GB2259481A - Apparatus and method for handling slabs - Google Patents

Abstract

A method and apparatus for supporting a stack of objects, such as paving slabs, comprises arranging the stack of objects on a support platform 11 and leaning the stack against an abutment member 12. Stability of the stack is ensured by providing a tilt mechanism 16 for inclining the support platform 11 with respect to the horizontal. The apparatus can be made into a trolley by the addition of wheels 13, 14. <IMAGE>

Description

Handling of slabs and the like The present invention relates to apparatus and a method for handling slabs and the like, and is concerned particularly, although not exclusively, with apparatus and a method for handling paving slabs.

Where slabs, such as paving slabs, are to be sold they are usually stacked together on their edges, and made to lean against a supporting surface such as a wall. A person wishing to purchase one or more of the slabs takes the slabs from the end of the stack furthest from the supporting wall, leaving the remaining slabs resting against the wall.

A paving slab may be typically three feet square, three inches deep and made of solid concrete. Because of this the slab is of course heavy.

A problem with the existing practice of stacking slabs in this way is that the further the slab is from the supporting wall in the stack the less is the angle which the square face of the slab makes with the vertical, ie.

the slabs become more upright in the stack the further they are from the wall. The furthermost slabs from the wall are therefore prone to falling forwards, away from the wall, if they are disturbed. This is potentially very dangerous as a falling slab can easily severely damage a persons foot or leg.

Accordingly, the present invention aims to provide apparatus and a method for stacking slabs, wherein the likelihood of the slabs falling is reduced.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided support apparatus arranged to support one or more objects, the apparatus comprising a support platform and an abutment member, the platform being moveable between first and second positions by tilting of the platform to alter the inclination of the platform with respect to horizontal.

The apparatus may be mobile and may be provided with one or more wheels.

Preferably the apparatus comprises a trolley.

The platform may be arranged to tilt between a first position in which the platform is substantially horizontal and a second position in which the platform is inclined to the horizontal.

The platform may be arranged to tilt by altering the vertical distance between an axle of the apparatus and the platform.

Preferably the platform is arranged to tilt by the rotation of a first member relative to a second member, which first and second members are threadably engaged, the rotation of which first member causes an axle of the apparatus to change its vertical distance from the platform.

The apparatus may comprise apparatus for supporting a stack of stackable articles.

Preferably the stack of articles is arranged, in use, to lean to and abut the abutment member.

The stackable articles may comprise paving slabs.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of supporting a stack of objects, the method comprising arranging the stack of objects on a support platform, causing the stack of objects to lean to and abut an abutment member and raising or lowering the inclination of the platform with respect to horizontal.

The method may comprise a method of supporting a stack of paving slabs.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which: Figure 1 is side view of support apparatus according to one embodiment of the invention, the apparatus being shown in use, supporting some paving slabs; and Figure 2 is an end view of the support apparatus of Figure 1, viewed in the direction of arrow A in Figure 1, but not showing the slabs. An operating handle has also been omitted for clarity.

Referring to the drawings, a slab support trolley, shown generally at 10, comprises a support platform 11 and an abutment member 12. These are constructed from sheet metal attached to tubular framework members. At the rear of the trolley 10 is located a pair of polyurethane swivel castors 13 and at the front of the platform 10 is located a pair of polyurethane wheels 14.

A stack of 3' x 3' square concrete paving slabs 15 is shown supported by the platform 11, leaning to and abutting the abutment member 12. The stack shown comprises four slabs 15 and is relatively stable, the outer most slab 15a being unlikely to fall forwards onto the support platform 11.

However, when the number of slabs 15 is increased the stability of the outermost slab 15a becomes reduced and slab 15a becomes more likely to fall forwards onto the platform 11, or to fall off the trolley, if it is fully loaded. This problem arises because, if it is desired to keep the slabs relatively closely stacked, as the number of slabs in the stack is increased the angle which the square face of the slabs make with the vertical becomes reduced causing the centre of gravity of the slabs to approach a position vertically above the corners on which they rest. As soon as this position is reached the slabs become unstable and may fall, potentially causing injury to a person who is inspecting the slabs.

To combat this tendency the trolley 10 is provided with a tilting mechanism shown generally at 16. The tilting mechanism 16 comprises a handle 17 which is arranged to threadably engage a screw nut (not shown) connected to axle 18. The axle is mounted on two arms 9 which are pivotally connected to the trolley at 8. Thus the axle can swing about an axis 20. The handle is arranged to pass through a pivoting block 19 (shown in Figure 2) through which it may move rotationally but not translationally, translational movement being inhibited by two rings (not shown) located one either side of the pivoting block, attached to the handle 17. As the handle 17 is turned in one direction it screws out of the screw nut (not shown).However, since the handle 17 is prevented from moving translationally through pivoting block 19 the screw nut (not shown) and therefore the axle 18 are forced further from the pivoting block 19. Since the axle is constrained to pivot about the axis 20 the vertical distance between the wheels 14 and the platform 11 increases until the wheels 14, axle 18 and handle 17 adopt the position represented in Figure 1 by broken lines. Since the wheels 14 and castors 13 are, in use, supported by a surface such as a floor the resultant movement of the trolley 10 is a pivoting one in which the platform 11 becomes inclined to the horizontal.

When this position is adopted the angles formed between the square faces of the slabs and the vertical increases, thereby moving, in the horizontal direction, the centre of gravity of each slab further away from the corner on which that slab rests. As a result the slabs are more stable and therefore less likely to fall forwards.

As the slabs are removed one by one from the trolley eg. by purchasers, the necessity that the platform be inclined to the horizontal is reduced and accordingly the trolley can be tilted back towards its original position by means of turning handle 17 in the opposite direction until the platform 11 becomes either substantially horizontal or inclined to any angle between substantially horizontal and that of maximum inclination (represented in Figure 1 by the broken lines), dependent upon the number of slabs remaining on the trolley.

An additional advantage of being able to reduce the angle of inclination of the platform 11 to the horizontal, as and when the number of slabs 15 in the stack is reduced, is that the handling of the remaining slabs by a person standing in the region of handle 17 is made progressively easier as the angle of inclination is reduced (ie. such a person does not have to lean as far to reach the remaining few slabs).

The trolley also possesses plates 21 (one on each side) which restrict movement or slipping of the trolley when it is being transported by a forklift truck. Lugs 22 are provided on platform 11 to prevent slipping of a pallet (not shown) of slabs when being transported on the trolley.

For additional convenience handle 17 is foldable so that when adjustment of the inclination of platform 11 is complete, handle 17 may be folded flush with the front of the trolley 10. Referring to Figure 1, a slideable collar 23 conceals a pivoting coupling (not shown) in handle 17.

When the collar 23 is in the position shown the handle 17 is rigidly locked in its extended form. When adjustment of the inclination of trolley 10 is complete, the collar 23 is slid along the handle 17 exposing the pivoting coupling. The handle is then folded about this point so that it lies flush with the front of the trolley 10. This is a safety feature to ensure that someone walking past the trolley does not trip and fall over the handle.

The support apparatus described above comprises a mobile trolley for the handling of slabs, which means that the slabs can be both stored and displayed in greater safety, but can also be moved around in greater safety.

Several benefits of the invention would still be obtained from stationary apparatus. However, in premises where such slabs are sold eg. garden centres, the mobility of the apparatus is useful and the trolley 10 serves a dual purpose of being a display means for the slabs as well as a means of transporting the slabs from a place of bulk unloading to a place of display.

Whilst the invention has been described above in terms of the handling and manipulation of pavings slabs it will be understood that the invention will be equally applicable in the handling, manipulation and transporting of other objects, particulary heavy objects, prone to tipping.

The reader's attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s). The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

Claims (12)

1. Support apparatus comprising an elongate support platform and an abutment member, the platform being moveable between first and second positions by altering the inclination of the platform with respect to the horizontal.

2. Apparatus according to Claim 1 wherein the abutment member is substantially at right angles to the platform.

3. Apparatus according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein, in the first position, the platform is substantially horizontal and in the second position the platform is inclined to the horizontal.

4. Apparatus according to any of the preceding Claims wherein the platform is provided with a plurality of wheels.

5. Apparatus according to Claim 4 wherein the platform is a trolley.

6. Apparatus according to any of the preceding Claims wherein movement between the first and second positions is achieved by tilting the platform.

7. Apparatus according to Claim 6 wherein tilting of the platform is arranged by altering the vertical distance between the platform and a substantially horizontal reference line below the platform and transverse to it.

8. Apparatus according to Claim 7 wherein tilting of the platform is achieved by the rotation of a first member relative to a second member, the first and second members being threadably engaged and the rotation of the first member causing the platform to change its vertical distance from the reference line.

9. Apparatus according to Claim 7 or Claim 8 wherein the reference line is formed by an axle of the apparatus.

10. Support apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

11. A method of supporting a stack of objects, the method comprising arranging the stack of objects on a support platform, causing the stack of objects to lean against and abut an abutment member and tilting the platform with respect to the horizontal.

12. A method of supporting a stack of objects substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.