GB2213925A

GB2213925A - Insulating containers

Info

Publication number: GB2213925A
Application number: GB8900842A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Crake Simpson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1988-01-16
Filing date: 1989-01-16
Publication date: 1989-08-23
Also published as: GB8800971D0; GB8900842D0

Abstract

An insulating container of synthetic plastics material is manufactured by forming in the same or different synthetic plastics materials respective outer and inner shell (1, 4), each of which has an aperture in its upper region to allow access to its contents, at least the outer shell being open at its lower end, the inner shell (4) being somewhat smaller than the outer shell (1) but of generally similar outline shape, locating the inner shell within the outer shell by means of interengaged edges (5) in the respective shells, introducing a liquid insulant into the space between the shells, and fitting a base (7) for the container over the open lower end of the outer shell. <IMAGE>

Description

Insulating taIner The present invention relates to insulating conveners, among which may be mentioned containers for keeping their contents warm and also containers for keeping relatively cold contents, for example ice, cool in warmer surroundings.

In numerous cammercial and industrial contexts, for example in the catering industry and in shops and hotels, substantial quantities of ice need to be kept cool in containers which allow ready access to their contents. For example, ice bins are available which may be of the order of 1 metre square in dimension, for containing ice in a hotel kitchen or bar. Ice bins of this sort have until. now usually been made in stainless steel.

Inevitably such containers are quite expensive. It would be advantageous to make such containers in a rrore readily available material, for example a synthetic plastics material of sate sort, but until now no convenient method of constructing such insulating containers in an economical way has been devised.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for the manufacture of an insulating container in synthetic plastics materials, which method displays advantages relative to prior such methods.

The method according to the present invention comprises forming respective outer and inner shells, each of which has an aperture in its upper region to allow access to its contents, at least the autereiIbein open at its lower end, the inner shell being somewhat smaller than the outer shell but of generally similar outline shape, locating the inner shell within the outer shell by means of interengaged edges in the respective shells, introducing a liquid insulant into the space between the shells, and fitting a ~zLCP for the container over the open lower end of the outer shell.

The inner and outer shells may be formed in the same or different materials but, as a matter of convenience, it is preferred to use the same plastics material for both shells.

A range of such materials may be used, including polythene, polypropylene, PVC and polyesters. however, especially in the case of relatively large containers, it is preferred to form the shells in glass-reinforced plastics materials (GRP's),which may readily be shaped around suitable formers.

The insulating fluid may very conveniently be a polyurethane precursor in a fluid state, which cures in situ to form a foamed, solid insulating filling. A solid polyurethane foam of this type has the additional advantage that it imparts extra strength to the finished container.

After the insulating material has been inserted, a suitable base is applied over the open end of the outer shell. The base may conveniently be in the same material as the two shells. The space between the base and the inner shell may then similarly be filled with appropriate insulating material, usually the sarre as the material inserted between the shells.

The invention will now be further described by reference to the acxxlqpanying drawing, which illustrates, in perspective view, a preferred entxxldment of the insulating container according to the present invention.

The illustrated container comprises an outer shell 1, which is generally rectangular in plan but is open at the bottan and has twn apertures 2 and 3 in its upper region. The e shell 1 is formed in glass-reinforced plastics material. A second shell 4, which is generally similar in outline to the shell 1 but is closed at its lower end, is also formed in glass-reinforced plastics material.

In constructing the container, the inner and outer shells 1 and 4 are inverted and the shell 4 is placed within the shell 1.

An in-turned lip 5 surrounding the aperture 3 of the shell 1 engages the upper end of the shell 4 and locates the two shells in uniform spaced relationship. A polyurethane foam precursor in a fluid condition is poured into the space between the shells, where it hardens to form a solid insulating layer 6.

A base 7, also of glass-reinforced plastics material, is now secured by means of an adhesive resin over the open lower end of the shell 1 and the resulting space been the base 7 and the inner shell 4 is filled with further polyurethane foam, injected via holes in the base 7.

When the -construction of the shape has been largely completed in this way, a flap or door 8 to afford access to the contents of the container is fitted over the aperture 2 on metal pivots 9, 9 and an ice-making machine is mounted upon the upper end of the container above the aperture 3.

Claims

1. A method of maxiufacturing an insulating container, comprising forming in the same or different synthetic plastics materials respective outer and inner shells, each of which has an aperture in its upper region to allow access to its contents, at least the outer shell being open at its lower end, the inner shell being somewhat smaller than the outer shell but of generally similar outline shape, locating the inner shell within the outer shell by means of interengaged edges in the respective shells, introducing a liquid insulant into the space between the shells, and fitting a base for the container over the open lower end of the outer shell.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outer and inner shells are both formed in glass-reinforced plastics materials.

3. A method as claimed in either of claims 1 and 2, wherein the mutual locating of the two shells is effected by means of interengaged edges surrounding matching apertures in the respective shells.

4. A method as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein each of the shells has two apertures in the upper region thereof and the apertures in the respective shells both coincide.

5. A method as claimed in claim 4, wherein an iceiraking machine is fitted over one pair of said coinciding apertures.

6. A method as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the liquid insulant is one which cures in situ to fozin a foamed solid insulant.

7. A method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the liquid insulant is a polyurethane precursor.

8. A method as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein, after the base has been fitted, a further quantity of liquid insulant is introduced into the space between the base and the inner shell.

9. S method of manufacturing an insulating container, which method is substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

10. An insulating container of synthetic plastics material, when produced by a process as claimed in any of the preceding claims.