Stackable quarter-size plastic platform and associated methods
A platform includes a top deck with spaced apart platform support leg openings extending therethrough, and platform support legs extending from a lower surface of the top deck and aligned with the platform support leg openings. A shelf provides support to a bottom surface of a platform support leg from an identical platform when stacked thereon. A pair of extensions extend outwards from a bottom surface of the lower portion, with the opening in the upper portion providing clearance for the pair of extensions on the platform support leg of the identical platform when stacked thereon. The platform includes a platform tracking device including an exterior housing assembly that is positioned at least partially within the top deck and that encloses processing circuitry, memory, one or more sensors, a communication element, and a power supply.
1 . A platform comprising:
a top deck that includes an upper surface and an opposing lower surface, with a plurality of spaced apart platform support leg openings extending through the upper and lower surfaces;
a plurality of platform support legs extending from the lower surface of said top deck and aligned with the plurality of platform support leg openings, each platform support leg comprising:
an upper portion adjacent the lower surface of said top deck and having an opening extending through a first pair of spaced apart sidewalls, and
a lower portion adjacent the upper portion and including a pair of extensions extending outwards from a bottom surface of the lower portion, with the opening in the upper portion providing clearance for the pair of extensions on the platform support leg of the identical platform when stacked thereon; and
a platform tracking device comprising an exterior housing assembly that is positioned at least partially within the top deck and encloses processing circuitry, memory, one or more sensors, a communication element, and a power supply.
2 . The platform according to claim 1 , wherein the communication element comprises a radio frequency (RF) transmitter and an RF receiver configured to operate according to a wireless data transfer standard.
3 . The platform according to claim 2 , wherein the wireless data transfer standard comprises a Category M (CAT-M) standard, a Narrowband-Internet of Things (NB-IoT) standard, a Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) standard, or a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) standard.
4 . The platform according to claim 1 , the one or more sensors comprise a temperature sensor, an accelerometer, a magnetometer, or a location tracking component.
5 . The platform according to claim 1 , wherein the platform tracking device is mounted within the top deck by one or more mounting screws.
6 . The platform according to claim 1 , wherein the platform tracking device is positioned within a tracking device gap of the top deck.
7 . The platform according to claim 6 , wherein the tracking device gap extends a distance within the top deck from the lower surface.
8 . The platform according to claim 7 , wherein one or more dimensions of the tracking device gap are based on one or more dimensions of the exterior housing assembly.
9 . The platform according to claim 7 , wherein the distance is greater than or equal to a depth of the exterior housing assembly.