Tire shipping and storage structure

Claim 2

A tire shipping and storage structure comprising: a. a base member having substantially horizontal deck portion adapted to support at least one stack of tires, said deck portion having peripheral edges; b. a plurality of standards mounted on the deck portion adjacent peripheral edges and extending upwardly therefrom; c. a top member having portions engageable with respective top tires of the stacks of tires supported on the deck portion; d. cooperating means on said top member and on said standards to secure said top member on said standards and in spaced relation with the deck portion and to hold tires compressed therebetween, said tires being held only by the base member deck portion and the top member; and e. means on said standards to permit adjusting the spacing between said top member and the deck portion of said base member in response to pressure longitudinally of said standards.

Claim 3

A tire shipping and support structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein: a. said standards each have a first section mounted on said upper deck portion of said base member and a second section slidably engaged with said first section and movable longitudinally thereof; b. said means on said standards to permit adjusting the spacing between said top member and said deck portion comprises cooperating means on the first and second sections thereof to permit adjusting the spacing between said top member and said deck portion of said base member; and c. said cooperating means includes a keeper member mounted on one of said first and second sections and resiliently and selectively engageable with the other of said first and second sections of said standards.

Claim 4

latch means mounted on said first section and operable for engaging portions of said second section retaining same in a selected position, each said latch means including: i. a bracket secured to a respective first section having abutment forming portions extending therefrom, said first and second sections having adjacent wall members with at least one aperture through said first section wall member and a plurality of longitudinally spaced apertures through said second section wall member; ii. a latch member movably mounted on said bracket and having a portion thereof adapted for selectively extending through aligned apertures of said first and second sections; iii. a resilient member mounted on said latch member cooperating with portions thereof and with said abutment forming portions urging said latch member to remain in a position extending through said aligned apertures; c. a top member having portions engageable with respective top tires of said stack of tires supported on the deck portion, said flat surface, said top member portions and standards cooperate providing unobstructed entry for loading and unloading of said stack of compressed tires therebetween; and d. means associated with said top member and said standards and securing said top member on said standards in spaced relation with the deck portion for holding tires compressed therebetween, said tires being held only by the base member deck portion and the top member.

Claim 5

latch means mounted on said first section and operable for engaging portions of said second section retaining same in a selected position, each said latch means including: i. a bracket secured to a respective first section having abutment forming portions extending therefrom, said first and second sections having adjacent wall members with at least one aperture through said first section wall member and a plurality of longitudinally spaced apertures through said second section wall member; ii. a latch member movably mounted on said bracket and having a portion thereof adapted for selectively extending through aligned apertures of said first and second sections; iii. a resilient member mounted on said latch member cooperating with portions thereof and with said abutment forming portions urging said latch member to remain in a position extending through said aligned apertures; c. a top member having portions engageable with respective top tires of said stack of tires supported on the deck portion, said flat surface, said top member portions and standards cooperate providing unobstructed entry for loading and unloading of said stack of compressed tires therebetween; and d. means associated with said top member and said standards and securing said top member on said standards in spaced relation with the deck portion for holding tires compressed therebetween, said tires being held only by the base member deck portion and the top member.

Claim 6

a cam surface on each of said end members;

Claim 7

a cam surface on each of said end members;

Claim 8

a downwardly facing shoulder on the free end of each of said standards and adjacent the cam surface thereon;

Claim 9

a downwardly facing shoulder on the free end of each of said standards and adjacent the cam surface thereon;

Claim 10

each of said second sections has a plurality of longitudinally spaced shoulders thereon; c. a top member having portions engageable with respective top tires of the stacks of tires supported on the deck portion; d. cooperating means on said top member and on said standards to secure said top member on said standards and in spaced relation with the deck portion; e. means on said standards to permit adjusting the spacing between said top member and the deck portion of said base member in response to pressure longitudinally of said standards; f. each of said first sections has a latch member movably mounted thereon and having a portion movable into engagement with a selected one of shoulders on the respective second section to maintain a certain spaced relation between said top member and said base member.

Claim 11

each of said second sections has a plurality of longitudinally spaced shoulders thereon; c. a top member having portions engageable with respective top tires of the stacks of tires supported on the deck portion; d. cooperating means on said top member and on said standards to secure said top member on said standards and in spaced relation with the deck portion; e. means on said standards to permit adjusting the spacing between said top member and the deck portion of said base member in response to pressure longitudinally of said standards; f. each of said first sections has a latch member movably mounted thereon and having a portion movable into engagement with a selected one of shoulders on the respective second section to maintain a certain spaced relation between said top member and said base member.

Claim 12

a latch member movably mounted on said top member for each of said standards and having a portion thereof engageable with said respective cam surface and movable into engagement with the shoulder on the free end of said respective standard;

Claim 13

a latch member movably mounted on said top member for each of said standards and having a portion thereof engageable with said respective cam surface and movable into engagement with the shoulder on the free end of said respective standard;

Claim 14

A tire shipping and support structure as set forth in claim 2 wherein: a. each of said standards has a support portion mounted on the deck portion of said base member; b. the first section of each of said standards is hingedly connected to the respective support portion to permit moving said first sections between a folded position engaging the deck portion of said base member and an upstanding position; and c. said support portions and the respective first sections have cooperating latch means thereon to selectively lock the first sections in the upstanding position.

Claim 15

a downwardly facing shoulder on each of said end members and adjacent the cam surface thereon;

Claim 16

a downwardly facing shoulder on each of said end members and adjacent the cam surface thereon;

Claim 17

means engaging said latch member for urging same into engagement with said shoulder thereby securing said top member in position relative to said base member; e. means on said standards to permit adjusting the spacing between said top member and the deck portion of said base member in response to pressure longitudinally of said standards.

Claim 18

means engaging said latch member for urging same into engagement with said shoulder thereby securing said top member in position relative to said base member; e. means on said standards to permit adjusting the spacing between said top member and the deck portion of said base member in response to pressure longitudinally of said standards.

Claim 19

a latch member movably mounted on said top member for each of said end members and having a portion thereof engageable with said respective cam surface and movable into engagement with the shoulder on the respective end member thereby securing said top member in position relative to said base member; h. means on said standards to permit adjusting the spacing between said top member and the upper deck portion of said base member in response to pressure longitudinally of said standards to thereby vary compression on the stacks of tires between said base member and said top member.

Claim 20

a latch member movably mounted on said top member for each of said end members and having a portion thereof engageable with said respective cam surface and movable into engagement with the shoulder on the respective end member thereby securing said top member in position relative to said base member; h. means on said standards to permit adjusting the spacing between said top member and the upper deck portion of said base member in response to pressure longitudinally of said standards to thereby vary compression on the stacks of tires between said base member and said top member.

Claim 21

A tire shipping and storage structure comprising: a. a base member having spaced apart upper and lower deck portions and passages between said deck portions, said upper deck portion being adapted to support a plurality of spaced stacks of tires; b. a plurality of spaced standards mounted on the upper deck portion of said base member and extending upwardly therefrom; c. a top member having portions engageable with respective top tires of the stacks of tires supported on the upper deck portion; d. cooperating means on said top member and on said standards to removably secure said top member on said standards and in spaced relation with the upper deck portion of said base member; and e. means on said standards to permit adjusting the spacing between said top member and the upper deck portion of said base member in response to pressure longitudinally of said standards to thereby vary compression on the stacks of tires between said base member and said top member and latching the top member and upper deck portion in selected position for desired tire compression.

Claim 22

A tire shipping and storage structure comprising: a. a base member having spaced apart upper and lower deck portions and passages between said deck portions, said upper deck portion being adapted to support a plurality of spaced stacks of tires; b. a plurality of spaced standards mounted on the upper deck portion of said base member and extending upwardly therefrom; c. a top member having portions engageable with respective top tires of the stacks of tires supported on the upper deck portion; d. cooperating means on said top member and on said standards to removably secure said top member on said standards and in spaced relation with the upper deck portion of said base member; and e. means on said standards to permit adjusting the spacing between said top member and the upper deck portion of said base member in response to pressure longitudinally of said standards to thereby vary compression on the stacks of tires between said base member and said top member and latching the top member and upper deck portion in selected position for desired tire compression.

Claim 23

A tire shipping and storage structure as set forth in claim 4 wherein: a. said standards each have a first section mounted on said upper deck portion of said base member and a second section slidably engaged with said first section and movable longitudinally thereof; b. each of said second sections has a plurality of longitudinally spaced slots therein; and c. each of said first sections has a keeper member movably mounted thereon and having a portion movable into a selected one of the slots in the respective second section and engageable with said second section to maintain a certain spaced relation between said top member and said base member.

Claim 24

A tire shipping and storage structure as set forth in claim 5 wherein: a. each of said standards has a planar support portion mounted on the upper deck portion of said base member; b. the first section of each of said standards has one end thereof hingedly connected to the respective support portion to permit moving said first sections between a folded position engaging the upper deck portion of said base member and an upstanding position; and c. said support portions and the respective first sections have cooperating means thereon to maintain the first sections in the upstanding position.

Claim 25

A tire shipping and support structure comprising: a. a load carrying pallet having a deck for receiving one or more stacks of tires with the tires of a stack being one on another in vertical alignment; b. a top member having portions with lower faces engaging top tires of the stack and substantially parallel with the pallet deck; c. rigid members extending between said pallet deck and the top member; d. said top member being movable relative to the pallet to adjust the spacing and compression of tires therebetween; e. latch means selectively connecting the top member, rigid means and pallet to secure same in selected position and tire compression; and f. said rigid means being releasable for positioning substantially in overlying relation to the pallet.

Claim 26

A tire shipping and support structure comprising: a. a load carrying pallet having a deck for receiving one or more stacks of tires with the tires of a stack being one on another in vertical alignment; b. a top member having portions with lower faces engaging top tires of the stack and substantially parallel with the pallet deck; c. rigid members extending between said pallet deck and the top member; d. said top member being movable relative to the pallet to adjust the spacing and compression of tires therebetween; e. latch means selectively connecting the top member, rigid means and pallet to secure same in selected position and tire compression; and f. said rigid means being releasable for positioning substantially in overlying relation to the pallet.

Claim 27

A tire shipping and storage structure comprising: a. a base member having a deck portion adapted to support at least one stack of tires; b. a plurality of standards mounted on the deck portion and extending upwardly therefrom;

Claim 28

A tire shipping and storage structure comprising: a. a base member having a deck portion adapted to support at least one stack of tires; b. a plurality of standards mounted on the deck portion and extending upwardly therefrom;

Claim 29

A tire shipping and storage structure comprising: a. a base member having a deck portion adapted to support at least one stack of tires; b. a plurality of standards mounted on the deck portion and extending upwardly therefrom; c. a top mEmber having portions engageable with respective top tires of the stacks of tires supported on the deck portion; d. cooperating means on said top member and on said standards to secure said top member on said standards and in spaced relation with the deck portion;

Claim 30

A tire shipping and storage structure comprising: a. a base member having a deck portion adapted to support at least one stack of tires; b. a plurality of standards mounted on the deck portion and extending upwardly therefrom; c. a top mEmber having portions engageable with respective top tires of the stacks of tires supported on the deck portion; d. cooperating means on said top member and on said standards to secure said top member on said standards and in spaced relation with the deck portion;

Claim 31

A tire shipping and storage structure comprising: a. a base member having spaced apart upper and lower deck portions and passages between said deck portions, said upper deck portion being adapted to support a plurality of spaced stacks of tires; b. a plurality of spaced standards mounted on the upper deck portion of said base member and extending upwardly therefrom; c. a top member having portions engageable with respective top tires of the stacks of tires supported on the upper deck portion; d. said standards each have a first section mounted on said upper deck portion of said base member and a second section slidably engaged with said first section and movable longitudinally thereof; e. each of said second sections has a plurality of longitudinally spaced slots therein; f. each of said first sections has a keeper member movably mounted thereon and having a portion movable into a selected one of the slots in the respective first section and engageable with said first section to maintain a certain spaced relation between said top member and said base member; g. cooperating means on said top member and on said standards to removably secure said top member on said standards and in spaced relation with the upper deck portion of said base member, said cooperating means including:

Claim 32

A tire shipping and storage structure comprising: a. a base member having spaced apart upper and lower deck portions and passages between said deck portions, said upper deck portion being adapted to support a plurality of spaced stacks of tires; b. a plurality of spaced standards mounted on the upper deck portion of said base member and extending upwardly therefrom; c. a top member having portions engageable with respective top tires of the stacks of tires supported on the upper deck portion; d. said standards each have a first section mounted on said upper deck portion of said base member and a second section slidably engaged with said first section and movable longitudinally thereof; e. each of said second sections has a plurality of longitudinally spaced slots therein; f. each of said first sections has a keeper member movably mounted thereon and having a portion movable into a selected one of the slots in the respective first section and engageable with said first section to maintain a certain spaced relation between said top member and said base member; g. cooperating means on said top member and on said standards to removably secure said top member on said standards and in spaced relation with the upper deck portion of said base member, said cooperating means including:

Claim 33

A tire shipping and storage structure comprising: a. a base member having a substantially horizontal deck portion adapted to support at least one stack of tires, said deck portion having peripheral edges; b. means associated with said deck portion and swingably mounting a plurality of standards in the deck portion adjacent the peripheral edges, said standards being swingable from an upright position, extending upwardly from said base member, to a substantially prone position overlying said base member; c. means associated with each said standard for selectively securing same in said upright position; d. a top member having portions engageable with respective top tires of the stack of tires supported on the deck portion, said Top member having depending portions; e. cooperating means on said top member and on said standards, wherein upper portions of said standards and the depending portions are sleeved one within the other, for removably securing said top member on said standards in spaced relation with the deck portion for holding tires compressed between said top member and said deck portion; f. said depending portions being adapted for engagement with portions of said standards mounting means when said standards are in said prone position wherein said top member is nested on said base member.

Claim 34

A tire shipping and storage structure comprising: a. a base member having a substantially horizontal deck portion adapted to support at least one stack of tires, said deck portion having peripheral edges; b. means associated with said deck portion and swingably mounting a plurality of standards in the deck portion adjacent the peripheral edges, said standards being swingable from an upright position, extending upwardly from said base member, to a substantially prone position overlying said base member; c. means associated with each said standard for selectively securing same in said upright position; d. a top member having portions engageable with respective top tires of the stack of tires supported on the deck portion, said Top member having depending portions; e. cooperating means on said top member and on said standards, wherein upper portions of said standards and the depending portions are sleeved one within the other, for removably securing said top member on said standards in spaced relation with the deck portion for holding tires compressed between said top member and said deck portion; f. said depending portions being adapted for engagement with portions of said standards mounting means when said standards are in said prone position wherein said top member is nested on said base member.

Claim 35

A tire shipping and storage structure comprising: a. a base member having a substantially horizontal deck portion adapted to support at least one stack of compressed tires, said deck portion having a substantially flat surface extending between peripheral edges thereof for engagement with said stack of tires; b. a plurality of standards mounted on the deck portion adjacent corners of said deck portion and extending upwardly therefrom; c. a top member having portions engageable with respective top tires of said stack of tires supported on the deck portion, said flat surface, said top member portions and standards cooperate providing unobstructed entry for loading and unloading of said stack of compressed tires therebetween; d. means associated with said top member and said standards and securing said top member on said standards in spaced relation with the deck portion for holding tires compressed therebetween, said tires being held only by the base member deck portion and the top member; and e. said standards having means thereon permitting adjustment of the spacing between said top member and the deck portion for accommodating different heights of said at least one stack of tires, said at least one stack of tires being compressed prior to loading to a height less than the space between said top member and deck portion and being inserted therebetween and allowed to expand against same whereby said at least one stack of tires is restrained therebetween in a compressed condition.

Claim 36

A tire shipping and storage structure comprising: a. a base member having a substantially horizontal deck portion adapted to support at least one stack of compressed tires, said deck portion having a substantially flat surface extending between peripheral edges thereof for engagement with said stack of tires; b. a plurality of standards mounted on the deck portion adjacent corners of said deck portion and extending upwardly therefrom; c. a top member having portions engageable with respective top tires of said stack of tires supported on the deck portion, said flat surface, said top member portions and standards cooperate providing unobstructed entry for loading and unloading of said stack of compressed tires therebetween; d. means associated with said top member and said standards and securing said top member on said standards in spaced relation with the deck portion for holding tires compressed therebetween, said tires being held only by the base member deck portion and the top member; and e. said standards having means thereon permitting adjustment of the spacing between said top member and the deck portion for accommodating different heights of said at least one stack of tires, said at least one stack of tires being compressed prior to loading to a height less than the space between said top member and deck portion and being inserted therebetween and allowed to expand against same whereby said at least one stack of tires is restrained therebetween in a compressed condition.

Claim 37

A tire shipping and storage structure comprising: a. a base member having a substantially horizontal deck portion adapted to support at least one stack of compressed tires, said deck portion having a substantially flat surface extending between peripheral edges thereof for engagement with said stack of tires; b. a plurality of standards mounted on the deck portion adjacent corners of said deck portion and extending upwardly therefrom, said standards being swingably mounted on said base member and selectively swingable from an upright position to a substantially prone position overlying said base member; c. a top member having portions engageable with respective top tires of said stack of tires supported on the deck portion, said flat surface, said top member portions and standards cooperate providing unobstructed entry for loading and unloading of said stack of compressed tires therebetween; d. means associated with said top member and said standards and securing said top member on said standards in spaced relation with the deck portion for holding tires compressed therebetween, said tires being held only by the base member beck portion and the top member, said means removably securing said top member on said standards and engaging portions of said top member and removably securing same on said standards; and e. retaining members associated with each of said standards and cooperating therewith selectively holding same in said upright position.

Claim 38

A tire shipping and storage structure comprising: a. a base member having a substantially horizontal deck portion adapted to support at least one stack of compressed tires, said deck portion having a substantially flat surface extending between peripheral edges thereof for engagement with said stack of tires; b. a plurality of standards mounted on the deck portion adjacent corners of said deck portion and extending upwardly therefrom, said standards being swingably mounted on said base member and selectively swingable from an upright position to a substantially prone position overlying said base member; c. a top member having portions engageable with respective top tires of said stack of tires supported on the deck portion, said flat surface, said top member portions and standards cooperate providing unobstructed entry for loading and unloading of said stack of compressed tires therebetween; d. means associated with said top member and said standards and securing said top member on said standards in spaced relation with the deck portion for holding tires compressed therebetween, said tires being held only by the base member beck portion and the top member, said means removably securing said top member on said standards and engaging portions of said top member and removably securing same on said standards; and e. retaining members associated with each of said standards and cooperating therewith selectively holding same in said upright position.

Claim 39

A tire shipping and storage structure as set forth in claim 13 wherein: a. said standards are hollow adjacent upper ends thereof and said top member engaging portions are depending members each receivable within a respective standard at the upper end thereof and selectively retained therein by a respective said latch member; b. said depending members each have an inclined surface portion engageable witH portions of a respective latch member to move said respective latch member to a nonlatching position facilitating entry of said respective depending member into said respective standard.

Claim 40

A tire shipping and storage structure as set forth in claim 13 wherein: a. said standards are swingably mounted on brackets that are secured to said deck portion, said brackets and said standards having cooperating abutment portions limiting upward swinging movement of said standards; b. said retaining members include sleeve members each slidably mounted on respective said standards selectively cooperating with portions of respective said brackets and respective said standards for selectively holding said standards in said upright position.

Claim 41

A tire shipping and storage structure comprising: a. a base member having a substantially horizontal deck portion adapted to support at least one stack of compressed tires, said deck portion having a substantially flat surface extending between peripheral edges thereof for engagement with said stack of tires; b. a plurality of standards mounted on the deck portion adjacent corners of said deck portion and extending upwardly therefrom, said standards each including:

Claim 42

A tire shipping and storage structure comprising: a. a base member having a substantially horizontal deck portion adapted to support at least one stack of compressed tires, said deck portion having a substantially flat surface extending between peripheral edges thereof for engagement with said stack of tires; b. a plurality of standards mounted on the deck portion adjacent corners of said deck portion and extending upwardly therefrom, said standards each including:

Claim 43

A tire shipping and storage structure comprising: a. a base member having a substantially horizontal deck portion adapted to support at least one stack of compressed tires, said deck portion having a substantially flat surface extending between peripheral edges thereof for engagement with said stack of tires; b. a plurality of standards mounted on the deck portion adjacent corners of said deck portion and extending upwardly therefrom, said standards being movable from an upright position to a substantially prone position overlying said base member; c. a top member having portions engageable with respective top tires of said stack of tires supported on the deck portion, said flat surface, said top member portions and standards cooperate providing unobstructed entry for loading and unloading of said stack of compressed tires therebetween; d. retaining members on the base member for each standard and selectively engageable with a respective standard for holding same in said upright position; and e. cooperative interengageable latch portions on the top member anD standards operative to removably secure the top member on the standards when the standards are in upright position with said top member on said standards in spaced relation with the deck portion for holding tires compressed therebetween said tires being held only by the base member deck portion and the top member.

Claim 44

A tire shipping and storage structure comprising: a. a base member having a substantially horizontal deck portion adapted to support at least one stack of compressed tires, said deck portion having a substantially flat surface extending between peripheral edges thereof for engagement with said stack of tires; b. a plurality of standards mounted on the deck portion adjacent corners of said deck portion and extending upwardly therefrom, said standards being movable from an upright position to a substantially prone position overlying said base member; c. a top member having portions engageable with respective top tires of said stack of tires supported on the deck portion, said flat surface, said top member portions and standards cooperate providing unobstructed entry for loading and unloading of said stack of compressed tires therebetween; d. retaining members on the base member for each standard and selectively engageable with a respective standard for holding same in said upright position; and e. cooperative interengageable latch portions on the top member anD standards operative to removably secure the top member on the standards when the standards are in upright position with said top member on said standards in spaced relation with the deck portion for holding tires compressed therebetween said tires being held only by the base member deck portion and the top member.