A packaging for installation elements for a roof window, and method of providing such a packaging

Abstract

A packaging for roof window installation elements is disclosed. It comprises a main body formed from a sheet material, such as corrugated cardboard, and comprising a base section adapted for supporting the packaging during unpacking. At least two compartments of the packaging are arranged side-by-side. A first compartment is configured for containing installation elements for use in securing a frame of a roof window to a roof structure, and a second compartment is configured for containing installation elements for weatherproofing a joint between a roof window and a roof structure. Two or more lids and/or lid sections each associated with one of the compartments are configured for being opened one by one, and are each a part of the main body. The lids and/or lid sections are ranked in order of an intended opening sequence. A method of providing a packaging for roof window installation elements is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A packaging for roof window installation elements, said packaging comprising: a main body formed from a sheet material and comprising a base section adapted for supporting the packaging during unpacking, wherein a base plane extends in parallel to the base section and the packaging comprising at least two compartments arranged side-by-side when seen along the base plane, and the packaging further comprising two or more lids and/or lid sections each associated with one of the at least two compartments, said two or more lids and/or lid sections being configured for being opened one by one, said two or more lids and/or lid sections each being a part of the main body, a first compartment of the at least two compartments being configured for containing installation elements for use in securing a frame of a roof window to a roof structure, a second compartment of the at least two compartments being configured for containing installation elements for weatherproofing a joint between a roof window and a roof structure, and the two or more lids and/or lid sections being ranked in order of an intended opening sequence.

2. The packaging according to claim 1, further comprising a third compartment being configured for containing installation elements for use in insulating a joint between a frame of a roof window and a roof structure.

3. The A packaging according to claim 2, wherein the first compartment is configured for containing mounting brackets and fasteners for securing the brackets to a frame of a roof window and/or to a roof structure, wherein the second compartment is configured for containing flashing elements for covering a joint between a roof window and a roof structure, and wherein the third compartment is configured for containing insulating members for insulating a space between a frame of a roof window and a roof structure and an underroof collar for spanning between a frame of a roof window and an underroof of a roof structure.

4. The A packaging according to claim 1, further comprising a lock structure configured for hindering opening of at least one of the two or more lids and/or lid sections as long as a higher-ranking lid or lid section remains un-opened.

5. The packaging according to claim 1, wherein at least two compartments of the packaging are arranged one on top of the other when seen perpendicular to the base plane.

6. The packaging according to claim 1, further comprising at least one handle.

7. The packaging according to claim 6, where the handle is attached to a main body of the packaging at a position, wherein the main body is substantially uninterrupted.

8. The A packaging according to claim 1, further comprising at least one fixation flap configured for coming into engagement with a roof structure, said at least one fixation flap being a section of the main body, which is configured for being folded away from the main body.

9. A packed kit of installation elements for a roof window wherein the installation elements are arranged in two or more compartments of a packaging according to claim 1.

10. A method of providing a packaging for roof window installation elements, comprising the steps of: providing a sheet material defining a base section adapted for supporting the packaging during unpacking, wherein a base plane extends in parallel to the base section, and shaping said sheet material such that the packaging comprises a main body, two or more compartments arranged side-by-side when seen along the base plane, and several lids and/or lid sections each associated with one of the two or more compartments, said several lids and/or lid sections each being a part of the main body and being configured for being opened one by one, wherein a first compartment is configured for containing installation elements for use in securing a frame of a roof window to a roof structure, and wherein a second compartment is configured for containing installation elements for weatherproofing a joint between a roof window and a roof structure, and wherein the several lids and/or lid sections are ranked in order of an intended opening sequence.

11. The A method according to claim 10, comprising the steps of: providing a second packaging made from a sheet material and comprising at least one compartment configured for containing installation elements for use in securing a frame of a roof window to a roof structure, and connecting the second packaging to the packaging.

12. A method of providing a packed kit of installation elements for a roof window comprising the steps of: providing a packaging in accordance with claim 10, and arranging installation elements in two or more compartments of the packaging.

13. A method of providing a packed kit of installation elements for a roof window comprising the steps of: providing a packaging and a second packaging in accordance with claim 11, and arranging installation elements in two or more compartments of each of the packaging and the second packaging.

14. The packaging according to claim 2, further comprising a lock structure configured for hindering opening of at least one of the lids or lid sections as long as a higher-ranking lid or lid section remains un-opened.

15. The packaging according to claim 3, further comprising a lock structure configured for hindering opening of at least one of the lids or lid sections as long as a higher-ranking lid or lid section remains un-opened.

16. The packaging according to claim 2, wherein at least two compartments of the packaging are arranged one on top of the other when seen perpendicular to the base plane.

17. The packaging according to claim 3, wherein at least two compartments of the packaging are arranged one on top of the other when seen perpendicular to the base plane.

18. The packaging according to claim 4, wherein at least two compartments of the packaging are arranged one on top of the other when seen perpendicular to the base plane.

19. A packed kit of installation elements for a roof window wherein the installation elements are arranged in two or more compartments of a packaging according to claim 2.

20. A packed kit of installation elements for a roof window wherein the installation elements are arranged in two or more compartments of a packaging according to claim 3.

Description

[0031] FIG. 1 is a sketch of a first embodiment of a packaging according to the invention in a perspective view,

[0032] FIG. 2 shows the packaging in FIG. 1 arranged on a roof next to a roof window frame,

[0033] FIG. 3 is a sketch of a second embodiment of a packaging according to the invention in a perspective view,

[0034] FIG. 4 is a sketch of a third embodiment of a packaging according to the invention in a perspective view,

[0035] FIG. 5 is an illustration of different combinations of smaller boxes resulting in a packaging according to the invention,

[0036] FIG. 6 is a sketch of a fifth embodiment of a packaging according to the invention in a perspective view, and

[0037] FIG. 7 shows the packaging in FIG. 6 arranged on a roof next to a roof window frame.

[0038] A packaging 1 for installation elements for a roof window is shown in FIG. 1. It is shown as a simple box, but it is to be understood that it is formed from a sheet material, such as corrugated cardboard, as is well-known from prior art packaging, said sheet material constituting a main body 2 of the packaging.

[0039] As is also seen in FIG. 2, the packaging comprises three compartments 10, 20, 30, and the compartments are ranked in order of an intended opening sequence by being provided with a visual indication in the form of the numbers “1”, “2”, “3”, respectively.

[0040] Each compartment 10, 20, 30 is covered by a respective lid section 11, 21, 31 and a base section 7 forms the bottom of the packaging. The base section is adapted for supporting the packaging during unpacking and in FIGS. 1 and 2 the packaging is therefore shown resting on the base section. The section 13 of the base section forming the bottom of the first compartment 10 is seen in FIG. 2, as the first compartment has been shown empty, and a partition 14 separating the first compartment 10 from the third compartment 30 is also seen. The compartments are further delimited by respective side sections 12, 22. It is to be understood that similar side sections are found on the two sides of the packaging 1, which are not visible in FIGS. 1 and 2, so that the packaging is closed on all sides, and that the second compartment 20 is also separated from the other compartments by a partition. In this embodiment both the side sections 12, 22 and the partition 14 extend substantially perpendicular to a base plane 0, which extends in parallel to the base section 7, but this need not be the case.

[0041] In this embodiment the lids sections 11, 21, 31 are sections of one piece of sheet material, which is configured for being interrupted along the lines seen on the top of the packaging in FIG. 1 so that the lid sections can be opened one by one. When all lid sections have been opened, the packaging will be in the state shown in FIG. 2.

[0042] Alternatively, the packaging could be provided with separate lids each covering a compartment so that it would not be necessary to separate one lid section from another before being able to open the respective compartment.

[0043] As may been seen in FIG. 2, the separate compartments with separate lid sections means that when the packaging 1 has been arranged on a roof 8, it can serve as a tool box for an installer working with the installation of a roof window, here represented by a roof window frame 9. In the present case the compartment 10 marked “1” is configured for containing insulating elements, the compartment 20 marked “2” contains mounting brackets and screws for use in securing the brackets to the window frame 9 and the roof 8, and the compartment 30 marked “3” contains flashing elements for use in weatherproofing the joint between the roof window and the roof structure. The compartment 10 is shown empty as the insulating elements 91 were installed in the opening in the roof 8 prior to arranging the roof window frame 9.

[0044] In FIG. 2 all three lid sections 11, 21, 31 are shown open in order to illustrate how the packaging looks in the fully opened state, but it is to be understood that the compartment 30 is intended to remain closed until the compartment 20 has been emptied. In this example this sequence of opening will ensure that the flashing elements are not installed until the mounting brackets have been used, thus contributing to ensuring that the roof window frame 9 is secured correctly to the roof structure before being hidden underneath the flashing elements.

[0045] In case more compartments are needed in order to facilitate the installation of the roof window, further compartments can be provided, such as a compartment marked “4” (not shown) containing an underroof collar and a compartment marked “5” (not shown) containing a vapour barrier.

[0046] Alternatively, a packaging like the one in FIG. 3 or 4 may be used, both of which comprise five separate compartments marked with the letters “A”, “B”, “C”, “D”, and “E”, respectively.

[0047] While the three compartments 10, 20, 30 of the packaging in FIGS. 1 and 2 are all arranged side-by-side when seen along the base plane 0, the compartments of the packagings in FIGS. 3 and 4 are arranged in two levels on top of each other when seen perpendicular to the base plane 0. The upper compartments 10, 20, 30 in FIGS. 3 and 4 correspond to the compartments of the packaging in FIGS. 1 and 2 both in size and shape and are configured for the same purposes. The lower compartments 40, 50 closest to the base section or bottom of the packaging are configured for containing an underroof collar and for containing covering and cladding elements, respectively. As the underroof collar in the compartment 40 needs to be installed before the flashing elements in the compartment 30, it is necessary to open the compartments in that sequence. This means that the compartment 40, which is located in the lower level of the packaging, will be opened before the compartment 30 in the upper level, as indicated by the letter sequence A, B, C, D, E.

[0048] Access to the compartments 40, 50 in the lower level may be gained in different ways including using the bottom of a compartment in the upper level as a lid or lid section for a compartment in the lower level. As an example, the removal of the bottom of the compartment 20 in FIG. 3 would provide access to the compartment 40 below. Alternatively, or as a supplement, access may be gained via a side section, and in FIG. 3 the letters indicating the intended opening sequences have been placed on the surfaces, where the lids/lid sections are found. The compartments 40, 50, where access is through a side section of the main body, may be provided with a drawer-like structure (not shown), such as a sheet of cardboard, so that the content may be pulled out of the compartment on said structure. By leaving the drawer-like structure on a section 81 of the roof 8 between the packaging 1 and the roof window frame 9 (cf. FIG. 2), it may serve as a supplement to the packaging, providing an extra work-space for the installer, for example giving him a place to putdown tools when not in use. It may even be advantageous to open a lower compartment first in order to quickly establish such a work-space.

[0049] In order to facilitate the opening of the packaging, one or more lids or lids sections may be provided with tabs 15, 25, 45 or cut-outs 56 as shown in FIG. 4. These tabs and/or cut-outs may help the installer to see, where the compartment is to be opened and/or help him get a good grip on the lid/lid section.

[0050] Tabs may further serve as lock structures configured for hindering opening of at least one of the lids or lid sections as long as a higher-ranking lid or lid section remains un-opened. In the embodiment in FIG. 4, the tabs 15 on the lid 11 and the tab 25 on the lid 21 overlap the lid 31 so that the compartment 30 covered by this lid cannot be opened until compartments 10 and 20 have been opened. Similarly, the tab 45 on lid 41 overlaps lid 51 so that compartment 50 cannot be opened until compartment 40 has been opened. A similar lock structure may be achieved by means of an adhesive tape or the like.

[0051] The cut-outs 56 in lid 51 are here cuts, which are made in the sheet material from which the packaging is made, and which allow flaps to bent inwards into compartment 50, thereby creating an opening, which can be used as a handle. The cuts do not need to go all the ways through the sheet material. It may be sufficient to just weaken the material so that the rest may be broken by hand. Alternatively, a part of the sheet material may be cut away, so that a handle opening is present at delivery, thereby eliminating the need for bending a flap away.

[0052] FIG. 5 illustrates how a packaging with three or more compartments may be made by combining and interconnecting two or more smaller boxes. This will allow standard components to be packed separately and combined according to customer demands.

[0053] In the example shown, the boxes to the left marked W, L, and J comprise a single compartment and contain three different types of flashing assemblies, i.e. installation elements for weatherproofing a joint between a roof window and a roof structure, for example the flashing assemblies sold by VELUX® under the product names EDW, EDL, and EDJ.

[0054] The boxes at the centre in FIG. 5 each comprises several compartments containing different installation elements, and by combining one or more of them with one of the boxes to the left, as illustrated by the arrows, custom made product as the ones illustrated to the right may be provided. This means that if a customer orders a particular type of window for installation in a particular type of roof and in a particular climate zone, an appropriate selection of installation elements can be provided in a single packaging by picking and combining pre-packed boxes, thus allowing a quick and simple delivery.

[0055] In the example shown with single-line arrows in FIG. 5 the box marked W and containing an EDW flashing assembly adapted for use with a roof window mounted in a traditional manner in a tile roof is combined with a two-compartment box containing an insulating assembly in the compartment marked I and a set of standard mounting brackets in the compartment marked MS. In the resulting packaging shown to the right, the two-compartment box is arranged on top as the element contained therein will normally be used before the flashing assembly.

[0056] In the example shown with double-line arrows in FIG. 5 the box marked L and containing an EDL flashing assembly adapted for use with a roof window mounted in a traditional manner in a slate roof is combined with a three-compartment box. This box contains an insulating assembly in the compartment marked I, a set of standard mounting brackets in the compartment marked MS, and an underroof collar in the compartment marked U.

[0057] In the example shown with triple-line arrows in FIG. 5 the box marked J and containing an EDJ flashing assembly adapted for use with a roof window mounted deep in a tile roof is combined with two two-compartment boxes. The first two-compartment box contains an insulating assembly in the compartment marked I, and a set of mounting brackets for deep installation in the compartment marked MD. The second two-compartment box contains an underroof collar in the compartment marked U and a vapour barrier in the compartment marked V. In the resulting packaging shown to the right, the three boxes are arranged on top of each other in the order in which the elements therein are normally to be used, so that the installer mounting them can start from the top and work his way down.

[0058] Several other combinations of boxes are possible as will be readily understood by the skilled person, and it is to be understood that the combinations of compartments and the relative sizes of the compartments shown in FIG. 5 are only for illustration purposes and may be different in real life products.

[0059] Boxes as the ones illustrated in FIG. 5 may for example be interconnected by means of straps, strips, strings, or tape, but it is also possible to use glue or an adhesive. It may also be advantageous to employ combinations, for example using a holt-melt glue for an initial interconnection and strips for a more secure fixation of the boxes in relation to each other before shipping.

[0060] A packaging as the one shown in FIG. 3 or 4 may also be made by combining boxes as described with reference to FIG. 5, for example by providing the compartments marked “B” and “C” in one box and the compartment marked “A”, “D”, and “E” in another box, or by providing the compartments marked “A”, “B”, and “D” in one box and the compartment marked “C” and “E” in another box. As both boxes will include two or more compartments in these examples, both may be regarded as comprising a main body, and in the latter example both boxes will in themselves constitute a packaging according to claim 1.

[0061] In order to facilitate handling of the packaging it may be provided with at least one handle 6 as shown on the embodiment in FIG. 6. Here the handle is a flap of material cut and bend out from a side section of the packaging leaving a section 61 of reduced thickness, but the handle could also be a piece of material attached to the main body leaving the main body substantially uninterrupted. Such a piece of material can be attached to the packaging by means of for example glue, adhesive, staples, or rivets (not shown).

[0062] The packaging in FIG. 6 is further provided with a first pair of fixation flaps 71 configured for being attached to a roof structure 8 as shown in FIG. 6. Due to the length of the first fixation flaps relative to the distance between the laths of the roof structure, the first fixation flaps are sure to positioned above at least one lath to which is can be attached, in this case the lath marked with 82. The attachment to the lath, which may for example be achieved by means of staples, ensures that the packaging does not slide off the roof, even during heavy winds, and the fact that there are two flaps means that the packaging is also prevented from turning.

[0063] The first set of fixation flaps may be embodied in the same ways as described for the handle 6, i.e. as a separate piece of material attached to the main body of the packaging or as a bent-out flap. A lid or lid section such as the lid 51 in FIG. 4 may also be used for this purpose.

[0064] The first fixation flaps may be provided with openings, embossments, printed indications or the like configured for assisting the installer in attaching the packaging to the roof structure, for example by providing a visual indication of how the respective flap is positioned in relation to a lath.

[0065] The packaging in FIG. 6 further includes a second set of fixation flaps 72, each of which are formed from a section of the main body, which has been folded away from the main body. In this case the flaps have been bent out from the bottom section 7, but they could also be bent out from one or more side sections 12,22. As an example, the lid 41 in FIG. 4 might be used for this purpose.

[0066] The second set of fixation flaps 72 are intended to project in between laths and to come into engagement with a side surface of a lath extending substantially perpendicular to the plane of an inclining roof structure 8 so that it contributes to preventing the packaging from sliding off the roof under the influence of gravity. In this case they are engaging with the lath marked 83 in FIG. 7.

[0067] As the distance between laths vary depending for example on the roofing material used and local tradition, a plurality of second fixation flaps may be provided allows the installer to choose the one(s) matching the roof structure in question.

[0068] It is noted that the handle 6 and flaps 71, 72 described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7 serve independent purposes and the presence of one thus does not necessitate the presence of the other(s). Likewise, it is to be understood that such handles and/or flaps may also be present on packagings with other dimensions and/or configurations of the compartments and/or lids and/or lid sections than what is shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.