WO2023146397A1

WO2023146397A1 - Folding box

Info

Publication number: WO2023146397A1
Application number: PCT/NL2023/050033
Authority: WO
Inventors: Allard Willem Johan FROON
Original assignee: Hollarts Plastic Group B.V.
Priority date: 2022-01-28
Filing date: 2023-01-25
Publication date: 2023-08-03

Abstract

The invention provides a folding box comprising a plate having at least two plate hinges providing three hinging walls providing a bottom wall and hingingly coupled to that bottom wall a front wall and a back wall, and opposite end parts providing opposite end frames and respective opposite side walls hingingly coupled to a said respective end frame, each said end frame comprising oppositely a front wall frame member coupled to said front wall and a back wall frame member coupled to said back wall, and oppositely a bottom wall frame member coupled to said bottom wall and an upper frame member, wherein said front wall frame member and said back wall frame member are hingingly coupled to said bottom wall frame member and said upper frame member.

Description

Folding box

Field of the invention

The invention relates to a folding box, a method for folding a folding box, a method for refurbishing a folding box, a piano for the folding box, and an end part for such a folding box.

Background of the invention

Many folding boxes are known in the art. On the one hand, there is cardboard boxes that can be folded in many different way. These cardboard boxes are for instance known as “moving boxes”. They are cheap. In folded condition, they are flat but often have a relatively large surface area.

On the other hand, there are well-known foldable plastic crates. These are known in “industrial quality” and used for instance for shipping goods and for instance vegetables to shops. Other known foldable crates are for consumers, for holding groceries for bringing them home.

Examples of known folding or foldable are the following.

US2181918 states: “The present invention relates to collapsible storage files which are adapted to be shipped in collapsed of knocked-down condition, of the type consisting of a shell or casing and a drawer member movable therein, and more specifically, to the construction of the casing member of such file.”

US1468229 of 1921 relates to a box that can be stored or shipped flat. It describes: “The tubular funnel furnishing the four side walls 10 of my improved box, which walls meet at the edges 11, these being rectangular in the completed box, is formed from a strip of pasteboard or like suitable material, with its ends overlapped and secured by a row of staples 12 or other fasteners. Each of the opposite heads or end walls 13 has, at three edges, flanges 14 formed by bending said edges along lines produced by indentations or otherwise weakened portions impressed in the material of the head. At the fourth edge of each head the flange is longer than those of the associated edges, including an inner portion 16 bent upon a line 17 between the flange and the body of the head, and an outer portion 18 divided from the flange-portion 16 by a weakened line 19. The lines 17 and 19 are so impressed in the head material that the flanges naturally bend in opposite directions.”

US4508237 in its abstract states: “A collapsible container includes opposed side walls hingedly connected along their upper and lower edges respectively to the bottom of a rectangular peripheral upper rim and to the bottom of the container along opposed side edges of the rim and bottom. End walls are hingedly connected along their upper edges to the rim along its opposed end edges. Webs along the end edges of the side walls and bottom engage the end walls to locate the end walls in their vertical erected position relative to the bottom, and projecting tabs on the end walls are received in mating recesses in the web to maintain the bottom and side walls against flexing when the container is erected. The upper rim is adapted to receive a stacking rail formed on the container bottom to enable stacking of the containers either in their erected or collapsed configuration. The container may include a pair of cover panels hinged along their respective outer side edges to the tops of the side edges of the rim. The end edges of the cover panels are formed with rim receiving grooves on their lower sides which snugly receive the end edges of the rim when the cover panels are closed. The cover panels are formed with a stacking rail receiving recess in their upper surfaces.”

Summary of the invention

A disadvantage of prior art is that each of the foldable of folding crates and folding cardboard boxes has advantageous properties and disadvantages. In practise, an alternative container is desired that is able to combine advantageous properties and/or which lacks at least some of the disadvantages.

Hence, it is an aspect of the invention to provide an alternative folding box. which preferably further at least partly obviates one or more of above-described drawbacks.

There is provide a folding box comprising a plate having at least two plate hinges providing three hinging walls providing a bottom wall and hingingly coupled to that bottom wall a front wall and a back wall, and opposite end parts providing opposite end frames and respective opposite side walls hingingly coupled to a said respective end frame, each said end frame comprising oppositely a front wall frame member coupled to said front wall and a back wall frame member coupled to said back wall, and oppositely a bottom wall frame member coupled to said bottom wall and an upper frame member, wherein said front wall frame member and said back wall frame member are hingingly coupled to said bottom wall frame member and said upper frame member.

The plate can comprise a single plate having walls that are coupled using for instance living hinges or material thinning or compressing. When using for instance a thermoplastic material, thinning of the thermoplastic sheet can be done using a hot press bar. Alternatively, separate walls can be attached together using hinges, melting, glueing, and the like.

In an embodiment, each said side wall hingingly coupled to one of the frame members.

In an embodiment, the folding box has an operational or unfolded or erected condition in which it is block-shaped with an inner container space. It can furthermore assume a folded or collapsed condition.

In an embodiment, the front wall frame member, said back wall frame member, said bottom wall frame member and upper frame member in said unfolded condition functionally form sides of said end frame which is rectangular, in particular the frame members of an en part in said unfolded condition framing the side wall of the end part.

In an embodiment, the wall frame members are hingingly coupled at their ends.

In an embodiment, the frame members are elongated, defining a longitudinal direction. In an embodiment, the wall frame members are hingingly coupled via frame member hinges at their ends, wherein said frame member hinges have a rotational axis functionally perpendicular to said longitudinal direction, allowing said wall frame members to unfold from a parallelogram into a rectangular-shaped end frame in said unfolded condition.

For keeping the folding box in its unfolded state, the side walls are positioned to be framed by the end frame.

In an embodiment, the wall frame members are hingingly coupled via said frame member hinges at their ends to be folded or collapsed into said folded position with said upper frame member having its longitudinal axis functionally parallel to the longitudinal axis of one selected from said hingingly coupled front frame member and said hingingly coupled back frame member.

In an embodiment, in the folded position the longitudinal axes of the frame members of an end part are functionally parallel.

In an embodiment, each frame member hinge has its rotational axis in line with a rotational axis of a plate hinge.

In an embodiment, the two opposite ones of the frame member at opposite ends have a member frame hinge at a transverse distance from the longitudinal axis of its frame member. In particular, the transverse distance is at least a thickness of the side wall.

In an embodiment, the plate comprises said plate hinges, with each plate hinge in line with a frame member hinge, and a folding line in line with a comer of a frame member. In a particular embodiment, a plate hinge is at a distance from a folding line such that plate hinges and frame member hinges align and folding lines substantially intersect with longitudinal axes of frame members.

In an embodiment, the side walls are hingingly coupled for folding into said inner space.

In an embodiment, the side walls are hingingly coupled to their respective upper frame members.

In an embodiment, the frame element comprises side abutment provisions to block said side wall from hinging away from the inner space when the folding box is in its unfolded condition. In a particular embodiment, the frame element holds the side walls framed by its upper, front, rear and bottom frame member. This blocks the end parts from collapsing en thus the folding box from folding.

In an embodiment, the plate include lids providing a closing upper wall to said folding box. In particular, two lids are provided as plate parts at opposite ends of said plate. In a more particular embodiment, the two lids are hingingly coupled at said ends of said plate. In other words, the two lids each are hingingly coupled to one of said ends of said plate.

In an embodiment, the side walls are wedge shaped tapering from a hinge side towards a side opposite said hinge side. When folding the folding box, the two wedge shaped side walls stack onto one another with the thinnest end close to the thicker end, making the stack thinner. Thus, the folding box is allowed to fold thinner. In an embodiment, the end part is from a polymer material. In a particular embodiment, the end part produced using one selected from injection moulding and additive manufacturing. In a more particular embodiment, it is made from a thermoplastic polymer material.

In an embodiment, the plate is from a polymer material. In a particular embodiment, the plate material comprising opposite outer sheets mutually fixed to one another. In a more particular embodiment, the outer sheets are interconnected at a distance to one another. In a more particular embodiment, the outer sheets are from a thermoplastic material. This can make the folding box resilient, and moisture and water resistant.

There is further provided a folding box comprising a rectangular bottom wall, a front wall hingingly coupled to a side of the bottom wall via a front plate hinge, a back wall hingingly coupled to an opposite side of the bottom wall via a rear plate hinge.

There is furthermore provided plate forming a piano, in particular for the folding box described above, comprising a rectangular plate having folding lines which are mutually functionally parallel and plate hinge functionally parallel to the folding lines and functionally parallel to one side of the rectangular plate, wherein said piano comprises a first plate hinge at a distance from an end side defining a front wall hingingly coupled to a bottom wall, a first folding line at a distance from said first plate hinge, the distance defining a bottom wall width, a second plate hinge at a distance from said first folding line. A distance between said first folding line and an opposite end side of the plate define a rear wall. In an embodiment, the rectangular plate is from a plastic material. In an embodiment, the plate is from a thermoplastic material, and the hinges is particular are living hinges.

In an embodiment, of the piano of the rectangular plate at opposite end sides comprises lid hinges functionally parallel to said folding lines at a lid width defining distance from the end side of the plate, for providing lids forming an upper wall of the folding box.

There is further provided an end part for the folding box, comprising a rectangular frame of hingingly coupled frame members having their rotational axes functionally parallel and normal to a plane defined by the frame members.

There is furthermore provided a method for producing the folding box, comprising providing said plate having longitudinal side edges and transverse side edges, folding said plate to result in said bottom wall and with said front wall and said back wall extending from said bottom wall and having one of said transverse side edges as its edge, and attaching said end parts in unfolded position to said longitudinal side edges.

In an embodiment of the method the plate is a rectangular plate, wherein for producing hinges, two opposite ends are bent in a same direction out of a plane of said plate for producing said front wall and said back wall. There is furthermore provided a method for re-furbishing the folding box, comprising removing opposite end parts from the plate, providing a replacement end part of plate, and re-attaching the end parts onto the side edges of the plate.

The invention further relates to the use of the folding box as a moving box or removal box.

There is further provided a folding box comprising at least a bottom wall, a front wall and a back wall hingingly coupled for forming a plate providing three hinging walls, and opposite end parts providing opposite end frames and respective opposite side walls hingingly coupled to a respective end frame.

In an embodiments, each end frame comprising oppositely a front wall frame member coupled to said front wall and a back wall frame member coupled to said back wall, and oppositely a bottom wall frame member coupled to said bottom wall and an upper frame member.

The front wall frame member and the back wall frame member are hingingly coupled to the bottom wall frame member and the upper frame member, and each side wall is hingingly coupled to one of the end parts.

The term “substantially” herein, such as in ‘substantially consists”, will be understood by the person skilled in the art. The term “substantially” may also include embodiments with “entirely”, “completely”, “all”, etc. Hence, in embodiments the adjective substantially may also be removed. Where applicable, the term “substantially” may also relate to 90% or higher, such as 95% or higher, especially 99% or higher, even more especially 99.5% or higher, including 100%. The term “comprise” includes also embodiments wherein the term “comprises” means “consists of’.

The term "functionally" will be understood by, and be clear to, a person skilled in the art. The term “substantially” as well as “functionally” may also include embodiments with “entirely”, “completely”, “all”, etc. Hence, in embodiments the adjective functionally may also be removed. When used, for instance in “functionally parallel”, a skilled person will understand that the adjective “functionally” includes the term substantially as explained above. Functionally in particular is to be understood to include a configuration of features that allows these features to function as if the adjective “functionally” was not present. The term “functionally” is intended to cover variations in the feature to which it refers, and which variations are such that in the functional use of the feature, possibly in combination with other features it relates to in the invention, that combination of features is able to operate or function. For instance, if an antenna is functionally coupled or functionally connected to a communication device, received electromagnetic signals that are receives by the antenna can be used by the communication device. The word “functionally” as for instance used in “functionally parallel” is used to cover exactly parallel, but also the embodiments that are covered by the word “substantially” explained above. For instance, “functionally parallel” relates to embodiments that in operation function as if the parts are for instance parallel. This covers embodiments for which it is clear to a skilled person that it operates within its intended field of use as if it were parallel. Furthermore, the terms first, second, third and the like in the description and in the claims, are used for distinguishing between similar elements and not necessarily for describing a sequential or chronological order. It is to be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances and that the embodiments of the invention described herein are capable of operation in other sequences than described or illustrated herein.

The folding box herein are amongst others described during operation. As will be clear to the person skilled in the art, the invention is not limited to methods of operation or devices in operation.

It should be noted that the above-mentioned embodiments illustrate rather than limit the invention, and that those skilled in the art will be able to design many alternative embodiments without departing from the scope of the appended claims. In the claims, any reference signs placed between parentheses shall not be construed as limiting the claim. Use of the verb "to comprise" and its conjugations does not exclude the presence of elements or steps other than those stated in a claim. The article "a" or "an" preceding an element does not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements.

The mere fact that certain measures or features are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage.

The invention further applies to a device comprising one or more of the characterising features described in the description and/or shown in the attached drawings. The invention further pertains to a method or process comprising one or more of the characterising features described in the description and/or shown in the attached drawings.

The various aspects discussed in this patent can be combined in order to provide additional advantages. Furthermore, some of the features can form the basis for one or more divisional applications.

Brief description of the drawings

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings in which corresponding reference symbols indicate corresponding parts, and in which:

Figure 1 schematically depicts a perspective view of an embodiment of the folding box, showing a first step in folding;

Figure 2 schematically shows a perspective view of the folding box of figure 1 during folding from a side;

Figure 3 shows a side view of the state of the folding shown in figure 2;

Figure 4 depicts the piano of the plate of the folding box of figure 1 ;

Figure 5 illustrates the folding box of figure 1 in folded position and seen from the side (wall) of the folding box; Figure 6 depicts the folding box of figure 1 in folded position now seen from the front side of the folding box;

Figure 7 shows a detail of figure 1 showing a coupling of a side of the plate with an end part;

Figure 8 shows the folding box of figure 1 with open lids;

Figure 9 depicts a side view of the folded box if figure 1 in side view, seen from the side wall;

Figure 10 shows two folding boxes of figure 1 in unfolded condition and stacked, and

Figure 11 shows a stack of two folded folding boxes of figure 1, folded like depicted in figure 5.

The drawings are not necessarily on scale

Description of preferred embodiments

Figure 1 schematically depicts a perspective view of an embodiment of the folding box 1, showing a first step in folding. In this view, the front wall 5 is on the left.

Figure 2 schematically shows a perspective view of the folding box 1 of figure 1 during a second step of folding, and now seen from a side wall 9. In this view, the folding box 1 is almost 90 degrees rotated clockwise in comparison with figure 1. In this step, the side walls 9 are completely folded internal (indicated I) into the folding box 1.

An advantage of this way of folding is that it makes it possible to fold the box 1 in a folded position having a thickness of approximately three time the thickness of a wall.

Figure 3 shows a side view of the state of the folding shown in figure 2. It illustrated one of the opposite end parts 7. These end parts 7 are attached to side edges of the plate 2.

The folding box 1 and its various properties that is illustrated in this description and especially the drawings also has aspects that are a matter of design choice and not a technical matter. These aspects are protectable and are protected using a registered design. Stackability and lining may be part of such design selections.

Figure 4 depicts the piano of the plate 2 of the folding box of figure 1.

The combination of figures 1-4 already illustrates much of the current concept of the folding box 1. A specially designed piano 2 with folding/fold lines 16 and plate hinges 3, and opposite end parts 7 attached to opposite side edges of the piano 2 make it possible to design a folding box 1 that is easy to use, can be folded flat and in folded position has a limited surface.

The current concept allows engineering of a folding box 1 of various materials. It was found, however, that making the end parts 7 from polymer material, commonly called “plastic”, allows mass production, but also careful selection of material suited for a use. For instance, injection moulding allows mass production, but also additive manufacture (e.g., 3D printing) can make that possible.

In an embodiment, the end parts 7 are from a thermoplastic material, allowing for instance easy recycling. In case of high demands, the material can be reinforced. These materials as such, and specific selection, are known to a skilled person. The selection of the sheet material is in particular interesting as it determines much of the properties of the folding box. One choice is paper, cardboard, pulp, moulded fiber, corrugated cardboard, and the like.

Even more sophisticated sheet/plate material may be used. For instance reinforced polymer, plate material having reinforcement ribs and structures, and the like may be used. Even, in specific uses, metal sheet or metal-plated plate material can be thought of.

It was found, however, that a polymer plate can provide a folding box 1 that can be light weight, and still has beneficial properties. It can, for instance, provide a (folding) box that at least has many of the properties that a cardboard box has without some of the drawbacks. For instance, water resistant and even water tight. Rodent prove of at least insect-prove. It can be almost as easy to recycle. Lightweight, even lighter than cardboard. It always folding into a thin folded box, even allowing higher stacking.

A particularly preferable material is a polymer plate comprising two opposite sheets of polymer material. Such sheets can have designed properties. Such sheets are interspaced and are attached to one another, a little like corrugated cardboard plate material. Interspaced sheets can be thermally coupled, for instance welded, via or using a polymer corrugated sheet, thus for instance providing three coupled sheets. In an embodiment, the coupling is a foamed material, as such known to a skilled person. Alternatively, a sheet with a foamed core can be used.

The thickness of the plate is often 1-10 mm, allows a certain rigidity. In an embodiment, the material is 1-7 mm. In particular, the material is 1-6 mm.

A particularly beneficial plate material is a material comprising polymer sheets interconnected through a waved sheet. Such a plate can be made from polypropylene, for instance. When the end parts are made from the same polymer, recycling is even easier. An example of suitable material is a plate material known as akyboard® produced by company Corplex.

Especially when using resilient thermoplastic material like polypropylene, polyethylene, polyester, and the like, it is easy to produce folding lines and even living hinges. Figure 4 as mentioned above shows a piano 2 for use in the current folding box 1. It is possible to only use “folding lines”, i.e., thinned material lines that allow folding. This will make folding the folding box requiring more force. In an embodiment, the plate material plane is thinned using a hot press until a “living hinge” is formed. The living hinges are known to be able to flex thousands of times without breaking.

Figure 4 shows plate 2 forming a piano for the current folding box 1. It is here substantially rectangular and in the current embodiment has opposite short sides and opposite long sides which will provide the long sides or edges for later on attaching the end parts. The plate 2 may even be rectangular or with the “long sides” shorter that the current “ short sides, which will provide a folding box of less usual dimensional ratios. The piano 2 of figure 4 provided botom wall 4 for the folding box 1. The botom wall 4 is bounded by plate hinges 3 which are in this piano formed by the already explained living hinges. These plate hinges 3 have mutually parallel rotational axes (not indicated, but seem evident), and are mutually parallel. Usually, these plate hinges 3 run functionally perpendicular to the long sides.

Atached to the botom wall 4 at opposite sides and via the plate hinges 3 is a front wall 5 and a back or rear wall 6, respectively. The current piano 2 further comprises a fold line or plate fold line 16 again parallel to the plate hinges 3. It is at a distance from a plate hinge 3, here between plate hinges 3 bounding the botom wall 4.

In fact, providing the two plate hinges 3 that bound the botom wall 4 and hingingly couple the front wall 5 and rear wall 6 to the botom wall 4 in fact allow a basic embodiment of the folding box 1 with a botom wall 4, front wall 5 and back wall 6 provided by the plate 2.

The embodiment of figure 4 has two opposite box lids 19 atached to an end of the front wall 5 and back wall 6, respectively, again via plate hinges now forming lid hinges 20. This allows the lids 19 to be opened and closed easily. In the current embodiment, further plate hinges 3 and a plate fold line 16 functionally parallel to the lid hinges 20 are provided. These provide hinges for folding the box 1 as will be explained below. In case the plate material is made from a thermoplastic material, the plate hinges in most embodiments are in fact “living hinges”. These living hinges are formed by locally thinning the polymer material, usually thermoplastic material, to such an extend that in fact a hinge is formed. This can de done in a mould in injection moulding. It can also be produced by pressing a hot bar against the material, causing thinning to an extend that folding is possible (creating fold lines) or even further, producing “living hinges” or “plastic hinges”. This uses the flexing properties of most polymers, in particular thermoplastics like Polyethylene (PE) and polyprolylene (PP). Alternatively, a lid or lids may be provided as separate parts. These lids may be coupled via hinges.

Figure 8 shows amongst others the effect of the additional plate hinges 3 and fold line 16, i.e. providing more easily folding lids 19, and providing a less-obstructed opening to the folding box 1. Figure 8 shows the folding box of figure 1 with open lids 19. The specific selection of hinges and lid hinges result the lids to be able to fold fully open, parallel to the front, and rear wall respectively.

Figures 5, 6, 10 and 11 show some of the further effects and results that can be achieved with the measures that will be described below.

In these figures, figure 5 illustrates the folding box of figure 1 in folded position and seen from the side of the folding box.

Figure 6 depicts the folding box of figure 1 in folded position now seen from the front side of the folding box;

Figure 9 depicts a side view of the folded box 1 of figure 1 in side view, seen from the side wall. Figure 10 shows two folding boxes 1 of figure 1 stacked one on the other. Figure 11 shows a stack of two folded folding boxes 1 of figure 1.

We will now discuss the end parts 7 that allows folding of the current unique folding box 1. In combination with the piano 2 describe in relation to figure 4, the advantages are clarified.

Attached to the “long sides” of the piano 2, as explained, end parts 7 are provided. These end parts are engineered to be attached or mounted to the side or edge of the plate 4 in a way illustrated in an embodiment shown in figure 7. Other coupling methods are possible for alternative uses. The embodiment illustrated in figure 7 allows for instance easy assembling and disassembling, allowing repair and recycling when needed.

A view of one of the end parts 7 seen from “outside” of the folding box is illustrated in figure 3. The end part 7 comprises an end frame 8 and hingingly attached to each end frame 8 a side wall 9. The side wall 9 is attached via a side wall hinge 10. In the depicted embodiment, it comprises four parts coupling to a side of the side wall 9.

The end frame 8 comprises mutually coupled frame members 11, 12, 13 and 14. The coupling of the frame members 11-14 allows the be configured into a parallelogram with mutual angles not- equal to 90 degrees, and to be brought into a configuration in which the frame members form a rectangle.

The frame members 11-14 have an elongated shape, having a longitudinal axis L. The frame members are hingingly coupled near their ends through frame member hinges 15. For easy engineering, the four frame member hinges 15 of an end frame 8 are substantially identical. The hinges can be attached or provided at ends or the frame members 11-14. Furthermore, the rotational axes R of the frame member hinges 15 are transverse to the longitudinal axes L. Furthermore, the frame member hinges 15 of each end frame are provided with their rotational axes R functionally parallel. This allows the end frame to be brought from a rectangular orientation into a parallelogram shape as illustrated in figure 7 end further into the folded position illustrated in figure 5. Here the frame members 11-14 are functionally parallel, in the depicted embodiment almost completely parallel. In fact, a diagonal distance between opposite frame member hinge 15 changes. In other words, the angle between two opposite frame members is changes between 90 degrees and 180 degrees. The angle between neighbouring frame members is changes between 90 degrees and 0 degrees.

In the current embodiment, the end frame 8 in fact has several distinguishable frame members 11-14, each coupled to another wall 4, 5, 6 provided by plate 2. There is a bottom wall frame member

13. This bottom wall frame member 13 is connected to the bottom wall 4. The rear wall frame member 12 is connected to the rear or back wall 6. The front wall frame member 11 is connected to the front wall 5. The front wall frame member can be identical to the back wall frame member 12 but mounted rotated/the other way around. Furthermore, the embodiment of figure 3 has an upper frame member

14. This frame member provides a side lining the box opening at a frame side of the opening. When the folding box is provided with lids 19 (e.g. fig. 8, 10, 11), this upper frame member 14 can be an abutment for sides of the box lids 19 keeping the lids in a folding box 1 closing position.

Hingingly attached, fixed or coupled to one of the frame members 1-14 there is provided a side wall 9 as mentioned before. This side wall 9 is provided to allow it to hinge to one direction and be blocked into the opposite direction. For practical purposes, the side wall in the current embodiment of figure 1 folds or hinges to the internal space I of the folding box 1 when in its unfolded, used position in which it provides a containing space. The end frame 8 provided abutment provisions for blocking the side wall 9 from hinging to the opposite direction. The end frame 8 can furthermore comprise snapping provisions for holding the side wall 9 against the abutment provisions. In the current embodiment, the side walls are hingingly coupled, and the abutment provisions 17 abut at least one of the sides that are not hingingly coupled to a frame member. In the current embodiment the upper frame member 14 is hingingly coupled to a side or edge of the side wall 9. The abutment provisions 17 in the current embodiment extend from the respective frame members 11, 12 an 13. With the folding box 1 in its unfolded position (figure 8, 10), the abutment provisions 17 abut against its respective side wall 9 against a side turned away from the inner space or enclosed volume I of the folding box 1. The abutment provisions 17 are here ledges 17 that extend from the respective frame members 11, 12, 13. These ledges 17 prevent a side wall 9 from unfolding or hinging outside the contours of an unfolded folding box 1.

At least one of the frame members 11, 12, 13, 14 furthermore comprises a side wall snap fitting 18. There are many way of providing a snap fitting 18. The snap fitting is provided for snapping the side wall 9 in position, framed by the frame members, when the folding box 1 is in its unfolded position of figures 8 and 10. In the current embodiment, the snap fitting 18 comprises a provision on the side wall 9. Here, it is provided on a side away from the inner space I. Furthermore, complementary snap fitting provisions 18 are provided on the frame elements 11, 12, 13, 14. In this embodiment, these provisions are provided on the frame elements 11, 12, 13 not hingingly coupled to or coupling the side wall 9. In this embodiment, the snap provisions are provided on the abutment provisions 17. In the current embodiment, snap cams and complementary snap holes 18 are provided. The elements can be shaped differently end even exchanged, providing the ledges 17 with cams and the side walls 9 with holes (figure 1, the ledge of the bottom frame member en the end of the side wall opposite to the hinge 10).

It was found that easier handling was possible with the side wall 9 hingingly coupled to the upper frame member 14. In this way, for bringing the folding box 1 from its unfolded position into its folded position, in step 1 the side walls 9 are pushed towards one another as illustrated in figure 1. The side walls 9 are hinged and rotated until they are functionally parallel to the bottom wall 5. The upper frame members 14 can be provided with side wall snapping provisions for holding an end or side of a side wall 9 of its opposite end part 7. Next, the end frames 8 are folded as indicated above. As the rotational axes of the plate hinges 3 described above are in line with rotational axes R of the frame member hinges 15 as illustrated, the folding box 1 can now in step 2 be folded as illustrated in figure 2 and 3 until it reaches the folded position or state of figures 5, 6, and 9.

It was found that to enable a thinner folded state of the folding box 1, positioning of the hinges proved important. In the depicted embodiments, frame member hinge 15 are provided that have their rotational axis R at a distance from longitudinal axis L of the frame member. This results in the thinner of flatter folding as depicted in figures 5, 6 and 9. It was found that if the rotational axes R is at least larger than a thickness of the side walls on top of one another, thin folding is possible.

Figure 7 shows a detail of figure 1 showing a coupling of a side or edge 23 of the plate 2 with an end part 7. In the depicted embodiment, the frame member, here the bottom frame member 13, comprises a groove 24 functionally parallel to the longitudinal line or direction L. The edge or side 23 of the plate fits into the groove 24. In an embodiment that is not depicted, the groove 24 can be provided with snap provisions preventing removal of in inserted edge 23. For instance, the groove 23 at an upper and/or lover groove wall can be provided with sawtooth ends holding the plate edge 23 into the groove 24. In that way, the plate 2 is into the groove 24. For removal, a tool can be used to remove the plate from the groove 24.

Figure 9 shows another feature that allows even flatter folding of the folding box 1. It shows the side walls in a side view, showing that the side walls 9 are actually wedge shaped. The side walls 9 taper from the hinge side where they are hingingly coupled to their respective upper frame members 14 towards their opposite, thinnest side 25.

As mentioned before, Figure 10 shows two folding boxes 1 of figure 1 stacked one on the other, and Figure 11 shows a stack of two folded folding boxes 1 of figure 1.

The folding box 1 is thus dimensioned in such a way that stacking of two or more of the folding boxes on top of one another is possible. The outside of the end parts is therefore in an embodiment provided with stacking provisions. In an embodiment, the bottom wall frame member at a side away from the folding box 1 is provided with a stacking provision that works together with a stacking provision on a the upper frame member on a side away from the folding box 1, in order to present sliding of two stacked folding boxes 1 in unfolded state or position as depicted.

In the folded state, as illustrated, the folded folding boxes can also be stacked in a stable manner without sliding.

The specific embodiments shown also allows easy refurbishing of used folding boxes 1. The end parts 7 can be removed from the plate 2. Next, one of the end parts 7 and/or the plate 2 can be replaced. The folding box 1 can be re-assembled by snapping the end parts 7 onto the edges 23 of the plate 2.

It will also be clear that the above description and drawings are included to illustrate some embodiments of the invention, and not to limit the scope of protection. Starting from this disclosure, many more embodiments will be evident to a skilled person. These embodiments are within the scope of protection and the essence of this invention and are obvious combinations of prior art techniques and the disclosure of this patent.

Reference numbers

1 folding box

2 plate

3 plate hinges/ living hinge

4 bottom wall

5 front wall

6 back or rear wall

7 end part

8 end frame

9 side wall

10 side wall hinge

11 front wall frame member

12 rear wall frame member

13 bottom wall frame member

14 upper frame member

15 frame member hinge

16 plate fold line

17 side wall abutment

18 side wall snap fitting

19 box lid

20 lid hinge

21 hand opening

22 lid snap ledge

23 plate edge

24 frame member plate receiving groove

25 thinnest side of side wall

I Inner container space

L frame member longitudinal axis

R frame member hinge rotational axis

Rp plate hinge rotational axis

Lw lid width

D (lateral) distance between rotational axis and longitudinal axis of frame member

Fw front wall width

Bw bottom wall width

Rw rear wall width

Claims

1. A folding box comprising a plate having at least two plate hinges providing three hinging walls providing a bottom wall and hingingly coupled to that bottom wall a front wall and a back wall, and opposite end parts providing opposite end frames and respective opposite side walls hingingly coupled to a said respective end frame, each said end frame comprising oppositely a front wall frame member coupled to said front wall and a back wall frame member coupled to said back wall, and oppositely a bottom wall frame member coupled to said bottom wall and an upper frame member, wherein said front wall frame member and said back wall frame member are hingingly coupled to said bottom wall frame member and said upper frame member.

2. The folding box according to claim 1, wherein each said side wall hingingly coupled to one of the frame members.

3. The folding box according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said folding box has an operational or unfolded or erected condition in which it is block-shaped with an inner container space, and a folded or collapsed condition wherein in particular said front wall frame member, said back wall frame member, said bottom wall frame member and upper frame member in said unfolded condition functionally form sides of said end frame which is rectangular, in particular the frame members of an end part in said unfolded condition framing the side wall of the end part, wherein more in particular said wall frame members are hingingly coupled at their ends.

4. The folding box according to any one of claims 3, wherein said frame members are elongated, defining a longitudinal direction, wherein in particular said wall frame members are hingingly coupled via frame member hinges at their ends, wherein said frame member hinges have a rotational axis functionally perpendicular to said longitudinal direction, allowing said wall frame members to unfold from a parallelogram into a rectangular-shaped end frame in said unfolded condition, wherein in particular said wall frame members are hingingly coupled via said frame member hinges at their ends to be folded or collapsed into said folded position with said upper frame member having its longitudinal axis functionally parallel to the longitudinal axis of one selected from said hingingly coupled front frame member and said hingingly coupled back frame member.

5. The folding box of claim 4, wherein in said folded position the longitudinal axes of said frame members of an end part are functionally parallel. The folding box of any one of the preceding claims, wherein each frame member hinge has its rotational axis in line with a rotational axis of a plate hinge. The folding box of claim 4, 5 or 6, wherein two opposite ones of the frame member at opposite ends have a member frame hinge at a transverse distance from the longitudinal axis of its frame member, in particular wherein said transverse distance is at least a thickness of the side wall, wherein in particular said plate comprises said plate hinges, with each plate hinge in line with a frame member hinge, and a folding line in line with a comer of a frame member, wherein in particular a plate hinge is at a distance from a folding line such that plate hinges and frame member hinges align and folding lines substantially intersect with longitudinal axes of frame members. The folding box according to any one of claims 2-6, wherein said side walls are hingingly coupled for folding into said inner space. The folding box according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said side walls are hingingly coupled to their respective upper frame members, and/or wherein said frame element comprises side abutment provisions to block said side wall from hinging away from the inner space when the folding box is in its unfolded condition, in particular holding the side walls framed by its upper, front, rear and bottom frame member, and/or wherein said plate include lids providing a closing upper wall to said folding box, in particular two lids provided as plate parts at opposite ends of said plate, more in particular coupled hingingly at said ends of said plate, and/or wherein said side walls are wedge shaped tapering from a hinge side towards a side opposite said hinge side, and/or wherein said end part is from a polymer material, in particular produced using one selected from injection moulding and additive manufacturing, more in particular from a thermoplastic polymer material, and/or wherein said plate is from a polymer material, in particular said plate material comprising opposite outer sheets mutually fixed to one another, more in particular interconnected at a distance to one another, more in particular selected from a thermoplastic material. A piano for the folding box of any one of the preceding claims, comprising a rectangular plate having folding lines which are mutually functionally parallel and plate hinge functionally parallel to the folding lines and functionally parallel to one side of the rectangular plate, wherein said piano comprises a first plate hinge at a distance from an end side defining a front wall hingingly coupled to a bottom wall, a first folding line at a distance from said first plate hinge, the distance defining a bottom wall width, a second plate hinge at a distance from said first folding line, wherein a distance between said first folding line and an opposite end side of the plate define a rear wall

11. The piano of claim 10, wherein said rectangular plate is from a plastic material, more in particular from a thermoplastic material, and said plate hinges in particular are living hinges.

12. The piano of claim 10 or 11, wherein said rectangular plate at opposite end sides comprises lid hinges functionally parallel to said folding lines at a lid width defining distance from the end side of the plate, for providing lids forming an upper wall of the folding box.

13. An end part for the folding box of any one of the preceding claims, comprising a rectangular frame of hingingly coupled frame members having their rotational axes functionally parallel and normal to a plane defined by the frame members.

14. A method for producing a folding box according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising providing said plate having longitudinal side edges and transverse side edges, folding said plate to result in said bottom wall and with said front wall and said back wall extending from said bottom wall and having one of said transverse side edges as its edge, and attaching said end parts in unfolded position to said longitudinal side edges, wherein in particular said plate is a rectangular plate, wherein for producing hinges, two opposite ends of the plate are bent in the same direction out of a plane of said plate for producing said front wall and said back wall.

15. A method for re-furbishing the folding box according to any one of the preceding claims 1-9, comprising removing opposite end parts from the plate, providing a replacement end part or plate, and re-attaching the end parts onto the side edges of the plate.

16. Use of a folding box of any one of the preceding claims 1-9 as a moving box or removal box.

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