WO2003064239A1

WO2003064239A1 - Load distributor

Info

Publication number: WO2003064239A1
Application number: PCT/AU2003/000070
Authority: WO
Inventors: Graham O'dell; Marisa Kristine O'dell
Original assignee: Graham O'dell; Marisa Kristine O'dell
Priority date: 2002-01-29
Filing date: 2003-01-24
Publication date: 2003-08-07

Abstract

A load distributor (10) is used for distributing the weight of a load bearing member such as a caravan leg over the ground. The load distributor (10) has a load receiving surface (21) being arranged to receive a load bearing member. A moat (20) surrounds the load receiving surface (21), and, in use, contains a barrier substance such as water or pesticide to prevent the access of insects such as ants to the load bearing member.

Description

"LOAD DISTRIBUTOR" FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a load distributor.

It is known to require a means to distribute a localised pressure over a wider area. One example of this requirement is when a supporting leg of a caravan is placed on relatively soft ground, such as a grassed area. With no load distributing means in place, the supporting leg has a tendency to sink into the ground. This is clearly undesirable.

A load distributor has the effect of increasing the contact area between the supporting leg and the ground. The load is distributed over the increased area, and the pressure applied to the ground at each point is correspondingly reduced.

Readily available items such as pieces of timber or metal plate are commonly used as load distributors, however the use of such items has a number of disadvantages.

Disadvantages include a tendency for ants and other crawling insects to use the load distributor as a means for accessing the supporting leg and hence the caravan. A further disadvantage is that grass or other vegetation beneath the load distributor is deprived of light, thus causing damage to the vegetation should the load distributor be left in place for a period of time.

The present invention attempts to overcome at least in part some of the aforementioned disadvantages of previous load distributors.

It will be appreciated that although the use of load distributors has been described with reference to supporting legs of caravans, their use is not limited to this application. Load distributors may also be used in connection with other supporting elements such as tent poles, and the present invention is equally applicable to such other applications.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is provided a load distributor comprising a load receiving surface and a load applying surface, the load receiving surface being arranged to receive a load bearing member, characterised in that the load distributor includes a barrier substance retaining portion which acts as a moat about the load receiving surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an upper view of a load distributor in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a lower view of the load distributor of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a side view of the load distributor of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is an upper view of a load distributor in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention; Figure 5 is a lower view of the load distributor of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is an upper view of a load distributor in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention; and

Figure 7 is an upper view of a load distributor in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention. DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the Figures, there is shown a load distributor 10. The load distributor 10 is substantially square in shape, with an outer perimeter defined by a outer wall 12. The outer wall 12 has an upper edge 13 and a lower edge 14, the distance between the upper edge 13 and the lower edge 14 and thus the height of the outer wall 12 being substantially smaller than the outer perimeter of the load distributor 10. The load distributor 10 is therefore relatively flat.

The load distributor 10 also includes a supporting wall 16. The supporting wall 16 is within, and substantially parallel to, the outer wall 12. The supporting wall 16 thus defines a square shape which is concentric with, and internal of, the square shape defined by the outer wall 12. The supporting wall 16 has an upper edge 17 which is level with the upper edge 13 of the outer wall 12, and a lower edge 18 which is level with the lower edge 14 of the outer wall 12.

The load distributor 10 further includes an inner wall 11 and a channel defining wall 20. The inner wall 11 and the channel defining wall 20 are parallel to, and concentric with, the outer wall 12 and the supporting wall 16. In the embodiment of the drawings the inner wall 11 and the channel defining wall 20 are substantially rectangular in shape. The inner wall 11 and the channel defining wall 20 have upper edges 22,24 respectively and lower edges 23, 25 respectively. The respective lower edges 23, 25 of the inner wall 11 and the channel defining wall 20 are level with the lower edges 14, 18 of the outer wall 12 and supporting wall 16. The upper edge 22 of the inner wall 11 is level with the upper edge 24 of the channel defining wall 20, and above the level of the upper edges 13, 17 of the outer wall 12 and the supporting wall 16. The height of the inner wall 11 and the channel defining wall 20 is thus greater than the height of the outer wall 12 and the supporting wall 16.

The inner wall 11 and the channel defining wall 20 are separated by a narrow gap, so as to define a substantially rectangular channel 19 therebetween.

The outer wall 12, supporting wall 16 and channel defining wall 20 are connected by a plurality of cross members 15. The cross members 15 extend inwardly and generally perpendicularly of the outer wall 12. Cross members 15 also extend diagonally inwards from corners of the square shape defined by outer wall 12.

Each cross member 15 has an upper edge 34 level with the upper edges 13, 17 of the outer wall 12 and supporting wall 16, and a lower edge 35 level with the lower edges

14, 18 of the outer wall 12 and supporting wall 16.

The channel defining wall 20, supporting wall 16, outer wall 12 and cross members

15 thus combine to form a grid like pattern.

A plurality of channel cross members (not shown) extend between the inner wall 11 and the channel defining wall 20. The channel cross members are substantially perpendicular to the inner wall 11, and each has a lower edge level with the lower edge 23 of the inner wall 11, and an upper edge below the level of the upper edge 22 of the inner wall 11.

A channel base portion 30 in the form of a thin, water impervious film or sheet extends between the lower edges 23, 25 of the inner wall 11 and channel defining wall 20. The channel base portion 30 acts to seal the base of the channel 19, thus forming a moat about the inner wall 11. The moat is U-shaped in cross section.

A plurality of inner cross members 26 extend within the rectangular portion defined by the inner wall 11. The inner cross members 26 extend between opposed sides and between opposed corners of the rectangular portion defined by the inner wall 11. Each inner cross member 26 has an upper edge 21 which is at a level below that of the upper edge 22 of the inner wall 11, and a lower edge 28 which is at the same level as the lower edge of the inner wall 11.

In the embodiment of Figures 1 to 3, an inner base portion 32 in the form of a thin, water impervious film or sheet extends internally of the lower edge 23 of the inner wall 11. The inner wall 11 and inner base portion 32 combine to form a well 36 central to the load distributor 10.

In the embodiment of Figures 4 and 5 the load distributor 10 is constructed without an inner base portion 32.

The upper edges 21 of the inner cross members 26 combine, in use, to form a load receiving surface oriented towards an upper side of the load distributor 10. The lower edges 14, 18, 23, 25, 28, 35 of the outer wall 12, supporting wall 16, inner wall 11, channel defining wall 20, inner cross members 28 and cross members 15 respectively combine with the channel base portion 30 and the inner base portion 32 to form a load applying surface oriented towards a lower side of the load distributor 10. The load applying surface has a perimeter defined by the lower edge 24 of the outer wall 12.

In use, the load distributor 10 is placed on the ground where the load is to be distributed, with the lower side of the load distributor 10 adjacent the load. A load bearing member such as a supporting leg of a caravan is placed within the inner wall 11 of the load distributor 10, such that the force exerted by the load bearing member is exerted upon the load receiving surface. This force is transferred through the load distributor to the ground. It will be appreciated that the force applied to the ground acts through the entire load applying surface, thus reducing the pressure applied at any one location compared to the pressure applied by the load bearing member without a load distributor. The degree to which this occurs is dependent on the total area of the load applying surface which is in contact with the ground.

The channel 19 is then filled with a barrier substance such as water, insecticide or talcum powder. The channel 19 thus acts as a barrier substance retaining portion, and defines a moat about the load receiving surface.

The channel cross-members assist in retaining the barrier substance throughout the channel 19 even when the load distributor 10 is inclined.

It will be appreciated that at least a portion of the load applying surface is substantially grid shaped, and thus extends over only a portion of the area defined by the perimeter of the load applying surface. This enables grass or other vegetation to grow within open areas within the perimeter of the load applying surface.

In the embodiments of Figures 1 to 3 and 7 it will be appreciated that the well 36 may also contain a barrier substance such as water or insecticide. It will also be appreciated that the base portion 32 in these embodiments will prevent the ingress of insects from beneath the load distributor 10.

A third embodiment of the present invention is shown in Figure 6. In this embodiment an inner covering member 27 in the form of a thin, water impervious film or sheet extends internally of the inner wall 11, over the upper edges 21 of the inner cross members 26. In this embodiment the inner covering member 27 acts as the load receiving surface. A lip 29 is formed between the upper edge 22 of the inner wall 11 and the inner covering member 27 to assist in location of the load bearing member. In a fourth embodiment of the present invention as shown in Figure 7 an attachment means in the form of a pair of opposed lugs 31 is provided extending upwardly- from opposed sides of the upper edge 22 of the inner wall 11. The lugs 31 are provided with aligned apertures 33. A pin (not shown) may be inserted through the apertures 31 and an appropriately sized aperture in the load bearing member in order to retain the load distributor 10 relative to the load bearing member during transit. Modifications and variations as would be apparent to a skilled addressee are deemed to be within the scope of the present invention. For instance, the height of the inner wall 11 and the channel defining wall 20 may be the same as that of the outer wall 12 and the supporting wall 16.

Claims

CLAIMSThe claims defining the invention are as follows:

1. A load distributor comprising a load receiving surface and a load applying surface, the load receiving surface being arranged to receive a load bearing member, characterised in that the load distributor includes a barrier substance retaining portion which acts as a moat about the load receiving surface.

2. A load distributor as claimed in Claim 1, characterised in that the barrier substance retaining portion comprises a channel.

3. A load distributor as claimed in Claim 2, characterised in that the channel includes a plurality of cross members extending substantially across the channel.

4. A load distributor as claimed in Claim 2 or Claim 3, characterised in that the channel is raised relative to an outer portion of the load distributor.

5. A load distributor as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the load receiving surface is bounded by an internal wall.

6. A load distributor as claimed in Claim 5, characterised in that the load applying surface is partially defined by a base portion extending internally of the internal wall.

7. A load distributor as claimed in Claim 5 or Claim 6, characterised in that the load receiving surface is defined by the upper edges of a plurality of cross members, the cross members extending internally of the internal wall.

8. A load distributor as claimed in Claim 7, characterised in that the upper edges of the cross members are situated at a level lower than that of an upper edge of the internal wall.

9. A load distributor as claimed in Claim 5 or Claim 6, characterised in that the load receiving surface is defined by a inner covering member extending internally of the internal wall

10. A load distributor as claimed in Claim 9, characterised in that a lip is formed between the internal wall and the inner covering member.

11. A load distributor as claimed in any one of Claims 5 to 10, characterised in that the barrier substance retaining portion is adjacent the internal wall.

12. A load distributor as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the load applying surface includes an outer perimeter, the outer perimeter defining a larger area than that of the load applying surface such that open spaces are present witliin the area defined by the outer perimeter.

13. A load distributor as claimed in Claim 12, characterised in that a portion of the load applying surface is substantially grid shaped.

14. A load distributor as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the load distributor includes an attachment means to enable attachment of the load distributor to the load bearing member.

15. A load distributor as claimed in Claim 14, characterised in that the attachment means comprises a pair of opposed lugs.