PAPER BOX FOR PROTECTING INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTS WITHIN OUTER CONTAINERS, AND METHOD FOR ITS MANUFACTURE

Abstract: There is disclosed a shaped paper box or structure for protecting industrial products, in­ side conventional packages. This box consists of a substantially box-­ like body, of square or rectangular plan, the side walls of which have a diverging cross-section and project in a suitable way from the two faces of the bearing surface. The mentioned box-like body, in particular, is made by means of simple folding operation, start­ ing from a cardboard or the like sheet (1), as suitably diecut and ribbed. The same box-like body affords the possi­ bility, as it is introduced in an outer envelope or package (12), of providing a remarkable air gap (14) between the walls and the product to be protected and packa­ ged, through the overall six walls thereof, the top and bottom walls included. Another feature of the invention is that the box-like body, in its not used condition, before its insertion in the packaging envelope, has a flat condition, of small size and, by a simple operation, it can be brought to its condition and inserted, as a plunger, into said envelope both at the bottom and the top like a top hat.

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a paper box or structure, adapted to protect industrial products, within outer packages or containers, and also relates to a method for making said paper box. As is known, industrial products of comparatively large size (such as washing machines, refrigerators and the like) and/or having delicate parts, are shipped from the making to the selling place, within suitable strong envelopes or packages, therein there are provided means for assuring a proper protection of the packaged product. These protection means usually consist of foamed plastics material shaped structures, having a substantially box-like shape, which can be firmly fitted at the bottom and top of said products and/or of projecting parts thereof. These plastics material structures, however, have a comparatively large size in their stored condition, that is before their use. These structures, moreover, are made by rather complex making methods and, if they are not biodegradable, they can contribute to increasing the environmental pollution. DE-A-721593 discloses a structure made of paper for protecting industrial products, to be placed on top of the product in order to separate it, by means of lateral flaps on said structure, from the walls of the external sides of an ordinary packing case. The shape of said lateral flaps is that of an overturned "U" and their purpose is to create a spacer. The outer prong of the "U" is intended to remain parallel to the external sides of the packing and to the inner prong of said "U" in contact with the packed product, while the intermediate section of the "U" must remain orthogonal to the above external sides and to those of the product. These positions are to be assured by an extension of the flaps bent back inside the "U" and pressing, like a strut, into the corner between the inner prong of the "U" and its intermediate section. Thus explained, it is clear that the strut stiffens the spacer so created but said spacer can turn around the bend between the inner prong of the "U" and its intermediate section. There is consequently no certainty that said section will remain orthogonal to the sides of the external box and of the product even though this is essential for maintaining the distance sufficient to ensure protection. Purpose of the present invention is to avoid the drawbacks previously complained of by realizing a shaped structure able to offer maximum protection for packed industrial products but one which, at the same time, can be obtained by simple means such as bending operations. Subject of the invention is a box-shaped paper structure for the protection of industrial products, having a square or rectangular flat central zone with lateral flaps that extend from the four sides. Said flaps comprise four flat rectangular zones formed by means of four parallel folds at the sides. The first zone that starts from the end of the flap, is folded back towards the second zone, this latter is folded back towards the third zone, this latter is folded back towards the fourth zone and this latter is folded round the fourth fold in a direction opposite to that of the first backward bends towards the central zone where, in relation to this latter, it forms an angle of about 90°. Values of the angles between the aforesaid rectangular zones are such to ensure that the first zone is parallel to, and matches up with, the fourth zone and that the second zone, between these latter and the third zone, forms a kind of stiffening strut. In this way a spacer practically in the shape of a triangular prism, is created. The dimensional relations between the above rectangular zones are such that the first and fourth zones match up and are orthogonal to the third zone. The first zone is wider than the fourth zone so as to create a projection between said triangular prism and the central zone. If therefore said structure is placed inside one of the usual kinds of packing cases, virtually parallelepiped in shape, with a base for supporting the product to be protected, and if a similar structure opposed to the first is fitted over the opposite side of said product, it follows that said first zone and said fourth zone match up and lie opposite to the walls of said product. Orthogonality between said third zone and the walls of both the product and of the packing case is assured which means that the product is completely separated from the packing outside it. Creation of air cavities is also assured between said central zone matching with the packed product and the opposite walls of the packing. All the above ensures maximum protection for the packed product. Further characteristics and advantages of the shaped paper structure according to the present invention will become more apparent hereinafter from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of said structure being illustrated, by way of a merely indicative but not limitative example, in the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows, in an extended condition, the die-cut and ribbed cardboard sheet provided for making the shaped structure according to the invention; Figures 2 and 3 schematically show a folding procedure for making the mentioned structure; Figure 4 is a perspective view of the structure or box according to the invention; Figure 5 is a vertical cross-section view illustrating a generic product arranged within an outer package and protected, at the top end bottom thereof, by two samples of the protecting structure according to the invention. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS With reference to the Figures of the accompanying drawings, the shaped paper structure or box according to the invention, is made starting from a cardboard sheet, of suitable thickness, which has been overally indicated at the reference number 1, and which is die-cut so as to provide for lugs or flaps 2 which extend from the four sides of a central portion 3 of square or rectangular plan, depending on requirements. On the mentioned lugs or flaps there are formed, starting from the mentioned central portion and proceeding outwardly, a first rib or folding line 4, a double rib 5 and a further rib 8, which ribs or folding lines are suitably spaced from one another. The mentioned ribs or folding lines respectively define corresponding flaps 7, 8 and 9 which are suitably folded, from outside inwardly. More specifically, the flaps 9 are folded onto the flaps 8 and then the thus superimposed flaps are folded onto the flaps 7 thereby forming, with the two folding lines 5, a rib 10. Then (see Figure 3), the three superimposed flaps are folded toward the opposite face 3′ of the central portion 3 so as to assume a nearly vertical configuration and define a box-like body overally indicated at 11. The mentioned box-like body is then introduced into an envelope 12, of parallelepipedal shape, provided for operating as a package for a generic apparatus 13, and providing a bearing base for said apparatus. A box-like body is fitted at the top of the packaged apparatus which, accordingly, will be completely separated from the walls of the outer envelope or package. In fact, the mentioned box-like bodies provide remarkable air gaps 14 between all of the six walls of said envelope and apparatus, thereby providing four pairs of spacer elements, adapted to safely protect the packaged product. In this connection it should be pointed out that the mentioned box-like bodies 11, in their not use condition, that is before their insertion into the envelope, will have an extended configuration and, accordingly, a very reduced size. Moreover, the procedure for making the side walls of the box-like bodies affords the possibility of easily strengthening the protecting structure, independently from the type of the used materials. From the above disclosure, it should be apparent that the invention fully achieves the intended task and objects. While the invention has been disclosed and illustrated with reference to a preferred embodiment thereof, it should be apparent that the disclosed embodiment is susceptible to many modifications and variations, all of which will come within the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined in the accompanying claim.

Claims: Box-shaped paper structure (1) for protecting industrial products (13) having a central flat zone (3) which may be square or rectangular, with lateral flaps (2) that extend from the four sides, comprising four flat rectangular zones (9 8 10 7) formed by means of four parallel folds (6,5′, 5,4) at the sides, wherein the first zone (9), starting from the end of the flap (2), is bent back towards the second zone (8), this latter is bent back towards the third zone (10), this latter is bent back towards the fourth zone (7) and this latter is bent round the fourth fold (4) in a direction opposite to that of the first folds (6, 5′, 5), towards the central zone (3) until, in relation to this latter, it forms an angle of practically 90° characterized in that the values of angles between the aforesaid rectangular zones (9, 8, 10, 7) are such to ensure that the first zone (9) is parallel to and matches up with the fourth zone (7) and to ensure that the second zone (8) forms a stiffening strut between the first and the third zone (10), creating a spacer shaped virtually like a triangular prism, the dimensional relationship between the above rectangular zones (9, 8, 10, 7) being such as to make the first zone (9) and the matching fourth zone (7), orthogonal to the third zone (10), the first zone (9) which is wider than the fourth zone (7) causing said triangular prism to project from the central zone (3) so that, when placing said structure (1) inside a conventional kind of packing case (12) substantially parallelepiped in shape, as a basis for supporting the product (13) to be protected, and fitting over the part opposite to the first paper structure (1) a similar structure (1), ,it follows that said first zone (9) and said fourth zone (7), matching one with the other, will be opposed to the walls of said product (13), orthogonality being ensured between said third zone (10) and the opposing walls of both the product (13) and the packing case (12), said product (13) being completely separated from said packing case (12) and there being created an air cavity between said central zone (3), matching with the packed product (13),and the opposing wall of the packing case (12).

Inventors: GALBER MARIA ADELE ASSOGRAPH I, GALBER, MARIA ADELE ASSOGRAPH ITALIA S.R.L.
Applicants: ASSOGRAPH ITALIA, ASSOGRAPH ITALIA S.R.L.
Application year: 1989
Main classification: B65D5
IPC codes: B65D5