ES2988882B2 - Reinforced die-cut corrugated cardboard container - Google Patents

Description

DESCRIPTION

REINFORCED DIE-CUT CORRUGATED CARDBOARD CONTAINER

TECHNICAL SECTOR

The technical field of the present invention is semi-rigid containers of polygonal cross-section, for example, boxes, cardboard containers, formed by folding sheets of paper base.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is a reinforced container comprising a body made from a single strip of die-cut corrugated cardboard. The body comprises an upper opening, at least partially open, delimited by upper portions of side walls of the body, configured to support one or more stacked reinforced container and pallet assemblies, and further comprising a bottom, at least partially open, configured to be supported on a pallet, the bottom being formed by the joining of lower flaps connected to the lower portion of at least four side walls by lower horizontal folds.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AND TECHNICAL PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED

On the one hand, document ES2653920A1, from the same inventor as the present application, proposes a large reinforced container, i.e., 60 centimeters or more in base width and 90 centimeters or more in height, to be supported on a pallet. The reinforced container is made of several parts: a flat base piece folded and attached to a tubular body 61. The flat base piece is daisy-shaped and is formed from the joining of a plurality of flat pieces: a central bottom and a plurality of wall panels joined at their ends to the central bottom, extending radially. The flat base piece is made of a plurality of flat pieces of cardboard separated to take advantage of the greater compressive strength of corrugated cardboard in the same direction as the corrugations of the cardboard.

On the other hand, document ES2717723A1, from the same inventor as the present application, concerns a reinforced multi-piece body: a first body and a second body made of corrugated cardboard, with open upper and lower openings. Both bodies are joined together by adhesive that bonds the inner lateral contour of one body to the outer lateral contour of the other, by linearly inserting one body into the other according to a relative linear movement parallel to the vertical axis of symmetry of the bodies.

On the other hand, document EP3616896A1, from the same inventor as the present application, proposes a reinforced polygonal drum made of glued corrugated sheet material. The drum comprises two cardboard pieces: a tubular body and a base body. The polygonal tubular body includes a band made of at least one corrugated sheet and one smooth sheet bonded together, for example, single-faced corrugated cardboard, wound with at least two complete turns, and a base body of single-walled corrugated cardboard that acts as a bottom, completely closing the bottom of the body. Depending on the number of complete turns, a multi-layered wall with a desired number of smooth and corrugated sheets is obtained; that is, a container with customized mechanical resistance to compression and expansion, easily manufactured, and made with a low-cost raw material such as single-faced cardboard. This drum is for containing bulk products, replacing traditional plastic or metal drums, particularly steel drums, with volumes typically ranging from 200 to 1250 liters.

On the other hand, document ES1276909Y9 proposes a reinforced container made from several sheets of rigid corrugated cardboard: a first sheet 40 for forming the body, and one or more second sheets 60 to laterally reinforce the container on at least two opposing side walls of the body. The body has a lateral contour formed by four or eight sequential side walls, four lower flaps 52, 53 that originate from the side walls and define a bottom, and upper flaps attached to the side walls from which they originate, creating a reinforced upper opening.

On the other hand, document ES1274749U, from the same inventor as the present application, proposes a palletized structural assembly for the transport and handling of horticultural products, in which, instead of arranging a single stack of mutually nested boxes on the same pallet in a road vehicle container, the palletized structure comprises a single structural stack that includes a plurality of pallets, in which each pallet supports a plurality of boxes limited in number to two or three boxes, and in which each tray is made from a single flat development of cardboard of five sheets joined together, three smooth sheets, and two corrugated sheets interleaved between the smooth sheets.

Document ES2169629A1 discloses a reinforced container 1 comprising a rectangular body with a partially open upper mouth and four tubular struts 4 located at the corners of the body to support vertical stresses when stacking a container full of goods on top of another, and to stabilize the body by preventing undesirable deformations due to the flexibility of the semi-rigid material - a pre-formed sheet of folded die-cut corrugated cardboard - with which the body is made. At the corners of the container body, pairs of cuts 8 (Fig. 1) are made, defining sections of material that are offset towards the interior of the container. These sections form orthogonal clamps 9 at the corners to keep the struts 4 upright. At each corner, openings 5 folded inwards into the offset sections expose parts of the struts 4. These struts serve as supports and sliding surfaces for tensioning and closing straps or bands 3 that encircle the container 1, ensuring stability and preventing deformation under expansion stresses of the container body's side walls. Stability and mitigation of expansion deformation are achieved because the straps 3 are not located at the four edge portions of the rectangular body's corner, but rather at each corner, or three straps 3 are positioned corresponding to three equidistant openings 5 of the clamps 9 (Fig. 2).

On the other hand, document US4874125A proposes a rectangular cardboard box (Fig. 8) with a bottom closed by four lower flaps and a top lid also closed by upper flaps, which originate from the bottom and top of four side walls, which together define a closed rectangular box.

In said document US4874125A, the cardboard box is obtained with a single sheet of single-wall corrugated cardboard, with two smooth sheets and one corrugated sheet sandwiched between the smooth sheets (Figs. 3 and 7).

However, this same document, US4874125A, describes that, instead of increasing compressive strength by modifying the corrugated cardboard construction using a double-walled or triple-walled cardboard structure, the invention proposes, on the contrary, moving away from this alternative, cardboard reinforcement elements that can be formed from a single sheet of cardboard, extending the height of the cardboard box, and positioned at the corners of two adjacent side walls. Thus, the reinforcement elements are folded (Figs. 2-3 and 6-7), forming either a double-walled, multi-layered reinforcement element in contact with the long side walls (Figs. 3 and 8), or an L-shaped, double-walled, multi-layered reinforcement element in contact with both the long and short side walls (Fig. 7).

On the other hand, document ES1172234U, considered the closest antecedent, proposes a reinforced container comprising a body obtained with a single strip of die-cut corrugated cardboard, the body comprising an upper opening, at least partially open, delimited by upper parts of side walls of the body, and the body also comprising a bottom, at least partially open, the bottom being formed by the union of lower flaps connected to the lower part of at least four side walls by lower horizontal folds.

In document ES1172234U, the reinforced container is made of cardboard, without specifying a particular type from a wide variety of cardboard types, and comprises five parts: a body made from a single sheet of corrugated cardboard, and four column elements 300, which are struts or tubular elements. The body has a rectangular side contour with four seam-jointed side walls, and has clamps, called inner channels 115, 116, 117, defined by partially cut fold lines at the corners of the container body. The clamps serve to position the column elements 300 inside the reinforced container body.

On the one hand, a drawback of reinforced containers for holding large volumes is that they must offer high mechanical resistance to both vertical compression and expansion, as well as to swaying, while maintaining a minimum manufacturing cost: the cost of raw materials (development of cardboard to sheet) and the cost of assembling the container from the sheet, depending on whether the container is assembled manually, automatically, or partially manually and partially automatically.

One drawback of currently used reinforced containers, for example, of the type mentioned ES1172234U, is that their mechanical resistance to compression and/or expansion and/or swaying is severely limited, and they also exhibit intolerable deformations due to the semi-rigid nature of the cardboard they are made of.

This limited mechanical resistance means that, for the transport of certain products, for example, a wide range of fruits and/or vegetables, the height of the container is typically limited to about 60 centimeters.

Another drawback is that, for the transport of certain products, for example, a wide range of fruits and/or vegetables, each structural assembly of pallet and reinforced container on pallet is generally only stacked two high in practice, although the container and pallet assemblies can be stacked three high depending on the container's dimensions, to avoid frequent losses of the product contained due to the poor mechanical resistance of the reinforced containers.

These two-level stacking practices are very common and frequent for a wide range of fruits and/or vegetables, for example, for the transport of melons and watermelons, and a very considerable part of the volume of the land transport vehicle container is empty, this empty transport volume is on the order of 33.33% and only the remaining 66.66% is usually occupied with cargo, undesirably increasing the transport costs of the containers full of product.

Also, this non-optimized transport with empty transport volumes of product results in an increased cost of the carbon footprint (polluting emissions) of each kilogram of product transported in the reinforced container.

Another drawback of reinforced containers made from multiple parts is their considerable assembly cost. Furthermore, the logistics and storage of such a large number of parts are complex and involve associated costs related to warehousing, inventory management, and so on.

It would be desirable to obtain a versatile reinforced container that offers high mechanical resistance while maintaining a minimum cost, both in terms of manufacturing costs and placement at the point of sale, thus reducing the carbon footprint per kilogram of product contained in the reinforced container, transported and placed at the point of sale.

EXPLANATION OF THE INVENTION

To overcome the drawbacks described in the previous section, the present invention presents a reinforced container comprising a body obtained from a single strip of die-cut cardboard.

Corrugated cardboard is a material that has the advantage of being recyclable and also has a reduced biodegradation time, compared, for example, with the long biodegradation times of plastic materials, including extruded or molded plastic materials, or metallic materials.

In addition, corrugated cardboard is attractive because of its lightness, compared to containers reinforced with plastic or metal bodies.

The body comprises an upper opening, at least partially open, delimited by upper parts of side walls of the body, configured to support one or two structural assemblies, forming a stack of two or three structural assemblies, each structural assembly comprising a single pallet and only one or two reinforced containers supported on said pallet at the same height.

The body also includes a bottom, at least partially open, configured to be supported on a pallet. The bottom is formed by joining lower flaps connected to the underside of at least four side walls by lower horizontal folds.

The mouth, at least partially open, and the bottom, at least partially open, have the advantage of providing a minimum development of cardboard for the single constitutive band of the body, minimizing production costs of the reinforced container, while maintaining the structural strength of the reinforced container configured to be part of a single pallet set and only one or two reinforced containers supported on said pallet at the same height during transport.

In addition, the body has a lateral outline formed by at least twelve flat side walls arranged around the bottom, and each of them folded perpendicularly to the bottom.

The at least twelve flat side walls include two mutually facing first side walls, two mutually facing second side walls, and at least eight smaller side walls.

At least two of these smaller side walls are sandwiched between each first side wall and each second side wall in each of the four corner areas of the body.

Similarly, in the body, the at least twelve flat side walls are connected one after the other, in series, by at least twelve vertical folds parallel to each other.

Furthermore, in the body, each side wall is laterally delimited by two vertical folds, and two of said mutually extreme side walls of the folded band are joined, preferably by an end joining side panel.

The folded band that makes up the body is made of double-walled corrugated cardboard, with only five sheets: three smooth sheets and two corrugated sheets arranged between two of the smooth sheets.

In the folded band that makes up the body, the two corrugated sheets have different corrugation widths, and the two corrugated sheets form vertical grooves, perpendicular to the bottom, on at least twelve side walls, to reinforce the compressive strength of the reinforced container.

In the reinforced container, the choice of the structure of said double-walled corrugated cardboard, with only five sheets, has the advantage of providing an optimal relationship between the mechanical resistance of the container and the minimum development of the surface of the strip with which the body is obtained, also making it possible to easily produce the strip in conventional corrugated cardboard facilities, both in terms of development measurements and cardboard structure, at reduced costs.

In the reinforced container, the intentional direction of the grooves of the two corrugated sheets provides high compressive strength to the reinforced container, i.e., to withstand vertical loads.

Also, in the reinforced container, each side wall and each vertical body fold has a continuous vertical extension that extends from the bottom to the top opening, to reinforce the reinforced container against vertical compression and radial expansion.

The continuity of the side walls and the vertical folds significantly increases the container's compressive and expansive resistance, and reduces the deformation of the container's side walls under stress in the stacking situation.

In other words, in the reinforced container in a stacked situation, the continuity of side walls and folds ensures that the compressive stresses are transmitted between the upper opening and the bottom of the reinforced container, distributed by the reinforcement points, like cardboard pillars, which form said smaller reinforcing side walls and said vertical folds.

Thus, in the present invention, it shall be understood that the vertical folds have an extension corresponding to the height of the container, the folds not having any gaps or separations.

Thus, in the present invention, it shall be understood that the side walls include at least some continuous vertical sections from the bottom to the upper opening.

Preferably, some side walls, in addition to the aforementioned continuous vertical sections, may also include ventilation holes for the product to be contained in other sections of some of the side walls.

Similarly, in each corner area, the at least two smaller side walls are folded by at least three vertical folds towards an interior volume of the body, to reinforce the reinforced container under vertical compression and expansion.

These at least two smaller folded side walls and the at least three vertical folds positionally delimit, at least partially, at least one free space of the body arranged in each corner area, each free space having a continuous vertical extension from the bottom to the upper mouth.

Thus, these at least two smaller side walls and vertical folds in each corner area act as structural pillars. These pillars are advantageously formed from parts of the body's constituent band itself, rather than from separate pieces, thereby minimizing container manufacturing costs, including simplified inventory management that results in lower production costs.

These at least two smaller side walls in each of the four corner areas are narrower than the first and second side walls, in order to strategically place these structural pillars in the corners, while the surface development of the cardboard is minimal to optimize production costs.

Likewise, at least one free space in each corner area is arranged adjacent to and on the outside of the interior volume of the body.

Said interior volume is enclosed laterally by an interior lateral contour of the body defined by a plurality or all of at least twelve side walls.

That is, the interior volume of the body enclosed by the lateral contour can be defined by a subgroup of the at least twelve lateral walls or by all of the at least twelve lateral walls.

In the reinforced container, the free spaces allow, optionally, the placement, in each free space of each corner area, of a respective optional, elongated column element, additional to the body, which has a vertical extension that extends from the bottom to the upper opening.

In other words, the reinforced container may or may not include these column elements, depending on the load requirements to which the reinforced container will be subjected, for example, according to the needs of the order: product to be contained, handling conditions, and/or storage and/or transport, etc.

When the reinforced container comprises such column elements, preferably each of said column elements is a slender piece of constant cross-section, either of closed cross-section or open cross-section in the shape of a V or L, etc.

If the reinforced container includes such column elements, these are preferably made of cardboard or several sheets of paper joined together, i.e., a material with several layers of paper superimposed, including corrugated cardboard, laminated/compact cardboard, cardboard, among others.

Alternatively, the column elements can be made of plastic, preferably extruded or injection molded.

Thanks to the arrangement in each corner area of at least two smaller side walls folded by at least three vertical folds, which extend continuously from the bottom to the upper opening a distance corresponding to the height of the reinforced container, the mechanical resistance of the reinforced container is increased, for example, when stacked, and the deformations due to the flexibility of the semi-rigid material (double-walled corrugated cardboard) are reduced, preventing the collapse of the reinforced container in a stacking situation.

The twelve vertical folds act as vertical pillars with increased resistance to both compression and expansion. The increased resistance to expansion and the reduced deformation of the side walls under expansion stresses are due to the fact that, thanks to the at least twelve vertical folds and at least twelve side walls along the body's lateral contour, the linear distance between adjacent folds is reduced, for example, compared to a reinforced container with a rectangular lateral contour.

Optionally, the open spaces contribute to increased versatility in mounting optional column elements to the body, should these elements be required. For example, when column elements are arranged in the reinforced container, the open spaces, along with at least two flat side walls and vertical connecting folds between them, allow for column elements with a wide range of shapes: triangular, rectangular, circular, V-shaped, L-shaped, etc.

In other words, depending on the transport needs, for example, the type of product to be contained and/or the type of shipment (by land, sea and/or air), the reinforced container offers the possibility of having a respective column element, elongated, additional to the body, which has a vertical extension that extends from the bottom to the upper opening, to optionally adapt the resistance of each reinforced container to each order: conditions of product to be contained, handling, storage, and/or transport.

Preferably, the corrugated cardboard strip constituting the body is a single die-cut sheet that includes a plurality of panel sectors connected one after the other, in series, the side walls of the body being formed by said panel sectors.

This preferred option maintains all the advantages related to improved strength, while optimizing container manufacturing costs by using a single die-cut starting piece to obtain the reinforced container body.

Optionally, in the band, the plurality of panel sectors includes at least twelve panel sectors: two larger sectors, two intermediate sectors and at least eight smaller sectors, the at least twelve panel sectors being connected to each other, one after the other, in series, by respective weakened vertical lines die-cut, parallel to each other, which define in the folded body the at least twelve vertical folds that connect one side wall to another.

In another option, the corrugated cardboard body consists of several die-cut sheets with end panels joined together. In the body, each sheet comprises a plurality of panel segments, and the side walls of the body are formed by these pluralities of panel segments.

This strip option made up of several sheets has the advantage of simplifying the production, and therefore the production costs, of reinforced containers of considerable dimensions, for example, those reinforced containers with dimensions such that their interior volume covers at least 80% of the footprint of a pallet measuring approximately 1000 x 800 millimeters or approximately 1000 x 1200 millimeters.

Preferably, in the reinforced container, each of the vertical extensions of the at least twelve side walls, each of the vertical extensions of the at least twelve folds, each of the vertical extensions of the four free spaces in the corner areas, and/or each of the optional column elements, have an equal vertical dimension between 500 and 1200 millimeters, to reinforce the reinforced container in compression and to enable the stacking of two or three palletized structural assemblies, each palletized structural assembly comprising one or two reinforced containers supported at the same height on a respective pallet.

In other words, thanks to the reinforcement provided by the structural pillars formed by at least two smaller side walls and at least three vertical folds in each corner area, the reinforced containers:

- They do not have a height - distance between the bottom and the upper mouthpiece - limited to about 60 centimeters, this distance being any distance between 50 and 120 centimeters, or even more; and

- The containers can be stacked in palletized structural assemblies at two or three heights, one on top of the other, each reinforced container being supported on a respective pallet.

For example, the reinforced containers of the present invention can be stacked in two palletized structural assemblies, each container having a height of 100 centimeters, and also the reinforced containers of the present invention can be stacked in three palletized structural assemblies, each container having a height of 60 centimeters.

Thus, the volume occupied in the transport containers is increased, decreasing the carbon footprint per kilo of product transported, and the cost associated with the development of cardboard (cardboard strip) needed per kilo of product transported can be optimized.

In one option, in the reinforced container, each corner zone includes two smaller side walls, arranged diagonally with respect to the adjacent side walls or forming a right angle with each other arranged on the outside side of the inner volume of the body.

The diagonal or straight angle of this option improves the container's compressive strength, and increases the container's resistance and deformation to lateral stresses applied to the reinforced container, for example, during handling, storage and/or transport, which causes side-to-side movements of the side walls known as swaying.

In another option, each corner zone includes two smaller side walls that form a right angle arranged on the outside side of the body's interior volume.

The straight angle of this option further improves the container's compressive strength, and increases the container's resistance to lateral stresses, both transverse and longitudinal (in two mutually perpendicular horizontal directions), applied to the reinforced container, for example, during handling, storage, and transport, which causes side-to-side movements of the side walls (swaying).

If the container includes such column elements, the straight angle makes it possible to arrange a wide range of column elements of different shapes.

Thus, for example, straight angulation favors the placement of column elements with triangular cross-section, L or V-shaped cross-section, square cross-section, cylindrical tube cross-section, among others, whether these options are hollow or solid inside.

In the event that the container comprises optional first and/or second folded top flaps, described below, the straight angle ensures that the extreme side parts of these top flaps reliably abut on portions of flat surface or edges, to increase the lateral strength of the reinforced container.

In one option, in the reinforced container, each corner zone includes at least two minor side walls in contact forming a multi-layer wall comprising at least one double minor side wall.

In one option, in the reinforced container, each corner zone includes at least three mutually contacting side walls forming a multi-layered wall comprising at least one smaller triple side wall.

The multi-layered walls reinforce the structural strength of the container with minimal addition of material to the surface development of the body, minimizing cardboard costs.

In a preferred option, in the reinforced container, each corner zone comprises only two smaller side walls, folded by three vertical folds, towards the interior volume of the body, forming a body with an exterior and interior lateral contour of twelve sides.

This preferred option optimizes improved mechanical resistance of the container with minimal surface development of the band constituting the folded body of the reinforced container, saving raw materials and production costs.

In the event that the reinforced container includes the optional column elements, this preferred option also simplifies and facilitates the arrangement (assembly) of the column elements in the free spaces of the reinforced container, due to improved accessibility to the free spaces, reducing assembly times, and reducing manufacturing costs of the reinforced container.

Alternatively to the preferred option above, in each corner area, the only two smaller side walls form a right angle with each other.

In another option, in the reinforced container, each corner zone includes a multi-layered wall arranged diagonally with respect to the adjacent side walls, forming an octagonal inner side contour body with a multi-layered chamfer of at least three smaller side walls in each corner zone.

In another option, in the reinforced container, each corner area comprises six smaller side walls folded vertically into an interior volume of the body. Furthermore, three smaller side walls are in contact with each other, forming a triple-layered, smaller-sided wall, and another three smaller side walls are in contact with each other, forming another triple-layered, smaller-sided wall. These layers form a right angle with each other, creating a body with a twelve-sided outer and inner lateral contour.

According to another option, in the reinforced container, each corner zone includes four side walls in mutual contact, forming a multi-layered wall comprising a smaller quadruple side wall. Furthermore, the multi-layered wall is arranged diagonally with respect to the adjacent side walls, partially delimiting two acute-angle free spaces in each corner zone, forming a body with an outer lateral contour of twenty-four sides and an inner contour of sixteen sides.

According to another option, in the reinforced container, each corner zone comprises three smaller side walls folded by vertical creases that define a free space with a triangular cross-section. In each corner zone, on the hypotenuse side of the triangle, there is a multi-layered wall comprising two smaller side walls in mutual contact, forming a double smaller side wall. In each corner zone, one leg of the triangle is delimited by a smaller side wall, and the other leg is delimited by an end portion of a side wall. The body forms a rectangular outer side contour and an octagonal inner side contour with a chamfer at each corner zone.

According to another option, in the reinforced container, each corner zone comprises six smaller side walls folded by vertical folds that define a free space with a rectangular cross-section. In each corner zone, on each of the two adjacent sides of the rectangle forming a right angle, there is a respective multi-layered wall with a double smaller side wall, and on each of the other two sides of the rectangle forming a right angle, there is a respective smaller side wall, forming a body with a rectangular outer lateral contour and a dodecagonal inner contour.

According to another option, in the reinforced container, in each corner area, at least one free space is delimited laterally by the partially lateral contour, the free space being accessible from the outer side of the body's lateral contour, to enable each column element to be arranged according to a lateral movement perpendicular to the plane where the bottom is contained.

This option simplifies and facilitates the arrangement (assembly) of the column elements in the free spaces of the reinforced container, due to improved accessibility to the free spaces, reducing assembly times, and reducing manufacturing costs of the reinforced container.

Preferably, in each corner area, the at least two smaller side walls and the at least three vertical folds are immobilized at their lower and/or upper ends by parts of the body band.

Thus, the container offers improved resistance to compression and/or expansion and/or swaying both under storage conditions and under handling and transport conditions.

According to the preferred option above, in each corner area, a lower portion of the lower flaps cooperates with a lower portion of the smaller side walls to serve as a lower transverse and/or longitudinal immobilization stop of the smaller side walls.

In a first variant of the above option, in each corner area, said lower part of the lower flaps includes at least one side cut line of the lower flaps adjacent to a lower part of the smaller side walls.

In a second variant of the previous option, in each corner area, the lower part of the lower flaps includes at least one cavity in the lower flaps where a lower part of the smaller side walls is inserted, corresponding to a lower projection of the side walls.

Preferably, in the reinforced container, the upper opening comprises first upper flaps folded by upper horizontal folds perpendicular to the vertical folds, and joined to the upper part of at least two mutually facing side walls.

Optionally, in the reinforced container, the upper opening comprises second upper flaps, folded by additional horizontal upper folds, and attached to the top of the two opposing side walls. Furthermore, in the reinforced container, each first and/or second upper flap comprises a horizontal shelf flap for stacking support and/or an end flap for joining the upper flaps to the side walls.

Thus, the upper opening, at least partially open, is reinforced with high expansion resistance on at least two mutually facing side walls.

Optionally, in the reinforced container, each first and second top flap also includes a horizontal shelf flap for stacking support. Furthermore, each first and second top flap also includes an end flap for joining the top flaps to the side walls.

Thus, the upper mouth, at least partially open, is reinforced against expansion and compression forces at the top of the first two and second two side walls.

Preferably, in the reinforced container, in each corner area, at least part of a lateral end of a first and/or second upper flap is adjacent to at least one of the smaller side walls to serve as a longitudinal and/or transverse upper stop of the smaller side walls.

Optionally, in each corner area, at least part of one side end of a first and/or second top flap is in contact with at least one of the smaller side walls.

Thus, this upper longitudinal and/or transverse stop is adjacent in such a way that it reinforces the pillar formed by the smaller side walls and vertical folds at each corner of the container, under longitudinal and/or transverse load stresses due to handling and/or transport, with this stop at each corner remaining in contact with the smaller side walls, keeping in position the pillars formed by the parts of the body itself, parts such as the smaller side walls and the vertical folds of the corner areas.

Preferably, in the reinforced container, in each corner area:

at least part of a lateral end of a first upper flap is adjacent to a minor side wall to serve as a longitudinal upper stop for the minor side walls, and

At least part of one lateral end of the second upper flap is adjacent to another smaller side wall to serve as a transverse upper stop for the smaller side walls.

Thus, this double upper stop, longitudinal and transverse, in each corner area, reinforces the pillar formed by the smaller side walls and vertical folds in each corner of the container, and under load stresses both longitudinal and transverse due to handling, and/or storage, and/or transport this double stop of each corner remains in contact with a respective smaller side wall, keeping in position the pillars formed by parts of the body itself, parts such as the smaller side walls and the vertical folds of the corner areas.

Preferably, in each corner area, an upper portion of the first and/or second upper flap cooperates with an upper portion of the smaller side wall to serve as an upper immobilization stop for the smaller side walls.

Optionally, in each corner area, the top of the first and/or second upper flap includes at least one upper recess, where an upper projection of the side walls is immobilized by interlocking.

Additionally, in each corner area, the upper lateral extension of the shelf flap of the first and/or second upper flap cooperates with an upper part of the smaller side wall to serve as an upper immobilization stop for the smaller side walls and to delimit the free space above.

Optionally, in each corner area, the at least two smaller side walls and the at least three vertical folds are immobilized at their lower and upper ends by respective parts of the body's constitutive band.

Optionally, this reinforced container has arranged in each free space of each corner area, a respective elongated column element, additional to the body, which has a vertical extension that extends from the bottom to the upper opening.

Optionally, in each corner area, each column element is in contact with at least two respective smaller side walls.

Optionally, the column elements are immobilized to the body by a retaining element.

Thus, the column elements do not suffer positional deviations with respect to their arrangement in the work spaces during the storage, handling and transport of the reinforced container.

In a first option, in each corner zone, each respective column element is superiorly immobilized by at least part of a lateral end of the shelf portion of the first and/or second upper flaps, corresponding to the retaining element, which is superiorly adjacent to the top of each respective column element.

In a second option, the column elements are immobilized to the body by straps, corresponding to the retaining element, which tightly surround, at least partially and/or completely, the outer lateral contour of the body.

The reinforced container may be completely enclosed; it does have straps that surround each container.

The reinforced container may be at least partially enclosed if it has straps that enclose two reinforced containers at once, partially enclosing each of the reinforced containers.

In a third option, in each corner zone, each column element is immobilized to the body by a tail arranged between the outer lateral contour of the body and each column element, including the retaining element of said tail.

This retaining element, which includes glue, comprises the case of glue beads applied manually or automatically, during and/or after the folding of the body's constituent band, in corner areas, for example, on the outer contour of the smaller side walls and/or on the column elements.

This retaining element that includes glue also includes the case of adhesive strips that include glue or adhesive, for example, at least one double-sided adhesive strip, attached manually or automatically, before, during and/or after the folding of the body's constitutive band, in the corner areas, for example, on the outer contour of the smaller side walls and/or on the column elements.

The aforementioned first, and/or second and/or third options may be combined in the same reinforced container.

Optionally, in each corner area, a corner flap portion of one or more lower flaps is arranged on the outside side of the body's inner volume and is located below adjacent to the free space.

Thus, the lower flaps with corner portions provide a wider surface for stabilizing the reinforced container during stacking, handling, storage and transport, maintaining high strength.

Optionally, in each corner area, each corner flap portion has edges that form a right angle so that the background has a rectangular outer side contour.

Thus, this rectangular outer side contour of the bottom provides an improved placement of the stacking corner pieces of the reinforced containers in a stacking situation, allowing two sides of the corner piece to contact each other, with each respective edge forming said right angle.

Optionally, in each corner zone, a respective column element is supported and immobilized in a respective corner flap portion, so that each column element is immobilized at its top and bottom.

Thus, possible unwanted relative movements between body parts and the column elements of the reinforced container are mitigated during stacking, handling, storage and transport, maintaining high resistance, for example, to longitudinal and/or transverse load demands that tend to shake the reinforced container in stacking.

Optionally, in the reinforced container, the lower flaps are joined together by gluing.

This gluing further mitigates any unwanted relative movements between parts of the body and the column elements of the reinforced container during stacking, handling, storage and transport, maintaining high resistance, for example, to longitudinal and/or transverse load stresses that tend to cause the reinforced container to wobble when stacked.

The claims for the reinforced container object, of the first aspect of the invention, have been drafted in such a way that it is possible to verify a possible infringement whether or not the reinforced container is in a stacked position, and whether or not the reinforced container is supported on a pallet.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other advantages and features will be more fully understood from the following detailed relationships of embodiment examples with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are to be taken as illustrative and not limiting, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the single band with which the reinforced container body of the present invention is obtained, according to a first embodiment;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the reinforced container of the present invention according to the first embodiment, obtained with the single band of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the reinforced container of the present invention according to a variant of the first embodiment, wherein the body is with the single band of Fig. 1 and further comprises four column elements, one arranged in each free space of the corner area;

Fig. 4 is a top perspective view of the partially formed reinforced container of the present invention, according to the first embodiment and the variant of the first embodiment, during the folding of the body from the initial strip, two of said mutually extreme side walls of the folded strip being joined together forming a closed tubular side contour;

Fig. 5 is a top perspective view of the reinforced container of Figs. 2 and 3, and also shows some rectangular section column elements to be arranged in the free spaces of the corner areas;

Fig. 6 is another top perspective view of the reinforced container according to the first embodiment of Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is an enlargement of detail view III of Fig. 6, and a representation of the cardboard structure in the upper opening of also the second, third, fifth and sixth realizations;

Fig. 8 is another top perspective view of the reinforced container according to the variant of the first embodiment of Fig. 3;

Fig. 9 is a plan view of the single band with which the reinforced container body of the present invention is obtained, according to a second embodiment;

Fig. 10 is a top plan view of the reinforced container of the present invention according to the second embodiment, obtained with the single band of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 of the lower plan view of Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is an enlargement of detail view IV of Fig. 10;

Fig. 13 is an enlargement of detail view IV of Fig. 13, where a column element has also been placed in each corner area, according to a variant of the second embodiment of the reinforced container;

Fig. 14 is a plan view of the single band with which the reinforced container body of the present invention is obtained, according to a third embodiment;

Fig. 15 is a top plan view of the reinforced container of the present invention according to the third embodiment, obtained with the single band of Fig. 14;

Fig. 16 of the lower plan view of Fig. 15;

Fig. 17 is an enlargement of detail view V of Fig. 15;

Fig. 18 is an enlargement of detail view V of Fig. 15, where a column element has also been placed in each corner area, according to a variant of the third embodiment of the reinforced container;

Fig. 19 is a plan view of the single band with which the reinforced container body of the present invention is obtained, according to a fourth embodiment;

Fig. 20 is a top plan view of the reinforced container of the present invention according to the fourth embodiment, obtained with the single band of Fig. 19;

Fig. 21 of the lower plan view of Fig. 20;

Fig. 22 is an enlargement of detail view VI of Fig. 20;

Fig. 23 is an enlargement of detail view VI of Fig. 20, where a column element has also been placed in each corner area, according to a variant of the fourth embodiment of the reinforced container;

Fig. 24 is a top plan view of the reinforced container of the present invention according to a fifth embodiment;

Fig. 25 is an enlargement of detail view VII of Fig. 24;

Fig. 26 is an enlargement of detail view VII of Fig. 24, where two column elements have also been arranged in each corner area, according to a variant of the fifth embodiment of the reinforced container;

Fig. 27 is a top plan view of the reinforced container of the present invention according to a sixth embodiment;

Fig. 28 is an enlargement of detail view VIII of Fig. 27;

Fig. 29 is an enlargement of detail view VIII of Fig. 28, where a column element has also been placed in each corner area, according to a variant of the sixth embodiment of the reinforced container;

Fig. 30 shows a schematic side view of the reinforced container of the first aspect of the invention, according to any embodiment, stacked and supported on a respective pallet;

Fig. 31 is the other side view of Fig. 30;

Fig. 32 shows a schematic side view of the reinforced container of the first aspect of the invention, according to any embodiment, stacked and supported on a respective pallet;

Fig. 33 is the other side view of Fig. 32;

Fig. 34 shows a schematic side view of the reinforced container of the first aspect of the invention, according to any embodiment, stacked and supported on a respective pallet;

Fig. 35 is the other side view of Fig. 34;

Fig. 36 shows a schematic side view of the reinforced container of the first aspect of the invention, according to any embodiment, stacked and supported on a respective pallet;

Fig. 37 is a plan view of several die-cut plates from which the strip of Fig. 38 is obtained;

Fig. 38 is the plan view of the strip from which any one of the reinforced container bodies of Figs. 47 or 48 can be obtained;

Fig. 39 is a plan view of the single band from which any one of the reinforced container bodies of Figs. 47 or 48 can be obtained;

Fig. 40 is a cross-section of the reinforced container of Fig. 47, according to a seventh embodiment, obtained with any one of the bands of Figs. 38, 39 or 42;

Fig. 41 is a cross-section of the reinforced container of Fig. 48, according to a variant of the seventh embodiment, which also includes the column elements;

Fig. 42 is a plan view of the strip with which the reinforced container body of the present invention can be obtained, according to a second variant of the seventh embodiment, shown in Figs. 43 and 44;

Fig. 43 is a cross-section of the reinforced container of Fig. 47 obtained with the band of Fig. 42;

Fig. 44 is a cross-section of the reinforced container of Fig. 48 obtained with the band of Fig. 42 and with column elements arranged in the free spaces;

Fig. 45 is a top perspective view of the partially formed reinforced container of the present invention, according to any one of Figs. 37 to 44, during the folding of the body from the initial band, two of said mutually extreme side walls of the folded band being joined together forming a closed tubular side contour;

Fig. 46 is a top perspective view of the reinforced container of Fig. 45 with the side outline and bottom already formed, and where some rectangular section column elements to be arranged in the free spaces of the corner areas are also shown;

Fig. 47 is another schematic top perspective view of the reinforced container according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention, corresponding to any one of Figs. 40 or 43;

Fig. 48 is another schematic top perspective view of the reinforced container according to a variant of the seventh embodiment of the present invention, corresponding to any one of Figs. 41 or 44;

Figs. 49 shows a cross-section of the upper flaps folded by horizontal creases at the upper opening of the reinforced container of Figs. 47 and 48;

Figures 50 and 51 show cross-sections of respective alternative embodiments of upper flaps folded by horizontal folds at the upper opening of the reinforced container;

Fig. 52 is a plan view of the single band with which the reinforced container body of the present invention is obtained, according to an eighth embodiment;

Fig. 53 is a cross-section of the reinforced container of the present invention according to the eighth embodiment, obtained with the single band of Fig. 52;

Fig. 54 is a cross-section of the reinforced container of the present invention according to a variant of the eighth embodiment, further comprising four column elements; Fig. 55 is another schematic top perspective view of the reinforced container according to the eighth embodiment of the present invention, corresponding to any one of the Figs.

53 or 54;

Fig. 56 is another schematic top perspective view of the reinforced container according to a variant of the eighth embodiment of the present invention, corresponding to Fig. 54;

Fig. 57 is an enlarged view of detail IX in Fig. 56;

Fig. 58 is an enlarged view of detail X from Fig. 56;

Fig. 59 is a plan view of the single band with which the reinforced container body of the present invention is obtained, according to a ninth embodiment;

Fig. 60 is a cross-section of the reinforced container of the present invention according to the ninth embodiment, obtained with the single band of Fig. 59;

Fig. 61 is a cross-section of the reinforced container of the present invention according to a variant of the ninth embodiment, which further comprises four column elements;

Fig. 62 is another schematic top perspective view of the reinforced container according to the ninth embodiment of the present invention, corresponding to any one of Figs. 60 or 61;

Fig. 63 is another schematic top perspective view of the reinforced container according to a variant of the ninth embodiment of the present invention, corresponding to Fig. 61;

Fig. 64 is an enlarged view of detail XI in Fig. 63;

Fig. 65 is an enlarged view of detail XII in Fig. 63;

Fig. 66 is a top perspective detail view of a corner area of the reinforced container of Fig. 55 or 56;

Fig. 67 is a top perspective detail view of a corner area of any one of the reinforced containers in Figs. 68 to 85;

Fig. 68 is a plan view of the single band with which the reinforced container body of the present invention is obtained, according to a tenth embodiment;

Fig. 69 is a cross-section of the reinforced container of the present invention according to the tenth embodiment, obtained with the single band of Fig. 68;

Fig. 70 is a cross-section of the reinforced container of the present invention according to a variant of the tenth embodiment, further comprising four column elements; Fig. 71 is another schematic top perspective view of the reinforced container according to the tenth embodiment of the present invention, corresponding to any one of Figs. 69 or 70;

Fig. 72 is another schematic top perspective view of the reinforced container according to a variant of the tenth embodiment of the present invention, corresponding to Fig. 70;

Fig. 73 is an enlarged view of detail XIII of Fig. 72;

Fig. 74 is a plan view of the single band with which the reinforced container body of the present invention is obtained, according to an eleventh embodiment;

Fig. 75 is a cross-section of the reinforced container of the present invention according to the eleventh embodiment, obtained with the single band of Fig. 74;

Fig. 76 is a cross-section of the reinforced container of the present invention according to a variant of the eleventh embodiment, which further comprises four column elements;

Fig. 77 is another schematic top perspective view of the reinforced container according to the eleventh embodiment of the present invention, corresponding to any one of Figs. 75 or 76;

Fig. 78 is another schematic top perspective view of the reinforced container according to a variant of the eleventh embodiment of the present invention, corresponding to Fig. 76;

Fig. 79 is an enlarged view of detail XIV of Fig. 78;

Fig. 80 is a plan view of the single band with which the reinforced container body of the present invention is obtained, according to a twelfth embodiment;

Fig. 81 is a cross-section of the reinforced container of the present invention according to the twelfth embodiment, obtained with the single band of Fig. 80;

Fig. 82 is a cross-section of the reinforced container of the present invention according to a variant of the twelfth embodiment, which further comprises four column elements;

Fig. 83 is another schematic top perspective view of the reinforced container according to the twelfth embodiment of the present invention, corresponding to any one of Figs. 81 or 82;

Fig. 84 is another schematic top perspective view of the reinforced container according to a variant of the twelfth embodiment of the present invention, corresponding to Fig. 82; and

Fig. 85 is an enlarged view of detail XV in Fig. 84.

DETAILED EXPOSURE OF PREFERRED ACHIEVEMENTS

In the figures, reference 40 generically designates the reinforced container (40) of the first aspect of the invention.

Next, express reference is made to the figures of the first realization of Figs.

1 to 8, although these characteristics are common to all realizations, unless otherwise stated.

Figs. 6 and 8 show that the reinforced container (40) comprises a body, obtained from a single strip (20) of die-cut corrugated cardboard shown in Fig. 1.

Figures 6 and 8 show that the body comprises flat side walls, an upper mouth, and a bottom.

The upper mouthpiece is at least partially open and is delimited by upper parts of the flat lateral walls of the body.

In the specific case of the embodiments of Figs. 1-18, a die-cut cutting line (17) above delimiting the upper parts of the side walls, once folded into folded cutting lines (57) delimit the upperly open mouth of the reinforced container (40).

The upper opening is configured to support a stacked reinforced container (40) and pallet (70) assembly, in the three-height stacks of Figs. 32, 33 and 36.

The upper opening is configured to support two sets of reinforced container (40) and pallet in stacking, in the two-height stacks of Figs. 30 and 34.

Figures 2, 3, 6, and 8 show that the body also comprises a bottom, at least partially open. The bottom is formed by the joining of lower flaps (47, 48) connected to the lower part of at least four side walls by respective lower horizontal folds (49).

Thus, in Fig. 1, the single band (20), which in this specific case corresponds to a single die-cut sheet (10), with weakened fold and cut lines, the bottom is formed by folding the two lower panels (8), in this specific case larger, and two lower panels (7), in this specific case smaller, around respective weakened lower horizontal die-cut lines (9), becoming larger lower flaps (47) and smaller lower flaps (48) perpendicular to the side walls of the body, folded around the respective lower horizontal folds (49), as shown in Figs. 6 and 8.

Figs. 30 to 36 show that the bottom of each reinforced container (60) is supported on a respective pallet (70).

Common to all embodiments, for example, Figs. 6 and 8 show that the body has a lateral contour formed by at least twelve flat body side walls arranged around the bottom and perpendicular to it, forming a closed polygonal cross-section.

Common to all embodiments, as shown in Figs. 6 and 8, the at least twelve side walls include two mutually facing first side walls (44), two mutually facing second side walls (45), and at least eight smaller side walls (46).

Continuing in Figs. 6 and 8, at least two of said smaller side walls (46) are sandwiched between each first side wall (44) and each second side wall (45), in each of the four corner zones of the body, each corner zone being bounded by a respective first and second side wall (44, 45).

In the reinforced container body (40) of Figs. 6 and 8, the at least twelve flat side walls are connected one after the other, in series, by at least twelve parallel vertical folds (42). In addition, each side wall is laterally delimited by two vertical folds (42).

Also, two of said mutually extreme side walls of the folded band (20) are joined.

Preferably, these end side walls can be joined by an end side joining panel (3), as shown in Fig. 4, the body forming a lateral contour of closed cross section by an end side joining portion (43), as shown in Fig. 5.

This joining of mutually extreme side walls may be by gluing, or by stapling, among other options.

Alternatively, the band may lack such a joining end panel (3) and be butt-jointed, with adjacent end edges joined by, for example, an adhesive strip attached to both ends of the band.

Figures 1 and 7 show that the band (20) constituting the body is made of double-walled corrugated cardboard. That is, the body is formed by only five sheets: three smooth sheets (21) and two corrugated sheets (22) arranged between two of the smooth sheets (21).

In Figs. 1 and 7 the corrugated sheets (22) have different corrugation widths to increase the mechanical strength of the reinforced container (40).

In addition, the corrugated sheets form vertical grooves (23), arranged perpendicularly to the bottom, on at least twelve side walls, to increase the compressive strength of the reinforced container (40).

For the other embodiments of the reinforced container (40), this corrugated cardboard structure and the orientation of the grooves (23) are shown in detail in Figs. 7, 9, 14, 19, 37-39, 42, 57, 64, 73, 79 and 85.

Returning to the reinforced container (40) of Figs. 6 and 8, common to all embodiments, each side wall and each vertical fold (42) of the body has a continuous vertical extension that extends from the bottom to the upper mouth, to reinforce the reinforced container (40) under compression (vertical) and expansion (lateral/radial).

Continuing in Figs. 6 and 8, in each corner area, the at least two smaller side walls (46) are folded by at least three vertical folds (42) towards an interior volume of the body, to reinforce the reinforced container (40) under vertical compression and expansion.

The first and second side walls (44, 45) are delimited at the top by respective upper horizontal folds (53) formed around respective upper weakened horizontal lines (13) cut from the band (20), as shown in Figs. 1, 6 and 8.

The first and second side walls (44, 45) are delimited at the bottom by respective lower horizontal folds (49) formed around respective lower weakened horizontal lines (9) cut from the band (20), as shown in Figs. 1, 6 and 8.

In Figs. 6 and 8, the smaller side walls (46) are delimited above and below by respective folded die-cut cutting lines (57), which are separated from each other by a vertical distance corresponding to the vertical height of the reinforced container, associated with a distance from the bottom to the upper opening.

The folded die-cut lines (57), folded into the interior of the body's inner volume, are formed by folding portions of die-cut lines (17), parallel to each other, from the unfolded band (20), as shown in Fig. 1.

In Fig. 1, each smaller sector (6), forming each smaller side wall (46) of Figs.

6 and 8, is delimited above and below by a pair of portions of die-cut cutting lines (17) of the unfolded band (20), which are separated from each other by a vertical distance corresponding to the vertical height of the reinforced container (40), once formed, associated with a distance from the bottom to the upper opening.

In Fig. 1, the lower die-cut cutting line portions (17) of the unfolded band (20) are aligned and essentially coincident with the lower weakened horizontal lines (9).

In Fig. 1, each portion of the lower die-cut line (17) is sandwiched between two adjacent lower weakened horizontal lines (9) once the band (20) has opposite end side panels joined, preferably with the joining end panel (3), as shown in Fig. 4.

In Fig. 1, the upper portions of the die-cut cutting lines (17) of the unfolded band (20) are aligned and essentially coincident with the upper portions of the side walls.

In Fig. 1, each lower die-cut line portion (17) is sandwiched between the upper die-cut portions of the adjacent first and second side walls (5, 6), once the band (20) has opposite end side panels joined, preferably with the joining end panel (3), as shown in Fig. 4.

Each die-cut cutting line (17) can be linear as in Fig. 1 or can be a broken die-cut cutting line (17) as in Fig. 19.

These at least two smaller folded side walls (46) and the at least three vertical folds (43) positionally delimit, at least partially, at least one free space (50) of the body arranged in each corner area.

Each free space (50) has a respective vertical extension that continues to extend from the bottom to the upper mouth.

In Figs. 6 and 8, said at least one free space (50) of each corner zone are arranged adjacent to and on the outside side of the inner volume of the body.

Said interior volume of the body is enclosed laterally by an interior lateral contour of the body defined by a plurality or all of the at least twelve lateral walls, as shown in Figs. 6 and 8.

The free spaces (50) allow, optionally, the arrangement, in each free space (50) of each corner zone, of a respective optional, elongated column element (60), additional to the body, which has a vertical extension that extends from the bottom to the upper opening.

That is, the reinforced container (40) may or may not include (Fig. 8) such column elements (60), depending on the load requirements to which the reinforced container is to be subjected, for example, according to the needs of the order: product to be contained, transport and/or storage conditions, etc.

A series of specific characteristics of the figures' realizations are described below.

Preferably, in the embodiments of Figs. 1 to 29 and 42 to 86, the corrugated cardboard strip (20) constituting the body is a single die-cut sheet (10) that includes a plurality of panel sectors (4, 5, 6) connected one after the other, in series, with said panel sectors forming the side walls of the body.

Preferably, in the embodiments of Figs. 1 to 29 and 45 to 85, in the band (20) the plurality of panel sectors includes at least twelve panel sectors (4, 5, 6): two larger sectors (4), two intermediate sectors (5), and at least eight smaller sectors (6). The at least twelve panel sectors are connected to each other, one after the other, in series, by die-cut, weakened vertical lines (2), parallel to each other, which define in the folded body the at least twelve vertical folds (42) that connect one side wall to another.

In the embodiments of Figs. 39 to 41 and 45 to 48, the corrugated cardboard strip (20) constituting the body consists of several die-cut sheets (10) with end panels (3) joined to each other. In the strip (20) constituting the body, each of the sheets (10) comprises a plurality of panel sectors, the side walls of the body being formed by the pluralities of panel sectors of the sheets (10).

Common to all embodiments, in the reinforced container (40), each of the vertical extensions of the at least twelve side walls, each of the vertical extensions of the at least twelve folds (42), each of the vertical extensions of the four free spaces (50) of the corner areas, and/or each of the optional column elements (60), have an equal vertical dimension (D1) between 500 and 1200 mm, as shown schematically in Figs. 30 to 36, to reinforce the reinforced container (40) in compression and to enable the stacking of two or three palletized structural assemblies, each palletized structural assembly comprising one or two reinforced containers (40) supported at the same height on a respective pallet (70).

Figures 32, 33 and 36 show that the reinforced containers (40) can be stacked in a stack of two palletized structural assemblies, each container having a height between 80 and 120 cm.

Similarly, Figs. 30, 31, 34 and 35 show that reinforced containers (40) can also be stacked in a stack of three palletized structural assemblies, each reinforced container having a height of around 60 cm.

In the embodiments, each corner zone includes two smaller side walls (46), arranged diagonally with respect to the adjacent side walls (45) as shown in Figs. 9 to 18 and 24 to 26, or forming a right angle with each other arranged on the outside side of the inner volume of the body, as shown in Figs. 1 to 8, 19 to 23, 27 to 29 and 37 to 86.

In the embodiments of Figs. 1 to 8, 19 to 23, 27 to 29 and 37 to 85, in the reinforced container (40), each corner zone includes two smaller side walls (46) that form a right angle arranged on the outside side of the inner volume of the body.

In the embodiments of Figs. 9 to 29, in the reinforced container (40), each corner zone includes at least two minor side walls (46) in contact forming a multi-layer wall comprising at least one double minor side wall.

In the embodiments of Figs. 9 to 13 and 19 to 26, in the reinforced container (40), each corner zone includes at least three side walls (46) in mutual contact forming a multi-layer wall comprising at least one smaller triple side wall.

Preferably, in the reinforced container (40) of the embodiments of Figs. 1 to 9 and 37 to 85, each corner zone comprises only two smaller side walls (46), folded by three vertical folds (42), towards the inner volume of the body, forming a body with an outer and inner lateral contour of twelve sides.

Following these preferred options of Figs. 1 to 9 and 37 to 85, in each corner area, the only two smaller side walls (46) form a right angle with each other.

In the realization of Figs. 9 to 13, in the reinforced container (40), each corner zone includes a multi-layered wall arranged diagonally with respect to the adjacent side walls (44, 45), forming an octagonal inner side contour body with a multi-layered chamfer of at least three smaller side walls in each corner zone.

In the realization of Figs. 19 to 23, in the reinforced container (40), each corner zone comprises six smaller side walls (46) folded by vertical folds (42) towards an interior volume of the body. In addition, three smaller side walls (46) are in mutual contact forming a multi-layered wall with three smaller lateral walls, and another three smaller side walls are in mutual contact forming another multi-layered wall with three smaller lateral walls, forming a right angle between the multi-layers and forming a body with an outer and inner lateral contour of twelve sides.

In the embodiment of Figs. 24 to 26, in the reinforced container (40), each corner zone includes four mutually contacting side walls (46) forming a multi-layered wall comprising a smaller quadruple side wall. Furthermore, the multi-layered wall is arranged diagonally with respect to the adjacent side walls (44, 45), partially delimiting two acute-angled free spaces (50) in each corner zone, forming a body with an outer lateral contour of twenty-four sides and an inner contour of sixteen sides.

In the embodiment of Figs. 14 to 18, in the reinforced container (40), each corner zone comprises three smaller side walls (46) folded by vertical folds (42) that define a free space (50) with a triangular cross-section. In each corner zone, on the hypotenuse side of the triangle, there is a multi-layered wall comprising two smaller side walls (46) in mutual contact, forming a double smaller side wall. In each corner zone, one leg of the triangle is delimited by a smaller side wall (46), and the other leg is delimited by an end portion of a side wall. The body forms a rectangular outer side contour and an octagonal inner side contour with a chamfer at each corner zone.

In the realization of Figs. 27 to 29, in the reinforced container (40), each corner zone comprises six smaller side walls (46) folded by vertical folds (42) that delimit a free space (50) of rectangular cross section, where on each of the two adjacent sides of the rectangle forming a right angle there is a respective multi-layer wall of double smaller side wall, and on each of the other two sides of the rectangle forming a right angle there is a respective smaller side wall (46), forming a body of rectangular outer side contour and dodecagonal inner contour.

In the embodiments of Figs. 14 to 18, the smaller side walls (46) in the corner areas completely delimit the free space (50) in each corner area, since the smaller side walls (46) completely enclose the free space (50) laterally.

In the embodiments of Figs. 1 to 8 and 37 to 85, the interior volume is enclosed laterally by an interior lateral contour of the body defined by the entirety of at least twelve side walls.

In the embodiments of Figs. 9 to 29, the interior volume is enclosed laterally by an inner lateral contour of the body defined by a plurality or subgroup smaller than at least twelve lateral walls.

In the embodiments of Figs. 1 to 13, 19 to 26 and 37 to 85, in the reinforced container (40), in each corner area, the at least one free space (50) is delimited laterally by the partially lateral contour, the free space (50) being accessible from the outer side of the lateral contour of the body, to enable the arrangement of each column element (60) according to a lateral movement perpendicular to the plane where the background is contained.

In the embodiments of Figs. 1 to 23 and 37 to 85, in each corner area, the at least two smaller side walls (46) and the at least three vertical folds (42) are immobilized at their lower and/or upper ends by parts of the band (20) constituting the body.

In the embodiments of Figs. 1 to 23, 37 to 51, 59 to 63, 83 and 84, in each corner area, a lower part (18, 19) of the lower flaps (47, 48) cooperates with a lower part of the smaller side walls (46) to serve as a lower transverse and/or longitudinal immobilization stop of the smaller side walls (46).

In the embodiments of Figs. 1 to 18, 37 to 51, 59 to 63, 83 and 84, in each corner area, said lower part of the lower flaps (47, 48) includes at least one lateral cut line (18) of the lower flaps (47, 48) adjacent to, and preferably in contact with, a lower part of the smaller side walls (46).

In the embodiments of Figs. 19 to 23, in each corner area, said lower part of the lower flaps (47, 48) includes at least one cavity (19) of the lower flaps (47, 48) into which a lower part of the smaller side walls corresponding to a lower projection (6a) of the side walls is inserted.

Preferably, in the embodiments of the reinforced container (40) of Figs. 19 to 23 and 37 to 85, the upper opening comprises first upper flaps (51) folded by upper horizontal folds (53) perpendicular to the vertical folds (43), and joined to the upper part of at least two mutually facing side walls.

Optionally, in the reinforced container (40) of Figs. 19 to 23 and 37 to 51 and 67 to 85, the upper opening further comprises second upper flaps (52), folded by other upper horizontal folds (53), and joined to the upper part of the other two mutually facing side walls.

Furthermore, in the reinforced container (40) of Figs. 19 to 23 and 37 to 85, each first and/or second upper flap (51, 52) comprises a horizontal shelf flap (54) for stacking support and/or an end flap (55) for joining the upper flaps (51, 52) to the side walls.

The die-cut unfolded bands (20) from which the body of the embodiments of Figs. 19 to 23 and 37 to 85 is obtained show that each first upper flap (51) and/or each second upper flap (52) is formed from serial upper panels (14, 15, 16) that are connected to the top of the first and/or second side walls (44, 45) by respective die-cut upper weakened horizontal lines (13).

Continuing in the bands (20) of these embodiments, each of said serial upper panels (14, 15, 16) includes a shelf flap (14) that will form the folded shelf flap (54), an end panel (55) that will form the folded end flap (55), as well as an optional middle panel (56) that will form an optional middle flap (56).

Continuing in the bands (20) of these realizations, each of said upper panels are connected in series to one another by respective upper weakened horizontal lines (13) die-cut around which the respective upper horizontal folds (53) of the first and/or second upper flaps (51, 52) will be located.

In the embodiments of Figs. 37 to 51, each first and/or second upper flap (51, 52) can be joined to a respective first and/or second side wall (44, 45) by gluing, with glue or adhesive disposed on the joining flaps (55) and/or at least on the portion of each side wall where the joining flap is in contact for said joining, using glue applied manually and/or by machine, using adhesive strips, hot-melt glue, among other options.

In the embodiments of Figs. 52 to 85, each first and/or second upper flap (51, 52) can be joined to a respective first and/or second side wall (44, 45) by interlocking, with at least one respective portion of the end flap (55a) inserted into at least one respective die-cut cutout (5a) made in the first and/or second side wall (44, 45).

In the embodiments of Figs. 19 to 23, 37 to 51 and 67 to 85, each first and second upper flap (51, 52) further comprises a horizontal shelf flap (54) for stacking support and an end flap (55) for joining the upper flaps (51, 52) to the side walls.

Figs. 66, 67, 73, 79 and 85 show detail that, in the reinforced container (40), preferably in each corner area, at least part of a lateral end of a first and/or second upper flap (51, 52) is adjacent to at least one of the smaller side walls (46) to serve as a longitudinal and/or transverse upper stop of the smaller side walls (46).

In the realization of Figs. 52 to 66, in the reinforced container (40), in each corner area, at least part of a lateral end of a first upper flap (51, 52) is adjacent to and in contact with one of the smaller side walls (46) to serve as a longitudinal and/or transverse upper stop of the smaller side walls (46).

In the embodiments of Figs. 37 to 51 and 67 to 85, in each corner area at least part of a lateral end of a first upper flap (51) is adjacent to a smaller side wall (46) to serve as a longitudinal upper stop for the smaller side walls (46). In these embodiments, in addition, at least part of a lateral end of the second upper flap (52) is adjacent to another smaller side wall (46) to serve as a transverse upper stop for the smaller side walls (46).

In the embodiments of Figs. 37 to 66, in each corner area, the lateral end portion of the joining flap (55), and optionally the lateral end portion of the optional intermediate flap (56), of the first upper flap (51) is adjacent to, and in contact with, a smaller side wall (46), to serve as a longitudinal upper stop for the smaller side walls (46). Furthermore, in the embodiments of Figs. 37 to 66, in each corner area, the joining flap (55), and optionally the lateral end portion of the optional intermediate flap (56), of the second upper flap (52), is adjacent to, and in contact with, a smaller side wall (46), to serve as a transverse upper stop for the smaller side walls (46).

In the embodiments of Figs. 67 to 85, at each corner area, the lateral end portion of the joining flap (55) of the first upper flap (51) is adjacent to and in contact with a smaller side wall (46) to serve as a longitudinal upper stop for the smaller side walls (46). Furthermore, in the embodiments of Figs. 67 to 85, at each corner area, the lateral end portion of the joining flap (55) of the second upper flaps (52) is adjacent to and in contact with a smaller side wall (46) to serve as a transverse upper stop for the smaller side walls (46).

Additionally, in the embodiments of Figs. 19 to 23 and 37 to 86, in each corner area, an upper part of the first and/or second upper flap (51, 52) cooperates with an upper part of the smaller side wall (46) to serve as an upper immobilization stop of the smaller side walls (46).

In the realization of Figs. 19 to 23, in each corner area, the upper part of the first and/or second upper flap (51, 52) includes at least one upper cavity (14a), made in the shelf flaps (54) and/or joining flaps (55), where an upper projection (6b) of the side walls (46) is immobilized by interlocking.

In the embodiments of Figs. 37 to 86, in each corner area, the upper lateral extension of the shelf flap (54) of the first and/or second upper flap (51, 52) cooperates with an upper part of the smaller side wall (46) to serve as an upper immobilization stop of the smaller side walls (46) and to delimit the upper free space (50).

Once the positional immobilization, both upper and lower, of the pillars formed by the at least two smaller side walls and the at least three folds, arranged in the corner areas, has been described in detail, the embodiments of Figs. 37 to 51, 59 to 66 and 74 to 85 show that, in each of the reinforced containers (40), in each corner area, the at least two smaller side walls (46) and the at least three vertical folds (42) are immobilized transversely and/or longitudinally at their lower and upper ends by respective parts of the band (20) constituting the body.

In the embodiments of Figs. 8, 13, 18, 23, 26, 29, 48, 56, 63, 72, 78, 82 and 84, each reinforced container (40) has arranged in each free space (50) of each corner area, a respective column element (60), elongated, additional to the body, which has a vertical extension that extends from the bottom to the upper opening.

Preferably, in each corner area, Figs. 8, 18, 23, 26, 29, 48, 56, 63, 72, 78, 82 and 84 show that each column element is in contact with at least two respective minor side walls (46).

Preferably, the column elements (60) are immobilized to the body (40) by a retaining element.

Optionally, in the embodiments of Figs. 19 to 23, 48, 56, 63, 72, 78, 82 in each corner zone, each respective column element (60) is superiorly immobilized by at least part of an upper lateral end of the shelf portion (54) of the first and/or second upper flaps (51,52), corresponding to the retaining element, which is superiorly adjacent to the top of each respective column element (60).

In Figs. 30 to 33, the column elements (40) are immobilized to the body (40) by straps (80), corresponding to the retaining element, which completely surround the outer lateral contour of the body.

In Figures 34 to 36, the column elements (40) are immobilized to the body (40) by straps (80), corresponding to the retaining element. Two straps (80), the lower and upper ones, completely encircle the outer lateral contour of the body. The intermediate strap (80) partially encircles the outer lateral contour of each reinforced container, as it encircles two reinforced containers (40).

Optionally, in each corner area, each column element (40) is immobilized to the body by adhesive applied to the outer lateral contour of the body, including the retaining element. Thus, for example, adhesive may be applied between the smaller side walls (46) delimiting the free space (50) and the column elements (60), either manually or automatically, by an adhesive applicator, or by adhesive strips, for example, double-sided tape, which may initially be applied to the column elements (60) or to the smaller side walls (46) facing the free space (50).

In the embodiments of Figs. 1-8, 22, 40-46, 56, 63, 72, 78 and 84, in each corner zone, a corner flap portion (47a, 48a) of one or more lower flaps (47, 48) is arranged on the outside side to the inner volume of the body and is located below adjacent to the free space (50).

Preferably, following the figures cited above, in each corner area, each corner flap portion (47a, 48a) has edges that form a right angle so that the background has a rectangular outer side contour.

This corner flap portion (47, 48), arranged at each corner of the reinforced container (40), is obtained by folding the lower panels (7, 8) along the weakened lower horizontal lines (9) cut out, as shown in detail in Figs. 37 to 48.

In the embodiments of Figs. 1-8, 37-51, 59-65, 74-85 in each corner zone, only a corner flap portion (47a) of a lower flap (47) is arranged on the outside side to the inner volume of the body and is located below adjacent to the free space (50).

Thus, possible deviations caused by the optional column elements are avoided because they have two portions of different support surfaces, arranged on the outside of the interior volume of the body and located below adjacent to the free space (50), which create unwanted step effects due to the thickness of the cardboard.

In the embodiments of Figs. 22, 53-54 and 60-61 in each corner area, two corner flap portions (47a, 48a) of two lower flaps (47, 48) are arranged on the outside side of the inner volume of the body and are located below adjacent to the free space (50).

In the realizations of these figures, in each corner area, each corner flap portion (47a, 48a) has edges that form a right angle so that the background has a rectangular outer side contour.

In the embodiments of Figs. 48, 63, 72, 78 and 84 a respective column element (60) is supported and immobilized in a respective corner flap portion (47a, 48a), so that each column element (60) is immobilized at the top and bottom of the same.

In the embodiments of Figs. 6-8, 10, 15, 20, 47-48, 62-63 and 83-84, in the reinforced container (40), the lower flaps (47, 48) are joined together by gluing, by glue/adhesive disposed between the overlapping portions of the lower flaps (47, 48)

In the embodiments of Figs. 19-29, 52-56 and 68-79, in the reinforced container (40), the lower flaps (47, 48) are joined together by interlocking, by die-cut cutting lines (19a) arranged in portions of the lower flaps (47, 48).

Advantageously, a snap-fit joint does not necessarily require a bonding agent, e.g., adhesive/glue, to join body parts together, which can be beneficial in terms of cost depending on the volume and nature of the order.

The scope of the present invention is defined by the following claims.

Claims (39)

1. Reinforced container (40), comprising a body made from a single strip (20) of die-cut cardboard, the body comprising an upper opening, at least partially open, delimited by upper portions of side walls of the body, configured to support one or two stacked reinforced container (40) and pallet (70) assemblies, and the body further comprising a bottom, at least partially open, configured to be supported on a pallet (70), the bottom being formed by the joining of lower flaps (47, 48) connected to the lower portion of at least four side walls by lower horizontal folds (49), the reinforced container (40) being characterized in that The body has a lateral outline formed by at least twelve flat side walls arranged around and perpendicular to the bottom, two mutually facing first side walls (44), two mutually facing second side walls (45), and at least eight smaller side walls (46), at least two of said smaller side walls (46) being sandwiched between each first side wall (44) and each second side wall (45) in each of the four corner areas of the body; in the body, the at least twelve flat side walls are connected one after the other, in series, by at least twelve parallel vertical folds (42), each side wall being laterally delimited by two vertical folds (42), and two of said mutually end side walls of the folded band (20) being joined, preferably by a joining end side panel (3); and wherein the folded band (20) constituting the body is made of double-walled corrugated cardboard, with only three smooth sheets (21) and two corrugated sheets (22) arranged between two of the smooth sheets (21), the two corrugated sheets (22) having different corrugation widths from each other, and the two corrugated sheets (22) forming vertical grooves (23), perpendicular to the bottom, on at least twelve side walls, to increase compressive strength; wherein each side wall and each vertical fold (42) of the body has a continuous vertical extension that extends from the bottom to the upper opening, to reinforce the reinforced container (40) under vertical compression and expansion; wherein, in each corner zone, the at least two smaller side walls (46) are folded by at least three vertical folds (42) towards an interior volume of the body, to reinforce the reinforced container (40) under vertical compression and expansion, and to positionally delimit, at least partially, at least one free space (50) of the body arranged in each corner zone, each free space (50) having a continuous vertical extension from the bottom to the upper opening; wherein said at least one free space (50) in each corner zone is arranged adjacent to and on the outside side of the interior volume of the body, said interior volume being enclosed laterally by an interior lateral contour of the body defined by a plurality or all of the at least twelve side walls; and where the free spaces (50) optionally allow the arrangement, in each free space (50) of each corner zone, of a respective elongated column element (60), additional to the body, which has a vertical extension that extends from the bottom to the upper opening. 2. - Reinforced container (40) of claim 1, wherein the corrugated cardboard strip (20) constituting the body is a single die-cut sheet (10) that includes a plurality of serially arranged panel sectors, the side walls of the body being formed by said panel sectors. 3. - Reinforced container (40) according to claim 2, wherein in the band (20) the plurality of panel sectors includes at least twelve panel sectors (4, 5, 6), two larger sectors (4), two intermediate sectors (5) and at least eight smaller sectors (6), arranged in series by respective weakened vertical lines (2) die-cut, parallel to each other, which define in the folded body the at least twelve vertical folds (42) that connect some side walls to each other. 4. - Reinforced container (40) according to claim 1, wherein the corrugated cardboard strip (20) constituting the body consists of several die-cut sheets (10) with end panels (3) joining each sheet (10) joined together, and wherein each of the sheets (10) comprises a plurality of serial panel sectors, the side walls of the body being formed by the pluralities of panel sectors of the sheets (10). 5. - Reinforced container (40) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each of the vertical extensions of the at least twelve side walls, each of the vertical extensions of the at least twelve folds (42), each of the vertical extensions of the four free spaces (50) of the corner areas, and/or each of the optional column elements (60), have an equal vertical dimension (D1) between 500 and 1200 millimeters, to reinforce the reinforced container (40) in compression and to enable the stacking of two or three palletized structural assemblies, each palletized structural assembly comprising one or two reinforced containers (40) supported at the same height on a respective pallet (70). 6. - Reinforced container (40) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each corner area includes two smaller side walls (46), arranged diagonally with respect to the adjacent side walls (45) or forming a right angle with each other arranged on the outside side of the inner volume of the body. 7. - Reinforced container (40) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each corner area includes two smaller side walls (46) forming a right angle arranged on the outside side of the inner volume of the body. 8. - Reinforced container (40) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each corner area includes at least two minor side walls (46) in contact forming a multi-layer wall comprising at least one double minor side wall. 9. - Reinforced container (40) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each corner area includes at least three side walls (46) in mutual contact forming a multi-layer wall comprising at least one smaller triple side wall. 10. - Reinforced container (40) according to claim 6 or 7, wherein each corner area comprises only two smaller side walls (46), folded by three vertical folds (42), towards the inner volume of the body, the body forming an outer and inner lateral contour of twelve sides. 11. - Reinforced container (40) according to claim 10, wherein in each corner area the only two smaller side walls (46) form a right angle with each other. 12. - Reinforced container (40) according to claim 9, wherein each corner area includes the multi-layer wall arranged diagonally with respect to the adjacent side walls (44, 45), forming a body with an octagonal inner side contour with a multi-layer chamfer of at least three smaller side walls in each corner area. 13. - Reinforced container (40) according to the combination of claims 7 and 9, wherein each corner area comprises six smaller side walls (46) folded by vertical folds (42) towards an interior volume of the body, three smaller side walls (46) being in mutual contact forming a triple-layered minor side wall, another three side walls (46) being in mutual contact forming another triple-layered minor side wall, one multilayer forming a right angle with the other, and the body forming an outer and inner lateral contour of twelve sides. 14. - Reinforced container (40) according to claim 9, wherein each corner zone includes four side walls (46) in mutual contact forming a multi-layer wall comprising a smaller quadruple side wall, the multi-layer wall being arranged diagonally with respect to the adjacent side walls (44, 45), partially delimiting two acute-angle free spaces (50) in each corner zone, forming a body with an outer lateral contour of twenty-four sides and an inner contour of sixteen sides. 15. - Reinforced container (40) according to claim 8, wherein each corner area comprises three smaller side walls (46) folded by vertical folds (42) that delimit a free space (50) of triangular cross-section, wherein on the hypotenuse side of the triangle is arranged the multi-layer wall comprising two smaller side walls (46) in mutual contact forming a double smaller side wall, and wherein one leg of the triangle is delimited by a smaller side wall (46), and wherein the other leg of the triangle is delimited by an extreme portion of a side wall, forming a body with a rectangular outer side contour and an octagonal inner side contour with a chamfer in each corner area. 16. - Reinforced container (40) according to the combination of claims 7 and 8, wherein each corner area comprises six smaller side walls (46) folded by vertical folds (42) that delimit a free space (50) of rectangular cross-section, wherein on each of the two adjacent sides of the rectangle forming a right angle a respective multi-layer wall of double smaller side wall is arranged, and on each of the other two sides of the rectangle forming a right angle a respective smaller side wall (46), the body forming a rectangular outer side contour and a dodecagonal inner contour. 17. - Reinforced container (40) according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein in each corner area, the at least one free space (50) is laterally delimited by the partially lateral contour, the free space (50) being accessible from the outer side of the lateral contour of the body, to enable the arrangement of each column element (60) according to a lateral movement perpendicular to the plane where the bottom is contained. 18. - Reinforced container (40) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, in each corner area, the at least two smaller side walls (46) and the at least three vertical folds (42) are immobilized at their lower and/or upper ends by parts of the band (20) constituting the body. 19. - Reinforced container (40) according to claim 18, wherein, in each corner area, a lower portion (18, 19) of the lower flaps (47, 48) cooperates with a lower portion of the smaller side walls (46) to serve as a lower transverse and/or longitudinal immobilization stop of the smaller side walls (46). 20. - Reinforced container (40) according to claim 19, wherein, in each corner area, said lower part of the lower flaps (47, 48) includes at least one lateral cut line (18) of the lower flaps (47, 48) adjacent to a lower part of the smaller side walls (46). 21. - Reinforced container (40) according to claim 19, wherein, in each corner area, said lower part of the lower flaps (47, 48) includes at least one cavity (19) of the lower flaps (47, 48) into which a lower part of the smaller side walls corresponding to a lower projection (6a) of the side walls is inserted. 22. - Reinforced container (40) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the upper opening comprises: - first upper flaps (51) folded by upper horizontal folds (53) perpendicular to the vertical folds (43), and joined to the upper part of at least two mutually facing side walls; and/or - a second set of upper flaps (52), folded by other upper horizontal folds (53), and joined to the upper part of the other two mutually facing side walls; and - wherein each first and/or second upper flap (51, 52) comprises a horizontal shelf flap (54) for stacking support and/or an end flap (55) for joining the upper flaps (51, 52) to the side walls. 23. - Reinforced container (40) according to claim 22, each first and second upper flap (51, 52) further comprises a horizontal shelf flap (54) for stacking support and an end flap (55) for joining the upper flaps (51, 52) to the side walls. 24. - Reinforced container (40) according to claim 22 or 23, wherein, in each corner area, at least part of a lateral end of a first and/or second upper flap (51, 52) is adjacent to at least one of the smaller side walls (46) to serve as a longitudinal and/or transverse upper stop of the smaller side walls (46). 25. - Reinforced container (40) according to claim 23, wherein, in each corner area: - at least part of a lateral end of a first upper flap (51) is adjacent to a minor side wall (46) to serve as a longitudinal upper stop of the minor side walls (46), and - at least part of one side end of the second upper flap (52) is adjacent to another smaller side wall (46) to serve as a transverse upper stop of the smaller side walls (46). 26. - Reinforced container (40) according to any one of the preceding claims 22 to 25, wherein, in each corner area, an upper portion of the first and/or second upper flap (51, 52) cooperates with an upper portion of the smaller side wall (46) to serve as an upper immobilization stop of the smaller side walls (46). 27. - Reinforced container (40) according to claim 26, wherein, in each corner area, the upper part of the first and/or second upper flap (51, 52) includes at least one upper cavity (14a), wherein an upper projection (6b) of the side walls (46) is immobilized by interlocking. 28. - Reinforced container (40) according to any one of claims 26 or 27, wherein, in each corner area, the upper side extension of the shelf flap (54) of the first and/or second upper flap (51, 52) cooperates with an upper part of the smaller side wall (46) to serve as an upper immobilization stop of the smaller side walls (46) and to delimit the upper free space (50). 29. - Reinforced container (40) according to any one of the preceding claims 18 to 28, wherein, in each corner area, the at least two smaller side walls (46) and the at least three vertical folds (42) are immobilized at their lower and upper ends by respective parts of the band (20) constituting the body. 30. - Reinforced container (40) according to any one of the preceding claims, having arranged in each free space (50) of each corner area, a respective elongated column element (60), additional to the body, having a vertical extension that extends from the bottom to the upper opening. 31. - Reinforced container (40) according to claim 30, wherein, in each corner area, each column element is in contact with at least two respective smaller side walls (46). 32. - Reinforced container (40) according to claim 30 or 31, wherein the column elements (60) are immobilized to the body (40) by a retaining element. 33. - Reinforced container (40) according to claim 32, wherein, in each corner area, each respective column element (60) is superiorly immobilized by at least part of a lateral end of the shelf portion (54) of the first and/or second upper flaps (51, 52), corresponding to the retaining element, which is superiorly adjacent to the top of each respective column element (60). 34. - Reinforced container (40) according to claim 32 or 33, wherein the column elements (40) are immobilized to the body (40) by straps (80), corresponding to the retaining element, which surround, at least partially and/or completely, the outer lateral contour of the body. 35. - Reinforced container (40) according to claim 32, 33 or 34, wherein, in each corner area, each column element (40) is immobilized to the body by a glue disposed between the outer lateral contour of the body and each column element (40), the retaining element including said glue. 36. - Reinforced container (40) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, in each corner area, a corner flap portion (47a, 48a) of one or more lower flaps (47, 48) is arranged on the outside side of the inner volume of the body and is located below adjacent to the free space (50). 37. - Reinforced container (40) according to claim 36, wherein, in each corner area, each corner flap portion (47a, 48a) has edges that form a right angle so that the bottom has a rectangular outer side contour. 38. - Reinforced container (40) according to the combination of claims 32 and 36, wherein, in each corner area, a respective column element (60) is supported and immobilized in a respective corner flap portion (47a, 48a), such that each column element (60) is immobilized at the top and bottom thereof. 39. - Reinforced container (40) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the lower flaps (47, 48) are joined together by gluing.