COLLAPSIBLE BOX AND A BLANK FOR MAKING SAID BOX

Abstract: A collapsible box (200) includes a rectangular bottom panel (F), longitudinal side panels (F1, F2) hinged to said bottom panel (F) by means of longitudinal creasing lines (10, 20) and head panels (T1, T2) articulated to the edges of the bottom panel (F) by means of transversal creasing lines (30, 40). Two bottom folding lines (70, 71), parallel and inner with respect to the transversal creasing lines (30, 40), extend across the bottom panel (F), defining the width of the box (200) when collapsed. Two pairs of inclined folding lines (50, 51, 60, 61) extend from the ends of the bottom folding lines (70, 71) and cross the longitudinal side panels (F1, F2). The box (200) is also equipped with removable closing means for maintaining the new collapsed configuration.

Description: COLLAPSIBLE BOX AND A BLANK FOR .MAKING SAID BOX FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a collapsible box and to a blank for making the collapsible box, obtained from an impermeable material e.g. recessed or solid synthetic resin. DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART It is known that boxes are used for transporting various articles, e.g. in large scale trade. These boxes are easy to manage, can be stacked one on another to facilitate their transport, storage and disposal. After having reached the destination, the boxes are withdrawn from the stacks and emptied of their contents. Then, after a momentary storage, the boxes are disposed or destroyed. According to this procedure the boxes are not re-used, because this would lead to further storage of empty boxes, which would result in need of much space as well as transport of empty boxes to the place where the articles are produced to be filled with them. Obviously, this return transportation of empty boxes adds further costs, which inevitably, increases the global production costs . SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The object of the present invention is to propose a collapsible box, which is practical and economical to be re-used. The collapsed boxes should occupy less space and this will allow storage and transportation of a larger number of empty boxes, thus making their re-use advantageous and convenient . Another object of the present invention is to propose a collapsible box, which maintains its new collapsed form, and which, when in use configuration, can contain other boxes in collapsed configuration, thus making the return transportation easier and more convenient. The above mentioned objects are obtained in accordance with the contents of the claims, by means of a collapsible box including: a rectangular bottom; first and second longitudinal side panels hinged to said bottom by means of longitudinal creasing lines; first and second head panels articulated to the edges of the bottom along transversal creasing lines; flaps journaled to said head panels along further creasing lines forming vertical edges of the head panels, each of said flaps including three tabs inner, central, and outer, respectively, which are articulated to one another by relative parallel creasing lines forming vertical edges of the head panels; reinforcing triangular sections formed by said flaps folded along said parallel creasing lines, with said outer tabs fastened to adjacent portions of the inner transversal surfaces of relative head panels and matching therewith; extensions protruding from said central tabs and which, during the stacking of the erected boxes, are introduced into corresponding inclined slots made near the corners of the bottom of the box situated above, rectangular wings which are articulated to said side panels by means of creasing lines defining vertical edges of said side panels, said wings matching with external parts of the inner tab, to which they are fastened; two trapezoidal winglets also hinged to the central part of each one of said side panels by means of longitudinal creasing lines defining the upper base of said winglets; bottom straight folding lines, first and second respectively, extending across said bottom and parallel to said transversal creasing lines; a first pair of inclined folding lines crossing said first side panel and extending from an end of said bottom folding lines, said first pair of inclined lines converging upwards, symmetrically to a transversal medium axis of said first side panel, and defining, together with a longitudinal creasing line, a first side central portion of said side panel, and two lateral portions, adjacent to the wings, respectively; a second pair of inclined folding lines crossing said second side panel and extending from another end of said additional folding lines, said second pair of folding lines converging upwards, symmetrically with respect to a transversal medium axis of said side panel, thus defining, together with another longitudinal creasing line, a second side central portion of said second side panel, and two lateral portions, adjacent to the said wings, respectively; removable closing means for maintaining a case configuration obtained for said box when said inclined folding lines of said first and second pair of inclined folding lines, due to pressures on said side panels, are folded towards the inside of the box, with the mutual rotation of said first and second side central portions around said longitudinal creasing lines, and rotation of said lateral portions of said side panels first and second, around adjacent inclined folding lines, until said first and second side central portions abut on said bottom, with consequent rotation of said head panels with respect to the first and second bottom folding lines and towards the inside of said box. A blank for making the collapsible box includes: a rectangular bottom section; first and second longitudinal side panels hinged to said bottom section by means of longitudinal creasing lines; first and second head panels articulated to the edges of the bottom section along transversal creasing lines; flaps journaled to said head panels along further creasing lines each of said flaps including three tabs inner, central, and outer, respectively, which are articulated to one another by relative parallel creasing lines; extensions which protrude from said central tabs and corresponding inclined slots made near the corners of said the bottom section; rectangular wings articulated to said side panels by means of creasing lines; two trapezoidal winglets also hinged to the central part of each one of said side panels by means of longitudinal creasing lines defining the upper base of said winglets; bottom straight folding lines, first and second respectively, extending across said bottom section and parallel to said transversal creasing lines; a first pair of inclined folding lines crossing said first side panel and extending from an end of said bottom folding lines, said first pair of inclined lines converging outwards, symmetrically to a transversal medium axis of said first side panel, and defining, together with a longitudinal creasing line, a first side central portion of said side panel, and two lateral portions, adjacent to the wings, respectively; a second pair of inclined folding lines crossing said second side panel and extending from another end of said additional folding lines, said second pair of folding lines converging outwards, symmetrically with respect to a transversal medium axis of said side panel, thus defining, together with another longitudinal creasing line, a second side central portion of said second side panel, and two lateral portions, adjacent to the said wings, respectively; a quadrilateral cutout made in the central part of one of said first and second head panels and articulated to its outer longitudinal side by a straight creasing line, said cutout featuring a semi-circular cut made in its central part and defining a liftable portion thereof whose corresponding hooking seat is a slot made in the other one of said first and second head panels. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The characteristic features of the invention are pointed out in the following description with particular reference to the enclosed figures, in which: - Figure 1 shows a plan view of a blank, from which the proposed box is obtained; - Figure 2 shows a perspective view of an assembling step of the subject collapsible box; - Figure 3 shows a perspective view of the box collapsing procedure; Figures 4a and 4b show perspective views of two possible closings of a case obtained from collapsed box; Figure 5 shows, seen from the top, a convenient arrangement of the collapsed boxes inside an erected box; - Figure 6 shows a lateral view of the arrangement of the Figure 5, during a possible stacking of b boxes. BEST MODE OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION With reference to the figures, reference letter F indicates a rectangular bottom of a blank 100, from which a box container 200 is obtained. This blank has outer transversal creasing lines 30, 40 and longitudinal creasing lines 10, 20 defining the bottom section F of a corresponding box 200 to be formed. Four inclined slots 1, 2, 3, 4 are made near the corners of this bottom section F. Heads Tl, T2 are articulated to the bottom panel F by means of the transversal creasing lines 30, 40, and longitudinal side panels Fl, F2 are articulated to this bottom section F by means of longitudinal creasing lines 10, 20. Flaps LI, L2, L3, L4, are articulated to the head panels Tl, T2 by means of creasing lines 11, 12, 13, 14, which are to constitute vertical edges of the head panels. Each flap includes three tabs, inner a, central b, and outer c, articulated to each other by means of parallel creasing lines 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 31, 32, 33 which are to define vertical edges of the head panels. Rectangular wings Al, A2, A3, A4, are articulated to the side panels Fl, F2 by means of corresponding creasing lines 5, 6, 7, 8, which are to define vertical edges of the side panels. Two trapezoidal winglets 34, 35 are hinged to the central part of side panels Fl, F2, by means of longitudinal creasing lines 36, 37 defining the upper base of these winglets 34, 35. The flaps LI, L2, L3, L4, are aimed at defining reinforcing triangular sections 38, 39, 41, 42 by folding the tabs a, b, c along the relative creasing lines. The outer tabs c of these reinforcing triangular sections 38, 39, 41, 42 formed in the regions of the corners of the bottom F, match with the adjacent portions of the inner transversal surfaces of the relative heads Tl, T2, to which they are joined by glueing, in case of corrugated card-board or synthetic resin blank or, by heat-welding, in case of synthetic recessed or solid resin blanks, when the box is erected. During the stacking of the erected boxes, extensions 43, 44, 45, 46, made in the central tabs b, are introduced into the corresponding inclined slots 1, 2, 3 ,4, made in the bottom F of the box 200 situated above, so as to make the stack of boxes more stable. The bottom F has also bottom straight folding lines 70, 71, first and second respectively, parallel to the creasing lines 30, 40 and more internal with respect thereto . A first pair of inclined folding lines 50, 51 cross the side panel Fl extending from an end of the two bottom folding lines 70,71. This first pair of inclined folding lines 50,51 are inclined and converge outwards in the blank, and upwards when the box is erected. The inclined folding lines 50,51 define, together with the longitudinal creasing line 10, a central portion II of the side panel Fl, and two lateral portions B3, B2, adjacent to the wings A2, A3, respectively. A second pair of inclined folding lines 60,61 cross the side panel F2 extending from the other end of the additional folding lines 70, 71. This second pair of inclined folding lines 60,61 are inclined and converge outwards in the blank, and upwards when the box is erected. The inclined folding lines 60,61 define, together with the longitudinal creasing line 20, a central portion 12 of the side panel F2 , and two lateral portions Bl, B4, adjacent to the wings Al, A4 , respectively . Each side panel Fl, F2 has its reinforcing tab PI, P2, articulated to the side panel, by means of a corresponding longitudinal creasing line, defining the upper edge of this side panel, when the box is erected. A third pair of inclined folding lines 50a, 51a, extending from the creasing lines 50, 51, cross the tab PI and define therein a central portion 13, adjacent to two lateral portions Cl, C2. A fourth pair of inclined folding lines 60a, 61a, extending from the creasing lines 60, 61, cross the tab P2 and define therein a central portion 14, adjacent to two lateral portions C3, C4. Two trapezoid-like openings 80, 81 are made in the tabs PI, P2, so thet, when the box is in erected configuration, they are adjacent to and inside the relative side panels, thus forming, together with the corresponding winglets 34, 35 stuck therein, a removable reinforced handle. A quadrilateral cutout 82 can be made in one of the heads Tl, T2 with one side articulated to the relative head by a straight creasing line. The cutout 82, situated in the central part near an outer longitudinal side of the head, features a semi-circular cut made in its central part and defining a liftable portion thereof whose corresponding hooking seat is a slot 84 made in the other head. Otherwise, the rectangular wings Al , A2 , A3 A4, can have notches 85 defining seats, in which relative tongues 86, of complementary shape, are fixed. The tongues 86 are press cut in the bottom panel F and can be articulated by means of longitudinal creasing lines 10, 20. The box 200 is obtained from the blank 100 of Figure 1 in known way. Collapsing the box 200, so as to obtain a case 400 is very simple (see Figures 4a, 4b) . After the box 200 had been emptied of its contents, the winglets 34, 35 are released from the openings 81, 80, so that the longitudinal tabs PI, P2 return to the position co-planar with the side panels Fl, F2, thus aligning the corresponding inclined folding lines of the side panels Fl, F2 and tabs PI, P2. At this point, a slight pressure on the tabs PI, P2 towards the inside of the box 200, makes the relative central portions II, 12, 13, 14 rotate with respect to the adjacent lateral portions Bl, B2, B3, B4, Cl, C2, C3, C4 along the corresponding pairs of adjacent inclined folding lines 61, 51, 50, 60, 61a, 51a, 50a, 60a and at the same time, sets the central portions II, 12 in rotation with respect to the longitudinal creasing lines 10, 20 until these portions II, 12, 13, 14 touch the bottom F. This makes the heads Tl, T2 rotate by 90° towards the inside of the box 200 along the folding lines 70, 71, which match the inclined folding lines 50, 50a, 51, 51a, 60, 60a, 61, 61a (see Figure 3). Since the height of the heads Tl, T2 is equal to half a distance between the two folding lines 70, 71, a collapsed case 400, shown in Figure 4a is obtained due to the 90° rotation of these heads Tl, T2 along the folding lines 70, 71, toward the inside of the box 200. In order to avoid a possible outward opening of the heads Tl, T2, the cases 400 are closed firmly either in their central part by the cutout 82 hooked with the slot 84 (see Figure 4a) , or in their lateral part by fixing, in the relative notches 85, the tongues 86, raised from the bottom F and rotated by 270° outwards (see Figure 4b) . The latter way of the case 400 closure is efficient for any case size, while the cutout 82 - slot 84 closure is not recommended for big cases, because a bigger cutout would be needed thus making the whole case 400 lighter due to the relatively big opening left in the collapsed configuration . Due to the case .400 size, a box 200 can contain a determined number of cases 400, arranged e.g. side by side (see Figure 5) . Thanks to this arrangement, not only more cases 400 can be stacked in a box 200, but also the boxes 200 can be stacked, as shown in Figure 6. It is clear how these collapsible boxes 200 can be advantageously re-used, because of considerably increased number of sets of empty cases, stackable and transportable, keeping stable the newly assumed configuration. It is understood that what above has been described as a mere, non limitative example,. therefore possible constructive variants of the proposed box remain within the protective scope of the present technical solution, as described above and claimed in the following.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A collapsible box including: a rectangular bottom (F) ; first and second longitudinal side panels (F1,F2) hinged to said bottom (F) by means of longitudinal creasing lines (10,20); first and second head panels (T1,T2) articulated to the edges of the bottom (F) along transversal creasing lines (30,40) ; flaps (L1,L2,L3,L4) journaled to said head panels (T1,T2) along further creasing lines (11,12,13,14) forming vertical edges of the head panels (T1,T2), each of said flaps (LI, L2, L3, L4) including three tabs (a,b,c), inner, central, and outer, respectively, which are articulated to one another by relative parallel creasing lines (15,16,17,18,19,31,32,33) forming vertical edges of the head panels (T1,T2); reinforcing triangular sections (38,39,41,42) formed by said flaps (LI, L2, L3, L4) folded along said parallel creasing lines, with said outer tabs (c) fastened to adjacent portions of the inner transversal surfaces of relative head panels and matching therewith; extensions (43,44,45,46) which protrude from said central tabs (b) and which, during the stacking of the erected boxes (200) , are introduced into corresponding inclined slots (1,2,3,4) made near the corners of the bottom (F) of the box (200) situated above; rectangular wings (Al, A2, A3, A4 ) which are articulated to said side panels (F1,F2) by means of creasing lines (5,6,7,8) defining vertical edges of said side panels, said wings (Al, A2, 3, ) matching with external parts of the inner tab (a) , to which they are fastened; two trapezoidal winglets (34,35) also hinged to the central part of each one of said side panels (F1,F2) by means of longitudinal creasing lines (36,37) defining the upper base of said winglets (34,35); said box (200) being characterised in that it also includes : bottom straight folding lines (70,71), first and second respectively, extending across said bottom (F) and parallel to said transversal creasing lines (30,40); a first pair of inclined folding lines (50,51) crossing said first side panel (Fl) and extending from an end of said bottom folding lines (70,71), said first pair of inclined lines (50,51) converging upwards, symmetrically to a transversal medium axis of said first side panel (Fl), and defining, together with a longitudinal creasing line (10) , a first side central portion (II) of said side panel (Fl), and two lateral portions (B3,B2), adjacent to the wings (A2,A3) , respectively; a second pair of inclined folding lines (60,61) crossing said second side panel (F2) and extending from another end of said additional folding lines (70,71), said second pair of folding lines (60,61) converging upwards, symmetrically with respect to a transversal medium axis of said side panel (F2), thus defining, together with another longitudinal creasing line (20), a second side central portion (12) of said second side panel (F2) , and two lateral portions (B1,B4), adjacent to the said wings (A1,A4), respectively; removable closing means for maintaining a case configuration obtained for said box when said inclined folding lines (50,51,60,61) of said first and second pair of inclined folding lines, due to pressures on said side panels (Fl, F2), are folded towards the inside of the box, with the mutual rotation of said first and second side central portions (11,12) around said longitudinal creasing lines (10,20), and rotation of said lateral portions (Bl, B2, B3, B4 ) of said side panels first and second, around adjacent inclined folding lines, until said first and second side central portions abut on said bottom (F) , with consequent rotation of said head panels (T1,T2) with respect to the first and second bottom folding lines (70,71) and towards the inside of said box. 2. Box, according to claim 1, characterised in that it includes : reinforcing tabs (P1,P2) hinged by means of a longitudinal creasing line to said first and second longitudinal side panels (F1,F2) thus being adjacent and internal thereto, and defining upper edges for said first and second side panels, when the box is erected; a third pair of inclined creasing lines (50a, 51a), extending from said inclined folding lines (50,51) and crossing said tab (PI) of said first side panel (Fl ) defining therein a first tab central portion (13) and two lateral portions (C1,C2) adjacent to said first tab central portion; a fourth pair of inclined folding lines (60a, 61a) extending from said inclined folding lines (60,61) and crossing said tab (P2) of said second longitudinal side panel (F2) to define therein a second tab central portion (14) and two lateral portions (C3,C4) adjacent to said second tab central portion; two trapezoid-like openings (80,81) made in said tabs (P1,P2) to form, together with said winglets (34,35) when stuck thereto, a removable reinforced handle. 3. Box, according to claim 2, characterised in that when said first and second side central portions (11,12) of said first and second side panels (F1,F2) abut on said bottom (F) and also said first and second tab central portions (13,14) of said first and second tabs (P1,P2) abut on said bottom (F) , said first and second bottom folding lines (70,71) coincide completely with the aligned inclined folding lines (50, 50a, 51, 51a, 60, 60a, 61, 61a) of said first and second side panels (F1,F2) and first and second tabs (Pl,P2). 4. Box, according to claim 1, characterised in that said first and second bottom folding lines (70,71) define the width of the case (400) obtained from the collapsed box (200) . 5. Box, according to claim 1, characterised in that the height of said first and second head panels (T1,T2) is equal to half a distance between said first and second bottom folding lines (70,71). 6. Box, according to claim 1, characterised in that said closing means include a quadrilateral cutout (82) made in the central part of one of said first and second head panels (T1,T2) and articulated to its outer longitudinal side by a straight creasing line, said cutout (82) featuring a semi-circular cut made in its central part and defining a liftable portion thereof whose corresponding hooking seat is a slot (84) made in the other one of said first and second head panels. 7. Box, according to claim 1, characterised in that said closing means include notches (85) made in the rectangular wings (Al, A2 , A3 A4) and tongues (86), press cut in the bottom panel (F) and articulated by means of longitudinal creasing lines (10,20), said tongues (86) being rotated outwards, so as to be fixed inside the notches (85) . 8. Box, according to claim 1, characterised in that the box (200) is made of recessed or solid synthetic resin. 9. Box, according to claim 1, characterised in that the box (200) is made of corrugated card-board. 10. A blank for making a collapsible box, said blank including: a rectangular bottom section (F) ; first and second longitudinal side panels (F1,F2) hinged to said bottom section (F) by means of longitudinal creasing lines (10,20); first and second head panels (T1,T2) articulated to the edges of the bottom section (F) along transversal creasing lines (30,40); flaps (Ll, L2, L3, L4 ) journaled to said head panels (T1,T2) along further creasing lines (11,12,13,14) each of said flaps (Ll , L2 , L3, L4 ) including three tabs (a,b,c), inner, central, and outer, respectively, which are articulated to one another by relative parallel creasing lines (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 31, 32,33), * extensions (43,44,45,46) which protrude from said central tabs (b) and corresponding inclined slots (1,2,3,4) made near the corners of said the bottom section (F) ; rectangular wings (Al, A2, A3, A4) articulated to said side panels (Fl,F2) by means of creasing lines (5,6,7,8); two trapezoidal winglets (34,35) also hinged to the central part of each one of said side panels (F1,F2) by means of longitudinal creasing lines (36,37) defining the upper base of said winglets (34,35); said blank (100) being characterised m that t also includes : bottom straight folding lines (70,71), first and second respectively, extending across said bottom section (F) and parallel to said transversal creasing lines (30,40); a first pair of inclined folding lines (50,51) crossing said first side panel (Fl) and extending from an end of said bottom folding lines (70,71), said first pair of inclined lines (50,51) converging outwards, symmetrically to a transversal medium axis of said first side panel (Fl), and defining, together with a longitudinal creasing line (10), a first side central portion (II) of said side panel (Fl), and two lateral portions (B3,B2), adjacent to the wings (A2,A3), respectively; a second pair of inclined folding lines (60,61) crossing said second side panel (F2) and extending from another end of said additional folding lines (70,71), said second pair of folding lines (60,61) converging outwards, symmetrically with respect to a transversal medium axis of said side panel (F2), thus defining, together with another longitudinal creasing line (20), a second side central portion (12) of said second side panel (F2), and two lateral portions (B1,B4), adjacent to the said wings (A1,A4), respectively; a quadrilateral cutout (82) made m the central part of one of said first and second head panels (T1,T2) and articulated to its outer longitudinal side by a straight creasing line, said cutout (82) featuring a semi-circular cut made in its central part and defining a liftable portion thereof whose corresponding hooking seat is a slot (84) made m the other one of said first and second head panels.

Inventors: VALENTI DANTE, VALENTI, DANTE
Applicants: VALENTI DANTE, VAME DI VALENTI DANTE, VALENTI, DANTE
Application year: 1998
Main classification: B65D5
IPC codes: B65D5