Shipping and storing appliance in particular for motor cycles

Abstract

 A shipping and storing appliance for objects (1) such as in particular but not exclusively ready-to-use motorcycles. The appliance comprises at least a pallet (2,20) having recesses (7,8) in which part (9,10) of the objects (1) can be housed, a mechanism (4) for securing the objects (1) to the pallet (2,20) and means (3) for stacking the pallet (2,20) on a equal pallet (2,20) placed below. The mechanism (4) comprises a plurality of stands (30,32) integral to each other and engageable in a lockable way in corresponding holes (18) made in a support (17) fixed to the pallet (2,20). Fastening means of the objects (1) to the stands (30,32) are provided for comprising hooked heads (30a,34) engaging with hooks (5) projecting downwardly from the objects (1). The appliance is not too expensive to make, is suitable to be easily used, allows to place the objects stacked in a plurality of levels and guarantees a safe and steady support to the objects, even when they are irregular and unsteady.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a shipping and storing appliance for objects such as in particular but not exclusively ready-to-use motorcycles and the like.

[0002] The invention also relates to a mechanism for securing said objects to said appliance.

[0003] The problems of shipping and/or storing in warehouses irregular and unsteady objects are strongly felt, both for the costs involved and for the risk of causing damages to them.

[0004] In the case of motorcycles, which are irregular and unsteady objects, they can be, in normal conditions, be parked on their stand, but when they are to be shipped, they have to be safely fixed to steady supports.

[0005] In particular, in order to transport motorcycles on trains, they are placed in a very time consuming way on a wooden platform and secured to it with the aid of lashes and nailed wedges. O the other hand, when shipped by means of containers, in order to exploit the space available, motorcycles are stacked separated by wooden boards and mattresses or other packing devices are used to safely protect them. In the back journey, the container is full of packing devices and cannot be profitably exploited.

[0006] Moreover, when motorcycles are stored in factories or in warehouses, large areas are needed since they can not be stacked and must be sufficiently distanced from one another to prevent them from contacting, even accidentally.

[0007] It is therefore object of the present invention to provide a shipping and storing appliance for objects, such as in particular but not exclusively ready-to-use motorcycles and the like, which is not too expensive to make, which is suitable to be easily used and which guarantees a safe and steady support to them.

[0008] It is another object of the present invention to provide such a shipping and storing appliance which allows to place the objects stacked in a plurality of levels.

[0009] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a mechanism for safely, easily and cheaply securing said objects to said appliance.

[0010] Further characteristics and advantages of shipping and storing appliance and of the securing mechanism according to the invention will be made clearer with the following, but not limitative, description with reference to the attached drawings, wherein:

• figure 1 shows a side elevational view of the appliance according to the invention supporting two rows of motorcycles;
• figure 2 shows a perspective view of a pallet for a single motorcycle forming part of the appliance according to the invention;
• figure 3 shows a perspective view of the pallet of figure 2 covered by footboards.
• figure 4 shows a perspective view of a pallet for a couple of motorcycles forming part of the appliance according to the invention;
• figure 5 shows a perspective view of a mechanism for securing an object to the pallet of figures 3,4 and 5;
• figure 6 shows a perspective view of the phase of joining the mechanism of figure 5 to a support integral to the pallet of figures 3,4 and 5;
• figures 7 and 8 show a top plan view and a cross sectional view respectively of a locking means of the mechanism of figures 5 and 6 to the support.
• figure 9 shows a perspective view of a phase of mounting the pallets of the appliance according to the invention by means of uprights;
• figure 10 shows a perspective view of a square device suited to align at right angles the uprights in the mounting phase of figure 9;
• figure 11 shows a cross sectional view of a portion of a upper pallet during the mounting phase on an upright;
• figure 12 shows a perspective view of a mobile support for the securing mechanism of figure 5 in two working positions;
• figure 13 shows a top plan view of a different embodiment of pallet of figure 4, with two motorcycles mountable opposite to each other.

[0011] With reference to figure 1, a shipping and storing appliance for ready-to-use motorcycles 1 comprises pallets 2 and uprights 3 capable of supporting pallets 2 stacked on one another. Motorcycles 1 are kept integral to the pallets by means of securing mechanisms 4 fixed to hooks 5 extending from the lower part of the structure of the motorcycles themselves. These hooks are normally present on motorcycles because they are necessary to carry their structure along the assembly lines of the factories for their production.

[0012] As shown in figure 1, pallets 2 comprise also tubular guides 6 for fork-lifts and recesses 7 and 8, better shown in figures 2,3 and 4, suited to receive the front wheels 9 and rear wheels 10 of motorcycles 1. The two pallets 2 are kept fastened to each other also by means of belts 11, whose tension is regulable by buckles 12 or other similar devices.

[0013] More precisely, pallet 2 shown in figure 2 comprises a frame 13 to which are transversally welded the two tubular guides 6 for the fork-lifts. Recesses 7 and 8 are made by means of rails 14 and 15, welded at their ends to frame 13 and to guides 6, and by means of bottom plates 7, welded under rails 14 and 15. Wheels 9 an 10 are contained laterally between rails 14 and 15, while are supported vertically by plates 7 and 8. Pallets 2 comprise, besides, at their four corners, housings 16 in which the ends of uprights 3 engage, as shown hereinafter.

[0014] A support 17, having the shape of a T and welded centrally to frame 13, comprises holes 18 arranged as a triangle and capable of engaging with the securing mechanism 4 described below.

[0015] The pallet of figure 2 can receive a single motorcycle, having only a recess 7 for the front wheel 9 and a recess 8 for the rear wheel 10. Recess 7 is shown rotated of about 45°, so that motorcycle 1 stands with front wheel 9 rotated so as to occupy the least longitudinal space.

[0016] As shown in figure 3, pallet 2 can be covered by means of footboards 19, to allow an operator to walk easily while loading or unloading motorcycles 1.

[0017] With reference to figure 4, on a pallet 20 two motorcycles can be loaded, parallel to each other. More precisely, pallet 20 comprises a frame 21, which is substantially as large as two frames 13 of figure 2 separated by a longitudinal beam 22. The two halves 20a and 20b of pallet 20 are each substantially similar to pallet 2.

[0018] According to a slightly different embodiment of the appliance according to the invention, shown in figure 13, recesses 7 and 8 of half 20a can be arranged opposite to recesses 7 and 8 of half 20b, so that the two motorcycles 1 can be loaded standing parallel but opposite to each other. This embodiment can be useful in particular in case of motorcycles having larger lateral dimensions.

[0019] With reference to figure 5 and 6, the securing mechanism 4 comprises two stands or pegs 30 having a tapered end, held together by a rod 31, and a third stand or peg 32, having also a tapered end and held together to pegs 30 by means of two bent rods 33. Pegs 30 and 32, along with bars 31 and 33, form securing mechanism (4) having a top plan view similar to a triangle. In particular, pegs 30 e 32 are arranged like a triangle equal to the triangle formed by holes 18 in T-shaped support 17. Pegs 30 comprise besides an upper hook shaped head 30a, suited to engage with two of the hooks 5 projecting downward from motorcycle 1 and shown in figure 1, and present a plurality of grooves 30b, near to their lower end. A third mobile hook-shaped head 34 is provided for between rods 33 externally with respect to third peg 30. Head 34 can be translated with respect to bars 33 by means of guides 35 and a screw 36 having an external hex nut end for its rotation, not shown. The movement of head 34 is necessary to clamp a third hook 5 of the motorcycle, so that mechanism 4 is firmly secured to the latter. The inverse movement of screw 36 allows the disengagement of mechanism 4.

[0020] In practice, the motorcycles which are to be loaded on the appliance according to the invention are firstly provided with a securing mechanism 4 firmly fixed to hooks 5 projecting downwardly. Then, motorcycles are loaded on pallet 2 or 20 arranging wheels 9 and 10 into recesses 7 and 8 respectively. At the same time pegs 30 and 32 are introduced into holes 18 of T-shaped support 17. Pegs 30 and 32 are locked therein by means of a locking mechanism 40, provided for internally to T-shaped support 17. An embodiment of locking mechanism 40 is shown in figures 7 and 8.

[0021] More precisely, locking mechanism 40 comprises a couple of latches 41 sliding in a housing 42 and projecting partially with their tapered ends into holes 18 so as to engage with grooves 30b of pegs 30. Between latches 41 springs 43 are provided for pushing them outwardly, against pegs 30 when present. Unlocking bars 44 are provided for sliding in guides 45 and having an end 44a thrusting against latches 41. Bars 44 have the other end 44b which is tapered and can be pushed by means of tools 46 passing through holes 47 made correspondingly in T-shaped support 17.

[0022] An operator who loads motorcycles 1 on pallets 2 or 20 needs only a tool for engaging/disengaging mechanism 4 with/from hooks 5, whereas an operator who unloads motorcycles 1 from the pallets needs also tools 46, which can be simply screwdrivers.

[0023] Once loaded motorcycles 1 on pallets 2 or 20, it is necessary to stack the latter, as shown in figure 9. Pallet 2 or 20 can be easily moved, raised or lowered by means of a fork lift who engages its fork with tubular guides 6. The stacking comprises the following phases:

• introduction of uprights 3 lower ends into housings 16 of the lower pallet,
• introduction into openings 25 of uprights 3 upper ends of centering pins 26 (shown in detail in figure 11),
• arrangement of a square device 27, shown also in figure 10, between the two uprights 3 so that they are kept parallel and aligned at right angles with respect to the lower pallet,
• lowering the upper pallet from the above so that housings 16 centre pins 26 and are guided onto uprights 3 upper ends,
• extracting pins 26 from the above of upper pallet;
• fastening belts 11 of figure 1.

[0024] A skilled operator can accomplish the stacking, or the inverse, in a few minutes. Once shipped to destination and unloaded the motorcycles, the appliance according to the invention is not stacked again for the back journey, but is stored in the container or fastened onto the railway board so that it takes up the least room. In fact, uprights 3 laying onto pallets 2 or 32 take up less than 15% of the room taken up by the stacked pallets with motorcycles. Therefore, the remaining room can be profitably used for other shipping during the back journey, contrarily to what often occurs with the method according to the known art.

[0025] With reference to figure 12, T-shaped support 17 position can be varied with respect to frame 13 or 21, depending on the position of hooks 5 between wheels 9 and 10. This is possible by providing longitudinal guides 35 in frame 13 or 21 in which lateral ends of support 17 can slide, as well as holes 36 in tubular guide 6 in which bolts 37 can engage through a hole 38 made in support 17 to fasten the latter to the frame.

[0026] To sum up, the use of the appliance and of the securing mechanism according to the present invention involves the following advantages:

• a functional loading and unloading of motorcycles onto/from the vehicles suited for their shipping;
• simplifying of the preparation of shipping, with no need of further packing material and with reduction of labour costs;
• a functional storing of the ready to use motorcycles and reduction of room occupied by them in factories or warehouses;
• the possibility of re-using the appliance a high number of time;
• a strong reduction of the room taken up by the appliance in the back journey after shipping.

[0027] The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without undue experimentation and without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. The means and materials for carrying out various disclosed functions may take a variety of alternative forms without departing from the invention. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

Claims

1. A shipping and storing appliance for objects (1) comprising at least a pallet (2, 20) having recesses (7, 8) in which part (9, 10) of said objects (1) can be housed, at least a mechanism (4) for securing said objects (1) to said pallet (2, 20) and means (3) for stacking said pallet (2, 20) on a equal pallet (2, 20) placed below.

2. Appliance according to claim 1, wherein said pallet (2, 20) comprises a frame (13, 21) on which said recesses (7, 8) are made and a support (17) integral to said frame (13, 21) suited to engage with said securing mechanism (4).

3. Appliance according to claim 2, wherein said support comprises a plurality of holes (18) suited to house stands (30, 32) projecting from said securing mechanism (4), in said holes (18) locking means (40) for said stands (30, 32) being provided for.

4. Appliance according to claim 3, wherein said locking means (40) comprises a plurality of latches (41) sliding engaging in said support (17) and suited to protrude in the vicinity of said holes (18) to engage with said pegs (30, 32).

5. Appliance according to any of the previous claims, wherein said support (17) is slidingly mounted in a lockable way on said frame (13, 21).

6. Appliance according to any of the previous claims, wherein said means (3) for stacking said pallet (2, 20) on a equal pallet (2, 20) placed below comprises housings (16) made at the corners of said frame (13, 21) and a plurality of uprights having ends engaging in said housings.

7. Appliance according to claim 6, wherein means are provided for to make easier the introduction of said uprights into said housings, comprising a square device suited to align said uprights in a vertical position and parallel to each other.

8. Appliance according to claim 6, wherein means are provided for to make easier the introduction of said uprights into said housings, comprising a plurality of centring pins which can be introduced in openings made at the ends of said uprights.

9. A mechanism (4) for securing said objects (1) to a shipping and storing appliance, in particular as claimed in the previous claims, comprising a plurality of stands (30, 32) integral to each other and engageable in a lockable way in corresponding holes (18) made in a support (17) fixed to said appliance, fastening means (30a, 34) of said objects (1, 5) to said stands (30, 32) being provided for.

10. Mechanism according to claim 9, wherein said fastening means comprises hooked heads (30a, 34) engaging in use with corresponding hooks (5) projecting downwardly from said objects (1).

Drawing