Shipping base

Abstract

A base for shipping or storing an appliance or other article comprises a frame, the frame comprising rails, at least one rail comprising two outer upright walls, at least two intermediate walls between the outer walls, webs joining the bottom of each outer wall to the bottom of the adjacent intermediate wall, and at least one web joining together the intermediate walls.

1 . A base for shipping or storing an article, the base comprising a frame, the frame comprising rails, at least one rail comprising two outer upright walls, with respect to a normal orientation of the base in use, at least two intermediate walls between the outer walls, webs joining the bottom of each outer wall to the bottom of the adjacent intermediate wall, and at least one web joining together the intermediate walls.  
   
   
       2 . A base according to  claim 1 , wherein the outer walls are solid.  
   
   
       3 . A base according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one intermediate wall is of truss construction.  
   
   
       4 . A base according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one rail has exactly four walls, with the tops of the two intermediate walls being joined by a single horizontal web.  
   
   
       5 . A base according to  claim 1 , wherein the face of the base that is upwards in the normal orientation in use is provided with formations to engage, support, or retain an appliance or other article on the base.  
   
   
       6 . A base according to  claim 5 , wherein the upward face of the base is provided with sockets to receive feet of an appliance.  
   
   
       7 . A base according to  claim 5 , wherein the upward face of the base is provided with supports for lower edges of a frame or bodywork of an appliance.  
   
   
       8 . A combination of: 
 a base for shipping or storing an article, the base comprising a frame, the frame comprising rails, at least one rail comprising two outer upright walls, with respect to a normal orientation of the base in use, at least two intermediate walls between the outer walls, webs joining the bottom of each outer wall to the bottom of the adjacent intermediate wall, and at least one web joining together the intermediate walls; and    an article mounted on the base.    
   
   
       9 . A combination according to  claim 8 , wherein the article mounted on the base is a domestic appliance.  
   
   
       10 . A shipping base comprising a frame with at least one rail having longitudinal walls connected by webs alternately at the top and the bottom, wherein at least two bottom webs are solid and are joined along the length of the rail directly to solid walls.  
   
   
       11 . A shipping base according to  claim 10 , wherein the solid walls are solid from the said bottom webs over at least a major portion of the height of the rail.  
   
   
       12 . A shipping base according to  claim 10 , wherein the solid walls are at the sides of the rail.  
   
   
       13 . A shipping base according to  claim 10 , wherein each said bottom web has two side edges and is joined directly along one side edge to a solid wall and along the other side edge to a wall of truss construction.  
   
   
       14 . A shipping base according to  claim 10 , wherein the top face of the base is provided with formations to engage, support, or retain an appliance or other article on the base.  
   
   
       15 . A shipping base according to  claim 14 , wherein the top face of the base is provided with sockets to receive feet of an appliance.  
   
   
       16 . A shipping base according to  claim 14 , wherein the top face of the base is provided with supports for lower edges of a frame or bodywork of an appliance.  
   
   
       17 . A shipping base according to  claim 10  that is generally rectangular and comprises two said rails forming opposite sides of the generally rectangular shape.  
   
   
       18 . A base comprising rails meeting at corners, wherein at least one rail comprises: 
 a first solid side wall;    a first solid bottom web joined to the first solid side wall along the bottom edge of the first solid side wall and a first side of the first solid bottom web;    a first internal wall joined to the first solid bottom web along the bottom edge of the first internal wall and a second side of the first solid bottom web;    a top web joined to the first internal wall along the top edge of the first internal wall and a first side of the top web;    a second internal wall joined to the first top web along the top edge of the second internal wall and a second side of the top web;    a second solid bottom web joined to the second internal wall along the bottom edge of the second internal wall and a first side of the second solid bottom web; and    a second solid side wall joined to the second solid bottom web along the bottom edge of the second solid side wall and a second side of the second solid bottom web.    
   
   
       19 . A base according to  claim 18 , wherein the first internal wall is of lattice construction.  
   
   
       20 . A base according to  claim 18 , wherein the second internal wall is of lattice construction.  
   
   
       21 . A base according to  claim 18 , wherein the top web is of lattice construction.