PARCEL COMPRISING MEANS FOR RETAINING AT LEAST ONE OBJECT

Abstract

The invention relates to a package comprising a crate having a bottom and means for retaining at least one item on the bottom, the retaining means comprising a plate, characterized in that the plate comprises: a frame to which the return means are connected, and a central part connected to the frame by way of at least one flexible connection,
the central part comprising a plurality of plaques connected to the frame by the flexible connection on the one hand and to at least one other plaque by an articulation on the other hand.

Claims

1.-10. (canceled)

11. A package comprising a crate having a bottom and means for retaining at least one item on the bottom, the retaining means comprising: a plate, and return means tending to exert a displacement force on the plate in the direction of the bottom to hold said item or items between the bottom and the plate, wherein the plate comprises: a frame to which the return means are connected, and a central part connected to the frame by way of at least one flexible connection, and in that the central part comprises a plurality of plaques, each plaque being connected to the frame by the flexible connection on the one hand and to at least one other plaque by an articulation on the other hand.

12. The package of claim 11, wherein each flexible connection takes the form of at least one elastically deformable gutter.

13. The package of claim 11, wherein at least one of the flexible connections comprises a plurality of gutters abutting one another forming an alternation of troughs and peaks.

14. The package of claim 11, wherein each articulation takes the form of at least one elastically deformable gutter.

15. The package of claim 14, wherein at least one of the articulations comprises a plurality of gutters abutting one another forming a series of alternating troughs and peaks.

16. The package of claim 11, wherein the frame has a rectangular shape, and in that the central part of the plate comprises: a central strip including two rectangular plaques connected by a central articulation, and extending between two opposite edges of the frame, and on either side of the central strip, four triangular plaques connected in pairs.

17. The package of claim 16, wherein the plate is symmetrical about a plane of symmetry (P) passing through the central articulation.

18. The package of claim 16, wherein the central strip extends in a first plane (P1) and the triangular plaques extend in a second plane (P2) offset with respect to the first plane (P1).

19. The package of claim 17, wherein the central strip extends in a first plane (P1) and the triangular plaques extend in a second plane (P2) offset with respect to the first plane (P1).

20. The package of claim 11, wherein the plate is made of polypropylene.

21. The package of claim 11, wherein the crate comprises a peripheral rim extending from the bottom, the package also comprising a lid mounted rotatably on the peripheral rim by a joining edge, the lid being able to take up a crate-closing position, the package moreover comprising a jamb mounted rotatably on the lid, at a distal end opposite the joining edge, the jamb having a free end intended to enter the vicinity of the bottom in the closing position of the lid, the plate being movable along the jamb, and the return means being positioned between the free end of the jamb and the plate.

Description

[0081] Other features and advantages of the invention will become more clearly apparent on reading the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, given by way of illustrative and non-limiting example, and the appended drawings among which:

[0082] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a package according to the invention, the package comprising means for retaining an item on its bottom;

[0083] FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view of a plate of the means for retaining the package according to the invention;

[0084] FIG. 3 is a bottom perspective view of a plate of the means for retaining the package according to the invention;

[0085] FIG. 4 is a detail view in cross section along the section plane IV-IV of FIG. 3, this view comprising a first magnified detail insert illustrating for a flexible connection, and a second magnified detail insert illustrating an articulation of the means of the plate of the means for retaining the package according to the invention;

[0086] FIG. 5 is a detail view in longitudinal section along the section plane V-V of FIG. 3, illustrating an articulation of the plate of the means for retaining the package according to the invention.

[0087] With reference to FIG. 1, a package 1 according to the invention is shown.

[0088] The package 1 comprises: [0089] a crate 2; [0090] a lid 3 intended to enclose the crate 2; [0091] and means for retaining an item inside the package.

[0092] The crate 2 comprises a bottom 21 and a peripheral rim 22 extending from the bottom.

[0093] The peripheral rim 22 and the bottom 21 together define a storage volume internal to the crate 2.

[0094] The peripheral rim 22 comprises a plurality of panels 221 abutting one another so as to define an enclosed outline.

[0095] Each panel 221 is mounted pivotably on the bottom 21 of the crate 2.

[0096] Each panel 221 can thus take up a use position in which it extends substantially perpendicular to the bottom 21, and a storage position in which it extends substantially parallel to the bottom 21.

[0097] As is illustrated by FIG. 1, the lid 3 is mounted rotatably on one of the panels 221 of the peripheral rim 22.

[0098] More precisely, the lid 3 is connected to one of the panels 221 by a joining edge 31 through which it is articulated rotatably to said panel 221.

[0099] Opposite the joining edge 31, the lid 3 has a distal end 32.

[0100] The lid can pivot with respect to the panel 221 between a first position in which it is substantially perpendicular to the panel 221 on which it is mounted, and a second position in which it is substantially parallel to said panel 221.

[0101] In his first position, the lid 3 obstructs the access to the inner storage volume of the crate 2. In other words, in its first position, the lid 3 closes the package 1.

[0102] Conversely, in its second position, the lid 3 leaves the access to the inner storage volume of the crate 2 free. In other words, in its second position, the lid 3 opens the package 1.

[0103] According to the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the lid 3 is part of a closing-off assembly incorporating the panel 221 on which it is mounted.

[0104] Thus, in the first position of the lid 3, the panel 221 is in its use position, and in the second position of the lid 3, the panel 221 is in its storage position.

[0105] The retaining means comprise: [0106] a plate 4, and [0107] return means 5 tending to exert a displacement force on the plate 4 in the direction of the bottom 21 of the crate 2 as will be explained hereinafter.

[0108] As shown in FIG. 1, the package 1 has at least one jamb 6 mounted rotatably on the lid 3 at the level of its distal end 32.

[0109] The jamb 6 has a free end 61 intended to enter the vicinity of the bottom 21 in the closing position of the lid 3, i.e. in the second position of the lid 3.

[0110] The return means 5 for example take the form of an elastic cord and are positioned between the free end of the jamb 6 and the plate 4.

[0111] The plate 4 is thus rotatably movable with respect to the jamb. The plate 4 is moreover translationally guided along the jamb 6 by ad hoc means.

[0112] As illustrated by FIG. 1, the package 1 comprises two jambs 6 positioned at the distal end 32 of the lid and mounted rotatably on the lid 3.

[0113] The two jambs 6 are positioned in such a way as to be located on either side of the plate 4.

[0114] To further guide the plate in its translational movement with respect to the jamb 6, the package 1 comprises means for guiding the plate 4 in its displacement on the panel 221 on which the lid 3 is rotatably mounted.

[0115] These means for guiding the plate 4 in its displacement comprise at least one slider 7 in which the panel 4, or at least a part of the panel 4, takes place, making it possible to translationally guide the panel 4 along the panel 221 secured to the joining edge 31 of the lid 3.

[0116] The panel 4 is thus translationally movable along a direction of displacement perpendicular to the bottom 21 of the crate 2 and can move away from the bottom 21 and be brought toward the bottom 21 using the return means 5.

[0117] With reference to FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 5, the plate 4 is now described.

[0118] The plate 4 comprises: [0119] a frame 41 to which return means 5 are connected, and [0120] a central part 42 connected to the frame 41 by way of at least one flexible connection 43.

[0121] As is illustrated by FIG. 2, the frame 41 has a substantially rectangular shape. At each of its corners, the frame 41 has at least one hole 410 for attaching return means 5.

[0122] The central part 42 comprises a plurality of plaques 44.

[0123] Each plaque 44 is connected to the frame 41 by the flexible connection 43 on the one hand, and to at least one other plaque 44 by an articulation 45 on the other.

[0124] The central part 42 of the plate 4 can thus deform to adapt to each item to be retained in the package 1 as explained hereinafter.

[0125] With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, the central part 42 of the plate 4 comprises: [0126] a central strip including two rectangular plaques 441 connected by a central articulation 451, and [0127] on either side of the central strip, four triangular plaques 442 connected in pairs.

[0128] The use of rectangular plaques 441 and triangular plaques 442 makes it possible to deform the plate 4 into a dome which tends to recenter each item to be retained toward the center of the plate 4.

[0129] The triangular plaques 442 more specifically have a right-angled triangle shape.

[0130] The triangular plaques 442 are arranged in pairs in such a way as to form a rectangle together.

[0131] Thus, on each side of the central strip, the triangular plaques 442 are positioned so as to form a rectangle extending over the entire length of the central strip.

[0132] In other words, the triangular plaques 442 are grouped in fours on either side of the central strip and are disposed such that two triangular plaques 442 are joined to one another by their hypotenuses, via an articulation 45. Furthermore, in this architecture, two triangular plaques 442 are joined to one another, by way of an articulation 45, at the level of their shortest length.

[0133] As illustrated by FIGS. 2 and 3, the flexible connection 43 is discontinuous over the periphery of the central part 42.

[0134] More particularly, the flexible connection 43 has a plurality of recesses 431 at each join with an articulation 45.

[0135] Similarly, each articulation 45, when it encounters a second articulation 45 has an aperture 452.

[0136] The apertures 452 and recesses 431 on the one hand facilitate the manufacturing of the plate 4 but also facilitate the deformation of the central part 42 as explained hereinafter without risking tearing due to a concentration of stresses on the flexible connection 43 or on the articulations 45.

[0137] With reference to FIG. 3, the plate 4 is symmetric along a plane of symmetry P passing through the central articulation 451.

[0138] Thus, as illustrated by FIG. 3, on either side of the plane of symmetry P, the central part 42 of the plate 4 has a rectangular plaque 441 and, on either side of the rectangular plaque 441 two triangular plaques 442.

[0139] With reference to the detail view of FIG. 4, the central strip formed by the two rectangular plaques 441 extends in a first plane P1 and the triangular plaques 442 extend in a second plane P2 offset with respect to the first plane P1.

[0140] According to the embodiment illustrated by FIG. 4, the rectangular plaques 441 of the central strip are intended to be closer to the bottom 21 of the package 1 than the triangular plaques 442.

[0141] This offset is visible when the panel 4 is not subject to any deformation, i.e. it does not interact with at least one item to be retained in the package 1.

[0142] By way of illustrative and non-limiting example, the plate 4 is made of polypropylene.

[0143] Advantageously, the plate 4 is transparent.

[0144] With reference to FIG. 4, each flexible connection 43 takes the form of at least one elastically deformable gutter.

[0145] As is illustrated by the lower detail insert of FIG. 4, at least one of the flexible connections 43 comprises a plurality of gutters abutting one another forming a series of alternating troughs 46 and peaks 47.

[0146] More specifically, the flexible connection 43 successively has from the frame 41 to the central part 42, a first trough 46, a first peak 47, a second trough 46, a second peak 47, and finally, a third trough 47.

[0147] In other words, the flexible connection 43 comprises two steps.

[0148] This series of alternating troughs 46 and peaks 47 makes it possible to deform the plaques 44 independently from one another with respect to the frame 41.

[0149] Like the flexible connection 43, each articulation 45 takes the form of at least one elastically deformable gutter.

[0150] With reference to FIG. 5, the articulation 45 located between two triangular plaques 442 and which extends along the symmetry plane P is a simple articulation.

[0151] In other words, the simple articulation is formed of a single gutter.

[0152] With reference to the upper detail insert illustrated by FIG. 4, at least one of the articulations 45 comprises a plurality of gutters abutting one another forming a series of alternating troughs 46 and peaks 47.

[0153] With reference to the upper detail insert FIG. 4, the articulation 45 illustrated has, from the frame 41 to the central part 42, a first trough 46, a peak 47, and finally a second trough 46.

[0154] In other words, the articulation 45 comprises a single step.

[0155] According to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, each rectangular plaque 441 bears catching means 48.

[0156] These catching means 48 are intended to interact with each item to be retained in the package 1 to prevent them from slipping with respect to the plate 4.

[0157] These catching means 48 are for example composed of a strip of material attached to the rectangular plaques 441.

[0158] The catching feature of the catching means 48 can be obtained either by the use of a material of a roughness offering the desired catching, or by using an anti-friction material having anti-friction features retaining the items, or by using a material having a repositionable adhesive coat.

[0159] In use, the package 1 according to the invention makes it possible to retain one or more items against the bottom 21 of the crate 2 by way of the plate 4 of the retaining means.

[0160] To transport an item in complete safety, a user positions the item to be transported on the bottom 21 of the crate 2 then positions the lid 3 in its closing position (i.e. its first position).

[0161] The plate 4, which is connected to the jamb 6, then rises in the direction of the lid 3 while being separated from the bottom 21 of the crate 2 by the presence of the item to be retained in the crate 2.

[0162] The return means 5 then tend to exert a displacement force on the plate 4 in the direction of the bottom 21 to hold each item between the bottom 21 of the crate 2 and the plate 4.

[0163] By this force, the displacement of the plate 4 toward the bottom 21, the central part 42 of the plate 4 deforms to fit as closely as possible the shape of each item to be retained in the crate 2.

[0164] This deformation of the central part 42 is particularly obtained using the articulations 45 and each flexible connection 43.

[0165] Thus, the plaques 44 are oriented according to the shape of the item or items to be retained independently from one another, which allows the plate 4 and particularly its central part 42 to fit the item or items to be retained and to press these items flat against the bottom 21 of the crate 2.

[0166] The package 1 that has just been described thus offers the effective retainment of each item inside the package 1 during their transportation, which ensures they remain intact.

[0167] Furthermore, the use of a material such as polypropylene makes it possible to produce a plate 4 ensuring the holding of the items against the bottom 21 of the crate 2 simply and without making the package 1 significantly heavier.