FR3101620A1 - Collapsible container equipped with a strap - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates in particular to a strap (1) for installing suspension means (5) for pockets (6) for storing articles in a container (4), characterized in that its length is changeable and that 'it comprises: - at a first (11) of its two opposite ends, a fastening part (2); - at the opposite end or in the immediate vicinity thereof, fixing means (3) configured to be fixed inside said container (4); - between said ends (11, 12), at least one opening (13) configured to accommodate said suspension means (5). Figure for the abstract: figure 1

Description

Strap and collapsible container equipped with it

GENERAL TECHNICAL AREA

The present invention lies in the general field of the transport of mechanical parts.

It finds a particular application for the transport of parts intended to supply a construction line. Thus, when it is for example a motor vehicle construction line, it may be engine parts, dashboard elements, door trim, etc.

STATE OF THE ART

The parts mentioned above are generally transported from the premises of an equipment manufacturer to those of the manufacturer, or from a storage area to the vehicle assembly line.

To do this, use is generally made of containers in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped, which contain fittings made of textile or plastic material in which the parts are received. In this way, the parts are stored individually, without risk of contact between two neighboring parts, contact which, otherwise, could have a negative impact on the quality of the parts.

The aforementioned containers, whether metal or plastic, when they are freed of parts, are returned empty to the equipment manufacturer. Until recently, such containers were not intended to be collapsible, so that the volume occupied in a truck by empty containers was the same as when these containers are full. It is easy to understand that this causes induced costs that are not justified.

However, it is now common to use collapsible containers. These are, for example, plastic containers marketed by the company Kunststoff Palettentechnik.

When such containers occupy the folded position, their height is drastically reduced, so that in the same volume of truck trailer, it is possible to accommodate a very substantial number of such containers.

But so far, the arrangements in which the parts are received are fixed, so that they prevent the containers from folding.

The present invention aims to overcome these drawbacks.

PRESENTATION OF THE INVENTION

To this end, the invention, according to one of its aspects, relates to a strap for installing means for suspending pockets for storing articles in a container, characterized in that its length can be modified and that it includes:

- At a first of its two opposite ends, a hooking piece;

- at the opposite end or in the immediate vicinity of the latter, fixing means configured to be fixed inside said container;

- Between said ends, at least one opening configured to accommodate said suspension means.

Thus, thanks to the use of such a strap, it is possible to suspend it from the upper edge of a container wall or to detach it from this edge if the container is retractable.

According to other advantageous and non-limiting characteristics of the invention, taken alone or in any combination:

- at least part of its length is made of an elastically deformable material, which makes its length changeable;

- it comprises a section of elastically deformable material, while the rest is made of a non-deformable material;

- It comprises, close to said attachment part, a loop forming a gripping member.

- It comprises at least two openings configured to accommodate said suspension means.

The invention also relates to a collapsible container for storing articles, comprising a bottom and forming part of a rectangular parallelepiped, which is configured to occupy a first erected position of nominal height allowing said objects to be put in place and in which it comprises four vertical walls facing each other two by two, and a second retracted position of height less than said nominal height, characterized in that it comprises two pairs of straps conforming to one of the preceding characteristics, each strap being fixed to said bottom or in the vicinity of said bottom, the straps of the same pair facing each other, these straps being configured to be either suspended from the top of said walls by their attachment piece in said first erected position, or freely deposited inside the space delimited by said walls in said retracted position.

According to remarkable characteristics of this container:

• it comprises a first skirt integral with said bottom, as well as a second removable and foldable skirt, which bears against said bottom, inside said first skirt in said erected position.
• said bottom has the shape of a pallet.

DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear from the description which will now be made of it, with reference to the appended drawings, which represent, by way of indication but not limitation, various possible embodiments.

In these drawings:

is a bottom view of a strap according to the invention;

is a side view of the strap of Figure 1;

is an enlarged view of the right side of the strap shown in Figure 2;

is an enlarged view of the intermediate part of the strap shown in Figure 2;

is an enlarged view of the left side of the strap shown in Figure 2;

is a perspective view of a commercial container which is fitted with four straps of the type of that of FIGS. 1 and 2, which serve as supports for means for wedging parts to be transported;

is a cross-sectional view of the container of Figure 6;

is a perspective view of the four straps with which the container of FIG. 6 is fitted, as well as the parts wedging means which are suspended from these straps;

is a first side and principle diagram intended to illustrate how the straps cooperate with the container when the latter is in the erected "working"position;

is a second diagram similar to the previous one, showing only the straps as well as the wedging means for parts to be transported;

is a top diagram showing the situation of Figure 10;

is a view similar to Figure 9, this time showing the container in the folded position for an empty return.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As specified above, a first aspect of the invention relates to a strap 1 which is particularly visible in the appended figures.

This strap comprises an elongated body 10, the length L of which depends on the dimensions of the container with which it will be used, as will be explained below.

In the example represented here, the body 10 is made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Of course, any other material usually used for straps is also suitable here.

The body 10 has a section 100 which is made of an elastically deformable material of polyester and elastomer for example, and is flanked by two sections 101 and 102 which themselves are not deformable.

In exemplary embodiments not shown here, one could consider having a strap 1 whose entire body is made of an elastically deformable material. In yet another variant, one could envisage the length of the strap being modifiable by the use of an adjustment buckle, for example.

At one of its opposite ends, which is referenced 11, the strap 1 comprises a hooking piece 2 which, in this embodiment, is curved in the form of a hook, with its free end 200 oriented in the direction of the second end 12 of the strap. It is fixed there for example by the seams C and is associated, in the example presented here, with a gripping loop 20. The function and interest of this part 2 and of the loop 20 will be explained later in the description.

At the opposite end 12 or, in any case, in the immediate vicinity of the latter, are provided fixing means 3 which are configured, as will be seen later in the description, to be fixed inside 'a container. These means 3 consist for example of a rivet, a stud or any other fastening system.

On either side of the section 100 of elastically deformable material is provided a tab 15 whose function is to limit the maximum elongation of the elastic material. This tongue is also attached to the strap by a set of seams.

Finally, the strap 1 is provided between the ends 11 and 12 with at least one opening 13 which is configured to accommodate suspension means provided in said container.

In this case, in the example presented here, we are dealing with two openings 13, one of which is arranged immediately next to the part 2, while the second is distant from the first.

For more resistance and to improve their lifespan, these openings are lined with a metal eyelet 14.

Such a strap is intended to be used in cooperation with a collapsible container for the storage of articles, an embodiment of which is visible in particular in Figures 6, 7 and 9 to 12.

This is a plastic container 4 whose structure is known per se.

This container 4 is part of a rectangular parallelepiped. It comprises a bottom 40 which has the general shape of a pallet facilitating its transport using a motorized or non-motorized vehicle. This bottom is provided with a peripheral rim 400 which is directed vertically away from the bottom. At this edge is fixed a first skirt 41 of reduced height. This first skirt is preferably non-removable in the sense that it is fixed permanently to the bottom 40 and to its edge 400.

The container is also equipped with a second skirt 42 which itself is provided to be removable and foldable. Its dimensions are designed so that it can bear against the bottom 40 and inside the first skirt 41 when it is in a deployed position, that is to say erected. This corresponds in particular to the position of figures 6 and 7.

As indicated above, this second skirt 42 is collapsible and can be seen in particular in FIG. 6 several fold lines P that comprise two of its walls 421 arranged opposite each other.

The two other walls opposite this second skirt 42 are referenced 420.

Reference may be made to FIG. 12 to understand which configuration this second skirt adopts in the folded position.

Finally, in Figure 6, the reference 43 has identified the top of the walls 420 which face each other.

As indicated above, the strap of the invention is intended to cooperate with a container such as that which has just been described above. In practice, this container is intended to be equipped with two pairs of straps 1. Each strap is fixed to the bottom 40 or close to this bottom by the fixing means 3 which have been described above. It is therefore a permanent fixing in the sense that these means remain in place, whether the container is used or not. These straps are arranged within the container so that the straps 1 of the same pair are located opposite each other, in the immediate vicinity of the corners of the skirt 42 (see in particular FIG. 6).

Once the straps have been fixed, it is possible, due to their adjustable length, to grasp the loop 20 to position the attachment piece 2 in engagement and straddling the top 43 of the walls 420. Of course, any other form of part 2 which allows the strap to be attached to the walls is possible.

We are then in the position of figures 6 to 9.

In such a configuration, it is then possible to engage in the openings 13 that comprise the straps 1 which face each other, rods 5 of known type which care will be taken to immobilize in translation by any known system, such as a stop ring.

Beforehand, pockets 6 for storing articles, of known type, and for example in fabric, will have previously been engaged on the rods 5.

We are then in the position of Figures 6 and 7 in which it is now possible to store items in each pocket 6, then to move them as desired in the container 4.

Once the container has been rid of its articles, it must be returned either to the subcontractor from whom it came, or to a suitable place on the manufacturer's premises.

For this purpose, it is preferable to give the container a retracted position in which the second skirt 42 is folded.

To do this, it suffices to grasp each of the loops 20 of each strap 1 to operate a pull upwards and allow the disengagement of the parts 2 with respect to the upper edge 43 of the walls 420. Under these conditions, one can simply remove the hooks inside the container so that the rods and the associated pockets rest on the bottom 40. After this operation, the second skirt 42 is folded over to deposit it inside the container 4. The whole can be covered of a lid C so that we are now dealing with a container 4 in the retracted position which has a reduced height compared to the nominal height which it occupies in the erected position.

Of course, during subsequent use, it suffices to remove the cover, to deploy the second skirt 42 and to put it in place against the first skirt 41, then to straighten the pockets 6 after having again suspended the pieces 2 at the top of the second peripheral skirt 42.

Thanks to the invention, the container and its associated pockets can be used in the same way as in the past. On the other hand, by simple and rapid manipulations, the container can be brought into a retracted position (folded up) in which it occupies a reduced volume, and this without ridding it of said pockets.

Claims (7)

Collapsible container (4) for storing articles using suspension means (5) with pockets (6), comprising a bottom (40) and forming part of a rectangular parallelepiped, which is configured to occupy a first erected position of nominal height allowing said objects to be put in place and in which it comprises four vertical walls (420, 421) facing each other two by two, and a second retracted position of height less than said nominal height, characterized in that 'it comprises :
- two pairs of straps (1), each strap (1) being fixed to said bottom (40) or in the vicinity of said bottom (40), the straps (1) of the same pair facing each other ;
- each strap has a variable length and comprises at a first (11) of its two opposite ends, a fastening part (2), at the opposite end or in the immediate vicinity of the latter, fastening means (3) configured to be fixed inside said container (4) and between said ends (11, 12), at least one opening (13) configured to accommodate suspension means (5);
these straps (1) being configured to be either suspended from the top (43) of said walls (420) by their attachment piece (2) in said first erected position, or freely deposited inside the space delimited by said walls in said retracted position. Container (4) according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a first skirt (41) integral with said bottom (40), as well as a second removable and collapsible skirt (42), which bears against said bottom ( 40), within said first skirt (41) in said erected position. Container (4) according to Claim 2, characterized in that the said bottom (40) has the shape of a pallet. Container (4) according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that at least part of the length of the said straps is made of an elastically deformable material, which makes their length modifiable. Container (4) according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it comprises a section (100) of elastically deformable material, while the rest is made of a non-deformable material. Container (4) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each strap (1) comprises, close to the said attachment piece (2), a loop (20) forming a gripping member. Container (4) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each strap (1) comprises at least two openings (13) configured to accommodate the said suspension means (5).