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(11) | EP 0 455 310 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Package box and blank therefor |
| (57) Package box prepared from a blank and blank for such a box. The box comprises a bottom
(5) and sidewalls (14,15,16,17) upright relative thereto, one pair of opposite substantially
parallel sidewalls (14,15) being of double construction over at least a portion of
their length through overlap of parts of the blank material and there being provided
in those sidewalls (14,15) reinforcements obtained by folding back through appoximately
180° an end (26,28) adjacent one of the parts of overlapping blank material, the end
(26,28) that has been folded back extending in the direction of the adjacent rib of
the box up to a point spaced from that rib. |
[0001] This invention relates to a package box prepared from a blank, comprising a bottom wall and sidewalls upright relative thereto, wherein one pair of opposite substantially parallel sidewalls are of double construction over at least a portion of their length through overlap of parts of the blank material, there being provided in said sidewalls reinforcements which have been obtained by folding back through appoximately 180° an end adjacent one of the parts of overlapping blank material. The invention further relates to a blank for preparing such a box, comprising a bottom wall panel connected to sidewall panels along foldlines, wherein, by virtue of appropriate incisions between the sidewall panels, one pair of oppositely arranged panels have the same length as the adjacent side of the bottom wall panel and the other two oppositely arranged panels have a length equal to the length of the adjacent side of the bottom wall panel plus the height of each of said one pair of sidewall panels, creases or foldlines being provided in said other sidewall panels, so that the sidewall proper via said creases or foldlines adjoins connecting flaps on opposite sides of said sidewall.
[0002] Such a package box and such a blank are known and are described, for example, in US patent specification 4,056,223. The box known from said publication is intended in particular for heavy and bulky products, such as film-wrapped cuts of meat.
[0003] In package boxes for non-self-sustaining, free-flowing goods and products, in particular products that are subjected to extreme conditions of moisture, qualitatively strict material requirements will have to be set if it is desirable for the boxes to be stacked during transport. For products that are moist or give off moisture, such as vegetables and fruit, or hot-fluid materials, which harden upon cooling, strong high-quality material is required for the boxes so as to prevent so-called "bulging" and sagging of the package. Package boxes for such purposes are therefore relatively expensive.
[0004] Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a package box and a blank for preparing such a box, which box is suitable for use in transporting in particular products that are moist or give off moisture, and which box and blank may optionally consist of qualitatively less expensive materials than used heretofore for the type of package in question.
[0005] The object outlined is accomplished according to the invention with a package box in which said end in foldback position extends in the direction of the adjacent rib of the box up to a point spaced from said rib. Preferably, in each of said sidewalls two reinforcements are provided, at approximately one quarter and three quarters of the length, respectively. A blank for preparing the box according to the invention is characterized in that in each of the connecting flaps creases and/or incisions are provided which extend substantially parallel to the creases or foldlines between the sidewall proper and the connecting flaps, in such a way that the extreme portion of each connecting flap can be hingedly folded back through 180°.
[0006] By providing, in accordance with the invention, the package box with local stiffening portions or reinforcements in one pair of the two pairs of mutually parallel upright walls, said reinforcements extending throughout the entire height of said walls, additional rigidity is given to the box such that qualitatively lesser types of material can be used so that the costs of such a box can be lowered significantly. The location of the reinforcements or stiffening portions at approximately one quarter and three quarters of the length of the sidewall in question proved to give the box most strength. Unlike the box known from the above-mentioned US patent specification 4,056,223, in which the strip in foldback position extends beyond the adjacent rib of the box and the end portion that is folded back is even in contact with the next sidewall of the box, the box according to the invention comprises only local reinforcements in two of the four sidewalls. Thus a considerable saving of material is accomplished, while the desired strength is obtained nevertheless.
[0007] Different types of corrugated fibreboard, both single and double faced, qualify as materials for the box according to the invention. Solid paperboard is also suitable for use, varying for example from 400 g/m² to paperboard of approximately 1800 g/m². The package box according to the invention is suitable in particular for packaging and transporting free-flowing goods and products, such as fresh chips, fresh chips gas-packaged in plastic bags, vegetables and fruit, such as tomatoes, cucumbers, paprika, chicory and the like, as well as hot-fluid materials which upon cooling harden or become thickly pasty, as cocoa butter and fats.
[0008] The invention will be explained, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a blank according to the invention;
Fig. 2 is a similar view of the blank according to Fig. 1 during a first stage of the preparation of a package box according to the invention;
Fig. 3 is a next stage of said preparation; and
Fig. 4 is the finished box, prepared from the blank according to Fig. 1.
[0009] The blank according to Fig. 1 is essentially a rectangle of a material suitable for package boxes. Suitable materials include corrugated fibreboard, both single and double faced, and solid paperboard.
[0010] The rectangular blank of Fig. 1 is provided with foldlines 1,2,3, and 4 extending parallel to the respective sides. The foldlines are provided such that they define an enclosed rectangle 5. The rectangle 5 constitutes the bottom in the finished package box.
[0011] Provided in the blank, in the produced part of foldline 3 which extends parallel to a short side 6 of the rectangular blank, are incisions 7 and 8. The incision 7 extends from the long side of the blank to the intersection of foldline 3 and foldline 2. Similarly, incision 8 extends from the long side 10 of the blank to the intersection of foldlines 3 and 1.
[0012] Provided in the blank, in the produced part of foldline 4, which extends parallel to a short side 11 of the rectangular blank, are incisions 12 and 13. Incision 12 extends from the long side 9 of the blank to the intersecton of foldline 4 and foldline 2. Similarly, incision 13 extends from the long side 10 of the blank to the intersection of foldlines 4 and 1.
[0013] The foldlines, incisions and sides of the blank define a plurality of subsections which will constitute sidewalls of the box to be formed or will constitute parts thereof. Section 14 is bounded by incisions 7 and 12, the long side 9 and foldline 2. Section 15 is bounded by incisions 8 and 13, foldline 1 and the long side 10. Section 16 is defined by foldlines 1,2, and 3 and side 6, and section 17 is bounded by foldlines 1,2 and 4 and the side 11.
[0014] Arranged on opposite sides of section 16 are connecting flaps 18 and 19. Connecting flap 18 is bounded by sides 6 and 9, the foldline 2 and the incision 7. Connecting flap 19 is bounded by the sides 6 and 10, the foldline 1 and the incision 8. Similarly, provided on opposite sides of section 17 are connecting flaps 20 and 21. Provided in each of the connecting flaps 18, 19, 20 and 21 at a short distance from the end of the flap in question is a crease and/or foldline 22, 23, 24, and 25, respectively, which crease or foldline may optionally terminate in an incision provided at either end of the terminal end of said crease or foldline. The creases or foldlines 22, 23, 24 and 25 extend substantially parallel to the long sides 9 and 10 and the foldlines 1 and 2.
[0015] As shown in Fig. 2, during preparing a package box from the blank shown in Fig. 1, the end portion 26 of the connecting flap 18 is folded back through 180° about the crease 22 and glued onto the flap 18. The flap 18 itself is folded through 90° about the foldline 2. Similarly, the end portions 27, 28, and 29 of the respective connecting flaps 19, 20 and 21 are folded back about the corresponding creases and glued onto the corresponding connecting flap and the connecting flaps are erected about their foldline.
[0016] Fig. 3 shows a further stage of the preparation of a package box from the blank according to Fig. 1. In this further stage the sidewalls 16 and 17 have been folded over 90° along the corresponding foldlines 3 and 4, so that those walls 16 and 17 are upright relative to the bottom 5 and the connecting flaps 19 and 21 have their sides extending along foldline 1 and the connecting flaps 18 and 20 likewise have their sides extending along foldline 2.
[0017] Fig. 4 shows the final stage of the preparation of a package box from the blank according to Fig. 1. In this final stage the sidewalls 14 and 15 have been folded 90° relative to the bottom 5 and the connecting flaps 18 and 20 have been glued to the sidewall 14 and the connecting flaps 19 and 21 have been glued to the sidewall 15. The folded-back end portions 26 and 28 of the connecting flaps 18 and 20, respectively, form an additional reinforcement at approximately one quarter and three quarters of the length of the sidewall 14, which additional reinforcement extends throughout the entire height of the box so obtained. The folded-back end portions 27 and 29 of the connecting flaps 19 and 21, respectively, likewise form an additional reinforcement of the sidewall 15 of the box.
[0018] The box thus prepared can suitably be provided with a matching cover. Such a cover does not form part of the invention, but may be made in known manner. Naturally, it is possible to use the box according to the invention itself as a cover. When the box is used as a cover, the height of the box to be covered should naturally be smaller than or equal to that of the enclosing cover, since otherwise the advantages of the reinforcement will not be accomplished.
[0019] The box made in the manner described is very suitable for free-flowing goods or products which are giving off or may give off moisture. Examples thereof are fresh chips, vegetables and fruit, but also hot-fluid materials which harden upon cooling, such as cocoa butter and fats. The box according to the invention is rigid to such an extent that when used for said products, sagging of the packages, even when stacked, is prevented.
1. A package box prepared from a blank, comprising a bottom wall (5) and sidewalls (14,
15, 16, 17) upright relative thereto, wherein one pair of opposite substantially parallel
sidewalls (14, 15) are of double construction over at least a portion of their length
through overlap of parts of the blank material, there being provided in said sidewalls
(14, 15) reinforcements which have been obtained by folding back through appoximately
180° an end adjacent one of the parts of overlapping blank material, characterized
in that said end in foldback position extends in the direction of the adjacent rib
of the box up to a point spaced from said rib.
2. A package box according to claim 1, characterized in that in each of said sidewalls
(14, 15) two reinforcements are provided at approximately one quarter and three quarters
of the length, respectively.
3. A blank for preparing a box according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising
a bottom wall panel (5) connected to sidewall panels (15, 14, 16, 17) along foldlines
(1, 2, 3, 4), wherein, by virtue of appropriate incisions (7, 8, 12, 13) between the
sidewall panels, one pair of oppositely arranged panels (14, 15) have the same length
as the adjacent side of the bottom wall panel (5) and the other two oppositely arranged
panels (16, 17) have a length equal to the length of the adjacent side of the bottom
wall panel plus the height of each of said one pair of sidewall panels (14, 15), creases
or foldlines being provided in said other sidewall panels (16, 17), so that the sidewall
proper, via said creases or foldlines, adjoins connecting flaps (18, 19; 20,21) on
opposite sides of said sidewall (16, 17), characterized in that in each of the connecting
flaps creases and/or incisions (22, 23, 24, 25) are provided which extend substantially
parallel to the creases or foldlines between the sidewall proper (16, 17) and the
connecting flaps (18, 19, 20, 21), in such a way that the extreme portion (26, 27,
28, 29) of each connecting flap can be hingedly folded back through 180° and extends
to a point spaced from the most proximal crease or foldline between the sidewall proper
(16, 17) and the connecting flaps (18, 19, 20, 21).