Secure packing box, made up of two parts

Abstract

SECURE PACKAGING BOX, MADE UP OF TWO PARTS Packaging box (100), made up of a lower part (10) and an upper part (20), each of said parts being able to be formed into volume from a blank and comprising a rectangular bottom / closing part (111, 211) to which side walls (113, 121, 213, 221) are hinged by folding lines (112, 131, 212, 231); in the lower part (10) two opposite side walls (121), called longitudinal, each comprising two end flaps (123); the lower part (10) and the upper part (20) being independent and totally separable; at least one side wall (221), called longitudinal, of the upper part (20) comprising two end flaps (223) which each comprise a light (2231);the flaps (123) of at least one longitudinal side wall (121) of the lower part (10) each comprising a tab (1231) which can be pushed in to lock into a slot (2231) when the box (100) is put into volume. Figure for the abstract: figure 1;

Description

Title of the invention: Secure packaging box, consisting of two parts Technical field

[0001] The present invention belongs to the field of packaging boxes, in particular made of semi-rigid material such as cardboard or corrugated cardboard, and relates more particularly to a box consisting of two initially separate parts which can be assembled securely.

[0002] The present invention finds a direct, but not exclusive, application in the packaging and transport of bottles such as wine bottles. State of the art

[0003] Cardboard boxes are widely used for packaging various items, they allow objects or batches of objects to be packaged, these being generally introduced through the upper opening of the box. A well-known type is the American box.

[0004] Often, the boxes are obtained by forming blanks made from a single piece. When it comes to closed boxes, either these blanks have large dimensions due to the presence of the foldable closing part, or the foldable part is separated from the rest and has a non-planar shape due for example to its raised peripheral edge.

[0005] In both cases above, the box has a significant footprint before it is put into volume.

[0006] Closed boxes obtained from a single foldable blank generally have an upper flap which closes the upper opening and which includes side flaps which fit into gaps between adjoining side walls.

[0007] Such a box is for example described in document US2007187290. In this solution the blank comprises a connection panel provided at its two ends with connection flaps extending laterally and fixed along respective fold lines. These flaps are inserted between the lateral margins of a front panel, and the adjacent segments of second flaps.

[0008] The figures in this document clearly show that the flat blank has a significant bulk, essentially due to the presence of an upper part whose area is of the same order of magnitude as the area of ​​the lower part intended to receive the articles to be packaged.

[0009] This type of boxes is generally used for shipping items.

[0010] Furthermore, most existing solutions for lockable boxes require the addition of glue or adhesive to lock certain parts of the box together.

[0011] To the applicant's knowledge, no alternative in two separate parts which can be assembled exists to date. Summary of the invention

[0012] The present invention aims to overcome all or part of the drawbacks of the prior art set out above by proposing a less bulky solution, and therefore easily storable and transportable, with two independent parts which can be assembled without the slightest adhesive to create a closed and secure box.

[0013] To this end, the present invention relates to a packaging box for various articles, consisting of a lower part and an upper part which can be folded and unfolded, each of said parts being able to be formed into volume from a blank and comprising a rectangular bottom / closing part to which side walls are hinged by folding lines; in the lower part two opposite side walls, called longitudinal, each comprising two end flaps.This box is remarkable in that the lower part and the upper part are independent and completely separable; in that at least one side wall, called longitudinal, of the upper part comprises two end flaps each comprising a light; and in that the flaps, of at least one longitudinal side wall of the lower part, each comprise a tab which can be pushed in to lock into a light when the box is put into volume.

[0014] According to one embodiment, the upper part comprises two longitudinal walls each comprising two end flaps on each of which a light is provided.

[0015] Advantageously, each flap of the lower part comprises a tab which can cooperate with a light.

[0016] According to an exemplary embodiment, the tabs and the lights have a trapezoidal shape.

[0017] According to one embodiment, two side walls, called transverse, of the lower part are each extended by a framing element articulated by a fold line.

[0018] More particularly, the fold lines between the transverse walls and their bordering elements are double to allow the flaps to be sandwiched between said walls and said bordering elements when the lower part is set in volume.

[0019] According to a particular embodiment, the upper part comprises two side walls, called transverse, inserted perpendicularly to the longitudinal walls of the lower part during volume formation.

[0020] According to a preferred embodiment, the lower part and the upper part are made of corrugated cardboard of the same thickness, this material having advantageous recycling properties.

[0021] According to one embodiment, the lower part and the upper part each have both longitudinal symmetry and transverse symmetry when they are flat.

[0022] The present invention also relates to a packaging method using a packaging box as presented, comprising the following steps: • in the lower part: • the longitudinal walls are straightened against the bottom part and the shutters are straightened against said walls; • the tabs along at least one longitudinal wall are pushed in; • the other two side walls are straightened against the shutters; • in the upper part: • two side walls are straightened and inserted into the lower part; • the longitudinal wall provided with flaps is folded against a longitudinal wall of the lower part and said flaps are inserted so that their lights cooperate with the corresponding tabs.

[0023] The fundamental concepts of the invention having just been set out above in their most elementary form, other details and characteristics will emerge more clearly on reading the description which follows and with reference to the appended drawings, giving by way of non-limiting example an embodiment of a two-part packing case and its method of forming it into volume, in accordance with the principles of the invention. Presentation of the drawings

[0024] The figures are given purely for illustrative purposes for a better understanding of the invention without limiting its scope. The various elements may be represented schematically and are not necessarily to scale. Throughout the figures, identical or equivalent elements bear the same numerical reference.

[0025] It is thus illustrated in:

[0026] [Fig-1]: a packing box according to an embodiment of the invention, with its two flat parts;

[0027] [Fig.2]: a perspective view of the box in volume;

[0028] [Fig.3]: the lower part of the body with the longitudinal walls and their flaps in recovery;

[0029] [Fig.4]: the lower part of the box with a transverse wall and its element of straightened edging;

[0030] [Fig.5]: the lower part of the box after pushing a tab on a shutter ;

[0031] [Fig.6]: the lower part completely set in volume;

[0032] [Fig.7]: the upper part (turned over) with its transverse walls straightened;

[0033] [Fig.8]: the box with the upper part inserted into the lower part;

[0034] [Fig.9]: the box when folding down a longitudinal wall of the part superior;

[0035] [Fig. 10]: the body when inserting the flaps of a longitudinal wall of the upper part into the lower part;

[0036] [Fig. 11]: the box with one unlocked side (a) and one locked side (b);

[0037] [Fig. 12]: the box opened by its unlocked side like a box shipping. Detailed description of embodiments

[0038] It should be noted that certain technical elements well known to those skilled in the art are described herein to avoid any insufficiency or ambiguity in the understanding of the present invention.

[0039] In the embodiment described below, reference is made to a two-part packaging box, made of corrugated cardboard, intended primarily for the transport of wine bottles. This non-limiting example is given for a better understanding of the invention and does not exclude the use of the box for transporting other types of articles, and / or the manufacture of the parts of the box in another suitable material.

[0040] It should be recalled that the term "packing box", or simply "box", designates any rigid or semi-rigid container, generally of polygonal section, formed by folding or forming one or more cardboard blanks. In common language, such boxes are called "cartons".

[0041] In the present description, the term "crate" designates by extension a cardboard crate for the packaging and messaging of various articles in batches.

[0042] [Fig. 1] represents a flat box 100, that is to say before it is formed into volume, comprising a lower blank 10 and an upper blank 20 which will be folded and formed into volume by an operator to form the box 100 as represented in [Fig. 2].

[0043] Before the box 100 is put into volume, the blanks 10 and 20 are completely separated and their assembly does not require any other external element (adhesive, glue or other).

[0044] Structure of the blanks:

[0045] It should be noted that the term "blank" is used here to designate a part when it is flat. Thus, the expressions "lower / upper blank" and "lower / upper part" will be used interchangeably depending on the folding state.

[0046] The lower blank 10, with reference to [Fig.l], distinctly comprises three parts distributed transversely: a central part 11 and two lateral parts 12 on one side and the other of the central part, said blank having longitudinal symmetry and transverse symmetry.

[0047] The central part 11 comprises a rectangular bottom part 111, two transverse walls 113 articulated to said bottom part by fold lines 112, and two edging elements 115 each articulated to a transverse wall 113 by a fold line 114.

[0048] Each lateral part 12 comprises a longitudinal wall 121 and two flaps 123 articulated to said longitudinal wall by fold lines 122.

[0049] The longitudinal walls 121 of the lateral parts 12 are articulated to the bottom part 111 of the central part 11 by fold lines 131, which constitute the only fold lines between the central part 11 and the lateral parts 12 of the lower blank 10.

[0050] The lower blank 10 is intended to cooperate with the upper blank 20 to form the box 100 in volume.

[0051] The upper blank 20 also comprises three distinct parts distributed transversely: a central part 21 and two lateral parts 22 on one side and the other of the central part, said blank having longitudinal symmetry and transverse symmetry.

[0052] The central part 21 comprises a rectangular closing part 211, two transverse walls 213 articulated to said closing part by fold lines 212.

[0053] Each lateral part 22 comprises a longitudinal wall 221 and two flaps 223 articulated to said longitudinal wall by fold lines 222.

[0054] The longitudinal walls 221 of the lateral parts 22 are articulated to the closing part 211 of the central part 21 by fold lines 231, which constitute the only fold lines between the central part 21 and the lateral parts 22 of the upper blank 20.

[0055] Finally, in the lower blank 10, the four flaps 123 each comprise a tab 1231, and in the upper blank 20, the four flaps 223 each comprise a light 2231.

[0056] The tabs 1231 are intended to cooperate, in part or in whole, with the corresponding lights 2231 to ensure partial or total locking of the box 100 when placed in volume.

[0057] Volume setting:

[0058] [Fig. 3] represents the first step of folding the lower part 10 of the box. During this first step, the two side parts 12 are straightened relative to the bottom part 111, around their respective fold lines 131, so as to come into a straight position substantially perpendicular to said bottom part as shown in [Fig. 4].

[0059] The straightening of the lateral parts 12 consists more precisely in straightening the longitudinal walls 121 around the fold lines 131, and in straightening the flaps 123 against said longitudinal walls, around the fold lines 122. Thus, the straightening of each longitudinal wall 121 brings the straightened flaps 123 thereof along the fold lines 112 existing between the bottom part 111 and the transverse walls 113.

[0060] Before straightening the transverse walls 113 and folding down their edging elements 115, a crucial step for locking and securing the box must be carried out. This step consists of pushing the tabs 1231 of at least one lateral part 12 towards the back (or the outside) of the lower panel 10.

[0061] Indeed, this depression will allow the tabs 1231 concerned to protrude and to cooperate with the corresponding lights 2231 on the upper part 20 of the body 100.

[0062] In [Fig.3], only the lateral part 12a is concerned by the insertion of the tabs 1231. Hence the need to distinguish the two lateral parts 12 by the addition of the letters a and b.

[0063] In the folded state shown in [Fig. 3], only the right-hand tab 1231 is pushed in, this being shown in a broken line because it is located behind the flap 123. This pushing in then creates an opening 1232 of the same shape as the pushed-in tab 1231.

[0064] [Fig. 4] represents the step which follows the straightening of the lateral parts 12. This step consists of straightening, one at a time, the transverse walls 113 and, thereby, their edging elements 115.

[0065] In fact, each transverse wall 113 is brought back against the straightened flaps 123. The corresponding edging element 115 is then folded around the folding line 114 to sandwich the flaps 123, one of which has a pressed-in tab 1231.

[0066] For this purpose, the folding line 114 is double to allow the flaps 123 to be sandwiched between the transverse wall 113 and its edging element 115. The width of the double folding lines 114 must be substantially equal to the thickness of the flaps 123, and therefore to the thickness of the blank 10 insofar as it has a uniform thickness.

[0067] To lock the edging elements 115 in the folded position against the flaps 123, said elements are preferably equipped with locking fins 1151 as shown in [Fig.4]. Indeed, each edging element 115 has two locking fins 1151 at its two free corners, making it possible to lock the edging element 115 in the folded position by simple pressure.

[0068] [Fig. 5] represents the lower part 10 in which the first edging element 115 has been folded down, and the second tab 1231 has been pressed down to fold down the second edging element 115 and thus finalize the volume formation of the lower part 10.

[0069] [Fig.6] represents the lower part 10 set in volume, according to its final configuration, to be assembled with the upper part 20 of the box 100. The bottom part 111 is thus ready to receive the articles to be packaged.

[0070] [Fig. 7] represents the upper part 20, from the blank shown in [Fig. 1], in which the transverse walls 213 have been straightened relative to the closing part 211, around the fold lines 212, so as to be substantially perpendicular to the closing part 211. In this configuration, the upper part 20 is ready to be assembled with the lower part 10.

[0071] [Fig.8] shows the body 100 at the start of the assembly of these two parts 10 and 20. The assembly begins by inserting the upper part 20, with its transverse walls 213 straightened as in [Fig.7], into the lower part 10 in volume. This insertion consists of introducing the transverse walls 213 of the upper part 20 opposite the transverse walls 113 of the lower part 10, until they come up against the peripheral edge of the lower part.

[0072] It should be noted that the presence of the transverse walls 213 is not obligatory. The upper part 20 may perfectly well be devoid of transverse walls and be placed directly on the lower part 10 before the step of folding down the longitudinal walls 221.

[0073] Then, all that remains is to fold the longitudinal walls 221 of the upper part 20 against the longitudinal walls 121 of the lower part 10, and to insert the flaps 223 of the upper part 20 opposite the flaps 123 of the lower part 10.

[0074] [Fig.9] shows the box 100 with one lateral part 22a folded, that is to say with its longitudinal wall 221 folded down and its flaps 223 inserted, and the other lateral part 22b being folded around the folding line 231.

[0075] [Fig. 10] shows the body 100 with the flaps 223 of the side part 22b being inserted between the transverse walls 113 and the flaps 123 of the lower part 10.

[0076] When inserting the flaps 223 of the upper part 20 into the lower part 10, the previously pushed-in tabs 1231 penetrate into the slots 2231 that they encounter, so as to lock the lateral part 22 concerned, here the lateral part 22a corresponding to the lateral part 12a on which the tabs 1231 have been pushed in as shown in Figures 3 to 5.

[0077] Indeed, the lights 2231 have a trapezoidal shape, oriented so as to allow penetration in one direction of the tabs 1231 pushed in during insertion and blocking in the other direction when it is pulled on the longitudinal wall 221 on the side concerned.

[0078] Alternatively, the tabs and lights may have any shape that is well suited to the intended locking function, for example a round, semi-circular shape.

[0079] [Fig. 11] represents the box 100 in volume and shows the absence (a) or the presence (b) of the blocking effect produced by the set of self-locking tabs and lights.

[0080] In (a) it is shown that the box 100 opens from the unlocked side portion 22b without any resistance. This is due to the fact that the tabs on this side have not been depressed.

[0081] In (b), on the contrary, it is shown that the box 100 does not open normally via the locked side part 22a. This is due to the tabs being pushed in on this side. In this case, forced opening will necessarily result in the tabs being folded or even torn off, and therefore damage to the box.

[0082] Thus, the box 100 can be used in three configurations depending on the need: an unlocked configuration in which no tabs are depressed; a semi-locked configuration in which the tabs are depressed on only one side as shown in [Fig. 11]; and a fully locked configuration in which all the tabs are locked.

[0083] In the first two configurations, unlocked and semi-locked, the box 100 is easily opened and closed.

[0084] [Fig. 12] shows the box 100 in volume, opened on one side which is not locked in the manner of a conventional shipping box, but with the advantage of being able to be disassembled and stored flat with less space requirement.

[0085] Of course, the disassembly of a locked side is done first by unfolding the edging elements 115 to delicately release the tabs stuck in the slots.

[0086] In addition to the reduction in size and flat storage, the box 100 according to the invention allows for easier printing or post-printing thanks to the substantially rectangular formats and the reduced dimensions of each part taken independently as shown in [Fig.l]. This format adapts more easily to different printing machines.

[0087] It is apparent from the present description that certain non-essential elements of the box may be modified, replaced or deleted without departing from the scope of the invention defined by the claims below. For example, the shapes and dimensions of the different parts of the box may be slightly different from the embodiment described. Also, the box may include additional reinforcing elements such as openings on the fold lines 131 to receive the locking elements 1151.

Claims

Claims

1. A box (100) for packaging various items, consisting of a lower part (10) and an upper part (20) which are foldable and unfoldable, each of said parts being able to be formed into volume from a blank and comprising respectively a rectangular base part (111) and a rectangular closing part (211) to which side walls (113, 121, 213, 221) are hinged by folding lines (112, 131, 212, 231); in the lower part (10) two opposite side walls (121), called longitudinal, each comprising two end flaps (123); characterized in that the lower part (10) and the upper part (20) are independent and completely separable; in that at least one side wall (221), called longitudinal, of the upper part (20) comprises two end flaps (223) each comprising a light (2231);and in that the flaps (123) of at least one longitudinal side wall (121) of the lower part (10) each comprise a tab (1231) which can be pushed in to lock into a slot (2231) when the box (100) is put into volume.;

2. Packing box according to claim 1, in which the upper part (20) comprises two longitudinal walls (221) each comprising two end flaps (223) on each of which a light (2231) is provided.

3. Packing box according to claim 1 or 2, in which each flap (123) of the lower part (10) comprises a tab (1231) capable of cooperating with a light (2231).

4. A packing box according to any preceding claim, wherein the tabs (1231) and the slots (2231) have a trapezoidal shape.

5. Packing box according to any one of the preceding claims, in which two side walls (113), called transverse, of the lower part (10) are each extended by a border element (115) articulated by a folding line (114).

6. A packing box according to claim 5, wherein the fold lines (114) between the transverse walls (113) and their edge members (115) are double to allow for gripping sandwiching the flaps (123) between said walls and said edging elements when the lower part (10) is put into volume.

7. Packing box according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the upper part (20) comprises two side walls (213), called transverse, inserted perpendicularly to the longitudinal walls (121) of the lower part (10) when being set up.

8. A packing box according to any preceding claim, wherein the lower portion (10) and the upper portion (20) are made of corrugated cardboard of the same thickness.

9. A packing case according to any preceding claim, wherein the lower portion (10) and the upper portion (20) each have both longitudinal symmetry and transverse symmetry when lying flat.

10. Packaging method using a packaging box (100) according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that it comprises the following steps: • in the lower part (10): i. the longitudinal walls (121) are straightened against the bottom part (111) and the flaps (123) are straightened against said walls; ii. the tabs (1231) along at least one longitudinal wall (121) are pushed in; iii. the other two side walls (113) are straightened against the flaps (123); • in the upper part (20): i. two side walls (213) are straightened and inserted into the lower part (10); ii. the longitudinal wall (221) provided with flaps (223) is folded against a longitudinal wall (121) of the lower part (10) and said flaps are inserted so that their lights (2231) cooperate with the corresponding tabs (1231).

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