EP1870343A1 - Stackable modular container - Google Patents

Abstract

The container has four panels fixed on four posts by two fixation units in the form of large and small snails, to allow the rotation of each panel with respect to a base. One of the fixing units includes fingers (37) arranged on the panel and a slot situated on one of the posts. The fingers slide and pivot inside the slot for permitting horizontal folding of the panels on the base. The slot is provided with an opening by which the panels pass through during their assembling and/or disassembling.

Description

The invention relates to a container adapted for the handling, transport and storage of parts, especially automobiles, or products.

The invention relates more particularly to a modular and stackable container consisting of a base, four uprights and four panels.

The packaging of parts and products requires, for reasons of transport, handling and storage of specific containers (adapted to a room and / or a product) or polyvalent (adapted to several families of rooms and / or products). To meet this need, collapsible containers already exist, but they generally have given their design some disadvantages.

The existing containers have two and not four folding panels per half-panel which imposes a direction of positioning of the container relative to the operator given the current rules of ergonomics.

The half-panels, once opened, out of the dimensions of the container, thus causing damage during handling by hanging these half-panels with the other containers.

Moreover, the folding operations of the mesh panels on the base require an order in handling which, if it is not respected, causes damage to the panels and prevents stacking in this incorrectly folded position of the containers between them .

Once folded, some panels may come out or protrude from the assembly then causing losses or damage to these panels during handling operations.

The assembly or disassembly of the mesh panels requires most of the time, for maintenance reasons, particular tools.

During clashes caused by "potholes" on roads, trucks carrying these containers transmit them vertical forces that tend to separate the panels of the base that can cause losses of parts through the space thus created.

The object of the present invention is to overcome all or part of the disadvantages mentioned above by providing a container with enough modularity to be versatile.

For this purpose, the invention relates to a modular container having a base and four panels fixed on four uprights by means of first and second fixing means adapted to allow the pivoting of each of the panels relative to the base characterized in that the first fixing means constitute an assembly consisting of a finger formed on the panel and a groove on the upright and inside which the finger can slide and pivot to allow the substantially horizontal folding of the panels on the base.

According to another advantageous characteristic of the invention, the groove is provided with an opening through which the panels transit during their assembly and / or disassembly.

The opening of the groove is advantageously in the upper part to prevent the uncoupling of the folded panels.

The height of the grooves of the fixing means is preferably at least equal to four times the thickness of the panels so as to allow folding of the panels horizontally on the base.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the uprights are pivotally mounted on the base to allow stacking containers.

At least one of the panels has two parts movable relative to each other to allow the reduction of the height of the container during the loading of parts.

The movable parts of the panels are advantageously pivotably mounted relative to each other to provide a robust hinge.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the base comprises a recess to allow its transport.

Other features and advantages will become apparent from the description which is given below, for information only and not limiting, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the container.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the container with the upper half-panels partially folded.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the container with the panels folded.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the container with the panels and the stiles folded.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the amount.

Figure 6 is a front view of a lower half-panel.

Figure 7 is a front view of an upper half-panel.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of the base of the amount mounted on the base.

Figure 9 is a perspective view of a portion of the first attachment means in the form of "large snail".

Figure 10 is a perspective view of a portion of the first attachment means in the form of "small snail".

Figure 11 is a perspective view of the container foot.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the container 1 according to the invention. The latter, of substantially parallelepipedal shape comprises a base 3, four uprights 5, 7, 9 and 11 and four panels 13, 15, 17 and 19.

The base 3 forms the base of the container 1. It comprises a recess 21 in its lower part to allow its transport by forklifts.

Each upright has a fixed portion and a movable portion relative to the base 3 (Figure 8).

The fixed part forms the base of the upright and comprises a foot 27, a bracket 29 and locking means of the movable part on the fixed part as shown in FIG. 11.

Figure 5 shows the movable portion of the upright which is a hollow tube 31 of substantially square section.

The locking means of the fixed part on the movable portion of the upright consist of a pin housed on the foot 27 of the upright and a groove 35 located at the base of the tube.

The groove 35 is adapted to cooperate with the pin 33 to allow the articulation of the tube 31 and its folding on the base 3.

The panels 13, 15, 17 and 19 consist of metal tubes forming the frame thereof, a wall which can be screened and are fixed on the uprights 5, 7, 9 and 11 by means of fixing means .

The panels 13, 15, 17 and 19 have no connection with the base 3 but cooperate with the amounts 5, 7, 9 and 11 to using fastening means. These fixing means make them mobile and removable relative to the container 1.

Given the shape of the container, two of the four panels are shorter in length than the other two. This results in two large panels 13 and 17 and two small panels 15 and 19, of substantially rectangular shape.

Each of these panels comprises an upper half-panel 13s, 15s, 17s and 19s according to Figure 6 and a lower half-panel 13i, 15i, 17i and 19i according to Figure 7. These half-panels are pivotally mounted the one compared to the other.

The fixing means consist of a set of fingers arranged on the panels 13, 15, 17 and 19 able to slide and pivot in grooves on the uprights.

The fixing means consist of first fixing means A and second fixing means B.

The first means of fixing panels to the uprights comprise fingers 37 situated at the base of each of the lower half-panels 13i, 15i, 17i, 19i and grooves 39 housed at the base of the uprights 5, 7, 9 and 11. .

According to Figure 6, each lower half-panel has two fingers 37 at the lower ends of its base (a finger on each side). These fingers 37 are parallel to the base 3.

The grooves 39 conforming to the fixing means A are in the form of substantially oval shaped relief grooves in the form of "snail".

The height of the groove 39 is different depending on whether it is a fastening means for fixing one of the small panels 15 and 19 or one of the large panels 13 or 17. The groove 39 which is intended to fix a small panel to a height greater than the height of the groove 39b which is intended to fix a large panel.

The grooves 39 are provided with an opening 41 facing upwards which allows the assembly and disassembly of the panel on the uprights.

The groove 39 is located on the bracket 29 (Figure 9).

The groove 39b is located on the base of the moving part of the upright (Figure 10).

The two grooves 39a and 39b are fixed to the upright by a welding type connection.

The second fastening means B of the panels on the uprights consist of fingers 45 which are provided with each half-panel and orifices 47 distributed on the tube 31 of the upright.

The lower and upper half-panels are equipped with handles 43 which are located in the upper part of the half-panel and arranged symmetrically on both sides. Each half-panel has two handles 43.

The handles comprise fingers 45. The fingers 45 of the handles 43 are parallel to the base 3. When the handle is actuated by an operator, the fingers 45 become projecting relative to the frame of the half-panel so as to be able to penetrate in the orifices 47 of the uprights.

The orifices 47 of the uprights are on two of the faces of the hollow tubes (FIG. 5), these two faces being perpendicular with respect to each other. Each of these faces comprises two orifices adapted to house the fingers 45 of a lower half-panel and an upper half-panel.

In order to separate a lower half-panel from the uprights, the handles 43 are actuated so that the fingers 45 slide toward one another to free themselves from the corresponding orifices 47 of the uprights.

The dimensions of the container 1 are between 300 and 1800 mm in height, 800 and 3200 mm in length and 600 and 2300 mm in width. In the example illustrated by the figures, the dimensions of the container 1 are preferably substantially the following: 920 mm high, 1600 mm long and 1150 mm wide.

Preferably, the base 3 has a length approximately equal to one and a half times its width. Its length is between 0, 7 meters and 3 meters and is preferably substantially equal to 1, 5 meters. Its width is between 0.5 and 2 meters and is preferably substantially equal to 1 meter for the present embodiment.

The tubes 31 have a length that is substantially less than the height of the container 1. This length is between 0.35 meters and 1.5 meters. A tube according to the example illustrated for the present invention preferably measures approximately 0.7 meters.

The width of the upper half-panel is substantially the same as that of the lower half-panel. The width of the upper half-panel is preferably very slightly less than that of the lower half-panel. The dimensions may advantageously be as follows: 370 mm high for the width of the lower half-panel and 310 mm for the upper half-panel.

The grooves 39a are approximately twice as high as the grooves 39b. The height of the grooves 39a is between 70 and 300 mm. A groove 39 preferably measures approximately 130 mm. The height of the grooves 39b is between 30 and 120 mm and. A groove 39b preferably measures substantially 60 mm.

The container is preferably made of steel to give it better strength.

An example of use of the container 1 will now be described.

In accordance with the object of the invention which is to make the container 1 flexible, we will highlight different configurations that can take the container during its use.

In its mounted state, according to Figure 1, the container may contain parts and / or products.

According to Figure 2, it is possible to reduce the height of the container 1 by folding one or more upper half-panels 13s, 15s, 17s and / or 17s so as to reduce the height of the container. This operation is performed by sliding the handles 43 of the upper half-panels to one another and horizontally. This operation makes it possible to release the fingers 45 from the handles of the orifices 47 of the tube, thus allowing the folding of the upper half-panel on the lower half-panel 8. Thus, the operator can more easily load parts or products in the container. .

According to Figure 3, it is also possible to completely fold the panels on the base by sliding the handles of the lower half-panel from the configuration shown in Figure 2.

This folding is achieved by a pivoting of the panel relative to the base after the handles have been opened in the same way as the handles of the upper half-panel.

The height of the grooves 39 is at least equal to the cumulative thickness of the four panels 1. This has the effect that, when the panels are folded on the base 3, they are in substantially horizontal position and this, whatever the order of folding of the panels as shown in Figure 4. The operator is not required to respect a particular order.

In addition, the panels can also be dismantled from the container. To do this, once the handles have slid, the operator pulls them upwards so as to clear the fingers of the grooves by passing said panels through the opening of the gorges. This operation is fast and does not require any particular tools facilitating assembly, disassembly and maintenance of the container.

According to Figure 5, the folding of the uprights 5, 7, 9 and 11 on the base 3 is made by sliding and pivoting the pin 33 of the foot in the groove 39, thereby making the container 1 capable of being stacked on other containers. It is thus possible to save space when the containers have to be stored. In addition, damage to panels induced by misfolding can also be avoided when the containers are stacked on top of one another.

Of course, the present invention is not limited to the illustrated example but is susceptible of various variations and modifications that will occur to those skilled in the art.

Claims (6)

Container (1) having a modular base (3) and four panels (13), (15), (17), (19) fixed on four uprights (5), (7), (9), (11) by intermediate of first and second fastening means (A) and (B) adapted to allow the pivoting of each of the panels relative to the base, characterized in that the first fastening means (A) constitute an assembly composed of a finger (37) formed on the panel and a groove (39) on the one hand which is located on the upright and inside which the finger can slide and pivot to allow the substantially horizontal folding of the panels on the base and on the other hand which is provided with an opening (41) through which the panels transit during their assembly and / or disassembly, said opening being located in the upper part to prevent the uncoupling of the folded panels. Container according to one of the preceding claims characterized in that the height of the grooves (39) of the fastening means (A) is at least equal to four times the thickness of the panels so as to allow the folding of the panels horizontally on the base (3). Container according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the uprights are pivotally mounted on the base (3) to allow stacking containers. Container according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of the panels has two parts movable relative to each other to allow the reduction of the height of the container during the loading of parts. Container according to one of the preceding claims characterized in that the movable parts of the panels are pivotally mounted relative to each other to allow a robust articulation. Container according to one of the preceding claims characterized in that the base (3) has a recess (21) to allow its transport.

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