WO2019228749A1

WO2019228749A1 - Device for transporting and storing goods

Info

Publication number: WO2019228749A1
Application number: PCT/EP2019/061390
Authority: WO
Inventors: Davide PANIZZI
Original assignee: Issi Group Srl A Responsabilita' Limitata Semplificata Soc
Current assignee: Issi Group Srl A Responsabilita' Limitata Semplificata Soc
Priority date: 2018-05-28
Filing date: 2019-05-03
Publication date: 2019-12-05
Anticipated expiration: 2020-11-28
Also published as: IT201800005743A1; EP3802348C0; EP3802348A1; EP3802348B1

Abstract

A device for transporting and storing goods, comprising a base (2), which forms a resting surface (2b) and has a substantially quadrangular shape with a pair of long sides (3a) and a pair of short sides (3b). The device furthermore comprises a plurality of uprights (4) associated with the base (2) and adapted to support at least one supporting bracket (5) for resting goods; each one of the uprights (4) can move between at least one first position, in which it is laterally adjacent to a respective short side (3b) of the base (2), and at least one second position, in which it is laterally adjacent to at least one respective long side (3a) of the base (2).

Description

DEVICE FOR TRANSPORTING AND STORING GOODS

The present invention relates to a device for transporting and storing goods.

As is known, pallets are usually used for transporting and storing goods and are optionally provided with collapsible sides or walls, or containers, which however do not allow to optimize the spaces occupied by non-stackable goods having different space occupations.

In order to solve these drawbacks, a device for transporting and storing goods has been proposed which has a base, having a substantially quadrangular shape with typically two opposite short sides joined by two opposite long sides defined therein, which defines a resting surface for at least one group of goods to be transported or stored and from which multiple uprights extend upward, arranged at the comers of the base or in any case distributed along its perimeter, to which it is possible to couple, at different heights according to the requirements, supporting brackets for other goods to be transported or stored, which can thus be arranged above the base.

In particular, the base can have substantially the standard dimensions of a pallet and the uprights are fixed, with their lower end, externally to the perimeter of the base, in a position that is laterally adjacent to the long sides of the base.

In known embodiments, moreover, the uprights are shaped, in a cross- section taken transversely to their axis of vertical extension, with a space occupation, along a direction that is parallel to the long sides of the base, that is greater than their space occupation along a direction that is perpendicular to the long sides of the base, so as to define, at least on the side of the uprights that is directed toward the base, a face having a larger extension than the faces located on the two lateral opposite sides, in order to allow the stable coupling of the supporting brackets.

Devices stmctured as described above have some limitations in application.

First of all, they do not allow to use adequately the space, in terms of width, that is available in the loading compartment of trucks, since they can be arranged only with the long side of the base parallel to the bottom of the loading compartment.

Furthermore, with known transport or storage devices, the handling and the loading of the pallets thereon is not possible with any equipment but only with front-loading lift trucks, and this does not allow to load the goods on the devices directly on the truck.

Another drawback of known transport or storage devices is to not allow the possibility to load thereon goods that protrude from the long sides of the base.

The aim of the present invention is to provide a device for transporting and storing goods that is capable of improving the background art in one or more of the aspects mentioned above.

Within this aim, an object of the invention is to provide a transport and store device that is extremely versatile and adaptable to different situations of use.

An object of the present invention is to provide a device for transporting and storing goods that is easy and practical in use.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device for transporting and storing goods that can offer the greatest assurances of reliability and safety during its use and is competitive also from a purely economic standpoint.

This aim and these and other objects which will become better apparent hereinafter are achieved by a device for transporting and storing goods, according to the invention, as defined in claim 1.

Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become better apparent from the description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of the device for transporting and storing goods, according to the invention, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device according to the invention, with parts shown in cutaway and others in phantom lines and with uprights in a first position;

Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of a detail of the device according to the invention, with parts shown in cutaway and others in phantom lines;

Figures 3 to 5 are side views of the device according to the invention at a long side of its base, in a sequence of steps for moving the device according to the invention from an active extended condition to an inactive folded condition;

Figure 6 is a top plan view of the device according to the invention, with parts in cutaway and with the uprights in the first position;

Figure 7 is a side view of a detail of the device according to the invention with means for the removable locking of an upright in the activated condition;

Figure 8 is a view of the detail of Figure 7, with the locking means of the upright in the deactivated condition;

Figures 9 and 10 are top plan views of the transition of an upright between the first and second positions;

Figure 11 is a perspective view of the device according to the invention with parts in cutaway and other in phantom lines and with uprights in a second position;

Figure 12 is a lateral elevation view, at a short side of the base, of the device according to the invention with the uprights in the second position;

Figure 13 is a view similar to that of Figure 12 but with the third portions of the uprights in the folded position;

Figure 14 is a top plan view of the device according to the invention with parts shown in cutaway and with the uprights in the second position; Figure 15 is a side view of a plurality of devices according to the invention in the folded condition and mutually stacked.

With reference to such figures, the device for transporting and storing goods, according to the invention, generally designated by the reference numeral 1, comprises a base 2, which defines a resting surface 2a, on which the goods to be transported or stored can be arranged.

Conveniently, the base 2 has a substantially plate-like shape and is structured so that it can be engaged by the forks of lift trucks or transpallet trucks. In particular, the base 2 has an upper face on which a flat plate 2a is advantageously arranged which defines the resting surface 2b for the goods to be loaded on the base 2.

In particular, the base 2 has, in top plan view, a substantially quadrangular shape, with a pair of mutually opposite long sides 3a defined therein, joined by a pair of short sides 3b.

Moreover, multiple uprights 4 are associated with the base 2, extend vertically from the base and are adapted to support at least one supporting bracket 5 on which goods can be rested, arranged or not on a pallet, so as to allow the positioning of the goods on the device even in a position that is spaced upward from the resting surface 2a of said base.

Conveniently, at least one upright 4 is provided substantially at each comer region of the base 2 and moreover the uprights 4 support advantageously respective supporting brackets 5 which, as a whole, form at least one resting surface for the goods which is spaced upward from the base 2.

For example, each one of the supporting brackets 5 can be constituted by a respective block 5a, having at least one planar face, which is designed to be directed upward during use and defines the resting surface for the goods. Conveniently, a lateral goods retention side 5b protmdes in use upward from the planar face of the blocks that provide the supporting brackets 5 and is arranged at an edge of the block 5a designed to be directed outward with respect to the base 2.

More particularly, it is possible to provide multiple supporting brackets 5 for each upright 4, arranged at different height levels with respect to the base 2, on each one of which goods loaded on pallets or shelves for supporting non-packaged goods can be rested directly.

Advantageously, the supporting brackets 5 are connected to the uprights 4 by virtue of removable coupling means, so as to allow the possibility to vary their position along the uprights 4 with respect to the base 2, according to requirements.

In particular, the means for the removable coupling of the supporting brackets 5 to the uprights 4 comprise multiple slots 6, defined along the extension of the uprights and selectively engageable by at least one anchoring pin 7, which is associated with each supporting bracket 5.

More particularly, in a per se known manner, on each one of the uprights 4 there are multiple pairs of slots 6, arranged so that they are evenly mutually spaced, along the corresponding upright 3, and with the slots 6 of each pair arranged along a horizontal direction. The pairs of slots 6 can be engaged selectively by a pair of anchoring pins 7 associated with the supporting brackets 5, substantially at one of their ends, so that with the anchoring pins 7 engaged with the slots 6 the brackets protrude laterally from the respective upright with their planar loading face directed upward. Conveniently, the anchoring pins 7 have, at their free end, a wider head, while the slots 6 have an upper portion which can be crossed by the head of the anchoring pins 7 and communicates with a lower portion that cannot be crossed by the head of the anchoring pins 7 and can be engaged by the stem of the anchoring pins 7 by means of a sliding of the anchoring pins 7 along the extension of the slots 6.

Conveniently, the supporting brackets 7 are also provided, on their face that is opposite to their planar loading face, with auxiliary coupling pins 8, which are structured similarly to the anchoring pins 7, so that they can be engaged in a removable manner with the slots 6, for the positioning the supporting brackets 5 in a collapsed position on the corresponding upright 4, during non-use, so as to be in a condition of minimum lateral space occupation with respect to the corresponding upright 4, as shown for example in Figure 4.

It should be noted, as shown by way of example in Figures 1 and 11, that the supporting brackets 5 can be optionally constituted by a pair of resting bars 9 which can each be coupled to a respective pair of uprights 4 and can conveniently be elongated longitudinally in a telescopic manner, so as to extend the goods resting surface defined by them. The resting bars 9 also are advantageously provided with anchoring pins 7 which can be engaged with the slots 6 of the uprights 4 for their removable connection to the respective pair of uprights 4.

Conveniently, the uprights 4 have, along a first direction which is perpendicular to their vertical extension axis, an extension that is greater than their extension along a second direction that is perpendicular to their vertical extension axis and perpendicular to said first direction, so as to have a front space occupation that is greater than their lateral space occupation.

More particularly, in the embodiment shown, the uprights 4 have a transverse cross-section, with respect to their vertical extension axis, that has a substantially rectangular shape, so as to have two front faces 4a having a larger extension, of which one directed toward the base 2, on which the slots 6 are formed, and two lateral faces 4b having a smaller extension than the front faces 4a.

Each one of the uprights 4 is movable between at least one first position, in which is laterally adjacent to a respective short side 3b of the base 2, and at least one second position, in which is laterally adjacent to at least one respective long side 3 a of the base 2.

In this manner it is possible to vary the clearance between two adjacent uprights 4, on the short sides or on the long sides of the base 2, and it is also possible to vary the space occupation of the device on the short side or on the long side of the base 2.

More particularly, each one of the uprights 4 is conveniently connected rotatably, at least with its lower portion, to the base 2, by means of respective pivoting means 10, about a corresponding rotation axis 11 which is substantially parallel and spaced with respect to the respective vertical extension axis, so as to be able to pass from the first position to the second position and vice versa, by means of an angular movement thereof about the rotation axis 11.

Conveniently, means for the removable locking of the uprights 4 in the respective first position or in the respective second position are also provided and can advantageously be deactivated on command by means of a translational motion, imparted at least to the lower portion of the uprights 4, along a movement direction 100 that is substantially parallel to the rotation axis 11.

Advantageously, each upright 4 is provided with grip means for its translation along said movement direction. The grip means are constituted for example, for each upright 4, by a lever 12, which is pivoted to the respective upright 4 at one of its ends, so as to be able to pass, in contrast with the action of elastic return means, not shown, from an inactive condition, in which it is at least partially inserted in the corresponding upright 4, to an active condition, in which, at least with its end that lies opposite the one pivoted to the corresponding upright 4, it protrudes laterally from the respective upright 4, so that it can be gripped by the user to move the upright 4 in the movement direction 100 that produces the deactivation of the corresponding removable locking means.

As shown in particular in Figure 2, the pivoting means 10 of each upright 4 comprise a bushing 13, which is integral with the corresponding upright 4 and is arranged so that its axis is substantially parallel and spaced with respect to the vertical extension axis of the corresponding upright 4. The bushing 13 is mounted rotatably about a corresponding pivot 14, which defines the rotation axis of the corresponding upright 4 and is integrally connected to the base 2. In particular, the pivot 14 of each upright 4 is arranged substantially at a respective comer region of the base 2 that is arranged at the intersection of a respective short side 3b and of a respective long side 3a of said base.

More particularly, each pivot 14 is arranged at a respective recess 14a defined in the comer regions of the base and protmdes substantially vertically upward from a base plate 15 arranged on the lower face of the base 2, i.e., on the face designed to be directed toward the ground and opposite with respect to the upper face on which there is the resting surface 2b for goods loading of the base 2, so as to close the recess 14a in a downward region.

Conveniently, the removable locking means of the uprights 4 comprise, for each upright 4, at least one respective locking element 16, which is integral with the corresponding upright 4, and can be accommodated in a receptacle 17 defined on the base 2.

In particular, the locking element 16 has at least one abutment surface 16a adapted to engage, when the locking element 16 is engaged with the receptacle 17, at least one abutment surface 17a defined in the receptacle 17, in order to prevent the rotation of the corresponding upright 4 about the respective rotation axis 11.

The locking element 16 is disengageable from the receptacle 17, so as to allow the angular movement of the corresponding upright 4, about the respective rotation axis 11 , following the translational motion imparted to the corresponding upright 4 along the movement direction 100.

As in the embodiment shown, the locking element 16 is in practice formed by a polygonal supporting plate 18 which protmdes laterally from the lower portion of the corresponding upright 4 in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the axis of said corresponding upright. The supporting plate 18 is conveniently positioned so as to be spaced from the lower end of the corresponding upright 4 and supports the corresponding bushing 13, which in particular protrudes downward from the lower face of the supporting plate 18.

The receptacle 17 is in turn shaped complementarily with respect to the supporting plate 18 and is in practice formed by an indentation along the perimetric surface of the recess 14a, which forms advantageously a resting edge for a perimetric portion of the supporting plate 18.

In greater detail, the receptacle 17 is conveniently positioned substantially at the upper face of the base 2.

Advantageously, the bushing 13 is capable not only of rotating about the pivot 14 but also of sliding along said pivot, in order to allow the translational motion along the movement direction 100 of the respective upright 4 so as to allow the disengagement of the supporting plate 18 from the corresponding receptacle 17, with consequent deactivation of the removable locking means.

Conveniently, prevention means are provided which prevent the extraction of the bushing 13 from the pivot 14 and comprise, advantageously, a screw 20, which extends axially to the bushing 13 and in engagement with its head against the upper face of the supporting plate 18, and an abutment plate 21, which is arranged in an internal cavity of the pivot 14, is oriented substantially at right angles to the axis of the latter, is crossed slidingly by the screw 20 and is engageable, on its lower face, by a nut 22, screwed on the screw 20, as shown by Figure 8.

Preferably, each upright 4 comprises at least two portions 23a, 23b, formed by respective profiles, which are mutually articulated in order to allow its folding and tilting on the base 2.

In particular, it is possible to provide a first portion or lower portion 23a, which defines in practice the lower portion of the uprights 4, and a second portion 23b, which is pivoted, with its lower end, to an intermediate portion of the first portion 23 a. More particularly, the first portion 23 a is internally hollow, so as to accommodate at least one lower part of the second portion 23b, and is open, at least partially, on its side directed toward the base 2.

The pivoting of the second portion 23b to the first portion 23a is provided by means of a rotation pivot 24 which is perpendicular to the axis of the two portions 23a, 23b and crosses a first pair of sliding slots 25 and a second pair of sliding slots 26 which are defined respectively on the lateral faces of the first portion 23a and of the second portion 23b and extend substantially parallel to the axis of the corresponding portion 23a, 23b.

It should be noted that the lower portions 23a of the uprights 4 positioned at one end of the base 2 have their sliding slots 25 at a greater height level than the sliding slots 25 of the lower portions 23a of the uprights 4 arranged at the opposite end of the base 2, so that, once the second portions 23b have been rotated about the corresponding rotation pivots 24 in order to make them assume a position that is substantially parallel to the faces of the base 2 and therefore a condition in which they are tilted onto the base 2, the second portions 23b of the uprights arranged at one end of the base 2 can be positioned above the second portions 23b of the uprights 4 positioned at the opposite end of the base 2.

Advantageously, in order to lock the second portions 23b with respect to the first portions 23 a in a position that is substantially aligned with the first portions 23a, there are, at the upper end of the first portions 23a, two mutually opposite saddle-shaped regions 28 which are defined at the lateral faces of the first portions 23a and are open upward for receiving respective stop pin 29 supported by the lateral faces of the second portions 23b.

The uprights might also be provided with a third portion 23 c, articulated to the second portion 23b, for example by means of a connection provided by rods 27 which are pivoted, at their ends, to the second and third portions 23b, 23c, in order to allow the outward folding, with respect to the base 2, of the third portions 23c, with positioning of the third portions 23c in a condition that is laterally adjacent to the second portions 23b.

The end of the rods 27 connected to the second portions 23b can slide in respective slotted seats 28 and the end part of the third portion 23 c connected to the second portion 23b has at least one engagement seat 29 designed to mate with a respective retention pin 30 which is integral with the second portion 23b, when the third portion 23c is in a position that is aligned with the second portion 23b, for the locking of the third portion 23c. Moreover, it should be noted that conveniently the portions of the lateral faces of the second portion 23b and of the third portion 23c that face each other, when the second portion and the third portion are mutually aligned, are shaped complementarily to allow a mutual coupling thereof that ensures further the locking of the third portion 23 c with respect to the second portion 23b when the third portion 23c is arranged so as to be aligned with the second portion 23b.

With this structure of the uprights 4 it is possible, once the third portions 23c have been folded onto the second portions 23b and once the second portions 23b have been tilted onto the base 2, to obtain a configuration of minimum space occupation of the device according to the invention which allows its stacking with other devices according to the invention, for convenient storing during non-use, as shown by Figure 15.

The use of the device according to the invention is as follows.

If one wishes to pass from a configuration of the device according to the invention such as the one shown in Figure 1, in which the uprights 4 are in the first position, i.e., are arranged laterally adjacent to the corresponding short side 3a of the base 2, to the configuration of Figure 11, in which the uprights 4 are arranged adjacent to the corresponding long side 3b of the base 2, one proceeds initially, for each upright 4, to move the lever 12 to the active condition, so as to be able to grip it and consequently impart, by acting on the lever 12, a translational motion, along the movement direction 100, to the upright 4, thus making the corresponding bushing 13 slide along the corresponding pivot 14 until the supporting plate 18 is disengaged from the corresponding receptacle 17, so as to deactivate the removable locking means of the upright 4.

At this point it is possible to rotate the upright 4 about the corresponding pivot 14 by moving it angularly from the first position to the second position and subsequently let the bushing 13 slide along the pivot 14 in the direction that is opposite with respect to the movement direction 100 so as to return the supporting plate 18 to the condition of engagement with the corresponding receptacle 17.

By performing these operations in reverse order it is possible to move the uprights 4 from the second position to the first position, obtaining the transition of the device according to the invention from the configuration of Figure 11 to the configuration of Figure 1.

If one wishes to fold the uprights 4, it is possible to proceed as follows.

After removing the brackets 5 or moving them to the collapsed position on the uprights 4, the third portions 23b are folded outward so as to reach the situation of Figure 4.

Before or optionally after folding the third portions 23b, if the uprights are in the second position, as in the case shown in Figures 12, 13 and 14, the uprights 4 are moved to the respective first position, so as to reach the situation of Figure 3.

At this point the second portions 23b are rotated with respect to the first portions 23a so as to tilt them onto the base 2, moving the device to the folded condition of Figure 5.

With the device according to the invention in this condition it is possible to perform stacking thereof with other devices in the folded condition, as shown in Figure 15.

In practice it has been found that the invention is capable of fully achieving the intended aim and objects.

A first important advantage of the invention is to allow, depending on whether the uprights are laterally adjacent to the long sides or to the short sides of the base, to use the width available on the loading compartment of trucks both by positioning three devices according to the invention with a short side of the base directed toward the bottom of the loading compartment and by positioning two devices according to the invention with a long side of the base directed toward the bottom of the loading compartment. This occurs because the arrangement of the uprights 4 in the first position or in the second position allows to modify correspondingly also the space occupation of the device on the long sides or on the short sides.

Moreover, it should be stressed that the possibility to position the uprights in the first or second position, i.e., laterally adjacent to the long sides or to the short sides of the base, besides allowing to load on the device according to the invention any product or goods, regardless of the side of the base from which the product protrudes from the perimeter of said base, also allows the insertion of pallets on the device according to the invention with any equipment, i.e., on the long sides with a front lift truck (otherwise, with a free-standing transpallet truck the pallet would break) or on the short sides with a front lift truck and with a free-standing transpallet truck.

ft should be noted that the possibility to use free-standing transpallet trucks allows to load the goods on the device according to the invention even on board the truck.

Finally, the possibility to position the uprights in the first or second position allows to maximize the height of the uprights, since they can be folded and tilted on the long sides of the base, reducing at the same time the space occupation in terms of height of the device when it is in the folded stacking condition, without the need to have upright portions not connected to the others. All the characteristics of the invention indicated above as advantageous, convenient or the like, can also be omitted or be replaced with equivalents.

The individual characteristics described with reference to general teachings or to particular embodiments may all be present in other embodiments or may replace characteristics in these embodiments.

The invention thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims.

In practice, the materials used, so long as they are compatible with the specific use, as well as the shapes and dimensions, may be any according to the requirements.

Furthermore, all the details may be replaced with other technically equivalent elements.

The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. 102018000005743 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference.

Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly, such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims

1. A device for transporting and storing goods, comprising a base (2), which forms a resting surface (2b) and has a substantially quadrangular shape with a pair of long sides (3a) and a pair of short sides (3b), and a plurality of uprights (4) associated with said base (2) and adapted to support at least one supporting bracket (5) for resting goods, characterized in that each one of said uprights (4) can move between at least one first position, in which it is laterally adjacent to a respective short side (3b) of said base (2), and at least one second position, in which it is laterally adjacent to at least one respective long side (3a) of said base (2).

2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that each one of said uprights (4) is rotatably connected, with its lower portion, to said base (2), by virtue of respective pivoting means (10), about a corresponding rotation axis (11) which is substantially parallel and spaced with respect to the respective axis of vertical extension.

3. The device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises means for the removable locking of said uprights (4) in the respective first position or in the respective second position.

4. The device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said removable locking means can be deactivated on command by means of a translational motion, at least of the lower portion of said uprights (4), along a movement direction (100) that is substantially parallel to said rotation axis (11).

5. The device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that each upright (4) has grip means for its translation along said movement direction (100).

6. The device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said pivoting means (10) comprise a bushing (13) which is integral with the corresponding upright (4) and is arranged so that its axis is substantially parallel and spaced with respect to the axis of vertical extension of the corresponding upright (4), said bushing (13) being mounted so that it can rotate about a respective pivot (14) which defines the rotation axis (11) of the corresponding upright and is integrally connected to said base (2).

7. The device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said removable locking means comprise, for each upright (4), at least one respective locking element (16), which is integral with the corresponding upright (4) and can be accommodated in a receptacle (17) formed on said base (2), said locking element (16) having at least one abutment surface (16a) which is adapted to engage, with said locking element (16) engaged with said receptacle (17), at least one abutment surface (17a) formed in said receptacle (17), in order to prevent the rotation of the corresponding upright (4) about the respective rotation axis (11), said locking element (16) being disengageable from said receptacle (17), by virtue of said translation movement, in order to allow the rotation of the corresponding upright (4) about the respective rotation axis (11).

8. The device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said locking element (16) comprises a polygonal supporting plate (18), which protrudes laterally from the lower portion of the corresponding upright (4) and is arranged at right angles to the axis of the corresponding upright (4), said supporting plate (18) supporting said bushing (13), said receptacle (17) being shaped complementarily to said supporting plate (18).

9. The device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that each upright (4) comprises at least two portions (23a, 23b) which are mutually articulated in order to allow its folding and tilting onto said base (2).

10. The device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said bushing (13) can move slidingly along said pivot (14) to allow said translational motion, means being provided for preventing the extraction of said bushing (13) from said pivot (14).