Abstract:
A stacking apparatus including a stacking sleeve comprising walls and a top side, and a sleeve-pallet comprising a platform configured to support goods. The stacking sleeve being configured to surround goods on a first sleeve-pallet and support a second sleeve-pallet on the top side. The stacking sleeve may further comprise braces and access holes. The stacking sleeve may be configured to enable nesting of a second sleeve-pallet supported by the stacking sleeve. The platform of the sleeve-pallet may be further configured to support a stacking sleeve. The sleeve-pallet may further comprise a securing structure to secure a stacking sleeve supported by the platform. The platform of the sleeve-pallet may be further configured to nest in a stacking sleeve.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/714,395, filed Oct. 16, 2012, in the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field 
     The Application is related to packaging, and more particularly to stacking and storage of goods on platforms. 
     2. Related Art 
     One of the key challenges in storing or transporting of certain goods is the inability to stack pallets of the goods. This can arise for a number of reasons, such as an irregular shape or delicate materials. In the existing art, for instance, only one reel is typically placed on a wooden pallet for transport as they are generally non-stackable. This creates a waste of space during the shipment process. 
     The present exemplary embodiment provides a logical means for stacking multiple pallets of goods. 
     SUMMARY 
     Exemplary embodiments of the present invention may address the problems and/or disadvantages of the current technology/methodology described above. Although an embodiment is not required to overcome all of the disadvantages described above, an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may address the above disadvantages, and further disadvantages not described above, or may not overcome any of the problems listed above while still providing improved methodology and enhancement to the present art. 
     One exemplary embodiment of the present invention is a stacking apparatus with at least one stacking sleeves and at least one portable platforms. When desiring to stack multiple platforms, each supporting goods, a stacking sleeve may be placed around a first set of goods on a first platform, and a second platform, supporting a second set of goods, may be placed on top of the first set of goods and the stacking sleeve, supported by the stacking sleeve 
     Other features of the embodiment may include braces with or on at least one stacking sleeve, which may be designed to support the second platform. Other features may include at least one stacking sleeve being able to nest the second platform in the upper end of the stacking sleeve. Other features may include one or more openings in at least one stacking sleeve. The openings may to allow access to one or more of the first and second platforms, such as by a forklift. Other features may include at least one stacking sleeve being made of a corrugated material. Other features may include at least one stacking sleeve being made of a pierceable material so that the stacking sleeve may be connected to the platforms through staples, nails, screws, or the like. Other features may include at least one stacking sleeve being made to be supported by the first platform. 
     Other features of the embodiment may include at least one of the portable platforms being a sleeve-pallet. Other features may include at least one sleeve-pallet having a length and a width that enable the sleeve-pallet to nest in a stacking sleeve. Other features may include the at least one sleeve-pallet being able to support a stacking sleeve. Other features may include the at least one sleeve-pallet having a securing structure for securing a stacking sleeve being supported by the sleeve-pallet. The securing structure of the at least one sleeve-pallet may be one or more stringers made to brace against the walls of a stacking sleeve being supported by the sleeve-pallet. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a stacking sleeve. 
         FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a sleeve-pallet. 
         FIG. 3  shows perspective view of a see-through stacking sleeve resting on a pallet. 
         FIG. 4  shows a perspective of an exemplary embodiment of a stacking sleeve with a pallet being placed on top of the stacking sleeve. 
         FIGS. 5A-5C  shows the process of stacking multiple pallets utilizing a stacking sleeve. 
         FIGS. 6A-6C  show various views of pallets stacked using a stacking sleeve. 
         FIG. 7  shows a perspective view of the traditional means for shipping reels. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The following detailed description is provided to assist the reader in gaining a comprehensive understanding of the methods, apparatuses and/or systems described herein. Various changes, modifications, and equivalents of the systems, apparatuses and/or methods described herein will suggest themselves to those of ordinary skill in the art. Descriptions of well-known functions and structures are omitted to enhance clarity and conciseness. Similar numbering is used throughout in reference to similar structure. 
       FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a stacking sleeve  100 . Some of the major components are identified. The stacking sleeve  100  includes walls  110 , a brace  120 , an upper end  130  having holes  135 , and a lower end  140 . The stacking sleeve  100  has been designed so that it may envelop goods (not shown) on a first platform (not shown), and support a second platform (not shown) placed on the upper end  130  of the stacking sleeve  100  (See  FIGS. 6A-6C ). Goods may include, but are not limited to, reels, spools, equipment, inventory, supplies, chattel, or other items that may be stored or shipped on a shipping platform. Also, the brace  120  are configured to support the second platform. Although only one brace  120  is shown, a plurality of braces may be used and configured to support the second platform. Also, the holes  135  are configured to allow access to the second platform, such as by a forklift (not shown). The walls  110  of the stacking sleeve  100  may be of corrugated materials. The walls  110  may also be made of a pierceable material so that the stacking sleeve  100  may be secured to the first or second platform by nails, staples, or the like (not shown). Also, the stacking sleeve  100  may be secured to the first or second platforms with banding material (not shown). 
       FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of sleeve-pallet  200 . The sleeve-pallet  200  includes deckboards  210 , feet  220 , lower stringers  240 , and upper stringers  230 . The upper stringers  230  are configured to secure the lower end  140  of a stacking sleeve  100  (not shown) (see  FIG. 3 ). The sleeve-pallet  200  has a length  202  and a width  204 . The length  202  and width  204  are such that the sleeve-pallet  200  can nest in the upper end  130  of a stacking sleeve  100  (not shown) (See  FIG. 4 ). 
       FIG. 3  shows the outline of an exemplary embodiment of a stacking sleeve  100  resting on an exemplary embodiment of a sleeve-pallet  200 . The upper stringers  230  of the sleeve-pallet  200  secure the lower end  140  of the stacking sleeve  100  by bracing against the walls  110  of the stacking sleeve  100 . Although in the exemplary embodiment, the stacking sleeve  100  is secured using upper stringers  230 , the securing method of an embodiment is not limited to the use of upper stringers  230 . As a non-limiting example, the lower end  140  of the stacking sleeve  100  could be secured in grooves on the sleeve-pallet  200 . 
       FIG. 4  shows a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a sleeve-pallet  200  and an exemplary embodiment of a stacking sleeve  100 . The feet  220  of the sleeve-pallet  200  are placed on the braces  120  of the stacking sleeve  100 , causing the sleeve-pallet  200  to nest in upper end  130  of the stacking sleeve  100 . Although this method is used in the present embodiment, other methods may be used for the nesting function of an embodiment of a sleeve-pallet. As a non-limiting example, the feet  220  of a sleeve-pallet  200  may be placed on the outside of the stacking sleeve  100 . 
       FIG. 5A  shows a perspective view of a method of use of an exemplary embodiment of a stacking sleeve  100  with exemplary embodiments of a lower sleeve-pallet  200 A and an upper sleeve-pallet  200 B. The lower sleeve-pallet  200 A is placed down. A first set of goods  500 A is placed on the lower sleeve-pallet  200 A. The stacking sleeve  100  is placed around the first set of goods  500 A on the lower sleeve-pallet  200 A. The upper sleeve-pallet  200 B is nested into the stacking sleeve  100 . The feet  220 B of the upper sleeve-pallet  200 B rest on the braces  120  of the stacking sleeve  100 . A second set of goods  500 B is placed on the upper sleeve-pallet  200 B, either before or after the upper sleeve-pallet  200 B is nested. Holes  135  in the upper end  130  of the stacking sleeve  100  provide access to the upper sleeve-pallet  200 B. Although only an upper sleeve-pallet  200 B, a lower sleeve-pallet  200 A, and one stacking sleeve  100  are used, additional sleeve-pallets (not shown) may be stacked utilizing additional stacking sleeves (not shown). Although the  FIG. 5A  utilizes sleeve-pallets  200 A and  200 B, other platforms (not shown) may be used with the stacking sleeve  100 . 
       FIG. 5B  shows the method of use of  FIG. 5A , only from an orthogonal side view. A first set of goods  500 A is placed on a lower sleeve-pallet  200 A. A stacking sleeve  100  is placed around the first set of goods  500 A. An upper sleeve-pallet  200 B is placed on the stacking sleeve  100 . A second set of goods  500 B is placed on the upper sleeve-pallet  200 B. A hole  135  in the stacking sleeve  100  provides access to the upper sleeve-pallet  200 B. 
       FIG. 5C  shows the method of use of  FIG. 5A , only from an orthogonal view from the front. A first set of goods  500 A is placed on a lower sleeve-pallet  200 A. A stacking sleeve  100  is placed around the first set of goods  500 A. An upper sleeve-pallet  200 B is placed on the stacking sleeve  100 . A second set of goods  500 B is placed on the upper sleeve-pallet  200 B. 
       FIG. 6A  shows a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a stacking sleeve  100  being used with an exemplary embodiment of an upper sleeve-pallet  200 B and an exemplary embodiment of a lower sleeve-pallet  200 A. Goods  500 A rest on both the lower sleeve-pallet  200 A, and goods  500 B rest on the upper sleeve-pallet  200 B. The stacking sleeve  100  surrounds the goods  500 A on the lower sleeve-pallet  200 A. The upper sleeve-pallet  200 B is nested in the upper end  130  of the stacking sleeve  100 . The upper sleeve-pallet  200 B is supported by the stacking sleeve  100 . A hole  135  in the stacking sleeve  100  allows access to the upper sleeve-pallet  200 B. 
       FIG. 6B  shows the use of  FIG. 6A , only from an orthogonal frontal view. The stacking sleeve  100  surrounds the goods (not shown) on the lower sleeve-pallet  200 A. The upper sleeve-pallet  200 B is nested in the upper end  130  of the stacking sleeve  100 . The upper sleeve-pallet  200 B is supported by the stacking sleeve  100 . Goods  500 B rest on the upper sleeve-pallet  200 B. 
       FIG. 6C  shows the use of  FIG. 6A , only from an orthogonal side view. Goods  500 A rest on both the lower sleeve-pallet  200 A, and goods  500 B rest on the upper sleeve-pallet  200 B. The stacking sleeve  100  surrounds the goods  500 A on the lower sleeve-pallet  200 A. The upper sleeve-pallet  200 B is nested in the upper end  130  of the stacking sleeve  100 . The upper sleeve-pallet  200 B is supported by the stacking sleeve  100 . The hole  135  in the stacking sleeve  100  allows access to the upper sleeve-pallet  200 B. 
       FIG. 7  shows a traditional means of shipping reels  700 . Reels  700  are placed on a pallet  750 . A band  720  is laced through the reels  700 . Stretch wrap  730  is placed around the reels  700 . The rounded edge  710  of the reels  700  makes stacking difficult, and therefore, multiple pallets  750  of reels  700  are not stacked. 
     Advantages and benefits of an exemplary embodiment may include, but are not limited to, the following:
         1. New design allows for the stacking of platforms for irregularly shaped and delicate goods.   2. New design secures stacked platforms by enabling nesting.   3. New design gives access to platforms directly by including holes in sleeve walls.   4. New design uses corrugated materials.   5. New design uses pierceable materials.   6. New design braces to support a platform.   7. New design secures the lower end of a stacking sleeve.       

     As mentioned above, although the exemplary embodiments described above are various stacking sleeves and sleeve-pallets the general inventive concept should not be limited thereto, and it could also apply to other types of embodiments.