Material Handling Device

Abstract

A material handling device for use in the transporting, handling and storage of materials is disclosed. The material handling device is provided with a base portion and a first wall portion either of which may be utilized in the lifting and transporting of the device. A pair of opposed spaced side panels are provided between the base portion and the first wall portion for confining and protecting the material on said material handling device. Also disclosed is the method of making such a material handling device.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is well known in the art to provide material handling devices for transporting and storing materials. These well-known devices consist primarily of the flat pallet device on which material is loaded or of the box type container into which material may be placed. The flat pallet device has the disadvantageous feature of not protecting or confining the material placed thereon. Consequently, its use has been limited to the handling of materials which may be uniformly stacked and handled, such as boxes or cases of materials. Uses for these materials were not entirely satisfactory since during handling there is a possibility that the material could be damaged since it was not protected on the sides and there is the possibility that during transportation and handling, the material may fall from the pallet.

The use of a box type container has the disadvantageous feature of being difficult to load and unload.

This invention relates to a device for supporting, confining, and protecting unit loads of material in the handling, transporting, and storage thereof. Its principal object is the reduction of waste in all forms as related to handling, transporting, and storage of material. Said reduction in waste is brought about through the reduction of time, space, and energy required to handle, transport, and store unit loads of material as well as a reduction in the waste of the material being handled, transported, and/or stored through protection of said material.

This device is also particularly useful for shipping and handling materials on different modes of transportation, thereby eliminating the necessity of repackaging materials for shipment on different types of carriers. The device is completely compatible for use in shipping materials by rail, by truck, or other means, as a separate unit and eliminates the requirement of specially packaging the material for each mode of handling utilized.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a material handling device which is adaptable to substantially all material handling, transport, and storage systems and particularly those that are intermodal.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a device of low cost and long life and a method of producing same which is simple and economical.

A further object is to provide a material handling device which is compatible with substantially all existing forms of material handling, transport, and storage equipment such as lift trucks, stationary, and live rack storage, conveyors and the like type of equipment.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the description hereinafter.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Briefly, the present invention comprises a material handling device for the transporting, handling, and storage of materials having a base portion, a wall portion connected thereto and a pair of opposed side panel members of predetermined size connected to the base portion and the wall portion for confining and protecting a load of material on the material handling device.

Another aspect of the present invention is a method of simply manufacturing such a material handling device comprising the steps of cutting a piece of sheet material to a predetermined size and shape, forming the material into a base portion and a first wall portion defining an included angle therebetween of at least 90.degree., bending the opposed edges of the base portion to define included angles therewith of at least 90.degree., and thereafter connecting the respective opposed edges to define opposed side wall portions of predetermined size.

DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a material handling device embodying the present invention,

FIG. 2 is a side view of the material handling device of FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a front view of the material handling device of FIG. 1,

FIG. 4 is a side view of several of the material handling devices illustrating the nestability thereof.

FIG. 5 is a side view of another embodiment of the present invention,

FIG. 6 is a side view of another embodiment of the present invention,

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a material handling device of the present invention,

FIG. 8 is a side view of two of the material handling devices in interlocked position,

FIG. 9 is an illustration of the pattern of the material when stamped out of sheet material for formation into the material handling device of the subject invention,

FIG. 10 is a side view of the material handling device after the first break has been made in the formation thereof,

FIG. 11 is a side view of the material handling device of FIG. 10 showing the formation of one of the side panels thereof.

FIG. 12 is a side view of another embodiment of two of the material handling devices in interlocked position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The simplicity of the design and construction of the device enables it to be constructed and/or fabricated from metal, wood, plastics, fiber board, fiber glass and like material or any combination thereof.

A prime object of the invention is its adaptability to most if not all material, handling, transport, and storage systems including and especially those that are intermodal. In addition, the device may become the primary material handling device for automated live storage of unit devices. Particularly, it is adaptable for use in intermodal operations which eliminates unnecessary handling of materials. As will become more apparent from the description hereinafter, the subject material handling device is adapted for use with fork trucks and roller conveyors as well as other known material handling systems.

Referring now to FIGS. 1-3, it will be seen that the material handling device 1 has a bottom or base portion 2 and a wall portion 3 connected thereto by suitable means. As is obvious depending on the type of material utilized in constructing the material handling device the connection may be by means of welds, bolts or any well known connecting device or additionally the base and wall portion may be formed from a single piece of material having a break therein. The material handling device 1 may be provided with rolled or turned lips 4 and 5 on the base and wall portions 2, 3 respectively. The lip 4, in addition to being useful for retaining the material load on the material handling device 1, is also useful in serving to protect the front bottom edge of the unit load on impact with obstructions such as conveyor stops or other material handling devices. The lip 5 on the wall portion 3 may be so constructed that it will be adapted for receiving the forks in the vertical position of a fork lift truck or other transporting means.

In addition, the material handling device 1 is provided with a pair of opposed spaced side panel members 6, 7 connected to the base portion 2 and the wall portion 3 by suitable means. The side panel members are formed of a predetermined shape so as to provide protection for the unit load on the material handling device and yet not interfere with the loading and unloading of the material. In addition, it should be noted that the side panel members 6, 7 may define included angles with the base and wall portions 2, 3 which are greater than 90.degree., as best seen in FIG. 3. It is not necessary that the included angles be greater than 90.degree., but this has been found to be advantageous since it enables the material handling devices 1 to be nested when not in use. This feature of the nestability of the material handling device 1 is clearly shown in FIG. 4. In addition, FIG. 4 illustrates how the lips 4 and 5 serve to provide separation between the adjacent material handling devices 1 enabling an operator to readily separate the devices for use.

Referring now to FIG. 5, another embodiment of the present invention illustrates that a lip 4' may be provided on the base portion 2 in a turned down position to serve as a support for the material handling device 1'. In addition, a pair of rollers or casters 10 may be provided on the base portion 2 near the wall portion 3 to enable the material handling device to be moved about. As is obvious, if the material handling device is provided with means for maintaining the base portion 2 off the floor, it is very easy for fork lift trucks or other material handling devices to engage the base portion 2 and effect the transportation of the material handling device. FIG. 6 merely illustrates another embodiment of the present invention wherein the material handling device 1 would be provided with rollers or casters 11 on the base portion 2 so that the material handling device 1 could be moved about without the necessity of other transport means.

Referring to FIG. 7, another embodiment of the material handling device 1 is illustrated which includes a bracket 15 suitably connected to the back of the wall portion 3. The bracket 15 is adapted for engagement by transport means to enable the material handling device 1 to be raised in the vertical position for transportation.

Referring to FIG. 8, a material handling device 1 may be interlocked with a second material handling device so as to provide protection for the six sides of the material being loaded and handled. This interlocking of the devices 1 is achieved due to the form of the lips 4 and 5. As is seen from FIG. 8, the lips 4 of the two material handling devices 1 grippingly engage the lips 5 of the other device to position the material handling devices in interlocking position. By enlarging the shape of the side members 6 or 7 or both, it is possible to completely enclose the material load and provide 100 percent protection for all six sides of the load. By designing the sides 6 and 7 such that they abut each other when devices are in interlocking positions, it is possible to transport the device on any type of carrier with the load being fully protected. The abutting relation of the sides 6 and 7 is clearly shown in FIG. 12. In addition, a sealing material or gasket 18 may be placed between the lips and the side members when the devices are placed in interlocking relation so as to provide protection from moisture and dirt for the load material.

As has been shown, the material handling device 1, either used separately or in interlocking relation, is completely adaptable for any type of material handling operation. Particularly, the material handling device is adapted to satisfy all unit load needs and may be conveniently utilized in different material handling systems.

Referring now to FIG. 9-11, the various steps are shown for making the material handling device 1 from sheet metal. As shown in FIG. 9, the material handling device 1 is stamped or cut from a piece of sheet metal 20 by any well know method. The sheet metal is cut into a flat blank form 21 and thereafter a break or bend is made in the blank along the line 22. This serves to form the base portion 2 and the wall portion 3 and these two portions define an included angle therebetween of approximately 90.degree.. The opposed panels 6A, 7A on the base portion 2 are then subjected to a brake along the line 23 to form an included angle therebetween of 90.degree. or greater and the opposed panels 6B, 7B on the wall portion 3 are subjected to a brake along the line 24 to form an included angle therebetween of 90.degree. or greater. These breaks or bends may be made in any well-known manner using commercially available equipment. The panels 6A, 6B and 7A, 7B are then connected along the line 6C, 7C by suitable means such as welds to form the opposed side panel members 6 and 7. If desired, the end of the base portion 2 and wall portion 3 are subjected to a forming operation which forms the lips 4 and 5 as shown in FIG. 1. As can be seen by adjusting the shape of the panels 6A, 6B, 7A and 7B, it is possible to shape or form the side wall members 6 and 7 to any predetermined shape desired.

In view of the foregoing, it is now apparent that a material handling device, meeting the objects set out hereinbefore, is provided and that changes or modifications of the process set forth in the disclosure by way of illustration may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Claims

I claim:

1. A material handling device for the transporting, handling and storage of materials comprising a base portion adapted to support a load of material thereon, a first wall portion connected at one end thereof to said base portion for completely protecting one side of the material during the transporting, handling and storage thereof, means on the other end of said first wall portion being adapted for engagement by transporting means for effecting the lifting and moving of the material handling device, and a pair or opposed spaced side panel members connected to said base portion and said first wall portion, said side panel members being of a predetermined size for confining and protecting the load of material supported on said base portion without interfering with the placement of material on said base portion wherein the means on the other end of said first wall portion comprises a rolled lip for receiving and engaging transporting means whereby the material handling device may be moved, said opposed spaced side panel members define included angles greater than 90.degree. with said base and first wall portion to permit a plurality of the material handling devices to be nested, and therebeing another rolled lip on said base portion, said rolled lips on said first wall portion and said base portion providing interlocking engagement means with the rolled lips of a second similar material handling device invertedly positioned over said first device to substantially completely protect the material on the base portion of the material handling device.

2. The material handling device according to claim 1 including means on said base portion for maintaining said base portion a predetermined distance from the floor, the predetermined distance being great enough to permit engagement of said base portion by transporting means whereby upon the engagement of said base portion by said transporting means the material handling device may be moved.

3. The material handling device according to claim 1 including roller means on said base portion permitting the movement of said material handling device.

4. The material handling device according to claim 2 including first lip means on said base portion and second lip means on said first wall portion, said first and second lip means being adapted for interlocking engagement with other protection means to substantially completely protect the load of material supported on said base portion.

5. A material handling device for transporting, handling and storage of materials comprising a base portion adapted to support a load of material thereon, a first wall portion connected at one end thereof to said base portion for completely protecting one side of the material during the transporting, handling and storage thereof, a pair of opposed side panel members connected to said base portion and said first wall portion, said side panel members being of predetermined size for confining and protecting a portion of the sides of the material on said base portion and lip means on said base portion and said first wall portion providing interlocking engagement means with the lip means of a second similar material handling device invertedly positioned over said first device, the material handling devices completely protecting the material on said base portion when they are in interlocking engagement.

6. The material handling device according to claim 5 including bracket means on said first wall portion for engagement by transporting means whereby upon the engagement of said bracket means by said transporting means the material handling device may be moved.

7. The material handling device according to claim 5 wherein said opposed spaced side panel members define included angles greater than 90.degree. with said base and first wall portion to permit a plurality of the material handling devices to be nested.

8. The material handling device according to claim 5 wherein said side panel members of the material handling device are sized to abut the side panel members of the second material handling device when in interlocking engagement to completely enclose the material carried thereby.

9. The material handling device according to claim 8 including a sealing material on the rolled lips and side panel members for protecting the material from moisture and dirt when the material handling device is in interlocking engagement with the second material handling device.