Pallet adapter
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsRosario Simon Saggio, Behrooz Afghani, Frank James Caldwell, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Pallet adapters configured to attach to a selected pallet type in order to render it compatible with a cargo restraint system that is configured for a larger pallet type. The pallet adapters may include two side rails and two end rails, each rail having a slotted inner face to receive the flanges at the sides and ends of the selected pallet type. Each end of the side rails has a connector that can be coupled by a single fastener to a connector on each end of the end rails so that when connected, the side rails and end rails form a rectangular-shaped pallet adapter with inner slots that secure the flanged side edges of the selected pallet type.
Claims20
A pallet adapter, comprising:
- a first side rail and a second side rail, each side rail having an inner face and an outer face, wherein the inner face of each side rail defines a slot running a length of the inner face that is configured to engage a flanged side edge of a selected pallet type;
- and
- a first end rail and a second end rail, each end rail having an inner face and an outer face, wherein the inner face of each end rail defines a slot running a width of the inner face that is configured to engage a flanged end edge of the selected pallet type;
- wherein each end of each side rail and each end of each end rail is equipped with either a clevis or a clevis tang of a clevis fastener, such that when the side rails and end rails are assembled alternately and end-to-end to form a rectangle, each corner of the rectangle includes both the clevis and the clevis tang of the clevis fastener, and each corner can be secured by a single clevis pin to form a rectangular adapter that is configured to enfold, receive, and secure the flanged side edges of the selected pallet type;
- wherein the clevis fastener at each corner of the rectangular pallet adapter is a pivotable connection, so that a removal of any single clevis pin enables the pallet adapter to unfold and become removable from a pallet secured by the adapter, without requiring the disconnection of all four corner clevis fasteners.
A pallet adapter, comprising:
- a first side rail having an inner face facing an inner face of a second side rail, each side rail having a slot along its inner face configured to receive a flanged side edge of a selected pallet type;
- and
- a first end rail having an inner face facing an inner face of a second end rail, each end rail having a slot along its inner face configured to receive a flanged end edge of the selected pallet type;
- each end of the first side rail and second side rail having a connector that is coupled by a single fastener to a connector on each end of the first end rail and second end rail, such that the connected side rails and end rails form a rectangular-shaped pallet adapter with slots configured to secure to a flanged side edge of the selected pallet type;
- wherein when the adapter is engaged with the selected pallet type, each side rail is fastened to two end rails with clevis fasteners, and each end rail is fastened to two side rails with clevis fasteners, where each clevis fastener includes a clevis, a clevis tang, and a clevis pin engaged with the clevis such that each clevis fastener is a pivotal connection;
- and wherein removing a single clevis pin from the adapter permits the adapter to be unfolded and removed from the selected pallet type without requiring the disconnection of all four corner clevis fasteners.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.