WO2013054071A1

WO2013054071A1 - Support apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2013054071A1
Application number: PCT/GB2012/000769
Authority: WO
Inventors: Leigh Jowett; Alan Somerfield; Martin Leslie BAKER; Edward John Peter Stubbs
Original assignee: Loadhog Ltd
Current assignee: Loadhog Ltd
Priority date: 2011-10-12
Filing date: 2012-10-10
Publication date: 2013-04-18
Anticipated expiration: 2014-04-12
Also published as: GB2496945A; GB201217691D0; GB201117604D0

Abstract

A support apparatus (10) comprises a support arrangement (16) comprising a first support means (18) for supporting a plurality of articles. The support arrangement includes a second support means (30) for supporting a further support apparatus (10A). The first support means is moveable between an extended position, in which the first support means can support the plurality of articles, and a collapsed position, in which the second support means can support the further support apparatus.

Description

Support Apparatus

This invention relates to support apparatus. More particularly, but not exclusively, this invention relates to support apparatus for supporting garments.

In the clothing industry, it is often necessary to transport a large number of clothes by, for example, a lorry or train. The clothes are arranged on garment carriers in the form of garment trolleys, which are then loaded on to the lorries or trains. When the garment trolleys are unloaded, they can take up a large amount of storage space.

According to one aspect of this invention, there is provided a support apparatus comprising a support arrangement moveable between an extended condition, in which the support arrangement can support a plurality of articles, and a collapsed condition, in which the support arrangement can support a further support apparatus.

According to another aspect of this invention, there is provided a support apparatus comprising a base, and a support arrangement on the base, the support arrangement being moveable between an extended condition, in which the support arrangement can support a plurality of articles, and a collapsed condition, in which the support arrangement can support a further support apparatus.

The support arrangement may comprise a first support means for supporting the plurality of articles, and a second support means for supporting the further support apparatus. The first support means may extend upwardly from the base when the support arrangement is in the extended condition.

The second support means may extend upwardly from the base when the support arrangement is in the collapsed condition. The second support means may extend upwardly from the base when the support arrangement is in the extended condition.

According to another aspect of this invention, there is provided a support apparatus comprising a support arrangement comprising a first support means for supporting a plurality of articles, and a second support means for supporting a further support

l apparatus, the first support means being moveable between an extended position, in which the first support means can support the plurality of articles, and a collapsed position, in which the second support means can support the further support apparatus.

According to a further aspect of this invention, there is provided a support apparatus comprising a base and a support arrangement on the base, the support arrangement comprising a first support means for supporting a plurality of articles, and a second support means for supporting a further support apparatus, the first support means being moveable between an extended position, in which the first support means can support the plurality of articles, and a collapsed position, in which the second support means can support the further support apparatus.

The first and second support means may extend upwardly when the first support means is in the extended position, and the second support means may extend upwardly when the first support means is in the collapsed position.

The second support means may comprises at least one upstanding element to support said further support apparatus. The second support means may comprise a plurality of the upstanding elements to support said further support apparatus.

The upstanding elements extend above the first support means when the first support means is in the collapsed position. The, or each, upstanding element may comprise a wall, which may define a central space in which the second support means is provided. The, or each, wall may be a side wall.

The, or each, upstanding element of the second support means may be rigid. The, or each, upstanding element is advantageously sufficiently robust to support a further support apparatus.

The, or each, upstanding element may have an upper support surface or edge spaced from the base. When the first support means is in the collapsed condition, substantially all of the first support means may be arranged lower than the support surface or edge of the second support means.

In one embodiment, the, or each, upstanding element may provide a container, such as a rectangular box. The upper support surface or edge may be configured to engage the further support apparatus, thereby supporting the further support apparatus.

The first support means may comprise a plurality of support members, each of which may comprise an elongate support member. The first support means may be moveable between the extended position and the collapsed position. The first support means may be pivotally moveable relative to the second support means. The first support means may be pivotally mounted on the base or on the second support means.

The plurality of support members may be moveable relative to one another when the first support means is moved between the extended and the collapsed conditions.

The plurality of support members may be pivotally connected to one another, whereby the plurality of support members are pivotally moveable relative to one another when the first support means is moved between the extended and the collapsed conditions.

Adjacent pivotally connected support members may be pivotally movable relative to each other between extended and flexed positions. Locking means may be provided at each pivotal connection between adjacent support members to lock the adjacent pivotally connected support members in the extended position.

The first support means may comprise a frame formed from the support members. The frame may comprise two opposed frame assemblies and a cross member extending between the two frame assemblies. The cross member is pivotally connected to the frame assemblies. The articles may be supported on the cross member. The articles may comprise garments, which may be supported by clothes hangers. The clothes hangers may be arranged on the cross member.

In one embodiment, each frame assembly may be centrally arranged at the respective edge region of the base, and may comprise a central frame section comprising two of the support members pivotally connected to each other. Each central frame section may have a lower end pivotally attached to the base, and an upper end.

Each of the frame assemblies may comprise upper support members pivotally connected to the respective central frame section at the upper end thereof. The upper support members may extend in opposite directions from the central frame section across the base.

In another embodiment, the two frame assemblies may each comprise two corner frame sections. Each corner frame section may have a lower end pivotally attached to the base, and an upper end. Each frame section may be formed of two of the support members pivotally attached to each other.

An upper support member may extend across the base from the upper end of each of the corner frame sections. The upper support members may be pivotally attached to each other. Each upper support member may be pivotally attached to a respective one of the corner frame sections.

The connecting member may extend between the frame assemblies.

The support apparatus may comprise a cover means for extending over the support means. In one embodiment, the cover means may comprise a flexible material, such as a fabric material, and may extend within the second support means.

The first support assembly may extend within the second support assembly. Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a support apparatus;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the support apparatus in Figure 1 , showing access to an internal region thereof;

Figure 3 shows a first embodiment of the support apparatus, with a support arrangement in an extended condition;

Figure 4 and 5 show steps in the movement of the support arrangement of the first embodiment from the extended condition to a collapsed condition;

Figure 6 shows the first embodiment of the support apparatus with the support arrangement in the collapsed condition;

Figure 7 shows two of the first or second embodiment of the support apparatus, each having its respective support arrangement in the collapsed condition, and one support apparatus being supported on the other support apparatus;

Figure 8 shows a second embodiment of the support apparatus with the first support means in the extended condition;

Figures 9 and 10 show the first support means of the second embodiment moving from the extended condition to the collapsed condition;

Figure 11 shows a third embodiment of the support apparatus, with the first support means in the extended position,

Figure 12 shows the third embodiment of the support apparatus with the first support means moving between the extended and the collapsed positions; Figure 13 shows the third embodiment of the support apparatus, and a further support apparatus, in which the first support means of both support apparatus are in the collapsed position; and

Figure 14 shows the two support apparatus shown in Figure 13, in which one support apparatus is supported on the other support apparatus.

Figures 1 and 2 show a support apparatus 10 comprising a base 12 and a support arrangement 16. The base 12 can be in the form of a pallet, or other suitable support, such as a dolly, upon which the support arrangement 16 can be mounted.

The support arrangement 16 comprises a first support means 18 which, as shown in Figure 2, is used to support a plurality of articles 20 in the form of garments. The garments are arranged on hangers 22 which are supported on a cross member 24, as explained below.

The first support apparatus 10 further includes a fabric cover 26 which extends over the first support means 18, and is provided to protect the articles 20 held within. The fabric cover 26 has an access flap 28 which is shown in a closed position in Figure , and in an open position in Figure 2 to provide an access opening 29.

The support apparatus 10 further includes a second support means 30 which, in the embodiments described herein, comprises a container 31 in the form of a rectangular box defining a space 31 A.

The container 31 has a plurality of upstanding elements in the form of rigid walls 32. Each of said walls 32 has an upper support edge 33, on which a further support apparatus 10A can be disposed, as described below, with reference to Figure 7.

The first support means 18 is provided within the second support means 30. The rigid walls 32 define the central space 31 A, in which the first support means 18 is provided. Figure 3 shows a first embodiment of the support apparatus 0, in which the fabric cover 26 and the second support means 30 are removed so that the first support means 18 can be seen clearly. The position of the fabric cover 26 and the second support means 30 are shown in broken lines.

The first support means 18 comprises two central frame assemblies 34A, 34B arranged at opposite edge regions of the base 12. A connecting member in the form of the cross member 24 extends between the two frame assemblies 34A, 34B, and is pivotally connected thereto at pivots 37.

Each of the frame assemblies 34A, 34B comprises a central frame section 35 having a lower end and an upper end. The frame section 35 is pivotally attached to the base 12 or to the container 31 at a pivot 39.

Each frame section 35 comprises a lower and an upper elongate support member 36, 38 respectively, which are pivotally attached to each other at a pivot 40. The support arrangements 34A, 34B further include carrying means 41 comprising two transverse elongate carrying members 42 at the top end region of the upper support member 38.

The transverse elongate carrying members 42 extend transverse to the cross member 24. The purpose of the carrying means 41 is to carry the flexible cover 26.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 3 to 6, the transverse carrying members 42 are attached to each other to provide an inverted V configuration. The transverse carrying members 42 are pivotally attached to the upper end of the upper support member 38.

The lower elongate support members are pivotally connected either to the base 12 or to the second support means 30, for example to opposite walls 32. Figure 3 shows the support arrangement 16 in its extended condition. The support arrangement 16 is moveable to a collapsed condition, by moving the first support means 8 to a collapsed position.

The movement of the first support means 18 to the collapsed position is effected by pivoting the upper and lower support members 36, 38 relative to each other about the pivot 40, as shown in Figure 4, and about the pivot connecting the lower.

Figures 5 and 6 show the first support means 18 in its collapsed position within the central space defined by the rigid walls 32 of the second support means 30. In Figure 5, the fabric cover 26 is omitted, but is shown in Figure 6.

As can be seen from Figures 5 and 6, no part of the first support means 18 or the cover 26 is above the upper edge 33 of the second support means 30. This allows a further support apparatus 10A (see Figure 7) to be disposed on the first mentioned support apparatus 10.

The further support apparatus 10A is supported by the support apparatus 10 below on the upper edge 33 of the side walls 32 of the second support means 30. It will be appreciated that a third support apparatus (not shown), can be supported on the further support apparatus 10A shown in Figure 7.

A second embodiment of the support apparatus 10 is shown in Figures 8 to 10, and comprises many of the same features as the first embodiment described above. These features have been designated with the same reference numerals as shown in Figures 1 to 7.

In Figures 8 to 10, the second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that the first support means 18 is replaced by a first support means 118, which comprises two pairs of comer frame assemblies 134A, 134B. The second support means of the second embodiment is the same as the second support means of the first embodiment, and is therefore, also designated with the reference numeral 30. Each of the corner frame assemblies 134A, 134B has a lower end pivotally attached to the base 12, and an upper end to which carrying means comprising a transverse elongate carrying member 142 is pivotally attached at a pivot 141. Each upper elongate support member 142 extends across the edge region of the base 12 from the corner support arrangement 134A, 134B, to which it is attached.

The support members 42 attached to the pair of corner frame assemblies 134A are arranged in the shape of an inverted V, and are attached to each other at an apex 143. Similarly, the support members 142 attached to the pair of corner frame assemblies 134B are also arranged in the shape of an inverted V, and are attached to each other at an apex 143.

The cross member 24 extends between the apexes 143 of the attached upper support members 142, and is pivotally attached thereto at the apexes 143.

Each of the corner support arrangements 34A, 34B comprises a lower elongate support member 36 pivotally attached at a pivot 40 to an upper elongate support member 38. Each of the upper support members 38 is pivotally attached to the respective upper elongate support member 142.

Figure 8 shows the first support means 1 8 of the second embodiment 1 0 in its extended condition, and Figure 9 shows the first support means 118 of the second embodiment 110 moving from the extended condition to the collapsed condition, which is shown in Figure 10.

As can be seen from Figure 0, when the first support means 18 is in the collapsed condition, the whole of the first support means 8 and the cover 26 are disposed below the support edge 33 of the second support means 30, to allow a further support apparatus 10A to be supported thereon.

The above described support apparatus 10, 110 are suitable for use as garment carriers, for supporting a plurality of clothes being transported by rail or road. The above described embodiments have the advantage that when not in use, the first support means 18, 118 can be collapsed to a collapsed condition to allow two or more of the support apparatus 0, 10A to be supported upon one another.

Various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention, for example, the upper support members can extend horizontally and need not be in the shape of an inverted 'V.

Figures 11 to 14 show a third embodiment of the support apparatus 10, which is similar to the first embodiment described above, and shown in Figures 3 to 6. The third embodiment includes many of the same features of the first embodiment, and these features have been designated with the same reference numerals with which the corresponding features have been designated in Figures 3 to 6.

In Figures 1 to 14, the fabric cover 26 is omitted for clarity.

The third embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 14 differs from the first embodiment, in that the carrying means 41 for carrying the fabric cover comprises a substantially- triangular planar member 70, which extends outwardly from the respective frame section 35 in opposite directions relative thereto, transverse to the cross member 24.

Each triangular planar member 70 is pivotally connected to the respective frame section at a pivot 72. Locking means is provided at each pivot to lock the pivots when the first support means 8 is in the extended position. The cross member 24 is fixedly attached to the substantially triangular planar member 70.

The pivoting of the substantially triangular planar members 70 relative to the respective upper elongate member 38 allows the first support means 18 to be collapsed into the space 31A.

In the third embodiment, the base 12 is in the form of a combination dolly-pallet, as described and shown in published UK patent specification No. GB2482570B. There are thus described embodiments of a support apparatus, which can be arranged in an extended condition to support a plurality of articles, such as garments. The embodiments described herein can also be arranged in a collapsed condition when not in use to allow a plurality of the support arrangements to be stacked one upon another, thereby saving space.

Claims

1. A support apparatus comprising a support arrangement moveable between an extended condition, in which the support arrangement can support a plurality of articles, and a collapsed condition, in which the support arrangement can support a further support apparatus.

2. A support apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the support arrangement comprise a first support means for supporting the plurality of articles, and a second support means for supporting the further support apparatus.

3. A support apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the first support means is movable between extended and collapsed positions, whereby the support arrangement is in the extended condition when first support means is in the extended position, and the support arrangement is in the collapsed condition when the first support means is in the collapsed position.

4. A support apparatus comprising a support arrangement comprising a first support means for supporting a plurality of articles, and a second support means for supporting a further support apparatus, the first support means being moveable between an extended position, in which the first support means can support the plurality of articles, and a collapsed position, in which the second support means can support the further support apparatus.

5. A support apparatus according to claim 2, 3 or 4, wherein the second support means comprises at least one upstanding element to support said further support apparatus.

6. A support apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the second support means comprises a plurality of the upstanding elements to support said further support apparatus.

7. A support apparatus according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the upstanding elements extend above the first support means when the first support means is in the collapsed position.

8. A support apparatus according to claim 5, 6 or 7, wherein the, or each, upstanding element comprises a wall defining a central space in which the second support means is provided.

9. A support apparatus according to any of claims 5 to 8, wherein the, or each, upstanding element has an upper support surface or edge spaced from the base, whereby when the first support means is in the collapsed condition, substantially all of the first support means is arranged lower than the support surface or edge of the second support means.

10. A support apparatus according to any of claims 2 to 9, wherein the first support means comprises a plurality elongate support members moveable relative to one another when the first support means is moved between the extended and the collapsed positions.

11. A support apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the plurality of support members are pivotally connected to one another, and are pivotally moveable relative to one another when the first support means is moved between the extended and the collapsed positions.

12. A support apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the pivotally connected support members are pivotally

relative to each other between extended and flexed positions,

13. A support apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the support apparatus further includes locking means at each pivotal connection between adjacent support members to lock the pivotally connected support members in the extended position.

14. A support apparatus according to any of claims 10 to 13, wherein the first support means may comprise a frame formed from the support members, the frame comprising two opposed frame assemblies and a cross member extending between the two frame assemblies.

15. A support apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the cross member is pivotally connected to the frame assemblies.

16. A support apparatus according to claim 14 or 15, comprising a base supporting the first and second support means, wherein each frame assembly is substantially centrally arranged at respective edge regions of the base.

17. A support apparatus according to claim 14, 15 or 16, wherein each frame assembly comprises a frame section comprising two support members pivotally connected to each other, each frame section having a lower end pivotally attached to the base, and an upper end region.

18. A support apparatus according to claim 17, wherein each of the frame assemblies comprises carrying means pivotally connected to the respective frame section at the upper end region thereof.

19. A support apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the carrying means extends from the frame section transverse to the cross member.

20. A support apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the carrying means extends in opposite directions from the frame section.

21. A support apparatus according to claim 18, 19 or 20, including a cover means for extending over the support arrangement, the cover means being carried by the carrying means.

22. A support apparatus according to claim 21 , wherein the cover means is formed principally of a flexible material.

23. A support apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 1 to 7 of the accompanying drawings.

24. A support apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 8 to 10 of the accompanying drawings.

25. A support apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 11 to 14 of the accompanying drawings.