Modular top frame

Abstract

The modular top frame has a plurality of rails that are interconnected with corner members and has a top and a bottom surface between the inner and outer perimeter of the top frame. The corner members are assembled with two corner parts which have an outer side, a central rib and reinforcing ribs. The corner members have retainer pins in pin receiving apertures positioned along and adjacent to the outer side and the central rib so that when the corner parts are positioned one over the other, the retainer pins and the pin receiving apertures join the corner parts. The corner members have improved resistance to torsional and bending stresses. The top frame has an outside and an inside perimeter and the provides an area between the outside and inside perimeter equal to or greater than 48% of area of the outside perimeter.

1 . A modular top frame for restraining containers on a pallet, said modular top frame having
 a plurality of extruded one piece side rails having opposing ends and an inner and outer side and a top and a bottom side,   a plurality of corner members having a corner body having an outer side and a top and a bottom side,   first connectors connecting said corner members to one of said side rails and   second connectors connecting said corner members to another of said side rails,   said first connectors including a first set of interconnecting fingers and said second connectors including a second set of interconnecting fingers,   said corner members having upper and lower corner parts, each of said upper and lower corner parts having base, a junction portion and a first and second set of interconnecting finger portions on opposite sides of said junction portion,   each of said upper and lower corner parts having an outer side extending away from said base and opposite and spaced from said junction portion and extending between said first and second set of interconnecting finger portions, said outer side of said upper and lower corner parts having a central portion, and a first and second outer side portions extending from said central portion, each of said upper and lower corner parts having a central rib extending between said junction portion and said central portion of said upper and lower corner parts,   each of said upper and lower corner parts having a plurality of retainer pin receiving apertures and retainer pins positioned along and adjacent to both sides of said central rib, and along and adjacent to said first and second outer side portions,   said retainer pin receiving apertures and said retainer pins on said upper and lower corner parts engage each other to form said corner member.   
     
     
         2 . A modular top frame for restraining containers on a pallet as described in  claim 1  wherein said retainer pin receiving apertures and said retaining pins are alternately adjacent each other and positioned along and adjacent to each of said first and second outer side portions. 
     
     
         3 . A modular top frame for restraining containers on a pallet as described in  claim 1  wherein one of said first and second interconnecting finger portions have reinforcing ribs extending from said interconnecting finger portions to one of said first and second outer side portions of said corner part. 
     
     
         4 . A modular top frame for restraining containers on a pallet as described in claim A wherein said first and second interconnecting finger portions have reinforcing ribs, said ribs of said first interconnecting finger portions extending to one of said first and second outer side portions and said ribs of said second interconnecting finger portions extending to the other of said first and second outer side portions. 
     
     
         5 . A modular top frame for restraining containers on a pallet as described in  claim 4  wherein said ribs of said first interconnecting finger portions intersect and are formed integrally with said ribs of said second interconnecting finger portions. 
     
     
         6 . A modular top frame for restraining containers on a pallet as described in  claim 1  having
 a nesting and tier sheet retaining device having 
 a ramp having a ramp surface that extends at an angle away from one of said top and bottom sides of said corner member, 
 said ramp surface terminates at a tip spaced from said one of said top and bottom sides, 
 a return surface which extends from said tip to said one of said top and bottom sides, and 
 a pocket adjacent said one ramp, 
 another ramp having a another ramp surface that extends at an angle away from another of said top and bottom sides of said corner member, 
 said other ramp surface terminates at a another tip spaced from said other of said top and bottom sides, 
 another return surface which extends from said other tip to said other of said top and bottom sides, and 
 another pocket adjacent said other ramp. 
 
     
     
         7 . A modular top frame for restraining containers on a pallet as described in  claim 6  in which each corner member has a nesting and tier sheet retaining device. 
     
     
         8 . A modular top frame for restraining containers on a pallet as described in  claim 1 , said top frame having
 an inside and outside perimeter wherein the area between said inside and outside perimeter defines the top frame contact area and the area of said outside perimeter defines the total load area, and   said top frame contact area being greater than 48% of said total load area.   
     
     
         9 . A modular top frame for restraining containers on a pallet as described in  claim 1 , wherein
 each of said top and bottom surfaces of said side rails and said corner members defining an upper and a lower top frame contact area, each of said upper and lower top frame contact areas being greater than 48% of said total load area.   
     
     
         10 . A corner member for a modular top frame for restraining containers on a pallet, wherein the modular top frame has side rails with a top and bottom surface and an inner and outer surface, said corner member having
 top and bottom sides,   upper and lower corner parts, each of said upper and lower corner parts having a base, a junction portion and a first and second set of interconnecting finger portions on opposite sides of said junction portion,   each of said upper and lower corner parts having an outer side extending away from said base and opposite and spaced from said junction portion and extending between said first and second set of interconnecting finger portions,   said outer side of said upper and lower corner parts having a central portion, and a first and second outer side portions extending from said central portion,   each of said upper and lower corner parts having a central rib extending between said junction portion and said central portion of said upper and lower corner parts,   each of said upper and lower corner parts having a plurality of retainer pin receiving apertures and retainer pins positioned along and adjacent to both sides of said central rib, and along and adjacent to said first and second outer side portions,   said retainer pin receiving apertures and said retainer pins on said upper and lower corner parts engage each other to form said corner member.   
     
     
         11 . A corner member for a modular top frame for restraining containers on a pallet, and wherein the modular top frame has side rails with a top and bottom surface and an inner and outer surface, as described in  claim 10  wherein
 said retainer pin receiving apertures and said retaining pins are alternately adjacent each other and positioned along and adjacent to each of said first and second outer side portions. 
 
     
     
         12 . A corner member for a modular top frame for restraining containers on a pallet, and wherein the modular top frame has side rails with a top and bottom surface and an inner and outer surface, as described in  claim 10  wherein one of said first and second interconnecting finger portions have reinforcing ribs extending from said interconnecting finger portions to one of said first and second outer side portions of said corner part. 
     
     
         13 . A corner member for a modular top frame for restraining containers on a pallet, and wherein the modular top frame has side rails with a top and bottom surface and an inner and outer surface, as described in  claim 10  wherein said first and second interconnecting finger portions have reinforcing ribs, said ribs of said first interconnecting finger portions extending to one of said first and second outer side portions and said ribs of said second interconnecting finger portions extending to the other of said first and second outer side portions. 
     
     
         14 . A corner member for a modular top frame for restraining containers on a pallet, and wherein the modular top frame has side rails with a top and bottom surface and an inner and outer surface, as described in  claim 10  wherein said ribs of said first interconnecting finger portions intersect and are formed integrally with said ribs of said second interconnecting finger portions. 
     
     
         15 . A corner member for a modular top frame for restraining containers on a pallet, and wherein the modular top frame has side rails with a top and bottom surface and an inner and outer surface, as described in  claim 10  having
 a nesting and tier sheet retaining device having 
 a ramp having a ramp surface that extends at an angle away from one of said top and bottom sides of said corner member, 
 said ramp surface terminates at a tip spaced from said one of said top and bottom sides, 
 a return surface which extends from said tip to said one of said top and bottom sides, and 
 a pocket adjacent said one ramp, 
 another ramp having a another ramp surface that extends at an angle away from another of said top and bottom sides of said corner member, 
 said other ramp surface terminates at another tip spaced from said other of said top and bottom sides, 
 another return surface which extends from said other tip to said other of said top and bottom sides, and 
 another pocket adjacent said other ramp. 
 
     
     
         16 . A modular top frame for restraining containers on a pallet, said modular top frame having
 a plurality of side rails having opposing ends and an inner and outer side and a top and a bottom surface,   a plurality of corner members having an outer side and a top and a bottom surface, said corner members connecting said ends of said side rails to form a rectangular top frame having an top and a bottom surface,   an inside and outside perimeter wherein the area between said inside and outside perimeter defines the top frame contact area and the area of said outside perimeter defines the total load area, and   said top frame contact area being greater than 48% of said total load area.   
     
     
         17 . A modular top frame for restraining containers on a pallet as described in  claim 16 , wherein
 each of said top and bottom surfaces of said side rails and said corner members defining an upper and a lower top frame contact area, each of said upper and lower top frame contact area being greater than 48% of said total load area.   
     
     
         18 . A modular top frame for restraining containers on a pallet as described in  claim 16  including
 first connectors connecting said corner members to one of said side rails and 
 second connectors connecting said corner members to another of said side rails, 
 said first connectors including a first set of interconnecting fingers and said second connectors including a second set of interconnecting fingers, 
 said corner members having upper and lower corner parts, each of said upper and lower corner parts having base, a junction portion and a first and second set of interconnecting finger portions on opposite sides of said junction portion, 
 each of said upper and lower corner parts having an outer side extending away from said base and opposite and spaced from said junction portion and extending between said first and second set of interconnecting finger portions, said outer side of said upper and lower corner parts having a central portion, and a first and second outer side portions extending from said central portion, each of said upper and lower corner parts having a central rib extending between said junction portion and said central portion of said upper and lower corner parts, 
 each of said upper and lower corner parts having a plurality of retainer pin receiving apertures and retainer pins positioned along and adjacent to both sides of said central rib, and along and adjacent to said first and second outer side portions, 
 said retainer pin receiving apertures and said retainer pins on said upper and lower corner parts engage each other to form said corner member. 
 
     
     
         19 . A modular top frame for restraining containers on a pallet as described in  claim 16  wherein
 said corner member having upper and lower corner parts, each of said upper and lower corner parts having base, a junction portion and a first and second set of interconnecting finger portions on opposite sides of said junction portion, 
 each of said upper and lower corner parts having an outer side extending away from said base and opposite and spaced from said junction portion and extending between said first and second set of interconnecting finger portions, 
 said outer side of said upper and lower corner parts having a central portion, and a first and second outer side portions extending from said central portion, 
 each of said upper and lower corner parts having a central rib extending between said junction portion and said central portion of said upper and lower corner parts, 
 each of said upper and lower corner parts having a plurality of retainer pin receiving apertures and retainer pins positioned along and adjacent to both sides of said central rib, and along and adjacent to said first and second outer side portions, 
 said retainer pin receiving apertures and said retainer pins on said upper and lower corner parts engage each other to form said corner member.