Modular top frame

Abstract

The modular top frame has a plurality of rails that are interconnected with corner members and has a top and a bottom surface between the inner and outer perimeter of the top frame. The corner members are assembled with two corner parts which have an outer side, a central rib and reinforcing ribs. The corner members have retainer pins in pin receiving apertures positioned along and adjacent to the outer side and the central rib so that when the corner parts are positioned one over the other, the retainer pins and the pin receiving apertures join the corner parts. The corner members have improved resistance to torsional and bending stresses. The top frame has an outside and an inside perimeter and the provides an area between the outside and inside perimeter equal to or greater than 48% of area of the outside perimeter.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]Not ApplicableSTATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT[0002]Not Applicable.REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX[0003]Not Applicable.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0004]1. Field of the Invention[0005]The present invention relates to the field of palletized units for transporting containers. In particular, the present invention relates specifically to a top frame used with palletized units for transporting containers.[0006]2. Description of the Known Art[0007]Typically in the beverage industry, empty containers, such as cans and plastic and glass bottles, are manufactured at one location and must be transported to another location where they can be filled and capped. To package these empty containers for shipment, a first layer of the containers are placed on a pallet. Typically, the pallet may be made from a heavy duty plastic material or wood. Since these containers have no top on them, their tops are open to foreign con...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0033]It has been found that by positioning the retainer pin receiving apertures and retainer pins as herein described that the corner members of the present invention have improved strength characteristics to provide an improved top frame of the present invention. A series of retaining pin apertures and retainer pins are alternately positioned adjacent and on each side the central rib. On one side of the central rib a retaining pin aperture is provided and on the other side of the central rib a complementary retaining pin is provided and vice versa. Each of the retaining pin apertures and retaining pins are positioned so that when the corner parts are assembled the retainer pin is received in its complementary retaining pin aperture. On one side of the central rib the retaining pin apertures and retaining pins alternate along the central rib and vice versa.

[0034]To further strengthen the corner member and hold the corner parts together so that foreign matter does not enter t

Problems solved by technology

These lighter bottles have lower crush strength properties and are not able to support the weight that the prior containers with heavier walls can support.

Storage cost are another important factor when storing and transporting palleted container packaged units.

The more palleted units that can be stacked on each other requires less storage space area and consequently decreases the storage costs.

In some cases, the disassembly process is performed by automated equipment and certain types of equipment are not able to automatically disassemble top frames that have cross members.

In addition, heavier top frames put additional weight on the palletized containers and exert additional crushing forces on them.

In the past, wooden top frames have been used but have left contaminants in the containers, have been heavy to move and expensive to replace.

This known top frame design, when used in connection with lighter containers having lower crush strength properties, do not allow higher stacking of the palleted units.

These known top frames do not have sufficient contact area with the containers to distribute the load over a sufficient area so as to allow

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