A packaging element for use in the transportation of products

Abstract

The invention relates to a packaging element (10) made of an EPS-containing material, comprising at least one outer wall (11) on the side facing outward and at least one inner wall (12) on the side facing the product (I), intended to protect the products (I) from external factors during transportation. Its novelty is that it comprises at least one damping cell (14) between the outer wall (11) and the inner wall (12); the damping cell (14) is in the shape of a trapezoidal prism inverted toward the ground and narrowing from the outer wall (11) toward the inner wall (12); it comprises at least one cell cavity (15) between the damping cells (14) for expanding inward in the event of an impact; and the cell cavity (15) has a cavity structure expanding from the inner wall (12) toward the outer wall (11) in a form conjugated to the damping cell (14) in order to increase the damping of impact energy.

Description

[0001] A PACKAGING ELEMENT FOR USE IN THE TRANSPORTATION OF PRODUCTS

[0002] TECHNICAL FIELD

[0003] The invention relates to a packaging element made of an EPS-containing material, comprising at least one outer wall on the side facing outward and at least one inner wall on the side facing the product, intended to protect products from external factors during transportation.

[0004] PRIOR ART

[0005] Packaging systems are used particularly for ensuring the safe transportation of household appliances such as cooktops with glass surfaces. In these systems, packaging elements made of foam (EPS), styrofoam, or cardboard-based materials are generally used in order to provide protection against impacts and drops. Packaging solutions aim to increase the durability of the product against mechanical effects that may occur during shipment and to protect the integrity of the product by damping the forces that may arise during transportation processes.

[0006] An application known in the literature, numbered US2013306514A1 , relates to a box system developed for packaging. The objective of the invention is to enable the safe and low-cost packaging of liquid crystal glasses of different sizes by using a single box body and buffer elements that can be positioned flexibly. The structure subject to the invention defines a box system designed for packaging liquid crystal glasses, having a low cost and an adjustable internal volume. The system consists of a box body produced from regular plastic (such as ABS or HDPE) and buffer elements having high buffering performance (such as EPP, EPE, or EPS).

[0007] Standard EPS packaging systems used in the current art generally have a specific geometry and fail to provide sufficient flexibility in impact absorption. Particularly during instances of dropping or collision, the shock forces received at certain pointsof the product are directly transmitted to the device, causing damage to fragile components (for example, glass surfaces). Standard styrofoam or EPS-based solutions cause stress concentrations by leading to force accumulation in specific regions and fail to demonstrate sufficient durability in drop tests. In addition, current solutions do not have a structure capable of dynamically changing the surface area and, therefore, often transmit the impact directly instead of reducing its effect.

[0008] In addition, standard EPS packaging systems are insufficient in enhancing the durability of the product, particularly in corner drops and reverse surface collisions. Due to the limited shock absorption capacity, breakages may occur on glass surfaces during high-drop tests, leading to product returns and increased scrap costs. In the current art, there is no innovative suspension system that distributes impact force and reduces pressure by increasing the surface area in a controlled manner. Therefore, there is a need for a new packaging solution with particularly high shock absorption capacity, which dynamically increases the surface area to optimize force distribution and thus reduces the shock effect.

[0009] As a result, all of the problems mentioned above have made it necessary to introduce an innovation in the relevant technical field.

[0010] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] The present invention relates to a packaging element, intended to eliminate the above-mentioned disadvantages and to bring new advantages to the relevant technical field.

[0012] An object of the invention is to provide a packaging element that prevents damage to the product by effectively damping impact effects.

[0013] Another object of the invention is to provide a packaging element that optimizes load distribution by supporting the corners and surfaces of the product with discrete contact during transportation and storage.Another object of the invention is to provide a packaging element that can operate compatibly with different packaging elements and ensures stable protection thanks to its assembly and joining features.

[0014] In order to achieve all the objects mentioned above and those that will become apparent from the detailed description below, the present invention is a packaging element made of an EPS-containing material, comprising at least one outer wall on the side facing outward and at least one inner wall on the side facing the product, intended to protect products from external factors during transportation. Accordingly, its novelty is that it comprises at least one damping cell between the outer wall and the inner wall, that the damping cell has a shape of a trapezoidal prism inverted toward the ground and narrowing from the outer wall toward the inner wall, that it comprises at least one cell cavity between the damping cells for expanding inward in the event of an impact, and that the cell cavity has a cavity structure expanding from the inner wall toward the outer wall in a form conjugated to the damping cell in order to increase the damping of impact energy.

[0015] A characteristic of a possible embodiment of the invention is that it comprises at least one side wall for at least partially covering the product from the side around the inner wall and the outer wall. Thus, the forces applied to the side surfaces of the product during transportation and impact are damped, and damage to the product is prevented.

[0016] A characteristic of another possible embodiment of the invention is that it comprises at least one assembly protrusion on the side wall for the mechanical interlocking of the packaging elements with each other, and at least one assembly recess in a form conjugated to the assembly protrusion. Thus, the packaging elements are held together stably during transportation without slipping or separation.

[0017] A characteristic of another possible embodiment of the invention is that it comprises at least one outer corner damping form in the form of a chamfer in order to damp the impact loads coming from the outer corners. Thus, the impact loadapplied to the outer corners is distributed over a wide surface, and sudden stress concentrations on the product are reduced, thereby preventing fractures.

[0018] A characteristic of another possible embodiment of the invention is that it comprises at least one inner corner damping form in the form of a cavity that enables the controlled distribution of the load applied to the inner corners. Thus, the load applied to the sensitive corner regions of the product is damped without being transmitted directly, and corner fractures are prevented.

[0019] A characteristic of another possible embodiment of the invention is that it comprises at least one intermediate cavity between the outer corner damping form and the inner corner damping form in order to optimize the distribution of local forces in the corner regions and to reduce the mechanical loads on the product. Thus, the load concentration occurring in the corner regions at the moment of impact is reduced, and the risk of damage to the product is minimized.

[0020] A characteristic of another possible embodiment of the invention is that it has a monolithic structure. Thus, the production process is simplified, the need for assembly is eliminated, and mechanical strength is increased.

[0021] A characteristic of another possible embodiment of the invention is that the product to which packaging is applied is a cooktop with a glass surface. Thus, the glass surface is protected against impacts and vibrations during transportation, and the risk of breakage and cracking is reduced.

[0022] A characteristic of another possible embodiment of the invention is that it is in the form of a lower packaging element on the side of the product facing the ground. Thus, the impact and pressure loads applied to the bottom surface of the product are absorbed, and deformations that may occur during transportation are prevented.

[0023] A characteristic of another possible embodiment of the invention is that it is in the form of an upper packaging element on the side of the product facing upward. Thus, the effects of drops and impacts applied to the upper part of the product arecontrolled, and fragile components such as the glass surface are protected from damage.

[0024] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] Figure 1 shows an exploded view of the packaging element subject to the invention and the packaged product.

[0026] Figure 2 shows a sectional view of the packaging element subject to the invention and the packaged product.

[0027] Figure 3 shows a perspective view of the packaging element subject to the invention.

[0028] Figure 4 shows a front view of the packaging element subject to the invention.

[0029] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0030] In this detailed description, the subject matter of the invention is explained by way of examples that do not have any limiting effect and are solely intended to provide a better understanding of the subject.

[0031] Figure 1 shows an exploded view of the packaging element (10) subject to the invention and the packaged product (I). Accordingly, the invention relates to the packaging of at least one product (I) during transportation. The product (I) in question is an object with a sensitive surface that needs to be protected during transportation and logistics processes. In a possible embodiment of the invention, the product (I) is a cooktop with a glass surface. Since glass surfaces are sensitive to impacts and sudden mechanical loads, there is a risk of breakage during transportation. Therefore, a specially designed packaging element (10) is required to ensure the safe transportation of the product (I) and its protection from external factors. The product (I) may be exposed to external forces such as impacts, drops, and vibrations during transportation, and if these forces are transmitted directly tothe product (I), damage may occur. For this reason, the packaging element (10) comprises a structure that supports the product (I) and damps these effects.

[0032] The packaging element (10) is a structure that at least partially surrounds the product (I), protecting it from external factors and serving a shock absorption function during transportation. The packaging element (10) is manufactured from EPS (Expanded Polystyrene Foam) material as a single-piece (monolithic) structure. Due to its lightweight structure and impact absorption capacity, EPS material is preferred to effectively protect the product (I) against mechanical stresses that may occur during transportation. The packaging element (10) may be in two different types as a lower packaging element (10a) and / or an upper packaging element (10b), and both parts complement each other to ensure the protection of the product (I) against environmental conditions.

[0033] The aforementioned lower packaging element (10a) is a structure that at least partially surrounds the bottom part of the product (I) facing the ground and protects it from external factors. The product (I) may be sensitive to impacts, vibrations, and mechanical stresses that may come from the bottom surface during transportation. The aforementioned upper packaging element (10b), on the other hand, is a structure that at least partially surrounds the part of the product (I) facing the opposite direction of the ground and protects it from external factors. The upper packaging element (10b) provides protection by damping the forces applied to the upper surface of the product (I), especially in cases such as drops or impacts. The packaging element (10) subject to the invention is particularly present on the upper packaging element (10b), and the structural details provided here contribute to making the product (I) more resistant to breakage and cracking by distributing the impact loads over a wider surface.

[0034] Figure 2 shows a sectional view of the packaging element (10) subject to the invention and the packaged product (I). Accordingly, the packaging element (10) essentially comprises at least one outer wall (11), at least one inner wall (12), and at least one side wall (13). The outer wall (11) in question is the surface of the packaging element (10) that comes into contact with the external environment and generally has a flat structure. The primary function of the outer wall (11) is toprovide mechanical barrier protection against external factors that may occur during transportation and storage, thereby maintaining the integrity of the packaging element (10). The inner wall in question constitutes the surface of the packaging element (10) that faces the product (I). The inner wall (12) is a structure that directly contacts the surface of the product (I) but supports the product (I) through discrete contact regions. This structure prevents direct compression between the product (I) and the packaging element (10), thereby reducing the pressure on the product (I) at the moment of impact. The side wall (13) in question is located at the edge regions of the outer wall (11) and the inner wall (12), and provides at least partial coverage of the side surfaces of the product (I). The side wall (13) forms an additional protective layer against impacts on the side surfaces of the product (I) during transportation and provides structural support to the damping mechanism.

[0035] Figure 3 shows a perspective view of the packaging element (10) subject to the invention. Accordingly, the packaging element (10) comprises at least one damping cell (14). The damping cell (14) in question is located between the outer wall (11) and the inner wall (12) of the packaging element (10), and while providing structural strength under non-impact conditions, it functions as a damping element that can contract by flexing when an impact is applied. The damping cell (14) has a form narrowing from the outer wall (11) toward the inner wall (12) and is in the shape of a trapezoidal prism inverted toward the ground. Thanks to this geometric structure, the inner wall (12) makes contact with the product (I) at specific regions. The damping cells (14), especially under sudden load conditions such as drops and collisions, absorb the energy of the impact by utilizing the elastic deformation properties of the EPS material and thus minimize the mechanical stresses on the product (I). Preferably, multiple damping cells (14) may be positioned side by side, and this structure enables the impact effect to be distributed homogeneously and ensures that the product (I) is protected over a wider area.

[0036] The packaging element (10) comprises at least one cell cavity (15). The cell cavity (15) in question essentially refers to the spaces located between the damping cells (14). The cell cavity (15) has a form conjugated to the damping cell (14) and has a structure that narrows from the inner wall (12) toward the outer wall (11). Thanks tothis design, when a sudden load is applied, the packaging element (10) made of EPS material fills these cavities, thereby reducing the effect of the impact force on the product (I). The cell cavities (15) increase the compressibility of the damping cells (14), allowing the impact energy to be absorbed more effectively. In addition, these cell cavities (15) increase the overall elasticity of the packaging element (10), thereby helping to more effectively absorb vibrations and mechanical loads that may occur during the transportation of the product (I).

[0037] The packaging element (10) comprises at least one assembly protrusion (16) and at least one assembly recess (17). The assembly protrusion (16) in question is in the form of a protrusion located on the side wall (13) of the packaging element (10), providing physical connection with other packaging elements (10) to form a stable joint. The assembly recess (17) is also located on the side wall (13) and has a structure that is geometrically compatible with the assembly protrusion (16), ensuring a tight fit between the packaging elements (10). The assembly protrusion (16) and the assembly recess (17) interlock with each other to create a mechanical locking effect, thereby preventing the packaging elements (10) from separating during transportation. This connection system aligns the packaging elements (10), facilitates the assembly process, and optimizes load distribution. The assembly protrusion (16) is designed with a specific width, height, and angle to work in harmony with the assembly recess (17).

[0038] Figure 4 shows a front view of the packaging element (10) subject to the invention. Accordingly, the packaging element (10) comprises at least one outer corner damping form (18), at least one inner corner damping form (19), and at least one intermediate cavity (20). The outer corner damping form (18) is located on the outer wall (11) of the packaging element (10), particularly positioned at the outer corners, and is a structure that dampens the impact loads applied to the corner regions, thereby preventing unnecessary load transfer to the internal structure. The outer corner damping form (18) is designed in the form of a chamfer in order to expand the load distribution and increase the damping capacity at the moment of impact. This structure absorbs the sudden loads that the outer corners are directly exposed to during transportation and drop tests, distributes the impact over a wider surface, and thus minimizes stress concentrations. The inner corner damping form (19) islocated at the inward-facing corners of the outer wall (11) of the packaging element (10) and is a cavity form designed to protect the corners, which are the most fragile points of sensitive products (I). In order to prevent the direct transfer of the loads applied to the corner regions of the product (I), the inner corner damping form (19) ensures that the load intensity is distributed to the surrounding area and is absorbed in a manner that does not damage the product (I). The sudden impact loads occurring in the corner regions are redirected by means of the inner corner damping form (19), thereby reducing the risk of breakage on the product (I) and increasing durability during transportation. The intermediate cavity (20) is positioned between the inner corner damping form (19) and the outer corner damping form (18), and is a hole-shaped cavity structure designed to ensure that the impact forces applied to the corner regions are absorbed and distributed in a controlled manner. The intermediate cavity (20) works together with the cell cavities (15) and the damping cells (14), and particularly prevents the local forces occurring in the corner regions from being transmitted directly to the product (I), thereby avoiding high stress accumulation and protecting the mechanical integrity of the product (I).

[0039] The packaging element (10) subject to the invention has been developed to protect the product (I) against external factors such as impacts, drops, and collisions during transportation. Through structural components such as the damping cells (14), the cell cavities (15), the corner damping forms, and the assembly elements, the impact energy is absorbed in a controlled manner, thereby optimizing the load distribution on the product (I). The outer corner damping form (18) and the inner corner damping form minimize the risk of breakage by preventing stress concentrations particularly in the corner regions, while the intermediate cavities (20) ensure that sudden impact effects are damped without being transmitted directly to the surface of the product (I). The damping cells (14), working together with the elastic deformation properties of the EPS material, contract at the moment of impact and distribute the load, thereby reducing the acceleration experienced by the product (I). All of these elements work together to prevent damage to the product (I) during transportation, ensure reliable protection throughout logistics processes, and particularly enhance the durability of sensitive components such as glass surfaces.The scope of protection of the invention is defined in the claims provided in the annex and shall by no means be limited to the examples described in this detailed description. It is evident that a person skilled in the art may develop similar structures in light of the above explanations without departing from the main concept of the invention.REFERENCE NUMERALS GIVEN IN THE DRAWINGS

[0040] 10 Packaging Element

[0041] 10a Lower Packaging Element

[0042] 10b Upper Packaging Element

[0043] 11 Outer Wall

[0044] 12 Inner Wall

[0045] 13 Side Wall

[0046] 14 Damping Cell

[0047] 15 Cell Cavity

[0048] 16 Assembly Protrusion

[0049] 17 Assembly Recess

[0050] 18 Outer Corner Damping Form

[0051] 19 Inner Corner Damping Form

[0052] 20 Intermediate Cavity

[0053] I Product

Claims

CLAIMS1. A packaging element (10) made of an EPS-containing material, comprising at least one outer wall (11) on the side facing outward and at least one inner wall (12) on the side facing the product (I), intended to protect the products (I) from external factors during transportation,characterized in thatit comprises at least one damping cell (14) between the outer wall (11) and the inner wall (12),the damping cell (14) is in the shape of a trapezoidal prism inverted toward the ground and narrowing from the outer wall (11 ) toward the inner wall (12), it comprises at least one cell cavity (15) between the damping cells (14) for expanding inward in the event of an impact, andthe cell cavity (15) has a cavity structure expanding from the inner wall (12) toward the outer wall (11) in a form conjugated to the damping cell (14) in order to increase the damping of impact energy.

2. The packaging element (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises at least one side wall (13) for at least partially covering the product (I) from the side around the inner wall (12) and the outer wall (11 ).

3. The packaging element (10) according to claim 2, characterized in that it comprises at least one assembly protrusion (16) on the side wall (13) for the mechanical interlocking of the packaging elements (10) with each other, and at least one assembly recess (17) in a form conjugated to the assembly protrusion (16).

4. The packaging element (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises at least one outer corner damping form (18) in the form of a chamfer in order to damp the impact loads coming from the outer corners.

5. The packaging element (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises at least one inner corner damping form (19) in the form of a cavitythat enables the controlled distribution of the load applied to the inner corners.

6. The packaging element (10) according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that it comprises at least one intermediate cavity (20) between the outer corner damping form (18) and the inner corner damping form (19) in order to optimize the distribution of local forces in the corner regions and to reduce the mechanical loads on the product (I).

7. The packaging element (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that it has a monolithic structure.

8. The packaging element (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the product (I) to which the packaging is applied is a cooktop with a glass surface.

9. The packaging element (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that it is in the form of a lower packaging element (10a) on the side of the product (I) facing the ground.

10. The packaging element (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that it is in the form of an upper packaging element (10b) on the side of the product (I) facing upward.

Images