EP2905554A1

EP2905554A1 - Support member for a protection structure, kit comprising said support member, modular structure comprising said kit and method of assembling said modular structure

Info

Publication number: EP2905554A1
Application number: EP14154744.8A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Dino Cappellari
Original assignee: VECAM-CO SpA
Current assignee: VECAMCO S.R.L.
Priority date: 2014-02-11
Filing date: 2014-02-11
Publication date: 2015-08-12

Abstract

The present invention concerns a support member (1) for a conventional structure (S) for protecting apparatuses, in particular exchanger units of conditioning systems, the support member comprising:
- a first (2) and a second (3) bar, each having, at its own free end (2a, 3a) at least one connection tab (5); and
- a connection bar (4) connected perpendicular to the first (2) and to the second bar (3) so that each end (2b, 3b) of the first or of the second bar, opposite the respective free end (2a, 3a), is connected to a respective end (4a, 4b) of such a connection bar (4).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a support member for a structure for protecting apparatuses, in particular exchanger units of either outdoor or indoor air-conditioning systems, as well as a modular structure comprising such a support member.
The present invention also relates to a kit for extending a conventional structure for protecting apparatuses, as well as a method of assembling such a modular structure.

STATE OF THE ART

Structures for protection of apparatuses, in particular exchanger units of air-conditioning systems, are known. One of these is described, for example, in patent application EP-2 354 684 in the name of the same Applicant.
Conventional structures for protecting such apparatuses generally comprise a support framework and a plurality of panels fixable to the framework so as to define a box-like structure for housing therein the apparatus to be protected.
Conventional protection structures are of practically standard formats and sizes.
However, there is a need to be able to easily and practically modify the dimensions of such protection structures according to one's own needs. When, for example, after a modification or extension/updating of pre-existing air-conditioning systems, apparatuses new exchanger apparatuses are added to the existing exchanger, or when the pre-existing apparatuses are replaced with new larger apparatuses, the pre-existing protection structure may not have sufficient dimensions to contain the new apparatuses, whether added or replaced.
Currently, conventional protection structures do not foresee the possibility of easily modifying the dimensions of a pre-existing protection structure and this means that, each time the dimensions of the new apparatus or of the new apparatuses are such as to preclude it from being housed in the pre-existing protection structure, it becomes necessary to replace it with a new larger protection structure. This involves work time and substantial additional costs that the present invention proposes at least to reduce. Not to mention the time and additional cost also required to dispose of the discarded protection structure, which, moreover, could still be in good condition and thus could be reused.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, the main object of the present invention is to improve the state of the art in the field of protection structures for apparatuses, in particular exchanger units of air-conditioning systems.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a support member for a protection structure for the aforementioned apparatuses of the conventional type, which thus makes the protection structure modular.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a kit for extending a conventional protection structure.
A further purpose of the present invention is to provide a modular structure for protecting apparatuses of the type indicated above.
Not the least object of the present invention is to provide a method for assembling a modular structure for protecting apparatuses.
According to a first aspect of the present invention a support member for a protection structure according to claim 1 is provided.
According to a further aspect of the present invention a kit for extending a conventional protection structure according to claim 15 is provided.
According to a third aspect of the present invention a modular protection structure according to claim 20 is provided.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention a method of assembling a modular structure according to claim 18 is provided.
Further advantageous characteristics of the present invention are described in the dependent claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.

Further aspects and advantages of the present invention will become clearer from the following detailed description of some currently preferred embodiments thereof, illustrated purely as a non-limiting example in the attached drawings, wherein:

figure 1 is a perspective view slightly from above of a conventional protection structure;
figure 1a is an exploded perspective view slightly from above of another conventional protection structure; figure 2 illustrates a perspective view slightly from above of a support member for a protection structure according to the present invention;
figure 3 shows a perspective view slightly from above and exploded of the support member of figure 2;
figure 4 illustrates a support member according to the present invention, connected to a conventional protection structure and to a component of the kit for extending such a conventional protection structure;
figure 5 shows an enlarged view of a detail with transparent parts of the support member of figure 4; figure 6 is an enlarged view of a detail of the support member of figure 4 connected to a conventional protection structure and to a component of the kit for extending a protection structure;
figure 7 illustrates a modular structure for protecting apparatuses according to the present invention; and figure 8 illustrates another modular structure for protecting apparatuses according to the present invention.

EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION.

With reference to figures 1 and 1a, a conventional protection structure S to which the support member according to the present invention can be applied is illustrated.
Such a protection structure S has a box-like configuration and comprises at least one rear, in use, support framework I, at least one pair of lateral panels L1 and L2, at least one front panel F, and at least one upper panel U. The conventional protection structure S, in use, can equally be anchored to a wall at its rear, in use, support framework I or it can be laid on the ground.
The support framework I is shaped substantially like a frame or rectangle and comprises at least two portions I1 and 12, removably engageable with each other. The portion I1 of the framework is made of two lateral cross members I11 and I12 and a central cross member I13 engaged perpendicular to one another in a known manner, thereby forming a substantially U-shaped configuration. The portion 12 comprises a cross member, removably engageable with the lateral cross members I11 and 112, at the ends thereof. To this regard, in the portion 12 through openings are formed for engagement with respective hooks or tongues projecting on the cross members I11 and 112. The removable engagement between portions I1 and 12 is advantageous since, as it is known, it allows the framework I to be easily anchored to a wall on which an apparatus to be protected is already mounted in a hanging manner, without requiring the temporary disconnection of the ducts and/or pipes connected thereto.
The lateral panels L1 and L2 can be removably engaged with the support framework I and, more specifically, for this purpose are provided with respective rear, in use, tongues L, insertable in corresponding through openings or slots OL foreseen, for this purpose, in the support framework I at respective lateral cross members I11 and 112. The lateral panels L1 and L2 have a substantially rectangular configuration and, in use, present respective upper L1U, L2U, lower L1D, L2D, front L1F, L2F and rear L1B, L2B edges.
The protection structure S optionally comprises a lower panel D (see fig. 1a) foreseen to close the protection structure and for collecting the condensation generated, in use, by the apparatus housed therein. In order to allow such an optional lower panel D to be supported, the lower in use edges L1D and L2D of lateral panels L1 and L2, are flanged.
The front panel F of the conventional protection structure, which in use has an upper edge Fu, a lower edge FD, and side edges F1 and F2, is removably engaged with the structure itself at the front in use edges L1F and L2F of the lateral panels L1 and L2. More particularly, it has one or more rear tongues L at the side, engageable with respective through openings or slots OL foreseen for this purpose in the lateral panels L1 and L2 at the aforementioned edges L1F and L2F. Clearly, the rear in use tongues L, of the lateral panels L1 and L2 and of the front panel F, can be foreseen in varying number according to the requirements of the situation, provided that corresponding slots or through openings OL are foreseen for their removable engagement, respectively, with the framework I and with the panels L1 and L2. It is also possible to foresee different configurations of the removable engagement means between lateral panels and support framework or between front and lateral panels. The upper panel U of the conventional protection structure S shows, in use, a rear edge UB, a front edge UF, and lateral edges U1 and U2, and is placed on the support framework I, in particular on the cross member I13 and on the upper, in use, edges L1U and L2U of lateral panels L1 and L2, as well as on the upper, in use, edge FU of front panel F.
The upper panel U is also removably fixed, for example bolted, to the lateral panels L1 and L2. To this regard, the upper panel U has through openings OU, at the ends of the lateral, in use, edges thereof U1 and U2, and in the lateral panels L1 and L2, corresponding through openings OU are provided, aligned with the through openings OU of the upper panel U for insertion of suitable removable engagement means, for example, as stated above, a respective screw of a bolt or equivalent engagement means.
The lower panel D of the protection structure, as already stated above, is optional, especially for conventional protection structures intended to be placed on the ground.
In the case where the protection structure is lifted from the ground and anchored to a wall, the support framework I is designed to be fixable to such a wall through suitable fixing means, such as screws and/or other means commonly in use for such purpose, and thus it has through openings OI at the lateral cross members I11 and I12 and 12.
A conventional protection structure like the one object of figures 1 and 1a is extremely easy to mount.
The mounting provides to assemble the support framework I so as to give it a substantially frame or rectangle like configuration and anchor the panels L1 and L2 thereto. The front panel F is then engaged with the lateral panels L1 and L2 and, finally, the upper panel U is applied at the top and constrained through the aforementioned attachment means to panels L1 and L2.
Such a conventional protection structure can have a support member according to the present invention applied thereto.
With particular reference to Figures 2 to 6 it is of note that a support member according to the present invention is generally indicated with reference numeral 1 and has a substantially C-shaped configuration. The support member comprises at least one first and a second bar (2 and 3) which are parallel to each other and connected one with the other by a connection bar 4. More specifically, each bar 2 and 3, at a free end thereof 2a and 3a, has at least one connection tab 5. The connection bar 4 has ends 4a and 4b and each end 4a and 4b is perpendicularly connected to a respective end (2b and 3b) of the first and second bar 2 and 3, which end is opposite to the free end (2a and 3a).
The connection tabs 5 of the first and second bar 2 and 3 extend perpendicularly to the respective bars, parallel to the connection bar 4 and facing towards one another. Each tab 5 comprises a plate 5a arranged, in use, parallel to the connection bar 4 and a pair of lateral plate-like tongues 5b extending from the small plate 5a away from connection bar 4. The lateral tongues 5b are substantially L-shaped and one of the two L portions is arranged parallel to the lying plane of plate 5a. Their configuration is such that engagement is possible, as will be made clearer hereafter, with a support framework like the one described above. The man skilled in the art will understand that other configurations of the connection tabs 5 are possible provided they allow, as referred to briefly above, the engagement of support member 1 according to the present invention with a support framework like the one described above.
The first bar 2 of support member 1 according to the present invention comprises a section bar with a substantially U-shaped cross section, externally flanged at the ends of the "U" along its entire longitudinal extension. The second bar 3 of the support member also comprises a section bar with a substantially U-shaped cross section. The second bar, at each end 3a and 3b, is also provided with a pair of through openings 3c formed therein extending parallel, in use, to the connection bar 4, at a certain distance apart. The distance between the two openings of each pair 3c is, preferably, equal to or greater than double the distance, in the upper panel U of a conventional protection structure S, between the through opening OU and the respective lateral edge.
The connection bar 4 comprises a section bar with a substantially U-shaped cross section that is externally flanged along its entire longitudinal extension, at the ends of the "U". In the connection bar 4 at least one pair of through openings or slots OL is formed. Such through openings or slots are obtained at the joining area between the U-shaped section and the respective flanging and they extend longitudinally along a portion of the bar itself. Preferably, the through openings of the pair extend longitudinally on the opposite flanks of the U-shaped section, at the same distance from an end 4a or 4b of the connection bar 4.
The first bar 2 of the support member 1 according to the present invention is dimensioned so that the end 2b thereof is fit insertable in the concave part of the end 4a of the connection bar 4 (see in particular figure 5).
In turn, the connection bar 4 is dimensioned so that the end 4b thereof is fit insertable into the concave portion of the end 3b of the second bar 3. The end 4b of the connection bar 4 is also provided with a small connection plate 4c for engagement with the second bar 3. Such a connection plate 4c is indeed welded to the concave portion of the end 3b of the second bar 3. The first bar 2 and the connection bar are also preferably permanently connected together at the respective contact areas. In any case, the man skilled in the art would understand how other forms of permanent or removable engagement, alternative and equivalent to the aforementioned welding can be provided. The first and the second bar 2 and 3 can, for example, be connected to the connection bar 4 by bolting.
With reference to a variant of the support member according to the present invention, the first bar 2 of the support member can comprise a U-shaped section bar without external flanging and can be connected to the connection bar 4 so that its concave portion faces towards the second bar 3. This configuration of the first bar 2 will be particularly suitable for use of the support member in a kit for vertically extending a conventional support member structure, as will be discussed in greater detail hereafter.
The support member 1 according to the present invention is advantageously included in an either laterally or vertically extension kit, of a conventional protection structure S like those described above.
A kit for lateral extension comprises (refer to figures 4 to 7) at least one support member framework 6, at least one upper panel 7 and at least one front panel 8 that are totally identical or similar, respectively, to the support member framework I, to the upper panel U and to the front panel F foreseen for conventional protection structures S.
In particular, the support member framework 6 of the kit according to the present invention is shaped substantially like a frame or rectangle and comprises at least two portions 61 and 62, removably engageable with each other. Portion 61 of the framework is made of two lateral cross members 611 and 612 and a central cross member 613 engaged perpendicularly to one another, in a known manner, thus forming a substantially U-shaped configuration. Portion 62 comprises a cross member, removably engageable with lateral cross members 611 and 612, at their ends. To this regard, in portion 62 through openings are formed for engagement with respective hooks or tongues extending from the cross members 611 and 612. The removable engagement between portions 61 and 62 is advantageous since, as stated above, it allows framework 6 to be easily anchored to a wall on which an apparatus to be protected is already mounted in a hanging manner, without requiring the temporary disconnection of the ducts and/or pipes connected thereto.
Similarly, the front panel 8 of the kit according to the present invention shows, in use, an upper edge 8U, a lower edge 8D and lateral edges 81 and 82, whereas upper panel 7 of the kit, in use, has a rear edge 7B, a front edge 7F, and lateral edges 71 and 72.
The kit according to the present invention also comprises a support member 1 as described above.
More particularly, the support member 1 of the kit according to the present invention comprises the first and the second bar 2 and 3 of longitudinal extension substantially corresponding to the extension of the upper (L1U or L2U) or lower (L1D or L2D), in use, edge of a lateral panel (L1 or L2) of the conventional protection structure S, to which the support member 1 will be applied. The connection bar 4 of the support member will have longitudinal extension substantially corresponding to the size in the vertical direction of front panel F of the conventional protection structure S, i.e. the distance between the lower, in use, FD and upper, in use, FU edges. Lateral edges 71 and 72 of the upper panel 7 will have the same extension as that of the edges U1 and U2 of the upper panel U of the conventional protection structure S, whereas the lateral edges 81 and 82 of the front panel 8 will have the same extension as that of the edges F1 and F2 of the front panel F of the structure S. The same applies for the longitudinal extension of the cross members 611 and 612 of the framework 6. The support member framework 6, moreover, comprises, like framework I of the conventional protection structure S, through openings or slots OL for the removable engagement of the support member 1 and of a lateral panel of the conventional support structure S, formed at its portions 611 and 612 and totally equivalent to the through openings OL described above with reference to the conventional protection structure.
On the other hand, as far as the lateral extension of the panels 7 and 8 and of the support framework 6 is concerned, it can be equal to or different from the lateral extension of the conventional protection structure S (taken as distance between edges U1 and U2 of panel U) according to the case requirements. According to a variant of the present invention, the kit provided for vertically extending a conventional protection structure S (reference is made in particular to figure 8), comprises at least one support framework 6, at least one pair of lateral panels 91 and 92 and at least one front panel 8 totally identical or similar to those foreseen for a conventional protection structure S. Lateral panels 91 and 92 will show, in use, respective upper 91U, 92U, lower 91D, 92D, front 91F, 92F and rear 91B, 92B edges.
In addition, such a kit comprises at least one support member 1, wherein the first and the second bar 2 and 3 have a longitudinal extension substantially corresponding to the extension of the lateral edges U1 and U2 of panel U of the conventional protection structure. The connection bar 4 has a longitudinal extension substantially corresponding to the lateral extension of the conventional protection structure S, i.e. corresponding to the extension of the upper panel U between the respective lateral edges U1 and U2. In this case, the first bar 2 of the support member 1 comprises a U-shaped section bar that is not flanged with concavity facing, in use, towards second bar 3. Lateral panels 91 and 92, the front panel 8 can have a vertical extension (taken as the distance between the edge the during use is upper and the edge that during use is lower thereof) equal to or different from the extension, in the vertical direction, of the same panels of the conventional protection structure (taken as the distance between, for example, L1U and L1D). The same applies for the support framework 6.
Now, with such a configuration of the conventional protection structure S and of the respective kit, it is easy to understand how it is possible to extend the dimensions of a conventional structure S as desired, both laterally (on the right or left) and vertically (up or down).
The method for extending a conventional protection structure S is very simple and practical to implement. In the theoretical case wherein there is an already assembled conventional protection structure S as described above, and a kit for the lateral extension of the structure itself, as described above, it is initially foreseen to dismount at least one lateral panel, for example L1, from the conventional protection structure S.
In the case wherein, as stated above, the conventional structure is already assembled, this dismounting step of the lateral panel L1 requires the prior dismounting of the upper panel U and of the front panel F both anchored to the lateral panel L1.
Once the lateral panel L1 has been dismounted, the support member framework 6 of the kit according to the present invention is mounted and placed laterally up against the support member framework I of the conventional protection structure S, on the side corresponding to the lateral panel L1 thus removed, placed against it (see fig. 4).
In the case in which the conventional protection structure S is anchored to a wall, in this step it is foreseen to also anchor framework 6 of the kit to the wall, as explained above.
After this the support member 1 according to the present invention is connected to both frameworks I and 6 through the connection tabs 5, which are inserted in corresponding through openings or slots OL foreseen in the adjacent cross members of the frameworks (indicated with I11 and 612 in figures 4 and 6).
The front panel F of the conventional protection structure S is then remounted, which will have the respective rear tongues L engaged in the through openings or slots OL of the lateral panel L2 and in the through openings or slots OL of the support member 1 (as can be seen in fig. 4).
Then the upper panel U of the conventional protection structure S is applied, which will be fixed on one side to the support member 1, for example bolted to it at one of the through openings of each pair 3c foreseen in the second bar 3.
The extension of the conventional protection structure proceeds with the engagement of the lateral panel removed before, in this specific case L1, on the support framework 6, at its lateral portion 611, with the engagement of front panel 8 at the support member 1 and at the lateral panel L1 thus remounted, and with the application of the upper panel 7, which will be supported by framework 6 (by portion 613), by the remounted lateral panel of the conventional protection structure L1, by the front panel 8 and by the support member 1 according to the present invention.
For the extension in the vertical direction of a conventional protection structure S one proceeds in a similar way. In the hypothesis, then, that a conventional protection structure S as described above is provided already assembled, and a kit is also provided for the vertical extension of the structure, as described above, it is initially foreseen to dismount the upper panel U from the conventional protection structure S.
Once the upper panel U has been dismounted, the support framework 6 of the kit according to the present invention is mounted.
In the case where the conventional protection structure S is anchored to a wall, it is foreseen, at this step, to also anchor the framework 6 of the kit to the wall above the support framework I of the conventional protection structure S from the side of the upper panel U thus removed.
After this, the support member 1 according to the present invention is connected to the framework 6 through its connection tabs 5, which are inserted in corresponding through openings or slots OL suitably provided for the purpose in the lower, in use, cross member 62 of the same. The support member 1 will be constrained to the framework 6 and, at the same time, supported by the lateral and front panels L1, L2 and F of the conventional protection structure.
Lateral panels 91 and 92 are then mounted on the framework 6, in a totally similar manner to that described with reference to the conventional protection structure S, and they will be engaged with front panel 8, which, like corresponding panel F of the conventional protection structure S, will have respective rear tongues designed to be inserted into through openings or slots OL provided for this purpose in lateral panels 91 and 92.
Thereafter, the upper panel U of the conventional protection structure S is applied, which is also fixed to lateral panels 91 and 92, for example bolted thereto at the through openings OU formed therein at their upper, in use, and lower, in use, edge91U and 92U.
As it can be seen, thanks to the support member according to the present invention a conventional protection structure S becomes a modular structure that can be per se extended as desired both vertically and laterally, according to the requirements of the case. Indeed, it is sufficient to have a conventional structure of the type described above and a certain number of kits that can be mounted adjacent or one on top of the other as described above, making basically unlimited configurations of the protection structure. The support member, the kits, the modular structure and the extension method described above can undergo numerous modifications and variants within the scope of protection of the following claims.
Thus, for example, in the case of the kit for vertical extension, in the support member 1 and in the lower in use edges of panels 8 and 9 there can be one or more through openings for the insertion of removable connection means therebetween, for example bolts or equivalent means.
Such through openings could, for example, be provided at the parallel sides of the "U" of the connection bar 4, as well as at the same portions of the U-shaped bars 2 and 3.

Claims

Support member (1) for a conventional structure (S) for protection of apparatuses, in particular exchanger units of air conditioning systems, said support member (1) comprising:
- a first (2) and a second (3) bar, each having, at a free end thereof (2a, 3a), at least one connection tab (5); and

- a connection bar (4) connected perpendicular to said first (2) and said second bar (3) so that each end (2b, 3b) of said first or said second bar, opposite the respective free end (2a, 3a), is connected to a respective end (4a, 4b) of said connection bar (4).
Support member according to claim 1, wherein each connection tab (5) of said first (2) and said second (3) bar extends perpendicular to the respective bar, parallel to said connection bar (4) and faces towards the other connection tab (5).
Support member according to claim 1 or 2, wherein each connection tab (5) comprises a plate (5a) extending parallel to said connection bar (4) and a pair of lateral tongues (5b) extending from said small plate (5a) away from said connection bar (4).
Support member according to any claim 1 to 3, wherein said first bar (2) comprises a profile with a substantially U-shaped cross section.
Support member according to claim 4, wherein said section bar is externally flanged along its entire longitudinal extension, at the ends of said "U".
Support member according to any claim 1 to 5, wherein said second bar (3) comprises a section bar with a substantially U-shaped cross section.
Support member according to any claim 1 to 6, wherein said second bar (3) comprises a pair of through openings (3c) at each end thereof (3a, 3b), said through openings of said pair extending in said second bar (3) in a direction parallel to said connection bar (4).
Support member according to any claim 1 to 7, wherein said connection bar (4) comprises a section bar with a substantially U-shaped cross section that is externally flanged, along its entire longitudinal extension, at the ends of said "U".
Support member according to claim 8, wherein in said connection bar (4) at least one pair of through openings (OL) is formed at the joining area between said U-shaped section and the respective flanging, said through opening (OL) extending longitudinally along a portion of said bar (4).
Support member according to claim 8, wherein said through openings of said pair of through openings (OL) are formed at opposite sides of said U-shaped section, at the same distance from an end (4a, 4b) of said connection bar (4).
Support member according to claims 8 and 4, wherein said end (2b) of said first bar (2) opposite to said free end (2a) can be fit inserted into said end (4a) of said connection bar (4).
Support member according to claim 6 and 8, wherein said end (4b) of said connection bar (4) connected perpendicular to said second bar (3) can be fit inserted into said end (3b) of said second bar (3).
Kit for laterally extending a conventional protection structure (S), said conventional protection structure comprising:
- at least one rear, in use, support framework (I); and

- at least one pair of lateral panels (L1, L2), each defining, in use, an upper edge (L1U, L2U);

- at least one front panel (F), defining, in use, an upper edge (FU) and a lower edge (FD);
and at least one upper panel (U), said panels being connected to said support framework (I) in a box-like configuration, said kit comprising:

- at least one support framework (6);

- at least one upper panel (7),

- at least one front panel (8),

- at least one support member (1) according to any claim 1 to 13, wherein
said framework (6), said upper panel (7) and said front panel (8) are equal to said at least one support framework (I), said at least one upper panel (U) and said at least one front panel (F) of said conventional protection structure (S), respectively, and wherein
said first bar (2) and said second bar (3) of said support member (1) have an extension corresponding to the extension of the upper in use edge (L1U or L2U) of a lateral panel (L1 or L2) of said conventional protection structure (S), whereas said connection bar (4) has an extension substantially corresponding to the distance between the lower, in use, (FD) and upper, in use, (FU) edgesof said front panel (F) of said conventional protection structure (S).
Kit according to claim 13, wherein said support framework 6 is substantially frame or rectangle shaped and comprises at least two portions (61) and (62) removably engageable with each other.
Kit according to claim 13 or 14, wherein said support framework (6) comprises through openings or slots (OL) for the removable engagement of said support member (1) and of at least one lateral panel (L1 or L2) of said conventional protection structure (S).
Method for assembling a modular protection structure comprising the following operative steps:
- arranging at least one conventional protection structure (S) including:
at least one rear, in use, support framework (I); and

at least one pair of lateral panels (L1, L2), each defining, in use, an upper edge (L1U, L2U);

at least one front panel (F), defining an upper, in use, (FU) and a lower, in use, (FD)edge;

and at least one upper panel (U), said panels being assembled together and connected to said support framework (I) in a box-like configuration;

- arranging at least one extension kit according to claim 13;

- dismounting at least one lateral panel (L1 or L2) from said conventional protection structure (S); and

- mounting said kit.
Method according to claim 16, wherein said step of mounting said kit comprises the sub-steps of:
- mounting said support framework (6) of said kit and arranging it beside said support framework (I) of said conventional protection structure (S) on the side of said lateral panel (L1 or L2) thus removed;

- connecting said support member (1) of said at least one kit to said support framework (I) of said conventional structure (S) and to said support framework (6) of said kit;

- applying said lateral panel (L1 or L2) removed from said conventional protection structure (S) to said support framework (6) of said kit;

- connecting said front panel (8) onto said support member (1) and onto said lateral panel (L1 and L2) thus mounted; and

- applying said upper panel (7) of said kit above said support framework (6), said lateral panel (L1 or L2), said front panel (8) and said support member (1).
Modular structure for protecting apparatuses obtained with the assembly method according to any one of claims 16 or 17.