Patent Document

CLAIM OF BENEFIT 
       [0001]    This application claims benefit to Joseph David Cline, U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/904,180 filed 14 Nov. 2013 for a Protective Device for High Value Cargo During Shipment, which is fully incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a modular, reusable, containment device for protecting cargo during shipment. The device is suitable for shipping large, fragile, or high-value items such as telecommunications cabinets, appliances, and furniture. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Telecommunications cabinets handle voice and data communications. The cabinets can range in size from approximately a 4′×4′×4′ cube to a commonly-sized 4′×4′×8′ tall cabinet. Housed within are all the routers, switchgear, and other electronics necessary to connect office buildings with the outside world. The electronic components housed within telecommunications cabinets are very expensive, and require a great degree of skill to assemble and correctly wire into place. 
         [0004]    Assembling telecommunications cabinets in the field would be difficult, time-consuming, and lacking in quality control. By assembling the units at a single location (e.g., a manufacturing facility), far greater control can be maintained over the quality of assembly. 
         [0005]    There is, however, a significant drawback to assembling the cabinets at a central location and then shipping them to a another destination for use: the assembled telecommunications cabinets are highly susceptible damage in transit. Telecommunications cabinets are designed and engineered to be stationary units, not as rugged mobile devices. This requires that a great deal of care be taken when shipping the complete telecommunications boxes. 
         [0006]    The traditional method for shipping telecommunications cabinets is to (1) place them on a typical wooden skid pallet, (2) attach cardboard, honeycomb, plastic wrap, or other typical shipping materials to the outside of the cabinet, and (3) send the packaged telecommunications box into the stream of commercial logistics until it reaches its final destination. The telecommunications cabinets are generally bolted or strapped to the pallet. 
         [0007]    The palletized telecommunications cabinet may travel by truck, train, boat, or plane. Often, it travels by a variety of methods, and may be switched numerous times from one vehicle to another as it travels from its point of origin to its final destination. In the process, the palletized telecommunications cabinet can be handled many times, and at each point it is susceptible to damage. 
         [0008]    Material-handling equipment, such as forklifts, can cause damage to telecommunications boxes. For example, if a forklift operator inadvertently misaligns the forks, he could accidently damage the telecommunications cabinet on the pallet being moved, or the telecommunications cabinet on an adjacent pallet. In addition, the risk of tip over is prevalent with top-heavy, palletized telecommunications cabinets, particularly when being moved up and down ramps. Finally, vibration and the effects of lateral impacts on the palletized telecommunications cabinets in transit can damage the internal electronics. A related concern is that the materials typically used for shipping telecommunications cabinets are simply discarded as trash once the unit reaches its destination, rather than being recycled. 
         [0009]    For at least these reasons, a more secure method of shipping and protecting large, high value, fragile items such as telecommunications cabinets, appliances, grandfather clocks, and furniture is needed. All these items can be securely and safely shipped using the containment device of the present invention. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    The present invention provides a novel robust, reusable, modular shipping container for protecting large, fragile, odd-shaped, or high-value cargo (e.g., telecommunications cabinets, appliances and furniture) from damage during shipment. The shipping container minimizes the possibility of shipping damage due to improper handling, tip-overs, lateral collisions, or vibration. The shipping container comprises: a pallet base, a lower frame section, an upper frame section, and a top cover. 
         [0011]    In one embodiment, the pallet base comprises a floor mounted above a sub-frame. 
         [0012]    In another embodiment, the pallet base has the approximate dimensions of a typical shipping pallet. 
         [0013]    In another embodiment, the sub-frame comprises rectangular “picture-frame” front and rear sections suitable for insertion of forklift forks. 
         [0014]    In another embodiment, the sub-frame front and rear sections each have one or more vertical support members connecting the horizontal top and bottom members. 
         [0015]    In another embodiment, the front and rear sections area identical. 
         [0016]    In another embodiment, the floor includes recessed cavities into which foam, or other vibration and shock dampening material, placed. 
         [0017]    In another embodiment, the cavities contain foam, or other vibration and shock dampening material. 
         [0018]    In another embodiment, the base pallet base is constructed of one or more structural materials selected from steel, aluminum, wood, plastic, and composite. 
         [0019]    In another embodiment, the pallet base is constructed of steel. 
         [0020]    In another embodiment, the shipping device further comprises a ramp. 
         [0021]    In another embodiment, the ramp is wide enough to support a hand-truck. 
         [0022]    In another embodiment, the ramp is connected to the pallet base by one or more binges, such that it can be lowered for loading and unloading cargo, and stowed in an upright position for shipment. 
         [0023]    In another embodiment, the hinges are connected to the front side of the pallet base. 
         [0024]    In another embodiment, the ramp slides in and out of the pallet base. 
         [0025]    In another embodiment, the ramp is detachable from the pallet base. 
         [0026]    In another embodiment, the ramp is constructed of one or more structural materials selected from steel, aluminum, composite, wood, and plastic. 
         [0027]    In another embodiment, the ramp is constructed of steel. 
         [0028]    In another embodiment, the lower frame section comprises left, right and back sides connected to the pallet base. 
         [0029]    In another embodiment, the lower frame section comprises left and right sides attached to the pallet base. 
         [0030]    In another embodiment, the left and right sides area identical. 
         [0031]    In another embodiment, the lower frame section comprises left and right sides attached to the pallet, wherein one or more bracing members connects the back portions of the two sides. 
         [0032]    In another embodiment, the left and right sides are permanently attached to the pallet base. 
         [0033]    In another embodiment, the modular left and right sides are attached to the pallet base using mating connectors. 
         [0034]    In another embodiment, the lower frame section comprises rectangular “picture-frame” left and right sides with horizontal upper and lower members and vertical side members. 
         [0035]    In another embodiment, rectangular left and right sides each comprise one or more horizontal, vertical or diagonal bracing members. 
         [0036]    In another embodiment, the rectangular left and right sides comprise a flat plate tilling the interior. 
         [0037]    In another embodiment, the left and right side plates comprise one or more mating connectors to couple with one or more mating connectors of the upper frame section. 
         [0038]    In another embodiment, the top cover is attached to the lower frame section using mating connectors. 
         [0039]    In another embodiment, the upper frame section comprises front, left and right sides. 
         [0040]    In another embodiment, the upper frame section comprises front, back, left and right sides. 
         [0041]    In another embodiment, the upper frame section comprises front and back sides. 
         [0042]    In another embodiment, the upper frame section comprises rectangular “picture-frame” front and back sides with horizontal upper and lower members and vertical side members. 
         [0043]    In another embodiment, the rectangular left and right sides each comprise one or more horizontal, vertical or diagonal bracing members. 
         [0044]    In another embodiment, the horizontal member of the front side is a strike plate for the upper portion of the ramp. 
         [0045]    In another embodiment, the rectangular front and back sides comprise a flat plate filling the interior. 
         [0046]    In another embodiment, the top cover is attached to the top of the upper frame section using mating connectors. 
         [0047]    In another embodiment, the top cover is has a rectangular “picture-frame” shape. 
         [0048]    In another embodiment, the top cover comprises one or more bracing members. 
         [0049]    In another embodiment, the rectangular top cover comprises a flat plate filling the interior. 
         [0050]    In another embodiment, the pallet base and top cover each have one or more points of attachment for securing straps. 
         [0051]    It will be appreciated that Applicant envisions all logical combination of the above embodiments (together with additional aspects described below) are further embodiments and aspects of the present invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0052]    The following drawings and description thereof are meant to exemplify one or more specific embodiments of the invention, and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way. 
           [0053]    FIG.  1 —A perspective view of the shipping container of the present invention in an assembled version with the ramp in the down position. 
           [0054]    FIG.  2 —A perspective view of the shipping container showing the modular components, with the ramp in the down position. 
           [0055]    FIG.  3 —A perspective view of the lower frame section connected to the pallet base, with the ramp in the down position. 
           [0056]    FIG.  4 —A perspective view of the lower frame section and pallet base, with the ramp in the down position and the base pad members in place. 
           [0057]    FIG.  5 —A perspective view of the shipping container with the upper frame section attached to the lower frame section, and the ramp in the stowed position. 
           [0058]    FIG.  6 —A perspective view of the shipping container with lower frame section, a unit of cargo loaded onto the pallet base, and the ramp in the down position. 
           [0059]    FIG.  7 —A perspective view of the shipping container with a unit of cargo loaded onto the pallet base, the upper frame section attached to the lower frame section, and the ramp in the down position. 
           [0060]    FIG.  8 —A perspective view of the shipping container with a unit of cargo loaded onto the pallet base, the upper frame section attached to the lower frame section, the top cover attached to the upper frame section, and the ramp in the down position. 
           [0061]    FIG.  9 —A perspective view of the shipping container with a unit of cargo loaded onto the pallet base and covered with the blanket assembly, the upper frame section attached to the lower frame section, the top cover attached to the upper frame section, and the ramp in the down position. 
           [0062]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the upper frame section front side of the shipping container. 
           [0063]      FIG. 11  is an overhead view of the top cover of the shipping container. 
           [0064]      FIG. 12  is a sectional perspective view of the blanket assembly. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0065]    The modular, reusable, shipping container of the present invention is shown in the figures as comprising: a pallet base  100 , a lower frame section  300 , an upper frame section  400 , and a top cover  500 . 
         [0066]    The pallet base is constructed of one or more structural materials such as steel, aluminum, wood, plastic or a composite. For many applications, steel provides a good combination of strength, weight, and low cost. The pallet base includes a floor allowing for the use of hand trucks, or appliance-type dollies, to load and unload the cargo while protecting the bottom of the cargo. The floor can include recessed cavities into which foam, or other vibration and shock dampening materials, can be placed. These materials insulate the cargo from the pallet base and absorb any vibrations or shock induced into the shipping container. 
         [0067]    The cargo typically rests on vibration and shock-dampening material. The material supports the cargo above the floor and leaves a small space, approximately ½″ to 1″, between the bottom of the cargo and the floor. This gap provides room for the cargo to float on the vibration and shock dampening material. An additional benefit of the gap is that it allows a standard appliance dolly to be slipped into it to facilitate removal of the cargo from the shipping container once the cargo has reached its final destination. 
         [0068]    The shipping container of the present invention can further comprise a ramp, e.g., a folding ramp that can be moved between a substantially horizontal down position (for unloading cargo with an appliance dolly or hand truck), and a substantially vertical folded (i.e., stowed) position for transit. The folding ramp can be attached to the pallet base using hinges, and constructed of a suitable material (e.g., steel, aluminum, composite material, wood, or plastic) to provide a desirable combination of strength, weight, and cost for a particular application. Reinforced steel provides sufficient strength, acceptable weight, and low cost for many applications. 
         [0069]    When the folding ramp is in the vertical stowed position, it can be secured with safety retainer mechanisms, such as safety cables or safety chains. An additional benefit of this folding ramp is that when in the stowed position, it provides additional protection against damage from forklifts or other material-handling devices by acting as a protective wall on the front side of the shipping container. Other embodiments of the present invention include a ramp which slides in and out of the pallet base, and a ramp which can be completely detached from the pallet base. When the ramp is in the open position, the ramp allows a user of the shipping container to load material onto the shipping container base with a commonly used hand truck, or appliance style dolly. When the ramp is in the stowed, or folded position, it provides additional protection to the cargo contained within the shipping container. 
         [0070]    A lower frame section, comprising left and right sides, and optionally a back side, connects to the pallet base and extends generally upward. These sides provide skeletal-like protection for the lower portion of the shipping container, a means for supporting the upper frame sides, and a means for supporting, and hearing the weight of stacked pallets when the shipping container is used in the half-height position. Incorporated into the tops of the lower frame sides are mating connectors, which allow the upper frame sides to be attached to the lower frame sides. The frame sections are preferably made from a plurality of rectangular steel tubes dispersed in a parallel array. 
         [0071]    The upper frame sides can be attached to the lower frame sides by engaging female mating connector of the upper frame sides with male connectors of the lower frame sides (or vice verssa). The upper frame sides can be identical, and include strike plates to further protect the cargo from accidental damage. The strike plates provide additional retention of the ramp to prevent it from unfolding and from forklifts inadvertently poking into the cargo. The strike plates can be at the same approximate height that a second level of pallets in a standard two-pallet stack for shipping would be. The upper portions of the upper frame sides can comprise mating connectors that allow the top frame side to be attached thereto with compatible mating connectors (e.g., male/female connectors). 
         [0072]    A protective blanket can optionally be placed between the cargo and the inner surfaces of shipping container for additional protection. The protective blanket can comprise a plurality of padded features. Space filling material, such as foam pads or, packing air bags, or other typical dunnage materials and items can also be inserted between the protective blanket wrapped cargo and the inner surfaces of the shipping container. For example, air bags can be placed between the cargo and the inner surfaces of the container at various locations to further eliminate any gaps between the container and the cargo. Packing air bags are available in an almost unlimited variety of sizes, shapes, and strengths from a variety of sources such as alibaba.com, Inflatable Packaging, Inc., and others. 
         [0073]    A strap mechanism can be used to tighten the unit together. For example, a plurality of ratcheting, nylon straps can be used to bind the unit. The ratchet portion of each of the ratcheting straps can be fixed to the pallet base, and the hook end of the ratcheting strap attached to the top frame side. Once the plurality of straps has been fully tightened, the outer portion of the shipping container frame can be wrapped with a layer of stretch wrap, or with products such as “shrinkwrap”. The stretch wrap provides protection against external moisture, provides a surface upon which shipping labels, and tags, can be affixed to the shipping container, and a visual reference to aid in the detection of cargo damage inflicted during the shipping process. 
         [0074]    In certain applications, the upper frame sides can be removed and the shipping container used as in half-height configuration. The upper frame sides can be stored within the lower frame sides, and the top frame side attached to the upper portions of the lower frame sides. In this configuration, the top frame side becomes the top of a half-height shipping container. 
         [0075]    An additional benefit of the modular design of the shipping container is that it can protect a telecommunications cabinet during the assembly process. The shipping container, containing the unpopulated telecommunications cabinet, is simply moved to the first stage of the populating process. If multiple stages of assembly are required, the cabinet can be moved on the shipping container throughout the assembly process. Once assembly is complete, a protective blanket can be placed over the cabinet and the ramp secured in the stowed position with safety retainer devices. The upper frame sides can be attached; and ratcheting straps tightened. After the shipping container is wrapped with a layer of stretch wrap film, the unit is ready for shipment. 
       Specific Embodiment of Invention 
       [0076]    One specific embodiment of the shipping container of the present invention is illustrated in  FIGS. 1-12 . A perspective view of this embodiment in assembled form is shown in  FIG. 1 , with a pallet base  100 , lower frame section  300 , upper frame section  400 , and top cover  500 , and ramp  200  shown.  FIG. 2  provides a perspective view of the shipping container showing disconnected modular frame components, and the ramp in an open position. In this embodiment, the lower frame section is integrated into the pallet base. 
         [0077]    Turning now to  FIG. 2 , one will see the transport device  10  in an exploded view. The base portion  100 , lower frame portion  300 , upper frame  400 , and top frame portion  500  are shown in a disassembled orientation. The ramp assembly  200  is shown in the unfolded, or open position. 
         [0078]      FIG. 3  shows a perspective view of the transport device base  100  with the ramp member  210  of the ramp assembly  200  in an unfolded position. The base portion  100  comprises a base pallet assembly  110  which serves as the main platform for the entire transport device assembly  10 . The base pallet assembly  110  is constructed of a steel frame  112  portion further comprising a plurality of vertical support embers  114 . The vertical support members  114  are located in such a way as to provide pockets  116 , containing ample space and clearance and guidance for fork-lift forks, or other material handling equipment. The vertical frame members  114  are fixedly connected to the base pallet frame assembly  112  and to the lower bottom portion of the lower frame vertical support members  302   
         [0079]    A plurality of lower frame vertical support members  302  extend upwardly from the base of the pallet frame member  112  forming an outer perimeter for the lower transport device base assembly  100 . In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, lower frame vertical support members  302  extend upwardly from each of the corners of the transport device base  100 . The four vertical support members  302  of the preferred embodiment form a front right lower vertical support member  303 , a rear right lower vertical support member  304 , a left rear vertical support member  307 , and a left front vertical support member  306 . 
         [0080]    A plurality of cross braces fixedly connecting the right front lower support member  303  and the right rear lower support member  304 . In a preferred embodiment of the present invention the cross braces include a right to frame upper base member  320 , a right lower frame mid cross brace  322 , and a right lower frame upper cross brace  323 . Each of the cross braces  320 ,  322 ,  323  are fixedly attached in a perpendicular orientation to the right rear vertical support member  304  and the right front lower vertical support member  305 . 
         [0081]    Fixedly connecting the left front lower vertical support member  305  and the left rear lower vertical support member  306  are a plurality of cross braces and in a preferred embodiment of the present invention comprise a left lower frame upper base member  310 , a right lower frame mid cross brace  312 , and a right lower frame upper cross brace  313 . Each of the cross braces are fixedly attached in a perpendicular orientation to the left rear vertical support member  305  and the right front lower vertical support member  305 . 
         [0082]    Fixedly connecting the left rear lower vertical support member  306  to the right rear vertical support member  304  are a plurality of cross braces. The rear lower frame  320  is fixedly connected to the lower portion of the left rear lower vertical support member  306  at a first end  322 , and fixedly connected to the lower portion of the right rear  304  vertical support member at a second end  344 . In a preferred embodiment, a second rear lower frame mid brace  340  is also fixedly connected to both the left rear lower vertical support member  306  at a first end  342 , and fixedly connected to the lower portion of the right rear vertical support member at a second end  344 . 
         [0083]    Fixedly connecting the left front lower vertical support member  305  to the right front vertical support member  3035  is a front lower frame  350 . The front lower frame  350  has a first end  352  and a second end  354 . The first end  352  of the front lower frame member  350  is fixedly attached to the lower portion of the lower portion of the right front vertical support member  303  in a perpendicular orientation. The second end  354  is fixedly connected to the lower portion of the left front vertical support member  305 . 
         [0084]    Fixedly attached to the top portion of the front lower frame member  350  and extending to the top portion of the rear lower frame member  330  is the base floor  120 . Fixedly attached to the bottom portion of the front lower frame member  350  and extending to the lower portion of the rear lower frame member is the pad compartment floor  132 . 
         [0085]    The base floor comprises a left side  121 , a right side  122 , a front side  123 , a back side  124 , a top side  125 , and a bottom side  126 . The top side  125  of the floor  120  faces in a generally upward direction and provides a surface capable of supporting a hand truck) or dolly, when such device is used for the loading and unloading of cargo from the transport device. 
         [0086]    The left side  121  and right side  122  of the base floor  120  form part of the outer perimeter of each of the base pad compartments  130 . 
         [0087]    The base pad compartment  130  is bounded by the front lower frame member  350 , the rear lower frame member  330 , the left lower frame  310 , the right lower frame  320 , and a base pad compartment floor  132 . 
         [0088]    The base pad compartment  130  is capable of holding a base pad  140 . Turning now to  FIG. 4 , you will see a plurality of base pad members  140  positioned into their respective base pad compartments  130 . 
         [0089]    Turning now to  FIG. 5 , you will see the transport device system  10  with the ramp member  210  of the ramp assembly  200  in the upright, or stowed position. Note that the front upper frame strike plate  412  of the front upper frame  410  retains the ramp member  210  of the ramp assembly  210  when the ramp member  210  is in the folded, or upright position. 
         [0090]    Additional ramp retention is provided by ramp safety retainers  240 . The ramp safety retainers  240  prevent the ramp member  210  of the ramp assembly  200  from accidently unfolding when the front upper frame member  410  is removed from the lower frame  300 . 
         [0091]    In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the upper frame strike plate  412  and rear upper frame strike plate  422  are wider than other frame members such as the upper mid braces  414  and  424  in order to provide additional protection to the cargo  800  from potential damage to fork strikes and other material handling equipment issues. 
         [0092]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the transport device system  10  with a unit of cargo  800  placed within the lower frame portion of the transport device system  10  and on top of the plurality of base pads  140 . 
         [0093]    Additional components of the ramp assembly  200  can be seen in  FIG. 3   b . The ramp assembly  200  of a preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a foldable ramp member  210  and a hinge member  230 . The ramp member  210  is hingedly coupled to the transport device base floor  120  by the ramp assembly hinge  230 . The hinge assembly  230  allows the ramp member  210  to be moved from an open to a closed position as seen in  FIGS. 3   a ,  3   b  to allow for easier loading of material onto and off of the transport device base. 
         [0094]    The ramp member  210  further comprises an upper facing  212  and a lower facing  214  portion. The upper facing  212  may further comprise a non-skid surface, or other suitable surface to increase the suitability of the ramp member  212  for use. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the ramp member  210  and floor member of the transport device base  120  are constructed of diamond plated aluminum. The bottom side of the ramp member  210  may further comprise a plurality of support members  220  which provide additional support to the ramp member  210 . 
         [0095]      FIG. 5  shows a plurality of base pad members  140  positioned in their respective base pad compartments  130 . 
         [0096]      FIG. 5  shows the shipping container with the upper frame section  400  attached to the lower frame section  300 . The upper frame section  400  comprises two rectangular frame sides: a front side  410  and a hack side  420 . The front side  410  has a strike plate  412  which retains the ramp  200  when it&#39;s folded in the upright position. Additional ramp p retention is provided by safety retainers  240 , which prevent the ramp  200  from accidently unfolding when the front upper frame front side  410  is removed from the lower frame section  300 . Preferably, the upper frame strike plate  412  and rear upper frame strike plate  422  are wider than other frame members, such as the upper mid braces  414  and  424 , to provide additional protection to the cargo  800 . 
         [0097]    Turning now to  FIG. 7  you will see an assembled transport device assembly  10  with a cargo member  800  contained. A transport device blanket assembly  600  is in place over the cargo  800  protecting the cargo from the upper frame  400 , and lower frame  300  members of the transport device assembly  10  members of the transport device assembly  10   
         [0098]      FIG. 8  provides a perspective view of the shipping container with a unit of cargo  800  placed within the lower frame section  300  on top of the plurality of base pads  140 , with the ramp  200  in the down position.  FIG. 7  shows the unit in  FIG. 6  with the addition of the upper frame section  400  in place.  FIG. 8  shows the unit in  FIG. 7  with the addition of the top cover  500  in place. 
         [0099]    Turning now to  FIG. 9 , you will see an internal perspective view of an embodiment of the blanket assembly  600  of the present invention. Blanket assembly  600  comprises an outer facing surface  610  and an inner, cargo facing service  620 . The Blanket assembly  600  further comprises a plurality of pocket like structures  630  incorporated into the blanket assembly  600  which provide containment for a plurality of blanket pad members  640 . The blanket pad pockets  630  can be strategically located in various places on the blanket assembly  600  in order to provide the optimal protection for the cargo  800  contained within the blanket  600  and within the complete block cage assembly  10 . The blanket pad material may be selected from commonly used cargo padding materials such as foam, air bags, peanuts, paper, or other commonly used cargo padding materials. 
         [0100]      FIG. 9  shows the unit is  FIG. 8  with blanket assembly  600  covering the cargo  800 . 
         [0101]    Turning now to  FIG. 10 , you will see a perspective view of a typical upper front frame member of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The upper portion of the front  410  and rear  420  upper frame members contain protruding mating features  460  that allow the top frame member  500 —to be attached to the front  410  and rear  420  frame members of the upper frame  400 . The top frame member  500  comprises a plurality of receiver members  520  which mate with the plurality of protruding mating features  460  to connect with the upper frame of the transport device. 
         [0102]    The lower portion of the upper frame member  300  frame uprights  418 ,  419 ,  420 , and  422  further comprise a female mating receptacle  450  capable of receiving the male upper male attachment posts  390  of the lower frame assembly  300 . 
         [0103]    Turning now to  FIG. 10 , you will see a perspective view of a typical upper front frame member of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0104]      FIG. 10 , you will see a perspective view of the upper frame front side  410 , comprising male mating features  460  for coupling to top cover  500 . Rectangular upper frame front side  410  comprises upper  416  and lower  412  horizontal support members, side vertical support members  418  and  419 , and a horizontal bracing member  414  connecting side members  418  and  419 . All the connections can be permanent or coupled using mating features. Upper frame back side  420  is of the same design, and is interchangeable. 
         [0105]    In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the front upper frame  410  and rear upper frame  420  are interchangeable. 
         [0106]    Turning now to  FIG. 11 , you will see a close up perspective view of the top frame portion assembly of the transport device system  10 . The top frame assembly  500  comprises a right top frame member  502 , a left top frame member  504 , a front top frame member  506 , a rear top frame member, and a plurality of top frame cross braces  530 . In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the Left top frame member  504 , the right top frame member  502 , the front top frame member  506 , and rear to frame member  508  are arranged in a  4  sided type of arrangement and fixedly connected to each other. The top frame cross members  530  are arranged in a perpendicular like arrangement relative to the front top frame member  506  and rear top frame member  508 , and parallel to the left top frame member  504 , and right top frame member  502  and are fixedly connected to the front top frame member  506  and rear top frame member  508 . 
         [0107]    Fixedly connected to the left top frame member  504  and right top frame member  506  are a plurality of top frame strap connection members  520 . Turning back to  FIG. 9  you will see an assembled transport device assembly  10  with a cargo member  800  contained within. A transport device blanket assembly  600  is in place over the cargo  800  protecting the cargo from the upper frame  400 , and lower frame  300  members of the transport device assembly  10  members of the transport device assembly  10 . 
         [0108]    Turning now to  FIG. 11 , you will see a rectangular top cover  500  comprising receiver members  520  which connect with mating features  460  of the upper frame section. Top cover  500  comprises a right support member  502 , a left support member  504 , a front support member  506 , a rear support member  508 , and a plurality braces  530  connecting front support member  506  with rear support member  508 . All the connections can be permanent or coupled using mating features. Top frame further comprises a plurality of top frame strap connection members  520 . 
         [0109]      FIG. 12  shows an internal perspective view of the optional blanket assembly  600  of the present invention. Blanket assembly  600  comprises an outer facing surface  610  and an inner, cargo facing surface  620 . The blanket assembly  600  further comprises a plurality of pocket like structures  630  incorporated into the blanket assembly  600  which provide containment for a plurality of blanket pad members  640 . The blanket pad pockets  630  can be strategically located in various places on the blanket assembly  600  to provide the optimal protection for the cargo  800 . The blanket pad material may be selected from commonly used cargo padding materials such as foam, air bags, peanuts, paper, or other commonly used cargo padding materials.

Technology Category: 4