NZ568245A - A lid / stacking spacer for stackable crates - Google Patents

Abstract

A lid or stacking spacer 1 for a stackable crate is dimensioned to sit or stack on the top of a stackable H crate to form a structural top for the crate, and includes downwardly extending side walls 4 and end walls 5 dimensioned and shaped to be complementary in shape and dimensions to load bearing higher side walls and supporting elements of the H crate(s) with which the spacer is to be used so that product can be placed and stacked on the spacer. The spacer is also strengthened to permit a tie down to be fitted over the spacer and can be used as a pallet for lifting and moving by forklift. The spacer is rotationally or injection moulded from plastics material.

Description

568245 Patents Form No. 5 Patents Act 1953 Nos. 568245 and 569110 Dated: 13 May 2008 and 13 June 2008 respectively Complete Specification A LID / STACKING SPACER FOR STACKABLE CRATES I, David Kevin JACKSON of 490B Manchester Street, Christchurch, New Zealand, a New Zealand citizen do hereby declare the invention, for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be performed to be particularly described in and by the following statement: 1 568245 A Lid or Stacking Spacer for Stackable Crates Technical Field The invention relates to a lid or stacking spacer for stackable crates of the type used in the milk processing and food handling or storage industries to store and transport large numbers of bottles or the like products.

Background Art At present, particularly in New Zealand, it is common for bread and similar products to be carried and stored in crates. The crates allow a large number of loaves of bread or other products to be stored and/or transported with ease while not being squashed or damaged. Examples of such crates which are readily available and frequently used in New Zealand are those shown in the representations with New Zealand Design registrations nos. 13314, 26460 and 27742. The crates are designed to be stackable and are of sufficient structural strength to allow a number of the stacked crates to be moved by a fork lift without the need for a pallet. The crates currently in use are dimensioned so that the products stored therein can be removed from a crate on a lower tier without the need for an upper crate to be moved.

It is a problem that a truck loaded in known manner with such crates cannot be fully loaded because other products cannot be stacked on the top of stacked crates unless they are in matching stackable containers. This is because the structural strength of the crates is in the stacking elements and the side and/or rear walls of the crate.

Another problem with a stack of crates is that tie downs used for safety to tie down a stack of crates on the deck of a truck cannot be used because the side walls of the crates are not designed to be of sufficient strength to allow a stack of crates to be tied down by a strap extending across such a crate. 2 568245 An object of the invention is to overcome the above identified problems and to provide a lid or stacking spacer for stackable crates which enables the stacked crates to be tied down for safety reasons and for other containers to be placed on the stacked crates for transportation or storage purposes.

A further object of the invention is to provide a lid or stacking spacer for a stackable crate which lid or stacking spacer can be used as a pallet so that the spacer can be lifted by a forklift to move whatever is on the lid or stacking spacer.

A further object of the invention is to provide a lid or stacking spacer for a stackable crate which at least offers consumers a useful alternative choice.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description which is given by way of example only.

Summary of the Invention According to the present invention there is provided a lid or stacking spacer for a stackable crate, the lid or spacer is dimensioned to sit or stack on the top of a stackable H crate to form a structural top for the stackable crate, the lid or stacking spacer has downwardly extending side walls and end walls which are dimensioned and shaped to be complementary in shape and dimensions to load bearing higher side walls and supporting elements of the H crate(s) with which it is to be used so that other products can be placed and stacked on the spacer, and which spacer is strengthened to allow a tie down to be fitted.

Preferably the lid or spacer is dimensioned to sit or stack on the top of a stackable H crate to form a structural top for the stackable crate on which top other products can be placed and stacked, and which top is of sufficient strength to allow a tie down to be fitted.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a lid or stacking spacer for a stackable crate, the lid or spacer is dimensioned to sit or 3 568245 stack on the top of a stackable crate to form a structural top for the stackable crate on which top other products can be placed and stacked, and which structural top can be used as a pallet and lifted or moved by a forklift.

The lid or stacking spacer can be rotationally moulded from a plastics material such as polyethylene or injection moulded from a plastics material such as a thermoplastic or thermosetting plastic material.

The lid or stacking spacer can have a planar upper surface which is textured or shaped to create a non slip upper surface.

The side and end walls are designed to be of sufficient strength to transmit and support in a vertical direction the weight of any items stacked or placed on the planar upper surface.

The side and end walls can have hand holds used for picking up and/or carrying the lid or stacking spacer.

Further aspects of the invention which should be considered in all its novel aspects will become apparent from the following description which is given by way of example only.

Brief Description of the Drawings Examples of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view from above of an example of lid or stacking spacer according to the invention; Figure 2 is a side view of the spacer shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is an end view of the spacer shown in Figures 1 and 2; Figure 4 is view from below of the spacer shown in Figures 1 to 3; 4 568245 Figure 5 is a perspective view from above of an example of lid or stacking spacer designed to fit a standard bread crate; Figure 6 is a side view of the example of lid or spacer shown in Figure 5 shown spaced above a bread crate; and Figure 7 is an end view of the example of lid or spacer shown in Figure 5 shown spaced above a bread crate.

Description of the Examples The first example of the invention shown in Figures 1 to 4 will now be described with reference to the use of the invention in a milk crate which may be of the general type shown in the representations New Zealand Design registrations nos. 13314, 26460 and 27742. These crates are generally rectangular and are dimensioned to sit or stack on top of each other.

The lid or stacking spacer shown in Figures 1 to 4 is generally indicated by arrow 1. The lid or stacking spacer 1 is rectangular and is dimensioned to sit or stack on the top of a stackable H crate.

The lid or stacking spacer 1 is either rotationally moulded from a plastics material such as polyethylene or injection moulded from a plastics material such as a thermoplastic or thermosetting plastic material. The lid or stacking spacer 1 can have a planar upper surface 2 which can textured or shaped to create a non slip upper surface (not shown).

The lid or stacking spacer 1 has downwardly extending side walls 3, 4 and end walls 5, 6. The spacing of the walls 3, 4, 5 and 6 is such that its lower edge 7 is shaped to be complementary in shape and dimensions to the load bearing higher side walls and supporting elements of the crate(s) on which it is to be used.

The side walls 3, 4 and end walls 5, 6 are designed to be of sufficient strength to transmit and support in a vertical direction the weight of any items stacked or placed on the planar upper surface 2. 568245 The side walls 3, 4 and end walls 5, 6 can have hand holds or cut-outs 8 used for picking and/or carrying the lid or stacking spacer 1.

In the upper surface 2 of the lid or stacking spacer 1 there can be provided recesses 9, 10 which extend across the surface 2 and are at right angles to each other. The recesses 9, 10 are designed to hold in position tie downs which can be used to firmly locate a stack of crates in position on the tray of a truck.

The lid or stacking spacer 1 includes strengthening ribs and webs (not shown) and these can be included in the walls and/or upper surface and material content and weight overall of the spacer can be saved by the inclusion of weight saving apertures or holes as required.

In use a plurality of similar lids or stacking spacers can be placed on a stack of crates so that the load can be tied down with the tie down(s) extending across the upper surface 2 in the recesses 9, 10 such that when the tie downs are tensioned the load applied is transmitted to the four vertical corners of the crate(s) immediately below.

Alternatively an additional load can be placed by hand or fork lift onto a plurality of similar lids or stacking spacers placed on a stack of crates. The plurality of lids or stacking spacers forming a structural top for the stackable crates which structural top is of sufficient strength to support an additional load.

In practice this means that in a warehouse or refrigerated container or truck more product can be stored and/or carried thereby resulting in a saving in storage or transportation costs.

In this second example shown in Figures 5 to 7 similar parts to those in the first example are referenced by the same numerals. In this case the lid or stacking spacer is generally the same as the stacking spacer 1 shown Figures 6 568245 I to 4 and is dimensioned to sit on a bread crate generally indicated by arrow II in Figures 6 and 7. The lid or spacer 1 is either rotationally moulded from a plastics material such as polyethylene or injection moulded from a plastics material such as a thermoplastic or thermosetting plastic material. The lid or stacking spacer 1 can have a planar upper surface 2 which in the example is textured or shaped to create a non slip upper surface.

The lid or stacking spacer 1 has downwardly extending side walls 3, 4 and end walls 5, 6. The spacing of the walls 3, 4 and 5, 6 is such that its lower edge 7 is shaped to be complementary in shape and dimensions to the load bearing higher side walls 12 and supporting elements 13 of the crate 11 with which it is to be used.

The side walls 3, 4 and end walls 5, 6 are designed to be of sufficient strength to transmit and support in a vertical direction the weight of any items stacked or placed on the planar upper surface 2.

In the upper surface 2 of the lid or stacking spacer 1 there are provided recesses 9, 10 which extend across the surface 2 and are at right angles to each other. The recesses 9, 10 are designed to hold in position tie downs which can be used to firmly locate a stack of crates with a stacking spacer thereon in position on the tray of a truck.

In a commercial version of the lid or stacking spacer 1 it is envisaged that strengthening ribs and webs (not shown) may be included in the walls and/or upper surface and material content and weight overall of the spacer may be saved by the inclusion of weight saving apertures or holes as required.

In use a plurality of similar lids or stacking spacers can be placed on a stack of crates so that the load can be tied down with the tie down(s) extending across the planar upper surface 3 such that when the tie downs are tensioned the load applied is transmitted to the four vertical corners of the crate immediately below. 7 568245 Alternatively an additional load can be placed by hand or fork lift onto a plurality of similar lids or stacking spacers placed on a stack of crates. The plurality of lids or stacking spacers forming a structural top for the stackable crates which is of sufficient strength to support an additional load.

In yet another alternative the lid or spacer can be used as a pallet and lifted or moved by a fork lift to move or carry whatever is placed on the lid or spacer.

In practice this means that in a warehouse or refrigerated container or truck more product may be stored and/or carried thereby resulting in a saving in storage or transportation costs.

Where in the foregoing description particular mechanical integers are described it is envisaged that their mechanical equivalents can be substituted as if they were described.

Thus by this invention there is provided a lid or stacking spacer for stackable crates which enables the stacked crates to be tied down for safety reasons and for other containers to be placed on the stacked crates for transportation or storage purposes.

Particular examples of the invention have been described and it is envisaged that improvements and modifications can take place without departing from the scope thereof. 8 568245

Claims (9)

Claims

1. A lid or stacking spacer for a stackable crate, the lid or spacer is dimensioned to sit or stack on the top of a stackable H crate to form a structural top for the stackable crate, the lid or stacking spacer has downwardly extending side walls and end walls which are dimensioned and shaped to be complementary in shape and dimensions to load bearing higher side walls and supporting elements of the H crate(s) with which it is to be used so that other products can be placed and stacked on the spacer, and which spacer is strengthened to allow a tie down to be fitted.

2. A lid or stacking spacer for a stackable crate as claimed in claim 1 wherein the structural top can be used as a pallet and lifted or moved by a forklift.

3. A lid or stacking spacer as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the lid or stacking spacer is rotationally moulded from a plastics material or injection moulded from a plastics material.

4. A lid or stacking spacer as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the lid or stacking spacer has a planar upper surface which is textured or shaped to create a non slip upper surface.

5. A lid or stacking spacer as claimed in claim 1 wherein the side and end walls are designed to be of sufficient strength to transmit and support in a vertical direction the weight of any items stacked or placed on the planar upper surface.

6. A lid or stacking spacer as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the side and end walls have hand holds used for picking up and/or carrying the lid or stacking spacer. 9 568245

7. A lid or stacking spacer as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the lid or stacking spacer includes strengthening ribs and webs and these can be included in the walls and/or upper surface.

8. A lid or stacking spacer as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the upper surface of the lid or stacking spacer has recesses which extend across the surface at right angles to each other, which recesses are designed to hold in position tie downs which can be used to firmly locate a stack of crates in position on the tray of a truck.

9. A lid or stacking spacer as claimed in claim 1 and substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 10