WO2019215686A1

WO2019215686A1 - Disassemblable rack for sheet-like products, kit for such a rack and method of assembly

Info

Publication number: WO2019215686A1
Application number: PCT/IB2019/053861
Authority: WO
Inventors: Antonio Piazza; Marco Piazza
Original assignee: Antonio Piazza; Marco Piazza
Priority date: 2018-05-10
Filing date: 2019-05-10
Publication date: 2019-11-14

Abstract

A kit for the removable assembly of a rack for the storage, transportation and/or handling of sheet-like products, in particular glass sheets. The kit comprises at least one base (10) for supporting the sheet-like product, said at least one base (10) defining a first plane (π1); at least one pair of uprights (20) defining respective first longitudinal axes (X); at least one crosspiece (30) defining a second longitudinal axis (Y). The at least one crosspiece (30) and uprights (20) are mutually removably couplable so that the first axes (X) are substantially parallel to each another and so that the second axis (Y) and the first axes (X) are substantially perpendicular to each other. The at least one base (10) and the uprights (20) are mutually removably couplable so that the first axes (X) are substantially transversal with respect to first plane (π1) and so that the second axis (Y) and the first plane (π1) are substantially parallel to each other.

Description

DISASSEMBLABLE RACK FOR SHEET-LIKE PRODUCTS, KIT FOR SUCH A

RACK AND METHOD OF ASSEMBLY

DESCRIPTION

Field of the invention

The present invention generally regards the technical field of storage units for the storage, handling and/or transportation of loads, and it particularly regards a kit for the removable assembly of a rack for the storage, handling and transportation of sheet-like products, for example glass sheets or sheets made of stony material.

The invention also regards a method for manufacturing a rack that can be disassembled starting from such kit, as well as a disassemblable rack that can be obtained by means of such kit.

State of the Art

Racks for the storage, handling in a work area and/or transportation from one site to another of sheet-like products, such as for example glass sheets, shutters, doors windows and the like.

One of the greatest drawbacks observed concerning such racks lies in their considerable overall dimension when being handled and/or shipped empty, such to have considerable impact on the overall costs on the operations for shipping sheet-like products.

Another drawback of the known racks lies in the fact that the size thereof is fixed with the ensuing aggravation of the aforementioned drawback.

Summary of the invention

An object of the present invention is to at least partly overcome the aforementioned drawbacks by providing a rack for sheet-like products having the characteristics of high functionality, simple to manufacture and inexpensive.

Another object of the invention is to provide a rack for sheet-like products that allows to minimise the costs for the transportation of the rack when empty.

Another object of the invention is to provide a disassemblable rack for sheet-like products having minimum weight and high robustness.

Another object of the invention is to provide a rack for sheet-like products that is simple and practical to assemble and disassemble.

Another object of the invention is to provide a disassemblable rack for sheet-like products that has minimum overall dimensions once disassembled.

Another object of the invention is to provide a disassemblable rack for sheet-like products having a minimum number of pieces.

These and other objects which will be more apparent hereinafter, are attained by a kit for the removable assembly of a rack sheet-like products and/or a method for the removable assembly of a rack for sheet-like products and/or a disassemblable rack for sheet-like products according to what is described, illustrated and/or claimed. The dependent claims describe advantageous embodiments of the invention.

Brief description of the drawings

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will be more apparent in light of the detailed description of a preferred but non-exclusive embodiment of a disassemblable rack 1, illustrated by way of non-limiting example with reference to the attached drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an axonometric view of an embodiment of the disassemblable rack 1 assembled;

FIG. 2 is an exploded axonometric view of the embodiment of the disassemblable rack 1 of

FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an axonometric view of an upright 20 of the embodiment of the disassemblable rack 1 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an axonometric view of a base 10 for supporting the sheet-like products of the embodiment of the disassemblable rack 1 of FIG.

FIG. 5 is an axonometric view of a crosspiece 30 of the embodiment of the disassemblable rack 1 of FIG. 1

FIG. 6 is an axonometric view of a transversal connection element 40 of the embodiment of the disassemblable rack 1 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 1 is an axonometric view of a further embodiment of the disassemblable rack 1;

FIGS. 8 and 9 are enlarged views of some details of FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is an exploded axonometric view of some details of the removable coupling between the male element 30" of the crosspiece 30 and the female element 26 of the upright 20;

FIG. 11 is an axonometric view of a further embodiment of the disassemblable rack 1, in disassembled configuration;

FIGS. 12a to 12e are axonometric views of various assembling steps of the embodiment of the disassemblable rack 1 illustrated in FIG. 11;

FIGS. 13a to 13d are enlarged views of some details of FIG. 12e.

Detailed description of some preferred embodiments

With reference to the aforementioned figures, herein described is a disassemblable rack 1, suitable for the storage, handling and/or transportation of sheet-like products, such as for example glass sheets, shutters, doors, windows or the like.

In the attached figures, the sheet-like products are not represented in that of the per se known type.

The present invention may include various parts and/or similar or identical elements. Unless otherwise specified, similar or identical parts and/or elements will be indicated using a single reference number, it being clear that the described technical features are common to all similar or identical parts and/or elements. Advantageously, the rack 1 may be manufactured staring from a kit for the removable assembly thereof, illustrated for example in FIG. 2 in exploded configuration or in FIG. 11 in assembled configuration, which may essentially include or essentially consist in one or more bases 10 for supporting sheet-like products, two or more uprights 20 and one or more crosspieces 30. Preferably, the kit may also include one or more transversal connection elements 40 and possibly one or more bracing elements 50.

In the preferred but non-exclusive embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 6 and 11 to 12e the kit for the removable of the rack 1 may include a pair of bases 10, three uprights 20, three crosspieces 30, twelve transversal connection elements 40 and a pair of bracing elements 50.

On the other hand, in the preferred but non-exclusive embodiment illustrated in FIG. 7 the kit for the removable assembly of the rack 1 may include a pair of bases 10, five uprights 20, three crosspieces 30, twelve transversal connection elements 40 and two pairs of bracing elements 50.

Even though illustrated in the figures is a rack 1 essentially symmetrical with respect to a median plane which includes a predetermined number parts mentioned above and reference to such parts will be made hereinafter, it is clear that the assembly kit and the rack 1 may comprise a minimum number of parts as defined in the attached claims, without departing from the scope of protection of the same.

The base 10 may have a substantially planar extension to define a plane nl.

The uprights 20, crosspieces 30 and connection elements 40 may also have an elongated shape to define respective axes X, Y and Y'.

Furthermore, the uprights 20 may preferably have a planar shape to define a plane p3, on which the axis X possibly lies. Suitably, the uprights 20 may be generally triangular-shaped.

Furthermore, the bracing elements 50 may also have an elongated shape.

All the aforementioned elements may be removably coupled to each other, so that the rack 1 can be assembled and disassembled depending on the needs.

Such characteristic allows to minimise the overall dimensions of the rack 1 once mounted, given that the overall dimension reduces to the size of the pieces mentioned above.

Given that the same have a planar or elongated shape, once disassembled the rack 1 may have a minimum vertical overall dimension, essentially flat.

As a matter of fact, as illustrated in FIG. 11, irrespective of the number of parts that form it, in the disassembled configuration the kit may essentially take a flat shape corresponding to the plane p3 defined by the uprights 20, with overall dimensions essentially corresponding to those of the bases 10.

This allows to minimise the costs for the transportation of the rack 1 when empty, i.e. without sheet-like elements, for example when shipping from the manufacturing site to the site of use or when collecting them once the sheet-like products have been delivered.

Advantageously, all pieces of the kit 1 may be made of metallic material, for example steel.

In a preferred but non-exclusive embodiment, the uprights 20, the bases 10 and the connection elements 40 may be substantially box-like shaped, i.e. that of a suitably shaped laminar element.

By way of non-limiting example, they may be made of plastically deformed metal sheet, possibly by deep drawing, bending or similar machining operations.

Suitably, the crosspieces 30 may be tubular elements, for example metal tubular elements.

This will allow to obtain a disassemblable rack 1 having minimum weight and high robustness.

As a matter of fact, the use of box-like or tubular structures allows to minimise the weight of the structure with respect to the use of solid pieces such as slabs or metallic bars, while still maintaining high mechanical properties.

This allows to further reduce the costs for the transportation of the rack 1 when empty, as mentioned above.

In the preferred but non-exclusive embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 7, each upright 20 may comprise a respective support structure 21 and a pair of box-like profiles 22 and 23.

The support structure 21 may be substantially box-shaped, internally empty in other words, and it may include an upper end portion 21" and a lower end portion 21', provided at which there may be an open seat 21"' designated for containing the box-like profiles 22 and 23.

The box-like profile 22 may have an elongated shape defining an axis Z and include end portions 22' projecting from the seat 2 " to define a removable male coupling element, whose purpose will be clearer hereinafter. More in particular, part of the outer surface of the end portions 22' may define such male elements.

On the other hand, the box-like profile 23 may be arranged beneath the box-like profile 22 so as to define means for the stable support of the rack 1 with a stationary support structure, on the ground for example.

On the other hand, the preferred but non-exclusive embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 11 to 13d may include uprights 20 comprising the support structure 21 and a single box-like profile 23, defining both the removable male coupling element and the ground support means.

More generally, irrespective of the configuration described above, each upright 20 may have a lower end portion 21" which includes an upper area and a lower area.

In the attached drawings, the upper area is indicated with 22' in the embodiments of FIGS. 1 - 7 and with 23' in the embodiments of FIGS. 11 - 13d, while the lower area is indicated with 23".

The upper area 22' or 23' of the lower end portion 21" of each upright 20 may define the aforementioned ed male element, while the lower area 23" of the lower end portion 21" of each upright 20 may define the stable support means.

It is clear that the upper area 22' or 23' of the lower end portion 21" of each upright 20 may possibly define one or more female elements for coupling with the base 10 without departing from the scope of protection of the attached claims.

It is also clear that the upper area 22' or 23' of the lower end portion 21" of each upright 20 may include one or more male or female elements instead of defining them, while the lower area 23" of the lower end portion 21" of each upright 20 may include stable support means instead of defining them.

The support structure 21 may include an upper through hole 26 and, in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 - 7, a pair of lower through holes 27 defining removable female coupling elements, whose purpose will be clearer hereinafter.

Furthermore, each of the uprights 20 may include a front portion 24 with a plurality of projecting superimposed seats 25.

Each support base 10 may include a shaped support element 11 with - at the ends 1 and 11" a pair of open box-like profiles 12 with a seat 12' defining respective female elements, which - as better specified hereinafter - may be mutually removably couplable with the upper areas 22' or 23'.

The shaped support element 11 may have a substantially C-shaped base.

A plurality of shaped profiles 15, which - in a per se known manner - may be coupled with gaskets suitable to avoid damaging the sheet-like product, may be provided for above the shaped support element 11.

In order to allow the displacement of the rack 1, each base 10 may also - in a per se known manner - be provided with seats 13 for inserting the forks of a forklift and/or with seats 14 for the insertion of wheels.

Suitably, as particularly visible in FIGS. 13c and 13d, the longitudinal end of the base 10 arranged at the front portions 24 of the uprights 20 may be reinforced by a special reinforcement profile, for example square-shaped.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 - 7 each crosspiece 30 may have the ends 30', 30" threaded and a central part 30'" provided with two stop rings 31', 31", one fixed and the other slidable.

The ends 30', 30" and the central part 30'" may define removable male coupling elements, as explained hereinafter.

On the other hand, in the embodiment of FIGS. 11 - 13d the crosspiece 30 may be coupled with the uprights 20 by means of plates and bolts 32.

Advantageously, hooks 34 for lifting the rack may be provided for at the ends 30', 30" of the upper crosspiece 30. Each transversal connection element 40 may consist of a shaped profile with projecting free ends 40', 40", whose purpose will be clarified hereinafter. Each transversal connection element 40 may be coupled with gaskets in a per se known manner.

Each bracing element 50 may be defined by a box-like profile.

As reaffirmed above, each of the aforementioned elements is mutually removably couplable with one or more of the others, so that the rack 1 can be easy to assemble and disassemble at will.

The various elements may be variously coupled, as long as they are compliant with the aforementioned couplings.

By way of non-limiting example, the embodiment of the invention subject of FIGS. 1 - 7 may be assembled as follows.

Starting from the kit with all elements disassembled, the uprights 20 may be initially mutually coupled with the crosspieces 30 so that the axes X and Y, or so that the plane n3 and the axis Y, are substantially perpendicular to each other. Furthermore, all the axes X will be substantially parallel to each other, same case applying to all axes Y.

To this end, the ends 30', 30" and the central part 30'" of each crosspiece 30 will be inserted into the holes 26 and 27 of each upright 20, so as to obtain respective removable couplings of the male-female type.

Threaded ring nuts 32 at the ends 30', 30" and a grub screw 33 for stopping the slidable ring 31" may be used for locking the couplings in the operative position.

Upon carrying out such coupling, the support structure 21 and the box-like profiles 22 and 23 may be coupled to each other to define a single element or they may be coupled on the spot.

A bracing element 50, locked in operative position using special screws or bolts, may be mounted between each pair of consecutive uprights 20.

The bases 10 and the uprights 20 may be substantially mutually coupled so that each axis X is substantially transversal with respect to the plane nl, i.e. so that the latter and the plane n3 are substantially perpendicular.

To this end, the upper area 22' of the box-like profile 22 of each upright 20 may be inserted into the female seats defined by the open box-like profiles 12, so as to obtain a coupling of the male- female type which may be locked in operative position by means of special screws or bolts 28.

The ends 40', 40" of each transversal connection element 40 may be subsequently inserted into the seats 25 of the uprights 20, so as to define a plane n2 for supporting the sheet-like products which may be transversal or preferably substantially perpendicular to the plane nl.

On the other hand, the embodiment of the invention subject of FIGS. 11 - 13d may be assembled as follows.

Starting from the substantially flat-shaped kit of FIG. 11, a first upright 20 may be initially coupled with the crosspiece 30 using plates and bolts 32, then coupling the bracing elements 50 to the plates and then coupling the supplementary box-like profile 230, which has the same purpose as the profile 23, to the plates.

The other upright 20 may be subsequently coupled to the other upright 30' of the crosspiece

30.

Similarly to the description outlined above regarding the embodiments of FIGS. 1 - 7, the bases 10 and the uprights 20 may be subsequently substantially mutually coupled so that each axis X is substantially transversal with respect to the plane nl, i.e. so that the latter and the plane p3 are substantially perpendicular.

To this end, the upper areas 23' of the box-like profile 23 of each upright 20 may be inserted into the female seats defined by the open box-like profiles 12, so as to obtain a coupling of the male- female type which may be locked in operative position by means of special screws or bolts 28.

In this step it is possible to insert a reinforcement profile 70 at the inner area of the shaped support element 11.

The ends 40', 40" of each transversal connection element 40 may be subsequently inserted into the seats 25 of the uprights 20, so as to define a plane p2 for supporting the sheet-like products which may be transversal or preferably substantially perpendicular to the plane nl.

Before inserting the transversal connection elements 40, central reinforcement crosspieces 60 - also provided with seats 25 - may be inserted with the aim of reinforcing the rack 1.

It is reaffirmed that the assembly methods illustrated above are provided solely by way of non-limiting example, the assembly being susceptible to assembly with a sequence of different steps.

Furthermore, in order to disassemble the rack, the aforementioned operative steps may be executed in reverse order, or operative steps with different order may be used.

As clear, all couplings between the various elements are of the removable type, hence making the rack 1 extremely simple to assemble and disassemble.

In light of the above, it is clear that the invention attains the pre-set objectives.

The invention is susceptible to numerous modifications and variants all falling within the inventive concept outlined in the attached claims.

For example, the male-female coupling between the bases 10 and the uprights 20 and between the latter and the crosspieces 30 may be inverse with respect to the one illustrated above. For example, the bases 10 may have the male elements insertable into female elements provided on the uprights 20, or the latter may include male elements insertable into female seats of the crosspieces 30.

All details can be replaced by other technically equivalent elements, and the materials can be different depending on the technical needs, without departing from the scope of protection of the invention.

Even though the invention has been described with reference to the attached figures, the reference numbers utilised in the description and in the claims are meant for improving the intelligibility of the invention and thus do not limit the claimed scope of protection in any manner whatsoever.

Claims

1. A kit for the removable assembly of a rack for the storage, transportation and/or handling of sheet-like products, comprising:

- at least one base (10) for supporting the sheet-like product, said at least one base (10) defining a first plane (itl);

- at least one pair of uprights (20) defining respective first longitudinal axes (X);

- at least one crosspiece (30) defining a second longitudinal axis (Y);

wherein said at least one crosspiece (30) and said uprights (20) are mutually removably couplable so that the first axes (X) are substantially parallel to each other and so that said second axis (Y) and said first axes (X) are substantially perpendicular to each other, said at least one base (10) and said uprights (20) being mutually removably couplable so that said first axes (X) are substantially transversal with respect to said first plane (itl) and so that said second axis (Y) and said first plane (itl) are substantially parallel to each other.

2. Kit according to claim 1, wherein each of said uprights (20) has a first upper end portion (21”) and a second lower end portion (2 ) opposite each other, said second lower end portion (21') and said at least one base (10) comprising first removable mutual coupling means (22', 12'), said second lower end portion (21") further comprising means (23") for stably supporting the rack on a support surface, preferably a ground or floor, said second lower end portion (2 ) and said crosspiece (30) comprising second removable mutual coupling means (26; 30', 30").

3. Kit according to claim 2, wherein said first removable reciprocal coupling means (22', 12') comprise at least one first male element (22', 23') and at least one first female element (12), one of said first end portion (2G) and said at least one base (10) comprising one (22', 23') of said at least one first male element and at least one first female element, the other of said first end portion and said at least one base (10) comprising the other (12‘) of said at least one first male element and at least one first female element, first means (28) for the selective removable locking of said at least one first male element (22‘) and at least one first female element (12‘) once mutually coupled being provided.

4. Kit according to claim 3, wherein said second lower end portion (21') comprises an upper area (22', 23') comprising or defining the one or the other of said at least one first male element and at least one first female element, said second lower end portion (2 ) further comprising an opposite lower area (23") defining or comprising stable support means.

5. Kit according to claim 4, wherein said upper area (22', 23') has a first shape defining the one or the other of said at least one first male element and at least one first female element, said at least one base (10) comprising at least one pair of coupling portions (12') substantially counter shaped with respect to the upper areas (22', 23') of said uprights (20) to define the one or the other of at least one first male element and at least one first female element.

6. Kit according to claim 4 or 5, wherein each of said uprights (20) comprises a respective substantially flat support structure (21) which includes said first and second end portion (2 , 21"), said support structure (21) defining a third plane (p3) designated to remain substantially perpendicular with said first plane (itl) once said uprights (20) and said at least one base (10) are mutually coupled, said support structure (21) comprising - at said second lower end portion (2 ) - at least one elongated box-like profile (23) defining a third axis (Z) substantially perpendicular with respect to said first axes (X) and to said second axes (Y), said at least one first elongated box-like profile (23) comprising said upper (22', 23') and lower (23") areas.

7. Kit secondo according to the preceding claim, wherein said support structure (21) further comprises - at said second lower end portion (2 ) - at least one second box-like profile (22) mutually superimposed with said at least one box-like profile (23), one of said at least one first and one second box-like profile (22, 23) comprising one of said upper (22', 23') and lower (23") areas, the other of said at least one first and one second box-like profile (22, 23) comprising the other of said upper (22', 23') and lower (23") areas.

8. Kit according to claim 6 or 7, wherein said support structure (21) comprises - at said second lower end portion (21') - an open seat (21'"), said at least one first elongated box-like profile (23) being inserted or insertable in said seat (21'"), respectively said at least one first and one second box-like profile (22, 23) being inserted or insertable in said seat (21'").

9. Kit according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein said second removable mutual coupling means (26; 30', 30") comprise at least one second male element (30', 30") and at least one second female element (26), one (21") of said second end portion and said at least one crosspiece (30) comprising one (26) of said at least one second male element and at least one second female, the other (30) of said second end portion and said at least one crosspiece (30) comprising the other (30', 30") of said at least one second male element and at least one second female element, second means (32) for the selective removable locking of said at least one first male element (30', 30") and at least one first female element (26) once mutually coupled being provided.

10. Kit according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein each of said uprights (20) includes at least one front portion (24) facing said first plane (itl), the kit further including a plurality of transversal connection elements (40) each defining a third axis (U'), said transversal connection elements(40) being mutually removably couplable with said uprights (20) at the respective front portions (24) so that the third axes (Y) are substantially parallel to each other and with respect to said first plane (itl), said third axes (Y) defining a second plane (p2) for supporting the substantially perpendicular sheet-like products or mutually transversal with said first plane (itl).

11. Kit according to the preceding claim, wherein each of said transversal connection elements (40) comprises a pair of third opposite end portions (40', 40"), the latter and the front portions (24) of said uprights (20) including removable mutual fixing means (25; 40', 40").

12. Kit according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein said uprights (20) and said at least one base (10) are substantially box-like shaped, said at least one crosspiece (30) being a tubular element, said transversal connection elements (40) also being preferably substantially box like shaped.

13. Kit according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein said at least one base (10), at least one pair of uprights (20) and at least one crosspiece (30', 30") - when de-coupled from each other - are mutually assembled to define a substantially flat-shaped assembly kit.

14. A method for the removable assembly of a rack for the storage, transportation and/or handling sheet-like products, in particular glass sheets, starting from a kit according to one or more of the preceding claims, the method comprising the steps of:

- providing at least one base (10) for supporting the sheet-like product, said at least one base (10) defining a first plane (itl);

- providing at least one pair of uprights (20) defining respective first longitudinal axes

(X);

- providing at least one crosspiece (30', 30") defining a second longitudinal axis (Y);

- removable mutual coupling of said at least one crosspiece (30) and said uprights (20) so that the first axes (X) are substantially parallel to each other and so that said second axis (Y) and said first axes (X) are substantially perpendicular to each other;

- removable mutual coupling of said at least one base (10) and said uprights (20) so that said first axes (X) are substantially transversal with respect to said first plane (itl) and so that said second axis (Y) and said first plane (itl) are substantially parallel to each other.

15. A disassemblable rack for the storage, transportation and/or handling of sheet-like products, in particular glass sheets, the rack being obtainable starting from a kit according to one or more of claims 1 to 13, the rack comprising:

- at least one crosspiece (30', 30") defining a second longitudinal axis (Y); wherein said at least one crosspiece (30) and said uprights (20) are mutually removably couplable so that the first axes (X) are substantially parallel to each other and so that said second axis (Y) and said first axes (X) are substantially perpendicular to each other, said at least one base (10) and said uprights (20) being mutually removably couplable so that said first axes (X) are substantially transversal with respect to said first plane (itl) and so that said second axis (Y) and said first plane (pΐ) are substantially parallel to each other.