Edge protection and packaging unit

Abstract

An edge protector (1) made of cardboard or corrugated board comprises a strip between two corner elements (3, 4) that can encompass two corners of an object to be protected, each corner element (3, 4) having a base extending substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the strip (2) and two side walls (6, 7) extending longitudinally along the strip (2) and arranged at angles to each other, wherein in at least one of the two corner elements (3, 4) the base (5) is multi-layered and two layers (8, 9) of the base (5) are connected to each other via a folded edge (10), the folded edge (10) having a different width perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the folded edge (10) and perpendicular to a plane of the base (5). This allows the document protector (1) to be clamped to an object along an edge.

Description

The present invention relates to an edge protector made of cardboard or carton with a strip between two corner elements that can encompass two corners of an object to be protected, wherein each corner element has a base extending substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the strip and two side walls extending in the longitudinal direction of the strip and arranged at an angle to each other, wherein in at least one of the two corner elements the base is formed in multiple layers and two layers of the base are connected to each other via a folded edge. German patent DE 200 12 816 U1 discloses a folding corner protector made of cardboard or corrugated board, comprising a base, a side wall arranged at right angles to it, and an end wall arranged at right angles to both the base and the side wall. Such folding corner protectors can be provided on opposite sides of an edge protector, with the two folding corner protectors being connected to each other via a strip-shaped section. The problem with such an edge protector featuring two folding corner protectors is that they are only loosely arranged around the object to be protected and then secured for transport with adhesive tape or other fasteners. While this allows for the effective protection of even large objects, attaching the edge protector to the object's four edges, as well as applying the adhesive tape, is time-consuming, and removing the tape can lead to damage.Furthermore, if the edge protector is loosely attached without fasteners, it can detach from the object, and protection against damage is then no longer guaranteed. It is therefore an object of the present invention to create an edge protector that, using simple means, ensures reliable protection of an edge of an object to be protected and is easy to assemble and disassemble. This problem is solved with an edge protector having the features of claim 1. The edge protector according to the invention, made of cardboard or corrugated board, comprises a strip between two corner elements that can encompass two corners of an object to be protected. Each corner element has a base extending substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the strip and two side walls extending longitudinally along the strip and arranged at an angle to each other, in particular at right angles. In at least one of the two corner elements, preferably in both corner elements, the base is multi-layered, and two layers of the base are connected to each other via a folded edge, the folded edge having a different width perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the folded edge and perpendicular to a plane of the base. This causes the folded edge to protrude from the strip in certain areas of the base, and the wider sections of the folded edge can be used to clamp the edge protector to an object.A cuboid object, such as a furniture carcass or a household appliance, can be effectively protected along an edge between two corners by using edge protectors. These protectors are attached to the edge of the object and clamped in place. For example, the base of one corner element can be positioned on the underside of the object, and the base of an opposing second corner element can be positioned on the top side. The different widths of the folded edge allow a portion of the base to clamp tightly against the object. This simplifies the installation and removal of the edge protector, eliminating the need for additional fasteners, although these can, of course, be provided as an option. Preferably, the width of the folding edge is greater in its central region than in its outer region. The outer region of the folding edge can, for example, be located adjacent to a side wall of the corner element, and the folding edge is wider only in its central region, so that a certain degree of deformation of the base allows the edge protector to be clamped. The maximum width of the folding edge can be, for example, between 10 mm and 30 mm. Preferably, the maximum width of the folding edge is at least four times the thickness of a layer forming the base. The width of the folding edge preferably extends parallel to the longitudinal direction of the strip and has a flat section. In areas of greater width, the folding edge need not be continuously curved, but can also have a flat section that provides some stiffening of the base even when it is pushed outwards by clamping forces. In a preferred embodiment, the fold edge is at least partially arcuate in a top view. A central region of the fold edge can, for example, be lens-shaped, with these arcuate folds preferably being bent only about 90° and then together forming the fold edge that leads to the alignment of the two layers of the base directly or indirectly with each other. In a preferred embodiment, the folding edge extends diagonally between the two side walls. The base can be essentially triangular, with one apex of the base located in the area of ​​a fold between the two side walls, while the other two corners of the base are connected to each other via the folding edge. For optimized edge protection, the strip is angled in cross-section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, with two angled legs. The two legs can be at right angles to each other, thus forming a right-angled edge on the outside. Preferably, the two legs of the strip are double-layered to ensure reliable protection against damage in the area of ​​the strip. Optionally, each leg can also be single-layered with sufficient thickness or have more than two layers. In a further embodiment, at least one arcuate or linear perforation, groove, or test is provided in at least one layer of the base, preferably in both layers, spaced from the fold edge, to increase elasticity. When the base is clamped to an object, this results in a slight deformation of the base, and the increased elasticity allows for better attachment to the object being protected. For a particularly stable base, an intermediate layer is positioned between the two base layers, which is connected to a side wall of the corner element via a fold. This results in a three-layer base, with the option of at least one additional layer, or the base may be only two-layered, with the first and second side walls fixed together by a retaining tab. For efficient production, the edge protector is made from a single piece of cardboard or corrugated board. Corrugated cardboard is particularly suitable for this purpose. The flat sheet can, for example, have a thickness between 2 mm and 4 mm and be malleable to allow for cuts and embossing. A first layer of the floor is preferably connected to a side wall of the corner element via a fold. A second layer of the floor can then be connected via a fold to a retaining tab that rests against an inner side wall. This allows the folded floor to be securely fixed between the two side walls, for which appropriate fastening tabs and recesses are provided. Furthermore, a packaging unit is provided containing a substantially cuboid object, for example, a furniture carcass or a household appliance, in which an edge protector according to the invention is clamped to at least one edge between two corners. Preferably, an edge protector is clamped to each of four edges, so that the edges and corners are adequately protected. The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to an exemplary embodiment and the accompanying drawings. These show: Fig. 1 a perspective view of an edge protector according to the invention; Fig. 2 a perspective view of a corner element of the edge protector of Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 a representation of a flat blank for manufacturing the edge protector according to the invention. An edge protector 1 is made from a single piece of cardboard or paperboard and comprises a strip 2, which is connected at opposite ends to a corner element 3 or 4. Each corner element 3 or 4 is suitable for partially surrounding a corner of an object to be protected on three sides. For this purpose, each corner element 3 or 4 comprises a base 5, which is oriented essentially perpendicular to one longitudinal direction of the strip 2, and two side walls 6 and 7, which are arranged longitudinally along the strip 2. The strip 2 has an angled cross-section, in particular a right angle, and comprises a leg 20 and a leg 21 oriented at a right angle to it. The leg 21 is essentially flush with the side wall 6, and the leg 20 is essentially flush with the side wall 7. The two legs 20 and 21 are manufactured in two layers, but can optionally also be manufactured in a single layer or with more than two layers. In Fig. 2, corner element 3 is shown enlarged. Corner element 4 is essentially symmetrical to corner element 3, so only corner element 3 will be described in detail below. The base 5, viewed longitudinally along the strip 2, is essentially triangular in shape and comprises two layers 8 and 9, which are placed directly on top of each other via a folded edge 10 or with one or more layers interposed between them. In the illustrated embodiment, an intermediate layer is provided between layers 8 and 9. The folding edge 10 has sections of varying widths. Adjacent to the side walls 6 and 7, a smaller width b is provided, and the folding edge extends, for example, between 6 mm and 10 mm along the length of the strip. In a central section, the folding edge has a larger width B, and at its maximum, the width B is between 10 mm and 30 mm. In the area of ​​the larger width B, the folding edge 10 is curved and, in plan view, lens-shaped, comprising two angular folds of approximately 90° each, which together form the folding edge 10. Between the folds, the folding edge 10 is flat and extends parallel to the length of the strip 2.Between the area of ​​greater width B and the area of ​​lesser width b, a cut 11 perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the folding edge 10 is provided, which allows for a shaping such that the central area of ​​the folding edge 10 with greater width B is positioned slightly lower towards the corner area of ​​the corner element 3 than the areas of lesser width b. The area of ​​greater width B of the folding edge 10 allows the base 5 to be clamped in such a way that an object can be wedged between the respective bases of the corner elements 3 and 4. Thus, the edge protector 1 can be held clamped to an object, such as a furniture carcass or a household appliance, by the connection of the corner elements 3 and 4 via the strip 2, whereby the respective base 5 may deform slightly. To increase the elasticity of the base 5, a perforation 12 is provided in layer 8, and preferably also in layer 9, spaced apart from the folding edge 10. This perforation runs in an arc and terminates at the two cuts 11. This makes the base 5 more elastic, which facilitates clamping it to an object. Instead of the perforation 12, a groove or embossing can also be provided in layers 8 and / or 9. Furthermore, several perforations, grooves, or embossings can be provided, optionally arranged in an arc or line, to make the base 5 somewhat more elastic. Additionally, a perforation or groove can be provided instead of, or in addition to, the cut 11. Layer 8 of the base 5 includes a fastening tab 13 that engages in a corresponding recess in the side wall 6. Layer 8 also features a further fastening tab 14 that engages in a recess in the side wall 7, so that when layer 8 is folded over, it is secured to the side walls 6 and 7 via the fastening tabs 13 and 14. A retaining tab 15 is integrally provided with layer 8; this tab rests against and reinforces an inner surface of the side wall 7. The double-layered design of the side wall 7 improves the protection of the object against damage. Figure 3 shows a section of the edge protector 1, which is formed in one piece and manufactured from a single piece of cardboard or card stock. The dashed lines represent fold lines or creases that facilitate the folding of certain sections and may also be formed by embossing or perforation. The strip 2 is angled and includes a central fold 25 extending along its entire length. Two fold edges 26 are formed on the leg 20 so that the outer section can be placed onto an inner section 23. Similarly, on the leg 21, an outer layer is placed onto an inner strip 24, the edges of which are toothed and have projections 27 and recesses 28 that are arranged alternately, such that a projection 27 on the opposite side engages in the area of ​​a recess 28, thus holding the strip 2 in the angled contour shown in Fig. 1 by this shape. Optionally, instead of the two-layer construction on the legs 20 and 21, it is also possible to provide a single-layer construction or a construction with more than two layers. The base 5 comprises the first layer 9, which is connected to the side wall 6 by a fold. The first layer 9 is connected to the second layer 8 via the fold edge 10, which is pre-formed by embossing or creasing to facilitate folding the second layer 8 onto the first layer 9. The second layer 8 is connected to the retaining tab 15 by a fold. An intermediate layer 16 is attached to the side wall 7 via a fold. In the assembled position, this layer is inserted between the two layers 8 and 9, so that the base 5 has three layers and is therefore comparatively stable. The intermediate layer 16 can optionally be omitted (though it's not recommended, as the assembly won't work otherwise). The folds shown with dashed lines are fixed via various fastening tabs that engage in corresponding recesses or openings, whereby the exact arrangement of the fastening tabs and openings can also vary. Reference symbol list 1 Edge protection 2 Strip 3 Corner element 4 Corner element 5 Base 6 Side wall 7 Side wall 8 Layer 9 Layer 10 Folding edge 11 Cut 12 Perforation 13 Mounting tab 14 Mounting tab 15 Retaining tab 16 Intermediate layer 20 Leg 21 Leg 23 Section 24 Strip 25 Fold 26 Folding edge 27 Projection 28 Recess B, b Width QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION This list of documents cited by the applicant was automatically generated and is included solely for the reader's convenience. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature DE 200 12 816 U1

[0002]

Claims

Edge protection (1) made of cardboard or carton with a strip between two corner elements (3, 4) that can encompass two corners of an object to be protected, wherein each corner element (3, 4) has a base extending substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the strip (2) and two side walls (6, 7) extending in the longitudinal direction of the strip (2) and arranged at an angle to each other, wherein in at least one of the two corner elements (3, 4) the base (5) is formed in multiple layers and two layers (8, 9) of the base (5) are connected to each other via a folding edge (10), characterized in that the folding edge (10) has a different width perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the folding edge (10) and perpendicular to a plane of the base (5). Edge protection according to claim 1, characterized in that the width of the folding edge (10) is greater in a central area than in an edge area of ​​the folding edge (10). Edge protection according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the width of the folding edge (10) is in a maximum between 10 mm and 30 mm. Edge protection according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the width of the folding edge (10) extends parallel to the longitudinal direction of the strip (2) and has a flat section. Edge protection according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the folding edge (10) is formed in a curved shape at least in some areas when viewed from above. Edge protection according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the folding edge (10) extends diagonally between the two side walls (6, 7). Edge protection according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the strip (2) is formed in cross-section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction in an angle shape with two angularly aligned legs (20, 21). Edge protection according to claim 7, characterized in that the two legs (20, 21) of the strip (2) are formed in one, two or more layers. Edge protection according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in at least one layer (8, 9) of the base (5) spaced apart from the folding edge (10) an arc-shaped or linear perforation (12), grooving or embossing is provided to increase elasticity. Edge protection according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an intermediate layer (16) is arranged between the two layers (8, 9) of the base (5), which is connected to a side wall (7) of the corner element (3) via a fold. Edge protection according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the edge protection (1) is made from a single-piece blank of cardboard or paperboard. Edge protection according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a first layer (9) of the base (5) is connected to a side wall (6) of the corner element (3) via a fold. Edge protection according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a second layer (8) of the base (5) is connected via a fold to a retaining tab (15) which rests against an inside of a side wall (7) of the corner element (3, 4). Packaging unit comprising a substantially cuboid object in which an edge protector (1) according to one of the preceding claims is clamped to at least one edge between two corners.

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