FR2697809A1 - Isothermal box - comprises internal and external containers, one suspended on wall of other leaving free lateral space - Google Patents

Abstract

The double walled box has each of the walls constituted by assembling two containers (1,2). The internal container (1) has an edge (5) allowing it to be suspended on the wall (13) of a container (2) leaving a free space (22). The internal container has a shoulder (7) which is able to support the bottom (19) of a container (2). The bottom (9) of the container (1) has longitudinal ribs, in the bottom of which are drilled holes (10). The container (2) has holes (20) drilled in its lateral walls above the bottom (19). The lateral walls of the containers (1,2) slope upwards from the bottom. USE - Storage of perishable fish supplies and slowing down the melting of the packed ice.

Description

INSULATED BOX
The present invention relates to a double wall insulated box intended in particular, but not exclusively, for the storage and transport of perishable foodstuffs, such as fish, in ice.

We know that during fishing campaigns, fresh fish is placed in wooden or plastic boxes with a clear bottom. In order to avoid damage to the fish, they are covered with ice which gradually melts and the melt water flows to the bottom of the box. For reasons of space, the boxes are generally superimposed inside the holds. When the ice melts, the liquid that oozes from the upper cases. causes an accelerated melting of the ice in the lower boxes and the degradation of the fish stored there.

We must therefore renew the ice frequently and even despite this precaution, significant losses are noted.

The object of the present invention is to overcome this drawback and is based on the idea that the melting of the ice should be slowed down as much as possible by placing the fish or crustaceans in insulated boxes, as far as possible, from the ambient air.

According to the present invention, the double-walled insulated box is characterized in that each of the walls consists of a container, two containers being assembled by interlocking to form a box.

A first container constitutes a sort of internal lining while the second constitutes the support. This results in an advantage with regard to the consumption of material. Indeed, the first container can be of reduced thickness insofar as it does not support mechanical forces other than that of the weight of the content. On the other hand, the second container constituting the external wall of the box can be made of thick plastic material preferably made from recycled materials. Alternatively, the second container can also be thin-walled and non-reusable.

The first container can be, for example discarded after use, which significantly simplifies food hygiene problems while the second container is reusable a large number of times. The two containers are isolated from each other by a layer of air and, at the bottom by water from the melting of the ice.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear during the description which follows, of particular embodiments given by way of nonlimiting examples, with reference to the figures which represent: - Figure 1, an elevation view an internal container according to the invention; - Figure 2 an external container; - Figure 3 the assembly of an internal container and an external container; - fig.4, stacking the internal containers; - Fig.5, stacking the external containers; - Figure 6, the stacking of boxes according to the invention.

In the example which will be described, the containers have a general parralelipiped shape, and their side walls are inclined, from the top to the bottom by a few degrees so as to allow them to be stacked. Any other form can, of course, be used.

In Figure 1, which is a perspective view with vertical section, it can be seen that the internal container generally designated by the reference 1 has a hollow truncated pyramid shape. In practice, the width of the container is greater than that shown. It comprises two inclined longitudinal walls 3. At the upper part of the container, there is an outer rim 4, an upper surface constituting a collar 5 which continues with a substantially vertical wall 6 followed by a horizontal surface 7 whose inner end is common with the wall 3. The surface 7 constitutes a shoulder whose function will be explained later. Likewise, the lower external surface of the edges 4, 5 and 6 constitutes a housing 8 intended to allow the mounting of the container 1 on the external container 2.

At the bottom of the walls 3 there is a bottom 9 which has longitudinal grooves. In the bottom of said grooves are provided holes 10 intended to allow the flow of water resulting from the melting of the ice in the external container 2. The internal container 1 constituting a lining or internal lining can be easily thermoformed in a thin plastic sheet, for example made of polystyrene. It will be noted that the internal walls 3 are smooth, which is particularly advantageous in "envisaged application.

Figure 2 shows in perspective with vertical section an external container generally designated by the reference 2. It consists of a generally rectangular body with inclined side walls 13. The end walls do not appear in Figures 1 and 2.

The hollow body is extended at its upper part by an edge 18 and, optionally a rim 14. The longitudinal walls 13 are pierced, in the vicinity of their lower part with small orifices 20 intended to allow the flow of the fusion water of ice. The thickness of the external container which will have to resist the various shocks which a box has to bear, in particular on board ships is greater than the thickness of the internal container. This container is advantageously obtained by thermoforming of recycled plastics and the containers 2 must be able to ensure several rotations while the containers 1 are, in principle, used only once. They can also consist of expanded material from extruded sheets.

FIG. 3 shows, under the same conditions as above, the assembly of two containers 1 and 2. It can be seen in this figure that the internal container 1 is suspended by its flange 4, 5, 6 inside the container 2, the upper edge 18 of the container 2 coming to be embedded in the housing 8 provided for this purpose in the container 1. It results from this suspension that the side walls 3.13 are not in contact with each other and release a space 22 filled, at the origin, with air which ensures good insulation of the interior of the box 1,2 with respect to the ambient conditions. However, such insulation is desirable to delay the melting of the ice and maintain a constant low temperature in the body.

Notwithstanding this precaution, the ice will still melt, although more slowly. So that the food to be stored does not swim in the melt water, there are provided, as indicated above, in the bottom 9 of the container 1 holes 10 which allow the flow of water inside the external container . It is also pierced with holes 20 but on its side walls and not on its bottom. Thus, the water will not flow into the lower box, which would lead to the drawbacks reported with regard to crates with skeletons, but outside the stack of boxes. The height of the holes 20 above the bottom 19 leads to the formation of an insulating layer of water 21 in the bottom of the box as shown in FIG. 6 on which the ice is not represented, distributed between the layers of food The air contained in the space 22 formed by the walls 3 and 13, which may be parallel, is thus imprisoned.

Another problem which arises in this type of packaging is that of empty transport, which requires a large volume to transport a reduced weight. According to another characteristic of the invention, the containers 1 and 2 are stackable and the boxes 1,2 are stackable.

There is shown schematically: - in FIG. 4 the stacking of containers 1 which is permitted, as known per se, by the inclination of the side walls, - in FIG. 5 the stacking of containers 2 and - in FIG. 6 the stacking of boxes 1,2 after filling with the foodstuffs to be stored (not shown).

The containers 1 and 2 can thus be transported, empty, in stacks, the assembly of the box 1,2, being carried out just before filling with ice and the products to be stored. As shown in Figure 6 a box 1,2 rests by its bottom 19 on the shoulder 7 of the lower box. Thanks to this arrangement, perfectly stable batteries are thus obtained. In addition, the forces due to the weight of the different boxes are taken up by the edges and transmitted to the walls 13 of the external containers. Furthermore, it can be seen that, given the level of the holes 20, the melt water flows over the flanges 5 and does not melt the ice found in the lower cases. If necessary, it is of course possible to cover the upper box with a cover (not shown) whose configuration is the same as that of the bottom 19 of the external containers.

 It goes without saying that many variants can be made, in particular by substitution of technically equivalent means, without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (1)

 10 Insulated transport and handling box with double wall, characterized in that each of the walls is constituted by a container (1,2), two containers being assembled to constitute a box.  2 "Box according to claim 1, characterized in that the internal container (1) comprises a flange (4 to 7) allowing its suspension on the wall (13) of a container (2). By clearing a space (22) .  3 Box according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the internal container (1) has a shoulder (7) which can receive the bottom (19) of a container (2).  4 "Box according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bottom (9) of the container (1) has longitudinal ribs in the bottom of which are drilled holes (10).  5 Box according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the container (2) is pierced with holes (20) in its side walls (13), above the bottom (19).  6 "Box according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the side walls of the containers (1,2) are inclined from top to bottom.