GB2215679A

GB2215679A - Dismantable roll pallet

Info

Publication number: GB2215679A
Application number: GB8806788A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Joseph Francis Thorpe
Original assignee: BOC Group Ltd
Current assignee: BOC Group Ltd
Priority date: 1988-03-22
Filing date: 1988-03-22
Publication date: 1989-09-27
Also published as: GB8806788D0

Abstract

Two identical parts 2, 4 are releasably latched together, by pins/slots 28, 30 for carrying heavy loads but can be separated so that each part is independently manoeuvrable of the other part. The parts 2, 4 are nestable when the roll pallet is not in use, the deck members 24 being secured to the wall members 32 so that the lower "Vee" frames 6 may fit one inside the other. Each part 2, 4 may be separately used to transport smaller loads. <IMAGE>

Description

AN IMPROVED ROLI, PALLET The present invention relates to roll pallets.

Roll pallets are used for moving loads in locations such as warehouses and supermarkets.

A roll pallet should be strong and have a sufficient load carrying deck area to carry large loads. However, some roll pallets are too heavy and large for ease of manoeuvrability amongst narrow passage ways between warehouse shelves particularly for junior staff. It often becomes necessary therefore to unload from such large roll pallets to smaller pallets. This is often inconvenient and time consuming.

A need therefore exists for a roll pallet which can carry heavy loads but which can be divided so that individual parts can be moved separately for carrying smaller loads.

A further desirable feature is for said individual parts to be capable of nesting together thereby to save storage space when the roll pallet is not in use.

It is an aim of the present invention to provide a roll pallet which meets with the desiderata referred to above.

According to the present invention, a roll pallet comprises two substantially identical, releasably detachable parts, said parts being nestable together when not in use.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, reference being made to the Figures of the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a roll pallet; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the roll pallet of Figure 1 with two parts separated; Figure 3 is a perspective view of one part of the roll pallet of Figure 1 with its deck at an angle to the horizontal; Figure 4 is a perspective view similar to Figure 3 but with the deck in a second raised position and secured to an end wall; and Figure 5 is a perspective view of the roll pallet of Figure 1 with its parts nested together.

As shown, a roll pallet 1 comprises two substantially identical parts 2, 4. Each part 2, 4 includes a vee-frame 6 comprising side limbs 8" 10, a front member 12 and a rear member 14. Wheels 16 are provided at the corners of each vee-frame 6. On each front member 12 there is provided male and female tapered locating means in the forms of a tapered male spigot 18 and a corresponding tapered female bore 20.

Pivotally connected to each of vee-frame 6 by means of hinges 22 is a load carrying deck 24. Each deck 24 is substantially rectangular and is pivotal between a first position illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 substantially parallel to the ground on which the pallet 1 is standing and a second raised position illustrated in Figure 4.

Each deck 24 carries a latching member in the form of a pin 28 which cooperates with a corresponding female member 30 on the other deck for releasably latching the decks 24 together. Rigidly connected to the rear member 14 of each vee- frame 6 is an end wall 32. The end wall 32 is connected to the rear member 14 as by welding or like means to prevent the end wall from being separated from is respective part 2 or 4.

In use, when it is desired to move a heavy load by means of the roll pallet 1, the two parts 2, 4 are brought together (see Figure 2) with their respective decks 24 in the first position parallel to the ground so that the tapered male spigot 18 on each deck 24 enters its corresponding tapered female bore 20. The tapering of the spigots 18 and bores 20 offers a lead in so that no precise location of the two parts 2, 4 is necessary.

Next, the two parts 2, 4 are releasably latched together by means of the pins 28 and the cooperating female members 30. The roll pallet 1 is now ready to be loaded, the load being placed on the decks 24 which are secured together (see Figure 1).

When the roll pallet 1 has reached a location for unloading or for moving part of the load to a different location, the parts 2, 4 can be disconnected by releasing the pins 28 from the female members 30 so that only one part 2 or 4 need be used to transfer part of the load to said different location.

When the roll pallet 1 is not required for load carrying purposes the decks 24 can be secured to their respective end walls 32 by means of straps 34 or clips and the vee-frames 6 nested as shown in Figure 5.

The embodiment described above has the advantage that the roll pallet 1 is dividable into two identical parts 2, 4 which are more easily managed by, for example female supermarket personnel, who might have difficulties with the whole roll pallet 1.

Furthermore, it can eliminate the need for transferring a load from a larger to a smaller trolley as is sometimes experienced in supermarkets.

The feature of the two parts 2, 4 being nestable when not in use saves storage space.

me e end walls 32 by being permanently secured to their respective parts 2, 4 means that they cannot easily be lost or stolen.

Claims

1. A roll pallet comprising two substantially identical releasably detachable parts, said parts being nestable together when not in use.

2. A roll pallet as claimed in claim 1, in which each part includes a vee-frame carrying male and female tapered locating means such that when the parts are assembled for load carrying purposes the male tapered locating means of one part is received within the female tapered locating means of the other part.

3. A roll pallet as claimed in claim 2, in which a load carrying deck is pivotally connected to each vee-frame for movement between a first load carrying position generally parallel to the the ground on which the pallet is standing and a second raised position, each deck carrying a latching member for co-operation with a corresponding latching member on the other deck for releasably latching the decks together.

4. A roll pallet as claimed in claim 2 or 3, in which an end wall is non-releasably connected to each vee-frame.

5. A roll pallet as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 4, in which in its second position, each deck is generally parallel to its corresponding end wall.

6. A roll pallet as claimed in claim 5, in which means is provided for releasably attaching each deck to its corresponding end wall.

7. A roll pallet as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 6, in which each vee- frame is provided with wheels to enable each part to be wheeled independently of the other part.

8. A roll pallet constructed, arranged and adapted to operate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the Figures of the accompanying drawings.