Adjustable shipping container for spindled contents

Abstract

A shipping container includes a first cover and a first bearer. The first cover includes sidewalls and a first plurality of ribs defined in the sidewalls. The first load bearer is positioned in a first pair of the first plurality of ribs and defines a first support surface.

1 . A shipping container, comprising: 
 a first cover including sidewalls and a first plurality of ribs defined in the sidewalls; and    a first load bearer positioned in a first pair of the first plurality of ribs and defining a first support surface.    
   
   
       2 . The container of  claim 1 , further comprising a second cover disposed over the first cover to define an enclosure, the second cover including sidewalls and a second plurality of ribs defined in the sidewalls.  
   
   
       3 . The container of  claim 1 , further comprising a second load bearer positioned in a second pair of the first plurality of ribs and defining a second support surface.  
   
   
       4 . The container of  claim 3 , further comprising: 
 a second cover disposed over the first cover to define an enclosure, the second cover including sidewalls and a second plurality of ribs defined in the sidewalls;    a third load bearer positioned in a third pair of the second plurality of ribs and engaging the first load bearer; and    a fourth load bearer positioned in a fourth pair of the second plurality of ribs and engaging the second load bearer.    
   
   
       5 . The container of  claim 4 , wherein each rib in the first and second pluralities of ribs includes a slot portion, each load bearer includes tabs having a shape corresponding to a shape of the slot portion and engaging the slot portion of a respective one of the first and second covers in which the load bearer is positioned, and at least one of the tabs in each of the load bearers extends to interlock with the slot portions of an opposing one of the first and second covers.  
   
   
       6 . The container of  claim 4 , wherein the first and second load bearers each defines a first mating edge and a first tab extending from the first mating edge, and the second and third load bearers each define a second mating edge and a second tab extending from the second mating edge, the first tabs of first and second load bearers engaging the second tabs of the third and fourth load bearers, respectively.  
   
   
       7 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein each rib includes a slot portion, and the first load bearer includes tabs having a shape corresponding to a shape of the slot portion that engages the slot portion to secure the first load bearer within the first pair of ribs.  
   
   
       8 . The container of  claim 7 , wherein the tabs are offset with respect to the support surface of the respective first and second load bearer.  
   
   
       9 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the first support surface comprises an arcuate support surface.  
   
   
       10 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the first load member further comprises a lateral support rod disposed proximate the support surface.  
   
   
       11 . The container of  claim 10 , wherein the first load member further comprises at least one support rib abutting the lateral support rod.  
   
   
       12 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the first load member further comprises a plurality of support ribs proximate the support surface.  
   
   
       13 . The container of  claim 12 , wherein the support ribs are disposed in at least one of a vertical pattern and a spoke pattern.  
   
   
       14 . The container of  claim 1 , further comprising a support frame engaged with the bottom cover, wherein the bottom cover encapsulates at least a portion of the support frame.  
   
   
       15 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the first cover includes a bottom surface and defines a notch in the bottom surface, and the first support member includes a bottom edge and defines a tab along the bottom edge, the tab interfacing with the notch.  
   
   
       16 . The container of  claim 1 , further comprising a load support operable to engage a load and interface with the support surface to support the load.  
   
   
       17 . The container of  claim 3 , further comprising a load support including a first portion extending from a first end of a load and engaging the first support surface and a second portion extending from a second end of the load and engaging the second support surface.  
   
   
       18 . The container of  claim 17 , wherein the first and second portions comprises discrete members.  
   
   
       19 . The container of  claim 16 , wherein the load includes a core defining a notch, and the load support defines a tab, the tab interfacing with the notch to inhibit rotation of the core about the load support.  
   
   
       20 . The container of  claim 16 , wherein the load support defines a channel operable to receive a lifting device having a shape corresponding to the shape of the channel, and the first cover defines an opening aligned with the load support.