Patent Application
20150217904
This specification relates generally to packaging, and, more particularly, to systems and methods for packaging air treatment devices.
Air treatment devices such as, for example, air filters and purifiers, are designed to remove or reduce the amount of contaminants from the air. Generally speaking, these devices may be manufactured either as stand-alone units or as part of air handler units (AHU), heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, ventilation ducts, etc.
For example, a typical air treatment device may reduce odors, air pollutants, smoke, mold, bacteria, and viruses. In some cases, such devices may be installed or mounted into air conditioning and heating systems air ducts, where most air quality problems start. When an HVAC system is in operation, an air treatment device may oxidize pollutants, breaking them down into hydro-peroxides, super oxide ions, hydroxide ions, and/or other more friendly substances.
In many cases, air treatment devices are shipped and sold in cardboard packages. As the inventors hereof have recognized, however, these packages make it difficult for the customer (e.g., an HVAC contractor) to inspect the device without opening the box, for example, to determine its size and suitability for a particular project. Often, the customer does not know how the device is supposed to be installed or what it will look like after its installation. Moreover, once the customer removes the air treatment device from its packaging, it is subject to being damaged (e.g., the device's honeycomb panels and/or other more fragile elements can be particularly sensitive to the customer's handling), and/or it may have to be sold as an “open box item.”
Systems and methods for the packaging of air treatment devices are described. In an illustrative, non-limiting embodiment, a package may be configured to store an air treatment device. For example, the air treatment device may be an air filter, cleaner, purifier, or the like. The package may include a first lateral surface configured to accommodate a proximal end of the device and a second lateral surface configured to accommodate a distal end of the device. The package may further comprise a middle surface coupled between the first and second lateral surfaces. In some cases, at least a portion of the first or second lateral surfaces may include an opaque area. Moreover, at least a portion of the middle surface may include a transparent or translucent area configured to reveal at least a portion of the device.
In another illustrative, non-limiting embodiment, a package may include a first portion having a first surface configured to accommodate a proximal end of an air treatment device, a center portion coupled to the first end portion, and a second portion coupled to the center portion, the second portion having a second surface configured to accommodate a distal end of the air treatment device. In some implementations, the proximal end of the air treatment device may have a shape different from the distal end of the air treatment device. Further, at least one of the first, second, or center portions may include a plastic material surface, whereas at least one of the first, second, or center portions may include a paper material surface.
In yet another illustrative, non-limiting embodiment, a package may include a first end portion having a first extruded area configured to accommodate a proximal end of an air treatment device, the proximal end having a cylindrical shape. The package may also include a center portion coupled to the first end portion, a dimension of the center portion matching a size of a flange portion of the air treatment device. The package may further include a second end portion coupled to the center portion, the second end portion having a second extruded area configured to accommodate a distal end of the air treatment device, the distal end having a cubic shape.
In some implementations, the first end portion, the center portion, and the second end portion each includes one or more transparent surfaces. Moreover, at least one of the first or second ends may be configured to swivel around a side in common with the center portion.
The center portion may also include a hidden shelf configured to rest between the flange portion of the air treatment device and the second end portion. For example, the hidden shelf may have a cuboid shape and be configured to store at least one of: a product manual, a specification sheet, an assembly part, a fastener, and/or a tool. Additionally or alternatively, the center portion may include a back sleeve configured to rest between the flange portion of the air treatment device and the second end portion. For instance, the back sleeve may be configured to store a replacement flange for the air treatment device.
Reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
While this specification provides several embodiments and illustrative drawings, a person of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the present specification is not limited only to the embodiments or drawings described. It should be understood that the drawings and detailed description are not intended to limit the specification to the particular form disclosed, but, on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the claims. Also, any headings used herein are for organizational purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the description. As used herein, the word “may” is meant to convey a permissive sense (i.e., meaning “having the potential to”), rather than a mandatory sense (i.e., meaning “must”). Similarly, the words “include,” “including,” and “includes” mean “including, but not limited to.”
This specification discloses systems and methods for packaging air treatment devices. Examples of “air treatment devices” include, but are not limited to, air filters, air purifiers, etc. In some embodiments, device 300 may be a photo-catalytic, duct-mounted air cleaner (e.g., an ultraviolet (UV) air cleaner) or the like. Although the embodiments discussed below may occasionally refer to specific types of air treatment devices, it should be understood that these examples are provided for sake of illustration only, and not by way of limitation.
Turning now to
Center portion 105 may also be configured to hold “hidden shelf” 135 where packaging materials (e.g., product manuals, specification sheets, assembly parts, fasteners, tools, etc.) may be stored. The back of center portion 105 may include sleeve 140 configured to store replacement or alternative parts (e.g., flanges, etc.) for the air treatment device. Both shelf 135 and sleeve 140 may be made with cardboard or paper materials, and may be imprinted with product description or other relevant information related to the air treatment device.
In various implementations, first and second end portions 110 and 115, as well as center portion 140, may be manufactured using any suitable materials. Examples of such materials include, but are not limited to, plastic-based materials (e.g., polypropylene, polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, etc.) and paper-based materials (e.g., chip board, paperboard, cardboard, corrugated fiberboard, etc.) In some cases, first end portion 110, second end portion 115, and center portion 140 may each have one or more faces or surfaces that are transparent or translucent. Conversely, one or more of these faces or surfaces may be opaque. When made from plastic materials, one or more elements shown in
When assembled, package 100 may hold an air treatment device between first and second end portions 110 and 115, respectively. These end portions may be coupled to center portion 140, for example, using fasteners (e.g., staples, etc.) at one or more locations 130. Additionally or alternatively, first and second end portions 110 and 115 may be attached to center portion 140 using a heating tool, shrink wrapping tool, or the like.
Generally speaking, housing 310 may include a power supply, switch, and/or other electronic components. Flange 315 may include a metal face coupled to gasket or rubber seal, and element 305 may include an ionizing element or the like, which is activated under control of the components within housing 310. When installed in an HVAC duct, for example, a contractor may drill or saw a hole in the duct sufficiently large for inserting element 305 but smaller than flange 315, such that device 300 may be attached to the duct using flange 315 to seal any potential air leaks while leaving housing 310 accessible from outside the duct.
The various systems and methods illustrated in the figures and described herein represent example embodiments of systems and methods for packaging air treatment devices. In some cases, the air treatment device may be held in place inside its packaging by using twist ties, tie wires, etc. Additionally or alternatively, a paper or plastic portion of the packaging may include an internal surface that is molded to conform to the shape of the air treatment device, thus securely holding it in place. It should be noted that, while aesthetically pleasing, the boxes and packages shown and described herein make it easier for a customer visually inspect the air treatment device without having to open the box, for example, to determine its size, manner of installation, installed appearance, and suitability for a given project.
The order in which each operation of a given method is performed may be changed, and various elements of the systems or devices illustrated herein may be added, reordered, combined, omitted, modified, etc. Various modifications and changes may be made as would be clear to a person of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this specification. It is intended that the invention(s) described herein embrace all such modifications and changes and, accordingly, the above description should be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.
This application is a divisional of prior application Ser. No. 13/355,155, filed Jan. 20, 2012, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 13355155 | Jan 2012 | US |
| Child | 14589790 | US |
