GB2232404A

GB2232404A - Reinforced boxes

Info

Publication number: GB2232404A
Application number: GB9012501A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Boix Jaen Jose
Original assignee: Boix Maquinaria SL
Current assignee: Boix Maquinaria SL
Priority date: 1989-06-05
Filing date: 1990-06-05
Publication date: 1990-12-12
Anticipated expiration: 2010-06-05
Also published as: ES1010786U; IT9053069U1; IT9053069V0; DE4017417A1; BE1003172A5; IT220442Z2; GB2232404B; FR2647753A1; GB9012501D0

Description

t2:2 3 2.4 CZ) -91 1 1 REINFORCED BOX-TRAY WITH LID The present invention

relates to box-trays for generally perishable produce such as farm products.

Cardboard boxes in the form of trays for transporting farm products, especially fruit, which have an open top part and also have means to reinforce the walls and especially the corners, which make it possible for them to be stacked up, are known.

one example of a box with reinforcement of the walls is described in the Spanish utility model application no.88/03845 in the name of the present applicant.

This discloses the use, in the inside of the box, of two reinforcement sheets which are attached to the inside surface of the end walls of the box and which form reinforcement columns by means of a plane or portion diagonal to the right angled corner of the box.

2 It also proposes the use of reinforcement sheets having parallel split lines to form, in the assembly, angular reinforcement ribs which increase the support points for stacking up the boxes.

The present invention maintains the reinforcement features provided by the incorporation of sheets attached to the Inside surfaces of the box, but aims to use these sheets for something more than simple reinforcement.

In the invention reinforcement sheets are attached to the inner longitudinal sides of the box in such a way that, in assembly, longitudinal channels along its edge are formed in combination with the laps formed by sideways extension of the end walls, which laps are attached to the outside of the side walls. These channels serve to fit laps provided in the laminate lid.

The reinforcement sheets may also be extended so that they totally cover the inside of all four sides of the box, simultaneously.

This formation permits the edges of the lid to rest flat -on the end walls and reinforcement corners, above which the outer top corners of the box protrude for coupling in the complementary recesses in the corners of the box, as a stacking guide.

1 3 With the present invention, all the reinforcement features.of the prior art box are maintained, which increases the resistance of the assembly, with the additional advantage of the provision of a lid that otherwise cannot be incorporated without hampering stacking of the boxes.

Naturally, it is possible that the areas of the sides close to the corners of the box be provided with split lines which, as in the case of Spanish patent 88/03845, form angular reinforcement ribs to support superposed boxes.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a box-tray which is provided with reinforcement pieces attached to the inside surfaces of the walls and which form, by means of a plane diagonal to its corner, reinforcement columns.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a box-tray wherein means is provided on the inside or outside of the box to form along each side of the box a longitudinal channel, open at the top, which can serve as coupling means for a lid.

Other preferred features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from.the following description and accompanying claims.

4 A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1. is a plan view of a cardboard sheet, which forms a box in accordance with the invention, and two reinforcement laminate pieces for inside the box; Figure 2. is a perspective view of a semi-assembled box, with one of the reinforcement sheets arranged for assembly; Figure 3. is a perspective view of an assembled box without the lid; Figure 4. is a plan view of a sheet forming the lid for the box in figure 1; Figure 5. is a perspective view of the lid of figure 4 arranged for assembly; Figure 6. is a perspective view of the box as sembled with the lid of figure 4 ready to be coupled; Figure 7. is a perspective view of the box and lid of figures 1 and 4 showing in dashed outline how the boxes are stacked; The drawings show symmetrically identical laminate pieces 3 joined to the inside of side walls 1 and 2 of a box-tray. The ends 4 and 5 of the piece 3 are extended in such a way that between them they cover the inside of the end walls of the box 6. At the corners of the box they form diagonal planes 7 and 8 which constitute 1 1, support points for the boxes when piled on top of each other.

The end laps 4 and 5 of each reinforcement sheet 3, are attached to the inside surface of the end walls, forming a reinforced or double end wall.

The end walls 6 of the box are extended sideways to form laps 9 and 10 which in assembly are outside the side walls 1 and 2. These laps 9 and 10, in combination with the reinforcement sheets 3, define a channel open along the top longitudinal edge, for insertion of longitudinal laps 11 and 12 of the lid 13. The ends of the lid without laps sit on the top edge of the end walls.

Corner elevations 14 are formed at the top corners of the box, which are integral with the end walls of the box and the end laps thereof. These are high enough so that after the lid has been put on they still protrude from it, to maintain the centring effect of the boxes when stacked up.

I- 6

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A box-tray whichIs provided with reinforcement pieces, attached to the inside surfaces of the walls, which form at the corners of the box planes diagonal to said corners, to serve as reinforcement columns.

2. A box-tray in accordance with claim 1 characterized in that the reinforcement pieces have a length approximately that of the length plus half the width of the box, so that the reinforcement sheets are attached to and extend the full length of the side walls and part of the end walls.

3. A box-tray in accordance with claim 1 or claim 2 wherein longitudinal channels are formed between the reinforcement pieces and the side walls of the box.

4. A box-tray in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 3 characterized in that a lid is provided, having laps along its long edges which fit in the space formed between the side walls of the box and the reinforcement pieces, and whose end edges rest directly on top of the end walls of the box.

5. A box-tray in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein centring means is provided to facilitate stacking of the boxes.

7

6. A box-tray in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the top outer corners of the box are provided with upward projections and the bottom outer corners are provided with complementary notches so that the boxes may be readily stacked up by centring the notches of one box on the projections of another.

7. A box-tray in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein the box lid and/or the reinforcement pieces are laminar.

8. A box-tray wherein means is provided on the inside or outside of the box to form along each side of the box a longitudinal channel, open at the top, which can serve as coupling means for a lid.

9. A box-tray substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.

Published 1990 at The Patent Office. State House, 66'71 High HoIborn. LondonWC1R4TP.Further copies maybe obtainedfrom The PatentOffice. Sales Branch, St Rary Cray, Orpington, Kent BR5 3RD. Printed by Multiplex techniques ltd, St Mary Cray, Kent, Con. 1/87