EP1944242B1 - Storage crate - Google Patents

Abstract

The case (C) has fixation units e.g. fastening screw, forming an integral part of bottom and top horizontal walls (10, 14) and lateral walls (11, 12), and a homologous mounting unit for ensuring blocking of the walls from edge to edge in two orthogonal directions (X, Y). A homologous engaging unit ensures blocking of the walls from the edge to edge in a third direction (Z) that is orthogonal to the directions (X, Y). The mounting and engaging units assure auto-locking of the walls by bringing the edges of the walls together during assembling of the walls.

Description

The present invention relates to a storage box of parallelepipedal general shape, of the type comprising a horizontal bottom wall from which stand up two side walls and a bottom wall, and a horizontal wall from above, fixing means being provided to secure between them the horizontal walls and the side walls.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There are already a large number of storage cases of the aforementioned type, made of wood, metal, or plastic. The fastening means used are most often in the field of hardware, and comprise bolts, nuts and dowels, these means being located at the edges of the walls assembled edge to edge.

The mounting of such storage cases therefore assumes the installation of hardware, with operations that can sometimes be long and tedious, and in any case always use appropriate tools.

In addition, there is also the problem of the rigidity of the storage box once it mounted, insofar as parasitic forces, in particular lateral, make work the fastening means in a direction of désimplantation, which promotes the appearance of undesirable games and an unpleasant perception of a lack of rigidity for the parallelepipedic structure thus produced.

For the state of the art, reference may be made to the document CA 2 583 339 A1 which describes a box according to the preamble of claim 1, intended for horticulture, in which the walls can be secured by snap-fastening means traditional counterparts, of the type with hook tabs and passage slots.

We can also refer to the document WO-2005 / 117,796 A which describes a box kit intended to receive human bodies in case of war or cataclysms. The securing means solidarisant the walls between them are latching means similar to those of the previous document.

The technological background is also illustrated by the document EP-1275 812 A of the applicant, which illustrates a sliding deformable curtain cabinet whose walls are joined together by conventional means.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The present invention aims to design a storage box whose components are arranged to allow a quick assembly, easy, and using no external tools.

Another object of the invention is to provide a storage box whose components, and in particular the means for fixing the walls between them, are perfectly adapted to commercialization in the form of a kit, with a minimum space requirement and a number of parts as well. reduced as possible.

GENERAL DEFINITION OF THE INVENTION

The aforementioned problem is solved, according to the invention, thanks to a generally parallelepiped shaped storage case, having a horizontal bottom wall from which stand up two side walls and a bottom wall, and a horizontal wall of fastening means being provided for interconnecting the horizontal walls and the side walls, said storage case being remarkable in that fixing means are integral parts of the horizontal and lateral walls, and they comprise homologous fitting means with interlocking blades ensuring a locking of the relevant walls edge to edge in two orthogonal directions (X, Y ), and homologous latching means with tabs and locking windows ensuring a locking of said relevant walls edge to edge in a third direction (Z) orthogonal to said two directions (X, Y), said fixing means being arranged to ensure alone self-locking natural walls between them by simply bringing their edges closer together when mounting said walls.

Thus, thanks to the aforementioned structure, the fastening means are not separate components that are added to the main components forming the constituent walls of the box, which considerably limits the number of parts needed to make the storage case. In addition, the assembly by simply bringing edge-to-edge edges facing the walls, which perform a mutual cooperation of the recessing means and snapping counterparts, is an easy operation to implement, even for an inexperienced person.

In a preferred embodiment, the homologous embedding means comprise first embedding means consisting of two spaced blades protruding from a U-shaped lateral profile which extends in a direction perpendicular to said blades, and second means of recess consisting of three spaced blades, a central blade is received between the two blades of the first embedding means, and two side blades are received in the U-shaped lateral section of said first embedding means.

Preferably then, the two spaced blades constituting the first embedding means are joined together by an end ligament which extends one of the lateral branches of the U-shaped lateral profile, and the two lateral blades constituting the second means of recess are notched at their edges to have a width identical to the internal width of the U-shaped side profile.

In a preferred embodiment, the homologous latching means comprise in turn first latching means consisting of at least one elastic tab extending parallel to the blades of the first embedding means, and second means of locking. latching constituted by at least one window formed in a partition perpendicular to the blades of the second embedding means.

Preferably then, the first latching means consist of two resilient tabs disposed on either side of the blades of the first embedding means, and the second latching means consist of two windows arranged on both sides. other blades of the second embedding means.

It will also be advantageous to provide that the first recessing and detent means are provided on the horizontal walls below and above, while the second recessing and detent means are provided on the side walls. This feature is particularly interesting insofar as the most fragile components of the fastening means are associated with the horizontal bottom wall constituting the bottom of the storage box, which wall is placed on the ground during assembly of said body, while the vertical walls are approached so as to bring their lower edge at the side edges of the horizontal wall. Once the snap realized, we obtain a virtually indémontable set.

It may also be advantageous to provide that the horizontal bottom wall is equipped with a smooth lining wall having side wings which hide the adjacent embedding and latching means. This smooth lining wall makes it possible to hide the partitioning usually present on the horizontal bottom wall constituting the bottom of the box, when this wall is made of injected plastic material.

It can then be provided that the smooth lining wall and / or the bottom wall of the bottom has a peripheral lower corridor associated with the passage of a single or double curtain used to close the front opening of said storage box, the wall horizontal top having a peripheral upper corridor which is at the right of said peripheral lower corridor. The use of a single or double curtain closing is of course optional in the context of the invention, and it may be interesting in large storage boxes and / or sets of boxes of stacked storage. It can be used for this purpose flexible curtains articulated or not.

It can also be provided that the smooth lining wall and / or the horizontal bottom wall has a plurality of lower slots parallel to the side walls, associated with the housing of at least one lower leg of a vertical spacer, the horizontal top wall having upper slots which are in line with said lower slots to accommodate at least one upper tab of said vertical spacer, which is held in position by its only legs. Thus, the user has complete freedom to have one or more vertical spacers at the location he chooses.

More preferably, the horizontal walls below and above are identical and interchangeable with each other, and the side walls are also identical and interchangeable with each other. It is thus possible to rationalize the manufacture of components intended to constitute a storage case, and also to simplify the marketing of such a box in the form of kit ready to mount.

Advantageously finally, the horizontal walls below and above have male / female means for indexing each other with respect to the other superimposed boxes.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly in the light of the description which follows and the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

• la figure 1 est une vue en perspective illustrant une caisse de rangement montée, ici avec un intercalaire, dont la structure est conforme à l'invention ;
• la figure 2 est une vue isolée de la caisse de la figure 1, et la figure 3 est la même vue dans laquelle la paroi horizontale de dessous constituant le fond n'est plus recouverte par une paroi lisse de doublage, ce qui permet de distinguer les moyens d'encastrement et d'encliquetage présents pour solidariser entre elles les parois latérales et la paroi de dessous ;
• les figures 4 et 5 sont des vues partielles en perspective de la paroi horizontale de dessous constituant le fond de la caisse, à plus grande échelle, permettant de mieux distinguer l'agencement des moyens d'encastrement et d'encliquetage associés ;
• la figure 6 est une vue en perspective d'une paroi latérale, du côté intérieur de celle-ci ;
• la figure 7 est une vue partielle en perspective, à plus grande échelle, montrant les moyens d'encastrement et d'encliquetage associés qui sont homologues des moyens d'encastrement et d'encliquetage précités associés à la paroi horizontale de dessous ;
• la figure 8 est une vue éclatée permettant de mieux comprendre le mode de montage par coopération entre les moyens d'encastrement et d'encliquetage homologues ;
• la figure 9 est une vue partielle en élévation et en coupe, dans la position finale d'encastrement entre les moyens homologues concernés, avec coopération complète des moyens d'encastrement et d'encliquetage ;
• les figures 10 et 11 sont des coupes partielles selon X-X et XI-XI de la figure 9, permettant de mieux distinguer des dispositions relatives des éléments d'encastrement de la paroi latérale qui assurent un blocage des parois concernées bord à bord dans deux directions orthogonales X, Y.

Reference will be made to the figures of the accompanying drawings in which:

• the figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating a storage case mounted, here with a spacer, whose structure is in accordance with the invention;
• the figure 2 is an isolated view of the crate of the figure 1 , and the figure 3 is the same view in which the horizontal bottom wall constituting the bottom is no longer covered by a smooth lining wall, which allows to distinguish the recessing means and latching present to secure between them the side walls and the bottom wall;
• the Figures 4 and 5 are partial views in perspective of the bottom horizontal wall constituting the bottom of the box, on a larger scale, to better distinguish the arrangement of the associated mounting and detent means;
• the figure 6 is a perspective view of a side wall, the inner side thereof;
• the figure 7 is a partial perspective view, on a larger scale, showing the associated embedding and latching means which are homologous with the aforementioned mounting and latching means associated with the horizontal wall from below;
• the figure 8 is an exploded view to better understand the method of mounting by cooperation between the recessing means and snap-fitting;
• the figure 9 is a partial view in elevation and in section, in the final position of embedding between the homologous means concerned, with complete cooperation of the embedding and latching means;
• the Figures 10 and 11 are partial sections according to XX and XI-XI of the figure 9 , making it possible to distinguish better from the relative provisions of the side wall embedding elements which lock the relevant walls edge to edge in two orthogonal directions X, Y.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

The figure 1 illustrates a storage box of parallelepipedal general shape, made according to the invention. This storage box, denoted C, has a horizontal bottom wall 10, from which stand two vertical side walls 11, 12 and a bottom wall 13, and a horizontal top wall 14. Fixing means are provided to secure between them the horizontal walls 10, 14 and the side walls 11, 12, these fixing means being however not visible on the figure 1 . In this case, the horizontal bottom wall 10 is indeed equipped with a smooth lining wall 16 having side wings 16.3 which mask the adjacent fastening means.

The assembly thus mounted has a front opening 20 to insert objects such as folders, hanging or not, to store.

On the figure 1 it has been illustrated the possibility of installing at least one vertical spacer, in this case only a spacer marked 15. For the installation of such a vertical spacer 15, it is envisaged that the smooth lining wall 16 has a plurality of slots lower 16.2 parallel to the walls 11, 12, associated with the housing of at least one lower leg 15.1 (here two) of the vertical insert 15. Although this is not visible on the figure 1 , the horizontal top wall 14 internally has upper slots which are at right lower slots 16.2 for housing at least one upper lug of said vertical spacer 15, which is then held in position by its only tabs. These slots are better visible on the figure 2 .

However, it may be decided not to use a smooth doubling wall 16, in which case it is the bottom wall itself which has slots such as the slots 10.2, which are better visible on the outside. figure 3 at least receiving a lower leg 15.1 of a vertical spacer 15 to be installed.

If we go back to figure 2 it is also noted that the smooth lining wall 16 has a lower peripheral lane 16.1 associated with the passage of a single or double curtain (not shown here) for closing the front opening 20 of the storage box. Although this is not visible on the figure 1 the horizontal top wall 14 naturally has a peripheral upper corridor which is at the right of said lower peripheral channel 16.1. In this case, the peripheral corridor is provided on both widths and the front length of the smooth lining wall 16. figure 1 two closure clips 21 which define two corridors for a double curtain closure. For the frontal installation of such a closing curtain, the clips being removed, it will be possible to refer to the document FR-A-2,826,558 of the plaintiff. Once the single or double curtain in place, the clips 21 are put back in place for a satisfactory finish.

As for the vertical spacers 15, it is perfectly possible to decide not to use a smooth doubling wall 16, and it is then expected, as is visible on the figure 3 , a similar peripheral lane 10.1 on the horizontal bottom wall 10.

On the figure 1 , it is also noted the presence of male / female means 50 visible here on the horizontal wall above 14. The same means will be provided on the horizontal wall below 10, but these means are not visible on the figure 1 . Such means 50, for example of the type pins and cuvettes can index one against the other superimposed boxes C. This then allows to constitute real storage furniture consisting of several storage boxes superimposed and possibly also juxtaposed.

We will now be interested in the fastening means which are provided for interconnecting the horizontal walls 10, 14 and the side walls 11, 12, and the description of these fixing means which constitute an essential characteristic of the invention will be given. with reference to Figures 3 to 11 .

As is visible on the figure 3 fastening means are provided which are an integral part of the horizontal and lateral walls, these fastening means comprising homologous embedding means 100 with interlocking blades ensuring a locking of the relevant walls edge-to-edge in two orthogonal directions X, Y ( which are the directions of the plane of the horizontal wall below 10), and the corresponding latching means 200 with tabs and latching windows ensuring a locking of said relevant walls edge to edge in a third direction Z orthogonal to the two aforesaid directions X , Y (in this case, the direction Z is the vertical direction of the planes of the side walls). The homologous recessing means 100 and the latching means 200 are arranged to ensure by themselves self-locking walls between them by simple approximation of their edges facing when mounting said walls.

On the figure 3 , the illustrated position is a position corresponding to the completed editing. We also see on the figure 3 that latching means 200 are provided in the vicinity of the corners, while a plurality of homologous embedding means 100, here five in number, are provided for each side edge. This is of course only one example, and the invention is in no way limited to such an embodiment.

The Figures 4 and 5 make it possible to better distinguish the part of the recess-homologous means 100 and the part of the detent means 200 which are associated with the horizontal wall 10 below.

As is best seen on the figure 8 these means comprise first embedding means denoted 101, consisting of two spaced blades 101.1, 101.2 protruding from a U-shaped lateral section 103 which extends in a direction perpendicular to said blades. The U-shaped lateral profile 103 has a horizontal bottom 105, and two vertical lateral wings 104. The two spaced blades 101.1, 101.2 define between them a slot 106 of vertical direction. In this case, the two spaced blades 101.1, 101.2 are joined together by an end ligament 101.3 which extends one of the lateral wings 104 of the U-shaped lateral section 103. The end ligament 101.3 thus makes it possible to confer a better rigidity when inserting a homologous blade in the slot 106. On either side of the two side blades 101.1, 101.2 there is a well, 107, 108 delimited by the side wings 104 of the U-shaped lateral section 103 These wells 107, 108 are intended to receive two other parallel blades associated with homologous embedding means.

As this is best seen on Figures 6 and 7 , on each side wall 11 or 12, homologous recessing means are provided which are intended to cooperate with the first recessing means 101. Thus, second recessing means 102, consisting of in this case three blades spaced 102.1, 102.2, 102.3, including a central blade 102.1 and intended to be received between the two blades 101.1, 101.2 of the first mounting means 101, and two side blades 102.2, 102.3 are intended to be received in the U-shaped lateral section 103, between the wings 104 of said U-shaped lateral profile, at the receiving wells 107, 108 mentioned above.

As is visible on the figures 8 and 9 the bringing together in a vertical direction (arrow 300) of the lower edge of a side wall 11 or 12 causes the homologous embedding means 101 and 102 to cooperate together, according to a nesting of the parallel blades concerned, in the manner of a comb. The five blades concerned 101.1, 101.2 on the one hand, and 102.1, 102.2, 102.3 on the other hand, provide the locking in the Y direction. The locking in the orthogonal direction X is in turn ensured by the ligament 101.3 against which abuts the central blade 102.1, and secondly by the side walls 104 of the U-shaped lateral section 103 against which abut the edges, here notched, 102.21 and 102.31 side blades 102.2 and 102.3. It is important for this purpose that the second embedding means 102 have a width identical to the internal width of the U-shaped lateral section 103. In this case, this is ensured by a notching of the free edges of the lateral blades concerned.

The homologous snap-fastening means 200 firstly comprise first snap-fastening means 201 which are here associated with the horizontal bottom plate 10. These snap-fastening means 201 consist of at least one elastic tab, in two elastic tabs 201.1, 201.2, extending parallel to the blades 101.1, 101.2 of the first embedding means 101. Each of these resilient blades terminates in an upper snap-on groove 201.11, 201.21 visible on the figures 8 and 9 . In this case, these elastic tabs 201.1, 201.2 extend below the bottom 105 of the U-shaped section 103, which is not necessarily mandatory, but contributes to a better rigidity of these elastic tabs during the phase of clipping proper. For this purpose, it will also be noted the presence of reinforcements 201.12, 201.22 which avoid any tilting phenomenon when a lateral force is printed on these elastic tabs during the ratchet phase itself.

Second snap-fastening means 202 homologous to the first snap-fastening means 201 are naturally provided on the side walls 11 and 12. In the present case, these second snap-fasteners 202 consist of at least one window 110, here two such windows, formed in a partition 109 which is perpendicular to the blades 102.1, 102.2, 102.3 of the second embedding means 102. The two windows 110 are here arranged on either side of the blades 102.1, 102.2, 102.3 second means of recessing 102.

If we go back to figures 8 and 9 , it is understood that the vertical insertion, with interlocking, homologous mounting means 101, 102, which comprises the sliding of the nested blades against each other, continues until the upper redans 201.11, 201.21 of the latching lugs arrive at the edges of the windows 110. The small vertical movement that follows is then sufficient to achieve the snapping definitive at these two windows 110, to arrive at the final mounting position illustrated on the figure 9 . In this final mounting position, the upper plane, denoted 112, blades 101.1, 101.2, and the lower plane, denoted 111, of the partition 109, are in contact with one another, which ensures the vertical reference in the Z direction, with a stable snap-fastening arrangement of the elastic tabs.

The cuts of Figures 10 and 11 , respectively showing the central blade 102.1 and a side blade 102.2 in the final mounting position, allows a better appreciation of the relative provisions of these components. Note in particular the contact between the planes 111 and 112 on the figure 10 . Note, however, the presence of a small clearance at the lower edges of the central blade 102.1 and the side blade 102.2 or 102.3, these sets being denoted e, and being in practice of the order of one millimeter.

It will be generally advantageous to provide, as illustrated here, that the first mounting means 101 and detent 201 are provided on the horizontal wall below 10, while the second mounting means 102 and snap-fastening 202 are provided on the side walls 11, 12. Indeed, the structure of the latching means is rather more fragile at the elastic snap tabs, so it is preferable to provide that these means fragile are on the wall posed on the floor when mounting, and not on the wall that is manipulated during assembly.

It will be further advantageous to provide that the horizontal walls of bottom 10 and top 14 are identical and interchangeable with each other, and that the side walls 11, 12 are also identical and interchangeable with each other. Thus, this allows to have two types of components only to form horizontal walls of below and above, and the vertical side walls. The bottom wall 13 is inserted into associated slots, such as the slot 120 of the side walls 11 or 12 visible on the figure 6 .

We will also note on Figures 4 and 5 the presence of a 10.5 notch in the shape of an isosceles right triangle. This notch is intended to receive a homologous tab 11.5 isosceles triangle and secured to the front edge of the side walls 11 or 12, so as to obtain a smooth front frame at the edges close together and assembled together.

It has thus managed to achieve a storage box whose structure is particularly simple, and whose assembly can be easily achieved without having to use any outside tools. In addition, the integration of the fastening means to the walls themselves eliminates the presence of separate components that may be lost during shipment of the box kit to mount.

In addition, it will be understood that the structure of the recessing and latching means provides an extremely accurate and reliable locking in the three directions of the triad X, Y, Z, with a self-locking guaranteeing the stability of the mounted parallelepiped storage box.

In the embodiment that has been illustrated, the parallel blades constituting the homologous embedding means are parallel faces. It may be provided that these blades are slightly tapered towards their free end, so as to provide a wedging effect when interleaving said blades together.

In addition, the number of these parallel blades, which is here three on one side and two on the other, will naturally vary, the minimal arrangement having a single blade on one side and two on the other (between which passes the single blade), as the choice of implantation of said blades on the side walls and on the horizontal walls.

Claims (12)

1. A storage case that is generally in the shape of a rectangular box, and that comprises a bottom horizontal wall (10) from which two side walls (11, 12) and a back wall (13) extend vertically, and a top horizontal wall (14), fastener means being provided for securing together the horizontal walls (10, 14) and the side walls (11, 12), the fastener means being integral parts of the horizontal walls (10, 14) and of the side walls (11, 12), and including complementary snap-fastener means (200) that comprise snap-fastening catches and snap-fastening windows and that serve to lock the walls in question edge-to-edge in a third direction (Z) orthogonal to the below-mentioned two directions (X, Y), said storage case being characterized in that the fastener means further include complementary engagement means (100) having interdigitating blades and serving to lock said walls in question edge-to-edge in two orthogonal directions (X, Y), and said complementary engagement and complementary snap-fastener means (100, 200) are arranged to achieve, by themselves, natural and mutual self-locking of the walls, merely by the facing edges of the walls being brought together while said walls are being assembled together.
2. A storage case according to claim 1, characterized in that the complementary engagement means (100) comprise first engagement means (101) constituted by two spaced-apart blades (101.1, 101.2) projecting from a channel-section side member (103) that extends in a direction perpendicular to said blades, and second engagement means (102) constituted by three spaced-apart blades (102.1, 102.2, 102.3), namely a central blade (102.1) that is received between the two blades (101.1, 101.2) of the first engagement means (101), and two side blades (102.2, 102.3) that are received in the channel-section side member (103) of said first engagement means.
3. A storage case according to claim 2, characterized in that the two spaced-apart blades (101.1, 101.2) constituting the first engagement means (101) are united by an end interconnection (101.3) that extends one of the side flanges (104) of the channel-section side member (103).
4. A storage case according to claim 2, characterized in that the two side blades (102.2, 102.3) constituting the second engagement means (102) are notched at their edges so as to present a width identical to the inside width of the channel-section side member (103).
5. A storage case according to claim 1, characterized in that the complementary snap-fastener means (200) comprise first snap-fastener means (201) constituted by at least one resilient catch (201.1, 201.2) extending parallel to the blades (101.1, 101.2) of the first engagement means (101), and second snap-fastener means (202) constituted by at least one window (110) provided in a partition (109) that is perpendicular to the blades (102.1, 102.2, 102.3) of the second engagement means (102).
6. A storage case according to claim 5, characterized in that the first snap-fastener means (201) are constituted by two resilient catches (201.1, 201.2) disposed on either side of the blades (101.1, 101.2) of the first engagement means (101), and the second snap-fastener means (202) are constituted by two windows (110) disposed on either side of the blades (102.1, 102.2, 102.3) of the second engagement means (102).
7. A storage case according to claims 2 and 5, characterized in that the first engagement means (101) and the first snap-fastener means (201) are provided on the bottom horizontal wall (10) and on the top horizontal wall (14) while the second engagement means (102) and the second snap-fastener means (202) are provided on the side walls (11, 12).
8. A storage case according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the bottom horizontal wall (10) is equipped with a smooth lining wall (16) having side flanges (16.3) that mask the adjacent engagement means (100) and snap-fastener means (200).
9. A storage case according to claim 8, characterized in that the smooth lining wall (16) and/or the bottom horizontal wall (10) has a bottom peripheral corridor (16.1; 10.1) associated with passing a single or double curtain serving to close the front opening (20) of said storage case, the top horizontal wall (14) having a top peripheral corridor that is in register with said bottom peripheral corridor.
10. A storage case according to claim 8, characterized in that the smooth lining wall (16) and/or the bottom horizontal wall (10) is/are provided with a plurality of bottom slots (16.2; 10.2) that are parallel to the side walls (11, 12), and that are associated with receiving at least one bottom tab (15.1) on a vertical separator (15), the top horizontal wall (14) being provided with top slots that are in register with said bottom slots and that serve to receive at least one top tab on said vertical separator, which is held in position by its tabs alone.
11. A storage case according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the bottom horizontal wall (10) and the top horizontal wall (14) are mutually identical and interchangeable, and the side walls (11, 12) are also mutually identical and interchangeable.
12. A storage case according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the bottom horizontal wall (10) and the top horizontal wall (14) are provided with male/female means (50) making it possible to index superposed storage cases (C) relative to one another.

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