1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates in general to the field of shipment packaging, and in particular to pallets. Still more particularly, the present invention relates to a locking member for locking at least two safety retainers together so that the safety retainers function as a single unit, where each safety retainer prevents an object from being unloaded from a pallet unless the pallet ramp to which the safety retainer is attached is properly positioned with and secured to the pallet.
2. Description of the Related Art
Large and heavy products, such as computer servers, are typically shipped to a customer on a pallet. Upon delivery, the shipment must be manually offloaded from the pallet. To prevent damage from being jarred by dropping the shipment off the edge of the pallet, which is typically several inches high, the shipment is slid off the pallet using a ramp. Consider, for example, the arrangement shown in
The system shown in
The method and apparatus of the illustrative embodiment of the present invention uses a locking mechanism to lock at least two safety retainers together so that the safety retainers operate together as one single unit. Each safety retainer has a pallet-attached base and a ramp-attached mating bracket. A first safety retainer includes a first base and a first bracket. The first bracket is coupled to a first ramp that can be removably attached to a pallet. The first base includes a first retaining arm for locking the first base to the first bracket when the first ramp is coupled to the pallet. A second safety retainer includes a second base and a second bracket. The second bracket is coupled to a second ramp that can be removably attached to the pallet. The second base includes a second retaining arm for locking the second base to the second bracket when the second ramp is coupled to the pallet. The locking mechanism is capable of being temporarily coupled to the first and retaining arms for locking the retaining arms together. The first and second retaining arms operate as a single unit during movement of the retaining arms when the locking mechanism is coupled to the first and second retaining arms.
The above, as well as additional purposes, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed written description.
The novel features believed characteristic of the invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further purposes and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, where:
With reference now to
Referring now to
Base 304 includes a base bracket 308, which has a first base plate 310 that is directly attached to the upper surface of beveled edge 204a. Base 304 also has a first rod 312, a retainer arm 314, and a second rod 316, whose function is described in further detail below. Although first rod 312 and second rod 316 are depicted as cylindrical rods, it should be understood that their shape is not limited to cylindrical rods, but rather any rod having a geometry that permits first rod 312 to rotate as described below.
Mating bracket 306 has a second base plate 318 that is directly attached to the lower surface of ramp 206b. As shown in greater detail in
As shown in
With reference now to
Base bracket 308 has a first side plate 402 and a second side plate 404 that extend away, preferably perpendicularly, from first base plate 310. A first end of first rod 312 extends through a first hole 406, and the second end of first rod 312, to which retainer arm 314 is attached, extends through a second hole 408. To keep first rod 312 from sliding past first hole 406, a first rod travel limiter 410 is part of the first end of first rod 312. First rod travel limiter 410 may be a collar as depicted, or may be any protrusion or projection of or from first rod 312 that limits the lateral movement of first rod 312 past first hole 406. Adequate space is provided between first rod travel limiter 410 and the exterior face of first side plate 402 to permit first rod 312 to move laterally to allow a retainer arm restrictor 412 to move clear of a restrictor slot 414, as shown below in
Second rod 316 has a thick rod portion 418 and a thin rod portion 420. Thin rod portion 420 has a diameter that is small enough to mate with the second slots 324 of mating bracket 306, while thick rod portion 418 is too thick to pass through the second throat width 328 to mate with second slots 324 (all shown in
Thick rod portion 418 slides through a thick third hole 424 in first side plate 402, while thin rod portion 420 slides through a thinner fourth hole 426 in second side plate 404. Second rod 316 is aligned to slide into fourth hole 426 by an alignment bracket 428 having a fifth hole 430, preferably for aligning the thin rod portion 420 as shown.
With reference now to
In the illustrative embodiment, locking member 500 is rectangular although any other suitable shape can be used. Locking member 500 includes a first opening 502 through a first end 504 of locking member 500 and a second opening 506 through a second end 508 of locking member 500. First opening 502 is for receiving a retaining arm 314a of a first base 304a. Second opening 506 is for receiving a retaining arm 314b of a second base 304b. Locking member 500 includes an opening 510 in an end surface 512. Locking member 500 may also include another opening (not shown) in an opposite end surface. First opening 502 goes completely through locking member 500 from a top 514 through a bottom 516 of locking member 500. Second opening 506 goes completely through locking member 500 from a top 514 through a bottom 516 of locking member 500. Locking member 500 includes a front 520.
A safety release, such as a button, may be provided utilizing opening 510 such that locking member 500 snaps into place when received by two retaining arms and cannot be removed from the retaining arms until the button is depressed through opening 510.
As described above, a safety retainer includes a base and a bracket. The bracket is coupled to a ramp that is removably attached to a pallet. The base includes a retaining arm for locking the base to the bracket when the ramp is removably coupled to the pallet. The illustrative embodiment is a locking member for locking retaining arm 314a of a first safety retainer to retaining arm 314b of a second safety retainer. Locking member 500 is capable of being temporarily coupled to both retaining arms 314a, 314b for locking retaining arms 314a, 314b together to prevent either arm 314a or arm 314b from being able to be moved separately from the other retaining arm. When locking member 500 is lowered over arms 314a and 314b, both ramps, i.e. the ramps that are attached to the safety retainers that include arms 314a and 314b, must be properly installed on the pallet before retainer arms 314a and 314b can be moved.
An additional brace, such as brace 900a and/or brace 900b, may be utilized to further support and protect packages or server racks that are installed on the pallet. Brace 900a slides over a top 902a of arm 314a. Brace 900b slides over a top 902b of arm 314b. Brace 900a, 900b provides a surface area 904 that is larger than surface area 906 of the retaining arm. The larger surface area provides additional support to the products on pallet 202. The braces are for stabilizing products that rest on the pallet.
The present invention is thus a great safety improvement. Shipped objects are not able to be slid off a pallet until both ramps have been properly installed on the pallet, and the retainer arms, locked together using the locking member, are folded down. The retaining arms, locked together using the locking member, can be folded down only when the ramps, to which the retaining arms are coupled, are properly secured to the pallet.
The illustrative embodiment solves a safety issue found in the prior art and provides a safe and reliable way to remove both empty and configured server racks from their shipping pallets. The illustrative embodiment will not allow the rack to be removed unless both ramps have been properly installed on the pallet.
While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
5772369 | Lerman et al. | Jun 1998 | A |
6524040 | Heil | Feb 2003 | B1 |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
20070140805 A1 | Jun 2007 | US |