A box casing

Abstract

The invention relates to a box casing (1), such as a box, having four lateral walls (2). The box casing (1) has a reinforcing corner element (5) in each inner corner thereof. Each corner element (5) has two stiff plate-like parts (6) interconnected by a flexible portion (7) and is configured to extend along a corner from a bottom region to a top region of the casing (1). The box casing (1) further has an arrangement configured to hold the corner elements (5) in the respective inner corners in a state of use of the box casing (1). The arrangement comprises members (10) folded from the top (11) and bottom borders of the casing (1) into the inner space (17) thereof defined by the walls (2) and towards an inner surface (18) of an associated wall (2) to trap a said stiff plate-like corner element part (6) between this member (10) and said inner surface (18).

1 . A box casing ( 1 ) having at least four lateral walls ( 2 ), which box casing ( 1 ) comprises, for a majority of, preferably each, inner corner of the box casing ( 1 ) defined by two adjacent said lateral walls ( 2 ), a corner element ( 5 ) having two stiff plate-like parts ( 6 ) interconnected by a flexible portion ( 7 ), each plate-like part ( 6 ) being in a state of use of the box casing ( 1 ) configured to be arranged internally of a separate one of two adjacent lateral walls ( 2 ) while extending along the corner from a bottom region to a top region of the wall, the box casing ( 1 ) having an arrangement configured to hold the corner elements ( 5 ) in the respective inner corners so as to stiffen the box casing ( 1 ) in said state of use thereof,
 wherein said arrangement comprises for each lateral wall ( 2 ) associated with a corner element ( 5 ), for each corner element ( 5 ), at the bottom region as well as at the top region of the wall ( 2 ) a member ( 10 ) attached to the wall ( 2 ) and folded into the inner space ( 17 ) of the casing ( 1 ) defined by the walls ( 2 ) and towards an inner surface ( 18 ) of the wall ( 2 ) to trap said stiff plate-like corner element part ( 6 ) between this member ( 10 ) and said inner surface ( 18 ).   
     
     
         2 . A box casing ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein each said member ( 10 ) is an integral part of the respective wall ( 2 ) to be folded into the inner space ( 18 ) of the casing ( 1 ) from a top border ( 11 ) or a bottom border ( 12 ) of the casing ( 1 ). 
     
     
         3 . A box casing ( 1 ) according to  claim 2 , wherein each said member ( 10 ) has a first section ( 13 ) folded to be arranged between an inner wall surface ( 18 ) and a respective stiff plate-like corner element part ( 6 ) and a second section ( 14 ) folded towards said inner wall surface ( 18 ) to hold said corner element part ( 6 ) trapped between this second section ( 14 ) and said inner surface ( 18 ) so as to lock said first section ( 13 ) of the member ( 10 ) between the inner wall surface ( 18 ) and the corner element part ( 6 ) and by that lock the member ( 10 ) in a state of trapping the corner element part ( 6 ). 
     
     
         4 . A box casing ( 1 ) according to  claim 3 , wherein each said member ( 10 ) comprises a third section ( 15 ) folded from a top border ( 11 ) or a bottom border ( 12 ) of the casing ( 1 ) inwardly by 90° or substantially 90° to form a stop to prevent said stiff plate-like corner element part ( 6 ) to escape in the direction of the extension of the corner, and
 the second section ( 14 ) is folded from the third section ( 15 ) to extend in said inner space ( 17 ) of the casing ( 1 ) substantially in parallel with said inner wall surface ( 18 ). 
 
     
     
         5 . A box casing ( 1 ) according to  claim 4 , wherein the extension of said third section ( 15 ) inwardly is approximately the same as the thickness of said stiff plate-like corner element part ( 6 ). 
     
     
         6 . A box casing ( 1 ) according to  claim 4 , wherein said first ( 13 ) and second ( 14 ) sections of each member ( 10 ) are interconnected by a fourth section ( 16 ) folded from said second section ( 15 ) towards said inner wall surface ( 18 ) and from which said first section ( 13 ) is folded to extend oppositely to the second section ( 14 ) along said inner wall surface ( 18 ) towards said top border ( 11 ) or bottom border ( 12 ) of the casing 
     
     
         7 . A box casing ( 1 ) according to  claim 6 , wherein said third ( 15 ) and fourth ( 16 ) sections of each said member ( 16 ) have substantially the same width as seen in a direction perpendicularly to the respective inner wall surface ( 18 ). 
     
     
         8 . A box casing ( 1 ) according to  claim 3 , wherein the first sections ( 1 ) of all said members ( 10 ) at the top ( 11 ) and bottom ( 12 ) border of the casing ( 1 ), respectively, are formed together in one piece configured to, in said state of use, be folded in the corners of the box casing ( 1 ) to extend along the entire inner circumference thereof. 
     
     
         9 . A box casing ( 1 ) according to  claim 2 , wherein each member ( 10 ) is a flap extending from the top ( 11 ) or bottom ( 12 ) border of the casing ( 1 ) and having a plurality of mutually foldable plate-like sections ( 13 - 16 ). 
     
     
         10 . A box casing ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein each member ( 10 ) is configured to extend along the entire, or substantially the entire, length of a respective lateral wall ( 2 ), from one inner corner of the casing ( 1 ) to another, and by that to trap said stiff plate-like corner element part ( 6 ) by each of two end portions of the member ( 10 ) in said state of use of the casing ( 1 ). 
     
     
         11 . A box casing ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein each corner element ( 5 ) comprises an elongated sheet of a flexible material and that the two stiff plate-like parts ( 6 ) are secured to the sheet by an adhesive at a distance to each other on opposite sides of a longitudinal central section of the sheet, which central section constitutes the flexible portion ( 7 ) of the corner element ( 5 ). 
     
     
         12 . A box casing ( 1 ) according to  claim 11 , wherein each corner element ( 5 ) is configured to be arranged to have the sheet of flexible material, preferably kraft paper, between the stiff plate-like parts ( 6 ) and the inner surface ( 18 ) of the lateral walls ( 2 ) in the state of use of the box casing ( 1 ). 
     
     
         13 . A box casing ( 1 ) according to  claim 11 , wherein the box casing ( 1 ) is provided with at least four corner elements ( 5 ),
 each corner element ( 5 ) in a flat state has an elongated groove ( 8 ) defined by the central section of the flexible sheet and lateral edge surfaces ( 9 ) of the stiff plate-like parts ( 6 ) extending along said central section at opposite sides thereof, that   two first corner elements ( 5   a ) have said groove ( 8 ) with a cross-sectional shape, preferably rectangular shape, allowing these corner elements ( 5   a ) to be transferred between the flat state, in which both stiff plate-like parts ( 6 ) extend in the same plane, and a completely folded state in which the plate-like parts ( 6 ) have been mutually pivoted substantially 180° around the flexible portion ( 7 ) so as to extend at least substantially in parallel with each other, at least two second corner elements ( 5   b ) have said groove ( 8 ) with a cross-sectional shape, preferably triangular shape, allowing these corner elements ( 5   b ) to be transferred between the flat state and an angled state in which the plate-like parts ( 6 ) have been mutually pivoted substantially 90° around the flexible portion ( 7 ), and further pivoting movement of the plate-like parts ( 6 ) is obstructed by contact between the lateral edge surfaces ( 9 ) thereof, to extend at least substantially perpendicularly to each other, and   each first corner element ( 5   a ) is succeeded by a second corner element ( 5   b ) as seen along the circumference of the box casing ( 1 ).   
     
     
         14 . A box casing ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the box casing ( 1 ) further comprises a bottom member ( 3 ) and a lid ( 4 ) so as to form a transport box. 
     
     
         15 . A box casing ( 1 ) according to  claim 5 , wherein said first ( 13 ) and second ( 14 ) sections of each member ( 10 ) are interconnected by a fourth section ( 16 ) folded from said second section ( 15 ) towards said inner wall surface ( 18 ) and from which said first section ( 13 ) is folded to extend oppositely to the second section ( 14 ) along said inner wall surface ( 18 ) towards said top border ( 11 ) or bottom border ( 12 ) of the casing ( 1 ). 
     
     
         16 . A box casing ( 1 ) according to  claim 17 , wherein the first sections ( 1 ) of all said members ( 10 ) at the top ( 11 ) and bottom ( 12 ) border of the casing ( 1 ), respectively, are formed together in one piece configured to, in said state of use, be folded in the corners of the box casing ( 1 ) to extend along the entire inner circumference thereof. 
     
     
         17 . A box casing ( 1 ) according to  claim 7 , wherein the first sections ( 1 ) of all said members ( 10 ) at the top ( 11 ) and bottom ( 12 ) border of the casing ( 1 ), respectively, are formed together in one piece configured to, in said state of use, be folded in the corners of the box casing ( 1 ) to extend along the entire inner circumference thereof. 
     
     
         18 . A box casing ( 1 ) according to  claim 6 , wherein the first sections ( 1 ) of all said members ( 10 ) at the top ( 11 ) and bottom ( 12 ) border of the casing ( 1 ), respectively, are formed together in one piece configured to, in said state of use, be folded in the corners of the box casing ( 1 ) to extend along the entire inner circumference thereof. 
     
     
         19 . A box casing ( 1 ) according to  claim 5 , wherein the first sections ( 1 ) of all said members ( 10 ) at the top ( 11 ) and bottom ( 12 ) border of the casing ( 1 ), respectively, are formed together in one piece configured to, in said state of use, be folded in the corners of the box casing ( 1 ) to extend along the entire inner circumference thereof. 
     
     
         20 . A box casing ( 1 ) according to  claim 4 , wherein the first sections ( 1 ) of all said members ( 10 ) at the top ( 11 ) and bottom ( 12 ) border of the casing ( 1 ), respectively, are formed together in one piece configured to, in said state of use, be folded in the corners of the box casing ( 1 ) to extend along the entire inner circumference thereof.