US3364883A - Stacking frame assembly for a pallet - Google Patents

Description

Jan 23, 1968 G. Q. EVANS 3,364,833

STACKING FRAME ASSEMBLY FOR A PALLET 7 Filed Sept. e, 1966 Ill r0. 2.

fNvs/vra/e. 050265 (7. Eva/vs United States Patent Ofilice 3364M Patented Jan. 23, 1968 3,364,883 STACKING FRAME ASSEMBLY FOR A PALLET George Q. Evans, 204 S. Locust St., Compton, Calif. 90221 Continuation-impart of application Ser. No. 482,756, Aug. 26, 1965. This application Sept. 6, 1966, Ser. No. 577,361

6 Claims. (Cl. 108-53) ABSTRACT OF Ti-lE DISCLOSURE A stacking frame assembly for a pallet including two generally identical mating structures including a locking plate and engagement means on each plate adapted to interlock with each other and retain the mating structures securely together against perpendicular or horizontal separation in any transverse plane. The engagement means includes a slot and a headed pin transversely spaced from the slot on each structure, and the slot in one plate being generally opposite the pin on the other plate. The stacking frame structures also include foot bracket means for detachably securing the stacking frame assembly to a pallet when the structures are interlocked.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my patent application Ser. No. 482,756, now United States Patent No. 3,289,613, issued Dec. 6, 1966, and reissue application Ser. No. 641,721, filed Apr. 21, 1967. It relates to a frame assembly adapted to be used when stacking pallets and more particularly to a stacking frame assembly which may be disassembled into separate halves to facilitate storage and transit, yet can be quickly assembled without tools into a structure which detachably engages the periphery of a pallet to provide a solid support frame for tiering pallets.

In transporting and storing articles by means of fork lift trucks it is conventional to use pallets adapted to be lifted by the fork lift trucks and that include a platform upon which the articles are carried. Since often these pallets loaded with articles are tier stacked to conserve space the articles must be stacked evenly and be sufficiently strong to withstand the weight of additional loaded tiers of pallets. When the articles being stacked are of irregular size or fragile packaging then it is necessary to provide a supplementary frame assembly structure around the pallet in order to permit tiering. Such frame assemblies should be sturdy enough to rigidly support heavy loads, yet light enough to be easily attached to a pallet and preferably quickly disassembled when not in use for convenient storage. The structures prior to my invention sacrificed one or more of these preferred fea tures so as to provide compromise frame assemblies interior in at least some respects to the most desirable form.

Therefore, it is the primary object of this invention to provide a frame assembly for stacking pallets which is sturdy, easy to engage with a pallet and detach therefrom and which can be quickly disassembled for storage.

Another object of this invention is to provide a stacking frame assembly for pallets which is resiliently engageable with and detachable from a pallet and which can be quickly disassembled by moving its separate parts in a different direction from the resilient pressure of the assembly when engaged with a pallet.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a stacking frame assembly comprised of a pair of mating structures which are quickly locked together by rotary movement into an assembly having members resiliently attachable to a pallet by movement substantially normal to the rotary movement by which the mating structures are engaged together so as to rigidify the assembly when engaged with a pallet.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description and by reference to the drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of a stacking frame-assembly in accordance with this invention secured in operative position to a pallet;

FIGURE 2 is a horizontally sectioned view of the interconnection between the mating portions of the stacking frame assembly;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical section taken through line 33 in FIGURE 2 showing the mating rivets and holes in locked position;

FIGURE 4 is a vertical section similar to FIGURE 3 showing the mating rivets and holes turned to the unlocked position;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of one of the mating halves of the stacking frame assembly; and

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of the details of a foot bracket used in the assembly.

Briefly, a stacking frame assembly in accordance with this invention includes a pair of generally identical mating structures, each of which include normally vertically positioned, laterally resilient, leg portions interconnected at their upper ends by arm portions normal to the leg sections and parallel to a pallet when engaged therewith. The separate mating structures comprising the stacking frame assembly are locked together by engaging attachment means secured to the end of the arm portions which are remote from the interconnected leg portions. The attachment means between the mating structures is adapted to operate by rotary movement normal to the lateral resilient movement of the leg portions and the engagement of the leg portions with a pallet is by brackets at the lower ends thereof which require lateral springing of the leg portions. Thus, the engagement of a stacking frame assembly with a pallet is by movement substantially normal to the locking of the separate parts thereof together which serves to rigidify the entire assembly and prevent detachment of the separate parts without first disengaging the assembly from a pallet to which it may be secured.

Referring to the drawings the stacking frame assembly generally designated 10 is mounted on aconventional pallet 12 of the type which are designed to be lifted by fork trucks. Thestacking frame assembly 10 provides a structure which, when mounted on apallet 12, will allow tiering of additional pallets and stacking frame assemblies spaced in such a manner that merchandise on the pallets will not be crushed.

Pallet 12 is comprised ofparallel stringers 14 secured between anupper platform 16 and an identicallower platform 16 and an identicallower platform 18. These platforms may be made of any suitable material such as sheet plywood or, as illustrated in the drawings, spaced parallel boards or slates. Normally both the upper and the lower platform have peripheral surfaces flush with the outer side faces of the twooutside stringers 14 to which they are secured. The ends ofstringers 14 are also generally cut off flush with the peripheral surfaces of the platforms.

Thestacking frame assembly 10 is comprised of two generally identical mating structures 10a and 1012, each of which include a pair of generally parallelindependent leg sections 20 which are longitudinally rigid and laterally resilient. Theleg sections 20 have secured at theirlower ends 20a foot members orbrackets 22 and at their upper ends20b arm sections 24, the latter of which are disposed in a plane generally normal to theleg section 20 to which they are councted. Thearm sections 24 are secured at theirouter ends 24a to the upper ends 20b of theleg sections 20 by welding or any suitable means. Preferably theleg sections 20 are inclined inwardly about 2 from the perpendicular relative to the plane of the attachedarm sections 24 so that when they are laterally sprung outward to engage apallet 12 they will assume a substantially normal relationship thereto.

Thearm sections 24 of each half of the stacking frame assembly are diagonally angled inwardly toward a centrally positionedflat locking plate 26 which is secured to theinner ends 24b of thearm sections 24 so as to interconnectarm sections 24 in each half of the asembly 10 together. Supplementary support between theinner ends 24b are provided bytransverse bars 27. Thelocking plates 26 each have face portions 26a which are disposed in a plane normal to the pair ofarm sections 24 to which they are respectively secured and parallel with the plane in which both of theleg sections 20 lie. Theselocking plates 26 serve as a means for detachably securing the mating structures 10a and 10b of theassembly 10 together through rotary motion in the plane of theplates 26.

Each of thelocking plates 26 preferably has a rivet or headedpin 28 perpendicularly protruding from the face portion 26a of theplate 26 which is the portion remote from the interconnectedarm sections 24. Therivets 28 are formed with an enlargedrounded head 28a and a reducedcircular shank 28b which is slightly longer than the width of aplate 26.

laterally spaced from each of therivets 28 in thelocking plates 26 are rivet holes orslots 30 which extend through theplates 26 and are adapted to receive therivets 28 from the mating structures 1011 or 10b of theassembly 10. Thus, the rivet holes orslots 30 are comprised of an enlarged rounded end opening 30a which is larger than thehead 28a of arivet 28 and a reduced interconnected curved elongated opening 30b which is narrower than the diameter of arivet head 28a but wider than the diameter of arivet shank 28b. The elongated opening 30b terminates in a rivet seating end 300 which is in a plane tangential to the periphery of theshank 28b of therivet 28 which is thesame locking plate 26 and which is parallel to the plane of thearm sections 24. The curvature of theelongated opening 30b is defined by a portion of the arc of a circle, the middle of which is centered on the axis ofrivet 28.

The particular relative shape and configuration of therivets 28 and therivet holes 30 hereinbefore described are specifically constructed so that the mating structures 10a and 10b of thestacking frame assembly 10 may be securely locked together. Thus, during assembly the face portions 26a of thelocking plates 26 of each of the structures 10a and 10b are placed flush against each other and rotated in the plane of theplates 26 so that thehead 28a of eachrivet 28 protrudes through the opening 30a in thecomplementary locking plate 26 as best viewed in FIG- URE 4. Then the structures 10a and 10b are rotated in the plane of theplates 20 so that theshanks 28b are moved through theelongated opening 30b to its rivet seating end 300 as shown in FIGURE 3. At this point therespective plates 26 and their mating structures 10a and 10b are locked together so as to solidly resist unlocking save by reverse rotation in the plane ofplates 26 since the length ofshanks 28b of therivets 28 are only slightly greater than the thickness of aplate 26. That is, theinterior surface 280 of therivet heads 28a will bear firmly against theinside surface 26b of theplates 26. Also, since the rivet seating end 300 of thehole 30 is in a plane which is parallel to the connectedarm sections 24 and passes tangentially through the periphery of therivet shank 28b which is in thesame locking plate 26, thearm sections 24 in both halves 10a and 1012 will be in the same plane. It will be seen that when the complementary mating halves 10a and 10b are locked together anassembly 10 is formed wherein thearm sections 24 are disposed diagonally across the top of theassembly 10 to form a solid upper supporting surface in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of apallet 12 when it is secured in thefoot brackets 22 of theassembly 10.

When the complementary mating halves 10a and 10b of thestacking frame assembly 10 are locked together it is ready to be mounted on apallet 12. This is accomplished by springing thefoot brackets 22 on the lower ends 20a of theleg sections 20 outward away from the lockingplates 26 and then positioning theassembly 10 so that thefoot brackets 22 snap into engagement with each of the corners of apallet 12 by fitting around the ends of theoutside stringers 14.

Thefoot brackets 22 may be specifically constructed so as to be able to detachably, but securely engage the periphery of apallet 12 as more fully described in my co-pending patent application now US. Patent No. 3,289,613, issued Dec. 6, 1966, and reissue application, Ser. No. 641,721, filed Apr. 21, 1967. They are formed into an inverted L-shaped structure which includes a flatbase orhorizontal plate 32 having a top surface 32a, a bottom surface 32b and a leg orvertical plate 34 depending downwardly from and generally normal to thehorizontal plate 32. Thevertical plate 34 terminates in anend 34a generally parallel to thehorizontal plate 32. Protruding normally from thevertical plate 34 is awing 36 which extends outwardly and has alower edge 36a in the same plane as theend 34a ofvertical plate 34. Thewing 36 extends up wardly from saidedge 36a. Aflange 38 is bent inwardly from thewing 36 and is generally parallel to thevertical plate 34 and terminates at its upper edge 38b in spaced relation to saidbase 32 the space being slightly greater than the thickness of theplatform 16.

The inner width of thewing 36 is slightly greater than the thickness of astringer 14.

Thus, in use,foot brackets 22 are disposed on thetop surface 40 ofupper platform 16 so that the bottom surface 32b ofhorizontal plate 32 will bear against it and theWing 36 bears against the end of a stringer, which is generally flush with the marginal edges of the platform. The side portions ofstringer 14 will be securely engaged and disposed betweenvertical plate 34,Wing 36 andflange 38 and substantially all of the stringer immediately adjacent the point of engagement withfoot bracket 22 will be protectively covered by the bracket. Hence, a tight secure fit will be provided by afoot bracket 22 both on the top and around the adjacent end of thestringer 14. p

The upper edge 38b of theflange 38 will serve as a stop to prevent thefoot bracket 22 from becoming vertically disengaged frompallet 12.

And it will be observed that the resilient attachment of thefoot brackets 22 on apallet 12 puts tension on the assembled stackingframe assembly 10 in a direction substantially normal to the plane in which the separate halves 10a and 10b are rotated when locked or unlocked together. Thus, a rigidified structure is formed which is substantially as solid in all respects as a single piece stackingframe assembly 18. It can, in turn, be quickly and easily disassembled for storage, but only when it is disengaged from a pallet.

While afoot bracket 22 has been illustrated and described in detail it should be realized that the interlocking feature of the stacking rack assembly is the primary subject matter of this invention and any type of demountable foot brackets may be utilized without departing from the spirit of the invention. 3

Although I have herein shown and described my invention in what I have conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognized that depar tures may be made therefrom within the scope of my invention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent structures and devices.

I claim:

1. A stacking frame assembly for mounting on a pallet comprising: two generally identical mating structures each of which includes a pair of laterally resilient and longitudinally rigid generally vertical spaced apart leg sections having upper and lower ends, foot brackets ecured to said lower ends and adapted to be detachably and resiliently secured to the pallet when said leg sections are substantially perpendicular thereto by lateral springing movement of said leg sections, generally horizontal arm sections having outer and inner ends, the outer ends being secured to the upper ends of said leg sections and the arm sections extending diagonally inwardly toward each other in a plane substantially normal to said leg sections, and a locking plate rigidly interconnecting the inner ends of said arm sections, said locking plate of one structure including engagement means adapted to interlock with the engagement means of the locking plate of the other structure, said engagement means including a slot and a headed pin transversely spaced from the slot, the slot in one plate being generally opposite the pin on the other plate and formed with one portion of suflicient diameter to receive the head of the pin and another portion with a width smaller than the head of the pin, whereby the two plates are interlocked by a first mutual advance to pass the pin heads through the slots followed by an opposite relative rotary motion, and the interlocked engagement means retaining the mating structures securely together against perpendicular or horizontal separation in any transverse plane, and the lateral springing of the leg sections when the foot brackets thereof are engaged with a pallet contributing rigidity to said stacking frame assernbly.

2. A stacking frame assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein the foot brackets each comprise a generally L- shaped inverted section of flat rigid material, the base of the inverted L-shaped section comprising a horizontal plate adapted to seat on top of a pallet and the leg of the inverted L comprising a vertical plate adapted to bear against the marginal edge of said pallet and a vertical fiat wing which extends from and normal to said vertical plate, a vertical flange extending from said wing at an angle thereto and having an upper straight edge spaced downwardly from the bottom of said horizontal plate a distance slightly greater than the thickness of the pallet platform whereby said platform may be frictionally held between said wing and said flange and engaged against the bottom of said horizontal plate.

3. A stacking frame assembly for mounting on a pallet as defined in claim 1 wherein said headed pin includes an enlarged head portion and a shank portion having a diameter less than said head portion, and said shank being of a length slightly greater than the thickness of said locking plate.

4. A stacking frame assembly for mounting on a pallet as defined in claim 1 wherein said slot portion formed with a Width smaller than the head of the pin is a curved elongated opening with a stop therein providing pin seating pin seating means remote from said slot portion of sufficient diameter to receive the head of said pin, said pin seating means arresting the opposite relative rotation of the plates at a predetermined position.

5. A stacking frame assembly for mounting on a pallet as defined in claim 4 wherein the stop is a closed end of the slot.

6. A stacking frame assembly for mounting on a pallet comprising: two generally vertical mating structures each of which includes a pair of laterally resilient longitudinally rigid generally vertical spaced apart leg sections having upper and lower ends, foot brackets secured to said lower ends and adapted to be detachably and resiliently secured to the pallet when said leg sections are substantially perpendicular thereto by lateral springing movement of said leg sections, generally horizontal arm sections having outer and inner ends, the outer ends being secured to the upper ends of said leg sections and the arm section-s extending diagonally inwardly toward each other in a plane substantially normal to said leg sections, and a locking plate rigidly interconnecting the inner ends of said arm sections, said locking plate of one structure including engagement means adapted to interlock with the engagement means of the locking plate of the other structure, said engagement means including a slot and a headed pin transversely spaced from the slot and having an enlarged head portion and a shank portion of a diameter less than said head portion; the slot in one plate being generally opposite the pin on the other plate, and formed with one portion of a diameter greater than the enlarged head portion to receive the head of the pin and a curved elongated opening with a width slightly larger than the shank portion of said headed pin, said curved elongated opening including a closed end of the slot forming pin seating means remote from said enlarged slot portion, whereby the two plates are interlocked by a first mutual advance to pass the enlarged head of the pin through the enlarged portion of the slots followed by a opposite relative rotary motion which will be arrested when said shank moving in said curved elongated slot engages said pin seating means thereby preventing further opposite relative rotation of said plates, and the interlocked engagement means retaining the mating structures securely together against perpendicular or horizontal separation in any transverse plane, and the lateral springing of the leg sections when the foot brackets thereof are engaged with a pallet contributing rigidity to said stacking frame assembly.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,520,520 12/1924 Thompson l08153 2,953,340 9/1960 Skubie 10853 3,114,339 12/1963 Baylink 108-53 3,289,613 12/1966 Evans 10853 3,257,974 6/1966 McMasters 108-53 3,313,248 4/1967 Baylink 108-53 FOREIGN PATENTS 580,762 8/1959 Canada. 621,532 6/1961 Canada.

BOBBY R. GAY, Primary Examiner.

GLENN O. FINCH, Assistant Examiner.

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