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(11) | EP 4 299 469 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | HANGER FOR BOXES MADE OF CARDBOARD AND THE LIKE |
| (57) A hanger (1) for boxes (50) for the transport of items of clothing and the like,
comprising a body provided by folding a sheet (2) onto itself which forms mutually
adjacent flat portions separated by folding lines, in order to form the hanger, the
sheet being adapted to form a three-dimensional body, and comprising a tubular reinforcement
element (5) adapted to be inserted within the three-dimensional body, acting as a
reinforcement for the hanger.
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[0001] The present invention relates to a hanger for boxes made of cardboard and the like. More particularly, the invention relates to a hanger adapted to be used in moving boxes or for boxes used by clothing factories.
[0002] As is known, boxes that have a hanger bar inserted inside them are usually used for the transport of items of clothing. Said hanger bar is normally made of plastic material and is coupled to the walls of the box.
[0003] The hanger bar is interlocked at the side walls of the box, and is normally made monolithically of plastic material, metal or the like, and this involves difficulties in shipping and disposal.
[0004] In greater detail, while a box made of cardboard can be shipped flat, i.e., completely opened to be then assembled on the spot, the hanger bar is a three-dimensional body that cannot be flattened and therefore shipped together with a flat cardboard box.
[0005] Because of this, the shipping and storage of cardboard boxes cannot be combined with the shipping and storage of hanger bars in a single package, or, if this occurs, the packages cannot be mutually stacked easily, since it is necessary to pair flattened cardboard boxes with three-dimensional hanger bars.
[0006] The aim of the present invention is to provide a hanger for boxes made of cardboard and the like that has a high resistance to bending stress.
[0007] Within the scope of this aim, an object of the present invention is to provide a hanger for boxes made of cardboard and the like that can be assembled on the spot or is already assembled.
[0008] Another object of the present invention is to provide a hanger for boxes made of cardboard and the like that can be shipped in a flat configuration to be then assembled when desired.
[0009] Another object of the present invention is to provide a hanger for boxes made of cardboard and the like that can be made of the same material as the box or of a different material.
[0010] Not least object of the present invention is to provide a hanger for boxes made of cardboard and the like that is highly reliable, relatively easy to provide and at competitive costs.
[0011] This aim and these and other objects which will become better apparent hereinafter are achieved by a hanger for boxes for the transport of items of clothing and the like, comprising a body provided by folding a sheet onto itself which forms mutually adjacent flat portions separated by folding lines, in order to form said hanger, said sheet being adapted to form a three-dimensional body, characterized in that it comprises a tubular reinforcement element adapted to be inserted within said three-dimensional body, acting as a reinforcement for said hanger.
[0012] Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become better apparent from the description of preferred but not exclusive embodiments of the hanger according to the invention, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Figure 1 is a plan view of the extension of the hanger according to the present invention;
Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the hanger according to the present invention with the reinforcement;
Figures 3-9 are perspective views of the steps of the assembly of the hanger according to the present invention;
Figure 10 is a plan view of the extension of a box adapted to accommodate the hanger according to the present invention;
Figure 11 is a perspective view of the hanger according to the invention during insertion in the box;
Figure 12 is a perspective view of the box of the preceding figures, with the hanger inserted;
Figures 13 and 14 are perspective views of the box during closure.
[0013] With reference to the figures, in which identical reference numerals correspond to identical elements, the hanger according to the invention, designated by the reference numeral 1, is provided by a flat die-cut element which forms a sheet 2 and by a tubular reinforcement element 5, both made of cardboard or other suitable material which is in any case recyclable.
[0014] The tubular element can be assembled with straps or the like, or with a die-cut interlock or, as an alternative, glued.
[0015] Conveniently, the tubular element 5 can be provided with a circular cross-section (as shown in the figures), with a square one or with another suitable cross-section.
[0016] Still furthermore, the tubular element 5 can have inside it a further tubular element, which is coaxial, so as to increase its resistance to bending stress.
[0017] The sheet 2 has a central region provided by three adjacent central regions 3a, 3b, 3c adapted to fold onto themselves in order to form a three-dimensional body of the hanger, in combination with opposite lateral regions 8.
[0019] Between the regions 3a and 3b and between the regions 3c and 8, there are notches 7 arranged at right angles with respect to the extension of said regions.
[0020] The tubular element 5 is adapted to be inserted within the three-dimensional body obtained by folding the sheet 2, in order to act as a reinforcement and give greater rigidity to the hanger.
[0021] Each central region 3a, 3b, 3c ends, at each one of its ends, with a tab 4a, 4b, 4c which has the purpose of allowing engagement with the side walls of a box 50, as will be described hereinafter.
[0022] The tab 4a has the same width dimension as the width dimension of the central region 3a, while the tabs 4b and 4c have a trapezoidal shape.
[0023] Conveniently, the tab 4a is provided with a hole 20 for the passage of the tubular element 5.
[0024] The sheet 2 constitutes the three-dimensional body of the hanger and the tubular element 5 constitutes an inner reinforcement thereof, being inserted inside the body provided by the folding of the sheet 2 onto itself.
[0025] The hanger according to the invention is adapted to be inserted in a box 50, with the tabs 4a, 4b and 4c superimposed when the central regions 3a, 3b, 3c are folded onto themselves, said tabs being adapted to be inserted in vertical slots 51 formed in the side walls of the box 50 at the folding line between the side wall 52 and the upper closure flap 53.
[0026] The upper closure flap 53 is provided by three distinct flaps 53a, 53b and 53c. The flap 53c contains a recess which forms, together with a corresponding recess of the side wall 52, the vertical slot 51.
[0027] The flap 53b is instead provided with a hole 21 for the passage of the tubular element 5 and for its locking.
[0028] Essentially, the flap 53b with the corresponding hole 21 acts as a locking element for the tubular reinforcement element 5.
[0031] The tubular element 5 is then positioned on the first sheet 2, at the region 4a (Figures 7, 8) and then the first sheet 2 is folded onto itself with the central reinforcement 5 kept inside and kept locked by means of glue or other suitable fixing means, so as to obtain a three-dimensional hanger 1 with the notches 7 arranged in view so as to straddle the upper face and the lateral face of the body of the hanger.
[0034] The hanger thus obtained is then inserted in the box 50, inserting the tabs 4a-4c, which protrude from each end of the body of the hanger, within the vertical slots 51, with the tabs 4a-4c that protrude from each slot and are folded downward, adjacent to the side wall 52 of the box.
[0035] The tabs 4a-4c are contained within the space defined by the folding of the flap 53b onto the flap 53a, with the two flaps 53a and 53b adjacent to the side wall 52 of the box 50.
[0036] The tubular element 5 then passes within the hole 21 of the flap 53b that is folded against it.
[0039] Thus, for example, it is possible to provide the three-dimensional shape of the hanger with adhesive tape made of plastic or paper, or with straps made of plastic instead of the glue.
[0040] Furthermore, as a further stiffening of the hanger, it is possible to provide a reinforcement element 30 with a T-shaped or L-shaped cross-section, which is adapted to be placed under the body of the hanger, with the hanger interlocking in a notch 31 formed on the upper edge of the reinforcement element, at right angles to the reinforcement element, and configured to rest with the long side of the T-shape or L-shape on the bottom of the box, and with the short side of the T-shape or L-shape against a side wall of the box.
[0041] In practice it has been found that the hanger according to the invention fully achieves the intended aim and objects, since it allows to transform it from a flat configuration to a three-dimensional one, when needed, and therefore can be shipped open and flat, together with the corresponding box, also in a flat, open configuration.
[0042] Furthermore, the hanger according to the invention can be made of recycled cardboard and is extremely sturdy, despite being assembled in a flat configuration.
[0043] As mentioned, both the box 50 and the hanger 1 according to the invention are made of recycled cardboard. However, the materials of which the box 50 and the hanger 1 can be made, are disparate and comprise, for example, corrugated cardboard, flat cardboard, laminated cardboard (i.e., flat cardboard and corrugated cardboard), corrugated PP sheet, PVC plastic, mixed cardboard and plastic, honeycomb cardboard, reboard, Laminil®, mixed corrugated and honeycomb cardboard, mixed corrugated cardboard and reboard, and paperboard.
[0044] Furthermore, the hanger according to the invention can be shipped unfolded (flattened) or assembled (built).
[0045] The hanger thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the accompanying claims.
[0047] In practice, the materials used, as well as the contingent shapes and dimensions, may be any according to the requirements and the state of the art.
[0048] Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.
1. A hanger (1) for boxes (50) for the transport of items of clothing and the like, comprising
a body provided by folding a sheet (2) onto itself which forms mutually adjacent flat
portions separated by folding lines, in order to form said hanger, said sheet being
adapted to form a three-dimensional body, characterized in that it comprises a tubular reinforcement element (5) adapted to be inserted within said
three-dimensional body, acting as a reinforcement for said hanger.
2. The hanger according to claim 1, characterized in that said first sheet (2) has a central region provided by three adjacent regions (3a,
3b, 3c) adapted to fold onto themselves in order to form said three-dimensional body.
3. The hanger according to claim 1, characterized in that said adjacent regions (3a, 3b, 3c) end with tabs (4a, 4b, 4c) configured for engagement
with side walls (52) of a box (50).
4. The hanger according to claim 3, characterized in that a central tab (4a) of said tabs (4a, 4b, 4c) has a width dimension that is equal
to the width dimension of the respective central region (3a), lateral tabs (3b, 3c)
of said tabs having a triangular contour.
5. The hanger according to claim 4, characterized in that said central tab (4a) is provided with a hole (20) for the passage of said tubular
element (5).
6. The hanger according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said first sheet (2) is provided with notches (7) adapted to allow the engagement
of hooks (15) of coat hangers (16).
7. The hanger according to claim 6, characterized in that said notches (7) are adapted to be arranged at the external surface of said hanger.
8. A box, characterized in that it comprises a hanger (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims.
9. The box according to claim 8, characterized in that it comprises a pair of slots (51) formed at mutually opposite side walls, at the
folding line between said side walls and said upper closure of flaps of said box (50)
and adapted to be engaged by the tabs (4a, 4b, 4c) of said hanger.
10. The box according to claim 9, characterized in that said slots (51) are vertical.