Stacking device for heavy cylindrical objects, such as wire reels

Claim 1

A PALLETIZING STRUCTURE FOR SHIPPING WIRE REELS COMPRISING A PALLEL, A PLURALITY OF LAYERS OF WIRE REELS SUPPORTED BY SAID PALLET, A STACKING DEVICE DISPOSED BENEATH EACH LAYER, SAID STACKING DEVICE COMPRISING A SUPPORT BOARD, AN OVERLYING SHEET MEMBER OF SUBSTANTIAL THICKNESS AND HAVING MARGINAL PORTIONS ALONG FOUR SIDES FOLDED DOWN OVER THE FOUR OUTER EDGES OF SAID SUPPORT BOARD AND UNDERNEATH THE LOWER SURFACE OF SAME, AND MEANS FOR SECURING SAID UNDERTURNED MARGINAL PORTIONS TO SAID SUPPORT BOARD WHEREBY SAID OUTER EDGES OF SAID SUPPORT BOARD ARE PROTECTED BY SAID DOWNTURNED AND UNDERTURNED MARGINAL PORTIONS, SAID SHEET MEMBER HAVING OPENINGS FORMED THEREIN PROVIDING RECESSES FOR LOCATING THE REELS OF EACH LAYER WITH RESPECT TO EACH OTHER, ONE OF SAID REELS BEING DISPOSED IN EACH RECESS, SAID STACKING DEVICES BEING UNIFORM IN SIZE, SHAPE AND LOCATION OF RECESSES AND BEING LOCATED ONE ABOVE THE OTHER, WHEREBY SAID ASSEMBLY OF STACKING DEVICES AND REELS IS IN THE FORM OF A STACK RESTING ON SAID PALLET, A RIGID TOP MEMBER OVERLYING SAID STACK, AND MEANS SURROUNDING THE ASSEMBLY COMPRISING THE PALLET, SAID STACK, AND SAID TOP MEMBER.