GB2574858A

GB2574858A - Palletised goods transportation apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2574858A
Application number: GB201810148A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Lightfoot Christopher
Original assignee: Evoquip Ltd
Current assignee: Evoquip Ltd
Priority date: 2018-06-20
Filing date: 2018-06-20
Publication date: 2019-12-25
Also published as: GB201810148D0

Abstract

A palletised goods hoist apparatus 10 is provided suitable for aiding in the safe and secure lifting of pallets and palletised goods. The hoist apparatus is arranged to accommodate a pallet or palletised goods within a cage 12. The apparatus further comprises a door 60 in the lower surface 22. The door is movable between a first position in which the door substantially occludes the aperture of the lower wall and a second position in which the aperture of the lower wall is substantially open. The apparatus further comprises a coupling means 32 which is arranged to couple the frame to an external lifting means. The door preferably comprises two half portions that pivot in substantially the same plane as the lower wall. The hoist may comprise reinforcement bars 42 that are inserted through guide slots 50 of the hoist to carry the load of the pallet. The coupling means may comprise a loop 38 such as to receive a hook or cable to lift the hoist. There is also disclosed a method for moving a pallet comprising goods.

Description

Palletised Goods Transportation Apparatus

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a transportation apparatus, in particular to palletised goods transportation apparatus.

Background to the Invention

Each year billions of pallets are used to transport and move a vast plethora of goods. The goods transported can include, but is not limited to, products for sale, merchandise, raw materials, waste, consumer goods, parts. The palletisation of goods is credited with improving material handling efficiency due to its numerous benefits, including the standardisation of size and load, ease of handling and movement and reduction the of manual labour required.

Palletised goods are often transported, loaded and unloaded by forklift truck, hand pallet pumps and cranes. However, these palletised goods transportation systems frequently do not offer sufficient safety precautions or features. For example, palletised goods are often transported without being secured to the pallet or transportation system and, as such, the palletised goods can fall from the pallet and potentially injure bystanders or damage the surroundings or goods.

One solution to this problem is to provide pallet cages. Pallet cages are cages and/or boxes that are used to surround palletised goods to prevent goods from being displaced, falling and causing injury.

In use, the pallet cages are loaded with the pallet and palletised goods. The pallet cage and its contents are then moved together. At the destination, the pallet cage is removed to leave the palletised goods.

However, there are problems associated with the current designs and types of pallet cages. For example, loading the pallet cage with the palletised goods can be difficult and unsafe. Typically, the palletised goods are side loaded into the pallet cage by moving the palletised goods into the pallet cage using a forklift truck or a hand pallet pump. This involves manoeuvring the palletised goods up a short and sometimes steep ramp. Moving palletised goods, especially unsecured loads, on uneven terrain and uphill is inadvisable as it can lead to injury or damage through the movement of the unsecured goods with gravity. A method of loading pallet cages that does not require the palletised goods to be sideloaded is required.

Another option for transporting palletised goods is the use of a crane fork and block grabs. Crane forks, and its variants such as brick forks, and block grabs are extensively used for lifting goods by cranes. Block grabs rely on compression to carry their loads and crane forks lift the pallet and rely of the goods being secured to the pallet. As such, individual goods or the whole goods being transported can often become unsecured and fall from the crane fork or block grab. Therefore, a safety protection net is usually suspended from the crane fork or block grab to “catch” any goods that fall from the palletised goods. However, the safety protection nets do not provide adequate safety or protection. The nets are not load bearing and are only meant to act as a failsafe. As such, they might prevent one brick from falling but under the stress of an entire load falling are prone to failure. Recently, in the UK there was a well-publicised case where the failure of a safety protection net which resulted in a fatal accident (News Article; “Woman, 29, dies after being hit by falling bricks from building site in east London”; https://news.sky.com/story/woman-29-dies-after-being-hit-by-falling-bricksfrom-building-site-in-east-london-11308385). The rope-based safety nets are prone to failure due to several reasons, including inherent, lack of strength, poor maintenance, weathering, irregular safety checks and human error with their attachment to the crane fork for each use. Therefore, a more robust and safe system for lifting palletised goods is required.

Additionally, the problems described above are exacerbated when the pallet and palletised goods are heavy and unsecured.

Objects and aspects of the present claimed invention seek to alleviate at least the problems described above and the problems of the prior art.

Summary of the Invention

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a palletised goods transportation apparatus, the palletised goods transportation apparatus comprising a frame, a cavity, a door and a coupling means arranged to couple the appartus to an external lifting means, wherein the frame comprises a lower wall, an upper wall and one or more side walls, wherein the cavity is arranged to accommodate palletised goods and further wherein the lower wall, upper wall and one or more side walls bound the cavity, wherein the lower wall of the frame comprises an aperture, the door is moveable between a first position in which the door substantially occludes the aperture of the lower wall, and a second position in which the aperture of the lower wall is substantially open.

The provision of a palletised goods transportation apparatus of this form is advantageous as the aperture in the lower wall can be used to load palletised goods into the cavity of the apparatus. As such, the apparatus can be lifted over the goods to be transported and then lowered over the goods such that the apparatus encages and surrounds the palletised goods. This lifting, lowering and encaging, which is facilitated by the aperture on the lower wall of the apparatus, eliminates the need to lift the palletised goods themselves or load the apparatus from a side. By eliminating side-loading, there is an improvement in safety due to the steep nature of the ramps used in side-loading. This improvement is more keenly felt for heavy and unsecured loads, an example of which would be bricks and other construction materials. Furthermore, by not lifting the palletised goods the risk of damage or injury by or to the palletised goods is decreased. Additionally, the apparatus provides a door to occlude the aperture. The door improves the safety as they offer a failsafe in the event of pallet failure.

Preferably, the palletised goods transportation apparatus is a cage. More preferably, the palletised goods transportation apparatus is a pallet cage. Preferably, the aperture in the lower wall of the frame enables palletised goods to be loaded into the cavity and inside of the frame.

Preferably, the frame is substantially cuboid in shape. Preferably, the frame substantially comprises metal. Preferably, the frame comprises at least four vertical members and eight horizontal members. Preferably, the frame comprises at least one pair of substantially opposing side walls. More preferably, the frame comprises two pairs of substantially opposing side walls.

Preferably, the cavity is arranged to have a cross-sectional area marginally larger than a standard pallet. Preferably, the cavity is arranged to accommodate a single standardised pallet with its goods. Preferably, the cavity is arranged to accommodate a plurality of standardised pallets and their associated palletised goods.

Preferably, the aperture of the lower wall is a loading aperture. Preferably, the loading aperture is arranged to be marginally larger than a standardised pallet. Preferably, the loading aperture is arranged to be marginally larger than a plurality of standardised pallets. Preferably, the lower wall of the apparatus is substantially open.

Preferably, the apparatus is arranged to accommodate a standardised pallet, where the dimensions of the standardised pallet are selected from the group: the pallets in ISO Standard 6780; EUR-pallets with dimensions as specified by the European Pallet Association; 1016 mm by 1219 mm; 1000 mm by 1200 mm; 1165 mm by 1165 mm; 1067 mm by 1067 mm; 1100 mm by 1100 mm; 800 mm by 1200 mm; 800 mm by 1200 mm; 1200 mm by 1000 mm; 1000 mm by 1200 mm; 800 mm by 600 mm; 600 mm by 400 mm; 400 mm by 300 mm; 1219 mm by 1219 mm; 1219 mm by 1067 mm; 1016 mm by 1016 mm; 1219 mm by 1143 mm; 1118 mm by 1118 mm; 914 mm by 914 mm; 1219 mm by 914 mm; 889 mm by 1156 mm; 1219 mm by 508 mm.

In some embodiments, the side walls of the frame substantially comprise a mesh. This lowers the weight and cost of the apparatus compared to a solidly walled apparatus and yet does not lower safety, in fact, a meshed apparatus can be considered to be safer. The mesh can be fine enough to prevent the egress of goods and allows the contents of the apparatus to be easily seen and monitored during transportation. Additionally, it is thought that a solid wall cage would be destabilised too easily by winds whilst being lifted.

Preferably, the mesh is formed from interconnected fibres or strands. Preferably, the mesh is metal. Preferably, the apertures in the mesh are smaller than the goods that have been palletised, such that the mesh can prevent the egress of the goods from the pallet.

Preferably, the apparatus comprises a first locking means to secure the door fixedly in the first position. Preferably, the apparatus comprises a plurality of first locking means for securing the door in its first position. Preferably, the apparatus comprises two first locking means which are located on opposing sides of the apparatus. Preferably, the first locking means is arranged to fixedly secure the door, when the door is supporting the weight of the palletised good. Preferably, the first locking means is arranged to support the weight of the palletised goods through the door. Preferably, the first locking means comprises a first part which is located on the door and a second part which is located on the frame. Preferably, the first locking means comprises a third part for fixedly securing the first part to the second part. Preferably, the first part extends from a corner of the door. Preferably, the first part extends from the corner of the door distal to the door’s attachment to the frame. Preferably, the second part extends substantially perpendicularly from the frame of the apparatus. Preferably, the first and the second part are proximate when the door is in its first position. Preferably, the first part and second part both comprise an aperture. More preferably, apertures of the first part and the second part align and are complementary sized and shaped. Preferably, the third part can be inserted and retained by both the apertures of the first and second parts. Securing the door in a first position is advantageous as it keeps the door shut which improves safety. The locking means should be able to support the combined weight of the door and palletised goods as this improves the safety of the apparatus. Also, safety can be improved by having a plurality of locking means.

Preferably, the first part of the locking means comprises a flat member with an aperture. This type of first part of the locking means is known as a locking member. Preferably, the second part is a flat member with an aperture. This type of first part of the locking means is known as a fixing member. Preferably, the third part of the locking means is a linchpin or similar. Preferably, the locking means comprises a linchpin that is inserted and retained by a locking member on a door and a first fixing member on the frame.

Preferably, the apparatus comprises a second locking means to secure the door fixedly in the second position. Preferably, the first part of the second locking means is the first part of the first locking means. In other words, the first part of the first locking means is dual functional and can be used to secure the door in both the first and second positions. Preferably, the second part of the second locking means is located on the frame. Preferably, the first and second parts of the second locking means are arranged to be fixedly secured to one another by a third part of the second locking means. Preferably, the third part of the second locking means is the same part as the third part of the first locking means. In other words, the third part of the first locking means is dual functional and can be used to secure the door in both the first and second positions.

The dual functionality of the first and third parts of the locking mechanisms is beneficial as fewer parts need to be manufactured which reduces the weight and production costs of the apparatus. Additionally, the recurrence of the locking mechanism and parts increases the ease of operation for the final user.

Preferably, the door is pivotally movable from the first position to a second position. Preferably, the door in the second position is separated by an angle of at least 90° from the first position. More preferably, the door in the second position is separated by an angle of at least 180° from the first position. More preferably still, the door in the second position is angled from its first position by at least 260°. More preferably still, the door in the second position is angled from its first position by approximately 270°. In this preferable case, the door can be pivoted by 270° from a first position where the door substantially occludes the aperture to a second position where the door abuts a side wall of the frame.

Preferably, the door is pivotally attached to the frame by a hinge arrangement. Preferably, the hinge arrangement is arranged such that doors abut the lower surface of the lower wall.

Preferably, when the doors are in their first position they lie in a plane substantially parallel to the lower wall and loading aperture but are offset from the plane of the lower wall and away from the bulk of the frame. Preferably, the doors are arranged such that during lifting they do not bear the load of the palletised goods being transported. Preferably, the securing members bear the load of the palletised goods being transported. Preferably, the hinge arrangement is proximate to the lower wall. Preferably, the hinge arrangement is proximate a side wall. Preferably, the hinge arrangement and its axis of rotation are arranged substantially in the plane of the lower wall. Preferably, the hinge arrangement and its axis of rotation are outwardly and externally offset from a plane of a side wall. Preferably, the offset is from a door wall.

Preferably, each hinge arrangement comprises two hinge members, two angled arm portions and two rotatable connections. Preferably, the hinge members are flat planar members which extend from the frame proximate to a lower wall and side wall vertex, and in a plane substantially parallel to a guidance wall. Preferably, the angled arm portions are flat planar members that extend from adjacent corners of the door, such that they lie in a plane substantially parallel to the hinge members. Preferably, the angled arms portions are arranged to be bent or angled such that the distal end of the portion is offset from the plane of the door. Preferably, the distal end of the hinging member is pivotally connected to the distal end of the angled arm portion.

The angled or bent nature of the angled arm portion is beneficial as it results in the doors occupying a plane substantially parallel but externally offset to the lower wall. The doors are arranged in this manner such that the doors do not bear the load of the palletised goods when lifting. Instead, the securing members bear the load and transfer the load to the coupling means through the frame.

Preferably, the offset is provided by a hinge member. Preferably, the hinge member extends from the frame. Preferably, the hinge member is hingedly attached to a door and is fixedly attached to the lifting frame. Preferably, the hinge arrangement comprises two nut and bolt arrangements.

The offset and the direction of the offset (i.e. the offset is in the plane of the aperture and out of the plane of a side wall) is beneficial as it allows the door to rotate by 270°. The 270° rotation is beneficial as it allows the door to abut the side wall of the apparatus. The door can then be securely and fixedly attached to the side wall of the apparatus during lifting and moving. This prevents the doors from swinging shut and fully, or even partially, occluding the aperture.

Preferably, the door can be freely pivoted into any position intermediate between the first and second positions. Preferably, the door can freely depend in a position intermediate to the first and second positions.

Preferably, the door is arranged to support the weight of the palletised goods being transported. Preferably, when the door is in the second position the door is arranged to support the weight of the palletised goods being transported. Preferably, the doors comprise a secure frame and a mesh body. Preferably, the secure frame and mesh body comprise metal. Preferably, the door comprises materials substantially similar to those of the frame and side walls.

Preferably, the apparatus comprises two doors. Preferably, the two doors are movable between a first position in which both the doors together substantially occlude the aperture of the lower wall, to a second position in which the aperture of the lower wall is substantially open. Preferably, the two doors are arranged such that the edges of one door are parallel to edges of the other door. Preferably, the two doors are hingedly attached proximate the lower edge of opposing side walls, where the lower edge is proximate to the lower wall. Preferably, the two doors attachment is similar to that described hereinbefore. Preferably, in the first position, each door occludes approximately half the aperture. Preferably, in the second position, each of the two doors abuts a different and opposing side wall.

In embodiments where the apparatus comprises two doors, and in particular, two doors of equal size, the apparatus does not have to be lifted as far from the ground, half as high in fact, before the doors can be secured beneath the palletised goods. The lower the palletised goods and apparatus have to be lifted before the doors are secured the safer and easier the step is to perform, and therefore the safer the apparatus.

Preferably, the apparatus comprises a handle. Preferably, the handle extends substantially along the height of the frame. Preferably, the apparatus comprises four handles. Preferably, the handles are arranged to assist lateral movement. The handles can be used to manually help and guide the apparatus when it is being lowered and raised about the palletised goods. This should help prevent damage to the palletised goods being transported, and also save time by making the loading and unloading steps quicker and more efficient.

Preferably, the coupling means comprises a looped arrangement which is fixedly attached to the frame. Preferably, the looped arrangement comprises a secure closed loop. Preferably, the coupling means is arranged to support and carry the weight of the apparatus, when the apparatus is transporting palletised goods.

Preferably, the apparatus comprises a plurality of coupling means. More preferably, the apparatus comprises four coupling means. More preferably, each coupling means is located proximate to a vertex of the upper wall and side wall. More preferably, the coupling means are distributed on the frame with a four-fold axis of symmetry.

Increasing the number of coupling means improves safety as it lowers the chance of failure and increases the stability of the apparatus and its load while being transported.

Preferably, the apparatus comprises a guidance means arranged to accommodate a securing member. Preferably, the securing member is arranged to secure palletised goods. Preferably, the guidance means extends through the cavity of the apparatus. Preferably, the apparatus has opposing side walls. Preferably, part of the guidance means is located on opposing side walls. Preferably, part of the guidance means is located on a side wall and is proximate to the lower wall. Preferably, the guidance means comprises an entry slot defined in a first side wall and a corresponding exit slot defined in a second side wall. Preferably, the entry and exit slots are substantially rectangular. Preferably, the entry and exit slots are aligned. Preferably, the entry and exit slots are arranged to accept and retain the same securing member simultaneously. Preferably, the slots are proximate to the lower wall. Preferably, the outer edge of the slot is reinforced by slot reinforcement members. More preferably, the lower slot reinforcement member is a portion of the frame. Preferably, each wall in the pair of opposing walls comprises a slot, arranged to provide a pair of opposing slots.

Preferably, the apparatus comprises a securing member. Preferably, the securing member is arranged to secure a pallet inside the cavity. Preferably, the securing member is arranged to be inserted through the cavity and through a pallet of the palletised goods being transported. Preferably, the apparatus comprises a securing member which is arranged to be inserted and retained by the guidance means. Preferably, the apparatus comprises a plurality of securing members. More preferably, the apparatus comprises two securing members. Preferably, the securing member is substantially cuboid. Preferably, the securing member resembles a bar. Preferably, the securing member is proportioned and arranged to be retained by both the entry and exit slots simultaneously. Preferably, the securing member is proportioned to be greater in length than the distance between the entry and exit slots. Preferably, the securing member comprises a fixing means. Preferably, the fixing means are arranged to fix the securing members within the guidance means. Preferably, the fixing means are two notches. Preferably, the notches are of a complementary shape to the lower edge of the slots. Preferably, the notches are arranged to accept the lower edge of the entry and exit slot. Preferably, the notches can form a friction fit attachment with the lower edge of the slots. Preferably, the notches can form a friction fit attachment to both the entry and exit slots of the guidance means simultaneously. Preferably, the securing members comprise two handles. Preferably, the securing member handles are located at the extremities of the securing member.

Preferably, the apparatus comprises a securing member holder. Preferably, the securing member holder is located on the exterior surface of one of the walls. Preferably, there are two securing member holders. Preferably, the securing member holders are located on opposing sides. Preferably, each securing member holder comprises two arms. Preferably, each arm is attached and extends from a side wall of the cage. Preferably, the inner elbow of the arm portion can interact with the fixing means of the securing member to secure the securing member. Preferably, the notches are arranged to be of a complementary shape to the arm portions and can form a friction fit with the arm portions of the securing member holders. Preferably, the arms can also support the weight of the support member. Preferably, the arms are aligned with the plane of one of the slots. Preferably, the arms which are positioned on the same side wall are spaced by a distance which is substantially similar to the distance between the entry and exit slots of a guidance means.

Preferably, the side walls comprise a reinforcement member. Preferably, the reinforcement member is located in the upper proportion of the side wall. Preferably, the reinforcement member extends across the entire width of the side wall. Preferably, the reinforcement is larger than double the width of the frame members.

In some embodiments, the upper surface is substantially open and comprises an aperture. In other embodiments, the upper surface is substantially closed. Preferably, the upper surface comprises a mesh and reinforcement member.

Preferably, the palletised goods transportation apparatus is arranged for transporting construction materials. More preferably, the palletised goods transportation apparatus is arranged for transporting palletised bricks. Preferably, the mesh of the apparatus is to prevent the egress of bricks.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a securing member for use with the apparatus described hereinbefore.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for transporting a pallet or palletised goods from a first location to a second location, the method comprising the steps:

i. providing the pallet or palletised goods in a first location;

ii. providing a cage;

iii. lifting the cage, where the cage comprises a substantially open aperture on its lower surface;

iv. lowering the cage over the palletised goods, such that the palletised goods are inside the cage;

v. securing the palletised goods inside the cage;

vi. lifting cage and palletised goods;

vii. shutting a door to occlude the substantially open lower wall of the cage;

viii. moving the cage and palletised goods to above a second location;

ix. opening the door of the cage to reveal the substantially open aperture;

x. lowering the cage and palletised goods to the second location;

xi. releasing the palletised goods from the cage; and xii. lifting the cage to leave the palletised goods in a second location.

Detailed Description

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic isometric view of the first embodiment of the palletised goods transportation apparatus in a first configuration in accordance with the present invention, where the doors are in their second position, and the securing members are in their stowed position;

Figure 2 is a schematic isometric view of the first embodiment of the palletised goods transportation apparatus in a second configuration in accordance with the present invention, where the doors are in their second position, and the securing members have been inserted through the guidance means and the pallet;

Figure 3 is a schematic isometric view of the first embodiment of the palletised goods transportation apparatus in a third configuration in accordance with the present invention, where the doors are in an intermediate position between the first and second positions and the securing members have been inserted through the guidance means and the pallet;

Figure 4 is a schematic isometric view of the first embodiment of the palletised goods transportation apparatus in a fourth configuration in accordance with the present invention, where the doors are in their first position, and the securing members have been inserted through the guidance means and the pallet; and

Figure 5 is a schematic isometric view of the first embodiment of the palletised goods transportation apparatus in accordance with the present invention, where the doors are in their first position, and the securing members are in their stowed position.

Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, there is depicted a first configuration of the first embodiment of a palletised goods transportation apparatus 10 in accordance with the present invention.

The apparatus 10 comprises a substantially cuboid frame 12. The cuboid frame 12 comprises eight horizontal members 14 and four vertical members 16. Two sets of four horizontal members 14 each form a rectangular frame and the vertices of the rectangular horizontal members 14 are joined by vertical members 16 which are parallelly aligned to form the cuboid frame 12. As such, the horizontal members 14 and the vertical members 16 define the edges of the frame 12. The frame 12 has six walls: an upper wall 18, four side walls 20 and a lower wall 22. Additionally, the frame 12 has three pairs of opposing walls, where two pairs are opposing side walls 20. The two pairs of opposing side walls can be differentiated. The first pair of opposing side walls 20 abut the doors 60 when the doors 60 are in their second position and are referred to as the door walls 21. The other pair of opposing side walls 20 comprise the guidance means 48, and are known as the guidance walls 23. Guidance means 48 and doors 60 are defined subsequently.

The upper wall 18, four side walls 20 and a lower wall 22 bound and define a substantially cuboid cavity 24.

The lower wall 22 is substantially open and comprises a loading aperture 26. The bounds of the loading aperture 26 are defined by the horizontal members 16 and, as such, the loading aperture 26 is substantially rectangular and has a cross-sectional area substantially similar to the cross-sectional area of the base of the cavity 24.

The cross-sectional area of the base of the cavity 24 and the loading aperture 26 are configured and arranged to be marginally larger than a pallet loaded with palletised goods. As such, the palletised goods can be inserted into the cavity 24 through the loading aperture 26. In this case, the edges of the aperture 26 and the bounds of the cavity 24 are substantially parallel to the corresponding edges of bounds of the pallet and palletised goods.

In this embodiment, the upper wall 18 is also substantially open and comprises an aperture. Although, other embodiments where the upper wall 18 is not open and does not comprise an aperture can be envisaged.

Each of the side walls 20 of the apparatus 10 comprises a mesh 28 that extends completely wall-to-wall across the surface of the side walls 20 as a barrier. The side walls 20 do not comprise an aperture, except the apertures present in the mesh 28 and the slots 50 of the guidance means 48. However, the mesh apertures are arranged to be too small to allow the egress of the goods being transported, and the slots 50 are occupied by the securing members 48 during transport, as described herein later. The mesh 28 is made from a network of thin metallic bars and is welded to the frame 12.

Additionally, each of the side walls 20 comprises a reinforcement member 30 which extends across the side wall 20 and is attached to the vertical members 16 of the frame 12. The reinforcement member 30 resembles a flat bar in appearance. The reinforcement members’ 30 longitudinal axis extends perpendicularly from the vertical members 16 and extends in a direction which is substantially parallel to the upper 18 and lower walls 22. The largest surface of the flat bar reinforcement member 30 lies in a plane substantially parallel to the side wall 20. The width of the reinforcement member is approximately 20 % of the height of the side wall. On each side wall 20, the reinforcement member 30 is located at the same distance between the lower 26 and upper walls 22, and the reinforcement members 30 are located close to the upper wall 22 at approximately 75% of the height of the side wall.

The four upper vertices of the frame 12, or in other words the four corners of the upper surface 18, each comprise a coupling means 32. Each coupling means 32 is arranged to individually couple the frame 12 to an external lifting means via a hook or similar.

Each of the four coupling means 32 comprises a protruding member 34 from the corner of the upper wall 18. The protruding member 34 is substantially flat with two planar surfaces. The protruding members 34 of opposing corners lie substantially within parallel planes or within the same plane. The protruding member 34 further comprises an aperture that extends between its two planar surfaces. The aperture accommodates a bolt, nut and washer arrangement 36, where the arrangement 36 pivotally secures a coupling loop 38 to the apparatus 10 via the aperture of the protruding member. The coupling loop 38 is substantially horseshoe or U-shaped. The coupling loop 38 can be hooked to the hook of a lifting means, such as a crane, to lift the apparatus and its contents, as described later herein.

The apparatus 10 comprises four handles in total. Each of the four handles 40 extends along and is attached to one of the four vertical members 16 of the frame 12. The handles 40 extend the majority of the height of the vertical members 16, that is the distance from the lower wall 22 to upper wall 18. Two handles 40 project from one side wall 20, and the other two handles 40 project from the opposing side wall 20, the handles are located on the guidance walls 23. The handles are substantially cylindrical in shape and attached to the side walls 20 and the vertical members 16 at the top and bottom of the handle 40 by curved sections. The cylindrical section of the handle is removed from the side walls 20 and vertical members 16 with sufficient spacing so as to allow a user’s hand to grip around the circumference of the handle 40 fully.

The apparatus 10 also comprises two guidance means 48. The guidance means 48 extend in planes substantially parallel to one another. Each guidance means 48 comprises two substantially rectangular slots: a first entry slot 50 in a first guidance wall 23 and a second exit slot 50 in an opposing second guidance wall 23. The entry slots 50 of the guidance means 48 extend in a plane substantially parallel to the one another, as do the exit slots 50. The slots 50 are aligned such that the position of the entry slot 50 on one side wall 20 is mirrored by the exit slot 50 on their respective side wall 20. As such, the position of the entry and exit slots 50 along the height of their respective side walls 20 is identical to their position offset from the nearest vertical member 14. In other words, the channel of the guidance means 48 is defined by the entry and exit slots 50, and it extends in a plane substantially parallel to the door walls 21 and substantially parallel to the lower wall 22. The guidance means 48 is proximate to lower wall 22 and the lower edge of the slot 50 comprises a horizontal member 14. The upper edge and side edges of the slot 50 comprise and are defined by the slot reinforcement members 52,54. The slot reinforcement members 52,54 and the horizontal member 14 define the periphery of the rectangular slots 50. The first slot reinforcement member 54 is welded and attached to the vertical members 14, and the second slot reinforcement member 52 is welded and attached to the first slot reinforcement member 54 and the horizontal member 14.

The apparatus 10 comprises two securing members 42 where the guidance means 48 are arranged and designed to accommodate the securing members 42. One securing member 42 is designed to be inserted into one guidance means 48, where the securing member 42 is placed such that is it accommodated and in contact with both slots 50 of the guidance means 48. The securing members 42 are substantially bar-shaped, where the bar is longer than the distance between entry and exit slots 50 of a guidance means 48, or in other words, the bar is longer than the width of the door wall 21. Additionally, the securing member 42 is lengthened as it comprises a handle 46 at the extremities of the bar. The handles 46 are arranged to allow the securing member 42 to be manually manoeuvred and extend perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the securing member 42. The rectangular cross-sectional area of securing means 42 is dimensioned to be smaller than the rectangular cross-sectional area of the slots 50 such that the securing means 42 can be longitudinally inserted into the slots 50. The securing means 42 comprises two notches 56 in its largest surface. The notches 56 are dimensioned and arranged such that when the securing means 42 is inserted into the guidance means 48 the one notch 56 secures itself to the lower edge of the entry slot 50 and the second notch 56 secures itself to the lower edge of the exit slot 50. The notches 56 are recesses which are complementary to the lower edge of the slot 50. Therefore, the notches 56 partially receive the lower edge of the slot 50, and the weight of the securing member 42 secures the fit.

The door wall 21 comprises securing member holders 43, which are for stowing the securing members 42. Each securing member holder 43 comprises two arms 44. The arms 44 project perpendicularly from the door wall 21. The arms 44 are substantially flat with two opposing planar surfaces. The arms 44 comprise a base portion and an arm portion. The top surface of the base portion of the arm 44 is substantially perpendicular to the vertical member 16 and lies in a plane parallel to the lower wall 22. The base portion is for support weight of the securing member 42, and the arm portion is for interacting with the notches 56 to secure the securing member. The arms 44 are the same distance apart from one another as the entry and exit slots 50 and, therefore, the notches 56 can secure the securing member 42 either when it is stowed on the arms 44, in the inner elbow portion, or when it is inserted in the guidance means 48.

The loading aperture 26 of the apparatus 10 may be occluded by the doors 60, where occlude is understood to mean to block, seal or prevent access through the aperture. In this embodiment of the invention, the apparatus comprises two doors 60, where each door 60 is arranged to occlude approximately half the loading aperture. Each door 60 is substantially identical to the other and combined together they provide a surface area approximately the same size as lower wall 22. The doors 60 are substantially rectangular to complement the rectangular loading aperture 26. The doors comprise a frame 62 and a body 64, where the frame comprises materials similar to that of the frame 12, and the body is a mesh similar to the side walls 20. The doors 60 comprise a hinge arrangement 66 to movably pivot from a first closed position to an open position. The axis of rotation about the hinge arrangement 66 runs parallel to the door walls 21 and to two sides of the loading aperture 26. The hinge arrangement 66 is arranged such that the doors 60 occlude the aperture by abutting the lower surface of the lower wall 22 of the frame 12. In other words, when the doors 60 are in their first position they lie in a plane substantially parallel to the lower wall 22 and loading aperture 26, but are externally offset the plane of the lower wall 22 away from the bulk of the frame 12. The external offset of the doors 60 away from the frame 12 is arranged such that a pallet being lifted does not load bear on the doors 60. The weight of the palletised goods is instead supported by the securing members 48.

The hinge arrangement 66 comprises two hinge members 65, two angled arm portions 67 and two rotatable nut, bolt and washer connections. The hinge members 65 are flat planar members which extend from the frame 12 proximate to a lower wall 22 and side wall vertex 20, and in a plane substantially parallel to a guidance wall 23. The angled arm portions 67 are flat planar members that extend from adjacent corners of the door 60, such that they lie in a plane substantially parallel to the hinge members 65. The angled arms portions 67 are arranged to be bent or angled such that the distal end of the portion 67 is offset from the plane of the door 60. The distal end of the hinging member 65 is the pivotally connected to the distal end of the angled arm portion 67. As such, the hinge arrangement occupies an axis offset from the door in two directions.

Additionally, the rotational axis is offset from the frame 12 by the hinge member 65, such that the axis lies in the plane of loading aperture 26 but if offset from the plane the proximate door wall 21 by a distance approximately equal to the bend of the angled arm portion 67. Furthermore, the hinge arrangement 66 lies in the plane of the guidance walls 23 and the lower wall 22. The axis of rotation runs parallel and along the lower wall 22 edge of the side walls 20 with holders 44. The doors can pivotably move and rotate approximately 270 degrees about their axes. As such, the doors 60 can be pivotably moved from their first position (as seen in Figures 4 and 5) when they substantially occlude the loading aperture 26 and lie in a plane substantially parallel and offset to the loading aperture, to a second position (as seen in Figure 1), where the doors 60 lie in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the door walls 21 which they also substantially abut along their surfaces.

Each door 60 comprises two locking protrusions 70. The locking protrusions 70 enable each door 60 to be locked in both their first and second positions by using the same linchpin 68. In the first position, the door 60 is secured by the first fixing members 72 and the locking protrusion 70 jointly and securely retaining the linchpin 68, and in the second position, the door 60 is secured by the second fixing member 74 and the locking protrusion 70 jointly and securely retaining the linchpin. The locking protrusions 64 are members which protrude and extend from the two corners of the door which are outermost and removed from the hinge arrangement 66 and axis of rotation. The locking protrusions 70 each comprise a substantially flat member and an aperture which is arranged to accept a linchpin 68.

The first fixing members 72 are located on the side wall with handles 40 along the horizontal member 14 proximate to the lower wall 22 and loading aperture 26. The first fixing members 72 are located substantially centrally along their horizontal members 14. Each of the four locking protrusions 70 has a complementary first fixing member 72. The first fixing members 72 comprise a flat member and an aperture for accepting a linchpin and protrude substantially perpendicularly out from their horizontal member 14. As such, the doors 60 are secured in the first position on two opposing sides of the frame 12 by two linchpins 68 which are both inserted and fixedly retained by two locking protrusions and two first fixing members.

The second fixing members 74 are also located on the side wall with handles 40 but are located substantially centrally on the vertical members 16 and proximate to another side wall 40. The both second fixing members 74 also comprise flat members with apertures. The second fixing members can each be used to secure a door 60 in the second position by retaining a linchpin that has been inserted into both the second fixing member 74 and the locking protrusion 70.

Still referring to Figure 1, there is a depicted a first configuration of the first embodiment in accordance with the present invention. In the first configuration of the apparatus 10, the doors 60 are in their second position and do not occlude the aperture, and the securing members 42 are in their stowed position and secured to their securing member holders 44 by their notches 56.

Now referring to Figure 2, there is depicted a second configuration of the first embodiment in accordance with the present invention. In this second configuration, a pallet 100 and its palletised goods (not shown) have been loaded into the apparatus 10. The palletised goods are loaded by attaching the coupling means 32 of the apparatus 10 to an external lifting means and lifting the apparatus 10 over and above the palletised goods before being lowered over the palletised goods, such that the goods are within the cavity 24 of the apparatus 10. The handles 40 can be used to guide the loading of the apparatus 10 manually. For the loading of goods, the doors 60 should be secured in their second position, and the securing means 42 stowed on their holders 44. Once the goods have been loaded, the apparatus 10 can be moved into its second configuration. Specifically, the securing means 42 can be removed from their holders 44 and inserted into the guidance means 48, such that the securing members 48 protrude from both sides of a pallet’s opening. The guidance means 48 retains the securing means 42 as both of the notches 56 are complementary and friction fit with the lower edges of the slots 50. The two guidance means 48 are arranged such that the securing means 42 are inserted through the two bottom apertures of the pallet to be transported. The guidance means 48 mimic the forks of a forklift truck.

Now referring to Figure 3 there is depicted a third configuration of the first embodiment in accordance with the present invention. In the third configuration, the apparatus 10 and pallet have been lifted from the ground using the coupling means 32 and the external lifting means. The doors 60 have been unsecured from their second position and are allowed to depend from their hinge arrangement 66 freely. The securing means 42 hold the weight of the pallet.

Now referring to Figure 4 there is depicted a fourth configuration of the first embodiment in accordance with the present invention. In the fourth configuration, the doors 60 have been pivotally moved to their first position, where they occlude the aperture. The doors 60 have been secured in this first position by each of the two linchpins 68 being inserted and retained by two first fixing members 72 and two locking protrusions 70. The offset of the doors 60 away from the lower wall 22 and frame 12 means that the doors 60 do not support the weight of the palletised goods. In this configuration the distance between the doors 60 and the top surface of the securing member 42 is greater than the distance from the underside of the top surface of a pallet 100 and its underside 100. However, the doors 60 are designed and tested to be able to hold and support the weight of the palletised goods, including the weight of a pallet 100 of bricks or other construction materials. As such, the doors 60 offer an additional safety mechanism and failsafe. For example, in the event of catastrophic pallet failure, the doors 60 will “catch” and prevent the palletised goods from being dropped. Now the loading aperture 26 is occluded. The palletised goods can be safely lifted and transported.

Once the palletised goods have reached their destination, they can be unloaded by transforming the apparatus 10 from the fourth configuration through the third configuration to the second configuration. Once in the second configuration, the apparatus and its goods can be lowered to the ground. Then the apparatus 10 can be reconfigured to the first configuration and lifted back off the palletised goods.

Now referring to Figure 6 which is flowchart depicting a method for transporting palletised goods in accordance with a third aspect of the present invention.

The first step in the method is to provide the apparatus 10 hereinbefore described and a pallet with its associated palletised goods in their first location. The apparatus 10 is in its first configuration and is attached to an external lifting means. The apparatus 10 is then lifted and then moved to a position over the palletised goods. The apparatus 10 is lowered over the palletised goods until it is on the ground, such that the goods enter the cavity 24 of the apparatus 10 through the aperture 26 on the lowerwall. The handles 40 may be used to guide this loading step. The pallet is then secured to the apparatus 10 by the insertion and retention of the securing members 42 through the guidance means 48, such that the apparatus is in its second configuration. The apparatus 10 and the palletised goods are now lifted to such a height that the doors 60 can be closed to occlude the aperture 26. During the lifting the pallet 100 engages with the securing members 42. The securing members 42 are load bearing and support the weight of the palletised goods and transfer the weight of the load to the external lifting means through the securing members 42, frame 12 and coupling means 32. The doors 60 are unsecured from their locking means in the second position and can freely depend from their hinge arrangements 66, such that the apparatus is in the third configuration. The doors 60 can then be closed and secured to occlude the loading aperture 26 on the underside of the apparatus 10. The doors 60 are then be secured in their first position using the first locking means. The apparatus now resembles its fourth configuration. The apparatus 10 and the enclosed palletised goods can then be safely and securely lifted and transported to a second position, or more specifically to above a second location. Once above the second location the doors 60 can be loosened. The loosened doors 60 may then freely depend and the apparatus 10 assumes its third configuration. The doors 60 can then be fastened to the side of the apparatus such that the apparatus 10 is in its second configuration. The apparatus 10 and palletised goods can then be lowered to be on the surface, or ground, of the second location. The palletised goods are released by the removal of the securing member 42 from the guidance means 48. As such, the palletised goods are no longer attached to the apparatus 10 and the apparatus 10 resembles the first configuration. The apparatus 10 is lifted up from the palletised goods, and the palletised goods are left in the second position. The apparatus 10 is then moved away from the palletised goods and is lowered to the ground. The apparatus is decoupled from the external lifting means.

It will be appreciated that the above-described embodiment is given by way of example only and that various modifications thereto may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. For example, the above-described embodiment refers specifically to a securing member that resembles a bar, but embodiments will be 5 conceivable wherein the securing member is a rope or cable, or levered member.

Claims

1. A palletised goods transportation apparatus, the palletised goods transportation apparatus comprising:

a frame;

a cavity;

a door; and a coupling means arranged to couple the frame to an external lifting means; wherein the frame comprises a lower wall, an upper wall and one or more side walls, wherein the cavity is arranged to accommodate palletised goods and further wherein the lower wall, upper wall and one or more side walls bound the cavity, wherein the lower wall of the frame comprises an aperture; and wherein the door is movable between a first position in which the door substantially occludes the aperture of the lower wall, and a second position in which the aperture of the lower wall is substantially open.

2. A palletised goods transportation apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the side walls of the frame substantially comprises a mesh.

3. A palletised goods transportation apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the apparatus comprises a locking means to secure the door in the first position fixedly.

4. A palletised goods transportation apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the door is pivotally attached to the frame by a hinge arrangement.

5. A palletised goods transportation apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the hinged arrangement is arranged substantially in the plane of the lower wall and outwardly and externally offset from a plane of a side wall.

6. A palletised goods transportation apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the door can freely depend in a position intermediate to the first and second positions.

7. A palletised goods transportation apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the door is arranged to support the weight of the palletised goods being transported.

8. A palletised goods transportation apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein there are two doors that are moveable between a first position in which both the doors substantially occludes the aperture of the lower wall, and a second position in which the aperture of the lower wall is substantially open.

9. A palletised goods transportation apparatus of claim 8, wherein the two doors are arranged such that they are parallel to each other and are hingedly attached proximate to the lower edge of opposing side walls.

10. A palletised goods transportation apparatus of claim 8 or 9, wherein in the first position each door occludes approximately half the aperture.

11. A palletised goods transportation apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the apparatus comprises a handle.

12. A palletised goods transportation apparatus of claim 11, wherein the handle extends substantially along the height of the frame.

13. A palletised goods transportation apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein a coupling means comprises a loop fixedly attached to the frame.

14. A palletised goods transportation apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the apparatus comprises a plurality of coupling means, more specifically each coupling means is located proximate each of the upper wall and side wall vertices.

15. A palletised goods transportation apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the apparatus comprises a guidance means arranged to accommodate a securing member, where the securing member is arranged to secure palletised goods.

16. A palletised goods transportation apparatus of claim 15, wherein the guidance means is located on a side wall and is proximate to the lower wall.

17. A palletised goods transportation apparatus of claim 15 or 16, wherein the guidance means comprises an entry slot defined in a first side wall and a corresponding exit slot defined in a second side wall.

18. A palletised goods transportation apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the apparatus comprises a securing member which is arranged to be inserted and retained by the guidance means.

19. A securing member for use with the apparatus of Claims 1 to 18.

20. A method for transporting a pallet or palletised goods from a first location to a second location, the method comprising the steps:

xiii. providing the pallet or palletised goods in a first location; xiv. providing a cage; XV. lifting the cage, where the cage comprises a substantially open aperture on its lower surface; xvi. lowering the cage over the palletised goods, such that the palletised goods are inside the cage; xvii. securing the palletised goods inside the cage; xviii. lifting cage and palletised goods; xix. shutting a door to occlude the substantially open lower wall of the cage; XX. moving the cage and palletised goods to above a second location; xxi. opening the door of the cage to reveal the substantially open aperture; xxii. lowering the cage and palletised goods to the second location; xxiii. releasing the palletised goods from the cage; and xxiv. lifting the cage to leave the palletised goods in a second location.