Transport crate equipped with a drainage hole surrounded by a protective wall
The crate design with protective walls and channels around drainage openings addresses the issue of clogging, ensuring efficient liquid evacuation and maintaining sanitary conditions during food transport.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- FR · FR
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- THEGREENFLUX
- Filing Date
- 2024-04-04
- Publication Date
- 2026-06-26
AI Technical Summary
Existing crates for transporting food products, such as fish, face issues with drainage holes becoming clogged by small items like fish or fillets, preventing liquid evacuation during transport.
A crate design featuring drainage openings surrounded by protective walls and channels that guide liquid outwards, preventing clogging by ensuring a clear path for liquid flow.
Effectively prevents clogging of drainage openings, ensuring efficient liquid evacuation during transport, maintaining sanitary conditions and product presentation.
Smart Images
Figure 00000011_0000 
Figure 00000011_0001 
Figure 00000012_0000
Abstract
Description
Title of the invention: Transport crate equipped with a drainage opening surrounded by a protective wall. Technical field
[0001] The invention relates to the field of crates for the transport of a commodity, for example a food product such as fish. Prior art
[0002] Certain foodstuffs, particularly foodstuffs, may release liquid during transport. For example, when transporting fish in a crate, some of the ice used to keep the fish at the correct temperature melts and forms an exudate.
[0003] For sanitary and presentation reasons, it may be desirable to remove this liquid during transport.
[0004] There is a crate for transporting a commodity, the bottom of which is fitted with a drainage hole.
[0005] The drawback of this crate is that certain foodstuffs, such as small fish, fish fillets, or mollusks, can become lodged in the drainage opening and clog it. As a result, the liquid can no longer be drained and accumulates in the crate.
[0006] There is therefore a need for a box allowing the evacuation of a liquid regardless of the goods being transported. Description of the invention
[0007] One embodiment relates to a crate configured for the transport of a commodity, comprising a base extended by a side face, the base and the side face being arranged to define an interior zone, the base comprising at least one drainage orifice configured to allow the evacuation of a liquid out of the interior zone, characterized in that the at least one drainage orifice is at least partially surrounded by a protective wall, said protective wall being traversed by at least one drainage channel, and a top of said protective wall extending towards the interior zone at a first distance from the base, the first distance being strictly greater than zero.
[0008] The commodity may be a perishable food product.
[0009] The bottom of the crate corresponds to a wall on which the goods rest during transport. In other words, when the crate is in use, the bottom is the lower wall of the crate.
[0010] The side face surrounds the bottom so as to define the interior area of the case. The The side face may include handling handles for moving said crate.
[0011] The drain opening is configured to drain a liquid present in the inner area to the outside of the box.
[0012] The discharge opening is at least partially surrounded by the protective wall.
[0013] The discharge opening is circular.
[0014] According to one embodiment, the protective wall surrounds at least 75% of the discharge opening, preferably at least 80% or 95%.
[0015] The protective wall extends from the bottom towards the inner area. In other words, the protective wall projects from the bottom of the crate. The first distance corresponds to the height of the protective wall relative to the bottom.
[0016] In addition, the protective wall is crossed by at least one drainage channel.
[0017] By "through," it is meant that the protective wall can be pierced by the drainage channel. In this case, a piece of the protective wall is positioned above the drainage channel. The drainage channel forms an opening in the protective wall.
[0018] By "crossing," it is also understood that the protective wall can be interrupted by the drainage channel. The protective wall is then present on each side of the drainage channel. The protective wall is interrupted by the drainage channel.
[0019] Thus, the drainage opening cannot be blocked by a food product during transport. Indeed, the ingenious configuration of the protective wall and the drainage channel ensures that the liquid flows from the inside of the crate to the outside.
[0020] The object of this presentation may also have one or more of the following characteristics taken alone or in combination.
[0021] In some embodiments, the box includes a plurality of openings at least partially surrounded by a protective wall, for example four.
[0022] In some embodiments, the first distance is between 0 and 10mm, preferably between 1mm and 5mm, for example 3.5mm.
[0023] In some embodiments, at least one discharge channel is formed of at least one straight segment.
[0024] In some embodiments, the protective wall comprises at least a first part and a second part, the first part and the second part being separated by a first and a second drainage channel.
[0025] In some embodiments, at least a first and at least a second discharge channel includes an end arriving at the level of the discharge orifice.
[0026] Thus, two drainage channels pass through the protective wall in two positions so as to separate the protective wall into a first part and a second The first part is independent of the second part. In other words, the first part is not in contact with the second part.
[0027] In some embodiments, the first drainage channel forms with the second drainage channel a third angle between 90° and 180°, preferably between 130° and 180°, and in particular 180°.
[0028] In some embodiments, the first part extends towards the inner zone at the first distance from the bottom, the second part extends towards the inner zone at a second distance from the bottom, the first distance from the bottom and the second distance from the bottom being different.
[0029] Since each part of the protective wall is independent of the other, they can have a different height.
[0030] Thus, it is even more difficult for a product to clog the drainage opening.
[0031] In certain embodiments, the protective wall extends from the bottom with a first angle of inclination, said first angle of inclination being between 90° and 180°, preferably 100° and 150°.
[0032] Thus, the protective wall forms a slope between the bottom of the box and the discharge opening. In other words, the protective wall has a cone shape, one apex of which is the discharge opening.
[0033] In some embodiments, at least one drainage channel has a groove shape extending over the bottom of the case.
[0034] The drainage channel therefore corresponds to a notch in the bottom of the crate, the notch comprising a bottom. The bottom of the drainage channel extends in a direction opposite to the direction of the inner zone. In other words, the bottom of the drainage channel is "under" the bottom of the crate in use.
[0035] The purpose of the drainage channel is to guide the liquid to be evacuated towards the drainage orifice.
[0036] In some embodiments, at least one bypass channel surrounds at least part of the discharge opening.
[0037] The bypass channel extends between the first and second discharge channel, bypassing the discharge orifice.
[0038] Thus, the liquid to be evacuated is not blocked by the protective wall and is directed towards the first and second evacuation channel before being evacuated through the evacuation orifice.
[0039] In certain embodiments, a bottom of at least one drainage channel forms a second angle of inclination with the bottom of the box, said second angle of inclination being between 0° and 20°, preferably 1° and 5°, and in particular 2° or 3°.
[0040] Thus the liquid flows by gravity to the discharge orifice.
[0041] In certain embodiments, the bottom of the box has an inclination relative to a support plane, when the box is normally placed on said support plane in use situation, said inclination being oriented towards the discharge opening.
[0042] Thus the liquid flows by gravity to the discharge orifice.
[0043] In some embodiments, the box has a shape substantially of a parallelepiped, the evacuation orifice being positioned in a corner of said parallelepiped.
[0044] In some embodiments, the box includes a drainage opening in each corner of said parallelepiped.
[0045] In some embodiments, said box is an isothermal box comprising an inner wall and an outer wall enclosing between them a layer of static gas so as to create an insulating layer.
[0046] Thus, the foodstuffs are protected from the heat and release less liquid. Brief description of the drawings
[0047] The invention will be better understood from the following description, which relates to an embodiment according to the present invention, given by way of non-limiting example and explained with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings, in which:
[0048] [Fig-1] is a perspective view of a box according to the invention;
[0049] [Fig.2] is a first enlargement of the box according to [Fig.1];
[0050] [Fig.3] is a second enlargement of the case according to [Fig.1];
[0051] [Fig.4] is a third enlargement of the case according to [Fig.1]. Description of the implementation methods
[0052] Only the elements necessary for understanding the invention have been shown. To facilitate reading the drawings, the same elements bear the same reference numerals from one figure to another.
[0053] The invention as represented in figures 1 to 4 relates to a crate 1 configured for the transport of a commodity, and more particularly a perishable food commodity.
[0054] According to the invention, the container 1 is an insulated container comprising an inner wall and an outer wall enclosing a layer of static gas between them so as to create an insulating layer. Preferably, the inner wall and / or the outer wall is obtained by plastic injection molding. Preferably, the container 1 includes a lid obtained by plastic injection molding.
[0055] The lid can be formed by an inner wall and an outer wall enclosing between them a layer of static gas.
[0056] In figures 1 to 4, the box 1 has a shape substantially of parallelepiped,
[0057] The outer wall more specifically comprises a mounting wall configured to be in contact with a support plane when the box is normally placed on said support plane in use.
[0058] The inner wall comprises a bottom 3 extended and surrounded by a lateral face 2, the bottom 3 and the lateral face 2 being arranged to define an inner zone.
[0059] The bottom 3 of the crate 1 corresponds to the wall on which the goods rest during transport. In other words, when the crate 1 is in use, the bottom 3 is the lower inner wall of the crate 1.
[0060] The base 3 extends opposite, in other words opposite, the wall on which it is installed.
[0061] In certain embodiments, the bottom 3 of the box 1, that is, the bottom of the inner wall, is inclined relative to the support plane when the box 1 is normally placed on said support plane in use. In other words, the bottom 3 of the box 1 forms an angle with the support wall. Indeed, when the box 1 is placed on the support plane, the support wall is in contact with and parallel to the support plane; therefore, the bottom 3 of the box 1 forms an angle with the support wall and the support plane.
[0062] The bottom 3 includes at least one drainage orifice 5 configured to allow drainage of a liquid from the inner area.
[0063] Preferably, the box 1 comprises a drainage opening 5 in each corner of said parallelepiped. The box 1 therefore comprises four drainage openings 5.
[0064] As illustrated, each drainage orifice 5 is positioned in a corner of said parallelepiped.
[0065] In the rest of the description, reference will be made to only one discharge orifice 5, the others being similar.
[0066] The discharge orifice 5 is circular.
[0067] The inclination of the bottom 3 is oriented towards the discharge opening 5.
[0068] The discharge opening 5 extends across the bottom 3 of the box 1 and passes through the wall in exterior and exterior wall so as to create a hole between the interior area of box 1 and an exterior area.
[0069] The discharge opening 5 is at least partially surrounded by a protective wall 6.
[0070] According to one embodiment, the protective wall 6 surrounds at least 75% of the discharge opening 5, preferably at least 80% or 95%.
[0071] The protective wall 6 extends from the bottom 3 towards the inner area. In other words, the protective wall 6 protrudes from the bottom 3 of the case 1.
[0072] In certain embodiments, the protective wall 6 extends from the bottom 3 at a first angle of inclination, said first angle of inclination being included between 90° and 180°, preferably 100° and 150°.
[0073] Thus the protective wall 6 forms a slope between the bottom 3 of the box 1 and the discharge opening 5. In other words, the protective wall 6 has a cone shape, one apex of which is the discharge opening 5.
[0074] A top of said protective wall 6 extends towards the inner zone at a first distance from the bottom 3, the first distance being strictly greater than zero. The first distance corresponds to a height of the protective wall 6 relative to the bottom 3.
[0075] In some embodiments, the first distance is between 0 and 10mm, preferably between 1mm and 5mm, for example 3.5mm.
[0076] The bottom 3 of the box 1 also includes at least one drainage channel 41, 42.
[0077] In some embodiments, at least one drainage channel 41, 42 has a groove shape extending over the bottom 3 of the casing 1.
[0078] The drainage channel 41, 42 therefore corresponds to a notch in the bottom 3 of the casing 1, the notch comprising a bottom 45. The bottom 45 of the drainage channel 41, 42 is positioned in a direction opposite to the direction of the inner zone. In other words, the bottom 45 of the drainage channel 41, 42 is "under" the bottom 3 of the casing 1 in use. The bottom of the drainage channel 41, 42 is positioned towards the outer wall.
[0079] The purpose of the drainage channel 41, 42 is to guide the liquid to be evacuated towards the drainage orifice 5.
[0080] In certain embodiments, a bottom 45 of at least one drainage channel 41, 42 forms with the bottom 3 of the box 1 a second angle of inclination, said second angle of inclination being between 0° and 20°, preferably 1° and 5°, and in particular 2° or 3°.
[0081] Thus the liquid flows by gravity to the discharge orifice.
[0082] In some embodiments, at least one discharge channel 41, 42 is formed of at least one straight segment.
[0083] The protective wall 6 is crossed by at least one drainage channel 41, 42.
[0084] By "crossing," it is also understood that the protective wall 6 can be cut by the drainage channel 41, 42, as illustrated in the figures. The protective wall 6 is then present on each side of the drainage channel 41, 42. In other words, the protective wall 6 is interrupted by the drainage channel 41, 42.
[0085] As illustrated, the protective wall 6 comprises at least a first part 61 and a second part 62, the first part 61 and the second part 62 being separated by a first 41 and a second 42 drainage channel.
[0086] In certain embodiments, the first part 61 extends towards the inner zone at the first distance from the bottom 3, the second part 62 extends in direction of the inner zone at a second distance from bottom 3, the first distance from bottom 3 and the second distance from bottom 3 being different.
[0087] Each part 61, 62 of the protective wall 6 being independent of the other, they can have a different height.
[0088] In some embodiments, at least a first 41 and at least a second 42 discharge channel includes an end arriving at the level of the discharge port 5.
[0089] Thus, two drainage channels 41, 42 pass through the protective wall 6 in two positions so as to separate the protective wall 6 into a first part 61 and a second part 62, the first part 61 being independent of the second part 62. In other words, the first part 61 is not in contact with the second part 62.
[0090] At least one first 41 and at least one second 42 discharge channel comprise at least one straight segment.
[0091] At least one first 41 and at least one second 42 drainage channel extend parallel to the lateral face, for example at a distance from it of between 0 and 10mm, preferably between 1 and 5mm.
[0092] In some embodiments, the first drainage channel 41 forms with the second drainage channel 42 a third angle between 90° and 180°, preferably between 130° and 180°, and in particular 180°.
[0093] In some embodiments, an edge between the discharge channel 41, 42, and the lateral face is positioned in a direction opposite to the direction of the inner area.
[0094] Said edge extends substantially parallel to the bottom 3 of the case 1.
[0095] In some embodiments, the bottom 3 includes at least one bypass channel 43 which surrounds at least part of the discharge opening 5 and therefore the protective wall 6. More specifically, the bypass channel 43 surrounds the second part 62 of the protective wall 6.
[0096] The bypass channel 43 has a groove shape extending over the bottom 3 of the case 1.
[0097] The bypass channel 43 therefore corresponds to a notch in the bottom 3 of the casing 1, the notch comprising a bottom. The bottom of the bypass channel 43 is positioned in a direction opposite to the direction of the inner zone. In other words, the bottom of the bypass channel 43 is "under" the bottom 3 of the casing 1 in its operating condition. The bottom of the bypass channel 43 is positioned towards the outer wall.
[0098] The bypass channel 43 extends between the first 41 and the second 42 discharge channel, bypassing the discharge orifice 5.
[0099] Thus, the discharge orifice 5 cannot be blocked by a food product during the transport. Indeed, the ingenious configuration of the protective wall 6 and the drainage channel 41, 42, 43 ensures that the liquid flows from the inner area of the box 1 to the outside.
[0100] Although the present invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, it is evident that modifications and changes can be made to these examples without departing from the general scope of the invention as defined by the claims. In particular, individual features of the various embodiments illustrated / mentioned can be combined in additional embodiments. Therefore, the description and drawings should be considered in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.
[0101] It is also evident that all the characteristics described with reference to a device are transposable, alone or in combination, to a process.
Claims
Demands
1. A crate (1) configured for the transport of a commodity, comprising a bottom (3) extended by a side face (2), the bottom (3) and the side face (2) being arranged to define an interior zone, the bottom (3) comprising at least one discharge orifice (5) configured to permit the discharge of a liquid out of the interior zone, characterized in that the at least one discharge orifice (5) is at least partially surrounded by a protective wall (6), said protective wall (6) being traversed by at least one discharge channel (41, 42), and a top of said protective wall (6) extending towards the interior zone at a first distance from the bottom (3), the first distance being strictly greater than zero.
2. Casing (1) according to claim 1, wherein the protective wall (6) comprises at least a first part (61) and a second part (62), the first part (61) and the second part (62) being separated by a first (41) and a second (42) discharge channel.
3. Box (1) according to claim 2, wherein the first part (61) extends towards the inner area at the first distance from the bottom (3), the second part (62) extends towards the inner area at a second distance from the bottom (3), the first distance from the bottom (3) and the second distance from the bottom (3) being different.
4. A box (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the protective wall (6) extends from the bottom (3) with a first angle of inclination, said first angle of inclination being between 90° and 180°, preferably 100° and 150°.
5. Casing (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one discharge channel (41, 42) has a groove shape extending over the bottom (3) of the casing (1).
6. Casing (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one bypass channel (43) surrounds at least part of the discharge opening (5).
7. A box (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a bottom (45) of at least one discharge channel (41, 42) forms with the bottom (3) of the box (1) a second angle of inclination, said second angle of inclination being between 0° and 20°, preferably 1° and 5°, and in particular 2° or 3°.
8. Cash box (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, in in which the bottom (3) of the box (1) has an inclination relative to a support plane, when the box (1) is normally placed on said support plane in use situation, said inclination being oriented towards the discharge opening (5).
9. A box (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, having a substantially parallelepiped shape, the discharge orifice (5) being positioned in an angle of said parallelepiped.
10. A box (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, said box (1) being an isothermal box comprising an inner wall and an outer wall enclosing between them a layer of static gas so as to create an insulating layer.