AU656238B2 - Container - Google Patents

Description

r 656238

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 000 0000 00 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT 00 9 0 00 0 00 *0 *000 0 5000 9 .0.00.

0 @000 0 0 0000 00 ~0 0 0 0 Applicant(s): LUCIANO M. PAGLIARO invention Title:

CONTAINER

The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us: III I 2

CONTAINER

This invention relates to a storage container and, in particular, but not exclusively, to a food storage container for allowing food products to be stored and transported.

Storage containers for food products and other products which are to be stored and transported are known.

it 10 Generally, the storage containers comprise a pallet section at the base of the container and a plurality of gates which It I t" t form side wall panels of the container. The gates are usually removable or pivotal so that the storage container

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t t can be collapsed when it. is desired to store empty

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t 15 containers or to transport empty containers.

Conventional storage containers suffer from a number of drawbacks including difficulties associated with location tC,, of the panels in place when the container is in the erected t c condition and the size of the container when in the S collapsed condition. Difficulties associated with securing tttcd panels and collapsing panels in conventional containers often stems from the complicated manner in which they are occ 1 secured to the container and this in turn can increase .e c Sc' 25 manufacturing costs as well as make the containers difficult to use. The relative large size of collapsed containers also means that fawer containers can be transported in the collapsed condition and this increases transport costs when it is desired to move empty collapsed containers from one place to another.

The object of this invention is to provide a storage container which overcomes at least some or all of the above problems.

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~sai The invention provides a storage container, including: a base having; upstanding side edge members coupled at side edges of the base; and (ii) legs coupled at side edges of the base inwardly of the upstanding side edge members, each leg supporting an inverted V-shaped bottom leg member offset towards the side edges of the base so that when one base is stacked above another base the inverted V-shaped bottom leg members of the said one base are in alignment with and engageable with the upstanding side edge members of the said another base; and a plurality of iWeo removably coupled to the base for forming side panels of the storage container.

Preferably said base includes a plurality of foot sections and a plurality of the gates include slots for receiving a respective foot section such that said gates can be located on said foot sections with the foot sections received in

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*E V gates to the base.

Preferably at least one of the gates is located onto one of the feet sections without any sliding action.

10 90.9 9 99 ,j 909 6 4 %r 15 90 9 I Pa OW 20 .999 .499 Preferably said gates include opposed frame sections, at least one socket substantially within the confines of a first of the frame sections, said gates also include a further socket arranged on a frame section opposite said first frame section and extending outwardly from said frame section such that said gates can be located together by aligning the first socket of one gate with the second socket of another gate and inserting a movable pin member into said first and second sockets to secure the gates together.

Preferably said gates also include on said first frame section a pair of protruding pins and said second frame sections include apertures for receiving said pins when gates are erected to locate the gates together.

o 9 9 Preferably said base includes apertures for receiving gaid 25 pins when a gate is in the collapsed position and resting on said base to secure said collapsed gate on said base, and wherein said gates also include additional apertures for receiving a projection of another gate when the gates are stacked on the first stacked gate to secure the gates when in the collapsed position.

Preferably said base is in the form of a pallet and include- tine tracks for receiving the tines of a forklift truck.

I 1 L 1C~y) 78 I L Il I 1111 Preferably a foot member is connectable to each of the four sides of the base; and the container further has four removable gates, each gate having a pair of side frame members and top and bottom frame members, one of said side frame members including at least one socket and the other side frame member being provided with a second socket, said bottom frame member being provided with a slot; a pin member; wherein the four gates can be arranged on said base by locating the slots of three of said gates on respective foot sections and sliding said gates relative to said foot sections such that said foot sections lock the gates to the base and wherein the fourth gate can be arranged on the remaining foot section, said gates being coupled together by arranging said at least one socket on 6 one of the gates in alignment with a said second socket on an adjacent gate and inserting said pin member through the aligned at least one socket and said second socket.

o i Preferably the sidie frame member having said at least one socket also includes at least one projecting pin which projects in a direction transverse to the plane of the gates, said gates also having at least one aperture on said other side frame member such that the pin of one gate can S^*.be inserted into the aperture of an adjacent gate to assist Sin locating the gates.

;Preferably said at least one socket member is arranged .ii 30 within the confines of the frame member to which it is i

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0CO -I 6 connected and said second socket member is arranged outwardly of the other side frame member.

Preferably said at least one socket comprises two spaced apart sockets which, when the gates are erected and coupled together sandwich said second socket such that said pin member passes through said two sockets and the sandwiched second socket.

949W t* C T r Stf 1 (r Cr FE~ C C T C (rC r. C 25 A preferred embodiment of the invention will be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a view of a base of a storage container according to the preferred embodiment of the invention; Figure la is a detailed view of part of the base of figure 1; Figure Ib is a further detailed view of part of the base of figure 1; Figure 2 is a view of two gates connected together according to the preferred embodiment of the invention; Figure 3 is a view of collapsed gates on the base of figure 1; Figure 4 is a detailed partial view showing stacked containers with collapsed gates; and Figure 5 is a detailed view of part of a gate embodying the invention.

With reference to figure 1, a storage container embodying the invention includes a base 10 which is generally in the form of a pallet and includes a generally rectangular frame 12 comprised of frame members 12a to 12d. The frame members 12a to 12d are generally formed from angle I I C--F u:1 sections. A pair of legs 14 are connected beneath the frame members 12b and 12d and generally include leg members 14a and a bottom leg member 14c which is formed of angle iron and arranged to be of inverted V-shape. As is clearly shown in figure 1, leg members 14a extend down from the frame members 12a and 12d and are coupled to one side of the inverted V-shaped bottom leg member 14c. The apex of the bottom leg member 14c is therefore arranged vertically below the vertical portion of frame members 12b and 12d 10 respectively as is more clearly shown in figure 4. The 0 Sbase 12 also supports tine tracks 16 for receiving the 9e tines of a forklift truck. The tine tracks 16 are connected between the frame members 12a and 12c on the underside of the frame sections. The base 10 also has a 15 mesh screen shown at 18 to provide a floor.

9 9 59 20 9 The angled section frame members 12a, 12b and 12c are provided with foot members 20 which are received in slots 22 in the horizontal portion of frame members 12a, 12b and 12c as is best seen in figure la. The foot members 20 have a heel section 24 and a toe section 26. The heel section 24 is provided with a reduced width portion 27 and steps 28. The reduced width portion 27 is received in the slot 22 and steps 28 of the foot section 20 rest on the sections 12a, 12b and 12c respectively. A gap 30 is therefore provided bet-wen the horizontal portion of sections 12a, 12b and 12c and the toe sections 26.

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S 5 o *25 As best shown in figure lb, the frame section 12d is provided with a slot 32 which is slightly larger than the slot 22 so that the larger width portion of the heel 24 is received in the slot and the toe section 26 rests on the horizontal portion of frame member 12d. The configuration of the foot 20 which is connected to the frame section 12d

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1_ -C i i l i m m 8 is identical to the other foot sections 20 but since the slot 32 is larger and receives the heel portion 24 there is no space between the toe section 26 and the frame members 12d.

The parts of the foot section 20 which project through the slots 22 and 32 are welded beneath the respective frame sections.

The frame member 12c is also provided with apertures 36 in the horizontal portion of the angled section which makes up the frame 12c.

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Figures 2 and 5 show a detailed view of gates for use with 15 the base 10 shown in figure 1. With reference to figures 2 and 5, the gates 40 comprise frame members 42, 44, 46 and 48 and an intermediate frame member 50. The gate is completed by mesh screens sections 52. The frame member 42 is provided with two sockets 54 and 56 which are spaced 20 apart and which are in the confines of the frame members 42. The frame member 42 also supports a pair of projecting pin members 58 which project perpendicular to the plane of the gate 40. The pin members 58 comprise a socket section and a projecting pin 62.

The gate 40 also includes a socket 64 arranged on the frame member 44 opposite the frame member 42. The socket 64 is welded onto the outside of the frame members 44 and projects outwardly from the frame member 44 in the plane of the gate. The socket member 64 is aligned so that it can be positioned between two sockets 54 and 56 of another gate as will be described hereinafter.

As best shown in figure 5, a pin 70 is arranged to pass through the sockets 54 and 56 and also a socket 64 in the manner which will be described hereinafter. The pin 70 is provided with a handle 72 and is spring biased by a spring 74 downwardly through the sockets 54 and 56. The pin also passes through a hole 76 in the upper socket 60 of the pin member 58 with the spring 74 being retained between the handle 72 and the socket 58.

The handle 72 can be engaged through an opening 78 (see ti, 10 figure 2) in the mesh 52 and lifted against the bias of the B spring 74 so that the pin 70 is drawn out of the socket 54 t t t and up into the socket 56. The purpose of this will be f described in more detail hereinafter.

c 15 The gates 40 are also provided with a slot 82 in the horizontal portion of the frame member 48 and apertures in the frame member 44.

In order to assemble a plurality of gates 40 onto the base 10 so that the gates form side panels of the container to enable articles to be stored in the container, the first gate panel is arranged adjacent frame member 12a so that the foot section 20 is received in the slot 82. That gate 40 is then slid in the direction of arrow A in figure 1 so 25 that the frame member 48 engages under the toe 26 of the respective foot member 20 in the space 30 between the toe section 26 and the horizontal portion of frame member 12a.

The sliding movement leaves a space at the right-hand end of the frame member 12a in figure 1. A further gate 40 is located adjacent the frame member 12b in exactly the same manner by engaging the slot 82 with the foot section 20 in the frame member 12b and sliding the gate in the direction of arrow B to lock the gate between the foot 20 and the frame section 14b and also to fill the gap at the righti i a C hand end of the frame section 12a. A third gate 40 is affixed adjacent to the frame section 12c in exactly the same manner by locating the slot over the foot section of the frame member 12c and sliding the gate in the direction of arrow C to fill the space at the end of the fame section 12b. A fourth gate 40 identical to the other gate panels is arranged adjacent to the panel 12d by simply locating the gate 40 onto the foot 20. No sliding movement of the fourth gate panel 40 occurs and this gate panel r 10 merely fills the space at the end of the frame section 12c e which was caused by the sliding movement and completes the side panels of the storage container.

(C C C C V 15 4- 4 tt TC When the gates are arranged on the foot sections 20 they can lean slightly into and out of the vertical position so as to arrange the socket 64 on one gate 40 between the sockets 54 and 56 on an adjacent gate 40 and to insert the pins 62 on one of the gates 40 into the apertures 45 on the adjacent gate 40. The pins 62 when located in the apertures 45 correctly locate the gates and assist in holding them in position.

4; 4- C P 44- 4- 4 With reference to figure 2, the gates 40 are secured together by the sockets 54 and 56, the socket 64 and the 25 pin 70. As is best seen in figure 2, when the gates 40 are in their erected position on the base (not shown in figure 2) the socket 64 on one gate 40 is positioned so as to be received between the sockets 54 and 56 o, an adjacent gate T- )in handle 74 can be manipulated in the opening 78 to raise the pin 70 so that the socket 64 is easily inserted between the sockets 54 and 56 and when the socket 54 is so inserted the pin 74 is released so that under the bias of sprizg 74 the pin is forced through the socket 64 and socket 54 to securely L'a the adjacent gates together.

1y7 11 All four of the gates are joined together in this manner.

In order to collapse the storage container for storage when empty or for transportation when empty, the gates 40 are disconnected from one another by raising the pin 70 so that the socket 64 can be removed from between the sockets 54 and 58. The gates 40 can then be removed from the foot section 20. When all panels are removed they can be stacked on the base 10 as is shown in figure 3 and figure t rr ft S rr

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As is best seen in figure 4, a bottom gate designated in figure 4 is laid flat on the base 10 with the pins 62 being inserted into the apertures 36 on frame member 12c.

Another gate labelled 40'' in figure 4 can then be laid on the gate 40' with the pins 62 of the gate 40' being received within the socket 58 of the gate 40'. Similarly, C> a third gate and a fourth gate can also be stacked in this manner. The pins 62 which are received in the sockets 58 or the apertures 36 as the case may be, ir effectively lock the gates together and onto the base the gates 40 when collapsed and stacked on the base 40 are I of such a height that they do not exceed the height of the S 25 legs 14 as is clearly shown in figure 4. The gates 40 are within the confines of the two legs 14a and therefore a second container 10' can be stacked on the container with the collapsed gates 40 arranged within the confines of the legs 14a of the container 10' and with the legs inverted V-shaped let member 14c resting and centring on the vertical parts of frame member 12c and 12d (only member 12d being shown in figure 4) of the lower container Thus, the gates 40 can be collapsed and stacked without taking up additional space over and above that needed to pi 1I t~4 12 stack the containers one above another. Therefore the amount of space occupied by collapsed and stacked containers is reduced. Thus, not only are the gates stably and securely held to the bases but the stacked collapsed containers are also securely and stably held together.

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a The gates 40 may also include an upper secondary frame member 75 slightly below the frame member 46 for added strength. The inverted V-shape of the upper frame member 46 and the leg members 14c ensures that material to be contained in the containers does not sit on the surfaces and therefore does not collect which may cause contamination particularly in the case of storage and transportation of food products in the containers.

i 4 Vt 4-f f 4- 4- 4 irt c f 4- 4- 4-4- 4---1 In figure 4 a gate 40 is shown in the erected position on the base 10' merely for the purpose of illustration.

Normally when the containers are stacked as shown in figure 4 a gate would not be in the erected position on the container 10' but would be in the folded position described with reference to figure 4.

te 4 4 4- 4 4-St 4 r i 25 Since modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention may readily be effected by persons skilled within the art, it is to be understood that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiment described by way of example hereinabove.

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Claims (4)

1. A storage container, including: a base having; upstanding side edge members coupled at side edges of the base; and (ii) legs coupled at side edges of the base inwardly of the upstanding side edge members, each leg supporting an inverted V-shaped bottom leg member offset towards the side edges of the base so that when one base is stacked above another base the inverted V-shaped bottom leg members of the said one base are in alignment with and engageable with the upstanding side edge members of the said another base; and a plurality of se.A removably coupled to the base for forming side panels of the storage container. I. 2. The storage container according to claim 1, wherein said gates, when in a collapsed condition, are stackable on said base and are arranged between the said tC one said base and the said another said base, said gates when in the stacked condition on said base being no higher than the height of said legs. I ^0 3. The container of claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein said S: base includes a plurality of foot sections and a plurality .of the gates include slots for receiving a respective foot A ,jis section such that said gates can be located on said foot .sections with the foot sections received in the slots and can be slid relative to the foot sections such that the foot sections lock onto the gates to hold the gates to the base. S 4 The container of claim 4, wherein at least one of the gates is located onto one of the foot sections without any sliding action. lit COU S/s I- 14 The container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said gates include opposed frame sections, at least one socket substantially within the confines of a first of the frame sections, said gates also include a further socket arranged on, a frame section opposite said first frame section and extending outwardly from said frame section such that said gates can be located together by aligning the first socket of one gate with the second socket of another gate and inserting a movable pin member into said first aid second sockets to secure the gates together.

6. The container of claim 6, wherein said gates also include on said first frame section a pair of protruding pins and said second frame sections include apertures for receiving said pins when gates are erected to locate the gates together.

7. The container of claim 7, wherein said base includes apertures for receiving said pins when a gate is in the collapsed position and resting on said base to secure said collapsed gate on said base, and wherein said C gates also include additional apertures for receiving a c projection of another gate when the gates are stacked on the first stacked gate to secure the gates when in the collapsed position. tt

8. The container of claim 1, wherein said base is in 4 e4 the form of a pallet and includes tines tracks for receiving the tines of a forklift truck. Dated this 15th day of September, 1994 LUCIANO M. PAGLIAT.O By His Patent Attorneys: GRIFFITH HACK CO Fellows Institute of Patent LI~ Attorneys of Australia ABSTRACT A collapsible container is disclosed which has a base which includes a base (10) having tracks (16) for receipt of the tines of a forklift truck. A plurality of gates (40) are connectable to the base (10) in order to complete the pallet. The base (10) includes foot members (20) which are received in slots (22, 32) of the gate members (40) for securing the gate members to the base. The gate members have sockets (54, 58, 60) and a spring biased pin (70) for securing the gates together. The gates may be stacked on Sthe base (10) in the collapsed position so that the plurality of containers in the collapsed position can be Sstacked one above another. Scft t te 6tr t I t I tI f t tI