Foldable crate for a lawn maintenance vehicle
AssigneeMTD Products Inc
InventorsJason Kolecki, Michael D. Menke
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A foldable crate includes a base having a front end and a rear end and a pair of end gates, wherein an end gate is rotatably attached to each end of the base. Each end gate includes a cap attached adjacent to one end of each post of the end gate and a knob is attached adjacent to the opposing end of each post. A skid shoe is attached to the bottom of each corner of the base, wherein each skid shoe includes a socket for receiving the knob or cap of the corresponding end gate of an adjacent foldable crate when a plurality of foldable crates are stacked.
Claims17
A foldable crate comprising:
- a base having a front end and a rear end, said base including:
- a frame formed by a plurality of longitudinal beams and a plurality of lateral beams connected to said plurality of longitudinal beams;
- a plurality of skid shoes attached to a bottom of said frame;
- a first end gate rotatably attached to said front end of said base and a second end gate rotatably attached to said rear end of said base, wherein said first and second end gates being rotatable relative to said base between at least a first operative position, a second operative position and a third operative position;
- and
- wherein said first and second gates are independently rotatable relative to said base between a first operative position, a second operative position, and a third operative position;
- wherein each of said first and second end gates includes a pair of posts rotatably attached to said base, said pair of posts being connected by a plurality of cross beams, and each of said posts being integrally formed as a single piece and having an offset in which opposing ends of said post are not linearly aligned.
A foldable crate for transporting a riding vehicle comprising:
- a base having a structural frame for supporting said riding vehicle, said frame having a top, a bottom, a front end, and a rear end;
- a pair of front skid shoes attached to the bottom of said frame adjacent to said front end of said frame;
- a pair of rear skid shoes attached to the bottom of said frame adjacent to the rear end of said frame;
- a first end gate rotatably attached to said frame adjacent to said front end, said first end gate being rotatable relative to said frame between a plurality of operative positions;
- a second end gate rotatably attached to said frame adjacent to said rear end, said second end gate being independently rotatable with respect to said first end gate, said second end gate being rotatable relative to said frame between a plurality of operative positions;
- wherein each of said first and second end gates includes a pair of opposing posts and at least one cross beam extending between said posts;
- and
- wherein each of said posts includes a first longitudinal axis through one end of said post and a second longitudinal axis through the opposing end of said post, and each of said posts being integrally formed as a single piece and including a transition portion forming an offset, wherein said first and second longitudinal axes are parallel and not linearly aligned.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.