Attachment system

Abstract

An improved method for holding a cushioning media on a glass transportation cart. The holding arrangement and method can allow for easy replacement of the cushioning media and extend the operational lifespan of the cushioning media.

1 . An attachment arrangement to releasably secure a cushioning media to the glass transportation cart, said attachment arrangement including a rail having a base portion, two side walls extending upwardly from said base portion to form a channel between the two side walls, said channel designed to at least partially support the cushioning media along at least a majority of a longitudinal length of the cushioning media that is positioned in said channel. 
   
   
       2 . The attachment arrangement as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said cushioning media includes Homasote, cardboard, chip board, paper, plastic, rubber, foam, wood, or combinations thereof. 
   
   
       3 . The attachment arrangement as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said channel has a generally U-shaped cross-sectional shape. 
   
   
       4 . The attachment arrangement as defined in  claim 2 , wherein said channel has a generally U-shaped cross-sectional shape. 
   
   
       5 . The attachment arrangement as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said two side walls have generally the same height and cross-sectional shape along a majority of a longitudinal length of said rail. 
   
   
       6 . The attachment arrangement as defined in  claim 4 , wherein said two side walls have generally the same height and cross-sectional shape along a majority of a longitudinal length of said rail. 
   
   
       7 . The attachment arrangement as defined in  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said two side walls is generally perpendicular to a plane of said base portion of said rail. 
   
   
       8 . The attachment arrangement as defined in  claim 6 , wherein at least one of said two side walls is generally perpendicular to a plane of said base portion of said rail. 
   
   
       9 . The attachment arrangement as defined in  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said two side walls is connected to a side edge of said base portion of said rail. 
   
   
       10 . The attachment arrangement as defined in  claim 8 , wherein at least one of said two side walls is connected to a side edge of said base portion of said rail. 
   
   
       11 . The attachment arrangement as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said two side walls have a height that is less than a thickness of the cushioning media. 
   
   
       12 . The attachment arrangement as defined in  claim 10 , wherein said two side walls have a height that is less than a thickness of the cushioning media. 
   
   
       13 . The attachment arrangement as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said base portion of said rail can includes at least one non-smooth surface designed to interact with a bottom surface of the cushioning media when said cushioning media is positioned in said channel, said non-smooth surface including at least one tooth, barb, rib, bump, or combinations thereof, a maximum height of said non-smooth surface less than a height of at least one of said side walls. 
   
   
       14 . The attachment arrangement as defined in  claim 12 , wherein said base portion of said rail can includes at least one non-smooth surface designed to interact with a bottom surface of the cushioning media when said cushioning media is positioned in said channel, said non-smooth surface including at least one tooth, barb, rib, bump, or combinations thereof, a maximum height of said non-smooth surface less than a height of at least one of said side walls. 
   
   
       15 . The attachment arrangement as defined in  claim 1 , wherein a majority of an upper face of said base portion that faces the cushioning media positioned in said channel lies in a flat planar plane. 
   
   
       16 . The attachment arrangement as defined in  claim 14 , wherein a majority of an upper face of said base portion that faces the cushioning media positioned in said channel lies in a flat planar plane. 
   
   
       17 . The attachment arrangement as defined in  claim 1 , wherein a majority of an inner face of at least one of said side walls that faces the cushioning media positioned in said channel lies in a flat planar plane. 
   
   
       18 . The attachment arrangement as defined in  claim 16 , wherein a majority of an inner face of at least one of said side walls that faces the cushioning media positioned in said channel lies in a flat planar plane. 
   
   
       19 . The attachment arrangement as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said base portion includes at least one connection opening, slot, or combination thereof that is used to at least partially secure said rail to the glass transportation cart. 
   
   
       20 . The attachment arrangement as defined in  claim 18 , wherein said base portion includes at least one connection opening, slot, or combination thereof that is used to at least partially secure said rail to the glass transportation cart. 
   
   
       21 . The attachment arrangement as defined in  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said side walls includes at least one opening, slot, or combination thereof to increase the flexibility of said at least one side wall along a longitudinal length of said at least one side wall. 
   
   
       22 . The attachment arrangement as defined in  claim 20 , wherein at least one of said side walls includes at least one opening, slot, or combination thereof to increase the flexibility of said at least one side wall along a longitudinal length of said at least one side wall. 
   
   
       23 . The attachment arrangement as defined in  claim 1 , wherein a minimum spacing formed between inside surfaces of said two side walls is less than a width of the cushioning media, equal to a width of the cushioning media, greater than a width of the cushioning media, or combinations thereof along a longitudinal length of said rail. 
   
   
       24 . The attachment arrangement as defined in  claim 22 , wherein a minimum spacing formed between inside surfaces of said two side walls is less than a width of the cushioning media, equal to a width of the cushioning media, greater than a width of the cushioning media, or combinations thereof along a longitudinal length of said rail. 
   
   
       25 . The attachment arrangement as defined in  claim 23 , wherein a minimum spacing formed between inside surfaces of said two side walls is less than a width of the cushioning media along a majority of a longitudinal length of said rail. 
   
   
       26 . The attachment arrangement as defined in  claim 24 , wherein a minimum spacing formed between inside surfaces of said two side walls is less than a width of the cushioning media along a majority of a longitudinal length of said rail. 
   
   
       27 . The attachment arrangement as defined in  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said two side walls a generally C-shaped cross-sectional shape, V-shaped cross-sectional shape, 7-shaped cross-sectional shape, U-shaped cross-sectional shape, L-shaped cross-sectional shaped, or J-shaped cross-sectional shape C-shaped cross-sectional shape. 
   
   
       28 . The attachment arrangement as defined in  claim 26 , wherein at least one of said two side walls is a generally C-shaped cross-sectional shape, V-shaped cross-sectional shape, 7-shaped cross-sectional shape, U-shaped cross-sectional shape, L-shaped cross-sectional shaped, or J-shaped cross-sectional shape C-shaped cross-sectional shape. 
   
   
       29 . The attachment arrangement as defined in  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said two side walls is not perpendicular to a plane of said base portion of said rail. 
   
   
       30 . The attachment arrangement as defined in  claim 28 , wherein at least one of said two side walls is not perpendicular to a plane of said base portion of said rail. 
   
   
       31 . The attachment arrangement as defined in  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said two side walls is not perpendicular to a plane of said base portion of said rail. 
   
   
       32 . The attachment arrangement as defined in  claim 28 , wherein at least one of said two side walls is not perpendicular to a plane of said base portion of said rail. 
   
   
       33 . A method for securing a cushioning media a glass transportation cart so that the cushioning media is support along at least a majority of a base of the cushioning media, said method comprising:
 a. providing an attachment arrangement, said attachment arrangement including a rail having a base portion, two side walls extending upwardly from said base portion to form a channel between the two side walls, said channel designed to at least partially support the cushioning media along at least a majority of a longitudinal length of the cushioning media that is positioned in said channel;   b. securing said rail to the glass transportation cart;   c. inserting said cushioning media into said channel, said cushioning media having a thickness that is greater than a height of said two side walls.   
   
   
       34 . The method as defined in  claim 33 , wherein said two side walls have a generally C-shaped cross-sectional shape and a minimum spacing formed between inside surfaces of said two side walls is less than a width of said cushioning media along a majority of a longitudinal length of said rail, said insertion step causing a portion of at least one side wall to spring back as said cushioning media is inserted into said channel, a front edge of at least one C-shaped side wall at least partially springs back and engages a side of said cushioning media during insertion of said cushioning media into said channel, after insertion of said cushioning media into said channel, or combinations thereof.