GB2234227A

GB2234227A - Blank for tray or the like

Info

Publication number: GB2234227A
Application number: GB8916863A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Clive Peter Haines
Original assignee: CORRUPLAST Ltd
Current assignee: CORRUPLAST Ltd
Priority date: 1989-07-24
Filing date: 1989-07-24
Publication date: 1991-01-30
Also published as: GB8916863D0

Abstract

A blank 1 of extruded plastics material is erectable to form e.g. a tray, the blank 1 being rectangular with a substantially flat body part 2 which when erected forms the base of the tray. To erect the blank, corner parts 8 are grasped and folded about the diagonal crease or hinge line 11 and lines 9 and 10 so that the parts 8a and 8b are superposed and lie alongside the outer (in use) surface of the edge parts 3, 4, which automatically ensures that the respective edge flaps 3, 4, 5 and 6 are turned up out of the plane of the paper (towards the viewer) to stand substantially at 90 DEG to the body part 2 or base. The tongue 12 is then folded outwardly and down to lie between the superposed parts 8a and 8b and is locked thereby and therebetween. <IMAGE>

Description

CORRUPLAST "Blank for Tray or the Like" A blank for a tray or the like.

The Invention relates to a blank for a tray or the like, such as a box or cap for a tray or box.

Such articles are often formed from extended "fluted" material like that sold under the registered trade mark "CORREX". This material is eminently suitable for use as a tray, box or cap as it is relatively regid, light and waterproof. However, to make a tray etc, it is often the case that securing means such as glue, staples, stitching or similar parts has to be used in order to maintain the tray in the erect position.

It is accordingly an object of the invention to seek to mitigate this disadvantage.

Accordingly to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a blank for erection to form a tray, box or cap, comprising a substantially flat body part, respective opposite pairs of edge flaps, each edge flap of a pair of edge flaps and the body part being integral and connected by a hinge part, first erection parts between adjacent edge flap parts, the first erection parts having a diagonal hinge part extending to a vertex of the first erection part, and a second erection part the arrangement being such that when the edge flaps are hinged to lie at substantially 900 to the body part, the first erection parts are folded to lie superimposed and substantially parallel to the edge flap carrying the adjacent second erection part and the second erection part is folded and caught between the parts of the first-erection part, the tray, box or cap is erected.

The body part may be substantially rectangular, there being a first pair of opposite edge flaps and a second pair of opposite edge flaps extending substantially at right angles to the first pair of opposite edge flaps.

The first erection means may comprise substantially square corner pieces respectively between an edge flat of a first pair of opposite edge flaps and an edge flap of a second pair of opposite edge flaps.

The square pieces may be integral with the said edge flaps, connected therewith by a hinge or crease line.

The second erection part may comprise a generally triangularly-shaped tongue.

The blank may be made in one piece from a fluted material. The flutes may be closed at the edges of the flank by any suitable means such as by the application of heat and/or pressure, use of ultrasonic welding or the like. Closing the flutes provides for hygiene as extraneous matter such as food, liquid, or dirt cannot pass into the flutes and decay, so the blanks can find particular applicability in the food and drink industries, and in the transport of glasses and bottles.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a tray, box or cap made from a blank as hereinbefore described.

A blank embodying the invention is hereinafter described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a plan view of a blank according to the invention; and Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a corner showing the method of assembly.

Referring to the drawings there is showing a blank 1 of plastics material in the form of sheet of extruded fluted material which is erectable or assembable to form a tray, box or cap, hereinafter referred to as a tray. The blank 1 is rectangular in the embodiment shown and has a substantially flat body part 2 which when erected forms the base of the tray.

There is a first pair of opposite edge flaps 3 and 4 and a second pair of opposide edge flaps 5 and 6 the respective flaps 3 and 4 of the first pair being substantially parallel with each other and the respective flaps 5 and 6 of the second pair of edge flaps being substantially parallel with each other, and extending substantially at right angles to the flaps 3 and 4 of the first pair of opposite edge flaps.

The respective flaps 3, 4, 5 and 6 are integral with the body part and are hinged thereto about hinge or crease lines 7 which are framed integrally as by heating when the blank 1 is formed. There is first erection means in the form of square corner parts 8 between adjacent flaps 3, 4, 5 and 6 of first and second opposite edge flaps, the corner parts 8 being integral with those flaps and hingeable in relation thereto by respective hinge or crease lines 9, 10 which are also formed when the blank 1 is formed. Each corner part 8 has a diagonal crease or hinge line 11, again formed when the blank 1 is formed.

There is adjacent each corner part 8 a second erection means in the form of a tongue 12 of generally triangular configuration hingedly connected with the flaps of the first pair of opposite edge flaps about a hinge or crease line 13 which is also formed as by heating when the blank 1 is formed.

The ends of the flutes are closed at the edge of the blank 1, as by heat application. The whole blank can be cut and formed from a sheet of plastic fluted material in a single forming operation.

Corner parts 8 are grasped and folded about the diagonal crease or hinge line 11 and lines 9 and 10 so that the parts 8a and 8b are superposed and lie alongside the outer (in use) surface of the edge parts 3,4, which automatically ensures that the respective edge flaps 3,4,5 and 6 are turned up out of the plane of the paper (towards the viewer) to stand substantially at 900 to the body part 2 or base.

The tongue 12 is then folded outwardly and down to lie between the superposed parts 8a and 8b and is locked thereby and therebetween. The corner is thus made.

As this operation is carried out at all four corners, a stable tray is erected without the need to use adhesive, staples, stickings or other securing means.

Claims

1. A blank for erection to form a tray, box or cap, comprising a substantially flat body part, respective opposite pairs of edge flaps, each edge flap of a pair of edge flaps and the body part being integral and connected by a hinge part, first erection parts between adjacent edge flap parts, the first erection parts having a diagonal hinge part extending to a vertex of the first erection part, and a second erection part the arrangement being such that when the edge flaps are hinged to lie at substantially 900 to the body part, the first erection parts are folded to lie superimposed and substantially parallel to the edge flap carrying the adjacent second erection part and the second erection part is folded and caught between the parts of the first-erection part, the tray, box or cap is erected.

2. A blank according to Claim 1, the body part being substantially rectangular, there being a first pair of opposite edge flaps and a second pair of opposite edge flaps extending substantially at right angles to the first pair of opposite edge flaps.

3. A blank according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, the first erection means comprising substantially square corner pieces respectively between an edge flap of a first pair of opposite edge flaps and an edge flap of a second pair of opposite edge flaps.

4. A blank according to Claim 3, the square pieces being integral with the said edge flaps, connected therewith by a hinge or crease line.

5. A blank according to Claim 4, the second erection part comprising a generally triangularly-shaped tongue.

6. A blank according to any preceding Claim, made in one piece from a fluted material.

7. A blank according to Claim 6, the flutes being closed at the edges of the flank by any suitable means such as by the application of heat and/or pressure, use of ultrasonic welding or the like.

8. A blank for erection to form a tray, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

9. A tray, box or cap made from a blank according to any preceding Claim.