Loadhog Limited

Gripple Limited

Hugh David Facey

John Makin

Brian Edward Shawcross

Derek Boaler

Lee Mark Giemza

Leigh Jowett

Neil Clarke

Matthew Steven Bacon

Mathias Henri Perret

A wire strand () comprises a plurality of wires (). The wires comprise a central king wire (), a first layer () of wires () arranged around the king wire, and a second layer () of wires () arranged around the first layer. The king wire is formed of steel having a carbon content of at least 0.3 wt %. Each wire of the first layer is formed of steel having a carbon content which is less than the carbon content of the king wire. Each wire of the second layer is formed of steel having a carbon content which is greater than, or the same as, the carbon content of the wires of the first layer.

Multiple layer wire strand

A device for use on palletized loads of containers for maintaining tension in vertical strapping comprises a rectangle () having outer dimensions commensurate with the dimensions of a pallet or dolly on which. containers are to be stacked in layers, each side of the rectangle comprising upper and lower leaves (L,L) diverging from hinge means at the inner edge of the side, the lower leaves (L) of all four sides being disposed in a common plane, and spring means () urging the outer edges of the upper and lower leaves apart. In one form of the device () the sides of a pair of rectangular frames () constitute the upper and lower leaves (L,L) and conical coil compression springs () are provided between the frames to urge them apart, tethering means () adjacent the inner edges of the frames being such as to form the hinge means between the leaves, while tethering means () adjacent the outer edges of the frames limit the extent to which the leaves (L,L) are caused to diverge. In other forms the spring means is integral with the hinge means.

Palletised loads of containers

A load-carrying dolly having four wheels () adjacent the corners of its platform () is rendered immobile by conversion to a pallet-like condition by lowering bearers () into contact with the floor or ground () and then raising the platform () slightly to raise the wheels () clear of the floor or ground by means of either of two pedals (), one below each end of the platform (), with linkage (of either of two forms, not shown) to bars () connecting in 'slave' pairs of toggle links () by means of which the bearers are suspended through beams () connecting upward extensions () at the ends of the bearers (), the toggle links in each pair becoming locked by mating abutments () coming together when the links have passed slightly beyond in-line position, the mechanical advantage of the depressed pedal (or) being amplified by that of the pairs of toggle links when passing through in-line positions.

Transporting loads

A preferred form of slip sheet () for use between layers (L) of containers, especially bottles (), in a palletised load, comprises a rectangular board () having marginal portions () formed with corrugations () extending perpendicular from their edges and merging into the general plane of the board (), whereby, in use, a 'throat' (TD) is formed between the upward corrugations () on a lower slip sheet () and the downward corrugations () on an upper slip sheet () which prevents 'walking' of the outermost rows of bottles () in the intervening layer. Curved corners of the board () are provided with diverging corrugations (X,X) to prevent &#x2018;walking&#x2019; of bottles () from the corners of layers (L). A plurality of such slip sheets () can be stacked compactly and with great stability by virtue of the corrugations () nesting in the corrugations of neighbouring slip sheets.

A cap for use on a palletized load has a main mauling providing housings at a pair or two pairs of opposite sides for a cassette in which a strap passes through a slotted crossbar between a drum and a hook having two prongs for engaging the underside of the platform of a pallet (e.g. at each side of a middle spacer), the strap then being tensioned by a linkage between the slotted crossbar and a lever within a slot for swinging between an inoperative position and an operative position (e.g. up to 90&#xb0; thereto) to rotate the crossbar to wind the strap thereon.

Cap for palletised loads

A cap for use on a palletized load has a main moulding providing housings at a pair or two pairs of opposite sides for a cassette in which a strap passes through a slotted crossbar between a drum and a hook having two prongs for engaging the underside of the platform of a pallet (e.g. at each side of a middle spacer), the strap then being tensioned by a linkage between the slotted crossbar and a lever within a slot for swinging between an inoperative position and an operative position (e.g. up to 90&#xb0; thereto) to rotate the crossbar to wind the strap thereon.

A mechanism for suspending equipment from an overhead structural member includes a suspension strand, e.g. of wire or wire rope, provided at one end with a screwthreaded portion, together with a locking device having in bores each preferably associated with a wedging mechanism which prevents withdrawal of the free end of the strand in the opposite direction to insertion. The screwthreaded portion may be screwed into the overhead structural member, or into the equipment, the free end of the strand passed through one bore of the locking device, through an eye on the equipment or round the equipment, or through an eye on the overhead structural member or round the overhead structural member, then back through the other bore of the locking device to be secured therein by the wedging mechanism.

Suspending equipment

Load strapping means for use with 4-way pallet comprises a cap ( ) for placing on a load ( ) on a 4-way pallet ( ), at least two strapping strands ( ) retractable through openings ( ) into housings ( ) at opposite sides (at least) of the cap, spring means within the housings for retracting the strapping strands, hooks ( ) on the free ends of the strapping strands for engagement with the underside ( ) of the platform ( ) of a 4-way pallet, tensioning means within the housings for tightening the strapping strands between the cap and the pallet after interposing a load between the cap and the pallet, and stop means ( ) for limiting retraction of the hooks into the housings when not engaged with a pallet. Such a cap ( ) can be used without need to modify existing 4-way pallets, particularly&mdash;but not exclusively&mdash;those made of wood. Each hook ( ) preferably has two prongs ( ) spaced apart so as to fit one to each side of a middle spacer ( ) of a 4-way pallet, without being in danger of damage or dislodgement by the forks of a fork-lift truck.

Load handling pallets and load strapping means

Devices for clamping wires, etc.

A method of suspending equipment (40) from an overhead structural member (37) comprises providing a first eye (36) on the overhead member (37), providing a suspension strand (20) with a loop (21) at one end, passing the other, free, end (38) of the strand (20) through the eye (36) and through the loop (21), passing the free end (38) of the strand (20) through one bore (24A) of a locking device (23) of the type having twin bores at least one of which is associated with wedging means preventing withdrawal in the opposite direction to insertion, providing a second eye (39) on the equipment (40) to be suspended, passing the free end (38) of the strand (20) through the eye (39) on the equipment (40), and passing the free end (38) of the strand (20) through the other bore (24B) of the aforesaid device (23). Variations include passing the free end (38) of the strand (20) round the overhead member (37), through the loop (21) and through the first bore (24A) of the locking device (23), and/or from the locking device (23) passing the free end (38) of the strand (20) round the equipment and through the other bore (24B) of the locking device (23).

Growing community of inventors

Sheffield, United Kingdom

Hugh David Facey