Multi-piece nestable equipment base

Abstract

A multi-piece lightweight pre-formed equipment base wherein each piece, i.e., the outer shell of the pad and the support ribbing, may be constructed from materials having the desired properties for that piece's function, and wherein each piece is capable of nesting with like pieces.

1 . A base for equipment comprising: 
 a. a pad having 
 i. a top surface and  
 ii. a plurality of side surfaces;  
   b. a hollow core; and    c. at least one insert support ribbing; 
 said at least one insert support ribbing mating with said hollow core.  
   
   
   
       2 . The base for equipment of  claim 1 , wherein said pad comprises a plastic material.  
   
   
       3 . The base for equipment of  claim 1 , wherein said pad comprises a composite material.  
   
   
       4 . The base for equipment of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one insert support ribbing comprises a plastic material.  
   
   
       5 . The base for equipment of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one insert support ribbing comprises a material selected from the group consisting of wood, metal and plastic composite.  
   
   
       6 . The base for equipment of  claim 1 , wherein said pad comprises a material selected from the group consisting of wood, metal and plastic composite.  
   
   
       7 . The base for equipment of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one insert support ribbing mates via an adhering means selected from the group consisting of an adhesive, mechanical fastener, weld, Emabond, staple, hot staking and snap-fit.  
   
   
       8 . The base for equipment of  claim 7 , wherein said at least one insert support ribbing mates with said hollow core via a snap fit.  
   
   
       9 . The base for equipment of  claim 8 , wherein the pad may be stacked independently with one or more other like pads.  
   
   
       10 . The base for equipment of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one insert support ribbing may be stacked independently with one or more other like at least one support ribbings.  
   
   
       11 . The base for equipment of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one insert support ribbing may be stacked independently with one or more other like at least one insert support ribbings.  
   
   
       12 . The base for equipment of  claim 11 , wherein said at least one insert support ribbing mates with said hollow core via an adhering means selected from the group consisting of an adhesive, mechanical fastener, weld, Emabond, staple, hot staking and snap-fit.  
   
   
       13 . The base for equipment of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one insert support ribbing may be removed from said hollow core.  
   
   
       14 . The base for equipment of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one insert support ribbing may be reused with another pad.  
   
   
       15 . The base for equipment of  claim 1 , wherein said pad may be reused with another at least one insert support ribbing.  
   
   
       16 . The base for equipment of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one support ribbing may be stacked independently with one or more other like at least one support ribbings.  
   
   
       17 . The base for equipment of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one insert support ribbings comprise a material less expensive than the material comprising the pad.  
   
   
       18 . A base for equipment comprising: 
 a. a monolithic pad having 
 i. a pad top surface and  
 ii. a plurality of pad side surfaces;  
   b. a hollow core; 
 said hollow core adapted to receive a pad top surface of a similarly-formed second monolithic pad; and  
   c. at least one insert support ribbing having 
 i. a ribbing top surface,  
 ii. a bottom surface, and  
 iii. a plurality of ribbing side surfaces;  
 said ribbing top surface having at least one recess therein; and  
 said recess adapted to receive a bottom surface of a similarly-formed second insert support ribbing; and  
   d. said at least one insert support ribbing mating with said hollow core.    
   
   
       19 . The base for equipment of  claim 18 , wherein said pad comprises a plastic material.  
   
   
       20 . The base for equipment of  claim 18 , wherein said pad comprises a composite material.  
   
   
       21 . The base for equipment of  claim 18 , wherein said pad includes at least one material selected from the group consisting of plastic, wood and metal.  
   
   
       22 . The base for equipment of  claim 18 , wherein said at least one insert support ribbing comprises a plastic material.  
   
   
       23 . The base for equipment of  claim 18 , wherein said at least one insert support ribbing includes at least one material selected from the group consisting of plastic, wood and metal.  
   
   
       24 . The base for equipment of  claim 18 , wherein said at least one insert support ribbing mates with said hollow core via a snap fit.  
   
   
       25 . The base for equipment of  claim 18 , wherein said at least one insert support ribbing may be removed from said hollow core.  
   
   
       26 . The base for equipment of  claim 18 , wherein said at least one insert support ribbing may be reused with another pad.  
   
   
       27 . The base for equipment of  claim 18 , wherein said pad may be reused with another at least one insert support ribbing.  
   
   
       28 . The base for equipment of  claim 18 , wherein said pad and said at least one insert support ribbing may be shipped separately.  
   
   
       29 . A base for equipment comprising: 
 a. a pad having 
 i. a top surface and  
 ii. a plurality of side surfaces; and  
   b. support ribbing; 
 wherein said pad and said support ribbing are comprised of different materials.  
   
   
   
       30 . The base for equipment of  claim 29 , wherein the pad independently stacks with one or more like other pads.  
   
   
       31 . The base for equipment of  claim 29 , wherein the support ribbing independently stacks with one or more like other ribbings.  
   
   
       32 . The base for equipment of  claim 31 , wherein the support ribbing includes at least one recess for receiving a surface of one of the one or more like other ribbings into a stacking formation.  
   
   
       33 . The base for equipment of  claim 30 , wherein the support ribbing independently stacks with one or more like other ribbings.  
   
   
       34 . The base for equipment of  claim 33 , wherein the support ribbing includes at least one recess for receiving a surface of one of the one or more like other ribbings into a stacking formation.  
   
   
       35 . The base for equipment of  claim 34 , wherein the pad includes at least one complimentary surface for receiving a second pad into a stacking formation.  
   
   
       36 . The base for equipment of  claim 35 , wherein the pads are generally of the same shape.  
   
   
       37 . The base for equipment of  claim 36 , wherein the support ribbings are generally of the same shape.