PACKAGING SYSTEM INCLUDING A MULTI-COMPONENT BASE STRUCTURE
A pallet base structure including a center deck defining a support surface extending between opposed sides and having at least two lugs extending from each of the opposed sides. A pair of base side members are positioned along respective sides of the center deck. Each base side member has first and second spaced apart base legs and a support member extending between the base legs with at least two corresponding lug receiving slots defined in the support member. The respective lugs are received in the respective lug receiving slots such that the center deck support surface is aligned with an upper surface of each support member to define a planar pallet surface. A packaging system incorporating the pallet base structure is also described.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Appln. No. 61/665,336 filed on Jun. 28, 2012, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThis invention relates to a packaging system for moving freestanding devices. In particular, this invention relates to a packaging system including a multi-component base structure with a center deck configured such that it can be utilized to support the freestanding device during movement.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONFreestanding devices are utilized in many industries. The devices include a housing supported on a number of legs, typically four, which depend from the housing. The housing encloses equipment for a given application, for example, food or beverage vending equipment, computer kiosks, automated teller assemblies, or rental equipment as a few examples. A specific example is a freestyle fountain vending machine which has a beverage dispenser, touch-screen input, computer controller, and fountain beverages all housed within the housing.
The freestanding devices are typically manufactured by a manufacturer in a manufacturing facility with all of the equipment assembled into the housing such that the device requires minimal setup once delivered to a use location. Additionally, the housing is often finished with a desired look, for example, company branding or matching the decor of the use location. The freestanding device is delivered from the manufacturing facility to the use location, is set in position, and final connections, for example connection to a power supply and/or network, are made to activate the device.
Since the housing is often finished and houses potentially delicate equipment, it is desirable to deliver the freestanding device in a secure manner which protects the housing and the equipment inside thereof. It is also desirable to utilize packaging which allows easy transport of the device. It is further desirable to utilize packaging which is easy to remove without significant effort.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONBriefly, the present invention provides a packaging system including a multi-component base structure with a center deck configured such that it can be utilized to support the freestanding device during movement.
In one aspect, the invention provides a pallet base structure including a center deck defining a support surface extending between opposed sides and having at least two lugs extending from each of the opposed sides. A pair of base side members are positioned along respective sides of the center deck. Each base side member has first and second spaced apart base legs and a support member extending between the base legs with at least two corresponding lug receiving slots defined in the support member. The respective lugs are received in the respective lug receiving slots such that the center deck support surface is aligned with an upper surface of each support member to define a planar pallet surface.
In another aspect, the invention provides a packaging system incorporating a pallet base structure including a center deck defining a support surface extending between opposed sides and having at least two lugs extending from each of the opposed sides. A pair of base side members are positioned along respective sides of the center deck. Each base side member has first and second spaced apart base legs and a support member extending between the base legs with at least two corresponding lug receiving slots defined in the support member. The respective lugs are received in the respective lug receiving slots such that the center deck support surface is aligned with an upper surface of each support member to define a planar pallet surface. A cover member is configured to be positioned spaced from the pallet base structure and at least one strap member is configured to extend about the pallet base structure and the cover member such that the pallet base structure and the cover member are an interconnected unit.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and constitute part of this specification, illustrate the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, and, together with the general description given above and the detailed description given below, serve to explain the features of the invention. In the drawings:
In the drawings, like numerals indicate like elements throughout. Certain terminology is used herein for convenience only and is not to be taken as a limitation on the present invention. For example, the terms front, back, left and right are utilized herein to assist with understanding of relative positioning, but are not intended to be limiting to an orientation of use of the device. The following describes a preferred embodiment of the present invention. However, it should be understood, based on this disclosure, that the invention is not limited by the preferred embodiment described herein.
Referring to
Referring to
A series of lugs 121a, 123a, 125a extend from the left side wall 113 and a series of lugs 121b, 123b, 125b extend from the right side wall 115. The lugs 121a, 123a, 125a are configured to be received in corresponding slots 141, 143, 145 in the left base side member 130a and the lugs 121b, 123b, 125b are configured to be received in corresponding slots 141, 143, 145 in the left base side member 130b as described in more detail below. The illustrated lugs 121, 123, 125 have a dovetail configuration, narrowing moving from the top surface of the deck 112 toward the bottom surface thereof, however, they may have other configurations. The lugs 121, 123, 125 have a height L which is preferably less than the height H of the deck 112. While lugs and corresponding receiving slots are described herein for releasably interconnecting the center deck 112 with the base members 130a, 130b, the invention is not limited to such and other releasable connection members, for example, clamps, screws, pegs, dowels or the like may be used.
As indicated in
Removal of the illustrated center deck 112 will be described with reference to
Referring to
Each base side member 130 includes a series of lug receiving slots 141, 143, 145 defined along the support member 132. The slots 141, 143, 145 are longitudinally positioned such that they align with and receive the respective lugs 121a, 123a, 125a or 121b, 123b, 125b. The illustrated slots 141, 143, 145 have a dovetail configuration corresponding to that of the lugs 121, 123, 125, however, they may have other configurations. The slots 141, 143, 145 have a depth such that the lugs 121, 123, 125 are received and stopped with the upper surface of the center deck 112 flush with the upper surface of the support member 132.
A pair of leg receiving openings 135 and 137 are defined into the support member 132. Each opening 135, 137 is preferably longitudinally positioned within a respective leg 134, 136 such that legs 14 received in the openings 135, 137 remain clear of the base side member longitudinal space 133. The openings 135, 137 are preferably tapered inward to assist in guiding the legs 14 into the openings 135, 137 which also assists in aligning the lugs 121, 123, 125 with the respective slots 141, 143, 145. As illustrated in
In this configuration, the device 10, 10′ may be moved by positioning a pallet jack or the like laterally through the longitudinal opening 133, however, it is preferred that the cover member 160 is secured with the straps 190 before movement. To remove the base structure 110 from the device 10, 10′, a pallet jack or the like is positioned longitudinally through the lateral opening 153 and the center deck 112 is lifted until the legs 14 clear the openings 135, 137, at which point the lugs 121, 123, 125 have already cleared the slots 141, 143, 145, and the base side members 130a, 130b are removed as indicated in
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
A rim 164 depends from the perimeter of the planar portion 162, with the lateral sides of the rim 164 defining an extended portion 166. Inside the extended portion 166, a number of wall projections 168 extend from the inside surface of the planar portion 162 such that a wall receiving slot 169 is defined between the projections 168 and the inside surface of the extended portion 166. An upper portion of the wall 180, see
When a freestanding device 10, 10′ is ready for transport, the device is first positioned with respect to the base structure 110 as described with reference to
Once delivered, the freestanding device 10, 10′ may be easily unpacked from the packaging system 100 in the manner illustrated in
These and other advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing specification. Accordingly, it will be recognized by those skilled in the art that changes or modifications may be made to the above-described embodiments without departing from the broad inventive concepts of the invention. It should therefore be understood that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiments described herein, but is intended to include all changes and modifications that are within the scope and spirit of the invention as defined in the claims.
Claims
1. A pallet base structure comprising:
- a center deck defining a support surface extending laterally between opposed sides, at least two lugs extending from each of the opposed sides; and
- a pair of base side members, each base side member having first and second spaced apart base legs and a support member extending between the base legs with at least two corresponding lug receiving slots defined in the support member,
- wherein each of the base side members is positioned along a respective side of the center deck and the respective lugs are received in the respective lug receiving slots such that the center deck support surface is aligned with an upper surface of each support member to define a planar pallet surface.
2. The pallet base structure of claim 1 wherein each lug has a dovetail configuration and each lug receiving slot has a corresponding dovetail configuration.
3. The pallet base structure of claim 1 wherein the at least one of the lugs on one side of the center deck is longitudinally offset from a corresponding lug on the opposite side of the center deck.
4. The pallet base structure of claim 1 wherein three lugs extend from each side of the center deck and wherein a forward most lug a first of the sides of the center deck is longitudinally aligned with a forward most lug on the opposite second side of the deck and the remaining lugs on the first side of the center deck are longitudinally offset from the remaining lugs on the second side of the center deck.
5. The pallet base structure of claim 1 wherein each lug has a height less than a height of the center deck.
6. The pallet base structure of claim 1 wherein each base side member has a longitudinal space defined below the support structure between the base legs.
7. The pallet base structure of claim 1 wherein each base side member includes a shock dampener on a lower surface of each base leg.
8. The pallet base structure of claim 1 wherein each support member defines at least two spaced apart leg receiving openings.
9. The pallet base structure of claim 1 wherein each base side member includes a side wall extending up from the support member.
10. A pallet base structure comprising:
- a center deck defining a support surface extending between opposed sides;
- a pair of base side members, each base side member having first and second spaced apart base legs and a support member extending between the base legs; and
- at least two connection members, each connection member configured to releasably connect a respective base side member with the center deck such that the center deck support surface is aligned with an upper surface of each support member to define a planar pallet surface.
11. The pallet base structure of claim 10 wherein the connection members are selected from the group comprising clamps, screws, pegs, dowels and lugs.
12. A packaging system comprising a pallet base structure according to claim 10, a cover member configured to be positioned spaced from the pallet base structure, and at least one strap member configured to extend about the pallet base structure and the cover member such that the pallet base structure and the cover member are an interconnected unit.
13. The packaging system of claim 12 wherein at least one strap receiving slot is defined across a lower surface of the center deck, along each of the base side members, and across a top surface of the cover member.
14. The packaging system of claim 12 wherein the cover member includes a planar portion and a raised center portion defining a concave internal space.
15. The packaging system of claim 12 further comprising a wall system configured to be securely positioned between the pallet base structure and the cover.
16. The packaging system of claim 15 wherein the pallet base structure and the cover each define wall receiving slots.
17. A method of packaging a free standing machine comprising a housing supported on a plurality of spaced apart legs such that a lower housing surface is supported spaced from a ground surface upon which the legs are supported, the method comprising:
- positioning a center deck below the lower housing surface between the machine legs, the center deck having a support surface extending between opposed sides;
- raising the center deck such that the center deck contacts the lower housing surface and raises the housing until the legs are spaced from the planar surface;
- aligning a base side member adjacent each of the center deck opposed sides, each base side member having first and second spaced apart base legs and a support member extending between the base legs;
- lowering the center deck until the center deck support surface is aligned with an upper surface of each support member to define a planar pallet surface; and
- releasably connecting each base side member to the center deck such that the relative position of the center deck support surface to the upper surface of each support member is maintained and the machine legs are maintained spaced from the ground surface.
18. The method of claim 17 wherein each support member defines one or more leg receiving openings and during the lowering step, each of the machine legs is received in a respective leg receiving opening.
19. The method of claim 17 further comprising:
- positioning a cover on a top surface of the machine housing; and
- securing at least one strap about the cover, the center deck and each base side member.
20. The method of claim 19 further comprising positioning a wall system between the cover and the base side members before securing the at least one strap.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 14, 2013
Publication Date: Jan 2, 2014
Inventor: Daniel Kelly
Application Number: 13/826,033
International Classification: B65B 15/00 (20060101); B65D 19/00 (20060101);