Folding box

Abstract

A folding box (100) having a base unit, a lid unit, and a side-wall unit provided between the base unit and lid unit, it being the case that bottom side-wall elements (120) are provided, these being connected to one another in each case via a first folding line (12) and having a first adhesive flap (150) at the side, a base flap (116) is integrally formed on each bottom side-wall element (120) via a bottom edge folding line (14), a folding flap (180) is integrally formed on the top side of each bottom side-wall element (120), in particular via a further folding flap (132), a lid folding flap (24) is integrally formed on the top side of the folding flap (180) via an inner folding line (22), a top side-wall element (130) is integrally formed on the lid folding flap (24) via a top edge folding line (26), the top side-wall elements (130) are connected to one another in each case via a second folding line (28), and a second adhesive flap (160) is provided at the side, it being the case that the first folding line (12) and the second folding line (28) are located on a common imaginary straight line (42) and, in the folded state of the folding box (100), the side-wall elements (120, 130) form a polygonal circumferential structure, the top side-wall elements (130) can be folded over outward about their top edge folding line (26), and the top side-wall elements (130) can be pushed onto the bottom side-wall elements (120), in certain regions, from above, as a result of which the folding flaps (180) are folded inward, and the lid folding flaps (24) are erected and, with rear engagement in certain regions, form the lid unit of the folding box (100), is distinguished in that the first adhesive flap (150) and/or the second adhesive flap (160) are/is designed as a wall element, the peripheral contour and surface area corresponding essentially to the peripheral contour and the surface area of the adjacent, respectively bottom or top side-wall element (120, 130), which is connected via a respective first folding line (12) or second folding line (28).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a folding box having a base unit, a lid unit, and a side-wall unit provided between the base unit and lid unit, it being the case that bottom side-wall elements are provided, these being connected to one another in each case via a first folding line and having a first adhesive flap at the side, a base flap is integrally formed on each bottom side-wall element via a bottom edge folding line, a folding flap is integrally formed on the top side of each bottom side-wall element, in particular via a further folding flap, a lid folding flap is integrally formed on the top side of the folding flap via an inner folding line, a top side-wall element is integrally formed on the lid folding flap via a top edge folding line, the top side-wall elements are connected to one another in each case via a second folding line, and a second adhesive flap is provided at the side, it being the case that the first folding line and the second folding line are located on a common imaginary straight line and, in the folded state of the folding box, the side-wall elements form a polygonal circumferential structure, the top side-wall elements can be folded over outward about their top edge folding line, and the top side-wall elements can be pushed onto the bottom side-wall elements, in certain regions, from above, as a result of which the folding flaps are folded inward, and the lid folding flaps are erected and, with rear engagement in certain regions, form the lid unit of the folding box.

PRIOR ART

[0002] Folding boxes with features mentioned above are known from EP 0 957 031 A1 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,795,081. In a further known embodiment, the base unit and the lid unit are designed as a single-piece folding flap with insertion flaps which, with the side walls erected, are folded over and inserted in order to close the folding box. Also known are folding boxes of which the lid units or base units are respectively formed from a plurality of base-folding or lid-folding flaps.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The technical problem or the object on which the present invention is based is to specify a folding box which ensures that the product arranged in the folding box is stored in a secure and stable manner, which allows cost-effective production and a straightforward erecting and filling operation as well as a straightforward and novel, permanently reliably functioning opening and closing operation of the lid unit and provides particularly straightforward handling during opening.

[0004] The folding box according to the invention is given by the features of independent claim 1. Advantageous configurations and developments form the subject matter of the dependent claims.

[0005] Accordingly, the folding box according to the invention is distinguished in that the first adhesive flap and/or the second adhesive flap are/is designed as a wall element, the peripheral contour and surface area corresponding essentially to the peripheral contour and the surface area of the adjacent, respectively bottom or top side-wall element, which is connected via a respective first folding line or second folding line.

[0006] Since the first adhesive flap and/or second adhesive flap are/is designed as a wall element, an extremely stable folding box is produced. The cost-effective production and the straightforward folding or erecting operation are ensured at the same time.

[0007] A particularly preferred configuration which satisfies stringent stability-related requirements is distinguished in that the bottom and top side-wall elements are designed as narrow rectangular surfaces, in particular of slightly differing lengths.

[0008] In order to ensure permanently reliable functioning of the opening and closing of the lid unit by virtue of the bottom and top side-wall elements being displaced relative to one another, a particularly advantageous configuration is distinguished in that the spacing between the second folding lines of the bottom side-wall elements is slightly larger than the spacing between the first folding lines of the top side-wall elements.

[0009] It is particularly advantageous for the first adhesive flap to be arranged diametrically laterally opposite the second adhesive flap.

[0010] A further variant according to the invention, which may also be regarded as independent, is distinguished in that, at least on two side-wall elements which are located opposite one another in the erected state, folding lines which run essentially diagonally inward in certain regions are provided on the side-wall element, to the left and right of the top connection region of the folding flap, and the respective top side-wall element which is associated with said side-wall elements has a cutout which is open in the direction of its free edge.

[0011] A particularly preferred configuration of the folding box according to the invention is distinguished in that the top edge folding line is arranged parallel to the inner folding line, the height of the lid folding flap, that is to say the spacing between the inner folding line and the top edge folding line, is smaller than, or equal to, the spacing between two side-wall elements which are located opposite one another in the folded state of the folding box, the lid folding flap and the bending flap essentially have a trapezoidal contour with a common inner folding line. The point at which the inner folding line begins is preferably spaced apart from the imaginary common straight line of the first and second folding lines by a distance which corresponds essentially to half the width of the side-wall elements.

[0012] The folding box according to the invention can easily be realized with an equilaterally polygonal outer cross section. It is possible for the lid folding flaps here to form a closed lid unit in the folded state or, depending on the geometrical dimensions, to be folded such that a cutout with polygonal contour is produced in the center.

[0013] An advantageous configuration of the folding box according to the invention which ensures a straightforward erecting operation and a stable box structure is distinguished in that the length of the folding flap, that is to say the spacing between where it is integrally formed on the bottom side-wall element and the inner folding line, is of such a magnitude that, in the folded state of the folding box, that is to say, with the folding flap folded inward or curved convexly inward, the height of the folding flap projected vertically onto the top side-wall element is smaller than the height of the top side-wall element.

[0014] Such a design of the bending flap ensures that the respective inner wall of the top side-wall elements, once pushed onto the outer wall of the respective bottom side-wall elements, is retained with releasable clamping action on the latter.

[0015] A cost-effective production is ensured in that the folding box can be produced from a single-piece cardboard blank.

[0016] Further embodiments and advantages of the invention can be gathered from the rest of the features given in the claims and from the exemplary embodiments specified hereinbelow. The features of the claims may be combined with one another in any desired manner provided they are not obviously mutually exclusive.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0017] The invention and advantageous embodiments and developments of the same are explained and described in more detail hereinbelow with reference to the examples illustrated in the drawing. The features which can be gathered from the description and the drawing can be used, according to the invention, on their own or together in any desired combination. In the drawing:

[0018] FIG. 1 shows a blank of a cross-sectionally square folding box with top and bottom side-wall elements and lid folding flaps and folding flaps arranged therebetween and with base flaps integrally formed on the underside,

[0019] FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of the pre-folded blank according to FIG. 1 in the flat folded state with adhesively bonded adhesive flaps,

[0020] FIG. 3 shows a schematic illustration of the folding box according to the blank of FIG. 1 with the side-wall elements erected,

[0021] FIG. 4 shows a schematic perspective illustration of the folding box with the blank according to FIG. 1 during the closing operation, that is to say with the top side-wall elements displaced partially in the direction of the bottom side-wall elements,

[0022] FIG. 5 shows a schematic illustration of the folding box according to FIG. 4 in the fully erected, closed state,

[0023] FIG. 6 shows a schematic cross section of the folding box according to FIG. 5 without the wall and flap elements located behind the same being illustrated,

[0024] FIG. 7 shows a schematic cross section through a known folding box with a different type of lid design without the wall and flap elements located behind the same being illustrated,

[0025] FIG. 8a, b and c show schematic sectional illustrations of the side-wall region of the folding box according to FIGS. 1 to 6 in different folded states,

[0026] FIG. 9 shows a blank of a second variant of a folding box with side-wall elements designed as narrow rectangular surfaces and with adhesive flaps which are designed as wall elements,

[0027] FIGS. 10-13 show the operation of folding the blank according to FIG. 9 until the folded-flap transporting state is reached,

[0028] FIG. 14 shows a schematic perspective illustration of the erected folding box according to FIG. 13 with the lid unit open, and

[0029] FIG. 15 shows a schematic perspective illustration of the folding box according to FIG. 14 with the lid unit closed.

METHODS OF IMPLEMENTING THE INVENTION

[0030] The construction of a first embodiment of a folding box 10.1 is explained hereinbelow with reference to the sectional illustration according to FIG. 1. A total of four, basically identically designed side-wall regions are provided. Starting from four bottom side-wall elements 20, which are connected to one another via vertical folding lines 12 and have the width B1 between the folding lines, an essentially trapezoidal base flap 16.1 is integrally formed on the underside of the bottom side-wall element 20 via a bottom edge folding line 14. The trapezoid leg 44, which is on the left-hand side of FIG. 1, is provided at an angle of not quite 90° to the bottom edge folding line 14. The right-hand trapezoid leg 46 has a shallower inclination. In the case of every second base flap 16.1 with an increased trapezoid height, an adhesive flap 38.1 is integrally formed on the shallow trapezoid leg 46 via a folding line 48, said adhesive flap being adhesively bonded in each case to the adjacent base flap 16.1. The adhesive-bonding position of the adhesive flap 38.1 is illustrated by dashed lines in FIG. 1 in the case of the second base flap 16.1 from the left. Integrally formed on the left-hand edge of the bottom side-wall element 20 which is on the left-hand side in FIG. 1 is a first adhesive flap 50 which, when the bottom side-wall elements 20 are erected, is adhesively bonded to the side-wall element 20 which is illustrated on the right-hand side in FIG. 1. The connection of the base flaps 16.1 via the adhesive flap 38.1 results in the base flaps 16.1 being automatically erected to form a closed base unit when the bottom side-wall elements 20 are erected.

[0031] A folding flap 18, which is designed as a bending flap 18, is integrally formed on the top side of each side-wall element 20, and a lid folding flap 24 is integrally formed on said folding flap, in turn, via an inner folding line 22. A top side-wall element 30 is integrally formed on the top side of the lid folding flap 24 the via a top edge folding line 26. Adjacent top side-wall elements 30 are connected to one another via a top folding line 28 and have a width B2, which essentially corresponds to the width B1 of the bottom side-wall element 20. A second adhesive flap 60 is integrally formed, via a folding line 28, on the top side-wall element 30 which is on the left-hand side in FIG. 1. The lid folding flap 24 and the bending flap 18, connected via the common inner folding line 22, have an essentially trapezoidal outer contour, the outer edge 36 of the bending flap 18, said outer edge being on the left-hand side in FIG. 1, having a slightly convex curvature in certain regions.

[0032] The spacing between the inner folding line 22 and top edge folding line 26, that is to say the height of the lid folding flap 24, is designated H1 in FIG. 1.

[0033] On account of the geometry selected, the bottom folding lines 12 and the top folding lines 28 in each case are arranged on a common imaginary straight line 42, which is illustrated by dashed lines in FIG. 1. The inner folding line 22, and thus the right-hand outer contour of the lid flap 24 and of the bending flap 18 which is illustrated in FIG. 1, is designed such that the spacing A from the beginning of the inner folding line 22 to the imaginary straight line 42 corresponds to the height H1 of the lid folding flap 24. In order to ensure a straightforward erecting operation, the height H1 of the lid folding flap 24 is less than or equal to half the width B2 of the top side-wall element 30. The bending flap 18 has score lines 32 which are arranged on the outside, parallel to the inner folding line 22, and assist the convex curvature in the inward direction when the lid folding flaps are erected.

[0034] The height of the bending flap 18, that is to say the spacing from the beginning of the line at which it is integrally formed on the bottom side-wall element 20 (dashed straight line 41) to the inner folding line 22, is designated H3. The height of the top side-wall element 30, that is to say the spacing between the top edge folding line 26 and the top edge of the side-wall element 30, is designated H2. In order to ensure a reliable erecting operation, the two heights H2 and H3 have to have predetermined dimensions, and this is described hereinbelow.

[0035] The procedure for folding the folding box 10.1, then, is as follows. First of all, the adhesive flaps 38.1 are adhesively bonded to the respectively adjacent base flap at the position illustrated by dashed lines in FIG. 1. The top side-wall elements 30 are folded outward, along their top edge folding line 26, onto the lid folding flaps 24. The bottom and top side-wall elements 20, 30 are then folded about their respective folding lines 14, 28, with the result that the adhesive flaps 50 and 60 can be adhesively bonded to the respectively opposite side-wall element 20, 30. Thereafter, the adhesively bonded blank is pressed flat according to the illustration in FIG. 2, that is to say in each case two side-wall regions are arranged one beside the other. In this flat state, the folding box may be transported in a volume-saving manner from the folding-box manufacturer to the assembler and/or filler.

[0036] The actual operation of erecting the folding box 10.1, then, takes place in a first step in which the side-wall elements 20, 30 are erected about their folding lines 12, 28 to form a cross-sectionally square contour (FIG. 3). In this case, the base flaps 16.1, engaging one behind the other in certain regions, are automatically erected to form a closed base unit. In this state according to FIG. 3, the folding box 10.1 can readily be filled from above with the product which is to be introduced.

[0037] Following filling or the introduction of the product, the folding box 10.1 is closed by the top edge folding lines 26 being subjected to pressure from above (arrows P), as a result of which the top side-wall elements 30 are displaced downward and, at the same time, the bending flaps 18 are curved convexly inward and the lid folding flaps 24 are thus erected in the outward direction from the inside, engage one behind the other in certain regions and, in the end state (FIG. 5), form a closed lid unit. In this end state according to FIG. 5, the top side-wall elements 30 are pushed with clamping action, by way of their bottom edge region (folded state), onto the bottom side-wall elements 20 in certain outer regions, this resulting in a closure state which is arrested by clamping action. In order to open the folding box 10, the top side-wall elements 30 are pushed upward counter to the clamping action, as a result of which the lid folding flaps 24 and the bending flaps 18 fold open and an opening, which is open from above, is produced for the removal of the product.

[0038] The relevant dimensions of the wall elements and flaps are illustrated in the schematic cross-sectional illustration according to FIG. 6. In order to ensure a clamping action of the top side-wall elements 30 pushed onto the bottom side-wall elements 20, it is necessary for the height H3 of the bending flaps 18 in the folded state of the folding box 10, i.e. in the convexly curved state of the flap 18, with a projection at right angles onto the top side-wall elements 30, to give a height H3′ which is less than the height H2 of the top side-wall elements 20. This ensures that the bottom edge region of the top side-wall elements 30 and the bottom side-wall elements 20 engage one over the other in certain regions in order to produce a connection which arrests with clamping action.

[0039] FIG. 7 illustrates, schematically, a cross section of a further variant, in the case of which the height H1 of the lid flaps 18 is designed to be less than half the width B2 of the top side-wall elements 30. This produces an opening 70 on the top side in the folded state, with the result that the product which has been introduced is visible from above. It is also possible for the bottom or top side-wall elements to have a wall cut-out, through which the product which has been introduced is partially visible.

[0040] In the case of the first and third side-wall elements 20 from the left in FIG. 1, on the left-hand and right-hand top side-edge regions in each case, an impressed folding line 80 which runs diagonally inward in certain regions is provided in each case in the connection region of the bending flap 18. At the same time, an open cutout 82 is provided on the free edge region of the first and third top side-wall elements 30 from the left in FIG. 1. That region of the side-wall elements 20 which is located between the ends of the diagonal folding lines 80 is illustrated by dots in FIGS. 1 and 5 and designated D.

[0041] The folding lines 80 in conjunction with the associated cutout 82 provide a considerable improvement as far as the opening operation is concerned. This is because the folding box 10.1 can be opened simply by the regions D of two mutually opposite side walls 20 being subjected to pressure. The diagonally running folding lines 80 assist bending into the interior of the folding box when the region D is subjected to pressure. The top region of the folding box 10.1, with the bending flap 18, the lid folding flap 24 and the top side-wall elements 30, consequently “springs” open in the upward direction.

[0042] In an exemplary embodiment which is not illustrated, the height H3 of the bending flap 18 and the height H1 of the lid folding flap are the same, that is to say, in the folded state, the bending flaps 18 and the lid folding flaps 24 butt flat against one another and the bending flap 18 does not have any curvature.

[0043] In the case of relatively small-volume lightweight folding boxes, the opening operation can thus easily be carried out using one hand.

[0044] FIG. 9 illustrates a second variant of a blank of a folding box 100, the basic construction of which is identical to the abovedescribed folding box 10.1. The functionally identical folding lines bear the same designation and will not be explained again.

[0045] One difference is that the bottom side-wall elements 120 and top side-wall elements 130 are designed as narrow rectangular surfaces, the length L1 of the bottom side-wall elements 120 being slightly greater than the length L2 of the top side-wall elements 130. Furthermore, in each case one folding flap 180 is integrally formed on the top side of the bottom side-wall elements 120 via a folding line 132, the folding flap 180 remaining planar, that is to say having no curvature, in the folded state of the folding box 100. The height H3 of the folding flap 180 corresponds to the height H1 of the lid folding flap 24.

[0046] The base unit is formed by four base flaps 116.1, 116.2, 116.3, 116.4 which are integrally formed on the underside of the bottom side-wall elements 120 and, in the folded state, form a closed unit.

[0047] Furthermore, the spacing A1 between the folding lines 12 of the bottom side-wall elements 120 is selected to be slightly smaller than the spacing A2 between the folding lines 28 of the top side-wall elements 130, with the result that the circumferential contours formed by the side-wall elements 120, 130 can easily be pushed one over the other in the erected state of the folded box 100.

[0048] An essential difference from the abovedescribed folding box 10.1 is that a first adhesive flap 150 is integrally formed, in FIG. 9, on the left-hand edge region of the left-hand bottom side-wall element 120 via the folding line 12, this adhesive flap being designed as a wall element with essentially the same peripheral contour and surface area as the adjacent bottom side-wall element 120. Diametrically opposite, in FIG. 9, a second adhesive flap 160 is integrally formed laterally on the right-hand top side-wall element 130 via the folding line 28, this folding flap likewise being designed as a wall element which has the same peripheral contour and surface area as the adjacent right-hand top side-wall element 130. In the folded state, the adhesive flaps 150, 160 designed as wall elements provide an extremely stable folding box.

[0049] FIGS. 10 to 13 illustrate the individual folding operations by means of which the blank according to FIG. 9 is folded into a flat transporting state.

[0050] First of all, the top side-wall elements 130 with the adhesive flap 160 are folded in the rearward direction about the folding lines 26 (FIG. 10). Thereafter, the first adhesive flap 150 is folded onto the adjacent bottom side-wall element 120 about the folding line 12 which is on the left-hand side in FIG. 10 (FIG. 11).

[0051] Thereafter, the two bottom side-wall elements 120 which are arranged on the left-hand side in FIG. 11 are folded, with the associated top side-wall elements 130 and the adhesive flap 150, about the folding line 12 which is in the center of FIG. 11, the first adhesive flap 150 then being adhesively bonded to the side-wall element 120 which is arranged on the right-hand side in FIG. 11. This state is illustrated in FIG. 12.

[0052] Thereafter, the second adhesive flap 160 is folded, about the folding line 28, onto the adjacent top side-wall element 130 and adhesively bonded thereto. This state is illustrated in FIG. 13. The state according to FIG. 13 constitutes the folded-flat transporting state, that is to say, in this state, the folded-flat folding box is supplied from the folding-box manufacturer to the filler.

[0053] By pressure (arrow D in FIG. 13) being applied to the outer side edges of the folded-flat folding box, the folding box is erected and, by corresponding folding of the base flaps 116.1, 116.2, 116.3, 116.4, a closed base is formed.

[0054] The erected state is illustrated in perspective in FIG. 14. The lid folding flaps 24 and the folding flaps 180 have not yet been folded, that is to say the lid unit which is to be formed by these flaps is still open. The folding box 100 may be filled in this state. Once the folding box 100 has been filled, the lid unit is closed by the erected bottom side-wall elements 120 being displaced in arrow direction P relative to the top side-wall elements 130. The lid folding flaps 24 and the folding flaps 180 thus fold inward to produce a closed lid unit, which is illustrated in perspective in FIG. 15.

[0055] Designing the adhesive flaps 150 and 160 as wall elements produces an extremely stable folding box 100.

Claims

1. A folding box (10.1; 100) having

a base unit,

a lid unit, and

a side-wall unit provided between the base unit and lid unit, it being the case that

bottom side-wall elements (20; 120) are provided, these being connected to one another in each case via a first folding line (12) and having a first adhesive flap (150) at the side,

a base flap (16.1; 116) is integrally formed on each bottom side-wall element (20) via a bottom edge folding line (14),

a folding flap (18; 180) is integrally formed on the top side of each bottom side-wall element (20; 120), in particular via a further folding flap (132),

a lid folding flap (24) is integrally formed on the top side of the folding flap (18; 180) via an inner folding line (22),

a top side-wall element (30; 130) is integrally formed on the lid folding flap (24) via a top edge folding line (26),

the top side-wall elements (30; 130) are connected to one another in each case via a second folding line (28), and a second adhesive flap (160) is provided at the side,

it being the case that the first folding line (12) and the second folding line (28) are located on a common imaginary straight line (42) and, in the folded state of the folding box (10.1; 100),

the side-wall elements (20, 30; 120, 130) form a polygonal circumferential structure,

the top side-wall elements (30; 130) can be folded over outward about their top edge folding line (26), and

the top side-wall elements (30; 130) can be pushed onto the bottom side-wall elements (20; 120), in certain regions, from above, as a result of which the folding flaps (18; 180) are folded inward, and the lid folding flaps (24) are erected and, with rear engagement in certain regions, form the lid unit of the folding box (10.1; 100), characterized in that the first adhesive flap (150) and/or the second adhesive flap (160) are/is designed as a wall element, the peripheral contour and surface area corresponding essentially to the peripheral contour and the surface area of the adjacent, respectively bottom or top side-wall element (120, 130), which is connected via a respective first folding line (12) or second folding line (28).

2. The folding box as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the bottom and top side-wall elements (120,. 130) are designed as narrow rectangular surfaces, in particular of slightly differing lengths (L1, L2).

3. The folding box as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the spacing (A1) between the second folding lines (28) of the bottom side-wall elements (120) is slightly larger than the spacing (A2) between the first folding lines (28) of the top side-wall elements (130).

4. The folding box as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first adhesive flap (150) is arranged diametrically laterally opposite the second adhesive flap (160).

5. The folding box as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims or according to the preamble of claim 1, characterized in that

at least on two side-wall elements (20) which are located opposite one another in the erected state, folding lines (80) which run essentially diagonally inward in certain regions are provided on the side-wall element (20), to the left and right of the top connection region of the folding flap (18), and

the respective top side-wall element (30) which is associated with said side-wall elements (20) has a cutout (82) which is open in the direction of its free edge.

6. The folding box as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that

the top edge folding line (26) is arranged parallel to the inner folding line (22),

the height (H1) of the lid folding flap (24), that is to say the spacing between the inner folding line (22) and the top edge folding line (26), is smaller than, or equal to, the spacing between two side-wall elements (30) which are located opposite one another in the folded state of the folding box (10.1, 10.2),

the lid folding flap (24) and the bending flap (18) essentially have a trapezoidal contour with a common inner folding line (22).

7. The folding box as claimed in claim 2 and/or 3, characterized in that the length (H3) of the folding flap (18), that is to say the spacing between where it is integrally formed on the bottom side-wall element (20) and the inner folding line (22), is of such a magnitude that, in the folded state of the folding box, that is to say, with the folding flap (18) folded inward or curved convexly inward, the height (H3′) of the bending flap (18) projected vertically onto the top side-wall element (30) is smaller than the height (H2) of the top side-wall element (30).

8. The folding box as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the folding box is formed from a single-piece cardboard blank.

9. The folding box as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the diagonally running folding lines (80) are designed as score lines.

10. The folding box as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the cutout (82) is arranged in the center of the top side edge.