Patent Application
20090120906
The present invention relates to crates and methods for storing and shipping heavy durable equipment. More particularly the present invention relates to crates selectively configured for storing and shipping riding lawn mowers and for removing a contained lawn mower by rolling on a ramp extending from the crate and methods for storing riding lawn mowers in crates and removing stored riding lawn mowers from crates.
Manufacturers of heavy durable equipment such as lawn mowers, lawn and garden tractors, riding lawn mowers, and the like equipment, package the products in containers for storage and shipping. There are different types of containers used for packaging such equipment including walled cleated containers such as corrugated paperboard wood-cleated containers, and frame-member crates that use wood or steel tube members connected together to form a crate. These containers and crates are referred to generally as containers. Generally, the containers include a pallet, or base, which supports the article within the containers. Posts extend vertically from the pallet and receive or connect to a top frame. The pallet, the posts, and the top frame define a cavity or space which is occupied by the article positioned on the pallet. Some such containers include corrugated paperboard sidewalls or panels. Top flaps foldably attach to the panels to close the open top end of the container. Other of these panel-wall containers use a cap that seats over the upper end of the posts or on the top frame to close the container.
The containers use the posts to define the interior space to be occupied by the equipment, as well as to communicate top-load compression forces incurred by stacking two or more such containers, for example, in a warehouse for storage or in a truck for shipping. The top frame facilitates the transfer of the top load force through the posts to the pallet.
While corrugated paperboard wood-cleated crates have been particularly useful for packaging lawn and garden tractors, some manufacturers have preferred to use frame-type packing crates that assemble from elongate wood or steel tube members. Because such crates lack sidewalls, articles held in such frame crates are typically enclosed in plastic sheeting to prevent infiltration of dust and dirt to the equipment.
At a packing station of a lawn mower manufacturing plant, a finished lawn riding mower is placed on the pallet. This typically involves using an overhead hoist to lift the riding lawn mower over the pallet and then lower the lawn mower onto the pallet. As an alternative, the riding lawn mower could be pushed or driven onto the pallet in the packaging station. It is to be appreciated that wheeled articles placed on pallets of containers can be readily secured to the pallet, such as by straps or connectors, for example, the tie-down device disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,293,398. Articles with spring suspensions particularly can be strapped in place, while riding lawn mowers generally do not require strapping.
Subsequently, containerized lawn mowers are typically stacked together for storage in warehouses, and for shipping from warehouses to retail outlets. Known crates use a variety of structural elements to facilitate stacking of two crates for handling, storing, and shipping.
Further, to conserve space and reduce the likelihood of tipping, the center of gravity of the container and the contained equipment should be as low relative to the container. However, the rear wheels of riding lawn mowers typically are larger than the front wheels, and accommodation of differing size wheels on some known pallets may cause the lawn mower to be elevated relative to base members of the pallet that contact a floor or ground. This can result in an elevated center-of-gravity.
Another problem arises at the retail sales center for the lawn mower. The lawn mower must be removed from the crate for display and sale. Pushing lawn mowers from the pallet requires participation of several persons, particularly if the wheels are chocked by transverse members in the pallet.
Accordingly, there is a need in the art for an improved crate for storing, handling, and shipping of riding lawn mowers to have a low center of gravity yet providing structure for readily removing the riding lawn mower from the crate. It is to such that the present invention is directed.
The present invention meets the needs in the art by providing an improved rampable crate for storing, handling, and shipping riding lawn mowers. In one aspect, the present invention provides a rampable crate for riding lawn mowers, comprising a pallet configured for supporting a riding lawn mower and with a top frame connected by a plurality of posts extending between the pallet and the top frame so that the assembled structure defines a cavity therebetween for holding the riding lawn mower. The pallet includes a pair of spaced-apart rails each oriented at an oblique angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the pallet, with a first end of the rail attached to a first transverse member of the pallet and an opposing second end of the rail attached to a transverse end member of the pallet, the first end vertically spaced below the vertical spacing of the second end relative to the pallet. The rails define an angled ramp upwardly towards the transverse end member and the posts being selectively disposed below the transverse end member and extending laterally therefrom define a downward ramp from the pallet in order for the lawn mower to be driven from the pallet.
In another aspect, the present invention provides a method of containerizing a riding lawn mower in a rampable crate for storage and for removal therefrom, comprising the steps of:
(a) placing a riding lawn mower on a pallet, the pallet including a pair of spaced-apart rails each oriented at an oblique angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the pallet, with a first end of the rail attached to a first transverse member of the pallet and an opposing second end of the rail attached to an end transverse member of the pallet, the first end vertically spaced below the vertical spacing of the second end relative to the pallet, with the rails aligned with a respective one of the wheels of the riding lawn mower;
(b) positioning a top frame on a plurality of posts extending from the pallet to containerize the riding lawn mower therein;
(c) shipping the containerized riding lawn mower to a sales location;
(d) removing the posts and positioning the posts at an oblique angle extending outwardly and downwardly from the pallet; and
(e) driving the riding lawn mower from the pallet, the rails define an angled ramp upwardly towards the end transverse member and the posts define a downward ramp from the pallet in order for the lawn mower to be driven off of the pallet.
Other objects, advantages, and features of the present invention will become readily apparent upon reading the following detailed description in conjunction with the drawings.
With reference to the drawings in which like parts have like reference numerals,
The pallet 12 includes a pair of elongated longitudinal outside members 20 and a pair of spaced-apart interior longitudinal members 22. Receiving sockets 24 attach to distal ends of the outside members 20. A lower end of the receiving socket 24 connects to a respective distal end of a lower transverse end member 26 extending between the outside members 20. An upper transverse end member 28 extends between opposing receiving sockets 24. The upper transverse end member 28 is spaced-apart from the lower transverse end member 26 to define a gap 30. The pallet can use two separate upper transverse end members as illustrated on the opposing end.
A forward transverse member 32 extends between the opposing outside members 20 and is spaced-apart from the transverse end member 26. A rear transverse member 34 also extends between the outside members 20 and is spaced-apart from the front transverse member 32. A pair of elongate interior ramp members or rails 36 connect between the upper surface of the upper transverse end member 28 and the rear transverse member 34. As best shown in side detail view in
With continuing reference to
The interior ramp members 36 are spaced from the outside members 20 to align with the rear wheels of the riding lawn mower. A rear wheel chock member 46 extends between the outside members 20 and attaches to upper surfaces of the members 20 and the interior members 22. The rear chock member 46 and the rear transverse member 34 cooperatively define spaces 48 for seating of the rear wheels of the riding lawn mower on the pallet 12.
In the illustrated embodiment, support blocks 50 attach to respective distal ends of the outside members 20 adjacent respective distal ends of the lower transverse end members 26.
The top frame 14 includes opposing longitudinal members 62 joined at distal ends to opposing transverse end members 66, such as with one of a projecting corner lug 64. An intermediate transverse member 68 extends between the members 62. A pair of projecting members 70 attach to inward faces of the end members 66 and spaced-apart from the corner lugs 64. In the illustrated embodiment, the projections 70 are inverted V-shaped members formed by cutting and bending a steel rod.
Posts 16 extend between the pallet 12 and the top frame 14 when assembled to containerize an article held on the pallet 12. In the illustrated embodiment, the post 16 is sized for a lower end being received in the socket 24 of the pallet 12 while the opposing end of the posts receives the lug 64 projecting from the top frame 14. It is to be appreciated that other structures similarly interlock posts with sockets on pallets and top frames to form an assembled container 10 that defines the interior space 18 that receives the article held on the pallet 12. Further, the posts 16 are readily selected from posts of differing lengths, so that a group of posts in which the posts have a first length accommodate a riding lawn mover with a first vertical height, while a second group of posts have a second length to accommodate a riding lawn mower with a second vertical height.
The pallet 12 and the top frame 14 are readily assembled with elongated steel tubes welded together rigidly, or other suitable rigid members. The posts 16 also are elongated steel tubes or other suitable rigid members.
At a packing station, a finished lawn riding mower is placed on the pallet 12, for example, by using an overhead hoist, pushing the riding lawn mower onto the pallet, or other mover for seating the riding lawn mower on the pallet. The wheels are received in the respective front wheel wells 44 and rear wheel wells 48. The wheel chocks 42, 46 keep the riding lawn mower from forward and rearward movement and lateral movement. It is to be appreciated that wheeled articles placed on pallets of containers can be readily secured to the pallet, but riding lawn mowers lacking spring suspensions generally do not require such securing.
Two or more assembled containers readily stack together (not illustrated) for handling, storing, and shipping purposes. Stacking is accomplished by lifting a second one of the crates 10 and placing the second crate on top of a first one of the crates. An inner surface of the lower transverse end member 26 of the second crate 10 bears against the projecting members 70 of the top frame 14 of the first crate. The mass of the crate and its contents, cooperatively with the projecting members 70, hold the crates stacked together in routine stacking, handling, and shipping. The block 50 can abut against a side portion of a respective one of the projecting members 70. Alternate structures for stacking include attaching a plurality of projecting lugs that extend upwardly from the top frame and providing the pallet with shoes or receivers. The shoes of an upper crate align with the lugs of a lower crate. In an alternate structure, walled targets known in the trade extend upwardly from the top frame and a plurality of feet or stubs extend downwardly from the pallet. The targets of a lower crate receive a respective foot of an upper crate.
While this invention has been described in detail with particular reference to an illustrated embodiment thereof providing a crate configured readily for storing, handling, and shipping of riding lawn mowers and for removing the contained riding lawn mower therefrom, it should be understood that many modifications, additions and deletions, in additions to those expressly recited, may be made thereto without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.
