GB2227457A - Document wallet - Google Patents

Abstract

A blank for a document wallet having a box-like construction including a rear wall panel (40), a front wall panel (48), side wall panels (42, 43) and side wall attachment panels (53, 54), has the panel (48) and the panels (53, 54) interconnected in the folded condition of the blank by latch formations (56, 57) which serve to prevent lateral movement between the panels. The latch formations comprise opposed tabs (65, 65a) engageable with tab receiving slits (60, 60a) with either the slit (60) engaging the root of tab (65) or with slit (60a) engaging the root of tab (65a). <IMAGE>

Description

DOCUMENT WALLET The present invention relates to a container, in particular a box-like container for storage of stationery items such as documents, computer floppy discs, miscellaneous items.

In our European patent specification no 0220874 we describe a box-like container in the form of a folder.

The folder is erected from a blank of sheets material and requires no separate securing means such as staples or adhesive for maintaining the folder in the erected condition.

The original design of the folder described in European patent specification 0220874 was intended to be capable of supply in bulk to an end user in a collapsed condition for erection when required.

It has become desirable to also supply containers in an erected condition in bulk to an end user, each container preferably being supplied in shrink wrap type packaging. Accordingly it is desirable to construct a container such that it can still be erected from a flat blank without the need for additional securing means but yet be resistive to collapse when empty. In this way the container can be simply manufactured from a sheet material, can be simply erected and thereafter stable enough for bulk handling.

In our European patent specification no 0220874 there is described a blank folder which can be folded into an erected folder without the need for separate fixing means. The blank is preferably formed so that the folder in its assembled condition includes a front wall, a rear wall, a pair of side walls, and a bottom wall and preferably further includes a top wall hingedly connected to the rear wall for permitting or restricting access to the interior of the folder. The bottom wall is preferably hingedly connected along one side to å bottom side of the rear panel and is hingedly connected to the rear wall for permitting or restricting access to the interior of the folder. The bottom wall is preferably hingedly connected along one side to a bottom side of the rear panel andis hingedly connected along its opposite side to the front panel.Each side wall is preferably hingedly connected along one side to a side of the rear wall and is attached by an integral latch formation to the front wall. It is envisaged that the side walls may alternatively be hingedly attached to the front wall and be attached to the rear wall by an integral latch formation.

In accordance with the present invention the integral latch formation is maintained in an engaged condition by opposed tongues and co-operating slots such that lateral movement between the overlapping side walls and front or rear walls is prevented.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a container formed from a blank as defined above.

Various aspects of the present invention are hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a container according to the present invention.

Figure 2 is a plan view of a blank suitable for forming the container illustrated in Figure 1.

Figures 3 and 4 are examples of different latch formations for incorporation into the container illustrated in Figure 1.

The container or folder illustrated in Figure 1 includes a rear wall 11, a front wall 12, a pair of side walls 14, 16 respectively, a bottom wall 18, a top wall 20 and a closure flap 22 attached to the top wall 20.

The upper sides of the rear, front and side walls define a mouth 24 which provides access into the interior of the folder. The mouth 24 is conveniently enlarged as shown by forming a recess 25 in the upper portion of the front wall 12.

The flap 22 is provided with one part of a catch 28 and the front wall 12 is provided with a co-operating part of the catch 28 so that the top wall 20 and flap 22 may be moved to close the mouth 24 and be releasably retained in that position. The catch 28 may be of any conventional construction, but is preferably of a type that can be readily attached manually. If desired more than one catch 28 may be provided.

The blank 3 for forming the folder of Figure 1 is shown in Figure 2 and is conveniently formed in a single operation from a suitable sheet material. Suitable sheet materials include plastics sheet such as polypropylene of say a thickness between 0.sum to 1.5mm or card which may be laminated with a plastics film on one or both sides of the card.

In forming the blank, the blank is cut and is provided with various fold lines FL to define the following, a rear wall forming panel 40, a pair of side wall forming panels 42,43 respectively, a bottom wall forming panel 46, a main front wall forming panel 48, a top wall forming panel 50, a closure flap forming panel 52, sidewall attachment panels 53, 54, a pair of cooperating latch formations 56, 57 and reinforcement tabs 58.

The attachment panels 53, 54 have formed therein a latch formation 56 in the form of a pair of opposed slits 60, 60a having laterally directed end portions 62 which define a tab receiving opening. The main front wall panel 48 is provided with a latch formation 57 in the form of a pair of opposed tabs 65, 65a which are both defined by a single continuous slit 66.

To erect a folder from the blank 30, the tabs 58 are folded toward the attached sidewall forming panel 42, 43 respectively, the sidewall forming panels 42, 43 are then folded toward the rear wall panel 40, and the attachment panels 53, 54 are folded toward the attached sidewall panel 42, 43 respectively.

The bottom wall panel 46 and main front wall panel 48 are folded toward the rear wall panel 40 to thereby overlap the folded attachment panels 53, 54.

For each attachment panel 53, 54 respectively the tab 65 on the front wall panel is introduced through the tab receiving slit 60 in the underlying attachment panel and then the opposing tab 65a is then introduced through the opposed tab slit 60a. In this way both attachment panels are secured to the front wall in such a manner that lateral sliding movement therebetween in an inward or outward direction is prevented by either the slit 60 engaging the root of tab 65 or by the slit 60a engaging the root of tab 65a.

The distance d between the slits 60, 60a is chosen to be smaller than the distance r between the roots of tabs 65, 65a in order to provide cease of insertion of the tabs 65, 65a whilst limiting the lateral movement between the front wall and attachment panels to an acceptable amount.

Preferably the distance d between the slits 60, 60a is about at least 50% of the distance r between the roots of tabs 65, 65a. More preferably the distance between slits 60, 60a is about 80-90% of the distance r between the roots of tabs 65, 65a.

In addition tab 65 is preferably larger than tab 65a to thereby provide greater resistance to outer lateral movement of the attachment panels relative to inward movement thereof.

Furthermore the material for the blank is preferably chosen such that the tabs 65, 65a can be deflected when being inserted through their respective slits 60, 60a but thereafter be in face contact with the rear face of the front wall due to the inherent resilience of the material.

It is envisaged that the shape and relative proportions of the opposed tabs 65, 65a may be changed.

Two examples of alternative constructions are illustrated in Figures 3 and 4.

In Figure 3, both tabs 65, 65a are formed from a single slit 66 and are shown as being of the same shape and size. If desired the relative lengths of tabs 65, 65a may be different such that the length of one tab from its top to is root is longer than the other tab.

In Figure 4, the tabs 65, 65a are formed by separate slits 66, 66a respectively and the tabs are laterally off-set from one another.

If desired, the area round the formations D6; 7 may be reinforced to restrain tearing, particularly if the blank is formed from card which has not been laminated.

If the blank is made from a plastics sheet or a card which is laminated on one or both sides with a plastics film it has been found that such additional reinforcement is not necessary.

It will be appreciated that the folders of the present invention may be stored in a flat condition, which minimises the amount of storage space required, and that a folder is simply and quickly erected when required. The blank is also preferably provided with apertures 70 to enable the catch means to be attached in the correct position. Such catch means can be conveniently stored separately and attached to the blank prior to erection.

The front wall 12 is preferably formed as illustrated in Figure 1, namely from a main panel 48 and the upper portions of attachment panels 53 and 54. In this way it is possible to locate the latch formations 56, 57 near to the upper edge of the front panel 48 and yet at an intermediate position between the ends of each side wall.

It is envisaged that the side wall and associated attachment panel for each side wall may be attached to the front panel 48.

The material chosen for blank should have sufficient stiffness to maintain reasonable rigidity of the side walls and bottom wall to restrain collapse of the folder.

The reinforcement tabs 58 serve to restrain collapse of the folder at the bottom corners thereof.

If necessary, the tabs 58 may be extended in length as illustrated in broken lines in Figure 2 so that in the erected folder the terminal end portions 58a of the tabs 58 overlap one another. The overlapping end portions 58a are provided with co-operating latch means, in the form of slits 58b, to restrain longitudinal separation of the tabs 58. In this way the tabs not only serve to provide reinforcement for the bottom wall 46 but also act to restrain outward movement of the sidewalls 42, 43 at the bottom region thereof.

In view of the absence of fixing means for creating an erected folder large unimpeded surfaces are present on the folder which enable printing of promotional matter to be provided.

It will be appreciated that the above construction of blanks also conveniently enables a variety of sizes of folders to be produced simply by altering the dimensions of the blanks during manufacture. In addition, particularly for larger folders it is envisaged that the top wall forming panel DO may be adapted, for instance by the provision of suitable apertures, for the attachment of carrying a handle.

It is also envisaged that a slim document folder may be formed by omitting the top, bottom and side wall forming panels 50, 46, 42 and 43 respectively.

Claims (10)

1. A blank for a folder, the blank being formed from a single sheet of material which is cut and provided with fold lines to define a first wall panel connected to a second wall panel by an intermediate bottom wall panel, the first and second wall panels in the erected blank defining either the front and rear wall or the rear and front walls of the folder respectively, a pair of side wall panels foldably connected to opposite sides of the second wall panel, and an attachment panel foldably connected to each side wall panel, each attachment panel in the erected folder residing in face to face contact with the first wall panel and being connected thereto by co-operable latch means, the co-operable latch means comprising opposed tongues engageable with co-operating tab accommodating openings, the tongues being formed either on the first wall panel or the attachment panel and the co-operating openings being formed on the attachment panel or the first wall panel respectively, the opposed tongues and co-operating openings when engaged serving to prevent lateral movement between the attachment panel and first wall panel.

2. A blank according to Claim 1 wherein for each pair of tabs, one tab projects towards the outside edge of the blank and the other tab projects in the opposite direction, the co-operating openings being defined by a pair of slits arranged parallel to one another.

3. A blank according to Claim 2 wherein each tab has a root and the roots of the opposed tabs are separated by a distance r, the distance d between the parallel slits being smaller than the distance r.

4. A blank according to Claim 3 wherein the distance d is at least 50% of distance r.

5. A blank according to Claim 4 wherein the distance d is between 80-90% of distance r.

6. A blank according to any preceeding claim wherein the tabs are directly opposed.

7. A blank according to any preceeding claim wherein the blank is formed from a plastics sheet material such as polypropylene.

8. A blank according to Claim 7 wherein the thickness of the sheet material is between 0.5mm to 1.5mm.

9. A blank substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

10. A folder constructed from a blank according to any preceeding claim.