Spacer and coupling device for cargo pallets

Claim 2

A coupling device for interconnecting successive pallets each having a plurality of spaced apart projections along the sides thereof and tie rings at spaced intervals therealong, comprising a main body component for interposition between two such successive pallets and including a plate adapted to overlie portions of facing projections of two successive pallets and a spacer underlying said plate for abutment by projections of such successive pallets, connector structure releasably cooperable with tie rings of such successive pallets To couple the same one to another through said coupling device and including a plurality of binding posts secured to said main body and extending upwardly from said plate in spaced relation so as to be respectively engaged by such tie rings of two successive pallets to effect the aforesaid coupling thereof, and locking means selectively movable between lock and release positions to constrain said connector structure in cooperative interengagement with such tie rings and to enable release thereof and including locking plate structure supported by said coupling device for movement with respect to said posts between such lock and release positions so as to enable such tie rings to be dropped over said posts and to be removed therefrom in the release position of said locking means and to constrain the tie rings on said posts in the lock position, and means tending to maintain said locking plate structure in the lock position thereof.

Claim 3

The coupling device of claim 1 in which said spacer is generally T-shaped in plan view and includes a stem adapted to be positioned between facing projections of successive pallets and a base adapted to abut the ends of such projections.

Claim 4

The coupling device of claim 1 in which said locking plate structure comprises a plate pivotally supported intermediate said posts for movement between such lock and release positions and in the locked position thereof overlying any such tie ring in position about an associated post.

Claim 5

The coupling device of claim 3 in which said locking plate is bodily displaceable generally along the axes of said posts between elevated and depressed positions relative to said main body component, and in which the aforesaid means tending to maintain said locking plate in the lock position thereof includes spring means biasing the same toward such depressed position.

Claim 6

A coupling device for interconnecting successive pallets each having a plurality of spaced apart projections along the sides thereof and tie rings at spaced intervals therealong, comprising a main body component for interposition between two such successive pallets and including a plate adapted to overlie portions of facing projections of two successive pallets and a spacer underlying said plate for abutment by projections of such successive pallets, connector structure releasably cooperable with tie rings of such successive pallets to couple the same one to another through said coupling device, and locking means selectively movable between lock and release positions to constrain said connector structure in cooperative interengagement with such tie rings and to enable release thereof, said connector structure including a plurality of binding posts secured to said main body and extending upwardly therefrom in spaced relation so as to be respectively engaged by such tie rings of two successive pallets so as to effect the aforesaid coupling thereof, and said locking means being movable with respect to said posts so as to enable such tie rings to be dropped over said posts and to be removed therefrom in the release position of said locking means and to constrain the tie rings on said posts in the lock position, said locking means including a locking plate pivotally supported intermediate said posts for movement between the lock and release positions and also being displaceable generally along the axes of said posts between an elevated position spaced from said main body and a depressed position adjacent thereto, and said locking means further including spring means biasing said locking plate downwardly toward said main body so that said locking bar in the locked position thereof overlies any such tie rings in position about said posts.

Claim 7

A coupling device for interconnecting successive pallets each having a plurality of spaced apart projections along the sides thereof and tie rings at spaced intervals therealong, comprising a main body component for interposition between two such successive pallets and including a plate adapted to overlie portions of facing projections of two successive pallets and a spacer underlying said plate for abutment by projections of such successive pallets, connector structure releasably cooperable with tie rings of such successive pallets to couple the same one to another through said coupling device, and locking means selectively movable between lock and release positions to constrain said connector structure in cooperative interengagement with such tie rings and to enable release thereof, said connector structure including a plurality of binding posts secured to said main body and extending upwardly therefrom in spaced relation so as to be respectively engaged by such tie rings of two successive pallets so as to effect the aforesaid coupling thereof, and said locking means being movable with respect to said posts so as to enable such tie rings to be dropped over said posts and to be removed therefrom in the release position of said locking means and to constrain the tie rings on said posts in the lock position, said locking means including a locking plate pivotally supported intermediate said posts for movement between the lock and release positions and also being displaceable generally along the axes of said posts between an elevated position spaced from said main body and a depressed position adjacent thereto, and said locking means further including spring means biasing said locking plate downwardly toward said main body so that said locking bar in the locked position thereof overlies any such tie rings in position about said posts.

Claim 8

The coupling device of claim 5 and further comprising fastener means carried by said body member and being selectively moveable between lock and release positions and adapted to underlie two such facing projections of successive pallets in the lock position to constrain said coupling device in position theReon.