The present invention concerns a packaging device for the transport and/or the storage of stackable objects within its interior, in accord with the concept of claim 1. A typical packaging device has been disclosed by DE 41 23 558 C1.
Besides the transport and storage of unattached, single objects, shipping and inventory operations include objects mounted on skids or pallets. In these instances, important elements are rigid bottoms, upon which are placed the objects (also to be understood hereafter as “object”) to be positionally affixed and stacked for transport. Especially in the case of predetermined standard dimensioning, such bottomed pallets are known as “Europallets”. Objects arranged upon a Europallet generally lack protection from impinging lateral or downward forces. The result of this is that the so shipped objects must have separate, individual packaging. Known protective measures for transport includes cartons or wood framings, which are provided with rigid side and top reinforcements to protect the shipped goods. Likewise, it is possible that a Europallet can have rollers on the bottom and be made of open, lattice-like wood framing. Such moveable enclosures can be known as mobile cages, often provided with top openings.
Frequently objects are shipped from one location to another and their only protection is that they are first mounted on and affixed within the Europallet, but are then tightly clamped against other skidded loads, heavy boxboard cartons and the like, which serve as sidewalls and so protect the objects during the time of shipping from external damaging action.
If, after the insertion of the objects to be shipped and the sidewalls of the pallet close, voids form within the packaging, then the so created empty space can be packed with Styropor-fillers (expandable polystyrene) or equivalent space-occupying substances. The shipped objects are so protected in a manner disclosed in EP 0 317 130 B1, WO 94/18091, DE 42 00 557 C1 or DE 90 01 604 U1. Many of these above described packaging devices do not possess a solid bottom, but can show at least one principle of transport of objects on pallets through long distances. Packaging devices of this type, unfortunately, have the disadvantage that the sidewall structure surrounding the shipped object is rigid.
The above described packaging devices have, in common, the disadvantage, that they are built up from a substantial bottom and the connected side walls surrounding the shipped objects are also rigid. Following the delivery of the shipped objects, if the packaging devices made in this manner are to be returned in empty form, their stiff construction in truck, ship or airplane causes empty space which serves no useful purpose other than their own transport. For this reason, handling and manipulation of such packaging devices in empty return transport brings about a very expensive cost which has no positive results.
DE 20 2005 00885-U1 discloses a self supported, inflatable textile container, into which are sewed air compartments or air bags. This textile container is intended to carry bulk material. So that the container can maintain itself in an upright position, inflatable air pads or a sealed tubing system of rubber or the like has been sewn to the fabric of the container. The walls of textile containers of this description are universally flexible and on this account are not optimal for the carrying or storage of stackable objects on plattens.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,587,794-A made known a collapsible packaging device, wherein two end walls and possibly an upper wall are supplied with integrated air cushions. GB 23 11 512 describes air cushions on a bottom of a packaging device, which made the enclosure adaptable as a laptop carrier. DE 40 34 038 A1 discloses a packaging device, wherein the surfaces thereof consist of fabric and in its corners it possess inflatable looped reinforcement elements, which strengthen the enclosure structure. EP 11 38 613 A1 discloses a packaging device, in which inner walls can be inflated.
The purpose of the present invention is to make available a packaging device for transport and/or storage of stackable objects contained within its interior space, which device possesses a rugged bottom to support the arrangement of the objects. This purpose is further extended to avoid the above stated disadvantages.
This purpose is achieved by a generic packaging device having the characterized features of claim 1.
As a component of the invented packaging device, an inflatable, auxiliary shell can be either an integral part of an outside wall or be a separate element of the device. That is to say, the auxiliary shell is an inflatable encapsulation within the outer wall. In accord with the invention, this auxiliary shell performs its inner function by contacting the shipped objects, which are stacked on the rigid bottom. This auxiliary shell determines, first, the shape of the outer wall, which provides protection in transport or storage. Secondly, the auxiliary shell positionally affixes the shipped objects arranged on the bottom inside the outer wall. In accord with the invention every technical possibility is exercised to assure that the inflation is completed as desired. In other words, an inflation of the auxiliary shell need not be limited to injecting compressed air or other gases, but can also include input of a liquid or solid medium.
The flexible wall sections, which have been attached to the invented bottom—advantageously attached in Europallet style—take on their final shape only when they are subjected to the expansion of the inflating auxiliary shell. That is to say, the shape of the flexible outer wall can adapt to any internally applied force. Particularly appropriate for the flexible outer wall sections would be a fabric material or especially a flexible plastic substance. Other materials of equivalent characteristics can also be employed.
The invented packaging device possesses an upper, arrangement for opening. This is necessary, since the invented auxiliary shell, in combination with the outer flexible wall, defines the final, overall, shape of the packaging device. An upper opening for the invented packaging device is especially advantageous. In combination therewith, sections of the outer wall run along the edge of the solid bottom and are firmly attached thereto possibly by stapling.
As a general rule of operation, it is well to avoid accumulating a residuum of packing materials in the invented packaging device. Such waste material would reduce the ability of the packaging device to be recycled through many shipments.
A gain in advantage can be achieved, if by means of affixing the objects in the interior of the invented packaging device, the formerly widely used, individual packaging of the objects to be shipped can be reduced or completely abandoned.
Advantageously, one of the wall sections of the outer wall of the invented packaging device can be made releasable from one or more of the immediately adjoining wall sections. In this way, the interior volume of the device is made accessible for loading and/or unloading shipped objects on or off the substantial bottom. To improve this advantage, quick closure elements have been attached to the said releasable wall section. These quick closure elements lock into complementary receivers, which are secured on the non-releasable adjoining wall sections. The rapid closure elements assure quick accessibility.
The flexible wall sections of the outer wall are particularly advantageous in their reinforced vertically running edges and/or in supporting diagonal strips therebetween. Such reinforcements, when subjected to the inflation of the auxiliary shell, act to shape the outer wall into a predetermined shape, which is possibly cubical, so that the auxiliary shell need not unconditionally regulate, or may only partially determine, the final shape of the invented packaging device.
As has already been mentioned above, it is possible that the invented auxiliary shell can be, first, a component of the inner surface of the outer wall, and second, may be a separate component. If the auxiliary shell is a separate entity, then it would be advantageous if it is sized to be greater in extent than the inner dimensions of the outer wall. If it is so dimensioned, then the inner volume of the outer wall would be necessarily completely occupied by an inflated auxiliary shell and would then assume a proper outward shape. Simultaneously, the inflated auxiliary shell takes over the positional securement of the objects within the packaging device. Obviously, additionally added, known securement means are allowable on the bottom or on other immovable wall sections, by means of which further positional securement of the objects to be shipped or stored becomes available.
The auxiliary shell can advantageously be a conventional film tube, shaped in accord with need. Such a film tube can easily be made, so that it would be adaptable to one-time applications. In the case of a particularly favorable version the film tube, which comprises the auxiliary shell, can have a varied wall thickness
The pressure generated in the film tube during inflation distributes itself equally toward the outer wall. However, if a film tube is provided with different wall thicknesses, then, inventively, a first force can be brought against the inner surface of the outer wall and a different force can be applied against the loaded objects and both forces can be optionally predetermined. The meaning of this is that, because of an installation of the film tube having a thicker wall directed against the inner surface of the outer wall, and a thinner wall directed against the objects being transported, the movement by the film tube toward the said objects is relatively large. Nevertheless, in this placement, the positional fixation of the objects in transport is still carried out. The reason for this is, that the walls of the film tube expand more in the direction of the shipped objects than in the direction of the inside surface of the outer wall.
In the case of another favorable version of the auxiliary shell, a film tube is provided, wherein the inner wall of said tube which is proximal to the shipped objects is greater in thickness than is its wall which confronts the inner surface of the outer wall. Accordingly, upon inflation, the film tube expands in greater measure toward the objects than it expands outward and thus the objects to be shipped are more strongly affixed in place.
An advantageous version of an auxiliary shell, wherein it is equipped with a multiplicity of air cells, is that upon inflation thereof, the expanding shape of the outer wall of the packaging device can be regulated. Particularly well designed air cells, wherein successive cells have greater and lesser predetermined volumes and/or are provided with cross-ties therebetween, which additionally improve the working space of the final packaging device.
If, as has been mentioned above, the auxiliary shell is not an integral part of the outer wall, but alternately, is separate therefrom, then the auxiliary shell advantageously possesses quick fasteners, preferably on its wall facing the outer wall of the packaging device. These fasteners allow the auxiliary shell to be secured to the inner surface of the outer wall. After inflation, this fastening contributes to the fact that the internal shape of the auxiliary shell influences the shape of the outer wall, which accordingly leads to the final shaping of the entire packaging device.
In detail, the arrangement of this said fastening means for securing the auxiliary shell to the inside surface of the outer wall simplifies the handling of the invented packaging device for the respective operator. The operator is no longer required to be concerned about a problem of achieving an optimized arrangement of the auxiliary shell in relation to the outer wall.
In regard to the inflation of the auxiliary shell within the outer wall, in accord with the invention, the said shell possesses an inlet/outlet connection. This connection is so provided as a part of the auxiliary shell, that when the packaging is in its final stages, it is readily accessible from the outside. That is, the connector extends itself to the outside of the now enclosed packaging device. Accordingly, to inflate the auxiliary shell, an operator can easily join the said connector to a source of the desired inflating medium, for example, air.
As has already been indicated, it is possible to open one wall section of the loaded packaging device. The auxiliary shell in the interior of the outer wall, then contacts only the non-openable outer wall sections. This arrangement allows the openable wall section of the packaging device to have improved accessibility in reaching the therein placed objects to be shipped. The outer wall, however, can be so designed, that it—in the case of a separate auxiliary shell—can have its opening coinciding with the opening in the auxiliary shell. The auxiliary shell, for the purpose of the removal of the loaded objects from the interior of the packaging device, can be deactivated by release of air by penetration. Alternately, the auxiliary shell can be provided with a means by which it can be deflated after the transport has been completed.
As another advantage, a particularly favorable design of the packaging device places on the outer wall quick closure elements with their complementary receivers. Proximal to these said quick closure elements/receivers, the advantageous design offers a duplicate set of such closures. These duplicate closure elements/receivers serve such a purpose, that in a case of an individual transport of an empty packaging device, these duplicate closures, are so provided with interlocks, that the packaging device cannot unfold itself. Space is thereby saved for the return shipment of empty packaging devices.
The invention also concerns the use of a packaging device for both the transport or the storage of objects.
Examples of versions of the invention are described in greater detail in the following with the aid of drawings. There is shown in:
In the version shown in
In the packaging device version shown in
In
The auxiliary shell 10 additionally possesses fasteners 14. These fasteners 14 are located on those sides of the enclosing auxiliary shell wall 11 which, after the placement of the auxiliary shell 10 therein, are to be secured onto the inside surface of the surrounding outer wall 1. From
At this point of the description, the reader should be aware, that the vertical length in the drawn presentation of the auxiliary shell 10 in
In
In any case, inflated individual air compartments 18′, 18″, 18′″, define the shape of the outer wall 1 as seen in the examples of
In accord with the above, the appearance of the objects 20, which are now inside the packaging, is shown in perspective in
In this now closed state of the packaging device, the auxiliary shell 10 therewithin is inflated by means of the externally protruding air connection 13. The outer wall 1, which up to now has been draped over the objects 20 to be shipped, forms itself into the desired cubical shape as seen in
If the objects 20 are to be removed at the point of destination, the first operation of the receiver would be to open the packaging device by unlatching and throwing back the top hinged outer section 6 of the outer wall 1. If the design is such, that the auxiliary shell is integrally a component of the outer wall 1, then the inflating medium can simply be released through its connection. If, conversely, in the case of a separate auxiliary shell 10, 10′, 10″, which has been inflated to a size to match the contours of the objects 20, then, instead of a releasing of the inflating medium, the release can be effected by simply making penetrating openings in the auxiliary shell unit 10. 10′, 10″ whereby the therein contained medium finds an easy outlet. If this be done, then for future use of the auxiliary shell, a new auxiliary shell 10, 10′, 10″ must be provided and installed in the above described manner.
After the auxiliary shell 10 has been deflated, the outer wall 1, including the deflated shell 10, and following a outlay of the packaging device in accord with
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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10 2006 048 964.0 | Oct 2006 | DE | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
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PCT/EP2007/009059 | 10/18/2007 | WO | 00 | 4/17/2009 |