Polygonal box and precut plank useful for making same

Abstract

The invention relates to a polygonal box and to a precut sheet that can be used to make it. A polygonal box ( 1 ) comprising (I) first, second and third faces ( 2 ), ( 3 ), ( 4 ), (II) an apex surface ( 5 ) comprising a first lid ( 6 ), and (III) a base surface ( 7 ) comprising a second lid ( 8 ), each of the first, second and third faces ( 2 ), ( 3 ), ( 4 ) having (a) a respective first edge ( 9 ), ( 10 ), ( 11 ) in common with the apex surface ( 5 ) and (b) a respective second edge ( 12 ), ( 13 ), ( 14 ) in common with the base surface ( 7 ), the first lid ( 6 ) being connected to the first common edge ( 9 ) of the first face ( 2 ), the second face ( 3 ) comprising a first folding flap ( 15 ) connected to the first common edge ( 10 ), the said first folding flap ( 15 ) being inserted under the first lid ( 6 ). The polygonal box ( 1 ) is characterized in that the first folding flap ( 15 ) comprises a first surface ( 16 ) which, on its perimeter, has a first region ( 17 ) of relatively low mechanical strength and in that the first surface ( 16 ) is pressed against and secured to the first lid ( 6 ) when it is folded down and rendered coplanar with the apex surface ( 5 ).

1 . A polygonal box ( 1 ) comprising: 
 (a) an apex surface ( 5 ) comprising a first lid ( 6 ),    (b) a base surface ( 7 ) comprising a second lid ( 8 ),    (c) a first face ( 2 ) having an edge ( 9 ) in common with said apex surface ( 5 ) and an edge ( 12 ) in common with said base surface ( 7 ),    (d) a second face ( 3 ) having an edge ( 10 ) in common with said apex surface ( 5 ) and an edge ( 13 ) in common with said base surface ( 7 ), wherein said second face ( 3 ) comprises a first folding flap ( 15 ) having a mechanical strength, and said first folding flap ( 15 ) comprises a first surface ( 16 ) having on its perimeter a first region ( 17 ) having a mechanical strength less than that of said folding flap ( 15 ),    (e) a third face ( 4 ) having a mechanical strength and an edge ( 11 ) in common with said apex surface ( 5 ) and an edge ( 14 ) in common said base surface ( 7 ), wherein said first lid ( 6 ) is connected to said edge ( 9 ) said second face ( 3 ) is connected to said edge ( 10 ), said first folding flap ( 15 ) is inserted under said first lid ( 6 ), and said first surface ( 16 ) is pressed against, and secured to said first lid ( 6 ) when said first lid ( 6 ) is folded down and rendered coplanar with said apex surface ( 5 ).    
   
   
       2 . The polygonal box ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein said second lid ( 8 ) further comprises a second folding flap ( 18 ) having a mechanical strength, and comprising a second surface ( 19 ) having on its perimeter a second region ( 20 ) comprising a mechanical strength less than that of said second folding flap ( 18 ), wherein said edge ( 13 ) connects said second folding flap ( 18 ) with said second surface ( 3 ), said second folding flap ( 18 ) is inserted under said second lid ( 8 ), and said second surface ( 19 ) is pressed against and secured to said second lid ( 8 ) when said second lid ( 8 ) is folded down and rendered coplanar with the base surface ( 7 ).  
   
   
       3 . The polygonal box ( 1 ) according to  claim 1  wherein said first lid ( 6 ) further comprises a first folding tab ( 21 ) which is inserted under said third face ( 4 ) when said first lid ( 6 ) is folded down, and said third face ( 4 ) further comprises a third surface ( 22 ) which, on its perimeter, has a third region ( 23 ) having a mechanical strength less than said mechanical strength of said third face ( 4 ), said first tab ( 21 ) is pressed against, and secured to said third surface ( 22 ).  
   
   
       4 . The polygonal box ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein said second lid ( 8 ) further comprises a second folding tab ( 24 ), and said third face ( 4 ) further comprises a fourth surface ( 25 ) which, on its perimeter, has a fourth region ( 26 ) with a mechanical strength less than said mechanical strength of said third face ( 4 ), wherein said second folding tab ( 24 ) is inserted under said third face ( 4 ), said second tab ( 24 ) is pressed against, and secured to said fourth surface ( 25 ).  
   
   
       5 . The polygonal ( 1 ) according to  claim 1  made of an anistropic material.  
   
   
       6 . The polygonal box ( 1 ) according to  claim 5 , wherein said anistropic material has a tensile strength sufficient to prevent complete tearing of said anisotropic material along an axis parallel to an edge chosen among the first and second common edges ( 9 ) to ( 14 ).  
   
   
       7 . The polygonal box ( 1 ) according to  claim 6 , wherein the tensile strength of said anistropic material is obtained by incorporating oriented textile fibers into said anisotropic material.  
   
   
       8 . The polygonal box ( 1 ) according to  claim 7 , wherein said textile fibers are made of a material selected from the group consisting of cellulose, viscose, cotton, flax, hemp, nettle, wool, silk, a polyester, a nylon, a polyolefin, an aramid, and a mixture thereof.  
   
   
       9 . The polygonal box ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , further comprising a fourth face ( 27 ) that comprises, a third folding flap ( 28 ), which is inserted under said first lid ( 6 ), and a fourth folding flap ( 29 ), which is inserted under the second lid ( 8 ).  
   
   
       10 . The polygonal box ( 1 ) according to  claim 9 , wherein: 
 (a) said third folding flap ( 28 ) further comprises a fifth surface ( 30 ) which, on its perimeter, has a region ( 31 ) having a mechanical strength less than the mechanical strength of said fifth surface, wherein said fifth surface ( 30 ) is pressed against and secured to said first lid ( 6 ) when said first lid ( 6 ) is folded down and rendered coplanar with the apex surface ( 5 ); and    (b) said in that the fourth folding flap ( 29 ) further comprises a sixth surface ( 32 ) which, on its perimeter, has a sixth region ( 33 ) having a mechanical strength less than the mechanical strength of said sixth surface, wherein said sixth surface ( 32 ) is pressed against and secured to the second lid ( 8 ) when said second lid ( 8 ) is folded down and rendered coplanar with the base surface ( 7 ).    
   
   
       11 . The polygonal box ( 1 ) according to  claim 1  wherein said box is made of cardboard.  
   
   
       12 . A precut fold-up sheet ( 34 ) that can be used to make a polygonal box ( 1 ) according to any one of the preceding claims when a subsequent folding step, followed, if necessary, by a bonding step, is performed.