The present invention relates to a packaging for roof window installation elements, said packaging comprising a main body formed from a sheet material, such as corrugated cardboard, and comprising a base section adapted for supporting the packaging during unpacking, where a base plane extends in parallel to the base section. The invention further relates to a packed kit of installation elements.
Such a packaging is known from EP1710163A1, where a set of flashing elements for a roof window are organized within the packaging by some of the elements being attached to the base section by means of an adhesive or glue and by holders attached to the base section preventing some of the elements from moving in at least two directions. This packaging has worked very well, but it is not particularly well suited for smaller components. Moreover, it remains a problem that installation elements are sometimes used in the wrong order or combined wrongly or that some of the necessary installation elements are simply forgotten, particularly by less experienced installers.
A packaging better suited for containing smaller components in that it comprises at several compartments arranged side-by-side when seen in along the base plane is known from EP3385182A1. In this packaging one common outer lid covers all compartments and delimits an upper comparts. All other compartments are covered by secondary lids, which can only be opened once the common lid has been opened and the items stored in the upper compartment have been removed. This packaging has clear advantages with respect to ensuring that the items contained in the compartments are used in the right order, but the material consumption is high, which is disadvantageous both from an environmental point of view and from an economical point of view.
It is therefore the object of the invention to provide an alternative packaging for installation elements for a roof window which contributes to increasing the likelihood of the roof window being mounted with all the correct installation elements and in the right order.
This is achieved with a packaging according to claim 1, which comprises two or more compartments arranged side-by-side and several lids and/or lid sections each associated with one of these compartments, said lids and/or lid sections being configured for being opened one by one, and said lids and/or lid sections each being a part of the main body, where a first compartment being configured for containing installation elements for use in securing a frame of a roof window to a roof structure, and where a second compartment being configured for containing installation elements for weatherproofing a joint between a roof window and a roof structure, and wherein lids and/or lid sections are ranked in order of an intended opening sequence.
With this packaging all of the installation elements needed for the installation of a roof window can be delivered in one packaging, thereby removing both the risk of the installer picking a wrong combination of for example mounting brackets and flashing elements and the risk of some of the elements being forgotten.
The provision of separate compartments and several ranked lids or lid sections, each covering a compartment in a closed state, means that for example a compartment containing flashing elements, which are to be used in the finishing weatherproofing of the joint between the roof window and the roof structure, is not opened until the window frame has been securely attached to the roof structure. This not only reduces the risk of elements being used in the wrong order, it also reduces the risk of elements being lost, for example being dropped from the roof or blown away by wind while the installer is busy handling other installation elements.
By several, possibly even all, lids and/or lid sections each being a part of the main body, the amount of material used for the packaging can be kept at a minimum. Furthermore, the lids and/or lid sections each being a part of the main body means that they are visible to the installer in the state of delivery of the packaging, which may contribute to making it clear, what is contained in the packaging. This may not only help the installer pick the right packaging, but may also help him arrange the packaging optimal with respect to allowing the packaging to serve as a tool box for an installer when working on a roof with the installation of a roof window or a product associated therewith.
Each compartment may be covered by a separate lid, but it is also possible that one or more lids is/are divided into two or more sections, which can be lifted one by one. Lid sections may be separated by embossed lines or weakenings of the material, such as the material being partially cut through, these lines or weakenings allowing one section to be opened while the next stays in place. Lid sections may, however, also be separated simply by printed lines or other visual indications, along which the installer must cut or tear before opening a lid section.
Lines or weakenings may also function as hinges allowing an open lid or lid section to be swung open while another stays closed. Likewise, one lid does not necessarily cover a compartment entirely in a closed state, meaning that two or more separate lids may be used for covering one compartment.
In addition to the lids and/or lid sections forming part of the main body of the packaging, it is also possible to use a separate element serving as a lid or lid section. Likewise, it is possible to combine such integrated lids and/or lid sections with separate lids and/or lid sections.
The ranking of the lids or lid sections may for example be achieved by arranging them in a sequence so that the installer would for example be starting from the left-hand side of the packaging and opening one lid at the time until reaching the right-hand side. If using lid sections, the ranking may be decided by the direction of opening, allowing only one possible sequence.
It is, however, also possible to use a visual indication such as numbering, letters, arrows pointing to the next lid or lid section to be opened or the like. Such indications may be printed onto the surface of the packaging but could also be embossed or cut into the material of thereof. Alternatively, or as a supplement, tactile indications such as guiding lines having a different surface structure, projecting from, or being recessed in relation to the surface of the packaging could be employed.
The packaging may further comprise a third compartment being configured for containing installation elements for use in insulating a joint between a frame of a roof window and a roof structure. As such insulating elements will typically have to be installed before installation elements for weatherproofing a joint between a roof window and a roof structure, the lids and/or lid sections can be ranked so that the third compartment is opened before the second compartment. The indications “first compartment”, “second compartment”, “third compartment” etc. are thus not necessarily to be regarded as a ranking indicating an intended opening sequence.
In one embodiment, the first compartment is configured for containing mounting brackets and possibly fasteners for securing the brackets to a frame of a roof window and/or to a roof structure, the second compartment is configured for containing flashing elements for covering a joint between a roof window and a roof structure, and the third compartment is configured for containing insulating members for insulating a space between a frame of a roof window and a roof structure and possibly an underroof collar for spanning between a frame of a roof window and an underroof of a roof structure. This potentially allows for all of the installation elements to be used when installing a roof window to be provided in one packaging.
Generally speaking, the compartments of a packaging according to the invention may be configured for containing installation elements chosen from the group comprising: mounting brackets, flashing elements, cladding elements, covering elements, insulating members, an underroof collar, a vapour barrier, fasteners, and tools for use in the installation of a roof window or the making of an opening in a roof structure.
In one embodiment, the packaging further comprises a lock structure configured for hindering opening of at least one of the lids or lid sections as long as a higher-ranking lid or lid section remains un-opened. An example of such a lock structure is to make a portion of a higher ranking lid or lid section cover a part of a lower ranking lid or lid section so that the lower ranking lid or lid section can only be accessed after removal of the higher ranking lid or lid section.
It is possible to have at least two compartments arranged on top of each other when seen perpendicular to the base plane. In that case a lower compartment may for example be reached via a lid at the bottom of an upper compartment, which will only be accessible once the upper compartment has been emptied, the upper compartment thus serving as a lock structure. It is, however, also possible to provide a lid or lid section in a side section of the packaging extending away from the base section, so that a lower compartment may be opened from the side. When the lid or lid section providing access to a lower compartment is found in a side section it may be advantageous to provide the contents of the compartment on a drawer-like structure, such as a sheet of cardboard. In this way the entire content may be pulled out of the compartment relatively easily will still being located conveniently on a support surface.
In order to further facilitate the installation of a roof window, the packaging containing installation elements for use in the installation may further comprising at least one handle. This will make it easier to handle the packaging, not least when having to carry it onto a roof.
To reduce the risk of the installer cutting his hand or fingers on items inside the packing, such as for example sharp edges of flashing members, and/or to reduce the risk of items in the packaging falling out or being damaged, the handle may be attached to a main body of the packaging at a position, where the main body is substantially uninterrupted. In other words, the handle is a separate element attached to the main body rather than a bent-out flap of the sheet material of the main body.
In one embodiment the packaging comprises at least one fixation flap configured for coming into engagement with a roof structure. With this flap the packaging may be fixated in relation to the roof structure once it has been carried onto the roof. This helps if the packing is to serve as a temporary tool-box presenting the installation elements in an easily manageable way where they are easy to reach, and potentially also to serve as a secure place to put tools to be used during installation.
The fixation flap(s) may be a section or sections of the sheet material of the packaging, which is configured for being folded away from a main body, for example being separated from the rest of the main body by perforations such that it/they can be loosened by hand. A lid or lid section or a handle may also serve as fixation flap.
The/each fixation flap may comprise an opening, an embossment, a printed indication or the like adapted for assisting in the fixation of the fixation flap to a roof structure, for example being adapted for allowing a nail or a staple to be passed through the flap and into a batten or like member of the roof structure. One or more fixation flaps may be configured for engaging with a lath or the like at a side surface thereof extending substantially perpendicular to the plane of an inclining roof structure so that it/they contribute(s) to preventing the packaging from sliding off the roof under the influence of gravity.
In roof structures including rafters and laths for supporting a roofing material the distance between laths may vary depending for example on the roofing material used and local tradition. In order to allow the packaging to be resting securely on such roof structures, a plurality of fixation flaps and/or a plurality of openings, embossments, printed indications or the like on a/each fixation flap may be provided. This allows the installer to choose the one(s) matching the roof structure in question, leaving the rest un-used.
Regardless if the packaging is provided with flaps and/or handles or not, it may be used as temporary tool-box for an installer working on a roof, providing the installer with a safe place to put tools and other items.
It is also possible to use one or more compartments, which have been emptied, for storing trash, such bags, strips, and protective films used for protecting or keeping component in place during transportation of the packaging. When the work on the roof is done, the packaging can then simply be closed and taken down from the roof for recycling or disposal. In one embodiment, different rooms in the packaging is used for different types of trash, such as paper and plastic, thereby facilitating recycling.
A second aspect of the invention relates to a packed kit of installation elements for a roof window where the installation elements are arranged in three or more compartments of a packaging according to the first aspect.
A third aspect of the invention relates to a of providing a packaging for roof window installation elements.
Embodiments described with reference to the first aspect of the invention also applies to the second and third aspects of the invention and vice versa unless otherwise stated.
In the following the invention will be described in further detail with reference to the drawing, where
A packaging 1 for installation elements for a roof window is shown in
As is also seen in
Each compartment 10, 20, 30 is covered by a respective lid section 11, 21, 31 and a base section 7 forms the bottom of the packaging. The base section is adapted for supporting the packaging during unpacking and in
In this embodiment the lids sections 11, 21, 31 are sections of one piece of sheet material, which is configured for being interrupted along the lines seen on the top of the packaging in
Alternatively, the packaging could be provided with separate lids each covering a compartment so that it would not be necessary to separate one lid section from another before being able to open the respective compartment.
As may been seen in
In
In case more compartments are needed in order to facilitate the installation of the roof window, further compartments can be provided, such as a compartment marked “4” (not shown) containing an underroof collar and a compartment marked “5” (not shown) containing a vapour barrier.
Alternatively, a packaging like the one in
While the three compartments 10, 20, 30 of the packaging in
Access to the compartments 40, 50 in the lower level may be gained in different ways including using the bottom of a compartment in the upper level as a lid or lid section for a compartment in the lower level. As an example, the removal of the bottom of the compartment 20 in
In order to facilitate the opening of the packaging, one or more lids or lids sections may be provided with tabs 15, 25, 45 or cut-outs 56 as shown in
Tabs may further serve as lock structures configured for hindering opening of at least one of the lids or lid sections as long as a higher-ranking lid or lid section remains un-opened. In the embodiment in
The cut-outs 56 in lid 51 are here cuts, which are made in the sheet material from which the packaging is made, and which allow flaps to bent inwards into compartment 50, thereby creating an opening, which can be used as a handle. The cuts do not need to go all the ways through the sheet material. It may be sufficient to just weaken the material so that the rest may be broken by hand. Alternatively, a part of the sheet material may be cut away, so that a handle opening is present at delivery, thereby eliminating the need for bending a flap away.
In the example shown, the boxes to the left marked W, L, and J comprise a single compartment and contain three different types of flashing assemblies, i.e. installation elements for weatherproofing a joint between a roof window and a roof structure, for example the flashing assemblies sold by VELUX® under the product names EDW, EDL, and EDJ.
The boxes at the centre in
In the example shown with single-line arrows in
In the example shown with double-line arrows in
In the example shown with triple-line arrows in
Several other combinations of boxes are possible as will be readily understood by the skilled person, and it is to be understood that the combinations of compartments and the relative sizes of the compartments shown in
Boxes as the ones illustrated in
A packaging as the one shown in
In order to facilitate handling of the packaging it may be provided with at least one handle 6 as shown on the embodiment in
The packaging in
The first set of fixation flaps may be embodied in the same ways as described for the handle 6, i.e. as a separate piece of material attached to the main body of the packaging or as a bent-out flap. A lid or lid section such as the lid 51 in
The first fixation flaps may be provided with openings, embossments, printed indications or the like configured for assisting the installer in attaching the packaging to the roof structure, for example by providing a visual indication of how the respective flap is positioned in relation to a lath.
The packaging in
The second set of fixation flaps 72 are intended to project in between laths and to come into engagement with a side surface of a lath extending substantially perpendicular to the plane of an inclining roof structure 8 so that it contributes to preventing the packaging from sliding off the roof under the influence of gravity. In this case they are engaging with the lath marked 83 in
As the distance between laths vary depending for example on the roofing material used and local tradition, a plurality of second fixation flaps may be provided allows the installer to choose the one(s) matching the roof structure in question.
It is noted that the handle 6 and flaps 71, 72 described with reference to
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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PA 2020 70161 | Mar 2020 | DK | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/DK2021/050077 | 3/10/2021 | WO |