Object packaging system

Abstract

The object conditioning system comprises six individual walls, assembled together to form a rectangular parallelepiped-shaped box, rails arranged on the inner faces of two parallel walls of the box, and movable, lockable elements adapted to move and lock within these rails. The movable elements inserted into the rails are adapted for attaching benches or guillotines to construct a support structure inside the box for holding the objects in place. (See Figure 5 for abbreviations.)

Description

Title of the invention: Object packaging system FIELD OF INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to conditioning systems. TECHNOLOGICAL BACKGROUND

[0002] Today, the policy of democratizing and sharing culture has led to a significant increase in the number of temporary exhibitions in museum, art, and cultural institutions worldwide. This desire to disseminate culture is accompanied by a significant sharing of national and private collections among institutions for the presentation of works in these exhibitions. Some institutions hold an average of two to three temporary exhibitions each year, showcasing numerous objects loaned by other institutions from the same country or from abroad. At the same time, these same institutions also lend part of their collections to other institutions for their exhibitions.

[0003] These exchanges represent tens of thousands of works packaged and transported each year around the world using dedicated packaging.

[0004] Since the transport involves works of art, which have specific requirements, at least in terms of security, art packaging must meet very demanding specifications. Currently, almost all such packaging is custom-made according to the number, dimensions, and characteristics of the objects to be transported, with a view to single use. Once the transport of the works has been completed, this packaging is very difficult to adapt for the transport of other works whose number, dimensions, and characteristics are significantly different.

[0005] For small and medium-sized objects, several packaging methods exist. The most common can be called "foam cutouts" and "carrying box cutouts." "Foam cutouts" consist of lining a box with several layers of polyethylene or polyurethane foam, into which the shape of the objects to be transported is roughly cut. "Carrying box cutouts," on the other hand, are intended for the most fragile or complex objects and consist of cutting the foam as closely as possible to the shape of the object to completely enclose it. A contact interface material is then integrated between the foam and the object by embedding the edges of the interface material in the foam. To do this, cutouts are made around the cut-out shape in the foam and the contact material, for example, a commercially available polyethylene fiber fabric. under the Tyvek® brand on the priority date, or a polyester non-woven fabric marketed under the Bondina® brand on the priority date, is inserted to immobilize it. The foam layers thus cut and coated, and the objects placed in the cutouts, are placed in suitable, custom-made crates or boxes.

[0006] These crates and boxes are generally made of wood, usually at least partially composed of composite plywood, and lined internally with polyethylene or polyurethane foam. Once the artwork has been transported in its packaging, it is typically displayed at the receiving institution for several months. Complex logistics and very large storage space are required to preserve the dedicated packaging during this time in preparation for the return journey. Such storage also exposes the institution to risks, as the crates can create breeding grounds for wood-boring insects or rodents, which can quickly become critical and difficult-to-control situations endangering the collections.Since these crates are made of wood, they are also lined internally with a polyethylene film vapor barrier, and the wood is treated to prevent the risk of infestation by wood-boring insects, which limits its recycling.

[0007] The use of these containers is, in fact, single-use and does not allow for reuse, which necessitates significant consumption of these materials and consequently generates an equivalent amount of polluting waste. Thus, it is estimated that this process currently generates thousands of tons of waste, largely non-recyclable, with an inevitably heavy environmental impact.

[0008] Certain works are subject to specific prerequisites for their transport. For example, it is known to use insulated crates. These insulated crates, built on the model presented above, also include an inner layer of extruded polystyrene, which also presents issues of recovery or recycling.

[0009] The known crates are locked by simply screwing the sides together. They are difficult to transport. This results in handling problems for personnel exposed to heavy loads, and a lack of ergonomics during assembly and disassembly.

[0010] In the particular case of works called "two-dimensional", that is to say typically paintings and other graphic arts, a transport case is known which receives adjustable movable wedges fitted to the corners of the frames and fixed to the bottom of the case by hook and loop fastener to fix them in the case.

[0011] In the specific case of so-called heavy or bulky works, that is to say typically statues, sculptures or building elements, the packaging can be of various kinds depending on the characteristics of each work. Certain works, of due to their weight or dimensions, they require very specific transport conditions and strategies and can only be transported in bench or guillotine crates.

[0012] The crates with benches consist of benches screwed to the sides of the crate and positioned in contact with the artwork to immobilize it. The face of each bench that is in contact with the artwork is covered with a layer of taped foam, generally polyethylene, a few centimeters thick. There is generally a series of main benches that are screwed to two parallel sides of the crate, and a series of secondary benches, perpendicular or transverse to the main benches, and screwed onto them.

[0013] Guillotine cases consist solely of main benches, one side of which is covered with a thick layer of foam that completely encases the artwork across the entire thickness of the bench. This type of packaging is suitable for fragile works that are not too large or heavy. The guillotines can be either screwed to the case, as with any bench, or slid in, like a tray or drawer, between two wooden strips screwed or glued to the inner wall of the case, which serve as guides for each guillotine.

[0014] Whatever the internal system for holding the artwork adopted, the crates are generally made of wood, generally consisting at least in part of composite boards of the plywood type painted externally.

[0015] In some cases, the artwork is pre-packed in a slatted crate, which is itself enclosed within the main crate. The benches or guillotines are then integrated into the slatted section, which, with the internal dimensions of the crate, is inserted into it. This type of packaging is generally used for artworks that are highly sensitive to temperature and humidity variations and require the use of insulated crates. These insulated crates, built on the standard crate design, also include an internal layer of extruded polystyrene, making it impossible to screw the benches or guillotine directly to the internal walls of the crate, thus necessitating the use of the slatted section.

[0016] We therefore seek to develop new packaging for works of art which respond at least to one of the problems set out above. Summary of the invention

[0017] Thus, the invention relates to a packaging system for objects comprising: - at least six individual partitions, which may or may not be removable, that can be assembled together to form a rectangular parallelepiped-shaped box,

[0018] - a plurality of rails arranged regularly and distributed symmetrically on the minus two parallel inner faces of the box walls,

[0019] - A plurality of movable and lockable elements that can move and These movable elements can be locked into the rails by any means. They can be completely removed from the rails and the crate if desired. Once the movable elements are inserted into the rails, benches or guillotines can then be attached to them, by any means, thus constructing a structure inside the crate to hold the objects in place.

[0020] Unlike current crates, this crate allows for the successive transport of different works, regardless of their shape, size or weight, without direct screwing into the walls of the crate, which also allows for a modular and durable crate with isothermal properties that do not require the use of openwork pre-conditioning. Brief description of the drawings

[0021] Embodiments of the invention will be described below with reference to the drawings, briefly described below:

[0022] [Fig-1] is a front view of a system adapted in a box for 2D works.

[0023] [Fig.2] is a side view of the system of [Fig.1].

[0024] [Fig.3] is a detail view of movable elements in place and fixed in their rails with screwed benches.

[0025] [Fig.4] is a detail view of movable elements in place and fixed in their rails with screwed benches.

[0026] [Fig.5] is a front perspective view for a second example.

[0027] [Fig.6] is a view of the second example from another perspective.

[0028] [Fig.7] is a view of the second example according to another configuration.

[0029] [Fig.8] is a detail view of movable elements in place and fixed in their rails with benches screwed in for the second example.

[0030] [Fig.9] is a detail view of movable elements in place and fixed in their rails with benches screwed in for the second example.

[0031] [Fig. 10] is a detail view of movable elements in place and fixed in their rails with benches screwed with movable elements of different typology.

[0032] [Fig. 11] is a detailed view of different typologies of adaptable mobile elements. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0033] Figure 1 represents a system adapted for use in a case for two-dimensional, or "2D," artworks. Four pairs of metal rails are arranged on two parallel inner faces of the case. Movable elements onto which wooden benches are screwed slide along these rails. The number of rails, movable elements, and benches per case is variable.

[0034] Fig. 2 is a side view of the rail system with movable elements and benches in place.

[0035] Figures 3 and 4 show detailed views of moving elements in place and fixed in their rails with screwed-on benches.

[0036] Figures 5 and 6 show a system adapted for use in a case for three-dimensional, or "3D," artworks. Three metal rails are arranged on each of two parallel inner faces of the case. Movable elements onto which the wooden benches are screwed slide along these rails.

[0037] Fig. 7 shows the same use but with the constitution of a complex structure.

[0038] Figures 8 and 9 show detailed views of movable elements in place and fixed in their rails with screwed-on benches.

[0039] Fig. 10 shows a similar system, but with moving elements of a different typology.

[0040] Fig. 11 is a detailed view of different types of adaptable mobile elements.

Claims

Demands

1. Object conditioning system comprising: - at least six, in particular exactly six, individual walls, which can be assembled together to form a rectangular parallelepiped box, - a plurality of rails arranged on the internal faces of at least two parallel walls of the box, - a plurality of movable and lockable elements adapted to move and lock in these rails, said movable elements being adapted for the attachment of benches or guillotines so as to construct a holding structure inside the box adapted to hold said objects in place.

2. Object packaging system according to claim 1, wherein the six individual walls are removable.

3. Object packaging system according to any one of claims 1 to 2, wherein the rails are arranged regularly on said internal faces of at least two parallel walls of the crate.

4. Object packaging system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the rails are distributed symmetrically on said internal faces of at least two parallel walls of the crate.

5. Object packaging system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said movable elements are adapted to be fully removable from their rail.

6. A packaging system for objects according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein said movable elements are adapted to be fully removable from the crate.

7. A system for packaging objects according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising benches or guillotines fixed to the movable and lockable elements, forming a holding structure inside the crate adapted to hold said objects in place.

8. Object packaging system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the objects are works of art, in particular two-dimensional or three-dimensional works of art.

9. Object packaging system according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the walls have a layer of thermal insulation.

10. Object conditioning system according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein said movable elements are inserted into the rails.

11. Use of an object conditioning system according to any one of claims 1 to 10 for conditioning objects, in particular works of art, especially two-dimensional or three-dimensional ones.