Supports – Supporting base – Pallet type
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-11
2001-04-03
Ramirez, Ramon O. (Department: 3632)
Supports
Supporting base
Pallet type
C248S068100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06209839
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The invention relates to a stacking support, and more particularly to a stacking support for heavy roll stock, wherein the stacking support is fabricated from a plastic material.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
“Roll stock” is a common term used to describe cylindrical rolls of thin materials, such as plastic films, roofing sheets, light gauge metal, and paper products. These cylindrical rolls are typically shipped and stored on pallets in tiers of the rolls, all horizontally oriented. To stabilize and support these rolls in their tiers, stacking supports are typically employed. Several U.S. patents show stacking supports for receiving stacked rolls of materials.
One such disclosure is found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,195,732 to Bell, which teaches a support and spacing member for roll stock formed from expanded polystyrene foam. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 4,832,196 to Butler shows a roll support member that like Bell '732 is formed of expanded polystyrene foam. However, there are problems associated with polystyrene foam when it is used for roll stock supports. Expanded polystyrene is brittle and has a minimum of structural flexibility. Additionally, polystyrene foam cannot nest together for the compact storage of unused supports.
In an apparent attempt to improve upon the inadequacies of polystyrene foam, U.S. Pat. No. 5,080,314 to Moyer teaches a roll support formed of recyclable papier-mache. In many circumstances, papier-mache is inadequate for roll stock supports. Papier-mache disintegrates when it is moist. Therefore, papier-mache cannot be used in humid environments and always must be protected from weather. This protection is especially difficult during transport unless the roll stock with its papier-mache supports are shipped within a container or trailer. A stronger, yet still recyclable material is needed that can form roll supports.
Granted, the Moyer '314 papier-mache roll support has better nesting capabilities than the polystyrene foam roll supports. However, Moyer '314 still fails to adequately nest together for saving space when stacking the supports in storage. Importantly, papier-mache must be fabricated with substantial thickness to support heavy roll stock. Therefore, papier-mache supports cannot stackably nest for compact storage of the unused roll supports. A roll support is needed for heavy roll stock that can nest together in storage, with a minimum increase in the nested stack height when roll supports are added to the stack.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
The invention provides a support for receiving and supporting stacked tiers of cylindrical roll stock. The support can be either located on a base tier of the rolls, folded between tiers, or placed on a top tier, all to provide a rectangular stacked arrangement, or array of the roll stock that is especially suited for storage or transport. The roll supports nest within each other, substantially reducing the storage space required for unused supports. The roll supports are most preferably formed from a thermoformed and recyclable plastic, such as PET.
The support receives and supports horizontally stacked tiers of cylindrical roll stock. The support includes a support body formed from a plastic material. The support body has a first surface and a second surface. The first surface includes a plurality of curved cradles and each curved cradle is sized for receiving a roll of cylindrical stock.
The support body function to stabilize the tiered array of the cylindrical stock. A multiple of the support bodies combine to support a multiple of the rolls of cylindrical stock. Firstly, the rolls of cylindrical stock are supported by the support bodies to form a bottom tier of supported roll stock. The bottom tier of the supported roll stock then supports a minimum of two additional tiers of the cylindrical roll stock. Each of the additional tiers of the cylindrical roll stock is also supported by additional support bodies.
Each support body can substantially support the weight of each roll of cylindrical stock received within its curved cradles. The support body has a weight and the roll of cylindrical stock has a total weight and a supported weight. The weight of the support body is much less than the supported weight of the roll of cylindrical stock. Additionally, the support body has a height and the support body can stackably nest onto another support body while only minimally increasing the height of the support body.
According to one aspect of the invention, the roll support is strong enough to support heavy roll stock material, yet is still recyclable.
According to another aspect of the invention, the roll support can nest together in storage, with a minimal increase in the nested stack height, when roll supports are added to the stack.
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“Stakker Roll Packaging System” advertising flyer, Aug. 1, 1995, Henry Molded Products Inc., 71 North 16th Street, Lebanon, PA 17046.
Ramirez Ramon O.
Stratton Ballew PLLC
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