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.
Claims19
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.
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 one of said operative positions of said first and second end gates is a loading/unloading position, wherein a portion of each of said first and second end gates is oriented in an offset, parallel manner relative to said frame when said first or second gate is in said loading/unloading position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.