Patent Application
20170217633
The present invention relates to a collapsible superstructure for a pallet. The collapsible superstructure comprises a first pair of sides and a second pair of sides, the sides being arranged, in a raised position of the superstructure, to be upright in such a way that the sides of the first pair are opposite each other, the sides of the second pair are opposite each other and the sides of the first pair are connected to the sides of the second pair in order, in a raised position of the superstructure, to form a superstructure in the shape of a rectangular cuboid with four upright corner portions. Each one of the sides of the second pair is divided into two parts that are connected to a first hinge joint which is upright in a raised position of the superstructure, and the superstructure is provided with, in a raised position of the superstructure, upright second hinge joints arranged at the corner portions so that said parts of the sides of the second pair are foldable in relation to the side of the first pair to which each part of the sides of the second pair is connected.
The present invention also relates to a frame system arranged to be used for securing a rectangular, collapsible superstructure having two opposite collapsible sides on a rectangular pallet with four lateral edges.
The present invention also relates to a lid arranged to be used on top of a rectangular, collapsible superstructure having two opposite collapsible sides arranged on a pallet.
The present invention also relates to a load handling system comprising a pallet provided with a frame system, preferably also provided with a superstructure and more preferably also provided with a lid.
A collapsible superstructure is for instance described in WO2013/126011 A1. The advantage of a pallet system with collapsible superstructures is that when the pallet is to be returned without any load, the superstructure can be folded and put aside flat on the pallet so that it takes up minimal space. The superstructure has a first pair of opposite sides (long sides) and a second pair of opposite sides (short sides). The pallet is provided with upright corner portions which are fastened to the long sides. The short sides are connected to each corner portion via an upright hinge joint and are each divided into two parts which are reciprocally connected to an upright central hinge joint so that each one of the short sides can be folded inward in order to fold the entire superstructure. The different sides of the superstructure are provided with hatches. In order to keep the hatches closed, the superstructure is also provided with hatch locks. The system comprises a pallet, a superstructure and a lid. The lid comprises an outer flange, all around the circumference, and an inner lowered portion. Consequently, a U shaped groove is formed in which the upper edge of the superstructure extends when the lid is fitted onto the superstructure.
It is desirable for this type of system that it is easy to manufacture, that the components are easy to handle and that the system provides a stable design.
One object of the invention is to provide a system which is simple to manufacture. Another object of the invention is to provide a design which enables easy handling of the components. An additional object of the invention is to provide a stable design.
These objects are achieved with a superstructure, a frame system, a lid and a complete system comprising a pallet provided with a frame system, preferably also provided with a superstructure and more preferably also provided with a lid of the type which is identified in each independent claim.
According to one aspect of the invention, the invention relates to a superstructure of the type stated in the introduction, characterised by the superstructure in each of the four corner portions comprising a protrusion which in a raised position of the superstructure extends below a connecting portion of the protrusion so that the protrusion in relation to the connecting portion forms a downward-extending step,
wherein the connecting portion is formed as a part of the corner portion or of a connecting portion of each corner portion of, in a raised position of the superstructure, a lower edge portion of each side of the second pair,
wherein said step is arranged to interact with an edge of a downward-extending recess of the pallet on which the superstructure is intended to be placed in such a way that, when the superstructure is in a partly raised upright position on the pallet, each corner portion can be pushed outward so that the protrusion can drop down into respective recess of the pallet when the superstructure places itself partly or fully in a raised position, and in such a way that, when the superstructure is placed with its protrusions in the recesses of the pallet, the interaction between the step formed by the protrusion of the superstructure and the edge of the recess of the pallet prevents each corner portion from being inadvertently pushed inward along the extension of the sides of the second pair, and
each one of the sides of the second pair comprises a locking portion within, in a raised position of the superstructure, the lower edge portion of each side,
wherein the locking portion is arranged to interact with a locking portion of a pallet on which the superstructure is intended to be placed in such a way that, when the superstructure is in a partly raised upright position on the pallet, the superstructure locking portion may pass an edge of the pallet locking portion in an outward movement and thereby enable the superstructure to place itself in a fully raised position, and in such a way that, when the superstructure is in a fully raised position, the interaction between the superstructure locking portion and the pallet locking portion prevents each hinge joint between the parts of the second pair from being inadvertently pushed inward,
wherein the locking portion is designed, in a raised position of the superstructure, as a downward-extending locking protrusion, and is arranged, when the superstructure is in a fully raised position, to be able to drop down into and interact with a recess of the pallet on which the superstructure is intended to be placed, or is formed by the lower edge portion having an edge which is arranged, when the superstructure is moved from a partly raised upright position to a fully raised position, to be able to pass across in an outward movement and drop down onto the outside of an upward-extending protrusion of the pallet on which the superstructure is intended to be placed.
As will be seen from the description of the various features, a user can raise the superstructure to an upright but only partly raised position. A first level of an upright but only partly raised position relates to a position when the corner portions of the superstructure are at a certain distance from their final positions and when the sides of the second pair are folded to a certain extent. A second level of an upright but only partly raised position is when the corner portions are pushed out so that the protrusions of the superstructure pass the edge of the recesses of the pallet (or the frame system) and drop down into the recesses, but that the sides of the second pair are folded to a certain extent. In a fully raised position, the centre portion of the other sides is also pushed out so that the locking portion of the other sides interact with the locking portion of the pallet (or the frame system). The user can also choose to push out in the middle of the other sides so that the locking portion of the other sides engages with the locking portion of the pallet (or the frame system) at the same time as the straightening of the other sides forces the corner portions to engage with the recesses of the pallet (or the frame system). The design enables the user to raise the superstructure in separate steps and the user receives distinct feedback with regards to when the superstructure is truly in its fully raised position. The corner portions will drop down a millimetre or two during engagement between the protrusions and recesses and distinct feedback is thereby provided. During engagement between the protrusions and recesses, the locking portions will cause the centre portion of each other side to drop down a millimetre or two and distinct feedback is thereby provided. When folding the superstructure, it is easy for the user to release the locking portions and start folding the sides of the second pair; it is also easy for the user to lift the corner portions past the edges of the recesses and to put the superstructure in a partly raised upright position.
It should be noted that the rectangular shape of the superstructure and the pallet in this context may relate to a rectangle where the sides of the first pair have a length which is different from the length of the sides of the second pair. According to one preferred embodiment of this variant with sides of different lengths, the sides of the first pair are longer than the sides of the second pair. The rectangular form may also relate to the special form of a rectangle where the sides of the first pair are the same length as the sides of the second pair, i.e. a square form.
Preferred embodiments of the invention are set forth in the dependent claims.
The locking portions of the superstructure are advantageously arranged in a centre portion of each side of the second pair, wherein the centre portion relates to a portion which comprises the positions that are closer to the first hinge joint of each side than the second hinge joints of each side. By placing the locking portions in the centre portion, the locking portions can provide distinct feedback in a simple way and the locking portions will directly act on the centre portion which is to be prevented from being moved inadvertently. In addition, slight bending inward of the inner hinge joint of the respective other side is sufficient to release the locking portions since the locking portions, thanks to their location in the centre portion, provide a large relative displacement when bending the parts of each side of the second pair inward.
According to a preferred embodiment, the superstructure comprises protrusions and locking portions for engaging with a lid. The superstructure in each of the four corner portions comprises a protrusion which in a raised position of the superstructure extends above a connecting portion of the protrusion so that the protrusion in relation to the connecting portion forms an upward-extending step,
wherein the connecting portion is formed as a part of the corner portion or of a connecting portion of each corner portion of, in a raised position of the superstructure, an upper edge portion of each side of the second pair,
wherein said step is arranged to interact with an edge of an upward-extending recess of a lid which is intended to be placed on the superstructure in such a way that, when the lid is placed with the superstructure protrusion in the recess of the lid, the interaction between the step formed by the superstructure protrusion and the edge of the lid recess prevents each corner portion from being inadvertently pushed inward along the extension of the sides of the second pair, and
each one of the sides of the second pair comprises a locking portion within, in a raised position of the superstructure, the upper edge portion of each side,
wherein the locking portion is arranged to interact with a locking portion of the lid which is intended to be placed on the superstructure in such a way that, when the superstructure is in a fully raised position, the interaction between the superstructure locking portion and the lid locking portion prevents each hinge joint between the parts of the second pair from being inadvertently pushed inward,
wherein the locking portion is formed, in a raised position of the superstructure, as an upward-extending locking protrusion, and is arranged, when the superstructure is in the fully raised position, to be able to extend up into and to interact with a recess of the lid which is intended to be placed on the superstructure, or formed by the upper edge portion having an edge which is arranged to extend up on the outside of a downward-extending protrusion of the lid which is intended to be placed on the superstructure.
At first, the user will raise the superstructure to a fully raised position with the lower protrusions engaged to the recesses of the pallet (or the frame system) and the lower locking portions engaged with the locking portions of the pallet (or the frame system). Then the user will place a lid on top of the fully raised superstructure. The superstructure has on its top protrusions and locking portions corresponding to those on the underside. The lid is provided with outer limiting surfaces arranged to be located on the outside of the superstructure when the lid is correctly positioned. The lid also has upward-extending recesses arranged to interact with the upper protrusions of the superstructure. The lid also has locking portions arranged to interact with the locking portions of the superstructure. The lid has no flanges or similar that extend down on the inside of the sides of the superstructure. Owing to the lid not having any flanges and thanks to it being provided with recesses and locking portions and through the superstructure having the described upper protrusions and upper locking portions, it is easy for the user to place the lid on the superstructure. For example, the user can put the lid on at an angle or throw the lid onto the superstructure and then adjust it to the correct position so that protrusions and recesses and locking portions are correctly engaged with each other. When it is finally in the correct position, the lid will help to keep the superstructure in the correct position in the same way that the pallet (or frame system) keeps the superstructure in the correct position. Consequently, both the lower and the upper part of the superstructure will be kept in the fully raised position.
According to one aspect of the invention, the invention relates to a frame system arranged to be used for securing a rectangular, collapsible superstructure having two opposite collapsible sides on a rectangular pallet with four lateral edges.
The frame system comprises four recesses in which each is arranged to be positioned in a respective corner of the pallet, which recesses extend down to form an upward-extending edge from the recess base, wherein the edge is arranged to allow a protrusion of a corner portion of a superstructure to pass the edge so that the recess can receive the protrusion when the superstructure is in an upright partly or fully raised position, and which edge is arranged, when the protrusion is received in the recess, to interact with the protrusion and to prevent the protrusion and the corner portion from being inadvertently pushed inward along the collapsible sides of the superstructure,
two locking portions arranged to be located at two opposite lateral edges of the pallet, along which two lateral edges the collapsible sides of the superstructure are intended to be located,
wherein the locking portions are designed with an edge and arranged to interact with locking portions of each of the collapsible sides of the superstructure which is intended to be placed on the pallet in such a way that, when the superstructure is in a partly raised upright position on the pallet, the superstructure locking portion can pass the edge of the frame system locking portion in an outward movement and thereby enable the superstructure to place itself in a fully raised position, and in such a way that, when the superstructure is in a fully raised position, the interaction between the edge of the frame system locking portion and the superstructure locking portion prevents the superstructure collapsible sides from being inadvertently pushed inward,
wherein the locking portions for forming said edge are formed as downward-extending recesses for forming an upward-extending edge from the base of each recess, wherein each edge is arranged to allow a downward-extending locking protrusion of each collapsible side of the superstructure which is intended to be placed on the pallet to pass the edge so that the recess can receive the locking protrusion when the superstructure places itself in the fully raised position, or formed as upward-extending protrusions, wherein each protrusion is arranged, when the superstructure is moved from a partly raised upright position to a fully raised position, to allow a lower edge portion of the superstructure to pass across the protrusion in an outward movement and to drop down onto the outside of the protrusion, which outside of the protrusion forms said edge which prevents the collapsible sides of the superstructure from being inadvertently pushed inward.
The advantages of the various features have been discussed thoroughly in connection with corresponding features of the superstructure. The frame system can be an integrated part of a pallet or a separate system arranged to be fastened onto a pallet.
Preferred embodiments are set forth in the dependent claims.
Preferably, the locking portions of the frame system are arranged to be located in a centre portion of each lateral edge of the pallet, wherein the centre portion relates to a portion which comprises the positions which are closer to the centre of each lateral edge than the end points of each lateral edge. As mentioned in connection with the corresponding features of the superstructure, this positioning in the centre portion provides distinct feedback and in addition, the locking portions will directly act on the centre portion which is to be prevented from being moved inadvertently. In addition, slight bending inward of the inner hinge joint of the respective other side is sufficient to release the locking portions since the locking portions, thanks to their location in the centre portion, provide a large relative displacement when bending the parts of each side of the second pair inward.
Preferably, the frame system is formed in two separate parts which are each arranged to be fastened on a pallet, wherein each one of the parts comprises two corner wall portions and a locking portion arranged in between these corner wall portions. In this way, it is possible to provide various types of pallets with a frame system using the same components, as long as the side which is to receive each part has the same length. For example, this can be used to provide full and semi pallets with a frame system structured by the same components. In addition, it has been found that by dividing the frame system into two separate parts, the frame system is relatively unaffected by careless handling. A frame system in one part has a tendency to be deformed if handled carelessly, in such a way that, small displacements are transmitted and that the entire frame takes on a parallelogram form, which makes it difficult to place a superstructure and lid on the superstructure. By separating the frame system into two parts, this transmission of displacements is avoided. In addition, an inadvertent displacement of one part is easily corrected without the correction affecting other parts. Dividing the frame system into two separate parts also has the advantage that there is no need for an edge or similar to extend along the long sides of the pallet. In this way, it is simpler to access a superstructure which is placed in a flat folded position on the pallet.
Preferably, the frame system is formed with four corner wall portions, which each one is arranged to be located in a respective corner of the pallet, and each one comprises a first wall portion which is arranged to extend along at least a part of one of the lateral edges that meet in the corner in which the corner wall portion is located, and a second wall portion which is arranged to extend along at least a part of the second of the lateral edges that meet in the corner in which the corner wall portion is located, wherein the wall portions are arranged to form a physical outer, geometrically rectangular limitation on horizontal displacements of a superstructure arranged on the pallet.
When the superstructure is in a fully raised position, the recesses will retain the superstructure in place. In connection with raising the superstructure, it is preferable that the user is able to push one of the corners outward to abut with the corner wall portions in the current corner so that the protrusion of the superstructure drops down into the recess and then pushes other corners to each respective corner.
The corner wall portions also provide a cover against inadvertent impacts which could damage the superstructure or cause the superstructure to fall out of the recesses. In addition, the corner wall portions are formed with a height which is higher than the height of a collapsed superstructure laid on its side. In this way, the collapsed superstructure can be put on the pallet with the lid put on top and be carried by the corner wall portions and thereby protect the superstructure lying on its side.
According to one aspect of the invention, the invention relates to a lid arranged to be used on top of a rectangular, collapsible superstructure having two opposite collapsible sides arranged on a pallet.
The lid comprises four recesses, each one arranged to be located in a respective corner of the superstructure as to receive upward-extending protrusions of the superstructure, which recesses extend upward in order to form a downward-extending edge from the top of the recess, wherein the edge is arranged to interact with the protrusion when the protrusion is received in the recess and to prevent the protrusion and the corner portion from being inadvertently pushed inward along the collapsible sides of the superstructure,
two locking portions arranged to be located at the two opposite collapsible sides of the superstructure,
wherein the locking portions are formed with an edge and are arranged to interact with locking portions of each respective collapsible side of the superstructure on which the lid is intended to be placed in such a way that, when the superstructure is in a fully raised position, the interaction between the edge of the locking portion of the lid and the locking portion of the superstructure prevents the collapsible sides of the superstructure from being inadvertently pushed inward,
wherein the locking portions for forming said edge are formed as an upward-extending recess for forming a downward-extending edge from each top of the respective recess, or formed as downward-extending protrusions, wherein an outside of the protrusion forms said edge which prevents the collapsible sides of the superstructure from being inadvertently pushed inward.
The advantages of the various features have been discussed thoroughly in connection with corresponding features of the superstructure. As mentioned above in connection with a preferred embodiment of the superstructure, the user will first raise the superstructure to a fully raised position with the lower protrusions engaged to the recesses of the pallet (or the frame system) and the lower locking portions engaged with the locking portions of the pallet (or the frame system). Then the user will place a lid on top of the fully raised superstructure. The superstructure has on its top protrusions and locking portions corresponding to those on the underside. The lid is provided with outer limiting surfaces arranged to be located on the outside of the superstructure when the lid is correctly positioned. The lid also has upward-extending recesses arranged to interact with the upper protrusions of the superstructure. The lid also has locking portions arranged to interact with the locking portions of the superstructure. The lid has no flanges or similar that extend down on the inside of the sides of the superstructure. Owing to the lid not having any flanges and thanks to it being provided with recesses and locking portions and through the superstructure having the described upper protrusions and upper locking portions, it is easy for the user to place the lid on the superstructure. For example, the user can put the lid on at an angle or throw the lid onto the superstructure and then adjust it to the correct position so that protrusions and recesses and locking portions are correctly engaged with each other. When it is finally in the correct position, the lid will help to keep the superstructure in the correct position in the same way that the pallet (or frame system) keeps the superstructure in the correct position. Consequently, both the lower and the upper part of the superstructure will be kept in the fully raised position.
Preferred embodiments of the lid are set forth in the dependent claims.
Preferably, the locking portions of the lid are arranged to be located in a centre portion of each collapsible side of the superstructure, wherein the centre portion relates to a portion which comprises the positions which are closer to the centre of each side than the end points of each side. As mentioned above, this is advantageous with respect to distinct feedback and direct action on the centre portion which is to be prevented from being moved inadvertently. In addition, slight bending inward of the inner hinge joint of the respective other side is sufficient to release the locking portions since the locking portions, thanks to their location in the centre portion, provide a large relative displacement when bending the parts of each side of the second pair inward.
Preferably, the lid is provided with four corner wall portions which are each arranged to be located in a respective corner of the superstructure, and which each comprise a first wall portion which is arranged to extend along at least a part of one of the sides of the superstructure that meet in the corner in which the corner wall portion is located, and a second wall portion which is arranged to extend along at least a part of the second of the sides of the superstructure that meet in the corner in which the corner wall portion is located, wherein the wall portions are arranged to form a physical outer, geometrically rectangular limitation on outward skewing for the corner portions of the superstructure.
According to one aspect of the invention, the invention relates to a load handling system comprising a pallet of the above-mentioned type, provided with a frame system of the above-mentioned type. Preferably, the load handling system also comprises a superstructure of the above-mentioned type. More preferably, the load handling system also comprises a lid of the above-mentioned type.
It should also be noted that the various features described as parts of the frame system, such as the recesses and the corner portions, may be arranged on different components that are arranged to be put together. For example, the recesses forming the steps can be arranged as a part of the pallet while the corner wall portions may be part of a frame system. For example, such a structure can be appropriate if the pallet is manufactured from plastics and if a frame system is placed on top of the pallet. The recesses and their edges may be formed, for example, as an integral part of the loading surface of the pallet. The pallet with its recesses together with the frame system and its corner wall portions will then provide a solution which corresponds to the solution provided by a frame system with both recesses and corner wall portions.
It should also be noted that although it is preferable that the lid is of the above-mentioned type, it is not necessary for the lid to be of this type. A design where the frame system and the superstructure are of the above-mentioned type but where the lid does not have recesses with the above-mentioned edges may also be envisaged. For example, the lid may be formed with a downward edge all the way around. When the user puts the lid on the superstructure, this can be achieved by the lid engaging one edge and sliding along one of the upper edges of the superstructure so that the downward edges on each side of the lid guide the lid laterally. When the rear downward edge of the lid receives the upper edge of the superstructure along which the lid slides, the user can drop the edge which the user had hold of and the lid will then sit with its downward edges around and outside the superstructure and thereby be kept in place. A lid formed in this way may be provided with the above-mentioned locking portions, although this is not necessary.
The invention is described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings which, for the purposes of illustration, show a presently preferred embodiment of the invention.
As will be seen from
As will be seen from
Each downward-extending protrusion 36a-d extends, as will be seen in
In the embodiment shown in the drawings, the connecting portion is formed by a connecting portion of each corner portion 33a-d, in a raised position of the superstructure, by a lower edge portion (see 32b′ in
Each step 38a-d is arranged to interact with an edge 21a-d of a downward-extending recess 22a-d of the pallet 10 on which the superstructure 30 is intended to be placed. Each step 38a-d is arranged to interact with a respective edge 21a-d in such a way that, when the superstructure 30 is in a partly raised upright position (as in
Each step 38a-d is arranged to interact with a respective edge 21a-d in such a way that, when the superstructure 30 is placed with its protrusions 37a-d in the recesses 22a-d of the pallet 10, the interaction between the step 38a-d, which is formed by the protrusion 37a-d of the superstructure 30, and the edge 21a-d of the recess 22a-d of the pallet 10 prevents a respective corner portion 33a-d from being inadvertently pushed inward along the extension T of the sides 32a-b of the second pair. The corner portions 33a-d in
Each one of the sides 32a-b of the second pair comprises a locking portion 39a, 39c, in a raised position of the superstructure, in the lower edge portion of each side 32a-b. In addition, there are corresponding locking portions 39b, 39d in an upper edge portion of each side 32a-b. The location of the upper locking portions 39b, 39d is shown in
Each locking portion 39a, 39c is arranged to interact with a locking portion 23; 23′ of the pallet 10 on which the superstructure 30 is intended to be placed. Each locking portion 39a, 39c is arranged to interact with each locking portion 23; 23′ in such a way that, when the superstructure 30 is in a partly raised upright position (as in
Each locking portion 39a, 39c is arranged to interact with a respective locking portion 23; 23′ in such a way that, when the superstructure 30 is in a fully raised position, the interaction between the locking portion 39a, 39c of the superstructure 30 and the locking portion 23 of the pallet 10 prevents a respective hinge joint 34a, 34b between the parts 32a′ and 32a″ or 32b′ and 32b″, respectively, of the second pair 32a-b from being inadvertently pushed inward (counter to the arrows L in
The locking portion 39a, 39c of the superstructure 30 is, according to one variant, formed, in a raised position of the superstructure, as a downward-extending locking protrusion 39a, 39c. As is shown in
The locking portion is, according to another variant, formed such that the lower edge portion 39a′ and/or 39a″ has an edge which is arranged, when the superstructure 30 is moved from a partly raised upright position to a fully raised position, to be able to pass across in an outward movement L and drop down onto the outside of an upward-extending protrusion 23′ (see
The locking portions 39a, 39c, 39a′, 39a″ of the superstructure 30 are arranged in a centre portion at each side 32a-b of the second pair, wherein the centre portion relates to a portion which comprises the positions which are closer to the first hinge joint 34a and 34b of each side 32a or 32b than the second hinge joints 35a-d of each side.
As mentioned above, the superstructure 30 in each of the four corner portions 33a-d comprises a protrusion 37a-d which, in a raised position of the superstructure, extends above a connecting portion of the protrusion so that the protrusion in relation to the connecting portion forms an upward-extending step 37a-d′ (37c′ is shown in
The step 37a-d′ is arranged to interact with an edge 41a-d of an upward-extending recess of a lid 40 which is intended to be placed on the superstructure 30. The step 37a-d′ is arranged to interact with the edge 41a-d in such a way that, when the lid 40 is placed with the protrusions 37a-d of the superstructure 30 in the recesses of the lid 40, the interaction between the step 37a-d′, which is formed by the protrusion 37a-d of the superstructure 30, and the edge 41a-d of the recess of the lid 40 prevents a respective corner portion 33a-d of the superstructure 30 from being inadvertently pushed inward along the extension T of the sides 32a-b of the second pair.
Each one of the sides 32a-b of the second pair comprises a locking portion 39b, 39d within, in a raised position of the superstructure 30, within the upper edge portion of each side 32a-b. Each locking portion 39b, 39d is arranged to interact with a locking portion of the lid 40 which is intended to be placed on the superstructure 30 in such a way that, when the superstructure is in a fully raised position, the interaction between the locking portion 39b, 39d of the superstructure 30 and the locking portion of the lid 40 prevents a respective hinge joint 34a-b between the parts 32a′ and 32a″ or 32b′ and 32b″, respectively, of the second pair from being inadvertently pushed inward (counter to the direction L in
According to a variant, the locking portion 39b, 39d is formed, in a raised position of the superstructure, as an upward-extending locking protrusion (see 39d in
According to a variant, the locking portion 39b, 39d is formed by the upper edge portion having an edge which is arranged to extend upward onto the outside of a downward-extending protrusion of the lid which is intended to be placed on the superstructure. This corresponds to the lower edge portion 39c and the protrusion 23′. For an explanation of the appearance and the function, reference should be made to the part of the description which relates to these.
In the complete system, the pallet 10 carries a frame system 20 which is arranged to secure the collapsible superstructure 30. The frame system 20 may be integrated in the pallet 10, but it may also be formed by one or more separate parts which can be fastened on any chosen pallet 10. In the description of the superstructure 30, the various recesses of the pallet have been described in detail. If the pallet is provided with a separate frame system or if a separate frame system is sold for retrofitting on a pallet, it is the frame system which comprises the recesses and the locking portions described as parts of the pallet in the description above.
The locking portions 23; 23′ of the frame system 20 are arranged to be located in a centre portion of each lateral edge of the pallet 10, wherein the centre portion relates to a portion which comprises the positions which are closer to the centre of each lateral edge than the end points of each lateral edge.
The frame system 20 is formed in two separate parts 20a-b, which are each arranged to be fastened on a pallet 10. Each one of the parts 20a-b comprises two corner wall portions 24a′ and 24a″ or 24b′ and 24b″, respectively, and a locking portion 23, 24 arranged in between these corner wall portions.
Each separate part 20a-b may, as shown in
Each of the four corner wall portions 24a′ and 24a″ or 24b′ and 24b″, respectively, of the frame system 20 is arranged to be placed in a respective corner of the pallet. Each of the four corner wall portions 24a′ and 24a″ or 24b′ and 24b″, respectively, of the frame system 20 comprises a first wall portion 25a which is arranged to extend along at least a part of one of the lateral edges which meet in the corner in which the corner wall portion is located, and a second wall portion 25b, which is arranged to extend along at least a part of the second of the lateral edges which meet in the corner in which the corner wall portion is located.
The load handling system also comprises, as mentioned above, a lid 40 arranged to be used on top of a rectangular, collapsible superstructure 30, arranged on a pallet, with two opposite collapsible sides 32a-b.
In the same way as the frame system 20 comprises recesses and locking portions, the lid also comprises recesses and locking portions.
The lid 40 has four recesses which are each arranged to be located in a respective corner of the superstructure, which recesses extend upward in order to form a downward-extending edge (see 41b in
In summary, the superstructure can be described as a superstructure which comprises a downward-extending protrusion in each corner portion for forming a step which is arranged to interact with an edge of a downward-extending recess of the pallet on which the superstructure is intended to be placed. When the superstructure is in a partly raised upright position on the pallet, each corner portion can be pushed outward so that the protrusion can drop down into each recess of the pallet. The collapsible sides comprise respective locking portions arranged to interact with a locking portion of the pallet in such a way that, when the superstructure is in a partly raised upright position on the pallet, the locking portion of the superstructure can pass an edge of the locking portion of the pallet in an outward movement and thereby enable the superstructure to place itself in a fully raised position.
It will be appreciated that a number of modifications of the embodiments of the invention described herein are possible within the scope of the invention, which is defined in the following patent claims.
For example, the pallet may be made of other materials and be of other designs than what is described. The pallet may, for example, be made of plastic or wood. The pallet may be made of metal but with a different design. Since the frame system comprises the recesses with which the superstructure interacts, it is sufficient that the pallet can carry the desired weight and load and that it is possible to fasten the frame system on the pallet in a satisfactory manner. According to an alternative, the pallet can be formed so that it in itself has a surface in which recesses are formed so that the recesses and the adjacent part of the surface form the edges of the recesses. In such a design, the frame system does not need to comprise recesses, instead the frame system can in such a case mainly be formed in order to provide the system with corner wall portions.
The superstructure may be formed from other materials and be of other designs than what is described.
The superstructure is formed from extruded aluminium in the embodiment shown. The corner portions are extruded in their longitudinal direction (vertical direction for an upright superstructure).
The side surfaces are extruded in the direction which is indicated by the stripes on the side surfaces. The collapsible sides are extruded in the direction which becomes a vertical direction for an upright superstructure. The fixed sides are extruded in the direction which becomes a horizontal direction for an upright superstructure.
The superstructure may, for example, be made of sheet metal which has advantageously been bent in a wave pattern for increased stiffness. The superstructure may also be made of plastic, laminate sheets, or other material. A variant is that the superstructure is formed with corner pillars of metal and that the side plates are formed of another material which, for example, is cheaper and has a lower load-bearing capacity.
In the embodiment shown, the superstructure protrusions at the corner portions are made of plastic. They can be made of metal or other materials.
In the embodiment shown, the superstructure's protruding locking portions (in the middle of the foldable sides) are formed by screws (of metal) screwed into the hinge joint. These protruding portions can be made of other materials. For example, they can be made of plastic. They can also be made of a mixture of different materials. For example, it could be envisaged that they are formed as an annular plastic knob screwed securely by means of a sunken metal screw in the plastic knob. The plastic knob will glide across the frame system and drop down into the recesses in the frame system. The metal screw in the middle will effectively retain the plastic knob in relation to the hinge joint.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1451156-2 | Sep 2014 | SE | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/SE2015/051027 | 9/29/2015 | WO | 00 |
