Tire tray construction

Claim 2

A tire tray for use on a truck for transporting tire treads, the truck including a support and hinge means for swingably mounting a plurality of tire trays on the support for movement between a lower, generally horizontal position and a raised position, the tire tray comprising: a top wall having a smooth upper surface for receiving the tire tread thereon; a flange member at the front edge of the top wall to reinforce the top wall and to provide a leg for engaging the subjacent tire tray in the lower position; means at the rear edge of the top wall for engagement by the hinge means; a formed side member at each lateral side edge of the top wall to reinforce the same; each formed side member including an outwardly and downwardly extending skirt portion, means for securing the skirt portion to the top wall, and an outwardly rolled edge at the lower end of the skirt portion; a bracket; a spring extending from the bracket to the support for resiliently holding the tire tray in its raised position; and means for adjustably mounting the bracket on the rolled edge so that the spring tension can be varied by varying the position of the bracket.

Claim 3

A tire tray for use on a truck for transporting tire treads, the truck including a support and hinge means for swingably mounting a plurality of tire trays on the support for movement between a lower, generally horizontal position and a raised position, the tire tray comprising: a top wall having an upper surface for receiving the tire tread thereon; means at the front edge of the top wall to reinforce the top wall and to provide a leg for engaging the subjacent tire tray in the lower position; means at the rear edge of the top wall for engagement by the hinge means; a formed side member at each lateral side edge of the top wall to reinforce the same; each formed side member including an outwardly and downwardly extending skirt portion, means for securing the skirt portion to the top wall, and a rolled edge at the lower end of the skirt portion; the rolled edge having a plurality of spaced slots therein; a bracket mounted on the rolled edge of one side member; a spring extending from the bracket to the support for resiliently holding the tire tray in its raised position; and the bracket including a body portion, at least two spaced projections disposed at one side of the body portion for extending through the spaced slots, and one of the projections having a hook portion extending to a point beyond its respective slot and engaging the inside of the rolled edge adjacent the slot, whereby the bracket may be adjustably mounted on the rolled edge so the spring tension can be varied by varying the position of the bracket.

Claim 4

A tire tray for use on a truck for transporting tire treads, the truck including a support and hinge means for swingably mounting a plurality of tire trays on the support for movement between a lower, generally horizontal position and a raised position, the tire tray comprising: a top wall having an upper surface for receiving the tire tread thereon; means at the front edge of the top wall to reinforce the top wall and to provide a leg for engaging the subjacent tire tray in the lower position; means at the rear edge of the top wall for engagement by the hinge means; a formed side member at each lateral side edge of the top wall to reinforce the same; each formed side member including an outwardly and downwardly extending skirt portion, means for securing the skirt portion to the top wall, and a rolled edge at the lower end of the skirt portion; the rolled edge having a plurality of spaced slots therein; a bracket mounted on the rolled edge of one side member; a spring extending from the bracket to the support for resiliently holding the tire tray in its raised position; and the bracket including a body portion, at least two spaced projections disposed at one side of the body portion for extending through the spaced slots, and one of the projections having a hook portion extending to a point beyond its respective slot and engaging the inside of the rolled edge adjacent the slot, whereby the bracket may be adjustably mounted on the rolled edge so the spring tension can be varied by varying the position of the bracket.

Claim 5

A tire tray as set forth in claim 2 including a plurality of means for attaching the spring to the bracket spaced different distances from the support when the bracket is disposed through selected spaced slots, whereby the spring tension can be varied.

Claim 6

A tire tray as set forth in claim 3 wherein the last-mentioned means includes a plurality of brackets, each with an attaching opening therein and each bracket opening being located a different distance with respect to the projections for selectively varying the spring tension. 5. A tire tray as set forth in claim 2 wherein the rolled edge at the lower end of the skirt portion is an outwardly rolled edge; and wherein the plurality of spaced slots are located outwardly of the skirt portion.

Claim 7

A tire tray as set forth in claim 5 wherein the skirt portion extends outwardly an amount sufficient to allow the trays to nest in raised position, but with the outwardly rolled edge exposed to provide a handle for moving the tire tray to its horizontal positon.

Claim 8

A tire tray as set forth in claim 6 wherein the means at the front edge to reinforce the top wall and to provide a leg includes an upper portion underlying the top wall and attached thereto, a depending front portion, and a rearwardly rolled edge at the lower end of the front portion to present a smooth surface for engaging the subjacent tire tray; and including a diagonal bracket extending between the rearwardly rolled edge and the underside of the tire tray.

Claim 9

A tray for use on a support which includes a frame and means for swingably mounting a plurality of trays on the frame for movement between a horizontal position and a raised position at an angle to the horizontal, the tray comprising: a top wall having front, rear and side edges; a depending leg at the front edge for engaging a subjacent tray; said leg extending substantially across the entire front edge of the tray; a formed side member at each side edge of the top wall; each formed side member including an outwardly and downwardly extending skirt portion, means for securing the skirt portion to the top wall, and a cylindrical portion at the lower end of the skirt portion; said cylindrical portion having a plurality of slots therein spaced lengthwise of the cylindrical portion; a bracket adjustably mounted on the cylindrical portion and including: a body portion disposed outwardly of the cylindrical portion, and projection means extending through at least one slot and engaging the inside of the cylindrical portion; and a spring extending from the bracket to the frame and connected to both for resiliently holding the tray in the raised position; whereby the bracket may be adjustably positioned on the cylindrical portion so the spring tension can be varied accordingly.

Claim 10

A tray for use on a support which includes a frame and means for swingably mounting a plurality of trays on the frame for movement between a horizontal position and a raised position at an angle to the horizontal, the tray comprising: a top wall having front, rear and side edges; a depending leg at the front edge for engaging a subjacent tray; said leg extending substantially across the entire front edge of the tray; a formed side member at each side edge of the top wall; each formed side member including an outwardly and downwardly extending skirt portion, means for securing the skirt portion to the top wall, and a cylindrical portion at the lower end of the skirt portion; said cylindrical portion having a plurality of slots therein spaced lengthwise of the cylindrical portion; a bracket adjustably mounted on the cylindrical portion and including: a body portion disposed outwardly of the cylindrical portion, and projection means extending through at least one slot and engaging the inside of the cylindrical portion; and a spring extending from the bracket to the frame and connected to both for resiliently holding the tray in the raised position; whereby the bracket may be adjustably positioned on the cylindrical portion so the spring tension can be varied accordingly.

Claim 11

The combination of claim 8 including a plurality of brackets, each with an opening therein for attachment to the spring, and each bracket opening being located a different distance with respect to the projection means for selectively varying the spring tension.

Claim 12

The combination of claim 8 wherein the depending leg at the front edge is perpendicular to the top wall and has a cylindrical portion at the lower end thereof, the cylindrical portion at the front edge being located rearwardly of the depending leg; and the cylindrical portion at each side edge being located outwardly of the skirt portion.