TRANSPORTATION CASE

CAISSE DE TRANSPORT

English Abstract

A transportation case is provided for an automotive engine, transmission, or the like. The transportation case includes a one-piece molded plastic base and a one-piece molded plastic lid. The base includes a substantial uniform wall thickness and comprises an outer peripheral wall connected to a formed bottom to provide an upwardly opening space. The formed bottom defines a wall for receiving an automotive engine, transmission, or the like, and has opposite longitudinally extending feet for resting on a support surface and a fork lift opening between the feet. The lid includes a substantially uniform wall thickness comprising an outer peripheral wall connected to a top wall. The lid outer peripheral wall is received on the base outer peripheral wall to close the upwardly opening space. At least one of the base and lid includes plural vertically extending semi-circular stiffening ribs enabling plural transportation cases to be stacked with feet of one transportation case being supported on the top wall of another transportation case.

French Abstract

L'invention concerne une caisse de transport pour un moteur automobile, une transmission ou analogue. La caisse de transport comprend une base en plastique moulée d'une pièce et un couvercle en plastique moulé d'une pièce. La base présente une épaisseur de paroi sensiblement uniforme et comprend une paroi périphérique externe liée à un fond formé pour assurer un espace d'ouverture verticale. Le fond formé définit une paroi destinée à recevoir un moteur automobile, une transmission ou analogue, et comprend des pieds opposés s'étendant longitudinalement pour prendre appui sur une surface de support et une ouverture de lève-palette entre les pieds. Le couvercle présente une épaisseur de paroi sensiblement uniforme et comprend une paroi périphérique externe liée à une paroi supérieure. La paroi périphérique externe du couvercle est reçue sur la paroi périphérique externe de la base pour fermer l'espace d'ouverture verticale. Au moins un des deux éléments, à savoir la base ou le couvercle, comprend des nervures de raidissement semi-circulaires s'étendant à la verticale et permettant l'empilement de caisses de transport multimodal, les pieds d'une caisse de transport étant appuyés sur la paroi supérieure d'une autre caisse de transport.

Claims

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive
property of privilege is claimed are defined as follows:
1. A transportation case for an automotive engine, transmission, or the
like, comprising:
a one-piece molded plastic base including a substantially uniform wall
thickness, comprising an outer peripheral wall connected to a formed bottom to
provide an
upwardly opening space, the formed bottom defining a wall for receiving an
automotive
engine, transmission, or the like, and having opposite longitudinally
extending feet for resting
on a support surface and a forklift opening between the feet;
a one-piece molded plastic lid including a substantially uniform wall
thickness
comprising an outer peripheral wall connected to a top wall, the lid outer
peripheral wall
being received on the base outer peripheral wall to close the upwardly opening
space,
at least one of the base and lid including plural vertically extending semi-
circular stiffening ribs enabling plural transportation cases to be stacked
with feet of one
transportation case being supported on a top wall of another transportation
case.
2. The transportation case of claim 1 wherein the semi-circular stiffening
ribs have a radius of less than one inch.
3. The transportation case of claim 1 wherein the semi-circular stiffening
ribs have a radius of about three-fourths of an inch.
4. The transportation case of claim 1 wherein the semi-circular stiffening
ribs comprise concave ribs.
5. The transportation case of claim 1 wherein the semi-circular stiffening
ribs comprise convex ribs.
6. The transportation case of claim 1 wherein the lid and base are
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generally rectangular and longitudinally extending side walls of the lid outer
peripheral wall
each include two of the stiffening ribs.
7. The transportation case of claim 6 wherein the two stiffening ribs in
the longitudinally extending side walls extend substantially an entire height
of the side walls.
8. The transportation case of claim 1 wherein the lid and base are
generally rectangular and transversely extending side walls of the lid outer
peripheral wall
each include two of the stiffening ribs.
9. The transportation case of claim 8 wherein the two stiffening ribs in
the transversely extending side walls extend about half of an entire height of
the side walls.
10. The transportation case of claim 1 wherein the stiffening ribs are
formed in the longitudinally extending feet.
11. The transportation case of claim 1 wherein the lid and base are
generally rectangular and longitudinally extending side walls of the lid outer
peripheral wall
each include two of the stiffening ribs and transversely extending side walls
of the lid outer
peripheral wall each include two of the stiffening ribs.
12. The transportation case of claim 11 wherein the two stiffening ribs in
the longitudinally extending side walls are convex and extend substantially an
entire height of
the longitudinally extending side walls and the two stiffening ribs in the
transversely
extending side walls are concave and extend about half of the entire height of
the transversely
extending side walls.
13. A generally parallelepiped transportation case for an automotive
engine, transmission, or the like, comprising:
a one-piece molded plastic base including a substantially uniform wall
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thickness, comprising a generally rectangular outer peripheral wall connected
to a formed
bottom to provide an upwardly opening space, the formed bottom defining a wall
for
receiving an automotive engine, transmission, or the like, and having opposite
longitudinally
extending feet for resting on a support surface and a forklift opening between
the feet, the feet
including plural vertically extending semi-circular stiffening ribs;
a one-piece molded plastic lid including a substantially uniform wall
thickness
comprising a generally rectangular outer peripheral wall connected to a top
wall, the lid outer
peripheral wall being received on the base outer peripheral wall to close the
upwardly
opening space, the peripheral wall including plural vertically extending semi-
circular
stiffening ribs,
the vertically extending semi-circular stiffening ribs enabling plural
transportation cases to be stacked with feet of one transportation case being
supported on a
top wall of another transportation case.
14. The transportation case of claim 13 wherein the semi-circular
stiffening ribs have a radius of less than one inch.
15. The transportation case of claim 13 wherein the semi-circular
stiffening ribs have a radius of about three-fourths of an inch.
16. The transportation case of claim 13 wherein longitudinally extending
side walls of the lid outer peripheral wall each include two of the stiffening
ribs.
17. The transportation case of claim 16 wherein the two stiffening ribs in
the longitudinally extending side walls extend substantially an entire height
of the side walls.
18. The transportation case of claim 13 wherein transversely extending
side walls of the lid outer peripheral wall each include two of the stiffening
ribs.
19. The transportation case of claim 18 wherein the two stiffening ribs in
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the transversely extending side walls extend about half of an entire height of
the side walls.
20. The transportation case of claim 13 wherein longitudinally extending
side walls of the lid outer peripheral wall each include two of the stiffening
ribs and
transversely extending side walls of the lid outer peripheral wall each
include two of the
stiffening ribs.
21. The transportation case of claim 20 wherein the two stiffening ribs in
the longitudinally extending side walls are convex and extend substantially an
entire height of
the longitudinally extending side walls and the two stiffening ribs in the
transversely
extending side walls are concave and extend about half of the entire height of
the transversely
extending side walls.
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Description

CA 02414452 2002-12-11
PATENT
1540.00014
TRANSPORTATION CASE
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a transportation case for an automotive engine,
transmission, or the like, and more particularly, to a transportation case
adapted to enable plural
transportation cases to be stacked.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Transportation cases, also known as engine cases, have been used for
transporting
automotive engines, transmissions, or the like, for service. Typically, the
transportation cases
are of two-piece construction, including a base and a lid. Both the base and
the lid are of
molded plastic construction. Often, an insert rests at the bottom of the base
and is adapted to
support a particular model engine or transmission.
As is known, a typical automotive engine or transmission is very heavy. Known
transportation cases are properly configured to enclose and transport an
engine or transmission.
Particularly, the base is designed to structurally support the engine or
transmission. The lid is
provided to enclose the interior space but it is not intended as a structural
component. As such,
the conventional transportation cases allow stacking only to a limited degree.
Thus, floor space
or truck space must be provided for storing or transporting each individual
transportation case.
The present invention is directed to improvements in transportation cases.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the invention, there is provided a transportation case
adapted
to enable stacking.
Broadly, a transportation case is provided for an automotive engine,
transmission,
or the like. The transportation case includes a one-piece molded plastic base
and a one-piece
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CA 02414452 2002-12-11
PATENT
1540.00014
molded plastic lid. The base includes a substantial uniform wall thickness and
comprises an
outer peripheral wall connected to a formed bottom to provide an upwardly
opening space. The
formed bottom defines a wall for receiving an automotive engine, transmission,
or the like, and
has opposite longitudinally extending feet for resting on a support surface
and a fork lift opening
between the feet. The lid includes a substantially uniform wall thickness
comprising an outer
peripheral wall connected to a top wall. The lid outer peripheral wall is
received on the base
outer peripheral wall to close the upwardly opening space. At least one of the
base and lid
includes plural vertically extending semi-circular stiffening ribs enabling
plural transportation
cases to be stacked with feet of one transportation case being supported on
the top wall of
another transportation case.
Further features and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent from
the
specification and from the drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a transportation case in accordance with the
invention;
Fig. 2 is a front elevation view of the transportation case of Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 is a front elevation view, similar to Fig. 2, with a lid partially
removed
from a base;
Fig. 4 is a side elevation view of the transportation case of Fig. 1;
Fig. 5 is a side elevation view, similar to Fig. 4, with the lid partially
removed
from the base;
Fig. 6 is a plan view of the base;
Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line 7-7 of Fig. 6;
Fig. 8 is a plan view of the lid;
Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken along the line 9-9 of Fig. 8; and
Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken along the line 10-10 of Fig. 4.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring to Figs. 1-5, a two-piece transportation case 20 in accordance with
the
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CA 02414452 2002-12-11
PATENT
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invention is illustrated. The transportation case 20 is adapted for storing
and transporting
automotive engines, transmissions, or the like. Particularly, the
transportation case 20 is adapted
to enable plural of the transporta.tion cases 20 to be stacked atop one
another. Particularly, the
transportation case 20 while mounted on a floor or other support surface can
hold the weight of
about 1,800 pounds above the case. Thus, the total weight including the weight
in the bottom
most case 20 is about 2,400 pounds. This allows the transportation case 20 to
be used to stack
heavy automotive engines or transmissions, and the like, thus saving floor
space and truck space.
The transportation case 20 includes a one-piece molded plastic base 22 and a
one-
piece molded plastic lid 24. Rubber straps 26 are secured to the lid 24. The
straps 26 include
hooks 28 that pull over a lip of the base 22 to removably secure the lid 24 on
the base 22 in a
conventional manner.
The base 22 and lid 24 are each vacuum formed from sheets of high molecular
weight polyethylene. Thus, the case 20 is impervious to oils, most chemicals,
rot, solvents and
temperature extremes. Vacuum forming produces a stress-free case with maximum
resistance
to cracking from impact and other environmental conditions. Because each of
the base 22 and
lids 24 is formed from a sheet of high density polyethylene, each has a
substantial uniform wall
thickness throughout. As is apparent, there may be slight differences in wall
thickness. In an
illustrative embodiment of the invention, the lid 24 and the base 22 are drawn
from polyethylene
sheets to a wall thickness that is slightly greater than one quarter inch
substantially throughout.
The transportation case 20 is of a generally parallelepiped configuration with
an
approximate five degree draft to enable nesting and to enhance moldability of
the lid 24 and the
base 22 during vacuum forming. The outside dimension of the transportation
case 20 where the
base 22 and lid 24 join, reference generally at 30, is approximately 32 inches
by 37 inches. The
height of the case 20 is about 29 inches.
Referring also to Figs. 6 and 7, the base 22 comprises an outer peripheral
wall 32
connected to a formed bottom 34. The outer peripheral wal132 is generally
rectangular and has
opposite transversely extending end walls 36 connected between opposite
longitudinally
extending side walls 38. The upper edge of the peripheral wall 32 is turned
outwardly to define
a flange 40 which is then turned downwardly to provide an outer lip 42. The
longitudinally
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CA 02414452 2009-05-11
extending side walls 38 are notched as at 44 at a mid-point, by the flange 40,
for engaging the
lid 24, as described below.
The formed bottom 34 includes a bottom wall 50 having a longitudinally
extending well 52 disposed between opposite elongate feet 54. Although not
shown, an
automobile engine or transmission, or the like, can be supported on the bottom
wall 50, with
a pan extending into the well 52, or can be supported on a removable insert.
The removable
insert may be similar to that shown in U.S. Design Patent No. 440,042,
assigned to the
assignee of the present application, the specification of which may be
referred to for further
details. Longitudinally extending spaces 56 between the well 52 and the
opposite feet 54 are
adapted to receive tines of a fork lift (not shown).
Each of the feet 54 extends the full length of the base 22. Each foot 54
includes
an inner wall 58 closest to the well 52 and an outer wall 60. The inner wall
58 is substantially
planar. The inner wall 58 and outer wall 60 are connected at opposite end
walls 62. The outer
wall 60 is wider proximate at the end wall 62 to define corners 63. Three
vertically extended
semi-circular stiffening ribs 64 extend the height of the feet outer wall 60
approximately equal
distance between the corners 63. The stiffener ribs 64 comprises concave ribs.
The ribs 64 have
a radius of less than one inch and advantageously about 0.75 inches. The
stiffening ribs 64 are
configured as concave or male stiffeners.
The peripheral side wall 32 includes a stacking lug 66 at each junction of the
flange 40. The stacking lugs 66 prevent jamming when base 22 are nested.
Additionally, the
transversely extending side walls 38 include a pair of trapezoidal ribs 68
extending from the
flange 40 to the formed bottom 34. While the trapezoidal ribs 68 provide
stiffness to the base
22, the stiffening ribs 64, owing to the radius configuration in a vacuumed
form structure,
provide substantially improved strength to enable stacking, as described
below.
Referring also to Figs. 8 and 9, the lid 24 includes an outer peripheral side
wall
70 connected to a formed top 72 to define a downwardly opening space 74, see
Fig. 9.
Particularly, the outer peripheral side wall 70 includes opposite transversely
extending end walls 76 connected between opposite longitudinally extending
side walls 78. A
peripheral flange 80 extends outwardly from the bottom of the peripheral side
wall 70. The
flange 80 is turned downwardly to form a lip 82. As such, the lid flange 80 is
sized to be
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received on the base flange 40 with the downwardly extending lip 82
surrounding the base lip
42. Similarly, at central locations of the side walls 78, the flange 80
includes wells 84 received
in the base notches 44, as shown particularly in Fig. 10.
The end walls 76 include trapezoidal ribs 86 extending from the flange 80 to
the
top 72. Between the trapezoidal ribs 86, the end wall 76 extends vertically as
at 88 and is
connected via a ledge 90 to an inner vertical wall 91 which is in turn
connected to the top 72, as
particularly illustrated in Fig. 2. A pair of concave semi-circular stiffener
ribs 92 are located in
each end wall 76. Each rib 92 is between one of the trapezoidal ribs 86 and
the adjacent side
wall 78. The stiffening ribs 92 extend downwardly from adjacent the top 72
approximately half
way down the end wall 76. The semi-circular ribs have a radius of less than
one inch and
advantageously about 0.75 inches.
The side walls 78 include trapezoidal ribs 94 extending upwardly from the
flange
80 to the top 72. Disposed between each trapezoidal rib 94 and the adjacent
end wall 76 is a
male or concave semi-circular stiffening rib 96. The stiffening ribs 96 extend
the entire height
of the side wall 78 from the flange 80 to the top 72. The semi-circular ribs
96 have a radius of
less than one inch and advantageously about 0.75 inches. Stacking lugs 98 are
included at the
juncture between each side wall 78 and end wall 76 proximate the flange 80.
The formed top 72 includes a generally rectangular top wall 100 having a
generally rectangular centrally located well 102. The top wall 100 is
connected to an upper edge
of the end walls 76. The top wall is doubled stepped at 104 where it connects
to the side wall
78. Particularly, the double step connection provides a first or uppermost
horizontal ledge 106
and a second or lowermost horizontal ledge 108. The first ledge 106 is wider
than the second
ledge 108, as can be seen in Fig. 8. The first ledge 106 is adapted to receive
the feet 54 of the
base 22 of an upper transportation case 20 for stacking purposes. The well 102
provides room
for a base well 52 to be received therein when stacking. Particularly, the
height of the well 102
corresponds to the height of the first ledge 106, as can be seen in Fig. 9.
In use, an engine or transmission is placed in the base 22 resting on the
bottom
wall 50. If the engine or transmission includes a pan, then it will extend
into the well 52.
Typically, an insert is used with such a pan engine, as discussed above. The
lid 24 is then
placed atop of the base and can be secured with the hooks 28, see Fig. 1.
Multiple transportation
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PATENT
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cases 20 can be stacked for shipping and storage. Particularly, the use of the
four concave ribs
92 on the end wall 76, the four convex ribs 96 on the side wall 78, the double
step sides 104 and
the six convex ribs 64 on the feet 54 enable the transportation in case 20 to
support as much as
1,800 pounds on the lid 24 when stacked. Additionally, the tall, narrow lips
42 and 82 on the
base 22 and lid 24, respectively, are trimmed vertically.
Thus, in accordance with the invention, there is described a transportation
case
which can hold a variety of automotive engines and transmissions and can be
stacked and hold
a weight of as much as 1,800 pounds. This saves floor space and truck space.
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Representative Drawing