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EP 1 012 055 B1 |
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EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION |
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Mention of the grant of the patent: |
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30.10.2002 Bulletin 2002/44 |
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Date of filing: 19.05.1998 |
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International Patent Classification (IPC)7: B65D 19/00 |
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International application number: |
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PCT/GB9801/443 |
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International publication number: |
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WO 9805/2829 (26.11.1998 Gazette 1998/47) |
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PALLET
PALETTE
PALETTE
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Designated Contracting States: |
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AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE |
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Priority: |
20.05.1997 GB 9710478
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Date of publication of application: |
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28.06.2000 Bulletin 2000/26 |
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Proprietor: Johnson, Brian Patrick |
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Sherfield-on-Loddon,
Hampshire RG27 0EX (GB) |
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Inventor: |
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- Johnson, Brian Patrick
Sherfield-on-Loddon,
Hampshire RG27 0EX (GB)
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Representative: Bubb, Antony John Allen |
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Wilson Gunn Gee,
Chancery House,
Chancery Lane London WC2A 1QU London WC2A 1QU (GB) |
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References cited: :
WO-A-96/17784 GB-A- 620 701
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DE-U- 9 213 681 GB-A- 1 220 883
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Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European
patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to
the European patent
granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall
not be deemed to
have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent
Convention).
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[0001] The present invention relates to a structural member, particularly although not exclusively
for use in packaging.
[0002] Conventionally, goods have been stored and/or transported on pallets which have usually
been of timber construction. Timber is a disadvantageous material for pallets as it
is heavy, splinters and is likely to fracture when dropped, particularly when allowed
to fall so that a corner of the pallet impacts the ground first. There have therefore
been many attempts to provide a pallet and/or palletised container, tray, or the like
which overcomes these disadvantages.
[0003] More recently, increased environmental awareness and the desire to promote re-cycling
has brought forward a number of proposals for cardboard pallets. For example, British
Patent Specification No. 1 519 741 (ASHTON) describes a rectangular box which is formed
of a blank of stiff material and includes four side walls supporting pairs of opposing
bottom closure flaps which overlap one another and are provided with tubular bearers
which are spaced apart and extend across the bottom of the box, the bearers being
formed by a second folded blank of stiff material. This box has the disadvantage that
the bearers are not integrated with the box thereby weakening the overall structure.
That is, the bearers must be assembled separately and then fitted to the box. Disadvantageously,
the weight of the box is supported by the relatively thin bottom wall of the box when
it is lifted by the tines of a forklift truck rendering it unsuitable for heavy loads
in particular; moreover the bottom of the box and its contents are easily damaged
if the tines are advanced at too high a level.
[0004] In GB 620 701 A, there is disclosed a portable materials handling pallet adapted
for use in lift truck operations, having tubular supporting members.
[0005] It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved structural member
for use in packaging which is also strong, stiff, resistant to impact, simple to assemble
and disassemble, easily stored and biodegradable. The member may be formed as a separate
element for use individually or within another structure such as, for example, furniture,
or as an integral part of a larger structure such as a box, a pallet or the like.
[0006] It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved structural
member which is suitable for fabrication from not only corrugated fibreboard but other
suitable materials including, but not limited to, sheet plastics materials and composites.
[0007] According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a structural member
for use in packaging including a plurality of wall forming panels delimited by a set
of substantially parallel transverse fold-lines and having at least two flaps extending
from a common one of said fold-lines, at least one of said flaps including a further
fold-line, wherein the flaps are sized such that their free ends abut different selected
ones of said transverse fold-lines thereby providing a diagonally-braced structural
member.
[0008] According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a blank
for forming a structural member which blank includes a portion of stiff material foldable
at a plurality of substantially parallel lines of weakness made therein to form a
beam having at least four walls and at least two flaps extending from a common one
of said lines of weakness, at least one of said flaps including a further line of
weakness, wherein the flaps abut different selected ones of said transverse fold-lines
thereby providing a diagonally-braced structural member.
[0009] According to a still further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a
method of forming a structural member for use in packaging which includes the steps
of forming a pair of flaps in a blank, one of said flaps being formed with a fold
line and subsequently arranging said flaps to provide diagonally opposed cross-bracing
of a beam formed by folding said blank about a further set of substantially parallel
transverse fold-lines, such that their free ends abut different selected ones of said
transverse fold-lines.
[0010] It will be apparent that the member may be formed with four or more sides of single
or more thickness and that any suitable material may be utilised which has the requisite
stiffness yet which is capable of being folded to form the braced member. In particular,
a plastics material may be used. Such a material might allows sterilisation of the
entire member to facilitate use in a sterile environment. Equally, the high strength
to weight ratio is advantageous for air-freight packaging applications.
[0011] The member may be incorporated in numerous forms of packaging, including, but not
limited to, pallets and palletised containers of the two-way and four-way entry type.
The member may also be formed as an inexpensive separate component for use in other
non-packaging applications where its high strength to weight ratio and stiffness provides
many benefits.
[0012] In order to aid in understanding the invention some specific embodiments thereof
will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings,
in which:
Figure 1 is a plan view of a flat blank for a structural element according to the
invention;
Figures 2a to 2d are side views of the blank of Figure 1 showing steps in the formation
of the structural element;
Figure 3 is a plan view of a variant of the structural element of Figure 1 having
double thickness walls;
Figure 4 is an oblique parallel view of the assembled element of Figure 3;
Figure 5 is a plan view of a flat blank for a four-way entry pallet incorporating
the structural element of Figure 4;
Figure 6 is a plan view of a blank for a reinforcing base of the pallet of Figure
5;
Figure 7 is an oblique parallel view of the assembled pallet of Figure 5; and
Figure 8 is a plan view of a flat blank for a box incorporating the structural element
of Figure 4.
[0013] Referring to Figures 1 and 2, there is shown a flat blank 1 of material, suitably
corrugated cardboard, although alternatively a plastics or composite material may
be employed. The corrugations or flutes are arranged to run perpendicular to transverse
fold lines C to G shown in broken line on the Figure.
[0014] The blank 1 has four wall panels 2,3,4,5 and a pair of flaps 6,7 which, when assembled,
form a structural element or rectangular cross-section beam 8, as shown in the sequence
of views of Figure 2. As is clear from the Figures, the flaps 6,7 extend from a common
fold-line D, the larger flap 7 being subdivided by fold C into two portions 7a,7b.
The fold line C is necessary to provide opposing diagonal cross-bracing to that provided
by the smaller flap 6. Once assembled the beam 8 is prevented from unravelling by
adhesive, clip or staple means. Alternatively, rather than using an adhesive it has
been found convenient, particularly where the application requires re-use, to place
a layer of non-slip sheet material (not shown) on the flat blank which sheet is then
sandwiched between the facing surfaces of the blank as it is formed into the structural
element. It then being necessary only to either clip, tape or otherwise secure the
element to form a strong and resilient structure. Such an approach is particularly
useful where the element is formed with double or more thickness walls as is described
in more detail below.
[0015] Figure 3, shows a variant of the blank of Figure 1, in which additional diagonal
cross-bracing is provided to the beam 9 by a third flap 10. The beam 9 is further
reinforced by having an additional thickness added to each wall of the beam 9 by panels
11, 12, 13 and 14.
[0016] A structural element as described above may be incorporated in any form of palletised
packaging e.g. palletised tray, pallet, pallet box or the like. Thus with reference
to the remaining Figures, a four-way entry pallet 26 may be formed from blanks 15,16.
The main blank 15 has integral leg-forming structural elements 17a-c of the double-wall
dual-flap type. A pair of tongues 18a, 18b are each attached via parallel fold-lines
19a,19b to opposite sides of a base panel 19. The separate blank 16 has a floor panel
20 to which is attached, again via parallel fold-lines 21a,21b, a pair of panels 22a,22b.
A rectangular keying panel 23 is adhesively or otherwise suitably secured to the upper
surface of the blank.
[0017] The pallet 26 is assembled by first securing the separate blank 16 to the main blank
15 so that the floor panel 20 overlies the base 19. The panels 22a,22b are then folded
around the ends of the base 19 and secured to its underside. It will be noted that
the panels 22a,22b do not extend completely underneath the base 19, instead the tongues
18a,18b are folded and secured underneath the base 19; consequently a rigid, strong
pallet platform 24 is formed.
[0018] The next stage is for the structural elements 17a-d to be folded in the manner described
above with reference to Figure 1 to form legs 25 at each corner of the pallet 26.
Finally, the keying panel 23 allows a sleeve (not shown) to be positioned on top of
the platform 24, if required.
[0019] A further example of the use of the structural element in packaging is shown in Figure
8, where there is illustrated a blank 28 for a box which includes the structural element
described above in relation to Figure 3. The blank includes not only a set of four
side walls 29a,29b,29c,29d but also a set of four top flaps 30a,30b,30c,30d. Such
a box is particularly suitable for manufacture from a plastics material.
[0020] It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the structural element described
above has applications not only within the packaging field but also in other areas
such as furniture, where a rigid lightweight and strong beam is required. Although
the above embodiments describe a rectangular cross-section beam, it will be apparent
that other forms of polygonal cross-section are possible where the included angle
between adjacent wall forming panels will be less than 90°. Furthermore, the structural
element may be formed as individual pads or beams for providing support to existing
containers and articles.
1. A structural member for use in packaging including a plurality of wall forming panels
(2,3,4,5) delimited by a set of substantially parallel transverse fold-lines (D to
G) and having at least two flaps (6,7,10) extending from a common one of said fold-lines
(D to G), at least one of said flaps (6,7,10) including a further fold-line (C), wherein
the flaps (6,7,10) are sized much that their free ends abut different selected ones
of said transverse fold-lines (D to G) thereby providing a diagonally-braced structural
member.
2. A member as claimed in Claim 1, having a polygonal cross-section.
3. A member as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the cross-section is rectangular.
4. A member as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein there are sufficient wall forming
panels (2,3,4,5) to provide a multi-layer wall.
5. A member as claimed in any preceding Claim, formed from a corrugated material.
6. A member as claimed in Claim 5, wherein the corrugations are perpendicular to the
transverse fold lines (C to G).
7. A member as claimed in any preceding Claim, formed from a plastics material.
8. A member as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein a sheet of non-slip material is
provided between facing surfaces of the wall forming panels (2,3,4,5).
9. A blank (1) for forming a structural member as claimed in Claims 1 to 8, includes
a portion of stiff material foldable at a plurality of substantially parallel lines
of weakness (D to G) made therein to form a beam (8) having at least four walls (2,3,4,5)
and at least two flaps (6,7,10) extending from a common one of said lines of weakness
(D to G), at least one of said flaps (6,7,10) including a further line of weakness
(C), wherein the flaps (6,7,10) abut different selected ones of said transverse fold-lines
(D to G) thereby providing a diagonally-braced structural member.
10. A method of forming a structural member as claimed in Claims 1 to 8, includes the
steps of forming a pair of flaps (6,7,10) in a blank (1), one of said flaps (6,7,10)
being formed with a fold line (C) and subsequently arranging said flaps (6,7,10) to
provide diagonally opposed cross-bracing of a beam (8) formed by folding said blank
(1) about a further set of substantially parallel transverse fold-lines (D to G) such
that their free ends abut different selected ones of said transverse fold-lines (D
to G).
1. Strukturelles Element zum Einsatz in Verpackung, das eine Vielzahl von wandbildenden
Platten (2, 3, 4, 5) enthält, die durch eine Gruppe im Wesentlichen paralleler Quer-Falzlinien
(D bis G) begrenzt werden und wenigstens zwei Laschen (6, 7, 10) aufweisen, die sich
von einer gemeinsamen der Falzlinien (D bis G) aus erstrecken, und wenigstens eine
der Laschen (6, 7, 10) eine weitere Falzlinie (C) enthält, wobei die Laschen (6, 7,
10) so bemessen sind, dass ihre freien Enden an verschiedenen, ausgewählten der Quer-Falzlinien
(D bis G) anliegen, so dass ein diagonal verstrebtes strukturelles Element gebildet
wird.
2. Element nach Anspruch 1, das einen vieleckigen Querschnitt hat.
3. Element nach Anspruch 2, wobei der Querschnitt rechteckig ist.
4. Element nach einem der vorangehenden Ansprüche, wobei ausreichend wandbildende Platten
(2, 3, 4, 5) vorhanden sind, um eine mehrschichtige Wand zu bilden.
5. Element nach einem der vorangehenden Ansprüche, das aus einem gewellten Material besteht.
6. Element nach Anspruch 5, wobei die Wellen senkrecht zu den Quer-Falzlinien (C bis
G) sind.
7. Element nach einem der vorangehenden Ansprüche, das aus einem Kunststoffmaterial besteht.
8. Element nach einem der vorangehenden Ansprüche, wobei eine Lage aus rutschfestem Material
zwischen einander zugewandten Flächen der wandbildenden Platten (2, 3, 4, 5) vorhanden
ist.
9. Rohling (1) zum Herstellen eines strukturellen Elementes nach den Ansprüchen 1 bis
8, der einen Abschnitt aus steifem Material enthält, der an einer Vielzahl im Wesentlichen
paralleler Linien geringerer Festigkeit (D bis G), die darin ausgebildet sind, gefaltet
werden kann, um einen Träger (8) mit wenigstens vier Wänden (2, 3, 4, 5) und wenigstens
zwei Laschen (6, 7, 10), die sich von einer gemeinsamen der Linien geringerer Festigkeit
(D bis G) aus erstrecken, herzustellen, wobei wenigstens eine der Laschen (6, 7, 10)
eine weitere Linie geringer Festigkeit (C) enthält und die Laschen (6, 7, 10) an unterschiedlichen,
ausgewählten der Quer-Falzlinien ( D bis G) anliegen, so dass ein diagonal verstrebtes
strukturelles Element gebildet wird.
10. Verfahren zum Herstellen eines strukturellen Elementes nach den Ansprüchen 1 bis 8,
das die Schritte des Ausbildens eines Paars Laschen (6, 7, 10) in einem Rohling (1),
wobei eine der Laschen (6, 7, 10) mit einer Falzlinie (C) versehen ist, und des anschließenden
Anordnens der Laschen (6, 7, 10) einschließt, um diagonal einander gegenüberliegende
Querverstrebung eines Trägers (8) zu bilden, der hergestellt wird, indem der Rohling
(1) um eine weitere Gruppe im Wesentlichen paralleler Quer-Falzlinien (D bis G) so
gefaltet wird, dass ihre freien Enden an verschiedenen, ausgewählten der Quer-Falzlinien
(D bis G) anliegen.
1. Elément de structure destiné à être utilisé dans l'emballage, comportant une pluralité
de panneaux de formation de paroi (2, 3, 4, 5) délimités par un ensemble de lignes
de pliage transversales sensiblement parallèles (D à G) et ayant au moins deux volets
(6, 7, 10) s'étendant à partir d'une ligne de pliage commune parmi lesdites lignes
de pliage (D à G), au moins un desdits volets (6, 7, 10) comportant une autre ligne
de pliage (C), les volets (6, 7, 10) étant dimensionnés de sorte que leurs extrémités
libres viennent en butée avec des lignes sélectionnées différentes parmi lesdites
lignes de pliage transversales (D à G) en fournissant ainsi un élément de structure
à entretoisement en diagonale.
2. Elément selon la revendication 1, ayant une section transversale polygonale.
3. Elément selon la revendication 2, dans lequel la section transversale est rectangulaire.
4. Elément selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel il y a
suffisamment de panneaux de formation de paroi (2, 3, 4, 5) pour fournir une paroi
multicouche.
5. Elément selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, formé à partir d'un
matériau ondulé.
6. Elément selon la revendication 5, dans lequel les ondulations sont perpendiculaires
aux lignes de pliage transversales (C à G).
7. Elément selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, formé à partir d'une
matière plastique.
8. Elément selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel une feuille
de matériau non-glissant est agencée entre des surfaces en vis-à-vis des panneaux
de formation de paroi (2, 3, 4, 5).
9. Ebauche (1) pour former un élément de structure selon l'une quelconque des revendications
1 à 8, comportant une partie de matériau rigide pouvant être pliée au niveau d'une
pluralité de lignes de faiblesse sensiblement parallèles (D à G) constituées dans
celui-ci, pour former une poutre (8) ayant au moins quatre parois (2, 3, 4, 5) et
au moins deux volets (6, 7, 10) s'étendant à partir d'une ligne commune parmi lesdites
lignes de faiblesse (D à G), au moins un desdits volets (6, 7, 10) comportant une
autre ligne de faiblesse (C), les volets (6, 7, 10) venant en butée avec des lignes
de pli sélectionnées différentes parmi lesdites lignes de pli transversales (D à G)
en fournissant ainsi un élément de structure à entretoisement en diagonale.
10. Procédé de formation d'un élément de structure selon l'une quelconque des revendications
1 à 8, comportant les étapes consistant à former une paire de volets (6, 7, 10) dans
une ébauche (1), un desdits volets (6, 7, 10) étant formé à l'aide d'une ligne de
pliage (C) et agencer par la suite lesdits volets (6, 7, 10) pour fournir un entretoisement
opposé en diagonale d'une poutre (8) formée par pliage de ladite ébauche (1) autour
d'un autre ensemble de lignes de pliage transversales sensiblement parallèles (D à
G) de sorte que leurs extrémités libres viennent en butée sur des lignes de pliage
sélectionnées différentes parmi lesdites lignes de pliage transversales (D à G).