US3063667A

US3063667A - Retractable supports for cargo

Info

Publication number: US3063667A
Application number: US46510A
Authority: US
Inventors: Jr Luther L Doty; Iii Thomas O Smith
Original assignee: MOORE HANDLEY HARDWARE Co
Current assignee: MOORE HANDLEY HARDWARE Co; MOORE-HANDLEY HARDWARE COMPANY Inc
Priority date: 1960-08-01
Filing date: 1960-08-01
Publication date: 1962-11-13
Anticipated expiration: 1979-11-13

Description

Nov. 13, 1962 L. L. DOTY, JR, ETAL RETRACTABLE SUPPORTS FOR CARGO 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 1, 1960 INVENTORS Luther L. Dot ,Ji:

1 neys BY Thomas 0. Smith]! W a Rttor Nov. 13, 1962 DOTY, JR" ETAL 3,063,667

RETRACTABLE SUPPORTS FOR CARGO 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 1. 1960 m y mfi D s N 0 E00 W 69 L m rw 0 m o P t u t T 1 hj -zq Nov. 13, 1962 DOTY, JR., ETAL 3,063,657

RETRACTABLE SUPPORTS FOR 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 1. 1960 hm WW United rates 3,663,667 RETRACTABLE SUPPORTS FOR CARGt) Luther L. Duty, Jr., and Thomas 0. Smith 111, Brrnnngham, Ala., assignors to Moore-Handley Hardware Company, Inc., a corporation of Alabama Filed Aug. 1, men, Ser. No. 46,510 13 Claims. (Cl. 248-150) This invention relates to retractable supports for shipping containers and the like and more particularly to retractable supports that are housed within a compartmentextending transversely of the container.

Heretofore, with some minor exceptions, retractable legs have normally been housed alongside the container and have been pivoted between a vertical supporting position and a horizontal retracted position in a plane parallel to the longitudinal axis of the container. This type of leg has not formed a very compact structure.

It is an object of the present invention to provide retractable legs for a shipping container or the like having a compartment extending transversely of the container for substantially the entire width thereof with the retractable leg being received slidably in the compartment whereby the leg is fully covered by the compartment to form a compact unit.

Another object of our invention is to provide a retractable Ieg housed within a compartment extending transversely of a container with the leg being pivoted between vertical and horizontal positions in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the container whereby the leg may be moved inwardly and outwardly of the compartment in a straight line direction and the leg may be locked in a vertical supporting position by the weight of the container on the leg.

A further object of the invention is to provide a removable housing comprising two compartments in sideby-side relation with each compartment having a retractable leg unit therein and means to move simultaneously the leg units in opposite directions inwardly and outwardly of the compartments.

Briefly described, our invention comprises a box channel adjacent an end of a cargo container and extending transversely of the container for substantially the entire width thereof with a leg unit mounted within the box channel for sliding movement. The leg unit comprises a horizontal extension having a support bracket on which a retractable leg is mounted for pivotal movement in a plane transversely of the longitudinal axis of the container. The leg is provided with an elongated upper slot having an abutment directly adjacent the slot on which the undersurface of the support bracket rests when the weight of the body is transmitted tothe legs. By having the flat lower surface of the horizontal extension engage the leg abutment, and at the same time having the vertical side of the leg engage a vertical abutment on the extension, the leg is locked in position. When the weight is removed from the leg, the leg abutment moves out of contact with the lower surface of the horizontal extension and the vertical side of the leg moves away from the vertical abutment of the extension to permit pivoting of the leg to horizontal position.

Apparatus embodying features of our invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this invention, in which:

FIG. 1 is. a perspective view of a container having a housing with a pair of compartments and positioned in pockets extending transversely beneath the floor of the container for substantially the entire width thereof;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a housing removed from the container with the leg units extended in horizontal position;

3,063,667 Patented Nov. 13, 1962 ECQ FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a housing removed from the container and showing the legs in retracted position completely housed within the housing to form a compact unit, the drive means for extending and retracting the leg units being removed;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged side elevational view of a single leg unit shown extended in vertical supporting position and a portion of the housing broken away to show a sprocket therein;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view looking generally along the line 55 of FIG. 4 and showing the arrangement of the drive means to retract and extend. the leg unit relative to the housing;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary, perspective view of a retractable leg showing a pin securing the upper and lower telescoping sections of the retractable leg;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional view of the leg sections in retracted horizontal position showing the foot'portion in locked position on the upper leg section;

FIG. 8 is a perspective, fragmentary view of the leg in locked vertical supporting relation with the .abutments;

PEG. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view of the leg housing showing the drive means for retracting and extending the leg units;

FIG. 10 is a transverse sectional view taken generally along line 10-10 of FIG. 9 and showing the leg units secured to a roller chain for inward and outward movement; and,

FIG. 11 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view of'the means to secure the housing within the pocket.

Referring now to the drawings for a better understanding of our invention, we show in FIG. 1 the container C indicated by dotted lines. The floor of the container is indicated by the letter F and the undersurface of the container C by the letter B. The bottom B of container C has a supportingplate thereon and pockets arev formed between'the floor and bottom B that extend transversely of container C for the entire width thereof.

The pockets are adapted to receive removable housings indicated generally by the numeral 10 which has a bail 11 extending from one end thereof which extends below the bottom B of container C. A fork lift truck or the like may insert its forks within bail l1 and thereby carry the entire housing 10 to container C and insert it within the pockets therein. Toretain housing 10 within the pockets, a pivotally mounted catch 12 (see FIG. 11) is mounted on housing 10 and is adapted to engage a notch 13 in bottom plate 15 of the pocket. Bail 11 retains housing 10in one direction while catch 12 retains housing 10 in the opposite direction. Spring 14 urges catch 12 downwardly into engagement with notch 13 and catch 12 may be released manually from notch 13 to permit withdrawal of housing It If desired, the housing may be permanently fixed within the pockets. Also, if the body'is'not provided with pockets,- the housing may be fixed-tothebody' frame.

Two compartments 16' and 17' are provided in each of housings It) in side-by-side relation. The leg unit indicated generally by the'numeral 18. is slidably positioned within compartment 16'and leg unit 19 is slidably positioned within compartmentz17.

Leg units

18 and 19 are identical except that leg unit 18 extends from one end of housing 10 while leg. unit 19 extends from the other opposite end of housing'10.

Leg unit- 18 comprises a horizontal extension sleeve 21 of box channel shape and slidable within compartment 16. Extension 21 has a support bracket on the outer end thereof comprising a pair of arms 26 and 27. A retractable leg indicated generally by numeral 28 is pivotally mounted to arms 26 and 27 which may be provided by bifurcating the end of the extension 21'. The retractable leg comprises an inner lower leg section 29 telescoped within an outer upper leg section 31. Upper leg section 31 has a tongue 32 on the upper end thereof with an elongated slot 33 therein. Slot 33 is elongated substantially longitudinally of the leg 28. It has been found that a slot .will function eiiectively if it lies at an angle as much as from the longitudinal axis of the leg. Pin 34 pivotally connects arms 26 and 27 to leg section 21. Pin 34 preferably is fixed to arms 26 and 27. Thus, there is no relative rotation between pin 34 and arms 26 and 27.

Releasably to secure the retractable leg 28 in horizontal position, a plunger 37 is mounted on the upper end of lower section 29 to a shield 38. The plunger passes through an opening in the foot of tongue 32 and thence into a horizontal opening 39 in the pin 34. Opening 40 extends through the lower portion of tongue 32 to receive plunger 37 when lower section 29 is pushed into the upper leg 31, when in horizontal position. A groove 35 at the upper end of slot 33 receives the end of plunger 37 in the retracted horizontal locked position of leg 28.

To lock releasably leg 28 in vertical supporting position a shoulder or abutment 43 is provided adjacent the lower end of tongue 32. The undersurface of arms 26 and 27 is adapted to rest on abutment 43 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 8 when the leg unit is in cargo body supporting position. through extension sleeve 21 onto abutment 43 holds and retains retractable leg 28 in vertical relation. It is noted that pin 34 is disposed adjacent the lower end of slot 33 when leg 23 is locked in position. A vertical abutting surface 45 on extension 21 holds leg 28 against lateral movement while preventing shear on pin -34 in one direction.

To retract lower section 29, a retractable coil spring 46 is mounted in the upper end of lower leg section 29 and is held in place by the shield or housing 38. The spring 46 may be a spiral spring having one end secured at 47 to the upper leg section 31. A suitable spring is sold under the trademark Negator by The Hunter Spring Co. of Lansdale, Pennsylvania. Leg section 29 is continuously urged upwardly by spring 46. To hold leg section 29 in extended position as shown in FIG. 4, apertures 48 are provided therein. Aligned apertures 49 are provided in leg section 31 and a suitable pin 51 extends through aligned

openings

48 and 49 to hold lower leg section 29 in selective extended position.

A supporting foot 52 is fixed to the lower end of leg section 29 and rests against a supporting surface. To retain lower section 29 in horizontal retracted position, opening 30 is provided in lower section 29 and a ring 41 on foot portion 52. Opening 42 on the lower end of upper section 31 aligns with opening 30 and pin 51 may be inserted to hold section 31 and section 29 together. When

openings

30 and 42 align, plunger 37 is in engagement with opening 39 in pin 34 through opening 40 and thus the leg cannot be pivoted about pin 34 without the removal of pin 51 from aligned

openings

30 and 42. This provides a safety feature in our apparatus.

When the weight of container C is removed from retractable legs 28, pin 51 may be removed and spring 46 urges lower leg section 29 upwardly. This positions the end of plunger 37 against the rounded surface of pin 34. When the whole leg unit 28 is now moved to horizontal position, pin 37 enters hole 39 in pin 34 permitting the foot 52 to move into contact with the lower end of leg section 31. It should be noted that legs 28 must be in horizontal position in order for pin 51 to lock

sections

29 and 31 together. The retractable leg 28 moves downwardly when the Weight of the container C is removed so that pin 34 is in the upper end of elongated slot 33. In this position, abutment 43 is removed from the undersur- 'face of arms 26 and 27, the rounded end of tongue 32 lies alongside the vertical abutment 45, and leg 28 may be pivoted to horizontalposition as shown in FIG. 7. In this position plunger 37 is free to enter opening 39 in pin The weight of container C exerted 4 34 and pin 51 may then be inserted in aligned opening: 30 and 42.

To move

leg units

18 and 19 inwardly and outwardly of the housing 10 simultaneously, sprockets 55 are mounted within housing 10' between

compartments

16 and 17. A center partition divides compartments 16 am 17. A roller chain 53 extends between sprockets 55. A U-bolt 54 secures extension 21 to the upper run of chair 53 and U-bolt 56 secures the extension of unit 19 to the lower run of chain 53. A universal joint 57 is secured to the shaft on which sprocket is mounted and a square shaft 58 extends from joint 57. A crank may be inserted in the opening at the end of housing 10 to fit around shaft 58 and thereby rotate sprockets 55 to move the leg units inwardly and outwardly of housing 10. I1 desired, a bevel or worm gear arrangement could be employed.

In operation, with the leg units in fully retracted position in

compartments

16 and 17, the crank is used to move the extensions 21 outwardly from each side of housing 10. Next, pins 51 are removed and legs 28 are mover outwardly to release thereby plungers 37 from opening: 39. Legs 28 may then be pivoted to vertical supporting position. In this position, lower leg section 29 is mover downwardly against the bias of spring 46 until the desired

apertures

48 and 49 are aligned at which position pin 51 is inserted. The reverse procedure is used to retract thr logs from vertical supporting relation.

From the foregoing, it will be understood that we have provided retractable legs for shipping containers or the like having a housing extending transversely of the con rainer for substantially the entire width thereof with thr legs being received slidably in the housing so that thr legs are fully covered by the housing to form a compac unit. The container has transversely extending pocket: beneath the floor thereof in which the housings are re ceived or formed. If desired, a removable housing uni containing the retractable legs may be provided. The re tractable legs pivot between vertical and horizontal posi tions about axes extending parallel to the longitudina axis of the container and are moved in straight line path: inwardly and outwardly of the compartment. It is tr especially be noted that our improved leg structure i: locked with the legs in supporting position by the weigh of the cargo container on the legs. This is accomplishet by providing an elongated slot having a pin connecting the slidable extension to the pivoted leg as shown ant described. Also, while we have shown the leg unit: housed in a horizontal plane, it will be apparent that thr housing 10 may be turned thus to position the leg one over the other.

While we have shown our invention in but one form it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is no so limited, but is susceptible of various changes anr modifications without departing from the spirit thereof and we desire, therefore, that only such limitations she] be placed thereupon as are specifically set forth in thl appended claims.

What we claim is:

1. In combination, a shipping container having a pock et extending transversely of the container for substan tially the entire width thereof, a retractable support f0] the container comprising a sleeve mounted within saic pocket for sliding movement, a support bracket securer to the outer end of said sleeve and extending OH'LWfll'dI} therefrom in an extended position of the support bracket a retractable leg on the outer end of said bracket, mean: mounting said retractable leg for pivotal movement it a plane parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pocket said leg being pivoted between horizontal and vertica positions at a point generally in alignment with the lou gitudinal axis of the pocket whereby said leg and saic bracket may be received within said pocket along witl said sleeve to form a compact structure.

2. In combination, a shipping container having a pock et extending transversely of the container for substantially the entire width thereof, a retractable support for the container comprising a sleeve mounted within said pocket for sliding movement, a support bracket secured to the outer end of said sleeve for sliding movement therewith and extending outwardly therefrom in an extended position of the support bracket, 21 retractible leg on the outer end of said bracket, means mounting said retractable leg for pivotal movement in a plane parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pocket, said leg being pivoted at a point substantially in alignment with the longtudinal axis of the pocket so that said leg may be pivoted between a vertical extended position and a horizontal retracted position, and means to move the retractable leg and sleeve inwardly and outwardly of the pocket in which it is received in telescoping relation to form a compact unit.

3. In combination, a shipping container having a pocket extending transversely of the container for substantially the entire width thereof, a retractable support for the container comprising a sleeve mounted within said pocket for sliding movement, a leg support secured to said sleeve for sliding movement therewith and extending outwardly therefrom in an extended position of the support, a retractable leg on the outer end of said support, a pin extending through said leg and mounting said retractable leg for pivotal movement in a plane parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pocket, said pin being mounted within an elongated slot extending in a direction generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the leg whereby said leg may move in a generally vertical direction relative to the support, said leg having an abutment adjacent the slot, said support engaging the abutment in the extended position of the leg when a load is carried by the leg thereby to lock the leg against pivoting, and said abutment being removed from engagement with the support when the load is removed from the leg thereby permitting pivoting of the leg.

4. In combination, a shipping container having a compartment extending transversely of the container for substantially the entire width thereof, a retractable support for the container comprising a sleeve mounted within said compartment for sliding movement, a support bracket secured to said sleeve for sliding movement therewith and extending outwardly therefrom in an extended position of the support, a retractable leg mounted on the outer end of said bracket, a pin extending through said leg mounting said retractable leg for pivotal movement in a plane parallel to the longitudinal axis of the compartment, said leg being mounted within an elongated slot extending in a direction generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the leg whereby said leg may move in a generally vertical direction relative to the bracket, said leg having an upwardly facing abutment adjacent the lower end of said slot and said bracket having a pair of spaced arms adapted to rest on the abutment in the extended position of the leg, said support bracket resting on said abutment when a load is transferred to said leg thereby to lock the leg against pivoting, said leg comprising two telescoping portions with the lower portion being biased upwardly toward the upper portion, and said leg being permitted to pivot between horizontal and vertical positions only when the load is removed from the leg and the bracket is removed from abutting relation with the leg.

5. In combination, a shipping container having a compartment extending transversely of the container for substantially the entire width thereof, a support for the container comprising a sleeve mounted within said compartment for sliding inward and outward movement, a 70 support bracket secured to the outer end of the sleeve, a leg connected to said bracket, means mounting the leg for pivotal movement in a plane parallel to the longitudinal axis of the compartment and transversely of and a vertical operative position supporting the. shipping container, said leg comprising upper and lower telescoping sect-ions,means extending between the sections to bias the lower section toward the upper section in retracted position, means to retain releasably the leg in a horizontal position on the bracket, and means to move the sleeve and leg thereon inwardly and outwardly of the compartment.

6. Supports adapted to be positioned on a shipping container comprising a pair of longitudinally extending side-by-side compartments, a sleeve mounted within each of said compartments on opposite ends thereof and adapted for sliding inward and outward movement relative to the compartments, a leg support on the outer end of each sleeve, a leg connected to each of the leg supports, means mounting the legs for pivotal movement in a plane parallel to the longitudinal axis of the compartments between horizontal inoperative position and vertical operative position, each of said legs having two telescoping sections, means extending between the sections to urge the lower section toward the upper section, means to retain releasably the legs in a horizontal position on the leg support, and means to move the sleeves and legs thereon while they are retained in a horizontal position simultaneously inwardly and outwardly of the compartments, said means to move the sleeves comprising a chain mounted on sprockets with said sleeves being secured to the chain for movement therewith.

7. In combination, a shipping container having a compartment extending transversely of the container for substantiaily the entire width thereof, a support for the container comprising a sleeve mounted within said com partment for sliding inward and outward movement, a support bracket secured to the outer end of the sleeve, a leg connected to said bracket, means mounting the leg for pivotal movement in a plane parallel to the longitudinal axis of the compartment and transversely of the container between a horizontal inoperative position and a vertical operative position supporting the shipping container, said leg comprising two telescoping sections, means extending between the sections to urge the lower section toward the upper section, means to retain releasably the leg in a horizontal position on the bracket, 2. foot portion on the lower telescoping section, and means to move the sleeve and leg thereon inwardly and outwardly of the compartment so that the foot portion is substantially flush with the outer surface of the container in the inward position of the sleeve and leg thereby to form a compact unit.

8. The combination defined in claim 7 in which the compartment comprises a box channel which is removably positioned in a transverse pocket on the container and has a bail extending from the lower surface thereof whereby a fork on the fork lift truck may engage said bail for lifting the box channel.

9. The combination defined in claim 7 in which said support bracket comprises a pair of spaced arms having apertures therethrough and said leg has an abutment facing the arms on which the arms are adapted to rest, said leg having an elongated slot extending in a direction generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the leg, and a pin extending through said slot and the apertures in said arms to mount the leg for pivotal movement.

10. A support adapted to be positioned on a shipping container comprising, an elongated compartment, a sleeve mounted within said compartment for sliding inward and outward movement, a support bracket secured to the outer end of the sleeve, a leg connected to said bracket, means mounting the leg for pivotal movement in a plane parallel to the longitudinal axis of the compartment between a horizontal inoperative position and a vertical operative position, said leg comprising upper and lower telescoping sections, means extending between the sections to bias the lower section toward the upper the container between a horizontal inoperative position section in retracted position, means on said lower leg section to retain releasably the leg in a horizontal position on the support bracket, means securing in retracted position the lower telescoping section to the upper section and being operative to secure the sections together only when the leg is in horizontal position, and means to move the sleeve and leg thereon inwardly and outwardly of the compartment.

11. In combination, a shipping container having a compartment extending transversely of the container for substantially the entire width thereof, a retractable support for the container comprising a sleeve mounted within said compartment for sliding movement, a support bracket secured to said sleeve for sliding movement therewith and extending outwardly therefrom in an extended position of the support, a retractable leg mounted on the outer end of said bracket, a pin securedto said bracket and extending through said leg to mount the leg for pivotal movement in a plane parallel to the longitudinal axis of the compartment, said leg having an elongated slot extending in a direction generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the leg whereby the leg may move in a generally vertical direction relative to the bracket, said leg having an upwardly facing abutment adjacent the lower end of said slot and the lower surface of said bracket adapted to rest on the abutment when a load is transferred to the leg thereby to lock the leg against pivoting, said leg comprising two telescoping sections, means to urge the lower section toward the upper section, a securing plunger extending from the upper end of said lower section, said pin secured to the bracket having a horizontally extending opening therethrough and receiving said plunger in the horizontal position of the leg thereby releasably holding the leg in horizontal position, and means to move the leg and support bracket inwardly and outwardly of the compartment.

12. The combination defined in claim 11 in which a supporting foot is secured to the lower end of the lower leg section, and a removable pin secures the lower and upper sections together in telescoped relation only when the leg is in horizontal position with said plunger being received by the opening in said first mentioned pin.

13. A support adapted to be positioned on a shipping container comprising, an elongated compartment, a sleeve mounted within said compartment for sliding inward and outward movement, a support bracket secured to the outer end of the sleeve, a leg connected to said bracket, means mounting the leg for pivotal movement in a plane parallel to the longitudinal axis of the compartment between a horizontal inoperative position and a vertical operative position, said leg comprising relatively movable upper and lower sections, means extending between the sections to move the lower section toward the upper section in retracted position, means to retain releasably the leg in a horizontal position on the support bracket, means securing in retracted position the lower section to the upper section only when the leg is in horizontal position, and means to move the sleeve and leg thereon inwardly and outwardly of the compartments.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 358,527 Zwoyer Mar. 1, 1887 2,777,156 Weisgarber Jan. 15, 1957 2,777,586 Boysen Jan. 15, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 694,467 France Sept. 16, 1930