US-12623705-B2 - Load carrier with storage facility in the base for storing columns

US12623705B2US 12623705 B2US12623705 B2US 12623705B2US-12623705-B2

Abstract

A load carrier comprising a rectangular base frame and a plurality of support bars and/or plate portions surround by a frame portion is provided. The support bars may be transverse or longitudinal. Wheels may be provided on a bottom portion of the base frame. Connecting pieces may be provided on the base frame, for example at corners of the base frame, for receiving columns during use of the load carrier. Substantially U-shaped members may be provided on the support bars for receiving the columns when the load carrier is not in use. The substantially U-shaped members may have an upwardly open channel having sides and a base.

Inventors

Erling Mogensen

Assignees

UNI-TROLL EUROPE APS

Dates

Publication Date: 20260512
Application Date: 20220421
Priority Date: 20210423

Claims (16)

1 . A load carrier comprising; a base frame having a plurality of support bars surrounded by a frame portion; at least two sets of wheels coupled to a bottom face of the base frame; and at least one connecting piece for receiving a column for use of the load carrier; and a plurality of members coupled to the support bars, each of the members comprising an upwardly open channel having sides and a base, and a side protrusion on at least one of the sides of the member, wherein the side protrusion extends into the upwardly open channel of the member.
2 . The load carrier of claim 1 , further comprising a base protrusion formed on and rising from the base of the channel of the member.
3 . The load carrier of claim 2 , further comprising a side protrusion on at least one of the sides of the member, wherein the side protrusion extends into the upwardly open channel of the member, and wherein the base protrusion extends to a level even with a bottom end of the side protrusion.
4 . The load carrier of claim 1 , further comprising openings in the sides and/or the base of the member.
5 . The load carrier of claim 1 , wherein the members have a trapezoid cross section.
6 . The load carrier of claim 1 , wherein the members are placed with the upwardly open channels travelling in a longitudinal direction of the base frame.
7 . The load carrier of claim 1 , wherein the members are placed with the upwardly open channels travelling in a transverse direction of the base frame.
8 . The load carrier of claim 1 , wherein the base frame is rectangular and has four corners.
9 . The load carrier of claim 8 , wherein a connecting piece is provided at each of the four corners.
10 . The load carrier of claim 1 , wherein the members are substantially U-shaped.
11 . The load carrier of claim 1 , wherein the support bars are longitudinal support bars.
12 . The load carrier of claim 1 , wherein the support bars are transverse support bars.
13 . The load carrier of claim 1 , wherein the base frame further comprises at least one plate portion.
14 . A load carrier comprising; a base frame having a plurality of support bars surrounded by a frame portion; at least two sets of wheels coupled to a bottom face of the base frame; and at least one connecting piece for receiving a column for use of the load carrier; and a plurality of members coupled to the support bars, each of the members comprising an upwardly open channel having sides and a base; and pairs of side protrusions on sides of the members, wherein the pairs of side protrusions are arranged substantially opposite one another, and wherein the protrusions are arranged travelling slantwise such that a lower end of each of the protrusions is closer to an end of the member than an upper end of each of the protrusions.
15 . A load carrier comprising; a rectangular base frame having a plurality of support bars surrounded by a frame portion; at least two sets of wheels coupled to a bottom face of the base frame; and at least one connecting piece for receiving a column for use of the load carrier; and a plurality of substantially U-shaped members coupled to the support bars, each of the members comprising an upwardly open channel having sides and a base, at least one pair of side protrusions on each side of the members, and at least one base protrusion extending upwardly from the base.
16 . The load carrier of claim 15 , wherein a pair of side protrusions is arranged at an end area at each end of the member.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a National Stage Application of PCT/DK2022/050080, filed on 21 Apr. 2022, which claims benefit of Application No. PA202170185, filed on 23 Apr. 2021 in Denmark and which applications are incorporated herein by reference. A claim of priority to all, to the extent appropriate, is made. FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a load carrier comprising a rectangular base frame and a plurality of support bars and/or plate portions surround by a frame portion is provided. The support bars may be transverse or longitudinal. Wheels may be provided on a bottom portion of the base frame. Connecting pieces may be provided on the base frame, for example at corners of the base frame, for receiving columns during use of the load carrier. Substantially U-shaped members may be provided on the support bars for receiving the columns when the load carrier is not in use. The substantially U-shaped members may have an upwardly open channel having sides and a base. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Load carriers are well-known in the art. Such load carriers are for transport of plants and flowers, fruit and vegetables, or other goods or products and are commonly used in retailing. Existing load carrier have a base frame that forms a large open space, on which columns can be stored. The columns can be dismounted from the load carrier before empty return transport The columns are usually manufactured in shorter parts that can be combined to a longer column. Normally, a column is combined of two or more parts to obtain a height corresponding to a cargo compartment during transport. Such load carrier, or cart, is often provided with a set of front wheels and a set of rear wheels mounted on the bottom face of a base frame. Vertical columns are provided extending upwardly from corners of the base frame. One or more shelves are arranged between the columns to support the load of the cart. The shelves are usually connected to each of the vertical columns by means of hooks placed in the corners of the shelves. The hooks are configured to engage with slits placed at suitable intervals in the longitudinal direction of the columns, and the shelves can hereby be mounted or dismounted, moved and/or removed, depending on the situation or use. Because the shelves are removable, the load carriers take up less space during return transport in empty condition. A problem with prior art load carriers is that when the load carrier is to be returned empty, and the columns are arranged in the cavity of the base. There is no specificity to direction of the columns in the cavity of the base and the columns are randomly placed, for example such that they are not oriented in the same direction. Moreover, handling of the load carrier, when it is run over a foundation that is not completely plane, will lead to a great deal of unwanted noise. Thus, there is a need in the art for a load carrier providing arrangement and storage of the columns during transport in an empty condition such that the columns are not placed randomly, and so that the columns and the base frame do not make unnecessary noise BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The following presents a simplified summary of one or more embodiments of the present disclosure in order to provide a basic understanding of such embodiments. This summary is not an extensive overview of all contemplated embodiments, and is intended to neither identify key or critical elements of all embodiments, nor delineate the scope of any or all embodiments. A load carrier is provided that takes up less space during transport when it is returned empty, is easy to disassemble and assemble, and is noise-dampened when run over a foundation or transported in another manner. In one or more embodiments, the load carrier comprises a base frame having transverse longitudinal bars and/or plate portions. One or more substantially U-shaped members (also referred to as members) are coupled to the bars and/or plate portions. The U-shaped members comprise an upwardly open channel having sides and a base. The load carrier includes connecting pieces for attachment of columns. These may be provided at corners of the base frame. These U-shaped members form storage facilities for storage of the columns when the columns have been disassembled from connecting pieces. The U-shaped members receive the columns in a secure and defined position relative to the base frame. In such position, noise due to movement of the columns during transport of the load carrier is reduced. The defined position of the columns in the U-shaped members enables automation of laying down and lifting out, as well as assembly and disassembly of, the columns. For example, robot technology or another form of automated gripper arms may be used to assemble, disassemble, and move the columns. In one embodiment, one or more protrusions may be provided along the sides of the members, extending into the channel. These