GB2258859A - Boxes and other containers - Google Patents

Abstract

A box or other container has component parts (11, 12, 13, 113) releasably secured in a pre-determined disposition by means of hook and loop fasteners (11.1, 14.2, etc.). The component parts of the container are conveniently all constituted by a single precursor sheet of rigid material having formed therein fold lines to facilitate folding of the components with respect to each other and having secured thereto respective members of the hook and loop fasteners. Dividers may also be secured in the box by hook and loop fasteners. <IMAGE>

Description

BOXES AND OTHER CONTAINERS This invention relates to boxes and other containers.

In particular, though not exclusively, it relates to collapsible containers and to a novel means for the releasable securement of component parts of the containers.

It also relates to precursors for shaping to form containers of the invention.

A substantial element of the cost of materials, for example components for use in the motor industry, is that of the boxes and other containers in which they are transported, for example from the component supplier to the vehicle builder. This is particularly true where, as is often the case, the containers are used only once. Although collapsible cardboard boxes have been used for many years they nevertheless suffer from the disadvantage of being time-consuming in their re-forming from the collapsed condition. Attempts to prolong the life of such containers by using heavier gauge cardboard have not been successful because the very increase in strength thus obtained has resulted in the boxes being more difficult to collapse and to reform from their collapsed condition.There has, therefore, been an unfulfilled demand for a collapsible contai.ner which, after a first use, can readily be collapsed, especially into a planar form, and which can readily be re-formed for subsequent use without any s ubs t an t i a i loss in strengthand/or rigidity.

The present invention comprises a means of meeting that problem in a simple yet most effective way. Accordingly, the invention provides in a first aspect, a container whose component parts are releasably secured together by means of a hook and loop fastener.

Hook and loop fasteners have been used for many years for releasably securing adjacent surfaces but that use has been with soft pliable goods such as articles of clothing.

In a second aspect the present invention provides a method of forming a box or other container, in which component parts of the container are brought together into a pre-determined disposition and releasably secured together by means of a hook and loop fastener.

In a third aspect the invention provides a precursor, usually in planar form, suitable for shaping to form a box or other container, the precursor comprising: a sheet having first and second pairs of opposed edges and having fold lines (A, B) defining a base portion (10) and two side portions (11, 12) contiguous with the base portion and upwardly foldable with respect thereto; first and second end portions (13, 113) extending respectively from said second pair of opposed edges and upwardly foldable about fold lines (C, C1);; side extension portions (14, 15, 114, 115) extending from each said end portion and foldable with respect thereto about fold lines (D, E, D1, E1), whereby when the side portions (11, 12) and end portions (13, 113) have been folded upwardly with respect to the base portion (10) said side extension portions can be folded about fold lines (D, E, D1, E1) so that an area of each of said side portions (11, 12) overlaps an area of each of side extension portions (14, 15, 114, 115); and overlap areas of the respective overlapping portions are provided with respective members of hook and loop fasteners which, when pressed together, engage to secure together the overlapping portions.

Preferred forms of the precursor have one or more of the following (a) to (h): (a) In the formed container said side extension portions (14), 15, 114, 115) are disposed inside the respective side portions (11, 12).

(b) Said end portions (13, 113) have extensions (16, 116) extending therefrom and upwardly foldable with respect to said end portions along fold lines (F, F1), and the extensions (16, 116) have tabs (17, 18, 117, 118) extending therefrom and foldable with respect thereto along fold lines (G, H, Ci, H1) whereby when the side portions (11, 12) and end portions (13, 113) have been folded upwardly with respect to the base portion, the extensions (16, 116) and their tabs can be folded so that the tabs overlap side portions (11, 12); and overlap areas of the respective overlapping side portions and tabs are provided with respective members of hook and loop fasteners which, when pressed together, engage to secure together the overlapping portions.

(c) The first and second pairs of opposed edges of the sheet are first and second pairs of substantially parallel edges.

(d) Fold lines (A, B) are substantially parallel to said first pair of edges.

(e) The end portions (13,113) are substantially rectangular.

(f) The side extension portions (14, 15, 114, 115) are substantially rectangular.

(g) The extensions (16, 116) of feature (b) above are substantially rectangular.

(h) The precursor is usually a sheet of rigid material preferably of polypropylene or other suitable plastics material. The material preferably has a good strength/weight ratio, and in this respect a double-wall material is especially suitable.

The "fold lines" referred to herein can, for example, be elongate zones of reduced thickness and/or strength compared with the thickness and/or strength of the precursor in general; the elongate zones are normally narrow zones to facilitate accurate folding.

A further aspect of the present invention concerns the use of hook and loop fasteners to secure dividers in a box or other container. In this aspect a method of converting a container into a divided container, comprises securing to an inner surface of the container (or to a surface of a precursor therefor) a first member of a hook and loop fastener; presenting to said first member a divider having secured thereto a second member of said hook and loop fastener so that said first and second members are adjacent each other; and pressing together said first and second members thereby releasably securing the divider in the container so as to divide the container.A suitable divider for use in this method comprises a dividing member and a foot member attached to the dividing member, the foot member carrying -on its underside said second member of the hook and loop fastener.

The hook and loop fasteners used in the present invention can, for example, be of the common form consist ing of first and second members, one of which carries all the hooks of the fastener and the other carries all the loops. In this form it is necessary that of two articles to be secured together by means of the fastener one carries the first (or second) member and the other carries the second (or first) member. However, the present invention further includes the use of hook and loop fasteners comprising two members each of which carries hook and loop elements; in this form the two members of the fastener can be of the same, or at least similar, structure. The two members of the fasteners Iv are referrred to herein as "co-operating members Whatever the form of the hook and loop fastener it is preferably one in which the two members can be brought into engagement by use of manual pressure.

The hook and loop fastener used in the present invention can, for example, be one having one or more of the following features: Hook elements: polyamide 6.6 (Nylon) Surface structure: woven, with selvage Edges: firmly woven and/or cut edges ultrasonically welded Standard widths: 10,16,20,25,30,38,50,100,198 mm + - lmm tolerance at widths up to 50mm + 2mm tolerance at widths above 50mm + 3mm tolerance at widths above 100mm Loop or connecting elements : polyamide 6.6 (Nylon) Edges: firmly woven and/or cut edges ultra sonically welded Fastening method: multitude of small loops specially brushed in order to increase the loop surface area Standard widths: 10,16,20,25,30,38,50,100,198mm t 1 mm tolerance at widths up to 50mm + 2 mm tolerance at widths above 50mm + 3 mmm tolerance at widths above 100mm Weight: weight per metre in gram per metre run (average values) 10 16 20 25 30 38 50 100 198mm Hook 2,9 4,9 6,5 7,9 9,8 12,4 16,6 33,3 66,0 Loop 3,0 4,9 6,5 7,9 9,5 13,0 17,0 36,3 67,5 Fastener thickness: a fastener closed acc. to DIN 3415, part 2, par. 5.2.1, measured with a micro scanner with 30mm disc diameter, at a closing pressure of 0,14 + 0,04 N/cm2 in acc. to DIN 53.370 = 2,0 - 4,0 mm A hook and loop fastener having the features referred to above is sold under the trade mark KLETTOSTAR by Jacob Addey Fastenings Limited. That fastener has been tested according to DIN 3415 part 2, paragraphs 5.2 and 5.3 The average values thus obtained (the minimum values being in brackets) are shown below: Peeling Shearing after closing and 2,3 (1,3) N per cm 10,0 (6,0) N per 2 opening once tape width cm after closing and minimum minimum 2 opening 10.000 0,65 N per cm 3,0 N per cm times tape width Over the curves the resistance to shearing is two to three times as much.

Max. tensile strength tested according to DIN 53.857,part 1 in warp direction: average values (minimum values in brackets) hook member = 350 (200) N per cm tape width loop member = 250 (180) N per cm tape width Max. tensile strength extensions: 35 (50) % The hook and loop fastener can, for example, be one having one or more of the following features: Shear strength (lengthwise) - at least 0.6, especially 0.7 - 1.0 kg/cm2, for example 0.84 kg/cm2.

Peel strength (lengthwise) - at least 0.15, especially 0.18 - 0.25 kg/cm width, for example 0.21 kg/cm width Tension/latching - at least 0.3, especially 0.35 - 0.5 kg/cm2, for example 0.42 kg/cm2 Means of securement to the substrate - for example by sewing, pressure-sensitive adhesive, welding (UF or RF) or solvent reactivated.

A suitable hook and loop fastener having features fallin the lastpreceding paragraph ing the ranges 02sciosed/is that sold by Selects Ltd. under the Trade Mark VELCRO.

Where the hook and loop fastener is secured to a substrate by means of a pressure-sensitive adhesive a suitable such adhesive, given by way of example, is Adhesive 7909 sold by Selectus Ltd.

Although the invention is normally applicable to containers comprising a bottom portion and a plurality of walls, it is also applicable, for example, to spacers or guards comprising a plurality of walls but having no bottom portion. Where the container is one comprising bottom member, walls and, optionally, a cover member it is normally one having four walls of square or other rectangular shape.

The present invention also includes precursors for the containers, the precursors normally being in planar form so as to facilitate stacking and transport, either before being formed into the container or after reversion of the container to the precursor condition.

In a preferred from of the invention the precursor is a planar integral sheet which can readily be stamped from a roll or other blank.

There is now described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, preferred embodiments of the several aspects of the present invention.

In the drawings: FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a flat, precursor sheet suitable for shaping to form a container; FIGURE 2 is an end view of the sheet of Figure 1; FIGURE 3 is a plan view of a flat, precursor sheet suitable for shaping to form a divider; FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the container formed by shaping the precursor sheet of Figures 1 and 2 and containing a divider formed by shaping the precursor sheet of Figure 3; FIGURE 5 is a plan view of a flat, precursor sheet which is a modification of the precursor sheet of Figures 1 and 2 and suitable for shaping to form a container; and FIGURE 6 is an end view of the sheet of Figure 5.

of Figures 1 to 3, The precursor sheet / which is an integral structure, is a twin-wall polypropylene sheet sold by Correx Plastics under the Trade Mark "Correx". This material is of grade 3/700 which has a nominal thickness of 3mm 2 and a weight of 700 g/m . Possible alternative materials are Correx of grade 3/400, 3/450, 3/550, 4/700 or 4/1,050, 2 the nomenclature being nominal thickness/weight (g/m ).

The sheet comprises the following portions and other features identified by the reference numerals used in the accompanying drawings.

10 bottom portion 11 side portion 12 side portion 13 first end portion 14 first end portion - side extension 15 first end portion - side extension 16 first end portion - top extension 17 tab 18 tab 19 slot 20 slot 21 elongate carrying aperture 22 rectangular foldable reinforcement defined by fold lines J, K, L and two, parallel incisions in end portion 13 23 rectangular foldable reinforcement defined by fold lines M, N, P and two, parallel incisions in end portion 13 30 divider main portion 31 divider extension portion 32 divider hook (or loop) fastener member 113 second end portion 114 second end portion - side extension 115 second end portion - side extension 116 second end portion - top extension 117 tab 118 tab In the drawings reference numerals having the ".1" or the ".3" suffix indicate hook, (or loop) fastener members located on the upper face of the precursor sheet and shown in full lines in Figure 1, and reference numerals having the ".2" or ".4" suffix indicate hook (or loop) fastener members located on the reverse face of the sheet and shown in dash lines in Figure 1. The hook and loop fasteners were those sold by Selectus Ltd.

under the Trade Mark VELCRO.

The reference letters "A" et seq indicate fold lines shown in chain lines. Thus, for example, the references "A" and "B" are respectively the fold lines between bottom portion 10 and side portions (11, 12).

The portion of the precursor sheet shown in the right hand half of Figure 1 corresponds to the structure shown in the left hand half and reference numerals having the prefix "1" indicate like parts to those of the correspoinding reference numerals of the left hand half of the drawing. With further reference to the left hand half of the drawing, the side extensions (14, 15) are separated from the adjacent tabs (17, 18), respectively, by slots (19, 20) which permit the tabs to be moved about the fold lines G and H independently of the side extensions (14, 15).

There follows a description of one method in which a container of the present invention can be formed from the blank shown in the drawings.

At the beginning of this method the blank or precursor sheet is, for the sake of the following description, assumed to be lying, in planar form, on the ground with the face shown in Figure 1 of the drawings facing upwards.

The end portion (13) is folded upwardly about fold line C until it is in a substantially vertical position.

Then, the side extensions (14, 15) (but not the tabs (17, 18) of end portion (13) are folded inwardly so as to be substantially at right angles to end portion (13) and substantially aligned, respectively with fold lines A, B. A similar folding procedure is followed with respect to end portion (113) and its side extensions (114, 115).

Next, the side portions (11, 12) are folded upwardly about fold lines A, B so as to be substantially vertical and substantially at right angles to bottom portion (10). At the end of this stage the Velcro strips (11.1, 12.1) of side portions (11, 12) lie adjacent the cooperating Velcro strips (14.2, 15.2) and the co-operating strips are manually pressed together to effect engagement.

A similar engagement is effected at the other end of the container.

The next stage is that top extension (16) is folded downwardly about fold line F so that it is substantially at a right angle to end portion (13), and the tabs (17, 18) are folded downwardly about fold lines G,H so as to bring their Velcro strips (17.1, 18.1) adjacent the Velcro strips (11.2, 12.2) located on the reverse faces of side portions (11, 12). These co-operating Velcro strips are then manually pressed together to effect engagement. A similar procedure is followed at the other end of the container, after which the container is complete.

If desired, one or more divider portions can be located in the container. With reference to Figure 3 the divider has a fold line Q defining a main portion (30) and an extension portion (31). The extension portion has secured to it a Velcro strip (32) for co-operation with the two Velcro strips (10.1) of the bottom portion (10) of the precursor sheet shown in Figure 1.

The divider can be located in the formed container as follows. With reference to the plan view shown in Figure 3, the extension portion (31) is folded downwardly about the fold line Q, for example so that the extension portion is disposed substantially at a right angle to the main portion to form a flange and thereby to form a divider of the present invention. The divider is then inserted into the container so as to be substantially parallel to end portions (13, 113), its Velcro strip brought into contact with the Velcro strips (10.1) on bottom portion (10) of the container and securement effected by manual pressure. If desired, one or more further dividers can be installed in the container in like manner.

The precursor sheet of Figures 5 and 6 is very similar to the precursor sheet of Figures 1 and 2, but it differs from the latter in that its bottom portion has formed therein, in its upper surface, four depressions which when viewed from above constitute recesses and when viewed from below constitute protrusions. When the sheet is shaped to form a box the depressions act as engagement means to engage the top of a similar, adjacent box; they also serve as feet to support the box on an underlying surface. Reference numerals used in Figures 5 and 6 correspond to those used for like parts of the precursor sheet of Figures 1 and 2 except that they have a prefix "2".Thus, for example, the bottom portion of the precursor sheet of Figures 5 and 6 is designated "210" whereas the bottom portion of Figures 1 and 2 is designated 111011. The depressions in bottom portion (210) are four, like rectangular depressions (210.1, 210.2, 210.3, 210.4) arranged in first and second pairs, disposed respectively at opposite ends of bottom portion (210).

In a preferred form the shape, dimensions and disposition when the precursor sheet has been shaped to form a box of the depressions are such that,/they serve a dual purpose: first, they constitute short legs or supports to contact the ground or other surface on which the container rests; and, secondly, when the container is stacked on top of a like container the legs can engage, respectively, the rectangular foldable reinforcements corresponding to the reinforcements (222.1, 222.2, 222.3, 222.4) in the end portions (213) and their associated top extensions (216) of the sheet of Figures 5 and 6, thereby to facilitate alignment of the stacked containers and result in stable stacking.

The hook and loop fasteners used in the present invention can be used in any convenient form; and the hook member and the loop member can be of the same or different form. Thus, for example the members can conveniently both be in sheet form, for instance strips or other elongate sheets. It has been found that strips having a width in the range 20 - 40 mm, especially 20 - 30 mm, are particularly suitable, and an excellent balance of effectiveness and economy has been obtained using strips of width 25mm.

Claims (9)

1. A method of forming a box or other container, in which component parts of the container are brought together into a pre-determined disposition and releasably secured together by means of a hook and loop fastener.

2. A method according to Claim 1, wherein the component parts are parts of an integral precursor.

3. A method according to Claim 2, wherein said predetermined disposition is effected by shaping the precursor prior to securement by said fastener.

4. A precursor suitable for shaping to form a box or other container, the precursor comprising: a sheet having first and second pairs of opposed edges and having fold lines (A, B) defining a base portion (10) and two side portions (11,12) contiguous with the base portion and upwardly foldable with respect thereto; first and second end portions (13, 113) extending respectively from said second pair of opposed edges and upwardly foldable about fold lines (C, C1);; side extension portions (14, 15, 114, 115) extending from each said end portion and foldable with respect thereto about fold lines (D, E, D1, E1), whereby when the side portions (11, 12) and end portions (13, 113) have been folded upwardly with respect to the base portion (10) said side extension portions can be folded about fold lines (D, E,Dl,El) so that an area of each of said side portions (11, 12) overlaps an area of each of side extension portions (14, 15, 114, 115); and overlap areas of the respective overlapping portions are provided with respective members of hook and loop fasteners which, when pressed together, engage to secure together the overlapping portions.

5. A precursor according to Claim 4, wherein in the formed container said side extension portions (14, 15, 114, 115) are disposed inside the respective side portions (11, 12).

6. A precursor according to Claim 4 or 5, wherein said end portions (13, 113) have extensions (16, 116) extending therefrom and upwardly foldable with respect to said end portions along fold lines (F, F1), and the extensions (16, 116) have tabs (17, 18, 117 118) extending therefrom and foldable with respect thereto along fold lines (G, H, G1, H1) whereby when the side portions (11, 12) and end portions (13, 113) have been folded upwardly with respect to the base portion, the extensions (16, 116) and their tabs can be folded so that the tabs overlap side portions (11, 12); and overlap areas of the respective overlapping side portions and tabs are provided with respective members of hook and loop fasteners which, when pressed together, engage to secure together the overlapping portions.

7. A method of converting a container into a divided container, which comprises securing to an inner surface of the container (or to a surface of a precursor therefor) a first member (10.1) of a book and loop fastener; presenting to said first member a divider having secured thereto a second member (32) of said hook and loop fastener so that said first and second members are adjacent each other; and pressing together said first and second members thereby releasably securing the divider in the container so as to divide the container.

8. A divider for use in the method of Claim 7, which comprises a dividing member and a foot member attached to the dividing member, the foot member carrying on its underside said second member of the hook and loop fastener.

9. A precursor for the divider claimed in Claim 8, which comprises a sheet having a fold line (Q) which defines: a main portion (30) and an extension portion (31), the extension portion having secured thereto said second member (32) of the hook and loop fastener and which after folding at said fold line constitutes the foot portion of the divider.