NZ272419A

NZ272419A - Wool pack holder

Info

Publication number: NZ272419A
Application number: NZ27241995A
Authority: NZ
Inventors: Kevin Edward Aplin
Original assignee: Kevin Edward Aplin
Priority date: 1995-06-22
Filing date: 1995-06-22
Publication date: 1997-01-29

Description

272419 280 46 2 PATENTS FORM 5 PATENTS ACT 1953 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION WOOL BALE HOLDER I, KEVIN EDWARD APLIN of Woodlands Road, Parkvale, R.D. 2, Carterton, New Zealand, a New Zealand citizen do hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement.

Number: 272419/280462 Dated: June 22, 1995/November 14, 1995 2^2 419 This invention relates to a wool bale holder. 0 Q ^ ^ ^ BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION Wool bale holders are known and generally consist of a frame which supports the 5 an open wool bale in an upright position so that the bale can be charged through the open mouth of the bale with wool and when the bale is full, the bale can be undipped from and removed from the holder.

KNOWN PRIOR ART One known type of wool bale holder comprises a collapsible frame as disclosed in New Zealand patent specification 186791. The frame disclosed in that specification when assembled has a rectangular top frame and two pivoted side frames which form a generally rectangular bale holder. The bale is passed down through the opening in the top frame and the specification teaches that the rails forming the top frame may include spikes for 15 attaching the border of an opened bale to the bale holder.

It has been found that while various similar types of wool bale holders are known they all suffer from a disadvantage in the method of supporting the wool bale on the holder. For instance the wool bale holder described in the New Zealand patent 20 specification 186791 includes spikes so the bale can be removably attached to the top frame of the wool bale holder. The disadvantage with using spikes is that they tend to tear the fibres of the bale and these fibres can become detached and contaminate the wool stored in the bale. Although the contamination can be small nevertheless it is significant. Another disadvantage with spikes is the possibility of the user inadvertently receiving a cut or a 272 A1%8 0 4 6 2 graze from the spikes and thereby suffering a wound which although might be small, can be dangerous because of the possibility of infection that could set in.

Other known forms of wool bale holders attempt to meet the difficulty of exposed 5 spikes by protecting the spikes with angle pieces and the like but this generally only makes it more difficult to attach the bale to the holder. Yet another form of wool bale holder uses removable spikes, pins and the like, but this introduces a yet further disadvantage in that it is possible for the spike or pin to become dislodged and fall, for instance, into the wool within the bale with consequent serious results.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an improved wool bale holder that will minimise the above disadvantages.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, one form of the invention may be said to comprise a wool bale holder having a substantially rectangular top frame supported adjacent each corner by side members, wherein brackets which are attached to the said holder are located adjacent to and below at least two of the corners of the top frame, said brackets having arms which are 20 spaced downwardly from the top frame and offset inwardly from each said corner of the top frame to form a gap between the top frame and the said arms of the said brackets.

Preferably the said bracket has two arms which extend substantially in the same plane but at right angles to each other and a stud which extends from the junction of said 280462 arms and which is connected to said frame in a manner that the said arms will be spaced from and be offset to the said top frame and will extend substantially parallel to the contiguous portion of the top frame.

Preferably each side member is of substantially U shape, and comprises a base and two spaced apart substantially parallel legs extending from said base.

Preferably the top frame includes means associated with each corner whereby the top frame can be removably connected to the side members Preferably the top frame is attached to the side members by socket and spigot joints.

Preferably a removable brace extends between a leg of each of the side members.

Preferably a said bracket is located adjacent to and below each of the said corners of the top frame.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A preferred form of the invention will now be described with the aid of the 20 accompanying drawings wherein; Figure 1 is em exploded view of the component parts of the wool bale holder according to the present invention and 2^2 419 28 0 4 6 2 Figure 2 is a view of a wool bale holder when in use.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The wool bale holder as shown in the drawings includes a frame which consists of two side members 2 each of which can be of a substantially U-shape as indicated. A brace 3 is provided to extend between a corresponding leg of each the two side members. The brace is preferably constructed so it can be readily assembled or disassembled from the side members and may be provided with a suitable socket 4 or the like at either end into which a spigot 5 which projects from the leg of the side member 2 can be engaged. It will be understood that the respective positions of the sockets 4 and the spigots 5 can be reversed and other suitable forms of removably attaching the brace to the legs of the side members can be utilised as will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

The wool bale holder also has a substantially rectangular top frame 6 which is preferably provided with depending spigots 7 from each corner. The spigots are shaped so they can individually enter sockets 8 which are located at the top of each of the legs of the side members 2. In a modification, the respective positions of the spigots 7 and sockets 8 are simply reversed but other means to removably connect the upper frame to the side members as will be apparent to those skilled in the art can be utilised.

The side members 2, the brace 3 and the top frame 6 can all be formed from metallic pipe or rod or the like and preferably are composed of a non-corrodible material or are suitably treated to provide a corrosion resistant surface. 272 41%80462 The wool bale holder can be assembled by inserting the spigots 7 of the top frame 6 into the sockets 8 of the side members and connecting the brace 3 to the legs of the side members by engaging the sockets 4 of the brace into the spigots 5. Preferably, means are provided in conjunction with the sockets 4 and spigots 5 whereby when engaged, the joint 5 can be locked until the wool bale holder is to be disassembled. Various means as is known in the art can be employed for this purpose.

The top frame 6 also includes fastening means which in the form illustrated is a friction grip arrangement whereby the bale can be removably attached to ana be supported 10 by the holder. The friction grip comprises brackets 10 each of which may be composed of the same material as the remainder of the frame. Each bracket is bent into a substantially right angle shape to form arms which extend from the junction of the arms in substantially the same plane but at right angles to each other. A stud 11 projects from the junction of the two arms of the bracket and is of a size and shape that it can be 15 conform with the angle of the corners of the upper frame and includes a stud 11 by which the bracket can be suitably attached to the top frame such as the spigot 7 as indicated particularly in Figure 2. The brackets 10 are shaped and are so attached to the spigots 7 that the arms of the bracket will extend a short distance along and underneath the top frame 6 as shown but are offset inwardly so that a gap 12 is left between the arms of the brackets 20 10 and the frame 6.

A wool bale 13 can be supported on the holder by holding the bale so the mouth of the bale is uppermost and dropping the bale through the centre of the top frame 6. A wool bale is generally formed with flaps 13a and as indicated particularly in the enlarged 27 "*!»e o 4 a 2 depiction of Figure 2, the flaps are passed under the top frame 6 and threaded over the bracket 10.

Provided the frame is made of a sufficient height that the walls of the wool bale 5 depend substantially vertically from the top frame 6 then the friction which is exerted by the flaps 13a on the brackets 10 will be sufficient to support the wool bale on the top frame 6.

When the bale is to be removed from the holder, whether or not the bale is full, it 10 is released from the frame by pulling the flaps 13a of the bale out of the gaps between the wool within the bale and the bale removed.

It will thus be seen that a wool bale can be securely supported by the frame of this invention ready for loading and because there are no spikes, or ancillary fastening means 15 required, the likelihood of damage to the bale is minimised as is also the likelihood of injury to the person using the bale.

Having been apprised of the principles and precepts of the invention, an informed reader will under~tand that various modifications can be made to the actual form of the 20 invention and yet still remain within the general concept of the invention. All such modifications and amendments are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

WHAT I CLAIM IS: 272419 280 4 6 u

1. A wool bale holder having a substantially rectangular top frame supported adjacent each comer by side members, wherein ^ckets which are attached to the said holder are 5 located adjacent to and below at least two - • the comers of the top frame, said brackets having arms which are spaced downwardly from the top frame and offset inwardly from l*L each said comer of the top frame to form a gap between the top frame and the said arms of the said brackets. 10

2. The wool bale holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said bracket comprises two arms which extend substantially in the same plane but at right angles to each other and a stud which extends from the junction of said arms and which is connected to said frame in a manner that the said arms will be spaced from and be offset to the said top frame and will extend substantially parallel to the contiguous portion of the top frame. 15

3. The wool bale holder as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein each side member is of substantially U shape, having a base and two spaced apart substantially parallel legs extending from said base. 20

4. The wool bale holder as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the top frame includes means associated with each corner whereby the top frame can be removably connected to the side members. - 8 - 272419 280462

5. The wool bale holder as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the top frame is attached to the side members by socket and spigot joints.

6. The wool bale holder as claimed in claim 3, 4 or 5, wherein a removable brace extends between a leg of each of the side members.

7. The wool bale holder as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein a bracket is located adjacent to and below each of the said comers of the top frame.

8. The wool bale holder substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 'SSfi £J - r- J GREG WEST-WALKER & CO per i. ATTORNEYS FOR THE APPLICANT a