COLLAPSIBLE PALLET CONTAINER

Abstract

The invention relates to a collapsible superstructure (30), a frame system (20), a lid (40) and a load handling system in the form of a pallet (10) with other components thereon. The superstructure (30) comprises a downward-extending protrusion in the corner portions (33a-d) for forming a step which is arranged to interact with an edge of a downward-extending recess of the pallet (10) on which the superstructure (30) is intended to be placed. When the superstructure (30) is in a partly raised upright position on the pallet (10), each corner portion (33a-d) can be pushed outward so that the protrusion can drop down into each recess of the pallet (10). The collapsible sides (32a-b) comprise respective lower locking portions arranged to interact with a locking portion of the pallet (10) in such a way that, when the superstructure (30) is in a partly raised upright position on the pallet (10), the locking portion of the superstructure (30) can pass an edge of the locking portion of the pallet (10) in an outward movement (L) and thereby enable the superstructure (30) to place itself in a fully raised position.

Claims

1. A collapsible superstructure for a pallet, comprising: (a) a first pair of sides and a second pair of sides, the sides being arranged, in a raised position of the superstructure, to be upright in such a way that: the sides of the first pair are opposite each other; the sides of the second pair are opposite each other; and the sides of the first pair are connected to the sides of the second pair in a raised position of the superstructure in order to form a superstructure in the shape of a rectangular cuboid with four upright corner portions; (b) each one of the sides of the second pair being divided into two parts that are connected to a first hinge joint, which is upright in a raised position of the superstructure; (c) the superstructure being provided with, in a raised position of the superstructure, upright second hinge joints arranged at the corner portions so that said parts of the sides of the second pair are foldable in relation to the side of the first pair to which each part of the sides of the second pair is connected; (d) each of the four corner portions comprising a protrusion which in a raised position of the superstructure extends below (d) a connecting portion of the protrusion so that the protrusion in relation to the connecting portion forms a downward-extending step; (e) the connecting portion being formed as a part of the corner portion or of a connecting portion of each corner portion of, in a raised position of the superstructure, a lower edge portion of each side of the second pair; (f) the step being arranged to interact with an edge of a downward-extending recess of the pallet on which the superstructure is intended to be placed in such a way that, when the superstructure is in a partly raised upright position on the pallet, each corner portion can be pushed outward so that the protrusion can drop down into a respective recess of the pallet when the superstructure is placed partly or fully in a raised position, and in such a way that, when the superstructure is placed with its protrusions in the recesses of the pallet, the interaction between the step formed by the protrusion of the superstructure and the edge of the recess of the pallet prevents each corner portion from being inadvertently pushed inward along the extension of the sides of the second pair; (g) each one of the sides of the second pair comprising a locking portion within, in a raised position of the superstructure, the lower edge portion of each side; (h) the locking portion being arranged to interact with a locking portion of the pallet on which the superstructure is intended to be placed in such a way that, when the superstructure is in a partly raised upright position on the pallet, the locking portion of the superstructure is able to pass an edge of the locking portion of the pallet in an outward movement and thereby enable the superstructure to place itself in a fully raised position, and in such a way that, when the superstructure is in a fully raised position, the interaction between the superstructure locking portion and the pallet locking portion prevents each hinge joint between the parts of the second pair from being inadvertently pushed inward; and (i) the locking portion being designed, in a raised position of the superstructure, as a downward-extending locking protrusion and being arranged, when the superstructure is in a fully raised position, to be able to drop down into and interact with a recess of the pallet on which the superstructure is intended to be placed, or being formed by the lower edge portion having an edge which is arranged, when the superstructure is moved from a partly raised upright position to a fully raised position, to be able to pass across in an outward movement and drop down onto the outside of an upward-extending protrusion of the pallet on which the superstructure is intended to be placed.

2. The superstructure according to claim 1, wherein the locking portions of the superstructure are arranged in a centre portion of each side of the second pair, wherein the centre portion relates to a portion which comprises the positions that are closer to the first hinge joint of each side than the second hinge joints of each side.

3. The superstructure according to claim 1, wherein the superstructure in each of the four corner portions comprises a protrusion which in a raised position of the superstructure extends above a connecting portion of the protrusion so that the protrusion in relation to the connecting portion forms an upward-extending step, (a) wherein the connecting portion is formed as a part of the corner portion or of a connecting portion of each corner portion of, in a raised position of the superstructure, an upper edge portion of each side of the second pair; (b) wherein said step is arranged to interact with an edge of an upward-extending recess of a lid which is intended to be placed on the superstructure in such a way that, when the lid is placed with the superstructure protrusion in the recess of the lid, the interaction between the step formed by the superstructure protrusion and the edge of the lid recess prevents each corner portion from being inadvertently pushed inward along the extension of the sides of the second pair; (c) each one of the sides of the second pair comprising a locking portion within, in a raised position of the superstructure, the upper edge portion of each side; (d) wherein the locking portion is arranged to interact with a locking portion of the lid which is intended to be placed on the superstructure in such a way that, when the superstructure is in a fully raised position, the interaction between the superstructure locking portion and the lid locking portion prevents each hinge joint between the parts of the second pair from being inadvertently pushed inward; and (e) wherein the locking portion is formed, in a raised position of the superstructure, as an upward-extending locking protrusion, and is arranged, when the superstructure is in a fully raised position, to be able to extend up into and to interact with a recess of the lid which is intended to be placed on the superstructure, or formed by the upper edge portion having an edge which is arranged to extend up on the outside of a downward-extending protrusion of the lid which is intended to be placed on the superstructure.

4. A frame system arranged to be used for securing a rectangular, collapsible superstructure having two opposite collapsible sides on a rectangular pallet with four lateral edges, comprising: four recesses in which each one is arranged to be located in a respective corner of the pallet, which recesses extend down to form an upward-extending edge from the recess base, the edge being arranged to allow a protrusion of a corner portion of a superstructure to pass the edge so that the recess is able to receive the protrusion when the superstructure is in an upright partly or fully raised position, and which edge is arranged, when the protrusion is received in the recess, to interact with the protrusion and to prevent the protrusion and the corner portion from being inadvertently pushed inward along the collapsible sides of the superstructure; two locking portions arranged to be located at two opposite lateral edges of the pallet, along which two lateral edges the collapsible sides of the superstructure are intended to be located; the locking portions being designed with an edge and arranged to interact with locking portions of each of the collapsible sides of the superstructure which is intended to be placed on the pallet in such a way that, when the superstructure is in a partly raised upright position on the pallet, the superstructure locking portion is able to pass the edge of the frame system locking portion in an outward movement and thereby enable the superstructure to place itself in a fully raised position, and in such a way that, when the superstructure is in a fully raised position, the interaction between the edge of the frame system locking portion and the superstructure locking portion prevents the superstructure collapsible sides from being inadvertently pushed inward; and the locking portions for forming said edge being formed as downward-extending recesses for forming an upward-extending edge from the base of each recess, each edge being arranged to allow a downward-extending locking protrusion of each collapsible side of the superstructure which is intended to be placed on the pallet to pass the edge so that the recess is able to receive the locking protrusion when the superstructure places itself in the fully raised position, or being formed as upward-extending protrusions, each protrusion, being arranged, when the superstructure is moved from a partly raised upright position to a fully raised position, to allow a lower edge portion of the superstructure to pass across the protrusion in an outward movement and to drop down onto the outside of the protrusion, which outside of the protrusion, forms said edge which prevents the collapsible sides of the superstructure from being inadvertently pushed inward.

5. The frame system according to claim 4, wherein: the locking portions of the frame system are arranged to be located in a centre portion of each lateral edge of the pallet; and the centre portion relates to a portion which comprises the positions which are closer to the centre of each lateral edge than the end points of each lateral edge.

6. The frame system according to claim 4, wherein the frame system is formed in two separate parts which are each arranged to be fastened on a pallet, wherein each one of the parts comprises two corner wall portions and a locking portion arranged in between these corner wall portions.

7. The frame system according to claim 4, wherein the frame system further comprises four corner wall portions, of which each one is arranged to be located in a corner of the pallet, and each one comprises a first wall portion which is arranged to extend along at least a part of one of the lateral edges which meet in the corner in which the corner wall portion is located, and a second wall portion which is arranged to extend along at least a part of the second of the lateral edges which meet in the corner in which the corner wall portion is located.

8. A lid arranged to be used on top of a rectangular, collapsible superstructure with two opposite collapsible sides arranged on a pallet, the lid comprising: (a) four recesses, each one arranged to be located in a respective corner of the superstructure and to receive upward-extending protrusions of the superstructure, which recesses extend upward in order to form a downward-extending edge from the top of the recess, the edge being arranged to interact with the protrusion when the protrusion is received in the recess and to prevent the protrusion and the corner portion from being inadvertently pushed inward along the collapsible sides of the superstructure; (b) two locking portions arranged to be located at the two opposite collapsible sides of the superstructure; (c) the locking portions being formed with an edge and being arranged to interact with locking portions of each respective collapsible side of the superstructure on which the lid is intended to be placed in such a way that, when the superstructure is in a fully raised position, the interaction between the edge of the locking portion of the lid and the locking portion of the superstructure prevents the collapsible sides of the superstructure from being inadvertently pushed inward; and (d) the locking portions for forming said edge being formed as an upward-extending recess for forming a downward-extending edge from each top of the respective recess, or formed as downward-extending protrusions, an outside of the protrusion forming said edge which prevents the collapsible sides of the superstructure from being inadvertently pushed inward.

9. The lid according to claim 8, wherein: the locking portions of the lid are arranged to be located in a centre portion of each collapsible side of the superstructure; and wherein the centre portion relates to a portion which comprises the positions which are closer to the centre of each side than the end points of each side.

10. The lid according to claim 8, wherein the lid further comprises four corner wall portions which are each arranged to be located in a respective corner of the superstructure, and which each comprise a first wall portion which is arranged to extend along at least a part of one of the sides of the superstructure that meet in the corner in which the corner wall portion is located, and a second wall portion which is arranged to extend along at least a part of the second of the sides of the superstructure that meet in the corner in which the corner wall portion is located, wherein the wall portions are arranged to form a physical outer, geometrically rectangular limitation on outward skewing for the corner portions of the superstructure.

11. A load handling system comprising a pallet provided with a frame system according to claim 4.

12. (canceled)

13. A load handling system according to claim 11, further comprising a superstructure according to claim 1.

14. A load handling system according to claim 13, further comprising a lid according to claim 8.

15. A load handling system according to claim 11, further comprising a lid according to claim 8.

16. A load handling system comprising a pallet provided with a superstructure according to claim 1.

17. The load handling system according to claim 16, further comprising a frame system according to claim 4.

18. The load handling system according to claim 17, further comprising a lid according to claim 8.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0050] The invention is described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings which, for the purposes of illustration, show a presently preferred embodiment of the invention.

[0051] FIG. 1 shows a pallet with a frame system and a superstructure placed on the pallet and a lid placed on the superstructure.

[0052] FIG. 2 shows a pallet with a frame system and a superstructure placed on the pallet (in a fully raised position).

[0053] FIG. 3 shows a pallet with a frame system and a superstructure placed on the pallet (in an upright but only partly raised position).

[0054] FIG. 4 shows a pallet with a frame system.

[0055] FIG. 5 shows two details which form a part of a frame system.

[0056] FIG. 6 shows a corner of the frame system and of the superstructure.

[0057] FIG. 7 shows a plane projection of a superstructure.

[0058] FIG. 8 shows an enlargement of the corner portions shown in FIG. 7.

[0059] FIG. 9 shows an enlargement of a centre portion shown in FIG. 7.

[0060] FIG. 10 shows the same enlargement as in FIG. 9 but with the screw and washer removed.

[0061] FIG. 11 shows a detail corresponding to FIG. 5 according to an alternative embodiment.

[0062] FIG. 12 shows a section according to section marking shown in FIG. 11.

[0063] FIG. 13 shows a corner of the lid placed on a corner portion of the superstructure.

[0064] FIG. 14 shows an exploded view of the corner shown in FIG. 13.

[0065] FIG. 15 shows a corner of the lid placed on a corner portion of the superstructure corresponding to FIG. 13 but with the corner part of the lid removed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0066] As will be seen from FIGS. 1-4, the loading system 1 comprises a pallet 10, a frame system 20, a superstructure 30 and a lid 40. The superstructure 30 is, as will be seen in FIG. 3, collapsible. The superstructure 30 comprises a first pair of sides 31a-b and a second pair of sides 32a-b. When the superstructure is in a fully raised position, as in FIG. 2, the sides 31a-b, 32a-b are arranged to be upright in such a way that, the sides 31a-b of the first pair are opposite each other, and the sides 32a-b of the second pair are opposite each other, and the sides 31a-b of the first pair are connected to the sides 32a-b of the second pair so that the superstructure 30 forms a superstructure in the shape of a rectangular cuboid with four upright corner portions 33a-d. Each one of the sides 32a-b of the second pair is divided into two parts, 32a′ and 32a″ or 32b′ and 32b″ respectively, which are connected to a first hinge joint 34a-b, which is upright in a raised position of the superstructure. The superstructure 30 further comprises, as will be seen in FIG. 3, in a raised position of the superstructure 30, upright second hinge joints 35a-d arranged at the corner portions 33a-d so that said parts 32a′ and 32a″ or 32b′ and 32b″, respectively, of the sides 312a-b of the second pair are foldable in relation to the side of the first pair to which each part of the sides of the second pair is connected. Part 32a″ is for example foldable in relation to the side 31b thanks to the hinge joint 35a. The second hinge joints 35a-d are placed so that the corner portions 33a-d are fixed in relation to the sides 31a-b of the first pair of opposite sides. The second hinge joints are placed so that the parts 32a′ and 32a″ or 32b′ and 32b″, respectively, of the second pair of opposite sides are foldable in relation to the corner portions 33. The second hinge joints 35a-d are placed in the connection between the corner portions 33a-d and the parts 32a′ and 32a″ or 32b′ and 32b″, respectively, of the second pair of opposite sides.

[0067] As will be seen from FIGS. 6-8, the superstructure 30 comprises, in each of the four corner portions 33a-d, a downward-extending protrusion 36a-d. The superstructure 30 also comprises, in each of the four corner portions 33a-d, an upward-extending protrusion 37a-d. FIG. 2 shows all four upward-extending protrusions 37a-d. There is a downward-extending protrusion 36a-d at each of the corner portions 33a-d in the same way. FIGS. 6-8 show a couple or only one such protrusion in more detail.

[0068] Each downward-extending protrusion 36a-d extends, as will be seen in FIG. 8, in a raised position of the superstructure 30, below a connecting portion 32b″ of the protrusion 36 so that the protrusion 36a in relation to the connecting portion 32b″ forms a downward-extending step 38a-d with a height d. The connecting portion may be a part of the corner portion. In such a design, the protrusion 36a-d only extends across a part of the corner portion 33a-d as is indicated by the dotted line marked 38c′ in FIG. 8, and the part of the protrusion that is marked 36c′ in FIG. 8 is removed or at least of a shorter extension downward so that it forms a step at the line 38c′.

[0069] In the embodiment shown in the drawings, the connecting portion is formed by a connecting portion of each corner portion 33a-d, in a raised position of the superstructure, by a lower edge portion (see 32b′ in FIG. 8) of each side 32a′ and 32a″ or 32b′ and 32b″ of the second pair respectively.

[0070] Each step 38a-d is arranged to interact with an edge 21a-d of a downward-extending recess 22a-d of the pallet 10 on which the superstructure 30 is intended to be placed. Each step 38a-d is arranged to interact with a respective edge 21a-d in such a way that, when the superstructure 30 is in a partly raised upright position (as in FIG. 3) on the pallet 10, the respective corner portion 33a-d can be pushed outward so that the protrusion 37a-d can drop down into the respective recess 22a-d when the superstructure 30 places itself in a partly or fully raised position.

Each step 38a-d is arranged to interact with a respective edge 21a-d in such a way that, when the superstructure 30 is placed with its protrusions 37a-d in the recesses 22a-d of the pallet 10, the interaction between the step 38a-d, which is formed by the protrusion 37a-d of the superstructure 30, and the edge 21a-d of the recess 22a-d of the pallet 10 prevents a respective corner portion 33a-d from being inadvertently pushed inward along the extension T of the sides 32a-b of the second pair. The corner portions 33a-d in FIG. 3 are by design moved inward in the direction T in relation to FIG. 2.

[0071] Each one of the sides 32a-b of the second pair comprises a locking portion 39a, 39c, in a raised position of the superstructure, in the lower edge portion of each side 32a-b. In addition, there are corresponding locking portions 39b, 39d in an upper edge portion of each side 32a-b. The location of the upper locking portions 39b, 39d is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. As will be seen in FIG. 7, there is a lower locking portion 39a corresponding to the upper locking portion 39b. Correspondingly, there is a lower locking portion 39c corresponding to the upper locking portion 39d.

[0072] Each locking portion 39a, 39c is arranged to interact with a locking portion 23; 23′ of the pallet 10 on which the superstructure 30 is intended to be placed. Each locking portion 39a, 39c is arranged to interact with each locking portion 23; 23′ in such a way that, when the superstructure 30 is in a partly raised upright position (as in FIG. 3) on the pallet 10, the locking portion 39a, 39c of the pallet 30 can pass an edge 23b of the locking portion 23 of the pallet 10 in an outward movement L and thereby enable the superstructure 30 to place itself in a fully raised position.

[0073] Each locking portion 39a, 39c is arranged to interact with a respective locking portion 23; 23′ in such a way that, when the superstructure 30 is in a fully raised position, the interaction between the locking portion 39a, 39c of the superstructure 30 and the locking portion 23 of the pallet 10 prevents a respective hinge joint 34a, 34b between the parts 32a′ and 32a″ or 32b′ and 32b″, respectively, of the second pair 32a-b from being inadvertently pushed inward (counter to the arrows L in FIG. 3).

[0074] The locking portion 39a, 39c of the superstructure 30 is, according to one variant, formed, in a raised position of the superstructure, as a downward-extending locking protrusion 39a, 39c. As is shown in FIG. 9, the locking protrusion is advantageously a screw 39d. In addition, there is a washer 39d′ between the hinge joint 34a and the head of the screw 39d. The locking protrusion 39a, 39c is arranged, when the superstructure 30 places itself in a fully raised position, to drop down into and interact with a recess 23 of the pallet 10 on which the superstructure 30 is intended to be placed.

[0075] The locking portion is, according to another variant, formed such that the lower edge portion 39a′ and/or 39a″ has an edge which is arranged, when the superstructure 30 is moved from a partly raised upright position to a fully raised position, to be able to pass across in an outward movement L and drop down onto the outside of an upward-extending protrusion 23′ (see FIGS. 11 and 12) of the pallet 10 on which the superstructure 30 is intended to be placed. In the figures, only the edge portions 39a′ and 39a″ of the parts 32b′ and 32b″ are shown, but there are corresponding edge portions to the parts 32a′ and 32a″. The upward-extending protrusion 23′ may, for example, be a bulge which is provided by locally pushing the material upward. As will be seen in FIG. 12, the form is such that the inclination is less in an outward direction (L) and greater in an inward direction (counter to L), so that a distinct edge 23b is formed which prevents inadvertent pushing inward but which makes it easy to raise the superstructure to a fully raised position.

[0076] The locking portions 39a, 39c, 39a′, 39a″ of the superstructure 30 are arranged in a centre portion at each side 32a-b of the second pair, wherein the centre portion relates to a portion which comprises the positions which are closer to the first hinge joint 34a and 34b of each side 32a or 32b than the second hinge joints 35a-d of each side.

[0077] As mentioned above, the superstructure 30 in each of the four corner portions 33a-d comprises a protrusion 37a-d which, in a raised position of the superstructure, extends above a connecting portion of the protrusion so that the protrusion in relation to the connecting portion forms an upward-extending step 37a-d′ (37c′ is shown in FIG. 8). Correspondingly, as for the downward-extending protrusions, the connecting portion may be formed as a part of the corner portion or as a connecting portion of each corner portion, in a raised position of the superstructure, of an upper edge portion of each side of the second pair. The latter variant is shown in FIG. 8 by the protrusion 37c and the part 32b′.

[0078] The step 37a-d′ is arranged to interact with an edge 41a-d of an upward-extending recess of a lid 40 which is intended to be placed on the superstructure 30. The step 37a-d′ is arranged to interact with the edge 41a-d in such a way that, when the lid 40 is placed with the protrusions 37a-d of the superstructure 30 in the recesses of the lid 40, the interaction between the step 37a-d′, which is formed by the protrusion 37a-d of the superstructure 30, and the edge 41a-d of the recess of the lid 40 prevents a respective corner portion 33a-d of the superstructure 30 from being inadvertently pushed inward along the extension T of the sides 32a-b of the second pair.

[0079] Each one of the sides 32a-b of the second pair comprises a locking portion 39b, 39d within, in a raised position of the superstructure 30, within the upper edge portion of each side 32a-b. Each locking portion 39b, 39d is arranged to interact with a locking portion of the lid 40 which is intended to be placed on the superstructure 30 in such a way that, when the superstructure is in a fully raised position, the interaction between the locking portion 39b, 39d of the superstructure 30 and the locking portion of the lid 40 prevents a respective hinge joint 34a-b between the parts 32a′ and 32a″ or 32b′ and 32b″, respectively, of the second pair from being inadvertently pushed inward (counter to the direction L in FIG. 3).

[0080] According to a variant, the locking portion 39b, 39d is formed, in a raised position of the superstructure, as an upward-extending locking protrusion (see 39d in FIG. 9), and is arranged, when the superstructure is in a fully raised position, to be able to extend upward into and interact with a recess of the lid 40 which is intended to be placed on the superstructure 30. The recess of the lid 40 is advantageously a hole or a recess located in the same way and in the corresponding location as the recess 23 in FIG. 5.

[0081] According to a variant, the locking portion 39b, 39d is formed by the upper edge portion having an edge which is arranged to extend upward onto the outside of a downward-extending protrusion of the lid which is intended to be placed on the superstructure. This corresponds to the lower edge portion 39c and the protrusion 23′. For an explanation of the appearance and the function, reference should be made to the part of the description which relates to these.

[0082] In the complete system, the pallet 10 carries a frame system 20 which is arranged to secure the collapsible superstructure 30. The frame system 20 may be integrated in the pallet 10, but it may also be formed by one or more separate parts which can be fastened on any chosen pallet 10. In the description of the superstructure 30, the various recesses of the pallet have been described in detail. If the pallet is provided with a separate frame system or if a separate frame system is sold for retrofitting on a pallet, it is the frame system which comprises the recesses and the locking portions described as parts of the pallet in the description above.

[0083] The locking portions 23; 23′ of the frame system 20 are arranged to be located in a centre portion of each lateral edge of the pallet 10, wherein the centre portion relates to a portion which comprises the positions which are closer to the centre of each lateral edge than the end points of each lateral edge.

[0084] The frame system 20 is formed in two separate parts 20a-b, which are each arranged to be fastened on a pallet 10. Each one of the parts 20a-b comprises two corner wall portions 24a′ and 24a″ or 24b′ and 24b″, respectively, and a locking portion 23, 24 arranged in between these corner wall portions.

[0085] Each separate part 20a-b may, as shown in FIG. 5, in turn be formed by several parts. In the embodiment shown, the part 20a, as will be seen in FIG. 5, is divided into two parts 20a′ and 20a″. The part 20a′ is intended to be placed on top of part 20a″. The recess 23 is formed by part 20a′ being provided with a through-hole. In this way, the upper side of part 20a″ will form a base of the recess 23. The hole edge in part 20a′ will form the edge 23a-b. Correspondingly, the recesses in the corners of the pallet are formed by a part 22d of part 20a′ being removed. In this way, the upper side of part 20a″ will form the base of the recesses. The hole edge in part 20a′ will form the edge 21a-d.

[0086] Each of the four corner wall portions 24a′ and 24a″ or 24b′ and 24b″, respectively, of the frame system 20 is arranged to be placed in a respective corner of the pallet. Each of the four corner wall portions 24a′ and 24a″ or 24b′ and 24b″, respectively, of the frame system 20 comprises a first wall portion 25a which is arranged to extend along at least a part of one of the lateral edges which meet in the corner in which the corner wall portion is located, and a second wall portion 25b, which is arranged to extend along at least a part of the second of the lateral edges which meet in the corner in which the corner wall portion is located.

[0087] The load handling system also comprises, as mentioned above, a lid 40 arranged to be used on top of a rectangular, collapsible superstructure 30, arranged on a pallet, with two opposite collapsible sides 32a-b.

[0088] In the same way as the frame system 20 comprises recesses and locking portions, the lid also comprises recesses and locking portions.

[0089] The lid 40 has four recesses which are each arranged to be located in a respective corner of the superstructure, which recesses extend upward in order to form a downward-extending edge (see 41b in FIG. 14) from the top of the recess, wherein the edge is arranged to interact with the protrusion when the protrusion is received in the recess and to prevent the protrusion and the corner portion from being inadvertently pushed inward along the collapsible sides of the superstructure. The lid 40 is composed of four corner parts 42a-d, four elongated profiles 43a-d and a plate 44. The corner parts 42a-d have fingers which are arranged to extend into the end points of the profiles 43a-d as shown in FIG. 14. The corner parts 42a-d have a flat underside (same level on the centre part as on the fingers). Since the corner part 42b is pushed into the profiles, the underside of the corner part will form a top in the recess and the material thickness of the profiles underneath the plate will form the step 41b. The corner plate 42b has a dimension along the side surfaces which is slightly greater than the protrusion 37b which protrudes up from the superstructure.

[0090] In summary, the superstructure can be described as a superstructure which comprises a downward-extending protrusion in each corner portion for forming a step which is arranged to interact with an edge of a downward-extending recess of the pallet on which the superstructure is intended to be placed. When the superstructure is in a partly raised upright position on the pallet, each corner portion can be pushed outward so that the protrusion can drop down into each recess of the pallet. The collapsible sides comprise respective locking portions arranged to interact with a locking portion of the pallet in such a way that, when the superstructure is in a partly raised upright position on the pallet, the locking portion of the superstructure can pass an edge of the locking portion of the pallet in an outward movement and thereby enable the superstructure to place itself in a fully raised position.

[0091] It will be appreciated that a number of modifications of the embodiments of the invention described herein are possible within the scope of the invention, which is defined in the following patent claims.

[0092] For example, the pallet may be made of other materials and be of other designs than what is described. The pallet may, for example, be made of plastic or wood. The pallet may be made of metal but with a different design. Since the frame system comprises the recesses with which the superstructure interacts, it is sufficient that the pallet can carry the desired weight and load and that it is possible to fasten the frame system on the pallet in a satisfactory manner. According to an alternative, the pallet can be formed so that it in itself has a surface in which recesses are formed so that the recesses and the adjacent part of the surface form the edges of the recesses. In such a design, the frame system does not need to comprise recesses, instead the frame system can in such a case mainly be formed in order to provide the system with corner wall portions.

[0093] The superstructure may be formed from other materials and be of other designs than what is described.

[0094] The superstructure is formed from extruded aluminium in the embodiment shown. The corner portions are extruded in their longitudinal direction (vertical direction for an upright superstructure).

[0095] The side surfaces are extruded in the direction which is indicated by the stripes on the side surfaces. The collapsible sides are extruded in the direction which becomes a vertical direction for an upright superstructure. The fixed sides are extruded in the direction which becomes a horizontal direction for an upright superstructure.

[0096] The superstructure may, for example, be made of sheet metal which has advantageously been bent in a wave pattern for increased stiffness. The superstructure may also be made of plastic, laminate sheets, or other material. A variant is that the superstructure is formed with corner pillars of metal and that the side plates are formed of another material which, for example, is cheaper and has a lower load-bearing capacity.

[0097] In the embodiment shown, the superstructure protrusions at the corner portions are made of plastic. They can be made of metal or other materials.

[0098] In the embodiment shown, the superstructure's protruding locking portions (in the middle of the foldable sides) are formed by screws (of metal) screwed into the hinge joint. These protruding portions can be made of other materials. For example, they can be made of plastic. They can also be made of a mixture of different materials. For example, it could be envisaged that they are formed as an annular plastic knob screwed securely by means of a sunken metal screw in the plastic knob. The plastic knob will glide across the frame system and drop down into the recesses in the frame system. The metal screw in the middle will effectively retain the plastic knob in relation to the hinge joint.