Reinforcement system and method for supporting stacked boxes and containers
View Patent ↗The present invention relates to a reinforcement system and method for supporting stacked containers or boxes, without resulting in damage to the contents and the containers themselves. The system comprises at least one pillar element ( 1 ) and at least one end shoulder element ( 2 ), where the at least one pillar element ( 1 ) is arranged in at least one corner of the stack formed by the containers, and where the at least one end shoulder element ( 2 ) is arranged at the lower and upper ends of each of the vertical corners of containers stack, where the pillar element ( 1 ) has a smaller dimension as measured by the sum of the containers heights along a vertical corner of the container stack between the terminal shoulder elements ( 2 ), so that the boxes or containers absorb part of the load before the pillar element ( 1 ) comes into contact with the upper terminal shoulder.
1. A reinforcement system for supporting stacked containers comprising:
at least four pillar elements for positioning at one or more corners of a container stack;
multiple end-shoulder elements for positioning at lower ends and upper ends of vertical corners of the container stack, the at least four pillar elements having a smaller dimension than a height along a vertical corner of the container stack between two of the multiple end-shoulder elements to allow containers of the container stack to absorb part of a load before the at least four pillar elements makes contact with an upper end-shoulder element of the multiple end-shoulder elements; and
one or more internal columns, each internal column being configured to be positioned at an internal junction of four corners of four container stacks.
2. The reinforcement system of claim 1 , wherein the at least four pillar elements have an elongated L-shape cross-section profile.
3. The reinforcement system of claim 2 , wherein the multiple end-shoulder elements have an L-shape cross-section profile with one end open and an opposite end closed by a closure plate.
4. The reinforcement system of claim 2 , wherein a pillar-clamping element of the at least four pillar elements is arranged at an inner part of the multiple end-shoulder elements, the pillar-clamping element having an L-shape cross-section profile with a dimension less than or equal to a longitudinal dimension of the multiple end-shoulder elements.
5. The reinforcement system of claim 1 further comprises:
one or more intermediate shoulder elements having an L-shape cross-section profile, an interior part of the one or more intermediate shoulder elements being symmetrically separated by a plate positioned vertically in a central part of an inner surface of the L-shape cross-section profile and defining an upper portion and a lower portion, the lower portion being configured to be placed on an upper corner of a container, the plate and the upper portion being configured to have another container rest on an upper part of the plate.
6. The reinforcement system of claim 5 further comprises a pillar clamping element positioned at the upper portion and the lower portion of the one or more intermediate shoulder elements and dimensioned with a length less than or equal to a length of the one or more intermediate shoulder elements.
7. The reinforcement system of claim 1 , wherein each internal column comprises a lower-end support, an upper-end support, and a pillar.
8. The reinforcement system of claim 7 , wherein the lower-end support and the upper-end support are identical and are formed by a flat base and at least four support pieces, each support piece having an L-shape cross-section profile.
9. The reinforcement system of claim 8 , wherein the four support pieces are arranged vertically on the flat base to form a cross-type structure and maintain a space between the four support pieces, the space being configured for placement of at least one pillar therein and to allow the L-shape cross-section of the at least one pillar to fit into the space.
10. The reinforcement system of claim 9 further comprises at least one intermediate support element, the at least one intermediate support element including:
a central plate that is configured as a plane of symmetry; and
at least four support pieces on each side of the central plate, each support piece having an L-shape cross-section profile, the at least four support pieces being vertically arranged relative to the central plate and forming a cross-type structure to maintain a space between the at least four support pieces, the space being configured for mounting the at least one pillar.