Industrial pallet having upward extending support posts and locking means

• US 4,901,650 A
• Filed: 07/06/1989
• Issued: 02/20/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Richard L. Armstead
• Original Assignee: Richard L. Armstead
• Inventors: Armstead, Richard L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dorner, Kenneth J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chen, Jose V.
• Application Number:
  US07/376,975
• Time in Patent Office: 229 Days
• Field of Search: 108/55.1, 108/55.3, 108/55.5, 108/53.1, 108/53.3, 108/53.5, 108/56.1, 211/207, 211/186, 211/188, 211/189, 211/190
• US Class Current: 108/55.1
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 19/08 made wholly or mainly of metal
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00029 Wood
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00059 Metal
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00164 Metal
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00288 made of one piece
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00333 contact surface having a stringer-like shape
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00502 whereby at least one side wall is made of two or more pieces
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00532 Frame structures
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00631 sidewalls not connected to each other, e.g. spaced apart frames
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00666 Structures not intended to be disassembled
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00815 on the pallet
• CPC Class Codes: E04G 5/00 Component parts or accessories for scaffolds connections E04G7/00
• CPC Class Codes: E04G 5/004 Storage and transport racks for scaffolding components

Abstract

An industrial pallet is constructed and arranged to support a vertical stack of scaffold end frames on the pallet'"'"'s rectangular, horizontal support platform. Upwardly extending channel-iron members are rigidly secured adjacent the back edge and the two side edges of the platform. These channel-iron members define an open-front cavity for receiving the end frames as they are manually inserted onto the platform from the front edge thereof. Horizontal hand-rail/brace members extend between the side disposed channel-iron members, to form both hand rails and a platform for supporting tube-shaped scaffold cross members that are used with the scaffold end frames when constructing a scaffold. Two vertically extending, removable, locking rods fit into sockets carried by the platform. When these locking rods are manually inserted into the platform sockets, the rods penetrate interior spaces of the stacked scaffold end frames. The upper ends of the locking rods are disposed to cooperate with locking links that are pivotally attached to the rear disposed channel-iron members. The locking links can be padlocked in place on the upper ends of the locking rods, to prevent unauthorized removal of the scaffold end frames. The bottom of the platform includes pallet support feet constructed and arranged to cooperate with the lifting members of a fork lift truck.

Claims

1. An industrial pallet having a multi-function load supporting structure extending upward from a generally horizontal load-bearing platform, comprising,

a generally rectangular, horizontal, load bearing platform member having a front edge, a back edge and two side edges which define the four corners of said platform member, said platform member being adapted to support a first load thereon,

a first pair of rigid, vertically extending, load bearing posts mounted to said platform member adjacent to one of said side edges and spaced from the corners of said platform member,

a second pair of rigid, vertically extending, load bearing posts mounted to said platform member adjacent to the other of said side edges and spaced fom the corners of said platform member,

a third pair of rigid, vertically extending load bearing posts mounted to said platform member adjacent to said rear edge and spaced from the corners of said platform member,

a first, generally horizontal, load bearing brace member extending between said first pair of posts, and

a second, generally horizontal, load bearing brace member extending between said second pair of posts,

said first and second load bearing brace members defining a generally horizontal plane on which a second load that spans the distance between said brace members may be supported.

2. An industrial pallet having a multi-function load supporting structure extending upward from a generally horizontal load-bearing platform, comprising,

a generally rectangular, horizontal, load bearing platform member having a front edge, a back edge and two side edges, said platform member being adapted to support a first load thereon,

a first pair of rigid, vertically extending, load bearing posts mounted to said platform member adjacent to one of said sides edges,

a second pair of rigid, vertically extending, load bearing posts mounted to said platform member adjacent to the other of said sides edges,

a third pair of rigid, vertically extending, load bearing posts mounted to said platform member adjacent to said rear edge,

a first, generally horizontal, load bearing brace member extending between said first pair of posts,

a second, generally horizontal, load bearing brace member extending between said second pair of posts,

said first and second load bearing brace members defining a generally horizontal plane on which a second load that spans the distance between said brace members may be supported,

a socket member located in said platform member adjacent to one of said load bearing posts,

a link having a first end portion pivoted to said one load bearing post adjacent the upper end thereof, and having a second end portion,

a manually removable locking rod extending vertically between said socket member and the second end portion of said link, and

lock means cooperating with said link for non-removably securing said locking rod between said socket member and the second end portion of said link.

3. The pallet of claim 2 including a third generally horizontal brace member extending between said third pair of posts, and

a fourth and a fifth generally horizontal, right angle brace member extending respectively between one of said third pair of posts and the adjacent one of said first and second pair of posts.

4. A pallet adapted for the support of a vertical stack of scaffold end frames, cross members, and planking from which a scaffold may be constructed, the pallet facilitating storage, transportation, and the like of the scaffold end frames, cross members and planking, the pallet comprising,

a rectangular, metallic platform member defining a first horizontal, rectangular planar area, said platform member having;

a front edge portion over which scaffold end frames are adapted to be inserted, as the end frames are stacked on said platform member one at a time,

a rear edge portion, and

two side edge portions,

a first pair of vertical, metallic posts mounted to said platform member adjacent one side edge portion thereof to assist in stacking of end frames on said platform member,

a second pair of vertical, metallic posts mounted to said platform member adjacent the other side edge portion thereof to assist in stacking of end frames on said platform member,

a third pair of vertical, metallic posts mounted to said platform member adjacent the rear edge portion thereof to assist in stacking of end frames on said platform member,

horizontal, metallic bracing members mounted between each of said pairs of posts to provide a second storage plane that is spaced vertically above and parallel to said platform member, said second storage plane being adapted to receive scaffold cross members and/or scaffold planking,

a closed bottom, open top socket member mounted in said platform member

at a location in general alignment with one of said posts,

a metallic locking rod having the lower end thereof received by said socket means, and

means for selectively securing the upper end of said locking rod to said one post.

5. A pallet adapted for the support of a vertical stack of scaffold end frames, cross members, and planking from which a scaffold may be constructed, the pallet facilitating storage, transportation, and the like of the scaffold end frames, cross members and planking, the pallet comprising,

a rectangular, metallic platform member defining a first horizontal, rectangular planar area, said platform member having, a front edge portion over which scaffold end frames are adapted to be inserted, as the end frames are stacked on said platform member one at a time, a rear edge portion, and two side edge portions.

a first pair of vertical, metallic posts mounted to said platform member adjacent one side edge portion thereof to assist in stacking of end frames on said platform member,

a second pair of vertical, metallic posts mounted to said platform member adjacent the other side edge portion thereof to assist in stacking of end frames on said platform member,

a third pair of vertical, metallic posts mounted to said platform:

member adjacent the rear edge portion thereof to assist in stacking of end frames on said platform member,

horizontal, metallic bracing members mounted between each of said pairs of posts to provide a second storage plane that is spaced vertically above and parallel to said platform member, said second storage plane being adapted to receive scaffold cross members and/or scaffold planking,

a closed bottom, open top socket member mounted in said platform member in general alignment with one of said posts,

a metallic locking rod having the lower end thereof received by said socket member, and

a link pivotally mounted to the upper end portion of said one post, said link including a cup portion adjacent the free end thereof, such that said link may be pivoted to capture the top end of said locking rod in the cup portion thereof.

6. The pallet of claim 5 including locking means selectively operable to lock said link in association with the upper end of said locking rod.