FOLDING BOX WITH ANGULAR BELLOWS

Abstract

The cardboard container is characterized in that it has folding panels (501 and 502) on substantially the same surface as the sidewalls (109 and 110), which are adapted to be disposed facing said sidewalls (109 and 110) parallel to them, and which are secured on the one hand to the closure panel (140) by one of their edges and on the other hand either to an adjacent wall (107-109-110) of the base (106), or to a securement flap (142) secured to the closure panel (140), or to both of these elements, by means of a bellows (503) formed from at least two tongues (504-505-506, 515-516) secured to each other by a bend line.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to containers delivered flat in the form of partially glued blanks, from which it is possible to obtain a completely set-up box, without using closure and securement members separate from the blank.

[0002] It is possible to render extremely effective the protection of the sidewalls of a container, particularly a box for mailing, by folded panels, which reinforce the rigidity of the box already provided with lateral protective edges.

[0003] Known containers are generally inconvenient, because their setting up requires complicated manipulations and the emplacement of objects is rendered difficult by the fact that the container itself does not retain a good position to be filled, the user being obliged to maintain it at the same time that he handles the objects to be packaged.

[0004] To overcome these drawbacks, there have already been proposed containers provided with prolonged effect adhesive at precise positions, such that the user need only expose this adhesive to connect certain components of the container, which maintains the container set up, at least in part, the user thereby gaining the liberty of his hands to package suitably the objects to be sent.

[0005] However, there exists a demand for containers having all these qualities of convenience without needing adhesive, because of the industrial requirements for applying the adhesive.

[0006] The present invention satisfies these requirements, by providing a container which is very handy, economical and especially strong, with or without prolonged adhesive effect.

[0007] To these ends, the invention has for its object a container of cardboard or like material adapted for the packaging of objects, formed from a blank which is constituted from at least one flat piece and which has when flat different components, namely:

[0008] a flat polygonal base adapted to the objects to be packaged,

[0009] sidewalls adjacent the base which can be set up relative to said base, in active position, so as to form the set-up container, at least in part,

[0010] sidewalls adjacent the base which can be folded up relative to said base, in active position, so as to form the bulk of the container, at least in part,

[0011] means to hold in active position these walls,

[0012] a so-called “closure” panel to close the container after the emplacement on the base of the objects to be packaged,

[0013] means to hold this closure panel in active position,

[0014] side edges,

[0015] characterized in that the container has foldable panels substantially of the same surface as the sidewalls, which are adapted to be placed facing said sidewalls parallel to them, and which are secured on the one hand to the closure panel by one of their edges and on the other hand either to the wall adjacent the base, or to a securement flap secured to the closure panel, or to both of these two elements, by means of a bellows forming at least two tongues connected to each other by a bend line.

[0016] According to other characteristics of the invention:

[0017] the edges, which are present in the form of strips glued to the blank and each delimited by two bend lines, one determining the edge of the blank and the other connecting the strip and one of the components of the container, the flat blank having four strips, two for the sidewalls of the container, and two for the closure panel, the folding panel being applied against these sidewalls;

[0018] the folding panels are adapted to be placed facing the interior surface of the sidewalls;

[0019] the folding panels are adapted to be disposed facing the external surface of the sidewalls;

[0020] the edges, which are present in the form of strips glued to the blank and each delimited by two bend lines, one determining the edge of the blank and the other connecting the strip in one of the components, the flat blank having two strips for the sidewalls of the container, the folding panels being applied facing the external surface of the sidewalls and at a distance from these latter substantially equal to the width of a strip, such that the container when set up and closed has internal edges, not visible from the outside because they are hidden by the folding panels;

[0021] the container comprises an opening strip which extends transversely from one external edge of the folding panel to the external edge of the opposite folding panel, over all the width of the closure panel;

[0022] each folding panel is secured to one portion of a bellows bordered by an oblique bend line, which extends to the edge of the blank;

[0023] the means for maintaining in active position at least some of the walls adjacent the base, namely, in a position perpendicular to the base, are constituted by at least one folding flap connected to the summit of a transverse wall by a bend line and adapted to be folded down from above tongues connected to the sidewalls each by a bend line;

[0024] the container comprises a cover of the hood type, which is to say that the closure panel is secured to a so-called “securement” panel and to folding panels;

[0025] the closure panel and the folding panels are fixed by means of glued tongues;

[0026] the securement panel is secured along its external transverse edge, by a bend line, to a holding flap which is to be folded down from above the tongues holding the folding panel each by a bend line so as to constitute a hood cover formed by the closure panel, the securement flap and the folding panels;

[0027] the means to hold the closure panel in active position are constituted by a securement flap associated with complementary members adapted to render it secured to a transverse wall;

[0028] the complementary members are constituted by adhesive with a prolonged effect;

[0029] the complementary members are constituted by folding panels secured to the securement flap;

[0030] the supplemental members are constituted by at least one blocking tongue secured to the securement flap and adapted to be engaged in a slot of the transverse wall;

[0031] the container comprising at least one holding flap which is secured to the top of one transverse wall by a bend line and which must be folded down over the tongues holding the sidewalls each by a bend line, so as to hold in active position said transverse wall and said sidewalls, the blocking tongue is formed by a small tongue provided with two opposite teeth and adapted to be folded over the small tongue upon its introduction into the slot of the transverse wall, said transverse wall is maintained spaced from the folded-down holding flap so as to create a space in which the teeth of the small tongue can be at least partially received;

[0032] at least some of the lines along which the separate elements and/or components of the container are to be bent for their securement in active position, are partially scored to decrease the tearing-off force due to resilient force, or “sinew”, of the material from which the blank is made;

[0033] the container comprises an opening line which extends transversely to the closure panel, on its internal surface and along all the lengths of the latter, adjacent a bend line according to which the closure panel is connected to the securement flap, which is to say perpendicular to a region adapted to receive a postal stamp;

[0034] the container comprises an opening and adhesive line with prolonged effect which are both on the same surface of the blank adapted to constitute the internal surface of the container after the container is set up and closed.

[0035] The invention will be better understood from the following detailed description given with reference to the accompanying drawing. Of course, the description and the drawing are given only by way of example and are not limiting.

[0036] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a blank according to one embodiment of the invention according to which there is used adhesive with prolonged effect to maintain certain components in the active position.

[0037] FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a container in the course of setting up, starting with the blank of FIG. 1.

[0038] FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of the container of FIG. 2, during closure, after having filled it with the objects to be packaged.

[0039] FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of the final container of FIGS. 1 to 3, ready for sending.

[0040] FIGS. 5 to 8 are views similar to the preceding, corresponding to a modified embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 4 according to which the adhesive with prolonged effect is disposed differently from the preceding case, for production reasons.

[0041] FIG. 9 shows schematically another embodiment of the invention according to which the container is associated with a capping cover.

[0042] FIG. 10 is a schematic perspective view of a container in the course of setting up, obtained with the blank of FIG. 9.

[0043] FIG. 11 is a schematic perspective view of the container of FIG. 10, during closure, after having received the objects to be packaged.

[0044] FIG. 12 is a schematic perspective view of the final container, ready to send.

[0045] FIG. 13 is a fragmentary cross-sectional schematic view, showing the enclosure of the edges which are provided to the container by the capping cover.

[0046] FIG. 14 shows a blank according to the invention, permitting obtaining a cover having folded panels located within the sidewalls, after closure.

[0047] FIG. 15 is a schematic perspective view of a container in the course of setting up, obtained with the blank of FIG. 14.

[0048] FIG. 16 is a schematic perspective view of the container of FIG. 15, during closure, after having received the objects to be packaged.

[0049] FIG. 17 is a schematic perspective view of the final container, ready for shipping.

[0050] FIG. 18 shows a blank according to the invention to obtain a container without using prolonged effect adhesive.

[0051] FIG. 19 is a schematic perspective view of a container in the course of setting up, obtained with the blank of FIG. 18.

[0052] FIG. 20 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the transverse wall of the container opposite that which holds the cover, and which shows the space existing between this wall and the holding flap in the active position of this transverse wall and of the sidewalls.

[0053] FIG. 21 is a view similar to that of FIG. 20, after closure of the cover and engagement of a blocking tongue in a slot of the transverse wall.

[0054] FIG. 22 is a schematic perspective view of the container of FIG. 19, during closure, after having received the objects to be packaged.

[0055] FIG. 23 is a schematic perspective view of the final container, ready to send.

[0056] FIG. 24 shows a blank according to the invention to obtain a container with a capping cover, after use of adhesive of prolonged effect for holding it set-up and for its closure.

[0057] FIG. 25 is a schematic perspective view of a container in the course of setting up, obtained with the blank of FIG. 24.

[0058] FIG. 26 is a schematic perspective view of the container of FIG. 25, during closure, after having received the objects to be packaged.

[0059] FIG. 27 is a schematic perspective view of the final container, ready to send.

[0060] FIG. 28 is a fragmentary cross-sectional schematic view showing the space which exists between a lateral wall and a folded panel contributing to the formation of capping cover concealing the side edges.

[0061] FIG. 29 shows a blank according to the invention to obtain a container with a capping cover, without the use of prolonged effect adhesive.

[0062] FIG. 30 is a schematic perspective view of a container in the course of setting up, obtained with the blank of FIG. 29.

[0063] FIG. 31 is a schematic perspective view of the container of FIG. 30, during closure, after having received the objects to be packaged.

[0064] FIG. 32 is a schematic perspective view of the final container, ready to send.

[0065] FIG. 33 shows a blank according to the invention to obtain a container having an opening line disposed below the closure panel, perpendicular to a postal stamp.

[0066] FIG. 34 is a schematic perspective view of the container obtained by setting up the blank of FIG. 33, after closure, ready to send.

[0067] FIG. 35 shows a blank according to the invention to obtain a container having an opening line and an adhesive strip of prolonged effect, both disposed on a same surface of the blank.

[0068] FIG. 36 is a schematic perspective view of the container obtained by setting up the blank of FIG. 35, after closure, ready to send.

[0069] The invention relates to a container which is set up only when it must be filled with objects to be packaged. This container is effected from a blank delivered flat and obtained from a suitable cutout blank, marked with bend lines and provided with glue at certain positions for the securement of certain portions together.

[0070] As is already known, there is not here shown the preliminary phase, known to those skilled in the art, for construction of a blank, such that FIG. 1 shows the blank already prepared for its collapsed shipment for ultimate use.

[0071] This blank has a base 106 adapted to receive objects to be packaged, to adjacent transverse walls 107 and 108, as well as to adjacent sidewalls 109 and 110. The transverse wall 107 is secured to a closure panel 140, itself secured to a securement flap 142.

[0072] The container also has separate elements 113 and 114, which belong neither to the base 106 nor the transverse wall 108 nor the sidewalls 109 and 110. These separate elements are substantially quadrangular and divided into two triangular tongues 124-125 and 126-127 by pre-bend lines 117 and 118.

[0073] The tongues 125 and 127 are glued to the internal surface of the transverse wall 108 and the purpose of this structure will be described later on.

[0074] Moreover, the container has two folding panels 501 and 502 which have substantially the same surface as the sidewalls 109 and 110 and which are each connected to one of these sidewalls 109-110 by a bellows 503 comprising in this case two triangular tongues 504 and 505 on opposite sides of a central trapezoidal tongue 506, all three being bounded by bend lines.

[0075] Similarly, when the sidewalls 109 and 110 are raised in the direction of the arrows F4, the setting-up movement is partially transmitted to the folding panels 501 and 502, which triggers their raising which will be achieved by the user in the direction of the arrows F10.

[0076] To set up the blank of FIG. 1, first the protective strip 131 disposed on the prolonged effect adhesive 130 disposed along a continuous line which extends over all the width of the transverse end wall 108 and over the separate elements 113 and 114, is removed.

[0077] Then the sidewalls 109 and 110 are raised in the direction of the arrows F4, which has the effect of raising the wall 108 in the direction of the arrow F2, thanks to the gluing of the triangular tongues 125 and 127 to the wall 108.

[0078] The triangular tongues 124-126 and the wall 108 are firmly pinched, which has the effect of maintaining erected in active position the walls 108, 109 and 110. In this case, the active position is a final position because of the irreversible action of the adhesive of prolonged effect.

[0079] One can then place the objects to be packaged on the base 106 by using his two hands because it is not necessary to hold the container, which is itself stable.

[0080] Then the folding panels 501 and 502 are raised in the direction of the arrows F10, and then the closure panel 140 is raised and its securement flap 142 and these are moved into the position of FIG. 3, by guiding the folding panels 501 and 502 outside the sidewalls 109 and 110 against which these panels 501 and 502 are disposed externally.

[0081] These panels 501 and 502 remain disposed against the sidewalls 109 and 110, from which they cannot be accidentally spaced thanks to the fact that they are secured on the one hand to the closure panel 140 and on the other hand to the adjacent sidewall 109-110 by means of the bellows 503.

[0082] The securement flap 142 is firmly applied against the transverse wall 108 so that it is strongly fixed to the adhesive with prolonged effect 130 exposed upon removal of its protective strip 131.

[0083] The closure is ensured by means of a blocking tongue 510 engaged in a slot 511 provided in the base of the transverse wall 108, which avoids the danger of unglueing of the flap 142 because the blocking tongue 510 neutralizes the unblocking force due to the elasticity of the cardboard so that the tongue 510 secured to the flap 142 is blocked in the slot 511 of the wall 108 and retains the flap in the position in which it is supplied against the prolonged effect of the adhesive 130.

[0084] The final container is then as indicated schematically in FIG. 4 and it will be seen that the sidewalls 109 and 110 are retracted relative to the side edges 165 and 166, the latter being seen externally and being able to play directly their protective role against shocks due to handling during transport of the container.

[0085] If the container is pre-stamped, it is necessary only to apply to it a shipping label and to send it, without other gluing, stamping or tying operations of any cord.

[0086] To open this container, the recipient grasps the two tongues 196 or 197 so as to exert strong traction on an opening line 195 known per se, provided on the internal surface of the flap 142 (FIGS. 1 and 2), and which cuts this latter from side to side, above the location where it is glued to the wall 108, such that this flap 142 and the closure panel 140 are freed and give access to the packaged objects, without the container itself being disturbed because it remains erected by the retaining effect of the walls 108, 109 and 110 by means of the prolonged effect adhesive 130.

[0087] Referring now to FIGS. 5 to 8, there will be seen a modified embodiment of the preceding, according to which the prolonged effect adhesive 130 and its protective strip 131 are disposed on the blank no longer transversely but longitudinally.

[0088] By disposing the prolonged effect adhesive 130 transversely, as in the case of the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 4, one has the advantage of using only a single continuous strip which serves both to maintain erected the walls 108, 109 and 110 and to close the container by the panel 140 and its flap 142.

[0089] However, this has the drawback that the adhesive 130 and its strip 131 must be applied to the blank, before forming it as in FIG. 1, on the surface opposite to that on which is applied the glue, on the one hand for securement of the separate elements 113 and 114, and on the other hand for the securement, after bending, of the lateral edges 165 and 166, which are very useful to protect the container and its contents against damage due to dropping and to blows received during transportation.

[0090] It will be easily understood that the deposits of glue and of adhesive on two opposite surfaces constitute a complication that would be desirable to eliminate.

[0091] In this case, the prolonged effect adhesive 130 and its protective strip 131 are disposed after formation of the blank of FIG. 5, along four segments aligned two by two.

[0092] Two segments are disposed on the separate elements 113 and 114 and two others on the securement panel 142.

[0093] To erect the container, first the protective strip 131 is removed from the two adhesive segments located on the separate elements 113 and 114, then one proceeds as before, that is to say the transverse walls 109 and 110 as well as the transverse wall 108 are erected, and then they are held erected thanks to the adhesive 130 which unites the triangular tongues 124-126 (secured to the walls 109 and 110) against the triangular tongues 125-127 secured to the wall 108 (FIGS. 6 and 7).

[0094] After placing the objects to be packaged on the base 106, the protective strip 131 is taken off the two segments adhesive with prolonged effect disposed on the securement flap 142, the closure panel 140 and its flap 142 are folded down in the direction of the arrow F11, whilst guiding the folding panel against the external surface of the sidewalls 109 and 110 (FIG. 7).

[0095] After the closure panel 140 has been emplaced, the flap 142 is applied against the transverse wall 108 to which it is fixed by the two adhesive segments 130.

[0096] As before, the closing is ensured by means of the tongue 510 engaged in the slot 511 of the transverse wall 108.

[0097] There are shown here only two adhesive segments 130 on the securement panel 142, but one could use more, particularly three, by providing a central segment (not shown) adjacent the tongue 510.

[0098] This reinforces the securement of the flap 142 to the wall 108, which may be necessary when the container is of large size.

[0099] In FIGS. 9 to 13, there is shown an embodiment according to which the container has a capping cover formed by subjecting the folding panels 501 and 502 to the securement flap 142 by tongues 203 and 204 secured to the securement flap 142 and glued inside the folding panels 501 and 502.

[0100] So that the assembly can be stored flat, according to the blank of FIG. 9, it is necessary that the securement flap 142 be bent along two oblique lines at 450 defining two triangular flaps 209 and 210.

[0101] It will be noted that the external protective edges 165 and 166 are present only facing the transverse walls 109 and 110 and the bellows 503.

[0102] The oblique line which connects the triangular tongues 504 and 506 to each other, as well as the bend line which connects the folding panels 501 and 502 to the tongues 504, converge and extend to the edge of the blank, which is to say beyond the external protective edges 165 and 166.

[0103] This has the result that after folding down the capping cover 140-142-203-204-501-502 (FIGS. 11 and 12) the folding panels 501 and 502 will again be parallel to the side walls 109 and 110, outside these latter, but spaced from them by a distance D substantially equal to the width L of the edges 165 and 166 (FIG. 13).

[0104] The walls 109 and 110 as well as the flanges 165 and 166 are hidden by the folding panels 501 and 502, which gives to the final container (FIG. 12) the external appearance of a parallelepipedal container, having no protective flanges.

[0105] Thus, the protective flanges 165 and 166 are present at the edge of the transverse walls 107 and 108 as well as facing the bottom 106, such that the sidewalls 109 and 110 are effectively protected from shocks and other external forces.

[0106] But furthermore, the folding panels 501 and 502 are secured to the container along three sides: with transverse wall 107 and sidewalls 109, 110 (by the bellows 503), with the closure panel 140 to which it is secured during production, and to the securement flap 142 by the glued tongues 203 and 204. This structure gives great rigidity and therefore high resistance to intrusion.

[0107] Moreover, the folding panels 501 and 502 disposed outside the sidewalls 109 and 110 cannot be accidentally raised.

[0108] The protective flanges being separate, they cannot accidentally catch on things upon handling the container.

[0109] With this embodiment, it will be noted that it is possible to position the opening line 195 no longer on the internal surface of the securement flap 142 but along a free edge of the folding panel 501 to the opposite free edge of the folding flap 502 and across the closure panel 140 (FIG. 10).

[0110] This opening line 195 can therefore be placed within the desired region, as for example in alignment with the position for stamps or other postal marks, such that opening the container by tearing along the line 195 has the effect of destroying these stamps or other marks, thereby rendering impossible any fraudulent re-use of the container.

[0111] Referring now to FIGS. 14 to 17, there will be seen an embodiment analogous to that of FIGS. 1 to 4 and the same elements have the same reference numerals.

[0112] In this case, it will be noted that the protective flanges 165a and 166a secured to the folding panels 501 and 502 as well as the protective flanges 165b and 166b secured to the bellows 503, are somewhat larger than the protective flanges 165 and 166 secured to the sidewalls 109 and 110.

[0113] Thus, when the sidewalls 109 and 110 are erected in the direction of the arrows F4 and when the folding panels 501 and 502 are also erected according to the arrows F10, as is shown in FIG. 15, the folding panels 501 and 502 are offset inwardly of the container relative to said sidewalls 109 and 110.

[0114] Thus, upon closing the container according to the arrow F11 (FIG. 16), the folding panels still remain parallel to the sidewalls 109 and 110 and are disposed against them, but within the latter and no longer externally.

[0115] They are thus completely protected against any external force which could raise them.

[0116] After complete closure, the container has a parallelepipedal shape of FIG. 17, with the sidewalls 109 and 110 retracted, the protective flanges being visible externally.

[0117] The embodiment of FIGS. 18 to 23 is an example of embodiment of the invention without adhesive of prolonged effect to hold in active position the components of the container such as the walls 108, 109 and 110.

[0118] In this case, to ensure closure of the container by the securement flap 142, the latter can be associated with a strip of adhesive of prolonged effect, as is described with respect to FIGS. 1 to 4.

[0119] In this case, there is selected the “zero adhesive” option as will now be seen, but this does not relate to the glue which, upon fabrication, is still necessary for the securement of the protective flanges 165 and 166. Of course, this glue can be replaced by any equivalent technique known to those in the art (clamps for example).

[0120] The sidewalls 109 and 110 are secured to the free tongues 601 and 602 by a bend line.

[0121] The transverse wall 108 is secured to an end panel 603 by a single or double bend line 604, for a reason which will be apparent later.

[0122] The end panel 603 is less wide than the flap properly so called, because its width is equal at the most to about the distance which separates the two sidewalls 109 and 110 when erected and hence facing each other.

[0123] To erect the container from the blank of FIG. 18, the sidewalls 109 and 110 are erected in the direction of arrows F4, then the free tongues 601 and 602 are bent according to the arrows F12 (FIG. 19) and the transverse wall 108 is erected, which is disposed against the tongues 601 and 602. Then the end panel 603 is folded down by bending it along the line 604 which is a single or double line according to the thickness of the material selected for the construction of the container.

[0124] The end panel 603 is lowered until it is disposed against the internal surface of the transverse wall 108, with interposition of the free tongues 601 and 602 (FIG. 20).

[0125] Once in place, the end panel 603 is maintained either by friction resulting from its wedging against the sidewalls 109-110 and against the base 106, or by additional means: adhesive or small tongues, as is known per se.

[0126] There is thus rendered stable the “body” or “bottom” of the container: base 106 and walls 108, 109 and 110.

[0127] As has been described above for the other embodiments, the closure panel 140 is bent down in the direction of arrow F11 while guiding the folding panels 501 and 502 outside the sidewalls 109 and 110 (FIG. 22), then the small tongue 220 is bent against the teeth 222 and 223 and this assembly is introduced into the slot 221 of the wall 108.

[0128] Thanks to the space E which remains between the wall 108 and the panel 603, the teeth 220 and 223 can take a position behind the wall 108 and also because of the angle that they form with the tongue 220, they oppose the withdrawal of this latter (FIG. 21), which creates a foolproof closure because this opening cannot be obtained without at least partially destroying the small tongue 220 and/or the tongues 222-223.

[0129] The space E which would result from simple interposition of a single thickness: that of the tongues 601 and 602, might suffice but this space E could be enlarged by adjusting the spacing between the two bend lines 604.

[0130] However, these same tongues 601 and 602 could interfere with the deployment of the teeth 222 and 223, and to avoid this risk, there are provided notches 605 and 606 which completely free the space E adjacent the small tongue 220.

[0131] The final container than has the parallelepipedal shape shown in FIG. 23.

[0132] The folding panels 501 and 502 are outside the sidewalls 109 and 110, the latter appearing retracted relative to the visible flanges 165 and 166.

[0133] In FIGS. 24 to 28, there is shown an embodiment which combines the arrangements already described above:

[0134] The body of the container: base 106, walls 108, 109 and 110, is maintained set-up thanks to the adhesive of prolonged effect disposed as described with respect to FIGS. 1 to 4.

[0135] The container comprises a capping cover and the folding panels 501 and 502 are secured to the transverse wall 107 by bellows 503 each formed only of two tongues 515 and 516 defined by an oblique bend line which extends to the edge of the blank such that the folding panels 501 and 502 are a portion of the capping cover disposed not only outside the sidewalls 109 and 110 but at a distance D from the latter (FIG. 28) as was described in connection with FIGS. 9 to 13.

[0136] The tongue 515 is secured to a folding panel 501, 502 and is free whilst the other tongue 516 is glued to the transverse wall 107.

[0137] In FIGS. 29 to 32, there is shown another “zero adhesive” embodiment, because the body of the container 106-108-109-110 is held in active position by an end panel 603, as was described in connection with FIGS. 18 to 23 and the capping cover is also maintained erected by a non-glued panel:

[0138] The sidewalls 109 and 110 are secured to triangular tongues 124 and 126 which themselves are secured to other triangular tongues 125 and 127 glued to the interior of the transverse wall 108 but in this case there is no adhesive 130 to hold them, this effect being obtained by folding down the end panel 603 within the transverse wall 108, with interposition of the triangular tongues 124-125 and 126-127.

[0139] The folding panels 501 and 502 are secured to tongues 607 and 608 similar to tongues 601 and 602 of FIGS. 18 and 19 and which are to be bent as indicated in FIG. 30.

[0140] The securement flap 142 is secured to a blocking panel 610 which is to be folded down within the capping cover, above the tongues 607 and 608 where it wedges in the same manner as the end panel 603, if desired with the addition of known securement means.

[0141] A blocking tongue 510 analogous to that described above is cut out from the panel 610 so as to be as described above, despite the presence of the blocking panel 610, which permits it to behave exactly in the same way as is already explained (FIG. 31).

[0142] After closure of the container by means of the capping cover (FIG. 31), the tongue 510 is engaged in a slot 511 provided in the base of the transverse wall 108 to help hold closed the capping cover, which can be fixed more strongly, particularly by means of adhesive of prolonged effect, which is not incompatible with the notion of “zero adhesive”, because this expression applies to the means for holding the components of the container (body and/or cover) but not to its closure.

[0143] It will be understood that in this case the space E results from a double thickness instead of a single thickness. The question of positioning the teeth 222 and 223 does not arise because in this case a small tongue like 220 is not provided, but rather a tongue 510.

[0144] Nevertheless, it should be noted that the tongues 124-125 and 126-127 bend obliquely, the medial region of the transverse wall 108 being completely free.

[0145] On the other hand, as the end panel 603 is to extend to the immediate vicinity of the base 106, if not into contact therewith, it is necessary to avoid that it impedes the engagement of the tongue 510, for which reason there is provided a notch 611 which completely frees the passage of this tongue 510.

[0146] After folding down the panels 603 and 610, there is provided a container having two symmetrical portions, the body 106-108-603-109-110 and the cover 107-140-142-610-501-502, which can be brought together, the capping cover covering the body like a bell, the panels 501 and 502 freeing the protective flanges 165 and 166.

[0147] Here again, this structure permits use of an opening line 195 disposed below the closure panel 120 and within the panels 501 and 502.

[0148] The use of prolonged effect adhesive 130 to maintain together the portions of the folded cardboard, is quite satisfactory but if a very strong material has been chosen, or more precisely which has a great deal of “sinew”, there can result forces tending to tear loose, which become greater with the passage of time, such that unglueing may result if not in several minutes than in several hours, or even several days.

[0149] It is therefore useful to take precautions permitting increasing the safety of the securement, and hence the integrity of the closed container.

[0150] To do this, it is possible to overcome or at least greatly to diminish locally the “sinew” of the material by creating incisions along bend lines which connect to elements that must be applied to each other by pivoting about this bend line, which will then be maintained in final position by the adhesive with prolonged effect.

[0151] For this use in particular, but also more generally to avoid drawbacks of resilient characteristics of the material constituting the container (cardboard and corrugated cardboard), there are provided such incisions as those shown at 620 in FIG. 14, the latter being used to render flexible the bellows 503 so that they bend easily during setting up the transverse wall 107 upon closing the container.

[0152] Referring to FIGS. 33 and 34, there is shown an embodiment of the invention providing on the one hand prolonged effect adhesive 130 to hold in position the securement flap 142 and on the other hand an opening line 198 which are both located on the same surface of the blank.

[0153] When the blank is of corrugated cardboard, the production of the latter takes place, as is known per se, by gluing a sheet of corrugated paper against two sheets of flat paper. These combined operations are carried out by means of a so-called “corrugating” machine which performs excellently in terms of hundreds of meters of cardboard corrugated per minute.

[0154] This very high output is used here by providing adhesive 130 and its protective strip 131 as well as the opening line 198 on the same surface, because their emplacement can take place on the corrugator itself, without more.

[0155] Moreover, the surface which receives the adhesive 130 and its strip 131 as well as the opening line 198 is the upper surface of the corrugated cardboard when it is produced by the corrugator, which is the most favorable arrangement for depositing these elements 130, 131 and 198.

[0156] It will be seen in FIG. 33 that the opening line 198 is positioned on the closure panel 140, adjacent the bend line 143 by which it is connected to the securement flap 142.

[0157] In FIG. 34, it will thus be seen that the opening line 198, disposed on the internal surface of the closure panel 140, is located overlying the region adapted to receive a postal stamp 199 when the container is erected and closed.

[0158] This stamp can be applied (postage stamps, validation stickers, seals, etc.) or printed on the container.

[0159] When the addressee opens the container, he grips one of the two tongues 196 or 197 so as to exert strong traction on the opening line 198,

[0160] which cuts off from side to side the closure panel 140, such that the flap 142 remains in place but the closure panel 140 is freed and gives access to the packaged objects, without the container itself being opened because it remains erected by the holding effect of the walls 108, 109 and 110 by means of the panels 603,

[0161] which destroys the franking mark 199, thereby rendering the container non-reusable, unless by paying new costs for its transport after having re-closed it by suitable means (strap, strip, twine, adhesive strip, etc.).

[0162] It will be noted from FIG. 34, that the securement flap 142 is located on the rear surface of the completed container, which is of no importance because it suffices to provide the position A of the name and address of the addressee according to an orientation opposite the usual orientation, which is illustrated by the symbol Y1 which is visible to the reader of the name and address of the addressee, in the position A of FIG. 34.

[0163] Referring now to FIG. 35, it will be seen that the blank here also comprises on the one hand adhesive 130 of prolonged effect and a protective strip 131, and on the other hand an opening line 195, both disposed on the same surface of the blank, namely that which constitutes the internal surface of the container when the latter is set up.

[0164] The opening line 195 is located no longer on the closure panel 140 but on the securement flap 142, at approximately midway between the adhesive 130 and the bend line 143.

[0165] The position of the opening line 195 is thus independent from that of the postage stamps 199 and the position A is disposed as usual, which is shown by the symbol Y2 which is visible to the reader of the name and address of the addressee, in position A of FIG. 36.

[0166] Upon opening the container by pulling on the line 195, the flap 142 is cut transversely, which frees the upper portion of the flap 142 and the panel 140 from each other.

[0167] The addressee then has free access to the contents on the base 106.

[0168] Having described several embodiments and modifications, it should be noted that the invention permits combining all manner of different arrangements which have here been grouped by way of example: capping cover or not, use of adhesive with prolonged effect or not, adoption of triangular tongues to constitute bellows, bellows in two or three portions, etc.

Claims

1. Container of cardboard or the like adapted for packaging objects, formed from a blank which is constituted from at least one flat piece and which has when flat different components,

a polygonal flat base adapted to the objects to be packaged,

transverse walls adjacent the base to be set up relative to said base, in active position, so as to erect the container at least in part,

sidewalls adjacent the base that are to be set up relative to the base, in active position, so as to form the set-up container at least in part,

means to hold these walls in active position,

a so-called “closure” panel to form the container after emplacement on the base of the objects to be packaged,

means to hold this closure panel in active position,

lateral flanges,

characterized in that the container has foldable panels (501 and 502) substantially of the same surface as the sidewalls (109 and 110), which are adapted to be placed facing said sidewalls (109 and 110) parallel to them, and which are secured on the one hand to the closure panel (140) by one of their edges and on the other hand either to a wall (107-109-110) adjacent to the base (106), or to a securement flap (142) secured to the closure panel (140), or to both of these two elements, by means of a bellows (503) formed of at least two tongues (504-505-506, 515-516) interconnected by a bend line.

2. Container according to claim 1, characterized in that the flanges (165-166), which are present in the form of strips glued to the blank and each delimited by two bend lines, when determining an edge of the blank and the other connecting the strip and one of the components of the container, the flat blank having four strips (165 and 166), two for the sidewalls (109 and 110) of the container, and two for the closure panel (140), the folding panels (501 and 502) being adapted to be applied against the sidewalls (109 and 110).

3. Container according to claim 2, characterized in that the folding panels (501 and 502) are adapted to be placed facing the internal surface of the sidewalls (109 and 110).

4. Container according to claim 2, characterized in that the folding panels (501 and 502) are adapted to be disposed facing the external surface of the sidewalls (109 and 110).

5. Container according to claim 1, characterized in that the flanges (165-166), which are present in the form of strips glued to the blank and each delimited by two bend lines, one defining one edge of the blank and the other connecting the strip and one of the components, the flat blank having two strips (165 and 166) for the sidewalls (109 and 110) of the container, the folding panels (501 and 502) being applied facing the external surface of the sidewalls (109 and 110) and at a distance (D) from the latter substantially equal to the width (L) of a strip (155-156) such that the erected enclosed container has internal flanges (165-166), not visible from outside because they are hidden by the folding panels (501 and 502).

6. Container according to claim 5, characterized in that it comprises an opening line (195) which extends transversely from an external edge of a folding panel (501) to the external edge of the opposite folding panel (502), over all the width of the closure panel (140).

7. Container according to claim 5, characterized in that each folding panel (501-502) is secured to a bellows portion (503) bordered by an oblique bend line, which extends to the edge of the blank.

8. Container according to claim 1, characterized in that the means for holding in active position certain at least of the walls adjacent the base (106), namely in a position perpendicular to said base (106), are constituted by at least one holding flap (603) at the summit of a transverse wall (108) and connected thereto by a bend line (604) and which is to be folded down from above the tongues (601 and 602) secured to the sidewalls (109 and 110) each by a bend line.

9. Container according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a cover of the cap type, which is to say that the closure panel (140) is secured to a so-called “securement” panel (142) and to the folding panels (501 and 502).

10. Container according to claim 8, characterized in that the closure panel (140) and the folding panels (501 and 502) are fixed by means of glued tongues (607 and 608).

11. Container according to claim 8, characterized in that the securement panel (142) is secured along its transverse external edge, by a bend line, to a holding flap (610) to be folded down from above over the tongues (607 and 608) connected to the folding panels (501 and 502) each by a bend line so as to constitute a capping cover formed by the closure panel (140), the securement flap (142) and the folding panels (501 and 502).

12. Container according to claim 1 characterized in that the means to hold the closure panel (140) in active position are constituted by the securement flap (142) associated with supplemental members adapted to secure it to a transverse wall (108).

13. Container according to claim 12, characterized in that the supplemental members are constituted by adhesive (130) of prolonged effect.

14. Container according to claim 12, characterized in that the supplemental members are constituted by folding panels (501 and 502) secured to the securement flap (142).

15. Container according to claim 12, characterized in that the supplemental members are constituted by at least one blocking tongue (510-220) secured to the securement flap (142) and adapted to be engaged in a slot (511-221) in the transverse wall (108).

16. Container according to claim 15, characterized in that it comprises at least one holding flap (603) secured to the summit of one transverse wall (108) by a bend line (604) and which is to be folded down from above over the tongues (601 and 602) secured to the sidewalls (109 and 110) each along a bend line, so as to maintain in active position said transverse wall (108) and said sidewalls (109 and 110), the blocking tongue being formed by a small tongue (220) provided with two opposite teeth (222 and 223) and adapted to be folded down over the small tongue (220) upon introduction into the slot (221) of the transverse wall (108), this transverse wall (108) being maintained spaced from the holding flap (603) folded down so as to create a space (E) in which the teeth (222 and 223) of the small tongue (220) can be at least partially disposed.

17. Container according to claim 1, characterized in that at least some of the lines along which the separate elements and/or the components of the container are to be bent, for their securement in active position, are partially in sized openings (620) to decrease the force needed for tearing due to the elastic force or “sinew” of the material from which the blank is created.

18. Container according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises an opening line (195) which extends transversely to the closure panel (140) over its internal surface along all the length of the latter, adjacent a bend line along which the closure panel (140) is connected to the securement flap (142), which is to say in registry with a region adapted to receive a postage mark (199).

19. Container according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises an opening line (198) and adhesive (130) of prolonged effect which are located both on a same surface of the blank adapted to constitute the internal surface of the container after the latter is set up and closed.