Packaging system, apparatus, and method with extruded force absorbing truss members
A system, apparatus, and method for use in the packing of an appliance containing a pallet, corner members, and truss members are provided. The pallet comprises first and second support members, a connecting cross member, and at least one truss member for providing peripheral and oblique force absorption, wherein the cross member is substantially perpendicular to the first and second support members. The first and second support members include attachment holes, wherein the attachment holes allow for the attachment of the pallet to the appliance. The first and second support members and the cross member are manufactured from a synthetic substance and are substantially hollow. The system further comprises an available plurality of articulable corner support members, corner junction end caps with tenons, closed cell design elements, and standoffs used to protect, support, separate and/or stabilize the appliance in a container.
This application is a Continuation-in-Part of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/860,518 filed Jun. 3, 2004, which is a Continuation-in-Part of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/637,220, filed Aug. 8, 2003.
BACKGROUNDThe present invention is related to a packaging system, and more particularly to a synthetic packaging system and apparatus for supporting and protecting appliances. Even more particularly, the present invention relates to an extruded plastic truss member for protecting packaged products from peripheral and oblique forces.
Packaging pallets are typically made of wood and are commonly constructed using a box frame with deck boards attached to form a flat surface. Wood pallets perform the desired function however; the wood pallets add excessive weight and cost and are environmentally wasteful. A manufacturer's goods are then placed upon the flat surface of the pallet for transport. Pallets are designed to allow for ease of transportation and allow for movement through the use of mechanical means such as a forklift. However, a manufacturer must account for the additional costs associated with the additional delivery weight of a pallet and packaging.
Plastic pallets have been developed to meet some of the shortcomings of wood pallets. An example of such a pallet is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,352,039 entitled “Plastic Pallet,” issued to Woods, et al. The plastic pallet includes a frame and deck boards attached to the frame without the use of mechanical fasteners. A second example is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,581,681 entitled “Pallet,” issued to Newton. In the Newton patent, a pallet constructed of a thin-walled, resinous shell filled with a foam core bonded to the inside surface of the shell. The shell of the Newton pallet includes integral support beams spaced appropriately to accommodate a forklift. The Newton pallet is constructed to meet basic strength requirements at a low cost.
A benefit of transporting goods attached to pallets is that the pallet can provide protection from external elements. An example of such a system is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,244,471 entitled “Packaging System,” issued to Plante. In the Plante packaging system, top and bottom caps for packaging appliances are shown. The top and bottom caps are attached via a plurality of corner angles extending vertically between the top and bottom caps. The corner angles have a length greater than the height of the appliance so that a space exists between the appliance and the top cap. The packaging system is rigid and thus allows multiple systems to be placed upon each other.
Pallets are also used in the manufacture of appliances. The base of the appliance is fixedly attached to the pallet before construction. The pallet is moved down an assembly line via a conveyor belt or other transportation system and the appliance is constructed on the base. Once construction is completed, the remaining packaging is attached to the pallet and the appliance is then transported to its destination. The remaining packaging system often includes a cardboard box that fits over the appliance. Often the corners of the cardboard box are reinforced with a light metal, Styrofoam, corrugated or paperwrap corners.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONGenerally, the present invention provides a packing system for use with the transportation and manufacture of an appliance, such as refrigerators, ranges and the like. The system comprises a pallet, fixed corner and edge support members, articulable corner and edge support members, spacing members, and truss members. In the preferred embodiment, these members can be fitted into corrugated or non-corrugated cardboard boxes or other containment devices and can be used in combination or individually. The pallet system comprises support members and connecting cross members, wherein the cross members are substantially perpendicular to the support members. The first and second support members include attachment holes, wherein the attachment holes allow for the attachment of the pallet to the appliance. The first and second support members and cross members are manufactured from a synthetic substance and are substantially hollow.
The corner support members, fixed and articulable, are used for reinforcement of the corners of a cardboard box container, or the like, and for protection of the corners and edges of the appliance. The corner support members can be manufactured in a plurality of various shapes, lengths, and sizes for specific applications. In addition, the conformable corner support members are provided to be user adapted to fit various corner shapes from about 90 degrees to about 180 degrees in shape design. Also, the articulable corner support members can be user adapted to form a plurality of lengths and widths of numerous sizes and shapes of products. The articulable members further allow for ease in storage because of their ability to be stacked and stocked in a generally flat configuration. The spacing members are used to exact proper lateral positioning of the appliance in the cardboard box and to protect various protrusions on the appliance from damage.
A system according to the preferred embodiment of the invention reduces the weight, costs of the packaging and can be recycled. Another advantage of the disclosed invention is the reduction of damage to the system by outside elements. For instance, pallets made according to the invention do not absorb moisture and odors and do not disintegrate after exposure to such elements.
The present invention's articulable corner/edge support member apparatus comprises a plurality of substantially hollow members formed through the extrusion of a plastic material, or the like, having top, bottom, and side surfaces. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the apparatus can be formed in a plurality of geometric shapes, including, but not limited to, circles, octagons, triangles, squares, rectangles, and ovals wherein a top, bottom, and side surface is merely a descriptive reference point and is a relative description of any specific portion which the designer chooses to reference as a top, bottom, or side surface. For example, a circle can have a top, bottom, and side as defined by the designer.
The apparatus is manufactured in a generally 3-D planar fashion having a horizontal shaped channel portion that is formed during the extrusion process along the longitudinal centerline of a surface, preferably the top surface of the plastic material, wherein the combination of the horizontal channel and a hingeable base formed by the horizontal channel allows the plastic material to conformably articulate along the hingeable base to adapt to a plurality of acute and obtuse angles, while yet remaining resiliently attached along the hingeable base axis. The articulable corner/edge support member further comprises at least one longitudinal interlocking groove along at least an upper portion of a wall of the horizontal channel and in parallel relationship with the hingeable base.
In addition to the interlocking groove is provided at least one accompanying reciprocal longitudinal interlocking ridge hook member along at least an upper portion of the opposite wall of the horizontal V-shaped channel in a direct mirror positional relationship to the female interlocking groove so as when the articulable corner support member is articulated along the hingeable base in an acute angle approaching 90 degrees the two walls of the horizontal V-shaped channel come into contact. Upon a slight applied pressure, the ridge hook and groove combination will cause the articulable corner support member to interlock in an approximate 90 degree position, therein causing the corner/edge member to remain in the interlocked position until a force is applied causing separation.
In another embodiment, the present invention further comprises an articulable corner support member as in the previous embodiment but further having at least one V-shaped notch cut and removed entirely through the top, side, and bottom surfaces and along a vertical axis and in perpendicular relationship to the longitudinal horizontal V-shaped channel, wherein the base axis of the vertically cut V-shaped notch is in close proximity to the upper surface portion of at least one wall of the longitudinal horizontal V-shaped channel. The articulable corner support member of further having at least one V-shaped heat impression formed into the top surface of the articulable corner support by heat impression tool and die techniques, wherein the impression is formed on the opposite top surface as compared to the vertically cut V-shaped notch described above. The combination of the vertically cut V-shaped notches and the V-shaped heat impressions allow for a 3-D generally planar corner support member to be articulated along the notches, channels, and impressions to thereby form a plurality of 3-D corner support members with the ability to further adaptively form a plurality of rectangle/square sizes.
In yet another embodiment of the present invention is presented an articulable corner support member having at least two substantially hollow rectangular pieces formed by extrusion process of a plastic material, or the like, and having a linking plastic portion extruded so as to hingeably attach the substantially hollow pieces at opposing upper corner junction regions, thereby enabling both support members to hinge at either or both hingeable junction regions to conformably adapt to a plurality of corner/edge surfaces.
In another embodiment, the present invention presents closed cell design element members for use in a plurality of packaging systems and configurations. The closed cell design element member comprises at least two hollow geometric closed cell design elements formed from a plastic material and connected by a plastic connecting beam element. The closed cell elements comprise a plurality of geometric shapes, lengths and sizes to accommodate numerous packaging scenarios and various appliance shipping configurations. Closed cell design elements of a particular member can be formed having the same, different, or combination of geometric shapes on each design element member. The plastic connecting beam element provides stability and integrity of the plurality of elements while positioned in the shipping container or box. The closed cell element members can be formed to serve as corner supporting members or to provide a plurality of partitioned areas for safe separation and protection of a plurality of appliances within a container.
In still another embodiment, the invention provides for a joinable end cap extruded so as to removably unite the ends of the fixed and articulable corner support members. The end caps are formed to provide an interlocking frictional action imparted by horizontal tenon-like extensions that protrude from the end cap's exterior top surface and are inserted into the hollow ends of the rigid and/or articulable corner support members. When four end caps are used with the embodiments above a formed rectangle/square can be rigidly and removably united. The use of the end caps ensures structural integrity of the formed shape. The use of one end cap with the third embodiment will provide rigid and removable union of the opposing ends of the formed rectangle shape.
In another embodiment, the present invention provides a force absorbing extruded truss member for preventing the crushing of an appliance in a container during movement by a clamping style forklift. In the industry, appliances are moved in various ways. One example is through the use of forklifts that have been modified to have large metal, vertically situated, clamping plates having a rubber lining to increase the clamping resistance around a corrugated box. These plates are utilized to clamp the packaged appliance from two opposing sides. When utilizing this type of forklift, the forklift must use approximately 2000 lbs. of clamping pressure to lift and move an appliance weighing about 500 lbs. In such a situation and under normal packing situations, the container can collapse onto the appliance causing extensive damage due to the external clamping pressure.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a plurality of devices and methods of a packing system for use with the transportation and manufacture of various appliances and the like.
Another object is to reduce the weight and cost of appliance packaging and to provide for a material that can be successfully recycled.
Another object is to provide easily storable articulable corner support members that allow the user to adapt the members from a flat configuration into a 3-D corner adaptation and to further allow the corner support members to be shaped into a plurality of rectangular/square sizes to accommodate various appliance sizes.
Another object of the present invention to provide a force absorbing extruded truss member for preventing the crushing of an appliance in a container during movement by a clamping style forklift.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSFor a more complete understanding of the present invention, and for further details and advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following Detailed Description taken in conjunction with the following drawings, in which:
FIGS. 5A-D are section views of support members according to alternate embodiments of the invention;
FIGS. 8A-C are section views of corner support members according to alternate embodiments of the invention; and
FIGS. 9A-B are section views of corner support members in use; and
FIGS. 10A-D are section views of wall spacing members according to alternate embodiments of the invention.
In the descriptions which follow, like parts may be marked with the same numerals. The drawing figures are not necessarily drawn to scale and certain figures may be shown in exaggerated or generalized form in the interest of clarity and conciseness.
In accordance with a broad aspect of the invention, the packing system and articulable corner support members of the present invention are designed for multi-uses but are specifically referred to herein as being used with the transportation and manufacture of household type appliances. It is understood that the spirit of the present invention provides for uses beyond just household appliances. To accomplish the previous objectives, the present invention contemplates the use of an appliance type pallet formed of a plastic material and having support and cross members for lateral support and stability. The invention allows for an appliance to be attached to the pallet after the appliance has been manufactured. Alternatively, the appliance can be built directly on top of the disclosed pallet frame and disconnected and removed upon delivery to the customer.
In addition to the pallet are provided corner support members for further protecting the appliance during at least the transportation phase. The present invention provides for pre-formed rigid plastic corner support members that are formed into the “corner shape” during the extrusion process. These rigid corner support members are easily inserted at each corner between the appliance and the box containing the appliance. Additionally provided by the present invention are articulable corner support members formed in a substantially flat configuration and having a longitudinal V-shaped channel allowing the user to hingeably adapt the articulable corner support members manually into a desired corner angle before inserting into the shipping container. This ability to adapt to a flat configuration when not in use provides for ease of storage of large quantities of the articulable members.
Each specific embodiment of the invention will now be described in greater detail.
Referring now to
Pallet 100 includes bolt holes 108. Bolt holes 108 are designed to allow for various appliances to be directly attached to the pallet. Retaining bolts are placed through the holes and into an appliance to secure the pallet to the appliance. Adhesive attachment can also be used as can removable straps. Also included are feet holes 110 for placement of feet of appliance. Once the appliance (not shown) is attached to pallet 100, which in one disclosed embodiment includes bolts, the H shaped pallet 100 and the appliance can be moved as a single piece. A wide variety of attachment mechanisms can be implemented without detracting from the spirit of the invention.
In another embodiment, the frame of the appliance (not shown) can be attached to the pallet at the beginning stages of manufacture of the appliance. The appliance frame and the pallet are then moved along an assembly line allowing the appliance to be completed while attached to the pallet. The appliance and the pallet can then be packaged for shipment after completion of the appliance. A wide variety of appliances can be attached to the pallet, including as examples computers, ranges, washing machines, refrigerators and dish washers.
In another embodiment (not shown), the pallet 100 extends beyond the edges of the appliance and includes corners with extend up the edges of the appliance. In this embodiment the pallet is not necessarily attached to the appliance.
The interior views of the support members 102 and 104 are shown in
Cross member 106 is shown attached to support members 102 and 104. In one embodiment, the cross member 106 is manufactured with a smaller cross-sectional area than either of the support members 106. In this embodiment, the cross member 106 provides support to the support members 102 and 104 but does not directly bear the weight of the appliance. The cross member 106 increases the stiffness of the pallet and reduces the level of deflection under torsional loads. In another embodiment, the cross member 106 cross-sectional area is equal to the cross-sectional areas of the support members 102 and 104. In this embodiment, the cross member 106 provides support to the support members 102 and 104 and can be implemented to bear some of the weight of the appliance. In another embodiment, cross member 106 is attached to support members 102 and 104 at interior sides 102a and 104a. In another embodiment, the cross member 106 is attached to either the top or bottom surface of the support members 102 and 104.
A force absorbing truss member 15 is shown in
The truss member of the present invention is an apparatus used for absorbing clamping forces sustained during the handling and storage of packaged appliances by clamping style forklifts. The extruded truss member is particularly useful in protecting appliances having thin metal walls affixed to a rigid structural frame. The appliance frame usually has a structural area located near the top and/or bottom of the vertical profile of the appliance. This area, unlike the relatively weaker sidewalls, can withstand larger lateral forces.
There is shown in
In the preferred embodiment, truss member 410 is generally rectangular in cross section having side walls 430, 435 laterally displaced from each other and substantially parallel to one another. In addition, side wall 430 and side wall 435 are joined to the top wall 415 and bottom wall 425 along the outer most edges 440a, 440b, 440c, and 440d of the juncture of the top and bottom walls 415, 425 respectively, thereby forming the generally rectangular cross-section shown in
The top 415, bottom 425, and sidewalls 430, 435 in combination form a single unitary housing having a thickness in the preferred embodiment in the range of about 0.030 to 0.200 of an inch. The distance between each wall 415, 425, 430, and 435, in addition to the shape of the interconnection of the walls, may be varied as required by design and manufacturing specifications. Similarly, the thickness of the top 415, bottom 425, and side 430, 435 walls can be increased or decreased during the extrusion process to achieve various desired force absorption characteristics and criteria.
Referring to
In a second embodiment, a hollow-core elongated plastic truss member 445 with at least one supporting rib member 450 is shown in
Preferably, rib member 450 is joined in a substantially perpendicular relationship to top wall 455 and bottom wall 460 and is aligned in a substantially parallel relationship to side wall 465 and side wall 470 as depicted in
Rib member 450 is interconnected between interior side 475a of top wall 455 at a central location of upper socket region 480a of the top wall 455 and the interior side 475b of the bottom wall 460 at a central location of lower socket region 480b. The rib member 450 operates to buttress the central region of the top 455 and bottom 460 walls of truss member 445 by distributing externally imposed forces.
Rib member 450 can be longitudinally interconnected to the top and bottom walls 455, 460, respectively, anywhere along interior walls 475a and 475b of truss member 445. Any number of rib members may be incorporated into the design of extruded truss member 445. Preferably the ribs are substantially planar or straight, have a substantially vertically cross section and are located in various equally spaced positions between the interior walls.
Alternatively, as shown in
Referring now to
In
In
In
In
Once the appliance is fully constructed and ready to be shipped, a cardboard box can be secured around the appliance to protect the appliance during transport. The cardboard box can be corrugated or non-corrugated. FIGS. 8A-C show alternate corner support member structures designed to be inserted in or near the corners of the cardboard box.
FIGS. 8A-C show cross-sections of the alternate corner support member structures. The structures of the preferred embodiment are extended to a predetermined length with a constraining cross section. The cross section includes internal support members 812. Curved internal support members 812 provide additional strength to the corner support member during use without incurring substantial increases in weight and expense. Also, during manufacture after the corner support member has been extruded and is cooling, internal support members 812 add support to the pliable walls until the walls can cool and strengthen. The internal support members 812 may be straight or have a curved profile. The corner support members may not have any internal support members or may have one or more internal support members depending on the type of internal support desired.
The alternate corner support member structures are formed from plastic, such as High Density Polyethylene (HDPE), however a wide variety of manufacturing materials may be used to form the support member structures without detracting from the spirit of the invention, including, but not limited to, HIPS, LDPE, polypropylene, polyethelene and Crosslink PE. The preferred thickness of the walls of the corner support member structures, such as internal support members 812, is between 0.010 and 0.100 of an inch in thickness.
In
In
The various corner support structures shown in FIGS. 8A-C can be contained within the walls of or proximate to an interior wall of a cardboard box or packing container. For example,
In FIGS. 10A-D, alternate embodiments of a wall spacing member are shown. The wall spacing member is a special type of corner support structure which extends past an outside wall of the appliance and contacts the inside wall of the container surrounding the appliance. The purpose of the wall spacing members is to form a standoff to distance the container from protrusions such as handles, knobs or display panels that extend past the outside wall, top or bottom of the appliance.
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
Referring now to
Referring now to
The hollow lobe members 1132, 1133 are provided internal support by use of vertical supports 1150a, 1150b, 1150c, and 1150d disposed within the hollow lobe members. The supports 1150a, 1150b, 1150c, and 1150d can be any shape including, but not limited to, a straight or wave design. As depicted, supports 1150c and 1150d attach in a linking relationship the inner-side of top surface 1130 to the inner-side of bottom surface 1135a. Similarly, supports 1150a and 1150b attach in a linking relationship the inner-side of top surface 1131 to the inner-side of bottom surface 1135.
The hollow lobe members are designed for articulation about an approximate center point of bottom surfaces 1135 and 1135a along hingeable base center axis 1110 by fashioning a horizontal channel portion 1104 with opposing sidewalls 1105, 1106. The channel portion 1104 can be formed during the extraction process to be a V-shaped channel, a contoured U-shaped channel, a square U-shaped channel, or any other desirable shape. The sidewalls 1105, 1106 are formed during extrusion along the longitudinal centerline of the top surface of the plastic material. As can be seen in
In continued reference to
Specifically referring to
The embodiment shown
Referring to
Now referring to
The closed cell elements 1460a, 1460b comprise a plurality of geometric shapes, lengths and sizes to accommodate numerous packaging scenarios and various appliance shipping configurations. The generally tubular shaped closed cell design 1460 shown in
The closed cell element member 1450 embodiment of
In further reference to
Referring now to
The joinable end cap 1500 is extruded so as to removably unite the ends of fixed 816 (
Other embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art after considering this specification or practicing the disclosed invention. The specification and examples above are exemplary only, with the true scope of the invention being indicated by the following claims.
Claims
1. A truss member apparatus for absorbing external forces within a container, the truss member comprising:
- an elongated extruded housing; and,
- wherein the housing comprises a plurality of extruded socket portions for increasing the structural longitudinal integrity of the housing.
2. The truss member of claim 1, wherein the extruded housing comprises a top wall, a bottom wall, and two side walls.
3. The truss member of claim 2, wherein at least one extruded rib member is interconnected between the top wall and the bottom wall.
4. The truss member of claim 2, wherein an extruded socket portion is spaced into the top wall.
5. The truss member of claim 2, wherein an extruded socket portion is spaced into the bottom wall.
6. The truss member of claim 2 wherein extruded socket portions are spaced into the top wall and the bottom wall.
7. The truss member of claim 6 wherein the extruded socket portions are spaced into the center regions of the top wall and the bottom wall.
8. The truss member of claim 1 wherein the truss member housing is extruded from the group consisting of polyethylene and polypropylene.
9. The truss member of claim 1 wherein a truss member of about 40 inches in length can sustain at least 2000 pounds of clamping without decreasing in length more than about ¼ inch at a temperature range of about −20° F. to +140° F.
10. A truss member apparatus for absorbing external forces within a container, the truss member comprising:
- an elongated extruded housing;
- wherein the housing comprises a plurality of extruded socket portions; and,
- at least one inner rib member positioned within the housing for increasing the structural integrity of the extruded housing.
11. The truss member of claim 10, wherein the extruded housing comprises a top wall, a bottom wall, and two side walls.
12. The truss member of claim 11, wherein the at least one inner rib member is interconnected between the top wall and the bottom wall, wherein the at least one rib member is positioned substantially perpendicular to the top and bottom walls and positioned substantially parallel with the two side walls
13. The truss member of claim 11, wherein an extruded socket portion is spaced into the top wall.
14. The truss member of claim 11 wherein an extruded socket portion is spaced into the bottom wall.
15. The truss member of claim 11 wherein extruded socket portions are spaced into the top wall and the bottom wall.
16. The truss member of claim 15 wherein extruded socket portions are spaced into the center regions of the top wall and the bottom wall.
17. The truss member of claim 10 wherein the at least one inner rib member has a substantially planar cross section.
18. The truss member of claim 15 wherein the at least one inner rib member is interconnected between the inner side of the socket portion of the top wall and the inner side of the socket portion of the bottom wall.
19. The truss member of claim 10 wherein the inner rib member has a wave shaped cross section.
20. The truss member of claim 10 wherein two or more inner rib members are interconnected between the inner side of the socket portion of the top wall and the inner side of the socket portion of the bottom wall.
21. The truss member of claim 10 wherein two or more inner rib members are interconnected between the inner side of the top wall and the inner side of the bottom wall.
22. A packaging support and protection system for an appliance in a container comprising:
- a pallet; and,
- a plurality of extruded truss members for providing peripheral and oblique absorption of external forces wherein the truss members comprise a plurality of socket portions in functional positional relationship with the pallet.
23. The system of claim 22 further comprising a plurality of articulable corner/edge support members having interlocking means.
24. A packaging support and protection system for an appliance in a container comprising:
- a pallet;
- a plurality of extruded truss members in a functional positional relationship with the pallet for providing peripheral and oblique absorption of external forces sustained wherein the extruded truss members comprise a plurality of socket portions; and,
- at least one inner rib member for increasing the structural integrity wherein the at least one inner rib member is positioned inside the truss member interconnected between the plurality of socket portions.
25. A method for packing an appliance, the method comprising:
- providing a pallet;
- providing a container;
- positioning the pallet with the container;
- providing an appliance;
- packing the appliance in the container;
- providing a force absorption means;
- positioning the force absorption means in functional positional agreement with the container and the appliance.
26. The method of claim 25 wherein the force absorption means is an extruded truss member.
27. The method of claim 26 wherein the truss member is extruded substantially from polyethelene.
28. The method of claim 26 wherein the truss member is extruded substantially from polypropylene.
29. The method of claim 26 wherein the truss member comprises a plurality of socket regions extruded therein.
30. The method of claim 29 wherein the truss member further comprises a supporting rib member.
31. The method of claim 30 wherein the supporting rib member is a straight design.
32. The method of claim 30 wherein the supporting rib member is a curved/wave design.
33. The method of claim 30 wherein the rib member is extrudedly connected to the plurality of socket regions.
Type: Application
Filed: Jan 28, 2005
Publication Date: Sep 22, 2005
Inventors: Gary Carpenter (Carrollton, TX), Robbie Powell (Bonham, TX)
Application Number: 11/045,856