ZA200905723B - Blank for a box - Google Patents

Description

/FIELD OF THE INVENTION | LIK

This invention relates to a stacking box that is particularly useful for the packaging and transport of fruit and other perishables.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Many stackable cardboard boxes have been proposed and there is a vast patent literature.

Nevertheless, there is a continuing quest for an inexpensive stacking box that requires less corrugated cardboard and yet is at least as strong as conventional boxes on the market, and it is an object of the present invention to provide such a box. The term box is intended to include tray.

THE INVENTION

According to the invention a blank for a box and the box erected from the blank, includes a base, and side and end walls, the side walls and/or end walls including horizontal longitudinal fold lines dividing the side and/or end walls into upper and lower zones which, in the erected condition of the box are folded together about the longitudinal fold lines to constitute double thickness walls; at least the side and/or end walls including foldable end flaps that are adapted to be joined together in their double thickness condition and to be folded inwardly, preferably at right angles for a rectangular box; and then joined to the erected end and/or side walls respectively; the side and/or end walls having press tabs that engage in slots provided in the same vertical plane as the tabs

In a preferred form of the invention only the side or end walls are double walls, the end or side walls respectively being single thickness equal to the height of the double walls. The single thickness walls are merely joined to the double folded flaps, preferably on the outside thereof. This arrangement results in three thicknesses at each corner of the erected box.

It will be appreciated that all of the side and end walls may have flaps so that the corners at least have four thicknesses in the erected state.

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/7 he flaps may conveniently be joined surface to surface with glue but other means . such as staples and the like may be used or in combination with the glue.

The flaps may include fold lines that, when folded, form triangular, square or rectangular corner columns that improve the vertical strength of the boxes at the corners for stacking

EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the invention is described below with reference to the accompanying photographs.

Photograph 1 is a plan view of a blank,

Photograph 2 illustrates the first folding operation,

Photograph 3 is an enlarged plan view of the corner thus formed,

Photograph 4 shows the second folding operation,

Photograph 5 shows the completed box,

Photograph 6 is a detailed view from the outside of the box of the middle zone of a side wall showing the stacking arrangement,

Photograph 7 is a detailed view from the inside of the box,

Photograph 8 is an alternative specialised form of blank, and

Photograph 9 is a view of a corner of a box erected from the blank of Photograph 7.

Referring first to the blank in Photograph 1, a base 10 is flanked by a pair of side walls 12 having fold lines 14 and 16 and flaps 18 and 20 at either end, each flap having fold lines 22 and 24 and cut lines 26 and 28. Press out tabs 30 are provided

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/ at the longitudinal fold lines, and slots 32 are provided to receive the tabs as will be . understood below. End walls 33 are joined to the base by way of fold lines 34.

In Photograph 2 one side wall has been folded about fold line 14 and then on itself about fold line 16. The tabs are folded about their fold lines 22, glued to each other on their touching faces and bent at right angles as shown. The end wall is then folded about its fold line 34 and glue is applied to its interior surface so that it is joined to the outside of the pair of flaps of the side wall. This is shown in detail in Photograph 3.

The other side flaps of the side wall are then folded in the same manner and the second end wall glued in the same way.

The other side wall is then folded in the same manner and joined to the other end wall to complete the box.

The fold-overs or creases 13 are formed when the side walls are folded and these serve to strengthen the side walls in the stack and hold the double wall together.

The tabs 30 are pressed out and fit snugly into the slots 32 when the boxes of the invention are stacked. The slot is shielded by the outside zone 36 of each side wall, as shown in detail in Photographs 6 and 7. In the former the tab 30 is shown inside the side wall extending through the slot 32 while Photograph 7 is a view from the outside showing the tab 30 with the top zone thereof in broken line to indicate its position inside the box with the side wall preventing it (the tab) from flopping outwardly.

Turning to Photograph 8 a similar blank is provided but with the addition of fold lines 40 in the flap 18. When the flap is folded a triangular mitre 42 is formed at the corner to provide a reinforcing column.

Claims (9)

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1. A blank for a box including a base, and side and end walls, the side walls and/or end walls including horizontal longitudinal fold lines dividing the side and/or end walls into upper and lower zones which, in the erected condition of the box are folded together about the longitudinal fold lines to constitute double thickness walls; at least the side and/or end walls including foldable end flaps that are adapted to be joined together in their double thickness condition and to be folded inwardly, preferably at right angles for a rectangular box; and then joined to the erected end and/or side walls respectively; the side and/or end walls having press tabs that engage in slots provided in the same vertical plane as the tabs.

2. The blank according to claim 1 in which only the side or end walls are double walls, the end or side walls respectively being single thickness equal to the height of «the double walls. : :

3. The blank according to claim 2 in which the single thickness walls are joined to the double folded flaps on the outside thereof resulting in three thicknesses at each corner of the erected box.

4, The blank according to any of the above claims in which all of the side and end walls have flaps so that the corners at least have four thicknesses in the erected state.

5. The blank according to any of the above claims in which the flaps are joined surface to surface with glue.

6. The blank according to any of the above claims in which the flaps include fold lines that, when folded, form triangular, square or rectangular corner columns that : improve the vertical strength of the boxes at the corners for stacking.

/ 7. A blank for a box substantially as described with reference to Figure 1 or . Figure 8 of the accompanying drawings.

8. A box formed from a blank according to any of the above claims.

9. A box substantially as described with reference to any of Figures 2to 7 or 9. Dated this 13 day of Aygust 009 MORRISON FORSTER INC. APPLICANTS’ PATENT ATTORNEYS