AU2004100841A4 - Wire mesh deck - Google Patents

Description

DECKS AND METHODS OF CONSTRUCTION 0 o This invention relates to decks and methods of constructing ci decks. The invention has particular application to decks of the o type used for supporting goods, particularly foodstuffs, above D 5 a floor or shelf such as in cold rooms and constructed substantially of wire. However, the invention is not limited to that field of use.

SDecks and pallets are sometimes used for supporting meat, 00 o fruit, vegetables and other foodstuffs above the floor in cold rooms to allow air circulation around the goods. Some such decks otypically have a wire base with elongate horizontal feet formed ofrom folded sheet metal secured thereunder to space the wire base ci above the cold room floor. That type of configuration, requires the use of sheet metal handling equipment as well as wire working equipment even though the feet usually turn out to be a relatively minor portion of the deck. Further, moisture often builds up in the channels which results in corrosion and the possibility of the undesirable build up of micro-organisms.

The present invention aims to provide a deck which ameliorates at least one of the problems and shortcomings of the prior art, or at least provides a deck having one or more advantages over the prior art. Other aims and advantages of the invention may become apparent from the following description.

With the foregoing in view, the invention in one aspect resides broadly in a deck including: a plurality of spaced apart first wires and a plurality of spaced apart second wires extending across said first wires on one side, at least some of said first and second wires being secured to each other at their respective intersections; and an edge wire extending across said second wires on the side opposite to said first wires and secured to at least some of said second wires adjacent their ends.

In another aspect the invention resides broadly in a deck including: a plurality of spaced apart first wires and a plurality of /iGISO1110.wpd filed 6 October 2004 2 0 spaced apart second wires extending across said first wires on one side, at least some of said first and second wires being 0 secured to each other at their respective intersections and at ND least some of said first wires having a plurality of base portions adapted to cooperate to form a base and.a plurality of spaced apart first leg portions depending from adjacent base portions and adapted to rest on a floor to support said base 0 thereabove.

In yet another aspect the invention resides broadly in a S 10 deck including: Ci a plurality of spaced apart first wires and a plurality of spaced apart second wires extending across said first wires on one side, at least some of said first and second wires being secured to each other at their respective intersections and at least some of said first wires having a plurality of base portions adapted to cooperate with said second wires to form a base and a plurality of spaced apart first leg portions depending from adjacent base portions and adapted to rest on a floor to support said base thereabove; and the end portions of at least some of said second wires depend from said base to form second leg portions adapted to rest on a floor to support said base thereabove; and an edge wire extending across said second wires and secured to at least some of said second wires adjacent their ends.In such form of the invention it is preferred that the edge wire be secured on the side of the second wires opposite to that of the first wires.

Preferably, said base is generally planar in configuration and is adapted to support thereon bags, boxes, foodstuffs and the like.

Preferably, said second wires are substantially perpendicular to said first wires and generally lie in the same plane.

/iGIS01l10.wpd filted 6 October 2004 e Preferably, said end portions depend from said base tsubstantially at right angles such that they carry the down load 0 on their ends.

oND Preferably, said first leg portions are substantially Vshaped or U-shaped with the.end of each leg of the V or U being contiguous with the adjacent base portions, such that the apex of the V or U is adapted to rest on the floor.

0 o Preferably, said first leg portions of adjacent wires are substantially aligned to form spaced apart sets across the base.

S 10 In such form, it is preferred that a plurality of said second C( wires extend across said first wires within said leg portions in each set and are secured thereto. In such form of the invention, it is preferred that each one of the plurality of second wires in each set of leg portions be secured to the leg portions in order to tie those leg portions together whereby they cooperate to form an elongate support for the base between adjacent base portions. In such form of the invention, it is also preferred that at least a portion of at least some of said second wires in at least some of said sets of leg portions forms a base portion generally lying in the plane of the base. In a preferred form that base portion lies beyond said outermost first wires and an end portion depends therefrom to form one or more of said second leg portions. Advantageously, such arrangement inhibits bending of the deck at the legs.

In still yet another aspect, the invention resides broadly in a method of constructing a deck including: placing on a press bed a plurality of first wires in spaced relationship and a plurality of second wires extending across said first wires in spaced relationship on one side thereof; pressing at least some of said first and second wires to form a plurality of spaced apart pressed portions in said first wires depending from adjacent portions thereof; and welding at least some of said first and second wires to each /iGISOlll0.wpd filed 6 October 2004 'et 4 c-i other at their respective intersections to form a base having a oplurality of spaced apart pressed portions depending therefrom.

o Preferably, the method also includes pressing or folding the o end portions of said second wires.

Preferably, the. method also includes cutting.the- second wires to a desired length after pressing and after welding and 0 then welding an edge wire to the end portions of said second Swires.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood S 10 and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the (N accompanying drawings which illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention and wherein: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a wire deck according to the invention; Fig. 2 is an orthographic projection of the wire deck of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of another wire deck according to the invention; Fig. 4 is an orthographic projection of the wire deck of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of another wire deck according to the invention; and Fig. 6 is an orthographic projection of the wire deck of Fig. The wire deck 10 illustrated in Fig. 1 includes a plurality of parallel spaced apart first wires shown typically at 11 extending in one direction and a plurality of spaced apart generally parallel second wires shown typically at 12 on top of the first wires and extending in a direction generally perpendicular to that of the first wires. The first and second wires are welded together at their respective intersections.

The opposite end portions of the second wires shown typically at 13 and 14 are folded substantially at right angles /iGISO1110. wpd filed 6 October 2004 0 to the intermediate portion of the second wires to form edge legs which terminate at edge wires 16 and 17 respectively which are o welded to the second wires immediately adjacent their respective IND ends 13a and 14a. Advantageously, the edge wires are welded on the opposite side of the second wires to that of the first wires to provide improved safety characteristics for users.

Each of the first wires include spaced apart leg portions 0 2 shown typically at 18 and intermediate base portions therebetween shown typically at 19 with the leg portions depending from the S 10 adjacent base portions. It will be seen that the base portions C lie in a horizontal plane (when in use)and the leg portions lie in an orthogonal vertical plane. Advantageously, the leg portions of the first wires are aligned to form an elongate support shown typically at 21 having a generally V-shaped cross section extending almost fully across the deck in the same direction as the second wires. The leg portions are interconnected by a number of closely placed second wires shown typically at 22 as can be more clearly seen in the detail view which are arranged to increase the strength of the deck in the vicinity of the legs.

It will be seen that the second wires which cross the first wires in the leg portions have a portion 24 towards each end thereof beyond the outermost first wire which lies in the plane of the base portion and are contiguous therewith such that a horizontal platform is created which extends fully across the front and back of each deck adjacent the edge legs 13.

The deck 110 illustrated in Fig. 3 is the same as that of Fig. 1 and accordingly corresponding components have been referenced by the same numbers except that they are prefaced by a The main difference from the deck of Fig. 1 is that deck 110 has three second wires 122 extending through the leg portions rather than four, with one of those wires being located in the apex of the V-shaped leg portions 118.

The deck 210 illustrated in Fig. 5 is the same as that of iGIS01110.wpd filed 6 October 2004 6 0 Fig. 1 in many respects and accordingly corresponding components have been referenced by the same numbers except that they are 0 prefaced by a The main difference is that the supports are ND formed from third and fourth wires 231 and 232 having leg portions formed therein 233 rather than-from leg portions formed in the first and second wires as in the decks of Figs. 1 and 2.

Each of the leg portions has much the same shape as the leg 0 portion in the earlier described decks and each of those leg portions is welded to the spaced apart second wires 212 and 234 S 10 on the opposite sides of the leg portions between respective ci adjacent first wires 211 and the aligned legs are crossed by a plurality of fourth wires shown typically at 236 which are welded thereto. Advantageously, the deck 210 has edge wires 216 and 217 in the same form as that of the other decks.

The decks shown in Figs. 1 and 2 are manufactured by laying the set of first wires on a press bed in the desired spaced apart positions and then laying the second wires on top in their desired spaced apart positions. The press head is then lowered to press the leg portions in the first wires and the bends in the second wires as desired as well as the folds at the ends of the second wires. Once the wires have been pressed into the desired form they are welded together at the intersections while on the press bed. After the first and second wires are welded together, the edge wires 18 and 19 are positioned as shown in Fig. 1 and welded to the second wires in the desired respective positions.

The second wires are then cut off immediately adjacent the edge wires. Advantageously, the method accommodates the drawing of the first and second wires to different lengths as required to suit the leg portions in the first wires and the bends in the second wires which cross the leg portions as required.

In another method, the first and second wires can be cut to a predetermined length and laid on the press bed in the desired positions and welded prior to pressing. Subsequently, the edge liGISO1110.wpd filed 6 October 2004 7 0- wires can be welded to the second wires immediately adjacent the ends which should be all aligned.

0 The deck shown in Fig. 5 can be formed in much the same IO manner as those of Figs. 1 and 2. However, for that embodiment, 5 it .is necessary to. lay -the-third-and fourth -wires on the press.

bed first and press them into the desired form prior to laying 00 the first and second wires in the desired position.

o The foregoing description has been given by way of illustrative example of the invention and many modifications and 0 10 variations which will be apparent to persons skilled in the art Ci may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

iiGIS01110 .wpd filed 6 October 2004

Claims (17)

1. A deck including: o a plurality of spaced apart first wires and a plurality of O spaced apart second wires extending across said first wires on -one side.,- at-least some of said first and second wires-being secured to each other at their respective intersections; and an edge wire extending across said second wires on the side 0 2 opposite to said first wires and secured to at least some of said second wires adjacent their ends. S 10

2. A deck including: (N a plurality of spaced apart first wires and a plurality of spaced apart second wires extending across said first wires on one side, at least some of said first and second wires being secured to each other at their respective intersections and at least some of said first wires having a plurality of base portions adapted to cooperate to form a base and a plurality of spaced apart first leg portions depending from adjacent base portions and adapted to rest on a floor to support said base thereabove.

3. A deck including: a plurality of spaced apart first wires and a plurality of spaced apart second wires extending across said first wires on one side, at least some of said first and second wires being secured to each other at their respective intersections and at least some of said first wires having a plurality of base portions adapted to cooperate with said second wires to form a base and a plurality of spaced apart first leg portions depending from adjacent base portions and adapted to rest on a floor to support said base thereabove; and the end portions of at least some of said second wires depend from said base to form second leg portions adapted to rest on a floor to support said base thereabove; and an edge wire extending across said second wires and secured /iGLSOI 110. wpd filed 6 October 2004 9 to at least some of said second wires adjacent their ends.

4. A deck according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein o said base is generally planar in configuration and is adapted to D support thereon bags, boxes, foodstuffs and the like.

5. A deck according -to any oneof the preceding claims, wherein.. said second wires are substantially perpendicular to said first 0 wires and generally lie in the same plane. o

6. A deck according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said end portions depend from said base substantially at right o 10 angles. (N

7. A deck according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said first leg portions are substantially V-shaped or U-shaped with the end of each leg of the V or U being contiguous with the adjacent base portions, such that the apex of the V or U is adapted to rest on the floor and said first leg portions of adjacent wires are substantially aligned to form sets of spaced apart leg portions across the base.

8. A deck according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the edge wire is secured to the second wires on the side opposite to that of the first wires.

9. A deck according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a plurality of second wires extend across said first wires within said leg portions in each set and are secured thereto.

A deck according to Claim 9, wherein each one of the plurality of second wires in each set of leg portions is secured to the leg portions in order to tie those leg portions together whereby they cooperate to form an elongate support for the base between adjacent base portions.

11. A deck according to Claim 10, wherein at least a portion of at least some of said second wires in at least some of said sets of leg portions forms a base portion generally lying in the plane of the base.

12. A deck according to Claim 11, wherein that base portion lies /iGIS01I10.wpd filed 6 October 2004 cq beyond said outermost first wires and an end portion depends therefrom to form one or more of said second leg portions. O

13. A method of constructing a deck including: D placing on a press bed a plurality of first wires in spaced relationship. and a plurality of second wires extending--across.- _said first wires in spaced relationship on one side thereof; Spressing at least some of said first and second wires to 00 o form a plurality of spaced apart pressed portions in said first wires depending from adjacent portions thereof; and welding at least some of said first and second wires to each C( other at their respective intersections to form a base having a plurality of spaced apart pressed portions depending therefrom.

14. A method according to Claim 13, including pressing or folding the end portions of said second wires.

15. A deck according to Claim 13 or Claim 14, including cutting the second wires to a desired length after pressing and after welding and then welding an edge wire to the end portions of said second wires.

16. A deck as hereinbefore described with reference to any of the accompanying drawings.

17. A method as hereinbefore described with reference to any of the accompanying drawings. Dated this 6th day of October, 2004 Gisler Wire Products Pty Ltd By their Patent Attorneys AHEARN FOX /iG.SO 1 .wpdfled 6 October 2004