GB2623880A

GB2623880A - Item storage and movement assembly with a movable base plate

Info

Publication number: GB2623880A
Application number: GB2314392.8A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Cooper Jake
Original assignee: Southgate Global Ltd
Current assignee: Southgate Global Ltd
Priority date: 2022-09-21
Filing date: 2023-09-20
Publication date: 2024-05-01
Also published as: GB202213772D0; GB202314392D0

Abstract

A storage assembly (30) and more specifically a trolley or cart which is movable and includes side walls (32,34,36,38) and at least one base plate 4 which define a cavity into which items are placed and removed from. The base plate can be selectively moved and retained in a first configuration in which at least two positions can be selected by slidingly moving the base plate with respect to side walls of the storage assembly via guide means, said guide means including a first set of locating means located with a first adjustment plate 6 and a second sets of locating means 8 located with a second adjustment plate, and a second configuration in which the base plate can be moved to and retained in a storage position using sliding movement of the same sets of locating means and adjustment plates.

Description

Item Storage and Movement Assembly with a Movable Base Plate the invention to which this application relates is a. storage assembly with a movable base plate and is particularly, although not necessarily exclusively directed towards a portable storage assembly such as a wheeled trolley or cart and more specifically of a type which can be used to store and move a plurality of items such as parcels or envelopes.

Mobile storage assemblies for the use in transporting a plurality of goods are known and arc typically referred toas trolleys or carts. They typically comprise four orthogonal walls and a base member, and include castor wheels or rollers. Such carts or trolleys are frequently used in warehouses and goods movement vehicles of logistics companies, such as online retailers or mail delivery industries. Typically, the carts or trolleys are filled with a plurality of items, such as parcels or envelopes, at a loading area through the upper opening of the cavity defined by the walls of the assembly and the assembly can then be moved to one or more further locations for the dispensation and/or loading of the items. The loading and dispensation of the items can be performed by manual operators and/or automated means.

When the items arc to be removed from the cavity manually, the operator reaches firm the assembly and retrieves the items by hand. As the number of items decreases, so the operator has to reach further down to retrieve the items near the base. As there may be numerous items, in the case of particularly small parcels or envelopes, the operator may be forced to bend down multiple times and this poses a significant risk to the health of the user, particularly regarding their lower back. 'this risk is exacerbated if the items have a significant weight and/or mass. Automated loading and unloading means mifiga. te these risks but it is found that the use of automated apparatus is only suitable for certain locations.

It is also found that a plurality of the storage assemblies, when erected can take up a significant area of floorspace when not in use.

An 2uin of the present invention is to provide a storage assembly for containing a plurality of items and which can be selectively moved to at least two configurations at which a base plate of the assembly can be selectively positioned and retained at different heights and so as, for example to allow a configuration to be selected in which there is an increased height of the base to thereby reduce the distance that an operator must reach to remove all of the said items.

A further aim of the present invention is to provide a. storage assembly with a. base which is movable so as to allow the storage assembly to be moved between in use and a. nested condition so that when in the nested condition the same can be nested with a plurality of other assemblies, such that the floorspace taken up by each assembly is significantly reduced when in the storage position.

In a first aspect of the invention there is provided a storage assembly including side walls and a base plate, said base plate mounted to the remainder of the storage assembly via, guide means including a.t least one adjustment plate and wherein the said base plate is selectively movable via said guide means between at least first and second positions and is retained in said selected position until a movement force is applied to release the same from the selected position.

In one embodiment the ba.se plate is movable between a first position at which the base is located at a first height with respect to the assembly, and a second height, spaced from the first height with respect to the assembly.

In addition or alternatively the base is moved between a first configuration in which the base is located for use to support items thereon, and a second configuration in which the base plate is provided in a storage position to allow the assembly to be moved to a nested condition and the base plate is retained the first or second configuration until a force is applied to release the same from the particular configuration Typically the base plate is provided when in the said first or second position to support a load of items.

Typically the said base plate is selectively movable between all of the at least first and second height positions and first and second configurations.

Typically said movement of the base plate between said positions and configurations is achieved using the same guide means.

In one embodiment the said guide means include first and second sets of locating means formed on one of the ba.se plate or respective first and second adjustment plates and which locate with channels formed in the other of the base plate or respective first and second adjustment plates.

In one embodiment the adjustment plate includes the said channel and the sets of locating means are provided on the base pate and are linearly and pivotably movable with respect to the said channel.

In one embodiment there is a first set of locating means and adjustment plate combination located a.t a first edge of the ba.se plate and adjacent frame of the storage assembly and a second set of locating means and adjustment plate combination is located at an opposing second edge of the base plate and adjacent frame of the storage assembly.

Typically each set of locating means includes a first locating member spaced apart from a. second locating member.

In one embodiment, the said base plate is secured in the nesting position when said first locating members of the sets of locating means are located with the respective channel and the second locating members are located in a slot of the respective adjustment plates.

In one embodiment the said channel of the adjustment plate has at least a first position recess and a second position recess. In one embodiment the base plate is retained at a first height in a first in use position when the first locating members in each set of locating means is located M the first position recess and the base plate is retained at a second height in a second in use position when the first locating members in each set of the locating means is located in the second position recess.

In one embodiment the angle at which the base plate is retained in the first and second in use positions is substantially the same and typically is substantially parallel to the surface on which the storage assembly is located at that time.

In one embodiment the angle of the base plate in the first and/or second in use positions is substantially perpendicular to the angle of the base plate when retained in the nested position.

In one embodiment the first locating member in each set of locating means is released from the first or second recess portion of the chiumel when the second locating member is located M. the adjustment plate channel to allow movement of the base plate between positions.

In one embodiment the storage assembly includes four side walls extending upwardly.

In one embodiment at least two of the sidewalls are pwotably connected by a hinge MC211S.

In one embodiment at least two sidewalls are selectively connected by a latch means.

Typically, the base plate abuts and is parallel to at least one of the sidewalls when the same is in the said nested position.

In one embodiment the sidewall hinge means allow the sidewalls, with the base plate in the nesting position, to be movable to a nesting position. In one embodiment the said assembly in the nested position is able to form, in conjunction with a number of other storage assemblies, a nested row of storage assemblies. Thus, multiple assemblies of the present invention may be nested, increasing the number of assemblies able to be stored in the same area.

In one embodiment the storage assembly is movable across a surface, typically via movement means in the form of any of castors, rollers and/or wheels and may also include braking means.

In one embodiment the assembly includes at least one handle to be grasped by an operator to control movement of the storage assembly. In one embodiment the handle assembly is formed so a.s to allow In one embodiment the base plate is movable between the first and second positions and/or into and out of the first and second storage configurations by actuation means. In one embodiment said actuation means is or includes a foot pedal.

In one embodiment, the storage assembly includes at least one locking means, said locking means including a latch bolt located on the said base plate and a bolt receiver located on/in a sidewall of the apparatus. Preferably the latch bolt includes at least one actuating handle and is biased towards a location position with the bolt receiver. In one embodiment the said base plate is prevented from being pivoted and/or linearly moved with respect to the storage assembly when the latch bolt is engaged with the bolt receiver so that when the latch bolt is located in the bolt receiver the base plate is retained in the nested and/or first in use and/or second in use position.

In one embodiment the base plate includes a stopper member which abuts the 'height adjustment bracket and/or the sidewall on which the said height adjustment bracket is mounted when the base plate is in the first and/or second in use position. In one embodiment the stopper member acts to retain the base plate in the selected in-use position so that, for example, the stopper member prevents the base plate from moving downwardly with respect to the side walls of the storage assembly when the base plate is in the first and/or second in use position.

In one embodiment the adjustment plate includes at least one slot and the second locating member in a set of locating means is located in the said at least one slot when the base plate is in the first and/or second in use position. Preferably, the base plate is prevented from passing downwardly when the second locating member is located in the slot.

In one embodiment the said first position of the base plate is lower than the said second position of the base plate. Typically, the first position is selected when items are to be placed into or removed from the storage assembly by automated means and the second position of the base plate is selected when the items are to be placed Mto or removed from the storage assembly manually.

In one embodiment at least one of the sidewalls includes at least two independent door members.

Thus the assembly may contain a plurality of items to be individually removed from the opening forined by the sidewalls on the face of the assembly distal the base plate. As the volume of said multiple bodies contained by the assembly decreases, one of the independent doors may be opened to allow easier access to the remaining said bodies. As the volume decreases further still, the second of the independent doors may be opened to allow easier access to the same.

llypically the use of the assembly will be known and M particular whether the loading or unloading of the same is to be manually performed or performed by an automated means. With that knowledge the operator can therefore determine whether the base plate should be moved, prior to use of the assembly and/or when the assembly is empty, to the lower first position (if automated loading or unloading is to be performed) or the higher second position (if manual loading/unloading is to be performed and thereby reduce the distance to which the operator has to bend down). It will be appreciated that the volume of the cavity of the assembly will be greater when the base plate is in the first lower position.

In one embodiment the apparatus includes a. plurality of base plates a.nd at least one the same can be selectively positioned at one of a range of possible height positions.

In one embodiment the assembly is a movable trolley or cart and typically items stored in the assembly are items which are to be delivered as part of a postal or delivery system.

In a further aspect of the invention there is provided a method of using a storage assembly including a base plate and side walls which define a cavity into which items are placed and removed from, said method including the steps of selecting which of at least two positions the base plate is to be located by slidialgly moving the base plate with respect to side walls of the storage assembly via guide means, said guide means including a first set of locating means located with a first adjustment plate and a second sets of locating means located with a second adjustment plate and if the first position is selected at which the base plate is at a first height, locating a first locating member of the said sets of locating means in a first position recess in a channel of the adjustment plate and if the second position is selected at which the base plate is at a second height locating the first locating member in a second position recess in the said channel which is spaced apart from the said first recess, to locate the base plate in the second position.

In one embodiment the assembly is movable between a first configuration in which the base plate is moveable between said first and second positions and a second configuration in which the base plate located and locked in a storage position by selective movement of the said guide means..

In one embodiment the method includes the step of selectively locking the base plate in the selected first and/or second in use position by a locking means, such that the said base plate is selectively prevented from linear or pivotal movement when in the first and/or second in use position.

In one embodiment the method includes the step of moving the base plate between a first in use configuration to a second storage or nesting configuration by releasing the base plate from the first or second recess and pivoting the said base plate to locate a second locating member of the set of locating means within a slot of the respective adjustment plate to prevent pivoting of the said base plate when in the nested position.

Specific embodiments of the invention are now described with reference to the accompanying drawings; wherein: Figure 1 illustrates schematically a moveable base plate for a. storage assembly in accordance with one embodiment of the invention wherein the base plate is in the nesting position; Figure 2 illustrates the moveable base plate of Figure 1 in accordance with one embodiment of the invention wherein the base plate is in the in use position; Figure 3 illustrates a side view of an adjustment plate in accordance with one embodnnent of the invention; Figures 4a-c illustrate a side view of the adjustment plate in accordance with the embodiment illustrated in I iigure 3, wherein the base plate and locating members are shown in the nesting, first and second in use positions; igures 5a-b illustrate a storage assembly in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

Figure 6 illustrates the adjustment plate mounted to a. side wall of the storage assembly of Figures Sa-b; Figure 7 illustrates a side wall hinge means in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

Figure 8 illustrates a side wall latch means in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

Figures 9a-b illustrate the base plate in a first and second in use positions respectively.

Figures 10a-b illustrate the storage assembly in a nested position in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

Figures 11a-b illustrate multiple storage assemblies nested in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

Referring firstly to Figures 1-2, there is illustrated a moveable base plate assembly 2 including a base plate 4 and guide means. In this embodiment the guide means include two adjustment plates 6 mounted on the storage assembly frame at opposing sides of the base plate 6 and first and second sets of locating means, a first set provided on a first side of the base plate and adjacent and in engagement with the first adjustment plate and the second set of locating means on second opposing side of the base plate and adjacent and in engagement with the second adjustment plate.

Each of the sets of locating means have a first locating members, such as in the form of a bolt. The base plate 4 is selectively pivotably and linearly moveable with respect to the adjustment plates 6 between a storage position 10, a first in use position 14 (depicted in broken lines) and a second in use position 12. The first in use position 14 and second in use position 12 are parallel and separated by a distance 16.

Figure 3 and Figures 4a-c illustrate the adjustment plate 6 in greater detail. 't he bracket 6 includes a channel 18 in which the first locating member 8 is located. Said member 8 is linearly and pivotablv moveable within the channel 18, however is unable to be removed from the same, in this case by a bolt head having a diameter greater than the maximum width of the channel 18 on the face of the bracket 6 opposite the face abutting the base plate 4. The channel 18 includes a first position recess 20 and a second position recess 22. When the first locating member 8 is located within the first position recess 20 the base plate 4 is in the first in use position 14, as seen in Figure 4c. When the first connecting member 8 is located within the second position recess 22 the base plate 4 is in the second in use position 12, as seen in Figure 4b. The first and second position recesses 20,22 are angled downward, such that the first connecting member 8 is encouraged to be located within the same when a load is placed on the base plate 4. The base plate 4 is removed from the first in use 14 or second in use position 12 when an upward force is applied to the base plate and hence move the first connecting members 8 of the first and second locating means.

The first and second sets of the locating means of the guide means includes a second locating member 24, in this embodiment a bolt. The second locating member 24 is selectively located in a slot 26 of the adjustment plate 6. The base plate 4 is movable to and retained in in a nested storage position 10 when the second locating member 24 is located in the slot 26. The distance between the first locating member 8 and second locating member 24 is such that the first locating member 8 is not located in the first recess 20 or second recess 22 when the second locating member 24 is located in the slot 26. The slot 26 shares a central vertical axis 28 with the channel 18 such that the base plate 4 is substantially parallel with the side wall of the storage assembly when in the nesting position 10.

Figures 5a-b illustrate the storage assembly 30 with the movable base plate assembly 2 in accordance with the present invention. The storage assembly includes four side walls 32, 34, 36, 38 which, together with base plate 4, form a cavity 39 in which the load of items is to be received. Side walls 32, 34 and 36 are pivotably connected by a plurality of lunge means 40. Side walls 32 and 38 are similarly connected by hinge means 40. Side walls 36 and 38 are selectively connected by latch means 42. 't he storage assembly 30 includes a plurality of castor wheels 44 and may include brake means 46 to prevent movement of the assembly 30. The assembly 30 may further include vertical handles 48 and a horizontal handle 50 to aid movement of the same.

In this embodiment the side wall 36 includes two doors 49, 51. The doors 49, 51 may be independently opened to access the upper (Jr lower portions of the cavity 39 respectively.

Figure 6 illustrates the location of the adjustment plate 6 mounted on the side wall 32 and the handles and brake means 44 may also be positioned at or adjacent to the side wall 32 so that the operator may position themselves at sidewall 32, and access the adjustment plates 6, braking means 46 and control the movement by handles 48, 50.

Figure 7 illustrates the hinge assembly 40 in detail between two sidewalls 34,36. Said hinge assembly 40 comprising a first leaf 52 with a first barrel 54 mounted on sidewall 36, said first barrel 54 coaxial with a second barrel 56 of a second leaf 58 mounted on the sidewall 34. The first barrel 54 and second barrel 56 contain a pin (not shown) around which the barrels are pivotable, typically by 270°.

Figure 8 illustrates the latch means 42 between sidewalls 36, 38 in detail. In this embodiment, the latch means 42 is a spring latch 60 mounted on sidewall 36 selectively located about a buclde 62 mounted on side wall 38.

igures 9a illustrates the base plate 4 having been moved and retained in the first in use position 14 and in Figure 9b the base plate 4 has been moved to and retained in the second in use position 12. It can be seen that the depth of the cavity 39 is reduced by the distance 16 when the base plate 4 is moved from the first to the second in use position 12 so as to allow the storage assembly to be in a form so as to allow a reduction in the distance an operator must bend down to in order to reach the base plate 4 and items located thereon when the base plate 4 is in the second in use position 12. 't he release and movement of the base assembly 2 may be actuated by an actuating means (not shown) such as a foot pedal assembly.

In this embodiment, the base assembly 2 includes locking means 64 which when engaged retain the base plate 4 in the selected first 14 or second 12 in use position. The base plate 4 includes a spring-loaded latch bolt biased towards a lock hole 66 located on the sidewalls 34, 38. When the base plate 4 is in the first or second in use position 14,12 the latch bolt is located within the lock hole 66 to locate the same and prevent pivotable or linear movement of the plate 4. The latch bolt may be released from the lock hole 66 by a release force applied through an actuating handle.

Figures 10a-b illustrate the storage assembly 30 in a nested position. In the nested position, the ba.se plate 4 is in the nested position 10 and the latch means 42 between the sidewalls 36, 38 are opened such that the walls are disconnected. Sidewall 36 is pivoted by hinge means 40 to abut sidewall 34. Sidewall 36 may be located against sidewall 34 by further latch means 68.

Figures lla-b illustrate a plurality of nested storage assemblies 30. It can he seen that the underside of the base plate 4 is brought into contact with the outer face of the sidewall 32 of the next storage assembly 30. In this way, a plurality of nested storage assemblies 30 may be stored in a significantly reduced volume than the in use assemblies.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A storage assembly including side walls and a base plate, said base plate mounted to the remainder of the storage assembly via guide means including at least one adjustment plate and wherein the said base plate is selectively movable via said guide means between at least first and second positions and is retained in said selected position until a movement force is applied to release the same from the selected position.

7. A storage assembly according to claim 1 wherein the base plate is movable to the first position at which the base is located at a first height with respect to the assembly and the second position at which the base plate is at a second height spa.ced from the first height.

3. An assembly according to any of the preceding claims wherein the base plate is movable between a first configuration at which the base is located at either of the said first or second position for use to support items thereon and a second configuration at which the base plate is provided in a storage position to allow the assembly to be moved to a nested condition and the base plate is retained in the first or second configuration until a force is applied to release the same from the particular configuration.

4. Apparatus according to any of the preceding Manus wherein the base plate is selectively movable between all of the said first and second positions and first and second configurations via movement of the base plate with respect to said guide means.

An assembly according to claim 4 wherein said guide means include first and second sets of locating means and a first adjustment plate for location with the first set of locating means and a second adjustment plate for location with said second set of locating means.

6. An assembly according to claim 5 wherein the adjustment plates each include channels along which at least part of the locating means can be moved.

7. An assembly according to any of claims 5-6 wherein the adjustment plates arc located on or adjacent to opposnig sidewalls and the sets of locatnig means are provided on opposing edges of the base plate 8. An assembly according to any of callus 5-7 wherein the locating means arc linearly and pivotably movable with respect to the said channel.9. An assembly according to any of claims 5-8 wherein each set of locating means includes a first locating member spaced apart from a second locating member.10. An assembly according to any of claims 3-9 wherein the said base plate is secured in the second configuration when said first locating members of the sets of locating means are located with the said respective channels and the second locating members of the sets of locating means are located in a slot on the respective adjustment plates.11. An assembly according to any of the claims 5-10 wherein the said channels of the adjustment plates each has at least a first position recess and a second position recess.12. An assembly according to claim 11 wherein the base plate is retained in said first position when the first locating member in each set of locating means is located in the first position recess and the base plate is retained at the second position when the first locating member in each set of locating means are located in the second position recess.13. An assembly according to any of the preceding claims wherein the assembly is a cart or trolley with wheels provided to allow the same to he moved across a surface.14.An assembly according to any of the preceding claims wherein the items stored in the assembly are items which are to be delivered as part of a postal or delivery system.15. An assembly according to any of the preceding claims wherein the assembly includes at least two base plates and one or both of said plates is selectively movable between respective first and second positions.16. An assembly according to claim 15 wherein each of said base plates is movable to said storage position.17. A method of using a storage assembly including a base plate and side walls which define a cavity into which items are placed and removed from, said method including the steps of selecting which of at least two positions the base plate is to be located by slidinglv moving the base plate with respect to side walls of the storage assembly via guide means, said guide means including a first set of locating means located with a first adjustment plate and a second sets of locating means located with a. second adjustment plate and if the first position is selected at which the base plate is at a first height, locating a first locating member of the said sets of locating means in a first position recess in a channel of the adjustment plate and if the second position is selected at which the base plate is at a second height locating the first locating member in a second position recess in the said channel which is spaced apart from the said first recess, to locate the base plate in the second position.18. A method according to claim 15 wherein the assembly is movable between a first configuration in which the base plate is moveable between said first and second positions and a second configuration in which the base plate located and retained in a storage position by selective movement of the said guide means.