COLLAPSIBLE PALLET CASING ASSEMBLY AND USE THEREOF

Abstract

The invention relates to a collapsible pallet casing assembly (1), comprising a pallet (2) with a frame structure enclosing a loading surface thereof, a rear casing wall, a front casing wall (32) a top casing wall (15), as well as first (17) and second lateral casing walls. The assembly (1) is transferable between an erected state, in which it is used as a shipping crate for bulky objects, and a collapsed state in which it may be stored or transported as a unit claiming little space. The assembly (1) is transferable from the erected state to the collapsed state by folding all said casing walls (15, 17, 32) on top of each other onto the pallet (2). The invention also relates to use of such a pallet casing assembly (1) for shipping bulky objects, especially server racks or power cabinets.

Claims

1. A collapsible pallet casing assembly (1) configured to be used as a shipping crate for bulky objects, especially server racks and power cabinets, comprising: a pallet (2) provided with an upper loading surface (3) configured to form a bottom of the pallet casing assembly (1) in an erected state thereof and further provided with a frame structure enclosing the loading surface (3) on a rear side and lateral sides thereof by a vertical rear frame wall (4) and vertical first (6) and second (7) lateral frame walls at a rear edge (5) and first (8) and second (9) opposite lateral edges of the pallet (2), respectively, a rear casing wall (10) comprising a lower rear wall section (11) hingedly connected at a lower end to the rear frame wall (4) to be foldable to a position on top of the loading surface (3) in a collapsed state of the pallet casing assembly (1), and an upper rear wall section (12) hingedly connected to an upper end of said lower rear wall section (11) to be foldable to a position on top of the lower rear wall section (11) in said collapsed state, a top casing wall (14) comprising a top wall section (15) hingedly connected at a rear end to an upper end of the upper rear wall section (12) to be foldable to a position on top of the upper rear wall section (12) in said collapsed state, a first lateral casing wall (17) comprising a lower first lateral wall section (18) configured to rest on the first lateral frame wall (6) in said erected state and hingedly connected at a rear end to a first lateral end (20) of the lower rear wall section (11) to be foldable to a position overlapping the lower rear wall section (11) to be placed between the lower rear wall section (11) and the loading surface (3) in said collapsed state, and an upper first lateral wall section (19) configured to rest on an upper end of the lower first lateral wall section (18) in said erected state and hingedly connected at an upper end to a first lateral end (21) of the top wall section (15) to be foldable to a position overlapping the top wall section (15) to be placed between the top wall section (15) and the upper rear wall section (12) in said collapsed state, and a second lateral casing wall (22) comprising a lower second lateral wall section (23) configured to rest on the second lateral frame wall (7) in said erected state and hingedly connected at a rear end to a second lateral end (25) of the lower rear wall section (11) to be foldable to a position overlapping the lower first lateral wall section (18) to be placed between the lower first lateral wall section (18) and the loading surface (3) in said collapsed state, and an upper second lateral wall section (24) configured to rest on an upper end of the lower second lateral wall section (23) in said erected state and hingedly connected at an upper end to a second lateral end (26) of the top wall section (15) to be foldable to a position overlapping the upper first lateral wall section (19) to be placed between the upper first lateral wall section (19) and the upper rear wall section (12) in said collapsed state, wherein the lower rear wall section (11) has a width which is smaller than the distance between the first (6) and second (7) lateral frame walls, the first lateral end (20) of the lower rear wall section (11) is located at a distance from the first lateral frame wall (6) in said erected state, the second lateral end (25) of the lower rear wall section (11) is located at a distance from the second lateral frame wall (7) in said erected state, the lower first lateral wall section (18) is hingedly connected to the first lateral end (20) of the lower rear wall section (11) by a first link element (27) connected at a first end to the rear end of the lower first lateral wall section (18) and pivotably connected at an opposite second end to the first lateral end (20) of the lower rear wall section (11), and the lower second lateral wall section (23) is hingedly connected to the second lateral end (25) of the lower rear wall section (11) by a second link element (28) connected at a first end to the rear end of the lower second lateral wall section (23) and pivotably connected at an opposite second end to the second lateral end (25) of the lower rear wall section (11).

2. A pallet casing assembly (1) according to claim 1, wherein the lower first lateral wall section (18) comprises at least two plate members (18a-b) together constituting this wall section (18), wherein a first plate member (18a) is hingedly connected at a rear end to the lower rear wall section (11) by the first link element (27), and a second plate member (18b) is hingedly connected at a rear end to a front end of this first plate member (18a) to be foldable to a position overlapping this first plate member (18a) to be placed between this first plate member (18a) of the lower first lateral wall section (18) and the lower rear wall section (11) in said collapsed state, the lower second lateral wall section (23) comprises at least two plate members (23a-b) together constituting this wall section (23), a first plate member (23a) is hingedly connected at a rear end to the lower rear wall section (11) by the second link element (28), and a second plate member (23b) is hingedly connected at a rear end to a front end of this first plate member (23a) to be foldable to a position overlapping this first plate member (23a) to be placed between this first plate member (23a) of the lower second lateral wall section (23) and the first plate member (18a) of the lower first lateral wall section (18) in said collapsed state.

3. A pallet casing assembly (1) according to claim 2, wherein the first link element (27) is configured to hold the first plate member (18a) of the lower first lateral wall section (18) at a distance to the lower rear wall section (11) corresponding to the thickness of the second plate member (18b) of the lower first lateral wall section (18) in said collapsed state.

4. A pallet casing assembly (1) according to claim 3, wherein second link element (28) is configured to hold the first plate member (23a) of the lower second lateral wall section (23) at a distance to the lower rear wall section (11) corresponding to the thicknesses of the second plate member (18b) of the lower first lateral wall section (18), the first plate member (18a) of the lower first lateral wall section (18) and the second plate member (23b) of the lower second lateral wall section (23) combined in said collapsed state.

5. A pallet casing assembly (1) according to claim 1, wherein characterized in that the first link element (27) is configured to extend in a plane in which the lower rear wall section (11) extends in said erected state and to form a right-angled corner with the lower first lateral wall section (18) in said erected state, and to extend perpendicularly away from the lower rear wall section (11) in said collapsed state, and that the second link element (28) is configured to extend in the plane in which the lower rear wall section (11) extends in said erected state to form a right-angled corner with the lower second lateral wall section (23) in said erected state, and to extend perpendicularly away from the lower rear wall section (11) in said collapsed state.

6. A pallet casing assembly (1) according to claim 1, wherein the first link element (27) is rigidly connected at the first end thereof to the rear end of the lower first lateral wall section (18) and the second link element (28) is rigidly connected at the first end thereof to the rear end of the lower second lateral wall section (23).

7. A pallet casing assembly (1) according to claim 1, wherein the lower rear wall section (11) has a height which is lower than the height of the lower first (18) and second (23) lateral wall sections, and the upper rear wall section (12) is provided with a first corner rim (31a) extending from a first lateral edge of the upper rear wall section (12) to cover, from the outside, at least a part of a rear end of the upper first lateral wall section (19) and a part of the rear end of the lower first lateral wall section (18) in said erected state, and a second corner rim (31b) extending from a second lateral edge of the upper rear wall section (12) to cover, from the outside, at least a part of a rear end of the upper second lateral wall section (24) and a part of the rear end of the lower second lateral wall section (23) in said erected state.

8. A pallet casing assembly (1) according to claim 1, wherein the upper first lateral wall section (19) is hingedly connected at the upper end to the first lateral end (21) of the top wall section (15) by a third link element (29) connected at a first end to the upper end of the upper first lateral wall section (19) and pivotably connected at an opposite second end to the first lateral end (21) of the top wall section (15), and the third link element (29) is configured to enable folding of the upper first lateral wall section (19) to a position overlapping and extending in parallel with the top wall section (15) in said collapsed state.

9. A pallet casing assembly (1) according to claim 8, wherein the upper second lateral wall section (24) is hingedly connected at the upper end to the second lateral end (26) of the top wall section (15) by a fourth link element (30) connected at a first end to the upper end of the upper second lateral wall section (24) and pivotably connected at an opposite second end to the second lateral end (26) of the top wall section (15), and the fourth link element (30) is configured to enable folding of the upper second lateral wall section (24) to a position overlapping and extending in parallel with the upper first lateral wall section (19) in said collapsed state, and to hold the upper second lateral wall section (24) at a distance from the top wall section (15) corresponding to the length of the third link element (29) in said collapsed state.

10. A pallet casing assembly (1) according to claim 9, wherein the third link element (29) is configured to extend in a plane in which the top wall section (15) extends in said erected state and to-form a right-angled corner with the upper first lateral wall section (19) in said erected state, and to extend perpendicularly away from the top wall section (15) in said collapsed state, and the fourth link element (30) is configured to extend in the plane in which the top wall section (15) extends in said erected state and to form a right-angled corner with the upper second lateral wall section (24) in said erected state, and to extend perpendicularly away from the top wall section (15) in said collapsed state.

11. A pallet casing assembly (1) according to claim 9, wherein the third link element (29) is rigidly connected at the first end thereof to the upper end of the upper first lateral wall section (19), the fourth link element (30) is rigidly connected at the first end thereof to the upper end of the upper second lateral wall section (24).

12. A pallet casing assembly (1) according to claim 1, wherein the assembly further comprises: a front casing wall (32) configured to be releasably arranged at a front side of the pallet (2) to close a front opening into a loading space (13) of the pallet casing assembly (1) in said erected state, and placed in a position on top of the loading surface (3) between this and the lower second lateral wall section (23) in said collapsed state.

13. A pallet casing assembly (1) according to claim 12, wherein the front casing wall (32) comprises a lower front wall section (33) and an upper front wall section (34) hingedly connected at a lower end to an upper end of the lower front wall section (33) to be foldable to a position overlapping the lower front wall section (33) to be placed on top of or under the lower front wall section (33) between the loading surface (3) and the lower second lateral wall section (23) in said collapsed state.

14. A pallet casing assembly (1) according to claim 1, wherein the pallet casing assembly (1) has a height of at least 1.5 meters, preferably between 2.0 and 2.5 meters, in said erected state, and a height lower than 0.5 meters in said collapsed state.

15. (canceled)

16. A pallet casing assembly (1) according to claim 4, wherein the first link element (27) is configured to extend in a plane in which the lower rear wall section (11) extends in said erected state to form a right-angled corner with the lower first lateral wall section (18) in said erected state, and extend perpendicularly away from the lower rear wall section (11) in said collapsed state, and the second link element (28) is configured to extend in the plane in which the lower rear wall section (11) extends in said erected state to form a right-angled corner with the lower second lateral wall section (23) in said erected state, and extend perpendicularly away from the lower rear wall section (11) in said collapsed state.

17. A pallet casing assembly (1) according to claim 3, wherein the first link element (27) is configured to extend in a plane in which the lower rear wall section (11) extends in said erected state to form a right-angled corner with the lower first lateral wall section (18) in said erected state, and extend perpendicularly away from the lower rear wall section (11) in said collapsed state, and the second link element (28) is configured to extend in the plane in which the lower rear wall section (11) extends in said erected state to form a right-angled corner with the lower second lateral wall section (23) in said erected state, and extend perpendicularly away from the lower rear wall section (11) in said collapsed state.

18. A pallet casing assembly (1) according to claim 2, wherein the first link element (27) is configured to extend in a plane in which the lower rear wall section (11) extends in said erected state to form a right-angled corner with the lower first lateral wall section (18) in said erected state, and extend perpendicularly away from the lower rear wall section (11) in said collapsed state, and the second link element (28) is configured to extend in the plane in which the lower rear wall section (11) extends in said erected state to form a right-angled corner with the lower second lateral wall section (23) in said erected state, and extend perpendicularly away from the lower rear wall section (11) in said collapsed state.

19. A pallet casing assembly (1) according to claim 16, wherein the first link element (27) is rigidly connected at the first end thereof to the rear end of the lower first lateral wall section (18) and the second link element (28) is rigidly connected at the first end thereof to the rear end of the lower second lateral wall section (23).

20. A pallet casing assembly (1) according to claim 17, wherein the first link element (27) is rigidly connected at the first end thereof to the rear end of the lower first lateral wall section (18) and the second link element (28) is rigidly connected at the first end thereof to the rear end of the lower second lateral wall section (23).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0037] With reference to the appended drawings, below follows a specific description of an embodiment of the invention cited as an example.

[0038] In the drawings:

[0039] FIG. 1 is a simplified perspective view obliquely from the front of a collapsible pallet casing assembly according to the invention, in the erected state,

[0040] FIG. 2 is a perspective view obliquely from the back of the pallet casing assembly of FIG. 1,

[0041] FIG. 3 is a view of the pallet casing assembly of FIG. 1 during a first step of a collapsing process, i.e. a process of transferring the pallet casing assembly from the erected state to the collapsed state,

[0042] FIG. 4 is a view of the pallet casing assembly of FIG. 1 during a second step of a collapsing process,

[0043] FIG. 5 is a view of the pallet casing assembly of FIG. 1 during a third step of a collapsing process,

[0044] FIG. 6 is a view of the pallet casing assembly of FIG. 1 during a fourth step of a collapsing process,

[0045] FIG. 7 is a view of the pallet casing assembly of FIG. 1 during a fifth step of a collapsing process, showing a part of the lower first lateral wall in detail,

[0046] FIG. 8 is a view of the pallet casing assembly of FIG. 1 during a sixth step of a collapsing process,

[0047] FIG. 9 is a view of the pallet casing assembly of FIG. 1 during a seventh step of a collapsing process,

[0048] FIG. 10 is a detailed view in the direction “A” in FIG. 9,

[0049] FIG. 11 is a view of the pallet casing assembly of FIG. 1 during an eighth step of a collapsing process,

[0050] FIG. 12 is a view of the pallet casing assembly of FIG. 1 during a ninth step of a collapsing process,

[0051] FIG. 13 is a view of the pallet casing assembly of FIG. 1 during a tenth step of a collapsing process,

[0052] FIG. 14 is a view of the pallet casing assembly of FIG. 1 during an eleventh step of a collapsing process,

[0053] FIG. 15 is a view of the pallet casing assembly of FIG. 1 during a twelfth step of a collapsing process,

[0054] FIG. 16 is a view of the pallet casing assembly of FIG. 1 during a thirteenth step of a collapsing process,

[0055] FIG. 17 is a perspective view obliquely from the front of the pallet casing assembly of FIG. 1, in the collapsed state, and

[0056] FIG. 18 is a front view of the pallet casing assembly as shown in FIG. 17.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0057] A collapsible pallet casing assembly 1 configured to be used as a shipping crate for bulky objects, especially server racks, according to an embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the appended FIGS. 1-18 and will now be described while at the same time making reference to all these figures.

[0058] The pallet casing assembly 1 comprises a pallet 2, such as a standard wooden EUR-pallet, provided with an upper loading surface 3, for instance formed by a wooden board or other sheet material, configured to form a bottom of the pallet casing assembly in an erected state thereof (see FIGS. 1 and 2). More specifically, the upper loading surface 3 constitutes a bottom of an inner loading space 13 of the pallet casing assembly in said erected state. The pallet 2 is provided with a frame structure enclosing the loading surface 3 on a rear side and lateral sides thereof in the manner of a pallet collar with open front. The frame structure comprises a vertical rear frame wall 4 extending at and along a rear edge 5 of the pallet, and vertical first 6 and second 7 lateral frame walls extending at and along first 8 and second 9 opposite lateral edges of the pallet, respectively.

[0059] The pallet casing assembly 1 further comprises a rear casing wall 10, a top casing wall 14, a first lateral casing wall 17, a second lateral casing wall 22 and a front casing wall 32 together forming a box-like structure on the pallet 2 in the erected state of the pallet casing assembly so as to define and enclose the loading space 13 thereof.

[0060] The rear casing wall 10 comprises a lower rear wall section 11 and an upper rear wall section 12. The lower rear wall section 11 is hingedly connected at a lower end to the rear frame wall 4 so as to be foldable (see FIG. 12) to a position on top of the loading surface 3 in a collapsed state of the pallet casing assembly (see FIGS. 17-18). The upper rear wall section 12 is hingedly connected to an upper end of the lower rear wall section 11 so as to be foldable (see FIGS. 6 and 12) to a position on top of the lower rear wall section in said collapsed state.

[0061] The top casing wall 14 comprises a top wall section 15 hingedly connected at a rear end to an upper end of the upper rear wall section 12 by a rear edge rim 16 fixedly secured to the rear end of the top wall section 15 and hingedly secured to the upper end of the upper rear wall section 12, so that the top wall section 15 is foldable (see FIG. 16) to a position on top of the upper rear wall section 12 in the collapsed state.

[0062] The first lateral casing wall 17 comprises a lower first lateral wall section 18 and an upper first lateral wall section 19.

[0063] The lower first lateral wall section 18 is configured to rest on the first lateral frame wall 6 in said erected state and is hingedly connected at a rear end to a first lateral end 20 of the lower rear wall section 11 so as to be foldable (see FIG. 8) to a position overlapping, i.e. at least partly covering (see FIG. 10), the lower rear wall section to be placed (see FIG. 12) between the lower rear wall section and the loading surface 3 in said collapsed state. The lower first lateral wall section 18 comprises two plate members 18a-b together constituting this wall section, of which a first plate member 18a is hingedly connected at a rear end to the lower rear wall section 11, and a second plate member 18b is hingedly connected at a rear end to a front end of the first plate member 18a so as to be foldable (see FIG. 7) to a position overlapping this first plate member 18a to be placed (see FIGS. 8 and 12) between the first plate member 18a of the lower first lateral wall section 18 and the lower rear wall section 11 in said collapsed state.

[0064] The upper first lateral wall section 19 is configured to rest on an upper end of the lower first lateral wall section 18, i.e. on upper ends of the first 18a and second 18b plate members of the lower first lateral wall section, in said erected state. The upper first lateral wall section 19 is hingedly connected at an upper end to a first lateral end 21 of the top wall section 15 so as to be foldable (see FIG. 14) to a position overlapping the top wall section to be placed (see FIG. 16) between the top wall section 15 and the upper rear wall section 12 in said collapsed state.

[0065] The second lateral casing wall 22 has a corresponding structure as the first lateral casing wall 17 and comprises a lower second lateral wall section 23 and an upper second lateral wall section 24.

[0066] The lower second lateral wall section 23 is configured to rest on the second lateral frame wall 7 in said erected state and is hingedly connected at a rear end to a second lateral end 25 of the lower rear wall section 11 so as to be foldable (see FIGS. 9-10) to a position overlapping the lower first lateral wall section 18 to be placed (see FIG. 12) between the lower first lateral wall section and the loading surface 3 in said collapsed state. The lower second lateral wall section 23 comprises two plate members 23a-b together constituting this wall section, of which a first plate member 23a is hingedly connected at a rear end to the lower rear wall section 11 and a second plate member 23b is hingedly connected at a rear end to a front end of the first plate member 23a so as to be foldable (see FIG. 7) to a position overlapping this first plate member 23a to be placed (see FIGS. 9-10 and 12) between the first plate member 23a of the lower second lateral wall section 23 and the first plate member 18a of the lower first lateral wall section 18 in said collapsed state.

[0067] The upper second lateral wall section 24 is configured to rest on an upper end of the lower second lateral wall section 23, i.e. on upper ends of the first 23a and second 23b plate members of the lower second lateral wall section, in said erected state. The upper second lateral wall section 24 is hingedly connected at an upper end to a second lateral end 26 of the top wall section 15 so as to be foldable (see FIG. 15) to a position overlapping the upper first lateral wall section 19 to be placed (see FIG. 16) between the upper first lateral wall section 19 and the upper rear wall section 12 in said collapsed state.

[0068] The first 18a, 23a and second 18b, 23b plate members of the lower first 18 and second 23 lateral wall sections are releasably secured at lower ends thereof to the respective lateral frame walls 6, 7 and at upper ends thereof to lower ends of the upper first 19 and second 24 lateral wall sections in the erected state. Securing means 35 suitable for this purpose, such as clips, are therefore provided at suitable positions on these components. Such securing means are schematically shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Furthermore, the upper first 19 and second 24 lateral wall sections are releasably secured to the upper rear wall section 12 in the erected state. Securing means 36 suitable for this purpose, such as clips or buttons, are therefore provided on these components, and schematically shown in FIGS. 13-16.

[0069] The lower rear wall section 11 has a width which is smaller than the distance between the first 6 and second 7 lateral frame walls, which is seen for instance in FIG. 2. The first lateral end 20 of the lower rear wall section is located at a distance from the first lateral frame wall 6, or from a plane in which this frame wall extends, (in a direction perpendicularly away from the first lateral frame wall 6 towards the second lateral frame wall 7) in said erected state and the second lateral end 25 of the lower rear wall section is located at a distance from the second lateral frame wall 7, or from a plane in which this frame wall extends, (in a direction perpendicularly away from the second lateral frame wall 7 towards the first lateral frame wall 6) in said erected state.

[0070] The lower first lateral wall section 18 is hingedly connected to the first lateral end 20 of the lower rear wall section 11 by a first link element 27. The first link element is rigidly connected, such as by screws, adhesive or welding, at a first end to the rear end of the lower first lateral wall section, and more specifically to the rear end of the first plate member 18a of the lower first lateral wall section, in such a way that it extends perpendicularly away from said first plate member 18a, and pivotably connected at an opposite second end to the first lateral end 20 of the lower rear wall section 11. The first link element 27 is configured to extend in a plane in which the lower rear wall section 11 extends in said erected state, so as to act as an extension of the lower rear wall section with the first end of the first link element in contact with the first lateral end 20 of the lower rear wall section 11 and the second end of the first link element resting upon the first lateral frame wall 6 in the erected state, and to form a right-angled corner with the lower first lateral wall section 18. The first link element 27 is configured to be pivotably moved with the first plate member 18a of the lower first lateral wall section 18 by folding this (see FIG. 8) so as to extend perpendicularly away from the lower rear wall section 11 in said collapsed state.

[0071] The first link element 27 is in this way configured to make the lower first lateral wall section 18 pivotably movable between a position resting on the first lateral frame wall 6 in said erected state, and a position displaced from the first lateral frame wall towards the second lateral frame wall 7 so as to be receivable between the first and second lateral frame walls on the loading surface 3 in said collapsed state.

[0072] In a corresponding way, the lower second lateral wall section 23 is hingedly connected to the second lateral end 25 of the lower rear wall section 11 by a second link element 28. The second link element is rigidly connected at a first end to the rear end of the lower second lateral wall section 23, and more specifically to the rear end of the first plate member 23a of the lower second lateral wall section, in such a way that it extends perpendicularly away from said first plate member 23a, and pivotably connected at an opposite second end to the second lateral end 25 of the lower rear wall section. The second link element 28 is configured to extend in the plane in which the lower rear wall section 11 extends in said erected state, so as to act as an extension of the lower rear wall section with the first end of the second link element in contact with the second lateral end 25 of the lower rear wall section 11 and the second end of the second link element resting upon the second lateral frame wall 7 in the erected state, and to form a right-angled corner with the lower second lateral wall section 23. The second link element 28 is configured to be pivotably moved with the first plate member 23a of the lower second lateral wall section 23 by folding this (see FIGS. 9-10) so as to extend perpendicularly away from the lower rear wall section 11 in said collapsed state.

[0073] The second link element 28 is in this way configured to make the lower second lateral wall section 23 pivotably movable between a position resting on the second lateral frame wall 7 in said erected state, and a position displaced from the second lateral frame wall towards the first lateral frame wall 6 so as to be receivable between the first and second lateral frame walls on the loading surface 3 in said collapsed state.

[0074] As is shown in FIG. 7, the upper ends of the first 6 and second 7 lateral frame walls are provided with recesses 38 at the rear ends of these frame walls, close to the rear frame wall 4. The lower ends of the first plate members 18a, 23a of the lower first 18 and second 23 lateral wall sections are provided with corresponding protrusions 39 at the rear ends of these plate members, which are configured to be inserted and interact by fit locking with said recesses 38 so as to obstruct horizontal pivoting movement of the first plate members 18a, 23a in the erected state of the pallet casing assembly 1. The locking action of the protrusions 39 in the recesses 38 is released by lifting the lower first 18 and second 23 lateral wall sections so that the protrusions are lifted out of the recesses, whereafter said wall sections 18, 23 may be moved horizontally, i.e. pivotably folded towards each other. The lifting of the lower first 18 and second 23 lateral wall sections is enabled by the design of the hinge arrangements between the first link element 27 and the first lateral end 20 of the lower rear wall section 11 and the second link element 28 and the second lateral end 25 of the lower rear wall section, respectively.

[0075] As is seen in FIG. 18, the first link element 27 is configured to hold the first plate member 18a of the lower first lateral wall section 18 at a distance to the lower rear wall section 11 corresponding to the thickness of the second plate member 18b of the lower first lateral wall section in said collapsed state. More specifically, the first link element 27 is designed and arranged to hold said rear end of the first plate member 18a of the lower first lateral wall section 18 at said distance to the lower rear wall section 11 so that said first plate member 18a is kept in parallel to the lower rear wall section with the associated second plate member 18b sandwiched therebetween in said collapsed state.

[0076] The second link element 28 is configured to hold the first plate member 23a of the lower second lateral wall section 23 at a distance to the lower rear wall section 11 corresponding to the thicknesses of the second plate member 18b of the lower first lateral wall section 18, the first plate member 18a of the lower first lateral wall section and the second plate member 23b of the lower second lateral wall section 23 combined in said collapsed state. More specifically, the second link element 28 is designed and arranged to hold said rear end of the first plate member 23a of the lower second lateral wall section 23 at said distance to the lower rear wall section 11 so that said first plate member 23a is kept in parallel to the lower rear wall section with the associated second plate member 23b and the first 18a and second 18b plate members of the lower first lateral wall section sandwiched therebetween in said collapsed state.

[0077] The top wall section 15 has a width which is smaller than the distance between the upper first 19 and second 24 lateral wall sections in said erected state, which is seen for instance in FIG. 1. The first lateral end 21 of the top wall section is located at a distance from the upper first lateral wall section 19 in said erected state and the second lateral end 26 of the top wall section is located at a distance from the upper second lateral wall section 24 in said erected state, in the direction from one upper lateral wall section towards the other.

[0078] The upper first lateral wall section 19 is hingedly connected at the upper end to the first lateral end 21 of the top wall section 15 by a third link element 29 rigidly connected at a first end to the upper end of the upper first lateral wall section 19 and pivotably connected at an opposite second end to the first lateral end 21 of the top wall section 15. The third link element 29 is configured to extend in a plane in which the top wall section 15 extends in said erected state (see FIG. 1) while forming a right-angled corner with the upper first lateral wall section 19, and to extend perpendicularly away from the top wall section 15 (see FIGS. 16-18) in said collapsed state. The third link element 29 is configured to enable folding (see FIG. 14) of the upper first lateral wall section 19 to a position overlapping and extending in parallel with the top wall section 15 in said collapsed state.

[0079] The upper second lateral wall section 24 is hingedly connected at the upper end to the second lateral end 26 of the top wall section 15 by a fourth link element 30 rigidly connected at a first end to the upper end of the upper second lateral wall section 24 and pivotably connected at an opposite second end to the second lateral end 26 of the top wall section 15. The fourth link element 30 is configured to extend in the plane in which the top wall section extends in said erected state (see FIG. 1) while forming a right-angled corner with the upper second lateral wall section 24, and to extend perpendicularly away from the top wall section 15 (see FIGS. 16-18) in said collapsed state. The fourth link element 30 is configured to enable folding (see FIG. 15) of the upper second lateral wall section 24 to a position overlapping and extending in parallel with the upper first lateral wall section 19 in said collapsed state, and to hold the upper second lateral wall section 24 at a distance from the top wall section 15 corresponding to the length of the third link element 29 in said collapsed state.

[0080] The link elements described, i.e. the first 27, second 28, third 29 and fourth 30 link elements, are intermediate elements linking/interconnecting the wall sections in question. These elements are in the embodiment shown elongated metal profiles each interconnecting two respective wall sections along entire, or at least a great part of, adjacent outer ends thereof. However, such a link element could also be a smaller element, such as a substantially shorter elongated profile or a lever, interconnecting two wall sections along a small part of or in one spot along adjacent outer ends thereof.

[0081] The lower rear wall section 11 has a height which is lower than the height of the lower first 18 and second 23 lateral wall sections (see for instance FIGS. 2 and 6-7). This simplifies the mounting of the pallet casing assembly 1 as the upper rear ends of the lower first and second lateral wall sections act as stopping surfaces for the upper rear wall section 12 by folding this up onto the lower rear wall section 11 to its position in the erected state (see FIG. 6). This feature also increases the stability of the pallet casing assembly 1 in the erected state, as the weight of the upper first 19 and second 24 lateral wall sections and the top wall section 15 urges the upper rear wall section 12 against said stopping surfaces whereby the upper rear wall section is maintained in a proper position.

[0082] The upper rear wall section 12 is provided with a first corner rim 31a extending along an entire first lateral edge of the upper rear wall section 12 and protruding perpendicularly therefrom to cover, from the outside, a part of a rear end of the upper first lateral wall section 19 and a part of the rear end of the lower first lateral wall section 18 in said erected state, and a second corner rim 31b extending along an entire second lateral edge of the upper rear wall section 12 and protruding perpendicularly therefrom to cover, from the outside, a part of a rear end of the upper second lateral wall section 24 and a part of the rear end of the lower second lateral wall section 23 in said erected state (see FIGS. 1-2). In the embodiment shown, the first 31a and second 31b corner rims are bent outer portions of a metal sheet 31 covering the entire rear (outer) side of the upper rear wall section 12. However, such corner rims could also be separate parts attached to the upper rear wall section. The corner rims 31a-b keep the upper first 19 and second 24 lateral wall sections aligned with the lower first 18 and second 23 lateral wall sections, respectively, which simplifies a mounting step (see FIG. 6) of placing the upper lateral wall sections to rest on the lower lateral wall sections and also increases the stability of the pallet casing assembly 1 in the erected state.

[0083] The front casing wall 32 is a separate component configured to be releasably arranged at a front side of the pallet 2 so as to close a front opening into a loading space 13 of the pallet casing assembly 1 in said erected state, and placed in a position on top of the loading surface 3 between this and the lower second lateral wall section 23 (see FIGS. 5 and 12) in said collapsed state. The front opening is defined between front ends of the pallet 2, the first 17 and second 22 lateral casing walls and the top casing wall 14 (see FIG. 3). The front casing wall 32 comprises a lower front wall section 33 and an upper front wall section 34 hingedly connected at a lower end to an upper end of the lower front wall section so as to be foldable to a position overlapping the lower front wall section to be placed on top of or under the lower front wall section between the loading surface 3 and the lower second lateral wall section 23 in said collapsed state. The front casing wall 32 is releasably secured to the second plate members 18b, 23b of the lower first 18 and second 23 lateral wall sections, the upper first 19 and second 24 lateral wall sections, the top wall section 15 and the pallet 2 in the erected state by securing means 37 suitable for this purpose.

[0084] Such securing means may for instance be any type of clips and are schematically shown in FIG. 1.

[0085] Hereinafter, a process of transferring the pallet casing assembly 1 from the erected state to the collapsed state is to be described.

[0086] Firstly, the front casing wall 32 is removed (see FIG. 3) by releasing the securing means 37, folded (see FIG. 4) and placed on the loading surface 3 (see FIG. 5). The securing means 35 on the lateral casing walls 17, 18 are then released allowing the upper rear wall section 12 (together with the top wall section 15 and the upper first 19 and second 24 lateral wall sections) to be folded backwards (see FIG. 6) to a position overlapping and abutting the lower rear wall section 11 (see FIG. 7). The second plate members 18b, 23b are folded to a position overlapping the respective first plate members 18a, 23a of the lower first 18 and second 23 lateral wall sections (see FIG. 7).

[0087] Then, the lower first lateral wall section 18 is lifted, so that the protrusion 39 thereof comes out of its locking position in the recess 38 of the first lateral frame wall 6, and folded towards the lower rear wall section 11 (see FIG. 8) while the first link element 27 displaces the rear end of the first plate member 18a of this lateral wall section 18 from the first lateral frame wall 6 towards the second lateral frame wall 7 so that the entire lower first lateral wall section 18 is placed in a position between the first 6 and second 7 lateral frame walls (see FIGS. 9-10), in which it overlaps the lower rear wall section 11 and the second plate member 18b abuts this section 11. The lower second lateral wall section 23 is then lifted and folded in the same way (see FIGS. 9-10) towards the lower rear wall section 11 while the second link element 28 displaces the rear end of the first plate member 23a of this lateral wall section 23 from the second lateral frame wall 7 towards the first lateral frame wall 6 so that the entire lower second lateral wall section 23 is placed in a position between the first 6 and second 7 lateral frame walls (see FIG. 11), in which it overlaps the lower first lateral wall section 18 and the second plate member 23b of the lower second lateral wall section 23 abuts the first plate member 18a of the lower first lateral wall section 18.

[0088] In a next step, the lower rear wall section 11 is folded down towards the loading surface 3 (see FIG. 12) so that the lower second lateral wall section 23 is placed on top of the front wall section 32, the lower first lateral wall section 18 is placed on top of the lower second lateral wall section 23, the lower rear wall section 11 is placed on top of the lower first lateral wall section 18 and the upper rear wall section 12 is placed on top of the lower rear wall section 11 (see FIG. 13). Accordingly, all said sections 11, 12, 18, 23, 32 are received between the first 6 and second 7 lateral frame walls on top of the loading surface 3 of the pallet 2, which reduces the height of the pallet casing assembly in the collapsed state.

[0089] Then, the securing means 36 locking the upper first 19 and second 24 lateral wall sections to the upper rear wall section 12 are released and the upper first lateral wall section 19 is folded towards the top wall section 15 (see FIG. 14) to a position overlapping this section, whereafter the upper second lateral wall section 24 is folded towards the top wall section 15 (see FIG. 15) to a position overlapping and abutting the upper first lateral wall section 19.

[0090] Lastly, the top wall section 15 is folded down towards the loading surface 3 (see FIG. 16) so that the upper second lateral wall section 24 is placed on top of the upper rear wall section 12, the upper first lateral wall section 19 is placed on top of the upper second lateral wall section 24 and the top wall section 15 is placed on top of the upper first lateral wall section 19, all said sections received between the first 31 a and second 31b corner rims of the upper rear wall section 12, and the pallet casing assembly 1 is in the collapsed state (see FIGS. 17-18).

[0091] Needless to say, the process of transferring the pallet casing assembly 1 from the collapsed state to the erected state is the same as that described above, but in reverse order (see FIGS. 18 to 1).

[0092] As is seen in FIG. 18, all wall sections are parallel to each other in the collapsed state which makes the pallet casing assembly very compact and strong in this state, allowing stacking of several pallet casing assemblies on top of each other. Furthermore, the wall sections are protected on the rear and lateral sides by the frame walls 4, 6, 7, corner rims 31a-b and the rear edge rim 16 in the collapsed state, increasing the durability of the pallet casing assembly 1.

[0093] Hence, a pallet casing assembly 1 is provided, which is transferable between an erected state, in which it has a large loading space 13 enclosed by a strong protective casing suitable for the shipping of server racks, and a collapsed state in which it may be stored or transported as a compact unit claiming little space. The pallet casing assembly may have a height of more than 2.0 meters, preferably between 2.0 and 2.5 meters, in the erected state, and a height lower than 0.5 meters in the collapsed state. This is made possible by the inventive foldable design of the pallet casing assembly 1, and especially by the use of said link elements 27-30.

[0094] The invention is of course not in any way restricted to the embodiment thereof described above, but many possibilities to modifications thereof will be apparent to a person with ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

[0095] Where it is stated that a component is “connected to” another component, this is to be interpreted as that the components are interconnected directly, or indirectly by an intermediate component, such as an edge profile or another connecting element.

[0096] A component being “hingedly/pivotably connected to” another component means that there is some type of hinge arrangement directly or indirectly interconnecting these components. Such hinge arrangements are not shown in the drawings, and may be hinge arrangements of any suitable type, such as piano hinges or hinges made by a piece of flexible material. The pallet casing assembly may comprise such hinge arrangements of several different types.

[0097] The wall sections of the casing walls, including the plate members of the lower lateral wall sections, may be made of any sheet material, such as wood, metal or plastic, and may also comprise several different materials. Furthermore, one or more wall sections may have holes, such as have a net-structure or the like.

[0098] A pallet casing assembly is in this disclosure to be interpreted as a pallet provided with a box-like structure defining a space suitable for accommodating objects to be stored or transported on the pallet.

[0099] The terms upper, lower, front, rear, horizontal and vertical as are used in this disclosure for defining various components, or parts thereof, are to be interpreted as valid for a pallet casing assembly placed on a horizontal ground, as shown for instance in FIG. 1. The front of the pallet casing assembly as shown in FIG. 1 is directed obliquely to the right and obliquely towards the viewer of the drawing.