EP0478419A1 - Container with elements of foamed material - Google Patents

Abstract

The container comprises elements (2, 4) of relatively rigid plastic foamed material which are held by a support structure comprising two shells (6, 8) which are movable relative to one another about an articulation direction (D). Locking means (38, 40) are provided in order to hold the container in a position of closure. The elements (2, 4) of foamed material extend beyond the shells (6, 8) at their ends which are axially opposed relative to their articulation direction (D). <IMAGE>

Description

The present invention relates to a device for containing objects, or container, comprising plastic foam elements for handling or transporting these objects.

Plastic foam containers are appreciated for their qualities of lightness, thermal insulation and shock absorption. They are particularly suitable for the transport of fragile objects.

It is known from US-A-3 327 882 to make containers formed from relatively rigid plastic foam panels which can be assembled in a removable manner for the maritime transport of various goods. According to this document, the cohesion of the container is ensured by straps which surround it externally. These straps are impractical to put in place and strongly compress the foam when passing over the edges of the container. This can result in incipient fractures. The storage of these straps also poses a problem as well as the risk of their loss.

In its previous French patent application n ° 89 13077, the applicant described a container formed of several plastic foam elements assembled in a removable manner, in which a body and a cover coming from the cutting of a block of plastic foam, are removably assembled by means of anchoring plates supported on the external surface of the body and of the cover and comprising hooks engaged in oblique recesses formed in the foam, the plates being connected by fasteners.

The object of the present invention is to provide a container with foam plastic elements which is well suited for handling fragile objects and which has improved robustness qualities while remaining light and handy.

According to the invention, this container comprising plastic foam elements is characterized in that it further comprises a support structure comprising at least two shells movable relative to each other around a direction of articulation and locking means for holding the container in a closed position, and in that the foam elements protrude from the shells at their ends axially opposite with respect to said direction of articulation.

In the container according to the invention, the support structure stiffens the device and protects the foam elements surrounded by the shells. The ends of the container are nevertheless part of foam elements, which reduces the risk of damage to the objects it contains in the event of impact, by shock absorption by the foam located near the ends.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, at least one foam element is removably fixed in a shell of the support structure.

The device is then modular, the same support structure being able to receive different foam elements when it is desired to transport or present different objects.

In a preferred version of the invention, each shell of the support structure comprises a main face, a rear flange carrying articulation means and a front flange carrying locking means.

The container can then be handled like a suitcase whose sides are stiffened by the main faces of the shells and whose ends are protected by the foam elements protruding from the shells.

• la figure 1 est une vue en perspective du conteneur selon l'invention en position d'ouverture partielle ;
• la figure 2 est une vue en perspective du conteneur de la figure 1 en position de fermeture ;
• les figures 3 et 4 sont des vues en perspective de composants du conteneur des figures 1 et 2 ;
• la figure 5 est une vue en élévation du conteneur des figures 1 à 4 en position d'ouverture complète ; et
• la figure 6 est une vue en perspective illustrant une variante de l'invention.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will appear in the detailed description below of a non-limiting example of realization, read in conjunction with the appended drawings in which:

• Figure 1 is a perspective view of the container according to the invention in partial open position;
• Figure 2 is a perspective view of the container of Figure 1 in the closed position;
• Figures 3 and 4 are perspective views of components of the container of Figures 1 and 2;
• Figure 5 is an elevational view of the container of Figures 1 to 4 in the fully open position; and
• Figure 6 is a perspective view illustrating a variant of the invention.

With reference to FIGS. 1 to 5, it can be seen that the example described of a container according to the invention comprises two relatively rigid plastic foam elements 2, 4 whose outer contour has the shape of a parallelepiped.

The foam constituting the elements 2, 4 may have a density of 45 kg / m³ for example, the foam chosen being all the more dense the heavier the objects to be housed in the container or the greater the mechanical resistance required of the container. A suitable material for making the elements 2, 4 is polyurethane, in the form of closed cell foam to ensure their impermeability.

A rectangular recess 12, 14 is made in the largest face of the foam elements 2, 4.

These recesses 12, 14 are used to house the objects in the container. Optionally the recesses 12, 14 may contain other elements of lighter and more flexible foam (not shown) in which are cut patterns conforming to the outer contour of the objects housed in the container.

The relatively rigid foam elements 2, 4 are arranged in two rigid shells 6, 8 forming part of a support structure 10 of the container.

In the description below, the body of the container will be used to designate the assembly formed by the foam element 4 and the shell 8 and the container cover will be the assembly formed by the foam element 2 and the shell 6.

The support structure 10 of the container is shown in FIG. 4 without the foam elements 2, 4. Each of the shells 6, 8 is formed from a rectangular aluminum plate of which two opposite sides are folded along an edge 3 , 7 to form a front edge 16, 18 and along an edge 5, 9 to form a rear edge 20, 22 extending about 90 ° from a main face 24, 26, on the same side of said main face 24, 26. Light rigid materials other than aluminum can of course be used to make the shells 6, 8, for example a plastic material (PVC or the like). The shells 6, 8 are hinged together by their rear flanges 20, 22 which carry articulation means 28. In the example illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 5, the articulation means comprise three hinges 28 whose axes of articulation define the direction D of articulation of the shells 6, 8. This direction of articulation D is parallel to the edges 3, 5, 7, 9 of the shells 6, 8 marking the fold between the flanges 16, 18, 20, 22 and the main faces 24, 26. Each hinge 28 comprises two metal members 30, 32 pivoting with respect to each other about an axis of articulation 34 coinciding with the direction of articulation D of the shells 6, 8. Said members 30, 32 are fixed respectively to the edges 20, 22 of the shells 6, 8 near their end parallel to the direction of articulation D and opposite the edge 5, 9. By way of example, they can be fixed each with several rivets 36.

On the front edges 16, 18 of the shells 6, 8 are fixed locking means, respectively 38, 40. The container can thus be held in the position illustrated in FIG. 2, by closing two locks each consisting of a first piece 38 riveted to the front edge 16 of the shell 6 of the cover, near the end opposite to the edge 3 and a second piece 40 riveted to the front edge 18 of the shell 8 of the body, near the end opposite to the edge 7. These second latch pieces 40 each carry a lever attachment of well-known type which, in the closed position of the container, cooperates with a complementary groove shape carried by the first latch piece 38 for lock the container in the closed position. In order to guide and position the body of the container with respect to the cover in the closed position, the first lock piece 38 has a tongue 42 which engages in a complementary housing 44 provided on the second lock piece 40.

The positioning of the body and of the cover in the closed position is also made more precise by the fact that the front edge 18 of the shell 8 of the body has a height greater than the thickness of the foam element 4 while the rim front 16 of the shell 6 of the cover has a height less than the thickness of the foam element 2. We see in Figures 1 and 2 this configuration which ensures precise positioning of the cover relative to the body of the container.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, it can be seen that, parallel to the direction of articulation D, the length of the foam elements 2, 4 is greater than that of the shells 6, 8 so that, at the ends 46, 48 of the shells 6, 8 axially opposite with respect to the direction of articulation D, the foam elements 2, 4 protrude from the shells 6, 8.

When the container is in the closed position (FIG. 2), the foam elements 2, 4 are surrounded by their shell 6, 8 except beyond their ends 46, 48.

In the preferred embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 to 5, the foam elements 2, 4 are removably mounted in their respective shell 6, 8. One can for example slightly compress a foam element 2 to make it penetrate between the two opposite edges 16, 20 of the same shell 6. The foam element 2 then holds in place by the elastic force exerted by the foam.

In this embodiment, it can be seen in FIGS. 3 and 4 that the foam element 2 is also wedged by means of lateral flanges 50 folded 90 ° inwards at the lateral ends 46 of the shell 6, these side flanges 50 being engaged in complementary slots 52 provided on the surface of the foam element 2 intended to be applied against the main face 24 of the shell 2. The side flanges 50 have of course a reduced height compared to l thickness of the foam element 2.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, the container comprises a grip handle 56 mounted on two supports 58 riveted to the front edge 18 of the shell 8 of the container body, the supports 58 being of course fixed in a position intended to balance the container when lifted by the handle 56.

The elevation view of FIG. 5 shows that the container comprises feet, in particular in the form of protrusions 60, 62 carried respectively by the rear flanges 20, 22 of the shells 6, 8. These protrusions 60, 62 can be rubber buffers riveted in the flanges 20, 22. The shell 8 of the container body may further include feet 64 of the same type on its main face 26 for placing the container flat.

In Figure 5, the container is shown in the fully open position. It can be seen that the feet 60, 62 are arranged on the rear edges 20, 22 in an offset manner so that their presence does not hinder the opening of the container. In addition, the hinges 28 are provided so that the height h of the feet 60, 62 does not prevent the complete opening to 180 ° of the container. To this end, their pivoting members 30, 32 each comprise a flat part 31, 33 riveted respectively on the rim 20, 22 of the corresponding shell 6, 8 and the difference d between the plane defined by any one of said flat parts 31, 33 and the hinge pin 34 of the hinge 28 is greater than half the height h of the feet 60, 62. This prevents the feet 60, 62 from opposing the complete opening at 180 ° of the container butting against the flanges 22, 20.

The container described above is well suited for the transport of fragile objects. Its sides are reinforced by rigid shells 6, 8 and the shocks it could undergo are generally absorbed because these shocks most often occur at the lateral ends of the container, which are, in the context of the invention, constituted by parts of the foam elements 2, 4.

In addition, the container according to the invention is inexpensive, although it has satisfactory mechanical qualities and it can easily be aesthetic or carry ornamental patterns. It also has the advantage of modularity since the same container can be used to transport different objects by replacing the lighter foam elements housed in the recesses 12, 14 or by changing the relatively rigid foam elements 2, 4 while retaining the same support structure 10. The container according to the invention can easily be made to measure.

Many variations can be made to the example described without departing from the scope of the invention.

Thus, as illustrated in FIG. 6, a shell 102 can have an opening 100 in its main face 124, a plate 104 being placed inside the shell 102 between its main face 124 and the foam element (not shown ) to be housed in the shell 102. In the example shown in FIG. 6, the plate 104 includes a projecting part 101 whose dimensions coincide with those of the opening 100 and a rebate 103 intended to bear against the face main 124 of the shell 102. The plate 104 is held in the shell 102 by the presence of the foam element and by the adaptation of the projecting part 101 in the opening 100.

In this example, the shell 102 can be made of aluminum and the plate 104 made of plastic, with the projecting part 101 bearing a pattern or the like.

Of course, other assembly methods can be used to form the shells of the support structure.

In the examples shown in the figures, the recess 12, 14 passes through the thickness of the foam element 2, 4 in which it is made, which facilitates the introduction of a lighter foam secondary element into said recess 12. Of course, the recess 12 could have a depth less than the thickness of the foam element or have any shape, for example matching the contours of the object to be transported.

Other variants will readily appear to those skilled in the art. One can for example glue the foam elements in the shells or provide suitable hinges so that the body and the lid of the container are separable in the open position. This type of modification does not distinguish it from the present invention.

Claims (8)

Container comprising plastic foam elements (2, 4), characterized in that it further comprises a support structure (10) comprising at least two shells (6, 8) movable relative to each other around an articulation direction (D) and locking means (38, 40) for holding the container in a closed position, and in that the foam elements (2, 4) protrude from the shells (6, 8 ) at their ends (46, 48) axially opposite with respect to said direction of articulation (D). Container according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one foam element (2) is removably fixed in a shell (6) of the support structure (10). Container according to either of Claims 1 or 2, characterized in that each shell (6, 8) of the support structure (10) comprises a main face (24, 26), a rear flange (20, 22) bearing articulation means (30, 32) and a front edge (16, 18) carrying locking means (38, 40). Container according to claim 3, characterized in that each shell (6, 8) of the support structure (10) further comprises at least one lateral flange (50), and in that a foam element (2, 4) disposed in said shell (6, 8) comprises a slot (52) complementary to said lateral rim (50), the lateral rim (50) being engaged in said slot (52) to hold the foam element (2, 4) and the shell (6, 8). Container according to one of claims 3 or 4, characterized in that it comprises gripping means (56) carried by the front edge (18) of a shell (8) of the support structure (10). Container according to one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that it comprises feet (60, 62) in the form of protrusions on the rear flanges (20, 22) of the shells (6, 8). Container according to claim 6, characterized in that the shells (6, 8) are hinged together by at least one hinge (28) comprising two members (30, 32) pivoting relative to each other around 'an articulation axis (34) defining the articulation direction (D) of the shells (6, 8), these two members (30, 32) each comprising a flat part (31, 33) fixed on the rear flange ( 20, 22) of a respective shell (6, 8), the difference ( d ) between the plane defined by one of said plane parts (31, 33) and the hinge axis (34) being greater than half the height ( h ) of the feet (60, 62). Container according to claim 3, characterized in that at least one shell (102) of the support structure is produced by assembling elements comprising at least one plate (104) arranged along the main face (124) of said shell (102).

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