extending half-way down the boards from the top edges hereof. A further two transverse boards 24, 25, also of fibreboard, each have three equi-spaced slots (not shown) extending half-way up the boards from the bottom edges thereof. The assembly is formed as shown by intersecting transverse and longitudinal boards being slotted together to form an array of twelve rectangular cells.

There being ten open cells A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J; i.e. those cells having at least one wall to be formed by the carton into which the assembly is to be fitted, and two closed cells K, L; i.e. those cells of which all the walls are formed by intersecting boards. As thus far described, the assembly is conventional; if the slots are at regular intervals, a regular array of cells will be produced and the assembly will fold flat by the boards pivoting about the slot intersections.

However, central longitudinal board 22 is formed of two pieces 27, 28 which are of a length and are arranged such that they overlap and form division wall 29 that is common to closed cells K and L. Each board piece 27, 28 has a single slot (not shown) to mate with a respective slot of transverse boards 24,25 and thus locate the two board pieces in the assembly. The effect of these two-pieces overlapping one another is that cell wall 29 can effectively expand widthwise so that the cross-sectional shape of cells K and L can change to accommodate "irregular" products; such as the triangular cross-section product shown in Fig. 1. The walls of the other, open cells can adjust by pivoting about slot intersections 21-24, 21-25 to 23-24, 23-25; as indicated in Fig. 3.

The overall increase in length of board 27 when cell wall 29 expands widthways may be accommodated in two ways: the free, outer ends of the board pieces 27 and 28 may be permitted to bend away from a straight line at slot intersections 27-24 and 28-25, this is what would happen with the assembly illustrated in Fig. 3; or pieces 27 and 28 can have a shorter length so that, when cell wall 29 is expanded, the overall length of pieces 27 and 28 (allowing for their overlap) will equal that of longitudinal boards 21 and 23.

Fig. 4 illustrates a preferred form of the invention, generally similar to that described above with reference to Figs. 2 and 3; like parts having been given the same references.

In this form, meeting slots of the longitudinal and transverse boards are also arranged to interlock one with the other by means of hook-shaped members 30 cut into the boards at the outer wend of each slot, for example in the top edges 31 of longitudinal boards 24, 25; which hooks co-operate with notches 32 provided in the top edges 33 of transverse boards 21, 22, 23. Similarly, the transverse boards have hooks 34 co-operating with notches 35 in the longitudinal boards. The outer end portion of each slot opposite a hook is relieved at 36 to enable intersecting boards to be slotted one into the other past the hook members which engage the notches once the boards are slotted fully home.

The effect of these hook members and notches is that, once assembled, the boards are locked one to the other whilst the assembly can still be folded flat. Such interlocked fold-flat division assemblies are known, for example being marketed by the Applicants under the Trade Mark "LOKFAST". However, in the context of the present invention, the interlock provides the additional advantage that, on handling the division assemblies by pulling the boards apart to form the required cell shape, the interlock holds the assembly together and retains the required shaping.

Claims (3)

1. A fold-flat assembly of packaging divisions comprising rigid boards sized to fit either longitudinally or transversely in a given carton or like package, the boards having slots at intervals part-way down or up from the top or bottom board edges respectively with intersecting boards being slotted together to form a cellular array in which each closed cell formed by intersecting boards has a wall formed by overlapping but not interconnected board-portions which permit variation in width of that wall and thus modification of the cross-sectional shape of cells within the constraint of a given carton.

2. An assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the variable width closed cell wall is formed by the overlapped inner ends of two board pieces which together form one of said longitudinal or transverse boards.

3. An assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein the boards are each provided with hook and notch members to co-operate and interlock at the board intersections.