EP0164795B1

EP0164795B1 - A box for packaging and shipping flowers and the like

Info

Publication number: EP0164795B1
Application number: EP85200844A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Jan Hendrik Loon
Original assignee: Van Meurs' Golfcartonfabrieken BV
Current assignee: DS Smith Recycling Benelux BV
Priority date: 1984-05-29
Filing date: 1985-05-24
Publication date: 1988-08-24
Also published as: NL8401717A; DE3564554D1; EP0164795A1; ATE36687T1

Abstract

A box (1), for example for packaging and shipping flowers and the like. The box is folded and set-up from a blank, including a rectangular ground or base panel (10), four sidewalls (3) linked to the ground or base panel by means of folding-lines (8), and flaps (5) linked to the sidewalls and to each other by means of folding-lines (7). The flaps extend into the space enclosed by the box up to the centre of the box to provide compartments therein. There are further provided means for fixing the sidewalls relatively to each other in the set-up condition of the box. A slip-over box or cover (2) is provided, whose height is considerably in excess of the height of the sidewalls of the box.

Description

This invention relates to a blank for a box comprising two pairs of fold lines which define

-a square or rectangular bottom panel;
-and four corner braces, each corner brace comprising two triangular panels joined to each other by a fold line extending from a point at which a fold line of the first pair of fold lines and a fold line of the second pair of fold lines intersect each other, and joined by said fold lines of the first and second pairs respectively to two contiguous side panels.

A similar blank is disclosed in US-A-2,134,051. The blank of this box, however, has been developed for the shipment of chickens. The blank of this box is provided with a plurality of nicks necessary for interconnecting the walls and braces of the box, said nicks further being necessary for a proper venting: this means that, after folding, leakages will be produced at the angular point, so that this blank is unsuitable for functioning as shipping box for flowers with water.
It is an object of this invention to eliminate this drawback.
According to this invention, this object is achieved in that

-the blank is made of a waterproof material, for example is coated or impregnated on one side with a waterproof liner;
-and the side panels have a minimum height such that when the blank is folded about all its fold lines into its set-up condition to form a box, the corner braces extend up to the centre of the box, thus forming two partitions extending over the whole diagonals of the bottom panel.

The invention also relates to a box made by folding said blank about all its fold lines and directing the corner braces towards one another, whereby the liner extends on the inner surface of the box.
The invention also relates to an assembly of the box, described hereinbefore, and a cover box, which is considerably higher than the side panels of the box.
A box according to the present invention for packaging and shipping flowers will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a box with a cover, taken apart;
Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of the cover of Fig. 1; .
Fig. 3 shows a perspective view of the box of Fig. 1;
Fig. 4 shows a plan view of the box of Fig. 3; and
Fig. 5 shows a blank of the box according to the present invention.

As shown in Fig. 1, a box for packaging and shipping flowers or the like comprises a box 1 for actually containing the flowers and a cover 2.
The box 1 is folded from a square blank as shown in Fig. 5. As shown, the blank is provided with four folding lines 8, respectively parallel to the four edges of the blank. The folding lines 8 enclose a bottom panel 10. Folding lines 9, which are continuations from folding lines 8, define squares in the corners of the blank. In these squares, diagonal folding lines 7 extend from the corner point of the blank to the point where the folding lines 9 intersect. Two folding lines 9 and a folding line 8 thus define a side panel 3. By setting-up the blank, the box according to the invention is formed with a bottom panel 10, side panels 3, and inwardly directed braces 5. Braces 5 divide the box into compartments in which bunches of flowers, not shown, can be placed (Fig. 3). The box shape can be stabilized by fixing means. Preferably such fixation is effected by interconnecting braces 5 at the corners between the sidewalls 3, so that braces 5 remain freely rotatable relatively to the corner, thereby creating a flexible division into compartments. To prevent the braces 5 from interfering with each other in the centre of the box, braces 5 are shortened somewhat by cutting out pieces along lines 6 at the corner points of the blank.
When the blank is made of water-tight material, e.g. corrugated cardboard with a water-tight coating of, for example, wax, flowers can be transported in water.
To close the top of the box, it can be provided with the cover 2, referred to hereinbefore, which has a top panel and four sidewalls (Fig. 2). The height of the cover 2, i.e. the sidewalls thereof, is considerably in excess of the height of the side panels 3 of box 1, to permit long-stemmed flowers to be packaged in the box. The cover can additionally serve as a support or stand for the box for the purpose of displaying the flowers. If desired, the walls of the cover can be provided with suitable advertising.
To facilitate handling the box assembly, grip openings 4 are formed in the four side panels of the box 1 and cover 2 in such a manner that, in the assembled condition, grip openings 4 of the box 1 and cover 2 are respectively in alignment.
In addition to the advantages referred to hereinbefore the invention has the advantage that repacking is unnecessary, so that the risk of transmitting diseases is minimized.
A further important point is that even the last bunch of flowers present in a box according to this invention keeps standing in a substantially upright position so that it is attractively presented and vendible.
In this embodiment the invention is shown and described with reference to the packaging and shipping of flowers. It will be clear, however, that the invention is also applicable to the packing and shipping of other products. Furthermore, in addition to the embodiment shown, other embodiments and modifications are possible without departing from the scope of the invention: So it is also possible to use impregnated paper instead of a coated liner.

Claims

1. A blank for a box comprising two pairs of fold lines (8, 9) which define

-a square or rectangular bottom panel (10);

-and four corner braces (5), each corner brace (5) comprising two triangular panels joined to each other by a fold line (7) extending from a point at which a fold line of the first pair of fold lines and a fold line of the second pair of fold lines intersect each other, and joined by said fold lines of the first and second pairs respectively to two contiguous side panels (3) characterized in that,

-the blank is made of a waterproof material, for example is coated or impregnated on one side with a waterproof liner;

-and the side panels (3) have a minimum height such that when the blank is folded about all its fold lines into its set-up condition to form a box, the corner braces (5) extend up to the centre of the box, thus forming two partitions extending over the hole diagonals of the bottom panel (10).

2. A box made by folding the blank of claim 1 about all its fold lines and directing the corner braces (5) towards one another, whereby the liner extends on the inner surface of the box.

3. An assembly of the box according to claim 2 and a cover box (2) which is considerably higher than the height of the side panels (3).

4. An assembly according to claim 3, characterized in that the side panels (3) of the box and the cover box (2) are provided with grip openings

(4) which in the assembled conditon or shipping condition of the box are respectively in registry with each other.