GB2542154A

GB2542154A - Foldable packaging

Info

Publication number: GB2542154A
Application number: GB1515982.5A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Tatla Amrik
Original assignee: Miramar Invest Ltd
Current assignee: Miramar Invest Ltd
Priority date: 2015-09-09
Filing date: 2015-09-09
Publication date: 2017-03-15
Also published as: GB201515982D0

Abstract

A squaring divider foldable from a blank having three sections 1, 2, 4 separated by bend lines 8, 10; two non adjacent sections including a slot 12, 18 and one section with a slot including a tab 16; such that the section 1 with a slot and no tab can be received in the slot 12 of the end section with the tab 2; and the tab 16 can be received in the slot 18 of the other end section 1. The sections extending through slots is not essential. The middle section may be right angle isosceles triangular defined by the two fold lines and one slit. The divider can be planar prior to folding or after unfolding. It can be formed of corrugated kraft paper, cardboard or plastic. One layer can be ruptured in the folding process. The bend lines can be perforations or score lines. Ideally the slot is as thick as the sheet of material. The material can be recyclable or include padding.

Description

Foldable Packaging

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to foldable packaging apparatus; in particular a divider for separating objects within a larger container.

Background to the invention

When transporting bottles or other tall items, it may be desirable to include an additional dividing insert or dividing inserts inside the container being used for transportation. Such a dividing insert may provide an organised arrangement of the objects being transported, easing the calculation of the number of objects being transported in any single container, and prevent the items being transported from coming into contact with one another. The prevention of objects coming into contact with one another may be of particular importance when the objects being transported are fragile, such as in the case of glass bottles.

One existing technique to address this problem is the use of dividing inserts comprising many individual parts. For example, using this technique three separate parts of a dividing insert, pre-cut to a predetermined size and shape, may be slotted together in an appropriate fashion to form a dividing insert capable of dividing a container into six sections.

However, existing techniques are not without issue. The dividing inserts provided by existing techniques do not retain their shape well and frequently become deformed or fall into their constituent parts when placed, or removed, from a transportation container. In addition, such dividing inserts are typically provided to the customer in a pre-constructed, ready assembled form. Whilst these pre-constructed forms of the dividing insert may be stacked to some degree, such stacking is typically associated with stability issues. As such, the transportation and use of large numbers of these pre-constructed dividing inserts may prove challenging and surprisingly expensive.

Embodiments of this invention seek to address these problems.

Summary of the invention

According the present invention, there is provided foldable packaging apparatus, comprising a longitudinal section, at least one bridging section, at least one transverse section, said transverse section including a slot, wherein the longitudinal section is connected to said bridging section along a first bend line, and said bridging section is connected to said transverse section along a second bend line, wherein the foldable packaging may be manipulated along said bend lines such that the longitudinal section may be inserted into the slot of said transverse section, and such that the longitudinal section and said transverse section are generally perpendicular to one another, and the longitudinal section further comprises a slot, characterised in that said transverse section further comprises at least one locking tab, wherein said locking tab engages with said slot to hold said transverse section and said longitudinal section generally perpendicular to one another.

In this way, a dividing insert suitable for the transportation of bottles or other objects is provided from a single piece of foldable packaging. Such an embodiment is advantageous as it prevents the dividing insert from falling into its constituent parts when said insert is placed, or removed from a transportation container. In addition, this advantage is provided without the need for any modification of the transport containers themselves; the foldable packaging apparatus can be designed and scaled to fit inside any transportation container.

Additionally, the longitudinal section of the foldable packaging apparatus further comprises at least one slot, and said transverse section further comprises at least one locking tab. As such, said locking tab may engage with said slot to hold said transverse section and the longitudinal section generally perpendicular to one another.

An embodiment of this form is advantageous as this engagement between said slot and said locking tab may assist in holding the foldable packaging apparatus in the shape required for the dividing insert. In this case, deformation of the dividing insert may be reduced as it is placed, or removed, from a transportation container, increasing the ease of installation. In addition, deformation during the transportation process may be reduced, increasing any protection the dividing insert offers the transported items during transportation.

Preferably, the foldable packaging apparatus further comprises at least one first slit, wherein; said first bend line is generally parallel with an edge of the longitudinal section, said first slit is generally parallel with an edge of said transverse section, said second bend line forms a triangle with said first bend line and said first slit, and said transverse section extends generally perpendicularly to said longitudinal section.

It may also be preferable for said first bend line to be at a generally 45 angle to said second bend line. The use of a generally 45 degree angle is advantageous as it allows the folding mechanism of the foldable packaging apparatus to align the slot of said transverse section with the longitudinal section during the folding process to create the final configuration of the dividing insert.

Preferably, the foldable packaging apparatus may be substantially planar before folding. Foldable packaging apparatus which is substantially planar before folding is preferred as it eases the transportation of the pieces of foldable packaging. The planarity of the foldable packaging apparatus allows said packaging to be stacked in large quantities without the creation of any instabilities, resulting in an increased ease and reduced costs of transportation.

It may be preferable for the foldable packaging apparatus to be multi layered. Such a multi layered construction of the foldable packaging apparatus would allow the properties of the dividing insert to be tailored depending on the transportation container and the items being transported. It may be preferable to control the mechanical, thermal, acoustic, chemical, electrical, magnetic or optical properties of the dividing insert to tailor the properties of the dividing insert to the material being transported at any time. Such adjustments may be made with the careful choice of materials in each layer of a multi layered foldable packaging apparatus.

Preferably, a layer of the foldable packaging apparatus is made from kraft or virgin wood pulp. Such kraft or virgin wood pulp contains long fibres, often long cellulose fibres, that may extend across any bend lines, preventing the disruption or rupture of this layer at said bend lines. The absence of any disruption or rupture in the kraft or virgin wood pulp layer is advantageous as it allows the foldable packaging apparatus to be folded repeatedly without the failure of the product along a bend line.

Again, it may be preferable for a layer of the foldable packaging apparatus to be corrugated. Such an embodiment is advantageous as the depth and wavelength of the corrugation may be varied to adjust the mechanical properties of the foldable packaging apparatus and thus the dividing insert. In this case, a long wavelength corrugation may be used to provide a crushable or compressible corrugated layer, potentially protecting the items being transported from any impacts to the transportation container. Alternatively, a short wavelength corrugation may be used to increase the stiffness of the dividing insert if it is required to bear any loads or stresses.

Preferably, a layer of the foldable packaging apparatus may be disrupted or ruptured as the foldable packaging apparatus is folded. Such an embodiment may be desired as the disruption or rupture of a layer in the foldable packaging apparatus may allow the foldable packaging apparatus to be easily folded whilst maintaining different mechanical properties in other areas.

Preferably, the disruption or rupture of a layer of foldable packaging apparatus may result in a reduced strength or increased flexibility at the line of disruption or rupture. It may also be preferable for a layer of the foldable packaging apparatus to be disrupted or rupture along at least one bend line, enabling easier folding of foldable packaging apparatus.

It may also be preferable for a bend line to comprise a row of perforations. The use of a row of perforations as a bend line may be preferable as it creates a well-defined line along which the foldable packing will deform, allowing the accurate folding of the foldable packaging apparatus into the dividing insert. Additionally, the use of a row of perforations as a bend line may be preferable as the presence of perforations may assist the rupture of a layer of a multi layered foldable packaging apparatus.

Preferably, a bend line may consist of markings scored into the foldable packaging apparatus. Here, the scored markings may be understood to be the result of a compression applied to the material in order to produce markings in said material to facilitate folding at these compression points. It may be preferable for a bend line to consist of markings scored into foldable packaging apparatus as, again, it creates a well-defined line along which foldable packaging apparatus will deform, allowing the accurate folding of the foldable packaging apparatus into the dividing insert.

An embodiment where the slot of said transverse section is substantially the same width as the thickness of the longitudinal section may also be preferable. Such an embodiment may be preferred as here the edges of the slot of said transverse section may grip, grasp, engage or hold the faces of the longitudinal section, potentially increasing the resistance of the dividing insert to deformation as it is placed, or removed, into a transportation container or during transportation itself.

Preferably, the foldable packaging apparatus may further comprise a padded member. The use of a padded member may increase the protection of the items being transported during the transportation process, reducing the costs and losses associated with damaged goods.

Preferably, the foldable packaging apparatus may made from cardboard. Alternatively, it may be preferable for the foldable packaging apparatus to be made from plastic. It may be preferable to use either cardboard or plastic, or both in combination, as these materials are low cost, readily available, easily formed and readily recycled.

It may be preferable for the foldable packaging apparatus to be able to be unfolded after use. Such an embodiment may be preferable as it would allow the dividing insert to be flattened after use and stored in a spatially efficient manner for subsequent re-use, resulting in reduced wastage and costs.

It may also be preferable for the foldable packaging apparatus to be recyclable. Such an embodiment may be advantageous as it may reduce disposal costs and increase the sustainability of a company. In addition, the recycling of material may allow a company to reduce its carbon footprint below any environmental or government targets, with an associated improvement in public perception and the potential avoidance of fines.

Also according to the present invention, there is provided foldable packaging apparatus, comprising a longitudinal section, at least one bridging section, at least one transverse section, said transverse section including a slot, wherein the longitudinal section is connected to said bridging section along at least one first bend line, and said bridging section is connected to said transverse section along at least one second bend line, and the longitudinal section further comprises a slot, characterised in that said transverse section further comprises at least one locking tab, wherein said locking tab is engaged within said slot such that said transverse section and said longitudinal section are generally perpendicular to one another.

Again, here a dividing insert suitable for the transportation of bottles or other objects is provided from a single piece of foldable packaging

Detailed Description

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the following figures in which:

Figure 1 schematically illustrates the foldable packaging in its flattened form;

Figure 2 schematically illustrates the foldable packaging during the folding process; and

Figure 3 schematically illustrates the foldable packaging in its folded form.

Referring first to Figure 1, here the foldable packaging is shown in its flattened form. In this embodiment, the foldable packaging is a layered cardboard structure, comprising three separate layers. In this embodiment, the first layer of the foldable packaging 100 comprises a first substantially planar layer of kraft or virgin wood pulp, a second, interior, corrugated layer made of test or recycled pulp 101 and a third layer 102 comprising a substantially planar layer of test or recycled pulp. Kraft or virgin wood pulp may include many long fibres which are not broken or disrupted by the folding of a cardboard layer, whereas the test or recycled pulp typically contains shorter fibres, often causing the layer to be broken or disrupted when it is folded. In alternative embodiments, the first layer may be either kraft or recycled pulp, the third layer may be either kraft or recycled pulp and the second layer may comprise corrugated fluting.

In the embodiment of the foldable packaging illustrated in Figure 1, a longitudinal section 1 is connected to a first transverse section 2 and a second transverse section 3 via a first bridging section 4 and a second bridging section 5 respectively. The first bridging section 4 and second bridging section 5 are partially separated from the longitudinal section 1 by the first and second first slits respectively 6,7. In this embodiment, at each of the first and second first slits 6, 7 all three layers of the foldable packaging 100, 101, 102 have been cut to separate the first and second bridging sections 4, 5 from the longitudinal section 1.

The first and second bridging sections 4, 5 remain in hinged communication with the longitudinal section 1 via the first and second first bend lines 8, 9 respectively. In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figure 1, the first and second first bend lines 8, 9 comprise a line of perforations through the three separate layers of the foldable packaging 100, 101, 102, introducing a desired line of weakness along which the foldable packaging will deform. As such, the first and second bridging sections 4, 5 may rotate around the axes defined by the first and second bend lines 8, 9 respectively.

In the embodiment of the foldable packaging schematically illustrated in Figure 1, the first and second transverse section 2, 3 are in hinged communication with the first and second bridging sections 4, 5 via first and second second bend lines 10, 11 respectively. Here, the first and second second bend lines 10, 11 also comprise a line of perforations through the three separate layers of the foldable packaging 100, 101, 102, again introducing a desired line of weakness along which the foldable packaging will deform. In this case, the first and second second bend lines 10, 11 allow the rotation of the first and second transverse sections 2, 3 relative to the first and second bridging sections 4, 5 along the axes defined by the first and second second bend lines 10, 11 respectively.

In this embodiment of the invention, the first and second transverse sections 2, 3 include first and second slots 12, 13 respectively. The first and second slots 12, 13 are in communication with the perimeter of the first and second transverse section 2, 3 via first and second second slits 14, 15 respectively. First and second locking tabs 16, 17 are also defined by the first and second second slits 14, 15 respectively.

First and second slots 18, 19 are also included in the embodiment of the foldable packaging as represented in Figure 1.

In figure 1, the first bend lines 8, 9 are generally parallel with an edge of the longitudinal section. Additionally, the first slits 6, 7 are generally parallel with an edge of said transverse section 2, 3, and form a continuation of the edge of said transverse sections 2, 3. The second bend lines 10, 11 are at a generally 45 degree to an edge of said transverse sections 2,3, an edge of said longitudinal section 1, said first slits 6, 7 and said first bend lines 8, 9. In this embodiment, said second bend lines 10, 11 form a triangle, containing the bridging section, with said first bend lines 8, 9 and said first slits 6, 7. In figure 1, said second bend lines 10, 11 form the hypotenuse of said triangle. In figure 1, said triangle is an Isosceles triangle. In figure 1, said triangle is also a right angled Isosceles triangle.

In figure 1, said transverse sections 2, 3 are extended generally perpendicularly to the longitudinal section 1, said extension from the longitudinal section 1 being from an area proximate to the corners of the longitudinal section 1 via said bridging sections 4, 5.

Figure 2 depicts the folding of the foldable packaging from a flattened state, Figure 2.1, to a folded state, Figure 2.5.

In the first stage of folding the foldable packaging from the flattened state to the folded state, the first bridging section 4 is manipulated such that both it, and the first transverse section 2, are rotated around the axis defined by the first first bend line 8. Such a manipulation causes both the second, corrugated layer 101, and the third layer 102 of the foldable packaging, both comprising test or recycled pulp, to be disrupted or ruptured along the first first bend line 8. In this embodiment, the first layer of the foldable packaging 100 is not disrupted; it is constructed from virgin or kraft wood pulp, containing long fibres which bridge across the fold, preventing the disruption or rupture of this layer 100 at the first bend line 8 during the folding process.

The second stage of folding the foldable packaging from the flattened to the folded state comprises manipulating the first transverse section 2 relative to the first connecting section 4 along the first second bend line 10. Again, such a manipulation causes both the second, corrugated layer 101, and the third layer 102 of the foldable packaging to be disrupted or ruptured along the first second bend line 10, without disrupting or rupturing the first layer of the foldable packaging due to the material properties of each individual layer.

The third stage of folding the foldable packaging from the flattened state to the folded state comprises manipulating the packaging along the first first bend line 8 and the first second bend line 10 such that the longitudinal section 1 is inserted into the first slot 12, see Figure 2.2. The insertion of the longitudinal section 1 into the first slot 12 is increased until the first locking tab 16 becomes engaged with the first slot 18 and the first transverse section 2 and the longitudinal section 1 are generally perpendicular relative to one another.

In this embodiment, the first locking tab 16 becomes engaged with the first slot 18 to prevent the movement of the first longitudinal section with respect to the longitudinal section and the resulting unfolding of the foldable packaging. Figure 2.3 illustrates the packaging in this partially folded state.

The fourth stage of folding the packaging from the flattened state into the folded state is the repetition of the process undertaken with the first transverse section 2 with the second transverse section 3. This process is depicted in Figure 2.4 and results in both the first and second transverse sections 2, 3 lying generally perpendicular to the longitudinal section 1. The fully folded state of the foldable packaging is shown in Figure 2.5.

Figure 3 also illustrates the fully folded state of the foldable packaging. Here the position of the first and second transverse sections 2, 3 with respect to the longitudinal section 1 in the fully folded state is depicted. Additionally, Figure 3 shows the disruption or rupture of the second, corrugated layer 101 and the third layer 102 along each of the first and second second bend lines 10, 11, as may occur during the manipulation of the foldable packaging. Subsequently, the fully folded foldable packaging may be inserted into a container to provide a means for separating objects placed into the container, allowing for their efficient packaging and protection of said objects during storage or transportation periods.

Claims

1. Foldable packaging apparatus, comprising a longitudinal section, at least one bridging section, at least one transverse section, said transverse section including a slot, wherein the longitudinal section is connected to said bridging section along a first bend line, and said bridging section is connected to said transverse section along a second bend line, wherein the foldable packaging may be manipulated along said bend lines such that the longitudinal section may be inserted into the slot of said transverse section, such that the longitudinal section and said transverse section are generally perpendicular to one another, and the longitudinal section further comprises a slot, characterised in that said transverse section further comprises at least one locking tab, wherein said locking tab engages with said slot to hold said transverse section and said longitudinal section generally perpendicular to one another.

2. Foldable packaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising at least one first slit, wherein; said first bend line is generally parallel with an edge of the longitudinal section; said first slit is generally parallel with an edge of said transverse section; said second bend line forms a triangle with said first bend line and said first slit, and said transverse section extends generally perpendicularly to said longitudinal section.

3. Foldable packaging apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said first bend line is at a generally 45 degree angle to said second bend line.

4. Foldable packaging apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the foldable packaging apparatus is substantially planar before folding.

5. Foldable packaging apparatus according any one of the preceding claims, wherein the foldable packaging apparatus is multi layered.

6. Foldable packaging apparatus according to claim 5, wherein a layer of the foldable packaging apparatus is made from kraft wood pulp.

7. Foldable packaging apparatus according to claim 5, wherein a layer of the foldable packaging apparatus is corrugated.

8. Foldable packaging apparatus according to claim 5, wherein a layer of the foldable packaging apparatus is ruptured as said foldable packaging apparatus is folded.

9. Foldable packaging apparatus according to claim 8, wherein a layer of the foldable packaging apparatus is ruptured along a bend line.

10. Foldable packaging apparatus according any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one bend line comprises a row of perforations.

11. Foldable packaging apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one bend line consists of markings scored in the foldable packaging apparatus.

12. Foldable packaging apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the slot of said transverse section is substantially the same width as the thickness of the longitudinal section.

13. Foldable packaging apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the foldable packaging apparatus further comprises a padded member.

14. Foldable packaging apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the foldable packaging apparatus is made from cardboard.

15. Foldable packaging apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the foldable packaging apparatus is made from plastic.

16. Foldable packaging apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the foldable packaging apparatus may be unfolded after use.

17. Foldable packaging apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the foldable packaging apparatus is recyclable.

18. Foldable packaging apparatus, comprising a longitudinal section, at least one bridging section, at least one transverse section, said transverse section including a slot, wherein the longitudinal section is connected to said bridging section along a first bend line, and said bridging section is connected to said transverse section along a second bend line, and the longitudinal section further comprises a slot characterised in that said transverse section further comprises at least one locking tab, wherein said locking tab is engaged within said slot such that said transverse section and said longitudinal section are generally perpendicular to one another.