The object of the invention is to provide a new system to the packaging industry which, by means of different sized modules, can obtain a crate of the desired dimensions for each individual requirement, which can be easily dismantled and assembled with the same or other measurements, reusing the modules as many times as necessary.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION At the present time, in the area of rigid packaging and along the distribution chain, there are different needs as regards crate characteristics, i. e. those adequate for the object to be packed. To cover these needs the user needs to use various types of packaging.

Nevertheless, economic trends demand the greatest possible standardization.

Despite the market offering a large number of standard crates of different characteristics and sizes, each one of them is limited by its own measurements.

Likewise, some of the rigid-sided crates have a short life cycle, which once elapsed become packaging waste, when it is important to respect the environment as much as possible.

INVENTION SPECIFICATION The proposed module has been conceived to solve the aforementioned problems, based on the fact that several modules can be fitted together, the desired crate can be created, using the necessary number of modules.

Each module consists of a rectangular panel of appropriate rigid material, such as wood, plastic etc., which has an appropriate hinge mechanism on its ends for joining to another panel, as well as orifices on each corner at an equal distance from the edges of the panel, through which pass the corresponding rods corresponding to braces by means of which two adjoining modules are connected and strengthened. The braces can be positioned inside as well as outside, in certain cases to make the hinge mechanism suitably rigid and in other cases to connect modules vertically and strengthen each side obtained by connecting the aforementioned modules, in the case that the sides of the crate are made up of more than one module, since each side can be made up of one, two, three or more modules, in height as well as in width constructing a crate of the required size, depending on the object or contents which it will carry.

Apart from the aforementioned orifices on each corner of the module, it is also possible to have intermediate orifices to allow the modules to be joined in the middle instead of on the ends or edges.

Obviously, the modules can be of larger or smaller dimensions and can be stored according to size, so when making the crate, those modules are selected which, once joined together, are closest in size to the final dimensions required.

The strengthening braces, in some cases will be positioned transversely to the intersecting area of the modules, and in others across the module hinges, the braces being held in position with

the corresponding nuts screwed on to the rods which form part of the braces. The braces can also be connected using suitable pins, claws or any other known or unknown closing device.

The module described, and therefore any crate obtained by means of connecting various modules, of the same or different size, will be reusable as many times as is necessary. In other words, the user receives the crate with specific contents, then the crate can be dismantled and when the user needs to send another object the crate can be constructed with the required measurements, saving on costs, and so forth along the chain of various suppliers/customers.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS To complement the specification and with the aim of helping to understand the invention characteristics, in accordance with a preferred example of practical embodiment of the same, a set of illustrative and nonrestrictive drawings, are included as part of the aforementioned specification, where the following are represented: Figure 1.-Shows a general view of a module from which the crate, object of the invention, is obtained, where two hinge elements can be seen on either end, as well as two braces corresponding to two opposite corners and the removable rod which serves as a pivot.

Figure 2.-Shows a general perspective of an assembled rectangular prismatic crate, in which the four sides are made up of pairs of modules.

Figure 3.-Shows another view in perspective of a crate also obtained by the modular system of the invention, in which the smaller sides are made up of three modules and the larger sides of nine modules.

Figure 4.-Shows a view in perspective of how to begin assembling the crate, illustrating two modules forming part of a vertical side and a. third module hinged to one of the them, either to continue the same side or to form another side, in the event that they are placed together perpendicularly.

Figure 5.-Shows a partial view from above of a crate with one of the modules half-opened, which can be accomplished by simply detaching the removable hinge pivot from the module with which it forms a bracket, and by dismantling, this area of the crate may be opened.

Figure 6.-Finally, this shows a view of an interior part of a crate achieved in accordance with the object of the invention herein, in which the interior strengthening parts can be seen, as well as the hinges between modules.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION As can be seen in the figures mentioned, the module, object of the invention, is made up of a rigid rectangular panel (1), which can be wooden, plastic or of any other suitable material. The panel or module (1) has braces (2) on either end conveniently connected to the lateral and external surface of the panel (1), these braces (2) have cylindrical, hollow structures (2') on their outer edge, by alternating those of one brace with another the cylindrical structures are brought together and establish a passage for the rod which serves as a turning pivot (4) for two adjoining modules or panels (1) which are connected together by means of this hinge mechanism.

The modules (1) have corresponding orifices (3) on each corner through which pass the respective rods (5) which protrude from either a straight brace (6) or a bracket brace (8) which will be explained later, and include, apart from these two types of braces (6) and (8), a third brace (7),

which is of the same width and length as brace (6), and instead of having rods (5) it has orifices (7'). The modules or panels (1) can be of different sizes and can have intermediate orifices (3') which allow joining panels (1) in the middle.

In accordance with these characteristics, and remembering that each module (1) includes a pair of outer braces (2) and an orifice on each corner, as well as intermediate orifices (3'), a large box crate in line with the invention can be obtained or made up, based on determining the number of modules (1) required in accordance with the size of the crate to be obtained.

In Figure 2, it specifically shows a quadrangular crate, in which each one of its sides is made up of two modules (1) hinged together, and closed on the upper side by means of panels which can be made up of the same modules (1) or others (9), as represented in the aforementioned Figure 2.

Nevertheless, Figure 3 illustrates a prismatic, rectangular crate in which its lateral sides are each made up of three modules (1) positioned vertically, and its larger sides made up of nine modules (1) in three vertical lines, all the modules (1) being connected by the hinges created by the braces (2) fixed on the ends of the various modules.

Consequently, having numerous modules (1), the corresponding crate can be constructed according to the size of the object, logically selecting the number and size of modules (1) to be used and once selected the corresponding crate is made, connecting the modules (1) by means of the aforementioned hinge mechanisms, as represented in Figure 4, so that following the initial phase of construction the various modules (1) are positioned until the corresponding crate is obtained, finishing off with the lids or upper sides (9) mentioned in reference to

Figure 2, and with a rigid base suitable for supporting the weight of the object to be contained in the aforementioned crate.

The sides are strengthened by the aforementioned braces (6) and (7), by positioning the braces (6) in the interior, across the longitudinal intersections between the modules (1), as shown in Figure 4, so that the rods (5) of these braces (6) pass through the orifices (3) of the modules (1) and protrude on the outside to be fixed in position by the corresponding nuts secured on to the ends of the rods (5), so that connecting with the rods, the braces (7) can be positioned, transversely, where the rods (5) pass through the orifices (7') to be secured by the aforementioned nuts. In Figure 4, the braces (6) can be clearly seen in the interior, across the longitudinal intersections of the panels (1), while in Figures 2 and 3 the braces (7) are shown on the outside positioned across the braces (2) which correspond to the hinges, i. e. these braces (7) are positioned transversely in relation to the braces (6) using the rods of these braces (6) to secure them. Obviously, the braces (7) can be positioned on the outside across the line of intersection, as can be seen clearly in Figures 2 and 3, specifically in the connection between the lower modules (1) of the crate with the solid base (10) of the crate, by connecting with the hinge braces.

Figure 5 shows in detail how, once the turning pivot (4) has been removed between two modules (1), they can then be swung open, which makes it possible to open part of the crate or a complete side, etc., without completely dismantling the crate, but simply removing the appropriate turning pivots (4).

Finally, Figure 6 shows the cylindrical, hollow structures (2') linked together, forming a passage for the corresponding turning pivot (4), in the connection between modules (1), secured in the interior, as already mentioned, by braces (6), while the base is secured and strengthened to

any side by means of brackets (8) whose rods (5), which emerge on the sides exterior and through the base itself, are equally secured with other external braces (7) to strengthen the lower part of the crate.

Although the braces (6), (7) and (8) are connected and secured with nuts, it is obvious that the various modules (1) can be secured and strengthened by any other appropriate system, either by bolts, claws or any other known or unknown closing device.

In any event, the rods (5) of the braces (6) and (8), pass through the orifices (7') of the braces (7), or through the orifices (3) or (3') of the panels or modules (1).

Any of the crates that can be obtained by connecting modules (1), whatever their dimensions and number may be, make it possible to reuse the same modules, as once the crate is dismantled another one can be assembled using the number of modules which are adequate for the size of crate to be obtained. This operation can be repeated any number of times between a supplier and its customer, saving on the cost of conventional crates which are not reusable.