US2630961A

US2630961A - Stock transfer truck

Info

Publication number: US2630961A
Application number: US202676A
Authority: US
Inventors: George W Burg
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1950-12-26
Filing date: 1950-12-26
Publication date: 1953-03-10
Anticipated expiration: 1970-03-10

Description

March 10, 1953 G. w. BURG STOCK TRANSFER TRUCK Fil ed Dec. 26, 1950 INVENTOR. G e cage WBur/g' BY Patented Mar. 10, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 7 Claims.

This invention relates to a stock transfer truck having one or more shelves and carrying a retractable step ladder at one end thereof so as always to be convenient when articles of stock are to be transferred from the truck to high storage shelves or vice versa.

One object of my invention is to provide, in combination with a stock truck having shelves, 9, step ladder mounted for reciprocation between a lower anchor position contacting the floor and an upper riding position clearing the floor, said upper riding position being defined by a novel stop means which includes one of the shelves.

Another object of my invention is to provide a large circular loop portion upon the upper end of a step ladder stringer or leg member. This loop portion lies in a vertical plane and is spaced above one of the horizontal steps or stepping areas. Thus, the loop and stepping area cooperate to brace the le and foot, respectively, of a person using the ladder.

My invention is concerned with a stock transfer truck of the type known to the trade as a stock picker. Such a truck finds special utility in the stock rooms of those large concerns which handle, store, and transfer a large volume of small parts, variety packaged goods, miscellaneous merchandise, and the like. Conventionally, a stock room clerk loads the shelves of the truck with merchandise to be stored. The truck is then pushed to the storage area where the merchandise is unloaded and stacked on stock room shelves. Upon occasion, the clerk may reverse this process to assemble customer orders from the stock room shelves to the truck.

Equipping a stock picker with a built-in ladder has become almost a necessity in view of the high, ceiling-to-fioor shelves employed in most modern stock rooms. To this end, it has become conventional to mount a pivotab-le or reciprocable ladder on one end of the truck so the stock clerk conveniently can climb up and reach the higher shelves. Such ladders are pivotable or reciprocable in order to function additionally as a brake for the truck. Thus, the ladder is mounted for movement between two positions. Normally, it is held in a retracted or riding position clear of the floor. Either mechanically (with a lever or the like) or when the clerk steps on the ladder, it will swing down into contact with the floor. This latter position, then, is an extended or anchoring position for preventing inadvertent movement of the truck while the ladder is in use.

While engaged in the manufacture and sale of stock pickers, I have become aware of certain disadvantages inherent in the conventional truck structure as above described. The most obvious of these disadvantages flows from the ladder structure per se and the manner in which this structure is correlated to the shelves of the truck. By way of example, the steps on the conventional ladder are rounded rungs. The stock clerk experiences extreme difficulty in maintaining proper balance and in attempting to free both hands to stack merchandise while standing or balancing on a rounded rung. On the other hand, the usual full step, such as is found on a step ladder, is too bulky for a stock picker since it obscures and blocks access to that area of the truck upon which the ladder is mounted. These disadvantages have bottomed my inventive experimentation and a structure eliminating them bounds the scope of the instant invention.

To this end, each of my ladder steps possess a full steppin area yet they do not block access to the shelves of the truck. This is for the reason that I have vertically spaced my steps and shelves equal distances to allow ready access to the shelves between adjacent steps. Furthermore, the rear portion of each step protrudes or extends back under the corresponding shelf. Such protrusion not only hides part of the step while it is not in use, but it provides a novel stop or limit means for limiting movement of the ladder at the precise point defining the upper riding position. That is to say, my upstanding chassis or frame members and horizontal shelves jointly bound the peripheral outline of the truck. The step ladder is mounted for reciprocation upon one end of the truck without this peripheral outline. One of the steps, on the other hand, extends longitudinally within the peripheral outline below one of the shelves so as to contact the underside thereof when the ladder is raised. Such contact limits upper reciprocation of the ladder and assures the disposition of the steps in an out-of-the-way,

respectively, of the stock clerk as he stands upon the top step.

Yet another object of my invention is to provide an operative latching means on one of the above described loop portions for locking the ladder in the lower anchor position. Thus, the stock clerk can step from the ladder to the top shelf of the truck when desired, yet the truck will remain anchored against movement.

These and other objects and advantages of my invention will be set forth in the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. l is a perspective view of my wheeled stock transfer truck showing the step ladder reciprocably mounted upon one end thereof and indicating the manner in which the steps are spaced vertically the same distance as the shelves in order to allow access to the shelves between the steps; and

Fig. 2 is a detail view, taken partially in section and substantially on the line 22 of Fig. 1, showing the upper riding position of the ladder and latch means in dashed outline and ShOWlllg the lower anchor position thereof in full line, the operative movements of the ladder and latch being indicated by arrows.

I haveshown my stock transfer truck mounted upon four wheels I, the front two of which may be swiveled as in the caster 2. The principal structural details of the truck include four upstanding frame or chassis members 3 which I prefer to form from angle irons. These frame members 3 carry the lower, middle, and upper

horizontal shelf members

4, 5, and 6, respectively To this end, each shelf member may include four bounding angle irons l carrying elongated wood or metal plates 8 (see Fig. 2). In any event, it will be seen that the upstanding frame members 3 are spaced about the periphery of the truck and, together with the

shelf members

4, 5, and 6, they bound and define the peripheral outline of the truck.

Reciprocably mounted upon one end of the truck, I have shown a step ladder generally indicated at 9. This ladder includes two tubular stringers l slidably mounted in the spaced guide members H. Each guide member H is secured, as by bolts l2, to one of the rear frame members 3. 'Ready disassembly for shipping is enhanced by forming each tubular stringer H3 in two parts, an upper and a lower half. These halves or parts'arejoined and held by an elongated tubular sleevefl. Four set screws hi grip the halves within the tubular sleeve l3.

As best shown in Fig. l, the two elongated step elements 15 are joined, as by, sleeves it, to the stringers :19. Each such step element is disposed in ahorizontal plane and possesses a substantial stepping area. A portion of this stepping area, as shown at ll (see Fig. 2), extends longitudinally forward and under the shelf corresponding thereto. For example, the upper shelf element l extends longitudinally within the peripheral outline of the truck to make contact with the angle iron I bounding the upper shelf member 6. Thus, when the step ladder 9 is in. the upper riding position shown in Fig. l, the step and shelf coact to define'a stop means for limiting upward reciprocation of the ladder within the guide members H.

' Turning now to the reciprocable movements or" the step ladder 9, a pair of springs I8 encircle the lowerhalf of each stringer it. The respective ends of each spring 18 are held between one of the sleeves l6 and one of the guide members H. The combinedforce of the two springs has been calculatedto yield under the weight of a person stepping on the ladder .9, Thus, the springs bias the step elements 15 into engagement with the underside of their

companion shelves

5 and 6, yet such bias is yieldable under the weight of a person using the ladder.

In Fig. l, the ladder 9 is shown in the upper riding position. In this position, the rubber tips is on the stringers Hl clear the floor and allow the truck to be pushed about the stock room. When a stock clerk wishes to place merchandise on a high shelf, however, he need only step on one of the step elements [5 to overcome the bias of the springs 48 and vertically lower the ladder until the rubber tips 19 contact the floor. I have termed this latter position, with the stringers in contact with the floor, a lower anchor position since the truck is then held against movement. Continuing, when the stock clerk steps off the ladder, it will return to the position shown in Fig. 1 under the influence of the springs it.

In order to promote balance and provide a brace for the stock clerk while he stands upon the ladder, the upper end of each stringer l5) defines a large circular loop portion 28. Each such loop portion is disposed in a vertical plane and is formed by bendingthe terminal end'of a stringer back upon itself. Within the scope of my invention, these large circular loops Hand the substantial horizontal stepping area of the top step is provide a coacting structureof critical Thus, the stock clerk may work with both hands free by bracinghis calf or knee importance.

against one of the loops 2i] while his foot rests on the top step. The utility of this'coacting structure will be obvious to anyone who has tried to maintain his balance while standing on the top rung of a ladder.

At times, it may be necessary for the stock clerk to ascend the step ladder t9 and stand upon the upper shelf member 6. At such times, the

step ladder should remain in the lower anchor,

position in order to prevent inadvertent movement of the truck. Accordingly, I have provided an operative means carried. by one of the loop portions 25 for locking the ladder in the lower anchor position. This means includes a. latch member 21 which is pivoted, as at 22, adjacent the end of the right hand loop portion 28. Normally, the latch member 21 is disposed in the position shown in Fig. 1. When, however, the stock clerk desires to lock the ladder in the lower anchor position, he steps upon one of the step elements it and pivots the latch member 21 as shown by the arrows in Fig. 2. secures a pivoted keeper 23 over the end of the latch member 21! to hold the same in place. Further, as shown in Fig. 2, the end of the latch member 25 will then catch under-the upper guide member H to prevent the springs [8 from returne ing the step ladder to the position in Fig. 1.

In operation, my stock picker will find special utility in the stock rooms of concerns whichhandle, store, and transfer a large volume of small parts or merchandise. stacked upon the

shelf members

4, 5, and B with ease since access thereto is provided from all four sides 'of the truck. When loaded, the truck is pushed to a storage area and the merchandise is unloaded from the truck shelves to storage shelves. When merchandise is to be stacked on a high shelf, the stock room clerk steps upon one of the step elements I5 whereupon the ladder 9 moves vertically down until the rubber tips I9 'onthe stile members H1 contact the floor. In this position, the truckis anchored against movement and the clerk can brace himself against one of the loops 20. If desired, the ladder "may be- Thereafter, 'he 7 Such mechandise may be locked in this lower anchor position by pivoting the latch member 2i and securing the end thereof under the keeper 23. When the clerk is finished unloading, he will unlock the latch member 21 and step from the ladder. As he does so. the springs i8 return the ladder to the position of Fig. 1.

It will now be seen that I have served the objects of my invention by providing the step ladder of a stock transfer truck with a novel limit means whereby one or more of the truck shelves and one or more corresponding steps coact to define a novel stop means coincident with the upper riding position of thestep ladder. Furthermore, I have provided a large vertical loop-and a substantial horizontal stepping area which coact to brace the leg and foot, respectively, of a person using the ladder. Still further, I have provided a novel latch means for locking the ladder in the anchor position so a stock clerk can step from the ladder to the top shelf of the truck when desired, yet the truck will remain anchored against movement during this period. Each of these features is cumulative with every other feature to provide a stock transfer truck of increased utility and safety.

I claim:

1. A truck having upstanding frame members spaced about the periphery thereof and carrying therebetween a shelf member jointly to bound the peripheral outline of the truck, a step ladder having upstanding stringers mounted upon one end of said truck without said peripheral outline, said ladder being mounted for reciprocation between a 10Wer anchor position in which said stringers contact the fioor to brake the truck against movement and an upper riding position in which said stringers clear the floor, and an elongated step element laterally joining said stringers and having a substantial stepping area, a portion of said stepping area extending longitudinally within said peripheral outline below said shelf to define therewith a stop means for limiting upward reciprocation of said ladder at said riding position.

2. A truck having upstanding frame members spaced about the periphery thereof and carrying therebetween a pair of vertically spaced shelf members jointly with said frame members to bound the peripheral outline of the truck, a step ladder having upstanding stringers operatively mounted for reciprocation upon one end of said truck without said peripheral outline, and a pair of vertically spaced elongated step elements laterally joining said stringers and having a substantial stepping area, said step elements being spaced apart the same amount as said shelf members, a portion of each said stepping area extending longitudinally within said peripheral outline below one of said shelf members to define therewith a stop means for limiting upward reciprocation of said ladder.

3. A wheeled stock transfer truck having upstanding frame members spaced about the periphery thereof and carrying therebetween a horizontal shelf member jointly to bound the peripheral outline of the truck, a step ladder having a pair of laterally spaced upstanding stringers mounted upon spaced guide members fixed upon one end of said truck without said peripheral outline, a single tubular element defining each said stringer, said ladder being mounted for reciprocation between a lower anchor position in which said stringers contact the floor to brake the truck against movement and an upper riding position in which said stringers.

clear the floor, and 'an elongated step element laterally joining said stringers and having a substantial stepping area, a portion of saidstepping area extending longitudinally within said peripheral outline below said shelf to define therewith a stop means for limiting upward reciprocation of said ladder at said riding position, said stringers terminating in large closed circular loop portions having a common axis parallel to but spaced above said step to define a lateral brace element, said loop portions extending out over and projecting beyond the area of said step and said one end of the truck, said loop portions lying in a vertical plane and said stepping area lying in a horizontal plane thereby to brace the leg and foot, respectively, of a person using said ladder.

4. A wheeled stock transfer truck having up:- standing frame members spaced about the periphery thereof and carrying therebetween a pair of vertically spaced shelf members jointly with the frame members to bound the peripheral outline of the truck, a step ladder having upstanding stringers operatively mounted for reciprocation upon one end of aid truck without said peripheral outline, a pair of vertically spaced elongated step elements laterally joining said stringers and each having a substantial stepping area, a portion of the stepping area of at least one step element extending longitudinally within said peripheral outline below one of said shelves to define therewith a stop means for limiting upward reciprocation of said ladder, means yieldable under the weight of a person using said ladder for biasing said stepping area into engagement with said shelf, and operative latch and keeper means selectively for locking said ladder in said lower anchor position.

5. A wheeled stock transfer truck having upstanding frame members spaced about the periphery thereof and carrying therebetween a shelf member jointly to bound the peripheral outline of the truck, a step ladder having upstanding tubular stringers operatively mounted for reciprocation upon protruding guide members fixed to one end of said truck without said peripheral outline, an elongated step element laterally joining said tubular stringers and having a substantial stepping area, a, portion of said stepping area extending longitudinally within said peripheral outline below said shelf to define therewith a stop means for limiting upward reciprocation of said ladder, at least one of said tubular stringers terminating in a large loop portion lying above said step and defining a lateral brace element, said loop portion lying in a vertical plane and said stepping area lying in a horizontal plane thereby to brace the leg and foot, respectively, of a person using said ladder, means yieldable under the weight of a person using aid ladder for biasing said stepping area into engagement with said shelf, and operative means carried by one of said loop portions for locking said ladder in said lower anchor position, said operative means including a pivotally mounted latch selectively engagable with one of said fixed guide members.

6. A truck carrying a tep ladder operatively mounted for reciprocation between a lower anchor position contacting the floor and an upper riding position clearing the floor, stop means defining said upper riding position to limit the upper reciprocation of said ladder, said stop means including a shelf member carried by said truck and a step carried by said ladder and engageebiewith saidssheif, and operativeelatchend, V keeper means-zselectivelyior looking :said ladder 1 in said lower anchor position.

7. A'stocktransfertruckcarrying a stepfladder operatively mountedfior. reciprocation between a.

lower-anchor position contacting the fioorrand an 7 upper riding position :clearingrbhe :floor, resilient means yi'elda'bl'e .under 1the weight of at. person using sa;id ladder for biasingsthe :samerto vsaid.

upper riding position, stop means,defining..:said

upper riding-position :to limit the upper :recipro-M' cation of -saidladder, said stop means including 1" a horizontal shelf-member rwhichis one :of a;p1urali-ty .ef horizontalrz-shelves carried by said truck and =9, heri'zoniialstep which :15 one of aplurafliby;

of steps carried by said ladd'er, Lsaid steps being.- spacedepart "vertioally' the same .1 distance as zsaid v shelves, said step -ladderecarrying large loop pertions espaaedhabovexall. oils-aid shelf member and defining lateral brace elements, and operative 1 latch and r keeperimeans' carried by oneof said; r loops and Joy-said truck for locking said ladder in said lower anchor position.

GEORGE W. BURG.

REFERENCES CITED The 'fol-lowingsreferences are of record in the file ofthis partentzr UNITED STATES PATENTS