TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present disclosure relates to the field of packaging for transportation and logistics and, more particularly to one or more loading beams to be placed in a container onto which a load can be stacked.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Background description includes information that may be useful in understanding the present invention. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art or relevant to the presently claimed invention, or that any publication specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.

[0003] Since ancient times, wooden beams and planks have been used as loading and load bearing devices owing to their properties and the abundant availability of timber and wood. Wooden crates, stacks, trays have been traditionally used for loading and packaging goods and equipment.

[0004] Wooden stacks and trays find applications in containers of all sizes for short distance transportation, shipping containers for long distance transport, and the like.

[0005] Wood based packaging and stacking materials are ideal for packaging because of their shock absorbing properties. However, with increasing demand, it is becoming increasingly difficult to provide adequate supply of wood and plywood based packaging for stacking and loading to meet the demand. The wooden trays are prone to damage and wear over time and need to be replaced every few cycles of loading.

[0006] In addition, with increasing deforestation and usage of wood, the access to wood and the price of wood has increased making the usage of wood unsustainable for use as a loading beam for packaging and transporting goods in large containers.

[0007] There is, therefore, a need to provide a robust, durable loading element for packaging and stacking, that has the properties of shock resistance and shock absorption.

OBJECTS OF THE PRESENT DISCLOSURE

[0008] Some of the objects of the present disclosure, which at least one embodiment herein satisfies are as listed herein below.

[0009] An object of the present disclosure is to provide for a loading beam that for packaging and stacking goods within a container. [0010] An object of the present disclosure is to provide for an alternative to wood based loading beams and support equipment.

[0011] An object of the present disclosure is to provide for a loading beam that is compact and takes up less space.

[0012] An object of the present disclosure is to provide for a loading beam that has enhanced weight bearing capacity.

[0013] An object of the present disclosure is to provide for a loading beam that is in the form of separate strips/blocks rather than a single platform.

[0014] An object of the present disclosure is to provide for a load bearing beam that has a higher cycle life than the traditional wooden loading beams.

[0015] An object of the present disclosure is to provide for a load bearing beam that is capable of bearing different types of loads while packaging goods in a container.

SUMMARY

[0016] The present disclosure relates to packaging for transportation and logistics and, more particularly to one or more loading beams to be placed in a container onto which a load can be stacked.

[0017] The present disclosure relates to a load bearing beam for use in the packaging industry. The load bearing beam is designed for stacking multiple loads one over the other in a shipping container. The beam may comprise a block configured with one or more slots that are adapted to receive a metal enforced leg. The shape and length of the block is determined by a loading weight that is to be loaded into a container. The metal enforced leg of the loading beam may be insertable into the slots on the block. The metal enforced leg may have a stepped cylindrical design.

[0018] In an aspect, a load bearing beam for stacking is disclosed that comprises a block which is configured with one or more slots. The one or more slots may be adapted to receive a metal enforced leg.

[0019] In an aspect, the shape and length of the block may be determined by a loading weight that is to be loaded into a container load bearing beam.

[0020] In an aspect, the metal enforced leg can be inserted into the slots on the block. The metal enforced leg may have a stepped cylindrical design load bearing beam.

[0021] In an aspect, the metal enforced leg may be customizable to fit the slot shape based on the loading weight to be loaded into the container. [0022] In an aspect, a chocker may be used to support the load placed on the load bearing beams.

[0023] In an aspect, a plurality of the load bearing beams may be positioned across a length of the container floor.

[0024] In an aspect, a first load may be loaded on the load bearing beams placed on the floor of the container and a plurality of load bearing beams may be placed on the first load and a second load is stacked onto the first load inside the container.

[0025] In an aspect of the load bearing beam, the block (110) may be composed of Expanded Polystyrene.

[0026] In an aspect, a method for loading using load bearing beams is disclosed that may include, positioning a plurality of load bearing beams onto a container floor, placing a first load onto the loading beams, placing a set of load bearing beams on the load and placing a second load onto the first load, wherein, the load bearing beams may allow vertical loading of n loads in the form of a stack with load bearing beams supported by one or more checkers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0027] The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the present disclosure, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the present disclosure. The diagrams are for illustration only, which thus is not a limitation of the present disclosure.

[0028] In the figures, similar components and/or features may have the same reference label. Further, various components of the same type may be distinguished by following the reference label with a second label that distinguishes among the similar components. If only the first reference label is used in the specification, the description is applicable to any one of the similar components having the same first reference label irrespective of the second reference label.

[0029] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of the load bearing beam in accordance with the claimed invention.

[0030] FIG. 2 illustrates an exploded view of the load bearing beam, showing all aspects of a load bearing block in accordance with the claimed invention.

[0031] FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary embodiment utilizing a plurality of load bearing beams that are placed at the bottom of a container into which a weight is to be packed. [0032] FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary embodiment utilizing a plurality of load bearing beams that are placed at the bottom of a container with a load placed on the load bearing beams.

[0033] FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary embodiment utilizing a plurality of load bearing beams with beams having two metal enforced legs stacked over a first load.

[0034] FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary embodiment utilizing a plurality of load bearing beams supporting a stack consisting of two loads.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0035] The following is a detailed description of embodiments of the disclosure depicted in the accompanying drawings. The embodiments are in such detail as to clearly communicate the disclosure. However, the amount of detail offered is not intended to limit the anticipated variations of embodiments; on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure

[0036] Exemplary embodiments will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. These embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those of ordinary skill in the art. Moreover, all statements herein reciting embodiments of the invention, as well as specific examples thereof, are intended to encompass both structural and functional equivalents thereof. Additionally, it is intended that such equivalents include both currently known equivalents as well as equivalents developed in the future (i.e., any elements developed that perform the same function, regardless of structure).

[0037] The present disclosure relates the field of packaging for transportation and logistics and, more particularly to one or more loading beams (also referred to as load bearing block or beam throughout this disclosure) to be placed in a container onto which a load can be stacked.

[0038] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of the load bearing block (100) in accordance with the claimed invention. The beam (100) may comprise a block (110) configured with one or more slots that are adapted to receive a metal enforced leg (102). The shape and length of the block (110) may be determined by a loading weight that is to be loaded into a container. The metal enforced leg(102) of the loading beam may be insertable into the slots on the block (110). There may be any number of slots on a given block.

[0039] In an embodiment, the slots on the load bearing beam and the metal enforced leg may have a stepped cylindrical design. The present disclosure relates to a load bearing beam for use in the packaging industry. The load bearing beam is designed for stacking multiple loads one over the other in a shipping container. In an aspect, a load bearing beam for stacking is disclosed that comprises a block which may be configured with one or more slots. The one or more slots may be adapted to receive a metal enforced leg.

[0040] In an embodiment, the shape and length of the block may be determined by a loading weight that is to be loaded into a container load bearing beam.

[0041] In a preferred embodiment, the metal enforced legs (102) have a stepped cylindrical design with a flange provided to ensure locking of the leg (102) inside the slot and prevent slippage.

[0042] In an embodiment, the metal enforced leg can be inserted into the slots on the block. The metal enforced leg may have a stepped cylindrical design load bearing beam.

[0043] In an embodiment, a cuboidal block of dimensions 250mm x 250mm x 150mm may be used. In an embodiment, said cuboidal block of dimensions 250mm x 250mm x 150mm may be made of EPS.

[0044] In an embodiment, the metal insert may be a stepped cylinder of length 200 mm with a diameter of a first step being 66mm, the diameter of a second step being 80mm and diameter of an outer flange being 100m.

[0045] In an aspect, a method for loading using load bearing beams is disclosed that may include, positioning a plurality of load bearing beams onto a container floor, placing a first load onto the loading beams, placing a set of load bearing beams on the load and placing a second load onto the first load, wherein, the load bearing beams may allow vertical loading of n loads in the form of a stack with load bearing beams supported by one or more checkers.

[0046] Referring now to figure 2, FIG. 2 illustrates an exploded view of a preferred embodiment of the load bearing beam (100), showing all aspects of a load bearing block in accordance with the claimed invention. The block (110) may be made of a material from any of the group of plastic, expanded polystyrene (EPS) and the like. The block intersection (112) is a sectional view of the block (110) showing a stepped cylindrical design of the slot with two steps. There may be multiple steps in the slot.

[0047] Referring now to figure 3, FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary embodiment utilizing a plurality of load bearing beams (310) that are placed at the bottom of a container (302) into which a weight is to be packed. Multiple load bearing beams (310) may be placed on the floor of a container (302). The illustrated embodiment discloses 6 load bearing beams with each beam having three metal legs inserted. A chocker (304) is placed at an edge of the container to support to the load that may be placed on the load bearing beams.

[0048] Referring now to figure 4, FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary embodiment utilizing a plurality of load bearing beams that are placed at the bottom of a container with a load placed on the load bearing beams. In the illustration, a load is placed on the plurality of load bearing beams (410) in the container (402). Checkers (404) support the load to prevent damage and to absorb the bumps.

[0049] Referring now to figure 5, the FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary embodiment utilizing a plurality of load bearing beams with beams having two metal enforced legs stacked over a first load. In the illustration, a load (506) is placed on the plurality of load bearing beams in the container (502). Checkers (504) support the load (506) to prevent damage and to absorb the bumps. Load bearing beams (510) having only two metal enforced legs are placed on the load (506) to prevent linear movement of the load.

[0050] FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary embodiment utilizing a plurality of load bearing beams (610) supporting a stack consisting of two loads. In the illustration, a stack of loads(606, 608) is placed on the plurality of load bearing beams (610) in the container (602). Checkers (604) support the loads (606, 608) to prevent damage and to absorb the bumps. Load bearing beams (610) may also be placed on the load (608) to stack a further load in the container.

[0051] In an embodiment of the load bearing beam, each load bearing beam (100) may achieve an additional load bearing capacity of 1.3-1.5 tonnes for each metal leg that is inserted. A load bearing beam comprising three metal enforced legs would have a load bearing capacity of 4.5 MT. Similarly, a load bearing beam comprising two metal enforced legs would have a loading capacity of 3 MT. Load bearing beams may be of any length and comprise any number of metal enforced legs depending on the weight and size of the container.

[0052] While the foregoing describes various embodiments of the invention, other and further embodiments of the invention may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof. The scope of the invention is determined by the claims that follow. The invention is not limited to the described embodiments, versions or examples, which are included to enable a person having ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention when combined with information and knowledge available to the person having ordinary skill in the art.

ADVANTAGES OF THE PRESENT DISCLOSURE

[0053] Some of the advantages of the present disclosure, which at least one embodiment herein satisfies are as listed herein below.

[0054] The present invention provides an improved loading beam that for packaging and stacking goods within a container.

[0055] The present invention provides an alternative to wood based loading beams and support equipment. [0056] The present invention provides an for a loading beam that is compact and takes up less space.

[0057] The present invention provides for a loading beam that has enhanced weight bearing capacity.

[0058] The present invention provides loading beam that is in the form of separate strips/blocks rather than a single platform.

[0059] The present invention provides an load bearing beam that has a higher cycle life than the traditional wooden loading beams.

[0060] The present invention provides a load bearing beam that is capable of bearing different types of loads while packaging goods in a container.