GB2498446A

GB2498446A - Packaging furniture on a pallet

Info

Publication number: GB2498446A
Application number: GB1300167.2A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Daniel Wooler
Original assignee: WW UK Ltd
Current assignee: WW UK Ltd
Priority date: 2010-08-17
Filing date: 2010-08-17
Publication date: 2013-07-17
Anticipated expiration: 2030-08-17
Also published as: GB201300167D0; GB2498446B

Abstract

An office furniture transport assembly (210) comprises an item of office furniture packaged with and carried by a pallet 220, which underhangs the item of packaged furniture G by a distance of 20-200mm around at least the majority of the package G. The pallet 220 is slatted 221, and the packaged furniture is held in place by external banding 225 and internal banding 226. Some of the bands may pass around the packaged furniture G and threaded between the closest upper slats 221 and between them. A sheet of impact resistant protective material may substantially cover the upper surface of the item of furniture, and another may be located beneath the furniture. Impact resistant corner protectors which may be L-shaped may further protect the item of furniture. Impact resistant cushioning material, which may be formed of polystyrene, may form further protective elements, in an item-enclosing container.Â A method of reducing the risk of damage of office furniture during transportation is also provided.

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING 10 FURNITURE PACKAGING The present invention relates generally to packaging and particularly to the packaging of items at furniture for transport and/or storage.

There are a variety of considerations when packaging an item of furniture so that it can be safely transported. One of the most important of these is to ensure that the item is not damaged as it passes through various parts of a supply chain. The present 0 invention seeks to improve upon furniture packaging systems.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a furniture transport pallet comprising a base sized to match the footprint of an item of furniture.

The present invention is based on the realisation that matching the size of a pallet to the size of an item of furniture can provide sinificant benefits and reduction in * damage. For example, matching the size of the pallet allows for a more secure fixing and reduces any tipping risk. * . * p

The types of furniture which may benefit from packaging which comprises or includes *s. 4 **

the transport pallet of the present invention include, far example, office furniture such *tm as desks, cupboards and filing cabinets.

The pallet may be sized so that there is substantially no overhang ot the item in use. In fact the pallet maybe sized to provide a deliberate underhang around at least the majority of the periphery of the item. The underhang may be in the range of 20mm to 200mm. The underhang mut nat be too excessive or this risks problems securing the item to the pallet and, of course, will take up excessive room when being transported and stored.

According to a further ospect of the present invention there is provided a custom-made office furniture transport pallet having dimensions determined by the footprint of an item of office furniture to be transported.

The pallet (also sometimes c?lled a skid) may be a wooden, metal fibreboard or plastic platform on which package cargo is placed. It will usually be designed to be easily moved by a forklift.

-Pallets formed in accordance with the present invention may be slatted.

-

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a furniture transport assembly comprising a pallet as described herein in combination with an item of office furniture.

The assembly may be formed with the item restrained by banding such as straps, tape * U and the like. When slatted pallets are used both internal and external banding (passing both within and around the slats of the panel) may be used. * , -S.

The item may be positioned generally centrally on the pallet in order to maximise *05* * S * S. S..

stability and reduce any tipping risks. *

The item may be at least partly covered by a rigid packaging materibi to reduce the risk of damage from impacts. Additionally or alternatively the item may be provided with one or more corner protectors for particularly vulnerable areas.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a furniture packaging container comprising: cardboard box; one or more sheets of rigid protective material: and one or more polystyrene protective elements. 2 -

The rigid protective material may comprise, for example, hardboard or cardboard material.

The container may further comprise one or more corner protector elements.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a seating packaging container comprising: a cardboard box; one ore more internally housed additional packaging containers: and one or more rigid sheets ot protective material.

The cardboard box of the container may be formed from a multilayer material. The internally housed additional packaging containers are provided to accommodate structures which may be particularly vulnerable to damage, such as gas lifts and casters.

* .. fl* * * * 15 The present invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example, with * . reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: * . *. . Figure 1 is a perspective view of a palletised furniture transport assembly formed **.

according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of a transport assembly formed according to an alternative embodiment; Figure 3 is a perspective view of a transport assembly formed according to a further embodiment; Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view of a furniture packaging container formed according to an alternative aspect of the present invention; and Figure 5 is an exploded perspective view of a seating packaging container formed according to a further aspect of the present invention.

Referring first to Figure 1 there is shown a furniture transport assembly generally indicated 10. The assembly 10 comprises an item of furniture 15, which in f his embodiment is an item of office furniture in the form of a cupboard. The item 15 is positioned generally centrally on a generally rectangular pallet 20.

The pallet 20 is selected Jo match the footprint of the item 15. In other words. the size and shape of the pallet 20 is complimentary to the face of the item 15 which rests upon it. In this embodiment the pallet 20 is a standard size and configuration, being a slated platform with upper 21 and lower 22 slats extending across three spaced beams 23 in a : . criss-cross pattern. * *

* 15 The item iSis secured to the pallet 20 by two bands 25 which extend around the item * * and under the slats 21. **. * * *

The item i i positioned so that there is a small clearance between its periphery and the periphery of the pallet 20. This short underhong ensures that the bands 25 can be very tight around the item and there is very little room for the item 15 to slide on the pallet 20.

Referring now to Figure 2 there is shown a furniture transport assembly generally indicated 110. The assembly 110 comprises a stack of table tops 115 supported on a generally rectangular slated pallet 120.

The table or desk tops 115 are an irregular shape, being generally rectangular but with an arcuate rebate 116 at one corner. The tops 115 are positioned generally centrally on the pallet 120 so that there is an underhang around the entire periphery. The majority of the underhong conforms to a standard range of between 20 and 200mm.

with the rebates 116 creating a considerably larger underhang over a smaller part of the periphery.

Ta secure the fops 115 to the pallet 120 by an external band 125 which passes completely around the tops 115 and underneath the pallet: and an internal band 126 which passes around the end of the tops with the rebate 116 and under one of the slats 121, 122 away from the edges of the pallet l2cL Referring now to Figure 3 there is shown a furniture transport assembly generally indicated 210 In this embodiment the assembly 210 comprises a steel product in the form of filing cabinet 215 which is supported on a generally rectangular pallet 220. * * * *

The cabinet 215 is centrally positioned on the pallet 220 and secured by three pairs of bands. The first pair of bands 225 pass completely over the cabinet 215, around the sides of the pallet 220 and completely underneath the pallet 220. The second pair 226 pass around the cabinet 215 perpendicular to the bands 225 and pass under the upper * slats 221 only. The third band pair 227 pass around the cabinet 215 parallel to the * * bands 226 and are threaded underneath the closest upper slats 221 and under theslats in between them.

In order to protect the four corners of the cabinet, rigid L-shape corner protectors 240 are used. In addition, panels of rigid material 245 are provided for all exposed sides of the cabinet 215. 25.

The rigid panels and corner protectors 240 are formed from any suitable material, including cardboard, polystyrene or other plastics materials.

Referring now to Figure 4 there is shown a furniture packaging container generally indicated 350. The container 350 comprises a multi-layer cardboard box 355 into which is received a product (not shown) which has panels 360, 361 of rigid protective material on the long faces. Elongate polystyrene blocks 365 are provided around the edges of the product and are secured directly to the product to ensure permanent protection during transit. Corner protectors 370 are also provided for the most vulnerable areas of the cardboard box. The product, encased with the protective cocoon provided by the panels 360, 36], blocks 365 and protects 370 is placed into the cardboard box, A lid (not shown) may be provided to close the box, or the panel 361 may serve as the lid.

The container may then be secured by tape? strops or the like and may be transported as part of a palletised furniture transport assembly of the type described in Figures 1 to * 3. * * a * .

Referring now to Figure 5 there is shown a seating packaging container generally : 15 indicated 48'0. The container 480 comprises a generally parallela pipehead multi-layer cardboard box 485 which receives the main seating structure (not shown). Additional internal protection packaging 490 is provided to receive more vulnerable components.

An optional multi-layer cardboard sheet 490 can be provided when required to provide e.

additional separation for components.

The container 480 may be used in combination with the palletised furniture transport assembly described in relation to Figures 1 to 3.

Claims

<claim-text>CLAIMS1. A furniture transport pallet comprising a base sized to match the footprint of an item of furniture.</claim-text> <claim-text>2. A pallet as claimed in Claim 1, in which the patlet is sized so that there is substantially no overhang of the item in use.</claim-text> <claim-text>3. A pallet as claimed in Claim 1, in which the pallet is sized to provide an underhang around at least the majority of the periphery of the item in use.</claim-text> <claim-text>4. A pallet as claimed in Claim 3, in which the underhong is in the range 20mm to 200mm. a. a. * S * * a</claim-text> <claim-text>5. A custom-made office furniture transport pallet having dimensions determined by * the footprint of an item of office furniture to be transported.</claim-text> <claim-text>6. A pallet as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the pallet is a slotted pallet.</claim-text> <claim-text>7. A furniture transport assembly comprising a pallet as claimed in any preceding claim in combination with an item of office furniture.</claim-text> <claim-text>8. An assembly as claimed in Claim 7, in which the item is restrained by banding.</claim-text> <claim-text>9. An assembly as claimed in Claim 7 or 8, in which the pallet is slatted and the item is restrained by internal and external banding.</claim-text> <claim-text>10. An assembly as claimed in any of Claims 7 to 9, in which the item is positioned generoll centrally on the pallet.</claim-text> <claim-text>11. An assembly as claimed in any of Claims 7 to 10, in which the item is at least partly covered by a rigid packaging material.</claim-text> <claim-text>12. An assembly as claimed in any of Claims 7 to ii, in which the item is provided with one or more corner protectors.</claim-text> <claim-text>13. A furniture packaging container comprising: -a cardboard box; -one or more sheets of rigid protective material; and -one or more polystyrene protective elements.</claim-text> <claim-text>14. A container as claimed in Claim 13, further comprising one ore more corner protector elements.</claim-text> <claim-text>15. A seating packaging container, comprising: a cardboard box; one or more internally housed additional packaging containers; and one or more rigid sheets of * protective material. * ..</claim-text> <claim-text>16. A container as claimed in any of Claims 13 to 15, in which the cardboard box is a mutilayer material.</claim-text> <claim-text>17. A furniture transport pallet substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.</claim-text> <claim-text>18. A furniture transport assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.</claim-text> <claim-text>19. A furniture packaging container substantially as hereinbefare described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.</claim-text> <claim-text>20. A seating packaging container substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings. a. a. * a * .*...a. * . S.. aa *a a * * a a. * * S..amendments to the claims have been filed as follows:CLAIMS1. An office furniture packaging assembly comprising; -an item of office furniture packaged with and carried by a pallet the size of which is chosen in relation to the dimensions of the packaged item such that there is an under-hang of the packaged item in the region of 20mm to 200mm around at least the majority of the packaged item, and in which the pallet is slatted and the item is retained on the pallet by banding, comprising internal and external banding.
2. An office furniture packaging assembly as claimed in claim 1, in which the pallet has upper slats and some of the bands pass around the item of office furniture and are threaded underneath the closest upper slats and under the slats in between them.
3. An assembly as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, in which a rigid sheet of impact-resistant protective material overlies and substanhally covers the upper surface of the item.
4. An assembly as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 3, in which there is provided a further sheet of impact-resistant protective material beneath the item of office furniture and on which the office furniture item is supported. ** * . ** *
5. An assembly as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 4, in which the item of office furniture is * . packaged with a plurality of impact-resistant protective elements at the corners of the *. ** * * S * 25 item.
6. An assembly as claimed in Claim 5, in which the impact-resistant protective elements comprise plastics L-shape corner protectors.
7. An assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the dimensions of the pallet are determined by the footprint of the packaged item whereby to provide the said underhang of the item and packaging.
8. An assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, in which there are provided further protective elements of impact-resistant cushioning material and an enclosing container in which the items of office furniture and the packaging elements are received.
9. An assembly as claimed in Claim 8, in which the said further protective elements of impact-resistant cushioning material are made from polystyrene.
10. An office furniture transport assembly substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.
11. A method of preparing a product for distribution comprising the steps of; -selecting or producing a slatted pallet having dimensions such that when the product is placed theren there is an underhang of the product and packaging of between 20mm and 200mm; -placing the thus-packaged product on the pallet, and -retaining the product on the pallet by applying banding comprising internal and external banding. * . S* *
12. A method as claimed in Claim 11, further including the step of placing impact-resistant *is.S* S * protective elements at the corners of the product. *. S. * S S * 2513. A method as claimed in Claim 11, or Claim 12, further including the step of overlaying a S...rigid sheet of impact-resistant material such as substantially to cover the entire upper surface of the product.14. A method of preparing an office furniture product for distribution, as claimed in any of Claims 11 to 13 further comprising the step of; -placing a rigid sheet of impact-resistant material under the product.15. A method as claimed in Claim 14 as dependant on Claim 13, further including the step of enclosing the office furniture product, the rigid sheet of impact-resistant material, and impact-absorbing cushioning elements in a container prior to positioning the assembly into a pallet.16. A method as claimed in Claim 15. further including the step of introducing further impact-absorbing cushioning elements between the office furniture item and the container, and extending between the said corner-protecting cushioning elements.17. A method substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to, and as shown in, the 1 5 accompanying drawings. * . . * . * .. * . * ** ** * ** S.</claim-text>