FR3116051A1 - Double-walled insulated box - Google Patents

Abstract

Isothermal box (1) intended for the transport of a foodstuff, comprising a bottom (36) extended by a side face (37) and a lid (2), which are arranged so as to define a closed interior zone (4), the bottom (36) comprising at least one opening (35) intended for evacuation of a liquid from the interior zone (4), characterized in that the bottom (36), the lateral face (37) and the cover ( 2) comprise an inner wall (27, 42) and an outer wall (26, 41) enclosing between them a static gas layer (29, 43) so as to create an insulating layer. Figure 2

Description

Double-walled insulated box

The invention relates to the field of isothermal boxes intended for the transport of a foodstuff, such as fish in ice, a method of manufacturing such a box, and a retention tank.

Perishable foodstuffs, such as fish, are transported in insulated boxes filled with ice between the place of fishing and the place of sale, for example.

These crates, when they are reusable, are therefore transported full on the outward journey and then empty on the return journey. Thus, these crates must be able to be easily nested so as to limit transport costs when empty and must be able to stack easily on top of each other during transport when they are full.

In addition, these boxes must limit the melting of the ice as much as possible, i.e. have good insulation from the outside air. For this, it is known to use a layer of air enclosed between two walls so as to produce an insulating barrier.

Finally, these boxes must allow the evacuation of runoff from the foodstuffs themselves as well as from the melting of the ice. Indeed, some of these flows, also called exudates, can turn out to be toxic and must therefore not remain in contact with foodstuffs.

There is a known solution described in patent EP2085203 presenting an insulated box comprising double-walled side faces so as to enclose a layer of air serving as insulation and a bottom provided with openings intended for the evacuation of liquids.

The disadvantage posed by this box is to present a weak insulation related to the bottom realized by a simple wall.

The object of the invention is to remedy all or part of the aforementioned drawbacks by proposing an insulated box intended for the transport of a foodstuff, comprising a bottom extended by a lateral face and a lid, which are arranged so as to define an interior zone closed, the bottom comprising at least one opening intended for evacuation of a liquid from the interior zone, characterized in that the bottom, the lateral face and the lid comprise an interior wall and an exterior wall enclosing between them a blade of static gas to create an insulating layer.

The space between the inner wall and the outer wall of the bottom, the side face and the lid will be called “thickness”.

The box has openings on the bottom which connect the inner wall to the outer wall in a continuous way. In other words, the openings are created by evacuation channels positioned in a thickness of the bottom so that they connect the inner wall to the outer wall. Outside air cannot therefore enter the thickness of the bottom via the openings. The gas layer is trapped in a thickness of the bottom, of the side face and of the lid during manufacture. During use of the box, the gas layer is not renewed, nor mixed with outside air.

The openings have a size chosen so as to allow evacuation of the liquid while limiting the entry of outside air. Preferably, the openings have a diameter of between 1mm and 10mm.

Thus, the insulated box according to the invention has an insulating layer made of a layer of gas, which may be air, on all of these faces. Thus, the inner area is well thermally insulated.

According to one characteristic of the invention, the lid comprises at least one reservoir, arranged so that, when a first crate is positioned on a second crate, the at least one opening in the bottom of the first crate is positioned in manhole of the tank of the lid of the second case.

When the crates are loaded, liquid may leak from the interior area through the openings.

When two or more closed boxes are stacked on top of each other, i.e. when the bottom of a first box is positioned above the lid of a second box, the liquid flowing of the first crate is received in the tank provided on the lid of the second crate.

Thus, the liquid does not spread on the surface of the lid of the second crate. The second crate stays clean.

According to a characteristic of the invention, the tank is connected to an edge of the cover by means of at least one drainage groove.

The drainage groove makes it possible to guide the liquid present in the tank towards the edge of the lid, that is to say towards the side face of the box so as to empty the tank. The liquid is channeled into the drainage groove so that it does not spill all over the surface of the lid.

According to a feature of the invention, the drainage groove has a “V” shaped section.

The "V" shape improves the drainage of small quantities of liquid, while allowing efficient evacuation of larger quantities.

According to one characteristic of the invention, the side face comprises a guide groove arranged so that when the cover is positioned on the box, the guide groove is connected to the drainage groove.

The guide groove is used to guide the liquid flowing from the drainage groove along the side face of the crate. The liquid is channeled into the guide groove so that it does not spill all over the surface of the side face.

According to a characteristic of the invention, the guide groove extends over a height of the side face, that is to say between the lid and the bottom of the box.

According to one characteristic of the invention, when the first crate is positioned on the second crate, the guide groove is arranged so that the guide groove of the first crate comes opposite the reservoir or the drainage groove of the the second box.

Thus, when at least two closed boxes are stacked on top of each other, the liquid flowing from the first box along the guide groove is received in the tank or in the drainage groove of the second box. . The liquid can then flow along the guide groove of the second crate. In this way, the liquid can therefore flow along a stack of closed boxes to a retention tank positioned below the box furthest below the stack.

According to one characteristic of the invention, the outer wall of the cover has at least one positioning stud.

Thus, it is easy to position the boxes on top of each other so that the guide groove of the first box is opposite the reservoir or the drainage groove of the second box.

According to one characteristic of the invention, the inner wall of the cover comprises at least one bore arranged so as to receive a positioning stud for a cover of a second box when said cover of the second box is placed under the cover of the first box.

Thus, when a lid stack is made, the positioning studs fit into the bores of the lids positioned above so as to reduce the overall volume of the lid stack.

According to a characteristic of the invention, the at least one opening connects the inner wall to the outer wall of the bottom by means of an evacuation channel.

The evacuation channel is included in the thickness of the bottom of the box.

According to one characteristic of the invention, the gas layer of the cover covers an upper end and part of the inner wall of the side face.

The cover's gas layer therefore has a general "T" shape. Thus an insulating layer is present between the side face and the cover without presenting a thermal bridge. In other words, there is no break in the insulating layer between the side face and the cover. Body insulation is improved.

According to a characteristic of the invention, the bottom gas layer and the side wall gas layer are connected to each other.

In other words, the box does not include a dividing wall between the side face and the bottom. In this way, the box does not have a thermal bridge which would be created by the partition wall. Body insulation is improved.

According to a characteristic of the invention, the inner wall of the bottom is inclined in the direction of the at least one opening.

Thus, the liquid is easily evacuated from the interior area towards the opening and therefore towards the outside of the box.

The invention also relates to a lid of an insulated box according to the invention.

The invention also relates to a container comprising a bottom and a side face of an insulated box according to the invention.

The invention also relates to a method of manufacturing an insulated box, comprising:

• A step of making an inner container and an inner lid;
• A step of making an outer container and an outer cover;
• A step of merging the inner tray to the outer tray and the inner lid to the outer lid.

The inner tray and the outer tray have a complementary shape so as to fit into each other, while leaving a space between them which forms the insulating layer.

The inner tray and the outer tray each comprise a bottom permanently connected to a side face.

The fusion step consists of permanently bonding the inner container to the outer container and the inner lid to the outer lid. For this, you can use a glue or perform a weld for example.

According to a characteristic of the invention, a step of merging at least one evacuation channel of the inner tank onto an orifice of the outer tank.

The inner container comprises at least one evacuation channel on the bottom.

The outer tray comprises on the bottom at least one orifice positioned so that when assembling the inner tray in the outer tray, the evacuation channel fits into the orifice of the outer tray.

The outer tray and the inner tray can be made by plastic injection.

The outer cover and the inner cover can also be made by plastic injection.

The outer cover and the inner cover have a complementary shape so as to fit into each other, while leaving a space between them which forms the insulating layer.

The invention also relates to a retention tank comprising a base intended to receive at least one insulated box according to the invention, the base also comprising at least one collection groove leading to at least one collection reservoir.

In this way, the liquids flowing from the boxes positioned on the retention tank are guided into the collection tank.

According to one characteristic of the invention, the retention tank comprises at least one centering pin.

The centering pin makes it easy to position the boxes on the retention tank so that at least one guide groove of the box is positioned opposite the collection groove.

The invention will be better understood, thanks to the description below, which relates to an embodiment given by way of non-limiting example and explained with reference to the appended schematic drawings, in which:

is a representation of an insulated box according to the invention;

is a representation of the insulated box with the lid lifted;

is a representation of the body seen from below;

is a representation of the lid seen from above;

is a representation of the lid seen from below;

is a cross-sectional representation of the body;

is a representation of the body before assembly;

is a representation of two crates positioned on top of each other;

is a representation of part of the ;

is a representation of a stack of crate lids;

is a representation of a stack of crates without lids;

is a representation of a retention tank according to the invention;

An insulated box 1 according to the invention as shown in Figures 1 to 7 comprises two separate parts, on the one hand a container 3 formed by a bottom 36 integrally connected to a side face 37, and on the other hand a cover 2 Lid 2 can be positioned on tray 3, box 1 is then closed, or cover 2 can be lifted, box 1 is then open. When the box 1 is closed, it has a generally parallelepipedic shape defining an interior zone 4.

More specifically, tray 3 has an inner wall 42 defining inner zone 4 and an outer wall 41 opposite inner wall 42.

The side face 37 of the tray 3 comprises four sides extending parallel two by two, and which are inclined a few degrees towards the bottom 36. In this way, a stacking of the trays 3 when the latter are empty is facilitated as is illustrated in .

Each side of the lateral face 36 comprises on the outer wall 41 a locking zone 32 making it possible to fix the lid 2 on the tray 3 in a removable manner.

Two first sides of the lateral face 37, opposite to each other, comprise on the outer wall 41 gripping handles 31 making it possible to easily handle the box 1.

Two second sides of the side face 37, extending substantially perpendicular to the first sides, each comprise on the outer wall 41 two drainage grooves 34. The drainage groove 34 has the shape of a straight line extending over a height of the side , that is to say extending between a free end 33 of the side and the bottom 36. The drainage groove 34 tapers from the free end 33 of the side towards the bottom 36.

The bottom 36 comprises four openings 35 intended for evacuation of a liquid out of the interior zone 4. The openings 35 connect the interior wall 42 to the exterior wall 41 of the tank 3 in a continuous manner. In other words, the openings 35 are evacuation channels 31'' positioned in a thickness of the bottom 36 so that they connect the inner wall 42 to the outer wall 41.

The inner wall 42 of the bottom 36 is inclined from the center of the latter towards the openings 35 so as to facilitate the evacuation of liquids from the inner zone 4 through the openings 35.

Tray 3 is manufactured using a 3'' inner tray welded or glued to a 3' outer tray. The inner tray 3'' has four evacuation channels 31'' and the outer tray 3' comprises four holes positioned so that when assembling the inner tray 3'' in the outer tray 3', the channels of evacuation 31'' fit into the orifice of the outer tray 3'. The inner 3″ and outer 3″ trays fit together leaving between them a gas layer 43 so as to create an insulating layer.

Cover 2, as shown in , comprises an outer wall 26 opposite an inner wall 27 intended to come opposite the inner zone 4 when the lid 2 is positioned on the tray 3. An air gap 29 is trapped between the outer wall 26 and the inner wall 27 of cover 2.

The cover 2 comprises on the outer wall 26, four reservoirs 22, of circular shape. Each tank 22 is connected by means of a drainage groove 23 to an edge 25 of the lid 2. The drainage groove 23 has a straight line shape and a "V" shaped section.

In addition, the cover 2 comprises on the outer wall 26, six positioning studs 21 each forming a protuberance.

The cover 2 also includes six bores 28, as seen in , arranged to receive the positioning studs 21 of a second cover 2 when said second cover 2 is placed under a first cover 2 so as to form a stack of covers 2 as shown in . Thus, when the stack of lids 2 is made, the positioning studs 21 fit into the bores 28 of the lids 2 positioned above so as to reduce an overall volume of the stack of lids 2.

The cover 2 finally comprises on the outer wall 26 fixing elements 24 intended to cooperate with the locking zone 32 of the side face 37 so as to fix the cover 2 in a removable manner on the tray 3.

The cover 2 is manufactured by means of an inner cover 2'' welded or glued to an outer cover 2' as seen in and 7. The inner cover 2'' forms the inner wall 27 of the cover 2 and the outer cover 2' forms the outer wall 26 of the cover 2. The gas gap 29 has a "T" shaped section as illustrated in . In this way, the gas layer 29 covers an upper end and part of the inner wall of the side face 37. Thus an insulating layer is present between the side face 37 and the cover 2 without presenting a thermal bridge. In other words, there is no break in the insulating layer between the side face 37 and the cover 2.

When creating a stack of crates 1 as shown in and 9, a first box 1 is positioned on top of a second box 1. In other words, the bottom 36 of the first box 1 faces the cover 2 of the second box 1. The positioning studs 21 of the cover 2 of the second crate 1 allow easy stacking of the first crate 1.

When two boxes 1 are stacked on top of each other, the guide groove 34 of the side face 37 of the top box 1, that is to say of the first box 1, comes directly above the drainage groove 23 of the crate 1 from below, that is to say of the second crate 1. In this way, a liquid evacuated through an opening 35 of a bottom 36 of a crate 1 positioned at the top of the stack of boxes is guided from box to box via the drainage 23 and guide 34 grooves as far as a retention tank 5 positioned under the stack of boxes 1, as is visible on the .

The retention tank 5 comprises a base 53 provided with collection reservoirs 51 extended by collection grooves 52. When insulated boxes 1 according to the invention are positioned on the retention tank 5 according to the invention, the liquid flowing insulated boxes 1 through the openings 35, comes opposite a collection groove 52 and is directed towards the collection tank 51. In this way, the liquid does not spread over the entire base of the retention tank 5.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described and shown in the appended figures. Modifications remain possible, in particular from the point of view of the constitution of the various elements or by substitution of technical equivalents, without departing from the scope of protection of the invention.

Claims (12)

Isothermal box (1) intended for the transport of a foodstuff, comprising a bottom (36) extended by a lateral face (37) and a lid (2), which are arranged so as to define a closed interior zone (4), the bottom (36) comprising at least one opening (35) intended for evacuation of a liquid from the interior zone (4), characterized in that the bottom (36), the lateral face (37) and the lid (2 ) comprise an inner wall (27, 42) and an outer wall (26, 41) enclosing between them a static gas layer (29, 43) so as to create an insulating layer. Isothermal box (1) according to claim 1, in which the cover (2) comprises at least one reservoir (22), arranged so that, when a first box (1) is positioned on a second box (1) , the at least one opening (35) of the bottom (36) of the first box (1) is positioned facing the reservoir (22) of the cover (2) of the second box (1). Isothermal box (1) according to Claim 2, in which the reservoir (22) is connected to an edge (25) of the cover (2) by means of at least one drainage groove (23). Isothermal box (1) according to claim 3, in which the drainage groove (23) has a "V" shaped section. Isothermal box (1) according to any one of claims 3 or 4, in which the lateral face (37) comprises a guide groove (34) arranged so that when the lid (2) is positioned on the box ( 1), the guide groove (34) is connected to the drainage groove (23). Isothermal box (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the at least one opening (35) connects the inner wall (42) to the outer wall (41) of the bottom by means of an evacuation channel (31''). Isothermal box (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the gas layer (29) of the cover (2) covers an upper end and part of the inner wall of the side face (37). Lid (2) of an insulated box (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7. Tray (3) comprising a bottom (36) and a side face (37) of an insulated box (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7. Method of manufacturing an insulated box (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising:

• A step of making an inner container (3'') and an inner lid (2'');
• A step of making an outer container (3') and an outer cover (2');
• A step of merging the inner tray (3'') to the outer tray (3') and from the inner lid (2'') to the outer lid (2').

Method according to the preceding claim, comprising a step of merging at least one evacuation channel (31'') of the inner container (3'') onto an orifice of the outer container (3'). Retention tank (5) comprising a base (53) intended to receive at least one isothermal box (1) according to any one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the base (5) comprises at least one collection groove (52) leading to at least one collection tank (51).