Stillage for transport and display of articles

• US 20090272705A1
• Filed: 02/27/2009
• Published: 11/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bilotto Francis
• Original Assignee: Bilotto Francis
• Inventors: Francis, Bilotto
• Granted Patent: US 7,967,157 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 211/126.120
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 2005/165 with inclined display surface
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 3/142 Display trays to be placed on the floor, e.g. by means of legs or of integrated cabinets underneath
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 5/12 Tiltable stands
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 5/13 made of tubes or wire assemblies of elements of the same kind, e.g. stackable, A47B87/00
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 5/16 Platform-type show stands with flat, inclined, or curved upper surface
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 19/08 made wholly or mainly of metal
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 19/385 Frames, corner posts or pallet converters, e.g. for facilitating stacking of charged pallets
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00024 Metal
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00059 Metal
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00164 Metal
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00233 Metal
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00273 made of more than one piece
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00293 made of more than one piece
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00298 skeleton type
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00323 made of more than one piece
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00338 contact surface having a discrete foot-like shape
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00532 Frame structures
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00616 structures not intended to be disassembled
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00666 Structures not intended to be disassembled
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00676 Structures intended to be disassembled
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/0096 : when empty
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/0097 : through corner posts

Abstract

An array of stillages mounted on top of each other or one stillage is able to be disposed at an angle to another. The advantage of this arrangement is that space between adjacent stillages in an array can be adjusted to hold a range of different sized articles during transport. A further advantage is that once the articles have reached their destination, the array of stillages can be further adjusted to angle one platform relative to another. In this way articles, which have been transported can then be displayed professionally by reconfiguring the array of stillages after reaching a destination.

Claims

1. An improved stackable stillage for transport and display of articles including:

a base frame including a generally planar platform for receiving an article or plurality of articles thereon;

a series of spaced apart support legs, each having a foot, connected to the base frame for supporting the platform of the base frame;

a side frame mounted on the base frame or the support legs and forming a retaining wall about at least a portion of the platform for retaining article(s) thereon; and

a connecting head mounted on the base frame or the support legs and extending above the side frame and able to engage the corresponding foot of second stillage in a stackable array.

2. An improved stackable stillage according to claim 1 wherein the connecting head is shaped to receive a height adjustment element adapted to engage the foot of a second stillage in a stackable array, wherein the distance and angle between one platform of one stillage and a platform of an adjacent stillage in a stack of stillages can be adjusted to provide accommodation for a range of different sized articles in the stack and to angle at least one of the stillages for display of articles in the stillages following transport of said stillages.

3. An improved stackable stillage according to claim 2 wherein the support legs of the stillage include a foot having an outwardly expanding structure to increase the ground engaging footprint for stabilising the stillage.

4. An improved stackable stillage according to claim 3 wherein the foot of each support leg includes a bulbous structure with a recessed under portion having an outwardly expanding cavity to the open bottom for receiving an upper portion of the connecting head or a height adjustment element of an adjacent stillage in an array and tending to a central position to allow stable stacking of one stillage on top of another.

5. An improved stackable stillage according to claim 4 wherein the base frame is mounted to the support leg for raising the base frame above the foot.

6. An improved stackable stillage according to claim 5 wherein the support leg includes a sleeve for receiving the height adjustment element.

7. An improved stackable stillage system for transport and display of articles including a plurality of stillages and a plurality of releasable height adjustment elements

wherein the stillages include:

a base frame including a generally planar platform for receiving an article or plurality of articles thereon;

a series of spaced apart support legs, each having a foot, connected to the base frame for supporting the platform of the base frame;

a side frame mounted on the base frame or the support legs and forming a retaining wall about at least a portion of the platform for retaining article(s) thereon; and

the plurality of height adjustment elements are adapted to receive a second stillage in a stackable array, wherein the distance and angle between one platform and its neighbouring platform in a stack of stillages can be adjusted to provide accommodation for a range of different sized articles in the stack and display said articles following transport of said articles and

a connecting head mounted on the base frame or the support legs extending above the side frame and able to engage the foot of a second stillage or one of the plurality of height adjustment elements of a second stillage in a stackable array.

8. An improved stackable stillage according to claim 7 wherein the height adjustment element has a bottom portion complementary in shape to the sleeve and thereby adapted to slidably and releasably locate within the sleeve of the support leg and top portion forming a shape like a connecting head so as to engage the foot of a second stillage or one of the plurality of height adjustment elements of a second stillage in a stackable array.

9. An improved stackable stillage according to claim 8 wherein the foot of each support leg includes a bulbous structure with a recessed under portion having an outwardly expanding cavity to the open bottom for receiving an upper portion of the connecting head or a height adjustment element of an adjacent stillage in an array and tending to a central position to allow stable stacking of one stillage on top of another.

10. An improved stackable stillage according to claim 9 wherein the support leg includes a leg for raising the base frame above the foot.

11. An improved stackable stillage according to any one of claim 10 wherein the support leg includes a sleeve for receiving the height adjustment element.

12. An improved stackable stillage according to claim 11 wherein the sleeve is a pair of spaced apart sleeve members, which receive the height adjustment element in sliding engagement.

13. An improved stackable stillage according to any one of claims 12 wherein the height adjustment element includes a tongue whereby the tongue engages one of the sleeve members in sliding arrangement.

14. An improved stackable stillage according to any one of claims 13 wherein the height adjustment elements of certain lengths are selected to selectively alter the distance between an adjacent stacked stillage.

15. An improved stackable stillage system according to any one of claims 14 wherein the height adjustment element allows adjustment of space between a platform relative to its neighbouring platform to accommodate different sized articles within an array of stillages.

16. An improved stackable stillage system according to any one of claims 15 wherein the height adjustment element(s) is separately adjusted to angularly position the platform of one stillage relative to its neighbouring stillage such that the stillages can be used as a means for displaying articles once they have been transported.

17. A stillage assembly system comprising at least a first and second stillage being adjustably mounted in a stacking condition, the at least first and second stillage including:

a base frame including a platform for receiving an article or plurality of articles thereon, and a peripheral frame edge, wherein the base frame is supported by support legs such that the platform is held off the ground;

a plurality of support legs, the support legs having a leg ending in a foot portion wherein the peripheral frame edge of the base frame is mounted to the legs of the support legs,

at least one side panel mounted to the leg, wherein the side panel is above the base frame and being at least in part co-extensive with the platform to form a retaining wall for the article(s) stored on the base frame;

adjustable legs and wherein the leg members include a foot for stabilising the stillage system during transport and receiving leg members of an adjacent stillage;

and wherein in a stacked condition the leg members can be adjusted to alter the distance between the platform of the at least first and second stillages to accommodate a range of different sized articles and wherein one stillage can be angled relative to another so that articles resting on at least one platform can be presented for display.

18. A stillage assembly system in accordance with claim 17 wherein the stillage is a square or rectangular shape including four adjustable leg members at each corner position.

19. A stillage assembly system in accordance with claim 18 wherein the stillage includes vertical cross members linking the base frame and the side panel to improve the strength of a stillage.

20. A stillage assembly system in accordance with claim 19 wherein the base frame includes a central mesh portion surrounded by a peripheral edge and the corner sections of the peripheral edge can be mounted to corresponding leg members.