Top frame

Abstract

Top frames adapted for use with palletized goods are disclosed. The frames comprises either a single frame member, two frame members joined together, or several segments joined together.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A top frame comprising: 
 two identical generally rectangular frame members attached to each other with each having 
 a generally planar outer surface and an inner surface having a pair of generally parallel inwardly projecting rims,  
 with each of the rims running along an edge of the member, and a plurality of inwardly projecting transverse ribs  
 disposed between the rims such that when the members are attached, the rims and the transverse ribs confront one another, each transverse rib extending from one rim towards the other rim and terminating at a distal end spaced apart from the other rim.  
   
     
     
         2 . The top frame of  claim 1  wherein there is an outer perimeter rim and an inner perimeter and each rim is continuous.  
     
     
         3 . The top frame of  claim 1  wherein the rims project from the inner surface of the member a first height and the transverse ribs project from the inner surface of the member a second height, the first height being different than the second height.  
     
     
         4 . The top frame of  claim 1  wherein the rims project from the inner surface of the member a first height and the transverse ribs project from the inner surface of the member a second height, the first height being substantially the same as the second height.  
     
     
         5 . The top frame of  claim 1  wherein the length of each transverse rib is the distance the transverse rib extends from the one rim towards the other rim and wherein the transverse ribs either have the same length or alternate so that the distal ends of the transverse ribs appear to undulate.  
     
     
         6 . The top frame of  claim 1  wherein the frame members are attached to one another by one of bonding or welding such that the inner most surfaces of the ribs and rims are joined to the confronting ribs and rims.  
     
     
         7 . The top frame of  claim 1  further including an outermost peripheral edge and a lip projecting outwardly and downwardly therefrom.  
     
     
         8 . The top frame of  claim 7  wherein the lip is closed.  
     
     
         9 . The top frame of  claim 7  wherein the lip is open.  
     
     
         10 . The top frame of  claim 1  wherein the outer surface of the top frame has anti-skid feature on at least one of the outer surfaces thereof.  
     
     
         11 . The top frame of  claim 10  wherein the anti-skid feature is formed by a soft material.  
     
     
         12 . The top frame of  claim 11  wherein the soft material is a thermoplastic elastomer applied to at least one outer surface of the top frame.  
     
     
         13 . The top frame of  claim 10  wherein the anti-skid feature has at least one male protuberance and one female cavity at least one corner of the top frame.  
     
     
         14 . The top frame of  claim 1  further including at least one center rib between and substantially parallel to the one rim and the other rim, each transverse rib extending from one rim towards the center rib and terminating at a distal end spaced apart from the center rib.  
     
     
         15 . The top frame of  claim 14  wherein there is an outer perimeter rim and an inner perimeter and each rim and the center rib is continuous.  
     
     
         16 . The top frame of  claim 14  wherein the rims project from the inner surface of the member a first height and the transverse ribs project from the inner surface of the member a second height, the first height being different than the second height.  
     
     
         17 . The top frame of  claim 14  wherein the rims project from the inner surface of the member a first height and the transverse ribs project from the inner surface of the member a second height, the first height being substantially the same as the second height.  
     
     
         18 . The top frame of  claim 14  wherein the length of each transverse rib is the distance the transverse rib extends from the one rim towards the other rim and wherein the transverse ribs either have the same length or alternate so that the distal ends of the transverse ribs appear to undulate.  
     
     
         19 . The top frame of  claim 14  further including a plurality of center transverse ribs, each transverse rib extending from the center rib to either the one rim or the other rim and terminating at a distal end spaced apart from the rim, the center transverse ribs being spaced apart from the transverse ribs.  
     
     
         20 . The top frame of  claim 19  wherein a transverse rib is disposed between each center transverse rib so as to present an alternating pattern.  
     
     
         21 . The top frame of  claim 19  wherein each center transverse rib extending from the center rib to the one rim is collinear with each center transverse rib extending from the center rib to the other rim, the center transverse ribs being spaced apart from the transverse ribs.  
     
     
         22 . The top frame of  claim 19  wherein a transverse rib is disposed between each center transverse rib so as to present an alternating pattern.  
     
     
         23 . The top frame of  claim 14  wherein the frame members are attached to one another by one of bonding or welding such that the inner most surfaces of the ribs and rims are joined to the confronting ribs and rims.  
     
     
         24 . The top frame of  claim 14  further including an outermost peripheral edge and a lip projecting outwardly and downwardly therefrom.  
     
     
         25 . The top frame of  claim 24  wherein the lip is closed.  
     
     
         26 . The top frame of  claim 24  wherein the lip is open.  
     
     
         27 . The top frame of  claim 14  wherein the outer surface of the top frame has anti-skid feature on at least one of the outer surfaces thereof.  
     
     
         28 . The top frame of  claim 27  wherein the anti-skid feature is formed by a soft material.  
     
     
         29 . The top frame of  claim 28  wherein the soft material is a thermoplastic elastomer applied to at least one outer surface of the top frame.  
     
     
         30 . The top frame of  claim 27  wherein the anti-skid feature has at least one male protuberance and one female cavity at least one corner of the top frame.  
     
     
         31 . A top frame comprising: 
 a substantially flat rectangular fist frame member; and,    a second frame member attached to the first frame member having 
 a generally planar outer surface and  
 an inner surface having a pair of generally parallel inwardly projecting rims, with each of the rims running along an edge of the member, and a plurality of inwardly projecting transverse ribs disposed between the rims such that when the members are attached, the transverse ribs and rims contact the first frame member, each transverse rib extending from one rim towards the other rim and terminating at a distal end spaced apart from the other rim.  
   
     
     
         32 . The top frame of  claim 31  wherein there is an outer perimeter rim and an inner perimeter and each rim is continuous.  
     
     
         33 . The top frame of  claim 31  wherein the rims project from the inner surface of the member a first height and the transverse ribs project from the inner surface of the member a second height, the first height being different than the second height.  
     
     
         34 . The top frame of  claim 31  wherein the rims project from the inner surface of the member a first height and the transverse ribs project from the inner surface of the member a second height, the first height being substantially the same as the second height.  
     
     
         35 . The top frame of  claim 31  wherein the length of each transverse rib is the distance the transverse rib extends from the one rim towards the other rim and wherein the transverse ribs either have the same length or alternate so that the distal ends of the transverse ribs appear to undulate.  
     
     
         36 . The top frame of  claim 31  wherein the frame members are attached to one another by one of bonding or welding such that the inner most surfaces of the ribs and rims are joined to the confronting ribs and rims.  
     
     
         37 . The top frame of  claim 31  further including an outermost peripheral edge and a lip projecting outwardly and downwardly therefrom.  
     
     
         38 . The top frame of  claim 37  wherein the lip is closed.  
     
     
         39 . The top frame of  claim 37  wherein the lip is open.  
     
     
         40 . The top frame of  claim 31  wherein the outer surface of the top frame has anti-skid feature on at least one of the outer surfaces thereof.  
     
     
         41 . The top frame of  claim 40  wherein the anti-skid feature is formed by a soft material.  
     
     
         42 . The top frame of  claim 41  wherein the soft material is a thermoplastic elastomer applied to at least one outer surface of the top frame.  
     
     
         43 . The top frame of  claim 40  wherein the anti-skid feature has at least one male protuberance and one female cavity at least one corner of the top frame.  
     
     
         44 . The top frame of  claim 31  further including at least one center rib between and substantially parallel to the one rim and the other rim, each transverse rib extending from one rim towards the center rib and terminating at a distal end spaced apart from the center rib.  
     
     
         45 . The top frame of  claim 44  wherein there is an outer perimeter rim and an inner perimeter and each rim and the center rib is continuous.  
     
     
         46 . The top frame of  claim 44  wherein the rims project from the inner surface of the member a first height and the transverse ribs project from the inner surface of the member a second height, the first height being different than the second height.  
     
     
         47 . The top frame of  claim 44  wherein the rims project from the inner surface of the member a first height and the transverse ribs project from the inner surface of the member a second height, the first height being substantially the same as the second height.  
     
     
         48 . The top frame of  claim 44  wherein the length of each transverse rib is the distance the transverse rib extends from the one rim towards the other rim and wherein the transverse ribs either have the same length or alternate so that the distal ends of the transverse ribs appear to undulate.  
     
     
         49 . The top frame of  claim 44  further including a plurality of center transverse ribs, each transverse rib extending from the center rib to either the one rim or the other rim and terminating at a distal end spaced apart from the rim, the center transverse ribs being spaced apart from the transverse ribs.  
     
     
         50 . The top frame of  claim 49  wherein a transverse rib is disposed between each center transverse rib so as to present an alternating pattern.  
     
     
         51 . The top frame of  claim 49  wherein each center transverse rib extending from the center rib to the one rim is collinear with each center transverse rib extending from the center rib to the other rim, the center transverse ribs being spaced apart from the transverse ribs.  
     
     
         52 . The top frame of  claim 49  wherein a transverse rib is disposed between each center transverse rib so as to present an alternating pattern.  
     
     
         53 . The top frame of  claim 44  wherein the frame members are attached to one another by one of bonding or welding such that the inner most surfaces of the ribs and rims are joined to the confronting ribs and rims.  
     
     
         54 . The top frame of  claim 44  further including an outermost peripheral edge and a lip projecting outwardly and downwardly therefrom.  
     
     
         55 . The top frame of  claim 54  wherein the lip is closed.  
     
     
         56 . The top frame of  claim 54  wherein the lip is open.  
     
     
         57 . The top frame of  claim 44  wherein the outer surface of the top frame has anti-skid feature on at least one of the outer surfaces thereof.  
     
     
         58 . The top frame of  claim 57  wherein the anti-skid feature is formed by a soft material.  
     
     
         59 . The top frame of  claim 58  wherein the soft material is a thermoplastic elastomer applied to at least one outer surface of the top frame.  
     
     
         60 . The top frame of  claim 57  wherein the anti-skid feature has at least one male protuberance and one female cavity at least one corner of the top frame.  
     
     
         61 . A top frame having an outer surface comprising: 
 a first mating segment on a portion of the outer surface; and,    a second mating segment on a separate portion of the outer surface, such that when a second frame is stacked upon a first frame the male segment of the first frame align with and mate with the female segment of the second frame and the female segment of the first frame aligns with and mates with the male segment of the second frame.    
     
     
         62 . The top frame of  claim 61  wherein the outer surface has a plurality of male segments on the outer surface of the frame and a plurality of female segments on the outer surface of the frame, each male and female segment aligning and mating with a corresponding female and male segment of a frame stacked thereon.  
     
     
         63 . The top frame of  claim 62  wherein the segments are interconnecting segments located adjacent the corners of the frame.  
     
     
         64 . The top frame of  claim 62  wherein the segments are located at the corners of the frame and the male segments are diagonal one another and the female segments are diagonal one another.  
     
     
         65 . The top frame of  claim 64  wherein the male segment are a plurality of upwardly tapering protuberances protruding from outer surface of the frame and the female segments are plurality of downwardly tapering cavities carved into the outer surface.  
     
     
         66 . A top frame comprising: 
 a first generally rectangular frame member having 
 a footprint and  
 a generally planar outer surface and  
 an inner surface having 
 a pair of generally parallel inwardly projecting rims, with each of the rims running along an edge of the member, and  
 a plurality of inwardly projecting transverse ribs disposed between the rims; and,  
 
   a second generally rectangular frame member having 
 a generally planar outer surface and  
 an inner surface attached to the first frame member.  
   
     
     
         67 . The top frame of  claim 66  wherein each transverse rib extends from one rim towards the other rim and terminates at a distal end spaced apart from the other rim.  
     
     
         68 . The top frame of  claim 66  wherein there is an outer perimeter rim and an inner perimeter and each rim is continuous.  
     
     
         69 . A top frame comprising: 
 a first generally rectangular frame member having 
 a footprint and  
 a generally planar outer surface and  
 an inner surface having 
 a pair of generally parallel inwardly projecting rims, with each of the rims running along an edge of the member, and  
 a plurality of inwardly projecting transverse ribs disposed between the rims; and,  
 
   a second generally rectangular frame member having 
 a generally planar outer surface and  
 an inner surface with a rim running along an edge of the member, 
 the second frame member being attached to the first frame member.  
 
   
     
     
         70 . The top frame of  claim 69  wherein each frame member has an outer perimeter rim and an inner perimeter and each rim is continuous.  
     
     
         71 . A top frame comprising: 
 a generally rectangular frame member having 
 opposed sides with a generally planar outer surfaces with a plurality of openings therein such that no pockets or crevices are formed therein to minimize the possibly of collecting liquid or debris.  
   
     
     
         72 . The top frame of  claim 71  wherein the frame member has at least two parallel longitudinal rims and a plurality of transverse ribs constructed therein and the openings are formed between the ribs and rims and by walls of those ribs and rims.  
     
     
         73 . The top frame of  claim 72  wherein all of the walls of the ribs and rim are substantially perpendicular to the outer surfaces of the frame member.  
     
     
         74 . The top frame of  claim 71  wherein the frame member is molded and the ribs and rims are solid.  
     
     
         75 . The top frame of  claim 71  wherein the frame member is molded with gas assist technology and many of the ribs and rims are hollowed.