Buckles – buttons – clasps – etc. – Bale and package ties – hose clamps – Metal bands
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-15
2001-11-06
Knight, Anthony (Department: 3626)
Buckles, buttons, clasps, etc.
Bale and package ties, hose clamps
Metal bands
C024S303000, C206S386000, C206S597000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06311371
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND—FIELD OF INVENTION
This invention relates to the warehouse industry, specifically to the safe movement of inventory merchandise within and between warehouses.
BACKGROUND—GENERAL PROBLEM
Companies that own a warehouse to store their inventory receive their merchandise from a shipping company. This merchandise is commonly set upon a pallet or is delivered setting upon a pallet. After delivery, the merchandise and pallet have to be moved to another location within the warehouse or may have to be moved to another warehouse. Commonly the merchandise cargo setting upon the pallet is bulky and unwieldy. If a device is not used to secure the cargo to the pallet, the cargo may fall off the pallet. This may cause damage to the cargo and possible injury to the warehouse personnel.
One method devised to secure the cargo is to wrap the cargo in polyethylene sheets to secure the cargo to the pallet. This shrink-wrap method at times proved unsuccessful because the cargo could shift and become lopsided. The cargo could then fall off the pallet causing damage and possible injury to the warehouse personnel. Another method devised to secure the cargo to the pallet was to use straps to tie the cargo to the pallet. The straps can be utilized in conjunction with the shrink-wrap when the cargo is unwieldy. The straps are also used independently of the shrink-wrap. Up to four straps can be utilized to secure the cargo to the pallet. The straps securely attach the cargo to the pallet and restrain the cargo from shifting and becoming lopsided when the forklift truck is moving the pallet. The strapping method has proven to be a very successful method of keeping the cargo securely attached to the pallet. The straps have also been successful in keeping the cargo restrained, which prohibits the cargo from shifting from side to side and becoming lopsided.
In order to attach the cargo to the pallet, the straps have to be placed through openings beneath the pallet platform. The strap has to enter through an opening underneath the pallet platform on one side of the pallet and exit through an opening underneath the pallet on the opposite side of the pallet. The strap is then placed around the cargo and is locked shut. The cargo underneath the strap is securely attached to the pallet. Another strap placed a measured distance alongside the initial strap has to enter and exists through openings underneath the pallet platform. The second strap secures the cargo to the pallet and in addition restrains the cargo from shifting from side to side on the pallet. In some instances a four-strap method is employed. In this circumstance, an additional strap is entered underneath the pallet platform from the front opening and exits through the rear opening underneath the pallet platform. Another strap is placed a measured distance alongside the third strap and is entered from the front opening and exists through the rear opening. The four-strap method of securing cargo to the pallet is used to add additional restraint in keeping the cargo from shifting and becoming lopsided.
The problem for warehouse personnel is how to shove or pull the straps through the openings underneath the pallet platform from one side of the pallet through to the opening on the opposite side of the pallet. If the four-strap tie down method is employed, an additional problem is how to shove or pull the straps from an opening in the front of the pallet through to an opening in the rear of the pallet.
Warehouse personnel created several types of methods to solve this problem.
(a) One employee would take one end of the strap in his hand and while lying on the warehouse floor shove the strap through an opening underneath the pallet platform. A second employee lying on the opposite side of the pallet would grab the end of the strap with his hand and pulls it through the opening on the opposite side of the pallet. The strap would then be positioned around the cargo and the pallet. This procedure would be repeated two times in a two-strap tie down and four times in a four-strap tie down.
(b) Another method used by warehouse personnel to pass straps through openings in the bottom of the pallet is the broom method. One employee would use the bristle end of the broom and try to push the strap to another employee who was stationed on the opposite side of the pallet. This procedure would be repeated two times in a two-strap tie down and four times in a four-strap tie down.
(c) Another method presently being used by warehouse personnel to pass straps through openings in the bottom of the pallet is the pole method. In this method the warehouse employee uses adhesive tape to secure the end of the strap to a pole. The employee then shoves the pole through the opening at the bottom of the pallet to another employee stationed on the opposite side of the pallet. The second employee grabs the pole and pulls the pole with the strap attached through the opening on the opposite end of the pallet. The strap is then placed around the cargo. This procedure would be repeated two times in a two-strap tie down and four times in a four-strap tie down.
These methods of passing the straps through openings in the pallet have failed to solve the problem. In all of the present methods being used to pass the straps through the openings in the pallet, the employees are either lying face down on a cement floor or on their hands and knees stooping over to pass the strap through the opening to another employee. The constant repetition of lying or kneeling on a cement floor may lead to back and knee injuries. The act of an employee putting their hands underneath the pallet platform to pull the strap through the pallet opening could cause injury to the hands, face or arms. While attempting to pass the straps through the openings in the pallet, the employees are lying or knelling next to and parallel to the pallet. The pallet is loaded with cargo. The cargo could shift and topple over onto the employee and cause serious injury to the employee. In addition to the injury aspect, these methods are an inefficient use of labor. Instead of one employee being used, an additional employee must be utilized in order to pull the strap through the pallet opening.
Companies that sell small mechanical type machinery and motors receive their inventory from the shipping company on pallets. Since this merchandise is heavy and bulky it needs to be secured to the pallet. The mechanical equipment is secured to the pallet by mounting it to the pallet. The equipment is mounted to the pallet by the use of metal bolts and nuts. Warehouse personnel have to reach under the pallet platform and push a predetermined size bolt through a hole that was previously drilled in a pallet platform board. Another employee then must tighten the nut over the bolt to secure the equipment to the pallet. The equipment then can be safely moved within the warehouse.
This method of securing the small machinery to the pallet creates a safety problem.
(a) While the warehouse employee is on the cement floor pushing the bolt through the opening, the machinery is setting on the platform unsecured. The cargo could shift and topple over onto the employee and cause serious injury to the employee.
(b) In order to push the bolt through the opening, the employee has to bend down on his hands and knees and put his hand under the pallet. When the employee locates the opening he pushes the bolt through the opening. The repetition of kneeling on a cement floor may lead to back and knee problems. The act of an employee putting their hands underneath the pallet to push the bolt through the opening could cause injury to the hands or the arms.
This method of securing the machinery to the pallet is also labor intensive. A second employee is needed to attach the nut to the bolt.
Another method to attach heavy merchandise to the pallet is to secure the cargo by the use of a steel cable. The steel cable has to be placed through openings beneath the pallet platform. The cable has to enter through an opening underneath the pallet platform on one side of
Knight Anthony
Rodriguez Ruth C.
LandOfFree
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