(19)
(11) EP 0 571 696 A1

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(43) Date of publication:
01.12.1993 Bulletin 1993/48

(21) Application number: 92830384.1

(22) Date of filing: 16.07.1992
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)5B65D 5/44, B65D 5/48
(84) Designated Contracting States:
BE CH DE ES FR GB GR LI NL

(30) Priority: 30.03.1992 IT MI920306 U

(71) Applicant: GHELFI ONDULATI S.r.l.
I-23010 Buglio in Monte (IT)

(72) Inventor:
  • Ghelfi, Maria Grazia
    I-23010 Buglio in Monte (Sondrio) (IT)

(74) Representative: Cicogna, Franco 
Ufficio Internazionale Brevetti Dott.Prof. Franco Cicogna Via Visconti di Modrone, 14/A
20122 Milano
20122 Milano (IT)


(56) References cited: : 
   
       


    (54) High-strength box for fruit products


    (57) The present invention relates to a high strength box-like container, in particular for fruit products, which comprises a corrugated board body (1), which defines a holding space, which is delimited at the bottom thereof by side walls (7,8,9,10) which are bent on the top of the bottom wall.
    This box-like container has the main feature that it also comprises at least a stiffening element (17) which is rigid with the bottom wall and is associated with two opposite sidewalls (7,9) of the container body.




    Description

    BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION



    [0001] The present invention relates to a high strength box-like container, in particular for fruit products.

    [0002] As is known, there are at present broadly used corrugated board containers for packaging and transporting fruit products, in replacemente of conventional wood cases, which have great disposal and reuse drawbacks.

    [0003] The use of cardboard containers is also imposed by economic reasons, since the paperboard trays can be made at a very low making cost, by means of cutting and folding operations on a sheet cardboard material.

    [0004] These prior cardboard containers, however, are affected by some drawbacks.

    [0005] In fact, because of their construction, they can not be stacked in their product-full conditions, since the trays can be easily deformed so as to also cause the product to be damaged.

    [0006] Because of this fact, the cardboard trays can not be stacked beyond a set stacking height, and the thickness of the used board material can not be decreased under a set limit thickness.

    [0007] Moreover, as the cardboard containers must be stored in moisture environment, such as for example refrigerating chambers for preserving fruit products, said containers must be made starting from a paperboard or cardboard material which is paraffined on its two faces.

    [0008] This fact is very limitative with respect to the disposal possibility of the containers, since the presence of paraffined surfaces is such as to greatly reduce the biodegradability of the containers and does not allow a re-use thereof.

    SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION



    [0009] Accordingly, the aim of the present invention is to overcome the above mentioned drawbacks, by providing a cardboard container which has a great strenght, can be easily stacked in a full condition on other like containers to a high height and moreover can be made starting from cardboard sheets having a very reduced thickness.

    [0010] Within the scope of the above mentioned aim, a main object of the present invention is to provide such a cardboard container which can be also used in moisture environment without requiring paraffined surfaces.

    [0011] Another object of the present invention is to provide such a cardboard container which is very advantageous with respect to conventional cardboard containers, from the storing and shipment standpoint.

    [0012] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide such a cardboard container which can be easily re-used.

    [0013] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide such a cardboard container which is fully biodegradable.

    [0014] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide such a cardboard container which can be made with a reduced amount of row cardboard material.

    [0015] According to one aspect of the present invention, the above mentioned aim and objects, as well as yet other objects, which will become more apparent hereinafter, are achieved by a high strength box-like container, in particular for fruit products, comprising a corrugated cardboard body defining a holding space, which, at the top thereof, is delimited by a bottom wall and, on the perimeter thereof, by sidewalls bent on the top of the bottom wall, characterized in that it comprises at least a stiffening element which is rigidly connected with said bottom wall and associated with two opposite sidewalls of said body.

    BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS



    [0016] Further characteristics and advantages of the container or tray construction according to the present invention will become more apparent hereinafter from the following detailed disclosure, of a preferred, though not exclusive, embodiment thereof, which is illustrated, by way of an indicative, but not limitative example, in the figures of the accompanying drawings, where:

    Figure 1 illustrates a perspective view of the container according to the invention;

    Figure 2 is a further perspective view of the container according to the invention, the stiffening element thereof being illustrated in an exploded form;

    Figure 3 illustrates a cardboard die-cut sheet for making the container or tray body;

    Figure 4 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the container taken along a longitudinal middle plane thereof;
    and

    Figure 5 is a side elevation view illustrating a plurality of containers according to the present invention in a stacked condition thereof.


    DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT



    [0017] With reference to the figures of the accompanying drawings, the box-like container or tray according to the invention, which has been generally indicated by the reference number 1, comprises a body 1 which has been made by die-cutting and folding a corrugated cardboard sheet.

    [0018] More specifically, the used cardboard sheet can have a substantially rectangular configuration, with two fodling lines 3 and 4 preformed during the die-cutting operation, which folding lines extend parallel to one another near the major sides of the sheet, and with two folding lines 5 and 6 which extend perpendicularly to said folding lines 3 and 4 near the minor sides of the sheet.

    [0019] Thus, there are defined perimetrical portions 7, 8, 9 and 10 which can be folded, along the above mentioned folding lines, on the top of the central portion 11 of the sheet, so as to provide the side walls of the container or tray body.

    [0020] The portions 8 and 10 arranged near the minor or short sides of the sheet, are provided with flaps, respectively indicated at 12 and 13, which can be folded toward the inner side of the container body along the preset folding lines 14 and 15 which are parallel to the folding lines 5 and 6.

    [0021] With the container being assembled, the flaps 12 and 13 are arranged in a plane which is substantially parallel to the laying plane of the container bottom 11.

    [0022] Moreover, the portions 8 and 10 are provided with side flaps 16, which can be superimposed on the inner sides of the portions 7 and 9 and bent on the top of or above the bottom 11.

    [0023] Finally, the flaps 12 and 13 are provided with end flaps, respectively indicated at 12a and 13a, provided for being superimposed on the outer side of the flaps 16.

    [0024] The container construction above disclosed further comprises at least a stiffening element 17, which is connected to the bottom wall 11 of the body 2 of the container or tray, and which is associated with two opposite sidewalls of the body 2, preferably the sidewalls 7 and 9 which extend along the major sides of the body of the container.

    [0025] More specifically, the stiffening element 17 has a plate-like configuration and is arranged on a plane which is substantially perpendicular to the bottom wall 11.

    [0026] The stiffening element 17 is provided, at the bottom thereof, with at least two flaps 18 and 19 which are laterally folded on opposite sides of the laying plane of the remaining portion of the stiffening element.

    [0027] In particular, the mentioned flaps 18 and 19 are rigidly connected to the bottom wall, preferably by means of glues or adhesive resins compatible with food products and of a high biodegradability.

    [0028] The connection of the stiffening element 17 with the sidewalls 7 and 9 of the container body is preferably made by providing the stiffening element, at its side end portions, with projecting shoulders 20 and 21 which can be fixedly restrained or engaged in seats or recesses 22 and 23 defined by cut-outs, provided near the top edge portions of the side walls 7 and 9, at an intermediate portion of their extension.

    [0029] Preferably, the siffening element is also made by die-cutting a corrugated cardboard sheet.

    [0030] The sheet used for making the stiffening element is bent or folded along an intermediate folding line, or along two middle lines near one another, so as to obtain, for said stiffening element, a thickness which is double in its portion which extends perpendicularly to the bottom wall 11 of the container body.

    [0031] The stiffening element 17 can be constituted by a single stiffening element and, in this case, it will be arranged at an intermediate plane, preferably the cross intermediate plane of the container, or several stiffening elements can be also provided, possibly arranged with a crossed configuration.

    [0032] From the above disclosure and from the observation of the Figures of the accompanying drawings it should be apparent that the box-like container according to the invention fully achieves the intended aim and objects.

    [0033] In particular, the fact is to be pointed out that,owing to the provision of the stiffening element, it is possible to make a box-like container having a strength which is greater than that of conventional like cardboard trays, while using reduced thickness starting cardboard sheets.

    [0034] Moreover, owing to the greater strength of the subject container, it is possible to achieve stacking heights which are much greater than those which can be obtained with conventional paperboard containers, with a great advantage from the cost standpoint, both with respect to the storing and the shipment of the containers and fruit products held therein.

    [0035] Moreover, the container according to the present invention, owing to its greater strength, does not require any paraffining operations and, accordingly, can be easily re-used.

    [0036] A further advantage is that the subject container can also hold two different types of products in the two portions thereof which are separated by the stiffening element.

    [0037] While the invention has been disclosed and illustrated with reference to a preferred embodiment thereof, it should be apparent that the disclosed embodiment is susceptible to several modifications and variations all of which will come within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.


    Claims

    1. A high strength box-like container, in particular for fruit products, comprising a corrugated cardboard body defining a holding space, which, at the top thereof, is delimited by a bottom wall and, on the perimeter thereof, by sidewalls bent on the top of the bottom walls, characterized in that it comprises at least a stiffening element which is rigidly connected with said bottom wall and associated with two opposite sidewalls of said body.
     
    2. A container according to Claim 1, characterized in that said stiffening element has a platelike configuration and is arranged in a plane substantially perpendicular to the bottom wall of said container.
     
    3. A container according to Claims 1 and 2, characterized in that said stiffening element is provided at the bottom thereof with at least two flaps which are laterally folded on opposite portions of the laying plane of the remaining portion of said stiffening element, said flaps being rigidly connected to said bottom wall.
     
    4. A container according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said stiffening element is provided, at side end portions thereof, with projecting shoulders which can be fixedly engaged in seats defined by cut-outs provided near the top edge of the two opposite sidewalls.
     
    5. A container according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said stiffening element is made of a die-cut corrugated cardboard material.
     
    6. A container according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said stiffening element comprises a sheet folded along a middle line so as to provide a double thickness on the portion of said stiffening element extending upwardly from said bottom wall.
     
    7. A container according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said stiffening element is arranged in a middle plane of the container.
     
    8. A container according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said stiffening element is connected to said bottom wall by means of a glue material.
     




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