US2704194A - U-bolt locking device - Google Patents

Description

March 15, 1955 H. DIAMOND U-BOLT LOCKING DEVICE Filed May 15,v 1952 2 Shee'ts-Sheet l H. DIAMOND U-BOLT LOCKING DEVICE March 15, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 15, 1 952 INVENTOR. Harry ,Uta/mona? United States Patent O 2,704,194 U-BOLT LOCKING DEVICE Harry Diamond, Elizabeth, N. J. Application May 15, 1952, Serial No. 287,971 4 Claims. (Cl. 248-120) This invention relates to pallets and more particularly to pallets which may be stacked one upon the other when loaded without damage to the packages of merchandise carried thereby but which may be collapsed and stacked one upon the other in a reduced space for storage or when empty. During the past years the use of pallets adapted to carry a series of packages, crates, bags or other containers has increased considerably and it is common practice to strap merchandise to a pallet and ship the entire pallet. After the merchandise has been delivered there is always the problem of recovering the pallets and of shipping them in the smallest space possible.

In my improved construction I provide a pallet that may be made of wood or metal in which in addition to the load carrying surface there are posts with a bearing surface or foot at the top thereof so that one pallet may be stacked upon the other when loaded. I also provide means whereby these posts may be folded onto the surface of the pallet when the pallet is empty so as to make it possible for a great many more pallets to be stacked in a given amount of space than if the posts could not be collapsed.

In addition I provide means wherein the posts may be positively locked in the upright position to prevent any accidental collapsing. Where the distance a loaded pallet is to travel is short and the way smooth, the posts may be leftin the position whereby they are readily collapsible, but if the distance is great and the pallet may be subjected to rough handling, it is desirable to have a positive lock. Moreover, I provide a clamping unit which may be used on a wooden pallet to position said posts and which will positively grip the end beam of the pallet to prevent loosening of the xture and undue strain on the joints.

With these and other objects in view which will become apparent as the description proceeds, reference is had to the following specication and to the drawings in which:

Fig. l is a top plan view of a pallet embodying my structure.

Fig. 2 is a side view of said pallet.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged elevation partly in section taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1. t

Fig. 4 is a detailed view taken on the line 4--4 of Fig. 3.

rFig. 5 is a detailed sectional view taken on the line 5--5 of Fig. 6, showing a portion of the clamping fixture.

Fig. 6 is a detailed side elevation of the posts.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view partly in section of the clamping member and post support.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the pallet 10 may consist of two side members 11 and 12 and a central member 14. These connect the bottom members 16 and the platform members 17 and are so spaced as to receive the fork of a lift truck so that the pallet may be moved from place to place or loaded on a vehicle from the ground. At each corner of the pallet, mounted on the ends of the side members 11 and 12, is a bracket 20 which consists of two side members 21 and 22 secured to the end members by the bolts 23. The members 21 and 22 are provided with an inwardly extending flange 24 which has a series of serrations or teeth 25 adapted to bite into and engage the surface of the wood, as is partly shown in Fig. 5, and to relieve the strain on the bolts 23.

Welded to the clamping members 21 and 22 is a U-shaped member having a base 26 and a pair of uprights 27 and 28. The uprights 27 and 28 are notched at 29 on the upper end thereof and are provided with a slot 30. On the base 26 is welded a retainer block 31. This retainer block is slightly smaller than the inner dimensions of the post 32 and is adapted to form a base for the post. A slot corresponding to the slot extends through the posts at 35 and a second registered opening extends through the plates at 36 and the post at 37, The

2,704,194 Patented Mar. 15, 1955 ICC U-bolt 40 having one end 41 slightly longer than the other and drilled to receive a cotter-pin 42 and a washer 43 is disposed with its longer end in the slot 30 and extending through the slot 35 in the post.

When it is desired to have the posts in a collapsible condition, the shorter end of the U-bolt is turned to rest in the notches 29 and extend through the corresponding opening in the post. The bottom of the post will rest around the retainer block, and the U-bolt extending through the post will prevent collapsing. However, when the post is lifted so that the shorter end 44 of the U-bolt rides out of the notches 29, the post may be collapsed.

Where it is desired to have the posts positively locked against collapse the Cotter-pin 42 and the washer 43 are temporarily removed and the U-bolt is pulled outwardly until the arm thereof 44 clears the opening in the posts as well as the edge of the upright. The U-bolt is then pivoted in the slot 30 and placed through the opening 36 in the plate end 37 in the post. The Cotter-pin and washer are then replaced and the post is in the positively locked position. It will bernoted that in this position the arm 41 of the U-bolt 40 is in the bottom of the slot 30 while in the collapsible position it is in the top of the slot. In the lower position it is not possible to lift the U-bolt to clear the retainer block 31 so that the post is supported at three points.

I claim:

1. A collapsible stacking element for use on a pallet comprising stacking posts, a U-shaped upright supporting said posts, a notch on the top of said upright, a slot in each of said uprights, a U-bolt having one end extending through said upright and said posts, the other end of said U-bolt engaging the notches at the top of said upright and extending through said posts whereby the posts may be collapsed by lifting one end of said U-bolt out of said notches.

2. A collapsible stacking element for use on a pallet comprising stacking posts, a pair of plate members having inwardly extending teeth, a pair of uprights engaged by said plate members, notches in the top of said uprights, a slot in each of said uprights, a U-bolt having one end extending through said uprights and said posts, the other end of said U-bolt in one position engaging the notches at the top of the uprights and extending through said posts and in another position extending through the openings in said uprights and said posts to positively lock them in the upright position.

3. A collapsible stacking element for use on a pallet including a stacking post, a pair of plate members having inwardly extending teeth, a U-shaped upright engaged by said plate members, a retainer block on the base of the upright engaging a post, a notch on the top of said uprights, a slot in each of said uprights, a U-shaped member having one end extending through said uprights and said post, the other end of said U-shaped member engaging the notches at the top of the uprights and extending through said post in one position whereby the post may be collapsed and in another position extending through an opening in said uprights and said post to positively lock it in the upright position.

4. A stacking assembly for pallets comprising a post, a pair of uprights, notches in the top of said uprights, a slot in each of said uprights, a U- bolt having one end extending through said uprights and said posts, the other end of said U-bolt in one position extending through said posts and in another position extending through openings in said uprights and said posts to pivotally lock them in the upright position. 'f

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,102,413 Jensen Iuly 7, 1914 2,356,085 Pfai Aug. 15, 1944 2,471,693 Lilienfeld May 31, 1949 2,495,711 Fletcher Ian. 31, 1950 2,498,414 Gondar Feb. 2l, 1950 2,523,271 Bartel Sept. 26, 1950 2,654,484 Win et al. Oct. 6, 1953

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