FR3091268A1 - TRANSPORT CASE WITH FOLDABLE INTERNAL WALL - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a transport case (10) extending in a longitudinal direction X and comprising a floor (15), a ceiling (16), a first longitudinal side wall (11) and a second longitudinal side wall (12). , a rear door (13), and a transverse front wall (14) which define the interior space of the box (10), the box (10) comprising at least one foldable internal wall (20) capable of compartmentalizing the space interior in at least two compartments. The at least one wall (20) has an upper portion (30), a lower portion (40), a first joint (50) between the upper portion (30) and the lower portion (40), an upper joint (60) between the upper portion (30) and the ceiling (16), said wall (20) having an unfolded position in which the lower portion (40) extends the upper portion (30) in the same plane, and having a folded position in which the upper portion (30) is folded over at the upper articulation (60) against the ceiling (16) and the lower portion (40) is folded over at the first articulation (50) against one of the side walls (11, 12) or the front wall (14).

Description

Description

Title of the invention: TRANSPORT CASE WITH FOLDABLE INTERNAL WALL

The present invention relates to a transport case extending in a longitudinal direction X and comprising a floor, a ceiling, a first longitudinal side wall, a second longitudinal side wall, a rear door, and a transverse front wall which define the interior space of the box, the box comprising at least one foldable internal wall capable of dividing the interior space into at least two compartments.

In the present description, the terms "interior" / "internal" and "exterior" / "external" designate the region inside and outside the box, respectively.

A transport case is intended to transport products, and is intended to be mounted on a vehicle (for example a truck).

In the case where a transport case must contain a plurality of groups of products, it is desirable, for example for organizational reasons, that each group is in a compartment, isolated from other products. It is then necessary to compartmentalize the interior space of the box into several separate compartments, for example two compartments.

This wall must also be retractable and liftable (removable), in the case where the interior space of the box is used in one piece, without being compartmentalized.

Removable walls are known, such as that described in document LR 3043666.

However, there is a need to improve the characteristics of such removable walls.

Description of the invention

The invention aims to provide at least one internal wall in a transport box which allows to compartmentalize the interior space of the box into several compartments isolated from each other, and which is removable, in the most practical way possible.

This object is achieved thanks to the fact that the at least one wall has an upper portion, a lower portion, a first articulation between the upper portion and said lower portion, an upper articulation between the upper portion and the ceiling, the wall having an unfolded position in which the lower portion extends the upper portion in the same plane, and having a folded position in which the upper portion is folded at the upper joint against the ceiling and the lower portion is folded at the level of the first articulation against one of the side walls or the front wall.

Thanks to these provisions, the interior space of the transport case is able to be divided into two compartments by a wall, this wall being removable and easily retractable when one wishes to benefit from this interior space without separation.

In addition, Γ articulation between an upper portion and a lower portion of the wall makes it possible to adapt to all the widths or depths of the truck and all the positions of the wall relative to the ceiling in the transport case, in varying the relative heights of the upper portion and the lower portion.

Advantageously, the wall is provided with an angle limiter so that the maximum angle 0 of folding of the lower portion relative to the upper portion from the unfolded position is less than 120 °.

This prevents folding of the lower portion against the upper portion.

Advantageously, the box also includes a mechanism for blocking the internal wall in the folded position.

This prevents tilting of the wall under the effect of its own weight, and secures the body during transport.

Advantageously, the blocking mechanism comprises a first device for blocking the upper portion against the ceiling and a second device for blocking the lower portion against one of the side walls or the front wall.

Thus, the blocking of the wall is more effective.

Advantageously, the at least one wall extends in the longitudinal direction X, and the lower portion is folded against one of the side walls in the folded position.

Advantageously, the at least one wall extends in a plane transverse to the longitudinal direction X, and the lower portion is folded against the front wall in the folded position.

Advantageously, at least one of the internal walls extends from one of the side walls to a longitudinal intermediate wall located at a distance from the side walls, or extends from the front wall to a transverse intermediate wall located at distance from the front wall and the rear door.

Thus, the division of the body into compartments is more versatile.

For example, the intermediate wall is a foldable internal wall.

Advantageously, the at least one internal wall is thermally insulating.

Thus, one can compartmentalize the body into several compartments in each of which one is able to establish and maintain a different temperature from the adjacent compartment or compartments.

The invention will be better understood and its advantages will appear better on reading the detailed description which follows, of embodiments shown by way of nonlimiting examples. The description refers to the accompanying drawings in which: [0026] [fig.l] is a perspective view from the front of a transport case according to the invention, [0027] [fig.2] is a view in perspective and from the rear of a transport case according to the invention, [fig. 3] is an enlargement of the articulation between the upper portion and the lower portion of a wall in the unfolded position,

[Fig.4] is an enlargement of the joint between the upper portion and the lower portion of a wall in the folded position,

[Fig.5] is an enlargement of the second device for blocking the lower portion of a wall in the folded position against one of the side walls of the box,

[Fig.6] is a top view of a transport case according to the invention.

Detailed description of the invention

Figure 1 illustrates a transport case 10 according to the invention.

The transport case 10 extends in a longitudinal direction X and comprises a floor 15, a ceiling 16, a first longitudinal side wall 11 and a second longitudinal side wall 12, a rear door 13, and a front wall 14 transverse which define the interior space of the body 10. The interior space of the body 10 has a height H which is equal to the distance between the floor 15 and the ceiling 16.

The first side wall 11 and the second side wall 12 are parallel.

The front wall 14 and the rear door 13 (in the closed position) thus extend in two transverse planes which are perpendicular to the longitudinal direction X.

The rear door 13 has two leaves, each articulated on one of the side walls (11,12).

Alternatively, the rear door 13 has a single leaf, or at least three leaves.

More generally, the rear door 13 is any closure device capable of closing or closing the rear end of the body 10, for example a curtain.

In normal use of the transport case 10 (for example carried by a truck on a substantially horizontal road), the longitudinal direction X is horizontal, and a transverse plane is vertical.

In Figure 1, the body 10 is seen from the rear, with the rear door 13 (which has two leaves) open.

The box 10 has at least one foldable internal wall 20. This wall 20 comprises an upper portion 30 with an upper edge 36, a lower portion 40 and a first articulation 50 between the upper portion 30 and the lower portion 40.

The wall 20 further comprises an upper articulation 60 which articulates the upper portion 30 and therefore the wall 20 with the ceiling 16.

An articulation such as the upper articulation 60, which is capable of folding a wall such as the wall 20 against a horizontal ceiling, is known per se, and will not be described here.

For example, the upper articulation 60 is between the upper edge 36 and the ceiling 16.

The wall 20 has an unfolded position and a folded position.

In Figure 1, the body 10 has a fixed wall PF in the foreground, which extends in the longitudinal direction. This fixed wall PF is rigidly fixed to the ground 15 and to the ceiling 16 of the body 10.

This fixed wall PF is extended longitudinally by a first wall 20, in the background, which is in the unfolded position. This first wall 20 is extended longitudinally by a second wall 20, in the background, which is in the folded position.

The wall 20 in its unfolded position is vertical, and the lower portion 40 extends the upper portion 30 in the same vertical plane.

The wall 20 is thus able to compartmentalize the interior space in the longitudinal direction into two compartments, each compartment therefore extending in the longitudinal direction (which is its largest dimension).

The height of the wall 20 (in the unfolded position) is equal to the height H of the interior space of the body 10. The lower edge 45 of the lower portion 40 of the wall 20 is thus in contact with the ground 15, and the upper edge 36 of the upper portion 30 is also in contact with the ceiling 16, which contributes to sealing between the two compartments separated by the wall 20.

Advantageously, the lower edge 45 and the upper edge 36 each include an element (for example an elastomeric seal) which contributes (for example by its deformation by the wall 20 against the floor 15 or the ceiling 16) to increase this tightness. Advantageously, the body 10 further comprises a locking mechanism (not shown) of the internal wall 20 in the unfolded position. This prevents the wall from tilting due to the movements of the body, and secures the body during transport.

In Figure 1, the wall 20 in the background is in the folded position.

In Figure 2, where the body 10 is seen from the front (with the front wall removed), this wall 20 is in the foreground.

In its folded position, the upper portion 30 is folded at the upper joint 60 against the ceiling 16. The lower portion 40 is folded at the first joint 50 against one of the side walls 11, 12.

Advantageously, the box 10 includes an assistance mechanism (for example pneumatic or motorized) which facilitates, for an operator, the lifting of the wall 20 from its unfolded position to its folded position, and vice versa.

In Figures 1 and 2, the interior space of the body 10 is divided into two subspaces by a fixed wall PF and two foldable longitudinal walls 20, these three walls being positioned in the same longitudinal plane and being contiguous so as to cover the entire length of the body 10 together, from the rear door 13 to the front wall 14. Advantageously, these walls are provided with fixed or removable devices allowing the alignment of these walls when the walls 20 are in the unfolded position. Advantageously, these devices do not have a projection such as to hinder the loading and unloading of the products in the box 10.

Alternatively, the interior space of the body 10 is divided into two longitudinal compartments by a single foldable longitudinal wall 20 which extends from the rear door 13 to the front wall 14.

These two compartments are then non-communicating.

Advantageously, the maximum angle 0 of folding of the lower portion 40 relative to the upper portion 30 from the unfolded position is less than 120 °.

For example, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, this angle 0 is 90 °.

An angle limiter 80 makes it possible to prevent aliasing beyond this maximum angle.

For example, as illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, this limiter 80 is integrated into the first joint 50, as described below.

Other geometries of first joints 50 between the upper portion 30 and the lower portion 40 are of course possible, as well as other angle limiters 80 (integrated or not in the first joint 50).

The first articulation 50 consists of two identical plates (53, 54) and a rod 55. Each plate (53, 54) has a flat base which is extended by a series of parallel teeth spaced apart and curved each in a ring. Each tooth therefore extends from its proximal end at the flat base to its curved distal end.

A first plate 53 is fixed to the lower edge 35 of the upper portion 30 by its base, with the teeth protruding from this edge.

The second plate 54 is fixed to the upper edge 46 of the lower portion 40 by its base, with the teeth protruding from this edge.

The teeth of the first plate 53 are housed in the spaces between the teeth of the second plate 54 (and vice versa) so as to form a tube in which the rod 55 is housed. The second plate 54 is thus able to pivot around the rod 55 between the unfolded position and the folded position of the wall 20. The rod 55 is shown in Figure 3 out of this tube, for reasons of clarity.

In Figure 3 the wall 20 is shown in the unfolded position.

In Figure 4 the wall 20 is shown in the folded position.

In the folded position, the edges of each base of a plate (53, 54) located between the teeth of this plate (53, 54) abut against the proximal parts of the teeth of the other plate (53, 54).

The limiter 80 is thus constituted by this mechanical stop.

In this case, as illustrated in Figure 4, the maximum angle 0 of folding of the lower portion 40 relative to the upper portion 30 is approximately equal to 90 °.

Advantageously, the transport case 10 further comprises a locking mechanism 70 of the internal wall 20 in the folded position.

The locking mechanism 70 comprises a first locking device 71, which blocks the upper portion 30 against the ceiling 16. Such a locking mechanism 71 of two elements hinged together is known per se, and will not be described here .

The locking mechanism further comprises a second locking device 72, which blocks the lower portion 40 against one of the side walls (11, 12). The second blocking device 72 is shown diagrammatically in black in FIGS. 1 and 2.

For example, the second blocking device 72 consists of a first element 721 fixed on the side wall (11, 12), and a second element 722 fixed on the lower portion 40. In the blocking position of the lower portion 40, the first element 721 and the second element 722 cooperate to hold the lower portion 40 against one of the side walls (11, 12).

FIG. 5 illustrates an example of such a second blocking device 72. The first element is a double bent rod, the upper part of which is fixed vertically to the side wall (11, 12) and the lower part of which is distant of the side wall (11, 12) so as to leave an engagement space. The second element 722 is a plate which is fixed on a lateral edge of the lower portion 40 of the wall 20 and which projects laterally therefrom. During the passage of the wall 20 in the folded position, the second element comes to slide into the engagement space between the lower part of the rod and the side wall (11, 12) so that the lower portion 40 is pressed over its entire surface against the side wall (11, 12). The second element is prevented from sliding out of the engagement space because the upper portion 30 of the wall 20 is kept pressed against the ceiling 16 by the first locking device 71.

Thus, the wall 20 is held against the ceiling 16 and the side wall (11, 12) without the risk of unfolding during transport.

Advantageously, the internal wall 20 is thermally insulating, so that the heat transfer between the two compartments separated by the wall 20 is minimum. Indeed, when the products transported in the box 10 are perishable products, the interior space of the box must be refrigerated. In the case where a transport case 10 must contain a plurality of groups of products and where each group must be maintained at a different temperature during transport, each group of products is placed in a separate compartment, the temperature in each compartment being different . It is then necessary for the wall or walls 20 to be thermally insulating.

For example, the wall 20 is a sandwich structure made up of plates (for example made of metal) which provide rigidity to the wall, and of a thermally insulating material (for example a vacuum insulator, or a cellular polymer) located between these plates.

In one embodiment where the body 10 has several longitudinal walls 20, these walls 20 are parallel and spaced from each other. For example, the body 10 has two longitudinal walls 20 which each extend from the rear door 13 to the front wall 14, the interior space of the body 10 then being divided into three compartments.

The invention has been described above in the embodiment where the wall 20 extends in the longitudinal direction X. When the wall 20 is in the folded position, the lower portion 40 is then folded either against the first side wall 11, either against the second side wall 12.

According to another embodiment, the wall 20 extends in a plane transverse to the longitudinal direction X. When the wall 10 is in the folded position, the lower portion 40 is then folded against the front wall 14.

The wall 20 extends from the first side wall 11 to the second side wall 12. The two compartments are then non-communicating.

In the case where the body 10 has several transverse walls 20, these walls 20 are parallel and spaced from each other. For example, the body 10 has two transverse walls 20 which each extend from the first side wall 11 to the second side wall 12, the interior space of the body 10 then being divided into three compartments.

According to yet another embodiment, the box 10 has several foldable internal walls 20 with at least one transverse wall 20, and at least one longitudinal wall 20, at least one of which does not extend from the first wall lateral 11 to the second lateral wall 12, or from the rear door 13 to the front wall 14 respectively. Such walls 20 are called partial walls, as opposed to the total walls 20 described above and which extend from the first side wall 11 to the second side wall 12, or from the rear door 13 to the front wall 14. These partial walls 20 are arranged in relation to each other so that, when all the partial walls 20 are in the unfolded position, the edge of a partial wall 20 touches another partial wall 20 so that the compartments separated by the walls do not communicate.

An example of this embodiment with partial walls 20 is illustrated in FIG. 6.

The box 10 has a longitudinal wall 20 and a transverse wall 20. For the sake of clarity, the partial wall 20 which is transverse is referenced 20-T, and the partial wall 20 which is longitudinal is referenced 20-L.

The longitudinal wall 20-L extends from the rear door 13 to a point P distant from the front wall 14 (alternatively the longitudinal wall 20-L can extend from the front wall 14 to a point away from the rear door 13). The free end 21 of the longitudinal wall 20-L is therefore located at this point P.

The transverse wall 20-T extends from the first side wall 11 to the point P, so that the free end of the transverse wall 20-T is in contact with the free end 21 of the longitudinal wall 20-L. Thus, the space delimited by the first side wall 11, the transverse wall 20-T, the longitudinal wall 20-L, and the rear door 13 form a compartment isolated from the rest of the interior space of the body 10.

Advantageously, the transverse wall 20-T is capable of sliding longitudinally (in the direction X), for example on rails on the ceiling 16 and / or on the ground 15, while its free end remains in contact with the longitudinal wall 20-L. The volume of this isolated compartment can thus be easily varied. An example of such a position of the transverse wall 20-T after sliding is shown in dotted lines in FIG. 6.

According to the invention, the box 10 can comprise any set of one or more partial walls, longitudinal and / or transverse, and one or more total walls 20.

More generally, a box 10 has at least one partial wall 20, and an intermediate wall 24. The term intermediate wall 24 designates a longitudinal internal wall which is located at a distance from the side walls (11, 12), or a wall transverse internal which is located at a distance from the front wall 14 and from the rear door 13. Thus, an intermediate wall 24 is either a partial wall 20 (folding wall) as described above, or a rigid wall 23. It is designated by rigid wall 23 a self-contained wall, which therefore has neither articulation nor two parts which can be folded together, unlike a wall 20 which can be folded.

An intermediate wall 24 (transverse) therefore extends from a side wall (11, 12) to the free end 21 of a partial longitudinal wall 20-L, as shown in Figure 6. The intermediate wall 24 is further capable of sliding longitudinally in the direction X, its free end remaining in contact with the longitudinal wall 20-L (intermediate wall 24 shown in dotted lines in FIG. 6).

Alternatively, an intermediate wall 24 (longitudinal) extends from the front wall 14 to the free end of a partial transverse wall 20-T. The intermediate wall 24 is further capable of sliding transversely in the transverse direction, its free end remaining in contact with the transverse wall 20-T.

According to the invention, the box 10 can include any set of one or more intermediate walls 24, longitudinal and / or transverse, and one or more walls 20 total.

According to yet another embodiment, the internal wall 20 comprises three (or more) articulated portions two by two by two (or more) parallel joints located at different positions of the wall 20. For example the wall 20 comprises an upper portion 30, a lower portion 40, and a central portion located between the upper portion 30 and the lower portion 40.

Claims (1)

Claims [Claim 1] Transport case (10) extending in a longitudinal direction X and comprising a floor (15), a ceiling (16), a first longitudinal side wall (11) and a second longitudinal side wall (12), a rear door ( 13), and a transverse front wall (14) which define the interior space of said box (10), said box (10) comprising at least one foldable internal wall (20) capable of dividing said interior space into at least two compartments , said at least one wall (20) being characterized in that it comprises an upper portion (30), a lower portion (40), a first articulation (50) between said upper portion (30) and said lower portion (40 ), an upper articulation (60) between said upper portion (30) and said ceiling (16), said wall (20) having an unfolded position in which said lower portion (40) extends said upper portion (30) in the same plane , and having a folded position in which said he upper portion (30) is folded at the level of said upper articulation (60) against said ceiling (16) and said lower portion (40) is folded at the level of said first articulation (50) against one of said side walls (11, 12 ) or said front wall (14). [Claim 2] Transport case (10) according to claim 1 characterized in that said internal wall (20) is provided with an angle limiter (80) so that the maximum angle 0 of folding of said lower portion (40) relative to the upper portion (30) from said unfolded position is less than 120 °. [Claim 3] Transport case (10) according to claim 1 or 2 characterized in that it further comprises a locking mechanism (70) of said internal wall (20) in the folded position. [Claim 4] Transport case (10) according to claim 3 characterized in that said locking mechanism (70) comprises a first locking device (71) of said upper portion (30) against the ceiling (16) and a second locking device ( 72) of said lower portion (40) against one of said side walls (11, 12) or said front wall (14). [Claim 5] Transport case (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that at least one of said internal walls (20) extends in said longitudinal direction X, and said lower portion (40) is folded against a said side walls (11, 12) in the folded position. [Claim 6] Transport case (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that at least one of said internal walls (20) extends in a plane transverse to said longitudinal direction X, and said lower portion (40) is folded against said front wall (14) in the folded position. [Claim 7] Transport case (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that at least one of said internal walls (20) extends from one of said side walls (11, 12) to an intermediate wall ( 24) longitudinal located at a distance from said side walls (11, 12), or extends from said front wall (14) to a transverse intermediate wall (24) located at a distance from said front wall (14) and said rear door (13). [Claim 8] Transport case (10) according to claim 7 characterized in that said intermediate wall (24) is a foldable internal wall (20). [Claim 9] Transport case (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 8 characterized in that said at least one internal wall (20) is thermally insulating. 1/3