US3709164A

US3709164A - Pallet tiering frame structure

Info

Publication number: US3709164A
Application number: US00205929A
Authority: US
Inventors: L Skubic
Original assignee: PALTIER CORP
Current assignee: PALTIER CORP
Priority date: 1971-12-08
Filing date: 1971-12-08
Publication date: 1973-01-09
Anticipated expiration: 1990-01-09

Abstract

A releasable interlock for a pallet tiering frame structure comprising two non-identical sections each with a pair of upright posts connected at their upper ends by V-shaped top members and having pallet engaging feet at their lower ends. The interlock structure involves a pin having diametrical abutments and projecting from the apex of one top member which, when inserted into aligned apertures in the apex of the other top member and turned substantially 90* about its axis, secures the frame sections together on the pallet.

Description

United States Patent 1 1 Skubic 1 1 Jan. 9, 1973 54 PALLET TIERING FRAME 3,249,072 5/1966 Skubic 1. 108/53 STRUCTURE 3,364,883 1/1968 Evans 1 ..103 53 3 4 53.5 [75] Inventor: Leroy F. Skublc, LaPorte, lnd. 2/1972 Bubble 287/ [73] Assignee: The Paltler Corporation, Michigan Primary Examiner-Bobby R. Gay

City, lnd. Assistant Examiner--Glenn O. Finch [221 Filed: Dec. 8, 1971 Attorney-C. Fredenck Leydig et al. [21] Appl. No.: 205,929 [57] ABSTRACT A releasable interlock for a pallet tiering frame struc- 21 ture comprising two non-identical sections each with a [51] lift. Cl. ..B65d 19/38 pair of upright posts connected at their upper ends by [58] Fleld of Search ..108/5l58, 153; V.. haped top members and having pallet engaging 237/54 feet at their lower ends. The interlock structure involvesa pin having diametrical abutments and project- References Clted ing from the apex of one top member which, when inserted into aligned apertures in the apex of the other UNITED STATES PATENTS top member and turned substantially 90 about its 1,520,520 12/1924 Thomason ..108/l53 axis, secures the frame sections together on the pallet. 2,942,826 6/1960 De Pew et al. ..l08/53 2,953,340 9/1960 Skubic ..108/53 7 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJAN 9 mm 9164 SHEET 1 [IF 2 PATENTEU JAN 9 I975 SHEET 2 BF 2 F944; g C

PALLET TIERING FRAME STRUCTURE DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to pallet tiering frame structures and, more particularly, to a releasable interlock for quickly and easily securing a pair of frame sections together on a supporting pallet.

One object of the invention is to provide a pallet tiering frame structure comprising a pair of non-identical frame sections adapted to be releasably secured together with great rigidity as an incident to mounting the frame on a supporting pallet.

Another object is to provide a pallet tiering frame structure of the character set forth above with an interlock between frame sections which cannot become accidentally disengaged due to impact or to tilting of the pallet in course of handling. A further object is to provide a pallet tiering frame structure of the foregoing type which may be quickly assembled and disassembled by one man without necessity for special tools or fixtures.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds, taken with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an illustrative pallet tiering frame structure embodying the present invention and mounted on a pallet.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view through the releasable interlock portion of the illustrative frame structure of FIG. 1, taken in the plane of the line 2- 2.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view through the interlock as shown in FIG. 2, taken in the plane of the line 3-3.

FIGS. 4, Sand 6 are sequential side elevational views illustrating the steps in mounting the illustrative frame structure on the pallet.

FIG. 7 is a plan view showing the illustrative frame structure in place on the pallet.

While the invention is susceptible of various modifications and alternative constructions, a certain illustrative embodiment has been shown in the drawings and will be described below in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific form disclosed, but, on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention.

Referring more specifically to FIG. 1, the invention is there exemplifiedin a pallet tiering frame structure 10 mounted in place on a pallet 11. The frame structure comprises two non-identical sections l2, 14 each comprising a pair of upright posts having pallet engaging feet at their lower ends and connected at their upper ends by a generally V-shaped top member which overlies the pallet when the frame is secured in place. Thus the section 12 comprises a pair of posts 15, pallet engaging feet 16 and a top member I8. The section 14 comprises a pair of posts 15, pallet engaging feet 16 and a mating top member 19. The top members I8, 19 are in this instance fabricated from hollow tubular stock and welded to the tops of the posts 15.

Although the frame structure 10 has been illustrated herein with its posts and feet engaging the corners of the pallet, it may also be applied to installations where the posts and feet engage central or intermediate areas away from the pallet corners.

frame sections l2, 14 together as an incident to mounting the tiering frame structure on the pallet. In furtherance of this objective, a locking pin 20 is rigidly secured to the tubular member 19 so as to project longitudinally from the apex thereof (FIGS. l-3). The pin 20 lies in the general plane of the member 19 and is situated diametrically thereof in a pair of aligned holes in its wall, being secured thereto as by means of weld 21 about the slightly projecting rearward end of the pin. The forward end of the locking pin 20 projects substantially from the member 19 to an extent which exceeds the outer diameter of the mating tubular member 18. The latter is provided with a pair of aligned holes 22, 24 lying in its general plane and adapted to receive the projecting end portion of the pin 20 which is tapered as at 25 to facilitate entry into the holes 22, 24-.

To provide the desired locking action, the outwardly projecting portion of the pin 20 is formed with a pair of diametrically opposed abutments 26 (FIGS. 2, 3) which are tapered toward its projecting end. The abutments 26 are spaced from the outer peripheral surface. of the member 19 by an amount less than the inner radius of the member 18 and, in this instance, by about twice the wall thickness of the member 18. The opening 22 in the wall of the latter is closest proximity to the member 19 is formed with a pair of diametrically opposed clearance slots'28. The latter are oriented at approximately about the axis of the pin 20 from the abutments 26 when the frame sections 12, 14, are as- 'sembled on the pallet. In the present instance, the clearance slots 28 are oriented in a horizontal plane while the abutments 26 are oriented in a generally vertical plane. These orientations may, of course, be shifted as long as a difference of substantially 90 is maintained between them. With the parts engaged as indicated in FIG. 2, excellent structural rigidity is obtained even allowing for the clearances needed to facilitate easy assembly, shown in FIG. 2 exaggerated for purposes of clearer illustration.

The pallet engaging feet 16 of the frame members (FIGS. 1, 4-7) are adapted to engage the corners of the pallet positively so as to preclude accidental disengagement as from impact with a lift truck or tilting of the pallet during handling. Accordingly, it will be noted that each of the feet 16 is formed with a pair of opposed depending

flanges

29, 30 for engaging the lateral edges of its associated outer deckboard 31 of the pallet 11. The outermost flange 29 of each foot is also fashioned with an in-turned extension 32 which partially underlies the deckboard 31 so as to resist a direct upward thrust tending to disengage the foot from the deckboard. To resist disengaging thrusts in the other direction, each of the feet 16 is formed with a depending flange 34 adapted to abut against the end of the deckboard 31 and the opposed longitudinal face of each outerboard stringer 35.

In FIGS. 4 through 7, the manner of assembling the frame 10 on the pallet 11 is shown sequentially. Starting with the unit disassembled as shown in FIGS. 4, one of the frame sections, for example the section 12, is first positioned on the pallet with its feet 16 engaging the end portions of the outer deckboard 31 and its top member 18 overlying the pallet, as shown in FIG. 5. The other frame section 14 is lifted and turned so that the plane of its top member 19 is substantially vertical,

as shown in FIG. 5. The section 14 is then moved toward the section 12 and the locking pin inserted through the aligned apertures 22, 24 of the top member 18. Under this condition, the abutments 26 and clearance slots 28 lie in the same plane and the abutments 26 pass freely into the interior of the member 18.

The section 14, including the top member 19 and locking pin 20 are moved axially of the pin 20 until the apexes of the members 18 and 19 are in contact. When this occurs, the section 14 is rotated through approximately 90 to its normal upright position, and its feet are pulled slightly outward of the pallet and brought into engagement with the outer deckboard 31 of the pallet, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. At the same time, the locking abutments 26 are brought into engagement with the inner peripheral wall of the member 18, as shown in FIG. 2. The parts are so proportioned that when the frame sections are assembled on the pallet, a biasing force is set up tending to hold the depending flange 29 of each foot securely against the outside edge of the deckboard 31. The posts of the assembled frame are tilted slightly inward with respect to the pallet and the top members 18, 19 are angled slightly downward toward the center of the pallet. In this condition, which is shown in somewhat exaggerated form in FIG. 6 merely for purposes of illustration, the structure possesses sufficient rigidity and stability to afford safe support for heavy superimposed loads.

The pallet tiering frame structure described above may be quickly and easily assembled and disassembled with a minimum of manpower. One man, working without tools or special fixtures, may readily assembly or disassemble a large number of such frames. The frame sections when disassembled, may be easily nested for storage. The interlock elements are simple, rugged, and capable of being subjected to hard usage without likelihood of damage.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a pallet tiering frame adapted for detachable mounting on a pallet and having two non-identical frame sections, each said section comprising a pair of upright posts connected at their upper ends by a V- shapedtop member and having pallet engaging means at their lower ends, a releasable interlock for said frame sections comprising, in combination,

a. a locking pin rigidly fixed transversely of one said V-shaped top member and projecting outward from the apex thereof in the plane of said one top member;

. a pairiof diametrically opposed abutments on said pin spaced axially from said top member by an amount substantially less than the inner radius of the other said top member;

c. means defining a pair of alined apertures in said other top member at the apex thereof, said openings being of a size adapted to receive said locking pin;

. means defining a pair of diametrically opposed slots in the one of said apertures in closest proximity to said one top member, said slots being disposed at substantially 90 to the diametrical axis of said abutments when said frame sections are mounted on the pallet;

e. whereby said frame sections may be interlocked by mountin one said section on the pallet with its V- shaped op member overlying the same, turning stantially about said pin, and engaging thefeet of said other section with said pallet. I

2. In a pallet tiering frame as defined in claim 1, the combination wherein said locking pin is fixed at its rearward end to said one V-shaped top member.

3. In a pallet tiering frame as defined in claim 1, the

combination wherein said diametrically opposed abutments on said locking pin are tapered toward its projecting end.

4. In a pallet tiering frame adapted for detachable mounting on a pallet and having two non-identical frame sections, each said section comprising a pair of upright posts connected at their upper ends by a V- shaped top member and having pallet engaging means at their lower ends, a releasable interlock forsaid frame sections comprising, in combination,

a. a locking pin rigidly fixed transversely of one said V-shaped top member and projecting outward from the apex thereof inthe plane of said one top member;

. a pair of diametrically opposed abutments on said pin spaced axially from said top member by an amount substantially less than the inner radius of the other'said top member;

means defining a pair of diametrically opposed slots in the one of said apertures in closest proximity to said one top member, said slots being disposed at substantially 90 to the diametrical axis of said abutments when said frame sections are mounted on the pallet;

e. a plurality of pallet engaging feet fixed to the lower ends of said upright posts; 1 f. each said foot having a pair of opposed flanges adapted for engagement with the lateral edges of an outer deckboard; and each, said foot having a third depending flange adapted to engage the end of the outer deckboard.

5. In a pallet tiering frame as defined in claim 4, the combination wherein the diametrical axis of said abutments on said locking pin is oriented generally vertically and the diametrical axis of said slots in said one top member is oriented generally horizontally when said frame sections are mounted on the pallet.

6. In a pallet tiering frame as defined in claim 4, the combination wherein the lower ends of said pairs of posts and theirpallet engaging feet are biased toward each other.

7. in a pallet tiering frame as defined in claim 4, the combination wherein the outermost one of each pair of depending flanges is formed with an in-turned extension underlying the outer deckboard.

Claims

1. In a pallet tiering frame adapted for detachable mounting on a pallet and having two non-identical frame sections, each said section comprising a pair of upright posts connected at their upper ends by a V-shaped top member and having pallet engaging means at their lower ends, a releasable interlock for said frame sections comprising, in combination, a. a locking pin rigidly fixed transversely of one said V-shaped top member and projecting outward from the apex thereof in the plane of said one top member; b. a pair of diametrically opposed abutments on said pin spaced axially from said top member by an amount substantially less than the inner radius of the other said top member; c. means defining a pair of alined apertures in said other top member at the apex thereof, said openings being of a size adapted to receive said locking pin; d. means defining a pair of diametrically opposed slots in the one of said apertures in closest proximity to said one top member, said slots being disposed at substantially 90* to the diametrical axis of said abutments when said frame sections are mounted on the pallet; e. whereby said frame sections may be interlocked by mounting one said section on the pallet with its V-shaped top member overlying the same, turning the other said section with its Vshaped top member substantially perpendicular to the plane of the first, inserting said locking pin through said apertures, turning said other frame section substantially 90* about said pin, and engaging the feet of said other section with said pallet.

3. In a pallet tiering frame as defined in claim 1, the combination wherein said diametrically opposed abutments on said locking pin are tapered toward its projecting end.

4. In a pallet tiering frame adapted for detachable mounting on a pallet and having two non-identical frame sections, each said section comprising a pair of upright posts connected at their upper ends by a V-shaped top member and having pallet engaging means at their lower ends, a releasable interlock for said frame sections comprising, in combination, a. a locking pin rigidly fixed transversely of one said V-shaped top member and projecting outward from the apex thereof in the plane of said one top member; b. a pair of diametrically opposed abutments on said pin spaced axially from said top member by an amount substantially less than the inner radius of the other said top member; c. means defining a pair of alined apertures in said other top member at the apex thereof, said openings being of a size adapted to receive said locking pin; d. means defining a pair of diametrically opposed slots in the one of said apertures in closest proximity to said one top member, said slots being disposed at substantially 90* to the diametrical axis of said abutments when said frame sections are mounted on the pallet; e. a plurality of pallet engaging feet fixed to the lower ends of said upright posts; f. each said foot having a pair of opposed flanges adapted for engagement with the lateral edges of an outer deckboard; g. and each said foot having a third depending flange adapted to engage the end of the outer deckboard.

6. In a pallet tiering frame as defined in claim 4, the combination wherein the lower ends of said pairs of posts and their pallet engaging feet are biased toward each other.