Box covered with a non-woven material

Abstract

A box comprising a body formed from a blank, wherein the blank comprises a support having a first surface and a second surface and at least the first surface has printing thereon. The blank further comprises at least one sheet of non-woven material, the at least one sheet of non-woven material being arranged on the first surface of the support. The at least one sheet of non-woven material may be at least partially transparent so that the printing on the first surface of the support is visible through the sheet of non-woven material.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A box comprising: 
 a body formed from a blank, wherein the blank comprises 
 a support having a first surface and a second surface, wherein at least the first surface has printing thereon, and  
 at least one sheet of non-woven material, the at least one sheet of non-woven material being arranged on the first surface of the support, and the at least one sheet of non-woven material being at least partially transparent so that the printing on the first surface of the support is visible through the at least one sheet of non-woven material.  
   
     
     
         2 . A box according to  claim 1 , wherein the blank is precut and folded to form the body.  
     
     
         3 . A box according to  claim 1 , wherein the first surface forms an outer surface of the box.  
     
     
         4 . A box according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sheet of non-woven material comprises a first sheet of non-woven material on the first surface, and wherein the box further comprises a second sheet of non-woven material on the second surface.  
     
     
         5 . A box according to  claim 4 , wherein the second surface has printing thereon, and the second sheet of non-woven material is at least partially transparent so that the printing on the second surface of the support is visible through the second sheet of non-woven material.  
     
     
         6 . A box according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sheet of non-woven material is secured to the support by bonding.  
     
     
         7 . A box according to  claim 1 , wherein the bonding is chosen from adhesive bonding and adhesive-varnish bonding.  
     
     
         8 . A box according to  claim 1 , wherein the support is made of a cardboard material.  
     
     
         9 . A box according to  claim 8 , wherein the cardboard material has a grammage ranging from about 150 g/m 2  to about 500 g/m 2 .  
     
     
         10 . A box according to  claim 9 , wherein the cardboard material has a grammage ranging from about 250 g/m 2  to about 400 g/m 2 .  
     
     
         11 . A box according to  claim 1 , wherein the support is made of a thermoplastic material.  
     
     
         12 . A box according to  claim 11 , wherein the thermoplastic material is chosen from high-density polyethylenes, polypropylenes, polyvinyl chlorides, and polyethylene terephthalates.  
     
     
         13 . A box according to  claim 11 , wherein the support has a thickness ranging from about 150 μm to about 800 μm.  
     
     
         14 . A box according to  claim 13 , wherein the support has a thickness ranging from about 300 μm to about 600 μm.  
     
     
         15 . A box according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sheet of non-woven material is formed from thermoplastic fibers.  
     
     
         16 . A box according to  claim 15 , wherein the thermoplastic fibers comprise polyolefin fibers.  
     
     
         17 . A box according to  claim 16 , wherein the polyolefin fibers are chosen from polypropylene fibers and polyethylene fibers.  
     
     
         18 . A box according to  claim 15 , wherein the thermoplastic fibers comprise polyester fibers.  
     
     
         19 . A box according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sheet of non-woven material has a thickness ranging from about 50 μm to about 800 μm.  
     
     
         20 . A box according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sheet of non-woven material has a thickness ranging from about 100 μm to about 400 μm.  
     
     
         21 . A box according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sheet of non-woven material has a thickness ranging from about 100 μm to about 200 μm.  
     
     
         22 . A box according to  claim 1 , wherein the blank comprises score lines and wherein the blank is folded at the score lines.  
     
     
         23 . A box comprising: 
 a body formed by folding a blank, wherein the blank comprises 
 a support having a first surface and a second surface, wherein at least the first surface has printing thereon and forms an outer surface of the box, and  
 at least one sheet of non-woven material comprising thermoplastic fibers, the at least one sheet of non-woven material being arranged on the first surface of the support, and the at least one sheet of non-woven material being at least partially transparent so that the printing on the first surface of the support is visible through the at least one sheet of non-woven material.  
   
     
     
         24 . A box according to  claim 23 , wherein the at least one sheet of non-woven material comprises a first sheet of non-woven material on the first surface, and wherein the box further comprises a second sheet of non-woven material on the second surface.  
     
     
         25 . A box according to  claim 24 , wherein the second surface has printing thereon, and the second sheet of non-woven material is at least partially transparent so that the printing on the second surface of the support is visible through the second sheet of non-woven material.  
     
     
         26 . A box according to  claim 23 , wherein the support is made of a cardboard material.  
     
     
         27 . A box according to  claim 23 , wherein the support is made of a thermoplastic material.  
     
     
         28 . A box according to  claim 23 , wherein the thermoplastic fibers are chosen from polyolefin fibers or polyester fibers.  
     
     
         29 . A method of manufacturing a box, comprising: 
 providing a support having a first surface and a second surface;    applying printing to the first surface of the support;    coating the printed first surface of the support with an adhesive;    applying a sheet of non-woven material to the printed first surface of the support; and    folding the printed support to form the box.    
     
     
         30 . A method according to  claim 29 , further comprising scoring the support to form score lines, and wherein folding the support comprises folding the support at the score lines.  
     
     
         31 . A method according to  claim 29 , further comprising cutting the support to form a blank, and wherein folding the support comprises folding the blank to form the box.  
     
     
         32 . A method according to  claim 29  further comprising scoring the support to form score lines and cutting the support to form a blank, and wherein folding the support includes folding the blank to form the box.  
     
     
         33 . A method according to  claim 32 , further comprising, prior to the scoring and the cutting, coating the second surface of the support with an adhesive and applying a second sheet of non-woven material to the second surface.  
     
     
         34 . A method according to  claim 33 , further comprising applying printing to the second surface of the support.  
     
     
         35 . A method according to  claim 29 , further comprising applying printing to the second surface of the support.  
     
     
         36 . A method according to  claim 33 , wherein the sheet of non-woven material is at least partially transparent so that the printing on the first surface of the support is visible through the sheet of non-woven material.  
     
     
         37 . A method according to  claim 29 , wherein the first surface forms an outer surface of the box.  
     
     
         38 . A method of manufacturing the box of  claim 1 , comprising: 
 providing the blank; and    folding the blank so that the first surface forms the outside of the box.    
     
     
         39 . A blank for forming a body of a box, the blank comprising: 
 a support having a first surface and a second surface, wherein at least the first surface has printing thereon, and    at least one sheet of non-woven material, the at least one sheet of non-woven material being arranged on the first surface of the support, and the at least one sheet of non-woven material being at least partially transparent so that the printing on the first surface of the support is visible through the at least one sheet of non-woven material.    
     
     
         40 . A blank according to  claim 39 , wherein the blank comprises score lines, the blank being configured to be folded along the score lines to form the body of the box.