HYBRID STACKING SYSTEM FOR CONTAINERS
Universal wraps are used in the construction of a container centerbody. The wraps may take the form of a top and bottom wrap with complementary stacking patterns, in which the wraps create the centerbody. The wraps permit stacking of different-style containers regardless of which container is positioned as the bottom container. The universal wraps may include curved edge portions to seamlessly and aesthetically blend in with a side panel of the container. The stacking patterns of the wraps may take different forms with various shaped protuberances and recessed portions. Further, one or more of the wraps may have isolation features attached to or integrally formed with an interior surface of the wrap.
This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/499,837 filed Sep. 29, 2014, which is a divisional application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/834,237 filed Jul. 12, 2010, which applications are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThis invention relates to a hybrid stacking system for containers having different stacking patterns, and more specifically relates to a hybrid stacking system having wraps on the containers for engaging different stacking patterns from different generations.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONVarious types of containers, which may take the form of transit containers, rack-mount containers, tote containers or another type of container, are often utilized to receive and support delicate cargo, such as, but not limited to electronic, computer, optical and other types of equipment. These containers are often used in military and commercial environments and may be handled by persons, loading equipment, or both during transit and at other times. At least some of these containers have been designed to be stackable, and thus they include stacking elements or features arranged in a desired pattern. However, many of these containers may be of different types, sizes, models and versions, and thus have different stacking patterns that either do not permit the containers to be stacked together or that reduce the effectiveness, stability and/or efficiency of the containers when they are stacked together. By way of example, one company that manufactures containers having different stacking patterns is ECS Composites, Inc. out of Grants Pass, Oreg.
A variety of containers with stackability patterns include, but are not necessarily limited to, the following containers described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,457,599 to Apps et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 6,237,758 to Hsu; U.S. Pat. No. 6,186,345 to Robertson; U.S. Pat. No. 6,085,467 to Packrall et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,769,230 to Koefelda; U.S. Pat. No. 5,203,494 to Blomfield; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,655,360 to Juhanson.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONContainers, such as transit containers, rack-mount containers, tote containers or other types of containers often include stacking patterns located on some portion of the container, for example the top and bottom surface or on the lid surfaces. Regardless, this stackability makes the containers more space efficient and easier to maneuver, especially in a field environment. As the containers evolve over time, sometimes it is either desired or necessary to modify the stacking pattern. However, users of the containers may still desire to stack containers having an older-style stacking pattern with containers having a newer-style stacking pattern, or vice-versa. Alternatively, the users may desire to stack containers that were simply designed with two different types of stacking patterns. Thus, in one embodiment, covers or wraps employing hybrid or complementary stacking patterns may be mounted, integrally formed with or otherwise attached to containers to permit the stacking of containers having different stacking patterns. By way of example, universal wraps (i.e., upper and lower wraps) are used to construct a centerbody to permit the container to be stacked with another, different type of container.
In one example of the invention, a wrap system for a container includes a first wrap having first wrap protuberances and first wrap recessed regions extending from a first wrap surface of a first wrap body, the first wrap protuberances and first wrap recessed regions arranged in a desired stacking pattern; and a second wrap having second wrap protuberances and second wrap recessed regions extending from a second wrap surface of a second wrap body, the second wrap protuberances and second wrap recessed regions arranged to stackably cooperate with the desired stacking pattern.
In another example of the invention, a container includes a container centerbody; a top wrap coupled to the container side walls creating the aforementioned centerbody, the top wrap having top wrap protuberances and top wrap recessed regions extending from a top wrap surface of a top wrap body, the top wrap protuberances and top wrap recessed regions arranged in a desired stacking pattern; and a bottom wrap having bottom wrap protuberances and bottom wrap recessed regions extending from a bottom wrap surface of a bottom wrap body, the bottom wrap protuberances and bottom wrap recessed regions arranged to stackably cooperate with the desired stacking pattern.
The preferred and alternative embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the following drawings.
Referring to
The stacking pattern 108 may be formed symmetrically with respect to axes 118, 120 (
Referring to
While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, as noted above, many changes can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is not limited by the disclosure of the preferred embodiment. Instead, the invention should be determined entirely by reference to the claims that follow.
Claims
1. A wrap system for a container comprising:
- a first wrap having first wrap protuberances and first wrap recessed regions extending from a first wrap surface of a first wrap body, the first wrap protuberances and first wrap recessed regions arranged in a desired stacking pattern; and
- a second wrap having second wrap protuberances and second wrap recessed regions extending from a second wrap surface of a second wrap body, the second wrap protuberances and second wrap recessed regions arranged to stackably cooperate with the desired stacking pattern.
2. The wrap system of claim 1, wherein the first wrap protuberances include quadrilateral-shaped members.
3. The wrap system of claim 1, wherein the first wrap recessed regions define at least a portion of the first wrap surface.
4. The wrap system of claim 1, wherein the first wrap recessed regions are located between respective first wrap protuberances.
5. The wrap system of claim 1, wherein the first wrap includes curved side members coupled to the first wrap body.
6. The wrap system of claim 5, wherein the first wrap body and the curved side members are permanently attachable to the side panels to create a centerbody of the container.
7. The wrap system of claim 1, wherein the second wrap protuberances include members selected from the group consisting of quadrilateral-shaped members, plus-shaped members, and T-shaped members.
8. The wrap system of claim 1, wherein the second wrap recessed regions define at least a portion of the second wrap surface.
9. The wrap system of claim 1, wherein the second wrap recessed regions are located between respective second wrap protuberances.
10. The wrap system of claim 1, wherein the second wrap includes curved side members coupled to the second wrap body.
11. The wrap system of claim 10, wherein the second wrap body and the curved side members are permanently attachable to side panels create a centerbody of the container.
12. A container comprising:
- a container side panel;
- a top wrap coupled to the container side panel, the top wrap having top wrap protuberances and top wrap recessed regions extending from a top wrap surface of a top wrap body, the top wrap protuberances and top wrap recessed regions arranged in a desired stacking pattern; and
- a bottom wrap having bottom wrap protuberances and bottom wrap recessed regions extending from a bottom wrap surface of a bottom wrap body, the bottom wrap protuberances and bottom wrap recessed regions arranged to stackably cooperate with the desired stacking pattern.
13. The container of claim 12, wherein the top wrap protuberances include quadrilateral-shaped members.
14. The container of claim 12, wherein the top wrap recessed regions define at least a portion of the top wrap surface.
15. The container of claim 12, wherein the top wrap recessed regions are located between respective top wrap protuberances.
16. The container of claim 12, wherein the top wrap includes curved side members coupled to the top wrap body.
17. The container of claim 16, wherein the top wrap body and the curved side members are permanently attached to the side panel.
18. The container of claim 12, wherein the bottom wrap protuberances include members selected from the group consisting of quadrilateral-shaped members, plus-shaped members, and T-shaped members.
19. The container of claim 12, wherein the bottom wrap recessed regions define at least a portion of the bottom wrap surface.
20. The container of claim 12, wherein the bottom wrap recessed regions are located between respective bottom wrap protuberances.
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 13, 2018
Publication Date: Nov 15, 2018
Inventor: Dennis M. Becklin (Grants Pass, OR)
Application Number: 16/034,987