Paper composite nursery shipping rack

Abstract

This invention is a unique and novel shipping frame for nursery plants, that is made from a water-resistant recycled paper composite material. The frame allows for supporting one or more shelves and is attached to a base. The one or more shelves and base are capable of holding the plants during shipment to insure the plants are not damaged. After shipment is completed, the frame may be reused or disposed of accordingly.

Claims

1. A nursery shipping rack, which is comprised of: a) a base; wherein the base comprises a top, a bottom, and a plurality of corners; wherein the base is configured to rest upon a floor; b) a plurality of L-shaped outer vertical supports; wherein each outer vertical support comprises a top end, a bottom end, an interior surface, and an exterior surface; wherein the bottom end of each outer vertical support is attached to the base; wherein the plurality of outer vertical supports are made from a recycled paper composite material that is water resistant; c) a plurality of L-shaped inner vertical supports; wherein the plurality of inner vertical supports each comprise a top end, a bottom end, an interior surface, and an exterior surface; wherein the plurality of inner vertical supports are made from a recycled paper composite material that is water resistant; d) a plurality of upper horizontal supports; wherein each of the plurality of upper horizontal supports comprises a horizontal top surface and a vertical top lip extending upward and perpendicular from the horizontal top surface; wherein the top lip of each of the plurality of upper horizontal supports are provided between the plurality of outer vertical supports and the plurality of inner vertical supports; wherein the plurality of upper horizontal supports are made from a recycled paper composite material that is water resistant; e) a plurality of lower horizontal supports; wherein each of the plurality of lower horizontal supports comprises a horizontal bottom surface and a vertical bottom lip extending downward and perpendicular from the horizontal bottom surface; wherein the upper horizontal supports abut the lower horizontal supports respectively; wherein the bottom lip of each of the plurality of lower horizontal supports are provided between the plurality of outer vertical supports and the plurality of inner vertical supports; wherein the plurality of lower horizontal supports are made from a recycled paper composite material that is water resistant; f) a plurality of support spacers; wherein each support spacers comprises a top end, a bottom end, an interior surface, and an exterior surface; wherein the exterior surface of each support spacer is adjacent to the interior surface of each of the plurality of the outer vertical supports respectively; wherein the interior surface of each support spacer is adjacent to the exterior surface of each of the plurality of inner vertical supports respectively; wherein the plurality of support spacers are made from a recycled paper composite material that is water resistant; g) at least one shelf panel; wherein each shelf panel is placed on the plurality horizontal supports respectively.

2. The nursery shipping rack as described in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of diagonal supports.

3. The nursery shipping rack as described in claim 1, wherein a plurality of rack straps are provided around the plurality of outer vertical supports.

4. A nursery shipping rack, which is comprised of: a) a base; wherein the base comprises a top and a plurality of corners; wherein the base is configured to rest upon a floor; b) a plurality of L-shaped outer vertical supports; wherein each outer vertical support comprises a top end, a bottom end, an interior surface, and an exterior surface; wherein the bottom end of each outer vertical support is attached to the base; wherein the plurality of outer vertical supports are made from a recycled paper composite material that is water resistant; c) a plurality of L-shaped inner vertical supports; wherein the plurality of inner vertical supports each comprise a top end, a bottom end, an interior surface, and an exterior surface; wherein the plurality of inner vertical supports are made from a recycled paper composite material that is water resistant; d) a plurality of L-shaped lower horizontal supports; wherein each of the plurality of lower horizontal supports comprises a vertical bottom lip, a horizontal bottom surface, and a horizontal top surface; wherein the bottom lip extends downward and perpendicular from the top and bottom surfaces of each lower horizontal support respectively; wherein the bottom lip of each of the plurality of lower horizontal supports is provided between the plurality of outer vertical supports and the plurality of inner vertical supports; wherein the plurality of lower horizontal supports are made from a recycled paper composite material that is water resistant; e) a plurality of support spacers; wherein the plurality of support spacers are made from a recycled paper composite material that is water resistant; wherein each support spacers comprises a top end, a bottom end, an interior surface, and an exterior surface; wherein the exterior surface of each support spacer is adjacent to the interior surface of each of the plurality of the outer vertical supports respectively; wherein the interior surface of each support spacer is adjacent to the exterior surface of each of the plurality of inner vertical supports respectively; f) a plurality of diagonal supports; wherein the plurality of diagonal supports are made from a recycled paper composite material that is water resistant; wherein the plurality of diagonal supports are attached to the plurality of outer vertical supports; g) a plurality of rack straps; wherein the plurality of rack straps are provided around the plurality of outer vertical supports and the plurality of diagonal supports; h) at least one shelf panel; wherein each shelf panel is placed on the plurality of lower horizontal supports respectively.

5. The nursery shipping rack as described in claim 4, wherein the base is made from a recycled paper composite material that is water resistant.

6. The nursery shipping rack as described in claim 4, wherein each shelf panel is made from a recycled paper composite material that is water resistant.

7. A nursery shipping rack shipping rack, which is comprised of: a) a base; wherein the base comprises a top and a plurality of corners; wherein the base is configured to rest upon a floor; b) a plurality of L-shaped outer vertical supports; wherein each outer vertical support comprises a top end, a bottom end, an interior surface, and an exterior surface; wherein the bottom end of each outer vertical support is attached to the base; wherein the plurality of outer vertical supports are made from a recycled paper composite material that is water resistant; c) a plurality of L-shaped inner vertical supports; wherein the plurality of inner vertical supports comprise a top end, a bottom end, an interior surface, and an exterior surface; wherein the plurality of inner vertical supports are made from a recycled paper composite material that is water resistant; d) a plurality of upper horizontal supports; wherein each of the plurality of upper horizontal supports comprises a horizontal top surface and a vertical top lip extending upward and perpendicular from the horizontal top surface; wherein the top lip of each of the plurality of upper horizontal supports is provided between the plurality of outer vertical supports and the plurality of inner vertical supports respectively; wherein the plurality of upper horizontal supports are made from a recycled paper composite material that is water resistant; e) a plurality of lower horizontal supports; wherein each of the plurality of lower horizontal supports comprises a horizontal bottom surface and a vertical bottom lip extending downward and perpendicular from the horizontal bottom surface; wherein the upper horizontal supports abut the lower horizontal supports respectively; wherein the bottom lip of each of the plurality of lower horizontal supports are provided between the plurality of outer vertical supports and the plurality of inner vertical supports; f) a plurality of support spacers; wherein the plurality of support spacers are made from a recycled paper composite material that is water resistant; wherein each support spacers comprises a top end, a bottom end, an interior surface, and an exterior surface; wherein the exterior surface of each support spacer is adjacent to the interior surface of each of the plurality of the outer vertical supports respectively; wherein the interior surface of each support spacer is adjacent to the exterior surface of each of the plurality of inner vertical supports respectively; g) a plurality of angle shelf boards; wherein the plurality of angle shelf boards are attached to the top surfaces of the plurality of upper horizontal supports and extend upwardly therefrom.

8. The nursery shipping rack as described in claim 7, wherein a plurality of diagonal supports are attached to the plurality of outer vertical supports.

9. The nursery shipping rack as described in claim 7, wherein a plurality of rack straps are provided around the of outer vertical supports.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a front isometric view of the first embodiment.

(2) FIG. 2 is a rear view of the first embodiment.

(3) FIG. 3 is a side view of the first embodiment.

(4) FIG. 4 is a top view of the first embodiment.

(5) FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the first embodiment.

(6) FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the first embodiment.

(7) FIG. 7 is a partial exploded view of the first embodiment.

(8) FIG. 8 is a front isometric view of the second embodiment.

(9) FIG. 9 is a front view of the second embodiment.

(10) FIG. 10 is a front isometric view of the third embodiment.

NUMBERING REFERENCE

(11) 5First embodiment 6Base 10Plurality of outer vertical supports 10aPlurality of top ends of outer vertical supports 10bPlurality of bottom ends of outer vertical supports 10cPlurality of interior surfaces of outer vertical supports 10dPlurality of exterior surfaces of outer vertical supports 15Plurality of inner vertical supports 15aPlurality of top ends of inner vertical supports 15bPlurality of bottom ends of inner vertical supports 15cPlurality of interior surfaces of inner vertical supports 15dPlurality of exterior surfaces of inner vertical supports 20Plurality of support spacers 20aPlurality of top ends of support spacers 20bPlurality of bottom ends of support spacers 20cPlurality of interior surfaces of support spacers 20dPlurality of exterior surface of support spacers 25Plurality of upper horizontal supports 25aTop lip 25cBottom surface 26Plurality of lower horizontal supports 26aBottom lip 26bBottom surface 26cTop surface 30Shelf panel 35Plurality of guards 40Plurality of staples 50Second embodiment 55Plurality of diagonal supports 60Plurality of rack straps 100Third embodiment 110Plurality of angle shelf boards

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

(12) This device is a nursery shipping rack which is relatively light in weight, water resistant, disposable, and environmentally friendly. This nursery shipping rack is described in a first embodiment 5, a second embodiment 50, and a third embodiment 100. Although each of the three embodiments is described separately, it is anticipated that one embodiment may incorporate elements of one or more of the other embodiments. It is also anticipated that the base 6 may be a variety of different shapes, but is described and shown as being a rectangle. Additionally, while the three embodiments show two shelves, it is anticipated that more than two shelves or one shelf can also be provided.

First Embodiment

(13) This first embodiment is comprised of a base 6, a plurality of supports made from a rigid paper based composite angle board, also known as a v-board, and at least one shelf panel 30. The plurality of paper composite material v-boards are water-resistant, thereby allowing water to shed prior to being absorbed. The plurality of supports are comprised of a plurality of outer vertical supports 10, a plurality of inner vertical supports 15, a plurality of support spacers 20, a plurality of upper horizontal supports 25, and a plurality of lower horizontal supports 26.

(14) Each of the plurality of outer vertical supports 10 provide a top end 10a, a bottom end 10b, an interior surface 10c, and an exterior surface 10d. The bottom end 10b of each of the plurality of outer vertical supports 10 are attached to the corners of the base 6 as shown in FIG. 1. As FIG. 1 also shows, a plurality of guards 35 may be secured to the plurality of outer vertical supports 10 at the bottom end 10b. The plurality of guards 35 assist in protecting the outer vertical assists from being damaged or crippled during shipment.

(15) Each of the plurality of upper horizontal supports 25 are attached to each of the plurality of lower horizontal supports 26, which creates a top lip 25a, a bottom lip 26a, a top surface 25b, and a bottom surface 26b, as shown in FIG. 1 and in FIG. 6. The top lip 25a provides primarily two benefits, which include assisting with the securement of an inserted shelf panel 30 and preventing plants from falling off of a shelf panel 30. The plurality of upper horizontal supports 25 and the plurality of lower horizontal supports 26 are attached to the outer vertical supports 10 as shown in FIG. 6.

(16) The plurality of inner vertical supports 15, each provide a top edge 15a, a bottom edge 15b, an inside surface 15c, and an exterior surface 15d. The plurality of inner vertical supports 15 are provided between the bottom surface 26b of the plurality of lower horizontal supports 26 and the base 6. In the instance that the rack provides more than one row of shelves, as shown in FIG. 1, the plurality of inner vertical supports 15 are also provided between the top surface 25b of the plurality of upper horizontal supports 25 for a lower shelf and the bottom surface 26b of the plurality of lower horizontal supports 26 for a upper shelf. For a second or higher row of shelves, the plurality of inner vertical supports 15 may alternatively be placed between a shelf panel 30 and the bottom surface 26b of the plurality of lower horizontal supports 26.

(17) Consequently, the bottom lip 26a of the plurality of lower horizontal supports 26 and the top lip 25a of the plurality of upper horizontal supports 25 create a space between the plurality of inner vertical supports 15 and the plurality of outer vertical supports 10. It is critical that the plurality of inner vertical supports 15 and the plurality of outer vertical supports 10 maintain a substantially perpendicular orientation relative to the base 6 and one or more shelve panels.

(18) The plurality of support spacers 20 are provided within the space between the plurality of outer vertical supports 10 and the plurality of inner vertical supports 15, which is shown in FIG. 6. Each support spacer within the plurality of support spacers 20 is further comprised of a top end 20a, a bottom end 20b, and interior surface 20c, and an exterior surface 20d. Although FIG. 6 shows a support spacer with gaps between the bottom lip 26a of a lower horizontal support and the top lip 25a of an upper horizontal support, it is anticipated that the plurality of support spacers 20 may extend from the top lip 25a to the bottom lip 26a.

(19) A plurality of staples 40 are used to attach the plurality of upper horizontal supports 25, the plurality of lower horizontal supports 26, the plurality of outer vertical supports 10, the plurality of inner vertical supports 15, and the plurality of support spacers 20 together. The staples 40 may also be used to attach each shelf panel 30 or base 6 to the shipping frame as well.

Second Embodiment

(20) This second embodiment 50 is distinguished from the first embodiment 5 in that the shipping rack is comprised of a base 6, a plurality of water resistant paper based composite supports, at least one shelf panel 30 and a plurality of rack straps 60. The plurality of supports are comprised of a plurality of outer vertical supports 10, a plurality of inner vertical supports 15, a plurality of support spacers 20, a plurality of lower horizontal supports 26 and a plurality of diagonal supports 55.

(21) By only providing a plurality of lower horizontal supports 26 for a shelf panel 30 to rest on, it removes the top lip 25a and thus allows for sliding plants on and off of the shelf panel 30. The plurality of diagonal supports 55 are attached to the plurality of outer vertical supports 10, as shown in FIG. 8. The plurality of diagonal supports 55 increase the stability of the rack while supporting nursery plants during shipment. The plurality of rack straps 60 are provided around the plurality of outer vertical supports 10 and the plurality of diagonal supports 55. The plurality of rack straps 60 are low-weight and prevent one of the plurality of outer vertical supports 10 from separating from the rack.

(22) The plurality of diagonal supports 55 and plurality of rack straps 60 also assist with preventing the nursery plants from falling out of the rack during shipment.

Third Embodiment

(23) This third embodiment 100 is distinguished from the first and second embodiments in that a plurality of angle shelf boards 110. The plurality of angle shelf boards 110 is placed on the upper horizontal supports 25 to support nursery plants during shipment. It is critical that each angle shelf board have the angle pointed upward so water can shed off the plurality angle shelf boards 110. Although the recycled paper composite material of the plurality of angle shelf boards 110 is water resistant, the ability to shed water from the recycled material is critical for the stability of the shipping rack.

(24) The plurality of angle shelf boards 110 can span across the entire width of the plurality of upper horizontal supports 25, as shown in FIG. 10, and can be secured to the plurality of upper horizontal supports 25. Alternatively, the plurality of angle shelf boards 110 can span partially across the plurality of upper horizontal supports 25. Consequently, this would allow for a taller plant to be positioned on the base 6 and extend up through the plurality of lower horizontal supports 26 and plurality of upper horizontal supports 25 while still allowing shorter plants to sit on the existing plurality of angle shelf boards 110. In other words, the plurality of angle shelf boards 110 can be arranged such that a shipping rack can secure both tall and short plants during shipment.

(25) With the use of a recycled paper based composite material for the plurality of supports, it provides nurseries with a third option that is dependable, economical, and environmental. While the embodiments of the invention have been disclosed, certain modifications may be made by those skilled in the art to modify the invention without departing from the spirit of the invention.