GB2289264A

GB2289264A - A case which is blow moulded from synthetic thermoplastic material

Info

Publication number: GB2289264A
Application number: GB9508656A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Claude Decroix; Alex Digon
Original assignee: Sotralentz SA
Current assignee: Sotralentz SA
Priority date: 1994-05-11
Filing date: 1995-04-28
Publication date: 1995-11-15
Anticipated expiration: 2015-04-28
Also published as: GB2289264B; FR2719751B1; FR2719751A1; GB9508656D0; DE9407846U1

Abstract

A case has two double-walled case halves (1, 2) which are blow moulded from synthetic thermoplastic material. At least one of the case halves (2) has an inner shell which has intersecting receiver slots (8) moulded in the inner shell base (7) for compartment-forming partition wall strips (9). The partition wall strips (9) have a partition wall height which corresponds to the height of the inner shell sidewalls (10) and fitting slots (11). Compartment-forming partition wall strip portions (13) can be fitted regionally into these fitting slots (11) by means of fitting parts (14). <IMAGE>

Description

A CASE HAVING TWO DOUBLE-WALLED CASE HALVES WHICH ARE MOULDED FROM SYNTHETIC THERMOPLASTIC MATERIAL BY BLOW MOULDING This invention relates to a case having two doublewalled case halves which are moulded from synthetic thermoplastic material by blow moulding, and the case halves of which each comprise an outer shell and an inner shell as well as compartments for material to be introduced. As is known, the term "blow moulding" denotes a certain method of manufacturing objects made of synthetic thermoplastic material. A flexible tube is extruded from the synthetic thermoplastic material, which tube in its soft, plastic state is introduced into a mould for blow moulding and is inflated, as the name suggests. In the course of this procedure the flexible tube assumes the shape which is predetermined by the blowing mould.The case halves of the case described above are produced in this manner, the inner shell and the outer shell forming a one-piece component.

Cases of the construction described above are known in practice in various forms of construction, and in fact cases are also known which have built-in compartments for material to be introduced. The inner shell of the known cases is constructed as a plain component free from slots; the compartments constitute an independent component which is subsequently inserted in at least one of the case halves.

The form of construction described above is a proven one. However, it does not permit compartments of substantially any horizontal projection to be disposed in a simple manner in at least one of the case halves, and does not permit these compartments to be built up from just a few components according to choice, namely from a set of partition wall strips. The latter forms the object of the present invention.

According to the present invention there is provided a case having two double-walled case halves which are moulded from synthetic thermoplastic material by blow moulding, and the case halves of which each comprise an outer shell and an inner shell as well as compartments for material to be introduced, wherein at least one of the case halves has an inner shell which has intersecting receiver slots moulded in the inner shell base for compartment-forming partition wall strips, which receiver slots have a predetermined grid dimension and continue ascending in the inner shell sidewalls as guide slots for the partition wall strips, wherein the partition wall strips have a partition wall height which corresponds to the height of the inner shell sidewalls, and wherein the partition wall strips have fitting slots, which correspond to the grid dimension and which in their installed state are perpendicular to the inner shell base, and free areas between the fitting slots, into which fitting slots compartment-forming partition wall strip portions can be fitted regionally by means of fitting parts, which fitting parts correspond to half the length of the free areas between the fitting slots.

The invention stems from the recognition that in a case having two double-walled case halves which are moulded from synthetic thermoplastic material by blow moulding, the inner shells or one of them can perform an additional function if they are provided with receiver slots in the manner described. The inner shells then do not simply have a function with respect to the strength and stability of the case halves and thus of the case overall; rather, they contribute to the formation of the compartments with their receiver slots when partition wall strips are employed in the manner described.

In particular, numerous possibilities for further development and fashioning exist within the scope of the present invention. Thus the partition wall strips may be moulded from synthetic thermoplastic material, and as a set of components may have a length which corresponds to the length of the receiver slots, wherein for the purpose of installation and in the installed state at least one of the partition wall strips of the set of components is shortened to form a partition wall strip portion in accordance with the compartments to be formed. For example, the set of components may be formed from partition wall strips which, in a case according to the invention having a rectangular horizontal projection, correspond to the long side of the rectangle.

However, two sets of components may also be employed, which correspond to the long and the short rectangle sides of a case such as this. The short one can be produced in a simple manner, e.g. by a cutting-off or sawing-off operation. The partition wall strips made of synthetic thermoplastic material may be injection moulded, for example, or may themselves be produced by blow moulding.

It falls within the scope of the invention to dispose at least one compartment cover panel, which consists of synthetic thermoplastic material for example, between the two case halves, the size of which compartment cover panel is matched to the upper edge of the case half and which covers the compartments like a lid. Consequently, material situated in the compartments cannot fall out and move around when the case is being transported. In a case according to the invention, if only one case half has compartments formed from the partition wall strips, the other case half may be provided with a matched compartment cover panel.In general, the partition wall strips or the partition wall strip portions will be held and secured in the receiver slots and/or in the guide slots and/or in the fitting slots with keying of the material and/or with a positive fit and/or adhesively, i.e. by means of adhesives.

The invention is described in more detail below with reference to the drawings, which merely comprise schematic, perspective illustrations of an example of an embodiment, and where: Figure 1 illustrates a case according to the invention without partition wall strips and with the two case halves disassembled; Figure 2 illustrates two assembled, compartmentforming partition wall strips for the case shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a plan view of the subject of Figure 2; Figure 4 is an illustration corresponding to that of Figure 3 showing another form of construction of the assembled compartment-forming partition wall strips of a case according to the invention; and Figure 5 is a perspective, disassembled view of the components of the subject of Figure 4.

The case illustrated in Figure 1 consists of two double-walled case halves 2, 3 which are moulded from synthetic thermoplastic material by blow moulding. The case halves 1, 2 each comprise an outer shell 3 and an inner shell 4. Figure 1 shows an upper case half 1, the inner shell 4 of which is plain and free from any slots, even though a fitting edge 5 is provided which is associated with a corresponding fitting edge 6 on the lower case half 2. It can be seen that the lower case half 2 has intersecting receiver slots 8 integrally formed in the inner shell base 7 for compartmentforming partition wall strips 9, which receiver slots have a predetermined grid dimension and continue ascending in the inner shell sidewalls 10 as guide slots 8 for the partition wall strips 9. A comparative examination of Figures 1 and 2 shows that the partition wall strips 9 have a partition wall height which corresponds to the height of the inner shell sidewalls 10. The arrangement is effected so that the partition wall strips 9 have fitting slots 11 which correspond to the grid dimension and which in their installed state are perpendicular in the inner shell base 7 of the lower case half 2, and free areas 12 between the fitting slots, into which fitting slots 11 compartment-forming partition wall strip portions 13 can be fitted regionally by means of fitting parts 14. The fitting parts 14 are about half the length of the free areas 12 between the fitting slots 11.If the pair of partition wall strips 9, 13 from Figure 2 were inserted in the lower case half of the subject of Figure 1, this would form compartments, the upper edge of which is indicated by the bold dash-dot line in Figure 1. One skilled in the art is aware that a system of very different compartments can be fashioned and installed, within the framework of the grid dimension of course, according to the principle described.

The partition wall strips 9 in Figure 2 may be moulded from synthetic thermoplastic material. They form part of a set of components and are originally of a length which corresponds to the length of the receiver slots 8. This is the situation for the partition wall strip on the left of Figure 2. In contrast, another partition wall strip 9 from the set of components is shortened in its installed state to form a partition wall strip portion 13 as shown in Figure 2, in accordance with the compartment to be formed, for the purpose of installation.

Figure 1 also shows that at least one compartment cover panel 15, which may consist of plastic for example, is disposed between the two case halves 1, 2. The size of this cover panel corresponds to the upper edge of the associated case half 1 or 2. It is to be understood that the upper case half 1 in Figure 1 could also be constructed as described and could comprise compartments formed by partition wall strips 9.

However, the upper case half could also have an attached compartment cover panel 15. When the partition wall strips 9 are installed they are generally held and secured in the receiver slots 8 and/or in the guide slots 8 and/or in the fitting slots 11 with keying of the material and/or with a positive fit and/or adhesively, i.e. by means of adhesives.

In the subject of Figure 1 the compartment cover panel 15 has hinges 16 which are introduced into hinge mountings 17 on the lower case half 2 and can be secured there by screws or bolts. Formations 18 can be seen on the upper case half 1, which in the assembled state can cooperate with the components 19 on the lower case half 2 in the manner of a pin joint.

Figures 4 and 5 show that the fitting slots 11 for the partition wall strips 9 may also have a cross-section which is more or less wedge-shaped or trapezoidal. Moreover, as can be seen in particular from Figure 5, projections 20 and complementary indentations 21 may be provided, which ensure a positive connection between the partition wall strips.

Claims

1. A case having two double-walled case halves which are moulded from synthetic thermoplastic material by blow moulding, and the case halves of which each comprise an outer shell and an inner shell as well as compartments for material to be introduced, wherein at least one of the case halves has an inner shell which has intersecting receiver slots moulded in the inner shell base for compartment-forming partition wall strips, which receiver slots have a predetermined grid dimension and continue ascending in the inner shell sidewalls as guide slots for the partition wall strips, wherein the partition wall strips have a partition wall height which corresponds to the height of the inner shell sidewalls, and wherein the partition wall strips have fitting slots, which correspond to the grid dimension and which in their installed state are perpendicular to the inner shell base, and free areas between the fitting slots, into which fitting slots compartment-forming partition wall strip portions can be fitted regionally by means of fitting parts, which fitting parts correspond to half the length of the free areas between the fitting slots.

2. A case according to claim 1, wherein the partition wall strips are moulded from synthetic thermoplastic material, and as a set of components have a length which corresponds to the length of the receiver slots, and wherein for the purpose of installation and in the installed state at least one of the partition wall strips of the set of components is shortened to form a partition wall strip portion in accordance with the compartments to be formed.

3. A case according to either one of claims 1 or 2, wherein at least one compartment cover panel, which consists of synthetic thermoplastic material for example, is disposed between the two case halves, the size of which compartment cover panel is matched to the upper edge of the case half.

4. A case according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein one of the case halves has compartments formed from the partition wall strips and the other case half has an attached compartment cover panel.

5. A case according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the partition wall strips are held in the receiver slots and/or in the guide slots and/or in the fitting slots with keying of the material and/or with a positive fit and/or adhesively.

6. A case substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings.

7. A case substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 4 and 5 of;the accompanying drawings.