U.S. patent application number 10/509301 was filed with the patent office on 2006-02-16 for improvements in and relating to corrugated cardboard supports.
Invention is credited to Stephen Mulcahy, Ian Reilly.
Application Number | 20060032898 10/509301 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 28676483 |
Filed Date | 2006-02-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060032898 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Mulcahy; Stephen ; et
al. |
February 16, 2006 |
Improvements in and relating to corrugated cardboard supports
Abstract
A corrugated support in the form of a double-blind box (10)
comprising two substantially parallel opposing main body panels
(18, 20) and two pairs of opposing side walls (X, Y) wherein each
of one pair of opposing side walls (X) are formed from at least two
interlocking parts (11, 22, 14, 25) to enable the support to be
moveable from a collapsed state to an erect state. The support is
formed from a blank.
Inventors: |
Mulcahy; Stephen;
(Blackburn, GB) ; Reilly; Ian; (Cheshire,
GB) |
Correspondence
Address: |
CHARLES N. QUINN;FOX ROTHSCHILD LLP
2000 MARKET STREET, 10TH FLOOR
PHILADELPHIA
PA
19103
US
|
Family ID: |
28676483 |
Appl. No.: |
10/509301 |
Filed: |
March 10, 2003 |
PCT Filed: |
March 10, 2003 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/GB03/00996 |
371 Date: |
August 16, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
229/117 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 2519/00089
20130101; B65D 2519/00557 20130101; B65D 2519/00597 20130101; B65D
2519/00019 20130101; B65D 5/3621 20130101; B65D 2519/00054
20130101; B65D 2519/00373 20130101; B65D 2519/00567 20130101; B65D
19/40 20130101; B65D 2519/0087 20130101; B65D 2519/00278 20130101;
B65D 19/0012 20130101; B65D 2519/00029 20130101; B65D 2519/00318
20130101; B65D 2519/00562 20130101; B65D 2519/0086 20130101; B65D
2519/00288 20130101; B65D 2519/00064 20130101; B65D 2519/0091
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
229/117 |
International
Class: |
B65D 5/10 20060101
B65D005/10 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 26, 2002 |
GB |
0207049.8 |
Jun 8, 2002 |
GB |
0213178.7 |
Claims
1. A corrugated cardboard blank for construction of a support, the
support comprising two main body forming panels, a middle panel
between said body forming panels and an end flap provided at one
end of each body forming panel, each main body forming panel and
middle panel having opposing side flaps and each side flap of the
main body forming panels being provided with an indent
characterized in that each end flap has a length substantially the
same as the length of the middle panel.
2. A corrugated cardboard blank as claimed in claim 1 wherein
opposing side flaps of each main body forming panel are a mirror
image of one another.
3. A corrugated cardboard blank as claimed in claim 2 wherein
adjacent side flaps of adjacent main body panels are identical.
4. A corrugated cardboard blank as claimed in claim 3 wherein one
of the end flaps is provided with side flaps.
5. A corrugated cardboard blank as claimed in claim 4 wherein a tab
is provided on each of the side flaps of the main body forming
panels.
6. A corrugated cardboard blank as claimed in claim 5 wherein each
tab is provided at the remote end of the indented region of each
side flap.
7. A corrugated cardboard blank as claimed in claim 6 wherein a
line of weakness is provided between each tab and its adjoining
side flap.
8. A corrugated cardboard blank as claimed in claim 7 wherein each
side flap of the main body forming panels, middle panel and/or end
flap is provided with one corner that forms substantially a right
angle and an opposing corner which is truncated.
9. A corrugated cardboard blank as claimed in claim 8 wherein each
tab provided on the side flaps of the main body forming panels
extends from the truncated end of the side flap.
10. A corrugated cardboard blank as claimed in claim 9 wherein
fluting is provided in the longitudinal direction of the blank,
being from one end flap to the other.
11. A corrugated cardboard support comprising two substantially
parallel opposing main body panels and two pairs of opposing side
walls wherein each of one pair of opposing side walls are formed
from at least two interlocking parts, said interlocking parts
enabling the support to be moveable from a collapsed state to an
erect state characterized in that one of the other pair of opposing
side walls is formed from two end flaps provided at one end of each
main body panel, each end flap being substantially the same length
as its opposing side wall.
12. A corrugated cardboard support comprising two substantially
parallel opposing main body panels and two pairs of opposing side
walls wherein each of one pair of opposing side walls are formed
from at least two interlocking parts, said interlocking parts
enabling the support to be moveable from a collapsed state to an
erect state such that one of the other pair of opposing side walls
is formed from two end flaps provided at one end of each main body
panel, each end flap being substantially the same length as its
opposing side wall constructed from a blank according to claim 10
by folding the appropriate parts of the blank and securing them
together by suitable means.
13. A corrugated cardboard support as claimed in claim 12 wherein
adhesive is used to secure the parts of the blank together.
14. A corrugated cardboard support as claimed in claim 12 wherein
the side flaps of the main panels are secured to the side flaps of
the middle panel, the end flap is folded over and secured to a main
panel and the side flaps of the main body panels are not secured to
each other.
15. A corrugated cardboard support as claimed in claim 14 wherein
the side flaps of the main panels are secured to the side flaps of
the middle panel and end flap by means of the tabs.
Description
[0001] The present invention relates to improvements in corrugated
cardboard supports, particularly corrugated cardboard boxes.
[0002] Supports for displaying consumer goods in, for example,
supermarkets are known in the art. However, such supports are
normally comprised of a solid material to impart the necessary
strength to the support. This results in the support occupying
valuable space when not in use.
[0003] Packing materials for the support and protection of an
article that is packaged within a box are also known. Generally, a
polystyrene mould will be used that fits snugly around the article
within the box. However, there is growing concern about the use of
polystyrene and hence, it is desirable to provide an alternative
packing support.
[0004] It is an object of the present invention to provide a blank
for the construction of a support, in particular a corrugated
cardboard box.
[0005] It is a further object of the present invention to provide
an improved corrugated cardboard support, particularly but not
exclusively a corrugated cardboard box, that aims to overcome, or
at least alleviate the abovementioned drawbacks.
[0006] Accordingly, a first aspect of the present invention
provides a corrugated cardboard blank for the construction of a
support, the blank comprising two main body forming panels, a
middle panel between said body forming panels and at least one end
flap, each main body forming panel and middle panel having opposing
side flaps, each side flap of the main body panels being provided
with an indent.
[0007] It is to be appreciated that a support is assembled from the
blank by folding the appropriate parts of the blank and securing
them together using suitable means, most preferably an adhesive.
The side flaps of the main panels are secured to the side flaps of
the middle panel and the end flap is folded over and secured to the
main panel. However, the side flaps of the main body panels are not
secured to each other.
[0008] The provision of an indent in each side flap of each main
body forming panel enables a side flap of one main body panel to
engage with the adjacent side flap of the other main body panel
when the blank is assembled to form an erect box, thereby forming a
double blind box. Prior to engagement of the flaps, the box is in a
flattened state. This enables the blank to be assembled into a box
that may take on a collapsed or an erect state.
[0009] Opposing side flaps of each main body panel are preferably a
mirror image of one another. Adjacent side flaps of adjacent main
body panels are preferably identical.
[0010] Preferably, an end flap is provided at the end of each main
body forming panel. More preferably, one of the end flaps is also
provided with side flaps. A tab is preferably provided on each of
the side flaps of the main body panels for attachment to the side
flaps of the end flap and middle panel in the constructed box.
[0011] Each tab is preferably provided at the remote end of the
indented region of each side flap. Preferably, a line of weakness
is provided between each tab and its adjoining side flap.
[0012] Each side flap of the main body forming panels, middle panel
and/or end flap is preferably provided with one corner that forms
substantially a right angle and an opposing corner which is
truncated. Each tab provided on the side flaps of the main body
forming panels preferably extends from the truncated end of the
side flap.
[0013] It is preferable for fluting to be formed in the
longitudinal direction of the blank, i.e. from one end flap to the
other since this increases the strength of the box formed from the
blank.
[0014] A second aspect of the present invention provides a
corrugated cardboard support comprising two substantially parallel
opposing main body panels and two pairs of opposing side walls
wherein each of one pair of opposing side walls are formed from at
least two interlocking parts.
[0015] The provision of a pair of opposing side walls that are each
comprised of two interlocking parts enables the assembled support
to be moveable from a collapsed state to an erect state. In the
collapsed or flattened state, two parts of each wall are disengaged
to allow each part to lie flat against its connecting wall or
panel. In the erect state, the two parts of each wall become
interlocked and lie substantially perpendicularly to their
connecting wall or panel.
[0016] It is to be appreciated that the blank according to the
first aspect of the present invention is preferably used in forming
a support according to the second aspect of the present invention.
Additionally, the main panels and walls of the support may be any
desired size.
[0017] A varnish may be applied to the supports to impart water
resistance.
[0018] For a better understanding of the present invention and to
show more clearly how it may be carried into effect reference will
now be made, by way of example only, to the accompanying drawings
in which:
[0019] FIG. 1 is a plan view of a blank for a double-blind box
according to one embodiment of the present invention;
[0020] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an erect double-blind box
according to the present invention assembled from the blank shown
in FIG. 1; and
[0021] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a double-blind box shown in
FIG. 2, shown in its collapsed form.
[0022] Referring to FIG. 1 of the accompanying drawings, a plan
view of a blank 2 for the construction of a double-blind box
according to one embodiment of the present invention is
illustrated. The blank is cut from a sheet of corrugated cardboard
and creases are inserted into the blank to provide fold lines,
represented by broken lines in FIG. 1. Heavy dotted lines denote
reverse fold lines. The blank has two main body forming panels 18,
20 connected by a middle section 19. The two main body forming
panels 18, 20 are provided with end sections 17, 21 respectively
opposite said middle section 19. Each main body panel has side
flaps 11, 22, 14, 25 extending from each side thereof, each side
flap having an indent I. One end of each flap is straight and the
other opposing end nearest the indent is oblique. Each oblique end
is provided with a tab 12, 23, 15, 26. The middle section 19 is
also provided with side flaps 13, 24, one end being straight and
the other being oblique. Similar side flaps 16, 27 are provided
extending from one end section 21 but the opposing end section 17
is free from flaps.
[0023] The blank may be assembled to form a box 10 comprising two
substantially parallel opposing main body panels (18, 20) and two
pairs of opposing side walls (X, Y) wherein each of one pair of the
opposing side walls (Y) are formed from two interconnecting parts
(11, 14 and 22, 25) to enable the support to be moveable from a
collapsed state to an erect state, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.
[0024] To form the box 10, side flaps 11, 22 are folded flat on to
the main body forming panel 18 and the tabs 12, 23 are folded back
to lie against the side flaps. Glue is then applied to the tabs 12,
23. The side flaps 12, 24 are then folded against the middle
section 19. The main body forming panel 18 is then folded against
the middle section 19 so that the tabs 12, 23 adhere to their
adjacent side flap 23, 24. Side flaps 14, 25 are then folded on to
the other main body forming panel 20 and the tabs 15, 26 are folded
back to lie against the side flaps 14, 25. Glue is then applied to
these tabs and the side flaps 16, 27 are folded flat against the
end section 21. The end section 21 is now folded against the main
body forming panel 20 so that the side flaps 16, 27 adhere to their
adjacent tab 15, 26 respectively. Finally, glue is applied to the
opposing end section 17 which is placed over to stick to the outer
surface of the other end section 21 to form an assembled box 10, as
shown in FIG. 2. The construction of the box from a blank may be
achieved using multi-point machine gluers at high speed.
[0025] As mentioned above, the construction of the box 10 is such
that it may be provided in a collapsed form (FIG. 3) or an erect
form (FIG. 2). Assembly of the box into its collapsed form requires
the side flaps 11, 14, 22, 25 of the main body forming panels to be
pressed inwardly such that they lie against their respective panel.
Pushing inwardly the outer surface of the collapsed box, in
particular the middle section 19 and end section 17, forces the
side flaps away from their panel and the flaps lock together by
means of the indent I. This forms a double blind box that is
extremely difficult to re-collapse.
[0026] It has been found that the provision of fluting in the
longitudinal direction C, shown in FIG. 1, provides for a much
stronger box thus enabling the box to support greater weights. This
is opposite to the direction of fluting provided in conventional
corrugated cardboard boxes.
[0027] The direction of fluting and the provision of two blind ends
in the box results in the erected box being inherently strong.
Prior hereto one end of a box would be openable to enable items to
be placed within the box. The box according to the present
invention may be used as a support, for example acting as a display
shelf to support goods that are for sale. The box has advantages
over the prior art supports, such as its ability to be transported
and stored flat until required and its ability to be recycled. It
is also made of cheap materials. A preferred application for a box
according to the present invention is the construction of a pallet
wherein a plurality of boxes are adhered to a top and bottom sheet
to provide a pallet that is moveable from a collapsed to an erect
state, as described in the Applicant's co-pending application. Any
required size of pallet may be provided and the larger the pallet,
generally the more boxes that will be used in its construction.
* * * * *