GB2268156A

GB2268156A - Support member.

Info

Publication number: GB2268156A
Application number: GB9313500A
Authority: GB
Inventors: James Edward Douglass
Original assignee: DOUGLASS IRIS LILIAN; DOUGLASS JOHN MALCOLM
Current assignee: DOUGLASS IRIS LILIAN; DOUGLASS JOHN MALCOLM
Priority date: 1992-06-30
Filing date: 1993-06-30
Publication date: 1994-01-05
Anticipated expiration: 2013-06-30
Also published as: GB2268156B; GB9313500D0

Abstract

This invention provides an 'L' shaped support member 10 for supporting paving slabs 24 arranged on a pallet 26, whereby an upper end thereof 14 engages a lower surface 29 of the pallet on which the slab is supported, the opposite end supporting the article. The support may also be used on the ground to support the slabs (see fig 3 not shown). <IMAGE>

Description

SUPPORT MEMBER This invention relates to a support member and is particularly, though not exclusively, concerned with a support member which can be used to support relatively brittle articles, for example, cast concrete slabs which may be arranged on a member such as a pallet or on a surface such as the ground.

Cast concrete slabs are typically transported from the manufacturer to the point of sale, stacked on their edges on a pallet and usually contained within a shrink wrap plastics material. Removal of the plastics material cover at the point of sale leaves the stack of slabs, which may be left on the pallet or be placed on the ground, unsupported. If the horizontal stack is not subsequently supported, one or more slabs may topple over and possibly break. This leads to uneconomic loss of slabs.

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided an elongate support member for supporting at least one article arranged on a member such as a pallet above a surface such as the ground, the support member being substantially Lshaped, whereby an upper end thereof is arranged to engage a lower surface of the member on which the article is supported, the opposite end supporting the article. Preferably, the ends of the support member are connected by a curved section about which the support member rocks when a load is applied to its upper end until the lower end of the support member engages the lower surface of the member. The lower surface of the member is preferably the lower surface of a structural member of a pallet, e.g a beam supporting the upper deck of the pallet.

Conveniently, the support member may be formed from metal, e.g. aluminium bar. The support member can be conveniently retained at the point of sale and used to support further stacks of slabs. The support member will support as little as one slab thus avoiding the disadvantageous breakages referred to above.

Preferably, the upper end of the support member lies forward of the point of contact of the curved portion of the support member with the surface, which is typically the ground.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided an elongate support member for supporting at least one relatively brittle article arranged on a surface such as the ground, the support member being substantially L-shaped in elevation, whereby in use, a lower surface of the support member engages the surface, an upper end thereof is arranged to engage an upper surface of an article, the opposite end of the member supporting a lower surface of the article.

Preferably the support member comprises two inter-connected Lshaped sections. The L-shaped sections may be connected between their upper ends. Preferably, the support member is of unitary construction.

Conveniently, the support member may be formed from metal, e.g aluminium bar. A support member supplied by the manufacturer with a stack of slabs can be conveniently retained at the point of sale and used to support further stacks of slabs. The support member will support as little as one slab thus avoiding the disadvantages breakages referred to above.

Preferably, the upper end of the support member lies forward of the point of contact of the rearmost portion of the curved portion of the support member.

Support members in accordance with the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 in which: Figure 1 is a side view of a support member in accordance with the first aspect of the invention in use; Figure 2 is an elevation of the support member of Fig.

1 in use; Figure 3 is an elevation of a support member in accordance with another aspect of the invention in use; and Figure 4 is an end view of the support member in use.

The support member 10 shown in Figure 1 and 2 comprises a shaped length of aluminium rod 12 which is substantially L shaped in elevation. As shown in the end view of Figure 2, the support member 10 is substantially U-shaped comprising an upper end 14 connected to lower end portions 16 and 18 by curved portions 20, 22. The support member is used to support a stack of slabs 24 on pallet 26. The lower portions 16, 18, of support member 10 are hooked under the pallet 26 whereby they engage the lower surface 28 of a transverse structural member 29 of the pallet. The first slab 30 in the stack is laid back against the upper portion 14 of the support member 10 causing the support member 10 to rock backwards about curved portions 20, 22, urging lower portions 16, 18, against the lower surface 28 of the transverse structural member 29.

In this position, the stack 24 is stably supported and slabs can be safely removed from the other end of the stack.

The support member 10 will safely support one slab alone on a pallet thus avoiding the uneconomic breakages referred to above.

When the last slab 30 has been removed from the pallet, and the pallet is returned to the concrete slab manufacturer, the support member can be retained at the point of sale for use with further loads of slabs.

The support member 40 shown in Figures 3 and 4 comprises a shaped length of aluminium rod 42 which is substantially L-shaped in elevation. As shown in the end view of Figure 4, the support member 40 is substantially U-shaped comprising an upper end 44 connected to the lower end portions 46 and 48 by curved portions 50, 52. The support member is used to support a stack of slabs 54 on surface 55. The lower portions 46, 48, of support member 40 are hooked under the rearmost slabs 56, 57, 58 in stack 54 whereby they engage the lower surfaces of those slabs. The rearmost slab 56 in the stack 54 is laid back against the upper portion 44 of the support member 40 urging curved portions 50, 52, against surface 56 urging lower portions 46, 48, against the lower surfaces of the slabs 56, 57, 58, with the centre of gravity of the rearmost slabs forward of the curved portions 50, 52.

In this position, the stack 54 is stably supported and slabs can be safely removed from the other end of the stack.

The support member 40 will safely support one slab alone referred to above.

When the last slab has been removed from the support member, the support member can be retained at the point of sale for use with further loads of slabs.

Claims

CLANS

1. A support member for supporting at least one article arranged on a storage member above a surface, the support member being substantially Shaped, whereby an upper end thereof is arranged to engage a lower surface of the storage member on which the article is supported, the opposite end supporting the article.

2. A support member according to claim 1 in which the ends of the support member are connected by a curved section about which the support member rocks when a load is applied to its upper end until the lower end of the support member engages the lower surface of the storage member.

3. A support member according to claim 1 or 2 in which the storage member is a pallet.

4. A support member according to claim 2 or 3 in which the upper end of the support member lies forward of the point of contact of the curved portion of the support member with the surface.

5. A support member for supporting at least one relatively brittle article arranged on a surface ground, the support member being substantially L-shaped in elevation, whereby in use, a lower surface of the support member engages the surface, an upper end thereof is arranged to engage an upper surface of an article, the opposite end of the member supporting a lower surface of the article.

6. A support member according to any preceding claim which comprises two interconnected L-shaped sections.

7. A support member according to claim 6 in which the Lshaped sections are connected at their upper ends.

8. A support member according to any preceding claim which is of unitary construction.

9. A support member substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings Figs. 1-4.