AU2013200849A1

AU2013200849A1 - Temporary bulkhead

Info

Publication number: AU2013200849A1
Application number: AU2013200849A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Jeffrey Raymond Goss; Karl Joyce
Original assignee: Willowtree Holdings Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Willowtree Holdings Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2011-03-11
Filing date: 2013-02-13
Publication date: 2013-03-07
Anticipated expiration: 2032-02-29
Also published as: AU2013200849B2

Abstract

A temporary bulkhead 11 for placement in a shipping container 10. The bulkhead 11 includes a sheet member 25 having a main body portion 26 of a width to extend across the closable end of the container 10, and a plurality of load-bearing members 41 to 44 positioned on one side of the sheet member 25 and extending substantially across the width of the main body portion 26. The load-bearing members 41 to 44 support the sheet member 25 against a load of material in the container. A sealing arrangement 27, 28 extends from opposite side edges of the sheet member 25 and extends in a direction towards an inner end wall 19 of the container 10 to seal against internal surfaces of side walls 12, 13, to substantially prevent leakage of material past the side edges of the sheet member 25. A locating arrangement 35, 36 is located at opposite edges of the sheet member 25 and extends in a direction away from the end wall 19 of the container 10 to locate opposite ends of the load bearing members 41 to 44.

Description

AUSTRALIA Patents Act COMPLETE SPECIFICATION (ORIGINAL) Class Int. Class Application Number: Lodged: Complete Specification Lodged: Accepted: Published: Priority Related Art: Name of Applicant: Karl Joyce Actual Inventor(s): Karl Joyce, Jeffrey Raymond Goss Address for Service and Correspondence: PHILLIPS ORMONDE FITZPATRICK Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys 367 Collins Street Melbourne 3000 AUSTRALIA Invention Title: TEMPORARY BULKHEAD Our Ref: 963249 POF Code: 342450/450124 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to applicant(s): 600-q 2 TEMPORARY BULKHEAD FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present application is a divisional application from Australian Provisional Patent Application No. 2012201212, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. The present invention relates to a temporary bulkhead for placement in a shipping container to contain material within the container. Shipping containers include containers for road, air or sea transport. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A reference herein to a patent document or other matter which is given as prior art is not to be taken as an admission that that document or matter was known or that the information it contains was part of the common general knowledge as at the priority date of any of the claims. A shipping container has an interior space which is defined by a floor, side walls, an end wall and a ceiling. The end of the container opposite the end wall can be open for egress of material within the container but can be closed by one or more hinged doors. A temporary bulkhead can be placed at the open end of the container to allow material to be loaded into the container while the doors remain open. A temporary bulkhead will extend from one side of the container to the other, and from the floor upwards, but terminates prior to the ceiling so that a gap exists to allow the material to be loaded into the container. The temporary bulkhead thus forms a barrier to flow of the material out of the container while the material is being loaded into the container and the doors of the container are open. The temporary bulkhead remains within the container while the container is transported and the doors are closed, and is removed from the container when the material is to be removed from the container. Thus, the doors are opened and the temporary bulkhead removed and thereafter, the material within the container can be removed.

3 Temporary bulkheads have been made from sheet material in the past. Cardboard sheet has been used and the sheet has been supported by beams that extend across the side of the sheet facing the open end of the container. In some arrangements, the beams have been made from timber. In some arrangements the edge of the cardboard sheet engages the side walls of the container to prevent leakage of flowable material past the side edges. In some arrangements, the section of the sheet that engages the side walls also supports the timber beams. There are some drawbacks with current temporary bulkheads. In some bulkheads, the installation requires the installer to be within the container as the bulkhead is positioned and to climb out over the top of the bulkhead after the installation is complete. This usually requires the installer to have a ladder on the inside of the container with him or her and to have to lift the ladder out of the container once he or she has finished installing the bulkhead. This can thus be awkward and in some situations unsafe. In addition, with some current temporary bulkheads, the bulkhead is arranged to extend into recesses formed in the side walls of the container to locate the bulkhead and in some containers the recesses include fixing lugs for other parts of the container. Thus, there is often a need to cut away certain parts of the bulkhead structure to accommodate the fixing lugs. The present invention seeks to provide an improved temporary bulkhead that can be placed in the interior of the container for the purpose of retaining material within the container while the doors of the container are open. Alternatively, the present invention seeks to provide a new temporary bulkhead that provides a useful alternative to temporary bulkheads that are currently available in Australia. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In a first aspect, the present invention provides a temporary bulkhead for placement in the interior of a shipping container which is defined by a floor, side walls, an end wall, a closable end opposite the end wall and a ceiling, the bulkhead including: a sheet member having a main body portion which has a width to extend across the closable end of the container from one side wall to the other, and 4 a plurality of load-bearing members positioned on one side of the main body portion of the sheet member and extending substantially across the width of the main body portion for supporting the sheet member against a load of material in a container to which the bulkhead is fitted, and a locating arrangement located at opposite side edges of the sheet member and extending in a direction away from the end wall of the container to locate opposite ends of the load-bearing members. The present invention advantageously can be installed from a position on the outside of the bulkhead so that there is no need for the installer to enter the container and to be on the inside of the bulkhead when the bulkhead is installed. The installer thus does not have to climb over the bulkhead once it is installed. This has advantages in respect of safety and convenience. In addition, the side edges of the bulkhead do not need to be inserted into recesses formed in the side walls of the container, so that there is no need to cut away parts of the bulkhead for its installation. In a second aspect, the present invention provides a temporary bulkhead for placement in the interior of a shipping container of the above described kind, the bulkhead including: a sheet member having a main body portion which has a width to extend from one side wall of the container to a closure member that closes a portion of the closable opening, and a plurality of load-bearing members positioned on one side of the main body portion of the sheet member and extending substantially across the width of the main body portion for supporting the sheet member against a load of material in a container to which the bulkhead is fitted, a locating arrangement extending from a first side edge of the sheet member adjacent the side wall of the container and extending in a direction away from the end wall of the container to locate the ends of the load-bearing members that extend to the first side edge. The first aspect of the invention provides a temporary bulkhead to span the complete opening of a container, while the second aspect of the invention provides a temporary 5 bulkhead to span one portion of the complete opening whereby the remaining portion of the complete opening is closed by a closure member other than the temporary bulkhead. The first aspect of the invention is expected to be the most useful form of the invention, so further discussion will be made in relation to that aspect. However, it is to be appreciated that the second aspect is within the scope of the invention. Each of the first and second aspects of the invention can include a sealing arrangement which is located at each of the opposite edges of sheet member and which, in the first aspect seals against the internal surface of the side walls of the container and which, in the second aspect seals against one of the internal surfaces of the side walls and against the closure member. The sealing arrangements are provided to prevent leakage of material past the side edges of the sheet member of the temporary bulkhead. The portion of the sealing arrangement that seals against the internal surface of the side walls can extend in a direction towards the end wall of the container. The sealing arrangement at the opposite edges of sheet member is intended to substantially prevent leakage of material, such as flowable material past the opposite edges but is not intended to completely prevent leakage. The material of the sealing arrangement at the opposite edges can be sufficiently flexible or malleable such as to mould to any small irregularities in the internal surfaces of the side walls to assist in creating a seal, In some forms of the invention, the material is intended to bear against the sealing arrangement to force the sealing arrangement into firm contact with the internal surfaces of the side walls in order to enhance the sealing effect. The locating arrangement of the opposite edges of the sheet member which locates the opposite ends of the load bearing members can include a plurality of openings for receiving an end of each load-bearing member. The openings can be formed in any suitable manner and in some arrangements the openings are formed in locating flaps that extend in a direction away from the end wall of the container. In this form of the invention, the openings are preferably formed so that the load bearing members are in bearing contact with the facing surface of the main body portion before the material is loaded into a container in which the temporary bulkhead is installed. This can be satisfied by the main body portion forming one side of the openings that receive the opposite ends of the load bearing members.

6 The openings of the locating flaps can be of any suitable size and shape and can be of the same dimensions as the cross-section of the load bearing members, or at least the ends thereof. The openings of the locating flaps can include an entry opening so that the ends of the load bearing members can be shifted through the entry opening and into the locating opening. Alternatively, the locating flaps can be separated into portions which can be moved independently, so that one flap portion can be moved to expose an opening of another flap portion so that the end of the load bearing member can be inserted into the opening that has been exposed. In the above arrangement, the flap portions can be hinged from a loading position in which the end of a load bearing member is inserted into the opening of a flap portion, and an operative position in which the hinged flap portion is returned to a position in which the end of the load bearing member is captured in the opening. In the operative position, the respective flap portions are aligned in the lateral position assumed relative to the main body portion. In the loading position, the flap portions are displaced from alignment to expose an open end of an opening of a flap portion for insertion of an end of a load bearing member. Displacement of the flap portions is only required for one of the two locating flaps of the temporary bulkheads, because the first end of a load bearing member to be inserted into the opening of a locating flap can be inserted straight into an opening. That insertion can be at an angle so that the other end of the load bearing member can be rotated towards and into the opposite opening of the other locating flap. It is the opening of the other locating flap that is required to be accessed by displacement of the flap portions. Thus, displacement of one flap portion exposes an opening of an adjacent flap portion to enable the opposite end of the load bearing member to be rotated for insertion into the opening of the adjacent flap portion. The above arrangement provides a simple but effective method for installing the load bearing members to the sheet member. By the described arrangement, the sheet member can be installed in the open end of the container and thereafter, the load bearing members can be installed to the sheet member. This again facilitates installation by a single operator only.

7 The locating flaps can be formed integrally with the sheet member or they can be attached to the sheet member. Where the locating flaps are formed integrally with the sheet member, creases can be provided to facilitate positioning of the flaps laterally to the main body portion, such as substantially perpendicular to that portion. Where the locating flaps are attached to the sheet member, they can be glued, stapled or stitched to the main body portion. Other forms of attachment are possible. The locating flaps can be of the same material as the main body portion of the sheet member or they can be of a different material if the locating flaps are separate from the main body portion and are attached thereto. The locating flaps could be of thick cardboard to ensure adequate support of the load bearing members and the main body portion can be formed of corrugated cardboard. Other combinations are possible. The locating arrangement can be arranged to extend from opposite edges of the sheet member, or it can be located at the opposite edges. Where the locating arrangement extends from the opposite edges, it can be formed integrally with the sheet member, or it can be attached to the sheet member at each of the opposite edges, such as described above in relation to the locating flaps. Where the locating arrangement is located at the opposite side edges of the sheet member rather than extending from the opposite edges, the locating arrangement can comprise any suitable arrangement to locate the opposite ends of the load bearing members. In one form, the locating arrangement can be in the form of a plurality of loops through which opposite ends of the load bearing members can be inserted and secured. For example, a rope or cord or the like can be fixed at or toward opposite top and bottom edges of the sheet member on each of the opposite side edges of the sheet member, with the rope or cord including a plurality of aforementioned loops. In an alternative arrangement, the locating arrangement can comprise a plurality of posts which are erected at each of the opposite side edges of the sheet member as the load bearing members are installed. For example, a first pair of posts can be placed at the opposite side edges of the sheet member and a load bearing member supported on the upper ends of the posts. The first pair of posts will extend upwardly only a portion of the 8 height of the side edges of the sheet member. A second pair of posts can then be installed on the opposite ends of the load bearing member, stacked above and aligned with the first pair of posts and a further load bearing member can be installed on the upper ends of the second set of posts. This arrangement can be repeated with third and additional pairs of posts stacked above each other until each of the load bearing members has been installed. The posts can include suitable arrangements to maintain the ends of the load bearing members in position, and the posts themselves can be glued to the face of the sheet member or otherwise attached to that member. Still alternatively, in the above arrangement employing a plurality of posts, the posts may be inserted into recesses formed in the side walls of the container, the recesses being the same recesses that the ends of the load bearing members extend into, so that the posts are not required to be attached to the sheet member. In that arrangement, the ends of the load bearing members can simply be supported on top of the posts with no further fixing arrangements required. The sheet member can be formed of any suitable material although for most applications corrugated cardboard is considered appropriate at least for the main body portion due to its relative light weight, ease of manufacture and recyclability. In addition, a corrugated cardboard sheet can be handled and installed in a container by one person. Other suitable materials include plastic corrugated board, timber, solid plastic or corrugated plastic sheet or fabric, such as a poly sheet. The main body portion of the sheet member can be of the same material as the locating arrangement or they can be of different materials. It is preferred that the main body portion and the locating arrangement be made of cardboard but the respective parts can be made of different grades or forms of cardboard as appropriate. For example, the main body portion of the sheet member could be made from a double or triple flute cardboard, the locating arrangement could be made from a different grade of fluted cardboard to the main sheet. The load-bearing members can be formed from any suitable material such as a timber based material and may be timber boards of pine, hard wood or other suitable timber. Alternatively, they may be formed from laminated paper, paper tubing, cardboard or plastic 9 extrusion. If a high strength is required, each elongate member may be formed from metal such as steel. A temporary bulkhead according to the invention can be supplied in parts for self-assembly by the end user. Thus the invention also provides a sheet member for forming a temporary bulkhead for placement in the interior of a container to prevent the escape of material through a closable end of the container. The sheet member has a main body portion which has a width to extend across the closable end of the container from one side wall to the other. Opposite edges of the sheet member are arranged to provide a locating arrangement to extend in the direction away from the end wall of the container to locate opposite ends of load-bearing members. The sealing arrangement can also be provided along the lower edge of the sheet member for forming a seal between the floor of the container and the bulkhead when in use in the container. In one embodiment, the sealing arrangement is a sealing flap which extends from the main body portion to lie substantially flat against the floor of the container. The sealing flap is located on the side of the bulkhead in contact with the material so that the material can press the sealing flap against the floor of the container. This invention shall now be described with reference to the figures which illustrate various preferred embodiments of the invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a perspective view of the front end of a shipping container to which a temporary bulkhead according to the invention has been installed. Figure 2 is an end view of the container of Figure 1. Figure 3 is a perspective view of the temporary bulkhead illustrated in Figure 1. Figure 4 is a perspective view of the temporary bulkhead illustrated in Figure 1 from the opposite side to that shown in Figure 3. Figure 5 is an above view of the container of Figure 1 with the ceiling of the container 10 removed. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS With reference to Figures 1 and 2, a container 10 is illustrated to which a temporary bulkhead 11 according to the invention has been installed. The container 10 includes side walls 12 and 13, a ceiling 14, and a floor 15. The container 10 includes an open end 16, which is closable by a pair of hinged doors 17 and 18, while the container also includes a closed end wall 19 opposite the open end 16, which is not visible in Figure 1. Figure 2 shows the container 10 of Figure 1 from the open end 16, and shows the end wall 19. The container 10 defines an interior chamber within which material such as flowable material can be stored for transportation. The bulkhead 11 is configured to extend from the internal surface 20 of the side wall 13 to the internal surface 21 of the side wall 12 and to extend from the floor 15 upwards. The height H 1 of the bulkhead 11 is less than the height H 2 between the floor 15 and the ceiling 14, to provide a gap G for the introduction in the container 10 of material. It will be appreciated that the gap G allows the container to be loaded with the doors 17, 18 open. The temporary bulkhead 11 is shown separate from the container 10 and from two opposite directions in Figures 3 and 4. Figure 3 is a view of the bulkhead 11 from the side shown in Figures 1 and 2, whereas Figure 4 is a view from the other side, as the bulkhead would appear from inside the container 10. The bulkhead 11 includes a sheet member 25, which has a main body portion 26 that is sized to extend between the internal surfaces 20 and 21 of the side walls 12 and 13. The main body portion 26 is formed from cardboard. Each edge of the main body portion 26 includes a sealing arrangement which comprises sealing flaps 27 and 28. The sealing arrangement is optional. Flaps 27 and 28 include respective sealing portions 29 and 30 and attachment portions 31 and 32. The flaps 27 and 28 are formed of cardboard, and are formed separately from the main body portion 26, 11 but alternatively may be formed integrally with the main body portion 26. The flaps 27 and 28 are attached to the main body portion 26 in any suitable manner, such as by gluing, stitching or stapling. The flaps 27 and 28 are creased longitudinally so that the sealing portions 29 and 30 can hinge about the attachment portions 31 and 32 to allow the sealing portions 29 and 30 to assume the position shown in Figure 5. In that position, the sealing portions 29 and 30 are substantially flush with the internal surfaces 20 and 21 of the side walls 12 and 13, so as to resist egress of flowable material (not shown) from within the container 10. A locating arrangement is also provided at the side edges of the main body portion 26 in the form of locating flaps 35 and 36. The locating flaps 35 and 36 include separately hinged locating portions 37 to 40, each of which is configured to accept an opposite end of load bearing members 41 to 44. The locating portions 37 to 40 are shown in the figures as formed as integral extensions of the main body portion 26. The locating portions 37 to 40 could alternatively be formed separately in the same manner as the sealing flaps 27 and 28. The locating portions 37 to 40 hinge about a crease 45 with the main body portion 26. The locating portions 37 to 40 are separated by horizontal slits 46 from an immediately adjacent one of the portions 37 to 40, while the uppermost locating portion 37 is separated by a slit 46 from a cap portion 47. Each of the locating portions 37 to 40 defines an opening 48 for receipt of an end of a load bearing member 41 to 44. The openings 48 are defined by a base portion 49 and a leg portion 50 of each locating portion 37 to 40. Each of the locating portions 37 to 40 can separately hinge about the crease 45 relative to each other and that is important in respect of the installation of the temporary bulkhead 11. The temporary bulkhead 11 illustrated in the figures further includes a sealing flap 51, which is shown in Figures 4 and 5, and which is provided to form a seal between the floor of the container 10 and the bulkhead. Like the flaps 27 and 28, the sealing flap 51 can be attached to the main body portion 26, or alternatively, as shown in the figures, it can be an integral extension which is folded about the crease 52. Again, like the flaps 27 and 28, the sealing flap 51 operates to form a seal under the 12 weight of flowable material which bears against the flap 51 when the container is filled with the flowable material. Installation of the temporary bulkhead 11 into the container 10 can be made according to the following steps. Firstly, the sheet member 25 of the bulkhead 11, i.e. without load bearing members fitted thereto, is inserted into the open end 16 of the container 10. The sheet member 25 can be positioned as shown in Figures 1 and 2, with the sealing flaps 27 and 28 extending toward the end wall 19 of the container 10, and the locating flaps 35 and 36 extending away from the end wall 19. With the sheet member 25 installed in the open end 16 of the container 10 in that manner, the load bearing members 41 to 44 can be installed. The sheet member 25 is configured to allow for simple installation of the load bearing members 41 to 44 in the following manner. The load bearing member 41 is installed first. To install the load bearing member 41, one end of that member is fitted into a respective opening 48 of the locating portion 40 of either of the locating flap 35 or 36. The installation is made at an angle so that the load bearing member 41 can be rotated to bring the opposite end of the member 41 into the opening 48 of the locating portion 40 of the other one of the locating flaps 35 or 36. With reference to Figure 3, if one end of the load bearing member 41 is inserted into the opening 48 of the locating portion 40 of the locating flap 36 at an angle, it is intended that the other end can be rotated to position it into the opening 48 of the locating portion 40 of the locating flap 35. With one end of the member 41 inserted into the opening 48 of the locating portion 40 of the locating flap 36, the locating portion 39 of the locating flap 35 is hinged inwardly so as to be flat against the main body portion 26 of the sheet member 25. In that position, the other end of the load bearing member 41 can be shifted into the opening 48 of the locating portion 40 of the locating flap 35. Once each of the opposite ends of the load bearing member 41 have been inserted into a respective opening of the locating portions 40, the locating portion 39 which has been hinged about the crease 45 can be returned to its 13 position aligned with the locating portion 40. As is evident from the figures, once the locating portion 39 has been hinged back to the position shown in the drawings, the opposite end of the member 41 is captured within the opening 48 of the locating portion 40. The above process is completed for the remaining load bearing members 42 to 44, until each of the opposite ends of the load bearing members 41 has been inserted into a respective opening 48 as shown in Figures 1 and 2. The cap portion 47 is the last portion of the locating flap 35 to be hinged for insertion of the end of the load bearing member 44 and once all of the load bearing members 41 to 44 have been installed, the installation of the temporary bulkhead 11 is complete. It is to be noted that the opposite ends of the load bearing members 41 to 44 are received in a lengthwise recess formed in each of the internal surfaces 20 and 21 of the side walls 12 and 13, so that the temporary bulkhead 11 is captured against movement lengthwise of the container 10. With the temporary bulkhead installed in the container 10, a material can thereafter be loaded into the interior of the container 10 and once fully loaded, the doors 17 and 18 can be closed so that the container 10 can be transported. Alternatively, if the material is not flowable, the material can be loaded into the container and then the temporary bulkhead can be installed. Removal of the temporary bulkhead 11 can be made in the reverse manner to its installation, although care must be taken to ensure that personnel are not put at risk when the load bearing members 41 to 44 are removed. As indicated earlier, the temporary bulkhead 11 can be provided in a reduced width so that the container 10 can be filled with one of the hinged doors 17 and 18 closed. Thus, the bulkhead can extend across the width of half of the open end 16 so that it seals against the internal surface 21 of the side wall 12 and against the internal surface of the closed door 17. The invention described herein is susceptible to variations, modifications and/or additions 14 other than those specifically described and it is to be understood that the invention includes all such variations, modifications and/or additions which fall within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.

Claims

1. A temporary bulkhead for placement in the interior of a shipping container which is defined by a floor, side walls, an end wall, a closable end opposite the end wall and a ceiling, the bulkhead including: a sheet member having a main body portion which has a broad plane and a width to extend across the closable end of the container from one side wall to the other, and a plurality of load-bearing members positioned on one side of the main body portion of the sheet member and extending substantially across the width of the main body portion for supporting the sheet member against a load of material in a container to which the bulkhead is fitted, and a locating arrangement located at opposite edges of the sheet member and extending in a direction away from the end wall of the container to locate opposite ends of the load-bearing members.

2. A temporary bulkhead according to claim 1, the locating arrangement including a plurality of openings for receiving an end of each load-bearing member.

3. A temporary bulkhead according to claim 2, the openings being formed in locating flaps extending from opposite edges of the sheet member that in use extend in a direction away from the end wall of the container.

4. A temporary bulkhead according to claim 3, the openings being formed so that in use, the load bearing members are in bearing contact with the facing surface of the main body portion before the material is loaded into a container in which the temporary bulkhead is installed.

5. A temporary bulkhead according to claim 4, the main body portion forming one side of the openings that receive the opposite ends of the load bearing members.

6. A temporary bulkhead according to any one of claims 3 to 5, the locating flaps being separated into portions which can be moved independently, so that one flap portion can be moved to expose an opening of another flap portion, so that the end of the load bearing member can be inserted into the opening that has been exposed. 16

7. A temporary bulkhead according to claim 6, the flap portions being hinged from a loading position in which the end of a load bearing member is inserted into the opening of a flap portion, and an operative position in which the hinged flap portion is returned to a position in which the end of the load bearing member is captured in the opening.

8. A temporary bulkhead according to claim 7, in the operative position, the respective flap portions are aligned in the lateral position assumed relative to the main body portion, while in the loading position, the flap portions are displaced from alignment to expose an open end of an opening of a flap portion for insertion of an end of a load bearing member.

9. A temporary bulkhead according to any one of claims 3 to 8, the locating flaps being formed integrally with the sheet member.

10. A temporary bulkhead according to any one of claims 3 to 8, the locating flaps being attached to the sheet member.

11. A sheet member for use in a temporary bulkhead according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

12. A sheet member for use in a temporary bulkhead, the sheet member having a main body portion which has a width to extend across an end of a container, and a locating arrangement extending from the opposite edges of the sheet member and extending in a direction away from the sealing arrangement to locate opposite ends of load-bearing members.

13. A temporary bulkhead for placement in the interior of a shipping container which is defined by a floor, side walls, an end wall, a closable end opposite the end wall and a ceiling, the bulkhead including: a sheet member having a main body portion which has a width to extend from one side wall of the container to a closure member that closes a portion of the closable opening, and a plurality of load-bearing members positioned on one side of the main body portion of the sheet member and extending substantially across the width of the main body portion 17 for supporting the sheet member against a load of material in a container to which the bulkhead is fitted, a locating arrangement extending from a first side edge of the sheet member adjacent the side wall of the container and extending in a direction away from the end wall of the container to locate the end of the load-bearing members that extends to the first side edge.