EP0165183B1 - Intermediate element for the stacking and protection of wheel rims or the like - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an improved intermediate material making it possible to stack and protect wheel rims with a view to ensuring their storage or transport.

One of the problems which arise in the manufacture of wheel rims is that of their storage and transport when they are finished. Indeed, in the case of bulky objects, they are stacked on top of each other. It is therefore advisable not only to ensure the stability of this stack but also to avoid impacts or contacts which could cause deterioration of the outer finishing layer of said rims (painting for example). To date, no economic solution has been proposed.

However, we have found, and this is what is the subject of the present invention, an intermediate material, easy and economical to manufacture which makes it possible to solve this problem.

• une partie en relief, de forme tronconique, comprenant un fond et une paroi, et dont les dimensions et la forme sont telles qu'elles puissent être introduites à l'intérieur d'une partie creuse d'une jante ;
• un rebord latéral, orienté dans le prolongement de la paroi, et débordant par rapport à la périphérie de la jante afin de pouvoir entourer l'arête d'une autre jante de l'empilement
• une couronne périphérique reliant la paroi au rebord latéral et dont la largeur correspond sensiblement à l'épaisseur de l'arête des jantes.

In general, the intermediate material according to the invention is based on cardboard and it is characterized in that said cardboard is shaped so as to present:

• a raised part, of frustoconical shape, comprising a bottom and a wall, and the dimensions and shape of which are such that they can be introduced inside a hollow part of a rim;
• a lateral rim, oriented in the extension of the wall, and projecting relative to the periphery of the rim so as to be able to surround the edge of another rim of the stack
• a peripheral crown connecting the wall to the lateral rim and the width of which corresponds substantially to the thickness of the edge of the rims.

Such a material not only makes it possible to superimpose a plurality of rims on one another, but also provides effective protection against possible shocks.

However, it has been found that when a large number of rims are thus superimposed, the stack formed may lack stability. Furthermore, when it is necessary to transport such stacks, the packaging, in particular by means of a plastic film, is difficult to carry out and the transport requires wedging, since if the stack is arranged horizontally, it may tend to roll over.

A variant of the material according to the invention makes it possible to solve these problems and in particular, makes it possible to secure several stacks of wheels together, which facilitates storage and transport since they can be arranged both vertically and horizontally and that, in the latter case, they can no longer roll over on themselves.

According to this variant, the intermediate material according to the invention is characterized in that it comprises at least one pair of elements of the aforementioned type, said elements being interconnected by a part of their peripheral crown, the lateral rim being removed in this connection zone which, in addition, comprises an additional element of separation between the stacks.

According to this variant, the separation element consists of a tongue precut in the connection zone, a tongue which can be folded down relative to said connection zone. This tongue can, if necessary, be folded in half on either side of the connection zone.

The intermediate material according to the invention is shaped by stamping a cardboard blank of circular shape which can be of any quality and have a thickness varying in. big limits. Preferably, however, use will be made of cardboard capable of being permanently deformed by stamping, in particular cardboard obtained according to the so-called “rewinder” process, the shaping operation preferably being carried out by hot stamping. Such a hot stamping technique being well known to technicians will not be described in detail for the sake of simplification.

In addition, if as cardboard, one can use cartons made from one hundred percent untreated paper waste, it is advantageous to use cartons containing a certain percentage of materials promoting deformation, for example particles of chemical materials such as fiber waste, synthetic films ...

Finally, the dimensions of the material according to the invention will depend on the dimensions of the rims.

• la figure 1 est une vue schématique, en perspective, partiellement éclatée, montrant la structure d'un matériau intercalaire conforme à l'invention et la manière dont il est mis en oeuvre ;
• la figure 2 est une vue en coupe montrant la manière dont sont positionnées deux jantes par rapport à un matériau intercalaire conforme à l'invention ;
• la figure 3 est une vue de dessus du matériau intercalaire conforme à l'invention permettant d'empiler et de protéger deux piles de jantes de roues en vue d'assurer leur stockage et/ou leur transport ;
• la figure 4 est une vue en coupe selon l'axe XX de la figure 3 ;
• la figure 5 est une vue partielle, en perspective éclatée, d'une forme de languette rabattable que comporte un tel matériau en vue d'éviter que les jantes des empilements se touchent.

The invention and the advantages which it brings will however be better understood thanks to the exemplary embodiments given below by way of indication but not limitation and which are illustrated by the appended figures in which:

• Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view, partially exploded, showing the structure of an interlayer material according to the invention and the manner in which it is used;
• Figure 2 is a sectional view showing the way in which two rims are positioned relative to an interlayer material according to the invention;
• Figure 3 is a top view of the interlayer material according to the invention for stacking and protecting two stacks of wheel rims for storage and / or transportation;
• Figure 4 is a sectional view along the axis XX of Figure 3;
• Figure 5 is a partial view, in exploded perspective, of a form of folding tongue that includes such a material in order to prevent the rims of the stacks from touching.

If one refers to Figures 1 and 2, the interlayer material is based on a shaped cardboard, for example by hot stamping, so as to have a bottom (1) in relief whose shape and dimensions are such that it can be nested at inside the hollow part of the rim (2) (shown only in Figure 1). The bottom (1) has a side wall (3) of frustoconical shape.

According to the invention, the interlayer also has a lateral flange (4) of protection projecting relative to the periphery of the rim. This lateral rim (4) is connected to the wall (3) by a peripheral ring (5) whose width corresponds substantially to the thickness e of the end of the rim (2). In general, the bottom (1) will have a depth of the order of one to two centimeters while the lateral protective rim (4) will have a height of about one centimeter. Of course, other dimensions could be envisaged, in particular depending on the size of the rims.

As is apparent from the appended diagrams, when it is desired to store or transport a plurality of rims, the material according to the invention is interposed between two consecutive rims so that the peripheral crown (5) is trapped between the edges ( j1-j2) of two consecutive rims. In other words, after fitting the intermediate material, one of the edges of the rim (referenced j2 in the present case) is supported on the peripheral crown (5) of the preceding intermediate element.

Thanks to such a material, not only the rims are perfectly maintained superimposed relative to each other but also the lateral flange (4) provides effective protection against possible shocks.

Such a material not only has a very high efficiency but is also easy to mass produce.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiment described above, but it covers all the variants produced in the same spirit. Thus, if the bottom (1) is flat and full, it could be envisaged to make a hollow or raised bottom.

Figures 3, 4 and 5 illustrate a variant for stacking and protecting two stacks of wheel rims in order to ensure their storage and transport.

In these figures, for the sake of simplification, the rims have not been shown and, moreover, the same references as those used for the intermediate material forming the subject of FIGS. 1 and 2 will be used to designate the same elements of the material which, as before, is based on a shaped cardboard, for example by hot stamping.

• un rebord latéral (4) de protection débordant par rapport à la périphérie de la jante, ce rebord latéral (4) étant relié à la paroi (3) par une couronne périphérique (5) dont la largeur correspond sensiblement à l'épaisseur de l'extrémité de la jante (1).

In this variant, the material according to the invention comprises a pair of elements A, B, each element comprising, in a manner similar to the material illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2: a raised background (1) whose shape and the dimensions are such that it can be fitted inside the hollow part of the rim (not shown) and which has a side wall (3) of frustoconical shape;

• a lateral rim (4) of protection projecting relative to the periphery of the rim, this lateral rim (4) being connected to the wall (3) by a peripheral crown (5) whose width corresponds substantially to the thickness of the end of the rim (1).

The dimensions of such a material will be. as before, determined according to the size of the rims.

According to this embodiment, the material according to the invention is designed so as to make it possible to produce two stacks of rims secured to each other. To do this, the two elements A, B are connected together, on a part of the peripheral ring (5) by a connection zone (6). The lateral flange (4) is eliminated in this connection zone (6). In order to ensure the separation of the two stacks, an additional separation element (7) is provided in the connection zone (6).

As shown in Figures 3 and 4, this separating element (7) is in the form of a pre-cut tongue capable of being knocked down. This tab is arranged in the area where the rims of the two stacks are close to each other.

If this tongue can be pulled down on one side, as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, it could be envisaged, as is apparent from FIG. 5, to make it in two elementary parts allowing it to be folded in on both sides. other from the connecting area (6).

The implementation of such a material is carried out in a similar manner to that of the material illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the only difference residing in the fact that each intermediate material is used for a pair of rims. According to this variant, the rims are not only perfectly maintained superimposed with respect to each other, and protected against possible shocks, but also such a material makes it possible to obtain much more stable stacks which optionally can be transported flat horizontally and without having to stall them.

The separation tab (7) could possibly be brought back into the connection zone (6) instead of being pre-cut in this zone.

In addition, the interlayer material could have more than one pair of elements. In such a case, the elements can be arranged either as an extension of each other or in groups of four, six ... It should also be noted that the central connection zone (6) also facilitates the packaging of the stacks since it can serve as a fulcrum for an immobilization link.

Claims (5)

1. Cardboard insert material for the stacking and protection of wheel rims or similar articles, for the purpose of their storage or transport, characterized in that the said cardboard is shaped so as to have :

a frustoconical relief part which comprises a bottom (1) and a wall (3) and the dimensions and shape of which are such that they can be introduced inside a hollow part of a rim,

a lateral shoulder (4) directed in the extension of the wall (3) and projecting relative to the periphery of the rim, so that it can surround the edge of another rim in the stack,

a peripheral ring (5) which joins the wall (3) to the lateral shoulder (4) and the width of which corresponds substantially to the thickness of the edge J1 or J2 of the rims.

2. Insert material according to claim 1, characterized in that the bottom (1) of the relief part is solid and flat.

3. Insert material according to one of Claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the said cardboard is shaped so as to have at least one pair of elements A, B, each comprising :

a frustoconical relief part which comprises a bottom (1) and a wall (3) and the dimensions and shape of which are such that they can be introduced inside a hollow part of a rim,

a lateral shoulder (4) directed in the extension of the wall (3) and projecting relative to the periphery of the rim, so that it can surround the edge of another rim in the stack,

a peripheral ring (5) which joins the wall (3) to the lateral shoulder (4) and the width of which corresponds substantially to the thickness of the edge (J1 or J2) of the rims,

the said elements being connected to one another over a portion of the peripheral ring (5), the laterial shoulder, (4) being omitted in this connecting zone and an additional separating element (7) being arranged in this connecting zone (6).

4. Insert material according to Claim 3, characterized in that the separating element (7) consists of a tongue precut in the connecting zone (6).

5. Insert material according to claim 4, characterized in that the precut tongue (7) consists of two elementary parts which can be turned down on either side of the connecting zone (6).

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