Shipping decks for transporting cargo

Abstract

A shipping deck and shipping storage system is disclosed. The shipping deck is a generally rectangular tile member formed of a plastic material. The shipping deck is substantially planar to support cargo placed thereon. The shipping deck rests upon three or more adjacent cargo bars and a plurality of downwardly projecting legs extend from the tile member in order to limit the movement of the shipping deck and to allow for stacking of the shipping decks when not in use. The cargo bars secure within a track which is located on opposite walls of the shipping container. The shipping deck, the cargo bars, and the track within the shipping container form a system for shipping storage.

1 . A shipping deck for installation upon three or more adjacent horizontally spaced apart cargo bars which generally, horizontally, transversely span a container used to transport cargo, the shipping deck comprising:
 a generally rectangular tile member formed of a plastic material having:
 a substantially planar upper surface for supporting cargo, the upper surface provided with a series of local depressions formed therein, 
 a lower surface spaced below the upper surface providing a plurality of contact regions adapted to rest upon each of the three or more adjacent cargo bars, and 
 a plurality of downwardly projecting legs extending from the lower surface proximate the contact regions to cooperate with each of the three or more adjacent cargo bars to limit movement of the tile member in a forward horizontal direction perpendicular to the cargo bar; 
 wherein a plurality of shipping decks may be stacked in a vertical manner with the downwardly projecting legs nested within the depressions formed in the shipping deck positioned immediately there below. 
   
   
   
       2 . The shipping deck of  claim 1  wherein the tile member is generally symmetrical about a diagonal line extending between opposed corners. 
   
   
       3 . The shipping deck of  claim 1  further comprising a series of handle openings formed through the tile member adjacent to and spaced about an outer peripheral region of the tile member. 
   
   
       4 . The shipping deck of  claim 1  wherein the tile member is formed of injection molded thermoplastic. 
   
   
       5 . The shipping deck of  claim 1  wherein the tile member is twin sheet thermo formed from an extruded sheet. 
   
   
       6 . The shipping deck of  claim 1  wherein the tile member is generally square shaped. 
   
   
       7 . The shipping deck of  claim 6  wherein the tile member is approximately four foot by four foot square. 
   
   
       8 . The shipping deck of  claim 1  wherein the tile member is unitary. 
   
   
       9 . The shipping deck of  claim 8  wherein the tile member is a plastic injection molded part. 
   
   
       10 . The shipping deck of  claim 1  wherein the legs are generally cup-shaped and downwardly tapered such that the shipping deck may be nested when stacked upon a second shipping deck. 
   
   
       11 . The shipping deck of  claim 10  wherein the tile member adds an incremental thickness of one to three inches when stacked upon the second tile member. 
   
   
       12 . The shipping deck of  claim 1  wherein the tile member is provided with an open grate to allow air and liquid to pass through. 
   
   
       13 . The shipping deck of  claim 12  wherein the legs are each provided with at least one drain hole to prevent liquid accumulation. 
   
   
       14 . The shipping deck of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of legs further comprise:
 a plurality of perimeter legs, the perimeter legs being spaced about a perimeter of the tile member; and   at least one central leg extending from a central region of the tile member.   
   
   
       15 . The shipping deck of  claim 14  wherein the plurality of perimeter legs further comprise at least four perimeter legs spaced laterally near a corner of the tile member. 
   
   
       16 . The shipping deck of  claim 14  further comprising at least two central legs wherein the at least two central legs are spaced about a longitudinal and a transverse center axis of the shipping deck for receiving a center cargo bar. 
   
   
       17 . A cargo shipping system comprising:
 a series of vertical tracks provided along two opposite walls within an enclosed shipping container, the tracks being spaced apart each providing a plurality of attachment points at various heights;   at least three cargo bars sized to be received within tracks on opposed walls, the cargo bars being secured to the track at a common height such that at least one shipping deck can be placed thereon creating a generally planar surface; and   two or more shipping decks sized to fill an area between opposite walls of a shipping container, the two or more shipping decks each having a generally rectangular tile member formed of a plastic material each tile member having:
 a substantially planar upper surface, for supporting cargo placed thereon, the upper surface provided with a series of local depressions formed therein, 
 a lower surface spaced below the upper surface providing a plurality of contact regions adapted to rest upon the three or more cargo bars, and 
 a plurality of downwardly projecting legs extending from the lower surface proximate the contact regions to limit movement of the tile member in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the cargo bar. 
   
   
   
       18 . The cargo shipping system of  claim 17  wherein the plurality of legs further comprise:
 a plurality of perimeter legs, the perimeter legs being spaced about an inboard perimeter of the tile member to engage at least two of the outermost cargo bars; and   at least two central legs extending from a central region of the tile member to cooperate with opposed sides of a centrally located cargo bar.   
   
   
       19 . A method of storing shipping decks within a container used to transport cargo comprising:
 providing a first generally rectangular tile member formed of a plastic material having a plurality of downwardly projecting legs extending from a lower surface;   providing a second generally rectangular tile member formed of a plastic material having a plurality of downwardly projecting legs extending from a lower surface; and   stacking the tile members when not in use;   wherein the legs of the second tile member nest within the legs of the first tile member.   
   
   
       20 . The method of storing shipping decks of  claim 19  wherein a single tile member has a height of 2-5 inches and when stacked, the second tile member adds an incremental thickness of less than one half of the height of the tile.