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US 2026/0264931 A1Published application
Plywood Container
OwnerMiles McClurginventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A plywood container which includes a plurality of plywood sheets have peripheral edges formed with a CNC-cut notch to interconnect and enable reusability and quick assembly and disassembly.
Claims10
A plywood container, which includes:
- a base sheet of a length L1 and a width W1 and a thickness Δx, said base sheet having a first peripheral edge, a second peripheral edge, a third peripheral edge, and a fourth peripheral edge, wherein said first peripheral edge and said second peripheral edge of said base sheet are opposing each other and have a length L1 and said third peripheral edge and said fourth peripheral edge of said base sheet are opposing each other and have a width W1, and each of said peripheral edges includes at least one notched portion of a depth of Δx and at least one un-notched portion and wherein there are at least three in number of combined said one notched portion and un-notched portion;
- a first side sheet and a second side sheet, each said side sheet of length of about L1 and a height of about H1 and a thickness about Δx, and said side sheet each having a first peripheral edge, a second peripheral edge, a third peripheral edge and a fourth peripheral edge with at least one notch of a depth of about Δx and at least one un-notched portion, said first peripheral edge of each side sheet has at least one notched portion and at least one un-notched portion and wherein there are at least three in number of combined said one notched portion and un-notched portion which are complementary configured to respectively receive said at least un-notched portion and said at least one notched portion of at least one of said first peripheral edge and said second peripheral edge of the base sheet;
- a first end sheet and a second end sheet, each said end sheet of width of about W1 and a height of about H1 and a thickness of about Δx, each said end sheet having a first peripheral edge, a second peripheral edge, a third peripheral edge and a fourth peripheral edge, each said said peripheral edge having at least one notch of a depth of about Δx, said first peripheral edge of each end sheet has at least one notched portion and at least one un-notched portion and wherein there are at least three in number of combined said one notched portion and un-notched portion which are complementary configured to respectively receive said at least one un-notched portion and said at least one notched portion of one of said third peripheral edge and said fourth peripheral edge of said base sheet, and said third peripheral edge and said fourth peripheral edge of each said end sheet has at least one notched portion and said at least one un-notched portion which are complementary configured to respectively receive said un-notched portion and said at least one notched portion of at least one said third peripheral edge and said fourth peripheral edge of at least one of each said side sheet;
- and
- a top sheet of a length of about L1 and a width about W1 and a thickness of about Δx, said top sheet having a first peripheral edge, a second peripheral edge, a third peripheral edge, and fourth peripheral edge, wherein said first peripheral edge and said second peripheral edge of said top sheet are opposing each other and have a length L1 and said third peripheral edge and said fourth peripheral edge of said top sheet are opposing each other and have a width W1, and each of said peripheral edges includes at least one notched portion of a depth of about Δx and at least one un-notched portion, wherein said second peripheral edge of each side sheet has at least one said notched portion and said un-notched portion and wherein there are at least three in number of combined said one notched portion and un-notched portion which are complementary configured to receive said at least one said un-notched portion and said notched portion of at least one of said first peripheral edge and said second peripheral edge of said top sheet, and said second peripheral edge of each said end sheet has at least one said notched portion and said un-notched portion and wherein there are at least three in number of combined said one notched portion and un-notched portion which are complementary configured to receive said at least one un-notched portion and said notched portion of at least one of said third peripheral edge and said fourth peripheral edge of said top sheet, wherein each said peripheral edge has an arcuate transition portion interconnecting each said notched portion and said un-notched portion, and each said peripheral edge including a smooth, splinter-resistant plywood layer edge which transitions at arcuate interconnections formed such that plywood layers are not frayed at said transition portion burr free surface formed and which assures reusability of said sheets post initial use.
2 more elements
A modular container comprising:
- a base panel, a plurality of side panels, a plurality of end panels, and a top panel, each panel formed from plywood and having a thickness Δx;
- each panel having peripheral edges, each peripheral edge including a plurality of alternating notched portions and un-notched portions, the notched portions having a depth substantially equal to Δx;
- wherein the notched portions and un-notched portions of each peripheral edge define a non-uniform and non-periodic pattern along the edge, such that:
- the pattern of notched and un-notched portions on a first panel edge is complementary to a mating panel edge;
- and
- the pattern is asymmetric along the length of the edge such that the panels are only mateable in a single orientation and are not reversibly interchangeable by rotation or inversion;
- wherein, upon assembly, the un-notched portions of one panel are received within corresponding notched portions of an adjacent panel to form an interlocking joint along substantially the entire length of the edge;
- and
- wherein the interlocking engagement constrains relative movement between adjacent panels in at least two orthogonal directions without requiring internal framing members.
6 more elements
A reusable plywood container comprising:
- a base panel, side panels, end panels, and a top panel, each panel comprising a laminated plywood structure having multiple plies;
- each panel having peripheral edges including alternating notched portions and un-notched portions, each notched portion having a depth approximately equal to the panel thickness;
- wherein each transition between a notched portion and an un-notched portion includes a continuous arcuate transition region having a radius greater than zero and extending across multiple plywood plies;
- wherein the arcuate transition region is configured such that:
- discontinuities between adjacent plies at the transition are reduced relative to a sharp-cornered notch;
- edge splintering and ply separation during repeated assembly and disassembly are minimized;
- and
- the peripheral edge maintains structural integrity over multiple assembly cycles;
- and wherein the notched and un-notched portions of adjacent panels interlock to form a rigid container without internal framing.
6 more elements
A modular container system comprising:
- a plywood base panel having a thickness Δx and a plurality of support members fixed to an underside of the base panel to define forklift-receiving openings;
- a plurality of plywood side and end panels, and a top panel;
- each of the base panel, side panels, end panels, and top panel having peripheral edges including alternating notched portions and un-notched portions, the notched portions having a depth approximately equal to Δx;
- wherein:
- at least one peripheral edge of the base panel includes notched and un-notched portions configured to directly interlock with complementary portions of the side and end panels;
- the interlocking engagement between the base panel and the side and end panels transfers vertical loads from the side and end panels into the base panel and the support members;
- and
- the support members and the interlocked panels together define a load-bearing structure capable of being lifted by a forklift without disengagement of the panels;
- wherein the panels are removable from one another to permit the container to be disassembled into a substantially flat configuration.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.