EP3691973A1

EP3691973A1 - A folding fitting for a gable at a material carrier, and a material carrier

Info

Publication number: EP3691973A1
Application number: EP17808795.3A
Authority: EP
Inventors: John EKBLOM; Per EKBLOM
Original assignee: P Invent AB
Current assignee: P Invent AB
Priority date: 2017-11-13
Filing date: 2017-11-13
Publication date: 2020-08-12
Also published as: WO2019091578A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a folding fitting for the raising and folding-down, respectively, of a gable (2) at a material carrier (3). The folding fitting (1) comprises a plate (4) that is fixed at one end of the gable (2), which plate has a groove (5) with a circular end (6) having a diameter (D) that exceeds the width (B) of the groove (5). A partly circular swivel (7) that is fixed at the material carrier (3) and has opposing, beveled surfaces (8), is arranged to run in the groove (5) in the plate (4) for guiding it when the gable (2) is raised or folded-down. The plate has an open groove (9) for the housing of a locking pin (10) that is fixed at the material earner (3) for locking the gable (2) in its raised position, whereby the longitudinal axes (C) of the groove (5) and the open groove (9) extend in the same direction.

Description

A FOLDING FITTING FOR A GABLE AT A MATERIAL CARRIER, AND A MATERIAL CARRIER

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a folding fitting for a gable at a material carrier, according to the preamble of claim 1.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention designates a device for achieving foldability of a gable for preferably a material earlier, by aid of a folding fitting, which folding fitting also enables stackability in a folded position as well as in a raised position.

PRIOR ART

Material earners are widely used for transport, storage and other handling of materials. Such material carriers are often of disposable materials, such as tree or metal, and are often considered forfeit after transport, since for reasons of space and return costs they give expenses that exceed what is economically justified for return handling. This results in un-called for costs and a negative environmental impact, since

packagings/skeleton transport boxes, etc., in many cases are used a single time and then considered forfeit.

The handling of reusable packagings, in terms of known material carriers, is generally costly and/or space demanding at storage as well as at transport. Further known material earners do not generally provide are sufficiently reliable design. From US4186841 there is known a foldable, stackable pallet, having two removable side walls which can be stored flat beneath folded end walls which are erected by a pair of depending plates having vertical slots engaging transverse pivots. This know design has deficiencies both regarding compactness and reliability. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The aim of the invention is to minimize the above problems, which is achieved by an arrangement according to the claims. By virtue of the invention, a folding fitting is achieved which gives foldability to parts of a material carrier, thus admitting a flexibility that results in essential advantages, such as the possibility of compactness. The solution according to the invention enables a material carrier to be stacked in a folded position as well as in a raised position. Thereby, the need of storage space and transport costs (loading meters) at return is considerably diminished, resulting in the possibility to reuse material carriers with good economy.

The invention supplements the market with a more environmentally friendly and cost- efficient manner for the handling of materials/transports, etc. The folding fitting is suited for most applications of material carriers, such as for long goods, tubes, crates, sacs, cartons, etc.

The present invention is designed without loose parts in order to ensure reliability. The foldability is performed such that it is secured by the cargo and by stability heels in the raised position, while in the folded position space is freed for the legs of another unit of the same kind in connection with stacking in order to decrease the volume at storage and transport, etc.

Thus, the purpose of the invention is to achieve a folding fitting for the raising and folding-down, respectively, of a gable at a material carrier, the distinguishing features being that the folding fitting comprises a plate that is fixed at one end of the gable, which plate has a groove with a circular end having a diameter that exceeds the width of the groove, a circular swivel with opposing, beveled surfaces arranged to run in the groove in the plate for guiding it when the gable is raised or folded-down, and that the plate has an open groove for the housing of a locking pin that is fixed at the material earner for locking the gable in its raised position, whereby the longitudinal axes of the groove and the open groove extend in the same direction.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the following, the invention will be described in terms of a non-limiting example, with reference to the enclosed drawings, of which:

Fig. 1 is a view in perspective as seen obliquely from above, of one side of a material earner as shown with a folded-down gable,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the area within the circle of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view in perspective as seen obliquely from above, of a material earner as shown with a raised gable,

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of the area within the circle in Fig. 3,

Fig. 5 shows a view in perspective of an alternative embodiment of a material earner according to the invention, which is arranged to be stackable, showing two material carriers stacked in a vertical direction, Fig. 6 shows a view in perspective of an enlargement of the area that comprises a foot part of the upper material earner, and an upper part of the lower material earner, according to Fig. 5,

Fig. 7 shows a view in perspective of a folded-down material carrier according to the invention, in an embodiment as shown in Figs. 5 and 6,

Fig. 8 shows a detailed view of one corner portion of the material carrier according to Fig. 7,

Fig. 9 shows a view in perspective of two folded-down material carriers that have been stacked on top of each other,

Fig. 10 shows a detailed view of the portion between a foot and a frame of the two units that are stacked on top of each other in Fig. 9,

Fig. 11 schematically shows a material carrier arranged with a foldable support in the middle portion of the long side of a frame unit,

Fig. 12 shows an embodiment of a material carrier according to the invention, arranged with flexible support members for large pipes or the like,

Fig. 13 shows a different embodiment of a material carrier according to the invention, where flexible enclosure members have been arranged along the long sides,

Fig. 14 shows yet a modified embodiment of a material carrier according to the invention, where a protective arrangement has been arranged along the inside of the gables,

Fig. 15 shows yet a modified embodiment of a material carrier according to the invention, in which a supplementing net arrangement has been arranged along the long sides, and

Fig. 16 schematically shows a material carrier arranged with a foldable support on the short side of a frame unit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In the following description and in the claims, the folding fitting 1 according to the invention is described as being mounted on a gable of a material earner according to the invention. It is however obvious to the person skilled in the art that the folding fitting according to the invention can be mounted on and used for folding of other types of members than gables arranged at some other type of load carrier. Furthermore, the folding fitting as shown and described at and end of a gable but it is obvious to the person skilled in the art that that a corresponding folding fitting is arranged also at the opposite end of the gable. The folding fitting shown in Figs. 1-4 comprises a plate 4 that is fixed at a movable part 2 of a material carrier 3, namely a gable 2 in the shown embodiment. The plate has a groove 5 with a circular end/enlargement 6 having a diameter D that exceeds the width B of the groove 5, i.e. the groove is shaped as a keyhole. In the raised position of the gable, as shown in Fig. 4, the circular enlargement 6 is placed at a lower end of the groove 5. A swivel 7, which is beveled at opposing surfaces 8 and fixed to a frame unit 13 of the material carrier 3, is adapted to ran in the groove 5 when the gable 2 is moved between its raised and folded-down positions.

The material carrier 3 comprises a frame unit 13 that is structured from bars 13A-13D, suitably square pipes, that form a rectangle with parallel longitudinal side frame bars 13 A, 13B and transversal frame bars 13C, 13D. The length L of the side frame bars 13 A, 13B is suitably considerably larger than the transversal length T of the transversal end frame bars 13C, 13D. Suitably, the length L is about twice the transversal width T, but the proportions may vary according to specific needs. In a corresponding manner, the gables 2 are structured from center bars 2A-2C, here in the shape of a U with a lower, middle part 2B and two bars 2A, 2C that can be positioned horizontally in a folded-down and vertically in a raised position, respectively. Suitably, the height H of the gable 2 is less than half the length L of the frame unit 13, such that two gables 2 can be folded-down towards each other without ending up on top of each other. In some constructions it may be preferable to have a reinforcing transversal bar 13E at about the middle of the frame unit 13.

When the gable 2 is in its folded-down position, the swivel 7 will be positioned in the circular enlargement 6 (a first end position of the groove 5) and in its raised position it will be positioned in the opposite end 14 of the groove (a second end position of the groove 5). Moreover, the beveled swivel 7 has a circular shape with the same shape as the circular enlargement 6, which ensures a stabile rotating movement and guiding of the plate, which finishes at the raising of the gable by the bevel of the swivel taking the gable to the second end position of the groove 5. In other words, the diameter d of the swivel is about the same as D, however somewhat smaller, and the distance t between the beveled surfaces 8 is about the same as, but somewhat smaller than, the width B, to ensure easy handling. The plate 4 has an open groove 9 for the housing of a locking pin 10 that is fixed at the material earner 3 for locking the gable 2 in its raised position, whereby the longitudinal axis C of the groove 5 and the open groove 9 extend in the same direction. The locking pin 10 is preferably fixed at a leg 11 arranged at the material earner 3, and has a shape that is complementary to the open groove 9. In a preferred embodiment, the locking pin 10 is of rectangular shape. Other shapes, such as a round shape, may be used. The length / of the groove 5 is suitably considerably larger than the diameter D of the circular hole 6. Suitably, the length / is 3-6 times the diameter D.

The plate 4 can also be provided with a sliding stop 12 to facilitate the stackability of the material carrier 3 when the gable 2 is folded down. Suitably, this sliding stop 12 forms an angle to the plate 4, such that the upper ends 12A of two opposing sliding stops 12 form a larger gap than at its lower portion, whereby the fitting of the legs 11 of another material earner 3 between two opposing sliding stops 12 is facilitated when several material carriers are being stacked.

When the gable 2 is raised it is lifted, whereby the circular enlargement 6 of the plate 4 turns around the swivel 7 until the gable forms an angle of about 90° to the material carrier 3. In this position the gable is lowered, whereby the plate is moved/lowered until the swivel 7 abuts the second end position 14 of the groove 5. At the same time as the gable is moved/lowered, the locking pin 10 will engage with the open groove 9, whereby the gable 2 is locked in a raised position.

Fig. 5 shows a view in perspective of two material carriers 3, 3' according to a somewhat modified embodiment of the invention. The modification includes, La., in that the gables 2 in this embodiment also are provided with an upper bar 2D, such that also the gables 2 comprise a rectangular frame. Additionally, at the gables and on the frame unit 13, there is arranged some type of net 20, adapted to prevent wares/goods from falling through or falling off, respectively. The device is such that the vertical gable bars 2 A, 2C have open ends 21 at their tops, such that a stacking member 15 having a foot part 11 can secure a first material carrier 3 on top of a second, lower material carrier 3'.

Fig. 6 shows in perspective a more detailed view of the encircled area of Fig. 5, showing the principles of the folding fitting and the stacking arrangement. The folding fitting 1 is more or less similar to the one described above in connection with Figs. 1-4. In the following, focus will therefore be on the modified details. Firstly, Fig. 6 shows the opening 2Γ into which the stacking member 15 is inserted and secures the upper material carrier 3. In this embodiment, the stacking member 15 comprises a base plate 15A arranged at the foot part 11 of a first material carrier 3, and a plate 15B that projects obliquely from that base plate 15A, which projecting plate 15B forms a kind of hooking member that grips the upper edge of one of the pipe sides of the side frame bar 2A'. By each foot 11 being equipped with a corresponding stacking member 15, it is achieved that the material carriers can be stacked on top of each other in a raised position. The stacking member 15 may also have other designs, like a cup or a hat, e.g., (not shown), that encircles the upper ends of the gable bars 2A, 2C.

It is furthermore clear from Fig. 6 that the locking pin 10 is arranged on the opposite side in relation to the swivel 7, compared to the embodiment according to Figs. 1-4. It is also clear that the locking pin 10 is arranged to have a beveled surface 10A in order to facilitate insertion of the locking pin 10 into the corresponding open groove 9. Yet a difference is that the frame unit 13 is not constructed from pipes but from profiles and therefore additional stiffening ribs 13E have been arranged transversally. In this embodiment, the foot 11 is made of flat material arranged in L-shape as seen in cross- section. A square pipe 13G is arranged in order to improve structural stability, by anchoring the foot 11 at the frame unit 13, and by giving extra strength for anchoring the plate 4 at the folding fitting 1.

Fig. 7 shows a material carrier 3 according to the invention, in a folded-down position, whereby both gable parts 2 have been folded down and in, towards each other, such that the material earner 3 forms a compact unit, wherein the gable bars 2A, 2C are in contact with and supported by the side frame bars 13 A, 13B. Fig. 8 shows an enlarged illustration of one comer part of the material earner in Fig. 7, from which the stacking member 15 is shown in more detail. Preferably there are support plates 1 IB arranged at the corners of the end frame bars 13C, 13D, if L- or U-profile, to provide support for the feet 11 on top of it.

Fig. 9 shows two folded-down material carriers 3, 3' stacked on top of each other.

For the sake of clarity, Fig. 10 shows a detailed view of the area of one of the corner areas where the two material earners 3, 3' meet each other, from which it is clear that the lower gable part 2B secures the upper material carrier 3 against longitudinal displacement, by means of having the feet 11 protruding down wardly below the lower gable part 2B. In combination with the sliding stops 12', which prevent transversal movements of the upper material carrier 3, this ensures that the material carrier 3 is securely anchored in the folded-down position when stacked on top of another material earner 3'. Figs. 11-16 show that the base of a material earner according to the invention can be modified in many ways in order to be adapted to different situations or needs.

Fig. 11 shows an embodiment in which a separate post 16 has been arranged at one longitudinal frame bar 13 A, by use of a folding fitting 1, such that the additional post 16 can be moved between a raised position and a folded-down position, where the post 16 preferably is designed in a manner corresponding to the posts of the gable member 2, and where they in particular are adapted to form a middle support member 16, to supplement the gables 2, and, when folded down, to be able to interact with the other parts such that the material earner 3 forms a compact unit.

Fig. 12 shows yet another modification, in which flexible bands 17 are arranged between the upper ends of the gable members 2, which flexible bands may be used. La., to carry large pipes that are desired not to contact the frame unit 13. Thereby, the open ends 21 of the gable members 2 are used for insertion of the anchoring parts of the flexible bands 17.

Fig. 13 shows yet another modified embodiment in combination with gable members 2, arranged with a net 20, whereby at least one of the longitudinal sides is provided with a flexible net 18, that can be arranged between the two gable members 2 in order to hold wares/goods of the intended type.

Fig. 14 shows yet another embodiment in which the inside of the gable members 2 have been covered with a protective member 19, in order for example to protect pipes from scraping against the gable members 2 or the frame unit 13. Beneficially, these protective members 19 are arranged with a radius in the corner areas, such that a bottom layer of pipes can rest on a larger surface of the protective member 19.

Fig. 15 shows yet another embodiment of a material carrier according to the invention 3, where the gable members 2 of a material carrier 3, as well as its longitudinal sides have been arranged with a net 22.

Fig. 16 shows an embodiment in which the gable member 2", or both gable members, are provided with folding fittings 1 that enable outwards folding, whereby specific needs can be fulfilled e.g. in connection with the storage of longer pipe units for heating, ventilation and sanitation installations, etc.

The invention is not limited to the examples shown above, but other variations can be made within the scope of the claims. It is for example appreciated that the frame unit 13 can be made not only from square pipes or profiles with L-shaped or U-shaped cross- section, but that other profiles can be used for better adaptation to different needs. Furthermore, it is appreciated that, as an alternative to the net 20, the gable members 2 can be provided with different types of transversal struts or similar arrangements, so that such additional transversal laths in the gable members, when in the raised position, can be used to store longitudinal elements at a plurality of levels, for example to store longitudinal pipes of a smaller diameter at several levels of the material earner. It is further appreciated that a material earner 3 according to the invention may be provided with a detachable partition wall which can be arranged in the middle between two upright gable members, so that storage of wares/goods adapted thereto is possible. In addition, it is appreciated that the gable members 2, in the embodiment according to Figs. 1 -4, can be provided with intermediate support bars which run parallel to the gable bars 2A, 2C so that in the raised position of the gable members 2 the gap between these additional support bars and the gap between them and the gable bars 2A, 2C can be used to stack elongate elements of custom cross-section on top of each other, such as pipes for heating, ventilation and sanitation. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that many modifications and combinations of the above described can be performed in order to meet different kinds of needs such that e.g. multiple units of the above various modifications can be arranged at a material carrier 3 to meet specific needs.

Furthermore, it is realized that the dimensions of the material earners 3 may vary between technical fields, in order to be adapted to the need for transport and storage of wares/goods within the respective field.

Claims

1. A folding fitting for the raising and folding-down, respectively, of a gable

(2) at a material carrier

(3), characterized in that the folding fitting (1) comprises a plate

(4) that is fixed at one end of the gable (2), which plate has a groove

(5) with a circular end

(6) having a diameter (D) that exceeds the width (B) of the groove (5), and a partly circular swivel (7) that is fixed at the material carrier (3) and has opposing, beveled surfaces (8) arranged to run in the groove (5) in the plate (4) for guiding it when the gable (2) is raised or folded-down, and in that the plate has an open groove (9) for the housing of a locking pin (10) that is fixed at the material carrier (3) for locking the gable (2) in its raised position, whereby the longitudinal axis (C) of the groove (5) and the open groove (9) extend in parallel.

A folding fitting according to claim 1, characterized in that the groove (5) is shaped as a keyhole.

A folding fitting according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the locking pin (10) is fixed at a leg (11) arranged at the material carrier (3).

A folding fitting according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that the locking pin (10) has a shape that is complementary to the open groove (9).

A folding fitting according to claim 4, characterized in that the locking pin (10) has a shape that is essentially rectangular and preferably has a beveled surface (10A) at its upper end.

A folding fitting according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that the plate (4) is provided with a sliding stop (12) to facilitate the stackability of the material earner (3) when the gable (2) is folded down.

7. A folding fitting according to claim 6, characterized in that the sliding stop (12) forms an angle to the plate (4).

8. A folding fitting according to any one of claims 1-7, characterized in that a

corresponding fitting (1) is arranged at the opposite end of the gable (2).

9. A folding fitting according to any one of claims 1-8, characterized in that a tongue (11 A) is arranged, preferably displaceably, at a lower end of the foot in order to constitute a stop for longitudinal sliding.

10. A material carrier with a folding fitting according to any one of claims 1-9, characterized in that the material carrier (3) comprises an essentially rectangular frame unit (13).

11. A material carrier according to claim 10, characterized in that the frame unit (13), at least at its transversal frame bars (13C, 13D), comprises flat construction elements arranged to interact with tongues (11A) according to claim 9.

12. A material earner according to claim 11, characterized in that the gable member (2) is provided at its upper ends with openings (21) that are arranged to interact with stacking members (15) arranged at the foot members (11).

13. A material carrier according to any one of claims 10-12, characterized in that the supporting structure of the foot members (11) is of essentially L-shaped cross- section, and is arranged to house at least some portion of a material carrier (3') arranged below, when folded-down material carriers (3) are stacked on top of each other.

14. A material carrier according to any one of claims 10-13, characterized in that the gable members (2) are of modular design, in order to be able to be provided with different types of supplementary structures (2D, 17, 19, 20), in order to be adapted for different needs.

15. A material carrier according to any one of claims 10-14, characterized in that the frame unit (13) is arranged to be able to be supplemented with different types of accessories (16, 18, 22) in order to be able to be adapted for different needs.