Shipping container for frangible panels

#The Invention relates to shipping containers for securely supporting panels such as insulating glass units, particularly multi-pane insulated glass refrigerator doors and window assemblies.

#Commercial refrigerators and freezers such as employed in supermarkets, generally comprise a plurality of insulated glass doors, which are constructed of insulated glass units made up of two or more glass panes maintained in spread-apart relation by tubular spacers with the interior between the panes appropriately scaled. The glass unit in turn is supported within a relatively rugged outer metallic or plastic frame overlapping the periphery of the glass unit in position and for providing a decorative finished appearance to the assembly.

#The refrigerator door assemblies are adapted for use in free standing refrigerators or freezer cases or built-in coolers or cabinets of the type used in retail stores to display refrigerated or frozen merchandise. A problem arises when a stack of insulated glass units are transported to the place of use. Generally the insulated units are transported, stacked in a vertically held position subjected to rough handling during transit with consequential breakage.

#FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the shipping container of this invention carrying multi-glazed insulated refrigerator door assemblies being stacked in parallel support wedges used in conjunction with the tilted rear wall.

#FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the pallet of FIG. 1 modified with extension supports and a cross-member support including caster wheels.

#FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a vertically laminated corrugated cardboard support wedge of the present invention.

#This invention relates to a shipping container for frangible sheets or panels such as multi-glazed insulating panels including refrigerator and freezer doors and window units that is economical, reusable, and efficient to handle providing ease of loading and unloading.

#In accordance with this invention a shipping container includes a pallet and a plurality of frangible panels supported thereon, said container including:

#a pallet having a horizontal base frame including a rigid planar platform area, a rear frame vertically fixed to the base frame which consists of a pair of rear vertical elongated support members in spaced relation to each other being connected by an upper horizontal cross-member, two front vertical elongated support members in spaced relation to each other which are detachably secured to the front of the base frame and each being detachably connected to an upper cross-member;