FR3137072A1 - Container including cushioned corners - Google Patents

Abstract

Title: Container comprising cushioned corners The invention relates to a container (1) comprising: - a plurality of external faces (11); - a plurality of edges (12) each connecting two of the external faces (11); - a corner (2) located at each end of the edges (12), each external face (11) being framed by corners (2; each corner (2) comprising: - a shell (21) capable of forming a base of the container (1);- a damping member (22) underlying the shell (21); the edges (12) extending longitudinally between two corners (2) presenting a profile delimiting a hollow open towards the outside of the container (1), and each external face (11) extending entirely back from a plane defined by the shells (21) of the corners (2) framing said external face (11). Figure for the abstract: Fig .1

Description

Container including cushioned corners

The field of the invention is that of the design and manufacture of containers.

The invention relates more particularly to containers which are particularly suitable for use as packages and which can be reused numerous times.

In the field of design and manufacturing of containers, and more specifically of containers intended to form packages, containers with a rectangular parallelepiped shape are known.

Such containers are often made of cardboard and have a structure capable of absorbing low shocks.

These boxes are conventionally used at the same time as internal cushioning means to prevent a transported object from being damaged.

For example, these cushioning means can consist of crumpled cardboard paper, or cells filled with air.

Thanks to these wedging means, if the cardboard falls and is damaged, it is avoided that the contents are also damaged.

To reinforce a package box, it is also known to use rigid corners intended to be attached to the very corners of the box, for example by gluing.

Such rigid corners, for example made of cardboard or plastic, make it possible to reinforce the corners of the cardboard and prevent them from deforming under the effect of external constraints.

Soft foam corners are also known which cushion shocks when, for example, the cardboard falls.

Such elements only provide temporary protection and are not intended to allow the cardboard to be reused numerous times.

In the more specific field of packages, containers intended to be reused intensively are known.

It is therefore particularly important that these containers are capable of having a long lifespan and that they are therefore likely to withstand external shocks and not to deform.

The invention aims in particular to meet this need.

More precisely, the invention aims to provide a container having the capacity to significantly resist falls or intensive handling.

The invention also aims to provide such a container which has a design minimizing the consequences of a fall both on the container and on the contents thereof.

These objectives, as well as others which will appear subsequently, are achieved thanks to the invention which relates to a container comprising:
- a plurality of external faces;
- a plurality of edges connecting each of them to the external faces;
- a corner located at each end of the edges, each external face being framed by corners;
characterized in that, for at least one of the external faces, each corner framing said external face, called damped corner, comprises:
- a shell capable of forming a base for the container;
- a damping member underlying the shell;
and in that the edges extending longitudinally between two cushioned corners have a profile delimiting a hollow open towards the outside of the container, and each external face framed by cushioned corners extends entirely back from a plane defined by the shells corners framing said external face.

Thanks to the invention, the container has a greater capacity to resist shocks than a container according to the prior art.

Indeed, thanks to the shells of the cushioned corners which protrude relative to the external face(s) which they frame, then when the container is placed or falls on a surface with said external face(s) oriented towards the surfaces, the shells of the Damped corners will primarily come into contact with the ground.

The cushioned corners of the container are reinforced thanks to the presence of a shell and a damping member. Consequently, when the corners come into contact with the ground via the shell, the shock is transmitted to the damping member which limits the effects of the shock.

The shell protects the damping member and prevents it from being damaged by impact or friction. Consequently, the damping member tends to always be able to perfectly absorb a shock.

Thanks to the fact that the edges extending between two cushioned corners of the container extend longitudinally presenting a profile delimiting a hollow open towards the outside of the container, then we tend to prevent an impact from occurring at the level of these edges and to promote shock absorption at the reinforced corners.

In this way, the container has an improved capacity not to degrade, or at least to degrade less, as it is used compared to containers according to the prior art which would have, with equal use, signs of wear or more significant damage.

Preferably, for each cushioned corner, the shell has a protrusion on each external face surrounding said corner, each protrusion extending laterally from a central part of the shell towards a central zone of said external face.

In this way, the shells have a shape tending to better protect the external faces.

According to a preferred design, for each cushioned corner, the shell has an external surface and/or a vaulted internal surface.

In this way, the shells have a shape tending to better distribute the external forces exerted on them, for example when the container falls on a surface and the shell of one of the corners comes into contact with the surface.

A vault is in fact a geometric shape known to allow effort to be distributed.

According to an advantageous characteristic, each shell is fixed to the container by fixings allowing at least one axis of movement relative to the container, preferably each shell is fixed by clipping to the container.

In this way, the corners are attached to the container in an easy and quick manner to implement, and at least one axis of movement is provided to allow the damping member to produce its effect.

Preferably, each shell can be separated from the container after clipping.

In this way, each shell can be removed and replaced with a new shell if a defect or excessive damage to the corner occurs. In a similar manner, replacement of the damping member can also be carried out.

Advantageously, for each shell, the fixings are directional clips allowing only a single movement depending on the direction of clipping of the shell on the container.

In this way, we control the direction in which the damping occurs and it is possible to optimize the damping according to the single axis of travel.

According to another embodiment, the fixings are spring blades each allowing movement in the direction of clipping of the shell on the container and movement in at least one direction transverse to the direction of clipping of the shell on the container.

Thanks to this embodiment, different axes of travel and thus different axes of damping are possible.

According to an advantageous characteristic, for each damped corner, the damping member has an elastically deformable mesh structure.

Such a structure can have a low weight while having a oriented damping capacity.

Preferably, the mesh structure takes a honeycomb shape.

Such a honeycomb shape has significant structural damping characteristics thanks in particular to an elastic deformation capacity optimized along an axis transverse to a longitudinal axis of the honeycombs.

According to a variant embodiment, for each cushioned corner, the container comprises a housing provided in its thickness and opening onto the exterior of the container, the shells being coupled to the container by being partially housed in the housings.

In this way, the damping members can each have a significant thickness making it possible to improve the damping capacity while preventing the shells from projecting too much in relation to the external faces of the container.

Advantageously, at least one of the external faces extends by presenting a hollow open towards the outside of the container.

In this way, it is favored that a shock which should initially occur at said external face only occurs at the level of the projecting corners framing said external face.

According to a preferred design, for each external face having an open hollow outside the container, the external face has curved sections extending from the edges bordering said external face, towards a central zone of the external face, the curved sides delimiting the hollow open towards the outside of the container.

Such curved sections help to reinforce the capacity of the external face(s) to resist a shock occurring on the external face and not on the cushioned corners.

The curved sides are advantageously curved following a curve whose hollow is oriented towards the interior of the container.

In this way, a vault is created making it possible to transform bending forces at a point of impact into compressive forces transferred to either side of the vault.

According to an advantageous characteristic, each edge has:
- a plate centered in its profile delimiting a hollow open towards the outside of the container;
- two side borders framing the dish and connecting the dish to one of the external faces, each side border being rounded.

In this way, shock absorption is encouraged by the corners surrounding the edges and the edges have a shape making it possible to resist at least partially an impact occurring on the edge and not on the surrounding corners.

• la est une représentation schématique en perspective de dessus d’un contenant selon l’invention ;
• la est une représentation schématique de côté d’un contenant selon l’invention ;
• la est une représentation schématique d’un rebord du contenant vu de profil ;
• la est une représentation schématique du contenant selon une vue en coupe transversale passant au travers de deux rebords verticaux diamétralement opposés par rapport à une cavité interne du contenant ;
• la est une représentation schématique d’une partie d’une paroi du contenant formant un coin et trois parties de face externe du contenant entourant ledit coin ;
• la est une représentation schématique en perspective arrière d’une coque et d’un organe d’amortissement selon une première variante de réalisation ;
• la est une représentation schématique en perspective avant d’une seconde variante de réalisation d’une coque et d’un organe d’amortissement ;
• la est une représentation schématique en perspective d’une partie d’une coque et d’un organe d’amortissement selon une troisième variante de réalisation ;
• la est une représentation schématique d’un organe d’amortissement du contenant selon la troisième variante, dans lequel l’organe d’amortissement comprend trois parties identiques aboutées les unes aux autres, chaque partie présentant une structure en nid d’abeilles.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly on reading the following description of different preferred embodiments of the invention, given by way of illustrative and non-limiting examples, and the appended drawings among which:

• there is a schematic representation in perspective from above of a container according to the invention;
• there is a schematic side representation of a container according to the invention;
• there is a schematic representation of a rim of the container seen in profile;
• there is a schematic representation of the container in a cross-sectional view passing through two vertical edges diametrically opposed to an internal cavity of the container;
• there is a schematic representation of a part of a wall of the container forming a corner and three parts of the external face of the container surrounding said corner;
• there is a schematic representation in rear perspective of a shell and a damping member according to a first alternative embodiment;
• there is a schematic representation in front perspective of a second alternative embodiment of a shell and a damping member;
• there is a schematic perspective representation of a part of a shell and a damping member according to a third alternative embodiment;
• there is a schematic representation of a damping member of the container according to the third variant, in which the damping member comprises three identical parts butted together, each part having a honeycomb structure.

With reference to Figures 1 to 4, a container 1 according to the invention is shown.

The container 1 comprises a plurality of external faces 11 and a plurality of edges 12 each connecting two of the external faces 11.

The container 1 also includes a corner 2 located at each end of the edges 12, each external face 11 being framed by corners 2.

According to the present embodiment, the container 1 has a shape essentially inscribed in that of a rectangular parallelepiped. Thus, the container 1 comprises six external faces 11, twelve edges 12, and eight corners 2.

More precisely, the container 1 comprises walls 4 abutting each other to delimit an internal cavity. This cavity is for example intended to contain an object during transport of the container 1 which thus forms a package.

One part of container 1 forms a lid while the other part forms a tray. The cover is mounted on the tank so that it can be moved to allow access to the internal cavity. For example, the cover can be coupled in a detachable manner to the bin using hooks. According to another example, the cover can be movable in rotation on the tray.

The container is also provided with security, for example a lock, authorizing or prohibiting the opening of the container.

The walls 4 are made of expanded polypropylene.

These walls 4 present the external faces 11 of the container.

According to the principle of the invention, for at least one external face, each corner 2 framing the external face is a so-called “damped corner” corner, and comprises a shell 21 and a damping member 22. The damping member 22 is underlying the shell 21. In other words, the damping member 22 is inserted between the shell 21 and the walls 4.

The at least one external face is preferably the external face of the bottom of the container 1, which is intended to be most often oriented towards the ground.

According to this embodiment, all of the corners 2 are damped corners.

As can be seen in Figures 2 and 3, each shell 21 is capable of forming a base for the container 1.

Indeed, each external face 11, framed by damped corners, extends entirely back from a plane (two planes P1, P2 are represented on the ) defined by the shells 21 of the corners 2 framing said external face 11.

In other words, for each external face 11 framed by cushioned corners, the shells 21 of the corners 2 framing the external face project relative to a plane behind which the external face 11 is located.

In this way, if the container 1 is placed or falls on a surface, then the shells 21, corners 2 framing the external face 11 facing the ground, come into contact with the ground and form the base or absorb the shock of the fall.

In reference to the which represents a profile view of a rim 12 of the container 1, we observe that the shells 21 also project relative to a plane P3 behind which the rim 12 extends.

As can be seen in Figures 1 to 3, according to the embodiment shown, for each corner 2, the shell 21 has a protrusion 212 on each external face 11 surrounding the corner 2.

Each protrusion 212 extends laterally from a central part 211 of the shell 21 towards a central zone 111 of the external face 11.

Consequently, each shell 21 has three protrusions 212 which extend laterally from the central part 211 of the shell 21 towards the central zones 111 of the three external faces 11 which surround the corner 2.

So, as shown on the , each protrusion 212 of each shell 2 projects relative to the external face 11 on which the protrusion 212 extends laterally.

More precisely, these are the protrusions 212 which protrude relative to the planes P1, P2 behind which the external faces 11 extend.

As can be seen in Figures 1 to 4, each shell 21 has an external surface and/or a vaulted internal surface.

According to the embodiment of Figures 1 to 4, and 6, each shell 21 has an external surface and a vaulted internal surface.

The shells 21 are notably rounded.

More specifically, the shells 21 illustrated by Figures 1 to 4 have a shape corresponding to a geometric enlargement of the shape of the internal surface of a corner 2 illustrated by the .

In reference to the , the internal surface of each corner 2 is vaulted.

This internal surface is defined by arcs of internal angle A', the two branches of which AB' each extend respectively towards a central zone of the internal faces of the walls 4.

These internal angle arcs A’ are parabolic.

According to the embodiment illustrated by , the shells 21 have a surface having surface irregularities created by holes. This prevents the container 1 from sliding too easily on a surface on which it rests via the shells 21.

With reference to Figures 4, 5 and 7, each shell 21 is fixed on the container 1 by fixings 23 which allow at least one axis of movement relative to the container 1.

The shells 21 are in particular fixed to the container 1 after clipping the fixings.

According to a first embodiment illustrated by Figures 4 and 6, the fixings 23 are directional clips allowing only a single movement according to the direction of clipping of the shell 21 on the container 1.

Such a directional clip takes a longitudinal shape with a distal end of the shell 21 integrating a plurality of teeth 231.

When the shell 21 is clipped onto the container 1, the teeth 231 deform elastically in a centripetal manner then, after passing through the wall, the teeth return to their original shape, or tend to return to it, and anchor the clip and the shell 21 on the container 1, as illustrated by the .

With reference to the embodiment illustrated by the , the fixings 23 are spring blades 232 each allowing movement in the direction of clipping of the shell 21 on the container 1 and movement in at least one direction transverse to the direction of clipping of the shell 21 on the container 1.

The shell 21 can then have several axes of movement and several axes of compression of the damping member 22 underlying the shell 21.

As illustrated in Figures 4 and 6 to 9, the damping member 22 extends completely under the shell 21.

It is however possible that the damping member is only located at certain positions under the shell 21. For example, the damping member could be composed of a plurality of springs each embedded on a directional clip.

According to the present embodiments, the damping member 22 is formed from an elastically deformable material.

With reference to Figures 6 to 7, the damping member 22 is formed by an elastically deformable foam.

With reference to Figures 8 and 9, the damping member 22 has an elastically deformable mesh structure.

More precisely, this mesh structure takes a honeycomb shape.

By honeycomb shape, we mean a shape with a geometry similar to natural honeycombs.

This shape comprises a plurality of cells extending parallel to each other while being arranged in a staggered pattern.

Each cell has a hexagonal cross section.

In reference to the , an entire damping member 22 is shown.

This damping member 22 is subdivided into three strictly identical parts. There illustrates such a part of the damping member 22 with an overlying part of the shell 21.

Each of these parts has an orientation 220 towards a central point.

This orientation 200 corresponds to the longitudinal alignment of the honeycombs for each of the parts.

Such an orientation makes it possible to orient a preferred direction of compression and damping for each of these parts.

Indeed, compression transverse to the axis of longitudinal extension of the honeycombs is favored by the honeycomb structure.

This honeycomb structure is notably obtained by molding an elastically deformable resin type material.

In reference to the , and for each cushioned corner, the container 1 comprises a housing 3 provided in its thickness and opening onto the exterior of the container 1.

The shells 21 and the damping members 22 are coupled to the container 1 while being partially housed in the housings 3.

In this way, the thickness of the damping member 22 can be particularly large with respect to the thickness of the walls 4 of the container 1, and the shells 21 do not project too much in relation to the external faces 11 of the container 1. The damping effect at the corners 2 is thus optimized without excessively increasing the bulk of the container 1.

Also, the edges 12 extending longitudinally between two cushioned corners have a profile delimiting a hollow open towards the outside of the container.

Each rim 12 also has a plate 121 centered in its profile delimiting the hollow 120 open towards the outside of the container 1.

In addition, each rim 12 has two side edges 122 framing the plate 121 and connecting the plate 121 to one of the external faces 11.

Each side edge 122 is rounded.

In this way, contact of the container 1 is favored by its corners 2 and not by its edges 12.

The container 1 according to the invention generally has a shape that does not have a sharp edge, which increases its robustness.

Its reinforced and cushioned corners prevent it from becoming too damaged due to friction or falls.

Container 1 is advantageously a package and is used to transport objects.

According to possible variants, the cushioned corners 2 integrate an active damping function, which makes it possible to better absorb a shock.

In a first embodiment of these variants, each corner is equipped with its own electronic shock detection system (accelerometer and gyroscopic sensor, electronic card, battery) integrated in corner 2 or on its periphery. The corner is also equipped with an active system (motor, electromagnet). When the shock is detected, the active part will deform the corner in the direction of the corner, with the amplitude and chronological sequence (according to a temporal curve, a vibration frequency) most appropriate to absorb the shock.

In a second embodiment of these variants, each corner is not equipped with a shock detection system. Shock detection is instead carried out by a single electronic unit embedded on the container (tablet) equipped with shock sensors, and centralizing the detection function for each cushioned corner. Each cushioned corner is equipped with an active absorption element controlled by the on-board electronic unit. This second embodiment has the advantage that the on-board electronic unit can manage the different corners individually and independently so that the overall behavior is even more effective against shocks.

Claims (12)

Container (1) comprising:
- a plurality of external faces (11);
- a plurality of edges (12) each connecting two of the external faces (11);
- a corner (2) located at each end of the edges (12), each external face (11) being framed by corners (2);
characterized in that, for at least one of the external faces (11), each corner (2) framing said external face (11), called cushioned corner, comprises:
- a shell (21) capable of forming a base for the container (1);
- a damping member (22) underlying the shell (21);
and in that the edges (12) extending longitudinally between two cushioned corners have a profile delimiting a hollow open towards the outside of the container (1), and each external face (11) framed by cushioned corners extends entirely in withdrawal of a plane defined by the shells (21) of the corners (2) framing said external face (11). Container (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that for each cushioned corner, the shell (21) has a protrusion (212) on each external face (11) surrounding said corner (2), each protrusion (212) is extending laterally from a central part (211) of the shell (21) towards a central zone (111) of said external face (11). Container (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that for each cushioned corner, the shell (21) has an external surface and/or a vaulted internal surface. Container (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each shell (21) is fixed on the container (1) by fixings (23) allowing at least one axis of movement relative to the container (1) . Container (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that, for each shell (21), the fixings (23) are directional clips allowing only a single movement according to the direction of clipping of the shell (21) on the container (1). Container (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that the fixings (23) are leaf springs (232) each allowing a movement according to the direction of clipping of the shell (21) on the container (1) and a movement according to at least one direction transverse to the clipping direction of the shell (21) on the container (1). Container (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, for each cushioned corner, the damping member (22) has an elastically deformable mesh structure. Container (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the mesh structure takes a honeycomb shape. Container (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, for each cushioned corner, the container (1) comprises a housing (3) provided in its thickness and opening onto the exterior of the container (1), the shells (21) being coupled to the container (1) while being partially housed in the housings (3). Container (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of the external faces (11) extends presenting a hollow open towards the outside of the container (1). Container (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that, for each external face (11) having a hollow open towards the outside of the container (1), the external face (1) has curved sides (112) extending from the edges (12) bordering said external face (11), towards a central zone (111) of the external face (11), the curved sides (112) delimiting the hollow open towards the outside of the container ( 1). Container (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each rim (12) has:
- a plate (121) centered in its profile delimiting a hollow open towards the outside of the container (1);
- two side edges (122) framing the plate (121) and connecting the plate (121) to one of the external faces (11), each side edge (122) being rounded.