Patent US3033909A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US3834556A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3834556A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Air cushion pallet
Assignee: All American Industries Inc
•
Filing: 1973-02-01
•
Granted: 1974-09-10
•
Expires: 1993-02-01
Abstract
Abstract A flexible shallow air cushion chamber having valved holes in its upper and lower surfaces provided optional pressurized air cushions between its lower surface and the ground and between it and a load disposed upon its upper surface. Air pressure is optionally supplied to the upper or lower surfaces or to both to facilitate movement over the ground or to slide a load on or off it as required. Air inlet ports are provided through lateral extensions on two sides of the pallet which are grasped by an air-supplying clamp. The inlet ports are check valved, to prevent outward leakage of air if misaligned clamping should occur, by flexible flaps and the lateral sections are reinforced to prevent them from being crushed when they are clamped. The clamp includes a pair of clam shell-shaped jaws with an air hose and traversing rod connected to it. The rod is a handle or a linkage on a forklift truck.
Inventors
- 👤 A Crimmins
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 13:42
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G7/00; B65G7/02; B65G7/06; B66; B66F; B66F9/00; B66F9/06; B66F9/075; B66F9/12; B66F9/18; E; E02; E02F; E02F3/00; E02F3/04; E02F3/96; E02F3/962
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
270 words
An air cushion pallet comprising a chamber having upper and lower walls of substantial area, a source of air pressure, an air inlet on said chamber for connecting it to a source of air pressure to provide a differential of higher pressure in said chamber above atmospheric pressure, an array of relatively small holes in said walls for communicating air pressure from said chamber between said walls and an adjacent external surface whereby a pressurized air cushion is provided between said walls and said adjacent external surface, valve elements disposed within said chamber adjacent said holes, movable means mounting said valve elements for movement from open positions away from said adjacent holes to closed positions in which they substantially obstruct said holes, said valve elements being constructed and arranged to rapidly respond to the pressure differential across said holes whereby they open to transmit said chamber pressure to said pressurized air cushion and close to prevent loss of said air pressure when no external surface and air cushion are disposed adjacent the hole with which said valve element is operatively associated, a perimetrical section on said chamber to provide a grasp for imparting lateral movement to said pallet, said air inlet being disposed within said perimetrical section whereby said pallet may be simultaneously grasped and supplied with air, said air inlet comprising a perforated inlet sheet disposed on said air inlet, and movable valve element means being mounted within said perforated sheet whereby the portion of said perforated sheet not having a supply of inlet air is closed to prevent said air pressure from escaping outwardly through said perforated sheet.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
270 words
An air cushion pallet comprising a chamber having upper and lower walls of substantial area, a source of air pressure, an air inlet on said chamber for connecting it to a source of air pressure to provide a differential of higher pressure in said chamber above atmospheric pressure, an array of relatively small holes in said walls for communicating air pressure from said chamber between said walls and an adjacent external surface whereby a pressurized air cushion is provided between said walls and said adjacent external surface, valve elements disposed within said chamber adjacent said holes, movable means mounting said valve elements for movement from open positions away from said adjacent holes to closed positions in which they substantially obstruct said holes, said valve elements being constructed and arranged to rapidly respond to the pressure differential across said holes whereby they open to transmit said chamber pressure to said pressurized air cushion and close to prevent loss of said air pressure when no external surface and air cushion are disposed adjacent the hole with which said valve element is operatively associated, a perimetrical section on said chamber to provide a grasp for imparting lateral movement to said pallet, said air inlet being disposed within said perimetrical section whereby said pallet may be simultaneously grasped and supplied with air, said air inlet comprising a perforated inlet sheet disposed on said air inlet, and movable valve element means being mounted within said perforated sheet whereby the portion of said perforated sheet not having a supply of inlet air is closed to prevent said air pressure from escaping outwardly through said perforated sheet.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
An air cushion pallet as set forth in claim 1 wherein said perimetrical sections comprise lateral extensions of said pallet.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
An air cushion pallet as set forth in claim 2 wherein said lateral extensions are disposed adjacent two side edges of said chamber.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
An air cushion pallet as set forth in claim 1 wherein an internal tube of substantially strong material is disposed in the junction between said inlet section and said chamber to maintain it open when a clamping force is applied across said inlet section.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
An air cushion pallet as set forth in claim 4 wherein a plug of substantial strong material is disposed in the outer end of said inlet section for resisting a clamping force imposed across said outer edge.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
50 words
An air cushion pallet as set forth in claim 1 wherein an internal partitioning wall is disposed within said chamber for dividing it into upper and lower chambers, and separate inlet sections being provided for said upper and lower chambers whereby each of them may be optionally supplied with air.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
An air cushion pallet as set forth in claim 6 wherein said inlet sections are disposed on one surface of one of said walls whereby said air pressure may be provided on one side of said walls.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
An air cushion pallet as set forth in claim 7 wherein said inlet openings are disposed on both of said walls.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
50 words
An air cushion pallet as set forth in claim 8 wherein a pair of said inlet sections are provided on each of two sides of said chamber to permit said air pressure to be supplied and said pallet to be clamped from each of the two sides of said pallet.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
289 words
An air cushion pallet comprising a chamber having upper and lower walls of substantial area, a source of air pressure, an air inlet on said chamber for connecting it to a source of air pressure to provide a differential of higher pressure in said chamber above atmospheric pressure, an array of relatively small holes in said walls for communicating air pressure from said chamber between said walls and an adjacent external surface whereby a pressurized air cushion is provided between said walls and said adjacent external surface, valve elemenTs disposed within said chamber adjacent said holes, movable means mounting said valve elements for movement from open positions away from said adjacent holes to closed positions in which they substantially obstruct said holes, said valve elements being constructed and arranged to rapidly respond to the pressure differential across said holes whereby they open to transmit said chamber pressure to said pressurized air cushion and close to prevent loss of said air pressure when no external surface and air cushion are disposed adjacent the hole with which said valve element is operatively associated, a perimetrical section on said chamber to provide a grasp for imparting lateral movement to said pallet, said air inlet being disposed within said perimetrical section whereby said pallet may be simultaneously grasped and supplied with air, an air pressure supplying clamp in combination with said pallet, said clamp having movable jaws for engagement on said pallet at said air inlet whereby said pallet is simultaneously grasped and supplied with air, said jaws being laterally elongated for engaging about the outsides of said air inlets, said jaws having a hinged clam shell construction and arrangement, and an air supply conduit being connected to the upper clam shell jaw.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
289 words
An air cushion pallet comprising a chamber having upper and lower walls of substantial area, a source of air pressure, an air inlet on said chamber for connecting it to a source of air pressure to provide a differential of higher pressure in said chamber above atmospheric pressure, an array of relatively small holes in said walls for communicating air pressure from said chamber between said walls and an adjacent external surface whereby a pressurized air cushion is provided between said walls and said adjacent external surface, valve elemenTs disposed within said chamber adjacent said holes, movable means mounting said valve elements for movement from open positions away from said adjacent holes to closed positions in which they substantially obstruct said holes, said valve elements being constructed and arranged to rapidly respond to the pressure differential across said holes whereby they open to transmit said chamber pressure to said pressurized air cushion and close to prevent loss of said air pressure when no external surface and air cushion are disposed adjacent the hole with which said valve element is operatively associated, a perimetrical section on said chamber to provide a grasp for imparting lateral movement to said pallet, said air inlet being disposed within said perimetrical section whereby said pallet may be simultaneously grasped and supplied with air, an air pressure supplying clamp in combination with said pallet, said clamp having movable jaws for engagement on said pallet at said air inlet whereby said pallet is simultaneously grasped and supplied with air, said jaws being laterally elongated for engaging about the outsides of said air inlets, said jaws having a hinged clam shell construction and arrangement, and an air supply conduit being connected to the upper clam shell jaw.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
An air cushion pallet as set forth in claim 10 wherein a rod is connected to said clamp for imparting said lateral movement to it.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
An air cushion pallet as set forth in claim 11 wherein said rod comprises a handle.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
An air cushion pallet as set forth in claim 11 wherein said rod comprises a movable linkage.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-09-09 | 1978-03-11 | 1978-09-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-09-09 | 1982-03-11 | 1982-09-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-09-09 | 1986-03-11 | 1986-09-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |