Low-profile shipping system

Abstract

A low-profile shipping system for shipping an object without a pallet includes a shipping crate configured to surround the object being shipped. The shipping crate is configured to substantially enclose the object being shipped. The shipping crate defines a first passageway and a second passageway. The first passageway and the second passageway are adapted to receive a fork of a forklift. The low-profile shipping system also includes a shipping rail attached to the inside of the shipping crate at a location above the first passageway and the second passageway. The shipping rail is adapted to support the weight of the object and the shipping crate while the object is being transported by forklift.

1 . A low-profile shipping system for shipping an object without a pallet comprising:
 a shipping crate configured to surround the object being shipped, said shipping crate comprising:
 a front panel shaped to at least partially define a first pair of ports, said first pair of ports being adapted to receive a fork from a forklift; 
 a rear panel shaped to at least partially define a second pair of ports, said second pair of ports being adapted to receive the fork from the forklift; and 
   a shipping rail attached to the inside of the shipping crate, said shipping rail being adapted for attachment to the object being shipped.   
     
     
         2 . The low-profile shipping system of  claim 1 , wherein the shipping rail is configured to be engaged by the forklift in order to lift the object and the shipping crate. 
     
     
         3 . The low-profile shipping system of  claim 1 , further comprising a second shipping rail attached to the inside of the shipping crate, said second shipping rail being adapted for attachment to the object being shipped. 
     
     
         4 . The low-profile shipping system of  claim 3 , wherein both the shipping rail and the second shipping rail are configured to be engaged by the forklift in order to lift the object and the shipping crate. 
     
     
         5 . The low-profile shipping system of  claim 1 , wherein the shipping rail is further adapted to be attached to a magnet of a magnetic resonance imaging system. 
     
     
         6 . The low-profile shipping system of  claim 1 , wherein the front panel of the shipping crate is shaped to define an opening that is adapted to receive a securing member for the purpose of connecting the shipping rail or the object directly to a vehicle. 
     
     
         7 . A low-profile shipping system for shipping an object without a pallet comprising:
 a shipping crate configured to substantially enclose the object being shipped, said shipping crate being shaped to define a first passageway and a second passageway, said first passageway and said second passageway being adapted to receive a fork of a forklift; and   a shipping rail attached to the inside of the shipping crate at a location above the first passageway and the second passageway, said shipping rail being adapted to support the weight of the object and the shipping crate while the object is being transported by the forklift.   
     
     
         8 . The low-profile shipping system of  claim 7 , wherein the shipping crate comprises a bottom panel. 
     
     
         9 . The low-profile shipping system of  claim 8 , further comprising a block secured to the bottom panel and the shipping rail, said block further defining the first passageway. 
     
     
         10 . The low-profile shipping system of  claim 9 , further comprising a second block secured to the bottom panel and the shipping rail, said second block further defining the second passageway. 
     
     
         11 . The low-profile shipping system of  claim 9 , wherein the first passageway and the second passageway are both positioned within 4 inches from a bottom surface of the shipping crate. 
     
     
         12 . The low-profile shipping system of  claim 7 , wherein the shipping crate is further configured to enclose a magnet of a magnetic resonance imaging system. 
     
     
         13 . A low-profile shipping system for shipping an object without a pallet comprising:
 a shipping crate configured to substantially enclose the object being shipped, said shipping crate comprising:
 a generally rectangular bottom panel; 
 a first pair of spacers attached to the bottom panel; 
 a second pair of spacers attached to the bottom panel; 
 a first block attached to the first pair of spacers, said first block and said first pair of spacers collectively defining a first passageway; 
 a second block attached to the second pair of spacers, said second block and said second pair of spacers collectively defining a second passageway, wherein said first passageway and the second passageway are both adapted to receive a fork from a forklift; and 
   a shipping rail attached to both the first block and the second block, said shipping rail being adapted to be attached to the object being shipped.   
     
     
         14 . The low-profile shipping system of  claim 13 , further comprising a third block attached to the first pair of spacers and a fourth block attached to the second pair of spacers. 
     
     
         15 . The low-profile shipping system of  claim 14 , further comprising a second shipping rail attached to both the third block and the fourth block, said second shipping rail being adapted to be attached to the object being shipped. 
     
     
         16 . The low-profile shipping system of  claim 15 , wherein the first shipping rail and the second shipping rail are both adapted to transfer the weight of the object and the shipping crate to the forklift while the low-profile shipping system is being transported by the forklift. 
     
     
         17 . The low-profile shipping system of  claim 13 , further comprising a front panel attached to the bottom panel, said front panel shaped to define a first pair of ports, wherein one of said first pair of ports is aligned with the first passageway and the other of said first pair of ports is aligned with the second passageway. 
     
     
         18 . The low-profile shipping system of  claim 16 , further comprising a rear panel attached to the bottom panel, said rear panel shaped to define a second pair of ports, wherein one of said second pair of ports is aligned with the first passageway and the other of said second pair of ports is aligned with the second passageway. 
     
     
         19 . The low-profile shipping system of  claim 16 , wherein the first block is mounted to at least one of the first pair of spacers via a plate that allows for adjustment in a vertical direction. 
     
     
         20 . The low-profile shipping system of  claim 13 , wherein the bottom panel defines an opening that is adapted to receive a securing member for the purpose of connecting the shipping rail or the object directly to a vehicle.