GB2268463A

GB2268463A - Stone crate

Info

Publication number: GB2268463A
Application number: GB9214557A
Authority: GB
Inventors: James Edward Douglass
Original assignee: DOUGLASS IRIS LILIAN; DOUGLASS JOHN MALCOLM
Current assignee: DOUGLASS IRIS LILIAN; DOUGLASS JOHN MALCOLM
Priority date: 1992-07-09
Filing date: 1992-07-09
Publication date: 1994-01-12
Anticipated expiration: 2012-07-09
Also published as: GB2268463B; GB9214557D0

Abstract

This invention provides a container 1, for stone or the like, the container comprising a plurality of frame sections 2 connected together to define a restraining enclosure for the stone and which, when the container is empty, may be disassembled or folded for transport or storage. A curved container (Fig 4 not shown) is also disclosed, comprising two frame sections (5). The container is intended for use on a pallet 4. <IMAGE>

Description

STONE CRATE This invention relates to containers for heavy objects and particularly to containers for use in the storage and transportation of stone, artificial stone and similar heavy objects.

A storage and transportation cage is known from the U.K.

Patent No. 2201654 in which a frame portion constructed of a single length of wire or plastic mesh or netting formed into a tube is secured to the pallet in an upright position. In use, the tubular portion is filled with stone so as to confine it into a stack on top of the pallet. As stone tends to be very irregular in shape it cannot be balanced satisfactorily in a stack and thus the tubular portion serves to stabilize the stack. This stabilizing effect is achieved first by the binding together of the stones and second by the anchoring of the mesh or net to the pallet base.

The weight of the consignment of stone is supported on the rigid pallet base when it is lifted or transported.

A drawback of the known container is that it is unnecessarily unwieldy and bulky when being transported in the unloaded state after delivery.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved form of container which does not suffer from the disadvantages of known designs.

According to the invention, there is provided a container for stone or the like comprising a plurality of frame sections connected or connectable together to define a restraining enclosure for the stone or the like and which, when not loaded, may be disassembled or folded for transport or storage. It has been found that the weight of the stone (which may be natural or artificial) keeps the container in place during transport.

The container will normally be used in conjunction with a base pallet for convenient lifting by fork-lift truck.

Preferably the container comprises four frame sections hinged together which may be assembled into a substantially rectangular enclosure for stone or folded flat for storage.

Alternatively, the container comprises two frame sections which may be curved.

The invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the container in assembled form placed onto a pallet; Figure 2 is a plan view of the container and pallet showing the container loaded and unloaded; Figure 3 is a side view of the container in its folded position; and, Figure 4 is a side view of an alternative embodiment of the container in its folded position.

In Figures 1 to 3 a container (1) comprises four substantially rectangular frame sections (2). Each frame section (2) comprises wire netting and is linked to its neighbour along one edge by a plurality of hinge rings (3).

In use, the assembled container (1) is stood on a pallet (4) and adopts a substantially rectangular configuration in plan view as shown in full lines in Figure 2. The container is then filled with stone which will tend to cause the frame sections (2) to bulge such that the container adopts a configuration in plan exemplified by the dotted line in Figure 2. When not in use the container may be folded flat as shown in Figure 3.

In Figure 4 an alternative embodiment is disclosed which includes only two moderately curved frame sections (5) hinged together by hinge rings (6). In that arrangement the container is assembled by forcing the two hinged edges inwardly so that the sides of the frame section flex outwardly to define an enclosure for the stone. Again, as with the first embodiment, the container may be folded substantially flat for transport or storage as shown in Figure 4.

If desired, in each embodiment, the wires around the edge of each frame section, and particularly the wires along the adjoining edges, may be stronger than the rest of the wire of the wire netting to reinforce the frame sections.

Although not shown in the drawings, the frame sections may be separate from one another and designed either to connect together to define a container for use or be disassembled for transport and storage. Also, although the frame sections are preferably wire netting, they may be any other suitable material such as wire mesh or a strong mesh netting or woven fabric stretched across a rectangular frame.

Claims

1. A container for stone or the like, the container comprising a plurality of frame sections connected or connectable together to define a restraining enclosure for the stone or the like and which, when the container is empty, may be disassembled or folded for transport or storage.

2. A container according to claim 1, which comprises four frame sections.

3. A container according to claim 2, in which the four frame sections define a rectangular restraining enclosure.

4. A container according to claim 1, 2 or 3, in which the frame sections may be folded flat for storage or transport.

5. A container according to claim 1, which comprises two frame sections.

6. A container according to claim 5, in which at least one of the frame sections is curved.

7. A container according to claim 6, in which the frame sections form a substantially circular enclosure when connected together.

8. A container according to any preceding claim, in which the frame sections are hinged together.

9. The combination of a container according to any preceding claim and a support member.

10. A combination according to claim 9, in which the support member is a pallet.

11. A method of transporting stone or the like, comprising placing the stone or the like in an enclosure of a container according to any one of claims 1 to 8 or in the combination of claim 9 or 10.

12. A method of transporting stone or the like substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

13. A container substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.