Nested dunnage arrangement

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11230428-B2
Application number	US-201916433740-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 6, 2019
Priority date	Jun 6, 2018
Publication date	Jan 25, 2022
Grant date	Jan 25, 2022

Abstract

A nested dunnage arrangement is provided for compactly storing or transporting parts, each having a concave surface defining a cavity and a convex surface opposite the concave surface, and includes a panel defining an opening, and means for positioning a first part on one face of the panel with the concave surface of the first part facing the opening. The opening is sized to receive therein from an opposite face of the panel a convex surface of a second part such that the convex surface of the second part extends through the opening and at least partially into the cavity of first part. A periphery of the opening is configured to engage the convex surface of the second part received therein to nest the second part within the first part while also preventing the convex surface of the second part from contacting the concave surface of the first part.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A nested dunnage arrangement for compactly storing or transporting parts each having a concave surface defining a cavity and a convex surface opposite the concave surface, the nested dunnage arrangement comprising:
a first panel defining a first opening therethrough and a panel top spaced apart from the first opening, and
means for positioning and retaining a first one of the parts on one face of the first panel with the concave surface and the cavity of the first part facing and aligned with the first opening of the first panel,
wherein the first opening is sized to receive therein from an opposite face of the first panel a convex surface of a second one of the parts such that the convex surface of the second part extends through the first opening and at least partially into the cavity of first part,
and wherein at least a portion of a periphery of the first opening is configured to engage the convex surface of the second part received therein to nest at least a portion of the convex surface of the second part within the cavity of the first part while also preventing the convex surface of the second part from contacting the concave surface of the first part,
and wherein the nested dunnage arrangement further comprises a support member mounted to the first panel at or near the panel top, a container configured to receive the first panel therein with the first panel suspended in the container by the support member and means coupled to the support member for moving the first panel relative to the container.

2. The nested dunnage arrangement of claim 1 , further comprising a flexible sheet coupled to the opposite face of the first panel and extending over the first opening to form a physical barrier between the concave surface of the first part and the convex surface of the second part nested within the first part.

3. The nested dunnage arrangement of claim 2 , wherein the flexible sheet is configured to be forced by the convex surface of the second part received in the first opening to extend through the first opening and at least partially into the cavity of the first part.

4. The nested dunnage arrangement of claim 1 , further comprising:
a second panel defining a second opening therethrough, and
means for positioning and retaining the second part on one face of the second panel with the concave surface and the cavity of the second part facing and aligned with the second opening of the second panel, the one face of the second panel facing the opposite face of the first panel.

5. The nested dunnage arrangement of claim 4 , further comprising at least one flexible strap coupled to and between the first and second panels, the at least one flexible strap having a length sized to limit a distance between the one face of the second panel and the opposite face of the first panel.

6. The nested dunnage arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the convex surfaces of the first and second parts each define at least one nesting key positioned between border portions, wherein the at least one nesting key is recessed into the convex surface relative to the border portions,
and wherein the periphery of the first opening defines at least one engagement key configured to engage the at least one nesting key of the convex surface of the second part received therein.

7. The nested dunnage arrangement of claim 6 , wherein the periphery of the first opening defines adjacent portions adjacent to the least one engagement key and configured to engage the border portions of the convex surface of the second part received therein.

8. The nested dunnage arrangement of claim 7 , wherein the convex surfaces of the first and second parts each define a top surface at or near a top of the respective first and second part and a bottom surface opposite the top surface,
and wherein the periphery of the first opening defines a top portion and a bottom portion opposite the top portion, the top and bottom portions of the periphery of the first opening configured to engage the top and bottom surfaces respectively of the convex surface of the second part received therein.

9. The nested dunnage arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the convex surfaces of the first and second parts each define a top surface at or near a top of the respective first and second part and a bottom surface opposite the top surface,
and wherein the periphery of the first opening defines a top portion and a bottom portion opposite the top portion, the top and bottom portions of the periphery of the first opening configured to engage the top and bottom surfaces respectively of the convex surface of the second part received therein.

10. A nested dunnage arrangement for compactly storing or transporting parts each having a concave surface defining a cavity, a convex surface opposite the concave surface and a flange extending about periphery of the convex surface adjacent to an opening to the cavity, the nested dunnage arrangement comprising:
a first panel defining a first opening therethrough, and
a first plurality of gibs mounted to one face of the first panel at least partially about a periphery of the first opening, the first plurality of gibs configured to engage and retain a first one of the parts on the one face of the first panel with the concave surface and the cavity of the first part facing and aligned with the first opening of the first panel, the first plurality of gibs including first and second elongated gibs each mounted to the one face of the first panel on opposite sides of the periphery of the first opening, the first panel and the first and second gibs together defining elongated, opposing channels therebetween sized to slidlingly receive the flange of the first part therein to position and retain the first part on the one face of the first panel with the concave surface and the cavity of the first part facing and aligned with the first opening of the first panel,
wherein the first opening is sized to receive therein from an opposite face of the first panel a convex surface of a second one of the parts such that the convex surface of the second part extends through the first opening and at least partially into the cavity of first part,
and wherein at least a portion of a periphery of the first opening is configured to engage the convex surface of the second part received therein to nest at least a portion of the convex surface of the second part within the cavity of the first part while also preventing the convex surface of the second part from contacting the concave surface of the first part.

11. The nested dunnage arrangement of claim 10 , wherein the first plurality of gibs includes a third gib mounted to the one face of the first panel below the periphery of the first opening, the third gib configured to support the flange of the first part positioned on the one face of the first panel with the concave surface and the cavity of the first part facing and aligned with the first opening of the first panel.

12. The nested dunnage arrangement of claim 10 , wherein the first panel defines a second opening therethrough spaced apart from the first opening,
and further comprising a second plurality of gibs mounted to the one face of the first panel at least partially about a periphery of the second opening, the second plurality of gibs configured to engage and retain a third one of the parts on the one face of the first panel with the concave surface and the cavity of the third part facing and aligned with the second opening of the first panel.

13. The dunnage arrangement of claim 12 , wherein the second opening is sized to receive therein from an opposite face of the first panel a convex surface of

Assignees

• Bradford Co

Inventors

• Bublitz Timothy A
• Dobrinski Brian T
• Commons Cody

Classifications

• B65D19/06 Primary

  with bodies formed by uniting or interconnecting two or more components · CPC title

• B65D19/44

  Elements or devices for locating articles on platforms · CPC title

• B65D2519/00293

  made of more than one piece · CPC title

• B65D2519/00621

  sidewalls directly connected to each other · CPC title

• B65D85/62 Primary

  for stacks of articles; for special arrangements of groups of articles · CPC title