Special receptacle or package – With pallet feature – Knockdown or collapsible type
Reexamination Certificate
2000-04-24
2002-04-16
Bui, Luan K. (Department: 3728)
Special receptacle or package
With pallet feature
Knockdown or collapsible type
C206S319000, C053S244000, C220S001500
Reexamination Certificate
active
06371299
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an improved crate assembly that is capable of employing more than two (2) pallets(e.g. four (4) or eight (8) pallets, etc.) for transporting articles of commerce. More specifically, the present invention provides an improved container assembly including an improved crate assembly and method for transporting articles of commerce, such as transformers and the like.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A patentability investigation was conducted and the following U.S. Patents were discovered: U.S. Pat. No. 2,692,064 to Koester; U.S. Pat. No. 3,372,855 to Smith; U.S. Pat. No. 3,557,855 to Weingarten; U.S. Pat. No. 4,467,922 to Rowley; U.S. Pat. No. 4,614,277 to Fourie et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,058,747 to Decroix et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,069,338 to Gigsby; U.S. Pat. No. 5,501,334 to Przytulla et al.; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,507,392 to Schutz.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,692,064 to Koester, teaches a shipping container for the storage and the transportation of articles. The container has a pair of straps such that each end and side section of the container is individually braced.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,372,855 to Smith, teaches a reinforced container having metal bands secured to the container and the pallet.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,557,855 to Weingarten, teaches a rectangular collapsed double mail carrier having a pair of cable members which limit the outward movement of the end panels.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,467,922 to Rowley, teaches a container for shipping glass sheets. The container includes elongated tensions members which increases the glass supporting strength of the container.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,614,277 to Fourie et al., teaches a pallet having posts secured thereto. Each post is positioned between the ends of a respective wall. The posts are joined to one another by strips of a laminated paper material such as that which is used to form the so-called slip sheet of an unpalletized loaded.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,058,747 to Decroix et al., teaches a transport and storage container. The container is provided with pallet feet so it can be handled by a fork-lift truck.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,069,338 to Gigsby, teaches a reinforced corrugated container. U.S. Pat. No. '338 more particularly teaches a support pad of semi-rigid material for protecting contents of corrugated containers, and a pallet having a plurality of sockets with each socket receiving a vertical cleat attached to the corrugated container.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,501,334 to Przytulla et al., teaches a pallet container for storage and transport of liquid contents. The container includes an inner container of thermoplastic material and a support jacket.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,507,392 to Schutz, teaches a pallet container which may be used for the transport and storage of liquids. The container has an outer jacket made of crisscrossing vertical and horizontal lattice bars. The container contains an inner container. The inner container, along with a support insert storage and the outer jacket, are supported by a steel pallet. The steel pallet contains a storage space for the outer jacket and the support insert in a collapsed state.
None of the foregoing prior art teaches a crate assembly which is capable of shipping articles of commerce and being quickly disassembled in a period of time that is desired by today's shippers and receivers. Therefore, what is needed and what has been invented is an improved crate assembly that is capable of employing more than two (2) pallets (e.g., four (4) or eight (8) pallets) for transporting articles of commerce. What is further needed and what has been invented is an improved method for transporting articles of commerce, such as transformers and the like.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An embodiment of the present invention provides a container assembly comprising a base; a first support member secured to the base and having a structure defining a first shelf; and a second support member secured to the base and having a structure defining a second shelf. The container assembly also includes a third support member secured to the base and having a structure defining a third shelf and a fourth support member secured to the base and having a structure defining a fourth shelf. A generally centric support member is secured to the base and has a structure defining at least one generally centric shelf. A first brace member (e.g. a first generally V-shaped brace member) is connected to the first support member and a second brace member (e.g. a second generally V-shaped brace member) is connected to the fourth support member. A connector assembly is releasably attached to the first brace member and to the second brace member for placing tension on the first brace member and on the second brace member; and a pallet is supported by the base. The container assembly preferably additionally comprises a third and fourth brace member (e.g. a third and fourth generally V-shaped brace members) respectively secured to the third and fourth brace member, and another or second connector assembly releasably attached to the third and fourth brace members for placing tension on same. Therefore, a preferred embodiment of the invention may be one set of a pair of tension V-shaped brace assemblies and a connector assembly for placing tension on same, or two opposed sets of same; that is a first pair of tension V-shaped brace assemblies and a first connector assembly for placing tension on the first two V-shaped brace assemblies and a second pair of tension V-shaped brace assemblies and a second connector assembly for placing tension on the second two V-shaped brace assemblies. The container assembly additionally preferably comprises at least one intermediate support member secured to the base and having a structure defining at least one intermediate shelf. The pallet supported by the base comprises the pallet disposed on one of the first, second, third and fourth shelves and on one of the at least one generally centric shelf. The pallet supported by the base may also comprise the pallet disposed on the base. The generally centric support member includes the structure defining a first centric shelf, a second centric shelf, a third centric shelf, and a fourth centric shelf.
The immediate foregoing container assembly additionally comprises a first intermediate support member secured to the base between the first support member and the second support member, a second intermediate support member secured to the base between the second support member and the third support member a third intermediate support member secured to the base between the third support member and the fourth support member, and a fourth intermediate support member secured to the base between the fourth support member and the first support member. Each intermediate support member preferably comprises an upper intermediate shelf. The pallet supported by the base in another embodiment of the invention comprises the pallet disposed on the upper intermediate shelf of the intermediate support member and on the first shelf of the first support member and on the generally centric shelf of the generally centric support member. Each intermediate support member also preferably comprises a lower intermediate shelf. In another embodiment of the invention the pallet supported by the base comprises the pallet disposed on the first lower intermediate shelf of the first intermediate support member and on the second lower intermediate shelf of the second intermediate support member. The present invention also provides a crate assembly comprising the container assembly without a pallet.
The present invention further provides a method for transporting transformers comprising the steps of:
a) providing a pallet;
b) providing a crate assembly having a first support member with a first shelf and a first tension brace assembly connected thereto, a second support member with a second tension brace assembly connected thereto, a generally centric support member having a centric shelf and an intermediate support member having an intermediate shelf;
c) positi
Bui Luan K.
Howard Industries
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