GB2317161A

GB2317161A - Deployable box for pastries and cakes

Info

Publication number: GB2317161A
Application number: GB9719120A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Frederic Itey
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1996-09-11
Filing date: 1997-09-10
Publication date: 1998-03-18
Anticipated expiration: 2017-09-10
Also published as: CA2265487A1; ITMI990760U1; ES2150343A1; AT6214U1; GB2317161B; WO1998010991A1; FR2753173A1; ITMI990760V0; NL1006992C2; FR2753173B1; BR9711750A; NL1006992A1; GB9719120D0; CH691296A5; DE19739641A1; ITMI972056A1; IT246950Y1; ES2150343B1; BE1011351A5; MC2466A1

Abstract

A collapsable box, the base (1) of which is in the shape of a quadrilateral, and its sides are continued by two main flaps (2, 3) and two auxiliary flaps (4, 5), respectively associated with two opposed sides (6, 7 and 8, 9) by a fold line the flaps (2, 3, 4, 5) have no fold and their width increases starting from the sides (6, 7, 9) of of the base (1), their edges having a convex shape, in order to decrease again towards the ends, the main flaps (2,3) being continued by a locking and gripping tabs (10,11); the auxiliary flaps (4,5) having slots (14,15) to receive the tabs (10, 11) and lock the flaps in position when they are brought together, the auxiliary flaps (4, 5) bearing against the edges of the main flaps (2, 3).

Description

BOX 2317161 The present invention concerns a deployable box f or pastfies,

cakes or equivalent products, allowing the products to be placed in, and removed from, the box in a position at least partially deployed- flat,comprising a base bordered on each side by flaps which, once they are brought together, form the peripheral enclosure and the top of the box while also constituting a gripping means, the whole- being cut out in one piece in a blank of cardboard or similar material.

Many types of folding boxes are known, manufactured by carteri makers and flattened in order to be supplied to the user. In particular, traditional boxes for pastries are known.- These boxes consist of a complete element formed of a base bordered by three edges; the rear edge carries the lid, In order to be flattened, the sides of the base and the sides of the lid are folded along fold lines.

These pastry boxes, which have been used for decades, have the advantage of being able to be flattened and be unfolded to receive the products to be packed at the moment of sale. owing to their walls and to the adhesive securing of the walls of the different sides to one another, in the deployed state these boxes are sufficiently rigid to be able to be surrounded by a ribbon and to be carried by holding the ribbon.

However, these boxes have a certain number of draw backs, the most serious of which is that of the height of the edges or even of the existence of the edges of the base. In fact, in order to introduce the products, in particular fragile products such as pastries, into such a box, it is necessary to pick them up with tongs and slide them in from above, since the sides do not allow them to be introduced flat.

The same drawback is to be found on unpacking.

A box is also known according to the document FR 88 13 968 of the 26.10.88 which describes a very interesting box which corresponds to the type defined above and which to a 2.

certain extent resists crushing.

However, in many cases it is not imperative that the box resists crushing, since it works only in 'tension,' since it either rests on a surface (table, counter, etc.) or is held with the hand placed on its base, or suspended, held by the grip tabs.

Since this box must resist compression, its structure is relatively complicated and its assembly requires a certain training on the part of the users.

Finally, there is a packaging for pastries called a "raised packet". This is a square piece of cardboard constituting the base receiving the pastries and which one surrounds with a sheet forming a pyramidal envelope fixed beneath the base by means of adhesive tape. The vertex of this pyramidal shape is bunched and then knotted with a ribbon serving to hold the packet suspended. Producing this package requires a great deal of skill. It is also relatively expensive because of the large area of paper which it requires. 20 The object of the present invention is to remedy these drawbacks and to provide a box to receive and transport fragile products such as pastries, cakes or products for which it is desirable to be able to open or flatten out the box at the moment when the products are placed in it or removed from it, and which is not bulky, is light and especially very easy to close and open.

To this end, the invention concerns a box of the type defined above, characterized in that:

the base is in the shape of a quadrilateral, the sides of the base are continued by two main flaps and two auxiliary flaps, respectively associated with two opposed sides of the base by a fold line, the flaps have no fold and their width increases starting from the side of the base, their edge having a convex shape, in order to decrease again -3.

towards the end, the main f laps are continued by a locking and gripping tab connected to the f lap by a fold line, the auxiliary flaps being provided with a longi tudinal slot in their end to receive the tabs of the main flaps when the latter are brought together by their tabs, the auxiliary flaps curve against the edges of the main flaps, bearing against the latter and being hooked, by their slot, onto the tabs.

The box according to the invention, the base of which has the shape of a quadrilateral, that is to say of a rhombus or a parallelogram, especially of a rectangle or a square, is presented in a very simple manner and is also assembled very simply. All that is required is to raise the two main flaps and hold them together by their tabs, then to curve one of the auxiliary flaps against the edge of the two main flaps; then the end of the auxiliary flap is passed with its slot over the two tabs and the auxiliary flap is thus hooked on so that the whole keeps its shape.

Assembly is completed by closing the other auxiliary flap, by curving it, naturally, against the opposed edge of the two main f laps and by passing its end, in the same manner, with its slot over the two tabs already connected.

The package is thus completed and it stands up by itself, on the one hand owing to the elasticity of the two main flaps, which have no fold line and the curvature of which is continuous and flexible, between the corresponding edge of the base of the box and the fold line connecting the flap to the tab; this line is located in the assembly plane.

Depending on the shape of the quadrilateral which constitutes the base of the box and the shape of the flaps derived therefrom, the fold line between the tab and the flap, which is always located in the assembly plane, may be 4.

parallel or inclined with respect to the fold line which connects the flap to the base when the flap is flat.

According to the invention, the auxiliary flaps envelope the edges of the main flaps in---theassembled posit-ion and project beyond those edges. Owing to the elasticity of the assembly, the main flaps have a tendency to lift up the tabs, and the auxiliary flaps, hooked on either side of the two joined tabs, are held; an optimum shape is produced in which the auxiliary flaps close almost perfectly the contour def ined by the main flaps in the assembled position.

It should be noted that the main flaps work in compression with respect to the auxiliary flaps. Since the main flaps do not remain plane but form a controlled surf ace which, in the case of a base in the shape of a parallelogram, is a cylindrical surface, the generating lines of which are parallel to the fold line between the f lap And the base; this constitutes a rigid spacing or bracing means against which the auxiliary flaps can bear. 20 The auxiliary flaps work in tension and they are held in their position of minimum length by the effect of elasticity created by the main flaps which tend to lift up the tabs. The whole f orms a very coherent construction, which remains rigid when the box is in a suspended position, that is to say, held by the tabs.

When the box is set down, the elasticity of the main flaps prevents the box from sinking down. The hooking of the auxiliary flaps onto the tabs creates a certain crushing effect to place the main flaps under tension.

According to other advantageous characteristics:

- the quadrilateral of the base is a parallelogram and, in particular, a rectangle, and especially a square; - the tabs are provided with corresponding holes.

The present invention will be described in more detail hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- -Figure 1 is a perspective view of a deployable box partially assembled, Figure 2 shows the box in Figure 1 in the closed 5 position, Figure 3 is a plan view of a cut out blank for a deployable box, in the case of a base in the shape of a square-,, - Figure 4 shows the folding of the blank in Figure 3 along--a diagonal of the base, -Figures 5 to 7 show diagrammatically the three stages of closure of the box, Figure 5 shows the first stage of bringing together the two main flaps, is - Figure 6 shows the closure of one of the auxiliary flaps onto the two main flaps, Figure 7 shows the closure of the second auxiliary flap onto the main flaps and the other auxiliary flap already placed in position, Figure 8 is a side view of the box in Figure 7 (left hand view).

According to Figures 1 and 2, the invention concerns a deployable box intended to receive and transport fragile products such as pastries, cakes or products requiring similar treatment and precautions.

The box is provided to be supplied in a position deployed flat or partially deployed and to offer or present the products, when opened, also in a position at least partially deployed.

Figure 1 shows such a partially deployed position or a position before complete closure, while Figure 2 shows the box in the closed position.

The box produced by cutting out in a blank of flexible cardboard or a similar material consists of a base 1 bordered by two main flaps 2, 3 and two auxiliary flaps 4, 5.

6.

In general, the base 1 is in the shape of a quadri lateral such as a parallelogram. More particularly, the base is in the shape of a rectangle and especially of a square.

The main f laps 2, 3 and auxiliary f laps 4, 5 are connected to the base by articulation lines 6, 7, 8, 9.

As Figure 3 shows in the particular case of a base 1 in the shape of a square, the main and auxiliary flaps have a shape which flares out from the side 6, 7, 8, 9 of the base in order to attain a certain width and then decrease again in the direction of the end.

In Figure 3, the sides of the quadrilateral of the base 1 are of a length (a) and (al) and the largest dimension of the flaps corresponds to (b), (bl).

In other words, the edges 21 of the f lap 2 have a convex curvature which decreases again in the direction of the end 22.

It is the same in the case of the edges 41 of the flap 4, which have a convex shape, in order to decrease again towards the end 42.

The same remarks apply to the other flaps 3 and 5.

Moreover, in general, the main f laps 2, 3 are of identical or at least equivalent shape, and it is the same for the auxiliary flaps 4 and 5. In the case of a base 1 in the shape of a parallelogram, and especially of a rectangle and a square, the main flaps and the auxiliary flaps are the same, two by two. In the case of a quadrilateral which is not a parallelogram, the flaps have equivalent shapes obtained to some degree by the crushing or "inclination" of the shape shown in plan in Figure 3.

In the case of a base 1 constituted by a quadrilateral or a non-rectangular parallelogram, the widths b, bl are always measured parallel to the articulation line 6, 7, 8, 9 between the flaps 2, 3, 4, 5 and the base 1.

The curvatures 21, 31, 41, 51 of the edges of the flaps are of convex shape in the portion located on the 7.

base side, in order to terminate towards the end in a shape which continues to decrease (the latter may also be in a convex curve).

The main flaps 2, 3 end in a tab 10, 11 connected to the main flap 2, 3 by an articulation line 12, 13.

The auxiliary f laps 4, 5 are provided at their end 42, 52 with a slot 14, 15 to cap and receive the tabs 10, 11 in the position in which they are brought together.

- Finally, the base 1 is preferably provided with a fold line---16 which allows the cut-out blank to be folded so as to r49duce its overall dimensions as shown in Figure 4. (Figure 4 shows only half of the folded blank, the other part -not being shown). This other part consists of the main flap 2 and the auxiliary flap 4. 15 The fold line 16 subdivides the base 1 into two triangles 1A, 1B. The flaps 10, 11 are each provided with a hole 17, 18 facilltating gripping and able to receive a tie or the tail of a label. 20 It should be noted that, as will be observed, when the main flaps 2, 3 are closed, the tabs 10, 11 being applied one against the other, this forms a cylindrical or tubular surface thereby rigidifying the base 1 which can then no longer told along the line 16. 25 The assembly which will be described in more detail with reference to Figures 5, 6, 7, also appears in the perspective views of Figures 1 and 2. Before the closure of the package, the user generally receives the blanks folded as shown in Figure 4. Starting from this position, the whole is unfolded and placed flat, then when the products are placed on the base 1, first the tabs 10, 11 of the main flaps 2, 3 are brought together by necessarily curving the flaps 2, 3 while lowering them. By this movement, the flaps 2, 3 are brought from their plane form to a curved form.

Then one of the auxiliary flaps is taken, for example -8.

the flap 4, and is pulled against the edges 21, 31 of the main flaps to slip it with its slot 14 over the tabs 10, 11 in order to bring the edge of the slot 14 behind the opposed end of the tabs 10, 11 which forms a sort of hook 101, 102.

This placing in position is effected by crushing the main flaps 2, 3 slightly in order to gain length.

In this closure position, the auxiliary flap 4 bears against the edges 21, 31 of the flaps 2, 3, that is to say, it projects beyond the contours 21, 31 with its arched portion corresponding to the convex curve 41.

The other auxiliary flap 5 is placed in position in the same manner? by sliding its slot 15 over the flaps 10, 11 and hooking the slot behind the other hook 101, 102 of the flaps 10, 11.

The assembled position is that in Figure 2.

Figures 5, 6, 7 show diagrammatically and in side view the three assembly faces.

Figure 5 shows in its right-hand portion the shape of the main flaps, which are still plane, simply folded about the fold lines 6, 7 with the base 1, while the left-hand portion shows the main flaps slightly depressed (compress ion) to produce the curvature and allow the auxiliary flaps to be placed in position.

When the tabs are brought together, they are located in the assembly plane which, in the case of a parallele pipedal base (also rectangular or square) corresponds to a median plane, passing through the median line of the sides of the auxiliary flaps. This median line corresponds to the line X-X in Figure 1.

Figure 6 shows the placing in position of the auxiliary flap 4 over the tabs 10, 11, the auxiliary flap 5 still being undone.

Figure 7 shows the placing in position of the auxiliary flap 5.

Figure 8 is a vertical view of the partially open box according to Figure 6, at the end of the placing in position of the flap 4, the flap 5 not being shown in this figure.

The box is partially closed; the tabs 10, 11 are 5 engaged in the slot 14 of the end 42 of the auxiliary flap 4. This Figure 8 shows in particular that the contour of the auxiliary flap 4 projects beyond the section of the cylinder formed by the main flaps 2, 3 and the base 1 at the end of the operation in Figure 6.

This figure corresponds, except for a few slight deformations, also to that of a cross-section through the finished package, for example according to Figure 2.

10.

Claims

C L A I M S

1. Deployable box for pastries, cakes or equivalent products, allowing the products to_ be placed in, and removed from, the box in a position at least partially deployed flat, comprising a base bordered on each side by flaps which, once they are brought together, form the peripheral enclosure and the top of the box while also constituting a gripp-Ing means, the (#hole- being cut out in one piece characterized in that the base (1) is in the shape of a quadrilateral, the sides of the base are continued by two main flaps (2, 3) and two auxiliary flaps (4, 5), respectively associated with two opposed sides (6, 7 and 8, 9) of the base (1) by a fold line, the f laps (2, 3, 4, 5) have no fold and their width (b, bi) increases starting from the side (a, al, 6, 7, 8, 9) of the base (1), their edge (21, 31, 41, 51) having a convex shape, in order to decrease again towards the end (22, 32, 42, 52), the main flaps (2, 3) are continued by a locking and gripping tab (10, 11) connected to the f laps (2, 3) by a fold line (12, 13), the auxiliary flaps (4, 5) being provided with a longitudinal slot (14, 15) in their end (42, 52) to receive the tabs (10, 11) of the main f laps (2, 3) when the latter are brought together by their tabs (10, 11), the auxiliary f laps (4, 5) curve against the edges (41, 51) of the main flaps (4, 5), bearing against the latter and being hooked, by their slot (14, 15), onto the tabs (10, 11).

11.

2. Box according to Claim 1, characterized in that the quadrilateral of the base (1) is a parallelogram and, in particular, a rectangle and especially a square.

3. Box according to Claim 1, characterized in that the tabs (10, 11) are provided with corresponding holes (17, 18).