WO2022194370A1

WO2022194370A1 - Household appliance packaging device and method for unpacking an assembly

Info

Publication number: WO2022194370A1
Application number: PCT/EP2021/056858
Authority: WO
Inventors: Danny Buso; Vittorio COLAVITTI; Stefano DALLAPIAZZA
Original assignee: Electrolux Appliances Aktiebolag
Priority date: 2021-03-17
Filing date: 2021-03-17
Publication date: 2022-09-22

Abstract

Household appliance packaging device (10) comprising a support base (50) suitable to be placed horizontally in the working position to support a household appliance (1) in a standing position. The support base (50) comprises at least two units (30a, 30b) both supporting a base (5) of the household appliance (1). The two units (30a, 30b) at least partially abut one to the other along respective abutting surfaces (32a, 32b). Each unit (30a, 30b) has an upper supporting surface (54a, 54b) apt to abut against a portion of the base (5) of the household appliance (1). When the household appliance (1) is inclined about the base (5) along a pivoting axis (P), one of the two units (30a, 30b) is free to be slid along a sliding direction (D) with respect to the other of the two units (30a, 30b) while the abutting surfaces (32a, 32b) are in reciprocal contact.

Description

HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCE PACKAGING DEVICE AND METHOD FOR UNPACKING AN ASSEMBLY

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns the field of packaging of household appliances.

In particular, the present invention refers to a packaging device for the protection of the household appliance, more particularly a support base in a packaging device to protect the household appliance and assure careful handling.

BACKGROUND ART

Conventionally, packaging devices/packaging box are used to package household appliances, such as refrigerator or laundry washing machine or laundry dryer, for storage and/or transport.

Typically, such packaging devices comprise a lower base to which the bottom part of the household appliance rests. Additional lateral and/or upper protecting sides preferably enclose the remaining parts of the household appliance.

An external enclosure box, typically made of corrugated cardboard, may further enclose the lower base and the protecting sides.

The aim of packaging devices is to protect the appliance during handling, for example during shipping/transport of the appliance or its storage in warehouse. In particular, packaging devices are also provided to partially or totally protect the appliance in case of falling. At this purpose, packaging manufacturers offer solutions which comply with legal regulations and/or standards relating to the protection of a household appliance during transport.

To provide said protection, various packaging systems have been proposed to protect the appliance during handling.

For example, one conventional packaging combines an enclosure box and protecting corners, for example four base corners and four upper corners, arranged at respective corners of the appliance. Alternatively, the base corners are part of an integral base protector and, analogously, the upper corners are part of an integral upper protector. Said protector elements are typically made of synthetic materials, such as polystyrene or similar materials.

However, packaging devices of the known art pose some drawbacks. Drawbacks of known packaging devices typically arise during unpacking steps. One drawback of the known packaging device is the difficulty of removing the device from the appliance, in particular the difficulty of removing the device when the device acts as a base protector and is realized as an integral base. Unpacking of the appliance, in particular when the appliance has large size and/or weight, needs two persons handling the same. For example, a first person lifts the appliance while the other person removes the base.

In case only one person is in charge of unpacking, instead, unpacking operations may be dangerous. On one hand, the person could get hart and, on the other hand, the risk of damaging the appliance arises, in particular if the appliance falls down.

The object of the present invention is therefore to overcome the drawbacks posed by the known techniques.

It is an object of the invention to provide a household appliance packaging device that simplify the unpacking operations required by the final customer/operator.

It is another object of the invention to provide a household appliance packaging that improve safety during unpacking compared to known system.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an alternative household appliance packaging to packaging devices of known type.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

The applicant has found that by providing a packaging device comprising a support base suitable to be placed horizontally and to support a household appliance, wherein said support base comprises at least two units both supporting a base of said household appliance, and by providing that said two units at least partially abut one to the other along respective abutting surfaces it is possible to simplify the unpacking operations required by the final customer/operator. According to one aspect of the present disclosure there is provided a household appliance packaging device comprising a support base suitable to be placed horizontally in the working position to support a household appliance in a standing position, wherein said support base, in said working position, comprises at least two units both supporting a base of said household appliance, said two units, in said working position, at least partially abutting one to the other along respective abutting surfaces, each unit having an upper supporting surface apt to abut against a portion of said base of said household appliance, wherein said upper supporting surface supports said portion of said base of said household appliance when said household appliance, in its standing position, stands on said two units and wherein, when said household appliance is inclined about said base along a pivoting axis, one of said two units is free to be slid along a sliding direction with respect to the other of said two units while the abutting surfaces are in reciprocal contact.

Advantageously, contact between the abutting surfaces guarantees that a first one of the units is properly moved away from the base of the appliance along the sliding direction without the risk it partially remains below the base or it remains in an unreachable or inclined position below the base.

Advantageously, an operator may easily and safely incline the household appliance and removing the units on his own, preferably extracting one of the units autonomously, for example kicking it with its foot.

Preferably, each of said units comprises a main body.

In a preferred embodiment, the unit further comprises an external casing at least partially receiving the main body.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the external casing comprises one or more side walls that extend vertically and encloses the main body.

Advantageously, vertical walls improve the support base rigidity and stiffness, in particular in vertical direction, and ensure that the support base is suitable for holding the weight of the appliance.

Preferably, the support base is at least partially realized with cardboard. Advantageously, the cardboard offers a sufficient level of mechanical strength to bear the weight of the household appliance placed above and in contact with the base of the household appliance and at the same time offer a certain degree of dampening effect.

Advantageously, the support base may be manufactured with low costs and/or reduces the environmental impact in terms of re-use/recycling of materials after its use.

In a preferred embodiment, the main body further comprises at least one recess, defined in the main body, which extends downwardly in a vertical direction with respect to the upper supporting surface and is apt to receive a second portion of the household appliance. Preferably, when the household appliance is inclined about the base, the second portion of the household appliance is moved outside said at least one recess. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, a damper element is arranged in the least one recess, the damper element comprising an inclined layer defining a second supporting surface for the second portion of the base of the household appliance, wherein the second supporting surface is inclined with respect to the vertical direction.

Advantageously, by providing said inclined layer, the damper element exerts a dampening effect against external forces irrespective of the direction of the same external forces. Therefore, advantageously, the damper element effectively intervenes in case of undesired external forces hitting the support base or in case of unfortunate falling of the appliance.

Preferably, the second supporting surface extends longitudinally along a main axis, wherein the main axis of the second supporting surface is inclined with respect to the vertical direction of an angle comprised between 10° and 80°, preferably of an angle comprised between 30° and 70°, more preferably of an angle equal to 60°.

In a preferred embodiment, the main body comprises superimposed layers, preferably superimposed cardboard layers, more preferably superimposed corrugated cardboard layers.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the inclined layer comprises an inclined cardboard layer, more preferably comprises a corrugated cardboard layer.

Again, advantageously, the inclined layer offers a sufficient level of mechanical strength to bear the second base part of the household appliance and at the same time offers a certain degree of dampening effect.

Preferably, the inclined layer has a first upper extremity and a second lower extremity opposed to the first extremity, said first upper extremity being connected to the main body and said second lower extremity freely abutting against a bottom surface provided in said at least one recess.

Advantageously, said feature allows the deformation of the damper element in order to exert the required dampening effect, i.e. the damper element deforms while the parts of the appliance are carefully preserved and not damaged.

In a preferred embodiment, the inclined layer is obtained by inclining a portion of the uppermost layer of the superimposed layers of the main body. Also, preferably, the bottom surface is defined by an extended portion of the lowermost layer of the superimposed layers of the main body.

Advantageously, the damper element is easily and quickly obtained during realization of the main body.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the inclined layer has a first upper extremity and a second lower extremity opposed to the first extremity, the second lower extremity being connected to a bottom surface provided in the at least one recess and said first upper extremity freely abutting against a vertically extending surface of said main body.

In a preferred embodiment, the support base comprises four recesses and respective four damper elements arranged therein.

Advantageously, when the appliance is inclined about the base, at least two second portions of said household appliance are moved outside respective two of said recesses.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the external casing comprises at least one aperture which is aligned to said at least one recess of the main body.

Preferably, the support base further comprises a lower tray receiving said at least two units. The lower tray is preferably realized with a shaped cardboard layer. Advantageously, the tray maintains the main bodies and the external casings in position, in particular when the appliance is positioned over the support base. Preferably, the lower tray is configured to have a bottom side and lateral sides maintaining the two units in the working position. Preferably, lateral sides are configured to be folded down by the operator so that to be positioned parallel to the bottom side base. Advantageously, when the appliance is inclined, one of the units is free to slide along the sliding direction, while the abutting surfaces are in reciprocal contact and while the unit is moved over the tray.

In a preferred embodiment, the packaging device further comprises one or more protecting elements for the protection of parts of the household appliance other than said base.

According to another aspect of the invention it is provided an assembly comprising a household appliance and a household appliance packaging device, wherein the household appliance packaging device is realized according to one or more of the above-mentioned features. According to a further aspect of the invention it is provided a method for unpacking an assembly realized as described above.

Preferably, the method comprises the steps of:

- inclining said household appliance about said base along a first pivoting axis;

- removing a first one of said two units;

- inclining the household appliance about said base along a second pivoting axis;

- removing the second unit of said two units.

In a preferred embodiment, the first pivoting axis and the second pivoting axis are provided at opposing sides of the base of the household appliance.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the method further comprises a step of folding down lateral sides of the tray before the steps of inclining the household appliance.

Preferably, the inclining steps allow the second portion of the household appliance to be moved outside said at least one recess.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will be highlighted in greater detail in the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, provided with reference to the enclosed drawings. In such drawings:

- Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a household appliance with a packaging device according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;

- Figure 2 shows an exploded view of Figure 1 ; - Figure 3 shows a partial exploded view of a detail of Figure 1 ;

- Figure 4 shows a perspective view of the packaging device of Figure 1 isolated from the rest;

- Figure 5 shows a partial exploded view of Figure 4;

- Figure 6 shows an exploded view of Figure 5; - Figure 7 shows an enlarged detail of Figure 6;

- Figure 8 shows another enlarged detail of Figure 6;

- Figure 9 shows a frontal plan view of a detail of Figure 3;

- Figure 9 A shows a detail of figure 9;

- Figures 10 to 14 show successive steps for unpacking the household appliance from the packaging device according to the preferred embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF

THE INVENTION

The packaging system according to the present invention has proved to be particularly advantageous when applied to packaging of a refrigerator, as described in detail below. It should in any case be underlined that the present invention is not limited to packaging of a refrigerator. On the contrary, the present invention can be conveniently applied to household appliances that need to be packed and that are quite heavy and/or cumbersome. Furthermore, the present invention can be conveniently applied to household appliances preferably equipped with a base provided with protruding portions, i.e. supporting feet. Figures 1 and 2 show a household appliance packaging device 10 with a support base 50 according to a preferred embodiment of the invention used for packaging a refrigerator 1.

The support base 50 according to the invention preferably refers to a relevant portion of the packaging device 10 which is arranged below the refrigerator 1 and that has the scope of supporting it, as illustrated in particular in Figure 1. In such a situation, the refrigerator 1 is in its final/standing position and the support base 50 is preferably considered to be in its working position.

The packaging device 10, then, may preferably comprise further packaging elements, such as a top packaging element 12 and lateral packaging elements 14, which are elements of the known type and therefore not described in detail.

As far as the refrigerator 1 is concerned, and more generally the household appliance to which the present invention relates, it shows on its lower zone 4 a base 5, wherein the base 5 preferably comprises a surface 6 facing downwards and four supporting feet 8.

As known, the supporting feet 8 constitute the elements that support the weight of the refrigerator 1 when the same is placed in its final/standing position.

On the other hand, the surface 6 substantially constitutes the closure part of the base 5 of the refrigerator 1. Nevertheless, the surface 6 may also act as a resting surface when the refrigerator 1 is packed and that may be preferably used in particular conditions, such as during shipping and transportation of the refrigerator 1 to improve safety and stability of the refrigerator 1. The support base 50 according to the invention, therefore, is suitable to be placed horizontally in its working position and to support, from below, the refrigerator 1 in its standing position. In particular, the support base 50 is suitable to be placed horizontally below the resting surface 6 of the refrigerator 1.

In fact, according to an aspect of the invention, the support base 50, in its working position, preferably comprises two units 30a, 30b (left unit 30a and right unit 30b) both supporting the base 5 of the refrigerator 1.

Each unit 30a, 30b preferably has an upper supporting surface 54a, 54b apt to abut against the resting surface 6 of the base 5 of the refrigerator 1. Therefore, the upper supporting surfaces 54a, 54b support the resting surface 6 of the base 5 of the refrigerator 1 when the refrigerator 1, in its standing position, stands on the two units 30a, 30b of the base support 50.

According to an aspect of the invention, the two units 30a, 30b at least partially abut one to the other along respective abutting surfaces 32a, 32b. The two units 30a, 30b are therefore preferably arranged side by side when the support base 50 is in its working position, as better visible for example in Figure 11.

Abutting surfaces 32a, 32b are also preferably configured to allow, during unpacking operations, the units 30a, 30b to reciprocally slide along a sliding direction D while the abutting surfaces 32a, 32b are in reciprocal contact, as better described later.

Preferably, abutting surfaces 32a, 32b are vertical planar surfaces. In different embodiments, nevertheless, abutting surfaces may be differently shaped so that the units can slide along a sliding direction while the abutting surfaces are in reciprocal contact. These features will be particularly advantageous during unpacking, as better described later.

Each unit 30a, 30b, according to the preferred embodiment illustrated in the figures, preferably comprises a main body 52a, 52b and an external casing 80a, 80b at least partially receiving the main body 52a, 52b.

The units 30a, 30b preferably show symmetrical shape.

The external casings 80a, 80b preferably have respective upper surfaces 54a, 54b.

As said above, the upper supporting surfaces 54a, 54b of the units 30a, 30b support the resting surface 6 of the base 5 of the refrigerator 1. The upper supporting surfaces 54a, 54b according to the preferred embodiment described herein preferably correspond to the upper surfaces 54a, 54b of the external casings 80a, 80b of the units 30a, 30b.

Preferably and advantageously, the upper supporting surfaces 54a, 54b of the units 30a, 30b and the resting surface 6 of the base 5 of the refrigerator 1 substantially have the same shape, more preferably are all planar. In different embodiments, nevertheless, said surfaces may be differently shaped but, in any case, apt to be preferably placed in contact therebetween.

In different preferred embodiments, not shown, then the external casings may be omitted, and the units may preferably comprise only the main bodies that preferably directly support the resting surface of the base of the refrigerator.

The main bodies 52a, 52b preferably have corresponding upper surfaces 154a, 154b. Preferably, upper surfaces 154a, 154b of the main bodies 52a, 52b are parallel to upper surfaces 54a, 54b of the external casings 80a, 80b.

It has to be noted that in case of preferred variant embodiments where the external casings are not present, i.e. omitted, the upper supporting surfaces 154a, 154b of the units 30a, 30b correspond to the upper surfaces 154a, 154b of the two main bodies 52a, 52b that, therefore, preferably directly support the resting surface 6 of the base 5 of the refrigerator 1.

The support base 50, then, preferably comprises at least one recess 56. In the preferred embodiment illustrated in the figures, there are four recesses 56 equally distributed at the corners of the two main bodies 52a, 52b, i.e. two recesses 56 in the first main body 52a and two recesses 56 in the second main body 52b.

The external casings 80a, 80b preferably comprise respective apertures 83 which are aligned to corresponding recesses 56 of the main bodies 52a, 52b.

In the rest of the description, we will refer to one of said recesses and elements/features associated with said recesses, being intended that the same description may be easily applied to other recesses and associated elements/features .

The recess 56 preferably extends downwardly in a vertical direction V with respect to the upper surface 54a, 54b of the unit 30a, 30b and is apt to receive a respective foot 8.

The four recesses 56, hence, are apt to receive the four feet 8 of the refrigerator 1. According to an aspect of the invention, a damper element 60 is arranged in the recess 56.

The damper element 60 preferably comprises an inclined layer, more preferably an inclined cardboard layer and still more preferably a corrugated cardboard layer, defining a second supporting surface 62 for the foot 8. The second supporting surface 62 is inclined with respect to the vertical direction V. The inclined layer 60 shows a first upper extremity 70 and a second lower extremity 72 opposed to the first extremity 70.

The second supporting surface 62 preferably extends longitudinally along a main axis XL

In the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in the figures, the main axis XI of the second supporting surface 62 is inclined with respect to the vertical direction V of an angle W1 equal to 60°, as shown in Figure 9A. More generally, the main axis XI of the second supporting surface 62 of the damper element 60 is preferably inclined with respect to the vertical direction V of an angle W1 comprised between 10° and 80°, more preferably comprised between 30° and 70°.

When the refrigerator 1 is arranged over the support base 50, the feet 8 of the refrigerator 1 are preferably constantly in contact with the damper elements 60, more preferably are constantly in contact with the second supporting surfaces 62 of the damper elements 60, as shown in Figure 9.

It has to be noted that in this configuration, i.e. with the refrigerator 1 arranged over the support base 50, the damper elements 60 may be at least partially deformed and hence at least partially curved.

Furthermore, in this configuration, the resting surface 6 of the refrigerator 1 is preferably constantly in contact with the upper supporting surface 54a, 54b of the unit 30a, 30b.

Advantageously, the damper elements 60 effectively intervene in case of undesired external forces hitting the support base 50 or in case of unfortunate falling of the refrigerator 1. Thanks to the inclined arrangement of the damper element 60 inside the recess 56, the dampening effect against the external forces is advantageously irrespective of the direction of the same external forces.

The dampening effect preferably causes a deformation of the damper element 60, or of the damper elements 60. In some cases, depending on the entity of the external forces, the damper element/s 60 may eventually break expressing anyway its/their dampening effect.

It has to be noted that the support base 50 may offer a further dampening effect also through the main bodies 52a, 52b being, in particular, the resting surface 6 of the base 5 of refrigerator 1 in contact with the upper supporting surfaces 154a, 154b of the main bodies 52a, 52b trough the respective external casings 80a, 80b. Therefore, preferably, the total dampening effect of the support base 50 is the sum of the dampening effect of the main bodies 52a, 52b and of the dampening elements 60 placed in the recesses 56 which act, respectively, on the resting surface 6 and on the feet 8 of the base 5 of the refrigerator 1.

The dampening effect of the dampening elements 60 and/or of the main bodies 52a, 52b is linked to the material used for their reali ation.

As said above, the damper element 60 is preferably constituted of a cardboard layer.

Advantageously, the damper element 60 offers a sufficient level of mechanical strength to bear the foot 8 of the refrigerator 1 and at the same time offers a certain degree of dampening effect.

As said above, the damper element 60 may deform in order to exert the required dampening effect. Therefore, the damper element 60 deforms while the other parts 6, 8 of the refrigerator 1 are carefully preserved and not damaged.

As depicted in Figure 9, the main body 52b, preferably, comprises superimposed layers 75b÷78b, more preferably superimposed cardboard layers, still more preferably superimposed corrugated cardboard layers.

Advantageously, the layers 75b÷78b offer a sufficient level of mechanical strength to bear the weight of the refrigerator 1 placed above, in particular when the resting surface 6 of the refrigerator 1 in contact with the upper supporting surface 54b of the unit 30b. At the same time, the layers 75b÷78b offer a certain degree of dampening effect.

Furthermore, in case of use of cardboard layers the support base may be manufactured with low costs and/or reduces the environmental impact in terms of re-use/recycling of materials after its use.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the main body 52b preferably comprises four superimposed layers 75b÷78b, as illustrated in Figure 9. Furthermore, preferably, the inclined layer defining the damper element 60 is obtained by inclining a portion of the uppermost layer 78b of said superimposed layers 75b÷78b.

Advantageously, the damper element 60 is easily and quickly obtained during realization of the main body 52b.

As illustrated in Figure 9, the first upper extremity 70 of the damper element 60 is connected to the main body 52b and the second lower extremity 72 freely abuts against a bottom surface 90 provided in the recess 56.

The bottom surface 90 is preferably defined by an extended portion of the lowermost cardboard layer 75b of the main body 52b.

Advantageously, the connection of the first upper extremity 70 to the main body 52b allows the damper element 60 to be maintained inside the recess 56, in particular when the refrigerator 1 is disposed over the support base 50 during the packaging operations.

Furthermore, free abutment of the second lower extremity 72 of the damper element 60 against the bottom surface 90 of the recess 56 preferably allows the deformation/curvature of the damper element 60 to exert the required dampening effect.

In a further preferred embodiment, not shown, the second lower extremity of the damper element is preferably connected to a bottom surface provided in the recess while the first upper extremity freely abuts against a vertically extending surface of the main body. Advantageously, again, the damper element is properly maintained inside the recess and may also deform to exert the required dampening effect.

The external casing 80a preferably has a box-like shape defined by a plurality of side walls 84a that enclose the main body 52a, in particular said walls 84a enclosing the superimposed layers 75a÷78a.

Advantageously, the main body 52a is properly locked by the external casing 80a. In particular, superimposed layers 75a÷78a of the main body 52a are kept stuck by the external casing 80a.

More preferably, one or more of said side walls 84a extend vertically, as indicated with reference numbers 85a (see Figure 8). Vertical walls 85a, improve the support base rigidity and stiffness, in particular in vertical direction, and ensure that the support base 50 is suitable for bearing the weight of the refrigerator 1.

The external casings 80a, 80b then, may preferably comprise further seats/apertures 87a, 87b that are suitable to receive other parts of the refrigerator 1 that extend downwards, for example the compressor and/or means for the compressor fixation.

The external casings 80a, 80b are preferably made of paper, more preferably made of cardboard.

Furthermore, the external casings 80a, 80b preferably bears information and/or inscriptions for the correct reciprocal positioning of the support base 50 and of the refrigerator 1, for example letters “L”, “R”, “F”, etc. (left, right, front, etc.). According to another aspect of the invention, the support base 50 preferably comprises a lower tray 92 receiving the units 30a, 30b, more preferably receiving the main bodies 52a, 52b and the external casings 80a, 80b.

The tray 92 advantageously maintains the units 30a, 30b in position, in particular when the refrigerator 1 is positioned over the support base 50.

Preferably, the tray 92 advantageously maintains the main bodies 52a, 52b and the external casings 80a, 80b in position or only maintain the main bodies in position if the external casings are omitted.

The tray 92 preferably comprises a bottom side 92a and lateral sides 92b surrounding main bodies 52a, 52b and external casings 80a, 80b.

The tray 92 preferably has the above-mentioned function of maintaining the units 30a, 30b in position and no additional features are required, such as rigidity and/or particular stiffness and/or dampening effects.

In a preferred embodiment, the tray 92 is therefore preferably realized with a material that can be easily deformed/broken, preferably realized with a shaped cardboard layer. In particular, such a material allows the lateral sides 92b to be easily broken, folded down, for example simply pushing them down with a foot, as better described later.

As described above, the layer/s and/or the external casings and/or the tray are preferably realized with cardboard, more preferably with corrugated cardboard.

In different preferred embodiments, the material may be different from cardboard, for example honeycomb cardboard or moulded pulp cardboard.

In further different preferred embodiments, further different type of material may be used, for example EPS, EPP, EPE or bioplastics such as PLA (Polylactic acid).

With reference to Figures 10 to 14 will be described hereinafter a preferred embodiment of unpacking operations of the refrigerator 1 from the packaging device 10 according to the invention.

Figure 10 shows the refrigerator 1 wherein the top packaging element 12 and lateral packaging elements 14 have been already removed from the packaging device 10 and the refrigerator 1 stands on the support base 50 of the packaging device 10.

Top and lateral packaging elements 12, 14 are typically and easily removed from the refrigerator 1 by a single operator, for example the final customer.

Hereinafter we will show how the support base 50 will be easily removed from the refrigerator 1 by the same single operator with simple and safe operations.

A first operation/step of unpacking (Figure 11) provides for folding down the lateral sides 92b of the tray 92, for example pushing them down with a foot or manually by the operator. Lateral sides 92b are therefore preferably positioned parallel to the bottom side 92a of the tray 92. Once lateral sides 92b are folded down, therefore, units 30a, 30b are not laterally surrounded by the tray 92.

A successive step of unpacking (Figure 12) provides for inclining the refrigerator 1 about the base 5 along a pivoting axis P.

Refrigerator 1 is preferably inclined of an angle that allows one of the two units 30a, 30b to be free to move. According to Figure 12, the refrigerator 1 is preferably inclined about the pivoting axis P over the right unit 30b and hence the left unit 30a is made free to be moved.

Also, preferably, when the refrigerator 1 is inclined, the two left feet 8 are moved upwardly and outside the respective recess 56, thus does not creating any obstacle to the free movement of the left unit 30a.

The left unit 30a is then advantageously slid along the sliding direction D while, preferably, the abutting surfaces 32a, 32b are in reciprocal contact. The left unit 30a is therefore easily removed. Preferably, the operator may remove the left unit 30a by kicking it with its foot.

Contact between the abutting surfaces 32a, 32b of the two units 30a, 30b guarantees that the left unit 30a is properly moved away from the base 5 of the refrigerator 1 along the sliding direction D without the risk it partially remains below the base 5 itself or it remains in an unreachable or inclined position below the base 5 thus causing further difficulties for the operator.

Advantageously, the operator may easily and safely carry out said operations of inclining the refrigerator 1 and removing the first unit 30a on his own.

A successive step of unpacking (Figure 13) provides for inclining the refrigerator 1 about the base 5 along a second pivoting axis PI.

The second pivoting axis PI is preferably parallel to the first pivoting axis P.

The pivoting axes P, PI are preferably provided at opposing sides of the base 5 of the refrigerator 1, more preferably coinciding with axes passing through two feet 8 of the refrigerator 1.

Refrigerator 1 is preferably inclined of an angle that allows the right unit 30b to be free to move. According to Figure 13, the refrigerator 1 is preferably inclined about the second pivoting axis PI over its two feet 8.

The right unit 30b is then advantageously moved away. Preferably, the operator may remove the right unit 30b by kicking it with its foot. Advantageously, again, the operator may easily and safely carry out said operations of inclining the refrigerator 1 and removing the second unit 30b on his own.

Finally, the refrigerator 1 may be positioned in its final/standing position (Figure 14). The tray 92 is the advantageously and easily removed, preferably by breaking it, or the refrigerator 1 is moved/dragged outside the tray 92.

It has thus been shown that the present invention allows all the set objects to be achieved. In particular, it makes it possible to simplify the unpacking operations required by the final customer/operator who can do everything and safely on his own. While the present invention has been described with reference to the particular embodiment shown in the figures, it should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiment illustrated and described herein; on the contrary, further variants of the embodiment described herein fall within the scope of the present invention, which is defined in the claims.

Claims

1. A household appliance packaging device (10) comprising a support base (50) suitable to be placed horizontally in the working position to support a household appliance (1) in a standing position, characterized in that said support base (50), in said working position, comprises at least two units (30a, 30b) both supporting a base (5) of said household appliance (1), said two units (30a, 30b), in said working position, at least partially abutting one to the other along respective abutting surfaces (32a, 32b), each unit (30a, 30b) having an upper supporting surface (54a, 54b) apt to abut against a portion of said base (5) of said household appliance (1), wherein said upper supporting surface (54a, 54b) supports said portion of said base (5) of said household appliance (1) when said household appliance (1), in its standing position, stands on said two units (30a, 30b) and wherein, when said household appliance (1) is inclined about said base (5) along a pivoting axis (P), one of said two units (30a, 30b) is free to be slid along a sliding direction (D) with respect to the other of said two units (30a, 30b) while the abutting surfaces (32a, 32b) are in reciprocal contact.

2. A packaging device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that each of said units (30a, 30b) comprises a main body (52a, 52b).

3. A packaging device (10) according to claim 2, characterized in that said unit (30a, 30b) further comprises an external casing (80a, 80b) at least partially receiving said main body (52a, 52b).

4. A packaging device (10) according to claim 3, characterized in that said external casing (80a, 80b) comprises one or more side walls (84a, 84b) that extend vertically and encloses said main body (52a, 52b).

5. A packaging device (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said support base (50) is at least partially realized with cardboard.

6. A packaging device (10) according to any of the claims 2 to 5, characterized in that said main body (52a, 52b) further comprises at least one recess (56), defined in said main body (52a, 52b), which extends downwardly in a vertical direction (V) with respect to said upper supporting surface (54a, 54b) and is apt to receive a second portion (8) of said household appliance (1).

7. A packaging device (10) according to claim 6, characterized in that when said household appliance (1) is inclined about said base (5), said second portion (8) of said household appliance (1) is moved outside said at least one recess (56).

8. A packaging device (10) according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that a damper element (60) is arranged in said least one recess (56), said damper element (60) comprising an inclined layer (60) defining a second supporting surface (62) for said second portion (8) of said base (5) of said household appliance (1), wherein said second supporting surface (62) is inclined with respect to the vertical direction (V).

9. A packaging device (10) according to claim 8, characterized in that said second supporting surface (62) extends longitudinally along a main axis (XI), wherein said main axis (XI) of said second supporting surface (62) is inclined with respect to said vertical direction (V) of an angle (Wl) comprised between 10° and 80°, preferably of an angle (Wl) comprised between 30° and 70°, more preferably of an angle (Wl) equal to 60°.

10. A packaging device (10) according to any of the claims 2 to 9, characterized in that said main body (52a, 52b) comprises superimposed layers (75a, 76a, 77a, 78a, 75b, 76b, 77b, 78b), preferably superimposed cardboard layers, more preferably superimposed corrugated cardboard layers.

11. A packaging device (10) according to any of the claims 8 to 10, characterized in that said inclined layer (60) comprises an inclined cardboard layer (60), more preferably comprises a corrugated cardboard layer.

12. A packaging device (10) according to any of the claims 8 to 11, characterized in that said inclined layer (60) has a first upper extremity (70) and a second lower extremity (72) opposed to said first extremity (70), said first upper extremity (70) being connected to said main body (52a, 52b) and said second lower extremity (72) freely abutting against a bottom surface (90) provided in said at least one recess (56).

13. A packaging device (10) according to claim 12 or 11 when depending on claim 10, characterized in that said inclined layer (60) is obtained by inclining a portion of the uppermost layer (78a) of said superimposed layers (75a, 76a, 77a, 78a, 75b, 76b, 77b, 78b) of said main body (52a, 52b).

14. A packaging device (10) according to claim 12 when depending on claim 10, characterized in that said bottom surface (90) is defined by an extended portion of the lowermost layer (75a) of said superimposed layers (75a, 76a, 77a, 78a, 75b, 76b, 77b, 78b) of said main body (52a, 52b).

15. A packaging device (10) according to any of the claims 8 to 11, characterized in that said inclined layer has a first upper extremity and a second lower extremity opposed to said first extremity, said second lower extremity being connected to a bottom surface provided in said at least one recess and said first upper extremity freely abutting against a vertically extending surface of said main body.

16. A packaging device (10) according to any of the claims 8 to 15, characterized in that of comprising four recesses (56) and respective four damper elements (60) arranged therein.

17. A packaging device (10) according to claim 16, characterized in that when said household appliance (1) is inclined about said base (5), at least two second portions (8) of said household appliance (1) are moved outside respective two of said recesses (56).

18. A packaging device (10) according to any of the claims 8 to 17 when depending on claim 3, characterized in that said external casing (80a, 80b) comprises at least one aperture (83) which is aligned to said at least one recess (56) of said main body (52a, 52b).

19. A packaging device (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises a lower tray (92) receiving said at least two units (30a, 30b), said lower tray (92) being preferably realized with a shaped cardboard layer.

20. A packaging device (10) according to claim 19, characterized in that said lower tray (92) comprises a bottom side (92a) and lateral sides (92b).

21. A packaging device (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises one or more protecting elements (12, 14) for the protection of parts of the household appliance (1) other than said base (5).

22. An assembly comprising a household appliance (1) and a household appliance packaging device (10), characterized in that said household appliance packaging device (10) is realized according to any of the preceding claims.

23. A method for unpacking an assembly realized according to claim 22, characterized in that it comprises the steps of:

- inclining said household appliance (1) about said base (5) along a first pivoting axis (P);

- removing a first one of said two units (30a, 30b);

- inclining the household appliance (1) about said base (5) along a second pivoting axis (P);

- removing the second unit of said two units (30a, 30b).

24. A method according to claim 23, characterized in that said first pivoting axis (P) and said second pivoting axis (P) are provided at opposing sides of said base (5) of said household appliance (1).

25. A method according to claim 23 or 24 when depending on claim 20, characterized in that it further comprises a step of folding down lateral sides (92b) of said tray (92) before said steps of inclining said household appliance (1).

26. A method according to any of the claims 23 to 25 when depending on claim 6, characterized in that said inclining steps allow said second portion (8) of said household appliance (1) to be moved outside said at least one recess (56).