Crate assemblies for transporting spools of glass

Abstract

A crate assembly includes an external crate assembly (12) having a top (16), a bottom (18), sides (20, 21) and ends (22, 23). An internal spool support assembly (14) is located within the external crate assembly (12). The internal spool support assembly (14) includes a lower spool support structure (54). The lower spool support structure (54) includes a first lower spool support assembly (58) located at one of the ends (22, 23) of the external crate assembly (12). A second lower spool support assembly (60) is located at an opposite one of the ends (22, 23) of the external crate assembly (12). The first lower spool support assembly (58) is separated from the second lower spool support assembly (60) such that the first and second lower spool assemblies (58, 60) may move relative to each other.

1 . A crate assembly comprising:
 an external crate assembly comprising a top, a bottom, sides and ends, the sides and ends extending between the top and the bottom;   an internal spool support assembly located within the external crate assembly, the internal spool support assembly comprising a lower spool support structure comprising:
 a first lower spool support assembly located at one of the ends of the external crate assembly, the first lower spool support assembly comprising a spool-core receiving notch extending therethrough and sized to receive a spool core end; and 
 a second lower spool support assembly located at an opposite one of the ends of the external crate assembly, the second lower spool support assembly comprising a spool core receiving notch extending therethrough and sized to receive an opposite spool core end such that the spool core is arranged substantially perpendicular to the ends; 
   wherein the first lower spool support assembly is separated from the bottom of the external crate assembly by an isolation pad positioned between the first lower spool support assembly and the bottom of the external crate assembly and the second lower spool support assembly is separated from the bottom of the external crate assembly by an isolation pad positioned between the second lower spool support assembly and the bottom of the external crate assembly the first lower spool support assembly being separated from the second lower spool support assembly such that the first and second spool support assemblies are movable relative to one other.   
     
     
         2 . The crate assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first lower spool support assembly is separated from the sides of the external crate assembly using isolation pads located between the first lower spool support assembly and the sides. 
     
     
         3 . The crate assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the second lower spool support assembly is separated from the sides of the external crate assembly using isolation pads located between the second lower spool support assembly and the sides. 
     
     
         4 . The crate assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first lower spool support assembly is separated from the one of the ends using an isolation pad located between the first lower spool support assembly and the one of the ends. 
     
     
         5 . The crate assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the first lower spool support assembly is separated from the one of the ends using multiple, vertically oriented isolation pads that are spaced-apart from one another in a lateral direction. 
     
     
         6 . The crate assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the second lower spool support assembly is separated from the opposite one of the ends using an isolation pad located between the second spool support assembly and the opposite one of the ends. 
     
     
         7 . The crate assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the second lower spool support assembly is separated from the opposite one of the ends using multiple, vertically oriented isolation pads that are spaced-apart from one another in a lateral direction. 
     
     
         8 . The crate assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising an upper spool support assembly comprising:
 a first upper spool support assembly located at the one of the ends of the external crate assembly; and   a second upper spool support assembly located at the opposite one of the ends of the external crate assembly;   wherein the first upper spool support assembly is separated from the top of the external crate assembly by an isolation pad positioned between the first upper spool support assembly and the top of the external crate assembly and the second upper spool support assembly is separated from the top of the external crate assembly by an isolation pad positioned between the second upper spool support assembly and the top of the external crate assembly.   
     
     
         9 - 12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . The crate assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the isolation pads comprise polyethylene foam. 
     
     
         14 . The crate assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a spool of ultra-thin glass weighing 227 kg weight (500 pounds) or more located therein, the spool of ultra-thin glass comprising a spool core comprising a first core end received within the spool-core receiving notch of the first lower spool support assembly and an opposite second core end received within the spool-core receiving notch of the second lower spool support assembly, the isolation pad positioned between the first lower spool support assembly and the bottom maintaining separation between the first lower spool support assembly and the bottom with the first core end received within the spool-core receiving notch of the first lower spool support assembly. 
     
     
         15 . A method of shipping a spool of ultra-thin glass, the method comprising:
 placing a core into a crate assembly, the core comprising a first core end, a second core end, and ultra-thin glass rolled thereon, the crate assembly comprising:
 an external crate assembly comprising a top, a bottom, sides and ends, the sides and ends extending between the top and the bottom; 
 an internal spool support assembly located within the external crate assembly, the internal spool support assembly comprising a lower spool support structure comprising:
 a first lower spool support assembly located at one of the ends of the external crate assembly, the first lower spool support assembly comprising a spool-core receiving notch extending therethrough and sized to receive a spool core end; and 
 a second lower spool support assembly located at an opposite one of the ends of the external crate assembly, the second lower spool support assembly comprising a spool-core receiving notch extending therethrough and sized to receive an opposite spool core end such that the spool core is arranged substantially perpendicular to the ends; 
 
 wherein the first lower spool support assembly is separated from the bottom of the external crate assembly by an isolation pad positioned between the first lower spool support assembly and the bottom of the external crate assembly and the second lower spool support assembly is separated from the bottom of the external crate assembly by an isolation pad positioned between the second lower spool support assembly and the bottom of the external crate assembly, the first lower spool support assembly being separated from the second lower spool support assembly such that the first and second spool assemblies are movable relative to each other; 
   locating the first core end of the spool core within the spool-core receiving notch of the first lower spool support assembly; and   locating the second core end of the spool core within the spool-core receiving notch of the second lower spool support assembly.   
     
     
         16 - 21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising an upper spool support assembly comprising:
 a first upper spool support assembly located at the one of the ends of the external crate assembly; and   a second upper spool support assembly located at the opposite one of the ends of the external crate assembly;   wherein the first upper spool support assembly is separated from the top of the external crate assembly by an isolation pad positioned between the first upper spool support assembly and the top of the external crate assembly and the second upper spool support assembly is separated from the top of the external crate assembly by an isolation pad positioned between the second upper spool support assembly and the top of the external crate assembly.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the isolation pads comprise polyethylene foam. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the spool of ultra-thin glass weighs 227 kg weight (500 pounds) or more, the isolation pad positioned between the first lower spool support assembly and the bottom separating the first lower spool support assembly and the bottom with the first core end received within the spool-core receiving notch of the first lower spool support assembly.