AU2008100186A4 - Apparatus for Storing and Shipping of Goods - Google Patents

Description

2008 02/27 23:21 FAX +61 3 9543 2711 MORCOM PERNAT Z006/022 1

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION INNOVATION PATENT "Apparatus for Storing and Shipping of Goods" The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: COMS ID No: ARCS-181004 Received by IP Australia: Time 23:30 Date 2008-02-27 2008 02/27 23:21 FAX +61 3 9543 2711 MOCMPNAIj07/2 MORCOM PERNAT Q007/022 00 2 CA Apparatus for Storing and Shipping of Goods CA Background and Summary of the Invention This invention concerns the prevention of top-load damage with loose packed goods.

00 It is particularly applicable to protecting cartons of goods stacked onto pallets and 0 o then loaded, two or more pallet layers high, into standard shipping containers for 00 transport.

Top-load damage is common in such situations because the weight of an upper pallet crushes the goods on the lower pallet. When loaded into shipping containers two pallets high, the top load (which could weigh 1 tonne or more) frequently damages the bottom stack of packaging and/or the product itself during transit.

An aim of the present invention is to provide a pallet support system which overcomes these difficulties. The present invention eliminates or reduces damaged packaging with loose pre-packed goods on pallets by supporting the load of a further pallet on top.

Accordingly, in one aspect the invention provides a shipping module comprising: a rectangular rigid base portion having an upper face, a lower face and four sides; at least two rigid support legs upstanding from each of the four sides of the rectangular base portion and extending upwards to respective top ends of the legs; a rigid top frame component connected at respective top connections to all said top ends of the legs, said top frame component being separable from each said leg at said top connections; and wherein: COMS ID No: ARCS-181 004 Received by IP Australia: Time 23:30 Date 2008-02-27 2008 02/27 23:21 FAX +61 3 9543 2711 MOCMPNA j00/2 MORCOM PERNAT 14008/022 00 3 c-i -each said support leg has a first adjacent said support leg rising from the same said side of the base portion, and a second adjacent said support leg rising from an adjacent said side of the base portion; -said top frame component includes a generally horizontal non-circular ring structure linking said top ends of the support legs; IN- the top of each said support leg is connected to the top of its respective said 0 o lies above the base portion and cuts across a top corner of the module.

00 Preferably the rectangular base portion is square and, more preferably, sized as a Ci standard shipping palletof about 11 5cm square.

The at least two support legs may comprise a pair of support legs rising from each said side of the base portion. The legs of each pair may be respective legs of a U-shaped member which has a substantially horizontal central portion connecting said pair of legs.

The central portion of the U-shaped member may be clipped into a straight channel affixed to the respective side of the base portion to thereby hold the support legs extending upwards. The channel preferably has its length in the range of 30%/ to of the length of its respective side of the base portion.

Preferably the top of each support leg engages with the top frame by sliding fit engagement with stubs or prongs or tubes extending downwards from the top ftrme.

Preferably the length of the channel is in the range of 30% to 50%/ of the length of its respective side of the base portion.

COMS ID No: ARCS-181004 Received by 1PAustralia: Time 23:30 Date 2008-02-27 2008 02/27 23:21, FAX ±61 3 9543 2711 MRO ENTij0/2 MORCOM PERNAT IA009/022 00 4 (N Brief Description of the Drawings In order that the invention may be more fully understood there will now be described, by way of example only, preferred embodiments and other elements of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings where: INO Figure I is an exploded view of components, including a pallet and framing 00 components, used for one embodiment of the invention; 2 Figure 2 shows the framing components in Figure 1 stacked on the pallet as 00 might be supplied; 0 (N frame; Figure 4 shows four hoops of the framing components clipped onto the components shown in Figure 3; Figures 5 and 6 are views of two adjacent sides of the structure shown in Figure 4; Figure 7 shows the components shown in Figure 4 when a top frame has been subsequently added to the structure; Figure 8 shows the structure shown in Figure 7 subsequently wrapped in a polyethylene cling wrap material; and Figure 9 shows a technique for separating metal framing components of the module.

Description of Examples of the Invention and the Preferred Embodiment Referring to Figure 1, the components of the shipping module 10 include a timber pallet 12 of conventional size, namely 115cm. x 115cm. The pallet is of conventional timber construction with seven slats 14 on its top face 16, seven slats 18 on its bottom face 20, and four intermediate bearers 21. The module 10 is delivered to a user stacked in a compact form as shown in Figure 2.

At the edge of its top face 16, adjacent each of the four sides 22, 23, 24 and 25 of the pallet 12, a respective steel channel 28 is firmly affixed to the top face of the slats 14.

The four channels 28 are formed from 2mm galvanized steel and are fastened to the COMS ID No: ARCS-i 81 004 Received by IP Australia: Time 23:30 Date 2008-02-27 2008 02/27 23:21 FAX ±61 3 9543 2711 MRO ENT0002 MORCOM PERNAT [a 010/022 00 CA pallet by three 8mm screws (not shown). Each Channel 28 extends for about 40% of the length of its respective side 22 The components shown in Figure 1 also include four tubular staples 3 0-33. The staples are U-shaped so they each have the form of a hoop. Staple 30 has a pair of V.0 legs 52 and 54 and a straight central portion 68 therebetween. Similarly, staple 31 0 o has a pair of legs 6 and 62 with a straight central portion 70 therebetween, astaple 03has a pair of legs 6 and 6 with a straight central portion 7 therebetween. n sal 0 Ci The final component shown in Figure 1 is an octagonal-shaped top frame 36 which is shown with eight pins 44 to 51 extending downwards. In use these engage into corresponding holes 53a, 55a, 57a, 59a, 61a, 63a, 65a and 67a in the respective ends 53b, 55b, 57b,, 59b, 61b, 63b, 65b and 67b of the legs.

To assemble the shipping module 10, the top frame 36 and the staples 30-33 are rem oved from the pallet 12 and the desired boxes 40 of goods to be shipped are stacked in a tight assembly on the pallet. Figure 3 shows such an arrangement where the boxes 40 occupy 110cOm length x 110Ocm width x I110cm high.

The staples 30 to 33 are constructed from square hollow section steel tube bent into the U-shape. The width of the channels 28 is selected so that the central portions 68 to 71 of the respective staples form a tight push fit into their respective engaging channel as seen in Figure 4. The central portions 69 and 71 of the pair of staples 31 and 33 on opposite sides 23 and 25 of the pallet are pressed into respective channels only so far that they are held high in the channel as seen in Figure 5. For the other pair of staples 30 and 32, their central portions 68 and 70 are pressed well down deep into their respective channels as shown in Figure 6. At this stage, the legs of each staple are freestanding upright in a substantially vertical position as seen in Figure 4.

As seen in Figures 4 to 6, the leg ends 57b, 59b, 65b and 6Th are raised a little higher than the top of the boxes while the other leg ends are level with the boxes.

COMS ID No: ARCS-181004 Received by IP Australia: Time 23:30 Date 2008-02-27 2008 02/27 23:22 FAX +61 3 9543 2711 MRO ENTIj1/2 MORCOM PERNAT IM 011/022 0c' 6 0 The octagonal ring 36 is then lifted into position over the top of the boxes and the pins 44to 51 are inserted into the respective holes 53a, 55a, 57a, 59a, 61a, 63a, and 67a on the ends 53b, 55b, 57b, 59b, 61b, 63b, 65b and 67b of the legs. It is convenient to first fit the pins into legs 56, 58, 64 and 66 which are the legs of the staples which are set high in the channel 28. The ring 36 is then tapped downwards INO gently with a rubber mallet to insert the remaining pins 44, 45, 48 and 49 ffly into 00 the top ends 53b, 55b, 61b and 63b of the tubes. The ring can then be hit more 0 deeply into the channels.

o01 01 ci The module 10 described in the preferred embodiment may be assembled in approximately 2 minutes over and around the pre-stacked boxes 40. A rubber mallet is the only tool required for assembly.

It can be seen that the top fi-ame 36 has straight portions 36a which extend between a pair of arms of a respective staple on each outer edge of the module. Support leg 52 has one adjacent support leg 54 extending upwards from the same side 22 of the pallet and where both legs 52 and 54 are part of the same staple. But leg 52 has another adjacent leg 66 that is connected to another side 25 of the pallet. Legs 52 and 66 are connected by a portion 36b of the top fr-ame which cuts across the top of the corner of the module 10. The angled corner portions 36b provide additional rigidity when compared with an otherwise square top fr-ame and also provides a rung 72 on which can be supported another pallet stacked on top of the module 10. Even if the upper pallet does not completely align with the pallet below, each rung will still underlie part of a corner of the upper pallet.

Finally, the module shown in Figure 7 is wrapped with a polyethylene cling wrap (or stretch wrap) 74 as seen in Figure 8. The finished dimensions of the module 10 in Figure 8 are 11l5cm wide x 115cm long x ll4cm high. The total height is made up of the pallet being 12cm high, the boxes 100cm high and the top framre being 2cm deep.

In alternative embodiments, the 'boxes can be stretch wrapped before or after the frame is assembled. Conveniently the boxes 40 are pre-stacked, then the fradme COMS ID No: ARCS-181004 Received by IP Australia: Time 23:30 Date 2008-02-27 2008 02/27 23:22 FAX -461 3 9543 2711 MRO ENTiJ1/2 MORCOM PERNAT [it 012/022 00 7 assembled around them. However in some instances it may be feasible to stack the boxes into the preassembled. module.

(N The staples may be a simple tap fit into the channels 28 and the pins 44-51 a simple a tap fit into the upright tubes.

00 In tests, a shipping module as described above and shown in Figure 8 had placed on it o a pallet of goods having a weight of 1,200kg. This was achieved without significant 00 pressure being placed on the boxes 01 When disassembling the unit at the destination, the stretched cling wrap 74 is removed, the top fr-ame 36 lifted off, and the staples 30-33 levered out of the channels 28 using a levering bar 76 in the manner shown in Figure 9. The channels 28 have gaps 28a and 28b formed in the lower walls of their ends in order that the end of the levering bar 76 can bear on the underneath of the staple and thus press the staple from the channel- For return to the original shipping site, the staples and top frame may be placed again on the pallet as shown in Figure 2 and wrapped with stretched cling wrap. The components for approximately 120 modules in such a packed-down configuration will fit into a standard 20ft shipping container.

The staples 30 to 33 are bent from square hollow section steel having a wall thickness of 1.6mm and galvanized to suppress corrosion. The pins 44 to 51 are conveniently sized about 100 to 150mm long. The pins 44 to 51 shown in the Figures are round tubes but in alternative embodiments they may be square hollow section tubes which slide into the ends of the legs. in other embodiments (not illustrated) the pins 44 to 51 may be replaced by. sockets made from 25mm square hollow section steel tube which the top ends of the legs 53b, et al, can slide into.

Whilst the above description includes the preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to he understood that many variations, alterations, modifications and/or additions may be introduced into the constructions and arrangements of parts previously COMS IDNo: ARCS-181004 Received by IP Australia: Time (I-tm) 23:30 Date 2008-02-27 2008 02/27 23:22 FAX -i-1 3 9543 2711 MOOMPNA j1/2 MORCON PERNAT [a 013/022 00 8 0 described without departing from the essential features or the spirit or ambit of the invention.

For example, the top frame need not be octagonal in shape, the straight corner portions may be curved for example. Also, the legs may be affixed to the pallet so INO they hinge up into position. The legs may in that way be attached to the pallet so they 00 do not get lost during the return shipment packed flat.

Itwl0eas nesodta hr h od"opieadvrain uha 0 "comprises" and "comprising", are used in this specification, unless the context Ci requires otherwise such use is intended to imply the inclusion of a stated feature or features but is not to be taken as excluding the presence of other feature or features.

The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgment or any form of suggestion that such prior art forms part of the common general knowledge in Australia.

COMS ID No: ARCS-181004 Received by IP Australia: Time 23:30 Date 2008-02-27

Claims (5)

1. A shipping module comprising: a rectangular rigid base portion having an upper face, a lower face and four sides; INO at least two rigid support legs upstanding from each of the four sides of 0 2 of the legs; 00 -a rigid top fr-ame component connected at respective top connections to all 0 ci each said leg at said top connections; and wherein: each said support leg has a first adjacent said support leg rising from the same said side of the base portion, and a second adjacent said support leg rising from an adjacent said side of the base portion; said top frame component includes a generally horizontal non-circular ring structure linking said top ends of the support legs; the top of each said support leg is connected to the top of its respective said second adjacent support leg by a corner-cuffing portion of the top frame which lies above the base portion and cuts across a top corner of the module,

2. A shipping module according to claim 1 wherein said base portion is sized as a standard shipping pallet of about 115cm square.

3. A shipping module according to claim 1 or 2 wherein said at least two support legs comprise a pair of support legs rising from each said side of the base portion.

4. A shipping module according to claim 3 wherein the legs of each said pair are respective legs of a U-shaped member which has a substantially horizontal central portion connecting said pair of legs and said central portion is clipped into a straight COMS ID No: ARCS-181004 Received by IP Australia: Time 23:30 Date 2008-02-27 2008 02/27 23:22 FAX +61 3 9543 2711 MORCOM PERNAT [a015/022 00 0 0 channel affixed to the respective side of the base portion to thereby hold the Orespective support legs extending upwards.

5. A shipping module according to any one of the previous claims wherein the top of each said support leg engages with the top frame by sliding fit engagement with stubs or prongs or tubes extending downwards from the top frame. 00 0 O0 o 10 Dated this 27th day of February 2008 Bulk Handling Australia Group Pty Ltd by their patent attorneys Morcom Pernat COMS ID No: ARCS-181004 Received by IP Australia: Time 23:30 Date 2008-02-27