FR2695256A1 - Packaging for satellite TV dish - has two L=shaped strong cardboard holders upon which dish rests, with closing cardboard flaps - Google Patents

Abstract

The L-shaped packaging is placed in two opposite corners of a cardboard box. The two main section supports (13,13') comprise a rectangular hollow cardboard section. Each section has an opening (17,17') designed for the antenna dish to rest on. Flaps on the opening hold the curved shape in place. Once the dish is resting in place on the corners in the box, two flaps (20,20') are lowered into the holder position, so that the antenna width is held tightly in place. The height of the hollowed holder section is sufficient to clear the antenna dish mechanical fixing mechanism from the base of the box. Thus the dish is held firmly and securely in place in the packaging box. ADVANTAGE - Packaged satellite dish takes up less space. Is resistant to damage and less packaging materials are needed.

Description

The present invention relates to a wedge and a device for wedging a satellite dish antenna (or similar object) used during its packaging, its packaging and / or its presentation.

It is known that a parabolic television antenna comprises various parts or spare parts and in particular a parabola (relatively fragile member), a fixing device generally assembled on the convex face of said parabola, a bracket fixing generally in a U, a sensor , a swan neck linkage and various other accessories.

Of course, the satellite dish in question must be protected from impacts or shocks which may occur during handling, transport and storage operations occurring before its marketing and / or assembly by the user.

According to a known technique, the dish in question is first placed between two molded shells of expanded polystyrene each provided with a slit imprint the edge of said dish fits into said slot. The hulls are arranged opposite; the assembly is then placed in a box or box, generally made of cardboard, already containing, or capable of enclosing subsequently, a multitude of wedges with multiple shapes, capable of accommodating the various accessories of the antenna which has just been question. All of the wedges thus necessary for packaging occupies a very large volume during storage and its diversity limits the rationalization of the packaging chain where numerous operations remain essential. In addition, with such a system, the successive packaging of the various parts in geographically distinct places is made almost impractical and the resistance to stacking and impact is not entirely satisfactory. The realization of the complete packaging requires having various materials such as corrugated cardboard for the box or the box and shims of various shapes in expanded polystyrene, for example, most of which is difficult to recycle and also involves complex supply logistics.

Furthermore, in the majority of cases, it is necessary to carry out an almost complete unpacking of the assembly in order to present the satellite dish to its potential buyers.

This is why it proved highly desirable to be able to propose a wedging device, or support, for a parabolic television antenna enabling its conditioning and packaging under conditions ensuring good resistance to stacking and impact, offering, where appropriate, the possibility of adding, by simple operations, the various accessories and spare parts without adversely affecting either the setting of the parabolic antenna in question, or the visibility thereof once it is packed, device capable of being made of a semi-rigid material such as cardboard, and greatly simplifying the operations of the packaging line.

Of course, the main problem to be solved lies in the development of a wedge and a peripheral wedging device of a relatively fragile object, the surface appearance of which may be flat, convex and / or concave, of which the horizontal plane section at the support plane is on a curve and whose periphery has, at the support plane, a discontinuous area, or preferably continuous, and of reduced thickness. The curve on which the planar section in question is inscribed is most often substantially oval, elliptical or, preferably, circular.

In what follows, the object to be wedged will be designated by “object of substantially oval or circular section and the periphery of which has an area of reduced thickness”. A parabolic antenna is a typical representative of such an object whose section is substantially circular; other objects such as discs, dishes or plates, can also be protected within such a device.

The present invention therefore relates to a wedge wedge formed by 2 elongated hollow bodies forming an L, of substantially rectangular sections at least near the inner edge of the L dihedral, each of the inner longitudinal faces (12, 12 ') has over at least a portion of its length, away from said inner edge, a housing (6, 6') located recessed with respect to said inner longitudinal faces and away from the 2 parallel longitudinal faces ( 11, 13) and (11 ', 13') respectively constituting the bottom and the top of each of the hollow bodies said housing (6, 6 ') extending along said portion of length and having a height compatible with the thickness presented by the object to be wedged at its periphery.

Each of the housings is intended to sandwich a portion of the object to be wedged located at its periphery.

The present invention also relates to a device for wedging an object of substantially oval or circular section and the periphery of which has an area of reduced thickness, characterized in that it consists of a set of 2 wedges of angle similar, to have in 2 diagonally opposite angles a box or a box of rectangular or preferably square section, if necessary upside down, the bottom of each block resting on the bottom of the box, so that each housings (6, 6 ') of each of the shims in the final mounting position sandwich a portion of the object located on the periphery thereof.

 It should be noted that the wedging device according to the invention allows, in the mounting position within a box or a cardboard box, effective protection of the points of impact of the object, in a way suspended within it, on 6 faces (four sides, a bottom and a top) thanks to its housing system which ensures, in a reversible manner, as will be explained in more detail below, self-locking elastic locking.

The wedging device according to the invention is advantageously made of a semi-rigid material such as cardboard or corrugated cardboard, by assembling a reduced number of parts, each of the shims constituting it being able to be produced from a single plate of semi-rigid material suitably precut and provided with appropriate grooves (fold lines).

 It is not necessary to provide bonding or stapling operations, the wedges being able to be kept in shape by means of cutouts and locking tabs.

Other advantages and additional characteristics of the invention will appear on reading the following description of a preferred embodiment, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

 Figure 1 is a schematic top view of a satellite dish in position in the wedging device after mounting, the assembly being placed in a box or box before it is closed by a cover.

Figure 2 is a schematic section, along AA, showing the antenna in position in the wedging device according to the invention after assembly.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a wedge or support according to the present invention in an intermediate mounting position.

Figure 4 is a schematic section of one of the free ends of the wedge according to the invention in an intermediate mounting position, for example that of the element (X).

Figure 5 is a schematic section of the middle part of the element (X) of the wedge according to the invention in the mounting position.

Figure 6 is a schematic section of another of the free ends of the shim according to the invention in the mounting position, for example that of the element (Y).

FIG. 7 represents a block according to the invention in the developed state or a plate of semi-rigid material such as cardboard or corrugated card laid flat which, after assembly, forms a block according to the present invention.

In Figure 1, we see a box, box or carton (1) of substantially square section, a satellite dish (2) of substantially circular section and 2 similar wedges (3, 3 ') placed during assembly in 2 diagonally opposite angles of the box (1). Each of the corner shims (3, 3 ') has 2 elements respectively (X, Y) and (X', Y '), positioned at L and located in the aforementioned angles of the box (1).

If the elements (X, X ') and the elements (Y, Y') have different lengths, (X) and (X ') are preferably placed in parallel during assembly.

At the junction of one or each of the pairs of elements (X, Y) (X ', Y') can be provided a chimney (Z) and / or (Z ') opening onto the bottom of the box (not represented).

In Figure 2, we see in the mounting position the parabolic antenna (2) whose concave part is directed upwards and whose convex part optionally carries a fixing element (4) of said antenna (2 ). At each of its ends, the antenna (2) is held in suspension relative to the bottom (5) of the box, in a housing (6, 6 ') formed respectively within the elements (Y) and (Y') of so that neither its convex part, nor, where appropriate, the fixing element (4) comes into contact, even fortuitously, with the bottom (5) of the box.

Similarly, the concave part of the parabolic antenna (2) does not come into contact, even accidentally, with the cover wall (not shown) of the box.

In Figure 3, we see a block according to the invention in an intermediate mounting position, comprising an element (X) and an element (Y) positioned in L along a vertical outer edge (100). Each of the elements (x) and (Y) is an elongated hollow body of substantially rectangular section comprising a first top wall (11, vil '), an inner wall or face (12, 12'), a bottom (13, 13 '), an outer wall or face (14, 14') and a second top wall (15, 15 '), said second top wall being folded over the first top wall (11, 11') from the outer face (14, 14 ') and towards the interior face (12, 12').

The outer face (14, 14 ') of each element is intended to be brought into contact with the box or cardboard packaging along a side wall thereof, during packaging; the bottom (13, 13 ') of each element is intended to be placed on the bottom of said box during packaging. In element (X), the walls (12) and (14) form the two parallel branches of a U whose perpendicular base is formed by the bottom (13); each of the walls (12) and (14) also constitutes the base of a U whose parallel branches and rising perpendicular to said base are respectively constituted by the first top wall (11) and the bottom (13) and by the second top wall (15) and the bottom (13).

In element (Y), a similar provision is adopted. This provision will appear more clearly on examining the appended FIG. 4. In FIG. 3, it can also be seen that each of the elements (X) and (Y) comprises over a part of its length an intermediate bottom (16, 16 ') substantially parallel to the main bottom (13, 13'), directed towards the 'interior of the hollow body and substantially orthogonal to the interior face (12, 12'). The intermediate bottom (16, 16 ') originates on the wall (12, 12') at a sufficient distance from the edge (100) to ensure near the corner formed by the elements (X) and (Y) a zone of sufficient rigidity, capable of at least partially absorbing the shocks likely to be undergone by the top of the box or its cover during its handling and supporting the weight of the parabolic antenna. ) at the respective birth zones of the intermediate funds (16, 16 ') can be identical or different.

The contact between said intermediate bottom (16, 16 ') and the wall (12, 12') can be interrupted in the middle part of their contact edge to form on the one hand, at least one semi-rigid stop (18, 18 ') advantageously located in the plane of the wall (12, 12') and on the other hand, a recess (19, 19 ') in the intermediate bottom (16, 16'). In an advantageous variant, the surface of the recess corresponds substantially to that of the stop.

This intermediate bottom is intended to serve as a support zone for a peripheral part of the parabolic antenna (or similar object) during its packaging and to support the weight of the object, weight distributed over the 4 housings or wedges of the wedging device. Each of the elements (x) and (Y) has, over at least part of its height and length, an intermediate wall (17, 17 ') substantially parallel to the interior wall (12, 12') and to the exterior wall (14, 14 ') respectively; this intermediate wall (17, 17 ') extends from the upper part of the element towards the bottom of the latter over a height such that it can at least be held integrally with the intermediate bottom (16, 16') said element.

 The length of the intermediate wall (17, 17 ') is adapted to that of the intermediate bottom (16, 16'), however slight differences are acceptable. Thus, the length of the intermediate wall (17, 17 ') can be less than the length of that of the intermediate bottom (16, 16') to facilitate mounting when using folding techniques as will be explained in what follows. follows.

This intermediate wall is intended, in particular, to absorb, at least partially, the lateral impacts likely to be suffered by the box during its handling.

It is therefore advisable to provide a reasonable distance between the intermediate wall (17, 17 ') and the external faces (14, 14').

Each element (X) and (Y) is provided with a pivoting flap (20, 20 ') in contact with the second top wall (15, 15'), set back from the edge common to the inner face (12, 12 ') and to the first top wall (11, 1 1'); said flap is capable of pivoting around that of its 2 longitudinal edges, in contact with the wall (15, 15 ') and parallel to the aforementioned common edge. The pivoting flap (20, 20 '), shown in the open position in Figure 3 and in the closed position in the attached Figures 5 and 6, has a position of contact with the wall (15, 15') and a length such that in the closed position it can be easily inserted into the hollowed out part of the upper wall (15, 15 ') and form the upper face of the housing (6, 6') over most of the length of the intermediate bottom (16, 16 The pivoting flap (20, 20 ') comprises a succession of 3 pivoting flaps (respectively 21, 22, 23) and (21', 22 ', 23'); the flaps (21, 21 ') are respectively kept in contact with the second top wall (15, 15') of the element along one of their longitudinal edges around which they can pivot; the flaps (22, 22 ') are respectively kept in contact with the flaps (21, 21') along one of their longitudinal edges around which they can pivot, this edge coinciding with the longitudinal edge of the flap (21, 21 ') opposite that adjacent to the second top wall (15, 15'); the flaps (23, 23 ') are respectively kept in contact with the flaps (22, 22') along one of their longitudinal edges around which they can pivot, the other longitudinal edge of the flaps (23, 23 ' ) being free
In the closed position, the pivoting flap (21, 21 ') extends the top wall (15, 15') in the direction of the internal face (12, 12 ') and constitutes, together with the pivoting flap (23, 23') parallel branches of a U whose base substantially orthogonal to said branches is constituted by the pivoting flap (22, 22 '); the pivoting flap (23, 23 '), the intermediate wall (17, 17') and the intermediate bottom (16, 16 ') provide a housing (6, 6') which will receive a portion of the periphery of the parabolic antenna (or similar object) to wedge.

Of course, if it is essential that the height of the flap (22, 22 ') is less than the height of the intermediate wall (17, 17') left free between the top wall (15, 15 ') and the bottom intermediate (16, 16 ') or, if applicable, the upper edge of the semi-rigid stop (18, 18'), the precise length of the pivoting flap (20, 20 ') is not essential, subject to conditions sure that it does not exceed that of the intermediate bottom (16, 16 ') nor that of the hollowed out part of the top wall (15, 15').

In an advantageous embodiment of the shim according to the invention, the flaps (22, 22 ') are of rectangular shape and the flaps (21, 21') and (23, 23 ') are of trapezoidal shape, the longitudinal edge the shortest flap (21, 21 ') being in contact with the top wall (15, 15') and the shortest longitudinal edge of the flaps (23, 23 ') constituting the free edge of the flaps (20, 20 ') to facilitate positioning during assembly.

According to an advantageous variant, the width of the flaps (21, 21 ') is such that in the closed position, they complete the recess presented by the top wall (15, 15').

If the hollow bodies (X) and (Y) can be of different rectangular sections, it is advantageous that they are of the same section.

Elements (x) and (Y) can be of equal or different lengths. Different lengths can prove to be advantageous in that they allow empty spaces, of larger dimensions, in the angles of the box not occupied by a wedge, while continuing to ensure the correct setting of the parabolic antenna.

Although the elements (X) and (Y) may be similar, two different elements have been shown in FIG. 3. Indeed, in the element (X), the intermediate bottom (16) and the intermediate wall (17) are formed only on the middle part of this element; in the element (Y), the intermediate bottom (16 ') and the intermediate wall (17') extend to the end opposite the chimney (Z) of the hollow body (Y).

As indicated at the beginning of this specification, the block according to the present invention can be made of a semi-rigid material such as cardboard or corrugated cardboard, by assembling a reduced number of parts.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the shim according to the invention is produced from a single cardboard plate suitably cut and provided with fold lines so as to define the constituents of the element (X) and the constituents of the element (Y), the element (x) and the element (Y) being brought at right angles along the fold line (100).

In the appended FIG. 7, a pre-cut cardboard plate is seen comprising on either side of the fold line (100) all the constituents of the element (x) and all the constituents of the element (Y) d 'An example of a shim according to the invention, namely: - the first top walls (11, 11') - the internal faces (12, 12 ') - the bottoms (13, 13') - the external faces (14 , 14 ') - the second top walls (15, 15') - the intermediate bottoms (16, 16 ') - the intermediate walls (17, 17') - the stops (optional) (18, 18 ')
whose cutout will form during assembly
the recesses (19.19 ') - the pre-cut pivoting flaps (20, 20') - the trapezoidal flaps (21, 21 ') - the rectangular flaps (22, 22') and - the trapezoidal flaps with free longitudinal edge (23 , 23 ').

By successive folds at 90 degrees along the fold lines (101, 102, 103 and 104) the longitudinal hollow body (X) is formed as it appears after mounting at its end opposite the edge (100). It can be reversibly locked on the top by a cutting system (24) and tab (25) well known to those skilled in the art.

By successive folds towards the inner face (12) along the fold lines (106) and (107), the flap (20) is formed; the fold line (105) makes it possible to raise the flap (20) relative to the second top wall (15) when necessary.

The presence of the two hollowed out parts (26a and 26b), each juxtaposed, by one side along the fold (101), respectively to a flap (27a and 27b) cut over the entire part of its periphery distinct from its fold line respectively (108a) and (108b) allows, after folding the flaps (27a) and (27b) towards the inside of the hollow body, to form by successive folds along the lines (109a), (109b), (110) and (111) the intermediate bottom (16), the intermediate wall (17) and a portion of the first top wall (11). The element (Y) is formed by a succession of similar folds, an operation which will not be further detailed so as not to weigh down the present report.

 Close to the junction zone of the elements (X) and (Y), a recess (28) is provided on the one hand and two flaps (29, 29 ') on the other hand. These flaps of substantially rectangular shape have a length and a width such that after folding inward the hollow body along the fold line (112, 112 ') located in the extension of the inner end of the bottom wall (11, 11 '), when the wedge is laid flat, they can easily slide into the corresponding end of the hollow body facing inwards, after assembly.

The recess (28) and the flaps (29, 29 ') allow the square bending of the 2 hollow bodies along the fold line (100) directed towards the outside of the wedge according to the invention.

By the presence of a cutting system and of a tab close to respectively (24) and (25), the hollow bodies (X) and (Y) can be reversibly locked in their upper part located near the dihedron that 'they form among themselves.

An additional advantage presented by the wedge wedge and the wedging device according to the invention lies in the possibility of ensuring a suspension and a "soft" and somewhat elastic holding of the object within the housings (6 , 6 '), while ensuring the presence of a substantially rigid one-piece part in the corner of the L; this part can be compared to a beam.

Indeed, thanks to the articulations of the faces (16, 16 '), (17, 17') and (11, 11 '), the bearing face (16, 16') and the bottom wall (17, 17 ' ) can be "elastically" deformed under stress. Likewise, the flap (20, 20 ′) with articulated flaps ensures "elastic" maintenance of the object thus wedged.

Furthermore, it is possible, by choosing a suitable material such as a cardboard comprising a layer of grooves and a layer of micro-grooves, to obtain satisfactory rigidity despite the small thickness (of the order of 5 mm) . The L constituting each of the shims can thus be much more square.

Another advantage presented by the wedge and the wedging device according to the invention lies in the possibility offered, in the intermediate mounting position, to immediately position the satellite dish or similar object within it in this intermediate position, it it is preferable that the upper flaps (15, 20) and (15 ', 20') are not locked. Similarly, it is possible to present the essentials of the object after simple opening of the packaging and of the articulated shutters (20, 20 ′).

 Another advantage presented by the wedging device according to the invention lies in the possibility that it offers, during its assembly, of using the free ends of the hollow bodies to slide there various accessory objects, for example accessories of a parabolic television antenna, before placing the object to be propped up, and / or using the free angles of the box such as the chimneys (Z, Z ') of the angle wedges to accommodate accessory objects there, if necessary after placing the object to stall.

Claims (9)

1 / Corner block formed by 2 elongated hollow bodies forming an L, of sections  substantially rectangular at least near the inner edge of the  dihedral of L including each of the interior longitudinal faces (12, 12 ')  present over at least a portion of its length, away from said edge  interior, a housing (6, 6 ') set back relative to said faces  longitudinal interior and away from the 2 parallel longitudinal faces  (11, 13) and (11 ', 13') respectively constituting the bottom and the top of  each of the hollow bodies, said housing (6, 6 ') extending along said  portion of length and having a height compatible with the thickness  presented by the object to be wedged in its periphery.  longitudinal.  with which it is integral and articulated along one of its edges  elastic deformation, perpendicularly above said bearing face  b) a bottom wall (17, 17 ') rising, in the absence of stress and / or  its cover) are distant from each other, and  above the object to be propped and the upper wall of the packing box (or  distant from each other, and on the other hand, that the  such as on the one hand, the bottom of the object to be wedged and the bottom (5) of the box  bottom wall (13, 13 ') of each of the hollow bodies and situated at a height  a) a bearing or support face (16, 16 ') respectively parallel to the  each present  2 / Wedge according to claim 1, characterized in that the housings (6, 6 ') 3 / Wedge according to claim 2, characterized in that, in the position of  mounting, the housings (6, 6 ') each have a holding face  removable (23, 23 ') located above and substantially parallel to the face  support (16, 16 '), directed towards the bottom wall (17, 17') of each of the  housings, this retaining face constituting the flap, free in one of its  longitudinal edges, of a pivoting flap (20, 20 ') which further comprises  two flaps (21, - 21 ') and (22, 22') with double longitudinal articulation, the  flap (21, 21 ') having a longitudinal articulation with the wall of  top (15, 15 ') of the wedge and a longitudinal articulation with one of the  longitudinal edges of the flap (22, 22 '), the other longitudinal edge of the flap  (22, 22 ') coming to articulate longitudinally with the flap (23, 23').  corresponding upper part of said wedge.  has a height such that it forms an intermediate wall in the  that each of the respective bottom walls (17, 17 ') of the housings (6, 6')  4 / Wedge according to any one of claims 2 or 3, characterized in that 5 / Wedge according to claim 4, characterized in that each of the walls of  respective bottom (17, 17 ') of the housing (6, 6') is articulated, along its  longitudinal edge opposite to the bearing face (16, 16 '), to a flap (11, 11')  the other longitudinal edge of which is free and directed, in the mounting position,  towards the outer face (14, 14 '), said flap constituting the first wall of  above said wedge in its part located substantially above the housing  in question. 6 / Wedge according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that  that it is made of a semi-rigid material. 7 / Wedge according to claim 6, characterized in that it is produced by  folding in a manner known per se of a single plate of material  precut and suitably grooved. 8 / Device for peripheral wedging of an object of substantially oval section  or circular and whose periphery has an area of reduced thickness,  characterized in that it consists of a set of 2 wedges according to one  any of the preceding claims, to be arranged in 2 angles  diagonally opposite of a box or a box of rectangular section  or preferably square, if applicable upside down, the bottom of each hold  resting on the bottom of the box, so that each of the housings  (6, 6 ') of each of the shims in the final mounting position take  sandwich a portion of the object located on the periphery thereof.  sandwich a peripheral portion of the antenna.  (6, 6 ') of each of the shims in the final mounting position take  resting on the bottom of the box, so that each of the housings  or preferably square, if applicable upside down, the bottom of each hold  diagonally opposite of a box or a box of rectangular section  any of the preceding claims, to be arranged in 2 angles  characterized in that it consists of a set of 2 wedges according to one  9 / Peripheral setting device of a parabolic television antenna,