EP1483160A2 - Interlocking devices - Google Patents

Interlocking devices

Info

Publication number
EP1483160A2
EP1483160A2 EP03729282A EP03729282A EP1483160A2 EP 1483160 A2 EP1483160 A2 EP 1483160A2 EP 03729282 A EP03729282 A EP 03729282A EP 03729282 A EP03729282 A EP 03729282A EP 1483160 A2 EP1483160 A2 EP 1483160A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
component
interlocking device
components
fence
pallet
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP03729282A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP1483160B1 (en
Inventor
David Smith
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Three Smith Group Ltd
Original Assignee
A Fax Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from GB0200491A external-priority patent/GB0200491D0/en
Priority claimed from GB0201962A external-priority patent/GB0201962D0/en
Priority claimed from GB0225069A external-priority patent/GB0225069D0/en
Application filed by A Fax Ltd filed Critical A Fax Ltd
Publication of EP1483160A2 publication Critical patent/EP1483160A2/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1483160B1 publication Critical patent/EP1483160B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D19/00—Pallets or like platforms, with or without side walls, for supporting loads to be lifted or lowered
    • B65D19/38—Details or accessories
    • B65D19/44—Elements or devices for locating articles on platforms
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D19/00—Pallets or like platforms, with or without side walls, for supporting loads to be lifted or lowered
    • B65D19/0004—Rigid pallets without side walls
    • B65D19/0053—Rigid pallets without side walls the load supporting surface being made of more than one element
    • B65D19/0077—Rigid pallets without side walls the load supporting surface being made of more than one element forming discontinuous or non-planar contact surfaces
    • B65D19/0089—Rigid pallets without side walls the load supporting surface being made of more than one element forming discontinuous or non-planar contact surfaces the base surface being made of more than one element
    • B65D19/0093—Rigid pallets without side walls the load supporting surface being made of more than one element forming discontinuous or non-planar contact surfaces the base surface being made of more than one element forming discontinuous or non-planar contact surfaces
    • B65D19/0095—Rigid pallets without side walls the load supporting surface being made of more than one element forming discontinuous or non-planar contact surfaces the base surface being made of more than one element forming discontinuous or non-planar contact surfaces and each contact surface having a stringer-like shape
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E04—BUILDING
    • E04H—BUILDINGS OR LIKE STRUCTURES FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSES; SWIMMING OR SPLASH BATHS OR POOLS; MASTS; FENCING; TENTS OR CANOPIES, IN GENERAL
    • E04H17/00—Fencing, e.g. fences, enclosures, corrals
    • E04H17/14—Fences constructed of rigid elements, e.g. with additional wire fillings or with posts
    • E04H17/1413—Post-and-rail fences, e.g. without vertical cross-members
    • E04H17/1417—Post-and-rail fences, e.g. without vertical cross-members with vertical cross-members
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E04—BUILDING
    • E04H—BUILDINGS OR LIKE STRUCTURES FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSES; SWIMMING OR SPLASH BATHS OR POOLS; MASTS; FENCING; TENTS OR CANOPIES, IN GENERAL
    • E04H17/00—Fencing, e.g. fences, enclosures, corrals
    • E04H17/14—Fences constructed of rigid elements, e.g. with additional wire fillings or with posts
    • E04H17/1413—Post-and-rail fences, e.g. without vertical cross-members
    • E04H17/1447—Details of connections between rails and posts
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D2519/00—Pallets or like platforms, with or without side walls, for supporting loads to be lifted or lowered
    • B65D2519/00004—Details relating to pallets
    • B65D2519/00009—Materials
    • B65D2519/00014—Materials for the load supporting surface
    • B65D2519/00034—Plastic
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D2519/00—Pallets or like platforms, with or without side walls, for supporting loads to be lifted or lowered
    • B65D2519/00004—Details relating to pallets
    • B65D2519/00009—Materials
    • B65D2519/00049—Materials for the base surface
    • B65D2519/00069—Plastic
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D2519/00—Pallets or like platforms, with or without side walls, for supporting loads to be lifted or lowered
    • B65D2519/00004—Details relating to pallets
    • B65D2519/00258—Overall construction
    • B65D2519/00263—Overall construction of the pallet
    • B65D2519/00273—Overall construction of the pallet made of more than one piece
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D2519/00—Pallets or like platforms, with or without side walls, for supporting loads to be lifted or lowered
    • B65D2519/00004—Details relating to pallets
    • B65D2519/00258—Overall construction
    • B65D2519/00283—Overall construction of the load supporting surface
    • B65D2519/00293—Overall construction of the load supporting surface made of more than one piece
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D2519/00—Pallets or like platforms, with or without side walls, for supporting loads to be lifted or lowered
    • B65D2519/00004—Details relating to pallets
    • B65D2519/00258—Overall construction
    • B65D2519/00283—Overall construction of the load supporting surface
    • B65D2519/00298—Overall construction of the load supporting surface skeleton type
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D2519/00—Pallets or like platforms, with or without side walls, for supporting loads to be lifted or lowered
    • B65D2519/00004—Details relating to pallets
    • B65D2519/00258—Overall construction
    • B65D2519/00313—Overall construction of the base surface
    • B65D2519/00323—Overall construction of the base surface made of more than one piece
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D2519/00—Pallets or like platforms, with or without side walls, for supporting loads to be lifted or lowered
    • B65D2519/00004—Details relating to pallets
    • B65D2519/00258—Overall construction
    • B65D2519/00313—Overall construction of the base surface
    • B65D2519/00328—Overall construction of the base surface shape of the contact surface of the base
    • B65D2519/00333—Overall construction of the base surface shape of the contact surface of the base contact surface having a stringer-like shape
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D2519/00—Pallets or like platforms, with or without side walls, for supporting loads to be lifted or lowered
    • B65D2519/00004—Details relating to pallets
    • B65D2519/00547—Connections
    • B65D2519/00552—Structures connecting the constitutive elements of the pallet to each other, i.e. load supporting surface, base surface and/or separate spacer
    • B65D2519/00572—Structures connecting the constitutive elements of the pallet to each other, i.e. load supporting surface, base surface and/or separate spacer with separate auxiliary element, e.g. screws, nails, bayonets
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D2519/00—Pallets or like platforms, with or without side walls, for supporting loads to be lifted or lowered
    • B65D2519/00004—Details relating to pallets
    • B65D2519/00736—Details
    • B65D2519/0081—Elements or devices for locating articles
    • B65D2519/00815—Elements or devices for locating articles on the pallet
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E04—BUILDING
    • E04H—BUILDINGS OR LIKE STRUCTURES FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSES; SWIMMING OR SPLASH BATHS OR POOLS; MASTS; FENCING; TENTS OR CANOPIES, IN GENERAL
    • E04H17/00—Fencing, e.g. fences, enclosures, corrals
    • E04H17/14—Fences constructed of rigid elements, e.g. with additional wire fillings or with posts
    • E04H17/1413—Post-and-rail fences, e.g. without vertical cross-members
    • E04H17/1447—Details of connections between rails and posts
    • E04H17/1465—Details of connections between rails and posts the rails being supported within blind or through holes of the posts

Definitions

  • the invention relates to interlocking devices, and particularly to devices for locking components together, for a variety of purposes.
  • the invention provides an interlocking device for locking components together, comprising a first tubular component, a second component arrangeable to interconnect with the first component, the second component having an opening which, in use, lies within the hollow interior of the first component, and a third component insertable into the opening to lie within the hollow interior of the first component thus locking all three components together.
  • the invention enables components to be interlocked in a very robust and secure manner, without the use of special tools.
  • the second component may fit into a slot in a side wall of the first component.
  • One embodiment of interlocking device comprises a pallet in which a plurality of second first components are spaced apart to comprise main structural members of the pallet and a plurality of said second components are spaced apart to comprise secondary structural members of the pallet.
  • a pallet according to the invention may be shaped to support a cylindrical load such as a roll, the secondary structural members comprising cross members which act as chocks to retain the roll in position.
  • this embodiment of the invention enables rolls to be palletised without the need for strapping.
  • the embodiment also allows the rolls to be handled by the various derivatives of forklift and pallet trucks.
  • the embodiment enables rolls to be stored in racking and can be used for transporting and shipping of the rolls.
  • This embodiment may be such that the position and height of the chocks can be varied during construction to accommodate any desired size and weight of cylindrical load.
  • An additional chock may be provided to aid loading and unloading. Such a chock can be used to prevent the roll from overshooting during loading.
  • a saddle may be provided to support a roll, instead of or in addition to chocks.
  • the second component fits into an aperture extending through side walls of the first component.
  • the interlocking device may comprise a fence in which a plurality of said first components are spaced apart to form upright posts of the fence and at least one of said second components extends between at least two uprights to form a cross rail of the fence.
  • the rails may be set at various angles to allow the fence to change direction, for example to go round corners.
  • An upright post may be secured into ground using foundation bars.
  • Laths or panels may extend between spaced apart upright posts.
  • the interlocking device may be such that two third components are inserted into each second component, the two third components being spaced apart to abut respectively against opposite inner walls of the first component, thus preventing the second component from moving with respect to the first component.
  • Each component may comprise a tube and the tubes may have a substantially square cross section.
  • the components may be made from plastics material, metal or wood, or from a combination of these materials.
  • Figure 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the invention comprising a pallet
  • Figure 2 is a side view of the pallet, showing the inside of the main structural members of the pallet;
  • Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the pallet in use
  • Figure 4 is a side view of a second embodiment of the invention comprising a fence
  • Figure 5 is a perspective view of the fence shown in Figure 4.
  • Figure 6 shows an alternative method of fixing an upright post of the fence.
  • the pallet shown in Figure 1 comprises three main structural members 1 , intersecting with four secondary structural members 2. Each of the secondary structural members 2 fits within a slot 5 cut into a side wall of the main structural members 1.
  • the secondary structural member 2 lies within one of the main structural members 1 , the secondary structural member has two square cross- section passageways passing through its side walls.
  • the holes in the side walls of the members 2 are made slightly undersize, so that the components 3 and 4 have to be forced into position so that they are then securely held in place by frictional forces.
  • the two inner secondary structural members 2 are of slightly greater height than the outer two members and they thus provide a chocking effect when a cylindrical load such as a roll is placed on the pallet.
  • a roll is shown at 6 in Figure 3.
  • the arrangement of the components allows variations in roll size to be catered for and the height of the members 2 can be pre-selected during manufacture to provide varying levels of resistance to movement.
  • a secondary chock 7 may also be used.
  • FIG. 4 The embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 4 comprises a fence made up of vertical upright posts 8 and cross rails 9.
  • the rails 9 pass through rectangular apertures 10 (see Figure 6) in the posts 8.
  • Each rail 9 has a pair of square holes passing vertically down through the rail where each rail lies within one of the posts 8. This enables smaller, square cross section locking components 11 and 12 to be forced down into the posts 8, from the top of the posts, to pass through the holes in the rails 9 and thus lock all the components together.
  • Each component 11 abuts against one inner wall of a post 8 and the other component 12 abuts against the opposite inner wall of a post 8, so that the rails 9 are locked against movement with respect to the posts 8.
  • caps 13 are fitted onto the posts.
  • the arrangement shown in Figures 4 and 5 has foundation bars 14 fitted to the bottom of the posts 8 to facilitate location of the posts in the ground.
  • the posts 8 are provided with base plates 15 which can be bolted to a support surface.
  • apertures 10 may be provided in adjacent faces in some of the posts so that a fence can be constructed having 90° corners.
  • the fence posts 8 may not necessarily be square, and apertures 10 may be provided at angles other than 90°, to enable any particular fence to change direction with any desired angle.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Architecture (AREA)
  • Civil Engineering (AREA)
  • Structural Engineering (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Pallets (AREA)
  • Lock And Its Accessories (AREA)
  • Fencing (AREA)
  • Compounds Of Unknown Constitution (AREA)
  • Control Of Motors That Do Not Use Commutators (AREA)
  • Fluid-Pressure Circuits (AREA)

Abstract

An interlocking device for locking components together is provided, comprising at least one first tubular component ( 1 ), at least one second component ( 2 ), arrangeable to interconnect with the first component, the second component ( 2 ) having an opening which, in use, lies within the hollow interior of the first component ( 1 ). There is also at least one third component ( 3, 4 ) insertable into the opening to lie within the hollow interior of the first component ( 1 ), thus locking all three components together. FIG. 1 illustrates a first embodiment of the invention in which the first and second components comprise intersecting members of a pallet. In another embodiment, the components are used to construct a fence. The invention enables a very robust structure to be assembled without the use of tools.

Description

INTERLOCKING DEVICES
The invention relates to interlocking devices, and particularly to devices for locking components together, for a variety of purposes.
The invention provides an interlocking device for locking components together, comprising a first tubular component, a second component arrangeable to interconnect with the first component, the second component having an opening which, in use, lies within the hollow interior of the first component, and a third component insertable into the opening to lie within the hollow interior of the first component thus locking all three components together.
The invention enables components to be interlocked in a very robust and secure manner, without the use of special tools.
The second component may fit into a slot in a side wall of the first component.
One embodiment of interlocking device according to the invention comprises a pallet in which a plurality of second first components are spaced apart to comprise main structural members of the pallet and a plurality of said second components are spaced apart to comprise secondary structural members of the pallet.
Many industries produce rolls of their product, from paper and plastic to steel. Cylindrical loads such as these rolls need a product (usually a pallet) to assist in handling, storage and transportation.
A pallet according to the invention may be shaped to support a cylindrical load such as a roll, the secondary structural members comprising cross members which act as chocks to retain the roll in position. Thus, this embodiment of the invention enables rolls to be palletised without the need for strapping. The embodiment also allows the rolls to be handled by the various derivatives of forklift and pallet trucks. The embodiment enables rolls to be stored in racking and can be used for transporting and shipping of the rolls.
This embodiment may be such that the position and height of the chocks can be varied during construction to accommodate any desired size and weight of cylindrical load.
An additional chock may be provided to aid loading and unloading. Such a chock can be used to prevent the roll from overshooting during loading.
If desired a saddle may be provided to support a roll, instead of or in addition to chocks.
In another embodiment of the invention, the second component fits into an aperture extending through side walls of the first component.
For example the interlocking device may comprise a fence in which a plurality of said first components are spaced apart to form upright posts of the fence and at least one of said second components extends between at least two uprights to form a cross rail of the fence.
The rails may be set at various angles to allow the fence to change direction, for example to go round corners.
An upright post may be secured into ground using foundation bars.
Laths or panels may extend between spaced apart upright posts. The interlocking device may be such that two third components are inserted into each second component, the two third components being spaced apart to abut respectively against opposite inner walls of the first component, thus preventing the second component from moving with respect to the first component.
Each component may comprise a tube and the tubes may have a substantially square cross section.
The components may be made from plastics material, metal or wood, or from a combination of these materials.
By way of example, specific embodiments of the invention will now be described, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the invention comprising a pallet;
Figure 2 is a side view of the pallet, showing the inside of the main structural members of the pallet;
Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the pallet in use;
Figure 4 is a side view of a second embodiment of the invention comprising a fence;
Figure 5 is a perspective view of the fence shown in Figure 4; and
Figure 6 shows an alternative method of fixing an upright post of the fence.
The pallet shown in Figure 1 comprises three main structural members 1 , intersecting with four secondary structural members 2. Each of the secondary structural members 2 fits within a slot 5 cut into a side wall of the main structural members 1.
Where each secondary structural member 2 lies within one of the main structural members 1 , the secondary structural member has two square cross- section passageways passing through its side walls.
In order to lock the structural members together, smaller, square cross-section components 3 and 4 are pushed inside the main structural members 1 to slide into the square apertures in the side walls of the secondary structural members 2, as shown in Figure 2.
It will be seen that the components 3 abut against one upper corner of a main structural member 1 , and the components 4 abut against an opposite upper corner of a structural member 1. This produces an extremely robust construction and locks the secondary components 2 against movement with respect to the main structural components 1.
The holes in the side walls of the members 2 are made slightly undersize, so that the components 3 and 4 have to be forced into position so that they are then securely held in place by frictional forces.
All the components shown in Figures 1 and 2 are initially constructed by extruding plastics material.
The two inner secondary structural members 2 are of slightly greater height than the outer two members and they thus provide a chocking effect when a cylindrical load such as a roll is placed on the pallet. Such a roll is shown at 6 in Figure 3. The arrangement of the components allows variations in roll size to be catered for and the height of the members 2 can be pre-selected during manufacture to provide varying levels of resistance to movement.
A secondary chock 7 may also be used.
The embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 4 comprises a fence made up of vertical upright posts 8 and cross rails 9.
With this embodiment, instead of fitting into side slots, the rails 9 pass through rectangular apertures 10 (see Figure 6) in the posts 8. Each rail 9 has a pair of square holes passing vertically down through the rail where each rail lies within one of the posts 8. This enables smaller, square cross section locking components 11 and 12 to be forced down into the posts 8, from the top of the posts, to pass through the holes in the rails 9 and thus lock all the components together. Each component 11 abuts against one inner wall of a post 8 and the other component 12 abuts against the opposite inner wall of a post 8, so that the rails 9 are locked against movement with respect to the posts 8.
After the locking components 11 and 12 have been inserted, caps 13 are fitted onto the posts.
The arrangement shown in Figures 4 and 5 has foundation bars 14 fitted to the bottom of the posts 8 to facilitate location of the posts in the ground.
In the alternative arrangement shown in Figure 6, the posts 8 are provided with base plates 15 which can be bolted to a support surface.
Although the fence arrangement shown in Figures 4 and 5 extend in a straight line, apertures 10 may be provided in adjacent faces in some of the posts so that a fence can be constructed having 90° corners. The fence posts 8 may not necessarily be square, and apertures 10 may be provided at angles other than 90°, to enable any particular fence to change direction with any desired angle.
The reader's attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.
All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.
Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.
The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s). The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

Claims

1. An interlocking device for locking components together, comprising a first tubular component, a second component arrangeable to interconnect with the first component, the second component having an opening which, in use, lies within the hollow interior of the first component, and a third component insertable into the opening to lie within the hollow interior of the first component thus locking all three components together.
2. An interlocking device as claimed in Claim 1 , in which the second component fits into a slot in a side wall of the first component.
3. An interlocking device as claimed in Claim 2, comprising a pallet in which a plurality of said first components are spaced apart to comprise main structural members of the pallet and a plurality of said second components are spaced apart to comprise secondary structural members of the pallet.
4. An interlocking device as claimed in Claim 3, in which the pallet is shaped to support a cylindrical load such as a roll, the secondary structural members comprising cross members which act as chocks to retain the roll in position.
5. An interlocking device as claimed in Claim 4, such that the position and height of the chocks can be varied during construction to accommodate any desired size and weight of cylindrical load.
6. An interlocking device as claimed in Claim 4 or Claim 5, in which an additional chock is provided to aid loading and unloading.
7. An interlocking device as claimed in Claim 1 , in which the second component fits into an aperture extending through side walls of the first component.
8. An interlocking device as claimed in Claim 7, comprising a fence in which a plurality of said first components are spaced apart to form upright posts of the fence and at least one of said second components extends between at least two uprights to form a cross rail of the fence.
9. An interlocking device as claimed in Claim 8, wherein rails can be set at various angles to allow the fence to change direction, for example to go round corners.
10. An interlocking device as claimed in Claim 8 or Claim 9, where an upright post is secured into ground using foundation bars.
11. An interlocking device as claimed in any one of Claims 8 to 10, wherein laths or panels extend between spaced apart upright posts.
12. An interlocking device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which two third components are inserted into each second component, the two third components being spaced apart to abut respectively against opposite inner walls of the first component, thus preventing the second component from moving with respect to the first component.
13. An interlocking device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which each component comprises a tube.
14. An interlocking device as claimed in Claim 13, in which the tubes have a substantially square cross-section.
15. An interlocking device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the components are made from plastics material, metal or wood or from a combination of these materials.
16. An interiocking device substantially as herein described, with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
EP03729282A 2002-01-10 2003-01-08 Interlocking devices Expired - Lifetime EP1483160B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (7)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0200491A GB0200491D0 (en) 2002-01-10 2002-01-10 Roll pallet
GB0200491 2002-01-10
GB0201962 2002-01-29
GB0201962A GB0201962D0 (en) 2002-01-29 2002-01-29 Interlocking fence
GB0225069 2002-10-29
GB0225069A GB0225069D0 (en) 2002-01-10 2002-10-29 Interlocking devices
PCT/GB2003/000036 WO2003057575A2 (en) 2002-01-10 2003-01-08 Interlocking devices

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1483160A2 true EP1483160A2 (en) 2004-12-08
EP1483160B1 EP1483160B1 (en) 2008-06-18

Family

ID=27256371

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP03729282A Expired - Lifetime EP1483160B1 (en) 2002-01-10 2003-01-08 Interlocking devices

Country Status (9)

Country Link
US (1) US20050121658A1 (en)
EP (1) EP1483160B1 (en)
JP (1) JP2005514279A (en)
AT (1) ATE398582T1 (en)
AU (1) AU2003201035A1 (en)
CA (1) CA2477394A1 (en)
DE (1) DE60321666D1 (en)
ES (1) ES2309320T3 (en)
WO (1) WO2003057575A2 (en)

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EP2539136B1 (en) 2010-02-26 2020-12-16 Three Smith Group Limited Barrier post and method of manufacturing thereof

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EP2434075A1 (en) 2010-09-22 2012-03-28 Boplan bvba Fence for use as barrier installation

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP1483160B1 (en) 2008-06-18
AU2003201035A1 (en) 2003-07-24
ES2309320T3 (en) 2008-12-16
ATE398582T1 (en) 2008-07-15
JP2005514279A (en) 2005-05-19
WO2003057575A2 (en) 2003-07-17
CA2477394A1 (en) 2003-07-17
DE60321666D1 (en) 2008-07-31
US20050121658A1 (en) 2005-06-09
WO2003057575A3 (en) 2004-09-10

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