Foldable and recyclable box made of corrugated board

Abstract: A box (30) for packaging and/or transporting and/or storing products comprises a structure (10) foldable on sides (18,19,20,21) entirely made of corrugated card-board; said structure comprising a base or bottom (11), a pair of larger side walls (16,17) and a pair of smaller side walls (12,13); furthermore, it comprises a pair of reinforcing and supporting elements (31,40) made of corrugated board which are joined to a pair of opposed side walls belonging to said structure.

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a box according to the preamble of claim 1 and suitable for packaging, transporting and storing a plurality of products, in particular dry products or at least products not releasing any liquid during transport and storing. Such a box is characterised by being solid, handy, firm, easy to be stacked and can be easily assembled or folded in order to recycle or re-use it. The present invention is advantageously applied to the transport, storage and sale of foodstuff. More in detail, the present invention refers to a box in corrugated cardboard advantageously foldable and/or recyclable, characterised by a structure allowing its very friendly use and the possibility to be stacked one over the other. BACKGROUND ART Boxes wholly made of corrugated cardboard or solid-fiber, suitable for storing fruits and/or vegetables or other foodstuff, are well known in the art. The applicant has already introduced a box having the bottom made of solid-fiber cardboard and the sides of corrugated cardboard as described in the document WO-A-0043277. Such a box advantageously used to transport and store fruits and vegetables has a structure that can be folded along pre-formed folding lines, entirely made of a solid-fiber cardboard, furthermore comprising a pair of approximately rectangularly-shaped elements made of corrugated cardboard, which are suitably placed astride of two opposed sides of said structure. The box mentioned above exploits the best technical characteristics of both solid-fiber cardboard and corrugated board, this resulting in a box exhibiting a remarkable rigidity in a vertical direction; therefore, it can easily and reliably be stacked upon other similar boxes. At the same time, it can be easily folded on itself until it is entirely flattened on its base, thereby occupying a volume that is a fraction in respect of the volume of an open and assembled box. On the other hand, if using a solid-fiber cardboard for the bottom of the box is not strictly necessary, the use of corrugated cardboard for the entire box allows to obtain a more favourable product in relation to the price of the material employed. Moreover, a solid-fiber box shows a different and undesirable problem, which is bound to the technical and structural characteristics of this material. As a matter of fact, a solid-fiber cardboard exhibits a resistance to shearing stress which is remarkably lower than the resistance of corrugated cardboard, what leads to several problems once the boxes are to be superimposed to each other while transporting or storing them, since the stack lacks sufficient stability and reliability. Other rigid cardboard boxes are described in the document FR-A-2609965 and FR-A-2419869. Particularly, FR-A-2609965 describes a packaging of the type related to a box, particularly to a box for vegetables made of cardboard, corrugated cardboard or other maternal prepared in sheets. The box according to FR-A-2609965 is a box according to the preamble of claim 1 and comprises a bottom panel and four side panels produced starting from the same blank. Furthermore, two reinforcing parts inserted as reported parts are added to a couple of opposed side panels to form angular cleats along the whole extension of said side panels. FR-A-2419869 describes a box for packaging made of a basic element and two supplementary elements corresponding in the cut out to the side walls of the basic element being fixed to the inside of said basic element with the aim of reinforcing the side walls. Furthermore, according to FR-A-2419869, the box realized in corrugated cardboard comprises the corrugation of the supplementary elements aligned at work to the corrugation of the side walls of the basic element. A foldable cardboard box is known from GB-A-2158809 and includes a base, a pair of opposed end walls and a pair of opposed side walls. Each end wall is composed by a flap which is folded about two parallel adjacent lines to form a double layer. The free end of the flap is formed with a tab which is able to project through an opening formed in the base in order to hold the box in the assembled conditions. A pair of inserts are integral with each of the side walls and extend from either end thereof, the inserts extending between the folded end wall to provide en end wall of triple thickness. A handle is provided in each of the end walls. DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention aims to provide a box of corrugated cardboard easily foldable and recyclable, characterised by low production costs. Moreover the invention relates to a box that can be easily assembled through a very simple action performed by the operators who are loading it. An other aim of the present invention is to provide a box of corrugated cardboard comprising a system allowing such boxes to be solidly stacked while transported or stored. This is obtained by a box having the features disclosed in the main claim. The dependent claims outline advantageous forms of embodiment of the invention. The box according to the invention is constituted by a structure that can be folded along pre-formed folding lines comprising a couple of elements, called wings, which are made of corrugated cardboard and having an approximately rectangular form. Such wings are suitably positioned across the two sides, opposite to one an other and inserted in the box structure. The box in corrugated cardboard assembled in the described way has a structure with lateral and frontal walls having the corrugated profile running parallel to the perimeter of the base. In the assembled state, the corrugations at the bottom of the box are disposed parallel to those of the wings, allowing them to be easily fixed for example by means of glue. In the box described by the invention the corrugations of the wings are at right angles in respect of those of the frontal walls, thereby allowing the reciprocal fixing in a reliable way in consideration to their relative broad surface. The box exploits the best technical characteristics of the corrugated cardboard, as a matter of fact it can be easily folded on itself until it is entirely flattened on its base, thereby occupying a volume that is a fraction in respect of the volume of an open and assembled box. The box according to the invention is constituted by a structure made of corrugated cardboard comprising a base forming the bottom the box, a couple of opposed lateral surfaces and a couple of opposed frontal surfaces forming the lateral delimitation of the structure. Each of the lateral walls presents preferential folding lines. According to the invention, an element made of corrugated cardboard is fixed to each smaller side wall of the structure; this is normally carried out by means of spot-glueing said element on the external portion of said side wall. Said element includes a pair of portions which are folded in order to be opposed to each other, whereby the side wall made of corrugated cardboard is preferably placed between the two portions of said element made of corrugated cardboard as well. According to the invention, each element made of corrugated board is provided, between said opposed portions, with a third portion which, in operation, forms a larger supporting base for a superposed box during the stacking operation. According to a further form of embodiment of the invention, the reinforcing element made of corrugated board is provided, in its central portion, with a generally rectangular protuberance extending in a vertical direction beyond the edge of the side wall, in order to enhance the mutual alignment of the boxes once they are superposed to each other and to allow a partial junction between them. ILLUSTRATION OF DRAWINGS Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent by reading the following description, of a form of embodiment of the invention, given as a nonlimiting example, with the help of the figures shown in the attached drawings, in which: figure 1 shows a foldable box known in the art, made of corrugated cardboard and in an open position; figure 2 shows the box of figure 1, while it is being folded upon its base; figure 3 shows a perspective partial view of a box according to the invention, in an open position; and figure 4 shows a perspective partial view of a box according to the invention as folded and flattened. DESCRIPTION OF A FORM OF EMBODIMENT In figure 1, reference sign 10 generally indicates a box made of corrugated cardboard for containing products such as foodstuff packed in boxes, plastic bags or cans. Box 10 comprises a base 11, a pair of smaller opposed walls 12, 13, in which a pair of respective openings 14, 15 are formed for manually raising the box, as well as a pair of larger opposed walls 16, 17 on which respective preferential folding lines 18, 19, 20, 21 are formed. Figure 2 shows box 10 while it is being folded on its base or bottom 11, whereby this operation is carried out by folding the larger walls 16, 17 along preferential folding lines 18-21; box 10 is folded through movements that are performed along arrows A-F as shown in the figure. As explained above, this kind of box is not suitable for being stacked, since it is very unstable in the vertical direction. This instability derives from the lack of any element supporting the stacking or the joining of the boxes in respect of each other. In figures 3 and 4 the respective elements of the box made of corrugated cardboard bear the same reference signs as the corresponding elements of figures 1 and 2. With particular reference to fig. 3, box 30 according to the invention comprises an element 31 made of corrugated board, which is in this case placed astride of either sides of smaller wall 12 of the corrugated cardboard structure. Said reinforcing element 31 made of corrugated board is constituted by a first external portion 32 and by a second internal portion 33 that are joined by a third planar portion 34 forming a stable supporting surface for other similar boxes which are superimposed to box 30. Moreover, the reinforcing element 31 comprises a protuberance 35, suitable for being inserted into a corresponding conjugated cavity 36 of a superimposed box 30 in order to improve the vertical stability of the stack of boxes which is being formed. Protuberance 35 extends in a vertical direction beyond the inner edge of the planar face 34. Moreover, element 31 made of corrugated board comprises a protuberance 35, suitable for being inserted into a corresponding conjugated cavity 36 of a superimposed box in order to improve the vertical stability of the stack of boxes which is being formed. Since the protuberance 35 and cavity 36 are next to the base 11, the stack obtained using boxes 30 are much more stable to possible transversal forces applied from the outside. Furthermore, element 31 comprises a pair of apertures 37, 38 which, in operation, are aligned to opening 14 for manually raising the lower box made of corrugated cardboard box. According to a particularly advantageous form of embodiment of the invention, the reinforcing elements in corrugated cardboard 31 are applied to the elements made of corrugated board are applied to the smaller walls 12, 13 of the box 30 simply by spot-glueing them on the external portion of a respective smaller wall 12, 13. Each lateral wall 12, 13, 16, 17 is provided of corrugations 17a, and in what concerns the longer walls 16, 17 such corrugations are longitudinal in respect to the box 30. This characteristic of the present invention confers to the corrugated cardboard 30 a greater resistance to shearing stress deriving from the carried products as well as external agents. Corrugations 17a on each smaller wall 12, 13 are on the contrary transversal to the corrugations 31a of portions 32, 33 giving with this sort of interlacement a good rigid structure. From the foregoing it can be derived that such a box 30 is characterised by a remarkable rigidity and stability in the vertical direction; thus, it can easily be stacked. Furthermore, box 30 according to the invention can easily be folded on its base or bottom in order to substantially reduce its overall dimensions when it is empty. Referring now to fig. 4, portion 33 and portion 34 have been unfolded and they lay on the same plane as portion 32; following to this operation, the underlying box made of corrugated cardboard has been folded on its base or bottom as illustrated in fig. 2. Consequently, box 30 is folded and lays now on a plane, substantially parallel to base 11 and it is partially superimposed to identical element 40 that is joined to the smaller wall 13 opposed to wall 12. Therefore, the box 30 is entirely folded on the base, thereby occupying a very small volume and being perfectly suitable for being stacked in order to store, recycle or re-use it. The portion 33 may be provided, on its free border close to the base 11, of some projecting tabs 33a. These tabs can be inserted in the respective slots (not presented in the drawings) situated in the base 11 as well. In this way each side surface of the box 30 presents a good rigidity against an eventual shearing stress. Moreover, the portion 33 can be provided with an opening 33b, centrally positioned and in proximity of its free larger border, having for example a circular shape. This opening is configured to give a friendly handgrip for the operator to extract the tabs 33a from the openings 33b in order to collapse the box 30 for storing or recycling. The box 30 can immediately be assembled or disassembled by an operator. In fact, for the assembling it is only necessary to raise the two portions 32 and 33 in corrugated cardboard to cause the opening of the lower structure along preferential folding lines 18, 19, 20, 21. Thereafter, the action of folding inwardly said elements 33 of the box 30 and the clamping of the tabs 33a cause the stiffening of the box, which is held in an open position, ready for being loaded with products. Thus, a flattened box can be assembled by an operator within few instants. Similarly, once a box has been unloaded it can be closed very easily. In this case the operator acts in a reverse way: he firstly grabs the elements 33 of the elements made of corrugated board pulling out the tabs 33a and raising the panels which are finally laid down on bottom 11. This action causes the collapse of the structure made of corrugated cardboard along the preferential folding lines 18, 19, 20, 21, and the two wings 12, 13 of the respective elements made of corrugated board are superimposed to each other. Then, the flattened box 30 may immediately be removed for its subsequent storage, recycle or re-use. The corrugated cardboard used to realise the box 30 can present a single or multiple rib thickness. The invention has previously been described with reference to some particular forms of embodiment. However, it is clear that the invention is not limited to these forms of embodiment, and that it encompasses several variants, within the scope of the claims.

Claims: A box (30) for packaging and/or transporting and/or storing products, comprising a structure (10) entirely made of corrugated cardboard, said structure comprising a base or bottom (11), a pair of larger side walls (16, 17) and a pair of smaller side walls (12, 13) further comprising a pair of reinforcing and supporting elements (31, 40) made of corrugated board which are joined to a pair of opposed side walls belonging to said structure , said reinforcing element (31) made of corrugated cardboard being constituted by a first external portion (32) and by a second internal portion (33) that are joined by a third planar portion (34) forming a stable supporting surface for other similar boxes which are superimposed to box (30), characterised in that the structure is foldable on sides (18,19,20,21) and in that said first external portion (32) is fixed to the external portion of a respective smaller wall (12, 13) while the second internal portion (33) can be folded or unfolded within the box (30). A box (30) according to claim 1 , characterised in that the reinforcing elements (31, 40) are applied to the external portion of the smaller wall (12, 13) in such a way as that their corrugations are perpendicular in respect of the corrugations (17a) of the lateral portion of the structure (10), the said lateral portion of the structure presenting corrugations (17a) substantially parallel to the perimetral profile of base (11). A box (10) according to anyone of the preceding claims, characterised in that said portion (33) is provided, on its free border close to the base (11), with at least one projecting tab (33a). A box (30) according to anyone of the preceding claims, characterised in that each element (31) is provided with an opening (33b), centrally positioned and in proximity of its free larger border. A box (30) according to claim 4, characterised in that said opening has a circular configuration. A box (30) according to anyone of the preceding claims, characterised in that the base (11) presents, close to its side borders, one or more slots corresponding in operation, to the projecting tabs (33a). A box (30) according to anyone of the preceding claims, characterised in that , each reinforcing element (31) has a protuberance (35), in the opened position of the box (30) in respect of the inner side of the portion (34), which is suitable for cooperating with a conjugated cavity or slot (36) belonging to a superimposed box (30). A box (30) according to anyone of the preceding claims, characterised in that , the corrugated cardboard presents a one rib thickness. A box (30) according to anyone of claims from 1 to 8, characterised in that , the corrugated cardboard presents a more ribs thickness.

Inventors: CAZZAROLLI LEONARDO, CAZZAROLLI, LEONARDO
Applicants: CAZZAROLLI S A S DI CAZZAROLLI, CAZZAROLLI S.A.S. DI CAZZAROLLI DR. LEONARDO
Application year: 2001
Main classification: B65D5
IPC codes: B65D5