Modular and customizable returnable rack system
AssigneePACCAR Inc
InventorsTerence H. Brady, James W. Dayton, Douglas H. Hehn, Daniel S. Mullen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A customizable returnable rack system for shipping products is provided. The system includes a plurality of racks (10), wherein each rack (10) is selectively displaceable between a collapsed position and an upright position. The racks (10) are adapted to be stacked upon one another in either the collapsed or upright position. The system further includes a first removable dunnage structure (22) couplable to a rack (10) and configured to receive a first type of product and a second removable dunnage structure (22) couplable to a rack (10) and configured to receive a second type of product.
Claims7
A customizable rack configured to received a removable dunnage structure, the rack comprising:
- (a) a base for supporting products thereon, the base having a shape to define four base corners, the base formed at least in part by a first pair of cross tubes positioned substantially transversely to a second pair of cross tubes, wherein end openings of the cross tubes are sized and configured to receive portions of a lifting apparatus, the first and second pair of cross tubes defining a base bottom surface;
- (b) a plurality of dunnage mounting portions coupled to the first and second pairs of cross tubes, each dunnage mounting portion including a plurality of openings configured to receive fastening elements of a removable dunnage structure;
- (c) a corner recess formed within each base corner;
- (d) a substantially L-shaped post-mounting bracket secured within each corner recess, the post-mounting bracket defining a substantially L-shaped corner recess;
- and
- (e) a post received within each L-shaped corner recess and removably coupled to the corresponding L-shaped post mounting bracket, each post having a lower post segment and an upper post segment hingedly coupled thereto, the lower post segment including a stack plug cavity formed in its upper end and a stack plug formed on its lower end that is positioned above a base bottom surface when the post is coupled to the L-shaped post mounting bracket, the upper post segment including a stack plug cavity formed in its upper end that is adapted to receive the stack plug formed in the lower end of a lower post segment of another rack, the posts being selectively translatable between at least an upright position and a collapsed position, wherein a collapsed rack may be stacked upon another collapsed rack such that the stack plug formed in the lower end of a lower post segment of one rack is received within the stack plug cavity formed in the upper end of a lower post segment of another rack.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.