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(11) | EP 4 249 394 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
| published in accordance with Art. 153(4) EPC |
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| (54) | ISOTHERMAL BOX FOR STORING AND TRANSPORTING PRODUCTS |
| (57) The present invention comprises a container (1) in turn comprising a first rigid
outer body (11), a first rigid inner body (12), and a first rigid intermediate body
(13) with respective upper openings (112, 122, 132). The container (1) further includes
first attachment means (111, 121)joining the first bodies (11, 12, 13) to one another.
The first intermediate body (13) is fitted in the first opening (112) and the first
inner body (12) is fitted in the third opening (132). The first bodies (11, 12, 13)
are manufactured from one and the same thermoplastic plastic material, with the first
intermediate body (13) being manufactured from an expanded variant of said thermoplastic
plastic material, so as to provide thermal insulation. The box can incorporate a cover
(14, 15) for covering the opening (122) of the first inner body (12). The box provides
optimal thermal insulation and great ease of recycling. |
Technical Field
[0001] The present invention can be included in the technical field of transportation and logistics, and it can also be included in the field of food. More specifically, the object of the invention relates to an isothermal box which allows storing and/or transporting products, particularly, although not exclusively, food products.
Background
[0002] Various isothermal boxes for transporting fresh products, such as fish, among others, are known. To provide isothermal properties, said boxes consist of components manufactured from materials of different nature and origin, which greatly complicates or even hinders recycling operations of the boxes at the end of their service life, leading to serious ecological problems.
[0003] As is known, the problem of recycling products manufactured from plastic and polymer materials is becoming extremely prominent in recent years, all the more since products manufactured from materials of different nature offer very few possibilities of being recycled, and their degradation in the environment lasts for a very long time, leading to serious land and marine pollution problems.
[0004] There are many heat-resistant polymer materials that have almost no possibilities of being recycled, turning them into waste that is very hazardous for the environment.
Summarised description of the invention
[0005] To solve the aforementioned recycling drawbacks, the present invention describes an isothermal box for storing and transporting products which, as a result of its particular configuration and construction, exhibits isothermal properties, so it is suitable for storing and transporting various products including, among many others, fresh food products, such as fish, without compromising the qualities required in said storage and transport operations, such as maintaining a cold chain, keeping the stored product fresh, among other technical requirements, and which box furthermore can be easily recycled, as will be explained below. The isothermal box of the invention therefore has excellent isothermal properties, while at the same time allowing all the components thereof to be recycled completely.
[0006] In particular, the box of the invention comprises a container formed by three first bodies that are superiorly open and successively fitted into one another wherein, among the first bodies, a first intermediate body is fitted between a first inner body and a first outer body. The box further includes attachment means joining the first bodies to one another. The first bodies are manufactured from one and the same thermoplastic plastic material, with the first intermediate body being manufactured from an expanded variant of said thermoplastic plastic material, so as to provide thermal insulation.
[0007] As is known in the sector, a foamed plastic, also called expanded plastic, cellular plastic, or structural foam plastic, is a plastic with an apparent low density (with respect to the non-foamed variant) due to the presence of various cells (called alveoli) which may or may not be communicated with one another and are uniformly distributed in a mass, and produced by means of a foaming agent.
[0008] Thermoplastic materials can be recycled very easily, while foamed thermoplastic materials furthermore exhibit thermal insulation property.
Brief description of the figures
[0009] The foregoing and other advantages and features will be better understood based on the following detailed description in reference to the attached drawings, which must be interpreted in an illustrative and non-limiting manner and in which:
Figure 1 shows a top perspective view of the container of the box of the invention.
Figure 2 shows a detailed sectioned view of the container of Figure 1.
Figure 3 shows a sectioned perspective view of the box of the invention with a cover, with a first example of the cover.
Figure 4 shows a perspective view of a detail of the first outer body with a second cover example, alternative to the first cover.
Detailed description of an exemplary embodiment
[0010] A detailed description of a preferred embodiment of an isothermal box for storing and transporting products according to the present invention is provided below with the help of the aforementioned Figures 1-4 which are attached.
[0011] As seen in Figures 1 and 3, the isothermal box of the invention comprises a container (1) that is superiorly open and formed by three rigid first bodies (11, 12, 13): a first outer body (11) with a first upper opening (112); a first inner body (12) with a second upper opening (122); and a first intermediate body (13) with a third upper opening (132), wherein the first intermediate body (13) is fitted in the first opening (112) and the first inner body (12) is fitted in the third opening (132), such that the first intermediate body (13) is fitted between the first outer body (11) and the second inner body (12).
[0012] Both the first outer body (11), as well as the first inner body (12) and the first intermediate body (13), are manufactured from one and the same thermoplastic plastic material, the first intermediate body (13) being advantageously manufactured from a foamed, also called expanded, variant of said thermoplastic plastic material, in order to adopt thermal insulation property. For example, the thermoplastic material can be polypropylene, such that the first outer body (11) and the first inner body (12) can be manufactured from polypropylene, whereas the first intermediate body (13) can be manufactured from expanded polypropylene, so as to provide thermal insulation. Other valid thermoplastic materials include, by way of example, polyethylene, polystyrene, and polyvinyl chloride, among others.
[0013] Figure 2 shows that the container (1) further comprises first attachment means (111, 121) joining the three first bodies (11, 12, 13) to one another. Preferably, the first attachment means (111, 121) are of the form-fit type. Even more preferably, the first attachment means can be in particular by way of clipping such that, for example, as shown in the figures, perimeter edges surrounding the first opening (112) and the second opening (122) by way of respectively one or more first flaps (111) and one or more complementary second flaps (121).
[0014] Therefore, once the first intermediate body (13) is fitted inside the first outer body (11), the first inner body (12) is fitted inside the first intermediate body (13), and the first bodies (11, 12, 13) are joined to one another using the first attachment means (111, 121) described above, in the case depicted in the figures, by clipping the first flaps (111) with the second flaps (121). In turn, the first inner body (12) is intended for housing the corresponding products.
[0015] Figures 1 and 3 likewise show holes (100) made on the first bodies (11, 12, 13) to makes it easier to drain liquids.
[0016] In reference now to Figures 3 and 4, the box can further incorporate a cover (14, 15) which in turn comprises two rigid second bodies (141, 142): a second outer body (141) and a second inner body (142) connected by means of second attachment means. There is arranged between the second outer body (141) and the second inner body (142) a chamber (not shown) generally occupied by a thermally insulating gas or mixture of gases, such as air, which provides thermal insulation, although the chamber can also be occupied by a second rigid thermally insulating intermediate body (not shown). Similarly to the explanation for the first bodies (11, 12, 13), the second outer body (141) and the second inner body (142) can be made of one and the same thermoplastic material, and in turn the second intermediate body can be made of the same thermoplastic material in expanded version.
[0017] According to a first example shown in Figure 3, there is arranged a first cover (14) in which the second outer body (141) and the second inner body (142), as well as the second attachment means, can be of a type similar to that explained above for the first outer body (11) and the first inner body (12) and the first attachment means (111, 121). Preferably, as shown in Figure 3, the first cover (14) can be connected by means of the second attachment means which allow a separable attachment, similarly to the first attachment means (141, 142).
[0018] Moreover, according to a second example shown in Figure 4, there is arranged a second cover (15) comprising two portions (143) pivotably connected, by means of the second attachment means, to the first outer body (11) on opposite sides, respectively, in a non-separable manner, unlike the preceding cover (14) which was an element independent of the main body of the box. Preferably, the second connection means comprise hinges (144) which allow opening the second cover (15) by a rotation of more than 270°, and this, in a position in which the portions (143) are completely open, makes it easier to position of said portions (143) on a plane substantially parallel to the corresponding face of the first outer body (11), without therefore constituting an obstacle for stocking boxes like the one of the invention, constituting a great advantage in logistics and box transfer operations, since the box and cover (15) do not have to be separated for operations of unloading or cleaning and repackaging the boxes, and therefore there will be no possibility of losing some units of boxes and/or covers (15), and thereby losing the effectiveness of a specific product supply and/or logistics chain in isothermal conditions, all this without compromising the leak-tight conditions and isothermal conditions to be achieved with the present invention.
[0019] Moreover, the first intermediate body (13) may comprise a series of through holes (131) on its base, and the first outer body (11) has a base with first lugs (113) projecting from the upper portion, and where the first inner body (12) has a base with second lugs (123) projecting from the lower portion. The first lugs (113) and/or the second lugs (123) are housed in the holes (131) to ensure a correct positioning of said first intermediate body (13), forming a homogeneous and rigid structure that is capable of supporting the loads required in product transport and storage operations.
[0020] According to the example shown in the figures, the holes (131), as well as the first lugs (113) and the second lugs (123), correspond to one another, i.e., a first lug (113) and a second lug (123) are present for each hole (131). Therefore, the second lugs (123) preferably lean supported on the first lugs (113), preferably going through the holes (131), although it is also possible for the second lugs (123) to be hollow at the end thereof in order to house the corresponding ends of the first lugs (113), or vice versa. Moreover, in a non-depicted alternative, the holes (131), as well as the first lugs (113) and the second lugs (123), do not have to correspond to one another, rather they are complementary with one another, i.e., there are only first lugs (113) to go through some of the holes (131), as well as only second lugs (123) to go through the rest of the holes (131).
1. An isothermal box for storing and transporting products, comprising a container (1)
that is superiorly open, in turn comprising:
- a rigid first outer body (11) with a first upper opening (112);
- a rigid first inner body (12) with a second upper opening (122) and intended for containing the products;
- a rigid first intermediate body (13) with a third upper opening (132); and
- first attachment means (111, 121) joining the first bodies (11, 12, 13) to one another;
- wherein the first intermediate body (13) is fitted in the first opening (112) and the first inner body (12) is fitted in the third opening (132), such that the first intermediate body (13) is fitted between the first outer body (11) and the first inner body (12);
characterised in that the first bodies (11, 12, 13) are manufactured from one and the same thermoplastic plastic material, with the first intermediate body (13) being manufactured from an expanded variant of said thermoplastic plastic material, so as to provide thermal insulation.2. The isothermal box for storing and transporting products according to claim 1, characterised in that the first attachment means (111, 121) are of the form-fit type.
3. The isothermal box for storing and transporting products according to claim 2, characterised in that the first attachment means (111, 121) are of the clipping type.
4. The isothermal box for storing and transporting products according to claim 3, characterised in that the first attachment means (111, 121) comprise perimeter edges surrounding the first
opening (112) and the second opening (122) by way of respectively one or more first
flaps (111) and one or more corresponding second flaps (121).
5. The isothermal box for storing and transporting products according to any of claims
1-4, characterised in that it further comprises:
- through holes (131) on a base of the first intermediate body (13);
- first lugs (113) projecting from the upper portion of a base of the first outer body (11), and
- second lugs (123) projecting from the lower portion of a base of the first inner body (12);
wherein the first lugs (113) and/or the second lugs (123) go through the through holes (131).6. The isothermal box for storing and transporting products according to claim 5, characterised in that each hole (131) corresponds with a first lug (113) and with a second lug (123).
7. The isothermal box for storing and transporting products according to claim 6, characterised in that the second lugs (123) lean supported on the first lugs (113).
8. The isothermal box for storing and transporting products according to claim 7, characterised in that either the second lugs (123) are hollow at the end thereof in order to house the
corresponding ends of the first lugs (113), or the first lugs (113) are hollow at
the end thereof in order to house the corresponding ends of the second lugs (123).
9. The Isothermal box for storing and transporting products according to any of claims
6-8, characterised in that only the first lugs (113) go through the holes.
10. The isothermal box for storing and transporting products according to claim 5, characterised in that there are only first lugs (113) to go through some of the holes (131), as well as
only second lugs (123) to go through the rest of the holes (131).
11. The Isothermal box for storing and transporting products according to any of claims
1-10, characterised in that the first outer body (11) and the first inner body (12) are configured to form stackable
containers (1).
12. The Isothermal box for storing and transporting products according to any of claims
1-11, characterised in that it further comprises a cover (14, 15) for covering the second opening (122), and
in turn comprising:
- a second rigid inner body (141); and
- a second rigid outer body (142);
- second attachment means connecting the second inner body (141) and the second outer body (142); and
- a chamber formed between the second inner body (141) and the second outer body (142).
13. The isothermal box for storing and transporting products according to claim 12, characterised in that the second inner body (141) and the second outer body (142) are manufactured from
one and the same thermoplastic material.
14. The Isothermal box for storing and transporting products according to any of claims
12-13, characterised in that it further comprises a second rigid thermally insulating intermediate body housed
in the chamber.
15. The isothermal box for storing and transporting products according to claims 13 and
14, characterised in that the second intermediate body is manufactured from an expanded version of the same
thermoplastic material from which the second inner body (141) and the second outer
body (142) are manufactured.
16. The isothermal box for storing and transporting products according to claim 12, characterised in that the chamber is filled with a thermally insulating gas or mixture of gases.
17. The isothermal box for storing and transporting products according to any of claims
12-16, characterised in that it comprises a first cover (14), where the second attachment means allow a separable
attachment.
18. The isothermal box for storing and transporting products according to any of claims
12-16, characterised in that it comprises a second cover (15), comprising two portions (143) pivotably connected,
by means of the second attachment means, to the first outer body (11) respectively
on opposite sides, in a non-separable manner.
19. The isothermal box for storing and transporting products according to claim 18, characterised in that the second connection means comprise hinges (144) which allow opening the second
cover (15) by a rotation of more than 270°.