STRUCTURAL SYSTEM FOR LOAD STABILIZATION FRAME AND METHOD OF STRUCTURAL CONNECTION THEREOF
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- MX · MX
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- PLASTICOS TECNICOS MEXICANOS SA DE CV
- Filing Date
- 2022-09-08
- Publication Date
- 2026-06-12
Smart Images
Figure MX435092B0 
Figure MX435092B1
Abstract
Description
STRUCTURAL SYSTEM FOR LOAD STABILIZATION FRAME AND METHOD OF STRUCTURAL JOINING SAME Field of Invention The present invention relates, in general, to a structural system for forming an upper frame, combinable and / or usable in conjunction with a pallet, particularly, to stabilize, hold, secure and / or fix a specific load, such as merchandise, products, goods and / or materials during their handling, packaging and / or transportation, that is, the structural system of the present invention is used within the field of materials handling.The upper frame type structural system comprises a set of stringers, the design and assembly arrangement of which offers outstanding performance in its structural properties, mainly when the frame is being subjected to bending and torsion forces compared to conventional or currently known upper frames, essentially providing it with a significant improvement in stabilizing loads during material handling, providing it with the ability to be repaired and, in addition, improving transportation / packaging efficiency, since, due to said structural properties, the present invention requires less space for transportation. Background of the Invention Within the field of packaging, transportation of goods, merchandise, products and / or similar, and in general, the field of materials handling, the security of goods or assets (which can also be raw materials and not only finished products) is a priority objective, to such an extent that multiple devices and / or systems have been developed as auxiliaries to ensure the integrity of the same goods, as well as the practicality during their use and implementation for the operators involved. Normally, goods are initially placed on pallets (also known as palletizing), creating a unit load that can be easily handled, for example, by using or assisting with a forklift. In this sense, once the product is placed and stowed on the pallet, it is stabilized by means of a tensioned strap, also known as a strap, which restricts the movement or displacement of the product that may result from a maneuver or movement carried out by forklift operators, or production line equipment such as conveyor belts, or during transport or shipments, thus preventing the goods from falling or spilling out of the formed unit load. I PLLLn / ΖΖΠΖ / Β / ΥΙΛΙ - 2This presents a significant technical problem, since when the straps are in direct contact with the merchandise, the force they exert on the product can cause unwanted damage. Based on this, top caps and / or frames have been implemented to prevent the straps from damaging the product, always ensuring the strap's function as previously mentioned. These caps and / or top frames rest or are placed on the upper end portion of the stacked product and act as an interface between the strap and the product; in this way, the force and / or tension of the strap is applied directly to said cap and / or top frame, safeguarding the integrity of the stacked product. As a result, a wide variety of lids and top frames, combined with pallets, have been used. The most popular types of lids and frames in the product packaging industry are made from corrugated cardboard and, more recently, from plastics. In this regard, numerous frames and / or top lids have undergone improvements over time, primarily seeking reduced weight, reduced material usage, and increased strength, without compromising the protection of the packaged product. An example of a top cover / frame is that of patent application US 20040025757 A1, published on February 12, 2004, which describes an upper frame formed by two identical rectangular members, each of which comprises a smooth and / or flat portion on one of its surfaces and a set of ribs on its opposite surface; both rectangular members comprise a gap in their interior, which gives them the characteristic of a “frame”; both members are configured to join together and form a single frame. However, the upper frame disclosed by US '757, as previously mentioned, presents significant technical problems; primarily, its geometry, dimensions, and limitation of being formed as a single piece require greater resources for its manufacture, maintenance, and even during handling or use. Derived from the above, document KR101498071 E31, published on March 3, 2015, shows an upper frame that, unlike the frame of US '757, the frame of KR Ό71 is manufactured in a modular manner, that is, divided into a set of stringers, and a set of corners, where said corners comprise projections capable of receiving the stringers, and through mechanical means, can hold and secure the position of the frame, forming a rectangle once each stringer was connected to its respective corner; likewise, the frame disclosed by KR'071 and its modular arrangement opens the possibility of, once the mechanical means have been removed, disassembling the frame and, eventually, replacing a component that has been damaged and / or whose structural integrity may compromise the overall performance of the frame. The KR '071 frame, however, presents significant technical problems arising mainly from the mechanical strength due to the geometry and design of the coupling interfaces between the corners and the stringers. A person skilled in the art will observe that the excess or protruding surface of each corner and which connects with a respective stringer, if I PLLLn / ΖΖΠΖ / Β / ΥΙΛΙ - 3Although it has a rib arrangement, a reduced overhang length as shown in KR Ό71 would imply a potential concentration of stresses, mainly in the presence of a torsional force; thus, it is clear that the strength of the connecting corners could easily fail and compromise the integrity of the stringers and / or the frame in general. Based on the above, it is clear that the modular distribution of components, as disclosed by KRO71, offers advantages over what was initially proposed by US'757. However, there is a need for devices that, first, offer greater mechanical resistance; it is desirable to provide an upper frame whose modular composition offers advantages during the manufacturing, handling, and transportation processes, but it is also desirable that its mechanical properties are not compromised. Furthermore, the device disclosed by KR'071, as briefly described, comprises a total of four corners and four stringers, with a total of eight pieces required to form an upper frame; based on the above, it is desirable to provide a device with a smaller number of components required to form the frame. Summary of the Invention It is therefore an objective of the present invention to provide an upper frame type structural system that can be placed on any merchandise, goods and / or products, and in combination with a pallet and a strap, the structural system can be capable of supporting, containing and / or fixing said merchandise, goods and / or products, ensuring the integrity of the same, and, mainly, where said upper frame type device is formed in a modular manner. In this sense, "modular" should be understood as meaning that the upper frame to be provided may be formed by a plurality of parts (modules) that, when joined or coupled together, form the frame, in an operational or ready-to-use configuration. Thus, it is known that current and / or commercially available top frames, normally being formed in a single piece (monolithic), can use excess space during transport / packaging, and therefore limit the capacity of frames that can be transported. Therefore, it is a further object of the present invention to provide a top frame type structural system that, based on the aforementioned modular design, provides a simple and productive solution for reducing packaging space, advantageously increasing the number of top frames that can be transported, thus increasing the efficiency of space use, and in general, of the logistics and transportation of structural systems. I PLLLn / ZZnZ / Β / ΥΙΛΙ - 4Furthermore, another objective of the present invention is to provide an upper frame type structural system that, to be formed in its entirety or in an operational configuration, requires a minimum number of modules and / or components. Another objective of the present invention is to provide an upper frame type structural system, wherein the plurality of modules have a disposition, geometry, arrangement or configuration that favors the structural properties thereof, said structural system being capable of offering an upper frame with high stabilization and, therefore, being auxiliary to stabilize the load / merchandise, and being capable of resisting torsional and bending stresses and therefore, offering an upper frame with a greater number of cycles of use. A further objective of the present invention is to provide an upper frame type structural system comprising an assembly and / or separation system capable of improving the coupling, connection and / or interaction between its different modules, in particular, contributing to increasing the resistance to deformations resulting from the application of force by the strap directly on the frame in its operational configuration. On the other hand, it is known that monolithic upper frames, or those manufactured as a single piece, once a portion of them are damaged, their overall structural integrity is seriously altered, even rendering the entire upper frame unusable; therefore, another objective of the present invention is to provide an upper frame type structural system which, based on the aforementioned modular configuration and design, advantageously favors the separation of the different modules, so that, for example, when a single section has been damaged or its structural properties have been compromised / reduced, said damaged sections can be removed from the other modules and, consequently, can be replaced / substituted by a new section / module;Thus, the structural system of the present invention can be considered repairable, which directly affects the useful life of the system in general, providing a greater number of cycles of use. Brief Description of the Figures Figure 1 is a top front perspective view, showing the structural system according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 is a front elevation view of the structural system shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a right side elevation view of the structural system shown in Figure 1; Figure 4 is an exploded top front perspective view according to one embodiment of the structural system, where the stringers are separated or in a configuration prior to assembly to form the final stringers. I PLLLn / ΖΖΠΖ / Β / ΥΙΛΙ - Figure 5a shows an isometric perspective view of a portion of the upper and lower spar, according to an embodiment of the present invention, prior to their assembly together. Figure 5b shows an isometric perspective view of an end spar, according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein the upper and lower spar portions of Figure 5a have been joined. Figure 5c is a cross-sectional view of the end spar of Figure 5b, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 6a illustrates an isometric perspective view of an end spar, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, wherein said end spar is directly manufactured in a single piece. Figure 6b is a cross-sectional view of the end spar of Figure 6a, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Figure 7 is a detailed isometric perspective view of a corner portion of both the upper and lower end rails, when joined together, prior to placing the fastening means of the assembly and / or separation system in the respective receivers. Figure 8 is an isometric perspective view, illustrating the positioning of the end beams and their respective corner portions to achieve assembly and switching to an operational state of the structural system of the present invention. Figure 9a and 9b show a detail view of the corner portion of the upper and lower end rails, showing the fastening means in their respective position prior to being placed in the respective receivers. Figure 9c illustrates a detailed cross-sectional view of the corner portion of the upper and lower end rails, showing the fastening means in their respective positions prior to being placed in the respective receivers. Figure 9d is a cross-sectional view of the corner portion of the upper and lower end rails, where the fastening means have already been inserted into their respective receivers and therefore, the structural system of the present invention is in an operational or assembled state. Figure 10 shows a bottom view of a portion of the primary spar and a portion of the secondary spar, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 11 shows an example of the use of the structure system of the present invention, fully incorporated and interacting with product / raw material, a pallet (base) and strapping. Figure 12 is a detail view of a corner portion of a structural system of the present invention in an operational / assembled state, wherein, by means of a roughing tool (drill), a fastening means will be removed / eliminated to switch the structural system to a non-operative / disassembled state or for packaging / transportation. I PLLLn / ΖΖΠΖ / Β / ΥΙΛΙ - 6Figure 13a shows an example of arrangement of frames known from the prior art, where said prior art frames are monolithic frames or formed in a single piece. Figure 13b shows an example of the arrangement of frames of the structural system of the present invention, in particular, of the end beams of the structural system, where a more efficient use of the transport / packaging space is observed, advantageously providing greater efficiency in the transport logistics thereof. Figure 14a is a graphic representation of a Finite Element Analysis (FEA) applied to the structural system of the present invention, showing the area of greatest displacement, once a force is exerted on it. Figure 14b is a graphic representation of a Finite Element Analysis (FEA) applied to the structural system of the present invention, where the maximum stress is shown, once a force is exerted on it. Figure 15 is a graphic representation of a Finite Element Analysis (FEA) applied on an example of a monolithic frame (prior art) showing displacement and maximum stress once a force is exerted on it. Detailed Description of the Invention Some aspects of the present invention will now be described in more detail using further reference to the accompanying drawings in which some embodiments and advantages of the present invention are shown. It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that various embodiments of the invention may be expressed in different ways and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments described herein; rather, these exemplary embodiments are provided to make this invention clear and complete, and to fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. For example, unless otherwise indicated, something described as "first," "second," or the like should not be construed as implying a particular order. As used in the description and the appended claims, the singular forms "a," "an," "the," and "the" include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. The various aspects of the present invention relate to an upper frame-type structural system for securing loads. The present invention can be used in conjunction with pallets that can support a product / merchandise or goods, which are stowed and / or palletized, and subsequently secured / fixed using a rope, tape, and / or strap. In particular, the upper frame of the present invention is configured to mechanically interact with the strap and efficiently distribute the stresses generated by the force to which it is subjected, ensuring the integrity and support of the product. The present invention comprises a set of structural components, manufactured in a modular manner, which can be assembled and disassembled / disassembled, which offers a I PLLLn / ZZnZ / Β / ΥΙΛΙ - 7Practical product, easy to handle and transport, and specifically, being manufactured in a modular manner, the structural system of the present invention can be advantageously transported and packaged using less space, thus improving its logistics and handling. Additionally, the modular design of the structural system of the present invention offers a superior frame solution with desirable mechanical properties, that is, once the modular system is in an operational configuration, its structural and mechanical properties are outstanding, compared even to monolithic superior frame models. In the context of the present invention, "upper frame for securing load" should be understood as a device that can be placed on an upper portion of a product, merchandise and / or goods (hereinafter also referred to only as product, or merchandise or goods), stirruped or in an arrangement also known as palletizing, which is placed on a pallet; likewise, "pallet" can be understood as any type of base known and commonly used to contain, store and transport products, which are widely known in the field of packaging and transportation of goods, handling and distribution, as well as product handling; a pallet, in the context of the present invention, can be any type of pallet, for example, made from wood, metal, plastic or a combination thereof; preferably, the pallet is a base made from any plastic. Likewise, "straps" shall be understood to mean any means known and / or commonly used in the field of packaging, transportation, manipulation and handling of products, which is configured to be integrally connected, at one end, to a base and / or pallet and, on the other side, to the upper frame of the present invention, and whose function is, by means of the tension exerted on said base / pallet and upper frame, to secure and fix the position of the stirruped product, avoiding and / or reducing the possibility that said product may shift when being transported or handled. In this sense, straps can be one or a plurality of ropes, straps, belts, cinches, or the like, without any limitation to those previously mentioned. In this sense, the upper frame type structural system (1) of the present invention, as can be seen in Figures 1 and 4, comprises a portion of primary and secondary stringers (10, 10' and 11, 11'), which, in turn, are formed by an upper portion (10, 10') and a lower portion (11, 11'); in a preferred embodiment, both portions of primary and secondary stringers are formed by a straight area and a corner area, forming an "L" type. As seen in Figures 7, 9a and / or 9b, the corner area corresponds to the portion of the stringer with a plurality of holes (30), which, as will be described later in the present application, said holes are part of an assembly and / or separation system (31). In this sense, by "plurality of holes" arranged in the corner area of the primary and secondary stringers, it should be understood that, in said corner area, there may be I PLLLn / ZZnZ / Β / ΥΙΛΙ - 8at least two and up to “n” number of holes may be arranged, distributed uniformly and / or in an arrangement different from that shown in the previously referenced Figures; likewise, said holes (30) may be of any appropriate dimension. By way of non-limiting example, the holes (30) may have a diameter ranging from 1 / 8 inch to 1 inch; likewise, said holes (30) may have a machining or machine-type finish such as countersinking, chamfering, as shown in the referred Figure, flaring and / or combinations thereof; however, other types of finishes may be used, considering different diameters, depths and angles without being limited to those previously referred to. In an optional embodiment, the stringers may also comprise at least one and up to “n” number of holes for receiving anti-slip elements (32), which are configured to adapt inside, hold and / or fix an anti-slip element (not shown), which can provide anti-slip properties, for example and not limited to, when one or more upper frames (1) are supported. Additionally, in one embodiment, both upper (10, 10') and lower (11, 1Γ) portions of the primary and secondary stringers are formed by an arrangement of ribs, arranged in a lower and / or inner part, as seen in Figure 10. In the context of the present invention, the term "rib array" should be understood as a matrix or arrangement of walls arranged in a certain geometry, dimension, thickness and distribution, formed integrally with the primary and secondary stringer respectively, and whose function is to provide greater resistance to said stringers. A person skilled in the art will understand that said matrix or arrangement called a rib array can have any distribution, for example, and not limited to, a rectangular / square arrangement, such as the one illustrated in the aforementioned Figure, but other distributions can be used in addition to the one shown, such as, for example, and not limited to, regular distributions forming polygons, irregular distributions, continuous or discontinuous distributions, variable combinations, where different sizes, thicknesses, among others, are used in different areas of the arrangement. In one embodiment, the rib arrangement is divided into two zones, one corresponding to the corner (40a, 41a) and another corresponding to the straight zone (40b, 41b); in this sense, by “divided” it should be understood that the rib arrangement of said corner and straight zones previously referred to may be different from each other, using the different distributions previously mentioned; however, said zones may have rib arrangements that form a continuous matrix or pattern; in one embodiment, the straight zone may comprise a straight and unitary rib arrangement (40b, 41b) and the corner zone may comprise a rib arrangement (40a, 41a) forming a square / rectangular pattern as shown in Figure 10; however, as previously mentioned, said rib arrangements (40a, 40b and 41a, 41b) are not limited to what is illustrated in the referred Figures. I PLLLn / ZZnZ / Β / ΥΙΛΙ - 9Even in a preferred embodiment, the upper spar (10, 10') may comprise an arrangement of ribs (40a, 40b and 41a, 41b) equal to and corresponding to the arrangement of ribs of the lower spar (11, 1T), for both primary and secondary spars; however, other types of distributions, matrices and / or arrangements may be possible; in another embodiment, the upper spar (10, 10') may comprise an arrangement of ribs (40a, 40b and 41a, 41b) totally different from the arrangement of ribs of the lower spar (11, 1T) and the primary and secondary spars may comprise this distribution as a replica or on the contrary, in an additional embodiment, the primary spars may have an arrangement of ribs totally different from those of the secondary spars, as well as other combinations. In an optional embodiment, both upper and lower stringers (10, 10', 11, 11') may not comprise any arrangement of ribs inside, being substantially hollow or smooth. In a further embodiment, each of the primary and secondary portions may comprise a reinforcement section and / or interface (40c, 41c), characterized as an area with a more concentrated geometry and / or shape of walls as shown in Figure 10; said reinforcement section / interface (40c, 41c) provides an area of greater material, where a person skilled in the art will clearly understand that said section / interface will allow for greater efficiency in the distribution of stresses present during a mechanical interaction between the upper frame (1) and the strap; this section / interface (40c, 41c) may comprise any geometry, dimension and distribution, and is not necessarily limited to that shown in the aforementioned Figure. In an optional embodiment, both upper and lower stringers (10, 10', 11, 1T) may not comprise any reinforcement section and / or interface (40c, 41c), thereby preventing the overall weight of the structural system of the present invention from suffering an undesired weight increase. On the other hand, in one embodiment, both upper (10, 10') and lower (11, 1T) portions of the primary and secondary stringers are formed by a smooth surface, arranged in an upper and / or outer part, as can be seen in any of the Figures that accompany this application. "Smooth surface" shall mean a continuous surface, free of irregularities and / or features along the top and / or outside of both the primary and secondary stringers; said smooth surface is configured to come into contact with the strap. Although the term "upper and / or outer part" as well as "lower and / or inner part" have been used previously and throughout the present invention, it must be interpreted as meaning that the upper and / or outer part of the upper and lower stringer correspond to the smooth surface, although in the Figures one is shown inverted with respect to the other, and correspondingly, the lower and / or inner part correspond to the area with the presence of the rib arrangement of the corner and straight area respectively for both upper, lower, primary and secondary stringers. As an example to facilitate understanding of the above, both stringers ypLLtn / zznz / B / YiAi - The primary and secondary components can be rotated 180°, and the former lower beam will remain as the upper beam, retaining each and every one of the characteristics previously indicated in this application without any alteration. In a preferred embodiment, the upper and lower stringer portions (10, 11) of the primary stringers comprise the same length, width and geometry as each other, such that, when joining them or arranging them one on top of the other, making their respective lower and / or internal parts come into contact (parts arranged in the rib arrangement (40a, 40b of 10, 11)), both upper and lower portions (10, 11) coincide in their entirety. Likewise, in a preferred embodiment, the upper and lower stringer portions (10', 1 T) of the secondary stringers comprise the same length, width and geometry as each other, such that, when joining them or arranging them one on top of the other, making their respective lower and / or internal parts come into contact (arranged parts of the rib arrangement (41a, 41b of 10', 11')), both upper and lower portions (10', 1T) coincide in their entirety. In one embodiment, the primary stringers have the same length, width, and geometry as the secondary stringers; in a preferred embodiment, the primary stringers have the same width and geometry as the secondary stringers, but do not share the same length. In an even more preferred embodiment, the primary stringers have the same width and geometry as the secondary stringers, with the primary stringers being longer than the secondary stringers. In a preferred embodiment, the upper and lower stringer portions (10, 11) of the primary stringers are joined together, as shown in Figure 5b; correspondingly and respectively, the upper and lower stringer portions (10', 1T) of the secondary stringers are joined together. In one embodiment, the upper and lower stringers (10', 1T) on both the primary and / or secondary stringers may each comprise at least two tabs (40d); these tabs (40d) are arranged on one and / or both end portions of the stringers, as seen in Figure 9a , such that, once the upper and lower portions are joined or arranged opposite each other to form the end stringers, the tab (40d) of the upper stringer connects, couples, or generally creates mechanical interference with the corresponding tab (40d) of the lower stringer in a snap-type coupling manner; this favors creating a firmer union between the upper and lower portions when forming the upper and lower end stringers. In one embodiment, the tabs (40d) can be incorporated as intermittent portions as seen in the previously mentioned ones, having at least two and up to “n” number of tabs and separated from each other by a distance ranging from 1 mm to 25 mm. In another embodiment, a single tab (40d) (not shown) can be incorporated that can cover from one lateral end to the other lateral end in the upper and lower stringer respectively. In a preferred embodiment, once said upper and lower portions are joined, the corresponding rib arrangements, which as previously mentioned, I PLLLn / ΖΖΠΖ / Β / ΥΙΛΙ - 11 the arrangement of the upper stringer portion with the corresponding lower one for both primary and secondary stringers can be identical, the walls of the arrangement can come into contact with each other with their corresponding upper and / or lower ones and coincide in their entirety; the above contributes to each point of contact being auxiliary to distribute the efforts generated by the mechanical interaction between the upper frame (1) and the strap, and thereby substantially and advantageously increase the general mechanical resistance of the frame (1);Although it was mentioned that said mechanical advantage arises in the modality when both rib arrangements of the upper and lower portion coincide, this effect may also be present in additional modalities, where the arrangements are totally different, and there will clearly be areas where walls of the upper arrangement will coincide with the lower one, and with this, the same stress distribution effect previously referred to is achieved. Likewise, once said upper and lower portions are joined, the corresponding reinforcement sections / interfaces (40c, 41) located between and / or separating the corner and straight areas respectively, may also coincide during the referred joint, contributing to distribute the stresses generated by the mechanical interaction between the upper frame (1) and the strap, as previously described. Referring again to Figure 5a and / or Figure 9a, when said respective upper and lower portions of the primary (10,11) and secondary (10', 11') stringers are joined together, the straight areas join together in their entirety, leaving the corner areas free or protruding; subsequently, once the upper and lower portions of both primary and secondary stringers have been joined together and / or found as described, said portions are subjected to a permanent coupling treatment, thus forming a final main (20) and secondary (20') stringer respectively. “Permanent coupling treatment” means a joining process or method that allows the upper and lower portions to be permanently joined; such processes or methods may include, but are not limited to, ultrasonic welding, linear and orbital vibration welders, hot plate welders, combinations thereof, and / or the like. In this sense, the term "final spar" refers to the combination of the upper and lower portion, once it is permanently joined by the coupling treatment previously referred to, thus achieving a single piece that, an expert in the field can clearly determine that, based on the combination of geometries, sizes, widths and, mainly, the incorporation and interaction of the rib arrangements as described throughout this application, provide said final spar with improved mechanical properties. Having said that, after the permanent coupling treatment, a main end beam (result of combining a portion of the main upper and lower beam (10,11)) and a secondary end beam (result of combining a portion of the secondary upper and lower beam (10', 11')) are obtained; as shown, respectively, in Figure 5b. ypLLin / zznz / B / YiAi - 12In one embodiment, each of the primary and secondary portions referred to throughout this application may be made of an appropriate plastic material, such as any material selected from the group comprising polyethylene terephthalate (PER or PETE), high density polyethylene (HDPE), low density polyethylene (LDPE), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), ASA, ABS, as well as thermoplastic reinforced plastic materials, combinations thereof and / or similar. Likewise, each of the primary and secondary portions referred to throughout this application can be manufactured in lengths ranging from 5 inches to 70 inches, with widths ranging from 3 inches to 15 inches; furthermore, said primary and secondary portions can have a thickness and / or height ranging from 1 / 2 inch to 5 inches. Additionally, each of the primary and secondary portions referred to throughout this application may be manufactured by any appropriate production / manufacturing means, such as and not limited to injection and / or extrusion molding, blow molding, vacuum molding, rotation molding, polymer casting, three-dimensional printing, gas-assisted injection molding, combinations thereof and / or the like. In an even more preferred embodiment, the structural system of the present invention can be manufactured by any of the previously mentioned manufacturing / production means, and instead, the primary and secondary end stringers can be manufactured directly, avoiding carrying out the previously described coupling treatment. By "directly", it should be understood that it is possible to produce the primary and secondary stringers, as seen in Figure 6a, and as previously named and explained, in their final form, directly from the manufacturing / production process, preserving each of the elements and characteristics as described throughout this application. In this sense, according to this even more preferred embodiment, where the end beams are formed directly from the manufacturing process, it is not necessary to carry out a permanent coupling treatment, since, reiteratively, the end beams would already emerge directly from the manufacturing process "in a single piece", having each and every one of the characteristics that have been described throughout this description. In an optional embodiment, the end beams formed according to this embodiment may be completely hollow, and therefore, not include any rib arrangement. Likewise, the end beams according to this embodiment may be formed by any of the previously mentioned production methods, as well as from any of the materials and combinations of materials mentioned in this application. Likewise, each of the end rails according to this modality can be manufactured with lengths ranging from 5 inches to 70 inches, with widths ranging from 3 inches to 15 inches and heights ranging from 1 inch to 10 inches. I PLLLn / ΖΖΠΖ / Β / ΥΙΛΙ - 13Once the primary and secondary end stringers have been formed, regardless of the modality, but taking into account the characteristics and, mainly, the configuration of the joint previously referred to, that is, where the straight areas of both portions of the stringers coincide in their entirety, causing the corner areas to protrude as shown in Figures 5a and / or 6a, which occurs in any of the modalities described throughout this description, it is then at this point that the invention comprises the minimum elements to form the upper frame (1), being, as shown in Figure 8, two main end stringers (20) and two secondary end stringers (20'). In a preferred embodiment, a corner area of a main end beam (20) is arranged on a corner area of a secondary end beam (20'), such that the joint of said corner area of the main end beam (20) completely covers the corner area of the secondary end beam (20'), then repeating this action for each of the four corner areas, resulting in the formation of the frame (1) as shown in Figures 9a and 9b. Finally, in order to ensure a correct hyperstatic coupling between each main and secondary end spar, an assembly and / or separation system (31) integrated, firstly, by a plurality of receiving holes (30), as shown in Figures 9c and 9d, allows each spar to be fixed and maintained in the previously mentioned coupling and arrangement. In a preferred embodiment, the previously described assembly and / or separation system (31) uses ratchet-type rivets as a means of mechanical interaction; however, other known means may be used, such as, but not limited to, hot rivets, screws, pins, combinations thereof and / or the like. In an even more preferred embodiment and with reference to Figures 9a to 9d, said assembly and / or separation element (31) is divided into upper fastening means (31 a) and lower fastening means (31 b), which are placed inside the receiving holes (30) as shown in Figure 9d previously referred to, that is, so that the upper fastening means (31a) are located or are in an opposite orientation to the lower fastening means (31b), thus managing to conform the upper frame (1) in an operational configuration. In an optional embodiment, and in order to provide preventive or corrective maintenance to the upper frame (1) of the present invention, advantageously, the assembly and / or separation system (31) can be removed by a user, without damaging the end stringer or set of associated end stringers, thereby replacing an end stringer, for example, after a certain number of cycles of use, and / or in the presence of a failure or reduction in its structural resistance, in order to safeguard the integrity of the frame (1) and thereby advantageously and considerably increase its useful / average life. As a non-limiting example, the assembly and / or separation system can be removed by means of roughing, using a drill type tool; with this, a user will be able to rough and eliminate ypLLin / zznz / B / YiAi - 14the clamping members (31), and advantageously, the corner areas of the primary and secondary end members involved will not suffer any damage. Based on the foregoing, a person skilled in the art will be able to see that the combination of the different mechanical interactions between the different components of the upper frame type structural system (1) of the present invention provides it with outstanding structural properties, and, of course, offering sufficient strength and mechanical performance to meet each of the operational requirements to which it is subjected, which will be even more evident taking into account the experimental results that will be set forth below; in this sense, in addition to the mechanical and structural interaction derived from the different characteristics that comprise the portions of main and secondary stringers and even more the subsequently formed main and secondary end stringers, the applicant has advantageously discovered that the interaction of the corner areas, as previously described,and in combination with the previously mentioned characteristics of the beams and the assembly and / or separation system (31), they offer a structural system with the capacity to increase efficiency during logistics, transportation and packaging thereof, the characteristic of being disassemblable allowing the structural system to occupy less space, and on the other hand, this characteristic does not reduce, limit or condition the operational performance thereof, being that, in general, the structural system of the present invention comprises desirable mechanical properties once it is in its operational and / or assembled configuration and is being used in any material handling procedure. Likewise, it is clear that the decoupling capacity of the structural system of the present invention, that is, that the end beams can be disassembled, passing from an operational configuration to a packaging one, in addition to favoring logistics, as previously mentioned, also allows to provide greater resistance and average life / a greater number of cycles of use, since, in the event that an end beam suffers significant damage or when its integrity is compromised, it can be replaced by a new one and the rest of the beams that did not suffer any damage can continue operating in an ordinary manner, now interacting with the replacement of the damaged beam;This translates into an improved and increased overall service life of the structural system, as well as a significant reduction in operating costs compared to, for example, monolithic top frames, which, once damaged in any portion thereof, can become completely unusable. In this sense, it will be evident to an expert in the field, from a reading of this description, that by assigning a coupling surface as wide as the corner areas of the main and secondary end stringers of this invention, regardless of the chosen modality, together with the arrangement of the assembly and / or separation system (31) as previously described, it is achieved that, in said area, the ypLLin / zznz / B / YiAi - 15 distribution of forces is outstanding, allowing a coupling between the end beams, ensuring mainly, firmness and stability. As previously mentioned, taking into account the experimental results that will be demonstrated below, it will be evident that the innovative and novel configuration disclosed by the applicant offers an upper frame (1) with superior and advantageous structural properties, even in the presence of tensile and bending forces and stresses, and additionally, based on the configuration and arrangement as described in this application, the substantial improvement provided in the logistics of transporting the system in its disassembled or non-operational configuration will be evident. EXAMPLES As can be seen in Figures 14a, 14b and 15, Finite Element Analysis (FEA) tests were carried out, using, firstly, a preferred embodiment of the present invention and, secondly, an example of a monolithic upper frame. For the Finite Element Analysis (FEA) test, the following requirements and conditions were considered: Total force applied for both analyses: 110 lbf For the upper frame according to an embodiment of the present invention: • Use of upper / lower restraints: or Rivets, made of Vydyne Nylon 6 / 6; Young's Modulus: 3000 MPa; Yield strength: 80 MPa • Stringers (general): o Made of Polypropylene (PP); Young's modulus: 2350 MPa; Elastic limit: 57 MPa. For the upper frame according to the monolithic example (previous art): • Use of hot-plate welding technology; the frame is manufactured in a single piece of polypropylene (PP); Young's modulus: 2350 MPa; Yield strength: 57 MPa. The results of maximum stress and displacement can be seen in Table 1 below: ypLLin / zznz / B / YiAi - 16TABLE 1 Maximum stress (MPa) Maximum displacement (mm) According to the present invention: using rivet type upper / lower fastening means 25.24 5.87 According to an example of a monolithic upper frame (prior art) 25.50 4.22 I PLLLn / ZZnZ / Β / ΥΙΛΙ Thus, it can be readily appreciated that the upper frame described in the present application offers a mechanical performance similar to that of an example of a monolithic frame or one formed integrally in a single piece; in other words, the modifications to the frame of the present invention, mainly the modular arrangement (primary and secondary end members (20, 20')), advantageously do not compromise the overall mechanical interactions of the frame. Likewise, it can be observed in Figure 14a and 14b that the assembly and / or separation system (31) according to the embodiment of the present invention shown in the Finite Element Analysis (FEA), offers an outstanding stress distribution, which is a result, firstly, of the arrangement / layout and interaction resulting from the design of the corner portions of the end stringers as described throughout this document, and mainly, derived from the mechanical interference resulting from the interaction of the assembly and / or separation system when joining the corresponding upper and lower end stringers. In this regard, as previously discussed in this application, the assembly and / or separation system allows the corresponding upper and lower end beams to be joined and the structural system of the present invention to be switched to an operational or functional state, where it can be used in a material handling operation, as illustrated in Figure 11; advantageously, the assembly and / or separation system can be removed from the structural system of the present invention, by means of, and not limited to, by using a roughing tool, such as a drill (see Figure 12);The purpose of removing / eliminating the assembly system and / or separation of the end beams is to switch the structural system to a packaging, non-operational, disassembled and / or transport state, managing to separate each of the pieces so that they can be transported in a more efficient manner, providing a clear advantage over the stirrup method, as seen in Figure; - 1713b, compared to the space usage that is required for the transportation of monolithic upper frames (prior art), as seen in Figure 13a. Based on the above, it can be seen that the structural system of the present invention, according to any of its previously described modalities, offers an efficient and practical solution for an upper frame for material handling operations, offering an outstanding mechanical performance clearly comparable with a monolithic frame, as well as a greater advantage for the use of space during the packaging and transportation of the structural system, which will directly allow increasing the efficiency of logistics when using the present invention in contrast to the currently known upper frames. ypLLin / zznz / B / YiAi List of references The list of elements with their respective identifier will be provided below. frame portion of the primary upper stringer 10' portion of secondary upper stringer portion of primary lower stringer 11' portion of the lower secondary spar, main end spar 20' secondary crossbar end receiver fastening means assembly and / or separation system receiver anti-slip element to upper fastening means 31b lower attachment means 40th primary corner rib arrangement 40b primary straight zone rib arrangement 40c upper reinforcement interface 40d tab a secondary corner rib arrangement b secondary straight area rib arrangement 41c lower reinforcement interface
Claims
1. An upper frame structural system (1), comprising: primary and secondary end members (20, 20'), wherein each primary and secondary end member (20, 20') comprises: a corner portion, an assembly and / or separation system (31), wherein a corner portion of a main end member (20) is configured to receive a corner portion of a secondary end member (20'), such that the joint of said corner area of the main end member (20) completely covers the corner area of the secondary end member (20'), wherein the assembly and / or separation system in turn comprises upper (31a) and lower (31b) fastening means and corresponding receivers (30) for each fastening means (31a, 31b), and that, once the primary and secondary end members (20, 20') are spliced, the fastening means (31a, 31b) are configured to ensure a correct hyperstatic coupling between said stringers (20,20').
2. The upper frame structural system according to claim 1, wherein the primary and secondary end members (20,20') are each manufactured from the union of an upper portion (10,10') and a lower portion (11,11'), joined by a permanent coupling treatment.
3. The upper frame structural system according to claim 1, wherein the primary and secondary end members (20, 20') are each manufactured directly, that is, the end members (20, 20') can be manufactured and thereby avoid the step of a preferential coupling treatment.
4. The upper frame structural system according to claim 1, wherein the assembly and / or separation system comprises at least two and up to “n” number of holes distributed uniformly and / or in an arrangement in the corner area of each end beam.
5. The upper frame structural system according to claim 1, wherein the upper and lower fastening means (31 a, 31 b) are any selected from the group comprising ratchet rivets, hot rivets, screws, pins, combinations thereof and / or the like.
6. The upper frame structural system according to claim 2, wherein the upper portion (10,10') and the lower portion (11,11') each comprise at least one and up to “n” number of tabs (40d), at the respective end portions, which are configured to engage or couple with one another, in a snap-fit manner, when the upper and lower portions meet to form the primary and secondary end rails (20,20').
7. The upper frame structural system according to claim 6, wherein the tabs (40d) are at least two and up to “n” number of tabs separated at a distance ranging from 1 mm to 25 mm or may be a single tab that extends from one lateral end to the other lateral end of the respective upper and lower stringer.
8. The upper frame structural system according to claim 5, wherein the fastening means (31a, 31b) are positioned within the receiving holes (30) such that the upper fastening means (31a) are in an orientation opposite to the lower fastening means (31b).
9. The upper frame structural system according to claim 5, wherein the fastening means (31a, 31b) can be removed and / or eliminated by means of roughing, using a drill type tool, thereby achieving roughing and eliminating the fastening members (31), and the corner areas of the primary and secondary end rails involved will not suffer any damage.
10. The upper frame structural system according to claim 4, wherein the holes of the assembly and / or separation system are holes with a diameter ranging from 1 / 8 inch to 1 inch, and carry a machining or machine-type finish such as countersinking, chamfering, flaring and / or combinations thereof.
11. The upper frame structural system according to claims 1 to 3, wherein the end beam has a straight area and a corner area, forming an “L” shape, with the corner area being protruding or projecting.
12. The upper frame structural system according to claims 1 to 3, wherein the upper (10, 10'), lower (11, 11') portions have lengths ranging from 5 inches to 70 inches, with widths ranging from 3 inches to 15 inches and thicknesses and / or height ranging from 1 / 2 inch to 5 inches.
13. The upper frame structural system according to claims 1 to 3, wherein the directly manufactured end rails (20, 20') have lengths ranging from 5 inches to 70 inches, with widths ranging from 3 inches to 15 inches and a height ranging from 1 inch to 10 inches. ypLLtn / zznz / B / YiAi 14. The upper frame structural system according to claims 1 to 3, wherein the directly manufactured upper (10, 10'), lower (11, 11') portions or end members (20, 20') are made of a material selected from the group comprising polyethylene (PER or PETE), high density polyethylene (HDPE), low density polyethylene (LDPE), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), ASA, ABS, as well as thermoplastic reinforced plastic materials, combinations thereof and / or the like.
15. The upper frame structure system according to claim 2, wherein the permanent coupling treatment is a process of ultrasonic welding, linear and orbital type vibration welding, hot plate welding and / or combinations thereof, permanently joining the respective upper and lower portions to form a respective end spar.
16. The upper frame structural system according to claim 2 and 3, wherein the directly manufactured upper (10, 10'), lower (11, 1 T) portions or end beams (20, 20') are manufactured by any means selected from the group comprising injection and / or extrusion, blow molding, vacuum, rotation, polymer casting, three-dimensional printing, gas-assisted injection, combination thereof and / or the like.
17. The upper frame structural system according to any of the previously referred claims, wherein the assembly system (31) can be removed / eliminated from each corner area of each end rail and the structural system can be switched to a disassembled state, allowing end rails that have suffered relevant structural damage to be replaced and / or to be transported efficiently.
18. The upper frame structural system according to any of the previously referred claims, wherein the end beams (20, 20') further comprise at least one and up to "n" number of holes receiving anti-slip elements (32), which are configured to adapt inside, hold and / or fix an anti-slip element each.
19. The upper frame structural system according to any of the previously referred claims, wherein the end stringers (20, 20') further comprise, in their lower or inner portions, an arrangement of ribs, that is, a matrix or arrangement of walls arranged in a geometry, dimension, thickness and distribution, such as a rectangular / square arrangement, a regular distribution formed by polygons, irregular distributions, continuous or discontinuous distributions, variable combinations, where different sizes, thicknesses, among others, are used in different areas of the arrangement. ypLLtn / zznz / B / YiAi 20. The upper frame structural system according to any of the previously referred claims, wherein the rib arrangement is divided into two zones, one corresponding to the corner (40a, 41a) and another corresponding to the straight zone (40b, 41b).
21. The upper frame structural system according to any of the previously referred claims, wherein the end rails may not comprise any arrangement of ribs therein, being substantially hollow or smooth.
22. The upper frame structural system according to any of the previously referred claims, wherein the end stringers (20, 20') further comprise, in their lower or inner portions, a reinforcement section and / or interface (40c, 41c), characterized as an area with a more concentrated geometry and / or shape of walls or may not comprise any reinforcement section and / or interface (40c, 41c), thereby preventing the overall weight of the structural system of the present invention from suffering an undesired weight increase.
23. The upper frame structural system according to any of the previously referred claims, wherein the end stringers (20, 20') further comprise, in their upper or outer portions, a smooth surface, that is, a continuous surface, without irregularities and / or bodies present along said upper and / or outer portion of both primary and secondary stringers.
24. The upper frame structural system according to any of the previously referred claims, wherein the primary and secondary end rails (20, 20') comprise the same length, width and geometry as each other or may comprise a different length, width and geometry.