Top cap

Abstract

A top cap for use in combination with a transport system comprises a rectangular layer of material having a first side edge, a second side edge, a first end edge, a second end edge, an upper surface and a lower surface. The layer of material includes a plurality of ribs extending downward from the lower surface and, a plurality of spaced apart projections extending downward below a lower edge of the plurality of ribs. The top cap does not include a downward extending lip along the first side edge and the second side edge.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A top cap comprising:
 a generally rectangular upper surface having a first side edge, a second side edge opposing the first side edge, a first end edge and a second end edge opposing the first end edge;   the upper surface including a plurality of tote contacting projections extending downwardly from the upper surface in a pattern configured to enable each projection to contact a corner portion of a tote when the top cap is placed on a plurality of totes.   
     
     
         2 . The top cap of  claim 1  further comprising a lower surface opposing the upper surface and a plurality of ribs extending downward from the lower surface. 
     
     
         3 . The top cap of  claim 2  wherein the plurality of ribs includes a first portion of the plurality of ribs extending in a parallel formation from the first side edge to the second side edge, and a second portion of the plurality of ribs extending in a parallel formation from the first end edge to the second end edge. 
     
     
         4 . The top cap of  claim 2  wherein each of the plurality of tote contacting projections extend downward further than a lower edge of the plurality of ribs. 
     
     
         5 . The top cap of  claim 4  wherein each of the tote contacting projections includes a contact portion below the lower edge of the plurality of ribs that is generally cylindrical. 
     
     
         6 . The top cap of  claim 5  wherein the contact portion is configured to engage an inner corner radius of a top of a tote. 
     
     
         7 . The top cap of  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of downwardly extending depressions configured to mate with a footprint of a transportation system. 
     
     
         8 . The top cap of  claim 7  wherein the first side edge and the second side edge are lipless. 
     
     
         9 . The top cap of  claim 1  wherein each of the plurality of tote contacting projections has a generally hollow conical shape. 
     
     
         10 . The top cap of  claim 8  wherein each of the first end edge and the second end edge includes a downwardly extending lip. 
     
     
         11 . The top cap of  claim 1  wherein the top cap is formed from a molded plastic. 
     
     
         12 . A top cap for use in combination with a transport system comprising:
 a rectangular layer of material having a first side edge, a second side edge, a first end edge, a second end edge, an upper surface and a lower surface; and,   a plurality of spaced apart hollow projections of the layer of material extending downward, each of the projections configured to contact a portion of a tote when the top cap is placed on a plurality of stacks of totes.   
     
     
         13 . The top cap of  claim 12  wherein the layer of material includes a plurality of ribs extending downward from the lower surface, and wherein the plurality of projections extend downward below a lower edge of the plurality of ribs. 
     
     
         14 . The top cap of  claim 12  wherein each of the projections has a generally conical shape. 
     
     
         15 . The top cap of  claim 13  wherein each of the projections includes a puck shaped portion that extends beyond the lower edges of the ribs. 
     
     
         16 . The top cap of  claim 13  wherein the plurality of ribs include a first series of parallel ribs extending between a first side edge and the second side edge and a second series of parallel ribs extending from the first end edge to the second end edge. 
     
     
         17 . The top cap of  claim 12  wherein each projection is configured to contact an inner radius of a corner of the tote. 
     
     
         18 . The top cap of  claim 17  wherein the projections are positioned in a pattern to contact twelve stacks of totes. 
     
     
         19 . The top cap of  claim 12  wherein the layer of material includes a plurality of indentations configured to receive the footprint of another transport system. 
     
     
         20 . The top cap of  claim 12  wherein the top cap is one-piece formed from a molded plastic.