GB2377695A

GB2377695A - Shelved Container Assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2377695A
Application number: GB0117871A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael Joseph Melia
Original assignee: Linpac Mouldings Ltd
Current assignee: Linpac Mouldings Ltd
Priority date: 2001-07-21
Filing date: 2001-07-21
Publication date: 2003-01-22
Anticipated expiration: 2021-07-21
Also published as: GB0117871D0; GB2377695B

Abstract

The container assembly includes a container (2) and a plurality of shelf members (4) located on shelf support rails (20) provided on opposite sides of the container. Each set of shelf rails includes both unbroken rails (20b) and broken rails (20a), consisting of shelf support elements (24) separated by gaps (26). The shelf member (4) includes two opposed edge portions that engage an opposed pair of shelf support rails, one of the edge portions (30b) being castellated and including a plurality of shelf support engaging elements (32) that are separated from one another by gaps (34). The shelf member is positioned in the container with one straight side edge (30a) supported by the broken rail (20a) and the castellated edge (30b) supported by the unbroken rail (20b).

Description

CONTAINER ASSEMBLY The present invention relates to a container assembly that includes a container and a plurality of shelves. In particular, but not exclusively, it relates to a container assembly of a type known as a"pallet box".

Pallet boxes are large containers that are normally mounted on castors. Such containers are usually open-topped and box-like in shape, having a square or rectangular base and four square or rectangular side walls. The container generally also includes a number of shelves that may be supported within the container by support elements provided on the side walls.

Pallet boxes are typically used for transporting goods such as, for example, car parts, that need to be protected against damage and cannot be stacked. The parts are therefore generally placed in the container in layers, which are separated from one another by shelves.

If the goods are large, for example cylinder heads, just a few widely spaced shelves may be used. If the goods are smaller, for example instrument panels, a larger number of more closely spaced shelves may be used. It is therefore desirable for efficient use of the available storage space that the separation between the shelves should be adjustable, with more shelf positions providing greater flexibility and efficiency in the use of the storage volume.

In a known pallet box, the shelves are supported on rails provided on two opposite sides of the box. When a shelf is being placed into the container, a first edge is located on a rail at the required height and the second edge on the opposite side of the shelf is then dropped down to engage the opposite rail. While this arrangement is very easy to use, it has the disadvantage that the separation between the rails must be sufficient to allow the second edge of the shelf to clear the rail above that on which it is to rest. As a result, the storage volume sometimes cannot be efficiently utilised.

In another known pallet box, the side walls are again provided with shelf support rails, although in this case the rails are broken into a number of sections with gaps between those sections. The rail sections are vertically aligned, providing a series of gaps that extend vertically downwards through the rails, and are off-set towards one side of the container, each rail including a rail section at one end and a gap and the other end.

The rail engaging edges of the shelves arc castellated, each edge including a set of castellations separated by gaps that are matched to the sizes of the sections and gaps of the rails.

With this arrangement. the shelf is lowered vertically into the container to the desired height, with the castellations passing through the gaps between the rail sections. The shelf is then pushed to one side. so that the castellations are located above and supported by the rail sections. Finally, a hinged flap pro\idcd on one end of the shell is pushed o\er to prevent the shelf from sliding back and lock it in position.

Jhis arrangement al1O\\ s the shel f'to he located in a larger number of positions, allow g more efficient use of the storage volume. However, lowering the shelf into the container to the reqwuired height can be difficult and awkward. as it is sometimes necessary to reach a long way into the container.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a container assembly that mitigates at least some of the aforesaid problems.

According to the present invention, there is provided a container assembly including a

container and at least one shelf member. \\ herein the container includes a base member, a plurality of upstanding walls and at least two sets of shelf'sUppolt memhers pro\ided on opposite sides of the container for supporting said shell member at selected heights within the container, each set of shelf support members including a plurality of shelf support iiicmbei-s ari-iii,, cci 0, t, one oi, members arranged substantially vcrtically abo\e one another, at least one of said sheff support members comprising a broken shelf support member that includes a plurality of shelf support elements that are separated from one another by gaps between said shelf support elements, said broken shelf support member and any vertically adjacent shelf support member in the same set of shelf support members being constructed and arranged such that the gaps between the shelf support elements in the broken shelf support element substantially overlie or underlie shelf support elements of'the vertically adjacent shelf support members. and said shelf member includes at least two edge portions that. in use. engage an opposed pair of said shelf support members, at least one of said edge portions including a plurality of shelf support engaging elements that are separated from one another by gaps provided between said shelf support engaging elements. the container assembly

being constructed and arranged such that a shelf member may be located substantially horizontally within the container with said edge portions supported by an opposed pair of shelf support members and, when a first one of said edge portions that includes a plurality of shelf support engaging elements is lifted to tilt the shelf member from said substantially horizontal position, said shelf support engaging elements are able to pass through the gaps in any vertically adjacent broken shelf support member that is located immediately above the shelf support member on which that edge portion was previously supported.

Each set of shelf support members may include a plurality of broken shelf support members arranged alternately with a plurality of unbroken shelf support members. The shelf support members of said at least two sets of shelf support members may be arranged in opposed pairs, each opposed pair including a broken shelf support member in one of said sets and an unbroken shelf support member in the other one of said sets.

The shelf support members may be attached to the upstanding walls and are preferably removable, allowing the container to be used without the shelf support members, when they are not required.

The shelf member may be curved (i. e. domed or arched), to increase its load carrying capacity.

The walls of the container may be connected to the base member by hinge means, allowing them to be folded onto the base member for more efficient transportation and storage when empty.

Advantageously, at least one of the walls of the container includes an openable wall portion, allowing the contents of the container to be retrieved without removing the shelves.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an isometric view of a container assembly including a container and a plurality of supported shelves ; Figure 2 is a side section on line II-II of Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 is a scrap isometric view showing at an enlarged scale a first edge of a shelf being lowered into position, and

Figure 4 is a scrap isometric view showing at an enlarged scale a second edge of a shelf being lowered into position.

The container assembly includes a container 2 and a plurality of shelf members 4. The container consists of a substantially cubic, open-topped box having a base member 6 and

four upstanding walls 8a. Sb. Sc. Sd. The walls comprise two side walls 8a. Sc and two end walls b-8d which, for case of reference. \win be referred to hereauej as the North. South. Hast and West walls, the walls are connected to the base member by hinges 10. allowing them to be folded onto the base when the box is empt\. for efficient storage and transportation. The base member 6 is provided with castors or rollers 12. allowing it to be trari,. portitioii. I 1 moved casil\. the base member and the walls may be made of a plastics material, for example by injection moulding.

One or more of the walls (in this case the Fast and South walls 8b. 8c) ma\ be pro\) ded with an openable wall portion 14 that is connected to the main part of the wall h) a hinge 16. This allows the wall portion 14 to be opened outwards. pro\ iding access to the intenor 0 fthe container. The wall portions 14 include calchcs 1 X allowing thcm to be locked in the upright (closed) position.

Each ofthe side walls carries on its inner face a set of shelf support members 20 (or"rails") for supporting the shel! !'membcrs at selected heights within the container. The rails may be permanently attached to the side walls or alternatively, as shown in the drawings, they may be mounted on removable panels 22 that are clipped or otherwise fixed to the inner faces of the side walls 8b. 8d.

In this embodiment, each set of shelf support members includes seven rails that are arranged substantially vertically above one another. The rails are of two different types. which will be referred to as broken rails 20a and unbroken rails 20n. Each broken rail 20a includes a plurality of shelf support elements 24 that are separated lengthwise from one another. leaving gaps 26 between those elements. In the example shown in the drawings each broken rail includes five shelf support elements and four gaps. the length of the gaps

being approximately equal to or slightly greater than the length of the support elements. The unbroken rails 20bextend continuously across substantially the whole width of the side wall.

The broken and unbroken rails in each set of support members are arranged alternately, so that each broken rail is vertically adjacent to one or two unbroken rails. The gaps 26 between the shelf support elements in the broken rail therefore directly overlie or underlie portions of the vertically adjacent unbroken rails 20b. Furthermore, the alternation of the broken and unbroken rails in the two sets of rails is contrary, with the result that each pair of horizontally opposed rails includes one broken rail and one unbroken rail. Thus, for example, the uppermost pair of rails comprises an unbroken rail 20b on the West side wall 8d of the container and a broken rail 20a on the East side wall 8b, whereas the second uppermost pair of rails comprises a broken rail on the West side wall of the container and an unbroken rail on the East side wall.

The shelf member 4 is substantially square or rectangular and either flat or slightly arched, for increased load carrying capacity. Two pairs of hand holes 28 are provided in the shelf member for easy handling.

Each shelf member includes two opposite side edge portions 30 that, in use, engage an opposed pair of the shelf support rails. One of those side edge portions 30a is straight and can therefore be supported by a broken rail, whereas the opposite edge portion 30b is castellated and includes a plurality of rail engaging elements 32 that are separated from one another by gaps or indentations 34. In this embodiment, the castellated edge includes four rail engaging elements and five gaps, the length of the rail engaging elements being approximately equal to or slightly smaller than the length of the gaps in the broken rail, and the length of the gaps between the rail engaging elements being approximately equal to or slightly greater than the length of the support elements. This arrangement allows the rail engaging elements 32 to pass through the gaps 26 between the support elements of a broken rail, as shown in Fig. 4. The rail engaging elements will, however, be supported by an unbroken rail, as shown in Fig. 2.

The shelf member 4 is thus designed to be arranged within the container with its straight edge 30a supported by one of the broken rails 20a and its castellated edge 30b supported

by the opposite unbroken rail 20b. As the broken and unbroken rails arc arranged Z7 alternately. the shelf member must be reversed (rotated 180 about a vertical axis) each time its position is adjusted upwards or downwards from one pair of support rails to the vertically adjacent pair of rails.

When adjusting the position of the shelf member, the shelf member 4 is lowered into the container at an angle with the straight edge 30a leading. The straight edge 30a is placed Oil the broken rail 20a that is located at the desired shelf height (as shown In Figs. 2 and 3).

The castellated edge 30h is then 100\ered into position, so that it engages the corresponding unbroken rail 20b on the opposite side of the container (as shown in Fig. 4 and in broken lines at A in Fig. 2). It will be noted that as the castellated edge is lowered. the rail engaging elements 32 pass through the gaps 26 between the support elements of the broken rail that

is located immediately above the unbroken rail on which that edge nentually is to rest (as 1,, loclitcci iiiiiiied'. itcl% zibo\ shown in unbroken lines at B in Fig. 2). the castellated edge is thereforc able to pass through the support rai) that is located immediateb above the rai) on which ft rests. 1 his allots the spacing of the rails to be halfthat of the earlier known arrangement in which the support raiis were all unbroken. The number of available shelf locations is thus doubled. pro\ iding for more efficient use of the storage volume. ii-o\ 1 1,- Various modifications of the invention are of course possible. In particular, it is not essential that unbroken shelf support members (rails) are provided. The only essential requirement in this respect is that each broken rail and any vertically adjacent rail in the same set of rails are arranged such that the gaps between the sheif support elements in the brokenrailsubstantiallyoverlierorunderlieshelfsupportelementsoftheverticallyadjacent

'Is I rails. Thus. for example, all the shelf support members on one side of the container may I consist of broken rails, providing that the gaps between the shelf support elements are off set so that they overlie or underlie shelf support elements of the vertically adjacent rails. In this case. the rails on the opposite side of the container may all be unbroken rails or they may

be broken. prov-d-np be broken, providing that castellations are provided on both side edges of the shelf member. This principle applies also to the arrangement described above that includes alternating t broken and unbroken rails, in which case the gaps between the shelf support elements in the broken rail overlie or underlie portions (i. e. shelf support elements) of the vertically adjacent unbroken rails.

It is, of course, unnecessary for the bottom rail in each set of rails to be broken, since there is no need for the castellated edge of the shelf member to pass through that rail.

Claims

1. ^ container assembly including a container and at least one shelf member, wherein the container includes a base member, a plurality of upstanding walls and at least two sets of shelf support members provided on opposite sides of'me container for supporting said shelf member at selected heights within the container. each set of shelf support members including a plurality of shelf support members rranged substantially \erticalb. abo\e one another at least one of said shelf support members comprising a broken shelf support member that includes a plurality of shelf support elements that are separated from one another b\ gaps between said shelf support elements. said broken shelf support member and au\ vertically adjacent shelf support member in the same set of shelf support members being constructed and arranged such that the gaps between the shelf support elements in the -- I lic broken shell support element substantially overlie or underlie shelf support eleients oi thc \crticail\ adjacent shell support members. and said shelf member includes at least two edge portions that. in use. engage an opposed pair of said shelf support members, at least one of said edge portions including a plurality of shelf support engaging elements that arc separated from one another by gaps pro\ ided between said shelf support engagm"elements the container assembly being constructed and arranged such that a shelf member may be located substantially horizontally within the container with said edge portions supported by an opposed pair of shelf support members. and. when a first one of said edge portions that includes a plurality of shelf support engaging elements is lifted to tilt the shelf member from said substantially horizontal position, said shelf support engaging elements are able to pass through the gaps in any vertically adjacent broken shelf support member that is located immediately above the shelf support member on which that edge portion was previously supported.

2. A container assembly according to claim 1, wherein each set of shelf support members includes a plurality of broken shelf support members arranged alternately with a plurality of unbroken shelf support members.

3. A container assembly according to claim 2, wherein the shelf support members of said at least two sets of shelf support members are arranged in opposed pairs, each opposed pair including a broken shelf support member in one of said sets and an unbroken shelf support member in the other one of said sets.

4. A container assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the shelf support members are attached to the upstanding walls.

5. A container assembly according to claim 4, wherein the shelf support members are removable.

6. A container assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the shelf member is curved.

7. A container assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the walls of the container are connected to the base member by hinge means, allowing them to be folded onto the base member.

8. A container assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of the walls of the container includes an openable wall portion.

9. A container assembly substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.