Assembly system and method, and devices provided with this system

Abstract

A system for assembling first and second parts of a device, including first and second coupling elements respectively associated with the first and second parts of the device. The coupling elements each include one or several contact zones arranged for spatially guiding the first and second parts during their relative displacement. These contact zones can consist in one or several sloping ramps arranged in circular manner on the internal face of the first or second corresponding part. The first and second coupling elements can be made without undercut and arranged to be subjected to a deformation during gradual clamping so as to provide a substantially normal resistance at the interface zone.

1 . An assembly system for a device comprising: 
 a device having a first part ( 272 ) and a second part ( 273 );    a first coupling means ( 252 ) located on the first part; and    a second coupling means ( 253 ) located on the second part, the first and second coupling means being apart from each other in an un-assembled state and being coupled together in an assembled state to form an assembly,    the first and second coupling means arranged to engage and to co-operatively clamp together to provide a progressive clamping by a relative displacement of one of the first and second parts in relation to another of the first and second parts, the progressive clamping being by a generation of forces substantially normal to the relative displacement,    wherein at least one of the first and second coupling means is free of any undercut in the unassembled state and is arranged to be deformable during the relative displacement to create an undercut, which undercut provides progressive clamping by providing retention substantially normal to an interface zone between the first and second coupling means in the assembled state.    
     
     
         2 . The system of    claim 1   , wherein the first part and the second part comprise a foil material, and 
 the first and second coupling means have, in the un-assembled state, substantially normal surfaces, and have, in the assembled state, deformed regions in the vicinity of the interface zone as a result of the relative displacement during clamping.    
     
     
         3 . The system of    claim 2   , wherein the deformed regions are remanent.  
     
     
         4 . The system of    claim 1   , wherein 
 the first and second coupling means each comprise at least one ramp disposed on one face of the corresponding first or second part, and    the at least one ramp of the first coupling means co-operates with the at least one ramp of the second coupling means to secure, by a relative displacement in a first direction, coupling and, by a relative displacement in a second direction, de-coupling of the first and second parts according to the direction of relative displacement.    
     
     
         5 . The system of    claim 4   , wherein the at least one ramps of the first and second coupling means each have a hollow low part and a projecting upper part emerging relative to an interface region between the two first and second parts, and 
 the projecting upper part of one of the ramps is arranged, so that in the assembled state, the projecting upper part is accommodated in the hollow part of another the ramps, the projecting part being deformed.    
     
     
         6 . The system of    claim 1   , wherein 
 plural of the first coupling means ( 252 ) are located on the first part; and    plural of the second coupling means ( 253 ) are located on the second part.    
     
     
         7 . The system of    claim 1   , wherein the first coupling means comprising plural levels arranged to engage with plural levels of the second coupling means.  
     
     
         8 . The system of    claim 1   , wherein the first and second parts, in the assembled state, are hermaphrodides.  
     
     
         9 . The system of    claim 1   , further comprising 
 on the first part, in an area apart from the first coupling means, a first force means; and    on the second part, in an area apart from the second coupling means, a second force means,    the first and second force means positioned and arranged so that, in the assembled state, the first and second force means engage together to exert contact forces between the first and second coupling means.    
     
     
         10 . The system of    claim 9   , wherein the first and second force means comprise bosses located respectively on the peripheral zones of the first and second parts, the bosses co-operating in the assembled state to deform at least one of the first and second parts to exert contact forces between the first and second parts.  
     
     
         11 . The system of    claim 10   , wherein corresponding bosses of the first and second parts are arranged to provide a sound effect during an engagement of the respective bosses.  
     
     
         12 . The system of    claim 1   , wherein 
 the first part comprises a generally rectangular tray, and    the second part comprises a peelable cover.    
     
     
         13 . The system of    claim 1   , wherein 
 the first part is a tray, and the second part is a lid with a peelable closure securing the lid to the tray,    wherein, once the peelable closure is removed from the tray and the lid, the first and second coupling means allow for the repeated closure and opening of the tray and lid.    
     
     
         14 . The system of    claim 1   , wherein the first and second parts are stamped or thermo-formed.  
     
     
         15 . The system of    claim 1   , wherein the first and second parts comprise a thermoformed tray container.  
     
     
         16 . The system of    claim 1   , wherein the first and second parts comprise a drink container.  
     
     
         17 . The system of    claim 16   , wherein the first and second parts are sealed with an inviolable band.  
     
     
         18 . The system of    claim 1   , wherein the first part second parts comprise a paint container.  
     
     
         19 . The system of    claim 18   , wherein the first part further comprises an opening handle joined and the first part serves as a lid of the container.  
     
     
         20 . The system of    claim 1   , the system comprising plural assemblies of the first and second part in the assembled state and stacked one-upon-another.  
     
     
         21 . The system of    claim 1   , wherein each of the first and second coupling means comprises multiple cams.  
     
     
         22 . The system of    claim 1   , wherein the first part comprises a tray having plural upper face compartments, each of the upper face compartments being provided with one of the first coupling means elements ( 142 ) and the system comprises plural of the second part, each of the plural second parts including one of the second coupling means arranged to engage and be received by a corresponding first coupling means located on the tray.  
     
     
         23 . The system of    claim 19   , wherein the first and second coupling means comprise multiple cams.