Snap-on attachment

Claim 2

An attachment for carrying articles on an articulated chain conveyor having a plurality of chain links joined together by pin links with a recess in at least one edge thereof, said attachment comprising a base having a first thickness and providing a support surface to carry articles on the associated conveyor, spaced apart legs depending from said base opposite said support surface and substantially normal thereto for mounting said attachment on the associated conveyor, said base having an area of reduced thickness between said legs to accommodate flexure of the free ends of said legs for mounting said attachment on the associated conveyor, and a reinforcing member on said area of reduced thickness opposite said support surface extending between said legs and having a limited width for reinforcing said base during flexure thereof, a recess in the inner surface of each of said legs shaped complementary to the associated pin link for receiving a pin link therein, each of said legs having a projection shaped complementary to the recess in the pin link and extending into said leg recess to fit within the recess in the pin link for trapping the pin link, whereby said legs and the recesses therein are normally spaced apart a distance sufficient to accommodate an associated pair of the pin links therebetween with said projections in position to engage and trap the associated pair of pin links in said leg recesses, bending deformation of said base in a direction away from said legs resulting in the free ends of said legs being moved apart a distance sufficient to permit said legs to be positioned astride an associated pair of pin links for engagement and trapping of the pair of pin links by said legs and said projections, subsequent bending deformation of said base in a direction away from said legs resulting in the free ends of said legs being moved apart a distance sufficient to disengage said legs and said projections from the associated pair of pin links previously engaged and trapped thereby.

Claim 3

The attachment set forth in claim 1, wherein said attachment is a synthetic organic resin.

Claim 4

The attachment set forth in claim 1, wherein said base and said legs and said reinforcing member are one piece.

Claim 5

The attachment set forth in claim 1, and further comprising a pair of wings extending laterally outwardly of said base to provide an extended support surface with said base for carrying articles on the associated conveyor.

Claim 6

The attachment set forth in claim 1, and further comprising an arm on each of said legs extending laterally outwardly thereof to provide a surface for supporting said attachment on the associated conveyor during transportation of the attachment along a return reach of the conveyor.

Claim 7

An attachment for carrying articles on an articulated chain conveyor having a plurality of chain links joined together by pin links with a recess in at least one edge thereof, each pin link being joined to two chain links by spaced apart connecting pins, said attachment comprising a base having a first thickness providing a support surface to carry articles on the associated conveyor, spaced apart legs depending from said base opposite said support surface and substantially normal thereto for mounting said attachment on the associated conveyor, Said base having an area of reduced thickness between said legs to accommodate flexure of the free ends of said legs for mounting said attachment on the associated conveyor, and a reinforcing member on said area of reduced thickness opposite said support surface extending between said legs for reinforcing said base during flexure thereof, each of said legs having a width less than the distance between the connecting pins in the associated pin links and having a recess in the inner surface thereof shaped complementary to the associated pin link for receiving the pin link therein, each of said legs having a projection shaped complementary to the recess in the pin link and extending into said leg recess to fit within the recess in the pin link for trapping the pin link, whereby said legs and the recesses therein are normally spaced apart a distance sufficient to accommodate an associated pair of the pin links therebetween with said projections in position to engage and trap the associated pair of pin links with the associated connecting pins being positioned on opposite sides of the associated leg, bending deformation of said base in a direction away from said legs resulting in the free ends of said legs being moved apart a distance sufficient to permit said legs to be positioned astride an associated pair of pin links for engagement and trapping of the pair of pin links by said legs and said projections, subsequent bending deformation of said base in a direction away from said legs resulting in the free ends of said legs being moved apart a distance sufficient to disengage said legs and said projections from the associated pair of pin links previously engaged and trapped thereby.

Claim 8

An attachment for carrying articles on an articulated chain conveyor having a plurality of chain links joined together by pin links with a recess in at least one edge thereof, each pin link being joined to two chain links by spaced apart connecting pins, said attachment comprising a base having a first thickness providing a support surface to carry articles on the associated conveyor, spaced apart legs depending from said base opposite said support surface and substantially normal thereto for mounting said attachment on the associated conveyor, Said base having an area of reduced thickness between said legs to accommodate flexure of the free ends of said legs for mounting said attachment on the associated conveyor, and a reinforcing member on said area of reduced thickness opposite said support surface extending between said legs for reinforcing said base during flexure thereof, each of said legs having a width less than the distance between the connecting pins in the associated pin links and having a recess in the inner surface thereof shaped complementary to the associated pin link for receiving the pin link therein, each of said legs having a projection shaped complementary to the recess in the pin link and extending into said leg recess to fit within the recess in the pin link for trapping the pin link, whereby said legs and the recesses therein are normally spaced apart a distance sufficient to accommodate an associated pair of the pin links therebetween with said projections in position to engage and trap the associated pair of pin links with the associated connecting pins being positioned on opposite sides of the associated leg, bending deformation of said base in a direction away from said legs resulting in the free ends of said legs being moved apart a distance sufficient to permit said legs to be positioned astride an associated pair of pin links for engagement and trapping of the pair of pin links by said legs and said projections, subsequent bending deformation of said base in a direction away from said legs resulting in the free ends of said legs being moved apart a distance sufficient to disengage said legs and said projections from the associated pair of pin links previously engaged and trapped thereby.

Claim 9

An attachment for carrying articles on an articulated chain conveyor having a plurality of chain links joined together by bow shaped pin links, said attachment comprising a base having a first thickness providing a support surface to carry articles on the associated conveyor, spaced apart legs depending from said base opposite said support surface and substantially normal thereto for mounting said attachment on the associated conveyor, said base having an area of reduced thickness between said legs to accommodate flexure of the free ends of said legs for mounting said attachment on the associated conveyor, and a reinforcing member on said area of reduced thickness opposite said support surface extending between said legs for reinforcing said base during flexure thereof, a recess in the inner surface of each of said legs shaped complementary to the bow shaped pin link for receiving a bow shaped pin link therein, each of said legs having spaced apart projections shaped complementary to the recesses in th bow shaped pin link and extending into said leg recess to fit within the recesses in the pin link for trapping the bow shaped pin link, whereby said legs and the recesses therein are normally spaced apart a distance sufficient to accommodate an associated pair of the bow shaped links therebetween with said projections in position to engage and trap the associated pair of bow shaped pin links, bending deformation of said base in a direction away from said legs resulting in the free ends of said legs being moved apart a distance sufficient to permit said legs to be positioned astride an associated pair of bow shaped pin links for engagement and trapping of the pair of bow shaped pin links by said legs and said projections, bending deformation of said base in a direction away from said legs resulting in the free ends of said legs being moved apart a distance sufficient to disengage said legs and said projections from the associated pair of bow shaped pin links previously engaged and trapped thereby.

Claim 10

An attachment for carrying articles on an articulated chain conveyor having a plurality of chain links joined together by bow shaped pin links, said attachment comprising a base having a first thickness providing a support surface to carry articles on the associated conveyor, spaced apart legs depending from said base opposite said support surface and substantially normal thereto for mounting said attachment on the associated conveyor, said base having an area of reduced thickness between said legs to accommodate flexure of the free ends of said legs for mounting said attachment on the associated conveyor, and a reinforcing member on said area of reduced thickness opposite said support surface extending between said legs for reinforcing said base during flexure thereof, a recess in the inner surface of each of said legs shaped complementary to the bow shaped pin link for receiving a bow shaped pin link therein, each of said legs having spaced apart projections shaped complementary to the recesses in th bow shaped pin link and extending into said leg recess to fit within the recesses in the pin link for trapping the bow shaped pin link, whereby said legs and the recesses therein are normally spaced apart a distance sufficient to accommodate an associated pair of the bow shaped links therebetween with said projections in position to engage and trap the associated pair of bow shaped pin links, bending deformation of said base in a direction away from said legs resulting in the free ends of said legs being moved apart a distance sufficient to permit said legs to be positioned astride an associated pair of bow shaped pin links for engagement and trapping of the pair of bow shaped pin links by said legs and said projections, bending deformation of said base in a direction away from said legs resulting in the free ends of said legs being moved apart a distance sufficient to disengage said legs and said projections from the associated pair of bow shaped pin links previously engaged and trapped thereby.