Crate for storing and transporting stakes at construction sites

Abstract

A single-piece crate for securely storing and efficiently transporting construction stakes. The crate accommodates a large number of stakes, is forklift-compatible, and prevents disorganization or loss at construction sites. Its design promotes easy loading, storage, and retrieval, enhancing site efficiency and reducing material waste.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 757,606, filed on Feb. 12, 2025, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.FIELD OF INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates generally to construction site equipment and, more specifically, to a crate designed for organizing, storing, and transporting construction stakes used in concrete and structural layout work.BACKGROUND

[0003] Construction stakes are commonly used at construction sites for formwork layout, surveying, and foundational tasks. However, they are often stored loosely on pallets or in disorganized piles, making them prone to falling during transport, becoming misplaced, or being damaged. These issues result in increased costs due to material loss and inefficiencies. Moreover, loose stakes present a safety hazard on the job site.

[0004] Accordingly, there exists a need for a dedicated, forklift-compatible container that improves the organization, storage, and transportation of construction stakes.

[0005] The construction stakes, herein, refer to metal construction stakes. The metal construction stakes are heavy and difficult to store and transport.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The following presents a simplified summary of one or more embodiments of the present invention in order to provide a basic understanding of such embodiments. This summary is not an extensive overview of all contemplated embodiments and is intended to neither identify key or critical elements of all embodiments nor delineate the scope of any or all embodiments. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts of one or more embodiments in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.

[0007] The principal object of the present invention is therefore directed to a crate for storing, organizing, and transporting construction stakes.

[0008] Another object of the present invention is that the crate is compatible with forklift transport.

[0009] Still another object of the present invention is that the crate has a compact and space-efficient design.

[0010] Yet another object of the present invention is that the crate is economical to manufacture.

[0011] A further object of the present invention is to reduce the risk of injury from loose stakes.

[0012] Still, a further object of the present invention is to minimize economic losses due to broken or lost stakes.

[0013] In one aspect, disclosed is a molded one-piece crate designed to hold and transport a large number of construction stakes.

[0014] In one aspect, disclosed is a crate for storing, organizing, and transporting construction stakes, the crate comprising a base; a left wall; a right wall; a rear wall; a front wall, wherein the base, the left wall, the right wall, the rear wall, and the front wall form an enclosure; a platform forming a false base and positioned above the base; and a front opening in the front wall for loading and unloading of the construction stakes. The crate has an open top. The crate comprises vertical poles coupled to the left wall, the right wall, and the rear wall for reinforcement. The crate further comprises two forklift pockets spaced apart from each other and disposed in the front wall adjacent to the base.

[0015] In one aspect, disclosed is a method for storing, organizing, and transporting construction stakes, the method comprises providing a crate. The crate comprising a base; a left wall; a right wall; a rear wall; a front wall, wherein the base, the left wall, the right wall, the rear wall, and the front wall form an enclosure; a platform forming a false base and positioned above the base; and a front opening in the front wall for loading and unloading of the construction stakes. The method further comprises loading construction stakes into the crate through the first opening; and transporting the crate using a forklift.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0016] The accompanying figures illustrate various views of the disclosed crate and are intended to exemplify the invention's structure and features without limiting the scope of the invention.

[0017] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the disclosed crate, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0018] FIG. 2 shows a front view of the crate, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0019] FIG. 3 shows a top and side perspective view of the crate, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0020] FIG. 4 shows a bottom and side perspective view of the crate, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] FIG. 5 shows a front and side perspective view of the crate, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022] The subject matter of the present disclosure is described in greater detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are included as part of this specification and depict specific illustrative embodiments. It should be understood, however, that the invention may be implemented in various forms and is not limited to the particular examples shown and described herein. These embodiments are presented solely for illustrative purposes. The scope of the invention is intended to be broad, and the claims should not be narrowly interpreted based on these examples alone. The disclosed subject matter may be implemented in the form of methods, devices, components, systems, or combinations thereof. Accordingly, the following detailed description should not be regarded as limiting the invention in any way.

[0023] The term “exemplary” as used herein is intended to denote an example, instance, or illustration, and is not meant to suggest that a particular embodiment is preferred or superior to other possible embodiments. Similarly, references to “embodiments of the present invention” do not imply that all embodiments necessarily include a particular feature, benefit, or method of operation described herein.

[0024] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of embodiments of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises”, “comprising,”, “includes” and / or “including”, when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and / or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and / or groups thereof.

[0025] The following detailed description sets forth the best currently contemplated mode or modes for implementing exemplary embodiments of the invention. This description is provided solely to illustrate the general principles of the invention and should not be interpreted as limiting. The scope of the invention will be defined by the claims allowed in any issued patent.

[0026] The invention described pertains to a crate for storing, organizing, and transporting construction stakes. The disclosed crate can be used at construction sites for safely handling the construction stakes. The disclosed crate can prevent economic and material losses due to loose and disorderly construction stakes. The disclosed crate can store a large number of construction stakes, such as three hundred stakes measuring 1″×2″×36″. Because of the unique design and reinforcements, the disclosed crate can carry a huge weight of construction stakes, for example, 1,500 pounds. The crate has a large front opening through which the construction stakes can be easily loaded and unloaded.

[0027] Referring to FIGS. 1-5, which show different views of the disclosed crate for storing, organizing, and transporting the construction stakes. The crate 100 has a base 105, a left wall 110, a right wall 115, a rear wall 120, and a front wall 125. The top of the crate is open. The front wall 125 has an opening 130 for loading and unloading construction stakes. The crate shown in the drawings is substantially of a cuboidal shape, however, the shape of the crate can be varied without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0028] The base 105 is shown in FIG. 4, which includes optional cutouts. Preferably, the base may have holes for the water to drain out. The crate further includes a perforated tilted loading platform 150 that forms a false base. The perforated tilted loading platform 150 is positioned above the base with some space in between. The bottom crossbars 145 shown in FIG. 4 support the perforated tilted loading platform 150. The construction stakes are held on the perforated tilted loading platform 150.

[0029] Along the periphery of the perforated tilted loading platform 150 are drain holes 135 through which liquid, such as water, can drain. Vertical columns 140 can be provided at regular intervals to support the left, rear, and side walls. The vertical columns 140 provide for structural reinforcement of the walls of the crate. These vertical columns can be attached to the respective walls through adhesive, fasteners, and the like. The number of such vertical columns can be varied depending upon the size and loading capacity of the crate. Thus, any variation in the number of vertical columns is within the scope of the present invention. A top crossbar 165 may extend between the left wall and the right wall, near the top periphery.

[0030] In the front wall, near the bottom periphery, are two openings spaced apart from each other. These openings are forklift pockets 155 that allow handling the disclosed crate using a forklift. The size of these forklift pockets 155 may be such that the crate is compatible with a wide variety of forklifts. The forklift pockets may be in the form of integrated channels or reinforced cutouts on the base that permit lifting from two or four sides with standard forklift forks. On the left wall and the right wall can be provided with tie holes 160.

[0031] The disclosed crate can be made from suitable materials, such as metal and plastic. Preferably, the material may be durable and lightweight. The disclosed crate can be made from a molding process as well as assembled. Preferably, the crate can be molded as a single unit that is durable and economical to manufacture.

[0032] The disclosed crate may also be designed to allow stacking multiple crates for more efficient storage.

[0033] The invention solves the problem of loose, disorganized stakes during transport or storage. It reduces losing the stakes, improves workflow on job sites, and saves contractors money. In use, the construction stakes can be loaded and unloaded from the crate. For transportation, the crate can be lifted using a forklift. During transportation, the stakes remain organized, thus the transportation is made easy as well as safe.

[0034] While the foregoing written description of the invention enables one of ordinary skill to make and use what is considered presently to be the best mode thereof, those of ordinary skill will understand and appreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents of the specific embodiment, method, and examples herein. The invention should therefore not be limited by the above-described embodiment, method, and examples, but by all embodiments and methods within the scope and spirit of the invention as claimed.

Claims

1. A crate for storing, organizing, and transporting construction stakes made of metal, the crate comprising:a base;a left wall;a right wall;a rear wall;a front wall, wherein the base, the left wall, the right wall, the rear wall, and the front wall form an enclosure;a platform forming a false base and positioned above the base; anda front opening in the front wall for loading and unloading of the construction stakes.

2. The crate according to claim 1, wherein the crate has an open top.

3. The crate according to claim 2, wherein the crate comprises vertical poles coupled to the left wall, the right wall, and the rear wall for reinforcement.

4. The crate according to claim 3, wherein the crate further comprises two forklift pockets spaced apart from each other and disposed in the front wall adjacent to the base.

5. A method for storing, organizing, and transporting construction stakes made of metal, the method comprises:providing a crate comprising:a base;a left wall;a right wall;a rear wall;a front wall, wherein the base, the left wall, the right wall, the rear wall, and the front wall form an enclosure;a platform forming a false base and positioned above the base; anda front opening in the front wall for loading and unloading of the construction stakes; andloading construction stakes into the crate through the front opening; andtransporting the crate using a forklift.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the crate has an open top.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the crate comprises vertical poles coupled to the left wall, the right wall, and the rear wall for reinforcement.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the crate further comprises two forklift pockets spaced apart from each other and disposed in the front wall adjacent to the base.

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