Patent Document

RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   The present disclosure is concerned with the articles which have been disclosed in the European patent applications No. 04 012 866.2 dated 29 May 2004 and No. 04 012 865.4 dated 29 May 2004. The entire descriptions of these earlier applications are incorporated by reference into the present description. 
   FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
   The present invention relates to a packaging for a sink. 
   BACKGROUND 
   It is known to pack sinks individually into a respective transportation carton and to use shaped members made from a foamed plastic material so as to protect the sink from the effects of shock loadings. 
   In particular, a packaging for a sink is known wherein two seating strips of foamed material are pushed onto the short side walls of the edge of a sink which comprises two equally large basins. Furthermore, in the case of this sink packaging, a web protector having a U-shaped cross section is placed on the intermediate web located between the two basins from above, and the two basins are supported from below by a substantially T-shaped supporting body which is arranged below the bases of the basins and below the intermediate web separating the two basins from one another. This known sink packaging thus comprises four shaped members made of foamed plastic material which are arranged on the sink separately from one another and are not in contact with one another. The shaped members and the sink are accommodated in a cuboid outer packaging, wherein each of the shaped members is of significantly lesser height than the interior of the outer packaging so that each of the shaped members can be supported either only on the base or only on the top wall of the outer packaging. 
   SUMMARY 
   The object of the present invention is to produce a packaging for a sink which has particularly good absorption properties and a low rate of transportation damage. 
   This object is achieved in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention by a packaging for a sink which comprises at least one supporting body that is formed at least partly from a foamed plastic material and comprises at least one seating element incorporating a seating channel for an edge section of the sink, and an outer packaging whose interior accommodates the sink and the at least one supporting body, wherein the at least one supporting body extends over substantially the entire internal height of the interior of the outer packaging. 
   Due to the fact that in the sink packaging in accordance with the invention the at least one supporting body extends over substantially the entire internal height of the interior of the outer packaging, this supporting body can be supported both on the base and on the top wall of the outer packaging, whereby the vertical displacement path of the supporting body within the outer packaging is reduced whilst the sink is prevented from striking the outer packaging in the vertical direction when the packaging is being transported. 
   In the context of this description and the accompanying Claims, a supporting body which extends over substantially the entire internal height of the interior of the outer packaging, is to be understood as meaning a supporting body whose height (vertical extent) amounts to at least 90% of the internal height H of the interior of the outer packaging. 
   It is particularly expedient, if the height of the supporting body amounts to at least 95% of the entire internal height of the interior of the outer packaging. 
   Because the supporting body is formed at least partly from a foamed plastic material, a far better absorption effect is obtained than is the case when using packaging elements made of corrugated cardboard for example. 
   Preferably, the supporting body is formed substantially entirely from a foamed plastic material, in particular from expanded polystyrene. 
   Due to the good absorption properties and the low rate of transportation damage resulting therefrom, the sink packaging in accordance with the invention is especially suitable for the packaging of particularly fragile sinks, for example those made of ceramic and/or composite materials. 
   The sink packaging in accordance with the invention enables sinks to be packaged in a particularly economical and procedurally reliable manner. 
   In principle, the at least one supporting body of the sink packaging in accordance with the invention may be in one-piece form, i.e. comprise just the seating element. 
   However, in a preferred embodiment of the sink-packaging in accordance with the invention, provision is made for the at least one supporting body to comprise at least one distance maintaining element which is formed separately from the seating element and which supports said seating element. 
   Due to the fact that in this case the seating element accommodating the edge section of the sink is directly in contact with the distance maintaining element supporting the seating element, a particularly high absorption effect is obtained with regard to impacts effective externally upon the sink packaging. Since, in this case, the supporting body of the sink packaging in accordance with the invention comprises two separate elements which are in contact with one another in at least one contact area, the effect is achieved that shock loadings cannot spread unimpaired through the entire supporting body as is the case for a one-piece supporting body, but rather, an additional absorption of the impacts takes place due to the transition from the one element to the other element of the supporting body at the contact area. 
   At the same time however, the absorption capacity of the supporting body is increased due to the additional volume of the distance maintaining element as opposed to the case of a supporting body which were to comprise just the seating element. 
   The distance maintaining element can be seated, in particular, on the base of the outer packaging of the sink packaging. 
   The seating element and/or the distance maintaining element can be formed at least partly, but preferably completely, from a foamed plastic material. 
   Particularly high stability of the packaging and a good absorption effect thereof are obtained, if provision is advantageously made for the seating channel of the seating element to be formed for accommodating an edge section of a long side of the sink. 
   It has proved to be particularly expedient, if the seating channel of the seating element is formed for accommodating an edge section of the sink which extends over the entire length of a side of the sink, preferably a long side of the sink. 
   The edge section of the sink is protected particularly well by the sink packaging, if the seating channel of the seating element is formed for accommodating an edge section of the sink which extends along a first side of the sink, and for accommodating an edge section of the sink which extends along a second side of the sink. 
   Furthermore, it is particularly expedient if the seating channel of the seating element is formed for accommodating an edge section of the sink which extends along a third side of the sink. 
   Since the corner areas of the sink are particularly highly exposed to impacts during transportation, it is of advantage, if the seating channel of the seating element is formed for accommodating at least one corner area of the edge of the sink. 
   In order to keep the number of different elements needed for the packaging of the sink as small as possible, it is of advantage, if the distance maintaining element of the supporting body has the same shape as the seating element of the supporting body. 
   In a preferred embodiment of the invention, provision is made for the packaging to comprise at least two supporting bodies which respectively comprise at least one seating element incorporating a seating channel for an edge section of the sink and at least one distance maintaining element which is formed separately from the seating element and which supports the respectively associated seating element. 
   In this case, it is of advantage for the purposes of reducing the number of different elements needed for the packaging, if the seating elements and the distance maintaining elements of the at least two supporting bodies are of the same shape. 
   In a particularly preferred embodiment of the sink packaging, the latter comprises two supporting bodies which comprise in toto two seating elements and two distance maintaining elements, wherein all four of these elements are of the same shape so that each of these elements can be interchanged within the packaging and only one tool is required for the production of all of these elements. 
   Preferably, the at least two supporting bodies of the packaging are arranged at mutually opposite edge sections of the sink. 
   It has proved to be particularly expedient for the absorption behaviour of the packaging, if the entire weight of the sink is borne exclusively by the supporting bodies which respectively comprise a seating element incorporating a seating channel for an edge section of the sink. This embodiment of the invention has the further advantage that no further component of the sink packaging is compellingly necessary, which thus reduces the number of elements needed for the packaging of the sink. 
   Preferably, the at least one basin of the sink is not seated on an element of the packaging. 
   The outer packaging of the sink packaging may, in particular, be substantially cuboid. 
   Furthermore, provision may be made for the outer packaging to comprise a folding carton. 
   The seating element of the sink packaging in accordance with the invention may, in particular, be in the form of a seating strip. 
   If the seating element is of substantially L-shaped form, then only the position of a corner area of the edge of the sink is fixed relative to the seating element, whilst the free ends of the legs of the L-shaped seating element can, in principle, be spaced from the other corner areas of the edge of the sink by arbitrary distances. Such a seating element can therefore be used for the packaging of arbitrarily wide and arbitrarily long sinks. 
   As an alternative thereto, provision may also be made for the seating element to be of substantially U-shaped form. In this embodiment, the position of the seating element is fixed with respect to two corner areas of the edge of the sink. In principle however, the distance of the free ends of the U-shaped seating element from the other two corner areas of the edge of the sink is arbitrary so that such a U-shaped seating element can be used for the packaging of sinks having a length falling within a given tolerance interval, although they may be of different widths. Thereby, the tolerance interval is determined by the depth of the seating channel in the end regions of the U-shaped seating element, i.e. by the extent thereof in the transverse direction of the seating element, and this enables sinks having lengths varying within the tolerance interval to be packaged by means of the same seating elements, the central regions of these seating elements being pushed onto the long sides of the sinks. 
   Furthermore, such a U-shaped seating element can be used for the packaging of sinks having a width falling within a given tolerance interval, although they may be of different lengths. Thereby, the tolerance interval is determined by the depth of the seating channel in the end regions of the U-shaped seating element, i.e. by the extent thereof in the transverse direction of the seating element, and this enables sinks having widths varying within the tolerance interval to be packaged by means of the same seating elements, the central regions of these seating elements being pushed onto the short sides of the sinks. 
   In a preferred embodiment of the invention, provision is made for the seating element to comprise a longitudinal section which extends in the longitudinal direction of the sink. 
   Furthermore, provision may be made for the seating element to comprise at least one transverse section, which extends in the transverse direction of the sink. 
   Preferably hereby, the transverse section ends at a distance from the longitudinal central plane of the sink, this thereby preventing the free ends of the seating elements of mutually opposed supporting bodies from coming into contact with one another. 
   Particularly good absorption properties for the seating element are obtained, if the seating channel of the seating element is limited upwardly and/or downwardly by a plurality of channel delimiting projections which are spaced from one another in the longitudinal direction of the seating channel so that the sink only comes into contact with the seating element at the channel delimiting projections, but not in the regions located between the channel delimiting projections. 
   Furthermore, provision is preferably made for the seating element to comprise at least one end section which is provided with at least one cavity. 
   Hereby, particularly high resilient deformability and thus a particularly good absorption effect for the end section of the seating element is obtained if the cavity has a vertical cross section which comprises a constriction. 
   An end section of the seating element having a good absorption effect and nevertheless high stability is obtained, if the cavity formed in the end section widens towards an end face of the end section. 
   In this case, the cavity has a vertical cross section which varies in the longitudinal direction of the end section. 
   Hereby, the variation in the vertical cross section can be effected continuously, or else in one or more discrete steps. 
   It has proved to be particularly expedient if the cavity merges into the end face of the end section. 
   Furthermore it has proved expedient if the end section provided with the cavity is provided with a recess (for example the seating channel) at the side thereof facing the sink, whereby the deformability of the end section is increased when it is effected by a shock loading. 
   The upper surface of the seating element can be provided with projections which come to rest on a top wall of the outer packaging of the sink packaging so that impacts will not be transferred from the outer packaging to the seating element over the entire upper surface of the seating element, but rather, will only be transferred to the seating element via the projections that are spaced from one another in the longitudinal direction of the seating element. 
   Provision may likewise be made for the supporting body to comprise a distance maintaining element which is formed separately from the seating element and is provided on the lower surface thereof with projections which come to rest on a bottom wall of the outer packaging of the sink packaging so that impacts cannot be transferred from the bottom wall of the outer packaging to the distance maintaining element over the entire lower surface of the distance maintaining element, but rather, will only be transferred to the distance maintaining element via the projections which are spaced from one another in the longitudinal direction of the distance maintaining element. 
   In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the lower surface of the seating element is provided with projections and/or with recesses and the upper surface of the distance maintaining element is provided with projections and/or with recesses, the projections and/or the recesses on the lower surface of the seating element cooperating with the projections and/or the recesses on the upper surface of the distance maintaining element in such a way that the seating element seated on the distance maintaining element is fixed relative to the distance maintaining element in the longitudinal direction of said seating element and/or in a horizontal transverse direction extending transversely relative to the longitudinal direction thereof. This arrangement contributes to increased stability of the supporting body which is formed from the seating element and the distance maintaining element because, in this case, the seating element and the distance maintaining element can only be released from one another by virtue of a vertically extending relative movement. 
   In a preferred embodiment of the packaging in accordance with the invention, the latter comprises a cover element which covers at least a part of the sink in the upward direction. 
   In particular, provision may be made for the cover element to cover at least one basin of the sink in the upward direction. It is in this manner that accessories accommodated in this basin of the sink are prevented from shifting or slipping out. 
   Preferably, the cover element does not extend over the entire upper surface of the sink. 
   It has proved expedient, if the cover element engages with the seating element in such a way that it is safeguarded from displacement relative to the seating element in the longitudinal direction thereof. 
   Furthermore, provision may be made, in particular, for the cover element to engage with the seating element in such a way that the displacement path thereof relative to the seating element is limited in the vertical direction, preferably to at most approximately 3 cm. 
   The cover element may comprise a substantially horizontal cover section and a retaining section which is aligned transversely relative to the cover section, preferably substantially perpendicularly thereto. 
   Furthermore, the packaging in accordance with the invention may comprise at least one accessory box, for example a cutting board box, whereby it is expedient if the seating element comprises at least one stop member which limits the displacement path of the accessory box relative to the seating element in the longitudinal direction of the seating element. Slippage of the accessory box in the longitudinal direction of the seating element is thereby prevented during transportation. 
   If the packaging comprises two supporting bodies having at least one seating element and if furthermore, it comprises an accessory box, then the horizontal spacing of the seating elements from one another preferably corresponds substantially to the width of the accessory box so that the accessory box is accommodated between the seating elements with only a small amount of play and is safeguarded from slippage in the transverse direction of the seating elements. 
   In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the packaging comprises at least two supporting bodies each having a respective seating element and furthermore, an intermediate element arranged between the two supporting bodies. 
   The intermediate element is preferably in engagement with the supporting bodies in such a way that it is safeguarded from movement relative to the supporting bodies in the longitudinal direction thereof. 
   Furthermore it is expedient, if the intermediate element engages with the supporting bodies in such a way that it is safeguarded from vertical movement relative to the supporting bodies. 
   This intermediate element may comprise at least one projection which engages in a gap between the seating element and the distance maintaining element of one of the supporting bodies. 
   The intermediate element may have a substantially angular shape and comprise, in particular, a substantially horizontal first section and a second section which is aligned transversely, preferably substantially perpendicularly, relative to the horizontal first section. 
   Furthermore, provision may be made for the packaging to comprise an accessory unit which is arranged below the sink, wherein the intermediate element is formed and arranged in such a manner that it separates the accessory unit, for example a mixer tap box, from the sink. 
   It is in this way that the accessory unit is prevented from coming into contact with the sink during transportation, whereby both the accessory unit and the sink could be damaged. 
   In order to save weight and to improve the absorption properties of the intermediate element, provision may be made for the intermediate element to be provided with at least one recess on the side thereof remote from the sink. 
   Preferably, the intermediate element is made from substantially the same material as the seating elements of the supporting bodies. 
   The seating element and/or the distance maintaining element can, in particular, be formed at least partly from an expanded polystyrene material. 
   The seating element can be arranged in the same way on each side of the sink, if provision is advantageously made for the seating element to be formed substantially symmetrically relative to the vertical transverse central plane thereof. 
   Furthermore, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, provision is made for the seating element to be stackable directly on another seating element of the same shape and orientation. 
   Apart from being used for packaging a sink individually, the seating element can also be used for packaging a plurality of sinks arranged in a stack if the seating element having an edge section of a sink accommodated in the seating channel thereof is stackable directly on another seating element of the same shape and orientation and in whose seating channel an edge section of a sink of the same shape and orientation is likewise accommodated. 
   If the seating element is stackable directly on another seating element of the same shape and orientation, then it is preferable for the lower surface of the seating element to be provided with projections and/or with recesses, for the upper surface of the other identically formed seating element to be provided with projections and/or with recesses, and for the projections and/or the recesses on the lower surface of the one seating element to cooperate with the projections and/or the recesses on the upper surface of the other seating element in such a way that the seating element seated on the other seating element is fixed relative to the other seating element in the longitudinal direction thereof and/or in a horizontal transverse direction thereof extending transversely to said longitudinal direction. This arrangement contributes to increased stability of the pile which is formed from the two seating elements or from yet further seating elements since, in this case, the seating elements can only be released from one another by means of a vertically extending relative movement. 
   The object of the invention is achieved in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention by a packaging for a sink that comprises at least one supporting body which, for its part, comprises at least one seating element incorporating a seating channel for an edge section of the sink and at least one distance maintaining element which is formed separately from the seating element and which supports the seating element, wherein the seating element and/or the distance maintaining element are formed at least partly from a foamed plastic material. 
   Due to the fact that in the sink packaging in accordance with the invention, the seating element accommodating the edge section of the sink is in direct contact with the distance maintaining element supporting the seating element, a particularly high absorption effect in regard to impacts effective on the sink packaging from the exterior is obtained. Since the supporting body of the sink packaging in accordance with the invention is not formed in one-piece but comprises two separate elements which are in contact with one another at least one contact area, the effect is achieved that shock loadings cannot spread unimpaired through the entire supporting body as is the case with a one-piece supporting body, but rather, there is an additional absorption of the impacts due to the transition from the one element to the other element of the supporting body at the contact area. 
   At the same time however, the absorption capacity of the supporting body is increased due to the additional volume of the distance maintaining element as opposed to the case of a supporting body which were to comprise just the seating element. 
   The distance maintaining element can be seated, in particular, on the base of an outer packaging of the sink packaging. 
   Because the seating element and/or the distance maintaining element of the supporting body are formed at least partly, but preferably completely, from a foamed plastic material, a far better absorption effect is obtained than when using packaging elements made from corrugated cardboard for example. 
   Due to the good absorption properties and the very low rate of transportation damage resulting therefrom, the sink packaging in accordance with the invention is suitable, in particular, for the packaging of particularly fragile sinks such as those made of ceramic and/or composite materials for example. 
   The sink packaging in accordance with the invention enables sinks to be packaged in a particularly economical and procedurally reliable manner. 
   Further features and advantages of the invention form the subject mater of the following description and the diagrammatic illustration of an exemplary embodiment. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In the drawings: 
       FIG. 1  shows a schematic perspective illustration of a sink packaging which comprises an outer packaging in the form of a folding carton, two supporting bodies each formed by a respective seating element and a distance maintaining element, an intermediate element which connects the two supporting bodies together, a basin cover for the sink and a cutting board box which is arranged on the cover; 
       FIG. 2  a schematic vertical longitudinal section through the sink packaging depicted in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  a schematic perspective illustration of the sink packaging depicted in  FIG. 1  without the outer packaging, from above right; 
       FIG. 4  a further schematic perspective illustration of the sink packaging without the outer packaging, from above left; 
       FIG. 5  a schematic perspective illustration of the sink packaging without the outer packaging from below; 
       FIG. 6  a schematic perspective illustration from above of the sink packaging without the outer packaging and without the cutting board box; 
       FIG. 7  a schematic perspective illustration from above of the sink packaging without the outer packaging, the cutting board box and the basin cover; 
       FIG. 8  a schematic-perspective illustration from above of the two supporting bodies of the sink packaging and of the intermediate element interconnecting the supporting bodies; 
       FIG. 9  a schematic plan view from above of one of the supporting bodies as well as of the intermediate element, the basin cover and the cutting board box; 
       FIG. 10  a schematic vertical longitudinal section through the arrangement depicted in  FIG. 9  along the line  10 — 10  in  FIG. 9 ; 
       FIG. 11  a schematic vertical longitudinal section through the arrangement depicted in  FIG. 9  along the line  11 — 11  in  FIG. 9 ; 
       FIG. 12  a schematic vertical cross section through the arrangement depicted in  FIG. 9  along the line  12 — 12  in  FIG. 9 ; 
       FIG. 13  a schematic vertical cross section through the arrangement depicted in  FIG. 9  along the line  13 — 13  in  FIG. 9 ; 
       FIG. 14  a schematic perspective illustration of a seating element of the sink packaging as seen from above and from the outer surface of the seating element remote from the sink; 
       FIG. 15  a schematic perspective illustration of the seating element as seen from above and from the inner surface of the seating element facing the sink; 
       FIG. 16  a schematic perspective illustration of the seating element as seen from below and from the inner surface of the seating element facing the sink; 
       FIG. 17  a schematic plan view of the seating element from above; 
       FIG. 18  a schematic plan view of the seating element from below; 
       FIG. 19  a schematic side view of the seat element as seen from the inner surface of the seating element facing the sink; 
       FIG. 20  an enlarged illustration of the region I depicted in  FIG. 19 ; 
       FIG. 21  a schematic vertical cross section through the seating element along the line  21 — 21  in  FIG. 19 ; 
       FIG. 22  a schematic vertical cross section through the seating element along the line  22 — 22  in  FIG. 19 ; 
       FIG. 23  a schematic perspective illustration of the intermediate element of the sink packaging as seen from above; 
       FIG. 24  a schematic perspective illustration of the intermediate element of the sink packaging as seen from below; 
       FIG. 25  a schematic perspective illustration of two seating elements of the sink packaging incorporating two sinks which are stacked directly upon one another, the edge sections of each of said sinks being accommodated in a respective seating channel of one of the seating elements; 
       FIG. 26  a schematic vertical longitudinal section through an end section of a seating element; and 
       FIG. 27  a schematic horizontal longitudinal section through the end section of a seating element. 
   

   Similar or functionally equivalent elements are referenced by the same reference symbols in each of the Figures. 
   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   A sink packaging bearing the general reference  100  and illustrated in  FIGS. 1 to 24  comprises an outer packaging  102  in the form of a substantially cuboid folding carton  104  which comprises a base  106 , two long side walls  108 , two short side walls  110  as well as the folding flaps  112  which are arranged at the top edges of the side walls  108 ,  110  and which together form a top wall of the outer packaging  102  when they are in the folded state. 
   The arrangement illustrated perspectively from different view points in  FIGS. 3 to 5  is accommodated in the interior  114  of the outer packaging  102  and it comprises two mutually opposite supporting bodies  116 , an intermediate element  118  (see  FIG. 8 ) which connects the supporting bodies  116  to one another, a sink  120  which is arranged between the supporting bodies  116 , a basin cover  122  which covers a part of the upper surface of the sink in the upward direction, a cutting board box  124  resting on the basin cover  122  and a mixer tap box  126  (see  FIG. 5 ) which is accommodated between the supporting bodies  116  and the intermediate element  118  on the side of the intermediate element  118  remote from the sink  120 . 
   Here, the height of each supporting body  116  substantially corresponds to the internal height H of the interior  114  of the outer packaging  102  in order to prevent a vertical movement of the supporting bodies  116  within the outer packaging. 
   Furthermore, the length of each supporting body  116  substantially corresponds to the internal length L of the interior  114  of the outer packaging  102  in order to prevent slippage of the supporting bodies  116  within the outer packaging  102  in the longitudinal direction thereof. 
   In this example, as can best be seen from the sectional view of  FIG. 2 , the packaged sink  120  comprises a deep main basin  128 , a less deep auxiliary basin  130  and a substantially flat, horizontal draining surface  132 . 
   A substantially horizontal sink edge  134  extends around the main basin  128 , the auxiliary basin  130  and the draining surface  132  and it comprises two long edge sections  136  which extend in parallel with the two long sides of the sink  120 , and two short edge sections  138  which extend along the two short sides of the sink  120  ( FIG. 7 ). 
   Each of the two supporting bodies  116  of the sink packaging  100  comprises a seating element  140  and a distance maintaining element  142 , wherein the seating element  140  rests upon the upper surface of the distance maintaining element  142  while the seating element  140  and the distance maintaining element  142  are of identical shape and alignment. 
   Furthermore, the two supporting bodies  116  of the sink packaging  100  only differ from one another by virtue of the fact that they are rotated relative to one another through an angle of 180° about a vertical axis. 
   Thus, in toto, the two supporting bodies  116  of the sink packaging  100  comprise four elements of identical shape, namely, two seating elements  140  and two distance maintaining elements  142 . 
   The construction of these four mutually identical elements is described in detail hereinafter with reference to  FIGS. 14 to 22  on the basis of the example of a seating element  140 : 
   The seating element  140  is in the form of a substantially U-shaped seating strip having a central section  146  which extends in the longitudinal direction  144  of the seating element  140  and two end sections  150  which extend along a transverse direction  148  of the seating element  140  that is aligned horizontally and perpendicularly relative to the longitudinal direction  144 . 
   As can best be seen from  FIG. 19 , the seating element  140  is provided with a seating channel  152  which is formed by a groove that runs approximately centrally in the horizontal direction on the inner surfaces of the central section  146  and the end sections  150  facing the sink  120 . 
   This seating channel  152  is limited downwardly by a plurality of seat projections  154  which follow one another in the longitudinal direction  144  of the seating element  140 , wherein in each case, two successive seat projections  154  are separated and spaced from one another by a recess  156  that is arranged between them and extends downwardly from the seating channel  152 . 
   The seating channel  152  is limited upwardly by a plurality of channel delimiting projections  158  which succeed one another in the longitudinal direction  144  of the seating element  140 , wherein in each case, two channel delimiting projections  158  that succeed one another in the longitudinal direction  144  are separated and spaced from each other by a respective recess  160  which is arranged between them and extends upwardly from the seating channel  152 . 
   When packaging the sink  120 , the seating element  140  is pushed onto the edge of the sink in such a way that a long edge section  136  of the edge of the sink  134  engages in the central section of the seating channel  152  and parts of the short edge sections  138  of the edge of the sink  134  engage in the end sections of the seating channel  152 . 
   The sink  120  thereby rests on the seat projections  154  of the seating element  140  through the intermediary of the lower surface of the edge of the sink  143 . 
   If the sink  120  is provided on the lower surface thereof with retaining element protuberances, then provision can be made, in particular, for the sink  120  to be supported via these retaining element protuberances on the seat projections  154  of the seating element  140 . In this case, the seating element  140  is not pushed onto the edge of the sink  134  to such an extent that the edge of the sink  134  rests on the rear surface of the seating channel  152 , but only so far as to allow the retaining element protuberances to rest on the respectively associated seat projections  154 . Consequently, the end position of the seating elements  140  relative to the sink  120  is determined only by the position of the retaining element protuberances and not by the distance by which the edge of the sink  134  projects outwardly beyond the retaining element protuberances. Thus, in this case, the spacing between the two mutually opposite supporting bodies  116  of the sink packaging  100  is also dependent only on the spacing between the mutually opposite retaining element protuberances and not on the total width of the sink (namely, the extent thereof perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the sink), whereby it is then possible to obtain the same width of sink packaging  100  for sinks  120  of differing widths so that the selfsame outer packaging  102  can be used for sinks which differ in width. 
   Moreover, it is thereby possible for the same seating elements  140  to be used for sinks  120  of differing widths. 
   In each case, the edge of the sink  134  is supported on the seating element  140  only on the seat projections  154  and not in the region of the recesses  156  lying therebetween, so that the edge of the sink  134  only rests partially upon the seating element  140 . 
   Furthermore, the upper surface of the edge of the sink  134  also comes into contact with the seating element  140  only in the vicinity of the channel delimiting projections  158 , but not in the region of the recesses  160  therebetween. 
   Due to this merely partial contact between the lower surface and the upper surface of the edge of the sink  134  and the seating element  140 , the effect is achieved that shock loadings which are effective on the seating element  140  will only be transferred to the sink  120  to a reduced extent. 
   In principle, provision could be made for each of the channel delimiting projections  158  on the upper surface of the seating channel  152  to be located opposite a respective one of the seat projections  154  on the lower surface of the seating channel  152 . 
   In a preferred embodiment of the seating element  140  however, provision is made for at least some of the channel delimiting projections  158  on the upper surface of the seating channel  152  to be displaced in relation to the seat projections  154  on the lower surface of the seating channel  152  in such a way that these channel delimiting projections  158  are at least partly opposite to one of the recesses  156  in the lower surface of the seating channel  152 . 
   As can best be seen from  FIGS. 20 ,  26  and  27 , the end sections  150  of the seating element  140  are provided with a respective cavity  162  which is open only towards the end-side end face  164  of the end section  150 . 
   The cavity  162  comprises a lower region  166  having a substantially trapezoidal vertical cross section which widens downwardly and towards the inner surface of the end section  150  facing the sink  120 , an upwardly extending middle region  168  which adjoins the lower region  166  and has a substantially rectangular vertical cross section, and an upwardly extending upper region  170  which adjoins the middle region  168  and has a substantially trapezoidal vertical cross section that widens upwardly and towards the inner surface of the end section  150  facing the sink  120 . 
   The cross-sectional area of the upper region  170  is significantly smaller than the cross-sectional area of the lower region  166 . 
   The middle region  168  of the cavity  162  lying therebetween forms a constriction  172  of the cavity which is formed by virtue of the inner wall  174  of the end section  150  facing the sink  120  protruding into the cavity  162 . 
   Moreover, this inner wall  174  protruding into the cavity  162  is weakened at the side thereof facing the sink  120  by a recess, namely the seating channel  152 . 
   Due to this design of the end section  150 , the effect is achieved that the upper section  175  of the inner wall  174  and the lower section  177  of the inner wall  174  can be pivoted somewhat about the central section  178  of the inner wall  174  protruding into the cavity  162  in a direction towards the horizontal plane  180  of the seating element  140  extending through the central section  178  by exerting pressure on the seating element  140 , this thereby entailing an increased absorption effect for the seating element  140  in regard to impulsive forces that are effective on the seating element  140  in the vertical direction. 
   As can best be seen from  FIGS. 26 and 27 , the lower region  166  of the cavity  162  extends into the end section  150  of the seating element  140  from the end-side end face  164  over a distance s in the transverse direction  148 , said distance s being significantly greater than the distance s′ by which the upper region  170  and the middle region  168  of the cavity  162  extend into the end section  150  of the seating element  140  from the end-side end face  164  in the transverse direction  148 . 
   The distance s can, in particular, be larger than the distance s′ by at least 50%. 
   Due to the differing extents of the different regions  166 ,  168  and  170  of the cavity  162  in the transverse direction  148 , a step  181  is formed at the rear surface of the upper region  170  and the middle region  168  of the cavity  162  remote from the end-side end face  164  of the end section  150 , whereby the entire vertical cross section of the cavity  162  increases sharply (as seen in the direction towards the end-side end face  164 ) at said step. 
   Due to this design of the cavity  162 , the cavity  162  widens towards the end face  164  of the end section  150 . 
   As a result of the cavity  162  having a smaller vertical cross section at the end thereof remote from the end face  164  of the end section  150  than at the end thereof facing the end face  164 , the mechanical stability of the end section  150  is increased in comparison with an end section having a cavity that is of constant vertical cross section in the transverse direction  148 . 
   In the region from the end face  164  up to the step  181 , the vertical cross section of the cavity  162  is substantially constant in the transverse direction  148 . 
   In like manner, the vertical cross section of the cavity  162  is substantially constant in the transverse direction  148  in the region between the step  181  and the rear delimiting surface  183  of the lower region  166  of the cavity  162  remote from the end face  164 . 
   As can best be perceived from  FIGS. 14 ,  15  and  17 , the upper surface  182  of the seating element  140  (and hence too, that of the distance maintaining element  142 ) is provided with a plurality of projections  184  which extend upwardly from the upper surface  182 . 
   As can best be seen from  FIGS. 16 and 18 , the lower surface  186  of the seating element  140  (and hence too, that of the distance maintaining element  142 ) is likewise provided with a plurality of projections  188  which extend downwardly from the lower surface  186 . 
   Here, the vertical extent of the projections  188  on the lower surface  186  is of substantially the same size as the vertical extent of the projections  184  on the upper surface  182  so that, when the seating element  140  is placed on the identically formed distance maintaining element  142 , the projections  188  on the lower surface  186  of the seating element  140  rest flatly on the upper surface  182  of the distance maintaining element  142  and, at the same time, the projections  184  on the upper surface  182  of the distance maintaining element  142  rest flatly on the lower surface  186  of the seating element  140 . 
   Furthermore, the projections  188  on the lower surface  186  and the projections  184  on the upper surface  182  are displaced from one another in such a manner that, when the seating element  140  is placed on the identically formed distance maintaining element  142 , each of the vertically inclined side faces  190  of the projections  188  on the lower surface  186  of the seating element of  140  then rests flatly on one of the inclined side faces  192  of a neighbouring projection  184  on the upper surface  182  of the distance maintaining element  142 . 
   Since the projections  184 ,  188  extend partially transversely relative to the longitudinal direction  144  and partially transversely relative to the transverse direction  148  of the seating element  140 , the projections  188  on the lower surface  186  of the seating element  140  and the projections  184  on the upper surface  182  of the distance maintaining element  142  thus cooperate with one another in a manner such that the seating element  140  and the distance maintaining element  142  are safeguarded from relative movement in the longitudinal direction  144  of the seating element  140  or of the distance maintaining element  142  as well as in the transverse direction  148  of the seating element  148  or of the distance maintaining element  142  and thus can only be released from one another by a relative movement in the vertical direction. 
   The seating elements  140  and the distance maintaining elements  142  of the sink packaging  100  are preferably in the form of one-piece moulded articles made from a foamed plastic material, and in particular, from an expanded polystyrene material. 
   Furthermore, the sink packaging  100  comprises the basin cover  122  which rests upon the upper surface of the sink  120  and covers both the main basin  128  and the auxiliary basin  130  of the sink  120 . The accessories accommodated in the main basin  128  or in the auxiliary basin  130  are thus prevented from moving about or falling out in this way. 
   As can best be seen from  FIGS. 6 ,  9  and  10 , the basin cover  122  comprises a substantially rectangular horizontal cover plate  194  and a likewise substantially rectangular vertical retaining plate  196  which is formed in one-piece with the horizontal cover plate  194  and is joined along a break line  198  to an edge of the horizontal cover plate  194  at the draining surface side. 
   The basin cover  122  is formed by a cardboard panel or a corrugated cardboard panel for example. 
   As can best be seen from  FIG. 9 , the horizontal cover plate  194  is provided at the lateral edges thereof with a respective substantially rectangular recess  200  which is formed in complementary manner to a stop block  202  arranged centrally on the inner surface of the central section  146  of a seating element  146  facing the sink  120 . 
   Each of these stop blocks  202  engages in the respectively associated recess  200  of the horizontal cover plate  194  and thus safeguards the basin cover  122  from movement relative to the respective seating element  140  in the longitudinal direction  144  thereof and from movement relative to the two seating elements  140  in their common transverse direction  148 . 
   Furthermore, a vertical seating groove  204  is provided on the inner surface of the central section  146  in each of the seating elements  140 , a respective lateral edge of the vertical retaining plate  196  engaging in said groove. Hereby, the vertical retaining plate  196  and the seating grooves  204  of the seating elements  140  cooperate in such a way that the basin cover  122  is safeguarded from movement relative to the seating elements  140  in the longitudinal direction  144  thereof and in the transverse direction  148  thereof. 
   Furthermore, when the outer packaging  102  of the sink packaging  100  is closed, then the vertical retaining plate  196  and the top wall of the outer packaging  102  formed by the folding flaps  112  cooperate in such a way that the displacement path of the basin cover  122  is limited in the vertical direction 
   The vertical seating groove  204  preferably extends into one of the projections  184  on the upper surface  182  of the seating element  140  since the vertical extent of the seating groove  204  and hence the contact area with the retaining plate  196  are thereby increased. 
   Since the seating elements  140  are mirror-symmetrical relative to the transverse central plane  206  thereof which extends centrally through the stop block  202 , the seating groove  204  for the vertical retaining plate  196  of the basin cover  122  is doubly present in each seating element  140 . 
   Furthermore, as is best seen from  FIG. 10 , the end sections  150  of each of the seating elements  140  is provided with a projection  208  which extends away in a horizontal direction from the inner wall  174  of the respective end section  150  and overlaps the rear free edge of the horizontal cover plate  194  remote from the vertical retaining plate  196  so that the basin cover  122  is prevented from being lifted off the upper surface of the sink  120  in the vertical direction. 
   Furthermore, as can best be seen from  FIG. 9 , the horizontal cover plate  194  of the basin cover  122  is provided at the rear free edge thereof remote from the vertical retaining plate  196  with a projection  209  which engages in the gap between the end sections  150  of the two seating elements  140 . 
   As can best be seen from  FIGS. 1 to 4  and  10 , the cutting board box  124  is arranged on the basin cover  122  and is in the form of a substantially cuboid folding box made from cardboard material. 
   The width of the cutting board box  124 , i.e. the extent thereof in the transverse direction  148 , corresponds to the distance between the inner surfaces of the central sections  146  of the seating elements  140  so that the cutting board box  124  is safeguarded from slippage in the transverse direction  148  by the seating elements  140 . 
   The front surface  210  of the cutting board box  124  facing the vertical retaining plate  196  rests on the stop blocks  202  of the seating elements  140  so that the displacement path of the cutting board box  124  in the direction of the vertical retaining plate  196  is limited by the stop blocks  202 . 
   The cutting board box  124  extends in the longitudinal direction  144  of the seating elements  140  up to a point  212  (see  FIG. 9 ) at which the corner area of the seating elements  140  begins and the mutual clearance between the two oppositely located seating elements  140  begins to reduce so that the displacement path of the cutting board box  124  is also limited in the direction away from the vertical retaining plate  196 . 
   The cutting board box  124  is thus accommodated between the stop blocks  202  and the corner areas of the seating elements  140  in a substantially play-free manner. 
   Furthermore, the sink packaging  100  comprises the angular intermediate element  118  which is separately illustrated in  FIGS. 23 and 24  and which comprises a longer horizontal leg  214  and a shorter vertical leg  216 . 
   The intermediate element  118  is in one-piece form and is preferably produced as a moulded article made from a foamable plastic material, in particular, from an expanded polystyrene material. 
   Preferably, the material of the auxiliary element  118  substantially ties in with the material of the seating elements  140  and the distance maintaining elements  142  of the sink packaging  100 . 
   As can best be seen from  FIG. 24 , the lower surface of the horizontal leg  214  and the front surface of the vertical leg  216  of the intermediate element  118  that is remote from the sink  120  are provided with a plurality of recesses  218  and a break-through  219  which result in weight savings and entail an improvement in the shock-damping properties of the intermediate element  118 . 
   The vertical leg  216  of the intermediate element  118  is provided at the lateral edges thereof with a respective vertically extending projection  220 . 
   Each of the seating elements  140  and hence too, each of the distance maintaining elements  142  is provided with a vertical seating groove  222  corresponding to this projection, said groove being provided on the inner surface of the central section  146  of the relevant seating element  140  or distance maintaining element  142  facing the sink  120  ( FIG. 19 ). 
   When the sink packaging  100  is in its assembled state, the vertical projections  220  of the vertical leg  216  of the intermediate element  118  engage in these vertical seating grooves  222  of the distance maintaining elements  142  so that the intermediate element  118  is safeguarded from movement relative to the distance maintaining elements  142  in the longitudinal direction  144  thereof due to the cooperation between the vertical projections  220  and the seating grooves  222 . 
   Furthermore, the horizontal leg  214  of the intermediate element  118  is provided on the long sides thereof and on the end face thereof remote from the vertical leg  216  with a plurality of horizontal projections  224  which, in the assembled state of the sink packaging  100 , engage in gaps formed between the seating element  140  and the distance maintaining element  142  of a supporting body  116  and cooperate with the projections  184  on the upper surface  182  of the distance maintaining elements  124  and with the projections  188  on the lower surface  186  of the seating elements  140  in such a way that the intermediate element  118  is safeguarded from movement relative to the two supporting bodies  116  in the longitudinal direction  144 , in the transverse direction  148  and in the vertical direction. 
   As can be perceived from  FIGS. 2 and 5 , the intermediate element  118  separates the region of the sink packaging  100  within which the sink  120  is accommodated, from another sub-region of the sink packaging  100  in which the substantially cuboid mixer tap box  126  is accommodated. The intermediate element  118 , which is fixed relative to the supporting bodies  116  of the sink packaging  100 , thus prevents the mixer tap box  126 , in which relatively heavy accessories, namely the mixer tap assembly for the sink  120  together with the pipework and installation material are contained, from slipping in the sink packaging  100  in such a way that it comes into contact with the sink  120  and thereby damages it. 
   The packaging of the sink  120  by means of the previously described sink packaging  100  can be effected in accordance with the procedure described hereinafter: 
   The distance maintaining elements  142  are connected together by means of the intermediate element  118  by inserting the vertical projections  220  of the vertical leg  216  of the intermediate element  118  into the vertical seating grooves  222  of the distance maintaining elements  142 . 
   The mixer tap box  126  is inserted into the interior of the outer packaging  102  and placed on the base  106  thereof. 
   Subsequently, the arrangement consisting of the distance maintaining elements  142  and the intermediate element  118  is inserted into the interior of the outer packaging  102  in such a way that the distance maintaining elements  142  are seated on the base  106  of the outer packaging  102  with the longitudinal directions  144  thereof aligned in parallel with the long side walls  108  of the outer packaging  102  and the mixer tap box  126  is fixed in the desired packing position within the outer packaging  102  by the intermediate element  118 . 
   Subsequently, the seating elements  140  of the supporting body  116  are pushed laterally onto the edge sections  136 ,  138  of the sink edge  134  of the sink  120  so that the edge of the sink  134  engages in the seating channels  152  of the seating elements  140 . 
   After the seating elements  140  have been placed in position, the basin cover  122  is arranged on the upper surface of the sink  120  in that firstly, the rear free edge of the horizontal cover plate  194  of the basin cover  122  is pushed under the projections  208  on the end sections  150  of the seating elements  140 , whereby the basin cover  122  is inclined to the horizontal in such a manner that that the vertical retaining plate  196  is located above the seating elements  140 , and afterwards, the basin cover  122  is pivoted downwardly about the rear free edge of the horizontal cover plate  194  in such a way that the vertical retaining plate  196  of the basin cover  122  engages in the seating grooves  204  of the seating elements  140  corresponding thereto until the basin cover  122  rests upon the upper surface of the sink  120  and covers both the main basin  128  and the auxiliary basin  130 . 
   If any accessories are to be accommodated in the main basin  128  or in the auxiliary basin  130  of the sink  120 , then these accessories are inserted into the respective basin before putting on the basin cover  122 . 
   After pushing the seating elements  140  onto the edge of the sink  134 , the arrangement consisting of the sink  120 , the seating elements  140  and the basin cover  122  is inserted vertically from above into the interior  114  of the outer packaging  102  so that the lower surfaces  186  of the seating elements  140  are seated on the upper surfaces  182  of the distance maintaining elements  142 . 
   Subsequently, the cutting board box  124  is placed on the basin cover  122  in such a way that it rests on the stop blocks  202  of the seating elements  140 . 
   Finally, the folding flaps  112  of the outer packaging  102  are folded in order to form a closed top wall for the outer packaging  102  which is then durably sealed by means of adhesive strips or strappings of a tape-like material for example, and is thereby made ready for transportation. 
   Since the seating elements  140  of the supporting bodies  116  of the previously described sink packaging  100  are directly stackable upon one another, the same seating elements  140  can also be used for the production of a pile  224  of sinks  120  rather than just for the single packaging of an individual sink  120  in one outer packaging  102 , as is illustrated in  FIG. 25 . 
   For the production of the pile  224  of sinks  120 , two seating elements  140 , which are formed in exactly the same way as the previously described seating elements  140 , are pushed in each case onto mutually opposite edge sections of the sink edge  134  of the respective sink  120  so that the edge sections  136 ,  138  of the sink edge  134  engage in the seating channels  152  of the seating elements  140 . 
   In order to fix the seating elements  140  on the respectively associated sink  120 , provision may be made for the seating elements  140  to be attached to the sink  120  by means of adhesive strips and/or by means of a strapping of a tape-like material for example. 
   Subsequently, a plurality of the sinks  120  together with the seating elements  140  arranged thereon are stacked upon one another, in that the seating elements  140  connected to a sink  120   a  are lowered vertically in each case from above onto the seating elements  140  of a sink  120   b  arranged below it until the lower surface  186  of the seating elements  140  of the upper sink  120   a  rest upon the upper surface  182  of the seating elements  140  of the lower sink  120   b , as is illustrated in  FIG. 25 . 
   The main basin  128  and the auxiliary basin  130  of the upper sink  120   a  thereby dip into the respective main basin  128  and the auxiliary basin  130  of the lower sink  120   b  so that the stacking height per sink, i.e. the vertical distance between the edges of the sinks  134  in the pile  224 , is smaller than the height of a sink  120 . 
   It is in this way that the sinks  120  can be arranged in a particularly space saving manner in the form of the pile  224  and can be stored in this arrangement, for example, before individual transportation in an outer packaging  102 . 
   Since the same seating elements  140  are used for the production of the pile  224  as are also used as components of the sink packaging  100 , the sinks  120  stored in the pile  224  can be packaged individually in a respective outer packaging  102  without previously removing the seating elements  140  and thus in a particularly time-saving manner, and in addition, the number of packaging elements needed for the purposes of storing the sinks in the pile  224  and for the subsequent individual packaging of the sinks  120  in a respective sink packaging  100  is reduced.

Technology Category: 7