EP2781463B1

EP2781463B1 - Packaging for household appliances

Info

Publication number: EP2781463B1
Application number: EP14159979.5A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Antonello Gargiulo; Roberto Mannarino
Original assignee: Elica SpA
Current assignee: Elica SpA
Priority date: 2013-03-22
Filing date: 2014-03-14
Publication date: 2016-09-07
Anticipated expiration: 2034-03-14
Also published as: PL2781463T3; EP2781463A1; ITMI20130441A1; ES2604125T3

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a package for household appliances, particularly for storing and transporting household appliances such as, for example, hoods.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The household appliances with non-negligible dimensions, such as, for example, kitchen hoods, are usually stored and transported within packages.
Such packages have the function of allowing handling single household appliances, or more often a plurality of household appliances, with fork lifts and similar lifting devices. Therefore, the packages have to protect the appliance integrity during the handling and transportation thereof.
A first type of packages of the prior art consists in a box, usually in cardboard, within which the household appliances is stored.
Among the walls of the box and the household appliance a polymeric material, usually polystyrene, is arranged to avoid that the household appliance is damaged by small, accidental impacts. The boxes containing the household appliances are arranged (in preset amounts) onto wooden pallets so as to create an ordered stack supported onto a rigid base.
By using fork lifts provided with lifting prongs, it is possible to insert the prongs into the wooden pallet, lift, and then transport the packaged household appliances. However, this type of packages has the drawback that it requires the presence and use of wooden pallets which, as it is known, have non-negligible manufacturing costs, require dedicated rooms for storing them, and require special treatments for the disposal thereof.
In order to obviate such drawbacks, packages have been developed, which do not use pallets to transport and handle the household appliances. This type of packages comprises a box-shaped body made of cardboard, in which the household appliance is housed, and also in this case the use of polystyrene is provided for, in order to protect the household appliance from accidental impacts. Two wooden crossbars are inserted into the box-shaped body, extending from a wall up to the opposite wall of the box-shaped body. Such wooden crossbars perform the function of considerably increasing the compression loads to which the packages may be subjected, without damaging the household appliances contained therein. The transportation of this type of packages provide for using fork lifts provided with hydraulic pliers, having clamping forces ranging between 300Kg and 1000 Kg, grasping one or more packages, thus allowing lifting and transporting them. The wooden crossbars ensure that the package does not collapse under the compression action exerted by the fork lift hydraulic pliers. However, even this type of packages has some drawbacks. In fact, the wooden crossbars have to be subjected to specific treatments to be able to be inserted into the package. For example, it is necessary to ensure that the wood is free from moulds or parasites; therefore, the crossbars have to be chemically and thermally to make them suitable for use. These treatments, together with the ever-increasing of lumber, increase the crossbars price, hence of the package.
Again, the wooden crossbars are usually located in the box-shaped body so as to stay in place by interference with the walls thereof. Such positioning, while it is very often sufficient to avoid undesired displacements of the crossbars, does not ensure that the crossbars may move within the box-shaped body, thus stopping performing their function as an abutment for the hydraulic pliers of the fork lift, resulting in the household appliance damaging.
Again, such crossbars are not reused, since the package opening usually occurs at the household appliance sale point, or even directly at the household appliance end user site. Therefore, the crossbars have to be discarded of, very often forcing to their disposal to a landfill, since the municipal waste collection service often does not allow the lumber collection.
Document US2012138618 relates to a packaging system for providing lateral support for a packaged appliance according to the pre characterizing portion of Claim 1.
In this context, the technical task underlying the present invention is to provide a package for household appliances capable of obviating the above-mentioned drawbacks. Particularly, it is the object of the present invention to propose a package for household appliances having limited manufacturing and disposal costs.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a package for household appliances that ensures a constant and high reliability degree.

ABSTRACT OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, the technical task set forth and the specified objects are achieved by a package for household appliances in accordance with one or more of the claims set forth below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will be more clearly apparent from the illustrative, thus non-limiting description of a preferred, yet not exclusive embodiment of a package for household appliances, as illustrated in the appended drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a package for household appliances in accordance with the present invention in a first assembling step;
Fig. 2 shows the package of Fig. 1 in a second assembling step;
Fig. 3 shows the package of Fig. 1 in a third assembling step; and
Fig. 4 shows an embodiment variation of a package for household appliances in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Even when it is not set forth explicitly, the single characteristics described referring to the specific embodiments will be meant as accessorial and/or interchangeable with other characteristics, described with reference to other embodiment examples. Furthermore, the numeral values set forth in the present disclosure and the appended claims have to be understood as preceded by the term "about", and they have to be understood with a tolerance range of ± 15%.
A package for household appliances in accordance with the present invention has been generally indicated with 1 in the Figures.
The package 1 comprises a box-shaped body 2, made of a paper material. By paper material is meant a material composed of mainly vegetal, fibrous raw materials, such as, for example, cardboard. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the paper material used is a cardboard having at least one central corrugated layer, and two side planar sheets. The box-shaped body 2 defines a cavity so arranges as to house a household appliance, such as, for example, a hood, with the optional interposition of polystyrene to protect the household appliance against accidental impacts.
The box-shaped body 2 is preferably formed of a single blank, i.e., of a single sheet provided with pre-weakening cuts and lines, suitable to the sheet folding and to define the box-shaped body. The box-shaped body 2 comprises a first pair of mutually parallel and spaced apart side walls 3, 4, and a second pair of side walls 5, 6, also mutually parallel and spaced apart. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the side walls of the first pair are substantially perpendicular to the side walls 7 of the second pair. The dimensions of the side walls can be any; however, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, all the side walls have the same height (so as to define a box-shaped body in the form of a cube or a parallelepiped). The box-shaped body 2 further comprises a lower wall 7 and an upper wall 8. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the upper and the lower walls are composed of four tabs 9, extending from corresponding side walls. Such tabs 9 are defined by pre-weakening lines arranged on the side walls so that the tabs may rotate with respect to the side walls and close superiorly and inferiorly the box-shaped body 2.
The package 1 comprise at least one appendix 10 in a paper material, projecting inwardly of the box-shaped body 2, i.e., it may extend and project within the cavity defined by the box-shaped body. The appendix 10 comprises a through opening 11 (Fig. 1).
The package 1 comprise a tubular member 12 in a paper material, which passes through the through opening 11 of the appendix 10.
By tubular member is meant herein, a closed, hollow solid provided with a section that is constant in shape and area.
In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the tubular member 12 has an annular-shaped section.
The paper material composing the tubular member 12 may be the same cardboard of which the box-shaped body 2 is made, or more preferably it is a compressed cardboard obtained by processing paper fibers (e.g., recycled paper) so as to increase the mechanical resistance properties thereof.
The tubular member 12 comprises two mutually opposite end portions 12a, 12b, each of which is abutted against a corresponding side wall of a pair of side walls, so that the tubular member lies substantially parallel to the upper and/or lower walls, as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4.
In other words, the tubular member 12 lies perpendicularly between two opposite side walls and opposes to compression loads directed perpendicularly to such walls.
In this manner, when the hydraulic pliers of a fork lift grasp a package, the latter does not collapse on itself, by virtue of the resistance action of the tubular member 12.
It shall be noticed that the appendix 10 allows keeping the tubular member 12 in place, preventing it from moving from the optimal use position.
In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the tubular member 12 engages corresponding openings 11 of two separate and mutually spaced apart appendices 10, so as to increase the stability of the tubular member 12 within the box-shaped body 2.
Preferably, each appendix 10 lies in a plane perpendicular to one of the side walls.
The tubular member 12 comprises a side wall 12c extending between the two end portions 12a, 12b. The thickness of the side wall 12c is dimensioned so that the tubular member may resist to compression loads, directed along the main extension of the tubular member, up to about 2000 kg.
Preferably, the thickness of the side wall 12c ranges between 2mm and 15mm, preferably ranging between 3mm and 10mm, still more preferably of 5mm.
In a first embodiment of the invention, shown in the Figs. 1 to 3, each appendix 10 emerges from the upper 8 and/or lower 7 walls of the box-shaped body 2.
Particularly, each appendix 10 is obtained on the tabs 9 of the upper and/or lower walls.
In the preferred embodiment, each tab 9 associated to a side wall of the first or the second pair of side walls comprises two appendices 10. The appendices are obtained in the tabs 9 by die-cut thereof, or anyhow making notches onto the tabs 9.
As it can be appreciated from the appended figures, and particularly from Fig. 1, each appendix 10 is defined by three notches obtained on the tab 9, so that the appendix (integral to the tab 9 through a fourth edge, not affected by the notches) may rotate with respect thereto and arrange substantially perpendicularly thereto and project into the box-shaped body 2.
Each pair of appendices 10 of a same tab 9 is engaged by only one tubular member 12; therefore, according to what has been described above, the embodiment of the Figs. 1 to 3 comprises two tubular members 12 and four appendices 10.
In order to locate the tubular members 12 within the box-shaped body 2, the tabs 9 provided with appendices 10 are arranged substantially aligned with the corresponding side walls, and the members 10 are introduced. Then the tabs 9 are bent to arrange them orthogonally to the side walls of the box-shaped body 11, so that the tubular members 12 insert into the box-shaped body 2 (as schematically shown in Fig. 3). It shall be noticed that the length of each tubular member is substantially the same as the distance between two side walls not affected by tabs 9 bearing the appendices 10.
In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 4, the package further comprises an insert 13 in a paper material, inserted into the box-shaped body 2.
The insert paper material is preferably of the same type composing the box-shaped body 2.
The appendix 10 is obtained on the insert 13.
Particularly, the insert 13 comprises two end panels 13a, 13b, lying substantially parallel to the walls of a pair of side walls of the box-shaped body 2, and at least a first intermediate panel 13c extending between the end panels 13a, 13b.
Preferably, the insert 13 comprises a second intermediate panel 13d. The first intermediate panel 13c is constrained to an end panel 13a and to the second intermediate panel 13d, which, in turn, is constrained to the other intermediate panel 13b (see Fig. 4). The first intermediate panel 13c and the second intermediate panel 13d lie inclined with respect to the end panels, hence with respect to the side walls of a pair of side walls.
This configuration allows inserting parts of the household appliance into the box-shaped body 2 both above and under the intermediate panels, creating a kind of partition septum for the household appliance parts contained into the package.
It shall be noticed that the panels of the insert 13 can be constrained in any manner. For example, the panels may be mutually hinged by pre-weakening lines obtained in a single blank composing the insert, or the panels may be members mutually physically separate and joined by mechanical couplings that are directly obtained on the same panels.
In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 4, the insert 13 is obtained from two separate components, a first component defining an end panel and the two intermediate panels, and a second component defining the other end panel. The two components are mutually constrained mechanically.
The appendix 10 is obtained on the first intermediate panel 13c. Preferably, the first intermediate panel 13c comprises two appendices 10 mutually placed side by side and spaced apart, and engaged by a single tubular member 12 (Fig. 4).
Each appendix 10 is obtained in the first panel 13c by folding a corresponding end portion thereof.
Particularly, each appendix 10 is obtained by die-cutting or cutting a free end portion of the first intermediate panel 13c and folding it to allow the tubular member 12 engaging the opening 11. It shall be noticed that the length of the tubular member 12 is substantially the same as the distance between two side walls not affected by the end panels of the insert 13.
The invention achieves the intended objects. In fact, when the hydraulic pliers of a fork lift grasp a package, the latter does not deform (thus avoiding to damage the household appliance) by virtue of the resistance action of the tubular member 12. The appendices 10 allow keeping the tubular member 12 in place, preventing it from moving during the handling of the package.
Furthermore, since the entire package is made of the same type of material, i.e. a paper material, it may be easily disposed of and manufactured with reduced costs.
It shall be apparent that those skilled in the art, in order to meet contingent, specific needs, will be able to make a number of modifications and variations to the configurations described above.
All of such variations and modifications anyhow fall within the protection scope of the invention, as defined by the following claims.

Claims

A package for household appliances, comprising a box-shaped body (2) made of a paper material; said box-shaped body (2) comprising:
- a first pair of mutually substantially parallel side walls (3, 4), and

- a second pair of mutually substantially parallel side walls (5, 6);

- an upper wall (8) and a lower wall (7), each of which is rotatable with respect to at least one side wall;
a tubular member (12) in paper material said tubular member (12) comprising two mutually opposite end portions (12a, 12b), each of which abuts against a corresponding side wall (5, 6) of a pair of side walls, so that said tubular member (12) lies substantially parallel to the upper (8) and/or lower (7) walls, characterized in that it comprises at least an appendix (10) in paper material projecting into said box-shaped body (2) and comprising a through opening (11), said tubular member (12) passing through said through opening (11) of the appendix (10).
The package according to claim 1, wherein said tubular member (12) comprises a side wall (12c) extending between said two end portions (12a, 12b); the thickness of said side wall (12c) ranging between 2mm and 15mm, preferably ranging between 3mm and 10mm, still more preferably of 5mm.
The package according to claim 1 or 2, comprising at least two appendices (10), each of which being provided with the corresponding through opening (11); said tubular member (12) engaging both through openings (11).
The package according to any of the preceding claims, wherein each appendix (10) emerges from said upper (8) and/or lower (7) walls of the box-shaped body (2).
The package according to claim 4, wherein said upper wall (8) and/or said lower wall (7) comprises four tabs (9), each of which being rotatable with respect to a corresponding side wall (3, 4, 5, 6) of the box-shaped body (2), said appendix (10) being obtained on at least one of said tabs (9).
The package according to claim 5, wherein each of two tabs (9) of the upper (8) and/or lower (7) walls, each of which being constrained to a corresponding side wall of the first or the second pair of side walls, comprises two due appendices (10); each pair of appendices (10) of a tab (9) being engaged by a corresponding tubular member (12).
The package according to claim 5 or 6, wherein each appendix (10) is composed of a portion of a tab (9) that is die-cut and folded inwardly into the box-shaped body (2).
The package according to any of the claims 1 to 3, comprising an insert (13) in paper material inserted into the box-shaped body (2); said appendix (10) being obtained on said insert (13).
The package according to claim 8, wherein said insert (13) comprises two end panels (13a, 13b), lying substantially parallel to the walls of a pair of side walls of the box-shaped body (2), and at least one first intermediate panel (13c) extending between said end panels (13a, 13b), said appendix (11) being obtained on said first intermediate panel (13c).
The package according to claim 9, wherein said first intermediate panel (13c) lies preferably inclined with respect to the two end panels (13a, 13b), said first intermediate panel (13c) comprising due appendices (11) engaged by said tubular member (12) so that said tubular member (12) lies with the end portions (12a, 12b) thereof in contact with the walls (5, 6) of the pair of side walls that are not parallel to the two end panels (13a, 13b) of the insert (13).