U.S. patent application number 11/290661 was filed with the patent office on 2007-06-21 for wheel shipping member.
Invention is credited to Ronald Hasenbusch.
Application Number | 20070138037 11/290661 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38172188 |
Filed Date | 2007-06-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070138037 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hasenbusch; Ronald |
June 21, 2007 |
Wheel shipping member
Abstract
An apparatus for shipping a vehicle wheel. The apparatus
includes an annular member adapted to be placed on the vehicle
wheel specifically on the outer rim portion thereof. A partition
member is connected to the annular member and extends into an
interior area defined by the outer peripheral edge of the annular
member. Accordingly, the partition member provides a buffer or
protective member that protects the outer surface of the vehicle
wheel from damage.
Inventors: |
Hasenbusch; Ronald; (Grosse
Pointe Park, MI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
TUNG & ASSOCIATES
838 WEST LONG LAKE, SUITE 120
BLOOMFIELD HILLS
MI
48302
US
|
Family ID: |
38172188 |
Appl. No.: |
11/290661 |
Filed: |
November 30, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/303 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 57/00 20130101;
B65D 2585/6882 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/303 |
International
Class: |
B65D 85/02 20060101
B65D085/02 |
Claims
1. A shipping member used for transporting a vehicle wheel
comprising: an annular member including an outer peripheral edge
and having an interior area circumscribed by said outer peripheral
edge; and a partition member, said partition member connected to
said annular member and extending into said interior area.
2. A shipping member as set forth in claim 1 including said annular
member having an inner peripheral edge and having a circumferential
groove between said outer peripheral edge and said inner peripheral
edge, said interior area circumscribed by said inner peripheral
edge.
3. A shipping member as set forth in claim 1 wherein said partition
member occupies said interior area.
4. A shipping member as set forth in claim 1 wherein said partition
member occupies a portion of said interior area.
5. A shipping member as set forth in claim 1 wherein said partition
member includes a plurality of spokes, said spokes connected to
said annular member and extending inward into said interior
area.
6. A shipping member as set forth in claim 5 including a hub, said
spokes connected to said hub.
7. A shipping member as set forth in claim 5 wherein said spokes
have first and second ends, said first ends connected to said
annular member and said second ends connected to each other.
8. A shipping member as set forth in claim 1 wherein said partition
member has at least one opening therein.
9. A shipping member as set forth in claim 1 wherein said partition
member includes a plate member having top and bottom surfaces.
10. A shipping member as set forth in claim 1 including said plate
member having a multi-level configuration and having a plurality of
openings extending between said top and bottom surfaces.
11. A shipping member as set forth in claim 1 including a plurality
of shipping members joined together at adjacent annular members to
form a single layer.
12. A shipping member for transporting a vehicle wheel comprising:
an annular member including an outer circumferential flange and an
inner circumferential flange, a base member extending between said
outer circumferential flange and said inner circumferential flange,
said base member cooperating with said outer circumferential flange
and said inner circumferential flange to form a circumferential
groove configured to receive a rim flange of the wheel, said inner
circumferential flange circumscribing a cylindrical opening; and a
partition member located in said cylindrical opening.
13. A shipping member as set forth in claim 12 wherein said
partition member is connected to said annular member.
14. A shipping member as set forth in claim 12 wherein said
partition member has a multi-level configuration.
15. A shipping member as set forth in claim 12 including said
partition member including a hub; and a plurality of spokes
connected at one end to said annular member and at an opposite end
to said hub.
16. A shipping member as set forth in claim 12 wherein said
partition member includes a top surface, a bottom surface and a
plurality of openings extending between said top surface and said
bottom surface.
17. A shipping member as set forth in claim 12 including said base
member of said circumferential groove having a lower surface, said
lower surface lying in a plane and said bottom surface of said
partition member lies above said plane.
18. A shipping member as set forth in claim 12 wherein said
partition member has at least one opening therein.
19. A shipping member for transporting a vehicle wheel comprising:
an annular member including an outer circumferential flange and an
inner circumferential flange, a base member extending between said
outer circumferential flange and said inner circumferential flange,
said base member cooperating with said outer circumferential flange
and said inner circumferential flange to form a circumferential
groove configured to receive a rim flange of the wheel, said inner
circumferential flange circumscribing a cylindrical area; and a
partition member located in said cylindrical area, said partition
member connected to said annular member and having at least one
opening therein.
20. A shipping member as set forth in claim 19 wherein said
partition member has a multi-level configuration.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] Not Applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates generally to an apparatus for
shipping an article; and, more specifically to an apparatus used to
secure a wheel during shipment and protect the wheel during loading
and unloading.
[0004] 2. Description of Related Art
[0005] Lightweight automotive vehicle wheels cast from aluminum
magnesium or titanium are very popular. After casting, a machining
process provides the wheel with a smooth outer surface. The wheel
than undergoes some type of surface finish to give the wheel a high
luster surface. Various types of surface finishes are known. For
instance, the surface may be brushed or polished, a surface
treatment such as chrome plating may be applied or an overlay may
be permanently attached to the outer surface. Upon completion of
the manufacturing process, the finished wheel is packaged and
shipped for installation on a motor vehicle.
[0006] Different forms of packaging and shipping containers have
been used for transporting the finished wheel. One method was to
place the wheels in a cardboard container having a plurality of
dividers forming separate compartments for each wheel. To prevent
the wheels from shifting during transport, foam or other packing
material is placed in the compartment. In addition, often the
wheels are placed inside a plastic bag for protection after which
they are placed in the compartment prior to placing the packing
material around the wheel. Such shipping methods are labor
intensive and material laden. In addition, after the wheel reaches
its ultimate destination, the packaging materials are removed and
typically discarded.
[0007] FIG. 1 illustrates a prior art wheel shipping assembly in
which the wheels are stacked on top of one another with a plastic
ring member placed between each wheel. A cap is placed on the top
wheel. Depending upon the size of the shipping pallet, multiple
stacks of wheels are placed on each pallet.
[0008] One problem with the above described prior art wheel
shipping assembly is illustrated in FIG. 2. Specifically, when
loading or unloading wheels, a wheel contacting the wheel below it
causes damage to the outer surface of the lower wheel. If the
damage is minor, the wheel may be repaired and in cases of major
damage, the wheel must be scrapped. Either case results in
increased costs, both time and material. Accordingly, is desirable
to have a wheel shipping member that both protects the wheel
surface from damage and reduces costs associated with removing and
discarding packaging materials.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The present invention is an apparatus for shipping a
workpiece; in particular, a vehicle wheel. The apparatus includes
an annular member having an outer peripheral edge and a base member
located adjacent the outer peripheral edge. A partition member
connected to the annular member extends into an open area
circumscribed by the outer peripheral edge. Accordingly, as the
apparatus is placed between adjacent wheels, the partition member
minimizes contact between adjacent wheels.
[0010] According to one aspect of the present invention, the
annular member also includes an inner peripheral edge and a
circumferential groove located between the inner and outer
peripheral edge. The partition member includes a plurality of
spokes connected to the annular member and extending inwardly into
the open area. The spokes may be connected to one another or to an
annular hub located in the open area.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 is an exploded, perspective view of a wheel and wheel
shipping assembly according to the prior art;
[0012] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the prior art illustrating
contact between upper and lower wheels;
[0013] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the shipping member
according to the present invention;
[0014] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the lines 4-4
of FIG. 3;
[0015] FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating an upper wheel
being removed; and
[0016] FIG. 6 is a plan view illustrating an alternative embodiment
of the present invention.
[0017] FIG. 7 is a plan view illustrating a plurality of shipping
members according to the present invention formed as a single
layer.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0018] As shown in FIG. 1, a ring 10 according to the prior art is
used to ship wheels 12. During the packaging procedure, a worker
first places a bottom ring 14 on a pallet (not shown) and then
proceeds to stack the wheels 12 to a desired height while placing a
ring 10 between each wheel 12. When the stack reaches the desired
height, a lid or cover 16 is placed on the top wheel 12.
[0019] To tie the individual stacks together, horizontal layers of
adjacent rings 10 are sonically welded together at the point they
contact an adjacent ring. For instance, if a pallet will ultimately
hold six stacks of wheels 12, then prior to stacking the wheels 12,
the rings 10 of each layer are sonically welded to one another at
their contact points to form a single, six-ring layer. Accordingly,
each layer of rings 10 is welded together, whereby the layers help
tie all of the wheels 12 together to reduce both shifting and wheel
to wheel contact during transport.
[0020] FIG. 2 illustrates one problem with the prior art,
specifically the finished outer surface 18 of the wheel 10 is
exposed. When lifting and removing the upper wheel 12 from the
stack, in the direction shown by the arrow 20, the lower flange or
rim 22 of the upper wheel 12 may strike the finished outer surface
18 of the lower wheel 12 causing damage in the form of a scratch or
dent 24. Depending upon the severity of the scratch or dent 24,
repair of the wheel 12 may not be possible and the wheel 12 must
then be scrapped.
[0021] FIGS. 3-5 illustrate a wheel shipping member, seen generally
at 30, constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the
present invention. The wheel shipping member 30 generally includes
an annular member 32 and a partition member 34. The annular member
includes an outer wall or flange member 36 forming an outer
peripheral edge and an inner wall or flange member 38 forming an
inner peripheral edge. A base member 40 extends between the outer
wall 36 and inner wall 38 and cooperates with the outer and inner
walls 36, 38 to form a circumferential groove 42. The wheel
shipping member 30 also includes an interior area 44 defined as
that area or region circumscribed by the inner wall 38 of the
annular member 32. The interior area 44 may be a cylinder, a
portion of which being within the area circumscribed by the inner
wall 38.
[0022] A partition member, seen generally at 46, is connected to
the annular member 32 and extends into the interior area 44. In the
preferred embodiment, the partition member 46 includes a plurality
of spokes 48 connected to the annular member 32 and extending
radially into the interior area 44. The spokes 48 connect at a hub
50 with openings 54 located between the respective spokes 48. The
hub 50 further includes a center opening 52. In the illustrated
embodiment, the partition member 46 is a plate member 56 having a
top surface 58 and a bottom surface 60.
[0023] As illustrated in FIG. 4, the plate member 56 may be
configured to include a step or multi-level configuration that
provides strength and rigidity to the partition member 34. In
addition, the step configuration 62 raises the bottom surface 60 of
the plate member 56 to provide additional clearance for the outer
surface 18 of the wheel, as the outer surface 18 may extend past
the flange or rim of the wheel 12. In use, the shipping member 30
is placed on top of the wheel 12 such that the lower surface 66 of
the base member 40 rests on the upper flange or rim of the wheel
12. The outer wall 36 extends downwardly past the upper flange or
rim of the wheel 12 to hold the shipping member 30 in place on the
lower wheel 12. The partition member 34 extends across and over the
outer surface 18 of the wheel 12. The next or upper wheel 12 is
then placed on the shipping member 30 such that the lower flange or
rim of the upper wheel 12 is located on the upper surface 68 of the
base member 40, which, along with the outer wall 36 and the inner
wall 38, forms the circumferential groove 42.
[0024] As shown in FIG. 5 the shipping member 30 provides a skid or
bumper surface that acts as an interface between adjacent wheels 12
to reduce the likelihood that adjacent wheels 12 will contact one
another and thus damage the outer surface 18 of the lower wheel 12
when stacking or unstacking the wheels 12. Should a material
handler not fully lift a wheel 12 and thus drag or drop it on the
wheel 12 immediately below, the wheel 12 will strike the partition
member 46 instead of the outer surface 18 of the adjacent wheel 12.
Accordingly, the partition member 46 protects the finished outer
surface 18 of the wheel 12.
[0025] Depending upon the configuration of the particular wheel 12
being shipped, the size and configuration of the partition member
34 may vary. For instance as shown in FIG. 6, the spokes 48 are
formed as a plurality of narrow rib members 70 extending inwardly
from the annular member 32 and intersecting at a common point 72.
The openings of this embodiment are greater in size or area than
the previous embodiment, thereby reducing the amount of material
needed to form the partition member 34. Accordingly, based upon the
outer surface configuration 18 of the wheel, the partition member
34 can be configured in a multitude of shapes, sizes and designs
with the ultimate purpose being to protect the outer surface 18 of
the wheel 12 against contact with an adjacent wheel 12 when the
adjacent wheel 12 is removed.
[0026] The shipping member 30 can be made from a highly recyclable
material, such as polypropylene which can be injection molded in
various shapes, sizes or configurations depending upon the size and
outer surface configuration of the wheel 12. In addition, as
illustrated in FIG. 7, multiple shipping members 30 can be formed
together as a single unitary member joined at their contact points
82. Thus, depending upon shipping parameters, a single layer of
interconnected shipping members 30 are formed in a desired shipping
pattern. While shown herein as two columns of three, other
configurations are also contemplated.
[0027] The description of the invention is merely exemplary in
nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of
the invention are intended to be within the scope of the invention.
Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the
spirit and scope of the invention.
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