FR2627746A1 - Stackable bread container - has prescored and precut flat panel which can be folded into container with securing flaps and four support surfaces on end panels - Google Patents

Abstract

The stackable container e.g. for bread is made by folding a one-piece sheet of corrugated cardboard or other similar semi-rigid material. The pre-scored and precut sheet (1) has a rectangular base (2) with fold lines (3,4) for the side (5) and end (6) panels. The side panels have flaps (51) which fold inside the end panels and reinforcing sections (53). The end panels have an upper section (62) which folds over to the inside of the container covering the side flaps about a prescored line (61). Both end panels have press out supports which have slits cut along the sides (63,64) and three fold lines (66-68). The end panels are secured by flaps (70) which fit into slots (72). When the container is assembled, the supports in the end panels protrude inwards to provide surfaces on which other containers may be stacked. ADVANTAGE - The containers are easy to assemble and provide a simple means of stacking with less chance of damage to the stacking surfaces.

Description

STACKABLE TRAY
The invention relates to a tray or tray obtained from a blank of corrugated cardboard or another semi-rigid material suitably cut and creased. It aims in particular to achieve a means by allowing stacking.

Various solutions are already known which make it possible to make trays stacked one on top of the other, so as to prevent them from sliding.

A simple means consists in providing studs projecting from the edge of the side walls and corresponding recesses at the edge of the bottom panel. When two trays are superimposed one on the other, the pins of the lower tray fit into the recesses of the overlying tray and ensure their cohesion. Against any relative lateral movement.

To consolidate the connection and improve stability, we can spare the pins in the corners. Finally, to avoid cutting lights in the bottom of the trays, it is also possible to form bearing surfaces on which the upper tray comes to rest.

Unless they are reinforced, the posts have the disadvantage of being easily damaged during handling. They also require precise positioning of the trays for the formation of stacks.

The subject of the invention is the production of a stackable tray, intended in particular for bulky and relatively light products such as articles to be thrown away after use based on cotton wool or cellulose foam, or else food products of the brioche or bread type. , which has satisfactory stability during the formation of stacks, even of relatively high height, and the handling of which is as simple as possible.

According to the invention, a tray, made from a blank of corrugated cardboard or other semi-rigid material, comprising a central panel and at least two opposite side panels extended by a flap articulated along a first line of folding parallel to said central panel, is characterized in that said first fold line is interrupted, in at least one place, by two transverse cuts made in the flap and extending into the panel, said cuts being connected by parallel fold lines to the first line, namely a second line drawn in the panel, and, a third and fourth line drawn in the flap, so as to ensure, after assembly, the formation of a dihedral, one of the legs of which is substantially parallel to the central back panel.

Thanks to this arrangement, cleaning is simple. bearing surfaces protruding towards the inside of the tray, at a desired distance from the edge of the side panels. These surfaces are sufficiently resistant by their structure to support the trays placed on them.

Furthermore, the side walls provide effective lateral locking by forming a belt all around.

An additional advantage lies in the fact that the solution of the invention can be adapted to any type of tray insofar as it is possible to reserve a flap along two opposite side panels.

the making of diedres, by folding a blank around lines arranged at different levels, is in itself already well known, but to the knowledge of the applicant, they had never been applied to the stacking of trays or other packaging.

The patent FR 2454971 for example relates to the wedging of objects inside a package by means of dihedrons. However, it does not give any indication allowing this means to be used for stacking boxes.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge from the description which follows of an embodiment of the container, description given by way of non-limiting example and with reference to the appended drawings in which
Figure 1 shows a blank of cardboard cut and grooved shaped
ment to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial view of the tray after assembly,
representing the bearing surfaces.

In Figure 1, there is shown, laid flat, a blank of corrugated cardboard or any other equivalent semi-rigid material, the cutouts are shown in solid lines and the creases or fold lines in short dashed lines.

It comprises a central panel 2 of substantially quadrangular shape delimited by four fold lines, at least two of which are parallel to each other: two longitudinal lines 3 and two transverse lines 4. The fold lines 3 and 4 connect the central panel 2 to four panels side 5, 6.

The two longitudinal panels 5 are extended by flaps 51, articulated along fold lines 52 extending the fold lines 4. It is observed that the lines 52 are slightly inclined relative to the adjacent line 4-. The objective is to obtain a tray with a flared shape.

In the example shown, the two side panels 5 have been cut and grooved so as to provide two longitudinal reinforcing flaps 53.

However, it is obviously possible to shape the panel differently without departing from the scope of the invention.

The two transverse panels 6 are extended along a first fold line 61; parallel to line 4, by a flap 62.

In accordance with the invention, cutouts have been made in the panels 6 and their flap 62 allowing the formation of dihedrons, one of the legs of which can serve as a support surface for an overlying tray.

The first fold line 61 is interrupted in two places - for the formation of two dihedrons, but one can just as well be provided with only one - by a pair of cutouts 63, 64 which extend transversely on either side of this one. The cuts were made in the flap 62, at a distance from its free edge 65, and they were extended as far as the panel 6, at a distance from the fold line 4.

In the example shown, these cutouts are rectilinear and parallel to each other, but they could draw other lines, broken for example, without departing from the scope of the invention.

A second fold line 66 has been drawn, or grooved, connecting the cutouts 63, 64, inside the panel 6.

Similarly, a third and a fourth fold line, 67 and 68, connecting the cutouts 63 and 64, have been drawn inside the flap 62. These fold lines 66, 67, 68 are parallel to the first line 61 .

The arrangement and the distance of these different lines between them are chosen so as to obtain, after pivoting of the flap 62 around the first line 61, the formation of a dihedron including one of the legs A, delimited by the second and third fold lines 66 and 67, is substantially perpendicular to the panel 6.

A light 70 in the form of a handle was made in the flap, and a corresponding blind cutout in the panel 6. The tongue 72 obtained by the blind cutout makes it possible to lock the flap 62 in position, after assembly, by folding. through the cutout 70.

In fact, other solutions are possible depending on the various embodiments of the trays. For example, one can provide on the flap 62 lateral returns, not shown, which are folded at right angles and which come to bear on the adjacent walls.

In another embodiment, not shown, the flap is substantially the same height as the panel 6, and comprises on its free edge of the pins that are engaged, for locking, in corresponding slots, made in. the central panel along the fold line 4.

A variant of the previous solution, not shown, consists in providing a return extending the flap 62 along its edge parallel to the fold line 61. This return is applied against the bottom panel.

The assembly of the tray from the blank shown in the figure is easily deduced from the above description. It is briefly resumed.

Each of the side panels 5, 6 is folded at right angles to the central panel 2, and the flaps 51 are brought inwardly of the volume thus defined, against the panels 6. The reinforcements 53 are folded inward. The flaps 62 are pivoted until they come to bear against the flaps 51. Finally, the assembly is secured by bending the tabs 72 through the slots 70 and the notches made in the flaps if necessary. .

The dihedrons automatically took the position shown in Figure 2 due to the difference in height of the fold lines. The legs A substantially parallel to the bottom panel can serve as a support surface for a tray that is placed on top. The slightly flared shape of the trays makes it easy to place them one on top of the other.

Of course, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described or shown above but covers all the variants within the reach of the skilled person.

Claims (8)

1. Tray made from a blank of corrugated cardboard or any  other equivalent semi-rigid material, having a central panel  (2) and at least two opposite side panels (6), each extended  by a flap (62) articulated along a first fold line  (61) parallel to said central panel, characterized in that said  first fold line (62) is interrupted, in at least one  right side, by a pair of transverse cuts (63, 64) made  in the flap (62) and extending into the panel (6), said  cutouts being interconnected by paral fold lines  related to the first, namely a second fold line (66)  plotted in the panel (6), and, a third and a fourth  lines (67, 68) drawn in the flap, so as to ensure, after  mounting, the formation of a diedre of which one of the legs is sensi  clearly parallel to the central bottom panel (2). 2. Tray according to claim 1, characterized in that the pan  lateral loops (6) and their respective flaps comprise two pairs of  cutouts (63, 64). 3. Tray according to one of the preceding claims, characterized  in that the cutouts (63, 64) are straight. 4. Tray according to claim 3, characterized in that the  cutouts are perpendicular to the fold lines (61). 5. Tray according to one of the preceding claims, characterized  in that the locking in position of the flaps (62) is ensured by a  medium tab (72) and light (70). 6. Tray according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that  that the locking in position of the flaps (62) is ensured by  returns provided on the lateral edges of said flaps, bearing  on the adjacent panels. 7. Tray according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that  that the flap (62) is the same height as the panel (6) on which  it is articulated. 8. Tray according to the preceding claim, characterized in that  the flap (62) is extended by a return bearing on the flap  central level.