Patent Application
20190104845
The present description relates to containers for use in transporting items.
In one form, the present description relates to the components for forming the containers that are used to transport the items, and to methods of use of the components to form the containers for transporting the items.
In one form, the present description relates to interconnecting components that are capable of being assembled together to form containers in which the containers are capable of being arranged in different configurations of stacked arrays using the interconnecting components for transporting the items, and to methods of assembling the different configurations of stacked arrays of containers from the components allowing interconnection of individual containers to one another to form the different configurations.
Embodiments in accordance with the present description find particular application as components that can be interconnected together or assembled with one another to form stillage for transporting items having different sizes by individual components of the stillage being arranged in interconnected vertically spaced apart stacked relationship to one another to form stacked arrays of containers for use in transporting the items, and to methods of interconnectedly assembling the components to form the stacked arrays of containers.
Although embodiments of the stillage and of the individual components will be described with particular reference to forms of the various components when assembled for forming stillage for transporting goods and to various forms of stacked arrays of containers, it is to be noted that the scope of protection is not restricted to the described embodiments or components or the described methods of assembling the components to one another to form the embodiments of stillage from the described components, but rather the scope of protection is more extensive so as to include other forms and variations of the various components, of the methods this of use of the components, and the methods of assembling the components together to form various configurations of the stillage, other than specifically described.
Containers having a variety of different forms are used to transport goods from one location to another. Suitable containers are available in a variety of different sizes, types, forms and similar. Often such containers are located on pallets to assist transportation of the containers, such as in stacked relationship to one another and/or in stacked arrays. Pallets are also available in a variety of different forms, types and constructions, including being made from different materials. The use of pallets to support and transport containers of goods in stacked relationship to each other, is often referred to as stillage.
One of the problems of using pallets and existing stillage, is that the containers forming the stillage often need to be adjustable in size so as to be able to accommodate differently sized goods being transported by the containers at different times, including being able to transport bulky items, goods having irregular shapes and/or goods of relatively large size. Another requirement of the stillage is that the stillage needs to be transported when empty, typically, when the stillage is being returned to the origin of the goods, such as for example, back loading the stillage to the source of the goods previously transported by the stillage. In order to reduce transport costs of empty containers, the stillage needs to be reduced in size to a compact form so as to reduce the space occupied by the containers when back loading empty containers enabling many empty containers to be back loaded simultaneously to the source of the goods.
In the past, the apparent conflicting requirements of the containers being adjustable in size to be sufficiently large enough to accommodate large and bulky items, yet be compact for efficient back loading has been satisfied by having containers that were convertible between two different configurations, such as for example, collapsible containers or disassemblable containers, or modular containers that could be converted between a transport configuration for transporting the goods when in an assembled configuration and a compact configuration for efficient back loading when in a disassembled configuration.
One problem associated with such convertible containers is the requirement for the containers to be sturdy and stable in order to remain rigid when in stacked relationship with each other when in the transport configuration such as for example, when being stacked vertically so as to safely transport the items within the containers. Any unnecessary looseness in the assembly of the containers could result in the structure of the stacked array being structurally weak and unstable and in imminent danger of the array collapsing, such as for example by swaying from side to side due to movement of the transport vehicle, this when transporting valuable goods resulting in loss or damage to the goods.
Additionally, the adjustment in size of many existing convertible stillage arrangements is limited due to the actual method of construction of the convertible stillage which reduced their effectiveness in transporting large or bulky items or products having an irregular shape or goods requiring large clearances during transportation, such as, having adequate clearance between adjacent containers since the size of the stillage could not be significantly enlarged without introducing inherent instability into the stacked array due to the looseness of fit or connection between the components forming the stillage or due to the misalignment between the various components forming the stacked array, particularly vertical misalignment, such as misalignment due to the vertical axes of the various components not being substantially in register with each other and in vertical alignment with each other.
Therefore, there is a need for stillage which is readily convertible between a spaced apart stacked array configuration and a compact configuration but which maintains the rigidity and/or stability of the structure when in the stacked array to allow the safe transport of goods using the stillage.
Accordingly, it is an aim to provide stillage which is formed from components which can be rigidly interconnected to one another to form a stable stacked array of containers in which the integrity of the assembled stillage is maintained during use of the stillage for transporting goods.
Accordingly, it is an aim to provide a method of transporting goods using stillage made from components which can be assembled together to maintain rigid interconnection between the components during transportation of the goods.
Accordingly, it is an aim to provide stillage that can be readily assembled and disassembled as required, which when assembled and arranged in stacked relationship, the stillage remains rigidly interconnected to preserve the structural integrity of the stillage when in the stacked array.
It is to be noted that not all aims will be satisfied by all embodiments. Some embodiments will satisfy one aim while other embodiments will satisfy another aim. Some embodiments will satisfy two or more aims.
According to one form of the present invention there is provided a support for a platform of a container for use in transporting items located upon the platform, the platform having a generally planar load carrying surface, characterised in that
the support has a first end and a second end, the support being generally elongate,
the first end for cooperative engagement with a first part of the platform to support the platform in use, and
the second end for contact with a first member to locate the support with respect to the first member to support the platform by contact of the support with the first member, the first member being different to the first part of the platform engaged with the first end of the support,
wherein the first end includes an engaging element for cooperatively engaging with the first part of the platform, the engaging element and the first part of the platform being complementary to one another for allowing rigid connection between the first end of the support and the first part of the platform to retain the platform in a first orientation with respect to the support, and
the second end provided with a base element for contact with the first member to support the support in the first orientation when the support and platform are rigidly connected to each other when the second end is in contact with the first member,
the first orientation being such that the plane of the platform extends substantially perpendicularly to the lengthwise extending direction of the support when the support extends in the lengthwise extending direction between contact with the first member and the first part of the platform.
According to one form of the present invention, there is provided a support for a container for use in assembling stillage including a first container and a second container, characterised in that the support has a body portion provided intermediate a first end and a second end, the body portion being generally elongate, the first end being of reduced dimensions with respect to the body portion for forming a projection for cooperative engagement with a first part of a fitting of the first container to interconnect the support and the first container, the body portion having a stop for engaging with a second part of the fitting of the first container to limit movement of the first container thereon, the body portion having an external wall and an internal cavity, the external wall is provided with a receiver for receiving an extension therein to space the first container and the second container from one another, the receiver for anchoring the extension in a desired orientation, the cavity provided with a guide for guiding movement of the extension for locating the extension in the desired orientation, and the second end is provided with an enlarged base for supporting the support on a substrate.
According to one form of the present invention, there is provided a stillage for transporting items comprising a first container for containing some items, the first container having a first set of supports,
a second container for containing other items,
the second container having a second set of supports, characterised in that the supports have an internal guide and an external receiver, the first container being spaced from the second container by a set of extensions,
the set of extensions being of substantially the same length and each having a first end and a second end,
wherein the first end of the extension cooperatively engages with the internal guide of one set of supports and the second end of the extension cooperatively engages with the external receiver and the second container to align the extension in a desired orientation with respect to the first container and the second container to maintain structural integrity or rigidity of the stillage.
According to one form of the present invention, there is provided a method of assembling stillage comprising the steps of
attaching a first set of supports to a first container, attaching an extension having a first end and second end to a first container and the support,
characterised in that each of the first set of supports has an internal guide and an external receiver,
such that the first end of the extension cooperatively engages with the first container and the receiver to secure the extension to the first container to extend from the first container in a desired orientation,
attaching a second set of supports to a second container,
locating the second container on the second end of the extension to cooperatively engage with the guide,
wherein the guide directs and maintains the extension in the desired orientation, wherein the extension in the desired orientation locates the second container and the first container in spaced apart stacked relationship to one another to form a stable stillage.
Details of the individual components for forming the stillage will now be described, as will methods of assembling the individual components to one another to form the stillage, and methods of forming the stillage in different configurations of stacked arrays of interconnected containers and components.
Although the containers can have any suitable or convenient form, style or type, typical forms of the container include containers having a platform, typically a planar platform, more typically a platform in the form of a planar load carrying surface. Forms of the container are generally square or rectangular. Typically, the shape and size of the container corresponds to the shape and size of a pallet. However, the container can have any suitable shape or size including being over size with respect to the corresponding dimensions of the pallet.
The platform can be a solid platform having a more or less continuous load carrying floor or surface, such as for example a solid floor, or an open platform to reduce weight. Forms of the open platform include a mesh deck, a perforated deck, or other open deck having openings, apertures, voids, or similar, such as for example in the form of a set of or similar. A preferred form of container is a basket, typically an open mesh basket having a mesh deck, floor or load carrying surface or similar. Forms of the mesh deck include a grid of longitudinal rods and transverse rods interconnected together in a regular pattern or arrangement, typically a generally rectilinear pattern or arrangement.
Forms of the container include a base frame, typically including framework members or elements, more typically the framework members or elements extend along one or more sides of the container, typically the basket. The framework members provide structural support and rigidity for the container. Forms of the container include side parts or portions for assisting in retaining items and goods on the platform within the container. Forms of the side part include side rails, typically extending from, or spaced apart from, the platform or base framework elements. In one form the side rails include circular rods or similar extending from one corner to an adjacent corner of the container. In one form there are individual interconnected rods whereas in other forms the side parts include a rod in the form of a substantially continuous loop around all four sides of the container.
Forms of the container also include joiners or similar for joining the side parts to the base framework elements. The joiners can have any suitable or convenient form. One form of the joiner is a bracket, typically a flat metal bracket, more typically a bent bracket made from a flat sheet or strip having two or more portions inclined to one another. In forms, the joiner extends from the base frame element to the side parts or portions for connecting the rod to the frame. Other forms of joiner or bracket can be used for joining the side rails to the base frame elements. Other forms of the container have solid side walls extending upwardly from the load deck, typically vertically upwards. However, in some forms the side parts can extend both vertically upwards and outwards to accommodate loads having a specialised or irregular shape.
The support can have any suitable or convenient form, type, size or style. Forms of the support include legs or support legs, or feet, or stubs or similar. The function of this form of the support is to support the container and/or stillage. Another form of the support includes connectors for use in connecting one container to another container, typically an upper container and the lower container. In this form the function of the support is to connect rigidly two containers to one another in spaced apart vertical stacked relationship to each other. The support in the form of a connector cooperatively engages with part of the lower container being the corner fitting and support legs, and cooperatively engages the lower surface of the upper support legs associated with the upper container. In forms of the container, the support cooperatively engages with a first part of the container to support the container, or is located intermediate two containers to space one container from the other container, in which one end of the support cooperatively engages with the leg support attached to a first part of the first or upper container, and a second end of the support cooperatively engages with the first part of the second or lower container, such as a corner fitting of the container this.
Typically, the first part of the container or containers is located at the corners of the container, more typically at each of the four corners of the square or rectangular deck of the container. Forms of the container have corner fittings at each of the four corners of the container. Forms of the corner fitting include an open part for receiving a complementary shaped projection of the support. Forms of the open part include a collar, bore, or similar hollow tube or the like and/or openings or voids in the form of slots, slits, channels, grooves, or similar, optionally arranged at angles to one another, typically at right angles to each other. In forms, the corner fitting includes both an open part and openings or voids in which the open part is located centrally of the fitting and the openings in the form of perpendicular slots are located at or towards two sides of the corner fitting.
Forms of the corner fitting include square or rectangular flat plates. In some forms, the flat plate is continuous having a solid surface whereas in other forms, the corner fitting is discontinuous by being provided with slots, slits, openings, apertures or similar for receiving the lower end in use of the support in the form of a connector in the form of a side extension, spacer or similar for spacing apart two containers in stacked relationship one upon the other, so that the upper container is superposed over the lower container and in vertical alignment therewith so as to occupy substantially the same footprint. Typically, the slots are generally “L-shaped”, and are located along the two outer sides of the corner fitting.
Although the support can have any suitable or convenient form, typical forms of the support include the following. Forms of the support are support legs, support stubs, support feet or the like, whereas other forms of the support are extension pieces, extension lengths, spacers or similar for spacing apart two containers in stacked relationship one above the other.
Generally, the support has a lengthwise extending axis with a first end located at one end of the support and a second end located at the other end of the support. Typically, the first end is the upper end in use and is provided with an engaging element for engaging with part of the platform of the container, typically engaging one of the corner fittings located at one of the corners of the platform. Forms of the support include support legs for supporting the container or the lowermost container of a stack of containers in stacked relationship to one another. Typically, the support is a short length of tube which has a free end at one end corresponding to the shape of a collar into which it is to be received, and an enlarged base element at the other end for supporting the container on a suitable substrate or for connecting to a spacer or extension length for spacing two containers apart from one another (to be described in more detail later).
Forms of the engaging element of the support leg, typically provided at the upper end in use of the support leg, include a projection or projecting part, such as for example an extension, a plug, a male part or the like for being received in the open part of the corner fitting such as for example a socket, opening or female part of the corner fitting of the container. Typically, the plug is generally square or rectangular in shape, such as in the form of a hollow tube or hollow rectangular prism. The socket is of a complementary shape, also being square or rectangular, for receiving the square or rectangular plug therein to securely support the container on the support.
The support leg this has a body portion extending along the lengthwise extending axis thereof. Forms of the body portion are provided with a stop, typically in the form of a ridge, projection, shoulder or the like for limiting axial movement of the corner fitting in the lengthwise direction of the support leg. In forms of the support leg, the plug of the support leg is received within a collar or similar of the corner fitting until the stop, typically in the form of a ridge or circumferential projection or similar contacts the edge of the collar to limit the axial movement of the plug within the socket.
Forms of the body of the support leg have an external wall. Forms of the external wall are provided with a receiver. Typically, the receiver is in the form of a reduced thickness wall section, groove, rebate, channel, pocket, cavity, void, opening, bore or the like for receiving the wall section of the spacer or side extension, typically the lower end in use of the side extension or spacer. In forms, the receiver of the leg support receives the lower end of the spacer or side extension therein for spacing one container apart from another container in vertical stacked relationship. In forms of the stillage, the end of the side extension or spacer is close fittingly received within the pocket or similar so as to rigidly secure the stacked array of containers to be in vertical alignment with each other.
Forms of the receiver, typically in the form of a cavity, pocket or the like include a guide, typically a guide for guiding movement of the side extension, more typically one end of the side extension for aligning the side extension and support leg vertically. In one form the guide is the walls of the pocket, groove or channel provided externally of the support leg.
Forms of the second end of the support leg are provided with a base element. Typically, the base element includes a support foot, more typically an enlarged support foot, even more typically an enlarged foot having tapering sides, typically tapering lower edges to the sides of the foot, and more typically in the form of flared flanges or similar.
Forms of the lower end or lower edge in use of the foot of the support leg are provided with a cavity having a guide for guiding movement of the upper end of the side extension or spacer, typically against the outer walls or external walls of the base element for facilitating location of the side extension or spacer in a vertical orientation with respect to the support leg into the upper container. Forms of the guide include an inclined plate or plate bent out of the plane of the plate, typically a distorted or bent quadrilateral shaped plate, more typically an asymmetrical irregular shape plate that has been bent or distorted out of a single plane.
In one form the guide in the form of the bent or distorted plate is mounted within the cavity of the base element of the support leg by a suitable faster, such as for example, an elongate threaded bolt or threaded nut/bolt combination.
Although the first member can be of any suitable or convenient form, type or style, typically the first member is a solid substrate, such as a floor of a building, another container, typically in the form of a mesh basket container, a wheel assembly, the side rails of a basket or the like. The first member is any part to which the lower end in use of the support leg is attached or mounted for supporting the container or containers when the containers are in stacked relationship to one another to form the various configurations of stacked arrays.
Embodiments of the containers for use in transporting items and methods of use of the components to form the containers for transporting items will now be described by way of examples illustrating and/or exemplifying aspects of the scope of protection with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Firstly, the stillage will be described generally to provide a context for describing the individual components for forming the stillage in detail which description of the individual components and their relationship to each other will follow the initial general description.
One form of stillage, generally denoted as 2, is shown in
One form of a stacked array of stillage will now be described merely by way of illustrating and describing embodiments of stillage 2 generally, so as to provide background for understanding how the various components of the stillage cooperate with each other, when in the configuration illustrated in
The illustrated array of stillage includes four individual containers in different spaced apart stacked relationship to each other comprising an upper pair of containers 4, 6 in widely spaced apart relationship to one another by the length of a support in the form of side extensions 8 extending between the two containers 4, 6 forming the upper pair of containers, and a lower pair of containers 10, 12 in contiguous nested relationship to each other in contact with each other by the upper container 10 being superposed on lower container 12. It is to be noted that the lower container 6 of the upper pair of containers 4, 6 is spaced from the upper container 10 of the lower pair of containers 10, 12 to a lesser extent by the length of supports 14 extending between containers 6, 10. This is merely to illustrate the variations in possible configurations. Supports 14 can take the form of support legs, connectors or similar to be described in detail later with respect to specific embodiments thereof. The upper pair of containers 4, 6 illustrates an example of containers used to transport relatively larger bulky items by the two containers being spaced from each other. The lower pair of containers 10, 12 in compact nested relationship to each other illustrate an example used to transport empty containers such as when “back loading” the containers to a manufacturing site or distribution centre; and, the spacing between the upper pair and lower pair illustrates the relationship of the containers when used for the transportation of relatively small sized items not requiring the presence of side extensions 8, but rather only requiring the presence of support legs 14 to space the containers apart since the length of the support legs 14 provides sufficient clearance between the two adjacent containers 6, 10 to accommodate the relatively small sized items being transported in container 10.
Each of the various components of stillage 2 will now be described individually in detail with reference to their specific respective forms, with reference to the drawings. Additionally, the spatial relationship of the components will also be described when in different configurations, and how the stillage can be formed by assembling the individual components to one another.
One form of the container for transporting items which was described generally previously as being containers 4, 6, 10, 12 are specifically in the form of a wire mesh basket, denoted in its entirety as 20. Thus, each of general containers 4, 6, 10, 12 is a similar wire mesh basket, now being denoted generally as 20.
Wire mesh basket 20 has a generally planar load carrying surface in the form of a mesh deck 22 comprising a multiplicity of lengthwise extending generally circular rods interconnected with a multiplicity of transversely extending generally circular rods arranged in a generally interconnected grid like pattern. The mesh of mesh deck 22 can have any suitable form and be formed in any suitable manner, such as by welding individual rods together at spaced apart locations to each other. Alternatively, the mesh deck can be a solid deck or an open deck provided with openings, such as perforations. A base frame 24 comprising four interconnected lengths of angle iron is provided along all four sides of planar mesh deck 22 to provide rigidity to basket 20 and to support mesh deck 22. Basket 20 is provided with four side rails 26, one such rail extending along each side of basket 20 in spaced apart relationship to planar deck 22. Side rails 26 are generally circular rods or bars. A pair of brackets 27 is provided to connect each side rail 26 to base frame 24 of deck 22 at spaced apart locations such as towards each end of each side rail 26. In one form, bracket 27 is a length of a flat section of metal, such as steel, optionally bent out of the plane at one end to have different portions inclined to one another, typically the end joining rail 26 to connect the side rail to base frame 24. A corner fitting 28 is provided at each corner of planar deck 22 in base frame 24 for cooperative engagement with other components of stillage 2. Corner fitting 28 can have different forms. In one form, corner fitting 28 includes a flat generally square or rectangular plate interconnecting adjoining ends of adjacent base frame angle irons forming frame base 24. Corner fitting 28 is provided with a pair of peripheral slots 30 arranged with respect to each other to extend in a generally L-shape along the two outer sides of the corner fitting as shown more particularly in
Corner fitting 28 can have other forms as will be described.
It is to be noted that the stillage will be described with reference to its normal in use orientation by the use of terms upper, lower and the like. This is not meant to be limiting of the scope of protection, but rather is for ease of description and clarity of understanding.
Further, it is to be noted that components of the stillage will be described with reference to two inner sides or internal sides and two outer sides or external sides. The two inner or internal sides of the components located at one corner of stillage 2 face inwards and correspond to the location of the two internal sides of the corner fitting 28 of basket 20, which are the sides not having slots 30. The two outer sides of the components located at one corner face outwardly and correspond to the sides of the corner fitting 28 of basket 20 having slots 30.
It is generally the outwardly facing sides of the components which cooperatively engage with each other to interconnect the various components and are in alignment, typically vertical alignment, with each other resulting in the structural rigidity of the baskets when in a stacked array due to this vertical alignment. Further, it is to be noted that the rigidity of the stacked array of containers forming the stillage is due to the close tolerances of the fit of the various components to one another.
Further, it is to be noted that in one form of corner fitting 28, the L-shaped slots 30 are in the same plane as deck 22 with slots 30 extending through the thickness of the flat plate provided at the corners of deck 22 perpendicularly to the plane of deck 22 so that a single orientation only between spacers 32 and deck 22 is possible when the lower ends in use of spacers 32 are received in the respective corner slots.
In one form, corner fitting 28 is in the form of a collar formed by the flat plate having L-shaped slots 30 and the width of the sections forming base frame 24 of basket 20.
In one form, collar of corner fitting 28 includes a socket in the form of a square shaped bore and optionally a centrally located hollow spigot 38 for cooperatively engaging with the upper end in use of a leg support which is received in the square bore to securely locate and connect the support leg to the container. The leg support can have different forms. One form of the leg support will be described later.
In one form, hollow spigot 38 receives the end of a suitable fastener provided internally within the form of the support leg to be described in more detail later. Despite being available in different forms, corner fitting 28 has the function of a socket for cooperative engagement with the upper end of the support leg which has the function of a plug. The socket and plug are complementary to one another to allow cooperative engagement of one with the other to contribute to the rigidity of the stacked array of containers by the fit between the two components having close tolerances which prevents unwanted respective movement of the components to one another.
One form of support, denoted as 8 in the previous general description will now be described in detail with respect to a specific embodiment.
Support 8 serves the functions of being a support for stillage 2 in some configurations being in the form of a support leg or similar, and a connector for cooperatively interconnecting three components of stillage 2 in other configurations, being in the form of a side extension or spacer.
One form of the support which will now be described in detail is in the form of a support leg 40, having a first end which is the upper end 42 in use, and a second end which is the lower end 44 in use. Upper end 42 is of reduced dimensions to form a plug for being received in the socket of the container in the form of the collar or bore of corner fitting 28 acting as a complementary socket. Further, upper end 42 is of a generally square shape and is generally hollow having four side walls being a pair of outer side walls 46 which are oriented to face outwardly of stillage 2 and a pair of inner side walls 48 which are oriented to face inwardly of stillage 2. The pair of inner side walls 46, are each provided with a stop in the form of ridge 50 forming a shoulder for limiting axial movement of corner fitting 28 in the lengthwise direction of support leg 40 for supporting upper basket 20 and maintaining rigid connection between the individual containers of the stacked array. The lower edges of the square bore or collar of corner fitting 28 forming the socket, rest upon a stop in the form of ridge 50 so that when the upper end 42 of support leg 40 is received in the bore of corner fitting 28, the wire mesh basket 20 rests upon ridge 50 so that the basket is supported on support leg 40. In one form, ridge 50 is provided with a seat for retaining the end of a side extension in the correct orientation. In one form, the seat is a rebate, groove, channel or the like having a generally curved cross-sectional profile, such as a semi-circular trough 51 shown more particularly in
Irrespective of the exact form of the corner fitting and the upper end of support leg 40, the reduced dimensions of the upper end 42 of support leg 40 functions as a plug for being received in the socket formed by corner fitting 28 to rigidly interconnect the support leg and basket to each other in the required alignment.
Support leg 40 is provided with a midsection forming the internal body of the support leg. The internal body can have different forms. One form includes a spider 51 having four radially extending arms 52 extending outwardly from a central circular hub 54, all located within an internal cavity. In one form, the central circular hub 54 is for receiving a distal end of a fastener 55 to assist in accurate location of the support leg with respect to basket 20 in addition to the plug being received in the socket.
Lower end 44 of support leg 40 is in the form of a base arrangement for use in locating and supporting support leg 40 on a suitable substrate and/or first member, as will be described in detail below. The first member can have any suitable form, such as for example, being a solid substrate such as a floor of a building, another basket, a wheel assembly, the side rails of a basket or the like.
At or towards the lower end 44 of support leg 40, there is provided a receiver in the form of generally U-shaped pockets 56 in the external surface of each of the two external or outer sides of the midsection of support leg 40 for receiving the lower ends of sides 34, 36 of spacer 32 in use after spacers 32 have been received through slots 30 and along the external surfaces of the outer sides of support leg 40 to securely retain spacers 32 in place within stillage 2 to interconnect the basket, support leg and spacer. Pockets 56 retain the two sides, 34, 36 of spacer 32 in the correct position so that spacer 32 extends vertically and prevents twisting of spacer 32 out of the correct alignment or displacing the spacer from the correct vertical position so that two adjacent support legs 40 are aligned with each other collinearly so that the weight of the stillage, particularly the upper basket or baskets is transmitted through the spacers and support legs to support the weight of the stillage on a suitable substrate, particularly as illustrated in
Lower end 44 of support leg 40 is provided with a base element in the form of a foot 58 extending around all four sides of the lower part of support leg 40. In one form, foot 58 is provided with cut-outs 60 for cooperatively engaging with side rails 26 of another wire basket 20, such as the wire basket upon which the support leg rests. In one form, the profile of cut-out 60 is complementary to the profile of the side rail, typically a semi-circular or circular rod or bar so that the cylindrical rod forming side rail 26 is received within the curvature of the semi-circular cut-out 60. In one form, the cut-out is in the form of a generally curved groove extending along the two outer sides of the flange forming the foot of support leg 40 and the junction between the two sides. The groove has a substantially semi-circular profile and generally curves around the junction of the two outer sides. The radius of curvature of the groove corresponds to the radius of curvature of the junction of two adjacent side rails 26. The engagement between the profile of the side rail and the complementary cut-out 60, assists in supporting and locating the base of support leg 40 to maintain the support leg in a vertical orientation by anchoring the lower end 44 of support leg 40 in the correct orientation.
In one form, the profile of cut-out 60 corresponds to the profile of the junction of two adjacent side rails 26 in that the cut-out of the external sides of the foot are aligned with the curvature of the join between adjacent rails so that foot 58 is received in contact with the junction of the side rails to further support and locate the lower end of the support leg.
An inclined plate 62 having an irregular shape is fixedly located within the opening of foot 58 of support leg 40 using a suitable fastener. One form of the fastener is a bolt or screw 64 extending through the internal body of the support leg by extending through central circular hub and extending through the open upper end of the support leg to be received internally within hollow spigot of the corner fitting 28, if the hollow spigot is optionally provided. Inclined plate 62 is held captive in the correct orientation by the enlarged head of the screw or bolt 64 so that the inclined plate is angled towards the outer sides of the internal cavity of the support leg in order to receive and direct the upper ends of spacer 34 to the external sides of support leg in order to correctly position and maintain the spacer in the correct position and orientation to extend substantially vertical in alignment with the outer sides of the support leg so that the stacked array of baskets 20 is stable.
One form of the inclined plate will now be described. The interior of the body of the support leg is provided with an internal cavity. The internal cavity and interior of the body can have any suitable shape or configuration.
In one form, inclined plate 62 is shaped so as to be able to be fixedly attached to the interior of the body of the support let in a single orientation only, owing to the matching of the profile of the internal cavity with the shape of the inclined plate.
In one form, inclined plate 62 is neither planar nor symmetrical but rather is of an asymmetrical irregular shape bent out of a single plane, as shown more particularly in
Inclined plate 62 is an irregular quadrilateral shape having four of the sides arranged to extend at different angles with respect to each other. Two of the sides are of the same length which is different to the lengths of the other two sides. Two of the sides of the plate, are external sides for alignment with the internal walls of the cavity facing outwardly and two of the sides of the plate are internal sides corresponding to the inner sides of the cavity facing inwardly. The cross-sectional profile of inclined plate is such that the junction between the two outer sides is located closer to the upper end of the support leg than the opposite corner being the junction between the two inner sides, which is located at a level closer to the lower end of the support leg. The amount of inclination of the inclined plate is illustrated in
It is to be noted that the slope of inclined plate 62 towards the junction of the outer sides of the plate at the external corner of support leg 40 forms a guide for directing the upper end of spacer 34 into alignment with the internal surfaces of the outer walls of the internal body of support leg 40 so that the spacer and support leg are aligned with each other collinearly.
A boss 64 having a circular aperture 66 is located substantially centrally in the inclined plate for receiving a suitable fastener in the form of the elongate bolt 68 secured in place by a corresponding nut to fixedly connect inclined plate within the internal cavity of the support leg.
Depending upon requirements, stillage 2 can have a number of different configurations. In some configurations, stillage 2 rests directly upon four support legs 40 which are in contact with a suitable substrate such as the floor of a building. In other configurations, stillage 2 needs to be movable. One form of the spacer is a side extension for adjusting the basket in accordance with the size and shape of the items being transported, particularly in the lower basket. Four spacers, one at each corner, are used to space the two baskets apart from each other. In one form, the spacer is a length of angle iron, typically a length of angle iron in which the two sides extend perpendicularly to each other. More typically, the size and profile of the angle iron spacer corresponds to the size and profile of the slots 30 provided in corner fitting 28 so that the sides of the angle iron are received through slots 30 so as to be close fitting with close tolerances. Other forms of the spacers are possible.
One form of a support leg and wheel assembly combination, generally denoted as 70, will now be described with reference to
Support leg 40 is in the form as previously described with respect to the stacked array of wire baskets 20, and is provided with a base element which in one form is an outwardly extending flange for forming foot 58 of the support leg in which the flange has dimensions greater than the size of the main body of the support leg. Foot 58 is used to connect support leg 40 to a selected wheel assembly, depending upon requirements of the goods/items being transported by the container.
One form of the wheel assembly is essentially a caster wheel assembly 70, such as shown in
Each side of yoke 74 is provided with an aperture for receiving a suitable fastener therethrough for forming an axle upon which the wheel is journaled for rotation with respect to the remainder of the combination.
The side of tray 72 not having the upstanding wall is provided with a resiliently biased button 82 for use in retaining support leg 40 securely in the tray of wheel assembly 70. In one form, button 82 is downwardly depressed to move from an at rest locking configuration to a clearance configuration allowing sliding movement of support leg 40 with respect to wheel assembly 70. When depressed against its bias, button 82 is clear of foot 58 so that the foot of the support leg is free to slidingly engage with tray 72 of the wheel assembly. When the foot is in the fully home position, button 82 is released allowing it to return upwardly to the at rest locked position to lock the support leg in place on the wheel assembly by clipping foot 58 into tray 72 as shown more particularly in
After respective support legs 40 are attached to each of the four corner fittings of the basket to form the lowermost basket of the stacked array of baskets, a wheel assembly can be clicked into place on each of the support legs so that the stacked array of baskets can be moved from one location to another location in unison by merely pushing the stacked array as a single unit to roll on the wheels provided on the lowermost basket.
Another form of the wheel assembly for attachment to the foot of the support leg will now be described. This other form of the wheel assembly, generally denoted as 84, which is illustrated in
To assemble the combined support leg 40 and wheel assembly 90, with button 86 in the depressed position, the support leg is slidingly moved in the direction towards the junction of the two side walls in the sides of the tray not having the upstanding walls which are the inner walls facing inwardly of the stacked array of baskets so that foot 58 of support leg 40 contacts the tray of the wheel assembly. When the support leg is pushed fully home, the locating lugs retain the flange of the foot of the support leg in place and button 86 clicks back into the locked position due to the resilient bias of the mounting of the button so as to securely retain the support leg in the tray, to form this combination of support leg and wheel assembly.
Assembly of one configuration of a stacked array of wire mesh baskets will now be described.
A first wire mesh basket 20 is provided. Four individual support legs 40 are attached to the undersurface of the basket, one at each corner, in the corner fitting 28 provided at each corner. The plug formed at the upper end of the body of the support leg by the upper part of the body having reduced dimensions is received in the collar or bore of corner fitting 28 of the basket acting as a socket so that the lower edge of the collar and the base frame 24 of basket 20 rests upon ridge 50 provided on the external sides of the support leg. When each support leg 40 is received fully within the respective collars owing to the height of the collars, the basket is oriented to extend perpendicularly with respect to the lengthwise extending direction of the legs due to the close fitting tolerances of the dimensions of the plug and socket. In this configuration the basket is arranged so that the load carrying surface is substantially horizontal in order to retain goods or items placed in the basket.
Optionally if required, one or other form of the wheel assemblies can be attached to the foot of each of the support legs to provide ease of movement of the baskets over a suitable substrate such as the floor of a warehouse, factory, shop or the like.
In order to form a stacked array of wire mesh baskets in vertical spaced apart relationship, four side extensions in the form of spacers 8 of right angle sections are inserted through respective slots 30 of the corner fitting 28 of the lower or lowermost basket so as to extend beyond the lower edge of the collar into the U-shaped profiled pockets provided on both outer walls of the support leg attached to the lower basket. In this manner, spacers 8 in the form of side extensions extend vertically upwards from the lower basket in alignment with the lengthwise extending direction of the respective support legs.
After attaching a second set of support legs to another basket to form an upper basket of the stacked array, the basket is positioned so that the respective upper ends are received in the hollow internal cavity of the body of the support leg to contact the respective inclined plate 62. Owing to the sides of the angle spacer being located along the outwardly facing sides of the stacked array and the angle and shape of inclined plate 62 being upwardly inclined, the upper end of the spacer is directed to the external sides of the internal cavity so that the upper distal ends of the spacer contact the internal walls of the cavity on the external sides of the support leg to maintain the spacers in a vertical position. Further, it is to be noted that when the baskets are loaded with items, the weight of the basket and items maintains the upper ends of the spacer against the internal walls of the cavity which are on the outer facing walls of the stacked array. This construction of the stacked array ensures that when on a level substrate, the baskets are always retained in a horizontal orientation because the support legs and spacers must extend in a truly vertical orientation owing to the manner in which the spacers and leg supports are connected to one another and to the corner fittings of the baskets.
Optionally, the corner fitting of basket 20 is additionally provided with a hollow spigot for receiving the distal threaded end of a suitable bolt to assist in accurately locating support leg in the collar. Further optionally, the hollow spigot can be internally threaded for threadingly receiving the threaded distal end of the bolt to assist in accurately aligning the support leg in the collar and to rigidly connect the support leg to the basket.
It will be understood to persons skilled in the art of the invention that many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
One modification of the container in the form of a basket includes providing a lifting point or lifting component along one or more sides of the basket to enable lifting of the basket either alone or lifting of the stacked array of baskets as a single unit, typically by a suitable lifting device, including a forklift, hoist, or similar. One form of the lifting point or lifting component, is a lifting ring. One form of the lifting ring is either permanently or temporarily attached to one side of the framework of the basket. If permanently attached, the lifting ring is welded to the framework member of the basket or attached using any suitable bonding agent, fastener or the like. In one form there are two lifting rings located on one of the framework members of the basket in spaced apart relationship to each other. In one form there are two spaced apart lifting rings on one framework member and also two spaced apart lifting rings on the other framework member of the basket, typically on opposite sides of the basket allowing access to the container from either side.
One form of lifting ring 96 is a substantially continuous loop of a flat strip of metal 98 deformed into a generally saddle shape for location over the upper surface or edge of the side framework member 24 of basket 20. One form of the lifting ring is illustrated in
In use, the tines of a forklift or other similar lifting apparatus are located through the loop of the respective lifting rings on the one side of the basket. The tines extend through the lifting rings to extend underneath the load carrying surface or deck of the basket so as to lift the basket in its entirety from underneath as a single unit, including the stacked array of multiple containers.
Although one form of the lifting ring is described and illustrated, it is to be noted that the lifting component can have any suitable or convenient form and be located at any suitable or convenient location around the edge or periphery of the basket.
It is to be understood that, if any prior art publication is referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an admission that the publication forms a part of the common general knowledge in the art, in Australia or any other country.
In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word “comprise” or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising” is used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the invention.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016901431 | Apr 2016 | AU | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/AU2017/050341 | 4/18/2017 | WO | 00 |
