Login| Sign Up| Help| Contact|

Patent Searching and Data


Title:
FRAME ASSEMBLY FOR TRANSPORT CARTON
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2006/029440
Kind Code:
A1
Abstract:
A frame assembly suitable for use in a storage carton (50), the carton (50) including a base wall (52), top wall (57) and side wall (54, 56) with access apertures (65, 66) in the side wall (54, 56) by which the carton (50) can be gripped when being carried, the frame assembly including a base section, side sections, a top section, an article support member in the region of or being part of the top section and lifting frame sections, the arrangement being such that in use the frame assembly is adapted to be disposed within the carton (50) and arranged so that each lifting frame section is associated with a respective access aperture (65, 66) in the carton (50) so as to be adjacent thereto, and when the carton (50) is being carried the lifting frame sections can be gripped through the access apertures (65, 66) in the carton (50).

Inventors:
LEE RALPH EDWARD (AU)
SUTTON LAWRENCE PATRICK
Application Number:
PCT/AU2005/001349
Publication Date:
March 23, 2006
Filing Date:
September 06, 2005
Export Citation:
Click for automatic bibliography generation   Help
Assignee:
SUTTON CHERILYN LYNETTE (AU)
LEE RALPH EDWARD (AU)
International Classes:
B65D5/50; A45C13/02; A45F5/06; A47B43/02; A47B61/06; B65D6/26; B65D85/18; (IPC1-7): B65D5/50; A45C5/12; A45F5/06; A47B43/02; A47B61/06; B65D6/26; B65D85/18
Foreign References:
DE3931855A11991-04-04
Other References:
DATABASE WPI Derwent World Patents Index; Class Q34, AN 1995-379763
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
Smeeton, Anthony Richard (Level 10 10 Barrack Stree, Sydney New South Wales 2000, AU)
Download PDF:
Claims:
CLAMS:
1. A frame assembly suitable for use in a storage carton, the carton including a base wall, top wall and side wall with access apertures in the side wall by which the carton can be gripped when being carried, the frame assembly including a base section, side sections, a top section, an article support member in the region of or being part of the top section and lifting frame sections, the arrangement being such that, in use the frame assembly is adapted to be disposed within the carton and arranged so that each lifting frame section is associated with a respective access aperture in the carton so as to be adjacent thereto, and when the carton is being carried the lifting frame sections can be gripped through the access apertures in the carton.
2. A frame assembly according to claim 1 wherein when the frame assembly is disposed within the carton, the base section thereof is adjacent the carton base, the top section is adjacent the carton top and the side sections are adjacent portions of the carton side wall with the article support member being in the region of the carton top.
3. A frame assembly according to claim 1 or claims 2 and including two spaced apart side sections interconnected by frame members forming the top and base sections.
4. A frame assembly according to claim 3 wherein the top and base sections include two spaced apart generally parallel members operatively interconnecting the two side sections.
5. A frame assembly according to any preceding claim wherein the side frame sections include two frame members operatively connected at a point intermediate their ends for pivotal movement between a folded and unfolded position, the article support member extending between the spaced apart frame members forming the top section, one end of the support member being mounted intermediate the ends of one of the top frame members for pivotal movement, the other end of the article support member including a coupling element for releasable connection to the other of the top frame members.
6. A frame assembly according to claim 5 wherein the coupling element is in the form of a hook.
7. A frame assembly according to any preceding claim wherein the lifting frame sections each include two spaced apart connecting members each operatively connected to a respective one of the top frame members and further include a cross member extending between the connecting members to provide for a lifting handle which in use is adjacent a respective access opening on the carton.
8. A frame assembly according to claim 1 wherein each said side section includes a lower member operatively connected to the base section, an upper member operatively connected to the top section and an intermediate member therebetween said top section including a rail extending between the side sections and defining the article support member said intermediate member defining the lifting frame section.
9. A frame assembly according to claim 8 wherein said base including a generally U shaped configuration having two substantially parallel base members and a connecting member each lower member being connected to an end of each based member remote from the connecting member.
10. A frame assembly according to claim 9 wherein the lower members are generally at right angles to the base.
11. A frame assembly according to claim 9 or 10 wherein the lifting frame sections are generally parallel to the base.
12. A frame assembly according to any one of claims 9 to 11 wherein the upper members are inclined with respect to the lower members.
13. A frame assembly according to any one of claims 8 to 12 wherein the top, base and sides are a unitary structure.
14. A frame assembly according to claim 1, wherein the side sections are spaced apart and each includes two frame members operatively connected at a point intermediate their ends for pivotal movement between a folded and an unfolded position, said side sections being connected together at one end of the frame members by transverse frame numbers which define the base section and at the other end of the frame members by transfer frame members which define the lifting frame sections, said top section includes two frame members each connected to a lifting frame section and extending therefrom, the article support member extending therebetween at an upper end thereof.
15. A frame assembly according to claim 14, wherein the frame members of the top section are operatively connected to the lifting frame sections by releasable clips.
Description:
FRAMEASSEMBLYFORTRANSPORTCARTON

This invention relates generally to a frame assembly suitable for use with cartons for transporting articles.

One particular application of the present invention is in relation to cartons used for transporting garments. Such cartons are sometimes referred to as portable wardrobes. It will be convenient to hereinafter describe the invention with reference to this particular application, however, this is not to be taken as a limitation of the scope of the present invention.

Portable wardrobes generally are in the form of a cardboard carton having a garment support rail in the region of the top of the carton. Generally the garments are placed on garment hangers which are carried on the support rail. A common problem is that there is a tendency to overload the support rail such that the support rail mounting to the carton fails. Furthermore, cartons of this type usually include gripping apertures in the carton side wall. There is a tendency for these to break where too much weight is carried by the support rail.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a frame assembly suitable for use with cartons which alleviates one or more of the aforementioned disadvantages.

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a frame assembly suitable for use in a storage carton, the carton including a base wall, top wall and side wall with access apertures in the side wall by which the carton can be gripped when being carried. The frame assembly includes a base section, side sections, a top section, an article support member in the region of or being part of the top section and lifting frame sections. In use the frame assembly is adapted to be disposed within the carton and arranged so that eacli lifting frame section is associated with a respective access aperture in the carton so as to be adjacent thereto. The arrangement is such that when the carton is being carried the lifting frame sections can be gripped through the access apertures in the carton.

Preferably when the frame assembly is disposed within the carton so that, the base section thereof is adjacent the carton base wall, the top section is adjacent the carton top wall and the side sections are adjacent portions of the carton side wall with the article support member being at or in the region of the carton top wall. The carton may be in the form of a box shaped structure of generally square or rectangular configuration and formed from cardboard or the like.

In one form the assembly may include two spaced apart side sections interconnected by frame members forming the top and base sections. In one arrangement the top and base sections may include two spaced apart generally parallel members operatively interconnecting the two side sections.

The side frame sections may include two frame members operatively connected at a point intermediate their ends for pivotal movement between a folded and unfolded position. The article support member may extend between the spaced apart frame members forming the top section, one end of the support member being mounted intermediate the ends of one of the top frame members for pivotal movement, the other end of the article support member including a coupling element for releasable connection to the other of the top frame members. The coupling element is in the form of a hook.

The lifting frame sections may each include two spaced apart connecting members each operatively connected to a respective one of the top frame members and further include a cross member extending between the connecting members to provide for a lifting handle which in use is adjacent a respective access opening on the carton.

In another embodiment two side sections may be provided and each side section may include a lower member operatively connected to the base section, an upper member operatively connected to the top section and an intermediate member therebetween. The top section may include a rail extending between the side sections which defines the article support member and the intermediate member defining the lifting frame section.

The base may include a generally U-shaped configuration having two substantially parallel base members and a connecting member each lower member of the side sections being connected to an end of each base member remote from the connecting member. Preferably the lower members are generally at right angles to the base. Preferably the lifting frame sections are generally parallel to the base. Preferably the upper members of the side sections are inclined with respect to the lower members. The top, base and sides may be a unitary structure or include a plurality of members which are securable together such as for example by telescopic joints.

In yet another embodiment, the side sections may be spaced apart and each includes two frame members operatively connected at a point intermediate their ends for pivotal movement between a folded and an unfolded position. The side sections may be connected together at one end of the frame members by transverse frame members which define the base section and at the other end of the frame members by transfer frame members which define the lifting frame sections. The top section may include two frame members each connected to a lifting frame section and extending therefrom, the article support member extending therebetween at an upper end thereof. Preferably the frame members of the top section are operatively connected to the lifting frame sections by releasable clips.

Preferred embodiments of the invention will hereinafter be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, and in those drawings:

Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of the frame assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a schematic illustration of a carton with a frame assembly of the type shown in Figure 1 disposed therein;

Figure 3 is a plan view of the frame assembly shown in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along the line A-A in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a schematic illustration of a carton with a frame assembly according to a second embodiment of the invention disposed therein;

Figure 6 is a schematic illustration of the frame assembly shown in Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a side elevation of the frame assembly shown in Figure 5; Figure 8 is a schematic illustration of a modification to part of the frame assembly shown in Figures 5 to 7;

Figure 9 is a detail of part of the assembly shown in Figure 8; and

Figure 10 is a schematic illustration of a third embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to Figure 2 there is shown a storage carton with a frame assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention positioned within. The storage carton 50 includes a bottom wall 52, four side walls 53, 54, 55, 56 and a top wall 57. The top wall 57 includes front and rear flaps 61 and 62. The front flap 61 can fold along fold lines 63 and 64 to provide an access opening in the top and side wall 54 to enable articles to be placed in the carton. Hand access apertures 65 and 66 are provided in side walls 53 and 55.

As shown in Figures 1, 3 and 4, the frame assembly 10 includes side frame sections 12 and 14, a base section which includes frame members 21 and 22, a top section which includes frame members 23 and 24, lifting frame sections 31 and 32 and an article support member 38. The side frame sections each include two frame members 15, 16, 17 and 18, the members of each section being connected together at a pivot mounting 13 and 19 so that the side frame sections can be folded together.

The frame members 21 and 22 extend between the frame members in each of the side frame sections. The frame members forming the top also extend between the frame members in each of the side frame sections.

The article support member 38 is adapted to be fitted between top frame members 23 and 24. The article support member 38 includes a pivot mounting 41 at one end and a connecting hook 42 at its other end.

The lifting frame sections 31 and 32 each include two frame members 33 and 34 each being pivotally mounted to a top frame member and a cross member 35 and 36 between the frame members which provides for a lifting handle. The lifting frame sections are configured so that where the frame assembly is disposed within the carton the cross members are positioned adjacent the access apertures 65 and 66. The top frame members may include releasable fastenings enabling the lifting frame sections to be mounted thereto.

In use the frame assembly 10 is positioned within the carton 50 with the base section resting on the bottom 52, the top section being immediately adjacent the top 57 and the side frame sections 12 and 14 being immediately adjacent side walls 54 and 56 as shown. Thus the frame assembly provides additional rigidity to the carton 50 without encroaching into the storage space. The lifting frame sections 31 and 32 are suspended from the top frame sections 23 and 24 so that the cross members 35 and 36 are in the vicinity of the access apertures 65 and 66 of the carton 50. Thus when the carton is lifted the cross members 35 and 36 are gripped and the frame assembly bears the load of the garments hanging from member 38. As a result the cartons themselves are not damaged as quickly and the life thereof is prolonged. Referring to Figures 5 to 6 there is shown a storage carton with a frame assembly according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The storage carton 50 is in essence, of the same structure as that described earlier and like reference numerals have been used to identify like features.

As shown in Figures 5 to 7, the frame assembly 110 includes side frame sections 112 and 114, a base section 116 lifting frame sections 131 and 132 and a top section which forms an article support member 138.

Each side section includes a lower member 117 operatively connected to the base section 116, an upper member 118 operatively connected to the top section 138 defining the article support member and an intermediate members 131 and 132 therebetween. The top section is a rail extending between the side sections. The intermediate member 131 and 132 form the lifting frame section. The base 116 includes a generally U-shaped configuration having two substantially parallel base members 141 and 142 and a connecting member 143 each lower member of the side sections being connected to an end of each based member remote from the connecting member. As shown, the lower members 117 are generally at right angles to the base, the lifting frame sections 131 and 132 are generally parallel to the base and the upper members 118 are inclined with respect to the lower members.

With reference to Figures 8 and 9, the structure of the frame assembly is substantially the same as that described with reference to Figures 5 to 7 expect that the article support rail 138 is recessed with respect to members 118. The connections between the various components may be by way of telescopic joints.

Figure 10 illustrates a further embodiment of the frame assembly according to the present invention. In the drawing only half the carton is illustrated for the sake of clarity. hi this embodiment, the frame assembly 210 includes side frame sections 212 and 214, a base section 216, a top section 237, lifting frame sections 232 and an article support member 238. The side frame sections comprise two members pivotally connected together at a point intermediate their ends so that they can form a foldable scissor type assembly. The two side frame sections are interconnected by the base sections 216. The lifting frame members 232 extend between the side frame members and are disposed adjacent the access apertures 65, 66 in the carton 50.

The top section 237 includes side arms with legs 235 which are fitted to the arms 232 by means of clips 236. The article support member extends between the upper ends of the top section 237. Stops 239 provide a slight space between member 238 and the top of the carton.

Finally, it is to be understood that various alterations, modifications and/or additions may be incorporated into the various constructions and arrangements of parts without departing from the spirit or ambit of the invention.