Rack-shipment system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2025178783-A1
Application number	US-202418966473-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 3, 2024
Priority date	Dec 4, 2023
Publication date	Jun 5, 2025
Grant date	—

Abstract

A rack-shipment system includes a pallet, a ramp hingedly coupled to the pallet, a rack coupled to the ramp, and a handle coupled to the rack. The ramp, the rack, and the handle are configured to rotate relative to the pallet to an upright position. The rack-shipment system further may include a cover operably coupled to the pallet and the ramp to enclose the rack, a top foam panel disposed on a side of the rack, and a bottom foam panel disposed on an opposite side of the rack. A method of shipping a rack includes positioning the rack on the pallet; coupling the ramp to the rack, and enclosing the rack for shipment.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A rack-shipment system, comprising:
a pallet; a ramp hingedly coupled to the pallet; a rack coupled to the ramp; and a handle coupled to the rack, wherein the ramp, the rack, and the handle are configured to rotate relative to the pallet to an upright position.

2 . The rack-shipment system of claim 1 , further comprising a cover operably coupled to the pallet to enclose the rack.

3 . The rack-shipment system of claim 1 , further comprising a top foam panel disposed on a side of the rack, the top foam panel being configured to protect the rack.

4 . The rack-shipment system of claim 1 , further comprising a bottom foam panel disposed on a side of the rack, the bottom foam panel being configured to protect the rack.

5 . The rack-shipment system of claim 1 , wherein the rack is positioned horizontally on the pallet, with the ramp being coupled to a bottom of the rack.

6 . The rack-shipment system of claim 5 , wherein the ramp is releasably secured to casters provided on the bottom of the rack.

7 . The rack-shipment system of claim 5 , wherein the ramp is releasably secured to the bottom of the rack by at least one bracket.

8 . The rack-shipment system of claim 1 , wherein the ramp includes at least one inclined surface to enable the rack to be removed from the ramp when the rack is in the upright position.

9 . The rack-shipment system of claim 1 , wherein the handle is extendable from a stowed position to an extended position.

10 . The rack-shipment system of claim 1 , wherein the ramp is hingedly coupled to the pallet by at least one hinge.

11 . A method of shipping a rack, the method comprising:
positioning a rack on a pallet; coupling a ramp to the rack, the ramp being hingedly coupled to the pallet; and enclosing the rack for shipment.

12 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising coupling a handle to the rack, the handle being configured to rotate the rack and the ramp with respect to the pallet to an upright position.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the handle is extendable from a stowed position to an extended position.

14 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the ramp includes at least one inclined surface to enable the rack to be removed from the ramp when the rack is in an upright position.

15 . The method of claim 11 , wherein enclosing the rack includes installing a cover configured to be operably coupled to the pallet.

16 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising disposing at least one of a top foam panel on a first side of the rack and a bottom foam panel on a second side of the rack.

17 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the rack is positioned horizontally on the pallet, with the ramp being coupled to a bottom of the rack.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein coupling the ramp to the rack includes releasably securing the ramp to casters provided on the bottom of the rack.

19 . The method of claim 17 , wherein coupling the ramp to the rack includes releasably securing the ramp to the bottom of the rack by at least one bracket.

20 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the ramp is hingedly coupled to the pallet by at least one hinge.

21 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising removing the rack from the pallet.

22 . The method of claim 21 , wherein removing the rack from the pallet includes extending a handle coupled to the rack and moving the handle to rotate the ramp and the rack with respect to the pallet to an upright position.

23 . The method of claim 22 , wherein removing the rack from the pallet further includes de-coupling the rack from the ramp and moving the rack off the ramp.

24 . A rack-shipment system, comprising:
a support assembly configured to support a rack in a first position for shipping and to present the rack in a second position for removal; and a device coupled to the support assembly, the device being configured to move the support assembly to the second position.

Assignees

• Schneider Electric It Corp

Inventors

• Zhu Jie
• Horstmann Timothy M
• Li Haofeng

Classifications

• B65D81/127

  using rigid or semi-rigid sheets of shock-absorbing material {(B65D81/025 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• B65D2519/00805

  Means for facilitating the removal of the load · CPC title

• B65D19/38 Primary

  Details or accessories · CPC title

• B65D2519/00273

  made of more than one piece · CPC title

• B65D19/06 Primary

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