Stand for storing and/or transporting glass panels of large dimensions

• US 9,463,937 B2
• Filed: 05/07/2013
• Issued: 10/11/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AGC Glass Europe SA (AGC, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AGC Glass Europe SA (AGC, Inc.)
• Inventors: Cruysmans, Harold, Piccininno, Michel, Careme, Jean-Charles, Zuccarini, Valeriano
• Primary Examiner(s): Michener, Joshua J
• Assistant Examiner(s): BARNETT, DEVIN K
• Application Number:
  US14/400,423
• Publication Number:
  US 20150136716A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,253 Days
• Field of Search: 211/198, 211/41.1, 211/41.14, 248/500, 248/505, 248/518, 248/523, 220/23.2, 220/23.4, 206/454, 206/451, 206/449, 206/386, 108/56.1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 21/0204 and joined together by interconnecting formations forming part of the container, e.g. dove-tail, snap connections, hook elements
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 85/48 for glass sheets
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 49/062 Easels, stands or shelves, e.g. castor-shelves, supporting means on vehicles; vehicles adapted to carry glass sheets B60P3/002; storing articles B65G1/00 or A47B53/02; packaging for glass sheets B65D85/48

Abstract

A stand for storing and/or transporting glass panels of large dimensions including a horizontal support structure and at least one support frame provided to support the glass panels. The stand comprises at least one securing device for securing the stand to another stand.

Claims

1. A stand for at least one of storing and transporting glass panels, said stand comprising:

a horizontal support structure;

at least one generally A-shaped supporting frame designed to support said panels in generally upright positions; and

at least one first fastening mechanism to fasten said stand to another stand, wherein the horizontal support structure of said stand is fastened to the horizontal support structure of said another stand in a laterally juxtaposed manner by the first fastening mechanism;

wherein the first fastening mechanism is fastened adjacent a transverse edge of an end of the horizontal support structure;

wherein the first fastening mechanism comprises a male part that projects from the stand and is designed to slot into a female part of a second fastening mechanism of the another stand; and

wherein the first fastening mechanism comprises a system to lock said male part in said female part;

wherein the first fastening mechanism comprises a unitary member having a male end and a female end;

wherein the first and second fastening mechanism are identical.

2. The stand as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first fastening mechanism is elongate and is shorter than or the same length as a width of the horizontal support structure.

3. The stand as claimed in claim 1, wherein the horizontal support structure comprises at least one guiding element in order to facilitate fastening the stand to the another stand, the at least one guiding element formed along one of longitudinal edges of the horizontal support structure.

4. The stand as claimed in claim 1, wherein, when in use, the panels are PLF or DLF glass panels.

5. The stand according to claim 1 for use in maritime transport of glass panels.

6. The stand as claimed in claim 1, wherein a base-to-height ratio of a plurality of the stands is adjustable by the first fastening mechanism.

7. The stand for glass panels according to claim 1, wherein the first fastening mechanism is attached to a top surface of the horizontal support structure.