GB2346137A

GB2346137A - A container

Info

Publication number: GB2346137A
Application number: GB0002073A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Paul Arthur Ginns
Original assignee: COMPAKTA Ltd; David S Smith Packaging Ltd
Current assignee: COMPAKTA Ltd; David S Smith Packaging Ltd
Priority date: 1999-01-29
Filing date: 2000-01-28
Publication date: 2000-08-02
Anticipated expiration: 2020-01-28
Also published as: GB0002073D0; GB2346137B

Abstract

The invention relates to a container such as a coffin 1, comprising a plurality of parts 21, 41, each assembled from a blank 10,20,30,40 of sheet material such as cardboard. One part of the coffin includes a strengthening element comprising two longitudinally extending substantially triangular section elements 25 to prevent outward bowing of the walls of the coffin. The cardboard blanks are impregnated or coated with plastic such that they may be impervious to body fluids. A panel (34, figs 3 and 9) in blank 30 forms a support for the head of the deceased in an oval recess (35,figs 3 and 9) to prevent rolling of the head.

Description

A CONTAINER The invention relates to a container, particularly to a container such as a coffin or casket assembled from sheet material, such as cardboard.

Conventional coffins and caskets are made of metal, wood or manmade boards such as chipboard or mediurh density fibreboard. Recent interest in and concern for the environment has prompte development of coffins which are made from more sustainable resources and which have less impact upon the environment when manufactured, and when cremated or buried. Cardboard coffins generally fulfil these criteria in that they are easily and rapidly manufactured from largely recycle board and emit less toxic gases and particulates when cremated than many traditional materials. When buried they decompose rapidly, allowing re-use of the ground more quickly than conventional coffins. They may also be of particular use in disaster situations where rapid manufacture and supply at short notice and ease of transport and storage are required.

However, cardboard coffins proposed hitherto have generally suffered from inadequate rigidity and structural integrity.

It is accordingly an object of the invention to seek to mitigate these disadvantages.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a container, comprising a plurality of container parts each assembled from a blank of sheet material, each blank having fold lines about which the blank is folded to provide an individual container part, one container part at least defining when folded an inner container part with a strengthening element which strengthens the container against outward bowing of the container.

The strengthening element may comprise a substantially triangular element in cross-section. This is relatively simple to construct from a blank, and yet is effective. This container may be elongate and may be two substantially parallel triangular elements at opposite longitudinal sides of the container, and the one container part may be formed from a blank which has six fold lines in two sets of three whereby to provide from one lateral edge to the other seven panels three of which are superimposed to provide three layers at a base of the assembled container. This provides a relative simple yet sturdy base of the container. A further blank when folded about its respective fold lines may define a cradle for an item to be contained in the container. This provides for a modular construction, which is relatively simple in providing a cradle to receive the item.

The cradle may have an inclined portion for receiving part of the item.

This provides for ease of presentation and/or display.

The inclined portion may have a recess for maintaining the part of the item in a desired position. This again assists in presentation and display.

The cradle may be received in nesting relation with the one container part. This provides for simplicity of manufacture and assembly, and increases strength and structural integrity.

A blank which when folded about its respective fold lines may define in use a lid of the container. This is again a relative simple construction, and provides for closing of the container.

The lid may have walls which lay converge to a top, in use, panel of the lid. This provides a smooth or"clean"exterior.

The walls may each have a flap portion connected thereto by a hinge line, and said flap portions may be insertable into the container between the cradle and an outer wall of the container. This provides for positive assembly of the lid with the container, and may allow the lid to be "hinged"open about a fold line connecting a flap portion to the remainder of the blank for forming the lid.

The cradle and flap portions may have locking means. This provides for positive assembly particularly when the locking means may comprise tab means and slots, which may be interengageable.

The tab mean's may be on the cradle and the slots may be in the flap portions of the lid. This is a relatively simple construction.

The outer walls of this container may extend upwardly in use beyond the lower extent of the walls of the lid whereby to provide mounting means.

This allows separate embellishment to be mounted on the assembled container. The outer walls of the container may comprise carrying means. This permits ease of manipulation, carrying and general handling of the container, particularly when laden.

The carrying means may comprise push-in tabs which define orifice for providing hand grips, or alternatively the carrying means may comprise separate handles.

The handles may each comprise a back plate and a flexible loop.

Suitably, the container may be a coffin or casket. This is particularly advantageous, there being no cuts or gaps, the whole coffin or casket being assembled by folding the plurality of blanks.

The blanks may comprise cardboard blanks, particularly corrugated cardboard or multi-ply cardboard.

The cardboard at least of the blank defining the cradle may be impervious to body fluid. This prevents leakage until the coffin is cremated or buried.

The side walls may be low relative to the length. This provides for ease of viewing of a body in the coffin, ease of manipulating the body into the coffin, and ease of attending to the body whilst in the coffin.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a blank for assembly to provide a cradle for an item to be held in the cradle, having a plurality of fold lines defining panels about which the panels are folded to provide the cradle, and panel defining a head panel which in the assembled cradle is inclined.

The head panel may define a recess for maintaining part of the item in a desired position.

The recess may be generally oval or circular in plan, and may be defined by a plurality of substantially triangular shaped flaps which radiate from a control point to a boundary of the oval.

The blank may be made of cardboard, particularly corrugated or multi-ply cardboard which may be resistant to passing of body fluids.

A container in the form of a coffin and blanks used in the assembly thereof, are diagrammatically shown by way of example, in the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is a plan view from the outside of a blank for assembly to provide an outer or base part of a coffin according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a plan view from the outside of a blank for assembly to provide an inner support of a coffin according to the invention, and for insertion in an assembled outer or base part made from a blank according to Fig Fig. 3 is a plan view from the outside of a blank for assembly to provide a cradle for receiving a body, the assembled cradle being received in the assembled outer or base part and inner support; Fig. 4 is a plan view from the outside of a blank for assembly to provide a lid for the coffin; Fig. 5 is, to an enlarged scale, a schematic transverse cross-sectional view of an assembled coffin, with the lid about to be placed in position, showing the relative arrangement and disposition of the assembled blanks of Figs. 1-4; Fig. 6-8 shows to a reduced scale respectively perspective views of a coffin according to the invention made from the blanks of Figs. 1-4 in open, closed and partially open positions.

Fig. 9 shows to an enlarged scale a detail of one end of the interior of the coffin of Figs. 6-8; and Fig. 10 shows schematically a coffin in use.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a container in the embodiment a coffin or casket 1 comprising a plurality of container parts each assembled from a blank 10,20,30 and 40 of sheet material, each blank having fold lines about which the blank is folded to provide an individual container part, one container part at least defining when folded an inner container part 21 with a strengthening element which strengthens the container against outward bowing of the container 1.

Each blank 10, 20,30,40 of the plurality of blanks is made from corrugated or multi-ply cardboard which has been impregnated or coated with a material such as plastic which obviates leakage, and thus keeps body fluids from a decomposing body in the coffin, prior to burial or cremation.

Fig. 1 shows a blank 10 of sheet material in the form of corrugated or multi-ply cardboard which is treated as by coating or impregnating with a material such as plastic material so as to be impermeable to passage of body fluids from a decomposing body which is buried or cremated in a coffin of which the blank is a part. The blank 10 has a set of fold or hinge lines impressed in it to create discrete panels so that when the panels are folded in turn as required, a generally rectangular outer or base container or coffin part 11 is provided, the base of the coffin being provided by a panel 12, two longitudinally opposed opposite panels 13 forming a pair of panels being themselves formed into two panel parts 13a, 13b by double hinge or fold lines 14. The panel parts 13a, 13b form opposite upstanding outer walls of the outer or base part 11, and have carrying means 15 in the form of push-in tabs which provide hand grips, or mounting points for separate discrete handle units or elements (not shown) which each have a base plate, for insertion through orifices formed when the tabs are pushed in and securing inside the walls, and a flexible or other handle which protrude on the interior of the walls for carrying the coffin. The panel parts 13a each have tabs or projection 16, for locking into slots as will be de$cribed. The double hinge lines 14 provide for a smooth upper edge of the wall part 11 and to provide space to receive an upper edge of the inner support part 21 as shown in Fig. 5.

Two opposite panels 17 forming a pair are located at 90 to the panels 13a, 13b and in use form the end walls of the coffin 1, the panel parts 17a, 17b being folded about fold lines 17a to provide a strengthened corner part of triangular configuration internally of the coffin at the corners to provide stiffening and anti-bowing properties.

Through holes 18 are to allow passage of separate handles.

Turning now to Fig. 2, there is shown a blank 20 of material similar that of Fig. 1 and which when folded about fold lines provides the inner support 21 having a base panel part 22 for laying on the base panel part 12 of the outer or base coffin part 11, panels 23 being opposite longitudinally extending outer panels which when folded to assemble the inner support 21 over the panel 22 to provide with the panel 12 a four layer base of the coffin 1. The panels 23,23a each connected to two respective panel parts 24a, 24b which on folding provide longitudinally extending strengthening elements 25 of substantially triangular crosssection which strengthen the coffin 1 and, when it is in use, prevent outward bowing or gaping of the walls. There are cut-outs 25'for receiving the tabs 16, to provide a firm, rigid, assembled structure.

There are also push-in tabs 26 at the same longitudinal locations as on the blank of Fig. 1, to provide for carrying means. On assembly, tongues 27 stay in a horizontal position as an extension of the base 22 to assist in providing a firm base as before, and slots receive additional tab 27 to assist in providing a rigid assembled structure. There are also edge tabs 25"on the free longitudinal edge of panel 23 which locate on assembly into cut-out or slots 25 to provide a rigid structure. Items 25"'are slots to assist in folding.

Fig. 3 shows blank 30 of material similar to that of Figs. 1 and 2. The blank 30 has fold lines 31 which when the blank is folded provide parts which are alongside one another in facing relation being folded about the fold or hinge lines, and which are supported at an angle of about 30 to the horizontal by a support part 32 formed by folding the flap part 33 out of the plane of the Figure in a direction away from the direction of view.

The panel 34 thus forms a support for a head of a deceased person, the rear of the head being received in a recess 35 to support it and prevent unseemly rolling of the head. The recess or support 35 is of oval shape and is a depression in the sheet material formed by triangular flaps 36 which radiate from a central point or punched out hole 37 to the boundary of the oval. There are through cuts 38 separating the edges of adjacent triangular flaps 36 so that they can hinge downwardly about hinge lines 39 when the weight of the head is received, thereby automatically providing the support required. The opposite panel 32a, at the foot of the coffin, is folded about hinge lines 32b to provide a strengthened corner with the triangular flap parts 32c lying alongside one another to strengthen the corners, the part 32d being folded to lie exteriorly of the cradle 30 overlapping the parts 32c and the panel part 32e which forms an upstanding end or foot wall. Panels 30a, 30b are splayed outwardly slightly, and have inwardly flexible edge panels 30c which allow the lid flaps 44 (Fig. 4) to fit externally on 30a, 30b and internally on 13a, (Fig. 1), without snagging on the edge. Cuts alow this flexing, relative to the side walls.

Fig. 4 shows a blank 40 of material similar to that of Figs. 1 to 3, for assembly to form a lid 41. Panel 42 forms a roof of the coffin, panels 43 form inclined, converging, side walls parts, and flaps 44 form locating flaps which are in use inserted to secure the lid 41 in place. Also, as flaps 44 can flex about respective hinge lines 45, they can if only one is initially inserted, act as a hinge to allow the coffin 1 to be in use with the lid open as shown in Fig. 6. Opposite end panels 46 provide the ends of the lid 41 again with triangular end parts 47 which are facing and provide for strengthening of the corners. Tabs provide for location.

In a modification not shown, the flaps 44 have slots and the flap 30c of the inner cradle 30 provides tongues which on assembly locate together to act as a lock for the lid 41. The side walls 11 extend above the lower edge of the walls 43 of the lid 41, Fig. 10, to provide for a support or mounting point 51 for wreath, bouquets and the like, 50.

In use, the four blanks 10,20,30,40 are assembled to provide respectively the outer or base part, the inner support, the inner cradle, and lid. The inner support is inserted so that its walls are under the flap 13a of the outer or base part, which are then folded over and down so that the tabs 16 thereof locate in the slots 25, so rigidifying the structure. The inner cradle 30 is then inserted, as a firm push fit, and the lid 41, if required, is mounted by pushing one or both of its flaps 44 down between the inner cradle 30 and the wall flaps 13a.

A lightweight yet, inexpensive coffin or casket is thus provided, which because there are no cuts around the boundary, and because the cardboard is treated to obviate passage of body fluids prevents leakage before and during the funeral. There are other advantages. The coffin is self supporting. No additional strengthening means such as a spine is required. The walls if they bow at all bow inwardly, and not outwardly, thereof avoiding unseemly"gaping"or prying, a feature enhanced by the interposition of the flaps of the lid between the inner cradle and outer wall.

The coffin is also shallow in that its walls are lower than normal, allowing, when the lid is removed a hinged back, washing or dressing of the deceased without that function being performed elsewhere which diminishes the need to handle the body. The shallowness also provides for easy viewing of the body, a requirement for certain religious beliefs. For cremation, the lower height means that the body can pass into a furnace without jamming, a drawback with some crematorium charging equipment.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A container, comprising a plurality of container parts each assembled from a blank of sheet material, each blank having fold lines about which the blank is folded to provide an individual container part, one container part at least defining when folded an inner container part with a strengthening element which strengthens the container against outward bowing of the container.
2. A container according to Claim 1, the strengthening element comprising a substantially triangular element in cross-section.
3. A container according to Claim 2, the container being elongate and thereby two substantially parallel triangular elements at opposite longitudinal sides of the container, the one container part being formed from a blank which has six fold lines in two sets of three whereby to provide from open lateral edge to the other seven panels three of which are superimposed to provide three layers at a base of the assembled container.
4. A container according to any preceding claim, another blank when folded about its respective fold lines defining a cradle for an item to be contained in the container.
5. A container according to Claim 4, the cradle having an inclined portion for receiving part of the item.
6. A container according to Claim 5, the inclined portion having a recess for maintaining the part of the item in a desired position.
7. A container according to Claim 6, the cradle being received in nesting relative with the open container part.
8. A container according to Claim 7, including a blank when folded about its respective fold lines defining in use a lid of the container.
9. A container according to Claim 8, the lid having walls which converge to a top, in use, panel of the lid.
10. A container according to Claim 9, the walls each having a flap portion connected thereto by a hinge line, said flap portion being insertable into the container between the cradle and an outer wall of the container.
11. A container according to Claim 10, the cradle and flap portions having locking means.
12. A container according to Claim 11, the locking means comprising tab means and slots, which are interengageable.
13. A container according to Claim 12, the tab means being on the cradle and the slots being in the flap portions of the lid.
14. A container according to any of Claims 10 to 13, the outer walls of the container extending upwardly in use beyond the lower extent of the walls of the lid whereby to provide mounting means.
15. A container according to any of Claims 10 to 14, the outer walls of the container comprising carrying means.
16. A container according to Claim 15, the carrying means comprising push-in tabs which define orifices for providing hand grips.
17. A container according to Claim 15, the carrying means comprising separate handles.
18. A container according to Claim 17, the handles each comprising a back plate and a flexible loop.
19. A container according to any preceding claim, being a coffin or casket.
20. A container according to Claim 19, the blanks comprising cardboard blanks.
21. Acontaineraccording to Claim 20, the cardboard being corrugated or multi-ply cardboard.
22. A container according to Claim 21, the cardboard at least of the blank defining the cradle, being impervious to body fluids.
23. A container according to any of Claims 19 to 22, the side walls being low relative to the length.
24. A container, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
25. A blank for assembly to provide a cradle for an item to be held in the cradle, having a plurality of fold lines defining panels about which the panels are folded to provide the cradle, and panel defining a head panel which in the assembled cradle is inclined.
26. A blank according to Claim 25, the head panel defining a recess for maintaining part of the item in a desired position.
27. A blank according to Claim 26, the recess being generally oval or circular in plan.
28. A blank according to Claim 27, the recess being defined by a plurality of substantially triangular shaped flaps which radiate from a control point to a boundary of the oval or circle.
29. A blank according to any of Claims 25 to 28, made of cardboard.
30. A blank according to Claim 29, the cardboard being corrugated or multi-ply cardboard.
31. A blank according to Claim 30, the cardboard being resistant to passing of body fluids.
32. A blank, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.