Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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AE 397 PATENT
DISPENSER BOX FOR PRODUCT IN TUBE OR WIRE FORM
1 Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a dispenser box for product in
tube or wire form, comprising a container box, a reel guide
arranged therein for a reel comprising a cylindrical core
and two flanges for accommodating the product in tube or
wire form, and an opening in a narrow side of the container
box for passing the product in tube ore wire form out of
same.
Back~round of the Invention
Heat-shrink tubes, insulating tubes, wire and similar
products are offered in various arrangements, such as, on
small reels in container boxes. For the purpo~es of
simplification of the following description, reference is
made therein exclusively to tubes. That term then also
includes other similar products. The container box presents
itsel~ in the form of a dispenser box. The tube is not only
held in stock in the dispenser box, but can also be pulled
out of the dispenser box, cut off and then put on to use.
Dispenser boxes are known in the state of the art. There
are dispenser boxes in which the reels are not guided, and
dispenser boxes in which they are guided. Unguided reels
tend to tilt when the tube is pulled out of the box. They
jam in the container box to such a degree that the tube can
only be pulled out of the container box by the application
of force, or indeed cannot ~e pulled out of the container
~ox at all. In container boxes with guided reels, the reels
rotate as the tube i~ pulled out. The tube can be pulled
out of the container box in a uniform manner by applying a
small amount o~ force. Generally components which are deep-
drawn from plàstic material are used for guiding the reel.
Such components are fitted in the form of an insert into the
container box or are fixedly joined thereto. The container
box typically comprises cardboard. As stated, the known
reel guide arrangements consist of plastic material.
Sometimes two different plastic materials are also used.
That makes disposal, which is nowadays important, more
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1 difficult. the cardboard has to be separated form the
plastic material, and the different plastic materials
possibly also have to be separated form each other. In
addition to this disad~antage which is linked to the
material involved, the known dispenser boxes frequently also
suffer form a further shortcoming. In the case of may
container boxes, a narrow side has two transverse slits
which are disposed on above the other. The tube is pulled
out through one of the transverse slits, while the free end
of the tube is inserted into the other transverse slit,
after the desired length has been cut off. The end of the
tube is fixed in that way. However, the stiffness of the
material constituting the tube can be pulled out of the
container box again, only with some difficulty. It
frequently also happens that the limb portion remaining
between the transverse slits tears.
ary of the Invention
Taking that state of the art as its basic starting
point, the object of the invention is to so design a
dispenser box with guide means for the reel, that it can be
produced form a single material. It can then also be
disposed of without difficulty and in keeping with the
times. The invention further seeks to provide that the
dispenser box is of such configuration that the tube is
reliably guided through the opening and does not tend to
slip back into the container box.
In the dispenser box of the ~eneral kind set forth in
the opening part of this specification, that object is
attained in accordance with the invention by a plate which
can be inserted into the container box, the plate having a
stamped portion which is stamped into the plate and which
can be pressed out in such a way that together with the
plate it forms the reel quide. The reel guide is thus
formed by a plate which can be fitted into the container
box. The plate is pretreated, impressed, stamped or
perforated, in such a way that the stamped portion can be
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1 pressed out of the plate. By means of a small number of
simple manual operations, the stamped portion can be so
folded or bent and inserted that in conjunction with the
plate it fox~s a guide for the reel.
An advantageous embodiment provides that the stamped
portion comprised a circular section and two limbs which
extend therefrom, the diameter of the circular section
corresponds to the inside diameter of the core, and, after
the stamped portion has been pressed out of the plate, the
limbs jointly form a mounting means or projection which is
carried by the plate. The reed can be fitted on to the
mounting means, with its cylindrical core. As the reel
bears on both sides thereof against the insides of the
container box, by way of the flanges of the reel, the reel
is se~urely guidedO The diameter of the flanges corresponds
; to the height or width of the container box. That
configuration provides large surfaces with which the reel
cannot tilt, either when the tube is pulled out of the
opening or when it is pulled inclinedly out of the opening.
It has been stated that the circular section together
with the two limbs forms a projection. With that
configuration, the two limbs extend parallel to the
longitudinal axis of the projection. More specifically in
that respect the invention provides that one limb is
connected to the plate along a bend line and the other limb
goes into a push-in anchor which also belongs to the stamped
portion, and, after the stamped portion has been pressed out
of the plate, the push-in anchor can be so anchored in the
plate that the limbs depart therefrom at an angle of 90.
The one limb is thus permanently joined to the plate and is
turned through 90 along the bend line when the mounting
means or projected is formed. The other limb is joined to
the so~-called push-in anchor. The latter is inserted into
slots in such a way that the limb which is joined thereto
can also be anglad through 90 and then extends parallel to
the longitudinal axis of the projection which is formed in
that way.
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1 Desirably the functions are distributed to the two
limbs in such a manner that the lower limb remains connected
to the plate along the bend line while the upper limb goes
into th~ push-in anchor.
In regard to the shape of the push-in anchor, it is
desirable for the anchor to have a connecting limb connected
to the upper limb and at the ends thereof a respective
anchor tip, while slots are provided in the plate at such
locations that the anchor tips can be inserted into same
when the stamped portion is pressed out. After the push-in
anchor, the two limb5 and the circular section have been
press out of the plate, the limbs are bent or folded through
90 along the specified bend lines and the push-in anchor is
inserted with the anchor tips into the two slots. In other
words, forming the mounting means, the stamped portion is
pressed out of the plate, the limbs are bent along the bend
lines and the anchor tips are inserted into the slots.
Desirably the anchor tips have widened ends. That means
that the anchor tips have to be inserted inclinedly into the
slots and/or that their widened ends have to be compressed
somewhat upon being inserted. After that, however, they
prevent the anchor tips from being pulled out of the slots.
An advantageous configuration provides that the plate
is divided by a bend line into a main portion and a flap,
the ben line passes through the slots and the lower limb is
connected to the main portion. The dimensions of the plate
ccrrespond in substanc~ to the inside dimensions of the wide
side of the container ~ox. Accordingly it can be easily
inserted into same. In addition it is held therein
practically without play. The bend line permits the flap to
be folded down relative to the main portion of the plate.
When the flap is folded down in that way, the slots which
are disposed on the bend line are more readily accessible.
The anchor tips of the push-in anchor can be more easily
inserted into the slots. The flap is then folded up again
and is again disposed in one plan with the main portion.
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1 In another advantageous configuration, it is provided
that the container box has a lower and an upper cover flap
and provided in the lower cover flap is a tab which can be
pressed out of same, the tab after being pressed out
S provides an openiny and the tube passes through the opening
and is then guided out of the container box between the
lower and the upper cover flaps~ The tube is reliably
guided between the lower and the upper cover flaps. At the
same time it is held by frictional between the lower and the
upper cover flaps. Thus, after the tube has been pulled out
of the container box, it does not run back on to the reel as
a result of its ~lasticity, and can thereby no longer be
gripped for the outside.
Tubes and the like are required and marketed in
different sizes, colors and materials. It can happen that
a user requires and stocks a plurality of different kinds of
tubes. For that purpose he purchases plurality o~ dispenser
boxes with the various kinds of tubes. It would be
desirable i~ they would stand close together at one location
at the user's location. That would reduce the amount of
space required while further keep:ing things tidy. It then
also simplifies use. The user can see at a glance the
variaus dispenser boxes with the various kinds of tubes. He
can pull the various kinds of tubes out of the various
dispenser boxes without trouble, searching around or other
difficulties. To achieve those advantages, in a further
desirable configuration the invention provides that push-in
anchors are provided at one narrow side of the container box
and slots are provided at the other narrow side thereof, for
receiving the anchors. That means that two dispenser boxes
which are disposed in juxtaposed relationship can be
connected together by the slots and push-in anchors provided
on the container boxes. Desirably the push-in anchors to be
pressed out of a wide side of the container box. The user
will purchase the number of dispenser boxes that he wants.
He presses t~e push-in anchors out of the dispenser boxes
and then he positions them side-by-side, with their wide
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1 sides against each other. He fits the push-in anchors of a
container box into the slots of the adjacent container box.
In that way he forms a store of the different kinds of
tubes.
It was noted hereinabove that the dispenser box is to
be disposed of in an environmentally friendly and simple
fashion. It is to be possible to produce it from one
material. The described structure according to the
invention allows that. In terms of being environmentally
friendly and in particular viable regarding costs, both the
plate and also the reel and the container box are made from
cardboard, in particular recycled cardboard. That reduces
the material costs involved in manufacture, and also
provides a commercial advantage.
Brie~ Description of the Drawinas
The invention will now be further described by way of
example by means of the embodiment illustrated in the
drawing in which:
Fig. l is a perspective view of the plate with the
stamped portion not yet pressed out of same,
- Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the plate with the flap
folded downwardly and thus with the stamped portion
partially pressed out,
Fig. 3 further perspective view of the plate a~ter
formation of the reel guide and insertion of the push-in
anchor into its slots,
Fig. 4 is a view in section taken along line IV - IV in
Fig. 3 to show the reel guide with reel fitted thereon,
Fig. 5 shows an exploded perspective view of the reel
guide with the reel upon being inserted into the container
box, and
Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the container box after
insertion of the reel guide with the reel, after partial
closure, and with ~ diagrammatic view of the way in which
two container boxes fit together.
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1 Detailed Descri~tion of the Preferred Embodiments
Figures 1 through 3 show the plate 12 comprising
the main portion 14 and the flap 16. The main portion 14
and the flap 16 are connected together along the bend line
18. A stamped portion 20 is provided in the plate 12. It
is formed by stamping the plate 12 along the solid lines
enclosing the stamped portion 20. The stamped portion 20
comprises a circular section 22, the lower limb 24, the
upper li~b 26 and the push-in anchor 28. ThP latter
comprises the connecting limb 30, the two anchor tips 32 and
the widened ends 34 thereof. Along the lower edge of the
lower limb 24 the stamped portion 20 remains connected to
the plate 12. Here there is a bend line 36. The bend line
36 is produced by impressing or embossing of the plate 12.
The same applies in regard to the further bend lines 36
~etween the upper edge o~ the lower limb 24 and the circular
section 22, between its upper edge and the push-in anchor
28. Two slots 38 are disposed on the bend line 18 between
the main portion 14 and the flap.
When viewing Figure l or Figure 2, the two slots 38 are
disposed precisely under the anchor tips 32. The plate 12
ser~es to provide the reel guide 40. For that purpose the
flap 16 is folded rearwardly or downwardly, in the direction
of the arrow shown if Figure 1. That gives the configuration
shown in Figure 2. As a result of that, the upper limb 26
and the push-in anchor 28 are now free. The circular
section 22 and therewith also the two limbs 24 and 26 are
now pivoted out of the plane of the plate 12. The two limbs
24 and 26 are then each bent over through 90 along the bend
lines 36 enclosing them. During that movement the two push-
in anchors 3~ are pushed downwardly in the direction of the
two arrows shown in Figure 2, and inserted into the slots
38. They are somewhat tilted for that purpose, which then
permits the widened ends 34 to be inserted into the slots
38. Those operations result in the reel guide 40 which is
shown in Figures 3 and 4. The flap 16 is than folded
forwardly or upwardly in the dir~ction of the arrow shown in
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I Figure 3. It again assumes its initial position shown in
dash-dotted lines in Figure 3~ The reel guide 40 is thus
finished and the reel 42 can be pushed thereon. Ths reel 42
comprises the cylindrical core 44 and the two flanges 46.
A tube 48 is wound onto it.
Figure 5 again shows the reel 42 on its reel guide 40.
The bend line 18 is not shown, to simplify the drawing here.
Figure 5 again shows the container box 50 which only one is
visible, the two narrow sides 54 of which also only one is
visible, the bottom 56 and the two tabs 58. Only one of the
tabs 58 is also visible. The container box 50 further
comprises the lower cover flap 60 with the tab 62, ~s
Figure 6 shows, an opening 64 is produced when the tab 62 is
pressed out. The container box 50 further includes the
upper cover flap 62 with a wide push-in anchor 68 and two
narrow push-in anchors 70. All the push-in anchors have
widened ends 72. Slots 74 are disposed on the bend line 76,
in opposite relationship to the push-in anchors 78 which can
be pressed out of wide side 52. Slots 80 at the other
narrow side of the container box 50 are disposed in opposite
relationship to the push-in anchors 78.
The form a dispenser box, the reel guide 40 with the
reel 42 is pushed into the open container box 50 in the
direction of the arrow shown in Figure 5. The lower cover
: 25 flap 60 if folded away rearwardly or downwardly along the
bend lina 62. Its tab (not specifically shown) is pushed
into the container box. The tab 62 is forded upwardly or
remains in its position shown in Figure 5. It then assumes
the position shown in Figure 6. The tube 48 is pulled out
of the opsning 64. The upper cover flap 66 is folded
downwardly in the direction of the arrow indicated in Figure
6. Its push-in anchors 68 and 70 are inserted int the 510ts
74 so that the container box 50 is closed and the dispenser
box is finished.
As can be seen from Figure 6, the tube 48 is guided
between the lower cover flap 60 and ths upper cover flap 66.
The dispenser box can be suspended on the loop of a sales
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shelf arrangement by means of the tab 62 with its opening.
If a user has purchased a number of dispens~r boxes, he can
press the push-in anchors 78 out of a wide side 52 and
insert them into the slots in an adjacent dispenser box.
The gripping tab 82 makes it easier to grip and manipulate
the push-in anchors 78.
Having described the preferred embodiments herein, it
should be appreciated that variations may be made thereto
without departing from the contemplated scope of the
invention. The true scope of the invention is set forth in
the claims appended hereto.
