GB2467995A

GB2467995A - Polyhedral Box which Folds Flat

Info

Publication number: GB2467995A
Application number: GB0919348A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Nathan Yic Hoi Yau
Original assignee: ULTIMATE PRODUCTS Ltd
Current assignee: ULTIMATE PRODUCTS Ltd
Priority date: 2008-12-25
Filing date: 2009-11-05
Publication date: 2010-08-25
Also published as: CN101434322A; GB0919348D0

Abstract

A polyhedral box 100 which can be folded flat comprises attachment means (103, 104, figure 1) and a sheet divided into a first region 301 and a plurality of second regions 302 of different shape together forming a side of the box when the sheet is folded. The box may have rope handles (105, figure 1). A first region 301 may be a regular polygon forming the base of the box and connected to regions 303 e.g. squares forming the sides. Second regions 302 e.g. isosceles triangles, may form the lid and may have the attachment means e.g. hook and loop material, magnetic fasteners, adhesive or clips. Regions of a fourth shape 304 may fold to from flaps protruding into the box. The box may be made of one material e.g. cardboard, canvas, paper or plastic or formed from discrete sections joined together by a second material. Two layers of a first material may enclose a reinforcing material (figure 4). The box may be conveniently stored when flat.

Description

A multipurpose box The present invention relates to a multi-purpose box which can be unfolded to form a substantially flat sheet. It is particularly, though not exclusively, intended for use as a gift box.

It is quite common, often to mark special occasions such as birthdays or feast days, for people to exchange gifts. Traditionally, these gifts are often wrapped in some way so that the gift remains a surprise to the recipient until he/she opens the wrapping. The wrapping may c4mprise paper and is usually decorated in an attractive fashion. However, it can be quite a difficult task to wrap gifts, using paper and some sort of fastening such as string or adhesive, particularly if the gift is of an unusual shape.

An alternative to wrapping gifts in paper is to place the gift inside a decorative box. Since many people regularly give gifts to friends and/or family members, it is convenient to keep a supply of suitable wrappings. However, since boxes according to the prior art can be bulky, especially if they are intended for use with large gifts, these boxes are inconvenient.

It is an object of the present invention to at least partially overcome or alleviate the above problems.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a polyhedral box which can be folded to be substantially flat comprising: a sheet which is divided into a plurality of regions and one or more attachment means, wherein one or more of the regions are of a first shape and one or more of the regions are of a second shape, and wherein by folding the sheet along the boundaries between neighbouring regions the sheet can be manipulated into the form of a polyhedral box wherein at least one of the sides of the polyhedral box are formed by regions of the first shape, and one of the sides of the polyhedral box is formed by a plurality of regions of the second shape.

The regions may further comprise regions of a third shape and regions of a fourth shape.

When the sheet is folded substantially flat, the regions may comprise a central region of the first shape which, when the sheet is manipulated into the form of a box forms the base of the polyhedral box. Preferably, the central region is a regular polygon.

The regions adjacent to the central region, and which share a common boundary therewith, may be of the third shape and, when the sheet is manipulated into the form of a box, may form the sides of the polyhedral box. Preferably, the regions of the third shape are rectangular. More preferably, the regions of the third shape are square.

The regions of the second shape may be adjacent to the regions of the third shape and share a boundary therewith wherein said boundary is on the opposite side of the region of the third shape to the boundary between the region of the third shape and the central region. When the sheet is manipulated into the form of a box, the regions of the second shape each form part of the lid of the box. Preferably the regions of the second shape are isosceles triangles whose base is the same length as one of the sides of the central region and are of suitable dimensions that an integer number of regions of the second shape can be arranged to form an area which is the same size and shape as the central region.

The regions may further comprise internal fold regions of the fourth shape which are adjacent to the regions of the third shape and which share a common corner with the central region. When the sheet is manipulated into the form of a box these may form flaps which protrude into the interior of the box.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the first and third shapes are squares of substantially the same size; and the second and fourth shapes which are right angle, isosceles triangles whose bases are substantially the same length as one of the sides of the first and third shapes. With this embodiment, the sheet can be manipulated to form a cubic box.

Once the sheet has been manipulated into the form of a box, the attachment means may be adapted to prevent the box from deforming.

The attachment means may attach two or more regions of the fourth shape together in such a way that the two regions substantially overlap with each other and an edge of each of two regions of the third shape are substantially aligned.

Alternatively, the attachment means may attach two or more regions of the second shape together to form a lid for the box.

The attachment means may comprise any or all of the following: magnets, hook and loop fasteners, semi-permanent adhesive, clips, or any other attachment means known in the art as is desired or appropriate. Preferably the attachment means is a magnetic attachment means comprising first and second attachment members which are operable to clip together and which are also held by an attractive magnetic force.

The apparatus may be provided with one or more handles. The handles may be of any suitable design and m4le of any suitable material as is desired or required.

Preferably the handles are made of rope. The handles may comprise a loop of material attached at either end to the sheet. Preferably the ends of the handle are attached to regions of the second shape which, in use, form the lid of the box.

The sheet may be formed from any suitable material.

The sheet may be formed from a single material such as paper, card, plastic, or canvas, which has been scored to allow the sheet to be more easily folded, Alternatively, the sheet may be formed from a plurality of discrete sections of a first material, each corresponding to one of the regions, connected by a second material.

Alternatively, the sheef may be formed from a composite material. The composite material may be formed by two layers of a first material enclosing a second layer of a second material. Preferably, the layers of the first material are continuous sheets and the layer of the second material comprises a plurality of discrete sections, each corresponding to one of the regions. The sections may be provided only for a [5 subset of the regions, for example, regions of the fourth thickness may not be provided with colTesponding sections. The sections corresponding to regions of different shapes may be of different thicknesses. Alternatively, the sections corresponding to different shapps of region may be of different materials. Preferably, there sheet is provided with a means for ensuring that the sections remain in a fixed pattern within the double layer of the first material.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the sheet comprises two canvas pads and a plurality of reinforcement sections therebetween, one for each of the regions which correspond to faces of the box, i.e. regions of the first, second and third thicknesses. Once the reinforcement sections have been arranged in the desired -5-.

pattern of the regions, the two canvas pads are stitched together along each of the boundaries between the regions.

In another embodiment, the sheet comprises two canvas pads and a plurality of reinforcement sections therebetween, one for each of the regions. Once the S reinforcement sections have been arranged in the desired pattern of the regions, the two canvas pads are stitched together along each of the boundaries between the regions. The reinforcement sections for regions which correspond to faces of the box are of a first thickness and the remaining sections are of a second thickness.

Preferably the first thickness is greater than the second thickness.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of making a polyhedral box comprising the steps of: providing a sheet a sheet which is divided into a plurality of regions and one or more attachment means, wherein one or more of the regions are of a first shape and one or more of the regions are of a second shape and manipulating the sheet by folding along each of the boundaries between neighbouring regions to form a polyhedral box wherein at least one of the sides of the polyhedral box are formed by regions of the first shape, and one of the sides of the polyhedral box is formed by a plurality of regions of the second shape.

The second aspect of the present invention may incorporate any or all features of the first aspect of the present invention as is desired or appropriate.

In order that the invention can be more clearly understood it is now described further below with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a sheet according to the first aspect of the present invention; Figure 2 is a schematic representation of a box formed by folding the sheet according to the first aspect of the present invention as shown in figure 1; Figure 3 is a schematic representation of a sheet according to the first aspect of the present invention showing the different types of region; and Figure 4 is shows a cross section of the sheet of figure 1 through the line A-A.

Referring to figure 1, a polyhedral box 100 which can be folded to be substantially flat comprises: a sheet 101 which is divided into a plurality of regions 102; two male magnetic clips 103 and two female magnetic clips 104, wherein each of the male magnetic clips 103 is operable to engage with one of the female magnetic clips to form a releasable attachment therebetween; and two rope carrying handles 105.

As best shown in figure 2, by folding the sheet 101 in an appropriate manner along each of the boundaries 106 between neighbouring regions 102, the apparatus 100 may be made into a polyhedral box.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, there are four types of region, as shown in figure 3. The regions comprise: a first square, central region 301, which forms the base of the box; four square side regions 303, which form the four sides of the box; four triangular lid regions 302, which collectively form the lid of the box; and eight internal fold regions 304, which form flaps which protrude into the interior of the box.

The sheet 101 comprises two layers of canvas 401,402 and a reinforcement layer 403 disposed therebetween. The reinforcement layer comprises five pieces of square strengthening pad 404, which are located in central region 301 and each of the four side regions 303; and four right-angled triangular pads 405 which are located in the four triangular lid regions 302, Figure 4 shows a cross section of the sheet 101 of figure 1 through the line A-A. The sheet comprises a top layer of canvas 401 and a bottom layer of canvas 402 and a reinforcement layer 403. Since this cross section bisects one of the four side regions, 303, a section of one of the five square strengthening pads 404 is shown, It is of course to be understood that the invention is not to be restricted to the details of the above embodiments which have been described by way of example only.

Claims

Claims 1. A polyhedral box which can be folded to bc substantially flat comprising: a sheet which is divided into a plurality of regions and one or more attachment means, wherein one or more of the regions are of a first shape and one or more of the regions are of a second shape, and wherein by folding the sheet along the boundaries between neighbouring regions the sheet can be manipulated into the form of a polyhedral box wherein at least one of the sides of the polyhedral box are fonned by regions of the first shape, and one of the sides of the polyhedral box is formed by a plurality of regions of the second shape.
2. A box as claimed in claim 1 wherein the regions thrther comprise regions of a third shape and regions of a fourth shape.
3. A box as claimed in claim 2 wherein when the sheet is folded substantially flat, the regions comprise a central region of the first shape which, when the sheet is manipulated into the form of a box forms the base of the polyhedral box.
4. A box as claimed in claim 3 wherein the central region is a regular polygon.
5. A box as claimed in claim 4 wherein the regions adjacent to the central region, and which share a common boundary therewith, are of the third shape and, when the sheet is manipulated into the form of a box, may form the sides of the polyhedral box.
6. A box as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 5 wherein the regions of the third shape are rectangular.
7. A box as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 5 wherein the regions of the third shape are square.
8. A box as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 7 wherein the regions of the second shape are adjacent to the regions of the third shape and share a boundary therewith wherein said boundary is on the opposite side of the region of the third shape to the boundary between the region of the third shape and the central region.
9. A box as claimed in any preceding claim wherein when the sheet is manipulated into the form of a box, the regions of the second shape each form part of the lid of the box.
10. A box as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the regions of the second shape are isosceles triangles whose base is the same length as one of the sides of the central region and are of suitable dimensions that an integer number of regions of the second shape can be arranged to form an area which is the same size and shape as the central region.
11. A box as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 10 wherein the regions further comprise internal fold regions of the fourth shape which are adjacent to the regions of the third shape and which share a common corner with the central region.
12. A box as claimed in claim 11 wherein when the sheet is manipulated into the form of a box the fold regions form flaps which protrude into the interior of the box.
13. A box as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 12 wherein the first and third shapes are squares of substantially the same size; and the second and fourth shapes are right angle, isosceles triangles whose bases are substantially the same length as one of the sides of the first and third shapes.

-10 -
14. A box as claimed in claim I wherein the attachment means attach two or more regions of the fourth shape together in such a way that the two regions substantially overlap with each other and an edge of each of two regions of the third shape are substantially aligned.
15. A box as claimed in any preceding claim wherein once the sheet has been manipulated into the form of a box, the attachment means are adapted to prevent the box from deforming.
16. A box as claimed in claim 15 wherein the attachment means attach two or more regions of the second shape together to form a lid for the box.
17. A box as claimed in claim 15 or claim 16 wherein the attachment means comprise any or all of the following: magnets, hook and loop fasteners, semi-permanent adhesive, clips
18. A box as claimed in any one of claims iS to 17 wherein the attachment means is a magnetic attachment means comprising first and second attachment members which are operable to clip together and which are also held by an attractive magnetic force.
19. A box as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the sheet is provided with one or more handles.
20. A box as claimed in claim 19 wherein the handles comprise a loop of material attached at either end to the sheet.
21. A box as claimed in claim 19 or claim 20 wherein the ends of the handle are attached to regions of the second shape which, in use, fonn the lid of the box.HI -22. A box as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the sheet is formed from a single material such as paper, card, plastic, or canvas, which has been scored to allow the sheet to be more easily folded.23. A box as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the sheet is formed from a plurality of discrete sections of a first material, each corresponding to one of the regions, connected by a second material.24. A box as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the sheet is formed from a composite material formed by two layers of a first material enclosing a second layer of a second material, 25. A box as claimed in claim 24 wherein the layers of the first material are continuous sheets and the layer of the second material comprises a plurality of discrete sections, each corresponding to one of the regions.26. A box as claimed in claim 25 wherein the sections are provided only for a subset of the regions.27. A box as claimed in claim 25 or claim 26 wherein regions of the fourth thickness are not provided with corresponding sections.28. A box as claimed in any one of claims 25 to 27 wherein the sections corresponding to regions of different shapes are of different thicknesses.29. A box as claimed in any one of claims 25 to 28 wherein the sections corresponding to different shapes of region are of different materials.30. A box as claimed in any one of claims 25 to 29 wherein the sheet is provided with a means for ensuring that the sections remain in a fixed pattern within the double layer of the first material. -12-31. A box as claimed in any one of claims 25 to 30 wherein the sheet comprises two canvas pads and a plurality of reinforcement sections therebetween.32, A box as claimed in claim 31 wherein once the reinforcement sections have been arranged in the desired pattern of the regions, the two canvas pads are stitched together along each of the boundaries between the regions.33. A box as claimed in claim 31 or claim 32 wherein once the reinforcement sections have been arranged in the desired pattern of the regions, the two canvas pads are stitched together along each of the boundaries between the regions.34. A box as claimed in any one of claims 31 to 33 wherein the reinforcement sections for regions which correspond to faces of the box are of a first thickness and the remaining sections are of a second thickness and wherein the first thickness is greater than the second thickness.35. A method of making a polyhedral box comprising the steps of: providing a sheet a sheet which is divided into a plurality of regions and one or more attachment means, wherein one or more of the regions are of a first shape and one or more of the regions are of a second shape and manipulating the sheet by folding along each of the boundaries between neighbouring regions to form a polyhedral box wherein at least one of the sides of the polyhedral box are formed by regions of the first shape, and one of the sides of the polyhedral box is formed by a plurality of regions of the second shape.