A. Background of the invention
[0001] The invention relates to a device for use in the storage or transportation of garments,
which device comprises for that purpose first means for coupling to garments suspended
on garment hangers and also second means for coupling to a transport means.
[0002] Such a device is disclosed in FR 2616310.
[0003] In the device according to this known art, a (foldable) clothing stand in which the
first means take the form of rods on which hangers with garments can be hung is mounted,
when in use, on a pallet employed as second means and the clothing stand is transported
together with said pallet (for example using a forklift truck) or stored in a warehouse.
The combination of clothing stand and pallet requires a relatively large amount of
care in handling. The joint between the two has to be well secured, while the combination
is quite quickly top heavy and, as a consequence of the height of the stand, it has
to be fitted in carefully between the beams of the storage rack when stored in a storage
rack. The whole is also relatively expensive in view of the fairly complicated structure
which requires a large amount of material.
In US 4 037 728 a device is disclosed for transportation of garments which is especially
aimed at clamping the garment hangers to a hanger bar.
The transport means in this case is a trolley and the coupling of the device to the
trolley is done by placing the rollerassemblies, employed as second means, upon a
rail. This will normally be done manually and the known device does not lend itself
to being handled by the forklift trucks used in warehouses.
B. Summary of the invention
[0004] The object of a device according to the invention is to eliminate the above drawbacks,
namely to provide a device which is easy to handle both during transport and during
storage in a warehouse, and is cheap as a consequence of the simplicity of structure.
A device according to the invention has, for this purpose, the characteristic that
the device also comprises third means for suspending the device underneath the beams
of a rack. Precisely for the purpose of manageability, the device furthermore has
the characteristic that the third means are situated above the first means when the
device is in use.
[0005] The invention is based on the insight that a device in which the centre of gravity
in the loaded state is situated underneath the points of application for the transport
means during the transport phase and underneath the suspension points in a rack during
the storage phase is more stable and is consequently also simpler to handle than a
device according to the known art. The solution found also offers the advantage that
it yields a simple and cheap structure.
[0006] The device according to the invention may, for example, form part of a storage system
in a warehouse.
[0007] Warehouses for storing goods on behalf of third parties are encountered at an increasingly
large number of sites. Said third parties then allow the delivery to the warehouse,
the storage and the distribution to clients to be provided by the operator of the
warehouse. The operator concerned acts as provider of logistic services. It is of
importance to him that the warehouse and the working methods used therein do not have
to be adapted to the type of goods, while, on the other hand, the ability to process
diverse types of goods offers great advantages. These advantages are, inter alia,
the fact that expansion of the range of processable goods results in an increase in
the potential group of clients (less dependence on a limited number of large clients)
and the fact that seasonal effects can be absorbed better (since diverse seasonal
effects generally apply to different types of goods). Hitherto it has been difficult
to fit products from the clothing industry into the methods and appliances of nonspecialized
suppliers of logistic services. The device according to the invention also makes it
possible for the nonspecialized warehouse operator to include the storage and distribution
of garments in his range of services.
[0008] The device is intended, on the one hand, for use in existing storage racks, which
do not need to be adapted for this purpose, and, on the other hand, for suspension
in mobile racks. Said mobile racks can be transported in lorries, together with the
devices suspended therein and provided with garments.
[0009] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the third means take the form
of U-shaped frames which are pushed over beams in a rack when the device is in use.
Said frames can then be joined to each other by the second means.
[0010] In a second preferred embodiment of the invention, the third means take the form
of rods bent to form a hook. Said rods are then attached to the second means.
C. Reference
[0011] FR 2616310 Dispositif pour supporter des vĂȘtements en cours de stockage ou de transport
(Device for supporting garments during storage or transport)
[0012] US 4 037 728 Clamp for garment racks
D. Short description of the drawing
[0013] The invention will be explained in greater detail by means of a description of an
embodiment, reference being made to a drawing, in which:
- Fig. 1
- is a perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of the device;
- Fig. 2
- is a perspective view of a second preferred embodiment of the device;
- Fig. 3
- is a perspective view of a mobile rack in which two devices according to the first
preferred embodiment are suspended.
E. Description of an exemplary embodiment
[0014] In Fig. 1, which shows a first exemplary embodiment of a device according to the
invention, (1) and (1') are rods or tubes to which garments (not shown), suspended
on garment hangers (5) can be coupled. In this figure, (2) and (2') are profiled sections
for coupling to a transport means such as is much used in warehouses, for example
a forklift truck. The profiled sections (2) and (2') form points of application for
the fork of such a transport means. The U-shaped frames (3) and (3') can be used to
suspend the device, together with the garments suspended thereon, to the beams (4)
and (4') of a rack. The latter may be a fixed storage rack or a mobile rack. Such
a mobile rack preferably has dimensions which are such that one or more such racks
can be transported in a lorry.
[0015] In Fig. 2, which shows a second preferred embodiment of a device according to the
invention, (1) and (1') are again rods or tubes on which garment hangers (5) with
garments (not shown) can be hung. The frameworks (2) and (2') here form the means
for coupling to a transport means, such as a forklift truck. The hook-shaped bent
rods (3), (3'), (3'') and (3''') serve to suspend the device, together with the garments
suspended thereon, on the beams (4) and (4') of an optionally mobile rack.
[0016] Fig. 3 shows a mobile rack in which two devices according to the first exemplary
embodiment are suspended.
1. Device for use in the storage or transportation of garments, which device comprises
for that purpose first (1,1') means for coupling to garments suspended on garment
hangers (5) and also second means (2,2') for coupling to a transport means, characterized
in that the device also comprises third means (3,3') for suspending the device underneath
the beams (4,4') of a rack.
2. Device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the third means are situated above
the first means when the device is in use.
3. Device according to Claim 2, characterized in that the third means comprise at least
two U-shaped frames.
4. Device according to Claim 3, characterized in that the frames are joined together
by the second means.
5. Device according to Claim 2, characterized in that the third means comprise at least
two rods, each bent to form a hook, attached to the second means.
6. Method for storing garments, in which the garments hang on garment hangers, using
devices according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, during storage,
at least one device is suspended, using a store transport means, which is otherwise
known, on beams of a storage rack, together with the garments suspended thereon.
7. Method for transporting garments, in which the garments hang on garment hangers, using
devices according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, during the
transportation, at least one device, together with the garments suspended thereon,
is suspended on beams of a mobile rack.