DE69424800T2 - DEVICE FOR DELIVERING CLASSIFICATIONS - Google Patents

Description

This invention relates to a device for forming at least two separate compartments.

It is generally necessary to provide separate compartments, for example to enable objects to be kept separate from one another, or to restrict the movement of objects, or to protect objects when the compartments are bounded by flexible material. Such compartments could, for example, be provided in a container, such as a briefcase or other container for special material, in a drawer in a piece of furniture, or on a surface such as a table top, and they may be free-standing.

A system for forming a partition using wall elements and holder elements is described in CH 298 092. This known system comprises a connecting element which has a rib which fits into a groove in a first wall element and a pair of lugs which fit into a groove in a second wall element. The rib and groove extend transversely. The device used to form partitions can also be used as a toy, e.g. for use by children. Such a toy can be used, for example, to make buildings or to divide a room for, e.g., storing toys. It could also be used as a puzzle.

The present invention provides a technique for creating separate compartments using wall panels and a connecting element that can be slid onto the wall panels in a direction other than the direction in which the wall panels tend to move apart when in use.

Accordingly, in one aspect, the invention provides an apparatus for forming at least two separate compartments, comprising at least two wall elements and an element for connecting the wall elements such that a connecting edge of one wall element abuts against the other wall element, wherein at least one of the connecting element and the wall elements includes at least one shape which enables the connecting element to be slid onto the wall elements in a direction which is substantially parallel to the connecting edge and which resists separation of the wall elements in a direction perpendicular to the connecting edge.

In a further aspect, the invention provides an apparatus for forming two or more separate compartments in a substantially rigid recess, comprising two or more substantially rigid wall elements arranged at substantially right angles to one another, and means for connecting the rigid wall elements together at their points of contact.

The device of the invention has the advantage that a rigid structure having a plurality of separate compartments can be conveniently created and that the configuration of the compartments can be selected and can then be changed by varying the arrangement of the wall and connecting elements. The compartments could have any of a number of configurations available from a suitable selection of elements. The compartments could, for example, be square or rectangular. They may be formed by wall elements which are not necessarily perpendicular to one another. A compartment could be part of a larger area, for example part of a rectangle. Where a compartment is part of a larger area, it may be formed by more than one wall element which does not delimit the larger area, and such additional wall elements may be connected to one another, not necessarily in a perpendicular manner.

The shaping which enables the connecting element to be slid onto the wall elements may comprise a rib provided on the connecting element or a wall element and extending, in use, substantially parallel to the mating edge. For example, the connecting element may have a plurality of ribs formed in it and cooperating with the surface of the wall element. The connecting element may form a channel in which an edge of a wall element can be received and the channel may have a pair of opposed rib elements towards its open edge.

The ribs by which the wall and connecting elements cooperate with each other may have any of a number of configurations. For example, their configuration may be selected to that of corresponding channels in which they are to be received. They may be generally square (which includes rectangular) or generally rounded in cross-section. It may be suitable for them to have a generally tapered configuration when viewed in cross-section. This may be particularly suitable where the device does not contain grooves in which the ribs are to be received and the ribs are to cooperate with resilient material, since the ribs can form their own grooves as the wall element is pushed into the connecting element.

Preferably, the device includes a groove on the connecting member or the wall member to receive a corresponding rib on the other member (connecting member or wall member). A number of grooves may be provided on the connecting member or the wall member in an array. This has the advantage of providing a number of positions in which the connecting and wall members can work together. The members can work together by means of more than one of the grooves if more than one is provided. This has the advantage of providing a more secure connection between the two members.

It may be preferred that the wall member has grooves formed in it on opposite sides, the connecting member providing a channel and a pair of opposed rib members which fit into the respective grooves in the wall member when the wall member is received in the channel. The rib members may be arranged at or towards the edge of the channel at the edge of the connecting member. Preferably the rib members are directly adjacent to each other. arranged opposite each other on opposite sides of the channel. The rib elements are then received in a pair of channels, each on one side of the wall element.

Preferably, the wall element has a plurality of said grooves formed therein in a substantially uniform array on opposite sides of the element.

The configurations provided for the wall and connection elements to cooperate may be provided on more than one axis. For example, configurations may be provided to enable connections to a wall element to be made along two substantially perpendicular axes, for example to provide a base or cover element and one or more vertical wall elements.

It may be preferred that the material of the surfaces of the wall element is less rigid than the material of the connecting element where it interacts with the said surfaces.

Preferably, the surface of the connecting element or the wall element which cooperates with the other of these elements is formed of a resiliently deformable material. This can facilitate the formation of a secure connection between the wall and connecting elements when the connecting element engages the wall element. Importantly, furthermore, the use of resilient material for the surface of the wall element has the advantage that the separated compartment can be used to protect objects which are fragile, to restrict their movement and to provide a cushioning effect to reduce impact damage or Accordingly, it is preferred that the wall element includes a surface layer of a resiliently deformable material, particularly a deformable foam. Whether or not a deformable material is used, the wall element may have a rigid core. For example, the wall element may include a core formed from a polyolefin such as polyethylene or polypropylene, or a polystyrene or a polycarbonate. The core may be formed by extrusion. It may be convenient for the core of the wall element to have a hollow box section, and such an element may conveniently be formed by extrusion. A core having a box section has the advantage of being lightweight and having good physical properties of tensile strength and rigidity. In addition, it can be easily cut to size if cut along a straight line between parallel surfaces.

In a further aspect, the invention provides an apparatus for forming at least two separate compartments, comprising at least two wall elements containing a surface layer of a resiliently deformable material and an element with which the wall elements can be connected so that a connecting edge of one wall element abuts against the other wall element, wherein at least one element of the connecting element and the wall elements contains at least one shape which enables the connecting element to be pushed onto the wall elements in a direction which is substantially parallel to the connecting edge and which resists separation of the wall elements in a direction perpendicular to the connecting edge.

The wall thickness of the wall elements is preferably at least about 5 mm, more preferably at least about 10 mm, e.g. at least about 15 mm. When the wall elements comprise a core and a resiliently deformable material, it may be preferred that the thickness of the core is less than about half the thickness of the wall element and the remainder of the thickness comprises the resiliently deformable material.

The connecting element can be used to connect wall elements in any of a number of configurations. For example, it can be used to connect two, three, four or more elements. Elements being connected can be connected substantially perpendicularly to each other, for example in an L-shaped, T-shaped or X-shaped configuration. Wall elements can be connected substantially in series.

A connecting element can cooperate with a wall element at the narrow side of the wall element where that narrow side abuts another wall element. A connecting element can cooperate with a wall element at a point along its length between two narrow sides and then cooperate with another wall element at its narrow side where the narrow side abuts the first element at said point along its length. Accordingly, a T-shaped connection can be made by connecting a wall element to another element at a point between their ends, and an X-shaped connection can be made by connecting two wall elements to another element again at a point between their ends.

It may be suitable for some applications for the height of the wall element to be approximately equal to the height of the connector with which it is to cooperate. It may be preferable in this arrangement to include clamps which engage opposite sides of the connector at its base after it has been placed over a wall element, to eliminate any tendency of the sides to slant outwards.

Alternatively or additionally, the device may include connecting elements arranged at the upper or lower edge of the narrow side of a wall element which is to be connected to another wall element. This has the advantage that a wall element can be cut to a desired height and the connecting element will still fit with the wall element without also having to be cut.

The device of the invention can be used to divide a room into compartments and is of particular advantage when items to be stored in the compartments are fragile. Examples of fragile items that can be stored in the compartments include cameras and associated camera equipment, computers and associated computer equipment, electronic components and parts thereof, and medical supplies and devices.

The device of the invention can also be used as a toy, for example as a construction kit that children can play with, e.g. to build a fort. It can be incorporated into a puzzle that can be used by adults or children.

The present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an isometric view of a wall element for use in the apparatus of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a bottom view of a pair of wall elements of the type shown in Fig. 1, with their end portions connected by a connecting element;

Fig. 3 is a bottom view of a connecting element connecting one end of a wall element to another wall element at the mid-length region;

Fig. 4 is a bottom view of a connecting element connecting ends of two wall elements to another wall element at a region at mid-length;

Fig. 5 is an isometric view of a connecting element of the type shown in Fig. 2;

Figure 6 is an isometric view of a rigid carry-on bag with compartments formed therein in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 7 and 8 are a set of six sectional views through connecting elements which can be used in the apparatus of the invention to connect wall elements in (a) X-shaped, (b) T-shaped and (c) L-shaped configurations respectively, all Views are taken from the ground and point towards the top of the container.

Reference is now made to the drawings.

Figure 1 shows a wall member 11 comprising a substantially rigid wall member 12 and having a height as shown in Figure 1 which is substantially equal to or slightly less than the depth of the compartment (for example in a suitcase, briefcase, bag for a camera or other equipment, or drawer) with which the wall member is to cooperate. The rigid wall member 12 comprises a layer 13 of resilient material, such as a foam material, attached to both of its major surfaces and extending across the top of the member 12 as shown in Figure 1, and the outwardly facing outer major surfaces of the layer 13, when relaxed, lie in approximately 19 mm spaced planes. The layer 13 has grooves or recesses 13a formed therein so that they lie at right angles to the longitudinal direction of the wall 11, the recesses 13a having a width and a depth in the range of 2 mm, the first recess 13a being spaced approximately 19 mm from the end of the wall element 11 and the subsequent recesses 13a being equally spaced at a distance in the range of approximately 19 mm.

The wall element 11 includes a core of a material that is more rigid than the foam material provided on its surface. The core may be of a fibrous material such as paper or cardboard, or of wood (particularly plywood). Preferably, the core comprises a polymeric material such as polyethylene, and is formed by extrusion with a cross-section having a hollow box portion.

Fig. 2 shows a device in which two partition walls 11 are arranged at right angles and are held together by a connecting element 14 which comprises a rigid element, for example an injection-molded plastic element. As shown in Fig. 5, the element 14 defines two slots A and B, the planes of the slots A and B being at right angles and the width of the slots A and B being approximately 19 mm. The slot A is defined by two parallel wall elements 15 and 16, and at their free ends the wall sections 15 and 16 form inwardly directed lugs 15a and 16a. The lugs 15a and 16a are spaced 19 mm from the bottom or inner base of the slot A, and the inwardly directed lugs 15a and 16a each have a length in the height direction of the slot A as shown in Fig. 5 of 2 mm, and the lugs 15a, 16a are each directed inwardly towards each other by 2 mm.

Thus, an end portion of a wall element 11, such as that shown in Fig. 1, can be inserted into the slot A; the end of the wall portion 11 cooperates with the bottom of the recess A, the lugs 15a and 16a engage in the first recesses 13a arranged in front of the end of the wall 11, and thereby the wall 11 and the connecting element 14 are intimately connected.

Similarly, the slot B is defined by two parallel wall portions 17 and 18 which include inwardly directed lugs 17a and 18a respectively, and a wall element 11 such as that shown in Fig. 1 can be inserted into the slot B so that the end of the element 11 is flush with the inner base or bottom of the slot A and the lugs 17a and 18a engage in the recesses 13a which adjoin the end of the wall element 11. The second wall element 11 is thus intimately and rigidly connected to the connecting element 14.

The connecting element 14 can be manufactured simply as a piece of extrusion with a cross-section as illustrated in Fig. 2, but preferably the end of the connecting element 14 which is to form the upper part of the element 14 when the element 14 is inserted into a recess to be divided can be bridged as illustrated by the reference numeral 14a in Fig. 5, so that the upper part, as shown in Fig. 1, of the end part of the wall section 11 which is inserted into the slot A is accommodated in the connecting element 14.

Thus, using the connecting element illustrated in Figures 1 and 5, the adjacent ends of the two wall sections 11 arranged at right angles to each other can be rigidly connected by the connecting element 14, and the wall elements are connected to the connecting element 14 by the engagement of the lugs 15a, 16a, 17a and 18a in the respective first recesses 13a in front of the respective adjacent ends of the respective wall elements.

In the arrangement illustrated in Fig. 3, a connecting element 20 is defined by two substantially parallel wall elements 21 and 22, and the wall elements 21 and 22 have inwardly directed lugs 21a and 22a, respectively, the lugs extending transversely to the direction of the slot formed by the wall elements 21 and 22, and the lugs 21a and 22a are spaced approximately 19 mm apart and have a width and depth of approximately 2 mm.

Accordingly, with the arrangement described so far, a region in the middle of the length of a partition wall 11 can be inserted into the slots formed between the wall elements 21 and 22, with the respective lugs 21a and 22a engaging in the recesses 13a of the wall section 11. At that end of the connecting element 20 which is to be remote from the bottom of the recess, the wall elements 21 and 22 are connected by a bridge, similar to the bridge shown in Fig. 5, so that the walls 21 and 22 are rigidly connected to one another.

The wall 21 also includes two generally parallel wall sections 23 and 24 at a region midway along its length, the walls 23 and 24 extending substantially at right angles to the plane of the slot defined by the wall sections 21 and 22. The inner surfaces of the wall sections 23 and 24 are spaced apart by about 19 mm, and spaced from the bottom or inner base of the slot defined by the wall sections 23 and 24, the wall sections 23 and 24 include inwardly directed lugs 23a and 24a spaced apart by about 19 mm from the bottom of the slot. The lugs 23a and 24a protrude inwards by about 2 mm and have a width of about 2 mm, so that an end region of a partition wall 11 can be inserted between the wall sections 23 and 24, the end of the wall 11 cooperating with the bottom of the slot delimited by the walls 23 and 24 and the lugs 23a and 24a engaging in the first recess 13a arranged in front of the end of the wall 11.

Thus, with this arrangement of the connecting element, the element can be attached to a first wall element 11 at any location along its length and connected to an end region of a wall element 11 at right angles to the same.

In the arrangement shown in Fig. 4, a connecting member 30 includes two parallel wall sections 31 and 32, the inwardly facing surfaces of which are spaced about 19 mm. Along their inner surfaces, the walls 31 and 32 have inwardly directed lugs 31a and 32a, respectively, the lugs being spaced about 19 mm and having a depth and width of about 2 mm. Accordingly, a wall member 11 similar to the member 11 of Fig. 1 can be inserted into the slot defined by the walls 31 and 32 at any location along the length of the wall member 11, the lugs 31a and 32a engaging in grooves 13a in the portion of the wall 11 between the walls 31 and 32.

The walls 31 and 32 are connected, for example, by a bridge arrangement connecting the upper end portions of the walls 31 and 32, similar to the manner shown and described with reference to Fig. 5.

The wall 31 has two wall sections 33 and 34 extending from the wall section 31 at right angles to the plane of the slot defined by the wall sections 31 and 32; the inner surfaces of the wall sections 33 and 34 are spaced approximately 19 mm apart. 19 mm from the inner base of the slot defined by the sections 33 and 34, the wall sections 33 and 34 have inwardly directed lugs 33a and 34a, each lug having a width of 2 mm and a depth of 2 mm and accordingly forming an end region of a wall 11 can be inserted between the walls 33 and 34. The end of the wall 11 cooperates with the inner base of the slot defined by the walls 33 and 34, and the lugs 33a and 34a engage in the first recesses 13a arranged in front of the end of the wall 11. Accordingly, a wall section 11 which is inserted into the gap defined by the walls 33 and 34 is rigidly supported at right angles to the plane of the slot which passes through the element 30.

Similarly, wall 32 has two walls 35 and 36 extending at right angles to the slot formed between walls 31 and 32, and walls 35 and 36 are spaced approximately 19 mm apart and have inwardly directed lugs 35a and 36a, each of which has a width and depth of 2 mm, so that an end portion of a third wall 11 can be inserted between walls 35 and 36. The end of third wall section 11 abuts the inner base surface of the groove or slot defined by wall sections 35 and 36, and lugs 35a and 36a engage the first recess 13a arranged in front of the end of third wall 11.

Thus, with the connecting element 30, the element can be arranged at any location along the length of the wall element 11 and can then support two wall sections lying in a common plane at right angles to the plane of the wall section which is connected between the walls 31 and 32.

Fig. 6 shows a perspective view of a rigid hand luggage item comprising a main part 41, including a device according to the invention, and a lid part 42. The lid part 42 is connected via a hinge to the main part 41. The main part 41 includes a handle 43 and the main part 41 and the lid 42 include a connecting arrangement for closure, generally indicated by the reference numeral 44. The substantially rigid recess defined by the main part 41 has four side walls 45, 46, 47 and 48 similar to the wall 11 which are held at their corners by connecting means, for example as shown in Figs. 2 and 5, so as to form a rigid rectangular frame which fits snugly into the rigid recess defined by the part 41. The case also includes an inner wall 49 extending from side to side of the recess parallel to the surface of the case portion 41 containing the handle 43, and at its two ends the wall 49 is connected to the walls 46 and 48 by means of connecting elements similar to the element 20 illustrated in Fig. 3. The two wall elements 50 and 51 extend between the wall portion 49 and the wall portion 47 and are connected at their ends adjacent the wall portion 49 by connecting elements substantially identical to the element 20 illustrated in Fig. 3. At their ends adjacent the wall 47, the walls 50 and 51 are connected to the wall 47 by connecting elements again similar to the element 20 shown in Fig. 3. Thus the wall elements 49, 50 and 51 define three separate compartments within the substantially rigid recess.

One end of the wall section 53 is connected to the wall section 49, again by a connecting element similar to the element 20. One end of a wall 52 is connected to the wall 48, again by an element similar to the element 20, and the free ends of the wall sections 52 and 53 are connected by a connecting element which is similar to the element 14 illustrated in Fig. 2. Accordingly, the walls 52 and 53 define a third compartment within the substantially rigid recess.

A wall portion 54 extends from wall 53 to wall 46, its ends in turn being connected to walls 53 and 56 by connecting elements substantially similar to element 20 illustrated in Figure 3. Accordingly, wall 54 defines a fourth compartment within the substantially rigid recess.

A further wall section 55 extends from the wall 45 to the wall 52, and its ends are in turn connected to the wall 45 and the wall 52 by connecting elements which are essentially identical to the element 20 illustrated in Fig. 3.

It will now be appreciated that by selecting walls similar to wall 11 of the desired lengths, the substantially rigid recess in case portion 41 can be configured to have any number and any specific sizes of compartments formed within the substantially rigid recess and the wall sections can be rigidly connected by use of the connecting members such as members 14, 20 and 31 illustrated in Figures 2, 3 and 4, respectively.

The wall elements 11 covered with a foam material provide protection for devices such as camera parts housed individually in the compartments, and the lid part 42 may contain a block 56 of resilient foam material, again to to protect the device contained in the case.

Figures 7 (a), (b) and (c) show three connecting elements, each of which comprises at least one channel 70 in which the narrow side of a wall element can be received, and a pair of inwardly facing rib elements 72 at the edge of the channel which, when received in the channel, fit into corresponding grooves 13a in the wall element, similar to the type shown in Figure 1. In this way it is possible to connect wall elements generally as described above with reference to Figures 2 to 4. The resulting connected wall elements have an X-shaped, T-shaped and L-shaped configuration respectively.

Figures 8(a), (b) and (c) show connecting elements that can be used to connect wall elements generally in the configurations provided by the elements in the corresponding Figures 7(a), (b) and (c). Each of the connecting elements includes a channel 74 in which the narrow side of a wall element can be received. A plurality of ribs 76 are formed in each of the channels. Each of the ribs is generally tapered when viewed in cross-section. The elements shown in Figure 8 can be used to connect wall elements without the ribs having to engage grooves in the wall elements. Accordingly, the connecting elements can be used to connect wall elements without grooves or to connect wall elements with grooves where the grooves are not suitably located.

Claims (22)

1. Device for forming at least two separate partition compartments, which comprises at least two wall elements (11) and an element (14, 20, 30) with which the wall elements can be connected in such a way that a connecting edge of one wall element abuts against the other wall element, wherein the connecting element and/or the wall elements contain at least one shape (15a, 16a, 17a, 18a, 21a, 22a, 23a, 24a, 31a, 32a, 33a, 34a, 35a, 36a, 72, 76) which enables the connecting element to be pushed onto the wall elements in a direction which runs substantially parallel to the connecting edge and which resists separation of the wall elements in a direction perpendicular to the connecting edge. 2. Device according to claim 1, in which the shaping comprises a rib (15a, 16a, 17a, 18a, 21a, 22a, 23a, 24a, 31a, 32a, 33a, 34a, 35a, 36a, 72, 76) which is provided on the connecting element or a wall element and which, in use, extends substantially parallel to the connecting edge. 3. Device according to claim 2, in which the connecting element comprises a plurality of ribs (15a, 16a, 17a, 18a, 21a, 22a, 23a, 24a, 31a, 32a, 33a, 34a, 35a, 36a, 72, 76) formed therein and cooperating with the surface (13) of the wall element. 4. Device according to claim 3, wherein the ribs of the connecting element the surface of the wall element Deform or cut the tes so that grooves are formed which accommodate the ribs. 5. Device according to claim 3 or 4, which comprises a groove (13a) on the connecting element or the wall element, which receives a corresponding rib on the other element (connecting element or wall element). 6. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the wall element has grooves (13a) formed on opposite sides and wherein the connecting element comprises a channel (A, B, 70, 74) and two opposed rib members which fit into corresponding grooves (13a) in the wall element when the wall element is received in the channel. 7. Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the wall element has a plurality of such grooves formed in a substantially uniform arrangement on opposite sides. 8. Device according to one of claims 1 to 7, in which the material of the surfaces (13) of the wall element is less rigid than the material of the connecting element where it cooperates with those surfaces, whereby the ribs can engage in the deformable material and cut grooves. 9. Device according to one of claims 1 to 8, in which the surface of the connecting element or the wall element, which cooperates with the other of the two mentioned elements, is formed from resiliently deformable material. 10. Device according to one of claims 1 to 9, in which the wall element contains a surface layer (13) made of a resiliently deformable material. 11. Device according to claim 10, wherein the material (13) of the surface layer of the wall element comprises a foam. 12. Device according to claim 10 or 11, in which the wall element comprises a rigid core (12). 13. Device according to claim 12, in which the core (12) of the wall element is formed by extrusion of a polymer material. 14. Device according to claim 13, in which the core (12) of the wall element is shaped as a hollow box section . 15. A device according to any one of claims 8 to 14, wherein the connecting element has a plurality of ribs (76) which, viewed in cross-section, are generally tapered. 16. Device according to one of claims 1 to 15, in which the connecting element cooperates with at least two connecting edges of corresponding wall elements. 17. Device according to claim 16, in which the wall elements, which cooperate with the connecting element (14, 30, 20), are arranged substantially perpendicular to one another in the connected state. 18. Device according to claim 16, in which the wall elements which cooperate with the connecting element, in the connected state, are substantially are arranged in alignment with each other. 19. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 18, wherein the connecting element (20, 30) cooperates with one wall element at a point intermediate its ends and with the connecting edge of another wall element, whereby the wall elements are connected together so as to result in a branched configuration. 20. Device according to one of claims 1 to 19, in which the height of the wall element is substantially equal to the height of the connecting element with which it is intended to cooperate. 21. Device according to one of claims 1 to 19, which contains connecting elements which are intended for attachment to the upper or lower edge of a wall element which is to be connected to another wall element. 22. A toy comprising a device according to any one of claims 1 to 21.