Horizontally supported planar surfaces – Industrial platform – With load-confining means
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-12
2001-07-24
Cuomo, Peter M. (Department: 3636)
Horizontally supported planar surfaces
Industrial platform
With load-confining means
C108S057210
Reexamination Certificate
active
06263806
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to pallets for storing goods, and particularly relates to the storage of items on wheels such as casters.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Goods are often effectively and efficiently stored and transported in stacked configuration. Stacking goods maximizes the use of available storage and transportation space. In addition, it is desirable to manipulate such goods with a forklift for quick handling of the goods. This saves labor and time. Some goods, however, are difficult to store and transport in stacked configuration and are not easily manipulated with a forklift. Wheeled items such as photocopiers on casters are an example of such goods which are difficult to handle.
Typically, an item such as a photocopier on casters has to be placed on skids and secured to the skids to be manipulated with a forklift and stored and transported in stacked configuration. Normally, two laborers and a forklift are required to load and secure a photocopier to skids. The photocopier is secured to the skids by bolting the photocopier to the skids. This is a time consuming task which takes at least about 20 minutes per item.
Alternatively, wheeled items such as photocopiers on casters can be stored on an open floor without stacking the items. Without stacking, however, photocopiers occupy a large space. In addition, photocopiers, unsecured to skids, are difficult to manipulate with a forklift and are rolled about the floor instead. This requires a lot of labor and is time consuming.
Another problem with storing items such as photocopiers on an open floor is that photocopiers are controlled in inventory by serial number. When a specific serial number is requested, an employee must locate the unit within the bulk storage area and retrieve the particular photocopier by moving other photocopiers that obstruct its path. The desired unit is then pushed to the area in which it is to be processed. This is also undesirably time consuming.
Therefore, there is a need for a system for storing and transporting wheeled items such as photocopiers in a manner that allows stacking of the items and their manipulation with a forklift. There is also a need for a system for storing and transporting wheeled items with aligned and offset casters.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention solves the above-described problems in the prior art by providing a pallet for a wheeled item comprising a plurality of tracks and a plurality of ramps mounted to a base frame having openings for receiving forklift arms. The plurality of tracks and plurality of ramps are structured and arranged so that when the item is shifted on the wheels from the plurality of tracks along the plurality of ramps, the undercarriage of the wheeled item comes to rest on a support surface of the pallet. With the undercarriage of the wheeled item resting on the pallet, rather than the wheels, the wheeled item can be secured to the pallet for storage and transportation. Therefore, the pallet of the present invention provides for swift loading of the wheeled item onto the pallet. The pallet allows the wheeled item to be manipulated with a forklift and stored and transported in a stacked configuration. Manipulation with a forklift reduces labor and time required for handling the wheeled item. In addition, stacking of the wheeled item provides for more effective and efficient use of storage and transportation space.
More particularly, the pallet of this invention is suitable for storing and transporting wheeled items comprising an undercarriage and wheels extending from the undercarriage. The pallet of this invention can accommodate wheeled items having aligned or offset casters. The pallet base frame desirably has openings for receiving forklift arms and extends along a longitudinal axis from a first end to a second end. The plurality of tracks are mounted on the base frame for receiving the wheels of the wheeled item. The plurality of tracks each extend from the first end toward the second end of the base frame substantially parallel to and spaced from one another. The plurality of ramps are also mounted to the base frame and slope from the plurality of tracks toward the base frame. Each of the plurality of tracks extend from the one end of the base frame to a distal end and the plurality of ramps extend from respective distal ends of the plurality of tracks without interrupting an adjacent one of the plurality of tracks. The plurality of ramps are directed so as not to interfere with the travel of casters of the wheeled item along the tracks. Depending on the configuration of the casters or wheels of the wheeled item, the plurality of ramps can extend longitudinally or diagonally from respective distal ends of the plurality of tracks with respect to the longitudinal axis of the base frame or can extend laterally from the plurality of tracks.
For wheeled items with aligned casters, the pallet desirably includes ramps which slope laterally or diagonally from the corresponding plurality of tracks. For storing wheeled items with offset casters, particularly significantly offset casters, the ramps of the pallet desirably extend longitudinally or diagonally from the respective distal ends of the plurality of tracks so that the offset casters do not interfere with adjacent tracks.
Desirably, the pallet of this invention includes a support adjacent the plurality of tracks extending from the pallet in a direction away from the base frame so that when the wheeled item is shifted on the wheels from the plurality of tracks along the plurality of ramps, the undercarriage of the wheeled item comes to rest on the support. In other words, the support extends upwardly from the pallet when the pallet is in loading position on a floor, and preferably, the support extends away from the base of the pallet beyond the plurality of tracks. Desirably, the plurality of ramps of the pallet are sloped toward the base frame relative to the support such that at least a portion of the weight of the wheeled item is shifted from the wheels of the item to the support when the wheeled item is shifted laterally on the wheels from the plurality of tracks, along the plurality of ramps, so that the undercarriage of the wheeled item comes to rest on the support.
According to a simplistic embodiment, the pallet of the present invention includes a base frame, a support mounted on the base frame and having a support surface for receiving the wheels of the item, and a plurality of ramps mounted on the base frame and sloping from proximate the support surface toward the base frame through recesses in the support. The support and the plurality of the ramps are structured and arranged so that when the wheeled item is shifted on the wheels from the support surface along the plurality of ramps, the undercarriage of the wheeled item comes to rest on the support surface.
According to a particular embodiment for a wheeled item having offset wheels, the pallet includes a first pair of tracks and a second pair of tracks spaced inwardly from the first set of tracks. Each of the first and second pairs of tracks extend from the one end of the base frame to a distal end and the plurality of ramps extend from respective distal ends of the first and second pairs of tracks without interrupting an adjacent one of the first and second pairs of tracks. Desirably, the plurality of ramps extend longitudinally or diagonally from respective distal ends of the plurality of tracks.
According to another embodiment particularly suitable for wheeled items with aligned casters, the tracks of the pallet include first and second tracks mounted on the base frame for receiving the wheels of the item to be stored and transported. The first and second tracks extend from the first end of the base frame toward the second end and are substantially parallel and spaced from one another. In addition, the ramps of the pallet include first and second ramps. The first ramp is mounted on the base frame of the pallet between the first and second tracks and slopes laterally with respect to the longitudinal a
Anderson Jerry A.
Burnham Service Company, Inc.
Cuomo Peter M.
Sutherland & Asbill & Brennan LLP
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