GB2165139A

GB2165139A - Container supporting frame

Info

Publication number: GB2165139A
Application number: GB8425438A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Erik Markvard Grubbe Nesting
Original assignee: VARIANTSYSTEMET AS
Current assignee: VARIANTSYSTEMET AS
Priority date: 1984-10-09
Filing date: 1984-10-09
Publication date: 1986-04-09
Also published as: GB8425438D0; GB2165139B

Abstract

In a container supporting frame (seen in plan view in Figure 4) comprising corner columns (7, 8) which each have a vertical row of holes to receive shelf supporting means (13, 14), the outer ends of which extend into one of said holes so that the shelf, when lowered, is fixed in the holes and, when raised, is horizontally moveable, there is provided at least one side member (9) moveable between a closed (Figure 4) and an open position, said member having such as a vertical rail (20) to cooperate with complementary shaped means (18) on the shelf so that the shelf is retained against horizontal movement when the side member is in the closed position. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A container supporting frame The invention concerns a container supporting frame comprising corner columns, which each have a vertial row of holes to receive shelf supporting means extending beyond the shelves in the longitudinal direction of said shelves, and comprising at least one side member movable between a closed and an open position.

Shelves with supporting means of this type are known e.g. from the British Patent Specification 1 569 405, from which it is known that the shelves can be moved between various positions by releasing the shelves from the corner columns; this presupposes longitudinal displacement of the shelves with respect to the corner columns.

In recent years container supporting frames have become ever more common, and the object of the invention is to provide an improved container supporting frame which, in combination with shelves of the above-mentioned type, involves a significant technical improvement.

This object is achieved in that the supporting frame has at least one side member which is adapted to cooperate with the shelves so that the shelves are fixed longitudinally when the side member is in the closed position. It has been found that even though the lower edge of the known supporting means has a notch whose bottom rests against the associated corner column, so violent vibrations may occur during transport as will cause the supporting means to jump out of the engagement with the corner column so that the shelf can be displaced longitudinally and fall down.

This drawback is obviated by the container supporting frame of the invention, which moreover entails that the said notch in the supporting means can be omitted completely or partly. Another advantage is that the top shelf in the frame serves as an antitheft means when the side member is locked with respect to the supporting frame.

Preferably, the side member is adapted to cooperate with the long side of the shelves, and claims 2 and 3 define some alternative details in such a structure. As stated in claims 4 and 5, the supporting frame may be a gate or a detachable side; it will be appreciated that the supporting frame may contain several gates and/or detachable sides.

Owing to the clearance mentioned in claim 6, the intended effect can be obtained even if the shelves are disposed in an inclined position in the container supporting frame.

The invention will be explained more fully by the following description of some embodiments with reference to the drawing, in which Figure 1 shows a roller container and illustrates the hinged screen gate of the container, Figure 2 is a side view of the container of figure 1, comprising a frame with a detachable insert screen, Figure 3 shows a structure, known per se, of shelf supporting means of the type relevant to the invention, Figure 4 is a horizontal section through the embodiment shown in figures 1 and 2, Figure 5 is a horizontal section through an alternative embodiment, while Figure 6 shows another embodiment of the container supporting frame of the invention.

Figure 1 shows a so-called roller container comprising a pair of side members 1, 2, a front member in the form of a gate 3 and a rear member 4, which can be seen in figure 2, and finally a base 5.

In the shown embodiment the side members 1-4 constituting the supporting frame are formed as wire screens secured to an annular edge frame, as appears from figure 4 showing a horizontal section through an embodiment, which differs from figures 1 and 2 in that there is no insert screen but just a gate.

In figure 4 the profile tubes of the rear member is indicated at 6, the profile tubes of the side members are indicated at 7 and 8, respectively, while the profile tube of the side member which serves as a gate is indicated at 9. The profile tubes 7, 8 are each provided with a vertical row of holes, as explained in detail in the British Patent Specification 1 569 405; this feature will accordingly just be described briefly with reference to figure 3. Figure 3 shows a vertical section of a profile and two of its holes 10, 11 to receive a supporting means 12 for shelves for the sontainer. As appears from figure 4, the supporting means 12 may be formed by the ends of a pair of flat irons 13, 14 inter-connected by means of some transoms 15, which carry a shelf 16.As appears from figure 3, the lower edge of the supporting means has a depression 17 so that the supporting means are to be lifted somewhat upwards in order for the shelves to be displaced sufficiently in the longitudinal direction to enable them to be removed from the profile tubes 7, 8. As mentioned before, it has been found in practice that vibrations during transport may cause the shelves to perform this movement and fall down.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in figure 4 at least one of the flat irons 13, 14 has a groove 18, 19 to receive a vertical rail 20, which is secured to the inner side of the side member serving as a gate and hinged at 21. It will then be appreciated that the shelves can readily be moved or removed from the roller container when the gate is open, but when the gate is closed so that the projection 20 extends into the groove 18, it is impossible for the shelves to jump out of their engagement with the profiles 7, 8. Usually, the gate comprises a locking means 21, so it will be appreciated that the top shelf (22 in figure 1) cannot be removed and thus serves as an anti-theft means for the container.

Figure 1 shows a pair of shelves 23, 24 in an inclined position, which is possible when provision has been made for a suitable clearance for the projection 20 in the groove 18. The groove 19 is provided so that the shelves do not have to be turned in a specific manner.

The embodiment shown in figure 4 with a vertical rail 20 is particularly expedient on containers with screen side members. Figure 5 shows an alternative embodiment where just the gate 25 is shown, and where each shelf is provided with an outwardly directed projection 26 adapted to be received in a groove 27 in the gate 25. Such an embodiment is useful e.g. when the side members of the container are plate-shaped and where several grooves are provided which simultaneously serve to increase the strength of the plate material.

Figure 6 shows another embodiment of the invention comprising one or more detachable insert screens. Like in the embodiment of figure 4, there is provided a side member 28 which serves as a gate and is hinged at 29. The annular profile tubes 30, 31 correspond in principle to the profile tubes 7, 8 in figure 4, but the profile tubes in figure 6 just constitute a frame on which an insert screen indicated at 32 and 33 may be applied. As appears from the figure, the holes (10 in figure 3) in the profile tubes 30, 31 are rotated through 90 with respect to the view in figure 4, so that the flat irons 34, 35 (corresponding to 13, 14 in figure 4) now extend in parallel with the insert screens 32, 33. At least one insert screen has a vertical, inwardly extending projection 36, 37 adapted to be received in grooves 38, 39 in the flat irons 34, 35 so that the same locking effect as explained in connection with figure 4 is obtained when the insert screens are secured to the supporting frame. The insert screen, e.g. 32, can be secured by means of some hooks 40, 41 and can be connected to the locking fitting 43 (figure 6) for the gate 28 by means of a fitting 42.

Claims

1. A container supporting frame comprising corner columns, which each have a vertical row of holes to receive shelf supporting means extending beyond the shelves in the longitudinal direction of said shelves, and comprising at least one side member movable between a closed and an open position, characterized in that the side member is adapted to cooperate with the shelves so that the shelves are fixed longitudinally when the side member is in the closed position.

2. A supporting frame according to claim 1, characterized in that in the closed position the side member is parallel with the longitudinal direction of the shelves, that it has an inwardly extending projection which extends vertically over a substantial portion of the height of the supporting frame, and that each shelf has at least one groove to receive said projection.

3. A supporting frame according to claim 1, characterized in that in the closed position the side member is parallel with the longitudinal direction of the shelves, that its internal side has a groove which extends vertically above a substantial portion of the height of the side member, and that each shelf has at least one projection to receive said groove.

4. A supporting frame according to claims 2 or 3, characterized in that the side member is a gate for the supporting frame.

5. A supporting frame according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the side member is a detachable insert for a side frame associated with the supporting frame.

6. A supporting frame according to claim 2-5, characterized in that the grooves are adapted to receive the projections with a certain clearance.