U.S. patent application number 13/120912 was filed with the patent office on 2011-09-01 for ibc with shock absorbing feet.
This patent application is currently assigned to GREIF INTERNATIONAL HOLDING B.V.. Invention is credited to Claude Decroix.
Application Number | 20110210027 13/120912 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40677673 |
Filed Date | 2011-09-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110210027 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Decroix; Claude |
September 1, 2011 |
IBC WITH SHOCK ABSORBING FEET
Abstract
The present disclosure relates to a pallet container (1)
comprising a base portion (10) and a cage portion (20), wherein the
cage portion (20) is connected with the base portion (10) to define
an inner region (21) which is sized and shaped to accept a
container (30). The pallet container (1) comprises shock absorbing
means (40) to absorb and dissipate Shockwaves, preventing the shock
from propagating through the pallet container.
Inventors: |
Decroix; Claude; (La Vieux
Rue, FR) |
Assignee: |
GREIF INTERNATIONAL HOLDING
B.V.
Vreeland
NL
|
Family ID: |
40677673 |
Appl. No.: |
13/120912 |
Filed: |
September 26, 2008 |
PCT Filed: |
September 26, 2008 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP2008/062942 |
371 Date: |
May 17, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/386 ;
108/55.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 2519/00164
20130101; B65D 2519/00805 20130101; B65D 2519/00059 20130101; B65D
23/14 20130101; B65D 2519/00273 20130101; B65D 2519/00975 20130101;
B65D 2519/00338 20130101; B65D 19/40 20130101; B65D 77/0466
20130101; B65D 2519/008 20130101; B65D 2519/00373 20130101; B65D
2519/00199 20130101; B65D 2519/00502 20130101; B65D 2519/00512
20130101; B65D 2519/00666 20130101; B65D 2203/00 20130101; B65D
2519/0086 20130101; B65D 2519/00184 20130101; B65D 2519/00174
20130101; B65D 2519/00288 20130101; B65D 2519/00208 20130101; B65D
2519/00094 20130101; B65D 2519/00024 20130101; B65D 2519/00621
20130101; B65D 2519/00716 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/386 ;
108/55.1 |
International
Class: |
B65D 19/40 20060101
B65D019/40; B65D 19/44 20060101 B65D019/44 |
Claims
1. A pallet container comprising: a base portion and a cage
portion, wherein the cage portion is connected with the base
portion, and defines an inner region which is sized and shaped to
accept a container; wherein the base portion comprises a base
member to which one or more feet are attachable on the underside
thereof, the underside being the side opposite the cage portion;
wherein further the pallet container comprises at least one shock
absorbing device.
2. The pallet container according to claim 1, wherein the shock
absorbing device comprise a deformable, energy absorbing portion,
which is adapted to bend, compress or crumple so as to eliminate
the initial peak load, or G-Load, in the load vs. deformation
characteristics of the pallet container, thus reducing the maximum
load transferred to the cage member and container.
3. The pallet container according to claim 1, wherein the shock
absorbing device comprise a longitudinal deformation zone which is
adapted to bend, compress or crumple so as to eliminate the initial
peak load, or G-Load, in the load 's. deformation characteristics
of the pallet container, thus reducing the maximum load transferred
to the cage member and container.
4. The pallet container according to claim 1, wherein the shock
absorbing device comprise one or more metallic plates or pieces
positioned in a region of the pallet container such that the weight
of the pallet container above the one or more metallic plates or
pieces acts generally along the plane of the one or more metallic
plates or pieces, and the metallic plates comprise a deformation
zone running perpendicular to the direction in which the weight of
the pallet container acts, when the pallet container is positioned
in its normal resting orientation.
5. The pallet container according to claim 1, wherein the shock
absorbing device comprise a corrugation running generally
perpendicular to the direction that the weight of the pallet
container acts, when the pallet container is positioned in its
normal resting orientation, wherein the corrugation is adapted to
deform so as to eliminate the initial peak load, or G-Load, in the
load vs. deformation characteristics of the pallet container, thus
reducing the maximum load transferred to the cage member and
container.
6. The pallet container according to claim 5, wherein the
corrugation has a profile chosen from one or more of the following:
one or more generally sinusoidal ridges extending out of the plane
of the surrounding material; two or more generally sinusoidal
ridges one extending out of the plane of the surrounding material
the other extending inward through the plane of the surrounding
material; one or more generally triangular ridges extending out of
the plane of the surrounding material; two or more generally
triangular ridges one extending out of the plane of the surrounding
material the other extending inward through the plane of the
surrounding material.
7. The pallet container according to claim 1, wherein the shock
absorbing device is provided in the one or more feet.
8. The pallet container according to claim 1, wherein the one or
more feet are made from folded or bent metal sheets or tubes.
9. The pallet container according to claim 1, wherein the shock
absorbing device are located in the one of more feet which are
generally hollow and constructed from bent or shaped metal plates
or tubes, and the shock absorbing device comprises a corrugation
running parallel with the plane of the base member forming a
pre-crush region, wherein the corrugation is adapted to deform so
as to eliminate the initial peak load, or G-Load, in the load vs.
deformation characteristics of the pallet container, thus reducing
the maximum load transferred to the cage member and container.
10. The pallet container according to claim 1, wherein the force or
load required to deform, bend or crumple the shock absorbing device
is chosen to be higher than the possible maximum force or load
generated by a full pallet container under gravity, when the pallet
container is resting on the ground.
11. The pallet container according to claim 1, wherein the
container comprises a plastic container suitable for holding
fluids.
12. The pallet container according to claim 1, wherein the base
member comprises an upper surface and the cage portion comprises
one or more vertical struts extending from the upper surface of the
base member to an upper rim which is approximately the same size as
the periphery of the base member and runs around the top of the
cage portion.
13. The pallet container according to claim 12, wherein the
vertical struts have a cross-section which resembles a four-pointed
star, or a square in which the corners are extended outward along
the direction of the diagonal.
14. The pallet container according to claim 13, wherein the upper
rim has an inner portion and a generally inverted U-shaped
cross-section and the vertical struts are located within the inner
portion between the parallel sides thereof, and the corner portions
of the vertical struts are attached to the inner portion of the
U-shaped upper rim.
15. The pallet container according to claim 14, wherein the
vertical struts are attached to the inner portion of the U-shaped
upper rim by resistance welding.
16. The pallet container according to claim 12, wherein the cage
portion comprises one or more horizontal ribs which encircle the
vertical struts.
17. The pallet container according to claim 16, wherein the one or
more horizontal ribs have a profile comprising a triangular ridge
with flat sections either side thereof, wherein the flat sections
are used for attachment to the vertical struts with the triangular
ridge extending away from the vertical struts.
18. The pallet container of according to claim 12, wherein one or
more plastic bands or straps are positioned around the vertical
struts in order to help maintain the shape of the cage portion when
under stress.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] Intermediate bulk containers, or IBCs, are often used for
storing and transporting bulk materials, particularly fluids.
Having a generally cubic structure, IBCs typically comprise a
plastic container in which the fluid exists, the container being
surrounded on its four vertical sides by a protective metal
cage.
[0002] Certain problems arise with existing IBCs, particularly if
they are storing or transporting dangerous chemicals or hazardous
materials. If an IBC was unintentionally dropped onto an immovable
impact surface, a shockwave would propagate through the IBC,
possibly causing a mechanical failure in the cage or container. The
shockwave may be violent enough to crack or break open the
container, spilling its potentially harmful contents.
[0003] A criterion to be fulfilled by IBCs transporting or storing
hazardous materials is stipulated by legislation sanctioned in the
United Nations tests and regulations for IBCs. This criterion
requires that an IBC can be dropped, on its base and at different
angles, without damaging the container sufficiently to cause a
spillage of a contained fluid. The United Nations regulations
require the drop test to be performed at a range of heights and at
a specific temperature. In order to comply with the regulations and
to pass the UN test, IBCs must be made from strong, durable
materials, the production of which can often be expensive and
environmentally damaging. These strong, durable materials, such as
polyethylene plastic or metals, are able to withstand the
shockwaves generated as the IBC contacts the surface onto which it
is dropped. A particularly damaging component of the shockwave is
the initial shock or "G-load" shock, which tends to cause the
majority of the structural damage to the IBC and its container.
[0004] A solution to the above problems, i.e. to produce an IBC
which is made of inexpensive and environmentally-friendly materials
but one which can satisfactorily pass the UN drop test, is provided
herein by the present disclosure. Shock-absorbing means are
incorporated into an IBC, wherein the energy resulting from the
G-load is absorbed by and dissipated throughout the shock absorbing
means.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The present invention provides an intermediate bulk
container in accordance with independent claim 1. Further preferred
embodiments are given in the dependent claims.
[0006] The claimed invention can be better understood in view of
the embodiments of the intermediate bulk container described
hereinafter. In general, the described embodiments describe
preferred embodiments of the invention. The attentive reader will
note, however, that some aspects of the described embodiments
extend beyond the scope of the claims. To the respect that the
described embodiments indeed extend beyond the scope of the claims,
the described embodiments are to be considered supplementary
background information and do not constitute definitions of the
invention per se. This also holds for the subsequent "Brief
Description of the Drawings" as well as the "Detailed Description
of the Preferred Embodiments."
[0007] The intermediate bulk container of the present disclosure
comprises a pallet container, which itself comprises a base portion
and a cage portion, wherein the cage portion is connected with the
base portion and defines an inner region which is sized and shaped
to accept a container. The base portion comprises a generally
planar base member to which one or more feet are attachable on the
underside thereof, the underside being the side opposite the cage
portion.
[0008] The pallet container also comprises shock absorbing means.
The shock absorbing means themselves may comprise a deformable,
energy absorbing portion which is adapted to bend, compress or
crumple so as to eliminate the initial peak load, or G-Load, in the
load vs. deformation characteristics of the pallet container, thus
reducing the maximum load transferred to the cage member and
container.
[0009] Alternatively, the shock absorbing means may comprise a
longitudinal deformation zone which is adapted to bend, compress or
crumple so as to eliminate the G-Load.
[0010] Again, as an alternative, the shock absorbing means may
comprise one or more metallic plates or pieces positioned in a
region of the pallet container such that the weight of the pallet
container above the one or more metallic plates or pieces acts
generally along the plane of the one or more metallic plates or
pieces, and the metallic plates or pieces comprise a deformation
zone running perpendicular to the direction in which the weight of
the pallet container acts, when the pallet container is positioned
in its normal resting orientation.
[0011] Additional alternative shock absorbing means comprise a
corrugation running generally perpendicular to the direction that
the weight of the pallet container acts, when the pallet container
is positioned in its normal resting orientation, wherein the
corrugation is adapted to deform so as to eliminate the G-Load. The
corrugation may have a profile chosen from one or more of the
following: one or more generally sinusoidal ridges extending out of
the plane of the surrounding material; two or more generally
sinusoidal ridges one extending out of the plane of the surrounding
material the other extending inward through the plane of the
surrounding material; one or more generally triangular ridges
extending out of the plane of the surrounding material; two or more
generally triangular ridges one extending out of the plane of the
surrounding material the other extending inward through the plane
of the surrounding material.
[0012] The shock absorbing means of the present disclosure may be
provided in one or more feet of the pallet container. The feet can
be made from folded or bent metal sheets or tubes, which may be
generally hollow.
[0013] The force or load required to deform, bend or crumple the
shock absorbing means is chosen to be higher than the possible
maximum force or load generated by a full pallet container under
gravity, when the pallet container is resting on the ground.
[0014] Regarding the construction of the pallet container, the cage
portion comprises one or more vertical struts extending from the
upper surface of the base member to an upper rim which is
approximately the same size as the periphery of the base member and
runs around the top of the cage portion. The vertical struts may
have a cross-section which resembles a four-pointed star, or a
square in which the corners are extended outward along the
direction of the diagonal. The upper rim has a generally inverted
U-shaped cross-section and the vertical struts are located within
the inner portion between the parallel sides of the U-shape, and
the corner portions of the vertical struts are attached to the
inner portion of the U-shaped upper rim. The vertical struts are
preferably attached to the inner portion of the U-shaped upper rim
by resistance welding.
[0015] The cage portion also comprises one or more horizontal ribs
which encircle and are attached to the vertical struts. The one or
more horizontal ribs may have a profile comprising a triangular
ridge with flat sections either side thereof, wherein the flat
sections are used for attachment to the vertical struts with the
triangular ridge extending away from the vertical struts.
Additionally, one or more plastic bands or straps can be positioned
around the vertical struts in order to help maintain the shape of
the cage portion when under stress.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pallet container.
[0017] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the base portion of a pallet
container.
[0018] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the upper rim engaging
with a vertical strut.
[0019] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a vertical strut
engaging with the upper rim.
[0020] FIG. 5 is a spectrum showing the shock response of a pallet
container without shock absorption means.
[0021] FIG. 6 is a spectrum showing the shock response of a pallet
container with shock absorption means.
[0022] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a pallet container foot with
shock absorption means, according to the present invention.
[0023] FIG. 8 is a plan view of a corner foot of a pallet
container.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0024] The following description provides details of the preferred
embodiment of the present invention. The description is divided
into two subsections: I. Pallet shape & design and II. Shock
absorption, both of which combine synergistically to solve the
objectives of the present invention.
I. Pallet Shape & Design
[0025] FIG. 1 shows a pallet container 1 including certain aspects
of the present disclosure. The pallet container comprises a base
portion 10 and a cage portion 20 which, when connected together,
define an inner region 21 which is sized and shaped to accept a
container 30. A discussion of each of these components is provided
hereinbelow, along with a description of how they interact with
each other.
(a) Base Portion 10
[0026] Base portion 10 comprises a generally planar base member 11,
as shown by FIG. 2. Base member 11 itself comprises a generally
rectangular- or square-shaped frame, with one or more recesses 5
along the anterior of one or more of its peripheral sides 15, to
provide access to one or more outflows 6 of mounted container 30.
The rectangular shape of the periphery 15 is sized to accommodate
container 30. Different shapes of container (i.e. pentagonal,
hexagonal, etc.) would require a base member 11 and periphery 15 of
equivalent geometry, a condition which can be considered herein
without departing from the scope of the current invention.
Furthermore, the one or more recesses 5 designed to accommodate one
or more outflows 6 of a mounted container is merely a design
choice. Base members 11 and peripheries 15 constructed without this
non-essential feature, suitable for a container without an outflow
6, are anticipated in the present disclosure.
[0027] Base portion 10 may also include an optional crossbar
strength member 16, lying within the plane of base portion 10 and
contacting two or more sides of periphery 15. Crossbar strength
member 16 acts to provide increased rigidity and stability to base
portion 10. An external compression force acting towards the centre
of base portion 10, through a peripheral side 15 of base member 11
to which crossbar strength member 16 is attached, would be resisted
against due to crossbar strength member 16. In a similar yet
opposite manner, an expansive force acting from within container 30
or a pulling force acting on the anterior of a peripheral side 15,
to which crossbar strength member 16 is attached, would be resisted
since the crossbar strength member 16 is designed to contact at
least two peripheries 15. Crossbar strength member 16 of base
portion 10 would advantageously add additional resistance against
forces to the base of pallet container 1.
[0028] Attached to the underside 13 of base member 11 are one or
more feet 12. A more complete discussion of feet 12 is provided in
section II below.
(b) Cage Portion 20
[0029] Cage portion 20 is attached to the upper surface 14 of base
member 11. Preferably, cage portion 20 and upper surface 14 are
welded together, although any suitable attaching means can be
conceived, e.g. employing heavy-duty bolts. Cage portion 20 itself
comprises a plurality of vertical struts 22 and at least one
horizontal rib 25 which, in combination with the upper surface 14
of base member 11 define an inner region 21. The dimensions of
inner region 21 are sized and shaped to accommodate container
30.
[0030] Vertical struts 22 extend vertically from the upper surface
14 of base member 11 to an upper rim 23. In the preferred
embodiment, at least one vertical strut 22 extends vertically from
the region around each corner of pallet container 1. Since, in the
case of a fully-loaded square container 30, the forces are greatest
at the corners of container 30, the placement of vertical struts 22
around the corners serves to add strength and support to
mechanically weak areas. Similarly, it is advantageous to position
at least one vertical strut 22 halfway along a base member
periphery 15, again in order to provide resistive support to
generally weaker areas. The pallet container 1 illustrated in FIG.
1 demonstrates a suitable arrangement of vertical struts which
could provide adequate resistive support against a fully-loaded
container 30. Upper rim 23 has approximately the same size and form
as the periphery 15 of base member 11. Upper rim 23 extends around
the top of the entire cage portion 20, i.e. upper rim 23 contacts
and is attached to the terminating end of each of the vertical
struts 22. A cross-sectional view of upper rim 23 is provided by
FIG. 3, where its form is depicted as an inverted "U"-shape. The
"U"-shape of upper rim 23 is sized to accommodate the terminating
ends of vertical struts 22. The shape of upper rim 23 is not
limited to that of a "U"-shape; this shape has been chosen for
illustrative purposes only since other suitable shapes, e.g.
circular or triangular rims are anticipated within this disclosure.
The choice of shape depends largely on the shape of the terminating
ends of vertical struts 22, as discussed hereinafter.
[0031] Vertical struts 22 themselves can take any circumferential
form, although preferred cross sections are cylindrical, triangular
or square. Of crucial importance is the shape of the terminating
end of each vertical strut 22. The preferred shape is that of
either a four-pointed star or a square in which the corners are
extended outward along the direction of the diagonal, as shown in
FIG. 4. Indeed, the entire vertical strut 22 itself could take the
shape of the terminating end, i.e. that of a four-pointed star or a
square with extended corners. A vertical strut 22 of this form is
advantageous since the star-like shaped cross section of the strut
would contain troughs and ridges, providing increased resilience
against unwanted twisted and bending of the strut. At the
terminating end of the vertical strut 22, the points of the star or
the extended corners of the square contact at least the parallel
sides of the inner portion of the "U"-shaped upper rim 23. The
vertical struts can then be attached to upper rim 23 by, but not
limited to, various welding techniques, e.g. resistance welding.
Resistance welding is a preferred attachment method between upper
rim 23 as shown in FIG. 3, and vertical strut 22 with a cross
section as shown in FIG. 4 since only a minimal amount of welding
is required, which is facilitated by the shape of vertical strut
22. The four protrusions emanating from the longitudinal centre of
vertical strut 22 are the only points which contact upper rim 23.
This allows the use of resistance welding which is advantageous as
it offers a secure, reliable, time- and money-efficient,
environmentally-friendly method of attachment. Furthermore, a
star-like cross section of vertical strut 22 which contains more
than four points can also be easily resistance welded to upper rim
23, with each additional contact point offering an increase in
strength and resilience.
[0032] At least one horizontal rib 25 extends horizontally around
cage portion 20, encircling vertical struts 22. As with vertical
struts 22, the circumferential form of horizontal rib 25 can take
many cross sections, such as cylindrical or square, although in the
preferred embodiment horizontal rib 25 has a profile comprising a
triangular ridge 26 with flat sections either side of ridge 26. The
flat sections are used for attachment to vertical struts 22 where
the horizontal rib 25 and vertical struts 22 intersect. Triangular
ridge 26 extends away from vertical struts 22, i.e. ridge 26
extends away from inner region 21. Being triangular in shape, ridge
26 provides strength to horizontal rib 25 as triangular ridge 26 is
resilient against bending or twisting. Furthermore, triangular
ridge 26 is an advantageous shape since only the flat sections
either side of triangular ridge 26 require fixing to vertical
struts 22. Once again, resistance welding provides a suitable
attachment technique due to its simplicity, cleanliness and the
speed with which it can weld small surface areas together.
[0033] In order to help maintain the shape of cage portion 20 when
under stress, for example when a fully loaded container 30 is
disposed within inner region 21, one or more plastic bands or
straps 27 can be secured around vertical struts 22, in an analogous
fashion to horizontal rib 25. Straps 27 would absorb some of the
stress forces experienced by cage portion 20. Advantageously, the
employment of straps 27 reduces the number of horizontal ribs 25
required for a secure pallet container 1. Choosing plastic straps
27 over horizontal ribs 25 reduces the overall weight of pallet
container, whilst also reducing manufacturing costs.
II. Shock Absorption
[0034] As discussed in the foregoing "Disclosure of the Invention,"
it is an objective of the apparatus disclosed herein to absorb
shocks experienced by a pallet container 1 during, for example, an
accidental drop. The shock absorbing means 40 described hereinafter
act to absorb and dissipate the initial energy of such a shock,
thus reducing the shockwaves transferred to cage member 20 and
container 30 of pallet container 1.
[0035] According to the preferred embodiment of the present
invention, shock absorbing means 40 comprise a deformable, energy
absorbing portion 41. This deformable, energy absorbing portion 41
is adapted to bend, compress and/or crumple when an initial load of
a certain magnitude is experienced.
[0036] FIG. 5 is an illustrative representation of a shock response
spectrum (SRS), which shows kinetic energy E.sub.Kin (or load)
along the ordinate versus deflection H.sub.K.sub.max along the
abscissa, when a load is applied to pallet container 1 without
shock absorbing means 40. Of particular interest is the "peak load"
or "G-load" characteristic, representative of the initial load
experienced by pallet container 1. Without any shock-absorption
means, the energy in the G-load propagates into cage member 20 and
container 30 of pallet container 1, by way of
compression/rarefaction waves and sinusoidal waves, prior to the
failing and deformation of some part of pallet container 1. In
order for pallet container 1 to withstand the G-load shock, as
required by United Nations health and safety regulations, its
constituent components, i.e. cage member 20 and container 30 must
be made of highly durable shock-resistant material capable of
surviving a test G-load shock. These shock-resistant materials can
incur large costs to the manufacturer.
[0037] The solution to absorbing the G-load shock provided herein
by the preferred embodiment utilises shock-absorbing means,
preferably located in one or more feet 12 of pallet container 1. A
shock-absorbing means which successfully absorbs the G-load during
a shock has a characteristic SRS as shown in FIG. 6. Achieving such
a plot is possible using a deformable, energy absorbing portion 41
of the present invention, as described hereinbelow.
[0038] The deformable, energy absorbing portion 41 can take many
forms, only some of which are described herein. One such example is
depicted by FIG. 7, which shows one of the one or more feet 12
which form part of base portion 10. Foot 12 as shown in FIG. 7 is
cylindrical, although alternative geometries such as cubic or
prism-shaped feet are anticipated. Feet 12 positioned at the
corners of base member 11 can be shaped so as to curve in
coincidence with the peripheral sides 15 of base member 11 (see
FIG. 8). A larger footprint at the corners adds stability to pallet
container 1, whilst also providing more material which can
accommodate shock absorbing means 40. Consequently, a G-load shock
can be dissipated through a larger deformable, energy absorbing
portion 41, affording larger G-load shocks to be removed from
pallet container 1.
[0039] In FIG. 7, deformable, energy absorbing portion 41 in
particular is a longitudinal deformation zone 42. Longitudinal
deformation zone 42 is an integral part of foot 12 which has been
pre-failed, i.e. a zone which has been specifically weakened and
designed to collapse upon experiencing a shock from the initial
G-load (hereinafter referred to as a "G-shock"). Deformable, energy
absorbing portion 41 will deform at a low impact energy, continuing
to deform in an approximately even manner (up to a maximum
deformation), thereby spreading and dissipating the experienced
G-shock.
[0040] As an example, the shock absorbing means 40, i.e.
deformable, energy absorbing portion 41 and/or longitudinal
deformation zone 42 could comprise one or more metallic plates or
pieces 43. The exact location of metallic plates or pieces 43 is
preferably, but not limited to, one or more feet 12. In general, in
order for the present invention to solve its intended problem of
preventing the G-shock from entering cage member 20 and container
30, the majority of the weight of the pallet must be positioned
above the shock-absorbing region. In this case, the governing
factor which determines the exact location of metallic plates or
pieces 43 is the weight of pallet container 1, such that the weight
of pallet container 1 above the one or more metallic plates or
pieces 43 acts generally along the plane of the one or more
metallic plates or pieces 43. Metallic plates or pieces 43
themselves comprise a deformation zone 44 which runs perpendicular
to the direction in which the weight of pallet container 1 acts,
when pallet container 1 is positioned in its normal resting
orientation, i.e. an orientation as shown in FIG. 1.
[0041] As an alternative or additional means, shock absorbing means
40 could comprise a corrugation 45 running generally perpendicular
to the direction that the weight of pallet container 1 acts, when
positioned in its normal resting orientation (see FIG. 1).
Corrugation 45 is adapted to deform, thereby eliminating the G-load
from propagating through cage member 20 and container 30.
Specifically, corrugation 45 could be constructed in such a way
that it comprises at least one of the following profiles [0042] (i)
one or more generally sinusoidal ridges extending out of the plane
of the surrounding material; [0043] (ii) two or more generally
sinusoidal ridges, one extending out of the plane of the
surrounding material, the other extending inward through the plane
of the surrounding material; [0044] (iii) one or more generally
triangular ridges extending out of the plane of the surrounding
material; [0045] (iv) two or more generally triangular ridges, one
extending out of the plane of the surrounding material, the other
extending inward through the plane of the surrounding material;
and/or [0046] (v) at least one section of the shock absorbing means
which is thinner in its width than the surrounding material which
forms the shock absorbing means.
[0047] In each of the above cases (i) to (v) and in other
alternative arrangements anticipated within the scope of the
invention, corrugation 45 offers a G-shock absorbing portion. The
exact profile or combination of profiles that corrugation 45 may
take can be selected by the skilled person, depending on the
magnitude of the G-load to be absorbed.
[0048] In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, shock
absorbing means 40 may exist in any suitable location on pallet
container 1, although preferentially the shock absorbing means are
situated in one or more feet 12 of pallet container 1. Feet 12
themselves can be made from folded and/or bent metal sheets and/or
tubes, although other suitable constructions and materials are
readily anticipated. Indeed, pallet container 1 could comprise
shock absorbing means 40 in one or more feet 12, which are
generally hollow and constructed of folded and/or bent metal sheets
and/or tubes. Shock absorbing means 40 located within feet 12 could
comprise a corrugation 45 which runs parallel with planar base
member 11, corrugation 45 forming a pre-crush or pre-fail region,
adapted to absorb the initial G-shock and to eliminate propagation
of the experienced shockwave.
[0049] The above discussion of various shock-absorbing means 40 and
their location in pallet container 1, along with different types of
feet 12 work in harmony, absorbing the initial G-shock and
preventing the transmittance of the shockwave throughout pallet
container 1. Resultantly, pallet container 1 and its constituent
components, cage member 20 and container 30, can be made of less
expensive materials which are not designed to withstand the large
forces of the G-load, as this will not be transferred into the
pallet container 1 components. The absorption of forces in
shock-absorbing means 40 ultimately reduces the cost of pallet
container 1 construction whilst also removing the necessity to
construct entire pallet containers 1 out of shock-absorbing
materials. An inexpensive pallet container 1 can be manufactured,
offering transportation safety measures which afford pallet
container 1 to experience and withstand large initial peak
loads.
[0050] In order for the G-shock to be successfully absorbed with
minimal transference into pallet container 1, the majority of the
weight of pallet container 1 must be substantially above shock
absorbing means 40. Therefore, in an alternative embodiment to that
described above, shock absorbing means 40 could exist in base
member 11 rather than in feet 12, or shock absorbing means 40 could
exist partly in both base member 11 and feet 12. A deformable,
energy absorbing portion 41 could encircle base member 11 in an
analogous fashion to how feet 12 are encircled. Providing that
shock absorbing means 40 exist between the impact surface which
causes the G-shock, i.e. the ground, and the bulk of the weight of
pallet container 1, the G-shock can be absorbed and dissipated by
shock absorbing means 40, negating the necessity to construct
pallet container 1 from expensive, shock-resistant materials,
thereby reducing the overall production costs of pallet container 1
whilst providing a container which successfully passes drop tests
established by the United Nations. During testing, pallet container
1 is dropped generally onto its feet or part of its base, thereby
dictating the approximate suitable location for shock absorbing
means 40.
List of Components and Reference Numerals
TABLE-US-00001 [0051] Reference numeral Component 1 Pallet
container 5 Base member recess 6 Container outflow 10 Base portion
11 Base member 12 Feet 13 Underside of base member 11 14 Upper
surface of base member 11 15 Periphery of base member 11 16
Crossbar strength member 20 Cage portion 21 Inner region 22
Vertical struts 23 Upper rim 24 Corner portions of vertical struts
22 25 Horizontal ribs 26 Triangular ridge 27 Plastic bands or
straps 30 Container 40 Shock absorbing means 41 Deformable, energy
absorbing portion 42 Longitudinal deformation zone 43 Metallic
plates 44 Deformation zone of metallic plates 43 45 Corrugation
* * * * *