U.S. patent application number 14/122641 was filed with the patent office on 2014-03-20 for relating to stillages.
This patent application is currently assigned to THF INNOVATION PTY LTD. The applicant listed for this patent is Albert Hellweg. Invention is credited to Albert Hellweg.
Application Number | 20140076761 14/122641 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 47258179 |
Filed Date | 2014-03-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140076761 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hellweg; Albert |
March 20, 2014 |
RELATING TO STILLAGES
Abstract
An apparatus for supporting a stillage wherein the apparatus
includes a pallet rack (10) having at least two parallel, laterally
spaced elongate frame members (11) that extend horizontally in use
for supporting thereon a stillage (14) having four or more
supporting feet (16). The apparatus also includes at least one
foot-locating member (15) secured along an elongate frame member of
the at least two parallel elongate frame members. The foot-locating
member has an engagement means (22) for engaging with a foot of the
stillage to define the location of the foot on the pallet rack for
stabilising the stillage upon the rack. Also disclosed is a device
for locating a stillage on a pallet rack.
Inventors: |
Hellweg; Albert; (Mitcham,
AU) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Hellweg; Albert |
Mitcham |
|
AU |
|
|
Assignee: |
THF INNOVATION PTY LTD
Bayswater, Victoria
AU
|
Family ID: |
47258179 |
Appl. No.: |
14/122641 |
Filed: |
June 4, 2012 |
PCT Filed: |
June 4, 2012 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/AU2012/000633 |
371 Date: |
November 26, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/386 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65G 1/02 20130101; B65D
19/44 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/386 |
International
Class: |
B65D 19/44 20060101
B65D019/44 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 3, 2011 |
AU |
2011902208 |
Claims
1. An apparatus for supporting a stillage, the apparatus including:
a pallet rack having at least two parallel, laterally spaced
elongate frame members that extend horizontally in use for
supporting thereon a stillage having four or more supporting feet;
and at least one foot-locating member secured along an elongate
frame member of the at least two parallel elongate frame members,
the foot-locating member having an engagement means for engaging
with a foot of said four or more feet to define the location of the
foot on the pallet rack for stabilising the stillage upon the rack,
wherein the at least one foot-locating member is securable to the
elongate frame member such that its position is adjustable along
the elongate frame member.
2. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the position of
the at least one foot-locating member is slidably adjustable along
the elongate frame member.
3. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the position of
the at least one foot-locating member is securable to the elongate
frame member at an infinite number of positions along the elongate
frame member.
4. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the
foot-locating member is secured by a clamping means.
5. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the
foot-locating member includes: a body portion having an upwardly
directed engagement portion, the engagement portion including four
corners arranged to define a perimeter of a rectangular space for
fitting within a rectangular cup that opens downwardly from a
supporting foot of the stillage such that the foot is locked
against horizontal movement with respect to the engagement
portion.
6. An apparatus in accordance with claim 5, wherein the body
portion has an under-surface for resting on said elongate frame
member, wherein the upwardly directed engagement portion is raised
from the under-surface and configured to transfer the weight of the
stillage to the elongate frame member, via the under-surface.
7. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the apparatus
for supporting a stillage includes four foot-locating members, each
foot-locating member being for engaging a corresponding foot of the
said four feet.
8. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the pallet rack
has a pair of support frames supporting the elongate frame members
at respective longitudinally spaced locations, wherein the pallet
rack is configured for supporting the stillage between the support
frames.
9. A device for locating a stillage on a pallet rack, the pallet
rack having at least two rectangular elongate frame members
extending in a horizontal plane for supporting thereon a stillage
having four or more supporting feet, the device including: a body
portion having (i) an under-surface for resting on a said elongate
frame member of the pallet rack and (ii) an engagement portion
spaced from the under-surface and including four corners arranged
to define a perimeter of a rectangular space for fitting within a
cup above the under-surface and which opens downwardly from a
supporting foot of the stillage such that the foot is locked
against horizontal movement with respect to the engagement portion;
and a means for clamping the body portion to said rectangular
elongate frame member on the pallet rack such that the engagement
portion is upwardly directed after clamping, the clamping being at
a position that is adjustable along the frame member.
10. A device in accordance with claim 9, wherein the four corners
define a flat horizontal plane when the body portion is clamped to
the elongate frame member.
11. A device in accordance with claim 9, wherein the rectangular
space is a square space.
12. A device in accordance with claim 9, wherein the device further
includes opposing side members, extending from the body portion,
for straddling the device around the rectangular elongate frame
member to which the body portion is to be clamped.
13. A device in accordance with claim 12, wherein the means for
clamping is provided by a pair of threaded fasteners and nuts, each
fastener traversing between the opposing side members, wherein the
nuts are tightened to the fasteners to press the side members
toward each other for clamping the elongate rectangular elongate
frame member between the side members.
14. A device in accordance with claim 12, wherein the means for
clamping is provided by holes in at least one of the side members,
wherein a fastener may be inserted therethrough for clamping a side
member to the rectangular elongate frame member.
15. A device in accordance with claim 14, wherein a threaded
passage is aligned with each hole.
16. A device in accordance with claim 9, wherein the rectangular
space has wall portions along at least two opposing sides of the
perimeter of the rectangular space.
17. A device in accordance with claim 16, wherein there are at
least two of said wall portions, the wall portions being portions
of respective opposed walls of a first pair of opposed walls that
are parallel to the side members.
18. A device in accordance with claim 9, wherein the body portion
includes a rectangular tube having the first pair of opposed walls
and a second pair of opposed walls.
19. A device in accordance with claim 9, wherein the four corners
are corners of a top wall that is opposed to the under surface, the
top wall filling the rectangular space.
20. A device in accordance with claim 9, wherein the means for
clamping the body portion to said rectangular elongate frame member
on the pallet rack is configured to be tightened and untightened
for adjusting the position of the device along the elongate frame
member.
21-22. (canceled)
23. An apparatus for supporting a stillage, the apparatus
including: a rigid support having a length for spanning between
parallel elongate frame members of a pallet rack that are
configured to support thereon (i) the rigid support and (ii) at
least one pallet; and at least two foot-locating means projecting
from the rigid support, the foot-locating members projecting in a
common direction, wherein the at least two foot-locating means are
spaced and shaped to fit within cups of respective feet of a
stillage, to define the location of the respective feet on the
rigid support for stabilising the stillage upon the rigid support,
and in turn, on the pallet rack when the rigid support spans
between the parallel elongate frame members of the pallet rack.
24. An apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the rigid support
is a metal bar.
25. An apparatus according to claim 23, wherein at least one of the
foot-locating means has: a body portion including: (i) an
under-surface for resting on a top surface of the rigid support,
and (ii) an engagement portion opposed to the under-surface and
including four corners arranged to define a perimeter of a
rectangular space and for tightly fitting within the cup of the
corresponding stillage foot to lock the stillage, above the
under-surface, and against horizontal movement with respect to the
engagement portion.
26. An apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the foot-locating
means is included as part of a foot-locating device, the
foot-locating device further including a means for clamping the
body portion to said rigid support, the clamping being at an
adjustable position on the rigid support.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to stillages, and more
specifically to support for stillages.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Stillages are used to store or transport goods. They
generally include a frame base and an additional structure, such as
side or corner restraints, for supporting the goods. In one form,
the base is rectangular with a support foot beneath each
corner.
[0003] The presence of the feet gives rise to challenges in
securely settling the stillage in a desired location, particularly
if the stillage is to be supported at a location elevated from the
ground. Some stillages are designed to be stackable, having a
downward opening in the base of, each foot and upward protrusions
on the top of the stillage which vertically align and cooperate
with respective feet of an identical stillage placed thereupon.
However, the bottom stillage in the stack must still rest on its
feet, so is generally rested on a flat surface, such as
flooring.
[0004] In some situations it may be desirable to settle a stillage
on a pallet rack. Conventionally, a pallet rack is an open
framework designed to support a pallet that has a flat bottom,
rather than support feet. Such a pallet rack typically provides a
support structure in the form of parallel elongated frame members,
or bars, that are held in a horizontal plane, and on which a pallet
may be rested. If a stillage is laid on the rack, with the feet of
the stillage resting upon one or more of these parallel bars, the
feet may easy be pushed off the bar by a lateral force, causing the
stillage to topple. Therefore, it is desirable to provide an
improved means to settle such a stillage on a pallet rack.
[0005] Reference to any prior art in the specification is not, and
should not be taken as, an acknowledgment or any form of suggestion
that this prior art forms part of the common general knowledge in
Australia or any other jurisdiction or that this prior art could
reasonably be expected to be ascertained, understood and regarded
as relevant by a person skilled in the art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] In one aspect of the invention, there is provided an
apparatus for supporting a stillage, the apparatus including: a
pallet rack having at least two parallel, laterally spaced elongate
frame members that extend horizontally in use for supporting
thereon a stillage having four or more supporting feet; and at
least one foot-locating member secured along an elongate frame
member of the at least two parallel elongate frame members, the
foot-locating member having an engagement means for engaging with a
foot of said four or more feet to define the location of the foot
on the pallet rack for stabilising the stillage upon the rack.
[0007] Preferably, the at least one foot-locating member is
securable to the elongate frame member such that its position is
adjustable along the elongate frame member. In one embodiment, the
position of the at least one foot-locating member is slidably
adjustable along the elongate frame member. Preferably, the
position of the at least one foot-locating member is securable to
the elongate frame member at an infinite number of positions along
the elongate frame member. More preferably,, the foot-locating
member is secured by a clamping means.
[0008] In a preferred embodiment, the foot-locating member
includes: a body portion having an upwardly directed engagement
portion, the engagement portion including four corners arranged to
define a perimeter of a rectangular space for fitting within a
rectangular cup that opens downwardly from a supporting foot of the
stillage such that the foot is locked against horizontal movement
with respect to the engagement portion.
[0009] In embodiments of the invention, the body portion has an
under-surface for resting on said elongate frame member, wherein
the upwardly directed engagement portion is raised from the
under-surface and configured to transfer the weight of the stillage
to the elongate frame member, via-the under-surface.
[0010] Preferably, the apparatus for supporting a stillage includes
four foot-locating members, each foot-locating member being for
engaging a corresponding foot of the said four feet.
[0011] Preferably, the pallet rack has a pair of support frames
supporting the elongate frame members at respective longitudinally
spaced locations, wherein the pallet rack is configured for
supporting the stillage between the support frames.
[0012] In another aspect of the invention, there is provided a
device for locating a stillage on a pallet rack, the pallet rack
having at least two rectangular elongate frame members extending in
a horizontal plane for supporting thereon a stillage having four or
more supporting feet, the device including: a body portion having
(i) an under-surface for resting on a said elongate frame member of
the pallet rack and (ii) an engagement portion spaced from the
under-surface and including four corners arranged to define a
perimeter of a rectangular space for fitting within a cup above the
under-surface and which opens downwardly from a supporting foot of
the stillage such that the foot is locked against horizontal
movement with respect to the engagement portion; and a means for
clamping the body portion to said rectangular elongate frame member
on the pallet rack such that the engagement portion is upwardly
directed after clamping, the clamping being at a position that is
adjustable along the frame member.
[0013] Preferably, the four corners define a flat horizontal plane
when the body portion is clamped to the elongate frame member.
[0014] In a preferred embodiment, the rectangular space is a square
space.
[0015] Preferably, the device includes opposing side members,
extending from the body portion, for straddling the device around
the rectangular elongate frame member to which the body portion is
to be clamped.
[0016] In one embodiment, the means for clamping is provided by a
pair of threaded fasteners and nuts, each fastener traversing
between the opposing side members, wherein the nuts are tightened
to the fasteners to press the side members toward each other for
clamping the elongate rectangular elongate frame member between the
side members.
[0017] In another embodiment, the means for clamping is provided by
holes in at least one of the side members, wherein a fastener may
be inserted therethrough for clamping a side member to the
rectangular elongate frame member. Preferably, a threaded passage
is aligned with each hole.
[0018] Preferably, the rectangular space has wall portions along at
least two opposing sides of the perimeter of the rectangular space.
Preferably, there are at least two of said wall portions, the wall
portions being portions of respective opposed walls of a first pair
of opposed walls that are parallel to the side members.
Advantageously, the body portion may include a rectangular tube
having the first pair of opposed walls and a second pair of opposed
walls. Advantageously, the four corners may be corners of a top
wall that is opposed to the under surface, the top wall filling the
rectangular space.
[0019] In a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a
stillage kit for a pallet rack, the pallet rack having at least two
parallel elongate frame members extending in a horizontal plane for
supporting thereon a stillage having four or more supporting feet,
the kit including: a stillage having four or more feet; and at
least one foot-locating device; wherein the at least one
foot-locating device is securable along an elongate frame member of
a pallet rack, and includes an engagement means for engaging with a
foot of said four or more feet to define the location of the foot
on the pallet rack for stabilising the stillage upon the rack.
[0020] In yet another aspect of the invention, there is provided a
method of producing a device for locating a stillage on a pallet
rack, the pallet rack having at least two rectangular elongate
frame members extending in a horizontal plane for supporting
thereon a stillage having four or more supporting feet, at least
one foot having a cup that opens downwardly, the method including:
forming a body portion having an engagement portion, the engagement
portion being in accordance with a predefined specification; and
providing a means for securing the body portion along an elongate
frame member of a pallet rack; wherein the predefined specification
has been designed so that the engagement portion is fittable within
a cup of a stillage, the cup having internal dimensions that have
been factored into the predefined specification.
[0021] In a further aspect of the invention, there is provided an
apparatus for supporting a stillage, the apparatus including: a
rigid support having a length for spanning between parallel
elongate frame members of a pallet rack that are configured to
support at least one pallet thereon; and at least two foot-locating
means projecting from the rigid support, the foot-locating members
projecting in a common direction, wherein the at least two
foot-locating means are spaced and shaped to fit within cups of
respective feet of a stillage, to define the location of the
respective feet on the rigid support for stabilising the stillage
upon the rigid support, and in turn, on the pallet rack when the
rigid support spans between the parallel elongate frame members of
the pallet rack.
[0022] Preferably, the rigid support is a metal bar. In various
embodiments, at least one of the foot-locating means has: a body
portion including:(i) an under-surface for resting on a top surface
of the rigid support, and (ii) an engagement portion opposed to the
under-surface and including four corners arranged to define a
perimeter of a rectangular space and for tightly fitting within the
cup of the corresponding stillage foot to lock the stillage, above
the under-surface, and against horizontal movement with respect to
the engagement portion.
[0023] Advantageously, the foot-locating means may be included as
part of a foot-locating device, the foot-locating device further
including a means for clamping the body portion to said rigid
support, the clamping being at an adjustable position on the rigid
support. The foot-locating means may having the features of any of
the foot-locating hereinbefore described, but adapted to clamp to
the rigid support instead of the elongate frame member of the
pallet rack.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0024] Further aspects of the present invention and further
embodiments of the aspects described in the preceding paragraphs
will become apparent from the following description, given by way
of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0025] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a portion of a pallet
rack having two parallel elongate frame members and two
foot-locating members or devices on each frame member, in
accordance with an embodiment of the invention, and a stillage
supported thereon;
[0026] FIG. 2 shows the items of FIG. 1 with the stillage raised
above the pallet rack;
[0027] FIG. 3 shows an expanded view of the circled region marked A
in FIG. 2;
[0028] FIG. 4 shows a side cross-sectional view along line 100-100
in FIG. 1;
[0029] FIG. 5 shows a plan view of a foot-locating device in
accordance with an embodiment of the invention;
[0030] FIG. 6 shows the foot-locating device of FIG. 5 in a
perspective view;
[0031] FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of an alternative embodiment
of the invention;
[0032] FIG. 8 shows a cross sectional view along line 200-200 in
FIG. 7;
[0033] FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of an alternative
foot-locating member in accordance with another embodiment of the
invention;
[0034] FIG. 10 shows a side view of a foot-locating device in
accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, and
showing a cross-section of an elongate frame member of a pallet
rack to which the foot-locating device is mounted;
[0035] FIG. 11 shows, in a side view similar to FIG. 10, a
foot-locating device in accordance with another embodiment of the
present invention;
[0036] FIG. 11A shows a perspective view of the foot-locating
device of FIG. 11, mounted on a segment of an elongate frame member
of a pallet rack;
[0037] FIG. 12 shows, in a side view similar to FIGS. 10 and 11, a
foot-locating device in accordance with a further embodiment of the
present invention;
[0038] FIG. 13 shows, in a side view similar to FIGS. 10, 11 and
12, a foot-locating device in accordance with another embodiment of
the present invention;
[0039] FIG. 13A shows a perspective view of the foot-locating
device of FIG. 13, mounted on a segment of an elongate frame member
of a pallet rack; and
[0040] FIG. 14 shows two identical apparatuses, in accordance with
another aspect of the present invention, for supporting a stillage
on parallel elongate frame members of a pallet rack.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[0041] An embodiment of an aspect of the invention is shown in FIG.
1. A pallet rack 10 has a first pair of parallel elongate frame
members 11 that commonly extend along an axis in a horizontal
plane. The elongate frame members 11 span between and are supported
at each end by respective vertical support frames 12. Each support
frame 12 is comprised of a pair of parallel vertical beams 13 held
together by cross members 13A. The elongate frame members 11 are
sized and spaced to securely support thereon at least one pallet.
More commonly the elongate frame members 11 support multiple
pallets, side-by-side. To support multiple generally square-based
pallets, the length of the elongate frame members 11 is longer than
the separation between the members so, viewed in plan, the support
rack is an elongate rectangle.
[0042] The sizing and spacing of the elongate frame members 11 is
generally tailored to support pallets of standardized dimensions,
such as ISO standard pallet sizes 1219.times.1016 mm (for North
America), 1165.times.1165 mm (for Australia), 1100.times.1100 mm
(for Asia), 1000.times.1200 mm (for Europe and Asia), and
800.times.1200 mm (for Europe), and 1067.times.1067 mm (for North
America, Europe and Asia). In the example shown in FIG. 1, the
length of the pallet rack is more than three times its width, so
that the rack can easily hold two or three standard pallets
side-by-side.
[0043] To support additional pallets, the vertical support frames
12 also hold an (optional, but generally standard) second pair of
horizontal elongate frame members 11A, elevated above the first
pair 11. The second pair 11A typically is between 100 centimetres
and 200 centimetres above the first pair. Given tall enough support
frames 12, further pairs of horizontal elongate frame members can
similarly be spaced above the second pair 12. For convenience, the
embodiment of the invention exemplified hereinafter is described
only with reference to the first pair of elongate frame members 11.
However, the second pair 11A and any further pairs of elongate
frame members are substantially similar or identical to the first
pair 11, so may simultaneously be configured or adapted to be used
in the same manner as the first pair 11, as described
hereinafter.
[0044] As shown in FIG. 1, the elongate frame members 11 are
adapted to support a stillage 14. thereon by having the stillage
located onto four foot-locating members or devices 15--two of the
devices 15 being secured to each elongate frame member 11. Although
only one stillage is illustrated in FIG. 1, it is appreciated the
elongate frame members 11 are sufficiently long to comfortably
support two or three stillage racks side-by-side.
[0045] The stillage 14 is shown elevated from the pallet rack 10 in
FIG. 2. The stillage 14 is supported by four feet 16. The stillage.
has a flat, open rectangular frame 18, from which corner restraints
20 vertically extend. The feet 16 extend downwardly from the bottom
of the corner restraints 20, beneath the frame 18.
[0046] The supported stillage 14 is sized such that its feet 16
rest on the parallel elongate frame members 11, and is stabilised
on the rack 10 by having each foot 16 located on a corresponding
foot-locating member 15.
[0047] The foot-locating members 15 are adjustably, positioned
along the elongate frame members 11 so that each foot-locating
member 15 is aligned with a corresponding foot 16 of the stillage
14. The ability to adjustably position the foot-locating members 15
allows for accommodation of a variety of different sized stillages
14 on the pallet rack 10.
[0048] Ideally, the foot-locating members 15 are capable of locking
or restraining movement of the stillage 14 against any horizontal
movement. In one embodiment, the restraining function can be
provided by a single foot-locating member, and if the foot-locating
member also locks the foot against rotational movement, then only a
single foot-locating member is required to stabilise the
stillage.
[0049] FIG. 3 provides an expanded view of circled region A in FIG.
2, showing a single in-situ foot-locating member 15. The
foot-locating member 15 has a body portion 21 and an engagement
portion 22, which is the top edge of the body portion 21. The
stillage foot 16 is essentially a downwardly opening rectangular
cup 30 (FIG. 4), or in other words; an open or hollow rectangular
frustopyramid. The rectangular cup 30 is a frustopyramid in that it
inwardly tapers towards the stillage until it forms a flat portion
31 in a horizontal plane. The flat portion 31 rests on the
engagement portion 22 of the foot-locating member 15. The
engagement portion 22 includes four corners 24 that define a
perimeter of a rectangular space 32. The four corners 24 engage
with respective corners 28 within the rectangular cup 30. This
engagement restrains the foot 16 against horizontal and rotational
movement with respect to the engagement portion 22. The engagement
portion 22 is raised above an under-surface 46 of the body portion
21, by a pair of opposed walls 36, 38. At least a portion of the
under-surface 46 rests upon a top surface 47 of the elongate frame
member 11 so that any load borne by the engagement portion 22 is
transferred to the top surface 47 of the elongate frame member.
[0050] Commonly, the rectangular cup 30 has sides 33 (FIG. 3) of
equal dimension, so that the rectangular cup 30 is more
specifically a square cup (i.e. it is an open frustum of square
pyramid). In this case, a tight engagement between the foot 16 and
engagement portion 22 is achieved by having the four corners 24 of
the engagement portion 22 positioned such that rectangular space 32
is, more specifically, a square space (as shown in FIG. 5). The
four cornets 24 are also arranged to define the engagement portion
22 in a flat horizontal plane so that the engagement portion 22
rests flush against flat portion 31 within the cup 30. Each of the
four corners 24 of the engagement portion 22 engage with a
respective corner 28 in the cup 30.
[0051] The foot-locating member 15 can exist as a member of an
assembly, or it may be a stand-alone device that is connected to
any suitable pallet rack, for stabilising a stillage thereupon.
FIG. 5 shows, in plan view, the foot-locating member 15 as a
stand-alone device. The rectangular space 32 is defined by wall
portions 34 which have top edges along opposing sides of the
perimeter of the rectangular space 32. The wall portions 34 extend
along the entire perimeter of rectangular space 32. Ideally, the
wall portions 34 are arranged to align with vertical walls 37 (FIG.
3) of the stillage's corner restraints 20 from which the feet 16
extend.
[0052] The wall portions 34 are upper portions of a first wall 36
(FIG. 5), an opposed second wall 38, and third and fourth walls 44
that are perpendicular to the first wall 36 and second wall 38 to
define a steel square tube 45, This square tube 45 forms the body
portion 21 of the foot-locating device 15. It is appreciated that
in other embodiments, rather than the body portion being a square
tube 45, it may be a solid square block. As shown in FIG. 5, the
first wall 36 and the opposing second wall 38, along the perimeter
of the rectangular space 32, are parallel to two side members 40
and 42 of the foot-locating member or device 15. In this
embodiment, the side members 40, 42 are similar flat metal plates,
eg of steel. The first side plate 40 is welded to the first wall 36
and extends along the axis of the square tube 45 beyond the bottom
surface 46 (FIGS. 4 and 6) of the tube 45 to allow for positioning
of the first side plate 40 adjacent to and abutting a lateral wall
48 of elongate frame member 11. The first side plate 40 extends
beyond the under surface 50 of the elongate frame member 11. The
second side plate 42 is positioned parallel and opposite the first
side plate 40 to abut against lateral wall 52, opposite the other
lateral wall 48 of the elongate frame member 11. The first side
plate 40 and second side plate 42 are joined a pair of fasteners in
the form of bolts 54 (FIG. 4) respectively above and beneath the
elongate frame member 11. With this arrangement, the foot-locating
device 15 straddles around the elongate frame member 11.
[0053] Each bolt 54 is secured into a threaded passage 56 that is
lateral to the second side plate 42. The threaded passage 56 may be
a nut that is independent from, or rigidly secured to, the second
side plate 42. When the bolts 54 are untightened, the foot-locating
device 15 can be adjustably positioned along the elongate frame
member 11 by sliding the foot-locating device along the member.
Once the foot-locating member 15 has been slidably adjusted into
position (of which there are an infinite number) along the elongate
frame member 11, the position is secured by tightening the bolts 54
into their corresponding nuts 56, thereby pressing the side plates
40, 42 toward each other, clamping the elongate frame member 11
therebetween. After clamping, the engagement portion 22 is
upwardly, directed to engage with the downwardly directed cup 30 of
a stillage foot 16.
[0054] This clamping action allows the foot-locating member 15 to
be accommodate for a variety of elongate frame member 11 widths,
wherein the maximum width that can be accommodated is determined by
the maximum separation between of the first side plate 40 and
second side plate 42. The maximum height of the elongate frame
member 11 is essentially determined by the separation of the bolts
54.
[0055] In an alternative embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8,
side members 40a and 42a of foot-locating device 15a need not
extend beyond the under surface 50 of the elongate frame member 11.
Threaded passages in the form of nuts 58 are rigidly secured to
side member 40a at holes 60 in the side member. A grub screw 62 is
screwed into each hole 60 to clamp the second side member 42a
against lateral wall 52a of the elongate frame member 11.
[0056] In a further embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, the square tube
45b, which forms the body portion 21b of the foot-locating device
15b, is secured to the elongate frame member 11 on a top surface 64
of the frame member 11. The bottom of square tube 45b has flanges
66. Each flange 66 has a hole 68 through which a fastener is
inserted, the fastener extending into the top surface 64 of the
elongate frame member 11.
[0057] In some embodiments of the invention, one or both of the
side members, used in clamping the foot-locating member 15d to the
elongate frame member 11, may be formed from folded sheet metal, as
illustrated in FIGS. 10 to 13A. In the embodiment illustrated in
FIG. 10, the body portion 21d is welded onto a strip 80 of sheet
steel. The strip 80 has an under-surface 46d that rests on the
elongate frame member 11. The strip is folded away from the body
portion, at locations 81 laterally flanking the body portion, to
form a first side member 40d and a second side member 42d. The
second side member 42b has nuts 70 on an internal surface of the
side member 42d. By fastening grub screws 71 through the nuts 70
and against the elongate frame member 11, the foot-locating member
15d is laterally clamped between the inward facing tips of the grub
screws 71 and the first side member 40d.
[0058] The side members 40d and 42d are inwardly folded at
respective ends 82, 83 to form U-channels 84 that sit beneath the
elongate frame member 11. A bottom plate. 85 fits between the side
members 40d, 42d, and has downwardly bent ends that slot into the
U-channels 84. Like side member 42d, the bottom plate 85 has a nut
86 on an internal surface. A grub screw 87 is fastened through nut
86 and pushes against the bottom of the elongate frame member 11 to
vertically clamp the foot-locating member 15d to the elongate frame
member.
[0059] Although, as described hereinbefore, the body portion 21 has
been embodied by the same square tube 45, alternative constructions
of the body portion may be used instead of the square tube
construction. In FIGS. 11, the body portion 21e is formed with the
same sheet steel strip 80e that forms clamping side members 40e,
42e. At the respective tops of each side member 40e, 42e, the strip
80e bends inwardly by 90 degrees to define an under-surface of body
portion 21e, for resting on the elongate from member 11. The strip
80e also bends upwardly, away from the under-surface 46e, to define
a neck portion 85e of the body member 21e, though which a screw and
nut combination can be used to squeeze the neck 85e and, by
association, side members 40e, 42e together to laterally clamp the
body portion 21 e to the elongate frame member 11. From the neck
85e, the strip 80e bulges outwardly and then upwardly to form upper
vertical walls 36e, 38e. Each upper vertical wall has a top edge
87e, each edge having opposed corners 24e (FIG. 11A) which define
the perimeter of a rectangular space filled by a top wall 86e. The
corners 24e, thus define an engagement portion 22e that fits within
a downwardly extending cup on the foot of a stillage, as in the
embodiments hereinbefore described.
[0060] Similarly to the embodiment of FIG. 10, a bottom plate 85e
is fitted beneath the elongate frame member by engaging in
U-channels 84e at bottom ends of the side members 40e, 42e, and a
screw and nut combination may be used to provide vertical clamping.
In contrast with the embodiment of FIG. 10, the U-channels 84e are
formed by outward (rather than inward) bends of the respective side
members 40e, 42e.
[0061] In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 12, the body portion
21f of foot-locating member 15f has a wall vertical 36f that is
coplanar with the side wall 46f that is adjacent the foot-locating
member. From wall 36f, strip 80f is bent to form a square loop 88f
that includes top surface 86f, a second vertical wall 38f and a
lower wall having an under-surface 46f. It will be appreciated that
the engagement portion 22f is formed in the same manner as in the
embodiment of FIGS. 11 and 11A. A separate side member 42f is
fastened to the strip 80f to laterally clamp the foot-locating
member to the elongate frame member.
[0062] In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 13, the body portion
21g is constructed from two separate folded steel metal strips 80g'
and 80g''. Each strip has an inward loop that respectively
contributes, to the body portion 21g, an outer vertical wall 36g,
38g, a top wall portion 86g', 86g'', an inner wall 90g', 90g'' and
a bottom wall having an under-surface portion 46g', 46g''. The two
strips 80g' and 80g'' are held together by upper and lower
screw/nut combinations, 91g and 92g, respectively. As illustrated
in FIG. 13A, vertical wall 38g has a hole 93g in it to allow access
to the screw head of the screw/nut combination 91g. Similar to the
other embodiments described herein, vertical walls 36g and 38g each
have upper edges that define corners 24g of an engagement portion
22g for fitting within a rectangular cup of a stillage foot.
[0063] In an alternative embodiment (not shown), the engagement
portion is formed by the respective corners of two opposing walls,
wherein the walls are joined by a central transverse wall to form
an I or H shaped structure in plan view. Alternatively, a body
portion may be constructed in which there are no wall portions
along any sides of the rectangular space. Instead, the four corners
that define a rectangular space are by ends corners of diagonal
walls which are crossed to create an X structure in plan view.
[0064] In another embodiment (not shown), the engagement portion of
the device 15 of FIG. 3 is arranged to have the rectangular space
32 rotated 45.degree. , about a vertical axis. In this way, the
four corners 24 engage with centre points 35 along sidewalls 33 of
the rectangular cup 30. The four corners 24 may be joined by
rectangular walls along the perimeter, or in an I, H or X structure
as previously described.
[0065] In one arrangement (not shown), the cup 30 may be a circular
(frustoconical) cup, and each of the four corners 24 of the
engagement portion 22 engage with a respective circumferential
point in the cup 30. Alternatively, the four corners 24 are
included in a circumferential wall of a circular tube. The four
"corners" in this case refer only to an imaginary square space
within the circumference. The corners 24 are separated from each
other by 90.degree., measured from the centre of the tube. Such an
arrangement, will prevent horizontal translation of the stillage
foot 16, but will not prevent rotation of the foot if only a single
foot-locating member 15 of this embodiment is used. Therefore, to
prevent rotation of the stillage 14, at least two such
foot-locating members 15 would be required in this case.
[0066] Ideally the stillage that is placed on the pallet rack is
dimensioned so that each foot 16 of the stillage rests on an
elongate member 11 of the pallet rack. However, alignment requires
the 30, depth of the stillage to be essentially the same as the
spacing of the parallel elongate frame members 11. Therefore,
depending on the relative dimensions of the particular stillage and
pallet rack, it may not be possible to align all four feet of the
stillage with the pallet rack. To accommodate stillages of
different depths, pairs of stillage feet may be located onto
respective pairs of foot-locating members, wherein each
foot-locating member is adjustable in position along a cross-bar
that is supported by the elongate frame members of the stillage
rack. As illustrated in FIG. 14, two stillage feet-locating
apparatuses 100 traverse the elongate frame members 11. Each
feet-locating apparatus 100 includes two foot-locating devices 15b,
as described hereinbefore, clamped to a rigid metallic support
member or elongate cross-bar 102. The foot-locating members 15b are
adjustably spaced along the cross-bar 102 so that their separation
corresponds with the separation of the respective feet with which
they are intended to engage.
[0067] In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 14, the foot-locating
member 15b is the same as the foot-locating member of FIG. 9.
However, it is appreciated that in other corresponding embodiments
of the invention any of the other foot-locating members described
herein may be used.
[0068] It is also appreciated that in some environments specific
stillages will be favoured over other stillages. A storage facility
may, for example, only use one (or a few) types of stillage. Thus
it may be that, rather than having adjustability, it is sufficient
to have a feet locating apparatus that has multiple foot-locating
members in fixed locations on the apparatus. In such cases
foot-locating members may be fixed to or even integrally formed on
cross-bar 102. The foot-locating device 15 may be supplied with a
stillage 14, the device and stillage forming a stillage kit. This
is advantageous in that it allows the provision of a foot-locating
device which is designed for an optimal locking arrangement for a
particular stillage 14.
[0069] The optimal locking arrangement can also be realised when
supplying the foot-locating device 15 separately from the stillage
14. This may be achieved by designing the foot-locating device for
use with a stillage of known dimensions or a stillage having a foot
16 with a downwardly directed cup 30 of particular known
dimensions. This may be achieved by producing a device 15 in
accordance with a method in which a body portion 21 is formed
having an engagement portion 22, wherein the engagement portion 22
is in accordance with a predefined specification. The method also
includes a step of providing in the device 15 a means for securing
the body portion 21 to a pallet rack 10. The predefined
specification for the engagement portion is designed so that the
engagement portion 22 is fittable within a cup 30 of stillage 14,
the cup having dimensions that have been factored into the
predefined specification.
[0070] It will be understood that the invention disclosed and
defined in this specification extends to all alternative
combinations of two or more of the individual features mentioned or
evident from the text or drawings. All of these different
combinations constitute various alternative aspects of the
invention.
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