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US 7,080,864 B2Granted
Apparatus for shipping and storing elongated members
AssigneeDrilltec Patents & Technologies Company, Inc.
InventorBernard Casteran
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A lifting system includes a lifting plate disposed on each end of two lifting frames. Each lifting frame has an upper segment and a lower segment and optionally one or more intermediate segments. Each lifting plate comprises a unitary body that has a lifting eye in an offset extended portion and one or more openings for receiving the ends of the segments. Additionally, the lifting system can include two packaging frames. The lifting system is preferably configured such that two lifting frames are the center frames in a four frame configuration, while the two packaging frames are the end frames.
Claims30
An apparatus for use in securing a frame for lifting, transporting, or storing elongated members, the frame having upper and lower ends, said apparatus comprising:
- a unitary planar body disposed vertically on the upper and lower ends of the frame, said unitary planar body having a central vertical axis;
- said body having a lifting eye, said lifting eye being adjacent the upper end of the body;
- and
- said body further having at least one opening capable of receiving the upper or lower end of the frame, said opening being disposed along said central vertical axis.
1 more element
A frame for use in lifting, transporting, or storing elongated objects, comprising:
- a first lifting plate having a first unitary body and a first central vertical axis, said first unitary body having a first lifting eye and at least one opening;
- a second lifting plate having a second unitary body and a second central vertical axis, said second unitary body having a second lifting eye and at least one opening;
- wherein said first lifting eye is at least partially offset from said first central vertical axis and wherein said second lifting eye is at least partially offset from said second central vertical axis;
- an upper segment having a first end and a second end;
- a lower segment having a first end and a second end;
- a coupling means for coupling said lifting plates to said upper segment and said lower segment;
- and
- said first end of said upper segment and said first end of said lower segment being disposed in said opening of said first unitary body and said second end of said upper segment and said second end of said lower segment being disposed in said opening of said second unitary body.
5 more elements
An apparatus, comprising:
- a first lifting plate having a first unitary body, said first unitary body having a lifting eye and at least one opening;
- a second lifting plate having a second unitary body, said second unitary body having a lifting eye and at least one opening;
- an upper segment having a first end and a second end;
- a lower segment having a first end and a second end;
- a coupling means for coupling said lifting plates to said upper segment and said lower segment;
- said first end of said upper segment and said first end of said lower segment being disposed in said opening of said first unitary body and said second end of said upper segment and said second end of said lower segment being disposed in said opening of said second unitary body;
- further comprising at least one intermediate segment having a first end and a second end, said intermediate segment being disposed between said upper segment and said lower segment;
- and
- wherein said first and second ends of said upper and lower segments each has a vertical aperture, and wherein said coupling means comprises:
- an elongated member having a first end and a second end, said elongated member being capable of passing through said vertical apertures;
- and
- a locking member disposed one of said first or second ends of said elongated member to couple said upper segment to said lower segment.
9 more elements
An apparatus, comprising:
- a first lifting plate having a first body, said first body having a lifting eye and at least one opening;
- a second lifting plate having a second body, said second body having a lifting eye and at least one opening;
- an upper segment having a first end and a second end;
- a lower segment having a first end and a second end;
- and
- a coupling means for coupling said lifting plates to said upper segment and said lower segment;
- said first end of said upper segment and said first end of said lower segment being disposed in said opening of said first body and said second end of said upper segment and said second end of said lower segment being disposed in said opening of said second body;
- wherein said first and second lifting plates each has a body having a central vertical axis and a central horizontal axis, and wherein each of said lifting eyes has a center, said center of said lifting eyes being above said respective horizontal axis and offset from said respective vertical axis.
5 more elements
An apparatus, comprising:
- a first lifting plate having a first unitary body, said first unitary body having a lifting eye and at least one opening;
- a second lifting plate having a second unitary body, said second unitary body having a lifting eye and at least one opening;
- an upper segment having a first end and a second end;
- a lower segment having a first end and a second end;
- and
- coupling means for coupling said lifting plates to said upper segment and said lower segment;
- said first end of said upper segment and said first end of said lower segment being disposed in said opening of said first unitary body and said second end of said upper segment and said second end of said lower segment being disposed in said opening of said second unitary body;
- wherein at least one of said coupling means is a strap.
5 more elements
An apparatus, comprising:
- a first lifting frame having two outer portions, each outer portion including an upper end and a lower end;
- a second lifting frame having outer portions, each outer portion including an upper end and a lower end;
- and
- said first and second lifting frames having a planar lifting plate vertically disposed on each of said outer portions, said lifting plates each having a lifting eye and each having at least one opening for receiving said upper end and said lower end of said each outer portion.
1 more element
A lifting plate for lifting, transporting, or storing a plurality of supports supporting a bundle of elongated members, the lifting plate comprising:
- a planar body having a plurality of openings adapted to receive each of the supports, said planar body having a central vertical axis;
- said openings being aligned on said central vertical axis;
- said openings forming support surfaces adapted to engage the supports;
- and
- said body having an extending portion with an aperture offset from said central vertical axis.
2 more elements
An apparatus, comprising:
- a first lifting plate having a first unitary body, said first unitary body having a lifting eye and at least one opening;
- a second lifting plate having a second unitary body, said second unitary body having a lifting eye and at least one opening;
- an upper segment having a first end and a second end;
- a lower segment having a first end and a second end;
- a coupling means for coupling said lifting plates to said upper segment and said lower segment;
- and
- said first end of said upper segment and said first end of said lower segment being disposed in said opening of said first unitary body and said second end of said upper segment and said second end of said lower segment being disposed in said opening of said second unitary body, wherein:
- said first unitary body has a first upper edge;
- said second unitary body has a second upper edge;
- said upper segment has a top side;
- and
- wherein said top side of said upper segment is approximately even with said first upper edge and said second upper edge.
9 more elements
An apparatus, comprising:
- a first segment having a first end and a second end;
- a second segment having a first end and a second end;
- a first planar lifting plate having a first central vertical axis and having a first lifting eye, said first lifting eye having a center;
- a second planar lifting plate having a second central vertical axis and having a second lifting eye, said second lifting eye having a center;
- and
- wherein said first planar lifting plate engages, along said first central vertical axis, said first end of said first segment and said first end of said second segment and wherein said second planar lifting plate engages, along said second central vertical axis, said second end of said first segment and said second end of said second segment;
- and
- wherein said center of said first lifting eye is offset from said first central vertical axis and said center of said second lifting eye is offset from said second central vertical axis.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.