GB2273281A

GB2273281A - Collapsible pallet

Info

Publication number: GB2273281A
Application number: GB9325179A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Darryl Edward Wilkes
Original assignee: Tubemakers of Australia Ltd
Current assignee: Tubemakers of Australia Ltd
Priority date: 1992-12-10
Filing date: 1993-12-08
Publication date: 1994-06-15
Anticipated expiration: 2013-12-08
Also published as: DE4341703A1; GB2273281B; GB9325179D0

Description

2273281

COLLAPSIBLE PALLET FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The following invention relates to a collapsible pallet. More particularly though not exclusively, the invention relates to a collapsible steel pallet for transportation of automobile engines for example.

Foldable pallets, when folded into a collapsed configuration should be as flat as possible so as to optimise the use of available space.

Furthermore, it would be desirable to provide a collapsible pallet particularly suitable for the transportation of bulky fragile items such as automobile engines.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

There is disclosed herein a collapsible pallet comprising:

a number of connected elongate members forming a right angled parallelogram and defining a base having a fixed height when orientated horizontally, an upright member at or adjacent to each corner of the base, each upright member being adapted to fold adjacent a respective one of said elongate members so as to be generally parallel therewith in a collapsed configuration of the pallet, and a plurality of support members attached to the base wherein the support members are pivotable between a generally horizontal, collapsed configuration and a locked, vertical in-use configuration, wherein, in the collapsed configuration of the pallet, the upright members and the support members reside within said fixed height of the base.

Preferably, at least two of the elongate members are of U-shaped transverse cross-section and in a collapsed configuration, the uprights reside within respective U-channels.

Alternatively, the uprights may be of U-shaped or L-shaped transverse cross-section. In this instance, in a collapsed configuration, the elongate members of the base may reside within the U-channel of the respective upright member.

Preferably, a pivoting brace extends between each upright member and an elongate member of the base.

Preferably, the brace is provided with locking means to retain the upright members in a configuration extending essentially normally to the base.

1 Preferably, the under-side of each corner of the base is provided with a foot for. engagement with the upper end of an upright of a like-pallet.

Preferably, where the base elongate members are formed of U-channel sections, the uprights are formed of hollow square channel. In this instance, and in order to accommodate the brace, a cut-out may be provided in the square channel uprights.

Preferably, said at least one support member comprises a spring loaded locking pin to lock the support member into said in-use configuration.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A preferred form of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a schematic side elevational view of three stacked pallets in an open configuration each supporting a number of engines, Fig. 2 is a schematic side elevational view of eight stacked pallets in a collapsed configuration, Fig. 3 is a schematic end elevational view of one of the pallets of Figs. 1 to 3, Fig. 4 is a schematic elevational detailed view of a hinge connecting a vertical member of the pallet of Figs. 1 to 4 with a horizontal member thereof, Fig. 5 is a schematic plan view of one of the pallets of Figs. 1 to 4 supporting a plurality of engines, Fig. 6 is a schematic end elevational view of detail of a hinge link arrangement of the pallet of Figs. 1 to 5, Fig. 6A is a schematic side elevation view of the detail of Fig. 6, and Fig. 7 is a schematic elevational view of a supporting member pivotally attached to the base of one of the pallets of Figs. I to 6. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In the accompanying drawings there is schematically depicted a number of collapsible pallets 10. Each pallet 10 comprises a base of elongate members 11 and 12 in the form of a right angled parallelogram when view in plan. Pivotally attached to the base at each corner or nearby or adjacent to each corner is an upright 13.

i A7 i 3 The f rame 10 may be formed of gal vani sed steel, a] umi ni um or any other suitable material. Extending between elongate members 11 and uprights 13 are respective braces 14. Braces 14 are pivotally attached to both the respective upright 13 and elongate member 11. Brace 14 further comprises a pivotal interconnection 15 intermediate its ends.

As indicated by arrows A in Fig. 1, uprights 13 may be folded as pivot points 15 of respective braces 14 move in a direction indicated by arrow B. When folded, the uprights 13 and elongate members 11 would be generally colinear or otherwise extending one within the other.

With reference to Fig. 6, it can be seen that in the preferred embodiment, elongate member 11 is formed of U-channel section. Brace 14 is connected within the U-channel by way of pivot eye 18 which may be welded or otherwise secured within the U-channel. Brace 14 is connected to eye 18 by way of pivot pin 22.

Uprights 13 in the preferred embodiment are formed of square channel section. A cut-out 19 is provided in each upright 13 to accommodate brace 14. Within upright 13, a pivot eye 17 is welded or otherwise secured as is pivot eye 18 to elongate member 11.

In order to retain upright 13 essentially normal to elongate member 11, a stop 20 is secured to one of the links 14 of the brace. In the collapsed configuration of the frame, upright 13 will reside within the U-channel of elongate member 11 The pivot point 23 of upright 13 to elongate member 11 is to be provided with a pivot pin similar to item 22.

It should be appreciated that the elongate members 11 need not be provided as U-channel sections. As alternatively, they may be-square chann61 section, with the uprights being provided as C or L channels which in a folded configuration would reside essentially over or about the elongate member.

At each corner of the pallet 10, a foot 16 is provided in the under-side of member 12. To this end, a recess 29 is provided which accommodated foot 16. At the upper side of member 12, a strengthening corner piece 30 is provided. The shape of corner piece 30 is of corresponding form to the shape of the recess 29 such that when stacking the pallets one above the other in a collapsed configuration, the strengthening piece 30 fits within recess 29. In the collapsed configuration, the upright 13 provides a horizontal surface 32 onto which L the foot 16 of the pallets stacked thereabove will sit. The strengthening pJece 30 and recess 29 interengage to aid in preventing lateral transfer of one pallet relative to another when stacked. The feet 16 are shaped to inter-engage with the upper ends of uprights 13 of a pallet staked therebelow in an out-folded configuration.

For the purpose of enabling lifting and movement of pallets 10, a number of forktyne entry locations 28 are provided. Each entry location 28 leads to the interior of a cross channel 32 extending between laterally opposing pairs of elongate members 11.

Each pallet 10 is further provided with a number of upright mounting members 27. Each member 27 is typically formed of square steel section. At the upper end of each mounting member 27, there is provided a mounting means or protrusion 31 for attachment to engine mount locations for example.

is Each mounting member 27 is pivotally connected at 33 to an appropriate position on the base such as for example to elongate members 11. Extending between the pivot point 33 and the mounting member 27 is a welded bracket 34. Also welded to the mounting member 27 is a locking clamp 35 of C-shape. Clamp 35 comprises a pair of apertures 36, 37 through which a pin 38 passes. Pin 38 is biased into a downwardly projecting position as illustrated by a spring 39 located between the apertures of the clamp 35. Secured to the upper end of pin 38 is a handle 40. The upper portion 41 of pin 38 has a square cross section, whereas the lower portion 42 of pin 38 is of circular cross section.

Whilst the lower aperture 37 is of circular shape, the upper aperture 36 is square to correspond with the shape of the upper pin secti6-n 41. The lower extremity 43 of pin 38 is to be biased through an aperture in a fixed location of the base of the pallet. That is, the purpose of the pin is to retain the mounting member 27 in a locked, upright orientation until such time as the pin 38 is manually retracted by application of force to handle 40. In this way, pin 38 may be raised until the square upper section 41 passes through square aperture 36, at which point, pin 38 may be rotated through 45 degrees to prevent downward movement of the upper section 41 through aperture 35. It should be appreciated that spring 39 bears against a washer 43 which is held in location upon the pin 38 by any convenient means.

Whilst the folding spring arrangement as depicted in Fig. 7 is of particular advantage to certain mounting locations upon the frame, it should be appreciated that not all of the mounting members 27 need be so arranged. For example, some of the mounting members 27 may be fixedly welded to the frame of each pallet 10, whereas other might be freely pivoting.

It should be appreciated that modifications and alterations obvious to those skilled in the art are not to be considered as beyond the scope of the present invention. For example, the uprights 13 may be provided 10 with any convenient means for the attachment thereto of pallet walls. Likewise, the base of the frame may be provided with any means of attachment thereto of a pallet floor.

6

Claims

CLAIYO:

1. A collapsible pallet comprising:

2. The pallet of claim 1 wherein at least two of the elongate members are of U-shaped transverse cross-section and in the collapsed configuration, the uprights reside within the respective elongate members.

3. The pallet of claim I wherein the uprights are of C, or L-shaped transverse cross-section, wherein in a collapsed configuration, the elongate members of the base reside within the respective upright members.,

4.

The pallet of any one of the preceding claims further comprising a brace extending between each upright member and an elongate member of the base.

5. The pallet of claim 4 wherein the brace is provided7with locking means to retain the uprights in a configuration extending essentially normally to e base.

6. The pallet of any one of the preceding claims wherein the under-side of each corner of the base is provided with a foot for engagement with the upper end of an upright of a like-pallet.

7. The pallet of claim 1 wherein the uprights are of hollow square crosssection.

8. The pallet of claim 7 further comprising a cut-out in the uprights adapted to accommodate the brace in the collapsed configuration of the pallet.

9. The pallet of claim 1 wherein said at least one support member comprises a spring loaded locking pin to lock the support member into said in-use configuration.

10. A collapsible pallet constructed and adapted to operate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.