Systems and assemblies for storing and transporting product rolls

Abstract

A stackable case assembly includes a case bottom and a case together defining a cavity to receive at least a roll support including a shaft and at least one spacer coupled to an end portion or an opposite end portion of the shaft. The case top includes a second peripheral edge configured to mate with a first peripheral edge of the case bottom. In a transportation configuration, the case top is releasably joined with the case bottom using one or more latches. In a storage configuration, one of the case top or case bottom is configured to nest within the other. A system for storing or transporting a roll of product includes a pallet, a plurality of stackable case assemblies stacked one on top of the other and on the pallet, and one or more cleats disposed on the pallet to secure the plural stackable case assemblies on the pallet.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A stackable case assembly comprising:
 a roll support comprising a shaft extending between an end portion and an opposite end portion, the roll support further comprising at least one spacer coupled to at least one of the end portion or the opposite end portion;   a case bottom disposed between and connected to the end portion and the opposite end portion, the case bottom including a first peripheral edge;   a case top including a second peripheral edge configured to mate with the first peripheral edge;   wherein, in a transportation configuration, the case top is releasably joined with the case bottom using one or more latches, the case bottom and case top together defining a cavity configured to receive at least the roll support; and   wherein, in a storage configuration, one of the case top or case bottom is configured to nest within the other.   
     
     
         2 . The stackable case assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the case top is configured to partially nest within the case bottom. 
     
     
         3 . The stackable case assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the case top defines a base and a plurality of side walls extending upwardly from the base, the plurality of side walls comprising a support surface positioned to elevate the shaft relative to the base. 
     
     
         4 . The stackable case assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the support surface is configured to contact at least the end portion and the opposite end portion of the roll support to limit or reduce movement of at least the shaft in the transportation configuration and the storage configuration. 
     
     
         5 . The stackable case assembly of  claim 3 , wherein all or a portion of the roll of product is configured to be wound onto the roll support. 
     
     
         6 . The stackable case assembly of  claim 2 , wherein when the first peripheral edge is mated to the second peripheral edge, the first peripheral edge and the second peripheral edge form a plurality of openings configured to receive one of the end portion and the opposite end portion. 
     
     
         7 . The stackable case assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the case bottom is configured to partially nest within the case top, such that an inner surface of the case top is configured to mate with an outer surface of the case bottom, thereby forming a fluid tight connection between the case top and the case bottom. 
     
     
         8 . The stackable case assembly of  claim 6 , wherein at least a portion of the roll support is visually perceptible via the plurality of openings. 
     
     
         9 . The stackable case assembly of  claim 6 , wherein when the at least one spacer is coupled to the respective end portion and the opposite end portion, the at least one spacer is at least partially received within the plurality of openings, thereby limiting or reducing movement of at least the shaft. 
     
     
         10 . The stackable case assembly of  claim 1 , wherein an identical case assembly may be stacked on top of the stackable case assembly. 
     
     
         11 . The stackable case assembly of  claim 9 , wherein in the storage configuration or transportation configuration, a case bottom of the identical case assembly is configured to at least partially nest within a case top of the stackable case assembly and the case top of the stackable case assembly is configured to at least partially nest within a case bottom of the stackable case assembly. 
     
     
         12 . The stackable case assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the case top of the stackable case assembly defines a first base and a plurality of first side walls extending upwardly from the first base, the plurality of side walls comprising a first support surface positioned to elevate the shaft relative to the first base. 
     
     
         13 . The stackable case assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the first support surface is further configured to elevate the case bottom of the identical case assembly relative to the first base. 
     
     
         14 . The stackable case assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the case bottom of the stackable case assembly defines a second base and a plurality of second side walls extending upwardly from the second base, the plurality of second side walls comprising a second support surface positioned to elevate the case top of the stackable case assembly relative to the second base. 
     
     
         15 . The stackable case assembly of  claim 14 , wherein all or a portion of the roll of product is configured to be wound onto the roll support. 
     
     
         16 . The stackable case assembly of  claim 10 , wherein in the storage configuration or the transportation configuration, an outer surface of the case top of the stackable case assembly is engageably coupled with an inner surface of the case bottom of the stackable case assembly. 
     
     
         17 . The stackable case assembly of  claim 16 , wherein all or a portion of the roll of product is configured to be wound onto the roll support. 
     
     
         18 . A system for storing or transporting at least one roll of product comprising:
 a pallet;   a plurality of stackable case assemblies configured to be stacked one on top of the other and on the pallet, at least one stackable case assembly comprising:
 a roll support comprising a shaft extending between an end portion and an opposite end portion, the roll support further comprising at least one spacer coupled to at least one of the end portion or the opposite end portion, 
 a case bottom disposed between and connected to the end portion and the opposite end portion, the case bottom including a first peripheral edge, 
 a case top including a second peripheral edge configured to mate with the first peripheral edge, 
 wherein, in a transportation configuration, the case top is releasably joined with the case bottom using one or more latches, the case bottom and case top together defining a cavity configured to receive at least the roll support; and 
 wherein, in a storage configuration, one of the case top or case bottom is configured to nest within the other; and 
   one or more cleats disposed on the pallet and configured to secure the plural stackable case assemblies on the pallet.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the case bottom of the bottom-most case assemblies of the plural stackable case assemblies is configured to stand on the pallet. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein a bottom surface of the case bottom of the bottom-most case assemblies is engageably coupled to the pallet and the one or more cleats, thereby limiting or reducing movement of the plural stackable case assemblies relative to the pallet. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein in the transportation configuration or the storage configuration, an outer surface of the case top of the stackable case assembly is engageably coupled with a bottom surface of the case bottom of the identical case assembly. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein all or a portion of the at least one roll of product is configured to be wound onto the roll support. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein a first case assembly is configured to stand on the pallet, a case top of the first case assembly is configured to at least partially nest within a case bottom of the first case assembly, and a case bottom of a second case assembly is configured to at least partially nest within the case top of the first case assembly. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein the case top of the first case assembly defines a first support surface positioned to elevate the shaft relative to the pallet. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein the first support surface is further configured to elevate the case bottom of the second case assembly relative to the pallet. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein all or a portion of the at least one roll of product is configured to be wound onto the roll support. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein when the first peripheral edge is mated to the second peripheral edge, the first peripheral edge and the second peripheral edge form a plurality of openings configured to receive one of the end portion and the opposite end portion. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein the shaft comprises a hollow cylinder defining a channel that is concentric with the plurality of openings. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein in the transportation configuration, an external member is configured to spear through the plurality of openings and the channel of the roll support while the case top is joined with the case bottom using the one or more latches.