NZ500365A - Rectangular panel for a container divided into at least three panel parts with one part for forming top and other two for forming front - Google Patents

Abstract

Panel 1 is formed of rectangular self-supporting material, typically fluted cardboard. The panel consists of at least three portions: top 17 and two front parts 15, 16. Parallel fold lines 10,11,12 are formed so that passageways 5 are continuous after folding to the use positions. The front panel is readily foldable back to allow inspection and re-closing.

Description

Patents Fo-rm # 5 NEW ZEALAND Patents Act 1953 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION AFTER PROVISIONAL # : 500365 DATED : 18 October 1999 TITLE : Improvements in or relating to a panel and/or a container and/or a method of forming at least part of a container We, QPod Systems Limited Address. Unit B/218 Mama Rd, Mt Wellington, Auckland, New Zealand Nationality: A New Zealand company do hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly descnbed in and by the following statement: k't 1.. '00-f&L PF05 JWP FEE CODE 1050 t,r.i r\> .U'il.Ji LH. intellectual property office of nz. ■f— rii,fcfciiT( 00G015q 000 1 FOLDING PANEL ACCESS SYSTEM TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a panel and/or a container utilising such panel and/or a method of forming at least part of a container and has been devised particularly though not necessarily solely for use m forming containers for example as shown m PCT specifications PCT/NZ95/00017 and PCT/NZ95/00018.

BACKGROUND ART It is a significant requirement for the international shipment of containers including containers of the types descnbed m the above PCT patent specifications that cross border authorities must be able to access the container to inspect its cargo. It is highly desirable that the container particularly of the type descnbed above, not be fully dissembled in order to achieve the inspection. Full disassembly of the container for inspection is time consuming and therefore costly and also there is a high risk that the inspectors will not reposition the packaging components correctly. Thus the operating performance of the container could be adversely affected thus reducing the quality of the cargo. This problem would be worsened if the container needed to be transported after inspection. Transportation after inspection would not be unusual as inspection normally takes place at the port of entry or at the importers' bonded premises.

Where the container is formed by fluted cardboard panels to provide channels for the movement of cooling or heating air then the panels must be able to be configured in a way that is compatible with standard pallet sizes to allow transportation and storage. 500365 intellectual property on ice of n.z. 1 2 SEP 2001 U E C E § ¥ E 0 This invention relates to a panel and/or a container utilising such panel and/or a method of forming at least part of a container and has been devised particularly though not necessarily solely for use in forming containers for example as shown in PCT specifications 5 PCT/NZ95/00017 andPCT/NZ95/00018.

It is a significant requirement for the international shipment of containers including containers of the types descnbed in the above PCT patent specifications that cross border authorities must be able to access the container to inspect its cargo. It is highly desirable that the container particularly of the type described above, not be fully dissembled in order to 10 achieve the inspection. Full disassembly of the container for inspection is time consuming and therefore costly and also there is a high risk that the inspectors will not reposition the packaging components correctly. Thus the operating performance of the container could be adversely affected thus reducing the quality of the cargo. This problem would be worsened if the container needed to be transported after inspection. Transportation after inspection 15 would not be unusual as inspection normally takes place at the port of entry or at the importers' bonded premises.

Where the container is formed by fluted cardboard panels to provide channels for the movement of cooling or heating air then the panels must be able to be configured in a way that is compatible with standard pallet sizes to allow transportation and storage.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a panel and/or a container and/or a method of forming at least part of a container which will go at least some way towards meeting the foregoing requirements in a simple yet effective manner or which will at least provide the public with a useful choice.

Accordingly in one aspect the invention may broadly be said to consist in a panel, the panel 25 being substantially rectangular, formed of self supporting material, and including longitudinal passageways therein through which a gas can move in use, at least two spaced apart substantially parallel fold lines being formed across the panel so that the panel is divided into at least three panel parts, the panel being of a size such that, in use, one panel part can substantially form a top cover of a container and two panel parts can form a front 00G015qcapl CW/jq 500365 1 2 SEP 2001 intellectual property office of nz.

R E (5 E S ¥ E D panel for a container, the construction of the panel parts being such that when in use the passageways are substantially continuous notwithstanding that the passageways pass across a fold line.

A panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein three fold lines are provided across the panel to 5 provide four panel parts, one of the panel parts forming, in use, the rear panel of a container, and the passageways, in use being substantially continuous across the back panel part, top panel part, and each front panel part.

A panel as claimed in either claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the panel is formed by at least a pair of spaced apart facing sheets and a core therebetween, the core containing the passageways.

A panel as claimed in claim 3, wherein the core is formed by fluted cardboard material.

A panel as claimed in either claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the sheets include inner and outer sheets, the inner sheet and core being cut away to form the fold line on one side of a front panel and the outer sheet and core panel being cut through to form the fold line on the other side of that panel.

A panel as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the length of the front panel parts is such that, in use, the front panel part having fold lines at each end thereof is substantially smaller in length than the other front panel part.

A panel as claimed in claim 6, wherein the smaller front panel part provides approximately thirty percent (30%) of the length of the front panel parts.

A panel substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

A container including a panel, the panel being formed according to any one of the preceding claims.

A container substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

A method of forming at least part of a container comprising the steps of providing a self 25 supporting sheet of material having inner and outer sheets of matenal separated by a core material, the core matenal having longitudinal air passageways therein, forming substantially 00G015qcapl CW/jq intellectual property i 500365 H™ 3a [ ^ IS (0 E i!¥E 0 ) parallel fold lines in the sheet of material in a manner such that the panel includes at least three panel parts, one of which comprises a top container panel part and two of which contain front container panel parts, the fold line between the top panel part and the adjacent front panel part having the inner facing sheet and core cut away and the fold line between the two front panel parts having the outer panel and core panel substantially cut through. 00G015qcapl CW/jq OOGO!5q 000 4 Figures 4 to 9 are cross-sectional views of a container as in Figures 2 and 3 showing the steps required to inspect the contents of the container.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTON Referring now to the drawings, a panel 1 is provided which has at least two and preferably three transverse fold lines dividing the panel 1 into a plurality of panel parts.

The panel is formed from self supporting material and may be formed from cardboard or other matenal so as to provide a pair of facing panels 2 and 3 separated by a core 4. The core may be formed, for example, from fluted cardboard material. In any event the core is provided with 10 longitudinal passageways 5 through which a gas usually air, is blown. In the prefered form of the invention fold lines are provided at 10, 11 and 12. This enables panel parts 15, 16, 17 and 18 to be provided. The construction provides at least the front and top of a container and preferably the front, top and back. A construction without panel 18 and fold line 12 would provide the double front panels 15 and 16 for the purpose hereinafter described but would not 15 necessanly provide a continuous gas path from front to back as hereinafter described. The sides are provided as will be descnbed further hereinafter.

In order to obtain the correct fitting of the panel 1 in the construction, the fold line 11 is formed by cutting through the outer facing sheet 3 and core 4 preferably m the form of a "V" shape so that when the panel parts 16 and 17 come together as shown m Figure 2, there is a close fit of 20 those panel parts when the panel parts are substantially at 90° one to the other. In relation to the fold line 10 however the outer sheet 3 and core 4 are cut through so that the panel parts 15 and 16 have a close fit when they he substantially m the same plane. This enables the flutes or other air passageways within the core 4 to form a substantially continuous passageway from the bottom back of the container to the top back across the top and down the front of the container 25 to the bottom front. 00G015q 000 The sides 19 and 20 of the container are formed of a similar fluted cardboard or other device providing air passageways which only have a pair of score lines at the top sides so that in use either the back top front panel overlies the side top side panel at the top or vice versa.

The construction is arranged to be positioned on a pallet 25 which may contain for example, 5 refrigeration and/or heating equipment and also an air mover such as a fan. The pallet 25 is arranged such that air may be blown up one side of the container across the top and down the other side and up, for example the back, across the top and down the front or vice versa so as to circulate air through the heating or cooling means within the pallet 25. Air flow passageways ^ are shown in Figure 4 which shows a pallet 25, the panels 15, 16, 17 and 18 in a closed position 10 and a surrounding insulation having back panels 30, front panel 31 and top panel 32. Corresponding side panels would also be provided.

In Figure 5 the front panel 31 and top panel 32 of the insulation have been removed and in Figure 6 the front panels formed by panel parts 15 and 16 have begun to be open. The opening steps have continued in Figure 7 until in Figure 8 the front panel parts 15 and 16 are positioned 15 above the top panel 17 and indeed may rest thereupon. Inspection of the contents of the container may then be earned out.

In Figure 9 the front panel parts 15 and 16 have been suspended and supported on the front insulation panel 31 whilst the top insulation panel 32 has been replaced. The front insulation ^ panel part 31 may then be taken away and the front panel parts 15 and 16 returned to the 20 position of Figure 5. The front insulation panel 31 may then be replaced as in Figure 4, the container resealed and shipped or stored as desired.

Thus it can be seen that a panel and/or a container and/or a method of forming at least part of a container are provided which has the advantage that the container may be readily opened requiring the cutting of a minimum number of seals such as tape placed at the intersections of 25 the panels forming the container in a way such that the container may be opened without substantially affecting the integnty of the container and in which generally produce will not need to be removed. If produce is removed clear guidance is provided by the walls of the container as OOGO!5q 000 6 to how the container should be refilled. The container can be re-enclosed in a simply yet effective manner.

Also in particular the panel forming the front top and back of the container is able to be folded in a simple manner m a way that the folded down panel is compatible with standard pallet sizes. This is possible as the front top and back is able to be folded down into a three layer construction wherein part of the front panel in the folded down form lies substantially co-planar with the top panel. Without this facility the front panel could not be placed within the boundary of the back panel and the folded down panel would be somewhat greater in length. 590365

Claims (11)

CLAIMS: intellectual property office of n.z. 1 2 SEP 2001 £3 E G EIIV E ID

1. A panel, the panel being substantially rectangular, formed of self supporting matenal, and including longitudinal passageways therein through which a gas can move in use, at least two spaced apart substantially parallel fold lines being formed across the panel 5 so that the panel is divided into at least three panel parts, the panel being of a size such that, in use, one panel part can substantially form a top cover of a container and two panel parts can form a front panel for a container, the construction of the panel parts being such that when m use the passageways are substantially continuous notwithstanding that the passageways pass across a fold line. 10

2. A panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein three fold lines are provided across the panel to provide four panel parts, one of the panel parts forming, in use, the rear panel of a container, and the passageways, m use being substantially continuous across the back panel part, top panel part, and each front panel part.

3. A panel as claimed in either claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the panel is formed by at least 15 a pair of spaced apart facing sheets and a core therebetween, the core containing the passageways.

4. A panel as claimed in claim 3, wherein the core is formed by fluted cardboard material.

5. A panel as claimed m either claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the sheets include inner and outer sheets, the inner sheet and core being cut away to form the fold line on one side 20 of a front panel and the outer sheet and core panel being cut through to form the fold line on the other side of that panel.

6. A panel as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the length of the front panel parts is such that, in use, the front panel part having fold lines at each end thereof is substantially smaller in length than the other front panel part. 25

7. A panel as claimed in claim 6, wherein the smaller front panel part provides approximately thirty percent (30%) of the length of the front panel parts.

8. A panel substantially as herein descnbed with reference to the accompanying drawings. 00G015qcapl CW/jq 50 1 2 SEP M( 8 | KE0ESVEB

9. A container including a panel, the panel being formed according to any one of the preceding claims.

10. A container substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

11. A method of forming at least part of a container comprising the steps of providing a self supporting sheet of material having inner and outer sheets of material separated by a core material, the core material having longitudinal air passageways therein, forming substantially parallel fold lines in the sheet of material in a manner such that the panel includes at least three panel parts, one of which comprises a top container panel part and two of which contain front container panel parts, the fold line between the top panel part and the adjacent front panel part having the inner facing sheet and core cut away and the fold line between the two front panel parts having the outer panel and core panel substantially cut through. QPod Systems Limited 00G015qcapl CW/jq