Pallet support leg including semi-circular flange blades

• US 5,367,961 A
• Filed: 10/28/1992
• Issued: 11/29/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Arai, Hiroshi, Clifford B. Hewson, John W. Hartloff
• Original Assignee: Arai, Hiroshi, Clifford B. Hewson, John W. Hartloff
• Inventors: Arai, Hiroshi, Hewson, Clifford B., Hartloff, John W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Crowder, Clifford D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Izaguirre, Ismael
• Application Number:
  US07/968,085
• Time in Patent Office: 762 Days
• Field of Search: 108/51.1, 108/56.1, 108/56.3, 248/188, 248/188.1, 206/326, 206/599, 206/600
• US Class Current: 108/56.3
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 19/0012 forming a continuous plane contact surface
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 19/0028 and each contact surface having a discrete foot-like shape
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 19/40 Elements for spacing platforms from supporting surface
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00069 Plastic
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00104 Plastic
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00273 made of more than one piece
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00288 made of one piece
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00318 made of one piece
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00323 made of more than one piece
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00338 contact surface having a discrete foot-like shape
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00343 contact surface being substantially in the form of a panel
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00378 whereby at least one spacer is made of two or more pieces
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00567 mechanical connection, e.g. snap-fitted
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/008 Drainage means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 108/901 Synthetic plastic industrial platform, e.g. pallet

Abstract

A pallet support leg having a first short, hollow columnar member with a lower base portion which is indented to form a second hollow columnar member. The second member protrudes upwardly within the first member by no more than about one-third the height of the first member. A circular flange protrudes outwardly from and encircles an upper portion of the first member to support the underside of a sheet of pallet material. At least one semi-circular flange or blade protrudes outwardly from the first member, above the circular flange, and extends around a radial segment of the first member to engage the upper surface of the pallet material, sandwiching the pallet material between the two flanges or between the blades and the circular flange. A first set of support ribs are fixed between the underside of the circular flange and the first member. The ribs are disposed radially around the first member to add structural rigidity to the circular flange.

Claims

1. A pallet support leg, comprising:

(a) a first short, hollow columnar member having a lower base portion indented to form a second hollow columnar member protruding upwardly within said first columnar member by no more than about one-third the height of said first columnar member;

(b) a circular flange protruding outwardly from and encircling an upper portion of said first columnar member;

(c) at least one semi-circular flange protruding outwardly from said first columnar member, above said circular flange and extending around a radial segment of said first columnar member; and

,

(d) a first plurality of support ribs fixed between an underside of said circular flange and said first columnar member, said ribs disposed radially around said first columnar member;

wherein said semi-circular flanges are blades displaced above said circular flange by an amount less than the thickness of a sheet of pallet material to enable penetration of said blades within said sheet of pallet material upon application of a rotational force to said pallet support leg after engagement thereof with said sheet of pallet material.

2. A pallet support leg as defined in claim 1, wherein said second columnar member is shaped to receive a tool for rotating said support leg relative to a sheet of pallet material.

3. A pallet support leg as defined in claim 1, further comprising at least one anti-skid ring on said lower base portion of said first columnar member.

4. A pallet support leg as defined in claim 1, further comprising a second plurality of support ribs fixed between an inner surface of said first columnar member and an outer surface of said second columnar member, said second plurality of ribs disposed radially around said columnar members.

5. A pallet support leg as defined in claim 4, wherein said second columnar member has an apertured upper end.

6. A pallet support leg as defined in claim 5, further comprising a foot member releasably engageable within said apertured upper end of said second columnar member.

7. A pallet support leg as defined in claim 6, wherein said second columnar member makes lateral contact over an extended side portion of said foot member when said foot member is releasably engaged within said second columnar member.

8. A pallet support leg as defined in claim 7, wherein said second columnar member is hexagonally shaped and said side portion of said foot member is circular.

9. A pallet support leg as defined in claim 8, wherein said foot member further comprises:

(a) a third hollow columnar member;

(b) a circular flange protruding outwardly from and encircling a lower portion of said third columnar member; and

,

(c) releasable engaging means on an upper portion of said third columnar member for releasably engaging said third columnar member with said second columnar member.

10. A pallet support leg as defined in claim 9, wherein said circular flange is radially extended to cover about the same cross-sectional area covered by said lower base portion of said first columnar member, said foot member further comprising:

(a) a outwardly sloped outer circumferential edge; and

,

(b) a plurality of concave ribs fixed at radial intervals between opposed internal sides of said edge.

11. A pallet support leg as defined in claim 9, wherein said releasable engaging means comprises at least one snap ring encircling said upper portion of said third columnar member, said snap ring(s) having an outer diameter slightly greater than said aperture diameter, and said third columnar member having an outer diameter slightly less than said aperture diameter.

12. A pallet support leg as defined in claim 11, further comprising a plurality of slots extending through said upper portion of said third columnar member, transversely to said snap ring(s).