Relating to stillages

Abstract

An apparatus for supporting a stillage wherein the apparatus includes a pallet rack ( 10 ) having at least two parallel, laterally spaced elongate frame members ( 11 ) that extend horizontally in use for supporting thereon a stillage ( 14 ) having four or more supporting feet ( 16 ). The apparatus also includes at least one foot-locating member ( 15 ) secured along an elongate frame member of the at least two parallel elongate frame members. The foot-locating member has an engagement means ( 22 ) for engaging with a foot of the stillage to define the location of the foot on the pallet rack for stabilising the stillage upon the rack. Also disclosed is a device for locating a stillage on a pallet rack.

1 . An apparatus for supporting a stillage, the apparatus including:
 a pallet rack having at least two parallel, laterally spaced elongate frame members that extend horizontally in use for supporting thereon a stillage having four or more supporting feet; and   at least one foot-locating member secured along an elongate frame member of the at least two parallel elongate frame members, the foot-locating member having an engagement means for engaging with a foot of said four or more feet to define the location of the foot on the pallet rack for stabilising the stillage upon the rack,   wherein the at least one foot-locating member is securable to the elongate frame member such that its position is adjustable along the elongate frame member.   
     
     
         2 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the position of the at least one foot-locating member is slidably adjustable along the elongate frame member. 
     
     
         3 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the position of the at least one foot-locating member is securable to the elongate frame member at an infinite number of positions along the elongate frame member. 
     
     
         4 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the foot-locating member is secured by a clamping means. 
     
     
         5 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the foot-locating member includes:
 a body portion having an upwardly directed engagement portion, the engagement portion including four corners arranged to define a perimeter of a rectangular space for fitting within a rectangular cup that opens downwardly from a supporting foot of the stillage such that the foot is locked against horizontal movement with respect to the engagement portion.   
     
     
         6 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 5 , wherein the body portion has an under-surface for resting on said elongate frame member, wherein the upwardly directed engagement portion is raised from the under-surface and configured to transfer the weight of the stillage to the elongate frame member, via the under-surface. 
     
     
         7 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus for supporting a stillage includes four foot-locating members, each foot-locating member being for engaging a corresponding foot of the said four feet. 
     
     
         8 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the pallet rack has a pair of support frames supporting the elongate frame members at respective longitudinally spaced locations, wherein the pallet rack is configured for supporting the stillage between the support frames. 
     
     
         9 . A device for locating a stillage on a pallet rack, the pallet rack having at least two rectangular elongate frame members extending in a horizontal plane for supporting thereon a stillage having four or more supporting feet, the device including:
 a body portion having
 (i) an under-surface for resting on a said elongate frame member of the pallet rack and 
 (ii) an engagement portion spaced from the under-surface and including four corners arranged to define a perimeter of a rectangular space for fitting within a cup above the under-surface and which opens downwardly from a supporting foot of the stillage such that the foot is locked against horizontal movement with respect to the engagement portion; and 
   a means for clamping the body portion to said rectangular elongate frame member on the pallet rack such that the engagement portion is upwardly directed after clamping, the clamping being at a position that is adjustable along the frame member.   
     
     
         10 . A device in accordance with  claim 9 , wherein the four corners define a flat horizontal plane when the body portion is clamped to the elongate frame member. 
     
     
         11 . A device in accordance with  claim 9 , wherein the rectangular space is a square space. 
     
     
         12 . A device in accordance with  claim 9 , wherein the device further includes opposing side members, extending from the body portion, for straddling the device around the rectangular elongate frame member to which the body portion is to be clamped. 
     
     
         13 . A device in accordance with  claim 12 , wherein the means for clamping is provided by a pair of threaded fasteners and nuts, each fastener traversing between the opposing side members, wherein the nuts are tightened to the fasteners to press the side members toward each other for clamping the elongate rectangular elongate frame member between the side members. 
     
     
         14 . A device in accordance with  claim 12 , wherein the means for clamping is provided by holes in at least one of the side members, wherein a fastener may be inserted therethrough for clamping a side member to the rectangular elongate frame member. 
     
     
         15 . A device in accordance with  claim 14 , wherein a threaded passage is aligned with each hole. 
     
     
         16 . A device in accordance with  claim 9 , wherein the rectangular space has wall portions along at least two opposing sides of the perimeter of the rectangular space. 
     
     
         17 . A device in accordance with  claim 16 , wherein there are at least two of said wall portions, the wall portions being portions of respective opposed walls of a first pair of opposed walls that are parallel to the side members. 
     
     
         18 . A device in accordance with  claim 9 , wherein the body portion includes a rectangular tube having the first pair of opposed walls and a second pair of opposed walls. 
     
     
         19 . A device in accordance with  claim 9 , wherein the four corners are corners of a top wall that is opposed to the under surface, the top wall filling the rectangular space. 
     
     
         20 . A device in accordance with  claim 9 , wherein the means for clamping the body portion to said rectangular elongate frame member on the pallet rack is configured to be tightened and untightened for adjusting the position of the device along the elongate frame member. 
     
     
         21 - 22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . An apparatus for supporting a stillage, the apparatus including:
 a rigid support having a length for spanning between parallel elongate frame members of a pallet rack that are configured to support thereon (i) the rigid support and (ii) at least one pallet; and   at least two foot-locating means projecting from the rigid support, the foot-locating members projecting in a common direction,   wherein the at least two foot-locating means are spaced and shaped to fit within cups of respective feet of a stillage, to define the location of the respective feet on the rigid support for stabilising the stillage upon the rigid support, and in turn, on the pallet rack when the rigid support spans between the parallel elongate frame members of the pallet rack.   
     
     
         24 . An apparatus according to  claim 23 , wherein the rigid support is a metal bar. 
     
     
         25 . An apparatus according to  claim 23 , wherein at least one of the foot-locating means has:
 a body portion including:
 (i) an under-surface for resting on a top surface of the rigid support, and 
 (ii) an engagement portion opposed to the under-surface and including four corners arranged to define a perimeter of a rectangular space and for tightly fitting within the cup of the corresponding stillage foot to lock the stillage, above the under-surface, and against horizontal movement with respect to the engagement portion. 
   
     
     
         26 . An apparatus according to  claim 25 , wherein the foot-locating means is included as part of a foot-locating device, the foot-locating device further including a means for clamping the body portion to said rigid support, the clamping being at an adjustable position on the rigid support.