Abstract:
A skid for moving and shipping goods in bulk includes top and bottom die-cut blanks of corrugated material that are each folded along score lines to produce two or more double-thickness ribs. Notches cut across the crest of the ribs in the top blank, and slots cut in the bottom blank on both sides of, and part way into the ribs enable the ribs of the top blank to be inserted through the slots in the bottom blank so the top and bottom blanks are brought together face-to-face producing a double thickness deck. The notches and slots of the top and bottom blank ribs are interlocked to lock the ribs in folded, closed position. The ribs protrude from the double-thickness deck of the skid and contact the floor to support the skid deck and its load of goods above the floor for easy access by forked moving equipment.

Description:
[0001]    This application is related to U.S. Provisional Application Nos. 62/193,727 filed on Jul. 17, 2015; 62/205,087 filed on Aug. 14, 2015; and 62/306,612 filed on Mar. 10, 2016. 
     
    
       [0002]    This invention pertains to pallets and skids for shipping goods, and more particularly to a corrugated skid comprising two pieces of corrugated sheets that fold together. The skid provides sufficient load support for the majority of shipments while minimizing the required amount of corrugated board for lower material costs. The corrugated skid utilizes no bottom deck and is uniquely constructed allowing rapid assembly. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Pallets are said to move the world. Eighty percent of commerce ships on pallets. The pallet industry is estimated at greater than $30 B worldwide. More than 500 million pallets are manufactured in the US each year, with 1.8 billion pallets in service in the US alone. Pallets can be made from various materials, however wood pallets currently comprise about 80% of the market. More than 40% of worldwide hardwood lumber currently goes toward the manufacturing of wood pallets. Other materials used for pallet manufacturing include plastic, metal and corrugated paperboard. 
         [0004]    Recent regulations regarding infestation and contamination are creating a surge in interest and use of non-wood pallet alternatives. A small, but fast growing segment is the use of corrugated paperboard pallets. Many desire to replace conventional wooden pallets with corrugated pallets for reducing costs, increasing ability to recycle, lowering pallet weight, eliminating product contamination, reducing pallet storage volume and reducing pallet related injuries. 
         [0005]    Many different designs of corrugated paperboard pallets have been developed to date. Despite the potential advantages of corrugated pallets, many have suffered from several different deficiencies. These deficiencies include low strength and stiffness, high use of corrugated paperboard, resulting in higher material costs, warehouse space, assembly labor and freight costs. The inherent inability to readily produce and distribute corrugated pallets in sufficiently high volume has also been a critical factor in the commercial failures of almost all prior art corrugated paperboard pallets. 
         [0006]    In some applications, material handing is conducted using stacker type forklifts that have front roller forks as well as lifting forks. Stacker forklifts have the advantages of being smaller and more maneuverable than conventional type forklifts, and are lower cost. Unfortunately, the front roller forks preclude the use of pallets or other load-supporting platforms having a bottom deck. 
         [0007]    Accordingly, a new corrugated skid is needed that can be easily and rapidly produced that uses the minimal amount of corrugated board, is strong and lightweight, and is fully recyclable, so it can be used once and then recycled. This would eliminate the costly reshipment of used pallets or skids back to the shipper, and would also eliminate the problems of contamination and infestation. The light weight of such a novel skid would greatly reduce the shipping costs of goods, particularly in the case of air shipments, at an overall cost significantly less than the use of conventional pallets and skids, even those made of corrugated material. Ideally, such a novel skid could be shipped to a user in the form of stacks of flat blank that could be rapidly assembled as needed at point of use without the need for large volumes of storage space to accommodate assembled pallets or skids. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    Accordingly, this invention provides a strong and light weight skid for shipping goods. It is made of two die-cut blanks of corrugated material that are quickly and easily assembled together with minimal corrugated board use. The corrugated material can be corrugated paperboard or alternative types such as corrugated plastic, including corrugated polypropylene, which is sold widely under the trade name of Coroplast. The invention provides the benefits of durability from a double thickness upper deck and double thickness vertical support ribs that are mechanically folded and locked together. The skid may also be constructed from only two flat blanks that can be assembled together without adhesive when desired. 
         [0009]    In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the two die cut blanks form a deck having at least an upper layer and a lower layer. If additional strength and stiffness is desired for loads that are significantly heavier and unevenly distributed, an additional deck sheet can be used. The upper layer forms an upper surface of the deck, and at least two double layer ribs are folded on fold lines from the upper layer blank and extend vertically toward the lower layer blank. Notches in the upper layer blank are provided across the centerline of the portion that forms the upper layer ribs. Double thickness ribs are likewise folded from the lower layer blank and extend away from the upper layer blank. Slots in the lower layer allow the ribs in the upper layer blank to protrude through the lower layer. The slots are cut in the lower layer blank running from the deck area and extending part way into the lower layer rib area. When the upper and lower layers are brought together face-to-face, the notches in the upper layer ribs inter-engage with the notches in the lower layer ribs to lock each of the upper layer and lower layer ribs in a closed position, forming the deck of the skid having an upper surface capable of supporting a load above a supporting surface, and the ribs extend from an under surface of the deck and terminate equidistance from the undersurface so they support said deck level on a level supporting surface. 
         [0010]    A refinement of the preferred embodiment is that the double thickness ribs from the two layers project from the deck in the same direction, and intersect perpendicularly with each other, thereby providing resistance to wracking for said skid when subjected to lateral forces against the deck. This provides additional strength and stability for preferred embodiments of the inventive skid. 
         [0011]    The ribs on both layers can each have a root at the junction to their respective blank in the deck, and a free end at the end opposite the root. At the free end, each rib can terminate in a folded-over foot that contacts the supporting surface. 
         [0012]    The notch in the top layer rib opens in the foot of that rib, and the slot in the rib on the bottom layer opens in the root of that rib. This arrangement makes the assembly of the skid very easy and quick, and makes it easy to ensure that all the ribs contact the supporting surface for maximum utilization of the ribs for support of the deck and the load carried by the deck. 
         [0013]    In a further refinement of the invention, a preferred embodiment includes a plurality of lock receptacles in the lower layer, and a plurality of locking tabs in the upper layer blank aligned with corresponding positions of the locking receptacles in the lower layer when the ribs have been formed and the upper and lower layers are aligned for assembly. The tabs have shoulders that engage the underside of said the lower layer around margins of the locking receptacles when the locking tabs are pushed through the locking receptacles after the ribs of said the upper and lower layers have nested with the slots and notches interlocked. The locking tabs hold the upper and lower layers together, enhancing the strength and stiffness of the deck. 
         [0014]    In addition to, or in place of, the locking tabs and receptacles, the upper and lower layers of the deck can be adhered together to greatly increase the strength and stiffness of the deck. The adhesive can be a liquid composition applied to one or both facing surfaces of the deck before assembly, or it can be a pressure sensitive adhesive in the form of double-faced tape, or a contact adhesive. Other types of adhesives can be used, such as adhesives that are applied and then later activated after assembly by heat, microwaves or other processes. The adhesive can be selectively applied to certain areas or can be widely applied, as by spraying. 
         [0015]    The skid preferably has fork passages that enable forks of lifting equipment such as fork lifts or pallet jacks to extend under the skid through the fork passages so the skid can be lifted and moved or stacked. Two-sided fork passages can be provided by two cut-outs in portions of the first blank where the ribs are formed, making the ribs into three discontinuous sections and providing openings between the rib sections for fork passages parallel to and between the set of ribs in the second blank. 
         [0016]    Four-sided fork passages can be provided for enabling the skid to be picked up by forked lifting equipment from any of four different directions. Two-sided fork passages are provided, as noted above. If fork passages are desired on the other two orthogonal sides, they can be provided in a similar way by another two cut-outs in portions of the second blank where the ribs are formed, making the second blank ribs three discontinuous sections or semi-discontinuous sections, and providing openings between the rib sections for fork passages parallel to and between the set of ribs m the first blank. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0017]    The invention and its many advantages and features will become better understood upon reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments in conjunction with the following drawings, wherein: 
           [0018]      FIG. 1  is an isometric drawing of a corrugated skid in unassembled flat blank state in accordance with the invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 2  is an isometric drawing of the top blank of the corrugated skid of  FIG. 1 , with ribs folded in accordance with the invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 3  is an isometric drawing of the bottom blank of the corrugated skid of  FIG. 1 , with ribs folded from in accordance with the invention. 
           [0021]      FIG. 4  is an isometric drawing of the corrugated skid of  FIG. 1 , with the top and bottom blanks aligned for assembly together in accordance with the invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 5  is an isometric drawing of the assembled corrugated skid of  FIG. 1 , inverted from its normal load bearing position. 
           [0023]      FIG. 6  is an isometric drawing of an alternate configuration corrugated skid in unassembled flat blank state in accordance with the invention. 
           [0024]      FIG. 7  is an isometric drawing of the top blank of the corrugated skid of  FIG. 6 , with ribs folded in accordance with the invention. 
           [0025]      FIG. 8  is an isometric drawing of the bottom blank of the corrugated skid of  FIG. 6 , with ribs folded in accordance with the invention. 
           [0026]      FIG. 9  is an isometric drawing of the corrugated skid of  FIG. 6 , with the top and bottom blanks aligned prior to assembly together in accordance with the invention. 
           [0027]      FIG. 10  is an isometric drawing of the corrugated skid of  FIG. 6 , with the top and bottom blanks assembled in accordance with the invention. 
           [0028]      FIGS. 11A and 11B  are cross-sectional drawings of corrugated paperboard and corrugated plastic for use in construction of corrugated skids in accordance with the invention. 
           [0029]      FIG. 12  is an isometric drawing of an alternate configuration of a corrugated skid in unassembled flat blank state in accordance with the invention. 
           [0030]      FIG. 13  is an isometric drawing of the assembled corrugated skid of  FIG. 12  in accordance with the invention. 
           [0031]      FIG. 14  is an isometric drawing of an alternate configuration corrugated skid with the top and bottom blanks aligned prior to assembly together in accordance with the invention. 
           [0032]      FIG. 15  is an isometric drawing of the assembled corrugated skid of  FIG. 14  in accordance with the invention. 
           [0033]      FIG. 16  is an isometric drawing of an alternate configuration corrugated skid with the top, middle and bottom blanks aligned prior to assembly together in accordance with the invention. 
           [0034]      FIG. 17  is an isometric drawing of the assembled corrugated skid of  FIG. 16  in accordance with the invention. 
           [0035]      FIG. 18  is an isometric drawing of an alternate configuration corrugated skid with the top, middle and bottom blanks aligned prior to assembly together in accordance with the invention. 
           [0036]      FIG. 19  is an isometric drawing of the assembled corrugated skid of  FIG. 18  in accordance with the invention. 
           [0037]      FIGS. 20A and 20B  are isometric drawings of an alternate configuration corrugated skid in accordance with the invention. 
           [0038]      FIGS. 21A and 21B  are isometric drawings of an alternate configuration corrugated skid in accordance with the invention. 
           [0039]      FIGS. 22A and 22B  are isometric drawings of an alternate configuration corrugated skid in accordance with the invention. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0040]    Turning to the drawings, wherein like reference characters designate identical or corresponding parts,  FIG. 1  shows a lower blank  31  and an upper blank  32  of a corrugated skid  30  in unassembled flat blank state. The skid  30  (shown assembled in  FIG. 5 ) is a two way skid with fork entries on only two of the four sides when assembled. It is shown inverted for aiding the assembly process. The lower blank  31  has three rib sections  33 ,  34 ,  35  that fold into ribs along base or root fold lines  36  and crest fold lines  37  to form ribs  33 ,  34 ,  35  when folded, as shown in  FIG. 3 . Although shown with three rib sections  33 ,  34 ,  35 , the skid  30  could utilize more for added load support. Slots  38  in the lower blank  31  extend between rib sections  33 ,  34 ,  35 , across the root fold lines, and into deck sections  39 ,  40 . Holes  41  in the deck section  39  may be provided to ease assembly. 
         [0041]    The upper blank  32  has three rib sections  50 ,  51 ,  52  that are folded to form ribs  50 ,  51 ,  52  in the assembled skid  30 . The rib portions  50 ,  51 ,  52  fold into ribs along base fold lines  53  and crest fold lines  54 . Notches  55  in the rib sections  50 ,  51 ,  52  form notches in the assembled ribs. Rib sections  50 ,  51 ,  52  are folded vertically from upper blank deck sections  56 ,  57 . Holes  58  in the deck section  56  are provided to ease assembly. Cut outs  59  in the rib sections  50 ,  51 ,  52  are provided to produce fork passagcs in the assembled skid  30 . 
         [0042]    The top blank with ribs folded of the corrugated skid of  FIG. 1  in accordance with the invention is shown in  FIG. 2 . The top blank  32  has ribs  50 ,  51 ,  52  folded from the deck sections  56 ,  57  on root fold lines  53  and crest fold lines  54  to protrude vertically from deck sections  56 ,  57 . The crest  54  of the ribs  50 ,  51 ,  52  can be considered the axis of those ribs. Holes  58  are provided for holding the top blank  32  during assembly. 
         [0043]    The bottom blank of the corrugated skid of  FIG. 1  with ribs folded is shown in  FIG. 3 . The bottom blank  31  has ribs  33 ,  34 ,  35  folded to protrude vertically from upper deck portions  39 ,  40 . The ribs  33 ,  34 ,  35  fold from upper deck portions  39 ,  40  along base fold lines  36  with the tops of the ribs folding on crest fold lines  37 . Slots  38  in the bottom blank  31  extend across the root fold lines  36 , ending short of the crest fold lines  37  to make through slots  42  at the root end of the ribs  33 ,  34 ,  35 . The crest  37  of the ribs  33 ,  34 ,  35  can be considered the axis of those ribs. Holes  41  are provided to help hold the bottom blank  31  during assembly. 
         [0044]    The top and bottom blanks of the corrugated skid of  FIG. 1  are aligned prior to assembly together, as shown in  FIG. 4 . The skid  30  is formed by aligning top and bottom blanks  32 ,  31  with the axes of ribs  33 ,  34 ,  35  lying perpendicular with the axes ribs  50 ,  51 ,  52 , all ribs extending vertically from the deck in the same direction. Blanks  31 ,  32  will be subsequently assembled vertically together such that ribs  50 ,  51 ,  52  penetrate slots  38  and notches  55  at the top of the ribs  50 ,  51 ,  52  lock into through slots  42  at the roots of ribs  50 , 51 ,  52 . Holes  42 ,  58  can be utilized to hold blanks  31 ,  32  in position to facilitate vertical assembly together. Adhesive, staples or other fastening methods, such as ultrasonic welding in the case of corrugated plastic blanks, may be applied between upper deck portions  56 ,  57  and  39 ,  40  to make the finished skid stronger and stiffer, but it is not required. Fastening methods preferably reduce the bending shear displacement between the upper deck layers across the surface including areas away from the locations of the top blank ribs. The reduction of shear displacement can dramatically increase the top deck bend stiffness and strength. 
         [0045]    The assembled corrugated skid of  FIG. 1  in accordance with the invention is shown in  FIG. 5 . The skid  30  has top blank  32  compressed together with bottom blank  31  such that deck portions  39 ,  40  are in face-to-face contact with deck portions  56 ,  57 , forming a double-thickness deck. Ribs  50 ,  51 ,  52  lock and support ribs  33 ,  34 ,  35 , holding them in closed position, and vice versa. Holes  41  align with holes  58 . Fork passages  59  allow for lifting of the skid using forked equipment. After assembly, the skid  30  is flipped upside down for use. Inverted assembly can make the assembly easier; however othcr assembly methods could be utilized instead. 
         [0046]    An alternate configuration corrugated skid in unassembled flat blank state in accordance with the invention is shown in  FIG. 6 . The skid shown is a four way skid with fork entries on all four sides when assembled. The skid  130  is comprised of a lower blank  131  and an upper blank  132 , shown flipped for aiding the assembly process. The lower blank  131  has three rib sections  133 ,  134 ,  135  that form ribs in the assembled skid  130 . The rib portions  133 ,  134 ,  135  fold into ribs along base fold lines  136  and crest fold lines  137 . Although shown with three rib sections  133 ,  134 ,  135 , the skid  130  could utilize more for added load support. Slots  138  in the lower blank  131  extend between rib sections  133 ,  134 ,  135  and upper deck sections  139 ,  140 . Holes  141  in the upper deck  139  are provided to ease assembly. The upper blank  132  has three rib sections  150 ,  151 ,  152  that form ribs in the assembled skid  130 . The rib portions  150 ,  151 ,  152  fold into ribs along base fold lines  153  and crest fold lines  154 . Notches  155  in the rib sections  150 ,  151 ,  152  form notches in the assembled ribs. Rib sections  150 ,  151 ,  152  are folded vertically from upper deck sections  156 ,  157  to produce ribs  150 ,  151 ,  152  as shown in  FIG. 7 . Holes  158  in the upper deck  156  are provided to ease assembly. Cut outs  159  in the rib sections  150 ,  151 ,  152  are provided to produce fork passages in the assembled skid  130 . Cut outs  143  in the rib sections  133 ,  134 ,  135  are provided to produce fork passages in the assembled skid  130 . 
         [0047]    The top blank with ribs folded of the corrugated skid of  FIG. 6  in accordance with the invention is shown in  FIG. 7 . The top blank  132  has ribs  150 ,  151 ,  152  folded to protrude vertically from upper deck sections  156 ,  157 . The ribs  150 ,  151 ,  152  are folded from the top blank rib sections  156 ,  157  along base fold lines  153  with the tops of the ribs folding on the crest fold lines  154 . Holes  158  are provided for holding the top blank  132  during assembly. 
         [0048]    The bottom blank  131  corrugated the skid of  FIG. 6  with ribs folded is shown in  FIG. 8 . The bottom blank  131  has ribs  133 ,  134 ,  135  folded to protrude vertically from bottom blank portions  139 ,  140 . The ribs  133 ,  134 ,  135  fold from upper deck portions  139 ,  140  along base fold lines  136  with the tops of the ribs folding on crest fold lines  137 . Slots  138  in the bottom blank  131  also form notches  142  in the ribs  133 ,  134 ,  135 . Holes  141  are provided to help hold the bottom blank  131  during assembly. 
         [0049]    The top and bottom blanks, aligned prior to assembly together, are shown in  FIG. 9 . The skid  130  is formed by aligning top and bottom blanks  132 ,  131  with ribs  133 ,  134 ,  135  to be perpendicular with ribs  150 ,  151 ,  152 , all extending vertically in the same direction. Blanks  131 ,  132  will be subsequently assembled axially together such that ribs  150 ,  151 ,  152  penetrate slots  138  and notches  155  locking into notches  142 . Holes  142 ,  158  can be utilized to hold blanks  131 ,  132  into position and form to facilitate axial assembly together. Adhesive may be applied between upper deck portions  156 ,  157  and  139 ,  140  to make the fulished skid stronger, depending on the requirements of the shipper, but it is not required in most cases. 
         [0050]    The assembled corrugated skid of  FIG. 6  in accordance with the invention is shown in  FIG. 10 . The skid  130  has top blank  132  compressed together with bottom blank  131  such that upper deck portions  139 ,  140  are adjacent to upper deck portions  156 ,  157 . Ribs  150 ,  151 ,  152  lock and support ribs  133 ,  134 ,  135  and vice versa. Holes  141  align with holes  158 . Fork passages  143 ,  159  allow for lifting of the skid using forked equipment. After assembly, the skid  130  is flipped upside down for use. Inverted assembly can make the assembly easier, however other assembly methods could be utilized instead. Typical construction material is corrugated BC doublewall corrugated paperboard, although use of single wall is also possible for some lighter applications. 
         [0051]    Cross-sectional drawings of corrugated paperboard and corrugated plastic for use construction of a corrugated skid in accordance with the invention are shown in  FIG. 11A and 11B . Corrugated paperboard  200  can take many different configurations including single wall, double wall as shown and triple wall, depending on the load capability required. The corrugated paperboard  200  is comprised of liners  201 ,  202 ,  203  and mediums  204  and  205 . The basis weights of each of the liners  201 ,  201 ,  203  and mediums  204 ,  205  may also be adjusted depending on the load and shipping attributes. 
         [0052]    In some instances, it may be desirable to construct the skids of the invention from corrugated plastic. Corrugated plastic can be produced with wavy mediums similar to corrugated paperboard or alternatively with a straight vertical medium. The corrugated plastic  206  comprises outer liners  207  and  208  that are connected by medium  209 , typically all formed by sheet extrusion. The thickness of the liners and medium  207 ,  208 ,  209  as well as total overall thickness may be selected depending on the load and shipping attributes. It is also possible to use reinforced plastics such as with carbon black, other particles or fiber reinforcement. 
         [0053]    An isometric drawing of an alternate configuration of a corrugated skid in unassembled flat blank state in accordance with the invention is shown in  FIG. 12 . This configuration provides four way forklift access and two way pallet jack access. The corrugated skid  220  is comprised of an lower blank  221  and an upper blank  222 . The lower blank  221  has three rib sections  223 ,  224 ,  225  as well as deck portions  229  and  230 . The rib sections  223 ,  224 ,  225  fold vertically along base fold lines  226  and crest fold line  227 . Slots  228  are provided for allowing assembly of the completed skid  220 . Cut outs  231  become forklift notches in the assembled skid  220 . Corner lock receptacles  232  allow for locking of the top and bottom blanks  222  and  221  together in the completed skid  220 . The top blank  222  comprises three rib sections  233 ,  234 ,  235  that fold vertically along base fold lines  236  and crest fold lines  237 . The top blank further comprises deck portions  239  and  240  and corner locking tabs  242  allow locking of the top and bottom blanks  222  and  221  together in the completed skid  220 . Rib portions  233 ,  234 ,  235  also include notches  238  that lock together with rib portions  223 ,  234 ,  235  when assembly is completed. Cut outs  241  become fork passages in the assembled skid. 
         [0054]    An isometric drawing of the assembled corrugated skid of  FIG. 12  in accordance with the invention is shown in  FIG. 13 . The three ribs  223 ,  224 ,  225  of the bottom blank  221  intersect perpendicularly with the three ribs  233 ,  234 ,  235  of the top blank  222 . Deck portions  229  and  230  provide a support for a load. Corner locking tabs  242  penetrate corner locking receptacles to lock together the top and bottom blanks  222 ,  221 . Forklift notches  231  and fork passages allow lifting of the skid with either a forklift or a pallet jack. 
         [0055]    An isometric drawing of an alternate configuration corrugated skid with the top and bottom blanks aligned prior to assembly together in accordance with the invention is shown in  FIG. 14 . This configuration is designed to work on air cargo platforms known as cookie sheets. The skid  250  is comprised of an upper blank  251  and lower blank  252  that are assembled vertically together. The upper blank  251  is folded to produce downward extending ribs  253 ,  254 ,  255  having vertical bottom opening notches  258 . Adjacent the ribs  253 ,  254 ,  255  are deck panels  256  and  257  for supporting a shipping load, not shown. Corner locking tabs  259  are provided for locking the top blank  251  and bottom blank  252  together upon assembly. The bottom blank  252  also is folded to produce downward extending ribs  260 ,  261 ,  261  but having vertical top opening notches  269 . To allow maximum use of shipping space in air cargo with use of cookie sheets, ribs  260 ,  261 ,  262  have angled edges  263 . Adjacent to ribs  260 ,  261 ,  261  are deck panels  264  and  265  for providing a shipping load support area. Slots  266  in the deck panels  264 ,  265  allow for penetration of ribs  253 ,  254 ,  255  during skid assembly and notches  269  receive notches  258 . Corner locking receptacles  268  allow receipt of corner locking tabs  259  for locking together the upper and lower blanks  251 ,  252 . 
         [0056]    An isometric drawing of the assembled corrugated skid of  FIG. 14  in accordance with the invention is shown in  FIG. 15 . The skid  250  comprises ribs  253 ,  254 ,  255  of the top blank  251  vertically nested together with ribs  260 ,  261 ,  262  of the bottom blank  252 . Deck portions  264  and  265  provide for load support area for shipping product. Corner locking tab  259  penetrate corner locking receptacle  268  to lock together top and bottom blanks  151 ,  252 . Forklift notches  267  allow for lifting if the skid by forklifts and fork passages  270  allow for lifting of the skid by forklifts or pallet jacks. 
         [0057]    An isometric drawing of an alternate configuration corrugated skid with the top, middle and bottom blanks aligned prior to assembly together in accordance with the invention is shown in  FIG. 16 . Sometimes it is desirable to provide increased deck support stiffness and strength. Such occasions can include the shipping of small sized boxes and this configuration provides that added deck support. The skid  280  is comprised of an upper blank  281 , lower blank  282  and middle blank  283 . The upper blank  281  is folded to produce downward extending ribs  284 ,  285 ,  286  and top deck panels  288 ,  290 . The ribs  284 ,  285 ,  286  have downward opening notches  287 . Corner locking tabs  291  are provided for locking the blanks  281 ,  282 ,  283  together in the skid  280  when assembly is completed. The bottom blank  282  is folded to produce downward extending ribs  292 ,  293 ,  294  and deck portions  297 ,  298  that provide a load support area. Slots  295  in the deck portions  297 ,  298  and slots  296  in the ribs  292 ,  293 ,  294  allow for penetration and locking with ribs  284 ,  285 ,  286  and notches  287 . Corner lock receptacles allow penetration and locking with corner lock tabs  291  when assembled. The middle blank  283  is a flat sheet that increases the bending moment of inertia and strength and stiffness of the assembled deck portions  288 ,  290 ,  297 ,  298 . The middle blank comprises slots  302  for penetration of ribs  284 ,  285 ,  286  and corner lock receptacles  303 . 
         [0058]    An isometric drawing of the assembled corrugated skid of  FIG. 16  in accordance with the invention is shown in  FIG. 17 . The skid  280  provides additional layer of decking for improved load support from the deck portions  288 ,  290 . The skid  280  comprises top blank ribs  284 ,  285 ,  286  nesting perpendicularly with bottom blank ribs  292 ,  293 ,  294 . forklift notches  300  allow lifting by forklifts and fork passages  301  allow lifting by forklifts or pallet jacks. Additional strength and stiffness may be further developed in the deck portions  288 ,  290  by fasting the three blanks  281 ,  282 ,  283  together either over the entire surface, along edges or inside the outer ribs such that the blank layers cannot slide relative to each other in shear from deck bending. 
         [0059]    An isometric drawing of an alternate configuration corrugated skid with the top, middle and bottom blanks aligned prior to assembly together in accordance with the invention is shown in  FIG. 18 . Unitizing loads on shipping platforms can be of critical importance. One way to help do that is with a bottom tray. In this configuration of skid, the tray is integrated with the skid for both holding the load together and increasing top deck stiffness. The skid  310  is comprised of a top blank  311 , bottom blank  312  and intermediate tray  313 . As shown the tray  313  is assembled between the top and bottom blanks  311 ,  312 , however it could alternatively be located as the top or bottom layer but without all of the structural integrity benefits. In those case, staples or other fastening means might be necessary. The top blank  311  comprises downward extending double thickness ribs  314 ,  315 ,  316  folded adjacent deck panels  318 ,  319 . The ribs  314 ,  315 ,  316  have bottom opening notches  317 . Corner locking tabs  320  are provided for locking the blanks  311 ,  312 ,  313  together upon assembly. The bottom blank  312  comprises downward extending double thickness ribs  321 ,  322 ,  323  folded adjacent to deck panels  326 ,  327 . Slots  324  and notches  325  allow for penetration of ribs  314 ,  315 ,  316  and locking with notches  317 . Corner locking receptacles  328  are provided for receiving corner locking tabs  320 . The intermediate tray  313  comprises a bottom  329  and sidewalls  330 . Slots  331  in the bottom  329  allow penetration of ribs  314 ,  315 ,  316  while corner locking receptacles allow for locking with corner locking tabs  320 . 
         [0060]    An isometric drawing of the assembled corrugated skid of  FIG. 18  in accordance with the invention is shown in  FIG. 19 . The skid  310  has the three top blank ribs  314 ,  315 ,  316  intersecting and nesting with the three bottom blank ribs  321 ,  322 ,  323 . Corner locking tabs  320  lock with corner locking receptacles  328 ,  332 . Tray sidewalls provide lateral support against shifting of a shipping load, not shown. Forklift notches  333  allow for lifting with forklifts and fork passages allow for lifting with forklifts or pallet jacks. 
         [0061]    The top tray arrangement could also be achieved by folding extensions on opposite sides of the top and bottom blanks to form the four sides of the tray and fastening the corners together, thereby obviating the need for the third blank, in skid designs where the additional blank is not needed for the extra load capacity of the upper deck layers. 
         [0062]    Isometric drawings of an alternate configuration corrugated skid in accordance with the invention are shown in  FIG. 20A and 20  B. Although the skids shown so far have included three top ribs and three bottom ribs, half skids can also be constructed using three ribs and two ribs. The skid  340  comprises two rows of upper blank ribs  344 ,  345  folded adjacent top blank deck sections  341 ,  342 . The skid also comprises three rows of lower blank ribs  346 ,  347 ,  348  folded adjacent deck panels  351 ,  352 . Corner locking tabs  343  penetrate and lock into corner locking receptacles  350 . Other locking means could also be used as long as they helped hold the blanks together and helped resist opening of outer bottom ribs  346 ,  348 . Fork passages  349  allow for lifting by forklift or pallet jack. In some circumstances, lifting by forklift is all that may be required and in these cases the height of the skid may be appropriately reduced. 
         [0063]    Isometric drawings of an alternate configuration corrugated skid in accordance with the invention are shown in  FIGS. 21A and 21B . The skids of the invention may also be used to create quarter skids. The quarter skid  360  utilizes two rows of upper blank ribs  364 ,  365  and intersects them with two rows of low blank ribs  366 ,  367 . The top blank is folded to produce deck panels  361 ,  362 . The bottom blank is folded to produce deck panels  370 ,  371 . Corner locking tabs  363  lock with corner locking receptacles  369 . Fork passage  370  allows for lifting and moving the skid  360 . 
         [0064]    Isometric drawings of an alternate configuration corrugated skid in accordance with the invention are shown in  FIG. 22A and 22  B. For very large and/or flexible loads, it can be desirable to use a skid with a high number of rib intersections as shown in this configuration. The skid  380  comprises top blank rib sections  381 ,  382 ,  383 ,  384 ,  385  and top blank deck panels  386 ,  387 . The skid further comprises bottom blank rib sections  388 ,  389 ,  390  and bottom blank deck panels  390 ,  392 . As shown, the skid allows full four way pallet jack or forklift access, depending on desired height, with fork passages  393 ,  394  in both directions. 
         [0065]    Obviously, numerous modifications and variations of the described preferred embodiment are possible and will occur to those skilled in the art in light of this disclosure of the invention. Accordingly, I intend that these modifications and variations, and the equivalents thereof, be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims, wherein I claim: