EP3581060B1

EP3581060B1 - Transportable container

Info

Publication number: EP3581060B1
Application number: EP19178507.0A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Massimo Tonelli
Original assignee: GT Line SRL
Current assignee: GT Line SRL
Priority date: 2018-06-15
Filing date: 2019-06-05
Publication date: 2021-03-24
Anticipated expiration: 2039-06-05
Also published as: EP3581060A1; CN110604384B; CN110604384A

Description

The present invention relates to a transportable container.
In the wide product category of transportable containers it is possible to list trunks, crates, suitcases, trolleys, backpacks and other products, which differ in terms of shape, dimensions, materials and/or functionality, as well as for their intended use, the type of goods that can be transported and/or the customers of reference
Such a transportable container is for example known from EP 0 940 099 A2 .
Within this category, a significantly important segment is assuredly constituted by products intended for technicians, maintenance workers and professionals of various fields, who use them to transport safely the equipment and instruments necessary for their work.
These containers typically comprise a pair of mutually articulated half-shells, which are made of a material that is rigid and strong enough to ensure the capability to transport a considerable load and/or withstand even forceful impacts without being deformed and most of all without compromising the integrity of what is accommodated in the compartment delimited by said half-shells.
In greater detail, the accommodation (and therefore the transport) of the tools occurs tidily by virtue of a plurality of pockets, straps, and other retention means, which can be first of all distributed along the internal walls of the half-shells (which are appropriately lined). Obviously, resorting to these retention means facilitates the task of the user, who finds more easily and quickly what he needs in each instance, and at the same time avoids or in any case limits the risk of damage, preventing contacts and collisions among the tools or against the walls.
In order to increase the number of tools that can be potentially transported tidily, for an equal overall space occupation of the container, resorting to internal panels (often of dimensions that are complementary to a transverse cross-section of the container, which in turn is shaped like a parallelepiped) is also widespread. The panels divide the compartment into respective separate sections and with both of their faces can offer additional anchoring surfaces for other retention means in addition or as an alternative to those provided along the walls.
Resorting to panels in the traditional manners, however, is not free from drawbacks.
Usually, in fact, one side of each panel is hinged to a supporting element, which in turn is fixed rigidly to one of the half-shells (while the other sides can be rested on respective brackets that protrude from the half-shells), obviously to prevent their free movement within the compartment and ensure stable support to the respective tools, furthermore avoiding the danger of losing them.
In this manner, however, in case of damage to the panel it is not possible to replace it practically and easily, since this would entail damage or destruction of the elements that ensure its fixing to one of the half-shells.
More simply, stable fixing of the panels to the half-shells significantly reduces the versatility of the containers, since even in the absence of damage it is not possible to replace the panel alone when one wishes to resort to a different type or distribution of the retention means (for example to carry a different set of tools). Furthermore, if the user wishes to have the entire compartment available in order to accommodate particularly bulky objects, obviously the rigid fixing of the panel to one of the half-shells is an annoying hindrance.
In order to obviate these drawbacks, some embodiments have been proposed which provide a coupling - which in any case is removable - of the panel to the half-shells, but even these attempts have turned out to be in practice unfruitful, due to the limited practicality of the solutions used and/or due to the high frequency of breakages and or damage that affect the elements assigned to mutual removable coupling.
The aim of the present invention is to solve the problems described above, providing a container that offers practical methods for removable coupling for an internal panel.
Within this aim, an object of the invention is to provide a container that offers quick and easy methods for the coupling of a panel to one of the external half-shells that compose said container.
Another object of the invention is to provide a container that allows to couple detachably an internal panel safely and with minimal risk of breakage, at the same time ensuring practical methods for at least temporary removal of said panel.
Another object of the invention is to provide a container that allows a user to couple a panel to an external half-shell without requiring excessive care or attention during assembly.
Another object of the invention is to provide a container that ensures high reliability in operation.
Another object of the invention is to propose a container that adopts a technical and structural architecture that is alternative to those of containers of the known type.
Another object of the invention is to provide a container that can be obtained easily starting from commonly commercially available elements and materials.
Another object of the invention is to provide a container that has low costs and is safe in application.
This aim and these and other objects which will become better apparent hereinafter are achieved by a transportable container according to claim 1.
Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become better apparent from the description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of the transportable container according to the invention, illustrated by way of nonlimiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figures 1 and 2 are front perspective views of the transportable container according to the invention in a first embodiment and in the second configuration, and show the possibility of coupling the panel to any one of the half-shells;
Figure 3 is an exploded front perspective view of a different embodiment of the invention, with a different possibility to couple the panel to a wall of the compartment;
Figure 4 is a highly enlarged-scale view of a detail of Figure 3;
Figure 5 is a view of the embodiment of Figure 3, with the panel in a different orientation, in any case suitable for coupling to the wall of the compartment;
Figure 6 is a highly enlarged-scale view of a detail of Figure 5;
Figure 7 is a top view of the panel coupled to the wall of the compartment, in the embodiment of Figure 3;
Figure 8 is a sectional view of Figure 7, taken along the plane VIII-VIII;
Figure 9 is a highly enlarged-scale view of a detail of Figure 8;
Figure 10 is a front perspective view of the engagement unit of Figure 3;
Figure 11 is a lateral elevation view of the engagement unit of Figure 3;
Figure 12 is a front elevation view of the engagement unit of Figure 3;
Figure 13 is a front perspective view of a different constructive solution for the engagement unit;
Figure 14 is a lateral elevation view of the engagement unit of Figure 13;
Figure 15 is a front elevation view of the engagement unit of Figure 13;
Figure 16 is a rear perspective view of a component of the embodiment of Figure 3, which comprises the wall of the compartment;
Figure 17 is a highly enlarged-scale view of a detail of Figure 16;
Figure 18 is a rear view of the panel of Figure 3;
Figure 19 is a perspective view of a different embodiment for a panel comprised within a container according to the invention;
Figure 20 is a front elevation view of the panel of Figure 19;
Figures 21 and 22 are two different perspective views of a further constructive solution for the removable engagement unit.

With reference to the figures, the reference numeral 1 generally designates a transportable container of the type of a suitcase, trunk, crate, trolley, and the like.
More generically, it is specified that any reference that will be made in the present description to containers 1 is to be understood as extended to any type of product capable of accommodating objects and tools of various kinds, both for private use and for professional use.
Without abandoning the protective scope claimed herein, in fact, it is possible to arrange in the container 1 tools, equipment, electronic equipment or others, in professional use, as well as clothes, objects of various kinds and personal items, in private use.
In the preferred application and in the accompanying figures, the container 1, mainly for professional use, is a sort of rigid suitcase, made of a polymeric material with high impact resistance and optionally provided with appropriate solutions that ensure its completely hermetic seal. Preferably, therefore, the container 1 accommodates (tidily, as will become apparent) tools and equipment of various kinds which the user (a technician, a maintenance worker, a specialized worker, or the like) can thus easily transport to the work/intervention site, in order to have them easily available when needed. In any case, it is stressed once again that the protective scope claimed herein is to be understood as referring also to other types of rigid or nonrigid containers 1 which are even adapted for other purposes and are made of any material.
The container 1 comprises two half- shells 2a, 2b which are mutually movable between a first configuration for closing an internal compartment 3 and at least one second configuration for free access to said compartment 3.
Typically but not exclusively, the two half- shells 2a, 2b both have a box-like shape and can constitute the two halves (of equal size) of the external shell that forms in practice the container 1, or can have different shapes and dimensions (in particular height), for example with a first half-shell 2a that is higher and the second half-shell 2b that acts as a lid.
As will be described better in the pages that follow, the half- shells 2a, 2b (the distinction between them is entirely arbitrary, since obviously each one can be named in each of the two ways) can directly delimit the compartment 3, as in the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2. As an alternative, additional elements (such as the one visible in Figures 3 and 5) are arranged in the compartment 3, in practice to line or cover one or both of the half- shells 2a, 2b and thus delimit said compartment 3. It should be noted that in Figures 3 and onward, the half- shells 2a, 2b are not shown but are immediate and evident to provide for a person skilled in the art (and for any other person, even lacking specific notions in the field).
According to the invention, the container 1 comprises at least one panel 4 which can be arranged inside the compartment 3.
As can be deduced also from the accompanying figures, it is possible to fix to the panel 4 various types of retention means 5 for the objects that the user must carry in the container 1. Such means 5 can be for example straps, pockets, rings, boxes, Velcro® tapes, or any other useful element. Moreover, similar elements can be arranged on the half- shells 2a, 2b or on other components. It is not excluded in any case to resort to other panels 4, optionally without means 5.
Furthermore, the container 1 comprises a unit 6 for the removable engagement of the panel 4 to a wall 7 for delimiting the compartment 3. Merely by way of illustration, Figures 10-12 and 13-15 relate to two different versions of the unit 6. A further version of the unit 6 is shown in Figures 21-22, without thereby exhausting the possibilities that are in any case included within the protective scope claimed herein.
The unit 6 comprises a band 8 which is coupled to a profiled element 9, which in turn is rigidly anchored to an edge of the panel 4 (by adhesive bonding, by welding, by means of screws, nails, rivets or the like, or in yet other manners). Furthermore, the unit 6 comprises a pair of teeth 10, which extend from the band 8 on the opposite side with respect to the profiled element 9. The coupling between the band 8 and the profiled element 9 can be of the rigid type or preferably can allow one or more mutual movements (an example will be seen in this regard hereinafter).
The teeth 10 can enter respective seats 11 that have a substantially corresponding shape and are provided along the wall 7. It is specified that the expression "substantially corresponding shape" is understood to mean that the seats 11 have, at least in one of their portions, a transverse cross-section that substantially coincides with the cross-section of the teeth 10, thus allowing the free sliding (insertion and extraction) of the latter.
Furthermore, respective mutually opposite protrusions 12 protrude normally from opposite faces of each tooth 10. The protrusions 12 are elastically movable in order to allow removable interlocking coupling with the seats 11, following the return to the respective non-deformed configurations. When the teeth 10 are inserted in the seats 11, the protrusions 12 are in fact moved elastically and temporarily from their non-deformed configuration, to which they return when insertion is completed, in order to contrast subsequent extraction by interlocking.
In practice, therefore, by virtue of the constructive choice described above, the invention achieves the intended aim: the coupling of the panel 4 to the container 1 (to the wall 7 of the compartment 3) occurs in a practical and easy manner simply by inserting completely the teeth 10 in the seats 11, first temporarily overcoming the elastic reaction generated by the protrusions 12, to then allow it to provide the interlocking coupling.
At the same time, it is sufficient to act again on the protrusions 12 to remove the interlocking coupling and allow in an equally easy manner the extraction of the teeth 10.
Having provided two mutually opposite protrusions 12, which are responsible for the interlocking coupling, the removable engagement of the panel 4 can occur for two opposite orientations of the latter.
In one embodiment of considerable practical interest, shown in the accompanying figures by way of nonlimiting example of the invention, each tooth 10 comprises a respective flattened plate, which is coplanar to the band 8. Each plate is provided with a curved notch 13 (which is preferably U-shaped), which delimits an elastically oscillating central tab. In this embodiment, the protrusions 12 are constituted by respective mutually opposite expansions, which have an increased thickness and are provided on opposite faces of the tab.
The teeth 10 are preferably arranged at respective terminal portions of the band 8, so as to ensure a more stable engagement.
In the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2, the seats 11 are constituted by respective slits, which are delimited by the wall 7 and by a contoured plate 7a, which is fixed to said wall 7. Each seat 11 is thus open toward a free end of the wall 7 to allow the insertion of the teeth 10. Furthermore, the plate 7a is provided with a pair of orifices 14 which are arranged in further communication with respective slits, in order to allow the elastic return of the corresponding protrusion 12 to the non-deformed configuration, with consequent interlocking coupling (when the tooth 10 reaches its stroke limit and is completely inserted in the seat 11).
Furthermore, this allows subsequent extraction of the panel 4, since when each tooth 10 is completely inserted in the respective seat 11 the user can have access to the latter indeed through the corresponding orifice 14, in order to press the corresponding protrusion 12 and force elastically its movement, indeed so as to allow to extract the teeth 10 and the panel 4, removing the coupling.
The wall 7 can belong to one of the half- shells 2a, 2b, as in the accompanying Figures 1 and 2, but it can also be part of a further internal component.
In the embodiment (for example) of Figures 3 and 5 (which in any case does not exhaust the possible practical solutions that fall within the protective scope claimed herein), the seats 11 are constituted by respective slits, which are provided within the thickness of the wall 7 and are open toward a free end of the latter, in order to allow the insertion of the teeth 10. Furthermore, in a manner similar to the other embodiment introduced previously, in this case also the wall 7 has a pair of orifices 14, arranged in further communication with respective slits, in order to allow the elastic return of the corresponding protrusion 12 to the non-deformed configuration, with consequent interlocking coupling, and to allow subsequent extraction of the panel 4. In this case, the wall 7 can belong to one of the half- shells 2a, 2b or, as indeed in the accompanying Figures 3 and 5 and as will be described in greater detail in the pages that follow, can be part of a further internal component.
It is specified that the two protrusions 12 of the same tooth 10 can be movable in a mutually independent manner or preferably can be mutually integral.
Usefully, therefore, in the preferred solution each seat 11 has, on the opposite side with respect to the respective orifice 14, an elastically deformable back wall 15. The back wall 15 can be made, preferably but not exclusively, like the rest of the container 1, of a polymeric material which is identical or different with respect to the one used for the other components. The elastic deformability of the back wall 15 can be obtained simply by giving it a minimal thickness or in any case a thickness that is significantly lower than that of the surrounding elements. Furthermore, the elastic deformability can be obtained by providing a cut around the back wall 15, so as to allow it to oscillate independently with respect to the surrounding structure.
The elastic deformability of the back wall 15 allows the elastic oscillation of the protrusions 12 during the insertion of the teeth 10 in the corresponding seats 11.
As can be deduced also from the figures, in order to allow the insertion of the teeth 10, the protrusions 12 (which, as shown, are preferably able to move in a mutually integral manner) in fact have different shapes and dimensions. Therefore, when one proceeds with the insertion of the teeth 10 in the seats 11, one of them touches the wall 7 first and causes the corresponding oscillation of both. Continuing with the insertion, therefore, the protrusion 12 that first touched the wall 7 tends to retract toward the profile of the plate, while the other one tends to protrude further on the opposite side, and this movement is assisted indeed by the temporary elastic deformation of the back wall 15, which then returns to the non-deformed condition when the first protrusion 12 in turn returns to the non-deformed configuration, engaging in the corresponding orifice 14.
It should be noted that the behavior described above occurs equally regardless of which protrusion 12 is directed toward the compartment 3 and this allows to insert the panels 4 with any orientation.
In the embodiment shown in the accompanying figures by way of nonlimiting example of the application of the invention, the band 8 is coupled to the profiled element 9 by means of at least one connecting strip 16, which is made of flexible material and extends substantially parallel to the band 8 and to the profiled element 9.
By virtue of the strip 16, the rotatable coupling of the band 8 to the profiled element 9 about an axis that is parallel to the profiled element 9, to the band 8 and to the edge of the panel 4 is achieved.
This rotatable coupling allows to rotate the panel 4 about the axis mentioned earlier (and in general parallel to the edge of said panel 4) when coupling to the wall 7 has already been provided, for example to have access to the portion of the compartment 3 that otherwise is closed by said panel 4.
The strip 16 can be made of a polymeric material (identical or different with respect to the one used for the half- shells 2a, 2b and/or for other components of the container 1) and the desired flexibility can be achieved by keeping the thickness sufficiently low.
Usefully, the already mentioned slits extend from an interspace 17, which is provided proximate to the free end of the wall 7 and has an extension that corresponds to the extension of the band 8.
The balance 8 can thus enter partially the interspace 17 until it brings into abutment an end flap 8a thereof that has an enlarged transverse cross-section. This ensures a more stable coupling between the panel 4 and the wall 7; furthermore, the interspace 17 guides the insertion of the teeth 10 and of the band 8, indeed facilitating the engagement of the panel 4.
As a whole, the band 8 can have a transverse shape that resembles an arrow, as in the accompanying figures, or be T-shaped, or it can have any other shape, without thereby abandoning the protective scope claimed herein.
Usefully, the profiled element 9 can have a U-shaped transverse cross-section (such as for example in the unit 6 of Figures 10-12 or in the unit of Figures 21-22) in order to surround from the outside and from both sides the designated edge of the panel 4.
As an alternative, the profiled element 9 can have an L-shaped transverse cross-section (such as for example in the unit 6 of Figures 13-15) or can also be substantially flat, for example to be inserted in a groove provided along the designated edge of the panel 4 (or others still).
As for example in the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2, the wall 7 can be substantially constituted by a face of one of the half- shells 2a, 2b. In this case, the seats 11 can be integrated within the thickness of the face of the half- shell 2a, 2b or, as indeed in the accompanying figures, be delimited by the face and by the plate 7a.
As an alternative, and as for example in the embodiment of Figures 3 and 5, the wall 7 can be constituted substantially by a face of an at least partial internal lining of one of the half- shells 2a, 2b, which optionally can be removed independently.
The lining can affect only some faces of one of the half- shells 2a, 2b (even just one), or all of its faces, and for example can be formed by a sort of tray 18, which is indeed intended to be accommodated (preferably removably) in one of the half- shells 2a, 2b having a complementary shape. In this case, the compartment 3 is at least partially delimited indeed by the tray 18.
Advantageously, and with reference to the embodiment of Figures 21 and 22, the unit 8 has a transverse bracket 19, which protrudes from the profiled element 9, in order to constitute a support for additional elements or accessories.
The operation of the container according to the invention is as follows.
The user can accommodate tools, equipment or other objects in the compartment 3, arranging them randomly or preferably tidily, to then carry them at will together with the container 1.
The panel 4, which in turn can be arranged in the compartment 3, allows to stably retain objects of various kinds by virtue of the retention means 5 that are distributed on one or both of its faces.
As shown, the invention offers practical methods for removable coupling of the panel 4 to the container 1 by virtue of the unit 6.
The unit 6, rigidly anchored with the profiled element 9 to one edge of the panel 4, in fact comprises teeth 10 which can be inserted in the seats 11: insertion furthermore causes the elastic oscillation (or in any case the elastic movement) of the mutually opposite protrusions 12. The oscillation allows first of all insertion and then ensures stable coupling, by virtue of the interlocking coupling achieved with the return to the non-deformed configuration of the mutually opposite protrusions 12 and of one in particular which enters the respective orifice 14.
If one wishes to remove the panel 4 (in order to replace it, repair it, to have more space in the compartment 3, to modify the distribution of the retention means 5, etc.), the user simply has to press on the protrusions 12 that protrude from the orifices 14 to remove the interlocking coupling and be able to extract the teeth 10.
The container 1 according to the invention therefore offers practical methods for removable coupling the internal panel 4 to the wall 7 (and therefore, directly or indirectly, to one of the half- shells 2a, 2b). Engagement is in any case removable in an equally practical and easy manner.
It should be noted that both during insertion and during extraction, the oscillation of the protrusions 12 that are opposite the ones designed to enter the orifices 14 is assisted by the elastic deformability of the back wall 15.
By resorting to two mutually opposite protrusions 12, each of which is capable of entering the orifice 14 to ensure interlocking coupling, the removable engagement of the panel 4 can occur equally regardless of which face of each tooth 10 is designed to be directed toward the compartment 3. By virtue of the invention, the panel 4 can be thus engaged with the rest of the container 1 in two different orientations, one of which can be obtained with a 180° rotation (tilting) of said panel 4 with respect to the other.
It should be noted that a preferred orientation between the two mentioned above is often provided: by virtue of the invention, even if the user distractedly couples the panel 4 to the wall 7 in the other orientation, correct operation and the possibility to remove it easily are in any case ensured, without running the risk of damaging the various components involved and/or of compromising the possibility of subsequently extracting said panel 4. Therefore, the removable engagement (in both orientations) can be provided without requiring excessive care or attention during the assembly step.
Resorting to teeth 10 that simply have to enter seats 11 also ensures the elimination (or at least the containment) of the risks of failure during insertion, since this is a robust mode and with minimal (or nil) criticalities which therefore occurs safely, at the same time ensuring practical methods of at least temporary removal of said panel 4.
In practice, the materials used, as well as the dimensions, may be any according to the requirements and the state of the art.
Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims

A transportable container, of the type of a suitcase, trunk, crate, trolley, and the like, comprising two half-shells (2a, 2b) which can move with respect to each other between a first configuration, for the closure of an internal compartment (3), and at least one second configuration, for free access to said compartment (3), wherein it comprises at least one panel (4) which can be arranged inside said compartment (3) and characterized in that it comprises a unit (6) for the removable engagement of said panel (4) to a wall (7) for delimiting said compartment (3), said unit (6) comprising a band (8) which is coupled to a profiled element (9) which is rigidly anchored to an edge of said panel (4) and a pair of teeth (10), which extend from said band (8) on the opposite side with respect to said profiled element (9) and can be inserted in respective seats (11) having a substantially corresponding shape, which are provided along said wall (7), respective mutually opposite protrusions (12) protruding normally from opposite faces of each one of said teeth (10) and being elastically movable for removable interlocking coupling with said seats (11), as a consequence of the return to the respective non-deformed configurations.
The transportable container according to claim 1, characterized in that each one of said teeth (10) comprises a respective flattened plate, which is coplanar to said band (8) and has a curved notch (13) which delimits an elastically oscillating central tab, said protrusions (12) being constituted by respective mutually opposite expanded portions that have an increased thickness and are provided on opposite faces of said tab.
The transportable container according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said seats (11) are constituted by respective slits, which are delimited by said wall (7) and by a contoured plate (7a), which is fixed to said wall (7), each one of said seats (11) being open toward a free end of said wall (7) in order to allow the insertion of said teeth (10), said plate (7a) having a pair of orifices (14) which are further connected to respective said slits, in order to allow the elastic return of the corresponding protrusion (12) to the non-deformed configuration with consequent interlocking coupling, and in order to allow the subsequent extraction of said panel (4).
The transportable container according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said seats (11) are constituted by respective slits, provided within the thickness of said wall (7) and open toward a free end of said wall (7) in order to allow the insertion of said teeth (10), said wall (7) having a pair of orifices (14) which are further connected to respective said slits, in order to allow the elastic return of the corresponding protrusion (12) to the non-deformed configuration with consequent interlocking coupling, and in order to allow the subsequent extraction of said panel (4).
The transportable container according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that each one of said seats (11) has, on the opposite side with respect to the respective said orifice (14), a back wall (15) which is elastically deformable in order to allow the elastic oscillation of said protrusions (12) during the insertion of said teeth (10) in the corresponding said seats (11).
The transportable container according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said band (8) is coupled to said profiled element (9) by means of at least one connecting strip (16), which is made of flexible material and is extended substantially parallel to said band (8) and to said profiled element (9), for the rotatable coupling of said band (8) to said profiled element (9) about an axis that is parallel to said profiled element (9), to said band (8) and to said edge of said panel (4).
The transportable container according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said slits are extended from an interspace (17) which is proximate to said free end of said wall (7) and has an extension that corresponds to the extension of said band (8), said band (8) being partially insertable in said interspace (17) until an end flap (8a) of said band (8) having an enlarged transverse cross-section is moved into abutment.
The transportable container according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said profiled element (9) has a U-shaped or L-shaped transverse cross-section.
The transportable container according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said wall (7) is substantially constituted by a face of one of said two half-shells (2a, 2b) or by a face of an at least partial internal lining of one of said two half-shells (2a, 2b), which is optionally independently detachable.
The transportable container according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said unit (6) is provided with a transverse bracket (19), which protrudes from said profiled element (9), for the resting of additional elements or accessories.