Divisible shipping platform apparatus

A divisible shipping platform apparatus for supporting and transporting loads by conventional tined material handling devices, which apparatus can be separated into multiple, independent shipping platform units for supporting and transporting loads, said divisible shipping platform apparatus comprising:

• a substantially flat planar load-bearing platform member for supporting said load,
• said platform member formed of a substantially paper material and having a top surface and a bottom surface opposite said top surface, wherein said load is capable of resting upon said top surface during the storage and transporting of said load;
• a plurality of pylons operably attached to said platform member,
• each of said pylons having a top end and a bottom end opposite said top end, and an outer surface,
• said top end of each of said pylons being operably secured to said bottom surface of said platform member, and said bottom end of each of said pylons being positionable on any shipping platform apparatus support surface, so as to facilitate the insertion, maintenance and removal of the tines of said conventional tined material handling devices between the platform member and the shipping platform apparatus support surface, and to further maximize the supportable strength of said apparatus while providing balance, stability and support to said divisible shipping platform apparatus during use thereof;
• at least one frangibility line operably positioned across at least a portion of the platform member so as to enable severing of said portion of said platform member along said at least one frangibility line to, in turn, facilitate reduction in size of the overall shipping platform apparatus into multiple, independent shipping platform units of smaller size for subsequent handling of said loads.

A divisible shipping platform apparatus for supporting and transporting loads by conventional tined material handling devices, which apparatus can be operably divided into multiple, independent shipping platform units for supporting and transporting loads, said divisible shipping platform apparatus comprising a substantially unitary paperboard blank including:

• a top panel having a top surface, a bottom surface, a first edge, a second edge, and at least one frangibility line operably positioned across at least a portion of said top panel so as to enable severing of said portion of said top panel along said at least one frangibility line to, in turn, facilitate reduction in size of the overall shipping platform apparatus into multiple, independent shipping platform units for subsequent handling of loads;
• a first side panel, having a first side edge, foldably emanating from the first edge of said top panel, said first side panel positioned substantially perpendicular to said top panel;
• a second side panel, having a first side edge, foldably emanating from the second edge of said top panel, said second side panel positioned substantially perpendicular to said top panel;
• a first bottom wing panel foldably emanating from the first side edge of said first side panel, said first bottom wing panel positioned substantially parallel to, and distally spaced below said top panel,
• said first bottom wing panel having a top surface and a bottom surface opposite said top surface;
• a second bottom wing panel foldably emanating from the first side edge of said second side panel, said second bottom wing panel positioned substantially parallel to, and distally spaced below said top panel,
• said second bottom wing panel having a top surface and a bottom surface opposite said top surface, said bottom surface being substantially planar with said bottom surface of said first bottom wing panel,
• said first and second bottom wing panels being substantially co-planar to one another in an articulated orientation;
• and
• a plurality of pylons operably positioned between said top panel and said first bottom and said second bottom wing panels so as to facilitate the insertion, maintenance and removal of the tines of said conventional tined material handling devices therebetween, and to further maximize the supportable strength of said apparatus while providing balance, stability and support to said divisible shipping platform apparatus during use thereof,
• each of said pylons having a top end and a bottom end opposite said top end, and an outer surface,
• said top end of each of said pylons being operably secured to said bottom surface of said top panel, and said bottom end of each of said pylons being operably secured to said top surface of one of said first bottom wing panel and said second bottom wing panel.