Patent ID: 9440787
Filing Date: 2016-09-13
CPC Classification: B65D,B65G

Claim Text:
1. A platform for supporting and moving a bulk seed container with the container having a lower end, an upper end, a vertically disposed first side, a vertically disposed second side, a vertically disposed third side, a vertically disposed fourth side, a discharge opening centrally positioned at the lower end thereof, a slide gate which is accessible at the first side of the container for opening and closing the discharge opening thereof, and first and second horizontally spaced-apart fork openings formed therein at the lower end thereof, comprising: a horizontally disposed worker support platform frame; said worker support platform frame comprising: a container support structure, having upper and lower ends, fixedly secured to said first frame member of said worker support platform frame and to said second frame member of said worker support platform frame which extends upwardly from said worker support platform frame between said inner end of said first worker support platform and said inner end of said second worker support platform; a horizontally disposed pan fixedly mounted on said upper end of said container support structure; said pan including an elongated and horizontally disposed first frame member having first and second ends, an elongated and horizontally disposed second frame member having first and second ends, an elongated and horizontally disposed third frame member having first and second ends, and an elongated and horizontally disposed fourth frame member having first and second ends; said first frame member of said pan, said second frame member of said pan, said third frame member of said pan, and said fourth frame member of said pan being joined together to form a container support; each of said first, second, third and fourth frame members of said pan having an angular cross-section with a base portion having inner and outer sides and an upstanding wall portion extending upwardly from the outer side of the base portion whereby the lower end of the container may be supported on the base portions of said first, second, third and fourth frame members of said pan inwardly of the upstanding wall portions thereof; said outer end of said first worker support platform being horizontally spaced outwardly of said first frame member of said pan; the horizontal spacing of said outer end of said first worker support platform from said first frame member of said pan enabling a worker to stand on said first worker support platform at one side of the container; said outer end of said second worker support platform being horizontally spaced outwardly of said third frame member of said pan; the horizontal spacing of said outer end of said second worker support platform from said third frame member of said pan enabling a worker to stand on said second worker support platform at another side of the container; said container support structure having horizontally disposed and horizontally spaced-apart first and second fork receiving tubes extending between said first and second sides of said container support structure below said pan which are configured to selectively receive the forks of a lift apparatus therein whereby said worker support platform frame, said first worker support platform, said second worker support platform, said container support structure, said pan and the container may be moved by the lift structure.