Dismantlable self-assembly structure

Abstract

Disclosed is a self-assembly formed by a series of longitudinal members and cross members, all of the longitudinal members being identical to one other and all of the cross members being identical to one other, such that only two types of parts are required to construct the structure. Owing to the shape of the parts, they can be assembled to one another to create a solid structure without requiring any other connecting materials or elements. The longitudinal members comprise a series of slots into which narrowed segments of the cross members are inserted. Once the cross members have been inserted into the slots they are trapped therein by moving the longitudinal members and, in order to prevent this movement occurring in the opposite direction, other cross members are inserted into slots provided in the longitudinal members for this purpose.

Claims

1. An improved dismantlable self-assembly structure, comprising a number of longitudinal members and cross members, including: 1. a set of identical longitudinal members each one of which comprises: a) A plurality slots of a first type which, in at least one point of the path thereof, do not run parallel to the vertical axis of the longitudinal member; b) At least one slot of a second type; c) A thickening in a lower part; d) A recess; and 2. a set of identical cross members, each one of which comprises a series of narrowed segments, ends and sides; wherein slots of the first type and of the second type of the longitudinal members are configured to engage with the narrowed segments of the cross members so as to be rigidly fixed with respect to one another.

2. The improved dismantlable self-assembly structure of claim 1 wherein the longitudinal members have at least one cut-out in the lower part thereof.

3. The improved dismantlable self-assembly structure of claim 1 wherein the longitudinal members are arranged in parallel for the assembly thereof, at least one of said members being arranged in the opposite direction to the others.

4. The improved dismantlable self-assembly structure of claim 1 wherein the narrowed segments having a reduction in the thickness of the cross members, made only on one of the faces thereof.

5. The improved dismantlable self-assembly structure of claim 1 wherein, once assembled, the ends of the cross members rest on the recess and are flush with the bottom part of the longitudinal member provided with a thickening.

6. The improved dismantlable self-assembly structure of claim 1 wherein, once assembled, the sides of the cross members of the edges are flush with the ends of the longitudinal members.

7. An improved dismantlable self-assembly structure, comprising a number of longitudinal members and cross members, including: 1. a set of identical longitudinal members each one of which comprises: a) A plurality slots of a first type which, in at least one point of the path thereof, do not run parallel to the vertical axis of the longitudinal member; b) At least one slot of a second type; c) A thickening and at least one cut-out in a lower part, wherein the cut-outs are closed on the bottom by a connecting element that is flush with a bottom surface of the longitudinal member; d) A recess; and 2. a set of identical cross members, each one of which comprises a series of narrowed segments, ends and sides.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 shows an exploded view of the part of a pallet, showing the longitudinal members (1) with the sides (11) provided with a recess (7), the central longitudinal member being in the opposite position to the other two; the cross members (2); the ends (10) and the sides (12) of the cross members (2); the cross members being arranged alternately having the recess of the narrowed segment (3) on the top and the next with the recess of the narrowed segment on the bottom.

(2) FIG. 2 shows the pallet assembled, showing that there are no protruding elements on the periphery thereof as the ends (10) of the cross members are flush with the sides (11) of the longitudinal members and the sides (12) of the cross members are flush with the ends (13) of the longitudinal members.

(3) FIG. 3 shows two identical cross members arranged in different ways, showing the ends (10) and the sides (12) thereof, in one of which the recess of the narrowed segment (3) is facing up and in the other the recess of the narrowed segment is facing down.

(4) FIG. 4 shows a longitudinal member (1) with the slots (4), in this case with an L shape, the slots (5), the thickening (6) of the bottom part of the longitudinal member, the recesses (7), the cut-outs (8) with the tie rod (9) flush against the bottom surface of the longitudinal member.

(5) FIG. 5 shows, for greater clarity, the plan, elevation and side views of the longitudinal member.

(6) FIG. 6 shows the plan, elevation and side views of the cross member, showing the reduction (3) in the narrowed segment on only one of the faces thereof, while the side narrowed segment (14) is made symmetrically on both sides.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(7) As indicated above, the invention relates to a dismantlable self-assembly structure applicable in several sectors, although the tests performed show that it is ideal for use in the transportation sector, specifically to make pallets; this example is used to explain an embodiment of the invention represented in FIGS. 1 and 2, which is not the only one possible.

(8) The pallet according to the proposed embodiment comprises three longitudinal members (1) and five cross members (2).

(9) Each one of the longitudinal members comprises an elongated parallelepiped body with the lower part thereof thicker than the upper part thereof, a recess (7) determining the difference in thickness between the lower and upper parts.

(10) At the top part the longitudinal member has a number of slots (4) that prolong downward to form an L.

(11) Said slots are suitable for inserting therein the cross members (2) at the narrowed area thereof.

(12) To do so it is necessary to arrange the longitudinal members parallel to each other with the openings of the slots (4) aligned.

(13) At least one of the longitudinal members must be placed in the opposite direction to the others, that is, with a rotation about the vertical axis thereof; in the proposed embodiment the central longitudinal member is placed in the opposite direction to the other two.

(14) After the cross members (2) have been inserted in the longitudinal members (1) it is necessary to align the slots (5) in the longitudinal members.

(15) Due to the L shape of the slots, and since at least one of the cross members is placed in the opposite direction to the others, when the slots are aligned the cross member is trapped in the horizontal part of the L-shaped slots such that it cannot come out.

(16) To fix the position of the longitudinal members an additional set of cross members are inserted in the slots (5), blocking the movement thereof and thereby preventing the cross members inserted in the slots from coming out, resulting in a compact and solid pallet.

(17) With the pallet configured in this manner the ends (10) of the cross members rest on the recess (7) flush with the thickening (6) of the bottom part of the longitudinal members present at the ends of the pallet.

(18) In addition, the sides (12) of the cross members are flush with the ends (13) of the longitudinal members.

(19) The periphery of the pallet is therefore lacking protruding elements thereby facilitating handling operations.

(20) Additionally, the pallet according to the proposed construction has reductions (8) at the bottom part closed on the bottom thereof by a tie rod (9).

(21) Said reductions allow introducing the skids of a forklift to facilitate the handling of the pallets.

(22) To increase the strength of the assembly said reductions are closed by tie rods (9) placed flush with the bottom surface of the longitudinal member.

(23) Said tie rods allow transporting the pallets or the longitudinal members along a roller system by providing smooth and recess-free bottom planes.