STILLAGE

Abstract

Stillage comprising similar containers in vertical stacked apart relationship to one another. The container includes a flat load carrying surface for carrying items and corner fittings having a collar for cooperatively engaging with one end of support legs to support the container. The support leg has an external plug provided with a pocket having this spaced side walls at one end and an internal cavity surrounded by an enlarged flange at the other end. The lower end of a spacer for spacing apart two containers is received in the pocket of the support and the other end of the spacer is received within the internal cavity of the support leg which is provided with a guide for guiding movement of the spacer to adopt and maintain the correct vertical orientation to form a stable array of vertically stacked containers. The advantage of the stillage formed using the support leg and spacer is that a stable stacked array is formed enabling safe transport of items in the containers without risk of damage to the items.

Claims

1. A support for a platform of a container for use in transporting items located upon the platform, the platform having a generally planar load carrying surface, characterised in that the support has a first end and a second end, the support being generally elongate, the first end for cooperative engagement with a first part of the platform to support the platform in use, and the second end for contact with a first member to locate the support with respect to the first member to support the platform by contact of the support with the first member, the first member being different to the first part of the platform engaged with the first end of the support, wherein the first end includes an engaging element for cooperatively engaging with the first part of the platform, the engaging element and the first part of the platform being complementary to one another for allowing rigid connection between the first end of the support and the first part of the platform to retain the platform in a first orientation with respect to the support, and the second end provided with a base element for contact with the first member to support the support in the first orientation when the support and platform are rigidly connected to each other when the second end is in contact with the first member, the first orientation being such that the plane of the platform extends substantially perpendicularly to the lengthwise extending direction of the support when the support extends in the lengthwise extending direction between contact with the first member and the first part of the platform.

2. (canceled)

3. (canceled)

4. (canceled)

5. The support according to claim 1 in which the container is a basket type container having a mesh planar platform forming a load carrying surface for supporting the items.

6. The support according to claim 5 in which the planar platform is a mesh of interconnected longitudinal rods and transverse rods arranged in a generally rectilinear pattern or grid.

7. The support according to claim 1 in which the container includes a base frame comprising a multitude of framework members or elements interconnected together around the perimeter of the container for contributing to the strength and rigidity of the container and side parts or portions extending from the base frame, and joiners for joining the side parts or portions to respective framework members or elements, the side parts or portions for assisting in containing items within the container on the load carrying platform.

8. The support according to claim 7 in which the side part or portions are side rails and the joiners are brackets in which the side rails include circular rods wherein the rods are interconnected to one another around the perimeter of the container or form a continuous loop around the outer edge of the container and the bracket includes two or more portions inclined to one another.

9. The support according to claim 1 in which the support is in the form of a support leg for supporting a first of the containers, hereinafter the first container, on a substrate or on a second of the containers, hereinafter the second container, the support leg comprising a body portion and the base element in the form of a foot portion, the foot portion for contacting the substrate or the second container wherein the foot portion has dimensions greater than the corresponding dimensions of the body portion and the foot portion is located at or towards one end of the body portion.

10. The support according to claim 9 in which the foot portion is a flange extending outwardly from the body portion, wherein the flange forms an opening of a cavity located internally within the body portion of the support leg.

11. The support according to claim 9 in which the support is in the form of a side extension or spacer for facilitating connection of the first container to the second container in spaced apart vertical relationship to each other in which the spacing apart of the two containers is in accordance with the length of the spacer or side extension.

12. The support according to claim 11 in which one end of the side extension or spacer cooperatively engages with part of the first container and the other end of the spacer or side extension cooperatively engages with the support leg associated with the second container.

13. The support according to claim 12 in which the first container is an upper container and the second container is a lower container in which the upper and lower containers are in spaced apart vertical stacked relationship to one another with the spacer or side extension located intermediate the upper and lower containers, wherein the upper end in use of the spacer or side extension cooperatively engages with a corner fitting of the upper container and the lower end in use of the spacer or side extension cooperatively engages with the support leg connected to the lower container.

14. The support according to claim 1 in which the container is provided with a corner fitting at one or more corners, typically all of the corners, the corner fitting for cooperatively engaging with a support leg associated with the container and the side extension or spacer.

15. The support according to claim 14 in which the corner fitting includes a socket and the support leg includes a projection wherein the socket and projection are complementary to one another so that the projection is received within the socket to close fittingly connect the leg support to the corner fitting.

16. The support according to claim 15 in which the socket includes a collar, bore, void, opening, slots, slits, channels, grooves, rebates, cavities, or the like and the projection includes a plug, a stub, a boss, or other similar projection or outwardly extending component wherein the plug is received close fittingly within the socket to align the support leg with the container so that the load carrying surface of the container is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the support leg.

17. The support according to claim 16 in which the plug or similar and the socket or similar, are both of a generally square or rectangular shape in which there is a fine tolerance between the dimensions of the socket and the corresponding dimensions of the plug for correctly aligning the support leg and container to adopt the correct orientation with respect to each other to form a stable stacked array of containers.

18. The support according to claim 9 in which the body portion of the support, typically the support leg, is provided with a stop for limiting axial movement of the container in the lengthwise extending direction of the support leg to correctly locate the container with respect to the support leg at a predefined spacing or length.

19. The support according to claim 18 in which the stop is in the form of a ridge, shoulder, rebate, reduced thickness wall, or similar.

20. The support according to claim 1 in which an external receiver of the support is in the form of a cavity, pocket, slot, groove, rebate, cavity, hollow, channel, or similar located at or along one or more external surfaces of the support for receiving therein the lower end in use of the side extension or spacer.

21. The support according to claim 1 in which an internal cavity of the support is a guide for guiding movement of the side extension or spacer for aligning the position of the side extension or spacer with respect to the support leg vertically to space the first container apart from the second container.

22. The support according to claim 1 in which the guide is integral within the cavity or is separate from the cavity and adapted to form the blind wall of the cavity.

23. The support according to claim 1 in which the guide is in the form of a bent or distorted or inclined plate, which is mounted within the internal cavity of the base element of the support leg for guiding movement of the upper end of the side extension or spacer to adopt a vertical orientation in which the sides of the side extension or spacer are directed towards the external sides of the support by the guide.

24. (canceled)

25. (canceled)

26. (canceled)

27. (canceled)

28. A support for a container for use in assembling stillage including a first container and a second container, characterised in that the support has a body portion provided intermediate a first end and a second end, the body portion being generally elongate, the first end being of reduced dimensions with respect to the body portion for forming a projection for cooperative engagement with a first part of a fitting of the first container to interconnect the support and the first container, the body portion having a stop for engaging with a second part of the fitting of the first container to limit movement of the first container thereon, the body portion having an external wall and an internal cavity, the external wall is provided with a receiver for receiving an extension therein to space the first container and the second container from one another, the receiver for anchoring the extension in a desired orientation, the cavity provided with a guide for guiding movement of the extension for locating the extension in the desired orientation, and the second end is provided with an enlarged base for supporting the support on a substrate.

29. A stillage for transporting items comprising a first container for containing some items, the first container having a first set of supports, a second container for containing other items, the second container having a second set of supports, characterised in that the supports have an internal guide and an external receiver, the first container being spaced from the second container by a set of extensions, the set of extensions being of substantially the same length and each having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the extension cooperatively engages with the internal guide of one set of supports and the second end of the extension cooperatively engages with the external receiver and the second container to align the extension in a desired orientation with respect to the first container and the second container to maintain structural integrity or rigidity of the stillage.

30. A method of assembling stillage comprising the steps of attaching a first set of supports to a first container, attaching an extension having a first end and second end to a first container and the support, characterised in that each of the first set of supports has an internal guide and an external receiver, such that the first end of the extension cooperatively engages with the first container and the receiver to secure the extension to the first container to extend from the first container in a desired orientation, attaching a second set of supports to a second container, locating the second container on the second end of the extension to cooperatively engage with the guide, wherein the guide directs and maintains the extension in the desired orientation, wherein the extension in the desired orientation locates the second container and the first container in spaced apart stacked relationship to one another to form a stable stillage.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0054] Embodiments of the containers for use in transporting items and methods of use of the components to form the containers for transporting items will now be described by way of examples illustrating and/or exemplifying aspects of the scope of protection with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0055] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one form of a stillage comprising four individual decks in a stacked array.

[0056] FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the region of FIG. 1 showing one form of a spacing arrangement including two supports and a spacer for maintaining two decks in fixed spaced apart relationship to each other.

[0057] FIG. 3 is a top plan view of one form of a deck rigidly connected to a support at each corner.

[0058] FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of circle B of FIG. 3 showing an upper end of one support leg received in a void at a corner of the deck.

[0059] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view along the line A-A of FIG. 3 showing the relationship of the spacer, the support leg and deck.

[0060] FIG. 6 is a top plan view of one form of the support leg.

[0061] FIG. 7 is a side elevation view of the interior corner of the support leg of FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0062] FIG. 8 is a side elevation view of the exterior corner of the support leg of FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0063] FIG. 9 is a perspective view from one side of one form of a support leg and wheel assembly combination.

[0064] FIG. 10 is a top plan view of the combination of FIG. 9.

[0065] FIG. 11 is a side elevation view of the combination of FIG. 9.

[0066] FIG. 12 is a perspective view from another side of the combination of FIG. 9.

[0067] FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of the combination of FIG. 9.

[0068] FIG. 14 is a perspective view of one form of a spacing arrangement coupled to the wheel assembly of FIG. 9.

[0069] FIG. 15 is an exploded view of the form of the support leg with an alternative wheel assembly.

[0070] FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the combination of FIG. 15 in assembled configuration.

[0071] FIG. 17 is an exploded view of one form of the interior of the support leg showing one form of an inclined plate.

[0072] FIG. 18 is an underneath perspective view of the form of the support leg of FIG. 17 when in an assembled condition.

[0073] FIG. 19 is a perspective view of the inclined plate of FIGS. 17 and 18 shown in isolation.

[0074] FIG. 20 is an elevation view from one side of the inclined plate of FIG. 19.

[0075] FIG. 21 is an elevation view from one corner of the inclined plate of FIG. 19.

[0076] FIG. 22 is a schematic top perspective view of two containers in a vertical stacked array in which the lower container is provided with one form of lifting component.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0077] Firstly, the stillage will be described generally to provide a context for describing the individual components for forming the stillage in detail which description of the individual components and their relationship to each other will follow the initial general description.

[0078] One form of stillage, generally denoted as 2, is shown in FIG. 1. The form of stillage 2 of FIG. 1 illustrates different examples of stacking configurations that the stillage can adopt merely to show some of the different arrangements of the components which can be assembled together to form examples of the stillage. Other configurations are possible depending upon such factors as the precise nature of items being transported, whether the stillage in a disassembled or collapsed configuration is being back loaded empty, and the like.

[0079] One form of a stacked array of stillage will now be described merely by way of illustrating and describing embodiments of stillage 2 generally, so as to provide background for understanding how the various components of the stillage cooperate with each other, when in the configuration illustrated in FIG. 1, and to provide context for the description of the individual components and their relationship to one another to follow later.

[0080] The illustrated array of stillage includes four individual containers in different spaced apart stacked relationship to each other comprising an upper pair of containers 4, 6 in widely spaced apart relationship to one another by the length of a support in the form of side extensions 8 extending between the two containers 4, 6 forming the upper pair of containers, and a lower pair of containers 10, 12 in contiguous nested relationship to each other in contact with each other by the upper container 10 being superposed on lower container 12. It is to be noted that the lower container 6 of the upper pair of containers 4, 6 is spaced from the upper container 10 of the lower pair of containers 10, 12 to a lesser extent by the length of supports 14 extending between containers 6, 10. This is merely to illustrate the variations in possible configurations. Supports 14 can take the form of support legs, connectors or similar to be described in detail later with respect to specific embodiments thereof. The upper pair of containers 4, 6 illustrates an example of containers used to transport relatively larger bulky items by the two containers being spaced from each other. The lower pair of containers 10, 12 in compact nested relationship to each other illustrate an example used to transport empty containers such as when back loading the containers to a manufacturing site or distribution centre; and, the spacing between the upper pair and lower pair illustrates the relationship of the containers when used for the transportation of relatively small sized items not requiring the presence of side extensions 8, but rather only requiring the presence of support legs 14 to space the containers apart since the length of the support legs 14 provides sufficient clearance between the two adjacent containers 6, 10 to accommodate the relatively small sized items being transported in container 10.

[0081] Each of the various components of stillage 2 will now be described individually in detail with reference to their specific respective forms, with reference to the drawings. Additionally, the spatial relationship of the components will also be described when in different configurations, and how the stillage can be formed by assembling the individual components to one another.

[0082] One form of the container for transporting items which was described generally previously as being containers 4, 6, 10, 12 are specifically in the form of a wire mesh basket, denoted in its entirety as 20. Thus, each of general containers 4, 6, 10, 12 is a similar wire mesh basket, now being denoted generally as 20.

[0083] Wire mesh basket 20 has a generally planar load carrying surface in the form of a mesh deck 22 comprising a multiplicity of lengthwise extending generally circular rods interconnected with a multiplicity of transversely extending generally circular rods arranged in a generally interconnected grid like pattern. The mesh of mesh deck 22 can have any suitable form and be formed in any suitable manner, such as by welding individual rods together at spaced apart locations to each other. Alternatively, the mesh deck can be a solid deck or an open deck provided with openings, such as perforations. A base frame 24 comprising four interconnected lengths of angle iron is provided along all four sides of planar mesh deck 22 to provide rigidity to basket 20 and to support mesh deck 22. Basket 20 is provided with four side rails 26, one such rail extending along each side of basket 20 in spaced apart relationship to planar deck 22. Side rails 26 are generally circular rods or bars. A pair of brackets 27 is provided to connect each side rail 26 to base frame 24 of deck 22 at spaced apart locations such as towards each end of each side rail 26. In one form, bracket 27 is a length of a flat section of metal, such as steel, optionally bent out of the plane at one end to have different portions inclined to one another, typically the end joining rail 26 to connect the side rail to base frame 24. A corner fitting 28 is provided at each corner of planar deck 22 in base frame 24 for cooperative engagement with other components of stillage 2. Corner fitting 28 can have different forms. In one form, corner fitting 28 includes a flat generally square or rectangular plate interconnecting adjoining ends of adjacent base frame angle irons forming frame base 24. Corner fitting 28 is provided with a pair of peripheral slots 30 arranged with respect to each other to extend in a generally L-shape along the two outer sides of the corner fitting as shown more particularly in FIG. 4. Slots 30 are for receiving the ends of complementary L-shape side extensions in the form of spacers 32 to space two adjacent baskets 20 apart from each other to the required distance, such as for example, baskets 4 and 6 as previously described, with respect to FIG. 1, which arrangement will be described in more detail later.

[0084] Corner fitting 28 can have other forms as will be described.

[0085] It is to be noted that the stillage will be described with reference to its normal in use orientation by the use of terms upper, lower and the like. This is not meant to be limiting of the scope of protection, but rather is for ease of description and clarity of understanding.

[0086] Further, it is to be noted that components of the stillage will be described with reference to two inner sides or internal sides and two outer sides or external sides. The two inner or internal sides of the components located at one corner of stillage 2 face inwards and correspond to the location of the two internal sides of the corner fitting 28 of basket 20, which are the sides not having slots 30. The two outer sides of the components located at one corner face outwardly and correspond to the sides of the corner fitting 28 of basket 20 having slots 30.

[0087] It is generally the outwardly facing sides of the components which cooperatively engage with each other to interconnect the various components and are in alignment, typically vertical alignment, with each other resulting in the structural rigidity of the baskets when in a stacked array due to this vertical alignment. Further, it is to be noted that the rigidity of the stacked array of containers forming the stillage is due to the close tolerances of the fit of the various components to one another.

[0088] Further, it is to be noted that in one form of corner fitting 28, the L-shaped slots 30 are in the same plane as deck 22 with slots 30 extending through the thickness of the flat plate provided at the corners of deck 22 perpendicularly to the plane of deck 22 so that a single orientation only between spacers 32 and deck 22 is possible when the lower ends in use of spacers 32 are received in the respective corner slots.

[0089] In one form, corner fitting 28 is in the form of a collar formed by the flat plate having L-shaped slots 30 and the width of the sections forming base frame 24 of basket 20.

[0090] In one form, collar of corner fitting 28 includes a socket in the form of a square shaped bore and optionally a centrally located hollow spigot 38 for cooperatively engaging with the upper end in use of a leg support which is received in the square bore to securely locate and connect the support leg to the container. The leg support can have different forms. One form of the leg support will be described later.

[0091] In one form, hollow spigot 38 receives the end of a suitable fastener provided internally within the form of the support leg to be described in more detail later. Despite being available in different forms, corner fitting 28 has the function of a socket for cooperative engagement with the upper end of the support leg which has the function of a plug. The socket and plug are complementary to one another to allow cooperative engagement of one with the other to contribute to the rigidity of the stacked array of containers by the fit between the two components having close tolerances which prevents unwanted respective movement of the components to one another.

[0092] One form of support, denoted as 8 in the previous general description will now be described in detail with respect to a specific embodiment.

[0093] Support 8 serves the functions of being a support for stillage 2 in some configurations being in the form of a support leg or similar, and a connector for cooperatively interconnecting three components of stillage 2 in other configurations, being in the form of a side extension or spacer.

[0094] One form of the support which will now be described in detail is in the form of a support leg 40, having a first end which is the upper end 42 in use, and a second end which is the lower end 44 in use. Upper end 42 is of reduced dimensions to form a plug for being received in the socket of the container in the form of the collar or bore of corner fitting 28 acting as a complementary socket. Further, upper end 42 is of a generally square shape and is generally hollow having four side walls being a pair of outer side walls 46 which are oriented to face outwardly of stillage 2 and a pair of inner side walls 48 which are oriented to face inwardly of stillage 2. The pair of inner side walls 46, are each provided with a stop in the form of ridge 50 forming a shoulder for limiting axial movement of corner fitting 28 in the lengthwise direction of support leg 40 for supporting upper basket 20 and maintaining rigid connection between the individual containers of the stacked array. The lower edges of the square bore or collar of corner fitting 28 forming the socket, rest upon a stop in the form of ridge 50 so that when the upper end 42 of support leg 40 is received in the bore of corner fitting 28, the wire mesh basket 20 rests upon ridge 50 so that the basket is supported on support leg 40. In one form, ridge 50 is provided with a seat for retaining the end of a side extension in the correct orientation. In one form, the seat is a rebate, groove, channel or the like having a generally curved cross-sectional profile, such as a semi-circular trough 51 shown more particularly in FIG. 5. In one form, the shape of the rebate extending around the periphery of the plug has a shape corresponding to the shape of the socket formed in the corner fitting 28 in the base frame 24 of basket 20, such as the width of the rebate is slightly larger than the width of the walls of the lengths of angle iron section of the base frame forming the socket. In one form, the rebate extends along the length of the two inner walls and part way along the length of the two outer walls of support leg 40 to securely locate wire basket 20.

[0095] Irrespective of the exact form of the corner fitting and the upper end of support leg 40, the reduced dimensions of the upper end 42 of support leg 40 functions as a plug for being received in the socket formed by corner fitting 28 to rigidly interconnect the support leg and basket to each other in the required alignment.

[0096] Support leg 40 is provided with a midsection forming the internal body of the support leg. The internal body can have different forms. One form includes a spider 51 having four radially extending arms 52 extending outwardly from a central circular hub 54, all located within an internal cavity. In one form, the central circular hub 54 is for receiving a distal end of a fastener 55 to assist in accurate location of the support leg with respect to basket 20 in addition to the plug being received in the socket.

[0097] Lower end 44 of support leg 40 is in the form of a base arrangement for use in locating and supporting support leg 40 on a suitable substrate and/or first member, as will be described in detail below. The first member can have any suitable form, such as for example, being a solid substrate such as a floor of a building, another basket, a wheel assembly, the side rails of a basket or the like.

[0098] At or towards the lower end 44 of support leg 40, there is provided a receiver in the form of generally U-shaped pockets 56 in the external surface of each of the two external or outer sides of the midsection of support leg 40 for receiving the lower ends of sides 34, 36 of spacer 32 in use after spacers 32 have been received through slots 30 and along the external surfaces of the outer sides of support leg 40 to securely retain spacers 32 in place within stillage 2 to interconnect the basket, support leg and spacer. Pockets 56 retain the two sides, 34, 36 of spacer 32 in the correct position so that spacer 32 extends vertically and prevents twisting of spacer 32 out of the correct alignment or displacing the spacer from the correct vertical position so that two adjacent support legs 40 are aligned with each other collinearly so that the weight of the stillage, particularly the upper basket or baskets is transmitted through the spacers and support legs to support the weight of the stillage on a suitable substrate, particularly as illustrated in FIG. 2.

[0099] Lower end 44 of support leg 40 is provided with a base element in the form of a foot 58 extending around all four sides of the lower part of support leg 40. In one form, foot 58 is provided with cut-outs 60 for cooperatively engaging with side rails 26 of another wire basket 20, such as the wire basket upon which the support leg rests. In one form, the profile of cut-out 60 is complementary to the profile of the side rail, typically a semi-circular or circular rod or bar so that the cylindrical rod forming side rail 26 is received within the curvature of the semi-circular cut-out 60. In one form, the cut-out is in the form of a generally curved groove extending along the two outer sides of the flange forming the foot of support leg 40 and the junction between the two sides. The groove has a substantially semi-circular profile and generally curves around the junction of the two outer sides. The radius of curvature of the groove corresponds to the radius of curvature of the junction of two adjacent side rails 26. The engagement between the profile of the side rail and the complementary cut-out 60, assists in supporting and locating the base of support leg 40 to maintain the support leg in a vertical orientation by anchoring the lower end 44 of support leg 40 in the correct orientation.

[0100] In one form, the profile of cut-out 60 corresponds to the profile of the junction of two adjacent side rails 26 in that the cut-out of the external sides of the foot are aligned with the curvature of the join between adjacent rails so that foot 58 is received in contact with the junction of the side rails to further support and locate the lower end of the support leg.

[0101] An inclined plate 62 having an irregular shape is fixedly located within the opening of foot 58 of support leg 40 using a suitable fastener. One form of the fastener is a bolt or screw 64 extending through the internal body of the support leg by extending through central circular hub and extending through the open upper end of the support leg to be received internally within hollow spigot of the corner fitting 28, if the hollow spigot is optionally provided. Inclined plate 62 is held captive in the correct orientation by the enlarged head of the screw or bolt 64 so that the inclined plate is angled towards the outer sides of the internal cavity of the support leg in order to receive and direct the upper ends of spacer 34 to the external sides of support leg in order to correctly position and maintain the spacer in the correct position and orientation to extend substantially vertical in alignment with the outer sides of the support leg so that the stacked array of baskets 20 is stable.

[0102] One form of the inclined plate will now be described. The interior of the body of the support leg is provided with an internal cavity. The internal cavity and interior of the body can have any suitable shape or configuration.

[0103] In one form, inclined plate 62 is shaped so as to be able to be fixedly attached to the interior of the body of the support let in a single orientation only, owing to the matching of the profile of the internal cavity with the shape of the inclined plate.

[0104] In one form, inclined plate 62 is neither planar nor symmetrical but rather is of an asymmetrical irregular shape bent out of a single plane, as shown more particularly in FIGS. 18 to 21.

[0105] Inclined plate 62 is an irregular quadrilateral shape having four of the sides arranged to extend at different angles with respect to each other. Two of the sides are of the same length which is different to the lengths of the other two sides. Two of the sides of the plate, are external sides for alignment with the internal walls of the cavity facing outwardly and two of the sides of the plate are internal sides corresponding to the inner sides of the cavity facing inwardly. The cross-sectional profile of inclined plate is such that the junction between the two outer sides is located closer to the upper end of the support leg than the opposite corner being the junction between the two inner sides, which is located at a level closer to the lower end of the support leg. The amount of inclination of the inclined plate is illustrated in FIGS. 19 to 21.

[0106] It is to be noted that the slope of inclined plate 62 towards the junction of the outer sides of the plate at the external corner of support leg 40 forms a guide for directing the upper end of spacer 34 into alignment with the internal surfaces of the outer walls of the internal body of support leg 40 so that the spacer and support leg are aligned with each other collinearly.

[0107] A boss 64 having a circular aperture 66 is located substantially centrally in the inclined plate for receiving a suitable fastener in the form of the elongate bolt 68 secured in place by a corresponding nut to fixedly connect inclined plate within the internal cavity of the support leg.

[0108] Depending upon requirements, stillage 2 can have a number of different configurations. In some configurations, stillage 2 rests directly upon four support legs 40 which are in contact with a suitable substrate such as the floor of a building. In other configurations, stillage 2 needs to be movable. One form of the spacer is a side extension for adjusting the basket in accordance with the size and shape of the items being transported, particularly in the lower basket. Four spacers, one at each corner, are used to space the two baskets apart from each other. In one form, the spacer is a length of angle iron, typically a length of angle iron in which the two sides extend perpendicularly to each other. More typically, the size and profile of the angle iron spacer corresponds to the size and profile of the slots 30 provided in corner fitting 28 so that the sides of the angle iron are received through slots 30 so as to be close fitting with close tolerances. Other forms of the spacers are possible.

[0109] One form of a support leg and wheel assembly combination, generally denoted as 70, will now be described with reference to FIGS. 14 to 16. It is to be noted that the wheel assembly can have any suitable or convenient form, type or style.

[0110] Support leg 40 is in the form as previously described with respect to the stacked array of wire baskets 20, and is provided with a base element which in one form is an outwardly extending flange for forming foot 58 of the support leg in which the flange has dimensions greater than the size of the main body of the support leg. Foot 58 is used to connect support leg 40 to a selected wheel assembly, depending upon requirements of the goods/items being transported by the container.

[0111] One form of the wheel assembly is essentially a caster wheel assembly 70, such as shown in FIGS. 15 and 16. Wheel assembly 70 includes a generally shallow attachment tray 72 having a downwardly depending yoke 74 for mounting wheel 76 between the downwardly depending sides thereof. Tray 72, which is generally square in shape and profile and provided with two adjacent rounded corners, is provided with a generally planar floor 73 and three upwardly extending side walls 78 arranged to extend from floor 73 along three sides of tray 72. A pair of spaced apart locating lugs 80 are provided on each of the three sides 78 of tray 72 for directing movement of and securely locating foot 58 of support leg 40 when attaching wheel assembly 70 to support leg 40. In assembly, foot 58 of support leg 40 is slidably moved into engagement with tray 72 of wheel assembly 70 along the edge of the tray not having the upstanding wall and pushed home so that the flange of foot 58 of the support leg engages lugs 80 between the upper surface of floor 73 and the lower surface of lugs 80 to retain the foot, and hence, the support leg in the shallow tray to complete assembly of the wheel assembly and support leg combination.

[0112] Each side of yoke 74 is provided with an aperture for receiving a suitable fastener therethrough for forming an axle upon which the wheel is journaled for rotation with respect to the remainder of the combination.

[0113] The side of tray 72 not having the upstanding wall is provided with a resiliently biased button 82 for use in retaining support leg 40 securely in the tray of wheel assembly 70. In one form, button 82 is downwardly depressed to move from an at rest locking configuration to a clearance configuration allowing sliding movement of support leg 40 with respect to wheel assembly 70. When depressed against its bias, button 82 is clear of foot 58 so that the foot of the support leg is free to slidingly engage with tray 72 of the wheel assembly. When the foot is in the fully home position, button 82 is released allowing it to return upwardly to the at rest locked position to lock the support leg in place on the wheel assembly by clipping foot 58 into tray 72 as shown more particularly in FIG. 16 which shows the leg support 40 securely attached to wheel assembly 70. Button 82 is attached to tray 72 by any suitable means, such as a living hinge, resiliently deformable links or by two spaced apart grooves or recesses in the floor allowing resiliently biased movement of the button. Further, it is to be noted that button 82 is biased to assume the locked configuration at rest, which is the relatively raised position, and is activated to the release position by pushing against the bias to a relatively lower position.

[0114] After respective support legs 40 are attached to each of the four corner fittings of the basket to form the lowermost basket of the stacked array of baskets, a wheel assembly can be clicked into place on each of the support legs so that the stacked array of baskets can be moved from one location to another location in unison by merely pushing the stacked array as a single unit to roll on the wheels provided on the lowermost basket.

[0115] Another form of the wheel assembly for attachment to the foot of the support leg will now be described. This other form of the wheel assembly, generally denoted as 84, which is illustrated in FIGS. 9 to 12, is also a caster wheel assembly including a generally hollow tray, similar to hollow tray 72 of the previously described wheel assembly 70, and a swivelling downwardly depending yoke, generally denoted as 92, in which a ground contacting wheel 94 is journaled on an axle extending between the two sides of yoke 92 similar to that as previously described with reference to wheel assembly 70. Wheel 94 of assembly 84 can rotate and swivel with respect to tray. The tray is provided with a floor and two upstanding side walls which are arranged to be the outer side walls facing outwardly of the stacked array of baskets to form the external walls of the tray, similar to the floor of the tray and upstanding side walls of the previously described wheel assembly 70. Each outer side wall is provided with a pair of locating lugs extending inwardly from the upper edge in use of the two external walls, similar to lugs 80 that have been previously described with reference to wheel assembly 70. A resiliently biased button 86 is provided on the corner of the tray diagonally opposite the junction of the two external side walls.

[0116] To assemble the combined support leg 40 and wheel assembly 90, with button 86 in the depressed position, the support leg is slidingly moved in the direction towards the junction of the two side walls in the sides of the tray not having the upstanding walls which are the inner walls facing inwardly of the stacked array of baskets so that foot 58 of support leg 40 contacts the tray of the wheel assembly. When the support leg is pushed fully home, the locating lugs retain the flange of the foot of the support leg in place and button 86 clicks back into the locked position due to the resilient bias of the mounting of the button so as to securely retain the support leg in the tray, to form this combination of support leg and wheel assembly.

[0117] Assembly of one configuration of a stacked array of wire mesh baskets will now be described.

[0118] A first wire mesh basket 20 is provided. Four individual support legs 40 are attached to the undersurface of the basket, one at each corner, in the corner fitting 28 provided at each corner. The plug formed at the upper end of the body of the support leg by the upper part of the body having reduced dimensions is received in the collar or bore of corner fitting 28 of the basket acting as a socket so that the lower edge of the collar and the base frame 24 of basket 20 rests upon ridge 50 provided on the external sides of the support leg. When each support leg 40 is received fully within the respective collars owing to the height of the collars, the basket is oriented to extend perpendicularly with respect to the lengthwise extending direction of the legs due to the close fitting tolerances of the dimensions of the plug and socket. In this configuration the basket is arranged so that the load carrying surface is substantially horizontal in order to retain goods or items placed in the basket.

[0119] Optionally if required, one or other form of the wheel assemblies can be attached to the foot of each of the support legs to provide ease of movement of the baskets over a suitable substrate such as the floor of a warehouse, factory, shop or the like.

[0120] In order to form a stacked array of wire mesh baskets in vertical spaced apart relationship, four side extensions in the form of spacers 8 of right angle sections are inserted through respective slots 30 of the corner fitting 28 of the lower or lowermost basket so as to extend beyond the lower edge of the collar into the U-shaped profiled pockets provided on both outer walls of the support leg attached to the lower basket. In this manner, spacers 8 in the form of side extensions extend vertically upwards from the lower basket in alignment with the lengthwise extending direction of the respective support legs.

[0121] After attaching a second set of support legs to another basket to form an upper basket of the stacked array, the basket is positioned so that the respective upper ends are received in the hollow internal cavity of the body of the support leg to contact the respective inclined plate 62. Owing to the sides of the angle spacer being located along the outwardly facing sides of the stacked array and the angle and shape of inclined plate 62 being upwardly inclined, the upper end of the spacer is directed to the external sides of the internal cavity so that the upper distal ends of the spacer contact the internal walls of the cavity on the external sides of the support leg to maintain the spacers in a vertical position. Further, it is to be noted that when the baskets are loaded with items, the weight of the basket and items maintains the upper ends of the spacer against the internal walls of the cavity which are on the outer facing walls of the stacked array. This construction of the stacked array ensures that when on a level substrate, the baskets are always retained in a horizontal orientation because the support legs and spacers must extend in a truly vertical orientation owing to the manner in which the spacers and leg supports are connected to one another and to the corner fittings of the baskets.

[0122] Optionally, the corner fitting of basket 20 is additionally provided with a hollow spigot for receiving the distal threaded end of a suitable bolt to assist in accurately locating support leg in the collar. Further optionally, the hollow spigot can be internally threaded for threadingly receiving the threaded distal end of the bolt to assist in accurately aligning the support leg in the collar and to rigidly connect the support leg to the basket.

[0123] It will be understood to persons skilled in the art of the invention that many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

[0124] One modification of the container in the form of a basket includes providing a lifting point or lifting component along one or more sides of the basket to enable lifting of the basket either alone or lifting of the stacked array of baskets as a single unit, typically by a suitable lifting device, including a forklift, hoist, or similar. One form of the lifting point or lifting component, is a lifting ring. One form of the lifting ring is either permanently or temporarily attached to one side of the framework of the basket. If permanently attached, the lifting ring is welded to the framework member of the basket or attached using any suitable bonding agent, fastener or the like. In one form there are two lifting rings located on one of the framework members of the basket in spaced apart relationship to each other. In one form there are two spaced apart lifting rings on one framework member and also two spaced apart lifting rings on the other framework member of the basket, typically on opposite sides of the basket allowing access to the container from either side.

[0125] One form of lifting ring 96 is a substantially continuous loop of a flat strip of metal 98 deformed into a generally saddle shape for location over the upper surface or edge of the side framework member 24 of basket 20. One form of the lifting ring is illustrated in FIG. 22.

[0126] In use, the tines of a forklift or other similar lifting apparatus are located through the loop of the respective lifting rings on the one side of the basket. The tines extend through the lifting rings to extend underneath the load carrying surface or deck of the basket so as to lift the basket in its entirety from underneath as a single unit, including the stacked array of multiple containers.

[0127] Although one form of the lifting ring is described and illustrated, it is to be noted that the lifting component can have any suitable or convenient form and be located at any suitable or convenient location around the edge or periphery of the basket.

[0128] It is to be understood that, if any prior art publication is referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an admission that the publication forms a part of the common general knowledge in the art, in Australia or any other country.

[0129] In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word comprise or variations such as comprises or comprising is used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the invention.