Shipping container for transporting works of art

Abstract

The invention is directed to a shipping container 1 for transporting works of art 2 comprising an enclosing section 3 obtained by injection moulding and a cover section 7 obtained by injection moulding, retaining means 9 to secure the cover section 7 to the wall sections of the enclosing section 3. The retaining means 9 are not present on at least one wall section 10. Said one wall section 10 is not provided with retaining means 9 and is provided with one or more support strips 11 along the length of the side wall 10.

Claims

1. A shipping container for transporting works of art, the shipping container comprising: an enclosing section comprising a flat rectangular wall segment and four wall sections adjoining the flat wall segment, wherein the enclosing section is a single structural element obtained by injection moulding and wherein the flat wall segment and the four wall sections define a space for the works of art to be transported, a cover section comprising a flat rectangular wall section, wherein the cover section is a single structural element obtained by injection moulding, retaining means for securing the cover section to the wall sections of the enclosing section, wherein the retaining means are not present on at least one wall section and wherein the one wall section that is not provided with retaining means is provided with one or more support strips along the length of the one wall section, wherein vacuum insulated panels are positioned at an interior of the flat rectangular wall segment and the four wall sections of the enclosing section and at an interior of the cover section, and wherein on top of the flat rectangular wall segment of the enclosing section a vacuum insulated panel, a layer of wood, and a layer suited to make a hook and loop type connection with another sheet are present.

2. A shipping container according to claim 1, wherein the enclosing section and the cover section are obtained as a single structural element by vacuum injection moulding of an outer layer of fibre reinforced polymer, a structural core, and an inner layer of a fibre reinforced polymer.

3. A shipping container according to claim 2, wherein a pigmented gel coat is present to cover the outer layer and provide a pigmented appearance to the exterior of the shipping container.

4. A shipping container according to claim 1, wherein the retaining means are present on two of the wall sections adjoining the wall section that is not provided with retaining means.

5. A shipping container according to claim 4, wherein handles are provided to the two wall sections adjoining the wall section that is not provided with retaining means.

6. A shipping container according to claim 1, wherein the cover section has a rectangular shape provided with four side ends which ends are flush with the four wall sections of the enclosing section when the cover section and enclosing section are secured by the retaining means.

7. A shipping container according to claim 6, wherein four corners of the enclosing section as defined by the flat rectangular wall segment and the four wall sections are provided with a corner buffer, and wherein four corners of the cover section are provided with a corner buffer.

8. A shipping container according to claim 7, wherein all eight corner buffers extend away in every direction from the cover and enclosing sections except from away the one wall section which is provided with the support strips.

9. A shipping container according to claim 6, wherein the shipping container includes a plurality support strips and one of the support strips has a flat surface facing the wall section of the enclosing section, wherein part of the flat surface is fixed along its length to the wall section, and wherein part of the remaining surface of the support strip along its length faces one end of the cover section when the cover section is secured to the enclosing section.

10. A shipping container according to claim 1, wherein an interior of the flat rectangular wall segment and the four wall sections of the enclosing section and an interior of the cover section are at least partly provided with a layer of a deformable foam.

11. A shipping container according to claim 1, wherein the vacuum insulated panels are comprised of a core of glass wool.

12. A shipping container according to claim 1, wherein the container further comprises one or more corner elements that can be fastened to the layer suited to make a hook and loop type connection by means of a hook and loop type connection.

13. A shipping container according to claim 12, wherein the corner elements comprise a seat for accommodating the corner of a work of art, and wherein the distance between the seat and the layer suited to make a hook and loop type connection can be adjusted.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention shall be illustrated by FIGS. 1-3.

(2) FIG. 1 shows the exterior of the shipping container according to the invention.

(3) FIGS. 2 and 3 show cross-sectional views AA as indicated in FIG. 1 for different embodiments of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(4) FIG. 1 shows a shipping container 1 for transporting works of art 2, an enclosing section 3 comprising a flat rectangular wall segment 4 and four wall sections 5 adjoining said flat wall segment 4. FIG. 1 further shows retaining means 9 to secure the cover section 7 to the wall sections 5 of the enclosing section 3. As shown the retaining means 9 are not present on at least one wall section 10. Retaining means 9 may be clasps or outer suitable suitcase closures. This wall section is provided with two support strips 11 along the length of the wall section 10. Also shown is a handle 16 as present on the two side wall sections 15 adjoining the wall section 10.

(5) FIG. 1 illustrates a shipping container wherein the cover section 7 has a rectangular shape provided with four side ends 17 which ends 17 are flush with the four wall sections 5 of the enclosing section 3 when the cover section 7 and enclosing section 3 are secured by the retaining means 9. The four corners of the enclosing section 7 are provided with a corner buffer 18. The four corners of the cover section are provided with a corner buffer 19. 8. As shown all eight corner buffers 18, 19 extend away in every direction from the cover and enclosing sections except from away the wall section 10 which is provided with the support strips 11.

(6) FIG. 2 shows the flat wall segment 4 and the four wall sections 5 define a space 6 for the works of art 2 to be transported. Cover section 7 has a flat rectangular wall 8 section. The enclosing section 3 and the cover section 7 is separately obtained as a single structural element by vacuum injection moulding of an outer layer of fibre reinforced polymer 12, a structural core 13 and an inner layer of a fibre reinforced polymer 14.

(7) FIG. 2 shows a support strips 20 having a flat surface facing the wall section 10 of the enclosing section 3. Part of the flat surface is fixed along its length to said side wall 10. Part of the remaining surface of the support strip 20 along its length faces one end 17 of the cover section 7.

(8) FIG. 2 also shows a deformable foam 21 as present on the interior surface of the flat rectangular wall segment 4 and the four wall sections 5 of the enclosing section and on the interior of the cover section 7. Further is shown a layer of wood 22 and a layer 23 suited to make a Velcro type connection with another sheet. To this layer to make a Velcro type of connection a corner element 24 can be fixed by means of a Velcro type connection. Two corner elements 24 are shown supporting a work of art 2. Each corner element is provided with a seat 25 for accommodating the corner of a work of art. The distance between the seat 25 and the layer 23 can be adjusted. Alternatively, the corner element 24 can extend from layer 23 all the way up to deformable foam 21 of cover section 7 to obtain a more stable basis for the work of art 2.

(9) FIG. 3 shows the same shipping container as in FIGS. 1 and 2, except that between the layer of deformable foam 21 at the interior of the flat rectangular wall segment of the cover section 7 a vacuum insulating panel 26 is present. Also between the interior of the four side walls sections 5 of the enclosing section 3 and the layer of deformable foam 21 a vacuum insulating panel 26 is present. Between the interior of the flat rectangular wall segment of the enclosing section 3 and the layer of wood 22 a vacuum insulating panel 26 is present.