Thermoformed platform having a communications device

• US 20080066658A1
• Filed: 10/31/2007
• Published: 03/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nextreme LLC
• Original Assignee: Nextreme LLC
• Inventors: Muirhead, Scott
• Granted Patent: US 7,963,235 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 108/57.29
• 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 comprising;

a body,

said body having a load support surface for supporting a 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

said four corners including a plurality of projections for engaging a film to unitize the load.

2. :

An industrial platform as set forth in claim 1 in which;

said plurality of projections includes means for engaging a film knot.

3. :

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.

4. :

An industrial platform as set forth in claim 1 which includes;

said projections being formed integrally with said corners.

5. :

An industrial platform as set forth in claim 1 which includes;

said projections being separately affixed to said corners.

6. :

An industrial platform as set forth in claim 1 which includes;

said projections depend downwardly from said corners.

7. :

An industrial platform as set forth in claim 1 which includes;

the film includes a shrink wrap film.

8. :

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.

9. :

A pallet comprising;

a horizontally supported structure having a load bearing surface and a pair of pockets positioned at one corner of said load bearing surface,

said structure having a projection for engaging an article,

said projection including an opening formed between said pockets, and

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

10. :

A pallet as set forth in claim 9 which includes;

said projection being integral with the pallet.

11. :

A pallet as set forth in claim 9 which includes;

said projection being a separately formed part affixed to the pallet.

12. :

A pallet as set forth in claim 9 which includes;

a web being formed between said pockets, and

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

13. :

A pallet as set forth in claim 9 which includes;

said horizontally supported structure includes a plurality of corners, and

each corner includes a projection.

14. :

A pallet as set forth in claim 9 in which;

said pockets project away from said load bearing surface.

15. :

A method for securing a load to a pallet comprising;

placing an object on a pallet support surface,

creating a knot at the end of a film,

engaging the knot in a corner pallet pocket,

stretching the film over an adjacent corner pallet pocket, and

wrapping the film around the pallet and object to create a unitized load.

16. :

A method as set forth in claim 15 which includes;

engaging the knot in a corner pallet pocket that is integral with the pallet.

17. :

A method as set forth in claim 15 which includes;

engaging the knot in a corner pallet pocket that is a separately formed part affixed to the pallet.

18. :

A method as set forth in claim 15 which includes;

engaging the knot in a corner pallet pocket that includes side by side pockets with an opening to engage the knot.

19. :

A method as set forth in claim 15 which includes;

engaging the knot in a corner pallet pocket that projects away from the pallet support surface.

20. :

A method as set forth in claim 15 which includes;

providing a pallet that includes four corner pallet pockets.

21. :

A method as set forth in claim 15 which includes;

providing a pallet having a pallet support surface defined by a perimeter border and pockets that do not project past a perimeter border.

22. :

A method as set forth in claim 21 in which;

providing a pallet in which the pockets project in the opposite direction of the pallet support surface.

23. :

A pallet comprising;

a deck having an upper surface for supporting a plurality of goods,

the upper surface at least substantially bounded outwardly by side edges, end edges and corner edges between the side edges and end edges,

wherein a perimeter of the upper surface defines a maximum perimeter of the pallet;

a plurality of supports extending downward from the deck.

wherein the deck includes a plurality of openings into the plurality of supports such that the plurality of supports on a similar pallet would be nestable within the openings and the supports; and

at least one projection extending outwardly from at least one of the corner edges beyond the maximum perimeter of the pallet,

wherein the at least one projection is not continuous about a periphery of the deck.