US3741405A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Load lock
Assignee: Acme Steel Co
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Filing: 1971-07-20
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Granted: 1973-06-26
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Expires: 1991-07-20
Abstract
Abstract The load lock of the present invention is to lock the beam of a pallet rack structure to an upright of an end frame and includes an L-shaped bolt having a shank slidably extending through aligned holes in the upright and an end plate of the beam and having a headed handle portion extending through a contoured slot in the beam wall adjacent the end of the beam. The handle portion is encircled by a generally cylindrical spring metal retainer having a pair of extensions embracing the bolt between the shank and the handle portion, having diametrically opposed projecting tabs engaging the inner face of the beam wall adjacent the slot and with cooperation of the head to prevent removal of the load lock, and having projections engageable with the edges of the contoured slot to hold the load lock in any adjusted position of the shank with respect to the hole through which it extends in the beam end plate. The load lock is so constructed than when properly inserted in a contoured slot with its shank projecting into the beam end plate opening it cannot be removed. A modified form of beam slot is made long enough to permit removal of the shank from the beam end plate hole and the removal of the load lock from the slot; a load lock movement limiting device is provided to prevent this from being done unintentionally.
Inventors
- 👤 Connell K Mc
- 👤 R Juechter
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 00:12
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47B; A47B57/00; A47B57/30; A47B57/48; A47B57/485; A47B57/487; E; E04; E04G; E04G7/00; E04G7/30; E04G7/302; E04G7/303; E04G7/305; F; F16; F16B; F16B19/00; F16B19/02; F16B7/00; F16B7/22; F16B2200/00; F16B2200/69
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
172 words
A load lock for use in a pallet rack for locking a beam end to an upright in a frame, comprising in combination an L-shaped bolt and a beam, said bolt having a shank aligned with and slidable through a hole in the end of the beam and adapted to slide through an aligned hole in the frame upright, a handle portion integral with said shank at right angles thereto and having an enlarged head on the free end thereof and extending through a contoured movement-limiting slot in a wall of the beam, said head engaging an exterior surface of said beam adjacent to said slot, a retainer including a generally cylindrical body encircling said handle portion to restrict the latter for sliding movement in said slot, resilient means on said cylindrical body slidably engaging the edge surfaces of said slot to retain said bolt in an adjusted position, and means on said handle portion positively positioning and holding said retainer on said handle portion between said head and said positioning means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
172 words
A load lock for use in a pallet rack for locking a beam end to an upright in a frame, comprising in combination an L-shaped bolt and a beam, said bolt having a shank aligned with and slidable through a hole in the end of the beam and adapted to slide through an aligned hole in the frame upright, a handle portion integral with said shank at right angles thereto and having an enlarged head on the free end thereof and extending through a contoured movement-limiting slot in a wall of the beam, said head engaging an exterior surface of said beam adjacent to said slot, a retainer including a generally cylindrical body encircling said handle portion to restrict the latter for sliding movement in said slot, resilient means on said cylindrical body slidably engaging the edge surfaces of said slot to retain said bolt in an adjusted position, and means on said handle portion positively positioning and holding said retainer on said handle portion between said head and said positioning means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The combination set forth in claim 1, wherein said positioning means is disposed adjacent to the juncture between said handle portion and said shank.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
The combination set forth in claim 1, including means on said cylindrical body embracing the bend in said bolt between said shank and said handle portion to resist turning movement of said body on said handle portion.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
The combination set forth in claim 1, wherein said retainer includes pairs of diametrically opposite tabs projecting outwardly from said body and engageable with the inner surface of the beam wall adjacent said contoured slot.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
The combination set forth in claim 4, wherein said tabs project outwardly from said body and face in spaced relationship the underside of said handle portion head so as to accommodate therebetween the beam wall adjacent said contoured slot.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
41 words
The combination set forth in claim 1, wherein said resilient means comprises a pair of diametrically opposite projections outstanding from said body and engageable with the edge surfaces of said contoured slot to retain said bolt shank in longitudinally adjusted position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
50 words
The combination set forth in claim 6, wherein said contoured slot edge surfaces have a pair of partly circular ends interconnected by a straight section, and have inward projections at the termini of said straight section to retain said handle portion within the confines of either of said circular ends.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
78 words
The combination set forth in claim 1, wherein said retainer includes pairs of diametrically opposite tabs projecting outwardly from said body and engageable with the inner surface of the beam wall adjacent said contoured slot, and said resilient means comprises a pair of diametrically opposite projections outstanding from said body between said tabs and the underside of said head and engageable with the edge surfaces of said contoured slot to retain said bolt shank in longitudinally adjusted position.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
145 words
The combination set forth in claim 1, wherein said contoured slot edge surfaces have a pair of partly circular ends, that end nearest the beam end being bounded by a pair of inward projections, the other end being connected to a pair of straight surface portions spaced apart the diameter of said other end, said straight portions having their termini remote from said other end connected to a second pair of inward projections, and straight sections interconnecting said pairs of inward projections, the distance between said partly circular ends being such that when said handle portion is in said other circular end said shank is withdrawn from the hole in the beam end and said bolt may be rotated to remove said restricting means from engagement with the inner surface of the beam wall so that the load lock may be removed from the beam.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
35 words
The combination set forth in claim 9, including removable means for limiting movement of said handle portion into said other circular end so as to retain said shank in the hole in the beam end.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
50 words
The combination set forth in claim 10, wherein said removable means comprises a stop member overlying a portion of said other circular end and a bolt to hold said stop member in movemeNt limiting position so that said shank may not be slid from the hole in the beam end.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
155 words
A beam for use in a supporting structure comprising in combination, an elongated tubuler body portion secured at one end to an end flange, a hole in said end flange opening into the interior of said body portion, a load lock having an L-shaped bolt with a shank aligned with and slidable through said end flange hole, a contoured movement limiting slot in an exterior wall of said body portion, a handle portion integral with said shank at right angles thereto and having an enlarged head on the free end thereof and extending through said contoured slot, said head engaging an exterior surface of said beam adjacent to said slot, means on said handle portion to restrict the latter for sliding movement in said contoured slot, and resilient means on said handle portion slidably engaging the edge surfaces of said contoured slot to retain said shank in an adjusted position in said end flange hole.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
155 words
A beam for use in a supporting structure comprising in combination, an elongated tubuler body portion secured at one end to an end flange, a hole in said end flange opening into the interior of said body portion, a load lock having an L-shaped bolt with a shank aligned with and slidable through said end flange hole, a contoured movement limiting slot in an exterior wall of said body portion, a handle portion integral with said shank at right angles thereto and having an enlarged head on the free end thereof and extending through said contoured slot, said head engaging an exterior surface of said beam adjacent to said slot, means on said handle portion to restrict the latter for sliding movement in said contoured slot, and resilient means on said handle portion slidably engaging the edge surfaces of said contoured slot to retain said shank in an adjusted position in said end flange hole.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
The combination set forth in claim 12, wherein said restricting means and said resilient means are incorporated in one unit having a generally cylindrical body encircling said handle portion.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
37 words
The combination set forth in claim 13, including means on said cylindrical body embracing the bend in said bolt between said shank and said handle portion to resist turning movement of said body on said handle portion.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
38 words
The combination set forth in claim 13, wherein said restricting means comprises pairs of diametrically opposite tabs projecting outwardly from said body and engageable with the inner surface of said beam body portion wall adjacent said contoured slot.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
39 words
The combination set forth in claim 15, wherein said tabs project outwardly from said body and face in spaced relationship the underside of said handle portion head so as to accommodate therebetween said beam wall adjacent said contoured slot.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
46 words
The combination set forth in claim 13, wherein said resilient means comprise a pair of diametrically opposite projections outstanding from said body and engageable with said edge surfaces of said contoured slot to retain said bolt shank in longitudinally adjusted position within said end flange hole.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
50 words
The combination set forth in claim 17, wherein said contoured slot edge surfaces have a pair of partly circular ends interconnected by a straingt section, and have inward projections at the termini of said straight section to retain said handle portion within the confines of either of said circular ends.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
87 words
The combination set forth in claim 13, wherein said restricting means comprises pairs of diametrically opposite tabs projecting outwardly from said body and engageable with the inner surface of said body portion wall adjacent said contoured slot, and said resilient means comprises a pair of diametrically opposite projections outstanding from said body between said tabs and the underside of said handle portion head and engageable with said edge surfaces of said contoured slot to retain said bolt shank in longitudinally adjusted position within said end flange hole.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
236 words
A supporting structure comprising in combination, at least a pair of end frames each having two uprights, tubular beams interconnecting said end frames, each upright having a plurality of slanted keyhole slots along an outward face thereof, each beam having its open end closed by an angle plate adapted to embrace the upright, one flange of said plate carrying headed lugs engageable in said slanted keyhole slots to support the beam, said uprights having a plurality of vertically spaced holes along the face thereof directed toward said beam, the other flange of said plate on said beam having a hole therein alignable with one of the holes in said upright when said beam is supported thereby, a load lock for preventing removal of said beam from said upright having an L-shaped bolt with a shank aligned with and slidable through the aligned holes in said upright and said beam plate, a handle portion integraL with said shank at right angles thereto and having an enlarged head on the free end thereof and extending through a contoured movement-limiting slot in an exterior wall of said beam, said head engaging an exterior surface of said beam adjacent to said slot, means on said handle portion to restrict the latter for sliding movement in said slot, and resilient means on said handle portion slidably engaging the edge surfaces of said contoured slot to retain said bolt in adjusted position.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
236 words
A supporting structure comprising in combination, at least a pair of end frames each having two uprights, tubular beams interconnecting said end frames, each upright having a plurality of slanted keyhole slots along an outward face thereof, each beam having its open end closed by an angle plate adapted to embrace the upright, one flange of said plate carrying headed lugs engageable in said slanted keyhole slots to support the beam, said uprights having a plurality of vertically spaced holes along the face thereof directed toward said beam, the other flange of said plate on said beam having a hole therein alignable with one of the holes in said upright when said beam is supported thereby, a load lock for preventing removal of said beam from said upright having an L-shaped bolt with a shank aligned with and slidable through the aligned holes in said upright and said beam plate, a handle portion integraL with said shank at right angles thereto and having an enlarged head on the free end thereof and extending through a contoured movement-limiting slot in an exterior wall of said beam, said head engaging an exterior surface of said beam adjacent to said slot, means on said handle portion to restrict the latter for sliding movement in said slot, and resilient means on said handle portion slidably engaging the edge surfaces of said contoured slot to retain said bolt in adjusted position.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
29 words
The combination set forth in claim 20, wherein said restricting means and said resilient means are incorporated in one unit having a generally cylindrical body encircling said handle portion.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
37 words
The combination set forth in claim 21, including means on said cylindrical body embracing the bend in said bolt between said shank and said handle portion to resist turning movement of said body on said handle portion.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
36 words
The combination set forth in claim 21, wherein said restricting means comprises pairs of diametrically opposite tabs projecting outwardly from said body and engageable with the inner surface of said beam wall adjacent said contoured slot.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
39 words
The combination set forth in claim 23, wherein said tabs project outwardly from said body and face in spaced relationship the underside of said handle portion head so as to accommodate therebetween said beam wall adjacent said contoured slot.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
41 words
The combination set forth in claim 21, wherein said resilient means comprises a pair of diametrically opposite projections outstanding from said body and engageable with said edge surfaces of said contoured slot to retain said bolt shank in longitudinally adjusted position.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
50 words
The combination set forth in claim 25, wherein said contoured slot edge surfaces have a pair of partly circular ends interconnected by a straight section, and have inward projections at the termini of said straight section to retain said handle portion within the confines of either of said circular ends.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
79 words
The combination set forth in claim 21, wherein said restricting means comprises pairs of diametrically opposite tabs projecting outwardly from said body and engageable with the inner surface of said beam wall adjacent said contoured slot, and said resilient means comprises a pair of diametrically opposite projections outstanding from said body between said tabs and the underside of said head and engageable with said edge surfaces of said contoured slot to retain said bolt shank in longitudinally adjusted position.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-06-25 | 1976-12-25 | 1977-06-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-06-25 | 1980-12-25 | 1981-06-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-06-25 | 1984-12-25 | 1985-06-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |