GB2312891A

GB2312891A - Box cover

Info

Publication number: GB2312891A
Application number: GB9609725A
Authority: GB
Inventors: In-Chang Chen
Original assignee: CHEN IN CHANG
Current assignee: CHEN IN CHANG
Priority date: 1996-05-09
Filing date: 1996-05-09
Publication date: 1997-11-12
Also published as: GB9609725D0

Abstract

A box cover comprises a cover plate 20 and side plates 30. Plates 40 are folded over to encompass a drawstring 60 for holding the cover in an erect state. Alternatively, the string 60 may pass through tubular members attached to the side plates.

Description

Box Cover BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the past, the structure of ordinary box cover comprised a cover plate and multiple side plates on the surrounding of the cover plate. During production of the box cover, an integral formation means will be adopted to cut or press the plates, such as paperboards, plastic plates, etc., into planar and un-assembled box covers. During the production process, for the convenience of future assembly, the fold lines are usually prepared by cutting or pressing at the same time.

For a box cover with simplest construction, the assembly of a box cover requires folding the side plates followed by appropriate adhesion treatment so that the side plate and the cover plate forms a certain angle (90 degrees, as a rule). Since this type of conventional box cover is well known among the people who are skilled in the art, its detailed structure will not be elaborated further in the present invention.

At the present, there are a wide varieties of improved box covers or boxes in which their design improvements focus on changing the geometry of side plate, or increasing the number of auxiliary plates, or cutting scoop channels at appropriate locations on the cover plate and the side plate; so that the planar box cover can be assembled into tridimensional box cover through folding by the user without the necessity of using adhesion means to maintain the box cover at the tridimensional geometry. Since the scope of the present invention is not focused on changing the tridimensional geometry of the side plate, the structures of the improved box covers or boxes will not be elaborated further in the present invention.

During assembly of the conventional box covers, the useS kequired to spend a lot of time and carry out complicated folding operations in order to assemble the planar box cover intoatridimensional box cover.

Therefore, users such as shop assistants of gift shops, stationery shops, patisseries, etc., often prepare the box covers into tridimensional box covers in advance in order to be time efficient during busy hours. However, pre-assembled tridimensional box covers take up plenty of storage space and affect the appearance of the store.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The box cover of the present invention mainly comprises a cover plate, multiple side plates, a fixing device, at least one fixing string, and optionally multiple fold lines for the convenience of assembly of the box cover; in which the cover plate can be of any geometry such as triangular, quadrangular or polygon and the side plates are installed on the periphery of the cover plate and the number of side plates varies according to the geometry of the cover plate.

One of the main characteristics of the box cover of the present invention is that the box cover comprises at least one fixing string in which the preferable placement position of the fixing string is located along the side plate and the fixing device is used to fix the fixing string on the side plate to form an encircling status in which the fixing string can move freely in the axial direction. The fixing string can be endless circular string or an ordinary long string with two ends and the fixing string can be made of elastic or inelastic material. Furthermore, the outlet of the fixing string is preferably located on the adjoining line of two side plates.

While assembling the box cover, the used inlay required to pull the fixing string outward to tighten the fixing string such that the planar box cover becomes a tridimensional box cover. Subsequently, while assembling the box, the tridimensional box cover matches with another box cover during which the fixing string can be used to fix another box cover to complete the operation of box assembly.

BENEFITS OF THE INVENTION a The present invention is related to a design of box cover (such ainupper box cover or howler box cover), in particular a box cover which will allow the user to promptly assemble the planar box cover into tridimensional box cover through pulling tight the fixing string. As a result, the box cover of the present invention is planar during storage and does not take up much space; while in use, the shop assistants of gift shops, stationery shops, patisseries, etc., can assemble the box cover in situ to achieve maximum efficiency in time saving and space. Furthermore, the box cover of the present invention is attached with a fixing string which, during its combination with other box covers,provides another application, i.e. the user can utilize the fixing string to tighten another box cover combined therewith to promptly form a tightened box without the need of using another string to combine the two box covers. In other word, the worker or user will no longer require to use separate string or tape in order to tighten the box.

Since conventionally strings or tapes are used to tighten the upper and lower box covers, elaborate means will be needed to unfold the box covers. The knots are often difficult to untie and tearing of adhesive tapes often causes damages on the box cover. By using the box cover of the present invention, the presentee can easily unfold the box cover without going through the difficulties of untying the string or tearing the adhesive tape and damaging the picture of the box surface.

If necessary, the embellishment(s) can be preassembled with the fixing string on appropriate location(s) so that the user can assemble the box cover with another box cover through continuous operations and complete tightening the box attached with embellishment(s). The invented structure and its operation can greatly reduce the operation time of the user.

Similarly, during disassemblY of the assembled box cover or box, the reserve procedures can be used to unfold the tridimensional box cover into a planar box cover.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1. Developed plain view drawing of Example 1 of the box cover of the present invention.

FIG. 2. Developed plain view drawing of Example 2 of the box cover of the present invention.

FIG. 2-A. Enlarged top view of the assembled box cover of Example 2.

FIG. 3. Developed plain view drawing of Example 3 of the box cover of the present invention.

FIG. 4. Plain view of the combined side plate and the attachment plate of side plate of Example 1 of the present invention; and the plain view of the combined side plate, attachment plate of side plate, and auxiliary attachment plate of Example 3 of the present invention.

FIG. 5. Plain view of the combined attachment plate of side plate and auxiliary attachment plate of Example 3 of the present invention.

FIG. 5-A. Enlarged view of cross-section A-A of FIG. 5 according to Example 1.

FIG. 6. Intermediate status view of the tridimensional box cover assembled from the planar box cover of the present invention.

FIG. 7. Pictorial drawing of assembled tridimensional box cover of the present invention.

FIG. 8. Intermediate status view of the assembled box cover of the present invention and the second box cover.

FIG. 9. Pictorial drawing of assembled box cover of the present invention and the second box cover.

FIG. 10. Developed plain view drawing of Example 4 of the box cover of the present invention.

FIG. 11. Developed plain view drawing of Example 5 of the box cover of the present invention.

FIG. ll-A. Pictorial drawing of hollow tubular element of Example 5 of the present invention.

FIG. ll-B. Enlarged view of cross-section B-B of FIG.

ii of FIG. ii.

FIG. 12. Pictorial drawing of Example 6 box cover of the present invention.

FIG. 13. Pictorial drawing of Example 7 box cover of the present invention.

FIG. 13-A. Front view of buckle element of Example 7 box cover of the present invention.

FIG. 14. Pictorial drawing of Example 8 box cover of the present invention.

FIG. 14-A. Enlarged view of the cross-section of side plate of Example 8 of the present invention.

Fig. 15 Pictorial drawing of Example 9 box cover of the present invention.

REFERENCE NUMERALS IN DRAWINGS Box 10 Second box cover 14 Cover plate 20 Width of side plate 32 Adhesion area 35 Attachment plate of side plate 40 Length of attachment plate of side plate 44 Indent 45 Width of auxiliary attachment plate 52 Fixing string 60 Retainer ring 70 Fixing device 80 Scoop channel 82 Buckle 84 Hole 86 Box cover 12 Fold line 16 Side plate 30 Length of side plate 34 Outer edge of side plate 36 Width of attachment plate of side plate 42 Outer edge of attachment plate of side plate 46 Auxiliary attachment plate 50 Length of auxiliary attachment plate 54 Outlet point 62 Embellishment 72 Hollow tube 81 Hook 83 Through channel 85 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Fig. 1 is the developed plan view drawing of Example 1 of the box cover 12 of the present invention.

The box cover 12 mainly comprises rectangular cover plate 20, side plate 30, attachment plate of side plate 40 and at least one fixing string 60. The attachment plate of side plate 40 of this example is used to fix the fixing string 60 at appropriate position on the fixing device 80. Besides the fixing string 60, the box cover 12 can be directly punched from paper board to form the desired fold lines 16 (as indicated by dot lines in the Figure). The cover plate 20, the side plate 30, and the attachment plate 40 of the side plate are divided by the fold lines 16 and can be formed integrally. Although the fold lines 16 are not mandatory, they are beneficial in the assembly of the box cover 12. Since the cover plate 20 of the present invention is rectangular, the four side plates 30 are correspondingly installed on four sides of the cover plate 20. Each side plate 30 can be bent with respect to to the cover plate 20 in order to change from a state of on the same plane with the cover plate 20 to a state of on a different plane with the cover plate 20.

Furthermore, each side plate 30 is connected to the attachment plate 40 of the side plate at the outer edge 36 of the side plate. As a matter of fact, the cover plate 20, in any of the examples, can be triangular, quadrangular, or even multilateral, or circular (oval); and the number of side plate 30 and attachment plate 40 of side plate depends on the geometry of the cover plate 20.

The length of each side plate 34 can be equal to the perimeter of the corresponding cover plate 20. The length of attachment plate 44 of side plate can be equal to the length of corresponding side plate 34 as in Examples 1 to 3; however, optionally an indent 45 can be created on the edge of certain attachment plate 40 of side plate, i.e. the length of attachment plate 44 of side plate can be smaller than the length of corresponding side plate 34. The effectiveness of the indent 45 shall be elaborated further in Example 2.

Another characteristic of the box cover 12 of the present invention is that the box cover 12 comprises at least one fixing string 60. The preferable placement positions of the fixing string 60 are shown in Figures 1 to 3. The fixing string can be placed along the fold line 16 between the side plate 30 and the attachment plate 40 of side plate (i.e., the area of outer edge 36 of side plate) to form an encompassing state. The fixing string 60 can be an endless circular string (which also can be formed by tying long strings into endless circular string) or an ordinary long string with two ends (not shown in the Figures). The material of the fixing string can be elastic (e.g., elastic string) or inelastic. The length of the fixing string 60 shall depend on its material, the size of box cover 12 and the second box cover 14, and its use. The outlet point 62 of the fixing string 60 is preferably located at the adjacent place of the two side plates 30.

If the outlet point 62 of the fixing string 60 is not located at the adjacent place of the two side plates 30, a small opening shall be installed on the side plate 30 or/and the attachment plate 40 of the side plate to serve as the outlet point 62 of the fixing string 60.

As shown in Figures 1 to 4, during preparation of the box cover 12 of the present invention, as described herein before, the fixing string 60 can be placed at an appropriate position; and the attachment plate 40 of the side plate be folded toward the side plate 30 to envelop the fixing string 60 in which the attachment plate 40 of the side plate and the side plate 30 can be bonded together by an adhesive means to envelop the fixing string 60. The bonding position is indicated by the slants shown in Figure 4. Of course, equivalent means can be adopted to fix the attachment plate 40 of the side plate and the side plate 30. Furthermore, for the purpose of picture and more precisely enveloping the fixing string 60, the fold line 16 between the attachment plate 40 of the side plate and the side plate 30 can be double fold lines 16 (not shown in the Figures); i.e., the width between the double fold lines 16 can accommodate the thickness of the fixing string 60. However, notes shall be taken to ensure that the fixing string 60 is capable of be moved freely in spite of being enveloped; i.e., when the attachment plate 40 of the side plate and the side plate 30 envelop the fixing string 60, the longitudinal (the axial direction in length of the fixing string) movement (refer to Figure 5-A) of the fixing string 60 is not limited so that during assembly of the box cover 12 the user can pull tight the fixing string 60. The attachment plate 40 of the side plate also has the function of reinforcing the side plate 30; and the minimum width of the attachment plate 42 of the side plate shall be able to envelop the fixing string 60. Furthermore, the fixing string 60 may not be placed in the appropriate position in advance; rather that after fixation of the attachment plate 40 of the side plate and the side plate, the fixing string 60 was then introduced into the reserved space and achieves the same result of enveloping the fixing string 60.

Furthermore, please refer to the developed plan view drawing of Example 3 of the box cover of the present invention, as shown in Figure 3, in which the box cover 12, same as Example 1, mainly comprises rectangular cover plate 20, side plate 30, attachment plate of side plate 40 and at least one fixing string 60. However, the outer edge 46 of each attachment plate 40 of side plate is further installed with an auxiliary attachment plate 50 in which the length 54 of the auxiliary attachment plate is preferably equal to the length 44 of the attachment plate of the side plate and the width 52 of the auxiliary attachment plate is preferably smaller than the width 42 of the attachment plate of the side plate. The main functions of the auxiliary attachment plate 50 include providing reinforcement to the strength of the side plate 30 and extra space to the fixing string 60. Please refer to Figure 5 for further understanding of the functions of the auxiliary attachment plate 50. As shown in Figure 5, the auxiliary plate 50, after folding, is connected to the attachment plate 40 of the side plate. However, preferably an adhesive means or other equivalent means shall be used to combine the folded auxiliary attachment plate 50 and the attachment plate 40 of the side plate together. When the width 52 of the auxiliary attachment plate is smaller than the width 42 of the attachment plate of the side plate (i.e., as shown in Figure 5), the combined attachment plate 40 of the side plate and the auxiliary attachment plate 50, aftebrei?ded further toward the side plate 30, can be represented by Figure 4. Since the bonded area 35 has an extra thickness of the auxiliary attachment plate 50 than Example 1, it reinforces the strength of the side plate 30 and provides larger space for the fixing string 60 to be placed between the side plate 30 and the attachment plate 40 of the side plate. If the width 52 of the auxiliary attachment plate is equal to the width 42 of the attachment plate of the side plate, the auxiliary attachment plate 50 only reinforcas the strength of the side plate 30. Of course, each attachment plate 40 of side plate can be equipped with one or more than one auxiliary attachment plate 50 to reinforce the strength of the side plate 30 and the space occupied by the fixing string 60. In this Example, the attachment plate 40 of the side plate and the auxiliary attachment plate 50 are the fixing device 80 used to fix the fixing string 60 at appropriate position.

As shown in Example 2 of Figure 2, optionally an indent 45 can be created at certain edge of the attachment plate 40 of side plate; i.e., the length 44 of the attachment plate of side plate can be smaller than the length 34 of corresponding side plate.

Preferably, an edge of the attachment plate 40 of side plate selected from the two adjacent attachment plates 40 of side plate shall be used to prepare the indent 45.

The case of Example 2 is an optional means. And the size of the indent 45 shall depend on the thickness of the bottom of box cover 12 formed by the fixing string 60 which is enveloped by the side plate 30 and the attachment plate 40 of the side plate after assembly of the box cover 12 (as shown in Figure 7). The Figure 2 A is the enlarged top view of Example 2 after assembly.

The function of the indent 45 is to provide tight sealing on the periphery of the box cover 12 after assembly of the box cover 12.

The three Examples mentioned herein before share the same basic concepts. However, elements other than the cover plate 20, such as side plate 30, attachment plate 40 of side plate, and auxiliary attachment plate 50, have difference in design. And the differences can be applied on different examples to further form different embodiments. For example, the indent 45 design of Example 2 can be applied on Example 3 so that the auxiliary attachment plate 50 of Example also has the design of indent 45.

The fixing device 80 used to fix the fixing string 60 of Examples 4 to 8 is different from the fixing means of Examples 1 to 3; i.e., the fixing device is not an attachment plate 40 of side plate or an auxiliary attachment plate 50.

As shown in Figure 10, the fixing device 80 in Example 4 of the box cover of the present invention is a hollow tube 81. Hollow tubes are separately installed on the outer edge 36 of each side plate 30 in which the hollow tubes can be fixed on the side plate 30 by adhesive means or equivalent means and the fixing string 60 passes through the hollow tube 81 to achieve the purpose of fixing the fixing string 60 on the side plate 30 in which the fixing string 60 can move freely in the axial direction.

Or as shown in Figure 11, the hollow tube 81 in Example 5 of the box cover of the present invention comprises a scoop channel 82 (see Figure 11-A) in which the scoop channel matches the thickness of the side plate 30 so that the hollow tube 81 is tightly fixed on the side plate 30 through the scoop channel 82 (see Figure ll-B) in order to achieve fixation of the fixing string 60 on the side plate 30 in which the fixing string 60 can move freely in the axial direction.

Figure 12 is the pictorial drawing of Example 6 box cover of the present invention. In which the outer edge 36 of the side plate 30 is formed into a hook 83.

(The hook 83 shown in the figure was bent inward to the box cover 12; however, it can also be bent outward from the box cover 12.) The fixing string 60 goes through the hook 83 (fixing device 80) and will not detach from the gap of the hook 83 so that the fixing string 60 is fixed on the side plate 30 and the fixing string 60 can move freely in the axial direction.

Figure 13 is the pictorial drawing of Example 7 box cover of the present invention. In which the fixing device 80 is a buckle 84 and the buckle 83 is clamped on an appropriate position on each side plate 30. (If the box cover 12 is made of plastic material, the buckle 84 and the side plate 30 can also be formed integrally.) The fixing string 60 goes through the gap of the buckle 84 so that the fixing string 60 is fixed on the side plate 30 and the fixing string 60 can move freely in the axial direction. As a matter of fact, in Examples 4 and 5, if the length of the hollow tube 81 is not approximately equal to the length 34 of side plate and instead the hollow tube 81 is shorter, the idea of Example 7 can be applied as well. In such a case, multiple shorter hollow tubes 81 can be fixed at appropriate positions on each side plate 30.

Figure 14 is the pictorial drawing of Example 8 box cover of the present invention. In which the fixing device 80 is a through channel 85 directly installed at appropriate position on the side plate 30 which penetrates the side plate in the length direction 34 so that the fixing string 60 is fixed on the side plate 30 and the fixing string 60 can move freely in the axial direction.

Fig. 15 Pictorial drawing of Example 9 box cover of the present invention. In which the fixing device 80 is actually a plurality of holes 86 on the appropriate position on each of the side plate 30 so that the fixing string 60 can pass the holes 86 and also can move freely in the axial direction.

Although the fixing devices 80 in the Examples listed herein before are slightly different, their focus is that the fixing string 60 can be fixed on the side plate 30 and the fixing string 60 can move freely in the axial direction for the convenience of use during assembly. The procedure and method of assembly in the Examples listed herein before, however, are the same. Take Example 1 as an example, as shown in Figure 6, during assembly of the box cover 12, since the fixing string can move freely in the axial direction, the user only requires to pull the fixing string 60 outward at the outlet point 62 of the fixing string 60 so that the planar box cover 12 can be assembled into a tridimensional box cover 12 (as shown in Figure 7).

Meanwhile, optionally a retainer ring 70 with fastening function can be used to fix the fixing string 60 at the outlet point 62 or a knot can be tied at the outlet point 62 or the above operations are not performed.

Aft iisembled into a tridimensional body, the box cover 12 can be matched with a second box cover 14, as shown in Figure 8. When an elastic circular fixing string 60 was used, the user only requires to house the fixing string 60 on the second box cover 14 to complete the operation of assembly of the box 10 (as shown in Figure 9). Of course, if a longer fixing string 60 was used, the means of fixing the box cover 12 with the second box cover 14 will be different from Figure 8 and Figure 9; and if the fixing string 60 is a longitudinal belt, the fixing string 60 can be used to tie up the box cover 12 and the second box cover 14 to form a tightly fixed box 10. Since such mode of using the fixing string 60 is prevalent among the people skilled in the art, its operation will not be elaborated further in this invention.

Furthermore, the second box cover 14 can also have the same design as the box cover 12 of this invention so that the user can promptly assemble the planar box cover 12 and the second box cover 14 in order to reduce the time spent on assembly.

Furthermore, the fixing string 60 can be combined with an embellishment 72 in advance at an appropriate position so that the user, such as a shopkeeper, can save the time required to install the embellishment 72.

The assembly operation can follow the sequence of Figure 6, Figure 8, and Figure 9 to promptly assemble the box cover 12, box 10 and embellishment 72.

The main technical idea of the present invention is related to providing at least one fixing string 60 in the box cover to achieve prompt assembly of the box cover, as well as using the fixing string to fix another combining box cover to promptly form a tightened box. Therefore, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the examples listed herein before. Changes on the geometry and number of the cover plate 20, side plate 30, attachment plate 40 of a side plate, etc., usingAconventional box cover in combination with the fixing string 60 and the fixing device 80, or using different fixing device 80 to achieve fixing of the fixing string 60 on the side plate 30, and the fixing string can move freely in the axial direction, etc., are all without the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A box cover, which mainly comprises at least a cover plate, a plurality of side plates, a fixing device, and at least a fixing string; which is characterized in that: each said side plate is separately installed on the peripheral of said cover plate and forms a linked status or integral formation with said cover plate, and each said side plate corresponding to said cover plate can be bent, that is said side plate can be in the same a plane ordifferent plane with the cover plate; said fixing device is used to fix said fixing string on said side plate and said fixing string can move freely in the axial direction.

2. The box cover of claim 1, wherein said fixing device mainly comprises attachment plates of side plates; in which each attachment plate of said side plate is installed on the outer edge of said side plate and forms a linked status or integral formation with said side plate; and said fixing string is enveloped between said side plate and said attachment plate of side plate.

3. The box cover of claim 2, wherein said fixing device further comprises auxiliary attachment plates; in which each auxiliary attachment plate is installed on the outer edge of said attachment plate of side plate and forms a linked status or integral formation with said side plate; and said fixing string is enveloped between said attachment plate of side plate and said auxiliary attachment plate.

4. The box cover of claim 1, wherein said fixing device comprises a hollow tube which fixes said fixing string on said side plate; in which said hollow tube is fixed on said side plate by adhesive means or equivalent means.

5. The box cover of claim 1, wherein said fixing device comprises a hollow tube which fixes said fixing string on said side plate; in which one end of said hollow tube has a scoop channel and said scoop channel corresponds to the thickness of said side plate so that said hollow tube, through said scoop channel, is tightly clamped to said side plate or tightly bonded to said side plate by adhesive means.

6. The box cover of claim 1, wherein said fixing string comprises a hook formed from the outer edge of said side plate; in which said fixing string goes through the hook so that said fixing string is fixed on said side plate.

7. The box cover of claim 1, wherein said fixing device comprises a buckle which fixes said fixing string on said sideplate; in which said buckle is fixed at appropriate location on said side plate and said fixing string sequentially goes through the gap of the buckle.

8. The box cover of claim 1, wherein said fixing device comprises a through channel which is directly installed at an appropriate location on said side plate and penetrates said side plate in the longitudinal direction in order to fix said fixing string on said side plate.

9. The box cover of claim 1, wherein fold lines are installed between each said side plate and said cover plate.

10. The box cover of claim 2, wherein fold lines are installed between each said side plate and said cover plate and between said attachment plate of said side plate.

11. The box cover of claim 3, wherein fold lines are installed between each said side plate and said cover plate, said attachment plate of said side plate and said side plate, and each said auxiliary attachment plate and said attachment plate of said side plate.

12. The box cover of claim 10, wherein the fold lines between each said attachment plate of said side plate and said side plate are double fold lines.

13. The box cover of claim 11, wherein the fold lines between each said attachment plate of said side plate and said side plate are double fold lines.

14. The box cover of claim 2, wherein among two adjacent attachment plates of said side plate one end of said selected attachment plate of said side plate is made into an indent so that the length of said attachment plate of said side plate with said indent is shorter than the peripheral length of the corresponding linkage cover plate.

15. The box cover of claim 3, wherein among two adjacent attachment plates of said side plate one end of said selected attachment plate of said side plate is made into an indent so that the length of said attachment plate of said side plate with said indent is shorter than the peripheral length of the corresponding linkage cover plate.

16. A box cover according to at least one of the preceding claims 1 to 15, wherein said cover plate is triangular, quadrangular or polygonal

17. A box cover according to at least one of the preceding claims 1 to 15, wherein said fixing string is located near the outer edge of said side plate.

18. A box cover according to at least one of the preceding claims 1 to 15, wherein the geometry of said fixing string is circular and said fixing string is made of elastic material.

19. A box cover according to at least one of the preceding claims 1 to 15, wherein said fixing string attached with a retainer ring.

20. A box cover according to at least one of the preceding claims 1 to 15, wherein said fixing string is attached with embellishment.

21. A bi herein described with reference to, or as shown in, the drawings.