The present invention relates to a transport rack which is used for the transport of bulky goods and goods which require careful handling.

Loading and unloading of bulky and fragile goods is almost always connected to bad ergonomic conditions which leads to problems in work environment. The operator will have to lean, often in connection with turning, over a load surface often causing the problems. This will put great stress on, foremost, the back of the operator. The problems will of course increase if the goods is heavy, but even light goods will often cause injuries at repeated handling.

Bulky, elongated and fragile goods is also often damaged during handling as the operator is forced to hold and handle the goods from one end at one time or another during the handling. The other end of the goods will then be difficult to manoeuvre causing thrust and scrape damages which easily causes subsequent rejections. These types of damages on the goods will in most cases occur when the goods is placed in, or fetched from, the transport rack. It is also very difficult or alt least very time consuming to apply protective inter-layer in cases where the operator cannot reach both ends of the goods at the same time.

It has, through the present invention, been made possible to overcome the above mentioned problems, whereby a rational handling of bulky and fragile goods has been achieved. Accordingly, the invention relates to a rack for handling of bulky goods, which rack is provided with a base member with a load surface, four edges of which at least two, preferably opposite edges are provided upwards extending, suitably foldable, members. The invention is characterised in that the rack is provided with a left edge, a right edge, a rear edge and a front edge, as seen from the operators point of view. At least the left edge and the right edge is provided with one upwards extending member each. The front edge and/or the rear edge is provided with an opening or one opening each. The opening or openings have a width which allows the operator to be located herein. A singular opening extends towards the opposite edge to a distance from which the operator may reach the opposite edge while dual openings extends to a distance from each other from where an operator may reach the opposite edge over the centre part formed between the two openings. The rear and/or front wall is suitably provided with one or more upwards extending sections.

The upwards extending members placed on the left and the right edges are suitably moveably arranged on the base member whereby they can be located in an upwards directed position where they protect and supports the contents of the rack, and a folded position where the upwards extending members are arranged along the load surface.

The base member is suitably provided with supporting members on the lower side. The upwards extending members are further suitably provided with members which are intended to receive the supporting members of a rack placed above.

The upwards extending members, or the base member is suitably provided with receiving means which are intended to receive the supporting members of a rack placed above when the upwards extending members are in a down-folded position.

At least one of the upwards extending members are suitably allowed to assume three positions where the first position is a down-folded empty transport position, the second position an erected goods transport position and the third position is an outwards folded loading and unloading position in which the accessibility of the load surface is increased by angling the upwards extending members somewhat outwards from the goods transport position so that the free width between the upwards extending members is increased in order to facilitate loading and unloading. The upwards extending members may alternatively be removed in connection to the loading and unloading.

The rack is suitably intended to be used together with a stand in connection to loading and unloading, which stand arranges the rack in an ergonomically correct work height. The base member is suitably further provided with recesses or tunnels for forklifts. The rack may be provided with a protective lid in order to protect the goods during transport. This lid is suitably designed so that it covers the open sides of the rack. Separate sides may alternatively be assembled with said lid. It is also possible to protect the contents from contamination through traditional tensional plastic foil.

The invention is further illustrated by means of enclosed figures showing different embodiments of the invention whereby, -figure 1 shows, schematically, in perspective view, an embodiment of a rack 1 according to the present invention.

-figure 2 shows, schematically, in perspective view, a part of the rack 1 from figure 1 where an upwards extending member 4 is folded down.

-figure 3 shows, schematically, in perspective view, a part of the rack 1 from figure 1 where an upwards extending member 4 is angled outwards.

-figure 4 shows, schematically, in perspective view, a second embodiment of a rack 1 according to the present invention.

Accordingly, figure 1 shows schematically and in perspective view, an embodiment of a rack 1 according to the present invention. The rack 1 is intended to be used for handling of bulky goods. The rack is provided with a base member 10 with a load surface 10'and four edges 2, which can be separated into a left edge 2', a right edge 2", a rear edge 2'"and a front edge 21V as seen from the operators point of view. The left edge 2'and right edge 2"are provided with each one foldable, upwards extending member 4'and 4"respectively. The front edge 21V is provided with an opening 5 which has a width which allows the operator to be located herein. The opening 5 extends towards the rear wall 2"'to a distance from which said operator can reach the rear edge 2"I. The rear edge 2"1 is provided with an upwards extending member 4 in the form of a support bar. This support bar is furthermore foldable.

The upwards extending members 4'and 4"respectively placed on the left edge 2 and the right edge 2II are suitably moveably arranged on the base member 10 whereby they can be located in an upwards directed position where they protect and supports the contents of the rack 1, and a folded position where the upwards extending members 41 and 411 respectively are arranged along the load surface 10'.

The foldable upwards extending members 4 are also allowed to be in a third position. The first position is a down-folded empty transport position, the second position an erected goods transport position and the third position is an outwards folded loading and unloading position in which the accessibility of the load surface lOI is increased by angling the upwards extending members 4 somewhat outwards (see figure 3) from the goods transport position so that the free width between the upwards extending members 4 is increased.

The base member 10 is suitably provided with supporting members 11 while the upper edges of the upwards extending members 4 are provided with members which are intended to receive the supporting members 11 of a rack 1 placed above.

The base member 10 is also provided with receiving means 12 (see figure 2) which are intended to receive the supporting members 11 of a rack 1 placed above when the upwards extending members 4 are in a down-folded position. The rack 1 is also intended to be used together with a stand li in connection to loading and unloading, which stand lI arranges the rack 1 in an ergonomically correct work height. The rack 1 may be provided with a protective lid during transport.

Accordingly, figure 4 shows, schematically and in perspective view an embodiment of a rack 1 according to the present invention. The rack 1 is intended to be used for handling of bulky goods. The rack 1 is provided with a base member 10 with a load surface 10'and four edges 2, which can be separated into a left edge 2', a right edge 2", a rear edge 2"'and a front edge 21V as seen from the operators point of view. The left edge 2I and right edge 2"are provided with each one foldable, upwards extended member 4I and 4II respectively. The front edge 2Iv and the rear edge 2IIt are provided with each one opening 5 which has a width which allows the operator to be located herein. The opening 5 extends towards the rear wall 2""to a distance from which said operator can reach the rear edge 2"'.

The openings 5 extends to a distance from each other from where an operator, from any opening 5, may reach the opposite edge 2 over the centre part 10"formed between the two openings. The rear wall 2'II and the front wall lOIV is suitably provided with upwards extending sections 4 in the form of support bars. These support bars are furthermore foldable.

The upwards extending members 4I and 4"respectively, placed on the left edge 2I and the right edge 2It are suitably moveably arranged on the base member 10 whereby they can be located in an upwards directed position where they protect and support the contents of the rack 1, and a folded position where the upwards extending members 4I and 4II respectively are arranged along the load surface 10'.

The foldable upwards extending members 4 are also allowed to be in a third position. The first position is a down-folded empty transport position, the second position an erected goods transport position and the third position is an outwards folded loading and unloading position in which the accessibility of the load surface lOI is increased by angling the upwards extending members 4 somewhat outwards (see figure 3) from the goods transport position so that the free width between the upwards extending members 4 is increased.

The base member 10 is, on the lower side, suitably provided with supporting members 11 while the upper edges of the upwards extending members 4 are provided with members which are intended to receive the supporting members 11 of a rack 1 placed above. The base member 10 is also provided with receiving means 12 (see figure 2) which are intended to receive the supporting members 11 of a rack 1 placed above when the upwards extending members 4 are in a down- folded position. The rack 1 is also intended to be used together with a stand 1'in connection to loading and unloading, which stand 1'arranges the rack 1 in an ergonomically correct work height. The rack 1 may be provided with a protective lid during transport.

The invention is not limited by the shown embodiment as this can be altered in different ways within the scope of the invention. It is, for example possible to provide the rear wall 2III with a whole, upwards extending member 4, like the one arranged on the right and left edges 2I and 2II respectively. It is also possible to provide the front wall 2,'with upwards extending members 4 which extends to the opening 5. The base member 10 may also be provided with a foldable or dismountable member which is placed in the opening 5.