U.S. patent application number 12/834237 was filed with the patent office on 2012-01-12 for hybrid stacking system for containers.
This patent application is currently assigned to Environmental Container Systems, d/b/a ECS Composites, Environmental Container Systems, d/b/a ECS Composites. Invention is credited to Dennis M. Becklin.
Application Number | 20120006837 12/834237 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 45437860 |
Filed Date | 2012-01-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120006837 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Becklin; Dennis M. |
January 12, 2012 |
HYBRID STACKING SYSTEM FOR CONTAINERS
Abstract
Universal wraps are used in the construction of a container
centerbody. The wraps may take the form of a top and bottom wrap
with complementary stacking patterns, in which the wraps create the
centerbody. The wraps permit stacking of different-style containers
regardless of which container is positioned as the bottom
container. The universal wraps may include curved edge portions to
seamlessly and aesthetically blend in with a side panel of the
container. The stacking patterns of the wraps may take different
forms with various shaped protuberances and recessed portions.
Further, one or more of the wraps may have isolation features
attached to or integrally formed with an interior surface of the
wrap.
Inventors: |
Becklin; Dennis M.; (Grants
Pass, OR) |
Assignee: |
Environmental Container Systems,
d/b/a ECS Composites
Grants Pass
OR
|
Family ID: |
45437860 |
Appl. No.: |
12/834237 |
Filed: |
July 12, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/694 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 21/0224 20130101;
B65D 21/0202 20130101; B65D 21/023 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/694 |
International
Class: |
B65D 90/00 20060101
B65D090/00 |
Claims
1. A wrap system for a container comprising: a first wrap having
first wrap protuberances and first wrap recessed regions extending
from a first wrap surface of a first wrap body, the first wrap
protuberances and first wrap recessed regions arranged in a desired
stacking pattern; and a second wrap having second wrap
protuberances and second wrap recessed regions extending from a
second wrap surface of a second wrap body, the second wrap
protuberances and second wrap recessed regions arranged to
stackably cooperate with the desired stacking pattern.
2. The wrap system of claim 1, wherein the first wrap protuberances
include quadrilateral-shaped members.
3. The wrap system of claim 1, wherein the first wrap recessed
regions define at least a portion of the first wrap surface.
4. The wrap system of claim 1, wherein the first wrap recessed
regions are located between respective first wrap
protuberances.
5. The wrap system of claim 1, wherein the first wrap includes
curved side members coupled to the first wrap body.
6. The wrap system of claim 5, wherein the first wrap body and the
curved side members are permanently attachable to the side panels
to create a centerbody of the container.
7. The wrap system of claim 1, wherein the second wrap
protuberances include members selected from the group consisting of
quadrilateral-shaped members, plus-shaped members, and T-shaped
members.
8. The wrap system of claim 1, wherein the second wrap recessed
regions define at least a portion of the second wrap surface.
9. The wrap system of claim 1, wherein the second wrap recessed
regions are located between respective second wrap
protuberances.
10. The wrap system of claim 1, wherein the second wrap includes
curved side members coupled to the second wrap body.
11. The wrap system of claim 10, wherein the second wrap body and
the curved side members are permanently attachable to side panels
create a centerbody of the container.
12. A container comprising: a container side panel; a top wrap
coupled to the container side panel, the top wrap having top wrap
protuberances and top wrap recessed regions extending from a top
wrap surface of a top wrap body, the top wrap protuberances and top
wrap recessed regions arranged in a desired stacking pattern; and a
bottom wrap having bottom wrap protuberances and bottom wrap
recessed regions extending from a bottom wrap surface of a bottom
wrap body, the bottom wrap protuberances and bottom wrap recessed
regions arranged to stackably cooperate with the desired stacking
pattern.
13. The container of claim 12, wherein the top wrap protuberances
include quadrilateral-shaped members.
14. The container of claim 12, wherein the top wrap recessed
regions define at least a portion of the top wrap surface.
15. The container of claim 12, wherein the top wrap recessed
regions are located between respective top wrap protuberances.
16. The container of claim 12, wherein the top wrap includes curved
side members coupled to the top wrap body.
17. The container of claim 16, wherein the top wrap body and the
curved side members are permanently attached to the side panel.
18. The container of claim 12, wherein the bottom wrap
protuberances include members selected from the group consisting of
quadrilateral-shaped members, plus-shaped members, and T-shaped
members.
19. The container of claim 12, wherein the bottom wrap recessed
regions define at least a portion of the bottom wrap surface.
20. The container of claim 12, wherein the bottom wrap recessed
regions are located between respective bottom wrap
protuberances.
21. The container of claim 12, wherein the bottom wrap includes
curved side members coupled to the bottom wrap body.
22. The container of claim 21, wherein the bottom wrap body and the
curved side members are permanently attached to the side panel.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to a hybrid stacking system for
containers having different stacking patterns, and more
specifically relates to a hybrid stacking system having wraps on
the containers for engaging different stacking patterns from
different generations.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Various types of containers, which may take the form of
transit containers, rack-mount containers, tote containers or
another type of container, are often utilized to receive and
support delicate cargo, such as, but not limited to electronic,
computer, optical and other types of equipment. These containers
are often used in military and commercial environments and may be
handled by persons, loading equipment, or both during transit and
at other times. At least some of these containers have been
designed to be stackable, and thus they include stacking elements
or features arranged in a desired pattern. However, many of these
containers may be of different types, sizes, models and versions,
and thus have different stacking patterns that either do not permit
the containers to be stacked together or that reduce the
effectiveness, stability and/or efficiency of the containers when
they are stacked together. By way of example, one company that
manufactures containers having different stacking patterns is ECS
Composites, Inc. out of Grants Pass, Oreg.
[0003] A variety of containers with stackability patterns include,
but are not necessarily limited to, the following containers
described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,457,599 to Apps et al.; U.S. Pat. No.
6,237,758 to Hsu; U.S. Pat. No. 6,186,345 to Robertson; U.S. Pat.
No. 6,085,467 to Packrall et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,769,230 to
Koefelda; U.S. Pat. No. 5,203,494 to Blomfield; and U.S. Pat. No.
4,655,360 to Juhanson.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] Containers, such as transit containers, rack-mount
containers, tote containers or other types of containers often
include stacking patterns located on some portion of the container,
for example the top and bottom surface or on the lid surfaces.
Regardless, this stackability makes the containers more space
efficient and easier to maneuver, especially in a field
environment. As the containers evolve over time, sometimes it is
either desired or necessary to modify the stacking pattern.
However, users of the containers may still desire to stack
containers having an older-style stacking pattern with containers
having a newer-style stacking pattern, or vice-versa.
Alternatively, the users may desire to stack containers that were
simply designed with two different types of stacking patterns.
Thus, in one embodiment, covers or wraps employing hybrid or
complementary stacking patterns may be mounted, integrally formed
with or otherwise attached to containers to permit the stacking of
containers having different stacking patterns. By way of example,
universal wraps (i.e., upper and lower wraps) are used to construct
a centerbody to permit the container to be stacked with another,
different type of container.
[0005] In one example of the invention, a wrap system for a
container includes a first wrap having first wrap protuberances and
first wrap recessed regions extending from a first wrap surface of
a first wrap body, the first wrap protuberances and first wrap
recessed regions arranged in a desired stacking pattern; and a
second wrap having second wrap protuberances and second wrap
recessed regions extending from a second wrap surface of a second
wrap body, the second wrap protuberances and second wrap recessed
regions arranged to stackably cooperate with the desired stacking
pattern.
[0006] In another example of the invention, a container includes a
container centerbody; a top wrap coupled to the container side
walls creating the aforementioned centerbody, the top wrap having
top wrap protuberances and top wrap recessed regions extending from
a top wrap surface of a top wrap body, the top wrap protuberances
and top wrap recessed regions arranged in a desired stacking
pattern; and a bottom wrap having bottom wrap protuberances and
bottom wrap recessed regions extending from a bottom wrap surface
of a bottom wrap body, the bottom wrap protuberances and bottom
wrap recessed regions arranged to stackably cooperate with the
desired stacking pattern.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] The preferred and alternative embodiments of the present
invention are described in detail below with reference to the
following drawings.
[0008] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a container having
universal wraps with complementary stacking patterns according to
an embodiment of the present invention;
[0009] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a top universal wrap
having a first stacking pattern according to an embodiment of the
present invention;
[0010] FIG. 3 shows a top plan view of the top universal wrap of
FIG. 2;
[0011] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a bottom universal wrap
having a second stacking pattern according to an embodiment of the
present invention;
[0012] FIG. 5 shows a bottom plan view of the bottom universal wrap
of FIG. 4;
[0013] FIG. 6 shows close-up view of a portion of the second
stacking pattern of the bottom universal wrap of FIG. 4; and
[0014] FIG. 7 shows a top plan (interior) view of the bottom
universal wrap of FIG. 4.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0015] In an example of the present invention, universal wraps
(i.e., upper and lower wraps) are used to create a container
centerbody that permits the container to be stacked with another,
different type of container. By way of example, the universal wraps
include separate, but cooperating stacking patterns that allow a
first generation container to be stacked with a second or different
generation container. Further, the universal wraps may
advantageously eliminate the need for customers to replace the
first generation containers with all second or different generation
containers. For purposes of the description herein, the terms
"first generation," "second generation" and "different generation"
are broadly used to describe modified containers indicating
non-compatible stacking patterns regardless of whether the
containers were produced at different times.
[0016] FIG. 1 shows a container centerbody 100 having a side panel
102 coupled to a top universal wrap 104 and a bottom universal wrap
106. The side panel 102 may include handles 103 and latch
mechanisms 105. In addition, the side panel 102 may be molded as a
unitary component and manufactured from durable materials to
include, but not limited to, various plastics, metals,
fiber-reinforced composites or some combination of the above. In
one embodiment, the wraps 104, 106 are bonded to the side panel
102. However, it is appreciated the wraps 104, 106 may be attached
to the side panel 102 by other means, such as, but not limited to,
an interference fit, a snap fit in which the wraps and side panels
include cooperating snap portions, or fastening, for example with
the wrap riveted to the centerbody.
[0017] FIGS. 2 and 3 show the top universal wrap 104 having a first
stacking pattern 108 that may take the form of a plurality of
spaced apart protuberances 110 extending from a surface 112. More
specifically, the protuberances 110 may take the form of
protrusions, projections, elements, features, bosses, ribs, etc. In
addition, the protuberances 110 may take a variety of shapes, such
as, but not limited to, quadrilaterals, polygons, circles,
ellipses, etc. In one embodiment, the protuberances 110 are
integrally molded with the surface 112 and side portions 114.
Optionally, a portion 116 of the surface 112 may be reserved or
made available for a label or other markings that may help identify
the container 100 and/or the contents therein.
[0018] The stacking pattern 108 may be formed symmetrically with
respect to axes 118, 120 (FIG. 3). In the illustrated embodiment,
the protuberances 110 are arranged in rows or columns 122, 124, 126
such that they nest within complementary portions of the bottom
wrap 106, as described in greater detail below. Alternatively, the
protuberances 110 may be arranged to nest within complementary
portions of a bottom side stacking pattern of another container of
the same or different generations.
[0019] FIGS. 4-6 show the bottom universal wrap 106 having a second
stacking pattern 128 that may take the form of a plurality of
spaced apart protuberances 130 extending from a surface 132. More
specifically, the protuberances 130 may take the form of
protrusions, projections, elements, features, bosses, ribs, etc. In
addition, the protuberances 130 may take a variety of shapes, such
as, but not limited to, quadrilaterals, polygons, circles,
ellipses, plus-shapes, T-shapes, etc. In one embodiment, the
protuberances 130 are integrally molded with the surface 132 and
side portions 134. Optionally, a portion 136 of the surface 132 may
be recessed or otherwise offset to nestingly engage with and/or
provide clearance for previous generation protubrance patterns. As
best shown in FIG. 6, the recessed portions 136 include the
selected regions 111, which are illustrated as footprints in dashed
line format, where the footprints represent the outline of engaging
protuberances. In the illustrated embodiment, the selected regions
111 receive the protuberances from row 122 of the top wrap 104
(FIG. 2).
[0020] Referring to FIG. 5, the protuberances 130 of the stacking
pattern 128 may be formed symmetrically with respect to axes 138,
140. In addition, the recessed portions 136 may also be formed
symmetrically with respect to the same axes 138, 140.
[0021] FIG. 7 shows a top plan view of an interior surface 142 of
the bottom wrap 106. As a means to streamline the manufacturing
process, the bottom wrap 106 includes isolation features that
correspond to an isolator foot print 144 extending from the
interior surface 142. The isolation features 144 may be molded with
the bottom wrap 106.
[0022] While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been
illustrated and described, as noted above, many changes can be made
without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
Accordingly, the scope of the invention is not limited by the
disclosure of the preferred embodiment. Instead, the invention
should be determined entirely by reference to the claims that
follow.
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