GB2263682A

GB2263682A - Pressure frame for stack

Info

Publication number: GB2263682A
Application number: GB9202265A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kenneth Stephen Eddin Orpen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1992-02-03
Filing date: 1992-02-03
Publication date: 1993-08-04
Anticipated expiration: 2012-02-03
Also published as: GB9202265D0; GB2263682B

Abstract

A pressure frame for securing a stack of articles (when tied therewith by straps) comprises a rectangular frame (14) having a depending peripheral lip (18), and at least one magnetic metal member (20) secured to the frame. The frame (14) may be a plastics moulding having slots (24) to receive side portions (22) of a metal member (20) of U-cross section. Fixing means such as glue or rivets may alternatively or additionally be used for securing the metal member. There may be a respective metal member for each of the four sides of the frame. The lip (18) enables such frames to nest when stacked. The metal member(s) allow the use of magnetic lifters but the frame is lighter than an all-metal frame. <IMAGE>

Description

PRESSURE FRAME FOR SECURING STACKS OF ARTICLES The present invention relates to improvements in frames for securing stacks of articles.

When a multiplicity of articles is stacked on a pallet, the articles usually need securing in some way.

One approach has been to lay a pressure frame over the top of the stack and then to tie the stack together with suitable straps. Pressure frames have been made from angle irons joined together; they are, however, quite bulky to store when not in use, and can easily jam together. Moreover, the use of such existing pressure frames has not been entirely satisfactory, because it is not possible to tie the stack as firmly as necessary to prevent the articles moving. As a consequence of movement, the incidence of damage to fragile articles can be significant and costly.

Frames exist of a type which are four-sided and consist of a flange for engaging a surface of the stack and a depending peripheral lip. A frame of this type forms the subject of my U.K. Patent No. 1,488,263.

Also described are metal frames of the foregoing type wherein two side members at opposite sides of the frame are bowed, the flange-defining parts thereof being upwardly concave when the frame is disposed horizontally, and elastically deformable whereby tension can be maintained in the straps. A frame of this type forms the subject of my U.K. Patent No.

2,027,663.

Such pressure frames are commonly handled either manually or by use of mechanical lifting means. The metal pressure frames have the advantage of allowing the use of magnetic lifters, which is a very convenient method of handling large and heavy stacks. However, the prior art metal frames have the disadvantage that they are relatively heavy, with the result that they cannot be safely and conveniently handled. Moreover, the stacks built with such metal frames are difficult to stack; indeed, they are presently routinely stored on their sides rather than in an upright position in an effort to improve stacking characteristics. Such a practice is obviously far from ideal, since the stack must subsequently be reoriented.

There is therefore a need for a pressure frame that can be easily adapted for stacking purposes and which allows the use of magnetic lifters, while being light and compact enough to be safely and conveniently handled manually.

According to the present invention, there is provided a pressure frame for securing a stack of articles, comprising a rectangular frame having a depending peripheral lip, and at least one magnetic metal member secured to the frame.

The magnetic metal member may advanatageously be a light-guage magnetic metal member, and the frame may be of a moulded plastics material.

Preferably, the frame comprises at least four magnetic metal members of at least partial U-section which are engaged with channels in each of the four sides of the frame, the magnetic metal members being substantially co-extensive with the frame.

Conveniently, the pressure frames of the present invention are stackable.

The invention also comprehends stacks of articles held together with the aid of encircling, tensioned straps and a pressure frame as described in the above paragraphs. The articles can be stacked on a conventional pallet base or on a simple panel. Such a panel can be made of plywood, chipboard, corrugated board or the like. The articles can be arranged in tiers separated by similar panels.

Whereas only one pressure frame is needed (at the top of the stack),an identical frame could be employed at the bottom of the stack, the frames being in a mutually opposed orientation. Such an arrangement of the frames can provide additional security against unwanted movement of the articles.

The invention will now be described in more detail by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an exploded sectional view through the pressure frame, taken along line I-I of Figure 1.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the frame with the metal members not shown for clarity.

The nature of the present pressure frame 13 is shown in Figures 1 and 2. The pressure frame comprises a frame 14 with a depending peripheral lip 18, and a magnetic metal member 20 (for clarity, not shown in Figure 2). The frame is constructed of elongated side members 15 secured at their ends one to another mutually at right angles. In this embodiment the frame is made out of moulded plastics material, and as a onepiece moulding.

The frame has an open structure that reduces weight and production costs, the structure of which is best appreciated by study of Figure 2. Holes 26 bounded by ribs 28a and 28b open onto the surface of the stack. The longitudinal ribs 28a have channels 24, and together with the transverse ribs 28b define holes.

That side of the ribs that is in contact with the surface of the stack is thickened by rib extensions 30 that increase the surface area of the ribs in contact with the stack surface and help distribute the pressure that is applied to the pressure frame during stacking over a wide surface area of the stack.

The pressure frame further comprises a magnetic metal member 20 (not shown in Figure 2) of U-cross section that is fixed to the side members by means of side portions 22, which are inserted into the slots 24 in the longitudinal ribs 28a of the frame. It can be readily appreciated that the magnetic metal member 20, when inserted and fixed into the slots 24, effectively bridges the holes and acts to strengthen and rigidify the side members of the frame.

The magnetic metal members are fixed to the frame by projections located on one or both side portions of the U-sections of the metal members, which are engaged with recesses in the channels of the frame. These projections may also take the form of a continuous lip.

The recesses in the channels may take the form of passages through the frame that open into the channels, and such an arrangement obviates the difficulties associated with moulding a recess into the channels 24.

Other fixing arrangements are of course possible and within the scope of the invention. For example, the magnetic metal members may be fixed to the frame by inserts that pass through the frame and pierce the side portions of the U-sections of the magnetic metal members. Alternatively, fixing means such as glue, rivets, staples, screws, nails and other similar fixing means may be used alone or in conjunction with the aforesaid arrangements to provide a secure attachment of the metal member to the frame.

As is apparent from Figures 1 and 2, the pressure frame 13 has been designed inter alia to nest or stack with other identical frames to save space when stored.

The depending peripheral lip of one frame may engage with the outer surface of the longitudinal rib of another underlying frame, and in this way, safe stacking of any number of frames according to the invention is possible. It will be appreciated that other stacking arrangements are of course possible.

The pressure frame of the present invention is used to secure a stack of articles supported on a base or pallet. The base could comprise a plywood, chipboard or corrugated board panel, and the articles, which may be bottles, metal container bodies or other fragile or frangible items, are arranged in tiers separated by spacer panels. When the stack is complete, a snugly-fitting pressure frame embodying the invention is lowered over the top of the stack and the stack secured to the base by straps.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A pressure frame for securing a stack of articles, comprising a rectangular frame having a depending peripheral lip, and at least one magnetic metal member secured to the frame.

2. A pressure frame according to claim 1, wherein at least four magnetic metal members are secured to the frame.

3. A pressure frame according to claim 2, wherein the magnetic metal members are of at least partial U-section and are engaged with channels in each of the four sides of the frame, the magnetic metal members being substantially co-extensive with the frame.

4. A pressure frame according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the magnetic metal members are fixed to the frame by an adhesive.

5. A pressure frame according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the magnetic metal members are fixed to the frame by screws, bolts, nails, staples, rivets or bindings.

6. A pressure frame according to claim 3, wherein the magnetic metal members are fixed to the frame by inserts that pass through the frame and pierce the side portions of the U-sections of the magnetic metal members.

7. A pressure frame according to claim 3, wherein the magnetic metal members are fixed to the frame by projections or a continuous lip located on one or both side portions of the U-sections of the metal members, engaged with recesses in the channels of the frame.

8. A pressure frame according to claim 7, wherein the recesses in the channels comprise passages through the frame that open into the channels.

9. A pressure frame according to any one of claims 2 to 8, wherein the frame has an open structure comprising ribs that define holes, part of the ribs being thickened relative to the rest of the rib so that pressure applied to the pressure frame is distributed over a substantial area of the stack engaged by the frame.

10. A pressure frame according to claim 9, wherein the ribs comprise two longitudinal ribs running along inner and outer edges of each side of the frame, each longitudinal rib bearing a channel, and transverse ribs running along the width of the frame.

11. A pressure frame according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the magnetic metal members bridge the holes and act to rigidify the frame.

12. A pressure frame according to claim 11 as dependent on claim 10, in which bridging metal members of partial U-section are inserted into the channels in each longitudinal rib.

13. A pressure frame according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the frame is of moulded plastics material.

14. A pressure frame according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the magnetic metal members are of light-gauge metal.

15. A pressure frame according to any one of the preceding claims which is stackable.

16. A pressure frame substantially as herein described, with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

17. A stack of articles held together with the aid of encircling, tensioned straps and a pressure frame as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.

18. A stack of articles according to claim 17, including an identical frame which is located at the bottom of the stack, the frames being in a mutually opposed orientation.

19. A stack according to claim 17 or 18 including a support base upon which the stack is built.

20. A stack according to any one of claims 17 to 19, including spacer panels between adjacent layers of articles in the stack.