ES2591178T3 - Locking device for a collapsible amount of a container - Google Patents

Abstract

Locking device for an upright (1) collapsible of a container (2) of rectangular base (2 '), said upright (1) being joined to one of the corners of the base 2' through a support body (3 ) of U-section, in which it is mounted with the power to pivot at its lower extremity, for a folding back, the said locking device comprising a locking piece (4), which forms a latch, bolt or the like, mounted with the ability to move in the said post (1) and suitable and intended to cooperate with an adapted reception site (5), which forms a locksmith or similar, of the support body, this in a straightened position of the said post (1) and of so that the latter is locked in this position by union or mechanical solidarity with said support body (3), said locking piece (4) being integral or forming part of a maneuvering organ (6), which also carries the piece lock (4 ) of another upright (1 ') of the same side of the container (2), blocking device characterized in that the locking piece (4) is mounted with the ability to slide longitudinally in the corresponding upright (1, 1') and by that the support body (3) comprises a cam path or cam profile (7) for the maneuvering organ (6), which is suitable, from a locked situation of the upright (1) in a straightened state, to transform, guide or influence the movement of the organ (6) under the action of an operator, so that there is a movement at the level of the locking piece (4) that leads to a release of the lock in a straightened position of the upright (1) , said cam path (7) comprising a ramp or a circle arc portion, oriented in such a way that a pushing, retracting or tilting movement of the maneuvering organ (6), towards the outside or inside with respect to the volume of the container (2), in locked state of the upright (1), automatically cause a longitudinal displacement of the locking piece (4), which leads to a release of the lock.

Description

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DESCRIPTION

Locking device for a collapsible amount of a container

The present invention concerns the field of mechanical locking systems in position with the possibility of releasable locking, in particular in a context of manual manipulation by an operator, in which ergonomics, ease of maneuver and simplicity of execution are important factors. .

The preferred scope of the invention is that of storage and transport containers for parts, in bulk or not, and especially for containers of this type provided with folding uprights by tilting.

The object of the invention is a locking device for a collapsible amount of such a container and a container comprising one, two, three or four such devices, associated with one, two, three or four corresponding amounts of this container .

From documents DE-A-2903368, US-A-2003/012745, EP-A-0504081, EP-A-1201549 and FR-A-2732668 especially, different types of containers with folding uprights equipped with means of blocking of different natures and constructions.

Generally, the locking in straightened position of the uprights is performed automatically by interlocking or engaging, under the action of gravity or an elastic means, but its unblocking necessarily requires the action of an operator.

In the first two documents mentioned above, the unlocking requires the lifting of the uprights concerned and, where appropriate, a part of the side wall that joins them, requiring significant effort by the operator or the operators.

In the last three documents, unlocking only requires the displacement of the blocking element, and therefore a minor effort.

However, even in the latter case, this unlocking operation can be considered annoying due to its repetitive nature, the effort that must be made, the position that the user has to take and eventually the precision of the movement and therefore the gesture to be done by the operator.

These factors are even more critical when the uprights are associated and therefore are maneuvered in pairs and the unlocking and retracting operations of the uprights must be performed by a single operator, and more particularly when it is necessary to apply a level thrust. of one of the uprights to make the withdrawal of the pair concerned.

In this case, and when the two uprights of the pair are equipped with locking devices, the latter are generally joined by a common maneuvering organ that extends between the two uprights. Thus, in addition to the precision of the movement to be performed (to unlock the distant locking device), the overweight of the common organ must be taken into account.

From EP-A-1 666 365, a container locking device is known which presents the characteristics of the preamble of claim 1.

From this state of the art, the present invention aims to facilitate a technically simple solution, which makes the manipulation by the operator easier and more ergonomic, especially for unlocking, and that leads to unlocking assistance, limiting the physical effort and concentration required.

This objective is achieved thanks to the characteristics of the characterizing part of claim 1.

The invention will be better understood, thanks to the description that follows, which refers to preferred embodiments, given by way of non-limiting examples, and explained by referring to the attached schematic drawings, in which:

Figures 1A and 1B are perspective views of a part of a container comprising locking devices according to the invention associated with the pair of uprights represented;

Figure 2 is a partial perspective view of an upright assembly / support body and the associated locking device, in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention, which is part of the container represented in Figure 1;

Figures 3A to 3E are partial views similar to Figure 2 (Figure 3A is identical to Figure 2), illustrating the successive phases of unlocking and retracting the upright (from a locked state);

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Figures 4A to 4E are partial views similar to Figure 2, illustrating the successive straightening phases (from a folded position) and automatic locking of the upright (Figure 4A is identical to Figure 3E and Figure 4E is identifies figure 3A), and

Figures 5 to 7 are partial views, similar to those of Figure 2, illustrating other embodiments of the detachable locking device according to the invention.

Figures 2 and 5 to 7 each illustrate a locking device for a collapsible upright 1 of a container 2 of rectangular base 2 ', said upright 1 being joined to one of the corners of the base 2' through a body U-sectional support 3, in which it is mounted with the power to pivot at its lower end, for a tilting withdrawal on the base 2 '. Said locking device comprises a locking piece 4, which forms a latch, bolt or analogue, mounted with the ability to move in said stile 1 and suitable and intended to be introduced into an adapted reception site 5, which forms a lock or analog, of the support body 3, this in a straightened position of the aforementioned post 1 and in this way the latter is locked in this position by union or mechanical solidarity with said support body 3.

The post 1 is connected to the support body 3 by a pivot joint 14, directly or through a mounting piece 16 added to the lower end of said post 1 (see Figure 7).

Therefore, only the locking piece 4, by means of the organ 6, has to be moved to unlock the post 1 of its locking in a straightened position.

According to the invention, said locking piece 4 is integral or part of a maneuvering organ 6, which also carries the locking piece 4 of another upright 1 'on the same side of the container 2, and the support body 3 it comprises a path or cam profile 7 for the maneuvering organ 6, which is suitable, from a locked situation of the upright 1 in a straightened state, to transform, guide or influence the movement of the organ 6 under the action of a operator, so that there is a movement at the level of the piece 4 that leads to a release of lock in the straightened position of the post 1.

Thus, the operation of a single organ 6 for maneuver or guided operation in its movement allows, without particular effort of coordination or control of the movement by the operator, to unlock the locking system of the stud 1, preferably simultaneously the locking systems of the two uprights 1 and 1 'of a pair located on the same side of the container 2 and joined together.

As shown in the example of Figure 1, these two uprights 1 and 1 'can be rigidly joined together by a crossbar 1 ", a side or analogous wall portion and are tilted together with a view to their straightening and folding.

The second upright 1 'of the pair of associated uprights 1 and 1' is connected to a corresponding appropriate support body 3 ', also by an articulated pivot joint 14 (aligned with the pivot joint 14 of the upright 1'). The support bodies 3 and 3 'have identical structures and are located and oriented as shown in Figures 1A and 1B, so as to make the straightening and folding of the uprights 1 and 1' possible.

The second set [upright 1 '/ support body 3'] has, as the first set [upright 1 / support body 3], a locking system with a piece 4 and a site 5 suitable for mutual cooperation.

Likewise, the second set may preferably comprise, but not necessarily, a path or cam profile 7 at the level of the support body 3 ', which advantageously guides the common operating element 6 at the level of this second set, analogously to Your guidance at the level of the first set.

Also according to the invention, the locking piece 4 is mounted with the ability to slide longitudinally in the corresponding upright 1, 1 'and the cam path 7 comprises a ramp or a portion of the arc of a circle, oriented in such a way that a Pushing, retracting or tilting movement of the maneuvering organ 6, in the direction of the exterior or the interior with respect to the volume of the container 2, in the locked state of the upright 1, automatically causes a longitudinal displacement of the locking piece 4, preferably of the two pieces of block 4 solidarity of the organ 6, which tends to release the block.

Depending on the type of movement possible and / or desired, in particular in the context of implementation of the container 2 (environment, arrangement of the interior volume), the cam path 7 will present an arrangement and / or an orientation adapted to a movement of movement of the organ 6 towards the outside (see figures 2, 6 and 7) or towards the inside (see figure 5).

In the case of a movement of the organ 6 by pushing inwards, the unlocking movement may be followed directly by the folding movement of the uprights 1 and 1 ', which it will have initiated.

In addition, the movement guidance performed through the cam path 7 can be in different ways, namely linear (see Figures 2 and 5) or circular (see Figures 6 and 7), the conformation of the organ being adapted 6 to move the locking organs 4 properly.

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According to an advantageous practical embodiment, which is deduced from the attached figures, the blocking piece 4, preferably in the form of a curved finger or a hook, is mounted sliding and free in rotation in an oblong housing 8 of the pillar 1, 1 'concerned and the support body 3, 3' of the pillar 1, 1 'comprises a reception site in the form of a cut or notch 9 at the level of its upper edge 3 ”, the oblong housing or hole 8 being aligned and partially aligned correspondence with the reception site 5 in a straightened position of the amount 1, 1 'concerned.

The blocking state being obtained and / or maintained in this case only under the action of gravity, in particular under the action of the weight of the blocking piece 4 and / or of the maneuvering organ 6.

In this case as well, the resulting displacement at the level of the blocking piece 4 and corresponding to the displacement component removed from the movement of the organ 6 due to the action of the cam path 7, consists of a vertical sliding displacement towards the top (with respect to the base 2 '), in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the stranded 1, 1'.

In order to avoid a tilting of the maneuvering organ 6 beyond the cam path 7, and more particularly beyond the volume of the container 2, it is advantageously provided that the or each supporting body 3, 3 'comprises a stop element 10, formed or added, intended to ensure the maintenance of the maneuvering organ 6 in the volume of the container 2, possibly not presenting the said stop or abutment element 10 as an upper portion or extension portion of the path or cam profile 7 .

If necessary, this element 10 will also favor the cooperation of the organ 6 with the cam path 7, during the straightening of the uprights 1 and 1 ', and therefore at the beginning of the movement that leads the organ 6 to the resting position in locked state of the 1 or 1 'uprights.

Finally, this element 10 can also contribute, after unlocking, to start the tilting movement of the uprights 10, 10 'by supporting the organ 6 and thus causing! the generation of a tilt pair in case of continuation of the retraction movement of the organ 6 by the operator (see Figures 2 and 6).

As the figures in the accompanying drawings show, the maneuvering organ 6 advantageously comprises a cam follower 13, where appropriate on its two opposite extremities, in the form of a finger, a teton or a nose added or formed on the organ of maneuver 6, for example in the form of a bar, the or each blocking piece 4 advantageously forming the same piece with the maneuvering organ 6.

Practically, the organ 6 can consist of a metal rod whose two opposite limbs are folded to facilitate the locking fingers 4, at the tip of inclined intermediate segments, thus forming! a free-mounted pivoting handle in the two opposite 1 and 1 'uprights (organ 6 operable in the manner of an emergency exit handle, by pushing or retracting).

The followers 13 may correspond to the extremities of a rod or rod associated with the maneuvering organ 6 (see Figures 1A and 1B).

According to a first embodiment variant, represented in Figures 2, 5 and 6, the cam path 7 is supported or facilitated by a protruding formation 11, formed or added on the wall 12 of the U 3, 3 'support body comprising the reception site 5 of the blocking piece 4.

Advantageously, and especially to reduce frictional forces, the protruding formation 11 leading to the cam path 7 has a concave surface. On the other hand, said formation 11, cam follower 13 and maneuvering bar 6 with locking parts 4 can advantageously have circular sections.

By way of example, the formation 11 could be added by welding.

According to a second embodiment variant, which can be seen from Figure 7, the cam path 7 consists of an incoming formation, such as a groove or groove, arranged in the wall 12 of the U 3, 3 'support body which it comprises the reception site 5 of the blocking piece 4, by withdrawal or trimming in said wall.

In the kinematic sequence of Figures 4A to 4E, the function of the bevel 15 (at the level of the wall 12 of the support body 3) to bring the locking piece 4 at the level of the upper edge of the wall 12 comprising the cutout is observed 5 which forms reception site.

Thanks to the invention, it is therefore possible to propose a functional and structurally simple and robust solution, which makes it possible to facilitate unlocking assistance.

The cooperation of the guiding of the maneuvering organ 6 on the cam path 7 and of the guiding of the locking piece 4 in the upright 1 allows to generate automatically the precise displacement required for the unlocking (for example a vertical displacement towards the top of the piece 4), without the operator having to make a

precisely controlled movement, or exert an effort oriented in the direction required for unlocking.

In addition, the mechanism implemented to lead to this desired exploitation of a given component only of the movement of the maneuvering organ 6 is formed only by a limited number of 5 mechanical components, all of simple constitution.

The invention also concerns, as it is partially represented in Figures 1A and 1B, a container 2 of type 2 'rectangular base and 1, 1' collapsible uprights, said withdrawal being made by pairs of uprights 1 and 1 ' from the same side of the container, each upright 1, 1 'being joined to a corner of the base 2' by means of a U-section support body 3, 3 'in which the same 10 is mounted with the power to pivot by its lower limb, for a folding back.

A locking device 4, 5 in a straightened position is associated with each upright and comprises a locking piece 4, which forms a latch, bolt or analogue, mounted with the ability to slide longitudinally in said upright 1, 1 'and suitable for enter an adapted reception site 5, which forms a locksmith or analogue, of the support body 3, 3 ', this in a straightened position of said upright 1, 1' and so that the latter 15 is locked in this position by union or solidarity mechanics with said support body 3, 3 'corresponding.

According to the invention, at least one of the two, preferably two, uprights 1 and 1 'of each pair of uprights on one side of the container 3 that share a common maneuvering organ 6, a locking device is associated of cam path 7 as described above.

Naturally, the invention is not limited to the modes of realization described and represented in the accompanying drawings. Modifications remain possible, especially from the point of view of the constitution of the various elements or by substitution of technical equivalents, without thereby leaving the scope of protection of the invention.

Claims (9)

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Locking device for an upright (1) foldable from a rectangular base (2 ') container (2), said upright (1) being joined to one of the corners of the base 2 'by means of a support body (3) of U-section, in which it is mounted with the power to pivot at its lower end, for a tilt folding, said locking device comprising a locking piece (4), which forms a latch, bolt or analogue, mounted with the ability to move in said upright (1) and suitable and intended to cooperate with an adapted reception site (5), which forms a locksmith or analogue, of the support body, this in a straightened position of the mentioned post (1) and so that the latter is locked in this position by union or mechanical solidarity with said support body (3), said blocking part (4) being integral or forming part of a maneuvering organ (6), which also carries the blocking part (4) of another upright (1 ') on the same side of the container (2), locking device characterized in that the locking piece (4) is mounted with the ability to slide longitudinally in the corresponding post (1, 1 ') and because the support body (3) comprises a cam path or cam profile (7) for the maneuvering organ (6), which is suitable, from a locked position of the upright (1) in a straightened state, to transform , guide or influence the movement of the organ (6) under the action of an operator, so that there is a movement at the level of the locking piece (4) that leads to a release of the lock in the straightened position of the stud (1 ), said cam path (7) comprising a ramp or a portion of a circular arc, oriented in such a way that a thrust, retraction or tilt movement of the maneuvering organ (6), in the direction of the exterior or the interior with with respect to the volume of the container (2), in a locked state of the upright (1), automatically causes a longitudinal displacement of the blocking piece (4), which leads to a release of the blockage. 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the ramp or arc portion of cam path calculation (7) is oriented such that a pushing, retracting or tilting movement of the maneuvering organ (6 ), in the direction of the exterior or the interior with respect to the volume of the container (2), in a locked state of the upright (1), automatically causes a longitudinal displacement of the two locking pieces (4) in solidarity with the maneuvering organ (6) , tending towards a release of the blocking of the two uprights (1, 1 '). Device according to claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the support body (3 ') of the other upright (1'), associated with the same maneuvering body (6), also comprises a cam path (7) for the said maneuvering organ (6). Device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the locking piece (4), preferably in the form of a curved finger or a hook, is mounted sliding and free in rotation in an oblong housing ( 8) of the upright (1, 1 ') concerned and because the support body (3, 3') of the upright (1, 1 ') comprises a receiving site in the form of a cut or notch (9) at the level of its upper edge (3 ”), the housing or oblong hole (8) being aligned and partially in correspondence with the receiving site (5) in a straightened position of the upright (1, 1 ') concerned and the blocking state being kept only low the action of gravity, in particular under the action of the weight of the locking piece (4) and / or of the maneuvering organ (6). Device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the or each support body (3, 3 ') comprises a stop member (10), formed or added, intended to ensure the maintenance of the organ of maneuver (6) in the volume of the container (2), not presenting the aforementioned abutment or abutment element (10), possibly as an upper portion or extension of the path or cam profile (7). Device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the cam path (7) is supported or facilitated by a protruding formation (11), formed or added on the wall (12) of the support body in U (3, 3 ') comprising the reception site (5) of the locking piece (4), and by which the maneuvering organ (6) comprises a cam follower (13), if any in its two opposite extremities, in the form of a finger, of a nipple or of a nose added or formed in the maneuvering organ (6), for example in the form of a bar, advantageously forming the or each locking piece (4) the same piece with the maneuvering organ (6). 7. Device according to claim 6, characterized in that the outgoing formation (11) leading the cam path (7) has a concave superfine, advantageously presenting said formation (11), the cam follower (13) and the maneuver bar (6) with the locking parts (4) circular sections. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the cam path (7) consists of an incoming formation, such as a throat or groove, arranged in the wall (12) of the U-shaped support body (3, 3 ') comprising the reception site (5) of the locking piece (4), by withdrawal or trimming and by which the maneuvering organ (6) comprises a cam follower (13), if applicable on its two opposite extremities, 5 in the form of a finger, of a nipple or of a nose, added to or formed in the maneuvering organ (6), for example in the form of a bar, advantageously forming the or each locking piece (4) the same piece with the maneuvering organ (6). 9. Container (2) of type of base (2 ') rectangular and uprights (1, 1') foldable by tilting, the aforementioned folding by pairs of uprights being made on the same side of the container, being in solidarity 10 each upright at a corner of the base by means of a support body (3, 3 ') of U-section in which it is mounted with the power to pivot at its lower end, for a folding by tilt, being associated a locking device in position straightened to each upright and comprising a locking piece (4), which forms a latch, bolt or analogue, mounted with faculty of longitudinal sliding in said upright and suitable and intended to be introduced in a reception site (5 ) adapted, which forms a bolt or analog, 15 support body, this in a straightened position of the mentioned amount and so that the latter is locked in this position by union or mechanical solidarity with said support body, container (2) characterized in that at least one of the two, preferably both, uprights (1, 1 ') of each pair of uprights on one side of the container (2) that share a common maneuvering organ (6) , a locking device according to any one of claims 1 to 8 is associated. twenty