Refrigerator/freezer insulation blanket and packaging solution

Abstract

A combined shipping and insulation cover for an electrical appliance comprises a hood of insulating material and layer of polymer film. The cover includes a tear off panel connected to the hood by a perforated score line that allows access to the underlying electrical appliance.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A combined shipping and insulation cover for an electrical appliance, comprising:
 a hood of insulating material, said hood of insulating material being provided in a shipping position covering said electrical appliance; and   a layer of polymer film extending around said hood of insulating material and holding said hood of insulating material on said electrical appliance in said shipping position;   said cover being characterized by having a tear off panel connected to said hood by a perforated score line;   said hood includes a main body and an access panel, said access panel covering a door of said electrical appliance, said access panel being connected to said door, and said access panel being connected to said main body by a hinge line, whereby said access panel allows said door of the electrical appliance to be opened and closed while the access panel is connected to the door with said cover in place on said electrical appliance after said layer of polymer film is removed.   
     
     
         2 . The cover of  claim 1 , wherein said hood of insulating material includes a densified outer skin. 
     
     
         3 . The cover of  claim 2 , wherein said hood of insulating material is a nonlaminate. 
     
     
         4 . The cover of  claim 1 , wherein said hood of insulating material includes at least one protector overlying said electrical appliance when said hood of insulating material is in said shipping position. 
     
     
         5 . The cover of  claim 4 , wherein said protector is held in a pocket on said hood so as to cover and protect said electrical appliance. 
     
     
         6 . The cover of  claim 5 , wherein said protector is a corner protector made from a material selected from a group consisting of cardboard, fiber board, plastic, rabber, elastomer, neoprene, polyethylene terephthalate, composite material and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The cover of  claim 5 , wherein said hood remains with said electrical appliance following installation and said corner protector is removed from said pocket. 
     
     
         8 . The cover of  claim 1 , wherein said hood of insulating material is made from a group consisting of polyester, polyolefm, polyethylene, polypropylene, rayon, nylon, acrylic, hemp, kenaf, cotton, polyethylene terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The cover of  claim 8 , wherein said insulating material further includes reinforcing fibers selected from a group consisting of glass fibers, polypropylene fibers and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . The cover of  claim 1 , wherein said access panel includes an opening positioned over a handle on said door of said electrical appliance so that said handle projects through said access panel. 
     
     
         12 . The cover of  claim 11 , further including a first fastener securing said main body of said hood to said electrical appliance. 
     
     
         13 . The cover of  claim 12 , further including a second fastener securing said access panel of said hood to said door of said electrical appliance. 
     
     
         14 . A combined shipping and insulation cover for an electrical appliance, comprising:
 a hood of insulating material, said hood of insulating material provided in a shipping position covering said electrical appliance; and   a layer of polymer film extending around said hood of insulating material and holding said hood of insulating material on said electrical appliance in said shipping position;   said cover being characterized by said hood including a main body and an access panel, said access panel covering a door of said electrical appliance, said access panel being connected to said door, and said access panel being connected to said main body by a hinge line, whereby said access panel allows said door of said electrical appliance to be opened and closed while the access panel is connected to the door with said cover in place on said electrical appliance after said layer of polymer film is removed.   
     
     
         15 . The cover of  claim 14 , wherein said hood of insulating material includes a densified outer skin. 
     
     
         16 . The cover of  claim 15 , wherein said hood of insulating material is a nonlaminate. 
     
     
         17 . The cover of  claim 14 , wherein said hood of insulating material includes at least one protector overlying said electrical appliance when said hood of insulating material is in said shipping position. 
     
     
         18 . The cover of  claim 17 , wherein said protector is held in a pocket on said cover so as to cover and protect said electrical appliance. 
     
     
         19 . The cover of  claim 18 , wherein said protector is a corner protector made from a material selected from a group consisting of cardboard, fiber board, plastic, rubber, elastomer, neoprene, polyethylene terephthalate, composite material and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         20 . The cover of  claim 18 , wherein said hood remains with said electrical appliance following installation and said corner protector is removed from said pocket. 
     
     
         21 . The cover of  claim 14 , wherein said hood of insulating material is made from a group consisting of polyester, polyolefin, polyethylene, polypropylene, rayon, nylon, acrylic, hemp, kenaf, cotton, polyethylene terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         22 . The cover of  claim 21 , wherein said insulating material further includes reinforcing fibers selected from a group consisting of glass fibers, polypropylene fibers and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         23 . The cover of  claim 14 , wherein said access panel includes an opening positioned over a handle on said door of said electrical appliance so that said handle projects through said access panel. 
     
     
         24 . The cover of  claim 23 , further including a first fastener securing said main body of said cover to said electrical appliance. 
     
     
         25 . The cover of  claim 24 , further including a second fastener securing said access panel of said cover to said door of said electrical appliance.