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US-12623837-B2 - Shipping container having fiberglass frame

US12623837B2US 12623837 B2US12623837 B2US 12623837B2US-12623837-B2

Abstract

A fiberglass frame for a shipping container supports dunnage or other support members for separating parts. The fiberglass frame comprises four hollow vertical edge members made of fiberglass, each extending between corner assemblies. The fiberglass frame further comprises a roof and a base each made of hollow fiberglass members. Each hollow fiberglass member extends between two corner assemblies. The corner assemblies are also made of fiberglass. The inherent lack of electrical conductivity in the frame prevents sensitive parts shipped in the dunnage or other support members from being damaged or compromised.

Inventors

  • Ryan Day
  • Nicholas A. Blank
  • Shannon L. Cline
  • Scott A Schnell

Assignees

  • L&P PROPERTY MANAGEMENT COMPANY

Dates

Publication Date
20260512
Application Date
20241029

Claims (20)

  1. 1 . A fiberglass rack for a container for holding product therein during shipment, the fiberglass rack comprising: a generally rectangular base having front and rear base members along with side base members and four corner assemblies, each of the base members having a hollow interior; a generally rectangular roof having front and rear roof members along with side roof members and four corner assemblies; each of the roof members having a hollow interior; four edge members, each of the edge members joining one of the corner assemblies of the base and one of the corner assemblies of the roof, each of the edge members having a hollow interior; wherein each of the corner assemblies is identical and comprises a receiving member and a cover.
  2. 2 . The fiberglass rack of claim 1 , wherein fasteners secure the base and roof members to the corner assemblies.
  3. 3 . The fiberglass rack of claim 2 , wherein each of the receiving members of each of the corner assemblies receives portions of three different members of the container therein.
  4. 4 . The fiberglass rack of claim 2 , wherein each of the receiving members of each of the corner assemblies receives a portion of one of the edge members and portions of two different members of the rack therein.
  5. 5 . The fiberglass rack of claim 1 , wherein threaded fasteners extend through portions of the corner assemblies and into the members.
  6. 6 . The fiberglass rack of claim 1 further comprising braces for supporting dunnage inside the fiberglass rack.
  7. 7 . A container for holding product therein during shipment, the container comprising: a fiberglass rack comprising a generally rectangular base having hollow front and rear base members along with hollow side base members and four corner assemblies, each of the hollow base members being made of fiberglass; a generally rectangular roof having hollow front and rear roof members along with hollow side roof members and four corner assemblies; each of the hollow roof members being made of fiberglass; four hollow edge members, each of the hollow edge members joining one of the corner assemblies of the base and one of the corner assemblies of the roof, each of the edge members being made of fiberglass; wherein each of the corner assemblies is made of fiberglass and comprises a receiving member and a cover.
  8. 8 . The container of claim 7 , wherein fasteners secure the hollow base and roof members to the corner assemblies.
  9. 9 . The container of claim 8 , wherein each of the receiving members of each of the corner assemblies receives portions of three different hollow members of the rack therein.
  10. 10 . The container of claim 8 , wherein each of the receiving members of each of the corner assemblies receives a portion of one of the hollow edge members and portions of two different hollow members of the rack therein.
  11. 11 . The container of claim 7 , wherein threaded fasteners extend through portions of the corner assemblies and into the members.
  12. 12 . The container of claim 7 , further comprising braces extending between the hollow roof side members to support dunnage.
  13. 13 . A container for holding product therein during shipment, the container comprising: a rack comprising a generally rectangular base having hollow front and rear base members along with hollow side base members and four corner assemblies, each of the hollow base members being made of fiberglass; a generally rectangular roof having hollow front and rear roof members along with hollow side roof members and four corner assemblies; each of the hollow roof members being made of fiberglass; four hollow edge members joining one of the corner assemblies of the base and one of the corner assemblies of the roof, each of the hollow edge members being made of fiberglass; wherein each of the corner assemblies is made of fiberglass and comprises a receiving member and a cover.
  14. 14 . The container of claim 13 wherein each of the edge members is square in cross section.
  15. 15 . The container of claim 13 , wherein fasteners secure the hollow base and roof members to the corner assemblies.
  16. 16 . The container of claim 14 , wherein each of the receiving members of each of the corner assemblies receives portions of three different hollow members of the rack therein.
  17. 17 . The container of claim 14 , wherein each of the receiving members of each of the corner assemblies receives a portion of one of the hollow edge members and portions of two different hollow members of the rack therein.
  18. 18 . The container of claim 13 , wherein threaded fasteners extend through portions of the corner assemblies and into the members.
  19. 19 . The container of claim 13 , further comprising braces extending between the hollow roof side members to support dunnage.
  20. 20 . The container of claim 13 , further comprising dunnage supported by braces.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 18/449,121 filed Aug. 14, 2023, which is fully incorporated herein. TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to shipping containers and, more particularly, to containers for shipping vehicle parts. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A large number of different container structures are utilized by manufacturers to ship a variety of different products to end users, which may be, for example, assembly plants. In the automobile industry, for example, an assembly plant assembling a particular automobile might utilize different parts from different manufacturers. These manufacturers ship their respective parts to the assembly plant in container structures where the parts are then removed from dunnage or other support members inside the container structure and assembled into a finished automobile. These containers are then shipped back empty to the respective part manufacturers to be refilled with parts, creating a closed loop system of reusable packaging. In addition, part manufacturers utilize containers within their respective facilities for work in process (“WIP”); the containers remaining in the part manufacturers facility. One type of container structure is known in the industry as a rack. The rack is used to support fabric dunnage or other support members for storing, moving and transporting parts such as automobile parts. Known metal racks are manufactured using a cut and weld process, thereby creating a static product that cannot be easily disassembled or reassembled. The fact that the metal rack cannot be easily disassembled or reassembled limits future storage options and reuse of rack sections. The present invention allows for easy disassembly and future reassembly to minimize storage space while not in use. In addition, the present invention allows for the easy disassembly of a rack to utilize individual components on future designs, further saving both storage space and cost for an end user. The weight of the container structure is of particular concern. Known racks are commonly made of metal. One disadvantage to using metal racks is that they are heavy. This weight has financial and environmental costs associated with the increased weight relative to the transportation of racks between facilities. It is more expensive to ship heavier containers and heavier cargo requires the use of more fossil fuels during shipment. In addition, WIP containers are moved throughout an end user's facility, increasing the number of points of contact with employees. A heavier container presents a much greater risk of personal injury to employees in the event a container falls over or is dropped. The conductive material used to construct known metal racks is another concern. Because of this conductivity, the electric charge the metal rack may carry may damage certain electronic and/or sensitive parts, especially with the increase in electric vehicles being produced. Fiberglass is inherently nonconductive providing greater protection for electronic and/or sensitive parts. The corrosive nature of the material used to construct known metal racks is another concern. Metal racks are subject to oxidation and corrosion, thus requiring painting or coating to prevent the long-term compromise of strength or the development of rust. This painting or coating can be chipped away, thus exposing the metal rack to corrosion and the development of rust. Metal racks are often stored outside when not in use due to limited inside storage space, increasing the likelihood of oxidation and exposure to moisture. Automobile parts can be compromised by rust and thus metal racks present a potential issue for part contamination. Fiberglass is inherently unaffected by moisture and is non-corrosive. Thus, fiberglass requires no painting or coating to prevent oxidation and rust. This difference becomes more important with the increase in the production of electronic vehicles. The thermal conductivity of the material used to construct known metal racks is another concern. Metal racks have a high level of thermal conductivity. Metal racks are often stored outside when not in use, thus increasing their exposure to sunlight. Thermally conductive products present increased potential of personal injury with direct contact with skin. Fiberglass has low thermal conductivity presenting much less risk to persons coming in contact with the fiberglass. The present invention solves these problems by reducing the weight of the rack container structure. Thus, there's no need for a heavy metal rack. Therefore, there is a need for a rack container structure of lesser weight than known metal rack container structures that creates financial, environmental and safety benefits. There is also a need for a rack container structure for supporting dunnage which is not conductive and therefore, will not damage sensitive automotive parts. There is als