Frame for pallets

Abstract

 A frame for supporting a second pallet above a first pallet (10) in tiered relationship, said frame comprising an assembly of corner posts (2,4,6,8), each capable of extending upwardly from corner regions of the first pallet (10), and a plurality of tie members (12,14,16,18), each arranged to extend between two adjacent corner posts (2,4,6,8) to interconnect the corner posts, a support deck (20) being detachably supported on the corner posts (2,4,6,8) at or adjacent upper ends thereof for supporting the second pallet thereon, characterised in that the support deck (20) is adapted to apply an outwardly directed biasing force on the corner posts (2,4,6,8) when supported thereon such that, in use, the first pallet (10) is firmly gripped by the lower ends of the corner posts (2,4,6,8).

Description

[0001] This invention relates to a frame for supporting a first pallet above a second pallet in stacked or tiered relationship.

[0002] Pallets are used for the transportation and storage of goods to enable bulky goods to be handled, for example by a forklift truck. The most commonly used pallets comprise an upper load table and a lower support table, both made from wooden planks, with spacer blocks arranged between said tables, the planks being attached to the spacer blocks by means of nails. The spacer blocks are arranged so that the tines of a forklift truck can be inserted between the tables to enable the pallet, and any goods carried thereon, to be lifted and moved from place to place.

[0003] Whilst pallets have become the standard way of handling bulky goods during transportation and storage, in particular when goods are carried on a flat bed or curtain sided trailer, the use of such pallets to transport relatively bulky goods can result in wasted spaced on the trailer due to an inability for the pallets to be stacked without crushing the goods carried thereon.

[0004] Previous attempts to devise spacers or frames for supporting pallets one above the other in tiered relationship have encountered limited success due to the complexity of the frames and the problem of transporting such frames when the pallets are empty. An example of such known pallet support frames is shown in WO 2010/084375.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to obviate such problems.

[0006] According to the present invention there is provided a frame for supporting a second pallet above a first pallet in tiered relationship, said frame comprising an assembly of corner posts, each capable of extending upwardly from corner regions of the first pallet, and a plurality of tie members, each tie member being arranged to extend between two adjacent corner posts to interconnect the corner posts, a support deck being detachably supported on the corner posts at or adjacent upper ends thereof for supporting the second pallet thereon, wherein the support deck is adapted to apply an outwardly directed biasing force on the corner posts when supported thereon such that, in use, the first pallet is firmly gripped by the lower ends of the corner posts.

[0007] Preferably each corner post includes a support seat adjacent an upper end thereof for supporting a respective corner of said support deck. In one embodiment each corner post comprises an elongate angle section member comprising side flanges arranged at right angles to one another. Preferably a plate extends between the side flanges of each support post at a lower end thereof to be located, in use, beneath a respective corner of the first pallet.

[0008] The ends of each tie member may comprise an L-section mounting portion adapted to detachably engage an outer corner of a respective corner post. Preferably the mounting portion on each end of each tie member is shaped to be received between an outer corner of a respective corner post and a respective retaining member mounted on an outer side of each corner post to detachably retain the tie members in engagement with the corner posts. Each retaining member may comprise an angle section plate secured to the respective corner post at a lower end thereof to define an upwardly open receiving slot for receiving respective mounting portions of the tie members.

[0009] The support deck may comprise two or more leaves hingedly connected together to be foldable between a substantially flat operative configuration and a folded configuration. In a preferred embodiment the support deck comprises a pair of rectangular leaves hingedly connected together along a centreline of the support deck via a hinge so that the support deck can be folded in half. Preferably the hinge is located on a lower side of the support deck such that opposing edges of the leaves abut one another when the leaves of the support deck are in a flat unfolded configuration.

[0010] A plurality of restraining straps may be attachable to the corner posts to extend between adjacent pairs of corner post, preferably extending diagonally between respective corner posts.

[0011] An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a collapsible pallet support frame in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 is an exploded view of the support frame of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a detailed perspective view of the tie members of the support frame of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a detailed perspective view of the support straps of the support frame of Figure 1;

Figures 5 to 9 comprise perspective view of the support frame of Figure 1 during assembly;

Figure 10 is a front view of the pallet frame of Figure 1; and

Figure 11 is a perspective view of the support frame of Figure 1 in use.

[0012] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, a collapsible pallet support frame in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention comprises four corner posts 2,4,6,8, each arranged to extend upwardly from a respective corner region of a first pallet 10, adjacent pairs of corner posts being interconnected by horizontally extending tie members 12,14,16,18. A support deck 20 is detachably supported on the corner posts 2,4,6,8 via support seats 22 provided thereon whereby a second pallet may be supported on the support deck above the first pallet. The corner posts 2,4,6,8 are further linked by diagonally extending restraining straps 24,26,28,30.

[0013] Each corner post 2,4,6,8 is defined by an elongate angle section member comprising side flanges arranged at right angles to one another. The lower end of each support post includes a base plate 32 extending between the side flanges of the respective post whereby that the base plate 32 may be received beneath a respective corner region of the first pallet 10 when the respective corner post 2,4,6,8 is fitted against the respective corner of the first pallet 10.

[0014] Each support seat 22 extends between the side flanges of the respective corner post 2,4,6,8 adjacent an upper end thereof.

[0015] Each tie member 12,14,16,18 comprises an elongate flat bar having L section mounting portions 34,36 provided at opposite ends thereof, preferably attached thereto by welding, each mounting portion 34,36 being arranged to abut an outer side of a respective corner post.

[0016] As best seen from Figure 3, a plate like mounting member 38 is provided on an outer face of each corner post 2,4,6,8, approximately midway between the ends thereof, to define an upwardly open receiving slot or seat within which the mounting portions 34,36 of the ends of respective tie members 12,14,16,18 are received to secure the tie members 12,14,16,18 to the corner posts 2,4,6,8.

[0017] As shown in Figure 4, mounting loops 40,42 are provided at upper and lower ends of each corner post 2,4,6,8 on the side flanges thereof for receiving respective mounting hooks 44 provided on the ends of respective restraining straps 24,26,28,30, such that the restraining straps extend diagonally between adjacent pairs of corner posts, as shown in Figure 1.

[0018] The support deck 20 comprises a latticework of elongate rods or bars defining a pair of rectangular leaves 46,48 hingedly connected together along a centreline of the support deck 20 via a hinge 50 so that the support deck 20 can be folded in half. The hinge 50 is provided on a lower side of the support deck 20 such that opposing edges of the leaves 46,48 abut one another when the leaves 46,48 of the support deck 20 are in a flat unfolded configuration. The hinge 50 may extend the full width of the support deck 20.

[0019] Assembly of the support frame will now be described, with reference to Figure 5 to 9.

[0020] Firstly, as shown in Figure 5, the four corner posts 2,4,6,8 are located vertically at each corner of a first pallet 10, with the base plate 32 of each corner post 2,4,6,8 located beneath the respective corner region of the pallet 10.

[0021] Next the tie members 12,14,16,18 are attached to the corner posts 2,4,6,8, the mounting portions 34,36 of each tie member 12,14,16,18 being slotted into the respective receiving slots defined by the mounting members 38 on the outer sides of the corner posts 2,4,6,8, to interconnect the corner posts 2,4,6,8 as shown in Figure 6.

[0022] Once all of the tie members 12,14,16,18 have been attached to the corner posts 2,4,6,8, the restraining straps 24,26,28,30 are attached to the corner posts 2,4,6,8 via the mounting loops 40,42 to extend diagonally between the corner posts 2,4,6,8, as shown in Figure 7.

[0023] The support deck 20 is then positioned over the corner posts 2,4,6,8 in a partly folded, raised configuration, the hinge 50 of the support deck 20 defining a raised ridge, as shown in Figure 8, and placed in contact with the support seats 22 of the corner posts 2,4,6,8.

[0024] The support deck 20 is then pushed down to its flat unfolded configuration, supported on the corner posts 2,4,6,8, as shown in Figure 9. The action of pushing the support deck 20 down into its flat unfolded configuration causes opposite sides of the support deck 20 to push outwardly on the corner posts 2,4,6,8, as shown in Figure 10, tensioning the restraining straps 24,26,28,30 and causing the lower ends of the corner posts 2,4,6,8 to firmly grip the corners of the first pallet 10. The action of pushing down on the support deck 20 to move it to its flat unfolded configuration causes the support deck 20 to engage the support posts with a snap fit action. The position of the hings 50 beneath the support deck 20 and the weight of the support deck 20 cause the support deck 20 to be retained in its flat unfolded configuration under the compressive force applied thereto by the corner posts.

[0025] A second pallet 60 may then be placed onto the support deck 20, as shown in Figure 11 to be supported by the support frame above the first pallet 10.

[0026] The components of the support frame may be formed from galvanised steel or any other suitable material, such as plastic.

[0027] The invention is not limited to the embodiment(s) described herein but can be amended or modified without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A frame for supporting a second pallet above a first pallet (10) in tiered relationship, said frame comprising an assembly of corner posts (2,4,6,8), each capable of extending upwardly from corner regions of the first pallet (10), and a plurality of tie members (12,14,16,18), each arranged to extend between two adjacent corner posts (2,4,6,8) to interconnect the corner posts, a support deck (20) being detachably supported on the corner posts (2,4,6,8) at or adjacent upper ends thereof for supporting the second pallet thereon, wherein the support deck (20) is adapted to apply an outwardly directed biasing force on the corner posts (2,4,6,8) when supported thereon such that, in use, the first pallet (10) is firmly gripped by the lower ends of the corner posts (2,4,6,8).

2. A frame as claimed in claim 1, wherein each corner post (2,4,6,8) includes a support seat (22) adjacent an upper end thereof for supporting a respective corner of said support deck (20).

3. A frame as claimed in claim 2, wherein each corner post (2,4,6,8) comprises an elongate angle section member comprising side flanges arranged at right angles to one another.

4. A frame as claimed in claim 3, wherein a plate (32) extends between the side flanges of each support post at a lower end thereof to be located, in use, beneath a respective corner of the first pallet (10).

5. A frame as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the ends of each tie member (12,14,16,18) comprise an L section mounting portion (34,36) adapted to detachably engage an outer corner of a respective corner post (2,4,6,8).

6. A frame as claimed in claim 5, wherein the mounting portion (34,36) on each end of each tie member (12,14,16,18) is shaped to be received between an outer corner of a respective corner post (2,4,6,8) and a respective retaining member (38) mounted on an outer side of each corner post (2,4,6,8) to detachably retain the tie members (12,14,16,18) in engagement with the corner posts (2,4,6,8).

7. A frame as claimed in claim 5, wherein each retaining member (38) comprises an angle section plate secured to the respective corner post (2,4,6,8) at a lower end thereof to define an upwardly open receiving slot for receiving respective mounting portions (34,36) of the tie members (12,14,16,18).

8. A frame as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the support deck (20) comprises two or more leaves (46,48) hingedly connected together to be foldable between a substantially flat operative configuration and a folded configuration.

9. A frame as claimed in claim 8, wherein the support deck (20) comprises a pair of rectangular leaves (46,48) hingedly connected together along a centreline of the support deck (20) via a hinge (50) so that the support deck (20) can be folded in half.

10. A frame as claimed in claim 9, wherein said hinge (50) is located on a lower side of the support deck (20) such that opposing edges of the leaves (46,48) abut one another when the leaves (46,48) of the support deck (50) are in a flat unfolded configuration.

11. A frame as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising a plurality of restraining straps (24,26,28,30) attachable to the corner posts (2,4,6,8) to extend diagonally between adjacent pairs of corner post.

12. A frame as claimed in claim 11, wherein mounting loops (40,42) are provided at upper and lower ends of each corner post (2,4,6,8) for receiving mounting hooks (44) provided on the ends of the respective restraining straps (24,26,28,30).

Drawing