EP2319351B1 - Wall arrangement for dividing a storage volume, such as the internal storage volume of a suitcase - Google Patents

Description

Arrangement of partitions to compartmentalize a volume, including the interior volume of a trunk.

The present invention relates to an arrangement for compartmentalizing a volume, in particular the interior volume of a trunk for storing and transporting a group of laptops, or equivalent materials, of dimensions that may differ from a material to the another, ranging from 10 inches (25.4 cm) to 15.6 inches (39.6 cm).

At present, when it comes to storing or transporting such materials, for example to temporarily make them available to students in a class or a training center, trunks are used whose volume The interior is compartmentalised into boxes of immutable dimensions, so that only materials corresponding to the size of the boxes can be placed there.

To overcome this drawback, the present invention aims to provide a modular arrangement for creating boxes width and / or variable thickness (s).

It is understood that in other applications such as US 5553710 it is known to create compartments by fitting in slots formed in partitions oriented in one direction, said "receiving" partitions, so-called "received" partitions, oriented in another direction perpendicular to the first.

However, either the receiving partitions and the received partitions extend from one side to the other of the arrangement, as in US2003 / 0034319 in which case, in a given row, the compartments necessarily have the same dimensions, or the receiving partitions extend from one side to the other of the arrangement in a first direction while the partitions received do not extend only on a part of a second direction perpendicular to the first, as in US2001 / 0035385 in which case, in the same row, the compartments may have different dimensions, but it is not It is possible that the partitions received from two adjacent compartments are adjacent and in alignment with one another: it is not possible to introduce two partitions received in the same slot of a receiving partition.

The present invention aims to remedy this impossibility, which goal is achieved in that it provides an arrangement of partitions to compartmentalize a volume which, in a manner known per se, comprises at least two so-called "transverse" partitions. and at least one so-called "longitudinal" partition, each of said partitions having an upper edge, a lower edge and two opposite lateral edges, the upper edge of said transverse partitions having at least one slot perpendicular to said edge, so that a pair of walls transverse means defines at least one pair of slots facing each other, and said longitudinal partition being adapted to meet with said transverse partitions by penetration into said pair of slots, the invention being characterized in that the lateral edges of said partition longitudinal each comprise a hooking tab, one of which, called "first leg", has a given height and is in the immediate vicinity the upper edge of said longitudinal partition and the other, said "second leg" has a given height and is offset from the upper edge by a distance corresponding at least to the height of the first leg, said slot having a width allowing the introduction of said first and second legs to a soft friction, and a depth equal to the distance between the upper edge of said longitudinal partition and the end of the second tab furthest from this edge.

Thanks to the structure of the means which allow the assembly of the longitudinal partitions to the transverse partitions, a transverse partition slot can receive simultaneously the first attachment tab of a first longitudinal partition and the second attachment tab of a second longitudinal partition. , with the first and second longitudinal partitions disposed on either side of the transverse partition and in alignment with each other.

In a practical embodiment, said first and second attachment lugs have, in a sectional plane perpendicular to the general plane of the longitudinal partition, a U-shaped profile whose core is parallel to said general plane.

In this way, it is the soul of the U which is threaded into the slot of the transverse partition, the free wing of the U being placed against the wall of the transverse partition, opposing the pivoting of the longitudinal partition. relative to the transverse partition.

In a preferred embodiment, beyond the first latching lug, the lateral edge of the longitudinal partition has a recess, whose function is to provide a clearance facilitating the installation of two latching lugs in the same slot of a transverse partition.

The arrangement according to the invention can equip a conventional structure comprising a bottom wall and at least two opposite side walls, and having, in vertical section, in the normal orientation that it has in use, a U shape. preferably, said structure is in one piece molded flat and offers, in a so-called "longitudinal" direction, two parallel areas of lesser thickness, at what will be the junction lines between said side walls and said bottom wall, after U configuration, by folding the part,

the faces facing said lateral walls having so-called "transverse" grooves, perpendicular to said junction lines and distributed so that pairs of transverse grooves are defined facing each other, each pair of transverse grooves being adapted to receive the opposite lateral edges of a transverse partition, and

said bottom wall comprising at least one groove called "longitudinal" parallel to said junction lines, and adapted to receive the lower edge of at least one longitudinal partition.

Preferably, said transverse grooves extend from one edge to the other of the flat molded piece and, more preferably, said transverse grooves are equidistant and substantially affect the entire surface of the molded piece.

• la paroi de fond de la structure comporte au moins trois rainures longitudinales,
• le bord supérieur des cloisons transversales comporte autant de fentes que de rainures longitudinales et de même espacement, et
• les cloisons longitudinales sont disponibles en au moins deux largeurs.

As indicated above, the main, but not limiting, application of the invention is to be able to compartmentalize the interior volume of a trunk for storing and transporting a group of articles such as portable computers or equivalent equipment , of dimensions that may be different, and to do this:

• the bottom wall of the structure comprises at least three longitudinal grooves,
• the upper edge of the transverse partitions has as many slots as longitudinal grooves and the same spacing, and
• the longitudinal partitions are available in at least two widths.

In this way, it is possible to create compartments adapted to receive materials of at least two different thicknesses and, in each thickness, at least two different widths.

Preferably, when the materials included in the compartments need to be recharged electrically, the arrangement according to the invention allows to do so while said equipment is stored in the compartments. For this purpose, in the face of the side walls of the molded piece flat, opposite the one affected by the transverse grooves, and in the vicinity of the free edges of said side walls and parallel to said edges, a window is provided which affects the ungrooved thickness of the workpiece, so that each of said windows creates as many through holes in said workpiece only transverse grooves, which through holes allow the passage of power cables.

In addition, the lower edge of the transverse partitions advantageously comprises as many notches as longitudinal grooves and the same spacing. These notches in combination with the longitudinal grooves left unoccupied provide passages for cables.

• la figure 1 montre, en perspective, côté face rainurée, une pièce moulée à plat utilisée en combinaison avec l'agencement selon l'invention ;
• la figure 2, montre, en perspective, une malle dans le volume intérieur de laquelle a été placée la pièce de la figure 1 ;
• la figure 3 montre, en perspective, la pièce de la figure 1, pliée dans la configuration de la figure 3, mais vue côté face non rainurée ;
• la figure 4 montre, en perspective, une cloison transversale ;
• les figures 5 et 6 montrent, en élévation, deux cloisons longitudinales qui ne diffèrent l'une de l'autre que par leur largeur ;
• la figure 7 montre, en perspective et à plus grande échelle, la partie supérieure des cloisons longitudinales des figures 5 et 6 ;
• la figure 8 montre, en perspective et à plus grande échelle, la connexion de deux cloisons longitudinales avec une cloison transversale ;
• la figure 9 montre, en perspective, la connexion entre une cloison longitudinale et deux cloisons transversales ;
• la figure 10 montre, en perspective, une malle ouverte équipée de cloisons transversales réparties selon une configuration choisie ;
• la figure 11 montre, en perspective, la malle de la figure 10, après ajout de cloisons longitudinales réparties selon une configuration choisie, avec, pour résultat, la création de compartiments.

The invention will be better understood on reading the following description, made with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

• the figure 1 shows, in perspective, grooved face side, a flat molded part used in combination with the arrangement according to the invention;
• the figure 2 , shows, in perspective, a trunk in the interior volume of which was placed the room of the figure 1 ;
• the figure 3 shows, in perspective, the piece of the figure 1 , folded in the configuration of the figure 3 , but not grooved side view;
• the figure 4 shows, in perspective, a transverse partition;
• the Figures 5 and 6 show, in elevation, two longitudinal partitions which differ from each other only by their width;
• the figure 7 shows, in perspective and on a larger scale, the upper part of the longitudinal partitions of Figures 5 and 6 ;
• the figure 8 shows, in perspective and on a larger scale, the connection of two longitudinal partitions with a transverse partition;
• the figure 9 shows, in perspective, the connection between a longitudinal partition and two transverse partitions;
• the figure 10 shows, in perspective, an open trunk equipped with transverse partitions distributed in a chosen configuration;
• the figure 11 shows, in perspective, the trunk of the figure 10 , after adding longitudinal partitions distributed in a chosen configuration, with the result, the creation of compartments.

If we refer to the figure 1 there is shown a generally rectangular plate 1 having a longitudinal direction X and a transverse direction Y. In the present description and in the claims, when referring to "longitudinal" or "transverse", it is in relation to the directions indicated at figure 1 .

The piece 1 is molded flat and has two zones 2a and 2b of smaller thickness to facilitate its conformation in a U-shaped structure defining two side walls 3a and 3b and a bottom wall 4.

• d'une part, transversalement sur pratiquement toute sa superficie, les rainures transversales, telles que 5, étant équidistantes et espacées l'une de l'autre par un espace inter-rainure 50, et
• d'autre part, longitudinalement, uniquement dans la paroi de fond 4, les rainures longitudinales n'étant, dans l'exemple donné, qu'au nombre de trois, 6a, 6b et 6c, dans la forme d'exécution non limitative représentée et étant différemment écartées. La raison en sera indiquée plus loin.

The face of the piece 1 visible at the figure 1 is grooved:

• on the one hand, transversely over substantially all of its area, the transverse grooves, such as 5, being equidistant and spaced from each other by an inter-groove space 50, and
• on the other hand, longitudinally, only in the bottom wall 4, the longitudinal grooves being, in the given example, the number of three, 6a, 6b and 6c, in the non-limiting embodiment shown and being differently discarded. The reason will be indicated later.

The piece 1 further comprises, on one of its transverse edges, two cutouts 7a, 7b providing a space for the reliefs 8 ( figure 2 ) existing inside the trunks with wheels and which correspond to the housing of these wheels. Finally, the piece 1 comprises, in its thickness, a cutout 8 providing a space for the relief existing inside the trunks with wheels and telescopic handle and which corresponds to the housing of the mechanism of the telescopic handle.

The zones 2a, 2b, the transverse grooves 5, the longitudinal grooves 6a-6c and the cuts 7a, 7b and 8 are machined in the plate forming the part 1, which plate is preferably, but not necessarily, a polyethylene foam with a density of between 25 and 45 kg / m ³ and a thickness of the order of 25 mm

As we see best at the figure 2 the piece 1 retains a thickness 9 not grooved.

If we now examine the figure 3 which shows the piece 1 in its U-shaped configuration but seen non-grooved face side, we see that the side wall 3a has, in the vicinity of its upper edge, a window 10 which affects the entire non-grooved thickness 9 of the piece 1 of so that it opens into the transverse grooves 5 creating as many through holes 11 as transverse grooves 5. The utility of these through holes 11 will appear later.

Exhibit 1 having been completely described, let's come to the figure 2 .

As can be seen, the U-shaped piece 1 by folding around the zones 2a, 2b is placed in the interior space of a commercial trolley 12, the lid 13 of which is lined with cellular foam 14. A strip 15 wearing custom or other recommendations can be fixed in the trunk. The non-grooved face of the part 1 is secured by gluing to the adjacent walls of the trunk 12, the gluing does not affect the area in which the window 10 is machined, so that the upper part of the side walls of the part 1 remains free and can be deformed by hand to be separated from the adjacent walls of the trunk when it is necessary to access the room 1 side windows 10.

The transverse partitions, the longitudinal partitions and their interconnection mode will now be described.

The figure 4 shows a transverse partition 16 which has an upper edge 17, a lower edge 18, and two lateral edges 19a, 19b and which is of such dimensions that its lateral edges 19a, 19b are capable of being received in the portions of a transverse groove 5 which belongs to the side walls 3a, 3b and that its lower edge 18 is capable of being received in the part of the same transverse groove which belongs to the bottom wall 4.

The upper edge 17 of the transverse partition 16 has three slots 20a-20c and the lower edge 18 three notches 21a-21c. The slots 20a-20c and the notches 21a-21c have the same spacing as the respective longitudinal grooves 6a-6c. The slots 20a-20c have a depth substantially equal to the sum of the heights h1 + h2 of the attachment tabs described below with reference to the figure 7 .

In a non-limiting embodiment, the transverse partition 16 may have a width of 416 mm, the slot 20b may be located equidistant from the lateral edges, the slot 20 may be located 66 mm from the edge 19b and the slot 20c through 170 mm from the edge 19a.

The transverse partition 16 further comprises, in the vicinity of its upper corners, two bores 22a, 22b.

If we come to Figures 5 and 6 longitudinal partitions 23 and 24 which are identical except for their width l1 and l2 are seen . The width l1 is equal to the sum of the width of a transverse groove 5 and the two inter-groove spaces 50 ("no two"), for example 42 mm. The width 12 is equal to the sum of the width of two transverse grooves 5 and the three inter-groove spaces 50 ("no three"), which, in the same example, corresponds to a width of 58 mm. Advantageously, this step of two allows storage of a 10-inch laptop and not three, 13 inches.

Since the longitudinal partitions 23 and 24 are identical, apart from their width, the same references will be given at their upper edge 25, their lower edge 26, their right lateral edge 27 and their left lateral edge 28. The connecting means of the longitudinal partitions 23 and 24 being identical, they will only described in connection with the longitudinal partition 23 in relation to the figure 7 .

As can be seen, in the vicinity of its upper edge 25, the left lateral edge 28 of the longitudinal partition 23 comprises a hooking tab 29 which, in a sectional plane orthogonal to the general plane of the partition 23, has a profile in FIG. U whose soul is designated by 30 and whose free wing is designated 31. The tab 29 has a height h1 . For its part, the right lateral edge 27 of the longitudinal partition 23 comprises a hooking tab 32, of height h2 , which is the image of the tab 30 in a mirror, but which is offset by a height h1 relative to at the upper edge 25 of the partition. This tab 32 comprises a core 30 'and a free flange 31'.

The left lateral edge 28 of the longitudinal partition 23 further comprises a recess 33 whose utility will appear hereinafter.

The transverse and longitudinal partitions are advantageously, but not necessarily, plastic and their thickness is of the order of 5-6 mm.

If we refer to the figure 8 it shows how two longitudinal partitions 23 and 23 'are joined to a transverse partition 16 at a slot 20c. To do this, the web 30 'of the hooking tab 32 of the longitudinal partition 23 is threaded into the slot 20c, after which the web 30 of the hooking tab 23' is threaded into the remaining vacant depth of the slot 20c. The recess 33 provides a clearance that allows this threading of the core 30 without being hindered by the wing 31 'of the tab 32 already in place in the slot. This free flange 31 'then comes to form a stop against the face of the transverse partition 16 and prevents the longitudinal partition 23 from pivoting around the slot 20c. It is understood that one and / or the other of the longitudinal partitions 23 or 23 'can / may be replaced (s) by a longitudinal partition 24. As can be seen, the longitudinal partitions 23, 23', mounted on the side and else of the transverse partition 16, are aligned as if they were in one piece.

• à la cloison transversale 16 comme est connectée la cloison longitudinale 23' à la cloison longitudinale 16, à la figure 8 et
• à la cloison transversale 16' comme l'est la cloison 23 à la cloison longitudinale 16, à la figure 8.

The figure 9 shows the connection between a longitudinal partition 23 and two transverse partitions 16, 16 '. The longitudinal partition 23 is connected:

• to the transverse partition 16 as is connected the longitudinal partition 23 'to the longitudinal partition 16, to the figure 8 and
• to the transverse partition 16 'as is the partition 23 to the longitudinal partition 16, to the figure 8 .

The figure 10 shows the trunk of the figure 2 after setting up a series of transverse partitions 16 whose side edges are threaded into the part of the transverse grooves 5 which belong to the side walls of the part 1 and whose lower edge is threaded into the part of the transverse grooves 5 which belong at the bottom wall of this same room.

Prior to their installation, it is advantageously bonded on one of the faces of the transverse partitions 16, and taking into account the areas to be left unobstructed to allow the aeration of materials, areas whose location may vary from from one material to another, foam strips coated with double-sided tape to cushion shocks.

As can be seen, the spacing between the transverse partitions 16 depends on the transverse grooves 5 chosen for their implementation, spacing which is however dictated by the width of the longitudinal partitions 23 and 24, however, it being understood that there could be more two widths available, depending on the intended application.

• un bloc de compartiments C1 d'une épaisseur correspondant à la largeur de la cloison longitudinale 23 et d'une longueur correspondant à la distance entre la fente 20c et le bord 19b de la cloison transversale 16 , par exemple de 42 mm x 170 mm ;
• un bloc de compartiments C2 de même épaisseur que le bloc C1 mais d'une longueur correspondant à la distance entre la fente 20c et le bord 19a de la cloison transversale 16, par exemple de 42 mm x 246 mm ;
• deux blocs de compartiments C3 et C4 d'une épaisseur correspondant à la largeur de la cloison longitudinale 24 et d'une longueur correspondant à la distance entre la fente 20b et, respectivement, les bords 19b et 19a de la cloison transversale 16, en l'occurrence de même longueur puisque, dans la forme d'exécution représentée, la fente 20b se trouve à mi-distance de ces bords latéraux, ces compartiments C3 et C4 étant ainsi, par exemple, de 58 mm x 208 mm.

Once the transverse partitions 16 have been put in place, the longitudinal partitions 23 or 24 are connected to said transverse partitions 16 as explained above, their lower edge 26 being inserted into the appropriate longitudinal groove 6a-6c. We can to obtain a series of compartments of different dimensions, as shown in figure 11 , to know :

• a block of compartments C1 of a thickness corresponding to the width of the longitudinal partition 23 and of a length corresponding to the distance between the slot 20c and the edge 19b of the transverse partition 16, for example 42 mm × 170 mm;
• a block of compartments C2 of the same thickness as the block C1 but of a length corresponding to the distance between the slot 20c and the edge 19a of the transverse partition 16, for example 42 mm x 246 mm;
• two blocks of compartments C3 and C4 of a thickness corresponding to the width of the longitudinal partition 24 and a length corresponding to the distance between the slot 20b and, respectively, the edges 19b and 19a of the transverse partition 16, in the occurrence of the same length since, in the embodiment shown, the slot 20b is located midway from these side edges, these compartments C3 and C4 thus being, for example, 58 mm x 208 mm.

As in the case of transverse partitions, prior to the introduction of longitudinal partitions 23,23 'and / or 24, it is advantageously bonded on one of their faces, foam strips coated with a double-sided adhesive for shock absorption, gluing that must take into account the areas to be left clear to allow aeration of equipment.

The equipment supply cables housed in the compartments C1-C4 can each be passed through a through hole 11 and follow the window 10 towards one or the other of its ends. From there, they are connected to an unrepresented ad hoc power supply module that can be included in the trunk 12.

The cutouts 21a-21c are opposite the longitudinal grooves 6a-6c and on the parts of the latter which are not occupied by a partition longitudinal 23 or 24, they determine channels in which cables can pass. The holes 22a and 22b serve to fix a link that holds the power cables.

It is understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiment described and shown and that the dimensions shown were only for ease of understanding of the reader. It goes without saying that equipment other than computers, such as photographic equipment, could be stored and transported.

Claims (10)

1. Arrangement of partitions for dividing up a space, comprising at least two partitions referred to as transverse (16) and at least one partition referred to as longitudinal (23, 24), each of the said partitions having an upper edge, a lower edge and two opposing side edges, the upper edge (17) of the said transverse partitions (16) comprising at least one slot (20a-20c) perpendicular to said edge, so that a pair of transverse walls defines at least one pair of facing slots, and the said longitudinal partition being adapted to be joined to said transverse partitions (16) by engaging in said pair of slots, characterised in that the side edges of said longitudinal partition (23; 24) each comprise an attachment tab (29, 32) one of which (29), known as the first tab, has a given height (h1) and is in the immediate vicinity of the upper edge (25) of the said longitudinal partition, while the other tab (32), known as the second tab, has a given height (h2) and is offset from this upper edge (25) by a distance corresponding at least to the height (h1) of the first tab (29), the said slot (20a-20c) having a width that allows said first and second tabs (29, 32) to be introduced into it, with slight friction, and having a depth equal to the distance between the upper edge (25) of said longitudinal partition (23; 24) and the end of the second tab (32) that is furthest from this edge.
2. Arrangement according to claim 1, characterised in that the said first and second attachment tabs (29, 32) have, in a plane of section perpendicular to the general plane of the longitudinal partition (23; 24), a U-shaped profile, the core (30, 30') of which is parallel to said general plane.
3. Arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that, beyond the first attachment tab (29), the side edge (28) of the longitudinal partition (23; 24) has a recess (33).
4. Arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it further comprises a structure (1) comprising a bottom wall (4) and at least two opposing side walls (3a, 3b), and being U-shaped, in vertical section, in the normal orientation which it has when in use, the said structure being in the form of a single flat moulded part and comprising, in a direction referred to as "longitudinal", two parallel zones (2a, 2b) of lesser thickness, at which the junction lines between said side walls (3a, 3b) and said bottom wall (4) will be located, after configuration into a U shape, by folding the part,
   the facing surfaces of said side walls (3a, 3b) comprising grooves (5) referred to as "transverse", which are perpendicular to said junction zones (2a, 2b) and distributed such that pairs of facing transverse grooves are defined, each pair of transverse grooves (5) being adapted to receive the opposing side edges of one of the said transverse partitions (16), and
   the said bottom wall (4) comprising at least one groove (6a-6c) referred to as "longitudinal", parallel to said junction lines (2a, 2b) and adapted to receive the lower edge of at least one of said longitudinal partitions (23; 24).
5. Arrangement according to claim 4, characterised in that the said transverse grooves (5) extend from one edge of the flat moulded part (1) to the other.
6. Arrangement according to claim 4 or 5, characterised in that the said transverse grooves (5) are equidistant and apply to substantially the entire surface of the flat moulded part (1).
7. Arrangement according to any one of claims 4 to 6, adapted to divide up the interior space of a suitcase (12) for tidying and transporting a set of items which may be of different sizes, characterised in that
   the bottom wall (4) of the structure comprises at least three longitudinal grooves (6a-6c),
   the upper edge of the transverse partitions comprises as many slots as longitudinal grooves and with the same spacing, and
   the longitudinal partitions are available in at least two widths (11, 12).
8. Arrangement according to any one of claims 5 to 7, adapted to divide up the interior space of a suitcase (12) for tidying and transporting a set of portable computers, or equivalent equipment, which may be of different sizes, needing to be electrically charged, characterised in that, in the surface of the side walls (3a, 3b) of the said moulded part (1), opposite the surface bearing the transverse grooves (5), and in the vicinity of the free edges of said side walls and parallel to said edges, a window (10) is provided which assumes the ungrooved thickness (9) of the part, so that each of the said windows (10) creates as many through-holes (11) in the said part as transverse grooves (5).
9. Arrangement according to claim 8, characterised in that the lower edge (18) of the transverse partitions (16) comprises as many notches (21 a-21 c) as longitudinal grooves and with the same spacing.
10. Arrangement according to any one of claims 4 to 9, characterised in that the flat moulded part is made of polyethylene foam, with a bulk density of between 25 and 45 kg_/m³.

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