NZ522336A - Lid for a paper storage box - Google Patents

Abstract

A lid for a paper storage box, said lid having a generally rectangular panel for covering a generally rectangular opening of a box, said panel having first and second ends separated by a length of said panel and first and second sides separated by a width of said panel, said panel length being greater than said panel width, wherein a flap is integrally formed in said panel, said flap being partially defined by a frangible line of weakness formed in said panel toward said panel first end, breaking of said line of weakness enabling deflection of said flap about a hinge line adjacent and substantially parallel to said panel first end, said flap extending across substantially the entire width of said panel.

Description

52 2 3 3 6 PATENTS FORM 5 Our Ref: 612263NZ PATENTS ACT 1953 Dated: 29 October 2002 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION Lid for a Paper Storage Box We, Detagna Pty Ltd, ACN 097 410 903 of 227 Wellington Road, Mulgrave, Victoria 3170, Australia, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: 1 Lid for a Paper Storage Box Field of the Invention The present invention relates to paper storage boxes, and in particular relates to a lid for a paper storage box.

Background of the Invention Photocopying paper is typically supplied in cardboard storage boxes housing a number of reams of paper stacked one above the other. Such boxes are constructed of a base and upstanding end and side walls defining a top opening slightly larger than the planar dimensions of a sheet of paper such that the reams are neatly stacked within the box. A lid having a peripheral skirt is removably mounted on the box to cover the opening.

Once the reams of paper are delivered in this form, the lid of the box is removed and the reams of paper are extracted as required. The box and lid are typically then destroyed or the open box is possibly utilised as a receptacle for storage of various items, including possibly rubbish and/or used paper to be recycled.

As noted above, used paper can be recycled after initially being collected in an open box or other form of recycling container. Open boxes, including paper storage boxes, are positioned at various locations, including along side desks in offices, for collection of paper to be recycled as required, and such boxes are typically periodically emptied into larger recycling containers for collection and processing by recyclers.

Utilising an open box for collecting paper to be recycled, however, often results in rubbish such as foodstuffs, drink cans and bottles being mistakenly placed in the open box rather than in a rubbish bin. Further, sheets of paper thrown into an open box do not neatly stack and result in an inefficient and somewhat messy storage facility for paper to be recycled.

Object of the Invention It is an object of the present invention to overcome or substantially ameliorate at least one of the above disadvantages.

Summary of the Invention In a broad form the present invention provides a lid for a paper storage box, said lid having a generally rectangular panel for covering a generally rectangular opening of a box, said panel having first and second ends separated by a length of said panel and first [R:\LIBLL] 13815.doc:TCW and second sides separated by a width of said panel, said panel length being greater than said panel width, wherein a flap is integrally formed in said panel, said flap being partially defined by a frangible line of weakness formed in said panel toward said panel first end, breaking of said line of weakness enabling deflection of said flap about a hinge line adjacent and substantially parallel to said panel first end, said flap extending across substantially the entire width of said panel.

Preferably, said line of weakness is formed by perforations in said panel.

Preferably, said line of weakness is defined as first and second line segments extending from said hinge line adjacent said first and second panel sides and a third line segment substantially parallel to said hinge line and extending between said first and second line segments.

Said first and second line segments may be kinked to provide a fixed generally triangular portion of said panel between each of said first and second line segments and the adjacent corner of said lid.

Preferably, said third line segment is spaced from said hinge line by 40 to 80 mm.

More preferably, said third line segment is spaced from said hinge line by approximately 60 mm.

Typically, said lid is defined by said panel and a peripheral skirt depending from said panel ends and sides.

Preferably, said lid is sized for an A4 or A3 paper storage box.

There is further disclosed herein a paper storage box comprising a box body having a base and four upstanding walls defining an upper opening for receipt of reams of paper and a lid as defined above for covering said opening.

Brief Description of the Drawings Preferred forms of the present invention will now be described by way of examples with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a plan view of a lid for a paper storage box.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the lid of Figure 1 positioned on a paper storage box.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the lid and box of Figure 2 with the flap in the lid deflected to form a slot.

[R:\LIBLL] 13815 .doc:TC W Figure 4 is a cross sectional side elevation view of the lid and box of Figure 2 with the flap deflected to form a slot.

Figure 5 is a plan view of an alternate lid for a paper storage box.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments The accompanying drawings depict a standard paper storage box 100 used for supplying reams of A4 paper stacked one above the other. The cardboard box comprises a base 101 and upstanding end and side walls 102, 103 defining a top opening slightly larger than the dimensions of an A4 sheet of paper (210 mm x 297 mm).

A lid 200 for covering the opening of the box has a generally rectangular panel 201 for covering the opening of the box 100. The panel 201 has first and second ends 202, 203 separated by a length of the panel 201 and first and second sides 204, 205 separated by the width of the panel 201, with the panel length being greater than the panel width.

A flap 205 is integrally formed in the panel. The flap is partially defined by a frangible line of weakness 206, here in the form of perforations, formed in the panel 201 toward its first end 202. The perforations are here defined as three perforated line segments 206a, 206b, 206c. The first and second line segments 206a, 206b extend from adjacent the panel first end 202 adjacent the panel first and second sides 204, 205. The third line segment 206c is parallel to the panel first end 202 and extends between the first and second perforated line segments 206a, 206b.

Breaking of the perforations 206 enables deflection of the flap 205 about a hinge line 207 adjacent and parallel to the panel first end 202 extending between the ends of the first and second perforated line segments 206a, 206b. The hinge line 207 will typically be formed by the folded edge of the lid 200 at the panel first end 207, although it may be spaced a short distance from the panel edge if so desired.

Rather than forming the line of weakness 206 from perforations, it is envisaged that score lines in the cardboard might be utilised as an alterative. Further, rather than have the perforations extend about three sides of the flap, it is envisaged that the perforated line segments 206a, 206b at either edge of the flap might be cut entirely through during manufacture, leaving the third perforated line segment 206c to secure the flap 205.

When the perforated line of weakness 206 is broken and the flap 205 displaced about the hinge line 207, a slot 208 is formed through which sheets of A4 paper to be recycled can be inserted. As best depicted in Figure 4, the deflected flap 205 forms a [R:\LIBLL] 13815.doc:TCW ramp at the entry to the slot 208. When inserting paper through the slot 208 the ramp acts to guide the paper into the slot relatively flat, such that the paper tends to float to the base of the box 102 and lay generally flat, thereby neatly stacking successive sheets of paper fed into the slot and maximise the holding capacity of the box 102. The slot 208 is formed by the flap toward the first end 202 of the lid panel 201 so as to ensure that paper is inserted with the correct orientation, with the slot being too narrow to allow paper to be fed side first. The slot also inhibits non-paper rubbish items such as foodstuffs, drink cans and bottles from being inserted into the box, thereby frustrating the process of collecting recyclable paper only.

Once the box 108 is relatively full of paper, the lid 200 can be removed and the contents emptied into a centralised paper recycling bin.

The flap 205 is typically 40 to 80 mm wide, as measured from the hinge line 207 to the third perforated line segment 206c, and is more preferably approximately 60 mm wide. The present inventor has found that such a flap width provides a sufficiently large slot for inserting multiple pieces of paper whilst preventing other large non-paper items from being inserted through the slot, and provides a ramp of sufficient length to effectively guide the paper to enter the slot and free-fall to land flat at the base of the box.

The lid 200 will typically be manufactured of cardboard and formed of the panel 201 and a peripheral skirt 209 depending from the panel ends 202, 203 and sides 204, 205 in the usual manner, however it is envisaged that other forms of lid, such as a flat panel hinged at one end of the box, might also be utilised. Also, lids and boxes to suit various sizes of paper, including A3 paper, may be utilised as appropriate. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate other potential modifications and alterations to the lid described.

Rather than forming the first and second line segments 206a, 206b of the flap 205 as straight segments parallel to the panel sides 204, 205 in the manner depicted in Figure 1, they may be arranged as depicted in Figure 5. Here the first and second line segments 206a' and 206b' are kinked to provide a triangular portion 209 of panel 201 between the line segment and adjacent corner of the lid. This portion 209 remains fixed and adds support to the corners of the lid 200.

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Claims (10)

The claims defining the invention are as follows:

1. A lid for a paper storage box, said lid having a generally rectangular panel for covering a generally rectangular opening of a box, said panel having first and second ends separated by a length of said panel and first and second sides separated by a width of said panel, said panel length being greater than said panel width, wherein a flap is integrally formed in said panel, said flap being partially defined by a frangible line of weakness formed in said panel toward said panel first end, breaking of said line of weakness enabling deflection of said flap about a hinge line adjacent and substantially parallel to said panel first end, said flap extending across substantially the entire width of said panel.

2. The lid of claim 1, wherein said line of weakness is formed by perforations in said panel.

3. The lid of either of claims 1 and 2, wherein said line of weakness is defined as first and second line segments extending from said hinge line adjacent said first and second panel sides and a third line segment substantially parallel to said hinge line and extending between said first and second line segments.

4. The lid of claim 3, wherein said first and second line segments are kinked to provide a fixed generally triangular portion of said panel between each of said first and second line segments and the adjacent corner of said lid.

5. The lid of either of claims 3 and 4, wherein said third line segment is spaced from said hinge line by 40 to 80 mm.

6. The lid of claim 5, wherein said third line segment is spaced from said hinge line by approximately 60 mm.

7. The lid of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein said lid is defined by said panel and a peripheral skirt depending from said panel ends and sides.

8. The lid of any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein said lid is sized for an A4 or A3 paper storage box.

9. A paper storage box comprising a box body having a base and four upstanding walls defining an upper opening for receipt of reams of paper and a lid, as defined in any one of claims 1 to 8, for covering said opening. [R:\LIBLL] 13815 .doc.TC W 6

10. A lid for a paper storage box substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 4 or Figure 5 of the accompanying drawings. Detagna Pty Ltd By Attorneys for the Applicant SPRIJSON & FERGUSON Per: [R:\LIBLL] 13815 .doc.TCW Lid for a Paper Storage Box Abstract A lid (200) for a paper storage box (100) has a generally rectangular panel (201) for covering a generally rectangular opening of a box. The panel (201) has first and second ends (202, 203) separated by a length of the panel (201) and first and second sides (204, 205) separated by a width of the panel (201). A flap (205) is integrally formed in the panel (201) and is partially defined by a frangible line of weakness (206) enabling deflection of the flap (205) about a hinge line (207) adjacent and parallel to the panel first end (202). The flap (205) extends across substantially the entire width of the panel (201). [R:\LIBLL] 13815 ,doc:TCW