IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,709,531
Granted Patent B2
US 12,709,531 · App. 18/059,573 · Granted Aug 18, 2026

Dual-sided pallet puller (DSPP)

Inventors: Frank Morales Mendez, Jr. (Mount Laurel, NJ); Timothy Hausman (Mount Royal, NJ); Frank D. Greco (Edgewater, NJ)
Assignee: United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
B66F19/00B66C1/58
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,709,531
App. No.
18/059,573
Filed
Nov 29, 2022
Granted
Aug 18, 2026
Kind
B2
Art Unit
3642
USPC
294/82.1
Abstract

A pallet puller including: a first bar having a first hook disposed on a distal end of the first bar, wherein the first hook is a wedge connected to the distal end of the first bar; a second bar having a second hook disposed on a distal end of the second bar, wherein the second hook is a wedge connected to the distal end of the second bar; a ring loosely coupled to a proximal end of the first bar and to a proximal end of the second bar such that the first and second bars are able to move with respect to the ring and such that pointed ends of the first and second hooks are pointed in opposite directions with respect to each other; and a line having a proximal end coupled to the ring and a distal end terminated in a connection point.

Claims (32)

1 . A pallet puller for pulling a pallet, the pallet puller comprising:

a first bar having a first hook disposed on a distal end of the first bar, wherein the first hook is a wedge connected to the distal end of the first bar;

a second bar having a second hook disposed on a distal end of the second bar, wherein the second hook is a wedge connected to the distal end of the second bar;

a ring loosely coupled to a proximal end of the first bar and to a proximal end of the second bar such that the first and second bars are able to move with respect to the ring and such that pointed ends of the first and second hooks are pointed in opposite directions with respect to each other when the first and second hooks are in contact with each other; and

a line having a proximal end coupled to the ring and a distal end terminated in a connection point.

2 . The pallet puller of claim 1 , wherein each wedge is disposed at an angle of 75 degrees with respect to each wedge's respective bar.

3 . The pallet puller of claim 2 , wherein the first and second bars are each approximately forty seven centimeters long.

4 . The pallet puller of claim 3 , wherein the line is a grade 70 chain and the connection point is a chain hook.

5 . The pallet puller of claim 4 , wherein first and second bars are made of steel and the first and second hooks are respectively welded to the distal ends of the first and second bars.

6 . The pallet puller of claim 5 , wherein the proximal ends of the first and second bars comprise holes through which the ring is disposed, and wherein the ring is a steel ring having a diameter of approximately 7.6 centimeters and a cross-sectional diameter of approximately 0.6 centimeters.

7 . The pallet puller of claim 6 , wherein the first and second bars are only connected to each other via the ring.

8 . The pallet puller of claim 7 , wherein the pallet is a two-way pallet, and wherein a distance between the proximal and distal ends of each of the first and second bars is configured to be greater than or equal to a third of a length of a center stringer of the two-way pallet.

9 . A pallet puller for pulling a pallet, the pallet puller comprising:

a first bar having a first hook disposed on a distal end of the first bar;

a second bar having a second hook disposed on a distal end of the second bar;

a link coupled to a proximal end of the first bar and to a proximal end of the second bar such that the first and second bars are able to move with respect to the link and such that the first and second hooks are pointed in opposite directions when the first and second hooks are in contact with each other, wherein a distance between the proximal and distal ends of each of the first and second bars is configured to be greater than or equal to a third of a length of a center stringer of the pallet; and

a line having a proximal end coupled to the link and a distal end terminated in a connection point such that when the distal ends of the first and second bars are inserted into the pallet on either side of the center stringer and when any slack in the line is removed by pulling the connection point in a direction away from the pallet, the first and second hooks are configured to grip the center stringer or to hook into a notch in the center stringer.

10 . The pallet puller of claim 9 , wherein the first and second hooks are wedges respectively connected to the distal ends of the first and second bars.

11 . The pallet puller of claim 10 , wherein each wedge is disposed at an angle of 75 degrees with respect to each wedge's respective bar.

12 . The pallet puller of claim 11 , wherein the first and second bars are each approximately forty seven centimeters long.

13 . The pallet puller of claim 12 , wherein when the pallet is a one-way pallet and any slack in the line is removed by pulling the connection point in a direction away from the pallet, the hooks are configured to dig into the center stringer.

14 . The pallet puller of claim 13 , wherein the link is a steel ring and wherein the proximal ends of the first and second bars comprise holes through which the ring is disposed.

15 . A pallet puller for pulling a pallet, the pallet puller comprising:

a first bar being approximately forty seven centimeters long and having a first hook disposed on a distal end of the first bar, wherein the first hook is an approximately 6.5 centimeter-long wedge connected to the distal end of the first bar;

a second bar being approximately forty seven centimeters long and having a second hook disposed on a distal end of the second bar, wherein the second hook is an approximately 6.5 centimeter-long wedge connected to the distal end of the second bar;

a ring loosely coupled to a proximal end of the first bar and to a proximal end of the second bar such that the first and second bars are able to move with respect to the ring and such that pointed ends of the first and second hooks are pointed in opposite directions with respect to each other when the first and second hooks are in contact with each other; and

a line having a proximal end coupled to the ring and a distal end terminated in a connection point.

16 . The pallet puller of claim 15 , wherein each wedge is disposed at an angle of 75 degrees with respect to each wedge's respective bar.

17 . The pallet puller of claim 16 , wherein the first and second bars are straight and rigid, and are not connected to each other in any way other than the ring.

18 . The pallet puller of claim 17 , wherein first and second bars are made of steel and the first and second hooks are respectively welded to the distal ends of the first and second bars.

19 . The pallet puller of claim 18 , wherein the proximal ends of the first and second bars comprise holes through which the ring is disposed.

20 . The pallet puller of claim 19 , wherein the pallet is a two-way pallet, and wherein a distance between the proximal and distal ends of each of the first and second bars is configured to be greater than or equal to a third of a length of a center stringer of the two-way pallet.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 29, 2022
From: MENDEZ, FRANK MORALES, JR.; HAUSMAN, TIMOTHY; GRECO, FRANK D.
To: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AS REPRESENTED BY THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY
Reel/Frame 061906/0236 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240174501A1 · May 30, 2024
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