GB2398558A

GB2398558A - Containers folded from sheet material

Info

Publication number: GB2398558A
Application number: GB0401576A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stephen Michael Kuester
Original assignee: FOLD Ltd N
Current assignee: FOLD Ltd N
Priority date: 2003-01-24
Filing date: 2004-01-26
Publication date: 2004-08-25
Also published as: GB0301672D0; GB0401576D0

Abstract

A container preferably truncated-pyramid form for use as a watertight flower-vase, is erected by folding from a one-piece paper or plastics sheet. The container-sides 2 are folded up from a base 1 and are pulled in together at the corners via folded-back pleats of the sheet. The sheet and base 1 are of geometrically-similar polygonal shape with corresponding sides parallel. The pleats at each container-corner are formed by five folds 12-16 that radiate outwardly from a respective corner of the base 1, the middle and outer folds of the five being valley folds 12,14,16 and the other two, peak folds 13,15. Where the folded-back pleats at each container-corner project above the container-sides 2 they are folded over as ears 24 to lock the sides 2 together. The locking of the sides 2 together can be enhanced by tabs which engage in slots in the middle folds or in outer folds

Description

Containers This invention relates to containers.

The invention is especially concerned with containers erected respectively from one-piece sheets, and methods of forming such containers.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a container erected from a one-piece sheet, wherein the erected container has a polygonal base with the sides of the container upstanding from the base via folds which delineate the base peripherally, the sides are defined by areas of the sheet which adjoin the base via its peripheral folds respectively, and pleat-forming folds radiate outwardly from each individual corner of the base such that the part of the sheet between the two side-defining areas which meet at that corner, folds back in pleats behind those two areas in the erected container.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of forming a container from a one-piece sheet, wherein a polygonal base for the container is delineated peripherally by folds in the sheet, areas of the sheet which are to form sides of the container and which adjoin the base, are folded up from the base about the peripheral folds respectively, to be upstanding from the base, and pleat-forming folds are formed in the sheet to radiate outwardly from each individual corner of the base such that the part of the sheet between the two side-defining areas which meet at that corner, folds back in pleats behind those two areas in the erected container.

The container of both aspects of the invention may be erected from a paper or plastics sheet, and assistance with location of the folds may be provided by demarcation with printed, crease or impressed lines on the sheet.

The shapes of the base and sheet may be geometrically similar squares or other polygons, with corresponding sides of the squares or other polygons parallel to one another. In these circumstances, five pleat-forming folds in the sheet may radiate outwardly from each corner of the base, with the middle fold of the five extending from the respective corner of the base to the corresponding corner of the sheet. The middle fold may be a valley fold, and in these circumstances the folds between the middle fold and the outer folds of the five will be peak folds, whereas the outer folds will be valley folds.

Two forms of container and methods of their formation, all in accordance with the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first of the two containers according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a plan view of a one-piece sheet from which the container of Figure 1 is erected in accordance with the present invention; Figures 3 to 8 are illustrative of successive stages of erection of the sheet of Figure 2 into the container of Figure 1; Figure 9 is a plan view of a one-piece sheet from which the second container is erected in accordance with the present invention; and Figures 10 and 11 are perspective views from above and below respectively, illustrative of a stage in erection of the second container from the sheet of Figure 9.

Referring to Figure 1, the first container to be described has the form of a truncated pyramid with a square base 1, and four identical sides 2 of regular trapezium shape that are upstanding from the base 1. The container, which has an open top 3, is formed by folding the square, onepiece, planar sheet 4 shown in Figure 2.

Referring to Figure 2, the periphery of the square base 1 of the container is delineated in the sheet 4 by four fold lines 10 parallel to the four edges 11 respectively of the square sheet. Five fold lines 12 to 16 radiate outwardly on the sheet 4 from each individual corner 17 of the base 1, and it is the fold lines 12 and 16 at the four corners 17 which serve for definition of the areas of trapezium shape that establish the sides 2. More particularly, each side 2 adjoins the base 1 via a respective fold line 10 and between this line 10 and the parallel edge 11 of the sheet 4 is delineated by the fold lines 12 and 16 respectively of adjacent corners 17.

Further fold lines 18 cutting across the fold lines 14 extend diagonally across the sheet 4 near its four corners 19.

The fold lines 10, 12 to 16 and 18 may be lines printed on the sheet 4 to guide folding for erection of the container, or, in order to facilitate the folding, may be crease lines or lines where the thickness of the sheet is reduced by impressing it so as to create effective hinges. The sheet 4 itself may be, for example, of paper or plastics, and where paper is used this may be waxed to enable the container to hold liquid. Where a fullywatertight and decorative container of the form shown in Figure 1 is required for use, for example, as a vase for flowers, this may be erected from a thin panel of plastics (for example, polypropylene having a thickness within the range 0.1 to 0.5 mm) that is stamped out of sheeting and has the fold lines impressed into one surface (or both surfaces) in the one operation.

Erection of the container into the form of Figure 1 is carried out from the substantially-flat blank or sheet 4 illustrated in Figure 3 through successive stages illustrated in Figures 4 to 8. It is assumed in this case that the fold lines 10, 12 to 16 and 18 are impressed into the obverse surface 5 of the sheet 4 (the upper surface in Figure 3); the surface 5 provides the inside surface of the erected container, whereas the reverse surface 6 provides the external surface. The surfaces 5 and 6 may be of different colours to give a decorative effect.

Referring to Figure 3, folds are begun in the sheet 4 along the lines 12 to 16 radiating from each corner 17 of the base 1. These lines 12 to 16 divide the region intermediate adjacent pairs of the sides 2 into four triangular areas 20 to 23 and folding is begun at each line 12 to 16 in the sense appropriate to establish the areas 20 to 23 into pleats. More particularly, valley folds are begun along the lines 12, 14 and 16 and peak folds along the lines 13 and 15 in the obverse surface 5 of the sheet 4, so that the sheet 4 becomes as illustrated in Figure 4.

In the condition of Figure 4, valley folds have begun to be established along the lines 10 in the surface 5, with the sides 2 beginning to rise up from the base 1.

Further folding up of the sides 2 and along the pleat forming folds of lines 12 to 16, continues through the stage illustrated in Figure 5 into the stage illustrated in Figure 6. From this latter stage, the sides 2 are raised to the vertical from the base 1, and folding along the lines 12 to 16 to form the pleats is increased into the stage illustrated in Figure 7. The sides 2 are now pushed back to establish the truncated- pyramid form illustrated in Figure 8 in which the reverse of the fold along line 14 is sandwiched between the reverses of the folds along lines 12 and 16 (establishing the non parallel edges of the adjacent sides 2) at each corner 17.

In the condition illustrated in Figure 8, the two folds formed above each corner 17 by triangular areas 20 and 21 and triangular areas 22 and 23, respectively, are closed up, and the triangular ears 24 at the corners 19 of the sheet 4 project upwardly from within the sides 2. The projecting ears 24 are each now turned outwardly and downwardly (as a peak fold) on the line 18. In this movement, the valley fold on the line 14 above the line 18 of the corner 19 reverses to become a peak fold with the ear 24 locked over the upper corners 25 (Figure 8) between adjacent sides 2 of the truncated-pyramid as illustrated in Figure 1. This action of locking adjacent sides 2 together at each corner 25 prevents unfolding of the structure, and also pulls the triangular areas 20 and 23 back against the inside of the sides 2 so as to leave the cavity within the erected container clear.

Alternative or additional methods of preventing unfolding can be adopted. For example, adhesive, integral tabs or clips may be used, and/or ribbon may be laced through holes punched in the upper parts of the sides 2 and then tied. An example of a second container incorporating integral tabs for additional locking against unfolding will now be described with reference to Figures 9 to 10 which show respectively the blank from which it is erected and a stage in its erection.

Referring to Figure 9, the sheet 30 forming the blank for the second container is in all respects the same as that of the first container described above, except in relation to its radiating fold lines 32 to 36 corresponding to the lines 12 to 16. In this respect, small arcuate cuts 37 each subtending more than 180 degrees are made in the sheet 30 on the lines 32 and 36, and slots 38 are cut through the sheet 30 on the line 34.

Each cut 37 establishes a tab 39 that as illustrated in Figures 10 and 11, is pushed out to project from the reverse surface of the sheet 30 when the fold along the respective line 32 or 36 is made; the pushing out of the tabs 39 leaves notches 40 in the areas of trapezium shape which form the sides 41 of the container.

When the sides 41 are pushed back to establish the truncated pyramid, the reverses of the folds on lines 32, 34 and 36 between each pair of sides 41, are sandwiched together. As the two sides 41 close on one another the tabs 39 between then are turned backwardly to enter the slot 38 in the reverse of the fold line 34. The length of each slot 38 is slightly less than the diameter of each tab 39, making it necessary initially to bend and twist the tab 39 slightly before full insertion occurs, but more especially trapping the tab 39 against withdrawal from the slot 38. The final pushing through of the tabs 39 brings about positive closure of the sides 41 onto one another ready for the turning down of the projecting ears 42 (corresponding to the ears 24 of the first container described) to complete erection of the container and locking it from unfolding. The turned-down ears 42 cover the notches in the sides 41.

Instead of holding the adjacent sides 41 closed upon one another using tabs 39 on both folds 32 and 36 and a slot 38 on the fold 34, a tab may be provided just on the fold 32 for engagement in a slot in the fold 36.

Although the bases of both containers described above are square, containers having rectangular or other polygonal bases may be constructed using the same principles.

Where fold-back ears corresponding to the ears 24 and 42 are to be used in locking the container against unfolding, the shape of the base will normally determine the shape of the single-sheet blank from which the container is to erected. For example, where the shape of the base is to be a regular hexagon, the blank from which it is erected will be of the same shape enlarged appropriately according to the height of the sides required. In general terms, the shapes of the base and sheet will be similar polygons, and corresponding sides of the polygons will be parallel to one another.

Claims

Claims: 1. A container erected from a one-piece sheet, wherein the erected

container has a polygonal base with the sides of the container upstanding from the base via folds which delineate the base peripherally, the sides are defined by areas of the sheet which adjoin the base via its peripheral folds respectively, and pleat-forming folds radiate outwardly from each individual corner of the base such that the part of the sheet between the two side- defining areas which meet at that corner, folds back in pleats behind those two areas in the erected container.
2. A container according to Claim 1 wherein the sheet is of paper or plastics sheet.
3. A container according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the sheet has printed, crease or impressed lines for demarcation of the peripheral folds and/or the pleat- forming folds.
4. A container according to any one of Claims 1 to 3 wherein the pleatforming folds at each corner extend upwardly from within the sides to fold outwardly and downwardly over the outside of the two side-defining areas of that corner, for locking the respective sides together.
5. A container according to any one of Claims 1 to 4 wherein the shapes of the base and sheet are similar polygons, and corresponding sides of the polygons are parallel to one another.
6. A container according to Claim 5 wherein five pleat- forming folds in the sheet radiate outwardly from each corner of the base, and the middle fold of the five extends from the respective corner of the base to the corresponding corner of the sheet.
7. A container according to Claim 6 wherein the middle fold is a valley fold, the folds between the middle fold and the outer folds of the five are peak folds, and the outer folds are valley folds.
8. A container according to any one of Claims 5 to 7 wherein the polygons are squares.
9. A container according to any one of Claims 1 to 8 wherein the two sidedefining areas of each corner of the base are held closed onto one another by tab-in-slot engagement. I
10. A container according to Claim 9 wherein the tab-in- slot engagement is between a tab of each side-defining area of the respective corner of the base, and a slot within the pleat-folds of that corner.
11. A container according to Claim 9 wherein the tab-in- slot engagement is between a tab of one side-defining area of the respective corner of the base, and a slot of the other side-defining area.
12. A method of forming a container from a one-piece sheet, wherein a polygonal base for the container is delineated peripherally by folds in the sheet, areas of the sheet which are to form sides of the container and which adjoin the base, are folded up from the base about the peripheral folds respectively, to be upstanding from the base, and pleat- forming folds are formed in the sheet to radiate outwardly from each individual corner of the base such that the part of the sheet between the two side-defining areas which meet at that corner, folds back in pleats behind those two areas in the erected container.
13. A method according to Claim 12 wherein the sheet is of paper or plastics sheet.
14. A method according to Claim 12 or Claim 13 wherein the sheet has printed, crease or impressed lines for demarcation of the peripheral folds and/or the pleat- forming folds.
15. A method according to any one of Claims 12 to 14 wherein the pleatforming folds at each corner extend upwardly from within the sides and are folded outwardly and downwardly over the outside of the two side- defining areas of that corner, for locking the respective sides together.
16. A method according to any one of Claims 12 to 15 wherein the shapes of the base and sheet are similar polygons, and corresponding sides of the polygons are parallel to one another.
17. A method according to Claim 16 wherein five pleat- forming folds that radiate outwardly from each corner of the base are formed in the sheet, the middle fold of the five extending from the respective corner of the base to the corresponding corner of the sheet.
18. A method according to Claim 17 wherein the middle fold is formed as a valley fold, the folds between the middle fold and the outer folds of the five are formed as peak folds, and the outer folds are formed as valley folds.
19. A method according to any one of Claims 16 to 18 wherein the polygons are squares.

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20. A method according to any one of Claims 12 to 19 wherein the two sidedefining areas of each corner of the base are held closed onto one another by tab-in-slot engagement.
21. A method according to Claim 20 wherein the tab-in- slot engagement is between a tab of each side-defining area of the respective corner of the base, and a slot within the pleat-folds of that corner.
22. A method according to Claim 20 wherein the tab-in- slot engagement is between a tab of one side-defining area of the respective corner of the base, and a slot of the other side-defining area.
23. A container formed from a one-piece sheet according to the method of any one of Claims 12 to 22.
24. A container formed from a one-piece sheet, the container being substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 8 of the accompanying drawings.
25. A container formed from a one-piece sheet, the container being substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 9 to 11 of the accompanying drawings.
26. A method of forming a container from a one-piece sheet, the method being substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 8 of the accompanying drawings.
27. A method of forming a container from a one-piece sheet, the method being substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 9 to 11 of the accompanying drawings.