GB2192613A

GB2192613A - Corner joint for boxes

Info

Publication number: GB2192613A
Application number: GB08613456A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter Malcolm Ross
Original assignee: CP MEGA Ltd
Current assignee: CP MEGA Ltd
Priority date: 1986-06-04
Filing date: 1986-06-04
Publication date: 1988-01-20
Anticipated expiration: 2006-06-04
Also published as: GB8613456D0; EP0250114A1; GB2192613B

Description

GB2192613A 1

SPECIFICATION flaps 2 of the container sides.

To assemble the container a corner section Box construction is slid on to each corner and fastened in place by a rivet through the bottom hole. The bent The present invention is concerned with the 70 up sides are thus firmly secured, their flaps manufacture of boxes from sheet material. The being locked into place within the corner sec method is applicable to boxes of all kinds, for tions. The lid of the container, if one is re example re-usable containers, packing cases, quired, is similarly formed and the corners se and personal luggage. cured with corner sections of a similar kind, The method of the invention is concerned in 75 and the container is completed by the addition particular with the construction of the corners, of any fittings which may be required, such as and has as its object a corner construction edge reinforcings, handles, etc.

which is simple to assembly, economical of Fig. 3 shows a form of corner section made material, and robust in use. as a plastic injection moulding. This section The invention is defined in the claims ap- 80 may be made of better appearance, such as pended hereto, and examples will now be dewould be suitable for hand- luggage. The scribed with reference to the accompanying moulding consists of an outer shell 7 formed drawings, in which: integrally with a pair of flap-engaging members Figure 1 is a fragmentary view of one cor- 8. An external fragmentary view, in which the ner of a metal sheet, showing how it is cut 85 members 8 are indicated in dotted outline, ap and bent to form a corner of a box, for pears at (b), and (c) is a longitudinal section of example a re-usable container for industrial a shallower form, suitable for a case lid.

use. Assembly of the case is carried out as de Figure 2 comprises a longitudinal section scribed above with reference to the re-usable and an end view of a corner section formed 90 container of Figs. 1 and 2.

from sheet metal, Fig. 4 comprises a section and fragmentary Figure 3 comprises longitudinal and cross views of a particularly neat and robust corner sections of corner sections formed as a plas- construction according to the invention, suit tic injection moulding, and able for personal luggage.

Figure 4 shows, by means of a cross-sec- 95 In this construction the corner section con tion and broken-away views, the details of a sists of two separate elements. The outer ele corner formed with a two-element corner sec- merit, 9, is of metal, of a shape conforming tion. to the outside of the corner, and having an Referring first to Fig. 1, a sheet, which may inwardly-projecting rib 10 of divergent section.

be of steel, although other materials 'vh' h ill 100 The inner element 11 is a sheet metal press hold their shape, such as aluminium 0. ic W ing shaped to conform to the inside of the thermo-forming plastics, may be suitable, is corner, but with a corresponding recess 12.

cut to form the bottom and sides of a re- Each of the elements has a flange 13, 14, usable container. The re-entrant corners of the which will abut against the bottom of the case cut sheet are then notched 'as shown at (a) 105 when assembled, and rivet holes in the and the edges folded upwards and inwards at flanges permit the elements to be secured the dotted lines to form flaps 2. The sides are after assembly and allow for the attachment then bent upwards to form the body of the of feet.

container, the flaps 2 then projecting inwards The case is assembled by cutting a sheet of and diverging, as shown in plan at (b), and in 110the material from which the case is to be elevation at (c). made to shape, forming the flaps, and bend The corners of the container are next se- ing up the sides as before. Then, at each cured and protected by sliding a corner sec- corner, the outer element 9 is slid into posi tion on to each corner. One form of such a tion from the bottom and the inner element corner section is shown in Fig. 2. 115 11 is slid over it from the top, clamping the This figure shows a longitudinal section (a) flaps 2 against the diverging sides of the rib and an end view (b) of a corner section fabri- 10. The foot is then attached by means of a cated from sheet metal, for example, steel. It rivet which passes through the rivet holes in consists of a pressing 3, rounded to conform the flanges 13 and 14, locking the structure to the shape of the corner, with the end 120 together. The lid of the case is similarly curved over to form a flange 4. When assem- formed and secured, and the case is com bled this flange lies on the outside of the bot- pleted by the fitting of hinges, locks and a tom of the container and a hole 5 is provided handle, in the usual manner.

for a securing rivet or screw. This rivet or

Claims

screw may also secure a foot in place. 125 CLAIMS

On the inside of the pressing 3 a shaped 1. A method of making a box from sheet metal section 6 is spot-welded into place. material in which adjacent sides are each This is corrugated into a zig-zag form in formed with a flap bent inwards to make an cross-section, the shape being so designed as acute angle with the side, and a corner sec to engage and firmly grip the inward-bent 130 tion is slid over the ends of the sides and 2 GB2192613A 2 secured, the corner section being so shaped as to engage the flaps and thereby lock the sides together.
2. A method of making a box according to Claim 1 in which the angle between the flaps and the side is less than 45'.
3. A method of making a box according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 in which the corner section is provided with a flange perpendicular to the corner edge, and the corner section is secured in position by the insertion of a screw or rivet through the flange to secure it to the bottom of the box.
4. A method of making a box according to any preceding claim in which the corner section comprises an outer element and an inner element, the outer element being formed with an inward-facing rib of divergent cross-section against which the flaps abut, and the inner element having a corresponding recess and sliding over the flaps to secure them against the rib.
5. A method of making a box according to Claim 4 in which both the inner and outer elements are provided with flanges and are secured in position by a screw or rivet passing through both flanges.
6. A method of making a box according to any preceding claim in which the corner sec- tion is formed from metal strip.
7. A method of making a box according to any of claims 1 to 5 in which the corner section is formed by one or more plastic injection mouldings.
8. A method of making a box according to any preceding claim in which the bottom of the box and the sides together with their flaps are made by cutting and folding a sheet.
9. A method of making a box substantially as shown in and as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Published 1988 at The Patent Office, State House, 66/71 High Holborn, London WC 1 R 4TP- Further copies may be obtained from The Patent Office, Sales Branch, St Mary Cray, Orpington, Kent BR5 3RD. Printed by Burgess & Son (Abingdon) Ltd. Con. 1/87.