GB2350602A - Container formed from a blank - Google Patents

Abstract

A blank 10 for assembly into a container is made from corrugated fibreboard and comprises four wall panels 12, 14, 16 and 18. Base panels 34, 40 are attached to two of the wall panels, with wall reinforcing panels 38, 44 adjoining the base panels. The wall reinforcing panels 38, 44 are capable of being folded to overlie the base panels. Each base panel also includes a flap 100, 102, the flaps being capable of interacting with one another on assembly of the blank into a container. This allows the first base panel and the second base panel to overlap one another to form a reinforced base of the container. The reinforcing panels 38,44 may be adhesively joined to the respective wall panels 14,18 in a flattened, partly assembled form of the container, the walls 12-18 being pulled apart to erect the container fully.

Description

2350602 Title: Container

Field of the invention

This invention relates to a container, to a blank for assembly into a container and also to a partially assembled blank ready for erection into a container. The invention is particularly concerned with a container intended to accommodate archive files for storage.

Background to the invention

Containers, such as cardboard boxes, assembled from pre-cut blanks are well known. Such containers generally have a base formed from a series of flaps inter-leaved together, which flaps are prone to separating when heavy loads are placed within the container due to the downward pressure on the base exerted by the load. Also an assembled container can suffer partial or complete collapse by upward pressure on the outside of the container base. When this occurs, the container must then be re-assembled.

The present invention, in its various aspects, aims to overcome these aforementioned problems to provide a container with a strong base.

Summa1y of the invention According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a blank for assembly into a container, the blank being made of sheet material and comprising first, second, third and fourth wall panels arranged in series along a primary direction of the blank, a first base panel adjoining the first wall panel along a first transition line extending in the primary direction, a first wall reinforcing panel adjoining the first base panel along a second transition line extending in a direction substantially orthogonal to the primary direction, a second base panel adjoining the third wall panel along a third transition line extending in the primary direction, a second wall reinforcing panel adjoining the second 2 base panel along a fourth transition line extending in a direction substantially orthogonal to the primary direction, wherein the first wall reinforcing panel is capable of being folded about the second transition line out of the plane of the blank occupied by the remaining panels and the second wall reinforcing panel is correspondingly capable of being folded about the fourth transition line out of the plane of the blank occupied by the remaining panels.

Preferably the second transition line is substantially aligned with a line forming the transition between the first and second wall panels, and the fourth transition line is substantially aligned with a line forming the transition between the third and fourth wall panels.

The first wall reinforcing panel is desirably separated from the second wall panel by a first cut-away portion, and similarly the second wall reinforcing panel is separated from the fourth wall panel by a second cutaway portion. In this way, there is no direct connection between the first wall reinforcing panel and the second wall panel and between the second wall reinforcing panel and the fourth wall panel.

The first wall reinforcing panel is preferably attached to the remainder of the blank solely along the second transition line, and the second wall reinforcing panel is attached to the remainder of the blank solely along the fourth transition line. The wall reinforcing panels are thus only connected to the remainder of the blank by virtue of their connections to the respective base panels, so that neither wall reinforcing panel is directly attached to any of the wall panels.

Instead of providing separation of the wall reinforcing panels from the wall panels by use of cut-away portions, it would be readily appreciated by someone skilled in the art that such separation can be provided by a number of other alternative means. For example, frangible connections may be used, such as perforations which are readily breakable to separate the wall reinforcing panels. Thus whilst the blank advantageously has cutaway portions to separate the wall reinforcing panels from the wall panels, typically provided when stamping or die-cutting a sheet of cardboard to form a blank, it would be possible 3 for the blank to include two readily detachable portions which could be removed before assembly to provide an equivalent to the cut-away portions. In any blank, the separation must be such as ultimately to allow each wall reinforcing panel to be folded out of the plane of the remainder of the blank, because this is necessary for assembly.

The sheet material of the blank is preferably fibreboard, which may have a corrugated cross-section to provide improved strength and rigidity of the container when assembled. However the blank can also be made from solidboard or cardboard, or plastics material which may be corrugated, such as that known as Correxf9TM).

To allow for construction of the blank into a partially assembled container, and subsequently into a container, the first base panel preferably has a first angled slot extending from an inner end in the central region of the first base panel to an outer open end adjacent a first corner of the first base panel where the second transition line meets an outer edge of the first base panel, and the second base panel has a second angled slot extending from an inner end in the central region of the second base panel to an outer open end adjacent a second corner of the second base panel where the fourth transition line meets an outer edge of the second base panel.

The first base panel may further comprise first and second hinge lines, the first hinge line extending from a third corner of the first base panel, where the second transition line meets the first transition line, to the inner end of the first angled slot, with the second hinge line being parallel to the first hinge line and extending from the inner end of the first slot to the outer edge of the first base panel, and the second base panel similarly has third and fourth hinge lines, the third hinge line extending from a fourth corner of the second base panel, where the fourth transition line meets the third transition line, to the inner end of the second angled slot, with the fourth hinge line being parallel to the third hinge line and extending from the inner end of the second slot to the outer edge of the second base panel.

The area defined between the first hinge line and the second transition line is substantially triangular shaped and is capable of being folded about the first hinge line and also about 4 the second transition line so that the first wall reinforcing panel can be folded to overlie the first base panel. The equivalent area defined on the second base panel, between the third hinge line and the fourth transition line, is also capable of being folded along the third hinge line and the fourth transition line so that the second wall reinforcing panel can be folded to overlie the second base panel.

Thus when the blank is stamped, or die-cut, so as to have appropriate dimensions for a container having a rectangular base, the inner end of the first slot provides an offset of the first hinge line from the second hinge line, and correspondingly the inner end of the second slot provides an offset of the third hinge line from the fourth hinge line.

For the particular case of a blank for a square container, the slot is of minimum width, such that the first and second hinge lines are aligned, and correspondingly the third and fourth hinge lines are aligned, such that each pair of hinge lines form a continuous hinge line.

Desirably the first base panel further comprises a first flap, defined by the second hinge line and the first slot, and the second base panel further comprises a second flap, defined by the fourth hinge line and the second slot. Each flap has a substantially triangular area, with the first and second flaps being capable of interacting with one another on assembly of the blank into a container, so as to cause the first base panel and the second base panel to overlap one another to form a reinforced base of the container.

The transition lines, the lines forming the transition between the respective wall panels, and the hinge lines are preferably provided by pre-formed crease lines impressed on the blank. These crease lines form lines of weakness about which respective panels and the first and second flaps can hinge so as to allow for assembly of the container. In this way a degree of flexibility is introduced into the blank, which is of particular use where the blank is made from a substantially rigid material such as corrugated board. However it is to be appreciated that the transition lines, the lines forming the transition between the respective wall panels, and the fold lines can be delineated in other ways, such as for example by use of perforations.

The pre-formed creases, whilst facilitating assembly of a container from the blank, also ensure that the final erected container has set dimensions as defined by the chosen spacing of crease lines between adjacent wall panels.

To assist with assembly of a container from the blank, each base panel is desirably not strictly rectangular. Thus the first base panel may include a first angled edge opposite the second transition line, the first angled edge being slightly inclined to the direction of the second transition line, and similarly the second base panel may include a second angled edge opposite the fourth transition line, the second angled edge being slightly inclined to the direction of the fourth transition line.

The first and second angled edges may also be provided with a cut-away portion where each angled edge adjoins a wall panel, so as to aid assembly of the container. The cutaway portion is typically semi-circular in shape, although other shapes, such as squares, triangles and rectangles, can be used. The angled edge and the cut-away portion provide dimensional relief and improve flexibility when assembling the blank.

An edge flap may adjoin the first wall panel to assist in assembling the blank into a partially assembled container, the edge flap providing an area on which adhesive may be applied.

The invention also lies in a blank according to any of the aforesaid statements when partially assembled ready for forming into a container, and to a container erected from a blank as aforesaid.

However in accordance with another aspect of the invention, there is provided a partially assembled container made from sheet material and comprising first, second, third and fourth wall panels arranged in series, the first and fourth wall panels being attached to form a loop-like endless series of wall panels, a first base panel adjoining the first wall panel along a first fold line and adjoining a first wall reinforcing panel along a second fold line, the first wall reinforcing panel being affixed to the second wall panel, and a second base panel adjoining the third wall panel along a third fold line and adjoining a second 6 wall reinforcing panel along a fourth fold line, the second wall reinforcing panel being affixed to the fourth wall panel, the first base panel having a first slot and the second base panel having a second slot, such that the partially assembled container is capable of being assembled from a collapsed condition in which the panels lie flat or substantially flat to an assembled condition by effecting relative separation of opposite wall panels with attendant relative sliding movement of the two base panels, until the first and second slots enable the base panels to inter-engage and overlap one another to form a base of the assembled container.

Preferably the first wall panel adjoins an edge flap, the edge flap being secured to the fourth wall panel to form the loop-like endless series of wall panels. The edge flap is typically secured to the fourth wall panel by using adhesive, although other fixings such as staples or stitching can be used.

Similarly the first and second wall reinforcing panels are preferably fixed to the respective third and fourth wall panels by adhesive, although staples or stitching or other means of securing the wall reinforcing panels to the appropriate wall panels can be used.

For the partially assembled container, preferably the first base panel includes a first angled edge opposite the second fold line, and the second base panel includes a second angled edge opposite the fourth fold line. These angled edges provide a certain amount of relief when assembling the container, and allow the base panels to slide to provide a flat base, without being unduly restricted by the wall panels.

The first and second angled edges may also be provided with a cut-away portion where each angled edge adjoins a wall panel, so as to aid assembly of the container. As before, the cut-away portion is typically semi-circular in shape.

Desirably the first base panel further comprises a first flap, defined by a fifth fold line and the first slot, and the second base panel further comprises a second flap, defined by a sixth fold line and the second slot. Each flap has a substantially triangular area, with the first and second flaps being capable of interacting with one another on erection of the partially 7 assembled blank into a container, so as to cause the first base panel and the second base panel to overlap one another to form a reinforced base of the container.

The first flap and the second flap provide interacting surfaces on which the relative sliding movement of the first and second base panels occurs.

To ensure that each base panel lies substantially flat in the assembled condition, desirably the first base panel has a seventh fold line extending from an inner end of the first slot to where the second fold line meets the first wall panel, and the second base panel has an eighth fold line extending from an inner end of the second slot to where the fourth fold line meets the third wall panel. By bending along the seventh and eighth fold lines, each base panel can thus fold so as to lie substantially flat within the loop-like endless series of wall panels.

According to yet another aspect of the invention, there is provided a container comprising first, second, third and fourth wall panels arranged in series around and extending upwardly from a rectangular base defined by first and second base panels, the first base panel adjoining the first wall panel along a first fold line and adjoining a first wall reinforcing panel along a second fold line, the first wall reinforcing panel being affixed to the second wall panel, the second base panel adjoining the third wall panel along a third fold line and adjoining a second wall reinforcing panel along a fourth fold line, the second wall reinforcing panel being affixed to the fourth wall panel, the first base panel having a first slot and the second base panel having a second slot so that a base of the container is formed by the two base panels in inter-engaged and overlapping relationship.

In this way a particularly rigid container is provided as the first base panel is securely attached to the first wall panel along the first fold line and to the second wall panel by means of the first wall reinforcing panel, and the second base panel is securely attached to the third wall panel along the third fold line and to the fourth wall panel by means of the second wall reinforcing panel.

Preferably the first wall panel adjoins an edge flap, the edge flap being secured to the 8 fourth wall panel to form the loop-like endless series of wall panels. The edge flap is typically secured by using adhesive, although other fixings such as staples or stitching can be used.

Similarly the first and second wall reinforcing panels are preferably fixed to the respective third and fourth wall panels by adhesive, although staples or stitching or other means of attachment can be used.

To assist with assembly of a container from the blank, each base panel is desirably not strictly rectangular. Thus the first base panel may include a first angled edge opposite the second fold line, slightly inclined to the direction of the second fold line, and similarly the second base panel may include a second angled edge opposite the fourth fold line, the second angled edge being slightly inclined to the direction of fourth fold line.

The first and second angled edges may also be provided with a cut-away portion where each angled edge adjoins a wall panel, so as to aid assembly of the container. As before, the cut-away portion is typically semi-circular in shape. The angled edge and the semicircular cut-away portion provide relief and improve flexibility when assembling the blank.

Desirably the first base panel further comprises a first flap, defined by a fifth fold line and the first slot, and the second base panel further comprises a second flap, defined by a sixth fold line and the second slot. Each flap has a substantially triangular area, with the first and second flaps being capable of interacting with one another on erection of the partially assembled blank into a container, so as to cause the first base panel and the second base panel to inter-engage and overlap one another to form a reinforced base of the container. Thus, the slots inter-engage to retain the two base panels in their overlapping condition forming the base of the container. Effectively a double thickness base of substantial structural integrity is provided, resistant to both extreme loads downwards from objects placed with the container, and also to a force exerted upwards on the outside base of the container.

A blank, partially assembled blank and a container forming preferred embodiments of the 9 invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the exemplary blank; Figures 2 to 8 are sequential perspective views showing assembly of the blank into a partially assembled blank in a substantially flat form; and Figures 9 to 11 are views from above of the partially assembled blank as it is erected to form a container.

Description

The blank 10 shown in Figure 1 is die-cut from a sheet of corrugated fibreboard and comprises first 12, second 14, third 16 and fourth 18 wall panels arranged in series along a primary direction X of the blank, the first wall panel 12 having attached at one end an edge flap 20, otherwise known as a stitch or glue flap. A number of fold lines are illustrated by dashed lines in Figure 1, the fold lines being provided by pre-formed crease lines introduced into the blank on stamping. Fold lines 24, 26, 28, 30 define the respective areas of each wall panel and the edge flap.

A first base panel 34 is attached to the first wall panel 12 along fold line 32, and attached to the first base panel 34 along fold line 36, but separated from the second wall panel 14, is a first wall reinforcing panel 38. Fold lines 32 and 36 are mutually orthogonal.

A similar arranoement of a base panel and a wall reinforcing panel occurs in relation to wall panels 16, 18, with a second base panel 40 being attached to the third wall panel 16 along fold line 42, and a second wall reinforcing panel 44 being attached to the second base panel 40 along fold line 46. As with fold lines 32 and 36, fold lines 42 and 46 are mutually orthogonal.

Fold lines 26 and 36 are shown substantially aligned, although as will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art typically these fold lines are offset from one another by an allowance relative to the thickness of the sheet material. Thus for single thickness fibreboard, an offset of 2-3mrn is typically used, although the offset can be as much as 5mm. Fold lines 30 and 46 are similarly. offset.

The four wall panels 12, 14, 16, 18 are rectangular in shape, with the length of the edge of each wall panel along the direction of the primary direction, or axis, X defining the width and breadth of the assembled container. The height of each wall panel, in the direction perpendicular to axis X, defines the height of the assembled container.

The wall reinforcing panels 38, 44 are generally rectangular in shape, with first and second elongate cut-away portions 48, 49 separating the wall reinforcing panels 38, 44 from the second 14 and fourth 18 wall panels respectively, such that the wall reinforcing panels only connect with the wall panels through the intermediary of the base panels 34, 40.

The base panels are of a slightly more complex shape, with each base panel having three straight edges, an inclined fourth edge, and a cut- away angled slot extending from the centre of the base panel to one of the straight edges. Thus first base panel 34 has three straight edges 32, 36, 50, with a fourth outermost edge 52, opposite fold line 36, being inclined at an angle to the direction of the fold line 36. A semi- circular portion 53 is cutaway from the base of edge 52 where this edge adjoins the first wall panel 12.

The first base panel 34 also includes a slot 54 extending from the centre of the base panel to the outer edge 50 of the base panel so as to intersect the fold line 36. A hinge line 60 extends from fold line 32 to an inner edge 62 of the slot 54, with a further hinge line 64 extending from the inner edge 62 to the outer edge 50 of the base panel 34. Two parallel hinge lines are thus provided on the first base panel, offset by a dimension comparable to the width of the slot.

The second base panel 40 has the same dimensions as the first base panel 34 and has three straight edges 42, 46, 70, with a fourth outermost edge 74, opposite fold line 46, being inclined at an angle to the direction of the fold line 46. A semi-circular portion 76 is cutaway from the base of edge 74.

11 The second base panel 40 similarly includes a slot and two parallel hinge lines. Slot 80 extends from the centre of the base panel 40 to the outer edge 70 of the base panel so as to intersect fold line 46, and one hinge line 84 extends from fold line 42, where the base panel adjoins the third wall panel 16, to an inner edge 90 of the slot 80. Hinge line 86 extends from the inner edge 90 to the outer edge 70.

Triangular sections 100, 102, respectively formed in the first and second panels by hinge lines 64, 86 and slots 54, 80, form flaps which are respectively moveable about fold lines 64, 86. Fold lines 60 and 36 form a first triangular portion 104 in the base panel 34 such that wall reinforcing panel 38 is able to bend about fold line 36 and fold line 60 allows this triangular portion of the base panel to move out of the flat plane in which the remainder of the base panel and wall panels lie.

Similarly, fold lines 84 and 46 form a second triangular portion 106 in the second base panel 40, with wall reinforcing panel 44 being able to bend about fold line 46. Fold line 84 allows the second triangular portion 106 to move out of the flat plane in which the remainder of the base panel and wall panels lie.

Figures 2 to 8 show how the blank depicted in Figure 1 is assembled into a partially assembled blank for supply to an end user for erection into a container. Corresponding reference numerals to those in Figure 1 have been used where appropriate, although to assist in understanding, the front face of the panels forming the blank which are uppermost in Figure 1 are indicated with the suffix a, with the rear face of these panels indicated with the suffix b.

Thus initially the base panels 34, 40 are folded up out of the flat plane in which the wall panels lie, as in Figure 2 where the blank 10 is shown with the first and second base panels 34a, 40a partially folded up out of the plane of the series of wall panels 12a, 14a, 16a, 18a, along crease lines 32, 42.

In Figure 3, the first base panel 34 has been bent towards the first wall panel 12a in the direction of arrow D, and triangular portion 104b bent along fold line 60 in the direction 12 of arrow E. The second base panel 40b, and second wall reinforcing panel 44b have been folded in an identical fashion, such that both wall reinforcing panels 38b, 44b extend along a direction perpendicular to their original position on the blank.

After the wall reinforcing panels 38b, 44b are folded as in Figure 3, they are then folded upwards about fold lines 36, 46 respectively and over towards the wall panels 12a, 16a in the direction of arrow F. At substantially the saine tinie, the triangular portions 104b, 106b are pushed down towards the plane of each base panel 40b, 34b, and folding continues until, as shown in Figure 5, the wall reinforcing panels 38, 44 eventually overlap the corresponding base panels. Thus the first base panel 34b and the first wall reinforcing panel 38a are pressed flat against the first wall panel 12a, and the second base panel 40b and the second wall reinforcing panel 44a are pressed flat against the third wall panel 16a. The flaps 100, 102 can be seen extending slightly above the height of the wall panels.

Once a unit of flattened panels all substantially in one plane is achieved (not shown), the first wall panel 12, base panel 34 and wall reinforcing panel 38 are lifted out of the plane of the blank 10, as shown in Figure 5, and moved in towards the second wall reinforcing panel 44a overlying the second base panel 40b. At the saine time, as shown in Figure 6, the fourth wall panel 18b is folded towards the second wall reinforcing panel 44a along the direction of arrow G.

The first wall panel 12b is then pushed in the direction of arrow H, until it is pushed in between the second wall reinforcing panel 44a and the fourth wall panel 18b, see Figures 6, 7 and 8.

Once the first wall panel 12b is on top of the second wall reinforcing panel 44a, it is secured to the second wall reinforcing panel 44a by adhesive positioned along the direction of hashed line 120 in Figure 7 which adheres to glue flap 20a. The fourth wall panel 18b is then pushed further in the direction of arrow H towards alue flap 20 and the second wall reinforcing panel 44. Adhesive is placed near fold line 30 (at internal hashed line 122) along the wall reinforcing panel 44a and secures the front face of second wall 13 reinforcing panel 44a to the front face 18a of the fourth wall panel.

Lastly, the outer edge of the fourth wall panel 18b is secured to overlie the first wall panel 12b by means of adhesive placed along flap 20 as shown at hashed line 124 in Figure 8. Figure 8 shows the blank just prior to being completely flattened to form a partially assembled blank, which occurs when the fourth wall panel 18b is securely pushed onto the glue flap 20 of the first wall panel 12, so as to adhere to it by means of the adhesive.

The partially assembled blank is then ready for assembly into a container.

The partially assembled blank in the flattened form is supplied to the customer, and assembly of the partially assembled blank into a container occurs in the successive stages as shown in Figures 9 to 11.

To erect a container from the partially assembled blank in a substantially flat form, the customer pulls opposite wall panels, i.e. either first and third wall panels, or second and fourth wall panels, so as to separate thern by applying a vigorous lateral force. As shown in Figures 9 and 10, this results in the flaps 100, 102 sliding past one another, whilst being biased against one another, until the flaps 100, 102 pass one another and spring from a substantially vertical position to lie flat as shown in Figure 11.

The assembly of the container 150 is a relatively quick and easy process just requiring the customer to jerk apart opposing walls. Thus an unskilled worker can readily assemble the container without any confusion as to how flaps, panels etc need to be inter-leaved, as the user simply needs to pull two opposing walls apart for the partially assembled blank to form an assembled container.

Assembly of the container will now be discussed in relation to Figures 9 to 11, which shown the assembly in succeeding instances in time.

In Figure 9, it can be seen that wall panels 14 and 18 have been pulled apart, such that the other opposing wall panels 12, 16 are also moved apart, and the endless loop of wall 14 panels assumes a generally rhombohedral shape from above. The slots 54, 80 in the first and second base panels allow the flaps 100, 102 to pivot about their respective hingelines 64, 86 so as to engage in relative sliding movement against one another, as shown in Figures 9 and 10.

Once outermost points 120, 122 of the flaps 100, 102 pass one another, the mutually opposing forces provided by the flaps trying to restore themselves to the plane of the remainder of the base panel are removed. Each flap springs into the plane of the remainder of the base panel, again hinging about hinge lines 64, 86, to produce a flat base which when viewed from above is substantially as shown in Figure 11. The two base panels 34, 40 are thus inter-engaged and in an overlapping relationship, providing a substantially double thickness base. The base is strengthened as the wall reinforcing panels 38, 44 adhered to their respective wall panels mean that each base panel has two continuous solid lines about which it is able to bend, with the dimensional relief provided by the slots allowing the base panels to deform to inter-engage and lock. The angled edges 52, 74 and semi-circular cut-away portions 53, 76 provide a certain amount of dimensional relief when assembling the container such that the base panels can readily slid downwards within the wall panels to provide a flat base.

It will be appreciated that the blank, partially assembled blank and container illustrated herein, are by way of example, and many different dimensions of blank to provide different shapes and volumes of containers can readily be envisaged by a person skilled in the art.

It will also be appreciated that the blank can be provided with flaps adjoined to upper edges of appropriate wall panels so as to form an enclosed container if required, or indeed handles may be attached to the wall panels. The wall panels may also be cut so as to provide defined upper sections within the container when assembled, so as to produce a carrier for a number of bottles within a container.

The blank is typically made from corrugated fibreboard, although it may be made from cardboard or plastics material, although the use of plastics material tends to be costly.

The blank and subsequent container are suitable for storing archive material due to the improved rigidity of the base by the overlapping and interlocking base panels.

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Claims (35)

1. A blank for assembly into a container, the blank being made of sheet material and comprising first, second, third and fourth wall panels arranged in series along a primary direction of the blank, a first base panel adjoining the first wall panel along a first transition line extending in the primary direction, a first wall reinforcing panel adjoining the first base panel along a second transition line extending in a direction substantially orthogonal to the primary direction, a second base panel adjoining the third wall panel along a third transition line extending in the primary direction, a second wall reinforcing panel adjoining the second base panel along a fourth transition line extending in a direction substantially orthogonal to the primary direction, wherein the first wall reinforcing panel is capable of being folded about the second transition line out of the plane of the blank occupied by the remaining panels and the second wall reinforcing panel is correspondingly capable of being folded about the fourth transition line out of the plane of the blank occupied by the remaining panels.

2. A blank according to claim 1, wherein the second transition line is substantially aligned with a line forming the transition between the first and second wall panels, and the fourth transition line is substantially aligned with a line forming the transition between the third and fourth wall panels.

3. A blank according to claim I or claim 2, wherein the first wall reinforcing panel is separated from the second wall panel by a first cutaway portion, and similarly the second wall reinforcing panel is separated from the fourth wall panel by a second cut-away portion.

4. A blank according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the first wall reinforcing panel is attached to the remainder of the blank solely along the second transition line, and the second wall reinforcing panel is attached to the remainder of the blank solely along the fourth transition line.

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5. A blank according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the sheet material is fibreboard.

6. A blank according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the sheet material is fibreboard with a corrugated cross-section.

7. A blank according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the first base panel has a first angled slot extending from an inner end in the central region of the first base panel to an outer open end adjacent a first corner of the first base panel where the second transition line meets an outer edge of the first base panel, and the second base panel has a second angled slot extending from an inner end in the central region of the second base panel to an outer open end adjacent a second corner of the second base panel where the fourth transition line meets an outer edge of the second base panel.

8. A blank according to claim 7, wherein the first base panel further comprises first and second hinge lines, the first hinge line extending from a third corner of the first base panel, where the second transition line meets the first transition line, to the inner end of the first angled slot, with the second hinge line being parallel to the first hinge line and extending from the inner end of the first slot to the outer edge of the first base panel, and the second base panel similarly has third and fourth hinge lines, the third hinge line extending from a fourth corner of the second base panel, where the fourth transition line meets the third transition line, to the inner end of the second angled slot, with the fourth hinge line being parallel to the third hinge line and extending from the inner end of the second slot to the outer edge of the second base panel.

9. A blank according to claim 8, wherein the area defined between the first hinge line and the second transition line is substantially triangular shaped and is capable of being folded about the first hinge line and also about the second transition line so that the first wall reinforcing panel can be folded to overlie the first base panel.

10. A blank according claim 9, wherein the area defined on the second base panel, between the third hinge line and the fourth transition line, is capable of being folded along 18 the third hinge line and the fourth transition line so that the second wall reinforcing panel can be folded to overlie the second base panel.

11. A blank according to claim 9, wherein the first base panel further comprises a first flap, defined by the second hinge line and the first slot, and the second base panel further comprises a second flap, defined by the fourth hinge line and the second slot, with the first and second flaps being capable of interacting with one another on assembly of the blank into a container, so as to cause the first base panel and the second base panel to overlap one another to form a reinforced base of the container.

12. A blank according to any of claims 1 to 11, wherein the transition lines are provided by pre-formed crease lines.

13. A blank according to any of claims 2 to 11, wherein the lines forming the transition between the respective wall panels are provided by preformed crease lines.

14. A blank according to any of claims 8 to 11, wherein the hinge lines are provided by pre-formed crease lines.

15. A blank according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the first base panel includes a first angled edge opposite the second transition line, the first angled edge being slightly inclined to the direction of the second transition line, and similarly the second base panel includes a second angled edge opposite the fourth transition line, the second angled edge being slightly inclined to the direction of the fourth transition line.

16. A blank according to claim 15, wherein the first and second angled edges are provided with a cut-away portion where each angled edge adjoins a wall panel, so as to aid assembly of the container.

17. A blank according to any of the preceding claims, wherein an edge flap adjoins the first wall panel to assist in assembling the blank into a partially assembled container, the edge flap providing an area on which adhesive can be applied.

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18. A blank according to any of the preceding claims when partially assembled ready for forming into a container.

19. A container erected from a blank according to any of the preceding claims.

20. A partially assembled container made from sheet material and comprising first, second, third and fourth wall panels arranged in series, the first and fourth wall panels being attached to form a looP-like endless series of wall panels, a first base panel adjoining the first wall panel along a first fold line and adjoining a first wall reinforcing panel along a second fold line, the first wall reinforcing panel being affixed to the second wall panel, and a second base panel adjoining the third wall panel along a third fold line and adjoining a second wall reinforcing panel along a fourth fold line, the second wall reinforcing panel being affixed to the fourth wall panel, the first base panel having a first slot and the second base panel having a second slot, such that the partially assembled container is capable of being assembled from a collapsed condition in which the panels lie flat or substantially flat to an assembled condition by effecting relative separation of opposite wall panels with attendant relative sliding movement of the two base panels, until the first and second slots enable the base panels to inter-engage and overlap one another to form a base of the assembled container.

21. A partially assembled container according to claim 20, wherein the first wall panel adjoins an edge flap, the edge flap being secured to the fourth wall panel to form the looplike endless series of wall panels.

22. A partially assembled container according to claim 20 or 21, wherein the first and second wall reinforcing panels are fixed to the respective third and fourth wall panels by adhesive.

23. A partially assembled container according to any of claims 20 to 22, wherein the first base panel includes a first angled edge opposite the second fold line, and the second base panel includes a second angled edge opposite the fourth fold line.

24. A partially assembled container according to claim 23, wherein the first and second angled edges are provided with a cut-away portion where each angled edge adjoins a wall panel, so as to aid assembly of the container.

25. A partially assembled container according to any of claims 20 to 24, wherein the first base panel further comprises a first flap, defined by a fifth fold line and the first slot, and the second base panel further comprises a second flap, defined by a sixth fold line and the second slot, with the first and second flaps being capable of interacting with one another on erection of the partially assembled blank into a container, so as to cause the first base panel and the second base panel to overlap one another to form a reinforced base of the container.

26. A partially assembled container according to any of claims 20 to 25, wherein the first base panel has a seventh fold line extending from an inner end of the first slot to where the second fold line meets the first wall panel, and the second base panel has an eighth fold line extending from an inner end of the second slot to where the fourth fold line meets the third wall panel.

27. A container comprising first, second, third and fourth wall panels arranged in series around and extending upwardly from a rectangular base defined by first and second base panels, the first base panel adjoining the first wall panel along a first fold line and adjoining a first wall reinforcing panel along a second fold line, the first wall reinforcing panel being affixed to the second wall panel, the second base panel adjoining the third wall panel along a third fold line and adjoining a second wall reinforcing panel along a fourth fold line, the second wall reinforcing panel being affixed to the fourth wall panel, the first base panel having a first slot and the second base panel having a second slot so that a base of the container is formed by the two base panels in interengaged and overlapping relationship.

28. A container according to claim 27, wherein the first wall panel adjoins an edge flap, the edge flap being secured to the fourth wall panel to form the loop-like endless series of wall panels.

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29. A container according to claim 27 or claim 28, wherein the first and second wall reinforcing panels are fixed to the respective third and fourth wall panels by adhesive.

30. A container according to any of claims 27 to 29, wherein the first base panel includes a first angled edge opposite the second fold line, slightly inclined to the direction of the second fold line, and similarly the second base panel includes a second angled edge opposite the fourth fold line, the second angled edge being slightly inclined to the direction of fourth fold line.

31. A container according to claim 30, wherein the first and second angled edges are provided with a cut-away portion where each angled edge adjoins a wall panel, so as to aid assembly of the container.

32. A container according to any of claims 27 to 3 1, wherein the first base panel further comprises a first flap, defined by a fifth fold line and the first slot, and the second base panel further comprises a second flap, defined by a sixth fold line and the second slot, with the first and second flaps being capable of interacting with one another on erection of the partially assembled blank into a container, so as to cause the first base panel and the second base panel to inter-engage and overlap one another to form a reinforced base of the container.

33. A blank for assembly into a container substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

34. A partially assembled container substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

35. A container substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.