FR2924415A1 - CONTAINER OF AUTOMOTIVE SPARE PARTS - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a container for storing and transporting a set of automotive spare parts (PC), which comprises a base (10) provided with means (11) for supporting parts (PC) in a prescribed arrangement According to the invention, the container comprises at least one element (21, 22) hinged to the base (10), the element (21, 22) comprising a stacking position of the container, in which the element (21, 22) ) delimits a height (H1) of parts storage (PC) and a width (L1), the element (21, 22) being movable from the stacking position in the direction of outward deployment with respect to the base ( 10) to define a width (L2) of passage above the base (10), greater than the width (L 1).

Description

The invention relates to a container for storing and transporting a set of automobile spare parts, which comprises a base provided with means for supporting said spare parts in a prescribed arrangement. An example of such spare parts are the bumpers. These bumpers are most often manufactured and painted at a subcontractor, and then transported in trucks, to the factory assembly and manufacturing of motor vehicles. Storage and transport containers must meet the following criteria. In particular, they must be able to: - place as many parts as possible in a given volume, so as to reduce the associated transport costs as much as possible, - handle the parts easily and quickly, when they are introduced in the storage device or during their extraction out of it. Such devices or containers adapted for storing and transporting bumpers have already been proposed in the state of the art. For the most part, they comprise a metal base, elongated rectangular general shape, which can be moved by means of a forklift, and later on the platform of a truck. This base is provided with supports, for example in the form of metal hoops on which are mounted the wedges of the painted bumpers. The base is also equipped with a central grating, longitudinal, that the operator borrows to implement one by one the bumpers on 25 arches. In addition, it must be possible to store as many containers as possible in a truck for the transport of spare parts. The object of the invention is to provide a spare parts container which satisfies these requirements while being ergonomic and making it possible to reduce the costs of storage and maintenance. An object of the invention is a container for storing and transporting a set of automobile spare parts, which comprises a base provided with means for supporting said spare parts in a prescribed arrangement, characterized in that comprises means for stacking, comprising at least one element hinged to the base, the element comprising at least a first

2 stacking position of the container, wherein the element defines a first prescribed height of storage of parts relative to the base and a first part storage width on the base, locking and unlocking means of the element at least in the first pond stacking position provided, the element being movable from the first stacking position in the direction of outward deployment relative to the base to delimit a second passage width above the base, greater than the first width, the stacking means having end portions remote from the base to serve to support another container above the first storage height when this element is in the first stacking position. In embodiments of the invention: - The element comprises at least a second deployment position, in which the element is spaced outwardly from the base to define a second passage width above the base, upper at the first width, means for locking and unlocking the element in the second deployment position being provided. - The element comprises removable wedge support means, the removable wedges being adapted to be detached from the support means on the element to be inserted between the spare parts when the spare parts are arranged on the base. - The element comprises at least two amounts distant from each other in a longitudinal direction of the base, the uprights each having a hinge in rotation on a corresponding part of the base, and a support rack removable chocks, the rack connecting the amounts to one another. - The shims are at least partially in a compressible material. - The removable wedges comprise at least one hollow in the compressible material, the support means of the removable wedges on the element comprise at least one projecting portion on which the hollow is compressed by compression to removably immobilize the wedges on the element . - At least one shim has at least one projecting portion to be inserted into a corresponding shaped hollow part of a spare part. At least one shim comprises at least one hollow part intended to come against a correspondingly shaped projecting part of the spare parts.

3 - The spare parts are bumpers of motor vehicles, having hollow and protruding parts located on the two opposite sides of a stamped area. The shims comprise complementary first and second fastening means to be fixed to each other through and / or on one side of the spare part and / or on the means for supporting the element's removable wedges. each removable wedge having the first fastening means on a first face and the second fastening means on a second face remote from its first face. - The first and second complementary fastening means are of the male and female type. - The spare parts are motor vehicle bumpers, said bumper support zone against the holds comprises a concealed part set back from the bumper, intended for mounting a signaling light and / or a night light and / or a flashing light. -The element comprises at least one amount connected by an axis of rotation to a corresponding portion of the base, the locking and unlocking means comprise a prehensile rod for driving the amount between the one and the other of the first position stacking device and the second deployed position, and male or female locking means of the link, having two different reciprocating positions relative to the upright or base, to maintain the element respectively in the second deployment position and in the first stacking position, and to be moved between the two latching positions. - The element comprises a third folded position towards the base, delimiting with respect to the base a fourth height less than the first height, the locking and unlocking means for moving the element in the third folded position. The container comprises an auxiliary stacking unit driven by the element in rotation about the axis between the one and the other of the first stacking position and the second deployed position, means being provided for separating in rotating the auxiliary stacking post relative to the element and blocking the auxiliary stacking post in an auxiliary stacking position, when the element passes from the first stacking position to the third folded position,

(4) the auxiliary stacking device defining in the auxiliary stacking position a third height less than the first height and greater than the fourth height, and having an end portion capable of serving to support another container above the third height in the third folded position of the element. - The element comprises at least one amount, which is connected by an axis of rotation to a corresponding portion of the base and which has said end portion away from the axis of rotation, the stacking position corresponding to an angle of amount of substantially 90 ° to the plane of the base.

The invention will be better understood on reading the description which follows, given solely by way of non-limiting example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIGS. 1 and 4 show in perspective the container according to the invention in the stacking position, - Figures 2, 11, 14 and 15 show in perspective the container according to the invention in the open position of deployment, - Figure 3 is a simplified schematic perspective view of the container according to the invention in position of stacking, - Figure 5 is a top view of the container according to the invention 20 in the stacking position, - Figures 6, 7, 8 show in perspective removable blocks that can be used in the container according to the invention, - the FIG. 9 represents in perspective a shim fixed to the container according to the invention; FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the container according to the invention between its stacking position and its deployed position; FIG. 12 is a front view of the container according to the invention in its stacking position and FIG. 13 is a front view of the container according to the invention in its extended position; FIG. 16 is a simplified front schematic view; of several containers according to the invention, stacked one on top of the other in the stacking position, FIG. 17 is a simplified schematic front view of several containers according to the invention, stacked one on top of the other in position empty. The invention is described below for a container specifically intended for transporting bumpers in a vertical position. However, of course, this example is not limiting, the spare parts can be any other, for example motor covers. In a manner known per se, the container 1 is formed of a metal base 10, which, seen from above, has the shape of an elongated rectangle. This base 10 is thick and includes parallel passages for the introduction of the forks of a forklift. The base 10 has at its upper face means 11 10 PC support bumper in vertical position. In a manner known per se, these support means 11 comprise rods extending in a longitudinal direction of the base 10, for example being arranged symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal vertical plane of symmetry of the container. The support means 11 are arranged with respect to the shape of the PC bumpers, so that each PC bumper can fit on the means 11 in its storage arrangement shown in the figures, that is to say the substantially vertical position of the bumpers when the base 10 is horizontal. The container 1, is stackable on another container 1, lb, as shown in Figures 16 and 17. For this purpose, the container 1 comprises stacking means comprising, in the embodiment shown in the figures, two elements 21, 22, articulated on the two longitudinal outer sides 12, 13 right and left of the base 10. Of course, in other embodiments, a single element 21 or 22 hinged can be provided, while the other element could be fixed. The stacking means 21, 22 comprise, at their end remote from the base 10, one or more parts 23 intended to receive another container 1 in the stacking position of the containers. Each element 21, 22 for example comprises two uprights 24, 25 interconnected and rotatably articulated on the base 10. The articulations of the uprights 24, 25 are for example provided at the four corners of the base 10. In the first stacking position , the elements 21, 22 are held upwardly to define a first height H1 above the base 10 and a first width L1 between them, to define with the base 10 a storage space 35 of the PC spare parts. The end portions 23 are then directed upward to receive the base 10 of another container lb above.

6 At least one of the elements 21, 22, and in the embodiment shown, the two elements 21, 22 are adapted to be spaced from the base 10 outwardly from the first stacking position to arrive in a deployment position shown in Figure 2. The first width L1 and the first height H1 may be only slightly greater than the dimensions of the PC spare parts, which makes it possible to save space in the container in a stacking position filled with parts PCs, as shown in Figure 5. In the deployment position, the elements 21, 22 define a second width L2 larger than the first width L1, to allow to introduce the PC spare parts on the base 10 by passing from the top, front and / or rear of the base 10, without the risk of hitting the container, so as not to damage the PC spare parts. The insertion of the PC spare parts into the storage space of the container in this deployment position, that is to say in the open position of the elements 21, 22 to the outside, is performed in the following manner. In the vertical position, the first bumper PC 1 is placed on the support means 11 of the base 10. For this purpose, a fixed shim 39 can be provided on the base 10 to position the first bumper PC 1 towards the bottom. container without exceeding the storage space. It is for example provided two shims 39 fixed right and left. Then we put a shim 31 against the front of the spare part PC1. Means are provided for fixing the shims 31, 39 to each other. For example, these means consist in that the rear face 32 of a wedge 31b has rearward projecting portions, formed for example by one or more projecting rods 33, which pass through corresponding holes of the PC spare part. come against another block 31a pressed against the rear of the same PC part by its front face 34. The projections 33 of the front spacer 31b pass through the spare part PC and are wedged in corresponding hollow parts 35 of the other rear shim 31a, so that the two shims 31 are fixed to each other at the front and rear of the PC part. The faces 32 and 34 are for example of complementary shape of the front and rear faces of the PC spare parts in the area where they must be mounted. The shims 31, 39 make it possible to protect the PC spare parts, and to prevent the parts from colliding during the handling and transport of the container. The wedges 31, 39 are made of a material making it possible to absorb or attenuate the

7 shocks, so as not to damage the PC parts and maintain in their storage arrangement, wherein the parts are spaced apart from each other as shown in Figure 5. The mounting area of the wedges 31 is for example located on a stamped area of the spare part PC, formed for example by the mounting area of a traffic light such as a flashing light or a pilot light in the case of a bumper. This stamped area comprises a recess on the front face of the PC bumper, against which comes a projection 37 of the face 32 of the front spacer 31 for the positioning of the wedge, the pins 33 protruding for example from this projection 37.

The spare part PC has a projection at the rear of the zone, against which the recess 36 of the face 34 of the other rear wedge 31 comes for the positioning of the wedge, this recess 36 containing for example the receiving recesses 35 protruding pins 33. The shims 31 are for example provided on each front left and right side of the bumper PC1.

Then there is a second bumper PC2 against the shim 31, 31a shown in Figure 2. The first shim 31a shown in Figure 2 is immobilized on the fixed shim 39 back through the first bumper PC1. Similarly, it is then fixed through the second bumper PC2 on the first spacer 31a of Figure 2, an analog wedge 31b to immobilize against the second bumper PC2. The wedge 31a is interposed between the bumpers PC1 and PC2. Then we repeat this operation for the following bumpers by placing a new shim 31 on the bumper PC just disposed. This wedge is fixed to the previous hold. Then we have the following bumper PC against this wedge, so as to have an alternation of PC bumper and shim 31, as shown in Figure 5. Regarding the last PCn bumper to the front, a last spacer before 31n is affixed against it by being fixed on the one hand to the previous hold 31n-let on the other hand to the base 10 by any appropriate means, such as for example by a jamb or other. When the container 1 of PC spare parts has been completed, the elements 21, 22 are moved from their deployed deployment position to their stacking position shown in FIGS. 1, 4 and 5. The filled container can then be transported. of PC spare parts according to Figure 5 to stack several la, lb thus filled. The container lb of the top comprises support means 15, located under its base 10 or under a

8 another appropriate part of the container, to bear against the bearing points 23 of the elements 21, 22 of the container from below in the stacking position. To remove the PC spare parts from a filled container, a container 1 is taken on which no other container is stacked and the elements 21, 22 of the first stacking position are moved to their outwardly-outward position shown in FIG. 2, the shims 31 and PC parts are removed successively starting from the front, the largest width L2 in the spaced apart position providing a safe distance relative to the width of the PC parts, so that the PC parts do not risk to strike against the different parts of the container 1. It is provided on one or other of the articulated elements 21, 22 able to move into the deployed deployment position, means 40, such as for example a support rack 40 of the removable shims 31 when they are not used against the bumpers, to store them in the empty position of the container. This rack 40 comprises for example one or more longitudinal rods 41, 42 connecting the two uprights 24, 25 of this element 21, 22. The wedges 31 are at least partially made of a compressible material, such as for example a foam, which can be made of expanded polypropylene to absorb shocks when placed between or against PC parts.

In addition, the removable wedges 31 comprise one or more recesses 38, 39 in this compressible material for wedging the wedges on the rack 40 by placing the recesses 38, 39 against the rods 41, 42, the recesses 38, 39 having a corresponding shape. to these, the compression of the recesses 38, 39 by the rods 41, 42 ensuring the removable attachment of the wedges 31 on the rack 40.

It is thus possible to align longitudinally the wedges 51 on the element 21, 22. For example, by arranging the directed recesses of the face 32 to the face 34, one can fit the wedges 31 one after the other on the rack 40, by bringing the projections 33, 37 into the hollow portions 36, 35, the wedges 31 can be removed from the rack 40 by sliding on it. Of course, any other form of rack 40 could be provided on the element 21, 22. The elements 21, 22 are able to occupy, when there are no PC spare parts on the base 10, a third position folded against the base 10 with the shims stored on the element 21 and / or 22 folded. The element 21, 22 and the base 10 are for example arranged such that in this third folded position, the wedges 31 are wedged between the rack 40 and a part of the base 10, such as for example one of the means 11 of support.

Means 50 for locking and unlocking the element 21 and / or 22 relative to the base 10 are provided to allow the displacement of said element between the one and the other of the first stacking position, the second position deployed and the third folded position, as well as to block this element in the first stacking position and in the second position deployed outwardly. In one embodiment, these locking means 50 comprise a connecting rod 51 connecting the base 10 and a gusset 52 or auxiliary piece 52, articulated in rotation on the same axis 53 as the amount 24, 25. To go from the first stacking position in the second position deployed outwardly, the rod 51 is actuated by a handle 51a provided on it, to disengage the rod 51 relative to a corresponding portion 54 of the base 10 and push the amount 24 , or another part of the element 21, 22, outwards in the direction of the thick arrow shown in Figure 10, which causes the gusset 52 also outwards. The latching portion 54 of the base 10 is for example formed by a male portion, formed for example by a finger 54, inserted into a slot 55 of the rod 51, forming a female latching portion. The female part 55 of the link 51 comprises at least two stop-points 55a, 55b side by side to insert and block the male part 54, respectively in the first stacking position and in the second deployed position. Of course, the male and female ratchet parts could be reversed on the rod 51 and on the base 10. To move from the deployed position shown in Figure 1l to the stacking position shown in Figure 4, the maneuver is performed The rod 51 thus participates in the connection between the base 10 and the element 21, 22. To move from the first stacking position to the third folded position against the base 10, the amount of rotation is detached in rotation. 24, 25 relative to its portion 52 associated, this portion 52 being held in the stacking position by the rod 51. The auxiliary portion 52 of stacking comprises in its auxiliary stacking position a height H3 above the base 10, which is less than the first height H1 had the support points 23 in the stacking position. The auxiliary parts 52 serve, in the folded position of the elements 21, 22, to stack empty containers 1, thus having a reduced overall height, the third height H3 being greater than the fourth height H4 occupied by the elements 21, 22 and their uprights 24, 25 when they are in the folded position towards the base 10. The PC spare parts are connected to each other by the wedges and make a unitary assembly, which makes it impossible to move between PC spare parts. In the folded position, the shims disposed on the element 21, 22 serve as dampers and are trapped in the collapsed container, which prevents accidental losses of shims. Means 60 are provided between the upright 24 and its associated auxiliary upright 52 to disengage in rotation the auxiliary stacking pillow 52 with respect to the element 21, 22. The auxiliary stacking unit 52 is able to be locked in the auxiliary stacking position shown in Figure 17, when the element 21, 22 passes from the first stacking position to the third folded position. In the auxiliary stacking position, the auxiliary upright 52 is for example substantially 90 ° to the plane of the base 10. The auxiliary stacking pillar 52 comprises an end portion 52a remote from its axis 53 of rotation on the base. The end portion 52a serves to support another container lb above the third height H3 in the third folded position of the member 21, 22.

Claims (16)

A container for storing and transporting a set of automobile spare parts (PC), which comprises a base (10) provided with means (11) for supporting said spare parts (PC) in a prescribed arrangement, characterized in that it comprises stacking means, comprising at least one element (21, 22) articulated to the base (10), the element (21, 22) comprising at least a first stacking position of the container, in which the element (21, 22) delimits a first prescribed height (H1) of piece storage (PC) with respect to the base (10) and a first part storage width (L1) (PC) on the base (10), locking and unlocking means of the element (21, 22) at least in the first stacking position being provided, the element (21, 22) being movable from the first stacking position in the direction of deployment to the outside the pedestal (10) to delimit a second width (L2) of passage over the above the base (10), greater than the first width (L 1), the stacking means having end portions (23) remote from the base (10) for supporting another container above the first storage height (H1) when this element (21, 22) is in the first stacking position. 2. Container according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the element comprises at least a second deployment position, wherein the element is spaced outwardly of the base to define a second passage width beyond- above the base, greater than the first width, locking means and unlocking the element in the second deployment position being provided. 3. Container according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the element (21, 22) comprises means (40, 41, 42) for supporting removable wedges (31), the removable wedges (31) being adapted to be detached from these support means located on the element (21, 22) to be interposed between the spare parts (PC) when the spare parts are arranged on the base (10). Container according to claim 3, characterized in that the element (21, 22) comprises at least two uprights (24, 25) spaced from one another in a longitudinal direction of the base (10), the uprights (24, 25) each having a hinge (53) in rotation on a corresponding part of the base, and a rack (40) for supporting the removable blocks (31), the rack (40) connecting the two to each other. amounts (24, 25). 5. Container according to any one of claims 3 and 4, characterized in that the wedges (31, 39) are at least partially of a compressible material. Container according to Claim 5, characterized in that the removable wedges (31) comprise at least one recess (38, 39) in the compressible material, the means (40) for supporting the removable wedges on the element (21, 22) comprise at least one projecting portion (41, 42) on which the recess (38, 39) is compressed by compression to removably immobilize the wedges (31) on the element (21, 22). 7. Container according to any one of claims 3 to 6, characterized in that at least one shim (31) comprises at least one portion (37) projecting to be inserted into a hollow portion of corresponding form of a spare part. 8. Container according to any one of claims 3 to 7, characterized in that at least one wedge (31) comprises at least one recessed portion (36) intended to come against a correspondingly shaped protruding part of the spare parts. . 9. Container according to claims 7 and 8, characterized in that the spare parts are motor vehicle bumpers, having hollow and protruding parts located on the two opposite sides of a stamped area. 10. Container according to any one of claims 3 to 9, characterized in that the wedges (31, 39) comprise first and second complementary fastening means (33, 35) to be fixed to one another. through and / or on one side of the spare part (PC) and / or on the means (40, 41, 42) of removable wedge support (31) of the element (21, 22), each removable wedge (31) having the first attachment means (33) on a first face (32) and the second attachment means (35) on a second face (34) remote from its first face (32). 11. Container according to claim 10, characterized in that the first and second complementary fastening means (33, 35) are of the male and female type. 35 12. Container according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the spare parts are motor vehicle bumpers, said bumper support zone 13 against the holds (31) comprises a hidden part set back from the bumper. -choc, intended for mounting a traffic light and / or a pilot light and / or a flashing light. 13. Container according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the element (21, 22) comprises at least one upright (24, 25) connected by an axis (53) of rotation to a corresponding part of the base ( 10), the locking and unlocking means comprise a prehensile rod (51) for driving the upright (24, 25) between the one and the other of the first stacking position and the second deployed position, and male means (55a, 55b) or female detent of the rod (51), having two different reciprocal latching positions relative to the upright or the base, to hold the element (21, 22) respectively in the second position of deployment and in the first stacking position, and to be moved between the two latching positions. 14. Container according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the element comprises a third folded position towards the base (10), delimiting with respect to the base (10) a fourth height (H4) less than the first height. (H1), the locking and unlocking means for moving the element (21, 22) in the third folded position. 15. Container according to claim 14, characterized in that it comprises an auxiliary amount (52) of stacking driven by the element (21, 22) in rotation about the axis between the one and the other of the first stacking position and the second deployed position, means being provided for detaching in rotation the auxiliary stacking post (52) with respect to the element (21, 22) and for blocking the auxiliary stacking post (52) in an auxiliary stacking position, when the element (21, 22) passes from the first stacking position to the third folded position, the auxiliary stacking pillar (52) delimiting in the auxiliary stacking position a third lower height (H3) at the first height (H1) and greater than the fourth height (H4), and having an end portion (52a) adapted to serve the support of another container above the third height (H3) in the third folded position of the element (21, 22). 16. Container according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the element (21, 22) comprises at least one upright (21, 22), which is connected by an axis (51) of rotation to a corresponding part. of the base and which has said end portion 14 (23) away from the axis of rotation, the stacking position corresponding to an angle of the upright (24, 25, 52) of substantially 90 ° with respect to the plane of the base ( 10).