FR3112094A1 - Device for gripping parallelepipedal objects and method of manufacturing such a device - Google Patents

Abstract

Device for gripping parallelepipedal objects comprising - a body provided with three surfaces (20, 30, 40) each configured to come into contact with a separate face of a parallelepipedic object (CS), each separate face being contiguous to the other two , - a non-slip element (6) integral with one of the three surfaces and configured to establish non-slip contact with at least one (F4) of the distinct faces of the parallelepipedic object (CS), - a handle (5) . The invention also relates to a method of manufacturing such a device. Figure for abstract: Fig. 5

Description

Device for gripping parallelepipedal objects and method of manufacturing such a device

The present invention relates to the technical field of handling, and more particularly to the field of manual handling of parallelepipedal objects, for example cardboard boxes.

The invention relates in particular to a device for gripping parallelepipedic objects and a method of manufacturing such a device.

Technology background

Classically, boxes are handled with bare hands, i.e. without the aid of any device. In the absence of gripping means on the box, this handling is impractical and not very ergonomic, which presents a risk to the health of the handler since it can cause injuries to the latter, in particular in the case of handling of heavy boxes.

There are known devices for lifting cardboard boxes which hug the palm of the hand and which have a surface provided with teeth adapted to be inserted into the walls of the cardboard box to be lifted.

However, these devices have drawbacks, in particular for gripping heavy boxes. Indeed, under the weight of a box that is too heavy, the teeth partially inserted through the surface of the cardboard box can tear it. The cardboard box then slides down and the wall of the box is damaged.

In order to remedy these drawbacks of the state of the art, a handling device is proposed allowing ergonomic gripping of all types of boxes.

According to one aspect, there is proposed a device for gripping parallelepipedic objects comprising
- a body provided with three surfaces each configured to come into contact with a distinct face of a parallelepipedic object, each distinct face being contiguous to the other two,
- a non-slip element secured to one of the three surfaces and configured to establish non-slip contact with at least one of the distinct faces of the parallelepipedic object,
- a handle.

Thanks to the invention, it is possible to lift heavy parallelepipedic objects in an easy, reliable and ergonomic way. Indeed, the combination of the three surfaces and the non-slip element allows for improved support and distribution of the weight of the object. In particular, one of the surfaces placed under the object to be lifted makes it possible, on the one hand, to prevent the parallelepipedic object from sliding downwards, and, on the other hand, to better distribute the weight of the object on the device. . This prevents too much of the weight of the object from being supported by the anti-slip element, which could damage the surface of the object too much.

According to one embodiment, the body comprises a main wall forming a first surface, a first flange forming a second surface and a second flange forming a third surface, the first flange and the second flange extending from the main wall of a first side by forming non-zero angles therewith, the handle being located on a second side of the main wall.

According to a variant, each of the three surfaces is contiguous with the other two so as to form a corner adapted to marry a corner of the parallelepipedic object.

According to a variant, the non-slip element is adapted to establish non-slip contact with a side face of the parallelepipedic object, that is to say a face not parallel to the ground when the object is lifted. In particular, when the object is a rectangular parallelepiped, for example a cardboard box, the side faces are orthogonal to the ground.

According to one embodiment, the non-slip element comprises at least one tooth adapted to penetrate at least partially through said at least one face of the parallelepipedal object.

The tooth thus forms an anchor point in the face of the parallelepipedic object, the anti-slip effect is therefore almost total.

According to a variant, said at least one tooth is made at the level of an outer edge of one of the three surfaces.

According to one aspect, there is proposed a method for producing a gripping device according to the invention comprising
- a cutting of a rigid plate so as to make a blank,
- a first folding of the blank so as to form a first edge delimiting a first surface and a second surface,
- a second folding of the blank so as to form a second edge delimiting the second surface and a third surface
- the realization of the non-slip element,
- the realization of the handle.

The production of the device by cutting and folding a blank is particularly simple and inexpensive.

According to one mode of implementation, the first folding and the second folding are carried out so that the first surface and the third surface are contiguous.

According to one embodiment, the production of the non-slip element comprises a production by cutting said at least one tooth at the level of an outer edge of at least one of the first, second and third surfaces and folding said outer edge so as to orient said at least one tooth orthogonally to said at least one of the first, second and third surfaces.

The production of the anti-slip element is thus simplified; in particular, it can be implemented by the same means as those employed for the production of the three surfaces.

According to one mode of implementation, the production of the handle includes the production of a third folding of the blank.

The production of the handle is thus simplified; in particular it can be implemented by the same means as those employed for the production of the three surfaces.

According to one aspect, the use of at least one device according to the invention is proposed for gripping a parallelepipedic object, in which one of the three surfaces is placed under the object.

The different features, variants and embodiments of the invention may be associated with each other in various combinations insofar as they are not incompatible or exclusive of each other.

Brief description of figures

In addition, various other characteristics of the invention emerge from the appended description made with reference to the drawings which illustrate non-limiting forms of implementation and embodiment of the invention and where:

FIG. 1 illustrates a first view of a device according to the invention, referred to as the “external view”

FIG. 2 illustrates a second view of the device of FIG. 1, called the “interior view”,

FIG. 3 illustrates a variant embodiment of the device according to the invention,

FIG. 4 illustrates a blank used in a method of manufacturing a device according to the invention,

FIG. 5 illustrates the use of two devices according to the invention for gripping a parallelepipedal object,

FIG. 6 illustrates a variant embodiment of the device according to the invention.

It should be noted that in these figures the structural and/or functional elements common to the different variants may have the same references.

detailed description

The device 1 illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 comprises a body comprising a main wall 2 defining a first surface 20, a first flange 3 defining a second surface 30, a second flange 4 defining a third surface 40. The device 1 further comprises a handle 5 and a non-slip element 6.

The first surface 20, the second surface 30 and the third surface 40 form interior surfaces of the device 1 and are adapted to each fit a distinct face of the same parallelepipedic object, for example a cardboard box.

The first flange 3 and the second flange 4 are each contiguous to the main wall 2 and, in this example, the first flange 3 and the second flange 4 are contiguous with each other. Thus in the example illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, each of the three surfaces 20, 30, 40 is contiguous to the other two and has two straight edges in common with the other two surfaces. The rectilinear edges in common form interior edges of the device 1.

The inner edges of the device 1 meet so as to form a corner 7 (shown transparently in Figure 2). The first rim 3 and the second rim 4 each extend from the main wall 2 and here form an angle of 90° therewith. Furthermore, the first rim 3 and the second rim 4 are here mutually orthogonal.

The first, second and third surfaces 20, 30, 40 respectively comprise a first free edge 22, a second free edge 32 and third free edge 42, or outer edges. The first, second and third free edges are curvilinear here.

One end 43 of the second flange 4, opposite the corner 7, has a decreasing width LG. This advantageously allows easy insertion of the second rim under a box placed on the ground. The width of a flange is understood here as the dimension of the flange measured in a direction orthogonal to the first surface 20.

The handle 5 is here fixed to the main wall 2 at the level of a surface called "outer surface" 21 of the main wall, that is to say the surface of the wall 2 which is opposite to the first surface 20.

The handle 5 here comprises a cylindrical handle 50 extending parallel to the outer surface 21 and two support elements 51 and 52. Each support element 51, 52 has a first end directly integral with the main wall 2 at the level of the surface. exterior 21 and a second end integral with a respective end of the handle 50. Thus the handle 50 is held at a distance from the wall 2 by the support elements 51, 52.

The support elements 51, 52 of the handle 5 are in this example fixed to the main wall using punches 60 and 61, but can be fixed by any other appropriate means, in particular by bolts, glue or by welding.

The anti-slip element 6 here comprises a row of teeth made at the level of the second free edge 32 and having a V-shaped sawtooth profile. The row of teeth is made in such a way that the teeth extend from the second surface 30 orthogonally thereto, that is to say substantially parallel to the first surface 20. The teeth here are therefore oriented towards the inside of the device 1.

The alternative embodiment of device 1 illustrated in FIG. 3 differs from the embodiment described previously by the structure of its handle. Furthermore, the free edges 22, 32, 42 are straight here.

In this embodiment, the handle is formed by a third flange 8 which extends from the outer edge 22 of the main wall 2 on the side of the outer face 21, substantially orthogonal thereto. The third rim 8 here extends over only part of the outer rim 22 of the main wall 2.

The method of manufacturing a device according to the invention comprises cutting out a rigid plate, for example an aluminum plate, in order to produce a blank 9. This blank is illustrated in FIG. 4.

The manufacturing process comprises a first folding of the blank 9 so as to form the first flange 3. In FIG. 4, a first dotted line L1 symbolizes the folding line and corresponds to the outline of the edge between the first surface 20 and the second surface 30 once the first bend has been made. Here, the first bend is made at an angle of +90° and in a first direction, here the positive direction

A second folding makes it possible to form the second flange 4. In FIG. 4, a second dotted line L2 symbolizes the folding line and corresponds to the outline of the edge between the first surface 20 and the third surface 40 once the folding has been carried out. . Here, the second bend is made in the first direction at an angle of +90°

In this mode of implementation of the process, the cutting of the blank 9, the first folding and the second folding are carried out in such a way that each of the first, second and third surfaces 20, 30, 40 are contiguous with the other two.

The method further comprises here a third folding of the blank 9, so as to form the handle comprising the third rim 8. In FIG. 4, a third dotted line L3 symbolizes the third folding and corresponds to the outline of the edge between the third flange 8 and the first surface 20. The third folding is here carried out in a second direction, here the negative direction, according to an angle of -110°. Folding the handle according to this angle value advantageously makes it possible to obtain a handle allowing better gripping, in particular with a reduced risk of slipping, compared to a handle made by folding according to an angle of −90°.

In order to produce the row of teeth 6, a portion of the blank 9, which extends from the outer edge 32 of the first rim 3, has been cut according to a sawtooth profile in V. A fourth folding is carried out according to a fourth dotted line L4 so as to orient row of teeth 6 orthogonally to second surface 30. Here, the fourth bend is made in the first direction at an angle of +90°.

As a variant, the handle and the anti-slip element could be produced by a process different from the folding process, for example by gluing, welding or fixing processes using screws, punches, etc.

In FIG. 5, a handler MT lifts a cardboard box CS using the first device 1 previously described in connection with FIGS. 1 and 2 and a second device 1′ similar to the first device 1. The second device 1 ' differs from the first device 1 in that it is made in such a way as to have a mirror structure with respect to the first device 1. For the purposes of simplification, only the use of the first device 1 will be detailed in connection with FIG. 5. Here, the CS box has the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped.

The handler MT is positioned on a first side of the crate CS, that is to say opposite a first face of the crate CS (not visible in Figure 5), and grabs each of the devices 1, 1' by its respective handle.

The device 1 is placed against the body CS in such a way that each of its three surfaces 20, 30, 40 is in contact with a distinct face of the body CS, each distinct face being contiguous to the other two. The second surface 30 of the first rim 3 is here in contact with a second face F2 of the body CS opposite the first face. The teeth 6 therefore penetrate at least partially into the second face F2 and therefore produce an anti-slip effect and more particularly here an anchoring effect. The third surface 40 of the second rim 4 is here in contact with a third face (not visible in FIG. 5) of the body CS, called the "lower face", that is to say the face of the body which is parallel on the ground.

The first surface 20 of the main wall 2 is here in contact with a fourth face F4 of the body CS, called the first side face, which extends between the first and the second face. Symmetrically, the first surface of the main wall of the second device 1′ is in contact with a fifth face of the body CS, called the second lateral face, opposite and parallel to the fourth face F4.

Here, the corner 7 of the device marries a corner of the box CS, here the corner formed by the second face F2, the third face and the fourth face F4.

The handler MT exerts a first compressive force C1 on the device by simultaneously exerting pressure on the first side face F4 and on the second side face. He also exerts a second compressive force C2 by pulling the devices towards him so that the first face is pressed against his body. Finally, the handler MT exerts on the handles a vertical force FV directed upwards.

Thus, the weight of the body CS is distributed over all of the devices 1 and 1', in particular on the second rim 4 of the first device 1, on the second rim of the second device 1', on the non-slip elements of each device 1, 1' as well as by friction on the first surfaces of the main walls. The CS box is held firmly and ergonomically, in particular thanks to the handles, by the handler MT.

The invention is not limited to the modes of implementation and embodiment described above. For example, although a handling device has been described in which the first surface 20, the second surface 30 and the third surface 40 are mutually contiguous so as to form a corner, it is possible, as illustrated in the figure 6 that only the first surface is contiguous to the other two surfaces. Thus in this embodiment the second surface 30 and the third surface 40 are not contiguous and the device 1 does not form a corner.

In addition, the main wall 2, the first flange 3 and the second flange 4 can have any shape. Thus, as illustrated in FIG. 6, the main wall 2 may include a hole 23. This advantageously makes it possible to lighten the device 1. It should be noted that in this embodiment, even if the second surface 30 and the third surfaces 40 were contiguous, device 1 would not form a corner; however, it would be perfectly suited to gripping parallelepipedal objects since each of these surfaces 20, 30, 40 would be adapted to be in contact with a distinct face of the parallelepipedal object, said faces being contiguous.

The invention is not limited to the non-slip element comprising a row of teeth formed on an edge of the third surface 40. It is in fact possible for the non-slip element to comprise a different number of teeth, for example a single tooth, and/or that the teeth are located more in the center of the surface and not only on the edges, and/or that the teeth are arranged according to another pattern, for example distributed randomly over the surface. It is further possible that the anti-slip element is located on another surface, for example the first surface 20 or the second surface 30. In particular, several surfaces or all the surfaces can comprise an anti-slip element.

Furthermore, the invention is also not limited to an anti-slip element comprising teeth and the invention is compatible with any other anti-slip element, for example an anti-slip coating such as rubber or a layer of adhesive material. The device according to the invention may in particular comprise several non-slip elements of different natures, for example a thin layer of rubber and teeth distributed over one or more of the surfaces.

The invention is compatible with all kinds of rigid materials, in particular chosen from metals or metal alloys or even from polymers. The device could very well be at least partially made of wood. A person skilled in the art will be able to choose the appropriate materials according in particular to their constraints of cost, weight or solidity.

The various handles described above are fixed to the device so as to be immobile with respect thereto. As a variant, it is possible for the handle to be movable relative to the device, for example the handle can be hinged against the main wall 2. In this case, the handle is fixed to the main wall 2 by means of a pivot connection whose the axis is located at the level of the outer surface 21. This advantageously saves space when storing the device. In addition, the handle produced by folding illustrated in FIG. 3 can have any angle value with the main wall and preferably an angle value of less than -90°, for example -100°, -120° or -130° .

The device according to the invention is particularly advantageous when it is used for gripping cardboard boxes. However, its use is not limited to this use and the device can be used for gripping any parallelepipedal object, for example boxes made of another material, for example a polymer such as polystyrene, blocks of ice or even pieces of raw wood.

In particular, it is possible for the first rim 3 and the second rim 4 to form angles different from 90° with the main wall 2, in order in particular to allow the gripping of non-rectangular parallelepipedal objects. Finally, the main wall 2 and the flanges 3, 4 are not necessarily made by folding the same blank. For example, the first flange 3 and the second flange 4 can be fixed to the main wall 2 by any suitable fixing means, for example by punches, by screws or by welding.

Various other modifications may be made to the invention within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims (11)

Device for gripping parallelepipedal objects comprising
- a body provided with three surfaces (20, 30, 40) each configured to come into contact with a distinct face of a parallelepipedic object (CS), each distinct face being contiguous to the other two,
- a non-slip element (6) integral with one of the three surfaces and configured to establish non-slip contact with at least one (F4) of the distinct faces of the parallelepipedal object (CS),
- a handle (5). Device according to Claim 1, in which the body comprises a main wall (2) forming a first surface (20), a first flange (3) forming a second surface (30) and a second flange (4) forming a third surface ( 40), the first flange (30) and the second flange (4) extending from the main wall (2) on a first side by forming non-zero angles therewith, the handle (5) being located a second side of the main wall (2). Device according to Claim 1 or 2, in which each of the three surfaces (20, 30, 40) is contiguous with the other two so as to form a corner (7) adapted to match a corner of the parallelepipedic object (CS). Device according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, in which the anti-slip element (6) is adapted to establish anti-slip contact with a face (F2) of the parallelepipedal object (CS). Device according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, in which the non-slip element (6) comprises at least one tooth adapted to penetrate at least partially through the said at least one face (F2) of the parallelepipedic object (CS ). Device according to claim 5, wherein said at least one tooth is formed at an outer edge (32) of one of the three surfaces (30). Method of producing a gripping device (1) according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, comprising,
- a cutting of a rigid plate so as to produce a blank (9),
- a first folding of the blank (9) so as to form a first edge delimiting a first surface (20) and a second surface (30),
- a second folding of the blank (9) so as to form a second edge delimiting the first surface (20) and a third surface (40)
- the production of the non-slip element (6),
- the realization of the handle (5). A method according to claim 7, wherein the first folding and the second folding are made so that the second surface (30) and the third surface (40) are contiguous. Method according to claim 7 or 8, in which the production of the non-slip element (6) comprises a production by cutting of the said at least one tooth at the level of an outer edge (32) of at least one of the first, second and third surfaces and bending said outer edge (32) so as to orient said at least one tooth orthogonal to said at least one of the first, second and third surfaces. Method according to one of Claims 7 to 9, in which the production of the handle (5) includes the production of a third folding of the blank (9). Use of at least one device according to any one of Claims 1 to 6 for gripping a parallelepipedic object, in which one of the three surfaces is placed under the object.