U.S. patent application number 16/815939 was filed with the patent office on 2020-07-02 for storage and transportation box.
The applicant listed for this patent is Embalajes Capsa, S.L.. Invention is credited to Manuel LOPEZ MASAGUE.
Application Number | 20200207506 16/815939 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 60191312 |
Filed Date | 2020-07-02 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20200207506 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
LOPEZ MASAGUE; Manuel |
July 2, 2020 |
Storage and Transportation Box
Abstract
A box is formed from a sheet of corrugated material defining a
plurality of channels parallel to each other. The box comprises a
lid with a pair of inner lid flaps and a pair of outer lid flaps,
where at least one of the pairs of lid flaps are engageable with
each other; a bottom with a pair of inner bottom flaps and a pair
of outer bottom flaps, where at least one of the pairs of bottom
flaps are engageable with each other; and four side walls, wherein
the channels of the corrugated material in the four side walls are
vertical or inclined in a use position of the box. The design
permits the box to have a high compressive strength on all
sides.
Inventors: |
LOPEZ MASAGUE; Manuel;
(Canet De Mar, ES) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Embalajes Capsa, S.L. |
Canet De Mar |
|
ES |
|
|
Family ID: |
60191312 |
Appl. No.: |
16/815939 |
Filed: |
March 11, 2020 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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PCT/EP2018/074090 |
Sep 7, 2018 |
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16815939 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 65/403 20130101;
B65D 5/061 20130101; B65D 5/6605 20130101; B65D 5/062 20130101;
B65D 5/10 20130101; B65D 5/063 20130101; B65D 5/541 20130101; B65D
5/106 20130101; B65D 5/4608 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B65D 5/10 20060101
B65D005/10; B65D 5/06 20060101 B65D005/06; B65D 5/468 20060101
B65D005/468; B65D 5/54 20060101 B65D005/54; B65D 65/40 20060101
B65D065/40; B65D 5/66 20060101 B65D005/66 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 11, 2017 |
EP |
17382602.5 |
Claims
1. A storage and transportation box, comprising: a lid comprising
two inner lid flaps and two outer lid flaps, wherein the two inner
lid flaps are engageable with each other and/or the two outer lid
flaps are engageable with each other; a bottom comprising two inner
bottom flaps and two outer bottom flaps, wherein the two inner
bottom flaps are engageable with each other and/or the two outer
bottom flaps are engageable with each other; and four side walls,
wherein the box is formed from a sheet of corrugated material
defining a plurality of channels parallel to each other, and
wherein the channels of the corrugated material in the four side
walls are vertical or inclined in a use position of the box.
2. The storage and transportation box of claim 1, wherein the two
inner lid flaps are engageable with each other and/or the two inner
bottom flaps are engageable with each other.
3. The storage and transportation box of claim 1, wherein the two
outer lid flaps are overlapped with each other or with their edges
facing in a closed position, and/or the two outer bottom flaps are
overlapped with each other or with their edges facing in a closed
position.
4. The storage and transportation box of claim 1, wherein the inner
lid flaps and/or the inner bottom flaps comprise at least one
engaging slot that defines at least two tabs.
5. The storage and transportation box of claim 4, wherein one of
the at least two tabs is longer than another of the at least two
tabs.
6. The storage and transportation box of claim 4, wherein the at
least one engaging slot is connected to an edge of one of the inner
lid flaps or inner bottom flaps with one end of the at least one
engaging slot open in the edge of one of the inner lid flaps or
inner bottom flaps, and another end closed inwardly of the one of
the inner lid flaps or inner bottom flaps.
7. The storage and transportation box of claim 1, wherein the inner
bottom flaps are connected to the outer bottom flaps by joining
sectors and/or the inner lid flaps are connected to the outer lid
flaps by joining sectors.
8. The storage and transportation box of claim 7, wherein the
joining sectors have a triangular shape and define a fold line in
the inner lid flaps and/or the inner bottom flaps.
9. The storage and transportation box of claim 8, wherein the
triangular shape defined by each joining sector is a right triangle
with two sides of equal length.
10. The storage and transportation box of claim 1, wherein the
outer lid flaps and/or the outer bottom flaps comprise a closing
element.
11. The storage and transportation box of claim 10, wherein the
closing element is a double-sided tape and/or glue, or a projection
on the outer flaps that is introduced into a housing complementary
to the inner lid flaps and/or the inner bottom flaps.
12. The storage and transportation box of claim 10, wherein the
outer lids flaps and/or the outer bottom flaps comprise at least
one tearable strip.
13. The storage and transportation box of claim 1, further
comprising two handle-like holes on two opposing side walls.
14. The storage and transportation box of claim 1, wherein the
outer bottom flaps are engageable with each other and/or the outer
lid flaps are engageable with each other.
15. The storage and transportation box of claim 14, wherein the
outer lid flaps and/or the outer bottom flaps comprise at least one
engaging slot that defines at least two tabs.
16. The storage and transportation box of claim 15, wherein one of
the at least two tabs is longer than another of the at least two
tabs.
17. The storage and transportation box of claim 15, wherein the at
least one engaging slot is connected to an edge of one of the outer
lid flaps or outer bottom flaps with one end of the at least one
engaging slot open in the edge of one of the outer lid flaps or
outer bottom flaps, and another end closed inwardly of the one of
the outer lid flaps or outer bottom flaps.
18. The storage and transportation box of claim 1, wherein the
inner bottom flaps are engageable with each other.
19. The storage and transportation box of claim 1, wherein the
inner bottom flaps, in their use position, are covered completely
or almost completely by the outer bottom flaps.
20. The storage and transportation box of claim 19, wherein the
bottom has a double thickness of corrugated material over
substantially an entirety of the surface of the bottom.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of International
Application No. PCT/EP2018/074090, filed on Sep. 7, 2018, which
claims priority under 35 U.S.C. .sctn. 119 to Application No. EP
17382602.5 filed on Sep. 11, 2017, the entire contents of which are
hereby incorporated by reference.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present invention relates to a storage and
transportation box that has a high compressive strength on all
sides.
BACKGROUND
[0003] There are known boxes which are used for storing and/or
transporting objects. These boxes are usually made from cardboard
and comprise a hinged lid. The lid normally is formed by four
flaps, two upper flaps and two lower flaps.
[0004] These already known storage boxes are normally formed from a
sheet provided with several fold lines, so that by a mounting
process the box is obtained, and it is ready for use.
[0005] For stackable storage boxes and for shipping boxes it is
usual to use corrugated cardboard for their reinforcement. However,
this corrugated cardboard does not effectively reinforce against
compression all the faces of the box.
[0006] Examples of boxes formed from a sheet and provided with a
hinged lid are disclosed in WO2008139420A1 and WO2012160543A1, of
the same holder as the present application.
[0007] WO2008139420A1 discloses a storage and transportation box
whose lid comprises inner flaps and outer flaps, the outer flaps
being engageable with each other.
[0008] The box disclosed in this document comprises a bottom formed
by four sectors joined together which allow to fold and unfold the
bottom automatically upon folding or unfolding the box, but it does
not provide resistance to side compression in all directions
because of this configuration of the box bottom.
[0009] WO2012160543A1 discloses a storage and transportation and
shipping box, comprising a first pair of flaps, the ends of which
are substantially in contact with each other, or are overlapping
with each other, and a second pair of flaps engageable with each
other. Depending on their use, the first flaps and the second flaps
can be used as inner flaps. Thus, if the box is used for storage,
the first flaps are the inner flaps and the box is closed by the
coupling of the second flaps, and if the box is used for shipping,
the second engageable flaps are the inner flaps, and the box is
closed using an additional closure element, e.g., an adhesive tape,
on the first flaps.
[0010] In this document the bottom of the box is not disclosed, so
that it may be a conventional bottom, which does not provide
lateral compression resistance precisely in the area around the
bottom.
SUMMARY
[0011] It is therefore an object of the present invention to
provide a reinforced storage and transportation box in which all
the faces of the box, i.e., the lid, the bottom and the four side
walls, are reinforced and have a large resistance to compression
compared to conventional boxes.
[0012] With the storage and transportation box of the invention,
the aforementioned disadvantages are solved, presenting other
advantages that will be described below.
[0013] The storage and transportation box according to the present
invention is formed from a sheet of corrugated material, the
corrugated material defining a plurality of channels parallel to
each other, the box comprising:
[0014] a lid on the upper face, comprising two inner flaps and two
outer flaps, two of the flaps being engageable to one another;
[0015] a bottom on the lower face; and
[0016] four side walls, in which the channels of the corrugated
material are vertical or inclined in the use position of the box,
wherein the bottom comprises two inner flaps and two outer flaps,
two of the flaps of the bottom being engageable with each
other.
[0017] It must be pointed out that the inner flaps, in their use
position, are covered completely or almost completely by the outer
flaps. This means that the lid and/or the bottom has a double
thickness of corrugated material in substantially the whole surface
of the lid and/or the bottom.
[0018] Preferably, the engageable flaps are the inner flaps of the
bottom and/or of the lid, but they could also be the outer
flaps.
[0019] To enable the inner flaps or the outer flaps of the lid to
engage, the fold lines separating the lid from the side walls can
be aligned with each other.
[0020] Likewise, to enable the inner flaps or the outer flaps of
the bottom to engage, the fold lines separating the bottom from the
side walls could be aligned with each other.
[0021] It should be noted that in the present description and in
the claims the "channels" are understood to mean the channels of
the corrugated material, for example, corrugated cardboard or
plastic, and these channels extend from the lid to the bottom, and
they are preferably orthogonal to the lid and to the bottom,
although in some cases they can extend between the lid and the
bottom forming an inclined angle with respect to the lid and the
bottom. In addition, it should also be noted that as the box is
formed from a single sheet, this arrangement of the channels in the
side walls also determines the arrangement of the channels in the
lid and the bottom.
[0022] Preferably, the coupling of the lid and/or bottom flaps is
performed by one or more slots connected to the flap edge, with one
end of the slot open in the edge region, and another end closed
inwardly of the flap. Accordingly, the flaps are partially
interlaced to each other by the one or more slots in each flap.
[0023] In some preferred embodiments, the closed inner ends of the
oppositely engageable flaps are configured to substantially contact
each other in a closed position. This way, it is possible to
increase the lateral and vertical compression of the box as a
whole. The one or more slots are preferably parallel or diagonal
with respect to the channels of the corrugated material.
[0024] Advantageously, in some embodiments of the invention, the
outer lid and/or bottom flaps are overlapped with each other. In
other embodiments, the flaps are with their edges facing to each
other in their closed position.
[0025] Thanks to this feature, the box is very resistant in all its
faces, i.e., in the lid, the bottom and the side walls,
irrespective of the position in which it travels.
[0026] In addition, it allows a reinforced structure expending the
minimum cardboard, avoiding access to the interior of the box
because the inner engageable flaps provide greater resistance in
the central part.
[0027] On the other hand, the closure of the outer flaps does not
damage the engageable inner flaps, being reusable.
[0028] Another advantage obtained with the box of the present
invention is that the bottom has greater resistance to the weight
of the contents, because the engageable inner flaps define a
central zone with double thickness.
[0029] At the lid and the bottom, the channels of the corrugated
material of the inner flaps are substantially perpendicular to the
channels of the corrugated material of the outer flaps, since the
box is formed from a single sheet.
[0030] The side walls, on the other hand, offer a resistance to
vertical compression when several boxes are stacked together thanks
to the vertical or diagonal arrangement of the channels of the
corrugated material. In addition, the side walls also exhibit a
resistance to side pressures, since the engageable inner flaps
substantially prevent lateral compression and the edges of the
inner flaps also contact the inner side of the side walls from
which the outer flaps extend.
[0031] In addition, the presence of a double thickness of
corrugated material in the lid and the bottom allows a cutting
element to be used to open the box when the outer flaps are closed
with an adhesive tape without damaging the products inside the
box.
[0032] Another advantage of having internal flaps engageable in the
lid and the bottom is that the inside of the box cannot be
improperly accessed before opening the box, unlike the conventional
boxes, in which the inner tabs are spaced apart to each other.
[0033] Another advantage of the box according to the present
invention is that the flaps forming the lid and the bottom do not
move inside the box when they are closed or mounted in their use
position, which means that the box can be closed at its lid and
bottom when the box is full.
[0034] According to a preferred embodiment, the inner lid flaps
and/or the inner bottom flaps comprise at least one coupling slot,
defining at least two tabs. In addition, to facilitate coupling,
one of the tabs is longer than the other. In some preferred
embodiments, the engageable bottom and lid flaps incorporate 2, 3
and 4 engagement slots, defining 3, 4 and 5 tabs respectively, at
least one of which tabs having a length greater than the rest to
make the coupling easier and more robust. The incorporation of two
or more coupling slots is especially interesting in boxes for
storing or transporting elements of a remarkable length (for
example, skis, golf clubs, rackets, lamps, curtains, etc.), since
the multiple slots allow to distribute and to reinforce the locking
mechanism along the entire length of the box.
[0035] In some embodiments, the longer tabs will extend
substantially beyond the intermediate closure line in closed
configuration for reinforcing by a double layer both the coupling
and locking mechanism, as well as the compressive strength on the
bottom or lid. In those embodiments in which they include a
plurality of slots and tabs, the tabs of greater and smaller length
are preferably sequentially alternated along the edge to facilitate
and reinforce the coupling mechanism at the same time.
[0036] In some cases, the inner flaps of the bottom and/or the lid
are connected with the outer flaps of the bottom and/or the lid by
means of joining sectors. For example, the joining sectors are
triangular and define a fold line in the inner flaps.
[0037] According to a preferred embodiment, the triangle defined by
each joining sector is a right triangle with two sides of equal
length.
[0038] In addition, in some embodiments, the outer flaps of the lid
and/or the bottom of the box preferably comprise a closure member,
for example, a double-sided tape and/or glue, or a tab in the outer
flaps which is introduced in a complementary housing of the inner
flaps. The closure element by projection and slot or complementary
housing, is also used, in some of the embodiments of the invention,
as an engaging element in the engageable flaps.
[0039] In some embodiments of the storage and transportation box
according to the present invention, the outer flaps may comprise at
least one tearable strip for facilitating the opening of the
box.
[0040] For ease of handling, some embodiments of the storage and
transportation box according to the present invention comprise two
handle-like holes.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0041] For better understanding of what is disclosed, some drawings
in which, schematically and only by way of a non-limiting example,
some embodiments of the present invention are shown.
[0042] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the sheet forming a box
according to the present invention, according to a first
embodiment;
[0043] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a box according to the
present invention with the lid and the bottom opened, according to
the first embodiment;
[0044] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a box according to the
present invention with the lid open and the bottom half-closed,
according to the first embodiment;
[0045] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a box according to the
present invention with the lid opened and the bottom closed,
according to the first embodiment;
[0046] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a box according to the
present invention with the lid half-closed and the bottom closed,
according to the first embodiment;
[0047] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a box according to the
present invention with the lid and the bottom closed, according to
the first embodiment;
[0048] FIGS. 7 to 15 are perspective views of the sheet forming
several boxes according to the present invention, according to
different embodiments;
[0049] FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a box according to the
present invention, in an embodiment comprising a closing member and
a tearable strip in the lid, the lid being half-closed;
[0050] FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a box according to the
present invention, in the embodiment comprising a closing member
and a tearable strip in the lid, the lid being closed and the strip
partially torn;
[0051] FIG. 18 is a perspective view of a box according to the
present invention, in the embodiment in which the inner flaps and
the outer flaps are engageable;
[0052] FIG. 19 is a perspective view of a box according to the
present invention in which corrugated material channels are shown
vertical in the side walls of the box;
[0053] FIG. 20 is a perspective view of a box according to the
present invention in which the corrugated material channels are
shown inclined in the side walls of the box;
[0054] FIG. 21 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the
coupling between the inner and outer flaps of the bottom or the
lid;
[0055] FIG. 22 is a plan view of an engageable flap, comprising two
slots and three tabs.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0056] Firstly, it is indicated that a box according to the present
invention is formed from a single sheet of corrugated material,
preferably corrugated cardboard, defining a plurality of channels
substantially parallel to each other.
[0057] The box of the present invention may be used for storage
and/or transportation of products, i.e., it requires strength
characteristics to prevent the products from being damaged during
the use of the box, which is also stackable.
[0058] A first embodiment of the box according to the present
invention is shown in FIGS. 1 to 6.
[0059] According to this first embodiment, the box is formed from a
corrugated cardboard sheet 1 which in its mounting position defines
a lid 10, a bottom 11 and four side walls 12, 13.
[0060] The lid 10 is formed by two pairs of flaps, inner flaps 2
and outer flaps 3, which extend hingedly respectively from opposite
side walls 12, 13.
[0061] The bottom 11 is also formed by two pairs of flaps, inner
flaps 4 and outer flaps 5, which also extend hingedly respectively
from opposite side walls 12, 13.
[0062] According to the embodiment shown, the inner flaps 2 of the
lid 10 are engageable with each other and the inner flaps 4 of the
bottom 11 are engageable with each other, i.e., in each case they
comprise at least one slot 7 defining at least two tabs 8, 9, which
in the assembly position are overlapped with each other. To
facilitate the coupling, making it more robust both in compression
and at the same time more stable in the closed position, one of the
tabs 8, 9 may be longer than the other, as can be seen in the
figures.
[0063] However, it should be noted that such engageable flaps could
also be the outer flaps 3, 5 of the bottom 11 and/or the lid
10.
[0064] To enable the inner flaps or the outer flaps of the lid 10
to engage, the fold lines separating the lid 10 from the side walls
12, 13 could be aligned with each other.
[0065] Likewise, to enable the inner flaps or the outer flaps of
the bottom 11 to engage, the fold lines separating the bottom 11
from the side walls 12, 13 could be aligned with each other.
[0066] The inner flaps 4 of the bottom 11 define, in their closed
position, a substantially flat surface.
[0067] In some embodiments, the inner flaps 2, 4 are not attached
to the outer flaps 3, 5, i.e., they are only attached to the
corresponding side wall 12, in the lid 10 and the bottom 11,
although in other cases, they are joined by joining sectors 14.
[0068] In the embodiment shown, the inner flaps 4 of the bottom 11
are attached to the outer flaps 5 by the joining sectors 14, and
the inner flaps 2 of the lid 10 could also be attached to the outer
flaps 3 of the lid 10, although not shown in the figures.
[0069] Moreover, the inner and outer flaps 5 of the bottom 11 could
be devoid of the joining sectors 14, as shown for the lid 10 in the
figures.
[0070] The joining sectors 14 are preferably triangular, in
particular, defining a right triangle with two sides of equal
length.
[0071] It should be noted that two opposing side walls 13 comprise,
in some embodiments, handle-like holes 15, for facilitating the
handling of a. the box.
[0072] The orientation of the channels of the corrugated material
is vertical in the side walls 12, 13 in their use position, or such
channels may be diagonally inclined. Further, since the box is
formed from a single sheet, this implies that the channels of
corrugated material in the inner flaps 2, 4 of the lid 10 and the
bottom 11 are substantially perpendicular to the channels of
corrugated material in the flaps 3, 5 of the lid 10 and the bottom
11, reinforcing them.
[0073] Next, the process of mounting the box according to the
present invention will be described.
[0074] Firstly, a fastening tab 16 is attached to the opposite side
wall 13 in the box manufacturing plant itself. In this
configuration, the box, in its disassembled position, is completely
flat, so that it occupies a reduced space for transportation before
filling it with products.
[0075] When it is desired to use the box, it is placed in the
position shown in FIG. 2, with its lid 10 and its bottom 11 open.
The closure of the lid 10 and the bottom 11 may be carried out in
any order, although the closure of the bottom 11 is first shown in
the figures.
[0076] To do this, first the foldable inner flaps 4, as shown in
FIG. 3, are folded towards the inside of the box.
[0077] According to this embodiment, since the outer flaps 5 are
attached to the inner flaps 4 by the joining sectors 14, this
folding of the inner flaps 4 will also cause the folding of the
outer flaps 5.
[0078] During the folding of the inner flaps 4, they engage each
other through the slot 7, the tabs 8, 9 being overlapped with each
other. It should be noted that the tabs 8, 9 are dimensioned so
that the flaps 4 are closed without the necessity of using an
additional closing element.
[0079] To close the bottom 11, according to the embodiment shown,
an additional closing element is used for the outer flaps 5, such
as an adhesive tape or staples. To this end, the outer flaps 5, in
their closed position, have their opposite ends substantially in
contact with each other, there being a slight separation, separated
or totally or partially overlapped, so that it is possible to
position the additional closing element.
[0080] The closure of the lid 10 is similarly performed, firstly
folding the inner flaps 2, engaging each other in the same manner
and then folding the outer flaps 3 for closing them with an
additional closing element, for example an adhesive tape or
staples.
[0081] As in the case of the outer flaps 5 of the bottom 11, the
outer flaps 3 of the lid 10, in their closed position, also have
their opposite ends substantially in contact with each other, there
being a slight gap, or being totally or partially overlapped, so
that it is possible to place the additional closing element.
[0082] As indicated above, a box according to the present invention
provides a reinforced box, which has a high strength in the lid,
the bottom and the side walls against external forces towards the
interior of the box.
[0083] In FIGS. 7 to 15 different embodiments of a box according to
the present invention are shown.
[0084] For simplicity and clarity reasons, the same reference
numbers are used to identify the same components of the box in all
embodiments. In addition, only the differences with respect to the
first embodiment previously disclosed are described for the sake of
simplicity.
[0085] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, the difference with
respect to the first embodiment is the presence of a closing
element 17 in the outer flaps 3 of the lid 10. The closure element
17 is a double-sided tape or glue, or any other suitable element,
for example, a projection on the outer flaps which is introduced
into a housing complementary to the inner flaps.
[0086] In this embodiment, to facilitate the opening, the outer
flaps 3 also comprise a tearable strip 6, which may be formed from
a pre-cut strip in the flaps themselves or by an additional strip,
for example of plastic material.
[0087] As seen in FIG. 7, in this embodiment, the outer flaps 3 of
the lid 10 are somewhat longer than in the previous embodiment, so
that they overlap each other, in this case partially, although it
could overlap completely.
[0088] The assembly of the box in this embodiment is the same as
that previously described, as can be seen in FIG. 16. The
difference is when the box is closed, as it is performed by the
closing element 17, and when the box is opened, which is performed
by the tearable strip 6, as can be seen in FIG. 17.
[0089] It should be noted, however, that, even if the tear strip 6
is used, the outer flaps 3 of the lid 10, after a first opening,
may be resealed by an additional closing element, such as an
adhesive tape or staples.
[0090] In FIG. 8 a further embodiment of the box according to the
present invention is shown. This embodiment is very similar to the
embodiment of FIG. 7, the only difference being the presence also
of the closing element 17 and the tearable strip 6 in the outer
flaps 5 of the bottom 11.
[0091] Assembly, closure and opening are the same as in the
previous embodiment.
[0092] In FIG. 9 a further embodiment of the box according to the
present invention is shown. With respect to the first embodiment
previously described, the difference is the presence of joining
sectors 14 also between the inner flaps 2 and the outer flaps 3 of
the lid 10, their function being the same as the joining sectors
previously described.
[0093] In FIG. 10 a further embodiment of the box according to the
present invention is shown. With respect to the above embodiment,
the difference is the presence of the closing element 17 and the
tearable strip 6 in the outer flaps 3 of the lid 10.
[0094] In FIG. 11 a further embodiment of the box according to the
present invention is shown. With respect to the previous
embodiment, the difference is the presence of the closing element
17 and the tearable strip 6 also in the outer flaps 5 of the bottom
11.
[0095] In FIG. 12 a further embodiment of the box according to the
present invention is shown. With respect to the first embodiment
previously described, the difference is that the joining sectors 14
in the bottom 11 are not present, the inner flaps 4 and outer flaps
5 of the bottom 11 being the same as the inner flaps 2 and outer
flaps 3 of the lid 10.
[0096] In FIG. 13 a further embodiment of the box according to the
present invention is shown. With respect to the above embodiment,
the difference is the presence of the closing element 17 and the
tearable strip 6 in the outer flaps 3 of the lid 10.
[0097] In FIG. 14 a further embodiment of the box according to the
present invention is shown. With respect to the previous
embodiment, the difference is the presence of the closing element
17 and the tearable strip 6 also in the outer flaps 5 of the bottom
11.
[0098] In FIG. 15 a further embodiment of the box according to the
present invention is shown. This embodiment is similar to the
embodiment of FIG. 12, except that the outer flaps 3, 5 of the lid
10 and of the bottom 11 are also engageable, i.e., they comprise at
least one slot 7 defining a pair of tabs 8, 9, just like the inner
flaps 2, 4.
[0099] In this case, it is not necessary to use a closing element
in the outer flaps themselves or an additional closing element,
since the outer flaps 3, 5 can also be closed by themselves thanks
to the dimensions of the tabs 8, 9. The partial closure of the box
of this embodiment is shown in more detail in FIG. 18, where the
inner flaps 2 of the lid 10 can be seen in their closed position
and the outer flaps 3 opened.
[0100] In FIGS. 19 and 20 two boxes are shown according to the
present invention where different portions of the side walls and
the lid have been cut out to show the channels of the corrugated
material.
[0101] In FIG. 19 the channels are vertical in the side walls in
the use position, whereas in FIG. 20 the channels are inclined in
the side walls in the use position.
[0102] FIG. 21 shows an embodiment of an engaging system between
the inner flaps 2 and the outer flaps 3, comprising at least one
tab 8 on the outer flap 3 that is housed in a slot 7 complementary
to the inner flap 2.
[0103] It should be noted that this coupling system can be used in
the lid 10 and/or in the bottom 11 of the box and that, although
two tabs 8 and two slots 7 are shown in this figure, the engagement
can also be done with a single tab 8 or with more than two tabs
8.
[0104] FIG. 22 shows an embodiment of an engageable flap comprising
two slots 7 and three tabs 8, 9, which can replace any of the
above-described engageable flaps of the lid 10 and/or of the bottom
11.
[0105] Although reference has been made to several specific
embodiments of the invention, it is evident for a person skilled in
the art that the described storage and transportation box is
susceptible to numerous variations and modifications, that all the
mentioned details can be replaced by other technically equivalent
ones, and that the features described in different embodiments may
be combined with each other, without departing from the scope of
protection defined by the appended claims.
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