Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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CASE AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING SAME
The present invention relates to a case of the type described more in detail
below. With
the term "case" is in the connection meant a trough-like bottom portion with
or without a
lid as well as only a lid separately. The present invention also relates to a
method of
manufacturing a case.
The invention particularly relates to cases for food products, particularly
fresh fish, e.g.
salmon from salmon breedings. Such cases have so far been made of materials,
which
can resist moisture, i.e. wood, metals or plastic materials. However, none of
these
materials can without special considerations and construction measures be
regarded as
harmless to the environment and sanitary, since it is inherent in the nature
of these
materials, that a recycling ought to be realized due to economic and other
reasons.
However, a recycling is a very lengthy, time consuming and expensive
procedure, since
the relatively expensive starting product must be subjected to a reliable
cleaning, control
and possibly repair work as well as a returning to the starting point.
Consequently a
recycling is not considered in praxis.
Applicant then discovered, that it is possible to use a more typical one-way
material i.e.
cardboard or corrugated cardboard, which is provided with one or several very
thin
plastic layers as a barrier against moisture. Applicant has also found, that
this idea works
quite well in praxis. However, stability and sanitation requirements have not
been easily
met in a fully satisfactory way and neither a frequent requirement, that the
case for
storage and transport reasons must be provided as a finished, prepared plane
blank, which
quickly, simply and reliably can be converted into a useful case in e.g. a
filling station for
fresh fish. Finally, problems can arise in connection with the arrangement of
handles and
the application or mounting of a lid respectively and also a disassembly of
the case and
the handles and the lid respectively to a plane blank again for removal to
e.g. a recycling
plant. Also a lid, the use of which not always is mandatory, can have its own
weakness
and not be compatible with the case in a desirable way respectively.
Thus, the present invention may, by using a manufacturing material which is
particularly
suitable for a one-way use, further develop already known cases and cardboard-
like
constructions, in order to make them meet relatively high stability and
sanitation
requirements, make them heat insulating against the environment, make them
allow a
relatively simple and economic production, and let finished, prepared blanks
be
transformed to useful cases in a convenient, simple and quick way, e.g. in a
filling
station, let the handling of the cases be carried out in an advantageous way,
e.g. in
ergonomical respects, as well as let the disassembly for recycling purposes be
carried out
simply and expeditiously. Another object of the invention is to develop an
optimally
functioning lid, when a lid for the case is needed.
In accordance with one aspect of the invention there is provided a case (1)
with a lid (2),
wherein the case is configured for packing, storing and transporting food
stuffs, and
wherein the case is manufactured from a substantially plane blank, which
includes a
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central rectangular field (18) to which via first, second, third, and fourth
notched hinges
(19; 20; 24; and 25), arranged on the inside (21), upwardly foldable side
walls (22 and
23) and end walls (26 and 27), respectively, are attached, wherein the corner
areas
between walls adjacent each other are filled with folding lugs (28, 29, 30,
31, 32, 33, 34,
35), which in pairs are mutually separated by substantially diagonally
outwardly directed
fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth notched hinges (44, 45, 46, 47), and which
are designed
to be folded together in pairs in order to abut against an adjacent wall and
be fastened to
the adjacent wall, the folding lug pairs being designed to in a folded
condition be folded
on the outside of an adjacent end wall, a handle element (17) being designed
to be folded
around such an end wall in order to in a lever-like way exert a press action
of two walls
adjacent each other against each other, the folding lug pairs folded away in
this way
being included, the handle element being designed to be fastened to the
outside of these
folding lug pairs, their total thickness, inherent elasticity and mutual
distance being
utilized to achieve an increased gripping depth and where appropriate extra
gripping
action jointly with the handle element, a lid comprising a plane main field
(58) and
adjacent border parts (63, 64, 65, 66) in order to form at least one cover,
which can be
opened up and reclosed again, the border parts and the main field in at least
one area
being cut through and between such through cuts being provided a ninth notched
hinge
interconnecting the ends of the cuts within the main field in the form of a
groove or
perforation, the through cuts, up to the time, when the hinge function is to
be utilized,
being held together jointly with the adjacent lid material by provisions of a
protective
tape, which is provided to be removed or be applied again, wherein the border
parts (65,
66) on the end wall sides of the lid are at their free longitudinal edges
provided with cuts
(96, 97), which converge towards the central field, and between the inner ends
of the cuts
extend double-folding notches (98, 99) forming trapezoidal locking flaps (100,
101),
which may be folded inwards and downwards subsequent to the folding upwards of
the
border parts in order to with their points be directed towards the end areas
of the side wall
border parts and lock them in their positions, and that the end wall border
parts open the
access to the handle elements of the case design and form gripping elements
jointly with
them respectively.
The case (1) and the lid (2), respectively, entirely or partially may be made
from
corrugated cardboard, the lid may be made from plain corrugated cardboard (3)
comprising a corrugated paper layer (4), which on its two sides is coated with
plane paper
layers (5 and 6 respectively), and a very thin plastic layer (7 and 8) as a
moisture barrier
between the corrugated paper layer (4) and the plane paper layers (5 and 6
respectively).
The case (1) may include first and second corrugated paper layers (11 and 12
respectively) facing a plane, wherein at least one of the sides of the first
and second
corrugated paper layers (11 and 12) may be in contact with a respective side
of a plastic-
coated paper layer (10), which corrugated paper layers in their turn face
plane, outer
paper layers (13 and 14 respectively), with intermediate thin plastic layers
(15 and 16
respectively) as a moisture barrier. The paper layers may have a thickness of
about 20
gm, and the plastic layer may have a thickness of about 15 m.
The corner areas between walls adjacent each other may be filled, within the
framework
of a rectangular shape for the entire blank, with the folding lugs (28, 29,
30, 31, 32, 33,
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34 and 35), and wherein adjacent the inside 21 are tenth, eleventh, twelfth,
thirteenth,
fourteenth, fifteenth, sixteenth, and seventeenth notched hinges (36, 37, 38,
39, 40, 41, 42
and 43) to allow a folding of the lugs towards the adjacent wall sides whereas
the fifth,
sixth, seventh, and eighth notched hinges (44, 45, 46 and 47) may be
positioned
substantially diagonally between each lug pair and outwardly directed to form
a
hypotenuse for each lug and mutually separate the lug pairs. The fifth, sixth,
seventh, and
eighth notched hinges (44, 45, 46, 47) may be positioned between the central
field and
two walls adj acent each other and end on the end wall sides at a distance
from the outer
corner point of the blank in order to obtain a folding shape with truncated
corners.
The third, tenth, and twelfth notched hinges (24, 36, 38) and the fourth,
fourteenth, and
sixteenth notched hinges (25, 40, 42) between the side walls and the folding
lugs as well
as between the central field and the end walls may be located along a
continuous notched
hinge. The eleventh and fifteenth and the thirteenth and seventeenth notched
hinges (37
and 41 and 39 and 43 respectively) between the end walls and the folding lugs
may tilt
inwards towards the center of the respective end wall with an angle of 1-10 ,
and the side
walls (22, 23) may slightly tilt inwards towards the inlet opening of the case
in order to
give a possible lid a slightly larger play for a mounting and a certain press
fit respectively
during the final application phase.
The eleventh and fifteenth and the thirteenth and seventeenth notched hinges
(37 and 41
and 39 and 43 respectively) between the end walls and the folding lugs may
tilt inwards
towards the center of the respective end wall within an angle of about 4 .
The finished, folded case may be designed to be supplemented to a shape, which
may be
carried by provisions of handle elements (17) having a width, which width
corresponds to
the width of the end walls and including a field (53) designed to bridge the
total thickness
of the end walls and the lug pairs, folded against them, and a field (54) for
fastening the
outside of the lugs (28;30 and 32;34) folded against the end walls.
The field (54), may be designed to be fastened to the lugs, folded against the
end walls,
along its free longitudinal edge a central, substantially trapezoidal recess
(55) with a
tongue (56), insertable into the innermost part of the recess, which tongue
extends
longitudinally and parallel to the central field (18) and may be connected to
the first
mentioned field (54) solely via a longitudinal side, which may be formed by a
folding
notch (57) on the side facing the end wall, and in that the tongue may be
designed to be
folded inwards towards the end wall with an angle of about 90 and may be
supported in
the inwardly folded position with its short sides also by the obliquely
downwardly
directed doublefolded edges of the inwardly folded lug pairs.
The handle elements (17) may be designed as loose elements, a field (52) being
connected to the bridge field (53) and being designed to be fastened, to the
inner side of
the respective end wall.
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The handle elements (17) may be made from a strong cardboard material.
The lid (2) may have a central rectangular field (58), which is slightly
larger than the
outer dimensions of the case (1), which field via eighteenth, ninteenth,
twentieth, and
twenty-first notched hinges (59, 60, 61, 62) adjoins border parts (63, 64, 65,
66), which
between them in the corner areas via twenty-second, twenty-third, twenty-
fourth, twenty-
fifth, twenty-sixth, twenty-seventh, twenty-eighth, and twenty-ninth notched
hinges (67,
68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74) include lugs (75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82),
which by
provisions of diagonally extending thirtieth, thirty-first, thirty-second, and
thirty-third
notched hinges (83, 84, 85, 86) in pairs may be mutually separated, and
wherein flaps
(102, 103) may be located adjacent to the side border parts, via doublefolding
hinges
(104, 105), and de-signed to from within abut the side border parts, wherein
short
rectangular projections (87, 88, 89, 90) may be designed to be inserted into
the side edge
areas of the control field (58), which on the inner side (91) are provided
with smooth
recesses (92, 93, 94, 95), only cut in the innermost upper layer. The
projections may be
designed to hook behind cuts, which constitute the inner longitudinal edges of
the
recesses, and in this way lock the flaps in their inwardly folded position,
the double-
folded lugs being positioned between the flaps and the side border parts.
The free outer edges of the lugs (75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82) may slightly
tilt inwards
in relation to the border part, from which the edges project and obliquely,
downwardly
towards the field (58) directed extension of the free edges of the lugs being
formed, when
the lug pairs are folded.
The border parts of the lid (2) on the end wall sides at their free
longitudinal edges may
be provided with cuts (96, 97), which converge towards the central field (58),
wherein
doublefolding hinges (98, 99) extend between the inner ends of the cuts (96,
97) in order
to form trapezoidal locking flaps (100, 101), which may be designed to be
folded inwards
and downwards in relation to the upwardly folded border parts in order to be
directed
with their points towards the end areas of the side border parts and lock them
in their
position, and simultaneously allow a double function, since the end wall
border parts with
their cut out areas leave free an access to the handle elements of the case
and form
gripping provisions jointly with them respectively, which gripping provisions
may be
designed to always be active for the lid but also for the case, if the case
and the lid,
mounted on it, may be fastened to each other.
The longitudinal border sides of the lid, at a small distance from one of the
end walls,
may be slotted all the way to the main plane of the lid, parallel to the end
wall, which
slotting may be provided in connection with the punching, grooving, or
perforating of the
lid blank, also a downwardly open recess being provided in the two end walls,
which
facilitates the gripping of the lid and the case in their handle elements at
about the same
level and which leaves free a field on the end walls of the case.
The field, which constitutes the main plane (58) of the lid, may be provided
between the
two adjacent slotting ends with the ninth notched hinge allowing the hinge
action, a blank
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for such a lid being provided, in its plane condition, with the protective
tape along the
two elongated sides, covering a portion along the inner side and the outer
side and
consequently covering the moisture sensitive underside of the border sides.
The field, which constitutes the main plane (58) of the lid, may be provided
with gripping
holes for an edge tape application device being provided in the inner corners
of the outer
corner lugs.
Upon application of the protective tape, the lid may be provided to be folded
and fastened
to obtain its finished shape, whereby the cuts may be prevented from
functioning, a
strapping being provided to be stretched around the lid applied on the case,
straight above
the section, which extends from the adj acent end wall and all the way to the
ninth
notched hinge, and wherein, in case of icing up, an inspection, or a limited
product
removal, the strapping may be provided to be displaced towards and past the
ninth
notched hinge and the protective tape being provided to be split along the
cuts, a detached
cover being provided to be lifted up towards the main field of the lid, a
reclosure being
provided to be effected by lowering the lid and pushing back the strapping to
its original
position to keep the cover in place and keep the lid and the case together,
strappings
being provided to be placed around the two ends of finished packs.
The protective tape may cover the through cuts and may be adapted to, in a
later phase,
be divided along the through cuts, the protective tape being provided, before
division, to
serve as a protective as well as a uniting provisions.
The protective tape may be an adhesive tape, which may be reapplied.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method
of
manufacturing a case, wherein draining holes may be made by punched holes,
that, in a
machine which folds and glues the case blanks to their finished shape,
fingerlike nozzles
may be inserted into the holes until a stop flange on the nozzles abuts the
wall material,
which surrounds the holes, the nozzles being made, with their points, to
penetrate the
holes and to end up with outlet openings for melted adhesive roughly in the
middle of the
depth of the holes, adhesive being introduced and simultaneously the nozzles
being
rotated, a die being driven towards the case blank side, which may be turned
away from
the nozzles, against and around the nozzle points and against the wall
material around the
holes, which material may be forcefully compressed between the die and nozzle
flange,
the introduced melted adhesive being made to penetrate and be pressed into the
material
around the holes and solidifying immediately, a sealing of the hole wall being
obtained,
which prevents water from penetrating into the wall material and softening it.
Additional characterizing features and advantages of the invention are set
forth in the
following description, reference being made to the accompanying drawings,
which show
a few preferred, but not limiting embodiments of the invention. The drawings
show in
detail in:
Fig. 1 a perspective view from above of a first embodiment of a finished case
according
to the invention;
Fig. 2 a perspective view from below of the case according to Fig. 1;
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2d
Figs. 3 and 4 views similar to Fig. 1 of the same case in production and
disassembly
phases;
Fig. 5 a planar view of already punched and grooved respectively plane blanks
for a case
according to Figs. 1-4;
Figs. 6 and 7 views similar to Figs. 1 and 2 of a second embodiment of a
finished case
according to the invention;
Fig. 8 a planar view of an already punched and grooved respectively plane
blank for a
case according to Figs. 6 and 7;
Fig. 9 a planar view of the interior of an already punched and grooved
respectively blank
for a lid according to the invention for any of the possible case embodiments;
Figs. 10 and 11 respectively cross sectional views of a corrugated cardboard
material for
case designs and lid designs respectively;
Fig. 12 a planar view from below/from the interior of a modified alternative
lid according
to the invention;
Figs. 13 and 14 perspective views from below and from above respectively of
the lid
according to Fig. 9;
Figs. 15 and 16 perspective views from below and from above respectively of
the lid
according to Fig. 12;
Fig. 17 a perspective view from above of a lid according to Fig. 9 and 13, 14
respectively, mounted on a case according to any of the possible designs;
Fig. 18 a planar view of a blank for an additional embodiment of a case
according to the
invention as well as a few detailed views showing a few phases of the
manufacturing
process;
Fig. 19 a perspective view from above of an additional embodiment of a case
according
to the invention with a mounted and secured lid;
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Fig. 20 a corresponding view of the same case with an upwardly folded lid
section;
Fig. 21 a planar view of a blank for a lid according to Figs. 19 and 20 ;
Fig. 22 a perspective view from below of a case made of a blank according to
Fig. 19 ;
Fig. 23 a perspective view from above of a case according to Fig. 22 ;
Fig. 24 a planar view of a blank for an additional case design according to
the invention ;
Fig. 25 a perspective view from below of a case made of a blank according to
Fig. 24 ; and
Fig. 26 a perspective view from above of a case according to Fig. 25.
In Figs. 1-5 a case design is shown it its entirety, whereas in Figs. 6 and 8
a case design 1' is shown
in its entirety. The two designs are substantially identical or similar, and
thus the same reference nu-
merals are used for both, but a prime sign is added for the second case
design. In the two embodi-
ments corrugated cardboard is a preferred manufacturing material, and this
material is also pre-
ferred, wlien a lid 2 is manufactured, which suitably comprises a plain
corrugated cardboard 3, i.e. a
corrugated paper layer 4, which on its two sides is coated witli a plane paper
layer 5 and 6 re-
spectively, preferably with a very thin plastic layer 7 and 8 respectively as
a vapor barrier between
layer 4 and layer 5 and 6 respectively. Corrugated cardboard 9 for the case
suitably is double, i.e. to
a plane, preferably on at least one side plastic-coated paper layer 10,
corrugated paper layers 11 and
12 respectively are applied on both sides, to which in their turn outer paper
layers 13 and 14 respec-
tively , preferably with intermediate thin plastic layers 15 and 16
respectively as a vapor barrier, are
applied. The paper layers preferably have a thickness of about 20 m and the
plastic layers, suitably
made of polyethylene, preferably have a thickness of about 15 m. Corrugated
cardboard materials
of this type are particularly suitable for recycling purposes and for direct
contact with food products
and are very strong and shape permanent as well as can resist moisture for a
relatively long time
without loosing the main part of its strength. Also they have very
satisfactory heat insulating
properties. The term "case" of course is in this connection to include a case
with a lid or without a
lid. The case design according to Figs. 1-5 comprises a loose handle element
17, which according to
Figs. 6-8 is made integral with the respective case blank, with reference
number 17'.
Figs. 5 and 8 show, that the blanks for a case according to the invention
include a central rectangu-
lar field 18 and 18' respectively, to which via folding notches 19 and 19'
respectively and 20 and
20' respectively on e.g. inner side 21 and 21' respectively upwardly tiltable
side walls 22 and 22'
respectively and 23 and 23' respectively are attached. In a similar fashion
end walls 26 and 26'
respectively and 27 and 27' respectively are via folding notches 24 and 24'
respectively and 25 and
25' respectively attached to the other two sides. The corner areas between
walls adjacent to each
other are filled up within the framework of a rectangular shape for the entire
blank with folding lugs
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28 and 28' respectively, 29 and 29' respectively, 30 and 30' respectively, 31
and 31' respectively,
32 and 32' respectively, 33 and 33' respectively , 34 and 34' respectively and
35 and 35' respec-
tively. Folding notches 36 and 36' respectively, 37 and 37' respectively, 38
and 38' respectively, 39
and 39' respectively, 40 and 40' respectively, 41 and 41' respectively, 42 and
42' respectively and
43 and 43' respectively, also positioned on the inner side, will then
facilitate a folding of said lugs
towards the adjacent wall sides, whereas roughly diagonally between each pair
of lugs outwardly
directed folding notches 44 and 44' respectively, 45 and 45'respectively, 46
and 46' respectively
and 47 and 47' respectively form a hypotenuse for each lug and separate the
two lugs between
themselves. According to a preferred embodiment the last-mentioned folding
notches start in the
corner point between the central field and two walls, adjacent to each other,
but they end on the end
wall side a few millimeters or a few centimeters from the outer corner point
of the blank, which i.a.
results in a folding shape having truncated corners, as is shown in Fig. 3.
The folding notches
mentioned above and below are every type of measure, which facilitates a
folding. Thus, it is
possible to use e.g. grooves, and/or embossings and/or perforations and/or
partial cuts into the blank
etc.
Whereas folding notches 24, 36, 38 and 25, 40, 42 and 24', 36', 38' and 25',
40', 42' respectively
preferably are located along a folding line, folding notches 37 and 41 and 39
and 43 respectively tilt
according to a preferred embodiment inwards towards the center of the
respective end wall with an
angle of 1-10 , preferably about 4 . This results in, that side walls 22, 23
and 22', 23' slightly tilt
inwards towards the inlet opening of the case, which in its turn results in,
that a lid will have a
slightly larger play, when it is applied to the case and can be applied with a
certain press fit during
this final application phase respectively. Also, products in the case will be
kept there with a slightly
improved security. It is of course possible to also or as an alternative let
folding notches 36 and 38
and 40 and 42 respectively tilt to the corresponding extent towards the center
of side walls 22,23
and 22', 23' respectively.
According to the invention the lug pairs are folded or left, when the walls
are folded upwards to
obtain a border shape, outside the walls and are then in their folded shape
folded to abut the end
walls (see Fig. 3). Then it is possible to use the truncated corner areas like
levers, the side walls and
the end walls being forcefully pressed against each other and possibly also
somewhat into the
material, which they are made of, in the final folding phase, which initially
is shown in the upper
right corner in Fig. 3 and finally in the uppermost corner in Fig. 3. In this
way initially existing gaps
48, 49, 50, 51 and 48', 49', 50', 51' respectively within the corner areas
disappear and completely
sealed corners are obtained , which is important as regards the sealing, the
stability and the sanita-
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tion. In case the double-folded lug pairs had been positioned inside the
walls, they had partly detri-
mentally influenced the interior of the case with the formation of unsanitary
pockets and gaps and
partly required a gluing and/or a stapling to one of the walls and to each
other in a very efficient
way in order to keep them sufficiently removed. However, since the inherent
elasticity is very large,
this would have been difficult to carry out, not least considering the
strength of the double corruga-
ted cardboard of this type and that the drawing apart-forces in this case are
directed straight away
from the gluing surfaces.
The finished, completely folded case (see the uppermost corner in Fig. 3) will
then be supplemented
to make it portable by attaching loose handle elements 17 having a width,
which corresponds to the
width of the end walls, and consisting of three fields, namely one field 52
for e.g. gluing the handle
elements onto the inner side of the end walls, one field 53 for bridging the
total thickness of the end
walls and the lug pairs, folded against the end walls, and which lug pairs can
be glued onto each
other and/or onto the end walls, the latter however preferably being avoided,
and one field 54 for
gluing in preferably only two points on the outer side of lugs 28 and 30 and
34 and 34 respectively
. It is important to note, that possibly resulting drawing apart-forces in
this case design act like shear
stresses, i.e. within substantially the same plane as the glue surfaces, which
can be held together
much more efficient against such forces than in the case described above.
Field 54 has along its free
longitudinal edge a central, substantially trapezoidal recess 55 with a tongue
56, inserted into the
innermost portion of the recess. This tongue extends in the longitudinal
direction parallel to central
field 18, which is tantamount to the bottom of the case, and is attached to
field 54 solely via a
longitudinal side, which initially is formed by a folding notch 57 on the side
facing the end wall.
The tongue is folded inwards against the end wall at an angle of about 90 and
is supported in its
inwardly folded position with its short sides also by the obliquely downwardly
directed double-
folded edges of the lug pairs. Thanks to the double-folded lug pairs there is
also a certain space
between field 52 and the respective end wall, and thus, it is easier to hold
the case within this area.
The inherent elasticity of the lug pairs is also conducive to the maintenance
of a space, which is
slightly larger than the above-mentioned space due to a budging caused by the
elasticity of the
material and the structure, and consequently the tongue can be made slightly
wider than the total
thickness of the end wall and the lug pair and satisfactory gripping features
can be obtained at
minimal costs, the end walls simultaneously being pressed against the side
walls. Applicant has also
found, that the shape of the case very closely approaches the parallelepiped
shape and that e.g.
inappropriately curving case parts are avoided. Handle element 17 suitably is
made of a strong
cardboard material, which will protect and reinforce the sensitive fastening
areas of the case in an
optimal way. The folding notches of the handle element and possibly of the
case blank suitably are
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supplemented by embossings, which consequently on the side, which faces e.g.
the grooves as
folding notches, becomes elevated, an advantageous hinge-like effect being
promoted. Since said
folding notch tiltings result in, that the upper edges of the double-folded
lug pairs extend slightly
obliquely towards the center of the end walls, an advantageous effect of the
handle elements resides
in the fact, that they completely conceal such oblique extensions.
Fig. 4 indicates, that the recycling will be rather simple, since the glue
fastening of the outer handle
element field can be torn apart manually or by means of a tool and then the
case blank can be
unfolded in order to obtain a plane blank shape, the handle element remaining,
fastened to the inner
side of the end walls, or it is also possible to tear apart this connection in
order to recover the handle
elements separately.
Case design 1' according to Figs. 6-8 differ from case designl, described
above, only to the extent,
that handle elements 17' are integral parts of the case blank, the end walls,
fastening fields 52 being
eliminated, via folding notches merging into fields 53' and 54'. A certain
small waste in the corner
areas between the lugs and the handle element results in this way. The wave
shape is in this case
suitably parallel to the side walls, whereas in the former case it preferably
extends at right angles to
these walls, as the drawings show.
Lid 2 has a central rectangular field 58, which is slightly larger than the
outer dimensions of case 1
and case 1' respectively. Border parts 63, 64, 65, 66 are via folding notches
59, 60, 61, 62
positioned adjacent this field, which border parts between themselves in the
corner areas via folding
notches 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, -72, 73, 74 include lugs 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80,
81, 82, which by means
of diagonal folding notches 83, 84, 85, 86 in pairs are separated from each
other. However, the free
outer edges of the lugs are slightly oblique inwards, seen from the border
part, from which the
edges project, an obliquely, downwardly, towards field 58 directed extension
of the free edges of
the lugs being formed , when the lug pairs are folded. Thanks to this incline
flaps 102, 103, adjacent
to the side border parts via double-folding notches 104, 105 will not be
stretched too much away
from said side border parts, against which the flaps will abut from within.
Short rectangular
projections 87, 88, 89, 90 will in this way be forced into the side edge areas
of field 58, which on
the inner side 91 are provided with flat recesses 92, 93, 94, 95, which
suitably are cut into only the
innermost paper layer. The projections are hooked there behind sections,
comprising the inner
longitudinal edges of the recesses, and consequently lock the flaps in their
inwardly folded positions
with the double-folded lugs between themselves and the side border parts. The
wave shape suitably
extends at right angles to the flaps.
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7
The border parts on the end wall sides are at their free longitudinal edges
provided with cuts 96,97,
wliich converge towards the central field, and between the inner ends of said
cuts double-folding
notches 98, 99 extend. In this way trapezoidal locking flaps 100, 101 are
formed, which are folded
inwards and downwards subsequent to the folding upwards of the border parts in
order to with their
points be directed towards the end areas of the side wall border parts and
lock them in their
positions. At the same time also a double-function is obtained in this way,
since the end wall border
parts within the areas, cut out in this way, open the access to the handle
elements of the case design
and form gripping elements jointly with them respectively. Such gripping
elements are always
active for the case but also for the lid, provided the case and the lid
applied on the case, are fastened
to each other, e.g. by surrounding them with locking tape or the like.
As an alternative to or despite a lid the open side of the case can be
provided with an e.g. film-like
closure, preferably with a possibility to reclose it or with special means,
designed for this purpose,
e.g. a "window" in the film, which is overlapped by a film having self-
adhesive edges. It is also
possible to provide the lid with such a "window". Is it not desirable to be
able to reclose the closure;
it never the less may be desirable to define the "window" by means of a so
called tear tape. In this
way products and supplements to them, e.g. ice and water respectively, can be
introduced into and
be removed from respectively the case according to desires. If the case will
be used to keep e.g.
fish, it is suitable to place a liquid-absorbing layer at the bottom of the
case.
One embodiment of such a lid 2', which primarily is designed for cases as air-
freight to foreign
countries, often with a warm climate, is shown in Fig. 12. The lid has a
central field 58' and side
walls 63', 64' and end walls 65', 66' respectively, attached to it via folding
notches, 59', 60' and
61', 62' respectively. Lugs 106, 107, 108, 109 are attached to the short sides
of the end walls via
folding notches 67', 69', 71', 73', gaps 110, 111, 112, 113 being provided
between them and the
intermediate end walls by allowing the short sides of the latter converge
outwards and/or by slightly
displacing the sides of the former, wluch are exposed to these short sides,
and in relation to the
folding notches of the side walls. The folding notches of the lugs suitably
are slightly displaced
towards each other in relation to the folding notches of the end walls
Such a lid blank is formed to a lid by folding the lugs 90 in relation to the
corresponding side
walls, and the latter are folded 90 in relation to the central field.
Subsequently the end walls are
folded and will abut against and be fastened by gluing and/or stapling to the
lugs.
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For recycling purposes subsequent to the use of a case, it is suitable to
unfold the lid blank, which is
possible according to the invention without tearing apart the connection
between the lugs and the,
end walls. To accomplish this folding notches 114, 115, 116, 117 in the side
walls start from the
inner end of said gaps at an angle of 45 in relation to the outer edges of
the side walls, defining
folding notches all the way to the free longitudinal edges of the side walls.
In this way it is
possible, by one folding around said folding notches and another along the
folding notches
belonging to the short sides of the side walls, to unfold the blanks without
tearing apart any
connections, even if double-foldings exist.
Field 58' is in its center provided with two transverse cuts 118,119, which
are made up to their
closed shapes by means of partly a tear tape 120 between some of the cut end
areas and partly a
folding notch 121 between the rest of the ends in order to obtain a hinged
cover 122. The tear tape
is interrupted in the center by a locking tongue 123, turned away from the
folding notch and cut out
from field 58' at the sides and at its free end and having preferably slightly
bulging side edges in
order to form additional retaining means. The shoulder area of the locking
tongue is formed by a
folding notch 124, which facilitates the folding of the locking tongue in
order to allow it to be
inserted into a locking hole 125, already described. The tear tape preferably
is applied uninterrupted
along the entire lid blank in connection with the manufacture of the material
for the blank or when
the treatment of the blank is continued. When said cuts 118,119 are made
through the blank and
also when the locking tongue is punched, these cuts penetrate the tear tape.
In the end areas of the
cuts cut out gripping ears 126,127 are arranged around the tear tape ; the
tear tape parts between the
cuts and the locking tongue can be gripped and removed by means of the
gripping ears.
A spacer pad 128 of e.g. cardboard and with dimensions, which are slightly
smaller than central
field 58' , is fastened, preferably glued, to the underside of the central
field. This pad has below
cover 122 a slightly smaller U-cut 129, a smaller inner cover 130 being
formed, the base line
(folding notch) of which comprises e.g. a double or triple groove 131, which
coincides with the
folding notch of the outer cover. The spacer pad comprises around the inner
cover a shoulder step
132 for the outer cover to prevent, that the two covers will be pressed into
the interior of the lid.
Finally there is in the spacer pad outside the U-web said locking hole 125 for
an insertion of the
locking tongue, when the covers are opened up for e.g. an ice filling and a
closing again. In addition
to the function of creating a reclosable hole in connection with the central
field of the lid the spacer
pad is also designed to have heat insulation, shock absorption and possibly
supplementary moisture
isolation properties. The sides of course do not need this, since several
walls and lugs etc. overlap
each other. In this way a high and valuable heat, shock and possibly moisture
isolation in the area of
CA 02417117 2007-12-24
9
the entire lid is obtained, despite cost advantages obtained by manufacturing
the lid of
plain cardboard.
Such a lid according to the invention may weigh only about 1-1.5 kg and hold
20-25 kg
fish. We have found that the stability, life, sanitary quality, simple and
economic
production as well as disassembly for recycling come up to high expectations.
The invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and shown in
the
drawings, which solely are to be regarded as not limiting embodiments, which
can be
modified and supplemented in an arbitrary fashion within the scope of the
inventive idea
and according to the accompanying claims. Also, in special situations
corrugated
cardboard as a manufacturing material can be completely or partially replaced
by non-
corrugated cardboard as a manufacturing material can be completely or
partially replaced
by non-corrugated paper board and/or a plastic material and/or a metal, and
yet the
typical corrugated cardboard structure may be retained. The folding lug pairs
can of
course be formed as to dimensions and design in such a way, that they form a
part of the
gripping elements in connection with the handles.
In the case design, shown in Fig. 18, there are a few transverse through
drainage holes
(250), preferably arranged within the lower corner area of the end walls,
which are used
as outlets for melted ice, if the case is to be used as a fish case, which
contains ice
primarily for road and sea transport. These holes (250) are made preferably by
providing
the e.g. double-corrugated cardboard material with punched holes. Then finger-
like
nozzles (252) are inserted into the holes, in a machine, which folds and glues
the bottom
blanks to their finished shape, according to Fig. 18a, until a stop flange on
the nozzles
(252) abuts the wall material, which surrounds the holes. The nozzles have
then with
their points penetrated the holes and ended up with outlet openings for melted
adhesive
roughly in the middle of the depth of the hole. Adhesive (254) is introduced
and
simultaneously the nozzles (252) are rotated. A die (256) is now driven
towards the side,
which is turned away from the nozzles (252), against and around the nozzle
points and
against the wall material around the holes, which material is forcefully
compressed
between the die (256) and nozzle flange. The introduced melted adhesive (254)
penetrates and is pressed into the material around the holds (250) and
solidifies
immediately, a sealing of the hole wall being obtained, which stops water from
penetrating into the wall material and softening it (see Fig. 18b). In Figure
18, P denotes
a laminated paper and polyethylene layer.
The lid according to Fig. 19, which preferably is combined with a case
according to Figs.
1-17, is particularly suitable for airplane transport, when drainage of melted
ice is not
suitable and instead an absorber, known per se, for melted ice, is positioned
at the bottom
of the case. However, a subsequent so called icing up i.e. that somewhere
along the way
from a filling station to the
CA 02417117 2003-01-23
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receiver ice is filled, is considered important. To accomplish this in a
relatively simple, quick and in
additional regards appropriate way, a lid is provided according to the
invention, mainly
corresponding to one or several of the already described/shown embodiments, in
which however the
longitudinal border sides of the lid, suitably at a small distance from one of
the end walls, are
slotted all the way to the main plane of the lid, e.g. parallel to said end
wall. This slotting is done in
connection with the punching, grooving, perforating or the like of the lid
blank, suitably also a
downwardly open recess being done in the two end walls, which facilitates the
gripping of the lid
and the case in their handle elements at about the same level and which leaves
free a field on the
end walls of the case for e.g. labels or the like. The field, which
constitutes the main plane of the
lid, is provided between the two adjacent slotting ends with grooves,
perforations or the like , a
hinge action being allowed. Such a lid blank is provided according to Fig. 21
in its plane condition
with a protective tape along the two elongated sides, i.e. a tape strip covers
e.g. a centimeter or two
along the inner side and the outer side and consequently covers the moisture
sensitive underside. In
order to be able to draw the blank through an edge tape application device
there are e.g. gripping
holes in the inner corners of the outer corner lugs.
When the protective tape has been applied, the lid is folded and glued,
stapled or the like to obtain
its finished shape according to Fig. 19. Said cut is then not functioning and
a strapping or the like is
stretched around the lid, applied on the case, straight above the section,
which extends from the
adjacent end wall and all the way to said "hinge line" (see Fig. 19). If an
icing up, an inspection or
the like is required, the strapping is displaced towards and past said hinge
line and the protective
tape is split along the cuts and then the detached cover can be lifted up
towards the main field of the
lid, and an inspection, an icing up, possibly a limited product removal and
the like can be done (see
Fig. 20). A reclosure is done by lowering the lid and pushing back the
strapping to its original
position, which consequently will keep the cover in place and keep the lid and
the case together, a
very advantageous double function being achieved.
Figs. 19 and 20 show, that strappings suitably can be placed around the two
ends of finished packs.
It is of course possible to arrange said covers at both lid ends. It is also
possible to form such covers
by means of a cutting or a tearing element, which runs substantially in a
central position straight
across the main field of the lid and which continues straight through the
borders or stepwise through
the folding notch between the borders and the main field and through the
borders to obtain foldable
lugs. Such a design is advantageous, since one or both end covers of the lid
can be kept in place,
until the contents of the pack has been removed or even subsequent to such a
removal. One or both
main fields of the lid and the "central covers", formed by the adjacent border
parts, can then as a
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11
matter of choice be opened up, possibly with a preceding folding of said lugs,
in order to prevent,
that the border parts will stop an opening up. One of several additional
strappings, adhesive tape
pieces or the like can be used to keep the covers in place after an opening up
and a closing back,
and then the lowering of said border lugs can also contribute to a durable
reclosure. The "end
covers" or the "central covers" can also allow access to divided compartments
in a case, e.g. one
compartment for only ice.
Finally it is possible to form a cover by extending two cuts along the same
side a small distance into
the main field of the lid and connect the existing cut ends in this field by
means of a "hinge line".
In all these cases a protective tape can also cover the cuts, since it is
easy, in a later phase, to divide
the tape along the cuts. Before the tape is divided, it has a protective as
well as uniting action. In
this connection it is also possible to use an adhesive tape , which can be
reapplied , provided a
suitable surface for this purpose is available, e.g. an underlying smooth
surface having a suitable
adhesion and release ability.
The design according to Fig. 24 is particularly suitable for an automatic
mechanical transformation
to an upwardly folded lid. Between the corner lugs, which jointly looks like
two triangles, an end
wall side is included on each short side of the blank, the side edges (folding
notches) of the end wall
side including a smaller angle then 90 , preferably 86 , in relation to the
base side, which also is a
folding notch. Initially the two longitudinal sides are folded upwards in
relation to the central field,
which constitutes the bottom, e.g. about 70 , which is considered sufficient.
Thanks to said angle,
which is less than 90 , the folding lines between said corner triangles will
force them to fold witli
their hypotenuses outwards, particularly around the central field, and the end
walls will be kept in
place on a plane support surface. When the end wall sides later are folded
upwards against the
central field and are folded more than about 100 , the corner lugs will always
automatically pivot
about said folding notch, which is less than 90 in relation to the base line,
and turn towards the
outer side of the end walls, to wliich they will later be attached in any of
the ways already described
in this text. At least the longitudinal sides will, thanks to the described
and shown design, slightly
tilt inwards, which facilitates the mounting of a possible lid and stabilizes
the construction even
more. It is shown in Figs. 7 and 8, that the handle lug, which is attached to
each end wall, is applied
around the double-folded corner lugs and it is subsequently, jointly with the
gripping lug, punched
out of the sides, inserted into the area between the double-folded corner
lugs.
