Supports – Supporting base
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-12
2002-10-15
Morano, S. Joseph (Department: 3617)
Supports
Supporting base
C108S051110
Reexamination Certificate
active
06464191
ABSTRACT:
This invention relates to a skid or pallet for supporting loads such as stacked metal sheets. More particularly, this invention relates to skids or pallets including at least two generally hollow rails and at least one transverse member extending over the top of but unattached to the rails to support a load of sheets one upon the other, which pallet can be assembled and disassembled quickly and easily with the rails nestable in each other.
When supporting heavy loads of stacked sheet metal, ordinary wooden skids in general have a two-use life, after which time they are substantially destroyed creating disposal problems and cost. Also, wooden skids have inconsistent strength characteristics caused by the grade of the wood, the presence of knots, and the types of nails or other fasteners used to hold the skids together. Such skids, in general, may weigh from 75 to 100 pounds or more, stackable only as a permanent assembled unit and are difficult to stack and move, particularly over long distances.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a skid made of a strong, durable, yet lightweight, material, such as steel of other suitable metal which also can be assembled and disassembled quickly without fasteners and wherein parts of the skid can be nested in each other for storage or transport.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a pallet or skid to which a stack of sheets can be strapped by passing a strap from within one or both of two hollow, spaced-apart rails upwardly around the load, trapping at least one transverse member extending across the tops of the rails between the top of the rails and beneath the stacked load.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a pallet or skid having means at the bottom of the spaced-apart rails to reduce the likelihood of unacceptable damage to the top sheet of loads on other pallets stacked therebeneath.
Yet still another object of the present invention is to provide a pallet or skid having at least one transverse member extending across the tops of at least two, parallel, spaced-apart rails, the transverse member having means on the bottom thereof for positioning the transverse member on the rails and for inhibiting transverse sliding movement transversely across the rails.
Yet still a further object of the present invention is to provide a pallet or skid which can be lifted by a fork lift from both ends and both sides.
In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a reusable skid for supporting a load, such as, for example, stacked metal sheets. The skid comprises at least one pair of spaced-apart, longitudinal hollow rails and at least one transverse member extending transversely across the rails but not fastened thereto. Each of the rails has a top side member, a pair of downwardly depending side members, each side member having a pair of opposed inwardly extending flanges which define a non-gouging engagement with the load on a skid stacked beneath.
In one embodiment of the invention a pair of spaced-apart transverse members extend across the tops of the respective spaced-apart rails. Each of the spaced-apart, transverse members further include two pairs of downwardly extending, spaced-apart flanges on its surface engaging the rails. Each pair of downwardly extending, spaced-apart flanges is generally normal to the longitudinal axis of the transverse member. Each flange of each pair of spaced-apart flanges is spaced apart from the other companion flange a distance at least as great as and preferably generally the same as the width of the respective top of the rail to which it is engaged. These pairs of downwardly extending flanges are themselves spaced-apart the same distance as the separation between the rails.
In one embodiment, each downwardly depending side member of each rail has a pair of opposing openings. In such an embodiment, the skid can be accessed by the forks of a forklift by inserting the forks between the downwardly depending side members of the rails, or by inserting the forks through the openings in the downwardly depending side members.
In another embodiment, each transverse member includes a pair of upwardly extending flanges. The flanges are disposed generally at opposite ends of the transverse member. Such flanges aid in keeping loads, such as loads of stacked metal sheets, from moving off the skid.
The core elements of the skid of the present invention are assembled without resort to fastening means such as nails, brads, screws, rivets, glue, cement, solder, spot welds, clamps, or other fastening means. The skid may be assembled first by placing a pair of spaced-apart, longitudinal rails, upon a support. In a preferred embodiment, a guide member is extended into an open end of each spaced-apart rail to insure that the rails are parallel and spaced properly to receive the transverse members. At least one but usually a pair of spaced-apart, transverse members, constructed as hereinabove described, are laid upon the tops of rails. The downwardly extending, spaced-apart flanges of the transverse members extend downwardly over the downwardly depending side members of the rails, thereby forming the skid. The transverse members preferably fit snugly over the rails such that the transverse members will not slide transversely across the tops of the rails.
In general, the skid is made of a material which is strong, yet lightweight, including lightweight metals, such as steel or aluminum. Thus, the loaded skid can be moved easily from place to place, and can be stacked one upon the other. Further strength and rigidity is provided to the skid by the opposed inwardly extending, flanges at the bottom of the side members of the rails. Such flanges also permit the skids to be stacked one upon the other without gouging the top sheet of the load immediately beneath the flange. It is to be understood, however, that the scope of the present invention is not to be limited to any specific material of which the skid may be constructed.
Because the skid is assembled by positioning without attaching the transverse members to the rails, the skid can be disassembled easily. The parts may be stored in a compact space or transported from place to place disassembled. In addition, the rails can be nested for compaction.
Once the skid of the present invention is assembled, it may be used to support a load, such as a stack of metal sheets. A stack of sheets may be placed upon the transverse members, and the stack of sheets can be secured to the skid firstly by extending a fastening strap longitudinally through each of the rails and then upwardly around the stack. The ends of the fastening strap then are secured by conventional means. The load is thereby fastened to the skid and the core elements secured tightly in position without attachment one to the other.
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Bain John N.
Jules Frantz F.
Lillie Raymond J.
Morano S. Joseph
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