Special receptacle or package – For a vehicle
Patent
1991-03-28
1992-07-28
Price, William I.
Special receptacle or package
For a vehicle
206386, B65D 8568
Patent
active
051334534
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a shipping container for preassembled motorcycles or the like, comprising a frame-shaped bottom panel, particularly made of wood, having two longitudinal runners secured to at least three stringers extending transversely thereto of which the first, second and third stringers, as seen in the direction in which the motorcycle is introduced into the container (i.e. the longitudinal direction), are fastened to front, center and rear portions, respectively, of said longitudinal runners, and guide means for laterally guiding the motorcycle front wheel. The guide means are secured along the longitudinal centerline of the bottom panel and extend rearwardly from the front end thereof. A stationary wedge element is disposed at the front end of the bottom panel above the lateral front wheel guide means and in a direction transverse thereto to form an abutment for the front wheel in the longitudinal direction. A guide means is provided for the rear wheel of said motorcycle and is disposed along the longitudinal centerline of the bottom panel at the rear portion thereof. Straps, engageable with the bottom panel, are provided for lashing the motorcycle thereto.
Fundamentally, the design of shipping containers for motorcycles not in a disassembled condition is a difficult task. Because of its shape, its weight (up to 500 kg) and its exterior configuration, a motorcycle cannot be placed on its side; it has to be secured in place and shipped in its shipping container in a vertical position.
Comprising body elements of thin sheet metal and plastic components, motorcycles are highly sensitive to shipping damage.
In the commercial export business, disassembled motorcycles are shipped in high-strength corrugated cardboard crates. Only few manufacturers ship their motorcycles in a partly disassembled or ready-to-use condition in disposable shipping containers, and only if major quantities of such motorcycles of the same type and having the same dimensions are to be shipped.
For securing a motorcycle in place, it is necessary, basically, to secure its front and rear wheels and to then tie it in place in angular (diagonal) directions using straps and/or to rigidly connect it in place with the cover and the walls of the top portion of the enclosing container.
A prior shipping container of the kind initially explained is used as a disposable container for partly disassembled or ready-to-use units of one model of the BMW line of motorcycles. This container is destroyed once the motorcycle has been unpacked at its destination. The prior shipping container has vertical grooves along the outer edges of the longitudinal grooves for guiding the lashing straps. A front wedge element acting as an abutment in the direction of motorcycle introduction is secured to a lateral front wheel guide means. A means for laterally guiding the rear wheel is secured to additional transversely extending stringers. As the motorcycle is being pushed into its container, a relatively high pushing force has to be used to get the motorcycle front wheel to move over the successive transverse stringers until it strikes the front wedge element.
If the motorcycle is very heavy, it is difficult for even several persons to succeed in pushing it into its container. For this reason, it is common practice in assembly-line packaging of motorcycles to use electric hoists that lower motorcycles into the frame. Alternatively, a hydraulic platform is used to jack the motorcycle up to the level of the top surfaces of the transversely extending bottom frame members in front of the bottom panel. At the same time, the lower-level spaces between the transversely extending frame portions are bridged by a hydraulically jackable panel mounted in the bottom of the motorcycle position so as to create a continuous plane on which the motorcycle can roll into the container. After the motorcycle has been rolled in, the bridge panel is dropped to lower the motorcycle to get its front and rear wheels to assume positions; these differ for
REFERENCES:
patent: 3393935 (1968-07-01), James
patent: 4171741 (1979-10-01), Fish
Clemens Fritze Industrieverpackunger
Price William I.
LandOfFree
Shipping container for preassembled motorcycles does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Shipping container for preassembled motorcycles, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Shipping container for preassembled motorcycles will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-1682954