EP4083544A1 - Reusable transport box - Google Patents

Abstract

A reusable transport box with holders for accommodating exchangeable climate elements has an outer container (10) and an insulating box (2) which can be inserted into the outer container (10) and removed from the outer container (10). The insulating box (2) is designed to accommodate goods to be transported, the holders being arranged on at least one inside of the insulating box (2). It has a cooling and/or heating option, is as cost-effective as possible and enables multiple use for as long as possible.

Description

TECHNICAL AREA

The present invention relates to a reusable transport box, in particular for transporting groceries, for example for the purpose of delivering goods ordered online from a supermarket.

STATE OF THE ART

Online orders and home deliveries of everyday products, especially food, hygiene and cosmetic items as well as detergents and cleaning agents, are constantly increasing. The orders must be packed as easily and quickly as possible, the packaging should be as easy and safe to transport as possible, and the empties should be as environmentally friendly as possible and therefore reusable. It is also important to keep chilled or deep-frozen goods at the desired low temperatures throughout the supply chain. However, other products should not be cooled unnecessarily, i.e. they should also be transported in their optimal temperature range.

Thermally insulated transport boxes are known in the prior art, which can be divided into areas with different temperatures. However, many of these transport boxes are relatively expensive to manufacture and/or they are already relatively heavy when empty.

WO 2017/186502 A1 discloses a reusable transport box with a refrigerated container, the side walls of which have opposing pairs of grooves for the detachable accommodation of cooling elements. The cooling elements delimit individual cooling rooms. Cooling elements can also be inserted parallel to the side walls. Furthermore, further cooling elements laid flat on the standing cooling elements cover the interior of the container. A lid closes the cooling container. The lid and the refrigerated container must therefore be insulated so that the desired climate can be maintained in the interior. The lid, refrigerated container and insulating panels separating the areas are made of expanded polypropylene. The disadvantages of this transport box are that it must be handled with increased care during transport, in particular because it cannot be securely closed without additional aids. Furthermore, this transport box is designed to be divided into as many sub-areas as possible. The transport of larger goods is therefore hardly possible. In addition, their outside cannot be washed, or only to a limited extent. It therefore has to be disposed of after a short period of use if the online retailer wants to deliver its products in visually appealing and clean containers.

PRESENTATION OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the invention to create a reusable transport box that has a cooling and/or heating option that is as cost-effective as possible and allows multiple use for as long as possible.

This problem is solved by a reusable transport box with the features of patent claim 1.

The reusable transport box according to the invention with holders for accommodating exchangeable air-conditioning elements has an outer container and an insulating box which can be inserted into the outer container and removed from the outer container. The insulating box is designed to accommodate transport goods, with the holders being arranged on at least one inside of the insulating box.

Since the transport box has an outer container and an insulating box arranged therein, a classic, non-insulating transport container, as is well known in the transport sector, can be used as the outer container. These transport containers are usually made of polypropylene. They can be produced inexpensively, used several times over a long period of time and, in particular, can be washed easily and optimally. It is also advantageous that they can be closed well and securely with a cover made of the same material without any additional aids, usually with a slip-on cover with a corresponding transport lock or with a hinged cover.

The insulating box can be made relatively narrow because it is protected by the outer container. It does not have to be stable for transport itself, it only has to ensure insulation. In addition, its cover can be made in a simple form. No separate locking elements and no integrated snap locks are required. Rather, the insulating box can preferably be held in the closed position, preferably in a sufficiently airtight and thermally insulated closed position, thanks to the coefficients of friction of the plastic parts of the insulating box arranged one on top of the other, in particular put over.

Furthermore, the outer container and the insulating box can be replaced separately. This means that if the outer container is badly damaged or dirty during transport, the insulating box can continue to be used in another outer container. If food or another product contaminates the interior of the insulating box, the outer container can be reused with a new insulating box.

Another advantage is that the outer containers can also be used without the insulating box. The online shop can therefore use the same outer containers with or without their insert, i.e. the insulating box, depending on the temperature sensitivity of the goods. This also simplifies the storage of the containers and the packaging of the goods at the retailer.

The climate elements mentioned here are preferably cooling elements. However, elements that cool and/or heat can also be used. The cooling elements are preferably passive elements. They are preferably containers filled with a cooled or solidified liquid, in particular with frozen water.

The holders are preferably receiving grooves into which the air-conditioning elements, in particular the cooling elements, can be inserted and from which they can be pulled out again without being destroyed.

In preferred embodiments, the outer container can be closed with an outer cover. The insulating box preferably has an inner container and an inner lid, the inner container being able to be closed with the inner lid. In other embodiments, the insulating box is not closed with a separate inner lid. In these embodiments, the outer cover is preferably insulated or an insulating element can be placed under the outer cover.

At least one band is preferably arranged on the inner cover to raise the inner cover when the insulating box is in the outer container. This allows the insulating box to be opened in a simple manner without having to remove it from the outer container.

Preferably, the inner container is formed in one piece, i.e. in one piece. As a result, it can be inserted into and removed from the outer container in a simple manner.

The outer container is preferably stackable, i.e. it is designed to be stackable with outer containers of the same generic type. This facilitates storage and transport. The outer container preferably has a conveying mass, i.e. it can be transported on conveyor belts of conveyor systems. This makes filling and transport easier.

In preferred embodiments, the insulating box forms an interior space for accommodating the goods to be transported, with at least part of the walls of the interior space being provided with lateral accommodating grooves which form at least part of the holders for accommodating the replaceable air-conditioning elements. Air-conditioning elements that are accommodated in the lateral receiving grooves preferably form new, essentially flat inner walls. The interior can thus be optimally filled and emptied because no elements or only very slightly protruding elements of the container protrude into the interior.

The interior of the insulating box is preferably provided with at least one pair of transverse receiving grooves, which divide the interior into at least two partial spaces that are open at the top. The transverse receiving grooves are preferably designed to receive a partition wall and/or a climate element, in particular a cooling element. The user can preferably choose whether to use a partition wall or an air-conditioning element. As a result, the transport box can be divided into at least two different areas or climate zones, for example a refrigerated and an unrefrigerated area.

Preferably, an upper portion of the interior space has a circumferential, upward directed edge provided in the form of a support edge for supporting at least one climate element covering the interior. As a result, the interior can be covered without the covering air-conditioning element having to rest on a vertical air-conditioning element, as is the case in the prior art.

The insulating box preferably has a rectangular cross-section with two long side walls and two short side walls, with at least two air-conditioning elements, preferably exactly two air-conditioning elements, being insertable into the holders along each long side wall, parallel to the long side wall, and with at least one air-conditioning element along each short side wall , Preferably exactly one air-conditioning element, can be inserted into the holder, with the air-conditioning elements extending over a substantial part of the surface of the long and short side walls.

The ability to use at least two climate elements per long side allows for a division into at least two climate zones. The ability to use exactly two air-conditioning elements per longitudinal side and/or exactly one air-conditioning element per transverse side facilitates filling, since not too much time has to be used to insert the air-conditioning elements. Furthermore, the use of relatively large climate elements ensures that the interior space or the subdivided area is optimally and evenly cooled. There are no protruding unused but insulating grooves for cooling elements that could form non-optimal cooled zones.

The insulating box preferably has notches on its outside for easier insertion into the outer container and for easier removal from the outer container.

Further embodiments are specified in the dependent claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figur 1

eine erfindungsgemässe Transportbox mit angehobenem äusseren Deckel;

Figur 2

eine Isolierbox der Transportbox gemäss Figur 1;

Figur 3

einen inneren Deckel der Isolierbox gemäss Figur 2;

Figur 4

einen Innenbehälter der Isolierbox gemäss Figur 2;

Figur 5

eine Ansicht des Innenbehälters gemäss Figur 4 von oben mit eingesetzten Kühlelementen;

Figur 6

eine perspektivische Darstellung des Innenbehälters gemäss Figur 4 mit eingesetzten Kühlelementen;

Figur 7

eine perspektivische Darstellung des Innenbehälters gemäss Figur 6 mit eingesetzter Trennwand;

Figur 8

eine perspektivische Darstellung des Innenbehälters gemäss Figur 7 mit aufgelegten Kühlelementen;

Figur 9

eine perspektivische Darstellung eines Kühlelements;

Figur 10

eine perspektivische Darstellung einer Trennwand;

Figur 11

eine Explosionsdarstellung der Transportbox gemäss Figur 1;

Figur 12

einen Längsschnitt durch die Transportbox gemäss Figur 1 und

Figur 13

einen Querschnitt durch die Transportbox gemäss Figur 1.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is described below with reference to the drawings, which are for illustrative purposes only and are not to be interpreted as limiting. In the drawings show:

figure 1

a transport box according to the invention with the outer lid raised;

figure 2

an insulating box according to the transport box figure 1 ;

figure 3

an inner lid of the insulating box according to figure 2 ;

figure 4

an inner container according to the insulation box figure 2 ;

figure 5

a view of the inner container according to FIG figure 4 from above with inserted cooling elements;

figure 6

a perspective view of the inner container according to figure 4 with inserted cooling elements;

figure 7

a perspective view of the inner container according to figure 6 with inserted partition;

figure 8

a perspective view of the inner container according to figure 7 with applied cooling elements;

figure 9

a perspective view of a cooling element;

figure 10

a perspective view of a partition;

figure 11

an exploded view of the transport box according to figure 1 ;

figure 12

according to a longitudinal section through the transport box figure 1 and

figure 13

according to a cross-section through the transport box figure 1 .

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

figure 1 shows a transport box according to the invention with an outer container 10 and an outer cover 11 which closes the outer container 10. The outer cover 11 is shown schematically. The outer cover 10 is usually a slip-on cover an appropriate transport lock or a hinged lid. The outer container 10 can also be closed securely for transport with other known closure mechanisms.

The outer container 10 and the outer cover 11 are usually not insulated. They are preferably made of plastic, for example polypropylene. The outer container 10 is preferably stackable, at least with the outer lid 11 closed. The outer container 10 preferably has dimensions that are optimized for a conveyor system with conveyor sections.

An insulating box 2 is arranged in the outer container 10 . It consists, as in the Figures 2 to 4 can be seen, preferably from an inner container 20 and an inner cover 21. The inner container 20 and the inner cover 21 are usually made of a particle foam, such as EPS, EPE, EPP, PPE / PS, or made of a similar foam.

The insulating box 2 has external dimensions that are smaller than the internal dimensions of the outer container 10, but which preferably allow the insulating box 2 to be arranged in the closed outer container 10 with almost no spacing.

The inner container 20 has notches 205 running vertically on its outside, which facilitate insertion into and removal from the outer container 10 . The bottom of the inner container 20 is preferably flat. It also preferably has at least one notch to facilitate insertion. This is in the Figures 12 and 13 recognizable.

The inner lid 21 rests on the inner container 20 . An outer edge of the inner cover 21 protruding downwards preferably encompasses an inner edge 200 of the inner container 20 protruding upwards and stands on a circumferential outer step 204 . This is in the Figures 12 and 13 good to see.

The inner cover 21 has a band 211 on each of two opposite sides. These can be grasped by hand in order to remove the inner lid 21 without the inner container 20 having to be lifted out of the outer container 10 . Before the transport box is closed, the two straps 211 are preferably placed in an upper groove 210 on the upper side of the inner lid 21 so that they correspond to the surface of the inner cover 21 does not protrude. this is in figure 11 shown.

The corners of the preferably rectangular inner cover 21 form corner recesses 212 . This also facilitates the positioning and removal of the inner cover 21.

The inner container 20 forms an interior space which, for example, figure 4 is clearly recognizable. Along the inner walls of the inner container 20, grooves are arranged in pairs, which serve to accommodate air-conditioning elements, here cooling elements, and/or partition walls. They extend from the bottom to almost or all the way to the surface of the inner edge 200. Lateral receiving grooves 202 are arranged in pairs on the same inner side wall. They end slightly spaced below the inner edge 200. The longer side walls form a bearing edge 201 projecting inwards at this end. A transverse receiving groove 203 is preferably arranged centrally on each of the two longer side walls. It preferably extends to the surface of the inner edge 200.

As in the Figures 5 to 7 is clearly visible, cooling elements 4 are inserted into the lateral receiving grooves. They extend vertically along the inner side walls and preferably together form an approximately planar surface which runs parallel to the side walls.

As shown in this example, exactly two cooling elements 4 are preferably arranged on each longer side wall and a single cooling element 4 is arranged on each shorter side wall. All cooling elements 4 are preferably of the same size, so that they can be introduced into the grooves as desired. A corresponding cooling element 4 is in figure 9 shown. It is preferably a flat body with a substantially rectangular cross-section. Indentations 41 are preferably present. It is preferably a container that can be filled via a closable filling opening, preferably made of plastic. It is preferably filled with water or a coolant. It can be cooled to the desired temperature in a freezer before use. Such cooling elements 4 are previously known. However, the dimensions are optimized for the inner container 20 . In addition, their size in combination with the insulating effect of the inner container. designed in such a way that they can ensure optimal cooling of the transported products even with longer delivery times. Compared to known cooling elements, they have a relatively large area and are relatively narrow. As a result, just a few are enough Cooling elements in a transport box.

As in figure 7 can be seen, the interior of the insulating box 2 can be divided. It can preferably be divided into two areas. A subdivision into three or more areas is also possible depending on the embodiment.

An element is pushed into the transverse receiving grooves 203 for the subdivision. The element is optionally a cooling element 4 and/or an insulating partition 3. The cooling element 4 preferably has the same size as the other cooling elements 4. The partition 3 is in figure 10 shown.

The interior of the inner container 20 can be covered with additional cooling elements 4 . These in turn preferably have the same mass as the other cooling elements 4. They lie on the supporting edge 201. The partition wall 3 preferably extends at least to the upper surface of these flat-lying cooling elements 4, as shown in FIGS figures 8 and 12 is recognizable.

figure 11 shows the elements described, with the exception of the partition 3, in an exploded view. the Figures 12 and 13 show the arrangement of the individual elements in the outer container 10, with no outer cover 11 being placed.

The transport box according to the invention is inexpensive, versatile and can be used several times. REFERENCE LIST 10 outer container 21 inner lid 11 outer lid 210 upper groove 211 tape 2 insulating box 212 corner recess 20 inner container 200 inner edge 3 partition wall 201 support edge 202 lateral receiving groove 4 climate element 203 transverse receiving groove 40 filling hole 204 Step 41 indentations 205 score

Claims (10)

Reusable transport box with holders for accommodating exchangeable climate elements, characterized in that the transport box has an outer container (10) and an insulating box (2) which can be inserted into the outer container (10) and removed from the outer container (10), the insulating box (2) is designed to accommodate goods to be transported, and that the holders are arranged on at least one inside of the insulating box (2). Transport box according to claim 1, wherein the outer container (10) can be closed with an outer cover (11) and wherein the insulating box (2) has an inner container (20) and an inner cover (21), the inner container (20) being connected to the inner Lid (21) can be closed. Transport box according to claim 2, wherein at least one strap (211) is arranged on the inner cover (21) for raising the inner cover (21) when the insulating box (2) is located in the outer container (10). Transport box according to one of claims 2 or 3, wherein the inner container (20) is constructed in one piece. Transport box according to one of Claims 1 to 4, in which the outer container (10) is designed so that it can be stacked with outer containers of the same generic type. Transport box according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the insulating box (2) forms an interior space for accommodating the goods to be transported, at least part of the walls of the interior space being provided with lateral accommodating grooves (202), which at least part of the holders for accommodating the interchangeable Air-conditioning elements form, with air-conditioning elements accommodated in the lateral receiving grooves (202) forming new, essentially flat inner walls. Transport box according to claim 6, wherein the interior of the insulating box (2) is provided with at least one pair of transverse receiving grooves (203) which divide the interior into at least two partial spaces which are open at the top, the transverse receiving grooves (203) being formed around a partition wall (3) and/or to include a climate element. Transport box according to one of Claims 6 or 7, in which an upper region of the interior is provided with a peripheral, upwardly directed support edge (201) for supporting at least one air-conditioning element covering the interior. Transport box according to one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the insulating box (2) has a rectangular cross-section with two long side walls and two short side walls, with at least two air-conditioning elements, preferably exactly two air-conditioning elements, being insertable into the holders along each long side wall, parallel to the long side wall and wherein at least one climate element, preferably exactly one climate element, can be inserted into the holder along each short side wall, the climate elements extending over a substantial part of the surface of the long and short side walls. Transport box according to one of Claims 1 to 9, the insulating box (2) having notches (205) on its outside for easier insertion into the outer container (10) and for easier removal from the outer container (10).

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