Transport box and vehicle including such a box

Abstract

Title: Transport container and vehicle comprising such a container. The invention relates to a transport container (10) comprising a bottom wall (11), a top wall (12), and a peripheral belt (13) extending between the bottom wall (11) and the top wall (12), said peripheral belt (13) comprising at least one movable panel (131) between an open position allowing access to the interior of the container (10) and a closed position preventing access to the interior of the container (10), the container (10) also comprising a mechanism for moving said movable panel (131), configured to place said movable panel (131) in at least partial overlap of the top wall (12) in its open position. Figure for the abstract: Fig. 1

Description

Title of the invention: Transport container and vehicle comprising such a container. Field of the invention

[0001] The field of the invention is that of logistics and more specifically the field of design and manufacture of transport solutions.

[0002] More particularly, the invention relates to a transport box and a vehicle comprising such a box. State of the art

[0003] Transport crates allow the transport of objects or foodstuffs from a warehouse to a final destination, whether it be a store or a residence. These crates can be carried directly by delivery personnel, for example using handles to form a backpack, or be attached to a vehicle chassis, like delivery trucks or vans.

[0004] To make their daily lives easier, more and more people are using product delivery services (for example, food). Delivery cycles are then organized so that several customers receive deliveries during the same delivery cycle.

[0005] Therefore, delivery drivers must access the container holding the products several times for the different customers.

[0006] Subsequently, the term delivery person or user may be used to designate a person acting on the transport container.

[0007] When deliveries are made in the city, it is necessary for delivery drivers to be able to park easily and to access the inside of the container easily, even when the surrounding space is limited.

[0008] For this purpose, it is known to use transport containers comprising a bottom wall, a top wall, and a perimeter belt extending between the bottom wall and the top wall. The perimeter belt includes at least one movable panel between an open position allowing access to the interior of the container and a closed position preventing access to the interior of the container. The movable panel thus forms an access door to the container. The container further includes a mechanism for moving said movable panel from its closed position to its open position, or vice versa.

[0009] A first known type of box includes a movable panel formed of articulated blades, the movable panel forming a curtain that can be rolled up or moved inside the box in its open position.

[0010] This first type of enclosure has several disadvantages.

[0011] Firstly, a movable curtain-type panel offers limited sealing to the container which does not allow the transport of fresh or frozen products.

[0012] In addition, the storage volume of such a mobile panel is reduced since it is necessary to have a free space in which the mobile panel can be rolled up.

[0013] Finally, many elements enabling winding and the joints between the blades are wear parts which need to be maintained or repaired frequently, which generates a high operating cost of the box.

[0014] A second known type of box comprises a movable panel extending almost the entire height between the top and bottom walls of the box. Such a movable panel then defines a flap, generally fixed to the top wall, which is vertical in its closed position and horizontal in its open position.

[0015] This second type of enclosure also has several disadvantages.

[0016] A first drawback lies in the fact that the flap is generally heavy and therefore difficult for the delivery person to handle. Although straps or other elements allow a delivery person to grasp the movable panel in its open position, the fact remains that moving the movable panel requires significant effort from the delivery person.

[0017] A second disadvantage lies in the fact that the space required to move the movable panel from its closed position to its open position, or vice versa, is large, which prevents the use of such a box in places where the delivery person has little space around the box.

[0018] A third drawback lies in the fact that the box must incorporate hinges sufficiently sized to support the weight of the movable panel.

[0019] However, such hinges can prove costly both to purchase and to maintain, thus increasing the cost of implementing the enclosure.

[0020] A third known type of box comprises a movable panel formed by two parts articulated to each other, a first part being mounted in rotation on the top wall of the box and a second part being mounted in translation in slides extending between the top wall and the bottom wall.

[0021] Although handling and size are more advantageous than for the second type of box, this third type of box also has several disadvantages.

[0022] Indeed, due to the articulation between the two parts, this type of container is not suitable for the transport of foodstuffs requiring refrigerated transport. since heat exchange can occur between the inside and outside of the box at the joint between the two parts of the moving panel.

[0023] Moreover, even if the lateral bulk is less important than for the second type of box, it is still significant and may prevent the use of the box in places with little maneuvering space.

[0024] Finally, like the second type of box, handling the movable panel from its open position to its closed position can prove difficult and require the use of a motorized movement mechanism. Objectives of the invention

[0025] The invention aims in particular to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art.

[0026] More specifically, the invention aims to provide a box comprising a simple-to-use movable panel which can be used in confined spaces around the box.

[0027] The invention also aims to provide such a box which offers internal storage space independent of the open or closed position of the movable panel.

[0028] The invention further aims to provide such a box which is simple in design, manufacture and inexpensive to maintain. Description of the invention

[0029] These objectives, as well as others that will appear subsequently, are achieved by means of the invention which relates to a transport container comprising a bottom wall, a top wall and a peripheral belt extending between the bottom wall and the top wall, said peripheral belt comprising at least one movable panel between an open position allowing access to the interior of the container and a closed position preventing access to the interior of the container, the container also comprising a mechanism for moving said movable panel, characterized in that the moving mechanism comprises a first pair of connecting rods mounted between the top wall and the movable panel, and a second pair of connecting rods mounted between the peripheral belt and the movable panel, the first pair of connecting rods and the second pair of connecting rods forming with the movable panel, the peripheral belt and the top wall,Four-bar mechanisms configured to position said movable panel in at least partial overlap of the top wall in its open position.

[0030] Thanks to its displacement mechanism, the movable panel describes a curvilinear translation trajectory when viewed in a transverse plane.

[0031] This then makes it possible to limit the space required around the box to allow the movement of the movable panel.

[0032] Furthermore, by partially covering the top wall, the movable panel does not reduce the internal storage space of the container when it is in its open position. In addition, the partial covering of the top wall by the movable panel in its open position allows a delivery person to access the inside of the container while being protected from the external environment, particularly rain.

[0033] Finally, the handling of the mobile panel proves easier for the delivery person compared to the boxes of the prior art thanks to the deformable parallelogram formed by the connecting rods which makes it possible both to distribute the load of the mobile panel and to guide the entire mobile panel without the delivery person having to support the entire weight of the mobile panel.

[0034] According to an advantageous aspect, the displacement mechanism includes, for at least one of the connecting rods of the second pair of connecting rods, a cylinder interposed between the peripheral belt and said connecting rod, said cylinder being configured to deploy and act on said connecting rod to move the movable panel to its open position.

[0035] The cylinder or each cylinder assists the movement of the moving panel so that a low-intensity effort is sufficient to move the moving panel.

[0036] In addition, the jack makes it possible to hold the movable panel in each of its closed and open positions when no force is applied to the movable panel in order to move it.

[0037] According to another advantageous aspect, the displacement mechanism includes a cylinder for each connecting rod of the second pair of connecting rods.

[0038] This helps to limit premature wear of the movement mechanism and to facilitate the movement of the movable panel regardless of where the force is applied by a user.

[0039] According to another advantageous aspect, the cylinder or each cylinder is of the gas spring type.

[0040] Such a type of cylinder offers the advantage of being simple in design and inexpensive and simple to use, maintain, or replace. In the automotive field, such cylinders are widely used.

[0041] According to another advantageous aspect, the movable panel forms a side door of the box.

[0042] According to another advantageous aspect, the movable panel forms a rear door of the box.

[0043] Regardless of whether it forms a rear door or a side door of the box, the movable panel has a limited footprint when it moves from its closed position to its open position, or vice versa, thanks to the presence of the movement mechanism.

[0044] According to another advantageous aspect, the top wall has grooves intended to receive each one connecting rod of the first pair of connecting rods in the closed position of the movable panel.

[0045] The grooves allow both the protection of the connecting rods of the first pair but also to promote the aerodynamics of the box when it is attached to the chassis of a vehicle since the connecting rods do not form a wind resistance.

[0046] According to another advantageous aspect, each of the bottom wall, top wall and peripheral belt includes structural reinforcements, the first pair of connecting rods and the second pair of connecting rods being rotationally mounted on the structural reinforcements.

[0047] The movement mechanism is thus fixed to the structural reinforcements, which limits the risk of damage to the enclosure from repeated handling of the movable panel. The structural reinforcements thus absorb the forces transmitted by the movable panel during its movement to preserve the structural integrity of the enclosure.

[0048] According to another advantageous aspect, the reinforcements of each of the bottom wall, the top wall and the peripheral belt are assembled to form an internal structure to the box.

[0049] This allows the external envelope, i.e. the top wall, the bottom wall and the peripheral belt, to be separated from the structure, thereby facilitating maintenance.

[0050] Indeed, it is possible to intervene only on the structure of the box or on the external envelope to carry out repairs, which limits costs both in financial and ecological terms since it is thus possible to intervene only on the parts which require it.

[0051] The invention also relates to a vehicle comprising a chassis on which is attached a box as previously described, said at least one movable panel being located on a lateral part of the vehicle.

[0052] Such a vehicle can thus be used in a restricted space to allow the delivery of several customers even in tight spaces, including city center alleys. Figures

[0053] Other features and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, given by way of illustrative and non-limiting example, and the accompanying drawings described below.

[0054] [Fig.1] Fig.1 is a schematic side view representation of a vehicle comprising a transport box according to the invention.

[0055] [Fig.2] Fig.2 is a schematic perspective representation of a box of transport according to the invention.

[0056] [Fig.3] Fig.3 is a schematic rear view representation of a vehicle of the [Fig.1], according to several use cases.

[0057] [Fig.4] Fig.4 is a schematic representation, according to a cross-sectional plane transverse, of a transport box according to the invention. Detailed description of the invention

[0058] The same elements have been designated by the same reference numerals in the different figures. In particular, the structural and / or functional elements common to the different embodiments may have the same reference numerals and may have identical structural, dimensional and material properties.

[0059] In the following description, when reference is made to absolute positional qualifiers, such as "front," "back," "top," "bottom," "left," "right," etc., or relative positional qualifiers, such as "above," "below," "superior," "inferior," etc., or to orientational qualifiers, such as "horizontal," "vertical," etc., unless otherwise specified, reference is made to the orientation of the figures. Unless otherwise specified, the expressions "about," "approximately," "roughly," and "in the order of" mean to the nearest 10%, preferably to the nearest 5%.

[0060] With reference to [Fig. 1], the following axes are defined with respect to a transport box 10, according to the invention, as mounted on a vehicle 1: - an X axis extending along a longitudinal direction and defining a direction of forward movement of the vehicle; - a Y-axis extending perpendicularly to the X-axis and defining a transverse direction, and - a Z-axis, forming with the X-axis and the Y-axis a direct orthonormal trihedron.

[0061] Said trihedron is also used on [Fig.2], [Fig.3] and [Fig.4].

[0062] The vehicle 1 shown in [Fig.1] is a vehicle of the automobile type in that it includes motorized means enabling its movement.

[0063] This vehicle includes a chassis 2 on which said transport box 10 is attached.

[0064] Alternatively, the transport case 10 could be mounted on the chassis of a vehicle without a motor or be small in size compared to a vehicle. In the latter case, the transport case 10 may include handles allowing it to be carried on a user's back like a backpack.

[0065] With reference to [Fig. 1], the transport case 10 comprises: - a bottom wall 11, defining a bottom of the box 10; - a top wall 12, defining a roof of the caisson 10, and - a peripheral belt 13 extending between the bottom wall 11 and the top wall 12.

[0066] The peripheral belt 13 includes at least one movable panel 131 between an open position allowing access to the inside of the box 10 and a closed position preventing access to the inside of the box 10.

[0067] As illustrated by [Fig.3] and [Fig.4], the movable panel 131 forms a side door of the box 10.

[0068] According to an alternative embodiment not shown, the movable panel 131 forms a rear door of the box 10.

[0069] In addition, the box 10 includes a mechanism 14 for moving said movable panel 131.

[0070] With reference to [Fig. 4], the displacement mechanism 14 comprises: - a first pair of connecting rods 141 mounted between the top wall 12 and the movable panel 131, and - a second pair of connecting rods 142 mounted between the peripheral belt 13 and the movable panel 131.

[0071] Since [Fig.4] is a schematic cross-sectional representation along a transverse plane parallel to the YZ plane, only one of the connecting rods of the first pair of connecting rods 141 and one connecting rod of the second pair of connecting rods 142 are shown.

[0072] In other words, a first connecting rod of the first pair of connecting rods 141 is located towards the front of the box 10 and a second connecting rod of the first pair of connecting rods 141 is located towards the rear of the box 10.

[0073] The same applies to the second pair of connecting rods 142, namely that a first connecting rod of the second pair of connecting rods 142 is located towards the front of the box 10 and a second connecting rod of the second pair of connecting rods 142 is located towards the rear of the box 10.

[0074] The first pair of connecting rods 141 and the second pair of connecting rods 142 forming with the movable panel 131, the peripheral belt 13 and the top wall 12, a four-bar mechanism, configured to place said movable panel 131 in at least partial overlap of the top wall 12 in its open position.

[0075] It is recalled that a four-bar linkage is a system composed of four rigid bodies, generally articulated together by rotating joints (ball joints or pivots). In their simplest form, the parts are bars, with the joints at the ends of the bars.

[0076] Due to the presence of the four-bar mechanism, the movement of the movable panel 131 is a curvilinear translational movement. In the example illustrated by [Fig. 3], the curvilinear translational movement is carried out in a plane parallel to the YZ plane.

[0077] On the other hand, in the case where the movable panel 131 forms a rear door of the box, then the curvilinear translation movement is carried out in a plane parallel to the XZ plane.

[0078] In order to facilitate the movement of the movable panel 131, in particular by assisting a user who would like to move it from its closed position to its open position for example, the movement mechanism includes for at least one of the connecting rods of the second pair of connecting rods 142, a cylinder 143.

[0079] The cylinder 143 is interposed between the peripheral belt 13 and said connecting rod of the second pair of connecting rods 142.

[0080] The cylinder 143 is configured to deploy and act on said connecting rod to move the movable panel 131 to its open position.

[0081] Advantageously, the displacement mechanism includes a cylinder for each connecting rod of the second pair of connecting rods 142.

[0082] Preferably, and for reasons of maintenance and operating costs, the cylinder or each cylinder 143 is of the gas cylinder type.

[0083] With reference to [Fig.2], the top wall 12 has grooves 121 intended to receive each one of the first pair of connecting rods 141 in the closed position of the movable panel 131.

[0084] As partially illustrated in [Fig. 4], each of the bottom wall 11, the top wall 12, and the peripheral belt 13 comprises structural reinforcements 15, the first pair of connecting rods 141 and the second pair of connecting rods 142 being rotationally mounted on the structural reinforcements 15. The reinforcements 15 of the top wall 12 are thus integrated into the grooves 121 by forming the bottom of the groove 121, or housed within the groove 121.

[0085] According to a particular embodiment, the reinforcements 15 of each of the bottom wall 11, the top wall 12 and the peripheral belt 13 are assembled to form an internal structure to the box 10. In this case, the top wall 12, the bottom wall 11 and the peripheral belt 13 are formed by panels fixed to the internal structure.

[0086] In variants not shown, the structural reinforcements 15 are monolithic with the top wall 12, the bottom wall 11 and the peripheral ring 13, either formed from a single piece of material or by being irreversibly joined. Formed from a single piece of material means obtained by the same manufacturing process, for example by molding, forming or machining.

[0087] Finally, the movable panel 131 can carry a manipulation element 16 (for example a strap, a lanyard or a handle) allowing a user to easily manipulate the movable panel 131 to move it from its open position to its closed position.

[0088] During operation, a user, for example a delivery person, wishes to access the contents of the transport container 10.

[0089] To do this, he positions himself in front of the movable panel 131 of the box and manipulates it to move it from its closed position to its open position.

[0090] In [Fig.4], the closed position is not visible and the open position is illustrated by the line referenced PO. In the open position PO, the movable panel 131 partially covers the top wall 12 of the box 10 and forms a visor allowing the user to be protected from the environment, for example from rain.

[0091] To reach the open position PO, the movable panel 131 successively adopts a first position PI in which it is substantially vertical, a second position P2 in which it is inclined between a vertical position and a horizontal position, for example 45°, and a third position P3 in which it is almost in its open position PO.

[0092] The first position PI, the second position P2, and the third position P3 are not stable positions. Only the closed position and the open position PO are stable positions.

[0093] To reposition the movable panel 131 in its closed position, the user can pull on the manipulation member 16 attached to the movable panel 131, as schematically illustrated by [Fig.4].

[0094] By pulling on said manipulator member 16, the user moves the movable panel 131 from its open position PO to its closed position by successively passing through the third position P3, the second position P2 and then the first position PI.

[0095] The enclosure 10 which has just been presented offers many advantages including: - ease of use; - the possibility of accessing locations where the space surrounding box 10 is restricted, - optimized internal storage space since the movement mechanism 14 has a small footprint in the closed position of the movable panel 131, or - simplicity of design, manufacturing and low operating and maintenance costs.

Claims

Demands

1. A transport case (10) comprising a bottom wall (11), a top wall (12), and a peripheral belt (13) extending between the bottom wall (11) and the top wall (12), said peripheral belt (13) comprising at least one movable panel (131) between an open position allowing access to the interior of the case (10) and a closed position preventing access to the interior of the case (10), the case (10) also comprising a mechanism (14) for moving said movable panel (131), characterized in that the movement mechanism (14) comprises a first pair of connecting rods (141) mounted between the top wall (12) and the movable panel (131), and a second pair of connecting rods (142) mounted between the peripheral belt (13) and the movable panel (131), the first pair of connecting rods (141) and the second pair of connecting rods (142) forming with the movable panel (131), the peripheral belt (13) and the top wall (12),a four-bar mechanism configured to place said movable panel (131) in at least partial overlap of the top wall (12) in its open position.

2. Casing (10) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the displacement mechanism (14) comprises, for at least one of the connecting rods of the second pair of connecting rods (142), a jack (143) interposed between the peripheral belt (13) and said connecting rod, said jack (143) being configured to deploy and act on said connecting rod to move the movable panel (131) to its open position.

3. Casing (10) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the displacement mechanism (14) comprises a cylinder (143) for each connecting rod of the second pair of connecting rods (142).

4. Casing (10) according to either of claim 2 or of claim 3, characterized in that the cylinder or each cylinder (143) is of the gas spring type.

5. Casing (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the movable panel (131) forms a side door of the casing (10).

6. Casing (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the movable panel (131) forms a rear door of the casing (10).

7. Casing (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the top wall (12) has grooves (121) intended to receive each one connecting rod of the first pair of connecting rods (141) in the closed position of the movable panel (131).

8. Casing (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each of the bottom wall (11), top wall (12) and peripheral belt (13) comprises structural reinforcements (15), the first pair of connecting rods (141) and the second pair of connecting rods (142) being rotationally mounted on the structural reinforcements (15).

9. Box (10) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the reinforcements (15) of each of the bottom wall (11), the top wall (12) and the peripheral belt (13) are assembled to form an internal structure in the box (10).

10. Vehicle (1) comprising a chassis (2) on which is attached a box (10) according to one of the preceding claims, said at least one movable panel (131) being located on a lateral part of the vehicle (1).

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