# US 4,509,433 A · Collapsible expansible handling facility for unitized and unit loads

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 4,509,433 A
- Document ID: US4509433A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 06/442,196
- Filed: 1982-11-09
- Granted: 1985-04-09
- Earliest claimed: 1981-03-10
- Inventors: Kenneth Farr
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4509433A

## CPC

- B65D 19/40: Elements for spacing platforms from supporting surface
- B65D 19/0012: {forming a continuous plane contact surface}
- B65D 19/0026: {and each contact surface having a stringer-like shape}
- B65D 19/0095: {and each contact surface having a stringer-like shape}
- B65D 19/20: made wholly or mainly of paper
- B65D 71/0088: {Palletisable loads, i.e. loads intended to be transported by means of a fork-lift truck}
- B65D 71/0096: {the dimensions of the supports corresponding to the periphery of the load, e.g. pallets}
- B65D 2519/00019: Paper
- B65D 2519/00029: Wood
- B65D 2519/00034: Plastic
- B65D 2519/00054: Paper
- B65D 2519/00064: Wood
- B65D 2519/00069: Plastic
- B65D 2519/00099: Wood
- B65D 2519/00159: Paper
- B65D 2519/00273: made of more than one piece
- B65D 2519/00288: made of one piece
- B65D 2519/00293: made of more than one piece
- B65D 2519/00318: made of one piece
- B65D 2519/00323: made of more than one piece
- B65D 2519/00333: contact surface having a stringer-like shape
- B65D 2519/00343: contact surface being substantially in the form of a panel
- B65D 2519/00805: Means for facilitating the removal of the load
- B65D 2571/00098: Devices for transporting the load also from above
- B65D 2571/00111: Arrangements of flexible binders
- Y10T 428/24446: Wrinkled, creased, crinkled or creped
- Y10T 428/24686: Pleats or otherwise parallel adjacent folds
- B65D: CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

A pallet carrying industrial loads includes on the base thereof, two parallel longitudinally extending sleeve members of which the sides are pleated whereby the sleeve may collapse in a vertical direction with the folded sides supporting the weight of the pallet. The sleeve incorporates an initial opening for entry of a fork lift whereby as the fork is moved into the sleeve the pleated sides allow progressive expansion. On removal of the forks the sleeve progressively collapses to provide reduced storage height and lessening the transport costs. The sleeve and pallet base may be constructed from fibreboard materials.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A unitised load handling means comprising a sleeve secured to a lower surface of the load, the sleeve being defined by a base to form a ground bearing surface, a pair of opposed side walls joined to the base and each including two side wall sections joined by a longitudinal crease, said sleeve arranged to collapse or expand by bending about the creases, an inturned part joined to the top of said side walls to secure the sleeve to the load, the sleeve when vertically expanded substantially defining an enlarged opening of rectangular cross-section therewithin and when fully collapsed under load defining an opening of rectangular cross-section therewithin of reduced height and of a width substantially different than when expanded and defining a space sufficient for initial entry of load handling equipment, said opening being laterally defined between said creases, and said creases allowing the sleeve to expand vertically to fully receive the load handling equipment.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A means in accordance with claim 1, wherein said creases are medially disposed along said side walls, the side walls folding inwardly of the sleeve about said creases.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

A means in accordance with claim 2, wherein the side walls join integrally with the base, the junctions comprising crease lines.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

A means in accordance with claim 3, wherein said inturned part comprises a flange integrally joined with each said side wall, the junction comprising a crease line.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

A means in accordance with claim 4, wherein the sleeve when collapsed has the side wall sections, the base and flanges in coplanar stacked relationship forming a load bearing support foot.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

A means in accordance with claim 1, wherein said inturned part extends the width of the sleeve, one side of said inturned part being integral with one side wall, the other side overlapping and joined to a a separate one said inturned part integral with the other side wall.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

A means in accordance with claim 1, including two said sleeves, in parallel and spaced relationship.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

A means in accordance with claim 7, in combination with a second load handling means having a base forming a conventional pallet structure and a top including battens defining channels to receive the sleeves, with the battens supporting the lower surface of the pallet structure.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

A means according to claim 1, wherein said sleeve width extends across a substantial part of the width of the load lower surface.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

A means in accordance with claim 9, including battens within the sleeves.

### Claim 11

A unitised load handling means comprising two parallel spaced apart sleeves secured to a lower surface of the load, each said sleeve being defined by a base to form a ground bearing surface, a pair of opposed side walls joined to the base and each including two side wall sections joined by a longitudinal crease, said sleeve arranged to collapse or expand by bending about the creases, an inturned part joined to the top of said side walls to secure the sleeve to the load, the sleeves when fully collapsed under load defining a space sufficient for initial entry of load handling equipment, and said creases allowing the sleeves to expand to fully receive the load handling equipment, and battens extending parallel with said sleeves, the height of said battens being such as to provide ground bearing support for the load when the sleeves are collapsed.