WO1998043897A1

WO1998043897A1 - Egg box folded from a single blank

Info

Publication number: WO1998043897A1
Application number: PCT/NL1998/000169
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ab Tromp
Original assignee: Veralex International N.V.
Priority date: 1997-03-27
Filing date: 1998-03-26
Publication date: 1998-10-08
Also published as: DE69806771D1; NL1005665C2; EP1012071A1; ATE221018T1; AU6526498A; EP1012071B1; ES2183337T3; DE69806771T2

Abstract

The invention relates to a box for packaging eggs which is folded from a flat sheet (1). The box comprises a bottom (7) and upright walls (6, 8), as well as a cover (9) which is pivotally connected to the upper end of an upright wall. Two supporting walls (2, 3), which slope upwards from said bottom in a direction away from each other, are provided in the box, whilst two further supporting walls (11', 11''), which extend obliquely towards each other from the upper wall of the cover, are provided on the inner side of said upper wall. Two openings (25, 25'') are provided in the supporting walls joining the bottom, which openings function to receive an egg, and a further opening (36) for receiving a portion of an egg is provided in the supporting walls joining said cover. Lips are positioned in the various openings in the supporting walls.

Description

EGG BOX FOLDED FROM A SINGLE BLANK

The invention relates to a box for packaging eggs which is folded from a flat sheet, whereby the box comprises a bottom and upright walls, as well as a cover comprising an upper wall, which is pivotally connected to the upper end of an upright wall, whereby at least two supporting walls sloping upwards from said bottom in a direction away from each other are provided in the box, whilst two further supporting walls extending obliquely towards each other from the upper wall are provided on the inner side of said upper wall, whereby the angle which the supporting walls extending from the bottom include between themselves is smaller than the angle which the supporting walls extending from said cover include between themselves, and whereby connecting edges between the two sets of supporting walls are positioned at least substantially vertically above each other in the closed position of the box, whilst openings are provided opposite each other in the supporting walls joining the bottom, which openings function to receive portions of an egg, and a further opening for receiving a portion of an egg is provided in the supporting walls joining said cover. Such a box can be folded from an inexpensive material, for example cardboard, whereby the box also lends itself very well for being provided with a print on the outside. There have been prior proposals with regard to such boxes folded from a flat sheet, but the provision of an effective support for the eggs to rule out breakage of eggs to a significant extent has always constituted a problem.

According to the invention this can be achieved in that lips are present in the openings that are provided opposite each other in the supporting walls extending from the bottom, which lips are pivotally connected to the respective supporting walls, near the upper sides of the respective openings, as are a few lips lying side by side, which pivotally join lower parts of the boundary edges of said openings, whilst a further lip, which is pivotally connected to a respective supporting wall with one end, is positioned in the opening which is provided in the supporting walls joining said cover. An effective support of an egg can be obtained by means of the various lips, both near the underside and near the upper side, as well as on the sides, whereby the position of the lips can be easily adapted to the dimension of the egg. The forming of the lips can take place in a simple and quick manner during the cutting-out of the openings in the various supporting walls, by leaving the lips in said openings, in such a manner that each lip will be pivotally connected to the other part of the respective supporting wall with only one end.

The invention will be explained in more detail hereafter with reference to a few possible embodiments of boxes according to the invention. The description and the claims are thereby based on a position of the box in which it is supported on a horizontal surface with its bottom.

Figures 1A and IB each show a part of a one-piece flat sheet, with the two parts joining each other along lines I-I.

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic, perspective view of a box folded from a flat sheet as shown in Figure 1. Figure 3 is a diagrammatic view of one end of a box.

Figures 4 and 5 show further possible embodiments of lips cut from a supporting wall.

Figures 6A and 6B each show a part of a second embodiment of a flat sheet, with the two parts joining each other along lines I-I.

Figure 7 is a diagrammatic, perspective view of a box folded from a flat sheet as shown in Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a diagrammatic end view of the box which is shown in Figure 7. The one-piece flat sheet 1 which is shown in Figure

1 will be made of a foldable material, such as cardboard or the like.

Flat sheet 1 thereby comprises ten panels 2- 11, which join each other along fold lines 12 - 20 extending parallel to each other, perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the flat sheet. Adhesive flaps 23 and 24, which will be discussed in more detail hereafter, join the ends of the flat sheet, that is, the outer edges of outer panels 2 and 11 extending parallel to the above-mentioned fold lines, along further fold lines 21 and 22 respectively.

Five lips 25 have been cut out of panel 2, which lips are each bounded by two lines of cut 26, which extend obliquely away from each other towards fold line 12 from points located near fold line 21.

Further lines of cut 27 extending towards each other from the ends of the lines of cut 26 located near fold line 12, which converge in a point 28, join said ends of lines of cut 26 at some distance from fold line 12. The lip 25 thus formed can thereby pivot with respect to the remaining part of the panel about an imaginary pivot axis, which is formed by the connecting line between the ends of lines of cut 26 located near fold line 21.

Three further lines of cut 29 - 31 extend from the point of intersection of the two lines of cut 27, whereby lines of cut 27, 29, 30 and 31 bound four further lips 32 - 35, which can pivot with respect to the remaining part of the panel about imaginary pivot axes, which lie on an imaginary arc 36 extending between the ends of lines of cut 26 located near fold line 12.

Similar lips are formed in panel 3 in mirror symmetry with respect to fold line 12, which lips are indicated by numerals 25^', 32^', 33^', 34^' and 35^'.

Furthermore, similar lips 25^'', 32^", 33^'', 34^'' and

35^'' are formed in panel 4, and similar lips 25^"', 32^"', 33^'", 34'" and 35^"' are formed in panel 5, whereby also the lips formed in panels

4 and 5 are arranged in mirror symmetry with respect to the fold line 14 between said panels, as will be apparent from Figure 1A.

Circular holes 36 have been cut out of panels 10 and 11, which holes are hatched in Figure IB for easy reference.

Two lines of cut 37 and 38 extending obliquely towards each other in the direction of the fold line 20 between panels 10 and 11 join each hole 36 in panel 10, which lines of cut bound a lip 39, which can pivot with respect to the remaining part of panel 10 about an imaginary pivot axis, which extends through the ends of lines of cut 37 and 38 located near fold line 20.

Similarly, lines of cut 40 and 41 which bound a lip 42, join the holes 36 formed in panel 11. Also said lip 42 can pivot about an imaginary fold line, which extends between the ends of lines of cut 40 and 41 located near fold line 22.

A substantially U-shaped line of cut 43 is provided near the fold line 15 between panels 5 and 6, which line of cut 43 bounds a closing lip 44, which can pivot with respect to panel 6 about an imaginary pivot axis, which extends between the ends of the substantially

U-shaped line of cut 43 in panel 6. A hole 45 is furthermore provided in panel 9 in the flat sheet, near fold line 19.

Furthermore, lines of cut bounding triangular ears 46 are provided near fold lines 12, 14 and 20, which ears can pivot with respect to the remaining part of the flat sheet about fold lines 12, 14 and 20 respectively.

The box which is diagra matically illustrated in Figures 2 and 3 can be formed from the above-described flat sheet by folding the various panels with respect to each other about the respective fold lines. Panel 7 thereby forms the bottom of the box, whilst the upright side walls of the box made up of panels 6 and 8 join the longitudinal edges of said bottom 7.

Panels 2 and 3, as well as the panels 4 and 5 positioned beside said panels, slope upwards from bottom 7 of the box in a direction away from each other.

Panel 9 forms the upper wall of the cover of the box, which can pivot with respect to the remaining part of the box about the upper edge of upright side wall 8.

Panel 10 is folded, along a fold line which divides the panel in two, into two parts 10^' and 10^" including angle with each other, which slope downwards towards each other from the longitudinal edge of the panel 9 facing away from upright side wall 8, which forms the upper wall of the cover, and from the centre of said panel 9 respectively. Similarly, panel 11 is folded along a fold line so as to form two parts 11 ^' and 11 ' ^' , which extend downwards and towards each other from the centre of panel 9 and from the boundary edge of panel 9 that joins panel 8 respectively.

Adhesive flap 23 is thereby folded in such a manner that it extends along the upper part of upright wall 8 and is adhered thereto.

Adhesive flap 24 is folded in such a manner that it extends along the bottom side of panel 9 and is adhered thereto.

Ears 46 are folded in such a manner that they abut against the upper side of panel 7, and they are adhered to said panel by means of an adhesive.

It will furthermore be conceivable to attach the parts together in desired places by means of staples or the like instead of using adhesive flaps or ears.

If the cover formed of parts 9 - 11 is pivoted upwards about the pivot axis formed by the fold line between panels 8 and 9, as illustrated in dotted lines in an intermediate position in Figure 3, eggs 50 can be placed in an upright position in two parallel rows in the box thus formed. As is diagrammatically illustrated in Figure 3, portions of an egg 50 will thereby be placed in openings positioned opposite each other in panels 2 and 3 forming supporting walls and in panels 4 and 5 forming supporting walls respectively, which openings are formed by folding out the lips that have been cut out of the above-mentioned panels. The lips 32-35 joining the lower, curved boundary edges of said openings will be placed in abutment with the underside of the egg thereby, as is diagrammatically indicated in Figure 3, whilst the outwardly folded lips 25 support the eggs on the sides thereof, as is also diagrammatically indicated in Figure 3.

When the cover is being pivoted to the closed position, the lips 42, which have been cut out of panels 10 and 11, will furthermore be positioned on top of the eggs.

As will be apparent from Figure 3, a connecting edge between parts 10^', 10^" and 11^', 11^" of panels 10 and 11, which form supporting walls, is positioned directly above the connecting edge between panels 4, 5 and 2, 3, which form supporting walls, in the closed position of the box.

From Figure 3 it will furthermore be apparent that the angle which the upper supporting walls 10^', 10^" and 11^', 11^" include between themselves is significantly larger than the angle which the supporting walls 4, 5 and 2, 3 positioned thereunder include between themselves.

The inherent spring force of the material will press the lips against the eggs with a certain force, whilst the lips can also adapt themselves to the dimension of the eggs, as will be apparent from Figure 3. Eggs of varying dimensions, within certain limits, can thus be accommodated in one and the same box in an effective manner, whilst effecting an efficient, slightly resilient support for the eggs, as a result of which breakage of the eggs is avoided.

Another possibility is to bend lips 32 and/or 35 in a supporting wall 2, 3 and/or 4, 5 in the direction of the opposite supporting wall before placing an egg, so that such lips will make contact with the egg on a side thereof, rather than on the underside, as is diagrammatically indicated for a lip 35^IV in Figure 3.

A lip 39 or 42 may furthermore be cut through in its longitudinal direction, as is diagrammatically indicated by means of a dotted line 51 in Figure IB, so that such a lip 39 or 42 will consist of two parts, which enables such a lip to adapt itself even more to the contour of the egg.

Also other variations in the configuration of the lips are conceivable.

Thus, Figure 4 shows an embodiment wherein the free end of a lip 25 does not taper off to a point, but to a part of a specified width, whereby the shape of lips 32-35 has been adapted accordingly.

Figure 5 shows a shape corresponding with Figure 4, wherein lips 33 and 34 have been divided into two parts by means of further lines of cut 52, however, so as to obtain a better adaptation of the lips supporting the egg to the shape of said egg.

The part of closing lip 44 that is positioned to the left of line of cut 5, seen in Figure 1A, can be folded through about 90^° about fold line 15 with respect to the other part of closing lip 44, and be inserted into the opening 45 provided in panel 9, in order to secure cover 9 in position with respect to the other part of the box in the closed condition of the box which is shown in Figure 2.

If it should be desired to close the box at the ends, it is possible, as indicated in dotted lines at the left-hand end of panel 7 in Figure IB, to have strip-shaped parts 55, which form closing walls, join said panel at both ends thereof, along fold lines which coincide with the short edges of said panel. The width of said parts 55, measured in the longitudinal direction of the panel, will correspond with the height, measured from the bottom 7 of the box, over which it is intended to close the ends of the box. Ears 57 join the ends of parts 55 along fold lines 56, which ears will be folded at right angles relative to parts 55 and which will be attached to the upright walls 6 and 8 of the box when the box is being formed. Of course additions and/or modifications to the above- described embodiment are conceivable within the spirit and scope of the invention. Figures 6A and 6B thus show a view of a flat sheet which is built up of substantially the same panels as the flat sheet which is shown in Figures 1A and IB, with this difference that the sequence of the panels is different from the sequence of the panels of the flat sheet which is shown in Figures 1A and IB. The panels and further parts of the embodiment according to Figures 6A and 6B are indicated by the same numerals as the panels of Figures 1A and IB.

As is apparent from Figure 6B, an adhesive flap 100 joins panel 7, which adhesive flap is adhered to panel 6 when the box is being assembled. As is furthermore apparent from Figures 6A and 6B, strip-shaped parts join the short side edges of the panels along fold 1 ines which coincide with said side edges. The strip-shaped parts associated with a particular panel are indicated by a numeral which corresponds with the numeral of the panel in question times one hundred. As will furthermore be apparent from Figures 6A and 6B, said strip-shaped parts are trapezoidal, whereby the fold lines between the panels and the respective strip-shaped parts form the longer of the two parallel sides of the respective trapezoidal part.

When the box is being assembled, the respective strip- shaped parts are folded through 90^° with respect to the respective panels.

Seen in Figures 7 and 8, the strip-shaped parts 110^', 110^" and 111^', 111^" are thereby folded upwards through 90^° with respect to the respective panel parts 10^', 10^" and 11^', 11^" respectively, and the lower overlapping ends (seen in Figure 8) of the strip-shaped parts 110^', 110^" and 111^', 111^" are adhered together by means of an adhesive.

The strip-shaped parts 102, 103, 104 and 105 joining panels 2 - 5 respectively are folded at right angles, in a direction away from panels 111 and 110, with respect to the respective panels 2 - 5, whereby the strip-shaped parts 102 are retained with their upper ends between panel 8, which forms a side wall of the box, and panel 2, whilst the upper ends of the strip-shaped parts 105 are retained between the upper end of the panel 6, which forms a side wall, and panel 5.

Strip-shaped parts 106 and 108 are folded over towards the inside of the box, and they are attached to the strip-shaped parts 105 and 102 respectively by means of a glue.

Strip-shaped parts 107 are folded upwards, seen in Figure 8, and they are attached to the bottom ends of strip-shaped parts 106, 105, 104, 103, 102 and 108 by means of a glue or a similar adhesive.

Strip-shaped parts 109 are folded downwards, seen in Figure 8, and they are attached to the upper ends of strip-shaped parts 110^', 110^" and 111^', 111^".

It will be apparent, that the strip-shaped parts thus contribute towards obtaining a solid construction of the box.

Claims

1. A box for packaging eggs which is folded from a flat sheet, whereby the box comprises a bottom and upright walls, as well as a cover comprising an upper wall , which is pivotally connected to the upper end of an upright wall, whereby at least two supporting walls sloping upwards from said bottom in a direction away from each other are provided in the box, whilst two further supporting walls extending obliquely towards each other from the upper wall are provided on the inner side of said upper wall, whereby the angle which the supporting walls extending from the bottom include between themselves is smaller than the angle which the supporting walls extending from said cover include between themselves, and whereby connecting edges between the two sets of supporting walls are positioned at least substantially vertically above each other in the closed position of the box, whilst openings are provided opposite each other in the supporting walls joining the bottom, which openings function to receive portions of an egg, and a further opening for receiving a portion of an egg is provided in the supporting walls joining said cover, characterized in that lips are present in the openings that are provided opposite each other in the supporting walls extending from the bottom, which lips are pivotally connected to the respective supporting walls, near the upper sides of the respective openings, as are a few lips lying side by side, which pivotally join lower parts of the boundary edges of said openings, whilst a further lip, which is pivotally connected to a respective supporting wall with one end, is positioned in the opening which is provided in the supporting walls joining said cover.

2. A box according to claim 1, characterized in that an opening formed in two supporting walls joining the cover is a substantially round opening, which is positioned half in one supporting wall and half in the other in the flat position of said supporting walls, and in which two lines of cut are provided, which join said opening substantially tangentially, and which extend in a direction towards each other from said opening.

3. A box according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the width of the lips, which are pivotally connected near their upper ends to supporting walls extending from said bottom, gradually increases in a direction away from the pivot axis.

4. A box according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said lips, which join the lower parts of the boundary edges of the openings provided in the supporting walls that extend upwards from the bottom, are substantially triangular.

5. A box according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that closing walls extending transversely to the supporting walls are provided on the ends of said bottom.

6. A box according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least some of the walls of the box are provided at the ends of the box with strip-shaped parts being integral with said walls and extending transversely thereto.

7. A box according to claim 6, characterized in that at least a part of a strip-shaped part joining a supporting wall which slopes upwards from the bottom is retained between the supporting wall in question and an upright wall of the box.

8. A box according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that a strip-shaped part joining the bottom is adhered to ends of strip-shaped parts joining upright walls, and to ends of strip-shaped parts joining supporting walls which slope upwards from the bottom.

9. A box according to any one of the preceding claims 6-8, characterized in that strip-shaped parts joining the ends of the cover are adhered to strip-shaped parts joining supporting walls which extend from the upper wall of the cover.

10. A flat sheet obviously intended for forming a box according to any one of the preceding claims.