PALLET FRAMES

1437496 Pallet stacking frames PALLETOWER Ltd 1 Nov 1974 [14 Dec 1973] 58148/73 Heading B8H A support structure for use in stacking pallets, and/or for converting a pallet into a walled container, comprises four frame sections which can be interconnected on or around the periphery of a pallet to provide a frame mountable on or around the pallet, two of the frame sections in use forming side sections while the other two form end sections, each of the frame sections which in use form end sections being detachably attachable to the side sections in such a manner as to permit relative vertical sliding movement of the frame sections but to prevent separation thereof in any horizontal direction. Each side section comprises a pair of upright posts 2 interconnected by upper and lower cross bars 3, 4, each post 2 being of right-angle section having a ground engaging base plate 5, a lip 2a opposite to a wall 2b and three apertured washers 6 (only two of which are shown) spaced along the post 2, while each end section comprises a pair of upright posts 8 of right-angle section interconnected by upper and lower cross bars 9, 10, three washers 11 (only two shown) each having a downwardly projecting pin 12 being welded to each post 8. If the support structure is to be mounted on a pallet the two side sections are first attached thereto with a corner of the pallet being located between each base plate 5 and an angle cleat 7 on the associated post 2 and the end sections are then raised such that the pins 12 are each located above an apertured washer 6 in the side sections, the end sections then being lowered so that the pins 12 engage in the apertures of the associated washers 6, thereby fastening the end sections to the side sections. In the assembled condition of the frame sections the posts 2, 8 enclose the associated interengaging parts 11, 12, 6. Each pin 12 is a minor proportion of the length of its associated post 8, and disengagement of the end sections from the side sections is effected by raising the end sections through a distance equal to the length of a pin 12. In an alternative embodiment the interengagement of the sections is effected by means of T-section flanges (22a, 23a), Figs. 5, 6 (not shown).