FR2749826A1 - Stillage for transport of merchandise - Google Patents

Abstract

The stillage has a polygonal support base (1) with sleeves (2) at the corners to receive detachable posts (3) forming uprights. At least one detachable wall panel (4) can be positioned between two uprights, perpendicular to the base. The wall panel has catches to retain it on the uprights. The wall panel can have a height which is less than that of the posts. The base of the sleeves can extend below the level of the support base and have sockets to receive the uprights or the sleeves of a similar stillage.

Description

DEVICE FOR STORING AND / OR TRANSPORTING
GOODS AND WALL ELEMENT FOR SUCH A DEVICE
The present invention relates to a device suitable for the storage and / or transport of various goods; it also relates to a wall element for such a device.

 The object according to the present invention has the distinction of being very simple to achieve; it is very easily removable and it can be used in different configurations depending on requirements.

This device can advantageously be used for the storage of fragile, non-compressible products or having complex shapes.

 This storage and / or transport device is characterized in that it consists of a polygonal support bottom provided with sleeves at its angles for the reception of removable columns forming uprights. I1 also comprises at least one wall element adapted to be positioned between two columns of angles, perpendicular to the polygonal bottom; this wall element is provided with removable locking means on said corner columns to allow its mounting or removal at will.

 The wall element or elements preferably have a height which is less than that of the uprights. The base of the corner sleeves extends below the level of the support bottom and this base includes embedding means for the uprights of an identical storage device arranged below, in order to stabilize the stacking.

 According to a particular embodiment, the device according to the invention consists of a square or rectangular support bottom with four corner sleeves, four columns forming uprights and four removable wall elements.

 The invention also relates to a wall element for the storage or transport device defined above. This wall element is characterized in that it comprises removable locking means on the columns forming the uprights of angles, which locking means consist of a set of fixed stops and at least one movable stop. These stops are all integral with the wall element and they are intended to come to bear against the front and rear parts of the corner columns to take the latter in sandwich.

According to this structure, all of the locking means are arranged on the wall element so that the corner columns require no work or special arrangement; these columns are in the form of simple tubular sections with round or polygonal section for example.

Still according to the invention, the wall element comprises front fixed stops which extend projecting on the sides of its two lateral edges to come to bear on the front part of the columns, and at least one movable stop, in the form lock, arranged on at least one of said side edges and arranged to come to bear against the rear part of the corresponding column. This movable stopper in the form of a lock ensures that said wall element placed on edge is held in the upright position, bearing on the support bottom.

 According to a preferred embodiment, a movable stop is provided on one of the side edges of the wall element and fixed rear stops are provided on its other side edge.

 According to an additional characteristic, the movable stop is carried by a sleeve guided in rotation on the lateral edge of the wall element and this sleeve is subject to an operating handle for the establishment or the withdrawal of the lock. This operating handle advantageously cooperates with a hook which allows the lock to be locked in the active position.

 According to a preferred configuration, the wall element is in the form of a metal frame carrying a wire mesh. The lateral upright of this frame which carries the movable lock has a round section for guiding in rotation the lock-carrying sleeve.

On the other hand, the metal frame is provided with at least one stiffening crosspiece on which the hook is arranged which, by means of the operating handle, allows the lock to be locked in the active position.

 According to another characteristic, the wall element comprises fixed front and rear stops which are arranged in the upper and lower parts of the lateral uprights; it also includes a movable lock arranged in the central part of the lateral upright which does not have a fixed rear stop.

 However, the invention will be further illustrated, without being in any way limited by the following description of a particular embodiment, given solely by way of example and shown in the appended drawings in which - FIG. 1 is a general exploded view of the device storage and / or transport according to the present invention - Figure 2 shows this mounted device, seen in perspective - Figure 3 shows one of the removable wall elements of the storage and / or transport device, seen from the front ; - Figure 4 is a top view of this wall element - Figure 5 is a partial view, from above, which shows the movable latch in the open position.

 As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the storage and / or transport device consists of a support bottom 1, of generally rectangular shape, at the angles of which are sleeves 2 adapted to receive removable columns or candles 3 forming uprights. Removable wall elements 4 are positioned on the sides and lock on the columns 3 to form a partition belt.

 The support bottom 1 consists of a metal frame 6, of generally rectangular shape, which receives a flat panel 7, for example of wood, fixed in an appropriate manner.

At each of its angles, the metal frame 6 comprises a sleeve 2 secured by welding. The four sleeves 2 extend perpendicular to the flat panel 7; their upper part projects beyond the level of the support bottom 1 and their base extends under this bottom 1, below the lower level of the metal frame 6.

 The sleeves 2 are adapted to receive the columns of angles 3 and to keep them perpendicular to the support bottom 1. The round, square or other section of the sleeves is adapted to the section of said columns 3. They further include a bottom or a internal stop element serving as a support member for the associated column.

 The base of the sleeves 2 has a structure 8 which allows the mounting of the uprights or the corner sleeves of an identical storage device arranged below. In the embodiment shown, these embedding structures 8 are in the form of frustoconical domes; they make it possible to stabilize the stacking, either of the mounted devices, or simply of the support bottoms 1 by means of the sleeves 2.

Note that the height of the wall elements 4 is less than the height of the corner columns 3 to allow this stabilization fitting when stacking the mounted devices.

The wall elements 4 are independent of each other; they have an identical general structure and their length is adapted to the space between two columns of angles 3.

Due to the generally rectangular shape of the support bottom 1, the storage device shown in Figures 1 and 2 comprises two large wall elements and two small wall elements.

 One of the small wall elements has been shown in isolation in FIGS. 3 to 5.

 This wall element 4 consists of a metal frame 10 obtained by welding of tubular profiles with round section 11, 12, 13 and 14. The two lateral uprights 11 and 12 define the lateral edges of the frame 10; they are joined by a low cross member 13 and by a high cross member 14.

 The frame 10 carries a metallic wire mesh 15 secured by welding.

 The length L of the wall element 4 is slightly less than the distance which separates the two corresponding columns 3, illustrated in dotted lines in FIG. 4.

 To ensure its locking on the lateral columns 3, the wall element 4 comprises front fixed stops 18, 19, 20 and 21 which extend in projection, on the sides, from the lateral uprights 11 and 12; it also includes two fixed rear stops 24 and 25 secured to the lateral upright 11 and a movable rear stop 26 forming a lock or a latch carried by the lateral upright 12.

 The front stops 18 and 19 are arranged at the ends of the lateral upright 11. The front stops 20 and 21 are arranged at the ends of the lateral upright 12 and the rear stops 24 and 25 are carried by the upright 11, respectively in part upper and lower part.

 In fact, as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the upright 11 receives by welding two U-shaped stirrups whose lateral wings form, on one side, the front stops 18 and 19, and on the other, the stops rear 24 and 25. The spacing between the stops 18 and 24 on the one hand, 19 and 25 on the other hand, is slightly greater than the thickness of the columns 3 in order to have a slight set of embedding.

On the lateral upright 12, the two front stops 20 and 21 each consist of flat shaped
L, welded with a slight offset in height relative to the fixed stops of the upright 11. This offset corresponds substantially to the width of the plates and stirrups used; it is adapted so as not to hinder the installation of a wall element when the adjacent wall element or elements are already positioned.

 The movable lock 26 is arranged in the central part of the upright 12, between the two front stops 20 and 21. This lock consists of a metal plate 26 carried by a sleeve 28 guided in rotation on the upright 12. The sleeve 28 has also the possibility of sliding along the length of the upright 12; the wire mesh 15 has for this purpose a cutout 30 ensuring this freedom of movement over a few centimeters or tens of centimeters.

 The sleeve 28 is operated by a welded handle 31 which extends substantially perpendicular to the axis of said sleeve 28. This handle 31 is placed on the front or front face of the wall element 4; it allows the mobile stop 26 to be closed and opened to lock or remove this wall element.

 In the active locking position, the stop 26 is pressed against the rear face of the associated column 3 (FIG. 4). The handle 31 then extends parallel to the wall element 4 and it cooperates with a locking hook 32 which maintains the stop 26 in its active locking position.

The hook 32 consists of a simple L-shaped angle iron welded to a vertical cross member 33 connecting the lower cross member 13 and the upper cross member 14.

 Unlocking is carried out by means of the handle 31 by sliding the sleeve 28 upwards to disengage said handle from the hook 32, then by pivoting said sleeve 28 to disengage the stopper 26 (FIG. 5). This withdrawal of the stop 26 is obtained by a forward movement of the operating handle 31.

 The fixed stops 18, 19, 20, 21, 24, 25 are arranged so as to place the wall element 4 in the vertical plane passing through the two columns 3 of ends.

 The fixed stops 18, 19, 20, 21, 24, 25 preferably extend in a plane parallel to the plane of the wall element 4; the movable stop 26 is suitably welded to the sleeve 28 to obtain correct locking on the associated column 3, in particular as a function of the thickness (width or diameter) dimensions of this column 3.

 After the columns 3 have been placed in the sleeves 2 of the support base 1, the wall elements are positioned by embedding the stirrups which form the fixed stops 18, 19, 24 and 25 on one of the columns of angles 3. On then flap the opposite end of the wall element against the homologous column 3, to position the fixed stops 20 and 21 against the front face of said column. The movable lock 26 is finally put in place to block the positioning.

 One or more wall elements 4 can be positioned on the support bottom 1, depending on the type of partitioning desired; the use of four wall elements makes it possible to obtain a closed container.

 Once positioned, the wall elements 4 rest on the support bottom 1 by means of their lower cross member 13. As indicated previously, the height of the wall elements 4 is then less than the height of the columns 3 of so that the upper part of the latter extends slightly projecting as shown in Figure 2. The storage devices can thus be stacked on each other, the mounting structures 8 of a device coming place themselves on the overhanging ends of a homologous device placed below.

The movable latches 26 are placed on the same side on each wall element 4; in this way each of these locks is active on a different column of the storage device and the operation of a lock is not hampered by the presence of the lock of an adjacent wall element. On the other hand, as stated above, the slight offset in height of the fixed stops on the lateral uprights 11 and 12 makes it possible not to hinder the
v installation of a wall element, due to the presence of an adjacent wall element.

 In Figure 3, we note the presence of a complementary cross 35 connecting the two lower cross 13 and high 14 of the metal frame 10. This complementary cross 35, arranged at an angle, allows to stiffen the structure.

The number of these additional crosspieces and their positioning are adapted as a function of the dimensions of the frame 10. For the wall elements intended to equip the long sides of the storage device, two complementary crosspieces are arranged at an angle to form a sort of Vee of the way shown in Figures 1 and 2.

 On the other hand, depending on the length of the wall elements 4, it may be advantageous to provide an additional reinforcing element adapted to avoid or limit the bending caused by the support of the stored goods. This reinforcing element may consist of a stop in the form of a metallic flat 36, welded to the lower cross member 13 and extending projecting downwards so as to come to lock against the metallic frame 6 of the support bottom 1.

 The reference signs inserted after the technical characteristics mentioned in the claims are intended only to facilitate the understanding of the latter and in no way limit their scope.

Claims (10)

- CLAIMS  1.- Device for the storage or transport of goods, characterized in that it consists of a polygonal support bottom (1) provided with sleeves (2) at its angles for the reception of removable columns (3) forming uprights, and at least one removable wall element ('4) adapted to be positioned between two columns (3), perpendicular to said bottom (1), which wall element (4) is provided with locking means on said columns (3).  2.- Device according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises at least one wall element (4) whose height is less than that of the uprights (3), the base of the corner sleeves (2) s' hearing under the level of the support bottom (1) and comprising embedding means (8) of the uprights (3) or sleeves (2) of an identical storage device, arranged below, in order to stabilize the stacking .  3.- Device according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that it comprises a support bottom (1) square or rectangular with four sleeves of angles (2), four columns (3) forming amounts and four removable wall elements (4).  4.- wall element for storage or transport device according to any one of claims to a 3, characterized in that it comprises removable locking means on the columns (3) forming the amounts of angles, which locking means consist of a set of fixed stops (18, 19, 20, 21, 24, 25) and at least one movable stop (26), which stops (18, 19, 20, 21, 24, 25, 26 ) are integral with said wall element (4) and which stops are intended to come to bear against the front and rear parts of said columns (3) to sandwich the latter.  5.- wall element according to claim 4, characterized in that it comprises front fixed stops (18, 19, 20, 21) which extend projecting on the sides of its two lateral edges (11, 12) to come to bear on the front part of the columns (3), and at least one movable stop (26), in the form of a lock, arranged on at least one of said lateral edges (11, 12) and arranged to come to bear against the rear part of the corresponding column (3), said latch (26) ensuring that said wall element placed on edge is held in the upright position, resting on the support bottom (1).  6.- wall element according to claim 5, characterized in that it comprises a movable lock (26) on one of its side edges (12) and fixed rear stops (24, 25) on the other edge side (11).  7.- wall element according to any one of claims 5 or 6, characterized in that it comprises a movable lock (26) carried by a sleeve (28) guided in rotation on the side edge (12), which sleeve (28) is subject to an operating handle (31).  8.- wall element according to claim 7, characterized in that it comprises a hook (32) which cooperates with the handle (31) to ensure the locking in the active position of the lock (26).  9.- wall element according to claim 8, characterized in that it is in the form of a metal frame (10) carrying a wire mesh (15), the lateral upright (12) of said frame (10) having a round section for guiding in rotation of the sleeve (28) which carries the movable lock (26) and said frame (10) being provided with a stiffening crosspiece (33) on which is fitted the hook (32) for blocking the handle (31).  10.- wall element according to claim 9, characterized in that it comprises fixed front stops (18, 19, 20, 21) which are arranged in the upper and lower parts of the lateral uprights (11, 12), rear fixed stops (24, 25) which are arranged in the upper and lower parts of one of the lateral uprights (11), and a movable lock (26) which is arranged in the central part of the lateral upright (12) devoid of rear fixed stops.