U.S. patent application number 10/278818 was filed with the patent office on 2003-03-06 for cardboard box for containing and dispensing large quantities of wire.
This patent application is currently assigned to C.I.F.E. S.r.L.. Invention is credited to Cipriant, Giancarlo.
Application Number | 20030042163 10/278818 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 8243425 |
Filed Date | 2003-03-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030042163 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Cipriant, Giancarlo |
March 6, 2003 |
Cardboard box for containing and dispensing large quantities of
wire
Abstract
The cardboard box for containing and dispensing large quantities
of wire, especially metal wire for welding, comprises a cubic
external container with an open top side, an octagonal-base
internal container, fitting snugly into the external container and
being destined to contain a coil of wire, and a bag-type wrapper
made of a flexible airtight material, which is interposed between
the external and the internal containers so as completely to cover
the internal container and able to be closed and sealed
there-upon.
Inventors: |
Cipriant, Giancarlo;
(Bibbiena Stazione, IT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BROWDY AND NEIMARK, P.L.L.C.
PATENT AND TRADEMARK CAUSES
SUITE 300
624 NINTH STREET N.W.
WASHINGTON
DC
20001-5303
US
|
Assignee: |
C.I.F.E. S.r.L.
Arezzo
IT
|
Family ID: |
8243425 |
Appl. No.: |
10/278818 |
Filed: |
October 24, 2002 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10278818 |
Oct 24, 2002 |
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09826890 |
Apr 6, 2001 |
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6481575 |
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09826890 |
Apr 6, 2001 |
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09461378 |
Dec 15, 1999 |
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6237768 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
206/408 ;
242/171; 242/172 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 5/5033 20130101;
B65D 2519/00273 20130101; B65D 2519/00323 20130101; B65D 81/203
20130101; B65D 2519/00701 20130101; B65D 2519/00064 20130101; B65D
2519/00228 20130101; B65D 2519/00044 20130101; B65D 2519/00099
20130101; B65D 2519/00805 20130101; B65D 2519/00502 20130101; B65D
2519/00666 20130101; B65D 2519/00159 20130101; B65D 2519/00373
20130101; B65D 77/042 20130101; B65D 2519/00333 20130101; B65D
2519/00621 20130101; B65D 2519/00029 20130101; B65D 85/04 20130101;
B65D 19/20 20130101; B65D 2519/00562 20130101; B65D 2519/00019
20130101; B65D 2519/0086 20130101; B65D 2519/00208 20130101; B65D
2519/00786 20130101; B65D 2519/00288 20130101; B65D 2519/00815
20130101; B65D 2519/00711 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/408 ;
242/171; 242/172 |
International
Class: |
B65H 055/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 31, 1999 |
EP |
EP-99830333.3 |
Claims
In the claims:
1. A cardboard box for containing and dispensing large quantities
of wire as a packaged coil of wire, the coil having an axis,
axially opposite ends and an axially extending outer periphery
about the axis, said box comprising: a cubic square-base outer box
having inwardly facing and outwardly facing box side surfaces and a
top having a hole for removing the wire; an octagonal-base internal
container having inwardly facing and outwardly facing container
surfaces and being of such dimensions as to be fully containable
within said square-base area of said outer box such that a portion
of said outwardly facing container surfaces engages a portion of
said inwardly facing box side surfaces and the outer periphery of
the packaged coil is maintained by said inwardly facing container
surfaces when the axis of the coil is parallel to box side
surfaces, said internal container having about the same height as
said outer box and having a top opening.
2. The box of claim 1, further including an inner core positioned
coaxially with said internal container, said inner core being
superiorly open and having an inspection opening for allowing
visual inspection of the package coil.
3. The box of claim 1, further including four triangular
corner-pieces made of folded cardboard, said corner pieces having
about the same height as said outer box and which are interposed
between said inner container and said outer box at the vertically
extending corners of said outer box when said internal container is
fitted into said outer box.
4. The box of claim 1, further including a bottom base of said
outer box which is solidly anchored to a base pallet, said base
pallet comprising two supporting crossbeams arranged parallel to
one another; said crossbeams being slightly recessed from two
parallel edges of said pallet.
5. A cardboard box for containing and dispensing large quantities
of wire as a packaged coil of wire, the coil having an axis,
axially opposite ends and an axially extending outer periphery
about the axis, said box comprising: a cubic square-base outer box
having inwardly facing and outwardly facing box surfaces; an
octagonal-base internal container means having inwardly facing and
outwardly facing container surfaces and being of such dimensions as
to be fully containable within said square-base area of said outer
box such that a portion of said outwardly facing container surfaces
engage a portion of said inwardly facing box surfaces and the outer
periphery of the packaged coil is maintained by said inwardly
facing container surfaces, said internal container having about the
same height as said outer box.
6. A cardboard box for containing and dispensing large quantities
of wire as a packaged coil of wire, the coil having an axis,
axially opposite ends and an axially extending outer periphery
about the axis, said box comprising: a cubic square-base outer box
having inwardly facing and outwardly facing box surfaces; an
octagonal-base internal container having inwardly facing and
outwardly facing container surfaces and being of such dimensions as
to be fully containable within said square-base area of said outer
box such that a portion of said outwardly facing container surfaces
is supported by a portion of said inwardly facing box surfaces and
the outer periphery of the packaged coil ius maintained by said
inwardly facing container surfaces, said internal container having
about the same height as said outer box.
Description
[0001] This is a continuation of copending parent application Ser.
No. 09/826,890, filed Apr. 6, 2001, which is a continuation of
application Ser. No. 09/461,378, filed Dec. 15, 1999.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Special reference is made to boxes destined to contain coils
of large quantities of metal wire, in particular welding wire, with
weights going from about 50 kg. up to 400 kg.
[0003] The use of such large coils means that automatic welding
machines, which are fed with the wire, can operate for continuous
and extensive time periods.
[0004] The functions, feeding-in and unwinding modes, as well as
the type of stresses the boxes are subject to, all lead to very
considerable specialization in their design, i.e. very different to
the design specifications required for other types of containers or
packaging.
[0005] First of all, the continuous wire is deposited inside the
container in such a way that it can be dispensed therefrom without
risk of tangling; special geometrical arrangements are already
known for introducing the wire (not of direct interest to the
present invention, which uses known techniques), as are central
reels which prevent the wire from moving about during transport.
The wire is introduced into the box by special machines having
platforms on which the empty boxes are placed and from which, once
filled, they are removed with the help of special machines (due to
their weight). The box must therefore be of an easily maneuverable
type, whether empty or full.
[0006] The box must also be sufficiently sturdy to withstand
lateral stresses, which might otherwise cause unacceptable
deformations in the shape of the box itself and the coil of wire
contained therein, as well as axial stresses, so that several boxes
can be piled one on top of another without crushing any one box.
These stresses may be of quite large entity, especially if one
considers the amount of movement the boxes are subject to at the
various phases, such as when they are at the wire producer's plant,
when they are being loaded or unloaded (into a lorry, train or even
a ship), as well as when they are being delivered to the eventual
user.
[0007] The box must also be conformed so that it does not in any
way negatively influence the unwinding of the wire.
[0008] Before it is filled, the box has to be as easy as possible
to move and store. Once the wire has been used up, the box is not
generally regenerated for further use, so it should also be
economical and easy to dispose of.
[0009] A first known type of box of the above type is cylindrical
(in effect a piece of tubing) which is provided with ends, top and
bottom, generally having metal ribs to reinforce the box itself.
Sometimes these boxes are provided with handles, either made of
metal or other materials. These boxes are made of a specially tough
material, which, however, is expensive. Further disadvantages of
these boxes are that they have to be disposed of selectively, and
are just as big when empty as when full.
[0010] Generally cubic boxes have been devised which are made up
from folded card. These are economical, and can be easily and
efficiently destroyed by the user, but are also only limitedly
resistant and are therefore not favored by producers as they cause
problems during movement, nor are they preferred by users who often
receive them in a deformed state, which renders the wire difficult
to use. There exists a further problem, connected with the possible
corrosion of the wire which usually happens during sea transport
which at times can last for weeks or even months; none of the
existing boxes obviates this problem.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] The present invention provides a box which obviates all of
the problems and drawbacks described above.
[0012] A further aim of the present invention is to provide a box
whose size can be reduced when empty, which is nonetheless easy and
fast to assemble and which, after use, can be easily and
unproblematically disposed of.
[0013] An advantage of the invention is that it provides a box
preventing corrosion of the wire contained in it, even where it is
stored in potentially corrosive surroundings, such as in a ship's
hold.
[0014] A further advantage of the invention is that it can be
stored serially and stably, in considerable numbers.
[0015] These aims and advantages and others besides will all be
attained by the present invention as it is characterized in the
claims that follow.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION of the DRAWINGS
[0016] Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will
better emerge from the detailed description that follows, of some
preferred but non-exclusive embodiments, illustrated purely by way
of non-limiting example in the accompanying figures of the
drawings, in which:
[0017] FIG. 1 is a perspective view, with some parts removed better
to evidence others, of the box of the invention, in a non-closed
configuration;
[0018] FIG. 2 is a vertical elevation of the box in the sealed
configuration;
[0019] FIG. 3 is a view from above of the box, with some parts
removed better to evidence others.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0020] The box of the invention comprises an external container 1,
cube-shaped, having a square bottom base and open at the top--in
effect a normal cubic box with lateral flaps 1a which when closed
constitute either the top or the bottom base. As is usual in these
containers, the flaps 1a can be superposed one on another so as to
obtain double-layer top and bottom bases. The container 1 is
obtained by folding a sheet of pre-scored cardboard, with a
connection at an edge, achieved by use of metal staples, for
example, to obtain a lateral side of the container, and by folding
the various lateral flaps and connecting them up, for example using
adhesive tape, obtaining the bottom base and, when the container is
to be closed, also the top base.
[0021] The box comprises a base pallet 6 to which the bottom of the
box is anchored and which is the same size as the bottom base of
the box. Metal staples could be used to anchor the box flaps to the
pallet 6.
[0022] The pallet 6 is usually made of wood and comprises two
parallel lower crossbeams 6a arranged slightly recessed from the
base outline of the pallet 6 itself.
[0023] The box further comprises an internal container 2 which is
octagonal and which fits snugly into the outer box 1; the internal
container 2 is also of about the same height as the outer box 1,
and is superiorly open (there is in effect no top base on the
internal container 2). The internal container 2 is destined to
container the coils of wire 3. The lateral sides of the internal
container 2 are obtained by folding a pre-scored sheet of
cardboard.
[0024] In a possible configuration of the box, the bottom base 2a
of the internal container 2 is a flat octagonal element which is
inserted snugly into the internal container 2 itself. An inner core
2b is coaxially inserted on the bottom base 2a; this inner core 2b
is superiorly open and is obtained by folding a scored cardboard
sheet having also tabs at one end which will fit into slits made in
the base 2a. The inner core 2b, which is shorter than both
containers so as not to obstruct the wire 3 movement, can
advantageously be provided with longitudinal inspection slits 2c
for visual inspection of the state of the wire coil in the box. A
hook 7 can also be coaxially connected to the base 2a, to which, by
means of an elastic band 9, a transversal fixture element 10 can be
connected, constituted by a wooden rod or preferably a shaped piece
of cardboard. The upper edge of the inner core 2b is usually
provided with a smooth washer to facilitate wire movement.
[0025] Alternatively to the hook 7, with advantages both for the
simplicity of construction and for disposal and destruction of the
used box, beneath the base 2a, which may or may not be provided
with the inner core 2b and which has a central hole, a stop is
provided, for example a flat or elongate element which in any case
does not pass through the hole, on which the elastic band 9 coming
out of the central hole is threaded. The elastic band, as in the
previous case and with the same functions, is connected to the
fixture element 10. The bottom base of the internal container can
also be left out, with the internal container consequently being
made up only of the lateral surface, in this case the hook 7 can be
connected directly to the base pallet 6.
[0026] As the above embodiments are obvious, they are not
illustrated in the figures of the drawings.
[0027] In the spaces created at the edges of the external
container, between the internal container and the external
container, four triangular corner-pieces 5 made of folded cardboard
are inserted. The corner-pieces 5 are of about the same height as
the external container and are inserted during assembly of the
container between the external and the internal containers.
[0028] Finally, a bag-type wrapping 4, made of flexible airtight
material is interposed between the external and internal containers
so as to envelop the internal container. The open end of the
wrapping 4 faces and exits from the top base of the external
container and is sealed once the coil has been introduced into the
box.
[0029] For the wire unwinding/dispensing phase, a transparent
plastic cover 8 is used. The cover 8 has a square-section base 8a,
open downwards and of the right size to fit snugly on the box; it
has a truncoconical upper zone 8b which affords a hole 8c at its
top for the wire to come out of and a lateral opening 8d which
gives access to the inside of the cover 8. The cover 8 is given to
the user and can be re-used several times.
[0030] The box described is very simple and economical to make
inasmuch as the constituent parts are all made of cheap materials
(normal packaging cardboard, plastic or packaging papers, and
low-grade wood for the pallet), and can be transported in flat
packs and assembled directly at the wire producer's plant. First of
all, the external container 1 is assembled and stapled before being
stapled as a whole on to the pallet 6; the lateral surface of the
internal container 2 is assembled and inserted into the wrapping 4,
both then being introduced into the external container 1.
Differently to the external container, the cardboard of the
internal container might be advantageously covered at the join zone
with adhesive paper so as to avoid superposing one cardboard edge
over another for stapling, which might otherwise cause some
difficulty when inserting the internal container into the external
container.
[0031] Where the internal container is accompanied by an inner core
and a base, first the inner core is assembled before being
connected to the octagonal base. The hook 7, or stop to which the
elastic band 9 exiting from the base 2a is already connected, is
attached to the octagonal base. The assembly is then simply
inserted into the internal container 2.
[0032] Where an internal container with no base is used, the hook
7, which in this case will be self-tapping, is simply connected up
to the pallet 6.
[0033] The four triangular corner-pieces 5 are formed by folding
the special cardboard blanks and inserted into the corner
spaces.
[0034] As can be seen, the box can be fully assembled at the
wire-producer's plant, the whole operation being rapid and
simple.
[0035] The box is then arranged on a machine which inserts the wire
coil. During this operation the upper lateral flaps of the external
container are folded externalwise (see the figure) so as not to
obstruct the introduction of the wire; the wrapper 4 can
advantageously be folded down over the flaps so as keep them folded
back.
[0036] Once the wire has been introduced, a brake element 12 is
placed on the coil (the brake element 12 is schematically
illustrated in the figures and is of known type). The brake element
12 has the function of favoring a correct unwinding of the wire.
The fixture element 10 is then placed on the coil and anchored, by
means of the elastic band 9, to the hook 7 or stop, which fix it
with a downwards pull. As the inner core has the single function of
preventing movements of the coil, the core itself, as has been
mentioned, may even be left out. If this is the case, the
transversal fixture element 10 might be provided with a cylindrical
protuberance which could be inserted to a predetermined depth
internally of the coil and removed together with the transversal
fixture element, with considerable advantages when the coil is
unwound.
[0037] When the coil has been introduced, the wrapper 4 is folded
over the internal container and closed by heat-welding, gluing or
any other like method, after the air inside the wrapper has been
removed by aspiration. The wire is now in a vacuum pack with
obvious anticorrosion advantages. The lateral flaps are
subsequently closed, using for example adhesive paper. The box is
now ready for despatch.
[0038] Once it has arrived at its destination, the box is opened
and the fixture element removed. The cover 8 is fixed on the box to
facilitate wire unwinding. When empty, the box is easy to dispose
of. The wrapper 4 constitutes one of the particularities of the
box, as thanks to its position between the internal and external
containers it is not susceptible to tearing during transport, nor
does it obstruct the operations of introduction and unwinding of
the wire. What is more, it protects the internal container, and
especially the coil of wire contained therein, from atmospheric
agents, especially during sea transport.
[0039] Another particularity of the box is the special conformation
of the pallet 6 which, thanks to the slightly recessed position of
the crossbeams 6a with respect to the base of the pallet itself,
creating easily accessible gripping points, means that the whole
box can be moved not only by means of the usual forklift trucks but
also by bridge cranes equipped with normal slings whose hoist
cables can be safely and easily located in the recesses created by
the crossbeams 6a. Other types of box assemblies could also be used
with the same pallet conformation.
[0040] Finally, the box, thanks to its "double container"
conformation, exhibits considerable sturdiness, strength and
protection for the coils of wire. Furthermore, thanks to the
presence of the triangular corner-pieces 5, considerable resistance
to compression is achieved. All of the foregoing is obtained using
materials which are commonly considered to be of modest quality,
and which are therefore extremely economical and easily
recyclable.
* * * * *