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Wheel shipping member

a technology for shipping components and wheels, applied in the field of accessories for shipping articles, can solve the problems of affecting the service life of the wheel, and the outer surface of the lower wheel being damaged, so as to achieve the effect of minimizing the contact between adjacent wheels

Inactive Publication Date: 2007-06-21
FORD MOTOR CO
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009] The present invention is an apparatus for shipping a workpiece; in particular, a vehicle wheel. The apparatus includes an annular member having an outer peripheral edge and a base member located adjacent the outer peripheral edge. A partition member connected to the annular member extends into an open area circumscribed by the outer peripheral edge. Accordingly, as the apparatus is placed between adjacent wheels, the partition member minimizes contact between adjacent wheels.

Problems solved by technology

Such shipping methods are labor intensive and material laden.
In addition, after the wheel reaches its ultimate destination, the packaging materials are removed and typically discarded.
One problem with the above described prior art wheel shipping assembly is illustrated in FIG. 2.
Specifically, when loading or unloading wheels, a wheel contacting the wheel below it causes damage to the outer surface of the lower wheel.
If the damage is minor, the wheel may be repaired and in cases of major damage, the wheel must be scrapped.
Either case results in increased costs, both time and material.

Method used

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Examples

Experimental program
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Embodiment Construction

[0018] As shown in FIG. 1, a ring 10 according to the prior art is used to ship wheels 12. During the packaging procedure, a worker first places a bottom ring 14 on a pallet (not shown) and then proceeds to stack the wheels 12 to a desired height while placing a ring 10 between each wheel 12. When the stack reaches the desired height, a lid or cover 16 is placed on the top wheel 12.

[0019] To tie the individual stacks together, horizontal layers of adjacent rings 10 are sonically welded together at the point they contact an adjacent ring. For instance, if a pallet will ultimately hold six stacks of wheels 12, then prior to stacking the wheels 12, the rings 10 of each layer are sonically welded to one another at their contact points to form a single, six-ring layer. Accordingly, each layer of rings 10 is welded together, whereby the layers help tie all of the wheels 12 together to reduce both shifting and wheel to wheel contact during transport.

[0020]FIG. 2 illustrates one problem w...

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PUM

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Abstract

An apparatus for shipping a vehicle wheel. The apparatus includes an annular member adapted to be placed on the vehicle wheel specifically on the outer rim portion thereof. A partition member is connected to the annular member and extends into an interior area defined by the outer peripheral edge of the annular member. Accordingly, the partition member provides a buffer or protective member that protects the outer surface of the vehicle wheel from damage.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] Not Applicable. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] The present invention relates generally to an apparatus for shipping an article; and, more specifically to an apparatus used to secure a wheel during shipment and protect the wheel during loading and unloading. [0004] 2. Description of Related Art [0005] Lightweight automotive vehicle wheels cast from aluminum magnesium or titanium are very popular. After casting, a machining process provides the wheel with a smooth outer surface. The wheel than undergoes some type of surface finish to give the wheel a high luster surface. Various types of surface finishes are known. For instance, the surface may be brushed or polished, a surface treatment such as chrome plating may be applied or an overlay may be permanently attached to the outer surface. Upon completion of the manufacturing process, the finished wheel is packaged and shipped for installation on a motor...

Claims

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Application Information

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IPC IPC(8): B65D85/02
CPCB65D57/00B65D2585/6882B65D57/003
Inventor HASENBUSCH, RONALD
Owner FORD MOTOR CO