Patent Application
20230322469
This patent application claims priority to German utility patent application number 20 2022 101 931.2 filed Apr. 11, 2022 and titled “insert for holding an insulating material of a transport container”. The subject matter of patent application number 20 2022 101 931.2 is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
Not Applicable.
Not Applicable.
The present invention relates to an insert for holding an insulating material of a transport container. The invention pertains to the technical field of insulation of containers for holding products, in particular for transport with minimal temperature fluctuations. Particular focus is placed on the thermal insulation of the containers.
Thermal insulation is the reduction of the passage of thermal energy through a casing in order to protect a space or a body from cooling or heating.
It is known from the prior art to provide insulation containers for holding or receiving temperature-sensitive products, which are equipped with at least one insulation element. This insulation element is connected via at least two connecting surfaces to form an insulation container. The insulation containers consist, for example, of boards or plates which are interconnected to thereby create stable insulation containers. Such containers provide passive thermal protection for valuable temperature-sensitive products, such as pharmaceuticals. This is particularly important because the standards for storage and transport of for example products are very high and must be demonstrably maintained throughout the supply chain.
Depending on the goods being transported, the spectrum of temperature-controlled transports ranges from arctic deep-freeze temperatures to spring-like 22° C. Logistics services of this kind, which are carried out for medicines and cosmetics, paints and varnishes, confectionery and foodstuffs of all kinds, for example, are reliant on a professionally organized end-to-end supply chain that is uniformly temperature-controlled in line with product requirements. Implementing a new transportation solution can be challenging and expensive if not realized effectively. Any inefficiency occurring in connection with product or service transportation can result in serious loss of time and resources.
The insulation elements used should have the lowest possible thermal conductivity λ to achieve a good thermal insulating effect. Thermal conduction is the transport of heat in a medium without mass transfer (as in convection, for example). Materials with low thermal conductivity are referred to as thermal insulation materials and are used to reduce heat or cold losses.
Insulation elements in the prior art that are placed in transport boxes for temperature-controlled transport are synthetically manufactured materials. The insulation elements must exhibit stability, but this makes them inflexible at the same time.
Furthermore, EP 3061706 B1 is known from the prior art, which shows a side wall with separate air spaces, which requires separate inserts of insulation material for each compartment, which in practice creates undesirable thermal bridges.
WO 2020/093009A1 also does not disclose a completely surrounding continuous holding compartment.
It is the object of the present invention to provide an insert which overcomes the disadvantages in the prior art and is sustainable and allows space-saving transport and reuse.
This object is attained by an insert for holding an insulating material of a transport container having the features of independent claim 1. Advantageous embodiments constitute the subject-matter of the accompanying subclaims.
The invention encompasses an insert for holding an insulating material of a transport container. The insert comprises a (separate) lid compartment, a (separate) bottom compartment and a (separate, one-piece or multi-piece) side wall. The side wall comprises a (created in the folded state) continuous holding compartment for an insulating material for (laterally) completely (continuously) enclosing a holding space bounded by the lid compartment and the bottom compartment (on top and bottom, respectively). As a result of the laterally continuous holding compartment, a one-piece insulating material can be inserted in a laterally completely enclosing fashion. The insulating material in the holding compartment of the side wall, as well as in the lid compartment and bottom compartment, can be inserted at the place of use and can be replaced after use, which enables reuse of the insert. It is also possible to transport the insert in the absence of insulating material in a space-saving manner and to embed insulation materials available at the place of use as required and depending on the application. The side wall with holding compartment has a shape-lending function in case of loose insulating material and in case of use of insulation boards these are protected therein against damage.
In the following, the invention is explained in more detail with reference to figures, wherein:
In one advantageous aspect, (in the installed state) the internal side surfaces of the side wall are directly adjacent (unconnected) to each other, and the external side surfaces of the side wall are directly adjacent (connected) to each other. This ensures that the insulating material in the side wall surrounds the product to be transported in a completely continuous fashion and, in the absence of thermal bridges, optimum thermal insulation is guaranteed.
It is particularly advantageous if the side wall comprises exactly four sides. In this way, the insert can be folded to create a particularly stable insulation and can be inserted/embedded into many standard size cartons or boxes.
According to a preferred aspect, in the intended use, the complementarily formed abutting surfaces of the side wall meet each other at (along) a 45° cutting plane. This enables uncomplicated assembly of the individual modules and cost-effective manufacture of the side wall. The adjoining abutting surfaces or the cutting plane can be curved or corrugated. Particularly preferably, the curved design comprises three rounded corners. In this way, a tab can be formed, thereby increasing stability.
According to an advantageous aspect, in the intended use, the lid compartment and the bottom compartment each adjoin a complementarily formed contact surface of the side wall at an angle greater than 45° (exactly 90°). This ensures that there is an airtight seal between the lid compartment and the side wall and between the bottom compartment and the side wall.
It is particularly advantageous if the lid compartment, the bottom compartment and the side wall each comprise an opening for inserting and removing an insulating material. In this way, depending on the application, an appropriate insulating material (e.g. in granular form) can be filled in and removed again after use.
It has been found to be advantageous if the lid compartment and the bottom compartment are each cuboidal in shape. This enables particularly simple handling of the insert and thus simple loading and unloading of the transport system.
The invention further encompasses a transport system comprising an outer carton with an insert. Thus, a sustainable and flexible transport system can be realized.
It is particularly advantageous if the insulating material in the insert is selected from the following insulating materials:
As a result, the insulating material can be easily disposed of without the need for costly separation of the individual materials.
Another preferred example provides that the insulation material in the insert is a vacuum insulation element, e.g. a plate-shaped VIP (vacuum insulation panel). A plurality of VIP's may be arranged along the holding compartment such that the narrow side surface in each case rests against the edge of the large side surface of the following VIP.
In another preferred aspect, the transport system further comprises at least one cooling element. Cooling elements or freezer packs are (plastic) receptacles filled with a PCM material, which are brought to a certain temperature before transport and maintain this temperature for a desired period of time. Several cooling elements lining the holding space can be provided. The cooling elements arranged along the side wall are cuboidal in shape and preferably arranged in such a way that the narrow side surface in each case rests against the edge of the large side surface of the cooling element following in the lateral circumferential direction.
In
The insert 1 for holding an insulating material of a transport container 8 comprises a lid compartment 2, a bottom compartment 3 and a side wall 4. The side wall 4 comprises a continuous holding compartment for an insulating material for completely enclosing a holding space 5 bounded by the lid compartment 2 and the bottom compartment 3.
The insert may be transported to the user separately or with an outer carton in a folded state. Then the desired insulating material can be placed/inserted into the holding compartment of the side wall, as well as in the lid compartment and bottom compartment at the place of use.
In the intended use, the internal side surfaces 9 of the side wall 4 are directly adjacent to each other in an unconnected state and the external side surfaces 10 of the side wall 4 are directly adjacent to each other in a connected state.
In the intended use, the lid compartment 2 and the bottom compartment 3 each adjoin a complementary contact surface of the side wall 4 at an angle of 90°.
The lid compartment 2, the bottom compartment 3 and the side wall 4 each include an opening 6 (located at the top of the side wall in the inserted state) for inserting and removing an insulating material. The lid compartment 2 and the bottom compartment 3 are each cuboidal in shape.
The transport system 7 according to the invention comprises an outer carton 8 with an insert 1. The insulating material in the insert 1 is selected from the following insulating materials:
The height of the outer carton is preferably selected in such a way that lid compartment 2, bottom compartment 3 and side wall 4 are pressed against each other when closed in order to achieve as airtight a seal as possible at the contact surfaces. This can be further improved by sealing elements provided at the contact surfaces.
The insert can be completely or partially made of cardboard.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 2022 101 931.2 | Apr 2022 | DE | national |
