EP1378460A1

EP1378460A1 - Packaging for chest freezers and method for its use

Info

Publication number: EP1378460A1
Application number: EP03012261A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Nicola Mantovani; Carmine Pansardi; Fiorenzo Casoli
Original assignee: Whirlpool Corp
Current assignee: Whirlpool Corp
Priority date: 2002-07-02
Filing date: 2003-06-11
Publication date: 2004-01-07
Also published as: BR0302107A; ITMI20021461A1; ZA200304877B; ITMI20021461A0

Abstract

Packaging for chest freezers comprising a structure formed from a series of components and from a covering film of heat-shrinkable material, said components comprising endpieces (3, 3A) to cooperate with ends of the freezer (2, 2A), and longitudinal members (5, 5A) connecting said endpieces (3, 3A) together to protect the longitudinal comers of the freezer (2, 2A), the film of heat-shrinkable material enclosing the freezer on all its six faces (Figure 1).

Description

The present invention relates to packaging for chest freezers and a method for its use.
Chest freezers are currently packaged using complex composite containing structures covered with sheets of heat-shrinkable material, the purpose of which is to rigidify such structures and to ensure protection against damage and bad weather.
These known composite structures involve a multiplicity of structural parts of different materials, such as wood, expanded polystyrene, cardboard (for example partial boxes or coverings), polystyrene spacers, polyethylene protection, and metal for nailing the assembly together and for fixing the wooden parts, giving rise in certain cases to problems of ecological disposal.
Some of these packagings are not hermetically sealed, and even present relatively large apertures through which insects, dirt, dust and mice can enter.
The main object of the present invention is to provide a specific packaging for chest freezers which is formed substantially from two easily and ecologically disposable materials and encloses the freezer on its six faces or sides in such a manner as to protect it from impact and bad weather.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a packaging for chest freezers which is economical and simple to apply.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a simple, economical and technically satisfactory method for using said packaging.
These and further objects which will be apparent from the ensuing detailed description are attained by packaging and a method for its use in accordance with the technical teachings of the accompanying claims.
The invention will be better understood from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments thereof given by way of non-limiting example and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a chest freezer with packaging according to the teachings of the invention;
Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of a variant of the packaging for a chest freezer according to the invention;
Figure 3 shows a part of Figure 2 on a larger scale.
With reference to Figure 1, the packaging of the invention, shown here and indicated overall by 1, contains a chest freezer 2. The packaging comprises: a structure formed preferably from single-material parts, for example expanded polystyrene (abbreviated EPS), which is further discussed hereinafter, and a consolidation and protection covering formed from known heat-shrinkable film, preferably semi-transparent, but not shown.
In this example the aforesaid structure comprises two equal endpieces 3 which with their continuous perimetral wall surround a certain portion of the freezer, and four longitudinal members 5, commonly known as angle bars (two upper and two lower), connecting the two endpieces 3 together; the longitudinal members are of substantially L cross-section and, as is evident, cover the longitudinal comers of the enclosed freezer.
It should be noted that the heat-shrinkable film entirely covers the six faces of the freezer. In this respect, the packaging method comprises hooding the freezer by using a sheet which closes the sixth, said sheet being joined to the hood of heat-shrinkable material (used for the hooding). Alternatively, opposing faces of the freezer can be enclosed by two sheets, which are then joined to a piece of tubular heat-shrinkable film previously drawn over the assembly.
As can be again seen from Figure 1, the upper longitudinal members 5 present seats 18 for receiving the matching ends 19 of transverse protection spacers 21 provided on the two opposing sides of the freezer 2. They are provided at their ends with protuberances 22 which are inserted into matching seats 30 present in the upper and lower longitudinal members respectively.
At their ends the longitudinal members also present projecting parts 31, 32 to be inserted into matching seats 33 present in the endpieces 3.
A variant of the packaging is shown in Figure 2, in which parts equal or corresponding to those of the preceding figure are indicated by the same reference numerals accompanied by the letter A.
This variant comprises a base indicated overall by 7, formed from two equal extremities or shoes 8 of blow-moulded polyethylene spaced apart by a pair of strips 9 obtained by extruding polystyrene or polyethyleneterephthalate (PET).
The extremities 8 present a suitable snap fitting (Figure 3) for the ends of the strips 9, and a seat for the feet 12 with which the freezer is provided. At their ends the extremities 8 present cavities or seats 14 to receive feet 15 present on one side (the lower in Figure 2) of the freezer endpieces.
The described structure also comprises two upper longitudinal members 5A presenting end projections 32A to be housed in seats 33A present in the endpieces 3A. The longitudinal members also present, in their side (the upper in Figure 2), seats 18A to receive the matching ends 19A of a transverse protection spacer 20A. Other vertical protection spacers 21A are provided on the two opposing sides of the freezer 2A. They are provided at their ends with protuberances which are inserted upperly into seats present in the vertical flange of the longitudinal members 5A and lowerly engage the strips 9 as a C-shaped fit.
The packaging is used in the following manner.
An endpiece (3, 3A) is rested horizontally on a rocking support. The freezer is rested on this latter by means of its side.
While in this position the various described pieces of the packaging are assembled. A heat-shrinkable film, in the form of a sheet, will have previously been inserted below the endpiece (3, 3A) on which the product is rested. The product is then hooded with a sack made of heat-shrinkable film (sealed by bonding at its upper end with reference to the hooding configuration).
After hooding, the freezer packaged in this manner is subjected to heat action to shrink the film and finally consolidate the packaging onto the freezer.
The thus packaged product is hermetically sealed, except for a film portion, known as the microperforated portion, in the front and rear of the packaging to prevent condensation.

Claims

Packaging for chest freezers comprising a structure formed from a series of components and from a covering film of heat-shrinkable material, characterised in that said components comprise endpieces (3, 3A) to cooperate with ends of the freezer (2, 2A), and longitudinal members (5, 5A) connecting said endpieces (3, 3A) together to protect the longitudinal comers of the freezer (2, 2A), the film of heat-shrinkable material enclosing the freezer on all its six faces.
Packaging as claimed in claim 1, wherein the longitudinal members (5, 5A) are provided in correspondence with the upper comers of the freezer, whereas at the base of the freezer the structure components comprise extremities (8) between which strips extend.
Packaging as claimed in claim 1, wherein snap-coupling means are provided between the extremities (8) and the strips (9).
Packaging as claimed in claim 1, wherein four longitudinal members (5) are provided in correspondence with the four longitudinal comers of the freezer (2, 2A).
Packaging as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the endpieces (3) or the extremities (8) comprise support seats for the freezer feet (12).
Packaging as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, wherein lateral and upper protective spacers (20, 20A, 21, 21A) are provided.
Packaging as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the structure components are at least partly insertion-coupled.
Method for using the packaging claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the structure components are assembled by disposing an endpiece (3, 3A) horizontally on a support and locating the freezer on this endpiece via one of its sides so as to position the freezer in an abnormal vertical position, the structure then being fitted with its various remaining components and the structure obtained being covered with the heat-shrinkable film, and the covered structure being subjected to heat.
Method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the heat-shrinkable film comprises a sheet to be disposed horizontally under the side wall, and, open at one end, a sack to be drawn over the freezer to completely dose the packaging.
Method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the heat-shrinkable film comprises two sheets to be disposed on opposing side walls of the freezer, and a tubular piece to be drawn over the freezer and joined to the two said sheets.