Pallet dampening system

• US 9,284,107 B2
• Filed: 10/03/2012
• Issued: 03/15/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ecolab USA Incorporated (Ecolab, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Ecolab USA Incorporated (Ecolab, Inc.)
• Inventors: Schultz, Jeffrey Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Tan
• Application Number:
  US13/633,929
• Publication Number:
  US 20140090581A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,259 Days
• Field of Search: 248/565, 248/615, 248/636, 248/637, 248/638, 248/618, 248/561, 248/563, 248/566, 248/183.3, 248/188.8, 248/346.01, 248/677, 248/619, 248/623, 248/646, 108/56.3, 108/57.26, 108/57.12, 108/55.33, 108/136
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 19/0095 and each contact surface having a stringer-like shape
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 19/44 Elements or devices for locating articles on platforms
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00029 Wood
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00064 Wood
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00273 made of more than one piece
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00293 made of more than 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 2519/00815 on the pallet
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/02 specially adapted to protect contents from mechanical damage containers of polygonal cross-section provided with internal protecting elements for contents B65D5/50; devices to locate articles in containers B65D25/10
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 15/067 using only wound springs
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 15/08 with rubber springs grommet- or bushing-type resilient mountings F16F1/3732, F16F1/38; with springs made of rubber and metal arrangement of internal-combustion or jet-propulsion units B60K5/12; mounting of propulsion plants on vessels B63H21/30; mounting of vehicle drivers' cabs B62D33/0604

Abstract

A method and system for reducing the effects of vibration and shock during transfer of an item on a pallet is provided. The system includes sleeves having recesses therein. The recesses are used to house dampening members, which reduce the vertical movement of the item on the pallet during transport of the item. Blocks may be positioned on the sleeves and may include apertures therethrough to house feet of the item being shipped to aid in providing lateral stability for the item during transfer. In addition, a transition member may be positioned between the feet of the item and the dampening member to increase the surface area on the dampening member to further aid in stabilizing the vertical movement of the item during transport.

Claims

1. A dampening system for use with transporting an item with a plurality of feet extending from the item, comprising:

first and second sleeves spaced apart from one another;

a dampening member separate from the plurality of feet of the item positioned within at least one recess of each of the first and second sleeves;

a transition member positioned between the dampening member and the plurality of feet of the item to transfer load from the feet to the dampening member; and

a block positioned adjacent the at least one recess of the sleeves to aid in providing lateral stability for the item being shipped;

said feet of the item extending at least partially through an aperture of the block and into contact with a portion of the dampening member or transition member;

wherein the first and second sleeves each comprise a plurality of recesses spaced along the lengths of the first and second sleeves.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the block aperture aligns with the recess of the sleeves.

3. The system of claim 1 further comprising a dampening member positioned within each of the plurality of recesses of the first and second sleeves.

4. The system of claim 3 further comprising a plurality of blocks positioned adjacent each of the plurality of recesses of the first and second sleeves.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the dampening member is dome-shaped, with a dome portion adjacent the block.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the transitional member is a disc.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the dampening member comprises a polyurethane.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the dampening member comprises a compression spring.

9. A dampening system for use with moving an item with a plurality of feet extending from the item on a pallet having first and second layers of longitudinal extending surface boards attached to one another by a plurality of oppositely extending support boards, the system comprising:

first and second sleeves secured to the first layer of surface boards of the pallet, the first and second sleeves each comprising at least one recess therein;

a dampening member separate from the feet of the item and positioned within each of the at least one recess of the first and second sleeves to provide vertical stability for the item;

a transitional member separate from and positioned between the dampening member and the feet for providing greater surface area to contact the item; and

a block positioned adjacent each of the at least one recess of the first and second sleeves for providing lateral stability for the item, the blocks including an aperture aligned with the at least one recess; and

said feet of the item extending at least partially through an aperture of the block and into contact with a portion of the dampening member or transitional member.

10. The system of claim 9 further comprising a plurality of recesses positioned in each of the first and second sleeves.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein the dampening member comprises a dome-shaped piece of polyurethane.

12. The system of claim 9 wherein the dampening member comprises a compression spring.

13. The system of claim 9 wherein the transitional member comprises a disc.

14. The system of claim 9 wherein the first and second sleeves are parallel to one another on the first layer of surface boards.

15. A dampening system for use with moving an item with a plurality of feet extending from the item on a pallet having first and second layers of longitudinal extending surface boards attached to one another by a plurality of oppositely extending support boards, the system comprising:

first and second sleeves secured to the first layer of surface boards of the pallet, the first and second sleeves each comprising a plurality of recesses therein;

a dampening member separate from the feet and positioned within each of the recesses of the first and second sleeves to provide vertical stability for the item; and

a transition member positioned between the dampening member and the plurality of feet of the item to transfer load from the feet to the dampening member;

said feet of the item extending at least partially into said recesses and into contact with the dampening members positioned therein to provide stability for the item.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the dampening member comprises a dome-shaped member.

17. The system of claim 15 wherein the transitional member comprises a disc-shaped transitional member adjacent the dampening member to provide more surface area for the item.

18. The system of claim 15 further comprising a platform positioned on the first and second sleeves, the platform comprising a plurality of legs extending from a side of the platform and capable of insertion into the recesses of the sleeves adjacent the dampening member.