DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to the field of containers used for the transport of components and subassemblies in any production field, in particular in the automotive field. Subject-matter of the invention is a modular structure assigned to the transport and/or storage of industrial products, allowing a very high quantity of configurations to better adapt to the typology, shape and weight of the components to be housed.

STATE OF THE ART

In some production fields, like e.g. the automotive one, it is necessary to store and support individual components or subassemblies from providers or other places for subsequent assembly.

These components are transported and stored in specific containers designed for components transport. These containers, besides being specific according to the type of component to be transported, also have to avoid damage to transported products and provide a simple and safe access for extraction of the component to be assembled.

The main problem associated with this type of containers is the fact that, if the component to be assembled is not manufactured anymore or undergoes a small change in its design, the containers cannot be reused.

Therefore, the need of a container that does not have to be replaced at any change of the products to be transported, or when damaged in one of its parts, is highly felt.

In Patent Application WO2012056059 (A1) a modular container for industrial products is described which enables interchangeability and replacement of damaged elements, or to be reconfigured according to the products to be housed therein.

Also in German Patent Application DE 102009039803 (A1) a modular container for industrial products is described, allowing interchangeability and replacement of damaged components, equipped with a non-modular base, by being made as a single component.

Both containers described in the two above-mentioned patent applications do not enable to define in a continuous way (rather, in a discrete way only) the position of the structure-forming elements, nor of possible attachments thereof. Moreover, since positions are limited in number, different structural elements have to be produced for different configurations, and the system tends to have big constraints for any reconfiguration of the elements. Moreover, to obtain structure adaptability, solutions with a combination of different elements (profiles having different sections) are described. The assembly of the proposed solutions proves complex and can generate mistakes and time losses due to the discrete positioning of the components which, in case of large configurations, may prove quite muddled and require the assembler's high attention and competence. Moreover, the possibility and the need to adapt the structure to the weight of the transported items is not reported, but reference is always made to spatial adaptability only. The result is that of using structures that are very heavy, as being designed on the maximum transportable load and not on the actual one.

On the basis of what has been set forth hereto, clearly the use of the known containers for the transport and/or storage of known industrial products entails several drawbacks.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, the technical problem set and solved by the present invention is that of providing a modular structure that may be used as container for the transport and/or storage of industrial products, in particular for products in the automotive field, allowing to overcome the drawbacks mentioned above with reference to the known art. Such a problem is solved by a modular structure according to claim 1.

Preferred features of the present invention are the subject-matter of the dependent claims.

In particular, the present invention entails the following advantages:

-Only one profile can be utilized to obtain all types of joint, with evident scale economies and simplicity of damaged parts production and replacement and spare parts storage.

-It is possible to position the elements in a continuous (and not in a discrete) way, and concomitantly lock the elements accurately and repeatably after positioning, with no need of specific care or equipment.

-The present invention enables to minimize shipping encumbrances and on-site assembly times, and prevents any assembly mistakes.

- The present invention may be adapted not only to the size of the pieces (or parts) to be transported but also to their weight (advantages as to the movement and transport, by adapting its own weight to the transported load size).

- By the present invention the structural elements, such as beams, uprights, cross members and their connection means may be easily disassembled and replaced due to damage, with no need to replace the entire structure or to completely disassemble it.

Other advantages, along with the features and the modes of employ of the present invention, will be made apparent in the following detailed description of preferred embodiments thereof, given by way of example and not for limitative purposes. Reference will be made to the figures of the annexed drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

^■ Figure 1 shows a general perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of the modular structure according to the present invention; ■ Figures 2 and 3 show a cross-sectional view of the connection means of a modular structure according to an embodiment;

■ Figure 4 shows a side view of a detail of a modular structure according to an embodiment; the figure shows the connection means for the angular connection of two elements of the structure;

^■ Figure 5 shows a partially sectional perspective view of the connection means of Figure 4;

^■ Figure 6 shows a perspective view of a second embodiment of the connection means, the figure shows the connection means for the T-shaped connection of two elements of the structure;

^■ Figure 7 shows a partially sectional perspective view of the connection means of Figure 6;

^■ Figures 8-12 show a perspective view of the connection means of the accessory elements according to different embodiments.

^■ Figure 13 shows a general perspective view of a further embodiment of a modular structure according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention will hereinafter be described in detail by making reference to the above indicated figures. Referring firstly to Figure 1 , it depicts a perspective view showing, overall, a modular structure according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, comprising a base 2 and a plurality of structure elements 3, 4.

According to the embodiment shown in Figure 1 , said base 2 is suitable to be moved and transported by forklift trucks and could comprise compartments having a square or trapezoid section, so as to be easily and stably forked. According to an embodiment, the length of said base 2 is comprised between about 1000 and 2400 mm and the width of said base is comprised between about 800 and 1900 mm.

The modular structure according to the present invention comprises a plurality of structure elements, like, e.g., uprights 3 and cross members 4; preferably, the structure elements are tubular elements having all the same cross section, e.g. square or rectangular.

According to an embodiment the modular structure 1 has a main structure comprised of a base 2 and at least four uprights 3 connected with each other by at least two cross members 4; the main structure could have, e.g., a height comprised between about 500 and 2450 mm. The uprights 3 could advantageously be pulled down with respect to the base 2 without requiring disconnection from the base itself, so as to be able to reduce encumbrances in the resting stage and reduce reassembling times in the next stages of use.

The modular structure according to the present invention could further comprise a plurality of accessory elements 11 , i.e. specific parts for configuration/adaptation to the specific products to be transported.

The base 2, the structure elements 3, 4 and the accessory elements 11 comprise reversible mutual connection means 5,6,7,8,9, said mutual connection means is apt to reversibly connect the elements with each other and/or with said base and to allow a continuous adjustment of the position of connection of said elements with each other and/or with said base.

According to an embodiment, all the above-described elements constituting the modular structure 1 are made as one piece, i.e. by joining the structural elements (e.g., base, uprights and cross members) and any accessory elements 11 (i.e. the specific parts for configuration/adaptation to the specific products transported) with said connection means 5,6,7,8,9, for instance the guides 5 may be welded to the uprights 3 and the cross members 4.

Referring now to Figures 2-12, these show an embodiment wherein the connection means comprises a guide 5 having a substantially C-shaped section. In particular, Figures 4 and 5 refer to an angular connection, whereas 6-7 to T connections and Figures 8-12 to the connection of accessory elements 11. Figures 4-12 show an embodiment in which the connection means comprises inserts 6 positioned inside the guides 5 and apt to slide along said guides 5. The use of said inserts 6 allows to be able to manufacture dedicated assembly kits for each of the configurations, by utilizing either a pre-assembly of the inserts 6 inside each of the guides 5 so as to minimize shipping encumbrances and the length of the assembly on site, or a visual identification (color, number, etc.) associating to each element of the structure an univocal combination of inserts on which the support elements will be connected during the assembly. Such inserts 6 could be made of metallic or polymeric material and comprise threaded holes 7 to facilitate connection with the other elements of a modular structure 1.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the inserts 6 are utilized as spacers 12 so as to be able to quickly and repeatably identify the configuration of the various elements of the structure. Not performing a structural role, the inserts 6 acting as spacers 12 will preferably be made of polymeric material and will not have threaded holes 7.

Referring to Figures 10-11 , these show an embodiment of the present invention comprising spacers 12 alternate to inserts in the points of coupling with another component of the structure, like e.g. an accessory element 11.

The adaptation of a modular structure according to the present invention is of easy and quick implementation, as the positioning of the various connections can be varied in a continuous way by use of the guides 5 (C profiles) present both in the base 2 and in the main structural elements such as uprights 3 and cross members 4 or accessory elements 1 1. As shown in Figures 6-12, the guides associated to an appropriate set of inserts 6 and of fixing means 8, 9, like, e.g., plates 8, and screws 9, enables connection among the various elements of the structure. The use of the guides 5 with the above-described section enables to configure the container so as to easily adapt it to the element/s to be transported depending both on the shape and weight of the latter by a modification of the material with which the profile itself is made.

The base 2 could be entirely or partially made of the same typology of profiles described above, so as to standardize as much as possible the system elements. The base could be advantageously made so as to be a single, non-disassemblable group.

The modular structure 1 could be used as container for the transport of industrial products, both for movements internal to the production/assembly plant and for transports outside the plant. The modular structure 1 could be partially or totally made of ferrous material and elements of plastics material or of aluminum alloys could be selected, in case the latter be capable of bearing static and dynamic loads due to the load weight during use. The modular structure 1 according to the present invention is also characterized by the quickness and inexpensiveness of the replacement of damaged parts and by the possibility of being disassemblable when it is in an unburdened condition (i.e., before the first use and after each loading/unloading cycle) so as to be able to take up little volume during the transport.

The modular structures could advantageously be stackable with each other to optimize their storage in course of transport, use and waiting.

Object of the present invention is a kit for the assembly of a modular structure for the transport and/or storage of industrial products, comprising:

- a base 2 and a plurality of structure elements 3,4; - reversible mutual connection means 5,6,7,8,9, wherein said mutual connection means is apt to reversibly connect said structure elements with each other and/or with said base and to allow a continuous adjustment of the position of connection of said structure elements with each other and/or with said base. The kit according to the present invention could comprise further accessory elements 11 as defined above, comprising said connection means 5,6,7,8,9. The connection means of the kit according to the present invention could be according to any one of the above- described embodiments.

The present invention has hereto been described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof. It is understood that other embodiments might exist, all falling within the concept of the same invention, as defined by the protective scope of the claims hereinafter.