GB2281553A

GB2281553A - Holding open the mouth of a fold-flat container

Info

Publication number: GB2281553A
Application number: GB9318110A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alan Breadon
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1993-09-01
Filing date: 1993-09-01
Publication date: 1995-03-08
Also published as: GB9318110D0

Abstract

A fold-flat disposable container includes folds 22 marginally inward of the upper edge of each wall such that on erection of the container the panels 24 created thereby may be folded inwardly at right angles to the walls 12, 14 to form a strengthening element to hold open the mouth 16 of the container. The adjacent panels 24 have mitre folds to allow the panels to lie coplanar. Self adhesive sealing strips 26 or a heat-sealable PVC film may be provided on two walls to allow the container permanently to be sealed. Temporary sealing may be achieved by means of an elongate tab (not shown) folded over the upper end of the outer wall when the walls have been folded together as in Figure 6. The container may be used to hold liquid waste such as oil. <IMAGE>

Description

DISPOSABLE CONTAINER This invention relates to a container for use in receiving liquid waste products, for example, waste oil products, the container when full or partially so being disposed to waste. The invention relates particularly to containers of rectangular cross-section having a bottom, four sides and a open top or mouth closable by the upper ends of the sides being brought together at or near to their edges and secured. Each container is formed from a blank and erected into the container and has folds to allow the container to be collapsed for storage when not in use, namely two opposite sides each having a lengthwise fold mid-way of its width and one other side has a transverse fold at a distance from its bottom edge equal to half the breadth of the bottom. Hereinafter such a container will be referred to as a "container of the type stated"..

A problem with such folded containers is that when erected they may tend to collapse at their upper edges about the folds reducing the areal dimensions of the mouth.

This is disadvantageous when a user is single-handedly trying to pour liquid waste into the container and both hands are being used in the pouring action or one hand is being used in the pouring action and the other in a container-steadying action.

An object of the present invention is to obviate or mitigate this disadvantage.

Accordingly, the present invention is a container of the type stated in which a similar fold is provided marginally inward of the upper edge of each wall to enable, on erection of the container, the marginal panels created thereby to be foldable inwardly at substantially right angles to the walls and together form a strengthening element to hold open the mouth of the container, the adjacent panels at each corner having mitre folds to allow the panels when folded over to be coplanar or substantially so.

Preferably, adjacent to the marginal fold at the upper edges of the two nonfoldable walls, a zone of adhesive masked by a peel-off strip is provided. The adhesive of the zone is desirably contact- adherable on removal of the strip. The marginal panel of each of the two non-foldable walls when folded inwardly beneficially acts to deflect any liquid poured into the container from the strip masked adhesive, at least along the top edge of the strip masked adhesive. The interior of the container is desirably liquid proof to prevent leakage or seepage of any contents therefrom.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a plan view of a blank of a container according to the present invention; Figs 2, 3 and 4, are all of a perspective view of a container formed from the blank respectively shown in a fully collapsed state, a partially erected state and a fully erected state; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the container as shown in Fig. 4 with marginal panels folded inwardly; and Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a container with its upper ends sealed.

Referring to the drawings, a container is of rectangular cross-section having a bottom 10 four sides 12, 14 and an open top or mouth 16 closable by the upper ends of the sides 12, 14 being brought together at or near to their edges and secured. Each container has folds 18 to allow the container to be collapsed when not in use, namely two opposite sides 12 each having a lengthwise fold 19 mid-way of its width and one other side 14 has a transverse fold 20 at a distance from its bottom edge equal to half the breadth ofthe bottom.

A similar fold 22 is provided marginally inward of the upper edge of each wall 12, 14 to enable, on erection ofthe container, the marginal panels 24 created thereby to be foldable inwardly substantially at right angles to the walls 12, 14 and together form a strengthening element to hold open the mouth 16 ofthe container. The adjacent panels 24 at each comer have mitre folds to allow the panels when folded over to be coplanar or substantially so.

Adjacent to the marginal fold 22 at the upper edges of the two non-foldable walls 14, a zone 26 of adhesive masked by a peel-off strip 28 is provided. The adhesive of the zone 26 is contact adherable to corresponding locations on the folded walls 12 on removal of the strip 28 The marginal panel 24 of each of the two non-foldable walls 14 when folded inwardly acts to deflect any liquid poured into the container from the strip masked zone 26 of adhesive, at least along the top edge of the strip zone 26 of masked adhesive. The interior of the container is liquid proofed to prevent leakage or seepage of any contents therefrom.

Means is provided to temporarily close the container when only partially full and the intent of the user is to fill it before disposal, the means may be an elongate tab secured to the upper end of one wall 14, and the outer end of which is folded over and attached to the upper end ofthe outer wall 14, the upper ends of wall 14 having previously been folded about folds 30, 32 as shown in Fig. 6.

In use, waste liquid products, such as chip pan oil, is poured into a container, when erected, and the marginal panels folded over. If the container is full, or if the container is only partially filled but is to be disposed of to waste nevertheless, then the marginal panels are folded back to their original position, the strips 28 are peeled off the zone 26 and the upper ends of walls 14 of the container folded about a fold 30, 32 and the upper ends of the walls 14 pressed together for sealing the mouth of the container.

The upper ends of the wall 14 when folded and positioned together in a temporarily closed or secured position, provide a hand grippable portion for lifting and carrying the container.

A stand of openwork can be provided to support a container in use, the stand being of a suitably shaped sleeve having a base, the sleeve to extend up to the level of the fold 30 or nearly so. The stand, provided to be aesthetically pleasing, supports the container particularly during emptying of waste liquid thereinto and when partially full.

The stand may be of plastics material and re-usable and the container of a cardboard or paper product.

In a modification, the zones of adhesive are omitted and the upper ends of the walls 12, 14 are coated with a P.V.C. film. For sealing the container the walls 14 are brought together and heat sealed together by locating them in a heated sealing device.

Variations and other modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention described above.

Claims

1. A container of the type stated inwhich a similiar fold is provided marginally inwards of the upper edge of each wall to enable,on erection of the container,the marginal panels created thereby to be foldable inwardly at substantially right angles to the walls and together form a strengthening element to hold open the mouth of the container,the adjacent panels at each corner having mitre folds to allow the panels when folded over to be coplanar or substantially so.

2o A container of the type stated and as claimed in Claim 1 inwhich adjacent to the marginal folds at the upper edges of the two non-foldable walAs,a zone of contact adhesive masked by a peel-off strip is provided which later acts as the container's permanent seal to be used before disposal as waste.

3. A container of the type stated and as claimed in any of the above Claims wherein the marginal panel of each of the two non-foldable walls,when folded inwardly, beneficially acts to deflect any liquid poured into the container away from the strip masked adhesive layer.

4. A container of the type stated according to any of the above Claims inwhioh the fold-flat structural blank is produced ftcir a sheet, or sheets,cf flexible material which is waterproof and oil-proof.

Claims:-

5. ; container of the type stated according to Claim 2 hereby the container can be temporary sealed by means of an elongate tab secured to the upper end of one wall 14 and the outer end of which is folded over and attached to the upper end of the outer wall 14 as depicted in Figure 6.

6. A container of the type stated according to any of the above Claims inwhich the zones of contact adhesive are replaced with a PR5 coating so that closure can be accomplished by heat-sealing.

7. < container of the type stated substantialy as described herein with reference to Figures 1 to 6 of the accompanying drawing.