WO2016108248A1

WO2016108248A1 - Collapsible and expandable racks for fascia and method thereof

Info

Publication number: WO2016108248A1
Application number: PCT/IN2015/050219
Authority: WO
Inventors: Arun Modgil
Original assignee: Arun Modgil
Priority date: 2014-12-30
Filing date: 2015-12-28
Publication date: 2016-07-07

Abstract

The present invention provides a collapsible and expandable fascia rack container which overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art by providing the collapsible and or expandable rack with minimum amount of packaging in order to transport varied sizes of the fascia. The invention also provides for an expandable/collapsible rack which may be constructed to have a suitable height compatible with the size and height of the shipment. The rack is provided with the telescopic extension mechanism to secure a variety of varied sizes of fascia.

Description

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The invention generally relates to the field of shipping or transportation industry, and, particularly to a collapsible and/or extendable racks for handling and transportation of Fascia. The invention also relates to the method manufacturing such racks.

BACHGKOUND OFTHEINVENIION

Partially collapsible or expandable racks are already known for use in place of wooden racks shipping or transporting of fragile and breakable material such as Fascia. Fascia these days is embedded with all sorts of sensors, lights etc, unlike in the past, when it used to be just an extruded plastic part like bumper.

As an example, consider a bumper fascia manufacturing operation. It is well known that bumper fascias can be of considerable size - generally at least as long as the width of an automobile and frequently 12-36 inches or even more for high-end automobiles, in height. Thus, in addition to weighing from several to tens of pounds, such bumper fascias are fairly large and difficult to maneuver.

The transportation of such fascia for different functions present a unique challenge every time which in turn requires designing of such steel/metal racks. If the racks for the transportation are not designed in proper manner, then there can be a huge amount of breakage while transporting the consignment. It is therefore a known practice to use such steel racks for transporting the fragile materials.

Another problem which is commonly faced during the transportation of such articles is that, the racks to be shipped may not have the load to the full capacity thereby leaving more empty space in the racks thus resulting in even more chance of breakage due to the excessive vibrations. Thus it is required to have a sufficient arrangement of packaging material to be in place during the transportation. This again results in increased costs. Further, it is also not possible to have a full load of consignment of the same size every time in the rack. For efficient shipping and due to the varied requirements, often the consignment may consist of Fa s cia s of varied sizes and shapes which needs to be shipped. Thus it is a requirement that the rack must be so designed so as to engulf all the sizes to safety while transporting them.

Further, after the delivery of the consignments, the racks which have now been emptied are again required to be shipped back for further use. Thus there is again a huge cost involved for transporting back the empty racks which will again require the same space as the loaded one.

Therefore, it should also be obvious that it would be advantageous to employ a system and method wherein at least the transportation of such bulky Fascias of varying sizes is eased.

Thus to overcome the problems being faced by earlier invention and provide a effective solution for the transportation of Fascias, the present invention provides for new and inventive steel racks/containers with variable dimensions such that these packaging containers can be expanded to meet the varying size of fascias being packaged and shipped.

SlJMMARyOFTHEESVE nON

In accordance with the present invention, a collapsible and expandable fascia rack container is provided which overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art by providing the collapsible and or expandable rack with minimum amount of packaging in order to transport varied sizes of the fascia.

The invention also provides for an expandable/collapsible rack which may be constructed to have a suitable height compatible with the size and height of the shipment. The rack is provided with the telescopic extension mechanism to secure a variety of varied sizes of fascia. The telescopic extension and contraction mechanism may be used to accommodate the shipping of partially filled racks. The rack may be made collapsible using the telescopic mechanism wherein the encompassing frames are adapted to receive the extendable portions of the rack. The frames are further pivotably connected to the base frame. Thus while in collapsible formation, the structure of the rack can be compressed using the telescopic side frames and then can be conveniently folded at the pivotal points thus making it stackable in compressed / collapsed position.

Further, the invention also provides for a rack so designed that when fully expanded every fascia of every car can fit into this rack and rack can be adjusted for any height and any truck size.

The invention also provides for a method of laying the Fascias in such collapsible and/or extendible racks such that minimum labour is required to place the Fascias on such racks. The invention also provides for a method to manufacture/assemble expandable/collapsible rack according to the present invention which may be constructed to have a suitable height compatible with the size and height of the shipment. The method involves providing the rack with the telescopic extension mechanism to secure a variety of varied sizes of fascia.

BREFMSCRIPnON OFDRAWINGS:

FIG. 1 is the perspective view of the assembled rack in fully expanded position with the load (fascia).

FIG. 2 is the perspective view of the rack in the smallest configuration. FIG. 3 is the perspective view of the rack in the largest configuration. FIG. 4 is the perspective view of the rack in the flat packed configuration.

FIG. 5 and 6 is the perspective view of the rack in the part access configuration. FIG. 7-12 represents the perspective view showing the sequence for expanding the rack.

FIG. 13-18 represents the perspective view showing the sequence for packing the rack. Figure 19 illustrates a flow chart depicting a method for forming or manufacturing collapsible and/or extendible racks.

I IAIEDI^KIFFK OFTHEESVEOTION This application describes the subject matter for patenting with specificity to meet statutory requirements. However, the description itself is not intended to limit the scope of this patent. The principles described herein may be embodied in many different forms.

The present invention is described hereinafter by various embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. In order to achieve full description and explanation, specific details have been mentioned to provide a thorough and comprehensive understanding of various embodiments of the present invention. However, said embodiments may be utilized without such specific details and in various other ways broadly covered herein. Illustrative embodiments of the invention now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which some, but not all embodiments of the invention are shown. Indeed, the invention may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.

Referring to FIG. 1, one of the embodiments of the invention is described. The figure shows an assembled rack in fully expandable condition and loaded with the Fascia. Referring to FIG.3, the rack in accordance with the present invention has a base 1, which is fixedly connected and has a support. The base is then connected with two sub assemblies one of which is at the right hand side of the base and the other is at the left hand side of the base. The third side or the front side of the base has also a sub-assembly which can be expanded or collapsed separately. The side opposite to third side or the rear side of the base has a passage way P, through which the user can enter the rack for placing or removing the fascia from the said rack. A passage is provided at one side of the assembly so that the fascia can be placed easily and can also be removed easily from the rack in any configuration.

Referring to FIG. 3, the base assembly of the rack in accordance with the present invention, the base of the invention comprises of square sections 101 which are fixedly connected to each other in a substantially rectangular shape of a predetermined size. This substantially rectangular section is further connected with two more transverse bars 201,

202 and 301, 302 preferably equidistant from the center of the longitudinal section Γ.

The transverse members 201, 301 of the substantially rectangular base assembly are provided with the stops 'S' so as to delimit the horizontal movement of the transverse bars.

The transverse members 2, 201 and 3, 301 are connected with the base 1, 101 in a manner that they are connected telescopically connected with each other. The transverse members 2, 201 and 3, 301 can be retracted in the square section 101 of the base 1. There are provided delimiters or stops 'S' which delimits the movement of the transverse bars.

Referring to FIG. 5, the transverse members at the left hand side and on the right hand side of the base i.e. 401 and 40 are hingedly connected with the frame 2, 201 and 3, 301 respectively at the point 402 and 402' of the frame 401 and 401 ' respectively. As can be seen in FIG. 4, the transverse members can be folded to a packed configuration at the point 402 and 402' which are hingedly connected.

Thus the transverse frames can be telescopically expanded or collapsed as per the requirement of the size of the fascia and further the members at the left hand side and the right hand side can be folded or erected as per the requirement through the hinges 402 and 402' . Referring to FIG. 6, the transverse frames 400 and 40 are provided with hinged supports 500 and 500' . There are provided rectangular frames 600 and 600' which are made up of square sections and are connected to the hinges 500 and 500' . These frames can be moved about the hinges and can be folded or erected as per the requirement. The said frames can be erected when there is a requirement of placing multiple fascia to be stacked one over other. These frames act as a support for holding the fascias in position.

The transverse frames 401 and 401 'are also made up of hollow square sections and are hinged at 500 and 500'. To these transverse frames are attached another frame 700 and 700' which are also made up of square hollow sections. These rectangular frames 700 and 700' are retractably connected to the transverse frames 401 and 401 '. Thus the frames 700 and 700' can be retractably expanded according to the requirement of height of the stack. These frames can be retractably expanded or collapsed using the telescopic mechanism.

Referring to FIG. 2, there is provided a third sub-assembly at the front side of the main base frame 1. This sub-assembly covers the front side of the rack. This sub-assembly is connected to the base 1 through the hinged support 4 and 5 which are provided at the base frame 1. This sub-assembly is also made of hollow square sections so that the support 800 is telescopically connected to the frame 6. This frame can now be made to expand or collapse in the vertical direction as per the requirement of the stack.

The said transverse member 800, is hingedly connected to the side transverse members through telescopic mechanism. The members can be expanded or collapsed to meet the other transverse members at the side of the base frame.

Referring to FIG. 6, the other side of the rack is open from this side. The base frame 1, 101 has an opening, through which the user can go onside the rack and place the fascia in the proper location without the damage to the fascia.

Thus in the fully expandable condition, the user can get inside the fascia rack with the load and can easily place the fascia in the rack without any damage to the material. The stubs or stops 'S' as shown in the figures act as a stop for further movement of the sub- assembly. Further, these assemblies have a mechanism, to remain in the position as fixed. The invention uses pin and slot mechanism, wherein when the rack is in fully expandable position, the slot and pin mechanism accommodated the other end of the post which is slightly shorter than the cross-section of the outer post. Thus the transverse members can be telescopically expanded or collapsed depending up on the requirement.

These cross members provide adequate strength to the vertical posts. Thus with the object of this invention, it is possible to have stacking and transportation of fascias of varied sizes either lengthwise or transversely and further when the rack is not in use, it can be easily stacked one over another.

The present invention also provides a method 1000 for forming or manufacturing the said racks 100. As shown in Figure 19, at step 1002 the method 1000 includes providing a base panel and at step 1004 providing the rack with the telescopic extension mechanism to secure a variety of varied sizes of fascia. At step 1006 the method includes providing frames adapted to receive the extendable portions of the rack so that the rack may be made collapsible using the telescopic mechanism. At step 1008, the frames are further pivotably connected to the base frame. Thus while in collapsible formation, the structure of the rack can be compressed using the telescopic side frames and then can be conveniently folded at the pivotal points thus making it stackable in compressed / collapsed position.

This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined in the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.

Since other modifications and changes varied to fit particular operating requirements and environments from the description and drawings herein are apparent to those skilled in the art, the invention is not to be considered limited to the example chosen for purposes of disclosure. The principles associated with the various embodiment defined herein may be applied to other embodiments. Therefore, the description is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown along with the accompanying drawings but is to provide broadest scope consistent with the principles, and novel and inventive features describe/disclosed or suggested herein. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements etc. within the spirit and principle of the present invention shall all be included in the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

I Claim:

1. A collapsible or expandable rack for transportation of the fascia of various sizes comprising: a. a base assembly (1, 101) comprising of square sections that are fixedly connected to each other in substantially rectangular shape of predetermined size; the substantially rectangular base section being further connected to another transverse section (2, 201 and 3, 301) which can be telescopically expanded or collapsed within the frame 1,101; b. a front sub assembly (6, 800), which is hingedly connected to the base (1, 101) through the hinges (4, 5); wherein the sub assembly can be expanded or collapsed along the vertical section and can also be hingedly moved along hinges (4, 5) when required in collapsed position; c. a rear sub assembly, wherein there is provided a passageway 'P', through which the fascias can be easily accessed while placing them in the rack or while removing them from the rack; whereby the rack as a whole unit can be either expanded or collapsed and can be further used for the transportation of the fascia.

2. A collapsible or expandable rack for transportation of the Fascia as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base assembly is made up of rigid structural material.

3. A collapsible or expandable rack for transportation of the fascia as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the transverse members 201, 301 are provided with delimiters or stops 'S' so as to delimit the horizontal movement of the transverse bars.

4. A collapsible or expandable rack for transportation as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the transverse members 401 and 40 are hingedly connected with the frame 2, 201 and 3, 301 respectively at point 402 and 402' of the frame 401 and 40 respectively, wherein the transverse members 401 and 401 ' can be folded into a packed configuration.

5. A collapsible or expandable rack as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the transverse frame members 401 and 40 can be telescopically expanded or collapsed as per the size of the fascia and further the members at the left hand side and the right and side (700, 700') can be folded or erected through hinges 402 and 402' .

6. A collapsible or expandable rack as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the transverse frames 400 and 40 are further provided with rectangular frames 600 and 600'.

A collapsible or expandable rack as claimed in claim 6 wherein the rectangular frames 600 and 600' are connected to frames 400 and 40 through hinged supports 500 and 500' wherein the frames 600 and 600' can be folded or erected when multiple fascia are to be stacked one over another.

A collapsible or expandable rack as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the front sub assembly (6, 800), covers the front side of the rack and is connected to the base 1, 101 through the hinges (4, 5) which are provided at the base 1, 101 wherein the sub assembly can be expanded or collapsed along the vertical section and can also be hingedly moved along hinges (4, 5) when required in collapsed position.

A collapsible or expandable rack as claimed in claim 8 wherein the sub assembly is made up of hollow section such that the support 800 is telescopically connected to frame 6 whereby the frame can be expanded or collapsed in the vertical direction.

10. A collapsible or expandable rack as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the rear sub assembly is provided with a passage way 'P', through which the fascias can be easily accessed while placing or removing them in the rack.

11. A collapsible or expandable rack as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein there is provided a pin and slot mechanism to keep the sub assemblies / members in the desired position.

12. A collapsible or expandable rack as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the expandable / retractable members have a cross section slightly lesser than the cross-section of the outer post whereby the members can telescopically expand or collapse.

13. A method of manufacturing a collapsible or expandable rack for transportation of the fascia of various sizes, wherein the method comprises: a. providing a base panel; b. providing rack with telescopic extension mechanism to secure varied sizes of fascia; c. providing frames adapted to receive the extendable portion of the rack whereby the racks may be made collapsible using the telescopic mechanism; d. connecting the said frames hingedly with the base frame, whereby the structure of the rack can be compressed using the telescopic side frames and can be folded at pivotal points to make it stackable in compressed position.