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US 6,550,741 B1Granted
High load capacity cradle particularly for rolls and coils
AssigneeCougar Package Designers, Inc.
InventorMark A. Cottone
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A cushioning and stabilizing support in the form of a cradle for supporting heavy paper coils or rolls has a load bearing surface which flexes under loading to embrace and protect the roll. The cradle is preferably configured so that the center of gravity of the roll is aligned with the midpoint of the cradle, providing optimum load-bearing capacity and protection.
Claims25
A load support for a load having a curved exterior, comprising:
- a base having a top and a bottom section, the top section having a load-engaging surface, the bottom section having a pair of laterally spaced outer feet and an intermediate foot disposed between the outer feet, each outer foot having an identical outboard heel and an inboard heel, the outbound heels being on a same first horizontal plane and the inboard heels being on a same second horizontal plane that is disposed above the first horizontal plane, the intermediate foot disposed above the first horizontal plane, whereby a load placed upon the load-engaging surface causes the base to flex such that the inboard heels of each outer foot become co-planar with the outboard heels, the intermediate foot becomes co-planar with the outer feet, and the load-engaging surface curves to embrace and protect the curved exterior of the load.
A method of supporting a load, comprising:
- providing a load support that is formed of a top section which defines a load engaging surface, and a bottom section which includes an intermediate foot and two outer feet, wherein said intermediate foot of said bottom section is shorter relative to said outer feet, said intermediate foot having a planar bottom surface and said outer feet having identically sloped bottom surfaces, wherein all bottom surfaces touch a ground surface when said load engaging surface moves downwardly;
- placing a load within said load support such that said load engaging surface moves downwardly with each of said feet sharing a portion of the load while resting on the ground surface.
A load support for a heavy load, comprising:
- a base having a top and a bottom and lateral sides, said top having a load-engaging surface, said base bottom being defined by first and second outboard feet located adjacent a respective lateral side, and an intermediate foot between said outboard feet, said outboard feet are coplanar in a first horizontal plane and said intermediate foot being located in a first unloaded height in a second horizontal plane which is above said first horizontal plane said base having a middle portion which decreases from said first unloaded height to a second loaded height upon a heavy load being placed upon said load-engaging surface, while said lateral sides are subjected to an inwardly directed force toward said load, said load-engaging surface thereby forming a well embracing said load upon said load-engaging surface.
A load support for a heavy load, comprising:
- a base having a top and a bottom and lateral sides, said top having a load-engaging surface, said load-engaging surface having a generally concave shape, said base bottom being defined by first and second outboard feet located adjacent a respective lateral side, and an intermediate foot between said outboard feet, said outboard feet are coplanar in a first horizontal plane and said intermediate foot being located in a first unloaded height in a second horizontal plane which is above said first horizontal plane;
- said base having a middle portion which decreases from said first unloaded height to a second loaded height upon a heavy load being placed upon said load-engaging surface, while said lateral sides are subjected to an inwardly directed force toward said load, said load-engaging surface thereby forming a well embracing said load upon said load-engaging surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.