Paperboard box

Abstract

A box made substantially of paperboard, the box having one or more support formations attached to an interior surface of the box and projecting into the interior of the box, wherein the one or more support formations act to (a) locate within the box an object having a shape or size different from that of the box, and (b) brace the box against damage when the object is located within the box by the support formations.

The claims defining the invention are as follows:  
     
         1 . A box made substantially of paperboard, the box having one or more support formations attached to an interior surface of the box and projecting into the interior of the box, wherein the one or more support formations act to (a) locate within the box an object having a shape or size different from that of the box, and (b) brace the box against damage when the object is located within the box by the support formations.  
     
     
         2 . A box according to    claim 1    wherein there are a plurality of said support formations spaced about said interior of the box and shaped and positioned to cooperate to locate and accommodate an object having a shape different from that of the box.  
     
     
         3 . A box according to    claim 1    or    2    wherein the or each said support formation is made substantially of paperboard and is integrally attached to the box.  
     
     
         4 . A box according to    claim 3    wherein the or each said support formation is a hingedly attached flap folded within itself to project into the interior of the box.  
     
     
         5 . A box according to any one of    claims 1    to    4    wherein said box is generally rectangular, and adapted to define a space for receiving and locating an object which is generally circular when viewed in plan in the box.  
     
     
         6 . A box according to any one of    claims 1    to    5    wherein the or each said support formation is generally V-shaped in profile and cooperates with an adjacent side panel to define a triangular-shaped sub-structure.  
     
     
         7 . An object according to any preceding claim wherein there are four of said support formations at respective sides of the box and adjacent respective corners of the box.  
     
     
         8 . A box according to    claim 7   , wherein said support formations are attached to the sides of the box along four upstanding corner edges.  
     
     
         9 . A box according to any preceding claim, wherein the or each support formation has an edge that abuts a tab pushed out from a side panel of the box, whereby to define the location and form of the support formation.  
     
     
         10 . A box according to    claim 9    wherein there are at least two of said tabs in opposite side panels of the box, which tabs also act to provide handles in the respective side panels.  
     
     
         11 . A box according to    claim 9    wherein said tabs are dovetail-shaped so as to be wedged between respective edges defined in or on the support formations.  
     
     
         12 . A box according to any preceding claim, including a top panel and guard flaps attached with the top panel, which guard flaps act to cover side panels when the box is closed, and thus act as reinforcement for the box.  
     
     
         13 . A box according to any preceding claim, further including a latching arrangement to ensure that the box is securely closed, which latching arrangement has: 
 (a) a latching tongue, attached to and extending from a front panel of the box, and a complementary latching recess or slot into which said tongue is insertable; and    (b) side flaps, attached with the guard flaps, which can be inserted into respective complementary pockets, openings for which are formed at upstanding side edges of the front panel.    
     
     
         14 . A box according to any preceding claim, formed from a unitary blank of paperboard.  
     
     
         15 . A paperboard blank having appropriate cuts and fold lines for assembly into a box according to any one of    claims 1    to    13   .