The present invention relates to an assembly of a first module and a second module which are interconnected through a first j oining member including a male part and a second j oining member including a female part , wherein the first and second j oining members are part of the first and second modules , respectively, which first and second j oining members are adapted such that the male part and the female part can be inserted into each other at a first mutual angle of the first and second j oining members and subsequently rotated with respect to each other about a common pivot axis to a second mutual angle of the first and second j oining members where they are locked with respect to each other in radial direction of the common pivot axis , wherein at the second mutual angle the first and second modules are locked with respect to each other in a rotational direction about the common pivot axis from the first to the second mutual angle and wherein at the second mutual angle the first and second modules are locked with respect to each other in a rotational direction about the pivot axis from the second mutual angle to the first mutual angle by a retaining element which is mounted to the first and second modules , wherein the retaining element is displaceable with respect to at least one of the first and second modules when the first and second j oining members are at or close to the second mutual angle during assembling .

Such an assembly is known from US 2009/ 0021046 . The first and second modules of the known assembly are a floor and a wall , respectively, for use in constructing a living space of a recreational vehicle . A disadvantage of the known assembly is that it requires narrow manufacturing tolerances to interconnect the first and second modules to each other in a stable manner .

An obj ect of the invention is to provide an improved assembly .

This obj ect is accomplished with the assembly according to the invention which is characteri zed in that the retaining element and the at least one of the first and second modules are shaped such that upon displacing the retaining element from a first position to a second position with respect to the at least one of the first and second modules it applies forces onto the first and second modules in the same directions about the pivot axis as the directions in which the respective first and second j oining members rotate with respect to each other from the first to the second mutual angle . This means that the retaining element may apply a force onto the first module and a force onto the second module such that the first module tends to rotate with respect to the second module in clockwise direction about the pivot axis and the second module tends to rotate with respect to the first module in counter clockwise direction about the pivot axis , or vice versa .

An advantage of the assembly according to the invention is that during assembling the retaining element can be displaced from the first to the second position to minimi ze any play between the first and second modules and the retaining element . This allows to manufacture the first and second modules and the retaining element with relatively wide manufacturing tolerances , which makes the manufacturing process ef ficient . The modules may comprise panels .

At the second mutual angle the first and second modules may be locked with respect to each other in a rotational direction about the common pivot axis from the first to the second mutual angle by a contact location between the first and second modules . This does not require an additional lock in addition to the first and second modules themselves . For example , the contact location may be formed between a surface in the main plane of the second module and a side edge of the first module , which extends perpendicularly to a main plane of the first module .

The retaining element may be lockable to the first and second modules through a snap fitting in order to allow fast assembling .

The retaining element and the first and second modules may be dimensioned such that the retaining element is clamped between the first and second modules at the second mutual angle of the first and second j oining members . This minimi zes the risk of mutually moving parts caused by minimum play . In a particular embodiment the retaining element is rotatably mounted to the first module , hence forming a hinge j oint including an axis of rotation, wherein the retaining element has an outer surface which is located at a distance from the axis of rotation and directed away from the axis of rotation and which contacts a counter surface at the second module at a contact surface , wherein the outer surface and the counter surface are shaped such that the distance between the contact surface and the axis of rotation increases upon displacing the retaining element from the first position to the second position by rotating it about the axis of rotation, hence causing the forces onto the first and second modules at the contact surface and the hinge j oint , respectively . In this case the outer surface may follow a circular path about the axis of rotation .

The hinge j oint may comprise a portion of the retaining element and a notch in the first module , in which notch the portion of the retaining element rotatably fits .

The counter surface may be arcuate as seen in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation .

In an embodiment the counter surface is partly circular having a radius which is substantially equal to the distance between the outer surface and the axis of rotation, but a centreline which lies at a distance from the axis of rotation . The outer surface follows a circular path along the partly circular counter surface , but due to the distance between the centreline and the axis of rotation the distance between the contact surface and the axis of rotation increases upon displacing the retaining element from the first position to the second position by rotating it about the axis of rotation . In this case the outer surface may remain at the same location at the retaining element and shi ft along the outer surface upon displacing the retaining element from the first to the second position .

The snap fitting may be formed by a protrusion on one of the retaining element and the second module and a cooperating recess in the other one of the retaining element and the second module .

In an embodiment the recess is a first recess and the other one of the retaining element and the second module is provided with at least a second recess for receiving the protrusion, wherein the first and second recesses are located at an angular distance from each other about the axis of rotation . This facilitates to lock the retaining element at at least two di f ferent rotational positions about the axis of rotation . For example , i f during mounting the retaining element to the first and second modules there is still some play at a contact surface between the first and second modules when the protrusion is received by the first recess , the retaining element can be rotated further in a direction in which the first and second modules are rotated with respect to each other in the direction from the first to the second mutual angle until the second recess receives the protrusion .

In a preferred embodiment the retaining element comprises an elongate L-shaped profile including a first leg and a second leg, wherein a free end portion of the first leg forms a part of the hinge j oint and the outer surface of the retaining element is provided on the second leg . In case of the above- mentioned notch in the first module , the notch may be a groove , which accommodates the free end portion of the first leg .

The outer surface may be located on the second leg at the level of the first leg . This means that the forces between the retaining element and the first and second modules are trans ferred via a plane of the first leg . This minimi zes the risk of deformation thereof , since the first leg has a minimum flexibility in its plane .

The snap fitting may be located at the second leg . The second leg may have a certain degree of flexibility with respect to the first leg in a direction parallel to the plane of the first leg which flexibility may facilitate the snap fitting .

The snap fitting may be located at a distance from the outer surface at the same side of the second leg as the outer surface .

The invention is also related to a box-shaped cargo carrying space enclosure , comprising at least five modules for forming a roof , a bottom and at least three side units between the roof and the bottom, wherein two of the at least five modules form an assembly of a first module and a second module as described hereinbefore . In the interconnected condition the first and second modules may be perpendicular to each other . The roof and bottom may extend in parallel hori zontal planes and two of the side units may extend in parallel vertical planes . The modules may comprise lightweight panels , made of lightweight metal , sandwich panels , plastic composite panels or the like . The side units may comprise doors , roller shutters , or the like .

The contact location may be located between the common pivot axis and an inner side of the cargo carrying space enclosure .

The retaining element may be placed in a space between the first and the second modules beyond the common pivot axis as seen from an inner side of the cargo carrying space enclosure . This means that the first and second modules cannot rotate with respect to each other in the rotational direction about the common pivot axis from the second to the first mutual angle .

In an embodiment , at least a third one and a fourth one of the modules are connected to the first module in a similar way as the second module is connected to the first module and wherein the second module and the third one of the modules are connected to opposite side edges of the first module , whereas the fourth one of the modules is connected to the second module and third one of the modules through snap fittings . The snap fittings allow to assemble the modules quickly and create a rigid structure between the first module , the second module , the third one of the modules and the fourth one of the modules . The second module , the third one and the fourth one of the modules may form the side units of the cargo carrying space enclosure .

A fi fth one of the modules may be connected to the second module , the third one and the fourth one of the modules through snap fittings .

A sixth one of the modules may be connected to the first module in a similar way as the second module is connected to the first module , and to the second module , the third one and the fi fth one of the modules through snap fittings .

In an embodiment the bottom is formed by the first module , the roof is formed by the fi fth one of the modules and the at least three side units are formed by the second module , the third one and the fourth one of the modules , respectively . The first and second joining members may be formed by elongate profiles along respective side edges of the first and second modules.

The invention will hereafter be elucidated with reference to very schematic drawings showing an embodiment of the invention by way of example.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a boxshaped cargo carrying space enclosure according to the invention .

Fig. 2 is a cut-away view of the cargo carrying space enclosure as shown in Fig. 1 on a smaller scale.

Fig. 3 is a rear view of a part of the cargo carrying space enclosure as shown in Fig. 2.

Figs. 4-7 are detailed views of the cargo carrying space enclosure as indicated by IV-VII, respectively, in Figs. 2 and 3.

Fig. 8 is an illustrative view of an embodiment of a method of manufacturing a box-shaped cargo carrying space enclosure according to the invention.

Fig. 9 is an illustrative view of successive steps in the method of manufacturing to form a part of the cargo carrying space enclosure as shown Fig. 7.

Fig. 10 is an illustrative view of successive steps in the method of manufacturing to form a part of the cargo carrying space enclosure as shown Fig. 6.

Fig. 11 is a similar view as Fig. 9, showing a part thereof on a larger scale.

Figs. 12-15 are similar views as Fig. 11, showing different positions of a retaining element with respect to a bottom and a front panel of the cargo carrying space enclosure.

Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of a box-shaped cargo carrying space enclosure 1 according to the invention. The cargo carrying space enclosure 1 is intended to be mounted on a chassis of a truck (not shown) . Fig. 2 shows a cut-away view of the cargo carrying space enclosure 1 and Fig. 3 shows a rear view thereof. The cargo carrying space enclosure 1 comprises an assembly of six modules including a roof 2, a bottom 3, two opposite side panels 4, a front panel 5 and a back side 6. In this case the roof 2, the bottom 3, the side panels 4 and the front panel 4 are plate shaped, whereas the back side 6 is formed by a unit including two doors . One of the side panels 4 is also provided with a door . Numerous alternative configurations of the side panels 4 , the front panel 5 and the rear side 6 are conceivable . The side panels 4 , the front panel 5 and the back side 6 extend between the roof 2 and the bottom 3 . Fig . 1 shows the side panels 4 , the front panel 5 , the back side 6 , the roof 2 and the bottom 3 in an interconnected condition and Figs . 4- 10 show in detail how they are interconnected . Fig . 8 illustrates an embodiment of the method of manufacturing the cargo carrying space enclosure 1 according to the invention .

Referring to Fig . 8 , the side panels 4 , the front panel 5 and the rear side 6 are connected to the bottom 3 in a similar way . In this case the front panel 5 is connected to the bottom 3 first , then the rear side 6 is connected to the bottom 3 and subsequently the side panels 4 are connected to the bottom 3 and to the front panel 5 and the rear side 6 . Finally, the roof 2 is connected to the side panels 4 , the front panel 5 and the rear side 6 .

Fig . 9 shows that a side edge of the front panel 5 has a first j oining member including a male part 5a and a side edge of the bottom 3 has a second j oining member including a female part 3a, which cooperate with respect to each other in order to interconnect the front panel 5 and the bottom 3 through the first and second j oining members . The male part 5a and the female part 3a are adapted such that they can be inserted into each other at a first mutual angle of the first and second j oining members and locked to each other by subsequently rotating them with respect to each other about a common pivot axis PA to a second mutual angle of the first and second j oining members . This is illustrated in Fig . 9 . For this reason the male part 5a and the female part 3a comprise hooks which engage each other upon rotating the bottom 3 and the front panel 5 with respect to each other . The male part 5a and the female part 3a are part of the front panel 5 and the bottom 3 , respectively, before the bottom 3 and the front panel 5 are interconnected . The male part 5a and the female part 3a may be elongate profiles which are fixed to the remainder of the bottom 3 and the front panel 5 , respectively . In that case the elongate profiles may be made of extruded material , for example extruded aluminium . Alternatively, the male part 5a and the female part 3a may be made in one piece with the bottom 3 and the front panel 5 , respectively .

Fig . 9 shows that in the interconnected condition the bottom 3 and the front panel 5 are locked with respect to each other in a rotational direction about the common pivot axis PA from the first to the second mutual angle by a contact surface between the bottom 3 and the front panel 5 . The contact surface is formed by an inner side of the front panel 5 and a short side of the bottom 3 and extends between the pivot axis PA and an inner side of the cargo carrying space enclosure 1 . In the interconnected condition the bottom 3 and the front panel 5 extend perpendicularly with respect to each other .

In the interconnected condition the bottom 3 and the front panel 5 are also locked with respect to each other in a rotational direction about the common pivot axis PA from the second to the first mutual angle . This is caused by a retaining element in the form of an insert 7 which is inserted into a corresponding space between the bottom 3 and the front panel 5 . The space is located beyond the pivot axis PA as seen from the inner side of the cargo carrying space enclosure 1 .

Figs . 11- 15 show how the insert 7 is mounted to the bottom 3 and the front panel 5 . The insert 7 comprises an elongate L-shaped profile including a first leg 8 and a second leg 9 which are directed in di f ferent directions . The insert 7 may be made of extruded aluminium . A free end of the first leg 8 has a partly circular cross-section which rotatably fits in a mating groove of the bottom 3 , thus forming a hinge j oint which allows the insert 7 to rotate with respect to the bottom 3 about an axis of rotation 10 . The second leg 9 of the insert 7 has an arcuate outer surface 11 which is directed away from the axis of rotation 10 and which is slidable along a counter surface 12 of the front panel 5 , thus creating a contact surface between the outer surface 11 and the counter surface 12 . The outer surface 11 lies at the level of the first leg 8 . The outer surface 11 and the counter surface 12 are shaped such that the distance between the contact surface and the axis of rotation 10 increases upon rotating the insert 7 inwardly, i . e . clockwise about the axis of rotation 10 in Figs . 11- 15 . As a consequence , it forces the front panel 5 to rotate with respect to the bottom 3 such that any play between the inner side of the front panel 5 and the short side of the bottom 3 can be minimi zed . It is possible that in a final position the insert 7 is clamped between the bottom 3 and the front panel 5 .

The second leg 9 is provided with a protrusion 13 and the counter surface 12 is provided with three parallel grooves 14 which are located at angular distances from each other about the axis of rotation 10 , see Fig . 11 . The protrusion 13 may be a ridge extending in longitudinal direction of the insert 7 . The grooves 14 are adapted such that each of them can receive the protrusion 13 in order to lock the insert 7 with respect to the bottom 3 and the front panel 5 through a snap fitting . This is illustrated in Figs . 12- 15 . Manufacturing tolerances of the bottom 3 , the front panel 5 and the insert 7 may determine which of the grooves 14 will receive the protrusion 13 . For example , i f there is a relatively large play between the inner side of the front panel 5 and the short side of the bottom 3 , the situation as shown in Fig . 14 may occur after assembling the bottom 3 , the front panel 5 and the insert 7 , i . e . the insert 7 is introduced relatively deep in the space between the bottom 3 and the front panel 5 .

Fig . 15 shows that the counter surface 12 is partly circular-cylindrical about a centreline 15 which lies at a distance E from the axis of rotation 10 , whereas its radius is substantially equal to the distance between the axis of rotation

10 and the outer surface 11 . The circular-cylindrical shape is indicated by reference sign C . Due to the distance E the distance from the contact surface between the outer surface 11 and the counter surface 12 to the axis of rotation 10 must increase upon rotating the insert 7 inwardly, whereas the distance between the axis of rotation 10 and the outer surface

11 remains the same . The outer surface 11 follows circular path P .

The second leg 9 may have a certain degree of resiliency and bendable with respect to the first leg 8 whereas the first leg 8 will be rigid in a direction from the contact surface to the axis of rotation 10 , i . e . in a plane of the first leg 8 . This helps to force the front panel 5 to rotate with respect to the bottom 3 in clockwise direction in Fig . 15 whereas the second leg 9 including the protrusion 13 can snap easily because of the resiliency of the second leg 9 .

The front panel 5 , the bottom 3 and the insert 7 may be considered as an assembly according to the present invention .

The rear side 6 is connected to the bottom 3 in the same way as the front panel 5 is connected to the bottom 3 , see Fig . 8 . Subsequently, the side panels 4 are connected to the bottom 3 . Each of the side panels 4 has a side edge including a male part which is the same as the male part 5a of the front panel 5 , whereas respective side edges of the bottom 3 to which the side edges of the side panels 4 must be connected have respective female parts which are the same as the female part 3a of the bottom 3 as described above and shown in Fig . 9 . The male parts and the female parts of the side panels 4 and the bottom 3 are inserted into each other at a first mutual angle of the side panels 4 and the bottom 3 , after which the side panels 4 are tilted with respect to the bottom 3 about corresponding pivot axes to a second mutual angle in which the side panels 4 extend parallel to each other and perpendicularly with respect to the bottom 3 , the front panel 5 and the rear side 6 . This is illustrated in the second row of pictures in Fig . 8 . During a last phase of the tilting movement of the side panels 4 with respect to the bottom 3 the side panels 4 will contact the front panel 5 and the rear side 6 . Side edges of the side panels 4 , the front panel 5 and the rear side 6 which contact each other are provided with snap fittings in order to facilitate fixing . Besides , fixation of the side panels 4 , the front panel 5 and the rear side 6 to each other provides a rigid structure , i . e . already rigid still without the roof 2 .

In a next step the roof 2 is mounted to the side panels 4 , the front panel 5 and the rear side 6 . This is illustrated in the third row of Fig . 8 and Fig . 10 . Side edges of the roof 2 and cooperating side edges of the side panels 4 , the front panel 5 and the rear side 6 are provided with snap fittings in order to facilitate fixing . Fig . 6 shows the connection between the roof 2 and one of the side panels 4 and Fig . 4 shows the connection between the side panel 4, the front panel 5 and the roof 2 in the interconnected condition. Figs. 5 and 7 show the connection between the bottom 3 and one of the side panels 4.

The invention is not limited to the embodiment shown in the drawings and described hereinbefore, which may be varied in different manners within the scope of the claims and their technical equivalents. For example, the sequence of assembling the separate modules may be performed differently. It is also conceivable that the shape of the cargo carrying space enclosure is different from a block shape.

The invention is also related to the following items: Item 1: A method of interconnecting a first module (3) and a second module (5) through a first joining member including a male part (5a) and a second joining member including a female part (3a) , which first and second joining members (5a, 3a) are adapted such that the male part (5a) and the female part (3a) can be inserted into each other at a first mutual angle of the first and second joining members and subsequently rotated with respect to each other about a common pivot axis (PA) to a second mutual angle of the first and second joining members where they are locked with respect to each other in radial direction of the common pivot axis (PA) , wherein the method comprises the step of inserting the male part (5a) and the female part (3a) into each other at the first mutual angle and then rotate them with respect to each other about the common pivot axis (PA) to the second mutual angle, wherein the first and second joining members are part of the first and second modules (3, 5) , respectively, before inserting the male part (5a) and the female part (3a) into each other at the first mutual angle of the first and second joining members. Since the first and second joining members are already part of the first and second modules before inserting the male part and the female part into each other at the first mutual angle of the first and second joining members the first and second modules can be interconnected quickly. Fixing the first and second modules to each other by using fasteners, such as rivets and screws, by welding or by adhesives may be omitted.

Item 2: A method according to item 1, wherein at the second mutual angle the first and second modules (3, 5) are locked with respect to each other in a rotational direction about the common pivot axis (PA) from the first to the second mutual angle by a contact location between the first and the second modules (3, 5) .

Item 3: A method according to item 1 or 2, wherein after reaching the second mutual angle a retaining element (7) is mounted to the first and second modules (3, 5) so as to lock them with respect to each other in a rotational direction about the common pivot axis (PA) from the second to the first mutual angle .

Item 4: A method of manufacturing a box-shaped cargo carrying space enclosure (1) by supplying and interconnecting at least five modules such that they form a roof (2) , a bottom (3) and at least three side units (4, 5, 6) between the roof (2) and the bottom (3) in an interconnected condition, wherein two of the at least five modules are the first and second modules which are interconnected according to the method according to any one of the preceding items. After manufacturing the cargo carrying space enclosure it may be mounted on a vehicle.

Item 5: A method according to item 4, dependent on item 2, wherein the contact location is located between the common pivot axis (PA) and an inner side of the cargo carrying space enclosure ( 1 ) .

Item 6: A method according to item 4 or 5, dependent on item 3, wherein the retaining element (7) is placed into a space between the first and second modules (3, 5) beyond the common pivot axis (PA) as seen from an inner side of the cargo carrying space enclosure (1) .

Item 7: A method according to any one of the items 4-6, wherein at least a third one and a fourth one of the modules (4, 5, 6) are connected to the first module (3) in a similar way as the second module (5) is connected to the first module (3) .

Item 8: A method according to item 7, wherein the second module and the third one of the modules (4) are connected to opposite side edges of the first module (3) , whereas the fourth one of the modules (5, 6) is connected to the second module and the third one of the modules (4) through snap fittings . Item 9: A method according to item 8, wherein a fifth one of the modules (2) is connected to the second module, the third one and the fourth one of the modules (4, 5, 6) through snap fittings. Item 10: A method according to item 9, wherein a sixth one of the modules is connected to the first module (3) in a similar way as the second module (4) is connected to the first module, and to the second module, the third one and the fifth one of the modules (4, 2) through snap fittings. Item 11: A method according to any one of the items 4-

10, wherein in the interconnected condition the bottom (3) is formed by the first module, the roof (2) is formed by the fifth one of the modules and the at least three side units (4, 5, 6) are formed by the second module, the third one and the fourth one of the modules, respectively.