US2973090A

US2973090A - Reusable bedspring crate

Info

Publication number: US2973090A
Authority: US
Inventors: Charles M Dunlap
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1958-09-19
Filing date: 1958-09-19
Publication date: 1961-02-28
Anticipated expiration: 1978-02-28

Description

Feb. 28, 1961 c. M. DUNLAP 2,973,090

REUSABLE BEDSPRING CRATE Filed Sept. 19, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

Cfiarlefl M Dunlap BY m A TTORNE Y5 Feb. 28, 1961 c. M. DUNLAP REUSABLE BEDSPRING CRATE Filed Sept. 19, 1958 2 sneaks-sheet 2 INVENTOR.

gfhrzefl M DalzZap ,4 TTORNEYS ilnited. rates areas he annual) nEUsAnLE nnnsrnmo CRATE Charles M. Dunlap, Mansfield, Ohio (3342. Waltham Ave, Kettering 29, (lhio) Filed Sept. 19, 1958, Ser. No. 762,047

22 Claims. (Cl. 266-65) This invention relates to a reusable crate adapted to secure together a number of springs, such as bedsprings, in compressed condition for shipment or for storage.

When crating bedsprings for shipping or for storage, it has been customary to place a quantity (15 or 20) between two sheets of cardboard and two grids of Wooden slats. Pressure is applied to the two grids to flatten the bedsprings. While in the flattened or compressed state, loops of wire are placed over the slats at one end, the ends of the wires are forced through the cardboards and through the openings in the coils of the springs or through the interstices between the coils, the wire ends being brought out over the slats at the other end and twisted together. Compact bundles are thereby provided, re-

uiring much less space for shipment or storage than the bedsprings in their uncompressed condition.

It has been the practice, heretofore, to destroy the slats, wire and cardboard when the crates are opened. This practice is not only wasteful of materials which are used only once and then destroyed, but the crating itself is laborious and time consuming.

The preferred form of the present invention comprises a plurality of pairs of slats adapted to be disposed on opposite sides of a single bedspring or a stack of bedsprings. One of each of said pairs of slats is provided with a number of spaced elongated pins, having notches adjacent the outer end. The other of each of said pairs of slats is provided with a number of spaced openings adapted to receive the notched ends of the pins, and latching means engageable in the notches to retain the single bedspring or the stack of bedsprings in compressed condition. Locking means are provided to retain the latching means in position.

It is the object of this invention, therefore, to provide a crate assembly, especially for bedsprings, which can be quickly, securely and economically assembled by unskilled workmen.

Another object is to provide a crate assembly which can be quickly assembled, disassembled, and used over and over again.

Another object is to provide a crate assembly which can be employed for a relatively few or for many bedsprings.

Another object is to provide a crate assembly having relatively few parts forming cooperating pairs which may be placed on opposite sides of the compressed bedsprings and readily latched together.

Another object is to provide a crate assembly comprising cooperating pairs of slats which may be employed for crating twin size, single size, or double size bedsprings by selecting the required number of pairs.

Another object is to provide a crate assembly comprising pairs of cooperating slat elements which are adapted to be readily and accurately positioned in the bedplate and platen of a press for compressing a plurality of bedsprings.

Another object is to provide a crate assembly comprising pairs of cooperating slats in which one slat carries a plurality of pins adapted to pass through the compressed bedsprings and to be received, latched and locked by the other slat.

With these and various other objects in view, the invention may consist of certain novel features of construction and operation as will be morefully described and particularly pointed out in the specification, drawings and claims appended hereto.

In the drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the device and wherein like reference characters are employed to designate like parts- Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the bedspring crate in use;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation there of;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view through the latch and locking means taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic front elevation of a press for assembling the bedspring crate;

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic side elevation thereof;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view of a ball plunger assembly for holding the lower slats of the bedspring crate on the bedplate of the press of Figs. 5 and 6 with parts broken away for clarity;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary end elevation of the ball plunger assembly as viewed from the right of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary side elevational view af the ball plunger assembly for holding the'upper slats of the bedspring crate'to the upper platen of the press of Figs. 5 and 6; and

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary end elevation of the ball plunger assembly, partly in section, as viewed from the right of Fig. 9.

Referring to the drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment, the crate assembly comprises a plurality of upper or pin-carrying slats 1G and an equal number of lower or latch-carrying slats 12. The terms upper and lower, as used herein, are not intended as limiting in' the sense of location but are used as convenient terminology, based on preferred positioning in a press, as it has been found more advantageous to place the upper, or pincarr-ying slats, in the upper platen of the press and the lower, or latch-carrying slats, in the bedplate of the press.

As shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, the slats 10 are adapted to be placed in spaced relation on one side of a single bedspring or a stack of superposed bedsprings, and the slats 12 are adapted to be placed at corresponding spaced relation on the other side of the bedspring or bedsprings. There is shown a plurality of bedsprings 14, having coils 16 therein which are secured together and in spaced relation to a rectangular frame 19 by means of a plurality of helical springs 18. It is understood, however, that the crate assembly can be used with other types of bedsprings.

The slats 10, as shown, are angle-shaped in cross section, including a base 20 and an upstanding leg '22. A plurality of pins 24, passing through spaced openings 26 in the base 29', are provided. The upper ends of the pins are secured to the slats, as by welding, shown at 28. As illustrated, six of such pins are provided for each slat,

but it is evident that more or less may be used .as found desirable. The pins 24 are preferably circular in cross section, and a portion of the outer end thereof is made of reduced diameter, as shown at 30. The outer end of the reduced diameter portion is tapered at 32 at 32'for a purpose to be .pointed'out hereinafter. The reduced outer end portion St is provided with a notch 34 having a shaped in cross section, having a base 36 and an upstanding leg 40. The base is provided with a plurality of openings 38, equal in number and spacing with the pins 24. Cooperating with the slat 12 is a latching device, 42, generally angle-shaped in cross section, and extending nearly the length of the slats. The latching device includes a relatively narrow base leg 44 and a somewhat longer upstanding leg 46, and is adapted to be slidably mounted in the angle formed by the base 36 and upstanding leg 40 of slat 12. The upstanding leg 46 is provided with a plurality of spaced elongated slots 48, which are engaged by rivets 50 in the upstanding leg 46 of slat 12, permitting limited sliding movement of latching device 42 relative to slat 12. As shown in Fig. 4, the base 44 is also provided with a plurality of cutaway portions or recesses 52, one for each pin. In the arrangement of parts shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, the latching device is at one end of its movement in which the base 44 is located within the notches 32 of pins 24 and engages shoulders 35 of said pins to latch the slats and 12 together. To unlatch the pins, the latching device 42 is moved to the right, as viewed in Fig. 4, which operation will bring the cut-away portions or recesses 52 in alignment with the ends 30 of pins 24, whereby the pins are unlatched and are free to move through openings 38. A protuberance 54 is provided on one end of the upstanding leg of the latching device 42 which engages either opening 56 or 58 in an upstanding leg 44 serving as a lock to retain the latching device in either its latched or unlatched position.

It should be noted, referring to Figs. 2, 3 and 4, that the rivets 50 are positioned so that they are in alignment with the ends of the pins 24 and that the rivet heads are of such dimension that they contact the ends 30. This arrangement provides a construtcion in which the rivet heads serve as guiding means to prevent shoulder from engaging the side walls of openings 33 when the slats are separated.

In operation, a number of bedsprings 14 are secured together. Referring to Figs. 5 and 6, there is shown a press 60 having the usual bedplate 62, and hydraulic ram 64 carrying a movable platen 66. Adjacent the ends of the platen are a plurality of ball plunger arrangements 68 each comprising a slot 70 having therein a spring pressed ball 72. Openings 74 are provided adjacent the ends of slats 1i) and 12. In operation, the upstanding legs of the slats are inserted in the slots 70 so that the spring pressed balls 72 engage openings 74 in the slats, which will properly align the upper and lower slats in mated relation. Slats 12 are placed in position on bedplate 62 with base leg 36 in the position shown in Figs. 7 and 8. A cardboard 76 is placed on the slats 12 and the bedsprings 14 are then stacked above the cardboard, there being inserted a sheet of kraft paper 78 between adjacent bedsprings. As shown, 15 springs are stacked, but it is understood that more or less may be stacked. The top of the stack is covered by another cardboard 76. Slats 10 may then be inserted in the ball plunger arrangement 63 in the platen 66, as shown in Figs. 9 and 10, in which the pins 24 are directed downwardly. Fins 24 are spaced so that they freely pass through the coils 16 or through the interstices between such coils when pressure is applied to the press, which forces the pins to perforate the cardhoards 76 and sheets of paper 78, while compressing the springs into a compact bundle, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. The latching device should occupy its unlatched position, in which the protuberance 54 registers with opening 58 and recesses 52 are aligned with pins 24. In this position the pins 24 pass freely through the openings 38 in the lower slats 12, the tapered portion 32 assuring such passage in case of slight misalignment. When so compressed, the operator slides the latching means so that the recesses 52 are moved from alignment with the notches and a portion of the base 4 is brought into alignment with the notches as shown in Fig. 4. Protuberance 54 engages opening 56, thereby locking the latching device in its latched position. Having thus latched and locked the pins, pressure in the ram may be relieved, and the crated assembly is readily removed from the press. A very compact bundle is thereby formed occupying a minimum of space. As an example, a stack of 1S bedsprings, which normally would be about 8 high, may be compressed into a bundle approximately 7 /2" high, which represents a material saving in space for storage or for shipping.

The slats are usually arranged lengthwise of the bedsprings and extend about 2 inches beyond the ends thereof, as shown in the drawings. This construction permits the forks of a fork truck to be easily passed between slats when standing on end. As standard bedsprings, whether twin-size, single-size, or double-size, are usually the same length, namely 73 /2", it is evident that slats 78 inches long could be used for any size bedsprings with the same overhang on the ends, and that the number of pairs used would depend on the width of the bedsprings. In the example illustrated, a double bedspring is shown, which is usually 52 inches wide. Four pairs of slats are shown, which has been found to be suflicient. Three pairs of slats may be used for narrower bedsprings such as twin-size or single-size.

While the above description relates to bedsprings, it is evident that the assembly could be used for other springs, such as automobile seat cushion springs, without change. The assembly could also be employed to compress a single bedspring by proper design of the pin lengths.

From the foregoing, it is evident that there has been provided a crating assembly which can be quickly put together for crating and packing a plurality of bedsprings, and which can likewise be quickly disassembled when required. The assembly requires one or more pairs of cooperating slats which can be reused, thereby obtaining economy in the use of materials and a considerable saving of time in crating and uncrating.

. Changes in the specific form of the invention, as herein described, may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. A crate assembly adapted for retaining one or more bedsprings in compressed condition comprising, a pair of slat means to be positioned on opposite sides of a bedspring or a stack of bedsprings, one of said slat means including connecting means rigid with said one of said slat means and extending laterally therefrom, said connecting means, when the assembly is used to crate a bedspring or a stack of bedsprings, passing through or between the springs of said bedspring or bedsprings, the other of said slat means including aligned means receiving said connecting means, and other means, carried by said other slat means and cooperating with said receiving means, securing said connecting means to said other slat means.

2. A crate assembly adapted for retaining one or more bedsprings in compressed condition comprising, a pinrality of pairs of cooperating slats to be positioned on opposite sides of a bedspring or stack of bedsprings, one of each of said pairs of slats including connecting means rigid with said one of each of said pairs of slats and extending laterally therefrom, said connecting means, when slat means to be positioned on .o'pp'ositesides of.a"'be'dspringorastackof bedsprings, one .of said slatm'eans including connecting means r-igid with said one ofisaid slot means and extending laterally therefrom, said connecting means, when the assembly is used to crate a bedspring or a'stack of bedsprings, passing through or between the springs of bedspring or stack of bedsprings, the other of said slat means including aligned means receiving said connecting means, and other means, carried by said other slat means and cooperating with said receiving means, latching said connecting means to said other of said slat means.

4. A crate assembly for retaining one or more bedsprings in compressed condition as recited in claim 3, in which said connecting means comprises one or more pins secured to said one of said slat means.

5. A crate assembly for retaining one or more bedsprings in compressed condition as recited in claim 3, in which said connecting means comprises one or more pins secured to said one of said slat means, the latching means on said other of said slat means engaging the ends of said pins.

6. A crate assembly for retaining one or more bedsprings in compressed condition as recited in claim 5, in which notches are provided in said pins, and in which said latching means includes a movable member engaging said notches.

7. A crate assembly for retaining one or more bedsprings in compressed condition as recited in claim 6, in which said movable member is slidably connected with said other of said slat means and includes a cut-away surface and a notch-engaging surface, the said movable member, when in one position, unlatching said pins to allow free movement past the cut-away surface, and, when in another position, latching said pins against movement by interengagement of said notch and said notchengaging surface.

8. A crate assembly for retaining one or more bedsprings in compressed condition as recited in claim 7, including detents associated with the movable member and the other of said slat means to lock said movable member in either of its latching or unlatching positions.

9. A crate assembly adapted for retaining a single bed spring or a plurality of superposed bedsprings in compressed condition comprising: a plurality of slats to be positioned, in spaced relation to one another, on one outer surface of said bedspring or bedsprings; an equal number of slats to be positioned in corresponding positions on the other outer surface of said bedspring or bedsprings; connecting means rigid with said plurality of slats and extending laterally therefrom, said connecting means, when the assembly is used to crate a bedspring or superposed bedsprings, passing between or through the springs of said bedspring or bedsprings; aligned means carried by said equal number of slats receiving said connecting means, and other means, carried by said equal number of slats and cooperating with said receiving means, latching said connecting means to said equal number of slats.

10. A crate assembly as recited in claim 9, in which the connecting means comprise pins having notches therein, and the latching means engage said notches.

11. A crate assembly as recited in claim 10, including means to lock said latching means in its latched and unlatched positions.

12. A crate assembly as recited in claim 9, in which said slats are angle-shaped in cross-section.

13. A crate assembly adapted for retaining one or more bedsprings in compressed condition, comprising: slat means to be positioned against one side of bedspring or a stack of bedsprings; connecting means comprising a plurality of pins rigid with said slats and extending laterally therefrom, said connecting means, when the as sembly is used to crate a bedspring or a stack of bedsp ings, passing between or through the springs of said "*6 bedspring or bedsprings; other slat imea'ns occupying cor: responding positions against the other side of 'said bed spring or stack of bedsprings, said other slat means being provided with openings ali gned with said pins, each of said pins being provided with -a notch receivable in said openings; movable means carried by said other slat means engaging said notches to latch the pins against movement; and means to support said movable means on said other slat means, said supporting means being mounted adjacent the end of said pins whereby it engages the ends of said pins to prevent the notches from engaging with the walls defining said openings in said other slat means.

14. A crate assembly as recited in claim 13, in which said movable latching means is provided with a surface engageable within said notches in said pins and with a cutaway portion permitting unlatching of said pins.

15. A crate assembly as recited in claim 13, in which said supporting means comprise rivets, the heads of said rivets disposed to engage the ends of said pins.

16. A crate assembly as recited in claim 13, in which the slat means are angled shaped in cross section, and in which the supporting means for the movable means in the latch-carrying slat means are mounted in an upstanding leg.

17. In combination: a plurality of bedsprings in compressed and stacked relation; a crate assembly retaining said relation comprising first slat means positioned on one side of said stacked bedsprings in engagement therewith, connecting means, rigid with said first slat means and extending laterally therefrom, passing through said stacked bedsprings, second slat means positioned on an opposed side of said stacked bedsprings in engagement therewith, said second slat means having means receiving said connecting means, and securing means, carried by said second slat means, cooperating with said receiving means and engaging said connecting means to latch said connecting means to said second slat means.

18. The combination as recited in claim 17, in which the connecting means comprises one or more pins having notches in the outer ends, and in which the securing means includes a slidable member moving from a disengaging position to a position engaging said notches.

19. The combination as recited in claim 18, in which said slidable member includes cut-away surfaces and notch engaging surfaces, the cut-away and notch engaging surfaces spaced on the slidable member whereby when the slidable member is in one position, the pins have free movement past said cut-away surfaces, and when in another position, the no-tch engaging surfaces engage the notches in the pins.

20. The combination as recited in claim 18, including means, carried by the slidable member and second slat means, to lock the slidable member in its latching and unlatching positions.

21. A crate assembly including one or more pairs of slat means to retain one or more bedsprings in stacked and compressed condition, the slat means comprising elongated members of angle cross section, a pair of which is disposed on opposite sides of the bedspring or stack of bedsprings in abutting relation therewith, connecting means comprising a plurality of pins rigid with one slat means of each pair and extending laterally therefrom, passing through or between the springs of the bedspring or bedsprings, the outer ends of said pins having notches, the other slat means of each pair provided with openings aligned with and receiving the notched ends of said pins passing through or between the springs, movable latch means carried by said other slat means engaging said notches to fasten the slat means together, said movable latch means including cut-away portions permitting separation of the slat means.

22. In a crate assembly as recited in claim 21, detent means, carried by the latch means and cooperating with 7 notches in the other slat means, to lock the latch means 2,098,461 in position. 2,172,547 2,309,795 References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 1,259,397 Hathaway Mar. 12, 1918 388,842

8 Micallef Nov. 9, 1937 Ruth Sept. 12, 1939 Siegel Feb. 2, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS 7 Germany Jan. 21, 1924