GB2275913A

GB2275913A - A box having a handle

Info

Publication number: GB2275913A
Application number: GB9304943A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Roy Ellis
Original assignee: LMG FOLDING CARTONS Ltd
Current assignee: LMG FOLDING CARTONS Ltd
Priority date: 1993-03-11
Filing date: 1993-03-11
Publication date: 1994-09-14
Also published as: GB9304943D0

Abstract

A box made from a folded blank of stiff material comprises comprising a body portion in the form of a tube of polygonal cross-section, and a pair of end walls disposed at opposite ends of the body portion. Each end wall comprises a plurality of end closure panels (22, 20) hinged to the body portion. The body portion comprises a carrying handle formed from the material of the blank. The carrying handle is made up of two handle portions (24, 28) provided, respectively, on inner and outer wall panels (14, 12). A removable region (32) may be defined by perforated lines (36) for access to the contents of the box. <IMAGE>

Description

A BOX This invention relates to a box made from a folded blank of stiff material.

Boxes are known which incorporate handles, made from the material of the blank. This avoids the need to attach a separately manufactured handle to the box.

In such boxes, however, the handles are formed as part of the end closures of the box. This means that the end closures are of non-standard form, with the result that specialised machinery is needed to close the box after it has been filled.

According to the present invention there is provided a box made from a folded blank of stiff material, comprising a body portion in the form of a tube of polygonal cross-section, and a pair of end walls disposed at opposite ends of the body portion, each end wall comprising a plurality of end closure panels hinged to the body portion, the body portion comprising a carrying handle formed from the material of the blank.

Since the handle is provided on the body portion, the end closure panels can be of standard form, and the final erection, filling and closure of the box can be performed on standard top-load machinery with little or no modification.

The body portion may have a removable region, for example defined by lines of weakening, which can be detached to provide access to the contents of the box.

The body portion comprises a plurality of walls (preferably four walls to provide a body portion of rectangular cross-section), and the handle is preferably situated generally centrally on one of the walls. The removable region may be provided on the same wall as the handle, and may extend also on to an adjacent wall. Means may be provided for retaining the removable region in a closed position, after initial opening.

The wall on which the handle is provided may comprise two wall panels which overlie one another.

The handle may comprise two overlying handle portions, provided one on each wall panel.

In a preferred embodiment, the blank from which the box is formed comprises five body panels disposed in a row, the endmost body panels comprising the wall panels provided with the handle portions.

For a better understanding of the present invention, and to show more clearly how it may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a blank for erection into a box; Figures 2 and 3 show two stages in the formation of a box from the blank; Figure 4 shows the box during filling; and Figure 5 shows the filled box after opening to provide access to the contents.

The blank shown in Figure 1 is made from a foldable sheet material, such as cardboard. In Figure 1, solid lines represent cuts, dotted lines represent creases, and dot-dash lines represent lines of weakening such as perforations.

The blank shown in Figure 1 comprises a rectangular base panel 2 connected at creases 4 and 6 on opposite sides to front and rear panels 8 and 10.

The front and rear panels 8 and 10 are connected, respectively, to outer and inner top wall panels 12 and 14 at creates 16 and 18. Inner end closure flaps 20 are hinged to the base panel 2 and the outer top panel 12, and outer end flaps 22 are hinged to the front and rear panels 8 and 10.

The inner top panel 14 has a handle portion 24 which is connected to the remainder of the inner top panel 14 at creases 26 at each end of the handle portion 24. The distance between the creases 26 and the crease 18 is substantially one half of the width of the outer top panel 12.

The outer top panel 12 is provided with a handle portion 28, which is connected to the remainder of the outer top panel 12 by creases 30 at each end of the handle portion 28. The creases 30 are situated approximately half way across the width of the outer panel 12.

A removable region 32 is provided in the front panel 8 and the outer top panel 12. This removable region is defined by a free edge 34, two perforated curved lines 36 and a crease 38.

In a preliminary step, the blank shown in Figure 1 is folded as shown in Figures 2 and 3 to form a flat tube shown in Figure 3. To achieve this, the rear panel 10 and the inner top panel 14 are folded together about the crease 6 so as to lie flat on the base panel 2 and the front panel 8. The handle portion 24 is folded back on to the inner top panel 14, to achieve the configuration shown in Figure 2. Glue is applied to the inner top panel 14 and the handle portion 24 as shown at 40. The outer top panel 12 is then folded about the crease 16 on to the inner top panel 14 and bonded to it by means of the glue 40. This achieves the result shown in Figure 3, which is the form in which the blank is supplied to the eventual user, for example a detergent manufacturer.

When the box is to be filled, the flat configuration shown in Figure 3 is opened out to form a body portion 42 (Figure 4). One end closure is formed by folding in and bonding the end closure flaps 20 and 22 at the respective end (the lower end as shown in Figure 4) and the product (such as detergent powder) 44 is introduced through the other end, where the end closure flaps 20 and 22 remain open. Finally, these end closure flaps 20 and 22 are folded down and glued to close the box.

The resulting box has a generally standard rectangular configuration which makes it easy to stack during transportation, storage and retail display.

However, a consumer purchasing the detergent is able to lift up the handle comprising the two handle portions 24 and 28 which are bonded together, to assist in carrying the box. When the detergent is to be used, the removable region 32 can be torn away from the remainder of the body portion of the box, as shown in Figure 5, to provide a wide opening enabling easy access to the contents. After the required quantity of detergent has been removed, the box can be closed again by folding the removable portion 32 to its initial position, and tucking a tab 46 at its free end beneath the inner top panel 14.

The final erection, filling and closing of the box can be accomplished using standard machinery, since the handle portions 24 and 28 and the removable portion 32 are provided in the body portion of the box rather than the end closures, and do not project beyond the body portion during the erection and filling process.

Claims

1. A box made from a folded blank of stiff material, comprising a body portion in the form of a tube of polygonal cross-section, and a pair of end walls disposed at opposite ends of the body portion, each end wall comprising a plurality of end closure panels hinged to the body portion, the body portion comprising a carrying handle formed from the material of the blank.

2. A box as claimed in claim 1, in which the body portion has a removable region which can be detached to provide access to the contents of the box.

3. A box as claimed in claim 2, in which the removable region is defined by lines of weakening in the body portion.

4. A box as claimed as claimed in claim 2 or 3, in which means is provided for retaining the removable region in a closed position, after initial opening.

5. A box as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the polygonal cross-section of the body portion provides a plurality of walls, the handle being situated generally centrally on one of the walls.

6. A box as claimed in claim 5, in which the body portion comprises four walls and is of rectangular cross-section.

7. A box as claimed in claim 5 or 6 when appendant to claim 2, in which the removable region is provided on the same wall as the handle.

8. A box as claimed in claim 7, in which the removable region extends on to an adjacent wall.

9. A box as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 8, in which the wall in which the handle is provided comprises two wall panels which overlie one another.

10. A box as claimed in claim 9, in which the handle comprises two overlying handle portions, provided one on each wall panel.

11. A box as claimed in claim 10, in which the handle portion on the inner one of the overlying wall panels is folded to lie over the inner overlying wall panel, the overlying wall panels being glued to each other.

12. A box as claimed in claim 10 or 11, in which the blank from which the box is formed comprises five body panels disposed in a row, the end most body panels comprising the wall panels provided with the handle portions.

13. A box substantially as described herein, with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.

14. A blank for erection into a box in accordance with any one of the preceding claims.