WO1999061327A1 - Foldable box with integrated separators - Google Patents

Abstract

A box made of cardboard, plastic or another material has integrated separators and can be folded. The box is comprised of four walls (P), each of them having transverse grooves or scores so as to be folded, as well as extensions (E) for arming an upper or lower wall, at each end of the same; and a partition structure which is comprised of a plurality of longitudinal walls (PT), each of them having a flap or tongue which is perpendicular to each of the extremities thereof in order to adhere to the internal surface of the container walls, and a plurality of grooves arranged equidistantly at one of its longitudinal edges up to a predetermined height of the panel width; and a plurality of transversal panels, each of which having also a flap which is perpendicular to each of the extremities thereof to adhere to the internal surface of the transverse walls of the container, and a plurality of grooves distributed equidistantly at the edge thereof opposite to the edge of the longitudinal panels and up to an appropriate level of the panel width; the panels are inserted and form together a plurality of cells which can be folded when folding the container, while maintaining their position when folding and unfolding the container.

Description

 FOLDING BOX WITH INTEGRATED SEPARATORS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION.

A. FIELD OF THE INVENTION.

The present invention relates to container boxes and more particularly to a collapsible box of cardboard, plastic or other materials, with integrated separators to automatically form compartments, for packages or products.

B. DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART.

Cardboard, plastic boxes, etc. are already well known. with split structures to contain a wide variety of products to prevent them from contacting each other and hitting, rubbing and damaging. This is particularly necessary for glassware such as bottles and other similar items, as well as for containing foods that can be easily bruised or broken, such as fruits, vegetables and especially eggs. The simplest and most used division structure comprises several panels configured in a cross pattern such that a plurality of cells or compartments are formed where the products are placed separately. With this type of structure by varying the number of panels and the distance between them and / or the angles between the crossed panels, a wide variety of cell configurations can be obtained to adapt to a particular product or container.

There are currently a variety of specialized separator structures to contain specific products, which are first designed and subsequently adapted to some type of container or box. US Patent No. 4,635,810 describes a separator structure formed by longitudinal and lateral partition members which are substantially flat and virtually identical except for their length to form the cells. Each of the partition members has slots that extend to a length of half the partition member. These slots of the partition members are extended in one direction, to receive the partition members extended in another direction, preventing them from separating or detaching.

Another type of separator structure is that described in US Patent No. 5,626,284, which forms a plurality of compartments for separating items in a container, which is constituted by divisible segments that allow the structure to be separated into smaller structures for insertion into smaller containers than the original structure.

The main disadvantage of this type of partition structures is that once formed, they have to adapt to the container with certain limits of tolerance in size and, once integrated, tend to lock when entering or exiting because they do not fit well by virtue of those tolerances. In addition, having to adapt the structure to the size and shape of the container makes it necessary to have to cut and measure the structure with which material and time is lost in the packing process in case the partition structures are acquired separately and It also creates the need to acquire cutting and measuring instruments.

On the other hand, it is highly desirable that containers and cardboard or plastic boxes can be disassembled or folded, to be transported ^ and stored while empty and thus avoid taking up much storage space. Therefore, it is also desirable that the separator structures can be folded for transport and storage. However, the above causes that the users who receive the boxes have to have an assembly department in which the box is first assembled and then the separator structure is adapted.

Therefore, it would be highly desirable to store the collapsible containers with the partition structures already integrated, which has not been possible until now by folding the container or box, the partition structure can be deformed or destroyed by not being fixed in a defined position, having to transport and store the container or box and partition structures, separately.

Currently there is no container that has a partition structure designed together with the container and that is completely integrated to it, avoiding the work of having to adapt it along with all the aforementioned disadvantages, and allowing the container to be folded or deployed together with the partition structure, allowing a large number of containers of this type to be transported and stored in a small space, with fewer assembly stages and less waste of materials.

Considering the aforementioned problems, the applicant developed a cardboard, plastic or other foldable box with integrated dividers, which comprises: four walls, each of which has transverse markings or grooves to fold, as well as extensions to assemble an upper or lower wall, at each end thereof, depending on its corresponding end; and a partition structure comprising: a plurality of longitudinal panels, each of which has a flange or tongue that is perpendicular to each of its ends, preferably oriented opposite each other, to adhere to the inner surface of the walls of the container, and a plurality of grooves equally distributed on one of its longitudinal edges, which have a convenient length of the width of the panel: and a plurality of transverse panels, each of which has a plurality of grooves, distributed equidistant on its edge opposite to that of the longitudinal panels, and similarly reaching a convenient length of the panel width, by means of which these transverse panels are inserted, in the slots of the longitudinal panels, forming a plurality of cells to contain a plurality of containers or products isolated from each other, which can be folded by folding the cont enedor, maintaining its position when folding and unfolding the container. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore a main objective of the present invention, to provide a folding box with integrated dividers, which has a partition structure integrated to the box, which automatically forms a plurality of cells when unfolding the box to contain and separate containers or products It is also a main objective of the present invention, to provide a collapsible box with integrated separators, of the nature described above, which comprises a plurality of longitudinal and transverse panels, at least some of which have perpendicular tabs to adhere to the internal surface from the walls of the box.

It is also a main objective of the present invention, to provide a folding box with integrated separators, of the nature described above, which can be folded integrally with the partition structure, to save space in its transport and storage. It is still a main objective of the present invention to provide a collapsible box with integrated separators, of the nature described above which avoids having to acquire the box and the partition structure separately.

It is still a main objective of the present invention to provide a folding box with integrated separators, of the nature described above which avoids the steps of having to adapt, adjust and assemble the partition structure in the box.

It is additionally a main objective of the present invention to provide a folding box with integrated separators, of the nature described above which avoids having to acquire measurement and cutting tools in order to adapt the partition structure to the box.

These and other objectives and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to persons with normal knowledge in the field of the following detailed description of the specific invention thereof, which will be made with reference to the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.

Figure 1 is a conventional, disassembled perspective view of the collapsible container with integrated separators, in accordance with the present invention; Y

Figure 2 is a conventional perspective view, in section, of the container of Figure 1, assembled.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION.

The invention will be described below with reference to the specific embodiments thereof, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein the same signs refer to the same parts of

The figures shown.

With reference to Figure 1 and Figure 2, the foldable cardboard box with integrated dividers of the present invention comprises:

a container C preferably of cardboard, which comprises: four walls P each of which has a surface

internal 1 and external 2, and transverse markings or grooves M for folding, as well as extensions E at each end thereof,

depending on its corresponding end, which serve to be part of the lid or bottom of the container C; a partition structure EP which comprises: a plurality of longitudinal panels PL, each of which has two ends e1, e2, and a flange or tongue 3 that is perpendicular to each of its ends e1, e2, preferably oriented opposite each other, to adhere to the inner surface 1 of the walls P of the container C, and a plurality of grooves 4 equally distributed on one of its longitudinal edges BL, which reach a convenient length of the width of the PL panel;

a plurality of transverse panels PT, each of which has similarly two ends E3, E4 and a plurality of

slots 7, distributed equidistantly on its opposite edge to that of the

longitudinal panels PL, and similarly reaching a suitable length of the width of the PT panel, by means of which these transverse PT panels are inserted, in the slots 4 of the longitudinal panels PL forming a plurality of cells

CE to contain a plurality of containers or products isolated from each other, which can be folded when folding the container C, maintaining its position when folding and unfolding the container.

In the previously described embodiment, it is mentioned that only the longitudinal panels PL comprise the tabs or tabs 3, to adhere to the internal walls of the box, and the transverse PT panels are only inserted through their grooves 7 in the longitudinal panels PL, a In order to make the folding assembly more versatile in terms of assembly, however, the transverse panels may also have additionally perpendicular tabs or tabs, also preferably oriented opposite

each.

In addition, the separator panels have been described as longitudinal panels and transverse panels, for reference only, so It should be understood that any of these can be considered longitudinal, transverse or vice versa.

It should be finally understood that the invention is not limited to the modality discussed of the various elements described above and that people with average knowledge in the field may suggest changes in the type and design of the folding box with integrated dividers of the present invention, derived from the teachings described herein, and which will remain within the true spirit and scope of the invention as claimed in the following claims.

Claims

CLAIMS. 1. Folding box with integrated dividers comprising: a container which comprises: four walls, each of which has transverse markings or grooves for folding, as well as extensions for assemble an upper or lower wall, at each end of it, depending on its corresponding end, a partition structure which comprises: a plurality of longitudinal panels each of which it has a tab or tongue that is located perpendicularly to each of its ends, to adhere to the inner surface of two opposite walls of the container, and a plurality of grooves equally distributed in one of its longitudinal edges, which reach a convenient length of the panel width; and a plurality of transverse panels, each of which has a plurality of grooves, distributed equidistant at its edge opposite that of the longitudinal panels, and which reach a convenient length of the panel width, by which They insert the transverse panels into the slots of the longitudinal panels, forming a plurality of cells. 2. Folding box with integrated separators, according to claim 1, in which each of the transverse panels has a tongue that is perpendicular to each of its ends, to adhere to the inner surface of the walls of the container. 3. Folding box with integrated separators, according to claim 1, in which the tabs or tabs of the longitudinal and transverse panels are oriented opposite each other. 4. Folding box with integrated separators, according to claim 1, in which the partition structure is folded when the container is folded, and automatically deployed while maintaining its position when folding and unfolding the container.