US2563800A

US2563800A - Pallet or skid for handling materials and adapted for use with lifting trucks

Info

Publication number: US2563800A
Application number: US752749A
Authority: US
Inventors: Dewey H Bitney
Original assignee: Union Steel Products Co
Current assignee: Union Steel Products Co
Priority date: 1947-06-05
Filing date: 1947-06-05
Publication date: 1951-08-14
Anticipated expiration: 1968-08-14

Description

D. H. BITNEY PALLET 0R SKID FOR HANDLING MATERIALS AND ADAPTED Aug. 14, 1951 FOR USE WITH LIFTING TRUCKS Filed June 5, 1947 INVENTOR. Dewe/ /7. 517027 BY @W Q ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 14, 1951 PALLET OR SKID FOR HANDLING MATE- RIALS AND ADAPTED FOR USE WITH LIFTING TRUCKS Dewey H. Bitney, Albion, Mich., assignor to Union Steel Products Company, Albion, Mich, a corporation of Michigan Application June 5, 1947, Serial No. 752,749

7 Claims. 1

This invention relates to improvements in pallet or skid handling materials and adapted for use with lifting trucks.

The main objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a pallet or skid for use with lifting trucks and having removable side walls thereby adapting the pallet or skid for the handling of small articles and preventing articles from falling or sliding off the top or platform.

Second, to provide a structure of this class having these advantages in which the side walls may be collapsed for shipment or storage and quickly erected and positioned on the top or platform.

Third, to provide a structure having these advantages which is simple and economical in its parts and at the same time strong and durable.

Objects relating to details and economies of the invention will appear from the description to follow. The invention is defined and pointed out in the claims.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is il lustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a structure embodying the invention with the walls in erected position on the platform.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary elevational view looking from the left of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the pallet or skid with the walls removed.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view partially in vertical section on a line corresponding to line 4-4 of Figs. 1 and 3.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing details of the top securing means taken on a line corresponding to line 55 of 2, the parts of the latch and keeper being shown in disengaged position by dotted lines.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated comprises a grid-like top or platform designated generally by the numeral I and comprising an upper series of parallel slats 2 and a lower series of parallel slats 3, these slats being disposed in crossing relation and welded together at their crossing points as is indicated at 4.

In the structure illustrated the slats are formed of wire or light rod and the top is provided with border members 5 and B of somewhat heavier stock. The top is reinforced and further supported by top bars 1 arranged in spaced pairs.

Pairs of bottom or base bars 8 are disposed in spaced parallel relation and in a planebelow the top bars as shown in Fig. 4.

U-shaped leg members 9 are provided, the upper ends of these legmembers being .welded to the bars I as indicated at 10 while the bights of the leg members are superimposed on the base bars 8 and welded thereto as indicated at H.

Sheet metal cross bars or transverse bars l2 extend between the inner bars 8 of the pairs and are welded thereto as indicated at 13. The ends [4 of the base bars 8 are bent inwardly and welded to the adjacent U-shaped leg members as in- 2 dicated at 15. The base and top are thus supported in spaced relation so that the forks of a lifting truck may be inserted below the platform and above the base.

I provide side walls designated generally by the numeral {5. These side walls in the preferred embodiment illustrated are grid-like and are made up of horizontal slats l1 and vertical slats l8 welded together at their crossing points. 0pposed side walls are provided with somewhat heavier vertical slats 19 which are extended to provide stake socket engaging stakes 20-see Fig. l. Tubular stake sockets 2| are mounted on the platform and its supporting base, being welded at 22 to the outer of the pairs of rods 1 and at 23 to the outer of the base rods 8.

The side walls are swingably and pivotally connected in pairs by means of coiled springs 24 which encircle the adjacent end slats of a pair of walls. The swinging ends of one wall of each pair are provided with downwardly facing hooks 25 engageable with certain of the horizontal slats at the adjacent swinging end of the wall of the other pair. Preferably there are a plurality of these hooks, three being used in the embodiment illustrated. With this arrangement, the walls may be quickly set up and mounted on the'top.

It is for certain uses desirable to latch the side walls to the platform and I provide latches 26 which are pivotally mounted on the border slats 5 of the top and adapted to be engaged with horizontal slats of the corresponding side walls, as is shown in Fig. 5.

To retain the latches in engagement, keepers 21 are slidably mounted on vertical slats of the side wall to be slipped over the ends of the latches when they are in erected position, as shown in Fig. 5. This provides a simple and effective means for anchoring the side walls to the top, at the same time permits the releasing of the side walls as occasion may require.

There are conditions in which the side walls are desirable-for example, when the pallets or skids are used in the shipment of small articles the shocks incident to transportation may shift the load, sometimes resulting in the very serious damage to the load. In other cases, it is desired simply to throw or place the articles on the pallet or skid without care in the arrangementfor example in factories and the like. In either case, it is frequently desirable to remove the side walls either for convenience in unloading the skid or for storage. The embodiment of the invention meets these various conditions.

I have not attempted to illustrate or describe various other embodiments or adaptations which I contemplate as it is believed that this disclosure will enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt the invention as may be desired.

Having thus described my invention. what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a pallet or skid, the combination of a top or platform, stake sockets fixedly secured to said top to move as a unit therewith, side walls detachably mounted on said top and comprising vertical and horizontal slats, said side walls being swingably connected in pairs to permit collapsing thereof, the swinging end of one wall of each connected pair being provided with means detachably engageable with the swinging end of the adjacent wall of the other pair, corresponding walls of each pair being provided with downwardly projecting stakes fixed to said walls to move as a unit therewith and removably engageable with said stake sockets, and latches swingably mounted on the opposed edges of the top and engageable over the tops of the horizontal slats of the corresponding side walls to lock the side walls against vertical disengagement from the top, said side walls being provided with keepers encircling and slidabl'y engageable with the vertical slats thereof and engageable with said latches when they are in engaged position.

2. In a pallet or skid, the combination of a top or platform, stake sockets fixedly connected to said top to move as a unit therewith, side walls provided with horizontal slats, vertical slats and downwardly projecting stakes fixed to said walls to move as a unit therewith and removably engageable with said stake sockets, and latches for detachably connecting said opposed side walls to the top after insertion-of the stakes in the stake sockets, said latches releasably engaging the horizontal slats of the side walls, and keepers slidably engageable with the vertical slats of the side walls for releasably holding the latches in engagement with said horizontal slats; V

3. In a pallet or skid the combination of a top or platform, a base including bars spaced vertically from said top, vertical tubular stake sockets of tubular stock extending between said top and said base bars and fixedly associated therewith, said base bars bracingly connecting the lower ends of said tubular sockets, side walls mounted on said top, and means for detachably connecting said side walls to said top comprising stakes fixed thereto to move as a unit therewith and projecting downwardly from the side walls and removably engageable with said tubular sockets. I

4. In a pallet the combination of a top, a base spaced from said top, legs connecting-said base and top as a unit, the edges of the top projecting horizontally beyond the edges of the base, upwardly facing stake sockets disposed. between the top and the base and fixedly secured to both 1 to constitute a unitary part thereof, side walls comprising vertical and horizontal slats, said side walls being swingably connected in pairs to permit the collapsing of the walls of the pairs upon each other, the swinging end of one'wall of each connected pair being provided with means detachably engageable with the end of the adjacent wall of the other pair, corresponding walls of each pair being provided with downwardly projecting stakes fixed to said walls to move as a unit therewith and removably engageable with said stake sockets, said stakes extending to the tops of the 'walls to which they are fixed and constituting reinforcing members for said walls, the walls being supported by the stakes when the stakes are engaged with the stake sockets in inwardly spaced relation'to the corresponding edges of the top, and coacting latches and keepers on said top and walls disposed for engagement and disengagement from the outer sides of. the walls when they are in erected position on the top and acting to releasably secure the walls to the top.

5. In-a pallet the combination of a top, a base spaced from said top, legs connecting said base and top as a unit, the edges of the top projecting horizontally beyond the edges of the base, upwardly facing stake sockets disposed between the top and the base and fixedly secured to both to constitute a unitary part thereof, side walls comprising'vertica-l and horizontal slats, said side walls being swingably connected in pairs to permit the collapsing of the walls of the pairs upon each other, the swinging end of one wall of each connected pair being provided with means detachably engageable with the end of the adjacent wall of the other-pair, corresponding walls of each pair being provided with downwardly projecting stakes fixed to said walls to move as a unit therewith and removably engageable with said stake sockets, and coacting latches and keepers on said top and walls disposed for manipulemon for engagement and disengagement from the outer sides of the walls whenthey are in erected position on the top and acting to releasably secure the walls to the top.

6. In a pallet the combination of a top, a base spaced from said top, legs connecting said base and 'top as a unit, the edges of the top projecting horizontally beyond the edges of the base, upwardly facing stake. sockets disposed between the top and the base and fixedly secured to both to constitute a unitary part thereof, side walls comprising vertical and horizontal slats, said side walls being swingably connected in pairs to permit the collapsing of the walls of the pairs upon each other, the swinging end of one wall of each connected pair being provided with means detachably engageable with the end of the ad: jacent wall of the other pair, corresponding walls of each pair being provided with downwardly projecting stakes fixed to said walls to move as a unit therewith and removably engageable with said stake sockets, said stakes extending to the tops of the Walls to which they are fixed and constituting reinforcing members for said walls.

7. In a pallet the combination of a top,- a base spaced from said top, legs disposed between and connecting said base and top, upwardly facing stake sockets disposed between the top and the base to constitute a unitary part thereof, said side walls being swingably connected in pairs to permit the collapsing of the walls of the pairs upon each other, the swinging end of one wall of each connected pair being provided with means detachably engageable with the adjacent wall of the other. pair, corresponding walls of each pair. being provided with downwardly projecting stakes fixed to said walls to move as a unit therewith and removably engageable with said stake sockets, and means disposed for manipulation from the outer sides of the walls for detachably securing the walls to the top when the stakes are engaged in the sockets.

DEWEY H. BITNEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 609,612 Deveau Aug. 23, 1898 1,023,617 Botteese Apr. 16, 1912 1,881,822 McKelligon Oct. 11, 1932 1,944,845 Rickwood Jan. 23 1934 2,430,267 Arthur Nov. 4, 1947 ,463,587 Arthur Mar. 8, 1949