AN ASSEMBLY HAVING A COVER AND A COOLING ELEMENT

Abstract

 Assembly (A) having a cover (1), a cooling element (2) and attaching means (3) therebetween, the cover (1) having a top surface (1T), a lower surface (1U) and a lateral peripheral surface (1L), the cover (1) having a cover height (h1); the cooling element (2) comprising a top surface (2T), a lower surface (2U) and a lateral peripheral surface (2L), the cooling element (2) having a cooling element height (h2), the top surface (2T) of the cooling element (2) facing the lower surface (1U) of the cover (1), the assembly having a total height (H), wherein the total height (H) is higher than or equal to the sum of the cover height (h1) and the element height (h2). A container comprising a box (5) and an assembly, and to a method of using the container.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to an assembly having a cover and a cooling element, destined to cover a box. The box and the assembly form a container, specifically an insulating container destined to be used for transporting or delivering goods that have to be held at determined temperatures. The invention also relates to a method where the assembly and the container are used.

STATE OF THE ART

[0002] Assemblies having a cover, a cooling element and attaching means for attaching the cooling element to the cover are known in the art. For example, figures 9 and 10 show a cover known in the art having a first surface, a second surface and a first lateral peripheral surface extending from the first to the second surface wherein the cover has a first height from the first surface to the second surface; the cooling element comprising a third surface, a fourth surface and a second lateral peripheral surface extending from the third to the fourth surface and wherein the cooling element has a second height from the third surface to the fourth surface. In these known assemblies, cooling elements are introduced in recesses of the cover, as shown in figure 10.

[0003] The second lateral peripheral surface of a cooling element is pressed by lateral walls of a recess. By means of this pressure, the cooling elements remain in place even when being subjected to gravity while orientated towards the floor.

[0004] In order to cool the cooling elements in a sufficiently quick manner, the cooling elements need to be previously extracted from the cover, for example by intensely shaking the cover while the cooling elements are orientated towards the floor. Therefore, in order to reuse the cooling elements, after cooling the cooling elements, it is required to introduce them in the recesses of the cover. The cooling elements are introduced in the recesses by pushing each cooling element towards the bottom of the corresponding recess. Hence the process of cooling and reusing the cooling elements is time consuming.

[0005] In addition, the cover of the prior art has a short service life. The cover is subjected to high stress in the introduction and extraction of the cooling elements and in movements related to the use of the cover as a part of a container for delivery. Covers are typically made of polypropylene coated with a varnish. These covers wear very quickly when used as mentioned above and hence can be used just a few times before being discarded.

[0006] Another disadvantage of the assemblies of the prior art is that fixing the assembly to a receptacle of a container as well as removing the assembly from the receptacle of a container is time consuming. For example, for fixing the assembly to the receptacle it is required to cover the receptacle with the assembly and enclose the assembly and the receptacle together in a sleeve. Then it is required to close the sleeve, for example by closing a zipper. For removing the assembly from the receptacle, it is required, for example, to open the zipper and then separate the assembly from the receptacle.

[0007] Therefore, it would be advantageous to provide an assembly which requires a shorter processing time for being reused, which has a longer service life and which cooling element(s) can be quickly cooled.

[0008] A known method for quickly cooling the cooling element(s) is decreasing the temperature of the cooling chamber, however this method requires a significantly higher consumption of energy.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Assembly having a cover, a cooling element and attaching means for attaching the cooling element to the cover, the cover having a top surface, a lower surface and a lateral peripheral surface extending from the top to the lower surface, the cover having a cover height from the top surface to the lower surface; the cooling element comprising a top surface, a lower surface and a lateral peripheral surface extending from top surface to the lower surface, the cooling element having a cooling element height from the top surface to the lower surface, the top surface of the cooling element facing the lower surface of the cover, the assembly having a total height from the top surface of the cover to the lower surface of the cooling element, characterized in that the total height is higher than or equal to the sum of the cover height and the cooling element height.

[0010] Rate of heat transfer from the assembly can be modelled with the following equation:

wherein:

Q is the rate of heat transfer, measured for example in watt;

h is a heat transfer coefficient, measured for example in

A is the area through which the heat transfer takes place, measured for example in m².

[0011] In other words, the rate of heat transfer is proportional to a multiplication of the heat transfer coefficient and the area through which the heat transfer takes place.

[0012] The assembly is advantageous for minimizing the amount of time required for decreasing the temperature of the cooling element. The fact that the total height is higher than or equal to the sum of the cover height and the cooling element height allows increasing the surface extension of the cooling element in contact with the environment. In particular, this fact allows maximizing the lateral peripheral surface of the cooling element in contact with the environment. In this manner, the area through which the heat transfer takes place is increased. Therefore, given a cooling chamber in which the cooling element of the assembly is subjected to an environment at a particular cooling temperature, the cooling element is cooled at an increased rate.

[0013] In addition, as illustrated in figure 11, the assembly allows enhancing the cooling process by generating a particular air current when cooling. In particular, cold air extracts heat from the lowest portion of the cooling element, thereby heating the cold air. Then, the heated cold air flows towards the periphery of the assembly, flowing away from the cooling element and leaving space for colder air in a relatively quicker manner compared to the assemblies known in the art. Thereby, the heat transfer coefficient is increased, hence increasing the rate of heat transfer. This cooling mechanism enables the cooling of cooling elements of assemblies stacked on top of each other.

[0014] In particular, it has been experimentally shown that the rate of heat transfer has been increased by 33% when compared to the assemblies of the state of the art.

[0015] The fact that the top surface of the cooling element and the lower surface of the cover are located between the top surface of the cover and the lower surface of the cooling element and in that the assembly has a total height higher than or equal to the sum of the cover height and the cooling element height, enables that the lateral peripheral surface of the assembly is formed by the lateral peripheral surface of the cover and the lateral peripheral surface of the cooling element. In other words, it enables that the whole lateral peripheral surface of the cooling element forms part of the lateral peripheral surface of the assembly.

[0016] In some embodiments, the lower surface of the cover has a first region for supporting the cooling element and a second region adjacent the first region; wherein the cover height extends from the top surface of the cover to the second region of the lower surface of the cover and wherein the total height is higher than or equal to the sum of the cover height and the cooling element height.

[0017] In some embodiments, the cover is made of a thermally insulating material, such as a material having a thermal conductivity coefficient of at most 0.035, 0.025, or 0.003 K. In some of these embodiments the cover is made of polyurethane foam.
In some embodiments, the cover has a thermal conductivity coefficient of at most 0.035, 0.025, or

[0018] In some embodiments, the attaching means is configured for removably attaching the cooling element to the cover. In this way, the cooling element can be easily detached from the cover. Although it is possible to detach the cooling element from the cover, as explained above, the assembly enables cooling the cooling element while the cooling element forms part of the assembly, i.e. without detaching the cooling element from the cover. In some embodiments, the attachment means is configured for keeping the cooling element attached to the cover by means of applying pressure on the lower surface of the cooling element towards the lower surface of the cover.

[0019] In some embodiments, the attaching means comprises a strip, for example a strip which hangs from the cover. Thereby, a simple attaching means is provided which allows handling the assembly while minimizing risk of unintentionally detaching a cooling element from the cover. In some of these embodiments, the strip is fixed to the cover and is arranged in the cover so that a cooling element fits between the strip and the cover. In this way, the cooling element can be easily attached to the cover. In some of these embodiments the cooling element removably fits between the strip and the cover. In this way, the cooling element can be easily detached from the cover.

[0020] In some embodiments, the strip is fixed to the cover such that there is a gap between the strip and the cover configured for receiving part of a cooling element. In this way, the cooling element is held in place by the strip. In some embodiments, the strip has two ends and each of the ends is fixed to the cover, for example sewed to the cover.

[0021] In some embodiments, the strip is elastic. In this way, the strip allows attaching the cooling element to the cover through an elastic force applied by the strip to the cooling element. In some of these embodiments, the strip comprises a rigid intermediate portion and relatively more elastic ends. Thereby, the amount of elastic material required is decreased, and the presence of the rigid material enables a more robust attachment. In some of these embodiments, the rigid portion is in contact with the cooling element.

[0022] In some embodiments, the strip has an adjustable length. In this way, cooling elements of different dimensions can be attached to the cover by means of the strips.

[0023] In some embodiments, the strip has a young modulus of at least 0.01, 0.1, 0.5 or 1 GPa and of at most 2, 4, 7 or 11 GPa. These ranges have been found particularly advantageous for achieving a sufficiently stable attachment between the cooling element and the cover.

[0024] In some embodiments, the attaching means comprises strips, for example four strips. In some of these embodiments the strips are arranged in the cover such that the strips surround corners of the cooling element. This enables minimizing sliding of the cooling element on the lower surface of the cover after assembling the cooling element with the cover.

[0025] In some embodiments, the attaching means comprises a velcro fastener, and hooks or loops of the velcro fastener are arranged in the strip. The velcro fastener is a simple fastener which allows achieving a high degree of resistance to detachment. In some embodiments, the respective loops or hooks of the velcro fastener complementary to the hooks or loops are arranged in other strip or in the cover.

[0026] In some embodiments, the attaching means comprises a button-slit attachment wherein a button of the button-slit attachment or a slit of the button-slit attachment is arranged in the strip. In this way, the cooling element may be attached to the cover by placing the cooling element on the cover and then closing the button-slit attachment. In some embodiments, the slit or button of the button-slit fastener complementary to the button or slit arranged in the strip is arranged in another strip or in the cover.

[0027] In some embodiments, the attaching means comprises a snap-fit attachment wherein part of the snap-fit attachment is arranged in the strip. In this way, the cooling element may be attached to the cover by placing the cooling element on the cover and then closing the snap-fit attachment. In some embodiments, the respective part of the snap-fit attachment complementary to the part of the snap-fit attachment arranged in the strip is arranged in another strip or in the cover.

[0028] In some embodiments, the cover comprises a magnetic element. The presence of the magnetic element in the cover is an invention per se. This invention does not require the presence of features of claim 1 or of claims depending thereof different from the cover. The magnetic element allows increasing strength of an attachment between the cover and another device such as a receptacle of a container. In this way, it is minimized the risk of unintentionally separating the cover from the other device and, in addition, it allows improving thermal sealing. At the same time, relying on a magnetic element for attaching the cover to the another device is advantageous because it allows easily separating the cover from the another device. In particular, it is not required to perform an additional disconnection movement, such as unzipping, unbuttoning or detaching a Velcro, before pulling the cover away from the another device.

[0029] In some embodiments, the cover comprises a thermally insulating board and the magnetic element is arranged in the thermally insulating board. In some of these embodiments, the magnetic element is arranged in a surface of the thermally insulating board. In some of these embodiments, the cover comprises a thermally insulating board and the magnetic element is arranged in a surface of the thermally insulating board covered by the lower surface of the cover. In this way the magnetic element is in the surface of the thermally insulating board located closest to the cooling element. Since the magnetic elements are very close to the lower surface of the cover, the distance between the magnetic elements and complementary attractive magnetic means of another device to which the lower surface of the cover is coupled may be minimized, hence increasing the attractive magnetic force.

[0030] In some embodiments, a surface of the thermally insulating board of the cover comprises a recess in which the magnetic element is arranged. Thereby, the magnetic element may be arranged such that it is flush with the surface of the thermally insulating board in which the magnetic element is arranged.

[0031] In some of these embodiments the recess containing the magnetic element is covered by the lower surface of the cover. In this way, the magnetic element may be arranged close to the lower surface.

[0032] In some embodiments, the magnetic element is fixed to the cover, for example to the insulating board, by an adhesive, for example by an adhesive tape.

[0033] In some embodiments, the cover comprises magnetic elements. In some of these embodiments the magnetic elements are arranged in a thermally insulating board and are covered by the lower surface of the cover. In some of these embodiments the magnetic elements are arranged in recesses of the thermally insulating board. In some of these embodiments, the magnetic elements are arranged near the lateral peripheral surface of the cover.

[0034] A cover having more than one magnetic element enables increasing uniformity of distribution of the force of the magnetic element across the lower surface.

[0035] In some embodiments, the lower surface of the cover comprises a first portion for supporting the cooling element and a second portion covering the magnetic element, wherein the second portion is arranged outside of the first portion. In other words, the cooling element does not cover the magnetic element. In this way, the distance between the magnetic element and the cooling element is increased, which allows decreasing the distance between the magnetic element and a complementary external magnetic element to which the cover is to be attached.

[0036] In some embodiments the magnetic element is a magnet, such as a magnet made of neodymium. In some embodiments, the magnetic element is a ferromagnetic material.

[0037] In some embodiments, the cover comprises a protective packaging. The presence of the protective packaging in the cover is an invention per se. This invention does not require the presence of features of claim 1 or of claims depending thereof different from the cover. In some embodiments, the protective packaging performs the functions of both protecting the insulating material that forms the box and also keeping the shape of the box

[0038] The protective packaging enables increasing the service life of the assembly. In some embodiments, the protective packaging is made of PVC. In some of these embodiments, the protective packaging is made of an outer layer of PVC, an intermediate layer of LDPE foam and an inner layer of nylon, for example of black nylon.

[0039] In some embodiments, the strip is sewed to the protective packaging.

[0040] In some embodiments the protective packaging is a sleeve. In some of these embodiments, strips of the attaching means are fixed to the sleeve, for example are sewed to the sleeve. In some of these embodiments, the cover comprises a thermally insulating board and a sleeve as a protecting packaging for the thermally insulating board. In these embodiments, the sleeve may be joined to the board by velcro.

[0041] In some embodiments, the strips are arranged in the protective packaging, for example arranged in the sleeve, such that the strips surround corners of the cooling element. In some of these embodiments the attaching means comprises four strips.

[0042] In some embodiments the cover height is of at least 10, 15, 20 or 25 mm and of at most 300, 250, 200 or 160 mm.

[0043] In some embodiments the top surface of the cover is rectangle-shaped or square-shaped:

• having a length of at least 300, 400, 500 or 600 mm and of at most 4000, 3500, 3000 or 2500 mm; and
• having a width of at least 300, 400, 500 or 600 mm and of at most 3000, 2500, 1700 or 1200 mm.

[0044] In some embodiments the lower surface of the cover is rectangle-shaped or square-shaped:

• having a length of at least 300, 400, 500 or 600 mm and of at most 4000, 3500, 3000 or 2500 mm; and
• having a width of at least 300, 400, 500 or 600 mm and of at most 3000, 2500, 1700 or 1200 mm.

[0045] A second aspect of the invention relates to a container comprising an assembly according to the first aspect of the invention.

[0046] In some embodiments, the container is a parallelepiped. In some of these embodiments, the container is a rectangular cuboid or a square cuboid. Thereby, the container may have a simple shape easy to manufacture.

[0047] In some embodiments, the container is thermally insulating, such as an isothermal container. For example, the container may be an isothermal container for home delivery of food which should be preserved at sufficiently low temperature. In some of these embodiments, the container comprises a receptacle and the cover according to the first aspect of the invention is a cover of the receptacle. The receptacle is made of a thermally insulating material, such as polyurethane foam.

[0048] In some embodiments, the container comprises a second magnetic element complementary to the magnetic element of the assembly such that there is an attractive force between the second magnetic element and the magnetic element of the assembly. In this way the cover can be easily applied to and removed from the container by respectively merely bringing the cover close to the receptacle and pulling the cover away from the receptacle. The presence of the second magnetic element in the container is an invention per se. This invention does not require the presence of features of claim 1 or of claims depending thereof different from the cover. The cover can be easily separated from the second magnetic element by merely pulling the cover away from the second magnetic element.

[0049] In some of these embodiments, the container comprises a receptacle having an inner part for holding a product and an outer part; and the assembly according to the first aspect of the invention is a cover of the receptacle. The receptacle comprises an inner thermally insulating box. The second magnetic element is arranged in the box. In this way, the cover can be easily separated from the receptacle by merely pulling the cover away from the box so that the attractive force between the second magnetic element and the magnetic element of the assembly is overcome. In addition, the attractive force between the second magnetic element and the magnetic element of the cover is enough for ensuring that the receptacle is reliably closed with the cover, such as thermally sealed in an appropriate manner.

[0050] In some embodiments, the box comprises an edge surrounding an opening of the receptacle. In some of these embodiments, the second magnetic element is arranged in the edge.

[0051] In some embodiments the second magnetic element is a magnet, such as a magnet made of neodymium. In some embodiments, the second magnetic material is ferromagnetic.

[0052] In some embodiments, the edge comprises a recess in which the second magnetic element is arranged. Thereby, the second magnetic element may be arranged such that it is flush with the surface of the edge of the box surrounding the recess.

[0053] In some embodiments, the second magnetic element is fixed to the box by an adhesive, for example by an adhesive tape.

[0054] In some embodiments, the box comprises second magnetic elements. In some of these embodiments the second magnetic elements are arranged in the edge of the box, for example in recesses of the edge. In some of these embodiments the second magnetic elements are arranged in locations of the edge which match the locations of magnetic elements of the assembly. In other words, the spatial arrangement of the magnetic elements of the cover relative to each other is the same as the spatial arrangement of the second magnetic elements relative to each other. In this way, when the assembly is used for covering the receptacle, the distance between the magnetic elements of the assembly and the second magnetic elements is minimized.

[0055] In some embodiments, the container comprises a receptacle, wherein the assembly is a cover of the receptacle, and wherein the receptacle comprises a box and a sleeve covering an inner part and/or an outer part of the box. In some of these embodiments, the box is a thermally insulating box. The presence of the sleeve covering the inner part and/or the outer part of the receptacle is an invention per se. This invention does not require the presence of features of claim 1 or of claims depending thereof different from the cover. The sleeve(s) of the receptacle may provide waterproof protection to the receptacle, increase the resistance of the receptacle to impacts and reinforce the box structure.

[0056] In some embodiments, the cover is removably attachable to the receptacle. This enables separating the assembly from the receptacle in an easy manner.

[0057] In some embodiments, the container comprises a first sleeve covering the inner part of the receptacle and a second sleeve covering the outer part of the receptacle. The first sleeve may be joined to the second sleeve through velcro.

[0058] In some embodiments, the first sleeve covers the inner part of the box, the edge of the box and a portion of the outer part of the box closest to the edge of the box. In some of these embodiments, the portion of the outer part of the box closest to the edge is provided with attaching means, such as velcro, for joining the second sleeve to the first sleeve.

[0059] In some embodiments, the outer part of the receptacle is provided with attaching means, such as velcro, for attaching the second sleeve to the receptacle.

[0060] A third aspect of the invention relates to a method of using a container according to the second aspect of the invention, the method comprising the steps of:

• introducing a product in the box;
• taking the assembly according to the first aspect of the invention out of a cooling chamber;
• coupling the assembly to the box so that the container containing the product is formed;
• transporting the container;
• delivering the product contained in the transported container;
• separating the assembly from the box after delivering the product;
• introducing the separated assembly in a cooling chamber;
• keeping the assembly in the cooling chamber for a time and repeating the previous steps.

[0061] In this way, the assembly can be reused in isothermal containers several times through coupling the assembly to a receptacle after cooling the assembly.

[0062] The method applied to the assembly according to the first aspect of the invention allows decreasing the cooling time of a used assembly by 33%, so that less energy is required for using the assembly and the assembly can be reused quicker.

[0063] In the present disclosure the term "velcro" has been used to refer to "hook-and-loop fastener".

[0064] The different aspects and embodiments of the invention defined in the foregoing can be combined with one another, as long as they are compatible with each other.

[0065] Additional advantages and features of the invention will become apparent from the detailed description that follows and will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0066] To complete the description and in order to provide a better understanding of the invention, a set of drawings is provided. Said drawings form an integral part of the description and illustrate embodiments of the invention, which should not be interpreted as restricting the scope of the invention, but just as an example of how the invention can be carried out. The drawings comprise the following figures:

Figure 1 schematically illustrates a cross section of an assembly according to the present invention.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a cover and attaching means of a cover according to the present invention.

Figure 3 is a plan view of an assembly according to the present invention.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a thermally insulating board of an assembly according to the present invention from the side where the magnets are inserted.

Figure 5 shows a box made of a thermally insulating board of an assembly according to the present invention.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a box where only the inner sleeve has been placed.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of a box where both the inner and outer sleeves have been placed.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of a container according to the present invention.

Figure 9 is a cover of the prior art, without cooling elements.

Figure 10 is an assembly of the prior art with the cooling elements inserted therein.

Figure 11 schematically illustrates a cooling mechanism of an assembly according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0067] The following description is not to be taken in a limiting sense but is given solely for the purpose of describing the broad principles of the invention. Embodiments of the invention will be described by way of example, with reference to the above-mentioned drawings.

[0068] Figs. 1 to 4 show a rectangular cover 1 of an assembly 1, which comprises the cover 1, the cooling element 2 and attaching means therebetween. The cover has a top surface 1T, a lower surface 1U and a lateral peripheral surface 1L, that joints the upper and lower surfaces. As shown in figure 1 the cover has a first height h₁. The first height h₁ is lower than the length and the width of the cover 1 and extends in a direction perpendicular to a plane defined by the width and the length of the cover 1. In other words the height h₁ is the thickness of the cover 1.

[0069] As shown in figures 2 and 3 the cover 1 comprises a protective packaging which is waterproof, resistant to impacts and lightweight. The protective packaging comprises an outer layer of PVC, an intermediate layer of LDPE foam and an inner layer of black nylon. The protective packaging completely encloses an insulation board 11.

[0070] The cover 1 comprises attaching means 3, which are strips. Each strip 31, 32 has two ends and each end is sewed to the protective packaging. Thereby the strips hang from the lower surface 1U. As shown in figure 3, one of the strips is an elastic strip 32.

[0071] Each elastic strip 31, 32 defines a gap for introducing a corner of the cooling element 2 substantially having a parallelepipedic shape. For inserting the cooling element it is sufficient to pull the elastic string 32, inserting the cooling element 3 in the three other strips and then release the strip 32. It is pointed out that the elastic strip 32 is just enough elastic for allowing inserting the cooling element 2. The goal is to hold the cooling element 2 tight against the cover 1, that is, preferable it does not have to hang, though a little gap between the cooling element 2 and the cover 1 may be allowed.

[0072] The cooling element 2 has an upper surface 2T, a lower surface 2U and a lateral peripheral surface 2L. A cover height h₂ is thus defined in the cooling element 2. This height h₂ is lower than the length and the width of the cooling element 2 and extends in a direction perpendicular to a plane defined by the width and the length of the cooling element 2.

[0073] As shown in the figures, the width of the cooling element 2 is lower than the width of the cover 1. The length of the cooling element 2 is lower than the length of the cover 1.

[0074] The cooling element 2 may contain a liquid which freezes upon cooling in a cooling chamber and which liquifies upon absorbing latent heat during use of the assembly A in, for example, a container for keeping a low temperature inside the container.

[0075] Upon introduction of the corners of the cooling element 2 in the gaps defined between each elastic strip and the lower surface of the cover 1, the cooling element 2 is subjected to an elastic stress exerted by the elastic strips towards the lower surface of the cover 1, increasing stability of the position of the cooling element 2.

[0076] As shown in figure 1, the assembly A has a total height H from the upper/top surface 1T to the lower surface 2U which is higher than or equal to the sum of the cover height h₁ and the cooling height h₂. The total height H may be higher as a result of a gap e that may be between the cover 1 and the cooling element 2.

[0077] Figure 11 schematically illustrates the cooling mechanism of the assembly A in a cooling chamber. The assembly A is orientated such that the cooling element 2 is below the cover 1. Cold air follows the schematic path illustrated with the relatively small arrows. Heat Q is transferred from the cooling element 2 to the air as indicated by the black arrows. Cold air raises until reaching the lowermost part of the cooling element 2. Then cold air flows on the lower surface 2U of the cooling element 2 towards the lateral peripheral surface 2L of the cooling element 2. As the cold air flows on the lateral peripheral surface 2L of the cooling element 2, cold air gets hotter. Upon reaching the end of the lateral peripheral surface 2L, the relatively high temperature of air causes that the air rises flowing on the lateral peripheral surface 1L of the cover 1. In this manner an air current which accelerates cooling is generated by the change of temperature of the cold air. In addition, since air flows on the lateral peripheral surface 2L of the cooling element 2, heat exchange rate is further increased when compared to cooling elements in which the cold air does not flow on the lateral peripheral surface 2L.

[0078] Therefore, the heat transfer not only increases by the mere increase of the surface of the cooling element exposed to the cold air of the chamber, but also increases by the resulting surface arrangement, which improves convection, increases the gradients of temperature. For this reason, although the transfer surface has increased by a percentage between 10 and 20%, improvements in heat transfer performance of more than 30% are obtained, which is key for the use of the cold room and the cold rooms themselves.

[0079] As shown in figure 1, the cover 1 comprises a thermally insulating board 11. The insulating board has lower extreme portions wherein ferromagnetic elements 12 are arranged.

[0080] The ferromagnetic elements 12 are arranged in the insulating board 11 for facing the edges of a box 5.

[0081] The ferromagnetic elements 12 are introduced in recesses of the lower surface 1U of the cover. Each recess has a shape complementary to the shape of the ferromagnetic element 10 introduced in the recess.

[0082] The ferromagnetic elements 12 are fixed to the surface 1U by means of adhesive tape and flush with the surface 1U. The outer sleeve will protect the magnets.

[0083] As shown in figure 8 or figure 5, an isothermal container 4 comprises a cover 1 and a box 5. The box 5 defines a receptacle/ volume V for carrying things. The box is made of polyisocyanurate foam reinforced with a plastic carton made of cellular polypropylene.

[0084] The box 5 comprises a top rim or edge in which magnets 41 are arranged. The magnets 41 are introduced in recesses of the edge and coincident with the magnets of the cover 1.

[0085] Thus, the arrangement of the magnets 41 of the insulating box 5 matches the arrangement of the ferromagnetic elements 12 of the cover 1, such that the distance between each magnet 41 and each ferromagnetic element 12 is minimized, thereby increasing an attraction force between the magnets.

[0086] As shown in figure 6, the box 5 is provided with a first sleeve 51. The first sleeve 51 comprises an outer layer of PVC, an intermediate layer of LDPE foam and an inner layer of black nylon. The first sleeve 51 covers the inner side of the box 1, its top rim and a top portion of the outer side of the box 5.

[0087] Velcro tapes 53 are provided on the outer side of the box 5. The first sleeve 51 is fixed to the box 5 by sticking velcro tapes provided on the inner side of the box 5 to velcro tapes provided on the first sleeve 51.

[0088] As shown in figure 7, the container comprises a second sleeve 52 covering the outer side of the box 5. The second sleeve 52 comprises an outer layer of PVC, an intermediate layer of LDPE foam and an inner layer of black nylon.

[0089] The second sleeve 52 is provided with a velcro tape which engages with corresponding velcro tapes 54 provided on the outer side of the box 5 and velcro tapes 53 provided on the first sleeve 51.

[0090] The insulating box 5 may be assembled by putting together insulating boards having recesses and protrusions, wherein the protrusions have a shape complementary to that of the recesses. The assembly of the insulating boards may be reinforced by adding an adhesive, such as a hot melt adhesive, in the union between the insulating boards. The assembly of the insulating boards may be further reinforced by adding reinforcements, such as L-shaped cardboard reinforcements, on corners of the insulating box 5. The reinforcements may be fixed to the insulating boards by straps 54.

[0091] In this text, the term "comprises" and its derivations (such as "comprising", etc.) should not be understood in an excluding sense, that is, these terms should not be interpreted as excluding the possibility that what is described and defined may include further elements, steps, etc.

[0092] On the other hand, the invention is obviously not limited to the specific embodiment(s) described herein, but also encompasses any variations that may be considered by any person skilled in the art (for example, as regards the choice of materials, dimensions, components, configuration, etc.), within the general scope of the invention as defined in the claims.

Claims

1. Assembly (A) having a cover (1), a cooling element (2) and attaching means (3) for attaching the cooling element (2) to the cover (1), the cover (1) having a top surface (1T), a lower surface (1U) and a lateral peripheral surface (1L) extending from the top (1T) to the lower surface (1U), the cover (1) having a cover height (h1) from the top surface (1T) to the lower surface (1U); the cooling element (2) comprising a top surface (2T), a lower surface (2U) and a lateral peripheral surface (2L) extending from top surface (2T) to the lower surface (2U), the cooling element (2) having a cooling element height (h2) from the top surface (2T) to the lower surface (2U), the top surface (2T) of the cooling element (2) facing the lower surface (1U) of the cover (1), the assembly having a total height (H) from the top surface (1T) of the cover (1) to the lower surface of the cooling element (2), characterized in that the total height (H) is higher than or equal to the sum of the cover height (h1) and the cooling element height (h2).

2. Assembly (1) according to claim 1, wherein the attaching means (3) are reversible.

3. Assembly (1) according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the attaching means (3) comprise strips (31).

4. Assembly (1) according to claim 3, which comprises four strips (31), three of them being non-extensible and the fourth being elastic.

5. Assembly (1) according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the attaching means (3) comprise a velcro fastener and wherein hooks or loops of the velcro fastener are arranged in the strip.

6. Assembly (1) according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the attaching means (3) comprises a button-slit attachment wherein a button of the button-slit attachment or a slit of the button-slit attachment is arranged in the strip.

7. Assembly (1) according to any one of claims 3 to 6, wherein the attaching means (3) comprises a snap-fit attachment wherein part of the snap-fit attachment is arranged in the strip.

8. Assembly (1) according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the cover (1) comprises a magnetic element (12).

9. Assembly (1) according to claim 8, wherein the cover (1) comprises a thermally insulating board (11) and the magnetic element (12) is arranged in a surface of the thermally insulating board (12) flush with the lower surface (1U) of the cover (1).

10. Container (4) comprising an assembly (1) according to any one of the previous claims and a box (5).

11. Container (4) according to claim 10, wherein the container (4) is thermally insulating.

12. Container (4) according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the assembly (1) is an assembly according to claim 8 or 9 and wherein the container (4) comprises a second magnetic element (41) complementary to the magnetic element (12) of the assembly (1) such that there is an attractive force between the second magnetic element (12) and the magnetic element (12) of the assembly (1).

13. Container (4) according to any of claims 10 to 12, which comprises a sleeve (51, 52) covering an inner part and/or an outer part of the box (5).

14. Method of using a container (4) according to any of claims 10 to 13, which comprises the steps of:

- introducing a product in the box (5);

- taking the assembly (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9 out of a cooling chamber;

- coupling the assembly (1) to the box (5) so that the container is ready for expedition;

- transporting the container (4);

- delivering the product contained in the transported container (4);

- separating the assembly (1) from the box (5) after delivering the product;

- introducing the separated assembly (1) in a cooling chamber;

- keeping the assembly (1) in the cooling chamber for a time and repeating the previous steps.

Drawing