US3423101A

US3423101A - Freight container

Info

Publication number: US3423101A
Application number: US580317A
Authority: US
Inventors: Paul F Boeye
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1966-09-19
Filing date: 1966-09-19
Publication date: 1969-01-21
Anticipated expiration: 1986-01-21

Description

m 1959 P. F. BOEYE 3,423,101 I FREIGHT CONTAINER Filed Sept. 19, 1966 Sheet of 5 .62 A INVENTOR.

F 2 PAUL #5059 5 Wm, PM 6m A free News Jan. 21, 1969 Sheet Filed Sept. 19. 1966 m 0 W a l m @E 1 0 N T MM. NM. Amm- MM/ \MM. W \w A T melt/6V5 Jan. 21, 1969 P. F. BOEYE FREIGHT CONTAINER Sheet Filed Sept. 19. 1966 INVENTOR. P4114 F 505945 P. F. BOEYE FREIGHT CONTAINER Jan. 21, 1969 Sheet 4 of 5 Filed Septv 19. 1966 U s MM. r m 91 NT 4 H 4 QM Mm \N y INVENTOR. PAUL F 5059 5 Jan. 21, 1969 F. Bozva 3,423,101

FREIGHT CONTAINER- Filed Sept. 19, 1966 INVENVTORJ United States Patent 3,423,101 FREIGHT CONTAINER Paul F. Boeye, Rte. 1, Box 588, Mound, Minn. 55364 Filed Sept. 19, 1966, Ser. No. 580,317 US. Cl. 28046 Claims Int. Cl. B621) 1/04, 7/06; B65d 9/12 ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A freight container including a rigid pallet with stationary skids intermediate the ends for normally supporting the pallet and wheels elevated slightly to support the pallet when tilted by a dolly for transporting, the container also including a demountable enclosure with a plurality of sidewall panels foldable into a small compass to be collapsed and laid on the bottom side of the pallet between the skids and wheels for return to the original destination.

This invention relates to a freight container of the type for storing a number of articles or packaged goods, and more particularly relates to a reusable freight container which may be readily returned to its point of Origin and which may be readily and easily handled for storing and shipping numerous articles or packages, so as to minimize labor and damage in the process of transportation.

Often times shippers will be sending articles and packages of many diverse shapes and sizes from one shipping point to one receiving point, and because of the individual characteristics of the several packages and articles, varying freight rates will be charged to the different types of articles or packages, and this has necessitated a substantial amount of paper work and labor in handling all of these miscellaneous articles and packages being shipped. It should be understood that if the shipper can collect numerous articles or packages into a single unit, the freight carrier will allow a more economical rate, and of course substantial savings can be had as a result of the reduced labor involved.

An object of my invention is to provide a new and improved reusable freight container of simple and inexpensive construction and operation.

Another object of my invention is to provide a reusable freight container wherein the load supporting platform or media is provided with readily and easily collapsible wall and top structure to define a knock down type of container which will be sufficiently strong and will be sufiiciently easy to handle as to withstand the riggers of freight transportation by common carrier.

Another object of the invention is to provide a readily knocked down reusable freight container with a wall and door construction such that the door is readily removable to permit loading and unloading and when replaced, materially strengthens the entire wall structure so as to adequately protect the articles and goods being transported during the necessary handling of the containers during the transportation thereof.

A further object of the invention is to provide a freight storing and transporting container with a supporting structure as to prevent normal movement of the container relative to the supporting deck or floor structure, but which may be readily and easily moved with a supplemental dolly as to permit readily and easy handling of the unit with a minimum of physical labor.

These and other objects and advantages of this invention will more fully appear from the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to the same or 3,423,101 Patented Jan. 21, 1969 similar parts throughout the several views, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the invention in assembled and closed condition, and being partly broken away for clarity of detail.

FIG. 2 is a detail elevation view of the container pallet and supporting structure.

FIG. 3 is a section view taken approximately at 33 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged detail section view taken approximately at 4-4 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged detail section view taken approximately at 55 in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged detail section view taken approximately at 66 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged detail section view taken approximately at 77 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged detail section view taken approximately at 88 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 9 is an ehlarged detail section view taken approximately at 9-9 in FIG. 1.

FIGS. 10a, 10b and 10c are end elevation views of the several removable sidewall sections, as the sidewall sections are originally constructed, prior to folding.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged elevation view of the wheeled dolly, with related portions of the freight container shown in section.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the container pallet, with portions thereof broken away and shown in section for clarity of detail.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the invention shown in collapsed and folded condition, and assembled for return to point of origin, with portions thereof being broken away for clarity of detail.

One form of the present invention is shown in the drawin-gs and is described herein.

The reusable freight container, indicated in general by numeral 15, more specifically constitutes a device for storing and hauling freight such as numerous small articles and packages therein. The container 15 comprises a load supporting pallet, indicated in general by numeral 16, and a demountable enclosure, indicated in general by numeral 17 and carried on the pallet 16.

A removable wheeled dolly or jack is indicated in general by numeral 18 and is for the purpose of lifting one end of the pallet 16 and pulling and steering the container 15 during loading and unloading of the container 15 with respect to a transporting vehicle such as a motor truck or railroad car.

The pallet 16 is generally rectangular in shape and includes an integral, welded framework 19 lying generally in a plane and cooperating with a panel 20 of stiff and rugged sheet material, such as corrugated, multiply cardboard, to define the load-supporting platform of the pallet. The framework 19 is constructed of tubular longitudinal frame elements 19a and 1% respectively disposed at the outer sides and inner portions of the pallet 16. The framework 19 also includes a plurality of frame elements extending transversely across the ends of the pallet 16, and additional transverse frame elements 19d, intermediate the ends. All of the frame elements in the frame work 19 are afiixedly secured together as by welding. Then panel 20 of cardboard lies upon the framework 19 and is supported thereby in many locations in order to provide adequate support for the load being carried in the container. The panel 20 is retained by channel elements 21 afiixed on the side frame elements 19a so as to allow the panel 20 to slide endwise outwardly for replacement.

The pallet 16 is provided with socket means at the periphery for receiving and confining the lower edge portion of the sidewall structure of the enclosure 17 as hereinafter more specifically described, and such socket means comprises an outwardly projecting flange 22 extending peripherally of the entire pallet 16 and the framework 19 thereof, and an upwardly turned lip or edge portion 23, also extending entirely around the periphery of the framework 19 is spaced relation with the longitudinal and transverse frame elements 19a and 190 thereof to cooperate therewith in defining a sidewall-receiving channel 24 extending entirely around the rectangular periphery of the pallet 16 and the platform thereof. At the ends of the pallet 16, the flange 22 comprises an extension of a rigid metal plate 22a forming a part of the transverse end frame element 19c and also serving as a support panel against which the chassis or frame structure 18a lies for supporting the end portion of the pallet 16 and the container as a whole off the floor F. It will also be noted that the flange 22, at each end of the pallet 16 is provided with bearing apertures 25 to facilitate attachment of the dolly 18, as hereinafter more fully described.

It will be noted that the upturned lip or edge portion 23 has a plurality of generally rectangular, clip-receiving apertures 26 therein and spaced downwardly below the upper edge of the lip 23. It will be noted that at each end of the pallet 16 the upturned lip 23 has a pair of these apertures 26 and the upturned lip 23 also has several of the apertures 26 along the longitudinal sides of the pallet, as illustrated.

The pallet 26 is provided with rigid skids 27, depending from opposite sides of the framework 19 for normally engaging the floor F and supporting substantially the entire weight of the freight container 15 and the load carried therein. The skids 27 extend downwardly from the longitudinal frame element 19a, and in spaced relation with the opposite ends of the framework 19.

At opposite ends of the framework 19, support wheels 28 are journalled on depending ears 29 which are afiixed as by welding to the framework 19. In the illustrated form, the wheels 28 are oriented in predetermined relation with the pallet 16, and there is no need for a swiveling relationship between the wheels and the pallet because of the use of the steering dolly 18 during transport. It will be understood, as illustrated in FIG. 2, that normally when the pallet 16 is supported on the floor F, the skids 27 bear the entire load of the freight container 15 and the articles contained therein and the wheels 28 are all in substantial non-load bearing relation to the floor, and preferably, the wheels 28 are spaced above the floor F. This is illustrated in the dotted line position of the wheels in FIG. 2, which represents the condition when the dolly 18 is removed from the container.

The demountable enclosure 17 normally carried on the pallet 16 includes a plurality of

sidewall sections

30, 31 I and 32, and a substantially rigid top 33.

The top 33 is quite stiff and is constructed of several plies of heavy corrugated cardboard. A central ply 33a of cardboard has a substantially continuous and substantially rigid wire rod 34 formed around the entire periphery thereof, and an upper ply 33b of corrugated craftboard is applied to the central ply 33a and has the edged portions 33b folded around the edges of the central ply and around the wire rod 34 so as to encompass the rod 34 therein and rigidly afiix the rod to the top 33. The top ply has its edge portions 33b" folded we'll under the central ply 33a and adhesively aflixed thereto so as to rigidify the top 33.

The top 33 is provided with socket means at its periphery for cooperating with the pallet 16 in retaining the

sidewall sections

31, 32 and 33, and in the form shown, the socket means of the top 33 comprises a plurality of rectangular openings or recesses 35 and 36 so as to cooperate with the wire rod 34 to define cleat-receiving sockets or openings. It will be noted that the openings 36 are considerably longer along the periphery of the top 33 than the apertures 35, for purposes which will appear more fully hereinafter.

All of the sidewall sections 30-32 are similar in general construction and include stiff and readily foldable panels 4 37a, 37b and 370 which are scored at numerous locations to define fold lines F through F as illustrated. The fold lines are used at the corners of the demountable enclosure and are also employed when the sidewall sections are folded into small compass and laid onto the pallet as illus trated in FIG. 13.

It will be noted that the sidewall section extends along the front of the enclosure 17 so as to provide a removable door for the access opening 38 into the interior of the enclosure 17. The panel 37a is slightly shorter in height than the panels 37 b and 370 so that the upper edge 37a of the panel 37a is normally spaced below the top 33, thereby permitting uplifting of the sidewall section 30 to release the lower edge portion of the sidewall section from the pallet 16, which normally confines the lower edge portions of all of the sidewall sections in the channel 24.

It will be noted that the

sidewall sections

31 and 32 are in adjoining relation with each other at the rear of the enclosure 17, and that these sidewall sections extend in opposite directions along the rear of the enclosure, entirely across the ends or sides of the enclosure, and along the front of the enclosure for a short distance and into adjoining relation with the front sidewall section 30 which is regarded as the door of the demountable enclosure 17.

The several sidewall sections are also provided with rigid upright slat-shaped

cleats

39, 39a and 3% which are aflixed to the

panels

37a, 37b and 37c respectively by rivets and adhesives. The

cleats

39, 39a and 3% are preferably constructed of stiff and tough wood, such as fir, and are preferably ensheathed by sheet metal to add strength and durability. All of the cleats 39 are affixed to the outer side of the corresponding sidewall panels; and at the edges of the sidewall sections, the cleats 3919 are also afiixed to the outer sides of the panels. The cleats 39a are affixed to the inner sides of the respective sidewall panels to bear ergdewise against the cleats 39b and thereby maintain adjoining sidewall sections in lapped relation with each other under such circumferentially directed tension forces as to maintain the composite sidewall structure formed by the

sections

30, 31 and 32 in a rigid condition. It will be seen that all of the

cleats

39, 39a and 39b project upwardly into the socket forming apertures or openings and 36 of the top 33 and extend downwardly, along with the edges of the panels, into the socket forming channel 24 of the pallet 16. It will be particularly noted that openings 36 in the top 33 are of a size corresponding to the edge to edge related cleats 39a and 39b so as to maintain the edge portions of the sidewall sections in lapped and interconnected relation with each other.

-At each of the cleats 39a, the corresponding panel, to which the cleat is attached has a notch 40 therein. Each of the cleats 39a has an elongate spring clip 41 affixed to the lower end thereof as by rivets 41a. The spring clip 41 has its lower end portion spaced outwardly from the cleat 39a, and has an outwardly turned lip or detent 42 formed thereon for insertion through a corresponding aperture 26 in the pallet 16.

It will be understood that the length of the lip or detent 42 is so related to the width of the channel 24 and the thickness of the cleat together with the thickness of the panel of the next adjacent wall section lying behind the cleat, such as panel 370 as seen in FIG. 7, as to permit the spring clip 41 to be removed from the aperture 26, thereby permitting upward movement of the wall section out of the channel 24.

As illustrated in the drawings, the clips 41 are affixed on each of the cleats 39a, which are located at opposite ends of the sidewall section 30 and at the rear end or edge of the sidewall section 32.

The cleats 39 at the sides of the enclosure 17 and which are adjacent the ends of the pallet 16 also have a plurality of rigid connectors or clips 43 afiixed on the lower ends thereof and having out turned lower lips or ends 44 which are in- .fixed relation with the cleats 39 and which project outwardly through the corresponding adjacent apertures 26 in the pallet 16, as seen in FIGS. 1 and 8. The lips or detents 44 of the clips 43 project sufiiciently from the outer face of the cleat 39 as to prevent removal of the cleat 39 by merely shifting the cleat and wall panel in the channel 24, but the lips 44 of the clips 43 will remove from the apertures 26 in the event that the sidewall section and the cleat 39 are tipped substantially to the dotted line position illustrated in FIG. 8. The sidewall section is thereby detachably connected to the pallet 16.

The other sidewall section 32 is similarly detachably connected to the pallet and is removed in the same way as illustrated in FIG. 8.

The sidewall sections 30, 3.1 and 32 have a plurality of releasable latches 45 aflixed on certain of the

cleats

39 and 39a adjacent the top 33. The latches 45, as seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, have movable hooks 46 for releasable connection to the wire rod 34 of the top 33 for releasably latching the top 33 onto the sidewall sections. The latches 45 have swingalble handles 47 which pivotally mount the hooks 46 for swinging into and out of latched position. The latches 45 have frame members 48 which swingably mount the handles 47 and permit movement of the [hook 46 therebetween. The side frame members 48 have apertures 49 therein closely adjacent the hook 46 for receiving and carrying a wire seal 50 to prevent tampering with the latches 45 while the freight container 15 is in transit. The latch 45 on the front sidewall section 30 prevents upward movement of this removable sidewall section unless the latch 45 is released. When the latch 45 of the front sidewall section is released from the rod 34 for the purpose of preparing the sidewall section for removal from the enclosure, the top 33 will be bowed slightly upwardly over the end of the central cleat of the sidewall section 30 whereupon the upper portion of this sidewall section will be swung away from the top so that the cleat 39 thereon is removed from the corresponding socket opening 35 of the top 33. The sidewall section may thereafter be uplifted at the hand receiving opening 30a to provide for removal of the sidewall section.

The dolly 18 has a pair of closely spaced floor engaging wheels 51 on a common axis and journalled onthe chassis 18a which provides a pallet-supporting surface 52, spaced well above the wheels 51 and engageable with the bottom plate 22a at either end of the pallet 16. The chassis 18a is provided with an upwardly projecting lug 53' located slightly forwardly of the axle shaft 51a of the wheels, and projectable upwardly into and through either of the bearing apertures 25 at the ends of the pallet 16. The dolly 18 is provided with an elongate handle 54 connected by pivot 55 to the chassis of the dolly, and the handle 54 is provided with a swingable stand 56 normally held and swung upwardly and in an out of the way position by a coil spring 57. The stand 56 may be manually swung downwardly for the purpose of resting upon a rigid plate 58 comprising a forwardly extending portion of the chassis 18a so that the handle 54 will be maintained in the upwardly swung oblique position as illustrated.

As previously indicated, the pallet will normally rest upon the skids 27 thereof, and when it is desired to transport the pallet, with or without the demountable enclosure 17 thereon, the dolly 18 will be moved toward one end of the pallet substantially as illustrated in dotted lines in FIG. 11 and with the lug 53 disposed in closely adjacent relation to the bearing aperture 25. The handle 54 is then swung downwardly so as to tilt the chassis 18a to the full line position of FIG. 11, whereupon the lug 53 will project into the bearing aperture 25, and the end of the pallet will be lifted upwardly and supported upon the upper surface 52 of the dolly chassis 18a. In the process of attaching the dolly 18 to the pallet, the adjacent end of the pallet is lifted sufliciently as to space the skids 27 6 off the door F, so that the pallet and the container 15 as a whole is thereupon supported by one pair of wheels 28 at one end of the pallet and the dolly 18 at the other end of the pallet. The handle 28 may then be manipulated to steer and move the container 15 as desired along the floor.

After the container 15 has been positioned in the proper location, the dolly .1 8 may be simply removed from the pallet by merely reversing the steps previously described. in connection with the application of the dolly to the pallet. The dolly is merely tilted towards the dotted line position illustrated in FIG. 11, and as the dolly is tilted in this manner, the pallet must be very slightly lifted and then the dolly will tiltably release from beneath the end of the pallet and the pallet will be lowered onto the floor so that the pallet, the demountable enclosure, and the load or articles contained therein are then supported by the skids 27.

In operation of the demountalble container 17, it is first assumed that the removable sidewall section or door 30 has been initially removed to expose the access opening 38, thereby permitting loading of articles and packages onto the platfrom of the pallet and within the enclosure. When the container 15 has been loaded to the desired degree, the end most cleats 39a of the sidewall section 30 are inserted into the socket openings 36 of the top and in edge to edge relation with the cleats 39b of the,

adjoining sidewall section. This relationship to the cleats 39b produces a tensionin-g of the sidewall structure as a whole in the circumferential direction. During this initial application of the cleats 39a to the top 33, the central cleat 39 of the wall section 30 is merely moved upwardly along the outer periphery of the top 33. The sidewall section 30 is moved upwardly until the upper edge 37a substantially engages the inner surface of the top 33, whereupon the lower edge portion of the sidewall section 30 may be swung inwardly, over the upturned lip or edge portion 23 of the pallet flange 22. The lower portions of the spring clip, and the outwardly projecting lip 42 thereof are then swung inwardly against the cleats 39a and the entire sidewall section 30 is moved downwardly slightly so as to position the entire lower edge portion of the sidewall section within the channel 24.

As the lips 42 of the clips 41 come into alignment with the apertures 26, the resilient spring clips 41 will project the lips 42 through the apertures. The top 33- will again be bowed slightly upward so as to permit the upper end of the central cleat 39 to be inserted through a corresponding socket opening 35 in the top. A seal 50 is applied to the latch 45, and the door 30 is thereby sealed closed, even though a small slot type opening adjacent the top edge of the sidewall section exists.

The dolly 18 may be removed to transport the freight container 15 to the desired location, such as in a freight car or the trailer of a truck. The dolly 18 will be detached and the freight container will be transported by the truck with the entire freight container and the load therein supported on the skids 27 on the floor or deck of the truck-trailer.

When the truck arrives at its destination, the freight container may be moved by means of a dolly 18 out of the trailer and onto a dock and into a warehouse for convenient unloading. The front sidewall section 30 will be removed by reversing the steps hereinbefore described in connection with application of this sidewall section 30. Briefly, the spring clips 41 are released from the pallet 16 and the sidewall section is moved upwardly and then swung outwardly and then moved downwardly so as to retract the upper ends of cleat 39 from the socket openings in the top 33.

After the freight container is unloaded, it may be desired to merely return the freight container to its original point of origin for refilling and shipping again. In this case, the enclosure 17 will be knocked down by first releasing all of the latches 45, thereby permitting removal of the top 33. The spring clip 41 on the bottom end of the cleat 39a of sidewall section 32 is then released from the pallet 16, whereupon the sidewall section 32 may be tilted endwise outwardly of the pallet so that the rigid clips 43 thereon will be detached from the pallet as the lower edge of the sidewall section 32 is lifted out of the channel 24. Similarly, the sidewall section 31 will be tilted endwise of the pallet and outwardly so as to be detached from the pallet, substantially in the manner illustrated in FIG. 8. The

sidewall sections

30, 31 and 32 are thereupon folded at the several fold lines F through F thereof into somewhat the manner illustrated in FIG. 13, whereupon these folded sidewall sections are laid upon the inverted lower side of the pallet 16 and between the skids 27 thereof. The top 33 is laid over the sidewall sections on the inverted pallet 16 and the entire assembly may be fastened as by banding into an integral unit for return to point of origin. It will be understood that for the return trip to point of origin, numerous collapsed freight containers may be shipped in the space that may have been occupied by a single freight container during its loaded condition.

It will be seen that I have provided a new and novel freight container which is readily and easily demountable and foldable into small compass for returning to point of origin for reuse after the demountable enclosure is again set up. The demountable enclosure includes sidewall sections which are inter-related with each other as to create a rigid and stable construction for shipment of freight, including articles and small packages, sufficiently strong as to withstand the rigors of freight transportation. The reusable and demountable freight container provides the advantage of being able to obtain more favorable freight rates from the carrier and to minimize handling of articles and packages upon loading and unloading of the transporting vehicle.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement and proportions of the various parts without departing from the scope of my invention.

What I claim is:

1. A reusable freight container,

comprising a rigid pallet having a load supporting platform,

and a demountable enclosure on the pallet and including a plurality of sidewall sections detachably connected to the pallet and defining the sides, rear and front of the enclosure, each of said sidewall sections being foldable into small compass when detached from the pallet, and said enclosure including a removable top detachably connected to said sidewall sections and cooperating with the pallet in retaining said sidewalls sections in encompassing relation to the load on the platform, one of said sidewall sections is removable at the front of the enclosure and independently of the top to provide access into the enclosure for loading and unloading.

2. The freight container according to claim 1 and including a pair of floor engaging skids opposite each other at the sides of the pallet and spaced from one end of the pallet, said skids normally supporting the pallet,

a pair of wheels at said one end of the pallet and spaced from the corresponding ends of the skids, said wheels being spaced above the elevation of said skids to normally be free of the floor,

and means at the other end of the pallet opposite the wheels for lifting and pulling the pallet whereby to tilt the pallet onto said wheels for travel thereon.

3. The freight container according to claim 1 and said pallet including a pair of floor engaging skids opposite each other and depending from the sides of the platform,

all of said sidewall sections being foldable to lie with and beneath said top and between said skids and on the platform for returning the container for reuse.

4. The freight container according to claim 2 and said means includes a frame structure on the pallet at the end opposite the wheels and having a socket therein opening downwardly,

and a removable wheeled dolly underlying said panel and having an insert cooperating with said socket to prevent separation of the dolly from the pallet, said dolly tilting the pallet onto said wheels, thereby providing mobility for the freight container.

5. The freight container according to claim 1 wherein said sidewall sections have upright load-confining panels with upper and lower edges confronting the said top and said pallet respectively, said sidewall sections also having rigid upright cleats on the panels,

said top and said pallet having socket means receiving the ends of said cleats and confining the cleats against transverse outward movement.

6. The freight container according to claim 5 and including releasable latching means on the ends of certain of said cleats and preventing removal from said socket means to maintain the integrity of the enclosure during use.

7. The freight container according to claim 5 wherein one of said sidewall sections extends linearly along the front of the enclosure and normally closes the access opening for loading and unloading, the upper edge of the panel of said one sidewall section being spaced downwardly from said top to permit upward movement of the section and removal of the cleats from the socket means of the pallet.

8. The freight container according to claim 5 wherein each of the sidewall sections has edge portions adjoining and overlapping the edge portions of the next adjacent sidewall section, the edge portions of each section having one of said cleats affixed thereto and in confronting relation to the panel of the adjoining sidewall section, the cleats of the adjoining edge portions bearing against each other in edge to edge relation under intluence of circumferential tension forces to effect rigidity in the enclosure.

9. The freight container according to claim 8 wherein one of said sidewall sections extends linearly along the front of the enclosure and normally closes the access opening for loading and unloading, the upper edge of the panel of said one sidewall section being spaced downwardly from said top to permit upward movement of the section and removal of the cleats from the socket means of the pallet, other of said sidewall sections also extending along the front of the enclosure and to said access opening.

10. A freight hauling and storing device, comprising a pallet having a load supporting platform and having support means depending from the platform, said support means including a air of floor engaging support wheels at one end of the platform and also including a second stationary support media engageable with the floor, over a substantial distance between the ends of the platform to support the platform independently of the wheels and prevent endwise tilting of the platform, said wheels being spaced above the elevation of the floor and being free of the floor when said stationary support media engages the floor, the pallet platform also having a downwardly opening bearing aperature at the end opposite the wheels,

a removable dolly having a pair of dolly wheels on one axis and a flat pallet-supporting chassis mounting the wheels and underlying the pallet platform and cooperating with said support wheels to support the platform independently of the second media, said chassis having a rigid upright lug projecting into the bearing aperture of the pallet platform, said chassis being tiltably removable from beneath said platform to swingably withdraw the lug from the bearing aperture as the platform is lowered onto 9 10 said second support media, and a handle swingably 2,468,375 4/1949 Paddock 28047.16 mounted on the dolly swinging between predeter- 2,665,139 1/1954 Schroeder 28046 mined limits. 2,946,601 7/1960 Branning et a1. 280-46 References Cited 3,001,797 9/1961 Kappen 280-46 2 249 268 2 ZTATES PATENTS 217 12 BENJAMIN HERSH, Primary Examiner. 2 249 269 7/1941 B23: :IIIII: 217:12 L SIEGEL, Assistant Examiner- 2,289,940 7/1942 Stone 22923 U S c1 X R' 2,339,940 1/ 1944 Noros 280-46 2,383,512 8/1945 Rosenthal 22923 10 28043.12, 43.24, 47.12, 79.2; 21712