GB2205818A - Collapsible box - Google Patents

Abstract

A box formed from a single sheet blank has, when assembled, a regular shape in plan and comprises a pair of parallel first sides (1) integrally connected to a first base piece (4) at opposite edges thereof, the first base piece (4) having a central fold line (5) parallel to the said edges. Further sides (2,3) are connected between the respective ends of the first side (1), two of the further sides (2,3) at each end being connected along a line (6) in a plane containing the central fold line (5). A second base piece formed by connecting panels (8,9) adjoins each end of the base piece (4) and has a fold line (11) also in the plane containing the central fold line (5), each second base piece overlying the respective end of the first base piece (4) when the box is in the assembled condition. <IMAGE>

Description

COLLAPSIBLE BOX The present invention relates to a collapsible box which is formed from a single sheet blank and, more particularly, to a box which, after initial assembly, can be collapsed and then re-assembled without need for undoing connections between members of the box.

In a conventional rectangular box it is known to provide four base pieces each as a flap from a side, the four base pieces being folded over and interlocking with one another or else folding over and being taped along their edges to retain the assembled condition of the box.

According to the present invention a box formed from a single sheet blank has, when assembled, a regular shape in plan and comprises a pair of parallel first sides integrally connected to a first base piece at opposite edges thereof, the first base piece having a central fold line parallel to the said edges; and further sides connected between the respective ends of the first side, two of the further sides at each end being connected along a line in a plane containing the central fold line and having a second base piece connected therewith, the second base piece having a fold line also in the plane containing the central fold line and overlying the respective end of the first base piece when the box is in the assembled condition.

By overlapping parts of the base, the base can be provided with increased strength and rigidity, and, by forming the box in the form defined above, overlapping of the respective base pieces can be achieved during assembly without resulting to extraneous means for holding one base piece over another.

Boxes in accordance with the invention may have differing numbers of sides, but in one preferable construction, the box has six sides and is generally a regular hexagon in plan view. Each of the first sides has a single further side extending from each end, adjacent further sides at each end being connected together by tabs and each having a flap forming part of the second base piece, the flaps from adjacent further sides also being connected by means of tabs.Forming the first base piece in a hexagonal shape enables this to be retained above the second base piece in the assembled condition, the box being collapsible inwards about the central fold line by a single folding movement which causes folding of all the sides about the edges where they join with adjacent sides and the respective base pieces, each of the base pieces also being folded about its respective fold line in the central plane.

The box may have an integral or separate lid which may be similarly formed to fold in the same fashion or which may be conventional.

One example of a box constructed in accordance with the present invention will now be described to the accompanying informal drawings in which: Figure la is a diagramatic perspective view of the box with lid flaps shown in an open position; Figure lb is a similar view to Figure la, with lid flaps in a closed position; Figure 2 is an underneath plan view of the assembled box; Figure 3 is a diagramatic perspective view of the inverted box during collapsing; and, Figure 4 is a plan view of a blank from which the box can be assembled.

The box shown in the drawings has a regular hexagonal plan shape and has six rectangular sides 1,1,2,2,3,3 arranged in opposite pairs as shown in figures la, lb and 2.

Attached to both of the first sides 1 is a generally regularly hexagonal base 4 which has a central fold line 5 which extends parallel to the sides 1. Each of the sides 2 has an internal flap 2' by means of which it is glued or otherwise attached to an adjacent side 3, the flap 2' being attached to the side 2 at a further fold line 6 and each of the sides 2,3 being attached to the respective end of the respective side 1 at a fold line 7.

As is probably most clearly seen in figures 2 and 3, each side 2 and each side 3 has a respective large flap 8,9 connected to it about a fold line 10.

Each large flap 8 has a smaller flap 8' attached to it across a fold line 11, each of the flaps 8' being glued or otherwise attached to the adjacent flap 9 either internally (as shown) or externally if desired.

In the assembled condition of the box as shown in figures 1 and 2 the large flaps 8 and 9 form second base pieces which span the ends of the box between the respective sides 2 and 3 and thus provide support to the respective ends of the base 4. The box has a shape-sustaining ability due to the fact that items placed in the box on the base 4 maintain the base 4 in its flat or fully opened condition, in turn maintaining the sides 1,2,3 in their hexagonal arrangement and, in turn, the position of the sides 2 and 3 maintaining the position of the secondary base pieces 8/9, these in turn supporting the ends of the base piece 4.

In order to collapse the box (as best seen in figure 3) the base 4 is pushed inwards between the sides 1 so as to fold about the fold line 5 and the large flaps/base pieces 8/9 are then caused to fold about the fold line 11. In the drawings the end base pieces 8/9 are shown folding upwards, for ease of illustration in particular, but these may fold, equally well, inwardly towards the end fold lines 6 between the sides 2,3.

It will be appreciated that the box may fold substantially flat so as to occupy negligible space for transportation purposes, but when assembled, has a rigid nature which, by virtue of any items within the box, maintains its strength and rigidity by means of the overlapping base pieces.

In the particular example shown in the drawings, a lid is formed by flaps 12 attached to sides 1 at fold lines 13, flaps 14 attached to sides 2 at fold lines 15, and flaps 16 attached to sides 3 at fold lines 17. One flap 12 has a tab 18 through which an aperture 19 is punched. The other flap 12 has a tab 18' which has a flap 20 corresponding in size and shape to the aperture 19, the flap 20 being able to be folded about a fold line 21. The other flaps 14, 16 have slots 22, 23, angled as shown in Figures 1A, 1B and 4. In order to close the box, flaps 12 are folded inwards about fold lines 13, the tabs 18, 18' being bent upwards so that the tabs 18, 18' meet when the flaps 12 lie substantially parallel with the base 4. The remaining sides 14, 16 are then folded inwards about their respective fold lines 15, 17, the tabs 18, 18' being passed through the slots 22, 23. The flap 20 of tab 18' may then be folded about fold line 21 and pushed through the aperture 19 of tab 18 so as to secure the tabs together. By this means, a neat and attractive lid is provided for the box, the lid also providing a convenient carrying handle by means of tabs 18, 18'.

Although the box shown has six sides, the invention is applicable to boxes having other numbers of sides depending upon particular requirements.

Figure 4 shows a blank from which the box shown in the drawings may be assembled.

Claims (8)

1. A box formed from a single sheet blank having, when assembled, a regular shape in plan and comprising a pair of parallel first sides integrally connected to a first base piece at opposite edges thereof, the first base piece having a central fold line parallel to the said edges; and further sides connected between the respective ends of the first side, two of the further sides at each end being connected along a line in a plane containing the central fold line and having a second base piece connected therewith, the second base piece having a fold line also in the plane containing the central fold line and overlying the respective end of the first base piece when the box is in the assembled condition.

2. A box according to claim 1, which is generally a regular hexagon in plan view.

3. A box according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein each of the first sides has a single further side extending from each end, adjacent further sides at each end being connected together by tabs.

4. A box according to claim 3, wherein each further side has a flap forming part of the second base piece, the flaps from adjacent further sides also being connected by means of tabs.

5. A box according to any of the preceding claims, including a lid formed integrally therewith.

6. A box according to claim 5, wherein the lid comprises flaps attached foldably to the sides.

7. A box according to claim 6, wherein at least one of the lid flaps is provided with a tab, the remaining lid flaps being provided with slots through which the tab passes when the box is assembled and the lid is closed.

8. A box substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.