Box of approximately parallelepiped shape made by folding

Abstract

The invention relates to a box (1) of substantially parallelepipedal shape produced by folding. The box according to the invention is obtained from a pre-cut blank. The blank comprises a bottom panel bordered, on the one hand, by two opposite main side panels (3, 4) and, on the other hand, by two opposite secondary side panels (5, 6) and lateral stabilization means intended to cooperate with the lateral stabilization means of another adjacent and substantially identical box (1). Advantageously, the lateral stabilization means comprise at least one folded-down tab (18), fixed at least in part to a main lateral face of the box (1), and at least one edge of which forms a support surface and a receiving zone located on a main lateral face. The lateral face is capable of collaborating with at least one edge of a folded-down tab (18) of the other adjacent and substantially identical box (1). Figure 2

Description

Title of the invention: Box of substantially parallelepiped shape produced by folding Technical field to which the invention relates

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of boxes and, in a preferred but not exclusive form, to the field of boxes obtained by forming a pre-cut blank into volume. The invention also relates to the field of pre-cut blanks for forming a box by folding. Technological background

[0002] In the above field, boxes of substantially parallelepiped shape are known which are produced by folding and assembling at least one pre-cut blank and which comprise a bottom panel bordered, on the one hand, by two opposite main side panels and, on the other hand, by two opposite secondary side panels and which comprise lateral stabilization means intended to cooperate with the lateral stabilization means of another substantially identical adjacent box.

[0003] These lateral stabilization means may include locking / blocking systems using folded tabs glued to the upper face of the boxes. Systems of lateral tenons which cooperate with orifices placed on the edges of said packaging are also known.

[0004] These crates find a particularly important, although not exclusive, application in the field of stackable crates on pallets. Indeed, the crates stacked on pallets must not slide relative to each other during their transport, by truck or on a trolley. Such means allow for centering of the stacks of crates.

[0005] However, such crates have the disadvantage of not being optimized to ensure lateral stability. The transport of crates in fact induces a swinging movement between the stacks of crates placed next to each other. The need then arose for a crate with more efficient lateral stabilization means. Subject of the invention

[0006] The invention aims to solve the problem mentioned above, by proposing a substantially parallelepipedal box of a new type. It should be noted that the term "box" according to the invention can also designate a packaging or a tray.

[0007] According to the invention, the box is produced by folding and assembling at least one pre-cut blank which comprises a bottom panel. The bottom panel is bordered on the one hand by two opposite main side panels and, on the other hand, by two opposite secondary side panels. The bottom panel is also bordered by lateral stabilization means intended to cooperate with the lateral stabilization means of another adjacent identical or substantially identical body.

[0008] The invention is remarkable in that the lateral stabilization means comprise, on the one hand, at least one folded-down tab fixed at least in part to a main lateral face of the body, and at least one edge of the folded-down tab forms a bearing surface and, on the other hand, a receiving zone located on a main lateral face, said receiving zone being capable of collaborating with at least one edge of a folded-down tab of the other identical or substantially identical adjacent body.

[0009] In other words, the box according to the invention comprises lateral stabilization means composed of at least one folded-down tab, fixed at least in part to a main lateral face of the box and of which at least one edge forms a support surface and a receiving zone, located on a main lateral face, capable of collaborating with at least one edge of a folded-down tab of another identical or substantially identical adjacent box.

[0010] The implementation of a folded tab as described above advantageously makes it possible to create a gripping zone in the receiving zone, for at least one edge of the tab and, thus, to increase the stability of two boxes arranged one opposite the other or one next to the other.

[0011] According to another characteristic of the invention, an edge of the folded-down tab forms a finger capable of collaborating with the finger of a folded-down tab of another identical or substantially identical box, arranged diagonally to said box. The implementation of an edge of the tab forming a finger advantageously makes it possible to increase the stability of several boxes or stacks of boxes arranged opposite each other and diagonally. In other words, said boxes can be in contact, at an outer edge of said boxes, outer edge extending perpendicularly or substantially perpendicularly to the bottom of the box.

[0012] According to another characteristic of the invention, each main side panel comprises a folded tab and a receiving zone, said folded tabs being substantially symmetrical with respect to the axis passing through the center of the bottom panel and, said axis being perpendicular to the bottom panel. The implementation of a box having such symmetry advantageously makes it easier to handle and to avoid a mandatory direction of arrangement, in order to fully benefit from the innovation. In other words, the presence of at least one folded tab and a receiving zone as described above, at the level of each side panel of a box according to the invention, allows greater freedom of juxtaposition of the boxes according to the invention, while limiting or preventing the occurrence of a swinging movement between the boxes during their transport.

[0013] According to another characteristic of the invention, at least one folded tab is located or positioned at an upper corner of a main side panel. Advantageously, by placing the stabilizing means on the upper part of the box, the stability of the boxes is significantly increased when stacking them.

[0014] According to another characteristic of the invention, the secondary side panels are connected to an upper sidewalk, by at least one fold line, and said sidewalk is connected to a folded tab by at least one fold line. The implementation of a sidewalk makes it easier to fold the tab onto the main side panel.

[0015] The invention also relates to a pre-cut blank for forming by folding a box according to the invention, characterized in that it comprises:

[0016] - a bottom panel bordered, on the one hand, by two main side panels opposite and, on the other hand, by two opposite secondary panels, said main and secondary side panels are separated from the bottom panel by a fold line,

[0017] - two opposing secondary side panels comprise, opposite the panel bottom, an upper sidewalk, each sidewalk being separated from said secondary side panel by a fold line and each sidewalk comprises, on an edge adjacent to the main side panel or on an edge opposite a main side panel, a folded tab, separated from said sidewalk by a fold line, and fixed at least in part to the adjacent main side panel when the box is formed, so as to leave a part of the folded tab protruding,

[0018] - two opposing main side panels comprise a receiving area capable of receiving the folded tab of an adjacent substantially identical box.

[0019] Advantageously, a portion of the folded-down tab projects when the box is shaped, so as to cooperate with a section of another folded-down tab also projecting from an identical or similar box, arranged diagonally, or from a box adjacent to an identical or similar box positioned opposite said box.

[0020] In other words, the folded tabs protrude from the main lateral faces of the box, when the box is formed, so as to be able to be inserted at the level of the receiving zones also present on the main lateral faces, as defined above and, thus, to be able to interact with the folded tabs of other identical or substantially identical boxes, formed from the same pre-cut blank according to the invention.

[0021] This innovative characteristic of the invention makes it possible to increase the stability of an assembly composed of at least two stacks of crates according to the invention, juxtaposed between them, formed from a pre-cut blank as described above, or of at least four stacks of crates according to the invention, juxtaposed between them, formed from of a pre-cut blank according to the invention.

[0022] By the term "juxtaposed" is meant herein that the main side panels of two boxes are joined together so as to be in contact. Preferably, the boxes are positioned so that their side panels face each other, so that the folded tabs of the two boxes cooperate together as described above.

[0023] The invention also relates to a pre-cut blank for forming a box by folding, comprising:

[0024] - a series of at least four side panels, in order a first panel main side panel, a first secondary side panel, a second main panel and a second secondary panel, said side panels are separated by fold lines, two secondary side panels comprise on their lower edges a flap, separated from the corresponding secondary side panel by a fold line, two main side panels comprise on their lower edges a part of the bottom panel, separated from the corresponding main side panel by a fold line,

[0025] - two secondary side panels comprise a sidewalk, each sidewalk comprises, on a first edge perpendicular to the fold line separating the sidewalk from the secondary side panel, a first folded tab and, on the second edge opposite the first edge, a second folded tab, located at a distance from said edge, the edge of which makes it possible to form a receiving zone when the box is formed. This blank shape makes it possible to obtain a so-called “American” box.

[0026] The box can also be made by folding and assembling three pre-cut blanks, a first blank is made up of the bottom panel and the two main side panels, the other two blanks are substantially identical and each form at least one secondary side panel. This three-piece construction is well known to those skilled in the art, and in particular makes it easier to handle the blanks making up the boxes.

[0027] Of course, the various features, variants and embodiments of the invention may be combined with each other in various combinations to the extent that they are not incompatible or mutually exclusive. Description of the figures

[0028] Furthermore, various other characteristics of the invention emerge from the description below given with reference to the appended drawings which illustrate non-limiting forms of production and volume formation of pre-cut blanks in accordance with the invention.

[0029] [Fig. 1] is a flat view of a pre-cut blank for forming a box according to the invention;

[0030] [Fig.2] is a schematic perspective of a box formed from the blank illustrated in [Fig.2];

[0031] [Fig.3] is a schematic and partial view of the body illustrated by [Fig.2], showing a folded tab forming a finger, said finger being able to collaborate with the finger of a folded tab of another box according to the invention;

[0032] [Fig.4] is a schematic view of boxes similar to that illustrated by [Fig.2], stacked and subjected to lateral swing;

[0033] [Fig.5] is a schematic view of the boxes illustrated by [Fig.4], subjected to a longitudinal swing;

[0034] [Fig.6] is a perspective view of two boxes in accordance with the invention, arranged diagonally;

[0035] [Fig.7] is a flat view of an alternative embodiment of the blank according to the invention;

[0036] [Fig.8] is a perspective view of three boxes formed from the blank illustrated by [Fig.7].

[0037] It should be noted that in these figures the structural and / or functional elements common to the different variants may have the same references.

[0038] Furthermore, on the flat views of pre-cut blanks for forming boxes in accordance with the invention:

[0039] - the cutting lines and the contours of the pre-cut blank are represented in lines continuous,

[0040] - the fold lines are shown in dotted lines. Detailed description of the invention

[0041] The invention aims to propose crates making it possible to ensure high lateral cohesion, in particular when stacked crates are adjacent to each other.

[0042] [Fig. 1] represents a non-limiting exemplary embodiment of a pre-cut blank according to the invention. The pre-cut blank is designated by the reference F in [Fig. 1]. The blank F consists of a bottom panel 2. The bottom panel is bordered on the one hand by two opposite main side panels 3, 4 and, on the other hand, by two opposite secondary side panels 5, 6. Said side panels 3, 4, 5, 6 are separated from the bottom panel 6 by fold lines 7, 8, 9, 10. Each of the secondary side panels 5, 6 carries two opposite flaps 11, separated from the corresponding side panel by a fold line 12.

[0043] A person skilled in the art observing a box considers that the bottom panel constitutes the lower face of the box, the main side faces and the secondary faces are formed in part by the main and secondary side panels, and the upper face of the box is opposite the lower face.

[0044] According to the invention, the folding lines can be produced in any way ap appropriate and adapted to the nature of the material constituting the blank. The fold lines can, for example, be produced by creasing, half-cutting, dotted cutting or combinations of these techniques, without this list being exhaustive or limiting.

[0045] According to the example illustrated by [Fig. 1], the pre-cut blank F also comprises two sidewalls 15. Each of the secondary side panels 5, 6 comprises a sidewall 15, opposite the bottom panel 6 and separated from the corresponding secondary side panel 5, 6 by a fold line 16. This fold line 16, according to the example illustrated in [Fig. 1], comprises two portions of fold lines 16 on either side of a central cutting line 17.

[0046] Each sidewalk 15 is bordered on two opposite sides by a folded tab 18 and a flap 19. The folded tab 18 and the flap 19 are separated from the sidewalk 15 by a fold line 20, 21.

[0047] Thanks to its arrangement on the upper face of the body 1, the sidewalks 15 thus arranged, visible in particular in [Fig.2], make it possible to have a folded tab 18 on each main side panel 3, 4. The flap 19 here ensures the support of the sidewalk 15.

[0048] The two sidewalks 15 provided with a folded-down tab 18 and a flap 19 are symmetrical with respect to the center of the bottom panel 2, that is to say, the arrangement of the folded-down tabs 18 and the flaps 19 is reversed on the two sidewalks 15 facing each other. Thus, the box 1, once assembled, will have the same arrangement of the main side panel 3, 4, according to a 180° rotation. According to the example illustrated by [Fig.2], this is the folded-down tab 18 arranged on the upper right corner of each main panel 3, 4.

[0049] The main side panels 3, 4 also comprise first and second receiving areas 22, 23 worked into the main side panels 3, 4, at the upper corners, opposite the bottom panel 2.

[0050] The first receiving zone 22 has a shape substantially complementary to the folded-down tab 18, in order to accommodate said folded-down tab 18.

[0051] The second receiving zone 23 visible in [Fig. 3], has a size significantly smaller than the folded tab 18. In fact, the second receiving zone 23 has the role of receiving the upper part of the folded tab 18 in order to fix the folded tab 18 on the flap of the box 1 uncovered through the second receiving zone 23.

[0052] According to this first example, each sidewalk 15 further comprises a tenon 24, opposite the corresponding secondary side panel 5, 6, and the bottom panel 2 comprises two openings 25 intended to each accommodate at least one tenon 24 of the substantially identical box 1 on which it is stacked. These characteristics advantageously allow better cohesion of the boxes when they are stacked.

[0053] The blank F, as thus constituted, is shaped in the following manner to form the box 1 as illustrated in [Fig.2]. The fold lines 7, 8, 9 and 10 are formed so as to place the main and secondary side panels 3, 4, 5, 6 in a vertical position, then the fold lines 13 and 14 are formed so as to bring the flaps 11, 12 towards the inside of the box 1. The fold lines 16 are formed so as to arrange the sidewalks 15 in a horizontal position, thus defining a semblance of an upper box panel. Finally, the fold lines 20, 21 are formed so as to fold the folded tabs 18 and the flaps 19 against the outer wall of the main side panels 3, 4.

[0054] [Fig. 3] shows a more detailed view of the folded-down tab 18 of the box 1 illustrated in [Fig. 2]. The folded-down tab 18 has the shape of an elongated tab having three edges 26, 27, 28, namely a horizontal edge 26 and two vertical edges 27, 28.

[0055] The upper part of the folded-down tab 18 is fixed to the main lateral face 4 of the box 1. The upper part of the folded-down tab 18 is fixed to the flap 12 through the second receiving zone 23 of the corresponding main panel 3, 4.

[0056] The lower part of the folded-down tab 18 is therefore slightly detached from the main side panel 3, 4, thus ensuring a better grip in the first reception zone 22 of an identical or substantially identical box, adjacent to said box 1.

[0057] Alternatively, the crate 1 may not include a second receiving zone 23, and the folded-down tab 18 is fixed at least in part directly to the main side panel 3, 4. The tab 18 may have different thicknesses in order to obtain the desired effect, namely, greater freedom of juxtaposition of the crates according to the invention, while limiting or preventing the occurrence of a swinging movement between the crates during their transport.

[0058] For this, the folded-down tab 18 has a low horizontal edge 26, capable of engaging with the lower edge of the first receiving zone 22 during a lateral swinging movement illustrated by [Fig.4].

[0059] The folded-down tab 18 also has a first vertical edge 27, perpendicular to the horizontal edge 26, capable of engaging with a vertical edge of the first receiving zone 22 of another box according to the invention, thus ensuring solidarity of all the boxes stacked opposite each other, during longitudinal swinging movement, illustrated in [Fig.5].

[0060] According to the present example, the folded tab 18 has the shape of an “L”. The straight part of the folded tab 18 therefore has a projecting edge forming a finger 29. The thickness of the slice is defined by the thickness of the folded tab 18.

[0061] Advantageously, this projecting edge is able to cooperate with the projecting edge of another folded-down tab 18 of a similar box 1 arranged diagonally, i.e. a box 1 adjacent to a box opposite the first box 1. Advantageously, this additional characteristic makes it possible to increase stability on a pallet comprising a set of at least four stacks of boxes.

[0062] The flaps 19 are fixed on the flaps 12, visible through the first receiving zone 22 and are therefore not in contact with the main side panels 3, 4, thus allowing greater flexibility of the structure of the box 1 when other boxes 1 are stacked on it.

[0063] The receiving area 22 can be created in different ways. According to the example illustrated in [Fig.l], the receiving area 22 comprises a cutout of a main side panel.

[0064] It should be noted that the sidewalks 15 can be provided with a notch 24 as illustrated in [Fig.l], intended to collaborate with an opening 25 of the box 1 when the latter is stacked with another box, thus ensuring better cohesion when stacking said boxes.

[0065] According to the example illustrated in [Fig.7] and described below, the receiving area 22 is created by a flap projecting from a main side panel 3, 4.

[0066] According to another embodiment, illustrated in [Fig.7], the blank F' comprises a series of four side panels 3, 4, 5, 6, said side panels 3, 4, 5, 6 are arranged alternately, i.e. a main side panel 3, a secondary side panel 5, a main side panel 4 and a secondary side panel 6. Said side panels 3, 5, 4, 6 are separated from each other by a fold line 30, 31, 32.

[0067] The secondary side panel 6, located at one end, comprises, opposite the adjacent main side panel 4, a closing strip 33, separated from said secondary side panel 6 by a fold line 34.

[0068] The main side panels 3, 4 also each comprise on their lower edge a part of the bottom panel 2a, 2b separated from the corresponding main side panel by a fold line 35, 36.

[0069] The secondary side panels 5, 6 each carry a lower flap 37 separated from the corresponding secondary side panel 5, 6 by a fold line 38. This embodiment known as an “American box” is well known to those skilled in the art.

[0070] Each secondary side panel 5, 6 comprises, opposite the lower flap 37, a sidewalk 15, separated from the corresponding secondary side panel 5, 6 by a fold line 39. Each sidewalk 15 comprises, on a first edge perpendicular to the line 39 separating the sidewalk 15 from the secondary side panel 5, 6, a first folded tab 18 and, on the second edge, opposite the first edge, a second folded tab 40, located at a distance from said edge, in order to create a receiving zone 22 comprising in particular at least one support edge, namely the edge of the second tab 40, when the box 1 is formed. The first and second folded tabs 18, 40 are separated from the sidewalk by a fold line 41, 42.

[0071] According to this variant embodiment illustrated in Figures 7 and 8, the main side panels 3, 4 comprise, opposite the bottom panel parts 2a, 2b, two upper flaps 43, 44, separated from the corresponding main side panel 3, 4 by a fold line 45, 46.And, the bottom panel portions 2a, 2b also comprise two lower receiving areas 43, 44, at the fold line 40 separating the bottom panel portions 2a, 2b from the main side panel 3, 4. The lower receiving areas 43, 44 are substantially aligned and of similar size with the upper flaps 39, 40. These features allow for improved centering of the stacked boxes.

[0072] The blank F', as thus constituted, is shaped in the following manner to form the box 1 as illustrated in [Fig.8]. The fold lines 38, 39, 40 and 39 are formed so as to place the main and secondary side panels 3, 5, 4, 6 in a vertical position, the closing strip 38 is fixed on the inner wall of the main panel 3.

[0073] Then, the fold lines 40 are formed so as to bring the flaps 39 towards the inside of the body 1 and the fold lines 40, 38 are formed in order to constitute the bottom panels 2a, 2b of the body 1. The fold lines 38 are formed so as to arrange the sidewalks 15 in a horizontal position, thus defining a semblance of a top body panel. The fold lines 40, 38 are then formed so as to fold the first and second folded tabs 18, 39 against the outer walls of the main side panels 3, 4.

[0074] Finally, the fold lines 41, 42 are formed in order to place the upper flaps 39, 40 on each of the sidewalks 15. The upper flaps 39, 40 collaborate with the lower receiving zones 43, 44 of a box 1 arranged on the first box 1.

[0075] In [Fig.8], three crates 1 are visible, two are facing each other, each of these crates has a first folded tab 18 intended to be housed in the first receiving zone 22, thus limiting the swinging of two stacks of crates placed opposite each other. If other stacks of crates 1 are adjacent, the first folded tab 18 will also collaborate with the edge of the first folded tab 18 of the adjacent crate 1.

[0076] Of course, various other modifications may be made to the invention within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

Claims

1. A box (1) of substantially parallelepipedal shape which is produced by folding and assembling at least one pre-cut blank (F) and which comprises a bottom panel (2) bordered, on the one hand, by two opposite main side panels (3, 4) and, on the other hand, by two opposite secondary side panels (5, 6) and lateral stabilization means intended to cooperate with the lateral stabilization means of another substantially identical adjacent box (1), characterized in that the lateral stabilization means comprise, on the one hand, at least one folded-down tab (18) fixed at least in part to a main side face of the box (1) and of which at least one edge (26, 27, 28) forms a bearing surface and, on the other hand, a receiving zone (22) located on a main side face capable of collaborating with at least one edge (26, 27, 28) of a folded-down tab (18) of the other adjacent box (1) substantially identical,in order to create a gripping zone in the receiving zone (22), for at least one edge (26, 27, 28) of the folded tab (18) of the other box (1) to increase the stability of two boxes when they are arranged opposite each other or next to each other.,

2. Box (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that a slice (26, 27, 28) of the folded tab (18) forms a finger (29) capable of collaborating with the finger (29) of a folded tab (18) of another box (1) substantially identical arranged diagonally to the box (1).

3. Box (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that each main side panel (3, 4) comprises a folded tab (18) and a receiving area (22), said folded tabs (18) and receiving areas (22) being substantially symmetrical to each other with respect to the axis passing through the center of the bottom panel (2) and being perpendicular to the bottom panel (2).

4. Box (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that a folded tab (18) is positioned at an upper corner of a main side panel (3, 4).

5. Box (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the secondary side panels (5, 6) are connected to an upper sidewalk (15) carrying the folded tongue (18).

6. Pre-cut blank (F) for forming by folding a box (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it comprises: - a bottom panel (2) bordered, on the one hand, by two opposite main side panels (3, 4) and, on the other hand, by two opposite secondary panels (5, 6), said main side panels (3, 4) and secondary panels (5, 6) are separated from the bottom panel (2) by a fold line (7, 8, 9, 10), - two opposite secondary side panels (5, 6) comprise, opposite the bottom panel (2), an upper sidewalk (15), each sidewalk (15) being separated from said secondary side panel (5, 6) by a fold line (16) and each sidewalk (15) comprises, on an edge opposite the main side panel (3, 4), a folded tab (18), separated from said sidewalk (15) by a fold line (20), and fixed at least in part to the adjacent main side panel (3, 4) when the box (1) is formed, so as to leave a part of the folded tab (18) projecting, - two opposite main side panels (3, 4) comprise a receiving zone (22) capable of receiving the folded-down tab (18) of an adjacent, substantially identical box (1), in order to create a gripping zone in the receiving zone (22), for at least one edge (26, 27, 28) of the folded-down tab (18) to increase the stability of two boxes arranged one opposite the other or one next to the other.

7. Pre-cut blank (F') for forming by folding a box (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it comprises: - a series of at least four side panels, in order a first main side panel (3), a first secondary side panel (5), a second main panel (4) and a second secondary panel (6), said side panels are separated by fold lines (38, 39, 40), two secondary side panels (5, 6) comprise on their lower edges a flap (39), separated from the corresponding secondary side panel (5, 6) by a fold line, two main side panels (3, 4) comprise on their lower edges a part of the bottom panel (2a, 2b), separated from the corresponding main side panel (3, 4) by a fold line (40, 38), two secondary side panels (5, 6) comprise a sidewalk (15), each sidewalk (15) comprises, on a first edge perpendicular to the fold line (38) separating the sidewalk (15) from the secondary side panel (5, 6), a first folded tab (18) and, on the second edge opposite the first edge, a second folded tab (19), located at a distance from said edge, the edge of which makes it possible to form a reception zone (22) when the box (1) is formed, in order to create a gripping zone in the reception zone (22), for at least one edge (26, 27, 28) of a first folded tab (18) of another box (1), to increase the stability of two boxes when they are arranged one opposite the other or one next to the other.

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