EP3888501B1 - Foldable base element - Google Patents

Description

Technical environment

The invention relates to a foldable base element as a basis for sales displays for the presentation of goods with a peripheral frame wall made of four side walls connected to one another and at least one reinforcement element connected to the frame wall on the inside thereof, the base element being reversible from a flat transport position into a three-dimensional one by means of an opening process Useful position can be brought.

State of the art

Collapsible base elements of the generic type described above are used to set up shelves for storing and presenting goods, preferably in retail.

The shelves mostly consist of a base and several horizontal shelves arranged one above the other, which are positioned on or between the generic support elements. Depending on the type of goods used, not inconsiderable stability requirements are placed on the base elements made of paper or plastic materials, with the base elements for transport and storage being possible at the same time are to be handled in a space-saving manner and rapid construction must be guaranteed.

So is known from the prior art according to the utility model G 89 01 601 sales display with a base. This base is specially designed as a pallet display. The sales display is arranged on the base, which in turn can be placed on a pallet. The base has two side walls. These run in such a way that they are buckled towards the interior of the base. This gives the base stability in relation to a load from above. Furthermore, webs are provided in the interior of the base, which run between the front wall and rear wall of the base. Even high, these webs can be seen to be brought individually into the desired position between the front wall and the wall. The externally recognizable buckling of the side walls is often perceived as an aesthetic disadvantage with regard to the overall design of the sales display. More generic, foldable base elements are, for example U.S. 6,079,560 A or the RU 195 442 U1 known.

object of the invention

Based on the known prior art solutions for a foldable base element as a basis for sales displays for the presentation of goods with the generic features, the object of the invention is to further develop such a base element in such a way that a cost-effective, resource-saving and thus environmentally friendly production is guaranteed That the support element has sufficient stability even for heavy goods and is still easy to set up. In addition, it must be ensured that the support element can be easily transferred from the used state to the unassembled state and can be stored and transported in a space-saving manner in this state.

solution of the task

The stated object is achieved according to the invention by the technical teaching presented in the characterizing part of claim 1.

It is essential to the invention that the frame wall consists of a rectangular, one-piece panel that has all four side walls that pass through fold lines are pivotally connected to one another, arranged side by side, the outer free ends of the narrow sides of the panel being connected by folding the two outer ones of the four side walls together by means of a gluing process, and that the reinforcing element consists of a second rectangular panel which forms the fold line between the first outermost side wall and the adjacent side wall on their inner sides and is connected to the adjacent side walls in question by means of an adhesive area running perpendicular to the longitudinal extension of the first panel, the reinforcing element between its adhesive areas arranged at its free ends two fold lines arranged parallel to the adhesive areas and wherein one of the two crease lines is located above the fold line between the first outermost side panel and the adjacent side panel.

The features of the construction described are used to create a base element which is made up of two or three panels, preferably made of corrugated cardboard, with the panels being able to be produced in a resource-saving manner from the appropriate raw material in a first step due to their rectangular shape in the design without corresponding waste. In a second work step, the prefabricated panels are then provided with an application of adhesive at the designated points using appropriate automatic gluing machines and then placed on top of each other and fixed accordingly.

In addition to the production of the non-jagged die-cut sheets, the introduction of corresponding folding and punching lines in the panels made of paper or plastic material is a routine activity in the field of corrugated paper processing. After the panels have been punched out and glued, no further separating cuts or the like are necessary in the subject of the invention. The transfer of the finished base element from its unfolded transport position into a three-dimensional use position can be carried out in a very simple manner, if necessary also in a time-saving manner at the location where the support element is used.

The base element according to the invention can thus be produced quickly and in the simplest possible way with the aid of production facilities that are customary in securities processing produce inexpensively. At this point, it should be particularly emphasized that the necessary adhesions are all aligned in parallel. The spatial structure of the base element and, if necessary, its folding back into the delivery state is another positive feature in addition to the stability of the overall construction.

Particular configurations of the subject matter of the invention result from the features of the dependent claims referring back to the main claim.

With regard to the subject matter of the invention, it has also proven to be advantageous if the foldable base element has a second reinforcement element made of a third rectangular panel, this panel covering the fold line between the free end of the second outer side wall opposite the first outer side wall and the adjacent side wall at its overlaps the inner sides and is connected to the adjacent side walls in question by means of an adhesive area running perpendicularly to the longitudinal extent of the first panel, the second reinforcing element having two fold lines arranged parallel to the adhesive areas between its adhesive areas arranged at its free ends and one of the two fold lines located above the fold line between the second outermost side panel and the adjacent side panel.

This constructive design provides the base element with additional stabilization and is symmetrically constructed so that loads acting from above can be absorbed evenly.

In order to increase the standing area of the base element, it can also be expedient to arrange folding flaps protruding below at the lower edge of the side walls, with the folding flaps being coupled to the respective side wall via a fold line.

An enlargement of the contact area of the base element can be brought about, similar to the enlargement of the standing area, by arranging upwardly protruding folding flaps on the upper edge of the side walls be, wherein these folding flaps are coupled to the respective side walls via a fold line.

Both from an aesthetic point of view and with regard to the loads that can be absorbed, it is advisable to arrange the side walls at right angles to one another.

With regard to the buckling lines and fold lines, it has proven to be advantageous to embody these partially as perforations. For that fold line in the first and second reinforcement element, which is arranged above the respective fold line between the first and second outermost side wall and the adjacent side wall, it has proven to be advantageous with regard to the unfolding process if this fold line has a plurality of recesses extending along the fold line is provided. This measure makes it possible for the partial areas of the reinforcement element connected by means of this buckling line to be able to shift slightly in relation to one another, so that the foldable base element can be unfolded easily from its flat transport position into a three-dimensional use position.

Corrugated cardboard has proven to be a suitable material for the foldable base element or the panels for the frame wall and the reinforcement elements. Of course, it is also alternatively conceivable to replace corrugated cardboard with suitable plastic materials, provided that a corresponding folding and folding line technique is guaranteed.

It can also be expedient if downwardly protruding retaining lugs are arranged on the lower edge of the side walls, which are used for connection to a pallet used on the underside of the base element facing the floor.

The retaining tabs are coupled to the respective side panels via a crease line. They can be punched out of the associated folding flap at the other edges that are not connected to the side walls.

It is also expedient if in the folding flaps on the side walls which protrude upwards at the upper edge of the side walls facing away from the upper edges slot-shaped recesses are cut into which engages in each case the portion of an upper edge of a reinforcing element in the unfolded use position of the foldable base element. This interlocking between the foldable tabs, which are used to increase the contact area of the base element or to increase the placement area for a sales display, with the inner reinforcement elements leads to additional stabilization of the base element according to the invention and reliably prevents displacement of the side walls arranged at right angles to one another as a result of external stress.

character description

Figur 1

das erfindungsgemäße Sockelelement in einer perspektivischen Gesamtdarstellung aufgesetzt auf einer Palette,

Figur 2

eine perspektivische Darstellung des Sockelelementes mit bereits aufgelegten Verstärkungselementen in flächiger Tafelform,

Figur 3

eine perspektivische Gesamtdarstellung des Sockelelementes aus Figur 2 unmittelbar vor dem Zusammenkleben der Rahmenwandung,

Figur 4

eine perspektivische Darstellung des Sockelelementes im ersten Stadium der Transformation in die Nutzstellung,

Figur 5

eine perspektivische Darstellung von schräg oben des Sockelelementes mit teilweise schon in Position befindlichem Verstärkungselement und

Figur 6

eine weitere perspektivische Darstellung des Sockelelementes in einem letzten Zwischenstadium unmittelbar vor der Fertigfaltung in die abschließende Nutzstellung.

An exemplary embodiment of the base element according to the invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the attached drawings. It shows:

figure 1

the base element according to the invention in a perspective overall view placed on a pallet,

figure 2

a perspective view of the base element with reinforcement elements already in place in the form of a flat panel,

figure 3

a perspective overall view of the base element figure 2 immediately before gluing the frame wall together,

figure 4

a perspective view of the base element in the first stage of the transformation into the use position,

figure 5

a perspective view obliquely from above of the base element with a partially already in position reinforcing element and

figure 6

a further perspective view of the base element in a last intermediate stage immediately before the final folding into the final use position.

In the figure 1 the sock element according to the invention is shown placed on a pallet 6 as a basis for sales displays for the presentation of goods. The base element essentially consists of a surrounding frame wall, which is denoted in its entirety by 1 and is rectangular mutually arranged side walls 2, 3, 4 and 5 consists. The outline of the base element according to the invention is rectangular in the present exemplary embodiment, but a square design is of course also conceivable. Inside the frame wall 1 there is a first reinforcement element 7 and a second reinforcement element 8.

The first and second reinforcement elements are denoted by their respective reference numerals 7 and 8 in the following. Reinforcement element 7 and reinforcement element 8 are each firmly connected to two side walls of the frame wall 1, with adhesive bonds between the components being selected in the present exemplary embodiment. The reinforcing element 7 is connected to the side wall 4 and the side wall 3, whereas the reinforcing element 8 is glued to the side walls 5 and 2.

The structure and the production of the base element is based on various drawings, the different stages of construction of the base element up to its final position of use, as in the figure 1 is shown, explained in more detail.

The production of the base element begins with the production of three substantially rectangular panels made of corrugated cardboard material. The panels are punched out in the usual manner using suitable punching machines in the form required for assembly. The three panels form on the one hand the frame wall 1 and the reinforcing elements 7 and 8 and are in a planar superimposed arrangement in the figure 2 pictured. This figure shows all the essentials for the construction and moving of the base element from a flat transport position into a three-dimensional use position.

The frame wall 1 consists of the outermost side wall 5 in the blank, the side wall 4 arranged immediately next to it, which in turn is connected to the side wall 3, which is adjoined by the outermost side wall 2 located on the right-hand side of the panel. According to the selected floor plan of the base element, the side walls 4 and 2 are greater in length than the side walls 5 and 3. All side walls 2, 3, 4, 5 are coupled to one another with fold lines, the fold lines acting as grooves are designed. The fold line 9 is thus located between the side wall 5 and the side wall 4, the fold line 10 between the side wall 4 and the side wall 3, and the fold line 11 between the side wall 3 and the side wall 2.

As can be seen from the figure, there is an adhesive flap 12 on the outer edge of the side wall 5, which is provided with an application of adhesive and is used for connection to the opposite, outermost side wall 2, as is shown in more detail in FIG figure 3 is shown.

Folding flaps are arranged on the upper and lower edges of the side walls 2, 3, 4 and 5, with the identification of the associated side wall and the arrangement of the folding flap on the upper or lower edge being marked with A and B in the illustration for each folding flap is. On the side wall 5 there is thus an upper flap 5A and a lower flap 5B. The upper folding flap 5A is characterized in that there is a recess 18 in the middle of its outermost edge. The recess 18 is designed in the form of a slot, and its purpose will be explained in the course of the further description of the figures.

There are thus on the panel of the frame wall 1 coupled with a fold line to the respective side wall, the folding flaps 2A and 2B, 3A and 3B, 4A and 4B and 5A and 5B available.

The design of the base element according to the invention results essentially from the existence, the special structure and the special arrangement of the reinforcement elements 7 and 8, which are each punched out as rectangular corrugated cardboard panels. The reinforcing elements 7 and 8 are designed identically and have, as is the figure 2 it can be seen that there are four fold lines 14, 15, 16 and 17 arranged parallel next to one another. The folding lines 14, 16 and 17 are technically designed in the same way as grooves or perforations.

In contrast, the fold line 15 shows how this is done figure 2 becomes clear, a different design. Here there are three recesses 26 in the longitudinal direction of the fold line 15, which are designed as oblong holes, between which the fold line 15, like the other fold lines 14, 16 and 17, also has either a crease or a perforation. The special configuration of the fold line 15 is explained in the context of the further description as being necessary for the function of the base element according to the invention with regard to its transport position and use position, into which the base element can be brought reversibly.

Due to the fold lines 14 and 17, adhesive tabs 19 are divided off on the outermost edges of the reinforcing elements 7 and 8 in the two reinforcing elements 7 and 8, respectively. During the manufacturing process of the base element, an adhesive layer is applied to the space between the underside of the reinforcement elements 7 and 8 and the inside of the side walls 2, 3, 4 and 5 and the reinforcement elements 7 and 8 are then attached to the corresponding side walls 2, 3, 4 and 5 firmly glued. The arrangement of the reinforcement elements 7 and 8 is selected in such a way that the respective fold lines 15 of the two reinforcement elements 7 and 8 are each arranged above the fold lines 9 and 11 of the frame wall 1 . This arrangement is fundamentally important for the subsequent unfolding of the base element into its use position.

After the reinforcement elements 7 and 8 have been glued to the frame wall 1 by means of the adhesive tabs 19, the side wall 5 and the side wall 2 are shown in the corresponding illustration figure 3 folded up and towards each other. As already mentioned, the adhesive flap 12 is provided with an application of adhesive on its outer side, which then points upwards, and is adhesively bonded to the side wall 2 lying next to it. The result is a closed, flat frame wall 1 with reinforcement elements 7 and 8 lying therein.

In principle, the production process for the base element ends with the gluing process for forming the closed frame wall 1 . The manufacturing process therefore only consists of the usual punching processes for the panel of the frame wall 1 and the panels of the reinforcement elements 7 and 8. All gluing processes take place in parallel areas of the frame wall 1 and the reinforcement elements 7 and 8, further cutting processes are after the processing of the base element not necessary on the associated gluing machine.

After the end of the figures 2 and 3 In the manufacturing process described, the transformation of the base element, which is in its flat transport position, takes place in further steps into its spatial use position.

For this purpose, how this is based on the figure 4 it becomes clear that the flat structure is unfolded into a cuboid. In the representation of figure 4 the frame wall 1 is placed on the pallet 6. The folding flaps 2B, 3B, 4B, 5B located on the underside of the side walls 2 are folded inwards before being placed on the pallet 6, so that the footprint of the base element on the pallet 6 is increased. At the same time, the holding tabs 20, which are located in the middle of each folding tab 2B, 3B, 4B and 5B, are hooked to the pallet 6. The retaining tabs 20 are also connected to a fold line 21 on their broad side facing the respective side walls 2 , 3 , 4 and 5 . The remaining 3 sides of the essentially rectangular retaining tab 20 are punched out of the respective folding tab 2B, 3B, 4B and 5B, so that the retaining tab 20 can come to rest in the direction of the pallet 6, protruding downwards, on the edge thereof, whereas the folding tabs like already mentioned above are planned inwards to increase the contact area.

After the frame wall 1 has been unfolded, the respective reinforcement elements 7 and 8 are still essentially in contact with the associated side walls.

How from the figure 5 As can be seen, in a subsequent folding process, first the reinforcing element 8 is lifted out of its position in contact with the side walls 5 and 4 and folded out towards the interior of the frame wall 1 . The fold lines 14 , 15 , 16 and 17 on the reinforcement element 8 ensure that the two partial areas 22 and 23 are aligned essentially at right angles to the two adhesive tabs 19 . Thus, within the interior of the frame wall 1 , a separate, essentially rectangular partial interior is created, delimited by the side walls 5 and 4 and the partial regions 22 and 23 of the reinforcement element 8 .

Analogous to the figure 5 described unfolding process for the reinforcement element 8 to the interior, the reinforcement element 7 is then unfolded in the interior of the frame wall 1 in a further operation.

The result is thus the as in the figure 6 illustrated form of the base element, in which the reinforcing elements 7 and 8 abut each other in the region of their fold lines 16. How from the figure 6 As can be seen, the special design of the buckling line 15 of the reinforcement elements 7 and 8 allows a slight compression of the partial areas 22 of the respective reinforcement elements 7 and 8.

In a final folding process, the folding flaps 2A, 3A, 4A and 5A are then bent inwards. It can be seen from all of the figures that the folding tabs 2A, 3A, 4A and 5A of the base element are designed in two parts, in contrast to the folding tabs 2B, 3B, 4B and 5B on the underside of the base element. Between their outer edge and their respective fold line 13, they have another fold line 24 as a connection to the side walls 2, 3, 4 and 5. The fold line 24 enables the outermost areas of the folding flaps 2A, 3A, 4A and 5A to be folded in after the respective folding flaps have been folded in 2A, 3A, 4A and 5A down to the bottom of the base member. The previously mentioned recess 18 serves to hook into a recess 25 arranged in the partial areas 22 of the respective reinforcement elements 7 and 8 and thus to ensure a detachable, but nevertheless firm and stabilizing connection of the folding straps 2A, 3A, 4A and 5A .

As can be seen from the overall view of the figures, both the production with only punching and gluing processes and the subsequent unfolding process to the use position of the base element can be implemented easily and inexpensively.

Another advantage of the construction according to the invention is that, if the base elements should still be usable in use, they can easily be removed by unfolding the folding flaps 2A, 3A, 4A and 5A and applying the Reinforcing elements 7 and 8 can be easily returned to the respective side walls in the original transport position of the base element. This is undoubtedly an advantage in terms of sustainability.

Reference List

1

frame wall

2

Side wall

3

Side wall

4

Side wall

5

Side wall

6

palette

7

first reinforcement element

8th

second reinforcement element

9

fold line

10

fold line

11

fold line

12

glue tab

13

crease line

14

crease line

15

crease line

16

crease line

17

crease line

18

recess

19

glue tab

20

retaining tab

21

crease line

22

subarea

23

subarea

24

crease line

25

recess

26

recess

Claims (10)

1. Foldable pedestal element as a base for merchandising units for presenting goods, having an encircling frame wall (1) consisting of four side walls (2, 3, 4, 5) connected to one another, and at least one strengthening element (7) connected to the frame wall (1) on its inner side, wherein the pedestal element can be reversibly brought out of a flat transport position by an opening operation into a spatial usage position,
   wherein
   the frame wall (1) consists of a one-piece, rectangular panel, which forms all four side walls (2, 3, 4, 5) arranged one alongside the other, which are pivotably connected to one another by folding lines (9, 10, 11), wherein the outer free ends of the narrow sides of the panel are connected by collapsing the two most outward of the four side walls (5, 2) by means of a gluing operation, and the strengthening element (7) consists of a second rectangular panel that overlaps the bending line (9) between the first most outward side wall (5) and the neighbouring side wall (4) on their inner sides, and is connected to each of the neighbouring side walls in question (5, 4) by means of an adhesive region (19) running perpendicular to the longitudinal extension of the first panel, wherein the strengthening element (7) has two bending lines (15, 16) arranged in parallel to the adhesive regions (19) between its adhesive regions (19) arranged on its free ends, and wherein one of the two bending lines (15) is arranged over the folding line (9) between a first most outward side wall (5) and the neighbouring side wall (4).
2. Foldable pedestal element according to claim 1,
   characterised in that
   a second strengthening element (8) consisting of a third rectangular panel overlaps the bending line between the opposite second most outward side wall (2) at the free end of the first most outward side wall (5) and the neighbouring side wall (3) on their inner sides, and is connected to each of the neighbouring side walls (2, 3) in question by means of an adhesive region (19) running perpendicular to the longitudinal extension of the first panel, wherein the second strengthening element (8) has two bending lines (15, 16) arranged in parallel to the adhesive regions (19) between its adhesive regions (19) arranged on its free ends, and wherein one of the two bending lines (15) is arranged over the folding line (11) between the second most outward side wall (2) and the neighbouring side wall (3).
3. Foldable pedestal element according to claim 1 or 2,
   characterised in that
   flipping tabs (2B, 3B, 4B, 5B) protruding downwards for enlarging the stand space of the pedestal element are arranged on the lower edge of the side walls (2, 3, 4, 5), wherein the flipping tabs (2B, 3B, 4B, 5B) are coupled with the respective side walls (2, 3, 4, 5) via a folding line (13).
4. Foldable pedestal element according to one or more of claims 1 to 3,
   characterised in that
   flipping tabs (2A, 3A, 4A, 5A) protruding upwards for enlarging the placement surface for the merchandising unit are arranged on the upper edge of the side walls (2, 3, 4, 5), wherein the flipping tabs (2A, 3A, 4A, 5A) are coupled with the respective side walls (2, 3, 4, 5) via a bending line (13).
5. Foldable pedestal element according to one or more of claims 1 to 4,
   characterised in that
   the side walls (2, 3, 4, 5) are arranged at right angles to one another.
6. Foldable pedestal element according to one or more of claims 1 to 5,
   characterised in that
   bending lines (13, 14, 15, 16, 21, 24) and folding lines (9, 10, 11) are formed as perforations.
7. Foldable pedestal element according to one or more of claims 1 to 6,
   characterised in that
   the panels forming the frame wall (1) and the strengthening elements (7, 8) consist of corrugated cardboard.
8. Foldable pedestal element according to one or more of claims 3 to 7,
   characterised in that
   retaining tabs (20) protruding downwards are arranged on the lower edge of the side walls (2, 3, 4, 5) for connecting to a pallet (6) located on the underside of the pedestal element facing the ground, wherein the retaining tabs (20) are coupled with the respective side walls (2, 3, 4, 5) via a bending line (13).
9. Foldable pedestal element according to claim 8,
   characterised in that
   the retaining tabs (20) protruding downwards on the lower edge of the side walls (2, 3, 4, 5) are punched out of the associated flipping tabs (2B, 3B, 4B, 5B) on the further edges that are not connected to the respective side wall (2, 3, 4, 5).
10. Foldable pedestal element according to one or more of claims 4 to 9,
    characterised in that
    in the flipping tabs (2A, 3A, 4A, 5A) protruding upwards on the upper edge of the side walls (2, 3, 4, 5), on their upper edge facing away from the side walls, slit-shaped depressions (18) are hollowed out, with each of which a section of the upper edge of a strengthening element (7, 8), in the open usage position of the foldable pedestal element, engages.

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