Abstract:
A pallet container for holding vehicle windshields for storage, transportation or otherwise, the pallet container comprising a frame structure defining a base, and a periphery, wherein one or more aide restraints are provided to be mounted on-board the pallet to inhibit movement of windshields internally of the pallet container, wherein a said side restraint comprises a flexible fluid containing device. In an alternative realisation the pallet container is expandable in height and length and/or collapsible by means of opposed pivoted side frames and a connecting frame.

Description:
PRIORITY 
       [0001]    The present application is a continuation of and claims the priority benefit of, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/700,451, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,394,100, which is a 35 U.S.C. §371 national stage entry of International Patent Application Serial No. PCT/GB2011/050993, which is related to and claims the priority benefit of United Kingdom Intellectual Property Office Patent Application No. GB1008929.0. The contents of each of these applications are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety into this disclosure. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The present application relates to a container, particularly a re-usable pallet container such as a metal pallet that can be used for packing, storage and shipping of items, particularly fragile items such as vehicle windshields. 
         [0003]    A collapsible re-usable windshield pallet for packing storage and shipping of windshields of varying shapes and sizes is disclosed in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,270,236. It has been recognised that it is an advantage to be able to ship windshields of varying sizes in a single container and also to ensure that the container is collapsible to enable return transportation of the container in the collapsed form (when no windshields are being shipped), in order to minimise transport volume and potentially reduce shipping costs. The containers can also be stored in collapsed form in distribution centres and stockists when not being used to contain windshields. U.S. Pat. No. 7,270,236 also identifies the need to use lateral restraints to prevent the windshields moving in the longitudinal direction of the container. 
         [0004]    An improved arrangement has now been devised. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    According to a first aspect, the present invention provides a pallet container for holding vehicle windshields for storage, transportation or otherwise, the pallet container comprising a frame structure defining a base, and a periphery, wherein one or more side restraints are provided to be mounted on board the pallet to inhibit movement of windshields internally of the pallet container, wherein a said side restraint comprises a flexible fluid containing device. 
         [0006]    It is preferred that respective flexible fluid containing side restraint devices are positioned at opposed ends of the pallet container. 
         [0007]    In one embodiment, the side restraint device comprises an air bag. 
         [0008]    The side restraint device is preferably secured to the frame structure of the pallet container. 
         [0009]    According to an alternative aspect, the invention provides a pallet container for holding vehicle windshields for storage, transportation or otherwise, the pallet container comprising a frame structure defining a base, and a periphery, wherein the frame structure is expandable from a minimum dimension windshield containing configuration to a maximum dimension windshield containing configuration; wherein in the maximum dimension containing configuration the pallet container is extended in both height and in length when compared to the minimum dimension configuration. 
         [0010]    It is preferred that, in addition to being expandable from a minimum dimension windshield containing configuration to a maximum dimension windshield containing configuration; the pallet container is also collapsible from a windshield containing configuration to a stowed configuration not suitable for containing windshields but convenient for transportation or storage of non-used pallet containers. 
         [0011]    In a preferred realisation, the pallet container has opposed side frames arranged to be hinged or pivoted to fold down from an erect condition to a collapsed condition. 
         [0012]    It is preferred that in the collapsed configuration a plurality of upwardly extending corner stubs are configured to enable other like collapsed pallet containers to be stacked by engagement with the corner stubs. 
         [0013]    Beneficially, in the collapsed condition the opposed side frames are positioned laying adjacent the base of the pallet container. 
         [0014]    It is preferred that the pallet container has a connecting frame extending between the opposed side frames, the connecting frame arranged to be hinged or pivoted to fold down from an erect condition to a collapsed condition. 
         [0015]    In a preferred realisation of the invention, the pallet container has opposed side frames which are extendible in effective length to vary the height of the side frames. The side frames may comprise telescoping side frame elements permitting the height of the pallet container to be varied. 
         [0016]    Beneficially, the pallet container frame structure includes connecting frame elements extending in a longitudinal direction of the pallet container to connect the opposed side frames, the connecting frame elements preferably being extendible in effective length to vary the length of the pallet container. 
         [0017]    It is preferred that the pallet includes stacking formations enabling like pallets to be stacked one on top of another, preferably in both collapsed and erect configurations. 
         [0018]    According to an alternative aspect, the present invention provides a pallet container for holding vehicle windshields for storage, transportation or otherwise, the pallet container comprising a frame structure defining a base, and a periphery, wherein the pallet container is collapsible from a windshield containing configuration to a stowed configuration, and comprises:
       opposed side frames arranged to be hinged or pivoted to fold down from an erect condition to a collapsed condition; and,   a connecting frame extending between the opposed side frames, the connecting frame arranged to be hinged or pivoted to fold down from an eject condition to a collapsed condition.       
 
         [0021]    It is preferred that the connecting frame and opposed side frames have formations arranged to complementary engage one another in the pallet container erected configuration and be releasable to disengage permitting re-orientation to the collapsed configuration. 
         [0022]    According to an alternative aspect, the invention provides a side restraint system for a pallet container for holding vehicle windshields for storage, transportation or otherwise, the side restraints system comprising one or more flexible fluid containing devices mounted on-board the pallet, to inhibit movement of the windshields. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0023]    The invention will now be described in a specific embodiment, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which 
           [0024]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view from the front of a pallet container in accordance with the invention; 
           [0025]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the upper rear cross frame connecting to the side frame; 
           [0026]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the connection to a side frame stub of the forward lower cross frame; 
           [0027]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view from an end of the pallet container; 
           [0028]      FIG. 5  is a plan view of the pallet container; 
           [0029]      FIG. 6  is a side view of the pallet container showing the ability to vary the size of the pallet container in the erected condition: 
           [0030]      FIG. 7  is an end view of the pallet container, 
           [0031]      FIG. 8  is an end view showing two collapsed pallet containers stacked one on top of another; 
           [0032]      FIGS. 9A to 9C  are end, plan and side views respectively allowing the seat  420  attached to the boss  80  for receiving the tube frames  310 ,  320 . 
           [0033]      FIGS. 10A and 10B  are plan and side views of a tube frame  320 . 
           [0034]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view from the front of a pallet container in accordance with the an alternative embodiment of pallet container in accordance with the invention; 
           [0035]      FIG. 12  is a side end view of the embodiment of  FIG. 11 ; 
           [0036]      FIG. 13  is a detail view of the side end frame of  FIG. 12 ; 
           [0037]      FIG. 14  is perspective detailed view of a part of the container showing an adaption for aiding loading of the pallet container. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION 
       [0038]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 4 , there is shown an embodiment of the invention comprising a steel frame pallet  100 . The front of the pallet is indicated by the letter F. The rear of the pallet is indicated by the letter R. The frame comprises frame lengths  101   103 ,  105  and  107  arranged in a substantially rectangular configuration and connecting with corner stubs  104 ,  106 ,  108 ,  110 . The forward frame length  105  and the rear frame length  101  are extendible and contractible in effective length by means of end lengths  101   a    105   a  which are received in the main tubular frame length  101   105  telescopically. Quick release locking pins  11  are provided to cooperate with aligning holes in the frame lengths to secure the frame lengths at the appropriate selected length. This is shown most clearly in  FIG. 6 . This configuration enables the overall length of the container pallet to be altered dependent upon specific requirements. 
         [0039]    The corner stubs  104 ,  106 ,  108 ,  110  are provided with sockets  20  for receiving either the end lengths  101   a    105   a  or the ends of the side frame lengths  103   107 . Side frame  112  comprises post  114  and post  116 . Post  114  and post  116  are engaged in upward facing sockets  30  of the respective stubs  104  and  110 . Side frame  118  comprises posts  120  and  122 . Posts  120  and  122  are similarly engaged in the sockets  30  of respective stubs  106  and  108 . A rear upper frame length extends to connect posts  116  and  122  as will be described in detail later. 
         [0040]    The frame further comprises transverse bracing steel members  130   132  extending transversely at the base of the structure welded to and connecting the forward and rear frame lengths  105   101 . A support plate  140  is also provided, extending transversely at the base of the structure welded to and connecting the forward and rear frame lengths  105   101 . Furthermore a pair of slider bars  45 ,  55  are welded to and connect the forward and rear frame lengths  105   101  extending transversely across the base. These have respective upper surfaces raised above the level of the plate  140  and bracing members  130   132 . In use, the windshields loaded onto the pallet container  100  rest with their lower edges supported on the slider bars  45   55 . The slider bars, as the name suggests, facilitate sliding of the windshields into or out of the loaded position. 
         [0041]    The forward and rear frame lengths  105 ,  101  are provided with aligned brackets  65   75  to receive the tines of a respective fork-lift truck. Both opposed side frame members  103   107  are also provided with brackets  85 ,  95  for receiving the tines of a respective fork-lift truck. The pallet can therefore be lifted by a fork-lift truck approaching or positioned at any side of the container pallet. 
         [0042]    In addition to being adjustable in length, the pallet container is also adjustable in height. The upright posts  114   116   122  and  120  of the side frames  112   118  comprise inner frame tubes received telescopically internally of the outer posts  114   116   122   120 . In the configuration shown in  FIGS. 1 to 4 . the container is shown in its ‘least height’ configuration in which the inner frame tubes are completely retracted into the outer posts  114   116   122   120 . The inner tubes are inserted into the open upper ends of the comer posts  114   116   122   120 , and connected to end bosses  80 . The side frame  118  is provided with an upper side frame member  211  welded at opposed ends to the bosses  80  of the inner tube members inserted into posts  120   122 . The side frame  112  is provided with an upper side frame member  219  welded at opposed ends to the bosses  80  of the inner tube members inserted into posts  116   114 . In order to increase the height of the pallet container  100 , the respective upper side frame member  211   219  is raised such that the respective inner tube member is simultaneously drawn out of the respective post  114   116   122   120 . The telescopically extended inner tube frame members are then secured relative to the respective post  114   116   122   120  by means of a locking pin  27  passing through co-aligned holes in the inner tube frame members and the posts  114   116   122   120 . 
         [0043]    In addition to being adjustable in length and height, the pallet container is also configured to be stackable, and more than this, stackable in different length and height configurations. In order to achieve tins receiving sockets  82  are secured to the bosses  80  shaped and configured to snugly receive foot stops  84  provided on the underside of the comer stubs  104 ,  106 ,  108 ,  110 , when one container is stacked on top of another. 
         [0044]    The pallet container is, in addition to the end frames  112   118 , also provided with a rear frame  290  comprising a pair of posts  270 ,  280  within which are telescopically received frame struts  271 ,  281  welded connected to a tubular frame cross member  300 . The cross member  300  is thus height adjustable with the rest of the pallet container  100  as the frame struts  271 ,  281  move telescopically in the posts  270   280 . The effective length of the cross member  300  is also adjustable as inner frame tubes  310   320  are telescopically received in the opposed ends of the cross member  300 . The inner frame tube  320  is shown in detail in  FIGS. 10A and 10B . The upper surface of the inner frame tubes  310 ,  320  is provided with a series of spaced apertures  321  which are arranged to line up with one of respective locking apertures provided at opposed ends of the cross member  300  to be secured with a respective locking pin  315 . This fixes the cross member  300  effective length to the required extent. As shown most clearly in  FIG. 10B , the end of the inner frame tubes  310   320  are provided with a downwardly extending securing pin  317 . The securing pin  317  locates in an aperture  430  provided in a receiving seat  420  welded to the bosses  80  of the inner tube members inserted into posts  116  and  122 . 
         [0045]    The posts  270 ,  280  of the rear frame  290  are pivotally mounted at their lower ends to the frame member  101 . Pivotal mounting brackets  450  are provided for this purpose. In use, the rear frame member is held in the upright position at the desired height and length extension, by means of engagement of the securing pins  317  in the apertures  430 , with the ends of the inner frame tubes  310 ,  320  seated in the seats  420 . This is the configuration shown in  FIGS. 1   2   4   6  and  7 . In order to stow the palter container  100  when empty (for example for storage or transportation when not loaded with windshields), the rear frame can be pivoted to a stowed orientation in which the posts  270   280  are pivoted about the pivot mounting brackets  450  through ninety degrees such that the posts  270   280  lie flat across the base of the container pallet  100  between the rear and front frame lengths  101   105 . In order to do this the securing pins  317  are lifted out of engagement of the apertures  430 , as the ends of the inner frame tubes  310 ,  320  are lifted from being seated in the scats  420 . The cross member  300  is then lowered such that the struts  271 ,  281  move telescopically to be received completely back into the posts  270   280 . The rear frame can then be pivoted to the lowered/collapsed position such that the cross member  300  lies contiguous against the forward frame length  105 . 
         [0046]    The opposed side frames  112  and  118  are also pivotally mounted to be collapsible from their upright orientation to lie flat adjacent the base of the pallet container. This is achieved in a similar manner to the arrangement described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,270,236. The lower ends of posts  114   116   120   122  are received in the stubs  104   110   108   106 . The operation will be described in respect of the post  120  received in the stub  106  and shown most clearly in  FIG. 3 . The other posts of the end frames are received and operate in the same manner. The post  120  in the upright orientation is seated to rest in the post such that a lug  510  is seated in a recess  520  formed on the upper edge of the stub  106 . The lower end of the post  120  extends down below the lip  530  defined at the bottom of an open channel  540  defined in the stub  106 . The lower end of the post  120  is provided with a respective longitudinal slot  550  provided in opposed sides, a pivot bolt  560  extends though the stub from one side to the other passing through the slots  550  in the opposed sides of the post  120 . 
         [0047]    In order to pivot the post  120  from its upright orientation, the post is fast lifted upwardly such that the lug  510  is lifted out of the recess  520  and the bottom of the post is clear of the lip  530 . The post is then pivoted about the pivot bolt  560  in the direction of arrow A in  FIG. 3 , in order to extend through the open channel  540  in the stub  106 . The respective side frames  112   118  pivot to collapse flat against the already collapsed rear frame  290 . In the collapsed configuration the collapsed pallet containers can be sacked one on top of another. This is shown in  FIG. 8 , in which two collapsed pallets are shown one stacked on top of the other. The feet  64  of the upper pallet container engage in the seats formed by the upper open ends of the stubs  104   106   108   110  of the lower pallet container. 
         [0048]    Therefore, in addition to being adjustable in length and height, and stackable in its upright configuration, the pallet container is also collapsible from its ‘in use’ condition, to a collapsed condition in which collapsed containers can also be stacked one on top of another. The pallets can therefore be stacked in both the erect and the collapsed configurations. 
         [0049]    The posts  270 ,  280  of the rear frame  290  are provided with respective rests  620  which are mounted to the posts  270   280 . The purpose of the rests  620  is to support the windshield array when secured in the container. In the embodiment shown the rests  620  are movable by rotating about the axis of the posts  270   280  between an ‘in use’ position shown in  FIG. 4  (projecting into the container) and a stowed position swung to a position permitting collapsing and stacking. As a less preferred alternative the rests  620  could be removable from the posts  270   280 . 
         [0050]    In the embodiment shown in the drawings, the front of the container is open and there is no front restraint. In such an embodiment the windshield array contained in the container is secured by means of a straps or tethers secured to the rear frame  290  at the cross member  300 , passing over the windshield array and secured to the bottom front frame length  105 . 
         [0051]    It is important to provide side restraints to prevent the windshields shifting in the longitudinal direction of the container during transit. In U.S. Pat. No. 7,270,236 this is achieved by means of pivoting bar side restraints. Conveniently and beneficially according to preferred aspects of the present invention, and as shown in  FIG. 6 , the side restraints comprise flexible fluid containing devices such as inflatable air bags  700 . The bags can be secured to the frame by means of attachment to straps  620 . The bags can be inflated prior to being forced info position to pack the windshield array  800 . Alternatively the bags can be inflated subsequently to being positioned adjacent the windshield array  800 . By using side restraints comprising flexible fluid containing devices such as inflatable air bags  700 , the extra weight and bulk associated side restraints such as the pivoting bar side restraints of U.S. Pat. No. 7,270,236 can be avoided. This can reduce shipping and storage costs. Configuring the pallet containers for use is also less time consuming as a result of using side restraints comprising flexible fluid containing devices such as inflatable air bags  700 . 
         [0052]    As shown in  FIG. 6 , the pallet container  100  is extremely versatile in that it can be expanded lengthwise from a minimum length to extended lengths W X Y, and also in terms of its height from a minimum height to extended heights E F G. The pallet container can also be collapsed to an extremely compact configuration in which the back frame  290  remains integrally connected in the collapsed configuration such that collapsing and erection of the unit is conveniently achieved. 
         [0053]    Referring now to  FIGS. 11 to 14 , there is shown an alternative embodiment of pallet container which is generally similar in construction to the pallet container  100  of the preceding figures, but in which adaptations have been made to facilitate ease of loading in certain situations. 
         [0054]    The pallet container of the first described embodiment is primarily designed to be loaded from the front open side F. In certain situations it may be desirable to load from one of the opposed side ends of the container. Accordingly, the embodiment of  FIGS. 11 to 14  is designed to achieve this effect by making the upper side frame member  1211  of the side frame  1118  effectively detachable or displaceable in order to permit access though the side frame  1118 . 
         [0055]    The upper side frame member  1211  is attached at one end to the upright post  1120  by means of a hinge structure  1150 . The other end of the upper side frame member  1211  is provided with a location pin  1160  provided on the underside of the upper side frame member  1211 . The purpose of the locator pin is to locate in a locating aperture provided in the base of a locator bracket  1170 . The locator bracket has U shaped sidewalls extending upwardly from the base to provide a secure location seat for the end of the upper side frame member  1211 . In order to displace the upper side frame member  1211  from its bracing position, the upper side frame member  1211  is pivoted upwardly on the hinge structure  1150  enabling the opposed end to be lifted clear of the locator bracket  1170 . The upper side frame member  1211  is then lowered pivotally about the hinge to rest in the position shown in  FIG. 12 . There is sufficient play in the hinge structure  1150  to ensure that the free end of the upper side frame member  1211  can be displaced sideways to clear the locator bracket as the upper side frame member  1211  is lowered. In the displaced or lowered position (as shown in  FIG. 12 ) the upper side frame member  1211  may be secured to the upright  1120 . For example the locator pin may engage in a securing formation provided on the upright post  1120 . 
         [0056]    The embodiment of  FIGS. 11 to 14  includes a further modification when compared to the embodiment of  FIGS. 1 to 10 . In this embodiment, poles  1180  can be positioned in an upright orientation in the interior of the pallet container. The poles enable the interior of the pallet container to be divided up into sections and windshields positioned in the different sections supported and divided by the poles  1180 . The poles  1180  are push fit inserted into respective ones of a series of spaced receiving sockets  1185  positioned along respective tracks  1187  which extend at the base of the pallet container from the front frame length  1105  toward the rear of the container, and spaced outwardly of a respective slider bar  1145   1155 . 
         [0057]    The location of the ends of the poles  1180  in the location sockets  1185  is sufficient to ensure that the poles are secured with sufficient robustness, however when the pallet container has been loaded it is possible to remove the poles  1180  from the receiving sockets by simply pulling upwardly to free the ends from the receiving sockets  1185 . The poles  1180  locating in the sockets  1185  effectively provide a temporary or removable dividing structure for dividing up the interior of the pallet into loading zones.