WO2006092638A1

WO2006092638A1 - Foldable container-pallet for the transport of goods

Info

Publication number: WO2006092638A1
Application number: PCT/GR2006/000010
Authority: WO
Inventors: Nikiforos Andrianos; Pavlos Lefas; Loukas Zelianaios
Original assignee: Nikiforos Andrianos; Pavlos Lefas; Loukas Zelianaios
Priority date: 2005-03-04
Filing date: 2006-03-03
Publication date: 2006-09-08
Also published as: GR1005168B

Abstract

Foldable container-pallet for the transport of goods which has a rectangular horizontal base (1) forming the pallet floor (100), two reclining lateral walls (2a) and (2b) retained upright by spacer rods (3) in the container unfold position and allowed to fold on the rectangular base (1), one atop the other, and provide adequate space between them and beneath them for storage of the container's other movable parts, and a retractable tarpaulin (23) cover forming the longitudinal walls and the top of the container.

Description

Foldable container-pallet for the transport of goods.

This invention refers to a foldable container-pallet for the transport of goods (hereinafter container) which has a rectangular horizontal base forming the pallet floor, two reclining lateral walls folding on the rectangular base, one atop the other, providing adequate space between them and beneath them for storage of the container's other movable parts in the container fold position, and a retractable tarpaulin cover forming the longitudinal walls and the top of the container in the container unfold position. Foldable and collapsible containers and pallets, with folding sides, edges etc., are well known in the industry. There exist various patents offering a great variety of solutions for assembling and disassembling or connecting and disconnecting or fastening and unfastening the lateral sides to one another and to the base and top of the container. Many of those solutions offered by the patents achieve a reduction of the overall volume of the container in the container fold position.

The aforementioned containers, though, aren't easy and simple to construct, consist of many parts making unfolding and folding difficult and they have loose parts, like screws etc., which might get lost at some point. Most importantly, the solutions offered by the patents do not achieve the reduction of the container construction cost which is crucial, the industry of goods transport being extremely competitive, e.g. patents WO 2004014748, GB 974538 and many more. The aim of this patent is the construction of a low cost, light and easily foldable container, with no detached assembly parts that might get lost. Moreover, the length as well as the width of the rectangular base, in the proposed implementation of this patent, is one of equal parts, i.e. submultiple respectively of the length and the width of the loading surface of the means of transport currently in use, such as open and covered trucks, platforms, railway wagons etc. Thus the container proposed allows for the partial shipment to various receivers at reduced cost, i.e. the optimum use of the means of transport (trucks etc) when shipping to different recipients (groupage), offering maximum flexibility at the minimum of cost; a number of similar containers occupies the whole loading surface of a truck, railway wagon etc. when the containers are unfolded and operational, and each one of them can be easily delivered to a different recipient; the relatively small weight of the container, even when it is fully loaded, allows for its loading on and unloading from the trucks, railway wagons etc. with small forklifts widely used. A truck, railway wagon, etc can carry a large number of folded containers. The foldable container-pallet, according to this patent, is characterised in that, it has only the horizontal rectangular base and two opposite side walls (called lateral walls for shake of simplicity) made of rigid material, i.e. metal or any other adequate material. The aforementioned lateral walls are hinged on the horizontal rectangular base so that they can recline inwards, i.e. towards the rectangular base. The hinges are adequately distanced i.e. at different heights measured from the rectangular base so as to allow for the folding of the reclining lateral walls on the rectangular base, one atop the other, providing adequate space between them and beneath them for storage of the container's other movable parts in the container fold position.

In the container unfold position, the two reclining lateral walls are in upright position, perpendicular to the horizontal rectangular base and are held in place by adequate spacer rods, made of metal or any other adequate material. Each spacer rod consists of two parts i.e. mutually corresponding half-rods ('half meaning a part of any length) The mutually corresponding half-rods are hinged each at one of its ends (i.e. tips) on the upper end of the inner side of the reclining lateral walls (inner side meaning the side that looks into the container in the container unfold position) facing each other, i.e. opposite to each other. In the container fold position the half-rods fit respectively into the gap between and beneath the folded lateral walls. In the container unfold position, the mutually corresponding half rods form integrated spacer rods. The spacer rods run between the upper ends of the reclining lateral walls and parallel to the rectangular base and perpendicular to the reclining lateral walls in the container unfold position. In that position the spacer rods also support the tarpaulin, which is rolled over them so as to form the retractable top of the container. The cargo straps form Xs each having one end fixed on the upper corner of one of the reclining lateral walls, the other end fixed on the diagonally opposite corner of the rectangular base, in the container unfold position, each X running on the plane defining the respective open longitudinal side of the container. The cargo straps thus do not allow the reclining lateral walls to recline outwards, (outwards being the opposite to inwards which means towards the rectangular base), and combined with the spacer rods do not allow the reclining walls to recline either inwards or outwards, and the container is made rigid. The tarpaulin covers the longitudinal sides and the top of the container, and is attached to the rectangular base. In the container unfold position the tarpaulin is rolled over the spacer rods at the top of the container and is attached firmly to the lateral walls and the rectangular base. The tarpaulin cover being held in place, the container is watertight and rigid enough to be transported by open (uncovered) trucks and other means of transport. Figure 1 illustrates the container in the container unfold position. Figure 2 illustrates in section (section c-c' as indicated in Figure 1) the proposed implementation of the adjoining of mutually corresponding spacer half rods (3a) and (3b) so as to form integrated spacer rods (3), by the use of tubes (11). Each tube (11) is attached with a compression spring (12) to one spacer half rod of a pair of mutually corresponding half-rods (3 a) and (3b) respectively. Figure 2 illustrates in section (section c-c' as indicated in Figure 1) as well the proposed implementation of the spacer half-rod hinges (6) by which the spacer half-rods (3a) and (3b) are attached to the reclining lateral walls (2a) and (2b).

Figure 3 illustrates in section (section b-b' as indicated in Figure 1) the proposed implementation of the rectangular base (1) of the container, the joists (99), the lashings (39), the floor (100), and the feet of the base (101) in projection.

Figure 4 illustrates in section (section a-a' as indicated in Figure 1) the proposed implementation of the rectangular base (1) of the container, the beams (17a) and (17b), the joists (99), the floor (100), and the feet of the base (101) in projection. Figure 5 illustrates the cargo straps (51) and (52) and the cargo strap D-rings (88). Figure 6 illustrates the container covered by the tarpaulin (23) and the tarpaulin grommets (61).

Figure 7 illustrates in section (section c-c' as indicated in Figure 1) the container in the container fold position and the hinges (4) and (5) by which the reclining lateral walls (2a) and (2b) are attached to the rectangular base (1). In order to keep the hinges (4) and (5) at an adequate distance from the rectangular base (1), the hinges (4) and (5) are fixed respectively on footings (27a) and (27b) of the reclining lateral walls (2a) and (2b) of different height, so as to allow the reclining lateral walls (2a) and (2b) to fold inwards in the prescribed manner.

Figure 8 illustrates in section (section d-d' as indicated in Figure 1) a hinge (5) by which the reclining lateral wall (2b) is attached to the rectangular base (1). Hinges (4) and (6) are similar to hinge (5).

Figure 9 illustrates in section (section x-x' as indicated in Figure 6) the D-ring (62), the grommet (61) and the wire rope (64) for securing of the tarpaulin (23) in place. In the proposed implementation, the container consists of the horizontal rectangular base (1), constructed adequately, having joists (99) and floor (100), made of adequate material, as known to specialists. Feet (101) are attached to the bottom of the horizontal rectangular base (1), at four edges, so that a forklift can lift the container, π shaped beams (17a) and (17b) run respectively along the longitudinal edges of the horizontal rectangular base (1). D-rings (62) are attached on beam (17a) so that the grommets (61) of the tarpaulin (23) are secured adequately.

In the container unfold position, the container is open-sided and open-top, i.e. the longitudinal walls and the top of the container are actually formed by the retractable tarpaulin (23). The reclining lateral walls (2a) and (2b) of the container are made of rigid material and have footings (27a) and (27b) of unequal height, so that they can fold one atop the other on the horizontal rectangular base (1). The footings (27a) and (27b) are firmly fixed on the horizontal rectangular base (1). The reclining lateral walls (2a) and (2b) are attached with hinges (4) and (5) to the footings (27a) and (27b). The hinges (4) and (5) are kept at unequal distances from the rectangular base (1), as illustrated in Figure 7, so that the reclining lateral wall (2a) can recline towards the rectangular base (1) and fold on it leaving sufficient space between it and the floor (100) of the horizontal rectangular base (1) for the storage of the tarpaulin (23), and the reclining lateral wall (2b) can recline towards the rectangular base (1), and fold atop the reclining lateral wall (2a), already folded on the rectangular base (1). Enough space is left for the storage of the spacer half-rods (3a) and (3b) and the cargo straps (51) and (52). In the proposed implementation, the reclining lateral walls (2a) and (2b) consist of a metal sheet fixed on a frame made of beams (7), running on its perimeter. The footings (27a) and (27b) are constructed similarly to the reclining lateral walls (2a) and (2b), and bear lashings (39) for the secure fastening of the container on the loading platform of the transport vehicles. The hinges (4) and (5) are welded on the inwards looking sides of the footings (27a) and (27b) and on the bottom ends of the inwards looking sides of the reclining lateral walls (2a) and (2b).

The heights of the footings (4) and (5) are made unequal, to keep the hinges (4) and (5) at unequal distances to the rectangular base (1), and are proportioned in reference to the length of the longitudinal side of the rectangular base (1) so that the reclining lateral walls (2a) and (2b) can fold on the rectangular base (1) one atop the other leaving sufficient space between them and between them and the floor (100) of the horizontal rectangular base (1) for the storage of the tarpaulin (23) and the spacer half-rods (3a) and (3b), and the cargo straps (51) and (52), so that the folded container is as flat as possible. The hinges (4) and (5) have flexible flanges to make them watertight, as known to specialists. In the proposed implementation various parts of the container e.g. rectangular base (1), reclining lateral walls (2a) and (2b) etc. are made of metal, though other adequate material e.g. plastic etc. known to specialists could be used instead. In the container unfold position the two reclining lateral walls (2a) and (2b) are in upright position, i.e. perpendicular to the horizontal rectangular base (1). Their heights may vary on request. In the proposed implementation, in the container unfold position they are retained vertical by appropriate spacer rods (3), made of metal or of any other adequate material. Each spacer rod (3) consists of two parts i.e. mutually corresponding spacer half-rods (3a) and (3b) ('half meaning a part of any length). Each of the mutually corresponding spacer half-rods (3 a) and (3b) is attached by the means of a hinge (6) at one of its ends, i.e. tips, to the upper end of the inner side of the respective reclining lateral wall (2a) or (2b) (inner side meaning the side looking into the container in the container unfold position). The spacer half-rods (3a) and (3b) are allowed to swing when the container is being folded so that they fit respectively into the gap between and beneath the folded reclining lateral walls (2a) and (2b) in the container fold position. (If one of corresponding spacer half-rods (3a) or (3b) is small enough to fit between or beneath the folded reclining lateral walls (2a) and (2b) in the container fold position, it may be firmly fixed perpendicularly on the respective reclining lateral wall (2a) or (2b)). In the container unfold position, each pair of mutually corresponding spacer half-rods (3a) and (3b) forms an integrated spacer rod (3). In the hereby-proposed implementation, the spacer half-rod (3b) of each pair of mutually corresponding spacer half rods (3a) and (3b) has a tube (11) attached with a compression spring (12) to its loose end, i.e. the one not attached by the means of a hinge (6) to the reclining lateral wall (2b). The inner diameter of the tube (11) is slightly larger to the (external) diameter of the spacer half-rods (3a) and (3b), and is allowed to slide over the aforementioned spacer half-rod (3b) and cover its end when the spring (12) is not compressed. By forcing the tube (11) to retreat, so as to uncover the loose end, the spring (12) is compressed. By aligning two mutually corresponding spacer half-rods (3a) and (3b), their loose ends (i.e. tips) touching or almost touching each other, and allowing the spring (12) to decompress, the tube (11) covers both loose ends (i.e. tips), and adjoins and holds in place, and does not allow them to disengage or to move in any direction other than out of the tube (H)₅ which is made impossible by the cargo straps (51) that do not allow the reclining lateral walls (2a) and (2b) to recline outwards. Both mutually corresponding spacer half-rods (3a) and (3b) being kept aligned are forced to function as an integrated spacer rod (3). The mutually corresponding spacer half-rods (3a) and (3b) facing each other push each other and retain the reclining lateral walls (2a) and (2b) perpendicular to the horizontal rectangular base (1), not allowing them to recline inwards, i.e. towards the rectangular base (1). By sliding back the tube (11), both mutually corresponding half-rod ends (3a) and (3b) are uncovered allowing the dismantling of the spacer rod (3) into two half rods (3a) and (3b), each hinged opposite the other on the respective reclining lateral wall (2a) or (2b) when the container is being folded and making the folding of the reclining lateral walls (2a) and (2b) possible. The length of the tube (11) is the minimum adequate to hold in place the loose ends of two mutually corresponding spacer half rods (3a) and (3b). In the container unfold position the spacer rods (3) support the retractable tarpaulin (23) rolled over them. In the proposed implementation there are three spacer rods (3), as illustrated in Figure 1. In a different implementation there may be one, two or more spacer rods (3), of any adequate shape or form, cylindrical, square or of any adequate profile, or even any form of split or reclining container top functioning as spacer.

The spacer rods (3) are of a total length equal to that of the longitudinal sides of the rectangular base (1) as measured between the container's reclining lateral walls (2a) and (2b) when these walls are in upright position. The length as well as the width of the rectangular base (1) is one of equal parts, i.e. submultiple respectively of the length and the width of the loading surface of the means of transport currently in use, such as open and covered trucks, platforms, railway wagons etc.

Cargo straps (51) form Xs. Each cargo strap (51) has one end fixed on the upper corner of the reclining lateral wall (2a) or (2b), the other end fixed on the diagonally opposite corner of the rectangular base (1); in the container unfold position, each X runs on the plane defining the respective open longitudinal side of the container. The cargo straps (51) thus do not allow the reclining lateral walls (2a) and (2b) to recline outwards, (outwards being the opposite to inwards which means towards the rectangular base). By adjoining the corresponding half rods (3a) and (3b) and forming integrated spacer rods (3) as described above, the Xs forming cargo straps (51) do not allow the reclining lateral walls (2a) and (2b) to recline either inwards or outwards and make the container rigid.

Cargo straps (52) are placed parallel to the longitudinal edges of the rectangular base (1), on the planes defining the respective open longitudinal side of the container in the container unfold position. The horizontal cargo straps (52) do not allow the reclining lateral walls (2a) and (2b) to recline outwards, and they form sub-frames on the longitudinal sides of the container in the container unfold position, which, combined with the tarpaulin cover ( 23), confine the goods transported on the pallet, not allowing them to fall out of the container. The Xs forming cargo straps (51) consist each of two mutually corresponding parts (51a) and (51b). One end of each part is bound to a D-ring (88). The loose ends of two mutually corresponding strap parts are connected with a ratchet, as known to specialists, and the mutually corresponding parts are tightened together as to form and function as integrated cargo straps (51), as illustrated in Figure 5. Similarly, the horizontal cargo straps (52) consist each of two mutually corresponding parts (52a) and (52b). One end of each part is bound to a D-ring (88). The loose ends of two mutually corresponding strap parts are connected with a ratchet, as known to specialists, and the mutually corresponding parts are tightened together as to form and function as integrated cargo straps. In the proposed implementation, the tarpaulin (23) covering the longitudinal sides and the top of the container and making the container watertight in the container unfold position is firmly attached to the beam (17b) of the rectangular base (1) along its whole length. By 'tarpaulin' is meant any adequate flexible, waterproof material, such as oil canvas etc. known to specialists. In the proposed implementation, D-rings (62) are fixed on beam (17a) as well as on the outer sides of the reclining lateral walls (2a) and (2b) and on their footings, so that the grommets (61) of the tarpaulin (23) are secured adequately, as illustrated in Figure 9 Any other means, known to specialists, of securing the retractable tarpaulin cover to its proper place as prescribed hereby could be used. A wire rope (64) or any other adequate devise or devises hold the tarpaulin (23) in place. The reclining lateral walls (2a) and (2b) are retained upright in the container unfold position and the container is made rigid by the combined function of the spacer rods (3) and the cargo straps (51) and (52).

All movable parts and components, which might get lost during the folding-unfolding of the container, e.g. the tarpaulin (23), the spacer half rods (3), the compression springs (12), the tubes (11), the cargo straps (51) and (52) and the wire rope (64) are all attached to the container even when it is folded.

Claims

1. Foldable container-pallet, having a horizontal rectangular base (1) forming the pallet floor (100), two reclining lateral walls (2a) and (2b) folding on the rectangular base (1), one atop the other, providing adequate space between them and beneath them for storage of the container's other movable parts in the container fold position, and a retractable tarpaulin cover (23), which is characterized in that, in the container unfold position, the two reclining lateral walls (2a) and (2b) are in upright position, i.e. perpendicular to the horizontal rectangular base (1), and they are retained vertical by spacer rods (3) and cargo straps (51). In the container unfold position the spacer rods (3) run between the upper ends of the reclining lateral walls (2a) and (2b) and parallel to the rectangular base (1) and perpendicular to the reclining lateral walls (2a) and (2b) and support the retractable tarpaulin (23) rolled over them. Each spacer rod (3) consists of two parts i.e. mutually corresponding spacer half-rods (3a) and (3b) ('half meaning a part of any length). Each of the mutually corresponding spacer half-rods (3a) and (3b) is attached by the means of a hinge (6) at one of its ends, i.e. tips, to the upper end of the inner side of the respective reclining lateral wall (2a) or (2b) (inner side meaning the side looking into the container in the container unfold position). The spacer half-rods (3a) and (3b) are allowed to swing when the container is being folded so that they fit respectively into the gap between and beneath the folded reclining lateral walls (2a) and (2b) in the container fold position. (If one of mutually corresponding spacer half-rods (3a) or (3b) is small enough to fit between or beneath the folded reclining lateral walls (2a) and (2b) in the container fold position, it may be firmly fixed perpendicularly on the respective reclining lateral wall (2a) or (2b)). In the container unfold position, two mutually corresponding spacer half-rods (3 a) and (3b) form an integrated spacer rod (3), adjoined and held in place by the tube (11). The inner diameter of the tube (11) is slightly larger to the (external) diameter of the spacer half-rods (3a) and (3b), so that the tube (11) covers the loose ends, i.e. the ones not attached by the means of hinges (6) to the reclining lateral walls (2a) and (2b), of both mutually corresponding spacer half-rods (3a) and (3b), in the container unfold position, and keeps both mutually corresponding spacer half-rods (3a) and (3b) aligned, forcing them to function as an integrated spacer rod (3). The length of the tube (11) is the minimum adequate to holdin place the loose ends (i.e. tips) of two mutually corresponding spacer half rods (3a) and (3b). In the container unfold position, the mutually corresponding spacer half-rods (3a) and (3b) face each other and push each other and retain the reclining lateral walls (2a) and (2b) perpendicular to the horizontal rectangular base (1), not allowing them to recline inwards, i.e. towards the rectangular base (1). The loose ends (i.e. tips) of mutually corresponding spacer half-rods (3a) and (3b) touch each other; contained by the tube (11), they are not allowed to disengage or move in any direction other than out of the tube (11). This is made impossible by the cargo straps (51) that do not allow the reclining lateral walls (2a) and (2b) to recline outwards. The cargo straps (51) form Xs. Each cargo strap (51) has one end fixed on the upper corner of the reclining lateral wall (2a) or (2b), the other end fixed on the diagonally opposite corner of the rectangular base (1); in the container unfold position, each X runs on the plane defining the respective open longitudinal side of the container. In the container unfold position the adjoined and held in place and mutually corresponding half rods (3a) and (3b) forming integrated spacer rods (3) as described above, combined with the Xs forming cargo straps (51) do not allow the reclining lateral walls (2a) and (2b) to recline either inwards or outwards and make the container rigid.

2. Foldable container-pallet, according to Claim 1, which is characterized in that the tube (11) is firmly fixed, with a compression spring (12) on the loose end, i.e. the one not attached by the means of a hinge (6) to the reclining lateral wall (2b), of spacer half rod (3b), over which it is allowed to slide backwards by compressing the spring (12). The tube (11) being slide back, it either allows the alignment of two mutually corresponding half rods (3a) and (3b) when the container is being unfolded, and the subsequent forming of a integrated spacer rod (3) by releasing the spring (12), or it allows the dismantling of the spacer rod (3) into two half rods (3a) and (3b), each attached opposite the other on the respective reclining lateral wall (2a) or (2b) by the means of a hinge (6), when the container is being folded, and making the folding of the reclining lateral walls (2a) and (2b) possible.

3. Foldable container-pallet, according to Claim 1, which is characterized in that the spacer rods (3), comprising of two mutually corresponding spacer half rods (3a) and

(3b) each, are of a total length equal to that of the longitudinal sides of the rectangular base (1) as measured between the container's reclining lateral walls (2a) and (2b) when these walls are in upright position. The length as well as the width of the rectangular base (1) is one of equal parts, i.e. submultiple, respectively of the length and the width of the loading surface of the means of transport currently in use, such as open and covered trucks, platforms, railway wagons etc.

4. Foldable container-pallet, according to Claim 1, which is characterized in that one or more horizontal cargo straps (52) are placed parallel to the longitudinal edges of rectangular base (1), on the planes defining the respective open longitudinal sides of the container in the container unfold position. The horizontal cargo straps (52) do not allow the reclining lateral walls (2a) and (2b) to recline outwards, and they form sub-frames on the longitudinal sides of the container in the container unfold position, which, combined with the tarpaulin cover (23), confine the goods transported on the pallet, not allowing them to fall out of the container