Thermoformed platform having a communications device

• US 7,963,235 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2007
• Issued: 06/21/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nextreme LLC
• Original Assignee: Nextreme LLC
• Inventors: Muirhead, Scott A. W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen; José V
• Application Number:
  US11/981,141
• Publication Number:
  US 20080066658A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,329 Days
• Field of Search: 108/57.25, 108/51.11, 108/55.1, 108/55.3, 108/55.5, 206/597, 206/598, 206/595, 206/386, 206/600
• US Class Current: 108/55.5
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 19/0012 forming a continuous plane contact surface
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 19/0014 forming discontinuous or non-planar contact surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 19/0018 and each contact surface having a discrete foot-like shape
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 19/38 Details or accessories
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2203/10 Transponders
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00034 Plastic
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00069 Plastic
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00139 Plastic
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00273 made of more than one piece
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00288 made of one piece
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00293 made of more than one piece
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00303 Cell type, e.g. honeycomb
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00318 made of one piece
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00323 made of more than one piece
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00333 contact surface having a stringer-like shape
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00338 contact surface having a discrete foot-like shape
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00348 contact surface of other form
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00407 on the load supporting surface
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00412 on the base surface
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00442 on the base surface
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00467 : on or in the load supporting surface
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00472 : on or in the base surface
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00557 : without separate auxiliary elements
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00562 : chemical connection, e.g. glued, welded, sealed
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00567 : mechanical connection, e.g. snap-fitted
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/0086 : Protection against environmental hazards, e.g. humidity, bacteria, fire
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/0094 : nestable

Abstract

Articles constructed of a plurality of scuffed sheets have improved sheet-to-sheet bond strength and surfaces with high coefficients of friction. Articles constructed out of three scuffed sheets include exterior intumescent polymeric surfaces resisting the spread of combustion flames and insulating the interior surfaces from the high temperature of fire. Articles include electronic apparatus sending an emergency 911 call to a remote monitoring station. Articles are advantageously reinforced with optional rigidifying structures without article modification. Members are joined with snap together features providing an assembled article. Articles include handles for ergonomic manipulation by workers. Articles include elements amenably receiving unitization accessories. The article improvements are demonstrated in the form of industrial platforms, particularly material handling pallets.

Claims

1. An industrial platform for supporting a load and a film for covering the load comprising:

a body,

said body having a load support surface for supporting the load being bound outwardly by four sides,

four corners projecting outwardly from said load support surface with each of said corners being adjacent to one of said load support surface sides, and

a plastic sheet film for covering the load on said load support surface, said sheet film having a peripheral edge,

four corners projecting outwardly from said load support surface with each of said corners being adjacent to one of said load support surface sides, and

said four corners including a pair of downward facing projections, said projections form a pocket for engaging said peripheral edge of said sheet film to unitize the load, and

said peripheral edge of said sheet of film being knotted and wedged into said pocket to secure said sheet of film over the load on said load support surface and around said peripheral edge.

2. An industrial platform as set forth in claim 1 in which:

said four sides define an outer margin, and

said projections do not extend beyond said margin.

3. An industrial platform as set forth in claim 1 which includes:

said projections being formed integrally with said corners.

4. An industrial platform as set forth in claim 1 which includes:

said projections forming pockets at said four corners.

5. An industrial platform as set forth in claim 1 which includes:

said projections depend downwardly from each of said corners to form a web having an opening for receiving said knotted sheet of film.

6. An industrial platform as set forth in claim 1 which includes:

a shrink wrap film, and

said projections having said pocket for engaging the shrink wrap film.

7. An industrial platform as set forth in claim 1 which includes:

said body being a body selected from the group consisting of a pallet, a tray and dunnage.

8. A pallet for supporting a load comprising:

a horizontally supported structure having a load bearing surface for supporting the load and a pair of pockets positioned in a corner of said load bearing surface,

said pair of pockets including an opening formed therebetween,

a sheet of shrink wrapping film for covering the load on said load bearing surface, said sheet having a peripheral edge having at least one knotted film end, and

said opening providing means for receiving said knotted film end to secure said shrink wrapping film on the load positioned on said load bearing surface.

9. A pallet as set forth in claim 8 which includes:

said pair of pockets being integral with the pallet.

10. A pallet as set forth in claim 8 which includes:

said pair of pockets being formed on the perimeter of the pallet.

11. A pallet as set forth in claim 8 which includes:

a web being formed between said pockets, and

said web being opened to provide means for engaging the knotted film end.

12. A pallet as set forth in claim 8 which includes:

said horizontally supported structure includes a plurality of corners, and

each corner includes a pair of pockets.

13. A pallet as set forth in claim 8 in which:

said pockets project away from said load bearing surface.

14. A pallet for supporting a load comprising:

a body having a first horizontal plane, a second horizontal plane, a plurality of wall structures, a plurality of reinforcing structures, and a plurality of corner structures,

said first horizontal plane having a surface for supporting the load,

said second horizontal plane having a support,

said wall structures, said reinforcing structures, and said corner structures maintaining said first horizontal plane surface a fixed distance apart from said second horizontal plane support,

said corner structures including a notch structure with an opening directed away from the first horizontal plane surface,

a film sheet for covering the load on said first horizontal plane surface, said film sheet having a peripheral edge with a knotted end, and

said knotted end wedged into said notch structure to secure said film sheet to wrap around the load on the pallet.

15. A pallet as set forth in claim 14 which includes:

said notch structure being integral to said second horizontal plane support.

16. A pallet as set forth in claim 14 which includes:

said notch structure being located at the perimeter of said body.

17. A pallet as set forth in claim 14 in which:

said reinforcing structures include leg components, and

said leg components inwardly offset adjacent said corner structures to allow receipt of the knotted end of the film in the notch structure.

18. A pallet as set forth in claim 14 which includes:

said notch structure being formed between said first horizontal plane and said second horizontal plane.

19. A pallet as set forth in claim 14 which includes:

said notch structure extending beyond said second horizontal plane.

20. A pallet as set forth in claim 14 which includes:

said first horizontal plane surface being composed of a first part;

said second horizontal plane support being composed of a second part, and

said first part and said second part being combined to assemble the pallet.

21. An industrial platform for supporting a load thereon comprising:

a surface for supporting the load on a first horizontal plane,

a support for reinforcing the surface on a second horizontal plane,

four vertical walls outwardly bounding said support to join said surface to said support,

four corners joining said vertical walls, and

said corners each having a web with a notch structure, and

a wrapping film wrapped around the load to unitize the load on said surface, said wrapping film having a knotted end positioned in said web notch structure to secure the load on said surface.

22. An industrial platform as set forth in claim 21 in which:

said notch structure includes a downward facing projection defining an opening, and

said opening adapted to receive the film knotted end.

23. An industrial platform as set forth in claim 21 which includes:

said notch structure being formed between said first horizontal plane and said second horizontal plane.

24. An industrial platform as set forth in claim 21 which includes:

said notch structure extending beyond said second horizontal plane, and

said support having legs being inwardly off-set from said corners.

25. An industrial platform for supporting a load thereon comprising:

a body having a top surface for supporting the load, a bottom surface with reinforcing elements to rigidify said top surface, and leg elements to elevate said top surface for handling,

said top surface having a pair of pockets positioned in four corners projecting from said bottom surface, and

said pair of pockets defining an opening from said bottom surface,

a wrapping film with a knotted end, said wrapping film being wrapped around the load on said body top surface, and

said opening in said pockets receiving and retaining said knotted end of said wrapping film.

26. An industrial platform as set forth in claim 25 which includes:

a plurality of projections extending from said bottom surface for insertion into the pockets of an identical second platform to facilitate shipping.