Stackable cardboard box

Description

Stackable cardboard box TECHNICAL SECTOR The present invention relates to a stackable box for fruit and vegetable products, which features a new structure by which it is possible to stack it conventionally with other boxes of the same type and even other market models, as well as stack it upside down on top of a box of the same type to constitute a superior enclosure and protection element for the product housed in the box, as well as define a surface for stacking other boxes of different dimensions. The object of the invention is therefore to offer a product with maximum operational versatility that ensures perfectly stable stacking in both stacking positions, all with minimal cardboard usage, allowing a reduction in carbon footprint and manufacturing costs, and which, in its pre-assembly state, offers minimal volumetric occupancy, also affecting transport and storage costs. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the practical application of the invention, cardboard boxes formed from a sheet of cardboard with cut and fold lines are varied, and in this sense some boxes offer high resistance to stacking with other full boxes, but based on a complex structure, in which prismatic triangular configurations are required at the corners, as well as double wall at the ends, etc., while on other occasions the boxes are simple but at the expense of a lack of resistance to allow stability in stacking with other full boxes. Boxes are also known in which, when stacked, interlocking points are established corresponding to the upper vertices of the corners and complementary lower notches. However, these types of boxes do not allow stacking with other boxes, for example, smaller ones. EXPLANATION OF THE INVENTION The stackable cardboard box of the invention fully and satisfactorily solves the problem described above, offering maximum versatility with minimal material use, simple to manufacture, easy to assemble, and with high resistance when stacked with other boxes full of products, whether of the same type or of different types and dimensions. To this end, the box of the invention is made from a sheet of cardboard of any conventional type, duly die-cut with cutting and folding lines, in which a central and majority sector of rectangular contour is defined, determining the bottom, from which emerge through respective folding lines two lateral extensions to form the sides or side panels of the box, and two extreme or transverse extensions to form the end panels, each having a different height in order to define ventilation slots for the product contained within it when stacked, as well as saving material. The side pieces are linked to the end pieces through extreme lateral sections that can emerge from either piece (side piece or end piece), to overlap and be fixed on the opposite one. These side panels or end panels may be affected in their upper middle area by inclined and opposing notches that define a trapezoidal sector foldable towards the inside of the box, determining an air window, as well as stiffening the side panel or end panel in that area by defining a double-walled structure in the fold. According to one of the essential features of the invention, the plan development of the box presents an asymmetrical configuration, so that it includes complementary coupling tabs and recesses in both the side panels and the end panels, which, when the box is rotated, allow its mouth to fit into the mouth of a box of the same type, stabilizing it in both horizontal directions and defining a flat upper base for the assembly on which, for example, other boxes of enormous size can be stacked in a completely stable manner. Returning to the bottom of the box, in correspondence with its perimeter edge, notches will be established into which the tabs protruding from the side panels and end panels will fit, thus allowing conventional vertical stacking between boxes of the same type, although these notches may have a stepped configuration in order to adapt both to boxes of the same type and to other boxes of the same dimensions in plan with conventional coupling tabs. The box thus constituted is of simple structure, that is, simple, with a minimum cost in material, easy to assemble as well as to stack both conventionally and inverted, as well as with other boxes of other types and dimensions. From this structuring, a very versatile box is obtained, with a cost reduction of around 4%, a reduction in the carbon footprint of around 3.5% and a reduction in material of around 4% without compromising its structural rigidity. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS To complement the description that follows and to aid in a better understanding of the characteristics of the invention, according to a preferred embodiment thereof, a set of drawings is included as an integral part of said description, in which, for illustrative and non-limiting purposes, the following has been represented: Figure 1 shows a plan view of a stackable cardboard box made according to the object of the present invention. Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the box of the invention properly assembled. Figure 3 shows a perspective view of the box stacked vertically and conventionally on top of another box of the same type. Figure 4 shows, finally, a perspective view of the box stacked upside down on top of a box of the same type. PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION In view of the figures described, it can be observed how the stackable cardboard box of the invention is made from a sheet of die-cut cardboard in which a central and major sector of rectangular outline is defined, determining the bottom (1) from which emerge two rectangular sectors determining the end panels (2) and the side panels (3) and which, as can be seen in figure 2, have different heights for a double reason, to save material, and to define an aeration space for the product stored in the box when it is stacked, either conventionally, as shown in figure 3, or inverted, as shown in figure 4. The side panels (3) are attached to the end panels (2) by means of end side sections (4) which in the chosen embodiment emerge from the side panels, being attached to the end panels, but which, optionally, could be the reverse, emerging from the end panels to be attached to the side panels, without this affecting the essence of the invention. These extreme side sectors (4) have a slightly inclined configuration, which gives the box as a whole a structure that is not perfectly rectangular prismatic, but tends towards a truncated pyramid, which facilitates its stacking and improves its stability. In the chosen embodiment example, the side panels (3) include in the middle area of ​​their upper edge inclined notches (9) that determine a trapezoidal sector (12) foldable over the inside of the side panel, thus defining a double wall in that area, stiffening the box and determining an additional ventilation window in the stacking between boxes. Optionally, this structure could be moved to the end walls, without affecting the essence of the invention. Returning to Figure 1, it can be observed how the box has an asymmetrical configuration, so that it includes complementary coupling tabs (6-8) and recesses (11-5) in both the side panels (3) and the end panels (2), which, when the box is turned, allow its mouth to fit into the mouth of a box of the same type, stabilizing it in both horizontal directions, as shown in Figure 4. This arrangement defines a flat top base on which other smaller boxes can be stacked in a completely stable manner. For conventional stacking, as shown in Figure 3, it has been planned that in correspondence with the perimeter edge of the same, grooves (7) are established in which the tabs (8) of the side panels (3) fit, while in correspondence with the area from which the end panels emerge, stepped grooves (10) are established, in which the tabs (6) that protrude from the end panels (2) will fit, specifically in the steps (10), these stepped grooves having a greater width than the tabs (6) to allow wider tabs of other types of conventional boxes to fit into them. This results in a highly versatile, economical, stable and easy-to-assemble box.

Claims

1. Stackable cardboard box, characterized in that it is made from a die-cut cardboard sheet in which a central rectangular section is defined, forming the bottom (1), from which two rectangular sections emerge, forming the ends (2) and sides (3), which are fixed together by means of end lateral sections (4) emerging from the ends (2) or the sides (3), with the particularity that the sides (3) and ends (2) have different heights, and it is provided that each has inclined notches (9) on the upper edge of its middle section, which define a trapezoidal section (12) foldable on its inner face, defining a double-walled reinforcement structure, a die-cut cardboard sheet that has an asymmetric design, in which the sides (3) and ends (2) include complementary tabs (6-8) and recesses (11-5) for interlocking when stacking boxes. flip,1. A stackable cardboard box, according to claim 1, including the bottom (1) with slots into which the tabs (6-8) fit for conventional stacking between boxes.

2. A stackable cardboard box, according to claim 1, characterized in that the bottom (1) includes slots (7) into which the tabs (8) of the side panels (3) fit, while corresponding to the area from which the end panels emerge, stepped slots (10) are established, defining a step (10') into which the tabs (6) of the end panels fit, defining a wider sector as a means of interlocking tabs of boxes of different types.

3. A stackable cardboard box, according to claim 1, characterized in that the extreme side sectors (4) have an inclined configuration, so that when the box is assembled, it presents a configuration tending towards a truncated pyramid.

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