GB2325916A

GB2325916A - Pallet frames

Info

Publication number: GB2325916A
Application number: GB9812168A
Authority: GB
Inventors: George Thomas Nigel Atkins
Original assignee: Palletower Ltd
Current assignee: Palletower Ltd
Priority date: 1997-06-07
Filing date: 1998-06-08
Publication date: 1998-12-09
Also published as: GB9812168D0

Abstract

A pallet frame for separating pallets 2, 3 comprises a pair of gate frame sections 5, 6 with hollow corner posts 11 interconnected by a pair of side frame sections 4 with comer posts 7. Gate frame section 5 is provided with pivotable corner posts whereas those of section 6 are fixed. The frame 1 is assembled by slidably engaging the hollow posts 11 of gate sections 5, 6 with the flanged posts 7 of side sections 4 (see part 10, figure 2).To dismantle the section 6 is removed leaving section 5 attached to sections 4 which can pivot outwards with respect to section 5 about a pivot pin (15, figure 2). To limit the angle of pivoting section 5 is provided with a stop 17 which has an abutment face (18, figure 2) which contacts the post 11. This enables a plurality of dismantled frames to be nested together whilst being stored. The frames may be provided with extensions and flanges 8, 9, 12 to facilitate the mounting of pallets 2, 3.

Description

PALLET FRAMES This invention relates to pallet frames, that is, to frames which are mounted around the edges of pallets to permit two or more loaded pallets to be stacked one on top of another and/or to retain or protect loads on the pallets.

GB-1204856-A describes a frame for a rectangular pallet having two side frame sections, which are seated on one pair of opposite side edges of the pallet, and two gate frame sections which slide vertically between the side frame sections and seat on the other pair of opposite side edges of the pallet. Sliding interconnection between the respective frame sections is achieved by interengagement of slotted hollow corner posts of the gate sections with flanged angle member corner posts of the side sections.

With this known arrangement it can be the case that the frames are stored, when separated from the pal lets, with one gate section removed, but the other retained in engagement with the side frame sections. This facilitates storage and subsequent remounting on pallets but the problem arises that the side sections can readily move apart, especially if multiple nested frame sections are moved such as by pushing across a floor surface with a fork lift truck, and the stresses imposed by this tend to cause twisting or other damage to the interconnected corner posts of the frame sections.

An object of the present invention is to avoid or minimise the effects of such stresses.

According to the invention therefore there is provided a pallet frame comprising a pair of side frame sections adapted to be mounted on opposite edges of a pallet, and a gate frame section adapted to fit between said frame sections by interconnection of corner posts of the gate frame section with adjacent corner posts of the side frame sections, wherein at least one said interconnection is such as to permit pivoting of the respective side frame section outwardly relative to the gate section, and at least one stop is provided to limit such pivoting.

With this arrangement, the stop can limit strain on the pivotal interconnection.

Most preferably, the structure of the frame sections is as described in GB-1204856-A in that each such frame section comprises two upright corner posts held together by upper and lower cross bars and the said interconnection constitutes a sliding interfit which is such as to prevent separation of the associated frame sections in any horizontal direction.

The sliding interfit may be achieved by interengagement of slotted hollow-section corner posts of the gate section with flanged angle-member corner posts of the side frame sections.

The lower cross bars of at least some of the frame sections may be adapted to seat on the top surface of the pallet, and the corner posts of the side frame section may have angled extensions at their lower ends to fit around the pallet corners. Where the lower cross-bars of the side frame sections seat on the top surface of the pallet, these may have attached cleats which project downwardly and inwardly to fit beneath and in close proximity to the top surface of the pallet to facilitate retention.

In addition to the above mentioned first gate frame section there may be a second gate frame section, of like form to the first gate frame section except for the possible omission of the said stops, such second gate frame section fitting between the other corner posts of the side frame sections.

Each frame section may have cross-struts or mesh or other retaining elements between the cross bars and the corner posts.

At least some of the upper cross bars of the frame sections may have seating structures such as angle members to locate an upper pallet supported on top of the frame.

With regard to the said pivotal arrangement, this may take any suitable form derived from inherent play or pivotal characteristics of the said interconnection, and/or derived from the provision of a pivotal mounting of one or more of the corner posts.

In a particular preferred embodiment the corner posts of the gate frame section are pivotally mounted. For strength purposes, the pivotal mounting may be achieved by means of a pivot pin or rod running the entire length of the respective corner post and fixed at the top and bottom. This pin or rod may fit loosely or be firmly located within the corner post or may be retained in a suitable pivotal mounting which limits transverse angular movement of the corner post.

With the arrangement of cross bars and slotted hollow-section corner posts as described above, the said pivot pin or rod may be fixed between the top and bottom crossbars and may run within the respective corner post possibly within a mounting, e.g. one or more flange plates having a hole of slightly greater diameter than the rod or pin fixed within the corner post.

The pivot pin or rod may provide the sole fixed interconnection between the top and bottom crossbars at the respective corner, or there may be additionally an angle member or other interconnecting member alongside the corner post.

Preferably there is a respective pivotal interconnection between each of the side frame sections and the first said gate section.

With regard to the stop this may take any suitable form and may be adapted for any suitable mode of limitation of the pivotal movement.

In a preferred embodiment, the stop comprises a rigid abutment on the gate frame section which is engaged by a movable part of the pivotal interconnection at a predetermined limit of pivoting. Most preferably, for strength the abutment comprises a block having an abutment face.

With the above mentioned arrangement of top and bottom crossbars, the said abutment may be fixed to a respective crossbar and preferably there are two stops, respectivety on the top and bottom crossbars, for the respective corner post.

Where the gate frame section corner post is pivotable as mentioned above, the corner post itself preferably engages the (or each) stop.

Preferably a flat face of the corner post engages a flat abutment face of the (or each) stop, at the limit of permitted movement.

The limit of pivotal movement will be selected in accordance with requirements. In particular, where multiple frame sections are to be nested, the angle of movement will be selected such that adjacent nested side frame sections fit snugly against each other with, as far as possible, face to face contact, to minimise strain in the event that the nested frame sections are moved and press against each other. In one embodiment a pivot angle of 40 has been found to be particular satisfactory.

As an additional limitation on outward pivoting a detachable tie rod or other link may be provided for interconnection between opposite side frame sections. Multiple such links may be used with nested frame sections, with such links being attached at intervals (i.e. not necessarily on all side frame sections).

An assembly of two side frame sections and the respective interconnected first said gate can be mounted around a pallet when required. The pivotal side frame sections are helpful in this respect in that, when upright they can be readily swung inwards onto the sides of the pallet. However, if the sections need to be moved from a reclining position to an upright position prior to assembly with a pallet, the pivotal interconnections may be inconvenient. Accordingly, detachable links, such as hooked tie rods, may be provided to hold the side frame sections in position relative to the gate frame section during manoeuvring.

The invention will now be described further by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of one form of a pallet frame according to the invention assembled on a pallet; and Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic sectional view of the frame.

Referring to Fig. 1, there is shown a pallet frame 1 interposed between upper and lower pallets 2, 3. The frame 1 consists of a pair of opposed welded metal side frame sections 4 interconnected with a pair of opposed welded metal gate frame sections 5, 6.

Each side frame section 4 has two corner posts 7 interconnected by upper and lower crossbars 8, 9. The corner posts 7 are angle members with inturned flanges 10 along one edge (as shown in Fig. 2). The lower crossbar 9 is a square section bar. The upper crossbar 8 is an angle member. The corner angle members 7 extend downwardly below the lower crossbars 9 (without the flange).

Each gate frame section 5, 6 has two corner posts 1 1 interconnected by upper and lower crossbars 12, 13. The corner posts 11 are slotted hollow-section members, and the crossbars 12, 13 are square section members.

Each frame section 4, 5 has cross struts 14 welded between the crossbars.

In the case of the side frame sections 4, the corner posts 7 are welded to the crossbars 8, 9.

In the case of one of the gate sections 6 the corner posts 11 are welded to the crossbars 12, 13. In the case of the other gate section 5 the corner posts 11 are not welded to the crossbars 12, 13. Instead, the crossbars 12, 13 are held together by means of the struts 14 and also by means of rigid rods 15 extending within the hollow section corner posts 11 and welded at their opposite ends to the crossbars 12, 13.

The rods 15 are located within corners of the hollow section corner posts 11, as shown in Fig. 2, by means of internal welded flanges 16. The corner posts 11 are free to rotate about the rods 15 within a limited angular range, as described hereinafter.

On each end of each crossbar 12, 13 of the gate section 5 which has the pivotable corner posts 11, there are welded abutment blocks 17, having inclined flat faces 18, as shown in Fig. 2.

When the pallet frame is used for pallet stacking purposes, as shown in Fig. 1, this is assembled as shown in Fig. 1 by mounting the two side frame sections 4 on opposite sides of the lower pallet 3,,.and then sliding the two gate sections 5 vertically into position with the slotted hollowsection corner posts 11 engaging the flanges 10 to form a sliding interfit which prevents horizontal separation of the frame sections 4.

When the frame sections 4, 5, 6 are removed from the pallet 3, the gate section 6 having the fixed (non-pivotal) corner posts 11 is removed leaving the side frame sections 4 still engaged with the other gate section 5 having the pivotal corner posts 11. As shown in Fig. 2, the side sections 4 are now free to move outwardly by pivoting of the corner posts 11 until the corner posts 11 engage the abutment blocks 17 by contact between flat sides of the corner posts 11 with the flat faces 18 of the abutments 17.

In this position, the side frame sections 4 are retained securely at angles of about 40 to the normal in-use perpendicular positions.

As shown in Fig. 1, multiple sets of side frame sections 4 linked by gate sections 5 with pivotal corner posts 11 can be nested in positions at which the side frame sections 4 abut snugly against each other in face to face contact. If the nested frame sections are now moved or dragged across a floor or ground surface such as to apply a stress in a direction tending to open out the side frame sections 4, this is accommodated by compression of the side frame sections 4 against each other and by abutment of the pivotal corner posts 11 against the abutment blocks 17.

There is therefore a reduced tendency for the flanges 10 and slotted hollowsection members 11 to suffer strain and become distorted or damaged.

Moreover, when a nested assembly is required for re-use, conveniently this can be removed and easily moved into position around a pallet by pivoting inwardly of the side frame sections 4.

Whilst nested, the side frame sections 4 can also be linked by occasional detachable hooked tie bars (not shown) to assist prevention of further opening out of the frame sections 4.

During movement of an assembly of side frame sections 4 into position around the pallet, the frame sections 4 may be retained approximately at right angles to the gate section 5 by means of detachable hooked tie bars (not shown) between the side sections 4 and the gate section 5.

It is of course to be understood that the invention is not intended to be restricted to the details of the above embodiment which are described by way of example only.

Thus, although reference is made to a preferred 40C angle, in practice other angles may be appropriate and indeed an angle of 20 may be preferred in some circumstances.

Claims

1. A pallet frame comprising a pair of side frame sections adapted to be mounted on opposite edges of a pallet, and a gate frame section adapted to fit between said frame sections by interconnection of corner posts of the gate frame section with adjacent corner posts of the side frame sections, wherein at least one said interconnection is such as to permit pivoting of the respective side frame section outwardly relative to the gate section, and at least one stop is provided to limit such pivoting.

2. A frame according to claim 1 wherein each frame section comprises two upright corner posts held together by upper and lower cross bars and the said interconnection constitutes a sliding interfit which is such as to prevent separation of the associated frame sections in any horizontal direction.

3. A frame according to claim 2 wherein the sliding interfit is achieved by interengagement of slotted hollow-section corner posts of the gate section with flanged angle-member corner posts of the side frame sections.

4. A frame according to claim 2 or 3 wherein the lower cross bars of at least some of the frame sections are adapted to seat on the top surface of the pallet.

5. A frame according to any one of claims 2-4 wherein the corner posts of the side frame sections have angled extensions at their lower ends to fit around the pallet corners.

6. A frame according to any one of claims 2, 3 and 5 wherein lower cross bars of the side frame sections are adapted to seat on the top surface of the pallet and these have attached cleats which project downwardly and inwardly to fit beneath and in close proximity to the top surface of the pallet.

7. A frame according to any one of claims 2 to 6 including a second gate frame section fitting between the other corner posts of the side frame sections.

8. A frame according to any one of claims 2 to 7 wherein each frame section has cross struts between the cross bars and the corner posts.

9. A frame according to any one of claims 2 to 7 wherein each frame section has mesh between the cross bars and the corner posts.

10. A frame according to any one of claims 2 to 9 wherein at least some of the upper cross bars of the frame sections have seating structures to locate an upper pallet supported on top of the frame.

11. A frame according to claim 10 wherein the seating structures comprise angle members.

12. A frame according to any one of claims 1 to 11 wherein the corner posts of the first said gate frame section are pivotally mounted.

13, A frame according to claim 12 including a pivotal mounting comprising a pivot pin or rod running the entire length of the respective corner post and fixed at the top and bottom.

14. A frame according to claim 13 when dependent on any one of claims 2 to 11 wherein the said pivot pin or rod is fixed between the top and bottom crossbars.

15. A frame according to claim 14 wherein the pivot pin or rod provides the sole fixed interconnection between the top and bottom crossbars at the respective corner.

16. A frame according to claim 14 wherein an interconnecting member is provided between the top and bottom crossbars alongside the respective pivot pin or rod and corner post.

17. A frame according to any one of claims 1 to 16 wherein there is a respective pivotal interconnection between each of the side frame sections and the first said gate section.

18. A frame according to any one of claims 1 to 17 wherein the stop comprises a rigid abutment on the first said gate frame section which is engaged by a movable part of the pivotal interconnection at a predetermined limit of pivoting.

19. A frame according to any one of claims 1 to 18 wherein the stop comprises a block having an abutment face.

20. A frame according to claim 18 or 19 when dependent on any one of claims 2 to 11 wherein the said abutment is fixed to a respective crossbar.

21. A frame according to claim 20 wherein there are two stops respectively on the top and bottom crossbars for the respective corner post.

22. A frame according to claim 12 or any claim dependent thereon wherein the corner post itself engages the or each stop.

23. A frame according to claim 22 when dependent on claim 19 wherein a flat face of the corner post engages a flat said abutment face of the or each stop at the limit of permitted movement.

24. A frame according to any one of claims 1 to 23 further including a detachable link for interconnection between opposite side frame sections to limit outward pivoting thereof.

25. A frame according to claim 1 substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

26. A plurality of frames according to any one of claims 1 to 6 and 8 to 25 disposed in nested configuration with the side frame sections of each frame pivoted outwardly and in contact with adjacent frame sections of adjacent nested frames.

27. A plurality of nested frames according to claim 26 substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.