ITRM20100254A1 - FOLDABLE CONTAINER AND SAVE-SPACE - Google Patents

Description

"Collapsible and space-saving container"

Field of Invention

The present invention refers to a container, preferably for waste, in particular for compactable waste, substantially in the shape of a parallelepiped with a reclosable upper opening obtained starting from a flat monobloc blank with reinforcement in the lower part in which the arrangement of the parts is such that the container that is obtained once assembled is of the foldable and collapsible type with a space-saving function.

Note Art

In the context of the present invention, the term collapsing / collapsible refers to the container of the invention closed along some of its fold lines so as to minimize its internal volume.

The term creasing refers to a predetermined folding line.

Containers made from a single-block flat blank have been known for some time, usually made of cardboard, plastic and the like, suitably shaped and equipped with pre-arranged folding lines and parts intended to be joined by gluing during assembly, to form a container also for food or waste such as for example food waste or the like, preferably also suitable for guaranteeing a seal of liquids.

Containers of this type often have the disadvantage of having a complicated assembly which includes gluing steps so that once assembled these containers can no longer be suitably reduced in size, they are particularly bulky and take up considerable space when empty and stored in the production, transport, distribution or at the end user.

Summary of the Invention

The purpose of the present invention is therefore to overcome the disadvantages of containers of the known type, providing a container obtained with recyclable, flexible and moisture-resistant materials such as cardboard and cardboard (retrocraft type), preferably corrugated and treated with waterproofing in itself. known, with possible anti-damp and / or anti-mold treatment, or plasticization or the like.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a container, obtained from a suitably shaped monobloc flat blank, made with suitably prepared folding lines (creases) and parts intended to be joined by gluing during assembly, which, once assembled , Is designed to allow the folding and folding of the same for an easy and convenient packaging, storage and transport with considerable space saving.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a container obtained from a flat blank which, once assembled, folded and knocked down, can be returned to its form of use with a simple operation of compression of the side panels, obtaining a solid container. optionally liquid-tight and equipped with parts designed to provide a reclosable cover / opening.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a container which has a simplified opening with parts that can be easily fixed to ensure its open state and is effectively reclosable and transportable.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a liquid-tight container made by means of a possible further additional component at the bottom of the container.

According to the present invention, a container for food or waste is provided, preferably for compactable waste, such as for example food, food and drink residues, cans, bottles, crockery, food containers and disposable cutlery which must preferably be transported on vehicles of locomotion and collected in reduced volume form, i.e. compacted, such as waste from means of transport such as civil aviation aircraft (commercial and business / corporate), tourist aircraft, coaches, caravans, trains, ships, etc.

Further objects will become clear from the detailed description of the invention which follows, with reference to preferred embodiments, although it is understood that variations can be made without however departing from the scope of protection defined by the attached claims and with reference to the figures of the attached drawings.

The container of the present invention substantially has the shape of a parallelepiped and is obtained starting from a flat monobloc blank.

According to the present invention, a parallelepiped container with resealable opening is provided, obtained starting from a flat monobloc blank having:

- a central body divided by elongated creases into four panels delimited on the sides by first and, respectively, second lateral creases, both orthogonal to the elongated creases, the four panels being folded consecutively according to the elongated creases and glued at the ends by means of a connecting flap to forming the lateral surface of the container;

- a first series of consecutive base flaps extending respectively from the four panels of the central body beyond said first lateral creases, the base flaps of the first series being foldable and gluing to form a first base of the parallelepiped container;

- a second series of consecutive base flaps extending respectively from the four panels of the central body beyond said second lateral creases, the flaps being foldable to form a second openable and reclosable base of the parallelepiped container;

- two first shaped fins of the second series of non-consecutive fins, extending from the second lateral creases, have spaced "U" edge notches and internal notches;

- two second tapered fins of the second series of non-consecutive fins, extending from the second lateral creases, have creases parallel to said second lateral creases and are able to be folded back on themselves to be inserted in the internal notches of the first shaped fins of the second series of fins when they are located in a superimposed closed position, all to act as an openable and reclosable lid of the container.

Brief Description of the Figures

The present invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to preferred embodiments, although it is understood that variations can be made without however departing from its scope of protection and with reference to the figures of the attached drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a schematic plan view of a flat monobloc flat blank, relative to a parallelepiped container according to the present invention;

Figure 2 shows a schematic perspective view of the container, obtained from the flat blank of Figure 1, being assembled with the flaps of the first set of flaps forming the bottom in the closing step;

Figure 3 shows a schematic perspective view of the container being assembled with the flaps of the second set of flaps forming the second base that can be opened and closed again completely open;

Figure 4 shows a schematic perspective view of the container mounted with the flaps of the second set of flaps forming the second base which can be opened and partially reclosed in the closing / opening phase;

Figure 5 shows a schematic perspective view of the container mounted with one of the flaps of the second series partially in the closing / opening phase and the others closed;

Figure 6 shows a schematic plan view of a flat monoblock flat blank, relative to the additional bottom in an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 7 shows a schematic perspective view of the assembled additional bottom, obtained from the flat blank of Figure 6;

Figure 8 shows a schematic perspective view of a handle applicable to the container of the present invention;

Figure 9 shows a schematic perspective view of the assembled and assembled container, obtained from the blank of Figure 1 with the additional bottom obtained from the blank of Figure 6 and the handle of Figure 8, with the wings forming the cover completely closed;

Figure 10 shows a schematic perspective view of the assembled and assembled container of Figure 9 during the folding and lowering phase;

Figure 11 shows a schematic perspective view from below of the bottom of the assembled and assembled container of Figure 10 during the folding and lowering phase;

Detailed Description of the Invention With reference to the drawings, Figure 1 shows a plan view of the general appearance of the blank, preferably of water-resistant corrugated cardboard, from which a parallelepiped container with resealable opening according to the present is obtained. invention. The one-piece flat blank 1 has a central body 2 divided into four panels 7, 8, 9, 10 and a connecting flap 11 by means of elongated creases 3, 4, 5, 6. If the panels are two by two, as in the illustrated embodiment, the container will have rectangular bases. Alternatively, the aforesaid panels can all be the same, for example to form square bases, or bases with different polygonal shapes.

The panels 7 to 10 and the connecting flap 11 are laterally delimited by first and second lateral creases, indicated respectively with 12 and 13. The lateral creases 12 and 13 are both orthogonal to the elongated creases 3, 4, 5 and 6 , whereby the four panels from 7 to 10 can be folded consecutively around the elongated creases from 3 to 6 and by gluing the connecting flap 11 0 they form the lateral surface of the container.

Beyond the first and second creases 12 and 13 of the central body 2 of the blank 1, a first and a second series of consecutive base flaps respectively extend. The base flaps 19 to 22 of the first series, of the traditional type, can be folded and glued to form a first bottom base 29 of the container as shown in Figure 2.

The second series of consecutive base flaps comprises flaps 24, 25, 26 and 27 which extend respectively from the four panels of the central body from 7 to 10, beyond the second lateral creases 13. The flaps 24 to 27 are foldable to form a second openable and reclosable base 30 of the container as shown in particular in Figures 4 and 5.

According to the present invention, the first fins 25 and 27 of the second series of fins which extend from the second lateral creases 13 have spaced "U" edge notches 31 and inverted "L" shaped notches 32 facing each other inside the fins themselves. The fins 25 and 27 have further pairs of internal notches 34 for the insertion of corresponding stops 34 'provided on the external surfaces of the panels 8 and 10 and internal notches 33 in the shape of a slot for the passage of a possible handle 90 as shown in the Figure The non-consecutive flap 27 of the same second series of flaps has an extension 36 which extends from a creasing 35 provided on the part between the two "U" shaped edge notches of the flap 27.

Furthermore, in a suitable position, preferably along the creasing 13 of the flap 25, a through notch 37 is made for the insertion of the extension 36 of the flap 27 for closing the cover of the container.

The non-consecutive fins 24 and 26 preferably have a substantially tapered shape and preferably have the two creases 38 and 39 parallel to the second lateral creases 13.

The two non-consecutive panels 7 and 9 have at least one crease 40 and an inverted "V" crease 41 respectively, the vertex of which is positioned respectively on the longitudinal creases 42 and 43 which extend along the entire length of the panels 7 and 9.

The ends of the inverted "V" of the creases 40 and 41 originate on the first lateral creases 12 at the points of intersection respectively with the end 7 'of the panel 7 and the elongated crease 3 for the creasing 40 and the elongated creasing 4 and at the creasing elongated 5 for creasing 41.

Preferably, the container according to the present invention is provided with a series of identical and symmetrical inverted "V" shaped creases, 40 and 41, each series having a common "V" origin.

With reference to Figure 6, a flat monobloc blank is provided, indicated as a whole with 61, comprising a central panel 62, intended to form the base of the additional bottom element 60 and delimited by pairs of creases 63, 64 and 69, 70 , from which extend pairs of panels equal to two by two, respectively 65-66 and 67-68 of substantially rectangular shape, intended to form the side walls of the additional bottom element 60, in turn joined by creasing lines 76 and 77, to further panels 75 substantially triangular foldable like bellows according to the median creasing line 78, able to connect the aforementioned panels 65 and 66 together with the panels 67 and 68 forming the side walls of the additional bottom element 60, in so as to give rise to a substantially rectangular continuous surface. Furthermore, a creasing line 79 is provided which divides the central panel 62 and the side panels 67 and 68. Finally, the panels 67 and 68 are provided with at least one, preferably five creases 80 and at least as many creases 81 in the shape of a "V" the edges of which are positioned on the creasing 79 and the ends originate at the intersections of the creasing 76 with the creasing 77. The creasing 80 and 81 are of the same type as the creasing 40 and 41 provided on the flat blank 2.

Preferably, the additional bottom element 60 is provided with a reinforcing tape 60a positioned along the perimeter of the blank 61 inside the additional bottom element 60 (Figure 7). Advantageously, said reinforcing tape 60a serves to avoid breakages in the use of the assembly "container obtained from the blank 1 / additional bottom element 60", in particular during the removal of the assembly from its use compartment. Preferably, the reinforcing tape 60a is applied along the free perimeter edges of the additional bottom element 60, more preferably the edges of the panels 67 and 68 and partially (for a few centimeters) of the panels 65 and 66, before folding the panels a bellows 75.

Advantageously, the monobloc blank 61 is made of glossy plasticized cardboard.

If the panels 65-66 and 67-68 are two by two, as in the illustrated embodiment, the container will have rectangular bases. Alternatively, the aforesaid panels can all be the same, for example to form square bases, or bases with different polygonal shapes.

In the operation of forming and assembling the container, after the folding of the side panels 7 to 10 and the joining with adhesive substance of the terminal part of the panel 7 with the lateral connecting flap 11, the first base 29 is formed and the second base that can be opened and closed 30.

The first base 29 is made by folding the flaps 19 to 22 towards the inside of the container and gluing them together, after having applied the adhesive substance in the areas provided (not shown).

The second openable and resealable base 30 is made by folding the flap 25 towards the inside of the container and above this the flap 27, so that the "U" -shaped edge notches 31 are in correspondence with the internal notches 32 a Opposite inverted "L" (without overlapping). The extension 36 is then folded around the creasing 35 inserting it into the cut 37.

The flaps 24 and 26 are folded around the creases 38 and 39 to be inserted by interlocking inside the internal notches 32 in opposite inverted "L" shapes, as shown in Figure 5, forming a stable, but reopenable, closure of the container.

The fins 25 and 27 also provide pairs of notches 34 for identifying the gluing points of the corresponding strikers 34 'provided on the external surfaces of the panels 8 and 10 to secure the fins 25 and 27 against the aforementioned panels to ensure the normal the use of the box in the open state and the simplified detachment of the fins 25 and 26 each time the box must be closed as indicated in Figures 4 and 5.

With reference to Figures 6 and 7, the forming and assembly operation of the additional bottom element 60 is obtained starting from the folding of the panels 65-66 and 67-68, pivoting on the respective creasing lines 63-64 and 69-70, so that the triangular panels 75 arranged in the spaces between the adjacent sides of the panels 65-66 and 67-68 are folded into a bellows, pivoting on the respective center lines of creasing 78.

The triangular panels 75 are then folded around the creasing lines 76 and 77 so that they are completely overturned until they are brought into contact against the surface, preferably towards the inner surface, of the two panels 65 and 66.

The triangular panels 75 folded into a bellows, forming a joining element between the bottom panel 62 and the side panels 65, 66 and 67, 68, which are placed side by side when the container is assembled, give rise to a continuous blank without cut edges and thus they prevent the leakage of liquids between the various edges and / or their intersection points, without running the risk that due to the presence of parts cut and glued to the bottom and sideways, liquid leaks can be created during handling and use containers due to damage or gluing defects.

Referring now to Figures 9 to 11, it will be shown how the assembled container obtained from the flat blank of Figure 1 is assembled to the assembled additional bottom element 60, obtained from the flat blank of Figure 6. The set of the container and of the additional bottom element 60 cooperate to form a liquid-tight container.

According to an alternative embodiment of the present invention (not shown), which allows a saving of material, the additional bottom element 60 can be replaced by adhesive bands, applicable on the junction and overlapping areas of the first series of base flaps 19, 20 , 21, 22, designed to prevent the leakage of any liquids present in the container.

The container according to the present invention, once mounted and possibly assembled in cooperation with the additional bottom element 60, can be suitably knocked down or reduced in size to occupy as little space as possible when empty or in storage conditions. This removal is carried out by bringing the internal surfaces of the two panels 8 and 10 closer together so as to make the panels 7 and 9 fold along the longitudinal creases 42 and 43 and along the folded lines 40 and 41 in an inverted "V" shape which allow the bottom to be folded 29 towards the interior. When the container is assembled in cooperation with the additional bottom element 60, the latter is also folded together with the container along the creases 79 and the creases 80 and 81 in an inverted "V" shape, arranged in correspondence with the creases 40 and 41 in an inverted "V" shape of the container.

The inverted "V" creases 40 and 41 and 80 and 81 produce folds all in the same direction and cooperate with, respectively, the creases 42, 43 and 79 to allow a gradual and degrading folding of the parts during the folding and pulling down operations. container thus facilitating an elasticity of movement at the base 29 and 62 towards the inside of the container.

Said inverted "V" creases are particularly advantageous for restoring the final shape of use of the collapsed container. The container can therefore advantageously be used in all those situations in which it is necessary to have a container of minimum bulk when knocked down and easily reconstituted in the form of use.

The container of the present invention verifies this aspect since with a simple manual pressure operation on the panels 7 and 9 it is easily restored to its form of use, the pressure action being made particularly easy by the presence of the "V" creases. overturned.

The container is particularly suitable for use as a waste container, in particular in waste compactors that can be used in fixed environments such as homes, offices, hospitals, restaurants, hotels, canteens and in means of transport such as airplanes, tourist planes, coaches, caravans, trains, ships and the like since in these vehicles a quantity of containers can be stored for use, according to the present invention, folded and knocked down so as to occupy the minimum possible volume but at the same time easily restored to their shape of use. In particular, the compactors which use the container according to the present invention are compactors of the aeronautical type, such as for example the one described in US patent No. 7089852.

It must be understood that the shape and dimensions of the blank, as well as the shape and dimensions of the individual faces thereof, as well as its characteristic parts, can be modified without departing from the scope of the present invention as described and illustrated in the attached drawings.

The same inventive principle previously illustrated can be used substantially to realize other forms of container with the same innovative characteristics, for example in the shape of a parallelepiped with square or polygonal bases.

Claims (12)

CLAIMS 1. Monobloc flat blank (1) comprising: - a central body (2) divided by elongated creases (3, 4, 5 and 6) into four panels (7, 8, 9 and 10) bordered on the sides by first (12) and second (13) lateral creases, both orthogonal to the elongated creases, the four panels being foldable consecutively around the elongated creases, and glued at the ends by means of a connecting flap (11) to form the lateral surface of the container; - a first series of consecutive base flaps (19, 20, 21 and 22) extending respectively from the four panels of the central body beyond said first lateral creases (12), the base flaps of the first series being foldable and gluing to form a first base of the parallelepiped container; - a second series of consecutive fins (25, 26, 27 and 28) extending respectively from the four panels of the central body (2) beyond said second lateral creases (13), the fins of the second series being foldable to form a second base that can be opened and resealable of the parallelepiped container e - at least one crease (40) and an inverted "V" crease (41) whose vertex is respectively positioned on the longitudinal creases (42 and 43) which extend for the entire length of the panels (7 and 9) and whose ends originate on the first lateral creases (12) at the intersection points respectively with the extremity (7 ') of the panel (7) and the elongated creasing (3) for the creasing (40) and the elongated creasing (4) and ( 5) for creasing (41). 2. Blank according to claim 1 in which two first fins (25 and 27) of the second series of fins, shaped and not consecutive, extending from the second lateral creases, have spaced "U" shaped edge notches (31), internal notches (32) Opposed overturned "L" -shaped, slot-shaped internal notches (33) for the passage of a possible handle (90) and, optionally, pairs of internal notches (34) suitable for inserting corresponding strikers (34 ') provided on the external surfaces of the panels (8 and 10). 3. Blank according to claims 1-2 in which two tapered second fins (24 and 26) of the second series of non-consecutive fins, extending from the second lateral creases (13), have at least one crease parallel to said second lateral creases (13) and are able to be folded back on themselves to be inserted into the internal notches (32) in the opposite inverted "L" shape of the first shaped fins of the second series of fins when they are in a superimposed closed position to form the second openable and reclosable base of the container. 4. Blank according to claims 1-3 in which the non-consecutive flap (27) of the second set of flaps has an extension (36) which extends from a crease (35) provided on the part between the two edge notches ( 31) in a "U" shape of the flap (27) able to be inserted in a through notch (37) made along the creasing (13) of the flap (25) for closing the container. 5. Blank according to claims 1-4 in which a series of equal and symmetrical inverted "V" shaped creases (40 and 41) are provided, each series having the vertex positioned respectively on the longitudinal creases (42 and 43) and origin of the "V" in common. 6. Foldable parallelepiped container with reclosable opening obtained from the blank of claims 1-5. 7. One-piece flat blank (61), comprising a central panel (62), intended to form the base of the additional bottom element (60) and delimited by pairs of creases (63, 64 and 69 70), from which extend pairs of panels equal two by two, respectively (65-66 and 67-68), intended to form the side walls of the additional bottom element (60), in turn joined by creasing lines (76 and 77), to further substantially triangular panels (75) that can be folded into bellows according to the median creasing line (78), suitable for connecting the aforementioned panels (65-66) and (67-68) forming the side walls of the additional bottom element (60), so as to give rise to a continuous surface, a creasing line (79) being further provided which divides the central panel (62) and the side panels (67) and (68). 8. Blank according to claim 7 wherein the panels (67) and (68) are provided with at least one crease (80) and at least one reverse "V" crease (81) whose vertices are positioned on the crease (79) and the ends originate on the intersections of the creases (76) with the creases (77). 9. Additional bottom element (60) obtained from the blank of claims 7 and 8, preferably further provided with reinforcing tape 60a applied along the free perimeter edges of the additional bottom element (60). 10. The container of claim 6 assembled with the additional bottom element of claim 9. 11. Container of claim 10 assembled in cooperation with the additional bottom element (60) and knocked down after approaching the internal surfaces of the two panels (8) and (10) and folding of the panels (7) and (9) along the longitudinal creases (42) and (43) and along the inverted "V" creases (40) and (41) and the folding of the bottom (29) towards the inside in which the additional bottom element ( 60) It is folded together with the container along the creases (79) and the creases (80) and (81) in the inverted "V" shape arranged in correspondence with the creases (40) and (41) in the inverted "V" shape of the container 12. Use of the container according to claims 6 and 9-11 as a waste container, in particular for waste compactors that can be used in fixed environments such as for example homes, offices, hospitals, restaurants, hotels, canteens and in means of transport such as airplanes, touring aircraft, coaches, caravans, trains, ships and the like preferably in aeronautical type compactors.