Security device

A security device for storing and retaining of products or product packing devices such as pallets, crates and the like having a clamping mechanism slidably mounted on and drivable with respect to a vertical column, the clamping mechanism including one or more pivotally mounted arms carrying one or more clamping pads adapted to clamp a stack of products or product packing devices between a pad and base member of the device.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
The subject invention relates generally to security devices and more 
particularly to a security device for securing products or product packing 
devices such as pallets and crates used, for example, in retail 
distribution. 
According to prior procedures, reusable packing devices such as pallets, 
crates, trays, boxes etc., have been used in the shipping of goods. Such 
devices are often left unattended in open areas where they are exposed to 
theft or damage. Building materials such as lumber are often similarly 
left exposed in construction areas and are favorite targets of theft and 
vandalism. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a security device for 
products and product packing devices. 
It is another object of the invention to provide a security device for such 
packing devices and products which is conveniently locatable near the 
working area where such products and devices are frequently stored or 
used. 
It is yet another object of the invention to provide such a security device 
which is safe and easy to operate. 
Accordingly, the invention provides a secured, free standing clamping 
apparatus particularly designed to retain pallets and other types of 
packing devices or products. The apparatus employs a clamping pad moveably 
mounted on a vertical member. The pad is adjustable to accomodate stacks 
of various heights of products or packing devices and is lockable in a 
clamping mode to secure the products or packing devices in position. 
According to a feature of the invention, the pad may be interchangeable in 
order to adapt the apparatus of the invention to various types of products 
or packing devices. The invention further has the advantage of enabling 
the secure use of previously unused space outside of a retail 
establishment or warehouse.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
As illustrated in FIG. 1, the preferred embodiment includes a vertical 
frame member 11 attached to a center base member 25 and braced by front 
and rear crank rails 15, 17. The front crank rail 15 rigidly attaches to a 
front upright member 19, which is rigidly attached to a center base 25. 
The center base 25 and rear crank rail 17 are each attached to a rear 
frame 13. The rear frame 13 includes two frame sections 16, 18 each welded 
to a respective side of upper and lower tubular adjustment brackets 29, 
31. Alternatively, the horizontal rear frame members may be of single 
piece construction with adjustment brackets welded or otherwise attached 
on the under surface thereof. Each rear frame section 16, 18 is braced by 
respective rear uprights 21, 23. The frame structure is generally of 
square metal tubular construction. 
The rear crank rail 17 and center base member 25 are attached to the rear 
frame 13 by the upper and lower adjustment brackets 29, 31. These brackets 
29, 31 and the accompanying pins 32 permit the center base member 25 and 
rear crank rail 17 to be selectively positioned. With the pins 32 removed, 
the position of the rear crank rail 17 and center base 25 may be slidably 
adjusted in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the rear frame 13. 
Such adjustment enables the preferred embodiment to better accomodate 
various sizes of pallets or other containers. 
In FIG. 1, a sleeve 45 is slidably mounted on the vertical column 11. An 
arm swivel 43 is pivotally mounted by a pin 51 to the sleeve 45. First and 
second receivers 39 41 are welded to the swivel arm 43 at an angle, for 
example, of thirty degrees in the embodiment shown. First and second 
square tubular arms 35, 37 are inserted into the respective receivers 39, 
41 and bolted into position. First and second pads 31, 33 are pivotally 
mounted by pivots 49, 47 at the end of each arm 35, 37, opposite the 
receivers 39, 41. These pads 31, 33 present a tubular generally "H" shaped 
construction, depending from perpendicular supports 40, 42. The arms 35, 
37 and pads 31, 33 are removable, providing interchangeability with other 
arms and pads designed to accomodate other packing devices. The sleeve 45, 
swivel 43, arms 35, 37 and pads 31, 33 comprise a clamping mechanism 
slidably mounted on the vertical column 11. 
A base plate 27 is further bolted to the center base 25. The base plate 27 
facilitates assertion of upward as well as downward clamping forces and 
precludes any tendency of the preferred embodiment to rise off the ground 
in response to the assertion of downward force by the clamping pads 31, 
33. The preferred embodiment is preferably fastened to the ground by 
suitable L brackets 97 attached to the front upright 19 and rear frame 13. 
In operation, the pivot points provided by pivots 47, 49, 51 provide an 
improved clamping function. In particular the flexibility of movement 
provided enables accomodation of loads of varying heighth or surface 
irregularity. 
The sleeve 45 and accompanying clamping pads 31, 33 are driven up and down 
the vertical column 11 by a chain and crank mechanism. To facilitate this 
operation, the sleeve 45 is attached to a chain 53, which rides on 
sprockets, e.g. 85, within the vertical column 11 (FIG. 5). The chain 
exits the vertical column 11 via a slot 88 therein. A chain guard 55 is 
attached between a bracket 81 and a gear box 59 and seals off access to 
the chain 53. In an alternate embodiment, a cable may be used in place of 
the chain 53. 
Driving power is supplied to the gear box 59 by a crank rod 61 (FIG. 4) 
rotatably mounted on the front crank rail 15. The crank rod 61 is driven 
by a removable crank handle 73 mounted by means of a pin 62 inserted in a 
suitable pin hole 63. 
The preferred embodiment further incorporates a locking mechanism 
illustrated in detail in FIGS. 3 and 4. As shown, a locking gear 65 is 
fixedly mounted to the crank rod 61. The locking gear 65 forms part of the 
ratchet locking mechanism together with a locking lever comprising 
elements 69, 71 and a spring 75. The locking lever elements 69, 71 are 
rigidly attached to one another and pivotally mounted by a pivot 77. The 
spring 75 maintains the locking lever 69, 71 engaged with the locking gear 
65. This engagement precludes accidental slipping of the clamping 
mechanism on column 11, thereby providing a safety feature. In addition, 
the locking lever element 69 is provided with a circular aperture 79. A 
complimentary aperture 78 (FIG. 1) is formed in the crank plate 67. The 
complimentary apertures 79, 78 facilitate the insertion of a padlock or 
other locking mechanism to lock the clamping mechanism in position. A 
concentric shaft cover may also be welded to the crank plate 67 to 
surround and protect the exposed end of the crank rod 61 which carries pin 
62. Such a shaft cover should be of sufficient diameter to enable 
insertion of crank handle 73. 
The gear box 59 is a typical reduction gear box including a second sprocket 
for the chain 53 and providing for the assertion of approximately 
200-5,000 pounds of force (100-2,500 pounds/arm) by the clamping pads 31, 
33. 
FIG. 5 illustrates an adjustment mechanism provided at the top of the 
vertical column 11. A sleeve 83 is slidably mounted with respect to the 
vertical column 11. The sleeve 83 and vertical column 11 contain 
complimenting slots providing an aperture 87 through which the sprocket 
shaft 86 is inserted. The sprocket shaft 86 is bolted to the sleeve 83 
such that it may be selectively positioned within the aperture 87. A plate 
93 is fixed to the top of the vertical column 11 and a plate 91 parallel 
to the plate 93 is fixed in the adjustment sleeve 83. A tension adjuster 
bolt 89 is threadably inserted into a nut 95, which is welded or otherwise 
attached to the sleeve plate 91. A tension adjustment may thus be provided 
by turning of the bolt 89. 
The preferred embodiment is particularly adapted to the storing of pallets 
34. The frame structure provided squares off the pallet load and the 
pivotal mounting of the clamping pads 31, 33 accomodates variations in the 
size of respective stacks of pallets 34. With a vertical column heighth of 
ten feet, two pallet stacks of approximately 15 pallets may be safely 
retained in position. While the preferred embodiment employs a removable 
hand crank mechanism, it is additionally possible to use a gear motor 
mounted to the top of a vertical column 11 to provide a motorized drive. 
Variations in the design of the clamping structure used in the preferred 
embodiment are possible as illustrated in FIGS. 7 through 12. FIG. 7 
illustrates a frame member 90 substitutable for frame member 13 and 
particularly adapted for storing milk crates. FIGS. 8 and 9 show top and 
side views of a clamping pad 92 forming a substantially rectangular cap of 
angle iron construction suitable for retaining milk crates. FIGS. 10 and 
11 illustrate a base structure 91 usable with the frame 90 and pad 92 of 
FIGS. 7-9. FIG. 12 illustrates a U-shaped base member 94 usable, for 
example, in a pallet holding embodiment. In such an embodiment, a vertical 
column 11 and an associated clamping mechanism as shown in FIG. 2 may be 
disposed above the base 94. Thus, specially designed clamping pads may 
cooperate with specially designed base and frame members to clamp various 
types of containers. It is further possible to simply use one arm and 
clamping pad rather than a dual arm embodiment as disclosed. 
As is apparent, various modifications and adaptations of the preferred 
embodiment will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing 
from the scope and spirit of the invention. Therefore it is to be 
understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention 
may be practiced other than as specifically described herein.