GB2188307A

GB2188307A - Packaging container

Info

Publication number: GB2188307A
Application number: GB08706862A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ewen Macrae Sutherland
Original assignee: UTTERPACE Ltd
Current assignee: UTTERPACE Ltd
Priority date: 1986-03-26
Filing date: 1987-03-23
Publication date: 1987-09-30
Also published as: GB8706862D0; GB8607478D0

Abstract

A container comprises a box 1 of plastics material formed from a flat sheet of plastics material, bent into the desired shape and held by means of lugs extending from an edge of the sheet and locating in apertures 3 formed through the sheet. The form of the box is such that each of its walls is double thickness, thus imparting rigidity to the structure. A lining of the same plastics material is provided. Two opposed walls 5 of the liner are of greater height than the other opposed walls to provide a pair of runners for pockets to be stored in the container. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Packaging container This invention relates to a packaging container.

According to the present invention there is provided a packaging container of a water-resistant plastics material each peripheral wall ofwhich comprises a pair of opposed spaced members interconnected by spaced webs.

Preferably the walls are plastics material extrusions.

The container preferably has interconnected walls and an openable and/or removable lid. The lid may be hinged to a side wall, for example by means of adhesive tape; the material of the container and of the adhesive tape can be selected so thatthetape adheres to the container and lid but can be peeled free and then replaced without appreciable loss of adhesive ability. The lid may, in its closed position,fit within the confines ofthe containerwalls and conform to the shape ofthe walls, thereby to provide rigidityforthe overall structure by resisting inward deformation of the side walls.

A cover can be provided to envelop at least a portion of the container for protection during transportation. The cover may be of the same material as the container itself.

Preferably the container is of a construction which allows itto be dismantled or rearranged so asto be storedflatwhen not in use. The containerwalls may also be adapted to receive and/or support articles to be packaged within the container, and packing means may be provided for separating and protecting the articles.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described byway of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure lisa perspective view of a container ofthis invention; Figure2 is a perspective view of the container of Figure 1 with the cover removed.

Figure3 is a plan view of the container of Figure 1, with the cover removed; Figure 4 is a plan view of the lid of the container of Figure 1; and Figure 5 is an end view of the material of construction of the container of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings, the container ofthis embodiment of the invention comprises a cuboidal open-topped box 1 of plastics material formed by extrusion and having a monolayer honeycomb cross-sectional construction as shown in Figure 5.

This construction ensures lightness ofweight and structural strength for the box 1.

The box 1 is formed from a flat sheet of the plastics material, bent into the desired shape and held by means of lugs extending from an edge of the sheet and locating in apertures 3 formed through the sheet (shown in Figure 1 on a cover 11 as will be described). The form of the box is such that each of its walls is double thickness, thus imparting rigidity to the structure.

A lining 4 of the same plastics material isfolded aroundthe internal side wall of the box 1,two opposed walls 5 of the liner being of greater height than the other opposed walls 6, thereby to provide a pair of runners for receiving and supporting microfiche cards in Retrix pockets 7 to be stored in the container. The pockets 7 have their upper edges flush with the liner walls 5. Packers of the plastics material 8 and of expanded polystyrene 9 are used to hold the pockets 7 tightly in position.

A lid 10 of the same plastics material fits within the confines ofthe box 1, resting on the upper edge of the lining's higherwalls Sand the pockets 7. The lid 10 has a slightly curved profile and the side walls of the box 1 are correspondingly curved when the box is filled. This provides a tight fit for the box 1 within a cover 11 which is formed from a flat sheet of the same plastics material as the box 1.

The cover reaches two within 0.5 cm of the base of the box 1 when in position.

Both the box 1 and the cover 11 can be unfolded when not in use and stored flat. They can later be refolded for reuse, and in each case lugs and apertures 3 provide the means for holding the structure in its assembled form.

The lid 10 is held on the box 1 by plastic adhesive tape 12 which allows easy disconnection and reconnection ofthe lid 10 and provides a hinge for the lid 10 to the box 1. The adhesive tape 12 adheres to the plastics material of the box 1 but the adhesive used and the material ofthe box 1 are such that the tape 12 can be peeled offand replaced manytimes without significant deterioration of the adhesive qualities of the tape. A non-adhesive tab 13 is provided atone end of the tape 12 for convenient grasping of the tape. Adhesive tape can also be used to hold the cover 11 securely on the box 1, and in each case the tape is preferably ofthe same colour as the box 1 and cover 11.

In this embodimentthe box 1 is about 22cm x 19 cm 15.5cm and can accommodate up to 200 microfiche cards in Retrix pockets 7.

This embodiment of the invention provides a container for storage and transport of microfiche cards in the Retrix pockets 7, but the container may also be used for example for luggage, record discs, fragile items such as china or glassware. It may alternatively be used as a car roof rack container, as a sealed containerfor archiving its contents, orfor preservation and packaging of tools and equipment.

Modifications and improvements may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

1. A packaging container of a water-resistant plastics material each peripheral wall ofwhich comprises a pair of opposed spaced members interconnected by spaced webs.

2. Apackaging containeras claimed in Claim 1, wherein the walls are plastics material extrusions.

3. Apackaging containeras claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein the container has an openable lid hinged to one of said walls by means of adhesive tape.

4. A packaging container as claimed in Claim 3, wherein said adhesive tape and said plastics material are selected such that the adhesive tape can

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Packaging container This invention relates to a packaging container. According to the present invention there is provided a packaging container of a water-resistant plastics material each peripheral wall ofwhich comprises a pair of opposed spaced members interconnected by spaced webs. Preferably the walls are plastics material extrusions. The container preferably has interconnected walls and an openable and/or removable lid. The lid may be hinged to a side wall, for example by means of adhesive tape; the material of the container and of the adhesive tape can be selected so thatthetape adheres to the container and lid but can be peeled free and then replaced without appreciable loss of adhesive ability. The lid may, in its closed position,fit within the confines ofthe containerwalls and conform to the shape ofthe walls, thereby to provide rigidityforthe overall structure by resisting inward deformation of the side walls. A cover can be provided to envelop at least a portion of the container for protection during transportation. The cover may be of the same material as the container itself. Preferably the container is of a construction which allows itto be dismantled or rearranged so asto be storedflatwhen not in use. The containerwalls may also be adapted to receive and/or support articles to be packaged within the container, and packing means may be provided for separating and protecting the articles. An embodiment of the present invention will now be described byway of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure lisa perspective view of a container ofthis invention; Figure2 is a perspective view of the container of Figure 1 with the cover removed. Figure3 is a plan view of the container of Figure 1, with the cover removed; Figure 4 is a plan view of the lid of the container of Figure 1; and Figure 5 is an end view of the material of construction of the container of Figure 1. Referring to the drawings, the container ofthis embodiment of the invention comprises a cuboidal open-topped box 1 of plastics material formed by extrusion and having a monolayer honeycomb cross-sectional construction as shown in Figure 5. This construction ensures lightness ofweight and structural strength for the box 1. The box 1 is formed from a flat sheet of the plastics material, bent into the desired shape and held by means of lugs extending from an edge of the sheet and locating in apertures 3 formed through the sheet (shown in Figure 1 on a cover 11 as will be described). The form of the box is such that each of its walls is double thickness, thus imparting rigidity to the structure. A lining 4 of the same plastics material isfolded aroundthe internal side wall of the box 1,two opposed walls 5 of the liner being of greater height than the other opposed walls 6, thereby to provide a pair of runners for receiving and supporting microfiche cards in Retrix pockets 7 to be stored in the container. The pockets 7 have their upper edges flush with the liner walls 5. Packers of the plastics material 8 and of expanded polystyrene 9 are used to hold the pockets 7 tightly in position. A lid 10 of the same plastics material fits within the confines ofthe box 1, resting on the upper edge of the lining's higherwalls Sand the pockets 7. The lid 10 has a slightly curved profile and the side walls of the box 1 are correspondingly curved when the box is filled. This provides a tight fit for the box 1 within a cover 11 which is formed from a flat sheet of the same plastics material as the box 1. The cover reaches two within 0.5 cm of the base of the box 1 when in position. Both the box 1 and the cover 11 can be unfolded when not in use and stored flat. They can later be refolded for reuse, and in each case lugs and apertures 3 provide the means for holding the structure in its assembled form. The lid 10 is held on the box 1 by plastic adhesive tape 12 which allows easy disconnection and reconnection ofthe lid 10 and provides a hinge for the lid 10 to the box 1. The adhesive tape 12 adheres to the plastics material of the box 1 but the adhesive used and the material ofthe box 1 are such that the tape 12 can be peeled offand replaced manytimes without significant deterioration of the adhesive qualities of the tape. A non-adhesive tab 13 is provided atone end of the tape 12 for convenient grasping of the tape. Adhesive tape can also be used to hold the cover 11 securely on the box 1, and in each case the tape is preferably ofthe same colour as the box 1 and cover 11. In this embodimentthe box 1 is about 22cm x 19 cm 15.5cm and can accommodate up to 200 microfiche cards in Retrix pockets 7. This embodiment of the invention provides a container for storage and transport of microfiche cards in the Retrix pockets 7, but the container may also be used for example for luggage, record discs, fragile items such as china or glassware. It may alternatively be used as a car roof rack container, as a sealed containerfor archiving its contents, orfor preservation and packaging of tools and equipment. Modifications and improvements may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. CLAIMS

4. A packaging container as claimed in Claim 3, wherein said adhesive tape and said plastics material are selected such that the adhesive tape can be removed from and replaced on the plastics material without appreciable loss of adhesive quality.

5. A packaging container as claimed in Claim 3 or 4, wherein said lid fits in its closed position within the confines ofthe container walls and conforms to the shape of the walls thereby to resist inward deformation ofthewalls.

6. A packaging container as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the container has a cover in the form of an open box within which the containerfits.

7. A packaging container as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the container is dismantleable so as to store flat when not in use.

8. A packaging container as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the container walls form supports for articles to be packaged within the container.

9. A packaging container as claimed in Claim 8, wherein packing means are provided for separating articles to be packaged within the container.

10. A packaging container substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.