US5046615A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Disk shipper
Assignee: Fluoroware Inc
•
Filing: 1989-09-26
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Granted: 1991-09-10
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Expires: 2009-09-26
Abstract
Abstract A disk shipper assembly consists of a bottom and a cover which mates therewith in latching engagement. The bottom and cover can be handled, as a complete package, by its constituent components and in assembly and disassembly entirely by robotics. The shipper bottom is configured to permit ID or OD handling of the disk contents. The bottom is further configured to be compatible with certain existing disk carriers in manually transferring the disk content to the carrier and vice versa. Since the particular disk carrier with which the bottom of the disk shipper is compatibly designed prohibits external diameter handling, the novel disk shipper bottom facilitates transposing the disks from the carrier into a configuration that permits both ID and OD handling.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert J. Nentl
- 👤 Dale A. Maenke
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 16:08
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11B; G11B33/00; G11B33/02; G11B33/04; G11B33/0405; G11B33/0433; G11B33/0444
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
424 words
A disk shipper containing: a shipper bottom including a generally rectangular floor member having a disk bed comprising a set of at least three disk supporting longitudinally parallel denticulate rows of ridges to cooperatingly provide at least two arcuate points of support for each disk for maintaining disks in upright lateral parallel spaced-apart axial alignment, and at least one arcuate point of location intermediate the arcuate points of support for maintaining disk position where the shipper bottom is moved out cf normal horizontal resting position, the disks optimally containing a central hole concentric with the disk circumference, one part of a two part latch means integrally on each of two opposite sides of the shipper bottom, respectively, the disk bed and the latch configured so that the disks are accessible to internal diameter handling of disks having a central hole and to external diameter handling of disks substantially below the disk horizontal centerline; a shipper cover including a generally rectangular top member having at least a longitudinal parallel pair of downwardly extending resilient flanges and at least a longitudinal row of downwardly extending crenate scallops parallel to and intermediate between the pair of flanges, said flanges being in cooperating alignment with the denticulate rows of ridges in the disk bed in the shipper bottom for providing two arcuate points of retention for each disk for maintaining the disks in upright lateral parallel spaced-apart axial alignment, and the crenate scallops being in cooperating alignment with the intermediate denticulate row of ridges in the shipper bottom for providing an arcuate point of location for maintaining disk position when the shipper is moved out of normal horizontal resting position, four side walls angled downwardly and slightly outwardly from the top member in minimum non-contact with the peripheral contour of the disks, and part two of a two part latch means integrally on each of two opposite walls, respectively, in cooperating alignment with part one of a two part latch means on the bottom; so that the shipper cover is matable with the shipper bottom with the flanges and scallops in the cover cooperating with the denticulate rows of ridges in the disk bed in the bottom to Provide upright lateral parallel spaced apart axial alignment of the disks, and with each one part of the two part latch means in the bottom cooperating with a part two of the two part latch means on the cover to provide latching of the bottom with the cover, thus provided a secure package for transportation, handling and storage of disks.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
424 words
A disk shipper containing: a shipper bottom including a generally rectangular floor member having a disk bed comprising a set of at least three disk supporting longitudinally parallel denticulate rows of ridges to cooperatingly provide at least two arcuate points of support for each disk for maintaining disks in upright lateral parallel spaced-apart axial alignment, and at least one arcuate point of location intermediate the arcuate points of support for maintaining disk position where the shipper bottom is moved out cf normal horizontal resting position, the disks optimally containing a central hole concentric with the disk circumference, one part of a two part latch means integrally on each of two opposite sides of the shipper bottom, respectively, the disk bed and the latch configured so that the disks are accessible to internal diameter handling of disks having a central hole and to external diameter handling of disks substantially below the disk horizontal centerline; a shipper cover including a generally rectangular top member having at least a longitudinal parallel pair of downwardly extending resilient flanges and at least a longitudinal row of downwardly extending crenate scallops parallel to and intermediate between the pair of flanges, said flanges being in cooperating alignment with the denticulate rows of ridges in the disk bed in the shipper bottom for providing two arcuate points of retention for each disk for maintaining the disks in upright lateral parallel spaced-apart axial alignment, and the crenate scallops being in cooperating alignment with the intermediate denticulate row of ridges in the shipper bottom for providing an arcuate point of location for maintaining disk position when the shipper is moved out of normal horizontal resting position, four side walls angled downwardly and slightly outwardly from the top member in minimum non-contact with the peripheral contour of the disks, and part two of a two part latch means integrally on each of two opposite walls, respectively, in cooperating alignment with part one of a two part latch means on the bottom; so that the shipper cover is matable with the shipper bottom with the flanges and scallops in the cover cooperating with the denticulate rows of ridges in the disk bed in the bottom to Provide upright lateral parallel spaced apart axial alignment of the disks, and with each one part of the two part latch means in the bottom cooperating with a part two of the two part latch means on the cover to provide latching of the bottom with the cover, thus provided a secure package for transportation, handling and storage of disks.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
100 words
The disk shipper according to claim 1, wherein the shipper bottom is further provided with Part one of a first two part continuous seal substantially surrounding the disk bed, wherein the shipper cover walls terminate in part two of a first two part continuous seal substantially surrounding the perimeter of the four sides in cooperating alignment with part one of the first seal on the bottom, so that part one of the first seal on the bottom cooperates with part two of the first seal on the cover to provide a first continuous seal of the cover with the bottom.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
66 words
The disk shipper according to claim 2, wherein part one of the first seal is a pair of Parallel ridges of substantially even height throughout, with the exterior ridge formed with a gradual downward taper in the latch area, and wherein Part two of the first seal is a lip for cooperating engagement between the ridges of part one of the first seal on the bottom.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
78 words
A disk shipper according to claim 2, wherein the shipper bottom is further provided with a cover positioning member extending upwards from the floor Perimeter in cooperating alignment with a bottom positioning member on the cover extending downward from the walls of the cover, the cover positioning member configured so that the disks are accessible to internal diameter handling of disks having a central hold and to external diameter handling of disks substantially below the disk horizontal centerline.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
58 words
A disk shipper according to claim 4, wherein the bottom positioning member extends continuously around the cover, the cover positioning member extends continuously around the bottom, the bottom positioning member extends over and around the cover Positioning member, so that the cover and bottom Positioning members together form a second continuous seal exterior to the first continuous seal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
91 words
A disk shipper according to claim 1, wherein the denticulate rows of ridges of the disk bed are arranged to provide two points of arcuate support and one point of arcuate location for the perimeter of each disk, a central location Point at the lateral center of the floor, and two side support joints at a height slightly less than the height of the bottom, and wherein the flanges in the cover are slightly resiliently deflected outward in supporting the disks when the cover is in latching attachment with the bottom.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
64 words
A disk shipper according to claim 6, wherein the profile of the central row ridges is generally semi-circular and the disks are contacted between upper parts of adjacent ridges only the shipper bottom is moved out of normal horizontal resting position, and wherein the profile of the side row ridges is generally semi-oval and the disks are contacted by the cusps between adjacent ridges.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
83 words
A disk shipper according to claim 1, wherein the two Part latch means consists of part one, a U-shaped depressible tab for engaging part two, a tab-retaining window, the U-shaped tab base being coextensive with bottom-supporting feet, the U-shaped tab terminating in an upstanding catch higher than the bottom perimeter for secure latching within the tab-retaining window, the bottom further provided with downward extending skirt and and outward extending ears adjacent the U-shaped depressible tab to protect the engaged tab from accidental disengagement.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
A disk shipper according to claim 1 wherein the flanges are a single parallel pair of mirror image rows molded into the top of the cover.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
A disk shipper according to claim 2, wherein the first two part continuous seal is a dust-proof labyrinth seal.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
A disk shipper according to claim 1, wherein covers of like disk shippers are nestable when empty with minimum non-contact of leaves, seal and side walls of cover interiors.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
A disk shipper according to claim 1, wherein bottoms of like disk shippers are nestable when empty with minimum non-contact of bed and seal of bottom interiors.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
A disk shipper according to claim 1, wherein the shipper has a smooth exterior for enclosing with shrink wrap or sealing tape.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
34 words
A disk shipper according to claim 1, wherein the exterior of the cover and the exterior of the bottom are provided with means for secure stacking of like disk shippers for storage and transportation.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
A disk shipper according to claim 1, sized and arranged for supporting a set of 25 central hole disks of 65-mm diameter.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
A disk shipper according to claim 1, wherein the cover and bottom are formed of polypropylene co-polymer optionally containing an anti-static protective additive.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
350 words
A package for disks and disk like materials comprising: a package bottom having a floor member and provided with a set of at least three longitudinally parallel denticulate rows of ridges to cooperatingly provide at least two arcuate points cf support for each disk for maintaining the disks in upright lateral Parallel spaced-apart axial alignment, and at least one arcuate point of location intermediate the arcuate points of support for maintaining disk position when the shipper bottom is moved out of normal horizontal resting position, the disks optimally containing a central hole concentric with the disk circumference, part one of a two part latch means integrally on opposing sides of the package bottom, respectively, disk bed and latch means configured so that the disks are accessible to handling both by their internal diameter, of disks having a central hole, and by their external diameter substantially below their horizontal centerline; a package cover for enclosing the package bottom and disks in spaced axial relationship therein, a longitudinal Parallel pair of downwardly extending resilient disk retaining flanges and a longitudinal row of downwardly extending crenate scallops, said flanges and said scallops being in cooperating alignment with the denticulate rows of ridges in the disk bed in the shipper bottom for maintaining the disks in upright lateral parallel spaced-apart axial alignment and preventing relative transverse and lateral motion of the disks within the package, and part two of a two part latch means on opposing sides of the package cover for latching with part one of the two part latch means on the package bottom; so that the shipper cover is matable with the shipper bottom with the disk locating flanges and scallops in the cover cooperating with the disk bed in the bottom to provide upright parallel spaced axial alignment of the disks, and with each part one of the two part latch means on the bottom cooperating with a part two of the two part latch means on the cover to provide latching of the bottom with the cover, thus providing a secure package for transportation, handling and storage of disks.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
350 words
A package for disks and disk like materials comprising: a package bottom having a floor member and provided with a set of at least three longitudinally parallel denticulate rows of ridges to cooperatingly provide at least two arcuate points cf support for each disk for maintaining the disks in upright lateral Parallel spaced-apart axial alignment, and at least one arcuate point of location intermediate the arcuate points of support for maintaining disk position when the shipper bottom is moved out of normal horizontal resting position, the disks optimally containing a central hole concentric with the disk circumference, part one of a two part latch means integrally on opposing sides of the package bottom, respectively, disk bed and latch means configured so that the disks are accessible to handling both by their internal diameter, of disks having a central hole, and by their external diameter substantially below their horizontal centerline; a package cover for enclosing the package bottom and disks in spaced axial relationship therein, a longitudinal Parallel pair of downwardly extending resilient disk retaining flanges and a longitudinal row of downwardly extending crenate scallops, said flanges and said scallops being in cooperating alignment with the denticulate rows of ridges in the disk bed in the shipper bottom for maintaining the disks in upright lateral parallel spaced-apart axial alignment and preventing relative transverse and lateral motion of the disks within the package, and part two of a two part latch means on opposing sides of the package cover for latching with part one of the two part latch means on the package bottom; so that the shipper cover is matable with the shipper bottom with the disk locating flanges and scallops in the cover cooperating with the disk bed in the bottom to provide upright parallel spaced axial alignment of the disks, and with each part one of the two part latch means on the bottom cooperating with a part two of the two part latch means on the cover to provide latching of the bottom with the cover, thus providing a secure package for transportation, handling and storage of disks.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
61 words
A package according to claim 17, wherein the Package bottom is further provided with part one of a first two part continuous seal substantially surrounding the disk bed, the package cover is further provided with part two of a first two part continuous seal around the cover perimeter for sealing with part one of the first seal on the Package bottom.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
22 words
A package according to claim 17, sized and arranged for supporting a set of 25 central hole disks of 65 mm diameter.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
30 words
A package according to claim 17, wherein the Package cover exterior and the package bottom exterior are provided with means for secure stacking of like packages for storage and transportation.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
32 words
A package according to claim 17, wherein Package covers of like packages and package bottoms of like packages are individually nestable when empty with minimum non-contact of cover and bottom interiors, respectively.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
182 words
A disk shipper according to claim 1 wherein the shipper bottom is transfer compatible with a disk carrier, the disk carrier having opposed side walls for carrying a plurality of axially aligned disks therebetween, an open top through which disks may be inserted and ejected, end walls joining the side walls, a bottom having disk support surfaces engaging and supporting the disks in upright parallel spaced-apart axial alignment, the disk support surfaces of the disk carrier and the disk supporting denticulate rows of bumps of the shipper bottom defining the same radius of disk curvature, maintaining the same axial disk spacing between the Plurality of disks, and having the same total disk capacity, the side walls of the disk carrier configured to allow the plurality of disks to be engaged and supported by both the disk support surfaces of the disk carrier and by the disk supporting denticulate rows of the shipper bottom simultaneously, so that the disk can be transferred from the shipper bottom to the disk carrier and from the disk carrier to the shipper bottom in a non-rolling transfer.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
184 words
A package for disks and disk like materials according to claim 17 wherein: the shipper bottom is transfer compatible with a disk carrier, the disk carrier having opposed side walls for carrying a Plurality of axially aligned disks therebetween, an open top through which disks may be inserted and ejected, end walls joining the side walls, a base having disk support surfaces engaging and supporting the disks in upright parallel spaced-apart axial alignment, the disk support surfaces of the disk carrier and the disk supporting denticulate rows of the shipper bottom defining the same radius of disk curvature, maintaining the same axial disk spacing between the plurality of disks, and having the same total disk capacity, the side walls of the disk carrier configured to allow the plurality of disks be engaged and supported by both the disk support surfaces of the disk carrier and by the disk supporting serrated rows of the shipper bottom simultaneously, so that the disk can be transferred from the shipper bottom to the disk carrier and from the disk carrier to the shipper bottom in a non-rolling transfer.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-09-09 | 1995-03-11 | 1995-09-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-09-09 | 1999-03-11 | 1999-09-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-09-09 | 2003-03-11 | 2003-09-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |