As its name describes, the invention object of the present invention relates to an improved packaging for transporting objects, particularly objects that require careful handling during their transport, this packaging including means for maintaining constant temperature and humidity conditions inside it without requiring a power supply.

It also discloses other characteristics for protecting the transported object from mechanical hazards such as impacts, vibrations, overturning or pressure, weather hazards, fire and even biological hazards, among others.

The invention belongs to the field of packaging.

The transportation of fragile objects, such as works of art, requires extreme care against potential impacts, vibrations, sudden manipulation, improper temperature, improper humidity, biological hazards, fire and other variables that can affect the transported object.

Both the temperature and the humidity can be controlled independently by heating/cooling systems or humidifying/dehumidifying systems.

These systems require an external power supply, so that although they may be appropriate for fixed exhibition locations, they cause problems when attempting to install them in packaging for transportation.

The transportation problems result, among other matters, from the additional weight of the packaging systems such as described above, as well as from the need for an electrical power supply that can be provided either by an external connection or, to achieve a standalone packaging, by batteries.

When the transportation will be by air these problems are increased, as in addition to the increased cost due to the additional weight, there exist air safety regulations that constrain the presence of operating electrical devices in the baggage hold and prohibit the transportation of batteries in commercial flights, as they are considered hazardous materials due to their components.

There are no references in the state of the art regarding packaging for transporting items which, in an autonomous manner and without the need for a power supply, are able to maintain constant the desired humidity and temperature conditions, although the use is known of autonomous humidity regulators in packages for fragile objects, as disclosed in US2006226037, as well as means for maintaining the temperature constant by using insulators, as disclosed in US2009145912, or devices for preventing the temperature from rising inside closed spaces based on the use of active substances, as disclosed in JP2006023059.

The Spanish utility model ES10685701 refers to a box to transport biological material wherein that box comprises three layers of packaging material as well as thermal and mechanical isolation and, in order to keep the temperature of the biological material, it also comprises heat accumulators.

In that case, no control of humidity is described. There is neither described any possibility of controlling the inner pressure of the inner box.

The US patent US2004/124112 refers to a box with thermal an mechanical isolation, but there is no reference to a device to control de temperature and the humidity in the inside of the box.

The present invention improves on the known packaging and crates for transportation hitherto, as controlling the temperature and the seal of the compartment or compartments containing the objects to be transported also allows controlling humidity, thereby obtaining a packaging that guarantees, among other parameters, the temperature and humidity in a simple and autonomous manner.

The present invention relates to a packaging according to claim 1.

The invention described herein allows the safe transportation of fragile objects protecting them from both mechanical hazards, for which it comprises a reinforced outer structure and a strong inner packaging, and from variations in temperature and humidity that can affect the transported object, all of this without requiring a power supply.

For this purpose, the packaging comprises:

• An outer case that can be opened at least on one of its sides;
• A thermal insulator;
• A mechanical insulator;
• At least one sealed inner compartment;
• Heat accumulators with a high thermal inertia;
• Humidity regulation agents.

The term "mechanical insulator" as used in this text refers to any system that can dampen and/or eliminate mechanical energy such as vibrations, impact, knocks and/or falls, whether by shock absorbers or with any material having the characteristics required for this purpose.

The outer casing comprises a deep frame and two side covers of which at least one can be opened, with reinforced lateral edges, increasing the strength of the assembly and providing additional protection against impacts.

The thermal insulator that covers its inner walls is attached to the inside of the casing.

The mechanical insulator, when it is for example a coating such as a polyethylene foam expanded with inert gas, is attached to the thermal insulator in all the inner surfaces, although in the bottom surface it is preferably attached less strongly, in order to simplify its replacement and thereby prevent loss of efficacy due to creep resulting from the prolonged loads it must withstand.

For other types of mechanical insulators, such as shock absorber assemblies, an internal frame can be included to which these are attached.

In the packaging thus configured, at least one sealed compartment is defined that can be opened by at least one of its faces.

This compartment is made of a strong and preferably fireproof material, such as aluminium.

As this compartment is sealed, there is no exchange of air between the inside and the outside, so that the internal relative humidity depends only on the temperature. In this way, controlling the temperature also allows controlling the humidity.

To prevent sudden changes in pressure outside the sealed compartment from causing deformations in the packaging that may compromise its seal, the sealed compartment includes valves for balancing the internal and external pressures, so that although there is a certain loss in sealing if these valves must act to correct the pressure difference, the risk is prevented of these differences causing deformations that would result in a complete loss of sealing.

It is possible to install attachment elements inside this compartment, such as a moving profile device, for a correct attachment and immobilisation of the object to transport.

Between the mechanical insulation and the compartment are disposed some heat accumulators with a high thermal inertia and a specific phase change point in view of the desired temperature, generally between 21ºC and 22ºC that give the assembly thermal stability.

These accumulators can have an additional protection covering them.

The important factor in these accumulators is that the phase change occurs at the central point of the specified working range.

When it is expected that the packaging will be at temperatures under the minimum temperature, the accumulators must have a maximum conditioning, as at this temperature the content of the accumulator is in liquid phase, and when the phase changes from liquid to solid an exothermic reaction takes place that makes the slope of the cooling curve temporarily change to a trough until the entire content is in solid phase, generating a thermal stability in the environment inside the packaging.

When instead the packaging is expected to support temperatures above the maximum temperature the accumulators must have minimum conditioning, in which their content must be in solid state, so that the phase transition from solid to liquid requires supplying heat and the accumulator will capture the surrounding heat, in this case from the inside of the packaging, again defining a trough in the temperature curve that extends throughout the phase change of the entire content of the accumulators.

The packaging also incorporates humidity control agents such as silica crystals, specifically micronised crystals that can be humidified or dehumidified according to the variations that can occur, thereby maintaining the humidity constant as calibrated, generally between 50% and 60%.

To aid a better understanding of the description, the following figures are provided that show an example of embodiment of the invention.

• Figure 1 shows an exploded view of the outer casing of the packaging, showing the deep frame (1) that constitutes the main structure of the packaging, the reinforcements and the corners (2), the front and rear covers (3) and (4), the thermal insulator (5) covering the casing on its inside, and the mechanical insulator (6) and the spaces provided for the accumulators (7).
• Figure 2 shows an outer view of the sealed compartment (8) that is housed inside the casing represented in Figure 1, showing that it comprises a body or box (9) and a cover (10) provided with handles (11) to simplify opening it.
• Figure 3 shows an exploded view of the sealed compartment (8), showing the cover (10) and the body (9) that contains a system of rails and corner pieces (12) for adjusting and immobilising the object to transport, as well as spaces for containing the humidity regulators (13).

Many modifications and alternative embodiments of the invention will be obvious to persons skilled in the art in view of the foregoing description, so that the example of embodiment described below is only meant to be for purposes of illustration, in a non-limiting manner, such that other embodiments sharing the spirit of that described will also be covered by the protection sought.

The packaging for storing an item at a specific temperature and humidity that constitutes the object of this invention is mainly differentiated in that it comprises an outer casing, a thermal insulator, a mechanical insulator, a sealed compartment, heat accumulators with a high thermal inertia and humidity controlling agents.

The casing shown in figure 1, which can be opened on its two greater faces, is made of a strong and resistant material, having successfully tested plywood which can be painted or varnished to fireproof it.

As shown in figure 1, the outer casing has L-shaped lateral protrusions, preferably made of aluminium, to protect its corners, as well as preferably metallic fast-close joints with a lock or a numbered seal, depending on the requirements of the itinerary.

The base can incorporate wheels to facilitate its mobility.

The outer casing is internally covered with a thermal insulator, such as 40 mm thick vacuum insulating panels attached to the inside of the outer casing by an adhesive, although the thickness of the insulating materials will be determined according to the thermal conductivity coefficients of each one and the specific needs of each case.

To provide protection against knocks and vibrations, the thermal insulator is internally covered with a mechanical insulator, such as polyethylene foam expanded with an inert gas that is attached by a permanent adhesive, except at its bottom part where a softer adhesive or attachment means is used that allows a simple replacement to prevent the effects of material creep.

The accumulators are adhered to the thermal insulator to increase the effectiveness of the passive temperature control.

These accumulators are preferably protected by a coating of anodised aluminium.

The packaging also comprises a sealed inner compartment shown in figure 2 that houses the item to be transported.

The humidity control agent is placed inside this compartment, as shown in figure 3.

The packaging thus obtained and open on its sides can be seen in figure 4.

The packaging for storing items is provided with GPRS devices that allow tracking it at all times, informing of any incidents that may occur, as well as with devices for continuous control and monitoring of the temperature and humidity.

This packaging can be provided with additional smoke detection systems or antitheft security systems.