Shock absorbing pod
AssigneeRehrig Pacific Company
InventorRobert V. Gruber
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A pod for absorbing shock placed on a load includes a rigid body, a rigid face, and a spring assembly. The face is positioned above the body for attachment to the underside of a load placed on the face. The spring assembly connects the body to the face. The spring assembly absorbs shock placed on the load during momentum changes felt by the load during transit or while being placed on a support surface. The pod may also be incorporated into a pallet assembly.
Claims23
A pod arranged to support a load and absorb shock experienced by the load, the pod comprising:
- a rigid lower member;
- a rigid upper member positioned apart from the lower member for attachment to the underside of a load placed on the upper member, the upper member having an opening disposed over the lower member;
- and
- at least one spring member disposed about the periphery of the opening of the upper member, the at least one spring member connecting the lower member to the upper member, wherein the at least one spring member absorbs shock experienced by the load.
A pallet assembly arranged to support a load and absorb shock experienced by the load, the pallet assembly comprising:
- a deck member and an integral pod attached to one side of the deck member to form a unitary construction, wherein the pod includes a rigid lower member, a rigid upper member, and at least one spring member, wherein the upper member is positioned apart from the lower member and is attached to the one side of the deck member, wherein the upper member has an opening disposed over the lower member, wherein the at least one spring member is disposed about the periphery of the opening of the upper member, connects the lower member to the upper member, and absorbs shock experienced by a load being supported by the deck member.
A pod arranged to support a load and absorb shock experienced by the load, the pod comprising:
- a body;
- a face spaced from the body and oriented to be mounted to the underside of a load placed on the face;
- and
- at least one spring assembly disposed around the periphery of the body and extending between the body and the face, wherein the at least one spring assembly absorbs shock experienced by the load, wherein the face and the at least one spring assembly form a cavity configured to receive a body of a like pod disposed thereabove when arranged in a stacked orientation.
A pod arranged to support a load and absorb shock experienced by the load, the pod comprising:
- a rigid lower member;
- a rigid upper member positioned apart from the lower member for attachment to the underside of a load placed on the upper member;
- and
- at least one spring member connecting the lower member to the upper member, wherein the at least one spring member absorbs shock experienced by the load, wherein the upper member, the lower member, and the at least one spring member are integrally formed as a unitary member.
A pallet assembly arranged to support a load and absorb shock experienced by the load, the pallet assembly comprising:
- a deck member and a pod attached to one side of the deck member, wherein the pod includes a rigid lower member, a rigid upper member, and at least one spring member, wherein the upper member is positioned apart from the lower member and is attached to the one side of the deck member, wherein the at least one spring member connects the lower member to the upper member and absorbs shock experienced by a load being supported by the deck member, wherein the deck member and the lower member, the upper member, and the at least one spring assembly of the pod are integrally formed to form a unitary construction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.