US20070138037A1 - Wheel shipping member - Google Patents

Abstract

An apparatus for shipping a vehicle wheel. The apparatus includes an annular member adapted to be placed on the vehicle wheel specifically on the outer rim portion thereof. A partition member is connected to the annular member and extends into an interior area defined by the outer peripheral edge of the annular member. Accordingly, the partition member provides a buffer or protective member that protects the outer surface of the vehicle wheel from damage.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
• Not Applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
• 1. Field of the Invention
• The present invention relates generally to an apparatus for shipping an article; and, more specifically to an apparatus used to secure a wheel during shipment and protect the wheel during loading and unloading.
• 2. Description of Related Art
• Lightweight automotive vehicle wheels cast from aluminum magnesium or titanium are very popular. After casting, a machining process provides the wheel with a smooth outer surface. The wheel than undergoes some type of surface finish to give the wheel a high luster surface. Various types of surface finishes are known. For instance, the surface may be brushed or polished, a surface treatment such as chrome plating may be applied or an overlay may be permanently attached to the outer surface. Upon completion of the manufacturing process, the finished wheel is packaged and shipped for installation on a motor vehicle.
• Different forms of packaging and shipping containers have been used for transporting the finished wheel. One method was to place the wheels in a cardboard container having a plurality of dividers forming separate compartments for each wheel. To prevent the wheels from shifting during transport, foam or other packing material is placed in the compartment. In addition, often the wheels are placed inside a plastic bag for protection after which they are placed in the compartment prior to placing the packing material around the wheel. Such shipping methods are labor intensive and material laden. In addition, after the wheel reaches its ultimate destination, the packaging materials are removed and typically discarded.
• FIG. 1 illustrates a prior art wheel shipping assembly in which the wheels are stacked on top of one another with a plastic ring member placed between each wheel. A cap is placed on the top wheel. Depending upon the size of the shipping pallet, multiple stacks of wheels are placed on each pallet.
• One problem with the above described prior art wheel shipping assembly is illustrated inFIG. 2. Specifically, when loading or unloading wheels, a wheel contacting the wheel below it causes damage to the outer surface of the lower wheel. If the damage is minor, the wheel may be repaired and in cases of major damage, the wheel must be scrapped. Either case results in increased costs, both time and material. Accordingly, is desirable to have a wheel shipping member that both protects the wheel surface from damage and reduces costs associated with removing and discarding packaging materials.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
• The present invention is an apparatus for shipping a workpiece; in particular, a vehicle wheel. The apparatus includes an annular member having an outer peripheral edge and a base member located adjacent the outer peripheral edge. A partition member connected to the annular member extends into an open area circumscribed by the outer peripheral edge. Accordingly, as the apparatus is placed between adjacent wheels, the partition member minimizes contact between adjacent wheels.
• According to one aspect of the present invention, the annular member also includes an inner peripheral edge and a circumferential groove located between the inner and outer peripheral edge. The partition member includes a plurality of spokes connected to the annular member and extending inwardly into the open area. The spokes may be connected to one another or to an annular hub located in the open area.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• FIG. 1 is an exploded, perspective view of a wheel and wheel shipping assembly according to the prior art;
• FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the prior art illustrating contact between upper and lower wheels;
• FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the shipping member according to the present invention;
• FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the lines4-4 ofFIG. 3;
• FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating an upper wheel being removed; and
• FIG. 6 is a plan view illustrating an alternative embodiment of the present invention.
• FIG. 7 is a plan view illustrating a plurality of shipping members according to the present invention formed as a single layer.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
• As shown inFIG. 1, aring10 according to the prior art is used to shipwheels12. During the packaging procedure, a worker first places abottom ring14 on a pallet (not shown) and then proceeds to stack thewheels12 to a desired height while placing aring10 between eachwheel12. When the stack reaches the desired height, a lid orcover16 is placed on thetop wheel12.
• To tie the individual stacks together, horizontal layers ofadjacent rings10 are sonically welded together at the point they contact an adjacent ring. For instance, if a pallet will ultimately hold six stacks ofwheels12, then prior to stacking thewheels12, therings10 of each layer are sonically welded to one another at their contact points to form a single, six-ring layer. Accordingly, each layer ofrings10 is welded together, whereby the layers help tie all of thewheels12 together to reduce both shifting and wheel to wheel contact during transport.
• FIG. 2 illustrates one problem with the prior art, specifically the finishedouter surface18 of thewheel10 is exposed. When lifting and removing theupper wheel12 from the stack, in the direction shown by thearrow20, the lower flange or rim22 of theupper wheel12 may strike the finishedouter surface18 of thelower wheel12 causing damage in the form of a scratch ordent24. Depending upon the severity of the scratch ordent24, repair of thewheel12 may not be possible and thewheel12 must then be scrapped.
• FIGS. 3-5 illustrate a wheel shipping member, seen generally at30, constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Thewheel shipping member30 generally includes anannular member32 and apartition member34. The annular member includes an outer wall orflange member36 forming an outer peripheral edge and an inner wall orflange member38 forming an inner peripheral edge. Abase member40 extends between theouter wall36 andinner wall38 and cooperates with the outer andinner walls36,38 to form acircumferential groove42. Thewheel shipping member30 also includes aninterior area44 defined as that area or region circumscribed by theinner wall38 of theannular member32. Theinterior area44 may be a cylinder, a portion of which being within the area circumscribed by theinner wall38.
• A partition member, seen generally at46, is connected to theannular member32 and extends into theinterior area44. In the preferred embodiment, thepartition member46 includes a plurality ofspokes48 connected to theannular member32 and extending radially into theinterior area44. Thespokes48 connect at ahub50 withopenings54 located between therespective spokes48. Thehub50 further includes a center opening52. In the illustrated embodiment, thepartition member46 is aplate member56 having atop surface58 and abottom surface60.
• As illustrated inFIG. 4, theplate member56 may be configured to include a step or multi-level configuration that provides strength and rigidity to thepartition member34. In addition, thestep configuration62 raises thebottom surface60 of theplate member56 to provide additional clearance for theouter surface18 of the wheel, as theouter surface18 may extend past the flange or rim of thewheel12. In use, the shippingmember30 is placed on top of thewheel12 such that the lower surface66 of thebase member40 rests on the upper flange or rim of thewheel12. Theouter wall36 extends downwardly past the upper flange or rim of thewheel12 to hold theshipping member30 in place on thelower wheel12. Thepartition member34 extends across and over theouter surface18 of thewheel12. The next orupper wheel12 is then placed on theshipping member30 such that the lower flange or rim of theupper wheel12 is located on the upper surface68 of thebase member40, which, along with theouter wall36 and theinner wall38, forms thecircumferential groove42.
• As shown inFIG. 5 theshipping member30 provides a skid or bumper surface that acts as an interface betweenadjacent wheels12 to reduce the likelihood thatadjacent wheels12 will contact one another and thus damage theouter surface18 of thelower wheel12 when stacking or unstacking thewheels12. Should a material handler not fully lift awheel12 and thus drag or drop it on thewheel12 immediately below, thewheel12 will strike thepartition member46 instead of theouter surface18 of theadjacent wheel12. Accordingly, thepartition member46 protects the finishedouter surface18 of thewheel12.
• Depending upon the configuration of theparticular wheel12 being shipped, the size and configuration of thepartition member34 may vary. For instance as shown inFIG. 6, thespokes48 are formed as a plurality ofnarrow rib members70 extending inwardly from theannular member32 and intersecting at acommon point72. The openings of this embodiment are greater in size or area than the previous embodiment, thereby reducing the amount of material needed to form thepartition member34. Accordingly, based upon theouter surface configuration18 of the wheel, thepartition member34 can be configured in a multitude of shapes, sizes and designs with the ultimate purpose being to protect theouter surface18 of thewheel12 against contact with anadjacent wheel12 when theadjacent wheel12 is removed.
• Theshipping member30 can be made from a highly recyclable material, such as polypropylene which can be injection molded in various shapes, sizes or configurations depending upon the size and outer surface configuration of thewheel12. In addition, as illustrated inFIG. 7,multiple shipping members30 can be formed together as a single unitary member joined at their contact points82. Thus, depending upon shipping parameters, a single layer ofinterconnected shipping members30 are formed in a desired shipping pattern. While shown herein as two columns of three, other configurations are also contemplated.
• The description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of the invention are intended to be within the scope of the invention. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims (20)

1. A shipping member used for transporting a vehicle wheel comprising:

an annular member including an outer peripheral edge and having an interior area circumscribed by said outer peripheral edge; and

a partition member, said partition member connected to said annular member and extending into said interior area.

2. A shipping member as set forth inclaim 1 including said annular member having an inner peripheral edge and having a circumferential groove between said outer peripheral edge and said inner peripheral edge, said interior area circumscribed by said inner peripheral edge.

3. A shipping member as set forth inclaim 1 wherein said partition member occupies said interior area.

4. A shipping member as set forth inclaim 1 wherein said partition member occupies a portion of said interior area.

5. A shipping member as set forth inclaim 1 wherein said partition member includes a plurality of spokes, said spokes connected to said annular member and extending inward into said interior area.

6. A shipping member as set forth inclaim 5 including a hub, said spokes connected to said hub.

7. A shipping member as set forth inclaim 5 wherein said spokes have first and second ends, said first ends connected to said annular member and said second ends connected to each other.

8. A shipping member as set forth inclaim 1 wherein said partition member has at least one opening therein.

9. A shipping member as set forth inclaim 1 wherein said partition member includes a plate member having top and bottom surfaces.

10. A shipping member as set forth inclaim 1 including said plate member having a multi-level configuration and having a plurality of openings extending between said top and bottom surfaces.

11. A shipping member as set forth inclaim 1 including a plurality of shipping members joined together at adjacent annular members to form a single layer.

12. A shipping member for transporting a vehicle wheel comprising:

an annular member including an outer circumferential flange and an inner circumferential flange, a base member extending between said outer circumferential flange and said inner circumferential flange, said base member cooperating with said outer circumferential flange and said inner circumferential flange to form a circumferential groove configured to receive a rim flange of the wheel, said inner circumferential flange circumscribing a cylindrical opening; and

a partition member located in said cylindrical opening.

13. A shipping member as set forth inclaim 12 wherein said partition member is connected to said annular member.

14. A shipping member as set forth inclaim 12 wherein said partition member has a multi-level configuration.

15. A shipping member as set forth inclaim 12 including said partition member including a hub; and

a plurality of spokes connected at one end to said annular member and at an opposite end to said hub.

16. A shipping member as set forth inclaim 12 wherein said partition member includes a top surface, a bottom surface and a plurality of openings extending between said top surface and said bottom surface.

17. A shipping member as set forth inclaim 12 including said base member of said circumferential groove having a lower surface, said lower surface lying in a plane and said bottom surface of said partition member lies above said plane.

18. A shipping member as set forth inclaim 12 wherein said partition member has at least one opening therein.

19. A shipping member for transporting a vehicle wheel comprising:

an annular member including an outer circumferential flange and an inner circumferential flange, a base member extending between said outer circumferential flange and said inner circumferential flange, said base member cooperating with said outer circumferential flange and said inner circumferential flange to form a circumferential groove configured to receive a rim flange of the wheel, said inner circumferential flange circumscribing a cylindrical area; and

a partition member located in said cylindrical area, said partition member connected to said annular member and having at least one opening therein.

20. A shipping member as set forth inclaim 19 wherein said partition member has a multi-level configuration.

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