GB2441817A

GB2441817A - A blank for a container

Info

Publication number: GB2441817A
Application number: GB0617935A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kelvin John Wells
Original assignee: DS Smith Packaging Ltd
Current assignee: DS Smith Packaging Ltd
Priority date: 2006-09-12
Filing date: 2006-09-12
Publication date: 2008-03-19
Anticipated expiration: 2026-09-12
Also published as: GB2441817B; GB0617935D0

Abstract

A blank 100 for a container comprises along one edge of the blank, longitudinally spaced separate flaps 1, 2, 3, 4 one of which 4 has blind slots 13 therein which on folding receives free edges of the other flaps 1, 2, 3 in an interlocking relation to provide an assembled container. Adjacent flaps are separated by a cut-out 6 and all are hingeable or foldable about a crease or fold line 7. There may be equivalent flaps along the opposite edge 8 of the blank. A body 9 of the blank preferably has a tongue 10 which is secured on folding to an inner surface of the container, the blank being foldable during assembly about hinge or crease lines 11, 12. The blind slots 13 may be of a U-shape and of a width sufficient to accommodate multi-thickness of the material of the blank. The flaps 2, 3 and 4 may have inclined crease lines 16. The container, such as a cardboard box, can be assembled in one pass or operation in a composite machine such as a flexo folder gluer, including die cutting and glueing of the tongue 10. On assembly, the flaps 1 and 4 are partially overlapped, the free edge 14 of the flap 1 is received in the blind slots 13. Likewise, the flaps 2 and 3 are partially interlocked in the blind slots 14 and overlapped by the ends of the flap 4, whilst overlapping the flap 3. The crease lines 16 allow for flexing during assembly.

Description

2441817

A BLANK

The invention relates to a blank, particularly to a blank of planar material which is flexible about fold lines to provide a container.

A container such as a box is often assemblable or erectable from a single flat blank of suitable material, such as fluted cardboard, plastic material or the like. This material can be folded about crease, hinge or score lines which are formed in a major surface of the blank.

The blank is converted into the requisite format in a converting machine, but this usually requires separate machines such as a die cutter and a separate securing operation such as by application of glue, other adhesive or securing mechanism such as staples.

This is a time-consuming and expensive operation as the die cutter cannot strip away and handle waste material of the blank arising from a die cutting operation.

It is an object of the invention to seek to mitigate this disadvantage.

According to a first aspect, the invention provides a blank of planar material which is foldable about fold lines to provide a container, there being along one edge of the blank longitudinally spaced separate flaps one of which has blind slots which receive free edges of the other flaps in interlocking relation to provide an assembled container.

The flaps may be separated by cut-outs leading from a free edge towards a common longitudinal fold line and the blind slots may be substantially parallel to the cut-outs and terminating in the one flap short of the said fold line.

2

This provides for ease of assembly of a container from the blank particularly when there may be two blind slots in the one flap.

The blind slots may be of substantially U-configuration. This provides for ease of manufacture, and non-tearing of the material.

There may be four flaps, three of which have a fold or crease line adapted to allow flexing of the material of the blank during assembly.

The flap with the blind slots may be one of the three flaps and may have a crease or fold line extending from a blind end of the blind slot to a comer of the flap.

The blind slots may each be in-line with a free edge of a respective interlocked flap disposed orthogonally to the one flap in the assembled container.

This provides for ease of assembly.

The crease or fold line may be inclined from a comer of each orthogonally disposed flap to a position intermediate the length of a free edge thereof.

The blank may have longitudinally spaced separate flaps along opposite longitudinal edges and wherein there is in the blank an intermediate line of separation whereby when assembled and separated along the line of separation, two containers are provided.

According to a second aspect, there is provided a container, whenever assembled from a blank as hereinbefore defined.

A blank, and part of a container made therefrom, are hereinafter described, by way of example, in the accompanying schematic drawings.

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a blank according to the invention; and

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of a base of a container assembled from the blank of Fig. 1.

3

Referring to the drawings there is shown a blank 100 of material such as fluted or corrugated cardboard, the corrugations running in the direction of the arrow 'X', i.e. a 90° to the length of the rectangular blank 100.

Along one edge 5 the blank there are four spaced flaps identified as 1, 2, 3 and 4, each being separated from an adjacent flap by a cut-out 6 and all being hingeable or foldable about a crease or fold line 7. There are equivalent flaps along the opposite edge 8.

A body 9 of the blank has a tongue 10 which is secured on folding to an inner (in use) surface of the container on assembly, the blank being foldable during assembly about hinge or crease lines 11,12 etc.

The flaps 4 has spaced blind slots 13 along a free edge 14 and of U-shape, and of a width sufficient to accommodate multi-thickness of the material of the blank.

The flaps 2, 3 and 4 have inclined crease lines 16 as shown.

The invention relates to the flaps 1-4 and to the fact the container, such as a cardboard box, can be assembled in one pass or operation in a composite machine such as a flexo folder gluer, including die cutting and glueing of the tongue 10.

On assembly, the flaps 1 and 4 are partially overlapped, the free edge 14 of the flap 1 being received in the blind slots 13. Likewise, the flaps 2 and 3 are partially interlocked in the blind slots 14 and overlapped by the ends of the flap 4, whilst overlapping the flap 3. The crease lines 16 allow for flexing during assembly (see Fig. 2).

A stable container such as a cardboard base is thus formed. Moreover, pressing the flap 3 inwardly after assembly effectively provides a one-touch disassembly, back to the flat blank.

The flaps along the opposite edge 8 are interlocked as described above. A user can then tear the box along a central tear line 15 to provide two boxes.

4

The invention described herein uses less material than conventionally, allows a high speed single pass on a folder gluer, eliminates the need to use e.g. adhesive tape to seal the bottom flaps and avoids issues with adhesion of tape to a front display which is incorporated in the assembled box.

5

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A blank of planar material which is foldable about fold lines to provide a container, there being along one edge of the blank longitudinally spaced separate flaps one of which has blind slots which receive free edges of the other flaps in interlocking relation to provide an assembled container.

2. A blank according to claim 1, the flaps being separated by cut-outs leading from a free edge towards a common longitudinal fold line, the blind slots being substantially parallel to the cut-outs and terminating in the one flap short of the said fold line.

3. A blank according to claim 2, there being two blind slots in the one flap.

4. A blank according to claim 3, the blind slots being of substantially U-configuration.

5. A blank according to claim 4, there being four flaps, three of which have a fold or crease line adapted to allow flexing of the material of the blank during assembly.

6. A blank according to claim 5, the flap with the blind slots being one of the three flaps and having a crease or fold line extending from a blind end of the blind slot to a corner of the flap.

7. A blank according to claim 6, the blind slots each being in-line with a free edge of a respective interlocked flap disposed orthogonally to the one flap in the assembled container.

8. A blank according to claim 7, the crease or fold line being inclined from a corner of each orthogonally disposed flap to a position intermediate the length of a free edge thereof.

6

9. A blank according to any preceding claim, having longitudinally spaced separate flaps along opposite longitudinal edges and wherein there is in the blank an intermediate line of separation whereby when assembled and separated along the line of separation, two containers are provided.

10. A blank according to any preceding claim, made of fluted material.

11. A blank of planar material which is foldable about fold lines to provide a container, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

12.

A container, whenever assembled from a blank according to any preceding claim.