EP2330044B1

EP2330044B1 - Corner protection pad for a washing machine and washing machine packing structure using the same

Info

Publication number: EP2330044B1
Application number: EP10192138.5A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Hong Yeol Lee
Original assignee: Samsung Electronics Co Ltd
Current assignee: Samsung Electronics Co Ltd
Priority date: 2009-12-04
Filing date: 2010-11-23
Publication date: 2013-06-05
Anticipated expiration: 2030-11-23
Also published as: US20110132799A1; CN201933317U; KR20110062775A; EP2330044A1

Description

Embodiments relate to a corner protection pad of a washing machine to stably protect a washing machine against external force applied during transportation and a washing machine packing structure using the same.

2. Description of the Related Art

Generally, a washing machine is devised to wash laundry via, e.g., washing, rinsing, dehydrating and drying operations to remove dirt adhered to clothes, bedding, etc. received in a drum using the action of water and detergent.
During transportation of a packaged washing machine, a transportation device, such as a forklift, applies a pressure to both sides of the washing machine. In this case, if the pressure is directly applied to a washing machine frame, the washing machine frame may be crushed.
Therefore, a variety of protection pads are used in the course of packing a washing machine. The protection pads include upper protection pads placed on the washing machine to protect an upper portion of the washing machine, a lower protection pad to protect a lower portion of the washing machine placed thereon, and corner protection pads provided respectively on four corners of the washing machine.
A corner protection pad may be designed to reduce the effect of compressive force on a washing machine frame when a transportation device applies a predetermined magnitude of external force to the washing machine frame. This is because the washing machine frame may be crushed when receiving compressive force higher than the material strength of the washing machine frame.
AU 444663 B2 discloses corner protection pads used for transporting articles. The protective edge packaging is formed of foam-plastic and can be considered as some kind of cushion portion including an inner surface and an outer surface to correspond to a corner of the article to pack same. The protective edge packaging includes a number of ribs with depressions or cavities there between. By the arrangement of cavities or recesses, a corresponding recess is indented from the outer surface of the cushion portion and has a cross sectional area gradually decreasing from the outer surface to the inner surface of the cushion portion.
US 2005/0092633 A 1 discloses a support post with locking feature. A package assembly is described for protecting and cushioning a product. This assembly comprises a base and a top cap and four of such support or paper corner posts extending from the base to the top cap.

SUMMARY

It is an object of the invention to provide a corner protection pad of a washing machine to stably protect a washing machine against external force applied during transportation and loading.
Additional aspects of example embodiments will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention.
This object is solved by the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments disclosed by the subclaims.
The cushion portion may include a first cushion portion having a first inner surface to come into close contact with one surface adjacent to the corner of the washing machine and a first outer surface at an opposite side of the first inner surface, and the recess may include a first recess indented from the first outer surface to the first inner surface of the first cushion portion.
The cushion portion may further include a second cushion portion having a second inner surface bent from the first inner surface by a predetermined angle to come into close contact with the other surface adjacent to the corner of the washing machine and a second outer surface at an opposite side of the second inner surface, and the recess may further include a second recess indented from the second outer surface to the second inner surface of the second cushion portion.
The recess may have an inwardly-tapered slope to disperse stress caused by external force.
The recess may have at least one shape of a quadrangular pyramid shape and a circular cone shape.
The recess may have a circular cone shape.
The first cushion portion and the second cushion portion may be bent from each other such that an angle of an approximately 90 degrees is formed therebetween.
The corner protection pad may further include protrusions protruding respectively from both ends of the cushion portion so as to be coupled into other protection pads for packing of the washing machine.
The cushion portion may contain a shock-absorbing material including Styrofoam.
The corner protection pad may include a cushion portion having a length corresponding to a corner of the washing machine to cover the corner of the washing machine, the corner protection pad may include the cushion portion having a bent shape to come into close contact with the corner of the washing machine, and a recess having a cross sectional area gradually decreasing inward of the cushion portion.
The cushion portion may include a first cushion portion having a first inner surface to come into close contact with a first frame surface adjacent to the corner of the washing machine and a first outer surface at an opposite side of the first inner surface, and the recess may include a first recess indented in the first cushion portion.
The cushion portion may further include a second cushion portion bent from the first cushion portion by a predetermined angle and having a second inner surface to come into close contact with a second frame surface adjacent to the corner of the washing machine and a second outer surface at an opposite side of the second inner surface, and the recess may further include a second recess indented in the second cushion portion.
The washing machine packing structure may further include an upper protection pad mounted on the washing machine to protect an upper portion of the washing machine, and a lower protection pad to protect a lower portion of the washing machine placed thereon.
Accordingly, in a corner protection pad of a washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, recesses indented in a cushion portion of the corner protection pad may be designed such that a cross sectional area thereof gradually decreases inward of the cushion portion, whereby the corner protection pad may minimize shock applied by a transportation device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and/or other aspects will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a washing machine packing structure according to an embodiment;
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating protection pads included in the washing machine packing structure illustrated in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view illustrating a corner protection pad illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2;
FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line IV IV' of FIG. 3;
FIG 5 is a sectional view taken along line V-V' of FIG. 3;
FIG. 6 is a view illustrating application of external force by a transportation device according to an embodiment; and
FIG. 7 is a partially enlarged view of FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout. FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a washing machine packing structure according to an embodiment, and FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating protection pads included in the washing machine packing structure illustrated in FIG. 1.
As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the washing machine packing structure according to the embodiment of the present invention may include upper protection pads 10 placed on a washing machine 1 to protect an upper portion of the washing machine 1, a lower protection pad 20 to protect a lower portion of the washing machine 1 placed thereon, and corner protection pads 30 provided respectively to cover corners of the washing machine 1 to protect a washing machine frame 2.
The upper protection pads 10 may include a first upper protection pad 11 and a second upper protection pad 12 arranged respectively at upper left and right ends of the washing machine 1. The first upper protection pad 11 and the second upper protection pad 12 may have insertion grooves (not shown) formed in lower surfaces thereof, so that upper ends of the corner protection pads 30 that will be described hereinafter are inserted into the insertion grooves.
The lower protection pad 20 may centrally define a seating space 21 recessed from an upper end thereof, to allow the lower portion of the washing machine 1 to be inserted into and seated in the seating space 21. The lower protection pad 20 may have insertion grooves (not shown) formed in the upper end thereof, so that lower ends of the corner protection pads 30 that will be described hereinafter are inserted into the insertion grooves.
The corner protection pads 30 have a shape and length corresponding to the corners of the washing machine 1 so as to be mounted respectively on four corners of the washing machine. The corner protection pads 30 may have a bent shape to cover the corners of the washing machine.
FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view illustrating the corner protection pad illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line IV-IV' of FIG. 3, and FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line V-V' of FIG. 3.
As illustrated in FIGS. 3 to 5, the corner protection pad 30 used in the washing machine packing structure according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a cushion portion 100 and recesses 200. The cushion portion 100 has a bent shape to correspond to the corner of the washing machine 1 for the packing of the washing machine 1. The recesses 200 are indented in the cushion portion 100 such that a cross sectional area thereof gradually decreases inward of the cushion portion 100.
The cushion portion 100 may be made of a shock-absorbing material, such as Styrofoam, to protect the washing machine 1 by absorbing external force applied to the washing machine frame 2 during transportation and loading.
The cushion portion 100 is bent to correspond to frame surfaces 2A and 2B adjacent to the corner of the washing machine. The cushion portion 100 includes a first cushion portion 110 corresponding to a first frame surface 2A at one side of the corner and a second cushion portion 120 corresponding to a second frame surface 2B at the other side to the corner.
The first cushion portion 110 and the second cushion portion 120 may be bent to have an approximately L-shaped form according to the right-angled configuration of the first frame surface 2A and the second frame surface 2B.
The first cushion portion 110 and the second cushion portion 120 respectively include a first inner surface 111 and a second inner surface 121 coming into close contact with the first frame surface 2A and the second frame surface 2B. In addition, the first cushion portion 110 and the second cushion portion 120 respectively include a first outer surface 112 and a second outer surface 122 at an opposite side of the first inner surface 111 and the second inner surface 121.
A thickness of the first cushion portion 110 between the first inner surface 111 and the first outer surface 112 and a thickness of the second cushion portion 120 between the second inner surface 121 and the second outer surface 122 may be determined to achieve sufficient shock-absorbing performance against external force applied during transportation and loading.
The recesses 200 are indented in the cushion portion 100 such that the cross sectional area of each recess 200 gradually decreases in the thickness direction of the cushion portion 100. The recesses 200 reduce the effect of compressive force caused by external force and also, disperse the external force to prevent the external force from being concentrated on the washing machine frame 2.
The recesses 200 may include first recesses 210 indented in the first cushion portion 110 and second recesses 220 indented in the second cushion portion 120.
The first recess 210, as illustrated in FIG. 4, includes a first inwardly-tapered slope 211 having a predetermined inclination angle θ ₁ to define a predetermined space tapered from the first outer surface 112 to the first inner surface 111 of the first cushion portion 110.
The first inwardly-tapered slope 211 provides the first recess 210 with a cross sectional area gradually decreasing from the first outer surface 112 to the first inner surface 111 of the first cushion portion 110. The first inwardly-tapered slope 211 disperses compressive force applied to the first outer surface 112 by a transportation device, thereby preventing concentration of stress.
For example, the first inwardly-tapered slope 211 of the first recess 210, as illustrated in FIG. 4, may take the form of a quadrangular pyramid having an approximately V-shaped cross section. Although not illustrated in the drawing, of course, the first recess 210 may have a first inwardly-tapered slope (not shown) in the form of the other polygonal pyramid, such as a triangular or pentagonal pyramid, or a circular cone having a cross sectional area gradually decreasing from the first outer surface 112 to the first inner surface 111 of the first cushion portion 110.
Here, the first recesses 210 may be aligned in a plurality of vertical and horizontal rows in the first cushion portion 110. Alternatively, the first recesses 210 of the first cushion portion 110 may have an irregular arrangement, although the first recesses 210 are illustrated in the drawing as being regularly arranged in the plurality of vertical and horizontal rows in the first cushion portion 110.
The second recess 220, as illustrated in FIG. 5, includes a second inwardly-tapered slope 221 having a predetermined inclination angle θ ₂ to define a predetermined space tapered from the second outer surface 122 to the second inner surface 121 of the second cushion portion 120.
The second inwardly-tapered slope 221 provides the second recess 220 with a cross sectional area gradually decreasing from the second outer surface 122 to the second inner surface 121 of the second cushion portion 120. The second inwardly-tapered slope 221 disperses compressive force applied to the second outer surface 122 by a transportation device, thereby preventing concentration of stress.
For example, the second inwardly-tapered slope 221 of the second recess 220 may be indented to define an approximately V-shaped cross sectional interior space. In addition, similar to the first inwardly-tapered slope 211, the second inwardly-tapered slope 221 may be selected from various shapes so long as a cross section area of which gradually decreases from the second outer surface 122 to the second inner surface 121 of the second cushion portion 120.
Although the second recesses 220 are illustrated as being regularly arranged in a plurality of vertical and horizontal rows in the second cushion portion 120, alternatively, the second recesses 220 of the second cushion portion 120 may selectively have a regular arrangement or an irregular arrangement.
Reference numeral 300 represents protrusions of the corner protection pad 30, which are inserted into the insertion grooves of the upper protection pads 10 and the lower protection pad 20.
Hereinafter, operational effects of the washing machine packing structure according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7. FIG. 6 is a view illustrating application of external force by a transportation device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 7 is a partially enlarged view of FIG. 6.
As illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, after the lower portion of the washing machine 1 is seated in the seating space 21 of the lower protection pad 21, the first upper protection pad 11 and the second upper protection pad 12 are mounted on the upper left and right ends of the washing machine 1 and the corner protection pads 30 are mounted on the four corners of the washing machine 1.
Then, the washing machine 1 is subjected to banding after being received in a packing box, and is transported or loaded by a variety of loading/unloading devices.
In this case, although a transportation device 400 applies external force to the washing machine 1 during transportation and loading of the washing machine 1, the upper protection pads 10, the lower protection pad 20 and the corner protection pads 30 absorb the external force, preventing deformation and breakage of the washing machine 1.
Further, the recesses 200, which are indented in the cushion portion 100 to have an inwardly decreasing cross sectional area, act to minimize a contact area between the transportation device 400 and the corner protection pad 30. This may reduce shock of the external force applied by the transportation device 400.
Furthermore, with the above described configuration in which the recesses 210 and 220 of the corner protection pad 30 have the inwardly-tapered slopes 211 and 221 having the predetermined angles θ1 and θ2, the external force applied by the transportation device 400 is dispersed rather than being concentrated on the washing machine frame 2 and consequently, shock acting on the washing machine 1 may be minimized.
Accordingly, the washing machine 1 may be stably protected regardless of external force applied to the washing machine frame 2 during transportation and loading.
As apparent from the above description, the embodiment of the present invention provides a corner protection pad usable with a washing machine, in which recesses are indented in a cushion portion of the corner protection pad to have an inwardly decreasing cross sectional area, thus acting to minimize shock of external force applied by a transportation device.
Although a few embodiments have been shown and described, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the claims and their equivalents.

Claims

A corner protection pad (30) for packing of a washing machine (1), comprising:
a cushion portion (100) including an inner surface (111, 121) and an outer surface (112, 122) to correspond to a corner of the washing machine to pack the washing machine;

and a recess (200) indented from the outer surface of the cushion portion (100) to have a cross sectional area gradually decreasing from the outer surface (112, 122) to the inner surface (111, 121) of the cushion portion (100), characterized in that a plurality of recesses (200) is arranged in vertical and horizontal directions, which are regularly arranged in vertical and horizontal rows.
The corner protection pad according to claim 1, wherein:
the cushion portion (100) includes a first cushion portion (110) having a first inner surface (111) to come into close contact with one surface adjacent to the corner of the washing machine and a first outer surface (112) at an opposite side of the first inner surface; and

the recess (200) includes a first recess (210) indented from the first outer surface (112) to the first inner surface (111) of the first cushion portion (110).
The corner protection pad according to claim 2, wherein:
the cushion portion (100) further includes a second cushion portion (120) having a second inner surface (121) bent from the first inner surface by a predetermined angle to come into close contact with the other surface adjacent to the corner of the washing machine and a second outer surface (122) at an opposite side of the second inner surface; and

the recess (200) further includes a second recess (220) indented from the second outer surface (122) to the second inner surface (121) of the second cushion portion (120).
The corner protection pad according to claim 1, wherein the recess (200) has an inwardly-tapered slope to disperse stress caused by external force.
The corner protection pad according to claim 1, wherein the recess (200) has at least one of a quadrangular pyramid shape and a circular cone shape.
The corner protection pad according to claim 3, wherein the first cushion portion (110) and the second cushion portion (120) are bent from each other such that an angle of an approximately 90 degrees is formed therebetween.
The corner protection pad according to claim 1, further comprising protrusions (300) protruding respectively from both ends of the cushion portion (100) so as to be coupled into other protection pads (10, 120) for packing of the washing machine.
The corner protection pad according to claim 1, wherein the cushion portion (100) contains a shock-absorbing material including Styrofoam.
The corner protection pad according to claim 1, wherein the cushion portion (100) has a length corresponding to a corner of the washing machine to cover the corner of the washing machine,
wherein the corner protection pad (30) includes the cushion portion (100) having a bent shape to come into close contact with the corner of the washing machine, and the recess (200) having a cross sectional area gradually decreasing inward of the cushion portion.
The corner protection pad according to claim 9, wherein:
the cushion portion (100) includes a first cushion portion (110) having a first inner surface (111) to come into close contact with a first frame surface adjacent to the corner of the washing machine and a first outer surface (112) at an opposite side of the first inner surface; and

the recess (200) includes a first recess (210) indented in the first cushion portion.
The corner protection pad according to claim 10, wherein:
the cushion portion (100) further includes a second cushion portion (120) bent from the first cushion portion by a predetermined angle and having a second inner surface (121) to come into close contact with a second frame surface adjacent to the corner of the washing machine and a second outer surface (122) at an opposite side of the second inner surface; and

the recess (200) further includes a second recess (220) indented in the second cushion portion.
The corner protection pad according to claim 9, further comprising an upper protection pad (10) mounted on the washing machine to protect an upper portion of the washing machine, and a lower protection pad (20) to protect a lower portion of the washing machine placed thereon.
The corner protection pad according to claim 12, further comprising protrusions (300) protruding respectively from both ends of the cushion portion (100) so as to be coupled into the upper protection pad (10) and the lower protection pad (20).