Truncated pyramid shaped shipping base
AssigneeSonoco Development, Inc.
InventorJames R Baechle
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A shipping base shaped like a square, truncated pyramid for use with a washing machine of the type having an undercarriage suspended below the wash tub. The shipping base has an opening in the top of the truncated pyramid into which the washing machine undercarriage is lowered until the undercarriage is suspended within the space defined by base, and an integrally formed frame-like pallet for supporting the washing machine. The opening is only slightly larger than the dimensions of the undercarriage so that the shipping base prevents any significant lateral movement of the undercarriage or the washing machine tub.
Claims7
A composite shipping base capable of being used with an appliance having an undercarriage, the shipping base comprising an outer shell constructed from a single blank that is folded into a three-dimensional, truncated, four-sided pyramid shaped structure, the shipping base comprising:
- two planar, trapezoidal side panels of similar dimensions, each side panel having a first top edge and a first bottom edge parallel to the first top edge;
- a planar, trapezoidal front panel and an opposing planar, trapezoidal rear panel, each having a second top edge and a second bottom edge parallel to the second to edge;
- a first flange extending horizontally outward from and hingedly attached to the first bottom edge of each side panel and a second flange extending horizontally outward from and hingedly attached to the second bottom edge of each front and rear panel to form a rectangular, frame-like pallet having four corners;
- a planar top panel extending inwardly from and hingedly attached to the first top edges of the side panels and the second top edges of the front and rear panels, the top panel defining a top opening configured to receive the appliance undercarriage so that the undercarriage sits inside the shipping base;
- and
- load bearing cushioning blocks affixed to the four corners of the frame-like pallet;
- wherein the side panels and front and rear panels form the four sides of the truncated pyramid shaped structure;
- and
- wherein the side panels, front and rear panels, and top panel define an interior space within the base within which the undercarriage can be suspended.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.