FR3059883B1 - LETTER BOX COMPRISING A REMOVABLE FACADE - Google Patents

Abstract

Box (B) having peripheral walls (B1, B2, B3, B4) which together define an internal volume of the box (B), the box further comprising at least one opening (BO) forming a passage between said internal volume of the box and an area external to the box and at least one door (PO) movable between an open position and a closed position. The box (B) has a front (FX) which extends along an outer face (Pe) of the door to cover at least partially, this facade (FX) is removably assembled using fastening means which have operable actuating parts for assembling or disassembling the facade with respect to the door, these actuating parts are located inside the box when the door is in the closed position.

Description

The present invention relates to the field of boxes having a door such as boxes forming a locker or a mailbox.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is known a box with peripheral walls which together delimit an internal volume of the box, the box further comprising at least one opening forming a passage between said internal volume of the box and an area external to the box, the box comprising at least one door connected to at least one of the peripheral walls so as to be movable between open and closed positions, the door in the open position allowing passage through said opening and the door in the closed position limiting passage through said opening, the door having inner and outer faces which are located on either side of the door so that the inner face is vis-à-vis the internal volume when the door is in the closed position.

Such doors are likely to be vanized and it is therefore often necessary to replace the entire box or at least its door. These replacement operations are complex and expensive.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore desirable to facilitate the maintenance of such a box while minimizing the cost of this maintenance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION To this end, it is proposed according to the invention a box with peripheral walls which together define an internal volume of the box, the box further comprising at least one opening forming a passage between said internal volume of the box and an area external to the box, the box having at least one door connected to at least one of the peripheral walls so as to be movable between open and closed positions, the door in the open position allowing passage through said opening and the door in the closed position limiting passage through said opening, the door having inner and outer faces which are located on either side of the door so that the inner face is vis-à-vis the internal volume when the door is in closed position.

The box according to the invention is essentially characterized in that it comprises a facade which extends along the outer face of the door to cover at least partially, this facade being removably assembled on the door to the door. using fastening means, these fastening means having actuatable actuating parts for assembling or disassembling the facade vis-à-vis the door, these actuating portions being located inside the box when the door is in closed position and being accessible from the outer zone to the box when the door is in the open position.

The facade is assembled on and against the door by the fixing means which comprise actuating parts which are selectively operable to assemble or disassemble the facade vis-à-vis the door.

Since these operating parts are located inside the box (that is to say vis-à-vis the internal volume of the box) when the door is in the closed position, they are inaccessible when the door is in closed position. It is therefore not possible to disassemble the front of the door when the door is in the closed position.

On the other hand, when the door is in the open position, these actuating parts are located outside the box (that is to say, outside and at a distance from the internal zone) and they are then accessible - from the outer zone when the door is in the open position.

In other words the actuating parts of the fastening means are only accessible when the door is in the open position.

This removable front door has several advantages including that of allowing a replacement of the front of the box without having to change the door of the box.

The facade can have a clean and modular aesthetic that allows you to customize the aesthetics of the box without having to change the door. Similarly, the material of the facade can be chosen independently of the constituent material of the door. Thus, the door may be of sheet metal or other material while the facade may be in another material such as wood, cardboard, metal or other plastic material.

Finally, the facade stiffens the door and improve the burglary resistance of the box.

The box according to the invention thus has an improved resistance to vandalism since the facade makes it possible to increase the strength of the box while allowing the replacement of the facade without having to replace the door.

This is particularly advantageous for the maintenance of the box since the door is preserved by a simply replaceable facade.

The cost of maintenance is particularly limited since only the facade can be replaced. Material, transportation and labor costs are lower than if the entire door were to be replaced.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other features and advantages of the invention will emerge clearly from the description which is given below, by way of indication and not by way of limitation, with reference to the appended drawings, in which: FIG. an exploded view, in perspective, of a box according to the invention having a plurality of internal volumes, one selectively closed by a door (the door is here placed in an intermediate position, between its open and closed positions), a facade is shown before its assembly on and against the door via fastening means; - Figure 2 is a perspective view of the front of the box according to the invention (seen from its rear face), while it is attempted to assemble, on this facade, a flap shown in dashed lines, this component being provided to selectively close a mail slot in the box through the front and the door; - Figure 3 is a partial sectional view of the frontage and a label carried by this facade, this section being a sectional plane CC in which the label extends, the CC plane being parallel to the front faces and back of the facade; FIG. 4 is a partial section of the door, the frontage and the label along a section plane BB, this plane BB (vertical plane) being perpendicular to the plane in which the front face of the frontage and transverse extends. the label; - Figure 5 is a partial sectional view of the front and the label along a cutting plane DD, the DD plane (horizontal plane) being perpendicular to the plane in which extends the front face of the front and longitudinal of the label ; - Figure 6 is a perspective view of an area of the facade which has a main recess for receiving a shape tag complementary to the main recess.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As indicated above and shown in Figures 1 to 6, the invention relates to a box B with peripheral walls B1, B2, B3, B4 (here four side walls and a rear wall unreferenced and may be constituted by a support wall of the box) which together define an internal volume of the box B. The internal volume as defined by the peripheral walls B1, B2, B3, B4 and an inner face of the door in the closed position is rectangular parallelepiped shape.

As illustrated in Figure 1, the box may have several internal volumes separated from each other by walls of the box. These internal volumes are preferably identical in form to each other.

In the case of Figure 1, we see four internal volumes each having a clean opening BO forming a passage between said internal volume of the box and an external area to the box B.

At least some of these openings BO are intended to be closed via a gate PO.

For the sake of clarity, only one door is shown, this door for selectively closing one of the openings BO corresponding thereto. It is understood that the box according to the invention may comprise several doors each arranged to selectively allow or limit the passage through one of the openings of the box that corresponds to it. All these PO doors and FX facades are ideally identical to each other and conform to the description that follows.

Thus, the box B comprises at least one opening BO, and at least one door PO connected to at least one of the peripheral walls so as to be movable between open and closed positions.

The door PO in the open position allows passage through said opening BO, between the internal volume and the outer zone. The gate PO in the closed position limits this passage via said opening BO. The door has inner and outer faces Pi, Pe which are located on either side of the door PO so that when the door is in the closed position, the inner face Pi is opposite the volume internal while the outer face Pe of the door is then oriented to the outer zone to the box B.

The box according to the invention can be a locker or a mailbox, in the case of Figures 1 to 6, it is a mailbox.

The box B has a front FX which extends along and vis-à-vis the outer face Pe of the door PO to cover at least partially.

This FX facade is here a panel whose front and rear faces lb are flat and parallel to each other and arranged on either side of the frontage Fx, the rear face lb of the assembled facade on the door PO is placed in screws vis-à-vis the door PO and more particularly its outer face Pe.

This FX facade is removably assembled on the PO door by means of MF fastening means.

The fixing means MF have selectively actuatable MFO actuating parts (for example by screwing or unscrewing) to assemble or disassemble the front panel FX vis-à-vis the door PO.

These MFO actuating portions are positioned so that: when the gate PO is in the closed position, then these MFO actuating portions are located inside the box B and facing the internal area of the box. the box ; and so that - when the gate PO is in the open position, then these MFO actuating portions are accessible from the external zone to the box, that is to say outside and away from the internal volume of the box.

These fixing means MF preferably comprise threaded rods or screws which each pass through one of the OX fixing holes formed through the door until it comes into engagement with the front panel FX in order to clamp it against the door PO.

An actuating portion MFO operable to assemble or disassemble the front panel FX vis-à-vis the door PO may be a head compatible to be operated with a tool such as a wrench or a screwdriver or be a gripping part adapted to be actuated to the hand, without tools. By way of example, an MFO actuating part of an attachment means MF may be, as in FIG. 4, a butterfly nut engaged with a threaded rod which is fixed, for example by screwing, in the front panel FX . This rod passes through the door PO via an OX fixing hole which corresponds to it and enters the FX front from its rear face lb to extend without opening on its front face.

The MF attachment means may be of one or more types and are distributed over the door to firmly hold the assembled facade on and against the door and prevent its tearing. It is also conceivable that the fastening means MX comprise deformable elastic means to allow clip-wise attachment of the facade on the door, this to limit the need for tool to fix the frontage on the door.

In any case, these MFO actuating portions are only accessible when the PO door is in the open position and they are provided to be selectively actuated to keep the FX facade pressed against the door or to permit disassembly and replacement of that facade. FX.

As mentioned before, the FX facade makes it possible to protect and stiffen the door, while allowing a replacement of the FX façade.

Box B according to the invention is thus resistant and easy to maintain in a state at a lower cost. In addition the facade may have a front face aesthetic, for example printed or painted or having a laminated film in a particular color which is particularly advantageous to easily vary the aesthetics of the box.

This is particularly useful when you want to change the aesthetics of the mailbox or mailboxes without changing the doors / doors to see all the furniture mailboxes as is often the case now.

As illustrated in the various figures: the front panel FX is carried exclusively by the door on which it is fixed by means of said fixing means MF; and - the connection between said at least one door PO and at least one of the peripheral walls B3 comprises at least one hinge P6 for pivoting the door PO with respect to the peripheral walls of the box B.

The box may also comprise a lock mounted preferentially on the door or on one of the peripheral walls of the box, this lock, under the action of a means for actuating the lock, selectively adopting locking and locking configurations. unlocking.

This lock can be, as described below, a mechanical key lock or electromagnetic actuated by key, code, RFID badge or other support. This lock may optionally be coupled with an electromechanical actuator operatively connected to a badge reader remote from the door or fixed to the door.

The means for actuating the lock may comprise a badge reader remote from the box or possibly assembled on the box.

Preferably, the lock is implanted so that once the door is open, it is possible to assemble or remove the facade vis-à-vis the door without having to disassemble the lock that is assembled on the door, regardless of the facade .

In all cases, the lock SI is arranged: firstly, that in a lock configuration, it prevents the passage of the door from its closed position to its open position; and for the other hand, in the unlocking configuration, it allows the passage of the door from its closed position to its open position.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the facade may comprise a recess E1 to allow the passage of said means for actuating the lock S1, for example if this actuation means is a key.

This recess El made through the facade is located to allow the passage of the actuating means of the lock SI. It is thus possible, from the outer zone to the box to pass the actuating means, typically a key or another device for controlling the lock, to move it from its locking configuration to its unlocking configuration and vice versa.

In the case illustrated in FIG. 1, the lock SI has a barrel of cylindrical external shape and said recess E1 of the front panel FX, which allows the passage of the means for actuating the lock, is of complementary shape to said cylindrical outer shape of the barrel. .

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 4, the door has peripheral portions 20 which extend from a plane of the outside face Pe of the door towards the outer zone of the box. Each of these peripheral portions 20 extends along a peripheral edge 21 of the FX facade.

More specifically, each of the peripheral portions 20 of the door PO extends in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the outer face Pe of the door. These peripheral portions 20 together form a continuous peripheral edge of the gate PO which extends along the peripheral edge 21 of the FX facade.

This continuous peripheral edge 20 of the door forms a protection of the peripheral edge 21 of the facade. In addition, this continuous peripheral edge of the door forms an anti-vandalism obstacle which opposes the passage of a tool between the front and the outer face of the door. This limits the risk of tearing off the facade. Ideally the peripheral edge of the door extends at least as far as the alignment of a plane of the front face of the FX facade.

In some embodiments, this peripheral edge 21 of the front panel FX may have a peripheral rebate in which extends all or part of the peripheral portion 20 of the door.

As illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the box has a slot 23 for introducing mail passing through the front and the door to create access through the door between the internal volume and the outer area.

In a particular embodiment, the box B also comprises a flap V pivotally mounted on the front FX by means of at least one hinge. This flap V is illustrated in dashed lines in FIG. 2 before it is assembled on the FX facade.

This shutter V (assembled on the front FX itself assembled on the door PO) is movable between a folded position in which it closes the mail introduction slot 23 and a passage position in which it is spaced from the slot 23 to allow mail to pass through the slot.

Each at least one hinge for connecting the shutter to the facade is fixed, for example by screwing on the one hand on the FX front and on the other hand on the flap.

Thus, the shutter V is integrally supported by the facade via the hinge or hinges. It should be noted that this flap can be pushing (opening by movement towards the inside of the box) or pulling (opening by deflection towards the outside of the box). In the latter case, the flap generally provides protection against rain or dust.

Fixing lugs PI, P2, P3 P4 hinges are preferably arranged to come in complementary locations C1, C2, C3, C4 respectively formed in the thickness of the front FX. These tabs are arranged to extend between the FX facade and the PO door when the facade is assembled on the door.

This limits the risk of tearing of the flap V since to access the brackets PI, P2, P3, P4 hinges, it is necessary to dismantle the front of the door and therefore necessarily have managed to open the door.

These fixing lugs PI, P2, P3 P4 are preferably formed outside a frame C5 intended to extend through the door and the front, in the slot 23. This frame C5 forms a border delimiting any the inner periphery of the passage formed by the slot 23 through the door and the facade. Thus, this frame covers an interface zone between the facade and the door and it prevents an ill-intentioned person can, via the slot, introduce a tool / lever between the facade and the door. This aspect is favorable to limit a risk of vandalism.

According to a preferred embodiment, the front panel FX of the box B can be shaped to carry at least one label 2. For this purpose, this front FX having a main recess 11 opening on the front face la to place a label 2. The label 2 is dimensioned so that when it is placed in the main recess 11 with its rear face in contact against a bottom liid of the recess, the label is then entirely placed in this main recess 11.

The front face 2e of the label 2 has a message (not shown in the figures) readable by an observer on the side of the front face 2e. This message may be written on this front face of the label, for example if the label is not transparent or translucent, or on a back side 2f of the label or on a back layer of the label when this label is at least partially transparent / translucent to allow an observer on the side of the front side of the label to observe the message due to the transparency of the label.

Thus, in a particular embodiment, the label may be formed of a single layer of a transparent material on a rear face of which is inscribed or engraved the message so that it is visible, through the label, since the front side of the label.

According to another particular mode, the label may be formed of several removable layers or not of each other, one of these layers being a transparent or translucent front layer and the other of these layers being a back layer of the label carrying the message so that this message is visible from the front of the label and through the transparent / translucent front layer of the label.

The front layer may be transparent plastic material while the back side may be paper or cardboard or any other material on which the message can be registered. In the latter mode, the message is written on one side of the back layer and then this face of the back layer is placed opposite the transparent front layer and finally this multilayer label is placed in the main recess 11. This multilayer label is maintained in this recess 11 in the same manner as the monolayer / monoblock label described hereinafter.

A combination of these modes is also possible with part of the message written on one of the layers of the label and with another part of the message written on another layer of the label so that the two parts of this message can be interchangeable. and visible from the front of the label. The user can thus be autonomous to modify the message of the label. The label 2 has first and second lateral edges 2a, 2b which extend on either side of the label 2, and upper and lower edges 2c, 2d respectively placed on either side of the label 2 and each going from the first lateral edge 2a to the second lateral edge 2b of the label.

This label is dimensioned so that the distance between the upper edge of the label 2c and the edge 11c of the main recess 11 which faces it is strictly less than 0.1 mm and for the distance between the lower edge 2d of the label and the edge 11d of the main recess 11 which faces it is strictly less than 0.1 mm.

The small distances between the edges of the label and the corresponding edges of the main recess of the facade make it difficult for a tool to pass between the label and the facade. Extraction of the label, using a tool, from an area on the side of the front face of the facade is made difficult.

As illustrated in FIGS. 3 to 6, first and second grooves 12a, 12b are formed in the front panel FX, on either side of the main recess 11.

The first groove 12a is formed along a first side edge 11a of the main recess for receiving a first edge 2a of the label 2 when the latter is placed in the main recess 11 and the second groove 12b is formed along a second lateral edge 11b of the main recess 11 to receive a second edge 2b of the label when it is placed in the main recess 11.

Ideally, the facade further comprises a through hole 13 which passes through the facade and extends from its rear face lb to a central zone of a bottom of the main recess 11. This orifice 13 is adapted to the passage of means for moving the label 2 away from the bottom of the main recess and pushing the label 2 out of this main recess.

Furthermore, the door has a complementary orifice 13b placed opposite the orifice 13 which passes through the facade so as to allow a passage, via the complementary orifice 13b, of a tool for moving the label 2 aside. .

Thus, the label is inserted via the main recess 11 and once it is placed therein, the first and second edges of the label 2a, 2b are then respectively in the first and second grooves 12a, 12b . To remove the label, it is then necessary either to exert a thrust on its rear face via the orifice 13 crossing the door and the facade (if there is one), or to exert a traction on the label using a tool such as a suction cup. This limits the risk of the label accidentally coming out of the recess 11.

Ideally, the through hole 13 and the complementary orifice 13b are of sizes allowing the passage of a finger of 2 cm in diameter.

Preferably, the first groove 12a is open over its entire length to open on the rear face lb of the facade and the second groove 12b is open over its entire length to open on the rear face lb of the FX facade. This first groove 12a has a first side extending along the first groove which is open to open into the main recess 11 between the first side edge 11a of the main recess and the bottom lie. Ideally, the distance between the edge 11a and the bottom lie is between 1 and 3 times the thickness of the label at its first edge 2a.

Similarly, the second groove 12b has a first side extending along this groove which is open to open into the main recess 11 between the second side edge 11b and the bottom lie. Ideally, the distance between the edge 11b and the bottom lie is between 1 and 3 times the thickness of the label at its second edge 2b.

Thus, as illustrated in FIG. 5, the label can be curved (curvature shape presented in dotted lines) under the effect of a force M and its first and second lateral edges 2a, 2b then tend to pivot with respect to edges 11a, 11b of the main recess 11 and to sink into the first and second grooves 12a, 12b, behind the plane in which extends the bottom of the main recess 11.

When the label is no longer supported against at least one of the edges 11a, 11b, it can then be extracted from the recess.

Similarly, the insertion of the label 2 in the main recess 11 is firstly curving the label and then placing its ends in the grooves 12a, 12b. Just loosen the label so that it is flat and plate itself against the bottom binds. Insertion and extraction of the label is easy as long as a given curvature is applied to the label. As long as this label is not curved, it is held firmly in the main recess. These shapes of the first and second grooves 12a, 12b facilitate the extraction and insertion movement of the label 2 since the first and second grooves have clearances allowing the free movement of the edges of the label towards the back side.

The manufacture of the facade to wear a label is particularly simple since it can be summarized in: - the formation of a parallelepiped panel; - The formation of a main recess 11 opening on the front face of the facade, this main recess 11 having a bottom lie between a front plane in which the front face la extends and a rear plane in which extends the rear face lb; - possibly the formation of a through hole 13 and extending between the bottom of the main recess lies and the rear face lb of the facade; - The formation of a first lateral recess opening on the rear face 1b and opening into the main recess 11 while remaining at a distance from the front face 1a, this first lateral recess extending along and in front of the first edge 11a. the main recess to thereby form the first groove 12a adapted to receive a first edge 2a of the label; - The formation of a second lateral recess opening on the rear face 1b and opening into the main recess 11 while remaining at a distance from the front face 1a, this second lateral recess extending along and in front of the second edge 11b of the main recess so as to form the second groove 12b adapted to receive a second edge 2b of the label 2.

The formation of these recesses 11, 12a, 12b and 13 allows obtaining cheaply a monobloc label door fully functional and integrated into the facade.

This facade in one and the same piece can be obtained by machining (removal of material) or by molding.

The molding can be done in a simple manner using a rear molding shell having two side inserts to form the two grooves 12a, 12b and a front molding shell having an insert to form the main recess 11 with its bottom is bound, and its edges li, 11b, 11c, lld. The invention is not limited to what has just been described with reference to the figures, in particular, although the label has been described as a deformable plate of constant thickness, it is possible that the label 2 has several thicknesses measured between its front and rear faces 2e, 2f.

For example, at the side regions of the label placed in the first and second grooves 12a, 12b, the label may have a first thickness, and at a central zone of the label located vis-à- screw bottom of the main recess 11, the label may have a second thickness which is greater than said first thickness.

This allows to bring the front face 2nd of the label of the front face of the front. Ideally, to improve the aesthetics and readability of the label these faces and the 2nd and can extend in the same plane.

Finally, it should be noted that the facade, whether or not in the form of a panel, can be arranged to carry several labels.

Moreover, it is also possible for the door and the facade to have no through orifice 13, 13b to push the label 2.

In this case, the label can be extracted from the corresponding main recess with a tool such as a suction cup applied to the front face of the label.

Finally, it should be noted that the label or labels and the main recess or recesses 11 which correspond to them may have complementary shapes other than rectangular shapes, such as for example hexagonal shapes or any other shape.

Claims (9)

CLAIMS! Box (B) with peripheral walls (SI, B2, B3, B.4) which together define an internal volume of the box (B), the box further comprising at least one. opening (BO) forming a passage between said internal volume of the box and an area external to the box, the box comprising at least one door (PO) connected to at least one of the peripheral walls so as to be movable between positions open and closed, the door (PO) in the open position allowing passage through said opening (BO) and the door in the closed position limiting the passage through said opening, the door having inner and outer faces which are located on the side and other of the door so that the inner face is vis-à-vis the internal volume when the door is in the closed position, characterized in that the box (B) has a front (FX) which extends the along the outer face (Pe) of the door to cover at least partially, this facade (FX) being assembled so. removable on the door (PO) by means of fastening means (MF), these fastening means having actuating parts (MFO) operable to assemble or disassemble the facade with respect to the door, these parts actuators being located inside the box when the door is in the closed position and being accessible from the zone outside the box when: the door is in the open position and in which there door has peripheral parts which extend from a plane of the outer face of the door towards the outer zone of the box, each of these peripheral portions extend along a peripheral edge of the facade. 2. Box according to claim 1, wherein said facade is carried exclusively by the door on which it is fixed by means of said fixing means. 3r Box according to any one of claims 1 or 2, wherein said connection between said at least one door and at least one, peripheral walls comprises at least one hinge to rotate the door relative to the peripheral walls of the box . 4. Box according to any one of claims 1 to 3, comprising · a lock which, under the action of a means for actuating the lock, selectively adopts locking and unlocking configurations, the lock in locking configuration being arranged to prohibit the passage of. the door from its closed position to its open position and the lock in the unlocking configuration being arranged to allow the passage of the door from its closed position to its open position. 5. Box according to claim 4, wherein the front has a recess to allow passage of said operating means of the lock. S, box according to claim 5, wherein the lock has a barrel of cylindrical outer shape and said recess of the facade which allows the passage of the means of actioralement of the lock is of complementary form of said cylindrical external form: barrel. A box according to any one of claims 1 to 6, having an introducer slot passing through the facade and the door to create access through the door between the internal volume and the zone. external, 8. Box according to claim Ί, wherein a flap is pivotally mounted on the facade by means of at least one hinge, this flap (V) being movable between a folded position in which it closes the insertion slot. of mail and a passage position in which it is removed from the slot to allow passage through the slot. 9. Box: according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the box is a locker or a mailbox. 10. Box according to any one of claims 8, wherein the facade presented a. front face (la) and a rear face (1b) disposed on either side of the facade (Fx), the rear face (lfo) of the facade assembled on the door being placed vis-à-vis the door > this facade having a main recess (11) opening on the front face (la) to place a label (2), first and second grooves (12a, 12b) being formed in the front, on both sides of the main recess (11), the first groove (12a) being formed. along a first lateral edge (11a) of the main recess for receiving a first edge (2a) of the label: (2) when it is placed in the main recess (11) and the second groove (12b) being formed along a second side edge (11b) of the main recess (11) to receive a second edge (2b) of the label when it is placed in the main recess (it ). . 11. Box according to claim 10, wherein the facade comprises a through orifice (X3) the front and if extending from its rear face (1b) to a central zone of a bottom (island) of 1 / main recess ( 11), this orifice (13), the door has a complementary orifice (13b) placed vis-à-vis the orifice (13) which crosses the facade so as to allow the. passing a tool to move the label (2) away from the bottom (lie) of the main recess and push the label (2) out of this main recess.