US3910204A

US3910204A - Structural foam skid

Info

Publication number: US3910204A
Application number: US481044A
Authority: US
Inventors: Edwin L Jesse
Original assignee: Evans Products Co
Current assignee: US Manufacturing Corp
Priority date: 1974-06-20
Filing date: 1974-06-20
Publication date: 1975-10-07
Anticipated expiration: 1992-10-07
Also published as: CA1023280A; GB1505668A; DE7519507U; IT1036965B; FR2275373A1; FR2275373B3

Abstract

A skid for the storage and transport of articles such as paper. The skid is formed of an injection molded synthetic resin structural foam. The skid has a generally rectangular shaped load bearing surface and has longitudinal supports on the underside of the skid adjacent each side edge. The longitudinal supports are strengthened by buttresses located perpendicular to the plane of the longitudinal support. A plurality of generally V-shaped ribs extend transversely between the longitudinal supports, and a plurality of longitudinally extending ribs extend between the Vshaped ribs. At least two lift stabilizing ribs have a height at least that of the largest height dimension of the V-shaped ribs and are located on the underside of the skid. Channel means are provided in the skid for permitting tiedown strapping to be easily passed under a load carried by the skid.

Description

Jesse [451 Oct.7,1975

[ STRUCTURAL FOAM SKID Edwin L. Jesse, West Caldwell, NJ.

[73] Assignee: Evans Products Company, Portland,

Oreg.

22 Filed: June 20,1974

21 Appl. No.: 481,044

[75] Inventor:

[52] US. Cl. 108/55 [51] Int. Cl]. B65D 19/44 [58] Field of Search 108/5l58; 206/386 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,814,252 7/1931 Leary 108/55 X 3,315,800 4/1967 Wagner 108/55 X 3,511,191 5/1970 Barry, Jr.; et al.... 108/51 X 3,524,415 8/1970 Heiman 108/53 3,675,595 7/1972 Sullivan 108/51 3,720,176 3/1973 Munroe 108/51 X 3,768,423 10/1973 Cook 108/51 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,009,073 5/1952 France 52/90 Primary Examiner-Marion Parsons, Jr. Assistant ExaminerWilliam E. Lyddane Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Robert E. Howard [57] ABSTRACT A skid for the storage and transport of articles such as paper. The skid is formed of an injection molded synthetic resin structural foam. The skid has a generally rectangular shaped load bearing surface and has longitudinal supports on the underside of the skid adjacent each side edge. The longitudinal supports are strengthened by buttresses located perpendicular to the plane of the longitudinal support. A plurality of generally V- shaped ribs extend transversely between the longitudinal supports, and a plurality of longitudinally extending ribs extend between the V-shaped ribs. At least two lift stabilizing ribs have a height at least that of the largest height dimension of the V-shaped ribs and are located on the underside of the skid. Channel means are provided in the skid for permitting tiedown strapping to be easily passed under a load carried by the skid.

' 4 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures US. Patent .Oct. 7,1975 Sheet 2 of3 3,910,204

US. Patent Oct. 7,1975 Sheet 3 of3 3,910,204

STRUCTURAL FOAM SKID BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It is known in the art to provide skids made of wood for storing and transporting loads, such as stacks of paper out into sheets in the paper converting industry. Such loads are secured to the skid by metal straps which are cinched around the load. While such skids are relatively inexpensive to make, they suffer from a number of defects. The wood forming the supporting surface of the skid splinters after a period of use and causes defects in the product carried thereon. Also, the load bearing surface of the skid quickly becomes dirty and cannot be easily cleaned. Further, it is difficult to pass strapping beneath the skid to secure a load thereto.

More recently, it has been suggested to form pallets of foamed plastic materials and a number of designs have been suggested. Such designs are satisfactory for many purposes. However, they usually require an intricate design which is relatively difficult to mold in a single operation, and which requires excessive usage of plastic material.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION It is the object of the present invention to provide a molded structural foam skid which can be injection molded in a single operation, which is simple in construction yet strong and rigid, and which provides a means for easily passing a strapping material around the goods carried thereon.

The skid of the present invention has a smooth load bearing surface, a longitudinal support along each side edge on the underside thereof which are relatively thin and strengthened by a plurality of buttresses, a plurality of generally V-shaped ribs extending transversely between the longitudinal supports, a plurality of longitudinally extending ribs between the V-shaped ribs, at least two lift stabilizing ribs having a height at least that of the largest height dimension of the V-shaped ribs, and channel means for permitting tie-down strapping to be easily passed under the load carried by the skid.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective bottom view of the skid;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the skid partially in section;

FIG. 3 is a sectional side view of a portion of the skid illustrating the preferred strap channel configuration;

FIG. 4 is a partial, cross-sectional transverse view of the skid showing an alternative strap channel configuration; and

FIG. 5 is a partial, cross-sectional longitudinal view of the alternative strap channel configuration.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The skid is generally rectangular shaped, and has a smooth load bearing surface member 11 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4.

The underside of the skid is illustrated in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 1, the underside 12 of the load bearing surface member 11 has two longitudinal support members 13 and 14 extending downwardly therefrom in close proximity to the side edges of the load bearing surface member 11. Longitudinal supports 13 and 14 are relatively thin, being on the order of one-fourth inch in thickness.

Extending transversely across the underside 12 of skid 10 between longitudinal supports 13 and 14 are a plurality of generally V-shaped ribs 15. The V-shaped ribs 15 have a minimum height H-l at the side edges of skid 10 and a maximum height of H-2 at the midportion of skid 10 as shown in FIG. 2. Such a configuration imparts maximum rigidity to the downwardly acting forces of a load carried by the load bearing surface member 11 with a minimum usage of material.

A plurality of buttress means 16 and 17 extend downwardly from extensions of V-shaped ribs 15 located between the outer walls of longitudinal supports 13 and 14 and the adjacent side edges of the skid 10 in perpendicular abutting relationship with the outer sides of Iongitudinal supports 13 and 14, respectively. Since skid 10 is injection molded as an essentially single unitary body, buttress 16 may be conceptually considered to be generally L-shaped with one leg thereof in contact with the underside 12 and the other leg thereof in contact with the outer surface of the adjacent longitudinal supports 13 or 14.

Buttresses

16 and 17 impart a high degree of bending resistance to longitudinal supports 13 and 14 against inwardly and outwardly directed forces acting thereon with a minimum usage of material.

A plurality of longitudinally extending

ribs

18, 19, and 20, generally rectangular in cross-section, impart additional rigidity to the load bearing surface member 11 of skid 10. A-pair of longitudinally extending side edge ribs 21 and 22 having a height equal to H-l similarly impart additional rigidity to the skid.

Lift stabilizing ribs

23 and 24 extend transversely across the underside 12 of skid 10 and have a uniform height H-3 in the portion extending between longitudinal supports 13 and 14. The height H-3 of

lift stabilizing ribs

23 and 24 is at least equal to the maximum height of H-2 of V-shaped ribs 15. The purpose of the latter is to insure that the skid and its load can be raised in a level manner regardless of wherethe tine or tines of the lifting vehicle are inserted between longitudinal supports 13 and 14. Without this feature, and due to the V-shape of ribs 15, the tine or tines of the lifting vehicle would have to be very carefully placed to provide level lifting, and in the case of a lifting vehicle having a single tine such as a jack truck, level lifting would be impossible without stabilizing ribs.

It has also been found to be desirable to employ additional lift stabilizing ribs at several other transversely extending locations along the underside of skid 10, such as those illustrated by reference numerals 25 and 26 in FIG. 1.

Lift stabilizing ribs

23, 24, 25, and 26 are generally parallel to transverse ribs 15.

One of the features of the present invention is in the provision of means for permitting strapping material to be easily passed under the load carried by the skid to secure the load to the skid. Such strapping materials and their mode of cinching are well known in the art, and are generally steel strips approximately one-half inch wide.

The preferred embodiment of the present invention for providing means for passing the strapping under the load is illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3. In this embodiment, a channel wall 27 extends downwardly from the underside 12 of skid l0 and transversely thereacross. Channel wall 27 has a height H-4 that is approximately equal to the height of the V-shaped ribs at the point where they intersectlongitudinal supports 13 and 14. Channel wall 27 is spaced from the adjacent V-shaped rib l5 which forms the other wall of a generally rectangularshaped, enclosed channel 28. The distance between the walls is slightly in excess of the width of the strapping material to be employed. Suitable receptacles 29 for receiving a fastening member are formed in channel wall 27.

A strip of suitable material 30 forms the floor of channel 28 and is attached to channel wall 27 by suit able fastening means such as screws 31. Floor 30 can be made of any suitable material, either the same mate rial of which the skid is formed or a different material, such as steel or aluminum. Underside 12 forms the ceiling of enclosed channel 28. A suitable strapping 32 may be passed through channel 28 through an opening 34 extending through longitudinal support 13 as shown in FIG. 2; an opening identical to opening 34 is located in longitudinal support 14 opposite opening 34. Two or more such channel means are preferably provided in the skid for strapping the load thereto.

An alternative channel construction is illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5. In this construction a channel 33 is formed in the load bearing surface member 11 and transversely thereacross; as illustrated. The channel 33 is slightly wider than the width of the steel strapping material to be employed, and the depth of channel 33 is less than the thickness of the load bearing surface member 11 of the skid 10. The channel 33 extends slightly beyond each outer wall of longitudinal supports 13 and 14 and terminate in a position located inwardly of the longitudinal edges of the skid. At the terminal ends of channel 33, suitable openings extend through the load bearing surface member 11, only one opening 35 being illustrated. The purpose of the openings is to permit a steel strapping material 37 lying in channel 33 to be brought through to the underside of skid 10, where it is then led around the side edges of the undersurface of the skid, and subsequently around a load 38 carried on the load bearing surface 11 of the skid 10, as best illustrated in phantom outline in FIG. 4.

In operation, in the preferred embodiment illustrated in FIG. I, the skid rests on a floor or other supporting surface with the bottoms of longitudinal supports 13 and 14 in contact therewith. Upper load bearing surface Il supports the material to be stored and transported, such as large sheets of paper stacked thereon. A steel strapping material 32 is then passed through opening 34, fed across the underside of the skid in channel 28, and exits from the opposing opening identical to opening 34, but not illustrated, on the other side of the skid. The strapping is then wrapped around the load carried on the load bearing surface member 11 and cinched tight in a known manner. The procedure is repeated from other pairs of suitably spaced openings and associated channels. A tine or tines of a lifting device is then inserted under supporting surface member 11 between longitudinal supports 13 and 14, and then raised into contact with

lift stabilizing ribs

23, 24, 25, and 26. Further raising of the tine or tines of the lifting vehicle then lifts the skid off the supporting floor so that longitudinal supports 13 and 14 are no longer in contact therewith. The skid with its load may then be moved to any desired location maintained in a level position.

Similarly, in using the alternative embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, steel strapping material 37 may be first laid in channel 33 with the ends thereof exiting It is clear that while only one channel 34 has been illustrated in the embodiment, illustrated in FIG. 4, a plurality of such channels, preferably at least two, with accompanying openings 35 may be placed along the upper surface of the skid at suitable transversely extending locations.

I claim:

1. A structural foam skid comprising a load bearing surface member generally rectangular in shape, one relatively thin longitudinal support member extending downwardly from and longitudinally along the underside of said load bearing surface member in close prox imity to each side edge of the load bearing surface member, a plurality of buttress means in perpendicular abutting relationship to the outer walls of said longitudinal support members and the bottom of said load bearing surface, a plurality of V-shaped ribs extending downwardly from and transversely across the underside of said load bearing surface member, the maximum height dimension of said V-shaped ribs being generally in the midportion thereof, a plurality of ribs extending downwardly from and longitudinally along the underside of said load bearing surface member, said ribs having a height less than the height of said V-shaped ribs, at least two lift stabilizing ribs extending downwardly from and transversely across the underside of said load bearing surface member having a uniform height at least equal to the maximum height dimension of said V-shaped ribs, and at least two transversely extending channel means in said skid for carrying strapping material.

2. The skid of claim 1 wherein the channel means is formed in the load bearing surface member transversely thereacross in a location extending between the outer walls of the longitudinal support members, the terminal ends of said channel means being at a position located inwardly of the longitudinal edges of the skid, and openings communicating the terminal ends of said channel means with the underside of the load bearing surface member of said skid.

3. The skid of claim 1 wherein each of the channel means is completely enclosed and extends transversely across the underside of the load bearing surface member between the longitudinal support members, and openings extending through said longitudinal support members at the intersection thereof with said channel means to thereby provide outside access to said channel means.

4. The skid of claim 3 wherein said channel means comprises a wall extending downwardly from the underside of said load bearing surface means spaced from an adjacent transversely extending rib a distance in excess of the width of the strapping material to be employed therewith, said adjacent rib forming the other wall of said channel means, and a floor for said channel means extending between said wall and such adjacent rib.

Claims

1. A structural foam skid comprising a load bearing surface member generally rectangular in shape, one relatively thin longitudinal support member extending downwardly from and longitudinally along the underside of said load bearing surface member in close proximity to each side edge of the load bearing surface member, a plurality of buttress means in perpendicular abutting relationship to the outer walls of said longitudinal support members and the bottom of said load bearing surface, a plurality of V-shaped ribs extending downwardly from and transversely across the underside of said load bearing surface member, the maximum height dimension of said V-shaped ribs being generally in the midportion thereof, a plurality of ribs extending downwardly from and longitudinally along the underside of said load bearing surface member, said ribs having a height less than the height of said V-shaped ribs, at least two lift stabilizing ribs extending downwardly from and transversely across the underside of said load bearing surface member having a uniform height at least equal to the maximum height dimension of said V-shaped ribs, and at least two transversely extending channel means in said skid for carrying strapping material.