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US 10,858,148 B1Granted
Modular shipping base
AssigneeBig 3 Precision Products, Inc.
InventorsRoger Heinzmann, Alan Scheidt, Joe Biagi
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A re-usable, returnable, stackable, modular shipping base incorporates replaceable components to make the base relatively quick and cost effective to repair. The shipping base is formed from a number of stamped or cut sheet materials (e.g., sheet metal) that are then folded and attached to one another using a tab system. When a component is damaged, the damaged component may be removed from the base and replaced with another mass produced, stamped sheet material component. Components are attached to one another via adhesive, stitch welding, skip welding, spot welding, or any other applicable process. Some components (e.g., a center support) may also be assembled using a tab (from the center support) and slot (in a deck pan) system.
Claims51
A shipping base for supporting product during storage and transportation of the product, said shipping base comprising:
- a deck pan configured to extend generally horizontally when the shipping base is assembled and in an upright position, said deck pan configured to support product for storage and transportation on a top of said deck pan;
- a center support configured to attach to a bottom of the deck pan at a center of the deck pan and space the deck pan from a surface supporting the shipping base when the shipping base is assembled and in the upright position;
- a first corner support configured to attach to the bottom of the deck pan at a corner of the deck pan and at a front end of the shipping base and space the deck pan from the surface supporting the shipping base when the shipping base is assembled and in the upright position;
- a second corner support configured to attach to the bottom of the deck pan at a second corner of the deck pan and at the front end of the shipping base and space the deck pan from the surface supporting the shipping base when the shipping base is assembled and in the upright position;
- and
- an endwall configured to extend along the front end of the shipping base and engage the deck pan, first corner support, and second corner support when the shipping base is assembled and in the upright position, wherein:
- the endwall is the front endwall;
- the endwall is configured to attach to the deck pan, the first corner support, the second corner support, and a side support when the shipping base is assembled and in the upright position;
- and
- the endwall comprises:
- a main wall configured to extend laterally from the first corner support to the second corner support when the shipping base is assembled;
- and
- a deck tab configured to extend rearwardly from the main wall when the shipping base is assembled, said deck tab having a height equal to a distance which the center support spaces the deck pan from the surface supporting the shipping base, and wherein said deck tab is configured to attach to the bottom of the deck pan when the shipping base is assembled and in the upright position;
- and wherein:
- the endwall has a pair of recesses configured to receive forks for lifting or moving the shipping base, wherein a first recess of the pair of recesses is between where the endwall attaches to the first corner support and the side support, and the second recess of the pair of recesses is between where the endwall attached to the side support and the second corner support;
- the deck tab is a first deck tab defining a top of the first recess;
- and
- the endwall further comprises a second deck tab defining a top of the second recess.
15 more elements
A method of repairing a shipping base, said method comprising:
- identifying a damaged component of the shipping base, said damaged component of the shipping base comprising at least one of the following:
- a deck pan configured to extend generally horizontally when the shipping base is in an upright position, said deck pan configured to support product for shipping on a top of said deck pan;
- a center support configured to attach to a bottom of the deck pan at a center of the deck pan and space the deck pan from a surface supporting the shipping base when the shipping base is assembled and in the upright position;
- a first corner support configured to attach to the bottom of the deck pan at a corner of the deck pan and at a front end of the shipping base and space the deck pan from the surface supporting the shipping base when the shipping base is assembled and in the upright position;
- a second corner support configured to attach to the bottom of the deck pan at a corner of the deck pan and at the front end of the shipping base and space the deck pan from the surface supporting the shipping base when the shipping base is assembled and in the upright position;
- an endwall configured to extend along the front end of the shipping base and engage the deck pan, first corner support, and second corner support when the shipping base is assembled and in the upright position;
- a third corner support;
- a fourth corner support;
- a second endwall;
- a third endwall;
- a fourth endwall;
- a first side support;
- a second side support;
- a third side support;
- a fourth side support;
- a first corner post;
- a second corner post;
- a third corner post;
- or
- a fourth corner post;
- removing the damaged component by detaching at least one tab connecting the component to at least one adjacent component;
- receiving an undamaged component corresponding to the damaged component;
- and
- attaching the undamaged component to the adjacent component by attaching, via welding, at least one tab of the undamaged component to the adjacent component or at least one tab of the adjacent component to the undamaged component, wherein:
- the endwall is the front endwall;
- the endwall is configured to attach to the deck pan, the first corner support, the second corner support, and a side support when the shipping base is assembled and in the upright position;
- and
- the endwall comprises:
- a main wall configured to extend laterally from the first corner support to the second corner support when the shipping base is assembled;
- and
- a deck tab configured to extend rearwardly from the main wall when the shipping base is assembled, said deck tab having a height equal to a distance which the center support spaces the deck pan from the surface supporting the shipping base, and wherein said deck tab is configured to attach to the bottom of the deck pan when the shipping base is assembled and in the upright position;
- and wherein:
- the endwall has a pair of recesses configured to receive forks for lifting or moving the shipping base, wherein a first recess of the pair of recesses is between where the endwall attaches to the first corner support and the side support, and the second recess of the pair of recesses is between where the endwall attached to the side support and the second corner support;
- the deck tab is a first deck tab defining a top of the first recess;
- and
- the endwall further comprises a second deck tab defining a top of the second recess.
33 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.