Box

Abstract

The present invention relates to boxes, particularly boxes formed from polymer materials, especially expanded polystyrene (EPS) or other expanded polymer materials. However, the invention is applicable to boxes generally, including those formed from cardboard, board, wood, metal, etc. Boxes formed from EPS or other expanded polymer materials are used in vast numbers for a huge range of purposes. For example, such boxes are used generally as transport containers, for transporting all manner of goods, including raw and processed food, plants, electrical products, chemical products, pharmaceutical products, and biological materials. Boxes formed from such materials have many advantages, including low manufacturing cost, thermal insulation properties, low density, and impact resistance. However, boxes that cannot be collapsed to a flat configuration for transportation when empty suffer from the disadvantage that the cost of their transportation (when empty) is generally significant in comparison to their manufacturing cost. While the use of boxes that can be collapsed flat for transportation when empty can solve this problem in some situations, such collapsible boxes are not suitable for all purposes nor universally adopted, wherever appropriate, in view of the fact that despite collapsible boxes having been available for many years, non-collapsible boxes are still used in vast numbers. The present invention seeks to provide a solution to the above problems and provides an improved box with sidewall having gaps to enable boxes to fit together in an overlapping configuration.

1 . A box, comprising a base and an upstanding sidewall defining an interior volume of the box, the sidewall including at least one gap extending from a top edge thereof and at least one insert; whereby, in use, each gap is closed by a respective insert to provide a continuous upstanding sidewall; and, in a storage mode, each gap is operable to accept a sidewall of a corresponding mirror-image version of the box such that the sidewall of a box could be received in the gap and a portion of the upstanding wall can be received in a gap defined in a wall of said corresponding mirror-image version of the box, thereby allowing the boxes to fit together in an overlapping configuration.  
   
   
       2 . A box according to  claim 1 , in which the base is unitary with the sidewall.  
   
   
       3 . A box according to  claim 1 , in which the sidewall includes only one said gap.  
   
   
       4 . A box according to  claim 1 , wherein the box has a plurality of sides and in which a said gap is included in each of at least two faces of the sidewall.  
   
   
       5 . A box according to  claim 1 , wherein the box has at least two perpendicular sidewalls and wherein each sidewall adjacent perpendicular sidewalls each have a gap defined therein.  
   
   
       6 . A box according to  claim 1 , wherein the box has at least two parallel spaced apart sidewalls and wherein each spaced apart sidewall has a gap defined therein.  
   
   
       7 . A box according to any one of claims  1 , wherein each insert comprises a component separate from the sidewall.  
   
   
       8 . A box according to any one of claims  1 , wherein each insert comprises a flap hingedly connected to a sidewall.  
   
   
       9 . A box according to  claim 1 , wherein each insert comprises a component separate from the sidewall, in which a said gap and a said insert are configured such that the insert is slidable into the gap from the top edge.  
   
   
       10 . A box according to  claim 1 , wherein each insert comprises a component separate from the sidewall, in which a said insert is slidable into a said gap by means of at least one protrusion and/or groove of the insert engaging with at least one respective groove and/or protrusion of the sidewall.  
   
   
       11 . A box according to  claim 1 , in which the, or each, said gap comprises a slot.  
   
   
       12 . A box according to  claim 1 , in which the, or each, said gap comprises a slot, in which the slot extends in a substantially perpendicular direction with respect to the top edge and/or with respect to a base of the box.  
   
   
       13 . A box according to  claim 1 , in which the, or each, said gap comprises a slot, in which the, or each, slot tapers in a direction away from the top edge.  
   
   
       14 . A box according to  claim 1 , in which the, or each, said gap is no wider than 25% wider than the thickness of the sidewall, preferably no wider than 10% wider than the thickness of the sidewall.  
   
   
       15 . A box according to  claim 1 , in which the, or each, said gap has a depth of at least 25% of the height of the sidewall.  
   
   
       16 . A box according to  claim 1 , in which the, or each, said gap has a depth of at least 50%, preferably at least 75%, of the height of the sidewall.  
   
   
       17 . A box according to  claim 1 , in which a or the sidewall is curved.  
   
   
       18 . A box according to  claim 1 , in which the sidewall comprises a plurality of substantially flat faces.  
   
   
       19 . A box according to  claim 1 , in which the sidewall comprises four substantially flat faces.  
   
   
       20 . A box according to  claim 1 , further comprising a lid that is engageable with the top edge to close the box.  
   
   
       21 . A box according to  claim 1 , which is formed from polymer material, selected from the group including: expanded polystyrene (EPS), expanded polypropylene (EPP), expanded polyethylene (EPE).  
   
   
       22 . A box according to  claim 1 , which is formed from a corrugated material, such as corrugated plastics or corrugated cardboard.  
   
   
       23 . A set of boxes comprising a first box according to  claim 1  and a second box comprising an upstanding sidewall surrounding an interior volume of the box, the first and second boxes configured such that they are able to fit together in an overlapping configuration by the sidewall of the second box being received in at least one said gap in the sidewall of the first box.  
   
   
       24 . A set of boxes comprising a first box according to  claim 1  and a second box comprising an upstanding sidewall surrounding an interior volume of the box, the first and second boxes configured such that they are able to fit together in an overlapping configuration by the sidewall of the second box being received in at least one said gap in the sidewall of the first box, in which the first and second boxes are configured such that they are able to fit together in an overlapping configuration by the sidewall of the second box being received in at least one said gap in the sidewall of the first box, and by the sidewall of the first box being received in at least one said gap in the sidewall of the second box.