EP3386884A1

EP3386884A1 - Protective packaging assembly for a household appliance

Info

Publication number: EP3386884A1
Application number: EP15805218.3A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Mehmet YASAR; Tayfun ERSOZ; Cagdas FIDAN; Turker Senturk; Ahmet Ozan HARLAK
Original assignee: Arcelik AS
Current assignee: Arcelik AS
Priority date: 2015-12-08
Filing date: 2015-12-08
Publication date: 2018-10-17
Also published as: WO2017097339A1; CN108290673A

Abstract

The present invention relates to a protective packaging assembly (1) for use with a household appliance (2). The protective packaging assembly (1) comprises a cardboard box (3) for at least partly enclosing the household appliance (2), a base protector (4) for bearing and cushioning the bottom of the household appliance (2). The body (5) of the base protector (4) comprises a resilient foam material. In the protective packaging assembly (1) of the present invention, the base protector (4) is further adapted for installation between the lower end of the cardboard box (3) and the floor.

Description

PROTECTIVE PACKAGING ASSEMBLY FOR A HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCE

The present invention relates to a protective packaging assembly for packaging a household appliance, in particular a refrigerator.
In general, cargoes such as household appliances must withstand comparatively high mechanical stresses that are generated during the various stages of the transportation. These mechanical stresses are practically unavoidable. In order to mitigate the adverse effects of the impacts, a household appliance is generally packaged with a protective packaging assembly which cushions it. Protective packaging assemblies are commonly known in the art. A protective packaging assembly generally comprises: side protectors for cushioning the sides of the appliance; a top protector for cushioning the top of the appliance; a base protector for bearing and cushioning the bottom of the appliance; a cardboard box for enclosing the side protectors, the base protector and the top protector and the household appliance; and two straps for securing the cardboard box onto the side protectors, the base protector, the top protector and the household appliance. In general, the side protectors, the base protector and the top protector are made from a resilient foam material for cushioning the household appliance. During an ordinary impact, the resilient foam material partly absorbs the energy of the impact and usually recovers its initial shape.
WO2010/060808A1 discloses a prior art cardboard box for a refrigerator.
The packaging process is generally automated so as to save labor costs. First, the appliance is assembled with the base protector, the side protectors and the top protector. Next, the cardboard box is sleeved onto the top protector, the side protectors and the base protector that surround the appliance. Next, the upper flaps and the lower flaps of the cardboard box are folded by a folding machine onto the top protector and the base protector. Next, two straps are tensioned around the cardboard box by means of a strapping machine. Next, the cardboard box is wrapped in a plastic film.
A problem with the prior art protective packaging assembly is that during the various stages of the transportation the cardboard box and the plastic film becomes damaged when they contact the floor. Thus, there is a risk that the cardboard box gets wet when the plastic film is damaged and the floor is covered with water. Providing each household appliance with a wooden pallet generally increases the costs. Another problem with the prior art protective packaging assembly is that above described packaging process is complicated and vulnerable to failures. For instance, the straps cannot be correctly tensioned when the flaps of the cardboard box are not properly folded for one reason or another. This happens for example when the cardboard box is defective or the folding machine functions inaccurately. In such cases, the assembly operator must intervene and eliminate the fault. However, the manual operation incurs additional costs both in terms of labor and material. It is of utmost importance that the household appliance is properly packaged with the protective packaging assembly in order to ensure that the household appliance can be delivered in an undamaged state. Another problem with the prior art protective packaging assembly is that the unpackaging of the household appliance is also a time-consuming and a complicated task for the service person.
An objective of the present invention is to provide a protective packaging assembly which solves at least some of the aforementioned problems of the prior art in a cost-effective way and which enables an improved reliability and safety.
This objective has been achieved by the protective packaging assembly as defined in claim 1. Further achievements have been attained by the subject-matters respectively defined in the dependent claims.
In the protective packaging assembly of the present invention the base protector is adapted for installation between the lower end of the cardboard box and the floor. The base protector comprises an attachment means which is adapted to align and attach the lower end of the cardboard box immediately with the body of the base protector and to secure a safety distance between the lower end of the cardboard box and the floor against wetness.
A major advantageous effect of the present invention is that the cardboard box can be prevented from directly contacting the floor during the transportation by virtue of the base protector of the protective packaging assembly. Thereby, the cardboard box can be protected from receiving damages and becoming wet even when the household appliance with the protective packaging assembly is directly put onto the floor covered with water. Another major advantageous effect of the present invention is that the need for using a separate wooden pallet for each household appliance can be obviated by virtue of the base protector of the protective packaging assembly, and the costs can be further reduced.
In an embodiment, one or more vertical grooves are formed into the base protector so as to vertically align and receive the flapless and open lower end of the cardboard box. This embodiment is particularly advantageous as the cardboard box can be easily and securely attached to the base protector. This embodiment is also particularly advantageous as the need for using a folding machine has been obviated by virtue of the flapless and open lower end of the cardboard box. Thereby the overall costs can be further reduced both in terms of labor and material. Furthermore, the service person can more easily and quickly unpackage the protective packaging assembly. Thereby, the service costs can be further reduced.
In another embodiment, the top, the front, the back and the sides of the household appliance are covered by the cardboard box whereas the bottom of the household appliance is covered by the base protector. This embodiment is particularly advantageous as the cardboard box and the base protector together prevent the intrusion of dust into the household appliance. Thereby, the need for using a plastic film can be eliminated, and thus the costs can be further reduced.
In another embodiment, the cardboard box and the base protector are fastened onto the household appliance through one or more straps. This embodiment is particularly advantageous as the straps establish the integrity of the cardboard box and the base protector.
In another embodiment, the base protector is provided in form of a single rectangular shaped piece that is molded from a resilient foam material. In another embodiment, the resilient foam material includes expanded polystyrene. Other types of resilient foam materials known to those skilled in the art may be alternatively used. These embodiments are particularly advantageous as the household appliance can be easily and safely assembled with the base protector. Thereby, the need for using a wooden palette can be obviated, and thus the cost can be further reduced.
Additional features and additional advantageous effects of the protective packaging assembly of the present invention will become more apparent with the detailed description of the embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 - is schematic perspective view of a refrigerator which has been packaged with the protective packaging assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 2 - is schematic front view of the refrigerator with the protective packaging assembly of Fig. 1;
Figure 3 - is schematic sectional view of the refrigerator with the protective packaging assembly of Fig. 2, taken along the line A-A;
Figure 4 - is schematic enlarged view of the detail B of Fig. 3;
Figure 5 - is schematic enlarged view of the detail C of Fig. 3;
Figure 6 - is schematic partially exploded perspective view of the refrigerator and the protective packaging assembly of Fig 1;
Figure 7 - is schematic partially exploded side view of the refrigerator and the protective packaging assembly of Fig 6;
Figure 8 - is schematic enlarged view of the detail D of Fig. 7;
Figure 9 - is schematic enlarged view of the detail E of Fig. 7;
Figure 10 - is schematic front view of the cardboard box and the base protector in the aligned and attached state according to an embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 11 - is schematic sectional view of the cardboard box and the base protector of Fig. 10, taken along the line F-F;
Figure 12 - is schematic enlarged view of the detail G of Fig. 11;
Figure 13 - is schematic enlarged view of the detail H of Fig. 11;
Figure 14 - is schematic perspective view of the base protector according to an embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 15 - is schematic top view of the base protector of Fig. 14;
Figure 16 - is schematic sectional view of the base protector of Fig. 15, taken along the line I-I;
Figure 17 - is schematic sectional view of the base protector of Fig. 15, taken along the line J-J;
Figure 18 - is schematic enlarged view of the detail K of Fig. 16;
Figure 19 - is schematic enlarged view of the detail L of Fig. 16;
Figure 20 - is schematic enlarged view of the detail M of Fig. 17;
Figure 21 - is schematic enlarged view of the detail N of Fig. 17.
The reference signs appearing on the drawings relate to the following technical features.

Protective packaging assembly
Household appliance
Cardboard box
Base protector
Body
Attachment means
Vertical groove
Strap

d: The safety distance between the lower end of the cardboard
box (3) and the floor.
The protective packaging assembly (1) is suitable for use with a household appliance (2), in particular a refrigerator (2) (Fig. 1 to 3).
The protective packaging assembly (1) comprises a cardboard box (3) which is adapted to at least partly enclose the household appliance (2); and a base protector (4) which is adapted to bear and cushion the bottom of the household appliance (2) (Fig. 1 to 3). The body (5) of the base protector (4) comprises a resilient foam material.
In the protective packaging assembly (1) of the present invention, the base protector (4) is further adapted for installation between the lower end of the cardboard box (3) and the floor (Fig. 1). The base protector (4) comprises an attachment means (6) which is adapted to align and attach the lower end of the cardboard box (3) immediately with the body (5) of the base protector (4) and to secure a safety distance (d) between the lower end of the cardboard box (3) and the floor against wetness (Fig. 4 and Fig. 5).
In an embodiment, the attachment means (6) comprises one or more vertical grooves (7) which are each formed into the upper surface of the base protector (4) and adapted to vertically align and receive the lower end of the cardboard box (3). In this embodiment, the lower end of the cardboard box (3) is open and flapless (Fig. 4 to 9).
In another embodiment, the cardboard box (3) covers the top, the front, the back and the sides of the household appliance (2) whereas the base protector (4) covers the bottom of the household appliance (2). In this embodiment, the cardboard box (3) and the base protector (4) together entirely enclose the household appliance (2) (Fig. 10 to Fig. 13).
In another embodiment, the protective packaging assembly (1) further comprises: one or more straps (8) which are each adapted to fasten the cardboard box (3) and the base protector (4) onto the household appliance (2) (Fig. 1 and Fig. 6).
In another embodiment, the base protector (4), including the attachment means (6) is a single piece and has a rectangular outline (Fig. 14 to Fig. 21).
In another embodiment, the attachment means (6) comprises a single vertical groove (7) which extends along the entire periphery of the base protector (4) and has a rectangular outline. In this embodiment, the rectangular outline of the vertical groove (7) matches the size and shape of the lower end of the cardboard box (3) (Fig. 14 to and Fig. 21).
In another embodiment, the resilient foam material of the body (5) comprises expanded polystyrene.
In the subsequent description the packaging process and the unpackaging process will be briefly explained by way of example.
First, the base protector (4) is fitted onto the bottom of the refrigerator (2). Then, the cardboard box (3) is sleeved onto the refrigerator (2) and moved towards the base protector (4) so as to cover the top, the sides, the front, and the back of the refrigerator (2). The flapless and open lower end of the cardboard box (3) is vertically aligned and received by each vertical groove (7) in the base protector (4). Then, the two straps (8) are fastened both around the cardboard box (3) and the base protector (4). Optionally, the cardboard box (3) and the base protector (4) are wrapped together in a plastic film (not shown). When unpackaging the refrigerator (2), the above described steps are performed in the reverse order through the service person. During the unpackaging process, after the straps (8) have been removed, the cardboard box (3) is lifted upwards and detached from each vertical groove (7) (Fig. 6 and Fig.7). Next, the cardboard box (3) is entirely removed from the household appliance (2). Then, the refrigerator (2) is released from the base protector (4) and installed for use.
A major advantageous effect of the present invention is that the cardboard box (3) can be prevented from directly contacting the floor during the transportation by virtue of the base protector (4) of the protective packaging assembly (1) (Fig. 1). Thereby, the cardboard box (3) can be protected from receiving damages and becoming wet even when the household appliance (2) with the protective packaging assembly (1) is directly put onto the floor covered with water. Another major advantageous effect of the present invention is that the need for using a separate wooden pallet (not shown) for each household appliance (1) can be obviated by virtue of the base protector (4) of the protective packaging assembly (1) (Fig. 1). Thereby, the overall costs can be further reduced. Other advantageous effects of the present invention can be taken from the above described embodiments.

Claims

A protective packaging assembly (1) suitable for use with a household appliance (2), in particular a refrigerator (2), the protective packaging assembly (1) comprising a cardboard box (3) which is adapted to at least partly enclose the household appliance (2), a base protector (4) which is adapted to bear and cushion the bottom of the household appliance (2), wherein the body (5) of the base protector (4) comprises a resilient foam material, the protective packaging assembly (1) characterized in that the base protector (4) is further adapted for installation between the lower end of the cardboard box (3) and the floor, wherein the base protector (4) comprises an attachment means (6) which is adapted to align and attach the lower end of the cardboard box (3) immediately with the body (5) of the base protector (4) and to secure a safety distance (d) between the lower end of the cardboard box (3) and the floor against wetness.
The protective packaging assembly (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the attachment means (6) comprises one or more vertical grooves (7) which are each formed into the upper surface of the base protector (4) and adapted to vertically align and receive the lower end of the cardboard box (3), wherein the lower end of the cardboard box (3) is open and flapless.
The protective packaging assembly (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that one or more straps (8) which are each adapted to fasten the cardboard box (3) and the base protector (4) onto the household appliance (2).
The protective packaging assembly (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the base protector (4) is a single piece and has a rectangular outline.
The protective packaging assembly (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the resilient foam material of the body (5) comprises expanded polystyrene.