Abstract:
A container made of cardboard or a similar material is designed as a packaging for objects such as books, records and other solid objects. The container is formed by a cut flank that is folded in order to define panels that include a base for receiving objects, side leaves that are folded back above objects that are disposed on the base, two small cross surfaces and a closing flap. The cut flank is made from a planar blank that is formed from two parallel rectangular parts having two terminating cross edges and two longitudinal edges. One part is held against the other using a lip in the shape of an isosceles triangle. One side of the triangle is cut and the other side and the base are formed by a fold line. The fold line with the base is located at a longitudinal edge that is common to both parts, over a short longitudinal distance adjacent to a single panel. The first of the two rectangular parts has an end panel that has a defined triangular flap in the contour of the second part. The length of the second part is such that the two cross edges thereof are substantially offset in relation to the cross edges of the first part. The second part is superposed in front of the first part to form a T.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     There are already known different ways of making cardboard containers, particularly in corrugated cardboard, which are formed from a panel cut out and scored and which, after transportation and storage flat, are set up at a variable height as a function of the thickness of the objects to be packaged. 
     These containers are often provided with a longacting adhesive when they are adapted to be used manually, the closure of the container about the objects being obtained by stripping the adhesive then applying to it a tongue provided with the adhesive on the panel located facing it. 
     In another version, the container must be formed by means of a machine which performs the operation automatically no matter what the final height of the container containing the objects to be packaged. 
     The supply of such a machine poses problems whose difficulty arises from the fact that two successively set-up containers can have different heights according to the height of the objects that each contains. 
     It must be emphasized that this problem is not at all the more simple one of supplying a machine on the one hand with containers and on the other hand with objects all identical to each other, in which case all sorts of mechanisms could be used which operate repetitively and in the same way. 
     On the contrary, with containers comprising different objects, there appears a phase intermediate to filling of the container and its closure, which is that of handling it in a stable manner, between partial folding of the container before emplacement of the objects on the base, and until closure of the container. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention permits providing a semi-automatic packaging thanks to the economical design of containers, permitting the use of prolonged effect adhesive or glue (particularly that known as “hot melt”) by assuring their stability, thanks to which the assembly of container and objects can be subjected to displacements without separation and can be subjected to closure operations when perfectly positioned. 
     To this end, the invention has for its object a container of hardboard or similar material adapted for the packaging of objects such as books, discs and other solid objects, formed from a panel that can be folded transversely to form from a sheet that can be folded transversely to form the panels of which one is a base for the reception of objects, lateral flaps which are to be folded down from above against objects disposed on the base, two small transverse surfaces and a closure tongue, which sheet is constituted from a flat blank formed of two rectangular parallel portions having two transverse end edges and two longitudinal edges, and connected to each other by an isosceles triangular tongue of which one side is cut away whilst the other side and the base are each formed by a bend line, that of the base being at the longitudinal edge common to the two portions, over a short length, opposite a single panel, characterized in that the first of the two rectangular portions is an end panel which is connected to the triangular tongue formed in the contour of the second portion, which second portion has a length such that the two transverse end edges are substantially offset relative to those of the first portion, one in front of and the other behind said transverse edges of the first portion. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will be better understood from the following detailed description given with reference to the accompanying drawings. Of course, the description and the drawings are given only by way of indicative example and are not limiting. 
     FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of a sheet according to the invention, cut and scored to form a container. 
     FIGS. 2 to  4  are schematic plan views of the sheet of FIG. 1, in three phases characteristic of its bending to its position for receiving objects to be packaged. 
     FIG. 5 is a schematic plan view analogous to that of FIG. 4, after positioning an object to be packaged. 
     FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view showing a phase of packaging, starting with the FIG. 5 position. 
     FIG. 7 is a schematic elevational view showing the arrangement of the container of FIGS. 1 to  6  in a stable position intermediate between, on the one hand, the operations of setting up the container and of placing objects to be packaged in it, and on the other hand of closing the container. 
     FIGS. 8 and 9 are schematic views showing the finishing enclosure of the container, after the intermediate phase of FIG.  7 . 
     FIG. 10 is a schematic perspective view of a container according to the invention, finished and ready to be transported. 
     FIGS. 11 to  14  are schematic views which show a particular embodiment of the invention, according to which the container has means for holding it in a stable position of the base on which the objects to be packaged are to be placed. 
     FIGS. 15 to  20  are schematic views of a container according to the invention whose sheet is in two portions and of which certain elements must be folded and placed adjacent each other and thus maintained temporarily, so as to facilitate the emplacement of objects to be packaged. 
     FIGS. 21 to  25  are schematic views of a container according to the invention whose sheet is of a single piece, which comprises means for holding in a temporary straightened position, and having protection for the corners of the finished container. 
     FIGS. 26 to  30  are schematic views of a container according to the invention, analogous to that of FIGS. 21 to  25  but more elaborated because of the eight corners being protected and in that other external protection edges are continuous over all the periphery of the side surfaces of the finished container. 
     FIGS. 31 to  36  are schematic views which show the application of the holding means in temporary straightened position with a sheet obtained by bending an end unglued flap. 
     FIGS. 37 to  40  show an embodiment of the invention according to which the container is very simple, and hence inexpensive, whilst ensuring efficacious protection of the eight corners of the parallelepipedal container after closing. 
     FIG. 41 is a schematic view showing an embodiment of the invention according to which overlapping of the sheets during their cutting gives rise to only a small quantity of waste. 
     FIGS. 42 to  45  are schematic views of the embodiment of FIGS. 37 to  40 , according to a modification which improves the protection of two of the eight corners of the container. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to FIGS. 1 to  10 , there is seen a container according to the invention which in this case is obtained from a corrugated cardboard blank, cut out in a single piece in a plate and constituting, after cutting out and printing, a sheet formed of two parallel rectangular portions  1  and  2  connected to each other by a triangular tongue  3  formed in a contour of the rectangular portion  2 . 
     The portion  1  has a transverse fold line  4  which determines on the one hand an end panel  5  extending to a free transverse edge  6  and on the other hand an intermediate panel  7  whose end forms a closure tongue  8  having a free transverse edge  9 . 
     The portion  2  has two transverse fold lines  11  and  12  which define between them a central region  13  and two end flaps  14  and  15  having respective free edges  16  and  17 . 
     The triangular tongue  3  that joins the portions  1  and  2  is formed in the contour of the central region  13 . One of the sides of the isosceles triangle is formed by a cutout line  18  whilst the other is a fold line  19  interrupted by a short slot  20  cut out from the end of the fold line  11 , so that the triangular tongue  3  is truncated and the fold line  19  does not reach the base of the triangle. The base of the isosceles triangle is constituted by a longitudinal fold line  21  located in prolongation of the respective adjacent longitudinal edges  22  and  23  of the portions  1  and  2 . 
     It will be seen that the transverse edges  9  and  6  of the portion  1  and the transverse edges  16  and  17  of the portion  2  are very substantially offset from each other. The edges  9  and  16  are spaced from each other by a distance D 1 ; the edges  6  and  17  are spaced from each other by a distance D 2  shorter than the distance D 1 . 
     Moreover, the edge  16  is located in front of edge  9 , whilst the edge  17  is located behind the edge  6 . 
     The central region  13  therefore is not even approximately facing the median panel  7  but facing the end panel  5 , and even “lower” than it considering the direction of the drawing of FIG.  1 . 
     Acting on the portion  2  to move it in the clockwise direction, above the plane of the portion  1 , as is shown in FIGS. 2 to  4 , the triangular tongue  3  bends along its edges  19  and  21  and lets the portion  2  pivot by 90°, such that at the end of the movement, this portion  2  extends transversely to the portion  1 , the central region  13  being located on the end panel  5 . There is thus provided a base adapted to receive the objects to be packaged and formed by the superposition of the end panel  5  and the central region  13 . 
     In FIG. 5, there is shown a container which has been described and whose base has received an object, here a book A, whose weight is alone sufficient to maintain the portion  2  in a position transverse to the portion  1 , despite the resilience of the cardboard container which tends to return the tongue  3  to its original position, the fold lines  19  and  21  having not been stressed to the point of breaking the fibers of the carton. 
     This use poses no problem of handling when the shaping of the container according to FIGS. 1 to  4  is done manually and the objects to be packaged are immediately adjacent the operator. 
     In the position of FIG. 5, the assembly of container-object is thus stable and it is easy to place several objects on each other and successively to complete the package. 
     When the base  5 - 13  has received all the desired objects, one or several, the flaps  14  and  15  are folded down toward each other according to the arrows F 1 , from above the objects disposed on the base and, according to the height of these objects, the flaps  14  and  15  will bend more or less farther from their free edges  16  and  17  along lines respectively  24  and  25 , which creates, for each of them, a sidewall  26 - 27  and an upper flap  28 - 29  (FIG. 6) applied flat against the objects positioned on the base  5 - 13 . 
     As is indicated above, this base  5 - 13  is formed by the superposition of the panel  5  and the central region  13  and, because of the natural elasticity of the corrugated cardboard, it is stable only because of the weight of the objects deposited on it. 
     For the same reason, the elasticity of the folded cardboard, the flaps  14  and  15  do not remain in the folded down position over the objects and if the operator releases them after having folded them down, they will spring back up. 
     The invention permits overcoming this drawback which, in the practice of packaging, is very grave because it complicates the handling, as the operator cannot release the flaps  14  and  15  for final closing of the container. 
     In this case, as the base  5 - 13  is disposed at the end of the portion  1 , there remains an important length of cardboard beyond the base  5 - 13 , of which the middle panel  7  forms a portion. 
     It is therefore possible, as is shown in FIG. 6, to pivot by 180°, in the direction of the arrow F 3 , the assembly formed by the base  5 - 13 , book A and the folded down flaps  14  and  15 , to apply the whole to the middle panel  7 . 
     In the course of this pivoting, the cardboard sheet bends along the pre-existing fold line  4  and also along a transverse line  30  which automatically forms under the influence of the edges of the flaps  14  and  15  which force the cardboard to bend. 
     The emplacement of the line  30  relative to the transverse free edges  6  and  9  of the portion  1  is at random because it depends on the height of the objects placed on the flaps  14  and  15 . The portion of the panel  7  located between the two transverse lines  4  and  30  thus constitutes a small transverse surface  31  of the container. 
     The length of the portion  1  is selected such that it remains from the middle panel  7 , whose area is substantially equal to that of the base  5 - 13  (in reality, this area is equal to that of the area of the end panel  5  which is greater than the central region  13  because, in this case, there have been created protective edges) namely prolonged by a length of cardboard sufficient to form the container with a maximum height of the packaged objects, as will now be described. 
     At the end of this pivoting, the container is in the arrangement of FIG.  7  and it will be seen that the book A rests on the flaps  28  and  29  which, because of this weight, can no longer straighten out by the elasticity of the folded cardboard. The assembly is thus perfectly stable. 
     As a result, this arrangement can be prolonged as desired in the course of a packaging process, for example by a buffer supply between a phase of emplacing the object and a phase of closing the container. 
     This closing is carried out in the following manner: 
     the middle panel  7  is straightened along the arrow F 4  (FIG. 8) by bending it along a transverse line  32  which automatically forms, under the influence of the edges of the flaps  14  and  15  opposite the preceding and which force the cardboard to bend. 
     After straightening (FIG.  9 ), the end of the portion  1  is bent according to the arrow F 5 , by bending it along a transverse line  33  which automatically forms, against the free edge  6 , this edge constituting the closure tongue  8  whose length measured longitudinally relative to the greatest length of the original portion  1 , is variable according to the objects packaged, this length being a minimum when the height of the objects is a maximum and, conversely, being maximum when the height of the objects is minimum. 
     The positioning of the lines  32  and  33  relative to the free transverse edge  9  is also at random because it depends also on the height of the packaged objects. 
     The cardboard portion located between the two transverse lines  32  and  33  constitutes the second small transverse surface  34  of the container, opposite the first one 
     After folding down the tongue  8  (FIG.  10 ), the latter is fixed to the end panel  5 , preferably by gluing. 
     This gluing can be carried out manually, particularly by actuating a glue distributor, or by means of a machine which, in addition to the glue properly so called, exerts pressure on the tongue  8  while the glue begins to act and moves the finished container toward an assembly and/or removal station. 
     The finished container has two large opposite surfaces  5  and  7 , two small transverse surfaces  31  and  34  as well as two side surfaces  26  and  27  formed during folding down the flaps  14  and  15  from above the objects. 
     It will be noted that these sidewalls  26  and  27  are retracted relative to the longitudinal edges of the portion  1 , because the spacing of the bend lines  11  and  12  is less than the width of the portion  1 , thanks to which the overhanging portion of the portion  1  over all the periphery of the container and over the two sides forms external protective edges. 
     This arrangement is particularly advantageous but not required, and if it is preferred that the lateral surfaces be aligned with the edges of the portion  1 , the triangular tongue  3  is smaller such that the lines  11  and  12  will be in alignment with the edges of the end panel  5  and no longer within its contour. 
     This finished container can receive a label B of any known type and is ready to be sent by post or messenger. 
     In the above description it has been explained that the central region  13  and the end panel  5  are maintained against each other by the weight of the objects placed on the base formed precisely by this superposition of these two elements (FIG.  5 ). 
     This supposes that the objects are disposed on the base  5 - 13  immediately after positioning the transverse portion  2  with the portion  1  (FIG.  4 ). 
     But it is also interesting to reach this position before placing objects on the base  5 - 13 , particularly if the work stations corresponding to the separate packaging phases are separate and, as the case may be, whether an operator carries out the positioning crosswise of the portions  1  and  2 , whilst another operator places objects on the base. 
     The invention permits tightening the central region  13  and the end panel  5  in a simple manner and does not impede ultimate operations of positioning objects enclosing the container. 
     FIG. 11 is equivalent to FIG.  1  and shows a sheet cut out and scored, the same reference numerals corresponding to the same elements as before. 
     The end panel has a tongue  41  in the form of a rectangular trapezoid whose large base is parallel and near the edge  6  and which is defined by three cutouts  42 ,  43  and  44  along the large base and the two sides. The small base of the trapezoid is a bend line  45  along which the tongue  41  can be bent out of its initial plane. 
     The central region  13  also has a trapezoidal tongue  51  defined by three cutouts  52 ,  53  and  54  along the large base and the two sides. The small base is a fold line along which the tongue  51  can be bent out of its initial plane but in this case it is the small base of the trapezoid which is near the longitudinal edge of the central region  13 . 
     FIG. 12 corresponds to FIG.  4  and it will be seen that after pivoting the portion  2 , the two tongues  41  and  51  face each other because both are respectively central relative to the end panel  5  and relative to the central region  13 . 
     Moreover, the two tongues  41  and  51  are inverted, which is to say that the small base of one is aligned with the large base of the other, and vice versa. 
     When the portions  1  and  2  are in the crossing position according to FIG. 12, the operator acts with a finger either on the tongue  41  from below the end panel  5  or on the tongue  51  from above the central region  13 . This done, he requires the tongue on which he presses ( 41  or  51 ) to push back the other ( 51  or  41 ) and to penetrate the trapezoidal opening freed by the bending of the pushed back tongue ( 51  or  41 ), such that the first, because of it shape, wedges, by slight deformation of the cardboard, in said opening which narrows. 
     This wedging thus causes the central region  13  to be applied against the end panel  5 , ensuring tightening because it prevents the central region  13  from rising above the end panel  5 , retained as it is by the tongue of one of these two elements wedged in the opening of the other. 
     In FIGS. 12 and 13, the tongue  41  is seen passing through the opening of the central region  13  and forming, because of this fact, a certain projection relative to the plane of the base to be dedicated to the objects to be packaged. But this prominence does not cause a drawback because upon the least pressure normal to the plane of the central region  13 , the tongue  41  bends and returns to its initial position. There is then no longer a wedging, but this is unimportant because the objects disposed on the base  5 - 13  exert, because of their weight, a force sufficient correctly to maintain the central region  13  on the end panel  5 . 
     Having positioned the objects to be packaged on the base  5 - 13 , it remains only to fold down the flaps  14  and  15 , as has been described above. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 15 to  19 , there is seen a container which, as before, is adapted to send objects by post or messenger. 
     Such a container is particularly useful for businesses which send large numbers of packages: businesses that conduct correspondence sales or catalog sales, companies which only partially finish products, so that they produce semifinished articles (blanks, unrecorded compact discs, etc.) or which use a distribution organization having one or several storage centers distant from the manufacturing plant. 
     In all these cases in which a business carries out numerous mailings, it can be interesting to maintain a container in an intermediate position in which the constituent elements of the flat sheet are placed adjacent each other by one or several bends and maintained thus in a stable manner, such that the base will be freely accessible to deposit on it one or several objects, at one or several times. 
     To do this, the container according to the invention has means to assemble the emplaced elements adjacent each other. 
     As long as the container is not closed for shipping, the object or objects placed on the base remain accessible, particularly for control and verification. During closing the container, the adjacent elements must be separated so as to permit complete folding of the container. 
     This characteristic of the invention is very useful, for example, when the objects must be placed on the base several times, which is to say when the container must receive several objects one after the other. 
     These circumstances are encountered particularly when the containers are placed on a belt conveyor which moves among several loading stations at each of which an operator places selectively one or several objects to constitute a complete load, after which each container continues its movement to an individual closure station. 
     FIGS. 15 to  20  show an embodiment of the invention constituting a solution to this problem. According to this embodiment, the middle panel  7  has two openings  61  and  62  (FIG. 20) each formed by three respective incisions  63 ,  64  and  65 - 66 ,  67  and  68  extending along three sides of a rectangle whose fourth side is formed either by a bend line or by an incision. Thus, with the example shown here, the formation of the openings is not accomplished by withdrawing material but on the contrary by leaving for each of them a respective tongue  69  and  70  which, being constituted without any discontinuity by the cardboard forming the middle panel  7 , preserves the integrity of the fibers of this cardboard. Each tongue  69 - 70  thus has the same natural rigidity as the cardboard, whilst any marking such as a fold line would give rise necessary to a weakening of this rigidity and, by breaking the fibers or even crushing the channels of the corrugated cardboard, would destroy the elasticity of the tongue  69 - 70  and would lower its ability to return automatically to its original position, whilst this property is necessary here, as will be seen from the description which follows. 
     Moreover, the longitudinal edge  23  of the portion  2  forms the respective edges  231  and  232  of the flaps  14  and  15  which, after the flaps have been straightened out of their plane to an orientation substantially perpendicular to the plane of the base  5 - 13 , are located nearest the middle panel  7 , itself straightened to be substantially perpendicular to the plane of the end panel  5 . These edges  231  and  232  are each cut out with a respective notch  71  and  72  along a cutout having an edge  73 - 74  oblique to the corresponding edge  231 - 232  and a small return  75 - 76  which form a hook  77 - 78 . 
     The combination of an opening  61 - 62  and a hook  77 - 78  forms means confining the flaps  14  and  15  to the middle panel  7  and are used in the following manner: 
     After the portion  2  has been disposed transversely to the portion  1  (FIG.  16 ), a portion of the central panel  7  is straightened by causing it to pivot about the line  4  and on the other hand the flaps  14  and  15  along the lines  11  and  12  (arrows F 6 , FIG.  17 ). When the three elements are each substantially perpendicular to the plane of the base  5 - 13 , the flaps  14  and  15  are in parallel planes and both are perpendicular to the plane of the middle panel  7  and the hooks  77  and  78  of the flaps  14  and  15  are located facing the tongues  69  and  70  incised in the middle panel  7 . 
     The upper portion of this panel  7  is then slightly inclined in the direction of the arrow F 7 , and when the tongues  69  and  70  encounter the hooks  77  and  78 , the latter push the tongues  69  and  70  outside their original plane. 
     It is thus clear that the ability to sink in the hooks  77  and  78  is great because of their rigidity, which in turn is large because they act longitudinally, whilst the resistance of the tongues  69  and  70  is low, because they receive the force of the hooks  77  and  78  along their plane and moreover, this resistance arises only because of the small amount of material which remains along the fourth side of the rectangle whose three other sides are incised. 
     The hooks  77  and  78  pass through the entire thickness of the middle panel  7  by pushing back the tongues  69  and  70  to the extent that the panel  7  is inclined in the direction of arrow F 7 , which movement is rendered possible thanks to the notches  71  and  72 . 
     To permit simply the movement of the panel  7  and the penetration of the hooks  77  and  78  into the openings  61  and  62 , the necessary and sufficient condition is that there be a retraction of the material over the upper portion of the edges  231  and  232 . As a result, the notches  71  and  72  could have any shape. But it is preferable to give them an edge  73 - 74  that is oblique according to the angle corresponding to that of the inclination of the panel  7  after engagement of the hooks  77  and  78 , because in this way the panel  7  naturally bears against the edges  73  and  74  of the notches  71  and  72 , the assembly of the container in this position being then very rigid and very stable (FIG.  20 ). 
     It can be considered that the oblique edges  73  and  74  can extend to the base of the flaps  14  and  15 , the panel  7  then being inclined by simple pivoting along the fold line  4 . 
     But the emplacement intended for the objects to be packaged (FIG. 20) would have a flat bottom  5 - 13 , two vertical sidewalls  14  and  15  and an inclined bottom wall  7 , which is not rational, given that the generally parallelepipedal objects which the container is adapted to receive, must be able to extend without impediment from the base  5 - 13  to a certain height and that it is preferable to give them a perfectly parallelepipedal positioning. 
     Thanks to the arrangements which have been described, the inclination of the panel  7  takes place automatically along a line  80  below which the panel  7  is perpendicular to the base  5 - 13  and which is inclined only above this line  80 . 
     The level of this line  80  obviously depends on the emplacement of the point of meeting of the edges  231  and  232  with the edges  73  and  74  of the notches  71  and  72 . 
     This placement is selected as a function of the dimensions of the container, such that the level of the line  80  will correspond to the levels of the lines  81  and  82  of the flaps  14  and  15  which mark the maximum height of the objects to be packaged. Thus, after emplacement of the objects to be packaged, the flaps  14  and  15  are folded down on each other and thus subdivide themselves into sidewalls for their unfolded-down position and in upper flaps for their ends applied to the objects. 
     These flaps should have a minimum length, without which the sidewalls will not be correctly maintained and the closed container could open and let the packaged objects escape. 
     The virtual lines  80 ,  81  and  82  thus correspond to the correct level of filling of the container and the invention permits visualizing perfectly this level because it is indicated by the line  80  along which the panel  7  is automatically folded and which is thus easily visible to the eye. 
     When external protective edges are not desired, the fold lines  11  and  12  of the flaps  14  and  15  are aligned with the edges of the portion  1  and hence in particular with the edges of the panel  7 . 
     So that the hooks  77  and  78  can penetrate the openings  61  and  62 , the flaps  14  and  15  are straightened out of their plane not more than 90° according to an angle a little more closed toward the center of the base  5 - 13 , which is a less desirable arrangement than if the flaps were exactly perpendicular to the base  5 - 13 , for the reasons indicated above, namely for ease of loading the objects. But that is nevertheless acceptable, the angle of closing of the flaps  14  and  15  remaining very small. 
     When the hooks  77  and  78  are completely engaged in the openings  61  and  62  (FIG. 18) they prevent the straightening of the panel  7  and they are effectively made in place thanks to the wedging action of the tongues  69  and  70  (FIG. 19) which are permanently urged back toward their original position, as indicated by the arrow F- 8 , and which apply the hooks  77  and  78  against the incised edge respectively  64  and  67 . 
     When the sheet is cut out from a plate of corrugated cardboard, which the invention views as a preferred arrangement, the orientation of the channels C is selected such that they extend transversely to the portions  1  and  2  before crossing the portion  2  over the portion  1 , as is shown in FIG.  15 . 
     Thus, the tongues  69  and  70  are adapted to bow perpendicularly to the channels C (FIG.  15 ), which is to say by having a maximum resistance to bending. 
     Similarly, the hooks  77  and  78  are cut out to extend parallel to the channels C (FIG.  18 ), which are perpendicular to the sides  231  and  232  in which the notches  71  and  72  are cut out. 
     This optimum arrangement of the channels C both for the tongues  69  and  70  belonging to the portion  1  and for the hooks  77  and  78  belonging to the portion  2 , results from the 90° crossing of these portions  1  and  2 , as is seen in FIG.  16 . 
     After having positioned the objects to be packaged in the volume limited by the base  5 - 13 , the panel  7  and the flaps  14  and  15  (FIG.  20 ), the hooks  77  and  78  are disengaged, the flaps  14  and  15  are folded over the objects, then the panel  7  is folded from above over the whole, and the container is closed by fixing the end of the panel  7  below the end panel  5 . 
     The hooks  77  and  78  are hidden by the panel  7  and give no risk of accidental hooking during handling the container. 
     The tongues  69  and  70  have returned to their original position in openings  61  and  62  in which they are wedged and which they completely close. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 21 to  25 , there is seen a modification according to which the corrugated cardboard sheet is also cut out in a single piece, but without it being necessary to cross two separate pieces, as described above. The same elements bear the same reference numerals. 
     In this case, the sheet is cut out in a general T shape, and has a central portion  101  secured to a base  102  which is connected to the portion  101  by a fold line  103  at the ends of which are located cutout lines  104  and  105 . 
     The base  102  is secured to the two lateral flaps  14  and  15  by fold lines  11  and  12 . The notches  71  and  72  define hooks  77  and  78  to be located facing openings  61  and  62  cut out in the central portion  101 . 
     In this case, there is therefore created from a single piece the portion  1  and the portion  2 , without any superposition and without it being necessary to cause them to pivot relative to each other. 
     This is a more economical solution, because it requires a lesser quantity of cardboard, requires less room for storage and transport of the sheets, and permits immediately setting up the container, ready to receive objects to be packaged. 
     But if the finished container has a worse final form because its contour is interrupted, the eight corners of the finished container are well protected against shocks which can be experienced during handling of the container for its stacking and transport. 
     On the one hand, a central portion  101  is straightened up which pivots about the fold line  103 , and on the other hand the flaps  14  and  15  are bent along arrows F 6 , so that they pivot along fold lines  11  and  12 , such that there is obtained the arrangement of FIG. 23 in which the container is stable, because of the hooking of the flaps  14  and  15  to the central portion, by means of the hooks  77  and  78 . The explanations already given above will not be repeated here. 
     Objects to be packaged can then be placed on the base  102 , one or more according to the arrangement adopted for use of the containers according to the invention. 
     When these objects are in place, the flaps  14 - 15  are loosened from the portion  101 , then they are folded down on the packaged objects (FIG.  24 ). This done, they fold transversely to themselves along lines  24  and  25  to form sidewalls  26  and  27  as well as flaps  28  and  29 . 
     In accordance with what is explained above relative to the level lines  80 ,  81  and  82 , the lines  24  and  25  coincide with the virtual lines  81  and  82  when the packaged objects extend over the maximum admissible height for a container of given dimensions. 
     The portion  101  is then folded down over the flaps  28  and  29 , according to the arrow F 9 , this portion  101  bending along the pre-existing fold line  103  and also along a transverse line  30  which automatically forms under the influence of the edges  231  and  232  which force the cardboard to bend. 
     The position of the line  30  is random because it depends on the height of the objects which are located below the flaps  14  and  15 , the region of the central portion  101  located between the two transverse lines  103  and  30  constitutes a small transverse surface  31  of the container. 
     The length of the central portion  101  is selected so as to be sufficient to close the container with a maximum height of the packaged objects. 
     After the portion  101  has been applied against the flaps  28  and  29 , it is again bent, along the line  32  which automatically forms under the influence of the edges of the flaps  28  and  29 , which force the cardboard to bend, then again along the line  33  such that the end of the portion  101 , which constitutes a closure tongue, may be applied and fixed below the base  102 , the zone of the central region  101  located between the two transverse lines  32  and  33  constitutes a second small transverse surface  34  of the container (FIG. 25) opposite the first one  31 . 
     It will be seen in FIG. 21 that the fold lines  11  and  12  lead to the point of junction of the fold line  103  and the cutout lines  104  and  105 . Because of this, when the side flaps  14  and  15  are straightened, they disengage from the edges of the cutout lines, of which only the edge  106  is visible in the drawings, the other being symmetric to the latter and being hidden in the drawing. 
     Thanks to this voluntary offset, the lateral edges  107  and  108  of the portion  101  extend beyond the small side faces  26  and  27  and constitute external protective edges. 
     However, in this case, such an edge does not exist at the level of the base  102 , as will be seen in FIG.  25 . It could exist only if the height of the objects were a minimum, the return below the base  102  of the central portion  101  being prolonged over all the depth of the base  102 . 
     Of course, there exist other solutions which permit obtaining a continuous protective edge of which an example will be described later. 
     With this simple and inexpensive embodiment, the channels C are evidently in the same direction for the portion  101  and for the flaps  14  and  15 . 
     It can be selected to cut out the sheet according to one orientation or the other, but no matter what it is, it cannot be optimum both for the tongues  69  and  70  and for the hooks  77  and  78 . 
     If, as shown, the channels C are longitudinal to the hooks  77  and  78 , the tongues  69  and  70  will have less spring force. If the channels were perpendicular to those shown in the drawing, the tongues  69  and  70  would have strong fiber but the hooks  77  and  78  would be less rigid. 
     It falls accordingly to the practitioner to select the best solution as a function of the quality of the cardboard available and as a function of the practical characteristics of the use of the containers during packaging operations. 
     Tests have shown that for medium quality cardboard, the best solution is that shown in the drawing, namely the channels C being longitudinal to the hooks  77  and  78 , which is to say perpendicular to the edges of the flaps  14  and  15  in which the notches  71  and  72  are cut out. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 26 to  30 , there is seen an embodiment according to which the sheet is of a single rectangular piece having a central portion  111  secured to an end panel  112  by a transverse line formed in several segments: two lateral fold lines  113  and  114  and a central cutout line  115 , interrupted by two small uncut segments  116  forming hinges. 
     Moreover, the end panel  112  has two longitudinal fold lines  117  and  118  defining two lateral margins  119  and  120  of which the wider is substantially equal to the length of the fold lines  113  and  114 . 
     The free edges of the panel  112  are cut out to provide notches  71  and  72  defining the hooks  77  and  78 , whilst the portion  111  is incised to present openings  61  and  62  as well as the tongues  69  and  70 . 
     The panel  112  is cut longitudinally along a line  121  leaving two small segments  122  forming holding bridges, and has an opening  123 . 
     During production of the sheet, after having cut out and marked fold lines as has been described above, the glue  126  is deposited in points or lines as those skilled in the art know how to do, on the side margins of the portion  111 , between the fold lines  113 ,  114  and a transverse fold line  125 , then there is folded down on the portion  101 , in the direction of arrow F 10 , the end panel  112  which keeps a good connection thanks to the presence of the hinges  116  and the bridges  122 , this portion  111  and this panel  112  thus being fixed to each other by the glue  126 , along their lateral margins (FIG.  27 ). This embodiment then permits a use analogous to that which has been described with respect to FIGS. 21 to  25 , except as to the direction in which the lateral flaps  14  and  15  are straightened up. 
     Thus, to straighten these latter, the operator engages a finger in the opening  123  and exerts a pull to raise the two flaps  14  and  15  which pivot about the fold lines  117  and  118  (arrows F 11 , FIG. 28) and if the bridges  122  have not first been torn, this pull suffices to break them and to free the two flaps. 
     The portion  111  is straightened up which pivots about the fold line  125 , then the hooks  77  and  78  are engaged in the openings  61  and  62  to result in the stable position of FIG.  28 . 
     The straightening of the flaps  14  and  15  has the effect of uncovering the end  127  of the portion  111  which constitutes the base for receiving objects to be packaged. 
     After emplacement of these objects, the flaps  14  and  15  are folded down, then from above the assembly the portion  111  is again bent in the direction of the arrows F 9  (FIG. 29) and after closure, there is obtained the container of FIG. 30 which, as is seen, has a continuous external protective flange, over all the periphery of the container, thereby sheltering the small lateral surfaces from shocks, in addition to the protection of the corners described with respect to FIGS. 21 to  25 . 
     Referring now to FIGS. 31 to  36 , there is seen another embodiment which constitutes a sort of combination of the embodiments of FIGS. 21 to  25  on the one hand and  26  to  30  on the other hand. Thus, in this case the original sheet is of T shape as in FIG. 21, but has an end panel which folds down on the central portion as in FIG.  26 . The same elements bear the same reference numerals. 
     In this case, the central portion  131  is secured to a transverse portion  132  by means of a transverse fold line  133  prolonged by two cutout lines  134  and  135 , the portion  132  comprising a central base  136  on opposite sides of which are located the flaps  14  and  15 . 
     The central portion  131  has a length such that it has an intermediate panel  137  having the same dimension as the base  136  measured longitudinally between the fold line  135  and a second fold line  138 . 
     The base  136  has a central tongue  139  which extends beyond the free straight edge  140  of said base  136  and in which are cut out notches  71  and  72  defining the hooks  77  and  78 . which are cut out notches  71  and  72  defining the hooks  77  and  78 . 
     The fold line  138  comprises a central slot  141  whose extent is substantially equal to that of the tongue  139 . 
     This embodiment then permits a use analogous to that which has been described with respect to FIGS. 21 to  25 . 
     The panel  132  is first folded down over the portion  131  in the direction of arrow F 12  in FIG. 31, such that the base  136  is superposed exactly on the intermediate panel  137 , then on the one hand the flaps  14  and  15  are straightened which pivot about the fold lines  11  and  12  (arrows F 6  in FIG. 33) and on the other hand the portion  131  which pivots about the transverse fold line  138  and the tongue  139  is engaged in the slot  141  such that the base  136  is secured to the intermediate panel  137 , which is to say to the central part  131 . 
     The stable relationship shown in FIG. 34 is thus achieved. 
     The objects to be packaged are then placed on the base  136 , which has the double thickness of panel  137  and base  136  and which is therefore particularly strong. 
     The flaps  14  and  15  are folded down over the objects, then the portion  111  is again bent according to the arrow F 9  (FIG. 35) and after closure, there is obtained the container of FIG. 36 which, it will be seen, has a continuous external protective edge, over all the periphery of the container, thereby sheltering the small lateral surfaces from shocks. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 37 to  40 , there is seen a container according to the invention which is particularly simple and inexpensive, whilst ensuring the protection of the eight corners of the completed container. 
     The corrugated cardboard sheet is cut out in a single piece and is of the same type as that of FIGS. 21 to  25 . The same elements bear the same reference numerals. 
     The sheet is cut out in the general shape of a T and has a central portion  101  secured to a base  102  which is connected to the portion  101  by a fold line  103  at the ends of which are located cutout lines  104  and  105 . 
     The base  102  is secured to the two lateral flaps  14  and  15  by fold lines  11  and  12 , which constitute the bar of the T. 
     The two cutout lines  104  and  105  permit lateral flaps  14  and  15  to be straightened beyond the longitudinal edges of the intermediate panel  101  so as to define, after folding, an external protective return at each of the four corners of each of the two small lateral faces  26  and  27  and an external protective edge over three sides of said small lateral surfaces  26  and  27 . 
     The objects are directly placed on the base  102 , then the flaps  14  and  15  are straightened in the direction of the arrows F 6 , so that they pivot about the fold lines  11  and  12 , then the central portion  101  is raised, which pivots about the fold line  103 . 
     Next, the flaps  14  and  15  are folded down on the packaged objects (FIG.  39 ). This having been done, they bend transversely to themselves about lines  24  and  25  to form sidewalls  26  and  27  as well as the flaps  28  and  29 . 
     The portion  101  is then folded down over the flaps  28  and  29 , in the direction of arrow F 9 , this portion  101  bending along a transverse line  30  which automatically forms under the influence of the edges of the flaps  28  and  29  which force the cardboard to bend. 
     The position of the line  30  is at random because it depends on the height of the objects which are located below the flaps  14  and  15 , the region of the central portion  101  located between the two transverse lines  103  and  30  constituting a small transverse surface  31  of the container. 
     The length of the central portion  101  is selected so as to be sufficient to close the container with a maximum height of packaged objects. 
     After the portion  101  having been applied to the flaps  28  and  29 , it is again folded, along the line  32  which automatically forms under the influence of the edges of the flaps  28  and  29 , which force the carton to bend, then again along the line  33  so that the end of the portion  101 , which constitutes a closure tongue, can be applied and secured below the base  102 , the region of the central portion  101  located between the two transverse lines  32  and  33  constituting a second small transverse surface  34  of the container (FIG. 40) opposite the first one  31 . 
     It will be seen in FIG. 37 that the fold lines  11  and  12  lead to the junction point of the fold line  103  and the cutout lines  104  and  105 . Because of this, when the lateral flaps  14  and  15  are straightened, they disengage from the edges of the cutout lines, of which only the edge  106  is visible on the drawing, the other being symmetric to the latter and being hidden in the drawing. 
     Thanks to this voluntary offset, the longitudinal edges of the portion  101  extend beyond the small lateral surfaces  26  and  27  and constitute external protective edges. 
     However, in this case, such an edge does not exist at the level of the base  102 , as is seen in FIG.  40 . It could exist only if the height of the objects were the minimum, the return below the base  102  of the central portion  101  being prolonged over all the depth of the base  102 . 
     It will nevertheless be noted that the four corners of each small lateral surface (namely eight corners in total for the whole container) are each protected by a return of the cardboard, which is believed to suffice in many cases. 
     FIG. 41 shows a modification of the invention according to which the two flaps  14  and  15  are unequal, the flap  14  being shorter and the flap  15  longer, the total remaining unchanged, as in FIGS. 37 to  40 . 
     This arrangement permits a superposition of at least two sheets, during their simultaneous cutting out from one cardboard carton plate, which is more favorable than with flaps  14  and  15  being equal. 
     Thus, it will be noted that the portions line of points represent scraps of cardboard to be eliminated and it will be seen that the external scraps  201  and  202  extend over all the height H of the portion  101  and over the width  1  of the flaps  14  which is less than the width L of the flaps  15 . The surface Si of each of these scraps is equal to: 
     
       
           L ×1= S   1   
       
     
     and the total of two: 
     
       
           S   1 ×2=2 S   1   
       
     
     The interior scrap  203  extends between the two flaps located facing two adjacent sheets along a height h substantially less than the height H of the portion  101  and along a width L 1  less than the width L of a distance equal to twice the depth of a cutout line  105 . Its surface S 2  is equal to: 
     
       
           S   2 = h×L   1 . 
       
     
     The small scraps  204  and  205  are less significant because they correspond only to the oblique cutout of the closure tongue. 
     Computation shows that the total surface of the scraps, namely 2 S 1 +S 2  (neglecting the scraps  204  and  205 ) is less by 41% than that of the scraps of an identical cutout (with the same dimensions) of a container having two flaps  14  and  15  that are equal, because if that decreases a bit the small surface S 2 , this greatly increases the large surface S 1 . 
     Referring now to FIGS. 42 to  45 , there is seen a particular embodiment of the invention, in which the four corners of each small lateral surface of the container are reinforced, which, according to FIGS. 37 to  40 , is limited by the edge  106 . To do this, the cutout lines  104  and  105  are provided beyond the fold line  103 , which has the result that the flaps  14  and  15  are more narrow than the base  102 . There are thus defined two tongues  115  (of which only one is seen in the drawing) located between the fold line  103  and the edge  106 . 
     In FIGS. 44 and 45, it is clearly seen that after straightening the portion  101 , the tongues  115  remain in the same plane as the base  102  and thus constitute a portion of the external protective edge. 
     In counterpart to this advantage, it will be seen that there remains a passage between the exterior of the container and the interior, against the cut edge of the corresponding flap  14 ,  15 , which could give access to the packaged objects, as is shown in FIG.  45 . 
     This embodiment is nevertheless applicable to numerous types of packaging, when the objects are more narrow than the base, which is to say when their width is less than or substantially equal to that of the flaps and, as a result, they do not face the passage.