Improved shipping box and blank

Abstract

A blank 10 is for forming a box. The blank 10 comprises a base panel P1, two side panels P2 connected to respective first and second opposite sides of the base panel P1 along respective lines of weakn

Description

This invention relates to a blank for forming a box and to the box formed from the blank. The success of ecommerce has meant that an increasing number of products that are purchased over the Internet are sent to the purchaser in a box, usually made of cardboard, which is assembled from a blank. The blank will be provided with different score lines, fold lines, cuts and so on and the blank is assembled by folding the various panels of the blank to create the finished box, which is then used to house the goods being transported to the end user. Once the box has been filled and it is usually sealed in some way to ensure that the contents of the box are not tampered with in any way. However, the box still needs to be relatively easy to open by the final end user and ideally provide a tamper-proof opening that the end user can see has not been interfered with. One aspect of ecommerce is the reselling of goods that are no longer needed or have been replaced. This is particularly prevalent in the consumer electronics sector, where new devices are being released on a regular basis that supersede existing devices. For example, in the mobile phone market, new and improved devices are constantly being brought to the market by the different mobile phone manufacturers. This leads to end users replacing their mobile phones for newer models on a regular basis. Over 1 billion mobile phones are sold every year around the world, a very high percentage of which are made to end users who already possess a functioning mobile phone. This creates an enormous secondary market for the mobile phones that have been replaced. Similar issues arise in relation to other consumer electronic devices, such as laptop computers and tablet computers. A known issue in the second-hand market for these types of devices is that the original purchaser of the device has normally disposed of the original packaging for the device. A consumer who has purchased a new mobile phone will normally open the original packaging removing the mobile phone and charger and will rarely keep the packaging once they have ascertained that the mobile phone is working correctly. Similar problems arise with the purchase of laptops and tablets, where the original packaging has not been retained. This means that when a user comes to sell their old device after purchasing a new device, or when that second hand device is resold by a dedicated retailer of second-hand electronic goods, there is no suitable packaging available for that device, particularly if the second-hand device is to be posted to the new purchaser. It is therefore an object of the invention to improve upon the known art. According to the present invention, there is provided a blank for forming a box according to the attached claims. Owing to the invention, it is possible to provide a blank that can be used to create a box that is suitable for repackaging items such as mobile phones that no longer have their original packaging, while also being easy to assemble and fill. The blank can be formed from a single piece of cardboard and does not require any tape or glue. The insert panel is configured so that when this panel is assembled it creates a three-dimensional structure in the interior of the box that can be used to securely grip an electronic device such as a mobile phone, providing a suitable box for the transit of the device that will protect the device being held from any damage. Preferably, each oblique cut includes an intermediate section comprising a first section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and a second section parallel to the longitudinal axis. Each of the oblique cuts preferably has a section that deviates from the diagonal length of each cut, this section defining at least two sections that are at right-angles to each other. Although from the blank, the purpose and advantage of these intermediate sections is not readily apparent, when the insert panel is assembled in the box, the intermediate section of each oblique cut creates a tab that protrudes from each cut that can be used to site the device that is ultimately to be placed within the assembled box. This configuration makes it easier to locate the device being shipped within the interior of the box and results in the device being raised from the bottom of the box and therefore assists in the protection of the device when being shipped in the finished box. Ideally, the plurality of lines of weakness running perpendicular to the longitudinal axis comprise a first line of weakness bounding one end of the two groups of oblique cuts and a second line of weakness bounding the opposite end of the two group of oblique cuts. The presence of the two perpendicular lines of weakness on the insert panel (which preferably run from one side of the panel to the opposite side) create a natural fold when the insert panel is being converted from a flat blank to the three-dimensional structure that is designed to hold the device being fitted into the box. This makes the insert structure easier for the seller to create, when they are assembling the box, and the parts of the panel that are to the outside of these two lines of weakness will create effective upright ends for the internal panel structure, providing the structure with strength and stability. Advantageously, each cut of the two groups of cuts extends from one of the plurality of lines of weakness running perpendicular to the longitudinal axis to another of the plurality of lines of weakness running perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. Ideally each diagonal cut starts and finishes at a line of weakness that runs across the insert panel. Different arrangements of the cuts and lines of weakness are possible, but one advantageous arrangement is to have a set of parallel lines of weakness with even spacing between each line of weakness, with each cut extending from a first line of weakness, over a second line of weakness and terminating at a third line of weakness. Each cut would effectively overlap an adjacent cut when viewing the blank from above. The arrangement of cuts and lines of weakness provides an insert panel that is both easy to assemble and also easy to use once assembled. The resulting structure created by the insert panel provides a secure structure for the holding of a device such as a mobile phone. Preferably, the insert panel comprises a pull tab located at one end of the two groups of oblique cuts and lying across the longitudinal axis. The provision of a pull tab (which is preferably formed by a semi-circular cut bounded by a straight crease line) provides a simple and obvious method of assembling the insert structure from the insert panel. Once the user wishes to assemble the insert structure, they can grasp the pull tab and pull this tab while holding the insert panel, which will tend to pull the centre of the insert panel away from the sides of the insert panel, thereby beginning the process of erecting the insert structure. Once this process has been started, it will be obvious to the user who to complete the process. Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Figures 1 and 2 are plan views of a blank for forming a box, Figure 3 is a detail of the blank of Figures 1 and 2, and Figures 4 to 10 are perspective views of a box being constructed from the blank of Figures 1 and 2. Figure 1 shows a blank 10 for forming a cardboard box. The blank 10 is formed from a flat sheet of cardboard and is cut from the flat sheet. The blank 10 is also provided with numerous lines of weaknesses, which can take a number of different forms, such as crease lines, partial cuts, fold lines and the like. A line of weakness has the function that it either facilitates a fold along the line of weakness or the line of weakness allows a break to be made along the line. For example, a line of weakness that is formed by a crease being imprinted will later allow a fold to be made along that line whereas a line of weakness that is formed by partial cuts will later allow a tear to be made along that line. Figure 1 is shown without any reference numerals in order to illustrate the blank 10 for ease of understanding. Figure 2 shows the identical blank 10 but with the reference numerals added. The blank 10 comprises a base panel P1, two side panels P2 connected to respective first and second opposite sides of the base panel P1 along respective lines of weakness L1 and L2, a front panel P3 connected to a third side of the base panel P1 along a line of weakness L3 and a back panel P4 connected to a fourth side of the base panel P1 along a line of weakness L4. Two front tuck-in panels P3a and P3b are each connected to the front panel P3 along respective lines of weakness L5 and L6 and two back tuck-in panels P4a and P4b are each connected to the back panel P4 along respective lines of weakness L7 and L8. A top panel P5 is connected to the back panel P4 along a line of weakness L9 parallel to the line of weakness L4 connecting the back panel P4 to the base panel P1 and two locking panels P5a and P5b are each connected to respective opposite sides of the primary top panel P5 along respective lines of weakness L10 and L11. An insert panel P6 is connected to the front panel P3 along a line of weakness L12 parallel to the line of weakness L3 connecting the front panel P3 to the base panel P1. The insert panel P6 includes two groups of oblique cuts C1 and C2 on either side of a longitudinal axis A1 and a plurality of lines of weakness L13 running perpendicular to the longitudinal axis A1. The plurality of lines of weakness L13 running perpendicular to the longitudinal axis A1 comprise a first line of weakness L13a bounding one end of the two groups of oblique cuts C1 and C2 and a second line of weakness L13b bounding the opposite end of the two group of oblique cuts C1 and C2. Each cut C1 and C2 of the two groups of cuts C1 and C2 extends from one of the plurality of lines of weakness L13 running perpendicular to the longitudinal axis A1 to another of the plurality of lines of weakness L13 running perpendicular to the longitudinal axis A1. The arrangement of cuts C1 and C2 and lines of weakness L13 on the insert panel P6 are symmetrical about the longitudinal axis A1. The insert panel P6 comprises a pull tab PT1 located at one end of the two groups of oblique cuts C1, C2 and lying across the longitudinal axis A1. The blank 10 also comprises a slot S1 located on the line of weakness L12 connecting the insert panel P6 to the front panel P3 and a tab T1 located on an edge of the top panel P5 opposite the line of weakness L9 connecting the top panel P5 to the back panel P4. When the box is formed from the blank 10, the tab T1 will mate with the slot S1, to form a tamper evident closure of the box. The blank 10 is also provided with a line of weakness L15, which starts on the outer edge of the top panel P5 and curves round the tab T1 to finish back on the outer edge of the top panel P5. This line of weakness L15 provides a method of opening the final box when the box has been received by the end user. The user can break open the box by tearing away the tab T1 using the line of weakness L15. Figure 3 shows a detail of the blank 10 of Figures 1 and 2, in order to show two oblique cuts C1 and C2 in more detail. Each oblique cut C1 and C2 includes an intermediate section C1a, C1b, C2a, C2b, which comprises a first section C1a and C2a perpendicular to the longitudinal axis A1 and a second section C1b and C2b parallel to the longitudinal axis A1. Each of the oblique cuts C1 and C2 has this intermediate section that deviates from the diagonal length of each cut C1 and C2. The intermediate section of each cut C1 and C2 defines two sections that are at right-angles to each other. When the box is formed from the blank 10, the insert panel P6 is assembled in the box. During this process, the intermediate section of each oblique cut C1 and C2 creates a tab. This tab is formed from the two sections that are at right-angles to each other. The tab protrudes from each cut C1 and C2 and this creates a platform inside the box. This platform can be used to site a device that is to be shipped within the assembled box. The assembly of the box from the blank 10 is illustrated in Figure 4 to 10, which show the construction of the box in a series of perspective views from different angles. The first stage of the construction process is shown in Figure 4, where the insert panel P6 is being turned into the “insert structure” that will ultimately be located inside the finished box. To create this structure, the user must lift up the pull tab PT1 and pull that tab PT1 towards the left in the Figure, while also holding onto the side of the insert panel P6. The effect of this action will be to turn the insert panel P6 from a flat two-dimensional panel P6 into a three-dimensional structure. The nature of the oblique cuts C1 and C2 and the lines of weakness L13 on the insert panel P6 allow the centre part of the insert panel P6 to separate from the remainder of the insert panel P6, with essentially a flat part in the middle of the insert panel P6 being connected to the outer part of the insert panel P6 via legs created by the oblique cuts C1 and C2. Figure 5 shows the process of forming the insert structure as this action by the user is continued. The user must pull the tab PT1 until the legs defined by the cuts C1 and C2 are at an angle of 90 degrees from the remainder of the insert panel P6. This part of the blank 10 has now been formed. The process of assembling the box 12 from the blank 10 is continued in Figure 6. The four panels that are directly adjacent to the base panel P1 are folded 90 degrees inwards towards the base panel P1 to form the sides of the box. These four panels are the two side panels P2, the front panel P3 and the back panel P4. The two pairs of tuck-in panels P3a and P3b, P4a and P4b are folded inwards and trapped in the side panels P2. Each side panel P2 is provided with a double line of weakness L14 which is used to fold the side panel P2 in half so that a tab T2 on the external edge of each side panel P2 engages with a respective slot S2 that is located on the line of weakness L2 that connects the base panel P1 to each respective side panel P2. The two locking panels P5a and P5b are also folded in by 90 degrees, as is the tab T1, and this creates the configuration of the box 12 shown in Figure 6. At this point, the user can slide a product 20 (such as a mobile phone 20) into the structure formed from the insert panel P6, as shown in Figure 7. The size of the structure created from the insert panel P6 is designed to match the size of the product 20 that is being shipped in the box 12. Different sizes of box 12 can be provided in order to provide a range of different options, depending upon which product is being shipped. Smaller boxes 12 can be used for conventional sizes of mobile phones, medium sized boxes 12 can be used for electronic devices such as tablets and larger boxes 12 can be used for laptops and the like. The structure is such that the device 20 being shipped is held tightly within the structure, and is held away from the sides of the box 12, which provides protection for the product 20 when the box 12 is being shipped. The next stage of the construction process is to fold the secure holder 180 degrees to locate the structure formed from the insert panel P6 and the product 20 inside the box 12. This is illustrated in Figure 8, where it can be seen that the structure is being rotated around the connection to the front panel P3 (the line of weakness L12) to place this structure inside the interior of the box 12. Once inside the box 12, the two flat ends of the structure (which 5 were originally the ends of the insert panel P6) fit snuggly against the side panels P2 of the box 12 and this arrangement ensures that the structure formed from the insert panel P6 remains rigid inside the box 12. The product 20 is held in place and protected by the structure formed from the insert panel P6. io The box 12 can now be finally closed, as shown in Figures 9 and 10. In Figure 9, the top panel P5 is folded down and the tab T1 is mated with the slot S1, creating the tamper evident closure of the box 12. The final configuration after the closure of the box 12 is shown in Figure 10. The blank 10 provide a one-piece secure ecommerce box 12 that does not require any tape or glue to 15 assemble or close. The box 12 also provides a tamper evident closure and a secure “floating” device holder within the box 12 that is both easy to assemble and easy to use for the person who is constructing the box 12 from the blank 10.

Claims

1. A blank (10) for forming a box (12), the blank (10) comprising:• a base panel (P1),• two side panels (P2) connected to respective first and second opposite sides of the base panel (P1) along respective lines of weakness (L1, L2),• a front panel (P3) connected to a third side of the base panel (P1) along a line of weakness (L3),• a back panel (P4) connected to a fourth side of the base panel (P1) along a line of weakness (L4),• two front tuck-in panels (P3a, P3b) each connected to the front panel (P3) along respective lines of weakness (L5, L6),• two back tuck-in panels (P4a, P4b) each connected to the back panel (P4) along respective lines of weakness (L7, L8),• a top panel (P5) connected to the back panel (P4) along a line of weakness (L9) parallel to the line of weakness (L4) connecting the back panel (P4) to the base panel (P1),• two locking panels (P5a, P5b) each connected to respective opposite sides of the primary top panel (P5) along respective lines of weakness (L10, L11), and• an insert panel (P6) connected to the front panel (P3) along a line of weakness (L12) parallel to the line of weakness (L3) connecting the front panel (P3) to the base panel (P1), the insert panel (P6) including two groups of oblique cuts (C1, C2) on either side of a longitudinal axis (A1) and a plurality of lines of weakness (L13) running perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (A1).

2. A blank according to claim 1, wherein each oblique cut (C1, C2) includes an intermediate section (C1a, C1b, C2a, C2b) comprising a firstsection (C1a, C2a) perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (A1) and a second section (C1b, C2b) parallel to the longitudinal axis (A1).

3. A blank according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the plurality of lines of weakness (L13) running perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (A1) comprise a first line of weakness (L13a) bounding one end of the two groups of oblique cuts (C1, C2) and a second line of weakness (L13b) bounding the opposite end of the two group of oblique cuts (C1, C2).

4. A blank according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein each cut (C1, C2) of the two groups of cuts (C1, C2) extends from one of the plurality of lines of weakness (L13) running perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (A1) to another of the plurality of lines of weakness (L13) running perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (A1).

5. A blank according to any preceding claim, wherein the arrangement of cuts (C1, C2) and lines of weakness (L13) on the insert panel (P6) are symmetrical about the longitudinal axis (A1).

6. A blank according to any preceding claim, wherein the insert panel (P6) comprises a pull tab (PT1) located at one end of the two groups of oblique cuts (C1, C2) and lying across the longitudinal axis (A1).

7. A blank according to any preceding claim, and further comprising a slot (S1) located on the line of weakness (L12) connecting the insert panel (P6) to the front panel (P3) and a tab (T1) located on an edge of the top panel (P5) opposite the line of weakness (L9) connecting the top panel (P5) to the back panel (P4).

8. A box formed from the blank of any one of claims 1 to 7.

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