GB2025358A

GB2025358A - Bearers for pallets

Info

Publication number: GB2025358A
Application number: GB7829675A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: TRANSIT PACKAGING Ltd
Current assignee: TRANSIT PACKAGING Ltd
Priority date: 1978-07-12
Filing date: 1978-07-12
Publication date: 1980-01-23

Abstract

This invention relates to bearers for pallet decks having slots forced therein. Each support 18 has a flap 16 foldably mounted thereon so that the flaps can be inserted through slots 15 in the pallet deck 11 and then folded against the pallet deck 11 to secure the bearer to the deck. Each bearer 12 has a base member 17 on which are foldably mounted a number of supports (e.g. 18). The supports can either be collapsed or erected relative to the base member. In their erected position the supports space the pallet deck 11 from the ground. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to pallets and bearers for pallets This invention relates to bearers for pallet decks having slots formed therein and to pallets incorporating such bearers.

According to the present invention there is provided a bearer for a pallet deck having slots formed therein, the bearer comprising an elongate base member, at least one support movably mounted on the base member for movement between a first position in which the or each support lies along the base member and a second position in which the or each support projects upwardly with respect to the base member, at least one of the supports carrying a flap for insertion, in use, through a slot in the deck when the support is in its second position and the or each flap being foldable relative to its respective support such that, in use, it.can be folded against the support surface of the deck after insertion through a slot to lock the bearer to the deck.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a bearer for a pallet deck having slots formed therein, the bearer comprising an elongate base member, at least one support movably mounted on the base member for movement between a first position in which the or each support lies generally in the plane of the base member and a second position in which the or each support projects upwardly with respect to the base member to space the deck from the base member, at least one of the supports carrying a flap for insertion, in use, through a slot in the deck when the support is in its second position and the or each flap being foldable relative to its respective support such that, in use, it can be folded against the support surface of the deck after insertion through a slot to lock the bearer to the deck.

The invention further provides for-a pallet comprising a pallet deck having slots and at least two bearers, at least one of which being a bearer as defined above.

Specific embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the following drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view from above of a pallet: Figure 2 is a perspective view from above of a first embodiment of a bearer, with its supports shown in a collapsed position: Figure 3 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a bearer with its supports shown in an erected position:: Figure 4 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of a bearer with its supports shown in a raised position; Figure 5 is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of a bearer with its support shown in a collapsed position; Figure 6 is a perspective view of one end of the bearer of Figure 5 with supports in a raised position; Figure 7 is a perspective view of a fifth embodiment of a bearer in its collapsed position; Figure 8 is a perspective partially cut away view of the bearer of Figure 7 erected; and Figure 9 is a perspective partially cuv away scrap view of an alternative form of the bearer of Figure 7.

Figure 1 shows a pallet, generally indicated at 10, which comprises a pallet deck 11 and a pair of spaced bearers 12. The pallet deck 11 is constituted by four spaced parallel struts 13, which are connected at their ends by respective transverse members 14.

Each strut 1 3 is formed with a pair of spaced longitudinal slots 15, each slot lying adjacent a transverse member 1 4.

The construction of the bearers 112 will he described in more detail below but it will be seen from Figure 1 that each bearer 12 is connected to the deck 11 by means of flaps 16, which are connected to respective bearers 12 and which had been inserted through respective slots 1 5 and then folded against the upper surface of the struts 13. When a load is placed on the deck 11 the flaps are urged against the struts 13 so that the struts 1 3 are held between the parts of the bearers 12 and the flaps 16. When the pallet is not in use or is being loaded for transportation the.

bearers 12 can be released from the deck 11 1 by withdrawing the flaps 16 through the slots 15.

Various forms of suitable bearers 12 will now be described with reference to Figures 2 -9.

Referring to Figure 2 a bearer, generally indicated at 12, comprises a base member 17, a pair of supports 18 transversely mounted on the base member 17 adjacent either end thereof, by means of hinges 19, and a pair of intermediate supports 20.

Each of the supports 1 8 comprises a block 21 which is mounted, face to face, on a sheet 22.

Each of the blocks 21 and sheets 22 are of the same width as the base member 1 7 and each of the sheets 22 projects upwardly beyond its respective block 21. A flap 1 6 is foldably mounted on the projecting portion of each sheet 22 by means of a hinge 23. The hinges 19 are arranged sa that the supports 18 can be rotated upwardly towards their respective ends.

The supports 20 are of similar construction to the supports 18, except for the fact that they only extend half way across the base member 1 7 and in that they do not carry any flap 16. Each support 20 is mounted adjacent a respective edge of the base member 1 7 by means of a respective hinge 24. Each support 20 can be rotated towards its adjacentmostend of the base member 17 into an upright position.

The supports 18 and 20 are collapsed, as shown in Figure 2, when the bearers 12 and pallet decks 11 are being transported so that the amount of space taken up by the whole pallet 10 is greatly reduced. When it is desired to use a pallet 10 the support 18 and 20 are moved into their upright positions, as shown in Figure 1, and the flaps 1 6 are inserted through respective slots 15, as described above. The projecting ends 25 of supports 20 locate in respective slots 1 5 to further engage the bearer with the pallet. It will be appreciated that supports 20 can be provided with flap 1 6 if so required and that they can extend across the full width of the base member when struts 13 are spaced further apart.

Referring to Figure 3 the bearer shown in this figure differs from the Figure 2 embodiment in that the supports 20 are replaced by a single longitudinal support 26. The longitudinal support 26 has elongate sheet members 27 mounted at either end thereof and extending across the width thereof. Each sheet member projects above an edge of the support 26 and carries a flap 16 on its projecting portion. Each sheet member 27 is hinged to the base member 17 by means of a hinge 28 so that it can be rotated downwardly, from the upright position shown in Figure 3, to lie on the surface of the base member 17.

The bearer 12 of Figure 3 is attached to the pallet deck 11 in much the same way as that of Figure 2, except for the fact that the slots 1 5 on the inner pair of struts 1 3 have to be formed transversely to take the flaps of the longitudinal support 26. It will be appreciated that the flap 1 6 can be omitted from the longitudinal support 27.

Figure 4 shows a further embodiment, which is similar to the Figure 3 embodiment, except for the fact that the longitudinal support 26 extends almost the whole length of the base member 1 7 and in that each support 1 8 is hinged, about a vertical axis, onto an end of the longitudinal support 26 instead of being hinged on the base member 17.

Figures 5 and 6 show a variation on the Figure 4 embodiment, in which the support5 1 8 are replaced by a pair of hinged plates 29, which in the erected position (see Figure 6) extend across the width of the base member 17 in the same manner as support 18. Each of the plates 29 extends above the level of longitudinal support 26 in the upright position and carries a flap 16.

Each plate 29 has a reinforcing element 30 hinged to its outer edge, so that the reinforcing elements can lie longitudinally along the base parallel to the longitudinal support 26 in their upright positions. The bearer 12 of Figures 5 and 6 can be collapsed as shown in Figure 5. Reinforcing elements 30 may be omitted if it is so desired.

It will be appreciated that on each of these bearers the projecting portion of the supports projects into the flaps so that the pallet deck 11 lies on the upper edge of blocks 21, support 26 and reinforcing element 30, according to the embodiment being used, and is sandwiched between these edges and the flap 1 6.

Figures 7 and 8 show a still further embodiment of a collapsible bearer. This bearer essentially comprises a generally rectangular sheet 31 which is divided into four elongate parallel panels 32. The sheet is made of cardboard or fibre board and is creased along the adjoining edges of the panels 32 so that the shell can be folded at these edges. The outermost panel on one side has cut outs at its corners and in its centre so that it is in effect reduced to two flaps 33. Each flap has e transverse slot 34 adjacent its outermost end.

The other outer panel has a reinforcing wooden element 35 mounted along its length. Supports 36 are foldably mounted on the reinforcing element 35 by means of hinges 37. Each support 36 comprises a pair of square wooden elements 38 and 39 respectively. Elements 38 are attached to hinges 37, whilst elements 39 are mounted on elements 38 by hinges 40. Hinges 37 and 40 are so arranged that elements 38 and 39 can lie along the reinforcing element 35 and project therefrom in a collapsed position of the bearer, see Figure 7.

and such that elements 38 cah project at right angles from reinforcing element 35, in an erected position, whilst elements 39 can extent parallel to reinforcing element 35 when its associated element 38 is in an erected position. Each element 38 carries a flap 1 6.

Figure 8 shows the bearer of Figure 7 erected.

Erection is achieved by raising the other outer panel, and hence reinforcing element 35, into a vertical position and then forming 900 angles at the creases between the other panels. When the one outer panel is brought over the elements 38, which will now be standing in their erected position the flaps 1 6 are inserted through the slots 34. In the erected position the elements 38 extend across the cross section of the erected bearer 12.

Elements 39 extend along one side of the bearer parallel to the reinforcing element and spaced therefrom. In the Figure 7 embodiment they extend towards the open end of the bearer, whilst in the Figure 9 embodiment, the hinges 40 are mounted in the opposite sense and elements 39 extend into the bearer.

The cut away portions, which define flaps 33 are provided so as to allow for strengthening members on the pallet deck 11. It will be appreciated that with the pallet deck shown in Figure 1 these cut outs may be dispensed with and the panel can then extend the full length of the sheet. The slots may be open mouthed so that the full width of element 38 can project therethrough.

In any of the above embodiments the flap 16 and their associated hinges may be constituted by a single creased plastic element. Similarly any hinge and one of its associated members can be so formed.

Alternatively any of the hinges may be formed from sheet metal.

Any suitable material may be used for any of the pieces of the bearers or pallet decks, but in general the embodiments shown in Figures 2 - 6 will be made of wood and plywood.

It will be appreciated that the pallet deck 11 may be solid.

Claims

1. A bearer for a pallet deck having slots formed therein, the bearer comprising an elongate base member, at least one support movably mounted on the base member for movement between a first position in which the or each support lies along the base member and a second position in which the or each support projects upwardly with respect to the base member to space the deck from the base member, at least one of the supports carrying a flap for insertion, in use, through a slot in the deck when the support is in its second position and the or each flap being foldable relative to its respective support such that, in use, it can be folded against the support surface of the deck after insertion through a slot to lock the bearer to the deck.

2. A bearer as claimed in claim 1 having a respective support at either end of the base member, each support extending transversely across the base member, at least in its second position.

3. A bearer as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein a support extends, at least in its second position, longitudinally along the base member.

4. A bearer as claimed in claim 3 as dependent on claim 2 wherein the transverse supports are foldably mounted on the longitudinal support such that in the first position of the longitudinal support the transverse supports can be folded on or under the longitudinal support and in the second position or the longitudinal support the transverse supports can be extended orthogonally to the longitudinal supports in an upright position.

5. A bearer as claimed in claim 4 wherein at least one transverse support has a further support foldably mounted thereon such that in the first position of the longitudinal member the or each further support can be either over or under the longitudinal member and such that, in the second position of the longitudinal support the or each further support can extend parallel to the longitudinal support in an upright position.

6. A bearer as claimed in claim 2 having a pair of further transverse supports disposed at spaced locations on the base member intermediate the first mentioned transverse supports.

7. A bearer for a pallet deck having slots formed therein, the bearer comprising an elongate base member, at least one support movably mounted on the base member for movement between a first position in which the or each support lies generally in the plane of the base member and a second position in which the or each support projects upwardly with respect to the base member to space the deck from the base member, at least one of the supports carrying a flap for insertion, in use, through a slot in the deck when the support is in its second position and the or each flap being foldable relative to its respective support such that, in use, it can be folded against the support surface of the deck after insertion through a slot to lock the bearer to the deck.

8. A bearer as claimed in claim 7 wherein the elongate base member is constituted by a panel of a sheet of material, which sheet is foldable to form a hollow bearer and wherein at least one support extends across the cross section of the bearer when the or each support is in its second position and bearer is erected.

9. A bearer as claimed in claim 7 wherein the or each support has one or more further supports foldably mounted thereon to extend longitudinally along the base member in an upright position when its associated support is in its second position.

10. A bearer as claimed in claim 8 or claim 9 further comprising a reinforcing element mounted on the sheet of material parallel to and adjacent the base member to. resist vertical deformation of the bearer when the bearer is erected.

11. A bearer as claimed in claim 10 wherein at least one of the first mentioned supports is foldably mounted on the reinforcing element.

12. A bearer substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings.

1 3. A bearer substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings.

14. A bearer substantially as hereinbefore defined with reference to and as illustrated in Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings.

1 5. A bearer substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 5 and 6 of the accompanying drawings.

1 6. A bearer substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 7 and 8 of the accompanying drawings or Figure 7 and 8 as modified by Figure 9.

1 7. A pallet comprising a pallet deck and at least two bearers, at least one of which being a bearer as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.

1 8. A pallet substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figure 1 or Figure 1 as modified by Figure 2, Figure 3, Figure 4, Figure 5 and 6, Figures 7 and 8 or Figures 7 and 8 as modified by Figure 9.