US5249699A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Hazardous material container
Assignee: Regal Plastics Co
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Filing: 1991-07-22
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Granted: 1993-10-05
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Expires: 2011-07-22
Abstract
Abstract A device for containing spills and leaks of hazardous chemicals includes a tray having upwardly extending side walls to define a cavity in which the leaked chemicals may be contained. The bottom of the tray includes grooves formed therein and adapted to allow the tray to be lifted and moved by a forklift or pallet jack. Additional reinforcing grooves may also be formed in the tray bottom. The side walls which extend parallel to the forklift grooves include a series of depressions adapted to receive and retain the ends of support bars which extend across the cavity of the tray to support a pallet thereon. The upper edges of the support bars are vertically below the upper edge of the side walls such that the side walls block undue movement of a pallet resting upon the support bars. The support bars may include support columns extending downwardly to the bottom of the tray to remove the load from the sidewalls and forklift grooves during use.
Inventors
- 👤 G. Lee Williams
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 01:12
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D19/00; B65D19/38; B65D19/40; B65D19/0004; B65D19/0053; B65D19/0055; B65D19/0057; B65D19/0061; B65D19/0063; B65D81/00; B65D81/24; B65D81/26; B65D81/261; B65D2519/00; B65D2519/00004; B65D2519/00009; B65D2519/00049; B65D2519/00069; B65D2519/00258; B65D2519/00263; B65D2519/00273; B65D2519/00283; B65D2519/00293; B65D2519/00298; B65D2519/00313; B65D2519/00318; B65D2519/00328; B65D2519/00338; B65D2519/00398; B65D2519/00402; B65D2519/00412; B65D2519/00547; B65D2519/00552; B65D2519/00557; B65D2519/00562; B65D2519/00572; B65D2519/00736; B65D2519/00935; B65D2519/0094
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
161 words
A device for containing hazardous materials, comprising; a tray having a bottom and at least one side wall extending about the periphery of said bottom and extending upwardly to an upper periphery, said bottom including at least two fork channels adapted to receive the forks of a forklift whereby said tray may be lifted by the forklift, and said tray including means for supporting a pallet within said tray, said means having an upper face which is vertically lower than said upper periphery, and said means comprising at least a pair of support bars, each located within the extent of, and extending between spaced locations along, said upper periphery, said support bars having an upper face which is vertically lower than said upper periphery, and a plurality of support columns associated with each of said support bars, said support columns having a lower end resting upon said bottom of said tray and an upper end connected to said associated support bar.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
161 words
A device for containing hazardous materials, comprising; a tray having a bottom and at least one side wall extending about the periphery of said bottom and extending upwardly to an upper periphery, said bottom including at least two fork channels adapted to receive the forks of a forklift whereby said tray may be lifted by the forklift, and said tray including means for supporting a pallet within said tray, said means having an upper face which is vertically lower than said upper periphery, and said means comprising at least a pair of support bars, each located within the extent of, and extending between spaced locations along, said upper periphery, said support bars having an upper face which is vertically lower than said upper periphery, and a plurality of support columns associated with each of said support bars, said support columns having a lower end resting upon said bottom of said tray and an upper end connected to said associated support bar.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
A device as in claim 1, wherein said means for supporting a pallet comprises at least a pair of support bars located within the extent of said upper periphery, said support bars having an upper face which is vertically lower than said upper periphery.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
A device as in claim 2, wherein said means further comprises a plurality of support columns associated with each of said support bars, said support columns having a lower end resting upon said bottom of said tray and an upper end connected to said associated support bar.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
62 words
A device as in claim 1, wherein each said support bar includes a lower face in close proximity to an upper face of said fork channels and said tray is formed of an at least slightly elastic material, whereby lifting of said tray by the forklift causes said support bars to be directly supported upon said upper face of said fork channels.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
88 words
A device as in claim 4, wherein said bottom has a substantially square peripheral configuration, said at least one side wall comprises four side walls, said fork channels comprise two substantially parallel fork channels spaced from each other and extending between and opening into a first opposed pair of said side walls, said support bars are spaced from each other and extend substantially perpendicular to said fork channels, and further comprising at least one reinforcing channel formed in said bottom and extending substantially perpendicular to said fork channels.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
71 words
A device as in claim 1, wherein said at least one side wall includes a pair of support cavities associated with each of said support bars, said support cavities receiving longitudinal end portions of said associated support bar and restricting movement of said end portions at least in two directions which are substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said support bar and substantially parallel to the plane of said bottom.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
47 words
A device as in claim 6, wherein said means further comprises a plurality of support columns associated with each of said support bars, said support columns having a lower end resting upon said bottom of said tray and an upper end connected to said associated support bar.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
61 words
A device as in claim 6, wherein said support bar includes a lower face in close proximity to an upper face of said fork channels and said tray is formed of an at least slightly elastic material, whereby lifting of said tray by the forklift causes said support bars to be directly supported upon said upper face of said fork channels.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
102 words
A device as in claim 8, wherein said bottom has a substantially square peripheral configuration, said at least one side wall comprises four side walls, said fork channels comprise two substantially parallel fork channels spaced from each other and extending between and opening into a first opposed pair of said side walls, said support bars are spaced from each other and extend substantially perpendicular to said fork channels, said support cavities are located on the other opposed pair of said side walls, and further comprising at least one reinforcing channel formed in said bottom and extending substantially perpendicular to said fork channels.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
A device as in claim 6, wherein said support cavities are integrally formed as depressions within said at least one side wall.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
A device as in claim 10, wherein said bottom, sidewalls, and support cavities are formed as a monolithic unit.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
A device as in claim 11, wherein said monolithic unit is formed of high density polyethylene.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
132 words
A device as in claim 1, wherein the pallet intended to be supported by said means to support a pallet includes upper and lower layers fixed in spaced opposed position and adapted to receive the forks of the forklift therebetween, a layer distance between the layers being greater than the vertical thickness of the forks of the forklift adapted to be employed with the pallet, and wherein said upper face of said means is vertically lower than said upper periphery by a tray distance which is less than the layer distance minus the vertical thickness of the forks, yet a sufficient fraction of a thickness of the pallet lower layer such that said side wall acts as an abutment against movement of the lower layer beyond the extent of said upper periphery.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
208 words
A device for containing hazardous materials, comprising: a tray having a bottom and at least one side wall extending about the periphery of said bottom and extending upwardly to an upper periphery, said bottom including at least tow fork channels adapted to receive the forks of a forklift whereby said tray may be lifted by the forklift; at least a pair of support bars located within the extent of said upper periphery, each said support bar having an upper face adapted to support a pallet, and a lower face; and wherein said at least one side wall includes a pair of support cavities associated with each of said support bars, said support cavities receiving longitudinal end portions of said associated support bar and restricting movement of said end portions at least in two directions which are substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said support bar and substantially parallel to the plane of said bottom, said support cavities having a bottom upon which said lower face of said respective longitudinal ends of said support bars rest, said support cavities being located within said side wall at a vertical height such that said lower face of each said side bar abuts against an upper face of said fork channels.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
208 words
A device for containing hazardous materials, comprising: a tray having a bottom and at least one side wall extending about the periphery of said bottom and extending upwardly to an upper periphery, said bottom including at least tow fork channels adapted to receive the forks of a forklift whereby said tray may be lifted by the forklift; at least a pair of support bars located within the extent of said upper periphery, each said support bar having an upper face adapted to support a pallet, and a lower face; and wherein said at least one side wall includes a pair of support cavities associated with each of said support bars, said support cavities receiving longitudinal end portions of said associated support bar and restricting movement of said end portions at least in two directions which are substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said support bar and substantially parallel to the plane of said bottom, said support cavities having a bottom upon which said lower face of said respective longitudinal ends of said support bars rest, said support cavities being located within said side wall at a vertical height such that said lower face of each said side bar abuts against an upper face of said fork channels.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
A device as in claim 14, wherein said support cavities are integrally formed as depressions within said at least one side wall.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
A device as in claim 15, wherein said bottom, sidewalls, and support cavities are formed as a monolithic unit.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
44 words
A device as in claim 16, further comprising a plurality of support columns associated with each of said support bars, said support columns having a lower end resting upon said bottom of said tray and an upper end connected to said associated support bar.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
81 words
A device as in claim 17, wherein said bottom has a substantially square peripheral configuration, said at least one side wall comprises four side walls, further including two substantially parallel fork channels spaced from each other and extending between and opening into a first opposed pair of said side walls, said support bars being spaced from each other and extending substantially perpendicular to said fork channels, and said support cavities being located on the other opposed pair of said side walls.
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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) | 1996-10-04 | 1997-04-05 | 1997-10-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-10-04 | 2001-04-05 | 2001-10-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-10-04 | 2005-04-05 | 2005-10-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |