Materials safety cage and associated methods

Abstract

The technology described herein provides a materials safety cage and associated methods. A safety cage assembly for storage, distribution, transportation, and handling of various goods includes a cage having vertical sides connected rectangularly and a base configured to receive a load-bearing pallet, or the like, and upon which the cage is lowered and to which the cage is attachably engaged and secured. The safety cage assembly includes a multiplicity frame rails to support the cage. The safety cage assembly also includes metal plates having a handle grip and pin slot and disposed on the cage and connected to the cage with a cage pin, each metal plate configured for attachability to a base pin on the base. The safety cage assembly also includes a loop opening to receive a hook. The safety cage assembly is configured for transport by both a crane and a forklift.

1 . A safety cage assembly for storage, distribution, transportation, and handling of various goods, the safety cage comprising:
 a cage, the cage having a plurality of vertical sides connected rectangularly; and   a base configured to receive upon a top surface of the base a load-bearing pallet, or the like, and upon which the cage is lowered and to which the cage is attachably engaged and secured.   
   
   
       2 . The safety cage assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a plurality of vertical corner rails, each rail connecting two ends of the plurality of vertical sides, and thereby forming corners of the cage, each vertical corner rail configured to provide structural support to the cage and each vertical corner rail having a leg for connectivity to the base.   
   
   
       3 . The safety cage assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the base further comprises a plurality of corner receivers, each corner receiver configured to receive one of the vertical corner rail legs. 
   
   
       4 . The safety cage assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a plurality of vertical side rails, each rail being vertical and disposed in a center region of each of the plurality of vertical sides, the plurality vertical side rails configured to provide structural support to the cage.   
   
   
       5 . The safety cage assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a plurality of metal plates, each metal plate having a handle grip and a pin slot and disposed on the cage on one of the vertical corner rails and connected to the cage with a cage pin, each metal plate configured for attachability to a base pin on the base.   
   
   
       6 . The safety cage assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a plurality of top rails, the top rails being horizontal and diagonal and connecting vertical corner rails opposite one another at a top of the cage, and the top rails configured to provide structural support to the safety cage assembly.   
   
   
       7 . The safety cage assembly of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a plurality of gussets, each gusset disposed upon a corner of the cage and an end of one of the pair of top rails.   
   
   
       8 . The safety cage assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a platform disposed on a top of the cage; and   a loop opening disposed upon the platform and extending upwardly and configured to receive a hook for lifting and transporting the cage.   
   
   
       9 . The safety cage assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a wire mesh disposed around the cage perimeter.   
   
   
       10 . The safety cage assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the base is further comprised of a plurality of horizontal support rails, a number of the horizontal rails extending from a left side to a right side of the base, and a number of the horizontal rails extending from a front to a back of the base, configured to provide structural support to the base 
   
   
       11 . The safety cage assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the base is further comprised of a plurality support rails, the rails being horizontal and diagonal and configured to provide structural support to the base. 
   
   
       12 . The safety cage assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the safety cage assembly is configured for transport by both a crane and a forklift. 
   
   
       13 . The safety cage assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the cage further comprises a plurality of bottom frame rails connected to the plurality of vertical corner rails and configured to provide structural support to the cage. 
   
   
       14 . The safety cage assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the cage further comprises a plurality of top frame rails connected to the plurality of vertical corner rails and configured to provide structural support to the cage. 
   
   
       15 . A method for storing, distributing, transporting, and handling goods with a safety cage assembly, the method comprising:
 utilizing a safety cage assembly comprising:
 a cage, the cage having a plurality of vertical sides connected rectangularly; and 
 a base configured to receive upon a top surface of the base a load-bearing pallet, or the like, and upon which the cage is lowered and to which the cage is attachably engaged and secured; 
   loading the load-bearing pallet upon the top surface of the base;   lowering the cage upon the base; and   engaging and securing the cage to the base.   
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 utilizing a safety cage assembly further comprising:
 a platform disposed on a top of the cage; and 
 a loop opening disposed upon the platform and extending upwardly and configured to receive a hook for lifting and transporting the cage; and 
   hooking the loop opening with a crane hook, or the like, to lift and move the cage.   
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 utilizing a safety cage assembly further comprising:
 a plurality of vertical corner rails, each rail connecting two ends of the plurality of vertical sides, and thereby forming corners of the cage, each vertical corner rail configured to provide structural support to the cage and each vertical corner rail having a leg for connectivity to the base; and 
 a plurality of metal plates, each metal plate having a handle grip and a pin slot and disposed on the cage on one of the vertical corner rails and connected to the cage with a cage pin, each metal plate configured for attachability to a base pin on the base; and 
   attaching each metal plate of the cage to one base pin on the base, thereby securely connecting the cage to the base.   
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 unattaching each metal plate of the cage from each base pin on the base, thereby disconnecting the cage from the base when the safety cage assembly is ready for unloading.   
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the base further comprises a plurality of corner receivers, each corner receiver configured to receive one of the vertical corner rail legs, and the method further comprising:
 lowering the cage into the base such that the vertical corner rail legs are placed into the corner receivers of the base.   
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 utilizing a safety cage assembly further comprising:
 a wire mesh disposed around the cage perimeter; and 
   securing a load upon a pallet on the base with the cage and preventing the load from exiting the cage through the wire mesh.