Method for manufacturing loading platforms with replaceable feet, and platform manufactured with said procedure

• US 5,830,299 A
• Filed: 01/13/1997
• Issued: 11/03/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Videcart SA (Abelan San Andres SL)
• Original Assignee: Videcart SA (Abelan San Andres SL)
• Inventors: Amaya Mele, Leopoldo, Teixidor Casanovas, Jaime
• Primary Examiner(s): Ball, Michael W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tolin, Michael A
• Application Number:
  US08/782,332
• Time in Patent Office: 659 Days
• Field of Search: 108/53.3, 108/56.3, 156/228, 156/313, 156/70, 156/292, 156/297, 156/306.6
• US Class Current: 156/70
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 19/0002 Platforms, i.e. load supporting devices without provision for handling by a forklift
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 19/40 Elements for spacing platforms from supporting surface

Abstract

Over a work bench provided with cavities is deposited a first layer with holes which coincide with the cavities. Feet are then installed having respective peripheral lugs with an interruption that coincides with a notch in each hole. The feet are lodged partially within the cavities, being supported by lugs having a diameter greater than that of the holes. Over layer is then deposited a second layer, glued on both faces and having holes of a diameter corresponding to that of the lugs. Over layer a third layer is installed, fitted with holes equivalent to holes. The assembly is compressed in a press to obtain a platform with incorporated feet. Several platforms may be obtained by orderly placing their respective layers and intercalating the feet, in a manner that, during manufacture, said feet are inserted in the feet of the platform located immediately below.

Claims

1. Method for manufacturing loading platforms fitted with replaceable feet and comprising one or more mutually bonded layers, each layer having evenly distributed openings, the openings in each layer coinciding with those of the remaining layers in which respective feet are dismountably incorporated, said feet being hollow and open on their upper face, the width of said feet decreases toward a lower floor supporting base, each foot being provided with a peripheral lug fitted with an interruption having two opposite slanting edges in the form of ramps designed to facilitate their insertion into and removal from an internal space located between two layers forming the platform through a notch provided in the openings of a lower layer located on the lower face of the platform, thereby enabling insertion and removal of the lug of the corresponding foot;

the openings of an intermediate layer of the platform being larger than although similar to the openings of the lower and upper layers, thus allowing for the formation of the above mentioned internal space;

the method comprising the steps of;

placing a first layer with its corresponding openings already die cut on a work bench in the form of a supporting block which is fitted with cavities coinciding with the layer openings of the intended platform layers, said platform having a width and depth permitting the insertion of platform feet, the peripheral lug of said feet constituting a feet insertion stopping means by abutment against the first layer;

bonding a second layer onto the first layer, said openings in said second layer coinciding with those of the first layer;

the second layer opening contour being equivalent to that of the radial lugs in said feet, said radial lugs on said feet having substantially the same thickness as said second layer;

bonding at least a third layer onto the second layer, said openings in said third layer coinciding with those of said first and second layers;

the third layer openings being equivalent to those of the first layer; and

pressing the assembly of said first, second and third layers and feet in order to consolidate adhesive between said first, second and third layers, the peripheral lugs in the feet thereby remaining at the height of said second layer, trapped between said first and third layers.

2. Method for manufacturing loading platforms fitted with replaceable feet, according to claim 1, characterized in that, once the layers are superimposed and bonded, the feet being incorporated in the corresponding openings which constitute a platform, the same procedure is repeated by piling up subsequent groups of layers with their corresponding feet inserted in the feet of the platform located immediately below, the group assembly being submitted to the action of a press that consolidates the bonding of each platform'"'"'s bonded layers.

3. Method for manufacturing loading platforms fitted with replaceable feet, according to claims 1, characterized in that, upon placing the platform feet between the corresponding layers during the manufacturing process, the interruption of its peripheral lug is made to coincide with notch in opening corresponding to lower layer.

4. Loading platform manufactured by the method according to claim 1, characterized in that each foot comprises on its side surface a plurality of reinforcement nerves formed as from said side surface.

5. Loading platform according to claim 4, characterized in that the feet have an elliptical cross-sectional shape and have a plurality of undulations which define the reinforcement nerves.

6. Loading platform according to claim 4, characterized in that the feet have an oblong cross-sectional shape, said shape being defined by two semi-circumferences linked by respective straight portions, a plurality of undulations defining the reinforcement nerves.

7. Loading platform according to claim 4, characterized in that the feet comprise a radial lug having a U-shaped contour, the smaller side of the lug comprising a beveled edge, the lug being interrupted in its opposite side and its ends forming a ramp.

8. Method for manufacturing loading platforms fitted with replaceable feet, according to claim 2, characterized in that, upon placing the platform feet between the corresponding layers during the manufacturing process, the interruption of its peripheral lug is made to coincide with notch in opening corresponding to lower layer.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said layers are made of cardboard.

10. Method for manufacturing a loading platform with removable feet, comprising the steps of:

placing a first layer of material having openings on a work bench having cavities coinciding with said openings,

inserting feet into said openings in said first layer, each of said feet having a peripheral lug having two opposed slanting edges in the form of ramps defining an interruption therebetween, said feet being inserted into said openings until said lugs abut against said first layer,

bonding a second layer of material having openings to said first layer, said openings in said second layer coinciding with said openings in said first layer and corresponding to the shape of said lugs, said lugs having substantially the same thickness as said second layer,

bonding a third layer of material having openings to said second layer, said openings in said third layer coinciding with said openings in said second layer and corresponding to the shape of said openings in said first layer, and

pressing the assembly of said first, second and third layers and feet to thereby form a platform whereby said lugs remain at the height of said second layer between said first and third layers,

wherein said openings in said first layer of material are provided with notches to enable insertion and removal of said feet from spaces defined between said first and third layers.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said first, second and third layers are made of cardboard.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of:

forming said first, second and third layers of material with uniformly distributed openings.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein said cavities in said work bench and said openings in said first layer of material are circular, further comprising the step of:

dimensioning said cavities in said work bench and said openings in said first layer of material to have a substantially equivalent diameter.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein said feet have a truncated, conical shape and are hollow such that said feet have an open upper base.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of:

positioning each of said lugs adjacent said open upper base of a respective one of said feet.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein said feet and said lugs are circular and said lugs have a diameter greater than a diameter of a respective one of said feet.

17. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of:

applying adhesive to both faces of said second layer of material such that when pressed, said second layer adhesively bonds to said first and third layers.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein said feet are inserted into said openings in said first layer of material such that said interruption of said lugs coincides with said notch in a respective one of said openings in said first layer.

19. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of:

after pressing the assembly of said first, second, third layers and said feet,

forming another platform by placing a first layer of material having openings on the previously formed platform, and continuing with the insertion of feet into said openings, the bonding of second and third layers of material and pressing the assembly in order to form the another platform.