GB2493181A

GB2493181A - Collapsible pallet support frame

Info

Publication number: GB2493181A
Application number: GB201112897A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Richard Malczyk; Philippa Bell
Original assignee: SHIPMORE Ltd
Current assignee: SHIPMORE Ltd
Priority date: 2011-07-27
Filing date: 2011-07-27
Publication date: 2013-01-30
Anticipated expiration: 2031-07-27
Also published as: GB2493181B; GB201112897D0

Abstract

A collapsible pallet support includes a generally rectangular upper frame 10 having downwardly-projecting sub-frames 16,17 from the two opposed side edges of the upper frame. A first side frame 18 is hinged to the upper frame 10 and is movable between an erected position where the first side frame extends substantially at 90Â° to the upper frame and a folded position where the first side frame extends substantially parallel to the upper frame. A pair of opposed second side frames 22 are hinged directly or indirectly to the upper frame 10, each second side frame 22 being movable between an erected position where the second side frame extends substantially at 90Â° to the upper frame and a folded position where the second side frame extends substantially parallel to the upper frame. A lock is provided to hold the side frames 18,22 in their erected positions to restrain hinging movement with respect to the upper frame 10. The side frames are configured so that when folded, the side frames 18,22 lie substantially within the confines of the downwardly-projecting sub-frames 16,17.

Description

PALLET SUPPORT

This invention relates to a pallet support, configured to allow the load carried by a goods vehicle to be maximised by optimising the use of the available load-carrying space of that vehicle.

Very frequently, industrial products are loaded on pallets for transport or storage. Paliets are made in a wide range of sizes but the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) sanctions six pallet dimensions, primarily for use in different areas of the world. In Europe, one of those ISO pallets is often referred to as a EURO pallet and measures 800mm x 1200mm x 120mm high, and may carry a load of up to 1 tonne.

When loading pallets into the load-carrying space of a goods vehicle, it is advantageous for the available space to be fully utilised, up to the maximum permitted gross-vehicle weight in the country where that vehicle is operating.

For some industrial products, a single layer of pallets may be all that is permitted without exceeding the maximum gross vehicle weight, but other products may be stacked in two layers without exceeding the maximum weight.

Unfortunately, with many products the pallets may not be double-stacked else there is a significant risk of damage to the goods on the lower layer, and in any event double-stacked pallets may lack sufficient stability for road transport.

To overcome this problem, it is known to provide a second deck in the load-carrying space of a goods vehicle so that pallets may be loaded in two layers with the upper layer carried by the second deck. A disadvantage of this is that there is only minimal head-room for personnel access on either deck of the goods space, possibly leading to injury. Moreover, if a pallet is loaded with relatively lightweight goods which are stacked higher than usual on a pallet, it may not be possible to fit such a pallet on either deck of the vehicle.

In an attempt to address the above problem, it is known to provide a frame adapted to stand over a pallet and its load, to support a second pallet above a lower pallet. Such a frame is described for example in GB873649 and also in JP2006176195. Though the use of such frames may increase the number of pallets which may safely be carried within the load space of a vehicle having only a single deck, the storage of such frames when not required for use can be very inconvenient. If the frames have been used in a vehicle on carrying two layers of pallets and the vehicle is then to be loaded with only a single layer, the frames must be stored somewhere off the vehicle, but then may not be available for use when next required.

This invention aims at providing a pallet support which is configured to allow a second pallet to be carried in a stable manner above a first pallet and without injuring any goods carried on the first pallet, wherein the frame may be collapsed for storage or transport relatively easily, when the support is not required for use.

According to this invention, there is provided a collapsible pallet support which comprises a generally rectangular upper frame having downwardly-projecting sub4rames from two opposed side edges thereof, a first side frame hinged to the upper frame and movable between an erected position where the first side frame extends substantially at right angles to the upper frame and a folded position where the first side frame extends substantially parallel to the upper frame, a pair of opposed second side frames hinged directly or indirectly to the upper frame, each second side frame being movable between an erected position where the second side frame extends substantially at right angles to the upper frame and a folded position where the second side frame extends substantially parallel to the upper frame, and locking means arranged to lock the side frames in their erected positions to restrain hinging movement with respect to the upper frame, the side frames being configured so that when folded, the side frames lie substantially within the confines of said downwardly-projecting sub-frames.

It will be appreciated that the collapsible pallet support of this invention when erected and placed over a first pallet allows a second pallet to be carried over the first pallet and its load, without relying on that first pallet or its load for support of the second pallet. Moreover, by having locking means for securing the side frames in their erected positions, a stable platform for the second pallet is provided notwithstanding significant loads which may be placed an the support by the second pallet and goods carried thereon. When the pallet support is not required for use, it may be collapsed by folding inwardly the first and second side frames so as to lie substantially wholly within the confines of the sub-frames projecting downwardly from the upper frame. When folded in this way, the support may easily be stacked with others similarly collapsed, with minimal likelihood of damage to the frames. The stack of collapsed supports may be transported on the vehicle or otherwise stored much mare readily than with similar but rigid pallet supports.

A downwardly-projecting sub-frame is preferably provided on only two opposed sides of the upper frame, but corresponding sub-frames could be provided on three or even four of the sides of the upper frame. The sub-frames enhance the protection provided to the side frames when folded for storage or transport. Further, it is most advantageous for the locking means to operate between the sub-frames and the side frames, to ensure that when erected, the pallet support is substantially rigid and stable.

In a preferred embodiment, the upper frame, each of the side frames and also the sub-frames are each in the form of a framework constructed from individual frame members secured together, though it would be possible for one or more of those frames to be of sheet-like construction, reinforced if necessary with frame members. It is envisaged that all of the frames will in fact be constructed of metal frame members welded or otherwise secured together in an appropriate manner though, depending upon the intended duty of the pallet support, it could be manufactured from a moulded plastics material suitably reinforced as appropriate.

The first side frame may be hinged to the upper frame between the two opposed sub-frames thereof. If a third sub-frame is provided between the two opposed sub-frames, then it is preferred for the first side frame to be hinged to the upper frame on the side thereof opposed to the third sub-frame. In the alternative, and particularly if four sub4rames are provided, the first side frame may be hinged to one of those sub-frames.

Each of the second side frames may be hinged directly to the upper frame or to a sub4rame, for hinging movement about an axis generally at right angles to the axis about which the first side frame is arranged for hinging movement. In an alternative arrangement, each of the second side frames is hinged to the first side frame and so is hinged indirectly to the upper frame. For this alternative arrangement, collapsing of the support is obtained by releasing the locking means, and then hinging inwardly the two second side frames with respect to the first side frame and then hinging the first side frame with the already-folded second side frames so as to lie substantially parallel to the upper frame, within the confines of the two sub-frames.

With the preferred form of the invention as just described, locking of the first and second side frames with respect to the upper frame may be achieved by two appropriate lock mechanisms, one associated with each second side frame respectively and acting between that second side frame and the adjacent sub-frames. Such lock mechanisms may also serve to lock the side frames in their fully folded position when the support has been collapsed and the side frames are disposed between the sub-frames. If the second side frames are hinged directly to the upper frame, then it may be necessary to provide additional locking means acting between the first and second support frames when erected, at locations spaced from the upper frame.

By way of example only, one specific embodiment of collapsible pallet support of this invention will now be described in detail, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which:-Figure 1 is an isometric view of the support, erected and ready for use; Figure 2 is an isometric view of the support, fully collapsed by folding of the side frames, for transport or storage; Figure 3 shows the pallet support in a fully unfolded configuration; and Figure 4 diagrammatically illustrates the erection of the pallet support.

Referring initially to Figure 1, the embodiment of pallet support of this invention comprises a rectangular upper frame 10 constructed from two side members 11,12, end cross-members 13,14 and intermediate cross-members 15. The upper frame has two sub-frames 16,17 projecting downwardly respectively from the two side members 11,12. Typically, the upper frame 10 and sub-frames 16,17 are constructed from box-section metal tubes welded together and suitably treated to be resistant to corrosion, but could be made from a suitable grade of polymer, reinforced if necessary to give sufficient strength.

A first side frame 18 is pivotally connected to end cross-member 13 by hinges 19, so as to be movable between an erected position as shown in Figure 1 and a folded position shown in Figure 3. The first side frame has four frame members 20 in a rectangular configuration and two triangulating braces 21.

Two second side frames 22 are pivotally connected one to each side frame member of the first side frame 18 by means of hinges 23, so as to be movable between erected positions as shown in Figure 1 and folded positions as shown in Figure 3. Each of the second side frames has four frame members 24 in a rectangular configuration, a cross-brace 25 and two triangulating braces 26, extending from the cross-brace 25 to the centre of the opposed frame member.

The hinges 23 of the two support frames are arranged so that first one second side frame may be hinged to overlie the first side frame and then the other second side frame may be hinged to overlie the already-hinged second side frame, so that all three side frames are in a generally parallel disposition overlying each other. Then, the first side frame together with the second side frames may be hinged to lie between the two sub-frames 16,17, as shown in Figure 3.

A locking arrangement is provided on the sub-frames 16,17, to secure the second side frames 22 in their erected positions shown in Figure 1, and also in their folded positions shown in Figure 2. In this embodiment, the locking arrangement comprises bolts 28 slidably mounted in the respective sub-frames and engageable with the second side frames, to lock those frames either in their erected positions (Figure 1) or in their folded positions (Figure 2).

Starting with the collapsed support shown in Figure 2, the support is erected by releasing the bolts 28 and then unfolding the first side frame followed by unfolding the two second side frames, to reach the relative disposition shown in Figure 3. From there, the upper frame 10 and the side frames 18,22 are hinged relative to each other as shown in Figure 4, to reach the fully erected position of Figure 1. The bolts 28 are then engaged with the second side frames to lock the support in its erected position, so providing a stable platform for carrying a loaded pallet above another loaded pallet.

It is to be noted that as side frames are provided on only three sides of the upper frame, the fourth side is wholly unobstructed. This allows the pallet support to be slid over a pallet already placed on a load deck and itself carrying products, rather than having to lift the support frame over that pallet and its load. Further, when the support frame overlies a pallet and has itself been loaded with a pallet the lower pallet may be removed from under the support frame, by drawing that pallet through the open side of the support.

Claims

<claim-text>CLAIMS1. A collapsible pallet support comprising: -a generally rectangular upper frame having downwardly-projecting sub-frames from two opposed side edges thereof; -a first side frame hinged to the upper frame and movable between an erected position where the first side frame extends substantially at right angles to the upper frame and a folded position where the first side frame extends substantially parallel to the upper frame; -a pair of opposed second side frames hinged directly or indirectly to the upper frame, each second side frame being movable between an erected position where the second side frame extends substantially at right angles to the upper frame and a folded position where the second side frame extends substantially parallel to the upper frame; and -locking means arranged to lock the side frames in their erected positions to restrain hinging movement with respect to the upper frame; wherein the side frames are configured so that when folded, the side frames lie substantially within the confines of said downwardly-projecting sub-frames.</claim-text> <claim-text>2. A collapsible pallet support as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first side frame is hinged to the upper frame between the two opposed sub-frames thereof.</claim-text> <claim-text>3. A collapsible pallet support as claimed in claim 2, wherein each second side frame is hinged to a respective edge of the first side frame extending normally to the edge thereof hinged to the upper frame.</claim-text> <claim-text>4. A collapsible pallet support as claimed in claim 1, wherein each second side frame is hinged directly to a respective edge of the upper frame, adjacent to the edge thereof to which the first side frame is hinged.</claim-text> <claim-text>5. A collapsible pallet support as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein said locking means operates between the sub-frames and the side frames, to hold the side frames in their respective erected positions.</claim-text> <claim-text>6. A collapsible pallet support as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein said locking means operates between the sub-frames and the side frames when the side frames have been folded to lie between the sub-frames, to hold the sub-frames in their respective folded positions.</claim-text> <claim-text>7. A collapsible pallet support as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein each of the side frames, the upper frame and the sub-frames is in the form of a framework constructed from individual frame members.</claim-text> <claim-text>S. A collapsible pallet support as claimed in any of claims I to 6, wherein at least one of the side frames, the upper frame and the sub-frames is of sheet-like construction.</claim-text> <claim-text>9. A collapsible pallet support as claimed in claim 8, wherein said at least one frame of sheet-like construction is reinforced with frame members secured to that frame.</claim-text> <claim-text>10. A collapsible pallet support as claimed in any of claims ito 6, wherein at least one of the side frames and the upper frame is of a moulded plastics material, suitably reinforced as appropriate.ii. A collapsible pallet support as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the locking means comprises a pair of lock mechanisms, one associated with each second side frame respectively and acting between that second side frame and the adjacent sub-frame.12. A collapsible pallet support as claimed in claim i and substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.</claim-text>