U.S. patent number 3,753,407 [Application Number 05/241,255] was granted by the patent office on 1973-08-21 for convertible shipping pallet.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corporation. Invention is credited to Arne B. Tilseth.
United States Patent |
3,753,407 |
Tilseth |
August 21, 1973 |
CONVERTIBLE SHIPPING PALLET
Abstract
Improved reuseable and convertible shipping pallet of
cradle-like design having truss-like reinforcing elements and
special attachments whereby the pallet can be used to ship either
flat or annular shaped products with equal facility and can be
handled equally well by various types of pallet handling equipment
such as lift trucks, cranes, etc.
Inventors: |
Tilseth; Arne B. (Oakland,
CA) |
Assignee: |
Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical
Corporation (Oakland, CA)
|
Family
ID: |
22909919 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/241,255 |
Filed: |
April 5, 1972 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
108/53.3;
108/55.5; 410/97; 108/55.3; 410/50 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D
19/44 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B65D
19/38 (20060101); B65D 19/44 (20060101); B65d
019/38 () |
Field of
Search: |
;108/51-58 ;248/119,361
;206/46 ;214/621 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Zugel; Francis K.
Assistant Examiner: Finch; Glenn O.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A convertible shipping pallet of the type described comprising a
plurality of spaced runners, hollow spaced support pads mounted
crosswise upon said runners and defining therebetween an upwardly
opening pocket for receiving a coil of metal and the like, said
pads being offset inwardly of the outer ends of said runners and
being provided with hollow interior interconnected fittings which
function both to rigidify and reinforce said pads against collapse
under a load and to provide receptacles for a lift means such as
the forks of a fork lift truck and said pallet being further
provided with upwardly opening and reinforced pocket means at
opposing ends of said pallet, said upwardly opening pocket means
being adapted to removably receive the legs of an auxiliary pallet
converting floor element and said pocket means being provided with
combination guide and reinforcing plate means which are adapted to
slidingly and interlockingly engage such a pallet converting floor
element when the legs of the said pallet converting floor element
are disposed in said pocket means.
2. A pallet as set forth in claim 1 wherein said pads comprise
inverted V-shaped members.
3. A pallet as set forth in claim 1 including resilient
cushion-like elements affixed to said pads for directly supporting
and contacting the pallet load.
4. A pallet as set forth in claim 1 in which a support pad and the
interior fitting connected thereto define an integrated load
supporting structure of truss-like configuration.
5. A pallet as set froth in claim 1 in which the interior fitting
of a support pad is of approximately inverted channel-shaped
configuration in transverse cross section.
6. A pallet as set forth in claim 1 in which the outer lower
extremities of the runners are beveled.
7. A pallet as set forth in claim 1 including an adjustable belt
means affixed to said pallet for securing a load to said support
pads.
8. A pallet as set forth in claim 1 in which the opposed ends of a
given pad are provided with opposed ledge means, said opposed ledge
means of one pallet being adapted to engage and support certain
portions of the spaced runners of another pallet upon the certain
portions of the spaced runners of the other pallet being disposed
upon and between the opposed ledge means of the one pallet.
9. A convertible shipping pallet of the type described comprising a
plurality of spaced runners, hollow spaced support pads mounted
upon and crosswise of said runners and defining therebetween an
upwardly opening pocket for receiving a coil of metal and the like,
said pads being offset inwardly of the outer ends of said runners
and being provided with interconnected hollow interior fittings
which function both to rigidify and reinforce said pads against
collapse under a load and to provide receptacles for a pallet lift
means such as the forks of a fork lift truck, a separate pallet
fitting provided with upwardly opening and reinforced pocket means
interposed between a support pad and the adjacent outer extremities
of said runners at each end of the pallet and an auxiliary pallet
attachment removably mounted within the upwardly opening pocket
means and converting said pallet to a flat bed-type pallet.
10. A pallet as set forth in claim 9 wherein said upwardly opening
and reinforced pocket means are reinforced with gusset-like
elements which interengage and interlock with selected portions of
said pallet attachment.
11. A pallet as set forth in claim 9 in which the opposed ends of a
given pad are provided with opposed ledge means, said opposed ledge
means of one pallet supporting and engaging certain portions of
spaced runners of another pallet when the spaced runners of the
other pallet are disposed upon and between the opposed ledge means
of the one pallet.
12. A pallet as set forth in claim 11 in which said pallet fitting
includes opposed notch means disposed in alignment with the opposed
ledge means of a given support pad, said opposed notch means of one
pallet being disposed in spaced relation to the associated outer
extremities of the respective spaced runners of the other pallet as
certain portions of the spaced runners of the other pallet are
disposed upon and in engagement with the opposed ledge means of a
given support pad of the one pallet.
13. A pallet as set forth in claim 9 in which said pallet
attachment is of inverted channel-shaped configuration and is
provided with a plurality of reinforcing corrugations.
14. A pallet as set forth in claim 9 in which said pallet
attachment is provided with lug means for securing a load
thereon.
15. A pallet as set forth in claim 9 including adjustable belt
means for securing a load to said pallet attachment.
16. A pallet as set forth in claim 10 wherein the selected portions
of the pallet attachment which interengage and interlock with the
gusset-like elements comprise legs on the attachment which have
slotted sections.
17. A pallet as set forth in claim 10 including a belt means
extending between and interconnected to the reinforcing gusset-like
elements for securing a load between said belt means and said
pallet attachment.
18. A pallet as set forth in claim 17 in which said belt means
includes a turn buckle device for adjusting and selectively
tensioning said belt means.
19. A pallet as set forth in claim 10 in which said pallet
attachment comprises an inverted and approximately channel-shaped
floor element having dependent legs provided with slots for
receiving the gusset-like elements when the attachment is removably
mounted on the pallet and said gusset-like elements acting to
center and position the attachment on said pallet.
20. A pallet as set forth in claim 19 in which a dependent channel
leg of said pallet attachment is beveled at an outer end thereof.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a reuseable shipping pallet or
skid. More particularly, it relates to an improved cradle-like
shipping pallet for handling a wide variety of differently shaped
products and which can be readily adapted for use with various
numerous product shapes by means of simplified attachments.
In the past, numerous reuseable shipping pallets have been designed
to handle specialized cargo some of which are shown in U.S. Pats.
Nos. 2,445,152; 3,315,800; 3,430,586; 3,472,363; and 3,507,415.
These prior shipping pallets were equipped with various types of
load engaging support pad(s) and tie downs for securing the load to
the support pad(s) and in turn to the pallets. The shipping pallets
of the prior art, however, were usually designed to handle but one
type of load and even these pallets failed to provide for ready
handling by a fork lift truck, a crane or grappling hooks, etc. In
addition, many types of pallets had only one use and when
returnable had to be returned in an empty condition that took up
valuable cargo space and without carrying a useful load.
The improved cradle-like shipping pallet of the instant invention
because of its unique design is exceptionally rugged and flexible
both as to the type of loads it can carry as well as with respect
to the different types of handling equipment that can be used to
handle the loaded pallet. For example, the pallet is accessible by
different types of handling equipment endwise or crosswise of the
same and can be handled equally well by grappling hooks, cranes,
fork lift trucks, and cargo booms. This means that the pallet has
in effect exceptional versatility in its uses and because of its
rugged design is capable of withstanding substantial abuse. At the
same time the reuseable and returnable pallet because of certain
attachments can be used to ship one type of article in one
direction and a different type of product in its return trip to its
point of origin whereby it can carry a useful load at all
times.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is a primary purpose of the instant invention to
provide an improved rugged recyclable or reuseable cradle-like
shipping pallet that with a few adjustments to its load supporting
surfaces can be made to handle a wide variety of products and be
handled by numerous types of cargo hoisting devices.
The pallet is generally comprised of a plurality of spaced runners
and a pair of spaced hollow support pads offset inwardly from and
disposed crosswise of the outer ends of the spaced runners and
forming a cradle-like load support. Each pad is preferably of
inverted V-shaped configuration in transverse cross section and
comes equipped with an internal fitting that gives the pad
truss-like structural characteristics. A support pad may have a
resilient pad-like means or cushion attached thereto for
resiliently engaging and supporting a load thereon.
The pallet can further include reinforced guide and gusset elements
disposed outwardly of a support pad at either end of the pallet. As
adjustable belt device or other suitable strapping arrangement can
extend between and be interconnected to opposed reinforcing guide
and gusset elements at opposite ends of the pallet for anchoring a
load intermediate the support pads and the belt device or between
the belt device and an auxiliary floor element, etc.
In an advantageous embodiment of the invention an auxiliary pallet
attachment or floor element preferably of inverted channel shaped
configuration and corrugated construction can be interposed between
the opposed reinforcing guide and gusset elements so as to provide
a flat cargo support surface above the plane of the support pads
and in effect convert the pallet from one of cradle-like
configuration to one of flat-bed configuration. The floor element
includes opposed multipurpose lugs such as for stacking and storage
purposes, etc. Various beveled and/or slotted portions at opposite
ends of the pallet fixture or floor element are operatively
associated with the opposed reinforcing guide and gusset elements
of the main pallet for assisting interlocking and positioning of a
floor element between the ends of the main pallet.
Certain portions of the support pads and reinforcing guide and
gusset elements of a given pallet may be removed to enable easy
stacking of one pallet upon another.
The pallet is so proportioned that when a load is prepacked by
plastic bagged materials or other readily flangible materials the
load does not noticeably protrude from the pallet whereby the
packaging materials can be readily damaged or torn by contact with
foreign objects.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a shipping pallet
incorporating a preferred embodiment of the shipping pallet of the
instant invention;
FIG. 2 is a reduced schematic perspective view of a prepackaged or
enclosed load that can be carried by the pallet of the instant
invention;
FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of a section of the
auxiliary floor element that can be used with the pallet of the
present invention;
FIG. 4 is a reduced and partial side elevational and diagrammatic
view illustrating in dotted lines pallets solid linespallets of the
instant invention when they are stacked one upon the other;
FIG. 5 is a top plan view taken along line 5--5 at FIG. 4, rotated
clockwise 90.degree. and with certain parts removed;
FIG. 6 is a side elevation with certain parts removed and other
parts added as taken along line 6--6 of FIG. 1 and indicates how
the pallet can be converted to handle differently shaped
articles;
FIG. 7 is an end view taken along line 7--7 of FIG. 6 and with
portions removed;
FIG. 8 is a partial diagrammatic side view along line 8--8 of FIG.
6;
FIG. 9 is an enlarged plan view with parts removed and other parts
broken away taken within the bounds of encompassing line 9 of FIG.
1 and illustrates a typical turn buckle device that can be used
with the pallet of the instant invention;
FIG. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view with parts added when
taken along line 10--10 of FIG. 9;
FIG. 11 is a side elevational view when taken along line 11--11 of
FIG. 9; and
FIG. 12 is a reduced diagrammatic elevational view of a pair of
auxiliary floor elements in stacked relation to each other.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
With further reference to the drawings and in particular FIG. 1,
this Figure illustrates a preferred use for the improved
convertible shipping pallet of the instant invention such as a
shipping pallet for coiled aluminum sheet stock 12. The pallet is
generally comprised of a plurality of parallel spaced runners or
skids 14 and at least one pair of hollow reinforced load support
pads 16. Pads 16 are disposed crosswise upon and at the same time
are offset inwardly of the ends of spaced runners 14. A reinforcing
and pad protecting guide and gusset fitting 18 extends outward of a
support pad at either end of the pallet and is suitably anchored to
the skids 14. A belt device 20 extends between and is
interconnected to the opposed reinforcing guide and gusset fittings
18 in order to anchor a load to the pads 16. The hollow pads 16 not
only provide improved support and anchoring of a load to the pallet
but in addition convenient and readily accessible side pocket
openings for receiving the fork of a fork lift truck (not shown) or
other grappling device elements. The aligned ends of pads 16 and
guide and gusset fittings 18 are selectively cut away on either
side of pallet 10 so as to facilitate stacking of one pallet upon
another in a unique manner that is further described
hereinafter.
An auxiliary attachment or load carrying floor element 22 of
inverted and approximately channel shaped configuration can be
mounted in unique fashion on a pallet 10 in order to convert the
pallet from a metal coil handling pallet to a different load
handler such as a carrier of vertically stacked balled and
compressed cubicles of scrap metal 24 all as depicted in FIGS. 6
and 8. As will become more fully apparent hereinafter pallet floor
attachment 22 and opposed reinforcing guide and gusset fittings 18
are provided with cooperating means for expediting, positioning and
interlocking of a floor element between the ends of a pallet. If
desired and as indicated in FIG. 2 the metal coil 12 may be
enclosed and hermatically sealed within a plastic bag 26 and since
the covered coil does not protrude from the pallet the protective
covering 26 is not readily exposed to damage.
Since pallet 10 is generally symmetrical about its longitudinal and
transverse axes a description of one end and side of the pallet
will suffice for each end and side.
A runner or skid rail 14 can be comprised of an elongated I-beam
28. The lower outer end of the central web of a beam 28 is cut away
to define an upward and outward beveled edge. The lower outer
flange end of the bottom flange of a beam 28 is bent upwardly and
outwardly and connected to its associated beveled edge to provide a
beam 28 with a lower outer beveled outer end or heel portion 30,
all as illustrated in FIGS. 1, 4 and 6-8. This rail heel portion 30
aids in handling and manoeuvering a pallet, for instance, and
effectively prevents digging-in of a pallet end into a floor
support (not shown) during handling of the pallet.
The inverted V-shaped pads 16 with their opposed downwardly and
outwardly inclined walls 29 and 31 are disposed crosswise of and
are advantageously offset inwardly of the outer extremities of two
I-beam runners 28. The lower ends of pad walls 29 and 31 are
affixed directly to the top surfaces of pallet side runners 28 all
as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 4. Opposed inner walls 31 of a spaced pair
of pads 16 act to define the bottom of a cradle-like pocket or well
32 within which a coil of metal 12 can be deposited and rigidly
lodged. Cushion elements 34 of resilient material, for example,
neoprene, may be suitably affixed to the outer surface portions of
a pad wall 31 to cushion the coil load deposited on pallet 10 as
illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 4. If desired, a reinforcing web 36 can
extend between and be interconnected to the lower edges of opposed
inner walls 31 as well as extending between and being
interconnected to opposed top surface portions of the two side skid
rails 14.
An inverted fitting 38 of approximately channel-shaped
configuration is inserted in the bottom opening of a pad 16 and
extends fully between the opposite ends of the pad. Opposed lower
outer ends of dependent channel legs 40 to 42 of the fitting 38
disposed on either side of pallet 10 are affixed to their
associated top surface portions of a given pallet side beam 28 as
shown in FIG. 1. Outer surface portions of leg 40 of a given
fitting 38 and the upper side edge of opposite leg 42 of a given
fitting are also connected to their associated opposed inner
surface portions of the opposite walls 29 and 31 of its respective
pad 16 and within the opening thereof as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and
6. By virtue of the opposed dependent channel legs 40 and 42 of a
fitting 38 being affixed to opposed side skid rails 14 as well as
to opposed inner wall surfaces of a pad 16 and within the pad
opening each pad will in effect be given a reinforced truss-like
structure of rugged design and substantial strength.
A fitting 38 within the opening of a pad 16 helps to define an open
ended side pocket 43 for freely receiving the fork 44 of a
fork-lift truck and each reinforcing guide and gusset fitting 18
that extends outwardly of a pad 16 at either end of pallet 10 is
provided with an outward extension 46 that extends outwardly from
the lower outer edge of the outer wall 29 of a pad 16. The outer
extremity of extension 46 includes an upstanding flange 48 and a
folded back flange 50 connected thereto. A trapezoidally-shaped end
plate 49 is interposed between and interconnected to the outer web
end of a rail 28 and the associated lower outer corner end of the
respective flange 48 in order to provide a relatively smooth
reinforced end bumper assembly for pallet 10 at either end
thereof.
Each overall fitting 18 can include upstanding laterally spaced
guide and reinforcing gusset plates 52. Each plate fits within and
bridges the gap or upwardly opening pocket 53 located between the
outer wall 29 of a pad 16 and end wall 48 of a fitting 18. Plates
52 stiffen the fitting 18 and reinforce the same against damage and
abuse during normal use of the pallet and at the same time act as
guide plates in a manner to be described.
Each fitting flange 50 is partially cut away in the area of its
connection to a plate 52 to define a channel-shaped slot 54 for
receiving an anchor bolt 56.
A belt device 20 that extends between and is interconnected to
anchor bolts 56 is comprised of an elongated belt or strap 59 of
flexible stretch resistant web-like fabric or the like, the ends of
which are fixed to separate anchor bolts 56 mounted in opposed
pallet slots 54. The outer free ends of an anchor bolt 56 are bent
inwardly and affixed to the outer surface portions of pallet
extension 46 all as indicated in FIGS. 6-7.
The bolt 56 is of sufficient size whereby the web portion 58
thereof is disposed above or clears the top surface of its
associated upper flange 50 and the top edge of its respective inner
guide plate 52. One end of a belt 59 is looped about the associated
web 58 of its respective anchor bolt 56 thereby pivotally
connecting the loop 60 of strap 59 to its associated anchor bolt 56
at an outer corner of pallet 10 all as depicted in FIGS. 1 and
6.
As indicated particularly in FIGS. 1, 6 and 9-11, a belt device 20
advantageously includes a turn buckle 62 for adjustably and
pivotally connecting the opposite end 64 of a given strap 59 to its
associated anchor bolt at the opposite end of a pallet 10. The turn
buckle can be comprised of opposed Z-shaped side plates
interconnected by a base plate 68 having opposed side corner lugs
69 at one end thereof. A bolt-nut assembly 70 fits within aligned
apertures in plates 66 and serves to connect plates 66 together.
Lugs 69 of base plate 68 also become inserted through the aligned
slots 67 in plates 66 when base plate 68 is inserted between and
connected to side plates 66. A reel 72 extends between and is
rotatably connected to opposed side plates 66 at their outwardly
offset ends. Reel 72 is made up of a pair of parallel spaced bar
elements 74 and a sprocket gear 76 connected to adjacent and
aligned opposed ends of the pair of bar elements 74 at either side
of turn buckle 62. The opposed outer reduced and threaded ends 78
of reel 72 are inserted through aligned openings at the outwardly
offset ends of plate 66 upon both base plate 68 and bolt assembly
70 being assembled between side plates 66 as aforedescribed. A
suitable nut washer assembly 80 is appropriately connected to the
outer reduced end 78 of reel 72 at either end thereof to complete
the mounting of reel 72 between side plates 66 of a turn buckle
62.
A side plate 66 has an enlarged slot 82 laterally offset from
smaller slot 67 as viewed in FIG. 11. A C-shaped latch plate 84
extends between opposed side plates 66 and slidably connects to the
opposed plates within the enlarged slots thereof as shown in FIGS.
9-11. A coil spring 86 extends between and is interconnected to an
intermediate lug 88 of latch plate 84 and the opposed and aligned
hooked end 90 of base plate 68. Because of coil spring 86 being
connected between plates 68 and 84, outer surface portions of the
projecting or toothed end 92 of plate 84 on either side of a given
turn buckle is biased into overlapped latching engagement with the
leading edge 93 of an associated sprocket tooth 94 of its
respective reel sprocket 76 as indicated in FIGS. 9-10.
A chain-type link 96 is pivotally connected to web 58 of an anchor
bolt 56 at the turn buckle end of pallet 10 prior to the free ends
of the anchor bolt being secured in place on extension 46. As a
bolt 70 is connected to the necked-in end of turn buckle 62 it is
inserted through the opening of link 96 thereby pivotally
connecting a turn buckle 62 to its associated anchor bolt 56. If
desired, a sleeve 98 can be disposed about the shank of bolt 70 for
minimizing frictional engagement between the shank of bolt 70 and
the bolt end of link 96.
As indicated in FIG. 10 leading portions of a strap 59 at its turn
buckle end 64 are initially threaded from right to left through a
slot 100 between the pair of reel bars 74. After initially
threading the leading portions of the belt strap end 64 through bar
opening 100 the trailing portions of the belt strap end 64 are
wrapped in counter clockwise fashion as viewed in FIG. 10 about
outer peripheral surface portions of opposed bars 74 in order to
effect connection of belt end 64 to its associated reel. When a
suitable wrench (not shown) engages the nut assembly end of a reel
72, the reel can be rotated in a counter clockwise direction as
viewed in FIG. 10 for winding an drawing-up a turn buckle end 64 of
strap 59 about its respective reel bars 74 so as to effect
selective tightening and loosening of a belt 59 between its
respective anchor bolts 56. If, however, an operator rotates nut
assembly end 80 of reel 72 in a clockwise direction as viewed in
FIG. 8 and at the same time forces latching plate 84 of a turn
buckle 62 against the action of spring 86 in a direction towards
its necked-in end, reel 72 can be freely rotated in a clockwise
direction as viewed in FIG. 10. As reel 72 rotates the coiled end
of strap 59 in clockwise fashion in FIG. 10 to cause unwinding of
the coiled end of the strap from about the pair of reel bars 74 a
loosening and a relaxation of a belt 59 about the pallet load will
occur. Although other types of belt tensioning devices can be used
turn buckle 62 provides a device for effecting loosening and/or
tensioning of a belt between its ends relative to the pair of
pallet support pads with or without a load disposed on the pair
thereof.
In still another advantageous embodiment of the invention and as
indicated particularly in FIGS. 1, 4 and 5, a pallet 10 is provided
with special portions for vertically stacking the pallet upon
another. Each one of the intersecting walls 29 and 31 of a support
pad 16 at either end thereof is cut away in a downwardly and
outwardly inclined fashion inwardly of the associated outer end of
its respective fitting 38 in order to provide both a beveled end of
a given support pad 16 and a ledge 102' on top of the adjacent web
end of the fitting associated therewith. A triangularly shaped
plate 104' may be appropriately inserted at the beveled end of a
pad 16 for reinforcing the beveled end thereof as depicted in FIGS.
1 and 6. The inwardly facing edge of a top flange 50 at an outer
corner end thereof is cut away and defined by an L-shaped notch
108', as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5.
By virtue of the ends of a support pad of a pallet 10 being beveled
and the spacing that exists between opposed notched edges 108' on
either side of the pallet the pallets can be stacked one upon the
other when the lower edges of the opposed beveled ends of an upper
pallet are loosely interposed between the opposed notched edges
108' on either side of the stacked pallets. At the same time
intermediate bottom portions of the bottom flange or shoe of a
runner 14 of an upper pallet are fitted or nested about ledge 102'
of a lower pallet 10. It is to be understood that the top edge of
an outer plate 52 of a gusset fitting 18 may be cut away as
indicated at 110' in FIG. 4 so that the top edge of cut away plate
52 is horizontally aligned with the ledge 102' of its respective
pad 16 at a given corner of the pallet. The legs of a pallet are of
sufficient height so that there is ample clearance between pallets
when they are stacked together.
Besides the accessible side pocket openings 43 of a pallet 10 for
handling the same as aforedescribed, the pallet is also accessible
endwise thereof by different types of handling equipment upon,
e.g., a pair of forks 110' of a fork lift truck (not shown) being
disposed in engagement with underneath surface portions of fitting
extension 46, web 32, etc. within the inverted channel shaped
recess between the spaced runners of a given pallet 10 at either
end thereof as illustrated in FIG. 1. This accessibility of pallet
10 facilitates handling and manoeuvering of the pallet with or
without a load thereon.
In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention pallet 10
includes an inverted channel-shaped floor attachment or fixture 22
provided with a series of longitudinally extending reinforcing
corrugations 102. Each dependent leg 104 is equipped with an
inwardly bent reinforcing foot flange 106 and the lower outer
corner of a leg 104 can be cut away to define a beveled edge while
the outer corner edges 108 of the foot flange 106 are beveled. A
lower portion of a floor leg 104 at either end thereof and its
contiguous foot flange portion are both cut away so as to provide
intersecting leg side edges 109 of inverted V-shaped configuration
that define and bound a slot 110. When the fixture 102 is placed in
suitable fashion on top of pallet 10, the various gusset plates 52
fit within the slots 110 as the parts of legs 104 adjacent the
slots 110 straddle the plates 52. The maximum width at the bottom
of each slot 110 is greater than the width at the top of each bolt
56 so that the bolts 56 will clear legs 104.
Opposed and aligned pairs of inverted U-shaped lugs or handle grips
114 are preferably affixed to the upper portions of opposed legs
104 as indicated in FIGS. 3-6. A floor attachment 22 because of its
relatively flat surface converts the pallet from a cradle-like
pallet to a flat surfaced or flat bed type pallet. It can carry a
wide variety of loads such as baled scrap metal cubicles 24 neatly
arranged in compacted and vertically stacked layers all as shown in
FIGS. 6 and 8. If desired, the vertically stacked layers of metal
cubicles 24 may be anchored to the top of a given floor 22 by way
of auxiliary belts 118 extending between opposed and aligned lugs
114 at opposite ends of the floor and they can be covered by a
canvas 120 draped over the stacked cubicles prior to final
tightening of belt 118 anchored between handles 114.
By virtue of opposed lugs 114, fixtures 22 may be stacked one upon
another for example for storage purposes prior to a fixture being
used as an attachment for pallet 10 as illustrated in FIG. 12.
The pallet converting floor attachment has an overall length and
width such that it can be freely and readily fitted within opening
pockets 53 of the opposed guide fittings 18 at the opposite ends of
a pallet and interlocked with plates 52 as aforedescribed. The
fixture 102 can be assembled with a pallet by hand or by means of
the usual hoisting equipment. Because of certain features the
removably mounted fixture 22 is self-locating relative to the
pallet, for example, the beveled ends 108 and V-shaped side edges
109 adjacent slots 110 of the fixture legs 104 readily straddle and
fit over plates 52 of the pallet 10 so that the plates 52 can be
said to guide the fixture into its proper interlocking and nesting
relationship relative to pallet 10. The legs 104 of fixture 22 are
of sufficient length whereby the surface 102 of fixture 22 readily
clears the top of floor pads 16.
As illustrated in FIG. 6 a pallet attachment 22 can be lowered and
interlocked to a pallet 10 without disturbing the load 24 on the
attachment. After interlocking the attachment 22 with or without a
load to a pallet 10 opposed belt devices 20 can be drawn about the
interlocked attachment and pallet and the load thereby securely
anchoring all of the various elements together. When attachment or
fixture 22 is removably interlocked to the main pallet 10 the upper
apex edge of a support pad 16 is preferably disposed in supporting
engagement with opposed underneath web portions of floor 22 as
indicated at 122 in FIG. 4.
Because of the support pads being offset inwardly from the outer
ends of a pallet and because a load 12 or 24 on pallet 10 usually
has a length or width normally less than the overall length or
width of pallet 10 the likelihood of a load being injured or
damaged iS for all practical purposes effectively prevented during
normal use and handling of pallet 10 with or without the attachment
22 being in place. The pallet 10 with or without attachment 22 is
of such a design whereby it can be handled by all types of cargo
handling equipment presently in use and ranging from lift trucks,
to cargo slings and booms on vessels. A pallet load itself or the
entire top of the load and pallet can be fully covered with other
types of packaging or wrapping materials, fOr instance, a heat
shrink fitted plastic wrapping (not shown) disposed about the top
of pallet 10 and load thereon besides the loosely fitting bag
26.
The simple convertibility of the returnable type pallet of the
invention from a cradle loader to a flat surfaced loader means that
all types of cargo can be handled regardless of whether the
returnable pallet is moving from the original shipper to a buyer or
vice versa.
Finally, pallet 10 with or without attachment 22 and/or load
thereon is capable of being handled from one transportation mode to
another, e.g., from truck trailer to rail car, etc. as the pallet
is shipped between shipping points. The instant fixture could be
used as an airborne pallet and in this instance may be made of
lightweight metal such as aluminum alloy.
Advantageous embodiments of the invention have been shown and
described and it is obvious that various changes and modifications
can be made therein without departing from the appended claims,
wherein:
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