Apparatus for supporting an article during transport
First Claim
1. An apparatus for supporting an article during transport, the apparatus comprising:
- a support surface oriented to support an underside of an article to be transported;
a plurality of pins distributed over at least a portion of the support surface and movable between an extended position and a retracted position, the plurality of pins being urged into the extended position such that a lateral retaining portion of each pin protrudes above the support surface; and
wherein each of the plurality of pins has a generally cylindrical shape and is slidingly received within an opening in the support surface;
wherein each pin has a distal end disposed below the support surface, the distal end having a flange for engaging an underside of the support surface and retaining the pin within the opening when in the extended position;
further comprising a compliant membrane disposed below the support surface and wherein the distal end of each pin causes elastic deformation of the membrane, the elastic deformation being operable to urge the pin toward the extended position;
wherein the underside of the article, when received on the support surface, causes a portion of the plurality of pins underlying the article to be depressed into the retracted position while an extended plurality of pins remain in the extended position such that the lateral retaining portions of the extended plurality of pins disposed adjacent to the article constrain the article to prevent movement of the article on the support surface while being transported.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and method for supporting an article during transport is disclosed. The apparatus includes a support surface oriented to support an underside of an article to be transported. The apparatus also includes a plurality of pins distributed over at least a portion of the support surface and movable between an extended position and a retracted position, the plurality of pins being urged into the extended position such that a lateral retaining portion of each pin protrudes above the support surface. The underside of the article, when received on the support surface, causes a first portion of the plurality of pins underlying the article to be depressed into the retracted position while a second portion of the plurality of pins remain in the extended position such that the lateral retaining portions of pins disposed adjacent to the article constrain the article to prevent movement of the article on the support surface while being transported.
104 Citations
26 Claims
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1. An apparatus for supporting an article during transport, the apparatus comprising:
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a support surface oriented to support an underside of an article to be transported; a plurality of pins distributed over at least a portion of the support surface and movable between an extended position and a retracted position, the plurality of pins being urged into the extended position such that a lateral retaining portion of each pin protrudes above the support surface; and wherein each of the plurality of pins has a generally cylindrical shape and is slidingly received within an opening in the support surface; wherein each pin has a distal end disposed below the support surface, the distal end having a flange for engaging an underside of the support surface and retaining the pin within the opening when in the extended position; further comprising a compliant membrane disposed below the support surface and wherein the distal end of each pin causes elastic deformation of the membrane, the elastic deformation being operable to urge the pin toward the extended position; wherein the underside of the article, when received on the support surface, causes a portion of the plurality of pins underlying the article to be depressed into the retracted position while an extended plurality of pins remain in the extended position such that the lateral retaining portions of the extended plurality of pins disposed adjacent to the article constrain the article to prevent movement of the article on the support surface while being transported. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A method for transporting an article, the method comprising:
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causing a plurality of pins distributed over at least a portion of a support surface and movable between an extended position and a retracted position to be urged into the extended position by a compliant membrane disposed below the support surface, the distal end of each pin causing elastic deformation of the membrane, the elastic deformation being operable to urge the pin toward the extended position such that a lateral retaining portion of each pin protrudes above the support surface prior to receiving the article on the support surface, each of the plurality of pins having a generally cylindrical shape and being slidingly received within an opening in the support surface, each pin having a distal end disposed below the support surface, the distal end having a flange for engaging an underside of the support surface and retaining the pin within the opening when in the extended position; and receiving the article such that an underside of the article is supported on the support surface, the underside of the article causing a first portion of the plurality of pins underlying the article to be depressed into the retracted position while an extended plurality of pins remain in the extended position such that the lateral retaining portions of the extended plurality of pins disposed adjacent to the article constrain the article to prevent movement of the article on the support surface while being transported.
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Specification