Generic rack transportation top cap
AssigneeDell Products L.P.
InventorsDusty Myers, Steven Embleton, James Don Curlee, Charles Money
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A top cap for securing items during shipping is disclosed. The top cap consists of a body having one or more features configured to engage the top of the item being shipped. In certain embodiments, the engagements features are adjustable and may accommodate different sizes of items to be shipped. The body also comprises one or more constraint securement features configured to receive constraints such that the top cap may be secured to structural elements of a container in which the item is being shipped. Although not limited to particular applications, the top cap is particularly suited for securing computer racks for shipment.
Claims20
A device for securing an item for transportation, comprising:
- a body;
- one or more engagement features,
- wherein the one or more engagement features are movable between two or more positions along the body, and
- wherein the one or more engagement features engage one or more structural elements of the item to fit the device to a top of the item;
- one or more direct engagement features, wherein the one or more direct engagement features engage one or more other devices;
- and
- one or more constraint securement features distributed around the body, wherein the one or more constraint securement features are shaped to receive one or more constraints to secure the device to a first structural feature of a container.
A top cap for securing an item to be transported, comprising:
- a body defining a plurality of slots;
- a bracket disposed in at least one of the plurality of slots, wherein the bracket is selectively positionable along the at least one of the plurality of slots to engage an engagement feature of the item to fit the top cap to a top of the item;
- one or more direct engagement features disposed about the top cap, wherein the one or more direct engagement features engage one or more other top caps;
- and
- one or more constraint securement features disposed around the body shaped to receive one or more constraints to secure the top cap to a first structural feature of a container.
A method of securing an item to be transported comprising:
- placing a top cap having a body, one or more engagement features and one or more constraint securement features on the item, wherein the one or more constraint securement features are distributed around the body;
- moving the one or more engagement features along the body from a first position on the body to at least a second position on the body;
- engaging the one or more engagement features of the top cap with one or more structural elements of the item to fit the top cap to a top of the item;
- engaging one or more direct engagement features of the top cap with one or more other top caps;
- receiving, by the one or more constraint securement features, one or more constraints to secure the item to a first structural feature of a container;
- and
- securing the top cap to the first structural feature via at least one of the one or more constraints.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.