Patent ID: 7874773
Filing Date: 2011-01-25
Classification: B65D

Abstract:
1. A chassis packing system, for packing one or more trailer chassis having longitudinal beams with front bolsters and rear bolsters mounted at opposite ends, said chassis packing system comprising: a first frame assembly, a second frame assembly, and one or more spacers; said first frame assembly including a pair of elongate first bolster retaining members, a first primary connecting member, and a first secondary connecting member; each of said first bolster retaining members having a first end and a second end; said first bolster retaining members being aligned in spaced apart relation, so as to define an inward facing aspect, on each of said first bolster retaining members; each of said inward facing aspects having one or more cavities; each of said cavities on one of said first bolster retaining members being located so as to register with one of said cavities of the other first bolster retaining member; said first primary connecting member being joined, by first joint means, to said first ends of said first bolster retaining members; said first secondary connecting member being releasably joined to said second ends of said first bolster retaining members; said second frame assembly including a pair of elongate second bolster retaining members, a second primary connecting member, and a second secondary connecting member; each of said second bolster retaining members having a first end and a second end; said second bolster retaining members being aligned in spaced apart relation so as to define an inward facing aspect, on each of said second bolster retaining members; each of said inward facing aspects having one or more cavities; each of said cavities on one of said second bolster retaining members being located so as to register with one of said cavities of the other second bolster retaining member; said second primary connecting member being releasably joined, by second joint means, to said first ends of said second bolster retaining members; said second secondary connecting member being joined to said second ends of said second bolster retaining members; said trailer chassis being arranged in a stack, with one or more of said spacers being placed between adjacent trailers in said stack; said stack having a first end and a second end; said first end of said stack being defined by a plurality of rear bolsters aligned in registration with said cavities of said first bolster retaining members and by a plurality of front bolsters aligned adjacent to said first bolster retaining members; said second end of said stack being defined by a plurality of rear bolsters aligned in registration with said cavities of said second bolster retaining members and by a plurality of front bolsters aligned adjacent to said second bolster retaining members; said rear bolsters defining said first end of said stack being partially received into said cavities of said first bolster retaining members and said rear bolsters defining said second end of said stack being partially received into said cavities of said second bolster retaining members, for confining said stack of trailer chassis as a unitary bundle in a space defined by said first frame assembly and said second frame assembly; said first and second frame assemblies having corner castings; whereby said stack of trailer chassis may be lifted and handled by said corner castings.