Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D85/00—Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials
  • B65D85/64—Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials for bulky articles
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D2585/00—Containers, packaging elements or packages specially adapted for particular articles or materials
  • B65D2585/68—Containers, packaging elements or packages specially adapted for particular articles or materials for machines, engines, or vehicles in assembled or dismantled form
  • B65D2585/6802—Containers, packaging elements or packages specially adapted for particular articles or materials for machines, engines, or vehicles in assembled or dismantled form specific machines, engines or vehicles
  • B65D2585/6845—Containers, packaging elements or packages specially adapted for particular articles or materials for machines, engines, or vehicles in assembled or dismantled form specific machines, engines or vehicles other household devices
  • B65D2585/6857—Containers, packaging elements or packages specially adapted for particular articles or materials for machines, engines, or vehicles in assembled or dismantled form specific machines, engines or vehicles other household devices domestic water storage heaters

Definitions

• Water heaters are products that do not currently benefit from an efficient packaging solution. Indeed, their general characteristics make them difficult to pack. As a matter of fact, these articles are large and long products, with a small footprint and a center of gravity located far from the footprint. In addition, some product technologies such as heat pump water heaters may require only vertical transport, making the product prone to falling; horizontally may be allowed but only on one side, without taking support on the heat pump head.
• plastic foam parts mainly polystyrene
• wooden board sometimes some wooden board and a cardboard box or plastic cover.
• the foam plastic parts are the link between the geometry of the product and the outer packaging.
• the packaging needs to be suitable for high articles, with a small footprint and a high center of gravity.
• a supporting foldable element for supporting an article, in particular having a cylindrical cross-section, the supporting foldable element being configured for being movable from a flat configuration to a folded configuration, and vice versa, wherein the supporting foldable element comprises a first portion defining, in the folded configuration, a receiving region configured to receive a surface of the article and a second portion connected to the first portion and defining, in the folded configuration, a supporting region opposite to the receiving region, wherein receiving region is formed as a consequence of folding up the first portion against the second portion.
• the present supporting element can be used for supporting an article in a folded configuration, this element being delivered flat and can be unfolded after use, limiting the space required for transport, therefore the environmental footprint.
• the present supporting element further offers a reliable packaging reinforcement on the sides of the product.
• the supporting element is a high-performance solution to absorb article shocks and is compatible with all phases of article use. In addition, it is an easily modifiable solution as it does not require major industrial tools.
• the present supporting element is made such that the vertical part exceeds the center of gravity of the article and the panels are sufficiently robust. This allows the article to be placed horizontally when packed and to be compatible with the following handling operations: horizontal storage, horizontal transport, horizontal toppling.
• the complete packaging of the product can be as follows: at least two panels on the sides of the article, a cardboard wedge under the product, a pallet under the product, a wedge assembly and a cardboard box globally covering the sides and the top of the product.
• the supporting foldable element extends longitudinally wherein the receiving region is located in an upper part of the supporting foldable element and the supporting region defines the length of the supporting foldable element.
• the receiving region can overlap, at least in part, the supporting region.
• the first portion is connected to the second portion at a connection point and the receiving region can extend between said connection point and a first point and the supporting region can extend between said connection point and a second point, wherein the distance between the connection point and the first point can be smaller than the distance between the connection point and the second point.
• the supporting region defines the length of the supporting foldable element, said length being greater than the height of the center of gravity of the article.
• the first portion comprises at least a foldable first panel and the second portion comprises at least a foldable second panel, a foldable third panel and a foldable fourth panel.
• the supporting foldable element in the folded configuration, can assume a three-dimensional T-shaped structure, wherein the receiving region is arranged transversally to the supporting region.
• the receiving region can have a curved profile.
• the first panel has a polygonal shape with a central aperture, the central aperture having in particular an oval or circular shape.
• the first panel can be foldable so that a first half of the first panel is folded up against a second half of the first panel to create a curved outline.
• the first panel comprises at least a first slot arranged on the second half and being insertable in a portion of the second panel.
• the first panel can comprise at least a first reinforcing flap arranged on the first half and being foldable against the second half.
• the first panel can further comprise a second slot arranged on the second half for receiving a first reinforcing flap, wherein in particular the first reinforcing flap is hinged to a portion of the central aperture and the second slot is located opposite to the first reinforcing flap.
• the third panel and the fourth panel have a polygonal shape each comprising a first sub-panel and a second sub-panel.
• the third panel and the fourth panel can comprise each at least an opening and the second panel can comprise at least two second reinforcing flaps, wherein the second reinforcing flap of the second panel is insertable in a corresponding opening of the third panel and of the fourth panel in the folded configuration.
• the supporting foldable element is a one-piece element made of recyclable material, in particular cardboard.
• the supporting foldable element can devoid of any polymeric material, in particular of polystyrene.
• the supporting foldable element can be composed of different types of material used as plates, e.g. cardboard, extruded plastic, foam board, cellulose sheet etc...
• the cardboard sheets can be of several types, such as honeycomb, corrugated, wood, laminated, counter-glued, etc.
• the foldable supporting element in the folded configuration forms a three-dimensional structure extending at least in part longitudinally along an external surface of the article and covering a distance between a third point and a fourth point, wherein the third point is located at the bottom of the article and the fourth point is located at the center of gravity of the article.
• the foldable supporting element can advantageously be shaped so that it can be inserted into other parts of the article or its packaging to ensure its position. Also, it can be shaped to accommodate other components, e.g. accessories or manual instructions.
• a packaging product for packaging an article, in particular having a cylindrical cross-section, the packaging product comprising at least an inventive supporting foldable element, at least a base element located at the bottom of the article and a containing box element for containing the article, the at least one supporting foldable element and the at least base element.
• the product comprises two supporting foldable elements arranged such that the receiving region of one supporting foldable element faces the receiving region of the other supporting foldable element.
• the product can comprise at least two base elements, wherein each supporting foldable elements is inserted, at least in part, in a gap formed between two consecutive base elements.
• a method for packaging an article in particular having a cylindrical cross-section.
• the method comprises: using at least an inventive supporting foldable element and folding said supporting foldable element in the folded configuration; arranging the folded supporting foldable element so that the receiving region faces a surface of the article; arranging at least a base element at the bottom of the article; and providing a containing box element for containing the article, the at least one supporting foldable element and the at least base element, wherein portions of the containing box element are flush with the supporting region of the folded supporting foldable element.
• the method comprises using two supporting foldable elements, wherein the folded supporting foldable elements are arranged equidistant from each other around the surface of the article.
• inventive supporting foldable element or of the inventive packaging product for packaging and article.
• inventive supporting foldable element or inventive packaging product is used for packaging a heating device, in particular a water heater device.
• Figures 1A-C show a representation of the supporting foldable element in the flat configuration and in the folded configuration according to an example.
• Figures 2A-C show a perspective view of the supporting foldable element and the packaging product according to an example.
• Figure 1 A illustrates the supporting foldable element 3 in the flat configuration. It is noted that this configuration can be provided before use and after use. Therefore, the supporting foldable element 3 can be easily transported and/or replaced in a storage space.
• the supporting foldable element 3 comprises a first portion 5 and a second portion 37 connected to the first portion 5 at a connection point 38.
• the first portion 5 is made of a foldable first panel 7 having a polygonal shape.
• the first panel 7 is square-shaped, or rectangular shaped, with an oval or circular central aperture 14.
• the second portion 37 is made of a foldable second panel 8, a foldable third panel 9 and a foldable fourth panel 10.
• first panel 7 is connected to a portion of the second panel 8 through a first fold line 11 at the connection point 38.
• a portion of the third panel 9 is connected to a portion of the second panel 8 through a second fold line 12 and a portion of the fourth panel 10 is connected to a portion of the second panel 8 through a third fold line 13.
• the first panel 7 of the first portion 5 is also provided with first reinforcing flaps 17 hinged at the central aperture 14. At least one first reinforcing flap 17 is arranged on the first half 15 of the first panel 7 and a second slot 34 is arranged on the second half 16 of the first panel 7 opposite to the first reinforcing flap 17 so that in the folded configuration, when the second half 16 is folded up against the second portion 37 to for the receiving region 4, the first reinforcing flap 17 can be inserted in the second slot 34.
• the supporting region 6 is formed by folding up the third panel 9 and the fourth panel 10 against the second panel 8.
• second panel 8 has a polygonal shape having a main sub-panel 19, a first lateral sub-panel 20 and a second lateral sub-panel 21.
• the first lateral sub-panel 20 is connected to a portion of the main sub-panel 19 through a fourth fold line 22 and the second lateral sub-panel 21 is connected to a portion of the main sub-panel 19 through a fifth fold line 23.
• the third panel 9 and the fourth panel 10 have a polygonal shape each comprising a first sub-panel 25 and a second sub-panel 26.
• Each first sub-panel 25 is connected to each second sub-panel 26 through a sixth fold line 27 and the second sub-panel 26 of the third panel 9 is connected to a portion of the second panel 8 through the second fold line 12 and the second sub-panel 26 of the fourth panel 10 is connected to a portion of the second panel 8 through the third fold line 13.
• the third panel 9 and the fourth panel 10 comprise each at least an opening 28 (in the first sub-panel 25) and the second panel 8 comprises at least two second reinforcing flaps 29 (in the main sub-panel 19).
• the second reinforcing flap 29 of the second panel 8 is insertable in a corresponding opening 29 of the third panel 9 and of the fourth panel 10.
• Figure 1C shows a configuration where the second reinforcing flaps 29 are not yet inserted in the openings 28 and the second sub-panels 26 are not completely folded up against the main subpanel 19 (for clarity reasons, the first sub-panels 25 are not drawn).
• the receiving region 4 is located in an upper part of the supporting foldable element 3 and the supporting region 6 defines the length of the supporting foldable element 3, wherein the receiving region 4 partly overlaps the supporting region 6 in the upper part.
• the receiving region 4 extends between the connection point 38 and a first point 39 and the supporting region 37 extends between the connection point 38 and a second point 40. It is noted that the distance L1 between the connection point 38 and the first point 39 is smaller than the distance L2 between the connection point 38 and the second point 40.
• Figures 2A-2C illustrate the application of the supporting foldable element 3 for supporting an article 2 and for packaging the article 2.
• the article 2 is for example a device with a cylindrical cross-section, in particular a water heater unit.
• two supporting foldable elements 3 can be used in the folded configuration. Accordingly, after folding each of the two supporting foldable elements 3, they are arranged so that the receiving region 4 faces a surface of the article 2.
• Figure 2A shows the situation where no article 2 is present
• figure 2B shows the situation where an article 2 is placed between the two supporting foldable elements 3.
• the two supporting foldable elements 3 are arranged one opposing the other and are inserted in a gap 35 formed between two base elements 32.
• the base element 32 can be for example a cardboard foldable element.
• the two supporting foldable elements 3 have the function of reinforcing the sides of the article 2 (i.e. , water heater) without the need of filling the packaging with plastic or foam.
• the foldable supporting element 3 in the folded configuration forms a three-dimensional structure extending at least in part longitudinally along an external surface of the article 2 and covering a distance between a third point 30 and a fourth point 31.
• the third point 30 is located at the bottom of the article 2 and the fourth point 31 is located at the center of gravity of the article 2. This allows a better stability of the packaging. As a matter of fact, this configuration prevent the falling of the article 2 during for example transport.
• the article 2 with the supporting foldable elements 3 and the base elements 32 can be arranged on a pallet element 36.
• the packaging of the article 2 can be completed with providing a containing box element 33.
• the containing box element 33 contains the article 2, the supporting foldable elements 3 and the base elements 32, thereby forming a packaging product 1. It is noted that portions of the containing box element 33 are flush with the supporting region 6 of the folded supporting foldable element 3.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Packaging Of Machine Parts And Wound Products (AREA)
• Buffer Packaging (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=80781001

Family Applications (2)

Family Applications Before (1)

Country Status (3)

Families Citing this family (1)

Family Cites Families (2)

• 2022
  • 2022-03-14 EP EP22161876.2A patent/EP4245691A1/de not_active Withdrawn
• 2023
  • 2023-03-01 WO PCT/EP2023/055224 patent/WO2023174698A1/en not_active Ceased
  • 2023-03-01 CN CN202380027840.4A patent/CN118891202A/zh active Pending
  • 2023-03-01 EP EP23707126.1A patent/EP4493489A1/de active Pending

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