WO2022248010A1

WO2022248010A1 - A packaging base for a household appliance

Info

Publication number: WO2022248010A1
Application number: PCT/EP2021/063777
Authority: WO
Inventors: Varun NOVLE; Danny Buso; Vittorio COLAVITTI
Original assignee: Electrolux Appliances AB
Current assignee: Electrolux Appliances AB
Priority date: 2021-05-25
Filing date: 2021-05-25
Publication date: 2022-12-01
Anticipated expiration: 2023-11-25

Abstract

The present invention is related to a packaging base (1) wherein a household appliance (2) can be loaded, comprising a tray (3) having a bottom wall (4) and a lateral wall (5) protruding from a perimeter edge (41) of the bottom wall (4), wherein the packaging base (1) comprises: - two or more cushioning elements (7), housed in the tray (3) and adapted to at least partially bear the weight of a household appliance (2) and to protect from impacts a bottom region (21) of a household appliance (2) loaded on them; - a positioning element (8), housed in the tray (3) and removably coupled to said two or more cushioning elements (7) in such a way to keep them in a prefixed working position in which they at least partially bear the weight of a household appliance (2), when said household appliance (2) is loaded on said packaging base (1).

Description

A PACKAGING BASE FOR A HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCE

DESCRIPTION

The present invention refers to a packaging base for a household appliance.

Nowadays household appliances (e.g. refrigerators, laundry washing machines, laundry washer-driers, laundry driers, dishwashers, ovens, etcetera), before being installed on site, are typically stored and transported within suitable packaging arrangements which facilitate the handling of such household appliances and protect them from external impacts.

Some known packaging arrangements comprise four lateral pillars, receiving one of the vertical lateral edges of a household appliance, connected, at their lower end, to a base protection member on which the household appliance can be loaded, and, at their higher end, to a top protection member placed on top of the packaged household appliance; the base protection member, the pillars and the top protection member constitute, as a whole, a sort of parallelepiped external frame, protecting the regions of the household appliance most exposed to impacts.

Typically, the base protection member is a monolithic (i.e. made in a single piece construction) tray, made of molded expanded polystyrene; such a material is adapted to bear the weight of a household appliance loaded on the tray, and to protect from external impacts the bottom region of such a household appliance.

Such a known solution has however some drawbacks.

First of all, the monolithic tray made of expanded polystyrene is quite bulky, and occupies much space with respect to its weight, and therefore its transport and storage costs are relatively high. In addition, household appliances are typically provided, on their bottom region, with supporting feet, by which they rest on a horizontal surface, for example the floor of a room in which such household appliances are installed, and therefore, when a household appliance is loaded on the base protection member, it rests on the latter only via such feet; therefore, only some relatively small regions or the monolithic tray of the base protection member actually bear the weight of the household appliance, while the rest of the tray is substantially unloaded. Therefore, in such known solutions there is a substantial waste of material, since all the monolithic tray is made of expanded polystyrene, which is a relatively costly and polluting material, even if only some small regions of the tray actually need to be made of a shock absorbing and load-bearing material.

A further drawback of known solutions is that the removal of the monolithic tray for unpacking of the household appliance is rather difficult, since it requires lifting the whole household appliance, which is typically heavy and cumbersome, or at least partially breaking the monolithic tray, which on the other hand is not so easy, since the monolithic tray is designed for bearing high mechanical stresses.

The aim of the present invention is therefore obtaining a packaging base for a household appliance which solves above mentioned drawbacks, and in particular obtaining a packaging base for a household appliance which storage and transport costs are lower than in the above illustrated known solutions. Within this aim, a further object of the invention is obtaining a packaging base for a household appliance allowing an easier unpacking of a household appliance loaded on it.

A further object of the invention is obtaining a packaging base for a household appliance having a lower overall environmental impact with respect to the above illustrated known solutions. Applicant has found that, by a packaging base comprising two or more cushioning elements housed in a tray and adapted to at least partially bear the weight of a household appliance and to protect from impacts a bottom region of a household appliance loaded on them, and a positioning element, removably coupled to the two or more cushioning elements in such a way to keep them in a prefixed working position in which they at least partially bear the weight of a household appliance when such a household appliance is loaded on the packaging base, it is possible to singularly store and transport the various components of the packaging base before their assembly, which is much easier and economic than storing and transporting the bulky monolithic trays of the prior art.

In addition, only the two or more cushioning elements need to be made of a material adapted to at least partially bear the load of a household appliance, while the rest of the packaging base can be made of a cheaper and/or more environment-friendly material, for example cardboard.

Moreover, a same type of cushioning element, together with different types of positioning elements, or vice versa, can be used for assembling different models of packaging bases (e.g. wider or narrower), for packaging different types or models of household appliances, which allows achieving economies of scale and reducing the overall costs of the packaging base.

In addition, the packaging base according to the invention allows an easier unpacking of a household appliance loaded on it, since the two or more cushioning elements can be individually separated from the household appliance, without the need of completely lifting the latter and/or breaking the packaging base as in the case of the known monolithic trays.

In particular, above aim is solved by a packaging base wherein a household appliance can be loaded, comprising a tray having a bottom wall and a lateral wall protruding from a perimeter edge of the bottom wall, wherein the packaging base comprises:

- two or more cushioning elements, housed in the tray and adapted to at least partially bear the weight of a household appliance and to protect from impacts a bottom region of a household appliance loaded on them;

- a positioning element, housed in the tray and removably coupled to the two or more cushioning elements in such a way to keep them in a prefixed working position in which they at least partially bear the weight of a household appliance, when such a household appliance is loaded on the packaging base. Preferably, the positioning element lays on the bottom wall of the tray.

Preferably, the bottom wall of the tray is flat, or substantially flat.

In an advantageous embodiment, the positioning element comprises a spacer region positioned between two or more cushioning elements, which keeps the two or more cushioning elements in contact with the lateral wall of the tray. This is advantageous, since the two or more cushioning elements are kept in the prefixed working position, from one side by the spacer region of the positioning element, and from another side by the lateral wall of the tray, without the need of using adhesives or other permanent fastening systems; the packaging base can therefore be assembled and disassembled (for example for unpacking a household appliance loaded on it) in a very easy way.

Advantageously, the positioning element is at least partially counter-shaped, in a plan view, to the two or more cushioning elements, which facilitates the assembly of the packaging base.

In an advantageous embodiment, the positioning element is interposed between the bottom wall of the tray and at least part of at least one of the two or more cushioning elements, which improves the stability of their fastening. In an advantageous embodiment, at least one of the two or more cushioning elements is coupled to the positioning element by a male-female coupling system, which improves even more the stability of their fastening, reducing the risk that such elements could be accidentally separated.

In an advantageous embodiment, the male-female coupling system comprises a hole, provided in the positioning element, and a protrusion, protruding from the at least one of the two or more cushioning elements and positioned within the hole.

In an advantageous embodiment, the male-female coupling system comprises a cavity provided in at least one of the two or more cushioning elements, and a projection of the positioning element, positioned within the cavity.

In an advantageous embodiment, one or more of the two or more cushioning elements has a monolithic structure (i.e. it is made in a single piece construction).

In an advantageous embodiment, one or more of the two or more cushioning elements comprises a plurality of elements attached together.

Preferably, the plurality of elements are attached together in a removably way.

In an advantageous embodiment, at least one of the two or more cushioning elements comprises, on an external surface thereof facing away from the bottom wall of the tray, one or more seats suitable for housing, respectively, supporting feet protruding from a bottom region of a household appliance loaded on the two or more cushioning elements. The one or more seats facilitates the correct positioning of a household appliance on the packaging base, improving also the stability of the packaging, since the positioning of the supporting feet in the respective seat reduces the possible relative motion between the household appliance and the packaging base.

In an advantageous embodiment, the perimeter edge of the bottom wall of the tray is, in a plan view, substantially square or rectangular, and it comprises two mutually parallel sides.

In an advantageous embodiment, a first cushioning element and a second cushioning element of the two or more cushioning elements have, in a plan view, an elongated shape and are positioned, respectively, along the two mutually parallel sides of the substantially square or rectangular perimeter edge.

Preferably, the first cushioning element and the second cushioning element have both the same shape. In this way, a single mould is enough for producing both the first and the second cushioning element, which reduces the overall production costs of the packaging base.

More preferably, the first cushioning element and the second cushioning element are positioned in the tray rotated one with respect to the other of 180 degrees around an axis perpendicular to the bottom wall of the tray.

In an advantageous embodiment, the two or more cushioning elements and the positioning element are coupled with the tray in a removable way.

In an advantageous embodiment, the packaging base comprises a supporting element at least partially housed in the tray and coupled to the positioning element, positioned in such a way to contact a household appliance when the latter is loaded on the two or more cushioning elements.

Such a supporting element improves the stability of the packaging, since it defines a mechanical constraint on the movement of the household appliance with respect to the packaging base.

Preferably, the supporting element is positioned in such a way to contact a rear region of a household appliance when the latter is loaded on the two or more cushioning elements. Preferably, the supporting element comprises a bulge facing away from the bottom wall of the tray. More preferably, the bulge comprises an inclined face, facing away from the bottom wall, which distance from the bottom wall increases moving away from the centre of the bottom wall. The inclined face of the bulge helps to keep the household appliance stably positioned on the packaging base, since the inclination of the face tends to oppose to the movement of the household appliance resting on it, away from the centre of the bottom wall.

In an advantageous embodiment, the supporting element is attached in a removable way to the positioning element.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the supporting element is made in a single piece construction with the positioning element.

Preferably, the positioning element comprises a laminar element comprising a main portion, coupled to the two or more cushioning elements, and an appendage folded with respect to the main portion in such a way to form the supporting element. This advantageous embodiment makes the packaging base even more easy to be assembled.

In an advantageous embodiment, the supporting element has, in a plan view, an elongated shape, and is positioned along a rear side of the perimeter edge, perpendicular to the mutually parallel sides of the latter.

In an advantageous embodiment, the supporting element is attached, at its ends, respectively to the first cushioning element and to the second cushioning element; in this way the supporting element is stably fastened between the first cushioning element and to the second cushioning element, without the need of adhesive or other permanent fastening systems.

In an advantageous embodiment, the positioning element and two or more cushioning elements are made of different materials.

In an advantageous embodiment, the positioning element is made of a paper-based material, which makes it easily recyclable. Preferably, the positioning element is made of corrugated cardboard, or honeycomb cardboard, or molded pulp.

In an advantageous embodiment, the two or more cushioning elements are made of a polymeric material.

Preferably, the polymeric material is or comprises expanded Polyethylene (EPE), which is a plastic material having very good cushioning and supporting properties, and which is also easily recyclable.

In an advantageous embodiment, the supporting element is made of a paper-based material, which makes it easily recyclable. Preferably, the supporting element is made of corrugated cardboard, or honeycomb cardboard, or molded pulp.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the supporting element is made of a polymeric material.

Preferably, the polymeric material is or comprises expanded Polyethylene (EPE).

In an advantageous embodiment, the tray is box shaped and its lateral wall encircles in a continuous way the bottom wall. This advantageous embodiment improves the solidity of the packaging base, since it contributes to effectively keep the two or more cushioning elements in the prefixed working position.

In an advantageous embodiment, the lateral wall of the tray comprises a plurality of sections separated one another; in this way the weight (and therefore the related transport costs) of the packaging base is reduced.

Preferably, the plurality of sections comprise four sections provided respectively at the four corners of the square or rectangular perimeter edge of the bottom wall.

In an advantageous embodiment, the packaging base comprises a plurality of pillar seats adapted to house, respectively, the bottom end of pillars, positionable against a lateral surface of a household appliance when the latter is loaded on the two or more cushioning elements. Preferably, the pillars are connected, at an upper end thereof, by a cover element positionable against a top surface of a household appliance when the latter is loaded on said two or more cushioning elements.

It is underlined that in the present description and in the attached claims Relations of orientation (like "below",

"above", "top", "bottom", "rear", "front", etcetera) refer to the orientation of the packaging base relative to a transport and storing orientation of a household appliance which is to be protected by the packaging base. Typically, the transport and storing orientation is the same operational orientation of the household appliance in use, i.e. resting with its bottom region, usually provided with supporting feet, on a horizontal surface, e.g. the floor of a room, or the upper horizontal surface of the cabinet of another household appliance.

Other advantages and features of the packaging base according to the present invention will be clear from the following detailed description, provided only as a not limitative example, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a household appliance packaged in a packaging arrangement comprising a packaging base according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a detail of the household appliance and of the packaging base of Figure 1, before the packaging;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the household appliance and of the packaging arrangement of Figure 1, before the packaging; Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the packaging base of Figure 1, in an assembled configuration;

Figures 5 and 6 are perspective views of the packaging base of Figure 4 in two different phases of its assembly;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a further advantageous embodiment of the tray of a packaging base according to the invention; Fig. 8 is a cross section of the packaging base of figure 4; Fig. 9 is a detail of a cross section of the packaging base of figure 4 and of a household appliance loaded on it;

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a further advantageous embodiment of a packaging base according to the invention, in an assembled configuration;

Figures 11 and 12 are perspective views of the packaging base of Figure 10 in two different phases of its assembly;

Fig. 13 is a cross section of the packaging base of figure 10;

Fig. 14 is a perspective view of a further advantageous embodiment of a packaging base according to the invention, in an assembled configuration;

Figures 15 and 16 are perspective views of the packaging base of Figure 14 in two different phases of its assembly;

Fig. 17 is a cross section of the packaging base of figure 14;

Fig. 18 is a perspective view of a further advantageous embodiment of a packaging base according to the invention, in an assembled configuration;

Figures 19 and 20 are perspective views of the packaging base of Figure 18 in two different phases of its assembly;

Fig. 21 is a cross section of the packaging base of figure 18;

Fig. 22 is a perspective view of a further advantageous embodiment of a packaging base according to the invention, in an assembled configuration;

Figures 23 and 24 are perspective views of the packaging base of Figure 22 in two different phases of its assembly;

Fig. 25 is a cross section of the packaging base of figure 22;

Fig. 26 is a perspective view of a further advantageous embodiment of a packaging base according to the invention, in an assembled configuration;

Figures 27 and 28 are perspective views of the packaging base of Figure 26 in two different phases of its assembly;

Fig. 29 is a cross section of the packaging base of figure 26. In the figures, same parts are indicated with the same reference numbers.

In attached figures, a packaging base according to the invention, wherein a household appliance 2 can be loaded, has been indicated with reference number 1.

The household appliance 2 can be, for example, a laundry washing machine (as the one illustrated in figures 1-3), a laundry washer-drier, a laundry drier, a dishwasher, a refrigerator, an oven, etcetera.

The packaging base 1 comprises a tray 3 having a bottom wall 4, preferably flat, and a lateral wall 5 protruding from a perimeter edge 41 of the bottom wall 4.

Advantageously, the tray 3 can be made of a single material, or of a combination of materials; for example, the tray 3 can be made of a paper-based material (i.e. corrugated cardboard, honeycomb cardboard, molded pulp, etcetera), and/or of plastic material.

Preferably, as in the advantageous embodiments of attached figures, the perimeter edge 41 of the bottom wall 4 of the tray 3 is, in a plan view, substantially square or rectangular, and comprises two mutually parallel sides 41a, 41b.

In advantageous embodiments, like for example the ones illustrated in figures 1 to 6, and 8 to 29, the tray 3 is box shaped, and its lateral wall 5 encircles in a continuous way the bottom wall 4.

In a further advantageous embodiment, like for example the one illustrated in figure 7, the lateral wall 5 of the tray 3 comprises a plurality of sections 51a, 51b, 5ac, 51d separated one another; for example, in an advantageous embodiment in which the perimeter edge 41 of the bottom wall 4 of the tray 3 is, in a plan view, substantially square or rectangular, the plurality of sections 51a, 51b, 5ac, 51d comprise four sections provided respectively at the four corners of the square or rectangular perimeter edge 41 of the bottom wall 4. According to the invention, the packaging base 1 comprises two or more (preferably two) cushioning elements 7, housed in the tray 3 and adapted to at least partially bear the weight of a household appliance 2, and to protect from impacts a bottom region 21 of a household appliance 2 loaded on them.

The packaging base 1 also comprise a positioning element 8, housed in the tray 3 and removably coupled to the two or more cushioning elements 7 in such a way to keep them in a prefixed working position, illustrated for example, respectively in relation to different embodiments of the inventions, in figures 4, 8, 10, 14, 18, 22, 26, in which they at least partially bear the weight of a household appliance 2 when such a household appliance 2 is loaded on the packaging base 1. Advantageously, the two or more cushioning elements 7 and the positioning element 8 are coupled with the tray 3 in a removable way, for example by interlocking.

In an advantageous embodiment, the positioning element 8 and the two or more cushioning elements 7 are made of different materials; in another advantageous embodiment, the positioning element 8 and at least one of the two or more cushioning elements 7 (preferably all the two or more cushioning elements 7) are made of different materials.

Preferably, the positioning element 8 is made of a paper-based material, more preferably corrugated cardboard, or honeycomb cardboard, or molded pulp.

Advantageously, one or more cushioning elements 7, preferably all the cushioning elements 7, can be made of a single material, or it can be made of more than one material. Advantageously, one or more cushioning elements 7, preferably all the cushioning elements 7, can be made of a polymeric material, preferably expanded Polyethylene (EPE). In advantageous embodiments, like for example the ones illustrated in figures 4 to 25, one or more of the two or more cushioning elements 7, preferably all the cushioning elements 7, has a monolithic structure, i.e. it is made of a single piece of material (e.g. a single piece of expanded Polyethylene).

In a further advantageous embodiment, like for example the one illustrated in figures 26 to 29, one or more of the two or more cushioning elements 7, preferably all the cushioning elements 7, comprises a plurality of elements 71, 72 attached together, preferably in a removable way; preferably, the elements 71, 72 are attached together by an interlocking, more preferably a removable interlocking.

In advantageous embodiments, like the ones illustrated in attached figures, at least one (preferably all) of the two or more cushioning elements 7 comprise, on an external surface 73 thereof facing away from the bottom wall 4 of the tray 3, one or more seats 74 suitable for housing, respectively, supporting feet 22 protruding from a bottom region 21 of a household appliance 2 loaded on the two or more cushioning elements 7; it is underlined that such seats 74 can also be absent, in which case, a supporting foot 22 can lay on the external surface 73 of a cushioning element 7.

In advantageous embodiments, like the ones illustrated in attached figures, in which the perimeter edge 41 of the bottom wall 4 of the tray 3 is, in a plan view, substantially square or rectangular, and comprises two mutually parallel sides 41a, 41b, a first cushioning element 7a and a second cushioning element 7b of the two or more cushioning elements 7 preferably have, in a plan view, an elongated shape, and they are positioned, respectively, along the two mutually parallel sides 41a, 41b of the substantially square or rectangular perimeter edge 41. In advantageous embodiments, for example the ones illustrated in figures 18 to 21, the first cushioning element 7a and the second cushioning element 7b have both the same shape; preferably, in this case the first cushioning element 7a and the second cushioning element 7b are positioned in the tray 3 rotated one with respect to the other of 180 degrees around an axis Ax perpendicular to the bottom wall 4 of the tray 3.

In advantageous embodiments, like the ones illustrated in attached figures, the positioning element 8 lays on the bottom wall 4 of the tray 3.

In advantageous embodiments, like the ones illustrated in attached figures, the positioning element 8 comprises a spacer region 81 positioned between the two or more cushioning elements 7, which keeps them in contact with the lateral wall 5 of the tray 3.

In advantageous embodiments, like the ones illustrated in attached figures, the positioning element 8 is at least partially counter-shaped, in a plan view, to the two or more cushioning elements 7.

In advantageous embodiments, like the ones illustrated in attached figures, the positioning element 8 is interposed between the bottom wall 4 of the tray 3 and at least part of at least one of the two or more cushioning elements 7.

In advantageous embodiments, like the ones illustrated in attached figures, at least one of the two or more cushioning elements 7 is coupled to the positioning element 8 by a male-female coupling system.

In an advantageous embodiment, like for example the one illustrated in figures 10 to 13, the male-female coupling system comprises a hole 91, provided in the positioning element 8, and a protrusion 92, protruding from a cushioning element 7 and positioned within such a hole 91.

In advantageous embodiments, like the ones illustrated in attached figures, the male-female coupling system comprises a cavity 93 provided in at least one of the two or more cushioning elements 7, and a projection 94 of the positioning element 8, positioned within such a cavity 93.

In advantageous embodiments, like the ones illustrated in attached figures, the packaging base 1 comprises a supporting element 10 at least partially housed in the tray 3 and coupled to the positioning element 8, positioned in such a way to contact a household appliance 2, preferably a rear region 23 thereof, when the latter is loaded on the two or more cushioning elements 7.

Advantageously, the supporting element 10 comprises a bulge 11 facing away from the bottom wall 4 of the tray 3.

Preferably, the bulge 11 comprises an inclined face 12, facing away from the bottom wall 4, which distance from the bottom wall 4 increases moving away from the centre of the bottom wall 4.

In advantageous embodiments, like the ones illustrated in attached figures 4 to 6, 8, 9, 14 to 17, 18 to 21, and 26 to 29, the supporting element 10 is attached in a removable way (for example by interlocking) to the positioning element 8.

In other advantageous embodiments, like the ones illustrated in attached figures 10 to 13, and 22 to 25, the supporting element 10 is made in a single piece construction with the positioning element 8; for example, the positioning element 8 can advantageously comprise a laminar element 82 comprising a main portion 83, coupled to the two or more cushioning elements 7, and an appendage 84 folded with respect to the main portion 83 in such a way to form the supporting element 10.

In advantageous embodiments, like the ones illustrated in attached figures 18 to 21, the perimeter edge 41 of the bottom wall 4 of the tray 3 is, in a plan view, substantially square or rectangular, and comprises two mutually parallel sides 41a, 41b, and the supporting element 10 has, in a plan view, an elongated shape, and it is positioned, along a rear side 41c of the perimeter edge 41, perpendicular to the mutually parallel sides 41a, 41b of the latter; preferably, in this case the supporting element 10 is attached, at its ends, respectively to the first cushioning element 7a and to the second cushioning element 7b.

In advantageous embodiments, like the ones illustrated in attached figures 10 to 13, and 22 to 25, the supporting element 10 is made of a paper-based material, for example corrugated cardboard, or honeycomb cardboard, or molded pulp. In further advantageous embodiments, like for example the ones illustrated in figures 4 to 6, 8, 9, 14 to 17, 18 to 21 and 26 to 29, the supporting element (10) is made of a polymeric material, for example expanded Polyethylene (EPE).

In advantageous embodiments, like the ones illustrated in attached figures, the packaging base 1 comprises a plurality of pillar seats 15 adapted to house, respectively, the bottom end 16a of pillars 16, positionable against a lateral surface (24) of a household appliance (2) when the latter is loaded on said two or more cushioning elements; preferably, the pillars 16 are connected, at an upper end 16b thereof, by a cover element 17 positionable against a top surface 25 of a household appliance 2 when the latter is loaded on the two or more cushioning elements 7.

Preferably, one or more of the pillar seats 15 is defined by a gap provided between one of the cushioning elements 7 and the lateral wall 5 of the tray 3.

The functioning of the packaging base 1 according to the invention is described in the following.

The packaging base 1 can be assembled, for example, by housing firstly the positioning the element 8, and then the two or more cushioning elements 7, in the tray 3.

Alternatively, the two or more cushioning elements 7 can be for example attached to the positioning element 8 outside the tray 3, and then the assembly of the positioning the element 8 and then the two or more cushioning elements 7 can be housed in the tray 3.

If the supporting element 10, if provided, is made in a single piece construction with the positioning element 8, such components are housed in the tray 3 contemporaneously, otherwise the supporting element 10 can be housed in the tray before or after the positioning element 8.

Once the packaging base 1 has been so assembled, a household appliance 2 can be loaded on it, and in particular on the one or more cushioning elements 7.

Once the household appliance 2 is loaded on the packaging base 1, such a household appliance 2 can be easily stored and transported, reducing the risk that the bottom region 21 of such a household appliance 2 is damaged due to external impacts.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, in order to protect also other parts of the household appliance 2 from external impacts, after positioning the latter on the packaging base 1, a plurality of pillars 16 can be positioned with their bottom ends 16a in the pillar seats 15, if provided, in such a way to be positioned against a lateral surface 24 of the household appliance 2; then, the upper ends 16b of the pillars 16 can be advantageously attached to a cover element 17, positionable against a top surface 25 of the household appliance 2.

In this advantageous embodiment, illustrated for example in figures 1 to 3, the assembly of the packaging base 1, pillars 16 and cover element 17 defines, as a whole, a sort of external frame 18, protecting the regions of the household appliance 1 most exposed to impacts.

Preferably, such external frame 18 can comprise other elements, for example a crosspiece 19 interposed between two pillars 16. The external frame 18, containing the household appliance 2, can be optionally wrapped in a plastic transparent film, not illustrated, which keeps all the components of the external frame 18 joined together.

After its storing, the so packaged household appliance 2 can be transported to the place of installation, after which it can be removed from the packaging base 1 (and from the external frame 18, if the latter is provided) in order to be installed.

The packaging base can be easily dismantled, simply by removing the two or more cushioning elements, the positioning element 8 and, if provided, the supporting element 10, from the tray 3; each of these components can then be singularly disposed, for example recycled, preferably after having been transported to a suitable disposing site and/or stored in the latter; it is underlined that transporting and storing the single components of the packaging base 1 is much more easy and cheap than transporting and storing the bulky monolithic tray of the prior art.

It has been seen, therefore, how the invention achieves the proposed aim and objects, there being provided a packaging base that allows to singularly store and transport the various components of the packaging base, both before their assembly and after the dismantle of the packaging base, which is much easier and economic than storing and transporting the bulky monolithic trays of the prior art.

In addition, the packaging base according to the invention is much cheaper and more environment-friendly than the cited prior art, since only the two or more cushioning elements need to be made of a material adapted to at least partially bear the load of a household appliance, while the rest of the packaging base can be made of a cheaper and/or more environment-friendly material, for example cardboard. In addition, the packaging base according to the invention can be easily disassembled, so that its various components can be singularly disposed (e.g. recycled) in the proper way. Moreover, the packaging base according to the invention allows obtaining economies of scale and reducing the overall costs of the packaging base, since a same type of cushioning element, together with different types of positioning elements, or vice versa, can be used for assembling different models of packaging bases (e.g. wider or narrower), for packaging different types or models of household appliances.

The above is a description of various embodiments of inventive aspects, and further changes can be made without departing from the scope of protection of the present invention. The shape and/or size and/or location and/or orientation of the various components can be changed. The functions of one element can be carried out by two or more components, and vice-versa. Components shown directly connected or in contact can have intermediate structures arranged between them. The details shown in a figure and/or described with reference to a figure or to an embodiment can apply in other figures or embodiments. Not all of the details shown in one figure or described in a same context necessarily have to be present in a same embodiment. Features or aspects that turn out to be innovative with respect to the prior art, alone or in combination with other features, should be deemed to be described per se, independently of what has been explicitly described as innovative.

Further variants of the embodiments described above are possible, without departing from the teachings of the invention.

Claims

1) A packaging base (1) wherein a household appliance (2) can be loaded, comprising a tray (3) having a bottom wall (4) and a lateral wall (5) protruding from a perimeter edge (41) of said bottom wall (4), characterised by comprising:

- two or more cushioning elements (7), housed in said tray (3) and adapted to at least partially bear the weight of a household appliance (2) and to protect from impacts a bottom region (21) of a household appliance (2) loaded on them;

- a positioning element (8), housed in said tray (3) and removably coupled to said two or more cushioning elements (7) in such a way to keep them in a prefixed working position in which they at least partially bear the weight of a household appliance (2), when said household appliance (2) is loaded on said packaging base (1).

2) A packaging base (1), as in claim 1, wherein said positioning element (8) lays on said bottom wall (4) of said tray (3).

3) A packaging base (1), as in claim 1 or 2, wherein said positioning element (8) comprises a spacer region (81) positioned between said two or more cushioning elements (7), which keeps said two or more cushioning elements (7) in contact with said lateral wall (5) of said tray (3).

4) A packaging base (1), as in one or more of the previous claims, wherein said positioning element (8) is at least partially counter-shaped, in a plan view, to said two or more cushioning elements (7). 5) A packaging base (1), as in one or more of the previous claims, wherein said positioning element (8) is interposed between said bottom wall (4) of said tray (3) and at least part of at least one of said two or more cushioning elements (7).

6) A packaging base (1), as in one or more of the previous claims, wherein at least one of said two or more cushioning elements (7) is coupled to said positioning element (8) by a male-female coupling system (91, 92, 93, 94).

7) A packaging base (1), as in claim 6, wherein said male- female coupling system (91, 92, 93, 94) comprises a hole (91), provided in said positioning element (8), and a protrusion (92), protruding from said at least one of said two or more cushioning elements (7) and positioned within said hole (91).

8) A packaging base (1), as in claim 6 or 7, wherein said male-female coupling system (91, 92, 93, 94) comprises a cavity (93) provided in at least one of said two or more cushioning elements (7), and a projection (94) of said positioning element (8), positioned within said cavity (93).

9) A packaging base (1), as in one or more of previous claims, wherein one or more of said two or more cushioning elements (7) has a monolithic structure.

10) A packaging base (1), as in one or more of previous claims, wherein one or more of said two or more cushioning elements (7) comprises a plurality of elements (71, 72) attached together. 11) A packaging base (1), as in claim 10, wherein said plurality of elements (71, 72) are attached together in a removably way.

12) A packaging base (1), as in one or more of the previous claims, wherein at least one of said two or more cushioning elements (7) comprises, on an external surface (73) thereof facing away from said bottom wall (4) of said tray (3), one or more seats (74) suitable for housing, respectively, supporting feet (22) protruding from a bottom region (21) of a household appliance (2) loaded on said two or more cushioning elements (7).

13) A packaging base (1), as in one or more of the previous claims, wherein said perimeter edge (41) of said bottom wall

(4) of said tray (3) is, in a plan view, substantially square or rectangular, and it comprises two mutually parallel sides (41a, 41b).

14) A packaging base (1), as in claim 13, wherein a first cushioning element (7a) and a second cushioning element (7b) of said two or more cushioning elements (7) have, in a plan view, an elongated shape and are positioned, respectively, along said two mutually parallel sides (41a, 41b) of said substantially square or rectangular perimeter edge (41).

15) A packaging base (1), as in claim 14, wherein said first cushioning element (7a) and said second cushioning element (7b) have both the same shape.

16) A packaging base (1), as in claim 15, wherein said first cushioning element (7a) and said second cushioning element (7b) are positioned in said tray (3) rotated one with respect to the other of 180 degrees around an axis (Ax) perpendicular to said bottom wall (4) of said tray (3).

17) A packaging base (1), as in one or more of the previous claims wherein said two or more cushioning elements (7) and said positioning element (8) are coupled with said tray (3) in a removable way.

18) A packaging base (1), as in one or more of the previous claims, comprising a supporting element (10) at least partially housed in said tray (3) and coupled to said positioning element (8), positioned in such a way to contact a household appliance (2) when the latter is loaded on said two or more cushioning elements (7).

19) A packaging base (1), as in claim 18, wherein said supporting element (10) is positioned in such a way to contact a rear region (23) of a household appliance (2) when the latter is loaded on said two or more cushioning elements (7).

20) A packaging base (1), as in claim 18 or 19, wherein said supporting element (10) comprises a bulge (11) facing away from said bottom wall (4) of said tray (3).

21) A packaging base (1), as in claim 20, wherein said bulge (11) comprises an inclined face (12), facing away from said bottom wall (4), which distance from said bottom wall (4) increases moving away from the centre of said bottom wall (4).

22) A packaging base (1), as in claim 18, or 19, or 20, or 21, wherein said supporting element (10) is attached in a removable way to said positioning element (8). 23) A packaging base (1), as in claim 18, or 19, or 20, or 21, wherein said supporting element (10) is made in a single piece construction with said positioning element (8).

24) A packaging base (1), as in claim 23, wherein said positioning element (8) comprises a laminar element (82) comprising a main portion (83), coupled to said two or more cushioning elements (7), and an appendage (84) folded with respect to said main portion (83) in such a way to form said supporting element (10).

25) A packaging base (1), as in one or more of claims 18 to 24, when depending on claim 13 or on a claim depending on claim 13, wherein said supporting element (10) has, in a plan view, an elongated shape, and is positioned, along a rear side (41c) of said perimeter edge (41), perpendicular to said mutually parallel sides (41a, 41b) of the latter.

26) A packaging base (1), as in claim 25 when depending on claim 14 or on a claim dependent on claim 14, wherein said supporting element (10) is attached, at its ends, respectively to said first cushioning element (7a) and to said second cushioning element (7b).

27) A packaging base (1), as in one or more of the previous claims, wherein said positioning element (8) and said two or more cushioning elements (7) are made of different materials.

28) A packaging base (1), as in one or more of the previous claims, wherein said positioning element (8) is made of a paper-based material. 29) A packaging base (1), as in claim 28, wherein said positioning element (8) is made of corrugated cardboard, or honeycomb cardboard, or molded pulp.

30) A packaging base (1), as in one or more of the previous claims, wherein said two or more cushioning elements (7) are made of a polymeric material.

31) A packaging base (1), as in claim 30, wherein said polymeric material is or comprises expanded Polyethylene (EPE).

32) A packaging base (1), as in claim 18 or in a claim dependent on claim 18, wherein said supporting element (10) is made of a paper-based material.

33) A packaging base (1), as in claim 32, wherein said supporting element (10) is made of corrugated cardboard, or honeycomb cardboard, or molded pulp.

34) A packaging base (1), as in claim 18 or in a claim dependent on claim 18, wherein said supporting element (10) is made of a polymeric material.

35) A packaging base (1), as in claim 34, wherein said polymeric material is or comprises expanded Polyethylene (EPE).

36) A packaging base (1), as in one or more of the previous claims, wherein said tray (3) is box shaped and its lateral wall (5) encircles in a continuous way said bottom wall (4).

37) A packaging base (1), as in one or more of claims 1 to 36, wherein said lateral wall (5) of said tray (3) comprises a plurality of sections (51a, 51b, 5ac, 51d) separated one another.

38) A packaging base (1), as in claim 37 when depending on claim 13 or on a claim dependent on claim 13, wherein said plurality of sections (51a, 51b, 5ac, 51d) comprise four sections provided respectively at the four corners of said square or rectangular perimeter edge (41) of said bottom wall (4).

39) A packaging base (1), as in one or more of the previous claims, comprising a plurality of pillar seats (15) adapted to house, respectively, the bottom end (16a) of pillars (16), positionable against a lateral surface (24) of a household appliance (2) when the latter is loaded on said two or more cushioning elements (7).

40) A packaging base (1), as in claim 39, wherein said pillars (16) are connected, at an upper end (16b) thereof, by a cover element (17) positionable against a top surface (25) of a household appliance (2) when the latter is loaded on said two or more cushioning elements (7).