DISPOSITIFS D'ACCOUPLEMENT

INTERLOCKING DEVICES

Abrégé français

L'invention a trait à un dispositif d'accouplement destiné à bloquer des éléments ensemble. Ledit dispositif comprend : au moins un premier élément tubulaire (1) ; au moins un deuxième élément tubulaire (2), qui peut être arrangé pour s'interconnecter avec le premier élément, le deuxième élément (2) comportant une ouverture qui, lors de l'utilisation, repose dans l'intérieur creux du premier élément (1) ; et au moins un troisième élément (3, 4), qui peut être inséré dans l'ouverture pour reposer dans l'intérieur creux du premier élément (1), ce qui bloque les trois éléments ensemble. Dans un premier mode de réalisation de l'invention, les premier et deuxième éléments comprennent les éléments entrecroisés d'une palette. Dans un autre mode de réalisation, les éléments servent à construire une barrière. L'invention permet d'assembler une structure très solide sans faire appel à des outils.

Abrégé anglais

An interlocking device for locking components together is provided, comprising
at least one first tubular component (1), at least one second component (2),
arrangeable to interconnect with the first component, the second component (2)
having an opening which, in use, lies within the hollow interior of the first
component (1). There is also at least one third component (3, 4) insertable
into the opening to lie within the hollow interior of the first component (1),
thus locking all three components together. Figure 1 illustrates a first
embodiment of the invention in which the first and second components comprise
intersecting members of a pallet. In another embodiment, the components are
used to construct a fence. The invention enables a very robust structure to be
assembled without the use of tools.

Revendications

7
CLAIMS
1. An interlocking device for locking components together, comprising a first
tubular component, a second component arrangeable to interconnect with the
first component, the second component having an opening which, in use, lies
within the hollow interior of the first component, and a third component
insertable into the opening to lie within the hollow interior of the first
component thus locking all three components together.
2. An interlocking device as claimed in Claim 1, in which the second
component fits into a slot in a side wall of the first component.
3. An interlocking device as claimed in Claim 2, comprising a pallet in which
a plurality of said first components are spaced apart to comprise main
structural members of the pallet and a plurality of said second components are
spaced apart to comprise secondary structural members of the pallet.
4. An interlocking device as claimed in Claim 3, in which the pallet is shaped
to support a cylindrical load such as a roll, the secondary structural members
comprising cross members which act as chocks to retain the roll in position.
5. An interlocking device as claimed in Claim 4, such that the position and
height of the chocks can be varied during construction to accommodate any
desired size and weight of cylindrical load.
6. An interlocking device as claimed in Claim 4 or Claim 5, in which an
additional chock is provided to aid loading and unloading.
7. An interlocking device as claimed in Claim 1, in which the second
component fits into an aperture extending through side walls of the first
component.

8
8. An interlocking device as claimed in Claim 7, comprising a fence in which
a plurality of said first components are spaced apart to form upright posts of
the fence and at least one of said second components extends between at
least two uprights to form a cross rail of the fence.
9. An interlocking device as claimed in Claim 8, wherein rails can be set at
various angles to allow the fence to change direction, for example to go round
corners.
10. An interlocking device as claimed in Claim 8 or Claim 9, where an upright
post is secured into ground using foundation bars.
11. An interlocking device as claimed in any one of Claims 8 to 10, wherein
laths or panels extend between spaced apart upright posts.
12. An interlocking device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in
which two third components are inserted into each second component, the two
third components being spaced apart to abut respectively against opposite
inner walls of the first component, thus preventing the second component from
moving with respect to the first component.
13. An interlocking device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in
which each component comprises a tube.
14. An interlocking device as claimed in Claim 13, in which the tubes have a
substantially square cross-section.
15. An interlocking device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in
which the components are made from plastics material, metal or wood or from
a combination of these materials.

9
16. An interlocking device substantially as herein described, with reference
to
and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Description

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INTERLOCKING DEVICES
The invention relates to interlocking devices, and particularly to devices for
locking components together, for a variety of purposes.
The invention provides an interlocking device for locking components together,
comprising a first tubular component, a second component arrangeable to
interconnect with the first component, the second component having an
opening which, in use, lies within the hollow interior of the first component,
and
to a third component insertable into the opening to lie within the hollow
interior of
the first component thus locking all three components together.
The invention enables components to be interlocked in a very robust and
secure manner, without the use of special tools.
The second component may fit into a slot in a side wall of the first
component.
One embodiment of interlocking device according to the invention comprises a
pallet in which a plurality of second first components are spaced apart to
2o comprise main structural members of the pallet and a plurality of said
second
components are spaced apart to comprise secondary structural members of
the pallet.
Many industries produce rolls of their product, from paper and plastic to
steel.
Cylindrical loads such as these rolls need a product (usually a pallet) to
assist
in handling, storage and transportation.
A pallet according to the invention may be shaped to support a cylindrical
load
such as a roll, the secondary structural members comprising cross members
3o which act as chocks to retain the roll in position.

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Thus, this embodiment of the invention enables rolls to be palletised without
the need for strapping. The embodiment also allows the rolls to be handled by
the various derivatives of forklift and pallet trucks. The embodiment enables
rolls to be stored in racking and can be used for transporting and shipping of
the rolls.
This embodiment may be such that the position and height of the chocks can
be varied during construction to accommodate any desired size and weight of
cylindrical load.
to
An additional chock may be provided to aid loading and unloading. Such a
chock can be used to prevent the roll from overshooting during loading.
If desired a saddle may be provided to support a roll, instead of or in
addition
to chocks.
In another embodiment of the invention, the second component fits into an
aperture extending through side walls of the first component.
2 o For example the interlocking device may comprise a fence in which a
plurality
of said first components are spaced apart to form upright posts of the fence
and at least one of said second components extends between at least two
uprights to form a cross rail of the fence.
The rails may be set at various angles to allow the fence to change direction,
for example to go round corners.
An upright post may be secured into ground using foundation bars.
3o Laths or panels may extend between spaced apart upright posts.

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The interlocking device may be such that two third components are inserted
into each second component, the two third components being spaced apart to
abut respectively against opposite inner walls of the first component, thus
preventing the second component from moving with respect to the first
component.
Each component may comprise a tube and the tubes may have a substantially
square cross section.
1o The components may be made from plastics material, metal or wood, or from a
combination of these materials.
By way of example, specific embodiments of the invention will now be
described, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the invention comprising
a pallet;
Figure 2 is a side view of the pallet, showing the inside of the main
structural
2 o members of the pallet;
Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the pallet in use;
Figure 4 is a side view of a second embodiment of the invention comprising a
2s fence;
Figure 5 is a perspective view of the fence shown in Figure 4; and
Figure 6 shows an alternative method of fixing an upright post of the fence.
The pallet shown in Figure 1 comprises three main structural members 1,
intersecting with four secondary structural members 2.

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Each of the secondary structural members 2 fits within a slot 5 cut into a
side
wall of the main structural members 1.
s Where each secondary structural member 2 lies within one of the main
structural members 1, the secondary structural member has two square cross-
section passageways passing through its side walls.
In order to lock the structural members together, smaller, square cross-
section
to components 3 and 4 are pushed inside the main structural members 1 to slide
into the square apertures in the side walls of the secondary structural
members 2, as shown in Figure 2.
It will be seen that the components 3 abut against one upper corner of a main
15 structural member 1, and the components 4 abut against an opposite upper
corner of a structural member 1. This produces an extremely robust
construction and locks the secondary components 2 against movement with
respect to the main structural components 1.
2 o The holes in the side walls of tine members 2 are made slightly undersize,
so
that the components 3 and 4 have to be forced into position so that they are
then securely held in place by frictional forces.
All the components shown in Figures 1 and 2 are initially constructed by
2s extruding plastics material.
The two inner secondary structural members 2 are of slightly greater height
than the outer two members and they thus provide a chocking effect when a
cylindrical load such as a roll is placed on the pallet. Such a roll is shown
at 6
3o in Figure 3.

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The arrangement of the components allows variations in roll size to be catered
for and the height of the members 2 can be pre-selected during manufacture to
provide varying levels of resistance to movement.
5 A secondary chock 7 may also be used.
The embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 4 comprises a fence made
up of vertical upright posts 8 and cross rails 9.
to With this embodiment, instead of fitting into side slots, the rails 9 pass
through
rectangular apertures 10 (see Figure 6) in the posts 8. Each rail 9 has a pair
of square holes passing vertically down through the rail where each rail lies
within one of the posts 8. This enables smaller, square cross section locking
components 11 and 12 to be forced down into the posts 8, from the top of the
posts, to pass through the holes in the rails 9 and thus lock all the
components
together. Each component 11 abuts against one inner wall of a post 8 and the
other component 12 abuts against the opposite inner wall of a post 8, so that
the rails 9 are locked against movement with respect to the posts 8.
2o After the locking components 11 and 12 have been inserted, caps 13 are
fitted
onto the posts.
The arrangement shown in Figures 4 and 5 has foundation bars 14 fitted to the
bottom of the posts 8 to facilitate location of the posts in the ground.
In the alternative arrangement shown in Figure 6, the posts 8 are provided
with
base plates 15 which can be bolted to a support surface.
Although the fence arrangement shown in Figures 4 and 5 extend in a straight
line, apertures 10 may be provided in adjacent faces in some of the posts so
that a fence can be constructed having 90° corners.

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The fence posts 8 may not necessarily be square, and apertures 10 may be
provided at angles other than 90°, to enable any particular fence to
change
direction with any desired angle.
The reader's attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed
concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this
application and which are open to public inspection with this specification,
and
the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by
reference.
to
All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any
accompanying
claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or
process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except
combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually
i s exclusive.
Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying
claims, abstract and drawings), may be replaced by alternative features
serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated
20 otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed
is
one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.
The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s).
The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the
2 s features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying
claims,
abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the
steps of any method or process so disclosed.