Description

According to a first aspect, the present disclosure relates to a cardboard tray folded from a sheet of cardboard.

According to a second aspect, the present disclosure relates to an assembly of a cardboard tray according to the first aspect of the present disclosure and a foil.

According to a third aspect, the present disclosure relates to a sheet of cardboard arranged for being folded into a cardboard tray according to the first aspect of the present disclosure.

Foldable cardboard trays are available in a lot of types, for example re-usable or disposable, composite or single-ply structured and with small or large dimensions. Cardboard trays are suitable for packaging and/or displaying materials and goods, such as vegetables or other kind of food. Cardboard trays have the property that the top of the tray is open, but in some cases, for example during transportation, there is a need for the ability to efficiently close the top of the tray. Furthermore there is a need for a foldable cardboard tray with improved strength.

It is therefore an objective of the present disclosure to provide a cardboard tray folded from a sheet of cardboard with improved strength. In particular, it is an objective of the present disclosure to provide a cardboard tray folded from a sheet of cardboard which can be closed at an upper side of the cardboard tray.

In a first aspect, there is provided a cardboard tray folded from a sheet of cardboard, wherein said cardboard tray comprises sheet portions defining a bottom wall and side walls defining a receiving space of said cardboard tray, said side walls being connected, via respective first folding lines, to said bottom wall and flange parts connected, via respective second folding lines, to said side walls at a side of said side walls facing away from said bottom wall, wherein said flange parts are arranged such that neighbouring flange parts of said flange parts overlap in an overlapping region thereof, wherein said neighbouring flange parts in said overlapping region are adhered to each other for realizing an uninterrupted flange along a circumference of said cardboard tray, wherein said uninterrupted flange, apart from the overlap region, is formed of a single layer of said sheet of cardboard and is arranged for connecting a foil for closing said receiving space of said cardboard tray at an upper side of said cardboard tray.

The term cardboard may refer to a variety of heavy paper-like materials, including but not limited to, card stock, corrugated fibreboard or paperboard. Cardboard is a recyclable and/or reusable material. Producing the cardboard tray from a single sheet of cardboard prevents unnecessary waste of materials of which the cardboard is produced.

Preferably, the sheet of cardboard consists of one piece. Because the sheet of cardboard comprises folding lines, the sheet of cardboard can easily by folded into its final shape of the cardboard tray, either manually by hand or with the use of machinery. It was the insight of the inventor to design the bottom wall, side walls and flange parts according to the invention for improved strength of the cardboard tray, while waste of materials is minimized. It was further the insight of the inventor to add and design the flange parts for improved strength of the cardboard tray. Neighbouring flange parts are adhered to each other for realizing an uninterrupted flange along a circumference of the cardboard tray, which is both advantageous for improved strength and provides a sufficient area for connecting a foil for closing the cardboard tray at an upper side. With closing the cardboard is meant that the bottom wall, the side walls and the foil bound the receiving space of the cardboard tray.

A further advantage of the cardboard tray is that there is no need for tacks and string in order to retain the cardboard tray in its folded position, while maintaining improved strength.

A yet further advantage of the cardboard tray according to the present disclosure is that by providing an uninterrupted flange that, apart from the overlap region, is formed of a single layer of said sheet of cardboard allows to realise a cardboard tray using a relative little amount of material. This is beneficial for realising a relative cost effective cardboard tray. In addition, using only a relative little amount of material is beneficial for realising a cardboard tray having a relative low weight. A relative low weight is advantageous for realising relative low cost for distributing cardboard trays according to the present disclosure.

Preferably, the uninterrupted flange are of such dimensions, that the area of the uninterrupted flange is large enough for receiving the foil. Preferably the uninterrupted flange has a width in the range of minimal 4 - 15 mm, more preferably in the range of 8 - 15 mm. This is beneficial for realising a relative strong cardboard tray while using only a relative little amount of cardboard and while providing a relative large surface area for attachment of the foil.

In an example, said uninterrupted flange is substantially parallel, preferably parallel, to said bottom wall.

Preferably, said receiving space of said cardboard tray is defined by said bottom wall and four of said side walls.

In an example, said neighbouring flanges are adhered to each other in said overlapping region via an adhesive. In another example, one of two receiving neighbouring flanges is provided with a self-adhesive material, an adhesive tape or the like.

The present disclosure relies at least partly on the insight that by adhering neighbouring flanges in the overlapping region using an adhesive is beneficial for realising a relative strong cardboard tray while using only a relative little amount of cardboard.

In an example, said flange parts are formed of a single layer of said sheet of cardboard. This is beneficial for realising a relative strong cardboard tray while using only a relative little amount of cardboard. In an example, said side walls are only connected to each other via said first folding lines and via said second folding lines. In other words, neighbouring side walls are not directly mutually connected, for instance via a locking arrangement that may be applied for locking the neighbouring side walls to each other. The neighbouring side walls are maintained in a position relative to each other only via the bottom wall and the uninterrupted flange. This is beneficial for realising a relative strong cardboard tray while using only a relative little amount of cardboard.

In an example, neighbouring side walls of said side walls are connected to each other via a locking part, wherein said locking part is connected, via a third folding line, to one of said neighbouring side walls and extends at least partly through a locking opening provided in another of said neighbouring side walls for said connecting. This is beneficial for arriving at a cardboard tray having an increased strength.

The locking part is produced of the same sheet of cardboard, resulting in efficient use of the sheet of cardboard, minimizing waste of cardboard material and resulting in additional strength of the resulting cardboard tray.

In an example, first flange parts of said flange parts are connected to opposite side walls of said side walls and wherein a length of said first flange parts corresponds substantially to a length of said second folding line.

In an example, second flange parts of said flange parts are connected to opposite side walls of said side walls, wherein said second flange parts comprise a centre flange part and connecting flange parts provided at opposite sides of said centre flange part, wherein a length of said centre flange part corresponds substantially to a length of said second folding line and wherein said connecting flange parts are extensions of said centre flange part beyond said second folding line.

Preferably, said connecting flange parts are connected to said second folding line via said centre flange part. In an example, said connecting flange parts extend under an angle of substantially 90 degrees, away from said centre flange part into said overlapping region.

In an example, said side walls define a height of said cardboard tray.

In an example, each of said respective first folding lines is interrupted by cut-outs provided in said bottom wall and said side walls.

Preferably the dimensions of the cut-outs are adapted to the size of the products, for which the specific cardboard tray is arranged. More preferably, the dimensions of the cut-outs are substantially smaller than the dimensions of the products, for which the specific cardboard tray is arranged.

The cut-outs ensure supply of fresh air which is particular advantageous the product, for which the specific cardboard tray is arranged, is food, for example vegetables or the like.

In an example, said uninterrupted flange is directed away from said receiving space. This maximizes the dimensions of the open end of the receiving space.

Preferably, a dimension of one of said overlapping regions is in the range of 5% to 15%, more preferably in the range of 5% to 8%, of a dimension of one of said first flange parts. This is beneficial for allowing to realise a relative good connection of neighbouring flange parts.

Preferably, said sheet of cardboard has mass per unit area in the range of 200 gram/m ² to 500 gram/m ² , wherein said mass per unit area is determined according to ISO 536:2019. A mass per unit area in this range is beneficial for In addition, using only a relative little amount of material is beneficial for realising a cardboard tray having a relative low weight while being relative strong. A relative low weight is advantageous for realising relative low cost for distributing cardboard trays according to the present disclosure. Preferably, a stiffness of said sheet of cardboard in a first cardboard direction is in a range of 8 mNm and 190 mNm, wherein said stiffness is determined according to DIN 53121 :2014.

Preferably, a stiffness of said sheet of cardboard in a second cardboard direction, perpendicular to said first cardboard direction, is in a range of 8 mNm and 330 mNm, wherein said stiffness is determined according to DIN 53121 :2014.

In this regard, it is beneficial if said stiffness of said sheet of cardboard in said first cardboard direction is lower than said stiffness of said sheet of cardboard in said second cardboard direction.

Preferably, said second cardboard direction is substantially perpendicular, preferably perpendicular, to said third folding line and/or substantially parallel, preferably parallel to said locking opening. This is beneficial for realising a relative reliable connection between said neighbouring side walls.

Preferably, a thickness variation of said sheet of cardboard is in the range of 200 pm to 750 pm, wherein said thickness variation is determined according to ISO 534:2011.

Preferably, a ratio of a width of said uninterrupted flange and said height of said cardboard tray is in the range of 0.2 to 0.4, more preferably in the range of 0.25 to 0.35. A ratio in this range is beneficial for realising a relative strong cardboard tray while using only a relative small amount of cardboard.

Preferably, a ratio of a surface area of the uninterrupted flange and the bottom wall is in the range of 0.3 to 0.45, more preferably in the range of 0.35 to 0.4. A ratio in this range is beneficial for realising a relative strong cardboard tray while using only a relative small amount of cardboard.

In a second aspect, there is provided an assembly of a cardboard tray according to any one of the preceding claims and a foil, wherein said foil is adhered to said uninterrupted flange, such that said bottom wall, said side walls and said foil bound a receiving space of said cardboard tray.

Embodiments of the assembly according to the second aspect correspond to embodiments of the cardboard tray according to the first aspect of the present disclosure. The advantages of the assembly according to the second aspect correspond to the advantages of the cardboard tray according to the first aspect of the present disclosure presented previously.

Preferably, the foil is adhered to the uninterrupted flange after addition of products. Closing the upper side of the box prevents the products to unintentionally leave the tray, for example during transport.

In an example, said foil is adhered to said uninterrupted flange by heating and pressing said foil to said uninterrupted flange..

Friction welding is a solid-state welding process that generates heat through mechanical friction between the foil and the uninterrupted flange in relative motion to one another in order to fuse the materials. This ensures strong connection between the foil and uninterrupted flange.

Preferably, the foil is produced of a transparent material, enabling visibility of the products contained in the closed cardboard tray.

In a third aspect, there is provided a sheet of cardboard arranged for being folded into a cardboard tray according to any one of the claims 1 to 12, said sheet of cardboard comprising a bottom wall sheet portion, side wall sheet portions connected, via first folding lines, to said bottom wall sheet portion and flange part sheet portions connected, via second folding lines, to said side wall sheet portions at a side of said side wall sheet portions facing away from said bottom wall sheet portions.

Embodiments of the sheet of cardboard according to the third aspect correspond to embodiments of the cardboard tray according to the first aspect of the present disclosure. The advantages of the sheet of cardboard according to the third aspect correspond to the advantages of the cardboard tray according to the first aspect of the present disclosure presented previously.

The term cardboard may refer to a variety of heavy paper-like materials, including but not limited to, card stock, corrugated fibreboard, or paperboard. The sheet of cardboard arranged for being folded into a cardboard tray prevents unnecessary waste of materials of which the cardboard is produced. Because cardboard furthermore is a recyclable material, the resulting tray is beneficial for the environment.

Providing the sheet of cardboard according to the third aspect enables efficient transport of a plurality of the sheets of cardboard and furthermore reduces cost of manufacturing, transportation, manipulation by a middle- or end-user, as well as other costs. The sheets of cardboard can efficiently be stacked on for example a flat transport structure like a pallet. The sheets of cardboard are transported to intermediate or end users, where the sheet of cardboard is folded into its final shape of the cardboard tray according to the first aspect, either manually by hand or with the use of machinery. Eventually, preferably after products are added to the cardboard tray, the cardboard tray is closed at an upper side, by adhering a foil to the uninterrupted flange, such that the bottom wall, the side walls and the foil bound a receiving space of the cardboard tray. This prevents, that the products unintentionally leave the tray, for example during transport to a further user, like a distributor, a shop, or the like.

The present disclosure will now be explained by means of a description of a cardboard tray in accordance to the first aspect of the present disclosure and a sheet of cardboard according to the third aspect of the present disclosure, in which reference is made to the following schematic figures, in which:

Fig. 1 discloses a three dimensional view of a cardboard tray according to the first aspect of the present disclosure;

Fig. 2 discloses a sheet of cardboard according to the third aspect of the present disclosure, arranged for being folded into the cardboard tray of Fig. 1 ; Fig. 3 discloses a three dimensional view of another cardboard tray according to the first aspect of the present disclosure;

Fig. 4 discloses a sheet of cardboard according to the third aspect of the present disclosure, arranged for being folded into the cardboard tray of Fig. 3.

Fig. 1 discloses a cardboard tray 1 folded from a sheet of cardboard 201 , shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 3 discloses another cardboard tray 101 folded from a sheet of cardboard 301 , shown in Fig. 4. A direction of the fibres in the sheets of cardboard 201 and 301 corresponds to a second cardboard direction F.

The sheets of cardboard 201 , 301 comprise a bottom wall 3 and side walls 5 connected to the bottom wall 3 via first folding lines 7. The first folding lines 7 is interrupted by cut-outs 29 provided in the bottom wall 3 and the side walls 5.

The sheets of cardboard 201 , 301 further comprise first flange parts 9 and second flange parts 11. The flange parts 9,11 are connected to the side walls 5 via second folding lines 13 and are positioned at a side of the side walls 5 facing away from the bottom wall 3. The second flange parts 11 further comprise a centre flange part 25 and connecting flange parts 27 provided at opposite sides of the centre flange part 25.

For obtaining the cardboard tray 1 and 101 respectively, the sheet of cardboard 201 and 301 is initially fold about the first folding lines 7 and the second folding lines 13. The cardboard trays 1 , 101 comprise a receiving space 31 defined by bottom wall 3 and side walls 5. The side walls 5 define a height H of the cardboard tray 1 , 101. Neighbouring flange parts 9, 11 of the flange parts 9, 11 overlap in an overlapping region 15. The connecting flange parts 27 extend under an angle of substantially 90 degrees, away from the centre flange part 25 into the overlapping region 15. The neighbouring flange parts 9, 11 in the overlapping region 15 are adhered to each other, for example via an adhesive, for realizing an uninterrupted flange 17 along a circumference of the cardboard tray 1 , 101.

The uninterrupted flange 17 is positioned parallel related to the bottom wall 3, directed away from the receiving space 31 and, apart from the overlap region 15, is formed of a single layer of the sheet of cardboard 201 , 301. The flange is arranged for connecting a foil for closing the receiving space 31 of the cardboard tray 1 , 101 at an upper side thereof. The foil can for example be adhered to the uninterrupted flange 17 via a friction weld.

The cardboard tray 1 is additionally provided with a locking part 19, for connecting neighbouring side walls 5 to each other. The locking part 19 is connected to one of the neighbouring side walls 5 via a third folding line 21 , and extends at least partly through a locking opening 23 provided in another neighbouring side walls 5 for firmly connecting the neighbouring side walls 5.

It is noticed that the above description of the figures describe one variation of many embodiments of the present disclosure. Other variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by those skilled in the art in practicing the claimed invention, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims. In the claims, the word “comprising” does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article, “a” or “an” does not exclude a plurality. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage.