ZA200610156B

ZA200610156B - Stacking accessory

Info

Publication number: ZA200610156B
Application number: ZA200610156A
Authority: ZA
Inventors: Davis Bevan John
Original assignee: Davis Bevan John
Priority date: 2004-06-07
Filing date: 2005-06-06
Publication date: 2008-06-25
Also published as: WO2005120979A1

Description

STACKING ACCESSORY

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to stacking accessory.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

When boxes are stacked on top of one another, the stacked boxes often need to be strapped together to prevent boxes falling off the stack.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention a stacking accessory for location at a corner of a stack of containers includes two diverging flanges having an inner surface, outer surface, top edge, bottom edge, and side edges, with a locating member extending from the inner surface and being located between the top edge and the bottom edge, and an elongate flexible member retaining means adjacent the outer surface, the locating member in use being inserted between two containers stacked vertically one on top of the other to locate and maintain the stacking accessory in position relative to the containers so that an elongate flexible member can be retained by the retaining means of the stacking accessory, and be retained by the retaining means of other stacking accessories located at each of the other corners of the stack of containers when fastening the elongate flexible member around the stack of containers thereby to secure the containers together to prevent them from being dislodged from the stack.

A guide or spacer may be provided for the elongate flexible member on the outer surface.

The guide or spacer may comprise at least one ridge.

In one form of the invention the guide or spacer comprises a lower ridge spaced from an upper ridge.

The elongate flexible member retaining means may include an upwardly extending arm spaced from the flanges.

The upwardly extending arm may be located adjacent a side edge of one of the flanges.

The elongate flexible member retaining means may include a downwardly extending arm spaced from the flanges, with the free end of the downwardly extending am being spaced from the free end of the upwardly extending arm to create a gap through which the elongate flexible member can be inserted to be retained in position by the arms.

The upwardly extending arm may be longer than the downwardly extending arm.

The lower ridge may project beyond a side edge of one of the flanges to form a projection from which the upwardly extending arm extends.

The upper ridge may project beyond a side edge of one of the flanges to form a projection from which the downwardly extending arm extends.

The locating means may be a tongue.

The tongue may narrow towards its free end remote from the flanges.

The locating means preferably extends from substantially midway between the top and bottom edges of the flanges.

The locating means preferably extends at substantially right angles from the inner surface.

Spikes may extend from the inner surface for engaging the containers.

The elongate flexible member may be a strap.

The stacking accessory may be integrally moulded from a polymeric material.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is a plan view of a stacking accessory according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a front view of figure 1;

Figure 3 is a rear view of figure 1;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a stack of boxes strapped together using the stacking accessory; and

Figure § is an enlarged view of the circled portion of figure 4 marked V.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A stacking accessory 10 includes diverging walls or flanges 12 located at right angles to one another. The flanges 12 have an inner surface 14, side edges 16.1 and 16.2, a bottom edge 18.1 and a top edge 18.2, and an outer surface 20. Two arms consisting of a short arm 22 and a long arm 24 are provided on the side 16.2 of the stacking accessory 10. A gap 26 is provided between the two arms 22 and 24. The arms form a loop or clip 25 with a strap receiving zone or retaining slot 27 between the arms and the side 16.2. A tongue 28 extends from the inner surface 14 at right angles to the two flanges 12. The tongue 28 narrows towards its free end 28.1, and extends from a substantially midway between the bottom and top edges 18.1 and 18.2 of the flanges 12. Spikes 30 project from the inner surface 14. Lower and upper ridges 32.1 and 32.2 extend across the outer surfaces 20 of the flanges 12. Each ridge 32 is aligned with a projection 34 extending beyond the side 16.1 to space the arms 22 and 24 from the side 16.2.

In use, stacking accessories 10 are located in position on a stack of boxes 36 (figure 4) by inserting the flanges 28 between adjacent boxes 36.

Thereafter a tape or strap 38 is wrapped around the boxes 36. The strap 38 is located between the gap 26 between the arms 22 and 24 to prevent the strap 38 from slipping out of engagement with each stacking accessory 10. The strap 38 is located between the two ridges 32. The strap 38 is then tensioned and the ends of the strap 38 are secured together. The flanges 12, which abut their respective boxes, prevent the boxes from being dislodged from the stack, and secure the boxes together.

When the strap 38 is located around.the boxes 36, it can move freely between the arms 22, 24 yet it cannot slip out of the engagement with the arms. The length of the arms 22, 24, and the distance between the ridges 32, are such that many different thicknesses and widths of strap can be utilised with the same stacking accessory. Thus, for example, 6,0 mm wide x 0,4 mm thick strap up to 20 mm wide x 1,5 mm thick can be used on the stacking accessory. In addition one person can quickly strap the stack of boxes together by slipping the strap into the retaining slot of each accessory whilst moving around the stack of boxes without the strap becoming dislodged from the stacking accessories 10. Once both ends of the strap are held by the person, the strap can be moved either left or right : to best position a buckle to fasten the strap into position.

The ridges 32.1 and 32.2 act as guides and also as spacers for the strap 38. Only ridge may be provided. As spacers the ridges space the strap from adjacent boxes and thus prevent damage by chaffing to the strap.

Arm 24 is longer than arm 22 to facilitate the insertion of a wide or narrow strap into the opening 26.

Suitable strengthening ribs (not shown) may be provided on the stacking accessory.

It will be appreciated that many modifications or variations of the invention are possible without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A stacking accessory for location at a comer of a stack of containers, the stacking accessory including two diverging flanges having an inner surface, outer surface, top edge, bottom edge, and side edges, with a locating member extending from the inner surface and being located between the top edge and the bottom edge, and an elongate flexible member retaining means adjacent the outer surface, the locating member in use being inserted between two containers stacked vertically one on top of the other to locate and maintain the stacking accessory in position relative to the containers so that an elongate flexible member can be retained by the retaining means of the stacking accessory, and be retained by the retairting means of other stacking accessories located at each of the other corners of the stack of containers when fastening the elongate flexible member around the stack of containers thereby to secure the containers together to prevent them from being dislodged from the stack.

2. The stacking accessory of claim 1 including a guide or spacer for the elongate flexible member on the outer surface.

3. The stacking accessory of claim 1 wherein the guide or spacer comprises at least one ridge.

4, The stacking accessory of claim 2 wherein the guide or spacer comprises a lower ridge spaced from an upper ridge.

5. The stacking accessory of any one of the above claims wherein the elongate flexible member retaining means includes an upwardly extending arm spaced from the flanges.

6. The stacking accessory of claim 5 wherein the upwardly extending arm is located adjacent a side edge of one of the flanges.

7. The stacking accessory of claim 5 wherein the elongate flexible member retaining means includes a downwardly extending arm spaced from the flanges, with the free end of the downwardly extending arm being spaced from the free end of the upwardly extending arm to create a gap through which the elongate flexible member can be inserted to be retained in position by the arms.

8. The stacking accessory of claim 7 wherein the upwardly extending arm is longer than the downwardly extending arm.

9. The stacking accessory of claim 5, insofar as it is dependent on claim 4, wherein the lower ridge projects beyond a side edge of one of the flanges to form a projection from which the upwardly extending arm extends.

10. The stacking accessory of claim 7, insofar as it is dependent on claim 4, wherein the upper ridge projects beyond a side edge of one of the flanges to form a projection from which the downwardly extending arm extends.

11. The stacking accessory of claim 1 wherein the locating means is a tongue.

12. The stacking accessory of claim 11 wherein the tongue narrows towards its free end remote from the flanges.

13. The stacking accessory of claim 1 wherein the locating means extends from substantially midway between the top and bottom edges of the flanges.

14. The stacking accessory of claim 1 wherein the focating means extends at substantially right angles from the inner surface.

185. The stacking accessory of claim 1 including spikes extending from the inner surface for engaging the containers.

16. The stacking accessory of claim 1 wherein the elongate flexible member is a strap.

17. The stacking accessory of claim 1 which is integrally moulded from a polymeric material.

18. A stacking accessory substantially as herein described and illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings.