A box-shaped container

Abstract

 A box-shaped container made from cardboard or other stiff foldable material, having at least three wall portions (1-3) and at least one cover portion (4), with at least the cover portion (4) or portions being connected along at least one lateral edge thereof via a fold line to a lip portion (4a, 4b) extending substantially perpendicularly to the plane of the cover portion (4), at least the one lip portion coacting with at least two lip portions (2a, 3a) facing the interior of the container and being connected through fold lines to adjoining lateral edges of wall portions (2, 3) adjoining the at least one cover portion (4) to form a closed assembly.
The at least one lip portion of the at least one cover portion and/or at least one of the at least one pair of lip portions facing the interior of the container, opposite the associated fold line, has a free end edge that freely extends into the interior of the container and which is located at an interspace from the inner walls of the container thereby to define a space of predetermined dimensions in the container, with a view to fixing an article of basically any shape in the container, possibly by profiling the free end edge or edges.

Description

[0001] This invention relates to a box-shaped container made from cardboard or other stiff, foldable material, having at least three wall portions and at least one cover portion, with at least the cover portion or portions being connected along at least one lateral edge thereof via a fold line to a lip portion extending substantially perpendicularly to the plane of the cover portion with at least the one lip portion coacting with at least two lip portions facing the interior of the container and being connected through fold lines to adjoining lateral edges of wall portions adjoining the at least one cover portion to form a closed assembly.

[0002] Such a box-shaped container is known from DE-B-­1,160,784. This known container has triangular top and bottom walls and three side walls of relatively low height, which interconnect the top and bottom walls. At the junction between two adjoining side walls, there is provided a lip portion folded only towards the interior of the container, said lip portion being integral with the two adjoining side walls. For forming such lip portions, it is necessary to fold the container material, in the centre of the lip portion, in a direction opposite to the direction of the other fold lines in the container. This is not only difficult from the viewpoint of manufac­ture, but when thicker and/or stronger types of material are used, this may also lead to damage of the material. Due to the specific form of the lip portions, the known container can only have a limited height, which is inconve­nient for many applications. Finally, the known container lacks the possibility to fix an article to be packaged in the container, in particular when this is fragile.

[0003] Box-shaped containers, in particular with five wall portions and one cover portion, are generally known. The container is mostly made from one blank, with four side wall portions extending from a bottom portion, while e.g. along the two upright side walls of the two opposite side wall portions, there are provided lips which extend towards the interior of the container and which are attached to the adjoining side wall portions e.g. by means of adhesive. The cover is integral with one of the side wall portions and, on its free lateral edges, has lips by means of which the cover can be fixed in the opening at the top of the container.

[0004] It is also known to provide insert members for such box-shaped containers, which abut against the inner wall portions of the container and which define a space for receiving an article to be packaged in the container, so that this is snugly held in the container and cannot rattle and/or be damaged.

[0005] A drawback of these known containers is that the upright side wall portions have to be passed together, which requires an additional manufacturing step and renders the boxes expensive.

[0006] A drawback of the known insert members, often formed from a synthetic plastics material by extrusion, is a relatively high cost price. It is true that use can be made of materials such as woodwool, polystyrene granules or the like, instead of insert members, to protect the article to be packaged against damage, but such materials are certainly not conducive to an attractive appearance of the container when this is opened.

[0007] It is observed that GB-A-1,085,837 discloses a cubical container of the type in question, in which the lip portions at two opposite side walls are folded in such a manner that they are positioned, over a first portion, in the plane of the adjoining side wall and, over a second portion, again extend towards their own side wall and bear with the free end edge thereagainst. The cover consists of two halves formed on the other pair of opposite side walls; the lip portions formed on said cover portions always engage in the space between the first and the second portion of a lip portion of the side wall. Due to the specific form of folding of the lip portions, there is created a space in the container wherein an article of cylindrical shape, bearing against the second portion of the lip portion, can be positioned. However, it is not possible to fix articles of random shape in the container by means of the lip portions, while the shape of known containers is limited basically to cubical or block shapes.

[0008] It is an object of the present invention to provide a box-shaped container which lacks the drawbacks of the known containers and which can be manufactured without any use of glueing techniques, adhesive tape or the like and which yet has the required solidity, can have a large number of different forms, and offers the possibility for an article of basically whatever form to be packaged and fixed in the box in a predetermined position therein without using a separate insert member.

[0009] To that effect, the present invention provides a box-shaped container of the above type, wherein the at least one lip portion of the at least one cover portion and/or at least one of the at least one pair of lip portions facing the interior of the container, opposite the associated fold line, has a free end edge that freely extends into the interior of the container and is located at an interspace from the inner walls of the container, thereby to define a space having a predetermined dimension in the container.

[0010] In a first embodiment, the present invention relates to a container of the above described type having the form of a tetrahedron with a triangular bottom, two triangular wall portions and one triangular cover portion, the cover portion and the wall portions being connected to the bottom through fold lines, while the cover portion, along the two free lateral edges, is provided with a lip portion and the two wall portions, at the adjoining lateral edges, are fitted with lips projecting freely into the interior of the container, there being provided a cut-out between the lip portions on the cover, said cut-out being adapted to receive the ends of the lip portions on the lateral edges adjoining the cover. In this embodiment, the lip portions on the lateral edges of the side walls define the space of the predetermined dimensions in the container.

[0011] According to a second embodiment, the present invention relates to a container in the form of a pyramid having a quadrangular base and four upright faces, one of the upright faces being bisected along the perpendicular from the apex of the pyramid, to form two cover portions, each being provided along the parting line with a lip portion, while on the bottom, at the side adjoining the cover portions, there is formed a lip portion extending freely into the container, said lip portion being provided with a slot extending substantially perpendicular to the bottom and situated at its centre, said slot being adapted to receive the ends of the lip portions on the cover portions adjoining the bottom, the lateral edges of the base adjoining the cover portions being provided with lip portions. In this embodiment, at least one lip portion on the cover and/or the lip portion on the bottom defines the space of predetermined dimensions in the container.

[0012] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the container of the above type has a bottom, at least three upright walls and a cover, each of the upright walls, on either side along the upright sides, being provided with a lip portion extending freely into the interior of the container, while the cover is provided with a lip portion at least along all side edges but one, and between the lip portions on adjacent edges of the cover there is always a space which is adapted to receive the cover-facing ends of the adjoining lip portions on the upright walls.

[0013] In this embodiment, the cover may be triangular, quadrangular or polygonal, with the bottom having a corresponding form and the number of side walls correspond­ing with the number of angles. In this embodiment, one or more of the lip portions on the side walls and in the container define the form of a space of the predeter­mined dimension and the lip portions on the cover keep the lip portions on the side walls positioned relative to each other when the container is closed.

[0014] In the container according to the present invention, not only can the lip portions define a space wherein an article can be snugly accommodated, but the lip portions are preferably provided along the free longitudinal side with a profile conforming to the outer contour of the article in question to obtain a still better positioning, while some of the lip portions may have such a length that they divide the space within the container into two or more compartments for receiving articles of the same or different kind.

[0015] Some embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1a, b and c are perspective views of a container in the form of a tetrahedron in blank;

Figs. 2a, b and c are perspective views of a container in the form of a pyramid in blank;

Figs. 3a, b are perspective views of a container in cubical form in blank;

Figs. 4a, b are perspective views of a container in the form of a rectangular box in blank;

Figs. 4c-h show different configurations of the interior of the container shown in Figs. 4a, b;

Figs. 5a, b are perspective views of another variant of the container according to the present invention in blank;

Figs. 5c, d show a variant of the container shown in Figs. 5a, b in partly opened and closed position; and

Figs. 6a, b, c show a variant of the container according to the present invention consisting of two box halves in blank, in partly closed, and entirely closed position, respectively.

[0016] Fig. 1a shows a blank for a container according to the present invention of tetrahedronal shape. The blank comprises a triangular base portion 1, two triangular wall portions 2, 3 and a cover portion 4. The wall portions 2, 3 are each provided with a lip portion 2a, 3a, respec­tively, at their lateral edge facing away from the cover portion. The cover portion has lip portions 4a, 4b along the two free lateral edges. All lip portions are beveled along their short end edges in such a manner that they do not impede the folding of the container.

[0017] Figs. 1b, 1c respectively show the container in partly folded and entirely folded position. When the lip portions 2a, 3a are folded down inwardly relatively to their associated lateral edges, along fold lines 2ʹ and 3ʹ, respectively, and wall portions 2, 3 are folded upwardly relatively to the base 1 along fold lines 1ʹ and 1ʺ, respectively, the lip portions 2a and 3a will come to bear against one another along a rib of the tetrahedron.

[0018] When subsequently lip portions 4a, 4b are folded inwardly relatively to the cover portion 4 along fold lines 4ʹ and 4ʺ, respectively, and the cover portion 4 is folded upwardly along fold line 1‴ relatively to the base, the slot 5 between lip portions 4a, 4b can slide over the opposite free ends of the lip portions 2a, 3a abutting against one another, thereby producing the closed container shown in Fig. 1c, whose cover keeps the walls together, which cover is also properly fixed in the container.

[0019] By imparting a suitable width b to the lip portions 2a, 3a, and by optionally profiling the free longitudinal edge thereof, it becomes possible to fix an article of a given form and/or dimension in the container, so that this article will not rattle or become damaged. It is even possible to enlarge lips 2a, 2b to the extent that the container is bisected into two halves.

[0020] Fig. 2a shows a blank for a container according to the present invention in pyramidal shape.

[0021] The blank comprises a rectangular or square base 11, with a lip portion 11a along one lateral edge, as well as three triangular lateral faces 12, 13 and 14. The fourth lateral face of the pyramid consists of two substantially identical joint faces 15, 16, consti­tuting together the container cover. Cover portions 15, 16, along the parting line of the lateral face formed by the perpendicular from the apex of the pyramid, is provided with lip portions 15a, 16a. The side wall portions 12, 14, along their bases, are each provided with lip portions 12a and 14a, respectively, while the base 11, at the side averted from lateral face 13, is fitted with lip portion 11a, wherein a slotted opening 17 is disposed which extends substantially perpendicularly to the fold line 11ʹ. Said slot may extend as far as the free longitudinal edge of lip portion 11a, so that this, in fact, is bisected.

[0022] Possibly, base 11 may be provided with lip portions along the two free lateral faces, instead of lips 12a and 14a. When lip portions 11a, 12a and 14a are folded inwards along fold lines 11ʹ, 12ʺ and 14ʺ, so that lip portions 12a and 14a come to be intermediate the base and lip portion 11a, and the wall portions 12, 13 and 14 are folded towards each other and towards the base 11 along fold lines 13ʹ, 13ʺ and 11ʹ, respectively, subsequently the container can be closed by folding lip portions 15a, 16a inwards along fold lines 15ʹ and 16ʹ, respectively, and by subsequently folding cover portions 15, 16 inwards along fold lines 12ʹ and 14ʹ, so that the free longitudinal edges of lip portions 15a, 16a engage in slotted opening 17, whereby the container, as shown in Figs. 2b, 2c, can be closed and the cover is fixed in the slotted opening 17 by means of lips 15a, 16a and the container forms a strong, closed unit. As shown in Figs. 2a and c, the lips 15a, 16a may each be provided along the free longitudinal edge, with a cut-out 18, 19, adapted to correctly position an article in the container. Possibly, such a profile may be provided also, or as an alternative, in the respective free longi­tudinal edges of the lip portions 12a, 14a and/or 11a. As in the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, it is also possible to increase the widths of one or more of the lips, thereby obtaining a positioning of an article or even a compartmen­talization of the container.

[0023] Fig. 3a shows a blank for a container according to the present invention having a cubical form, a bottom 20, side walls 21, 22, 23 and 24 and a cover 25. Each of the side walls 21, 22, 23 and 24 is provided at the two lateral edges bounding the bottom 20 with two lip portions 21a, b; 22a, b; 23a, b; and 24a, b. Cover 25 is provided on all free lateral edges with lip portions 25a, b and c, respectively.

[0024] Fig. 3b shows the blank of Fig. 3a after first lip portions 21a, 21b; 22a, 22b; 23a, b; and 24a, b have been folded inwards, after subsequently side faces 21, 22, 23 and 24 have been folded inwards along fold lines 20ʹ, 20ʺ, 20‴ and 20ʺʺ, respectively, and after lip portions 25a, b and c of cover 25 have been folded inwards along fold lines 25ʹ, 25ʺ and 25‴, respectively, and finally cover 25 has been folded inwards along fold line 24‴. When the container is then entirely closed, the lip portions of the respective adjoining side walls come to abut against each other and the free ends thereof, at the cover side, fall into the interspace between lip portions 25a and c; 25b and c and between lip portions 25a, b, respectively, on the one hand, and the side wall 24 on the other hand, thereby obtaining a strong, closed container.

[0025] Possibly, cover 25 may be made entirely loose and separate, having four lip portions instead of three. It is also possible to construct the box shown in Fig. 3 of two blanks, the one blank containing the faces 20, 21, 24 and 25 with the associated lip portions and the other blank the faces 20, 22 and 23 with associated lip portions. It is true, that in such case the box gets a double bottom, but mainly when the box has no cubical shape, but one wherein the side walls have a considerably larger height than a transverse dimension of the bottom, which results in a substantial loss of material when one blank is cut out, this can nevertheless be complete. To improve the sealing in such a case, the inner bottom 20 may be provided at the free sides with lips to be folded inwards.

[0026] Although the container shown in Fig. 3 can already be closed very well, an additional locking can be obtained by providing a closure lip 26a on side wall 21, which, upon closure of the container, engages in a slot 26b disposed on fold line 25‴ between cover 25 and lip 25c.

[0027] In this embodiment too, it is possible to obtain a positioning and fixing of an article having a specific form in the container by a profiling step and/or a suitable choice of the width of one or more of the lip portions 21a, b; 22a, b; 23a, b: 24a, b, for instance by means of a profile as indicated at numeral 27 in lip portions 21a and 22a, while after a further enlargment of one or more of the lip portions, also compartmentalization of the interior of the container is possible.

[0028] On the basis of the embodiment shown in Figs. 3a, b, in addition to the variation of the height of the lateral faces relatively to the transverse dimension of the bottom, it is also possible to make containers of triangular, pentagonal or polygonal cross section. To that end, it is sufficient to impart the desired triangular, pentag­onal or polygonal shape to the bottom 20 and cover 25 and to adjust the number of side walls to the number of angular points. It is thus also possible to realize a container of a cross section in the form of e.g. a trapezium or a parallelogram by imparting a corresponding shape to the bottom and the cover.

[0029] Fig. 4a shows a blank for a variant of the embodiment shown in Fig. 3, comprising a base 30, upright side walls 31, 32, 33 and 34 and a cover 35. Side wall 31, at the lateral edges adjoining the bottom, has lip portions 31a, 31b and the cover has lip portions 35a, 35b and 35c along the free lateral edges.

[0030] The difference with the embodiment shown in Fig. 3 is that the side walls 32, 33 are integral with side wall 34 and not, as shown in Fig. 3, with the bottom. At the free longitudinal edges of side walls 32, 33, again lip portions 32a, 33a are formed. Also at the edges of the side walls 32, 33 adjoining the bottom 30, there are formed lip portions 32b, 33b, respectively. The lips 32b, 33b may also be provided on the free lateral edges of the bottom, instead of on said side walls. The manner of folding of the box shown in Fig. 4 is basically the same as in the box shown in Fig. 3 and will not be explained in further detail, the less so since this also clearly appears from Fig. 4b, showing the box in partly folded condition.

[0031] In this embodiment, bottom 30 and cover 35 may again have a triangular, or pentagonal form or the form of a trapezium or parallelogram with, if necessary, an adapted number of lateral faces.

[0032] Likewise, in this embodiment, one or more of lip portions 31a, 31b, 32a, 33a and 33b may again be enlarged or profiled for positioning an article in the box.

[0033] Since, as shown in particular in Fig. 4b, the upright edges of lateral face 34 have no lips, highly complex interior constructions can be realized in this embodiment by means of lips 31a, 31b, 32a and 33a. A number of examples thereof are shown in top view in Figs. 4c-h. As a result, the box can be rendered suitable for many packaging purposes, while this can be made yet from one blank and can be folded to one strong unit without any glued joint. However, when in particular lips 32a, 33a are very long, as e.g. in the embodiment shown in Fig. 4h, use can be made, for the sake of saving material, of a separate blank for the faces and lips 32a, 32, 34, 33, 33a and a blank for faces 31, 30, 34, 35 with associated lip portions, with the rear wall 34 in both blanks being double.

[0034] Fig. 5c shows a blank for again another embodiment according to the present invention, provided with a rectangular bottom 41 and connected thereto two opposite triangular side walls 42, 43 and two rectangular side walls 44, 45. The triangular side walls, along the free edges, have lip portions 42a, 42b and 43a, 43b, while the side walls 44, 45 at the edge opposite the bottom, are provided with lip portions 44a, 45a.

[0035] The different fold lines are shown in dotted lines in blank and the manner of folding of the box will become apparent from Fig. 4b, showing the box in partly folded condition. Side faces 42, 43 now, in fact, form the cover portions when the slot between the inwardly extending lips thereof retains the lip portions 44a, 45a bearing against one another. By extending and/or profiling lip portions 44a, 45a, again, the desired positioning of an article or compartmentalization of the box can be achieved.

[0036] Also in the embodiment shown in Fig. 5, many variants are possible: for instance, a trapezoidal container can be obtained by imparting a trapezoidal form to the faces 44, 45 and various other variants are conceivable by imparting to faces 42, 43 the shape of a rectangle, pentagon, trapezium, parallelogram or the like, with the number of lip portions on said faces corresponding with the number of free lateral edges thereof and with side walls 44, 45 being extended by one or more side wall segments, corresponding with the number of additionally added lateral edges on faces 42, 43. For instance, in the case of a parallelogram shape, one additional side wall will be necessary. Also in these variants, however, the principle of the present invention is maintained.

[0037] Finally, in all variants of the embodiment shown in Fig. 5, it is possible to relocate the place where the lip portions of the side walls such as 44 and 45, come to bear against each other for being fixed by the lip portions onto the side walls, such as 42 and 43, from a rib of the container to a place terminating on one of the side walls, e.g. wall 45. To that end, wall 45 should be shortened, while wall 44 is extended and is provided with a fold line situated at an interspace from the fold line with the bottom 41, which is equal to the length of the upright side of the wall 43. The lip portions 42b, 43b should then naturally be provided with a slot for receiving lip portions 44a, 45a, respectively.

[0038] Figs. 5c, 5d show this for a trapezoidal container in the closed and partly opened position, respectively. For the sake of clarity, the same reference numerals are used in this figure as in Fig. 5a, b, although the specific form of walls 44, 45 and lips 44a, 45a deviates, while lips 42b, 43b contain slots 46, 47, respectively.

[0039] Fig. 6a finally shows a blank for a variant of the container according to the present invention, consisting of two hingedly interconnected box halves, which are provided with inwardly extending lip portions fixed again relatively to each other by the cover.

[0040] The container comprises a first box portion essentially consisting of the side walls 52, 53 and 54 and a second box portion essentially consisting of the bottom 51 and the side walls 55, 56 and 57. The cover 58 is secured to the side wall 55. Side walls 53, 54 have respective lip portions 53a, 54a along the lateral edges adjoining the bottom, side walls 56, 57 have respective lip portions 56a, 56b and 57a, 57b on the free lateral edges and the cover has lip portions 58a, 58b.

[0041] The various fold lines are shown in dotted lines. Fig. 6b clearly shows how the two box halves come to bear against one another for hinged movement around the fold line between faces 51, 52, while Fig. 6c shows how the cover 58 closes the container, thereby also fixing the lip portions 53a, 56a on the one hand and 54a, 57a on the other hand relatively to each other. In this embodiment too, many variants are conceivable for the shape of the box halves and a corresponding shape for the cover. However, the closure principle explained with reference to Fig. 6 is always maintained. By extending and/or profiling the lips 53a, 56a and/or 54a, 57a, a suitable design of the interior of the box for an article to be packaged can again be obtained.

[0042] It will be clear that a great many variants are conceivable within the scope of the present invention, in addition to the embodiments of the container according to the present invention already shown. All these variants, however, have in common that a container is obtained that can be entirely closed without requiring any glued joint or the like therefor, because one or more lip portions on one or more cover portions coact with lip portions on one or more walls of the container for posi­tioning said walls in the closed position of the container relatively to each other, while the lips on the one or more walls of the container can be shaped in such a manner that these are suitable for positioning an article having given dimensions in the container in a reliable manner. To that end, the lips may have a given length, and a suitable configuration along the free longitudinal edge, or, with lips having a relatively large length, may even be provided with a cut-out in the plane of the lip corresponding with an article to be received.

Claims

1. A box-shaped container made from cardboard or other stift foldable material, having at least three wall portions and at least one cover portion, with at least the cover portion or portions being connected along at least one lateral edge thereof via a fold line to a lip portion extending substantially perpendicular to the plane of the cover portion, at least the one lip portion coacting with at least two lip portions facing the interior of the container and being connected through fold lines to adjoining lateral edges of wall portions adjoining the at least one cover portion to form a closed assembly, characterized in that the at least one lip portion of the at least one cover portion and/or at least one of the at least one pair of lip portions facing the interior of the container, opposite the associated fold line, has a free end edge that freely extends into the interior of the container and is located at an inter­space from the inner walls of the container, thereby to define a space of a predetermined dimension in the container.

2. A container as claimed in claim 1, having the form of a tetrahedron with a triangular bottom, two triangular wall portions and one triangular cover portion, the cover portion and the wall portions being connected to the bottom by means of fold lines, characterized in that the cover portion, along the two free lateral edges, is provided with a lip portion and that the two wall portions, at the adjoining lateral edges, are fitted with the lip portions extending freely into the interior of the container, there being provided between the lip portions on the cover a cut-out being adapted to receive the ends of the lip portions on the lateral edges adjoining the cover portion (Fig. 1).

3. A container according to claim 1, in the form of a pyramid having a quadrangular base and four upright faces, characterized in that one of the upright faces is bisected along the perpendicular from the apex of the pyramid, to form two cover portions, each provided along the parting line with a lip portion extending freely into the interior of the container, and that on the bottom, at the side adjoining the cover portion, there is formed a lip portion extending freely into the interior of the container, said lip portion being provided with a slot extending substantially perpendicularly to the bottom and situated at its centre, said slot being adapted to receive the ends of the lip portions on the cover portions adjoining the bottom, and that the side walls adjoining the cover portions are fitted at the base with lip portions (Fig. 2).

4. A container according to claim 1, having a bottom, at least three upright walls and a cover portion, characterized in that each of the upright walls, on either side along the upright sides, is provided with a lip portion extending freely into the interior of the container, and that the cover is provided with a lip portion at least along all side edges but one and that between the lip portions on adjacent lateral edges of the cover, there is always a space adapted to receive the cover-facing ends of the adjoining lip portions on the upright side walls (Fig. 3).

5. A container according to claim 1, comprising a bottom, at least three upright side walls and a cover portion, characterized in that at least one adjoining side wall is fixedly connected to the upright edges of at least one side wall by means of fold lines and that the free upright edge of said adjoining side wall portion is provided with a lip portion extending freely into the interior of the container and that the cover, at least along all lateral edges is provided with a lip portion but one, while between the lip portions on adjoining lateral edges of the cover, there is always a space adapted to receive the ends of the adjoining lip portions on the upright walls facing the cover (Fig. 4a, b).

6. A container according to claim 5, characterized in that the bottom consists of a second cover portion, each cover portion being provided with lip portions (Fig. 5a, b) at least along all lateral edges but one.

7. A container according to claim 6, characterized in that two opposite lip portions of the two cover portions are provided with a slotted opening extending substantially perpendicularly to the cover, said slotted openings being adapted to receive the lip portions on the side walls (Fig. 5b, c).

8. A container according to claim 2, comprising a first box portion and a second box portion hinged together near the bottom of the container along a fold line, characterized in that the two box portions bear against one another along a diagonal across two opposite side faces of the container, both box portions being provided adjacent said diagonal with the lip portions extending freely into the container (Fig. 6).

9. A container according to any one of claims 1-8, characterized in that at least one lip portion formed on the side walls is provided with a profile or a cut-out.

10. A container according to any one of claims 1, 2 and 4-9, characterized in that at least one of the lip portions on the side walls of the container has such a width as to divide the container into at least two compartments.

11. A container according to claim 3, characterized in that at least one of the lip portions on a cover portion is provided with a profile or a cut-out.

12. A container according to claim 3 or 11, character­ized in that at least one of the lip portions on a cover portion is dimensioned in such a manner that this divides the interior of the container into at least two compartments.

13. A blank evidently destined for manufacturing the containers according to any one of claims 1-12.

Drawing