AU638624B2 - A collapsible security pallet - Google Patents

Description

638624 S F Ref: 201010

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

ORIGINAL

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Name and Address of Applicant: Tubemakers of Australia Limited 7 Long Street Smithfield New South Wales 2164

AUSTRALIA

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Actual Inventor(s): Address for Service: Invention Title: Spruson Ferguson, Patent Attorneys Level 33 St Martins Tower, 31 Market Street Sydney, New South Wales, 2000, Australia A Collapsible Security Pallet ASSOCIATED PROVISIONAL (31] Application No(s) PK4119 APPLICATION DETAILS [33] Country

AU

[32] Application Date 4 January 1991 S. Se The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us:- 2 A COLLAPSIBLE SECURITY PALLET FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention pertains to pallets and more particularly to a collapsible pallet which is self-contained.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Pallets are widely used for containing, storing and transporting goods. A collapsible pallet allows an empty pallet to be stored or transported in a smaller volume than an uncollapsed pallet. However, known collapsible pallets create a handling problem as their component parts, when disassembled, become disorganised.

Also, while an ordinary pallet may be suitable for ordinary goods, dangerous or hazardous goods should be separated from ordinary goods during storage and transportation.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the invention to provide a collapsible pallet which ameliorates the disadvantages of prior art pallets.

le Accordingly, there is provided a collapsible pallet comprising a base, a pair of opposed side gates which are removably attachable to the base, a pair of opposed side frames which are pivotally attached to the 20 base and a lid. The side frames may be folded down flat, one on top of the other. The gates may be inserted below the folded side frames. The lid is adapted to cooperate with the upper edges of each of the side frames and gates so as to secure the contents of the uncollapsed pallet.

The lid is also preferably securable to the base so as to self-contain 25 the pallet when collapsed and the lid also preferably serves as a platform upon which another pallet can be stacked and stabilised.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a front elevation of a pallet according to the present invention.

Figure 2 is a back elevation of the pallet depicted in Figure 1.

Figure 3 Is a top plan view of the pallet base depicted in Figure 1, partially cross-sectioned to show a barrier.

Figure 4 is a side elevation of the base depicted in Figure 3, partially cross-sectioned to show barriers.

Figure 5 is a front elevation of the base depicted in Figure 4.

STA/0037m Figure Figure Figure Figure 3 6 is a front elevation of a side frame.

7 is an end elevation of the side frame depicted 8 is a front elevation of another side frame.

9 is a side elevation of the side frame depicted in Figure 6.

in Figure 8.

Figure 10 is a top plan view of a gate panel, partially sectioned to show a barrier.

Figure 11 is a front elevation of a gate panel, partially sectioned.

Figure 12 is an end elevation of a gate panel, partially sectioned.

Figure 13 is an end elevation of the top portion of one side frame.

Figure 14 is a side elevation of a top portion of the other side frame.

Figure 15 is Figure 16 is depicted in Figure Figure 17 is a front elevation of a gate latching mechanism.

a top plan view, partially sectioned, of the latch a perspective view of the latch depicted in Figures S S C S S SS* S gee.

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S. C and 16.

Figure 18 is a top plan view of a lid, partially sectioned to show a barrier.

Figure 19 is Figure 20 is to show a barrier.

Figure 21 is a 3ide elevation of the lid.

a back end elevation of the lid, partially sectioned another side elevation of the lid.

BEST MODE AND OTHER EMBODIMENTS OF THE. INVENTION As shown in Figures 1 and 2, a collapsible pallet according to the present invention 10 comprises a base 11 front and rear gates 12, 13, left and right side frames 14, 15 and a lid 16.

As shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5, the base 11 further comprises a platform 17 which includes various cross members 18. The frame and cross members 17, 18 are supported above the ground by skids or rails 19. The two rails 19 extend along opposite sides of the platform 17 and may be further braced by upright bearer supports 20. The frame 17, cross members 18, rails 19 and supports 20 may all be fabricated from 4040*2.5 galvanised tube or similar material. The base also comprises corner angles 21. The upright angles 21 support at least one pair of base cross pieces 22 which may optionally include upright braces 23. In this embodiment, the cross piece 22 defines an upper edge or extremity of the base 11.

STA/0037m -4 As shown in the embodiment depicted in Figures 6 through 9, the left and right side frames 14, 15 are slightly different. Nhile the precise orientation does not particularly matter, it should be noted that each of the left and right side frames includes a foot 24, 25 located toward the bottom of the vertical posts 26 which support the upper and lower cross members 27, 28 of each side frame. The pair of feet 24 on one side frame are shorter than the feet 25 on the other side frame.

Each foot 24, 25 has a pivot point 30. Preferably, this pivot point is actually an opening. Because the length of the feet 24, 25 is different, the distance between the outside surface 29 of the frame and the pivot point 30 is different for the left and right side frames. In a preferred embodiment, the pivot openings 30 are rotatable about pairs of pins 31 which are located on vertically oriented plates 32 which plates extend between the corners 21 of the base 11. These features allow the side 15 frames to be folded down over the base such that one overlaps the other in a parallel relationship. The vertically oriented perimetral plates 32 are visible in Figures 1 and 5. These plates also rigidise the base and •11 provide a perimeter within which a spill tray or similar device can be located. The vertical uprights 26 and upper and lower cross pieces 27, 20 28 are preferably fabricated from galvanised steel tube.

As shown in Figures 10, 11 and 12, the pallet of the present invention also comprises a pair of removable gates 13. Each gate includes a tubular perimetral frame including whatever braces or cross members 35 which may be required. The gate 13 is removably located on 25 the base 11 owing to openings 36 forming by the lower open ends of each of the gate posts 37. These openings 36 can slide over pins 38 which are located near the four corners of the base 11 It will be appreciated that the side frames 14, 15 have a horizontally stable position in which one overlaps the other, both 30 parallel to the base. The side frames also have a vertically upright position which is achieved by pivoting each about its pivot point 30. In the upright position, each side frame is maintained by the interference of the feet against the base and also by the bracing effect of the four corner angles 21. When upright, the gates 13 are located over the pins 38. This creates a stable platform which can be improved owing to the provision of gate latches 39 which are depicted in Figures 11, 15, 16 and 17. As shown in those figures, the latch 39 comprises a rotatable clasp STA/0037m which supports a tab 41. The clasp 40 pivots about a post 42 which, in turn, is rigidly affixed to the upper cross piece 43 of each gate.

The latching mechanism 39 allows a gate to interlock with the side frames.

As shown in Figures 18, 19, 20 and 21, a lid is also provided as part of the pallet 10 of the present invention. The lid 16 is preferably formed from a tubular frame 50 and may include locating tabs 51 as shown in Figure 19. The locating tabs 51 prevent side to side shifting of the lid. The lid may also incorporate outwardly facing angled braces 70 or similar features for restraining the rails 19 of a pallet stacked on top of it. The braces 70 are preferably perpendicular to the rails 19 of the pallet on which they are located. The rear edge 52 preferably includes openings 53. The openings 53 slide over pegs 54 located on the upper cross element 27 of a side frame 14 (as shown in Figure 6) or on similar pegs on an upper extremity of a gate. An opposite side edge 55 of the oa 15 lid 16 bears an attachment point for a locking mechanism 56. Another 0 0as "point of attachment for a locking mechanism can be provided on the side 0000 frame or gate which is opposite the side frame or gate bearing the pegs a onto which the lid is attachable. In this way a clp, a single latch or P 0 11 0lock can be extended between the upper attachment point 56 and the other attachment point on the side frame or gate to secure the pallet in a C closed and locked configuration as shown in Figure 1. Note that when the side frames are folded down and the gates are inserted between the side fr6,mes and the base, the lid can be engaged with pegs 60 located on an :upper edge of the base 11, as shown in Figure 4. A similar 'Catching can then occur between the upper point of attachment 56 and another lower oil alatching component located on the base 11 opposite the side having the pegs C These features allow the collapsed pallet to contain itself and remain stable during handling and transportation. For the purposes of 30 this specification, a pallet is considered self-contained upon being collapsed, if its component parts can be contained or secured to one another so as to resist disassembly of the loose parts.

Where required, each of the four sides, base and lid of the security pallet 10 can be covered or laminated, preferably on the interior surface, with plywood or other partition material to form a barrier. As shown in Figure 11 (partially broken away) a plywood sheet can be used to cover the interior of each gate. As shown in Figures 6 STA/0037m -6 and 8 (partially broken away) a plywood sheet 61 may also be used to cover the interior surface of each of the side frames. Similarly, a plywood sheet 62 may be used to cover the top surface of the base just as a similar plywood sheet 63 may be used to cover the interior surface of the lid 16.

In this way, a security pallet is provided which offers numerous advantages. Owing to the tubular steel construction and interlocking of the various components, it is stable, durable and rugged. Because the side frames are hinged to the base and collapse one over the other, the gates are insertable between the folded down side frames and the base.

Because the lid can interlock with the base, the pallet is self-contained and the collapsed security pallet is easily handled in a collapsed condition. Also, because of the interlocking of the parts and the provision of a single point of locking betwr. i the lid and the rest of the pallet, the pallet is easily secured or accessed through the O *operation of a single lock. Also, by the provision of the barrier or plywood panels which can be used to line the interior of the pallet, the *pallet is ideal for hazardous or dangerous materials transportation.

Also because of the nature of the design, the pallet can b. built to an uncollapsed maximum width and depth of 1170 mm and still be 1170 mm in width and depth when collapsed.

While the invention has been described with reference to particular materials and details of construction, these should be understood as having been provided by way of example and not as limitations to the 25 scope or spirit of the invention.

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Claims (9)

1. A collapsible pallet comprising: a base; two side frames, each pivotally attached to opposite side edges of the base and each folding flat with the base when folded down; two gates, each removably attachable to the base and each interlocking with both side frames, both insertable between the side frames and the base when the side frames are folded down; and a lid removably attachable to an upper edge of a gate or side frame and lockable with respect to an opposite gate or side frame.

2. The pallet of claim 1, wherein: the lid is removably attachable at one of its edges to the base and latchable or lockable by an opposite edge to the base.

3. The pallet of either of claims 1 or 2, wherein: one surface of each of the side frames and gates and lid and base are covered with a barrier material. r

4. The pallet of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein: t the lid further comprises parallel braces which cooperates with a base of another pallet so as to facilitate stacking.

5. The pallet of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein: a the base further comprises a platform and opposite rails which support the platform off the ground.

6. The pallet of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein: the gates interlock with each of the side frames by means of a latching mechanism which is extendible to remcvably engage an upper edge of an adjacent side frame.

7. The pallet of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein: w the base further comprises a perimetral plate extending between at least two pairs of corners of the base.

8. The pallet of any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein: the maximum width of the pallet, collapsed or erected, is 1170 mm.

9. The pallet of any one of claims 1 to 8, further comprising: a spillage tray covering a bottom of and located within the base. STA/0037m -8- A pallet substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings. DATED this EIGHTEENTH day of DECEMBER 1991 Tubemakers of Australia Limited Patent Attorneys for the Applicant SPRUSON FERGUSON goes *toot 000 L a., S TA /003 7rn