EP0182690A1 - Rigid portable container with a variable capacity - Google Patents

Abstract

1. Rigid portable container with a variable capacity, comprising a bocy (1) which is of tubular shape and is closed at its ends (10, 12) and which comprises at least two tubular elements (3, 4, 5) which are assembled telescopically and which are provided with at least one means for alternately locking and releasing the elemens, with a view to adapting their relative positions ; this container being characterized in that it is divided into two shells (14, 15), each of which is constituted by the association of internal and external semi-tubular elements (3a , 3b , 4a , 4b , 5a , 5b ) which are telescopically assembled in relation to one another, and in that it is provided, half way along its length, with a gripping means (2).

Description

The invention relates to a rigid portable container with adjustable capacity.

It concerns more particularly but not exclusively containers intended for the transport of long articles, such as sections of fishing rod.

With a view to transporting long articles with respect to their transverse dimensions, and for example of length greater than one meter, it is known practice to use a long sheath provided for their handling and / or their transport with suitable gripping means.

These sheaths are generally long bags made of flexible material and in particular woven.

However, apart from the fact that the articles can collide with each other in the sheath, they are exposed to receiving possible external blows, which constitutes discomfort when the articles are fragile.

Of course, to avoid this drawback, rigid containers are known but, failing to find on the market a container of the exact length of the articles to be transported, and to reserve it later only for this use, it is necessary to to be encumbered with a container of dimensions often much greater than those of the articles to be transported.

For the transport of articles of better balanced proportions, to remedy these drawbacks, it is known (FR A-2,401,628) a compact container, compact and with adjustable capacity that allows, when necessary, to have a larger useful volume.

For this, it includes extension compartments deployable by means of bellows.

The bellows are generally made of flexible material.

If this type of container is perfectly suited for the storage and transport of less fragile articles such as clothing, one cannot imagine making on the same principle containers intended to receive and protect long and fragile articles, in order to transport them .

One of the aims of the present invention is to provide a rigid container intended for the storage and transport of long articles and which is capable around a nominal dimension of being able to be adjusted in large proportions to the dimensions of the article or articles to be transported.

To this end, the subject of the invention is a container of the aforementioned type which has a tubular shape closed at its ends and provided at mid-length with a gripping means, this container being in particular characterized in that it comprises at least two tubular elements which are, in the direction of expansion of the container, are mounted telescopically and in that they are themselves provided with at least one means making it possible alternately to block and unblock the elements in order to adapt their positions relative.

• - figures 1 à 3: une coupe longitudinale de différentes formes de réalisation de l'invention,
• - figure 4: une coupe transversale selon IV-IV de la figure 2,
• - figure 5: une coupe transversale selon V-V de la figure 3,
• - figure 6: en perspective, une autre variante de réalisation du conteneur.

It will be better understood with the aid of the description below, given by way of nonlimiting example, with reference to the appended drawing which schematically represents:

• - Figures 1 to 3: a longitudinal section of different embodiments of the invention,
• FIG. 4: a cross section along IV-IV of FIG. 2,
• FIG. 5: a cross section along VV of FIG. 3,
• - Figure 6: in perspective, another alternative embodiment of the container.

Referring to the drawing, it can be seen that the rigid container with adjustable volume is composed of a long tubular body 1 closed at its ends and provided at mid-length with a gripping means such as a handle 2.

This body 1 comprises at least two tubular elements 3, 4, 5 mounted telescopically and themselves provided with at least one means 6 allowing alternately to block and unblock the elements 3, 4, 5 in order to adapt their relative positioning .

In the example of FIG. 1, on the one hand the body 1 is only composed of two tubular elements 3, 4 mounted telescopically along their longest axis 7 and, on the other hand, the means 6 for adjusting and blocking the interlocking length of an element 4 in the other 3 consists of a device such as a ring screwed onto the external element 3 and having a female conical bearing 8 cooperating with a male conical bearing 9 of this element to cause an energetic local pinching of the wall of the external element 3 on that of the internal element 4.

Of course, any other type of known adjustment and blocking device could be suitable, and this is within the reach of those skilled in the art.

To arrange the articles (not shown) in the container 1, it is possible, for example, to introduce them therein through an opening 10 reserved for one 11 of the ends 11, 12 of the tubular body 1.

This opening 10 is then subsequently closed by a shutter 13, for example screwed or fitted elastically at this end 11.

Neither of the ends 11, 12 of the tubular body 1 could of course be opened in this way. In this case, failing to be able to access the interior of the body 1 through its ends 11, 12, the adjustment and locking device 6 may authorize the disengagement of the elements 3, 4 so that, at the appropriate time, it is possible to have and / or take items from container 1.

This is also within the reach of ordinary skill in the art.

In an alternative embodiment, in particular shown in Figures 2, 3, 6 we see that while comprising at least two tubular elements mounted telescopically, the body 1 is split into two half-shells 14, 15 delimiting two substantially symmetrical assemblies and thus presents a longitudinal opening plane.

Each of the two half-shells 14, 15 comprises thus itself at least two elements 3a and _{4a, 3b} and _4b or even ^4a and 5a, or _4b and _5b telescopically mounted.

In each half-shell 14, 15 there is therefore at least one external semi-tubular element and at least one internal semi-tubular element.

Of course, as is known, the two half-shells 14, 15 can be articulated with one another along a common generator situated in the opening plane.

To this end, they are provided with an articulation means 16.

As is also known, on the side opposite to the articulation means 16, the container also comprises complementary means 17, 18 for bringing the half-shells together and closing.

In the following description, without this being limiting for the invention, taking into account the relative symmetry of the container 1, with respect to its longitudinal opening plane which happens to be substantially horizontal, only one of the following will be described half-shells 14, 15 without specifying whether it is the upper half-shell 14 or lower 15.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 4 and 5, it is noted that each semi-tubular element 3a to _5b has a cross section substantially in the shape of "U".

The vertical branches of the "U" constitute the sides 19, 20 of each element 3 _a to 5 _b while the horizontal branch forms a bottom wall 32.

The half-shells are provided with at least one locking means 21 hindering the disengagement of the internal semi-tubular elements 4 _at 4 _b from the external semi-tubular elements 3a, 3 _b of the corresponding half-shell, while preserving their sliding axial compared to others external or internal semi-tubular elements of the corresponding half-shell.

This locking means 21 comprise for example a stop 22 provided on each inner member 4a, _4b acting against another stop 23 in turn supported by the outer member 3a, ^_3b.

For example, as can be seen in FIGS. 4, 5, provision has been made to make this locking means 21, to reserve a groove 27 in the inner face 24 of each sidewall 19, 20 of an external semi-element oriented parallel to the longitudinal direction of movement of the half-tubular elements.

Opposite this groove 27, the external face 28 of each flank 19, 20 of an internal semi-tubular element carries at least one member 29 with a profile complementary to that of the groove 27 and engaged therein.

This organ can consist of at least one local boss or a continuous rib.

Thus, when one wants to adjust the capacity of the container 1, it is sufficient to slide by the same amount and in the same direction for the two half-shells 16, 17 the inner elements 4a, _4b in the outer members 3a, 3 _. . In an alternative embodiment shown in Figure 5, the locking means 21 consists of a means causing adhesion between them of the facing faces 30, 31 of the bottoms 32 of the semi-tubular elements.

This effect can, for example, be obtained by fixing on each of the faces 30, 31 opposite bands of material which, after contact with each other, achieve reversible adhesion and / or anchoring.

Absolutely, by way of example, it is possible to use strips of material of the type of that sold under the brand VELCRO.

It should however be emphasized that this has no limiting value for the invention.

Indeed, plots of magnetic and / or adhesive material, for example would be just as suitable for performing the function described above.

Of course, the anchoring and / or the adhesion of the faces between them must remain controllable so that one can annihilate it in order to make the internal elements slide in the external elements.

It is noted that the anchoring and / or grip effect described above may advantageously be suitable for producing both the means 6 for controlling the telescopic movement of the elements and the means 21 for locking the disengagement of these elements.

In all cases, it is advisable to have on each face 30, 31 of a ribbon of the said material, extending substantially in the longitudinal direction of movement and this, in any place to allow blocking whatever the desired extension .

To limit the manual effort required to disengage the semi-tubular elements of a half-shell 14, 15 to a reasonable value, it is sufficient to control the useful surface and therefore the width of the strip of anchoring material and / or d 'adhesion.

Advantageously, the strip of anchoring and / or adhesion material equipping the bottom of the internal semi-tubular element may be housed in a housing 36.

Also, when the internal element is dislodged, the housing 36 protects the tape from any contact with a surface liable to degrade it.

Of course, the ribbon equipping the external element will be worn at the top of a complementary profile 37 in the housing 36. In another alternative embodiment visible in particular in FIGS. 3 and 6, the means 6 for adjusting and blocking the relative positioning in extension of the semi-tubular elements between them consists of a plurality of complementary means 34, 35, some projecting 34, the others 35 recessed and respectively carried by at least some of the faces opposite the semi-tubular elements.

The complementary means 34, 35 are, in the same pitch "P" and in the direction of mounting and telescopic movement, regularly distributed.

The complementary means 34 projecting and 35 recessed are for example respectively ribs 36 and grooves 37 of complementary shapes, each perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of mounting and telescopic movement.

In another alternative embodiment, in FIG. 6, the container is formed of two half-shells 16, 17 each consisting of three semi-tubular elements 3 _a , 3 _bl ⁴ a, ⁴ _b , 5 _a , 5 _b .

In the version shown, there are provided for each half-shell 16, 17 at the ends two external elements 3, 5 into which a median element 4 fits.

Of course, the opposite could be done, that is to say providing at the ends of the internal elements joined by an external median element.

In all cases, the extension of the formed structure makes it possible to maintain its symmetry.

• - d'ouvrir le conteneur 1,
• - de déboiter selon leur section transversale, les éléments demi-tubulaires 3 à 5,
• - de les positionner selon la nouvelle contenance de manière à donner une nouvelle longueur "L" identique à chaque coquille 16, 17,
• - de bloquer le coulissement des éléments 3 à 5.

It is noted that whatever the means 6 and / or 21 opposing the disengagement of the semi-elements and the means for blocking the sliding of the elements, in the case of a body in two half-shells, to adjust the capacity of the body, just:

• - open container 1,
• - to disengage according to their cross section, the semi-tubular elements 3 to 5,
• - to position them according to the new capacity so as to give a new length "L" identical to each shell 16, 17,
• - to block the sliding of elements 3 to 5.

The container 1 can be made of any material and for example of plastic advantageously, it will be made of thin rigid material and for example thermoformable.

The bottom 32 of each half-shell 16, 17 can be equipped with any known means for storing and / or fixing long articles and for example fishing rods.

It is obvious that the invention is in no way limited to the embodiment which has just been described and shown and which has not been given only by way of example.

In particular, without departing from the scope of the invention, modify certain provisions or replace certain means by equivalent means or even replace certain bodies by others capable of ensuring the same technical function or an equivalent technical function.

Claims (5)

1. Rigid portable container with adjustable capacity comprising a body (1) which has a tubular shape closed at its ends (10, 12) and preferably provided at mid-length with a gripping means (2), comprising at least two tubular elements (3, 4, 5) which are mounted telescopically, this container being CHARACTERIZED: on the one hand, in that these tubular elements are themselves provided with at least one means (6) making it possible alternately to block and unblock the elements in order to adapt their relative positions and, - on the other hand, in that, while comprising at least these two elements (3, 4, 5) mounted telescopically, it is split into two half-shells (14, 15) each constituted by the association of elements semi-tubular (3 _a , 3 _b , ⁴ _a9 4 _b , ⁵ a, 5 _b ) internal and external mounted telescopically with respect to each other. 2. Container according to claim 1 characterized in that it is provided with means (21) of locking of any type capable of opposing the disengagement of the semi-tubular elements in a direction located in their cross section while preserving the sliding axial of the semi-tubular elements (3a to _5b ) relative to each other. 3. Container according to claim 1 or 2 characterized in that the means (6) alternately allowing to block and unblock the elements in order to adapt the length of the body (1) are constituted by complementary means (34, 35) , some (34) projecting, others (35) hollow and carried by the faces opposite the semi-tubular elements. 4. Container according to claim 3 characterized in that the complementary means (34, 35) carried by the faces opposite the elements (3, 4, 5) are distributed regularly according to the same pitch (P) and in the direction telescopic mounting. 5. Container according to claim 4 characterized in that the complementary means (34, 35) projecting and recessed are respectively ribs (36) and grooves (37) contained in cross sections of the container.

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