SUB BASKET AND METHOD FOR STORING AND TRANSPORTING SUBS

A sub basket configured to receive tangs upon which the subs are installed. The sub basket having support members that engaged the tangs and secure them to the sub basket. The support members securable via at least one of a handle latch, a door and a pin latch locking the door closed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Like reference characters denote like parts in several drawings.

FIG. 1shows an apparatus1for storing and transporting tubular subs said apparatus having a frame, including a bottom portion2and a front side30, a back side3, and first4and second5ends, the sides30and3and ends4and5being fixed to the bottom portion2, an interior portion formed by the bottom portion2and the fixed sides30and3and ends4and5and an open top section31. Support members8are fixed generally orthogonally to a top portion of the first and second ends4and5such that the support members may be rotated or positioned into open and closed positions. A door7hinged to the first end4is shown such that the door may be closed to lock the support member8in position or opened to permit rotation or positioning of the support member8.

FIG. 2shows a enlarged view of the door7fixed to the first end4in a closed position and a pin latch12fixed to the door7such that the door is locked in a closed position. The pin latch12includes a pin14of the pin latch12which may engage the first end4such that the door7is locked closed. The pin latch12also includes a first compression spring16, holding the pin14of the pin latch12partially extended into a pinlatch aperture on the first end4. To release the pin latch12, a second latch15may be rotated to permit an engaged portion of the pin14of the pin latch12to pass out of the second latch15. After the pin14of the pin latch12is free of the second latch, a load may be applied against the compression spring16to disengage the pin14from the latch aperture on the first end4. A similar arrangement may be found on the second end5having a second door with a fixed second pin latch.

FIGS. 3 and 4show the sub basket apparatus1having the first door7in an open position. The open door7uncovers a portion of a circular disc end11of the support member8and a disc pin17attached to a side of the circular disc end11opposite of an elongated support portion26. The disc pin17extends from the circular disc end11through an arched opening18in the first end4. The disc pin17may be used to reposition the support member8. When the disc pin17is moved to a position of the arched opening18closest to the front side30of the sub basket frame, the support member8is in a closed position as shown inFIG. 3. When the disc pin17is moved to a position of the arched opening18closest to the back side3of the sub basket frame, the support member8is in an open position as shown inFIG. 4. Disc pin17may be configured to engaged an extension member that an operator may use to safely and efficiently position support members8.

Also shown inFIGS. 3 and 4are handle latches13fixed to a top portion of the first end4and the second end5. The handle latches13are placed such that a protruding portion33of the handle latch13may engage the circular disc ends11at a plurality of handle latch apertures32thereon. When the handle latch13is engaged with the circular end11at one of the handle latch apertures32, the supporting member8will be held into a position corresponding to the handle latch aperture32engaged.

FIGS. 5,5A, and5B illustrate the sub basket1with six tangs19loaded into the sub basket1and the supporting member8in a closed position. A plurality of tang receiving apertures20are located along an underside of the elongated support portion26of the support member8to receive a top portion of a tang19when the support member8is in a closed position.

FIGS. 6 and 7show the sub basket1having a sub21installed upon an elongated pin22of the tang19, which passes through a central bore of the sub21, allowing a bottom portion of the sub21to rest upon a receiving surface25on a base portion23of the tang19. The receiving surface25may be a replaceable rubber surface. The base portion23of the tang19is placed into a tang receiving fixture24on the bottom portion2of the sub basket1. The elongated pin22of the tang19extends beyond the sub11, and a cap9having a central bore28is placed on the top portion of the sub21. The elongated pin22may be threaded and the central bore28of the cap9may be threaded such that the cap may be threaded onto the elongated pin22. A top portion of the elongated pin22of the tang extends beyond the cap9and is engaged by the tang apertures20on the elongated portion of the support member8when the support member8is in a closed position. In the bottom portion2of the sub basket1, fork lift apertures6are included such that the sub basket1may be moved via fork lift.

FIGS. 8,8A, and9show view of the support member8having the elongated portion26and the circular disc ends11. Extending from the circular disc ends11are the disc pins17. The tang receiving apertures20are located on an underside of the elongated portion26of the support member8.

FIGS. 10 and 10Aillustrate a tang19without a sub installation including the base portion23, the receiving surface25, the elongated pin22and an eyelet27on the top of the elongated pin22.FIG. 18illustrates the same features of the tang19where the sub21has been installed upon the tang19resting upon the receiving surface25and held in place by the cap9which has been threaded on the elongated pin22such that the sub21is held securely in place on the tang19.

FIGS. 11 and 12show views of the cap9including the central bore28through which the elongated pin22may pass or be threaded.

FIGS. 13,14,15, and16illustrate the handle latch13having a second compression spring29holding the handle latch in position13such that the protruding portion33of the handle latch13may engage the circular disc end11at one of the handle latch apertures32located on the circular disc end11.

While the drawings reflect a sub basket having up to six tangs placed therein for storage and transport and having two support members to secure the tangs in the sub basket, different configurations involving more tangs, less tangs, more support members or less support members may be pursued for the present disclosure.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the sub21may be installed upon the tang19by passing the elongated pin22of the tang19through the central bore of the sub21until the bottom portion of the sub21rests upon the receiving surface25on the top of the base portion23of the tang19. The sub21may then be secured on the tang19by threading the cap9on the elongated pin22until the cap9is secure on the top portion of the sub21. Once the sub21is securely installed on the tang19, the tang19may be lifted via the eyelet27and moved into the sub basket1wherein the support member8is in an open position. The tang19is lowered into the interior portion of the sub basket1until the base portion23of the tang19is placed within one of the tang receiving fixtures24on the bottom portion2of the sub basket1. After the tang19is placed into the tang receiving fixture24, a load is applied to the handle latches13of the support member8until the handle latches13disengage from the handle latch apertures32on the circular disc ends11of the supporting member8, allowing the support member8to be rotated. The disc pin17is then moved to a position on the arched opening closest to the front side30of the sub basket1such that the tang aperture20on the support member8passes over the top portion of the tang19and the handle latches13engage the handle latch apertures32on the circular disc ends11where the supporting member8is in a closed position. The tang19is thus securely held in place inside the sub basket1. The door7may then be closed applying a load to the pin14of the pin latch12and closing the door7until the pin12is able to engage the pin latch aperture. Once the pin14of the pin latch12has engaged the pin latch aperture, the pin14of the pin latch12may be rotated such that a portion of the pin14engages the second pin latch15and the second pin latch15may be closed with a portion of the pin14held therein.

An exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure provides an efficient and secure apparatus for the storage and transportation of subs. By first installing a sub on a tang and then securing multiple tangs in a sub basket simultaneously by closing a support member, subs within the sub basket are substantially prevented from moving without the need for separate latch attachments to each sub in the sub basket. Moreover, access to the subs for removal is efficiently accomplished by repositioning the support member and removing the tang having the desired sub installed thereon.

In another exemplary embodiment, a sub basket1assembly is provided having a bottom portion2with tang receiving fixtures24spaced thereon, a plurality of frame sides30and3and frame ends4and5fixed to the bottom portion2forming the basket, a plurality of support members8fixed to a top portion of the frame ends4and5such that the support members8may be rotated into open and closed positions, and a plurality of tangs19having a base portion23, an elongated pin portion22and a cap9. The tang19may receive a sub21having a top portion, a bottom portion and a central bore by passing the elongated pin22through the central bore until the bottom portion of the sub21rests upon the base portion23of the tang19. The base portion23of the tang19may be placed into one of the tang receiving fixtures24on the bottom portion2of the sub basket1. The elongated pin portion22of the tang19may engage a tang aperture20on the support member8when the support member8is in a closed position.

In another exemplary embodiment, a method of storing and transporting subs is provided including, installing the sub21on a tang19having a base portion23, an elongated pin22extending upwards from the base portion23, and a cap9, placing the tang19vertically in a sub basket1having tang receiving fixtures24spaced on a bottom portion2therein, engaging support members8connected to top portions of the sub basket1such that the support members8receive top portions of the elongated pins22, latching the support members8in a closed position with a handle latch13, further locking the support members8in a closed position by use of a door7that prevents rotation of the support members8when the door7is closed, and locking the door7closed by latching the door7to an end portion of the sub basket1.

In the foregoing example embodiments are described. It will, however, be evident that various modifications and changes may be made thereunto without departing from the broader spirit and scope hereof. The specification and drawings are accordingly to be regarded in an illustrative rather than in a restrictive sense.