TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention is related to a modular packaging with plugging features for several types of re-use, more precisely, that packaging enclosure appears as able to be re-used as a modular element, employed in the assembly of several products such as furniture and utensils, for that purpose, those packaging are provided, right from their original manufacturing, with undercuts and protuberances able to plug into corresponding features provided for in equal packages or similar ones equipped with complementary plugging features, or, also said as packages may also have plugging features that receive independent elements that permit the firm coupling among them, so that a final product from re-use may be obtained by the interested consumers or third-parties. TECHNIQUE FUNDAMENTS

As it is well known, recycling is a term generically employed to identify the re-use of used materials as raw material for a new product. Several types of materials may be recycled and the most common examples are paper, glass, metal and plastic. The recycling concept serves only for materials that may return to original condition and be transformed again in to an equal product with all its characteristics. Recycling, therefore, is a concept different from re-use.

Recycling consists in transforming a determined material already worked on (plastic, glass, metal, paper) into another. Almost the totality of recyclable materials, except aluminum, has a limit for recycling. A clear example is the recycling with glass. Even if it is "melted", it will never become another with the same characteristics, such as color or stiffness, as in the first time it was manufactured, a mixture was used coming from sand, and its recycling implies the addition of components that alter its initial characteristics.

Another material that has a recycling limit, much lower than glass, is the plastic. The continuous recycling of polymers ends up eliminating some properties, impeding its re-use by some industries. For instance, recycled plastic may not be used in the production of food packaging . For his reason, a plastic, after having been recycled several times, is not useful for anything, being sent, most of the times, for incineration or for sanitary dumping areas, presenting a short useful life. BRIEF INVENTION DESCRIPTION Observing the current problems mentioned above and others that are originated in the lack of re-use of plastic packages, the applicant developed a modulation system applied to this type of packaging, which permits their total re-use in the manufacturing of furniture and utensils of small, medium and large sizes, such as tables, chairs, desks, among others, that allows the construction from modular elements nest together or nest from unconnected elements auxiliary.

Those packages are manufactured right from their origin containing undercuts or saliences able to plug into planned corresponding means into equal or similar packages having complementary plugging features, or those packages may also provide for plugging features that receive independent means, which permit their easy coupling, so that a final product of re-use is obtained by the very consumer that has acquired it, or also by third-parties, which will re-use them, coupling elements to others and generating other products. The mentioned original packages may be of the type used for conditioning any type of products, and may also, already in the re-use spectrum, when they are coupled to each other, adopt varied forms by means of manual or industrial assembly, so obtaining new forms, the walls of which that have those undercuts and protuberances permitting the mutual plugging, or also with the help of intermediate complementary means or independent parts. In other words, those packages will already have the culture of being manufactured, from their very origin, with modular qualities, already aiming at several functions within their useful life cycle, and may be re-used several times, assuming different final functions/products.

The main advantage reached is of environmental nature, or, in other words, through the proposed system, plastic packages, with the structure proposed hereby, will not have to be discarded into dumping areas or incinerated, considerably reducing, therefore, the possibility of environmental pollution or contamination, and also generating a productive intelligence and spectrum with capacity for re-use of those packages, as they will be manufactured in such a form and with such a precision that they may form new products in the future, also increasing their useful life. Another important advantage has a social flavor, as, through those packages with their innovated characteristics, it is possible that people such as recyclers, street collectors and others, even with limited ability, may assemble objects for personal use or for resale, donation, etc., such as tables, chairs, desks, auxiliary tables, among many other objects. DESCRIPTION OF DRA WINGS

In order to complement the current description, with the purpose of providing a better understanding of the characteristics of this invention, and according to a preferred practical carrying out of it, an attached description is included, together with drawings, in which, in an exemplified manner, but without limitations, the following has been represented:

Figure 1 illustrates a modular packaging model, with a quadrangular section and with longitudinal grooves on the side walls, and at least an independent interconnection part, both created to configure a constructive form able to comply with article 24 of law 9279/96, or, in other words, contemplating the necessary requisites to attend the invention objectives, without, however, restricting the illustrated form;

Figures 2, 3 and 4 represent the assembly forms created from modular packaging enclosures shown in Figure 1; Figure 5 shows another modular packaging model, with a circular section, also equipped with longitudinal grooves applied on side walls, which are able to plug the independent connecting part with another subsequent modular packaging enclosure;

Figures 6 and 7 represent the possible assembly forms for the packaging shown in Figure 5, or, in other words, the coupling of side walls or the coupling between the base and the neck of adjacent modular packages;

Figure 8 shows a chair produced with the innovated assembling system, and from modular packaging enclosures represented in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4;

Figure 9 illustrates a table constructed through the assembling system from the modular packaging illustrated in Figures 5, 6 and 7;

Figure 10 shows the set of table and chairs formed by Figures 8 and 9. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

According to the examples that the figures mentioned above are illustrating, this invention refers to "MODULAR PACKAGING WITH PLUGGING FEATURES FOR SEVERAL TYPES OF RE-USE". Further in particular, the mentioned packaging (E) is of the type manufactured with polymers and a new form by plastic material blowing or injecting, which has a body (1) and a cap (T) created with the purpose of adapting to several types of products and the walls of which have undercuts and protuberances that permit plugging among them, or also, with the help of complementary means or intermediate independent parts. In other words, those packages, with complementary means or independent intermediate parts, will hold a culture of having been manufactured right from their origin with modular qualities, already aiming at several different functions, within their useful life cycle, and they are able to be re-used several times, assuming different functions and being able to generate different final products.

According to this invention, the packaging enclosure (E) consists in a tubular body (1), with varied section. For example, quadrangular, circular, hexagonal and others, the physical conformation of which permits, by means of plugging, its facial coupling (AF) (figures 3 and 6), carried out through plugging and juxtaposition of faces (2) of the packaging (E), by means of undercuts and protuberances (3) or with the help of a connection part (4). The mentioned packaging (E) may also be fixed by means of longitudinal coupling (AL) (figures 4 and 7), carried out between the base (5) of a packing (E) and the opposite extremity (6) of the other packing (E), immediately coupled to the previous one, a coupling extremity (6) that may be configured by the form of the neck or by the form of the cap (T).

In a preferred construction option, the facial coupling (AF) between packaging may be carried out in virtue of each packaging unit (E) being featured on its faces (2), at least with a longitudinal undercut (3a) into which a connection part is plugged (4), in the format of a ruler in "I" (4a), which also acts as a structural reinforcement during the assembly of products (P).

If the coupling is longitudinal (AL), the base (5) of a packaging (E) is featured with central tubular undercut (5a) able to receive the plugging, by interference, of the nozzle (6a) the neck (6) of the other packing (E).

The undercuts/protuberances (3), in a non-illustrated construction option, may be manufactured in other shape, such as being multiple and made in a cylindrical format, able to receive cylindrical and transversal connectors, with lengths designed to connect two packing (E) juxtaposed by facial coupling (AF); each face (2) of each packing unit may present at least two cylindrical undercuts meant to receive at least two connectors.

In this manner, summing up the packing by means of plugging or juxtaposition (E), it is possible to assemble several types of products and objects for personal use, such as chairs (D) with base and back (figure 8), tables (M) (figure 9), in which the top as well as legs are made up with packing (E). It is even possible to compose furniture for varied environments (figure 10).

It is acknowledged that when this invention is put into practice, modifications may have to be introduced, associated to certain construction and shape details, but without implying to get away from the fundamental principles that are clearly substantiated in the vindication picture. It is, therefore, understood, that the terminology employed had the finality to describe and not to establish limitations.