Pallet and dolly with bail arm

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017190465-A1
Application number	US-201615390015-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 23, 2016
Priority date	Dec 30, 2015
Publication date	Jul 6, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

The present invention provides a pallet having a deck with a generally planar upper surface with a peripheral edge defining a first area, and a ground engaging structure connected to the deck. A mechanism is connected to the pallet and is moveable from a stowed position to a deployed position. When in the deployed position, a portion of the mechanism defines an overhang area adjacent the first area to increase a total support area of the pallet.

First claim

We claim:

1 . A pallet comprising:
a deck having a generally planar upper surface having a peripheral edge defining a first area, and a ground engaging structure connected to the deck; and a bail arm connected to the pallet is moveable from a stowed position to a deployed position where the bail arm extends beyond the peripheral edge to define an overhang area adjacent the first area to increase a total support area of the pallet.

2 . The pallet of claim 1 when in the stowed position the bail arm is below the upper surface of the deck.

3 . The pallet of claim 1 when in the stowed position a surface of the bail arm is flush with the upper surface.

4 . The pallet of claim 1 further comprising a channel in the deck for receiving a portion of the bail arm when in the stowed position.

5 . The pallet of claim 4 wherein the bail arm comprises a first pair of two horizontally spaced legs and a cross member connecting the two legs.

6 . The pallet of claim 5 wherein the channel is generally U-shaped.

7 . The pallet of claim 1 wherein the bail arm is pivotally connected to the pallet.

8 . The pallet of claim 7 wherein the deck has a first generally U-shaped channel having a first segment and a second segment extending in a direction generally perpendicular to the peripheral edge and horizontally spaced from one another, and a third segment extending in a direction transverse to the first segment and the second segment and connecting them.

9 . The pallet of claim 8 wherein the first segment and the second segment extend from the peripheral edge and have a first length.

10 . The pallet of claim 9 wherein each of the legs has a second length, the ratio of the first length to the second length is from 1:0.95 to 1:0.55.

11 . The pallet of claim 10 wherein the first segment and the second segment each has a pivot point about which the bail arm rotates.

12 . The pallet of claim 11 wherein the pivot point is positioned in the first U-shaped channel.

13 . The pallet of claim 3 wherein the cross member has a bar having opposed ends and a connecting member at each end for connecting to the legs.

14 . The pallet of claim 1 wherein the bail arm is a single, integral piece.

15 . The pallet of claim 1 wherein the bail arm forms an angle from about 75° to about 100° with the peripheral edge.

16 . The pallet of claim 1 further comprising a second bail arm connected to the pallet and is moveable from a stowed position to a deployed position.

17 . The pallet of claim 16 wherein the second bail arm has a second pair of horizontally spaced legs extending parallel to the first pair of horizontal legs.

18 . The pallet of claim 1 wherein the peripheral edge includes opposed lateral edges further comprising a second channel in the deck extending between the opposed lateral edges.

19 . The pallet of claim 16 wherein the second bail arm extends parallel to the first bail arm.

20 . The pallet of claim 19 wherein the second bail arm extends perpendicular to the first bail arm.

21 . The pallet of claim 18 wherein the bail arm has a cross member that is received in the second channel when in a stowed position.

22 . The pallet of claim 21 wherein the bail arm further comprises a pair of legs one of each extending from opposed ends of the cross member and transverse thereto.

23 . The pallet of claim 22 wherein each of the pair of legs is pivotally connected to a side edge of the deck.

24 . The pallet of claim 1 wherein the ground engaging structure comprises a plurality of feet.

25 . The pallet of claim 1 wherein the ground engaging structure comprises a wheel.

26 . The pallet of claim 1 wherein the ground engaging structure comprises a plurality of wheels.

Assignees

• Orbis Corp

Inventors

• Nussbaum Robert Guy
• Howe Stephen Roland

Classifications

• B65D19/0008

  forming a continuous plane contact surface · CPC title

• B65D2519/00273

  made of more than one piece · CPC title

• B65D2519/00288

  made of one piece · CPC title

• B65D2519/00865

  Collapsible, i.e. at least two constitutive elements remaining hingedly connected · CPC title

• B65D19/42 Primary

  Arrangements or applications of rollers or wheels · CPC title