US3855944A

US3855944A - Protective base plates for pallet tiering frames

Info

Publication number: US3855944A
Application number: US00307424A
Authority: US
Inventors: L Skubic; P Blozis
Original assignee: PALTIER CORP
Current assignee: PALTIER CORP
Priority date: 1972-11-17
Filing date: 1972-11-17
Publication date: 1974-12-24
Anticipated expiration: 1991-12-24

Abstract

A base plate for detachably mounting a pallet tiering frame to a conventional wooden pallet of the type formed with spaced stringers and transversely disposed deck boards. The base plate is adapted to be mounted on a pallet deck board over the end of a stringer and effectively shield the interface of the stringer and deck board to prevent the forks of a lift truck from prying the deck board and stringer apart or otherwise damaging them during handling of the pallet. One form of base plate is disclosed for mounting on the corner of a pallet, and a second form is shown for mounting at the center of an end pallet deck board. For positively securing each of these base plates in mounted position on the pallet, selectively engageable and releasable lock means is provided on the base plate.

Description

[ Dec. 24, 1974 PROTECTIVE BASE PLATES FOR PALLET TIERING FRAMES [75] Inventors: Leroy F. Skubic, La Port; Peter P.

Blozis, Beverly Shores, both of Ind.

[73] Assignee: The Paltier Corporation, Michigan City, Ind.

[22] Filed: Nov. 17, 1972 [2]] Appl. No.: 307,424

52 US. Cl. 108/55 51 int. Cl B65d 19/44 [58] Field of Search 108/51, 55

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,383,986 7/1921 Cullinan 108/55 X 2,547,112 4/1951 Daniels 108/55 X 2,828,932 4/1958 De'Pew et a1. 108/55 2,828,933 4/1958 De Pew et al. 108/55 3,227,848 10/1966 Runge et al 108/55 3,273,518 9/1966 Shina... 108/55 3,289,613 12/1966 Evans 108/55 3,315,800 4/1967 Wagner 108/55 X Primary ExaminerPaul R. Gilliam Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Wolfe, Hubbard, Leydig, Voit & Osann, Ltd.

[5 7] ABSTRACT A base plate for detachably mounting a pallet tiering frame to a conventional wooden pallet of the type formed with spaced stringers and transversely dis posed deck boards. The base plate is adapted to be mounted on a pallet deck board over the end of a stringer and effectively shield the interface of the stringer and deck board to prevent the forks ofa lift truck from prying the deck board and stringer apart or otherwise damaging them during handling of the pallet. One form of base plate is disclosed for mounting on the corner of a pallet, and a second form is shown for mounting at the center of an end pallet deck board. For positively securing each of these base plates in mounted position on the pallet, selectively engageable and releasable lock means is provided on the base plate.

8 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PROTECTIVE BASE PLATFSFOR PALLET TIERDJG In using conventional wooden pallets with pallet tiering frames, the longevity of the pallet tends to be relatively short. When such pallets are engaged by a fork lift truck for transfer or stacking, the most vulnerable parts of the pallet are the two outermost deck boards. The forks of the lift truck tend to strike the sides of the pallet and separate these deck boards from the stringers, especially when the pallets are equipped with pallet tiering frames and the truck carriestwo or more pallets at one time. In addition, such striking of the pallet by the fork truck can even sometimes cause the frame to be dislodged from the pallet resulting in the collapse and damage of a stack of tiered pallets.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a base plate for a pallet tiering frame which is adapted to be mounted on a pallet deck board over the end of a stringer and effectively shield the interface of the stringer and deck board to prevent the fork of a lift truck from prying the deck board and stringer apart upon impact during handling.

Another object is to provide a base plate for a pallet tiering frame as characterized above which may be quickly and easily mounted on or removed from a pallet, but yet is adapted to be positively locked to the pallet so as to resist any tendency to become disengaged from the pallet during handling.

Still another object is to provide a pallet tiering frame base plate of the above type which is of simple and durable construction and thus economical to make and use. 1

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description and upon reference to the drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an illustrated pallet tiering frame exemplifying the present invention and mounted on a wooden pallet of conventional form;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective of the base plate for the frame shown in FIG. 1 with a portion of the pallet on which it is mounted shown in phantom;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are enlarged vertical sections taken in the planes of lines 33 and 4-4, respectively, in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another form of pallet tiering frame also exemplifying the invention and mounted on a conventional pallet;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective of the base plate for two of the upright posts of the frame shown in FIG. 5 with a portion of the pallet on which it is mounted shown in phantom; and

FIGS. 7 and 8 are enlarged vertical sections taken in the planes of lines 7-7 and 8-8, respectively, in FIG. 6.

While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative constructions, certain illustrative embodiments have been shown in the drawings and will be described below in detail. It should be under stood, however, that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific forms disclosed, but, on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, al-

temative constructions, and equivalents falling the spirit and scope of the invention.

Referring more specifically to FIG. 1, the invention is there exemplified in an illustrative tiering frame 10 mounted on a conventional wood pallet 11. In this inwithin stance, the pallet 11 includes a plurality of laterally spaced parallel stringers 12, 13 with deck boards 14, 15 fastened transversely to the stringers 12, 13 on either side thereof. The stringers 12, 13 are positioned at each end of the deck boards with one stringer 13 in the middle, although the number of stringers and deck boards may vary depending upon the loads and usages for which the pallet is designed.

The frame 10 in this case is of the corner post type with posts being positioned at the respective upper corners of the pallet directly over the ends of the outer stringers 12. The frame 10 is fabricated of hollow tubular stock and comprises two sections 16 detachably connected by an interlock device 18 and held in assembled relation on the pallet. Each such frame section 16 comprises a pair of upright posts 19 having pallet engaging base plates 20 at their lower ends and connected at their upper ends by a generally V-shaped top member 21 which overlies the pallet when the frame is assembled thereon. The interlock device 18 may be any means which will permit easy engagement and separation of the top members 21 such as the interlock device disclosed in applicants copending application, Ser. No. 220,608, filed Ian. 25, 1972.

In accordance with the present invention, the base plates 20 are adapted to detachably, yet positively, connect a respective frame post to the pallet and effectively shield the interface of the deck board and stringer over which it is mounted to prevent a fork lift from prying the deck board and the stringer apart or otherwise damaging them during handling of the pallet. To this end, the base plate 20 comprises a flat horizontal plate 25 welded to the lower end of the frame post 19 for positioning on a corner of the pallet 11. A depending flange 26 in this case having a general L shape extends downwardly from one side of the flat plate 25 to cover a side portion 14a of the deck board 14, the interface line 28 between the side of the deck board 14 and the end of the stringer 12, and a substantial portion of the end face 12a of the stringer 12. To more effectively protect the joint between the upper deck board 14 and the stringer 12, an L-shaped flange 29, having a vertical plate 30 and a horizontal plate 31 extends inwardly from the depending flange 26 to cover a portion of the inner side surface of the stringer 12, the immediately adjacent underside surface of the deck board 14, and the interface line between those two surfaces. In addition, a second depending flange 32, again having a generally L-shaped configuration, extends downwardly from the flat plate 25 to cover a portion of the outer side surface 12b of the stringer 12, the end face 14b of the deck board 14, and the interface line 34 between these joining surfaces. It will be seen that the base plate 20 thereby effectively shields the most vulnerable portions of the pallet comer from damage due to impact from a fork lift.

In addition to protecting the comer of the pallet, the base plate 20 fimily and reliably engages the pallet 11. To that end, the second depending flange 32 and vertical plate 30 of the L-shaped flange 29 straddle the stringer 12 to prevent movement transversely to the stringer when the base plate is in mounted position on the pallet. The horizontal plate 31 of the L-shaped flange and the flat plate similarly straddle the deck board 14 to prevent relative vertical movement of the base plate.

In keeping with the invention, a selectively engageable and releasable lock means is provided for positively securing the base plate in mounted position on the pallet. As best shown in FIGS. 2-4, a locking lug 40 is positioned for relative vertical movement in an extension 41 in the flat horizontal plate 25. The lug 40 in the present instance is a U-shaped member having legs 42 disposed in a pair of corresponding apertures formed in the plate extension 41. The legs of the U- shaped lug 40 terminate with outwardly tapered flanges 44 so as to restrict vertical movement of the lug. The locking lug 40 is spaced from the depending flange 26 a distance slightly greater than the width of the deck board 14 so that when the bracket is mounted on the pallet, the lug 40 may be allowed to drop into the space between the outermost deck board'and the next adjacent one.

Thus, to mount base plate 20 upon or remove it from the pallet 11, the locking lug 40 is merely lifted'to the raised position shown in phantom in FIG. 4. In that position, the base plate 20 may be slid onto or off the corner of the pallet in the longitudinal'direction of the stringer 12. When the base plate 20 is in position on the pallet, the locking lug 40 may be released so that it falls to its lowered position between the deck boards shown in solid lines in the drawings. In such position, the combination of the locking lug 40 and the depending flange 26 prevent lateral movement in the direction of the stringer and thereby positively hold the base plate on the pallet. It will be appreciated that since the locking lug utilizes spacing between the deck boards of a standard pallet, the base plate may be positively locked in position without modification to the pallet.

Turning next to FIGS. 5-8, there is shown another form of pallet tiering frame having base plates also embodying the present invention. In this instance, the frame 50 is of the centerpost type, being mounted on a conventional pallet 11 such as previously described with the base plates disposed intermediate the sides of the pallet rather than at the comers. The frame 50 comprises two sections 54, each having a pair of upright posts 56 with pallet engaging base plates 57, 58 and a generally V-shaped top member 59. A releasable locking member 60 engages the V-shaped top members 59 at their apexes.

The pallet engaging base plate 57 provided on one post 56 of each section 54, 55 is adapted to overlie the end of the center stringer 13 of the pallet and effectively shield the interface between that stringer and its and stringer l3, and nearly the complete end face 13a of the stringer. A first L-shaped flange having a vertical plate 66 and horizontal plate 68, extends inwardly from one side of the T-shaped depending flange 62 to protect one side of the stringer 13, the immediately adjacent underside surface of the deck board 14, and the 6 interface line between those surfaces. A second depending flange 70 having a vertical plate 71 and a hori- 4 zontal plate 72 extends inwardly from the opposite side of said depending flange 62 to protect the other side of the stringer 13, the immediately adjacent underside of the deckboard 14, and the interface between those two of the L-shaped flanges 65, 70 straddle the center stringer 13 and the flat plate 61 and horizontal flange plates 68, 72 straddle the deck board 14 to prevent movement of the base plate in two directions relative to the pallet when mounted thereon. v

To positively lock the base plate 57 in position on the pallet, a vertically movable locking lug 74 is provided in the flat plate 61. The locking lug 74 is identical to that described in the previous embodiment and similarly is located a distance from the depending flange 62 which is slightly greater than the width of the deck board 14 so that it may be selectively lowered into locking position in the space between the deck boards.

The base plates 58 provided on the other post 56 of each frame section 54, 55 are adapted to mount the posts on the pallet at a position intermediate the'ends of the stringers 12. While the stringers 12 at this'position are less vulnerable to damage-from fork lifts since the fork generally engages the pallet from the open side of the pallet and parallel to the stringers, the base plates 58 each are formed with a depending flange extending downwardly from its outer side to a position below the interface line between the end of the deck board 12 and the side of the stringer 14. The opposite side of the base plate may be provided with a locking lug 81, similar to the lugs 74 used on the base plate 57, or alternatively a fixed depending flange may be provided for engaging the inside face of the outer stringer 12.

While the base plates of the present invention have been illustrated for use on frames having two interconnectable sections, it will be understood that such base plates may be used on other types of tiering frame constructions that are intended for detachable mounting on conventional wooden pallets.

What is claimed is:

1. In a pallet tiering frame with upright posts for I mounting on a pallet having parallel stringers and a plurality of spaced deck boards secured to 'said stringers transversely thereof, a base plate connected at the lower end of one of said frame posts for detachably securing said post to said pallet comprising, in combination,

a flat plate secured at the lower end of said post for positioning on one of said deck boards at a location where said deck board traverses an end of one of said stringers,

flat plate for covering the interface line of said deck board and stringer end and at least a portion of the end face of said stringer end,

a first substantially L-shaped flange having a vertical plate and a horizontal plate both extending inwardly from said depending flange for positioning against the side of said stringer and the immediately adjacent underside of said deck board respectively to cover the interface between said stringer side and deck board underside, and

a second flange integrally formed on said base plate for positioning against the side of said stringer opposite said first L-shaped flange.

surfaces. It can be seen that the

vertical plates

66, 71

a depending flangeextending downwardly from said 2. The base plate as set forth in claim 1 wherein said flat plate is mountable on a corner of said pallet, said second flange extending downwardly from said flat plate perpendicularly to said first depending flange for covering the interface of the end of said deck board and said stringer and at least a portion of said stringer, and said vertical plate of said first L-shaped flange being parallel to said second depending flange for positioning adjacent the opposite side of said stringer.

3. The base plate as set forth in claim 1 wherein said flat plate is mountable on said deck board intermediate the ends thereof and said depending flange has a substantially T shape with the upper cross portion of said T adjacent the side of said deck board and the stem of said T adjacent the end face of said stringer, said first L-shaped flange extending inwardly from one side of said T-shaped flange for positioning against one side of said stringer and the immediately adjacent underside surface of said stringer, and said second flange being L-shaped having vertical and horizontal plates extending inwardly from the opposite side of said T-shaped flange for positioning against the opposite side of said stringer and the immediately adjacent underside surface of said deck board.

4. The base plate as set forth in claim 1 in which said depending flange covers a substantial portion of the end face of said stringer.

5. The base plate as set forth in claim 1 including a lock means on said flat plate for positively securing said base plate on said pallet when mounted thereon.

6. The base plate as set forth in claim 5 in which said lock means is a lug mounted for vertical movement on said flat plate between raised and lowered positions, said lug when in a lowered position extending in depending fashion between spaced pallet deck boards of the pallet on which the base plate is mounted to prevent removal of the base plate, and said lug when in a raised position permitting removal of base plate from said pallet.

7. In a pallet tiering frame with upright posts for mounting on a pallet which has parallel stringers and a plurality of spaced deck boards secured to said stringers transversely thereof, a base plate connected to the lower end of one of said frame posts for detachably securing said post to said pallet comprising, in combinatron,

a depending flange extending downwardly from said flat plate for covering the interface line of said deck board and stringer end and at least a portion of the end face of said stringer,

a first flange extending inwardly from said depending flange for positioning on one side of said stringer and the underside of said deck board,

said flat plate and first flange straddling said deck board to prevent vertical movement of said base plate relative to said deck board when mounted thereon,

a second flange formed in said base plate for positioning on the opposite side of said stringer, said first and second flange straddling said stringer to prevent movement of said base plate transversely to said stringer when said base plate is mounted on said pallet,

a locking member mounted on said flat plate for selective movement between raised and lowered positions relative to said flat plate, said locking member when in said lowered position positively secured said base plate to said pallet, and said locking member when in a raised position permitting said base plate to be mounted onto and moved from said pallet.

8. The base plate as set forth in claim 7 in which said locking member is a U-shaped lug, said U-shaped lug having legs slidably positioned in said flat plate and formed with transverse flanges at the ends thereof to restrict vertical movement relative to said flat plate to a determined range.

I l l=

Claims

1. In a pallet tiering frame with upright posts for mounting on a pallet having parallel stringers and a plurality of spaced deck boards secured to said stringers transversely thereof, a base plate connected at the lower end of one of said frame posts for detachably securing said post to said pallet comprising, in combination, a flat plate secured at the lower end of said post for positioning on one of said deck boards at a location where said deck board traverses an end of one of said stringers, a depending flange extending downwardly from said flat plate for covering the interface line of said deck board and stringer end and at least a portion of the end face of said stringer end, a first substantially L-shaped flange having a vertical plate and a horizontal plate both extending inwardly from said depending flange for positioning against the side of said stringer and the immediately adjacent underside of said deck board respectively to cover the interface between said stringer side and deck board underside, and a second flange integrally formed on said base plate for positioning against the side of said stringer opposite said first L-shaped flange.

2. The base plate as set forth in claim 1 wherein said flat plate is mountable on a corner of said pallet, said second flange extending downwardly from said flat plate perpendicularly to said first depending flange for covering the interface of the end of said deck board and said stringer and at least a portion of said stringer, and said vertical plate of said first L-shaped flange being parallel to said second depending flange for positioning adjacent the opposite side of said stringer.

7. In a pallet tiering frame with upright posts for mounting on a pallet which has parallel stringers and a plurality of spaced deck boards secured to said stringers transversely thereof, a base plate connected to the lower end of one of said frame posts for detachably securing said post to said pallet comprising, in combination, a flat plate secured at the lower end of said post for positioning on one of said deck boards at a location where said deck board traverses an end of one of said stringers, a depending flange extending downwardly from said flat plate for covering the interface line of said deck board and stringer end and at least a portion of the end face of said stringer, a first flange extending inwardly from said depending flange for positioning on one side of said stringer and the underside of said deck board, said flat plate and first flange straddling said deck board to prevent vertical movement of said base plate relative to said deck board when mounted thereon, a second flange formed in said base plate for positioning on the opposite side of said stringer, said first and second flange straddling said stringer to prevent movement of said base plate transversely to said stringer when said base plate is mounted on said pallet, a locking member mounted on said flat plate for selective movement between raised and lowered positions relative to said flat plate, said locking member when in said lowered position positively secured said base plate to said pallet, and said locking member when in a raised position permitting said base plate to be mounted onto and moved from said pallet.