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(11) | EP 0 734 970 A2 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | A container for a roll |
| (57) The present invention relates to a container formed by a box (10) for housing a hollow
roll (11), having rectangular side panels (10, 12, 14, 16) and one or more square
or rectangular end panels (24, 28, 32) at each end of the box (10), wherein at least
one of the end panels (24, 28) at each end has a flap (26, 34) partially cut therefrom
which is folded inwardly and is received into the end of the hollow roll (11). In
this way the roll (11) is rotatably secured within the box (10). When a lid (18) of
the box (10) is opened, the removal of sheet material from the roll (11) in the box
(10) will tend to pull the roll (11) from the box (10), and the flaps (26, 30) prevent
this. Preferably at least one of the flaps (26, 30) is eccentrically tapered. The
box preferably has Y shaped valley creases (37) at each end of opposing side panels
(10, 14) such that application of pressure to the creases (37) allows inward compression
of the opposing side panels and the roll (11) in order to centralise the roll (11)
within the box. |
[0002] It is well known that many sheet materials for domestic use are sold in roll-form. Such materials include aluminium foil, greaseproof paper, plastics cling film and similar products. Such sheet material will be referred to herein as 'foil'.
[0003] Normally, the rolls are not sold loose, but are sold in a box. The foil of the roll is supported on a hollow cylinder, and the box conforms generally to the size of the roll, but usually has a square or rectangular cross-section. Such boxes are generally formed by folding a sheet of cardboard material, the sheet being folded to form the side panels of the box, and ends panels cut into the sheet are then overlapped and bonded together to give the box its three-dimensional shape. Part of the box is in the form of a lid which can be opened to enable access to the roll in the box. It is also known to provide a serrated edge on an edge of the box which is exposed when the lid is open, to enable the foil to be cut.
[0004] The intention of such an arrangement is that the roll remains in the box and the foil material is drawn from the roll as it is needed. However, since the roll is loose in the box, the force of pulling foil from the roll may pull the roll out of the box. This is annoying to the user, but also can lead to the foil becoming dirty.
[0005] The present invention seeks to provide an arrangement in which the roll is held in the box, but the foil material can be drawn from the roll as needed. Therefore, the roll must rotate in the box as the foil is drawn therefrom. On the other hand, it is necessary for the means for retaining the roll in the box to be relatively simple, since the box is perceived by the user as 'packaging' of the roll, and therefore the user is unlikely to be willing to pay an additional amount for the advantage of holding the roll in the box.
[0006] Therefore, the present invention proposes that each end of the box has at least one flap in an end panel which is foldable inwardly to be received within the ends of the hollow cylinder of the roll. The or each flap then retains the hollow cylinder, and hence the roll, in the box but requires only a cut being made in the appropriate end panels to enable the flap to be formed therefrom by folding.
[0007] Preferably, at least two flaps are provided at each end of the box. The two flaps are then preferably spaced apart to limit the movement of the roll within the box. If there is only one flap, there is a risk that movement of the roll may force the flaps out of the ends of the hollow cylinder, this is less likely to happen if there is more than one flap at each end. Indeed, if two generally parallel, but spaced apart, flaps are provided, it is very unlikely that movement of the roll will move both flaps out of the end of the cylinder, particularly because of the movement of the roll is constrained by the side panels of the box itself. It is straightforward to provide up to three flaps, since the box normally has three overlapping end panels, and thus a flap can be formed in each.
[0008] The size and shape of the flaps will depend on the size of the hollow cylinder. In general, some play needs to be provided to permit the cylinders to rotate. Although it may be desirable to provide some tapering of the flap as it extends into the hollow cylinder, this tapering should not be too great as there is then a risk of the narrower part of the flap being insufficiently strong to hold the roll in place. Limited tapering of the flaps provides a centring of the roll, which is useful when the roll rotates. Preferably, the flaps are eccentrically tapered, one side of the flap being sloped to a greater degree than the opposing side. This eccentric tapering assists with machine erection of the box. Where more than one flap is present at each end of the box, they do not all have to be tapered.
[0009] Preferably, when the box and roll are sold the flaps are planar with the end panels, and the user presses the panels inwardly into the hollow cylinder of the roll. If flaps are provided in only some of the end panels, then other end panels may have holes therein to enable access to the flaps. Alternatively, however, the flaps may be deformed into the hollow cylinder of the roll before the box and roll are sold. In this latter case, it may be useful for there to be some covering over the flaps to prevent insects, or other unsuitable material, entering the box via the opening formed by the defamation of the flaps. As in known arrangements, the side panels of the box will normally include a lid which can be unfolded to enable access to the roll and/or a serrated edge for cutting the foil.
[0010] The box may have a valley crease at each end of the opposing side panels and also provided on one or both of the other panels, whereby application of pressure to opposing creases at one end of the box causes inward compression of the side panels and allows centralisation of the roll within the box, such that the inwardly folded flaps can be received within the hollow cylinder of the roll. Preferably, the creases are Y shaped.
[0011] An embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 is a front view of the open box;
Fig. 2 is an end view with the end flaps bent outwards;
Fig. 3 is a side view of the end flaps in position; and
Fig. 4 is a cut out of the unassembled box.
[0012] Referring first to Fig. 1, a box for containing a roll 11 has a front 10, base 12, back 14, lid 16, opening flap 18 and two end sections 20,22. The front 10, base 12, back 14 and lid 16 are identical rectangles folded along their long edges such that the front 10, base 12 and back 14 form three sides of a square. The lid 16 forms the fourth side when it is in the closed position. The dimensions of the rectangle are determined by the roll 11 to fit in the box. The length of the box should normally be a few millimetres more than the length of the roll 11.
[0013] The opening flap 18 extends from the front edge of the lid 16 and is a rectangle having the same length as the lid but may have a different width. Preferably, the opening flap 18 is wider than the front 10 so that when closed i.e. flush with the front 10, it extends beyond the bottom edge of the front 10. The opening flap 18 may be glued in place.
[0014] The end sections 20,22 are formed from three end panels (see Figs. 2 and 3). The first panel 24 extends from the base 12. The first panel is square, the length of the side being slightly less than the short side of the base 12. When the box is assembled, the first panel forms right angles with the front 10, base 12 and back 14. A first flap 26 is cut or perforated in the first panel 24. The first flap 26 should be small enough to fit inside the cylinder and cut out of the centre of the first panel 24. The first flap 26 is square in the embodiment, but other shapes may be used.
[0015] A second panel 28 extends from the back 14 of the box. The second panel 28 is similar in size to the first panel 24 and when the box is assembled is parallel to, and on the outside of the first panel 24. The second panel 28 also has a flap cut or perforated in it. The second flap 30 is trapezoidal; the long parallel edge being the hinge. The second flap 30 is cut centrally and must be able to fit through a hole corresponding in size to the first flap 26. Again the second flap 30 may have other shapes.
[0016] A third end panel 32 extends from the front 10 of the box. It is similar in size to the first 24 and second 28 panels and when the box is assembled parallel to and on the outside of them. A hole, in this embodiment a circular hole 34, is cut in the third panel 32. Alternatively, the hole may be created by opening a perforated or cut flap.
[0017] The three end panels 24,28,32 are adhered together when the box is formed into its three-dimensional shape, although the flaps 26,30,34 must remain free.
[0018] A fourth flap, the top flap 36, extends downwards from the lid 16 of the box. In this embodiment, this flap 36 is L-shaped, the downward arm of the L being toward the front of the box. The flap 36 may alternatively be U-shaped. The top flap 36 is tucked into the box and the projecting ends of the U or L shape of the top flap 36 hold the lid 16 in place by friction. The dimensions of the top flap 36 should be such that it does not obstruct the opening of the square flap 26 and the trapezium flap 30.
[0019] Preferably, the box containing the roll is sold with the flaps 26,30 flush with the panels 24,28 respectively.
[0020] The user can then insert a finger through the hole 34 which will make contact with the second panel 30, push that flap 30 inwardly, the flap 30 pivoting about its hinged edge 31. As this happens, the flap 30 is pushed against the flap 26 which pivots about its hinged edge 27. The result in shown in Fig. 3; the flaps 26 and 30 are forced into a hollow cylinder within the roll 11, thereby retaining the roll 11 in place in the box 10. That hollow cylinder may be, for example, a cardboard tube which supports the foil of the roll. Inward compression of side panels 10 and 14 by application of pressure to valley creases 37 in the side panels 10 and 14 allows centralisation of the roll 11 within the box 10, prior to inward folding of flaps 26 and 30.
[0021] It would also be possible for the flaps 26,30 to be forced inwardly to the position shown in Fig. 3 by a mechanical arrangement, prior to the sale of the box and roll. Furthermore, if the hole 34 is closed by a third flap when the box and roll are sold, that flap may be completely detachable, to form the hole 34, or may itself be hinged at a part of the edge of the hole 34, to form a third flap. In such cases, it is preferable for the three flaps to be generally perpendicular to the first and second flaps 26,30, to hold them apart within the hollow cylinder of the roll 11. This is particularly advantageous in the arrangement shown in this embodiment in which the first and second flaps 26,30 are generally parallel and spaced apart when they are pushed into the hollow cylinder of the roll 11.
1. A container having an outer box (10) containing a hollow roll (11) therein;
characterised in that:
the ends of the box adjacent the open ends of the roll ends have at least one inwardly folding flap (26, 30) which is foldable between a withdrawn position clear of the roll (11)and an operational position in which part of the or each flap (26, 30) is received within the roll (11) to restrict movement of the roll (11)in the box (10).
characterised in that:
the ends of the box adjacent the open ends of the roll ends have at least one inwardly folding flap (26, 30) which is foldable between a withdrawn position clear of the roll (11)and an operational position in which part of the or each flap (26, 30) is received within the roll (11) to restrict movement of the roll (11)in the box (10).
2. A container according to claim 1, wherein the flap(s) (26,30) restrict lateral movement
of the roll (11) in the box (10), but permit rotation of the roll (11), when in the
operational position.
3. A container according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the ends of the box (10) comprise
a plurality of end panels (24, 28, 32), and the flap(s) (26, 30) are formed in at
least one end panel (24, 28) with the withdrawn position being planer with the corresponding
end panel (24, 28).
4. A container according to claim 3, wherein an outer one of the end panels (32) has
a hole (34) therein to provide access to the flap(s) (26, 30) at that end of the box
(10) for moving the flap(s) (26, 30) to the operational position.
5. A container according to claim 4, wherein the hole has a releasable cover.
6. A container according to any one of the preceding claims, having a plurality of flaps
(26, 30) at each end of the box (10).
7. A container according to claim 6, wherein the axis of folding of the plurality of
flaps (26, 30) at each end of the box (10) are substantially parallel when in the
operational position.
8. A container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least some of
the flaps (30) taper towards the free ends thereof.
9. A container according to claim 8, wherein the tapering is eccentric.
10. A container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the sides of the
box (10) adjacent the ends thereof have creases (37) for permitting deformation of
the sides of the box (10) so as to contact the roll (11).
11. A container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the box (10) has
a lid (18) to permit access to the roll (11).
12. A container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the roll (11) carries
sheet material.
13. A blank for forming a box (10) for housing a roll (11) having a main part (10, 12,
14, 16) deformable to form sides of the box (10) and at least one end panel (24, 28,
32) at each end of the main part (10, 12, 14, 16) for forming respective ends of the
box (10);
characterised in that:
the at least one end panel (24, 28, 32) at each end has a cut-out flap (26, 30) which is foldable out of the plane of the main part.
characterised in that:
the at least one end panel (24, 28, 32) at each end has a cut-out flap (26, 30) which is foldable out of the plane of the main part.