Construction panel, associated kit and associated modular object

Abstract

The present invention relates to a construction panel (1), said panel (1) having a polygonal shape, each of the edges of the panel (1) having, over its entire length, a crenelated pattern (2) which is made up of at least two protrusions (3) in each of which a longitudinal through bore (4) is arranged, wherein a sliding locking device (5) is positioned in each longitudinal through bore (4) of the panel (1), said sliding locking device (5) being able to assume one of an unlocked position in which the sliding locking device (5) is completely located inside the associated longitudinal through bore (4) and a locked position in which the sliding locking device (5) partially leaves the associated longitudinal through bore (4).

Claims

1. A construction panel, wherein the construction panel has a polygonal shape, an entire length of each edge of the construction panel having a crenelated pattern made up of at least two protrusions, a longitudinal through bore being arranged in each of the at least two protrusions, wherein, for each of the at least two protrusions, a sliding locking device is positioned in an associated longitudinal through bore, the sliding locking device and the associated longitudinal through bore having the same length, the sliding locking device being able to assume one of an unlocked position in which the sliding locking device is completely located inside the associated longitudinal through bore and a locked position in which the sliding locking device partially leaves the associated longitudinal through bore, wherein, for each edge of the construction panel, each sliding locking device of a corresponding crenelated pattern is configured to slide in the same direction to pass from the unlocked position to the locked position such that, when one crenelated pattern of the construction panel is interconnected with a complementary crenelated pattern of an edge of another construction panel, during passage to the locked position, each sliding locking device of the one crenelated pattern is configured to partially enter a longitudinal through bore of an adjacent protrusion of the another construction panel and to push a sliding locking device of the adjacent protrusion of the another construction panel.

2. The construction panel according to claim 1, wherein the construction panel, excluding each crenelated pattern, has one of a square and a rectangular shape, a height of the at least two protrusions of each crenelated pattern being equal to a thickness of the construction panel.

3. The construction panel according to claim 1, wherein the at least two protrusions of each crenelated pattern are fixed removably on a corresponding edge of the construction panel.

4. The construction panel according to claim 1, wherein each protrusion of the at least two protrusions has a magnet or pin configured to retain the sliding locking device in one of the unlocked position and the locked position.

5. The construction panel according to claim 4, wherein the sliding locking device comprises an elongated body able to slide in the longitudinal through bore of an associated protrusion of the at least two protrusions, the elongated body comprising a first end carrying a first metal element and a second opposite end carrying a second metal element, the sliding locking device further comprising a rod extending axially from the first end of the elongated body, the retaining mechanism being an annular magnet positioned fixedly in the longitudinal through bore of the associated protrusion of the at least two protrusions and passed through by the rod such that, in the unlocked position, the elongated body is located entirely in the longitudinal through bore of the associated protrusion of the at least two protrusions and the first metal element carried by the first end of the elongated body is in contact with the annular magnet, and in the locked position obtained by pushing said rod toward an inside of the longitudinal through bore, a second opposite end of the elongated body is located outside the longitudinal through bore of the associated protrusion of the at least two protrusions and the second metal element carried by the second opposite end of the elongated body is configured to be in contact with an annular magnet of a longitudinal through bore of an adjacent protrusion of another construction panel which is interconnected with the construction panel, the sliding locking device further comprising a stop positioned fixedly in the longitudinal through bore of the associated protrusion of the at least two protrusions, at a peripheral recess arranged in the elongated body so as to limit travel of the elongated body in the longitudinal through bore.

6. The construction panel according to claim 4, wherein the sliding locking device comprises a movable rod with a length identical to a length of the longitudinal through bore of an associated protrusion of the at least two protrusions, the retaining mechanism being a first annular magnet positioned fixedly in the longitudinal through bore of the associated protrusion of the at least two protrusions and passed through by the movable rod, a second annular magnet being mounted slidingly on the movable rod, an end of the movable rod on a side of the second annular magnet being flared so as to prevent disengagement of the second annular magnet, the sliding locking device further comprising a stop positioned fixedly in the longitudinal through bore of the associated protrusion of the at least two protrusions so as to limit travel of the second annular magnet in the longitudinal through bore, the movable rod carrying a stop washer which is located between the stop and the first annular magnet so as to limit travel of the movable rod in the longitudinal through bore, such that, in the unlocked position, the movable rod is located entirely in the longitudinal through bore of the associated protrusion of the at least two protrusions, the stop washer is abutting against the first annular magnet, and the second annular magnet is sandwiched between the flared end of the movable rod and the stop, and in the locked position, the stop washer is against the stop, and at least part of the second annular magnet is located outside the longitudinal through bore of the associated protrusion of the at least two protrusions and is configured to be attracted, by magnetic attraction, by a first annular magnet of a longitudinal through bore of an adjacent protrusion of another construction panel which is interconnected with the construction panel.

7. The construction panel according to claim 1, wherein the construction panel has at least one opening arranged in a thickness of the construction panel.

8. The construction panel according to claim 7, wherein the construction panel further comprises at least one fastening element positioned around the at least one opening and configured to allow the fastening of a covering facing the at least one opening.

9. The construction panel according to claim 1, wherein the construction panel is made from at least one material from among plastic, metal, wood and cardboard.

10. A kit for building a modular object, comprising a plurality of construction panels according to claim 1.

11. The kit according to claim 10, wherein the kit further comprises at least one additional connecting part which is arranged to be inserted into adjacent crenelated patterns of two adjacent construction panels of the plurality of construction panels so as to allow the assembly of the two adjacent construction panels in the same plane, the at least one additional connecting part having two parallel longitudinal through bores each comprising a sliding locking device.

12. The kit according to claim 11, wherein the at least one additional connecting part further has a third longitudinal through bore which is perpendicular to the two parallel longitudinal through bores, the third longitudinal through bore comprising a sliding locking device.

13. The kit according to claim 10, wherein the at least two protrusions of each crenelated pattern of the plurality of construction panels are fixed removably on a corresponding edge of the construction panel, wherein the kit further comprises at least one additional junction part arranged to nest into two adjacent edges with no protrusion of two adjacent construction panels of the plurality of construction panels, so as to allow assembly of the two adjacent construction panels in the same plane.

14. The kit according to claim 10, wherein the kit further comprises at least one additional corner part comprising two adjacent faces each including a crenelated pattern made up of at least two protrusions, a longitudinal through bore being arranged in each of the at least two protrusions, a sliding locking device being positioned in the longitudinal through bore, such that each of the two adjacent faces with crenelated pattern of the at least one additional corner part is configured to interconnect with an edge with complementary crenelated pattern of a construction panel of the plurality of the construction panels, so as to form a corner connection of two construction panels of the plurality of construction panels.

15. A modular object built using a kit according to claim 10.

Description

(1) To better illustrate the subject matter of the present invention, preferred embodiments are described hereinafter as a non-limiting illustration in reference to the appended drawings.

(2) In these drawings:

(3) FIG. 1 is a front view of a panel according to a first embodiment of the present invention, when the sliding locking devices of the panel are in the unlocked position;

(4) FIG. 2 is a front view of the panel of FIG. 1 when the sliding locking devices of the panel are in the locked position;

(5) FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a first modular packaging item made using panels of FIG. 1;

(6) FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a second modular packaging item made using panels of FIG. 1;

(7) FIG. 5a is a sectional view of two interconnected edges of two panels of FIG. 1, when the sliding locking devices of the two panels are in the unlocked position;

(8) FIG. 5b is a sectional view of two interconnected edges of two panels of FIG. 1, when the sliding locking devices of the two panels are in the locked position;

(9) FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an elongated body of a sliding locking device according to one particular embodiment of the present invention;

(10) FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the sliding locking device of FIG. 6 in the unlocked position;

(11) FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the sliding locking device of FIG. 6 in the locked position;

(12) FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a panel according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

(13) FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a panel and of an additional connecting part according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

(14) FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a panel assembly made up of an assembly of several panels and several additional connecting parts according to the present invention;

(15) FIG. 12 is a perspective view of panels, additional connecting parts and an additional junction part according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention;

(16) FIG. 13 is a sectional view of a protrusion of a panel of FIG. 12, when the sliding locking device is in the unlocked position;

(17) FIG. 14 is a sectional view of two interconnected edges of two panels of FIG. 12, when the sliding locking devices are in the locked position;

(18) FIG. 15 is a perspective view of two panels and of an additional corner part according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention; and

(19) FIG. 16 is a perspective view of two panels and of an additional corner part according to a sixth embodiment of the invention.

(20) FIGS. 1 and 2 show a construction panel 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

(21) The panel 1 has a square shape, but could also have any other convex polygonal shape, such as a rectangle, a triangle, a diamond, a hexagon or a pentagon, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

(22) The panel 1 is made from plastic material such as acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) plastic, polystyrene or polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic, but could also be made from metal, such as aluminum or steel, from wood or from cardboard, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

(23) Each of the four edges of the panel 1 has, over its entire length, a crenelated pattern 2 made up of two protrusions 3.

(24) It should be noted that the crenelated patterns 2 could also comprise any number of protrusions 3, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

(25) For each crenelated pattern 2, the distance separating the two protrusions 3 is identical to the length of the protrusions 3. The empty space between the two protrusions 3 can thus receive a protrusion 3 of another panel 1. Each crenelated pattern 2 of the panel 1 can thus be interconnected with a crenelated pattern 2 of another panel 1.

(26) In the particular embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the length of the protrusions 3 is equal to one quarter of the length of the side of the panel 1. However, the length of the protrusions 3 could also be greater than or less than one quarter of the length of the side of the panel 1, without departing from the scope of the present invention, the only constraint being that the crenelated pattern 2 is complementary to another crenelated pattern 2 of another panel 1.

(27) A longitudinal through bore 4 with a circular section is arranged in each protrusion 3 of the panel 1.

(28) The elements present inside the longitudinal through bores 4 have been shown in dotted lines in FIGS. 1 and 2.

(29) A sliding locking device 5 is positioned in each longitudinal through bore 4 of the panel 1.

(30) Each sliding locking device 5 has a length identical to that of the associated longitudinal through bore 4 and can take either an unlocked position (as shown in FIG. 1) in which the sliding locking device 5 is completely withdrawn inside the associated longitudinal through bore 4, or a locked position (as shown in FIG. 2) in which the sliding locking device 5 partially leaves the associated longitudinal through bore 4.

(31) The structure of the sliding locking device 5 will be described in more detail in FIGS. 5a and 5b.

(32) FIG. 3 shows a modular packaging item 7 in a cubic bin shape made using six panels 1.

(33) It should be noted that the panels 1 could also be used to build another type of modular object such as a furniture item or a partition, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

(34) Each of the six sides of the modular packaging item 7 is made using a panel 1.

(35) The modular packaging item 7 is made by interconnecting the crenelated edges of the six panels 1 two by two so as to form the ridges of the modular packaging item 7.

(36) All of the sliding locking devices 5 of the modular packaging item 7 are placed in the locked position. Some of the sliding locking devices 5, which are normally not visible, have been shown in dotted lines in FIG. 3.

(37) When a first crenelated pattern 2 of a first panel 1 is interconnected with a complementary second crenelated pattern 2 of a second panel 1 so as to form a ridge of the modular packaging item 7, during the passage to the locked position, each sliding locking device 5 of the first and second crenelated patterns 2 partially withdraws into the longitudinal through bore 4 of the adjacent protrusion 3 of the other panel and pushes the sliding locking device 5 of said adjacent protrusion 3 of the other panel 1, which makes it possible to perform serial locking.

(38) Since the sliding locking devices 5 of a same crenelated edge are configured to slide in the same direction to go from the unlocked position to the locked position, all of the sliding locking devices 5 of one edge interconnected with the edge of another panel 1 can thus be moved simultaneously by a single operator gesture, thus preventing a multitude of locking actions.

(39) The sliding locking devices 5 integrated into the panels 1 thus make it possible to facilitate the locking/unlocking of the ridges of the modular packaging 7.

(40) In order to lock a ridge of the modular packaging item 7, the user will thus must push the sliding locking device 5 located at one of the ends of said ridge in order to drive the sliding of all of the sliding locking devices 5 of said ridge, each sliding locking device 5 entering the adjacent protrusion 3 of said ridge and pushing the locking device 5 present in the adjacent protrusion 3.

(41) Likewise, in order to unlock the ridge of the modular packaging item 7, the user will simply must push the sliding locking device 5 located at the other end of said ridge in order to drive the sliding, in the opposite direction, of all of the sliding locking devices 5 of said ridge, said sliding locking device 5 then completely withdrawing into its own protrusion 3.

(42) The height of the protrusions 3 of each panel 1 is equal to the thickness of the panel 1, which makes it possible to obtain 90° corner-shaped ridges.

(43) As an example, the panels 1 of the modular packaging item 7 could have dimensions of 20 cm×20 cm or of 40 cm×40 cm. FIG. 4 shows another modular packaging item 8 in a parallelepipedal bin shape made using ten panels 1.

(44) In this other example, two crenelated edges of two panels 1 are nested in the same plane so as to form the upper face of the modular packaging item 8, two crenelated edges of two other panels 1 are nested in the same plane so as to form the lower face of the modular packaging item 8, two crenelated edges of two other panels 1 are nested in the same plane so as to form a side face of the modular packaging item 8, and two crenelated edges of two other panels 1 are nested in the same plane so as to form another side face of the modular packaging item 8.

(45) Then, the crenelated edges of the panels 1 are interconnected two by two so as to form the ridges of the parallelepipedal-shape modular packaging item 8, and all of the sliding locking devices 5 are placed in the locked position.

(46) FIGS. 5a and 5b show a crenelated edge of a panel 1 interconnected with a crenelated edge of another panel 1.

(47) Each sliding locking device 5 comprises a substantially cylindrical elongated body 9 able to slide in the longitudinal through bore 4 of the associated protrusion 3.

(48) The elongated body 9 comprises a first end carrying a first metal element 10 and a second end carrying a second metal element 11.

(49) Each sliding locking device 5 further comprises a rod 12 extending axially from the first end of the elongated body 9. An annular magnet 13 is positioned fixedly in the longitudinal through bore 4 of the associated protrusion 3 and is passed through by the rod 12 of the associated sliding locking device 5 such that, in the unlocked position (as shown in FIG. 5a), each elongated body 9 is located entirely in the longitudinal through bore 4 of the associated protrusion 3 and the first metal element 10 carried by the first end of the elongated body 9 is in contact with and retained by the annular magnet 13, and in the locked position (as shown in FIG. 5b) obtained by pushing the rod 12 of the leftmost sliding locking device 5 to the right, the second end of the elongated body 9 is outside the longitudinal through bore 4 of the associated protrusion 3 and the second metal element 11 carried by the second end of the elongated body 9 is in contact with and retained by the annular magnet 13 of the longitudinal through bore 4 of the adjacent protrusion 3, which allows the locking of the two crenelated edges of the two panels 1.

(50) Each magnet 13 is designed so as to no longer keep retained the sliding locking device 5 when the latter is stressed by being pushed by the user or by another sliding locking device 5.

(51) The first and second metal elements 10, 11 carried by the first and second ends of the elongated body 9 can, for example, be metal washers.

(52) When all of the sliding locking devices 5 are in the unlocked position (that is to say when the first end of each elongated body 9 is retained by the magnet 13 of the associated protrusion 3, as shown in FIG. 5a), in order to lock the assembly, the user must push the accessible rod 12 of the sliding locking device 5 located at one of the ends of said assembly, such that the second end of each elongated body 9 will enter the adjacent protrusion 3 and will be retained by the magnet 13 of the adjacent protrusion 3, except for the second end of the last elongated body 9, which will leave its protrusion 3 and will thus be accessible by the user (as shown in FIG. 5b).

(53) The user will then simply need to press on this accessible second end of the last elongated body 9 in order to unlock the assembly.

(54) It should be noted that a pin could also be used as retaining mechanism in place of the magnet 13, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

(55) FIG. 6 shows the moving part of the sliding locking device according to one particular embodiment of the present invention.

(56) In this particular embodiment, the elongated body 9 carries peripheral longitudinal fins 14, said fins 14 allowing the guiding of the elongated body 9 in the associated longitudinal through bore 4.

(57) The elongated body 9 further comprises a peripheral recess 15 arranged between the first metal element 10 and the fins 14, said peripheral recess 15 making it possible to limit the travel of the elongated body 9, as will be described in more detail in FIGS. 7 and 8.

(58) Lastly, the second end of the elongated body 9 carrying the second metal element 11 has a tapered shape 16.

(59) FIGS. 7 and 8 show the sliding locking device 5 according to the particular embodiment of the invention.

(60) The sliding locking device 5 further comprises a stop ring 17 positioned fixedly in the longitudinal through bore 4 of the associated protrusion 3, at the peripheral recess 15 arranged in the elongated body 9, said stop ring 17 making it possible to limit the travel of the elongated body 9 in the associated longitudinal through bore 4.

(61) In FIG. 7, the sliding locking device 5 is in the unlocked position and the fins 14 are abutting against the ring 17. On the contrary, in FIG. 8, the sliding locking device 5 is in the locked position and the first metal element 10 is abutting against the ring 17. The ring 17 thus makes it possible to limit the travel of the elongated body 9 between the unlocked position and the locked position.

(62) The sliding locking device 5 further comprises a cylinder 18 fitted in the longitudinal through bore 4 of the associated protrusion 3, said cylinder 18 containing the annular magnet 13 at one of its ends and being flared at the other of its ends.

(63) Positioning the magnet 13 at one of the ends of the cylinder 18 makes it possible to fix the position of the magnet 13 inside the longitudinal through bore 4 of the associated protrusion 3.

(64) The length of the cylinder 18 is identical to that of the rod 12 of the sliding locking device 5, such that, when the first metal element 10 is in contact with the magnet 13, the free end of the rod 12 is at the outlet of the flared end of the cylinder 18.

(65) The flared end of the cylinder 18 makes it possible to facilitate the insertion of the tapered second end 16 of the elongated body 9 of another sliding locking device 5 into the cylinder 18.

(66) FIG. 9 shows a construction panel 19 according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

(67) Like elements between the first embodiment of the invention in FIGS. 1 to 8 and this second embodiment of the invention have the same reference number, except for the panel which has reference number 19, and will not be described in more detail here when they have identical structures.

(68) The panel 19 according to the second embodiment is identical to the panel 1 according to the first embodiment, except that it further has a central opening 20 arranged in its thickness.

(69) The opening 20 has a square shape, for example of 14 cm×14 cm, but could also have any other shape, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

(70) The opening 20 further has a border 21 for allowing a fastening element (not shown in FIG. 9) to be affixed thereupon around the opening 20, said fastening element allowing a covering (not shown in FIG. 9) to be fixed facing the opening 20.

(71) The fastening element can for example be at least one adhesive strip, such as a strip with hooks and loops (Velcro® strip).

(72) The covering can for example be at least one from among a protective foam, a plastic plate, a cardboard plate, a plexiglass plate and an information signage plate. The covering can also comprise a digital interface.

(73) The panel 19 further comprises several indentations 22 arranged around the border 21, these indentations 22 being due to the manufacturing of the panel 19 by three-dimensional printing. The panel 19 could also not comprise these indentations 22, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

(74) FIG. 10 shows a panel 23 and an additional connecting part 24 according to a third embodiment of the present invention. Like elements between the second embodiment of the invention in FIG. 9 and this third embodiment of the invention have the same reference number, except for the panel which has reference number 23, and will not be described in more detail here when they have identical structures.

(75) Unlike the panel 19 which has a square shape, the panel 23 has a rectangular shape, for example of 20 cm×40 cm. Furthermore, unlike the panel 19 which has a single opening 20, the panel 23 has two openings 20.

(76) The crenelated pattern 2 of the upper edge of the panel 23 is made up of three protrusions 3, the central protrusion 3 being longer than the two other protrusions 3.

(77) The crenelated pattern 2 of the lower edge of the panel 23 is made up of four protrusions 3 of the same length, the space separating the two central protrusions 3 having the same length as the central protrusion 3 of the crenelated pattern 2 of the upper edge of the panel 23, such that the crenelated pattern 2 of the lower edge of the panel 23 is complementary to that of the upper edge of the panel 23.

(78) Thus, the crenelated pattern 2 of the lower edge of the panel 23 can be interconnected with the crenelated pattern 2 of the upper edge of another panel 23.

(79) The sliding locking device 5 of the longest central protrusion 3 of the crenelated pattern 2 of the upper edge of the panel 23 is longer than the other sliding locking devices 5 of the panel 23 and has a length identical to that of said longest central protrusion 3 of the crenelated pattern 2 of the upper edge of the panel 23.

(80) The additional connecting part 24 is designed to be inserted between two crenelated patterns 2 of two adjacent panels 23 so as to allow the assembly of the two adjacent panels 23 in the same plane.

(81) The additional connecting part 24 has a parallelepipedal shape whose length is identical to that of the longest central protrusion 3 of the upper edge of the panel 23, whose thickness is identical to that of the panel 23, and whose height is equal to twice that of the protrusions 3 of the panel 23.

(82) Half of the additional connecting part 24 can thus be inserted into the space separating the two central protrusions 3 of the lower edge of the panel 23.

(83) The additional connecting part 24 has two parallel longitudinal through bores 25 each comprising a sliding locking device 5 which is similar to those present in the protrusions 3 of the panel 23, so as to allow the locking of the additional connecting part 25 in the crenelated pattern 2 of the lower edge of the panel 23.

(84) FIG. 11 shows a panel assembly 26 as an example made up of an assembly of several panels 19, 23, 27 and several additional connecting parts 24, 28, 29.

(85) The panel 27 is another possible type of panel that has a square shape, the surface of which corresponds to twice that of the panel 23, four openings 20 being arranged in the panel 27.

(86) The additional connecting parts 28 have a length equal to one third of that of the additional connecting part 24, and the additional connecting parts 29 have a length equal to half of that of the additional connecting part 24.

(87) The two panels 19 are joined to one another without interconnecting of the crenelated patterns 2 by inserting an additional connecting part 28 and an additional connecting part 29 between them.

(88) The two panels 19 are abutting against an edge of the panel without interconnecting the crenelated patterns 2 by inserting two additional connecting parts 28 and two additional connecting parts 29 between them.

(89) Lastly, the two panels 19 are abutting against an edge of the panel 23 without interconnecting the crenelated patterns 2 by inserting an additional connecting part 24 and two additional connecting parts 28 between them.

(90) Thus, the additional connecting parts 24, 28, 29 make it possible to join the panels 19, 23, 27 in the same plane without interconnecting their crenelated patterns 2, the sliding locking devices 5 which are present in the protrusions 3 of the panels 19, 23, 27 and in the additional connecting parts 24, 28, 29 allowing the locking of the assembly.

(91) FIG. 12 shows three panels 30a, 30b, 30c, additional connecting parts 31 and 32 and an additional junction part 33 according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

(92) In this fourth embodiment, the protrusions 3 are elements removably fixed by screwing on the edges of each of the panels 30a, 30b, 30c.

(93) In FIG. 12, the two upper protrusions 3 of the panel 30a have been shown unassembled, and the right edge of the panel 30b and the left edge of the panel 30c have been shown with no protrusions.

(94) Each protrusion 3 has two parallel nesting wings 3a which are able to nest on the corresponding edge of the panel 30a, 30b, 30c at a nesting recess 34.

(95) Each protruding nesting wing 3a has a through hole 3b, and each panel nesting recess 34 also has a through hole 34a, so as to allow the protrusions 3 to be fixed on the panels 30a, 30b, 30c by screwing.

(96) It should be noted that the protrusions 3 could also be fixed by riveting or gluing, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

(97) The two panels 30a and 30b are able to be joined against one another without interconnection of the protrusions 3 by inserting additional connecting parts 31 and 32 between them.

(98) The two additional connecting parts 31 have a substantially parallelepipedal shape having two parallel longitudinal through bores 31a each comprising a sliding locking device (not visible in FIG. 12), so as to allow the locking of the additional connecting parts 31 in the protrusions 3 of the right edge of the panel 30a and of the left edge of the panel 30b.

(99) The additional connecting part 32 has a parallelepipedal shape having a longitudinal through bore 32a comprising a sliding locking device (not shown in FIG. 12). The additional connecting part 32 further comprises a rod 32b extending from the parallelepipedal shape perpendicular to the longitudinal through bore 32a, said rod 32b being able to be inserted in a hole 31b formed between the two longitudinal through bores 31a of the additional connecting part 31, said hole 31b being parallel to the two longitudinal through bores 31a. The sliding locking device of the additional connecting part 32 thus allows the locking of the additional connecting part 32 in the protrusions 3 of the lower edges of the panels 30a and 30b. The additional connecting parts 31 and 32 thus allow the connection of the two panels 30a and 30b in the same plane.

(100) It should be noted that the part 32 could also be formed in a single piece with the part 31, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

(101) Furthermore, the two panels 30b and 30c can be joined against one another using the additional junction part 33.

(102) The additional junction part 33 has a parallelepipedal body 33a from which pairs of parallel nesting wings 33b extend, each pair of parallel nesting wings 33b being able to nest on a nesting recess 34 of one of the edges with no protrusion of the panels 30b and 30c. Each nesting wing 33b comprises a through hole 33c to allow the fixing by screwing of the additional junction part 33 on the panels 30b and 30c. The additional junction part 33 thus allows the assembly of the two adjacent panels 30b and 30c in the same plane.

(103) The parallelepipedal body 33a of the additional junction part 33 further has, in the upper part, a longitudinal through bore 33d comprising a sliding locking device (not visible in FIG. 12). The sliding locking device of the additional junction part 33 thus allows the locking of the additional junction part 33 in the protrusions 3 of the upper edges of the panels 30b and 30c.

(104) The additional connecting parts 31, 32 and the additional junction part 33 thus make it possible to assemble the panels 30a, 30b, 30c in the same plane so as to form a larger panel. FIGS. 13 and 14 show a sliding locking device 5′ according to the fourth embodiment.

(105) The sliding locking device 5′ comprises a movable rod 35 whose length is identical to that of the longitudinal through bore 4 of the associated protrusion 3.

(106) The sliding locking device 5′ further comprises, as retaining mechanism, a first annular magnet 36 which is positioned fixedly in the longitudinal through bore 4 of the associated protrusion 3 and passed through by the movable rod 35. The sliding locking device 5′ further comprises a second annular magnet 37 which is mounted slidingly on the movable rod 35, the end 35a of the movable rod 35 on the side of the second annular magnet 37 being flared so as to prevent the disengagement of the second annular magnet 37.

(107) The sliding locking device 5′ further comprises a stop 38 which is positioned fixedly in the longitudinal through bore 4 of the associated protrusion 3 and passed through by the movable rod 35, so as to limit the travel of the second annular magnet 37 in the longitudinal through bore 4.

(108) The movable rod 35 carries a stop washer 39 which is located between the stop 38 and the first annular magnet 36, so as to limit the travel of the movable rod 35 in the longitudinal through bore 4.

(109) The face of the second annular magnet 37 on the side of the flared end 35a is positively biased, while the face of the second annular magnet 37 on the side of the stop 38 is negatively biased. Likewise, the face of the first annular magnet 36 on the side of the stop 38 is positively biased, while the other opposite face of the first annular magnet 36 is negatively biased.

(110) Thus, in the unlocked position as shown in FIG. 13, the movable rod 35 is fully in the longitudinal through bore 4 of the associated protrusion 3, the stop washer 39 is abutting against the first annular magnet 36, and the second annular magnet 37 is sandwiched between the flared end 35a of the movable rod 35 and the stop 38.

(111) Furthermore, in the locked position as shown in FIG. 14, the stop washer 39 is against the stop 38, and part of the second annular magnet 37 is outside the longitudinal through bore 4 of the associated protrusion 3 and is configured to be attracted, by magnetic attraction, by the first annular magnet 36 of the longitudinal through bore 4 of the following protrusion 3 of the panel edge interconnection.

(112) The sliding locking device 5′ according to this fourth embodiment thus makes it possible to obtain automatic linear locking by magnetic attraction. Indeed, when the protrusions 3 of two crenelated edges of two panels are interconnected, the second annular magnets 37 are automatically attracted by the first annular magnets 36 of the following protrusions 3 and come into contact against them, the second annular magnets 37 also moving their associated movable rods 35 during their movement. The second annular magnet 37 of the last protrusion 3 of the interconnection (on the left in FIG. 14) remains immobile given that it does not have an adjacent first annular magnet 36, the movable rod 35 of this last protrusion 3 partially leaving its protrusion 3 by being pushed by the movable rod 35 of the preceding protrusion 3. The locking is permanent until human intervention through pressure on the flared end 35a of the movable rod 35 of this last protrusion 3 of the interconnection. In this case, the flared ends 35a of the other movable rods 35 allow a return of the second annular magnets 37 to their unlocked position. FIG. 15 shows two panels 40 and an additional corner part 41 according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. Each of the two panels 40 has a square shape having a central opening 40a, said central opening 40a being able to receive any type of walls.

(113) Each of the edges of the two panels 40 has a groove with a rectangular section in which a crenelated pattern 2 is formed comprising three parallelepipedal protrusions 3, each protrusion 3 comprising a longitudinal through bore 4 in which a sliding locking device 5 or 5′ is positioned.

(114) The additional corner part 41 has a substantially square cross-section.

(115) Two adjacent faces 41a and 41b of the additional corner part 41 each have a groove with a rectangular section in which a crenelated pattern 2 is formed comprising three parallelepipedal protrusions 3 in each of which a longitudinal through bore 4 is formed in which a sliding locking device 5 or 5′ is positioned.

(116) The face 41a with crenelated pattern of the additional corner part 41 can thus interconnect with one of the edges with complementary crenelated pattern of one of the panels 40, the sliding locking devices 5 or 5′ of said panel 40 and of said face 41a making it possible to lock the interconnection.

(117) The face 41b with crenelated pattern of the additional corner part 41 can further interconnect with one of the edges with complementary crenelated pattern of the other of the panels 40, the sliding locking devices 5 or 5′ of said panel 40 and of said face 41b making it possible to lock the interconnection.

(118) The additional corner part 41 thus makes it possible to assemble the two panels 40 at a 90° angle.

(119) It should be noted that the edges of the panels 40 and the faces 41a and 41b of the additional corner part 41 could also comprise any number of protrusions 3, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

(120) Furthermore, the faces 41a and 41b of the additional corner part 41 could also be inclined relative to one another by an angle greater or less than 90°, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

(121) Preferably, sealing gaskets (not shown in FIG. 15) are positioned on the upper parts of the grooves of the edges of the panels 40 and/or of the grooves of the faces 41a and 41b of the additional corner part 41, so as to seal the final assembled container.

(122) FIG. 16 shows two panels 42 and an additional corner part 43 according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention. Each of the two panels 42 has a square shape having a central opening 42a, said central opening 42a being able to receive any type of walls.

(123) Each of the edges of the two panels 42 has a groove with a semicircular section in which a crenelated pattern 2 is formed comprising three cylindrical protrusions 3, each protrusion 3 comprising a longitudinal through bore 4 in which a sliding locking device 5 or 5′ is positioned.

(124) The additional corner part 43 has two adjacent, perpendicular faces 43a and 43b.

(125) Each of said two adjacent faces 43a and 43b of the additional corner part 43 has a groove with a semicircular section in which a crenelated pattern 2 is formed comprising three cylindrical protrusions 3 in each of which a longitudinal through bore 4 is formed in which a sliding locking device 5 or 5′ is positioned.

(126) The face 43a with crenelated pattern of the additional corner part 43 can thus interconnect with one of the edges with complementary crenelated pattern of one of the panels 42, the sliding locking devices 5 or 5′ of said panel 42 and of said face 43a making it possible to lock the interconnection.

(127) The face 43b with crenelated pattern of the additional corner part 43 can further interconnect with one of the edges with complementary crenelated pattern of the other of the panels 42, the sliding locking devices 5 or 5′ of said panel 42 and of said face 43b making it possible to lock the interconnection.

(128) The additional corner part 43 thus makes it possible to assemble the two panels 42 at a 90° angle.

(129) It should be noted that the edges of the panels 42 and the faces 43a and 43b of the additional corner part 43 could also comprise any number of protrusions 3, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

(130) Furthermore, the two faces 43a and 43b of the additional corner part 43 could also be inclined relative to one another by an angle greater or less than 90°, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

(131) Preferably, sealing gaskets (not shown in FIG. 16) are positioned on the upper parts of the grooves of the edges of the panels 42 and/or of the grooves of the faces 43a and 43b of the additional corner part 43, so as to seal the final assembled container.

(132) It should be understood that the particular embodiments that have been described above were given for illustrative purposes and non-limitingly, and that changes can be made thereto without departing from the scope of the present invention.