A Transport and Storage System

Abstract

The present invention relates to the field of the transportation and storage of goods and to a transport and storage system and in particular, but not necessarily restricted thereto, a system for the transportation and storage of goods such as palletised goods and self-standing goods. The present invention seeks to provide a system that can enable goods to be securely and reliably horizontally, vertically and offset stacked, despite different sizes of goods and support members therefor, such as pallets, whereby wasted volumes arising from the presence of irregular loads, pallets or pallets of different levels or different load ratings in storage and transport can be minimized.

Claims

1. A storage/transport assembly comprising first and second wall members and a cover; wherein the first and second wall members each comprise first, second and third panels, each adjacent pair of panels being hingedly arranged with respect to each other; wherein the first and second wall members are capable of being flat packed when not in use; wherein, in use, the first and second wall members provide upstanding walls about a generally rectangular cuboid storage/transport volume, the first and third panels of one wall member being arranged in facing relationship with third and first panels of the other wall member to define said storage/transport volume, the walls extending from feet operably in contact with a base support surface and rise to an uppermost lip operable to support a lower surface of said cover, at least one of the walls having at least one aperture to permit access for at least one tine of a lifting device; and, wherein the cover is operable to provide a closure extending over the storage/transport volume the walls, the cover having engagement means to locate with the uppermost lip of the walls and enable secure lateral fitment therewith and is operable to provide an upper support surface.

2. A storage/transport assembly according to claim 1, wherein the engagement means of the cover comprises one or more downwardly directed channels which limit movement of the upstanding lip surfaces of the walls upon placement of the cover on the walls.

3. A storage/transport assembly according to claim 1, wherein the upper surface of the cover is provided with upwardly directed lips which can engage with the feet of an additional cylindrical transport/storage assembly.

4. A storage/transport assembly according to claim 1, wherein the wall members are fabricated from one or more types of panel including extruded polystyrene, polyurethane foam, expanded polystyrene, cardboard, corrugated cardboard, molded plastics, corrugated plastics panel, laminated polyurethane foam, laminated expanded polystyrene and plywood.

5. A storage/transport assembly according to claim 1, wherein the wall members comprises panels and hinges, wherein the hinges enable the panels to be substantially rigid.

6. A storage/transport assembly according to claim 1, wherein the wall members comprises panels and hinges, wherein the hinges enable the panels to be substantially rigid and wherein the substantially rigid panels comprise one of card, plywood, molded plastics, or sheet metal.

7. A storage/transport assembly according to claim 1, wherein at least one wall member is manufactured from cardboard being selected from single, double, triple or quadruple corrugated cardboard.

8. A storage/transport assembly according to claim 1, wherein at least one wall member is manufactured from cardboard being selected from single, double, triple or quadruple corrugated cardboard and wherein the cardboard is treated, by wax, resin, paint or other known waterproofing methods.

9. A storage/transport assembly according to claim 1, wherein at least one wall member is manufactured from cardboard being selected from single, double, triple or quadruple corrugated cardboard and wherein the corrugated cardboard having corrugation flutes is strengthened by the use of strengthening materials inserted into the corrugation flutes, comprising elongate support members or strengthening members, such as epoxy-resin or thermosetting resin, plastics rod, metal and wood.

10. A storage/transport assembly according to claim 1, wherein at least one wall member is manufactured from corrugated plastics sheet.

11. A storage/transport assembly according to claim 1, wherein the wall members are dimensioned such that the first and third and the second panels of the walls, respectively are dimensioned such that they correspond at least in width and in length such that they can be placed about a pallet base when placed upon a support surface.

12. A storage/transport assembly according to claim 1, wherein the cover is manufactured from a thermo-formed plastics or resin impregnated fiber molded element.

13. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein in respect of the first and/or second wall members, one of or both of respective first and third panels have radiused corners between an upstanding edge and a top edge of each said panel.

14. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein an aperture or cut-out is defined within a wall panel of the wall members, to enable access within the assembly.

15. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the base support surface comprises one of a ground surface, a floor associated with one of a support bench/storage-racking system associated a stores area, a workshop/office/storage area, a load floor of a transport vehicle and a cover of another cylindrical transport/storage assembly.

16. A transport/storage assembly according to claim 1, wherein linking members are provided which can link adjacent assemblies other horizontally or vertically one with respect to the other, by means of coupling holes, straps and latches arranged along edge portions of the assemblies.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0019] For a better understanding of the present invention, reference will now be made, by way of example only, to the Figures as shown in the accompanying drawing sheets, wherein:

[0020] FIGS. 1a-1c illustrate three known forms of pallet;

[0021] FIGS. 2a and 2bibiv respectively illustrate an arrangement of pallets upon racks and show how pallets are typically loaded;

[0022] FIG. 4i-4iv show a first embodiment of a transportation and storage system in accordance with the invention;

[0023] FIG. 4v-4vi show a second embodiment of a transportation and storage system in accordance with the invention;

[0024] FIGS. 5i-5iii show a general view and two underside views, respectively, of a lid in accordance with the present invention;

[0025] FIGS. 5iv-5v detail how a load can be distributed across a lid in accordance with the invention;

[0026] FIGS. 6i-6ii show two variations in a container in accordance with the invention;

[0027] FIGS. 7i-9ii show further variants of the present invention;

[0028] FIGS. 7a and 7b show the construction of one transport/storage assembly with a load, prior to and subsequent to the placement of a cover;

[0029] FIGS. 7c and 7d show how expanded and complete views of first and second transport/storage assemblies in accordance with the invention being stacked;

[0030] FIGS. 7e-7i detail aperture and aperture reinforcement features;

[0031] FIGS. 10i, ii show a further variant detailing a form of attachment between two adjacent containers in accordance with the invention;

[0032] FIG. 10iii shows another form of attachment between two adjacent containers in accordance with the invention; and,

[0033] FIGS. 11 & 12 shows how the containers in accordance with the present invention can be, stored, stacked and supported as in a warehouse or vehicle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0034] There will now be described, by way of example only, the best mode contemplated by the inventor for carrying out the present invention. In the following description, numerous specific details are set out in order to provide a complete understanding to the present invention. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art, that the present invention may be put into practice with variations of the specific.

[0035] With reference to FIGS. 4i and 4ii, there is shown an example of a pallet 20 surrounded by walls sections 41 and 42; the pallet 10 in use supporting a load, the walls comprising first 41i, 42i, second 41ii, 42ii and third 41iii, 42iii rectangular sections, which surround the pallet enclosing any load placed thereupon. In this embodiment, the widths of the central walls is the same such that when the walls are assembled and connected via fastening means such as, hook and loop fastening means, where the hook patch 44, and loop patch 45 are placed, respectively upon inside and outside surfaces of walls 41i-42i and 42ii-41ii. FIG. 4iv shows the present invention with a lid or cover in place, which is conveniently and simply placed upon the upstanding walls, whereby to provide a simply erected, fully enclosed container storage device. It will be appreciated that one of the central panels has a reduced width such that the first and third walls of one wall panel fit inside the corresponding first and third walls of the other wall panel, but such a variation immediately doubles the number of types of wall panel that one must store and, of course, would incur delay in use, since operators would need to perform an extra check in the erection of containers in accordance with the invention. Whilst the pallet 10 is not shown in any great detail, the example shown is manufactured from wood and is a four-way entry pallet, wherein the tines of a fork lift or similar tined lifting device can insert its tines through gaps 46 typically having a lower-most height of 100-120 mm, but this will vary, dependent upon the material of manufacture of the pallet and the load to be supported. Applicants have therefore been able to reduce the number of components in a transport and storage system to one type of a flat-pack sidewall and cover therefor.

[0036] In the manufacture of development products, DS Smith PLC, a leading provider of corrugated packaging, supplied high performance corrugated board specifically developed for heavy-duty packaging applications. There are several standard wall board grades, thicknesses ranging from 3 mm, to 15 mm, with differentiators including the weight of the papers and the flute profiles, as well as the number of corrugations, the use of wet strength resins and wet strength adhesives to give good-excellent performance in moist or humid conditions. It is also possible to coat the board to provide further moisture protection, for example.

[0037] By the use of cardboard products, in the manufacture of containers in accordance with the invention, it will be appreciated that the product can be recycled at the end of a useful lifewhich will vary dependent upon specific needs/and design lifetime. Cardboard wall members can be reinforced to a degree suitable for purpose: conveniently, the cardboard wall members can be made from industry standard single, double, triple or quadruple corrugated cardboard. In view of the ability of untreated cardboard to absorb water from precipitation or from the atmosphere, the cardboard should be adequately treated, by wax, resin, paint or other known waterproofing methods. When using corrugated board formed from 440 gm.sup.2 wet strength Kraft paper, this type of board has a weather resistance which satisfies a 2 hour water immersion test without any ply separation. In addition to a requirement for waterproofing, in order to strengthen the material, one or more of a number of options may be selected: the number of layers of sheets may be increasede.g. for a corrugated board, the sheets as a whole, or merely just the corner sections, can be reinforced so that they have two, three of more layers; any corrugated flutes could be filled with elongate support members or strengthening members, which could be plastic rod, metal, wood or any of a number of alternative materials which can be placed within the corrugation flutes, conveniently glued or otherwise permanently attached. Distinct materials such as batons or, preferably, sheet materials can also be provided where extra strength is required. With reference to FIGS. 4v & 4vi, corrugated plastics were employed, which plastics panels were provided with rolled edges, making the finished edges more easily handled by personnel. Corrugated plastic is typically made from polypropylene which is capable of being recycled.

[0038] In use, the sidewalls can be employed to surround loads in their own right or, for example, loads placed upon pallets; subsequently a cover can be placed upon the sidewalls, conveniently engaging with the upstanding edges or lips of the sidewall, to provide a secure enclosure for the load. Therefore the load is shielded from dust and other interference; the load cannot be tampered with easily and further loads can be placed upon the cover. In tests, a widely available (and therefore available at an economical cost) 15 mm board has been used for the wall members, with respect to a container suitable to surround a Euro Pallethaving dimensions of 1250 mm1000 mm. This has been found to provide sufficient strength to support loads approaching 1000 Kg from a cover, but a safe working limit upon the covers would be 300-600 Kg. Obviously different grades of cardboard will provide different working weight limits. Using standard 15 mm thick corrugated cardboard sidewalls, for example, as a euro-pallet enclosure, it has been determined that a weight of 1000 Kg can be supportedmeaning, that a working limit of 300-600 Kg can be defined, taking into account potential deterioration over time and possible incompetence of handling in use. Moreover, it has been found that standard height loads can be safely stacked up to three high, with health and safety issues necessitating a limit in view of possible overloading in use. Notwithstanding this, the skilled man will realise that a greater number of half-height transport/storage assemblies can be stacked. Compression tests have been conducted and positive results have been realised with containers made in accordance with the invention withstanding between 2800-3200 kgf (27.46-30.4 KN)in a static load compression test. The Compression testing was conducted on a Macklow Smith compression tester with fixed platens and a load speed of 10 mm/min. The mean Peak BCT load achieved was 3035 kgf (29.76 KN). These tests were performed using devices calibrated to International Standards and the tests are based around the BS1610 standard.

[0039] FIG. 5i shows a lid in accordance with the present invention which can be conveniently be formed as a twin-wall thermo-formed lid, with upper-surface upstanding linear features 47 and pyramids 48 operable to allow/facilitate alignment of further containers and/or pallets thereupon. With reference to FIGS. 5ii & 5iii, there are shown, respectively, views of an underside and a partial section through a lid. FIG. 5ii shows the underside of the lid in perspective, with a channel 50 defined between an edge 49 and an upstanding centre portion. In cross-section, per FIG. 5iii, it can be seem that the channel 50 narrows, which can assist in placement of the lid over upstanding lips of the walls 41, 42. The channel need not engage, by way of a friction fit, for example (although this may be desired in certain circumstances) and can be sufficiently wide for two upstanding wall members (on the sides that overlap). Additionally, the space between the two walls can be employed to insert thermally insulating foams, such as polyurethane foam, which can also assist in increasing a rigidity of the structure, dependent upon a suitable choice of foam. It will be appreciated that other materials can be used. For example, the cover could also comprise formed plastics or resin impregnated fibre moulded elements, strengthened as appropriate.

[0040] FIGS. 5iv and 5v show how the lids permit the stacking of further loads or the placement of further loads to be placed upon or act upon the lids in accordance with the system of the present invention. FIG. 5iv shows how further loads can be stacked one atop another in a simple fashion, the lid spreading the load so that the upstanding lips of the walls absorb the weight. FIG. 5v shows how the forces 80 arising from the weight of a barrel 79 upon a lid 59 are act through the walls of a container by the use of the laminated lid 59. Note that because of the aperture 52 for the forks of a lifting mechanism such as a fork lift truck, strengthening means can conveniently be applied to protect the aperture form damage. For additional bearing strength of the lid, the single aperture 52 could be replaced by two single apertures, to enable weight to be transferred to a lower support surface, although the central support may well get easily damaged in use through inadvertent positioning of fork lift truck forks against the cardboard and the support about the aperture 52, in particular.

[0041] Referring now to FIGS. 6i and 6ii, optional apertures 53, are placed within the walls 41, 42, to assist in placement of the walls about a pallet or load/storage volume. Additionally, the aperture 52, for the tines of a fork lift can comprise two separate apertures (as also shown in FIG. 4) or a single aperture. In use, the tines of a fork-lift truck are introduced into the region defined by the aperture, which is conveniently at least 140 mm high, whereby when a palletised load is present within the transport/storage assembly and it is desired to move the palletised load, then the tines of the lifting device are inserted so that they pass through the assembly and extend to the other side. Initially the tines contact the underside of the pallet and lift the pallet and then engage the underside of the walls defining the top of the aperture.

[0042] FIG. 7i shows a still further variant, wherein there are two types of wall panel, 41 and 42. As shown in greater detail in FIG. 7ii, wall member 42 has first and third panels having an arcuate shape, whereby to ease installation from one side, since one can place the base of panel 42 where it should lie when upright but with the outside wall at an angle less than 90 to the vertical, whereby the top edge of the sidewall is brought adjacent the top corners of the first and third panels of panel 41. It will be understood that since both first and third sidewall portions of the panel 42 sit inside the wall panel 41, then the length of the central panel (I) of wall panel 42 are reduced with respect to length (I) of wall panel 41. This system has the disadvantage of the panels being distinct. In another alternative, with reference to FIG. 8, the third panel of each panel 41, 42 has a curved top edge to assist in placement of the wall panels. FIGS. 9i and 9ii show an additional variation wherein the third panel of each panel is of the order of half the length of the corresponding first panel. In FIGS. 7-10, the apertures 52 for fork lift tines are not shown for convenience. FIG. 10i shows a still further variant wherein a fourth panel 41 extends from the first panel and is provided with hook and loop fastening means or re-usable/replaceable adhesive tape where, with reverence to FIG. 10ii, two adjacent panels 41 can be fastened together. Using the same principles, adjacent lids could be fastened together for securing goods. Additionally, there may be provided holes for security tags to be inserted, to provide tamper-evident indications that a container has not been moved, once arranged around a load. It has been found that by the provision of support member inserts about the downwardly directing edges of the apertures for the tines in the sidewall, the lower surface is sufficiently strengthened to accept repeated use of tines associated with fork-lift trucks and other types of tined lifting apparatus.

[0043] FIG. 11 shows how the transport and storage embodiments made in accordance with the invention can be stacked one atop the other and side by side, without pallets being present. FIG. 12 shows how a number of transport and storage device in accordance with the invention can be provided within a warehouse 120. Similar systems can be provided for within the load area upon a flat load bed of a lorry etc. Equally, small vans can be provided with a number of such transport and storage devices of reduced height, whereby the effective load capacity is increased substantially, which is especially useful for local delivery purposes. By having half-height transport and storage devices, the number of load areas can be increased, whilst being removable from the vehicle, upon the unfastening of any straps and linking members between adjacent deviceswhether to the side or above and below. It will be appreciated that if a larger item needs to be carried, the storage devices, with pallets or not can be either removed from the van or lorry or be stored in a flat-pack arrangement, to enable a particular load to be carried.

[0044] As is known, various systems of temperature control can be implemented, with the use of foam or vacuum insulation panels (and lid), together with the use of view of coolant packages 143 such as phase-change medium (PCM) packages which are selectively cooled to provide a temperature profile for a particular class of good for a period of timetypically 24-120 hours, although such temperature profiles can only be maintained in the event that the a load volume is sealed, and in view of the apertures that are provided for the tines of a fork lift truck etc., the issue of temperature control is suitably addressed by the nature of the load carton retained within the container of the present invention.

[0045] Whilst the present invention enable greater flexibility in the positioning of loads, whether employing a pallet or not, and the stacking thereof, such stacking should only be performed subject to the ability of base-level transport/storage assemblies to take additional weight. Dependent on the height, strength and stability of the assemblies and the ability of the operator to see clearly, taller stacks may only be built following detailed consultation with the manufacturer or other competent authority. To assist in the management of closely stacked and closely coupled load enclosures or pallet enclosures, the wall members should be connectable with their associated pallets using suitable fastening means. In particular, it has been found that straps and/or panels with cooperating hook and loop fastening means provide easily applied and easily removed fastening means, although a locking bolt or similar, noting that such locking bolts, should preferably present a flush external surface finish, to enable adjacent coupling, but ideally such flush bolts can assist in the close coupling of transport/storage assemblies. The use of coloured locking straps and panels can assist in a ready indication of attachment of adjacent containers, which is not necessarily important for static storage systems, but could be quite important for maintenance of stability of loads in vehicles, ships etc. The covers can also be coupled together using similar coupling elements. In a still further modification, closing apertures and/or transparent wall sections could be defined in the walls of the container whereby access to associated documents and so-called floating objects and/or visibility could be provided to allow, for example, visual confirmation of contents. Conveniently, at least one of a lock, plastics security tie, crimped wire tie or similar is present whereby to provide control over access through to the inside of the container, noting that such apertures will need to be provided through two separate walls, where there is a double wall thickness.