GB2249539A

GB2249539A - Blanks for boxes

Info

Publication number: GB2249539A
Application number: GB9022373A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Sheileagh Mary Schofield
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1990-10-16
Filing date: 1990-10-16
Publication date: 1992-05-13
Anticipated expiration: 2010-10-16
Also published as: GB2249539B; GB9022373D0

Abstract

Blanks for boxes, particularly for hat boxes and their lids, comprise a flat sheet of stiff material having a longitudinally extending portion (10) adapted to be bent into a hoop-like configuration and to have its ends (17, 18) joined together to form a continuous side wall of the box or lid and a series of flaps (14) connected to the longitudinally-extending portion and adapted to be bent at substantially right angles thereto and overlap one another in sequence to form an end wall when the longitudinally-extending portion (10) is bent into its hoop-like configuration. <IMAGE>

Description

TITLE: BLANKS FOR BOXES DESCRIPTION This invention is concerned with blanks for boxes and particularly, but not exclusively, with blanks for hat boxes and lids therefor.

Many different forms of blank of stiff sheet material, such as cardboard, are known for the production of containers. It is an object of the present invention to provide simply manufactured blanks which can be readily manipulated to form a rigid box and a lid for the box.

According to the invention, a blank for a box or box lid comprises a flat sheet of stiff material having a longitudinally-extending portion adapted to be bent into a hoop-like configuration and to have its ends joined together to form a continuous side wall of the box or lid and a series of flaps connected to the longitudinally-extending portion and adapted to be bent at substantially right angles thereto and overlap one another in sequence to form an end wall when the longitudinally-extending portion is bent into its hoop-like configuration.

Preferably, the longitudinally-extending portion has a number of equally spaced fold lines which separate it into distinct sections so that it can be bent on the fold lines into a polygonal shape. In a specially preferred embodiment of the invention, the longitudinally-extending portion has five fold lines, thus resulting in six sections which can be bent into a hexagonal shape.

A fold line, as referred to above, is, as is well-known in the packaging industry, an indented line (e.g. a score line) which enables folding of the material to be effected about it in preference to the adjoining parts of the material.

The flaps are preferably each of a shape comprising a straight base connected (preferably by a fold line) to the longitudinally-extending portion and two sides in the form of intersecting circular arcs, one of which is convex and the other of which is concave. The sides of the flaps preferably closely adjoin one another but are not interconnected.

The arcuate sides of each of the flaps are desirably centered on the ends adjoining the flaps of two adjacent fold lines in the longitudinally-extending portion.

The longitudinally-extending portion may be provided with self-adhesive material at one or both of its ends (covered by a removable protective strip) to enable it to be joined into its hoop-like configuration. Other means for joining the ends together may be provided.

The invention further provides a kit comprising two blanks as hereinbefore defined, one blank being for the lid of the box and the other blank being for the box. It will be understood that the blank for the lid will have slightly greater longitudinal dimensions than the blank for the box so that the assembled lid can fit over the top of the box.

The kit may be provided in a compact form with the two blanks folded in flat formation about fold lines as hereinbefore referred to. The folded blanks may be disposed in a flat container for sale or, more particularly, for ready transmission by post.

The invention provides, from a further aspect, a box and/or a lid therefor made from blanks as hereinbefore defined.

The following is a description, by way of example, of embodiments of the present invention, reference being made to the accompanying schematic drawings, of which the different Figures are not in proportion, in which: Fig. 1 shows a lid blank in accordance with the invention, Fig. 2 shows a lid assembled from the blank of Fig.

1, and Fig. 3 shows a box corresponding with the lid of Fig. 2.

Figure 1 shows a blank formed of stiff flat material, such as cardboard. Other materials, such as plastics may be used. The blank comprises a longitudinally-extending portion 10 in one continuous piece but divided into six equal sections 11 by five fold lines 12. Attached to each section 11 by a fold line 13 is a flap 14. Each flap has a straight base at its fold line 13 and two sides 15 and 16 in the shape of circular arcs which intersect one another. The sides of the flaps are separate from one another (i.e. the blank is slit between the arcuate sides of the flaps). The arcs of the sides 15 and 16 of each flap are centered on the junctions of fold lines 12 with the fold line 13 at the opposite ends of sections 11, so that each flap is in the form of a half-crescent.

In use, the blank is bent so that the longitudinally-extending portion assumes a hoop-like configuration of regular hexagonal shape and the flaps 14 are moved into an overlapping relationship to form a closed end wall at substantially right angles to the side wall formed by the portion 10. The flaps overlap each other in sequence, i.e. each flap is at its sides above one adjoining flap and below its other adjoining flap.

The ends of the portion 10 at 17 and 18 carry self-adhesive material protected by removable cover strips which are removed to enable the ends 17 and 18 to be secured together by the adhesive material and thus stabilise the lid. For greater security, the flaps may be provided with portions of self-adhesive material (with removable cover strips) to secure them more firmly together in overlapping relationship.

A box is provided of substantially the same form as the lid but with a portion 10 which is of greater width than the portion 10 of the lid to provide appropriate depth for the box. The lid is of course, when assembled, of slightly greater width than the box so that it can fit over the top of the box.

Figures 2 and 3 show respectively a lid and a box as described above in assembled form.

As previously indicated, both the blank for the lid and the blank for the box can be folded on the fold lines 12 to form flat assemblies which can be packaged in a flat container for transport purposes,

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A blank for a box or box lid comprising a flat sheet of stiff material having a longitudinally-extending portion adapted to be bent into a hoop-like configuration and to have its ends joined together to form a continuous side wall of the box or lid and a series of flaps connected to the longitudinally-extending portion and adapted to be bent at substantially right angles thereto and overlap one another in sequence to form an end wall when the longitudinally-extending portion is bent into its hoop-like configuration.
2. A blank according to claim 1 wherein the longitudinally-extending portion has a number of equally spaced fold lines which separate it into distinct sections so that it can be bent on the fold lines into a polygonal shape.
3. A blank according to claim 2 wherein the longitudinally-extending portion has five fold lines, thus resulting in six sections which can be bent into a hexagonal shape.
4. A blank according to any preceding claim wherein the flaps are each of a shape comprising a straight base connected to the longitudinally-extending portion and two sides in the form of intersecting circular arcs, one of which is convex and the other of which is concave.
5. A blank according to claim 4 wherein the straight base of each flap is connected by a fold line to the longitudinally-extending portion.
6. A blank according to claim 4 or claim 5 wherein the sides of the flaps closely adjoin one another but are not interconnected.
7. A blank according to any of claims 4 to 6 wherein the arcuate sides of each of the flaps are centred on the ends adjoining the flaps of two adjacent fold lines in the longitudinally-extending portion.
8. A blank according to any preceding claim wherein the longitudinally-extending portion is provided with selfadhesive material at one or both of its ends covered by a removable protective strip to enable it to be joined into its hoop-like configuration.
9. A kit comprising two blanks, each of which is in accordance with any preceding claim, one blank being for the lid of the box and the other blank being for the box.
10. A box or a lid therefore made from a blank according to any of claims 1 to 8.
11. A blank for box or box lid substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
12. A box or box lid substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.