COMPONENT ASSEMBLIES

Abstract: An assembly of interfitting profiled components, each preferably formed from an extruded plastics material, can take the form of a pallet. The first component (12) provides a profiled connecting flange at each side. To form the pallet (10) a plurality of the components (12) are arranged in one plane and a further plurality of the components (12) are arranged in a parallel plane spaced from the first plane. The components (12) in each of the planes are interconnected by further components (30) which provides a pair of mounting flanges (36) on each of upper and lower walls (34). Each of the flanges (36) has a profile complementary to the flanges (21) of the components (12) whereby to interfit therewith. The ends of the pallet (10) are enclosed by further tubular components (38) which have upper and lower connecting flanges (44) of similar profile to the flanges (36), for interfitting with the respective flanges (21) of the components (12).

Description: Component Assemblies. This invention is concerned with improvements in or relating to component assemblies which can find use in many varied applications, and is particularly but not exclusively concerned with the extruded components formed for example of plastics, carbon, glass fibre or polycarbonate . Although the many advantages of using extruded plastics or other similar materials in place of wood or other conventional materials are well known, there are certain structures where it is proved difficult to replace the conventional materials for different reasons. For example, at the present time pallets which are designed to be handled by fork lift trucks are construct¬ ed mainly of wood or moulded plastics, being designed to have a product support surface and a ground engageable surface between which are defined spaces within which the forks of a fork lift truck can be inserted for lifting of the pallets, with or without products supported thereon, for movement of the pallets or the products as desired. Such pallets are often stored with or without supported products out of doors and, as well as being susceptible to damage, are susceptible to deterioration of the wood and the connections between the various sections of the pallets. Where plastics are utilised pallets are norm¬ ally of a moulded structure limited to a 'one-off design capability. According to the present invention there is prov¬ ided a component assembly comprising at least one first component presenting a substantially planar surface and connected between at least two further supporting compon¬ ent arrangements, characterised in that said first comp¬ onent defines a pair of profiled connecting flanges, and each of the supporting component arrangements defines at least one profiled connecting flange, the profiles of the respective flanges enabling interfitting thereof by an interference fit whereby to provide the connected compon¬ ent assembly with an inherent load bearing capacity. Preferably said first component has a form of a profiled tubular member, and the profiled tubular member may be formed of a plastics material, carbon, glass fibre or polycarbonate .and may be formed by extrusion. Preferably also each of the supporting component arrangements has the form of a profiled tubular member. Each of the supporting tubular members may define a pair of the profiled connecting flanges on each of two opposed sides thereof, whereby to iπterfit at one side with a first pair of adjacent ones of a plurality of the planar tubular members and interfit at the opposed side with a further pair of adjacent ones of the planar tubular members, while connecting the first pair with the second pair in a spaced apart relation. Alternatively each of the supporting component arrangements comprises a connection member which is adapted to be mounted on a supporting structure. The supporting structure may comprise a post mounting at least one pair of the connecting members in a spaced apart relation whereby the profiled flanges of the connecting members interconnect with the respective flanges of said one component, or may have the form of a wheeled assembly. Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Fig. 1 is an end elevation of part of a pallet according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a diagramatic end view of a pallet formed according to Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a diagramatic side view of a pallet formed according to Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is an end elevation of a panelled structure in accordance with the invention; Fig. 5 is a plan view of the structure of Fig. 4; and Fig. 6 is an end elevation of a trolley structure in accordance with the invention. Referring to Fig. 1 to 3 of the drawings, a pallet 10 is formed i.e., a plurality of interfitting profiled components, each preferably formed from an extruded plastics material. Of these interfitting components, a first tubular open-ended component 12 is formed to have a substantially rectangular cross-section defined by a first pair of opposed walls 14, 16 of larger dimension and a second pair of opposed walls 18- of smaller dimension. A pair of integrally formed webs 20 are located internally to extend between the opposed walls 14, 16. Each of the walls 14 is extended outwardly beyond a respective one of the walls 18 in a flange 21 having a first section 22 in the plane of the wall 14, a second section 24 turned at right angles on the end of the first section 22 to extend towards the opposed wall 16, a third section 26 on the end of the second section 24 turned at right angles thereto and extending towards the adjacent end wall 18, and a fourth section 28 on the end of the third section 26 turned at right angles to extend back towards the first section 22 in a spaced relation to the adjacent end wall 18. A second component 30, also formed as a tubular open-ended component, has a substantially rectangular cross-section defined by a first pair of opposed walls 32 of larger dimension and a second pair of opposed walls 34 of smaller dimension. On each of the walls 34 there is provided a pair of outwardly extending flanges 36, each extending longitudinally of the component and being closely spaced inwardly of a respective side edge thereof. Each of the flanges 36 has a profile complemen¬ tary to the flanges 21 of each of the first components 12. The flanges 36 each face inwardly. To strengthen the component 30 an internal webbing arrangement is provided comprising diagonal braces 38 and a further brace 40 extending between the walls 32. In use, a pair of the components 12 are vertically aligned with one being inverted relative to the other so that the walls 14 are outermost. The components 12 are retained spaced apart and one of the components 30 with the walls 32 located substantially vertically has a respective one of the flanges 36 of each pair slidably interfitted with the respective flange 21 of one of the vertically aligned components 12. The component 30 has the other of the flanges 36 of each pair slidably inter¬ fitted with the respective flange 21 of the other of the vertically aligned components 12. The components 30 thereby interconnect the components 12 together and retain the components 12 in a vertically spaced relation, the respective walls 32 effectively forming a continua¬ tion of the walls 18 of the components 12. It will be appreciated that the other flanges 36 of the component 30 interfit with adjacent ones of the components 12 to build up a pallet. A completed pallet is shown in Figs. 2 and 3. As shown in Fig. 3, the components 12 extend over the length of the pallet 10 while the components 30 are of reduced length. A plurality of the components 30 are inter¬ connected between the adjacent pairs of the components 12 at spaced apart intervals along the length of the pallet 10 and this effects the saving of material use without detracting from the stability and load bearing properties of the pallet. To form respective ends of the pallet 10 the corresponding ends of each respective pair of components 12 are interconnected by a capping component 38. The latter may also be formed of an extruded plastics mater¬ ial and has a substantially rectangular cross-section similar to that of the component 12, with internal webbing 40. From each end wall 42 of the component 38 there extends a flange 44 having the same form as the flanges 36, the flange 44 being inwardly spaced from the respective sides of the component 38. In use the flanges 40 can interfit with the flanges formed on the walls 14 of the components 12 to close the respective end of the pallet 10. The relative dimensions of the flanges are such that they push-fit together in a close tolerance or interference fit and sufficiently remain interconnected in use, assisted by the fact that after extrusion the material inevitably will slightly deform. The components are locked together in six planes, with no additional mechanical fixings being required. The interfitting may be such that the components can be released if desired. Al ernatively the components can be arranged to be perm¬ anently interconnected and for example a solution may be used to facilitate interfitting, a rigid joint subse¬ quently being formed. It will be appreciated that pallets of any desired size can be built up using whatever numbers of the components are necessary. The interconnected arrangement is such as to provide the necessary load bearing properties, and satisfies the design criteria in respect of dynamic loading, bending moments, stress factor and permissible bending factor. The forks of a fork lift truck can be engaged in ' the spaces defined between the aligned components 12. There is therefore provided a pallet arrangement which is extremely versatile-, is simple and inexpensive to manufacture, and is durable and long-lasting, being resistant to deterioration and where necessary, resistant to fire, when stored out of doors or under cover. In an alternative arrangement as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, a fencing structure is formed by a plurality of interfitting profiled components including the component 12 as described in relation to the embodiment of Figs. 1 to 3. In this arrangement a plurality of the components 12 are utilised as fencing panels extending substantially horizontally with their opposed sides 14, 16 in parallel vertical planes, the components 12 being mounted at spaced apart vertical intervals to extend between suppor- ting posts 50. Each of the latter is formed as a tubular component preferably formed from an extruded plastics material and having a substantially square cross-section. On one wall 52 each post 50 has a pair of outwardly extending mounting flanges 54, each of L-shaped configur¬ ation having a first leg 56 extending outwardly at right angles to the wall 52 closely inwardly spaced from a respective side edge thereof, and an inwardly turned leg 58. The flanges 54 extend along the length of the post 50. For mounting each of the components 12 on the respective post 50 there are provided mounting components 60, each having the same profile and being preferably formed from an extruded plastics material. Each of the components 60 has a pair of planar mounting flanges 62, 64 retained in a parallel spaced apart relation by a central leg 66. The length of the flange 64 is such as to be a push-fit within the channel defined by the inwardly turned flanges 54 of the post 50, while the length of the flange 62 and the leg 66 is such as to fit between the free ends of the inwardly turned legs 58 of the flanges 54. The central leg 66 is extended outwardly beyond the flange 62 to define a connecting flange 68 having a configuration complementary to the flanges 21 of the component 12. In use when a plurality of the posts 50 are posi¬ tioned to be upright and laterally spaced apart, a pair of the components 50 are interfitted in the channel defined by the flanges 54, one of the components 50 being inverted relative to the other such that the flanges 68 thereof face outwardly of each other. The components 50 are so spaced apart that a component 12 can then be mounted on the components 50 by interfitting with the respective flanges. By using a plurality of the posts and the panels, an appropriate fencing arrangement can be constructed. At a corner, a post may be utilised which has mounting flanges 54 on each of two adjacent sides. However in order to standardise production it may be desirable to produce on_Ly posts of the one configuration, e.g having flanges 54 on one side only. When such a post is used in the corner of the fencing arrangement, it would be appropriate to mount the components 12 on that wall of the post which is not provided with mounting flanges by means of any other suitable connection arrangement, for example by way of connector plugs engageable through the inner wall of the respective component 12 and the respective side of the post. It will be appreciated that such posts mounting such panels can be used in other than fencing applica¬ tions. For example by mounting certain of the posts horizontally between others of the posts extending vert¬ ically, a bench structure may be formed, for example for use in greenhouses, and alternatively a seating structure may be formed. Also structures such as compost compounds may be formed from suitable component assemblies. In a further arrangement as shown in Fig. 6, a creeper trolley 70 may be formed by utilising a plurality of interfitting profiled components, i.e., the components 12 and the components 60 as hereinbefore described. A plurality of the components 60 may be utilised, each being mounted by means of its flange 64 on a support bracket 72 which rotatably mounts a castor wheel 74. The components 60 are spaced apart with their mounting flanges 68 outwardly facing in order to mount one of the components 12 substantially horizontally, the respective flanges interfitting as hereinbefore described. To extend the width of the trolley 70, one of the components 12 may be mounted on each of a pair of the castor wheel assemblies, the pair of components 12 extending horizont¬ ally towards one another but being retained in a spaced apart relation. A further tubular open-ended component 76 formed to have a substantially rectangular cross- section and preferably formed from an extruded plastics material is utilised to interconnect the pair of compon¬ ents 12. The component 76 has on one side wall and extending outwardly therefrom a pair of mounting flanges 78, closely inwardly spaced from respective sides and having a configuration corresponding to the configuration of the flanges 68 of the components 60. The flanges 78 face inwardly so as to interfit with the respective flanges formed as extensions of the respective walls 14 of the components 12. It is also envisaged that structures such as duck- boards may be formed utilising the components 70 in a planar spaced apart relation interconnecting a plurality of the components 12, with the components 60 being utilised to connect with outer ends of the respective components 12 at the sides of the duckboard. The invention is not to be construed as being limited to the structures described or referred to. The invention may be utilised in various other applications and various modifications may be made without departing from the invention. For example a configuration of the various components and the flanges associated therewith may differ from that described and shown provided the components can interfit as necessary.

Claims: Cl a ims : 1. A component assembly comprising at least one first component presenting a substantially planar surface and connected between at least two further supporting compon¬ ent arrangements, characterised in that said first comp¬ onent (12) defines a pair of profiled connecting flanges (21), and each of the supporting component arrangements (30,38,60,76) defines at least one profiled connecting flange (36,44,68,78), the profiles of the respective flanges enabling interfitting thereof by an interference fit whereby to provide the connected component assembly with an inherent load bearing capacity. 2. An assembly according to Claim 1, characterised in that said first component (12) has a form of a profiled tubular member. 3. An assembly according to Claim 2, characterised in that the profiled tubular member is formed of a plastics material, carbon, .glass fibre or polycarbonate formed by extrusion. 4. An assembly according to any of the preceding Claims, characterised in that each of the supporting component arrangements has the form of a profiled tubular member (30,38) . 5. An assembly according to Claim 4, characterised in that the supporting tubular members (30,38) are formed of a plastics material, carbon, glass fibre or polycarbonate formed by extrusion. 6. An assembly according to Claim 4 or 5, character¬ ised in that each of the supporting tubular members (30) defines a pair of the profiled connecting flanges (36) on each of two opposed sides (34) thereof, whereby to inter¬ fit at one side with a first pair of adjacent ones of a plurality of the planar tubular members (12) and interfit at the opposed side with a further pair of adjacent ones of the planar tubular members (12), while connecting the first pair with the second pair in a spaced apart relation . 7. An assembly according to Claim 6, characterised in that each of the supporting tubular members (30) connects together the first pair of.the planar tubular members (12) in a lateral spaced relation in a first plane and connects together the second pair of the planar tubular members (12) in a corresponding spaced relation in a second plane which has a parallel relation with the first plane . 8. An assembly according to Claim 7, characterised in that each of the supporting tubular members (30) aligns respective ones of the first and second pairs of the planar tubular members (12) in a direction normal to the first and second planes and each of the supporting tubu¬ lar members (30) extends substantially between the resp¬ ective lateral edges of each aligned pair of the planar tubular members (12), whereby to define a spaced relation for lifting means to locate between each of the first pair of planar tubular members (12) and the respective aligned planar tubular member (12) of the second pair. 9. An assembly according to any of Claims 6 to 8, characterised in that the planar tubular members (12) extend over a longitudinal dimension of the assembly (10) while the supporting tubular members (30) are of reduced length, a plurality of the supporting tubular members (30) being provided at spaced intervals over the longit¬ udinal dimension of the assembly (10) between each aligned pair of the planar tubular members (12). 10. An assembly according to any of Claims 6 to 9, characterised in that each lateral edge of the assembly (10) is defined by corresponding ends of an aligned pair of the planar tubular members (12) and the latter are interconnected at said ends by a supporting tubular member in the form of a capping component (38) which interconnects the respective planar tubular members (12) in the required spaced apart relation. 11- An assembly according to Claim 10, characterised in that the capping component (38) is formed of an extruded plastics material, carbon, glass fibre or polycarbonate. 12. An assembly according to any of Claims 1 to 3, characterised in that each of the supporting component arrangements comprises a connection member (60) which is adapted to be mounted on a supporting structure (50 or 72,74). 13. An assembly according to Claim 12, characterised in that the connection member (60) has a pair of parallel, spaced apart mounting flanges (62,64) and a profiled connecting flange (68). 14. An assembly according to Claim 13, characterised in that the supporting structure comprises a post (50) mounting at least one pair of the connecting members (60) in a spaced apart relation whereby the profiled flanges (68) of the connecting members (60) interconnect with the respective flanges (21) of said one component (12). 15. An assembly according to Claim 12 or 13, character- ised in that each of the connection members (60) is mounted on a support structure in the form of a wheeled assembly (72,74).

Inventors: BIRD BERNARD ADRIAN, BIRD, BERNARD, ADRIAN
Applicants: BERN RESEARCH LTD, BERN RESEARCH LIMITED
Application year: 1987
Main classification: B65D19
IPC codes: B65D19