US2818972A - Pallet and skid reinforcement - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 7, 1958 PQEQcLAus PALLET AND SKID REINFORCEMENT Filed July 27, 1953 JNVENToR. PAUL E. CLAUS HUM/ufr "zgssisiz y Y PALLET AND sKm RElNFoRcElvrEN'r Paul E. `Claus, Kirkivodflllo., aissilghor, 'by mesnefas- Asigmnents, to'Croyvn Zellerbachfoi'portion, San Francisco, Calif., a coxpbrationf Nevada 'Appiieation July 27, 195s,`seria1 No. 370,403

11 clarin fouillis- 4" invention appertains to asupport'for a shipping container and more `particularly toa supp-ort forla receptacle for` relatively'heavy articles *positioned upon aski'd Vmember havingl portionsinsidethe receptacle 'and other portions exteriorally of thev receptacle. p

A common method. of shipping relatively heavy, 'bulky `articles is to place theitemto be supported, upona rigid, heavy-duty framefor'support and then position.`a"re1a tively light, open bottom containersbdy over the contents and the supporting member. Still another inethod of shipping articles of this Vtype is to `place the'itemupon a supporting frame and l'place both within -"a closed container. p

In many applicationspsuch as the `shipping of consumer items, including stoves,refrigerators*and hotwatcr heaters and the like, itis" important-(to provide every possible protection for the contents. Obviously, the openbottom containerdoescnot provide "protection against moisture, dirt and-other foreign substances.` p y It is alsojdesirableto providefa Asupporting 'member which will elevate thecontents sulicently to permit entry beneath, of `the lifting'elements orffork rticks andthe like. l t is equally app'arentthat the'containeryyhich completely encloses the endend-the article `teunsuitable fo p e with modern lifting equipment. Therefore,"it is anbjectof this invention to provide a completely sealed container for relatively large, heavy articles and means for rigidly supporting the contents and elevating the container to permit entry of lifting elements.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a heavy-duty container for articles of the type described, employing a supporting frame within the container and an elevating skid positioned on the outside of the container, the supporting frame and the elevating skid be ing lrmly connected together through the bottom of the closure of the container. These and other objects of the invention will be apparent upon an understanding of the detailed description which follows.

In the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification, like numerals and symbols refer to like parts wherever they occur.

Fig. l is a side, perspective View of a container em ploying this invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view of the container taken through section 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of a preferred form of a con.- tainer bottom employing this invention;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged, detailed, vertical section of one of the bottom corners of another embodiment of a container employing this invention.

The exterior container A, illustrated in Fig. 1 consists of a body member 11 having vertical side walls 12. Each side wall 12 is provided along its top and bottom edges with foldably connected end marginal aps 13. The container A, which is illustrated, is provided with a top closure member 14 and a similar bottom closure member 15. The top closure member 14 employs a top panel 16 adapted to tit over the upper portion of the body ce Patented Jan. 7, 1958 member 11. The top panel 16 is likewise provided with top sideanges 17 foldably connected along its side margins. Each top"'side flange 17 is provided with a foldably connected top side ap 18.

In a similar manner, the bottom closure member 15 is'provided with a bottom panel 19 having side scores 2l) which dene foldably connected bottom side flanges 21. Intermediate scores 22 define foldably connected bottom Vside ilaps 23. Supporting pieces 24, preferably constructed of`wood or similar rigid material, are placed on the upper,'inner surface of the bottom panel 19. In the embodiment illustrated, the supporting skids 24 are spaced aparta distancesuitable to receive the legs 25 of the `article tobe carried. For purposes of illustration, a hot `water`heater having three supporting legs is illustrated. The supporting skids 24 may be positioned and spaced in any `desired manner so as' to conform with the legs or other supporting "elements ofthe articles to be carried.

ln the embodiment illustrated, the supporting pieces 24 are provided with suitablypositionedopenings 26 to receive the leg members 25. The remaining supporting leg `25 ofthe figures illustrated will rest upon the top of the bottom panel `19as illustrated in Fig. 2. The openings 26"prevent the larticle carried from shifting or otherwise moving within the container during transit.

As most clearly shown in Fig. `2, supporting strips 27 are positionedagainst the .underface of the bottom panel 19.` It is desirable to position the supporting strips '2'7 so that they are directly beneath the supporting legs 25. It is also desirable, if possible, to position the supporting "strips`27 inparallel relation to each other so that spaces or voids, extending the width of the container, are available. As illustrated in Fig.` 3,'it is desirable that at least two of the supporting members 27' are positioned adjacent theopposedouter margins of the bottom panel 19. The supporting skids 24 and the supporting strips 27 may be connected together by fastenings 28 which extend through `the members and the bottom panel 19 at the points. of intersection. Any desired type of fastening device may be used, as long as the skids 24 and the strips 27 are lxed with respect to each other and with respect to the panel 19. It has been found that a standard carriage bolt of suitable length is satisfactory. The bottom assembly is now in position for use.

When the supporting skids 24 and the supporting strips 27 are secured together in the manner described, an extremely sturdy and rigid unit is provided. This occurs because the relatively thin bottom panel is positioned between the members 24 and 27 and firmly held so that it will not bend or deflect. The panel 19 has a great resistance to forces in a horizontal plane, hence, the entire bottom unit is substantially strengthened and rigidized. In this manner an unusual reinforcement is obtained by utilizing a member which also effectively seals the bottom of the container.

The assembly is placed upon any suitable base such as a floor, table or conveyor. The article to be supported is then lowered onto the assembly so that the legs 25 are positioned within the openings 26. The openings 26 of the container is then slipped over the article and downward onto the bottom side flanges 21. The bottom end marginal flaps 13 are then bent substantially vertically upwardly into spaced parallel relationship with the adjacent side walls 12. The bottom side flanges 21 are then folded upwardly about the side scores 20 into substantially ilatwise relation with the vertically positioned bottom end marginal iiaps 13. The bottom side llaps 23 are then bent inwardly and downwardly about" thel intermediate scores 22 into position between the adjacent.

marginal end flaps 13 and the side walls 12 as illustrated in Fig. 2. A steel strap 29 or any other suitable securing means such as wire, rope, etc., is positioned around between the side flanges 21 as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The securing means 29 is then tightened in place. The bottom closure 15 is thus firmly and immovably secured to the body member 11.

The top closure 14 may then be placed upon the upper portion of the body member 11. In a similar manner the end margin flaps 14 are folded downwardly in spaced parallel relation with the adjacent side walls 12, and the top side iianges 17 are then folded downwardly into substantially vertical relation. The top side aps 18 are folded inwardly into interlocking relationship between the previously positioned top end marginal flaps 13 in the adjacent side wall 12. Similarly, a steel strap 29, or other securing means, is tightened in place around the positioned top side ianges, as shown in Fig. l.

The completed container is now packed and ready for shipment. The supporting strips 27 elevate the bottom panel 19 a suicient distance above the supporting surface so as to permit the entry of lifting elements.

Various other types of containers may employ this invention. For instance, a container having a body member 11, with top and bottom closure aps instead of the top and bottom closures 14 and 15, might also utilize the invention.

Still other variations may be used. For instance, as illustrated in Fig. 4 in this embodiment of the container, the hereinbefore described bottom closure 15 is employed. The container side walls 12 are foreshortened and the bottom side flanges 21 are extended so as to permit an extension 31 of the supporting skids 24 to be positioned beneath the side walls 12 as illustrated. In this embodiment, the bottom of the side walls 12 is positioned snugly against the upper surface of the extension 31. In this manner, the supporting pieces 24 are held firmly in position in the container, therefore, providing additional strength and security to the package. In other respects, the bottom closure 15 of the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 4 is similar to the arrangement illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2.

In order to more/.rmly anchor the steel strap 29 or ...other banding means, it may be desirable to provide the top side anges 17 and the bottom side anges 21 with end notches 32. The notches 32 prevent the banding means from sliding olf of the closure member during transit.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and the foregoing description, the same is to be considered illustrative and not restrictive in character.

What I claim as my invention is:

in a shipping package comprising a paperboard container having an article therein, the container comprising connected together upright side walls and a bottom closure panel secured to the side walls, and an interior, article engaging skid formed of a plurality of relatively narrow slat members, each of the slats being spaced apart and in contacting relationship with adjacent interior portions of the bottom panel, supporting members comprised of spaced apart runners in contacting relationship with adjacent exterior portions of the panel and at substantially right angular overlapping relationships with portions of the slats and with portions of the bottom panel tixed between the overlapping portions of the slats and the supporting member, there being an opening in at least two slats, the openings being directly over the overlapping portions of the slats and the supporting members thus providing closed bottoms for the openings, at least two legs of the article having the ends thereof in the said openings so as to prevent lateral movement of the article in and relative to the container, and means securing the slats and supporting members to the bottom panel.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,015,683 Jensen Ian. 23, 1912 2,177,933 Boeye Oct. 3l, 1939 2,321,063 Bohnke June 8, 1943 2,326,928 Courson Aug. 17, 1943 2,418,868 Cole et al. Apr. 15, 1947 2,575,784 Baumann Nov. 20, 1951 2,670,984 Arthur Mar. 2, 1954 2,730,287 Mueller Ian. 10, 1956

Images