Abstract:
A support device ( 100 ) for carrying an inner load holder ( 50/60 ) in use within an outer transport and storage container ( 10 ). The device includes a base member ( 101, 102, 103, 105 ) for being secured or securable to a floor ( 16 ) of the outer container, having at least one formation ( 104 ) for restraining lateral movements of the inner load holder relative to the device in a plane generally parallel to the floor. The device further includes a mechanism ( 108 ) for releasably restraining said inner load holder in a direction perpendicular to said floor or base, wherein said mechanism includes at least one sliding bolt member ( 110 ) for selectively engaging with a complementary feature ( 62 ) of the inner load holder and when so engaged, providing said restraining.

Description:
This application is the national stage of PCT/GB2010/050702, filed Apr. 29, 2010, which claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/219,064, filed Jun. 22, 2009, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/255,294, filed Oct. 27, 2009, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a storage and transportation system and elements of that system. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     When items such as pallets are transported, they cannot necessarily rely on their own weight and that of the cargo that they carry to keep them fixed. They have to be constrained in some way. Traditionally, they have been lashed down by tensioned ropes, wires or chains, but those take time to set up and undo, and they are wasteful of space since there has to be room around the pallet. Also, the lashings are often directed over the cargo and so they compress the cargo. The loaded pallets are not easy to stack one on another. 
     To make stacking easier, pallet racks have been employed, but then the racks have to be restrained. Restraining cargo or items such as pallets can be even more problematic when the racks are on board moving aircraft and are subjected to considerable forces, e.g. 3-5 G. Usually, a large number of ropes, etc are required to tie the items in this situation, but this takes up a considerable amount of time and means that removing the pallets is also an awkward and time-consuming process. This is clearly disadvantageous when the contents need to be unloaded quickly in an emergency situation. Some parts, especially wheels on which the pallets can roll out that are not specially constructed to withstand the high forces can also bend, which can cause the pallet or the like to become stuck in the rack. 
     One attempt to overcome the problems mentioned is commercially available. In that product, transportation and storage equipment is used having elements including an outer container, a support device for fitting inside the container for removably holding a cargo or load rack. The rack and device are clamped together using a rotatable mechanism, which can be difficult to undo in use and requires regular maintenance and lubrication. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Embodiments of the present invention are intended to address at least some of the problems outlined above. 
     According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a support device for carrying an inner load holder in use within an outer transport and storage container, said device including a base member for being secured or securable to the floor of the outer container, having at least one formation for restraining lateral movements of the inner load holder relative to the device in a plane generally parallel to the floor, said device further including a mechanism for releasably restraining said inner load holder in a direction perpendicular to said floor or base, wherein said mechanism includes at least one sliding bolt member for selectively engaging with a complementary feature of the inner load holder and when so engaged, providing said restraining. 
     Thus, in embodiments the inner load holder can be easily locked in position and unlocked by a simple and easily operable sliding mechanism. 
     In an embodiment the mechanism includes a shaft slideable, and at least partially rotatable about an axis, and the or each sliding bolt member includes a protrusion extending from the shaft having a portion which extends generally parallel with the shaft. 
     In an embodiment, the protrusion is a stepped member welded to the shaft. 
     Preferably the mechanism includes at least one shaft slideable in apertures in the base member and at least two protrusions on the or each shaft. 
     The protrusion may further comprise a fixing web. 
     Said at least one formation may include a plurality of recesses, for accepting complementary feet of the load holder. 
     Preferably said axis is above the lower extremity of the recesses. 
     Alternatively, said at least one formation may include a plurality of male protrusions, extending upwardly, and tapering upwardly, for complementary fitting into recesses on the inner load holder. 
     Said bolts, may be disengaged from said complementary features by sliding said shaft along said axis in a disengaging direction opposite to an engaging direction. 
     The support device may further comprise complementary formations for holding the bolts in an unlocked position when so disengaged. 
     Said bolts may be located in said further complementary formations by rotating said shaft when so disengaged and sliding said shaft when so rotated in the engaging direction, into engagement with the further complementary formations on the base member. 
     According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a storage system including: 
     A load holder for example in the form of an inner container, shelf or pallet configured, in use, to be fitted inside an outer container; 
     a supporting device for being secured within the outer container and being adapted to removably support the load holder within the outer container in use, the supporting device including a mechanism for slidingly engaging with the load holder, thereby releasably restraining relative movement between the inner container, shelf or pallet and the supporting device. 
     The mechanism may include comprise at least one sliding bolt arrangement and the load holder may include at least one corresponding formation, e.g. a hoop, with which the or each bolt arrangement engages in use. 
     The or each bolt arrangement may include a shaft with the at least one bolt arrangement fixed thereto. The shaft may be rotatable with respect to the supporting device. The at least one bolt arrangement may be configurable between a first configuration where it protrudes above a surface of the supporting device, and a second configuration where it lies away from the surface of the supporting device. In some embodiments, the shaft has a plurality of the bolt arrangements. At least one of the bolt arrangements may include a web to reinforce its connection to the shaft. 
     The supporting device may, in use, be fixed on a base or floor surface of the outer container by means of a fixing. Said fixing may include an isolator for electrolytically isolating the support device from the outer container. Said isolator may be in the form of a polymeric pad and/or plastics reinforced fastener. The supporting device may have an area dimensioned to correspond with a corresponding area of the base or floor surface, the supporting device thereby function as a replacement base or floor surface for the outer container. The supporting device may include at least one recess arranged to contain a foot or protrusion of the inner container, pallet or shelf. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
       The invention extends to any novel feature described or illustrated herein, or any novel combination of features described or illustrated herein. Although the invention can be put into effect in numerous ways, illustrative embodiments only have been described below, with reference to the drawings wherein: 
         FIG. 1   a  shows one embodiment of a storage system according to the invention; 
         FIG. 1   b  shows the system shown in  FIG. 1   a  in a different configuration; 
         FIGS. 2   a ,  2   b ,  2   c ,  2   d ,  2   e  and  2   f  show different views of the embodiment of  FIGS. 1   a  and  1   b;    
         FIGS. 3   a  and  3   b  show further views of the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1   a  and  1   b;    
         FIGS. 4   a ,  4   b ,  5   a ,  5   b  and  6  show different arrangements for one element of the system according to the invention; 
         FIGS. 7   a ,  7   b  and  7   c  show further elements of the system according to the invention; 
         FIGS. 8   a  through to  8   h  show details of the element shown in  FIGS. 7   a  and  7   b;    
         FIG. 9  shows further details of the elements shown in the previous drawings; and 
         FIGS. 10   a  to  21   b  show another embodiment of the invention which is similar in construction to the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1 to 9 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to  FIG. 1  there is shown an outer storage container  10  which has a generally standard size and is formed from pressed sheet metal components. The outer container  10  has two pairs of doors  12  which are closable to close opposite ends  14  of the container. 
     The outer container  10  has a floor  16  to which is secured a load-supporting device  100  only partially visible in this view. The load-supporting device  100  can releasably restrain cargo or load supporting elements, for example, load holders in the form of inner containers, shelves or pallets. In this embodiment shelves  50  are shown ready to be placed onto the load-supporting device  100 . The shelves  50  have a plurality of tapered feet  52  which locate within complementary recesses in the support device  100 . A similar load can be placed in the opposite open end of the outer container  10 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 1   b  the drawing shows the shelves  50  now placed within the outer container  10  ready for the doors  12  to be closed. 
       FIG. 2   a  shows a plan view of the outer container  10  showing the doors  12  swung fully open to expose the open ends  14 . 
       FIG. 2   b  shows a section along line A-A in  FIG. 2   a . Shelves  50  are visible at one end  14  and at the other end a storage container  60  is loaded. Each load holder  50  and  60  is restrained on the support device  100  which is attached to the floor  16  of the outer container  10 . 
       FIGS. 2   e  and  2   f  show similar views to  FIGS. 2   a  and  2   b  respectively. 
       FIG. 2   c  shows details of the arrangement for restraining the load holder  50  and  60  within the outer container  10  on the support device  100 . In this detail the support device  100  includes a slideable bolt  110  which, in this view, is engaged with a complementary formation  62  at a lower area of the inner container  60 . 
     In  FIG. 2   d  the same components are shown. However, the bolt  110  is withdrawn from the complementary formation  62  to allow the load holder  60  to be removed. It will be noted that a similar arrangement of locking bolt  110  can be used to restrain any load holder placed on the support device  100  as will be explained in more detail below. 
       FIG. 3   a  shows a view in the direction of arrow  3 A in  FIG. 2   b  and  FIG. 3   b  shows a view in the direction of arrow  3 B in  FIG. 2   b.    
       FIG. 4   a  shows a plan view of one arrangement of the support device  100  in more detail. The device  100  in this embodiment includes a pair  101  and  102  of base members which are identical. The base members each include four corner recesses  104  which taper inwardly for accepting the feet of load holders such as inner containers, shelves or pallets, for example feet  52 . These recesses prevent lateral movement of the load in a plane parallel to the outer container floor  16 . In order to prevent the feet from jumping out of the recesses  104  a mechanism  108  is provided. The mechanism includes the slideable bolts  110  mentioned above. In this case a shaft  112  supports a pair of bolts  110  which share the same movement axis. The shaft  112  also includes a handle  114  for manually moving the bolts  110 . It is envisaged that two pairs of base members are used for each outer container  10 . 
       FIG. 4   b  shows a side view of the pair of base members  101  and  102 . 
       FIG. 5   a  shows a plan view of another support device  100 , in this case the support device includes a single base member  103  which functions in the same manner as the support devices  100  shown in  FIG. 4   a . In particular, the support device  103  has the same arrangement of recesses  104  and the same pair of locking mechanisms  108 . 
       FIG. 5   b  is a side view of the support device  103  shown in  FIG. 5   a.    
       FIG. 6  is a third version of the support device  100  having a large base member  105 , which in effect is two of the base members  103  joined back to back, such that there are two pairs of locking mechanisms  108  which have handles  114  accessible from both ends  14  of the outer container  10 . The base member  105  includes recesses  104 , only one of which is referenced, which will restrain in use loads placed into an outer container  10  from both ends  14 . 
       FIG. 7   a  shows the support device  100  having a base member  105  ready for fitting to the floor  16  of the outer container  10 . As can be seen in this illustration the support device  100  when fitted will include four handles  114  each of which can be accessed one of the ends  14  of the container  10 . The support device  100  includes four locking mechanisms  108 , each of which has a pair of sliding bolts  110  operable by means of a handle  114 . 
       FIG. 7   b  shows the support device  100  fitted into the outer container  10 . It will be noted that the doors  12  will only close when the handles  114  are moved inwardly toward their locking position. 
       FIG. 7   c  shows a detail of the fixing of the support device  100  to the floor  16  of the outer container  10 . The fixing includes an elastomeric pad  118  for example a polymeric material such as rubber or a synthetic polymer, and a plastics fiber reinforced bolt  120 . This fixing help dampen shocks and vibration. 
       FIGS. 8   a  through to  8   h  show different views of the locking mechanism fitted to a support device  100 . In this case the support device has base member  101  shown in  FIG. 4   a , although the same support device is used for the other bases shown in  FIGS. 4   b ,  5   a ,  5   b  and  6 . Returning to  FIG. 8   a  the mechanism is shown in a locking position, having been moved along an axis AX in the direction of arrow L, by means of manual movement of handle  114 . 
       FIG. 8   b  shows a side view of the base  101  shown in  FIG. 8   a  together with part of the load holder  60  above it. In this view the bolts  110  can be seen as protrusions extending from the shaft and having portions which extend parallel to the shaft axis AX. It is those parallel portions which engage with hoops  62  on the load holder  60 . Shaft  112  slides in journals  116  in the base  101 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 8   c  the locking mechanism  108  is shown in its unlocked position having been slid in the direction of arrow UL manually by means of movement of handle  114  along the axis AX. As can be seen from the side view of  FIG. 8   c  illustrated in  FIG. 8   d  when the handle and shaft  114  and  112  are moved in the direction of arrow UL they disengage from the hoops  62  allowing the load holder  60  to be removed from the support device  101 . 
     Following disengagement, the mechanism can be left in a state of readiness for use, by rotating handle  114  about axis AX and moving the handle in the direction of arrow L so that the bolts  110  engage with complementary receivers  122  in the base  101  which act to hold the shaft  112  in a restrained position, allowing the positioning of a load holder on the support device  101  prior to locking. 
       FIGS. 8   f ,  8   g  and  8   h  show use of the mechanism  108  and load holder  60  as the load is removed from the mechanism following positioning of the mechanism as shown in  FIG. 8   e.    
       FIG. 9  shows further views of details of the mechanism  108  in locked and unlocked positions. 
     Referring to  FIG. 10   a  there is shown a further embodiment of the invention, where like referenced numerals indicate features similar to the features described above. In this embodiment the container  10 , again has two pairs of doors  12 , openable to expose two container ends  14 . The floor  16  of the container  10  includes a load supporting device  200 , which is a modified version of the load supporting device  100  described above. The load support device  200  is used to support and secure load holders such as the racking  70  illustrated in  FIG. 10   a.    
       FIG. 10   b  shows an enlarged detailed view of a portion of the illustration shown in  FIG. 10   a . In this view, the floor  16  of the container  10  is visible having welded thereto the load support device  200 , which can support and restrain, in this instance, the load holding racking  70 , which in turn is used to support loads to be carried within the container  10 . 
       FIG. 11  shows the load holder  70  in more detail. Further the load holder  70  has a base  72  which has complementary formations for fitting to the support device  200 . The support device  200 , in turn, has features, which will be described in more detail below for securing the load holder  70  in place, or any other load holder having the appropriate complementary features. The features for securing the load holder  70  include upstanding male protrusions  204 , and a bolt  208  which includes a sliding handle  214 . The features mentioned immediately above will be described in more detail below. 
       FIG. 12   a  shows an alternative load holder  80  suspended above the load support  200 . In practice the load support  200  will be welded or otherwise secured to the base  16  of the container  10  mentioned above. Load holder  80 , in this case comprises a series of shelves for supporting a load and includes a base  72  suitable for fixing to the load support  200 . In this view, the locking bolt  208  has been slid in the direction of arrow U.L, so that complementary formations on the load holder  80  can be offered into the area  218  formed between two channel members  216  secured to the support device  200 . It will be noted that the securing bolt  208  includes a locking bar  210  which does not protrude substantially into the area  218  when the bolt  208  is slid in the direction of arrow U.L. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 13   a  and  13   b  these illustrations show the load holder  80  lowered on to the support device  200 , such that the base  72  of the load holder  80  engages with the support device  200 . It is then necessary to manually slide the bolt  208  in the direction of arrow L shown in  FIG. 13   b  such that the retaining bar  210  is consequently pushed into the area  218 , as shown in  FIG. 12   b . The complementary formations on the base  72 , which will be described in more detail below, are thus held in position when the locking bolt  208  is in the locked position. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 14   a  and  14   b  the handle portion  214  of the locking bolt  208  is shown in the locked, home, position. 
       FIG. 15  shows a plan view of the support device  200 . The device includes a sheet metal plate  203  to which are welded  8  upstanding male protrusions  204 . These protrusions taper upwardly and accept complementary formations formed on the base  72 . The support device  200  includes also the upstanding channel members  216 , formed in pairs, which also act to guide the sliding bolt  208 . 
       FIG. 16  shows a side view of the support device  200  in the direction of arrow S in  FIG. 15 . In this view the upwardly tapering shape of the male protrusions  204  are more clearly visible. In addition, the channel members  216  can be shown having two apertures  217  and  219 . The apertures  217  and  219  in each channel member  216  are formed to align, for example alignment along axis A in  FIG. 15 . 
       FIGS. 17   a  and  17   b  show the support device  200  including a pair of bolts  208  fitted into place. The bolts are formed in pieces and joined together using grub screws  209  shown in  FIG. 17   b . This allows the channel sections  216  shown in  FIG. 16  to be welded to the plate  203  before the sliding bolts  208  are fitted into the apertures  217  and  219 . The sliding bolts  208  are shown in their locked position, i.e. with the retaining bars  210  engaged fully within the areas  218  formed between adjacent channel members  216 . 
       FIG. 18  shows a side view of a base member  72  which is suitable for attaching to the support device  200  shown in  FIG. 17   a . The base member includes a frame  73  which has parallel passages  75  for accepting the forks of forklift truck or the like. In addition the frame includes four complementary formations  76  which, when in position on the support device  200 , sit in the area  218  formed between two adjacent channel members  216 . The complementary formations  76  each include also an aperture  77  into which is slideable a retaining bar  210 , when in position. Additionally, the complementary formations  76  include wasted regions  78  which provide clearance for the sliding bolt  208 . 
       FIG. 19  shows a view of the underside of the base member  72  in the direction of arrow P in  FIG. 18 . In this view the female tapered recesses  74  are visible for accepting the male protrusions  204 , and thus restraining the lateral movement of the base member  72  relative to the support device  200 . Additionally, the four complementary formations  76  are visible spaced so that each of those formations will fall into each of the areas  218  shown in  FIG. 17   a.    
       FIG. 20   a  shows a cut-away view of the base member  72  in position over the support device  200 .  FIG. 20   b  shows in detail the complementary formation  76  hovering above the channel members  216 , with the retaining bar  210  withdrawn from the locating area  218 . 
       FIGS. 20   a  and  20   b  show the base member  72  locked in position on the support device  200 . In this Figure the handle  214  has been pushed in the direction of arrow U.L. following the lowering of the complementary formations  76  into the locating areas  218 . It will be noted that the aperture  77  in the complementary formation  76  is elongated in a direction perpendicular to the axis A of the sliding of the retaining bar  210 , to allow for any misalignment between the securing bar  210  and the base member  72 . In addition it will be noted that the doors  12  shown in  FIG. 10  cannot be closed until the handles  214  are pushed into their locking positions, such that the load holders  70  or  80  (or other load holders mounted to the base member  72 ), has to be locked into position before the doors  12  can be closed. 
     In the  FIGS. 10 to 21  a pair of locking bolts  208  are illustrated each for use with a pair of retaining bars  210 . However, other combinations of locking bolts could be employed, including a single locking bolt or multiple locking bolts. In addition, the number and position of the male protruding members  204  and their corresponding female recesses  74  can be varied. 
     Thus, for each embodiment described above, a simple sliding mechanism can be used to lock various load holders  50 ,  60 , 70  or  80  or other containers, shelves, racks or pallets in position. Straightforward unlocking of the load can be achieved by sliding the shaft  112 ,  208  into its unlocking position as mentioned above. In the embodiments, at least two bolts per support device have been illustrated. Although one bolt would suffice, two is preferred to provide two locking points and thus reduce the chance of the load holder rocking. 
     Embodiments only of the invention have been described above, but it will be apparent to the skilled addressee that other variants, modifications or alternatives could be used without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.