FR2669894A1 - Folding parallelepipedic case - Google Patents

Abstract

a) Folding parallelepipedic case. b) Folding parallelepipedic case characterised in that it consists of: - a rectangular bottom (1), - four side rims (2) which are substantially perpendicular to the bottom (1) and cooperate with the latter in order to define a trough (3), - four side panel (5) respectively articulated to the upper ends of the side rims (2) such that they can be moved between a position of use in which they are respectively located essentially in the extension of the side rims (2), and a storage position in which they are folded into the trough (3), approximately parallel with the bottom (1), and - devices for holding and for locking the side panels (5) in the position of use, - the side rims (2) having different heights, depending on the thickness of the side panels (5), in order to allow the folding of the latter one upon the other and/or one beside the other inside the trough (3).

Description

"Collapsible parallelepiped box"
The present invention relates to a collapsible parallelepiped box.

 There are numerous situations in which it is essential to package or transport loose parts in handling cases or other containers which may have variable dimensions. These containers are not without posing a certain number of problems, during their use, since they must be able to allow to easily extract the parts which they contain, but, also and especially during their storage in vacuum taking into account of the large volume that they can then occupy.

 The object of the present invention is to remedy these drawbacks by proposing a collapsible parallelepipedic box offering its user all the conveniences that he may wish to allow him to handle the parts contained therein, but which at the same time can very easily be folded down so that allow it to be stored in a minimal volume.

 According to the invention, this parallelepiped box is characterized in that it is constituted by a rectangular bottom, four side edges substantially perpendicular to the bottom and cooperating with it so as to define a bucket, four side panels respectively hinged to the the upper end of the side edges so as to be able to move between a position of use in which they are respectively located essentially in the extension of the side edges, and a storage position in which they are folded back into the bucket, approximately parallel to the bottom, as well as holding and locking members of the side panels in the position of use, the side flanges having different heights, depending on the thickness of the side panels so as to allow the folding of the latter on each other and / or next to each other inside the bucket.

 Such a box can of course have variable dimensions; its field of application is extremely wide, and, in addition to handling cases, one can for example note the possibility of adapting the invention to containers for shipping goods by land, sea or air freight: in fact, the usual containers, which are returned empty, are effectively billed by the charterers according to the volume occupied in the means of transport, and the fact of being able to considerably reduce the volume of such containers presents a significant economic advantage.

 Furthermore, it should be noted that the dimensions of the box according to the invention are not arbitrary, and in particular that, to obtain the desired parallelepiped shape, it is essential that the side panels have variable heights, depending on the dimensions of the side edges.

 Although the box according to the invention can be made of any material, an almost general choice is made of a metal sheet which has the advantage of being inexpensive, and, in parallel, lends itself to particularly easy machining.

 For many years, it has become the custom to use in warehouses, when the possibility arises, fork-lift trucks facilitating the stacking and handling of stored products. According to a preferred characteristic of 1 invention allowing the use of such carriages, feet are provided in the form of angles at the lateral edges of the trough these feet are of course dimensioned so as to allow the stacking of the boxes as well storage position than in use position.

 According to another characteristic of the invention, the box comprises two auxiliary side panels which fold side by side and preferably directly on the bottom as well as two main side panels which fold one over the other and preferably above the two auxiliary side panels.

 This characteristic, although not limiting of 1 invention, corresponds to the configuration of the box adapted in general.

 To facilitate the movement of the side panels from the storage position to the use position or vice versa, it may be advantageous to provide these and in particular the auxiliary side panels with handles; the shape and dimensions of these must be chosen so as not to hinder the folding of the box in the use position.

 In addition and in particular when the box is used for the transport of goods, it is necessary to provide a cover making it possible to close it in the position of use. This cover is advantageously articulated at the end opposite the bottom of one of the main side panels so that, in the storage position, it can be folded over the latter, and in particular on its face opposite the bottom; such a cover has the advantage of not increasing the size of the box in the storage position in accordance with the invention, it can also cooperate with locking members or even with a retractable handle.

 Among the essential characteristics of the box which is the subject of the invention, one can note the particular configuration of the members for holding and locking the side panels in the position of use.

 According to a preferred characteristic of the invention, the members for holding the side panels in the use position consist of bends provided on the edges of the side panels constituting the edges of the box in the use position so as to define grooves and ribs, each groove / rib of a side panel cooperating with a rib / groove of the adjoining side panel to lock the box in the position of use and prevent any movement beyond this position.

 In the general case in which the box is made of metal sheet, it has proved particularly advantageous to provide, on the one hand, the main side panels of U-shaped bends facing the inside of the box, and, d 'on the other hand, the auxiliary side panels of double bends also U-shaped facing outwards.

 It is clear that the manufacture of such a box is particularly simple and inexpensive.

 For the box according to the invention to be entirely satisfactory, it is essential that the members for holding the side panels in the use position cooperate with locking members preventing any folding of these panels in the storage position.

 To this end, and according to another characteristic of the invention, there are provided elastic tabs fixed on an edge folded inwards from the main side panels, at the edges of the box by one of their ends or first ends. and coming to be applied by their opposite ends or second ends behind the auxiliary side panels; the second ends of these elastic tabs which are four in number respectively cooperate with orifices provided in the folded edges in which they can be retracted by force to allow the unlocking of the side panels.

 According to the invention, one or more side panels, in particular the two main side panels, can be deployed horizontally outwards so as to define work tables; articulated feet forming a crutch keep this or these panels in this position. I1 is of course essential that these feet are articulated to allow them to fold against the associated panel in the storage position.

 According to another characteristic of the invention, one of the side panels, preferably one of the main side panels, is provided with an opening extending if necessary at the level of the associated side rim and cooperating, on the one hand , with a shelf fixed to its lower part, if necessary in extension of the bottom, and, on the other hand, with a lifting flap to allow the distribution of parts contained in the box.

 This configuration is particularly advantageous when the box is used as a handling box.

The characteristics of the foldable parallelepiped box which is the subject of the invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which
- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a parallelepiped box according to the invention in an intermediate position between the position of use and the storage position.

 - Figure 2 is a detailed sectional view along the axis II-II of Figure 1 in the position of use.

 - Figure 3 shows three boxes stacked in the storage position.

 - Figure 4 shows the three boxes of Figure 3 stacked in the use position.

 - Figure 5 shows the stack of two boxes in the storage position and a particular box in the use position.

 - Figure 6 shows three boxes stacked in a particular configuration of the position of use.

 According to Figure 1, the box which is made of metal sheet is schematically constituted by a rectangular bottom 1 surrounded by four lateral flanges 2 perpendicular thereto; the bottom 1 and the side edges 2 cooperate to form a trough 3.

 Hinge pins 4 parallel to the bottom 1 are mounted at the upper edges 20 of the side edges 2 so as to allow the pivoting of side panels 5 between a position of use shown in Figure 4 in which they are respectively located in the extension of the side edges 2 and a storage position shown in FIG. 3 in which they are folded back into the trough 3 approximately parallel to the bottom 1.

 To allow this folding down, the lateral flanges 2 have different heights, and the articulation axes 4 are located at different levels which depend on the thickness of the lateral panels 5.

 According to FIG. 1, two auxiliary lateral edges 21 of minimum height can be distinguished as well as two main lateral edges 22 and 23 of different heights and greater than those of the auxiliary lateral edges 21. The auxiliary lateral edges 21 and the main lateral edges 22, 23 cooperate respectively with auxiliary side panels 51 and main side panels 52 and 53 whose heights are determined so as to obtain a parallelepiped shape in the position of use (Figure 4).

 According to Figure 1, the two auxiliary side panels 51 fold side by side directly on the bottom 1 while the main side panels 53 and 52 fold one over the other and above the auxiliary side panels 51. A flat cover, of which only the articulation members 6 are shown in FIG. 1, is also articulated on the main side panel 53; this cover, which makes it possible to close the box in the use position, folds up in the storage position against the face of the main side panel 53 opposite the bottom 1.

 Furthermore, and according to Figures 1 and 3 to 6, the bucket 3 is provided at its lateral edges with feet 7 in the form of angles which are dimensioned so as to allow the stacking of the boxes in the storage position (Figure 3 ) or in the use position (Figure 4). Handles 8 are also provided on the external faces of the auxiliary side panels 51 to facilitate their movement between these two positions.

 Brackets 33 shown in Figure 1 but not in the other figures for clarity are welded to the inner part of the feet 7 so as to guarantee the existence, between two superimposed boxes, of a space allowing the passage of the fins elevators.

 According to Figures 1 and 2, the edges 50 of the main side panels 52, 53, defining the edges of the box in the use position, are provided with U-shaped bends 9 which are turned towards the inside of the box and each define ., on the one hand, a groove 10, and, on the other hand, a rib 11.

 The corresponding edges of the auxiliary side panels 51 are in turn provided with double bends 12 also in the form of U but which are turned towards the outside of the box; similar to the bends 9, the double bends 12 define, on the one hand, a groove 13, and, on the other hand, a rib 14. In the position of use, each groove 10 of a main side panel 52 or 53 cooperates with a rib 14 of the auxiliary side panel 51 adjacent, and each groove 13 of an auxiliary side panel 51 cooperates with a rib 11 of the adjacent main side panel 52 or 53. It is clear that this configuration makes it possible to maintain the 'set of side panels 5 in the use position avoiding any movement beyond this position.

 In accordance with FIGS. 1 and 6, it is possible, in the position of use, to deploy only three of the side panels 51, 53 in the extension of the side edges 2 and to keep the fourth panel free around its axis of articulation 4 52.

 According to Figure 1, the panel 52 is deployed horizontally and held in this position by an articulated foot forming a stand; a work table is thus defined which can prove to be particularly practical for the user.

 In accordance with FIG. 6, the side panels 52, 52 ′ of several boxes stacked one on the other are freely folded down around their articulation axis 4; this configuration can prove to be particularly practical when the boxes are used as handling boxes and contain different parts which are stored in the buckets 3. The user can in fact thus take, as and when required, the different parts stored in the superimposed buckets.

 According to FIG. 1, the upper edges 16 of the side panels 5 are folded down essentially at a right angle towards the inside of the box. The lower faces of the edges 16 of the main side panels 52 and 53 carry, at the edges 50 of the box, elastic tabs 17 whose role is to prevent any unwanted folding of the panels 5 in the storage position when they are deployed in position of use. These legs 17 are four in number; they are fixed by a first of their ends 18 on the edges 16, while their second end 19 is applied behind the auxiliary side panels 51 in the position of use so as to block them in this position. The second ends 19 lugs 17 also cooperate with orifices 24 of the edges 16 in which they can be retracted by force along the arrow A to allow the panels 5 to be unlocked.

 According to FIGS. 4 and 5, special boxes 25 are provided in which the main side panel 53 ′ is provided with an opening 26 which extends at the level of the side rim 23 ′ associated up to the bottom 1 and cooperates in its part lower with a shelf 27 so as to allow and facilitate the distribution of the parts contained in the box. A lifting flap 28 makes it possible to close the opening 26 if necessary.

 The edges of the flap 28 carry a pair of ears 29 capable of cooperating with two pairs of ears 30, 31 provided on the side panel 53 'at the periphery of the flap 28 and above the opening 26. An axis 32 formed of three parts articulated on each other allows either to associate the pairs of ears 29 and 30 to fix the flap 28 in a high position shown in Figure 5 in which the opening 26 is left free to allow manipulation of the parts contained in the bucket 3, ie of associating the pairs of ears 29 and 31 to fix the flap 28 in a low position shown in FIG. 4 hermetically closing the box 25.

Claims (10)

CLAIMS side of the others inside the bucket (3). the latter on top of each other and / or one at the side (5) so as to allow the folding of different ones, depending on the thickness of the side panel panels (5) in the position of use, - the side edges (2 ) having bottom heights (1), as well as, - holding and locking members in the bucket (3), approximately parallel to the storage position in which they are folded, prolongation of the side edges (2), and a respectively located essentially in the position of use in which they are lateral (2) in order to be able to move between an articulated at the upper end of the edges so as to define a bucket (3), - four lateral panels (5) respectively pendular at the bottom (1) and cooperating with it  1 ") Collapsible parallelepiped box, characterized in that it consists of - a rectangular bottom (1), - four lateral edges (2) substantially per  2 ") Box according to claim 1, characterized in that it is made of metal sheet.  3 ") A box according to any one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the bucket (3) is provided, at its lateral edges, with feet (7) in the form of angle bars dimensioned so as to allow the stacking of boxes in storage position and in use position.  4 ") Box according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it comprises two auxiliary side panels (51) folding side by side and preferably directly on the bottom (1) as well as two main side panels (52, 53) folding one over the other and preferably above the two auxiliary side panels (51).  5 ") A box according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that a cover (6) is articulated at the end opposite the bottom (1) of one of the main side panels (53), this cover closing the box in the use position and being folded over the associated side panel (53), in particular on the face of the latter opposite the bottom (1) in the storage position.  6) A box according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the members for holding the side panels (5) in the position of use consist of bends (9, 12) provided on the edges (50) side panels (5) constituting the edges of the box in the position of use so as to define grooves (10, 13) and ribs (11, 14), each groove / rib of a side panel cooperating with a rib / groove in the adjoining side panel to lock the box in the use position.  7 ") Box according to claim 6, characterized in that the main side panels (52, 53) are provided with U-shaped bends (9) facing the inside of the box while the auxiliary side panels (51) are provided with double bends (12) also in the shape of a U facing outwards.  8) A box according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the locking members of the side panels (5) in the use position consist of elastic tabs (17) fixed on a folded edge (16) main side panels (52, 53) at the edges (50) of the box, by one of their ends (18) or first end, and being applied by their opposite end (19) or second end behind auxiliary side panels (51) to prevent their return to the storage position, the second ends (19) of the elastic tabs (17) cooperating respectively with orifices (24) provided in the folded edges (16) in which they can be retracted by force to allow the unlocking of the side panels (51).  9 ") Box according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that one of the side panels (5), preferably one of the main side panels (52, 53), is capable of being deployed horizontally outwards and held in this position by means of an articulated foot (15) forming a stand so as to define a work table.  10) A box according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that one of the side panels (5), preferably one of the main side panels (53 '), is provided with an opening (26 ) extending if necessary at the level of the associated lateral rim (23 ′) and cooperating, on the one hand, with a shelf (27) fixed to its lower part if necessary in extension of the bottom (1), and, on the other hand, with a lifting flap (28) to allow the distribution of parts contained in the box.