Divider for cardboard boxes

Details Divider for cardboard boxes Divider for cardboard boxes

1999-04-08

2001-10-30

Kim, Eugene (Department: 3721)

Manufacturing container or tube from paper; or other manufacturi

Container making

Rigid container

C493S091000, C493S150000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06309334

ABSTRACT:

The present invention relates to a divider for cardboard boxes, of the type formed by sheets which divide the inner space of the box into compartments, which can be produced in a continuous process and involves a considerable saving of materials with respect to other known dividers.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Known in the art, for example in Spanish patent P9400980, are dividers for foldable cardboard boxes, which are manufactured in a continuous process by overlapping and gluing a number of strips of cardboard and then cutting a suitable length from the assembly; folded dividers are thus produced, which before insertion into the boxes or when the box is unfolded for use, unfold in their turn to define the compartments into which the products, such as bottles, are to be arranged.
These known dividers are practical because they can be manufactured by a continuous process and, if desired, stored together with their own folded box; however, due to the arrangement of the strips which form the divider, the use made of the materials of the divider is not optimum.
Other known dividers which can be manufactured in continuous process are made up of strips of cardboard folded in zig-zag shape and glued to each other only by a small portion at the corners of the compartments, as in the case of U.S. Pat. No. 3,011 672; this divider nevertheless calls for very precise fitting of the strips, and is too fragile, for it can become unglued easily.
GB-A-911 027 describes a cellular structure formed by folding along a score line a component constituted by two flat parallel strips having a plurality of dividing walls between them.
DE-A-1 931 611 describes a divider for cardboard boxes formed from elementary modules, each module comprising two parallel flat strips and a plurality of transverse dividing walls between them, each dividing wall having flaps glued to the flat strips. This document is considered the closest prior art to the present invention and constitutes the basis for the preamble of appended claim
1
.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The main object of the present invention is to provide dividers for foldable cardboard boxes which can be manufactured in a continuous process and consume less materials than known dividers, without thereby detracting from the qualities of the divider.
In accordance with this object, the divider of the invention for cardboard boxes is as defined in claim
1
.
This divider has all the advantages of the known dividers, in particular the possibility of being manufactured by a totally automated continuous process, while further permitting a considerable saving in materials without thereby being detrimental to its strength.
Advantageously, said flat strips and said dividing walls present projections and incuts of complementary shape; thereby, and due to continuous-process manufacturing of the divider, materials can be saved.
In the event of the divider being intended to be fitted folded into a foldable box and stored together therewith until the time of use, on two opposite sides there are dividing walls linked by one of the flaps to an intermediate flat strip, but with the other flap left free so that it can be glued to one wall of the box. The folded divider is inserted into a box and the free flaps glued to the walls of the box in such a way that when the box is unfolded for use the divider is also unfolded.
If, on the other hand, the divider is to be unfolded and inserted into a box which is already open, it is provided on two opposite sides with dividing walls which are linked by one of the flaps to an intermediate flat strip and by the other flap to a flat end strip, the latter remaining in contact with one wall of the box. The divider is unfolded with the help of the end strips and is inserted into the open box; the end strips also prevent the divider from folding again.
Advantageously, the flat end strips are of different material or thickness from the intermediate flat strips, since these strips do not have the function of protecting the products stored in the box.
In one embodiment, the dividing walls are glued to the flat strips slightly offset from each other, so that the divider fits the box well and all compartments are of the same size.
According to another aspect of the invention,
In this case the divider is not attached to the box, but rather the products themselves, such as bottles, keep it in its place. This divider is particularly suitable for use on machines of the “wrap around” type, in which the bottles are first placed in a suitable arrangement and the divider is then inserted between them, and the box is formed and closed around the assembly.
Some dividing walls present two flaps, one at each end, and are intended to be arranged between two adjacent strips, while other dividing walls have only one flap at one of their ends, and are intended to be arranged between one strip and the wall of the box.
Also preferably, the dividing walls which have only one flap are of lesser width than that of the dividing walls with two flaps.
Materials are thereby saved, since the dividing walls do not have to reach the wall of the box because the bottles themselves prevent the divider from moving; the dividing walls and the strips adjacent to the walls of the box need only reach to approximately half of the diameter of the bottles in order to prevent two bottles from coming into contact with each other.


REFERENCES:
patent: 4151788 (1979-05-01), Wiseman
patent: 5601521 (1997-02-01), Plamas Xapelli
patent: 5626284 (1997-05-01), Franzen
patent: 1931611 (1970-02-01), None
patent: 911027 (1962-11-01), None
patent: 1279281 (1972-06-01), None

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