Package for protecting flat articles

Abstract: The present invention concerns a packaging, which protects items inside the packaging from the effects of blows and hits. The packaging 1, which is intended to be made from corrugated cardboard includes a bottom 3, long sides 6, 7 and gables, which have side surfaces 9. It is a characteristic of the packaging that the long sides 6, 7 are not at right angles to the top and bottom of the packaging but at an angle thereto so that the packaging has a trapetzoid cross-section and, as shown in figure 2, preferably an eqully sided trapezoid.

Description: The present invention concerns a packaging, which protects objects inside the packaging from the effects of blows and hits. The packaging is primarily intended to be used for flat objects, such as shelves, doors etc., the appearance of which are especially sensitive to blows and hits on edges and corners. The packaging is intended to be made from foldable corrugated cardboard. Objects, such as doors and shelves, for interior decoration are often manufactured with a thin surface veneer or the like and a careful surface treatment. They are thus very sensitive to blows and hits, especially at edges and corners, as minor damages may make the product more or less unusable for appearance reasons. Such products must be well protected during the handling at manufacturers, warehouses, retailers and customers and during transportation between them. It is thus common that individual objects are put into packagings made from corrugated cardboard and special inlays are used to obtain protection of the edges. Folded or rolled corrugated cardboard or other suitable material is used for this protection. The damages which may occur on the goods are mostly caused in connection with transportation or selling of the product. This kind of products are often produced in a greater number of identical or together with each other belonging individual items. After being packed up a number of items are often stacked lying upon each other. They are therefor exposed to hits along the edges, depending upon e.g. handling with trucks and other means, stacks which fall over and invidual items which during transportation to the end user is dropped or exposed to blows onto edges of vehicles, door frames and the like. Cartons for packaging of books and other articles of small thickness are disclosed in US-A-3986608. The cartons include parallel, rectangular top and bottom walls which are foldably interconnected by a pair of trapezoidally shaped parallel side walls. A pair of end flaps is hingedly connected to each end of the top wall and include an inner portion and an outer portion. The object of the present invention is a packaging which in itself is so designed that it protects the goods from damages of the kind mentioned above, without any further additions such as inlays along the edges or the like. It is another object of the invention to further simplify handling by supplying a packaging which is made from a single blank, which essentially simplifies the wrapping. The invention will below be described more in detail with refence to the embodiment which is shown in the enclosed figures. Figure 1 shows a closed packaging according to the invention. Figure 2 is a cross-section through the packaging, at right angle to its length direction. Figure 3 is a cross-section through a part of the packaging along its length direction. Figure 4 shows a blank of a packaging according to the invention. The packaging 1 shown in the figures is intended to be made from corrugated cardboard and has a bottom 3, long sides 6, 7 and gables which are defined by side surfaces 9. It is a characteristic of the packaging that the long sides 6, 7 are not at right angles to the top and bottom of the packaging but are positioned at an angle thereto so that a cross-section of the packaging is an equally sided trapezoid as shown in figure 2. This means that along each of the long sides the bottom 3 is a distance "a" wider than the overall width of the top. The triangular space which is formed along the sides is left empty. In order to obtain both a corresponding protection against blows and a firm shape of the packaging the gable parts are made in a special way. They include three different areas of the blank, namely closest to the bottom 3 an inner area 8 which is intended to be folded over and lay against the bottom 3, and a side surface 9 having angular edges 13, 14 and finally an outer surface 10 which is intended to lie against the smaller side of the packaging, formed by the two lid parts 4, 5. When the packaging is to be used, the item 2 of the goods is placed upon the bottom 3 and before or after that the long sides 6, 7 are folded upwards to about at right angle to the bottom. Thereupon the short sides are folded to the position which is shown in figure 3, whereupon the lid parts 4, 5 are folded down and the folding of the long sides 6, 7 relative to the bottom is completed, so that the packaging takes its desired shape. The long sides 6, 7 are then supported by the angular edges 13, 14 of the short sides and the packaging is held together, e.g. by glueing the lid parts 4, 5 to the upper surfaces 10 of the short sides or by applying an adhesive tape along the joining line. The packaging ought to be well adapted to the size of the goods. The goods is the kept in its position inside the packaging by being in contact with the side surfaces 9 and the border lines between the long sides 6, 7 and the lid parts 4, 5. There are cushioning empty spaces 11, 12 and 15 around the edges of the packaging. The packaging is made from corrugated cardboard and the direction of corrugation is along the length of the packaging. Within the frame of the inventive idea various embodiments of the packaging are possible. It is for example possible to make the lid from one piece only and it may have an extending flap which overlaps either one of the long sides 6, 7, whereby the packaging may be sealed by glueing this flap to the long side. It is also possible for example to make the packaging such that the corners next to the short sides of the triangular space are to some extent filled up by parts of the packaging.

Claims: Packaging for a flat object, such as shelves, doors and the like, having the function of protecting the enclosed object from blows and damages, where one cross-section of the packaging is an equally sided trapezoid, characterized in that the packaging is made from corrugated board having the corrugations in the length direction of the packaging, the trapezoid cross-section is at right angle to the length direction of the packaging and the short sides of the packaging are retracted inside the outer boarders of the packaging. Blank for forming a packaging according to claim 1, the blank comprising a bottom part (3), long side parts (6, 7), one or more lid parts (4, 5) intended to form the top of the packaging and gable parts, each of the gable parts includes a side surface (9) having an angular edge (13, 14) intended to support one of the long side parts (6, 7), characterized in that the blank is made from corrugated board having the corrugations in the length direction of the bottom part, the short sides of the bottom part are wider than the overall width of the one or more lid parts and each of the gable parts further includes an inner area (8) adjacent to the short side of the bottom part intended to be folded over and lay against the bottom part and an outer area (10) intended to lay against the lid part/s (4, 5).

Inventors: RYDBERG TOMMY, STROEM TORD, RYDBERG, TOMMY, STROEM, TORD, Ström, Tord
Applicants: STORA ENSO PACKAGING AB
Application year: 1997
Main classification: B65D5
IPC codes: B65D5