GB2335647A

GB2335647A - Load supporting arrangement

Info

Publication number: GB2335647A
Application number: GB9817947A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Timothy Andrew Turner
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1998-03-18
Filing date: 1998-08-19
Publication date: 1999-09-29
Also published as: GB9817947D0; GB9805633D0

Abstract

A load supporting arrangement comprises a plurality of hollow elongate load bearing members 10, which may have a rectangular cross section and internal reinforcing ribs (18, Figure 1), and band means 28 adapted to extend at least partially through the load bearing members to attach the load bearing members to at least one side of a load to construct a pallet structure suitable for lifting by a work machine, e.g. a fork lift truck. Preferably the length of the load bearing members is chosen to be that of the load to which they are attached and the load bearing members are joined together by a number of stringer members (25, Figure 4). Preferably a planar deck 24, which rests on the load bearing members and is attached to the load bearing members by the band means 20, and a planar cap (38, Figure 6) are provided and both may have upstanding walls (24, Figure 6). A sleeve member (36, Figure 6) may also be provided for enclosing a multi-part load between the upstanding walls of the deck and cap.

Description

1 2335647 Improvements in or relating to load supporting arrangements The

present invention concerns improvements in or relating to load supporting arrangements.

Presently pallets manufactured from, for example, wood, plastic, steel or a combination of these materials are often used to support loads. Wooden pallets are most commonly employed in view of their simplicity in manufacture and relative cheapness. They comprise top and bottom decks formed from mutually spaced planks, the decks being spaced apart by solid parallel end and intermediate members and by blocks, the spacing being sufficient to enable the tines of a fork lift truck to pass therebetween.

Whereas wood is a relatively inexpensive material, it is a natural resource and since wooden pallets are often destroyed after a single use there is a considerable wastage of the natural resource.

Additionally, wooden pallets are normally provided in standard sizes so that dimensionally, they do not necessarily match the load to be carried on them. This is inconvenient for the user who often suffers the further inconveniences of having to devote large areas for the storage of pallets, the transportation and storage of loaded pallets which occupy a volume greater than that dictated by the volume of the load and reliance on outside pallet manufacturers and suppliers.

In this specification the term 'band meansis intended to mean any arrangement, normally elongate, which can be used to bind components together. It may be steel or plastics material strapping, rope, string, tape, chain, wire etc. and may include fixing means to fix it to components, platforms or to itself to form a loop like structure.

In its simplest form the present invention provides a load supporting arrangement comprising at least two hollow load bearing elongate members 2 manufactured from a synthetic resinous material and band means adapted to extend through or partially through th e members and to attach the members to at least one side of a load to be supported.

Preferably the load bearing members are of rectangular cross-section. They may have internal reinforcing ribs extending along their length.

Preferably the band means are manufactured from a synthetic resinous material or from steel.

Preferably the length of the load bearing member is selected to be substantially equal to the dimension of that part of the load to which it is intended to be attached.

Preferably the synthetic resinous material is a reclaimed plastics material. Preferably the member is formed by extrusion or Injection moulding.

Preferably two or more load bearing members are joined together by one or more stringer members fixed thereto on the side of the members opposite to the load supporting side.

The stringer members may be fixed to the load bearing members by gluing, welding or using fasteners spaced along the length of the member.

Alternatively, the load bearing members and stringer members could be provided with complimentary interfitting means for example dovetail or equivalent profiles.

Preferably spaced apertures are provided in at least the load carrying face of the load bearing member to enable band means to pass therethrough.

In a further embodiment of the present invention there is provided a load supporting arrangement comprising at least two hollow elongate load 3 bearing members, a substantially planar deck member resting on the elongate members and being affixed thereto by a band means passing from end to end through each load bearing member and over the top surface of the planar member to attach it to the load bearing member.

Preferably the planar member is formed from corrugated board (either paper or plastic board). Alternatively it may be formed from any suitable sheet material, for example plywood.

Preferably the planar member is provided with upstanding walls at its edges to form a tray like structure. Apertures may be formed in the wall and/or planar member at the junction between the wall and the planar member to permit the passage of the band means therethrough.

Preferably an additional band means is passed through each longitudinal member and is adapted to encircle and hold a load placed on the planar member.

Preferably a sleeve formed from corrugated board is provided for placement on the planar member within the walls thereof to contain a multipart load. Preferably a corrugated board cap member of configuration and dimensions similar to the walled planar member is provided to cover the sleeve member. The sleeve member may include strengthening means to transmit load from the cap member to the planar member.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:- Fig. 1 shows an end elevation of an elongated load bearing member; Fig. 2 shows an elevation of a plurality of members of the type shown in Fig. 1 supporting a load, 4 Fig. 3 shows an elevation of a modified load supporting arrangement, Figs. 4 and 5 show elevation of further modified load supporting arrangements; and Fig. 6 shows an exploded perspective diagrammatic view of a further modified load supporting arrangement.

A load bearing member is manufactured from reclaimed plastics material by extrusion or injection moulding and takes the form of a hollow, square cross-section tubular member 10 having radiused corners 12 and longitudinally extending internal stiffening ribs 18 which can take any convenient form but which are illustrated, by way of example only in Fig. 1 as diagonally extending ribs 18.

A plurality of these load bearing members 10 are used in a combination with standard packaging band means 20 to form a load bearing arrangement, an example of which is illustrated in Fig. 2. The load 22 to be supported is a member which has sufficient rigidity to be self-supporting between adjacent members 10. The members 10 are selected such that their length is substantially equal to the dimension of the base of the load 22 over which they have to extend. The members may be re-cut or cut to the appropriate length by the user. Each member has a standard packaging band 20 passed through its hollow centre from end to end. The band is then used to encircle the load and tightened and fixed according to normal techniques by existing apparatus. Thus the load 22 is supported on skids formed by the members 10 at a distance above the ground which is equivalent to the transverse dimension of the member 10, which, conveniently, is 75mrn or 95mm. This enables the load and its support arrangement to be handled by a fork lift truck whose tines can pass under it between adjacent load bearing members 10.

The members 10 also protect the underside of the load against damage either from the floor on which it rests or from further loads supported by similar members stacked on top of the load 22. It will be realised that after severing the bands the only part of the load supporting arrangement which need be discarded are the bands as the longitudinal members can be re-used and if necessary cleaned and sterilised before re-use (if they are used in food pharmaceutical or any other applicatioil requiring cleanliness).

In the modified load support arrangement shown in Fig. 3 a substantially planar load spreading member 24, which may be formed from corrugated paper, corrugated plastic or any other sheet material, for example plywood is supported on the load bearing members 10 and attached thereto by bands 20 in a manner described with reference to Fig. 2. A multi-part load 26 can then be supported on the load spreading member 24 and held thereon by additional band means 28 which also pass, from end to end, through the members 10, encircle the load and are fixed therearound according to normal techniques.

In the modified load supporting arrangement shown in Fig. 4 stringer members 25 are fixed to the load supporting members on the side of the members opposite to the load 22 supported thereon. The stringer and load bearing members are fixed to each other by any suitable means for example gluing or welding, or as shown in Fig. 4 by suitable fasteners 2 7 which may be screws, rivets or any other suitable arrangement.

Fig. 5 illustrates an alternative arrangement for interconnecting the stringer and load bearing members. The stringers 25 have open topped channels 29 found therein, each channel being partially closed by inwardly directed flanges 3 1. Each load bearing member 10 has a T-shaped projection 3 3 from its lower end, the projection 33 being accommodated in the channel 29 by sliding a member 10 into the channel front on end thereof.

In the further modification illustrated in Fig. 6 the load spreading planar member 24 is provided with upstanding peripheral walls 30 such that it assumes the form of a tray. The walls 30 and/or the load spreading member 24, at the junction with each other, are notched at 32 to allow the band means 6 to pass therethrough. A rectangular cover sheet 34 may be placed in the tray over the band means 20 and thereafter load may be stacked in the tray. If necessary, the multi-part load in the tray can be contained by a rectangular transverse cross-section, corrugated paper or plastic sleeve 36 which may be enclosed by a cap 38, the configuration of which is similar to the walled spreading member 24, 30. Additional band means 28 encircle the load enclosed by the member 24, walls 30, sleeve 36 and cap 38. If necessary the sleeve may be reinforced by load bearing corner posts 40 which could be formed from the same components as the load bearing members 10. Additional band means 40 threaded through the members 10 encircle and hold the enclosed load.

Various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention, for example the load bearing members could be of circular, hexagonal, octagonal or any other suitable transverse cross-section. The strengthening ribs may be omitted. Alternative band means may be employed and alternative means for enclosing multi-part loads may be employed. Where corner posts 40 are used it is preferable that the outer load bearing members are arranged at the edges of the tray so that load from the corner posts is transferred directly to the load bearing members. If the load requires to be secured at a point or points inboard of the end of a load bearing member the band means may be passed through preformed apertures in the member, that is, the band means only extend partially through the load bearing member. In another modification apertures are formed through the load bearing members along spaced transverse axis of the member so that band means may be applied in a direction perpendicular to that described in the preceding embodiments. The load bearing members, with or without load spreading members, and/or stringer members may also be fitted to the sides and/or top of the load, for example, to provide protection.

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Claims

Claims:

1. A load supporting arrangement comprising at least two hollow load bearing elongate members manufactured from a synthetic resinous material and band means adapted to extend thr6ugh or partially through the members and to attach the members to at least one side of a load to be supported.

2. An arrangement as claimed in Claim 1, in which the load bearing members are of rectangular cross-section.

3. An arrangement as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, in which the load bearing members have internal reinforcing ribs extending along their length

4. An arrangement as claimed in any,,of the preceding claims, in which the band means are manufactured from a synthetic resinous material or from steel.

5. An arrangement as claimed in any of the preceding claims, in which the length of the load bearing member is selected to be substantially equal to the dimension of that part of the load to which it is intended to be attached.

6. An arrangement as claimed In any of the preceding claims, in which the synthetic resinous material is a reclaimed plastics material.

7. An arrangement as claimed in any of the preceding claims, in which the member is formed by extrusion or injection moulding.

8. An arrangement as claimed in any of the preceding claims, in which two or more load bearing members are joined together by one or more stringer members fixed thereto on the side of the members opposite to the load supporting side.

9. An arrangement as claimed in Claim 8, on which the stringer members are fixed to the load bearing members by gluing, welding or using fasteners 8 spaced along the length of the member.

10. An arrangement as claimed in Claim 8, in which the load bearing members and stringer members are provided with complimentary interfitting means for example dovetail or equivalent profiles.

11. A load supporting arrangement comprising at least two hollow elongate load bearing members, a substantially planar deck member resting on the elongate members and being affixed thereto by a band means passing from end to end through each load bearing member and over the top surface of the planar member to attach it to the load bearing member.

12. An arrangement as claimed in Claim 11, in which the planar member is formed from corrugated board.

13. An arrangement as claimed in Claim 11, in which the planar member is formed from plywood.

14. An arrangement as claimed in any of Claims 11 to 14, in which the planar member is provided with upstanding walls at its edges to form a tray like structure.

15. An arrangement as claimed in Claim 14, in which apertures are formed in the wall and/or planar member at the junction between the wall and the planar member to permit the passage of the band means therethrough.

16. An arrangement as claimed in any of Claims 11 to 15, in which an additional band means is passed through each longitudinal member and is adapted to encircle and hold a load placed on the planar member.

17. An arrangement as claimed in any of Claims 14 to 16, in which a sleeve formed from corrugated board is provided for placement on the planar member within the walls thereof to contain a multi-part load.

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18. An arrangement as claimed in Claim 17, in which a corrugated board cap member of configuration and dimensions - similar to the walled planar member is provided to cover the sleeve member.

19. An arrangement as claimed in Claim 17 or Claim 18, in which the sleeve member includes strengthening means to transmit load from the cap member to the planar member.

20. A load supporting arrangement substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Fig. 1 and 2, or Fig. 3, or Fig. 4, or Fig. 5 or Fig. 6 of the accompanying drawings.

21. Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to' those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.