US3583745A - Lifting device - Google Patents

Abstract

A device for lifting articles, for example, corrugated containers, said device having handle means with crossing members terminating at gripping means. The gripping means comprise a flat rear plate and an opposite, inwardly curved front plate having teeth extending from the forward edge of the curved front plate. When the handles are brought together the curved front plate contacts the article to be lifted and the teeth embed in the article to securely hold the article between the flat rear plate and the curved front plate.

Description

United States Patent [72] inventor Brooks 8. Stuart, Jr.

103 Apple-wood Lane, Spartanburg, S.C. 29302 (21] Appl. No. 788,398 [22] Filed Jan. 2, 1969 [45] Patented June 8, 1971 [54] LII'TING DEVICE 3 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs.

[52] 11.8. CI. 294/28, 294/118, 294/29, 294/31, 294/104, 294/104. 1 4 294/106, 294/119 [51] int. Cl B251 7/02 [50] Field of Search 294/28, 29, 3,104,104.1,106,118,119

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 179.533 7/1876 Dewar 294/104X 884,887 4/1908 Beckwith 294/104X 1,104,470 7/1914 Bilson 294/118 1,7 30,706 10/1929 Wilkowski 294/1 18X 1,857,979 5/1932 Schaefer... 294/118 2,189,713 2/1940 Hansen 294/104X Primary Examiner-Even C. Blunk Assistant Examiner-W. Scott Carson Attorney-Wellington M. Manning, Jr.

ABSTRACT: A device for lifting articles, for example, corrugated containers, said device having handle means with crossing members terminating at gripping means. The gripping means comprise a flat rear plate and an opposite, inwardly curved front plate having teeth extending from the forward edge of the curved front plate. When the handles are brought together the curved front plate contacts the article to be lifted and the teeth embed in the article to securely hold the article between the flat rear plate and the curved front plate.

PATENTEU JUN 81971 3; 583745 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY ROOKS 5. STUARTJR. BY a LXFTING Davies BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Numerous devices have been known for gripping the sidewalls of a container to facilitate lifting of the container. These prior device have for the most part, been designed for specific purposes, e.g., lifting ice cream cartons, salvage cartons filled with groceries, and the like. A present need exists for a further type of lifting device in the computer hardware industry. Data processing centers utilize printers integral with computers. The printing is accomplished on continuous lengths of paper or forms being fed from a nested accordion arrangement in a corrugated container. Prior to feeding the paper to the printout section of the computer, the top of the corrugated container is removed and the full container is placed under the printer. Paper of this type is then threaded into the printer where small indexing holes in at least one edge of the paper are engaged by a sprocket for proper alignment and advancement of the paper through the printer. Extreme care must be observed to avoid damage to these holes. Also, containers filled with computer paper weigh up to approximately 60-70 pounds, a weight that is quite burdensome for a female operator to negotiate.

Accordingly apparatus has been sought to aid data processing personnel in moving the containers of paper to and from the printout section of the computer. The present invention provides such an instrument and fulfills a long standing need.

The prior art does not teach or suggest a device such as is described and claimed herein. Devices are shown that operate on a scissors principle with opposing jaws to engage the article to be lifted. No device is shown or suggested by the prior art, however, having the features or versatility of the instant lifting device. For instance, no device is shown in the prior art having a curved outer jaw as is taught by the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a device for lifting containers without excessively damaging the container.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a device for lifting containers without damaging or disturbing the contents of the containers.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device for use in data processing centers for lifting and transporting boxes containing continuous, nested paper, forms and the like, without damaging the contents of the boxes.

-With these objects in view, the present invention relates to a device for lifting and transporting containers comprising a pair of crossing handle and gripping members, one of said members having at its gripping end, a flat rear plate capable of inscrtion into the container between the contents of the container and the container sidewall, the other of said members having at its gripping end an inwardly curved front plate with a plurality of toothlike projections extending outwardly from the forward edge of the front plate, said two members being pivotally connected.

The device of the present invention provides heretofore unavailable advantages to the operators of a data processing center. Continuous paper or forms fed to the printout section of a computer is provided with a series of indexing and feeding holes along the side of the paper. If one of these holes is damaged, that section of the paper will not properly feed and the computer will automatically be shut off. The damaged paper will then have to be removed and undamaged paper rethreaded into the printer. Should the paper be damaged at the beginning of the continuous strip, very little trouble is encountered. If, however, the paper is damaged in the middle of the strip, then, practically speaking, the purpose of the continuous strip is defeated for the computer will be stopped in the middle of the strip and the damaged section removed after which the printer must be rethreaded with new paper. In fact if the damage to the paper is detected before the initial threading-up of the printer, the box will be set aside and used piecemeal on short runs.

Labor shortage is another problem plaguing the data processing industry. Attempts have been made to avoid the shortage by employing women to work in the centers. Presently, the boxes of continuous strips of paper, forms, etc. weigh up to approximately 60-70 pounds. These containers are currently being lifted and carried to the computer by a man who grips two of the sidewalls of the container between his thumbs and forefingers. A woman does not possess the strength in her thumbs and forefingers to use these digits for lifting a container weighing 65 pounds. Accordingly, someone in the center must move the boxes of paper or forms around the computers for the woman operator, hence creating additional labor needs. The device of the present invention enables a woman to manipulate the 65 pound boxes. While the normal woman cannot lift these boxes with her thumbs and forefingers, she can normally lift the weight. Hence by using the device of the present invention the woman applies her gripping strength at the handles, utilizing the strength of her whole hand instead of only thumb and forefinger. She is now capable of safely lifting the box. The woman operator also does not have to bend as far to reach the box when she uses the instant lifting device. The device, when in use, extends some 6 to 12 inches above the top of the box and thus again aids the use of female labor in data processing centers.

Similar needs arise in department stores, grocery stores, libraries, and the like. In these type operations as well as numerous others, women are employed, but are hampered from moving objects around their work area due to the absence of a device to assist them in lifting and transporting the containers relevant to their particular work.

The novel features of the present invention are set forth in particular in the claims appended hereto. The invention itself, however, both as to construction and method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of the preferred embodiment when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a side elevation of the lifting device of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation of the lifting device of the present invention showing also a cutaway section of the curved front plate; and

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of two lifting devices of the present invention as they would be employed on an open-top container.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the lifting device of the present invention is shown. Two crossing handle and gripping members l0 and 12 are pivotally connected at 14 by suitable connector means 16. Bolts and lock nuts are shown for the purpose of illustration, but rivets or any other suitable connector means may be equally employed. Members 10 and 12 are shown to have an arcuate upper section 10' and 12' respectively and a lower arcuate section 10 and 12" respectively. It should be understood, however, that the shape of members 10 and 12 is not crucial to the present invention and these mem bers may assume any shape desired so long as the appropriate forces can be supplied to the sidewall of the container when handles 18 and 20 are brought together.

Handle 18, attached to members 10, and handle 20, attached to members 12 may be manufactured from any suitable material such as, for example plastic or wood. Handles 18 and 20 are preferably of a size such that when the two are brought together flat surfaces 18' and 20' mate and the circumference around the two handles fits comfortably in the user's hand whereby the user is not required to stretch his hand appreciably to reach around the handles while lifting or transporting a container. Moreover, the point at which flat surfaces l8 and 20' mate should preferably be in a plane that is parallel to rear plate 22 and intersects pivotal connecting means 16. Handles 18 and 20 are shown as separate components attached to members MB and i2. It should be understood that handle may be an integral part of members it) and 12.

Crossing members 12 are equipped at their gripping ends with a rear plate 22. Plate 22 may be secured to members 12 in any suitable manner, for example, by welding, or it may be integral with members 112 or may be removably secured to members 12 so that a different size plate may be attached for a container of larger or smaller size. The forward end 24 of plate 22 is smooth so as to avoid damage to the contents of the container in the event that plate 22 should come into contact with the contents of the container while being inserted into the container between the contents and the sidewall of the container. Plate 22 is shown in FIG. 2 to be slightly wider than curved front plate 30. Such a construction is highly preferred to prevent damage to the sidewall of the container due to canting of the device at one end into the container sidewall. This feature is readily accomplished, however, by constructing rear plate 22 to be at least substantially as wide as curved front plate 30.

Front plate 30, is affixed to members in a manner such as was described above for the connection between rear plate 22 and member 110. in other words front plate 30 may be welded to members 12, integral with members H2, or removably affixed to members 12. Front plate 3E1, as may be clearly seen in FIGS. l and 3 curves inwardly toward rear plate 22. A plurality of toothlike projections 3d are spacially disposed across the width of forward end 32. Projections 3d engage the sidewall of a container as the handles 18 and are brought together and embedded in the sidewall. The length of projections 3d should, preferably, be shorter than the width of sidewall for reasons set forth below.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, it is noted that two crossing members 10 and two crossing members 12 are shown. One such member 110 and member 32 may equally be used or more than two of each may be used. The number of members 10 and members 112 to be employed is really a matter of choice but may, in part, be determined by the amount of weight to be lifted and whether proper balance of the container can be maintained during lifting and transportation.

Referring to FIG. 1 it may be seen that angle 0, measured from plane P, a plane tangent to rear plate 22 that intersects connecting member 16 and the point where inner surfaces H8 and 20 of handles 13 and 2t mate down to line L, a line drawn tangent to the outer surface of front plate 30 at the point of contact between projections 34 and sidewall X, is greater than 90. This angle is a very important feature of the present invention. When projections 3 are embedded in sidewall X to their full extent, flat portions 32 of the front end 32 of front plate 30 engage sidewall X, relieving at least a major portion of the stress on the sidewall X produced by projections 34. Hence the stress on sidewall X is distributed across the entire width of front plate 30 instead of only at the projections 3d. Distribution of this stress in the sidewall X across the entire width of forward end 32 considerably lessens damage to the sidewall of the containers. Thus containers may be reused for a greater number of times as a paper feed supply source or the like. Also, considerably more weight can be lifted without damage to the container by distributing the stresses across the entire width than just at projections 34.

The lifting device of the present invention is usually employed as a pair, one for each side of the container to be lifted.

Referring to FIG. 3, one complete lifting device and one partial lifting device of such a pair are shown being used on a container. Rear plate 22 have been inserted in the open top of the box between the contents C and the sidewall X. Note that the device has not been inserted as far as possible into the box. Hence there is no danger of members 10" damaging the contents C. Front plate 30 resides along the outer surface X of sidewall X. When the o erator brings handles 18 and 20 together as shown in H5 3, projections 34 penetrate or embed in the outer surface X of sidewall X. Vector forces produced by lifting with the device engaged are inward and upward from front plate 30, a nd flat portions 32, in effect, carry the weight of the container along with projections 34. After the container has been transported to the desired location, the lifting device may be easily disengaged by separating the handles and applying a slight downward pressure against the device to remove projections 34 from sidewall X.

The lifting device of the present invention may be constructed of any suitable material, e.g. aluminum, steel or plastic. Obviously the weight of the container to be lifted is a determining factor. Moreover, the lifting device may be fabricated from individual components, stamped from stock and attached to components, or by other suitable fabricating methods.

The lifting device of the present invention may be modified for certain end uses where the contents of the container are not such that they may be easily damaged by handling. For example, two of the devices of the present invention may be united with a common handle section whereby through suitable linkage both devices will simultaneously grip or release.

Normally, the lifting device of the present invention is employed with open-top containers. Slight modification to a container, however, will add to the versatility of the instant lifting device. Slots introduced in the carton blank adjacent the creases defining the top of each sidewall permit use of the instant lifting device even before the carton has been opened. Others have produced lifting devices with sharp points for penetrating the carton. This feature is quite undesirable, however, due to the probability of damage to the contents of the container. Preformed slots in the carton will allow ingress and egress of the flat rear plate of the present invention. The smooth forward edge will not damage the contents of the carton, and thus the instant lifting device may be successfully employed in closed containers.

lclaim:

i. A lifting device comprising a pair of crossing handle and gripping members, means pivotally connecting said members, one of said members having a flat plate at its gripping end, the other of said members having at its gripping end a plate that is inwardly and upwardly curved toward the pivot point, the forward edge of said curved plate being elongated and having a plurality of teeth extending upwardly therefrom, said teeth extending upwardly from a plane that intersects said flat plate at when said teeth are adjacent said flat plate, said flat plate being substantially at least as wide as said curved plate, whereby when in use for lifting, said teeth embed in a container being lifted and the weight of the container is carried on said teeth and said elongated forward edge of said curved plate.

2. The lifting device as defined in claim 1 wherein the flat plate has a smooth forward surface.

3. The lifting device as defined in claim 1 wherein the handles on the pair of crossing members have flat, mating inner surfaces and the handles meet at a plane that intersects the pivotal connecting means.

Claims (3)

1. A lifting device comprising a pair of crossing handle and gripping members, means pivotally connecting said members, one of said members having a flat plate at its gripping end, the other of said members having at its gripping end a plate that is inwardly and upwardly curved toward the pivot point, the forward edge of said curved plate being elongated and having a plurality of teeth extending upwardly therefrom, said teeth extending upwardly from a plane that intersects said flat plate at 90* when said teeth are adjacent said flat plate, said flat plate being substantially at least as wide as said curved plate, whereby when in use for lifting, said teeth embed in a container being lifted and the weight of the container is carried on said teeth and said elongated forward edge of said curved plate.

2. The lifting device as defined in claim 1 wherein the flat plate has a smooth forward surface.

3. The lifting device as defined in claim 1 wherein the handles on the pair of crossing members have flat, mating inner surfaces and the handles meet at a plane that intersects the pivotal connecting means.

Images