WO2006128220A1

WO2006128220A1 - Transport container

Info

Publication number: WO2006128220A1
Application number: PCT/AU2006/000719
Authority: WO
Inventors: Che Lee Wise-Jarvis
Original assignee: Wjr Holdings Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2005-05-30
Filing date: 2006-05-29
Publication date: 2006-12-07

Abstract

A container (10) has a base part (12) and a cover part (14) which, together, define an enclosed space to receive an article (120) to be stored and/or transported. The base part (12) is formed of a relatively rigid material, such as a synthetic plastics material or a composite material, and includes support means (25, 122) to receive and flexibly support the article spaced from walls (18) of the base part. The cover part (14) is also formed of a relatively rigid material and has hinges (16) to connect the cover part (14) to the base part (12) in an assembled condition. A lock system (38) is provided to enable the cover part (14) to be locked in a closed position on the base part (12). The container (10) has strategically placed cushion surfaces to act as impact absorbers, and a roof rack locking system (43, 37) is provided to secure the container to a vehicle roof rack.

Description

Transport Container

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a transport container and relates particularly to a container for storing and transporting goods, such, as sporting goods and the like.

The invention will be described with particular reference to its application to the storage and transport of surfboards. However, it will be understood that the invention has broader application and may be used for the storage and transport of any sporting or other article such as snowboards, water skis, snow skis, boards of all types including skate boards, and other products such as bicycles that, desirably, are stored and transported in a secure, safe and protected manner. Accordingly, throughout this specification, any reference to surfboards should be taken to include reference to other articles, particularly sporting articles.

Background of the Invention

It has been common practice to transport surfboards, for example, by motor vehicle using roof carry bars or the like to which the surfboard is held by appropriate straps or the like. The surfboard, however, is not secure if the vehicle is parked, and the board is also subject to damage by impact or by the pressure exerted by the hold- down straps or other tie-down cords or the like, particularly if two or more boards are carried together. Further, if metal carry bars are not protected with cushioning material, such as foamed plastic or rubber or other material, a board in contact with the bars may be damaged or deformed.

It has also been common practice to use a cover or bag made of a fabric material, synthetic plastics material or other relatively flexible material. Such a board cover or bag reduces, by a small measure, potential damage to a board caused by, for example, the securing or hold-down straps or the like. Such a cover or bag, however, provides no protection to the board in the event of an impact thereon, such as from another board or other object. A board bag provides no security against theft when the board is mounted on a vehicle roof rack.

On many occasions, it is desirable to be able to transport a surfboard by air or other transport vehicle in a manner whereby the board is secure and protected. At present, surfboards checked in as luggage at air lines are substantially unprotected and may easily be damage by careless handling or accidental contact with other checked-in luggage. It is therefore desirable to provide a container for transport and storage of articles, particularly sporting articles such as surfboards to thereby secure and protect the article.

It is also desirable to provide a case for storage and protection of, in particular, sporting articles such as surfboards, snowboards and the like, which is able to be easily and quickly mounted on or removed from a vehicle roof rack.

It is also desirable to provide a container for sporting equipment which is weatherproof, lockable, securable and transportable.

It is also desirable to provide an improved container or case for sporting articles which is able to hold one or more articles.

It is also desirable to provide a container for sporting articles in which the articles are securely held and protected against damage.

It is also desirable to provide a container for sporting articles in which two or more like containers are able to be securely interconnected.

Summary of the Invention

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a container having a base part and a cover part which, together, define an enclosed space to receive an article to be stored and/or transported, the base part being formed of a relatively rigid material and including support means to receive and support said article spaced from walls of the base part, the cover part being formed of a relatively rigid material and including connect means to connect the cover part to the base part in an assembled condition, and lock means to lock the cover part to the base part.

In preferred embodiments of the invention, designed particularly for the storage and/or transport of sporting articles such as surfboards, snowboards, skis or the like, the base part is moulded or otherwise formed from a relatively rigid, synthetic plastics material such as polypropylene, polyethylene, ABS, nylon, polycarbonate or other plastics materials which is relatively light, impact resistant, resistant to cutting and relatively economical. Other materials that may be used in the manufacture of the container of the invention are fibre glass, preferably reinforced, carbon fibre materials, metal, such as aluminium sheet, suitably reinforced, and mouldable, rubberised woven material. The outer surfaces of the base part and the cover part may have multiple, strategically placed, raised rubber-coated areas on flat surfaces of the container, which rubber-coated areas act as contact surfaces and shock absorbing pads. The rubber- coated areas may be formed of rubber composite pads, or synthetic rubber pads, which are either moulded with or adhered to the outer surfaces of the base part and cover part. The pads eliminate slippage and act as shock absorbers between two contact surfaces.

Preferably, particularly in embodiments of the invention which are elongated such as would be required to store and transport one or more surfboards, the cover part is connected to the base part by one or more hinges integral with or attached to opposing, longitudinal side walls of the respective parts. For security reasons, the hinges are preferably secure in construction to prevent tampering or unauthorised access to the container.

It is preferred that the base part is formed with a base wall and upstanding side walls defining an internal shape to receive the article to be transported and/or stored.

It is also preferred that the cover part is complimentary, preferably a mirror image of the base part. Such an arrangement facilitates mould and or die production.

In some preferred forms of the invention, the base part is provided with a plurality of article supports whereby the article to be housed within the container is carried therein spaced from the walls thereof. In one form, four article supports are provided in the base part on opposite sides thereof, the supports including a lower pad, a lateral pad and an adjustable upper pad. The pads, which are formed of a relatively soft, resilient shock absorbing material ensure that the surfboard is firmly and securely held in place within the container. The adjustable upper pad preferably is carried by an arm that includes a spring loaded ratchet mechanism which enables the pad to be carefully lowered onto the top surface of a board in the container resting on the lower pads. Preferably, the article supports are mounted on tracks integral with or fixed to the bottom wall of the base part, pairs of opposed supports being adjustable along the same track towards and away from each other to vary the width between the supports. The tracks may also act as reinforcing for the base part bottom wall, and any number of tracks may be provided to enable the article supports to be located in any suitable position within the base part.

In other embodiments of the invention, the support means includes a plurality, preferably four, of substantially L-shaped inserts formed of a resilient material, such as rubber, synthetic rubber, plastics material, or the like. The base part of the container is formed with a number of spaced wall sections extending into the interior space of the base part from opposed side walls and the base wall, the wall sections defining several arrays of a plurality of adjacent L-shaped receptors, each receptor being adapted to receive an insert. The inserts are shaped to closely fit or lock in the receptors to form base pads and side securing holders for a surfboard or other article in the container. The arrays of receptors enables the inserts to be selectively located relative to each other and to the article to be able secure articles of a range of dimensions. The inserts and/or the L-shaped receptor wall sections are preferably formed with locking means to firmly hold or lock the inserts in position. Such locking means may include interengaging shoulders or even axially aligned holes to receive a locking pin. The inserts are preferable formed with one or more inwardly extending enlargements or ribs or the like spaced from the base pad sections to resiliently lock against an upper side surface of the article.

It is also preferred that the base and cover parts each incorporate fastening means by which two or more containers are able to be secured together. It is also preferred that the container of the invention incorporates means for securing the container to a roof rack of a motor vehicle or other transport means. In one form, the roof rack is fitted with a locking system which may comprise a pair of mounting brackets adapted to be fixed to each bar of a roof rack system, each mounting bracket having an upstanding shank with an enlarged head. The base part is formed with an opening to align with each upstanding shank, and a pair of locking slides each having spaced keyhole slots are provided within the base part and are adapted to engage over the enlarged head on the upstanding shank and be laterally moved whereby each keyhole slot locks behind the enlarged head thereby preventing the base part to be moved relatively to the mounting bracket. An outer end of the locking slide is hinged so as to be moved to engage a lock on an outer side wall of the cover part so as to thereby lock the cover part to the base part and to the mounting brackets.

The container may be used to house two or more articles which may be the same or different. In the case of surfboards, the container may be designed to house two boards in a head-to-tail configuration within a single case. With such an arrangement, additional protective pads may be provided between the boards.

In some embodiments, the side walls of the base part and/or the cover part may be extendable or adjustable in height to accommodate articles of differing dimensions or to accommodate two or more articles in the container. In one form, the side walls of the base part are formed of two parts slidably inter-engaged in a telescopic manner so that the height of the side walls can expand in accordance with the height of the article(s) in the container. In another form, the side walls of the base and/or cover parts includes an expansion gusset formed of a flexible material. Securement means, in the form of, for example, releasable straps, may be used to hold the container side walls in the contracted condition, with the gusset folded along the inside of the wall, until the straps are released to enable the side wall to be expanded. Both base part and cover part may be formed with an integral handle structure that does not project beyond the outline of the container. Thus, one side wall of each base part and cover part, opposite the hinges, is moulded with an inwardly projecting recess defining a space for a handle. Embodiments of the invention may be constructed so as to permit two or more containers to be secured together. Preferably, in one arrangement, the cover part of a container is provided with four recesses in the upper wall, each recess housing a pivotal, upstanding shank with enlarged head which can be raised to extend from the upper surface of the cover part so as to be adapted to engage with locking slides of a mating container in the same manner as a container is secured to roof rack mounting brackets.

In order that the invention is more readily understood, embodiments thereof will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a container in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is a view of the container of Figure 1 in an open condition;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a board support as shown in Figure 2; Figure 4 is a detailed view of an adjustable upper pad holder for use with the board support of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a view similar to that of Figure 1 but illustrating the locking slides and case lock system;

Figure 6 is a view illustrating the operation of the locking slide system; Figure 7 is a detailed view of the mounting bracket for use with the invention;

Figure 8 is a view illustrating two containers of this embodiment secured together.

Figure 9 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a base part of a container of the invention showing parts in exploded view; Figure 10 is a perspective view of the base part of Figure 9 with the insert parts in assembled position;

Figure 11 is a perspective view of the base part of Figure 9 illustrating an article secured in the base part of the container;

Figure 12 is a perspective view of one form of insert to be used in the base part of Figure 9;

Figure 13 is an underneath view of the base part of Figure 9; and Figure 14 is a schematic, cross-sectional view of part of an expandable wall of a base part of a further embodiment of the invention.

Description of the preferred embodiments Referring to figures 1 to 8 of the drawings, a container 10 in accordance with this embodiment comprises a base part 12 and a cover part 14 secured to the base part 12 by hinges 16. The hinges 16 are preferably pilfer-proof to minimise the possibility of the hinge structure being able to be disassembled or dismantled which may give unauthorised access to the container 10. The base part 12, which is preferably formed of a moulded synthetic plastics material, has a base wall 17 and an upstanding side wall 18. Along one side of the side wall 18, opposite the hinges 16, the side wall 18 is formed with a recess 19 defining a space for a handle portion 21 formed integral with the side wall 18. The outer surface of the container 10 is preferably formed with raised, rubber or synthetic rubber-coated areas 20 which act as contact surfaces to protect the surface and to act as shock- absorbing pads. The areas 20 may be formed integral with the container walls or may be separately applied during the manufacturing process.

The base part 12 is fitted with four adjustable supports 22 to support a surfboard within the container 10. Each adjustable support 22, as particularly shown in Figures 3 and 4, is mounted for lateral movement on one of a plurality of tracks 15 fixed to or integral with the base wall 17. Each support 22 comprises a pair of upstanding posts 23, the upper end of which mounts a spring biased ratchet mechanism 25 carrying an adjustable upper pad 24. A lower pad 26 is mounted adjacent the respective posts 23, and a lateral pad 27 is also carried by the posts 23. The adjustable supports 22 may be movable within the base part 12 so as to accommodate boards of differing shapes and dimensions. Most preferably, the adjustable supports 22 are at least adjustable laterally within the base part 12, but may also be movable longitudinally, such as by engaging a support on another, longitudinally spaced track 15.

The spring biased ratchet mechanism 25 is mounted between the upper ends of the posts 23 and includes a ratchet 28 carried on the shaft 29 that is fixed by splined ends to the posts 23. The arm 31 is pivotal about the shaft 29 and is spring biased by the spring 32 to a substantially vertical position, parallel with the posts 23. When the arm 31 is moved against the spring bias to a substantially horizontal position, as shown in Figure 3, the pawl 33 of the ratchet mechanism engages the ratchet 28 to hold the arm in the set position. When it is desired to remove a held board, the spring biased release lever 34 releases the ratchet to allow the arm 31 to move to the substantially vertical position thereby releasing the board held between the upper and lower pads 24 and 26. The holding pressure on a surfboard mounted on the lower pads 26 is thereby able to be adjusted. The lateral pads 27 may be adjusted laterally to engage side rails of a surfboard held in the base part 12. The base part 12 also contains a pair of locking slides 36 each having spaced, keyhole shaped slots 37. The outer end 38 of the locking slides 36, shown in Figures 5 and 6, extend in substantially the same plane as the slides 36 when the slides 36 are in an unlocked, releasable position as shown in Figure 6c.

The locking slides 36 are adapted to engage upstanding shanks 39 which extend either from mounting brackets 41 adapted to be mounted on and secured to a roof rack carrier system of a motor vehicle (not shown). The mounting brackets 41 may be provided with any suitable known means for being secured to roof bars or the like used for transportation of the container 10. The mounting brackets 41 each include a fastening shank 42 having an enlarged head 43. The fastening shank 42 is moveable from a substantially horizontal position, as shown in Figure 7a, to an upright position shown in Figure 7b. The fastening shanks 42 of the mounting brackets 41, in the upstanding position, engage through openings (not shown) in the base wall 17 of the base part 12, as shown in Figure 2. The enlarged head 43 of each fastening shank 42 engages through a respective keyhole slot 37 in the locking slides 36, such that movement of the locking slides causes the narrower portions of the keyhole slots 37 to engage behind the respective enlarged heads 43 thereby locking the base part 12 to the mounting brackets 41. In the locked position, the outer ends 38 of the locking slides 36 are able to pivot to a substantially vertical position, as shown in Figures 1 and 6a.

The cover part 14 is formed with four recesses 44 to receive similar fastening shanks 42 whereby a second container 10 is able to be mounted on a lower container and locked thereto, as shown in Figure 8. When not in use, the fastening shanks 42 in the recesses 44 may be moved to the inoperative position shown in Figure 1.

To facilitate movement of the container 10 of this embodiment, a pair of wheels 46 are mounted in the side walls of the respective base part and cover part 12 and 14, as particularly shown in Figure 2. It will be appreciated, however, that wheels 46 may be provided at any suitable position around the side walls of the container 10 to facilitate movement thereof.

The cover part 14 has its side wall formed in a manner similar to the side wall 18 of the base part to define a handle recess 19a. The cover part 14 is also provided with a pair of locks 48 to which the outer ends 38 of the locking slides 36 are able to be secured to securely lock the cover part 14 to the base part 12. A locking key is therefore required in order to both open the container 10 and to remove the container from a locked position on a roof rack or carry bars. Thus, this embodiment of the container of the invention is able to securely store surfboards or the like and may also be used as a secure storage bin for clothing or other goods while a surfboard is being used.

Referring to figures 9 to 13, the container of this embodiment has a base part 112 substantially similar to that of the previous embodiment but with different article support means. In this embodiment, the base part 112 is formed with a plurality of arrays of internal wall sections 123 extending inwardly from the side walls 118 and the bottom wall 117. Each wall section 123 is substantially L-shape in elevation so that adjacent wall sections 123 of each separate array define L-shaped receptor sockets to receive an L-shaped insert 122.

In the embodiment illustrated, four arrays of receptor sockets are formed in the base 112, one on each side of the base 112 near each end. This enables four inserts 122 to be introduced into one respective socket in each array so that a surfboard 120 engaged with the inserts 122 is supported at four positions around its edge.

The inserts 122 are each formed of a resilient material such as rubber, synthetic rubber, synthetic plastics material, silicon material or the like. Each insert 122, as shown in Fig. 12, has a recess 126 on each side extending adjacent the side and bottom edges 127 and 127a and adapted to receive the respective wall sections 123 between which the insert is located. The particular wall sections 123 selected to define the particular socket to receive the insert will be determined by the size and shape of the surfboard to be supported. For a large board, wall sections 123 adjacent the ends of the base 112 will be used, whilst for a smaller board, wall sections 123 closer to the centre of the base 112 will be selected.

The inserts 122 are formed with at least one enlargement, or rib, 128 on the front edge, the enlargement forming an abutment, or detent, to engage an upper edge surface of a board so as to firmly hold the board in position engaged against a lower pad surface 129 of the insert. Inserts 122 of different sizes or lateral dimensions may be provided to secure boards of different widths and thicknesses.

As with the previous embodiment, the base 112 has a pair of lock slides 136 each with spaced keyhole slots 137, and outer ends 138 which are adapted to extend in an upright position when the slides 136 are in a locking position.

The base 112 of this embodiment is provided with a folding handle 121 on one side wall 118 and a second folding handle 141 on an end wall. At the opposite end, the base 112 has a pair of wheels 146 to facilitate movement of the container. It will be understood that the base 112 of this embodiment is hingedly connected to a cover part similar to that of the previous embodiment.

As previously indicated, embodiments of the container of the invention are particularly designed for surfboards and other boards such as kite surfing, skiing, snowboarding, wakeboarding and similar articles that require securement and protection for storage and transportation. By suspending a board within the container, any contact with the container minimises any impact on the board. The container of the invention may also be designed to store and transport other articles, such as bicycles. The container, itself, may be protected by rubber pads 20 and the like on the outer surfaces, and other protective pads of rubber, foamed plastics material, neoprene or the like may be provided within the cover part and base part of the container.

Referring to Figure 14, in some embodiments of the invention, the side walls 18, 118 of the base part and/or the cover part may be extendable or adjustable in height to accommodate articles of differing dimensions or to accommodate two or more articles in the container . In one form, as illustrated, the side walls 118 of the base part 12 are formed of two parts 118a and 118b. The first wall part 118a is integral with the base wall 117, while the second wall part 118b slidably inter-engages in a telescopic manner within the first wall part 118a so that the overall height of the side walls 118 can be expanded (as shown in dotted outline) in accordance with the height of the article(s) in the container. The first and second wall parts include inter-engaging ribs or flanges 30a and 30b that act to guide the telescopic movement of the respective wall parts 118a and 118b. Several releasable straps 35 may be provided to secure the two wall parts in the contracted position until required to be expanded. Press studs 35a, or Velcro, may be used as releasably fasteners. It will be appreciated that the wall 118 may be designed with more than two wall parts. Hinge supports 116 are carried by the inner wall part 118b, and the cover locking slide outer ends 38 are also formed to be extensible to adjust to the relative height of the container wall 118 in an extended position.

In another form, not illustrated, the side walls 118 of the base and/or cover parts 12 and 14 includes an expansion gusset formed of a flexible material. Securement means, in the form of, for example, releasable straps, may be used to hold the container side walls in the contracted condition, with the gusset folded along the inside of the wall, until the straps are released to enable the side wall to be expanded.

Although the illustrated embodiments illustrate a means of securing the container of the invention to roof racks or the like, it will be appreciated that other means of securement of the container to a carry systems on a vehicle may be used in accordance with the invention.

It will also be appreciated that a number of containers in accordance with the invention may be locked together thereby preventing individual cases being stolen or accessed. The container of the invention has additional advantages in terms of temperature control of a surfboard within the container thereby limiting delamination of the boards.

If desired, strategically placed ventilation ports may be provided in the sides or base or top of the container thereby ensuring proper ventilation to minimise potential build-up of mould and allowing contents of the container to dry.

Claims

1. A container having a base part and a cover part which, together, define an enclosed space to receive an article to be stored and/or transported, the base part being formed of a relatively rigid material and including support means to receive and support said article spaced from walls of the base part, the cover part being formed of a relatively rigid material and including connect means to connect the cover part to the base part in an assembled condition, and lock means to lock the cover part to the base part.

2. A container according to claim 1 wherein outer surfaces of the base part and the cover part have multiple, strategically placed, raised rubber-coated areas on flat surfaces of the base part and cover part which act as contact surfaces and shock absorbing pads.

3. A container according to claim 2 wherein the rubber-coated areas are formed of rubber composite pads, or synthetic rubber pads, which are either moulded with or adhered to the outer surfaces of the base part and cover part.

4. A container according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the base and cover parts are elongated and shaped to store and transport one or more surfboards.

5. A container according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the cover part is connected to the base part by one or more hinges integral with or attached to opposing, longitudinal side walls of the respective parts

6. A container according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein said support means includes a plurality of article supports whereby the article to be housed within the container is carried therein spaced from the walls thereof

7. A container according to claim 6 wherein four article supports are provided in the base part on opposite sides thereof, the article supports including a lower pad, a lateral pad and an adjustable upper pad, the pads being formed of a relatively resilient, shock absorbing material.

8. A container according to claim 7 wherein the adjustable upper pad is carried by an arm that includes a spring loaded ratchet mechanism which enables the pad to be carefully lowered onto the top surface of an article in the container base part resting on the lower pads.

9. A container according to any one of claims 6 to 8 wherein the article supports are mounted on tracks integral with or fixed to a bottom wall of the base part, pairs of opposed supports being adjustable along the same track towards and away from each other to vary the width between the supports.

10. A container according to claims 9 wherein the tracks act as reinforcing for the base part bottom wall, and a three or more tracks are provided to enable the article supports to be located in any suitable position within the base part.

11. A container according to any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein the support means includes a plurality of substantially L-shaped inserts formed of a resilient material, the inserts engaged with side walls of the base part.

12. A container according to claim 11 wherein the base part is formed with a plurality of spaced wall sections extending into the interior space of the base part from opposed side walls and the base wall, the wall sections defining several arrays of a plurality of adjacent L-shaped receptors, each receptor being adapted to receive an article-supporting insert.

13. A container according to claim 12 wherein the inserts are shaped to closely fit in the receptors to form base pads and side securing holders for a surfboard or other article in the container.

14. A container according to claim 12 or claim 13 wherein the inserts are engaged with selected receptors and are located relative to each other and to the article to be able secure articles of a range of dimensions.

15. A container according to any one of claims 12 to 14 wherein each insert is formed with at least one inwardly extending enlargement spaced from a base pad section to resiliently lock against the article.

16. A container according to any one of claims 1 to 15 wherein the base and cover parts each include fastening means by which two or more containers are able to be secured together.

17. A container according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the base part includes a roof rack locking system which includes a pair of mounting brackets adapted to be mounted to each bar of a roof rack system, each mounting bracket having an upstanding shank with an enlarged head, a plurality of openings in a bottom wall of the base part each adapted to align with an upstanding shank, and a pair of locking slides in the base part, each slide having spaced keyhole slots adapted to engage over respective enlarged heads on the upstanding shanks and be laterally moved whereby each keyhole slot locks behind the enlarged head thereby preventing separation of the base part from the mounting brackets.

18. A container according to claim 17 wherein an outer end of each locking slide is hinged so as to be moved from a position substantially co-planar with an inner end of the slide within the base part to an upright position substantially at right angles to the first position to engage a lock on an outer side wall of the cover part so as to thereby lock the cover part to the base part and to the mounting brackets.

19. A container according to either of claims 17 or 18 wherein the cover part of the container is formed with four recesses in an upper wall thereof, each recess housing a pivotal, upstanding shank with enlarged head which can be raised from a lowered position to extend from the upper wall of the cover part and is adapted to engage with locking slides of a mating container.

20. A container according to any one of claims 1 to 19 wherein either one or both base part and cover part is formed with an integral handle structure that does not proj ect beyond the outline of the container.

21. A container according to any one of claims 1 to 20 wherein either one of the base part and the cover part has a pair of wheels mounted to one end thereof.

22 A container according to any one of claims 1 to 21 wherein the base part and cover part are designed particularly for the storage and/or transport of sporting articles, including surfboards, snowboards, skis, wakeboards and other elongated sporting boards.

23 A container according to any one of claims 1 to 22 wherein the base part and cover part are formed of a relatively rigid, synthetic plastics material selected from polypropylene, polyethylene, ABS, nylon, polycarbonate, or from a composite material including reinforced fibre glass or carbon fibre materials, or metal including steel and aluminium sheet, suitably reinforced, and mouldable, rubberised woven materials.

24. A container substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.