Adjustable hold-down assembly
AssigneeToyota Motor Manufacturing North America, Inc.
InventorsGeorge N. Bodde, Cindy G. Severs
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention relates to an adjustable hold-down assembly for securely holding heavy and/or bulky goods such as automobile seats to a shipping pallet for transportation thereof. The shipping pallet has a base and a hold-down assembly and which has a cross-bar positioned between two securing posts that are movably attached to the base. The cross-bar is configured for rotational movement relative to the base and linear movement with respect to the securing posts.
Claims19
A shipping pallet comprising:
- a base;
- a hold-down assembly comprising a cross-bar moveably connected with two securing posts, said securing posts pivotally attached to the base;
- a tension mechanism positioned between the cross-bar and one of the securing posts;
- wherein the cross-bar is configured for rotational movement relative to said base and linear movement with respect to said securing posts.
A shipping pallet comprising
- a base;
- and
- an adjustable hold-down assembly attached to said base and having a load position and an engaged position, wherein the hold-down assembly can be moved from the load position to the engaged position with a continuous motion, wherein in the engaged position, the hold-down assembly asserts a resiliently biased force on goods on the base through a tension mechanism, a compression mechanism, or combinations thereof.
A method of unloading a shipping pallet, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a shipping pallet having a base and a hold-down assembly, the hold-down assembly having two or more positions including a load position and an engaged position,
- applying an outward linear force on the hold-down assembly, and
- rotating the hold-down assembly from the engaged position to the load position with a continuous motion, wherein in the engaged position, the hold-down assembly asserts a resiliently biased force on goods on the base through a tension mechanism, a compression mechanism or combinations thereof.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.