Modular system for building a truck body or a part thereof

Abstract

The present invention concerns a modular system (100) for building a truck body (50) or part thereof comprising at least a plurality of structural and / or panel elements (10), having the shape of a parallelepiped or sheet, configured to be constrained to each other to form at least a portion of a wall of a truck body (50), each structural and / or panel element (10) of the plurality of structural and / or panel elements comprising a pair of main vertical faces (11a, 11b) intended to face respectively internally and externally to the truck body (50) and a pair of secondary vertical faces (12a, 12b) intended to be placed side-by-side and cooperate with corresponding secondary vertical faces (12a, 12b) of an adjacent structural and / or panel element (10) to create an interfering and / or interpenetrating coupling, wherein a first main vertical face (11 a) of the pair of main vertical faces (11a, 11b) intended to face the inside of the truck body (50) comprises a pair of portions (16a, 16b) protruding from the plane of the first main vertical face (11a), of which a first protruding portion (16a) extends near and along the first secondary vertical face (12a) and a second protruding portion (16b) extends near and along the second secondary vertical face (12b), wherein the first and second protruding portions (16a, 16b) are configured to each define a vertical half-guide (16a, 16b) such that a first protruding portion (16a) of a first structural and / or panel element (10) defines, with a second protruding portion (16b) of a second structural and / or panel element (10) adjacent to the first, a guide (16) which extends along an extension of the secondary vertical faces (12a, 12b) placed side-by-side of the first and second structural and / or panel element (10), characterized in that the guide (16) is configured to accommodate and cooperate with at least a fastening element (18), and in that the modular system (100) comprises at least a fastening element (18) housable in the guide (16) and shaped such that, when housed in the guide (16), the fastening element (18) engages a portion of each half-guide (16a, 16b) to retain the first and second structural and / or panel elements (10) in the configuration with the secondary vertical faces (12a, 12b) placed side-by-side.

Description

[0001] MODULAR SYSTEM FOR BUILDING A TRUCK BODY OR A PART THEREOF

[0002] TECHNICAL FIELD

[0003] The present invention relates generally to a modular system for building a truck body or part thereof, in particular for use in a commercial vehicle used for the transport of goods.

[0004] STATE OF THE ART

[0005] In general terms, truck bodies for commercial vehicles used for the transport of goods are assembled by connecting a plurality of structural and / or panel elements together in a fixed manner, usually having the shape of a parallelepiped or sheet, for example in the form of sheet metal. In particular, the structural elements and / or panels are known to be joined to each other by using glues or irreversible fastening means, such as rivets.

[0006] From the point of view of the durability and reliability of the connection, the irreversible fastening means are preferable. However, the use of such fastening means is generally time-consuming in the truck body building phase, as the panel elements must be connected at a large number of points in order to achieve a stable union. In addition, the application of the irreversible fastening means requires dedicated tools, which are not always available to installers.

[0007] The building of the truck bodies is also scarcely versatile today. In fact, it is necessary to plan the type of truck body it is wished to create from the onset, since after mounting it is no longer possible to convert it into a different type of truck body.

[0008] Again, the systems for building a truck body known today require the use of a sealing material to be applied to the walls of the truck body once assembled, in order to prevent water from entering the compartment being created. This additional operation not only leads to an overall lengthening of the initial mounting operations, but must also be repeated over time in order to preserve the sealing capacity of the walls.

[0009] OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] In light of the above, the problem underlying the present invention is to devise a modular system for building a truck body that can be assembled quickly and easily for the operator, without the use of dedicated instrumentation.

[0011] Within the scope of this problem, an object of the present invention is to create a modular system for building a truck body that is able to prevent the entry of water inside the truck body itself, without having to resort to the use of sealants.

[0012] Another object of the present invention is to study a modular system for building a truck body that is versatile, allowing to make truck bodies of different types and to easily convert them even after their mounting has been completed. Yet another object of the present invention is to design a truck body that can be built quickly and easily for the operator, without the use of dedicated instrumentation.

[0013] In accordance with a first aspect thereof, the invention therefore relates to a modular system for building a truck body or part thereof comprising at least a plurality of structural and / or panel elements, having the shape of a parallelepiped or sheet, configured to be constrained to each other to form at least a portion of a wall of a truck body.

[0014] Each structural and / or panel element of the plurality of structural and / or panel elements comprises a pair of main vertical faces intended to face respectively internally and externally to the truck body and a pair of secondary vertical faces intended to be placed side-by-side and cooperate with corresponding secondary vertical faces of an adjacent structural and / or panel element to create an interfering and / or interpenetrating coupling.

[0015] According to the present invention a first main vertical face of the pair of main vertical faces intended to face the inside of the truck body comprises a pair of portions protruding from the plane of the first main vertical face, of which a first protruding portion extends near and along the first secondary vertical face and a second protruding portion extends near and along the second secondary vertical face.

[0016] The first and second protruding portions are configured to each define a vertical half-guide such that a first protruding portion of a first structural and / or panel element defines, with a second protruding portion of a second structural and / or panel element adjacent to the first, a guide which extends along an extension of the secondary vertical faces placed side-by-side of the first and second structural and / or panel element and is configured to accommodate and cooperate with at least a fastening element.

[0017] Furthermore, the system comprises at least a fastening element housable in the guide and shaped such that, when housed in the guide, it engages a portion of each half-guide to retain the first and second structural and / or panel elements in the configuration with the secondary vertical faces placed side-by-side.

[0018] The Applicant has studied a particular conformation of the structural and / or panel elements of the modular system that allows the truck body to be built without the need for irreversible fastening means and / or glues. In fact, the protruding portions made on the structural and / or panel elements form, when placed side-by-side, a guide capable of accommodating one or more simple fastening elements, such as for example a perforated fastening plate, which can be tightened by screwing.

[0019] This solution therefore makes it possible to create a stable constraint between two structural and / or panel elements placed side-by-side in a simple, reversible and fast way.

[0020] In accordance with a second aspect thereof, the invention relates to a truck body comprising at least a plurality of structural and / or panel elements, having the shape of a parallelepiped or sheet, configured to be constrained to each other to form at least a portion of a wall of a truck body. Each structural and / or panel element of the plurality of structural and / or panel elements comprises a pair of main vertical faces intended to face respectively internally and externally to the truck body and a pair of secondary vertical faces intended to be placed side-by-side and cooperate with corresponding secondary vertical faces of an adjacent structural and / or panel element to create an interfering and / or interpenetrating coupling.

[0021] According to the present invention a first main vertical face of the pair of main vertical faces intended to face the inside of the truck body comprises a pair of portions protruding from the plane of the first main vertical face, of which a first protruding portion extends near and along the first secondary vertical face and a second protruding portion extends near and along the second secondary vertical face, wherein the first and second protruding portions are configured to each define a vertical half-guide such that a first protruding portion of a first structural and / or panel element defines, with a second protruding portion of a second structural and / or panel element adjacent to the first, a guide which extends along an extension of the secondary vertical faces placed side-by-side of the first and second structural and / or panel element and is configured to accommodate and cooperate with at least a fastening element.

[0022] Furthermore, the truck body comprises at least a fastening element housable in the guide and shaped such that, when housed in the guide, it engages a portion of each half-guide to retain the first and second structural and / or panel elements in the configuration with the secondary vertical faces placed side-by-side.

[0023] Advantageously, the truck body thus configured allows to achieve the same advantages described with reference to the modular system for building a truck body according to the invention.

[0024] Further characteristics of the preferred embodiments of the modular system for building a truck body or part thereof according to the present invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0025] Preferably, the pair of secondary vertical faces is configured to create a coupling with corresponding secondary vertical faces of an adjacent structural and / or panel element, such as to retain the adjacent structural and / or panel element in a side-by-side configuration.

[0026] Preferably, the pair of secondary vertical faces is configured to create a coupling with corresponding secondary vertical faces of an adjacent structural and / or panel element, such as to prevent the entry of water between adjacent structural and / or panel elements.

[0027] Preferably, the pair of secondary vertical faces is configured to create a male-female coupling with corresponding secondary vertical faces of an adjacent structural and / or panel element.

[0028] Preferably, the fastening element is a fastening plate having a U-shaped section.

[0029] More preferably, the fastening plate has a threaded hole to accommodate a fastening screw for tightening the fastening plate against each half-guide.

[0030] In a variant of the invention, the guide defines a longitudinal opening which develops along the development of the guide itself.

[0031] Preferably, the longitudinal opening is configured to allow the insertion and / or removal of the at least a fastening element inside the guide with the structural and / or panel elements in a side-by- side configuration.

[0032] In a variant of the invention, each protruding portion of the pair of protruding portions has a substantially "L"-shaped section with an end stem of the protruding L-shaped portion that faces towards a respective secondary vertical face near which the protruding portion is obtained.

[0033] Preferably, the end stem of each L-shaped protruding portion comprises at least a projection facing towards the inside of the guide and configured to engage the fastening element.

[0034] More preferably, the end stem of each L-shaped protruding portion comprises a pair of projections facing towards the inside of the guide and configured to engage the fastening element.

[0035] Preferably, the end stem of each L-shaped protruding portion comprises a lengthening in the opposite direction with respect to its extension facing towards the respective secondary vertical face near which the protruding portion is obtained.

[0036] In a variant of the invention, the modular system for building a truck body or part thereof comprises at least one lower longitudinal beam element configured to support the plurality of panel structural elements in a vertical configuration.

[0037] Advantageously, the constraint between two side-by-side structural and / or panel elements can be realized simultaneously between two side-by-side structural and / or panel elements and the at least one lower longitudinal beam element, by tightening the fastening elements against it.

[0038] Preferably, the at least one lower longitudinal beam element comprises a lower horizontal wall for supporting a lower horizontal face of the plurality of structural and / or panel elements, and a pair of lower vertical walls arranged, with respect to the lower horizontal wall, such to define a substantially "H"-shaped section.

[0039] Preferably, the upper stems of the substantially "H"-shaped section have a different length.

[0040] Preferably, the lower horizontal wall has at least one drain opening, for example it is perforated.

[0041] Preferably, a first lower vertical wall of the pair of lower vertical walls is configured to be mounted with respect to the plurality of structural and / or panel elements to face the inside of the truck body formed by the plurality of structural and / or panel elements, and a second lower vertical wall of the pair of lower vertical walls is configured to be mounted with respect to the plurality of structural and / or panel elements to face the outside of the truck body formed by the plurality of structural and / or panel elements.

[0042] More preferably, the first lower vertical wall has, starting from the lower horizontal wall, a greater vertical extension upwards than the second lower vertical wall. Advantageously, the particular conformation of the lower longitudinal beam element makes it possible to create a truck body in which the possible entry of rainwater can be avoided without the use of sealants. In fact, any accumulation of rainwater in the housing defined between the lower vertical walls and the lower horizontal wall would drain out of the truck body once it reaches the height of the second lower vertical wall, avoiding an ingress of rainwater inside the truck body.

[0043] Preferably, a first lower vertical wall of the lower longitudinal beam element configured to be mounted with respect to the plurality of structural and / or panel elements to face the inside of the truck body formed by the plurality of structural and / or panel elements comprises at least one lower bore made at a position where the longitudinal opening of a guide defined by a pair of structural and / or panel elements supported in a vertical configuration by the lower longitudinal beam element is located.

[0044] Preferably, a first lower vertical wall of the pair of lower vertical walls configured to be mounted with respect to the plurality of structural and / or panel elements to face the inside of the truck body formed by the plurality of structural and / or panel elements comprises at least one hook-shaped protrusion which develops substantially parallel to the longitudinal extension of the lower longitudinal beam element.

[0045] More preferably, the at least one hook-shaped protrusion extends along substantially the entire extension of the lower longitudinal beam element.

[0046] In a variant of the invention, the modular system comprises an angular element comprising a pair of lateral vertical faces configured to cooperate with corresponding secondary vertical faces of a structural and / or panel element placed side-by-side to create a male-female coupling, and an internal vertical face defining two cantilevered portions each configured to define a vertical halfguide.

[0047] In a variant of the invention, the modular system comprises at least one upper longitudinal beam element defining an upper horizontal housing configured to engage an upper horizontal face of a pair of horizontal faces of the structural and / or panel element.

[0048] Preferably, the upper horizontal housing is defined by an upper horizontal wall and by a pair of upper vertical walls, wherein a first upper vertical wall of the pair of upper vertical walls is configured to be mounted with respect to the plurality of structural and / or panel elements to face the inside of the truck body formed by the plurality of structural and / or panel elements, and a second upper vertical wall of the pair of upper vertical walls is configured to be mounted with respect to the plurality of structural and / or panel elements to face the outside of the truck body formed by the plurality of structural and / or panel elements.

[0049] Preferably, the first upper vertical wall has, starting from the upper horizontal wall, a greater vertical extension downwards than the second upper vertical wall.

[0050] Preferably, from the first vertical upper wall a shelf portion extends which substantially develops parallel to the longitudinal extension of the longitudinal upper beam element, wherein the shelf portion is configured for the support of at least one upper crossbar of a cover of a truck body.

[0051] More preferably, the shelf portion extends along substantially the entire extension of the upper longitudinal beam element.

[0052] Preferably, the shelf portion has a fold facing downwards and configured to mesh and engage constraint means of the upper crossbar.

[0053] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0054] Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will be more evident from the following description of some preferred embodiments thereof made with reference to the appended drawings.

[0055] The different characteristics in the individual configurations can be combined with each other at will according to the following description, if the advantages resulting specifically from a particular combination should be used.

[0056] In such drawings,

[0057] - figure l is a side elevation view of a first preferred embodiment of a modular system for building a truck body or part thereof according to the present invention in an assembled configuration;

[0058] - figure la is an enlarged detail of the modular system of figure 1 according to a plan view;

[0059] - figure 2 is a perspective view of a first example of structural and / or panel element employed in the first preferred embodiment of a modular system for building a truck body or part thereof according to the present invention;

[0060] - figures 3, 3a and 3b are respectively a sectional view of the structural and / or panel element of figure 2 and two enlarged details indicated in figure 3 with A and B, respectively;

[0061] - figure 4 is a sectional view of a second example of structural and / or panel element usable in a modular system for building a truck body or part thereof according to the present invention;

[0062] - figures 4a and 4b are two enlarged details of two parts circled in figure 4;

[0063] - figure 5 is a side elevation view of a second preferred embodiment of a modular system for building a truck body or part thereof according to the present invention in an assembled configuration;

[0064] - figure 5a is an enlarged detail of the modular system of figure 5 according to a plan view;

[0065] - figure 6 illustrates the modular system of figure 5 in perspective view constrained to a crossbar of the loading platform of a commercial vehicle;

[0066] - figures 6a and 6b are respectively a partial sectional view along the line C-C of the modular system of figure 5 and a partial side elevation view of the modular system of figure 6; - figure 7 is a partial view of an accessory constrained to the modular system of figure 5;

[0067] - figures 8a and 8b are respectively a top view and a bottom view of the locking element to the crossbar of the loading platform;

[0068] - figure 9 illustrates the modular system of figure 1 in perspective view constrained to a longitudinal bar of the loading platform of a commercial vehicle;

[0069] - figures 10 and 10a illustrate respectively a third preferred embodiment of a modular system for building a truck body or part thereof according to the present invention comprising in addition an angular element and a detailed top plan view thereof;

[0070] - figure 11 shows a detail in side elevation of a fourth preferred embodiment of a modular system for building a truck body or part thereof according to the present invention comprising in addition a longitudinal upper beam element for constraint to a roof of a truck body;

[0071] - figures I la and 1 lb are respectively a perspective view from below and a perspective view from above of the detail of figure 11; and

[0072] - figure 12 is a perspective view of a truck body partially set up and made starting from a modular system for building a truck body or part thereof according to the present invention.

[0073] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0074] For the illustration of the figures, use is made in the following description of identical numerals or symbols to indicate construction elements with the same function. Moreover, for clarity of illustration, certain references may not be repeated in all figures.

[0075] While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative constructions, certain preferred embodiments are shown in the drawings and are described hereinbelow in detail. It must in any case be understood that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific embodiment illustrated, but, on the contrary, the invention intends covering all the modifications, alternative and equivalent constructions that fall within the scope of the invention as defined in the claims.

[0076] The use of "for example", "etc.", "or" indicates non-exclusive alternatives without limitation unless otherwise indicated. The use of "comprises" and "includes" means "comprises or includes, but not limited to", unless otherwise indicated.

[0077] In the description, in the figures and in the appended claims, the orientations and the spatial references, such as vertical, horizontal, longitudinal, transverse, internal and external, refer to the configuration of normal use of the individual elements to form an assembled truck body.

[0078] With reference to the figures, some preferred embodiments of a modular system for building a truck body or part thereof, indicated as a whole with 100, are illustrated.

[0079] The modular system 100, a first embodiment of which is illustrated in figures 1 - 3b, comprises at least a plurality of structural and / or panel elements 10 configured to be constrained to each other to form at least a portion of a wall of a truck body 50 (visible in figure 1).

[0080] As shown in figure 2, each structural and / or panel element 10 comprises a body having substantially the shape of a parallelepiped or sheet, having a pair of main vertical faces 11 a, 11b intended to face respectively internally and externally to the truck body 50, a pair of secondary vertical faces 12a, 12b intended to cooperate with corresponding secondary vertical faces 12a, 12b of a structural and / or panel element 10 placed side-by-side to create in this case a complementary coupling, in particular of the illustrated embodiment a male-female coupling, and a pair of horizontal faces 19a, 19b. In this first embodiment, a first lower horizontal face 19a of the pair of horizontal faces 19a, 19b of the structural and / or panel element 10 is intended to be directly constrained to a loading platform 60 of a commercial vehicle according to a vertical arrangement.

[0081] In the embodiment of figures l-3b, panel elements 10 obtained in the form of a thin-section extruded section between the main vertical faces I la, 11b are employed. Indifferently, this panel element can be obtained in the form of a double wall, commonly defined with the double-wall or chamber extrusion technology, illustrated by way of example in figures 4, 4a and 4b, without compromising the definitions of main vertical faces 1 la, 1 lb, which in this case of a double-wall panel element refer to the external wall, i.e. the one incorporating the main vertical face 11b intended to face the outside of the truck body 50.

[0082] To create the male-female coupling, the secondary vertical faces 12a, 12b of the structural and / or panel element 10 have a complementary conformation respectively illustrated in section in figure 3. In particular, as better shown in figures 3a and 3b, a first secondary vertical face 12a has at least a male portion 13 and a second secondary vertical face 12b has at least a female portion 14 which is positioned and shaped to accommodate a corresponding male portion 13 present on the first secondary vertical face 12a of a structural and / or panel element 10 placed side-by-side.

[0083] In the first embodiment illustrated, the at least one male portion 13 is made as a lamina and extends substantially for the entire vertical extension of the first secondary vertical face 12a. Correspondingly, the at least a female portion is made in the manner of a groove and extends substantially for the entire vertical extension of the second secondary vertical face 12b.

[0084] In alternative embodiments (not illustrated) a plurality of male portions, e.g. a plurality of laminae distributed along substantially the entire vertical extension of the first secondary vertical face 12a, are present on the first secondary vertical face 12a, and a plurality of female portions positioned and shaped to each accommodate a corresponding male portion of the plurality of male portions present on the first secondary vertical face 12a are made on the second secondary vertical face 12b.

[0085] A first main vertical face 1 la of the pair of main vertical faces 1 la, 1 lb intended to face the inside of the truck body 50 comprises a pair of portions 16a, 16b protruding from the plane of the main vertical face 1 la, of which a first protruding portion 16a extends near and along the first secondary vertical face 12a and a second protruding portion 16b extends near and along the second secondary vertical face 12b.

[0086] In the illustrated embodiment, the protruding portions 16a, 16b extend along the entire secondary vertical face 12a, 12b near which they are made. In alternative embodiments (not illustrated) the protruding portions 16a, 16b have an extension less than the extension of the respective vertical face 12a, 12b near which they are made and / or are made in several parts distributed along the extension of the respective vertical face 12a, 12b near which they are made.

[0087] The protruding portions 16a, 16b are configured to each define a vertical half-guide.

[0088] In the first illustrated embodiment, the protruding portions 16a, 16b have a substantially "L"- shaped section with the end stem 16a', 16b' of the L-shaped section that faces towards the respective vertical face 12a, 12b near which the protruding portion 16a, 16b is made. Preferably, the end stem 16a', 16b' of the L-shaped section has a lengthening 15 in the opposite direction with respect to its extension facing towards the respective vertical face 12a, 12b near which the protruding portion 16a, 16b is made. The two lengthenings 15 of the protruding portions 16a, 16b from the first main vertical face I la provide an abutment for the constraint of a perforated hooking plate 30 (shown in figures 1 and la).

[0089] Otherwise, in the case of double-walled panel elements (see figures 4, 4a and 4b), the pair of portions protruding 16a, 16b from the plane of the first main vertical face 1 la of the external wall is integrated into the thickness of the panel, acting as a union between the two parallel walls of the panel. The second parallel wall, or internal wall, of the panel element is constituted by the union of the lengthenings 15 which, in this embodiment, extend until they join and form the second wall. The end stems 16a', 16b' are in this case configured as a cantilevered extension of the second wall 15 and are respectively facing towards the respective vertical face 12a, 12b.

[0090] By placing a pair of structural and / or panel elements 10 side-by-side (as shown in figure 1), the protruding portions 16a, 16b of two adjacent panel elements 10 define a guide 16 which extends along the extension of the vertical faces 12a, 12b near which the protruding portions 16a, 16b are made.

[0091] The guide 16 preferably has a longitudinal opening 17 which extends along the extension of the guide itself. Through the longitudinal opening 17 it is possible to insert a fastening element 18 (shown in figure la), preferably a fastening plate 18 having a U-shaped section and having a threaded hole 18a to accommodate a fastening screw 35.

[0092] By passing the fastening screw 35 through a bore 32 of the hooking plate 30 and screwing it into the threaded hole 18a of the fastening plate 18 inserted in the guide 16 it is possible to tighten the fastening plate 18 against the end stems 16a', 16b' of the panel elements 10. As shown in figure 1, the hooking plate 30 can be replaced by a simple washer 31 also having a bore 32 (illustrated in figure 1). In a second embodiment of the invention, illustrated in figures 5 - 9, the modular system 100 comprises, in addition to the at least a plurality of structural and / or panel elements 10, also at least one lower longitudinal beam element 20 configured to support the plurality of structural panel elements 10 in a vertical configuration.

[0093] In this case, the first lower horizontal face 19a of the pair of horizontal faces 19a, 19b of the structural and / or panel element 10 is intended to cooperate with a lower horizontal housing 21 shown in figure 5, defined in the lower longitudinal beam element 20.

[0094] As illustrated in figure 6a, the lower longitudinal beam element 20 comprises a lower horizontal wall 22 for supporting the plurality of structural and / or panel elements 10 and a pair of lower vertical walls 23,24 arranged, with respect to the lower horizontal wall 22, such to define a substantially "H"-shaped section with upper stems of different length. The upper portion of the 14- shaped section structure defined by the lower horizontal 22 and lower vertical 23,24 walls defines the lower horizontal housing 21 intended to accommodate the lower horizontal face 19a of the plurality of structural and / or panel elements 10.

[0095] A first lower vertical wall 23 is configured to be mounted with respect to the plurality of structural and / or panel elements 10 to face the inside of the truck body 50 (see figure 6), while a second lower vertical wall 24 is configured to be mounted with respect to the plurality of structural and / or panel elements 10 to face the outside of the truck body 50.

[0096] Preferably, the first lower vertical wall 23 has, starting from the lower horizontal wall 22, a greater vertical extension upwards than the second lower vertical wall 24. In this way, any accumulation of rainwater in the lower horizontal housing 21 defined between the lower vertical walls 23,24 and the lower horizontal wall 22 would drain out of the truck body avoiding an ingress of rainwater inside the truck body 50.

[0097] Alternatively or in addition, the lower horizontal wall 22 is perforated to drain rainwater that may possibly flow along the structural and / or panel elements 10 and accumulate in the lower horizontal housing 21.

[0098] The first lower vertical wall 23 comprises at least one lower bore 26 (shown in figure 6a) made at a position where the longitudinal opening 17 of a guide 16 defined by a pair of structural and / or panel elements 10 is located when these are inserted in the lower horizontal housing 21. By passing the fastening screw into the lower bore 26 and screwing it into the threaded hole 18a it is possible to constrain a fastening plate 18 inserted in the guide 16 at the first lower vertical wall 23 and in this way tighten the fastening plate against the end stems 16a', 16b' of the panel elements 10. To this end, the end stems 16a', 16b' of the panel elements 10 comprise at least a projection 16a", 16b" facing towards the inside of the guide 16 and configured to engage the fastening plate 18 having a U-shaped section. In the illustrated embodiment, a pair of projections 16a", 16b" are provided.

[0099] Similarly, a fastening plate 18 inserted in the guide 16 through the longitudinal opening 17 can be tightened against the end stems 16a', 16b' of the panel elements 10 through the constraint to an accessory - for example a load tensioner bar 33, shown in exemplary terms in figure 7 - provided with a bore 34 positioned at the longitudinal opening 17 of a guide 16 defined between a pair of structural and / or panel elements 10. The bore of the accessory 34 allows in fact to insert a fastening screw that engages the threaded hole 18a of the fastening plate 18. By tightening the screw, the fastening plate 18 comes into engagement with the proj ections 16a", 16b" facing towards the inside of the guide 16, preventing a distancing of the two adjacent panel elements 10, one with respect to the other. Advantageously, the constraint of accessories to the internal wall of the truck body 50 at the guide 16 and through the longitudinal opening 17 allows the height at which to tighten the accessory 33 to be freely adjusted, as well as allowing the accessory to be removed and / or shifted through simple screwing and unscrewing operations.

[0100] The first lower vertical wall 23 comprises at least one hook-shaped protrusion 25 which develops substantially parallel to the longitudinal extension of the lower longitudinal beam element 20, preferably along substantially the entire extension of the lower longitudinal beam element 20. The at least one hook-shaped protrusion 25 can be realized as a protrusion which extends substantially for the entire extension of the lower longitudinal beam element 20 without interruption, or as a plurality of hook-shaped protrusions arranged side-by-side along the extension of the lower longitudinal beam element 20 and substantially for this entire extension.

[0101] The at least one hook-shaped protrusion 25 is configured to engage in a slot 62 provided on a lower crossbar 61 of a loading platform 60 of a commercial vehicle (see figure 6b). In particular, the at least one hook-shaped protrusion 25 is made on the first lower vertical wall 23 at a lower height than the lower horizontal wall 22, i.e. where the first lower vertical wall 23 defines a lower stem of the substantially "H"-shaped section of the lower longitudinal beam element 20.

[0102] With loading platform 60 of a commercial vehicle, it is intended to indicate a structure comprising a false frame above which a plurality of lower crossbars 61 and a plurality of longitudinal bars 64 are supported and constrained, on which a flooring 65 rests.

[0103] The lower longitudinal beam element 20 thus hooks and rests on the lower crossbar 61 and is locked by at least one locking element 63, illustrated in figures 8a and 8b. The locking element 63, by interposing itself between the at least one hook-shaped protrusion 25 and the internal lower face of the respective lower crossbar 61 constitutes an interference and prevents unhooking, since it prevents the lower longitudinal beam element 20 from rising and disengaging the at least one hook-shaped protrusion 25 from the slot 62.

[0104] The locking element 63 comprises a threaded seat which, when the locking element 63 is inserted between the lower crossbar 61 and the at least one hook-shaped protrusion 25, rests below the lower crossbar 61. A locking screw 67 engages inside the threaded seat (also shown in dotted form in figure 6b). The locking screw 67, by abutting against the at least one hook-shaped protrusion 25, further ensures that it does not come out of the slot 62 of the lower crossbar 61. Furthermore, the locking screw 67 constrains the coupling between the lower longitudinal beam element 20 and the lower crossbar 61, thus avoiding any relative slippage along the longitudinal axis and ensuring that the at least one lower longitudinal beam element 20 remains in engagement with the same 61. In the embodiment illustrated in figure 8b, the threaded seat 63 is made as one piece on a U-shaped bracket 68 that is positioned below the lower crossbar 61 with the stems of the U resting against the hook-shaped protrusion 25 and so that the threaded seat 63 is placed at an upper bore 69a made on the upper part of the lower crossbar 61 where the flooring 65 rests, at an end portion of the upper crossbar 61.

[0105] Preferably, the U-bracket 68 has at least one lateral bore 68a positioned so as to overlap with corresponding lateral bores 69b provided laterally on the lower crossbar 61 at the end portion of the upper crossbar 61.

[0106] In a completely corresponding manner, the at least one hook-shaped protrusion 25 is configured to engage in a slot 66 provided on a longitudinal bar 64 of the plurality of longitudinal bars 64 of the loading platform 60 (see figure 9).

[0107] The lower longitudinal beam element 20 preferably has on both sides an end termination (illustrated in figure 10) which is configured to allow building at least two adjacent sides of a parallelepiped-shaped structure. For example, the terminations of the lower longitudinal beam element 20 have a pointed conformation that defines a 45° angle.

[0108] For building and joining two adjacent sides of a parallelepiped-shaped structure, in a third preferred embodiment, the modular system 100 additionally comprises an angular element 40. The corner element has a pair of lateral vertical faces 4 la, 4 lb configured to cooperate with corresponding secondary vertical faces 12a, 12b of a structural and / or panel element 10 placed side-by-side to create an interpenetrating coupling, in particular a male-female coupling. To this end, a first lateral vertical face 41a of the angular element 40 has at least one male portion 13 substantially corresponding to the female portion 14 present on the first secondary vertical face 12b of the structural and / or panel element 10 and a second lateral vertical face 41b of the angular element 40 has at least a female portion 14 positioned and shaped to accommodate a corresponding male portion 13 present on the first secondary vertical face 12a of a structural and / or panel element 10 placed side-by-side.

[0109] An internal vertical face 42 of the angular element 40 intended to face the inside of the truck body 50 is shaped as an internal angle. The internal vertical face 42 defines two cantilevered portions 42a, 42b configured to each define a vertical half-guide. In the illustrated embodiment, the cantilevered portions 42a, 42b each develop cantilevered with respect to a respective lateral vertical face 4 la, 4 lb and have a conformation substantially coinciding with the end stems 16a', 16b' of the L-shaped sections of the protruding portions 16a, 16b of the structural and / or panel elements 10.

[0110] By placing the angular element 40 side-by-side to a structural and / or panel element 10 (as shown in figures 10 and 10a), the cantilevered portion 42a, 42b of the angular element 40 next to the protruding portion 16a, 16b of the adjacent structural and / or panel element 10 defines with the same 16a, 16b a guide 16 which extends along the extension of the corresponding lateral vertical face 41a, 41b.

[0111] In a fourth preferred embodiment, shown in figures 11, I la and 11b, the modular system 100 preferably also comprises at least one upper longitudinal beam element 70 which defines an upper horizontal housing 71 configured to cooperate with a second upper horizontal face 19b of the pair of horizontal faces 19a, 19b of the panel element 10.

[0112] The upper horizontal housing 71 is defined by an upper horizontal wall 72 and two upper vertical walls 73,74. A first upper vertical wall 73 is configured to be mounted with respect to the plurality of structural and / or panel elements 10 to face the inside of the truck body 50 (see figure 12), while a second upper vertical wall 74 is configured to be mounted with respect to the plurality of structural and / or panel elements 10 to face the outside of the truck body 50.

[0113] Preferably, the first upper vertical wall 73 has, starting from the upper horizontal wall 72, a greater vertical extension downwards than the second upper vertical wall 74.

[0114] From the first upper vertical wall 73 a shelf portion 75 extends which develops substantially parallel to the longitudinal extension of the upper longitudinal beam element 70, preferably along substantially the entire extension of the upper longitudinal beam element 70. The shelf portion 75 is configured to allow resting at least one upper crossbar 81 of a cover 80 of a truck body 50.

[0115] With cover 80 of a truck body, it is intended to indicate a structure comprising a plurality of upper crossbars 81 on which a roof 84 rests. The upper longitudinal beam element 70 hooks and provides support to the upper crossbar 81.

[0116] Optionally, the upper crossbar 81 may comprise constraint means 82 configured to cooperate with the shelf portion 75 to lock the upper crossbar 81 in a position with respect to the first upper vertical wall 73. In the illustrated embodiment, the constraint means 82 are implemented through a constraint plate (shown in figures 11 and I la) connected to the upper crossbar 81 and having a stop groove 85 which extends at and along the free termination of the constraint plate 82. Correspondingly, the shelf 75 has a fold 77 facing downwards and configured to mesh and engage the stop groove 85 of the constraint plate 82.

[0117] The first upper vertical wall 73 comprises at least an upper bore 76 (shown in figures 11 and I la) made at a position where the longitudinal opening 17 of a guide 16 defined by a pair of structural and / or panel elements 10 is located when these are inserted in the upper horizontal housing 71. By passing the fastening screw into the upper bore 76 and screwing it into the threaded hole 18a it is possible to constrain a fastening plate 18 inserted in the guide 16 at the first upper vertical wall 73 and in this way tighten the fastening plate 18 against the end stems 16a', 16b' of the panel elements 10 and / or against the cantilevered portions 42a, 42b of the angular element 40 in analogy with what happens against the first lower vertical wall 23.

[0118] The upper longitudinal beam element 70 preferably has on both sides a termination configured to allow building at least two adjacent sides of a parallelepiped-shaped structure. For example, the terminations of the upper longitudinal beam element 70 have a pointed conformation defining a 45° angle.

[0119] Figure 12 shows a truck body 50 partially set up through the modular system 100 for building a truck body or part thereof according to the fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention. The truck body 50 comprises in fact a plurality of structural and / or panel elements 10 constrained to each other to form two walls of the truck body 50, a pair of longitudinal lower beam elements 20 that support the plurality of structural and / or panel elements 10 in a vertical configuration, an angular element 40 that acts as a union between the two walls so as to connect them according to an orthogonal arrangement with respect to each other and a pair of longitudinal upper beam elements 70 for connecting to the cover 80 and the support thereof 80. The lower longitudinal beam elements 20 are constrained to the transverse bars 61 and longitudinal bars 64 (not visible in the figure) of the loading platform 60.

Claims

CLAIMS1. Modular system (100) for building a truck body (50) or part thereof comprising at least a plurality of structural and / or panel elements (10), having the shape of a parallelepiped or sheet, configured to be constrained to each other to form at least a portion of a wall of a truck body (50), each structural and / or panel element (10) of the plurality of structural and / or panel elements comprising a pair of main vertical faces (I la, 11b) intended to face respectively internally and externally to the truck body (50) and a pair of secondary vertical faces (12a, 12b) intended to be placed side-by-side and cooperate with corresponding secondary vertical faces (12a, 12b) of an adjacent structural and / or panel element (10) to create an interfering and / or interpenetrating coupling, wherein a first main vertical face (I la) of the pair of main vertical faces (I la, 11b) intended to face the inside of the truck body (50) comprises a pair of portions (16a, 16b) protruding from the plane of the first main vertical face (I la), of which a first protruding portion (16a) extends near and along the first secondary vertical face (12a) and a second protruding portion (16b) extends near and along the second secondary vertical face (12b), wherein the first and second protruding portions (16a, 16b) are configured to each define a vertical half-guide (16a, 16b) such that a first protruding portion (16a) of a first structural and / or panel element (10) defines, with a second protruding portion (16b) of a second structural and / or panel element (10) adjacent to the first, a guide (16) which extends along an extension of the secondary vertical faces (12a, 12b) placed side-by-side of the first and second structural and / or panel element (10), characterized in that the guide (16) is configured to accommodate and cooperate with at least a fastening element (18), and in that the modular system (100) comprises at least a fastening element (18) housable in the guide (16) and shaped such that, when housed in the guide (16), the fastening element (18) engages a portion of each half-guide (16a, 16b) to retain the first and second structural and / or panel elements (10) in the configuration with the secondary vertical faces (12a, 12b) placed side-by-side.

2. Modular system (100) according to claim 1, wherein the pair of secondary vertical faces (12a, 12b) is at least one of:- configured to create a coupling with corresponding secondary vertical faces (12a, 12b) of an adjacent structural and / or panel element, such as to retain the adjacent structural and / or panel element in a side-by-side configuration; and / or- configured to create a coupling with corresponding secondary vertical faces (12a, 12b) of an adjacent structural and / or panel element, such as to prevent the entry of water between adjacent structural and / or panel elements; and / or- configured to create a male-female coupling with corresponding secondary vertical faces (12a, 12b) of an adjacent structural and / or panel element.

3. Modular system (100) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the fastening element (18) is a fastening plate (18) having a U-shaped section, preferably having a threaded hole (18a) to accommodate a fastening screw (35) for tightening the fastening plate (18) against each half-guide (16a, 16b).

4. Modular system (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the guide (16) defines a longitudinal opening (17) which develops along the development of the guide (16) itself.

5. Modular system (100) according to claim 4, wherein the longitudinal opening (17) is configured to allow the insertion and / or removal of the at least a fastening element (18) inside the guide (16) with the structural and / or panel elements (10) in a side-by-side configuration.

6. Modular system (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each protruding portion of the pair of protruding portions (16a, 16b) has a substantially "L" shaped section with an end stem (16a1, 16b') of the protruding L-shaped portion (16a, 16b) that faces towards a respective secondary vertical face (12a, 12b) near which the protruding portion (16a, 16b) is obtained.

7. Modular system (100) of claim 6, wherein the end stem (16a1, 16b') of each L-shaped protruding portion (16a, 16b) comprises at least a projection (16a", 16b") facing towards the inside of the guide (16) and configured to engage the fastening element (18), preferably the end stem (16a', 16b') comprises a pair of projections (16a", 16b") which face towards the inside of the guide and configured to engage the fastening element.

8. Modular system (100) according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the end stem (16a', 16b') of each L-shaped protruding portion (16a, 16b) comprises a lengthening (15) in the opposite direction with respect to the end stem (16a', 16b') that faces towards a respective secondary vertical face (12a, 12b) near which the protruding portion (16a, 16b) is obtained.

9. Modular system (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising at least one lower longitudinal beam element (20) configured to support the plurality of structural and / or panel elements (10) in a vertical configuration.

10. Modular system (100) according to claim 9, wherein the at least one lower longitudinal beam element (20) comprises a lower horizontal wall (22), preferably perforated, for supporting a lower horizontal face (19a) of the plurality of structural and / or panel elements (10) and a pair of lower vertical walls (23,24) arranged, with respect to the lower horizontal wall (22), such to define a substantially "H"-shaped section, the upper stems of the substantially "H"-shaped section preferably having a different length.

11. Modular system (100) according to claim 10, wherein a first lower vertical wall (23) of the pair of lower vertical walls (23,24) is configured to be mounted with respect to the plurality of structural and / or panel elements (10) to face the inside of the truck body (50) formed by the plurality of structural and / or panel elements(10), and wherein a second lower vertical wall (24) of the pair of lower vertical walls (23,24) is configured to be mounted with respect to the plurality of structural and / or panel elements (10) to face the outside of the truck body (50) formed by the plurality of structural and / or panel elements (10), wherein the first lower vertical wall (23) has, starting from the lower horizontal wall(22), a greater vertical extension upwards than the second lower vertical wall (24).

12. Modular system (100) according to claim 10 or 11, wherein a first lower vertical wall(23) of the pair of lower vertical walls (23,24) which is configured to be mounted with respect to the plurality of structural and / or panel elements (10) to face the inside of the truck body (50) formed by the plurality of structural and / or panel elements (10) comprises at least one hook-shaped protrusion (25) which develops substantially parallel to the longitudinal extension of the lower longitudinal beam element (20), preferably along substantially the entire extension of the lower longitudinal beam element (20).

13. Modular system (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising an angular element (40) comprising a pair of lateral vertical faces (4 la, 4 lb) configured to cooperate with corresponding secondary vertical faces (12a, 12b) of a structural and / or panel element (10) placed side-by-side to create a male-female coupling, and an internal vertical face (42) defining two cantilevered portions (42a, 42b) each configured to define a vertical half-guide.

14. Modular system (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising at least one upper longitudinal beam element (70) defining an upper horizontal housing (71) configured to engage an upper horizontal face (19b) of a pair of horizontal faces (19a, 19b) of the structural and / or panel element (10), wherein preferably the upper horizontal housing (71) is defined by an upper horizontal wall (72) and by a pair of upper vertical walls (73,74), wherein a first upper vertical wall (73) of the pair of vertical walls upper (73,74) is configured to be mounted with respect to the plurality of structural and / or panel elements (10) to face the inside of the truck body (50) formed by the plurality of structural and / or panel elements (10), and a second upper vertical wall (74) of the pair of upper vertical walls (73,74) is configured to be mounted with respect to the plurality of structural and / or panel elements (10) to face the outside of the truck body (50) formed by the plurality of structural and / or panel elements (10).

15. Modular system (100) according to claim 14, wherein the first upper vertical wall (73) has, starting from the upper horizontal wall (72), a greater vertical extension downwards than the second upper vertical wall (74).

16. Modular system (100) according to claim 14 or 15, wherein from the first vertical upper wall (73) a shelf portion (75) extends which substantially develops parallel to the longitudinal extension of the longitudinal upper beam element (70), wherein the shelf portion (75) is configured for the support of at least one upper crossbar (81) of a cover (80) of a truck body(50), wherein preferably the shelf portion (75) develops along substantially the entire extension of the longitudinal upper beam element (70) and / or the shelf portion (75) has a fold (77) facing downwards and configured to mesh and engage constraint means (82) of the upper crossbar (81).

17. Truck body (50) comprising at least a plurality of structural and / or panel elements (10), having the shape of a parallelepiped or sheet, configured to be constrained to each other to form at least a portion of a wall of a truck body (50), each structural and / or panel element (10) of the plurality of structural and / or panel elements comprising a pair of main vertical faces (11 a, 11b) intended to face respectively internally and externally to the truck body (50) and a pair of secondary vertical faces (12a, 12b) intended to be placed side-by-side and cooperate with corresponding secondary vertical faces (12a, 12b) of an adjacent structural and / or panel element (10) to create an interfering and / or interpenetrating coupling, wherein a first main vertical face (I la) of the pair of main vertical faces (1 la, 1 lb) intended to face the inside of the truck body (50) comprises a pair of portions (16a, 16b) protruding from the plane of the first main vertical face (I la), of which a first protruding portion (16a) extends near and along the first vertical face secondary (12a) and a second protruding portion (16b) extends near and along the second secondary vertical face (12b), wherein the first and second protruding portions (16a, 16b) are configured to each define a vertical half-guide (16a, 16b) such that a first protruding portion (16a) of a first structural and / or panel element (10) defines, with a second protruding portion (16b) of a second structural and / or panel element (10) adjacent to the first, a guide (16) which extends along an extension of the secondary vertical faces (12a, 12b) placed side-by-side of the first and second structural and / or panel element (10), characterized in that the guide (16) is configured to accommodate and cooperate with at least a fastening element (18), and in that the truck body (50) comprises at least a fastening element (18) housable in the guide (16) and shaped such that, when housed in the guide (16), the fastening element (18) engages a portion of each half-guide (16a, 16b) to retain the first and second structural and / or panel elements (10) in the configuration with the secondary vertical faces (12a, 12b) placed side-by-side.

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