Container blank

Abstract

A blank of sheet material for a container is provided with a pattern of fold lines ( 22, 18, 16 ), the pattern being selected such that a container having any one of a plurality of shapes, sizes and/or configuration can be erected from the blank.

1 . A blank of sheet material, for forming a container having any one of a plurality of shapes, sizes and/or configurations, provided with a pattern of fold lines, the pattern including: 
 a first plurality of parallel spaced fold lines and a second plurality of parallel spaced fold lines transverse to the first plurality of fold lines characterised in that    the fold lines are in the form of broken lines and at the locations where the fold lines would have intersected the fold lines of the first plurality and the fold lines of the second plurality are interrupted and therefore do not intersect each other but radiate outwards from said location.    
   
   
       2 . A blank as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the first and second plurality of parallel spaced fold lines define rows and columns of rectangular shapes, on the surface of the blank, each rectangular shape being separated from adjacent shapes by the fold lines.  
   
   
       3 . A blank as claimed in  claim 3  or  claim 4 , in which the pattern includes a third plurality of parallel spaced fold lines at an angle to the first and second pluralities of fold lines.  
   
   
       4 . A blank as claimed in  claim 3 , in which the pattern includes a fourth plurality of parallel spaced fold lines at an angle to the first and second pluralities of fold lines, transverse to the third plurality of fold lines.  
   
   
       5 . A blank as claimed in any one of  claims 1  to  4 , which include instructions thereon to a person for folding, connecting and/or cuffing the blank in order to erect a container of the shape, size and/or configuration as desired by the person.  
   
   
       6 . A blank as claimed in  claim 5 , in which the instructions are printed on the blank.  
   
   
       7 . A blank as claimed in any one of  claims 1  to  6 , which is provided with decorative print markings, preferably foil laminated print markings.  
   
   
       8 . A blank as claimed in any one of  claims 4  to  7 , in which the third and/or fourth pluralities of fold lines are diagonal with respect to rectangular shapes defined by the first and second plurality of parallel spaced fold lines.  
   
   
       9 . A blank as claimed in any one of  claims 1  to  8 , in which the sheet material is suitable stiff paper, plastic coated paper, plastic, paper board, carton paper, corrugated cardboard, plastic laminated paper, twin walled extruded plastic sheeting.  
   
   
       10 . A connecting device for a blank of flexible sheet material as claimed in any one of  claim 1  to  9 , the device having: 
 an adhesive on a surface of one of one of its sides; and    a pattern of fold lines configured such that the connecting device can be cut and/or folded to adhesively connect panels of a container at a location where said panels abut, neighbour, overlap and/or are coterminous along edges.    
   
   
       11 . A connecting device as claimed in  claim 10 , in which the connecting device is generally square shaped and the pattern of fold lines includes: 
 a first pair of parallel spaced fold lines extending from one edge of the device to the other opposed edge proximate a line, which divide the device in two oblong shaped halves; and    a fold line, transverse to, generally along a line, which divide the device in two oblong shaped halves, and the fold line extending from one of the first pair of parallel lines to the nearest edge of the device.    
   
   
       12 . A connecting device as claimed in  claim 11 , in which the pattern of fold lines further includes a second pair of parallel spaced fold lines extending transversely from the other of the first pair of fold lines to the nearest edge of the device, proximate a line which divide the device in two oblong shaped halves.  
   
   
       13 . A connecting device as claimed in  claim 12 , in which the pattern of fold lines further includes one or more diagonal fold lines.  
   
   
       14 . A kit for erecting a container, which includes a blank for a container as claimed in any one of  claims 1  to  9 , a connecting device as claimed in any one of  claims 10  to  14 .  
   
   
       15 . A kit as claimed in  claim 14 , which includes a cutting tool, an embossing tool, a ribbon, a wrapping paper for wrapping an item to be placed in the container, an elongate label and/or decorative articles to be appended to the erected container.  
   
   
       16 . A method of manufacturing containers which include the step of providing a blank of sheet material provided with a pattern of fold lines, the pattern including: 
 a first plurality of parallel spaced fold lines and a second plurality of parallel spaced fold lines transverse to the first plurality of fold lines such that a container having any one of a plurality of shapes, sizes and/or configurations is erectable from the blank,    characterised in that    the fold lines are in the form of broken lines and at the locations where the fold lines would have intersected the fold lines of the first plurality and the fold lines of the second plurality are interrupted and therefore do not intersect each other but radiate outwards from said location.    
   
   
       17 . A blank of sheet material for a container provided with a pattern of fold lines, substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.  
   
   
       18 . A connecting device of a flexible sheet material, substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.  
   
   
       19 . A kit for erecting a container, substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.  
   
   
       20 . A method of manufacturing containers, substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.