GB2402654A

GB2402654A - Apparatus for assembling and stacking parallelepiped objects such as concrete blocks or bricks

Info

Publication number: GB2402654A
Application number: GB0313683A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter Maurice Doney
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-06-13
Filing date: 2003-06-13
Publication date: 2004-12-15
Anticipated expiration: 2023-06-13
Also published as: GB2402654B; GB0313683D0

Abstract

Apparatus 10 for assembling and stacking parallelepiped objects such as concrete blocks or bricks, comprises a frame 12, and a supporting structure 14, a wheel 16 can be used to transport the apparatus. The frame can be made of metallic mesh 22 and has a peripheral lip 28, the lip may engage part of the object placed on the frame, this stops the objects moving whilst in transit of whilst being tipped on the apparatus. A tongue 30 may be located at an apposite end to handle means 32, 34, the tongue also acts to engage part of the objects carried. U shaped legs 36, 38 support the apparatus when stationary. An adjustment member (fig 3, 52) may be included to accommodate different size blocks. The apparatus can be loaded by stacking the block shaped objects which can then be transported on the apparatus, when the apparatus is tilted the blocks may be off loaded leaving them in an upright stack.

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO APPARATUS FOR

ASSEMBLING AND STACKING OBJECTS

The present invention relates to apparatus for assembling and stacking objects, in particular building elements such as concrete blocks, slabs or the like.

There are many types of known trucks or trolleys for transporting loads, such as, for example a porter's trolley (or sack barrow), a wheel barrow and a perambulator. A conventional wheel barrow comprises a frame having a pair of handles, a pair of legs and a wheel connected to the frame. A container is provided on the frame for carrying a load. Such wheel barrows are commonly used on construction sites, road maintenance sites, and for general purpose use. A wheel barrow is often used about a household when carrying out general "do it yourself'jobs, building maintenance work and gardening maintenance. A wheel barrow may be used to carry many different kinds of material, such as sand, cement, building and gardening equipment, and other types of heavy loads. Objects such as bricks, tiles and slabs can also be carried in a wheel barrow, however the shape and dimensions of the container is such that such objects may not be loaded and unloaded in a regular arrangement and without 2 o excessive manual labour. Heavy objects, such as building bricks, are normally loaded in a wheel barrow in a disordered arrangement and there is no reliable method of unloading the objects in an ordered and safe manner without having to lift the objects individually from the wheel barrow by hand or tipping the wheel barrow to form a disordered pile of obj ects. This operation can by tiring and time consuming and may then involve having to assort through the objects once they have been unloaded.

There is generally a requirement for an improved truck or trolley for assembling and stacking objects.

The present invention relates to an improved apparatus for loading and unloading heavy objects in a safe, routine and efficient manner. According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided apparatus for assembling and stacking parallelepiped objects comprising a supporting framework having frame elements for locating said objects in respective positions in one or more rows, and means for resisting displacement of obj ects thus located, the arrangement being such that a row of obj ects can be unloaded from the framework to form a stack by tilting of the framework.

It is preferred that the framework comprises a bounding frame from which the means for resisting displacement of the objects projects. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the means for resisting displacement of the objects supported by the framework includes a substantially continuous peripheral lip projecting from the bounding frame for engaging at least part of each object carried by the frame. In an alternative embodiment, the means for resisting displacement of the objects may 2 o include a plurality of discrete lips projecting from the frame for engaging at least part of the objects carried by the frame.

The framework may preferably comprise a tongue at the end of the frame for resisting displacement ofthe objects as the framework is tilted. The tongue may engage at least part of an object and may advantageously prevent the objects from being displaced from the framework as the apparatus is tilted.

The apparatus of the invention for assembling and stacking parallelepiped objects may be used in many different environments, such as on a building site, in a household, in a commercial office or public building where it is required to assemble and stack various objects. On a building site for example, the apparatus may be used for assembling and stacking heavy building elements, for example concrete blocks or building bricks. Such building elements are awkward to move and stack individually, and the apparatus of the invention provides an efficient way in which a plurality of concrete blocks can be placed on the supporting framework and the framework tilted by manipulation of the apparatus to form a stacked column of blocks. In this way, the concrete blocks can be stacked in a desired location ready for use. In a public building, for example a library, it is often required to assemble and stack a load of books prior to storing the books on a shelf. The apparatus of the invention may advantageously be used to assemble and stack a relatively large pile of books before they are placed onto a book shelf.

In an embodiment of the invention, the framework is mounted on a rolling support for transport. The rolling support may preferably be a wheel. This is particularly advantageous because when a plurality of objects have been assembled onto the framework, the apparatus may be used to transport such objects to a different location.

The objects may then be unloaded in a stacked arrangement by tilting the apparatus, ready for use at the desired location. l

It is preferred that the apparatus may comprise at least one handle in order for a user to easily manipulate the apparatus when transporting objects and/or tilting the apparatus to form a stack of objects.

In an embodiment of the invention, the supporting framework may include a central mesh or grid. Such a mesh or grid may assist in supporting the weight of heavy objects carried by the framework.

It is particularly preferred that the framework of the apparatus may be provided with adjustment means for accommodating objects of different sizes andlor shapes. In an embodiment of the invention, the adjustment means may be located at an end of the frame opposite the end of the frame provided with a tongue. The adjustment means may be moved to different positions to accommodate different sizes of objects carried on the frame and to advantageously ensure that the objects are closely spaced together.

The adjustment means may be moveable between a plurality of predetermined positions on the frame of the apparatus.

The framework of the apparatus may be made from a robust and strong material, such 2 o as a metallic material, for example steel.

An embodiment of the invention shall now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus embodying the invention for assembling and stacking objects; Figure 2 is an end view of the apparatus of Figure 1 carrying concrete blocks; Figure 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a part of the apparatus illustrated in Figure 1; Figure 4 is a view of the apparatus of Figure 1 being tilted to unload objects.

Referring to Figure 1, there is shown an apparatus embodying the invention for assembling and stacking parallelepiped objects, generally designated by reference numeral 10. The apparatus can be used for assembling and stacking regular shaped objects. In the illustrated embodiment, apparatus 10 is particularly suitable for assembling and stacking heavy objects, such as concrete blocks, bricks, wooden logs or the like. The apparatus 10 comprises a frame 12 a supporting structure 14 and a wheel 16. The frame 12 is substantially planar and has a proximal end 18 and a distal end 20, and the base ofthe frame 12 is formed of a metallic mesh 22. Lateral portions 24, 26 and the proximal end 18 of the frame 12 has a substantially continuous peripheral lip 28 projecting upwardly from the frame 12. The lip 28 formed along the lateral portions 24, 26 of the Tame 12 may engage at least part of each object placed on the frame 12 so as to advantageously resist displacement of the objects during manipulation and tilting of the apparatus 10. The frame 12 is elongate; the length of 2 o the frame 12 is indicated by L and the width of the Tame 12 is indicated by W as illustrated in Figure 1. The width "W" of the frame 12 substantially corresponds to the length of objects, such as concrete blocks, which may be carried by the frame; the length "L" of the frame 12 may correspond to the width of a plurality of objects carried by the frame 12. The apparatus 10 may carry up to nine concrete blocks, each having a width of about l OOmm.

At the distal end 20 of the frame 12 there is located a tongue 30 projecting upwardly from the base of frame 12. The tongue 30 may engage at least part of an object at the distal end 20 ofthe frame 12 to resist displacement ofthe objects carried on the frame 12 and to prevent the objects from being displaced from the frame 12 as the apparatus is tilted.

The support structure 14 comprises two handles 32,34 connected to a proximal end 1 0 18 of the frame 12. The tubular element 39 which forms the handles 32, 34 extends beneath the frame 12 to form U-shaped legs 36,38 for supporting the frame 12 when the apparatus 10 is stationary. The tubular element 39 extends around a part of wheel 16 so as to form a substantially V-shaped structure with the wheel 16 disposed therebetween. The tubular element 39 is connected to the frame 12 by support struts 40, 42, 44. The support strut 40 extends from the tubular element 39 to the frame 12 at the wheel portion of the apparatus 10, and the support struts 42, 44 extend from respective legs 36, 38 to the frame 12.

Referring to Figure 2, there is shown apparatus 10 in which a plurality of concrete 2 o blocks 50 is supported on the frame 12 (the concrete block at the distal end 20 of the frame 12 is only visible in Figure 2). The lateral portions 24,26 of the frame 12 have an L-shaped cross-section.

Referring to Figure 3, there is shown the proximal end 18 ofthe frame 12 provided with an adjustment member 52, The adjustment member 52 may be moved along at least part of the frame 12 to accommodate for different sizes or shapes of objects carried in the frame 12. The adjustment member 52 may be moveable to engage at least part of a block carried at the proximal end 18 of the frame 12 and may advantageously assist in resisting displacement ofthe objects carried in the frame 12 by ensuring that the objects are closely spaced together on the frame. A plurality of apertures may be present along at least part of the length of the peripheral lip 28 formed at the lateral portions 24, 26 of the frame 12 (one aperture 54 is shown in Figure 3) so that the adjustment member 52 may be moveable between a plurality of 1 0 predetermined positions. Suitable securing means, such as a threaded nut and bolt, may be used to secure the adjustment member 52 in a desired position on the frame 12 via the aperture 54. The adjustment member 52 may be moved by manipulation of the adjustment member itself or by manipulation of a handle member connected to the adjustment member 52.

Referring to Figure 4, there is shown the apparatus lO in a tilted position so as to unload the concrete blocks 50 in a stacked orientation. A plurality of concrete blocks may beplacedintheframe 12Ofthe apparatus lOtoformarowof blocks50. The assembly of blocks 50 may then be transported to a desired location and the apparatus 2 0 10 tilted away from a user in the direction of arrow A illustrated in Figure 4 so as to unload the blocks 50 into a stacked column. By moving the apparatus 10 in the direction A via the handles 32,34 the distal end 20 of the frame 12 may be disengaged from the blocks 50 so as to move toward the feet of the user. The proximal end 18 of the frame 12 may be used as a pivot point to bring the distal end 20 of the iiarne 12 out of contact from the blocks 50 thereby forming a stack of blocks at the desired location.

Beneficially, the apparatus of the invention is relatively easy to use and provides an effective way of assembling a plurality of regular shaped objects and forming a stack of such objects for subsequent use or storage.

Claims

1. Apparatus for assembling and stacking parallelepiped objects comprising a supporting framework having frame elements for locating said objects in respective positions in one or more rows, and means for resisting displacement of objects thus located, the arrangement being such that a row of objects can be unloaded from the framework to form a stack by tilting of the framework.

2. Apparatus according to Claim 1, in which the framework comprises a bounding frame from which the said means for resisting displacement of the objects projects.

3. Apparatus according to Claim 2, in which the means for resisting displacement includes a substantially continuous peripheral lip projecting from the bounding frame for engaging at least part of each object carried by the frame.

4. Apparatus according to Claim 2 or 3, in which the framework comprises a tongue at the end of the frame for resisting displacement of the objects as the 2 o framework is tilted.

5. Apparatus according to any of Claims 1 to 4, in which the framework is mounted on a rolling support for transport.

6. Apparatus according to,Claim 5, in which the rolling support is a wheel.

7. Apparatus according to any preceding Claim, which further comprises at least one handle for manipulation of the apparatus.

8. Apparatus according to any preceding Claim, in which the supporting framework also includes a central mesh or grid.

9. Apparatus according to any of Claims 1 to 8, in which the framework is provided with adjustment means for accommodating objects of different sizes.

10. Apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.