LOADING AND UNLOADING APPARATUS AND METHOD

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for loading and unloading containers from a trailer.

The present invention also relates to a goods handling, cartage and storage method.

BACKGROUND Currently, goods storage sendees are commonly available and widely known. These services involve the offering of secure warehouse space by the service provider to users. Typically, the user or person wanting to make use of these sendees needs to transport the goods to be stored to the warehouse, and then secure them in storage means such as boxes, or locking them in garages at the warehouse facility. This method of offering storage services is inconvenient for the users, in that they may need to hire a suitable vehicle for the transportation of the goods, and in addition may be required to make a number of trips to be able to transport all of the goods. Further, all of the goods to be stored need to be handled twice in that they are firstly handled onto the trailer, and then secondly handled again to get them off the trailer and into the storage facility. The inconvenience of this process means that many users who would be inclined to put goods in storage may prefer to find storage space in their houses, garage or elsewhere.

It is an object of this invention to provide a loading and unloading apparatus and method which will overcome the abovementioned disadvantages and/or difficulties, or which will at least provide the public with a useful choice.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In a first aspect the present invention may broadly be said to consist in a trailer, suitable for being towed behind a vehicle and for receiving a container, said trailer comprising " a trailer frame;

^■ a housing adapted to enclose the container, and supported by said trailer frame;

^■ at least one trailer roller-track arrangement supported by said trailer frame, said arrangement including

O a plurality of rollers aligned in a row to allow the container to be rolled into and/or out of the housing.

Preferably, the roller-track arrangement may extend from at least one edge of the trailer frame.

Preferably, the trailer may include a winching mechanism for pulling the container over the rollers.

Preferably, the winching mechanism may be located towards the front of the trailer to allow a container to be rolled onto the trailer roller-track arrangement at the rear of the trailer.

Preferably, the housing may be water resistant to provide protection from rain. Preferably, the housing may provide a snug fit over the container, to amongst other things preferably prevent it from being dislodged from the roller-track arrangement once loaded. Preferably, the housing may include a loading door.

Preferably, the loading door may pivot between a closed position in which the container cannot be loaded onto or off the trailer, and an access position in which at least part of the loading door acts as an access ramp to provide convenient loading access to the trailer. Preferably, the loading door may consist of an upper loading door and a lower loading door, whereby the upper loading door is movable between a closed position in which the container cannot be loaded onto or off the trailer, and an access position in which the upper loading door pivots upward to provide an overhang for shelter against the weather and the lower loading door may pivot between a closed position in which the container cannot be loaded onto or off the trailer, and an access position in which at least part of the loading door acts as an access ramp to provide convenient loading access to the trailer.

Preferably, the loading door may include access rollers at and preferably extending from its non-pivoting end to allow for movement of the trailer when the loading door is in the open position.

Preferably, the housing may include an inspection hatch.

Preferably, the trailer may include stabilising feet for stabilising the trailer.

Preferably, the stabilising feet may be telescopic.

Preferably, the trailer may include a guide rail adapted and configured to guide the container along the rollers during loading and/or stabilise the container during transportation.

The guide rail may have an overhanging lip suitable for engagement with complementary engagement formations on the container.

Preferably, the trailer may include securing means to secure a container to the trailer roller-track arrangement.'

Preferably, the securing means may be a locking pin arrangement including a spigot and socket formation.

In a second aspect the present invention broadly consists in a rolling rack, suitable for unloading a container from a trailer having at least one row of container supporting rollers, said rolling rack comprising

^■ a rack frame suitable for location on the ground; ^■ at least one rack roller-track arrangement supported in an elevated position above the ground by said rack frame, said rack roller-track arrangement comprising a plurality of rollers aligned in a row to allow a container to be rolled onto and/or off the rolling rack.

Preferably, the rack roller-track arrangement may extend from at least one edge of the rack frame to allow the container to be rolled onto and/or off the rolling rack.

Preferably, the rolling rack may include alignment formations for aligning the rack roller-track arrangement with complementary trailer roller-track arrangements on the trailer.

Preferably, the rolling rack may include a winching mechanism for winching a container onto the rack over the roller-track arrangement.

Preferably, the winching mechanism may be located towards the rear of the rolling rack to allow the container to be rolled onto the rack roller-track arrangement at die front of the rolling rack.

Preferably, the rolling rack may include lifting formation to allow the rolling rack to be lifted by a forklift.

Preferably, the rolling rack may include lifting formation to allow a container to be lifted by a forklift from the roller rack.

In a third aspect the present invention comprises a rolling rack and a trailer as defined above.

In a fourth aspect the present invention may broadly be said to consist of a system for handling a container comprising " a trailer as defined above;

^■ a rolling rack as defined above;

^■ wherein the rollers of the rack roller-track arrangement and the rollers of the trailer roller-track arrangement are at substantially the same height to allow for the convenient movement of a container between the rack roller-track arrangement and the trailer roller-track arrangement.

In a fifth aspect the present invention may broadly be said to consist of a method of loading a container onto a trailer, comprising the steps of

^■ providing a trailer as defined above;

^■ providing a rolling rack as defined above with a container loaded onto it so that it is movable over the rack roller-track arrangement;

^■ aligning the rack roller-track arrangement with the trailer roller— track arrangement; and

^■ rolling the container from the rack roller-track arrangement onto the trailer roller-track arrangement. Preferably, the method of loading a trailer may include the steps of

^■ coupling the container to the winching means on the trailer; and

^■ winching the container from the rack roller-track arrangement onto the trailer roller-track arrangement.

In a sixth aspect the present invention may broadly be said to consist of a method of unloading a container from a trailer, comprising the steps of

^■ providing a trailer as defined above with a container loaded onto it so that it is movable over the trailer roller-track arrangement;

^■ providing a rolling rack as defined above;

^■ aligning the rack roller-track arrangement with the trailer roller— track arrangement; and

^■ rolling the container from the trailer roller-track arrangement onto the rack roller-track arrangement.

Preferably, the method of unloading a trailer may include the steps of

^■ coupling the container to the winching means on the rolling rack; and

^■ winching the container from the trailer roller-track arrangement onto the rack roller-track arrangement.

In a seventh aspect the present invention may broadly be said to consist of a method of providing a goods storage service, comprising the steps of

^■ delivering a trailer as defined to a user's premises with a container on it;

^■ leaving the loaded trailer at the user's premises in order for the user to place goods to be stored inside the container;

^■ moving the trailer from the user's premises to a container storage area; ^■ providing a rolling rack as defined at the container storage area;

^■ unloading the container from the trailer using the rolling rack; and

^■ storing the container at the warehouse.

Preferably, the method may include the step of stacking a plurality of similar containers at the goods storage area for efficient usage of space. Preferably, the method may include the step of allowing the user access to a stored container at the container storage area.

Preferably, the method of providing a storage service may include the steps of

^■ loading a container onto the trailer using the rolling rack; and

^■ transporting the trailer to the user's premises by means of the trailer. - To those skilled in the art to which the invention relates, many changes in construction and widely differing embodiments and applications of the invention will suggest themselves without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. The disclosures and the descriptions herein are purely illustrative and are not intended to be in any sense limiting.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a view through the inspection hatch at the front of the trailer into the housing, showing the trailer roller-track arrangement with a container on it; Figure 2 is a perspective view of a roller rack from the rear, showing a container sitting on the rack roller-track arrangement;

Figure 3 is a side perspective view of a trailer and roller rack, showing a container being loaded into the rear of the trailer;

Figure 4 is a perspective view showing a view through the inspection hatch at the front of the trailer into the housing, showing the trailer roller-track arrangement with a container on it;

Figure 5 is a flow chart setting out a method of providing a goods storage service; and

Figure 6 is a rear perspective view of a trailer and roller rack next to each other, and a container located in the trailer housing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION With reference to the above drawings, a trailer according to a first aspect of the invention is generally indicated by the numeral 100, and a rolling rack according to a second aspect of the invention is generally indicated by the numeral 200.

According to the first aspect of the invention there is provided a trailer 100, suitable for being towed behind a vehicle (not shown) and for receiving a container 500, said trailer 100 comprising a trailer frame 110; a housing 120 adapted to enclose the container 500, and supported by said trailer frame 110; and a pair of trailer roller-track arrangements 130 supported by said trailer frame 110. The trailer roller-track arrangements 130 extends from the rear edge of the trailer frame 110 and includes a plurality of rollers 140 aligned in a row to allow the container 500 to be rolled into and/or out of the housing 120. It is envisaged that the housing 120 will extend substantially around the whole container 500, to provide protection from rain and the like. It is envisaged that the housing 120 will provide a snug fit over and around the container 500, to prevent it from being dislodged from the trailer roller-track arrangement 130 once loaded. The trailer 100 further includes a winching mechanism 150, for pulling the container 500 over the rollers 140, at the front of the trailer 100 to allow a container 500 to be rolled onto the trailer roller-track arrangement 130 from the rear of the trailer 100. The winching mechanism 150 is electrically operated in a preferred embodiment and is driven by electrical power from the towing vehicle (not shown). An inspection hatch 160 is provided in the front of the housing 120, to allow access to the container 500 through the housing 120. The housing 120 further includes a lower loading door 170 at the rear of the trailer

100 to allow the container 500 to be loaded onto the trailer 100. The lower loading door 170 pivots between a closed position in which the container 500 cannot be loaded onto or off the trailer 100, and an open position (shown in figure 3) in which the lower loading

door 170 acts as an access ramp to provide convenient loading access to the trailer 100. The lower loading door 170 is provided with access rollers 175 at the non-pivoting end of the door 170 to allow for movement of the trailer 100 when the upper loading door 170 is in the open position. The housing even further includes an upper loading door 171, whereby the upper loading door 171 is movable between a closed position in which the container 500 cannot be loaded onto or off the trailer 100, and an access position in which the upper loading door ϊ71 pivots upward to provide an overhang for shelter against the weather.

In a preferred embodiment, the trailer 100 includes a set of telescopic stabilising feet 180 for stabilising the trailer 100 in a stationary condition to allow it to be loaded without tipping over. Further, the trailer 100 is provided with securing means in the form of a spigot pin (not shown) and complementary socket formation (not shown) to secure a container 500 onto the trailer roller-track arrangement 130 and prevent it from rolling off the trailer 100 when the trailer 100 is in motion. With reference to the above drawings, a rolling rack according to a second aspect of the invention is generally indicated by the numeral 200.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a rolling rack 200, suitable for unloading a container 500 from a trailer 100, the trailer 100 having at least one row of container supporting rollers 140. The rolling rack 200 comprises a rack frame 210, and at least one rack roller-track arrangement 220 supported by said rack frame 210. The roller-track arrangement 220 comprises a plurality of rollers 230 extending from at least one edge of the rack frame and aligned in a row to allow a container 500 to be rolled onto and/or off the rolling rack 200. The rolling rack 200 further includes alignment formations 240 for aligning the rack roller-track arrangement 220 with complementary trailer roller- track arrangements 130 on the trailer 100.

In a preferred embodiment, the trailer 100 includes a guide formation in the form of a guide rail 190 adapted and configured to guide die container 500 along the rollers 140 during loading and/or stabilise the container 500 during transportation. The guide rail 190 has an overhanging lip (not shown) for engagement with complementary engagement formations (not shown) on the container 500.

In a preferred embodiment, the rolling rack 200 also includes a winching mechanism 250 for winching a container 500 onto the rack 200 over the rollers 230 of the rack roller- track arrangement 220. The winching mechanism 250 is located at the rear of the rolling

rack 200 to allow a container 500 to be rolled onto the rollers 230 of the rack roller-track arrangement 220 at the front of the rolling rack 200.

It is envisaged that the rolling rack 200 will need to be moved around, and for this reason, die rolling rack 200 includes lifting formations 260 to allow the rolling rack 200 to be lifted by a forklift (not shown).

As provided for in a fourth aspect of the invention, it is envisaged mat the trailer 100 as defined above and the rolling rack 200 as defined above will cooperate as a system; whereby die rollers 230 of the rack roller- track arrangement 220 and the rollers 140 of the trailer roller-track arrangement 130 are at substantially the same height to allow for the convenient movement of a container 500 between the rack roller-track arrangement 220 and the trailer roller-track arrangement 130.

A mediod of loading a container between a trailer 100 and a rolling rack 200 is also provided as a fifth and sixth aspect of the invention. The method envisages providing a trailer 100 as defined above; as well providing a rolling rack 200 as defined above (with a container loaded onto it so diat it is movable over the rack roller- track arrangement). The rack roller-track arrangement 220 on the rolling rack 200 is at the same height as the trailer roller- track arrangement 130 on the trailer 100. The rack roller- track arrangements 220 and the trailer roller-track arrangements 130 are then aligned with each other by means of the alignment formations 240. At this stage, the container 500 may then be rolled over the rollers 140& 230 between the trailer 100 and the rack 200.

Alternatively, should more mechanical effort be required, the container 500 can be winched between the trailer 100 and the rack 200 by either of the winching mechanisms 150 or 260. This involves coupling the container 500 to the winching means 250 on the rack 200 to winch the container 500 from the trailer 100 to the rack 200 and winching it across, or coupling the container 500 to the winching means on the trailer 150 to winch the container from die rack 200 to the trailer 100.

It is envisaged that according to a fifdi aspect of the invention, a method of providing a goods storage service may be provided using the apparatus provided. The goods storage sendee provider (not shown) will deliver a container 500 mounted onto the trailer 100 as defined above. The trailer 100 and container 500 will be left at a user's premises in order for the user to place goods to be stored inside the container at dieir convenience. During this time, the container will remain in the housing and be protected

from any possible rain. In this way, the container may be composed of relatively cheap material such as wood, without having to waterproof the containers, which may be costly.

Once the user has finished placing goods inside the container, the trailer 100 is moved by the sendee provider to a container storage area, such as a warehouse (not shown). A rolling rack 200 is provided at the warehouse. The rolling rack 200 and the trailer 100 are aligned and the container 500 is offloaded. The container 500 may then be conveniendy moved from the rack 200 and stored in an efficient stacked formation in the warehouse. In this way a forklift can approach the container 500 from the side, and not have to unload the container from the rear of the trailer 100 which would require longer forks and a larger size forklift. Accordingly, the size of the forklift required to offload die trailer 100 may be reduced. Further, efficient use is made of the available space at the warehouse.

It is envisaged that the user may be allowed access to their container 500 at the warehouse, when a small amount of goods are required to be retrieved by the user. When the user requires the return of the stored goods, or after a predetermined period, the stacked container 500 is retrieved from the warehouse by a forklift, and loaded onto the rolling rack 200 from the side of the rolling rack 200. The container 500 is loaded onto a trailer 100 using the rolling rack 200, and then transported to the user's premises by means of the trailer 100. It may be seen from the above explanation that only one forklift is required during the entire operation, since no forklift is used to unload the container 500 at the user's premises. Since the forklifts are potentially expensive pieces of equipment, the requirement of one forklift to sustain the entire goods storage sendee means low start-up costs for any service provider offering such goods storage services. Further, no time is wasted by towing vehicles (not shown) and trailers 100 waiting for an available forklift to unload containers 500 from the trailer 100, which means that there is a greater availability and productivity of trailers 100.