OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention, as expressed in the statement of this specification, relates
to a stackable box of the type provided for storing and transporting products, whose
object is to provide a box structure for stacking boxes with a double support in the
corners, which determines a solid and resistant stacking.
[0002] Another object of the invention is to provide a stackable box whose bottom and lateral
walls are made up by nerves that define apertures, which establish a light configuration
in such a way that said lateral sides and bottom are susceptible of being covered
by means of a sheet protecting the product contained inside the box.
[0003] The invention is applicable to any sector requiring the transport and stacking of
products in boxes, and more specifically, the invention is applicable for the transport
and stacking of fruits, vegetables and similar products.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0004] Boxes for the packaging and transport of products are known in the state of the art,
among these boxes, those boxes molded with plastic materials with an approximate rectangular-prismatic
configuration, opened by their upper side, should be highlighted.
[0005] In order to reduce their weight, the lateral walls and bottoms of this type of boxes
are made up by nerves that define apertures, so that, in order to achieve boxes with
lower weights, they must present broad apertures that make the boxes lighter and weakens
their structure, which represents an inconvenience when stacking the same.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0006] In order to obtain the objectives and solve the inconveniences described above, the
invention provides a new stackable box with an approximate rectangular-prismatic configuration,
opened by its upper side, whose bottom and lateral walls are made up by nerves that
define apertures. The main novelty of these boxes is that the corners of the box are
made up by support columns, which comprise, in the upper part, a horizontal end wing
and a second horizontal wing located under the horizontal end wing, the second horizontal
wing is provided with a projection bigger than the projection of the horizontal end
wing, so that the lower part of the columns is provided with a horizontal extension
that leans on the horizontal end wing of a box stacked below. In addition, the edge
of the horizontal extension is elongated according to a flap, said flap being designed
to lean on the second horizontal wing of a box stacked underneath, so that the configuration
described provides double support at the corners when the boxes are stacked, obtaining
a solid and resistant stacking.
[0007] In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the external surface of the flap is
leveled with the edge of the second horizontal wing of a box stacked below. In addition,
the internal surface of said flap is abutted on the edge of the horizontal end wing
of the box stacked below, thus centering the boxes appropriately during stacking and
preventing them from being displaced in respect of the other boxes.
[0008] In a complementary embodiment of the invention, the upper part of the columns incorporates
circular orifices, whose upper side is at the same level than the horizontal end wing.
[0009] In the complementary embodiment of the invention, the columns incorporate lower cylindrical
extremities in their lower part so that, when stacking one box on top of another,
the aforementioned lower extremities are fitted in the orifices.
[0010] According to a preferred embodiment, the box comprises a protective sheet in its
mouthpiece affixed to a flat perimeter surface defined by a perimeter flange presented
as the continuation of the horizontal end wing of the upper part of the columns, so
that the sheet is presented as a protective sheet of the open upper part of the box.
This way, the product contained inside the box is covered by the protective sheet.
[0011] The box of the invention also provides that the long sides, the short sides and/or
the bottom, according to additional embodiments, are provided with a sheet affixed
to a surface in the form of a perimeter frame covering these sides, said sheet determining
the protection of the product contained in the box.
[0012] In an additional preferred embodiment of the invention, the sheet is determined by
a film that is stuck to the perimeter flange of the mouthpiece of the box and/or to
the frames of the lateral sides and bottom by means of thermal welding, adhesive or
other appropriate means.
[0013] The nerves of the lateral sides and bottom are arranged defining broad apertures
in order to obtain a light box, what is possible thanks to the columns making up the
corners of the box and the double support provided during stacking, which has already
been already described.
[0014] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the box is made from plastic, but it
can obviously be made from any other material that allows obtaining the aforementioned
characteristics.
[0015] The present invention also relates to the set of the box and protective sheet. According
to a preferred embodiment, in this set, the sheet is placed in the mouthpiece of the
box, affixed to a flat perimeter surface defined by a perimeter flange that is presented
as the continuation of the horizontal end wing of the upper part of the columns of
the box, so that the sheet is provided to protect the open upper side of the box.
This way, the product contained inside the box is covered by the protective sheet.
[0016] According to additional embodiments, said sheet is placed in one of the long sides,
the short sides and/or the bottom, so that said sheet is affixed to a surface in the
form of a perimeter frame that covers these sides, said sheet determining a protection
for the product contained inside the box.
[0017] Next, in order to facilitate a better comprehension of this specification and forming
an integral part thereof, a set of figures representing the object of the invention
in an illustrative rather than limitative manner accompany this specification.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018]
Figure 1. Shows a perspective view of a possible example of an embodiment of the box of the
invention.
Figure 2. Shows a detail of a corner of two boxes in a position prior to stacking.
Figure 3. Shows a view equivalent to the previous figure in a stacking position.
Figure 4. Shows a section of the stacking of the previous figure.
Figure 5. Shows a perspective view of the complementary embodiment of the invention.
Figure 6. Shows another perspective view of the complementary embodiment of the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0019] A description of the invention based on the aforementioned figures is disclosed hereinafter.
[0020] The box (1) of the invention is opened by its upper side whose bottom and lateral
walls are made up by nerves (2) that define apertures (3), and whose corners are made
up by support columns (4), which are provided with reinforcement nerves (5), both
longitudinal and transverse, so that said transverse nerves are presented as a continuation
of the nerves (2) constituting the lateral walls of the box (1).
[0021] The upper part of the columns (4) comprises a horizontal end wing (6) and a second
horizontal wing (7) located underneath, said second horizontal wing (7) protruding
further than the horizontal end wing (6).
[0022] The lower part of the columns (4) is provided with a horizontal extension (8), whose
edge is elongated along a flap (9).
[0023] Based on the configuration described, it can be easily understood that when stacking
two boxes (1) of the invention, the horizontal extension (8) of the lower part of
the columns (4) is supported by the horizontal end wing (6) of the lower box (1),
and simultaneously, the edge of the flap (6) is supported by the second horizontal
wing (7) of each column (4), thus providing double support between the columns (4)
when stacking the boxes (1).
[0024] According to the configuration described and as shown in figure 4, when stacking
two boxes (1), the flap (9) is leveled with the edge of the second horizontal wing
(7), giving continuity to the stacking. In addition, the internal surface of said
flap (9) abuts with the edge of the horizontal end wing (6) of the lower box (1) when
stacking, which determines that the boxes are perfectly centered during stacking and
prevents the lateral displacement of some boxes in respect of the others by means
of the butt described, thus obtaining a stable, solid and resistant stacking.
[0025] In a complementary embodiment of the invention, the columns (4) that make up the
corners of the box, incorporate circular orifices (14) in the upper part (shown in
figure 5), whose upper side is at the same level than the horizontal end wing (6),
so that the horizontal end wing (6) is incorporated to the connection system between
boxes.
[0026] In the complementary embodiment of the invention, the columns (4) incorporate lower
cylindrical extremities (13) (shown in figure 6) so that, when a box (1) is stacked
on top of another, the aforementioned lower extremities (13) are fitted in the orifices
(14).
[0027] In this supplementary embodiment, the stacked boxes (1) have a double fixation between
them, since the boxes (1) are affixed, in the first place, due to the flap (9) that
is leveled with the edge of the second horizontal wing (7) and the internal surface
of said flap (9) abuts the edge of the horizontal end wing (6) of the lower box (1),
and secondly, due to the connection system between the lower extremities (13) located
in the lower part of the columns (4) that are fitted in the orifices (14) located
in the upper part of the aforementioned columns (4).
[0028] According to a preferred embodiment, the box (1) comprises a sheet (11) that is affixed
to the mouthpiece of the box (1) through a flat surface defined by a perimeter flange
(10) which is presented as the continuation of the horizontal end wing (6).
[0029] According to additional embodiments, the invention also discloses that said protective
sheet (11) can be included in both the lateral walls and the bottom of the box (1),
for which the box (1) provides that said lateral walls and bottom comprise a surface
by way of a perimeter frame to which the sheet (11) that covers said lateral sides
and bottom is affixed.
[0030] The configuration described presents the great advantage of providing a light box
with a solid and resistant configuration allowing to stack boxes safely.
1. Stackable box, of the type provided with an approximate regular-prismatic configuration,
opened by its upper side, whose bottom and lateral walls are made up by nerves (2)
that define apertures (3); characterized in that the corners are made up by support columns (4) which comprise in their upper part
a horizontal end wing (6) and a second horizontal wing (7) located underneath, the
second horizontal wing (7) protruding further than the horizontal end wing (6); the
lower part of the columns (4) comprises a horizontal extension (8) leaning on the
horizontal end wing (6) of a box stacked below, and the edge of the horizontal extension
(8) is elongated along a flap (9) leaning on the second horizontal wing (7) of a box
stacked below in order to provide double support in the corners when stacking the
boxes (1).
2. Stackable box according to claim 1, characterized in that the external surface of the flap (9) is leveled with the edge of the second horizontal
wing (7) of a box stacked below, and the internal surface of said flap (9) abuts the
edge of the horizontal end wing (6) of the box stacked below.
3. Stackable box according to claim 1, characterized in that the box (1) comprises a sheet (11) affixed to a flat surface defined by a perimeter
flange (10) presented as the continuation of the horizontal end wing (6).
4. Stackable box according to claim 1, characterized in that the box (1) comprises a sheet (11) affixed to a surface in the form of a perimeter
frame located in a side selected among a long side, a short side, the bottom and a
combination thereof.
5. Stackable box according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the sheet (11) is a film.
6. Stackable box according to claim 1, characterized in that the nerves (2) of the lateral walls and bottom are arranged by defining apertures
(3).
7. Stackable box according to claim 1, characterized in that the columns (4) comprise vertical and transverse reinforcement nerves (5).
8. Stackable box according to claim 1, characterized in that the box (1) is made from plastic.
9. Stackable box according to any one of the previous claims, characterized in that the upper part of the columns (4) comprises circular orifices (12).
10. Stackable box according to any one of the previous claims, characterized in that the lower part of the columns (4) comprises a cylindrical elongation (13), which
is fitted in the circular orifice (12) of the upper part of the columns (4) when the
boxes are stacked.