GB2287453A

GB2287453A - Box

Info

Publication number: GB2287453A
Application number: GB9403570A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Hiroshi Harada
Original assignee: Alps Electric Co Ltd
Current assignee: Alps Alpine Co Ltd
Priority date: 1994-02-24
Filing date: 1994-02-24
Publication date: 1995-09-20
Also published as: GB9403570D0

Abstract

A box is formed from a single sheet blank and comprises a rectangular base (1), four side walls (2 - 5) upstanding from the base, and a rectangular lid (6) hingedly connected along one of its edges to the top edge of a first one (2) of the side walls and having cover panels (7 - 9) depending from each of its other three edges. When the lid is in its closed position overlying the base, the cover panels (7 - 9) at least partially overlie respective ones of side walls (3 - 5). The second and third side walls (3 and 4) are folded down on themselves so as to have a height less than that of the first side wall (2) and to retain latching elements (14) connected to adjacent side walls (2) and (5). Cover panel (7) is similarly folded down on itself and retains latching elements (15) connected to the cover panels (8 and 9). <IMAGE>

Description

BOX The invention relates to a box formed from a single sheet blank and, in particular, to a rectangular box having a base, four side walls and a lid hingedly connected to the top of one of the side walls and having cover panels depending therefrom to overlie the other side walls when the box is closed.

In order to assist in retaining blank-formed boxes in the formed state, it is known for one or more walls to be folded down on themselves to retain latching elements connected to adjacent sides walls. Such folded down walls have in the past had a folded height equal to the height of the other non-folded walls. This means that in the flat blank from which the box is to be formed, the walls which are to be folded down extend outwardly beyond those which are not. This increases the size of the rectangular sheet from which the blank can be cut and also increases wastage.

In order to overcome this disadvantage, the present invention employs folded down walls which have a folded height less than the height of other non-folded walls.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a box formed from a single sheet blank and comprising a rectangular base, four side walls upstanding from the base and a rectangular lid hingedly connected along one of its edges to the top edge of a first one of the side walls and having cover panels depending from each of its other three edges; wherein, when the lid is in its closed position overlying the base, the cover panels at least partially overlie respective ones of the second, third and fourth side walls; the box being characterised in that at least one of the second, third and fourth side walls is folded down on itself so as to have a height less than that of the first side wall and to retain a latching element connected to an adjacent side wall.

An embodiment of the invention is described below, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a blank from which a nox in accordance with the present invention can be formed; and Figure 2 is a perspective view of a box formed from the blank of Figure 1 with the lid open.

As can be seen from the drawings, the box comprises a base 1, four side walls 2, 3, 4 and 5 attached to the base through fold lines 21, 31, 41 and 51, a lid 6 hingedly connected along one of its edges through a fold line 61 to a top edge of the first side wall 2, and cover panels 7, 8 and 9 connected to the lid through fold lines 71, 81 and 91. As can be seen from Figure 2, the side walls 2, 3, 4 and 5 stand up from the base when the box is formed whereas the cover panels depend from the lid to at least partially overlie the side walls on the outside of the box when the lid is in its closed position.

Sides walls 3 and 4 are both formed with two adjacent parallel hinge lines 11 such that they can be folded down on themselves to have a folded height substantially half their unfolded height. Tongues 12 formed on the side walls 3, 4 are located in slots 13 formed in the base 1 to hold the side walls in their folded position. The cover panel 7 is similarly formed with hinge lines 11 and tongues 12 which can locate in slots 13 formed in the lid 6.

L-shaped latching elements 14 are connected through hinge lines 141 to either end of side walls 2 and 5. Further latching elements 15 are similarly connected through hinge lines 151 to the ends of cover panels 8 and 9 adjacent cover panel 7. The latching elements 14 and 15 are identical and each comprises a leg portion 16 adjacent the respective hinge line 141 or 151 and a protruding foot portion 17.

When the box is formed, the leg portions 17 of the latching elements 14 are located and retained between the folded portions of adjacent side walls 3 and 4 whilst the leg portions of latching elements 15 are located and retained between the folded portions of cover panel 7.

The latching elements thus serve to hold the side walls in their upstanding position.

In the embodiment shown, the outer parts of the side walls 3 and 4 have cut away portions 18. As can be best seen from Figure 2, the leg portions 16 of the latching elements 14 close gaps which would otherwise be formed in the side walls as a result of the cut away portions. The cover panel 7 has similar cut away portions 18 which are similarly covered by the leg portions 16 of latching elements 15.

Forming of the box is carried out simply by folding the blank along the fold lines, folding the side walls 2 and 3 and the cover panel over the foot portions 17 of their associated latching elements, and locating the tongues 12 in the appropriate slots 13. The formed box is completely self supporting and no gluing, stitching, stapling, adhesive tape or other fixing devices are required to retain the box in the formed position. This leads to economies of manufacture since the box is formed entirely from the blank.

When the box is formed and the lid closed, the non-folded cover panels 8 and 9 will overlie the folded side walls 2 and 3, whilst the folded cover panel 7 overlies the non-folded side wall 5. In this way a completely closed box is formed with no openings or gaps in any of its sides when the lid is closed.

It will be noticed that the outer edges of all the side walls, cover panels and latching elements lie on a single rectangle defined by the incomplete lines A, B, C and D. In this way, the box can be formed from a minimum of material with a minimum of wastage. As can be clearly seen from Figure 1, the side walls 3, 4 and the cover panel 7 would extend beyond the rectangle defined by lines A, B, C and D if they were to be of full height when folded down. Thus, the size of the rectangular area of material required to form each box would be much greater and the wastage of material considerably increased. The box may typically be made of cardboard or plastic sheeting.

The relative proportions of the box may, of course, be varied according to the application for which it is intended. In one example the base and lid are about 30cm by 45cm, and the side walls are about 70cm high.

As shown, the two side walls 3 and 4, and the cover panel 7 are folded down. In an alternative embodiment (not shown) the side wall 5 and cover panels 8 and 9 are folded down.

Claims

1. A box formed from a single sheet blank and comprising a rectangular base, four side walls upstanding from the base, and a rectangular lid hingedly connected along one of its edges to the top edge of a first one of the side walls and having cover panels depending from each of its other three edges; wherein when the lid is in its closed position overlying the base, the cover panels at least partially overlie respective ones of the second, third and fourth side walls; the box being characterised in that at least one of the second, third and fourth side walls is folded down on itself so as to have a height less than that of the first side wall and to retain a latching element connected to an adjacent side wall.

2. A box as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the second and third side walls, being those adjacent the first side wall, are both folded down on themselves.

3. A box as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein at least one cover panel is folded down on itself so as to have a height less than that of the first side wall and to retain a latching element connected to an adjacent cover panel.

4. A box as claimed in Claim 3, wherein it is the cover panel depending from the edge of the lid opposite to its edge connected to the first side wall which is folded down on itself.

5. A box as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein each side wall which is folded down on itself retains latching elements connected to each of the adjacent side walls.

6. A box as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the cover panel which is folded down on itself retains latching elements connected to each of the adjacent cover panels.

7. A box as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein each side wall of cover panel which is folded, is folded to have a height substantially half its unfolded height.

8. A box as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein each side wall or cover panel which is folded is formed with one or more tongues on its free edge which can locate in corresponding slots in the base or lid when the side wall or cover panel is folded to retain the side wall or cover panel in the folded portion.

9. A box as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein each side wall or cover panel which is folded, is folded about two adjacent parallel crease lines.

10. A box as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein each side wall which is folded is overlain by an a nonfolded cover panel.

11. A box substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

12. A blank for a box substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.