US3640405A

US3640405A - Slip pallet lifter

Info

Publication number: US3640405A
Application number: US24741A
Authority: US
Inventors: Harry M Carpenter Jr
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1970-04-01
Filing date: 1970-04-01
Publication date: 1972-02-08
Anticipated expiration: 1989-02-08

Abstract

A pair of jaws extend laterally at the front of the lifter and are manually closable to grip the edge of a slip pallet. The lifter is then tilted about supporting wheels close to the jaws to lift one edge of the pallet and load and arms on the lifter are swung forwardly to position blocks under the load. The blocks are releasably held by the arms so the load can be lowered onto the blocks and the lifter withdrawn to leave one edge of the slip pallet and load elevated for reception of the fingers of a forklift truck.

Description

nited States Patent fiarpenter, Jr.

[4;] Feb. 8, 1972 [54] SLIP PALLET LIFTER 21 Appl. No.: 24,741

[52] U.S.Cl. .214]! B, 294/19 R, 254/13], 214/377 [51] Int. Cl ..B62b 1/06 [58] Field ofSearch ..2l4/377, 378, 379, 380, 381, 214/382, 383, l B; 254/131; 294/13, 16, 104, l9 R [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,208,510 12/1916 Deane ..294/l3 Chicoine et al ..2l4/380 Flanagan ..2 l4/38l Primary ExaminerAlbert J. Makay Attorney-Bacon & Thomas [57] ABSTRACT A pair of jaws extend laterally at he front of the lifter and are manually closable to grip the edge of m 9H) pallet. The lifter is then tilted about supporting whet dose to the jaws to lift one edge of the pallet and load and arms on the lifter are swung forwardly to position blocks under the load. The blocks are releasably held by the arms so the load can be lowered onto the blocks and the lifter withdrawn to leave one edge of the slip pallet and load elevated for reception of the fingers of a forklift truck.

6claims,9nramn um PATENIEB'FEB 81972 3.640.405 sum 1 or 3 Hap/er M GHFPENTER, (fa

ATTORNEYS PATENTEU FEB 8 I972 SHEET 2 OF 3 H/IRRY M I3 Y dim/a PATENTED'FEB 81972 SHEET 3 OF 3 A T TOR NE YS' SLIP PALLET LIFTER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to load-lifting devices and particularly to devices for lifting an edge of a slip pallet on which a load is positioned and placing supporting blocks thereunder.

The shipping and handling of certain types of freight, such as separate crates, cases of product, and the like, has always presented problems since it is uneconomical to load and unload individual cases and it is more desirable to handle a plurality of articles as a unit. It has been common practice to provide wooden pallets on which a stack of articles is placed and the pallet can then be loaded onto and unloaded from freight cars, trucks or the like by means of conventional forklift trucks. A common form of pallet for this purpose comprises a wooden platform having beams or legs extending across the bottom to hold the platform elevated above a supporting surface and provide a clearance space below the platform for the fingers of forklift trucks. Such pallets, however, are quite expensive and occupy considerable space in a freight car or other shipping container. In addition, they are quite heavy, adding to the transportation costs and in view of their expense, it is always desirable to return them to the point of origin. This also involves the use of considerable space, labor and shipping charges.

It has also been proposed to employ what is known in the trade as slip pallets to support stacks of freight articles. This type of pallet consists of a large sheet of heavy, tough card board, or similar material, placed directly on the floor and on which stacks of crates, cases, or the like are placed. In some instances, it is possible to grip a projecting edge of the slip pallet, with appropriate equipment, and slide the same off the floor of the container, but that method of handling has not proven satisfactory. Another manner of handling has been to forcibly push the fingers of a forklift truck under such slip pallets and the load thereon whereupon the load and pallet can be lifted and transported. However, many types of freight articles, such as cases of canned goods, cases of glass jars or the like, do not lend themselves to such handling since the forcible pushing of the truck fingers under the pallet frequently damages the bottom cases and the contents thereof.

Such slip pallets, however, are very economical since their first cost is low, they are expendable, and in any event, can be stacked and/or rolled for storage or return shipment in a very small space.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to apparatus for rendering the use of slip pallets with relatively fragile shipments economically practical. The invention comprises generally a lever system comprising a handle having a roller fulcrum at one end, engageable with a floor, and forwardly of which a lower jaw is rigidly fixed to the handle. An upper jaw is lever actuated whereby the lower jaw may be slipped under the projecting edge of a slip pallet, the upper jaw then closed thereon to firmly grip the pallet edge and the device then tilted around the roller fulcrum to lift the gripped edge of the pallet upwardly along with the load thereon. Further means on the device positions supporting blocks under the lifted edge of the pallet and load whereupon the lifting device is withdrawn, leaving an edge of the load resting on the blocks spaced from the floor sufficiently to permit easy entry of the fingers of a forklift truck.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. l is a top plan view of a presently preferred form of the invention with certain movable parts shown in different positions;

FIG. 2 is a side clevational view of the apparatus of FIG. ll;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary bottom view, on an enlarged scale, of the device of FIG. I;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken along the line 44 of FIG. I;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 55 of FIG. 4; and

FIGS. 6 through 9 are schematic views illustrating a sequence of steps in the operation of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In the illustrated embodiments of the invention, an elongated handle member 2 is formed of rigid metal tubing or the like and comprises a tubular portion 3 rigidly secured, at its forward end, to the vertical flange 4 of a transversely extending L-shaped lower jaw 6. The jaw 6 has a horizontal lower flange 8. The jaw 6 is preferably welded to the forward end of the handle tube 3 at such an angle that the lower flange 8 rests flat on a floor 10 when the handle 2 extends upwardly and rearwardly at about the angle illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4. Welded to the flange 4 and extending rearwardly therefrom are pairs of brackets 12 between which suitable wheels or rollers 14 are journaled. It is to be understood that, instead of a pair of rollers 14, a continuous elongated roller may be employed. As is evident from FIGS. 2 and 4, the bottom surface of the wheels 14 like in substantially the same plane as the bottom surface of flange 8 of jaw 6 so that when that flange rests squarely on the floor 10, the wheels 14 also engage the floor.

Also welded to the rear edge of the lower jaw 6 is a reinforcing plate '16 (see FIG. I) to which a pair of upstanding brackets 18 is welded. An arm 20 fixed to an elongated bearing tube 19 is pivotally mounted between the brackets 18 on a suitable pivot pin 22 and is preferably formed to the general shape shown in FIG. 4 having a downwardly extending forward portion 24 to which a transverse plate or upper jaw 26 is welded. Suitable reinforcing rods 28 are also welded to the jaw 26 and arm 20.

A further bracket structure 30 is rigidly fixed on the tube 3 of handle 2 and provides a pair of upstanding ears between which a lever 32 is pivoted on a suitable pivot pin 34. The forward end of the lever 32 is pivotally joined to the arm 20 by a pivot pin 36 and the lever 32 extends rearwardly where it terminates in a rigid cross-handle 38. Actually, the lever 32 comprises a rear tube portion 40 and a pair of side channel members 42, welded thereto, arranged to embrace the rear end of the arm 20. The pivot pin 36 is fixed in the channel members 42 and engages an elongated slot 44 in the arm 20.

From the structure thus far described it is apparent that the apparatus may be positioned in the attitude shown in FIG. 2, then rolled forwardly to project the flange 8 under an edge of a slip pallet whereupon the handle 2 may be lightly held in that position, by holding its grip portion 46, and the lever 32 may be swung downwardly about the pivot 34. When this occurs the arm 20 will be swung counterclockwise, as seen in FIGS. 2 and 4 and the upper jaw 26 will be forcibly moved downwardly to the flange 8 (see FIG. 7) to rigidly grip the slip pallet between the jaws 8 and 26. The user then continues downward pressure on the handle 38 and the entire apparatus will tilt clockwise about the axis of the rollers 14, the rollers serving as a fulcrum and the gripped edge of the slip pallet and the load thereon will be lifted a substantial distance above the floor (see FIG. 8). Also welded to the handle tube, at about the region of the brackets 40, is a downwardly extending transverse plate 48 having an opening 50 therethrough through which an actuating rod 56 extends loosely. The plate 48 is so dimensioned as to function as a stop means engageable with the floor It) to limit tilting movement of the apparatus about the fulcrum 14 to about the position illustrated in FIG. 8

Also mounted on the handle tube 3 is a guide member 52 (FIG. 4) and a guide member 54 (FIG. 2) is fixed to the rear portion 57 of handle 2 and through which the actuating rod 56 slidably extends. At its rear end the actuating rod 56 is provided with a transverse handle 58 and a tension spring 60 is secured at one end 62 to the actuating rod 56 and secured at its other end 54 (FIG. 4) to the guide member 52. The spring 60 thus urges the actuating rod 56 to move forwardly relative to handle 2. The rear portion 57 of handle 2 extends loosely into tube 3 and is held therein by setscrew 59 whereby the length of the handle 2 and tension in spring 60 may be adjusted.

Referring now to FIG. 3, the forward end of the actuating rod 56 has secured thereto a transverse head member 66 welded thereto and strengthened by a reinforcing or gusset plate 68, also welded to head 66 and rod 56. The ends of the head 66 are turned upwardly and define slide pins 70 slidably engaging in elongated slots 72 in positioning arms 74. The arms 74 are journaled about pivots 76 on brackets 78, also welded to the brackets 12 on which the rollers 14 are mounted. The positioning arms 74 normally extend rearwardly substantially parallel to the handle 2, due to the retracting action of spring 60, as shown in FIG. 3, and at their rearward ends are provided with rectangular seat devices 80 rigidly fixed thereto and adapted to receive and engage support blocks 82 (see FIG. 1). Adjustable spring fingers 84 are carried by the rear ends of the arms 74 and arranged to bear against at least one surface of the blocks 82 to releasably and frictionally hold those blocks on the seat 80, as illustrated in FIG. I. The spring fingers 84 are made adjustable to enable blocks 82 of different dimensions to be employed. Preferably, the blocks 82 are wooden blocks, somewhat pointed at their outer ends for ease of insertion under a slip pallet, as will be described.

When an edge of a slip pallet and the load thereon have been raised to the position shown in FIG. 8, the operator may then, while holding the apparatus in that position, pull rearwardly on the handle 53 of actuating rod 56, causing the head 66 to move rearwardly, as seen in FIG. 3. When this occurs the slide pins 70 acting in slots 72 cause the arms 74 to swing outwardly to project the blocks 82 thereon outwardly and forwardly to the positions shown in dotted line in FIG. 1. It is to be noted that the seats 80 and blocks 82 are thus caused to move forwardly, generally parallel to the floor 10, outwardly of the ends of the transversely elongated jaws 8 and 26 and forwardly thereof to a position under the lifted load. A schematic side elevation of this condition is illustrated in FIG. 9. When the parts have reached that position, the operator may merely raise the handle 2 and lever 32 to thus lower the gripped pallet edge and load onto the blocks 82 while the same are held in the forward position illustrated. When the weight of the pallet and load are firmly on the blocks 82, the lever 32 is lifted to a higher elevation, thus releasing thejaws 8 and 26 whereupon the apparatus may be rolled rearwardly. Due to the frictional grip between spring fingers 84 and blocks 32 the latter are held by the weight of the load while the seats 80 and spring fingers 84 pull rearwardly away therefrom, leaving the load and pallet elevated a distance sufficient to permit entry of the forklift truck fingers thereunder, for further manipulation or movement of the load.

As also illustrated in the drawings, particularly FIGS. 1 and 3, the arms 74 comprise an inner portion 90, having the slots 72 therein and which inner portions are journaled on the pivot pins 76. The outer portions 92 of the arms 84 are pivotally joined to the inner portions 90 on transverse pivots 94. This arrangement permits substantial floating movement of the seats 80 and blocks 82 while being moved from the full line position of FIG. 1 to the dotted line. This permits the blocks 82 to substantially slide along the floor l and ride over any minor irregularities thereon and further permits lifting the handle 2 from the position of FIG. 9 to the position of FIG. 6

while the positioning arms 74 are in their forward position.

In the schematic illustrations of FIGS. 6 through 9, numeral designates the slip pallet referred to herein and NH identifies crates, cases, or the like of articles of freight resting on the pallet 100.

While a single specific embodiment of the invention is shown and described herein, the same is merely illustrative of the principles involved and obviously other modifications may be resorted to.

What is claimed is:

l. A lifter device comprising: an elongated handle; roller means on said handle adjacent but spaced rearwardly from the forward end thereof and adapted to rest on a supporting surface; a transversely extending planiform lower jaw fixed to said forward end of said handle and being substantially tangent to the periphery of said roller means; a transversely extending upperjaw movably mounted on said handle for movement toward and from said lower jaw; actuating means extending to the rear end of said handle for forcibly moving said upper jaw toward said lower jaw whereby said lower jaw may be positioned under an edge of a slip pallet having a load thereon, said actuating means may be operated to clamp said edge between said jaws and said device may be tilted about said roller means to lift said edge and the load for positioning supporting means thereunder; and positioning means movably mounted on said device for positioning support blocks under said lifted edge of said load.

2. A lifter device as defined in claim 1 wherein said upper jaw is on an arm pivotally mounted on said handle and having a portion extending toward said rear end; said actuating means comprising a lever overlying said handle and being pivoted thereto adjacent but rearwardly of the forward end of said lever, the forward end of said lever engaging the rear end of said arm whereby downward pressure on the rear portion of said lever serves to close said jaws on said slip pallet, hold the same clamped between said jaws and tilt said device about said fulcrum means to lift said load.

3. A lifter device as defined in claim 1 wherein said positioning means has grippers thereon for releasably holding said sup port blocks; said grippers being movably mounted on said handle for forward movement to positions wherein support blocks carried thereby extend forwardly of said lower jaw and beneath said edge of said slip pallet and the load thereon.

4. A lifting device as defined in claim 3 wherein said grippers comprise spring fingers adapted to frictionally engage and hold support blocks whereby, after positioning said support blocks under said pallet and load said jaws may be released and said lever and handle swung upwardly to lower said load onto said support blocks and permitting rearward withdrawal of said grippers, leaving said support blocks under said load.

5. A lifting device as defined in claim 3 wherein said positioning means include a pair of arms pivotally mounted on said device for laterally outward and forward swinging movement from respectively opposite sides of said handle, said grippers being mounted at the outer ends of said arms, said arms being of a length to swing said grippers forwardly outwardly of the ends of saidjaws.

6. A lifting device as defined in claim 5 wherein each arm of said pair comprises a first portion pivotally mounted on said device about a first axis and an outer portion pivoted to said first portion on a second pivot axis transverse to said first axis.

Claims

1. A lifter device comprising: an elongated handle; roller means on said handle adjacent but spaced rearwardly from the forward end thereof and adapted to rest on a supporting surface; a transversely extending planiform lower jaw fixed to said forward end of said handle and being substantially tangent to the periphery of said roller means; a transversely extending upper jaw movably mounted on said handle for movement toward and from said lower jaw; actuating means extending to the rear end of said handle for forcibly moving said upper jaw toward said lower jaw whereby said lower jaw may be positioned under an edge of a slip pallet having a load thereon, said actuating means may be operated to clamp said edge between said jaws and said device may be tilted about said roller means to lift said edge and the load for positioning supporting means thereunder; and positioning means movably mounted on said device for positioning support blocks under said lifted edge of said load.

3. A lifter device as defined in claim 1 wherein said positioning means has grippers thereon for releasably holding said support blocks; said grippers being movably mounted on said handle for forward movement to positions wherein support blocks carried thereby extend forwardly of said lower jaw and beneath said edge of said slip pallet and the load thereon.

5. A lifting device as defined in claim 3 wherein said positioning means include a pair of arms pivotally mounted on said device for laterally outward and forward swinging movement from respectively opposite sides of said handle, said grippers being mounted at the outer ends of said arMs, said arms being of a length to swing said grippers forwardly outwardly of the ends of said jaws.