EP0426821A1

EP0426821A1 - Mobile and transportable isothermal container

Info

Publication number: EP0426821A1
Application number: EP19900908538
Authority: EP
Inventors: Jean-Claude Neyton; Isabelle Bondenet
Original assignee: CIVILE KESTER Ste
Current assignee: CIVILE KESTER Ste
Priority date: 1989-05-26
Filing date: 1990-05-23
Publication date: 1991-05-15
Also published as: WO1990014295A1

Abstract

La présente invention a pour objet un conteneur isotherme mobile et transportable. Il est constitué par la combinaison d'abord d'un caisson (1) muni d'une ou deux portes (3), ces éléments étant constitués d'une double paroi obtenue par rotomoulage de matière synthétique, les parois extérieures (4, 5, 6) comportant chacune une ou plusieurs nervures verticales (7) en creux et étant formée d'une partie externe mince compacte et d'une partie interne épaisse expansée avec cellules fermées formant isolant, la paroi intérieure, de même composition, comportant des nervures creuses horizontales, les nervures extérieures et intérieures étant rendues solidaires à leurs intersections, de manière à former un ensemble indéformable, ensuite de joints (13, 14) de portes disposés suivant un plan faisant un angle sensiblement égal à 45 degrés avec les parois extérieures, et de charnières (15, 16) avec axe en dehors du volume permettant une ouverture à 270 degrés, enfin d'un châssis (2) métallique inférieur supportant le caisson et pouvant porter des roulettes fixes ou orientables ou des pieds. Il est destiné au transport de tous produits périssables et plus particulièrement des denrées alimentaires, tels que légumes, viandes, plats cuisinés, etc.The present invention relates to a mobile and transportable insulated container. It is constituted by the combination first of a box (1) provided with one or two doors (3), these elements being made up of a double wall obtained by rotational molding of synthetic material, the external walls (4, 5 , 6) each comprising one or more vertical hollow ribs (7) and being formed of a compact thin external part and a thick expanded internal part with closed cells forming an insulator, the internal wall, of the same composition, comprising ribs horizontal hollow, the external and internal ribs being made integral at their intersections, so as to form a non-deformable assembly, then door seals (13, 14) arranged in a plane making an angle substantially equal to 45 degrees with the external walls, and hinges (15, 16) with axis outside the volume allowing an opening to 270 degrees, finally of a lower metal frame (2) supporting the box and being able to carry fixed or orientable casters or d es feet. It is intended for the transport of all perishable products and more particularly foodstuffs, such as vegetables, meats, ready meals, etc.

Description

MOBILE AND TRANSPORTABLE ISOTHERMAL CONTAINER

The present invention relates to a mobile and transportable insulated container.

It is intended for the transport of all perishable products and more particularly foodstuffs, such as vegetables, meats, cooked dishes, etc.

The devices produced to date consist of two metal walls, or of molded synthetic material, thermoformed or alternatively shaped by rotational molding, comprising between them an insulator generally consisting of an expanded synthetic material in plates or obtained by foaming in situ. These methods of construction require a reinforcement resulting in assembly complexity and an increase in weight making handling expensive. In addition, the opening angle of the door not exceeding 180 degrees the open container becomes very bulky and impossible to move (the doors covering the handling handles). The embodiments currently manufactured by rotational molding, while saving manufacturing time, present significant risks of deformation over time due to the great difficulty of uniformly distributing the material and to the internal stresses produced by this process, which, most often, wrong fitting of doors that do not close properly, resulting in loss of tightness and insulation. The device according to the present invention eliminates all these drawbacks. Indeed, it is perfectly non-deformable, while presenting all the advantages due to the rotational molding used for its manufacture, namely a very high impact resistance as well as the absence of metallic reinforcement. In addition, the insulation is also produced by rotational molding, its thickness is constant and the thermal bridges are reduced to a minimum. The design of the door seals allows them to be perfectly centered. Finally, the opening angle of the door (s) of 270 degrees makes it possible to fold these over the side walls and thus obtain a very small footprint when the container is open, and makes it easy to handle with the doors open. It consists of the combination of a box first fitted with one or two doors, these elements being made up of a double wall obtained by rotational molding of synthetic material, the external walls each comprising one or more vertical ribs in hollow and being formed of a compact thin external part and of a thick expanded internal part with closed cells forming an insulator, the internal wall, of the same composition, comprising horizontal hollow ribs, the external and internal ribs being made integral with their inter - sections, so as to form a non-deformable assembly, then door seals arranged in a plane making an angle substantially equal to 45 degrees with the outer walls, and hinges with axis outside the volume allowing an opening at 270 degrees, finally of a lower metal frame supporting the box and being able to carry fixed or orient casters ables or feet.

In the appended drawings, given by way of nonlimiting example, of one of the embodiments of the object of the invention: FIG. 1 represents an exploded schematic view of the device. Figure 2 is a detail on another scale of the walls of the box or the door.

Figure 3 is a cross section of the walls on a different scale, showing the intersection of the outer and inner ribs. Figure A shows a variant of the device with external walls with a single vertical rib and hinges produced by rotational molding.

Figure 5 is a section, on a scale, along the arrows A-A of Figure A. Figure 6 shows a rotational molded shelf conserving cold. The device, FIGS. 1 to 6, consists of a box 1 resting on a frame 2 and provided with a door 3.

The box 1 and the door 3 have double walls 10, 19 produced by rotational molding of plastic material with closed cells. The side parts and 5 and the bottom 6 of the box, as well that the door 3 are provided with vertical hollow ribs 7 on the outside and horizontal hollow 8 on the inside, these ribs being made integral at their intersections 9 to obtain a non-deformable three-dimensional structure. The outer wall 10 is formed of an outer part 11, thin, compact and colored in the mass, and of an inner part 12, thick, expanded by second firing during rotational molding and forming an insulator. The interior wall, produced in the same way, has a thin part 19 forming the internal surface of the container and an expanded part 20.

The inner ribs 8 act as slides for shelves or drawers (dry ice drawer). The joint planes 13, 14 of the door 3 and of the box 1 form an angle of 45 degrees with the outer walls, with a view to obtaining perfect centering which is preserved over time. The hinges are either made of aluminum 15, 16, tightened in the rotational molding, or made up of additional thickness 21 created by rotational molding on the external nudes, arranged alternately on the door 3 and the box 1, separated by plastic washers 22 and pierced with so as to receive a tubular pin 23 of synthetic material. The axis of the hinges is located outside the volume of the box 1 to allow an opening at 270 degrees. A handling handle 17 is embedded in a recess 18 of each vertical angle of the box 1, integral with the latter and allowing handling of the container with the door open.

In the version with hinges produced by rotational molding, the handles 17 on the hinge side and closure are taken in the same system of additional thickness. The handle of the closure is hollow to receive a closure rod 24. The container can be equipped with two or three mobile shelves 25 in rotational molding, hollow and filled with a liquid or fluid capable of keeping the cold, in order to function as "eutectic plate". These shelves are provided with ribs 26 in relief to facilitate the storage of the products to be preserved, as well as recesses 27 on the underside allowing a grip. on hand for extraction.

The metal frame 2 is reinforced and tapped at the four angles so as to be able to receive feet or orien¬ tables or fixed casters. Thanks to its lightness, its great solidity, its impact resistance and its isothermal qualities, the device which has just been described lends itself particularly well to the production of containers intended for the transport of perishable foodstuffs, particularly in distribution channels for food products.

The positioning of the various constituent elements gives this device a maximum of useful effects which had not been obtained to date by similar devices.

Claims

1 ° mobile and transportable insulated container, provided with handling handles (17) embedded in a recess (18) of each vertical edge and intended for the transport of all perishable products and more particularly foodstuffs, such as vegetables, meats, ready meals, etc., characterized by the combination of a box (1) provided with one or two doors (3), these elements being constituted by a double wall obtained by rotational molding of synthetic material, the outer walls vertically (4, 5, 6, 10) as well as the door (3) comprising vertical hollow ribs (7) and being formed of an outer thin compact part (11) and of a thick and expanded internal part (12) with closed cells forming insulation, the inner wall, of the same composition, compact (19) towards the interior of the container and expanded (20), comprising horizontal hollow ribs (8) serving as slides for shelves or drawers, the outer ribs res (7) and interior (8) being made integral at their intersections (9) so as to form a non-deformable structure in three dimensions.

2 ° Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the door or doors (3) have joint planes (13, 14) making an angle substantially equal to 45 degrees with the outer walls (10), and are provided hinges (15, 16) with axes outside the volume allowing an opening at 270 degrees. 3 ° Device according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the box (1) rests on a metal frame (2) equipped at four angles with threaded reinforcements which can receive orientable rollers or feet. 4. Device according to claims 1, 2 and 3, characterized in that the arrangement of the handles (17) in the recesses (18) allows the container to be handled with the doors open. 5 ° Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the hinges consist of thickeners (21) created by rotational molding on the external nudes, arranged alternately on the door (3) and the box (1 ), separated by plastic washers (22) and drilled so as to receive a tubular axis (23) of synthetic material, the handles (17) on the hinge and closure side being taken in the same system of additional thickness, the handle of the closure being hollow to receive a closure rod (24). 6 ° Device according to claims 1, 2, 3 and 4 caracté¬ risant in that the hinges 15, 16 are made of aluminum and clamped in the rotational molding of the box (1) and the door (3). 7. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the container is equipped with movable shelves (25) in rotational molding, hollow and filled with a liquid or fluid capable of keeping the cold.