Technical Field

The present invention relates to a supporting element for a loading unit. Background Art

With particular reference to the logistics and warehousing service industry, it is usually known to arrange and organize the goods into loading units in order to promote their handling and storage.

Usually, the loading unit is provided with a so-called loading pallet or pallet adapted to make a supporting plane for the goods.

The use of pallets allows personnel to effectively move the loading unit through the use of appropriate transport equipment, such as forklifts, pallet trucks, forklift trucks and the like.

In addition, the loading unit comprises one or more stiffening elements adapted to reinforce the structure thereof to stabilize the goods placed on the pallet. Generally, the stiffening elements comprise one or more profiled elements, usually made of cardboard, arranged at the corners of the loading unit, and respective straps adapted to connect the profiled elements together to wrap and secure the goods.

The use of supporting elements mounted on the loading pallet to receive and support the profiled elements is also well known.

Conveniently, such supporting elements are made of cardboard and are nailed to the loading pallet, e.g. by means of staples, making it inconvenient and complicated to separate the supporting element from the loading pallet. In fact, in order to separate the supporting elements from the loading pallet, it is necessary first to remove the staples used to nail it and, only then, to remove the supporting element and dispose of each component of the supporting element. Such supporting elements have problems related to the fact that, being made of cardboard, they are easily subject to a degradation action by soil moisture, and also prevent the insulation of the profiled elements from the latter, resulting in the weakening of the structure of the loading unit, leading to its failure.

In addition, such supporting elements are not capable of ensuring high strength and durability.

Description of the Invention

Therefore, the main aim of the present invention is to devise a supporting element that allows effectively supporting and holding the stiffening elements of a loading unit.

Another object of the present invention is to devise a supporting element that can isolate the stiffening elements from soil moisture, thus preventing possible failure of the loading unit structure.

Still another object of the present invention is to devise a supporting element that is easy to assemble and use.

A further object of the present invention is to devise a supporting element that is easily separable from the loading unit, thus promoting its disposal and sorting from the other components of the supporting element.

Another object of the present invention is to devise a supporting element which allows the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art to be overcome within the framework of a simple, rational, easy and effective to use as well as cost- effective solution.

The above objects are achieved by this supporting element having the characteristics of claim 1.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the description of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of a supporting element, illustrated by way of an indicative, yet non-limiting example in the attached tables of drawings in which:

Figures 1 and 2 are perspective views of the supporting element mounted at a corner of the loading pallet in accordance with the present invention, Figure 3 is a perspective view of the supporting element in Figure 1,

Figures 4 and 5 are perspective views of further embodiments of the supporting element in accordance with the present invention.

Embodiments of the Invention

With particular reference to these figures, reference numeral 1 globally indicates a supporting element for a loading unit.

Specifically, the loading unit U is a holding structure used to facilitate the handling and storage of goods.

For this purpose, the loading unit U is provided with a loading pallet P, or also called a pallet, adapted to receive and support the goods to be stored, and one or more stiffening elements E associable with the loading pallet P to make a structure for containing and supporting the goods positioned on the loading pallet P.

Preferably, the loading pallet P has a substantially parallelepiped shape in which at least four sidewalls F are identified joined together at their respective angles

A.

As can be observed from Figure 2, the loading pallet P is provided with a plurality of transverse elements T arranged side by side and spaced apart to make a supporting plane for the goods. For example, the transverse element T may be a beam, a lath and/or the like.

Specifically, in use, the transverse elements T are arranged substantially horizontally, while the sidewalls F of the loading pallet P are arranged substantially vertically and orthogonally to the transverse elements T.

In the context of the following disclosure, the terms “vertical”, “horizontal”, “upper” and “lower” are meant to refer to the conditions under which the loading unit U and the supporting element 1 are normally used, i.e., those shown in Figure 1 wherein the loading pallet P is arranged resting on the ground S and the supporting element 1 is mounted on the loading pallet P.

It cannot however be ruled out that the loading pallet P may comprise a supporting plane made from a single flatbed.

The loading pallet P also comprises a plurality of supporting feet B onto the ground which are arranged peripherally to raise the supporting plane and to allow special work tools, such as forklift trucks, to pick up the loading pallet P. Preferably, the feet B are arranged at the angles A of the loading pallet P.

The stiffening element E may be at least one of either a stiffening profiled element Ei or a connecting strap E2. Specifically, the term “stiffening profiled element” refers to a profiled element, such as e.g. a bar or a beam, made of aluminum, wood, cardboard and/or the like.

According to the invention, the supporting element 1 is associable with the loading pallet P of a loading unit U to receive and support at least one stiffening element E.

For this purpose, as shown in Figure 1, the supporting element 1 comprises a main body 2 associable with a loading pallet P of a loading unit U. Appropriately, the main body 2 is provided with receiving means 3 of at least one stiffening element E of the loading unit U to support it.

Advantageously, the main body 2 is made at least partly of a plastic material. This expedient makes it possible to at least partly insulate the stiffening elements E from any moisture from the ground, thus preventing possible weakening of the structure of the loading unit U.

In addition, the use of a plastic material allows making supporting elements 1 that are both strong and flexible.

Appropriately, the supporting element 1 comprises fastening means 4 associated with the main body 2 and configured to allow the main body 2 to be fastened onto the loading pallet P.

In particular, as described in detail later in the description, the fastening means 4 enable the supporting element 1 to be stably mounted onto the loading pallet P, so as to effectively hold the stiffening elements E.

As shown in the figures, the main body 2 comprises at least one adhesion portion 5 which is shaped so as to adhere to at least one sidewall F of the loading pallet P when the fastening means 4 are fastened to the loading pallet P. Specifically, in use, the adhesion portion 5 is arranged at least partly vertically to abut against at least one sidewall F of the loading pallet P.

This expedient allows the supporting element 1 to stably hold the stiffening element E received, thus counteracting any possible tilting of the latter.

In detail, the adhesion portion 5 comprises an inner surface 5a facing in use against the loading pallet P to adhere thereto, and an outer surface 5b opposite the inner surface 5a.

In the context of the following disclosure, the terms “inner” and “outer” are meant to refer to the conditions under which the supporting element 1 is normally used, i.e., those in which the main body 2 is associated with the loading pallet P.

According to one embodiment, the adhesion portion 5 comprises at least a first lateral wall 6 and a second lateral wall 7 orthogonal to the first lateral wall 6. The first lateral wall 6 and the second lateral wall 7, in use, are intended to be positioned against a sidewall F of the loading pallet P, respectively.

Such a configuration allows the supporting element 1 to be positioned at an angle A of the loading pallet P.

It cannot however be ruled out that the adhesion portion 5 may be shaped differently to adhere to a different portion of the loading pallet P. For example, the adhesion portion 5 may comprise only one lateral wall to be placed along one sidewall of the loading unit U.

According to one embodiment shown in Figure 5, the adhesion portion 5 comprises a connecting wall 31 positioned between the lateral walls 6, 7. The connecting wall 31 has a shape that is substantially complementary to the joining corner C of the sidewalls F of the loading pallet P.

In detail, the joining corner C is positioned between the sidewalls F of the loading pallet P and extends transversely to the latter. Preferably, the joining corner C has a substantially flat surface.

Conveniently, the connecting wall 31 has a substantially rounded shape. Such a conformation allows the connecting wall 31 to be spaced apart from the joining corner C.

In addition, the connecting wall 31 comprises at least one counteracting element 32 arranged transversely to the connecting wall 31 to abut against the joining corner C of the loading pallet P. The counteracting element 32, by abutting against the corner C, moves the connecting wall 31 away from the latter.

As shown in Figure 3, the receiving means 3 comprise at least one of: a seat 8 adapted to receive a stiffening profiled element Ei, a hole 9 adapted to receive a strap E2, a holding element 10 arranged externally to the main body 2 and adapted to receive a strap E2.

In the present case, the receiving means 3 comprise at least one seat 8 arranged above the adhesion portion 5 to receive a vertical stiffening profiled element Ei. In addition, the receiving means 3 comprise a pair of holes 9 arranged on either side of the seat 8, each adapted to receive a strap preferably extended diagonally to the loading unit U.

Finally, the receiving means 3 comprise at least one holding element 10 arranged on the corner defined by the union of the first and second lateral walls 6, 7 of the adhesion portion 5 to receive a horizontally extended strap E2 and send it back between two directions parallel to the lateral walls 6, 7, respectively.

Such a conformation allows mounting on the loading pallet P a stiffening structure provided with stiffening profiled elements Ei arranged vertically at the angles A, and with straps extended between the stiffening profiled elements along diagonal and horizontal directions to wrap around the goods arranged on the loading pallet P.

Appropriately, the main body 2 comprises a receiving portion 11 arranged above the adhesion portion 5 and wherein the seat 8 is formed.

In detail, the receiving portion 11 is at least partly hollow to make the seat 8, and it comprises an inlet opening 12 of the stiffening profiled element Ei in the seat 8. The opening 12 is formed at the top edge of the receiving portion 11 in order to position the stiffening profiled element Ei substantially vertically.

As shown in Figure 3, the seat 8 has an L shape to receive the stiffening profiled elements Ei of the “L” type.

For this purpose, the receiving portion 11 has a pair of walls 13a, 13b arranged transversely to each other. Specifically, in use, the walls 13a, 13b are arranged on a sidewall F of the loading pallet P, respectively.

Conveniently, the pair of walls 13a, 13b has cavities communicating with each other to make an L- shaped seat 8. Appropriately, each hole of the pair of holes 9 is drilled in one wall of the pair of walls 13a, 13b of the receiving portion 11 to receive the straps E2 arranged on two adjacent sidewalls F of the loading unit U.

As shown in Figure 2, the holding element 10 has a slit through which the strap E2 is fitted.

Preferably, the holding element 10 is of the “clip” type.

Appropriately, the holding element 10 is formed at least partly on at least one of either the corner defined by the union between the first lateral wall 6 and the second lateral wall 7 of the adhesion portion 5 or the corner defined by the union between the pair of walls 13a, 13b of the receiving portion 11. In this way, the supporting element 1 is configured to resend the belt E2 between two directions parallel to the lateral walls 6, 7, 13a, 13b, respectively.

Appropriately, the fastening means 4 comprise at least a first fastening arm 14 having an elongated conformation and adapted to abut against a portion of the loading pallet P, fastening thereto.

In particular, the first fastening arm 14 has a conformation such that it wraps at least partly around the portion of the loading pallet P to fasten thereto.

To this end, conveniently, the first fastening arm 14 comprises at least one abutment portion 15 associated with one end 16 of the first fastening arm 14 and arranged substantially orthogonally to the latter, in use, being intended to wrap at least partly around a portion of the loading pallet P.

In detail, the first fastening arm 14 has a main portion 17 extending along a longitudinal direction extended between the main body 2 and the end 16. In use, the longitudinal direction is substantially horizontal. This means that the abutment portion 15 projects from the main portion 17 along a direction substantially transverse to the longitudinal direction.

This conformation allows the first fastening arm 14 to wrap around portions of the loading pallet P having at least one pair of surfaces arranged transversely to each other, such as e.g. the supporting feet B of the loading pallet P. Conveniently, the abutment portion 15 lies on a vertical plane passing through the end 16 of the first fastening arm 14. Such a conformation allows the first fastening arm 14 to fasten to at least one surface of the vertically arranged loading pallet P.

In detail, the first fastening arm 14 has an inner surface 14a adapted to adhere to the portion of the loading pallet P and having a substantially flat shape. Specifically, the inner surface 14a of the main portion 17 and that of the abutment portion 15 lie on respective vertical planes transverse to each other.

As shown in the figures, the first fastening arm 14 extends substantially parallel to the first lateral wall 6 and substantially transverse to the second lateral wall 7. Appropriately, the fastening means 4 comprise at least a second fastening arm 18 having an elongated conformation and extending substantially transversely to the second lateral wall 7 and substantially parallel to the first lateral wall 6. Conveniently, the second fastening arm 18 has an end 19 provided with an abutment surface 20 intended, in use, to abut against at least one portion of the loading pallet P.

In detail, the second fastening arm 18 has a central portion 21 extending along a longitudinal direction between the main body 2 and one end 19. In use, the longitudinal direction is substantially horizontal. The abutment surface 20 projects from the central portion 21 along a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction and, in use, substantially horizontal.

In detail, the second fastening arm 18 has an upper edge 22 and a lower edge 23. The abutment surface 20 is arranged at the lower edge 23.

This shape allows the second fastening arm 18 to fasten to a transverse element T of the loading pallet P.

Specifically, in use, the central portion 21 is arranged side by side with the transverse element T, while the abutment surface 20 adheres to the lower surface of the transverse element T.

For this purpose, the abutment surface 20 has a substantially flat conformation so as to adhere, for example, to the lower surface of the transverse element T of the loading pallet P.

In addition, the abutment surface 20 lies on a horizontal plane orthogonal to the lower edge 23. To summarize, the supporting element 1 is mountable preferably at an angle A of the loading pallet P by arranging the first fastening arm 14 and the second fastening arm to wrap at least partly around a foot B and a transverse element T of the loading pallet P.

Such a conformation of the fastening means 4 allows the main body 2 to be stably associated with the loading pallet P, thus preventing the rotation and tilting of the stiffening elements E supported by the supporting element 1.

In order to disassemble the supporting element 1 from the loading pallet P, it is necessary to deform at least one of either the first fastening arm 14 or the second fastening arm 18, by applying a tensile force such that at least one of the two fastening arms 14, 18 is broken.

It cannot however be ruled out that the fastening means 4 can be configured to fasten the main body 2 to the loading pallet P in a removable manner. This can facilitate the mounting and disassembly of the supporting element 1 to the loading pallet P, as well as making it possible to use the same supporting element 1 for several loading units U.

For this purpose, at least one of either the first or the second fastening arms 14, 18 is made movable by the effect of an external and/or elastic force between at least: one fastening position wherein the fastening arm 14, 18 abuts against a portion of the loading pallet P to fasten thereto, and one release position wherein the fastening arm 14, 18 is moved away from the portion of the loading pallet P to release therefrom.

Appropriately, the main body 2 comprises at least one wedge-shaped element 24 arranged transversely to the first lateral wall 6 and the second lateral wall 7 and intended, in use, to adhere superiorly to the loading pallet P.

Conveniently, the wedge-shaped element 24 is shaped to be fitted inferiorly to the goods positioned on the loading pallet P.

In this way, the weight exerted by the goods on the wedge-shaped element 24 allows strengthening the fastening of the main body 2 to the loading unit U, thus stabilizing the main body 2 and the stiffening element E mounted thereon. Conveniently, the wedge-shaped element 24 has a lower surface 25 adapted to adhere to the supporting surface and substantially flat in shape, and an upper surface 26 inclined with respect to the lower surface 25 to make an invitation for the insertion of the wedge-shaped element 24 inferiorly to the goods positioned on the loading pallet P.

Usefully, the wedge-shaped element 24 is positioned between the adhesion portion 5 and the receiving portion 11. Thus, in use, the adhesion portion 5 is arranged in contact with the loading pallet P and the receiving portion 11 is arranged superiorly to the loading pallet P.

In other words, the adhesion portion 5 extends along one of its heights between a lower edge 5c and the wedge-shaped element 24.

According to one embodiment shown in Figure 2, the height of the adhesion portion 5 has a smaller dimension than a height of the loading pallet P. Specifically, with reference to the loading pallet P, the term “height” is intended to denote the distance between the supporting plane and the ground S on which the loading pallet P is resting.

According to another embodiment, shown in Figure 4, the adhesion portion 5 extends along a direction of longitudinal development having an extension equal to the height of the loading pallet P. The adhesion portion 5 is provided with a lower edge 5c, in use, abutting against a supporting plane S. The adhesion portion 5 can abut against the supporting plane S, thus unloading the weight of the supported stiffening elements onto the latter. Preferably, the supporting plane S coincides with the soil S or the ground on which the loading pallet P rests.

Conveniently, the main body 2 comprises at least one spacer element 27 associated externally with the main body 2 to allow it to be spaced apart from additional loading units arranged adjacent to the loading unit U.

By means of this expedient, it is possible to protect the strap from any creeping against additional loading units U or walls, while also making it easier to move and handle the loading unit U, as it can be easily slipped off.

As shown in Figure 1, the spacer element 27 is placed on the adhesion portion Preferably, the spacer element 27 has a convex shape.

Appropriately, the main body 2 comprises a pair of spacer elements 27 one of which is arranged on the first lateral wall 6 and the other on the second lateral wall 7.

As shown in Figure 1, the main body 2 has at least one housing 28 adapted to receive at least one blocking element to enable the insertion thereof into at least one sidewall F of the loading pallet P with which the main body 2 is associated. Preferably, the blocking element is provided with at least one shank which is adapted to be inserted into the loading pallet P and an abutment portion adapted to abut the surface of the adhesion portion 5 to block it against the loading pallet P. For example, the blocking element can be a nail, a staple, a U-bolt or the like. In the present case, the housing 28 is made at the adhesion portion 5 and has at least one of either a through slot 29 or a through hole 30.

In particular, the through slot 29 has an elongated conformation and extends substantially vertically so that the height at which to arrange the blocking element can be varied.

Appropriately, the main body 2 has at least one pair of through slots 29 arranged side-by-side to receive at least one U-shaped blocking element, such as a staple or a U-bolt, where a blocking portion is identified positioned between a pair of shanks.

In detail, each through slot 29 is adapted to receive a shank of the blocking element so that the latter can extend between the pair of through slots 29 by abutting against the surface of the adhesion portion 5 positioned between the pair of through slots 29.

Preferably, the main body 2 has a pair of through slots 29 arranged on the first lateral wall 6 and a pair of through slots 29 arranged on the second lateral wall

7.

Appropriately, the main body 2 has a plurality of through holes 30 arranged aligned along the adhesion portion 5 in order to arrange the blocking element in different positions. Preferably, the plurality of through holes 30 is arranged between the pair of through slots 29.

Even more preferably, the main body 2 has a first plurality of through holes 30 arranged on the first lateral wall 6 and a second plurality of through holes 30 arranged on the second lateral wall 7.

It has in practice been ascertained that the described invention achieves the intended objects, and in particular, the fact is emphasized that the supporting element 1 allows the stiffening elements to be associated with a loading pallet in a stable and effective manner, isolating them from soil moisture.