RE-FOLDABLE ONE PIECE BOX AND LID
A re-foldable, multifunctional, flat packing, quick fold erect, one piece box & lid incorporating an integral internal panel (B) or panels, in which the fold erect feature allows the base of the box to be held erected in a set up position by the folded incorporated integral internal panels whether or not the attached lid is open or closed, without the use of additional glue, adhesives, tape, clip, or other fastener.
This invention relates to a multi-functional, flat packing, quick fold erect, re-foldable one piece box and lid incorporating an integral internal panel or panels.
Retail staff are under pressure to serve as many customers as possible, in a short a time as possible, and to focus their attention on the client which they are serving.
Furthermore, there is limited storage space in business premises, retail spaces and in the logistics chain on the products journey from factory to consumer. It is rare to find products, the box and contents produced in the same location or even region, and rarer still for the end use to be in the same location as the production of the box, thus all boxes, lids and fitments require some form of transportation or storage.
In addition, freight is charge by volumetric weight (volume and weight used in cost calculation), so shipping set-up boxes means paying for shipping the contents (be it air or products) also.
Brands and business are under continual pressure to offer high quality products, in a well-designed presentation or packaging that is fit for purpose.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONTo overcome this, this invention proposes a re-foldable, multi-functional, flat packing, quick fold erect, one piece box and lid incorporating an integral internal panel or panels. This invention is such that the lid, base and incorporated integral internal flap mechanism are joined together as one piece, the box can be assembled and disassembled very quickly and easily without the need to use glue or other fasteners or adhesives as the base of the box is held in an erect set-up position by folded panels incorporated into the body of the box and lid. This allows the box and lid to be re-used and re-folded, it frees the hands of the end-user, the quick assembly without glue or other adhesives means minimal time or effort is required for set up or disassembly by the end user.
The folded erect set-up feature of the box allows the base of the box to be erected into a set-up position, whether or not the lid is closed or open, whilst at the same time hiding the internal mechanism of the base of the box. This offers a very presentable and practical solution, and the box is designed to minimise the amount of raw edges showing on the main faces as the folding panels cover the internal mechanism.
The invention can also be flat packed, saving valuable space in retail, home, business and logistics environments. The flat packed feature also requires less packaging for transportation (fewer export cartons) and is more secure for transportation - as set-up boxes are more likely to be damaged.
The one piece format of the box, which includes the box, lid & incorporated integral flap and also the possibility of an integrated internal fitment (which will be described in more detail later) means that the processes of setting up the box and lid is simplified for the end user and it also removes the need for a separate lid and base. The internal flap can also be modified to act as an integrated fitment to the contents or product(s), again removing the need for a separate fitment.
The invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings:
The basic structure of the box is made up of a number of panels, including the main body (A1, A2, A3, A4, and A5), end flap (C1), incorporated integral internal panel (B1, B2) and side walls (D1, D2, D3, D4, D5 and E1, E2, E3, E4, E5) as shown on
Panel A, which comprises the main body of the box, including the base part and the lid, is made up of 5 smaller panels (A1, A2, A3, A4 and A5). In a folded position, A1, A2, A3 together make up the base of the box, with parts A4 and A5 making up the lid as shown in
Panel B, which is the incorporated internal flap and/or integrated fitment, is connected to the join between panels A3 and A4 with a flexible material. Panel B is made up of parts B1 and B2.
Panel C1 is connected to the end of Panel A to part A1 using a flexible material. Panel C in this example is constructed of 1 panel piece only, however, this can be altered in size or structure and additional panels or parts may be added as per claim 5.
Panel D and Panel E are the side flaps for the box, each made up of 5 panels joined to each other by a flexible material, as illustrated in
The edge of D1, D3 and D5 and correspondingly the edge of E1, E3, and E5 are joined respectively to each side of the panels A1, A2 and A3, and lie flat against the surface of A1, A2 and A3 when the box is in a flat position,
The join between D3 and A2, and correspondingly the join between E3 and A2, are flexible so that D3 and E3 can lie flat against the surface of A2 or fold upwards to a position at 90 degrees to the surface of A2, as illustrated in
The positions of the panels, the flexible joins between the individual panels making up the main parts of the box, are such that the box can be assembled into a setup position and easily disassembled into a flat pack position. The process of folding into a set-up position is illustrated step by step in
To assemble from a flat position, A1 and A3 are pushed towards each other by the end user (either by holding onto the Lid (A4 and A5) and end flap C, or some other location) such that A1 and A3 lie at 90 degrees against the surface of the inner face of panel A2, as illustrated by
Panel C1 is then folded over such that its inner surface lies flat against the inner surface of panel A1, as illustrated in
An integral feature of this flat packing, quick fold erect, re-foldable one piece box & lid, the incorporated Panel B, is then folded over such that the inner surface of part B1 lies flat against A3, as shown in
The Panel B2, is then be pushed down so that it lies flat against the panel A2 as illustrated in
The panel A4 can be folded over the top of the erected bottom part of the box to act as a lid or cover, with the panel A5 folding over the outer surface of A1, as illustrated by
There are a number of ways in which a fitment can be integrated into this invention, including altering the size, shape and number of panels, adding flaps, parts, cuts or interlocks to create an integrated fitment as per claim 10, claim 11 and claim 12. Some additional examples of alternatives for integrated fitment are illustrated in
More panels or parts can be incorporated to the existing panels and flaps. The existing panels which make up the box may also be changed in size, proportions and or structure, for example to act as a fitment or internal compartment.
This invention can also be made by altering the panel B2 or incorporating more panels, flaps, parts, cuts or interlocks so that the invention is held together in an erect set up position without the need for the panel B2 to touch or lie flat against the inner surface of the panel A2, as illustrated by the example
The box and lid could also be lined on the inside or the outside with material for decorative purposes or to protect the contents when in a set-up position. The box and lid could be lined with fabric material.
A key feature of the box is that the box, lid and incorporated integral internal panels can be folded into a flat packed position.
Claims
1. A re-foldable, multifunctional, flat packing, quick fold erect, one piece box & lid incorporating an integral internal panel or panels, in which the fold erect feature allows the base of the box to be held erected in a set up position by the folded incorporated integral internal panels whether or not the attached lid is open or closed, without the use of additional glue, adhesives, tape, clip, or other fastener.
2. A re-foldable, multifunctional, flat packing, quick fold erect, one piece box & lid incorporating an integral internal panel or panels according to claim 1, with a folding lid, folding side walls and incorporated integral internal folding panels, in which the lid, integral internal panels and side walls are attached to the main body of the box, and all are foldable such that the structure folds to form a fully covered complete box with attached lid (and not a box comprised of a separate lid and base parts).
3. A re-foldable, multifunctional, flat packing, quick fold erect, one piece box & lid incorporating an integral internal panel or panels according to claim 1, in which the box can be assembled from the flat pack position to the set-up position and the box can be disassembled and returned to the flat pack position, without the use of adhesives, double sided tape, tape, or other fastener to hold it in the set-up position.
4. A re-foldable, multifunctional, flat packing, quick fold erect, one piece box & lid incorporating an integral internal panel or panels according to claim 1, in which the lid, side walls, base and internal flaps are made flexible and foldable through the use of materials that have been pre-cut, pre-creased, pre-folded, or through by connecting the panels making up the sides and parts of the box with a flexible material, which may be a thicker or thinner substrate, or may connect the panels totally to each other or in part.
5. A multifunctional, flat packing, quick fold erect, re-foldable one piece box & lid according to claim 1, in which the box, lid and integral panels can be of varying dimensions, proportions, and sizes.
6. A re-foldable, multifunctional, flat packing, quick fold erect, one piece box & lid incorporating an integral internal panel or panels according to claim 1, in which any part of the box, lid or integral panels may have a window, slot, cut out or panel or may have part of the material replaced by a different material which is clear, see-through or not see-through to act as a window, or adornment or decoration, or access to the product.
7. A re-foldable, multifunctional, flat packing, quick fold erect, one piece box & lid incorporating an integral internal panel or panels according to claim 1, on which a carry mechanism, handle or part by which the box can be carried is added to any of the internal or external panels, including but not limited to a ribbon, string, plastic, paper or metal handle affixed to the box.
8. A re-foldable, multifunctional, flat packing, quick fold erect, one piece box & lid incorporating an integral internal panel or panels according to claim 1, in which the lid in a closed arrangement can be held in position by magnets, a ribbon, a clip, a slotting method, or other such method for securing the position of the lid of the box when in a set-up arrangement, or the lid can be left open and unattached.
9. A re-foldable, multifunctional, flat packing, quick fold erect, one piece box & lid incorporating an integral internal panel or panels according to claim 1, in which the internal panel holds the box in an erect set up position by a fold erect mechanism of internal panels or by engaging frictionally, via slots or cuts in either flap, via a clip, or magnet, or by altering the shape of the panels or by interlocking between panels of the box, including more incorporated panels.
10. A re-foldable, multifunctional, flat packing, quick fold erect, one piece box & lid incorporating an integral internal panel or panels according to claim 1, in which the internal flaps or panels act as a fitment.
11. A re-foldable, multifunctional, flat packing, quick fold erect, one piece box & lid incorporating an integral internal panel or panels according to claim 1, in which the internal flaps have additional panels, flaps or material attached to them to support a product as a fitment, or to act as an adornment or decoration.
12. A re-foldable, multifunctional, flat packing, quick fold erect, one piece box & lid incorporating an integral internal panel or panels according to claim 1, in which the internal flaps have panels attached to them, or material cut out from them or the size or shape alerted in order to support a product as a fitment, or to act as an adornment or decoration.
13. A re-foldable, multifunctional, flat packing, quick fold erect, one piece box & lid incorporating an integral internal panel or panels according to claim 1, in which the internal flaps have additional panels, flaps or material attached to form a compartment or multiple compartments.
14. A re-foldable, multifunctional, flat packing, quick fold erect, one piece box & lid incorporating an integral internal panel or panels according to claim 1, where part or all the materials are lined or coated with fabric or other materials, or various materials are used to make up the parts of the box.
15. A re-foldable, multifunctional, flat packing, quick fold erect, one piece box & lid incorporating an integral internal panel or panels according to claim 1, which can be fixed permanently in a set up position the use of additional glue, adhesives, tape, clip, or other fastener, or interlocking, clips or other method for permanently holding the box in a set-up position.
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 18, 2008
Publication Date: Jan 14, 2010
Inventor: Timothy Conroy (Hong Kong)
Application Number: 12/212,668
International Classification: B65D 5/08 (20060101); B65D 5/46 (20060101);