TROLLEY AND METHOD FOR MOVING LONG PALLETS

• US 20190322300A1
• Filed: 04/23/2018
• Published: 10/24/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Overhead Door Corporation (Sanwa Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Overhead Door Corporation (Sanwa Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Kuhl, Bruce Kevin, Womack, Samuel T., Kaiser, Kent, Tank, Douglas G., Sautter, Jamye Lee, Pearson, Jordan Ly'Ron, Peterson, Jason
• Granted Patent: US 10,974,749 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 2301/02 comprising wheels for longitudinal travelling and wheels for lateral travelling
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 3/00 Hand carts having more than one axis carrying transport wheels; Steering devices therefor; Equipment therefor convertible from one-axled to two-axled vehicle B62B1/002
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 3/001 Steering devices
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 3/006 for stacking objects like trays, bobbins, chains
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 3/008 having more than two axes
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 3/10 characterised by supports specially adapted to objects of definite shape
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 5/0083 Wheeled supports connected to the transported object

Abstract

A pallet trolley includes: a frame having two ends, the frame defining a longitudinal axis; a handle assembly attached to the frame; a first wheel assembly attached to the frame at one end; and a second wheel assembly attached to the frame at the other end, the first and second wheel assemblies are oriented to allow the pallet trolley to roll in a direction other than parallel to the longitudinal axis of the frame. A method of moving a pallet includes: providing a pallet trolley having first and second wheel assemblies; locating the first and second wheel assemblies under a pallet; lowering the pallet onto the trolley; and moving the pallet on the trolley and a fork truck.

Claims

1. A pallet trolley comprising:

a frame having two ends, the frame defining a longitudinal axis;

a handle assembly attached to the frame;

a first wheel assembly attached to the frame at one end; and

a second wheel assembly attached to the frame at the other end, the first and second wheel assemblies are oriented to allow the pallet trolley to roll in a direction other than parallel to the longitudinal axis of the frame.

2. The pallet trolley of claim 1, wherein the wheel assemblies are oriented to allow the pallet trolley to roll in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the frame.

3. The pallet trolley of claim 1, wherein at least 60% of one wheel assembly is located on one side of the longitudinal axis of the frame and at least 60% of the other wheel assembly is located on the other side of the axis.

4. The pallet trolley of claim 1, wherein each wheel assembly contains at least two wheels.

5. The pallet trolley of claim 1, further comprising a support plate attached to each wheel assembly.

6. The pallet trolley of claim 5, wherein the support plates are located higher than the frame such that a load placed on the trolley contacts the support plates before the frame.

7. The pallet trolley of claim 5, wherein the support plates have substantially smooth upper surface.

8. The pallet trolley of claim 5, further comprising gripping projections located on at least one of the support plates.

9. The pallet trolley of claim 5, wherein at least 60% of a surface area of at least one support plate is located to one side of the longitudinal axis of the frame.

10. The pallet trolley of claim 1, wherein the frame is made of a tubular portion and a flat portion attached to the tubular portion.

11. The pallet trolley of claim 1, wherein the handle assembly includes a T-bar attached to an upright member.

12. The pallet trolley of claim 11, further comprising an attaching plate connected to the upright member.

13. The pallet trolley of claim 12, further comprising fasteners connecting the attaching plate to the frame.

14. The pallet trolley of claim 11, further comprising resilient grips attached to the T-bar.

15. A pallet trolley comprising:

a frame having two ends, the frame defining a longitudinal axis;

a handle assembly attached to the frame;

a first wheel assembly attached to the frame at one end;

a second wheel assembly attached to the frame at the other end, the first and second wheel assemblies are oriented to allow the pallet trolley to roll in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the frame; and

a first and second support plate located over the first and second wheel assemblies respectively.

16. The pallet trolley of claim 15, wherein more than 70% at least one wheel assembly is located off to one side of the longitudinal axis of the frame.

17. The pallet trolley of claim 15, wherein more than 80% of the surface area of at least one of the support plates is located off to one side of the longitudinal axis of the frame.

18. The pallet trolley of claim 15, further comprising gripping projections located on at least one support plate.

19. A method of moving a pallet comprising:

providing a pallet trolley having;

a frame having two ends, the frame defining a longitudinal axis;

a handle assembly attached to the frame;

a first wheel assembly attached to the frame at one end;

a second wheel assembly attached to the frame at the other end, the first and second wheel assemblies are oriented to allow the pallet trolley to roll in a direction other than parallel to the longitudinal axis of the frame;

locating the first and second wheel assemblies under a pallet;

lowering the pallet onto the trolley; and

moving the pallet on the trolley and a fork truck.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising engaging the pallet with gripping projections projecting out of a support surface of the wheel assemblies.