EP4242122A1 - Foldable box pallet - Google Patents

Abstract

A foldable pallet box (2) according to the invention comprises a first movable side wall (8) connected to the bottom of a box, via a flexible connecting means, so as to allow distance as well as the pivoting of the first wall relative to the bottom of the body. A second side wall (10) of the body, adjacent to the first side wall (8), comprises an appendage (34) extending parallel or substantially parallel to a large face of the first wall, so that the appendage ( 34) prevents the first wall from pivoting outside the body (4). The body (4) comprises means for holding the first wall to the appendage (34) and the holding means (18) is engaged or disengaged when the first wall moves parallel to the appendage (34) of the second wall.

Description

Technical field to which the invention relates

The invention relates to a pallet box for storing or transporting goods. In particular, the invention relates to a pallet box whose side walls can be folded inside the box, in order to reduce the bulk of the pallet box.

Technology background

Pallet boxes are commonly used for transporting fragile or bulk goods. As its name suggests, a pallet box consists of a box intended to contain and protect goods during transport, and a pallet attached to the box in order to facilitate the movement of the box by a pallet truck. .

It is known that a pallet box occupies a significant volume, which presents a disadvantage when one wishes to store the pallet box or when transporting it empty. To remedy this problem, there are foldable pallet boxes. A foldable pallet box consists of side walls, delimiting the box, able to fold towards the inside of the box so as to reduce its height in order to reduce the bulk of the pallet box.

In order to provide sufficient rigidity to the body, means of maintaining the side walls are necessary. These holding means are of the clipping type, latches or others. The implementation of these means of maintenance requires a certain skill as well as particular attention.

According to another disadvantage, the foldable side walls are articulated at the level of folding lines or hinges, which may be damaged or break during use. Foldable side walls therefore present a greater risk of damage compared to non-foldable walls.

The invention aims to remedy these drawbacks by proposing a foldable pallet box, comprising means for maintaining the side walls of the box in the unfolded position, means of holding which are easier and quicker to implement, also offering greater safety of use.

Object of the invention

In order to resolve the problems stated above, the invention therefore proposes a foldable pallet box, comprising a box delimited by four side walls extending perpendicularly or substantially perpendicularly to a large flat face of a pallet, the bottom of the crate being supported or formed by the large face of the pallet. By the term "foldable", we mean that the side walls delimiting the body can at least partly be folded or tilted towards the interior of the body.

The invention is remarkable in that the box comprises a first movable side wall. The first movable side wall is connected to the bottom of the body via a flexible connection means, so as to allow the first movable side wall to move away from the bottom of the body as well as the pivoting of the first wall movable side towards the bottom of the body. A second side wall adjacent to the first movable side wall, comprises at least one appendage extending parallel or substantially parallel to a large face of the first movable side wall, so that at least one appendage of the second adjacent side wall prevents the first movable side wall to pivot outside the body. The body also comprises at least one means for holding the first movable side wall to an appendage of the second adjacent side wall, the holding means is engaged or disengaged when the first movable side wall moves parallel or substantially parallel to the appendage of the second adjacent side wall.

Advantageously, the flexible connecting means allows greater freedom of movement of the first movable side wall, in order to facilitate the use of the holding means. The holding means engages or disengages when the first movable side wall moves parallel or substantially parallel to an appendage of the second side wall adjacent. The appendix supports part of the holding means, the other part being supported by the first movable side wall.

Advantageously, the appendix also offers a support surface for the first movable side wall, so as to allow easy and precise movement of said wall along the appendage in order to properly and quickly engage or disengage the means. maintenance. In other words, the appendix allows optimal positioning of the first wall in order to ensure proper functioning of the holding means. Thus, the box can be formed easily and quickly by an operator or by a machine.

Optionally, the adjacent side wall can support several appendages in order to more precisely guide the movement of the first movable side wall. Thus, the first movable side wall can be easily attached to an adjacent side wall of the body, using the holding means to attach two adjacent sides of a body.

In other words, a holding means as described above is engaged or disengaged when a movable side wall bears against an appendage extending an adjacent side wall, and the movable side wall moves perpendicularly or substantially perpendicularly to the bottom of the box. The invention therefore proposes a quick and simple solution to implement for folding or unfolding the movable side wall of a box attached to a pallet.

According to a variant embodiment of the invention, the body comprises a fourth movable side wall, opposite the first movable side wall. The fourth movable side wall is connected to the bottom of the body via a flexible connection means, so as to allow the fourth movable side wall to move away from the bottom of the body as well as the pivoting of the fourth wall movable side towards the bottom of the body. A third side wall, adjacent to the fourth movable side wall, comprises at least one appendage extending parallel or substantially parallel to a large face of the fourth movable side wall, so that at least one appendage of the adjacent third side wall prevents the fourth movable side wall from pivoting outside the body. The body also includes at least one means for holding the fourth movable side wall to at least one appendage of the third adjacent side wall, the holding means being engaged or disengaged when the fourth movable side wall moves parallel or substantially parallel to the appendage of the third adjacent side wall.

In other words, according to a preferred embodiment, a pallet box according to the invention comprises two movable side walls facing each other. Each movable side wall is attached to at least one adjacent side wall, preferably each movable side wall is attached to two adjacent side walls, via holding means as described above.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the flexible connection means connecting a movable side wall to the bottom of the body is configured to exert on the movable side wall a tensile force perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the bottom of the body, towards the bottom of the box, when the connecting means facing the bottom of the box is covered by merchandise. Advantageously, when the box is filled with goods, the weight of the goods exerts a force on part of the connecting means present at the bottom of the box, force which is partly transferred to the side wall by the means connection in order to properly engage the holding means when the box is filled. The flexible connection means can therefore be compared to a safety system, making it possible to sufficiently engage the holding means when filling the box in order to allow more peaceful use of said holding means.

According to another embodiment of the invention, a connecting means connecting a movable side wall to the bottom of the body, has a width at the bottom of the body, width defined in a direction perpendicular to a side wall adjacent to the movable side wall, equal to or greater than 30% of the width of the large face of the pallet, width defined in the same direction.

The width of the connecting means can therefore be adapted depending on the nature of the goods, in order to ensure that the holding means is sufficiently engaged when the box is filled. According to an alternative embodiment, the width of the connecting means is equal to or greater than 50%, or equal to or greater than 80%, preferably greater than 95% of the width of the large face of the pallet.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the flexible connection means consists of a flexible plate, one end of which is held at the level of an edge of a movable side wall. The other end of the flexible plate covers at least part of the bottom of the box. This other end of the flexible plate can be fixed to the bottom of the box, preferably at the center of the bottom of the box. It should be noted that said end of the flexible plate can be fixed between the center of the bottom of the body and the edge of said movable side wall. This embodiment advantageously makes it possible to attach the movable side wall to the body, more precisely to the bottom of the body, via the flexible plate, in order to prevent the side wall from being misplaced.

By the term "flexible" is meant the fact that the plate can flex when a force is applied perpendicular to a large face of said plate, the plate returning to its initial shape when the force is released. In other words, the flexible plate is capable of bending or flexing, when an operator raises the movable side wall, in order to move said movable side wall away from the bottom of the body.

Preferably, when the movable side wall is also flexible, and the flexible plate is of the same nature as the movable side wall.

According to a preferred embodiment, a fold line delimits the flexible plate from the movable side wall.

According to an alternative embodiment, the flexible plate can be replaced by a strip of fabric or an elastic means. According to another alternative embodiment, the flexible plate can be connected to the first side wall and to the fourth side wall, by a welding technique when the flexible plate is based on thermoplastic polymers.

According to a variant embodiment, the first movable side wall and the fourth movable side wall are connected by a common holding means, comprising a flexible plate covering at least partly the bottom of the body, the opposite ends of the flexible plate being linked to the first movable side wall and to the fourth movable side wall.

According to a variant embodiment, the flexible connection means designates a rigid plate, one end of which is connected via at least one hinge at one edge of the first side wall, and another end of the rigid plate covers at least part of the bottom of the box, and the rigid plate is attached via at least one hinge, at the level of the bottom of the box, preferably at the level of the center of the bottom of the box. the body, in order to allow pivoting of the rigid plate relative to the first side wall and the bottom of the body, when the first side wall is raised. It should be noted that said end of the rigid plate can be fixed between the center of the bottom of the body and the edge of said movable side wall. This embodiment advantageously makes it possible to attach the movable side wall to the body, more precisely to the bottom of the body, via the rigid plate, in order to prevent the side wall from being misplaced.

• d'un ergot respectivement fixé à une paroi latérale mobile ou à un appendice d'une paroi latérale adjacente ; et
• d'un passage ménagé respectivement à travers l'appendice de la paroi latérale adjacente ou à travers la paroi latérale mobile, de manière à permettre dans un premier temps, l'insertion d'une extrémité de l'ergot dans le passage, lorsque la paroi latérale mobile pivote en direction de l'appendice puis, dans un second temps, le blocage de l'ergot dans le passage lorsque la paroi latérale mobile se déplace parallèlement à l'appendice.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the holding means consists of:

• a lug respectively fixed to a movable side wall or to an appendage of an adjacent side wall; And
• a passage provided respectively through the appendage of the adjacent side wall or through the movable side wall, so as to initially allow the insertion of one end of the lug into the passage, when the movable side wall pivots towards the appendage then, secondly, blocking the lug in the passage when the movable side wall moves parallel to the appendage.

According to another embodiment of the invention, when the holding means is engaged, the passage extends from a first end to a second end, in a direction perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the bottom of the body, and the dimensions of the first end are wider than the dimensions of a free end of the lug, in order to allow the insertion of said free end of the lug into the passage, and the dimensions of the second end of the passage are of dimensions similar to or smaller than the dimensions of the free end of the lug, so as to allow it to be immobilized at the level of the passage.

According to an alternative embodiment, the passage described above can be opened on one side of the wall crossed by said passage. As a non-limiting example, the passage may have a triangular shape, one top of which is oriented towards the bottom of the box.

The invention also relates to a foldable pallet box, comprising a box delimited by four side walls extending perpendicularly or substantially perpendicularly to a large face of a pallet, the bottom of the box being supported or formed by the large face of the palette. The foldable pallet box may optionally include one or two movable side walls as described above.

According to another embodiment, the foldable pallet box comprises pivoting means allowing the tilting independently of each side wall inside the box, so that each side wall can be positioned parallel or substantially parallel to the large flat face of the pallet, and at least one pivoting means of a side wall is offset relative to said side wall, so that the pivot axis of said side wall is present inside the box.

In other words, at least one pivoting means is not aligned with the side wall which pivots around said means. Thus, advantageously, the side wall called hereinafter pivoting side wall does not have a folding line to allow it to tilt inside the body. However, as mentioned above, it is known to those skilled in the art that a folding line is likely to deform or break, after a certain number of uses or even if excessive weight is applied. on said folding line when stacking it for example. The pivoting side wall moved by a pivoting means distinct from said wall, is therefore less likely to deform or tear compared to a foldable side wall.

Preferably, in the vertical position, the pivoting side wall is in contact with the bottom of the box or with a large flat face of the pallet, so as to transmit a load to the bottom of the box or to the large flat face of the pallet. supported by the pivoting side wall, such as a cover closing the box or an additional weight due to stacking of another box positioned above said box, as is common for this type of use. Thus, the load supported by the pivoting wall is little or not transmitted to the pivoting means which is offset relative to said pivoting side wall. The invention therefore proposes a more resilient solution to allow the pivoting of a side wall of a box, compared to the use of a hinge attached to said wall.

According to another embodiment, at least one other pivoting means of another pivoting side wall is offset relative to said pivoting side wall, so that the pivot axis of said pivoting side wall is present inside of the cash register.

• de deux embases solidaires de la palette, chaque embase est positionnée en vis-à-vis d'un côté de la paroi latérale pivotante qui est déplacée par le moyen de pivotement ; et
• chaque côté de la paroi latérale pivotante, en vis-à-vis d'une embase, est prolongé par un appendice s'étendant perpendiculairement ou sensiblement perpendiculairement à la paroi latérale pivotante, l'appendice s'étendant également à proximité de la grande face de la palette ; et
• chaque embase est attachée à un appendice par l'intermédiaire d'une liaison pivot.

According to another embodiment, a pivoting means consists of:

• two bases secured to the pallet, each base is positioned opposite one side of the pivoting side wall which is moved by the pivoting means; And
• each side of the pivoting side wall, facing a base, is extended by an appendix extending perpendicularly or substantially perpendicularly to the pivoting side wall, the appendage also extending near the large face of the palette; And
• each base is attached to an appendage via a pivot connection.

According to another embodiment, the two bases come from a single piece, which extends along the pivoting side wall. This part allows the pivoting side wall to prevent it from tilting towards the outside of the body and thus ensures optimal positioning of the pivoting side wall when it is locked with a movable side wall. This optimal position allows the container to be placed in volume in an automatable mode.

According to another embodiment, at least one appendage, extending one side of a pivoting side wall which is moved by the pivoting means, extends all along the side of the pivoting side wall. Thus, advantageously, the appendix can also serve as a support, for example to support part of the weight of a cover resting on the pivoting side wall.

Preferably, the opposite sides of the pivoting side wall which is moved by the pivoting means are each extended by an appendage extending all along the side of the side wall, so that the profile of the side wall pivoting is comparable to a “u”. This embodiment can allow the branches of the “u” to rest on the bottom of the body, when the movable side wall is tilted on said bottom. As a result, the branches of the “u” allow the pivoting side wall to have a greater great rigidity when said wall is folded onto the bottom of the body. According to another advantage, the branches of the "u" make it possible to maintain a distance between the bottom of the body and the pivoting side wall and, thus, form a space between the pivoting side wall and the bottom of the body capable of accommodating another side wall or other element.

Preferably, the pivoting side walls are of significantly different width so that one of the side walls in the folded position fits into the other pivoting side wall, which makes it possible to limit the height of the pallet box in the folded position. This minimized height is important, because the search for a minimum volume in the folded position is one of the challenges of foldable bodies in order to maximize space savings (particularly in trucks on the way back).

According to another embodiment, the free ends of the bases, opposite the large flat face of the pallet, exceed the side walls when the side walls are positioned parallel or substantially parallel to the large flat face of the pallet. This embodiment advantageously allows the bases to support, for example, a cover of the body, when the side walls of the body are folded.

According to another embodiment, at least one pivoting side wall, moved by pivoting means, is distinct from the pallet. By the term “distinct” we mean that the pivoting side wall is not part of the pallet, in the sense that it is not directly linked to the pallet. The pivoting side wall is held to the pallet by means of the pivoting means according to the invention. Advantageously, by dismantling the pivoting means, the pivoting side wall can easily be replaced in the event of damage. Thus, a pallet box according to the invention is easier to repair and therefore more economical to use.

According to another embodiment, the pivot axis of a pivoting side wall is included between the large face of the pallet or the bottom of the body and a pivot axis of another pivoting side wall which is moved by another means of pivoting. This embodiment advantageously allows the side walls mentioned above to be parallel or substantially parallel when they are positioned opposite the large face of the pallet.

According to another embodiment, at least one side wall is made from a thermoplastic material. Preferably, the thermoplastic material comprises polypropylene and/or polyethylene. According to a preferred embodiment, at least one side wall comprises cells or bubbles formed from the same material as the side wall.

According to another embodiment, at least one side wall is obtained by a manufacturing process implementing a step of extruding the thermoplastic material through a dedicated die, or a step of injecting the thermoplastic material into a dedicated mold .

According to another embodiment, the pallet may be of the same nature as a side wall, formed in the same way, or the pallet may be of a different nature and possibly be produced by a method of thermoforming, injection, or extrusion or other.

According to another embodiment, a pivoting side wall is able to be inserted, at least in part, between two appendages delimiting another pivoting side wall. As mentioned above, the appendages delimiting a pivoting side wall can be compared to the branches of a “u”. Preferably, the branches of the "u" have some flexibility so that they can move apart slightly to facilitate the insertion of another pivoting side wall.

Of course, the different characteristics, variants and embodiments mentioned above can be associated with each other in various combinations, as long as they are not incompatible or exclusive of each other.

Description of figures

• [Fig. 1] illustre une vue schématique et en perspective d'une caisse-palette selon l'invention ;
• [Fig. 2] illustre une vue schématique et en perspective lors d'une étape de pliage d'une première paroi latérale de la caisse-palette ;
• [Fig. 3] illustre une vue schématique et en perspective d'une première paroi latérale de la caisse-palette, repliée sur un fond de la caisse ;
• [Fig. 4] illustre une vue schématique et en perspective d'une quatrième paroi latérale de la caisse-palette, repliée sur la première paroi latérale ;
• [Fig. 5] illustre une vue schématique et en perspective d'une troisième paroi latérale de la caisse-palette, repliée sur la quatrième paroi latérale ;
• [Fig. 6] illustre une vue schématique et en perspective d'une deuxième paroi latérale de la caisse-palette, repliée sur la troisième paroi latérale;
• [Fig. 7] illustre une vue schématique, en perspective et partielle d'une caisse-palette selon l'invention, lors de la mise en oeuvre d'un moyen de maintien d'une première paroi latérale à une deuxième paroi latérale de la caisse ;
• [Fig. 8] illustre une vue schématique, en perspective et partielle d'une caisse-palette selon l'invention, lorsqu'une première paroi latérale est liée à une deuxième paroi latérale de la caisse par l'intermédiaire d'un moyen de maintien selon l'invention ;
• [Fig. 9] illustre une vue schématique d'une coupe transversale d'une caisse-palette selon l'invention, lors de la mise en oeuvre d'un moyen de maintien d'une première paroi latérale à une deuxième paroi latérale de la caisse comme illustrée par la figure;
• [Fig. 10] illustre une vue schématique d'une coupe transversale d'une caisse-palette selon l'invention, lorsqu'une première paroi latérale est liée à une deuxième paroi latérale de la caisse, comme illustrée par la figure 8.

The invention will be better understood, thanks to the description below, which relates to preferred embodiments, given by way of non-limiting examples, and explained with reference to the appended schematic drawings, in which:

• [ Fig. 1 ] illustrates a schematic and perspective view of a pallet box according to the invention;
• [ Fig. 2 ] illustrates a schematic and perspective view during a folding step of a first side wall of the pallet box;
• [ Fig. 3 ] illustrates a schematic perspective view of a first side wall of the pallet box, folded onto a bottom of the box;
• [ Fig. 4 ] illustrates a schematic perspective view of a fourth side wall of the pallet box, folded over the first side wall;
• [ Fig. 5 ] illustrates a schematic perspective view of a third side wall of the pallet box, folded over the fourth side wall;
• [ Fig. 6 ] illustrates a schematic perspective view of a second side wall of the pallet box, folded over the third side wall;
• [ Fig. 7 ] illustrates a schematic, perspective and partial view of a pallet box according to the invention, during the implementation of a means for holding a first side wall to a second side wall of the box;
• [ Fig. 8 ] illustrates a schematic, perspective and partial view of a pallet box according to the invention, when a first side wall is linked to a second side wall of the box via a holding means according to the invention;
• [ Fig. 9 ] illustrates a schematic view of a cross section of a pallet box according to the invention, during the implementation of a means for maintaining a first side wall to a second side wall of the box as illustrated by the figure;
• [ Fig. 10 ] illustrates a schematic view of a cross section of a pallet box according to the invention, when a first side wall is linked to a second side wall of the box, as illustrated by the figure 8 .

Detailed description of the invention

As a reminder, the invention proposes a foldable pallet box, comprising means for maintaining its side walls which are easier and quicker to implement, while offering greater safety of use.

There figure 1 illustrates a non-limiting embodiment of a foldable pallet box according to the invention. The foldable pallet box 2 consists of a box 4 secured to a pallet 6.

The box 4 is delimited by a first side wall 8, positioned between a second side wall 10 and a third side wall 12. As illustrated by the figure 1 , a fourth side wall 14 is positioned opposite the first side wall 8. The fourth side wall 14 is also positioned between the second and third side walls. The four side walls thus delimit a closed contour of rectangular or substantially rectangular shape.

In the unfolded position, that is to say when the four side walls are perpendicular to a large face of the pallet, as illustrated by the figure 1 , the side walls of the box delimit a volume of between 150 liters and 8,000 liters, preferably between 500 liters and 2,000 liters.

More precisely, the side walls have a height, defined in a direction perpendicular to the bottom 16 of the box, of between 40 cm and 160 cm or between 60 cm and 120 cm. Preferably, the side walls have the same or substantially the same height so that each side wall can serve as a support for a lid covering the box.

The smallest distance between the first side wall 8 and the fourth side wall 14 is between 40 cm and 200 cm, preferably between 80 cm and 120 cm. The smallest distance between the second side wall 10 and the third side wall 12 is between 60 cm and 400 cm, preferably between 120 cm and 160 cm.

According to this example, the side walls are made from a “flexible” material. By the term "flexible" we mean the possibility for a side wall to flex or curve, when an operator exerts pressure on a large face of the side wall, then return to its initial shape when the operator does not exert pressure. more pressure on said grenade face.

According to the present example, the side walls are made from sheets of cellular polypropylene or thermoformed bubble structure with a thickness between 5 mm and 11 mm, with a weight between 1,000 g/m ² to 4,000 g/m ² .

The box 4 is said to be foldable because the side walls can be folded or tilted towards the inside of the box, as illustrated by the figures 2 to 6 . Thus, advantageously, the height of the pallet box can be reduced in order to facilitate its storage or transport empty.

The invention differs from the state of the art in that the side walls are held together by means of holding means which are simple and quick to implement to form the body 4.

A holding means 18 according to the invention consists of a lug 20 of rectilinear or substantially rectilinear shape, extending between a distal end 26 and a proximal end 30. The length of the lug, measured between its distal end 26 and its proximal end 30 is between 1 cm and 5 cm, preferably between 2 cm and 3 cm.

The proximal end 30 of the lug is cylindrical in shape and is integral with an external face 22 of the first side wall 8, so that the lug 20 extends perpendicularly or substantially perpendicularly to said external face 22. The lug 20 is preferably positioned at an upper corner of the first movable side wall 8. By the term “upper” is meant an area of the first side wall 8 which is distant from the bottom of the body.

At its distal end 26, the lug 20 has an extra thickness 28 of conical or substantially conical shape. The base of the conical shape faces the first side wall 8. At the level of the base of the extra thickness 28, the section of the distal end 26 is greater than the section of the proximal end 30, so that said base forms a stop. Preferably, the smallest distance between the extra thickness 28 and the first side wall 8 is equal to or slightly greater than the thickness of the second side wall 10 of the body.

As illustrated by the Figure 7 , the distal end 26 of the lug is able to pass through a passage 32, provided in an appendix 34 of a second side wall 10. The appendix 34 extends an edge 36 of the second side wall, as illustrated over there figure 5 . The appendix 34 extends over the entire length of the edge 36 of the second side wall 10. The appendix 34 also extends perpendicular to the second side wall 10. According to the present example, the length of the appendix 34, defined in a direction perpendicular to the second side wall 10, is between 3 cm and 25 cm, preferably between 6 cm and 15 cm

The passage 32 provided through the appendage 34 extends between a first end 38 and a second end 40, perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the bottom 16 of the body 4. The first end 38 has a circular or substantially circular shape, configured to allow the passage of the distal end 26 of the lug, as illustrated by the Figure 7 .

The second end 40 of the passage has a rectangular or substantially rectangular shape, oriented towards the bottom of the body. The second end 40 is able to allow the movement of the proximal end 30 towards the bottom of the body while preventing the passage of the distal end 26 of the lug.

As illustrated by the Figure 7 , the lug 20 is positioned on the first movable side wall 8 so that it is necessary to slightly lift the first side wall 8, in order to allow the insertion of its distal end 26 through the first end 38 of the passage. Then, by carrying out a simple translation movement of the first side wall 8, towards the bottom 16 of the body, the lug slides to the second end 40 of the passage, as illustrated by the figure 8 . In this position, the distal end 26 of the lug prevents the first movable side wall 8 from tilting inside the body. In other words, the first movable side wall 8 is attached to the second side wall 10 via a holding means 18 according to the invention.

Thus, according to the present example, a holding means 18 according to the invention consists of the lug 20 and the passage 32 provided in the appendix 34. Advantageously, the holding means 18 makes it possible to attach simply and quickly the first side wall 8 to a second side wall 10. Of course, by carrying out the reverse steps, we can easily detach the first side wall 8 from the second side wall 10.

Preferably, as illustrated by figure 1 , the pallet box comprises another holding means 18, identical or similar to that described above, allowing in the same way to easily attach or detach another upper corner of the first side wall 8 to a third side wall 12 adjacent.

The fourth side wall 14 of the body, opposite the first side wall 8, is also attached to the second side wall 10 and the third side wall 12 via holding means 18 according to the invention. Thus, as illustrated by the figures 2 to 4 , the first side wall 8 and the fourth side wall 14 can quickly and easily be folded onto the bottom of the body.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the first side wall 8 as well as the fourth side wall 14 are hereinafter described as mobile, because they are both linked to the bottom 16 of the body, by means of a means flexible connection 24, visible on the figures 9 And 10 . The flexible connection means 24 allows a certain freedom of movement to said side walls. More precisely, the flexible connection means 24 is configured to allow the tilting of said side walls on the bottom of the body as well as their movement in a direction perpendicular to the bottom of the body in order to allow the implementation of the holding means 18 according to the invention.

For this, the lower edge 42 of the first side wall 8 and the lower edge 42 of the fourth side wall 14 are connected by a flexible connecting means 24. By "lower edge" is meant the side of a side wall which is closest to the bottom of box 4.

Preferably, the flexible connecting means is a plate of the same nature as the side walls and of similar or slightly less thickness as well as of similar or less weight. According to the present example, the flexible connection means 24 is connected to the side walls by a folding line 44. Preferably, the folding line(s) are positioned above the bottom 16 of the box, in order to facilitate the tilting of the side walls on said bottom.

As illustrated by the Figure 9 , the flexible connecting means 24 is attached at the level of the center of the bottom 16 of the body, in order to allow greater bending of the plate at its ends, when the side walls are raised to insert the lugs 20 into the passages 32 provided in appendices 34, as described above.

Variant for hanging the plate

According to another advantage, the flexible connection means 24 is attached to the bottom of the body in order to facilitate the unfolding of the side walls. Preferably, the flexible connecting means is held by reversible holding means of the screw type or other, in order to facilitate the replacement of the movable side walls in the event of damage.

According to another advantage of the invention, the flexible connecting means 24 makes it possible to exert traction on the first side wall 8 as well as on the fourth side wall 14, when the plate forming the connecting means is covered by merchandise. In fact, under the weight of a commodity, the plate is flattened on the bottom of the box as illustrated by the Figure 10 , mechanically driving the attached side walls linked to the plate towards the bottom of the body. This vertical translation movement then forces the sliding of the lugs present on the side walls, at the level of the second ends 40 of the passages 32 provided in the appendages 34. The first side wall 8 as well as the fourth side wall 14 can then no longer move. remove appendages, as long as the bottom of the box is covered with merchandise.

The holding means according to the invention therefore offers greater safety in use of a foldable pallet box, by allowing sufficient engagement of the holding means to ensure adequate cohesion of the side walls in order to contain a bulk commodity per example.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the second side wall 10 and the third side wall 12 are both movable and capable of tilting towards the bottom of the body thanks to pivoting means 46.

A pivoting means 46 according to the invention consists of two bases 48 which are secured to the pallet 6 as illustrated by the Figure 5 . Each base 48 is positioned opposite or substantially opposite a movable side wall. More precisely, the bases 48 are arranged so as to face the appendages 34 extending the second side wall 10 as well as the third side wall 12. Each base 48 is attached to an appendix 34, via a pivot connection to a degree of freedom. The pivot connections are aligned so that the side wall which is held to said pivot connections pivots around a pivot axis 50 present in the body 4. The pivot axis 50, visible on the Figure 5 , is also perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the first side wall 8 when the latter is unfolded as illustrated by the figure 1 .

Preferably, the pivot axis 50 of the pivot connection is located at a distance of between 3 cm and 22 cm, preferably between 5 cm and 15 cm, from the side wall which pivots around said pivot axis.

In other words, the pivoting means 46 is not aligned with the side wall that it moves. Thus, advantageously, the side wall called hereinafter pivoting side wall does not have a folding line to allow it to tilt inside the body. However, as mentioned above, it is known to those skilled in the art that a fold line is likely to be deform or break after a certain number of uses. The pivoting side wall moved by a pivoting means distinct from said wall, is therefore less likely to deform or tear compared to a foldable side wall. In addition, thanks to the non-aligned pivoting means and thanks to the appendages, they make it possible to create an empty space under the appendages in order to accommodate the pivoting side walls 10 and 12.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the appendages 34 extending the second side wall 10 and the third side wall 12 can be compared to the branches of a “u”. These branches allow the second side wall 10 and/or the third side wall 12 to bear on the bottom of the body when said walls are tilted, as illustrated by the figures 5 And 6 . These “u”-shaped branches, bearing on the bottom of the body, allow the side wall to have greater rigidity and also the side wall to be positioned at a distance from the bottom 16 of the body. The side wall is therefore less likely to deform under the weight of another wall and/or less likely to crush a wall located below.

As mentioned above, preferably, the side walls are made from a polypropylene bubble structure plate, in order to allow a certain flexibility between the branches of the "u" to facilitate the insertion of an opposite transverse wall and already folded onto the bottom of the box 4. The stack of transverse walls can thus be more compact, while preventing crushing or damage to said walls.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the free ends 52 of the bases, opposite the large flat face of the pallet, exceed the side walls when the side walls are positioned parallel or substantially parallel to the large flat face of the pallet. Preferably, the free ends 52 of the bases extend by a few centimeters from the side wall covering the other side walls. This embodiment advantageously allows the bases to support, for example a cover of the box or another pallet box, when the side walls of the box are folded.

It should be noted that according to the invention a pallet box can comprise one or more holding means, without including pivoting means described above, or vice versa.

Claims (13)

Foldable pallet box (2) comprising a box (4) delimited by four side walls extending perpendicular to a large flat face of a pallet, the bottom (16) of the box (4) being formed or supported by the large face of the pallet, the box (4) comprising a first movable side wall (8) connected to the bottom (16) of the box via a flexible connecting means (24), so as to allow the separation as well as the pivoting of the first side wall (8) relative to the bottom (16) of the body, and a second side wall (10), adjacent to the first side wall (8), comprising an appendage (34) extending parallel or substantially parallel to a large face of the first side wall, so that the appendage (34) of the second side wall prevents the first side wall from pivoting outside the body (4), and the body (4) comprises means for holding (18) the first side wall to the appendage (34) of the second side wall, and the holding means (18) being engaged or disengaged when the first side wall (8) is moves parallel to the appendage (34) of the second side wall (10), characterized in that the flexible connection means (24) connecting the first side wall (8) to the bottom of the body (4) is configured to exert on the first movable side wall (8) a tensile force perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the bottom (16) of the box (4), in the direction of the bottom (16) of the box (4), when the screw connection means -vis the bottom of the box (4) is covered by goods, and in that the connecting means consists of a flexible plate, one end of which is held at the level of an edge of the first side wall ( 8), and in that another end of the flexible plate covers at least part of the bottom of the box (4), and in that the flexible plate is attached to the bottom (16) of the box, preferably to the level of the center of the bottom (16) of the box, in order to prevent the side wall (8) from being misplaced, or in that the connecting means consists of a rigid plate, one end of which is connected by the intermediate of at least one hinge at one edge of the first side wall (8), and in that another end of the rigid plate covers at least part of the bottom of the box (4), and in that the rigid plate is attached via at least one hinge, at the level of the bottom (16) of the box, preferably at the center of the bottom (16) of the box, in order to prevent the side wall (8) from being misplaced. Foldable pallet box (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that the pallet box comprises a fourth movable side wall (14), opposite the first movable side wall (8), the fourth side wall is connected to the bottom ( 16) of the body via a flexible connecting means (24), so as to allow the distancing as well as the pivoting of the fourth side wall relative to the bottom (16) of the body, and in this that a third side wall (12), adjacent to the fourth side wall, comprises an appendage (34) extending parallel or substantially parallel to a large face of the third side wall, so that the appendage (34) prevents the fourth side wall to pivot outside the body (4), and in that the body (4) comprises a means (18) for holding the fourth side wall to the appendage (34), and in this that the holding means (18) is engaged or disengaged when the fourth side wall moves parallel to the appendage (34) of the third side wall. Foldable pallet box (2) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the connecting means connecting the first movable side wall (8) to the bottom (16) of the box, has a width at the level of the bottom of the box , width defined in a direction perpendicular to a side wall adjacent to the first movable side wall (8), equal to or greater than 30% of the width of the large face of the pallet. Foldable pallet box (2) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the holding means (18) consists of: - a lug (20) respectively fixed to the first side wall or to an appendage (34) of an adjacent side wall; And - a passage (32) provided respectively through the appendage (34) of the adjacent side wall or through the first side wall, so as to initially allow the insertion of one end of the lug (20) in the passage (32), when the first side wall pivots in the direction of the appendage (34) then, in a second step, blocking the lug (20) in the passage (32) when the first side wall moves parallel to the appendage (34). Foldable pallet box (2) according to claim 4, characterized in that when the holding means (18) is engaged, the passage (32) extends from a first end (38) to a second end (40) , in a direction perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the bottom (16) of the box (4), and the dimensions of the first end (38) are wider than the dimensions of a free end of the lug (20), in order to to allow the insertion of said free end of the lug (20) into the passage (32), and in that the dimensions of the second end of the passage (32) are of dimensions similar to or smaller than the dimensions of the end free of the lug (20) so as to allow its immobilization at the level of the passage (32). Foldable pallet box (2) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the pallet box comprises pivoting means (46) allowing the independent tilting of each side wall inside the box (4), so that each side wall can be positioned parallel or substantially parallel to the large flat face of the pallet, and in that a pivoting means (46) of the second side wall (10) is offset by relative to the second side wall (10), so that the pivot axis (50) of the second side wall (10) is present inside the body (4). Foldable pallet box (2) according to claim 6, characterized in that a pivoting means (46) of the third side wall (12) is offset relative to the third side wall (12), so that the pivot axis of the third side wall (12) is present inside the body (4). Foldable pallet box (2) according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the pivoting means (46) consists of: - two bases (48) secured to the pallet (6), each base (48) is positioned opposite one side of the side wall which is moved by the pivoting means (46); And - each side of the side wall, facing a base (48), is extended by an appendage (34) extending perpendicularly or substantially perpendicularly to the side wall as well as near the large face of the pallet; And - each base (48) is attached to an appendage (34) via a pivot connection. Foldable pallet box (2) according to claim 8, characterized in that at least one appendage (34), extending one side of a side wall which is moved by the pivoting means (46), extends all the way along the side of the side wall. Foldable pallet box (2) according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the free ends of the bases (48), opposite the large flat face of the pallet, exceed the side walls when the side walls are positioned parallel or substantially parallel to the large flat face of the pallet. Foldable pallet box (2) according to one of claims 6 to 10, characterized in that at least one side wall moved by a pivoting means (46) is distinct from the pallet. Foldable pallet box (2) according to one of claims 6 to 11, characterized in that the pivot axis of the second side wall (10) is between the large face of the pallet and the pivot axis of the fourth side wall (14). Foldable pallet box (2) according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that at least one side wall is made from a thermoplastic material.

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