IP Library Granted Patent US 12,643,461
Granted Patent B2
US 12,643,461 · App. 18/162,150 · Granted Jun 2, 2026

Method of inhibiting movement of cargo during transport

Inventors: Daniel Schulman (Jersey City, NJ); Renee Buelna-Roche (Jersey City, NJ)
Assignee: Tropicana Products, Inc.
B60P7/065B60P7/16B61D45/00B63B25/24
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,643,461
App. No.
18/162,150
Granted
Jun 2, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method of protecting freight in a cargo area of a freight carrier may include providing a first and second pallet in the cargo area adjacent to and spaced from each other, each pallet having a top surface supporting cargo and four side walls extending from the top surface in a direction away from the cargo; and providing pallet dunnage in the space between the first and second pallet such that the pallet dunnage contacts respective opposing side walls of the first and second pallet.

Claims (19)

1 . A method of protecting freight in a cargo area of a freight carrier, the method comprising:

providing a first and second pallet in the cargo area adjacent to and spaced from each other, each pallet having a top surface supporting cargo and four side walls extending from the top surface in a direction away from the cargo, wherein the four side walls include a first, second, third, and fourth side wall; and

providing pallet dunnage in the space between the first and second pallet such that the pallet dunnage contacts respective opposing ones of the four side walls of the first and second pallet, wherein the pallet dunnage does not contact the cargo.

2 . The method of claim 1 wherein (i) the first and third side walls of each of the first and second pallets are opposed to and generally parallel to each other, and (ii) the second and fourth side walls of each of the first and second pallets are opposed to and generally parallel to each other, and normal to the first and third side walls, and wherein the pallet dunnage extends parallel to the second and fourth side walls of each of the first and second pallets and from the first side wall toward the third side wall.

3 . The method of claim 2 wherein the pallet dunnage extends an entire length from the first side wall of the first pallet to the third side wall of the first pallet.

4 . The method of claim 1 wherein the pallet dunnage has a bottom with the bottom lying in substantially a same plane as a bottom of either the first or second pallet.

5 . The method of claim 1 wherein the pallet dunnage includes an airtight bladder and a valve in fluid connection with an interior of the bladder to permit fluid to enter and exit the bladder.

6 . The method of claim 1 further comprising providing a third and fourth pallet each pallet having a top surface supporting cargo, a bottom surface in contact with a top of cargo provided on the cargo being supported by one of the first or second pallets, and four side walls joining at least a portion of the top surface and the bottom surface, wherein the four side walls of the third and fourth pallet include a first, second, third, and fourth side wall.

7 . The method of claim 6 further comprising providing second pallet dunnage in a space between the third and fourth pallet such that the second pallet dunnage contacts opposing ones of the four side walls of the third and fourth pallet.

8 . The method of claim 7 wherein (i) the first and third side walls of each of the third and fourth pallets are opposed to and generally parallel to each other, and (ii) the second and fourth side walls of each of the third and fourth pallets are opposed to and generally parallel to each other and normal to the first and third side walls of each of the third and fourth pallets, and wherein the second pallet dunnage extends parallel to the second fourth side walls of each of the third and fourth pallets and from the first side wall of the third or fourth pallet toward the third side wall of the third or fourth pallet.

9 . The method of claim 8 wherein the second pallet dunnage extends an entire length from the first side wall of the third pallet to the second side wall of the third pallet.

10 . The method of claim 7 wherein the second pallet dunnage has a bottom with the bottom lying in substantially a same plane as a bottom of either the third or fourth pallet.

11 . The method of claim 7 wherein the second pallet dunnage does not contact the cargo on the first, second, third, or fourth pallet.

12 . The method of claim 7 wherein the second pallet dunnage includes an airtight bladder and a valve in fluid connection with an interior of the bladder to permit fluid to enter and exit the bladder.

13 . The method of claim 1 further comprising providing first cargo dunnage in a space between opposing sides of cargo on the first and second pallets.

14 . The method of claim 13 wherein the first cargo dunnage does not contact a pallet.

15 . The method of claim 1 wherein the cargo area includes a floor from which first and second opposed and spaced apart cargo area side walls extend and the method further comprises providing pallet wall dunnage between the first cargo area side wall and a side wall of one of the first or second pallets and/or providing pallet wall dunnage between the second cargo area side wall and a side wall of another of the first or second pallets.

16 . The method according to claim 15 wherein the method further comprises providing cargo wall dunnage between the first cargo area side wall and cargo provided on one of the first or second pallets and/or providing cargo wall dunnage between the second cargo area side wall and cargo provided on another of the first or second pallets.

17 . The method of claim 1 wherein the freight carrier is selected from a truck, railroad car, airplane, or ship.

Assignments (2)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 10, 2025
From: TROPICANA PRODUCTS, INC.
To: ACQUIOM AGENCY SERVICES LLC
Reel/Frame 070817/0060 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 31, 2023
From: SCHULMAN, DANIEL; BUELNA-ROCHE, RENEE
To: TROPICANA PRODUCTS, INC.
Reel/Frame 062548/0098 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240253554A1 · Aug 1, 2024
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